Probable pre- and postsynaptic modifications by 5-hydroxytryptamine of contractile responses to electrical stimulation of isolated guinea-pig vas deferens

Two kinds of electrical stimulation, low frequency stimulation (5 Hz, 1 msec, 5 pulses, every 20 sec) and high frequency stimulation (30 Hz, 0.05-0.1 msec, 10 pulses, every 20 sec), produced contractions in the isolated guinea-pig vas deferens. These responses were blocked by tetrodotoxin but not hexamethonium. Phentolamine potentiated the contractions produced by low frequency stimulation, while it reduced the contractions produced by high frequency stimulation. Diametrically, 5-hydroxytryptamine reduced the contractions produced by low frequency stimulation, while it potentiated the contractions produced by high frequency stimulation. These inhibitory and potentiating actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine were reversed by cyproheptadine and 2-bromolysergic acid diethylamide. Moreover, that 5-hydroxytryptamine produced a depolarization of the smooth muscle membrane was shown by the sucrose gap technique. The results suggest that a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor exists pre- and postsynaptically in the neuroeffector transmission of the guinea-pig vas deferens, that the stimulation of the presynaptic receptor by 5-hydroxytryptamine inhibits the release of a transmitter from noradrenergic nerves, and that the stimulation of the postsynaptic receptor by a high concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine produces a depolarization of the smooth muscle membrane, and this relates to the potentiation of contractile responses.     

A case of orbital apex syndrome caused by localized invasive aspergillosis successfully treated with voriconazole]

A 71-year-old man with left periorbital pain and diplopia was hospitalized for evaluation and treatment. He had a past history of untreated diabetes mellitus. Shortly after admission, the patient experienced rapid onset of visual loss in the left eye. MRI and CT showed a lesion expanding from the left orbital apex to the left pterygopalatine fossa. Invasive aspergillosis was diagnosed by open biopsy of intrasinus mucosa via the left maxillary sinus. The patient was treated with voriconazole, an antifungal agent, and marked improvements in left periorbital pain and eye movement were subsequently obtained, although visual acuity was not recovered. This is the first report documenting the clinical utility of voriconazole for sino-orbital invasive aspergillosis.     

Left thoracotomy approach in reoperative off-pump coronary revascularization

Objective: Reoperative coronary bypass grafting is at high risk. Particularly in redo cases where the patent graft is running near the midline of the sternum, the graft may be exposed to injury by a median sternotomy and subsequent dissection. Whereas, off-pump bypass grafting from the left axillary artery or descending thoracic artery by a left thoracotomy approach is safe for preventing graft damage.Methods: From March 1998 to February 2002, we performed off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting by a left thoracotomy approach in 9 patients. The left axillary artery was used as the inflow vessel in 4 cases, and the descending thoracic, aorta in 5.Results: The radial artery was anastomosed proximally to the axillary artery in 4 cases and the descending thoracic aorta in one case. The saphenous vein graft was anastomosed, proximally to the descending thoracic aorta in 4 cases. Transdiaphragmatic minimally invasive bypass grafting for the right coronary artery was simultaneously performed in 3 cases. Postoperative cardiac events were ventricular arrhythmia in 6 cases and supraventricular arrhythmia in 3 cases. There was no damage to the patent grafts. Postoperative coronary angiography performed, in 8 cases revealed all the grafts to be patent without stenosis. Cardiac symptoms were not found after the operation in any of the cases.Conclusions: These procedures can prevent the injury to patent grafts caused by a median sternotomy, and will be one of the useful strategies for reoperative off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.     

Pharmacological effects of the tremorgenic mycotoxin fumitremorgin A

Some pharmacological effects of a potent tremorgenic mycotoxin, fumitremorgin A (FTA), on the rabbit were studied. FTA (10-200 micrograms/kg, i.v.) caused clonic and tonic convulsion accompanied by nystagmus and miosis in conscious rabbits, after a latent period. Even in decorticated or decerebrated rabbits, FTA (100-200 micrograms/kg, i.v.) could induce violent motor effects similar to those observed in conscious rabbits. Under light anesthesia with urethane and chloralose, a higher dosage (more than 100 micrograms/kg) was needed to cause clonic and tonic convulsion. FTA facilitated phrenic nerve discharges as well as efferent discharges of the vagal nerve and the cervical sympathetic nerve. Hypertension induced by FTA was inhibited by phentolamine, while bradycardia and arrhythmia caused by this toxin was abolished by atropine or bilateral vagotomy. The electroencephalogram showed persistent strong arousal response after intravenous injection of FTA. A seizure pattern was never observed. It was suggested that the main site of action of FTA was in the brain stem.     

Assembly of synthetic cellulose I.

Cellulose microfibrils with an electron diffraction pattern characteristic of crystalline native cellulose I have been assembled abiotically by means of a cellulase-catalyzed polymerization of beta-cellobiosyl fluoride substrate monomer in acetonitrile/acetate buffer. Substantial purification of the Trichoderma viride cellulase enzyme was found to be essential for the formation of the synthetic cellulose I allomorph. Assembly of synthetic cellulose I appears to be a result of a micellar aggregation of the partially purified enzyme and the substrate in an organic/aqueous solvent system favoring the alignment of glucan chains with the same polarity and extended chain conformation, resulting in crystallization to form the metastable cellulose I allomorph.     

