Effects of clonidine and yohimbine on parasympathetic reflex salivation and vasodilatation in cat SMG

The present experiments were designed to examine the site of action of the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine, and the alpha 2-antagonist, yohimbine, on the salivary secretion response to parasympathetic and sympathetic stimulation in the cat submandibular gland (SMG). The parasympathetic reflex salivary secretion was significantly affected by both clonidine and yohimbine (clonidine reduced and yohimbine increased the amount of saliva secreted) while the reflex vasodilator response was not affected by either agent. No degree of methacholine-induced salivation was affected by prior treatment with either clonidine or yohimbine. The salivation elicited by facial nerve root stimulation was markedly reduced by clonidine but potentiated by yohimbine. Prior treatment with scopolamine completely abolished the salivary secretion induced by either methacholine or facial nerve root stimulation. Clonidine and yohimbine had no effect on SMG salivation elicited by sympathetic stimulation. These results indicate that the alpha 2-agonist and antagonist act specifically on parasympathetic salivary fibers but have no effect on parasympathetic vasodilator fibers. They thus suggest that postganglionic parasympathetic innervation is differentiated into salivary and vasodilator fibers.

A helper T-cell antigen enhances generation of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro

A T-cell helper for generation of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes was studied in three patients with chronic hepatitis C. In all three, human leukocyte antigen B44-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognizing an epitope in hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein residues 81-100 were generated from the peripheral blood lymphocytes by repeated stimulation with a synthetic hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid peptide. The proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein residues 1-120 was observed in one patient, and was ascribed to CD4+ T cells. The helper T cells recognized a major epitope in residues 21-40 and a minor epitope(s) in residues 81-110. They produced interferon gamma, but interleukin 4 was not detectable in the T-helper cell culture supernatants. The hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein residues 1-120 and the major helper T-cell epitope enhanced generation of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro, although the protein alone did not generate them. In the other two patients, the protein did not enhance generation of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro. The results suggest that a hepatitis C virus-specific helper T-cell epitope is helpful for inducing a strong specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response.

Numerical chromosome aberrations in bladder cancer detected by in situ hybridization

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between interphase cytogenetics and the grade and stage of bladder cancer in patients with transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

By use of in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific DNA probes, the copy number of pericentromeric sequences on chromosomes 7, 10, 11, 17, 18, X and Y was detected within interphase nuclei in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of the routinely processed bladder cancers from 20 patients. The percentage of hyperdiploid cells (three or more spots) was estimated using light microscopy.

RESULTS

The percentage of hyperdiploid cells for chromosomes 7, 11 and 17 was highly correlated with increasing tumour grade (P < 0.01, Spearman rank correlation) or increasing pathological stage (P < 0.01). The percentage of hyperdiploid cells for chromosome Y was not correlated with either grade or stage (P > 0.05). As high tumour grade and stage are both indicative of more aggressive tumour behaviour and a worse prognosis, these findings suggest that the percentage of hyperdiploid cells, especially for chromosomes 7, 11 and 17, may be highly predictive of bladder tumour aggressiveness.

CONCLUSION

These preliminary results suggest that measurement of numerical chromosome aberrations using in situ hybridization in bladder cancer may offer a new objective and quantitative assay of the biological potential of individual tumours.

Wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, blocks osteoclastic bone resorption

The biological role of phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3 kinase was examined in osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (OCLs) formed in co-cultures of mouse osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells. The expression of PI-3 kinase in OCLs was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Wortmannin (WT), a specific inhibitor of PI-3 kinase, inhibited PI-3 kinase activity in OCLs both in vitro and in vivo. WT also inhibited pit-forming activity on dentine slices and disrupted a ringed structure of F-actin-containing dots (an actin ring) in OCLs in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory profiles of WT for pit and actin ring formation were similar to that for PI-3 kinase activity in OCLs. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that OCLs treated with WT did not form ruffled borders. Instead, numerous electron lucent vacuoles of differing sizes were found throughout the cytoplasm. These results suggest that PI-3 kinase is important in osteoclastic bone resorption.

