Calorie restriction delays age-dependent loss in androgen responsiveness of the rat liver

We have shown that restricted calorie intake retards age-associated loss in androgen responsiveness of the rat liver. Sustained androgen receptivity delays age-dependent decline in the synthesis of the androgen-inducible alpha 2u globulin and derepression of the androgen-repressible senescence marker protein (SMP-2). Quantitation of mRNAs for alpha 2u globulin and SMP-2 in the liver of animals of various ages maintained on either ad libitum or restricted diets revealed that, although the 27-month-old ad libitum-fed rat had only 5% as much alpha 2u mRNA as the 6-month-old rat, the mRNA level was as high as 45% in the 27-month-old food-restricted rat. Conversely, the 27-month-old food-restricted rat had a much reduced amount (45%) of SMP-2 mRNA compared to the age-matched control that was allowed unlimited access to food. Furthermore, we have correlated the effect of dietary restriction on age-dependent changes in specific gene expression with the hepatic level of the immunoreactive cytoplasmic androgen-binding (CAB) protein. We observed that senescence in the male causes a substantial decrease in the circulating level of testosterone. However, dietary restriction does not retard the rate of decline in the plasma level of the male hormone during aging. These results indicate that age-dependent changes in the expression of androgen-responsive genes (alpha 2u globulin and SMP-2) reflect changing androgen sensitivity and that food restriction may directly influence the androgen receptivity of the liver.

Diagnostic usefulness of Vi-indirect fluorescent antibody test(Vi-IFAT) for typhoid fever--a prospective study

Although the confirmative diagnosis of typhoid fever is by culture of the causative organism, usually from blood, a serological test is still necessary to provide a more rapid method of diagnosis. The indirect fluorescent antibody test, using a Salmonella typhi Vi antigen and a FITC-conjugated rabbit anti-human polyvalent immunoglobulin, was evaluated for the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Serum specimens were collected from patients with febrile diseases on admission. Of the 32 patients with titers of 1:64 or more, 22 were confirmed to have typhoid fever by blood culture and 7 had fever of undetermined origin that was considered to be typhoid fever clinically. Three patients were diagnosed to have salmonellosis other than typhoid fever. Of the 121 patients with titers of 1:32 or less, 105 patients had non-typhoidal febrile disease, 15 patients had fever of undetermined origin, and one patient was confirmed to have typhoid fever by blood culture. When a Vi antibody titer of 1:64 or more was taken as serological evidence for the diagnosis of typhoid fever, the sensitivity and specificity were 95.7% and 97.2%, respectively. The incidence of positive test results following fever onset was 70.0% within 1 week of fever onset, 88.9% from 1 to 2 weeks, and 100% after 2 weeks. In conclusion, the Vi-indirect fluorescent antibody test(Vi-IFAT) can be employed as a useful serologic test in the diagnosis of typhoid fever.

Cloning, sequencing, and regulation of rat liver carnitine octanoyltransferase: transcriptional stimulation of the enzyme during peroxisome proliferation

Several complementary DNAs for the peroxisomal enzyme carnitine octanoyltransferase (COT), cloned in the expression vector lambda gt11, have been isolated. Together, these clones cover 2143 bp of the COT cDNA sequence with an open reading frame for 523 amino acids. Northern analysis showed the mRNA size for this enzyme to be 3.5 kilobases. The 523 residue long amino acid sequence amounts to a molecular mass of 60,269 daltons, indicating that the cloned cDNAs contain most or all of the coding sequence for COT (Mr approximately 62,000). Hybridization studies showed that the increased COT activity in the liver of rats, fed the potent peroxisome-proliferating drug Wy-14,643, is associated with a more than 40-fold rise in the steady-state level of the COT mRNA.

Molecular cloning of an endoglucanase gene from an alkalophilic Bacillus sp. and its expression in Escherichia coli

One of the cellulase genes from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. strain N-4 was cloned in pBR322. A recombinant plasmid, pYBC107, expressing carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) was isolated, and the size of the cloned HindIII fragment was found to be 5.5 kilobases. The restriction map of pYBC107 showed a different pattern from those of pNKI and pNKII (N. Sashihara, T. Kudo, and K. Horikoshi, J. Bacteriol. 158:503-506, 1984). When the HindIII fragment from pYBC107 was subcloned into pYEJ001, there was a 3.8-fold increase in CMCase activity over that observed with pYBC107. Plasmid pYBC108 constructed by treatment of pYBC107 with HindIII and EcoRI expressed the CMCase activity, although to a limited extent. To verify the originality of cloned pYBC107 from Bacillus sp., we analyzed the restriction digest by Southern blotting.

