Characteristics of Papaver somniferum L. cv. ikkanshu cultivated in Izu

The seeds of Papaver somniferum L. cv. Ikkanshu were sown in November (Autumn sowing: AS) and March (Spring sowing: SS) in a field at Izu Experimental Station for Medicinal Plants of National Institute of Health Sciencs, and both AS and SS plants were cultivated to investigate their growth, opium yield and alkaloid content in the opium. Growing periods from the sowing to the opium harvest were approximately six months for AS plants and three months for SS plants. Sizes of plants and capsules in AS were bigger than those in SS, reflecting their growth period. Opium yields per an are in AS and SS were 212.09 g and 142.03 g, respectively. The opium was able to be collected four times in the AS plants though the SS plants ceased to exude opium after the second incision. Therefore higher yield of opium in AS plants seems to be attributed to an amount of opium in the third and fourth incision. Average morphine content in the total opium was 15.61% in AS plants and 15.04% in SS plants, and the estimated amounts of morphine per an are in AS and SS plants were 33.16 g and 21.38 g, respectively.     

Experimental study of the pathogenesis of choledochal cyst and pancreatitis, with special reference to the role of bile acids and pancreatic enzymes in the anomalous choledocho-pancreatico ductal junction

To investigate the mechanisms initiating pancreatic enzyme activation followed by the development of a choledochal cyst and/or pancreatitis under anomalous choledocho-pancreatic ductal junction (ACPDJ), choledocho-pancreatic end-to-side ductal anastomosis was successfully performed in 40 puppies as an experimental model of ACPDJ. As a result, reflux of pancreatic juice into the common bile duct readily and continuously occurred, and all pancreatic enzymes in bile obtained from the common bile duct were activated. Total bile acids increased about 2 months after surgery, and the ratio of taurodeoxycholic acid to total bile acids increased within the first months after surgery. Various degrees of common bile duct dilatation developed in all puppies within 7 to 10 days after the surgery, and no further dilatation occurred in the subsequent period. Histological change in the pancreatic duct was less prominent than that in the common bile duct, but histologically proved chronic pancreatitis was found in three of 23 sacrificed dogs, in which there was strong evidence of free and massive regurgitation of the bile-pancreatic juice mixture between the bile and the pancreatic duct systems. These findings in this experimental study constitute the first step to prove that ACPDJ, which is often found in patients with choledochal cyst, is an important etiologic factor not only for choledochal cyst but also for pancreatitis, and bile acids play an important role in the mechanism of pancreatic enzyme activation under the condition of ACPDJ.     

Recurrence of corneal dystrophy resulting from an R124H Big-h3 mutation after phototherapeutic keratectomy

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the recurrence-free interval after phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in patients with corneal dystrophies resulting from an Arg124His (R124H) mutation of the Big-h3 gene. METHODS: Patients with corneal dystrophy resulting from a genetically confirmed Big-h3 R124H mutation were examined with a slit lamp. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the mutation genotype, and the recurrence-free interval was analyzed. RESULTS: In the 4 eyes of 3 homozygous patients, the mean (+/- standard deviation [SD]) recurrence-free interval was 9.5 +/- 3.1 months, whereas in the 7 eyes of 4 heterozygous patients it was 38.4 +/- 6.2 months. The former interval was statistically shorter than the latter (Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank test, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: These results strongly suggest that the mutation genotype of Big-h3 gene determined the recurrence-free interval as well as the clinical picture after PTK. Therefore, PTK should be considered for patients with Big-h3 R124H corneal dystrophy, on the basis of the expected recurrence-free interval deduced from molecular analysis of the zygosity of the Big-h3 R124H mutation.     

Roles of the jejunum and ileum in the first-pass effect as absorptive barriers for orally administered tacrolimus

