Mechanism of production of midsystolic click in a prolapsed mitral valve

In order to examine the production mechanism of the midsystolic click in cases of a midsystolic click and a late systolic murmur, the relationship between the click and the motion of the mitral apparatus was studied by means of ultrasono-cardiotomography and the simultaneous recording of phonocardiograms and ultrasono-cardiograms (UCGs). It was found that the systolic click occurred in exact coincidence with the time at which the hump of the echo of the unusual early systolic anterior motion (early SAM) took its backmost position. This coincidence was found when the click was shifted either by postural changes or inhalation of amyl nitrite. The present ultrasono-cardiotomographic study demonstrated that the echo source of the early SAM could be attributed to the protrusion into the left ventricular outflow tract of the slackened elongated chordae tendineae in systole. The anterior leaflet moved suddenly to the position of maximal prolapse when the slackened chordae tendineae were stretched taut in midsystole. In other words, the midsystolic click occurred when the anterior leaflet prolapsed and the tension exerted on the chordae tendineae was at its maximum.

Malignant hyperthermia and althesin

General anaesthesia with Althesin was administered on two occasions to a patient who was identified as susceptible to malignant hyperthermia, in whom there was identified familial subclinical myopathy and once in another patient suffering from arthrogryposis multiplex congenita with a history of fever associated with two previous anaesthetics. In the first patient halothane was administered by accident in association with the Althesin, but no hyperpyrexia occurred. In the second instance nitrous oxide-oxygen and halothane were associated purposely with Althesin. In none of these cases was there any rise in temperature, muscle rigor or elevation of the serum CPK level. This experience corroborates the experimental evidence of Hall, et al.10 and Harrison, who reported that Althesin prevented the onset of hyperthermia, and the clinical reports of Page and Judelman. Althesin can be assumed to be an effective anaesthetic for malignant hyperthermia susceptible patients.

Noninvasive measurement of the intracardiac blood flow by means of ultrasound techniques

A new noninvasive method of measurement of the intracardiac blood flow by means of ultrasound techniques is described. In this system the "M-sequence modulated Doppler method" and the method of ultrasonotomography are used in combination. An arbitrary space within the heart can be selected by ultrasonocardiotomography and the blood flow profiles can be observed by the "M-sequence modulated Doppler method." The new Doppler flow meter system described in this paper can be applied not only for the diagnosis of heart diseases, but also for the study of pathophysiology of the blood flow and of the factors responsible for the dilatation of the heart. Further studies are required from the viewpoints of medicine and engineering to accumulate sufficient data before routine application of the method described in this paper is fully warranted.

Iron incorporation into liver cells and ferritin of tumor-bearing rats

Measurement of the incorporation of iron into liver cells and liver ferritin of the rat revealed that both incorporated less iron under tumor-bearing condition than in the normal state.

Experimental pulmonary emphysema in Syrian hamsters

Syrian hamsters were exposed to the aerosol of a 5% solution of papain in the presence of cysteine and ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid. Pulmonary emphysema in hamsters was observed after exposure to papain for two to three hours. There was no change with time in the severity of emphysema from the second through the fourth weeks after exposure to papain. Pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema was discussed in relation to proteolysis of glycosaminoglycan-protein complex.

An epidemic of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Sendai area, 1973-1974

In 1973 and 1974, an epidemic of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) with a tendency of less frequent conjunctival hemorrhage occurred among the staff of the National Railways and their family in Sendai area. Four strains of AHC virus and 4 strains, 1 of type 7 and 3 of type 8, of adenoviruses were isolated from 22 conjunctival swabs of the patients. Thirty-six (66%) out of 55 cases examined were proved serologically to be of AHC virus infection, and 7 cases (13%) were of adenovirus infection. Clinically, infrequent association of hemorrhagic conjunctivitis was most remarkable. Only 10 cases (28%) had detectable signs of hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. There were no substantial changes in antigenicity and optimum temperature for virus multiplication between prototype and isolated strains. The isolated strains, however, seemed to be less neutralizable and less producible at 29 degrees C than prototype strain.

