Changes in the ratio of urinary α1-microglobulin to ulinastatin levels in patients with Alzheimer-type dementia and vascular dementia

Abstract Relationships between urinary levels of α1-microglobulin (α1M) and ulinastatin (UT) in patients with dementia were investigated. There were no significant differences in α1M and UT levels and α1M: UT ratios among three groups: age-matched control subjects, patients with either Alzheimer-type senile dementia (ATD) or vascular dementia (VD). Although a positive correlation was established between α1M and UT levels in these groups, the regression of the demented patients differed significantly from that of controls ( P <0.05). A tendency towards a negative correlation between α1M: UT ratios and the levels of severity or duration of the disease was displayed in the ATD group, whereas a tendency toward a positive correlation between α1M: UT ratios and the levels of severity was observed in the VD group. These results suggest that changes in the relationships between urinary levels of α1M and UT may provide a useful biochemical index for diagnoses of ATD and VD.     

Non-existence of a positive correlation between urinary levels of α1 -microglobulin and ulinastatin in patients with Parkinson's disease

Urinary levels of a,-microglobulin (αlM) and of ulinastatin (UT) and the αlM/UT ratio did not differ significantly between age-matched controls and patients with Parkinson's disease, and among subdivided groups based on Yahr's stages in Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, these indexes did not correlate with Yahr's stages. Although αlM and UT levels did not correlate in patients with Parkinson's disease, a positive correlation was observed in the control group. The non-existence of a positive correlation between αlM and UT levels distinguishes Parkinson's disease from other neuropsychiatric diseases such as dementia (Alzheimer-type and vascular dementia), schizophrenia and mood disorder.     

Susceptibility genes for schizophrenia

Abstract  It is well known that genetic factors contribute to the susceptibility for schizophrenia. Recent advances in the molecular genetics of schizophrenia strongly suggest several susceptibility genes (e.g. dysbindin, neuregulin-1, DISC1, COMT, G72, RGS4 and Akt1). We discuss the evidence and biology of these genes. As glutamate transmission is especially implicated in these genes, neurobiological basis of schizophrenia might be elucidated by investigation of functional interactions between susceptibility genes for schizophrenia and the glutamatergic system.     

Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric mucosal phospholipid contents and their fatty acid composition

To investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on the 'gastric mucosal barrier', phospholipid contents and the fatty acid composition of endoscopic biopsy specimens of the gastric mucosa were analysed in healthy volunteers with and without H. pylori infection. The gastric corporeal phos-phatidylcholine (PC) content of H. pylori -positive healthy volunteers was less than that of H. pylori -negative healthy volunteers ( P < 0.05). Moreover, H. pylori -positive healthy volunteers had a decrease in linoleic acid composition ( P < 0.0001) and an increase in arachidonic acid composition ( P < 0.0001) and in the arachidonic acid/linoleic acid ratio ( P < 0.0001) of antral and corporeal PC compared with H. pylori-negative healthy volunteers. These findings suggest that H. pylori infection enhances production of various eicosanoids, resulting in changes in the gastric mucosal phospholipid contents and their fatty acid composition, that may consequently cause the gastric mucosal barrier to be weakened.     

Activation of Complement System by Streptococcal Preparation OK-432 (Picibanil) in Patients with Malignancy

A streptococcal preparation, OK-432 (Picibanil), was administeredto two patients with gastric carcinoma and two with chronicmyelogenous leukemia. All the patients revealed an increasinglevel of serum complements CH50, C4 and C3, as well as FactorB by 40 days of the therapy. Fixation of C4, C3 and Factor Bappeared in the gastric carcinoma tissue and on the leukemiccell surface determined by fluorescent antibody technique, indicatingthat OK-432 might play a role as an immunopotentiator via thecomplement system.