Exercise-induced changes in R wave amplitude and heart rate in normal subjects

An intermittent exercise protocol on a treadmill was used to examine six healthy subjects, and a steady protocol was applied to three of the subjects before and after short-term training. The peak blood velocity in the common carotid artery increased by 73.1% during the intermittent protocol and recovered to resting level within 3 minutes, while the heart rate (HR) remained high even 5 minutes after exercise. R wave amplitude (RWA) increased significantly from 1.40 +/- 0.39 mV at rest to 1.59 +/- 0.33 mV (P < .05) immediately after the start of walking, and decreased gradually to 1.46 +/- 0.36 mV (P < .05) during 3 minutes of walking. Thus, it decreased significantly to 1.31 +/- 0.40 mV (P < .01) during the interphase from exercise to rest, and increased again during recovery or rest periods in the intermittent protocol. The results suggest that an increase in the venous return per heart beat at the start of walking induces the increase in RWA, and that its abrupt decrease at the end of walking induces the decrease in RWA. Subjects with a higher HR response and recovery slopes have smaller abrupt changes in RWA at the interphases between rest and walking. The gradual decrease in RWA during walking may be related to a gradual increase in HR and a gradual decrease in systemic peripheral resistance, and the gradual increase in RWA after walking may be related to a gradual decrease in HR and a gradual increase in systemic peripheral resistance.

Blood flow velocity in the common carotid artery in humans during graded exercise on a treadmill

Cerebral blood volume flow and flow velocity have been reported to increase during dynamic exercise, but whether the two increase in parallel and whether both increases occur as functions of exercise intensity remain unsettled. In this study, blood flow velocity in the common carotid artery was measured using the Doppler ultrasound method in eight healthy male students during graded treadmill exercise. The exercise consisted of stepwise progressive increases and decreases in exercise intensity. The peak intensity corresponded to approximately 85% of maximal oxygen consumption. During this exercise, the heart rate (fc), mean blood pressure (BP) in the brachial artery and mean blood flow velocity (vcc) in the common carotid artery increased as functions of exercise intensity. At the peak exercise intensity, fc, BP and vcc increased by 134.5%, 20.5% and 51.8% over the control levels before exercise (P < 0.01), respectively. The resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were determined from the velocity profile and were expected to reflect the distal cerebral blood flow resistance. The RI and PI increased during the graded exercise, but tended to decrease at the highest levels of exercise intensity. As vcc increased with increases in exercise intensity it would be expected that cerebral blood flow would also increase at these higher intensities. It is also suggested that blood flow velocity in the cerebral artery does not proportionately reflect the cerebral blood flow during dynamic exercise, since the cerebral blood flow resistance changes.

[A case report of intralobar sequestration associated with lung aspergillus]

A 21-year-old woman with fever and dyspnea was admitted to our hospital. X-ray examination of this patient showed abscess forming in the right lower lobe of the lung. Aspergillus fumigatus was detected by percutaneous lung biopsy. She had repeated pneumonia since her childhood, so congenital lung disease was suspected. Aortic angiography showed the flow of an aberrant artery originated from the right inferior phrenic artery into the right lower lobe. Preoperative diagnosis of the patient was lung sequestration associated with aspergillosis. The operative procedure included right lower lobectomy with ligation of the aberrant artery. Postoperative diagnosis was intralobar sequestration of Pryce III type which was infected with aspergillus. Intralobar sequestration associated with aspergillosis is very rare, perhaps this is the third case in the literature of Japan.

canoe encodes a novel protein containing a GLGF/DHR motif and functions with Notch and scabrous in common developmental pathways in Drosophila

The canoemisty1 (cnomis1) mutation was isolated by virtue of its severe rough eye phenotype from approximately 500 fly lines, each harboring a single autosomal insertion of a P element (Bm delta w). Excision of the P element generated a lethal, null allele, cnomis10, together with many revertants with normal eye morphology. Ommatidia homozygous for cnomis10, produced in an otherwise wild-type eye by somatic recombination, typically contain a reduced number of outer photoreceptors. Some cnomis1 homozygous adults bear extra macrochaetes on the head, notum, humerus and/or scutellum. cnomis1 hemizygotes often show conspicuous wing phenotypes such as a notched blade and the loss of a cross vein. The sequence of cno cDNA clones isolated from an embryonic cDNA library revealed a long open reading frame that potentially encodes a 1893-amino-acid protein with the GLGF/DHR motif, a conserved sequence in Discs large, Dishevelled, and some other proteins associated with cellular junctions. Flies doubly mutant for cnomis1 and scabrous1 (sca1) and those for cnomis1 and the split (spl) allele of Notch (N) always have rumpled wings curved downward. The spl; cnomis1 double mutant flies also exhibit a "giant socket" phenotype. These phenotypes are rarely observed flies singly mutant for either cnomis1, sca1 or spl. The wing vein gaps caused by Abruptex1, a N allele producing an activated form of N protein, are dominantly suppressed by cnomis1. Heterozygosity for shaggy and myospheroid promotes formation of extra wing veins in cnomis1 homozygotes. The genetic interactions suggest that cno participates with members of the N pathway in regulating adhesive cell-cell interactions for the determination of cell fate.

