Age-related hearing impairment in senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM)

The auditory brainstem response and histopathology of the cochlea were investigated in an accelerated senescence-prone strain, SAM-P/1 mice and a senescence-resistant strain, SAM-R/1 mice. Each strain displayed an age-related auditory loss expressed as elevated thresholds similar to human hearing loss in that high-frequency losses occurred earlier than middle- or low-frequency losses. SAM-P/1 showed a more rapid decline of hearing with age than did SAM-R/1. Interpeak intervals I-III and I-IV were prolonged with age in both strains, especially at high frequency. The prolongation was more marked in SAM-P/1 than in SAM-R/1. The decrease in amplitude of wave I observed in both strains was greater in SAM-P/1 than in SAM-R/1. The auditory function assessed by thresholds, interpeak intervals and amplitudes of wave I in SAM-P/1 at 12 months of age corresponded roughly to that in SAM-R/1 at 20 months of age. In morphological studies, there was an age-related decrease in the cell density as well as in the size of spiral ganglion neurons in both strains, but these changes were more pronounced in SAM-P/1 than in SAM-R/1. These results reveal that age-related hearing impairment associated with morphological changes in the cochlea is manifested earlier and progresses more rapidly in SAM-P/1 than in SAM-R/1. Thus, the SAM-P/1 strain should prove useful as a model of presbycusis.

Participation of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as a humoral mediator in the erectile response of canine corpus cavernosum penis

The ability of anti-vasoactive intestinal peptide (anti-VIP) serum to suppress the electrically induced relaxation of the corpus cavernosum was evaluated in vitro to define the role of VIP in penile erection. Strips of canine corpora cavernosa were placed in 5-ml organ chambers containing oxygenated Krebs-Ringer solution. They were stretched and fixed in place at both ends and pretreated with 2 x 10(-7)M noradrenaline (NA). NA was given to produce an optimal state of isometric smooth muscle contraction so that subsequent electrical field stimulation (EFS) could induce a good range of measurable relaxation response. This response was deemed to be an in vitro representation of penile erection. After NA treatment the cavernous tension rose markedly by 2-2.5 g; it then declined by up to 1-1.2 g upon EFS. Anti-VIP serum (1:16) or atropine sulfate (10(-6)M) was added at various time points between NA administration and EFS. When anti-VIP serum was administered, subsequent EFS-induced relaxation was attenuated by 20%-55% compared to the control EFS treatments. The degree of attenuation depended upon the frequency of EFS applied, being 20.6% +/- 4.0% at 20 Hz and 54.7% +/- 6.3% at 2 Hz. Atropine administered additionally following anti-VIP serum produced no further attenuation. However, atropine alone was capable of producing up to 23.7% +/- 3.5% attenuation. When anti-VIP serum was administered following atropine, the degree of attenuation that ensured was the sum of the attenuations produced by each of the two substances independently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Changes of serum amylase, its isozyme fractions and amylase-creatinine clearance ratio in dogs with experimentally induced acute pancreatitis

To investigate the diagnostic application of amylase to canine pancreatic diseases, serum amylase activities, its isozyme fractions and amylase-creatinine clearance ratio (ACCR) were analyzed in normal intact dogs and dogs experimentally induced acute pancreatitis. There was no statistic difference between normal male and female dogs. Amylase specific activities in pancreatic tissue extracts were more than 2,300 times higher than that in serum, and were also higher than those in other tissues; parotid and mandibular salivary glands, lung, heart, liver, spleen, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and kidney. Following the chloroform injection into the pancreatic tissue, WBC increased from 6 to 240 hr and serum glucose significantly increased at 72 and 96 hr, and no urine glucose was detected. BUN as well as serum and urine creatinine showed normal levels. ACCR increased until 96 hr without statistic significance. Serum amylase activities increased significantly after 3 hr and its isozyme was separated into 4 fractions (Amy1-Amy4) in contrast to 3 fractions (Amy2-Amy4) in intact dogs. Since this extra Amy1 seen from 1 hr increasing after 6 hr similarly to other 3 fractions, the evaluation of serum amylase and its isozyme fractions was indicated to be useful for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs.

