The role of the superior cervical ganglia in the nocturnal rise of pineal type-II thyroxine 5'-deiodinase activity

Superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGx) abolished the nocturnal rise in pineal type-II thyroxine 5'-deiodinase (5'-D) activity in both euthyroid and hypothyroid rats. Isoproterenol induced at least as great a rise in diurnal pineal 5'-D in SCGx as in intact rats. These data suggest that beta-adrenergic stimulation through the superior cervical ganglia is essential for the nocturnal rise in pineal 5'-D activity.     

Detection of fecal blood by colloidal gold agglutination using an anti-human hemoglobin monoclonal antibody.

Monoclonal antibodies to human hemoglobin were produced and a colloidal gold agglutination method has been developed for detection of fecal occult blood. Since hemoglobin is composed of the tetramer, alpha 2 beta 2, a single monoclonal antibody-labeled colloidal gold can agglutinate with hemoglobin. The lowest detectable hemoglobin concentration was 0.5 micrograms/ml. A total of 785 fecal samples were determined using colloidal gold agglutination and compared with latex agglutination. The colloidal gold agglutination detected blood in 75 samples, whereas latex agglutination detected blood in 76 samples, and among them 70 were positive in both methods. Overall agreement between the two methods was 98%.     

Single photon emission computerized tomography in childhood hydrocephalus

Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) is now widely used as one of the tools in evaluating cerebral blood flow (CBF). The authors report the CBF changes in childhood hydrocephalus. Five pediatric cases studied by ¹²³I-IM SPECT in children are presented. The authors counted radioactivities both in early and delayed images in each patient, and calculated the reabsorption ratio (RR). Two negative-RR cases and three positive-RR cases were found. All of the negative-RR patients had a poor prognosis, while all of the positive-RR patients had a favorable outcome.     

Uptake of 99Tcm-MDP in lung metastasis from osteosarcoma: clinical and animal studies

Bone scintigraphy was performed in 17 patients with previously known lung metastases of osteosarcoma. 99Tcm-MDP uptake was observed in all primary bone lesions but lung metastatic lesions were positive in only six patients (35%). 99Tcm-MDP uptake by lung metastases was significantly correlated with bone and osteoid formation in the metastatic lesions and preoperative serum ALPase values. These clinical observations were confirmed by using nude mice transplanted with human lung metastatic osteosarcoma. 99Tcm-MDP scintigraphy appears to be useful for detecting lung metastases of osteosarcoma only in a selected group of patients.     

Lipid metabolism in experimental acute pancreatitis

In order to study the changes of lipid metabolism in acute pancreatitis, the following experiments were performed in monogrel dogs. Bile-induced pancreatitis (severe type) and collagenase-induced pancreatitis (mild type) were prepared, and changes of FFA, TG, IRI and IRG were determined for one week. In addition, IVFTT and PHLA were determined at 24th hour, on the 3rd day and 7th day. A rise of FFA was observed during the first 24 hours, which was considered the lypolytic stage. On the 3rd day TG reached the maximal level, while K values in IVFTT and PHLA showed the lowest levels. The above results suggest that the elimination mechanism of TG was impaired on the 3rd day. Changes of FFA, TG, IRI and IRG showed marked differences between the two groups. Therefore it is thought that lipid metabolism in acute pancreatitis is regulated by balance of endogenous pancreatic hormones.     

Tunica albuginea cyst: a case report]

A 47-year-old male visited our hospital complaining of painless swelling of the right scrotum. Ultrasonography demonstrated hydrocele and a 13 x 12 x 10 mm cystic space along the margin of the right testis. Hydrocelectomy and simple resection of the cyst were performed. Pathologic examination of the excised cyst showed a serous cyst lined with simple flattened epithelium. Ultrasonography is useful for the diagnosis of tunica albuginea cyst.     

The morphological and biochemical changes in skeletal muscle fibers by dietary protein restriction.

The effects of dietary protein restriction on skeletal muscle fibers were studied according to morphological and biochemical approaches. Protein and DNA content of quadriceps muscles from young adult rats were decreased by the low protein and protein-free diet. Morphological examination demonstrated that there was a significant decrease in the size of muscle fibers without change in their numbers due to protein restriction. The protein/DNA ratio, accepted as an index of cell size in biochemical approaches, was compared with cell size on photomicrographs. Actual fiber size appeared much smaller than that indicated by the protein/DNA ratio.     

Determination of common esterase D phenotypes by HPLC]

The analysis of blood Esterase D (ESD) phenotypes was performed by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The hemolysate was first treated with a cation exchanger to remove hemoglobin, injected into HPLC on a weak anion exchange column, and developed to become fluorescent with reaction reagent. The chromatogram of each ESD phenotype was distinct from those of the other phenotypes. ESD protein was confirmed by isoelectric focusing in the HPLC fraction that was referred for ESD typing. This HPLC method can be used to determine the common ESD phenotypes in blood.