Structural changes in the oviductal wall during the passage of unfertilized cumulus-oocyte complexes in mice

BACKGROUND

Little information is available on the structural relationship of cumulus-oocyte complexes and the oviductal wall during the transport of cumulus-oocyte complexes. Then, morphological changes of the oviductal wall during the passage of unfertilized cumulus-oocyte complexes was examined chronologically in ICR mice 25-27 days of age injected with PMSG and hCG.

METHODS

Mice were sacrificed at 12, 14, 16, 18, and 24 hr after the injection of hCG to remove oviducts, and the height of mucosal folds, muscle layers, and epithelial cells were measured in the serial sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin or colloidal iron.

RESULTS

The height of the mucosal fold and muscle layer where cumulus-oocyte complexes were located was less than that of the adjacent portions. At 12-18 hr of hCG injection (about 2-8 hr after ovulation), the ova with surrounding cumulus cells lie free in a wide lumen, and the muscular tissue consists of only 2 or 3 layers of cells, arranged mostly longitudinally. However, a neighboring portion without cumulus-oocyte complexes, where the folds meet in the middle, appreciably restricts the free space in the lumen. After 24 hr of hCG administration, structural changes in the oviductal wall, where cumulus-oocyte complexes were located, were no longer apparent. The number of cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte decreased during the passage through the oviduct. At 12-18 hr after hCG injection, about 140 cells were identified in the largest cross section of a cumulus-oocyte complex, but, after 24 hr of hCG administration (about 14 hr after ovulation), an oocyte was surrounded with only about 25 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that oocyte-cumulus cell complexes influence the structure of the oviductal wall during the passage in the oviduct.

Structural changes in the oviductal wall during passage of unfertilized cumulus-oocyte complexes in mice

BACKGROUND

Little information is available on the structural relationship of cumulus-oocyte complexes and the oviductal wall during the transport of cumulus-oocyte complexes.

METHODS

To this end, morphological changes of the oviductal wall during the passage of unfertilized cumulus-oocyte complexes were examined chronologically in ICR mice 25-27 days of age injected with PMSG and hCG. Mice were sacrificed at 12, 14, 16, 18, and 24 hr after the injection of hCG to remove oviducts, and the height of mucosal folds, muscle layers, and epithelial cells was measured in the serial sections stained with hematoxylineosin or colloidal iron.

RESULTS

The height of the mucosal fold and muscle layer where cumulus-oocyte complexes were located was less than that of the adjacent portions. At 12-18 hr of hCG injection (approximately 2-8 hr after ovulation), the ova with surrounding cumulus cells lie free in a wide lumen, and the muscular tissue consists of only 2 or 3 layers of cells, arranged mostly longitudinally. However, a neighboring portion without cumulus-oocyte complexes, where the folds meet in the middle, appreciably restricts the free space in the lumen. After 24 hr of hCG administration, structural changes in the oviductal wall, where cumulus-oocyte complexes were located, were no longer apparent. The number of cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte decreased during the passage through the oviduct. At 12-18 hr after hCG injection, approximately 140 cells were identified in the largest cross section of a cumulus-oocyte complex, but after 24 hr of hCG administration (approximately 14 hr after ovulation), an oocyte was surrounded with only approximately 25 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that oocyte-cumulus cell complexes influence the structure of the oviductal wall during the passage in the oviduct.

Detection of immunoreactive antigen, with a monoclonal antibody to measles virus, in tissue from a patient with Crohn's disease

Using immunofluorescence (IF), we investigated reactive antigens present in Crohn's disease patients with monoclonal antibodies derived from cells infected with measles virus, but not with the subacute sclerosing panencephalitis virus. During immunoblotting, one monoclonal antibody (mAb 86) reacted with a polypeptide with a molecular weight of 36,000 dalton (M; matrix protein) in measles virus-infected cells. This monoclonal antibody displayed a positive reaction only with tissues from patients with Crohn's disease by the IF test. It did not react with samples from patients with other chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis. Other monoclonal antibodies to the measles virus protein, and monoclonal antibodies to Herpes simplex virus type 1 did not react with the same tissue samples. The role of measles virus infection and/or a viral antigen (possibly the M protein) as a causative agent in Crohn's disease poses a challenging avenue for further research.

