Effect of dynamic cardiomyoplasty on phasic coronary arterial flow velocity in canine hearts

The usefulness of dynamic cardiomyoplasty has been demonstrated repeatedly, both experimentally and clinically. Although clinical applications of dynamic cardiomyoplasty to ischemic heart disease have been reported, its effect on the coronary blood flow has never been discussed. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that dynamic cardiomyoplasty might adversely affect coronary arterial blood flow through compression of the coronary arteries during systolic skeletal muscular contraction and incomplete relaxation of the skeletal muscle flap during diastole. Dynamic cardiomyoplasty was performed in seven mongrel dogs with the use of a left latissimus dorsi-muscle flap, paced synchronously with the R wave of the electrocardiogram. A 3F Doppler catheter was placed in the left main trunk of the coronary artery to assess the instantaneous changes of coronary flow velocity by fast Fourier transformation analysis, We compared systolic and diastolic properties during assisted versus unassisted cardiac cycles by calculating the peak velocity and the time-velocity integral. During assisted cardiac cycles, a significant enhancement of coronary arterial blood flow velocity was demonstrated by significant increases in both systolic and diastolic peak velocity (26.9% +/- 6.5%, p < 0.005; 4.0% +/- 1.6%, p < 0.05, respectively) and time-velocity integral (20.9% +/- 4.8%, p < 0.05; 10.0% +/- 4.6%, p < 0.05, respectively). Enhancement of coronary arterial blood flow velocity was associated with an increase in mean aortic pressure (16.4% +/- 1.3%, p < 0.005) and descending aortic flow (67.5% +/- 5.3%, p < 0.005). Also, the improved systolic coronary arterial blood flow velocity was consistent with an increase in systolic aortic pressure (15.8% +/- 1.5%, p < 0.005), and enhancement of diastolic coronary arterial blood flow velocity was associated with an increase in diastolic aortic pressure (8.6% +/- 2.3%, p < 0.01). We concluded that coronary arterial blood flow velocity was increased by the enhancement of cardiac function as a result of dynamic cardiomyoplasty, leading to an increase of coronary perfusion pressure and cardiac output.

Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of residual sulphamonomethoxine, sulphadimethoxine and their N4-acetyl metabolites in foods of animal origin

A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of residual sulphamonomethoxine, sulphadimethoxine and their N4-acetyl metabolites in beef, pork, chicken and eggs by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed. The extraction of these compounds was performed using a mixture of 90% (v/v) acetonitrile solution and hexane (5:4, v/v) to minimize the fat content followed by purification by alumina column chromatography. These extracts contained sulphonamide analytes which were free from interfering compounds when examined by HPLC using a LiChrosorb RP-18 column. The average recoveries from spiked meat and egg were in excess of 80% with relative standard deviations between 0.4 and 5.0%. The practical limits of detection were 0.01 ppm for all samples.

Maleimidoethyl 3-(tri-n-butylstannyl)hippurate: a useful radioiodination reagent for protein radiopharmaceuticals to enhance target selective radioactivity localization

