Radiological findings of retroperitoneal leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma: report of two cases

Radiologic findings in cases of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma and leiomyoma were reported. These cases showed very similar findings: irregularly marginated large masses with central cyst formation and no calcification on CT and ultrasonography. Angiography showed tumor vessels and tumor stains. Cystic region due to central necrosis or hemorrhage was the most prominent radiologic finding in these cases. However, it was difficult to distinguish leiomyosarcoma from leiomyoma on the basis of the radiologic findings alone.

[Serum superoxide dismutase in patients with Graves' disease]

We studied serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) in patients with Graves' disease. Measurements of immunoreactive Cu, Zn-SOD and SOD-like activities were made by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ube Industries Ltd) and Nitroblue Tetrazolium method (Wako Ltd), respectively. Serum from patients with untreated Graves' disease had a significantly higher concentration of Cu, Zn-SOD and higher SOD-like activity than those from normal subjects, patients with Graves' disease under treatment over one year, patients with Graves' disease in remission, and patients with untreated Hashimoto's disease. Methimazole treatment produced no significant change in SOD-like activity and Cu, Zn-SOD concentration when patients with Graves' disease had normal thyroid function. These results indicated that oxidative tissue injury existed in patients with Graves' disease with normal thyroid function under treatment; however, we could not clearly establish that thyroid function had a direct connection with oxidative tissue injury.

Molecular cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding mung bean cytochrome P450 (P450C4H) possessing cinnamate 4-hydroxylase activity

With the aid of partial amino acid sequences determined for cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (P450C4H) purified from mung bean seedlings, two cDNA clones were isolated and their inserts were completely sequenced. The nucleotide sequences of the two clones were nearly identical and contained an open reading frame predicted to encode a polypeptide consisting of 505 amino acid residues. The partial sequences determined from the purified P450C4H closely corresponded to the primary structures deduced from the cDNA sequences. This is the first isolation of cDNA clones encoding a higher plant P450 possessing clear physiological activity. Comparison to known cytochromes P450 indicated that P450C4H belongs to a novel P450 gene family.

[Effect of intra-venous hyperalimentation on hepatic energy metabolism after hepatic resection in the cirrhotic rat]

We evaluated experimentally the effect of administration of glucose on hepatic energy metabolism, mitochondrial functions and lipid metabolism after hepatic resection. The 75% hepatic resection was performed on thioacetamide induced cirrhotic rat. Glucose solution with 30 Cal/kg/day (group I) or 200 Cal/kg/day (group II) was administrated intravenously for 48 hours after hepatic resection. Blood levels of ketone bodies and glucagon, tissue activities of ATP synthesis and tissue content of adenine nucleotides were measured in both groups. Hepatic energy charge was significantly decreased in group II, comparing with group I. When fatty acid was used as a substrate for respiratory system, the activity of ATP synthesis on mitochondria after hepatic resection rose, while in case pyruvate was used as a substrate the value was declined. On the levels of serum free fatty acids and ketone bodies, there were no remarkable changes in group I, while in group II, obvious declines were investigated. It is suggested that the overload of glucose in the early stage after hepatic resection is unfavorable to hepatic energy metabolism because of decline of serum free fatty acid by hyperinsulinemia and suppression of fatty acid oxidation by decline of blood glucagon.

Renal hypouricemia due to enhanced tubular secretion of urate associated with urolithiasis: successful treatment of urolithiasis by alkalization of urine K+, Na(+)-citrate

We encountered a case of hypouricemia with increases both in urate clearance (Cur) and in the ratio of Cur to creatinine clearance (Cur/Ccr), the normal daily urinary excretion of urate, and urolithiasis. Pyrazinamide markedly decreased Cur and Cur/Ccr, and both probenecid and benzbromarone markedly increased Cur and Cur/Ccr, however, benzbromarone did not increase either Cur or Cur/Ccr under pretreatment with pyrazinamide in the patient. Thus, the diagnosis was made of renal hypouricemia due to enhanced tubular secretion of urate. The urinary pH of the patient tended to be acidic. Three months after the start of alkalization of the patient's urine by K+, Na(+)-citrate, both urolithiasis and the symptoms related to urolithiasis disappeared. These results suggest that renal hypouricemia due to enhanced tubular secretion of urate can result in urolithiasis and the alkalization of urine may be an effective treatment for uric acid stones.

