Induction of drug metabolizing enzymes by polychlorinated biphenyl in the parotid gland and relation to changes in vitamin A content and morphological changes

The relationship between the morphological changes and vitamin A content during the development of acute toxicity induced by polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in mouse parotid glands was investigated. PCB was administered intraperitoneally at a single dose of 2 mg/kg. Ultrastructural studies revealed remarkable morphological changes in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, Golgi apparatus and the secretory granules at 7 days after the administration of PCB. The activities of adenosine monophosphatase (AMPase) and alkaline phosphatase were increased 1 day after PCB administration. Then the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase increased 4 days after PCB administration. Subsequently, the vitamin A content of the parotid glands significantly decreased at 7 days compared with the control. These sequential changes in enzyme activities implied that the decrease of vitamin A content in the parotid glands may be partly due to catabolism of vitamin A by increased activities of microsomal enzymes induced by PCB. In conclusion, it is suggested that PCB also induces drug metabolizing enzymes in the parotid gland cells and that the acute toxicity of PCB on this tissue may occur, at least partly, through the reduction of vitamin A not only by the secondary effect from liver impairment but also by the locally accelerated catabolism of vitamin A in the mouse parotid gland.

Hypercoagulable state under low-intensity warfarin anticoagulation assessed with hemostatic markers in cardiac disorders

The hemostatic condition under low-intensity anticoagulation in cardiac disorders is not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether hemostatic molecular markers are a useful assessment for anticoagulation to detect the hypercoagulable state. A hematologic study was performed in 75 outpatients, without thromboembolic episodes, treated with low-intensity anticoagulation (average international normalized ratio [INR] 1.72) because of potential cardiac sources of arterial emboli, and in 40 age-matched control subjects. The average level of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) was significantly lower in patients than in control subjects (p = 0.005), and the mean value of D-dimer was not statistically different between patients and control subjects. Although TAT correlated moderately with D-dimer (r = 0.45, p = 0.0001), INR did not correlate with TAT or D-dimer. Elevated TAT > 3.0 ng/ml and/or D-dimer S 150 ng/ml were observed in 15 patients (20.0%), whereas the remaining 60 patients (80.0%) had no obvious increase in the level of TAT or D-dimer at overall INR. Antithrombin III activity did not correlate significantly with INR, but protein C activity and free protein S antigen showed a significant negative relation to INR (r = 0.82, r = 0.62, respectively, p = 0.0001). Low-intensity anticoagulation was sufficient to reduce coagulation and subsequent fibrinolytic activation in cardiac disorders, but may not be sufficient in some patients with elevated TAT or D-dimer concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of phe B gene encoding catechol 2,3-dioxygenase

DNA sequence of the phe B gene isolated from a chromosome of the phenol degrading bacterium Pseudomonas putida BH is identical to that of the dmp B gene from the phenol degradative plasmid, pVI150. Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase encoded by phe B showed similar substrate specificity to that of xyl E. However, Phe B has much smaller Km values than Xyl E, indicating that Phe B is useful for treatment of low concentrations of catechol derivatives in waste water.

[Cesium-137 residues in food and in persons in areas severely contaminated by the Chernobyl power station accident]

On April 26, 1986, the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, in the Ukraine, of the former Soviet Union, exploded. Since March in 1991, a group including the author has been performed medical surveys and provided assistance centered mainly in Gomel district of the Republic of Belarus, which contains many severely contaminated areas due to fallout. Ultra sound scanning was performed by the Shinshu University School of Medicine Second Department of surgery on thyroid glands of children in Chechersk region, of Gomel. Twenty-one persons, each with tuberculous echogenic dots in their thyroid glands, were brought to Japan for further examination. The 137Cs residue was measured in these 21 persons, using a whole-body counter (WBC). Subsequently 137Cs was also measured in a range of food items found in the city in which they live. These studies indicate that, although the children live in the same area, differences in life style and in food intake are reflected in the amount of cesium residue in their bodies.

Octreotide treatment results in the inhibition of GH gene expression in the adenoma of the patients with acromegaly

Seven patients with growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma were treated preoperatively with octreotide (Sandostatin or SMS 201-995; a somatostatin analogue), and were compared with 18 non-treated patients in their clinical courses and adenoma analyses. Octreotide treatment improved the endocrinological data in all 7 cases. The octreotide-treated adenomas were soft and easily removed by suction and curettage. The postoperative normalization of endocrinological data was encountered more often in the octreotide-treated cases than in the non-treated, although the statistical significance was not observed by the limited number of cases. The adenoma tissues were examined with conventional histology and immunohistochemistry, and the amount of GH messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was quantitatively assessed. The studies demonstrated: 1) No fibrosis nor necrosis was observed in the adenomas from the octreotide-treated patients. 2) Immunohistochemistry for human GH revealed no remarkable differences between the octreotide-treated and the non-treated adenomas. 3) The amounts of GH mRNA in the adenoma from the octreotide-treated patients were 4.2 +/- 1.8 (mean +/- SEM; expressed in an arbitrary unit) and were significantly less than those from the non-treated (33.6 +/- 9.1). These data suggest that octreotide inhibits not only GH release from the adenoma but also its biosynthesis.

