[Amikacin concentration in the severely obstructed urinary tract]

Urinary amikacin concentration was determined in 9 patients with severely unilateral ureteral obstruction. Serum levels were within the normal range. The average concentration of amikacin in the urine from obstructed urinary tract was 118.9 mcg/ml 6 hours after 100 mg amikacin iv infusion. Urine concentration from the normal kidney was 155.9 mcg/ml at the first 2 hours after intravenous infusion, 98.8 at the second 2 hours 83.3 at the third 2 hours. Urinary amikacin excretion from severely obstructed urinary tract was about one third of the total excretion from a normal system. In summary, the urinary level in severely obstructed urinary tract after iv infusion of 100 mg amikacin may be enough prophylactically. But at the onset of infection in severely obstructed urinary tract, the administration of at least 200 mg amikacin intravenously is required.

[A case of the coexistence of renal cysts and renal cell carcinoma associated with direct invasion of the liver (stage IV)]

A 63-year-old male was admitted with a complaint of right abdominal mass. A right renal tumor associated with direct invasion to liver and with lobulated cystic lesion and renal solitary cyst were diagnosed preoperatively by aortography and computed tomography. Transperitoneal radical nephrectomy and partial resection of liver metastasis were performed. Histological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma with dilated tubuli. Tumor invasion to the inferolateral portion of the liver and to the renal solitary cyst wall were demonstrated by both gross and microscopic examinations. The coexistence of tumor and cyst in the same kidney is rare. Our case probably had both the type I and II or III tumors according to Gibson classification. Twenty months after radical nephrectomy, pulmonary metastases were detected by chest x-ray, tomography and bronchial arteriography. All metastatic lesions were replaced by fibrous change 7 months after the four bronchial arterial infusions (BAI) of ADM 30 mg and irradiation with a dose of 5,000 rads to each lesion. After 9 tumor-free months, recurrence of pulmonary metastases were pointed out by chest x-ray and tomography. They (four coin lesions) were treated with anticancer therapy, mainly irradiation and twice insufficient BAI. Three of them were occupied entirely by fibrous change and another solid one remained in the right pulmonary apex without enlargement for the past 4 months. Radical nephrectomy and partial resection of the liver for the primary renal cell carcinoma with direct invasion to liver, BAI and irradiation for the two pulmonary metastases have kept the patient alive for 4 years.

Modeling glucose disposal in diabetic dogs fed mixed meals

We have utilized a previously described mathematical model to study glucose disposal in fed, conscious, ambulatory, diabetic dogs. The model was applied to estimate the daily disposition of ingested glucose in the periphery, liver, and urine following a regular mixed meal containing 130 g of carbohydrate. Experimental data was obtained from 11 pancreatectomized animals. Both the portal and peripheral routes were used for intravenous insulin infusion and the daily profiles of peripheral plasma glucose and insulin concentrations measured. Total calories in mixed meals derived from carbohydrates (37%), fat (30%), and protein (30%). When judged according to the root-mean-square differences, agreement was excellent between model-predicted and experimentally observed glucose as well as insulin concentrations. This agreement occurred whether or not, in addition to basal insulin, meal insulin was also given. Using the model, we then predicted in detail the rates of glucose uptake in peripheral tissue, liver, and kidneys. With portally infused insulin resulting in diurnal glycemic normalization, the net daily hepatic glucose balance was physiological, being close to zero. Remarkably, with peripheral insulin infusions there was an unphysiological net negative hepatic glucose balance of 10 g/day.

Expolygalacturonase from Suspension Cultures of Marchantia polymorpha: Its Presence and Involvement in Pectic Polysaccharide Degradation

Polygalacturonase was isolated from cell suspension cultures of a thalloid liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha. The enzyme in the ;buffer-soluble' protein fraction was dialyzed at pH 5.2 and further purified 91-fold by a combination of chromatographic techniques including CM-Sephadex, Sephacryl S-200, DEAE-Sephadex, and Sephadex G-200. The purified enzyme had an optimum activity in the pH range at 3.6 to 3.8 and molecular weight of 76,000 daltons, and its activity was not stimulated by cations. The enzyme was identified as an exohydrolase from viscometric data and chromatographic analysis of the reaction products.The polysaccharides extracted from the Marchantia cell walls with 2% (w/v) Na hexametaphosphate solution were separated into two fractions, neutral polysaccharides (fraction P-N) and acidic polysaccharides (fraction P-A) by a DEAE-Sephadex column. The fraction P-N was not susceptible to the purified exopolygalacturonase, whereas fraction P-A was partially degraded. This resulted in hydrolysis of 19.5% of the glycosyl linkages of fraction P-A with the release of galacturonic acids. The specific activity of exopolygalacturonase increased during the growth cycle.

The restorative action of coenzyme Q10 in 2,4-dinitrophenol-depressed electrical and contractile activities of guinea-pig heart

With electrophysiological methods, mechanisms of the restorative action of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in 2,4-dinitrophenol-depressed electrical and mechanical activities of isolated guinea-pig hearts were studied. Isoproterenol (3 X 10(-8) M)-induced action potential and contraction of the heart in 27 mM KCl Tyrode solution were abolished by 6 X 10(-6) M 2,4-dinitrophenol, while the additional application of CoQ10 (50 micrograms/ml) restored both these activities of the heart. This restorative action of CoQ10 was dose related (2 to 50 micrograms/ml) and was inhibited by 10 micrograms/ml 15-hydroperoxyarachidonic acid (15-HPAA) or pretreatment of the animals with indomethacin (5 mg/kg i.v.). When exogenously applied, 200 ng/ml prostacyclin also restored the 2,4-dinitrophenol-depressed electrical and contractile activities of the heart, but this restorative action of prostacyclin was affected neither by 15-HPAA nor by indomethacin pretreatment. These results suggest the possible participation of prostacyclin in the restorative action of CoQ10 in 2,4-dinitrophenol-depressed electrical and mechanical activities of the heart.

Modulation by alpha 2-adrenergic stimulation of IgE-mediated 14C-serotonin release from rat mast cells

The formaldehyde method was used to examine the effects of clonidine and methoxamine on IgE-mediated 14C-serotonin release from rat mast cells in vitro. Clonidine (10(-11) -10(-8) M) caused dose-related enhancement of the mediator release 7 min after the antigen challenge; yohimbine (10(-6) M) blocked this enhancement by clonidine (10(-6) M), but prazosin (10(-6) M) did not. Methoxamine did not enhance this immunological release reaction at concentrations up to 10(-6) M. PGE1 (2 X 10(-8) -2 X 10(-5) M), isoproterenol (10(-10) -10(-8) M), dopamine (4 X 10(-8) -4 X 10(-8) M) and aminophylline (6 X 10(-6) -6 X 10(-4) M) caused dose-related inhibition of this mediator release 1 min after antigen challenge. Clonidine (10(-13) -10(-12) M), but not methoxamine (10(-8) -10(-6) M), reversed dose-dependently this inhibition of mast cells by PGE1 (2 X 10(-6) M), isoproterenol (10(-8) M), dopamine (4 X 10(-6) M); yohimbine (10(-8) M) antagonized this reversing action of clonidine (10(-12) M), but prazosin (10(-10) M) did not. Neither clonidine (10(-14) -10(-11) M) nor methoxamine (10(-8) -10(-6) M) reversed the inhibitory action of aminophylline (2 X 10(-4) M). These results suggests that clonidine enhances IgE-mediated 14C-serotonin release from rat mast cells and also antagonizes the inhibition of mast cells by PGE1, isoproterenol and dopamine, but not by aminophylline in this immunological reaction through alpha 2-adrenergic receptors, and that the inhibition of adenylate cyclase of mast cells is one of the biochemical actions of alpha 2-adrenergic mechanisms.

Glycaemic control in pancreatectomized dogs with a wearable artificial endocrine pancreas

A needle-type glucose sensor has been developed using a platinum electrode covered with immobilized glucose oxidase. Experiments with albumin-saline solution in vitro showed that at 5.5 mmol/l glucose concentration the output current generated was 1.2 +/- 0.4 nA (mean +/- SD). The current increased as a linear function of glucose concentration over the range (0-27.7 mmol/l). The response time to reach 90% of the final plateau value was 16.2 +/- 6.2s. The signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor was 15.8 +/- 2.6 decibels. The temperature coefficient in output was 2.3 +/- 1.0%/degrees C. The current output was not affected significantly by changes in oxygen tension of the solution in the range 25-150 mmHg. In vivo, the output current of sensors inserted into the subcutaneous tissues of dogs was directly related to blood glucose concentrations after oral glucose or meals. Daily checking of the sensors maintained in subcutaneous tissues in five dogs showed that the sensitivity decreased gradually to 87.2 +/- 7.6% at 72 h, and dropped significantly to 57.4 +/- 7.0% of the initial output by 96 h. A wearable artificial endocrine pancreas (18.0 x 17.7 x 7.9 cm, 700 g) was developed, consisting of a needle-type glucose sensor, a microcomputer system and a pump driving mechanism. Three pancreatectomized dogs were fitted with the system by inserting the sensor into subcutaneous tissue. By renewing the sensor every fourth day, the device could maintain the daily glucose variations in diabetic dogs within the range 5-9.5 mmol/l for 7 days.

Interactions of morphine with PGE1, isoproterenol, dopamine and aminophylline in rat mast cells; their effect on IgE-mediated 14C-serotonin release

The formaldehyde method was used to examine the interactions of morphine with PGE1, isoproterenol, dopamine and aminophylline in rat mast cells by their effects on IgE-mediated 14C-serotonin release. PGE1 (2 x 10(-8) -2 x 10(-5) M), isoproterenol (10(-10) -10(-8) M), dopamine (4 x 10(-8) -4 x 10(-6) M) and aminophylline (6 x 10(-6) -6 x 10(-4) M) caused dose-related inhibition of the mediator release 1 min after an antigen challenge, and propranolol (10(-7) M) blocked the inhibition by isoproterenol (10(-8) M) but not that by dopamine (4 x 10(-6) M), while haloperidol (4 x 10(-6) M) blocked that by dopamine (4 x 10(-6) M) but not that by isoproterenol (10(-8) M). Morphine (3 x 10(-7) -3 x 10(-5) M) reversed the inhibitory effects of PGE1 (2 x 10(-6) M), isoproterenol (10(-8) M) and dopamine (4 x 10(-6) M) dose-dependently and stereospecifically; naloxone (2 x 10(-4) M) antagonized these reversing actions of morphine (3 x 10(-5) M). Morphine (10(-6) -10(-4) M) did not reverse the inhibitory action of aminophylline (6 x 10(-4) M). These results suggest that the inhibitory responses of mast cells to PGE1, isoproterenol and dopamine but not to aminophylline in immunological mediator release were reversed by morphine through opioid receptors, and that the inhibition of adenylate cyclase in mast cells is one of the biochemical actions of morphine.

Possible inhibition of Ca++ pump of rat erythrocyte ghosts by opioid k agonists

Rat erythrocyte ghosts containing 45Ca++, EGTA, ATP and Pipes buffer (pH 7.2) were prepared for studying opioid effects on Ca++ flux. Ethylketocyclazocine and dynorphin 1-13 (dynorphin) dose-dependently inhibited La+++-sensitive outward 45Ca++ movement at nM concentrations and the effect was naloxone reversible. Morphine and beta-endorphin were also effective at higher concentrations, whereas levorphanol and leu-enkephalin were ineffective. None of the opioids studied inhibited 45Ca++ inward movement. Based on these findings, it is concluded that rat erythrocyte possesses k-type opioid receptors through which the Ca++-pump may be inhibited.

Toyopearl HW-65C: ammonium sulfate as a new column chromatographic adsorbent for enzyme purification

We found that Toyopearl HW-65C gel matrix adsorbed ferredoxin and ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase in the presence of concentrated ammonium sulfate. Ferredoxin was strongly adsorbed on the gel in 80% saturated ammonium sulfate, and ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase was adsorbed in 40% saturated ammonium sulfate. The phenomenon was utilized for purification of ferredoxin and the reductase on a Toyopearl HW-65C: ammonium sulfate column. The technique greatly simplified the early stage of purification of ferredoxin and the reductase. The improved purification methods further involved column treatments with DEAE-Toyopearl 650M and Matrex Red A. The effectiveness of the columns is reported. Since a number of other proteins such as cytochrome c, myoglobin, chymotrypsinogen A, ovalbumin, and glucose oxidase were also adsorbed well in an appropriately concentrated ammonium sulfate solution, the method may be of general use in enzyme purification.

IgE-mediated 14C-serotonin release from passively sensitized rat mast cells: comparative kinetic study with formaldehyde and ice-cold methods

The kinetics of IgE-mediated release of serotonin from passively sensitized rat mast cells in vitro was studied by stopping 14C-serotonin release with the application of formaldehyde fixative or ice-cold mast cell medium (MCM). Antigen dose-release curves of 14C-serotonin and/or histamine were comparable when mediator release was terminated with either formaldehyde at a final concentration of 1% or ice-cold MCM 15 min after antigen challenge. However, the kinetic study of immunological mediator release stopped by formaldehyde showed that the addition of antigen resulted in a progressive increase of released 14C-serotonin for 7 min, the release curve being sigmoidal, whereas the application of ice-cold MCM artificially enhanced 14C-serotonin and histamine release in the first 2 min. The results suggest that stopping IgE-mediated release of 14C-serotonin with formaldehyde is a simple, rapid and accurate method of studying the kinetics of mediator release from mast cells.

