In-vitro antibacterial susceptibility of bacteria taken from infected root dentine to a mixture of ciprofloxacin, metronidazole and minocycline

The aim of this study was to clarify the antibacterial effect of a mixture of ciprofloxacin, metronidazole and minocycline, with and without the addition of rifampicin, on bacteria taken from infected dentine of root canal walls. The efficacy was also determined against bacteria of carious dentine and infected pulps which may the precursory bacteria of infected root dentine. This efficacy was estimated in vitro by measuring bacterial recovery on BHI-blood agar plates in the presence or absence of the drug combination. Bacteria ranging in number from 10(2) to 10(6) occurred in samples of infected root dentine (27 cases). However, none was recovered from the samples in the presence of the drug combination at concentrations of 25 micrograms ml-1 each. The respective drug alone (10, 25, 50 and 75 micrograms ml-1) substantially decreased the bacterial recovery, but could not kill all the bacteria. Bacteria taken from carious dentine (25 cases) and infected pulps (12 cases) were also sensitive to the drug combination. These results may indicate that the bactericidal efficacy of the drug combination is sufficiently potent to eradicate bacteria from the infected dentine of root canals.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide synthase activity in cultured cerebellar granule neurons

We examined the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity in cerebellar primary cultures enriched with granule neurons. Treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h was performed in two different cultures in which the survival of neurons was controlled by the levels of extracellular K+. Treatment of the granule neurons with the contaminating non-neuronal cells (< 5%) in a high K+ (25 mM) -containing culture medium with LPS induced four-fold NOS activity compared to that of the control, and the induced NOS activity was calcium-independent. LPS did not induce the NOS activity at all in the contaminating non-neuronal cells alone which were obtained by eliminating all the granule neurons from the culture by lowering the K+ concentration (5 mM). We conclude that the LPS-activated granule neurons can express iNOS activity and that this induction is not attributable to the contaminating nonneuronal cells.

Morphology of the lateral ligament in the human temporomandibular joint

The morphology of the lateral ligament of the human temporomandibular joint is of two types: ligamentous and without distinct structure. Under the scanning electron microscope, a sheath-like structure that contained bundles of collagen was mainly found in the posterior region of the lateral ligament. Analysis of macromolecular components revealed that type III collagen was mainly present on the collagenous framework of the sheath-like structure. Type I collagen, laminin, and tenascin were found in the framework of the sheath-like structure. Supported collagenous bundles and the distribution of macromolecular components might be related to the stability of the temporomandibular joint. The sheath-like structure and other components of the lateral ligaments store energy and protect the capsule from stress and tension during movements of the jaw.

Glutathione peroxidase activity in endometrium: effects of sex hormones and cancer

The aim of this study was to determine whether glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in endometrial tissue is regulated by sex hormones and to compare the GSH-Px activity of normal and cancerous endometrium. The localization of GSH-Px in human normal endometrium and endometrial cancer was determined immunohistochemically. GSH-Px activity was assayed in endometrial tissue obtained from women with endometrial cancer and age-matched controls, as well as in rat uterine tissue. GSH-Px immunoreactivity was localized in the glandular epithelium of normal human endometrium and reached a maximum in the late proliferative and early secretory phases of the menstrual cycle. In spayed rats, uterine GSH-Px activity was significantly increased by exogenous estrogen (P < 0.01) and significantly reduced by exogenous progesterone (P < 0.01). GSH-Px activity in endometrial cancer tissue was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that in endometrial tissue from age-matched healthy controls. Among endometrial cancer tissues, a significant increase in GSH-Px activity was associated with well-differentiated rather than moderately or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (P < 0.01), with slight rather than marked myometrial invasion (P < 0.01), and with the presence of concurrent endometrial hyperplasia (P < 0.01). These results show that endometrial GSH-Px activity is regulated by sex hormones, being stimulated by estrogen and suppressed by progesterone, and that the level of GSH-Px activity in endometrial cancer tissue may be a significant prognostic factor.