Studies on the behavioral development of rats treated neonatally with l-thyroxine

The effect of l-thyroxine administration from 2 to 10 days of age (Neo-T4) on the behavioral development was studied. Serum T4 levels in Neo-T4 rats showed a marked and dose-related decrease at 15 days of age and a less marked decrease at 62 days of age. The locomotor activity of the Neo-T4 rats was higher at 13 approximately 19 days of age and tended to be lower at 62 days of age than in the controls. At 17 days of age, apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.) induced a marked increase in the frequency of sniffing down in the control males, whereas a decrease was noted in the Neo-T4 males. Age-matched females in both groups responded to apomorphine with a slight decrease in sniffing down behavior. An increase in the frequency of sniffing down by apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) in adult Neo-T4 rats was less marked. TRH administration failed to induce hyperthermia in adult Neo-T4 males. The results indicate that neonatal administration of T4 in the rat induces alterations in the functional development of the brain in varying degrees dependent upon the functional integration of the neurons. An involvement of sex hormones is suggested.     

Three-dimensional two-layer collagen matrix gel culture model for evaluating complex biological functions of monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Dendritic cell-like cells (Mo-DCs) generated from peripheral blood monocytes with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have been used as tools to treat cancer patients (DC-vaccines). Because Mo-DCs have multiple antigen presentation-related functions, including phagocytosis, migration, cytokine production, and T cell stimulation, establishment of a method for simultaneously evaluating the various functions of Mo-DCs is important. We developed a new in vitro three-dimensional two-layer collagen matrix culture model that consists of a collagen gel containing Mo-DCs as the lower layer and a collagen gel containing necrotic GCTM-1 tumor cells and/or T cells as the upper layer. We used this system to observe simultaneously multiple functions of Mo-DCs by phase-contrast or fluorescence microscopy and to assess IL-12 secretion during more than 2 weeks of culture. We also observed interactions between Mo-DCs and necrotic GCTM-1 or T cells on an individual cell basis by time-lapse videomicroscopy. In addition, we collected Mo-DCs from the collagen gels by collagenase treatment and analyzed the expression of antigen presentation-related molecules such as HLA-DR, CD80, CD83, and CD86 on Mo-DCs. This model may be a useful tool for evaluation of the various functions of Mo-DCs used as DC vaccines and for studies of the complex behaviors of Mo-DCs in vivo.     

Comparison of the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on the expression of eotaxin in airway epithelial cell line BEAS-2B]

OBJECTIVE: Inhaled corticosteroids play a pivotal role in the treatment of asthma. To observe the mechanisms of glucocorticoids, we focused our study on the comparison of several glucocorticoids' effects on eotaxin expression in the airway epithelial cells. METHODS: Airway epithelial cell line BEAS-2B was cultured in vitro. Cells were preincubated with or without glucocorticoids (becromethasone dipropionate; BDP, budesonide; BUD, fluticasone propionate; FP) and stimulated with TNFalpha and/or IL-4. Protein levels of eotaxin in the supernatants of the cultured cells were determined by ELISA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: TNFalpha and IL-4 increased the levels of eotaxin in BEAS-2B cells. Combination of these cytokines synergistically upregulated the eotaxin expression as reported previously. Each glucocorticoid significantly inhibited the expression of eotaxin protein induced with TNFalpha and IL-4 and the compared efficacy was in order of FP>BUD>BDP. FP seemed most potent and the inhibitory effect was also observed with relatively low concentration such as 10 (-10)M. Taken together, the comparison of the potency of each glucocorticoid using airway epithelial cells may reflect the efficacy of these drugs in asthmatics.     

Dreaming during non-rapid eye movement sleep in the absence of prior rapid eye movement sleep

STUDY OBJECTIVES: There is a long-standing controversy surrounding the existence of dream experiences during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Previous studies have not answered the question whether this "NREM dream" originates from the NREM sleep mechanism because the subject might simply be recalling experiences from the preceding rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. METHODS: We scheduled 11 healthy men to repeat 20-minute nap trials separated by 40-minute periods of enforced wakefulness across a period of 3 days. At the end of the nap trial, each participant answered questions regarding the formal aspects of his dream experiences during the nap trial, using the structured interviews. RESULTS: We obtained a total of 172 dream reports after naps containing REM sleep (REM naps) and 563 after naps consisting of only NREM sleep (NREM naps). Dream reports from NREM naps were less remarkable in quantity, vividness, and emotion than those from REM naps and were obtained more frequently during the morning hours when the occurrences of REM sleep were highest. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the polysomnographic manifestations of REM sleep are not required for dream experiences but that the mechanisms driving REM sleep alter experiences during NREM sleep in the morning. A subcortical activation similar to REM sleep may occur in human NREM sleep during the morning when REM sleep is most likely to occur, resulting in dream experiences during NREM sleep.