[Development of scales of relationships between grandchildren in adolescence and grandparents]

The purposes of this study are (1) to make scales of relationships between grandchildren in adolescence and grandparents, and (2) to clarify functions of grandparents perceived by grandchildren and functions of grandchildren perceived by grandparents. Subjects were 517 students in junior high schools, high schools and universities (mean of age: 17 years old), and 107 elderly persons at home (mean of age: 73 years old). As a result, factorial validity and reliability of the scales were confirmed. We found the functions of "daily emotional support", "acceptance of existence", "time perspectives", and "succession of generations" in both the grandchildren scale and the grandparents scale. Additionally we identified the function of "instrumental informational support" in the grandparents scale. The fact that the functions of "time perspectives", and "succession of generations" were found in two groups suggested the facilitation of mutual development between the generations. In addition, the function of "acceptance of existence" suggested possibilities of genuinely supportive relationships.

[Unresectable gastric cancer followed by remarkably effective tumor disappearance and good quality of life for 10 months after CDDP/5'-DFUR combination chemotherapy--a case report]

A 40-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of dysphagia and severe anemia (Hb 4.5 g/dl). She was diagnosed as having an advanced gastric cancer, which was unresectable because of liver metastasis, esophageal invasion and paraaortic lymph node metastasis. Combination chemotherapy with CDDP/5'-DFUR was started. CDDP of 80 mg/m2 was administered twice every 4 weeks by a 24-hour drip infusion method, and oral 5'-DFUR of 1,400 mg/m2 was administered for 4 days prior to the first administration of CDDP. Then, 5'-DFUR of 500 mg/m2 was given every day except for 7 days after the first administration of CDDP. Her performance status before the chemotherapy was 3, and improved to 1 a month after the first administration of CDDP. The patient was discharged very much improved on the 45th day after the first administration of CDDP. The side effect was nausea but tolerable. Six months after the first administration, her cancer disappeared on X-ray films, endoscopic and CT examinations. Her PS improved to 0, and she has remained alive with a good QOL for 10 months after the second administration of CDDP.

[A case of AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) producing gastric cancer successfully treated with FEP (5-FU, Epirubicin, cisplatin) therapy by continuous venous daily infusion of 5-FU and low-dose CDDP]

We reported our experience with a case of AFP producing gastric cancer with liver metastasis successfully treated with FEP therapy by continuous daily venous infusion of 5-FU and low-dose CDDP. A 59-year-old male was diagnosed with liver metastasis 2 months after partial gastrectomy of gastric cancer and then admitted. The patient received five courses of 24-hour continuous infusion of CDDP (5 mg/day, on day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and 5-FU (250 mg/day, on day 1, 3, 5) and bolus infusion of Epirubicin (10 mg/day, on day 3). No remarkable side effect was encountered. Complete response at the liver metastasis was observed by CT scan. Serum AFP level was down from 614 ng/ml to the normal range of 0.5 ng/ml after the therapy. The patient has been well for 10 months with complete remission.

