Molecular cloning of a human neuroD from a neuroblastoma cell line specifically expressed in the fetal brain and adult cerebellum

Several neuron-specific cDNAs were identified using large-scale collection of 3'-directed partial cDNA sequences from a human neuroblastoma cell line. One of such cDNAs encoded a protein homologous to the mouse NeuroD. The mouse NeuroD, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein seems to function as a differentiation factor for neurogenesis, as the gene is transiently expressed in postmitoic differentiating neurons. The human counterpart has a bHLH domain completely identical to that of the mouse NeuroD. But its expression was not only in the fetal brain but also in the adult cerebellum. The result of cross-species in situ hybridization also showed the transcripts were detected in the granule cell layer of the adult mouse cerebellum. The results suggest that the human as well as the mouse neuroD may play some important functions not only in the fetal brain but also in the fetal brain but also in the matured neurons of the cerebellum.

[Thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist in asthma therapy]

Lung tissues produce a large amount of Thromboxane (Tx) A2. In addition to platelet aggregation and artery smooth muscle contraction, TxA2 strongly induces airway smooth muscle contraction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Not only TxA2, but many arachidonate cyclooxygenase metabolites such as PGD2, PGF2 alpha, PGH2, and others stimulate TP (PGH2/TxA2) receptor and can take a pathophysiological role for bronchial asthma. Several compounds competitively antagonizing TP receptor have been developed and being proved to have beneficial effects for treating of bronchial asthma in clinical. In this review the efficacy and usage of TP receptor antagonists for bronchial asthma was discussed.

Treatment of essential and parkinsonian tremor with nipradilol

Nipradilol is a new type of beta-blocker which possesses nitroglycerin-like vasodilating action in addition to beta-blocking action. We investigated the efficacy and safety of nipradilol for treating tremor in 20 patients with essential tremor (ET group) and 20 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD group). All patients received nipradilol (6 mg per day) for more than 8 weeks. Improvement of tremor appeared within 2 or 4 weeks after the start of nipradilol therapy, and the efficacy rate, defined as "moderately effective" or over, was 42.5% in all 40 patients, while that defined as "slightly effective" or over was 87.5%. The efficacy rate tended to be higher in the ET group compared with the PD group. Mean blood pressure was significantly decreased from the 4th week after the start of treatment and heart rate was significantly reduced from the 2nd week of treatment. Laboratory examination showed no significant changes.

Thrombotic obstruction of a reinforced ringed expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft caused by formation of a pseudoaneurysm at a nonanastomotic site: report of a case

We report herein the case of a 72-year-old man in whom a nonanastomotic pseudoaneurysm arose from a reinforced ringed expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) graft (Gore-Tex, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) following an axillobifemoral bypass. The pseudoaneurysm developed 2 years after graft insertion and induced graft thrombosis. The development of the pseudoaneurysm can be attributed to the fact that his axillobifemoral bypass graft was so short it deformed the proximal anastomosis, and the graft was subcutaneously tunneled onto the major pectoral muscle. These technical errors placed the graft under too much tension in the longitudinal direction, which resulted in graft disruption and pseudoaneurysmal formation, followed by thrombosis of the axillary artery. Moreover, the possibility of direct trauma at the time of insertion cannot be substantiated. Although the very poor compliance and design of the externally supported ring could not tolerate stretch deformity in the Gore-Tex graft, only one other case of a nonanastomotic pseudoaneurysm has ever been reported.

Magnetic resonance imaging of herpes simplex virus encephalitis: reversible asymmetric basal ganglia lesions

We report a patient with herpes simplex virus type 1 encephalitis (HSE) who showed abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals in the basal ganglia. The lesions were asymmetric and became apparent with relapse of the neurological symptoms, but they completely disappeared, concomitantly with improvement of the illness.

[Bronchial asthma as an inflammation and the use of inhaled steroid]

Recently, bronchial asthma has been widely recognized as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. In the course of inflammation, many kinds of inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes, especially Th2 lymphocytes, mast cells, eosinophills, bronchial epithelial cells interact each other by so-called cytokine network. Bronchial hyperreactivity, which is a characteristic phenomenon in bronchial asthma, is induced as a result of bronchial inflammation. According to the inflammation theory of pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, anti-inflammatory treatment using inhaled corticosteroid is recommended as the first choice of asthma therapy. Bronchial biopsy proved decrease of the number of infiltrating inflammatory cells such as T lymphocytes, eosinophils and mast cells in the bronchial submucosal tissue after inhaled steroid treatment. Improvement of bronchial reactivity after inhaled steroid therapy was also reported. Recently, a certain group of so-called steroid resistant asthma has been known and the mechanism of it is now under investigation.

