Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale

Abstract The reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (JY-BOCS) were determined by 20 raters for 12 Japanese patients with obsessive compulsive disorder at four institutions. Interrater reliability for the total JY-BOCS score was excellent, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was high (ICC = 0.960). Internal consistency was also excellent (Cronbach's α= 0.889). Concurrent and discriminant validity of the JY-BOCS was examined by comparing the scores on the JY-BOCS with those on the Maudsley Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) and scales for depression and anxiety. A slight correlation was found between scores on the JY-BOCS and MOCI, but no significant correlations were found between scores on the JY-BOCS and those on scales for depression or anxiety.     

Clinical Trial with Authentic Recombinant Somatropin in Japan

Recombinant somatropin, produced by recombinant DNA technology, was administered by injection in daily doses of 8 IU to six healthy young volunteers. Daily injection for 4 days did not cause any significant change in the results of physical examination, blood count or urinalysis. Non-esterified fatty acid levels increased significantly from 0.45 ± 0.16 to 1.08 ± 0.12 mEq/litre (mean SEM) at 4 hours after the first injection (p<0.001). Plasma IGF-1 levels increased from 0.80 ± 0.14 units/ml to 1.72 ± 0.50, 3.22 ± 1.02, 3.17 ± 1.20 and 3.63 ± 0.78 units/ml at 24 hours after each daily injection for 4 days (p<0.001). Plasma hGH reached peak levels at 3 hours after intramuscular injection of recombinant somatropin, 4 IU, and this peak value was 57.3 ± 2.8 ng/ml. A total of 21 patients with pituitary dwarfism were also treated with recombinant somatropin for 6 months at a dose of 0.5 IU/kg/week. Their heights increased by 2.2–5.0 cm during the 6 months of treatment, which was calculated to be equivalent to 4.4–10.0 cm/year with a mean growth rate of 7.4 ± 0.4 cm/year. Anti-hGH antibody with a titre of 10 was observed in two patients at the end of 6 months of treatment.     

Urine Growth Hormone Determinations Compared with Other Methods in the Assessment of Growth Hormone Secretion

Okuno, A., Yano, K., Itoh, Y., Hashida, S., Ishikawa, E., Mohri, Z-I. and Murakami, M. (Department of Paediatrics, Asahikawa Medical College, Hokkaido; Medical College of Miyazaki, Kiyotake, Miyazaki; and Research and Development Division, Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co Ltd, Hyogo, Japan). Urine growth hormone determinations compared with other methods in the assessment of growth hormone secretion. Acta Paediatr Scand [Suppl] 337:74, 1987.
Urinary excretion of hGH was studied in children with short stature using a sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. Urinary hGH excretion, in terms of hGH: creatinine ratio, showed excellent correlation with the mean and peak hGH values during physiological and pharmacological tests. It seems that the urinary hGH levels reflect serum hGH profiles during the urine collection period. A border zone for the lower limits of normal hGH levels in the urine was 7.5–13.4 ng/g creatinine for the physiological test at night (from 2000 hours to 0600 hours) and 17.4–35.0 ng/g creatinine for the pharmacological tests. Assessment of hGH secretory status by the urinary hGH levels showed good agreement with the serum hGH response. Measurement of urinary hGH could be used as a diagnostic test for impaired hGH secretion, and the multiple blood drawing required in physiological and pharmacological tests might be replaced by urine sampling.     

Immunoreactivity to M2 proteins in antimitochondrial antibody-negative patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Abstract Although antimitochondrial auto-antibodies are characteristically present in the serum of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), there is a discrepancy between the positivity for antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) and that for anti-M2 auto-antibody. In an attempt to explain the discrepancy, this study investigates the relationship between the AMA titre, determined by indirect immunofluorescence, and immunoreactivity to four inner mitochondrial membrance proteins (M2 proteins) with molecular weights of 70, 50, 47, and 40 kDa in 129 patients with PBC. Antimitochondrial antibody positivity was identified in 114 (88%) of 129 patients with clinically and histologically confirmed PBC. There were no significant differences between the AMA-negative and AMA-positive groups in clinical characteristics or histologically determined disease stage. Immunoblot analysis showed that all patients had anti-M2 auto-antibodies to one or more of the four M2 proteins. Nine (60%) of the 15 AMA-negative patients had antibodies to only one M2 protein (either 70 or 47 kDa). In contrast, 34 (53%) of the 64 patients with high AMA titres ( 1: 320) had antibodies to all four M2 proteins. There was a significant rank correlation between the AMA titre and the number of antibodies to M2 proteins ( P < 0.01). These findings indicate that the AMA titre is not influenced by the immunogenicity of M2 protein but by the number of M2 proteins that elicit an antibody response and that decreased immunoreactivity to M2 proteins may induce AMA negativity in PBC serum samples.     