BACKGROUND: The immunosuppressant tacrolimus shows poor and variable bioavailability following oral administration in clinical use. Recently, the hepatic and intestinal metabolisms, or first-pass effect, of tacrolimus have been suggested to be responsible for its bioavailability. In the present study, we investigated the respective contribution of the jejunum and ileum to the first-pass effect of tacrolimus in rats. METHODS: The metabolism of tacrolimus in everted sacs of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum was examined. Tacrolimus was administered intravenously or intraintestinally to sham-operated, jejunum-resected, or ileum-resected rats. Blood samples were collected over a 240-min period, and whole-blood tacrolimus concentrations were measured by semiautomated microparticle enzyme immunoassay. The pharmacokinetic parameters of tacrolimus in each group were estimated. RESULTS: The metabolic activity of tacrolimus appeared to be the highest in the everted sacs of the duodenum. The bioavailability of tacrolimus in the jejunum- or ileum-resected rats was higher than that in sham-operated controls. On the other hand, the time to peak concentration in the jejunum-resected rats was about twofold slower than those in ileum-resected and sham-operated rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the first-pass effect of tacrolimus in the small intestine shows regional differences and the extraction of tacrolimus in the small intestine consists of the amount of extraction in the jejunum and ileum. In addition, the ileum rather than the jejunum as a graft of segmental small bowel transplantation would be useful to avoid the adverse effects of tacrolimus.     

Androgens decrease plasma adiponectin,an insulin-sensitizing adipocyte-derived protein

Adiponectin, an adipose-specific secretory protein, exhibits antidiabetic and antiatherogenic properties. In the present study, we examined the effects of sex hormones on the regulation of adiponectin production. Plasma adiponectin concentrations were significantly lower in 442 men (age, 52.6 +/- 11.9 years [mean +/- SD]) than in 137 women (53.2 +/- 12.0 years) but not different between pre- and postmenopausal women. In mice, ovariectomy did not alter plasma adiponectin levels. In contrast, high levels of plasma adiponectin were found in castrated mice. Testosterone treatment reduced plasma adiponectin concentration in both sham-operated and castrated mice. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, testosterone reduced adiponectin secretion into the culture media, using pulse-chase study. Castration-induced increase in plasma adiponectin was associated with a significant improvement of insulin sensitivity. Our results indicate that androgens decrease plasma adiponectin and that androgen-induced hypoadiponectinemia may be related to the high risks of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in men.     

Cranial remodeling to treat craniosynostosis by gradual distraction using a new device

OBJECT: The authors describe their experience in remodeling the shape of the cranium in children with craniosynostosis by using gradual distraction. In half of the cases, a new distraction device developed by the authors was used. METHODS: Twenty children with craniosynostosis underwent frontoorbital advancement and cranial remodeling assisted by gradual distraction. There were five children with brachycephaly, two with oxycephaly, five with scaphocephaly, two with plagiocephaly, one with combined scaphocephaly and plagiocephaly, and five with trigonocephaly. Four cases were syndromic and 16 were nonsyndromic. The patients ranged in age from 3 to 50 months (mean 14.5 months) at the first surgery. Simulated surgery was first performed on a three-dimensional solid model made of polyurethane, which accurately represented cranial flexibility, to determine the most favorable osteotomy line. Distraction was initiated 1 week postoperatively. The speed and extent of advancement (maximum extension 45 mm) were predetermined on the basis of previously reported criteria and the results of simulated surgery. Postoperatively, the cranial configuration was favorable in all cases. Spontaneous remodeling of irregularities and/or gaps apparent after distraction was found to occur 2 to 5 months after removal of the distraction devices, especially in patients with trigonocephaly or scaphocephaly. No major perioperative complication was observed in any patient. There were minor complications in six of the first 10 cases, including exposure of the device, shaft slippage, and fluid discharge. A new device was developed and used on the last 10 patients treated; it successfully eliminated device exposure and shaft slippage. A 3-year follow-up review confirmed that there was no relapse of advanced bones. CONCLUSIONS: Highly satisfactory results were achieved in cases of both syndromic and nonsyndromic craniosynostosis when gradual distraction was performed.     

Detection of sentinel lymphatic region with activated carbon particles in lymph node dissection for colorectal cancer

Sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) for gastrointestinal cancer has been examined using various methods, but the SN concept has not been established. For 18 patients who had colorectal cancer without macroscopic nodal metastases, we had attempted to detect sentinel lymph nodes (SNs) with activated carbon particles and investigate the existence of nodal metastases histologically. SNs were detected in 17 of 18 patients. Thus activated carbon particles are a useful tracer for SN detection. Three patients had microscopic nodal metastases, and two had nodal metastases in SNs. Although the remaining patient was a false negative case which had nodal metastases in non-SNs only, the nodal metastases were within the sentinel lymphatic region (SLR) which includes SNs. It is considered possible to safely perform minimally invasive lymphadenectomy for colorectal cancer without macroscopic nodal metastases, by means of SLR dissection using activated carbon particles.