Clinical evaluation of the microporous hollow fiber oxygenator

This report concerns a clinical evaluation for a newly devised hollow fiber oxygenator, Capiox II. It functions on a one-pump system, and is simple to set up and operate. This equipment was used for 118 patients undergoing cardiac surgery at Tokyo University Hospital from February 1982 through February 1983. The gas transfer capacity proved to be satisfactory. The employment of an air-oxygen blender prevented overoxygenation, and reasonable levels of PaO2 and PaCO2 were demonstrated with a FiO2 0.7, V/Q ratio 0.7 at normothermia. The destruction of platelets was much less with the use of this oxygenator, as compared to findings with the BOS-10. Hemolysis by Capiox II appeared to be lower than that by BOS-10, but the difference was not statistically significant. Differences were distinct in the amount of microbubbles; strikingly, no bubble was evidenced in Capiox II by the ultrasound bubble detector, during general procedures. We conclude that Capiox II is of excellent clinical value, and should be used especially for infants as well as adult patients with possible long perfusions. The merits and demerits of this equipment are given attention.

Allotypes of murine factor B controlled by a locus within the S region of the H-2 complex

Bf protein was directly precipitated from a mixture of EDTA-plasma from 13 different, inbred strains and rabbit IgG anti-mouse Bf, and was isolated by SDS-PAGE. The gel pieces containing Bf protein were digested by trypsin after labeling with 125I-Na, and then peptides of Bf protein with each mouse strain were compared by two-dimensional peptide mapping. The results for the peptide patterns with the standard B10 congenic strains (all of which Bf phenotypes had been already designated as Bf.1 because of the identical isoelectric point values) revealed two distinct peptide patterns. The peptide pattern of Bf protein appeared to be identical in each of the inbred strains, but only one of the 36 spots in the fingerprint observed either with B10 or B10.BR (designated tentatively as Bf.1 (b.k.) ) was not detected in that from B10.D2 and B10.S (designated tentatively as Bf.1 (d.s.) ). The results of peptide mapping with intra-H-2 recombinant inbred strains show that this structural variant was mapped to the S region, which is direct evidence that allotypes of murine Bf are encoded by a structural gene within the MHC.

Examination of the subcellular distribution of tripeptide aminopeptidase and evaluation of its clinical usefulness in human serum

Following electrophoretic separation, we assayed tripeptide aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.4) in human tissues and sera free of interferences by other aminopeptidases. Tripeptide aminopeptidase is distributed in various human tissues, with the highest activity observed in liver and lymphocytes. The highest specific activity of the enzyme was observed in the soluble fraction prepared from liver, and 65% of the enzyme activity in the original homogenate was recovered in this fraction. Cancerous and fetal tissues showed lower enzyme activities than normal adult tissues. Elevations of tripeptide aminopeptidase were observed in sera of patients with liver disorders, leukemias, and autoimmune diseases.

Allotypes of murine factor B controlled by a locus within the S region of the H-2 complex

Bf protein was directly precipitated from a mixture of EDTA-plasma from 13 different, inbred strains and rabbit IgG anti-mouse Bf, and was isolated by SDS-PAGE. The gel pieces containing Bf protein were digested by trypsin after labeling with 125I-Na, and then peptides of Bf protein with each mouse strain were compared by two-dimensional peptide mapping. The results for the peptide patterns with the standard B10 congenic strains (all of which Bf phenotypes had been already designated as Bf.1 because of the identical isoelectric point values) revealed two distinct peptide patterns. The peptide pattern of Bf protein appeared to be identical in each of the inbred strains, but only one of the 36 spots in the fingerprint observed either with B10 or B10.BR (designated tentatively as Bf.1 (b.k.) ) was not detected in that from B10.D2 and B10.S (designated tentatively as Bf.1 (d.s.) ). The results of peptide mapping with intra-H-2 recombinant inbred strains show that this structural variant was mapped to the S region, which is direct evidence that allotypes of murine Bf are encoded by a structural gene within the MHC.

