Diagnostic System for Helicobacter pylori Urease Based on a pHsensitive Field Effect Transistor

A rapid diagnostic system for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was developed based on an urease analyser using a pH-sensitive field effect transistor (pH-FET). The system is composed of a solid-phase capillary-tube and a pH-measuring cell. The solid-phase tube, with an inner diameter 0.55 mm and coated with a monoclonal antibody against H. pylori's urease, was used to selectively capture the urease in endoscopically collected gastric mucus. The urease activity on the inner surface of the solid-phase tube was measured by coupling it with ph-FET in a pH measuring cell containing urea solution. Before immuno reaction in the solid-phase, gastric mucus was diluted with a phosphate buffered saline containing 1% n-octylglucoside, which was effective for accelerating the release of active urease from H. pylori's cells suspended in the sample solution. As a result of preliminary evaluations, it was found that the clinical sensitivity and specificity were 100 and 86%, respectively, using a bacteriological test as a reference.     

Electronic-endoscopic Observation of ET-1 Induced Mucosal Ischemia and Preventive Effect of ETA Recepter Selective Antagonist,FR139317, in Rat Distal Colon

For investigation of the effects of Endothelin-1 (ET-1) on colonic mucosa, ET-1 (10–160 nmol/kg) was sprinkled on rat colonic mucosa under observation with a new electronic endoscopic system (TOSHIBA TRE-3000, Japan). A high dose of ET-1 induced complete obstruction of submucosal arterioles, but not venules, without affecting arterial blood pressure. The ET-1 -induced contraction of both vessel types was maintained for 50 min and was followed by intramucosal dot hemorrhages. In this experimental model, the effects of ET-1 on the mucosal microcirculation were further analyzed with a laser doppler blood flowmeter (LDF) during endoscopic observation. The maximum decrease in mucosal blood flow was to 20 % of the control value and this decrease was maintained for 20 min at a dose of 80 nmol/kg. An ETA receptor selective antagonist, FR139317 (800 nmol/kg), inhibited ET-1 -induced changes in endoscopic findings and LDF, shifting the concentration-response curve of LDF to the right. FR139317 is a potentially useful new therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases, conditions which have been reported to be associated with high local concentrations of ET-1. Our electronic-endoscopic system was demonstrated to be a useful basic research tool for studying gastrointestinal pathophysiology.     

Endoscopic Findings of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis—-Report of a Case—

Abstract: A case of primary sclerosing cholangitis in which an endoscopic inspection through the fistula produced by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed for the treatment of progressive jaundice and supprative cholangitis is presented. These treatments benefited the patient to some degree. After 3 years from the onset, the patient died of multi-organ failure caused by disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. An autopsy revealed primary sclerosing cholangitis. No evidence of ductal stricture due to malignancy or underlying cholelithiasis was noted. This report may be the first which discusses the endoscopic findings of a biliary tract stricture in a patient with sclerosing cholangitis.     

Effects of artificial blood (FC-43 emulsion) on myocardial energy metabolism in the rat heart-lung preparation

We have assessed the effects of artificial blood (FC-43 emulsion)on myocardial energy metabolism in the rat heart-lung preparation.Animals were allocated to four groups (n = 8 each group) accordingto the ratio of perfusion blood and FC-43 as follows: group1 = control, perfusion blood only; group 2 = 50% FC-43; group3 = 75% FC-43; and group 4 = 100% FC-43. Hearts were perfusedinitially to a cardiac output of 30 ml min^–1 and meanarterial pressure of 50 mm Hg. Thirty minutes after perfusion,the hearts were freeze-dried for 6 days. Myocardial high energyphosphates (ATP, ADP and AMP) were measured by high pressureliquid chromatography. Myocardial lactate and glycogen concentrationswere measured by enzymatic methods. There were almost no significantdifferences in cardiac output, systolic pressure, right atrialpressure and heart rate among the groups. Oxygen contents ofthe perfusate in all FC-43 groups were significantly lower thanthose in the control group. Myocardial ATP concentrations inrats receiving 50%, 75% and 100% FC-43 were significantly lowerthan those in the control group. In addition, myocardial ADPand AMP concentrations in rats receiving 75% and 100% FC-43were significantly higher than those in the control group. Althoughthere is adequate oxygen-carrying capacity in FC-43 to maintaincardiac function during perfusion, the energy levels in thehearts perfused with FC-43 were lower than those in normal hearts.     