Cube polarizers by the use of metal particles in anodic alumina films

Metal columns in an anodic alumina film exhibit a prominent anisotropy in the optical loss near the resonance wavelength. The resonance wavelength depends on the direction of polarization and varies with the volume ratio of the metal columns. Based on the anisotropy, we fabricated cube polarizers and attained an extinction ratio of > 30 dB near the 1-µ m wavelength.

Effect of growth hormone on wound healing in protein-malnourished rats treated with corticosteroids

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of human growth hormone (GH) in improving the tensile strength of wounds weakened by chronic protein malnourishment and corticosteroid (CS) administration. Eighty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 80 to 100 g, were divided into five groups. Group 1 (control) received 23.4% protein chow for 8 weeks before surgery. Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 received nonprotein chow on alternate days for the same duration. Groups 3 and 5 received prednisolone (2 mg/kg/d intramuscularly) for 3 weeks preoperatively and for 5 days postoperatively. Groups 4 and 5 were given GH (somatotropin, 1 IU/d) for 5 days postoperatively. All the animals underwent a precise 4-cm midline celiotomy. Wound testing was performed on the sixth postoperative day, after removal of the sutures. The bursting strength (BS, mean +/- SD) for group 1 was 145 +/- 16 mm Hg. The BS for groups 4 (137 +/- 13 mm Hg) and 5 (134 +/- 7 mm Hg) were significantly stronger than those for groups 2 (115 +/- 15 mm Hg) and 3 (91 +/- 16 mm Hg). The authors conclude that postoperative systemic GH restored the wound BS in protein-malnourished animals treated with CS, to the level of the normally nourished controls.

Psychosocial adjustment in a large cohort of adults with growth hormone deficiency treated with growth hormone in childhood: summary of a questionnaire survey. Committee for the Study Group of Adult GH Deficiency

The quality of life of adult patients with growth hormone (GH) deficiency, who ceased GH therapy before the age of 20 years, was surveyed. Questionnaires were sent to 1116 patients and their physicians, asking about socioeconomic status and for medical information, respectively. Response rates were 64% and 69%, respectively. The final height of the patients was about -2 SD in 61% of those surveyed. The distributions of occupation and income were similar to those in the general population. Patients with a final adult height below 155 cm (men) and below 140 cm (women) felt disadvantaged in terms of obtaining employment and finding partners. Slight psychological problems in these patients were revealed by the Cornell Medical Index health questionnaire.

Activation of G protein-coupled K+ channels by dopamine in human GH-producing cells

Dopamine (DA) inhibited the secretion of growth hormone (GH) from cultured human GH-secreting adenoma cells. The mechanism of this DA effect on these cultured cells was investigated with electrophysiological techniques. Under current clamp, DA (10(-6) M) hyperpolarized the membrane and arrested Ca(2+)-dependent action potentials. Voltage clamp experiments revealed that this membrane hyperpolarization was the result of a K+ conductance increase caused by DA. The current-voltage relationship of the DA-induced K+ current showed an inward-going rectification. Application of sulpiride (10(-6) M) abolished the DA-induced K+ current, indicating that the hyperpolarization was caused by the activation of D2-like receptors. Pertussis toxin (PTX) treatment eliminated the DA-induced K+ current as well as the DA-induced inhibition of GH secretion. An intracellular application of guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (100 microM) evoked a spontaneous increase in the K+ current in the absence of an agonist, and the application of DA did not further increase conductance. Intracellular application of guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (2 mM) inhibited the DA-induced K+ current. These results indicate that the DA-induced K+ channel is coupled to a G protein. When adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP, 100 microM) was added to the patch-pipette solution, the DA-induced K+ current was still observed, indicating that the DA-induced K+ current was not caused by an inhibition of cAMP production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of activin A on ionic channels in human FSH-secreting tumour cells

1. Effects of activin A on ionic channels were examined in human FSH-secreting tumour cells using electrophysiological techniques. 2. Under voltage clamp with the conventional whole-cell clamp technique, the voltage-gated Na+ channel, the T- and L-type Ca2+ channels, the delayed K+ channel and the A-channel were observed. 3. With the nystatin-perforated whole-cell clamp technique, the same voltage-gated channels were recorded. Activin A (10(-7) M) increased the amplitude of the L-type Ca2+ current, whereas it decreased the amplitude of the delayed K+ current. 4. Under current clamp with the perforated whole-cell clamp technique, more than 80% of the cells exhibited spontaneous action potentials. Application of 10(-7) M activin A depolarized the membrane with a conductance increase and augmented action potential frequency. The reversal potential of the activin A-induced current was -20 to 0 mV. The activin A-induced current was abolished in a Na(+)-free extracellular solution, indicating that the membrane depolarization caused by activin A was due to the conductance increase to Na+ ions through non-selective cation channels.

