Protection against hemorrhagic pneumonia of mink by Pseudomonas aeruginosa multicomponent vaccine.

An attempt to prevent epidemics of hemorrhagic pneumonia in mink due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa was made in the course of epidemics with injection of the multicomponent vaccine consisting of common protective antigen (OEP) of P. aeruginosa mixed with toxoids of protease and elastase of the bacillus. Enzootics of hemorrhagic pneumonia, due to P. aeruginosa serotype 8, broke out from August to October 1977 in a total of 13 sheds of 3 farms (A, B and C) which were located in the northeast area of Hokkaido. These farms were raising 7,452, 2,553 and 10,639 mink respectively. The mortality rate of the mink on farms A, B and C were 11.8%, 13.0% and 1.0% respectively. The vaccination was performed on the 3 farms 5, 8 and 21 days after the onset of the disease. Inoculation of each mink with 200 micrograms or 100 micrograms of each of the three components of the multicomponent vaccine was effective in most of the male and female groups of mink. The period required for revealing the effect of the vaccination was very short, in some cases only a few days. Administration of the vaccine 21 days after the onset of the enzootic was also effective.     

Cytological findings of ROS1‐rearranged lung adenocarcinoma

ROS1‐rearranged lung adenocarcinoma has been recently identified. We report a case of ROS1‐rearranged lung adenocarcinoma with special emphasis on cytological findings. Here, we report a case of young woman with ROS1‐rearranged lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed by cytology and discuss the clinical, cytological, and molecular findings. Cytologically, the tumor consisted of small tight clusters of cells with high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Nuclei were enlarged and small nucleoli were occasionally observed. Signet‐ring cells were focally identified. Neoplastic cells were positive for ROS1 immunocytochemistry. Subsequently, the translocation of ROS1 gene was confirmed in a histological specimen. In conclusion, the specific histology of adenocarcinoma on cytological materials should promote testing for ROS1 immunohistochemistry. Immunocytochemical detection of ROS1 protein helps identify patients suitable for molecular targeted therapy.     

On the interaction between ultrasound and contrast agents during Doppler investigations

Knowledge of interaction mechanisms between ultrasound (US) and contrast agents (CA) suspended in blood is important for a correct interpretation of clinical investigation results. Experiments performed in different laboratories have shown that, as a consequence of primary radiation force, CA tend to move away from the US transducer. Accordingly, Doppler spectra produced by particles suspended in moving water turn out to be significantly altered from what is theoretically expected. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, an original model describing the bubble dynamics as the outcome of the balance between US radiation force and fluid drag force is validated for the case in which bubbles are suspended in blood. The high fluid viscosity is shown to prevent significant bubble deviations from the unperturbed fluid streamlines so that, in large vessels, a residual spectral distortion may exist only at the highest intensity levels permitted by current regulations. Finally, the relative importance and differences between the effect of primary radiation force and streaming mechanisms that, in principle, could lead to similar effects, are discussed.     

Effects of pirenzepine and AF-DX 116 on ganglionic transmission in the cardiac sympathetic nerves of the dog: interaction of M1 and M2 receptors with nicotinic receptors.

Effects of the selective M1 receptor antagonist pirenzepine and the selective M2 receptor antagonist AF-DX 116 on ganglionic transmission were examined in anesthetized dogs, in order to elucidate a functional role of M1 and M2 receptors. Preganglionic or postganglionic stimulation of the cardiac sympathetic nerves (SNS, 0.5-16 Hz) produced frequency-dependent increases in heart rate. Pirenzepine (3-100 microgram/kg) caused dose-dependent and significant inhibition of positive chronotropic response to preganglionic SNS but not to postganglionic SNS. AF-DX 116 (10-100 micrograms/kg) had no effect on the preganglionic SNS-induced tachycardia. The simultaneous administration of pirenzepine (30 micrograms/kg) and hexamethonium (C6, 1 mg/kg), and the subsequent administration of 10 mg/kg of C6, inhibited more potently the tachycardic responses to preganglionic SNS than each dose of C6 did by itself. The enhancement by pirenzepine of the C6-induced inhibition was evident at high frequencies (8 and 16 Hz) of SNS. In contrast, the blocking effect of C6 (1 and 10 mg/kg) on ganglionic transmission was significantly attenuated by AF-DX 116 (30 micrograms/kg). The attenuation by AF-DX 116 was observed at a wide range of stimulation frequency (0.5-8 Hz). These results suggest that M1 receptors play a facilitatory role in ganglionic transmission but M2 receptors do not contribute to the transmission when nicotinic pathway is intact. However, the activation of M2 receptors would further suppress ganglionic transmission when nicotinic transmission is inhibited. Under these conditions, activation of M1 receptors would mediate the transmission elicited by high frequency of stimulation.     

