Enhancement of cardiac performance of isolated working guinea pig heart by rabbit platelet and involvement of histamine

Alterations of cardiac performance by washed rabbit platelets were investigated in isolated working guinea pig hearts. Enhanced cardiac functions emerged about 5 s after intracardiac injection of platelet suspension (6 x 10(8)-10 x 10(8) cells.ml-1). The LVP, +dP/dtmax, -dP/dtmax, and HR were increased by 30%, 73%, 46%, and 13% (P < 0.05 or 0.01), respectively, and recovered about 10 min later. In the range of 1 x 10(8)-70 x 10(8) cells.ml-1, platelet suspension strengthened the cardiac performance in a concentration-dependent manner. The supernatant demonstrated positive inotropic and chronotropic effects as well, quite similar to those of the suspension. Cimetidine (Cim, 1 mumol.L-1) reduced the cardiotonic effect of the platelet. Mast cell of the isolated guinea pig heart was proven to be in activated state upon 10(9) cells.ml-1 platelet challenge by electron microscopy. Histamine content in platelet suspension measured by HPLC was shown to be 2.6 +/- s 0.7 microgram per 10(9) platelets. It is concluded that histamine, released from platelets and cardiac mast cells, was a key factor in the cardiac alterations.

Mechanical gastritis as cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Mechanical gastritis is confirmed as one of the causes of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, which is created directly by retching and vomiting in a patient with an esophageal hiatal hernia. Five cases of mechanical gastritis are reported in this paper. The clinical presentation of mechanical gastritis and the Mallory-Weiss syndrome may mimic each other. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed the gastric mucosa to be propelled into the esophagus during nausea. This mucosa showed erosions and superficial ulcerations. The mucosa appeared 'congested' at and just below the cardia. It is suggested that the friction and compression of the gastric mucosa prolapsing through a constriction ring of the diaphragm into the hiatal hernia during retching and vomiting may cause mechanical trauma to the gastric mucosa, resulting in gastritis, erosions, and hemorrhage.

The effect of copper ion on arachidonic acid metabolism in the porcine corneal epithelium

The effect of copper ion on arachidonic acid metabolism in the corneal epithelium was studied. Our results showed that when 3H-arachidonic acid (1 microCi/microgram) was incubated with homogenate of corneal epithelium at 37 degrees C for 45 min., three metabolites were formed. Metabolite A, the major metabolite, was identified as 12-HETE by HPLC and GC. An analysis with chiral phase HPLC revealed that metabolite A was a (R)-enantiomer. The production of 12(R)-HETE was stimulated by low concentrations of CuCl2 (< 0.1 mM) and inhibited by higher concentrations of CuCl2. Study on the biological activity of 12(R)-HETE showed that it could stimulate migration of endothelial cells in a concentration as low as 10 ng/ml. These results suggest that one of the effects of copper ion on the corneal neovascularization may be to regulate the level of 12(R)-HETE.

Nuclear proteins of the bovine esophageal epithelium. II. The NuMA gene gives rise to multiple mRNAs and gene products reactive with monoclonal antibody W1

Treatment of small cells derived from the basal layer of bovine esophageal epithelium, with Triton X-100, urea and sonication resulted in a nuclear residue that was used as an immunogen for generation of monoclonal antibodies directed against nuclear components. One such antibody, designated W1, was found to label the nuclei of all cells examined. In interphase cells, the target antigen of antibody W1 was diffusely distributed in the nucleus. During metaphase, however, the W1 antigen formed prominent crescents at the poles of the mitotic spindle, diminished gradually in anaphase, and finally redistributed into the regenerating daughter nuclei. Western blotting with antibody W1 yielded a prominent polypeptide of M(r) approximately 230,000. The amino acid sequence, deduced from the nucleotide sequence of several overlapping cDNA clones that span the entire coding region, revealed that the W1 polypeptide was identical to the Nuclear Mitotic Apparatus (NuMA) protein, with a long alpha-helical central core flanked by two nonhelical domains. Interestingly, most cDNA sequences were identical to each other, except for six sequence blocks which were either inserted or deleted in individual cDNA clones. Analysis of the cDNA sequences of various clones, coupled with polymerase chain reaction amplification of cellular mRNA and genomic Southern blotting with region-specific probes, all indicated that multiple mRNA species were present in U-251 human glioma cells, derived from alternative splicing of the RNA transcript from a single NuMA/W1 gene. Besides the predominant form of the mRNA giving rise to the polypeptide of M(r) approximately 230,000, two other forms of mRNA, which arise as a result of alternative splicing and which use different translation termination codons, may yield lower molecular weight polypeptide products. Consistent with this notion, polypeptides of M(r) approximately 195,000 and approximately 194,000 have been observed in this and other studies on the NuMA/W1 protein. These data suggest that multiple isoforms of the NuMA polypeptides generated by alternative mRNA splicing may play some important functions which remain to be characterized.

Inhibition of human monocyte TNF production by adenosine receptor agonists

Adenosine receptor agonists and agents enhancing pericellular concentrations of adenosine possess antiinflammatory properties. In the present study, we found that R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), 5'-N-ethylcarboxamido adenosine (NECA), other agonists of adenosine receptors and dipyridamole, an adenosine uptake inhibitor, inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by endotoxin-stimulated human monocytes in a concentration-dependent manner with no inhibition of interleukin-6. The rank order of agonist potency is characteristic of neither A1 nor A2 receptors and suggests the involvement of another receptor subtype. The effect of R-PIA on TNF was in part abolished by the antagonist 8-sulfophenyltheophylline. In endotoxin-treated rats, R-PIA pretreatment (2.5 mg/kg) reduced serum TNF levels by 98%, with no modification of serum IL6 levels. TNF inhibition could be an important mechanism by which adenosine analogs exert their antiinflammatory action.

[Intrahepatic biliary gland proliferation its relation to acute and chronic cholangitis in hepatolithiasis]

Hepatolithiasis was studied histochemically and immunohistochemically in 100 cases. The results showed that there were numerous proliferated glandular structures with in intrahepatic bile duct wall verified by consecutive sections and mucus staining and tiny abscesses in the vicinity of biliary glands in the course of acute cholangitis. It is suggested that biliary infection may occur both intramurally and extramurally. When cholangitis subsided, we observed profound lymphocytes infiltration within the glandular structures. It was concluded that biliary glands not only served as a dominant channel for the spread of acute cholangitis but also had close relation to the persistence and recurrence of cholangitis.

The complete primary structure of abrin-a B chain

The complete 267 amino acid sequence of abrin-a B chain was determined by analysis of peptides obtained by digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin, lysyl endopeptidase, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and thermolysin. The sequence is not identical with that predicted previously by nucleotide sequencing, indicating the presence of isoforms of abrin. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of abrin-a B chain with that of ricin-D B chain reveals a high degree of sequence identity (59%). Abrin-a B chain appears to consist of two domains, each domain with subdomains (alpha, beta, gamma) of about 40 amino acid residues.

Successful treatment of a malignant rat glioma with cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Brain tumors are highly resistant to therapy. Their diffuse infiltrative nature and the relative inaccessibility of brain tissue to blood and lymph are barriers to surgical and cytotoxic treatments alike. The purpose of this study was to produce immune cells specifically reactive with an anaplastic rat glioma (RT2) and determine whether those cells could affect tumor progression in the brain. RT2-specific cytotoxic cells were prepared by priming rats in vivo with RT2 tumor cells and Corynebacterium parvum and stimulating the primed lymphocytes in vitro with irradiated RT2 tumor cells and interleukin-2 (IL-2). Cultured cells exhibited a high level of cytotoxicity against RT2, but not C6 (an allogeneic glioma), 3M2N (a syngeneic mammary tumor), or CSE (a syngeneic fibrosarcoma) tumor cells. To generate a model for therapy, rats were injected intracerebrally with RT2, generating progressing brain tumors, which killed untreated rats in approximately 2 weeks. To test the therapeutic potential of the effector cells, tumor-bearing rats were treated by intravenous injection of lymphocytes on Day 5 of tumor growth. Treated rats also received a 5-day course of systemic IL-2 beginning on Day 5. Treatment with IL-2 alone, RT2-primed spleen cells, or RT2-primed spleen cells stimulated in vitro with C6 did not affect rat survival. However, tumor-bearing rats treated with RT2-stimulated lymphocytes exhibited increased survival or were cured. Systemic IL-2 was an essential adjunct, because survival was not affected by treatment with effector cells alone. Therapy initiated on Day 8 of tumor progression lacked effect on survival.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of interleukin-6 on cytochrome P450-dependent mixed-function oxidases in the rat

Intravenous treatment of male rats with recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhIL6) at 50, 100 and 200 micrograms/kg (corresponding to 4, 8 and 16 x 10(4) U/animal, respectively) reduced the activities of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450-dependent monoxygenases to varying degrees. Ethylmorphine-N-demethylase activity fell to 53% of control values, an effect similar to that induced by 2.5 mg/kg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity was also sensitive to inhibition, whereas IL6 had little effect on the activities of other P450-dependent enzymes, including ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase. Pentoxyresorufin dealkylase activity, which is representative of the cytochrome P450 IIB 1/2 subfamily, was unaffected by IL6 whereas LPS reduced it to 33.7% of control values. Another hepatocyte-related parameter, serum concentration of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), was increased by up to 3.5-fold over baseline by IL6 and 10-fold by LPS. Recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rhIL1 beta) (10 micrograms/kg, corresponding to 5 x 10(4) U/rat) and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (rhTNF) (150 micrograms/kg corresponding to 24 x 10(4) U/rat) were both as potent as LPS (2.5 mg/kg) in increasing serum AGP levels and reducing hepatic microsomal monoxygenase activities. IL6 did not potentiate the effects of rhIL1 beta. Hepatic microsomal glucuronyltransferase activities were little affected by LPS and unaffected by rhIL6. Finally, rhIL6 was more potent after i.p. injection than after i.v. or s.c. injection. These results suggest that the effects of LPS, TNF and IL1 on the mixed-function oxidase system in vivo may be due partly to an induction of IL6 in vivo. The different sensitivities of the enzymes to IL6 but not to IL1 or TNF may be due to the involvement of two distinct mechanisms.

Syntheses, resolution, and structure-activity relationships of potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: 8-carbaphysostigmine analogues

The synthesis of a series of 1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydroindeno[2,1-b]pyrrole 5-alkylcarbamates and their resolution are reported. These compounds are structurally related to physostigmine with substitution of a methylene group in place of the NMe group at position 8 of physostigmine. Many of these 8-carbaphysostigmine analogues are more potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in vitro and less toxic in vivo than physostigmine. The (-)-enantiomer (e.g., 1d and 1g) possessing the same absolute configuration at C3a and C8a as that of physostigmine, is about 6 to 12-fold more potent at inhibiting acetylcholinesterase than the corresponding (+)-enantiomer (e.g., 1e and 1h).

[Effects of collagen and glucan on the healing of burn wounds in mice]

The covering of the wound is one of the important measures in the burn treatment as well as in the control of infection and hypermetabolism. Skin transplantation is the major measure in covering the wound of III degree after escharotomy, while control of the infection was of primary importance in the treatment of II degree burn. Recent studies indicate that collagen provides good frame for extension of epidermis in wound healing, and glucan, an immunoregulator, promotes wound healing by the way of activating macrophages. In the present study, the effects of normal saline, 0.5% III type collagen and 5% glucan (0.4 ml/day for 10 days respectively) on the wound healing rate (healing area/initial wound area) was evaluated in the mice with 7% II degree burn. Biopsy specimens of the wound were examined under the microscope. Results showed that the healing rate with collagen and glucan was increased in the early stage of burn as compared with that of the saline control (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.01). The healing rate was even higher in the glucan group than that in the collagen group (P less than 0.05). Microscopic examination showed that the wound was covered by epidermis, proliferation of fibrous tissue under the epidermis, transformation of fibroblast to fibrocyte and collagenization in the early stage of burn in mice treated with collagen. The healing of the glucan group was also satisfactory, and it was characterized by more macrophages and active phagocytosis of hemosiderin. The above findings suggest that collagen and glucan can promote wound healing by different ways.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of copper ion on collagenase release. Its implication in corneal vascularization

The involvement of leukocytes in corneal neovascularization has been known for a long time. Recent observations suggest that collagenase from leukocytes may be a common mediator for prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)- and copper-induced corneal neovascularization. This study was designed to investigate the effect of copper ion on collagenase activity from leukocytes and other sources and leukocyte infiltration in the corneal angiogenic process induced by PGE1. These results demonstrated that collagenase production from leukocytes was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner by copper ion but not by PGE1. Copper chloride 0.2 mM produced the highest stimulation. Copper ion had no effect on collagenase release from corneal fibroblasts and capillary endothelium. There were more polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the prostaglandin E1 treated corneas than in the control. The time-course study showed that the appearance of PMN reached a peak on day 2 and new vessel growth could not be identified until day 4. These results supported an earlier suggestion that leukocytes play a role in corneal neovascularization and further suggested that copper in corneal neovascularization can stimulate the release of collagenase from leukocytes.

Transitional mucosa at anastomosis. A cause of local tumor recurrence in patients with rectal cancer after anterior resection

Transitional mucosa adjacent to colorectal cancers is essentially characterized by an excess of sialomucins at the expense of the normally predominant sulphomucins in epithelial cells lining the intestinal crypts which presents the early stage of oncogenic transformation of colorectal epithelium. The presence or absence of sialomucins at the resection margins was studied histochemically using the high iron diamine-alcian blue(HID-AB) stain in 64 rectal cancer patients in Dukes' B stage who underwent curative anterior resection. The correlation was revealed between the presence of sialomucins at the resection margins and subsequent development of local tumour recurrence. Fourteen of 27 patients (51.9%) with sialomucins predominant pattern at either resection margin developed local recurrence compared with 4 of 37 patients (10.8%) with sulphomucins predominant pattern (P less than 0.001). It is suggested that determination of the transitional mucosa around anastomosis in patients treated for the rectal carcinoma by anterior resection appears to identify those with a higher risk of local recurrence.

Behavioural evidence that systemic morphine may modulate a phasic pain-related behaviour in a rat model of peripheral mononeuropathy

In a model of peripheral mononeuropathy produced by 4 ligatures around the sciatic nerve, we investigated the effects of various i.v. doses of morphine on the vocalization thresholds elicited by paw pressure and compared the effects obtained with the same doses in normal rats. In neuropathic rats, morphine (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg) produced a significant analgesic effect on the lesioned hind paw, maximum at 15 min post injection with a recovery at 20-25 min. For doses of 0.6 and 1 mg/kg, a modification of the kinetics was observed, with maximum effect at 20-30 min post injection and a recovery at 50-80 min. An analgesic effect was also observed on the unlesioned side, significantly less potent than that observed on the lesioned paw. The effect of 1 mg/kg morphine was almost totally reversed by a 0.1 mg/kg dose of systemic naloxone. The effects induced by the successive doses of morphine on the lesioned paw appeared higher than in normal rats (maximum vocalization thresholds (% of control) following 1 mg/kg morphine (N = 12) were 193.92 +/- 6.57% versus 154 +/- 3.5% in normal rats N = 3), whereas they were comparable to those obtained from the sham-operated paw. The present data clearly show that morphine induces potent antinociceptive effects in a rat model of neuropathy, which seems to contradict the classical view that neuropathic pain is opioid resistant. Some possible pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed.

Behavioural evidence for a peripheral component in the enhanced antinociceptive effect of a low dose of systemic morphine in carrageenin-induced hyperalgesic rats

This study reinvestigated the possible contribution of a peripheral action of systemic morphine in the modulation of the response to noxious pressure on inflamed paws, using a supraspinally integrated test and various low doses of naloxone. Rats received an injection of carrageenin into the right hindpaw which resulted in an ipsilateral inflammatory response and decreased threshold to noxious pressure. Four hours post-carrageenin, the injection of 1 mg/kg i.v. morphine induced a significantly enhanced antinociceptive effect on the inflamed compared to the non-inflamed paws. Intrapantar injection of extremely low doses of naloxone (0.5 and 1 micrograms in a volume of 0.1 ml) significantly reduced this effect (naloxone being more effective when administered at the same time as morphine, compared to 15 min later), while equal doses of naloxone given systemically were inactive. These data confirm that synergism of peripheral and central actions may result in the augmented analgesic potency of morphine in rats subjected to inflammatory conditions. In addition, they provide further evidence for the complexity of opioid actions in inflammatory processes. In particular, the results are in line with the hypothesis that the paradoxical antinociceptive effect of extremely low doses of i.v. naloxone described in several studies is due to a central action.

(6R,8S)-(2-benzimidazolyl)hydroxymethylpenicillanic acids as potent antibacterial agents and beta-lactamase inhibitors

(6R,8S)-(2-Benzimidazolyl)hydroxymethylpenicillanic acids (1a-1x) are potent antibacterial agents and beta-lactamase inhibitors against Gram-positive bacteria and Haemophilus influenzae. The corresponding (6R,8R)-isomers (2a-2x), the 6,6-spiro benzimidazole-penam alcohol (3), (7R,9S)-(2-benzimidazolyl)hydroxymethylcephalosporanic acid (4), and 6 beta-(2-benzimidazolyl)aminopenicillanic acid (5) are much less active as antibacterials or beta-lactamase inhibitors. The syntheses and structure-activity relationships of these compounds are discussed. Antibacterial activity and beta-lactamase inhibition data are presented.

Single neurone studies of opioid tolerance and dependence at the ventrobasal thalamic level in an experimental model of clinical pain, the arthritic rat

The aim of this electrophysiological study was to investigate the effects of an acute injection of morphine (1 mg/kg i.v.) or the opioid antagonist naloxone (0.6-2 mg/kg i.v.) on thalamic ventrobasal (VB) neuronal activities recorded in arthritic rats rendered tolerant/dependent by pretreatment with relatively low doses of morphine. Recordings were performed in animals immobilized by i.v. injections of gallamine triethiodide (Flaxedil) and artificially ventilated under a moderate gaseous anesthesia (mixture of one-third O2, two-thirds N2O, 0.5-0.6% halothane). This level of anesthesia, as checked by the electrocorticogram, was stable and appeared sufficiently deep, since no sign of suffering or stress could be detected. The efficacy of morphine on VB neuronal responses induced by mild stimulation of the joints was greatly reduced in morphine-pretreated arthritic rats, compared to naive animals (mean neuronal inhibition of 35 vs 85%, respectively). This indicates that the tolerance phenomena observed in behavioral studies are reflected at the VB level, on neurons involved in pain processes. In addition, naloxone (0.6, 1 and 2 mg/kg i.v.) induced a dramatic increase in the evoked (52, 88 and 93%) and spontaneous (64, 211 and 292%) VB neuronal activities recorded in morphine-pretreated arthritic rats, while these activities were not significantly altered in naive arthritic rats. The time-courses of the modifications induced by naloxone in morphine-pretreated arthritic animals were similar to those of the naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal observed in freely moving rats. These findings may represent the neuronal correlate at the VB level of the withdrawal response and/or the hyperalgesia induced in tolerant arthritic rats by high doses of naloxone.

The clinical and biological significance of the transitional mucosa adjacent to colorectal cancer

The underlying nature of the transitional mucosa adjacent to colorectal cancer is defined and the evidence for and against the statement that this transitional mucosa involves primary premalignant change presented in this article. An association between mucin histochemical changes at the margins of resection and a poorer clinical outcome of patients has been recognized in patients with colorectal cancer after surgery. The retained transitional mucosa at the margins of resection appears to correlate with tumor recurrence and a poorer survival in patients who have undergone radical resection. It is considered that the transitional mucosa adjacent to colorectal cancer and its presence at the margins of resection may be an important prognostic marker for patients with large bowel cancer following radical resection.

Monoclonal antibodies recognize localized antigens in the eye and central nervous system of the marine snail Bulla gouldiana

The eyes of the marine snail Bulla gouldiana act as circadian pacemakers. The eyes exhibit a circadian variation in spontaneous optic nerve compound action potential frequency in constant darkness, and are involved in controlling circadian rhythms in behavioral activity expressed by the animal. To initiate an investigation of the molecular aspects of circadian rhythmicity in the Bulla eye and to identify specific molecular markers in the nervous system, we raised monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to the eye and screened them for specific patterns of staining in the eye and brain. Several MAb recognize antigens specific to groups of neurons in the brain, whereas others stain antigens found only in the eye. In addition, some antigens are shared by the eye and the brain. The antigens described here include molecules that mark the lens, retina, neural pathways between the eye and the brain, specific groups of neurons within the central ganglia, and an antigen that is shared by basal retinal neurons (putative ocular circadian pacemaker cells) and glia. These molecular markers may have utility in identifying functionally related groups of neurons, elucidating molecular specializations of the retina, and highlighting pathways used in transmission of information between the retina and the brain.

[Treatment of uterine bleeding due to adherent placenta by intrauterine suturing]

We have tried to suture the wound surface in order to check uterine bleeding due to adherent placenta and placenta accreta at the time of cesarean section to preserve the reproductive function of the uterine. Of the 15 patients 13 had active bleeding from the sinusoid at the site of placental attachment: 2 were placenta accreta with bleeding after removal of local site of implantation. No bleeding occurred after the suturing for a follow-up period of 1 to 3 years. The postpartum course was uneventful. This operation is a simple and useful method to check uterine bleeding in cases of adherent placenta and placenta accreta. The procedure indications and important points to be noticed was discussed.

Collagenolytic activity of crustacean midgut serine proteases: comparison with the bacterial and mammalian enzymes

1. We have investigated the collagenolytic activity of the following serine proteases: proteinase K, subtilisin Novo, Staphylococcal endoproteinase Glu-C, Streptomyces pronases, the trypsins and chymotrypsins from shrimp midgut and bovine pancreas. 2. By assays on both the insoluble 3H-collagen fibrils and the soluble type I collagen, it was demonstrated that the shrimp midgut serine proteases, and less efficiently, the pronases from Streptomyces griseus, could hydrolyze collagen while the other serine proteases tested could not. 3. Our data indicate that the trypsins and chymotrypsins of shrimp (Penaeus monodon) directly and indirectly digest native collagen, and that the indirect pathway probably involves activation of procollagenase in the native collagen by these serine proteases.

Repeated low doses of morphine do not induce tolerance but increase the opioid antinociceptive effect in rats with a peripheral neuropathy

In rats with a mononeuropathy, repeated low doses of morphine slightly enhanced its own effect in a paw pressure test of the lesioned limb. While the very effectiveness of morphine in neuropathic rats suggests that at least some nociceptive components of neuropathic pain might be sensitive to opioid receptor mechanisms, the absence of a rapid tolerance in this model indicates that tachyphylactic phenomena do not contribute to the reputed clinical ineffectiveness of opioids in neuropathic pain.

[Genetic epidemiologic study of hydrocephalus]

This paper described the epidemiological pattern and genetic features of congenital hydrocephalus. 77 214 births (live and still) were monitored, among whom 84 were hydrocephalus, incidence of 1.09%. The results suggested that the maternal occupation, age, number, of gravidity and educational level may be major contributors to the incidence of hydrocephalus. The incidence of hydrocephalus was significantly different between urban and rural areas, and its prevalence in the offsprings of parental consanguinity was 9.8%, being 9 times higher than those of non-consanguineous marriages (P less than 0.001). The incidence of hydrocephalus in the first degree relatives of the patient was 12.82%, being 10.76 times higher than that of the general population. The herebitability of the first degree relative was 49.6%.