A specific kinetic assay for tripeptide aminopeptidase in serum

This is a method for measuring tripeptide aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.4) activity in serum. L- Leucylglycylglycine is used as substrate, and the reaction is followed by monitoring the absorbance increase at 340 nm when NAD+ is reduced to NADH in the presence of an excess of leucine dehydrogenase. This principle allows kinetic determination of the enzyme without interference by carboxypeptidases. Amastatin is added to the reaction mixture to prevent nonspecific hydrolysis of the substrate catalyzed by other aminopeptidases. As final reaction concentrations we recommend (per liter): 100 mmol of Tris buffer (pH 8.2), 4.0 mmol of L- leucylglycylglycine , 10 kU of leucine dehydrogenase, 3.8 mmol of NAD+, and 85 mumol of amastatin . The assay is suited to modern enzyme analyzers and has high precision.

A specific kinetic assay for tripeptide aminopeptidase in serum

This is a method for measuring tripeptide aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.4) activity in serum. L- Leucylglycylglycine is used as substrate, and the reaction is followed by monitoring the absorbance increase at 340 nm when NAD+ is reduced to NADH in the presence of an excess of leucine dehydrogenase. This principle allows kinetic determination of the enzyme without interference by carboxypeptidases. Amastatin is added to the reaction mixture to prevent nonspecific hydrolysis of the substrate catalyzed by other aminopeptidases. As final reaction concentrations we recommend (per liter): 100 mmol of Tris buffer (pH 8.2), 4.0 mmol of L- leucylglycylglycine , 10 kU of leucine dehydrogenase, 3.8 mmol of NAD+, and 85 mumol of amastatin . The assay is suited to modern enzyme analyzers and has high precision.

Radioimmunoassay for serum levels of an anti-androgen TSAA-291 (Oxendolone) in rats

A simple radioimmunoassay method was established to determine serum levels of a steroidal anti-androgen, TSAA-291 (Oxendolone, 16 beta-ethyl-17 beta-hydroxy-4-estren-3-one) utilizing ether-extract of serum. Using an antiserum raised against TSAA-291-3-oxime-BSA conjugate in a rabbit, a standard curve was obtained in the assay range from 30 pg to 12 ng/tube. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were calculated to be 11 and 21%, respectively. Recovery rate of unlabeled TSAA-291 was 84%. Cross-reaction with endogenous steroids was less than 0.2%. TSAA-291 estimates were compared with those determined after further purification on a Celite column, or with those assayed with a gas-liquid chromatograph. The difference between these estimates was less than 16 and 25%, respectively, suggesting little contribution of the metabolites of TSAA-291 to the estimates by the radioimmunoassay. After successive treatments of male rats with TSAA-291 in an aqueous suspension in daily doses of 5, 15 and 50 mg/kg body weight for two weeks, serum TSAA-291 levels were determined by the radio immunoassay and calculated to be 22.7, 76.9 and 194.9 ng/ml, respectively.

Biphasic release of thyrotropin in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) from rat anterior pituitary cells in vitro: possible dependence on protein synthesis

Mechanisms related to the biphasic release of TSH were studied using primary cultured cells of the rat anterior pituitary gland on micro-carrier beads in a superfusion system. Release of TSH in response to continuous exposure to TRH exhibited a biphasic pattern; the first phase was characterized by a rapid, transient and high-rate release (phase I) and the second phase by a chronic and low-rate release (phase II). The shift of the release from phase I to phase II occurred by treatment with TRH at concentrations from submaximal to maximal. When the Ca2+ concentration in the medium was decreased, the phase I release was partially inhibited, while the phase II release was completely inhibited, suggesting a difference between the mechanisms in phase I and phase II release. The phase I release was not suppressed by cycloheximide. This protein synthesis-independent release of phase I seemed to be linked to the intracellular releasable pool of TSH. The phase II release was suppressed by the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor. After the phase II release was suppressed by cycloheximide, the magnitude of phase I release in response to re-exposure to TRH markedly decreased. The decreased phase I release in response to TRH was observed with the cells which were previously stimulated by high K+ instead of TRH, suggesting that the decrease in the response of phase I reflects the depletion of a releasable pool of TSH rather than homologous desensitization of thyrotrophs with TRH. These results suggest that the phase I release of TSH depends on a portion of the previously prepared-releasable pool while phase II release depends on previously prepared plus newly prepared pools of TSH. Replenishment of the releasable TSH pool was considered to involve protein synthesis.

