[Nocardia brain abscess: a case report (author's transl)]

A 42 years old woman was noticed to have an abnormal shadow in the left lower field of lung at the time of periodical chest radiographic examination in July 1979. She didn't show any signs or symptoms of inflammation such as fever, increased rate of blood sedimentation, leukocytosis and so on by that time. Four weeks prior to admission she started to complain of mild but continuous headache and then developed anorexia, dysarthria and weakness in the right half of the face. She was admitted to the Kyoto University Hospital on September 14, 1979. On admission, slight bilateral papilledema, right hemiparesis and total dysphasia were present. She was afebrile and no abnormal finding in serological examination was shown. A heterogenously enhanced mass was demonstrated by CT scan in the left posterior frontal lobe, which was surrounded by severe cerebral edema. A provisional diagnosis of metastatic tumor from the lung was made. At the time of craniotomy, an abscess cavity was found and aspirated. Then the radical extracapsular ablation and external decompression was carried out. Histologically many Nocardia species were identified in the abscess cavity. The patient was treated by administration of a mixture of trimethoprine and sulfamethixazole (Bakter), and minocycline. Subsequently the developed Corynebacterial epidural empyema which was successfully evacuated two months after the first operation. She had been placed on Baktar for ten months since the second operation. She presented no sign of recurrence in six months after the cessation of drugs.

Effects of branched chain fatty acids of iso-C12:0 to iso-C16:0 on gastric secretion and experimental ulceration in rats

We examined the inhibitory activities of branched-chain fatty acids of iso-C12:0 to iso-C16:0 on gastric secretion in rats. Consequently, iso-C13:0 and iso-C15:0 were found to have strong inhibitory activities on gastric secretion in rats. In the case of intraduodenal administration, iso-C15:0 also showed a significant inhibition of gastric juice secretion. Therefore, the effects of iso-C13:0 and iso-C15:0 on ulceration in pylorus-ligated rats and aspirin-induced ulcer were examined. At the doses of 10 and 25 mg/kg, iso-C13:0 and iso-C15:0 significantly decreased the ulcer index in pylorus-ligated rats, and aspirin-induced ulcer was also significantly inhibited at the doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg. Finally, effect of iso-C15:0 on pepsin, Mg++-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase, which are considered to play an important role in the mechanism of gastric juice secretion, was examined in vitro, centering around iso-C15:0 which showed a marked effect in gastric juice secretion inhibitory and anti-ulcerogenic activities. Iso-C15:0 showed inhibitory activity on pepsin and Mg++-ATPase, but entirely no activity on inhibiting carbonic anhydrase.

Simple and complex spike activities of Purkinje cells during locomotion in the cerebellar vermal zones of decerebrate cats

In walking cats decerebrated at the premammillary level, single neurone activity of Purkinje cells (P-cells) with long corticofugal axons was recorded in the cerebellar vermis. The P-cells (N = 145) were identified as they showed spontaneous simple and complex spikes and also antidromic activation from Deiters' nucleus. These P-cells were classified into 6 groups according to the receptive fields of the climbing fibre responses (CFRs) which were evoked by electrical stimulation in each limb at the radial and sciatic nerve bundles. One group designated as forelimb units received the CFRs from both forelimbs and from neither hindlimb. According to previous studies, this group of P-cells is thought to make inhibitory connections with Deiters neurones projecting to the ipsilateral cervicothoracic spinal cord. For the forelimb units, two types of discharge patterns for simple spikes were found in relation to limb movements during locomotion. Type I cells showed one peak in their firing rate in the late swing (E1) or early stance (E2) phase of the ipsilateral forelimb. Type II cells showed two peaks and two valleys during one step cycle: one peak was in the E1 phase, the other in the late stance (E3) or early swing (F) phase; each of the two valleys followed the peak. Complex spikes of the forelimb units occurred more frequently in the E1 phase than during the other phases. The increased activity of simple and complex spikes of the forelimb units in the E2 phase is suggested to have a functional significance in preparing the appropriate floor reaction forces that appear upon touchdown on the ipsilateral forelimb.

