Study of the effects of dopamine hydrochloride on alpha 1-adrenoceptors in rat kidney

We studied the number and affinity of catecholamine receptors in SD rat kidney by radioreceptor technique. The following conclusions were obtained: 1) By using 3H-prazosin, the numbers of alpha 1-receptor (Bmax) in rat renal cortex were greater than those in rat kidney medulla. As for affinity (Kd), the significance was not recognized between the two. Bmax of the rat renal cortex to 3H-prazosin binding was 96.1 fmol/mg protein, and Kd was 0.17 nM, and for the rat renal medullar these values were 44.5 fmol/mg protein and 0.13 nM, respectively. 2) By measurement of D1-receptor using 3H-SKF38393 in the rat renal cortex in the Scatchard plot analysis, positive cooperativity was observed under the low concentration of hot ligand which was less than 1 nM. But at the concentration of hot ligand over 1 nM, the plots showed a straight line. Bmax of the rat renal cortex to 3H-SKF38393 was 2.5 pmol/mg protein and Kd was 5.3 nM. 3) Based on displacement by dopamine for 3H-prazosin binding to rat renal cortex, it was surmised that high concentration of dopamine had an affinity to alpha 1-adrenoceptors. 4) There was no change in the Kd and Bmax of alpha 1-receptor in the rat renal cortex after incubation of samples with low concentration of dopamine. However, in the case of high concentration of dopamine, a remarkable decrease of the affinity (Kd) of alpha 1-adrenoceptor was observed.     

Evidence for a defect in urinary concentrating ability in primary aldosteronism and its reversal by adrenal surgery

Of 15 patients with primary aldosteronism, 7 had idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia (IHA) and 8 had aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). In order to determine any renal problems involved in the treatment, the renal clearance of these patients was analyzed and the results compared with those obtained from 12 patients with essential hypertension. With water diuresis or under antidiuresis status, levels of urine volume, Cosm and CH2O in patients with APA were greater (p less than 0.05-p less than 0.001) than those of patients with essential hypertension, while the fractional tubular sodium delivery of the former patients was lower than that of the latter patients (p less than 0.001 or less than 0.05). A similar tendency was observed in clearance studies in patients with IHA, although to a lesser extent. Adrenal surgery for patients with APA normalized these values, but administration of trilostane (3 beta-hydrosteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor) to patients with IHA failed to improve these values. These results indicate that impaired urinary concentrating ability as well as reduced urinary diluting capability is a common feature of primary aldosteronism. Such impaired renal function was improved only in patients with APA after adrenal surgery.     

Validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Caregiver Distress Scale (NPI D) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Brief Questionnaire Form (NPI-Q)]

OBJECTIVE: Neuropsychiatric disturbances are common and burdensome symptoms of dementia. Assessment and measurement of neuropsychiatric disturbances are indispensable to the management of patients with dementia. Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is a comprehensive assessment tool that evaluates psychiatric symptoms in dementia. We translated the NPI-Caregiver Distress Scale part of NPI (NPI-D) and NPI-Brief Questionnaire Form (NPI-Q) into Japanese and examined their validity and reliability. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 152 demented patients and the caregivers who lived with them. These patients consisted of 76 women and 76 men; their mean age was 73.9 +/- 7.8 (S.D.; range: 49 to 93) years. Their caregivers consisted of 46 men and 106 women; their mean age was 65.0 +/- 11.4 (S.D.; range: 35 to 90) years. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was conducted with all patients and NPI-Q, NPI, NPI-D, and the Zarit caregiver burden interview (ZBI) were conducted with all caregivers. We examined validity of NPI-D by comparing its score with the MMSE and ZBI scores, and the validity of NPI-Q by comparing its score with the NPI and NPI-D scores. In order to evaluate test-retest reliability, NPI-D was re-adopted to 30 randomly selected caregivers by a different examiner one month later and NPI-Q was re-executed by 27 randomly selected caregivers one day later. RESULTS: Total NPI-D score was significantly correlated with ZBI (rs = 0.59, p < 0.01). Test-retest reliability of NPI-D was adequate (ri = 0.47, p < 0.01). Total NPI-Q severity score and distress score were strongly correlated with NPI (r = 0.77, p < 0.01) and NPI-D (r = 0.80, p < 0.01) scores, respectively. Test-retest reliability of the scores of NPI-Q was acceptably high (the severity score; ri = 0.81, p < 0.01, the distress score; ri = 0.80, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The Japanese version of NPI-D and NPI-Q demonstrated sufficient validity and reliability as well as the original version of them. These are useful tools for evaluating psychiatric symptoms in demented patients and their caregivers' distress attributable to these symptoms.     

