Growth of laryngeal glands in infants: a comparative study of the sub- and supraglottic larynx

It is well established that laryngeal secretions, produced in the glandular tissue, contribute to the local defence system of the larynx. In this study, the distribution of glandular tissues in the subglottic and supraglottic larynx was examined in 55 infants, using an image analysing system. The average area of the mucosa or glandular acini at the level of the false vocal fold was almost three times larger than that of the subglottis. At both levels, the area occupied by the glands increased according to the age at death and became more evident according to the total development score (TDS) which was estimated by adding the age at death and the gestational period. The results indicate that the glandular structure of the level of the sub- or supraglottic larynx develops constantly and equally after birth.     

FA15, a hydrophobic derivative of ferulic acid,suppresses inflammatory responses and skin tumor promotion: comparison with ferulic acid

In our previous study, FA15 (2-methyl-1-butyl ferulic acid) was chemically synthesized as a novel ferulic acid (FA) analog, and found to notably suppress phorbol ester-induced Epstein-Barr virus activation and superoxide anion generation in vitro. In this report, we demonstrated that FA15, in contrast to FA, markedly suppressed the combined lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma-induced protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, and also inhibited the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha accompanied by suppression of I-kappa B degradation in RAW264.7, a murine macrophage cell line. In ICR mouse skin, topical application of FA15 significantly attenuated phorbol ester-triggered hydrogen peroxide production and edema formation as well as papilloma development while that of FA did not. Our results suggest that FA15, derived from natural sources, is a novel chemopreventive agent, both structurally and functionally.     

Troglitazone induces GLUT4 translocation in L6 myotubes

A number of studies have demonstrated that insulin resistance in the skeletal muscle plays a pivotal role in the insulin resistance associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. A decrease in GLUT4 translocation from the intracellular pool to the plasma membranes in skeletal muscles has been implicated as a possible cause of insulin resistance. Herein, we examined the effects of an insulin-sensitizing drug, troglitazone (TGZ), on glucose uptake and the translocation of GLUT4 in L6 myotubes. The prolonged exposure (24 h) of L6 myotubes to TGZ (10(-5) mol/l) caused a substantial increase in the 2-deoxy-[3H]D-glucose (2-DG) uptake without changing the total amount of the glucose transporters GLUT4, GLUT1, and GLUT3. The TGZ-induced 2-DG uptake was completely abolished by cytochalasin-B (10 micromol/l). The ability of TGZ to translocate GLUT4 from light microsomes to the crude plasma membranes was greater than that of insulin. Both cycloheximide treatment (3.5 x 10(-6) mol/l) and the removal of TGZ by washing reversed the 2-DG uptake to the basal level. Moreover, insulin did not enhance the TGZ-induced 2-DG uptake additively. The TGZ-induced 2-DG uptake was only partially reversed by wortmannin to 80%, and TGZ did not change the expression and the phosphorylation of protein kinase B; the expression of protein kinase C (PKC)-lambda, PKC-beta2, and PKC-zeta; or 5'AMP-activated protein kinase activity. a-Tocopherol, which has a molecular structure similar to that of TGZ, did not increase 2-DG uptake. We conclude that the glucose transport in L6 myotubes exposed to TGZ for 24 h is the result of an increased translocation of GLUT4. The present results imply that the effects of troglitazone on GLUT4 translocation may include a new mechanism for improving glucose transport in skeletal muscle.     

Contrivance for frozen section diagnosis of early minute lung cancer during operation

We reported the technique of pathological diagnosis for minute lung cancer lesion of early stage during operation. Target lesion for our technique may be less than 1 cm in size and not be detected by palpation. Our technique may superior to usual method of frozen section of tissue specimen without fixation. At first, resected lung specimen was fixed by injection of 20% formalin solution subsequent warming by microwave oven for 40 seconds. Almost all lesions may be detected in proper thickness of specimen. Specimen was washed out and steeped in the 20% of sucrose solution for 30 to 60 seconds in order to avoid crystallization of water that was contained within lung specimen. Then thin sliced section of specimen was made by Cryostat in usual method. The minute cancer lesion was able to detect more easy than usual method of making frozen section of specimen. Formalin fixed and sucrose steeped frozen section may be able to evaluate the surgical margin from cancer exactly than the section made by non-fixed specimen.     

Right vagal nerve stimulation for coronary anastomosis without cardiopulmonary bypass: investigation in dogs

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess the potential of right vagal nerve stimulation for reducing the heart rate during coronary anastomosis without cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Through the fourth left intercostal space, left internal thoracic artery grafts were sutured to the left anterior descending artery with the heart beating. In Group I (n=7), two dogs underwent right cervical vagal stimulation alone and five dogs underwent right cervical vagal stimulation during intravenous infusion of diltiazem or verapamil. In Group II (n=3), one dog underwent right thoracic vagal stimulation alone and two dogs underwent right thoracic vagal stimulation during intravenous infusion of diltiazem or verapamil. The thoracic vagal nerve was isolated endoscopically. The electrocardiogram and aortic pressure were monitored during interventions. RESULTS: In Group I, cervical vagal stimulation reduced the heart rate from 190 to 45 and 180 to 42 b/min. During intravenous infusion of diltiazem or verapamil, cervical vagal stimulation caused ventricular arrest. In Group II, thoracic vagal stimulation decreased the heart rate from 205 to 70 b/min, and stimulation during intravenous infusion of diltiazem caused ventricular arrest. CONCLUSIONS: Right vagal stimulation during intravenous infusion of diltiazem or verapamil has potential value as a technique for reducing the heart rate during coronary anastomosis without cardiopulmonary bypass.     

