Morphine prevents glutamate-induced death of primary rat neonatal astrocytes through modulation of intracellular redox

This study is designed to investigate the effect of morphine on glutamate-induced toxicity of primary rat neonatal astrocytes. Glutamate decreases the intracellular GSH level, and thereby induces cytolysis of astrocytes and C6 glial cells accompanied by apoptotic features. Glutamate-induced cytotoxicity is protected by morphine and antioxidants such as GSH and NAC, whereas MK-801, an antagonist of glutamate receptor NMDA does not protect astrocytes against glutamate toxicity. Also, morphine antagonist, naloxone, as well as selective ligands for opioid receptor subtypes, including DAMGO, DPDPE, and U69593, do not inhibit the protective effect of morphine on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. Morphine significantly prevents the depletion of GSH by glutamate and thereby inhibits the generation of H2O2 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, morphine prevents the change of mitochondrial permeability transition by glutamate. Taken together, we suggest that morphine protects the primary rat neonatal astrocytes from glutamate toxicity via modulation of intracellular redox status.     

Cloning, expression and characterization of a murine-human chimeric antibody with specificity for pre-S2 surface antigen of hepatitis B virus

The cloning, expression and characterization of a murine-human chimeric antibody with specificity for the pre-S2 surface antigen (Ag) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is described. The heavy and light chain variable region (VH and VL) genes encoding the murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) were isolated and combined with human γ 1 and κ constant region genes, respectively. The expression vectors containing the chimeric heavy and light chain genes were sequentially electroporated into murine Sp2/0 hybridoma cells and transfectomas secreting chimeric antibody were isolated. The chimeric antibody was purified and characterized by ELISA, Western analysis and competition immunoassay, demonstrating that the transfectoma functionally express and secrete murine-human chimeric antibody which retained the specificity and affinity of the parental murine mAb.     

Hepatic clearance of Salmonella typhimurium in silica-treated mice.

Scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that crystalline silica destroys liver Kupffer cells but has no other obvious deleterious effects on the liver. Silica-treated livers still retain the ability to trap large numbers of bacteria perfused through the portal vein even though the rate of clearance is well below normal. In vivo, silica treatment decreases the rate of bacterial clearance from the blood, alters the in vivo organ distribution of cleared bacteria, and decreases the mean lethal dose of Salmonella typhimurium over 100-fold. Cumulatively, the data indicate that silica treatment enhances susceptibility to gram-negative infection, probably by destruction of macrophages.     

Villous adenoma of the bile ducts: a case report and a review of the reported cases in Korea

Villous adenomas are benign epithelial lesions with malignant potential which can occur at any site in the gastrointestinal tract. They are usually encountered in the rectum and colon, less frequently in the small bowel and very rarely in the biliary trees. Nine cases of bile duct villous adenomas have been reported in the literature. However, 4 cases of bile duct villous adenomas have been reported in the Korean literature. Recently, we experienced a case of villous adenoma in the common hepatic duct in a 77-year-old man presenting with obstructive jaundice in which preoperative histologic diagnosis of villous adenoma played a critical role in managing this patient. Herein, we present a case report of bile duct villous adenoma and a review of the reported cases in Korea to help define and manage this rare disease entity in the bile ducts. In addition, confusing nomenclature of bile duct adenomas is discussed.     

Expression of mucin genes in the human testis and its relationship to spermatogenesis

In this study we investigate the expression pattern of mucin genes in the human testis and evaluate the relationship between the expression of mucin genes and impaired spermatogenesis in the human testis. Thirty human testis tissues were collected from patients undergoing diagnostic testicular biopsy to investigate the cause of infertility. One part of the tissue underwent histological observation, and the other part of the tissue was subjected to semiquantitative RT-PCR of mucin genes, that is, mucin1, 2, 3, 4, and 9. The relative amount of mucin mRNAs was calculated by densitometry using glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as an internal control. The samples were histologically diagnosed as either obstructive azoospermia with normal spermatogenesis (n = 13) or non-obstructive azoospermia with impaired spermatogenesis (n = 17). In the human testis with normal spermatogenesis, mRNA expression of mucin1, 9, 13 and GAPDH were found, but RT-PCR products of mucin 2, 3 and 4 were not detected. In the testis with impaired spermatogenesis, however, RT-PCR product of mucin1 was not found. There was no difference in the other mucin mRNA expression patterns between the testis with either normal or impaired spermatogenesis. To our knowledge, this study is the first that has detected the mRNA of mucin9 and 13 in human testis. This study also shows that mucin1 expression might be closely related to spermatogenesis. Our findings should be substantiated by more direct evidence, such as mucin protein expression and localization.     

