Identification and evaluation of antioxidants in Japanese parsley

Two cultivars of Japanese parsley were harvested in different seasons; their antioxidant capacities were evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methods, and the contents of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants were compared. Japanese parsley possessed potent antioxidant capacities both in hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts when evaluated by ORAC methods. LC/MS/MS analyses revealed that chlorogenic acid and four kinds of quercetin glycosides were major antioxidants in the hydrophilic extract. Lutein was the main contributor to the antioxidant capacity of the lipophilic extract. Antioxidant capacities of the hydrophilic extracts of both cultivars tended to be higher in winter because of the increase in the contents of chlorogenic acid and quercetin glycosides. An obvious trend in the lipophilic antioxidant capacities or lutein contents was not observed irrespective of the cultivar.     

A case of diaphragmatic hernia incarceration after a heart transplant operation

We report a case of a diaphragmatic hernia after a heart transplant operation. A 43-year-old woman, who underwent orthotropic heart transplantation for hypertrophic cadiomyopathy two year earlier, presented with vomiting and epigastric pain. A computed tomography scan showed that the stomach and transverse colon were dislocated in the left thoracic cavity. We diagnosed left diaphragmatic hernia incarceration and performed laparoscopic repair of the diaphragmatic hernia. A 12 × 8 cm diaphragmatic defect was found intraoperatively on the ventrolateral aspect of the left diaphragm, and the stomach with volvulus had herniated into the thorax through the defect. The hernia was considered to be iatrogenic. The diaphragmatic defect was large, and the diaphragm was thinning. We closed the defect by mesh repair. Laparoscopic mesh repair of the diaphragmatic hernia could be performed safely and with minimal invasiveness.     

Spontaneous Uterine Venous Rupture During Labour: A Case Report With Postoperative Ultrasonographic Findings

EDITORIAL COMMENT: We accepted this case for publication to remind readers that although uterine rupture during labour in a primigravida is extremely uncommon it does occur, or at any rate nulliparas can develop abdominal pain and shock in labour with a haemoperitoneum resulting from a tear in a vein in the lower posterior uterine wall. When one sees the hugely dilated uterine and ovarian venous plexuses at Caesarean section it is easy to believe that bleeding from such a vessel during labour could be prodigious. This case suggests that a dilated vein with blood flow derangements may be the cause. Nonetheless, as the authors warn us, the necessary response is not a precise diagnosis, but rapid laparotomy. See also Editorial Comment to Chin MMS, Harvey JA, Duffy BL. Uterine rupture during labour in a primigravida. Aust NZ J Obstet Gynaecol 1996; 36: 210.     

Effects of continuous distraction on cartilage in a moving joint: An investigation on adult rabbits

An animal model, using distraction force on adult rabbits, was developed to study the effects of nonweight-bearing on articular cartilage in a moving joint. Histologic evaluation was used to compare the morphology of chondrocytes, safranin O intensity, cartilage thickness, and structural changes between the test and contralateral joints. At 3 and 6 weeks, the chondrocytes in superficial and intermediate zones were round, with an increase in cellular volume density and mean cell volume and with less metachromasia; the safranin O intensity and cartilage thickness were the same as in the controls. In cartilage of the 9-week group, mean cell volume decreased with cell cloning in the superficial zone, while numerical density increased and mean matrix volume per cell decreased in the superficial and intermediate zones. The cartilage, with a 34% reduction in thickness and a 53–72% decrease in safranin O intensity from the superficial to the deep zone, had superficial fibrotic proliferation, suface erosion or depression, ard tidemark irregularity. Continuous distraction in a moving joint caused morphological changes in chondrocytes prior to degeneration of cartilage. These results support the hypothesis that the forces perceived by cells may dictate their shape and then stimulate alterations in cellular biochemistry and matrix metabolism.     

A new method of perfusion fixation for the rabbit femur

We report a new method of perfusion fixation for the proximal one-third of the femur of the Japanese white rabbit. Fluids to flush the blood and fix the marrow were injected into the abdominal aorta and drained from the stump of the femur. The oozing of the fluids from the stumps guaranteed complete flushing and fixation. The new method facilitated fixation and decreased the volume of necessary fluids. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of bone marrow fixed using the new method and using the conventional method did not differ. Large fat globules were not observed in the SEM specimens produced using either the new or the conventional method.     

Appearance of extrachromosomal circular DNAs during in vivo and in vitro ageing of mammalian cells

Appearance of extrachromosomal circular DNAs with in vivo and in vitro cellular ageing was examined by using a new technique of mica-press-adsorption for electron microscopy. The size distribution and the copy number of circular DNA complexes varied, depending on the cellular age. Extrachromosomal circular DNA complexes of variable length of more than 0.5 microns or 1.5 kilobase (kb) appeared during in vivo ageing of rat lymphocytes and in vitro ageing of cultured human lung fibroblasts. A restricted size class of circular forms of less than 0.5 microns in contour length was amplified in human skin fibroblasts from aged normal or Werner's syndrome subjects. These circular DNA molecules are suggested to be products of DNA rearrangements or gene amplification occurring in the chromosome.     