Effects of a transfusion with a blood substitute (Fluosol-DA, 20%) on cerebral circulation in the monkey

Local cerebral blood flow (lCBF) and electroencephalogram were monitored in six monkeys after a transfusion using a perfluorochemical suspension (Fluosol-DA, 20%) that has been manufactured as a blood substitute and is known to be synthetic, biologically inert, and nontoxic and to have a high capacity for carrying oxygen. The animals were mechanically ventilated, and blood gases were maintained at physiological levels. Fluosol-DA, 20% was administered either by an exchange transfusion of 20 ml/kg or by an infusion of 8 ml/kg followed by an exchange transfusion of 12 ml/kg. lCBF was measured using the hydrogen clearance technique. An equation was proposed to estimate the tissue-blood partition coefficient of hydrogen; this coefficient is considered to be dependent upon the amount of perfluorochemicals in the blood and was used to calculate lCBF. Systemic blood pressure, pulse rate, central venous pressure, electroencephalogram, and gas analysis of the blood from the femoral artery, the femoral vein, and the superior sagittal sinus showed little change throughout the experiment. lCBF was increased by 12% (p less than 0.005) after the infusion of Fluosol-DA, 20% of 8 ml/kg and by 31% (p less than 0.02) after the exchange transfusion. Hyperventilation reduced lCBF significantly (p less than 0.005), which implies that the reactivity of the cerebral blood vessels to hypocarbia was not impaired by the administration of FLuosol-DA, 20%. Both the results of this study and the physical properties of Fluosol-DA, 20% suggest that this blood substitute can safely be used for normal human brains and that it might also be effective for ischemic brains.

Studies on the specific interaction of concanavalin A and saccharides by affinity chromatography. Application of quantitative affinity chromatography to a multivalent system

Quantitative affinity chromatography of concanavalin A (Con A) was studied in order to clarify its mechanism of saccharide binding. Another aim of this work was to confirm the validity of frontal affinity chromatography, which we have developed for the study of specific interactions, for multivalent systems. Since Cona A exists as either a dimer or a tetramer, it is a suitable multivalent test system. Immobilized p-aminophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (AP beta-Glc Sepharose) was prepared and the interactions of homogeneous preparations of Con A with this affinity adsorbent were analyzed. Experiments were carried out under conditions where Con a exists as the dimer (5 degrees C, pH 7.9, I=0.19). The intrinsic dissociation constant of Con A for the immobilized ligand (Kd) could be determined from the extent of retardation. alpha-Con A (intact Con A) had a stronger affinity than beta-Con A. Changes in pH and ionic strength had different effects on the affinity of alpha- and beta-Con A. The dissociation constants of soluble saccharides and their derivatives (counter ligands) for Con A (K1) could be determined from their ability to diminish the elution volume of Con A. K1 values of various monosaccharides for beta-Con A including those having very weak affinity, were determined. Further, the K1 values of a series of glucobioses were determined and compared. It was found that the binding mode of the reducing terminal glucose residue must be taken into account. The results are discussed in relation to their configurations. Frontal affinity chromatography proved to be very useful as a tool to analyze specific interactions in multivalent systems.

Classical conditioning mediated by the red nucleus in the cat

We have attempted to develop a behavioral and neuronal model for classical conditioning in the corticorubrospinal system. A conditioned stimulus (CS) was applied to the cerebral peduncle (CP) in cats which had lesions that interrupted the corticofugal fibers caudal to the red nucleus. The unconditioned stimulus (US) was an electric shock to the skin of the forelimb that produced flexion of the limb. After pairing of the CS and US in close temporal association, an initially ineffective stimulus to the cerebral peduncle was found to give rise to the flexion of the elbow. Extinction of the conditioned response was achieved by applying the CS alone or by reversing the sequence of the stimuli (US-CS: backward pairing). Furthermore, the US alone did not produce an increase in the effectiveness of the CS stimulus. Finally, pairing the fixed CS stimuli with the US at random intervals did not produce any increase in performance in response to the CS. In these respects, the observed behavioral modification has the features of associative conditioning. Because the thresholds for and the strength of elbow flexion induced by stimulation of the nucleus interpositus of the cerebellum were identical in the experimental and control animals, the interpositorubrospinal system cannot be the site of the plastic change. Since the conditioned response is most probably mediated by the corticorubrospinal system, it is likely that a modification of the corticorubral synapses underlies this behavioral change.

