Contractile responsiveness of the isolated guinea pig oviduct to autacoids at different phases of the sexual cycle or under ovarian steroid treatment]

Contraction of the longitudinal smooth muscle of the isolated guinea pig oviduct in response to autacoids was examined at different phases of the sex cycle or during ovarian steroid treatments. Isolated strips from isthmic smooth muscle of the female guinea pig (body weight; 300-900 g) oviduct were mounted in an organ bath and their isotonic responses were measured in the longitudinal direction. Histamine (greater than or equal to 3 X 10(-8) M) produced a concentration-dependent contraction of the oviductal smooth muscle, which was unaffected by the sex cycle. Noradrenaline and adrenaline (greater than or equal to 10(-8) M) produced a contraction mediated by alpha-adrenoceptors and a relaxation mediated by beta-adrenoceptor. During proestrus and metestrus (high estrogen), the contractile response was reduced but relaxation was increased, compared with those observed during diestrus. Prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha (greater than or equal to 10(-10)M and greater than or equal to 10(-9)M, respectively) produced a concentration-dependent contraction and their maximum responses were about 50% of that induced by histamine (10(-4)M). These contractile responses were unaffected by the sex cycle. On the other hand, acetylcholine did not modify the smooth muscle tone of the isolated guinea pig oviduct in the concentration range from 10(-7)M to 3 X 10(-4)M. The contractile response of the oviductal smooth muscle to adrenaline after bilateral ovariectomy was inhibited by estrogen treatment, while relaxation was inhibited by progesterone treatment.     

The newly certified 105 Japanese medical technologists in clinical microbiology

Interest in quality assurance(QA) in clinical laboratories in Japan has increased over the past 30 years. We have however been lagging behind countries such as the USA, Canada and the UK in QA of clinical microbiology. The main problem of QA in Japan is human resources. There are only about 400 laboratory physicians certified by the Japanese Society of Laboratory Medicine(JSLM). Almost no academics in microbiology are interested in QA and they mostly lack clinical competence. There is a small number of faculty positions, and promotions are mostly based on research productivity while medical graduates are increasingly drawn to bench work for basic, short-term research. The Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology (JSCM) was established in 1990 in order to promote the development of clinical microbiology and its relevant fields in Japan. And 2001 was a milestone in sustained efforts of the JSLM to initiate qualifying examinations of medical technologists(MT) in clinical microbiology. 105 MT in clinical microbiology were newly certified by the Joint Committee of JSCM, JSLM, Japanese Association of Medical Technologists (JAMT) and College of Clinical Pathology of Japan(CCPJ). The certified MTs have appropriate educational background and are well motivated. With good on-the-job training, they are expected to perform effectively various tasks, including laboratory management. Recent radical changes in the health care delivery system have also had serious implications on laboratory services and QA of microbiological tests. The primary goal of the clinical microbiology laboratory is to provide accurate diagnostic testing and high-quality service at a low cost for its customers. It is believed that the Joint Committee and the newly certified MTs will contribute to narrowing the gap between Japan and other countries in clinical microbiology.     

Role of CD 11/CD 18 in neutrophil emigration during acute and recurrent Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pneumonia in rabbits.

This study examined CD11/CD18-mediated adhesion in neutrophil emigration during acute and recurrent Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pneumonia. Neutrophil emigration during acute pneumonia was studied in anti-CD18 antibody or murine-IgG-pretreated rabbits 4 hours after intrabronchial instillation of P. aeruginosa. To examine emigration in recurrent pneumonias, rabbits given P. aeruginosa on day 0 received anti-CD18 antibody or IgG on day 7. A second instillate was placed either at the initial site or in a separate lobe, and emigration into alveolar spaces was quantitated morphometrically after 4 hours. The results show that CD11/CD18 was required for neutrophil emigration in acute pneumonias and in recurrent pneumonias that occurred at a site distant from the initial infection. However, when the recurrent pneumonia occurred in the previously inflamed site, CD11/CD18 was not required. When the same number of organisms were instilled on days 0 and 7, emigration was reduced to 15 to 20 percent of the number that migrated initially and only CD18-independent adhesion pathways were used. Increasing the concentration of organisms threefold increased emigration through both CD18-dependent and CD18-independent pathways. These data indicate that P. aeruginosa induces CD11/CD18-dependent emigration during acute pneumonia and recurrent pneumonia at previously uninflamed sites. However, adhesion pathways are altered in regions of chronic inflammation, and a greater proportion of neutrophil emigration occurs through CD11/CD18-independent pathways.     

COX-2+ myofibroblasts may play a key role in marked stromal fibrosis in strictured colorectal carcinomas

AIMS: To elucidate the mechanism of marked stromal fibrosis in strictured colorectal carcinomas (SC) that cause complete ileus. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixteen cases of SC and 29 cases of non-strictured colorectal carcinoma (NSC) were studied. These carcinomas showed similar clinicopathological features except for bowel stricture. The stricture index (SI) showing the degree of bowel stricture was 59.8 +/- 12.1% in SC versus 20.8 +/- 24.6% in NSC (P < 0.001). The fibrosis index (FI), defined to reflect the extent of stromal fibrosis, was 56.3 +/- 8.8% in SC versus 21.9 +/- 10.6% in NSC (P < 0.001). COX-2+ myofibroblasts were detected in 13 cases (81.3%) in SC versus eight cases (27.6%) in NSC (P < 0.01). The COX-2+ myofibroblast density was 276.7 +/- 181.1 cells/mm(2) in SC versus 26.6 +/- 52.7 cells/mm(2) in NSC (P < 0.001). When all cases were divided into two groups with and without COX-2+ myofibroblasts, the SI was 48.8 +/- 19.1% in those with COX-2+ myofibroblasts versus 24.8 +/- 29.3% in those with COX-2- myofibroblasts (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: COX-2+ myofibroblasts may play an important role in extensive bowel stricture in colorectal carcinomas.     