PvO2 changes in cutaneous veins during regression of spinal anaesthesia

Following transurethral resection of the prostate under spinal anaesthesia, 26 patients were divided into two groups according to the sensory levels measured in the recovery room: Group A: 20 patients with sensory level T10 or above, and Group B: six patients with sensory level T11 or T12. Through an intravenous catheter placed preoperatively in a superficial vein of the foot, serial blood samples were drawn to measure the PvO2. In Group A, the PvO2 increased significantly after spinal anaesthesia compared with preoperative control values, then decreased when the sensory level receded to T11 or T12. In Group B, the changes in PvO2 from control to postspinal and to motor recovery were not significant. The authors postulate that sympathetic denervation induced by spinal anaesthesia increases the PvO2 by the opening of arteriovenous anastomoses in the cutaneous circulation, and the PvO2 decreases with sympathetic recovery. These findings confirm that significant sympathetic denervation of the lower limbs can be expected at a sensory level of T10 or above, and sympathetic recovery begins when the sensory level recedes below T10.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria isolated in 1985--with special reference to prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and activities of cefazolin, cefotaxime and piperacillin

Antimicrobial susceptibility of nine species and one group of bacteria isolated from patients at the hospitals of Seoul National University, Severance, Hanyang University, and Kyungpuk University were tested by agar dilution method. S. aureus was most susceptible to cefazolin, methicillin and cotrimoxazole, and enterococci to ampicillin. Isolates of Enterobacteriaceae were most frequently susceptible to aminoglycosides and cefotaxime. Cefazolin susceptibility was markedly different from species to species. Aminoglycosides and piperacillin were more active than others against P. aeruginosa, and amikachin against A. anitratus. A large proportion of strains of several different species were conditionally susceptible to either tetracycline, ampicillin, cefazolin or cotrimoxazole suggesting the usefulness of these drugs for treatment of urinary tract infection. Activity of cefotaxime was highest against E. coli, and K. pneumoniae, while lowest against A. anitratus and P. aeruginosa. Decrease in the proportion of susceptible isolate was noted in E. coli and K. pneumoniae to cefazolin, K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae and S. marcescens to cotrimoxazole, and P. aeruginosa to tobramycin and gentamicin.

Amidohydrolysis of N-methylhydantoin coupled with ATP hydrolysis

A new enzyme, N-methylhydantoin amidohydrolase, was highly purified from Pseudomonas putida 77: it catalyzes the hydrolysis of N-methylhydantoin to N-carbamoylsarcosine with the concomitant stoichiometric cleavage of ATP to ADP and orthophosphate. The enzyme absolutely requires ATP, MG2+ and K+ for the N-methylhydantoin hydrolysis. The rapid and complete degradation of N-methylhydantoin during the cultivation of P. putida 77, which rapidly degrades creatinine via only N-methylhydantoin and which shows high activities of the enzymes involved in creatinine degradation (Yamada et al. (1985) FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 30, 337-340), seems to be due to the continuous ATP-generation during cultivation.

Pulse oximetry and circulatory kinetics associated with pulse volume amplitude measured by photoelectric plethysmography

Through a catheter placed in a superficial vein on the finger, we observed a pulsatile venous pressure. To delineate the relationship between the pulsatile venous pressure and the pulse volume amplitude (PVA) recorded by photoelectric plethysmography (PEPG), both tracings were simultaneously recorded. When the PVA changed acutely or gradually, the venous pulse pressure and mean venous pressure simultaneously followed the same trend. We also found that mean PVO2 (135 mm Hg) was greater when the PVA and venous pulse pressure increased above the level (50 mm Hg) observed when they decreased. These findings suggested that the finger pulse detected by PEPG, as well as by pulse oximetry, is caused by pulsations in veins rather than by pulsations in arterial beds. In experiments to evaluate the validity of this hypothesis, we found that the average value of hemoglobin saturation (%SaO2) measured by the pulse oximeter of the dependent fingertip and finger base when dependent was 1.5% and 7.8% lower than when the fingertip and finger base were elevated. Also, the PVA detected by the pulse oximeter followed the same trend as %SaO2. This finding was explained by venous congestion in the dependent finger. On the basis of the high venous pressure, the behavioral trends between the PVA and venous pressure, the high PVO2, and the low %SaO2 and PVA in the dependent finger, we conclude that the PVA of the PEPG is determined mainly by venous pulse volume generated by shunting of arterial pulse via open arteriovenous (AV) anastomoses in the cutaneous circulation.