Mechanism of differential activities of ofloxacin enantiomers

Ofloxacin, a potent quinolone antibacterial agent, has a tricyclic ring structure with a methyl group attached to the asymmetric carbon at the C-3 position on the oxazine ring. The S isomer (DR-3355) of ofloxacin has antibacterial activity up to 2 orders of magnitude greater than that of the R isomer (DR-3354). This differential antibacterial activity was not due to different drug transport mechanisms of the two isomers but was found to be derived from the inhibitory activity against the target enzyme, DNA gyrase. Previous mechanistic studies have suggested that the bactericidal effect of the drug is mediated through the stabilization of a cleavable complex via a cooperative drug binding process to a partially denatured DNA pocket created by DNA gyrase. The drug binds to supercoiled DNA in a manner similar to that to which it binds to the enzyme-DNA complex. In the present studies, we first examined the binding of the two radiolabeled ofloxacin enantiomers to supercoiled pUC9 plasmid DNA. Surprisingly, the two enantiomers possessed similar apparent binding affinities and binding cooperatives. The major difference in binding between the two stereoisomers was the molar binding ratio: 4 for the more active S isomer versus 2 for the less active R isomer. We next examined the relative binding potencies of the stereoisomers to the DNA-DNA gyrase complex. The results of a competition assay showed that (S)-ofloxacin binds 12-fold better to the complex than (R)-ofloxacin. The binding potencies of the two enantiomers and two other quinolones correlated well with their respective concentrations causing 50% inhibition against DNA gyrase. The results are interpreted by a stacking model by using the concept of the cooperative drug-DNA binding mechanism, indicating that the potencies of quinolones cannot be determined solely by the DNA binding affinity and cooperativity but can also be determined by their capability in maximally saturating the binding site. The capability of the drug in saturating the binding pocket manifests itself in an increased efficacy at inhibiting the enzyme through a direct interaction between the drug and the enzyme. The results augment the previous suggestion that the binding pocket in the enzyme-DNA complex involves multiple receptor groups including not only DNA bases but also a gyrase subunit. The higher level of potency of (S)-ofloxacin is proposed to derive from the fact that a greater number of molecules are assembled in the pocket. This greater number of molecules optimizes the interaction between the drug and the enzyme, possibly through a contact between the C-7 substituent and the quinolone pocket on the B subunit of DNA gyrase.

[An preliminary study on Quality of Life Scale for Elderly: an examination in terms of psychological satisfaction]

The purpose of this study was to construct Quality of Life Scale for Elderly (QOLS-E), which was to evaluate the older person's physical, social, and psychological states synthetically, and to find out which factors most influenced the person's psychological satisfaction. Two groups of people, 42 in total who were between 65 and 90 years old, participated in the study, with 25 living in the nursing home, and 17 in the hospital. Although the factor structure of QOLS-E was reasonable, the reliabilities were not very high, meaning further research was necessary to improve the scale. Multiple regression showed that Satisfaction with Activities of Daily Life was apt to be related to psychological satisfaction. Also, enjoying a hobby and positive relationships with institutional staff members appeared important for other facets of psychological satisfaction. As for subscales of psychological satisfaction, enjoying a hobby was significantly related to Acceptance of Own Life, and number of diseases to Mental Stability. Another subscales of QOLS-E, Satisfaction with Family Relationships, was also related to Acceptance of Own Life.

Morphological analysis of the early development of the chick neural tube separated from the floor plate and notochord

When the neural tube of avian embryos is separated from the notochord and floor plate, motoneurons in the spinal cord fail to develop. In order to investigate the factors involved in this phenomenon, cell proliferation activity and cell death were observed following paramedian incision of the neural tube at the level of the segmental plate using colchicine, BrdU, and TUNEL methods. If the notochord and/or floor plate produces a substance(s) that promotes cell division in the basal plate neuroepithelium or that supports the survival of the motoneuron's neuroblasts, mitotic figures should not be present in the neuroepithelium nor should substantial cell death be observed in the ventral aspect of the notochord- and floor plate-deprived neural tube. Surprisingly, however, neither result was observed in the present experiments, with the exception of a considerable amount of homogeneously distributed cell death. Neuroepithelial cells continued to proliferate and gave rise to neuroblasts. Nevertheless, motoneurons failed to develop, and the neural tube was enveloped by only the basement membrane of the alar plate (S. Hirano and H. Tanaka, 1994, Dev. Growth Differ: 36, 481-488). These morphological results revealed that the cause of the development of the anterior horn lacking a neural tube in the notochord- and neural tube-eliminated embryos is not the elimination of the source of the surviving factor(s) of the motoneuron's neuroblasts, but rather the elimination of the signals to induce the motoneurons, derived from the notochord and/or floor plate. The larger amount of cell death in the neural tube on the experimental side suggests that a nonspecific survival factor(s), necessary for the survival of a variety of types of neuroblasts, is also produced by the notochord and/or floor plate.