A new method for the determination of the ABO blood type of semen by immunoblotting using anti-ABH antibodies following immunoprecipitation

A new method that enables the ABO blood type of semen to be determined by identifying the molecular weight of a blood group substance (BGS) has been developed. In order to produce an antibody against a BGS (p84) detected on the sperm plasma membrand (SPM), p84 was purified from seminal plasma, injected into a rabbit. When seminal plasma was immunoprecipitated with the anti-p84 antibody, SDS-PAGE analysis of the immune complex yielded three specific polypeptides with molecular masses of 84, 51 and 25 kDa. The first of these polypeptides, p84, showed ABH antigenic activity when subjected to immunoblotting. The 51 and 25 kDa proteins corresponded to rabbit IgG heavy and light chains, respectively. Using this method, ABH antigenic activity of a band with a molecular mass of 84 kDa was detected in 25 seminal plasma samples by immunoblotting. When serial two-fold dilutions of seminal plasma were analyzed using this method, clear immunoreactive 84 kDa bands were observed up to 60-fold dilution. When seminal plasma was mixed with vaginal fluid at varying ratios, ABH antigenic activity of 84 kDa immunoreactive bands could be detected until the seminal plasma: vaginal fluid mixture reached a ratio of 1:20. These results suggest that this method will be applicable to the analysis of forensic samples of semen contaminated by vaginal fluid, such as those obtained from victims of sexual assault.

[Anesthetic management of a patient with cardiac sarcoidosis]

We report the anesthetic management of a patient with cardiac sarcoidosis. Cardiac sarcoidosis is characterized by a high incidence of complete atrioventricular block, right bundle branch block, and ventricular arrhythmias. Cases of sudden death during stable cardiac function have been reported. Therefore, careful anesthetic management is necessary. The patient was premedicated with scopolamine, intramuscularly. Before the induction, he received lidocaine, propranolol, and pentazocine, intravenously. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam and vecuronium, and the trachea was intubated. Anesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, sevoflurane in oxygen. Anesthetic method adapted to prevent severe complications including sudden death resulted in good condition of the patient during the perioperative period.

Fatal diarrhea in a patient with Castleman's disease associated with intestinal amyloidosis

A 32-year-old woman presented with Castleman's disease associated with intestinal amyloidosis. The association of amyloidosis and Castleman's disease is very rare, with only 15 cases reported in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the second case in which persistent diarrhea and malnutrition led to the patient's death.

Distribution of the macromolecular components of masticatory muscles during differentiation of the muscle fibers in the postnatal rat

The distribution of collagen fibers of rat masticatory muscles during the postnatal period (two weeks), was investigated by electrophoresis and immunohistochemistry. At these stages, the myosin of rat masticatory muscles displays specific electrophoretic patterns. Comparison of the myosin patterns of these muscles allows their identification. 1) Analysis by SDS-PAGE indicated that one of three weakly reactive stainable proteins with lower mobility than the heavy chain of myosin disappeared from the temporal muscle on day 13, as compared with other masticatory muscles. However, in histochemical analysis of the muscle fibers, the reaction specific for succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was strong, and the fibers on day 13 could be classified into two types with respect to SDH activity. By contrast, on day 0, the fibers were classified into two types with respect to myosin ATPase activity. 2) Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that the distribution of the components of the extracellular matrix in the epimysium (type I collagen), perimysium (type I collagen, fibronectin, and laminin) and endomysium (type III collagen, fibronectin, laminin, and tenascin) was related to the metabolic capacity on days 12 to 13. The variability in the types of myosin and in proteins of the extracellular matrix might be important during the development of rat masticatory muscles.

Characterization of the 84-kDa protein with ABH activity in human seminal plasma

In order to identify the blood group substance detected on the sperm plasma membrane (SPM), a plasma membrane preparation was obtained from the sperm soluble protein and then injected into a rabbit to produce an anti-SPM antibody. An anti-SPM antibody-binding affinity column specifically bound 6 polypeptides with molecular masses of 135 kDa, 84 kDa, 78 kDa, 67 kDa, 54 kDa and 20 kDa from seminal plasma. Among these polypeptides, the 84-kDa protein (p 84) showed ABH antigenic activity upon immunoblotting. When viable, motile sperm were incubated at 37 degrees C in the culture medium, they became capacitated and p 84 was released into the medium from the sperm surface after 3 h of incubation, indicating that p 84 is a sperm-coating antigen. Immunoblotting of sexual glands revealed that this protein is originated from the seminal vesicle. Its immunological properties were similar to those of lactoferrin. When seminal plasma was immunoprecipitated with anti-human lactoferrin antiserum, the immunoprecipitates contained both p 84 and ABH antigenic activity. The amino acid sequence of the N-terminus of p 84 was determined to be: G-R-?-R-?-S-V-Q-W-?-A-V-S-Q-P-E-A-D-K-?-F-Q-W-Q-R-N-M-R-K-V-R-G-P-?-V or P-S?-?-I. Although this sequence is highly homologous to lactoferrin, the 18th residue is different (p 84, D; lactoferrin, T). These data suggest that p 84 is the protein which has not been identified and bears the ABH antigen. A sandwich ELISA using anti-SPM antibody was able to bind p 84 and allowed determination of the ABO blood type of semen and saliva, but detected no ABH antigenic activity in breast milk, vaginal fluid, erythrocytes, serum or urine. These results suggest that p 84 is the best candidate for ABO blood typing of semen when contaminating vaginal fluid is present.