Purification and characterization of a novel enzyme, N-carbamoylsarcosine amidohydrolase, from Pseudomonas putida 77

N-Carbamoylsarcosine amidohydrolase, a novel enzyme involved in the microbial degradation of creatinine in Pseudomonas putida 77, was purified 27-fold to homogeneity with a 63% overall recovery through simple purification procedures including successive ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and crystallization. The relative molecular mass of the native enzyme estimated by the ultracentrifugal equilibrium method is 102,000 +/- 5000, and the subunit Mr is 27,000. The Km and Vm values for N-carbamoylsarcosine are 3.2 mM and 1.75 units/mg protein, respectively. Ammonia, carbon dioxide, and sarcosine were formed stoichiometrically from N-carbamoylsarcosine through the action of the purified enzyme preparation. N-Carbamoyl amino acids with a methyl group or hydrogen atom on the amino-N atom and possessing glycine, D-alanine, or one of their derivatives as an amino acid moiety served well as substrates for N-carbamoylsarcosine amidohydrolase. N-Carbamoylsarcosine, N-methyl-N-carbamoyl-D-alanine, N-carbamoylglycine, and N-carbamoyl-D-alanine were hydrolyzed at relative rates of 100, 12.8, 9.8, and 7.3, respectively, by the enzyme. N-Carbamoyl derivatives of D-tryptophan, D-phenylalanine, and those of some other amino acids including D-phenylglycine and p-hydroxy-D-phenylglycine were also hydrolyzed by the enzyme. For the L-isomers of all N-carbamoyl amino acids tested there was no production of ammonia, carbon dioxide, or the corresponding amino acids due to the action of the enzyme. Cupric, mercuric, and silver ions inhibited the enzyme strongly, and some thiol reagents were also found to be inhibitory.

Anti-HBc IgM and anti-delta screening by EIA method

The clinical value of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of anti-HBc IgM was evaluated by testing 202 sera from acute viral hepatitis B (AVHB), hepatitis B (HB), chronic hepatitis (CAH), chronic liver disease (CLD), cirrhosis, primary hepatoma, HBsAg carrier, acute viral hepatitis A (AVHA), hepatitis A (HA), non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis and miscellaneous conditions other than hepatic disease, and 19 additional various hepatic disease cases were examined for anti-delta. In clinical situations the accurate diagnosis of HB is not always possible and the differential diagnosis seems to be very important especially in making decisions of treatment and estimation of prognosis. In overall cases the highest positive rate of anti-HBc IgM was found in AVHB as shown as 74.3% (26/35) comparing to other conditions in which the positive rate was extremely low (2.1%). The anti-HBc IgM appeared to be highly specific to AVHB (83.9%) as compared to the other. The positive rate of HBsAg was high in AVHB, CAH and HBsAg carrier (100.0%) followed by CLD, cirrhosis and HB (up to 70.8%). The ALT activities and ALPalb fractions were significantly high in AVHB (p less than 0.005). The correlation between the positivity of anti-HBc IgM and highly abnormal ALT appeared be high. AVHB was confined mostly to 10-20 age group and the male to female ratio was about 6 to 1. Subgroup of AVHB II with positive anti-HBc IgM appeared to have a greater chance being positive for HBsAg and ALPalb. The S/N ratio of anti-HBc IgM was as high as 20 which was unique to AVHB.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Laboratory evaluation of low-pressure tracheal tube cuffs: large-volume v. low-volume

Large- and low-volume low-pressure tracheal tube cuffs were compared during exposure to nitrous oxide. The compliance of both types of cuff when measured inside and outside an artificial rigid trachea, the volume of intubated cuff, the residual volume, the nitrous oxide diffusion time, and the specific diffusion rate of the cuff membrane to nitrous oxide were measured in the laboratory. From these variables, the diffusion rate of nitrous oxide, the surface area available for nitrous oxide diffusion, the tracheal wall pressure exerted by cuff, and the degree of folding of the intubated cuff were derived. The results showed that the rapid increase in pressure of the large-volume cuff when intubated was caused by low compliance, the large surface area available for nitrous oxide diffusion, and the considerable permeability of the cuff membrane to nitrous oxide.