An elderly case of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis]

An elderly case of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRPF) with bilateral ureteral obstruction was reported. A 74-year-old man was admitted with complaints of general fatigue and loss of appetite. An elastic hard mass with a smooth surface was palpated in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Abnormal ESR and CRP were noticed. Abdominal ultrasonography showed both a homoechoic mass which surrounded the aorta in the retroperitoneal space and bilateral hydronephrosis. Computed tomography revealed a retroperitoneal mass involving bilateral ureters. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass with a sharp image and signal intensity. Furthermore the morphological relationship between the mass and the ureters and major vessels clearly indicated the characteristics of benign retroperitoneal fibrosis. Based upon the above findings, a diagnosis of IRPF was made. After confirming the histological diagnosis by biopsy, treatment consisting of bilateral ureterolysis, intra-abdominal transposition of ureters and oral administration of prednisolone was performed, resulting in a normalization of laboratory findings. Analysis of 86 previously cases of IRPF reported up to 1990 in Japan, revealed the peak age to be in the 7th decade with predominance in males (males: females = 57:29).     

Susceptibility of lipids to mercurials

Affinity of mercury compounds to various phospholipids and fatty acids were examined. Inorganic mercury showed a higher affinity to lipids containing unsaturated fatty acids than to those composed of saturated fatty acids. This suggests that inorganic mercury may easily act on the double bonds of fatty acid residues in phospholipids which are major components of the biomembrane. On the other hand, methylmercury was almost inert to these lipids regardless of the presence or absence of unsaturated bonds.     

A case of primary giant calculus in female urethra

Urinary calculus is rarely seen in the urethra and is usually encountered in men with urethral stricture or diverticulum. Primary urethral calculi are extremely rare in females. We describe a case of a giant urethral stone impacted in the urethra of a 103-year-old female.     

Novel responses of peripheral lymphocytes of cancer patients to chemical induction of sister chromatid exchanges

Sensitivities to sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induction by chemicals of peripheral lymphocytes from 26 cancer patients were estimated under conditions identical to those for healthy humans which had been reported (Cancer Res., 43: 439-442, 1983). The sensitive individual was defined as one whose cells give a mean induced SCE frequency more than 2 standard deviation units above the population mean of induced SCEs in cells from the healthy humans. When cells were treated with 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4, 3-b]indole in the presence of rat liver S9 mix, 8 in 10 stomach cancer patients, 4 in 4 colon cancer patients, 3 in 9 lung cancer patients, 0 in 3 patients bearing other cancers, and 0 in 9 non-cancerous individuals were sensitive. The corresponding frequency of individuals in the healthy population, reported previously, was 1 in 33 persons. Thus, the frequency of sensitive individuals in the combined group of stomach and colon cancer patients was very significantly higher than were frequencies in control groups. Three in 10 patients with stomach cancer and 4 in 16 patients with other cancers were sensitive to induction of SCE by methyl methanesulfonate. Six in these 7 methyl methanesulfonate-sensitive patients were also 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole sensitive. The frequency of methyl methanesulfonate-sensitive individuals in the healthy populations was 2 in 50. There was no patient who was sensitive to SCE induction by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. The frequency was not significantly different from the healthy population, in which 3 in 50 persons were sensitive. These results suggest that a particular cancer correlates with the sensitivity of peripheral lymphocytes to SCE induction by particular chemicals.     

F-19 MR imaging of glucose metabolism in the rabbit

Noninvasive metabolic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging reflecting glucose metabolism in the aldose-reductase-sorbitol (ARS) pathway was performed in the rabbit head; after administration of the fluorinated glucose analogue 3-fluoro-3-deoxy-D-glucose (3FD-glucose), fluorine-19 images were generated. Images of 3FD-glucose showed significant 3FD-glucose uptake by adipose tissue, indicating its buffering effects in case of excess loads of glucose. Images of 3-fluoro-3-deoxy-D-sorbitol (3FD-sorbitol) demonstrated the spatial distribution of aldose reductase activities and significant sorbitol accumulation in the lens. Images of 3-fluoro-3-deoxy-D-fructose (3FD-fructose) showed preferential uptake of fructose by muscle tissue. The extremely low toxicity of 3FD-glucose indicates promise for its clinical application in metabolic imaging.     

Force-time parameters during explosive isometric grip correlate with muscle power

Although explosive isometric contraction provides little work toward the outside, force-time parameters of the rising phase of the force-time curve may be able to predict muscle power. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between muscle power with work (power grip) and force-time parameters during the rising phase in explosive isometric grip. Fifteen healthy young adult males participated in this study. Power grip was measured using loads of 20%–50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) (peak isometric force). Subjects pulled explosively on a grip bar held with the second digital joints without the thumb. Peak power was calculated from peak velocity and load. Explosive isometric grip was measured using a hand dynamometer. Time-series data of both tests were sampled by an analog-to-digital interface. Both tests were performed with the subjects seated with a sagittal and horizontal position of the arm supported by an armrest. Peak power in the power grip test tended to be larger with an increase of the load, but there was no significant difference between 40% and 50% MVC. Only the peak power in 50% MVC significantly correlated with peak grip force (r=0.52, p<0.05). The force-time parameters related to the peak rate of the rising force phase in explosive isometric grip significantly correlated with the peak powers (30%–50% MVC, r=|0.58−0.78|). Peak rate of the rising force phase in explosive isometric grip may be useful for predicting muscle power with loads between 30%–50% MVC.