Ex vivo surgery for renal artery aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Renal artery aneurysms (RAAs), once considered rare, are being recognized with increasing frequency. The treatment of aneurysms of the first ramification of the main renal artery is still controversial.

METHODS

From November 1984 to May 1992, we treated 8 patients with RAA at the first ramification. All the patients were treated with an ex vivo technique and autotransplantation.

RESULTS

The results, evaluated with intravenous pyelogram and arteriography were satisfactory. No operative deaths and no complications were noted.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that surgery with an ex vivo technique and autotransplantation is an excellent method of treating this type of lesion.

Effect of acute and chronic administration of methamphetamine on activator protein-1 binding activities in the rat brain regions

The activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding activities in the three brain regions (striatum, nucleus accumbens, cingulate cortex) increased after a single methamphetamine (METH, 4 mg/kg) injection and reached maximum levels after 180 min. Pretreatment with SCH 23390 (0.5 mg/kg), a selective dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, significantly inhibited the enhanced AP-1 binding activities induced by acute METH (4 mg/kg) administration. In chronic experiments, rats were pretreated with METH (4 mg/kg) or saline for 14 days. The AP-1 binding activities after a 1-week abstinence from chronic administration of MAP increased significantly in all the brain regions compared with those of the saline-treated controls, whereas after a 4-week abstinence, the AP-1 binding activity decreased significantly in the cingulate cortex, but not striatum or nucleus accumbens, compared with the saline-treated control group. A METH challenge after a 4-week abstinence period induced significantly more intense stereotypy, but lower AP-1 binding activities in all the brain regions of rats treated with repeated METH than repeated saline injections. The super-shift assay revealed that after a 1- or 4-week abstinence, there was no significant difference between the Fos-related antigens (Fras) contents of the saline- and METH-treated groups in any brain region examined, and that the Jun family protein levels of the METH-treated group increased significantly in the striatum and nucleus accumbens after a 1-, but not 4-, week abstinence. These results suggest that chronic METH administration leads to delayed decay of the induced AP-1 binding activities and Jun component levels after abstinence for up to 1 week, but results in no change in or decreases these activities and attenuates METH challenge-induced AP-1 binding activities after abstinence for 4 weeks.

Synergistic effect of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors on AP-1 DNA-binding activity in the striatum and globus pallidus of the rat with a unilateral 6-OHDA lesion of the medical forebrain bundle

The synergistic effect of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors on transcription factor AP-1 was studied in the striatum and globus pallidus of rats with unilateral 6-OHDA lesions of the medial forebrain bundle. Contralateral rotational behavior in response to a challenge dose of D1 agonist with and without D2 agonist was determined by behavioral observation, and AP-1 induction was studied by a gel mobility-shift assay. Single administration of vehicle and of a low dose of the D1 agonist (SKF38393, 0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) failed to induce rotational behavior, while the D2 agonists bromocriptine (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and quinpirole (1 mg/kg. i.p.) induced low rate rotations. High dose of SKF38393, 10 mg/kg, i.p., and low dose D1 and D2 agonists administered together induced a higher rate of rotation. The gel mobility-shift assay also suggested a synergistic interaction between D1 and D2 receptors on AP-1 induction in both the striatum and globus pallidus ipsilateral to the 6-OHDA lesioned nigrostriatal pathway. However, the mode of AP-1 induction via each dopamine receptor subtype appeared to differ between these brain structures. Thus, in the striatum of the lesioned side, single administration of a high dose of D1 agonist, and combined administration of D1 agonist with either of the D2 agonists resulted in AP-1 induction, while in the globus pallidus, AP-1 binding was induced by the D2 agonist bromocriptine and combined administration of a low dose D1 agonist with D2 agonists, but not by D1 agonist alone, even at a high dose. These results demonstrate that a D1/D2 dopamine receptor synergism is involved is the induction of AP-1 both in the striatum and globus pallidus of the rat with ipsilateral dopamine depletion. The induction of AP-1 via each receptor subtype appears, however, to be differently regulated in these two structures.

