Morphological study of the human maxillofacial venous vasculature: examination of venous valves using the corrosion resin cast technique

BACKGROUND

The venous drainage in the human head and neck, structures located superior to the heart, generally does not counter the force of gravity. Accordingly, venous valves in the human head have been reported to be few or nonexistent, and therefore the direction of venous drainage is variable and obscure.

METHODS

We investigated whether venous valves were present in 13 heads of human adult cadavers using scanning electron microscopic observation of corrosive resin casts in the human maxillofacial region. This technique afforded the observation of the venous valves.

RESULTS

Venous valves were found throughout the facial region. In particular, there were many valves distributed in the lingual, upper and lower labial, facial and pharyngeal veins. The venous valves were particularly well formed at motile parts of the maxillofacial region.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that these valves may aid the venous blood return and permit the blood drainage in one direction.

[Smoking habits in chronic schizophrenics]

The smoking habits of 48 chronic schizophrenics who were inpatients of private psychiatric were examined. Subjects were divided into three groups; non-smokers, moderate smokers and heavy smokers, and tested by Fagerstrom's Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ) as a tobacco dependence evaluation, and Bender Gestalt Test (BGT) and Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) as a neuropsychological battery. In addition, we used the Scales for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) to evaluate the degree of schizophrenic negative symptoms, confirming the correlation between SANS score and the amount of nicotine intake or FTQ item. From the results of FTQ scores and their correlation with SANS scores, the amount of nicotine intake was significantly related to the severity of schizophrenic negative symptoms including affective blunting, poverty of thinking and attention impairment. BGT and BVRT showed disturbances in visual-motor gestalt function, and attention and memory, in chronic schizophrenics who smoked, especially in heavy smokers. These results suggest that smoking behavior in chronic schizophrenics might increase the individual vigilance against negative symptoms, from the perspective of self-medication.

Biochemical and pharmacological studies with KT7692 and LY294002 on the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in Fc epsilon RI-mediated signal transduction

Wortmannin inhibited phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (P13-kinase) and Fc epsilon RI-mediated histamine secretion in RBL-2H3 cells to a similar degree, with IC50 values of 3 and 2 nM, respectively. Although P13-kinase is an acknowledged regulator of intracellular trafficking and secretion, wortmannin has proved to be a difficult drug to use in assessing the role of P13-kinase because it inhibits another important enzyme, myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK; IC50 = 200 nM). In the present study we synthesized a unique derivative of wortmannin, O-acetyl-delta 16-wortmannin-17-ol (KT7692), that has an inhibitory potency against PI3-kinase one-hundredth that of wortmannin, but retains a similar potency to wortmannin against MLCK. Histamine secretion was influenced 100-fold more by wortmannin than by KT7692.2-(4-Morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (LY294002), a structurally different PI3-kinase inhibitor from wortmannin, inhibited PI3-kinase with an IC50 of 2 microM but had little effect on MLCK activity in this concentration range. LY294002 also inhibited histamine secretion in RBL-2H3 cells with an IC50 of 5 microM. These results provide further evidence that PI3-kinase is involved in the signal transduction pathway responsible for histamine secretion after stimulation of Fc epsilon RI. Furthermore KT7692 in combination with wortmannin and LY294002 would be a powerful tool for clarifying the involvement of PI3-kinase as distinct from that of MLCK in signal transduction systems of various cellular responses.

In situ non-ischemic enucleation of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma using a microwave coagulator

A case of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma is reported, in which nephron-sparing surgery was done using microwave tissue coagulation. A 37-year-old man was referred to our outpatient clinic for a multilocular cystic tumor, 4.5 cm in diameter, in the middle-lower portion of the right kidney, which was detected by ultrasound during a health checkup. The patient had been found to have the same cystic mass on a CT done during another health checkup 1.5 years before. The tumor showed no growth during the 1.5-year period. With a diagnosis of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma, T2N0M0, in situ non-ischemic tumor enucleation was done using a microwave tissue coagulator (Microtaze, Heiwa Electronics Industry Inc., Tokyo). Operation time was 150 minutes and blood loss was 135 cc. The histological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma, T2N0M0V0, cystic type, clear cell subtype, grade 1. Diagnostic imaging done postoperatively showed no sign of damage to renal function. In this report, the characteristics of multilocular cystic renal carcinoma are reviewed from the literature, and the advantages of nephron-sparing surgery for this type of renal tumor are discussed. In addition, an operative technique of tumor enucleation used in this case and the characteristics of Microtaze are introduced.