Involvement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) as a humoral mediator of penile erectile function in the dog

The effects of intracorporeal infusion of anti-vasoactive intestinal peptide (anti-VIP) antisera on electrically induced penile erection were studied in 18 male mongrel dogs. Electrical pulse stimulation (4 V, 4 milliseconds, 40 Hz) of the pelvic splanchnic nerve consistently produced penile erection ("electroerection"). Using this erection model, effects of anti-VIP serum were evaluated with regard to the peak intracorporeal pressure during electroerection. Pretreatment of the animals with repetitive intracorporeal infusion of anti-VIP rabbit serum completely abolished the electroerection in nine dogs, partially suppressed it (P < 0.01) in five, and was without effects in four. In contrast, control treatment of the same 18 dogs with normal rabbit serum was totally ineffective. In six dogs in which anti-VIP serum failed to produce a complete suppression of electroerection, 0.5 mg atropine sulfate was additionally given i.v. All six dogs exhibited significant (P < 0.01) suppression of the peak intracorporeal pressure after atropine. However atropine alone did not affect the intracorporeal pressure to any significant degree. To five of these six dogs with positive response to the combination treatment with anti-VIP serum and atropine, prazosin HCl was added i.v. It was found that prazosin HCl reversed the attenuation of electroerection produced by combined anti-VIP serum and atropine. Prazosin did not affect the intracorporeal pressure when administered following anti-VIP serum. These results suggest that VIP plays a role as a humoral mediator involved in penile erection and that there is a synergistic interaction between VIP and acetylcholine. Also it appears that the effect of acetylcholine but not that of VIP is mediated by the alpha-1 adrenergic mechanism.

[Experience of fluconazole granules and injection in pediatric patients]

Fluconazole (FLCZ) is an antifungal agent of triazole class and has been proven to be effective against deep-seated mycosis caused by Candida spp., Aspergillus spp. and Cryptococcus spp. This time, as we had an opportunity to use fluconazole granules, a new dosage form of the agent, we investigated its efficacy and safety in children with deep-seated mycosis together with the efficacy of the injectable form of the agent. FLCZ was administered to 6 patients with fungal infections for treatment and 5 compromised hosts with a high risk of fungal infections for evaluation of its prophylactic effect. The patients enrolled in the study were 11 in total, of whom 6 patients were evaluated for efficacy: fungal phlegmon in 2, esophageal candidiasis in 2, fungal bronchitis in 1 and oral mycosis in 1. Causative fungi for those infections were Candida albicans in 4 patients, Aspergillus, fumigatus in 1 and Aspergillus flavus in 1. The clinical efficacies were excellent in 3 patients and good in 3. The mycological efficacies were rated as eradicated in 5 patients and reduced in 1. In 5 patients to whom FLCZ was given prophylactically, development of neither fungal infection nor unknown fever was noted. No side effects nor clinical laboratory abnormalities were observed during treatment with either granules or injection, indicative of its safety in children.

[Clinical evaluation of aciclovir granules in the treatment of chickenpox in otherwise healthy children]

The efficacy and safety of aciclovir granules (containing 40% w/w aciclovir) were evaluated in the treatment of chickenpox in otherwise healthy children. Patients presenting with chickenpox received aciclovir granules at a dose of 20 mg/kg four times daily for five to seven days. Overall 51 children received treatment with aciclovir. A further 53 patients receiving conventional symptomatic therapy acted as a control. In the aciclovir group the overall efficacy rate was 92.2%. There were reductions in the numbers of lesions, fever, itching and the duration of symptoms. No adverse experiences were reported. Overall this formulation of aciclovir appears to be a safe and effective treatment for chickenpox in this patient population. However the need for anti-viral therapy in otherwise healthy children is still the subject of debate and it might be appropriate to identify sub-groups for whom such therapy is justified.

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks. V. Multifactorial diseases: a review of epidemiological and genetic aspects of congenital abnormalities in man and of models on maintenance of quantitative traits in populations

This paper discusses (a) data on the epidemiological and etiological aspects of human congenital abnormalities, (b) the multifactorial threshold model and other models which have been proposed to explain their inheritance patterns and recurrence risks in families and (c) current concepts on mechanisms on the prevalence of heritable variation for quantitative traits in populations. Congenital abnormalities, which afflict an estimated 6% of all live births, are etiologically heterogeneous. The majority of these do not follow Mendelian transmission patterns, but do 'run' in families. The multifactorial threshold model is an extension of genetic principles developed for quantitative traits to all-or-none traits; in its simplest formulation, it assumes the existence in the population of an underlying normally distributed 'liability' (which is due to numerous genetic and environmental factors acting additively, each contributing a small amount of liability) and of a 'threshold' beyond which the individual is affected. For most congenital abnormalities, the nature of these factors remains unknown. Other models assume fewer causal factors although, again, these remain to be identified. The question of how considerable heritable variation for most quantitative/polygenic traits has come to exist is a long-standing one in evolutionary population genetics. Models postulating that its existence is consistent with a balance between recurrent mutation and stabilizing selection or suggesting the possible operation of other mechanisms have been published in the literature. In the absence of knowledge on mechanisms responsible for the stable prevalences of congenital abnormalities or other multifactorial conditions in the population (but which is required to predict the consequences of an increase in mutation rate on their prevalences) it is necessary (a) to adapt and use concepts derived from quantitative and evolutionary population genetics and (b) to examine how sensitive the predictions are to the assumptions used, and how consistent they are with biological realities.