Localization of P450aldo and P45011 beta in normal and regenerating rat adrenal cortex

A novel layer of cells that do not contain both P450aldo and P45011 beta has been discovered between the zonae glomerulosa and fasciculata of the rat adrenal cortex. Since P450aldo and P45011 beta are the enzymes responsible for the formation of aldosterone and corticosterone, respectively, the cells in that zone are presumably inert in synthesizing both aldosterone and corticosterone, in other words, the layer is composed of cells that have no zone-specific endocrine function as an adrenocortical component. Cytologically, the layer consists of tightly packed cells, which contain a lesser amount of lipid droplet than the cells in the other zones, and appears as a white ring or a white zone in the double immunostaining with anti P450aldo and anti P45011 beta. Upon angiotensin II-stimulation evoked by Na-deficiency, the number of the zona glomerulosa cells expressing P450aldo increases for the initial 2 or 3 days and then the P450aldo-containing zona glomerulosa cells begin to proliferate. Thus angiotensin II serves as a proliferator of the zona glomerulosa cells of the rat adrenal cortex. During the period, the thickness of the white zone decreases for initial 3 days and becomes constant after 5 or 6 days, being about 5% of the total cell number of the adrenal cortex. When localization of replicating cells was examined in the adrenal cortex, they were found to be concentrated in and around the white zone. Then the pulse-chase experiments with BrdU showed that the labeled cells migrated out of the white zone and into the zonae fasciculata and reticularis. The localization of the replicating cells in the regenerating adrenal cortex was also around the region between the zonae glomerulosa and fasciculata. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that the newly discovered cell layer (the white zone) is the stem cell zone of the rat adrenal cortex.

[Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for macular edema after retinal vein occlusion--fluorescein angiographic findings and visual prognosis]

It has been reported that hyperbaric oxygen treatment improves visual function in patients with chronic macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion. This study was designed to investigate relationship between visual prognosis and characteristics of macular edema. From fluorescein angiography performed prior to the therapy, areas of capillary closure and fluorescein leakages were quantitatively evaluated within 1 disc diameter from the fovea. In 27 eyes for which good angiograms were available, 19 eyes were classified as having mild ischemia 1 (area of capillary closure < 25%) and 8 eyes were classified as having severe ischemia (closure area < or = 25%). Of the 27 eyes, 14 showed visual improvement after the therapy. While only one eyes (13%) had visual improvement in the severe ischemic group, 11 eyes (58%) showed visual improvement in the mild ischemic group. The degree of fluorescein leakage before the therapy had no effect on visual outcome. The degree of macular ischemia was found to be a more significant factor influencing visual prognosis after the treatment than the degree of macular edema.

Immunohistochemical quantitation for extracellular matrix proteins in rats with glomerulonephritis induced by monoclonal anti-Thy-1.1 antibody

Extracellular matrix proteins (type I collagen and fibronectin) in frozen histologic sections of kidney cortex from rats with glomerulonephritis induced by a single intravenous administration of anti-Thy 1.1 antibody were quantified using an immunohistochemical micromethod. Type I collagen and fibronectin contents in renal cortex of rats with experimental glomerulonephritis (4.33 +/- 0.79 and 10.41 +/- 2.01 microgram/mg of total protein, respectively) were 262% and 151%, respectively, higher than in control rats given normal mouse IgG (1.65 +/- 0.16 and 6.88 +/- 0.95 microgram/mg, respectively; p < 0.01 in each case). In the glomerulonephritic rats, the increase in the contents of extracellular matrix proteins, especially type I collagen, correlated with increasing glomeruli with expansion of mesangial areas. The increase in type I collagen content correlated well with increasing urinary protein excretion and blood urea nitrogen and serum total cholesterol levels (r = 0.851, 0.812, and 0.837, respectively; p < 0.05 in each case). The decrease in creatinine clearance correlated with increasing content of type I collagen (r = 0.781; p < 0.05). The immunohistochemical micromethod may make it possible to evaluate the histopathological diagnosis of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis quantitatively.

