Activities of free oxygen radical scavenger enzymes in human liver

Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were measured in liver biopsy specimens from patients with various liver diseases, including six with chronic persistent hepatitis, nine with chronic active hepatitis, nine with non-alcoholic cirrhosis, eight with alcoholic cirrhosis and eight with acute hepatitis. Measurements from ten patients without liver disease were used as controls. Levels of total superoxide dismutase activity in the chronic active hepatitis and non-alcoholic cirrhosis groups were significantly lower than those in the controls (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.01, respectively). The level of total superoxide dismutase activity in the acute hepatitis group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p less than 0.01). The levels of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase activity in all the experimental groups, except for the chronic persistent hepatitis group, were significantly lower than those in the controls (p less than 0.01 in all groups). The levels of Mn-superoxide dismutase activity in the alcoholic cirrhosis and acute hepatitis groups were significantly higher than those in the controls (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.01, respectively), although no difference in the level of this enzyme was seen among the controls, chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and non-alcoholic cirrhosis groups. The levels of catalase activity in the groups with chronic active hepatitis, non-alcoholic and alcoholic cirrhosis and acute hepatitis were significantly lower than those in the controls (p less than 0.01 in all groups). Glutathione peroxidase activity showed no difference among the groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fundamental and clinical studies on fluorescence laparoscopy after intravenous injection of fluorescein-sodium

In rats with experimental liver injuries and humans with various liver diseases, fluorescence from the liver surface after intravenous injection of 10% fluorescein-sodium was investigated. Our improved fluorescence laparoscopy allowed clear fluorescent images. In normal rats and in cases of nonspecific reactive hepatitis, fluorescence was first found in the portal area of the liver surface; it was then observed spreading into the lobules towards the central veins. In damaged livers of both rats and human, bright fluorescence was observed in arterioles, necrotic foci, and fibrotic areas on the liver surface. The patterns of fluorescence which appeared in the early phase after intravenous injection of fluorescein-sodium seemed to reflect the shapes and distribution patterns of the portal areas. These results suggest that observations with improved fluorescence laparoscopy are useful for diagnoses of liver diseases.

Life cycle of Hysterothylacium haze (Nematoda: Anisakidae: Raphidascaridinae)

Natural infections with Hysterothylacium haze in the Japanese common goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus, were observed in detail. In gobies in which no worm eggs were deposited, second-stage larvae were found in the digestive tract wall, and third-stage larvae occurred in the digestive tract wall, mesentery, and body cavity, whereas fourth-stage larvae and adults were found in the body cavity. This stage-habitat relationship demonstrates the infectivity of second-stage larvae to the goby and the larval migration. In heavily infected gobies, eggs and all worm stages, from hatched second-stage larvae to adults, often were found together in the body cavity of one individual host, suggesting that hatched second-stage larvae can develop in the body cavity. It was shown experimentally that H. haze develops to the second stage in the egg and does not hatch spontaneously. When a goby was fed the viscera of heavily infected gobies containing eggs and various stages of worms or artificially incubated eggs containing second-stage larvae, second- and third-stage larvae were recovered from the digestive tract wall, and fourth-stage larvae and adults were found in the body cavity. When polychaetes or crustaceans were placed in contact with infected goby viscera or incubated eggs, only second-stage larvae were recovered from the body cavity of the invertebrates. The experimental results were consistent with observations on natural infections and indicate that the direct life cycle of H. haze may involve invertebrates as transport hosts.

Morphology of the excretory system of Hysterothylacium haze (Nematoda: Anisakidae: Raphidascaridinae)

The morphology of the excretory system of Hysterothylacium haze was examined by serial histological sections. The excretory system was H-shaped and glandular, consisting of lateral filaments and a commissure, with the exretory pore opening posterior to the nerve ring. A large excretory nucleus was present in the left filament. The cuticularized excretory duct was confined to the left side of the commissure. The glandular excretory system is rare among the Raphidascaridinae.

Effect of psychotropic drugs on the contents of melatonin, serotonin and N-acetylserotonin in rat pineal gland

In the dark phase, the effects of the psychotropic drugs on the contents of melatonin, serotonin (5-HT) and N-acetylserotonin (NAS) in rat pineal gland were examined. The pineal gland was removed at a certain period of time after subcutaneous injection of the drugs. 5-HT, NAS and melatonin contents in the pineal gland were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection. A dose-dependent decrease was observed for melatonin content in the administration of diazepam (DZP), hydroxyzine (HYZ), chlorpromazine (CPZ) or haloperidol (HPD). When imipramine (IPM) or amitriptyline (APL) was given to rats, pineal 5-HT content was significantly decreased. On the other hand, the administration of IPM or APL caused increases in pineal NAS and melatonin. Furthermore, the administration of phenytoin (PYT) revealed no changes in the content of pineal indoleamines. These results suggest that the psychotropic drugs widely used in clinical applications could cause significant changes in pineal indoleamine content.