Chromosome mapping of the human (RECA) and mouse (Reca) homologs of the yeast RAD51 and Escherichia coli recA genes to human (15q15.1) and mouse (2F1) chromosomes by direct R-banding fluorescence in situ hybridization

We mapped the human (RECA) and mouse (Reca) homologs of the yeast RAD51 and Escherichia coli recA genes to human and mouse chromosomes by direct R-banding fluorescence in situ hybridization. This gene was assigned to human chromosome 15q15.1 and to mouse chromosome 2F1, respectively. This is the first report on the precise localization of this gene to human and mouse chromosomes. This gene was mapped to a region on human chromosome 15q15.1 and mouse 2F1 that is believed to be a conserved syntenic group.

[A reevaluation of the criteria for initiating medical treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients]

In Japan some registered tuberculosis (TB) patients have had medical treatment initiated for the purpose of preventing development of inactive TB into active stages, or due to differential diagnosis. A reevaluation of the necessity of commencing medical treatment was performed on 91 TB patients to elucidate the special characteristics of TB patients who do not necessarily need medical treatment. The results are as follows: 1) Among the 91 patients, 67 patients were judged to be 'confirmed cases', while 24 patients were judged to be 'suspect cases', with either inactive TB or possibly without TB. 2) The rates of 'suspect cases' were higher in the tubercle bacillus negative groups as well as the X-ray mild cases compared to the tubercle bacillus positive cases and X-ray severe cases. 3) The patient's self-diagnosed symptoms proved to be useful in evaluating the TB patient's severity. It is thought that this information should be used to judge the necessity of commencing medical treatment in TB patients.

Portal vein infusion of cancer chemotherapeutic agent emulsified with Lipiodol in regenerating liver after partial hepatectomy in rats

Portal vein infusion of aclarubicin (ACR) emulsified with Lipiodol (LP) in regenerating liver after 70% partial hepatectomy in rats was evaluated for its safety and usefulness. DNA synthesis in regenerating liver was transiently suppressed by LP, ACR or LP+ACR, but no obvious inhibition was seen in aminopyrine N-demethylase activity and liver weights. LP significantly enhanced hepatic tissue levels of ACR and its active metabolites by long-term retention in the sinusoidal space. This study demonstrates that in rats LP has a powerful effect on the long-term retention of anticancer agents in the sinusoidal space after infusion into the portal vein, without aggravating hepatic damage by anticancer agents.

Direct suppression by beta-mercaptoethanol of the prolactin immunoreactivity within the cultured rat adenohypophyseal cells

Effects of beta-mercaptoethanol (ME) on the hormonal dynamics of immunoreactive prolactin (iPRL) were examined, using rat adenohypophyseal cells in primary culture. ME caused a rapid onset (within 2-9 min) of dose- and time-dependent reduction in the secretion and intracellular content of iPRL through some reversible process(es). These effects were observed under basal condition, as well as during stimulation with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). The minimum effective doses of ME ranged from 0.0001 to 0.01%. Higher doses caused up to 86-98% reduction of medium or intracellular contents of iPRL compared to the control treatments. When cell lysates and media collected from ME-free cultures were incubated with ME in the test tubes, however, only intracellular iPRL was reduced. Gel filtration profiles showed that ME markedly decreased monomeric form of iPRL with a concomitant increase in the higher molecular weight form(s), presumably oligomers. These results suggested that ME acted directly on the PRL molecules within the cells, causing oligomerization of iPRL via thiol-disulfide interchange. Such molecular transformation might play an important role in the physiological regulation of secretion and storage of iPRL.

