Echocardiographic measurement of right ventricular wall thickness in adults by anterior approach

Images

Prostaglandin analogues possessing antinidatory effects. 1. Modification of the omega chain

Novel prostaglandin analogues modified in the omega chain were prepared by the reaction of the vinyl aldehydes 1a--e with a variety of organometallic reagents as a key step of the syntheses. