Uptake of dehydroascorbic acid in high-GSH and normal-GSH dog erythrocytes

Uptake of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) was studied in two types of dog erythrocytes with high GSH and normal GSH levels. Compared with ascorbic acid uptake, DHA produced a much greater ascorbic acid accumulation in dog erythrocytes. Both dog erythrocytes showed a concentration dependence of DHA uptake, and cellular ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly higher in high-GSH cells than in normal-GSH cells. Glucose and cytochalasin B inhibited DHA uptake. This suggests that DHA enters dog erythrocytes predominantly by the facilitated glucose transporter, particularly by the Glut 1 glucose transporter. The rate of glucose uptake was quite similar in the two types of cells. Compared with normal-GSH cells, high-GSH cells were more resistant to oxidative stress induced by high concentration of DHA. As a rapid entry of DHA inflicts on cells a heavy demand for GSH for its reduction to ascorbic acid, high-GSH cells containing a larger reserve of GSH have an advantage over normal-GSH cells in both ascorbic acid accumulation and resisting oxidative stress produced by DHA.     

Percutaneous removal of renal and upper ureteral stones: clinical results and complications of 103 cases

We report the results and complications of 103 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous removal of renal and ureteral stones. The overall clinical success rate was 80.6%. For the recent 33 cases in which UL-arm fluoroscopy was used, however, the success rate was as high as 87.9%, which was considered to be due to easier establishment of percutaneous direct access. The most common complications were bleeding (18.5%), extravasation (15.5%) and fever (9.7%). Four cases with significant bleeding required arteriography, but there were no sign of arteriovenous fistula nor pseudoaneurysms in any cases. To study renal parenchymal damage in the percutaneous procedures, plasma renin activities (PRA) were compared in 54 cases after six months. However, significant elevation of PRA did not occur in any case.     

Clinical usefulness of the frontal assessment battery (FAB) for elderly in memory clinic]

To investigate the usefulness of the frontal assessment battery (FAB) as a brief assessment for diagnosis in patients with dementia, we examined cognitive function using the FAB, Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Kana-hiroi test, and Raven's colored progressive matrices (RCPM). Subjects were 82 senile patients having amnesia as a complaint including 28 Alzheimer's disease (AD), 14 frontotemporal dementia (FTD), 17 vascular dementia (VD), 13 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 10 healthy persons. We discussed the difference of scores in different types of dementia. In the FAB, the scores of healthy persons and MCI were much higher compared with the scores of all types of dementia. There were high correlation between FAB and MMSE, Kana-hiroi test, and RCPM. Although some subjects showed normal score in MMSE and/or RCPM, they showed low score in FAB. Based on this, FAB is efficient for the differential diagnosis of dementia as brief screening tool.     

Dual concentration-dependent effects of phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate on spontaneous and acetylcholine-induced electrical responses recorded from isolated circular smooth muscle of the guinea-pig stomach antrum.

Intracellular recordings of electrical activity were made from circular smooth muscle cells in small segments of tissue isolated from the guinea-pig stomach antrum. Every cell that was impaled exhibited a rhythmic generation of slow potentials. Experiments were carried out to test the effects of three different concentrations (1, 10 and 100 nM) of phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) on these slow potentials and on the responses produced by acetylcholine (ACh), in the presence of nifedipine and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (nitroarginine), known inhibitors of L-type Ca-channels and nitric oxide synthase, respectively. The resting membrane potential was -62 +/- 7 mV, while the frequency and amplitude of the slow potentials were 1.6 +/- 0.1 cycle per min (cpm) and 33 +/- 1 mV, respectively. Application of 1 nM PDBu increased the frequency of slow potentials, with no significant change in the membrane potential and amplitude of slow potentials. At a concentration of 100 nM, PDBu depolarized the membrane by about 6 mV, and either decreased the amplitude and frequency of the slow potentials or abolished them. The amplitude and frequency of the slow potentials were not significantly changed in the presence of 10 nM PDBu. In the presence of chelerythrine (1-2 microM), a known inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), the increase in frequency of slow potentials by 1 nM PDBu and depolarization produced by 100 nM PDBu were not elicited. The increase in frequency of slow potentials by 100 nM ACh was inhibited by PDBu, in a concentration-dependent manner, and ACh-responses were abolished in the presence of 100 nM PDBu. These results indicate that PDBu has dual actions on the spontaneous activity of antral circular muscle, with low concentrations increasing and high concentrations inhibiting the frequency of the slow potentials. The former may be produced by activation of protein kinase C (PKC). As the ACh-induced excitation of slow potentials is inhibited by PDBu, a possible causal relationship between the inhibition and over-activation of PKC is considered.     