Nitrite, nitrate and cGMP in the cerebrospinal fluid in degenerative neurologic diseases

To investigate whether nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in degenerative neurologic disease (DND), we measured nitrite, nitrate and cyclic GMP in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We found no significant change in CSF nitrite, nitrate or cyclic GMP in patients with any DND compared with control values. These results suggest that NO production is preserved in PD, SCA and ALS.

The intestinal transport mechanism of fluoroquinolones: inhibitory effect of ciprofloxacin, an enoxacin derivative, on the membrane potential-dependent uptake of enoxacin

PURPOSE

To clarify the absorption-structure relationship for the fluoroquinolones from the point of view of inhibitory behavior.

METHODS

The inhibitory effects of ciprofloxacin on the transport process of enoxacin across the rat intestinal brush-border membrane was examined.

RESULTS

Ciprofloxacin, which has a similar structure to enoxacin, exhibited a pH-dependent interference with enoxacin absorption from rat jejunal loops. The uptake experiments using BBM vesicles showed that ciprofloxacin significantly reduced not only the initial binding of enoxacin to the membrane surface, but also the K(+)- or H(+)-diffusion potential-dependent transport across the membrane. Furthermore, an H(+)-diffusion potential (interior negative) also exhibited a stimulative uptake of ciprofloxacin.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the inhibition behavior of ciprofloxacin from the jejunal loop was closely related to the ionic diffusion potential-dependent uptake of enoxacin across the brush-border membrane.

Whole-body retention and fetal uptake of 65Zn in pregnant mice fed a Zn-deficient diet

Whole-body retention and fetal uptake of 65Zn under a Zn-deficient diet were studied in pregnant mice in the late gestational stage after a single oral administration of 65Zn. Whole-body retentions were much greater in mice given a Zn-deficient diet than in those given a Zn-normal diet. Accordingly, the amount of 65Zn transmitted to the offspring in utero was greater in the Zn-deficient diet group. In another experiment, fetal uptake of 65Zn in dams on gestation day 17 was examined over a period of 24 hr after a single intravenous administration of 65Zn to the Zn-deficient and Zn-normal animals. There was no major difference in fetal uptake between the two groups, indicative that approximately a similar proportion of the 65Zn retained in the maternal body was transmitted to the in utero offspring in both groups.

Regio- and stereo-selective oxidation of phenylbutane by rat liver

Regio- and stereo-selective oxidation of butylbenzene (1) has been examined in vitro by rat liver supernatant fraction(S-9). When phenylbutane (1 ) was incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 hr with S-9, asymmetric oxidation occurred regioselectively at benzylic and omega-1 positions to afford preferentially (R)- and (S)-alcohol (2, 4), respectively. This enzymatic propensity was the case for the production of 1, 3-diols. (1R, 3S)- or (1R, 3R)-Butanediols(3a, 3b) were also obtained at 87% and 27%, respectively. This oxidation was induced by phenobarbital (PB) or beta-napthoflavone(beta-NF), and significant sex-related differences in control and PB pre-treated rats have been observed. Since these oxidations were inhibited with SKF-525A and CO, it was inferred that cytochrome P-450 was responsible for the oxidation.

[The study of the biological activation induced by the lymphocyte transfusion--the induction of the bio-reproducing protein (BRP)]

A small amount of allo-lymphocytes were transfused to tumor bearing hosts to introduce tumor antigen. We found the lymphocyte transfusion significantly effective for the treatment of cancer, of animals and of human as well. We also found that by using a small amount of anti-cancer agents together, this treatment was effective for peritonitis/pleuritis carcinomatosa. Furthermore, we took the ascites and/or the pleural fluid from those peritonitis/pleuritis carcinomatosa patients at their remission stage, and fractionate the fraction V by the alcohol fractionation method from the supernatant of the fluid, and transfuse it back to the patient for the purpose of improving hypoproteinemia, and we found the fraction effective for the cure of the cancer. We designated this fraction the bio-reproducing protein (BRP). The clinical test treatments using the BRP were performed for terminal stage cancer of digestive system, respiratory system, mammary, and others with the efficacy of 76 percent. The detail analysis of the characteristics and the working mechanism of the BRP is in progress.