A new kinetic property characteristic of the actomyosin-nucleoside-triphosphatase

The nucleoside triphosphatase [EC 3.6.1.15] activity of actomysin and that of myosin are measured by varying the concentration of nucleoside triphosphate and that of CaCl2 or MgGl2. The results thus obtained are examined by asking a question of which is responsbile for the activity, the true substrate and the active enzyme in terms of the reaction scheme shown in p. 719. The answers found for the above question are summarized in Table I (see p. 720). It is emphasized that the summmary (Table I) corresponds very well to the fact that myosin alone does not superprecipitate in the presence of either calcium or magnesium ions, whereas actomyosin does superprecipitate in the presence of magnesium ions and not in the presence of calcium ions. Obviously, the true substrate type of reaction scheme represents a kinetic property characteristic of the superprecipitation-coupled nucleoside-triphosphatase. It is also noted of the summary (Table I) that actin is capable of not only activating Mg-nucleoside-triphosphatase but also switiching the reaction scheme from the active enzyme type to the true substrate type. It is known that trinitrophenylation of myosin results in activation of the Mg-ATPase activity of myosin. However, it is now found that trinitrophenylation is not capable of switiching the reaction scheme, that is to say that the Mg-ATPase reaction of trinitrophenyl-myosin stays with the active enzyme type of reaction scheme and that of acto-trinitrophenyl-myosin with the true substrate type of reaction scheme. Effect of actin on the function of myosin seems, therefore, very unique.

Indication of mediastinal lymph nodes metastases by radioaerosol inhalation lung scanning in pulmonary neoplasm

Fifty-three patients with pulmonary neoplasm were studied by radioaerosol inhalation and perfusion lung scans, bronchoscopy and spirometry. The probability of lymph node metastases could be estimated by the amount of inhaled aerosol deposited at the carina. On thoracotomy, actual mediastinal lymphadenopathy was minimum, if any, in 4 patients without carinal aerosol deposition. Application of the aerosol inhalation lung scan to pulmonary neoplasm provides useful diagnostic and prognostic information regarding mediastinal lymph nodes metastases.

Electron microscopy of C-particles and small vesicles in a transplantable rat ascites hepatoma-66F

Transplantable rat ascites hepatoma AH-66F was examined by an electron microscope. C-particles were numerously observed in the intercellular spaces and on the cell surface. The size of these particles varied from 90 to 200 nm in diameter. Small vesicles were also observed. These vesicles ranged from 40 to 50 nm in diameter. Most of them were located near the group of C-particles. Occasionally, small vesicles were observed in the form of a rosette around the C-particles.

Computer generated holograms for testing aspheric lenses

For the purpose of measuring aspheric surfaces, an improved type of computer generated hologram, named the inclined bar type hologram, is proposed. This hologram is characterized by inclined bars. The inclination angle for each bar is obtained from the calculated wavefront aberration of the test lens. A few problems with these computer generated holograms are analyzed, and the advantage of the inclined bar type hologram over the conventional one is demonstrated by experiment.

Acoustical studies on respiratory sounds in asthmatic patients

Changes in the breathing sounds such as stridor and dry and wet rales in asthmatic patients were studied. The breathing sounds were recorded with the small transistor warp type microphone inserted through the nasal orifice into the trachea, main bronchi and segmental bronchi, and were analyzed with sound analyzer. The results were as follows: The whistling rales were caused by the resonance of the bronchial wall, when the vibrating frequency was coincident with its specific frequency. Snoring rales were explained as the sound caused by the air flow passing promptly through contracted bronchi with little secretion. Resonance of either bronchial wall or highly viscous sputum was considered to be responsible for the sonorous rales. Sibilant rales were audible when bronchi promptly repeated dilation and contraction. Stridor was picked up at the upper part of the air tract, from the main bronchus to the trachea, and noise was the main component on the sonogram, presumably caused by the air turbulence due to the narrowing and deformity of bronchial tube or to the sputum adhering to the inner surface of the air tract.