Effect of growth conditions on antimicrobial activity of DU-6859a and its bactericidal activity determined by the killing curve method

The effect of growth conditions on the antibacterial activity of DU-6859a against Staphylococcus auerus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was compared with those of levofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. This activity was not affected by different media, inoculum size or the addition of human serum, but was decreased under acidic conditions, in human urine, and in the presence of magnesium and ferrous ion, as were the other quinolones tested. Time-kill curve studies demonstrated the bactericidal action of DU-6859a against S. aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa. Morphological alteration of these bacteria after exposure to DU-6859a also demonstrated its bactericidal activity. The frequency of spontaneous resistance to DU-6859a was less than or equal to those of the reference drugs.

Pathophysiological analysis of serum troponin T release kinetics in evolving ischemic myocardial injury

The present study measured cardiac troponin T(TnT) for the pathophysiological analysis of evolving ischemic myocardial injury in 35 patients with unstable angina (3: Class IB, 32: Class IIIB) and in 40 patients undergoing coronary reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Serum TnT, creatine kinase (CK), CKMB, myoglobin (Mb), and myosin light chain 1 (MLC1) were measured every 2-24 h for 10 days after admission to the CCU. In patients with unstable angina, positive test results were detected in 65.7% for TnT, 20% for CK, 37.1% for CKMB, 60.9% for Mb, and 26% for MLC1. Of the 23 patients with positive TnT, 12 (52.2%) had cardiac events. Of the 12 patients with negative TnT, 11 (91.6%) were event-free. All of the patients who developed cardiac events showed a persistent (n = 10) or delayed elevation (n = 2) pattern 28-120 h beforehand. The sensitivity for predicting cardiac events was 92.3% for TnT, 80% for Mb, 53.8% for CKMB, and 50% for MLC1. In patients with acute myocardial infarction, TnT release kinetics showed 2 peaks after coronary reperfusion therapy. TnT values at the 1st peak significantly correlated with maximum CKMB (r = 0.70, p < 0.05) and early-stage left ventricular wall motion score (r = 0.60, p < 0.05), while 2nd-peak TnT values significantly correlated with maximum MLC1 (r = 0.59, p < 0.05), the T1-SPECT score (r = 0.78, p < 0.05) and left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.74, p < 0.05) in the convalescent stage. The 2nd/1st-peak TnT ratio significantly correlated with the nQ/nST elevation index (ratio of the number of leads developing abnormal Q-wave 1 week after the onset to the number of leads showing ST elevation of more than 1 mm at admission) (r = 0.63, p < 0.05) in patients with anterior myocardial infarction. These data indicate that persistent release of TnT reflects progressive irreversible myocardial damage in unstable angina and indicates a risk of future cardiac events. In acute myocardial infarction, the 2nd/1st-peak TnT ratio in patients undergoing coronary reperfusion therapy may be useful for the quantitative evaluation of myocardial salvage.

Partial purification and characterization of a novel soybean protease which is inhibited by Kunitz and Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitors

A novel serine protease has been partially purified from dry seeds of the soybean (Glycine max) cultivar Keburi by cryoprecipitation at pH 6.4, fractional precipitation with ammonium sulfate, and a series of column chromatographic procedures on DEAE-Sepharose, SP-Sepharose, and Arginine-Sepharose 4B. Some properties of the purified enzyme were studied. The protease hydrolyzed the native storage globulins of soybean seeds, such as the alpha subunit of beta-conglycinin, at a pair of arginine residues, Arg126-Arg127. The proteolysis of the alpha subunit in the purified alpha 2 beta molecule of beta-conglycinin apparently followed first order kinetics. The enzyme was inhibited by both soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor and Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor in a competitive manner. Moreover, the enzyme could catalyze the specific proteolysis of the A3 polypeptide of the purified G5 glycinin at the Arg99-Gly100 linkage, or the carboxyl side of the Arg98-Arg99 paired basic residues.