Classification of the ophthalmic artery that arises from the middle meningeal artery in Japanese adults

In a study of Japanese adults, we found that the orbital branch (OB) passing through the superior orbital fissure frequently anastomosed with the lacrimal artery or the ophthalmic artery (12/20). However, the OB passing through the meningo-orbital foramen (mof) only associationaly anastomosed with branches of the ophthalmic artery (4/79). Furthermore, the OB in the orbit, excluding the lacrimal gland as previously reported. We examined 116 cases in which the OB passed through the mof in 129 adult Japanese cadavers (45.0% in 258 sides). The OB passing through the mof was always distributed to the periorbital region and the area that it supplied was limited to the periorbita in about half of those cases. In another half of the cases (58/116), the area supplied included the lacrimal gland.

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), nitrite and nitrate in the cerebrospinal fluid in meningitis, multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome

Recent evidence suggests the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in inflammation and demyelination in the brain. To test this hypothesis, we measured NO markers in the cerebrospinal fluid from patients with bacterial meningitis (BM), aseptic meningitis (AM), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Subjects with non-inflammatory neurologic diseases served as the controls. NO markers were cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) measured with an enzyme immunoassay, and nitrite and nitrate measured with the Griess reaction. Except for BM, cGMP was not increased in AM, MS or GBS compared with the controls. Nitrite and nitrate were unaltered in any of the groups studied. These results do not support the hypothesis that NO is increased in the brain in meningitis, MS or GBS. Otherwise cGMP, nitrite and nitrate in the cerebrospinal fluid do not reflect the increase in NO in the brain.

Clinical evaluation of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary

We attempted to assess the clinical utility of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) for detecting squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary. SCC in serum from 16 patients with this malignancy and from 56 patients with mature cystic teratoma without malignancy was measured using radioimmunoassay. Serum SCC levels exceeded the cut-off of 2.0 ng/ml in 9 (56%) of the 16 patients with malignancy. This rate was significantly higher than that in the patients with nonmalignant mature cystic teratoma (9 to 56, 16%; p < 0.01). The positive rate for SCC was as low as 30% for stage I cancer. All cases in which the tumor size was > 500 cm3 had a positive response for SCC, whereas all other cases had a negative response (p < 0.001). SCC is useful as a tumor marker for this malignancy. However, the serum SCC level depends on the tumor volume, so it may not be suitable for early detection of small tumors.

Age related decline in cytokine induced nitric oxide synthase activation and apoptosis in cultured endothelial cells: minimal involvement of nitric oxide in the apoptosis

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was enhanced in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by the combined stimulation with IFN-gamma plus IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and LPS which was accompanied by cell death. DNA analysis of the NOS induced dead HUVECs showed that internucleosomal DNA fragmentation had occurred, suggesting that apoptosis was taken place. The enhanced NO production seemed to be associated with the death of HUVECs, however, both NG-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and nitro-L-arginine (N-arg), inhibitors of NOS, recovered the death of HUVECs by only 16%, suggesting that NO production was minimally involved in the cytokine induced apoptosis of HUVECs. Additional results demonstrated that both the induction of NOS activity and apoptosis in HUVECs declined with in vitro aging, i.e. declined with increasing PDLs of HUVECs, which may explain the decreased immunity during inflammation in aged people.

[Traumatic carotid-cavernous aneurysm after removal of cancer of the upper jaw: a case report]

A case of a traumatic carotid-cavernous aneurysm after removal of cancer of the upper jaw was reported. A 63-year-old male complaining of massive epistaxis from the left nostril was admitted to our clinic. He had suffered from cancer of the left upper jaw and had been treated with radical operation. During the surgical procedure, massive bleeding which was considered to be from the left internal carotid artery, suddenly occurred. The hemorrhage was somehow controlled by packing with oxidized cellulose. He experienced recurrent massive epistaxis after admission. Cerebral angiograms revealed an anterior-medially projecting aneurysm arising from the cavernous portion of the left internal carotid artery. He had a good cross circulation from right to left on compression of the left carotid artery. This aneurysm at the carotid-cavernous portion was produced as a result of injury during an operation for cancer of the upper jaw. To prevent disastrous bleeding from the aneurysm, the aneurysm was then successfully treated by the trapping of extra-and intracranial carotid ligation in combination with left STA-MCA anastomosis. There was no recurrence of epistaxis after the operation. However, a low-grade fever persisted before operation and a blood culture showed MRSA sepsis after the operation. Intensive chemotherapy was performed for this MRSA sepsis, he died of the accompanying DIC. Although aneurysmal epistaxis following a severe closed head trauma is a well-known phenomenon, an iatrogenic carotid-cavernous aneurysm presenting with recurrent massive epistaxis is rare. Several comments were made about the iatrogenic carotid cavernous aneurysm, and the necessity of early diagnosis and treatment was emphasized.