Spinal tract degeneration confined to the bilateral posterior columns in malnutrition: report of an autopsy

An autopsy case of malnutrition with spinal tract degeneration confined to the bilateral posterior columns is reported. The patient had schizophrenia in adolescence, and suffered from aplastic anemia in late middle age. Subsequently, he took little food due to delusions for 18 months until his death. He had malnutrition resulting in severe hypoproteinemia. He developed gait disturbance, loss of deep tendon reflexes and paresthesia of limbs. Neuropathological examination disclosed tract degeneration confined to the bilateral spinal posterior columns, in addition to the findings of aplastic anemia and hypoxic encephalopathy in the cerebrum. The myelin and axons were severely affected throughout the spinal cord; status spongiosus with many fatty-laden macrophages was seen in these lesions. Neurons in the posterior column nuclei were intact, while the dorsal roots and their ganglia were moderately affected. The unusual distribution and extension of the degeneration of the bilateral posterior columns in the poor nutritional state is discussed.

Twenty-four hour monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate in patients with chronic renal failure or renal transplant recipients: analysis by the cosinor method

Hypertension is a major problem of patients with chronic renal failure or renal transplant recipients. To clarify the characteristics of blood pressure, heart rate, and circadian rhythms of these patients we used an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) for 24 h monitoring and analyzed the data by the cosinor method. In eight chronic renal failure patients without dialysis the midline estimating statistic of rhythm (MESOR) of diastolic blood pressure was higher than in controls, but the MESOR of systolic blood pressure was not. Of 11 patients on dialysis some had hypertension and some had hypotension. In 14 renal transplant recipients, especially those with chronic graft rejection, the MESOR of systolic and diastolic pressures were higher than controls, and the increase of blood pressure MESOR had a significant correlation with the elevation of serum creatinine levels. Circadian rhythms of blood pressure were frequently absent in the patients on dialysis, but circadian rhythms of heart rate were not. The use of an ABPM is a non-invasive method to monitor patients and allowed us to know changes of blood pressure and heart rate in the daytime as well as during the night. For the control of hypertension in chronic renal failure, monitoring with an ABPM seems to provide invaluable information.

Effects of delapril hydrochloride on the myocardium of spontaneously hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of long term treatment with delapril hydrochloride (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) on myocardial contractility and ventricular myosin isoenzymes in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

DESIGN

Delapril hydrochloride (10 mg/kg/day by mouth) was administered to 22- to 24-week-old male SHR for eight to 10 weeks. The isometric contractions of isolated left ventricular papillary muscles were observed while being perfused with Tyrode's solution (32 degrees C, pH 7.4, bubbled with 95% oxygen: 5% carbon dioxide, stimulation frequency 0.2 Hz). The left ventricular myosin isoenzymes were separated using pyrophosphate-gel electrophoresis.

MAIN RESULTS

The mean systolic blood pressure of the delapril-treated group was significantly lower than that of the untreated control group. The mean ventricular weight was also lower in the delapril-treated than control group (mean +/- SD, untreated: 211 +/- 11 mmHg, n = 6; delapril-treated: 183 +/- 14 mmHg, n = 8, P < 0.01). The mean isometric developed tension (T) and +/-dT/dtmax of isolated left ventricular papillary muscles from the delapril-treated and untreated SHR did not differ significantly. The left ventricular myosin isoenzyme pattern obtained by pyrophosphate-gel electrophoresis, however, showed a significant shift towards VM-1 after long term delapril treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Long term treatment of SHR with delapril hydrochloride reduced blood pressure, which was associated with regression of cardiac hypertrophy, and changed the ventricular myosin isoenzyme pattern without significantly affecting myocardial contractility.

Salt preference elicited by chronic intracerebroventricular angiotensin II

1. Much more water was consumed than either 0.9% or 2.7% saline in response to various dipsogenic stimuli in untreated normal replete rats when they had free access to water, 0.9% and 2.7% saline. On the other hand, the rats drank more 0.9% saline than water and 2.7% saline when each solution is the sole drinking fluid offered. 2. A marked increase in preference for 0.9% saline was observed during the chronic i.c.v. injection of angiotensin II at a dose of 25 ng/hr for 7 consecutive days in the three bottle choice test. After the cessation of angiotensin II infusion, most rats (45 out of 50 rats) returned to drink much more water than 0.9% and 2.7% saline, similar to the drinking pattern of the 0.9% saline-treated control rats. However, some rats (5 out of 50 rats) still preferred 0.9% saline and this persisted for up to 3 months although these rats did not show a hypertensive state and an increase of plasma renin activity.