The normal and regenerated meniscus in rabbits. Morphologic and histologic studies

The chronologic development of normal and regenerated menisci in immature and adult rabbits, studied by gross, histologic, and histochemical means, revealed that grossly regenerated menisci were less glossy and smaller than normal, with blunt margins and firm attachments to the synovial membrane. The normal meniscus of five-week-old rabbits consisted of fibroblasts and fibrocytes without cartilage cells. In 12-week-old rabbits fibrocytes in the normal meniscus had been transformed into round or oval cells lying within lacunae, the halos of which stained with safranin O. In the typical regenerated meniscus fibrocartilage cells appeared 12 weeks after meniscectomy in young rabbits and 24 weeks after meniscectomy in adult rabbits. Cartilaginous transformation occurred infrequently and only in isolated areas of the meniscus. Cartilaginous transformation in regenerated menisci appeared in 10.6% of the knees in young rabbits and in 8.1% in adult rabbits.

Synovial biopsy by Franklin--Silverman needle

Franklin-Silverman needles, commonly used for liver biopsies, were used for biopsy of synovia of 75 joints. The results indicate a higher percentage of success in obtaining pathologic specimens than with previously reported instruments. Complications were rare, with only milk transient hemarthrosis being found in 5 cases. For an accurate diagnosis, multiple specimens should be obtained since single specimens are too small to interpret histopathologically. Being simpler and safer, the Franklin-Silverman needle biopsy is recommended as a routine procedure for early diagnosis of synovial diseases of the joint in conjunction with joint aspiration. The success rate depends not only on the type of needle used but also on the proper selection of the biopsy site.

Duration of bupivacaine intradermal anesthesia when the bupivacaine is mixed with chloroprocaine

In a double-blind trial in 20 human volunteers, the duration of intradermal anesthesia with a mixture of bupivacaine, 0.5 mg, and chloroprocaine, 3 mg, was compared with the duration of intradermal anesthesia obtained with either bupivacaine, 0.5 mg, or chloroprocaine, 3 mg, alone. The duration of intradermal anesthesia produced by the bupivacaine mixed with chloroprocaine, 36 +/- 16 (mean +/- 1 SD) minutes, was significantly less than the duration of the same amount of bupivacaine alone, 139 +/- 78 minutes. Duration of anesthesia with chloroprocaine alone, 24 +/- 11 minutes, was similar to the duration of anesthesia with chloroprocaine plus bupivacaine. A possible explanation for these results is that bupivacaine competes with chloroprocaine for nonspecific receptors at the biophase and in the surrounding nerve tissue.

Hypertensive reactions to phenylephrine eyedrops in patients with sympathetic denervation

We studied the effects of topical phenylephrine eyedrops on systemic blood pressure in 298 patients about to undergo ocular surgical procedures by comparing their blood pressure on admission to the hospital with that measured immediately before surgery. The patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 consisted of 230 patients who had neither history of insulin-dependent diabetes nor prior teatment with reserpine or guanethidine. Group 2 included 41 insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Group 3 contained 27 hypertensive patients who had been taking reserpine or guanethidine. Patients in each group were divided into two subgroups (A and B). The 202 patients in the three A subgroups received preoperative phenylephrine eyedrops, whereas the 96 patients in the three B subgroups did not. All three B subgroups and Group 1A (176 patients) did not show significant increases in blood pressure. There was a statistically significant increase in both systolic and diastolic pressures in Group 2A (14 patients) and in Group 3A (12 patients). From this study, we concluded that administration of preoperative phenylephrine eyedrops can be hazardous in patients with long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes or in hypertensive patients receiving reserpine or guanethidine.