Sodium channel states control binding and unbinding behaviour of antiarrhythmic drugs in cardiac myocytes from the guinea pig

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to investigate whether cardiac sodium channel states (rested, activated, inactivated) regulate the binding and unbinding behaviour of antiarrhythmic drugs on the receptor sites.

METHODS

Single ventricular myocytes of adult guinea pig heart were obtained by an enzymatic dissociation method in the Langendorff manner. The channel state dependent blocking effects on cardiac sodium current (INa) of quinidine and disopyramide were studied under the whole cell variation of the patch clamp technique.

RESULTS

10 microM quinidine and 20 microM disopyramide produced similar levels of tonic block and use dependent block. The steady state inactivation curve (h infinity curve) was shifted parallel in the negative potential direction by quinidine (10 microM) and disopyramide (20 microM) to the same extent (-10 mV). Removal of the fast inactivation process of INa by chloramine-T did not reduce tonic and use dependent block by these drugs. Onset block study using a double pulse protocol revealed that block developments by both drugs were fitted to the sum of double exponential functions. However, time constant of fast phase of block by disopyramide was faster than that by quinidine, while slow phase was not significantly different. Definition of time courses of unbinding (recovery) at -140 mV indicated that quinidine dissociated relatively slowly as compared to disopyramide.

CONCLUSIONS

Quinidine produces more potent tonic and use dependent block of INa by binding to sodium channels at both rested and inactivated states, while disopyramide has a higher affinity for activated state. Therefore, sodium channel states regulate the binding and unbinding behaviour of antiarrhythmic drugs. Furthermore, the fast inactivation process is not essential in producing tonic and use dependent block by antiarrhythmic drugs.

Tyre tread marks on the body without internal injuries

Two cases are presented involving a 5-year-old boy with tyre tread impressions on the back and right arm and a 4-year-old girl with tread marks on the head but both had no internal injuries. These cases suggest that injuries to internal organs do not always occur when the trunk or head is run over by the wheels of a vehicle.

Using a computer color-matching system in color reproduction of porcelain restorations. Part 1: Application of CCM to the opaque layer

The reproduction of natural tooth color using porcelain restorations is quite cumbersome, for it is difficult to select, communicate, reproduce, and evaluate color objectively. The present process of color reproduction lacks precision and is primarily dependent on the individual efforts and abilities of the dentist and ceramist. The computer color-matching system, aided by a spectrophotometer and computer, can be an excellent method for reproducing specific colors of various objects. This paper reports application of the system to reproduce various opaque colors used for metal ceramic restorations.

[Change in serum G-CSF levels in patients with Graves' disease by treatment with methimazole]

We evaluated the determination of serum G-CSF in the diagnosis of granulocytopenia due to methimazole (MMI) in 54 patients with Graves' disease, while they were being treated with MMI, by way of measuring WBC counts and serum levels of G-CSF, thyroid hormones, IgE, and interleukin-2. Serum TSH was measured by immunoradiometric assay, serum G-CSF was done by enzyme immunoassay, thyroid hormones and IgE were done by radioimmunoassay, and serum Interleukin-2 was done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The population whose G-CSF levels were higher than the minimum detectable level (30pg/ml) was 6 (30%) in normal subjects, 4 (22%) in patients with untreated Graves' disease, 2 (12%) in patients with treated euthyroid Graves' disease, 3 (23%) in patients with Graves' disease who had gone through agranulocytosis, and 2 (33%) in patients with Graves' disease complicated with granulocytopenia. There was no significant change in WBC counts for 4 weeks, but there was a significant difference between WBC counts before treatment and those at 8 weeks after treatment. We observed no significant change of serum G-CSF levels in patients with Graves' disease under treatment. However, there were significantly high levels of serum G-CSF and significantly low counts of WBC in patients with Graves' disease complicated with granulocytopenia induced by MMI, compared with those in normal subjects, patients with untreated Graves' disease, patients with treated euthyroid Graves' disease, and patients with euthyroid Graves' disease who had gone through agranulocytosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topological disposition of UDP-glucuronyltransferase in rat liver microsomes

The topological disposition of a form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase (called GT-1) in rat liver microsomes was examined. Concanavalin A-Sepharose failed to bind microsomal vesicles even though GT-1 has sugar chains of "high mannose" type, indicating that mannose-containing sugar chains of microsomal glycoproteins including GT-1 are not exposed to the outer surface of microsomal vesicles. Polyclonal antibodies raised against purified GT-1 could bind to microsomal vesicles, indicating that at least part of the GT-1 polypeptide chain is extruded to the outside of the microsomal membrane. Intact microsomal vesicles were digested with carboxypeptidase Y and then subjected to immunoblot analysis using the anti-GT-1 antibodies. It was thus found that the digestion resulted in cleavage of a C-terminal, 2-kDa fragment, leaving a 52-kDa fragment of GT-1 still tightly bound to the membrane. From these results, it is concluded that GT-1 is a transmembrane protein, which extrudes its C-terminal end (at least 2 kDa) to the outside of the membrane, whereas most of its polypeptide chain together with the sugar chains are located on the luminal side of the membrane.