In pursuit of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with rapid urinary excretion of radioactivity from nontarget tissues, radioiodinated mAbs releasing a m-iodohippuric acid from the mAbs in nontarget tissues were designed. A novel reagent, maleimidoethyl 3-(tri-n-butylstannyl)hippurate (MIH), was synthesized by reacting N-(hydroxyethyl)maleimide with N-Boc-glycine before coupling with N-succinimidyl 3-(tri-n-butylstannyl)benzoate (ATE). MIH possessed a maleimide group for mAb conjugation and a butylstannyl moiety for high-yield and site-specific radioiodination, and the two functional groups were linked via an ester bond to release m-iodohippuric acid. To investigate the fate of radiolabels after lysosomal proteolysis, hepatic parenchymal cells were used as a model nontarget tissue and 131I-labeled MIH was conjugated with galactosyl-neoglycoalbumin (NGA). Further conjugation of [131I]MIH with a mAb against osteogenic sarcoma (OST7) after reduction of its disulfide bonds was followed up. In murine biodistribution studies, [131I]MIH-NGA exhibited rapid accumulation in the liver followed by radioactivity elimination from the liver at a rate that was identical to and faster than those of 131I-labeled NGA via direct iodination ([131I]NGA) and [131I]ATE-labeled NGA, respectively. While [131I]NGA indicated high radioactivity levels in the murine neck, stomach, and blood, such increases in the radioactivity count were not detectable by the administration of either [131I]MIH-NGA or [131I]ATE-NGA. At 6 h postinjection of [131I]MIH-NGA, 80% of the injected radioactivity was recovered in the urine. Analyses of urine samples indicated that m-iodohippuric acid was the sole radiolabeled metabolite. In biodistribution studies using [131I]-MIH-OST7 and [131I]ATE-OST7, while both 131I-labeled OST7s registered almost identical radioactivity levels in the blood up to 6 h postinjection, the former demonstrated a lower radioactivity level than [131I]ATE-OST7 in nontarget tissues throughout the experiment. Such chemical and biological characteristics of MIH would enable high target/nontarget ratios in diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine using mAbs and other polypeptides.

Human herpesvirus 7: another causal agent for roseola (exanthem subitum)

Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of two infants with typical exanthem subitum. The HindIII-, BamHI-, and EcoRI-digested DNA patterns of the isolated viruses were very similar to that of the prototype HHV-7 (RK strain), but different from that of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). During the convalescent period of the first patient, the titer of antibody to HHV-7 rose from < 1:10 to 1:320 by an immunofluorescence antibody test, whereas the titer of antibody to HHV-6 remained < 1:10. In the second patient, who had two independent episodes of exanthem subitum during 2 months, both HHV-6 and HHV-7 were sequentially isolated; seroconversion to HHV-6 occurred during the first episode and to HHV-7 during the second episode. In addition, sera from another 15 children who had episodes of exanthem subitum were serologically tested for antibodies to HHV-6 and HHV-7 by immunofluorescence antibody test. Five of seven patients had seroconversion to HHV-7 just after having typical signs and symptoms of exanthem subitum. These results suggest that HHV-7 is one of the causative agents of exanthem subitum.

Eating attitudes and weight preoccupation among female high school students in Japan

Eating disorder tendencies in 197 eleventh grade Japanese girls were examined to ascertain whether or not the reported correlates of eating disorder tendencies in North America would be replicated in Japan. The 26-item Eating Attitudes Test was administered along with a set of supplementary questions. As hypothesized, higher levels of eating disturbances were found in the students who: (1) perceived themselves as being overweight, (2) had been encouraged to diet, (3) reported engaging in frequent conversations with their mother about food and dieting. Implications for future cross-cultural research are discussed.

A biological method to evaluate bifunctional chelating agents to label antibodies with metallic radionuclides

Since the lysosome is a common organelle for protein digestion, pursuing the fate of radiolabeled metabolites after lysosomal proteolysis in liver cells is ideal to evaluate bifunctional chelating agents (BCAs).

METHODS

We used galactosyl-neoglycoalbumin (NGA) and mannosyl-neoglycoalbumin (NMA) as carrier proteins for hepatic parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells, respectively. These proteins were labeled with 111In using 1-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (SCN-Bz-EDTA) as a model.

RESULTS

NGA-SCN-Bz-EDTA-111In exhibited rapid accumulation in the hepatic parenchymal cells, followed by hepatobiliary excretion of the metabolites with an elimination rate that was faster and much slower than that of NGA-DTPA-111In and NGA-131I, respectively. This metabolite represented all the radioactivity registered in the liver at 1 hr postinjection. Subcellular distribution studies indicated the metabolites were located only in the lysosome fraction, and the difference in elimination rates of the metabolites from the lysosome fraction was responsible for the variations in radioactivity clearance from the cells.

CONCLUSION

The biological characteristics of radiolabeled metabolites play a critical role in eliminating the radiolabel from liver cells. The present method portrays a highly useful model to pursue the fate of radiolabeled metabolites in the liver.