Immunohistochemical microquantification of fast-myosin in frozen histological sections of mammalian skeletal muscles

Fast-myosin in frozen histological sections was quantified by an immunohistochemical micromethod based on the ELISA. Frozen tissue sections mounted on glass slides were used analogously to the antigen-precoated wells of ELISA plates. The intensity of immunoreactivity of frozen sections to an anti-fast-myosin monoclonal antibody was quantified directly from the color developed with the second antibody coupled with peroxidase using phenol-4-aminoantipyrine as a substrate. Fast-myosin levels in the masseter muscles of pigs, rats, and rabbits were 185 +/- 6, 223 +/- 9, and 178 +/- 12 mg/g of total protein, respectively, and those in the gastrocnemius muscles from cows, pigs, goats, rats, and rabbits were 172 +/- 12, 211 +/- 7, 177 +/- 9, 211 +/- 10, and 205 +/- 10 mg/g, respectively. In the masseter of cows and goats, fast-myosin was not detected. The results obtained by this immunohistochemical micromethod were in good agreement with those obtained by histomorphometrical and biochemical analyses. This immunohistochemical micromethod could be used to quantitatively evaluate the muscle contractile characteristics that determine meat quality.

[History of the syndromes of Yin (retention of body fluids) - the relationship between the syndromes of Yin in Chinese medicine and those of Yin in Buddhist medicine]

We traced the history of the term "yin" by means of Chinese medical books and classical Chinese Buddhist literature. As a result of our study, the following points became clear. The syndromes of yin described in the Shan han za bing lun are divided into two groups. Those of the first group are characterized by short retention of body fluids. The yu yin is representative of this group. On the other hand, those of the second group are distinguished by long retention of body fluids. The tan yin is typical of this group. It was deduced that the former group originated in Chinese traditional medicine because it is found in the Su wen and the Ling shu. The latter is supposedly derived from Buddhist medicine because it is similar to the syndromes of yin in Buddhist medicine.

Intracellular multiplication of Legionella pneumophila in Tetrahymena thermophila

It has been shown that Legionella pneumophila proliferates intracellularly in more than ten species of protozoa, but the fate of the bacteria in Tetrahymena thermophila has not been reported. We investigated the multiplication of L. pneumophila Philadelphia-1 strain in micronucleated T. thermophila, and the effects of temperature and numbers of the bacteria ingested by the protozoa after in vitro feeding were studied. T. thermophila preyed actively upon the bacteria. After being ingested, the fate of the bacteria was affected by both temperature and the number of bacteria ingested. When the number of ingested bacteria was 30 per protozoon, the bacteria proliferated intracellularly at 35 degrees C. The bacteria, however, could not proliferate at 28 degrees C or 32 degrees C though they survived in the protozoa. When the ingested bacteria was 10 per protozoon, the bacteria were killed in the protozoa at all of the temperatures tested. Electron microscopic examination revealed that the protozoa ingesting the bacteria remarkably swelled and that protozoan food vacuoles which contained L. pneumophila were studded with ribosomes.

Two acidic polysaccharides having reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity from the raw root of Rehmannia glutinosa

Two acidic polysaccharides, called rehmannan FS-I and rehmannan FS-II, were isolated from the raw root of Rehmannia glutinosa LIBOSCHITZ. They were homogeneous on electrophoresis and gel chromatography, and their molecular masses were estimated to be 5.8 x 10(4) and 6.6 x 10(4), respectively. Rehamannan FS-I is composed of L-arabinose: D-galactose: L-rhamnose: D-galacturonic acid: D-glucuronic acid in the molar ratio of 68:40:4:84:3; rehmannan FS-II is composed of L-arabinose: D-galactose: L-rhamnose: D-galacturonic acid in the molar ratio of 18:15:4:33, in addition to small amounts of O-acetyl groups. About two-thirds (rehmannan FS-I) and about one half (rehamannan FS-II) of the hexuronic acid residues exist as methyl esters. Methylation analysis of the carboxyl-reduced derivatives and nuclear magnetic resonance studies indicated that their structural features include mainly both arabino-3,6-galactan and rhamno-galacturonan type structural units. Both polysaccharides showed remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test.

[Application of the polyglycolic acid (PGA) pledgets or sheet for pulmonary fistulas and defects of the pleura]

A felt-like bioabsorbable prosthesis (Polyglycolic Acid (PGA) pledget and sheet; Medifit feft) was used for pulmonary fistula in a total of 10 patients. "Fibrin glue A" was absorbed into the PGA prosthesis previously. And next, the part of pulmonary fistula was coated with "Fibrin glue B", and then covered with the fibrin-absorbed PGA prosthesis. The prosthesis adhered to the diseased part of pulmonary pleura immediately, and therefore, in all these 10 patients, the post-operative air-leakage was stopped up to 4 days and neither side effect nor complication was observed.