A mRNA for membrane form of guanylyl cyclase is expressed exclusively in the testis of the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus

A cDNA clone encoding the membrane form of guanylyl cyclase was isolated from a Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus testis cDNA library and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The cDNA was 4123 bp long and an open reading frame predicted a protein of 1125 amino acids including an apparent signal peptide of 21 residues; a single transmembrane domain of 25 amino acids which divides the mature protein into an amino-terminal, extracellular domain of 485 amino acids and a carboxyl-terminal, intracellular domain of 594 amino acids. Three potential N-linked glycosylation sites were present in the extracellular domain. Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+RNA from testes, ovaries, eggs and embryos at various developmental stages showed that the cDNA encoding guanylyl cyclase hybridized to a mRNA of 4.4 kb from the testes. We developed a large scale purification method of the phosphorylated (131 kDa) and dephosphorylated (128 kDa) forms of the membrane-bound guanylyl cyclase from H. pulcherrimus spermatozoa. The purified 131 kDa and 128 kDa forms of the guanylyl cyclase contained 26.0 +/- 1.3 and 4.3 +/- 0.7 moles of phosphate per mol protein (mean +/- S.D.; n = 6), respectively. The amino-terminal amino acids of both the 131 kDa and 128 kDa forms of the guanylyl cyclase could not be detected, suggesting that they were blocked.

Quinolone-resistant mutants of escherichia coli DNA topoisomerase IV parC gene

Escherichia coli quinolone-resistant strains with mutations of the parC gene, which codes for a subunit of topoisomerase IV, were isolated from a quinolone-resistant gyrA mutant of DNA gyrase. Quinolone-resistant parC mutants were also identified among the quinolone-resistant clinical strains. The parC mutants became susceptible to quinolones by introduction of a parC+ plasmid. Introduction of the multicopy plasmids carrying the quinolone-resistant parC mutant gene resulted in an increase in MICs of quinolones for the parC+ and quinolone-resistant gyrA strain. Nucleotide sequences of the quinolone-resistant parC mutant genes were determined, and missense mutations at position Gly-78, Ser-80, or Glu-84, corresponding to those in the quinolone-resistance-determining region of DNA gyrase, were identified. These results indicate that topoisomerase IV is a target of quinolones in E. coli and suggest that the susceptibility of E. coli cells to quinolones is determined by sensitivity of the targets, DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.

Food deprivation and hypothermia in desynchronized sleep-deprived rats

Reports of the effect of desynchronized sleep (DS) deprivation on body temperature (Tb) of rats in the literature are contradictory. Since conspicuous body weight loss is common in such deprivation, the effect of food plus DS deprivation on Tb of adult male Wistar rats was studied. DS deprivation carried out by the small platform method with food ad libitum (N = 8) induced hyperthermia (Tb above 38.5 degrees C) in 1 to 3 rats daily until the 8th day, when a case of discrete hypothermia (Tb below 36.9 degrees C) appeared. Food deprivation alone started to induce hypothermia on the third day in one (20%) out of five rats. Fasting imposed from the 5th to the 8th day of DS deprivation (N = 12) caused hypothermia in 33% and 67% of the animals on the second and third day of starvation, respectively. DS compensatory manifestations in 6 starved rats intensified (N = 2) or precipitated (N = 2) hypothermia after the end of sleep deprivation. It is concluded that the hypothermia is not a primary effect of DS deprivation, and this state of sleep seems to have its particular functional role which is independent of thermoregulation.

Extrinsic and intrinsic connections of the cat's lateral suprasylvian visual area