Familial macrothrombocytopenia with unusually elongated mitochondria

We report a familial case of macrothrombocytopenia without inclusion bodies in polymorphonuclear cells or any congenital abnormalities. The results of the hemostatic and platelet function tests were all normal except for the platelet retention rate. The number of megakaryocytes increased slightly and some were relatively small. Electron microscopic studies revealed a unique morphological abnormality of the platelets' mitochondria.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is involved in TRE-dependent gene expression in response to arginine vasopressin

We identified arginine vasopressin (AVP) as a potent activator of TPA-response element (TRE)-dependent gene expression in rat 3Y1 fibroblasts. In order to examine the involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) in TRE-mediated gene expression, we examined the effect of the overexpression of PI3-kinase mutant. The overexpression of p110 alpha, the catalytic subunit of PI3-kinase, enhances TRE-reporter expression in response to AVP. On the other hand, the overexpression of the p110-EcoS mutant, which contains the binding site for the regulatory p85 subunit but lacks the catalytic domain, results in decreased TRE reporter expression in response to AVP. These results suggest that PI3-kinase is involved in TRE-dependent gene expression in response to AVP.

[Amotivational syndrome of chronic organic solvent abusers--neuropsychological study]

It is conceivable that many of chronic organic solvent abusers have shown "Amotivational Syndrome" that is often seen in marijuana abuse. This syndrome revealed various psychiatric symptoms such as diminution of ambition, productivity and motivation. However, the pathogenesis of this syndrome is not elucidated. In present study, we examined 31 patients who showed amotivational syndrome (AS) induced by chronic organic solvents abuse, using neuropsychological battery including Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) and Bender Gestalt Test (BGT). In BVRT, there was a differences between AS and controls in the items of number of errors, omission, distortion and misplacement. In BGT, each Figure's score except I and VIII has changed and total score was 43.25 (vs control; 23.05), corresponding to 9-10 year old development in AS. These results suggest that organic solvent-induced AS is closely related with neurological and cognitive impairments in the central nervous system.

A quantitative study of the effects of prenatal X-irradiation on the development of cerebral cortex in rats

Pregnant rats were exposed to a single whole body X-irradiation on day 15 of gestation at a dose of 1.0 Gy. The offspring showed microcephaly at 7 weeks of age. Their body weight, brain weight, cortical thickness and the numerical density of neurons and synapses in the somatosensory and visual cortex were examined. Significant decreases in cortical thickness in both somatosensory (25%) and visual (16%) cortex were observed. However, there were no significant changes in the numerical density of neurons and synapses, nor in synapse-to-neuron ratios in both cortical regions between control and X-irradiated groups. These results suggest that prenatal X-irradiation can decrease the number of neurons, and the neurons which survive X-irradiation proliferate and elaborate connections in a normal fashion. This is in contrast to the animals exposed to ochratoxin A, in which numerical density of neurons in the somatosensory cortex is increased, with normal numerical density of synapses, resulting in low synapse-to-neuron ratios. The discrepancy in the synapse-to-neuron ratios between the X-irradiation and ochratoxin A-treatment might derive from a different effect on the developing neurons.

[Psychological problem due to long-term organic solvent abuse]

Organic solvent abuse in adolescents has become a serious social problem. One of the reasons for this is the relationship to juvenile delinquency, and another is that it leads to various clinical symptoms including disturbance of consciousness, hallucinations, fantasia and apathy. In this study, using a health questionnaire that is composed of 33 psychiatric and 29 physical items and the Rorschach Test, we investigated these symptoms and the psychodynamics of personality respectively. The principal component analysis obtained for the health questionnaire extracted four factors as follows: 1) feelings of general fatigue and somatic symptoms, 2) feelings of guilt and self blame, 3) low self esteem and withdrawal adaptation, and 4) unreasonable anxiety and sleeping disturbance. The results of Rorschach Test supported the loss of libido, disability of reality testing and ego vulnerability in organic solvent abusers. This research strongly suggests that apathetic or depressive mood in chronic organic solvent abusers relates with loss of drive.

Effect of human leukemia inhibitory factor on in vitro development of IVF-derived bovine morulae and blastocysts

This study was conducted to investigate whether human leukemia inhibitory factor (hLIF) improves the subsequent development of IVF-derived bovine morulae and blastocysts. To obtain IVF-derived bovine morulae, ova were matured and fertilized in vitro and cultured in 0.5 ml of synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) medium supplemented with 10% human serum (HS) for 5 d at 39 degrees C under a gas atmosphere of 5% CO(2), 5% O(2), 90% N(2). Morulae and early blastocysts at Day 5 of culture were cultured in 0.5 ml of SOF medium with or without 5000 U/ml recombinant hLIF for 2 or 3 d (2 groups). To investigate the effect of addition of hLIF on the subsequent development of morulae, SOF medium was supplemented with 8 mg/ml BSA instead of HS. To test whether hLIF affects the subsequent development of IVF-derived bovine blastocysts, only good blastocysts that developed from SOF medium with or without hLIF at Days 7 and 8 of culture were frozen by a conventinal slow freezing method and again cultured in SOF medium with or without the addition of hLIF for 3 d after thawing (4 groups). Survival of frozen-thawed bovine embryos was evaluated for re-expansion and hatching of blastocysts during 3 d of culture. There was no significant difference in the developmental rate of Day 5 embryos to blastocysts between those cultured with (47.8%) and without (47.6%) addition of hLIF. However, the addition of hLIF before freezing significantly increased the hatching rate of IVF-derived bovine morulae (P < 0.05), whereas addition of hLIF after thawing did not increase the subsequent development of blastocysts. These results suggest that hLIF added at the Day 5 morula stage may contribute to bovine embryonic development through the hatching process.

Autopsy cases among patients with mental disorders: an unusual case of asphyxia caused by the iron roller of a garbage truck

A case of asphyxia of a young man suffering from "Identity Disorder" as delineated by the DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders revised in 1987) is reported. The patient jumped into the drum of a garbage truck and the iron roller in the drum asphyxiated him by compression. In addition to the presentation of this rare category of the DSM-III-R disorders as an autopsy case and an unusual means of asphyxia, we briefly reviewed other autopsy cases of the patients with mental disorders who died in Japan between 1988 and 1992.

Prevalence of dry eye in Japanese eye centers

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the investigation was to ascertain the prevalence of dry eye in new outpatients.

METHODS

A total of 2127 consecutive new outpatients seen in eight Japanese centers from April 1992 to January 1993 underwent comprehensive examinations, including double vital staining and measurement of tear film break-up time, basal tear secretion, and tear clearance. Dry eye was diagnosed if patients had abnormalities of both the tear film and the ocular surface.

RESULTS

Three hundred fifty-nine patients (17%) had dry eye. There was no seasonal pattern for dry eye. The condition was significantly more common in Tokyo than in suburban areas (P < 0.01). The prevalence of dry eye in visual display terminal (VDT) users and contact lens (CL) wearers was significantly higher than in non-VDT users and non-CL wearers (P < 0.05 and P < 0.02, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that dry eye is one of the most common ocular disorders encountered by physicians. Furthermore, if patients use VDTs or wear CLs, the likelihood of dry eye occurring is higher.

Molecular cloning and characterization of Rosa hybrida dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene

A full length cDNA clone encoding rose dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) was isolated from a cDNA library derived from rose petals by screening with the cDNA of Petunia hybrida DFR. Sequence comparison of the rose DFR with reported DFR genes revealed that they are homologous to each other. The amount of DFR mRNA in rose petals was developmentally regulated and paralleled anthocyanin production in petals. Sepals, thorns, styles and stamens also contained anthocyanins and DFR mRNA. No DFR mRNA was observed in mature leaves and a small amount of the transcript was detected in young leaves. A petunia cultivar, whose colour was pale pink due to a deficiency in flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase and flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase, was transformed with a binary vector containing a rose DFR cDNA cloned behind a constitutive promoter. Petals and anthers of the resultant transgenic petunia plants were salmon pink and contained pelargonidin, an anthocyanidin rarely found in petunia.

Flow visualization study on centrifugal blood pump using a high speed video camera

Flow visualization is widely applied to evaluate rotary blood pumps; however, it is very difficult to visualize flow near the vanes of centrifugal blood pumps because the rotational speed of the impeller is usually several thousand rpm. In this study, a tracer method with a high speed video camera that can take more than 2,000 frames/s was utilized for flow visualization together with computer-assisted image measurement. This method visualized the complex secondary flow pattern near the vanes of the impeller, such as the vortex and recirculation. It also visualized the enhanced washout effect by the secondary washout vanes on the backside of the impeller. The proposed method was effective to analyze the flow pattern in the centrifugal blood pump by providing useful information for better design of the pump hemolysis and thrombus formation.

Morphology of ras-transformed cells becomes apparently normal again with tyrosine kinase inhibitors without a decrease in the ras-GTP complex

Radicicol, an inhibitor of protein-tyrosine kinase, was found to cause morphological reversion of v-Ha-ras-transformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts and T24 human urinary bladder carcinoma cells that contain an activated ras mutation. The network of actin stress fibers was restored during the treatment with radicicol. A similar morphological change was observed with another protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A. Radicicol did not cause any changes in the proportion of the active GTP binding form of p21ras or its subcellular localization. These results rule out the possibility that the morphological reversion by radicicol is due to direct or indirect inhibition of the p21ras function. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D inhibited the morphological change by radicicol, suggesting that the induced transcription of a gene(s) followed by de novo protein synthesis is required for suppression of the transformed phenotype in ras-transformed cells by tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Visible light-sensitized oxidation of arachidonic acid in the presence of inperatorin