Ultrastructural localization of Cu, Zn-SOD in hepatocytes of patients with various liver diseases

The ultrastructural localization of copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD) in the liver of patients with acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and alcoholic fatty liver was studied by means of the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. In hepatocytes Cu, Zn-SOD was found to be localized in perinuclear cisternae, rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), vesicles and Golgi apparatus. The Cu, Zn-SOD was also detected around the lipid droplets in hepatocytes as well as on the cytoplasmic membrane in cases of liver cirrhosis. These findings suggest that Cu, Zn-SOD is produced in the rER in hepatocytes and protects the cells from cellular injury caused by superoxide anion radical in various disorders of the liver.

Scanning electron microscopic study of dentin walls of the pulp chamber by a replica technique

Precise replicas of the pulp chamber were made with a low-viscosity synthetic resin and examined with a scanning electron microscope. As a result, it was confirmed that the pulp horns and the pulp roof were clearly observed at both low and high magnification by this replica technique. Furthermore, interesting findings were made. That is, a vessel-like linear ridge or groove, measuring 5 micron in diameter, was observed on the surface of the replica. The ridge or groove ran across the top of the pulp horn to the pulp roof in the direction of the other horns. Such a linear ridge or groove was found in 32 of 50 specimens (64%). It may be interpreted that there was a stringy structure embedded in the calcospherites beneath the predentin. However, the origin of these structures could not be determined in this experiment.

Computerized morphometry of liver cells in diffuse hepatic diseases

Computerized morphometrical measurements were made of liver cells and their nuclei taken from livers of healthy persons and from patients with acute hepatitis (AH), chronic hepatitis (CH), and liver cirrhosis (LC). Liver biopsies were performed on 127 people (24 convalescing from acute hepatitis, 20 with chronic inactive hepatitis (CIH), 24 with chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 38 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 21 who were healthy controls (HC]. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, then light microscopic pictures were obtained. The original cells were magnified 1000 times. The sizes of the cells and of their nuclei were calculated using a computer. Correlative variation was noted in cell and nuclear sizes resulting in an consistently constant nucleus-cytoplasm ratio. Average sizes of both cells and nuclei were maximal in livers with LC, followed in decreasing order by those in livers with CAH, CIH, HC and convalescent AH. The smallest cells and nuclei were found in convalescent AH cases. It might be possible to some degree to obtain gross impressions of the histopathological type of the liver lesion by measuring the sizes of cells and nuclei of the liver.

Variation of melatonin and serotonin content in rat pineal gland with sex and oestrous phase difference determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

Simultaneous determination of melatonin and serotonin in rat pineal gland is described using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection. These indoles were analysed isocratically within 15 min. In this work, veratric acid (3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid), which has fluorescence characteristics (lambda ex = 290 nm, lambda em = 350 nm) around the wavelength of native fluorescence of melatonin (lambda ex = 285 nm, lambda em = 345 nm), was used as an internal standard. This method was applied to the determination of melatonin and serotonin in male and female rat pineal gland. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in the pineal melatonin and serotonin contents. The pineal melatonin and serotonin contents were compared with the oestrous and the di-oestrous phases of female rats. They were not widely different from each other.

Role of angiotensin II in the pathogenesis of hyperdipsia in chronic renal failure

The relation of thirst to the renin-angiotensin system was examined in 38 patients with chronic renal failure receiving hemodialysis treatment. They were classified into three groups, ie, group 1 (19 patients), no or modest thirst; group 2 (13 patients), moderate thirst; and group 3 (six patients), excessive thirst. The plasma renin activity, plasma angiotensin II levels, and interdialytic weight gains of groups 1 to 3 significantly increased in a progressive manner with intensity of thirst. The hyperdipsia experienced by four patients in group 3 ameliorated after administration of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor. The hyperdipsia of some patients with chronic renal failure therefore appears to be mediated by increased production of endogenous angiotensin II.

Immuno-response in tilapia Sarotherodon niloticus vaccinated with Edwardsiella tarda by hyperosmotic infiltration method

Sarotherodon niloticus with average weight of 28.42 +/- 1.87 g were immunized with formalin-killed Edwardsiella tarda using the hyperosmotic infiltration method. Test fish maintained in 30 l aquaria were grouped into four treatments. Group 1 and 2 were exposed to a single hyperosmotic treatment on day 0. Group 1 was bled on day 14 and group 2 was bled on day 28. Group 3 was given hyperosmotic treatments twice: on day 0 and day 14 and bled on day 28. Group 4 was an untreated control bled on day 28. All sera were analyzed for agglutinating antibody titer against E. tarda flagellar and somatic antigens. Results showed that flagellar and somatic agglutinin titers in all treatments were not statistically significant. Likewise, infection experiments where test fish were challenged with intraperitoneal injection of the test bacterium showed that the vaccination experiment did not effectively protect the test fish from infection by Edwardsiella tarda.

[Clinical studies on the biliary excretion of mezlocillin, especially in cases with liver dysfunction]

To investigate efficacy of mezlocillin (MZPC) in the treatment of biliary tract infection, the time course concentrations of MZPC in the bile of patients with, in particular, liver dysfunction were measured. MZPC concentrations in the bile decreased with the increase in the severity of liver dysfunction. However, the bile concentration was maintained more than 50 micrograms/ml even in cases of severe cholangitis with obstructive jaundice. These results indicate that MZPC is an useful antibiotic for the treatment of biliary tract infection.