Disopyramide block of cardiac sodium current after removal of the fast inactivation process in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

To determine the necessity of sodium channel fast inactivation for the block of sodium current (INa) by disopyramide, we studied the effects of disopyramide on INa in guinea pig ventricular myocytes treated with chloramine-T, which removes the fast component of INa inactivation. After exposure to chloramine-T (2 mM), INa amplitude was reduced at all voltages and INa decay was irreversibly prevented. Disopyramide (20 microM) produced both tonic block and use-dependent block of INa in chloramine-T-treated myocytes. Before treatment with chloramine-T, the time course of both the onset of and recovery from use-dependent block by disopyramide were best fit by the sum of double exponential functions, and the time constant of the slow phase of recovery increased as the membrane was hyperpolarized. After removal of the fast component of INa inactivation by chloramine-T, the fast phase of the onset block and the fast phase of recovery from block were abolished. However, the voltage dependency of the time course of recovery from block was unchanged. Thus, although the fast sodium inactivation process is not required for tonic and use-dependent block of INa by disopyramide, it contributes to the fast phase of block development and unbinding from use-dependent block.

Immunoreactive copper-zinc superoxide dismutase in damaged human myocardium

The myocardium in 50 autopsy cases was studied using immunostaining for copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and standard histochemical procedures. Mucinous degeneration observed in 42 cases showed moderately enhanced expression of immunoreactive CuZn-SOD in lesions which were stained strongly by periodic acid-Schiff but negative with Heidenhain iron-hematoxylin (HIH), von Kossa and luxol fast blue (LFB) stains, whereas coagulation necrosis in 4 cases revealed almost identical immunostaining for CuZn-SOD and HIH to that of contraction band necrosis, i.e. strongly positive HIH staining but negative immunostaining. Basophilic alteration of the myocardial cells in sections fixed with 4% formalin in 2% calcium acetate was seen in 29 cases, being identified frequently in isolated cells as well as in several foci varying considerably in size. This type of alteration demonstrated significantly enhanced expression of immunoreactive CuZn-SOD and was strongly positive with von Kossa and LFB stains. The present study indicates that the myocardium can be affected by free radicals produced in any organ of the body, and that subsequently, insoluble phospholipids react with calcium ions in the fixative and accumulate in the basophilic sarcoplasm.

Calcium crystal deposition in cervical ligamentum flavum: CT and MR findings

We report three patients with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease within the ligamenta flava of the cervical spine who presented with progressive myelopathy. Plain radiography showed oval calcified nodules at the level of C4-C5 and C5-C6. On computed myelography, oval calcified nodules were seen in the ligamenta flava of the posterior cervical spinal canal compressing the dural sac. Magnetic resonance revealed oval corresponding hypointense foci both on T1-and T2-weighted images. In two cases, the cervical cord showed hyperintensity at the compression site on T2-weighted images.

Thyroid function before and after induced abortion in normal pregnant women

We assessed thyroid function before and after induced abortion in 25 normal pregnant women. Serum TSH was significantly increased (P less than 0.02), and serum hCG-beta was significantly reduced (P less than 0.001) 1 week after induced abortion, compared with the levels before induced abortion. There was a significant negative correlation between hCG-beta and TSH, and a positive one between hCG-beta and FT4 before induced abortion (P less than 0.02). No difference was observed in thyroid hormones before and 1 week after induced abortion. The results suggest that hCG stimulates the thyroid gland, gaining an advantage over TSH, in normal pregnant women.

[Analysis of the fertility decline in Japan--focusing on the period of 1950-60 and 1975-85]

Marked fertility declines have been observed in Japan from 1950-60 and 1975-85. The dynamic structure of the fertility decline in the two periods was analyzed employing the Standardization Approach and Bongaarts Model of Proximate Determinants Analysis. The results indicate that the fertility decline in 1950-60 was mainly caused by a drop in marital fertility due to the expanding diffusion of contraception practices and increases in induced abortion. Increased age at marriage cannot be discounted as a factor also. The fertility decline in 1975-85 was mostly caused by delay of marriage as well as a reduction in proportion of the reproductive population which is composed of a cohort born in 1960 or later.