Detection of specific systemic and local IgG and IgA antibodies of pigs after infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica by ELISA

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of IgG and IgA antibodies against Bordetella bronchiseptica in serum and nasal secretions of pigs was developed. The ELISA that used formolized phase I organisms of B. bronchiseptica as an antigen detected antibodies to a capsular K antigen(s) of the organism. In pigs which had an agglutinin titer of less than 10 and an ELISA value of 0.47, on average, of maternal antibodies to B. bronchiseptica, IgG antibody in serum increased 4 weeks on average and IgG and IgA antibodies in nasal secretions rose markedly 1 and 2 weeks, respectively, after appearance of more than 5 x 10(3) colony forming units per ml of the organisms in the nasal cavity. In contrast, IgG antibody response in serum was inhibited strongly and no increase of the antibody was observed in pigs that had high titers (an agglutinin titer of 149 and an ELISA value of 1.49, on average) of the maternal antibody. In the pigs, a typical decrease in the production and marked delay in the time course of the production of IgG and IgA antibodies in the nasal cavity were also observed. Thus, although pigs produced systemic and local antibodies to B. bronchiseptica, the antibody response was affected dose responsively by the maternal antibody. However, the effect seemed to be a little milder in local antibody responses than in systemic antibody responses. The role of the local antibodies in eradication of the organism in the nasal cavity was not elucidated.

Position-independent, high-level, and correct regional expression of the rat aldolase C gene in the central nervous system of transgenic mice

Aldolase C is mainly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). To clarify the regulatory mechanisms for the CNS-specific expression, transgenic mice were created using two constructs of the rat aldolase C gene. A fusion gene comprising the 5' regulatory region of the aldolase C gene was expressed in a CNS-specific manner. However, the expression levels and the cellular localization of the gene varied among transgenic mice. The other construct, including both 5' and 3' regulatory regions of the gene, showed position-independent and high-level expression as well as the correct regional distribution in the CNS. These results indicate that the 13-kb sequence of the rat aldolase C gene contains sufficient information for faithful expression of the gene.

Human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 infections in renal transplant recipients and healthy adults in Turkey

We explored the prevalence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) infections in 16 renal transplant recipients and 16 healthy controls by virus isolation, serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by dot blot hybridization. HHV-6 variant A was isolated from one renal transplant recipient. Seven patients (44%) and six controls (38%) had HHV-6 variant B DNA in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The prevalence of HHV-7 DNA was found to be the same in patients and controls (19%).

Molecular epidemiological studies of human herpesvirus 6 in families

The mode of transmission of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) was investigated by molecular epidemiological techniques in four families. HHV-6 was isolated from the peripheral blood of seven infants with exanthem subitum, including siblings, and from the saliva of two mothers. These isolates were examined for genetic relatedness by means of restriction enzymes analysis of purified DNA. While the profiles of the digestion patterns differed among families, they were very similar in a particular family. These results may suggest that HHV-6 is transmitted primarily from mother to child.

Structures of novel bufadienolides in the eggs of a toad, Bufo marinus

In this paper, we report chemical structures of five compounds including four novel polyhydroxylated cardiac steroids in the eggs of a toad, Bufo marinus. These cardiac steroids were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography, and their structures were determined to be 11 alpha,19-dihydroxy-telocinobufagin (I), 11 alpha-hydroxytelocinobufagin (II), 11 alpha,19-dihydroxymarinobufagin (III), 11 alpha-hydroxymarinobufagin (IV) and 19-hydroxytelocinobufagin (V) on the basis of spectral data of nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. All the five compounds showed biological activity, as tested by inhibition of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity and of [3H]ouabain binding to the receptor on Na+,K(+)-ATPase. This is the first finding of bufadienolides as cardiac steroids in animal eggs.