Mouse erythroblast formation is inhibited by anemia-inducing substance from the plasma of a patient with a malignant neoplasm

An anemia-inducing substance (AIS) was found as a protein, with a molecular weight of 50,000 on SDS electrophoresis gel, that decreased the osmotic resistance of erythrocytes. In this study, the plasma fraction containing AIS is shown to inhibit mouse erythroblast formation in vitro. The addition of the plasma fraction from a patient with an advanced malignant neoplasm to a liquid culture of mouse bone marrow cells with erythropoietin results in low numbers of erythroblast formation and low cellular yields of alpha- and beta-globin mRNAs. These inhibitions were not observed after immunoadsorption of the plasma fraction with an antiserum against AIS.     

Expression of apoptosis regulatory proteins in the skeletal muscle of tumor-bearing rabbits compared with diet-restricted rabbits

The mechanism of body weight loss in the tumor-bearing state is still unclear. In this study, we investigated expressions of apoptosis regulatory proteins in the skeletal muscle of tumor-bearing and diet-restricted rabbits, and tried to evaluate the differences between the two groups. The apoptotic index (AI) in the tumor-bearing group was 28.1+/-2.84 on day 10. By day 20, many more apoptotic cells were found (AI: 40.5+/-3.20), but then after day 20 their numbers gradually decreased (AI: 9.67+/-2.22 on day 30 and 0.93+/-0.96 on day 40). By contrast, no apoptotic cells were detected in the diet-restricted group at any of the times examined. Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was either not detected at all or only weakly observed in both groups. By contrast, Bax expression increased gradually after implantation in the tumor-bearing group. Bax expression in skeletal muscle cell was graded (moderate) 10 days after tumor implantation, and (high) by day 20, in 2 of the 5 tumor-bearing rabbits. After day 20, however, Bax immunoreactivity decreased continuously in the tumor-bearing group. By contrast, hardly any Bax-immuno-positive cells were detected in the diet-restricted group. These results suggest that loss of body weight in the tumor-bearing group is different from that in the diet-restricted group, and is related to apoptosis of skeletal muscles.     

Determination of substituent distribution in cellulose ethers by means of a 13C NMR study on their acetylated derivatives, 4. O-methyl-O-hydroxyalkylcelluloses

A structural study on O-methyl-O-hydroxypropylcellulose (MHPC) and on O-methyl-O-hydroxyethylcellulose (MHEC) was performed by means of a ¹³C NMR analysis after acetylation of the unsubstituted hydroxyl groups at the anhydroglucose ring and those at the end of the substituents. The carbonyl signal of the acetyl group in acetylated MHPC and MHPC samples was found to be resolved into four peaks according to the location of the acetyl function either at the 2-, 3- and 6-position of an anhydroglucose unit or at the end of an oligo(oxyalkylene) substituent, allowing to determine the distribution of methyl and oligo(oxyalkylene) substituent groups. The methyl signal of the methoxy group in MHPC was also found to be sensitive to its position either at the anhydroglucose unit or at the end of the oligo(oxypropylene) substituent.     

Characterization of spontaneous dermatitis in beige rats with IgE hyperproduction

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease characterized by chronic recurrent eczematous lesions, but its exact etiology and mechanism are unclear. We found that beige rats (DAbg/bg), a mutant model of Chediak-Higashi syndrome, develop skin lesions characterized by pruritus, excoriation, erosion and alopecia. We describe the beige rat and examine its possible usefulness as an AD model. METHODS: Beige rats of 4, 8, 13, 16, 26 and 52 weeks were used. Histological analysis of the skin was performed. Plasma IgE and cytokines were measured. Th1 and Th2 cytokines and RANTES mRNA expression of skin and lymph nodes were evaluated. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reactions were examined, and maximization tests were conducted. RESULTS: Skin lesions begin to develop with increases in serum IgE levels and the expression of IL-4 mRNA in the lymph node and skin. Histologically, skin lesions are characterized by acanthosis, ulceration and inflammatory cell infiltration in the dermis. Inflammatory cells consist of CD3+, CD4+, ED1+, ED2+ and I-A+ mononuclear cells, eosinophils, degranulated mast cells and neutrophils accompanying interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-gamma and RANTES mRNA expressions of the skin. Inflammatory cells are reduced during chronification with decreased expressions of IL-4, IFN-gamma and RANTES mRNA. In addition, the rats show a high sensitivity to PCA reactions and maximization tests. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that some of the skin lesions of beige rats are morphologically similar to human AD, being characterized by inflammatory cell composition in the acute phase, and increased IgE and RANTES levels. However, the inflammatory process and cytokine expression pattern are different from those in human AD.