[The effect of anti-human AFP serum for AFP producing stomach cancer xenotransplanted nude mice]

The effect of anti-human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on growth, serum AFP levels and histological changes of two lines of AFP producing stomach cancer serially xenotransplanted in nude mice were examined. The efficacy of anti-human AFP antibody on tumor growth was observed specifically for the tumor producing AFP, but there was great difference on growth between two lines. The AFP levels of the serum disclosed a rapid decrease after administration of antibody and maintained as level of Ong/ml for a long period. On histopathologic examination, there were not observed any changes on the tumor cells and structure and necrotic change was not demonstrated. By the immunohistochemical examination (PAP method), anti-human AFP antibody was identified in tumor even 50 th days later after injection.

Gastric- and intestinal-type properties of human gastric cancers transplanted into nude mice

The gastric- and intestinal-type properties of 15 human gastric cancers, which were transplanted into nude mice, were studied biochemically and histologically. Enzyme activities were determined in the crude extracts of cancer tissues: pepsinogen isozymes as gastric marker enzymes; and sucrase, aminopeptidase (microsomal), and alkaline phosphatase as intestinal marker enzymes. By hematoxylin and eosin staining and paradoxical concanavalin A staining, gastric cancer tissues were classified into gastric type (pyloric gland cell type and surface mucous cell type) and intestinal type (goblet cell type and intestinal absorptive cell type). On the basis of their properties, human gastric cancers were classified into four types: (a) intestinal type; (b) gastric type; (c) intestinal plus gastric type; and (d) unclassified type, showing no gastric- or intestinal-type properties. Of six well-differentiated adenocarcinomas, four were of intestinal type, one of gastric type, and one of intestinal plus gastric type. All of the intestinal-type carcinomas showed sucrase activity. Of the three signet ring cell carcinomas, one was classified as a gastric type, one as an intestinal plus gastric type, and one as an unclassified type. Of the six poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, five were of the intestinal type and one of the unclassified type. The present results clearly showed the appearance of intestinal-type properties in gastric cancer cells not only in so-called intestinal-type carcinomas, but also in diffuse-type carcinomas.

Effects of branched chain amino acid infusion on glucose metabolism in cirrhotic patients with encephalopathy

An amino acid solution enriched in branched chain amino acids (BCAA) was administered to cirrhotic patients with encephalopathy and serial determinations of serum glucose, IRI and IRG were performed. Slight decrease of serum glucose was observed when only BCAA was given. On the other hand, when BCAA was infused with glucose, the serum glucose level decreased significantly after infusion (-77.5 +/- 26.2 mg/dl, p less than 0.01) and two cases of hypoglycemic shock were observed. Although both serum insulin and glucagon increased in these cases, the IRI/IRG molar ratio which was 8.9 at the start of infusion increased to 20.6 at the end of infusion. It was suggested that administration of BCAA with glucose caused hypoglycemia in cirrhotics with encephalopathy, possibly by synergistic action of BCAA and glucose on serum insulin level.

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase linked to immunoglobulin G of the kappa type

An electrophoretically slow-moving alkaline phosphatase(orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.1, alkaline optimum, ALP) isoenzyme was found in the serum of a patient with osteomalacia. Molecular mass of this ALP was estimated to be 500 000 daltons. Inhibitor studies revealed that the abnormal ALP, which formed a macromolecular complex, was an intestinal isoenzyme. Immunofixation following electrophoresis demonstrated that the macromolecular ALP was a complex composed of intestinal ALP and immunoglobulin G of the kappa type. This isotype specificity of immunoglobulin suggested that the ALP immunoglobulin complex is a specific antigen-antibody complex in circulation.