Histamine augments VCAM-1 expression on IL-4- and TNF-alpha-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Interaction between vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on endothelial cells and CD49d molecules on eosinophils is thought to mediate the selective infiltration of eosinophils into inflamed tissues in allergic disease. IL-4 and TNF-alpha are associated with allergic conditions, and they have been shown to selectively augment VCAM-1 expression on endothelial cells, suggesting that they may be responsible for VCAM-1 expression in allergic disease. We used immunocytochemical staining analysis to examine the effect of chemical mediators, including histamine, leukotrienes and platelet-activating factor (PAF), on VCAM-1 expression in IL-4- and TNF-alpha-stimulated endothelial cells. Histamine, significantly augmented (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01) VCAM-1 expression in both IL-4- and TNF-alpha-stimulated endothelial cells. IL-4 and TNF-alpha were found to have a synergistic effect on endothelial cell VCAM-1 expression, when compared with the effect of stimulation with each of these cytokines separately, and the addition of histamine further increased VCAM-1 expression. This enhancing effect of histamine was inhibited by the presence of mepyramine and thioperamide but not by cimetidine. Another chemical mediator, PAF, failed to induce any increase in VCAM-1 expression, however, leukotrienes augmented it slightly in a narrow range of concentrations. The histamine-induced augmentation of VCAM-1 expression was reflected functionally by many more eosinophils attaching to endothelial cells than to cells stimulated with both cytokines. This attachment of eosinophils was inhibited by the presence of antibody to VCAM-1 and CD49d. Addition of histamine 10 h after stimulation with both cytokines still induced an increase in VCAM-1 expression. In addition, an inhibitor of RNA polymerase, alpha-amanitin, dose-dependently decreased this histamine-induced augmentation of VCAM-1 expression. These findings strongly suggest that histamine upregulates VCAM-1 expression at the transcriptional level through newly generated of mRNA in endothelial cells stimulated with IL-4 and TNF-alpha.

Increased Gi alpha and Go alpha mRNAs in hippocampus after repeated methamphetamine administration

Changes in transcription of Gs alpha, Gi2 alpha and Go alpha proteins after repeated methamphetamine administration were investigated using in situ hybridization. Rats received daily injections of methamphetamine (4 mg kg-1) for 14 days. Four hours after the last injection, Go alpha mRNA showed an increase of 16.6-31.6% in CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Gi alpha mRNA level increased by 24.2% in CA1, while Gs alpha mRNA remained unaffected. Go alpha and Gi alpha mRNA returned to basal levels after 48 h abstinence. The expression of these G alpha mRNA in other brain regions, including substantia nigra, ventral tegmentum area, striatum, accumbens and cortices, was unchanged. The increase in Go alpha and Gi alpha mRNAs restricted only to the hippocampus after repeated methamphetamine administration may be involved in the development of dependence rather than behavioral sensitization.

Activator protein-1 binding activities in discrete regions of rat brain after acute and chronic administration of methamphetamine

The activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding activities increased in three brain regions (striatum, nucleus accumbens, and cingulate cortex) after a single methamphetamine (METH) injection to rats. Pretreatment with SCH 23390, but not (-)-eticlopride, significantly inhibited the enhanced AP-1 binding activities induced by acute METH administration. The magnitude of enhancement of AP-1 binding activities 3 h after the last dose of chronic METH administration (4 mg/kg once daily for 14 days) was significantly attenuated as compared with those 3 h after a single METH administration. The AP-1 binding activities after a 1-, but not 4-, week abstinence from chronic administration of METH were still significantly higher than those of the saline-treated controls. A METH challenge after a 4-week abstinence period induced significantly lower AP-1 binding activities in rats chronically injected with METH than in rats chronically injected with saline. The supershift assay revealed that the levels of Jun family protein, but not Fos-related antigen, increased significantly in the striatum and nucleus accumbens of chronically METH-treated rats after a 1-week abstinence. These results suggest that chronic METH administration leads to delayed decay of the induced AP-1 binding activities and Jun component levels after abstinence for up to 1 week but results in no change in or decreases these activities and attenuates METH challenge-induced AP-1 binding activities after abstinence for 4 weeks.

The mechanism by which exercise modifies brain function

The effect of exercise on central nervous system function was investigated in relation to the mechanism of calcium-calmodulin-dependent dopamine synthesis in the brain. It is shown here through animal experiments that exercise leads to an increase in the calcium level in the brain. This in turn enhances brain dopamine synthesis, and through this increased dopamine modifies and/or affects brain function, which might induce physiological, behavioral, and psychological changes.