Unilateral thalamic stroke does not decrease ipsilateral sleep spindles

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To measure the sleep spindle characteristics in patients with unilateral thalamic stroke. DESIGN: A prospective study of patients with thalamic stroke and age-matched healthy controls. SETTING: Department of Neurology of a University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen patients (mean age: 67 years, SD: 13,44) with an isolated, unilateral acute thalamic stroke and 18 healthy age-matched volunteers. INTERVENTIONS: A polysomnogram recording from 14 scalp EEG electrodes performed during 2 consecutive nights, the second or third week after the stroke. Only the sleep of the second night was analyzed. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Sleep spindles were counted during two separate 10-minute epochs of stage II. Spindles appearing synchronously in both sides with similar amplitude were called "bilateral." Spindles with twice the amplitude in one side than the other were "right" or "left-side predominant". There were 8 patients with posterolateral, 3 with global and 2 with anterior lesions. Eight were right and 5 left-sided. The number of spindles was similar in patients (39.8 +/- 23.4 in 20 minutes) than controls (26.07 +/- 29.07; p=0.173). Spindles with a centroparietal (34%) and centroparieto-occipital localization (22%) were the most frequent. In controls approximately 66% of the spindles had a bilateral and symmetric distribution over the scalp, 23% of the spindles were predominantly left-sided and 5% were predominantly right-sided. In patients, bilateral spindles decreased (p<0.0001) but asymmetric spindles did not change. CONCLUSION: Unilateral acute thalamic stroke does not decrease sleep spindles ipsilaterally; rather, it seems to produce a bilateral diminution in their number.     

A case of multiple schwannomas of the trigeminal nerves, acoustic nerves, lower cranial nerves, brachial plexuses and spinal canal: schwannomatosis or neurofibromatosis?

In most cases, while schwannoma is sporadically manifested as a single benign neoplasm, the presence of multiple schwannomas in one patient is usually indicative of neurofibromatosis 2. However, several recent reports have suggested that schwannomatosis itself may also be a distinct clinical entity. This study examines an extremely rare case of probable schwannomatosis associated with intracranial, intraspinal and peripheral involvements. A 63-year-old woman presented with a seven-year history of palpable lumps on both sides of the supraclavicular area and hearing impairment in both ears. On physical examination, no skin manifestations were evident. Facial sensory change, deafness in the left ear and decreased gag reflex were revealed by neurological examination. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple lesions of the trigeminal nerves, acoustic nerves, lower cranial nerves, spinal accessory nerve, brachial plexuses, and spinal nerves. Pathological examination of tumors from the bilateral brachial plexuses, the spinal nerve in the T8 spinal position and the neck mass revealed benign schwannomas. Following is this patient case report of multiple schwannomas presenting with no skin manifestations of neurofibromatosis.     

Nonvascular interventions of the urinary tract

Nonvascular intervention of the urinary tract is a well-established uroradiologic subspecialty, which is more important for avoiding invasive open surgery in the age of rising demand about the value of less invasive treatment. Various kinds of nonvascular intervention are recently performed under image-guidance and are as follows: percutaneous nephrostomy, percutaneous nephrostolithotomy, percutaneous dilatation of the urinary tract, sclerotherapy for renal cysts, percutaneous catheter drainage, percutaneous foreign body retrieval and biopsy. Percutaneous nephrostomy is a basic technique to provide a direct access to urinary tract, which makes it possible to perform other interventional procedures. Although nonvascular intervention may produce some complications, it is generally considered to be less invasive than open surgery and has advantages such as short hospital stay, early return to normal life and therefore economic savings. This review is described to help clinicians easily understand the procedures, indications, techniques, and complications with figures of cases the authors experienced.     

The effect of 1-phenylalanine mustard on anti-globulin antibodies in multiple myeloma

An immunochemical and serological study of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who developed multiple myeloma and was treated with 1-phenylalanine mustard showed a striking difference in the effect of this drug on the rapidly dividing cells, as opposed to the resting plasma cells. The titres of anti-globulin antibodies such as the IgG serum agglutinators and the IgM rheumatoid factors were little altered although the IgG myeloma spike has disappeared following therapy. Fractionation of two different serum samples from 1966 and 1970 showed the IgG paraprotein to be serologically inactive for anti-globulin activity. This paraprotein was also characterized by producing only a single IgG precipitin line with horse anti-human whole serum antibody while the normal IgG globulins always showed a double line.     

Resistance of calves to Cryptosporidium parvum: effects of age and previous exposure.

Cryptosporidium parvum is a coccidian parasite that causes diarrheal disease in many vertebrate species, including young (less than or equal to 1 month old) calves. Older calves and adult cattle are resistant to infection. In this study, newborn calves were raised in isolation from C. parvum for 1 week to 3 months before experimental challenge with the parasite. Calves orally challenged with C. parvum at 1 week of age shed oocysts in their feces and had diarrhea after challenge exposure. When these calves were rechallenged at 1 and 3 months of age, they neither shed oocysts nor had diarrhea. There was no significant increase in the mean anticryptosporidium enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay serum antibody titer in these calves following any of the challenge exposures. Calves orally inoculated with C. parvum for the first time at 1 month of age shed oocysts, had diarrhea after challenge exposure, and were resistant to rechallenge at 3 months of age. These calves had a twofold increase in serum antibody titer after the first challenge and no increase after the second challenge. Calves orally inoculated with C. parvum for the first time at 3 months of age shed oocysts, and two of seven animals had diarrhea. These calves had a 10-fold increase in serum antibody to C. parvum after exposure. This study demonstrates that calves raised in isolation from C. parvum remain susceptible to challenge until at least 3 months of age. Furthermore, within this time period, initial exposure and recovery renders calves resistant to further challenge with the parasite. The data also suggest that exposure of young calves to C. parvum may inhibit the development of a serum antibody response to the parasite.