Wearable artificial endocrine pancrease with needle-type glucose sensor

Miniaturisation of the bedside artificial endocrine pancreas in necessary to provide a means of restoring physiological glycaemic excursions in diabetic patients in the long term. One of the remaining problems in producing such a sophisticated device is the difficulty in developing a sufficiently small glucose-monitoring system. A needle-type glucose sensor has been developed which is suitable for use in a closed-loop glycaemic control system. The wearable artificial endocrine pancreas, incorporating the needle-type glucose sensor, a computer calculating infusion rates of insulin, glucagon, or both, and infusion pumps, was tested in pancreatectomised dogs: the device produced perfect control of blood glucose for up to 7 days.

IgE-mediated 14C-serotonin release from rat mast cells modulated by morphine and endorphins

The formaldehyde method was used to examine the interaction of PGE1 with morphine, beta-endorphin and Met-enkephalin on rat mast cells by their effects on IgE-mediated 14C-serotonin release. PGE1 (2x10(-8) -2x10(-5) M) caused a dose-related inhibition of the mediator release 1 min after an antigen challenge, and morphine (3x10(-7) -3x10(-5) M) reversed this PGE1 effect dose-dependently and stereospecifically; naloxone (2x10(-4) M) antagonized this action of morphine. Beta-Endorphin (3x10(-7) -10(-5) M) and Met-enkephalin (3x10(-6) -10(-4) M) mimicked this morphine action dose-dependently and were antagonized by naloxone (2x10(-4) M). These results suggest that morphine and endorphins modulate immunological mediator release from rat mast cells through opioid receptors.

Studies on the Pectic Substances of Plant Cell Walls: III. DEGRADATION OF CARROT ROOT CELL WALLS BY ENDOPECTATE LYASE PURIFIED FROM ERWINIA AROIDEAE

Pectate lyase was isolated from the cell extract of Erwinia aroideae. The enzyme was further purified to a high degree by a procedure involving ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50 and on Sephadex G-200. The enzyme attacked its substrate in an endo fashion and was more active on the sodium salt of acid-insoluble polygalacturonate or pectic acid than it was on the methoxylated pectin. The enzyme had an optimum pH at 9.3, was stimulated by calcium ions, and was completely inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. In addition, the reaction products showed an absorption maximum between 230 and 235 nm and reacted with thiobarbituric acid. These results indicate that the purified enzyme is an endopectate lyase. The endopectate lyase also had the ability to solubilize effectively the pectic fraction from the cell walls of carrot (Daucus carota) root tissue. The enzyme released 30.5% of the wall as soluble products and also liberated all of the galacturonic acid present in the walls. The total neutral sugars released by the enzyme were 10.6% of the walls, which corresponded to 71.5% of noncellulosic neutral sugars. The soluble products were separated into five fractions by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography. Based on the analysis of sugar composition of each fraction, the pectic fraction of carrot cell wall is presented.

The effectiveness of rectal administration of insulin suppository on normal and diabetic subjects

The effectiveness of insulin administration by rectal suppository was examined in normal and non-insulin-dependent nonobese diabetic subjects. A 100-U insulin suppository (mean 1.8 U/kg) given to the diabetic subjects caused four times as great a fall in plasma glucose compared with the normal subjects given the same dose (mean 1.6 U/kg). The insulin response after suppository administration demonstrated a significantly positive correlation (r = 0.83, P less than 0.01) with the plasma glucose level before administration. Diabetic subjects given a 100-U insulin suppository (mean 1.7 U/kg) 15 min after meals three times daily showed a significant (P less than 0.05) improvement in postprandial hyperglycemia accompanied by a restoration of the normal circadian profile of plasma IRI and a reduction of urinary glucose from 26 +/- 5.9 to 2.0 +/- 1.0 g/day. No untoward reactions were observed. These data strongly imply a unique characteristic of the insulin suppository in spite of low bioavailability.

Effect of phototherapy on erythrocyte membrane proteins of full-term and premature human newborn infants

Erythrocyte membrane proteins of premature and full-term newborn infants were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis before and after phototherapy for about 21 hours at the irradiation energy of 7.3 x 10(3) erg/cm2/sec. There were no qualitative and quantitative differences in the pattern of membrane proteins before and after phototherapy in these infants.