Variation of DNA sequence in immediate-early gene of human herpesvirus 6 and variant identification by PCR

The complete nucleotide sequence of one of the immediate-early genes of human herpesvirus 6 variant B was determined and compared with that of variant A reported by Martin et al. (M.D. Martin, J. Nicholas, B. J. Thomson, C. Newman, and R. W. Honess, J. Virol. 65:5381-5390, 1991). While it was reported that two open reading frames exist in this region of variant A, only one open reading frame was found in variant B and the putative coding region of variant B was 2,679 nucleotides long. Furthermore, two additive regions of 108 and 228 bp were found in variant B. Primers covering one of these regions deleted in variant A were synthesized and used for PCR amplification. Twelve isolates from patients were clearly classified into variants A and B by PCR amplification with these primers. All isolates from patients with exanthem subitum were variant B.

Discriminated release of a hippurate-like radiometal chelate in nontarget tissues for target-selective radioactivity localization using pH-dependent dissociation of reduced antibody

To achieve high and selective target radioactivity localization by monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) labeled with metallic radionuclides, the discriminated release of a hippurate-like radiometal chelate in nontarget tissues was performed using chemically modified Mabs.

METHODS

The disulfide bonds of a Mab against osteogenic sarcoma (OST7, IgG1) were reduced and 67Ga chelate of succinyldeferoxamine (SDF) was conjugated proximal to the Mab molecule via an ester bond with exposed thiol groups (67Ga-DFO-MESS-redOST7), which would impair esterase access to the ester bond of 67Ga-DFO-MESS-redOST7 due to the steric interference induced by bulky antibody molecule, stabilizing the ester bond in plasma and on the target cell's surface. Gallium-67-SDF was also conjugated to OST7 via an ester bond with 2-iminothiolane to render the ester bond in a position distal from the OST7 molecule (67Ga-DFO-MESS-IT-OST7).

RESULTS

Although SDS-PAGE analyses of 67Ga-DFO-MESS-redOST7 showed a partial cleavage of its disulfide bonds, size-exclusion HPLC and cell binding assays indicated that the IgG structure and immunoreactivity of this conjugate were preserved in a neutral buffer and plasma of the systemic circulation.

CONCLUSION

The present radiochemical design of an antibody utilizing pH-dependent dissociation would constitute a promising approach in establishing selective target radioactivity localization by Mabs.

Brain perfusion SPECT with 99mTc-bicisate: comparison with PET measurement and linearization based on permeability-surface area product model

To characterize a recently introduced cerebral perfusion tracer, 99mTc-bicisate, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images of 99mTc-bicisate were compared with CBF images obtained by positron emission tomography (PET) using the 15O steady-state method in 10 cases of cerebrovascular disease and dementia. 99mTc-Bicisate SPECT and PET CBF images showed a similar distribution pattern except for two cases with subacute stroke, in which 99mTc-bicisate showed less uptake than CBF in the infarcted area where oxygen metabolism was severely diminished. Comparison of 99mTc-bicisate uptake and CBF in the other eight cases showed less contrast between high- and low-flow regions in 99mTc-bicisate SPECT. Although the SPECT count ratio of cerebral structures to cerebellum showed a good correlation with CBF ratio, it gradually deviated from the linear relationship in the high-flow range. Assuming this nonlinear relationship is due to the limited extraction of the tracer, we estimated the permeability-surface area product (PS) value by a nonlinear least-squares curve-fitting procedure. The correction of the nonlinear relationship using the estimated PS value and a table lookup method resulted in an excellent linear relationship between corrected SPECT counts and CBF.