A case of a primary hepatic tumor causing segmental changes on imaging and its relation to Zahn's infarct

A 69-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for further examination of an intrahepatic mass which had been found while undergoing a complete physical examination. The mass measured 4 cm in size and was located in the medial segment (S4) of the liver. On computed tomography (CT), S4 was observed to be 'atrophied' and was well enhanced segmentally. A celiac angiogram showed segmental staining, and a transarterial portogram demonstrated portal stoppage of S4 from the left branch. However, no segmental intensity difference was seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An aspiration biopsy showed adenocarcinoma and thus an operation was performed under a tentative diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The postoperative diagnosis of the tumor was combined hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma. However, no histological abnormality was seen in S4, contrary to the expectation of Zahn's infarct. In this study, we discuss the mechanism and imaging findings of Zahn's infarct, the possible reasons as to why no pathological change was seen in S4, as well as stress the rarity of reports on Zahn's infarct in cases of portal thrombus due to hepatocellular carcinoma.

Altered cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism in Takayasu's arteritis with neurological deficits

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Takayasu's arteritis is a nonspecific arteritis involving major cerebral arteries. The aim of our study is to examine cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism in Takayasu's arteritis with neurologic symptoms.

METHODS

We measured cerebral blood flow and metabolism using positron emission tomography in seven patients (14 to 59 years of age) with Takayasu's arteritis who developed transient ischemic attacks (2 patients), ischemic stroke (4) or putaminal hemorrhage with multiple brain infarction (1).

RESULTS

All patients had severe stenosis or occlusion of one or more major cerebral arteries. There were no significant differences in the values of cerebral blood flow, oxygen extraction fraction, and cerebral blood volume in the infarcted and noninfarcted hemisphere. By contrast, the value of cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen in the infarcted hemisphere was markedly reduced (1.87 mL/100 mL per minute, P < .01) compared with controls. Mean transit time in the infarcted hemisphere was significantly greater than in the noninfarcted one, both in patients and controls (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Collateral blood flow to the hemisphere without brain damage may be relatively well developed in Takayasu's arteritis, although hemodynamic reserve as well as oxygen metabolism were impaired in the infarcted hemisphere with ischemic lesions.

[Recent progress in diagnosis and treatment of patients with GH deficiency and GH overproduction]

The diagnostic criteria of GH deficiency and acromegaly have been revised in 1990 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan. According to this criteria, not only the classical type of severe GH deficiency but also partial GH deficiency can be diagnosed and treated. With development of technology, anatomical abnormalities could be seen by MRI and genetic abnormality analysed. For the treatment of patients with GH deficiency, the pen-system has becomes available, which makes the daily injection of GH painless and easy. For the treatment of GH producing pituitary tumor (acromegaly), a long acting analog of somatostatin is now available to reduce the size of the tumor.

Muscle pH/PCO2 monitoring

The surface pH of skeletal muscle has been confirmed to be a sensitive indicator of peripheral muscle blood flow, but the development of a better electrode has been required. As a consequence, a unique and minute sensor was developed to measure muscle pH/PCO2. The purpose of this article was to evaluate this new monitoring device experimentally and clinically in order to clarify its effects, usefulness and specificity. Our experimental and clinical results showed that placement and measurements using the muscle pH/PCO2 monitor were easily and quickly accomplished without any complications. This small sensor provided an accurate assessment of vital physiologic functions and gave an early warning of clinical deterioration. The new monitor should be useful in pediatric surgery clinical management.

Characterization of new monoclonal antibodies to human insulin-like growth factor-II and their application in western immunoblot analysis