Comparison of Plasma Metabolite Concentrations and Enzyme Activities in Beef Cattle Raised by Different Feeding Systems in Korea,Japan and New Zealand

Concentrations of metabolites and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism were measured in plasma of Korean and Japanese beef cattle, which were raised by the indoor feeding system programmed to feed larger amount of roughage in their growing periods and larger amount of concentrate diet in their finishing periods (Japanese feeding system), and grazing New Zealand beef cattle. By the Japanese beef grading system, Korean and Japanese beef cattle showed high beef quality score, average grade 3.3 and 3.6, respectively. The plasma free fatty acid and lactate concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in Korean beef cattle were significantly higher than those in Japanese beef cattle. The plasma lactate concentration in Korean beef cattle was 8.40 mmol/l, which was similar to the values observed in lactic acidosis. The higher activities of plasma LDH, MDH and AST may indicate slight liver damage by slightly acidotic conditions in Korean beef cattle. New Zealand beef cattle fed on pasture which they harvest by grazing showed significantly lower plasma glucose, cholesterol, lactate and IRI concentrations and enzyme activities than those in Korean and Japanese beef cattle fed on larger amount of concentrate diets. Plasma metabolite concentrations and energy metabolism‐related enzyme activities may be good indicators for evaluating metabolic conditions of beef cattle raised by different feeding systems.     

Screening of H-ras Gene Point Mutations in 50 Cases of Bladder Carcinoma

Background Mutation converts the H-ras gene into an activated oncogene in about 10% of human bladder cancers. Codons 12 and 61 are the major "hot spots" for activation. A simple and accurate method to detect point mutations in these codons may be clinically useful for early diagnosis of bladder cancer.
Methods Bladder cancer samples from 50 patients, plus 10 samples of normal bladder mucosa, were analyzed for possible point mutation of the H-ras gene at either codon 12 or codon 61. The H-ras gene DNA segments that include these 2 codons were amplified by PCR methods, then the possible presence of a point mutation was evaluated at each codon by susceptibility of the respective DNA segments to digestion with the restriction enzyme and by dot blot hybridization assay. A bladder cancer patient who had an H-ras gene mutation was examined to see whether the mutation was also detectable in the cells released in the urine.
Results Definite or possible point mutations were found in 6 (1 2%) out of 50 bladder cancer patients, while no mutation was detected in normal mucosa. A point mutation could also be detected in cells isolated from the patient's urine sample.
Conclusion The prevalence of point mutations at codon 1 2 or codon 61 of the H-ras gene found in this study was similar to that previously estimated for human bladder cancer by DNA transfection assay. The method we have used for detecting point mutations of the H-ras gene provides a simple and highly accurate way to detect mutated cancer cells even in the urine. It may be clinically usable for early diagnosis of bladder cancer.     

Isolated angitis of the central nervous system--case report and review

Isolated angitis of the central nervous system (IACNS) is rare condition with inflammation limited to vessels supplying the brain. This IACNS has been a poorly characterized and infrequently reported illness since it was first described as a separate entity in 1959. However, a patient with IACNS has not been reported in Japan. A patient, 39-year old-male, with IACNS limited to small and middle vessels is described. Recurrent, transient consciousness disturbances, focal myoclonus, papilloedema and temporal lobe epilepsy were observed during disease course. CSF finding of this patient showed lymphocytosis with marked increased protein. Carotid and vertebral angiogram showed irregular luminal outline in branches of all arteries. The most specific finding is that of alternating areas of focal stenosis and ectasia giving a "sausage" pattern. These characteristic findings showed in the branch of external carotid arteries. There was no evidence of systemic vasculitis by systemic angiography. Biopsy of temporal artery showed lymphocyte infiltration, fibrinoid necrosis without giant cell and granuloma. Formation of A-V malformation in the branch of external carotid artery was also observed. This histopathological finding was compatible with necrotizing angitis, not granulomatous angitis. Isolated angitis of the central nervous system was diagnosed. In spite of his administration of corticosteroid, cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities has not responded markedly. Abnormal findings of carotid and vertebral angiogram also has not changed. After 7 years from his onset, his neurologic signs and symptoms were well controlled with administration of anti-epileptic drugs.     

Genomic structure around joining segments and constant regions of swine T-cell receptor alpha/delta (TRA/TRD) locus

A complete genomic region of 131.2 kb including the swine T-cell receptor alpha/delta constant region (TRAC/TRDC) and joining segments (TRAJ/TRDJ) was sequenced. The structure of this region was strikingly conserved in comparison to that of human or mouse. All of the 61 TRAJ segments detected in the human genomic sequence were detected in the swine sequence and the sequence of the protein binding site of T early alpha, the sequence of the alpha enhancer element and the conserved sequence block between TRAJ3 and TRAJ4 are highly conserved. Insertion of the repetitive sequences that interspersed after the differentiation of the species in mammals such as short interspersed nucleotide elements is markedly suppressed in comparison to other genomic regions, while the composition of the mammalian-wide interspersed sequences is relatively conserved in human and swine. This observation indicates the existence of a highly selective pressure to conserve this genomic region around TRAJ throughout the evolution of mammals.     

Effects among healthy subjects of the duration of regularly practicing a guided imagery program

Background  

We examined a large number of healthy adults in the general community who had individually participated in a guided imagery (GI) program daily and for various durations, to examine the psychophysiological effects of a GI program within a healthy group.