Coxsackievirus B3 infection leads to cell death of cardiac myocytes

In order to address the question whether the virus or immune reactions to the heart induce cardiac damage in the murine model of coxsackievirus B3 induced myocarditis, calcium-resistant cardiac myocytes of a myocarditis susceptible strain of mice were isolated and exposed to myocarditic coxsackievirus B3. The tetrazolium salt MTT was used to visualize the effect of the virus upon cell viability by inverse light microscopy and by an EA test. Coxsackievirus B3 infected isolated adult cardiac myocytes as well as infected cultured cardiac fibroblasts were examined. In vitro the virus killed the myocytes within 16 h of infection whereas the fibroblasts survived the infection. Since coxsackievirus B3 is able to kill cardiac myocytes by itself, immunosuppressive treatment of acute coxsackievirus B3 induced myocarditis may be harmful by eliminating host immune defence mechanisms and, therefore, may lead to an enhanced viral spread and virus induced myocyte necrosis in the heart.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome: progressive mental deterioration in association with unusual cerebral white matter change

An autopsied case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome with progressive dementia was reported. The clinical symptoms included progressive intellectual decline, myoclonus, generalized convulsive seizure, cerebellar ataxia and positive pyramidal signs. Neuropathological examination disclosed cerebral white matter demyelination marked in the frontal lobe and fibrillary gliosis predominantly in the subcortical U-fibers, grumose degeneration in the dentate nucleus and inferior olivary nucleus lesion. The skeletal muscle showed no ragged-red fiber. The present case can be included in Ramsay Hunt syndrome because of the absence of pathological hallmark of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and of the presence of the degenerative lesions in the olivary and dentate nucleus without cerebellar Purkinje cell loss. The intellectual decline is a result of extensive frontal white matter change, and myoclonus and ataxia are closely associated with dentate grumose degeneration. The cerebral white matter change is an unusual finding and the present case might be a variant in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

The ability of H-2Dd molecule to affect natural resistance to hemopoietic allografts is an intrinsic property shared by Ddm1 but not Ld

F1 hybrid resistance (HR) to parental bone marrow grafts is mediated by natural killer (NK) cells, and thought to be controlled by the non-class I hemopoietic histocompatibility (Hh) genes linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). However, as in the in vitro NK cytotoxicity against hemopoietic targets, expression of certain class I MHC molecules does affect HR, although mechanisms underlying such an effect are not understood. In this study, we examine the relevance of the "self/non-self" property of class I molecules and the molecular domains responsible for this function. H-2b/Hh-1b lymphoma cells were transfected with class I H-2Dd or Ld gene, and its effect on the Hh-1 phenotype was examined by testing the transfectant's ability to competitively inhibit the in vivo rejection of parental H-2b/Hh-1b bone marrow grafts by irradiated F1 hybrid hosts. Multiple independent clones of transfectants show that the genomic or cDNA of the Dd gene, but not of Ld, renders the Hh-1b-positive cells incapable of inhibiting HR in F1 mice, although both genes belong to the same region of the same haplotype. The same effect could be observed not only in H-2b/d F1 mice for which Dd and Ld are self, but also in H-2b/k F1 mice for which both Dd and Ld are non-self. Thus, this function of the Dd molecule is an intrinsic property, not necessarily related to its self/non-self characteristic relative to the effector cells. Furthermore, given the nature of the assay used in this study, the results favor a "target interference" model as the underlying mechanism of the Dd effect. To locate the relevant domain(s) of the Dd molecule, mutant Ddm1 gene was tested and found to have the same effect as the non-mutant Dd. Ddm1 is a hybrid molecule between Dd and Ld, sharing with Dd only the alpha 1 domain and a portion of the alpha 2 domain. The two N-terminal domains of Ddm1 differ from those of Dd by three amino acid substitutions, two of which affect the molecules' peptide-binding properties.

Comparison of the prophylactic usefulness of epirubicin and doxorubicin in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer by intravesical instillation: a multicenter randomized trial. Kobe University Urological Oncology Group

A multicentric randomized trial was conducted for the purpose of investigating the prophylactic efficacy of intravesical epirubicin instillation following transurethral resection of superficial bladder cancer in comparison with the efficacy of doxorubicin. The patients were centrally randomized into 2 groups and received 19 intravesical instillations of epirubicin or doxorubicin at 30 mg/30 ml physiological saline twice a week for 4 weeks and then once monthly for 11 months. A total of 150 patients with Ta and T1 superficial bladder cancer were entered in the trial, and 114 were evaluable. The nonrecurrence rates determined for each group at 1 and 2 years by the Kaplan-Meier method were 92.8% and 88.6%, respectively, for the epirubicin group and 86.4% and 81.7%, respectively, for the doxorubicin group. The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. The main side effects encountered in this study were symptoms of bladder irritation such as micturitional pain, pollakisuria, and hematuria. The respective frequencies of those symptoms were 10%, 15.0%, and 5.0% in the epirubicin group and 14.8%, 14.8%, and 0 in the doxorubicin group. These results suggest that epirubicin is a useful drug, comparable with doxorubicin, for intravesical instillation chemotherapy in the prophylactic treatment of superficial bladder cancer.