Glucose overload and hepatic energy metabolism after resection of the cirrhotic liver in rats

The effect of glucose hyperalimentation on energy metabolism in the cirrhotic rat liver after 70% hepatectomy was studied. After resection, rats received either 30 kcal/kg per day (group I) or 200 kcal/kg per day (group II) of glucose for 48 h. In both groups, hepatic mitochondrial ATP synthesis was accelerated when palmitic acid was used as substrate and suppressed when pyruvate was used. This suggests that the energy substrate of the remnant liver was principally fatty acids rather than glucose. Hepatic energy charge was within normal limits in group I, but decreased significantly in group II after hepatectomy. An abundance of glucose in the early postoperative period, therefore, caused a hepatic energy derangement by suppressing fatty acids utilization; this suppression was corroborated by the findings of lower immunoreactive glucagon and non-esterified fatty-acid concentrations in group II. To determine optimal glucose administration, the predicted value of glucose disposal rate (GDR) was calculated after an intravenous glucose tolerance test. GDR decreased significantly after hepatectomy and did not increase appreciably even with a large dose of insulin administration. These results suggest that glucose administration should be tailored to the GDR values after resection of the cirrhotic liver.

The effect of TYB-3823, a new antiarrhythmic drug, on sodium current in isolated cardiac cells

1. Sodium current (INa) blockade by TYB-3823, a newly synthesized antiarrhythmic agent, was investigated in isolated single ventricular myocytes by use of the whole cell patch-clamp technique. 2. TYB-3823 blocked INa under steady-state conditions (Kd,rest = 500 microM, Kd,i = 4.9 microM), findings consistent with a shift in the steady state INa availability curve to more negative potentials. 3. TYB-3823 produced use-dependent block at 2 Hz in conjunction with increase in pulse duration (5-300 ms), that was markedly enhanced at less negative holding potentials. 4. The time course of the onset of block was accelerated and the degree of use-dependent block was decreased at more negative holding potential. The time course of the onset of block was accentuated with enhancing block at more positive holding potentials. 5. The time course of recovery from use-dependent block was accelerated at more negative holding potentials but was accentuated at more positive holding potentials. 6. These results suggest that both tonic block and use-dependent block of sodium channels in cardiac tissue might result from an interaction of TYB-3832 with sodium channels mainly in the inactivated channel states and the kinetics of the interaction between drug and receptor may be modulated by the inactivation gate.

Aprindine blocks the sodium current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes

Aprindine is a class Ib antiarrhythmic agent. We studied effects of aprindine (3 mumol/l) on the Na+ current using whole cell voltage clamp (tip resistance = 0.5 M omega, [Na]i ando = 10 mmol/l at 18 degrees C). Aprindine revealed tonic block (Kdrest = 37.7 mumol/l, Kdi = 0.74 mumol/l; n = 4). Aprindine, shifted inactivation curve to hyperpolarizing direction by 11.4 +/- 3.5 mV (n = 4) without changes in slope factor. In the presence of 3 mumol/l aprindine, aprindine showed phasic block, i.e., duration-dependent block at 2 Hz (64% +/- 3% at 1.5 ms, 82% +/- 6% at 20 ms, 93% +/- 7% at 200 ms; n = 4). Short single prepulse also produced aprindine-induced phasic block (12% at 1.5 ms, 22% at 100 ms; n = 2). After removal of fast inactivation of Na+ current by 3 mmol/l tosylchloramide sodium, aprindine revealed phasic block, independent of holding potential. The recovery time constant from aprindine-induced phasic block was 4.8 s at holding potential = -100 mV and 5.0 s at holding potential = -140 mV. This use-dependent block of aprindine had pH dependency. Under acidic condition (pH 6.0), 3 mumol/l aprindine showed smaller use-dependent block (14% +/- 7% at 2 Hz; n = 4) comparing with either at pH 7.4 (68% +/- 13%; n = 4) or at pH 8.0 (90% +/- 12%; n = 4). The results suggest that aprindine could bind to the receptor via activation process through channel pore, resulting in decrease of Na+ current, and egress from the receptor through the lipid bilayer. These effects might be attenuated under acidic condition due to changes in intracellular ratio of charged to neutralized form of drug molecule.