Relationship between sugar chain structure and biological activity of recombinant human erythropoietin produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Two forms of erythropoietin, EPO-bi and EPO-tetra, with different biological activities were isolated from the culture medium of a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell line, B8-300, into which the human erythropoietin gene had been introduced. EPO-bi, an unusual form, showed only one-seventh the in vivo activity and 3 times higher in vitro activity of the previously described recombinant human EPO (standard EPO). In contrast, EPO-tetra showed both in vivo and in vitro activities comparable to those of the standard EPO. EPO-bi, EPO-tetra, and the standard EPO had the same amino acid composition and immunoreactivity. However, structural analyses of their N-linked sugar chains revealed that EPO-bi contains the biantennary complex type as the major sugar chain, while EPO-tetra and the standard EPO contain the tetraantennary complex type as the major sugar chain. From examination of various preparations of recombinant human EPO, we found a positive correlation between the in vivo activity of EPO and the ratio of tetraantennary to biantennary oligosaccharides. These results suggest that higher branching of the N-linked sugar chains is essential for effective expression of in vivo biological activity of EPO.     

Simultaneous measurements of cytosolic free calcium level and prostaglandin synthesis reveal a correlation between them in perfused monolayer of cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells: effects of bradykinin and angiotensin II.

The level of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and the production rate of prostacyclin were simultaneously measured in perfused monolayers of cultured vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells. After loading of fura-2 (a fluorescent calcium indicator), the monolayer of VSM cells (cultured on a cover glass) was fixed in the perfusion cuvette and the cuvette was placed in a fluorometer to monitor the change in [Ca2+]i. The monolayer was perfused and the fractionated perfusion solution was collected to determine 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (a metabolite of prostacyclin) production found in the solution. Afterwards, the time-dependent changes in [Ca2+]i and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthesis were compared. Bradykinin (BK, 10(-6) M), angiotensin (Ang) II (10(-7) M) as well as ionomycin (10(-6) M) induced simultaneous increases in [Ca2+]i and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production. An inhibitor against prostaglandin synthesis, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 10(-6) M) abolished BK-induced 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthesis, whereas ASA did not affect the increase in [Ca2+]i. BK-induced increases in [Ca2+]i and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production occurred in a dose-dependent manner and the half-maximal response was observed at the same concentration of BK (10(-7) M). These results indicate that an increase in [Ca2+]i is closely associated with BK as well as AngII-induced prostacyclin synthesis. It is suggested that an increase in [Ca2+]i plays a prior role in prostacyclin synthesis. Thus, an interaction between phospholipase A2 (prostaglandin synthesis) and phospholipase C (inositol trisphosphate-Ca2+ mobilization) is suggested.     

Experimental studies using laser angioplasty combined with balloon angioplasty for stenotic cerebral lesions

Basic studies were carried out on the treatment, with argon laser and balloon dilatation catheter, of stenotic arteries resulting from atherosclerotic plaque. Seventeen rabbits approximately 34 weeks old and weighing between 3 and 4 Kg were used. Each rabbit was fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 3 to 4 months to induce atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid arteries and the aorta. The argon laser unit used was a Model 20 Endocoagulator (HMG, Inc.; maximum power, 12W). Under an angioscope, two bare-ended laser probes (1.5 mm and 0.3 mm in diameter) were used to vaporize atheromatous plaque in the aortas of 10 rabbits, and a metal tip laser probe in the case of seven rabbits. The plaque remaining after this laser angioplasty was compressed to the luminal surface through inflation of a balloon catheter (balloon angioplasty) in order to sufficiently dilate the arteries. The animals were then sacrificed and examined both macroscopically and microscopically. When the bare-ended probes were used, there was a change in the depth of vaporization in line with the direction of the laser beam. Using a laser heating power of 25 J, perforation of the vessel wall was observed in 36% of the trials. A higher frequency of perforation was seen with the 0.3 mm probe than with the 1.5 mm probe. However, a constant vaporizing effect was achieved using the metal tip laser.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

No adverse effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulindac and diclofenac sodium, on blood pressure control with a calcium antagonist, nifedipine, in elderly hypertensive patients.

Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) on blood pressure (BP) control was evaluated in elderly hypertensive patients treated with calcium antagonist. The study was based on a randomized, crossover design to compare the effect of an NSAID, sulindac, with that of another NSAID, diclofenac sodium, in the hypertension treatment. The study was completed in six elderly female subjects (the average age: 66 +/- 3 year) whose systolic BP and diastolic BP were more than 160 mmHg and more than 95 mmHg, respectively. When BP was controlled by nifedipine (20 mg x 2 per day in slow releasing form) within normal limits, sulindac (100 mg x 3 per day) or diclofenac sodium (25 mg x 3 per day) was administered for a week. After one week-washout period, the other NSAID was substituted. Plasma and urinary variables were measured on the final day of each study period. The average systolic BP and diastolic BP and the entry of study were 167 +/- 5 mmHg and 93 +/- 5 mmHg, respectively. Nifedipine significantly decreased the systolic BP to 140 +/- 4 mmHg (p less than 0.02) and the diastolic BP to 84 +/- 4 mmHg (p less than 0.05). Addition of either sulindac or diclofenac sodium did not affect BP, whereas urinary PGE2 excretion and plasma renin activity were significantly inhibited. Plasma creatinine and electrolyte concentration were not changed by the NSAIDs. The results indicate that either sulindac or diclofenac sodium does not interfere with control of hypertension by a calcium antagonist, nifedipine in in elderly hypertensive patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)