Zeta potential of human X- and Y-bearing sperm

The zeta potential of human X- and Y-bearing sperm was measured by two different methods: (i) using an electrophoretic light scattering spectrophotometer, and (ii) using a laser-rotating prism. The X- and Y-bearing sperm were separated by free-flow electrophoresis, and their purities were determined by staining for the F-body using quinacrine mustard. The zeta potential of the sperm in the fraction containing more than 80% Y-bearing sperm was approximately -16 mV, whereas that of sperm in the fraction containing more than 95% X-bearing sperm was approximately -20 mV. In other words, the net negative-charge on the cell surface of human X-bearing sperm is higher than that of Y-bearing sperm.     

Retroperitoneal haematoma due to ruptured microaneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal artery

A case of retroperitoneal haematoma due to a ruptured microaneurysm of the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery in a 61 year old man is described. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed cystic masses near the gall-bladder. Selective coeliac angiography disclosed a microaneurysm of the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery. Surgical extirpation of the cystic masses was performed, and the histological finding was an encapsulated old haematoma.     

Possible Involvement of Protein Kinase C in the Modulation of Inotropic and Chronotropic Effects Induced by Ouabain in Rat Right Atrial Muscles

Modulations of the inotropic and chronotropic effects of ouabain and protein kinase C (PKC) stimulation with phorbol esters in rat right atria were examined. Cumulative administration of ouabain (3–30 μm ) caused a positive inotropic effect in a concentration-dependent manner, but did not produce a chronotropic effect. A single administration of ouabain (30 μm ) also had similar effects: +744 ± 84% (n = 23, P < 0.01) in the contractile force and ?0.7 ± 1.3% (n = 23, P > 0.05) in the sinus rate. Addition of phorbol esters reinforced the ouabain-evoked positive inotropic effect: 26.5 ± 8.9% (n = 6, P < 0.05) with 100 μm 4-β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB), and 6.4 ± 3.3% (n = 6, P > 0.05) with 100 μm 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Simultaneously, the mixture of ouabain and phorbol ester raised the resting tension. Phorbol esters alone caused a positive inotropic effect (by about 21–27%). Non-PKC activating phorbol ester, 4-α-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (PDD, 100 μm ), did not have any effect. Pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor (staurosporine 100 μm ) significantly decreased the ouabain-induced positive inotropic effect and caused a negative chronotropic effect, but H-7 (1-(5-isoquinolinylsulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride) (5 μm ) had no effect. These results suggest that PKC stimulation may be involved in the ouabain-evoked responses in the right atria of rat as seen by increased cellular Ca²⁺ concentration (and Ca²⁺-sensitivity); thus the positive inotropic effect may not be due only to modulation of Na⁺/K⁺ pump activity.     

30%双氧水浸泡后对牙本质中钙/磷含量的影响

目的针对临床型漂白剂在使用中直接接触牙颈部暴露的牙本质和通过牙釉质渗透到牙本质的特点,观察30%双氧水对牙本质中的Ca/P的影响.方法实验组7颗离体牙浸泡在30%双氧水24小时后,对照组5颗离体牙浸泡在生理盐水中24小时后,两组使用OCPC法对浸泡液中的Ca离子含量进行测定,同时运用Fiske-Subbarow法对浸泡液中的磷酸根含量进行测定.然后两组进行统计学比较分析.结果实验组30%双氧水浸泡液中Ca/P含量明显高于对照组(P<0.01).说明在30%双氧水浸泡过程中发生了明显脱矿现象.结论 30%双氧水对牙本质有脱矿作用,建议在使用临床型漂白治疗后应加以再矿化和防龋措施.     

Electrical and Mechanical Modulations by Oxygen-derived Free-radical Generating Systems in Guinea-pig Heart Muscles

The effects of free-radical generating systems and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on the action potentials and contractile force in guinea-pig cardiac muscles were examined using conventional microelectrode and whole-cell voltage-clamp methods at 36°C. Hydrogen peroxide (30–100 μm) prolonged 50%, 75% and 90% repolarization of action-potential duration (APD) approximately 15–25 min after its application. But the longer exposure reversed the APD shortening in a concentration-dependent manner. Other action-potential parameters were not altered to a significant extent. The contractile force was increased. Longer exposure inhibited the enhanced force (but it was still larger than control). The effects on the spontaneous action potential from right atrial muscle were almost the same. In whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments, H₂O₂ (100 μm) inhibited l-type Ca²⁺ current and enhanced delayed rectifier K+ current. The effects of light-activated rose bengal (10–100 nm) on the APD were similar to, but more potent than, those of H₂O₂. The response was observed rapidly after a light illumination. During exposure to rose bengal (100 nm), abnormal spontaneous action potentials or arrhythmias such as a bigeminy occurred, presumably because of early and delayed afterdepolarizations. The responses were irreversible. At 300 μm ACE inhibitors, captopril and enalapril, protected the changes induced by these free radicals. These results indicate that H₂O₂ has a dual, time-dependent, action on the APD and rose bengal with light illumination produced the responses rapidly. The oxygen-derived free radicals increased [Ca]_i and then cellular Ca²⁺ overload occurred. These responses were protected by ACE inhibitors.