The lateral suprasylvian visual area (LS) is known to have numerous interconnections with visual cortical areas as well as with subcortical structures implicated in visually-guided behaviors. In contrast, little data is available regarding connections within the LS itself. In order to obtain information about intra-areal connections and to re-investigate LS connectivity with various cortical and subcortical areas, the traces (biocytin or WGA-HRP) was injected into various loci along the medial and lateral banks of the LS. The anterograde tracer, biocytin injections into both medial and lateral bank produced label contained within the respective bank that extended rostrally and caudally from the infection site. In addition, following medical bank injections, considerable label was distributed throughout the fundus and, to a lesser extent, in the lateral bank. In contrast, no label could be detected in the medial bank after lateral bank injections, and, although label was observed in the fundus, it was restricted to the most lateral aspects. Moderate labeling could be observed in the medial bank following the tracer injection into the most rostral aspect of the lateral bank. It is likely that input derived from various visual cortical areas which project to the medial bank of the LS has access to this intra-areal circuitry. This may provide a route by which visual cortical information can be relayed to other cortical and subcortical structures involved in visually-guided behaviors such as the anterior ectosylvian visual cortex, striatum, and the deep layers of the superior colliculus, despite the fact that these structures themselves do not receive substantial direct projections from the visual cortical areas that are associated with the medial bank. Examination of the laminar location of the cells-of-origin of striate and extrastriate projections to LS using retrograde trace, WGA-HRP, revealed that the supragranular laminae of areas 17, 18 and 19 were the source of LS afferents whereas afferents from the other cortical areas (e.g., 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b, 7 and anterior ectosylvian visual area) were from both supra- and infragranular laminae. In addition, all LS subregions received intra-areal afferent projections from all LS cortical laminae. Thus, although rather clear hierarchical relationship between LS and visual cortical areas appears to exist, the interconnections among LS subregions provide no clear evidence of simple hierarchical relationships between regions LS or may have feed-forward and feed-back pathways.

Four newly established legal requisites for active euthanasia in Japan

On March 28, 1995 at the Yokohama District Court in Japan, four legal requisites for active euthanasia were newly established by the chief judge, when he rendered the judgment on the murder case of a physician, Tokunaga. The case has been reported by the news media as a so-called euthanasia. In order to make the legal distinction between murder and euthanasia for this case, the 1962 six legal requisites for euthanasia established 33 years ago at the Nagoya High Court in Japan were revised into the four new legal requisites. The judgment was influenced by the current international situation and Japanese sentiment concerning euthanasia.

Chronic rejection in lung allografts: immunohistological analysis of fibrogenesis

In ongoing chronic rejection after lung transplantation, alveolar interstitial fibrosis develops. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved. In order to investigate these mechanisms, expression of extracellular matrix molecules (ECM) (undulin, decorin, tenascin, laminin, and fibronectin) and cytokines [transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, TGF-beta 3, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and PDGF receptor] were semiquantitatively evaluated in chronically rejected lung allografts, using standard immunohistochemical techniques. Additionally, the presence of macrophages was analysed. The present study demonstrates an increased infiltration of macrophages with a concomitant upregulation of cytokines (TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 3, and PDGF) and an increased deposition of ECM in chronic lung rejection. These cytokines have an important role in the stimulation of fibroblasts which are a major source of ECM. Upregulated expression of ECM in the alveolar interstitial space leads to alveolar malfunction by thickening of the wall and, thus, is one of the causative factors of respiratory dysfunction in chronic lung graft rejection.

Changes in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator activity during the estrous cycle in the goat

The hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator activity, which was assessed by the characteristic increases in the multiple unit activity (MUA) specifically associated with the pulsatile LH secretion (MUA volleys), was monitored throughout the estrous cycle of the female goat. Blood samples were collected daily for analysis of progesterone, estradiol and LH levels to monitor ovarian cyclicity. The frequency of the MUA volleys showed a reciprocal relationship with the plasma progesterone profile; being low during the luteal phase, whereas increased during the follicular phase until the onset of the subsequent luteal phase. On the other hand, the duration of the MUA volleys changed in parallel with plasma progesterone levels showing considerable prolongation in the luteal phase. More frequent blood sampling was carried out at 2-hour intervals for timing the LH surge during the follicular phase induced by prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) administration. During the PGF2alpha-induced follicular phase, the MUA volley frequency was abruptly increased from 4 h after PGF2alpha injection, and this high frequency was maintained throughout the follicular phase except for the period around the preovulatory LH surge when the MUA volley frequency was lowered temporarily. These results were in accordance with our previous observation that the recurrence of MUA volleys continued with decreased frequency during the estradiol-induced LH surge in ovariectomized goats. The present study revealed that GnRH pulse generator activity changes dramatically during the estrous cycle in the goat, and it is suggested that GnRH pulse generator activity becomes fully potentiated following luteolysis to induce the final follicular development and to stimulate estradiol secretion, which eventually provokes another neural mechanism responsible for the induction of the LH surge.