Four immunoglobulin G1 class monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; 1D5, 1D9, 2B11, and 2H11) were produced against recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-II (rhIGF-II). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay established that these four mAbs specifically recognized rhIGF-II and hIGF-II, but not rhIGF-I. mAbs 1D5, 1D9, and 2H11 did not cross-react with mouse rIGF-II, although there are only six amino acid differences between mouse IGF-II and human IGF-II. The epitope for each mAb was partially defined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using mouse-human chimera IGF-II mutants and other IGF-II mutants that were prepared by site-directed mutagenic procedures. These results indicated that the epitopes of mAbs 1D5, 1D9, and 2H11 are in the C-domain of hIGF-II around Ala32 to Ser36, and that of 2B11 is in the carboxyl-terminal end of the B- and A-domains of hIGF-II. A specific and sensitive RIA was developed using mAb 2H11. In this RIA, IGF-II variant ([RLPG/S29]IGF-II) and rhIGF-II competed equally with [125I]IGF-II for binding to mAb 2H11. Similar results were produced when mAbs 1D5, 1D9, and 2B11 substituted for 2H11. The potential usefulness of mAb 2H11 in an immunoblot procedure to characterize the heterogeneity of IGF-II in the sera and tumor tissues of patients with nonislet cell tumor hypoglycemia was evaluated. A procedure that combined acid-ethanol extraction of serum or tumor tissues and immunoaffinity concentration of the extracted IGF-II with mAb 2H11-immobilized resin was found to be an effective way to prepare the samples. In Western immunoblots, a quantity of rhIGF-II as low as 3 ng could be identified, whereas 200 ng rhIGF-I or rat IGF-II were not recognized. The levels of IGF-II in the sera of 12 patients with nonislet cell tumor hypoglycemia varied from normal to about twice normal. The mol wt (M(r)) of this IGF-II was between 10-17K. There was little of the processed 7.5K M(r) IGF-II in the sera of these patients. Finally, the source of the high M(r) forms of IGF-II was the tumor, because the ratios of high M(r) forms of IGF-II to 7.5K IGF-II changed dramatically from 99:1 and 91:9 to 4:96 and 32:68 in two patients after successful excision of their tumors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Idiopathic cerebral hemorrhage during delivery in normotensive women--case reports

Two normotensive pregnant women who developed cerebral hemorrhage during delivery are reported. The hematoma was small and subcortical in one and large and putaminal in the other. They had no history of hypertension, cerebrovascular disorders, or eclampsia. Cerebral angiography studied in one case revealed no abnormalities. Idiopathic cerebral hemorrhage during delivery without any evidence of vascular risk factors is discussed.

[Experiment on validity of skin resistance level as an index of arousal level]

It is important in establishing and improving work management and work planning to estimate the arousal level of workers during operation and monitoring tasks. This paper proposes a technique based on experimental results to estimate the arousal level during job execution. In this experiment, both a monotonous low workload task which degrades the arousal level and a high workload task which has an awakening action were alternately applied to five subjects for three hours. Skin resistance level (SRL) as an index of arousal level of the autonous nervous system was measured with subjective drowsiness and task performance, that is, signal omission probability for low workload task and both reaction time and error probability for high workload task, as indexes of arousal level of the central nervous system. The following results were obtained. (1) The results suggested that SRL as an index of arousal level of the autonous nervous system is significantly related and correlated with subjective drowsiness and signal omission probability as indexes of arousal level of the central nervous system. (2) The average reaction time and the error probability tended to increase by the application of high workload when the arousal level was degraded. The influence of degraded arousal continued for a short time and showed an unfavorable effect on task execution. The degree of this influence, however, differed between subjects. (3) SRL can be used as an index of arousal level of the autonous nervous system because the measurement is comparatively easy and is little influenced by artifacts due to body movements. (4) Using SRL at initial high workload period as the standard value, it is possible to quantify the SRL value at arbitrary time by estimating how many times the standard value goes into the SRL value. Based on this quantified value as an index of arousal level, comparison with task performance can be made. The proposed index of arousal level of the autonous nervous system showed a significant correlation with indexes of the central nervous system. This technique can be applied to various kinds of estimation on human characteristics accompanied with changes in arousal level.

Clinical staging and gadolinium-DTPA enhanced images of the wrist in rheumatoid arthritis

The usefulness of gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist joint for predicting articular destruction was investigated in 49 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). On T1 weighted images with Gd-DTPA enhancement, the synovium showed a localized or diffuse pattern of enhancement. Many patients classed as stage II or higher by plain radiography had diffuse enhancement on MRI, while all except one stage I patient had relatively confined localized enhancement. Our study showed that MRI of the carpus could detect soft tissue changes in patients with RA earlier than anything revealed by radiography, and suggested that contrast MRI may be useful for predicting articular destruction.

Localization of salivary proteins in granules of human parotid and submandibular acinar cells

Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry was used to investigate the distribution of four secretory proteins within the granules of human parotid and submandibular gland acinar cells. The results demonstrate that the distribution of the individual proteins differs significantly. Amylase is concentrated within the electron-dense regions of the granules, whereas agglutinin is present mainly in the regions of lower density. In contrast, the proline-rich proteins and histatins are distributed throughout the content of the granules and do not appear to be concentrated in either the high- or low-density regions. The results also suggest that different mechanisms, such as self-aggregation or ionic complexes with metal ions and charged macromolecules, may be involved in the packaging of individual proteins within the same granule. Further, they also show that among the salivary glands of various species, the intragranular distribution of similar proteins (e.g., amylase and proline-rich proteins) may differ.