Localization of efferent neurons innervating the pharyngeal constrictor muscles and the cervical esophagus muscle in the cat by means of the horseradish peroxidase method

Following horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injection into the cephalopharyngeal muscle (CeP), the hyopharyngeal muscle (HP), the thyropharyngeal muscle (TP), the cricopharyngeal muscle (CP) and the cervical esophagus muscle (CE) of the cat, labeled neurons were identified in the nucleus retrofacialis and the rostral part of the nucleus ambiguus ipsilaterally. The rostral end of the labeled cell column was located more rostrally for CeP and HP than for TP, CP and CE. No difference was noted within the former two or within the latter three. The level of the caudal end of the labeled cell column became more caudal in the order of CeP, HP, TP and CP. The caudal end was located more rostral for CE than for TP. The neurons for CE were located more ventro-laterally than those for the other muscles.     

Degradation of methyl and ethyl mercury into inorganic mercury by oxygen free radical-producing systems: Involvement of hydroxyl radical

Degradation of methyl mercury (MeHg) and ethyl Hg (EtHg) with oxygen free radicals was studied in vitro by using three well-known hydroxyl radical (OH)-producing systems, namely Cu²⁺-ascorbate, xanthine oxidase (XOD)-hypoxanthine (HPX)-Fe(III)EDTA and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-ultraviolet light B. For this purpose, the direct determination method for inorganic Hg was employed. MeHg and EtHg were readily degraded by these three systems, though the amounts of inorganic Hg generated from MeHg were one half to one third those from EtHg. Degradation activity of XOD-HPX-Fe(III)EDTA system was inhibited by Superoxide dismutase, catalase and the OH scavengers and stimulated by H₂O₂. Deletion of the OH formation promoter Fe(III)EDTA from XOD-HPX-Fe(III)EDTA system resulted in the decreased degradation of MeHg and EtHg, which was enhanced by further addition of the iron chelator diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid. In all these cases, a good correlation was observed between alkyl Hg degradation and deoxyribose oxidation determining OH. By contrast, their degradation appeared to be unrelated to either Superoxide anion production or H₂O₂ production alone. We further confirmed that H₂O₂ (below 2 mM) itself did not cause significant degradation of MeHg and EtHg. These results suggested that OH, but not and H₂O₂, might be the oxygen free radical mainly responsible for the degradation of MeHg and EtHg.     

Inhibition of degranulation and cytokine production in bone marrow-derived mast cells by hydrolyzed rice bran

Objective  

We investigated the effects of hydrolyzed rice bran (HRB), an arabinoxylan extracted from rice bran, on mast cell degranulation and cytokine production.     

Treatment of severe pertussis by administration of specific gamma globulin with high titers anti-toxin antibody

Our patient presented with severe respiratory distress and marked pleocytosis. She was mechanically ventilated and received gamma globulin with high titers of anti-pertussis toxin and anti-filamentous hemagglutinin. Her clinical signs improved and a notable decrease in white blood cell count was observed. Ten months after treatment, the patient showed normal physical and mental development and anti-pertussis toxin and anti-filamentous hemagglutinin titers were significantly increased. Recently, the effectiveness of gamma globulin therapy has been emphasized again. Our experience supports the use of iv gamma globulin infusion. Also, gamma globulin did not influence the patient's own immunologic response to pertussis. Gamma globulin therapy with high anti-pertussis toxin titers could be considered for treatment of severe pertussis.     

Does external leg rotation facilitate femoral venipuncture?

Editor—Although the femoral vein (FV) is often used forcentral venous access, it carries a potential risk of femoralartery (FA) puncture. This complication is usually benign, butmassive retroperitoneal haemorrhage,¹ femoral nerve palsy² andarterio-venous fistula³ have been reported. To avoid this complication,patient position is extremely important but the advantages ofexternal leg     

N-cadherin plays a role in the synapse-like structures between mast cells and neurites

Communication between nerves and mast cells is a prototypic demonstration of neuro-immune interaction. Numerous studies have shown that the stimulation of nerves (or addition of neurotransmitters) can evoke activation of mast cells, and that mast cell-derived mediators can influence neuronal activity. However, the molecules involved in the membrane-membrane contacts between nerves and mast cells are still unknown. Here, we used an in vitro co-culture approach comprising interaction between immune (bone marrow-derived mast cell, BMMC) and nerve cells (superior cervical ganglia, SCG). The experiments showed clearly that the nerve-mast cell communication was supported by synapse-like structure and that N-cadherin, not E-cadherin, played an essential role in the synapse-like structure. In addition, we found that the synapse-like structure was assisted by clustering of beta-catenin to N-cadherin.     

The discovery of a new family of mammalian enzymes for repair of oxidatively damaged DNA,and its physiological implications

Oxidatively damaged bases in the genome are likely to be responsible for mutations leading to sporadic carcinogenesis. Two structurally similar DNA glycosylases, NTH1 and OGG1, which are able to excise most of these damaged bases, were identified previously in mammalian cells. A distinct family, consisting of two human DNA glycosylases orthologous to enzymes in Escherichia coli, has recently been characterized; they have overlapping substrate ranges with NTH1 and OGG1. The presence of multiple enzymes with potential back-up functions underscores the importance of removing both endogenously and exogenously generated oxidatively damaged bases from the genome, and may explain why no cancer or other disease phenotype has so far been linked to the deficiency of a single DNA glycosylase.     

Lidocaine spray used to capture a live Clinostomum parasite causing human laryngitis

This case report describes a patient who developed Clinostomum laryngitis after eating raw fresh-water fish. Parasite removal was performed under general anesthesia using a laryngomicroscopic method. Because it was difficult to capture the worm intact using forceps, it was sprayed with 8% lidocaine solution. This immediately inhibited peristaltic movement of the parasite allowing easy retrieval without tearing any part of the organism, thus facilitating parasite identification.