Properties of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in microsomes of Morris hepatoma 5123D and the host liver

Properties of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in the microsomes were compared between Morris hepatoma 5123D and the host liver from rats bearing this tumor. Requirement of NADPH for the assay of the enzyme activity was observed, compared to that of NADH, and also the additive effect of NADH on the requirement of NADPH was found in the tumor and liver. Curve of pH optimum of the enzyme activity in tumor and liver differed between the rats treated with corn oil and those with 3-methylcholanthrene, indicating a slight shift of the peak value to alkaline pH in the latter. The same values of the apparent Km for NADPH and NADH were shown for the enzyme from the liver and tumor even 24 hr after the treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene, but a difference in the apparent Km for benzo[a]pyrene was demonstrated between the tumor and the host liver, showing 3.6 approximately 6.6 muM in the former and 9.1 approximately 20 muM in the latter. By the addition of 7,8- or 5,6-benzoflavone to the assay medium for the tumor, the induced enzyme was inhibited noncompetitively, and the constitutive enzyme was enhanced, as demonstrated in the host liver. As observed in the induced enzyme in both tissues, cyclohexene oxide and 1,1,1-trichloropropane oxide slightly increased the activity of the constitutive enzyme in the tumor, in contrast to its inhibition in the host liver.

Axyl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in Morris hepatoma 5123D

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in Morris hepatoma 5123D is very low, but apparently increases by the administration of 3-methylcholanthrene, as demonstrated in the host liver, small intestine, and lung from the rats bearing this tumor. The peak level of the increased activity in tumor appears 48 hr after the initial administration when the repeated treatment is given intragastrically every 24 hr. 7,8-Benzoflavone increases the enzyme activity in tumor and lung, but not in liver and small intestine. Among the subcellular fractions of the tumor cells, induction of the enzyme by 3-methylcholanthrene was observed in microsomes and nuclei, and the increased level of the activity was higher in microsomes than in nuclei.

A new electrode for electromyographic study of bronchial smooth muscle

The contribution of the bronchial smooth muscles to asthmatic attack has been supposed by many studies such as measurement of the intrabronchial pressure and bronchographical studies, but electromyographical evidence has not been established yet. A new bipolar platinum-ring electrode fixed on polyethylene catheter was invented in order to record action potentials from the bronchial smooth muscle through the intrabronchial lead. Action potentials obtained by this electrode were compared with those obtained by the direct peribronchial needle electrode during either artificial or spontaneous respiration in dogs and a monkey. Electrophotographical analysis confirmed that action potentials obtained by our new electrode were similar in discharge pattern to those by the direct peribronchial needle electrode. The active contribution of the bronchial smooth muscle to the maintenance of the bronchial caliber during spontaneous respiration was observed by our new electrode. Accordingly, this electrode is applicable to electromyographical studies of the bronchial smooth muscle.

Electromyographic study of bronchial smooth muslce in bronchial asthma

We succeeded in recording action potentials from the bronchial smooth muscles in 10 healthy males and 20 cases of bronchial asthma by means of the new electrode described by us in the preceding paper (Akasaka et al. 1975). From these electromyographic studies, we presented the direct evidence of spasm of the bronchial smooth muscles as one of the etiological factors responsible for the airway narrowing in asthmatic attack.

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in liver nuclei of C3H/He and DBA/2 mice

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in liver nuclei from C3H/He mice is apparently increased by the administration of 3-methylcholanthrene, but the enzyme activity from the DBA/2 mice is not. On the other hand, by treatment of the mice with phenobarbital sodium, the increased activity in liver nuclei was observed in both strains of mice. There are approximately the same levels of the apparent Km for benzo[alpha]pyrene in liver nuclei from both strains of mice even after treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene, but different Km values for NADPH and NADH are observed between the constitutive and induced enzyme, showing 0.032 and 0.091 mM for NADPH, and 0.303 and 1.67 mM for NADH, respectively. Both 5, 6- and 7, 8-benzoflavones enhance the activity in the constitutive enzyme, but inhibit it in the induced enzyme non-competitively. Nicotinamide inhibits both enzyme activities in liver nuclei. Cyclohexene oxide and 1, 1, 1-trichloropropane oxide enhance the activity in the induced enzyme, but not in the constitutive enzyme in liver nuclei. The differences in the properties between the contitutive and induced enzymes and between the enzymes in microsomes and in nuclei from mouse liver were discussed briefly.