[A case of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with bicuspid aortic valve]

A 40-year-old male underwent operation with a suspected diagnosis of a ruptured of Valsalva aneurysm and a bicuspid aortic valve. The aneurysm with an apical rupture protruded into the membranous septum, between the leaflets of the tricuspid valve. The aortic valve was bicuspid, with the aneurysm originating from the right sinus of Valsalva. We presume that the bicuspid aortic valve tends to cause the sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in point that each coronary sinus is given excessive pressure compared with that in the normal aortic valve. Rarity of the combined cases is possibly because the bicuspid aortic valve is frequent while the sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is rare in Western countries and vice versa in Japan.

[Clinical reliability of a new IgE detection system using chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay named LUMIWARD immunoassay system]

The measurement of allergen-specific IgE antibodies and total IgE was performed with LUMIWARD immunoassay system (chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay) using 406 serum samples obtained from patients with various allergic diseases and 81 serum samples from normal donors. These were collected by departments of internal medicine, pediatrics, dermatology and otorynolaryngology at eleven institutes in Japan. In addition to a comparative study with CAP RAST, skin tests were also performed to establish a clinical diagnosis. Simultaneous measurements were performed and an excellent correlation with CAP RAST was observed with a concordance rate of 92.6% and correlation coefficient of 0.922. The specificity determined by the normal serum samples was 96.4% for CAP RAST and 96.2% for LUMIWARD. The sensitivity determined by the samples, of which etiological allergens were identified clinically, was 84.8% for CAP RAST and 85.5% for LUMIWARD. Among them, the sensitivity of skin test was 91.8%. The concordance rate with clinical diagnosis was as high as 90.6% and 90.8% for CAP RAST and LUMIWARD. The normal upper limit of total IgE by cumulative 95% value was calculated to be 170 IU/ml for adult subjects. These results indicate the clinical usefulness of the LUMIWARD immunoassay system in evaluating IgE antibodies and total IgE.

Epidemiological observations on recent outbreaks of canine distemper in Tokyo area

Recent outbreaks of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection in Tokyo area were investigated on the basis of clinical features and serological test. The affected dogs were clinically classified into two groups; dog with respiratory and gastrointestinal signs associated with central nervous system (CNS) signs, and those with CNS signs alone. Of 62 dogs examined, 34 belonged to the former and 28 to the latter. In immunoperoxidase assay, anti-Onderstepoort strain of CDV serum reacted at a low level against 2 field isolates of CDV. These results suggested the presence of different types of CDV population in the field.

[A case report of papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve]

A 69-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with an aortic valve tumor. She had shown signs of chronic heart failure due to atrial fibrillation and hypertension for 4 years. There was no history of thromboembolism such as stroke and myocardial infarction, unaccountable fever, weight loss, and systemic symptoms. With two-dimensional echocardiography, a cardiac valve tumor was detected during a routine examination for heart failure. Echocardiographic findings showed a homogeneous mass with a diameter of approximately 1.5 cm, fixed directly to the noncoronary aortic valve cusp. During the operation, a papillary neoplasm, 1.5 by 1 cm, was observed at the midportion of the left ventricular side of noncoronary cusp without a peduncle. The tumor was excised together with all cusps. A 21-mm SJM aortic valve was implanted in position, and thereafter she remained free from symptoms. Histopathological examination of the tumor revealed benign papillary fibroelastoma. Two-dimensional echocardiography was utilized for a diagnosis of the aortic papillary fibroelastoma.

[3H]YM-09151-2 (nemonapride), a potent radioligand for both sigma 1 and sigma 2 receptor subtypes

Using K+ phosphate buffer with 25 nM spiperone, [3H]YM-09151-2 binding showed a high affinity for sigma receptors but no affinity for D2 dopamine or 5-HT1A receptors in rat brain. The order of pKi values of various sigma compounds at [3H]YM-09151-2 binding sites and stereoisomer selectivity were consistent with previous studies using other sigma ligands such as (+)-[3H]SKF-10047, [3H]DTG and (+)-[3H]3-PPP. Although Scatchard analysis fitted a one-site model, competition between [3H]YM-09151-2 and (+)-pentazocine revealed two sites, sigma 1 and sigma 2 receptors, at which the Ki values of YM-09151-2 were 8.4 nM and 9.6nM, respectively. Autoradiography using [3H]YM-09151-2 also showed a characteristic distribution of sigma receptors in rat brain. [3H]YM-09151-2 is, therefore, a potent and useful radioligand for sigma 1/sigma 2 receptor subtypes.