Blood flow velocity in common carotid artery in humans during breath-holding and face immersion

Blood flow velocity was measured in the common carotid artery of humans during breath-holding (BH) in the supine and upright positions, and during breath-hold face immersion (FIBH) in cold (20 degrees C) and warm (35 degrees C) water in the upright position with 90 degrees flexion of the upper body, to test the influences of the body position, facial immersion and temperature on changes in cerebral blood flow. Simultaneously, the heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) under the same conditions, and the end-tidal PO2 and PCO2 (PETO2 and PETCO2) during supine BH, were also measured. Results showed that posture had no significant effect on the apneic HR. Bradycardia developed during cold FIBH, but not warm FIBH. The BP increased during BH in both positions, and during both cold and warm FIBH. The PETO2 decreased and the PETCO2 increased significantly at the end of BH. The blood velocity decreased transiently at the beginning of upright BH, but increased time-dependently during both supine and upright BH. Moreover, the velocity increased more during warm FIBH than during BH's, and even more during cold than warm FIBH. When bradycardia occurred during cold FIBH, the velocity integral per minute tended to decrease. These results suggest that the cerebral blood flow increases in these conditions of BH. This increase can be explained by the increase in PETCO2 and decrease in PETO2, possibly with a slight contribution from the increase in the BP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A morphometric study of spermatogenesis in the testes of mice of a senescence accelerated strain

The morphometric parameters of spermatogenic cells in a mouse strain prone to accelerated senescence (SAM-P), a novel murine model of spontaneously promoted aging, were compared with those of a SAM resistant strain (SAM-R) after birth until 40 weeks (mean life span of SAM-P). A mixture of gonocytes and spermatogonia were present in the testis in 1-week-old mice, and no gonocytes were observed in 2-week-old mice. At 6 weeks of age, the absolute number of spermatogonia in SAM-P was 27% greater than that in SAM-R, whereas the cell number in 40-week-old SAM-P was 17% less than in SAM-R. Primary spermatocytes were first observed in 3-week-old animals, and the cell numbers in SAM-P at 3, 5 and 6 weeks were 78%, 31% and 25%, respectively, greater than in SAM-R, whereas the cell number in SAM-P at 40 weeks was 30% less than SAM-R. Round spermatids were first observed in all SAM-P at 4 weeks old, but 20% of SAM-R had no spermatids and the rest had only a few. At 5 and 6 weeks old, the absolute numbers of round spermatids in SAM-P were 38% and 41%, respectively, greater than in SAM-R, whereas the cell number in 40-week-old SAM-P was about 34% less than SAM-R. These results indicate that testicular maturation begins at an earlier age in SAM-P than SAM-R. Furthermore, at the age of 40 weeks signs of testicular deterioration are evident in SAM-P mice only.

Comparative study of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

An important disease entity distinct from cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in Japan is adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), which shows almost the same phenotype as CTCL, ie, a helper/inducer T-cell phenotype (CD4-positive, CD8-negative), and usually involves the skin. This article describes differences between CTCL and ATL in terms of clinical and immunopathologic cell surface features. In patients with ATL, the predominant physical findings were lymph node, bone marrow and skin involvement, hepatosplenomegaly, leukemic manifestations, and an aggressive course. In patients with CTCL, in contrast, only skin lesions predominated at the onset of the disease and a relatively good prognosis was shown. The predominant phenotype of the neoplastic cells in the skin of patients with CTCL was CD3+, CD4+, CD29+, CD45RO+, HLA-DR+, HLA-DQ+, CD7-, L-selectin-, and CD45RA-. Some phenotypic discrepancy was found between the neoplastic cells in the peripheral blood, lymph nodes and skin of patients with ATL with respect to CD45RA and CD45RO, and CD7, CD29, CD25, and HLA-DR. That is, the predominant neoplastic cell phenotype was helper T-cell, which was CD3+, CD4+, L-selectin+, CD25+, CD45RA+, HLA-DR+, CD29-, and CD45RO- in peripheral blood, and CD3+, CD4+, L-selectin+, CD29+, CD45RO+, HLA-DR+, and CD45RA- in the skin and lymph nodes. Phenotypic heterogeneity of ATL cells and heterogeneity of CD45R isoform expression on ATL cells were evident in different organs. These findings confirm that the difference in antigen expression on the cell surface might reflect the clinical features of ATL and CTCL. CTCL cells do not share the same phenotype as ATL cells.