[Neuropathological study of battered child syndrome: eight autopsy cases]

The term "battered-child syndrome" was coined by Kempe in 1962. The morphology of brain lesions in abused children is rarely reported in Japan. This clinicopathological entity in the central nervous system is characterized by retinal hemorrhages, subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, reports on microscopic findings of intracerebral lesion are fewer than those on macroscopic findings of scalp, skull and intracranial cavity. This study was performed on 8 cases of battered children who were autopsied. They consisted of six female and two male infants. The age ranged from one week to four years old. The causes of the injuries were shaking in four cases, throwing in three cases, dropping in two cases and strangling in one case, mostly in combination. CT scans were examined for three cases. CT scan revealed acute cerebral swelling and acute subdural hematoma with interhemispheric blood clot in three cases and multiple low density area in one case. Evacuation of the subdural hematoma and external decompression was performed in one case. The survival period from injury to death was one day in four cases, and 2, 3, 9 and 41 days in the others. In the gross anatomical findings there are many excoriations and bruises of the face and scalp in five cases, widespread subcutaneous hematoma in all cases and skull fracture in only two cases. The brain weight was exceedingly heavier than normal brain weight by age in five cases. In the macroscopic findings, there were marked cerebral swelling and cerebral herniation in all cases, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in six cases, and thin widespread acute subdural hematoma with interhemispheric clot in four cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A new imprinted gene cloned by a methylation-sensitive genome scanning method

We cloned a new imprinted gene by searching for parental-origin-specific CpG methylations using methylation-sensitive two-dimensional genome scanning method. This gene encodes a putative 51 kDa protein with significant similarity to U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein auxiliary factor small subunits, an essential mammalian splicing factor, and is located on mouse chromosome 11, of which maternal duplication/paternal deficiency results in a small body.

[Effect of dynamic cardiomyoplasty on the left ventricular function and hemodynamics in chronic canine models]

This study was undertaken to examine the effect of cardiac assist and left ventricular function after dynamic cardiomyoplasty (DCMP). In the first group (GI) of 10 mongrel dogs DCMP was drived immediately after wrapping both ventricles by latissmus dorsi muscle flap (LDMF). In the second group (GII) of 10 mongrel dogs DCMP was derived over 6 weeks after production of DCMP for achievement of complete adhesion between LDMF and myocardium. In the both groups, aortic pressure, cardiac output, left ventricular systolic pressure, and ejection fraction of the left ventricle were significantly increased by DCMP driving (p < 0.001). But left ventricular systolic pressure was remarkably increased in GII compared with that of GI (21.2 +/- 10.2% versus 14.0 +/- 9.6%, p < 0.001), and end diastolic pressure of the left ventricle was apparently decreased in GII (61.6 +/- 42.3% p < 0.05). Thus, satisfactory results were recognized that cardiac assist for left ventricular function was enhanced after completion of adhesion between myocardium and LDMF. Echocardiography in GII demonstrated that left ventricular systolic dimention was significantly decreased from 33.8 +/- 1.0 mm to 27.6 +/- 1.2 mm (p < 0.001). Thus, left ventricular fractional shortening was significantly increased from 24.0 +/- 2.4% to 38.0 +/- 2.6% (p < 0.001). However, left ventricle end-diastolic dimention was not changed even during DCMP driving. So disturbance in left ventricular function during diastole could not be recognized. In conclusion, especially after adhesion of both muscles of LDMF and myocardium, effect of cardiac assist was remarkably enhanced, and disturbance of diastolic function of the left ventricle could not be observed.

Spontaneous mutation rates in null and band-morph mutations of enzyme loci in Drosophila melanogaster

Spontaneous mutations were accumulated for a total of 1,678,388 allele-generations in several hundred replicate second chromosome lines. These lines were compared of a Cy chromosome and one of three different lethal bearing chromosomes from natural populations. Electrophoretic mobility and/or activity change was screened for seven enzyme loci. Forty-four null mutations were detected, but no band-morph mutations were observed. There is significant variation in null mutation rate among enzyme loci and among lethal chromosomes. This may be attributable to differences in the distribution of transposable elements among the lines. The band-morph mutation rate is pooled with previous results and becomes 7.48 x 10(-7) with a 95% confidence limit of 2.04 x 10(-7) to 1.91 x 10(-6) per locus per generation. Similarly, the pooled null mutation rate becomes 1.30 x 10(-5) with 95% confidence limit of 1.15 x 10(-5) to 1.52 x 10(-5) per locus per generation.