Immunoglobulin variable region sequences of two human monoclonal antibodies directed to an onco-developmental carbohydrate antigen, lactotetraosylceramide (LcOse4Cer)

A human monoclonal antibody, 11-50, was generated and was shown to recognize an onco-developmental carbohydrate antigen, LcOse4Cer. The isotype of this antibody was IgM, lambda, similar to the previously known human anti-LcOse4 antibodies, such as IgMWOO and HMST-1. We raised a murine anti-idiotypic antibody G3 (IgG1, kappa) against 11-50, and tested its reactivity towards the affinity purified human polyclonal anti-LcOse4 antibodies prepared from pooled human sera using a Gal beta 1-->3GlcNAc beta-immobilized column. The results indicated that at least a part of the human polyclonal anti-LcOse4 antibodies shared the G3 idiotype with 11-50. We further analyzed the sequence of variable regions of the two anti-LcOse4 antibodies, 11-50 and HMST-1. Sequence analysis of the heavy chain variable regions indicated that the VH regions of these two antibodies were highly homologous to each other (93.5% at the nucleic acid level), and these antibodies utilized the germline genes VH1.9III and hv3005f3 as the VH segments, which are closely related germline genes of the VHIII family. It was noted that these germline VH genes are frequently utilized in fetal B cells. The JH region of both antibodies was encoded by the JH4 gene. For the light chain, the V lambda segments of the two antibodies were 96.3% homologous to each other at the nucleic acid level. The V lambda segments of both antibodies showed the highest homology to the rearranged V lambda gene called V lambda II.DS among reported V lambda genes, while the exact germline V lambda genes encoding the two antibodies were not yet registered in available sequence databanks. The amino acid sequences of the J lambda segments of both antibodies were identical. These results indicate that the two human antibodies recognizing the onco-developmental carbohydrate antigen Lc4 are encoded by the same or very homologous germline genes.

Spinal epidural involvement in pleural lymphomas developing from long-standing tuberculous pyothorax or pleuritis

Spinal epidural involvement was noted in 3 patients with pleural lymphoma developing from long-standing pyothorax or pleuritis. Two patients presented with cord compression syndrome and pleural tumor. The other patient showed rapidly progressive signs of cord compression 8 months after the diagnosis of pleural lymphoma. Biopsy and autopsy findings revealed that both the epidural masses and the pleural tumors had the pathological features of malignant lymphoma. Several reports have described pleural lymphomas complicated with chronic tuberculous pyothorax. However, as far as we know, there is no previous report associating spinal epidural compression with pyothorax-related pleural lymphoma. Spinal involvement should be included as a noteworthy complication of pleural lymphoma developing from long-standing tuberculous pyothorax.

[Type IV collagenase activities in human colorectal cancers and its role in cancer invasion and metastasis]

In 36 patients with colorectal cancers, type IV collagenase activities were measured in cancer and non-cancer tissues for evaluating its role in the process of cancer invasion and metastasis. The colorectal cancer tissues revealed remarkably higher activities than the distant normal and tumor-neighboring mucosa (p < 0.001). The activities in the colorectal cancer tissues with high-grade histological venous invasion were higher than those with low-grade histological venous invasion (p < 0.005). But no differences of the activities were found between patients with and without hepatic metastasis. These results suggest that the type IV collagenase plays an important role in the cancer invasion to the blood vessels around the primary site in colorectal cancers.

[Clinical study of patients with deep-seated fungal infection associated with hematological diseases]

An assessment has been made regarding usefulness of measuring beta-D-glucan (beta-glucan) as fungal serodiagnosis in 50 cases of fungal infection with hematological diseases. Further, an assessment has been made regarding relation between hematological findings and therapeutic effect by administering miconazole, an antifungal agent (MCZ: Florid, clinically to the subjects. Positivity of beta-glucan (beta-glucan > or = 10 pg/ml) was observed in 54.5% (24/44), and the effective rate of MCZ in the positive cases was 75.0% (18/24). In the cases in whom fungus was detected, beta-glucan-positive rate was 50.0% (8/16), and MCZ-effective rate in beta-glucan-positive cases was 62.5% (5/8). The total effective rate of MCZ was 80% (40/50). Side effects were observed in 3 cases, but continual administration of MCZ was possible in all of the 3 cases. By the assessment regarding the relation between hematological findings and therapeutic effect of MCZ, it was found that the effective rates in the cases who underwent a transition with neutrophil and lymphocyte counts less than 500/microliters during the period of MCZ administration were 64.7% (11/17) and 50% (5/10), respectively, and large effects were observed in the cases who underwent a transition with the neutrophil and lymphocyte counts more than 500/microliters was 86.7% (19/22) and 91.7% (22/24), respectively. These results suggested that lymphocytes rather than neutrophils had an important role in the morbidity of fungal infection. It was noteworthy that MCZ was effective for the treatment of deep seated mycosis and significant effective rate was obtained in the group of patients who had neutrophils and lymphocytes less than 500/microliters.