Soluble interleukin-6 receptors released from T cell or granulocyte/macrophage cell lines and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells are generated through an alternative splicing mechanism

To detect transcripts encoding the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) molecule lacking the transmembrane (TM) domain, in various cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), we used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primer pairs that flank the TM domain and which were selected to generate a 398-bp fragment. We detected 398-bp and 304-bp DNA molecules in the PCR products of the U1, J22HL60, MT-2, MT-4, U937 and HL60 cell lines and of PBMC isolated from several individuals. The sequencing analysis of both DNA molecules showed that a 94-bp region consisting of the TM domain of IL-6R was deleted in the 304-bp molecule. Moreover, we detected a soluble (s) IL-6R protein of 45 kDa in culture supernatants of the MT-2, MT-4 and U937 cell lines by radioimmunoprecipitation using specific antibodies against sIL-6R. Our results indicate that active deletion of the TM domain by alternative splicing of mRNA represents one mechanism for release of sIL-6R into the culture supernatants of cells, or into serum or urine.

Oral and maxillofacial reconstruction using the free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. Various modifications for reconstruction sites

The rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap consists of the skin paddle, anterior rectus sheath, rectus muscle and deep inferior epigastric artery and veins. Of these four components, the skin paddle, rectus sheath and rectus muscle could all be adjusted appropriately for reconstruction sites. Only one or two large perforators in the paraumbilical region could easily supply the large abdominal wall. The bulkiness of the rectus abdominis flap is reduced by removal of subcutaneous fat and rectus muscle. These possibilities can provide many modification of the flap for various reconstruction sites. 16 cases were reconstructed primarily and secondarily using this flap after oral and maxillofacial tumour ablation. The results of these cases indicated a very favourable and reliable vascularity. The rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap was considered to be one of the most suitable flaps for oral and maxillofacial reconstruction. Various modifications for different reconstruction sites are mainly discussed.

Structural features and anti-complementary activity of rehmannan SA, a polysaccharide from the root of Rehmannia glutinosa

The structural features of rehmannan SA, a polysaccharide with remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity obtained from the root of Rehmannia glutinosa, were investigated by methylation analysis and periodate oxidation. Rehmannan SA is mainly made up of arabino-3,6-galactan type structural units. Both rehmannan SA and rehmannan SB showed pronounced anti-complementary activity.

Flow velocity in carotid artery in humans during immersions and underwater swimming

Heart rate and flow velocity in the common carotid artery were examined on eight subjects in various underwater conditions. The heart rate decreased more markedly during whole-body immersion than during head-out immersion. The end-diastolic flow velocity and the flow-velocity integral in a cardiac cycle during whole-body immersion increased more markedly than during head-out immersion. Differences in heart rate and flow velocity were not detected between sitting and prone positions in whole-body immersion. Heart rate increased at the beginning and after underwater swimming. The peak systolic flow velocity increased significantly after the end of underwater swimming. The flow-velocity integral in a cardiac cycle decreased during underwater swimming, but in a minute did not change significantly. These results suggest that facial immersion is important in eliciting pronounced carotid artery flow-velocity response in addition to the heart-rate response and that underwater exercise influences these responses. However, underwater posture apparently does not influence them.

The effect of betamethasone on myocardial viability during cold cardioplegia in canine donor heart preservation

This study examined the effect of betamethasone on myocardial viability of reperfused isolated canine hearts following a 6-h hypothermic cardioplegia. The dogs were divided into two groups: group I (n = 9) received nondepolarizing cardioplegia containing betamethasone 250 mg/l while group II (n = 7) was administered cardioplegia without betamethasone. The myocardial concentrations of calcium, ATP, ADP, total adenine nucleotide, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were identical in the two groups throughout the experiment. The coronary sinus plasma concentrations of MB fraction of creatine kinase (MB-CK), cAMP and cGMP after 2h of reperfusion were significantly lower in group I than in group II. The myocardial mitochondrial ultrastructure, as assessed by semiquantitative morphometry, was found to be significantly better preserved in group I than in group II at the end of both preservation and reperfusion. In addition, the left ventricular end-systolic pressure volume relation (ESPVR) showed a higher slope and lower intercept in group I than in group II. These results suggest that the addition of betamethasone to nondepolarizing cold cardioplegia enhances myocardial protection via membrane stabilization without affecting the adenine nucleotide metabolism.