[Effect of dynamic cardiomyoplasty on coronary arterial blood flow]

We investigated whether or not dynamic cardiomyoplasty adversely affected coronary arterial blood flow (CABF) through compression of the coronary arteries by muscular contraction during systole and incomplete relaxation of the skeletal muscle flap during diastole. Dynamic cardiomyoplasty was performed in 20 mongrel dogs using a left latissimus dorsi muscle flap, paced synchronously with the R wave of the electrocardiogram. A Doppler catheter (3 F in diameter) was placed in the left main trunk of the coronary artery to analyze the instantaneous changes of coronary arterial blood flow velocity by fast Fourier transformation analysis. We compared both systolic and diastolic properties during assisted versus unassisted cardiac cycles by calculating the peak velocity and the time velocity integrate (TVI). A significant enhancement of systolic CABF was recognized by increases in the systolic peak velocity (26.5 +/- 29.2%) and TVI (20.2 +/- 38.6%). The improved systolic CABF was consistent with an increase in systolic aortic pressure (15.5 +/- 4.3%) and stroke volume (42.8 +/- 11.2%). CABF was also enhanced in diastole because a significant increase of diastolic peak velocity (4.4 +/- 9.4%) and TVI (11.0 +/- 16.7%) was observed. Enhancement of diastolic CABF was associated with the augmentation of cardiac function and the reduction of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. It could be concluded that CABF was increased by the enhancement of cardiac function as a result of dynamic cardiomyoplasty leading to an increase of cardiac output and aortic pressure and a decrease of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.

The MEF-3 motif is required for MEF-2-mediated skeletal muscle-specific induction of the rat aldolase A gene

The rat aldolase A gene contains two alternative promoters and two alternative first exons. The distal promoter M is expressed at a high level only in skeletal muscle. Previous in vitro transfection studies identified the region from -202 to -85 as an enhancer that is responsible for dramatic activation during the differentiation of chicken primary myoblasts. This enhancer contains an A/T-rich sequence resembling the MEF-2 motif, which is an important element of muscle enhancers and promoters. In this study, we demonstrate that the MEF-2 sequence is essential but not sufficient for the activity of the enhancer. Another region required for the activity was recognized by a nuclear factor, tentatively named MAF1. MAF1 was found in both muscle cells and nonmuscle cells, and MAF1 from both cell types was indistinguishable by gel retardation and DNase I footprint experiments. The sequence required for MAF1 binding is very similar to the MEF-3 motif, which is an element of the skeletal muscle-specific enhancer of the cardiac troponin C gene. Because MAF1 and MEF-3 are closely related in both recognition sequence and distribution, MAF1 and MEF-3 probably represent the same nuclear factor which may play an important role in muscle gene transcription. Thus, the muscle-specific induction of the aldolase A gene is governed by muscle-specific MEF-2 and existing MEF-3 (MAF1).

Human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) gene: complete genomic structure and localization on the genetic map of chromosome 2q

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), a protease inhibitor that circulates in association with plasma lipoproteins (VLDL, LDL and HDL), helps to regulate the extrinsic blood coagulation cascade. We have cloned a 125-kb genomic region containing the entire human TFPI gene on six overlapping cosmids and prepared a restriction map of this contig to clarify gene structure. More than half (45 kb) of the 85-kb gene is occupied with 5' noncoding elements: coding begins at exon 3. A HindIII RFLP identified with one cosmid was genotyped in the CEPH panel of 59 reference families. Linkage analysis using markers on human chromosome 2 located the TFPI gene on 2q, 36 cM proximal to D2S43(pYNZ15) and 13 cM distal to the crystalline gamma-polypeptide locus CRYGP1(p5G1).

Isolation of human herpesvirus 7 from a child with symptoms mimicking chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection

Human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7), which is a newly identified human herpesvirus with an unknown pathologic role, was isolated from a 5-year-old boy suffering from fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. Although the clinical course was similar to that of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection, no viruses other than HHV-7 were isolated. This finding raises the possibility that HHV-7 played a pathogenic role in the present patient.