To understand the mechanism of the phototoxic effects of inperatorin, a psoralen derivative used as a pigmentation agent, we have investigated the photosensitized oxidation of arachidonic acid (ARA) by irradiation with visible light (> 400 nm) in the presence of inperatorin. HPLC and GC/MS analyses of the products showed the formation of many hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HPETEs) including the products of lipoxygenase-catalyzed reactions such as 5- and 15-HPETEs, which are the precursors of chemical mediators such as leukotrienes and lipoxins, during the reaction. Active oxygen scavening agents such as D-mannitol, superoxide dismutase, and beta-carotene inhibited the formation of the oxidation products, indicating that the oxidation reaction was mediated by various active oxygen species. These results suggest that the phototoxic effects of inperatorin could also be induced by visible light and could be explained at least partially in terms of inflammation initiated by the biologically active HPETEs arising from photosensitized oxygenation reactions of ARA with the drug.

Pancreatitis associated with choledochal cyst and other anomalies in childhood

Fifty-one children with anatomical anomalies of the pancreatic duct developed pancreatitis associated with either congenital dilatation of the bile duct (choledochal cyst; n = 48) or other rare causes (n = 3). Among those with choledochal cyst, 41 underwent primary surgical resection of the dilated bile duct, while five of the remaining seven patients receiving cystenterostomy underwent secondary resection of the cyst.

[Fine needle aspiration cytology in screening of prostatic cancer]

Between October 1990 and June 1993, 112 patients underwent fine needle aspiration cytology and core needle biopsy of the prostate under transrectal ultrasonographic guidance. They were suspected of having prostatic cancer from the prostatic antigen level, digital rectal examination and/or transrectal ultrasonography. Twenty seven of the 112 cases (24%) were diagnosed with prostatic cancer. Their cytological diagnoses showed 22 class IV or V, 2 class III, and 3 class I or II. Efficiency, false negative rate and false positive rate were 86%, 11% and 0% in fine needle aspiration cytology. We could obtain sufficient samples for fine needle aspiration cytology in all cases. No severe complication was observed. However, we missed 3 patients, in fine needle aspiration cytology, who were strongly suspected of having prostatic cancer, and reexamination or additional core needle biopsy would have been necessary on 15 of the 112 patients (13%) who showed false negative or class III cytological results, if we had screened prostatic cancer only by fine needle aspiration cytology. In conclusion, fine needle aspiration cytology may not be as useful as core needle biopsy to screen prostatic cancer.

Region-related Fos expression in hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons of rats by intraperitoneal administration of an endogenous satiety substance, 2-buten-4-olide

An effect of 2-buten-4-olide (2-B4O), an endogenous satiety substance, on hypothalamic dopamine neurons of rats was studied by double-label immunohistochemistry for c-Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Intraperitoneal administration of 2-B4O induced Fos-like immunoreactivity in TH-immunoreactive neurons in the periventricular area and paraventricular nucleus but not in the arcuate nucleus. Thus, the present results suggest that tuberohypophysial dopamine neurons are regulated under the influence of endogenous 2-B4O.

Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase in fission yeast: a possible role in stress responses

A DNA fragment coding for a part of a putative phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase was cloned from Schizosaccharomyces pombe by cross-hybridization with Saccharomyces cerevisiae VPS34 gene, a yeast homologue of mammalian PI-3 kinase. The clone contained an open reading frame of 797 amino acids but lacked the initiation codon, ATG. The predicted amino acid sequence was homologous to those of S. cerevisiae VPS34 and mammalian PI-3 kinase genes. Disruption of the gene resulted in extremely low levels of PI-3-P and higher levels of PI-4-P, supporting the idea that the gene codes for the PI-3 kinase of S. pombe. The disruptants harbored large vacuoles and were sensitive to stresses such as high temperature or high concentration of monovalent and divalent cations.

Production of monoclonal antibodies specific to the carboxyl terminal region of the 85 kDa subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase: use of the antibodies in recognition of mutant p85

We have established two hybridomas producing mAb to the carboxyl terminal region of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase 85 kDa subunit type alpha (p85 alpha). Analysis using deletion mutants of p85 revealed that epitopes for the two mAb were located on the border of the src homology 2 (SH2) sequence located at the carboxyl end of p85. They immunoprecipitated free p85 efficiently, but reactivity to p85 bound to p110 was very weak. Together with the mAb which we have reported previously, a panel of mAb that covered the various parts of p85 alpha was obtained. Using this panel, we characterized two mutants of p85 (70 and 50 kDa) expressed in the human colon carcinoma cell line, HCC2998. No wild-type p85 was detected in these cells. A mAb specific to the carboxyl terminal region detected p70 but not p50, suggesting that this region is missing in p50. The panel of mAb is a useful tool to use to analyse mutant forms of p85.