Congenital hydrocephalus revealed in the inbred rat, LEW/Jms

We studied the development of congenital hydrocephalus found in a colony of an inbred strain of Wistar-Lewis rats (LEW/Jms) at various intervals after birth. The disorder was transmitted as a simple recessive mendelian character. Hydrocephalic neonates were recognized 2 days after birth by stretching of the skin over the head. Death usually occurred between 10 and 20 days of age. The findings suggested the possibility of a disturbance of cerebrospinal fluid circulation resulting from primary occlusion of the 3rd or lateral ventricles during embryological development. In later phases, the hydrocephalus was aggravated by obliteration of the subarachnoid space and by stenosis of the aqueduct occurring secondary to compression of these structures from increased pressure within the brain. In some animals, external hydrocephalus occurred as a result of rupture of the occipital pole and the establishment of a direct communication between the lateral ventricles and the subdural space. We looked for antibodies against viruses that have been known to produce hydrocephalus in experimental animals and obtained entirely negative results.

Antiestrogen pharmacology and mechanism of action

Antiestrogens are nonsteroidal compounds that are capable of antagonizing many of the actions of estrogens. They have long half-lives in serum, and during their action in vivo, the antiestrogens C1628, U23,469 and tamoxifen undergo bioactivation to more polar forms that have a higher affinity for the estrogen receptor. Utilizing the high affinity antiestrogens C1628M and trans-hydroxytamoxifen in radiolabeled form, we find differences in the interaction of the estradiol receptor complex and antiestrogen receptor complex with DNA cellulose and differences in their association in the nucleus. In MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, there are marked differences in the sedimentation rate and chromatographic properties of the nuclear estrogen receptor when complexed with antiestrogen (5.5 +/- 0.06 s, 5.93 +/- 0.20 nm Stokes radius, 137,000 mol. wt) as opposed to estrogen (4.1 +/- 0.03 s, 4.84 +/- 0.20 nm Stokes radius, 83,000 mol. wt). Our data are consistent with the association of the antiestrogen receptor with an additional nuclear protein of approx. 55,000 mol. wt. This antiestrogen promoted change in receptor association with another cellular component, which may function as a possible nuclear "blocking protein" and the alterations in antiestrogen-receptor association with DNA and nuclei, may be important aspects of the estrogen antagonist and growth inhibiting properties of these compounds. In addition to binding directly to the estrogen receptor, antiestrogens can be found associated with binding sites that are distinct from the estrogen receptor. These sites are present in a wide variety of estrogen target and non-target tissues in the rat, and in estrogen receptor positive and negative human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MD-231) that differ markedly in their sensitivity to antiestrogens. These sites have a subcellular distribution and ligand binding specificity very different from those of the estrogen receptor. While their wide distribution and order of binding affinities for different antiestrogens raise questions about their role in mediating directly the classically recognized estrogen antagonism of antiestrogens, these sites might alter the apparent distribution volume of antiestrogens and hence their biological potency and pharmacokinetics.

Cytotoxic action of prostaglandin D2 on mouse neuroblastoma cells

Addition to the culture medium of prostaglandin (PG) D2 resulted in the degeneration in a dose- and time-dependent manner of N18TG-2 cells cloned from mouse neuroblastoma. The ED50 for PGD2-induced cytotoxicity was about 10 microM. The degenerative changes were irreversible when the cells were exposed for more than 10 h. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic examination revealed that treatment with PGD2 resulted in appearance of numerous blebs of various sizes along the cell surface and also in destruction of surface membrane and of cytoplasmic organelles. Tumor weight of N18TG-2 neuroblastoma inoculated subcutaneously on the backs of A/J mice was about 35-70% less than that of controls after 14 days of single daily i.p. or s.c. injections of 0.5-1 mg/kg of PGD2. The results indicate that PGD2 has growth-inhibitory effects on mouse neuroblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo.