[Development of Wernicke's encephalopathy during the period of oral food intake after a subtotal colectomy for ulcerative colitis]

A 61-year-old woman was hospitalized because of ulcerative colitis which had caused fever, vomiting and diarrhea since June 16, 1992. Then she developed toxic megacolon, and was transferred to our hospital on the 1st of July and underwent subtotal colectomy the same day. After surgery, she received intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) which contained 1,000 Kcal/day without vitamin supplementation. From the 8th to the 13th post-operative days, she took 3/4 or more of the liquid diet which contained 1,050 Kcal, protein 35 g, carbohydrate 166 g and vitamin B1 0.59 mg per day. From the 14th to the 23rd post-operative days, she ate 4/5 or more of the oral diet which contained 1,700 Kcal/day, protein 68 g, carbohydrate 236 g and vitamin B1 0.93 mg per day. During the 7th to the 23rd day, the IVH was reduced to 800 Kcal and then 500 Kcal per day. She talked less on the 19th post-operative day, and in a few days, her level of consciousness began to decline progressively. On the 27th post-operative day, neurological examinations revealed the following: semi-coma, almost fixed pupils which were 3 mm in diameter, absent doll's eye movement to all directions, flaccid extremities with abolished deep tendon reflexes. Pertinent abnormalities on laboratory data at that time consisted of hemoglobin 7.8 g/dl and serum total protein 5.4 g/dl. Lumbar puncture revealed normal cerebrospinal fluid under normal opening pressure. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) taken on the 27th post-operative day demonstrated, on T2-weighted images, symmetrical high intensity lesions in the periventricular areas of the third and fourth ventricles, and periaqueductal area of the midbrain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Susceptibility of human T-lymphotropic virus type I infected cell line MT-2 to hepatitis C virus infection

To obtain a hepatitis C virus (HCV) proliferation system, we examined the susceptibility of various cultured cell lines to HCV infection. We found that a human T-lymphotropic virus type I infected cell line MT-2 was fairly sensitive to HCV infection. Using the polymerase chain reaction, intracellular positive-stranded HCV RNA was detected until at least 15 days postinoculation (p.i.). Intracellular negative-stranded HCV RNA was also detected at 10 days p.i., although not at 7 days p.i., suggesting that HCV is replicating in MT-2 cells 10 days p.i. Sequence analysis of hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) revealed that HVR1 sequences from cells 10 days p.i. had become homogeneous, although HVR1 sequences from the inoculum showed the typical quasi-species. We also found a lack of anti-HVR1 antibody against the HVR1 species which became homogeneous at 10 days p.i., although we easily detected antibody against the other HVR1 species obtained from the inoculum. These findings suggest that MT-2 cells are susceptible to HCV infection and are capable of supporting HCV replication.

Degeneration of the intrahippocampal routes of the perforant and alvear pathways in senile dementia of Alzheimer type

In five autopsied brains with senile dementia of Alzheimer type, the intrahippocampal routes of the perforant and alvear pathways were demonstrated by assessment of the distribution of isomorphic gliosis. Our results suggest that the perforant pathway goes along the stratum lacunosum-moleculare of the hippocampus proper to end in the dentate gyrus after perforating the prosubiculum but does not traverse the hippocampal sulcus, and that the alvear pathway enters into the stratum oriens of the hippocampus proper and the alveus from the white matter ventral to the subiculum.

Experimental dental caries on gnotobiotic inbred mice

The purpose of this study in mono-infected gnotobiotic BALB/cA and C3H/HeN mice was to evaluate the cariogenicity of Enterococcus faecalis. The caries incidence and mean caries score in the BALB/cA mice were significantly higher than those in the C3H/HeN. In both of the mouse strains, the mean number of E. faecalis isolated from the cecum content was almost the same, however, the mean number of E. faecalis from the maxilla of BALB/cA was significantly higher than that of C3H/HeN. These results indicate that C3H/HeN has some factors that prevent E. faecalis from attaching to the tooth surfaces.

Inhibition of viral multiplication in acute and chronic stages of infection by ribozymes targeted against the polymerase gene of mouse hepatitis virus

Two hammerhead ribozymes targeted against the polymerase gene of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), which consisted of 22-nucleotide (nt) ribozyme core sequences and antisense sequences of different lengths, 243-nt (S-ribozyme) and 926-nt (L-ribozyme), were tested for their++ inhibitory effects on viral multiplication. Vectors that expressed the ribozymes were transfected into mouse DBT cells and several resulting cell lines constitutively expressing the ribozymes were selected and examined for intracellular MHV multiplication in acute and chronic stages of infection. The production of infectious progeny viral particles was significantly reduced in the transfected cell lines expressing either the S-ribozyme or L-ribozyme in acute infection. Although the in vitro cleavage process of the L-ribozyme was slower than that of the S-ribozyme, no difference was observed in inhibitory effects on MHV multiplication between S- and L-ribozymes in the transfected cells. In the transfected cells expressing L-ribozymes, production of viral particles was also inhibited in the chronic stage of MHV infection.

Styrene-induced hepatotoxicity in mice depleted of glutathione

In mice depleted of glutathione (GSH) by pretreatment with an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; 1 hr before styrene, 2 mmol/kg or higher doses, ip), styrene (0.96-5.76 mmol/kg, po) produced hepatotoxicity characterized by an increase in serum alanine transaminase activity and cetrilobular necrosis of hepatocytes. Treatment with inhibitors of hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases such as carbon disulfide, methoxsalen, piperonyl butoxide, and SKF-525A prevented or tended to reduce the hepatotoxic effect of styrene given in combination with BSO. Styrene 7,8-oxide (3.84 mmol/kg, po), a known metabolite of styrene, in combination with BSO caused an earlier and larger increase in SALT than that caused by an equimolar dose of styrene in combination with BSO. These results suggest that metabolism of styrene, possibly to styrene 7,8-oxide, is a necessary step in styrene-induced hepatotoxicity in GSH-depleted mice. Before the onset of hepatotoxicity, styrene in combination with BSO produced a larger and more prolonged depletion of hepatic GSH than that seen after the sole treatment with BSO or prolonged depletion of hepatic GSH than that seen after the sole treatment with BSO or styrene, but no depletion of hepatic protein sulfhydryls was induced by styrene in combination with BSO.

p-Dichlorobenzene-induced hepatotoxicity in mice depleted of glutathione by treatment with buthionine sulfoximine

p-Dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) is widely used as a moth repellent and a space deodorant. In mice pretreated with DL-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; 2 mmol/kg or higher doses, i.p.), an inhibitor of glutathione (GSH) synthesis, administration of p-DCB (100-400 mg/kg, p.o.) resulted in dose-dependent hepatotoxicity as judged by increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and liver calcium concentrations and by histological examination of the liver, p-DCB alone (up to 1200 mg/kg) resulted in no hepatotoxicity. Administration of GSH monoethyl ester, which is known as a useful means for increasing organ GSH levels, protected against the hepatotoxicity caused by p-DCB in combination with BSO. Treatment with inhibitors of hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases, carbon disulfide, metyrapone and piperonyl butoxide also prevented the hepatotoxicity. These results suggest that p-DCB is activated by a cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolic reaction and that the hepatotoxicity is caused by inadequate rates of detoxification of the resulting metabolite in mice depleted of hepatic GSH by BSO treatment. The liver injury was preceded by an extensive depletion of hepatic GSH but not accompanied by significant changes in hepatic contents of lipid peroxides and protein thiols.

Application of DNA fingerprinting in the Hokkaido brown bear (Ursus arctos yesoensis)

DNA fingerprinting employing a minisatellite Myo probe was used for individual identification and paternity determination in Hokkaido brown bears (Ursus arctos yesoensis). We used two restriction enzymes, HinfI and HaeIII to make DNA fingerprints. Band patterns obtained from randomly selected bears were compared with each other, and the probability x that fragment in an individual was also present in the other was 0.69 for HinfI and 0.83 for HaeIII. The value for HinfI (0.69) was similar to that obtained from other species, such as dog and domestic animals, and the mean probability of all fragments was calculated to be 2.5 x 10(-2). The results suggest that DNA fingerprinting applying the combination of HinfI and Myo is available for individual identification. On the other hand, the ability to determine paternity seemed to be insufficient owing to the lack of paternal fragments, although the band patterns reflected the correct relationships between child and father.

In vivo and in vitro transcription of small mRNAs containing a leader sequence from mouse hepatitis virus strain JHM

Two additional small RNAs, named mRNA8 and 9, are transcribed from mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) in virus-infected mouse DBT cells. This report shows that the small mRNAs (mRNA8 and 9) were observed at 3 hr post infection (p.i.) in DBT cells infected with the JHM strain of MHV. This result suggested that products from mRNA8 and 9 may play a role in the early stage of the viral replication cycle in the infected DBT cells. The mRNA8 is initiated from a perfectly conserved intergenic site, but mRNA9 is from an imperfectly conserved intergenic sequence. Since mRNA8 and 9 were found in the liver and brain of an infected mouse, it was suggested that the imperfect intergenic sequence of MHV may serve as an initiation site for leader-primed transcription in vivo.

Inhibition of viral multiplication by hammerhead ribozymes targeted against the polymerase gene of mouse hepatitis virus

We designed and constructed two hammerhead ribozymes targeted against the polymerase gene of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). They consisted of a 22-nucleotide (nt) ribozyme core sequence and antisense sequences of different lengths, 243-nt (S-ribozyme) and 926-nt (L-ribozyme). In cell-free reactions, the constructed ribozymes cleaved the target RNA at a specific site. Vectors that directed the expression of ribozymes by a promoter of human elongation factor 1 alpha were introduced into DBT cells, and the resulting several cell lines constitutively expressing the ribozymes were selected by Northern blot analysis and examined for intracellular multiplication of MHV. The production of infectious progeny virus particles was significantly reduced in the transfected cell lines expressing either S-ribozyme or L-ribozyme. Although the in vitro cleavage process of L-ribozyme was slower than that of S-ribozyme, no difference was observed in inhibitory effects on MHV multiplication between S- and L-ribozymes in the transfected cells.

A high alpha-linolenate diet suppresses antigen-induced immunoglobulin E response and anaphylactic shock in mice

Mice were fed for 2 mo diets having ratios of alpha-linolenate [18:3 (n-3)] to linoleate [18:2(n-6)] of < 0.01, 0.36, 1.0 and 3.9. Proportions of safflower seed oil and perilla seed oil were adjusted to obtain these ratios. The dietary alpha-linolenate to linoleate balance was reflected in the proportion of (n-3) and (n-6) highly unsaturated fatty acids with 20- and 22-carbon chains in spleen phospholipids, but the ratio did not affect the proportion of T lymphocyte subsets expressing CD4 and CD8 antigens in splenic leukocytes. The immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM responses against sheep red blood cells when estimated as plaque-forming cells present in spleen, were not affected significantly by the diets. However, the serum hemagglutinin titer was slightly but significantly higher in the high alpha-linolenate diet group [18:3(n-3)/18:2(n-6) = 3.9] than in the dietary group with 18:3(n-3) to 18:2(n-6) ratios of 0.36 and < 0.01. In contrast, the IgE antibody response against egg albumin, as well as the mortality from anaphylactic shock induced by a second challenge with antigen, was significantly lower in the high alpha-linolenate diet group [18:3(n-3)/18:2(n-6) = 3.9] than in the high linoleate diet [18:3(n-3)/18:2(n-6) < 0.01] group. These results, together with the reported suppressive effects of a high alpha-linolenate diet on the formation of lipid-derived allergic mediators, support the hypothesis that raising the (n-3) to (n-6) ratios of diets would be effective in reducing the severity of immediate-type allergic hypersensitivity.

[Evaluation of peritoneal lavage smears and gastric wall brushing smears in gastric cancer surgery]

We investigated the utility of intraoperative peritoneal lavage smears and gastric wall brushing smears for diagnosis of peritoneal dissemination and serosal involvement during gastric cancer surgery. One hundred fifty-three patients with gastric cancer were examined; 138 who underwent gastric resection and 15 who did not. The incidence of cancer cell positivity determined by these methods was 8.0% in resected cases, and 80.0% in unresected cases. According to macroscopic serosal invasion, the incidence of positive cytology was 0% for S0, 15.4% for S1, 13.0% for S2, and 38.7% for S3. According to microscopic wall invasion, the incidence of positivity was 0% for m and sm, 6.3% for mp, 0% for ss, and 22.2% for se and si. In terms of macroscopic peritoneal dissemination, the incidence of positivity was 2.6% for P0, 28.6% for P1, 42.9% for P2, and 90.0% for P3. These results suggest that peritoneal lavage smears and gastric wall brushing smears are useful for predicting the spread of peritoneal dissemination. Thus, further study of intraoperative fast-smear cytology seems warranted.

Formation of toxic metabolites from thiabendazole and other thiazoles in mice. Identification of thioamides as ring cleavage products

The metabolism of three nephro- or hepatotoxic thiazoles--2-(thiazol-4-yl)benzimidazole (thiabendazole) (1a), 4-tert-butyl-2-methyl-thiazole (1b), and 2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4-methylthiazole (1c)--was examined in mice with special regard to the formation of ring cleavage products. By GC/MS analyses of derivatized metabolites and comparison with authentic samples, thioformamide and benzimidazol-2-ylglyoxal as the accompanying fragment were identified as urinary metabolites in mice dosed with 1a. Similarly, 1b produced thioacetamide and tert-butylglyoxal, and 1c produced p-methoxy-thiobenzamide (and its S-oxide) and methylglyoxal. These results could be explained by the postulated metabolic pathways where thiazoles would undergo microsomal epoxidation of the C = C double bond and, after being hydrolyzed, the resulting epoxide would then be decomposed to form the corresponding thioamides and alpha-dicarbonyl fragments.

[Treatment for peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer by intraperitoneal administration of CDDP through Infuse-a-Port]

This report describes the effect of intraperitoneal administration of CDDP for the treatment of peritoneal dissemination (P) in 20 patients with gastric cancer. Eight patients after palliative resection, 4 after non-resection and 8 with recurrent cancer were given 25 mg of CDDP through a reservoir (Infuse-A-Port) implanted in the abdominal wall once a week. Simultaneously, 400 mg/body/day of UFT and 2 mg/body/week of Lentinan were administered. Twelve of the patients died of disease at 6-19 months (median 7 months), but 8 have survived 3 to 15 months (median 6 months). Complete and partial responses were obtained in 7 of the 8 patients with recurrence (88%) for malignant ascites. No patient showed any toxicity from treatment. All patients receive the treatment in the outpatient clinic after discharge, and 17 patients have shown a long hospital-free survival.

The presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and its antibody in the sera of cachexic patients with gastrointestinal cancer

Although cancer cachexia has been shown to involve several cytokines, the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) has rarely been detected in such patients. In this study, sera from 21 patients with cancer cachexia were examined for the presence of TNF and the anti-TNF antibody using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting, respectively. All of the patients had recurrent cancer and manifested the characteristics of progressive body weight loss. TNF was found in the sera of four patients (20%) at levels ranging from 10.4 to 53.1 pg/ml, while a positive reaction for the anti-TNF antibody was detected in the sera from six patients (30%), two of whom showed both TNF and its antibody. Thus, either TNF or the anti-TNF antibody was present in the sera from 8 of 21 patients (40%). The results of this study indicate that TNF may be present in the circulation of at least 40% of cachexic patients, and suggest that it may be one of the main mediators of cancer-associated cachexia.

The inhibitory effects of MgSO4 on the multiplication and transcription of mouse hepatitis virus

The multiplication of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) was inhibited by the treatment of infected cells with MgSO4 at concentrations higher than 50 mM. The inhibition of viral multiplication was more effective with the treatment of cells at the early stage of infection using MgSO4 than at the late stage. Viral adsorption to the cells was not inhibited by MgSO4 and pretreatment of the cells with MgSO4 did not show an inhibitory effect on the RNA synthesis of MHV. The synthesis of viral RNA was inhibited more effectively by the treatment of infected cells with MgSO4 at 0-2 and 2-4 h postinfection (p.i.) than at 4-6 h p.i. The present study suggests that the stage at which viral multiplication is susceptible to MgSO4 may be the early stage of viral transcription and that Mg2+ may be a useful tool for the analysis of the early stage of MHV infection.

A factor protecting mammalian [75Se]SeCys-tRNA is different from EF-1 alpha

In Escherichia coli, an elongation factor (EF-Tu-like) specific to SeCys-tRNA, SELB, has been identified; however, a mammalian counterpart of SELB has not been reported to date. We searched for and found this factor in bovine liver extracts using the assay of [75Se]SeCys-tRNA protecting activity against alkaline hydrolysis (SePF activity). We found SePF activity in the protein extracts of the precipitate (microsomal fraction) collected at 150,000 x g from bovine liver. The proteins were separated by Sephacryl S-300 chromatography, and the SePF and EF-1 alpha activities were found in the same fraction, indicating that SePF and EF-1 alpha have the same molecular mass (approximately 50 kDa). We then chromatographed this active fraction using CM-Sephadex C-25 columns. The SePF activity was eluted after the peak of EF-1 alpha activity. This result indicated that this SePF activity was not dependent on EF-1 alpha. In addition to performing these two chromatographies, we investigated pure EF-1 alpha from Bombyx mori but could not detect any SePF activity in B. mori EF-1 alpha. Thus we showed that the SePF activity in bovine liver differs from that of EF-1 alpha in eukaryotes. Therefore the factor protecting [75Se]SeCys-tRNA in bovine liver is not EF-1 alpha and must be a SELB-like factor.

[Adult-onset dementia with abundant neurofibrillary tangles resembling progressive supranuclear palsy]

We described an autopsy case of 79-year-old woman with clinically unclassified senile dementia. The patient developed forgetfulness at the age of 73, and later, persecution mania, apathy and episodic stupor, but no extrapyramidal symptoms. Neuropathological examination revealed severe neuronal loss and gliosis of substantia nigra, moderate neuronal loss and marked grumose degeneration of dentate nucleus, and mild astrocytosis of subthalamic nucleus. Abundant neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) were observed in subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, locus ceruleus, tegmentum of brain stem, pontine nucleus, inferior olive, and dentate nucleus. Gallyas silver impregnation method showed a wide distribution of argyrophilic grains and threads in cerebrum, brain stem and cerebellum. Although absence of clinical and neuropathological hallmarks excluded the diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), the distribution of NFT and argyrophilic grains in this patient resembled PSP.

[Morphometric study of age-related changes of the spinal cord]

The relation of aging to the length of the spinal cord and to the cross-sectional area at the levels of C6 and L3 of the spinal cord was studied in 140 autopsy cases who between the age of 47 to 105 without spinal cord lesions. In addition the effect of being bed-ridden on the spinal cord was studied in 11 of 140 cases. As pathological controls, we referred to 40 autopsy cases with compression change of the cervical cord. The length of the spinal cord had no correlation with aging but had a significant positive correlation with the height of the subject. A significant decrease in the cross-sectional area of the spinal cord was observed after the age of 80, in particular at C6. However, the extent of the decrease was not as serious as that of pathological control cases. Decrease of cross-sectional area was associated with that of white matter area. In addition, effect of being bed-ridden on the spinal cord was reflected in a significant decrease of the grey matter of the lumbar cord.