Alpha-fetoprotein in intracranial malignant teratoma

Serum alpha-fetoprotein was identified in five patients with histologically verified teratomas and in one patient with a suspected malignant teratoma. Detection of serum alpha-fetoprotein is specifically indicative of malignant teratoma, as no other known type of intracranial tumor produces it.

[Autosensitization of neurosurgical cases by normal brain tissue antigens (author's transl)]

The leukocyte reactions of 106 neurosurgical cases, including 63 brain tumors, 10 intracerebral hematomas, 10 cerebral infarctions, 10 subarachnoidal hemorrhages, 8 cerebral injuries and 5 chronic subdural hematomas, against the extracts of gliomas and normal brain tissues were tested by capillary migration (LMI) and adherence inhibition (LAI) assays. Both tests showed specific responses with autochthonous and allogeneic glioma extracts in glioma patients. The sensitivity of LAI was superior to that of LMI, although LAI also showed adherence enhancement in the presence of weakly sensitized leukocytes or weak antigenic stimuli. Leukocytes from glioma patients showed positive inhibition with normal brain tissues from patients with glioma and intracerebral hematoma. Positive leukocyte reactions with normal brain tissues were also confirmed in patients with intracerebral hematomas, cerebral infarctions and severe cerebral lacerations, but not in those with subarachnoidal hemorrhages, minor cerebral contusions and chronic subdural hematomas. These results suggest that the leukocytes of patients with destructive brain lesions were autosensitized by normal brain antigens. The autosensitization has some advantages in that destroyed brain tissues are eliminated, but the hyperimmune state might cause postictal brain edema and should be properly controlled by steroids.

Spectroscopic and catalytic properties of Rhus vernicifera laccase depleted in type 2 copper

1. The type 2 copper in Rhus vernicifera laccase was completely removed without loss of other types of copper. The properties of this protein derivative and the role of type 2 copper in the catalytic action of laccase was investigated. 2. The molar extinction coefficient at 614 nm of the blue chromophore decreases from 5700 to 4700 cm-1 on removal of type 2 copper. There are no apparent absorption changes at other wavelengths in the visible or near ultraviolet region when this copper is taken away. The electron-paramagnetic-resonance (epr) parameter A parallel and the linewidth of type 1 Cu2+ decreases on removal of type 2 copper. 3. The rate of reduction of type 1 Cu2+ is not affected by removal of type 2 copper but the reduction of the two-electron acceptor is greatly impaired. These results strongly support the idea that type 1 Cu2+ is the primary site for electron transfer between substrate and enzyme and that the two-electron acceptor in the native enzyme is reduced by simultaneous electron transfer from reduced types 1 and 2 copper. 4. Reoxidation of types 1 and 3 copper and the formation of the oxygen intermediate are the same processes in native and type-2-depleted enzyme. These observations suggests that type 2 copper is not involved in the formation and rapid decay of the oxygen intermediate and that it is not necessary for the stabilization of this intermediate. 5. Two new epr signals are observed on reoxidation of reduced type-2-depleted laccase. One is temporarily formed on re-reduction of reoxidized enzyme and it is suggested that it might arise from copper, possibly type 3 copper. The other one is stable for hours and it is proposed that it might come from a modified oxygen intermediate.

[Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology using "cytospin" in patients with brain tumors (author's transl)]

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology was performed using cytocentrifugation method ("Cytospin") in 88 preoperative patients who had been known to have deeply seated brain tumors by CT. 20 cases (22.7%) among them showed positive findings and 11 cases (12.5%) probably positive findings. High incidence of positive results were obtained in germinomas (60.9%), ependymomas (50.0%), medulloblastomas (40.0%), followed by malignant lymphomas (20.0%), pontine gliomas (16.7%) and metastatic tumors (16.7%). In contrast, it was persistently negative in cerebral astrocytomas, glioblastomas, teratomas, epidermoids, meningiomas and neurinomas. This method was quickly prepared in 30 minutes and was superior in retaining detailed cytomorphology. It was concluded that the CSF cytology is a less invasive diagnostic investigation, can provide an additional information as regards the nature of some kinds of brain tumors and is still useful even in the CT era.

