Early Improvement of Non-islet Cell Tumor Hypoglycemia by Chemotherapy Using Lenvatinib in a Case with Type 2 Diabetes and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Producing Big IGF-II

A 77-year-old man was treated with a DPP-4 inhibitor for type 2 diabetes. Hypoglycemia occurred frequently, and an examination revealed a tumor with a maximum diameter of 140 mm in both lobes of the liver. Western immunoblotting detected a high-molecular-weight form of insulin-like growth factor-II, and non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia was diagnosed. Although prednisolone 40 mg was started, hypoglycemia continued to occur frequently. Surgical tumor removal was not indicated, so lenvatinib was initiated. Hypoglycemia improved quickly, and the tumor shrank until it had partially disappeared. His condition continued to improve, and he was discharged.     

(Na + + K + )-ATPase activity in the dog submandibular gland

Microsomes prepared from dog submandibular glands contain a (Na⁺ + K⁺)-activated Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) with a relatively high specific activity (105 μmoles P_i × mg protein⁻¹ × hr⁻¹). In the range tested, maximal activation of the enzyme was attained at Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations of 200 and 10 mM respectively in the presence of 5 mM Mg²⁺, Rb⁺. Cs⁺, NH₄⁺, Li⁺, and choline could not substitute for Na⁺, but could partially substitute for K⁺ ions. Chloride was not essential as an anion, but could be substituted for by nitrate, bromide, iodide or sulphate without loss of activity. The pH optimum for the enzyme was 7.2 and the concentration of ouabain for half-maximal inhibition of enzyme activity was 2 × 10⁻⁷ M.     

Dependence of Baroreceptor-Mediated Sympathetic Outflow on Biventricular Assist Device Driving Frequency

Abstract: To investigate the drive condition of the artificial heart from a neurophysiological point of view, the dynamic transduction characteristics of the baroreflex system were analyzed by means of sympathetic neurograms. Two pneumatically actuated ventricular assist devices were implanted as biventricular bypasses (BVBs) in adult mongrel dogs to compare the natural heart circulation and prosthetic circulation. After BVB pumping was initiated, the natural heart was electrically fibrillated. Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was recorded to analyze sympathetic outflow. Coherence function between the arterial pressure and RSNA was calculated to evaluate the linearity of the baroreflex system. The largest peak coherency was observed when BVB was driven at the frequency of natural heart beat prior to electrical fibrillation, which suggests that the baroreflex system shows the largest linearity at this frequency. These results suggest the possibility that the natural heart heat frequency is the setting frequency at which the baroreflex system transfers the hemodynamic rhythm to the sympathetic outflow.     

Radioprotection by WR-2721 of gamma-irradiated rat parotid gland: effect on gland weight and secretion at 8-10 days post irradiation

Changes in rat parotid salivary gland weight and functional parameters were evaluated at 8 to 10 days post irradiation in WR-2721 protected and non-protected animals following exposure to a single 15.3 Gy dose of Cs-137 radiation to the head. Glandular fluid secretory capacity was assessed by maximum flow rate, total volume of saliva and duration of secretion following pilocarpine stimulation. Protection against radiomucositis was also evaluated indirectly by daily monitoring of food and water intake, body weight and paraoral symptomatology. WR-2721 provided a significant degree of protection for all glandular functional parameters as well as gland weight. Relative protective factors (RPF) were computed for irradiated protected and non-protected animals compared to their sham-irradiated, pair-fed controls. The calculated RPFs were: Gland weight 1.9, maximum flow rate 2.9, volume of saliva 2.1 and duration of secretion 2.1 for a mean "relative protection" of 2.25. Substantial protection against radiomucositis in protected animals was evident by a progressive gain in body weight and lack of oral signs and symptoms as compared to non-protected animals. Protection against radiomucositis and preservation of residual parotid gland secretory capacity as determined by functional parameters suggests that WR-2721 may be of significant benefit in alleviating oral symptoms and maintaining salivary gland function for patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck tumors.     

Quantitative homogeneous enzyme immunoassays for amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, and desipramine

We describe specific EMIT homogeneous enzyme immunoassays for amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, and desipramine in patients' serum samples. Before analysis, an easily performed extraction step involving the use of 500 microL of sample and a 1-mL disposable column eliminates cross-reacting polar metabolites. The range of the standard curve for the first three drugs is 25 to 250 micrograms/L, and for desipramine is 50 to 500 micrograms/L. Within-run and between-run CVs are less than 10% throughout the range of the assays. Results for patients' samples obtained by this method and by "high-performance" liquid chromatography compare well, showing a slope range of 0.94-1.04 and correlation coefficients ranging from 0.93 to 0.96, depending on the assay.     

Near-infrared analysis of protein secondary structure in aqueous solutions and freeze-dried solids

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) of various proteins (bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, ovalbumin, gamma-globulin, beta-lactoglobulin, myoglobin, cytochrome-c) was investigated as a possible analytical method of the protein secondary structure in various physical states. The spectra of proteins in aqueous solutions (transmission mode, solvent-compensated) and those in freeze-dried solids (nondestructive diffuse reflection mode) showed several bands at similar frequencies in the combination (4000-5000 cm(-1)) and first overtone (5600-6600 cm(-1)) spectral regions. The normalized second-derivative near-infrared spectra of proteins in aqueous solutions suggested that some bands indicated alpha-helix (4090, 4365-4370, 4615, and 5755 cm(-1)) and beta-sheet (4060, 4405, 4525-4540, 4865, and 5915-5925 cm(-1)) structures. The proteins mostly maintained spectra characteristic of their native structure after freeze-drying, although some reductions in alpha-helical structure and increase in unordered or beta-sheet structures were observed. The near-infrared analysis also showed beta-sheet formation of heat-treated BSA in aqueous solutions and in subsequently freeze-dried solids. The present results thus indicated that the nondestructive near-infrared analysis can be used for the investigation of dehydration-induced changes in protein secondary structures.     

Histopathology of nude mice induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Significant elevation in the peripheral granulocyte count (more than 20,000) and the absence of overt infection are commonly associated with a wide variety of human neoplasms. Robinson demonstrated a dose correlation between the amount of the serum and urine levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and the peripheral neutrophil counts. In vivo assessment of hematopoietic activities induced by GM-CSF has not been explored owing to the complexity, time consuming, and ill-defined specific results. This experiment is designed to understand the pathophysiology of the hematopoiesis induced by GM-CSF released from tumor of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell line in nude mice. To our knowledge, this experiment is the first one to describe detailed histopathological changes induced by GM-CSF. Three to five months old nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with the CHO cell line developed local tumor with or without metastasis and hepatosplenomegaly. Active granulopoiesis is demonstrated in bone marrow, spleen, liver, and some of the tumors. Lymph nodes show histiocytic proliferation, however, without active granulopoiesis. Peripheral granulocytosis seems to be not linearly but step-wisely coordinated with tumor growth.     

Plaque Formation by and Plaque Cloning of Chlamydia trachomatis Biovar Trachoma

A new technique for the induction of plaque formation by Chlamydia trachomatis biovar trachoma applicable to the titration of infectivity and cloning of biovar trachoma was established. Three novel strains were cloned and confirmed to be free of glycogen inclusions. The lack of glycogen accumulation correlated with the absence of a 7.5-kb plasmid, which is highly conserved in other strains of C. trachomatis. Although the growth efficiency of these plasmid-free strains was slightly lower than that of plasmid-positive strains, possession of the plasmid and glycogen accumulation were not essential for the survival of C. trachomatis.