Sympathetic recovery following lumbar epidural and spinal analgesia

During recovery from spinal and epidural block, the progressive reduction of digital blood flow is regarded as evidence of sympathetic recovery of the extremity. This was demostrated by the decreasing amplitude of a digital pulse-wave (photoelectric plethysmographic) recording. As the level of analgesia regressed to T8-11 following spinal or epidural block, the toe pulse-wave amplitudes began to decrease. In the presence of good motor and sensory block in the lower extremity with low spinal or epidural anesthesia (level of analgesia T-11 or below), the clinical or photoeletric plethysmographic evidence of sympathetic denervation was minimal or absent. According to these findings, the authors postulate that some preganglionic sympathetic fibers which conduct sympathetic stimulation to the lower extremity originate at spinal cord segments T-10 or above.

Anesthesia for untreated hypothyroidism: report of three cases

Two preoperatively unsuspected and one known hypothyroid patients underwent elective surgery with general anesthesia. All demonstrated unusual sensitivity to anesthetic agents. As suggested by a history of thyroid abnormalities, high serum cholesterol, and exaggerated response to anesthetic agents, the authors were led to suspect hypothyroidism, which was confirmed postoperatively by low serum thyroxine levels.

Supine hypotensive syndrome caused by intra-abdominal mass: a case report

An obese woman who presented with 3 separate intra-abdominal masses developed a supine hypotensive syndrome following induction of general anesthesia. The hypotension was corrected by positioning the patient in a left lateral tilt and by releasing intra-abdominal pressure. Following decompression of the vena cava, arterial and central venous pressure rose and remained at a high level. Urine output was poor until IV furosemide was administered.

Giant axonal swelling in "huffer's" neuropathy

A young man with a long history of "huffing" of lacquer thinner developed toxic peripheral neuropathy. Clinical improvement occurred several weeks after cessation of exposure. Substantial slowing in nerve conduction was noted. Sural nerve biopsy specimen showed (1) giant axonal swelling, (2) axonal degeneration, and (3) an increased paranodal gap. We believe that "huffer's" neuropathy is a primary axonal neuropathy with secondary demyelination.

Characterization of virus-free guinea pig tumors induced by Kirsten sarcoma virus

Tumors were induced by Kirsten sarcoma virus (KiSV) in an inbred guinea pig, strain 13. The tumor cells were established in culture and characterized. The KiSV-induced sarcoma cells were virus-free and nonproducing; however, they contained resuable sarcoma genome. A type B guinea pig retravirus was readily activated from the tumor cells after induction with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUDR). BUDR induction of guinea pig retravirus was further enhanced by treatment with dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid hormone.

Arterial cannulation: factors in the development of occlusion

Wrist arteries of 100 patients were percutaneously cannulated with 20-gauge cannulas; pulse-wave recordings and changes in arterial-pressure wave configuration were then used to determine whether a cannulated artery was patent of occluded. At the time of decannulation, 23 of the 100 arteries were thrombosed. Of the three cannula types used in the study, the tapered Medicut was most frequently related to occlusion. Age of patient, trauma to the artery, and duration of the cannulation were not related to later thrombosis. Reversing the direction of the cannula did not change the incidence of thrombosis. Women developed thrombosis twice as frequently as men. A short (+/- 3 cm), small diameter (20 gauge) non-tapered cannula was found most efficient.

Uneven epidural analgesia-early diagnosis and correction: case reports

Lateral displacement of the epidural catheter can cause uneven epidural analgesia. Early determination can be made by pulse-wave monitoring of sympathetic blockade of the lower extremities and by x-ray determination of the placement of the catheter tip. Withdrawal of the catheter tip to near the midline may correct uneven epidural analgesia.

Use of the pulse-wave monitor as a measurement of diagnostic sympathetic block and of surgical sympathectomy

Changes in skin blood flow in a digit following sympathetic denervation were determined by use of a photoelectric digital plethysmograph (pulse-wave monitor). Results in 20 cases of diagnostic sympathetic block, surgical sympathectomy, or both, are discussed. Pulse-wave changes were seen 3 to 5 minutes after block and 1/2 to 1 minute after sympathectomy. Use of a pulse-wave monitor permitted limiting the dosage of local anesthetic, usually to 5 to 10 ml. of 0.5 percent lidocaine for lumbar sympathetic block and 1 to 2 ml. of 0.5 percent lidocaine for stellate ganglion block. Pulse-wave monitoring was found to be simple and rapid.