[A case of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation with bilateral pericardial laceration]

A case of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation with bilateral pericardial lacerations is presented. The patient was a 68-year-old male with a chief complaint of dyspnea on exertion, who had had chest contusion in an automobile accident 17 years before. Two dimensional echocardiography demonstrated a systolic prolapse of the tricuspid anterior leaflet resulting in massive regurgitation. The right atrial v wave was 25 mmHg. Intraoperative findings were as follows: Three healed tears of 4-6 cm long were present in the both sides of the pericardium. The chordae tendineae of the anterior leaflet were ruptured. The tricuspid valve was replaced with a SJM valve prosthesis. To our knowledge, no case of combined tricuspid insufficiency and bilateral pericardial laceration resulting from blunt injury has ever been reported.

[A case report of a left atrial ball thrombus at 16 years after mitral valve replacement]

A free floating ball thrombus in left atrium is very rare, only 2 cases that develop ball thrombus after mitral valve replacement (MVR) have been reported. This case was a 55-year-old female who underwent MVR and tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) in 1978. After 16 years, she developed replaced mitral valve stenosis due to pannus formation and tricuspid regurgitation (TR), with a free floating ball thrombus in the giant left atrium. A ball thrombus was taken out, and Re-MVR and tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) was carried out. Post operative course was uneventful. Because a free floating ball thrombus easily causes "Hole-in-one" sudden death, early surgical treatment must be considered.

Measurement of ABH blood group substances in human saliva by immunoassay using artificial antigens as standard substances

Introducing artificial antigens (trisaccharide-albumin complexes for A, B and H activities) as reference substances for immunoassay, blood group substances, A, B, and H in human saliva were measured. A good correlation between hemagglutination inhibition titers and concentrations of A, B, and H in saliva was demonstrated. Since the anti-H 1E3 used showed the specificity for both H type 1 and H type 2 chains and anti-H 224 for H type 2 chain, we measured H type (1 and 2) and H type 2 separately, and found 10- to 20-fold higher concentration of H type (1 and 2) compared with that of H type 2 in human saliva. The H type 2 was not found in all the saliva samples from nonsecretors irrespective of ABO subtypes. The results suggest that about 90% of A and B blood group substances in human saliva is also type 1 chain.

Effect of inhibitors of inducible form of nitric oxide synthase in infarcted heart muscle

Nitric oxide (NO), an unstable radical, is synthesized from L-arginine by the constitutive (cNOS) and inducible (iNOS) forms of NOS. cNOS is present mainly in endothelial cells and plays a role in the regulation of blood flow. iNOS, the dominant enzyme in heart muscle during myocardial infarction, allograft rejection, and cardiomyopathy, is activated in macrophages. We recently described a significant increase of iNOS activity in macrophages of infarcted rabbit myocardium 24 hours after coronary occlusion, with peak activity occurring 3 days following coronary artery ligation. Inhibitors of NOS are L-arginine derivatives that inhibit both cNOS and iNOS; S-methylisothiourea (SMT) and aminoguanidine (AMG) are specific inhibitors of iNOS. Cyclosporin A and dexamethasone inhibit by interfering with protein synthesis. iNOS inhibition by SMT, NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), AMG, cyclosporin A and dexamethasone was examined in homogenates of normal, risk and infarcted myocardium. Three days after coronary artery ligation, the heart was excised and divided into normal, risk and infarcted regions. The inhibitory effect was calculated as IC50. Results shows that SMT was the most potent inhibitor with the lowest IC50; its effect, as well as the effects of L-NNA and AMG, depended on the location in the myocardium. Inhibition for SMT and AMG was greater in the normal area than in the risk and infarcted regions. AMG induced an initial rise of iNOS followed by gradual decline in the area of risk and infarction. No inhibitory effects in cyclosporin A and dexamethasone were noted.

Ontogeny of striatal dopamine release in rats after acute administration of methamphetamine

In the present study, we examined the effects of acute MAP administration on striatal extracellular levels of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in groups of rats on postnatal days (PNDs) 14, 21, 28, and 56. A single injection of 4 mg/kg MAP (IP) induced increase in extracellular DA and decrease in extracellular 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the striatal perfusates of rats on all PNDs examined. The magnitude of increase in DA concentrations at 20 min after the MAP injection was significantly smaller on PND 14 than PNDs 21, 28, and 56, whereas the magnitude of decrease in DOPAC concentrations after the MAP injection was significantly smaller on PND 14 than PNDs 21, 28, and 56. After the MAP injection, homovanillic acid levels decreased on PNDs 21, 28, and 56, but increased on PND 14. These results suggest that rats on PND 14 differ from those thereafter in MAP-induced DA release and changes in its metabolites, and that such developmental effect on MAP-induced DA release may be involved in the ontogeny of MAP-induced behavioral sensitization.