Natural antibodies against the immunoglobulin F(ab')2 fragment cause elimination of antigens recognized by the F(ab')2 from the circulation

A humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody, designated hC4G1, recognizes the fibrinogen receptor glycoprotein (GP)IIb/IIIa on platelets and inhibits platelet aggregation. When the F(ab')2 fragment of hC4G1 (F(ab')2 hC4G1) was administered to cynomolgus monkeys, all the monkeys showed inhibition of platelet aggregation ex vivo. Unexpectedly, a significant decrease in platelet count was observed in 5 of 18 monkeys. Antibodies against F(ab')2 hC4G1 were detected in the plasma of these monkeys by ELISA. Antibody activity in the plasma of these monkeys was significantly correlated with the intensity of platelet decrease (r = 0.84). The natural monkey antibodies to F(ab')2 hC4G1 were directed against the C-terminal region of F(ab')2 fragment common to all human and humanized IgG antibodies. Natural homo-reactive antibodies were also detected in human plasma from 15 of 40 healthy volunteers. Specificity was closely similar to that of the monkey antibodies. Affinity-purified human homoreactive antibodies enhanced phagocytosis of platelets treated with the F(ab')2 hC4G1. Monkey plasma with high homo-reactive antibody activity was confirmed to decrease platelet count when administered together with F(ab')2 hC4G1 to a monkey with low antibody activity. These results suggest that F(ab')2 of humanized and human antibodies causes elimination of the corresponding antigens from the circulation by homo-reactive antibodies.

Frequency of a 22q11 deletion in patients with conotruncal cardiac malformations: a prospective study

Recent molecular studies have revealed that a 22q11 deletion is frequently detected in DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS), and conotruncal anomaly face syndrome (CTAFS). As one of the major clinical manifestations in these three syndrome is conotruncal cardiac malformation, we prospectively studied the frequency of a 22q11 deletion in a group of patients with conotruncal cardiac malformation. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses using N25 (D22S75) DiGeorge Chromosome Region probe were performed on 64 patients with conotruncal cardiac malformation, who visited our clinic from October 1993 to January 1994. Of the 64 patients studied, a 22q11 deletion was detected in 5 patients (7.8%): 3 out of 30 patients with tetralogy of Fallot, one of three with interruption of the aortic arch, and one hemitruncus patient. No deletion was found in 16 patients with complete transposition of the great arteries, 8 with double outlet right ventricle and 2 with aortopulmonary window. In these five patients with 22q11 deletion, patient 1 was clinically diagnosed as having DGS, patients 2 and 3 had CTAFS, and patient 4 had VCFS. Patient 5 could not be dysmorphologically evaluated. It was noteworthy that all patients with a 22q11 deletion, except a non-evaluated patient, had some symptoms DGS, CTAFS or VCFS, and that we failed to identify a non-syndromic 22q11 deletion positive patients in the present series' of 64 patients. Conclusion. This study suggests that it is advisable to bear 22q11 deletion in mind when a patient with conotruncal cardiac anomalies has some other features of DGS, VCFS or CTAFS.

[A case report: complete remission of stage IV uterine cervix carcinoma by immuno-chemotherapy with intraarterial infusion using implantable reservoir system]

A patient with neck lymph node metastasis from squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix was treated by immunotherapy and neo-adjuvant intraarterial infusion chemotherapy (OK-432 ic, etoposide 25 mg/body x 7 days po, CDDP 100 mg/m2/5 hr iA, CPM 200 mg/body iv, THP 50 mg/m2/2 hr iA). Three courses of the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were given. After the first course, the neck metastatic tumor appeared remarkably small. After the second, the neck tumor disappeared and the uterine tumor appeared small and to have good movement. Hysterectomy was performed one month after. Each tissue platina concentration (microgram/cm3) is 9.12 uterus cervix, 10.9 uterus corporis, 8.17 fallopian tube, 14.0 ovarium, 1.47-0.88 pelvic lymph node. This patient was treated with irradiation after operation, and is presently in a state of cytological complete remission. Now she continues maintenance immunochemotherapy with UFT and OK-432 with a home doctor.