Genetic differences in the induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and benzo(a)pyrene carcinogenesis in C3H/He and DBA/2 strains of mice

The effects of 3-methylcholanthrene and 5,6- and 7,8-benzoflavones on aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase in the liver, small intestine, lung, and skin tissues from C3H/He and DBA/2 strains of mice under the controlled lighting conditions were examined. Apparent differences were observed in the inducibility of the hepatic enzyme by the inducers between the two strains of mice, showing that the enzyme in the C3H/He mice is inducible but not in the DBA/2 mice. Comparison of the results on the enzyme induction by 3-methylcholanthrene in the liver among the parent, intercrossed, and backcrossed mice suggested that the inducibility may be inherited as a single autosomal dominant trait. However, different genetic responses to 3-methylcholanthrene and benzoflavones in the enzyme of small intestine might be considered, because a discrepancy in the inducibility of the enzyme between the liver and the small intestine from the identical mice was demonstrated when the progeny of F2 and (DBA/2 times F1) backcross were used. On the other hand, no apparent difference was found in the inducibility of the enzyme in the lung and skin between the C3H/He and the DBA/2 mice. It is assumed that the genetic regulation of the induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase was separately controlled in the respective tissues from the identical mice. By the repeated topical applications of benzo[a]pyrene, the incidence of skin cancer was higher in the DBA/2 mice than in the C3H/He mice. The relationship between the induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and carcinogenicity in the skin is briefly discussed.

Biochemical characterization of hyaluronic acid from a case of benign, localized, pleural mesothelioma

The tissue of a benign, localized, pleural mesothelioma was digested with protease, and the crude polysaccharide was fractionated by a column of Dowex-1 (Cl-form). The eluate from the column was electrophoresed and incubated with various mucopolysaccharide lysases. Based on the results of column chromatography, electrophoresis, and enzymatic digestion, it was found that hyaluronic acid was the major constituent of the glycosaminoglycans in pleural mesothelioma. The hyaluronic acid from pleural mesothelioma seemed to be identical in structure with that from human umbilical cord; however, the hyaluronic acid from mesothelioma was eluted before that from human umbilical cord when fractionated by the column of Sepharose 4B, suggesting a differnence in molecular size between the two. Also, evidence was obtained for the presence of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate.

Comparison between muscle and liver enolases and their behavior during differentiation and growth

1. Rabbit liver enolase (EC 4.2.1.11) was purified about 200-fold and the enzyme was distinguished from crystalline muscle enolase by column isoelectrofocusing. It was found that the pI of muscle enolase was at about pH 8.8 and the pI of liver enolase was at about pH 6.7. Liver enolase was more liable to heat than muscle enolase. Anti-muscle enolase antibody did not react with liver enolase in double diffusion and immunoprecipitation tests. No substantial difference seemed to exist between muscle and liver enolases in pH optima, kinetic constants, and gel filtration. 2. It was observed by electrofocusing that the pI of rat muscle enolase was pH 7.2 to 7.9 and that of liver enolase was about pH 5.9. The main component of muscle enolase was designated as type A enolase, and liver enolase as type B enolase. Type A enolase was present in skeletal muscle and heart muscle. Type B enolase was widely distributed and present in liver, kidney, spleen, brain, lung, small intestine, and heart muscle. More acidic isozyme than type B enolase coexisted in the brain, and more basic isozyme than type A enolase, coexisted in the small intestine. A prototype of enolase in the early stage of differentiation was found to be type B enolase and, as differentiation progressed, type B decreased in muscle, while type A increased. On the other hand, liver enolase was retained as type B during differentiation. The enolase in regenerating liver was the same as in normal liver.

Properties of aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase in the liver from C3H/He and DBA/2 strains of mice

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in liver from the C3H/He strain of mice is apparently increased by the administration of 3-methylcholanthrene, but the enzyme activity from the DBA/2 strain of mice is not. The enzyme activity from female mice is higher than that from male mice, even 72 hr after a single application of 3-methylcholanthrene into the mice. The control enzyme in the liver from both strains of mice has a pH optimum at 7.9 and the induced enzyme from C3H/He mice, at 8.2. There are approximately the same levels of the apparent Km for benzo[a]pyrene, NADPH, or NADH in the liver enzyme from both strains of mice even after treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene. The induced enzyme is inhibited by 7,8- or 5,6-benzoflavone non-competitively, and nicotinamide inhibits both the constitutive and induced enzyme uncompetiviely. Cyclohexene oxide and 1,1,1-trichloropropane oxide, known to be inhbitors of epoxide hydrase, inhibit the activity of the constitutive enzyme, but enhance the induced enzyme in the liver. The difference in the properties between the constitutive and induced enzymes from mouse liver is discussed briefly.