Identification of estrogen receptor in human adipose tissue and adipocytes

Estrogen has various effects on adipose tissue. Although the presence of estrogen receptor (ER) has been demonstrated in rat adipose tissue and adipocytes, ER has not been identified in human adipose tissue. In this study, we demonstrated the existence of ER protein and ER messenger RNA (mRNA) in human sc adipose tissue and adipocytes. The cytosol fraction of human adipose tissue was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, and the presence of ER protein was analyzed by [3H]estradiol (E2) binding assay and Western blot analysis. [3H]E2 binding assay showed a low specific binding due to high nonspecific binding, and the dissociation constant (Kd) and maximal binding sites could not be obtained by Scatchard analysis. Western blots, however, showed the presence of ER protein in both the partially purified cytosol and nuclear fractions of human adipose tissue. The mol wt of ER in both fractions was approximately 66,000. Furthermore, Northern blot analysis of total RNA samples isolated from human adipose tissue showed the expression of ER mRNA at 6.2 kilobase in size. ER mRNA was also identified in isolated human adipocytes by the reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. These results indicated that both ER protein and ER mRNA are expressed in human adipocytes, suggesting that the effect of estrogen on human adipose tissues might involve a direct action.

Amyloid beta precursor protein and ubiquitin epitopes in human and experimental dystrophic axons. Ultrastructural localization

Dystrophic axons (DA) represent a major pathological feature of several neurodegenerative disorders, including infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD) and Alzheimer disease. We have previously presented evidence that amyloid beta precursor protein (BPP) and ubiquitin (Ub) are present in DA of different origin. We have now characterized the immunoreactivity of DA experimentally induced in rat by the administration of parabromophenylacetylurea (BPAU) and examined the subcellular localization of Ub and BPP in BPAU-induced DA and in DA present in subjects affected by INAD. BPAU-induced DA strongly immunoreacted with antisera to Ub and to COOH- and NH2-terminal regions of BPP. Immunoblots of DA-enriched brain regions were consistent with an increase in the amount of Ub and BPP in DA. Moreover, BPAU-induced DA immunoreacted with antibodies to PGP 9.5, a neuronal-specific Ub COOH-terminal hydrolase, and to the inducible heat shock protein 70. Antigenic characterization also indicated that the tubulovesicular membranes within DA derived largely from the smooth endoplasmic reticulum rather than from the Golgi system or the synaptic vesicles. Subcellular immunolocalization of Ub and BPP in both INAD- and BPAU-induced DA revealed that Ub and BPP colocalize in granulovesicular material in both conditions. In INAD DA intense Ub immunoreactivity was also detected in nonmembranous electron dense structures that were present only in these DA, probably because of the chronic course of INAD. Although BPP immunostaining may be related to accumulation of BPP-containing membranes in DA, Ub immunostaining is likely to result from activation of the Ub system by the neuron in the attempt to remove excessive and possibly abnormal proteins. A similar pathogenesis can be postulated for DA of Alzheimer disease.

[Two cases of trochlear nerve neurinoma]

Two cases of trochlear nerve neurinoma without Recklinghausen's disease are described. A 60-year-old male had a left-side sensory disturbance and a hemiparesis. Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed a cystic enhancing mass in the right tentorial incisura. A 57-year-old male had a gait disturbance and a left-side facial numbness. CT scan and MRI showed a solitary enhancing mass in the right tentorial incisura. These tumors were subtotally removed, and the intraoperative diagnosis of two patients was trochlear nerve neurinoma. Unique clinical manifestations of trochlear nerve neurinoma are discussed with a brief review of 11 cases reported in the literature.