Liquid crystal thermography; a reliable method for detecting soda lime exhaustion

The dynamic and functional state of soda lime can be more precisely assessed by measuring changes in wall temperatures of the absorption chambers rather than observing color change of the soda lime granules. We demonstrated in this report that the liquid crystal thermometer is an inexpensive and reliable measuring device for this purpose.     

Influences of exposure to cigarette smoke on concentration of nicorandil in plasma of rats.

Influences of acute exposure to cigarette smoke on plasma concentrations of nicorandil administered orally and parenterally were investigated in rats by HPLC. The animals were exposed to tobacco smoke of two kinds of cigarettes using a smoking machine (i.e., the cigarette smoke contained either low or high nicotine and tar). The plasma concentration of nicorandil administered orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg had a lower absorption phase in two cigarette smoke-exposed groups, particularly in the high nicotine and tar-containing cigarette smoke-exposed group, compared with the nonsmoking control group. The AUC and MRT values in a high nicotine and tar-containing cigarette smoke-exposed group were lower and higher, respectively, than in the nonsmoking control group. However, there was no marked difference in nicorandil plasma concentrations between the cigarette smoke-exposed group and the nonsmoking control group when nicorandil was administered ip or iv at a dose of 5 mg/kg. These results suggest that cigarette smoke exposure causes the suppression or delay of absorption of nicorandil from the gastrointestinal tract.     

Independent association of antibodies against human papillomavirus type 16 and E7 proteins with cervical cancer

The E4 open reading frame (ORF) of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is transcribed in abundant mRNAs encoding an fusion gene during the productive infection, and the HPV 16 E7 ORF encodes an oncoprotein detectable in the cell lines derived from cervical carcinoma. We examined 421 human sera, which included 108 samples from the patients with cervical carcinoma, for the presence of IgG antibodies against the HPV 16 E4 and E7 proteins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bacterially expressed fusion protein lac- and nonfusion protein E7 were purified and used as antigens. All of the 22 serum samples positive for anti-E7 antibody and the 11 out of 15 samples positive for anti- antibody were from the patients with cervical carcinoma, but only one sample was found to contain both anti- and anti-E7 antibodies. These findings show specific and independent association of these antibodies with cervical carcinoma.     

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.     

Occurrence of free, defective viral DNA in a hamster tumor induced by human papovavirus BK

We characterized viral DNA present in an osteosarcoma cell line (Os-513), which had been originally induced in a hamster with human papovavirus BK (BKV), by hybridization of ³²P-labeled BKV DNA to DNA extracted from cells, undigested or digested with various restriction endonucleases, fractionated by electrophoresis, and transferred to a nitrocellulose filter. Os-513 was found to contain free viral DNA and high molecular weight DNA with viral sequences. The free viral DNA seemed to be defective, for its size was about two-thirds of the wild type. The deletion, one-third of the entire BKV DNA, extended over a segment between map positions 0.72 and 0 which includes the leader and intervening sequences and part of the body sequences for late mRNAs. The high molecular weight DNA with viral sequences appeared to be composed of tandem, head-to-tail repeats of the same defective BKV DNA as the free DNA.     

Lack of association in Japanese patients between neuroleptic malignant syndrome and a debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase genotype with low enzyme activity

Decreased activity of debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase (CYP2D6), which participates in hepatic metabolism of several frequently used neuroleptics and antidepressants, is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait through polymorphic CYP2D6 gene alleles. In eastern Orientals, a C --> T substitution at nucleotide 188 (Pro34Ser) is primarily responsible for decreased ability to metabolize CYP2D6 substrates. We therefore studied a possible association between neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and the C188T mutation. We examined the frequency of the C188T mutation by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 36 Japanese patients previously diagnosed with NMS and 107 neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients with no NMS history. The C188T allele frequency was 0.417 in NMS patients and 0.463 in patients without NMS. No significant allele or genotype associations were observed. We cannot conclude that low CYP2D6 activity genotype causes susceptibility to NMS in Japanese patients.     

Atomic force microscopy to study direct neurite-mast cell (RBL) communication in vitro

Communication between nerves and mast cells is a prototypic demonstration of neuroimmune interaction. We used an in vitro co-culture approach comprising cultured murine superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed how neurites attached to a pseudopodium or a cell body of an RBL cell. After stimulation of SCG neurites with bradykinin or scorpion venom, RBL cells attached to neurites spread and flattened, and several discharged granules (0. 5-1.0 microm in diameter) were found on the surface of the RBL cells. A neurokinin (NK)-1 receptor (i.e. substance P receptor) antagonist prevented the RBL degranulation. The results showed that activation of the SCG neurites with bradykinin or scorpion venom was able to elicit degranulation in RBL cells which were attached to neurites.     

Antigen-forming defective viruses of simian virus 40

The presence of two kinds of defective virus particles was demonstrated in SV40 preparations obtained by serial undiluted passage in African green monkey kidney (GMK) cell cultures. They were designated T and V particles, respectively. The former produces only T antigen and the latter V antigen in the nuclei of GMK cells, without producing infectious progeny. A tentative method of the titration of each particle is presented. The purified virion preparation obtained by the third undiluted passage was shown to consist mainly of physically heterogeneous defective particles. The average buoyant density of defective virions was significantly lower than that of plaque-forming particles. T particles were present in the light virion population.