In vitro characterization of lung cancers by the use of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of tissue extracts and discriminant factor analysis

Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) spectra were obtained in vitro from extracts of four types of lung cancer (squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, large cell, small cell) and normal lung. The hydrophilic phase of the chloroform/methanol-water extracts yielded several distinct peaks. Among them the peak areas for cholines, creatines, glycine, and alanine, and their ratios were calculated and used as parameters to characterize different lung tissues. The ratios, cholines/alanine and glycine/alanine, were significantly (P < 0.001 to P < 0.05) higher for the normal lung than lung cancers. Creatines/glycine and creatines/cholines generally provided good discrimination (P < 0.001 to P < 0.05) between any two types of lung cancer. When data were further analyzed by discriminant factor analysis, there was 81.5 to 90.7% accuracy in predicting between normal lung and each cancer type, or among the four types of lung cancer. These results suggested that 1H MRS might be useful as an adjunct modality in the differential diagnosis of lung cancers.

[Problems in DNA ploidy analysis using flow cytometry--influences from contaminant mononuclear cells]

The present study was undertaken to examine the influences of excessive contamination by lymphocytes on the flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy of head and neck cancers. Although lymphocytes which contaminate test cells can serve as an internal control (2C), an excess of these lymphocytes can mask the aneuploid peak of cancers. This tendency was particularly prevalent in well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. In some cases, most of the cells isolated from tumor-positive HE-stained tissue samples were lymphocytes. This is probably because lymphocytes are likely to survive the cell-isolating procedure, whereas keratocytes are likely to be destroyed during it. If samples excessively contaminated by lymphocytes are subjected to flow cytometry, the aneuploid peak of cancer cells is low relative to the 2C peak, possibly causing an erroneous judgment of diploid. Cytofluorometry, in which a smear of test cells is observed directly to quantify the DNA of cancer cells alone, was useful in detecting lymphocyte-masked aneuploid cells.

[Establishment and characterization of a human rectal cancer cell line, SRM from primary diffuse infiltrating type cancer]

Primary diffuse infiltrative cancer of the large bowel shows poor prognosis. A human rectal cancer cell line, designated as SRM, was established from the metastatic lymph node of a 35-year-old female patient. SRM cells have been cultured with RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and grew as monolayers, showing a tendency to pile up. The doubling time of this cell line was 23.0 hours, and the modal number of chromosomes was 64 at passage 14. The cells produced CA19-9 and TPA in the spent medium and formed tumors in nude mice, the histology of which was similar to that of the primary tumor. CA19-9 in the cytoplasma of the transplanted tumor cells was demonstrated by the ABC method and the c-myc oncogene was amplified in the transplanted tumor in nude mice.

Considerations on HAM/TSP. Rediscovering Tumaco

Considerations are made on the role of HTLV-I in the etiopathogeny of HAM/TSP. Neuroepidemiologic data reported in the literature are revisited for this purpose. Among results of this evaluation it is pointed-out that the Okinawan Community of Brazil presents ethnographic and demographic characteristics which are ideal for designing new studies. For instance, analyses on HTLV-I and on HAM/TSP in face of the cohort of such community classified according to time and direction of the migration (Japan-Brazil and vice-versa), will ensure promising results for the understanding of etipathogeny of HAM/TSP. They can also be paths towards clarifying the simultaneous generating, of geographical foci of the disease distant one the other, as that of Tumaco and that of south Japan.

Effect of sodium benzylideneascorbate on chemically-induced tumors in rats

Intravenous administration of sodium benzylideneascorbate (SBA) dose-dependently induced degeneration (vacuolar and eosinophilic degeneration and cell shrinkage and nuclear condensation, which are characteristic of apoptotic cell death) of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced rat hepatocellular carcinoma. SBA did not significantly induce lymphocyte infiltration and fibrosis in the liver, nor damage the gross morphology of kidney and spleen cells. SBA failed to stimulate the production of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 beta in both in vitro and in vivo systems. These results may suggest a direct antitumor action of SBA via induction of apoptosis in the tumor. However, SBA did not significantly affect the doubling time, or the extent of invasion and differentiation of dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinoma in rats. These data suggest that the conditions of SBA administration should be re-established for each tumor sample to produce maximum antitumor activity.