Enzymatic Activities in the Microsomes Prepared from Rat Small Intestinal Epithelial Cells by Differential Procedures

Pharmaceutical Research -     

Transplantation of infantile bladder in rats: an alternative procedure for bladder augmentation

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to evaluate whether bladder transplantation (BTx) can be used for bladder augmentation (BA). METHODS: Bladders from infantile Brown-Norway rats (less than 21 days old) were excised and each transplanted into a pouch created in the distal omentum of a 6-week-old Lewis rat (fully allogeneic BTx). No immunosuppressant was used in group I (n=12). Intramuscular FK506 was used daily from the day of BTx in group II (n=16; 0.2 mg/kg), group III (n=22; 0.6 mg/kg), and group IV (n=16; 1.2 mg/kg) until harvesting 3, 4, 5, or 6 weeks after BTx. FK506 was used for only 2 weeks in group V (n=12; 0.6 mg/kg/day) and group VI (n=12; 1.2 mg/kg/day). Syngeneic bladder transplants acted as controls (n=16). Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to examine all grafts. In six rats from group III, BA was performed by anastomosing the graft to the recipient bladder 10 days after BTx. RESULTS: Each successfully transplanted graft appeared macroscopically as a thin-walled cyst. Rejection was seen in all grafts from groups I, II, V, and VI, and was minimal or absent in groups III and IV. On medium to long-term follow-up the only side effect of FK506 observed was reduced weight gain. Graft survival in the control group was 100%. BA was successful in all six cases, and the mucosa was normal throughout each augmented bladder. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the successful transplantation of infantile tissue without vascular anastomosis. Because of the efficient, safe immunosuppression possible with FK506, our BTx technique could find clinical application for creating viable vesical tissue that could be used for BA.     

Psychiatric symptoms related to interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C: clinical features and prognosis

Psychiatric symptoms during interferon (IFN) therapy for viral hepatitis have been a crucial problem in consultation-liaison psychiatry. However, there have been few studies on psychiatric management for these symptoms and their prognosis. Among 943 patients who were treated with IFN for chronic hepatitis C between 1991 and 1995, 43 patients (4.6%) developed psychiatric symptoms during IFN treatment. Three patients (0.3%), with pre-existing psychiatric disorders showed aggravated symptoms and were excluded from the study. All three patients were able to finish the IFN therapy with psychiatric management. Forty patients (4.2%) manifested psychiatric symptoms induced by IFN. Thirteen patients (1.4%) were diagnosed as anxiety disorder and 21 patients (2.2%) revealed mood disorder with depressive features. There were other psychiatric disorders in six patients (0.6%), including psychotic disorder with delusions/hallucinations in four patients (0.4%), mood disorder with manic features in one patient (0.1%) and delirium in one patient (0.1%). Women developed psychiatric symptoms significantly more than men. Ten of 40 patients (25%) stopped IFN treatment because of manifesting psychiatric symptoms induced by IFN. Twelve patients (30%) required psychiatric treatment for more than 24weeks after ceasing IFN, and seven patients still had anxiety, insomnia and mild hypothymia at the end of the present study. Statistical analysis revealed that IFN-beta therapy and psychiatric manifestations including psychotic symptoms, delirium and manic symptoms were significantly related to long-term psychiatric problems. There are considerable numbers of patients who have required long-term psychiatric management even after cessation of IFN treatment.     

Patients diagnosed with Kawasaki disease before the fifth day of illness have a higher risk of coronary artery aneurysm

BACKGROUND: A fever lasting for at least 5 days is an essential characteristic of the original diagnostic criteria of Kawasaki disease (KD). However, it is not difficult for an experienced physician to confirm the diagnosis of KD before the fifth day of fever. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of intravenous gamma globulin therapy (IVGG) in KD initiated before the fifth day of illness. METHODS: A total of 125 patients treated with IVGGwere divided into group A (IVGG was initiated before the fifth day of illness, n= 46) and group B (IVGG was initiated at the fifth day or after, n= 79). Patients' characteristics,laboratory findings, treatments and outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: White blood cell count value, C-reactive protein and Harada's score showed no difference between the groups. A significantly higher average value of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) was observed in group A. Although the treatments were identical in both groups, the average duration of fever from the initial day of IVGG in group A was significantly longer than in group B. The incidence of aneurysm in group A was significantly higher than that in group B. Stepwise regression analysis using aneurysm as a dependent variable revealed that group A and ALT were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Patients diagnosed with KD before the fifth day of illness showed a poor response to IVGG. This observation might be related to high ALT values. Further examination concerning the modification of treatment in such patients is necessary.