Characterization of pseudorabies virus glycoprotein gII expressed by recombinant baculovirus

The gene encoding the complete glycoprotein gII (homologue of gB of herpes simplex virus) of pseudorabies virus (PrV) was inserted into a baculovirus transfer vector, and a recombinant virus expressing gII was isolated. Three gII-related recombinant baculovirus-expressed peptides of 100, 60, and 45 to 50 kDa were detected with a polyclonal antibody against gII; these correspond to the authentic subunits gIIa and its cleavage products gIIb and gIIc, respectively. These proteins were subjected to N-terminal sequencing, and the results showed that the protease cleavage sites were identical to those of authentic gII. The expressed gII was shown to be transported to the surface of infected cells as judged by an indirect immunofluorescence test. Antibodies raised in mice immunized with the recombinant gII neutralized the infection of PrV in vitro. Mice inoculated with the recombinant gII were completely protected from lethal challenge with PrV.

Morphology of the nerve terminals of laryngeal muscles in the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata)

Laryngeal muscles, namely, the cricothyroid (CT), lateral crico-arytenoid (LCA), thyrio-arytenoid (TA), posterior crio-arytenoid (PCA), interarytenoid (IA) muscles, of Japanese monkeys (body weight, 4.4-8.3 kg; 3-10 years old, male) were examined histologically and by light and scanning electron microscopy. The diameter of muscle fibres with nerve terminals in the CT of the Japanese monkey was larger than that of other laryngeal muscles. However, the areas of nerve terminals varied among laryngeal muscles. The mean diameters of nerve terminals of the CT and PCA were large and basically resembled those of other laryngeal muscles. They contribute mainly to maintenance of phonation which the adductor muscles contribute mainly to postural adjustments of the cartilage. The differences in features of nerve terminals of each muscle suggest the CT and PCA may contribute mainly to the frequency or pitch of voice and intensity of the voice during vocalization and to respiration.

Metabolism of 3-acetylcoumarin in rat 9000xg supernatant fraction (S-9)and baker's yeast

In the incubation of 3-acetylcoumarin in rat liver supernatant fraction (S-9), four metabolites were isolated, and two of which were inseparable diastereomeric mixture as a major product. However, when 3-acetylcoumarin was fermented with baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), only two compounds were obtained as the same as the above mixture. The structures of those metabolites were confirmed by NMR and Mass spectra. However, the above metabolites in rat 9000xg supernatant fraction were not induced by phenobarbital, nor inhibited with SKF-525A at all.

Three-dimensional structure of the perimysium in sternocleidomastoid muscle

The morphology of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) of human fetuses, ranged from 12 to 32 weeks gestation, was investigated by a light microscopy and a scanning electron microscopy. The collagenous fibers of the perimysium of the SCM formed complex structures from 24 weeks gestation by contrast to fibers of the endomysium of the SCM. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the bundle of muscle fibers and the CSA of the individual muscle fibers of the SCM increased during development from 12 to 32 weeks gestation, in a process linked to the development of the perimysium. Therefore the perimysium affects and controls to the muscle fiber of the developed SCM and acts to resisting stretch forces in the movements. The changes in the arrangement and development of the collagenous fibers in the perimysium may be correlated to with these of the muscle fibers.

Serum level of macrophage colony-stimulating factor as a marker for gynecologic malignancies

We determined the serum levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in 441 women with gynecologic diseases to evaluate its role as a marker for gynecologic malignancy. Serum M-CSF levels were above the normal baseline level of 1,056 U/ml in 64% (56/88) of patients with ovarian cancer, 27% (16/60) of those with cervical cancer, and 25% (15/61) of those with endometrial cancer. M-CSF was significantly elevated in the serum of patients with advanced as compared with early stage cancer (stage I) of the ovary (p < 0.01), cervix (p < 0.05), and endometrium (p < 0.05). Only 5.6% of the patients with benign ovarian tumors and 7.0% of those with endometrial cysts had serum levels of M-CSF that exceeded 1,056 U/ml. M-CSF was localized in the glandular epithelial cells as well as in the stromal macrophages and the endothelial cells of the ovarian cancers. M-CSF thus appeared to be a marker with high specificity for ovarian cancer.