Is interval from an initial biopsy a significant predictor of prostate cancer at repeat biopsies?

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are no clear criteria for indicating repeat biopsies in patients with negative results at an initial biopsy of the prostate. The aim of the present study is to determine the clinical and pathological parameters which predict prostate cancer at repeat biopsies with special attention to the interval between biopsies in addition to prostate specific antigen (PSA) and its derivatives. METHODS: We reviewed 100 patients who underwent an initial biopsy that proved negative for prostate cancer and required repeat biopsies between November 1996 and November 2003. Clinical parameters such as age, PSA and its derivatives, interval between biopsies, number of cores taken and initial biopsy histology were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 31 patients (31.0%) were found to have prostate cancer, 18 (25.7%) of 70 patients by the second biopsy and 13 (46.4%) of 28 patients by the third biopsy. Two patients underwent the fourth biopsy, which revealed no prostate cancer. The patients with a positive biopsy had a significantly longer interval between the biopsies than the patients with a negative biopsy (P=0.0036). Furthermore, in both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, only the interval between the biopsies proved to be an independent predictor of positive results at repeat biopsies (P=0.0094 and 0.0019). CONCLUSIONS: Only the biopsy interval was a significant predictor of prostate cancer at repeat biopsies in both univariate and multivariate analysis.     

Inhibition of Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase by Adenine Nucleotides in Pachytene Primary Spermatocytes from Rat Testes

The effect of adenine nucleotides on the catalytic activity of spermatocyte glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GA3PDH) was studied for its significance to metabolic regulation. In the presence of glucose (10 mM), the ATP level declined whereas the ADP and AMP levels remained unchanged. During incubation with glucose, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (fruc 1,6-P2) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) were accumulated markedly. GA3PDH was inhibited by ATP (Ki = 2.27 mM), ADP (Ki = 1.21 mM) and AMP (Ki = 0.73 mM) competitively with NAD (Km = 0.24 mM). The results suggest that glycolysis in spermatocytes is regulated by GA3PDH.     

A Preliminary Report on Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation for the Treatment of Advanced Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Four patients with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of unfavorablehistology were treated with marrow-lethal doses of cyclophosphamide(CY) and total body irradiation (TB1) followed by the infusionof cryopreserved autologous marrow. All four patients showedengraftment after autologous bone marrow transplantation andachieved complete remission (CR). Three of them, however, developedrelapse in 1.7, 12.9 and 14.5 mo respectively after the transplantation.The other patient has survived in drug-free CR for more than16.6 mo. There was no treatment-related death although therewere some tolerable complications. These data suggest that theCY-TBI regimen may be effective in inducing CR in patients withadvanced non-Hodgkin's disease but it does not contribute topreventing relapse.     

EFFECT OF METOCLOPRAMIDE ON THE SECRETION OF ALDOSTERONE AND OTHER ADRENOCORTICAL STEROIDS

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of metoclopramide, a dopamine antagonist, on the secretion of aldosterone and other adrenocortical steroids in normal subjects. An i.v. bolus injection of 10 mg of metoclopramide significantly increased the plasma PRL, plasma aldosterone and 18-hydroxy-corticosterone, but the plasma renin activity, plasma deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone and cortisol remained unchanged. The changes in plasma aldosterone induced by metoclopramide were significantly correlated with the basal levels of plasma aldosterone and renin activity. These results suggest that the response of plasma aldosterone to metoclopramide in normal subjects is influenced by the basal activity of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system and the late step of aldosterone synthesis is stimulated by metoclopramide.