Effect of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 in rats with experimental renal osteodystrophy

A model of experimental renal osteodystrophy was established in the rats with chronic renal failure induced by partial nephrectomy and therapeutic effects of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha-OH-D3) were studied. Male Wistar rats weighing 180 g were 5/6 nephrectomized and fed a normal diet (Ca and P : 1%) for 6 months. After the surgery, serum creatinine levels increased 60% and thereafter continued to rise gradually with their growth for 4 to 5 months, followed by rapid increase. The serum phosphorus levels were also elevated concomitantly and the serum calcium concentrations were normal. Marked bone resorption accompanied with hypertrophy of parathyroid glands was observed by histological examinations (Tetrachrome-Fuchsin stain, contact microradiography and H-E stain). The bone resorption seemed to be due to secondary hyperparathyroidism. Treatment with 0.25 micrograms/kg/day p.o. of 1 alpha-OH-D3 for 10 days in the uremic state resulted in remarkable new bone formation which was confirmed by histological examinations. These results clearly demonstrated that the reduction of nephron mass play a critical clue of renal osteodystrophy and 1 alpha-OH-D3 appears to have a good potential for clinical use in patients with renal failure and metabolic bone diseases.

Blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in nephrotic syndrome. Studies in 26 patients

The blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-HCC) in 26 patients with nephrotic syndrome (proteinuria of 6.5 g/24 h +/- 0.8 SEM) ranged between 1 and 18.6 ng/ml (8.6 +/- 1.0 SEM). This value was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) than that in normal subjects (21.8 +/- 2.3 ng/ml) and patients with chronic renal failure (24.8 +/- 2.3 ng/ml). There was inverse correlation (P less than 0.01) between levels of 25-HCC and magnitude of proteinuria and a direct relation (P less than 0.01) with serum albumin. Reduction in proteinuria was rapidly followed by a rise in blood 25-HCC toward normal. Ionized calcium levels were low in 16 of 26 nephrotic patients irrespective of degree of renal failure. In four of seven nephrotic patients with normal renal function, ionized calcium levels were low and showed an inverse relation with levels of parathyroid hormone. These data show that patients with nephrotic syndrome have low blood levels of 25-HCC probably due to its loss in urine. This derangement is probably responsible for the disorders of calcium metabolism in nephrosis.

Locus of blue and near ultraviolet reversible photoreaction in the stages of conidial development in Botrytis cinerea

The effect of the blue and near ultraviolet reversible photoreaction on conidial development in Botrytis cinerea was studied by observing microscopically selected conidiophores. Conidiophore development was divided into six stages; when the developing conidiophores from stage 2 (i.e. a mature conidiophore) to stage 5 (i.e. a conidiophore with conidium initial) were exposed to blue light for a short time, conidiation was suppressed; the conidiophores already formed de-differentiated to 'sterile' conidiophores with sharply pointed tips. The suppression of conidial development by blue light could be reversed by subsequent exposure to near ultraviolet light, and conidia then developed normally. This mycochrome system functioned reciprocally within the range of identified conidiophore developmental stages and near ultraviolet light acted only at the same development stage as was inhibited by blue light.

Further studies on the blue and near ultraviolet reversible photoreaction with an intracellular particulate fraction of the fungus, Alternaria tomato

Further studies have been made on the blue and near ultraviolet-reversible photoreaction in a cell-free system of the fungus Alternaria tomato, prepared by two-layer sucrose density gradient centrifugation. A light-minus-dark difference spectrum of the supernatant fraction showed a dip in the near ultraviolet region, mainly at 280 nm, when irradiated with near ultraviolet light which could not be reversed by following the initial irradiation with blue light. The difference spectrum of the dialyzed particulate fraction, located in the 68% sucrose band, showed a peak absorbance in the blue region, mainly at 400 nm, when irradiated with near ultraviolet light, and also could not be reversed by blue light. When the particulate fraction plus the supernatant fraction was irradiated with near ultraviolet light, the increment rate of peak absorbance in the blue region increased compared to that of the particulate fraction lacking the supernatant, and both peak absorbance in the blue region and the dip in the near ultraviolet region were reversed by irradiation with blue light following the application of near ultraviolet light. Thus, it was concluded that two photoresponsive systems are involved in blue and near ultraviolet reversible photoreaction on an intracellular particulate fraction.