HLA-DR antigens in pemphigus among Japanese

The frequency of HLA-DR4 was significantly increased at P less than 0.02 in 37 unrelated pemphigus patients (62.2%), when compared with unrelated 73 healthy controls (30.1%). This antigen was more frequently found in pemphigus foliaceus (70.6%) than pemphigus vulgaris (55.8%).

The effect of rectal administration of insulin on the short-term treatment of alloxan-diabetic dogs

Six alloxan-diabetic dogs with fasting plasma glucose levels above 200 mg/100 mL were treated with rectal administration of insulin suppositories twice a day for 6--9 days. The effectiveness was compared with that of subcutaneous insulin injections. In three diabetic dogs with fasting plasma glucose levels below 300 mg/100 mL, both insulin suppository at a dose of 20 U (2.3 U/kg) and subcutaneous insulin at a dose of 0.2 U/kg showed a similar effect in reducing fasting glucose levels and daily urinary glucose amounts. In dogs with higher fasting glucose levels, 0.5 U of subcutaneous insulin/kg is less effective in reducing fasting glucose than 50 U (5.2 U/kg) suppositories, in spite of the same effects on daily urinary glucose output. Postprandial glucose responses were significantly lessened with rectal administration of insulin suppositories. The integrated area of increase in peripheral insulin concentration after subcutaneous infection of 0.2 or 0.5 U insulin/kg was significantly greater than that after rectal administration of an insulin suppository (2.3 or 5.2 U/kg, respectively). These results indicate that diabetes could be controlled by the daily rectal administration of an insulin suppository instead of the conventional subcutaneous injection.

Perfect normalization of excessive glucagon responses to intravenous arginine in human diabetes mellitus with the artificial beta-cell

To elucidate the precise significance of pancreatic A-cell hypersecretion in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, the change in the immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) response to intravenous arginine was studied in both nonobese, hypoinsulinemic non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) and insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) subjects whose blood glucose responses and plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) simulated those of healthy subjects with the aid of the artificial beta-cell system that we originally developed. In both five NIDDM and five IDDM subjects, blood glucose responses and plasma IRI after arginine challenges were made equivalent to those seen in healthy subjects by infusing insulin in response to blood glucose, revealing that previously exaggerated IRG responses were made completely similar to the responses in healthy subjects. In summary, these results clearly demonstrate that the exaggerated response of A-cell secretion against arginine challenges in insulin-deficient diabetics is secondary to insulin lack, and the perfect normalization of its response is achieved only when both plasma insulin concentration and glycemic control simulate those of healthy subjects.

Two forms of α-glucosidase from sugar-beet seeds

Two forms of α-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20), designated as I and II, have been isolated from sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) seeds by a procedure including fractionation with ammonium sulfate and ethanol, carboxymethyl-cellulose column chromatography, and preparative disc gel electrophoresis. The two enzymes were homogeneous by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. Their molecular weights were 98,000 (I) and 60,000 (II). α-Glucosidase I readily hydrolyzed maltose, isomaltose, kojibiose, maltotriose, panose, amylose, soluble starch, amylopectin and glycogen. α-Glucosidase II also hydrolyzed maltose, kojibiose and maltotriose but hydrolyzed the other substrates only very weakly or not at all. α-Glucosidase I hydrolyzed soluble starch at a faster rate than maltose. It produced isomaltose and panose as the main α-glucosyltransfer products from maltose, whereas maltotriose was the main product of α-glucosidase II. α-Glucosidase I hydrolyzed amylose liberating α-glucose. The neutral-sugar content was calculated to be 2.7% for α-glucosidase I and 8.8% for α-glucosidase II. The main neutral sugar was mannose in α-glucosidase I, and glucose in α-glucosidase II.

Counterregulatory system in an artificial endocrine pancreas. Glucose infusion algorithm

An artificial endocrine pancreas has been developed by adding a glucose infusion system to the artificial beta cell system. In this computer algorithm, glucose is infused on the basis of proportional and derivative actions to blood glucose concentration with the time delay constant between blood withdrawal and initiation of glucose infusion. When glucose was infused on the basis of proportional action with a 20-minute time delay, the prompt restoration to normoglycemia from the hypoglycemic state with a smaller amount of glucose was shown in depancreatized dogs. These results indicate that the artificial endocrine pancreas thus prepared is not only a useful device to safely control blood glucose, but also is an efficient research tool for the analysis of the blood glucose regulatory mechanism.