Myocardial contractility and energetics in cardiac hypertrophy and its regression

The changes in myocardial contractility and ventricular myosin isoenzymes were investigated in rats with pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy as well as during its regression. Hypertrophic myocardium was obtained from rats with renovascular hypertension (Goldblatt rats), rats with abdominal aortic constriction (AC), and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Regression of cardiac hypertrophy was induced by lowering the blood pressure through nephrectomy on the affected side in Goldblatt rats, by opening the clip which constricted the abdominal aorta in AC rats, and by the administration of antihypertensive agents to SHR. The isometric developed tension of isolated left ventricular papillary muscles and the maximum rate of increase in the tension (dT/dtmax) were measured. Left ventricular myosin isoenzymes were separated by pyrophosphate gel electrophoresis. Isometric developed tension remained unchanged, but dT/dtmax was decreased in hypertrophic myocardium, although it recovered along with the regression of cardiac hypertrophy. The left ventricular myosin isoenzyme pattern was shifted towards V3 in hypertrophic myocardium, and shifted back again towards V1 with the regression of cardiac hypertrophy. These results indicate that relief of hemodynamic overload is one of the most important elements in the regression of cardiac hypertrophy and the associated physiological or biochemical alterations. However, other factors such as neurohumoral influences must also be taken into consideration.

[Effects of quinapril on the development of hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and stroke in salt-sensitive Dahl rats and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats]

The effects of repeated administration of quinapril (10 mg/kg/day) on the development of hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and survival rate were examined, and compared with those of enalapril (10 mg/kg) in salt-sensitive Dahl (Dahl S) rats and 1% saline-loaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). The Dahl S rats were treated with the drugs at 10 to 20 weeks of age and the SHRSP, at 8-19 weeks of age. (1) In the Dahl S rats, salt loading rapidly raised systolic blood pressure, which was around 220 mmHg at 10 weeks of age. Both quinapril and enalapril significantly prevented the development of hypertension (below 160 mmHg) and cardiac hypertrophy. Age-associated histopathological alterations in the kidney and mesenteric artery in Dahl S rats were suppressed by the drug treatment. (2) Salt-loaded SHRSP rapidly developed severe hypertension (270 mmHg at 12 weeks of age) accompanied with stroke signs, and 19 animals out of 20 died by the end of the experiment. Both quinapril and enalapril significantly inhibited the age-associated development of hypertension and markedly improved the survival rate (only two animals out of 16 died in both groups). These results suggest that quinapril has protective actions against age-associated development of hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, and as a result, it prolongs the life span.

Delirium associated with Joseph disease

Three Japanese patients with Joseph disease from different families developed sleep disturbance, followed by delirium at the middle to end stage. Brain CT scans of the three patients showed brainstem tegmental atrophy. EEG revealed slowing of background activity. Two necropsy cases showed degeneration of the reticular formation, raphe nuclei and locus ceruleus in the brainstem tegmentum in addition to the common pathological findings of Joseph disease. The clinicopathological correlation between the delirium and the brainstem tegmental atrophy in Joseph disease is discussed.

HLA B44-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognizing an epitope on hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes have been reported to be involved in the immune clearance of virus-infected cells and in the pathogenesis of viral infection. We studied the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to the putative nucleocapsid protein of hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein were generated from peripheral blood lymphocytes by means of repeated stimulation with a synthetic hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein peptide. The cytotoxic T lymphocytes were CD8 positive and recognized an epitope in hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein residues 81 to 100 in association with a human leukocyte antigen class I molecule, B44. The peptide-induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognized target cells synthesizing hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein endogenously, though less efficiently than peptide-pulsed target cells. The human leukocyte antigen B44-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte response was observed in three of five patients with chronic hepatitis C and a human leukocyte antigen B44 molecule but in neither of two hepatitis C virus-negative healthy individuals with human leukocyte antigen B44 molecules. The results demonstrate the presence of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis C and provide a strategy to study the role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the viral clearance and the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus infection.