Multilocular thymic cyst associated with follicular hyperplasia: clinicopathologic study of 4 resected cases

We report here 4 cases of multilocular thymic cysts (MTCs) with reactive lymphoid follicular hyperplasia. They were admitted to our hospital to examine anterior mediastinal masses demonstrated on chest computed tomographic scans. Three patients presented high-grade intermittent fever, and 2 patients were associated with Sjogren syndrome with elevated serum antinuclear antibody levels. All patients were subjected to extended thymectomy. Interestingly, their fever disappeared immediately after surgery. Histologically, the lesions were characterized by several cystic spaces separated by various thick walls with dense lymphoid tissue containing large reactive germinal centers. The inner cyst walls were lined by flattened cuboidal epithelia in some portions. Columnar epithelia with focal cilia were partially observed in 2 cases. These pathological findings led to a diagnosis of MTCs that were thought to result from cystic transformation of medullary duct derivatives by acquired inflammatory processes. The pathological findings, together with clinical courses of our cases, suggest that inflammation accompanied by autoimmune diseases may play, in part, an important role in the development of MTCs.     

A case of hyper-HDL-cholesterolemia presenting peculiar lipoprotein patterns in agarose gel electrophoresis

Lipoprotein metabolism was analyzed in a patient with marked hyper-HDL-cholesterolemia. A 50 year old male with no symptom of ischemic heart disease or xanthoma had a serum cholesterol level between 293 and 410 mg/dl, and a markedly elevated, HDL-cholesterol level (160-190 mg/dl). The cholesterol content of ultracentrifugally separated HDL2 was exclusively increased, while it was normal in the HDL3 fraction. Analytical ultracentrifugation and HPLC revealed that HDL particles became remarkably larger than the control and, on the contrary, LDL particles became smaller. LPL and LCAT activities were higher in this case, but H-TGL activity was normal. Agarose gel electrophoresis of lipoproteins showed an abnormal broad band which was located between alpha and pre beta band. Serum levels of apolipoprotein A-I, A-II, C-II, C-III and E were higher, while apolipoprotein B level was slightly lower than the control. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was demonstrated to be completely deficient in this case, as determined in 10 microliters serum using [3H] CE-labeled HDL3 as donor and VLDL + LDL fraction as acceptor. Since CETP was considered to catalyze the cholesteryl ester transport from HDL to VLDL and LDL, the deficiency of this activity might be the cause of the marked hyper-HDL-cholesterolemia in this patient.     

Small vessel vasculitis limited to pleuropulmonary manifestations,possibly induced by endotoxin

AIMS: We investigated a rare case of small vessel vasculitis (SVV) limited to pleuropulmonary manifestations, possibly induced by endotoxin, to determine the activation of immuno-mediated cells and endothelia in the pleuropulmonary circulation. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 44-year-old man with a high fever was X-rayed, revealing bilateral pleural effusion and atelectasis in the chest. His laboratory data were within normal limits except for a high white blood cell count and a high C-reactive protein level. Autoantibodies including anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody were negative. Endotoxin was detected in his sera, but repeated cultures of sputa, urine, blood and the pleural effusion were negative for bacteria. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed and lung and parietal pleura specimens were obtained. Histology showed arterioles or small arteries infiltrated by monocytes or neutrophils with fibrinoid necrosis and acute or chronic venulitis. A diagnosis of SVV in the lung and pleura was made. Immunohistochemistry revealed that interleukin (IL)-1beta was expressed in monocytes and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 on endothelial cells in the vasculitic lesions in the lung. CONCLUSIONS: Endotoxin possibly induced the inflammation in this apparently unique case of pleuropulmonary small vessel vasculitis. Immunohistochemistry revealed the expression of IL-1beta and VCAM-1 which may have caused activation of monocytes and endothelial cells within the vasculitic lesions.     

Inhibition by 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin and SM-3997, a novel anxiolytic drug,of the hippocampal rhythmical slow activity mediated by 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptors

Summary Electrophysiological studies using spectral analysis techniques were undertaken in rabbits to determine whether or not hippocampal rhythmical slow activity (RSA, theta wave activity) was affected by the 5-hydroxytryptamine_1A (5-HT_1A) agonists 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and 3 , 4 , 7 , 7 -hexahydro-2-(4-(4-(2-pyrimidinyl)-1-piperazinyl)-butyl)-4, 7-methano-IH-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione dihydrogen citrate (SM-3997, a newly synthesized anxiolytic drug). Intravenous administration of 8-OH-DPAT and SM-3997 induced a desynchronized pattern with low-amplitude slow wave activity in the hippocampal EEG and inhibited RSA generation following stimulation of the midbrain reticular formation. RSA was also inhibited by 5-HT_1A related anxiolytics such as buspirone, gepirone, and ipsapirone. The effects of 8-OH-DPAT and SM-3997 on the hippocampal RSA were blocked by pindolol, which has 5-HT_1A antagonistic activity. Direct microinjection of these 5-HTIA selective agonists into the hippocampus inhibited generation of the hippocampal RSA. These findings indicated that 8-OH-DPAT and SM-3997 inhibited the hippocampal RSA by acting on hippocampal 5-HTIA receptors. Send offprint requests to A. Hirose at the above address