Latent menstrual cycle in pre-menarcheal monozygotic twins

The distribution of menarcheal interval-length between cotwins in 67 pairs of female identical twins in Tokyo was found to cluster at fairly constant intervals. When delayed in one twin, the menarche occurred in the second twin at intervals of approximately 28 days after that of the earlier twin. This finding suggests the existence of a latent lunar or menstrual cycle in pre-menarcheal girls, evidence for which was detected by recording the menarcheal intervals between MZ cotwins in days.

Distribution of radioisotopic beryllium in mice after administration by various routes of injection

A 7BeCl2 solution containing 0.5 micrograms Be per mouse was injected subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, intrathoracically, and intravenously, and distribution was observed for periods up to 1 wk. 7Be was excreted more rapidly following intravenous injection than by the other routes of injection. The amount of Be found in the liver or the spleen was substantial at 1 d after intraperitoneal injection. It increased more in the spleen at 7 d after either intraperitoneal or intrathoracic injection. On the other hand, the amounts of Be stayed almost constant in the kidneys, by the various routes of injection. When injected intrathoracically, the amounts of Be in the heart and the lung were greater than when administered by the other routes of injection. The amounts of Be in the femurs of mice administered by these routes of injection, except with intravenous injection, were greater than in the other organs. The percentage of 7Be in the mineralized bone was 90% of that of 7Be in the femurs when injected intraperitoneally or intrathoracically. However, the ratio of Be in the mineralized bone to that in the bone marrow was 3 to 2. Beryllium had thus a closer affinity for the femurs than for the other organs investigated, with the different modes of administration used. The amount of Be in the entire skeleton was estimated to be substantial. Within the limitations of 1 wk of exposure, the skeleton would appear to be a critical organ. This would suggest that osteosarcomas may occur following administration of Be to laboratory animals for a long-term period.

Chymotrypsin inhibitory conformation of dipeptides constructed by side chain-side chain hydrophobic interactions

A complete series of configurational isomers (L-L, L-D, D-L and D-D) of a dipeptide Leu-Phe benzyl ester have been synthesized and assayed for chymotrypsin. In the conformational analysis by 400 MHz 1H NMR, the L-D and D-L isomers, but not the L-L and D-D isomers, showed fairly large upfield shifts (0.2-0.4 ppm) of Leu-beta CH2 and gamma CH proton signals, indicating the presence of shielding effects from the benzene ring. In addition to distinct signal splitting of Phe-beta CH2, the NOE enhancement observed between Leu-delta CH3 and Phe-phenyl groups revealed that these groups are in close proximity. These data indicated that L-D and D-L isomers form a hydrophobic core between side chains of adjacent Leu and Phe residues. When the dipeptides were examined for inhibition of chymotrypsin using Ac-Tyr-OEt as a substrate, the L-L isomer showed no inhibition, itself becoming a substrate. However, the other three isomers inhibited chymotrypsin in a competitive manner, and the D-L isomer was strongest with Ki of 2.2 x 10(-5) M. It was found that the D-L isomer was only slowly hydrolysed but the L(or D)-D isomer was not. H-D-Phe-L-Leu-OBzl with the inverse sequence of H-D-Leu-L-Phe-OBzl inhibited chymotrypsin more strongly (Ki = 6.3 x 10(-6) M).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Variations in chloroplast DNA from rice (Oryza sativa): differences between deletions mediated by short direct-repeat sequences within a single species

In a previous study, we compared chloroplast DNAs (ctDNAs) from four species ofOryza and detected two independent deletions of DNA fragments in the ctDNAs (Kanno and Hirai 1992a). These deletions were genotype-specific variations. Since short direct-repeat sequences were detected at the borders of both deletions, the deletions were apparently the result of intramolecular recombination mediated by these direct-repeat sequences. In the present study, we examined whether or not this type of variation exists within a single species. Ishii et al. demonstrated three types of ctDNA inO. Sativa (1988), and the source of the variations that they identified seemed to be deletions. We determined the precise locations of the deletions and the sequences around them. As expected, our results showed that these variations were the results of deletions that were mediated by short direct-repeat sequences. While the deletions that had been found previously were located on spacer regions, those found in this study were located within open reading frames (ORFs). Northern hybridization analysis showed that one of the ORFs was-transcribed. In the case of this deletion, the amino acid sequence encoded by the C-terminal region of the ORF was altered and the short inverted-repeat sequences downstream of the ORF were deleted. In addition, there were other short inverted-repeat sequences downstream of the altered ORF.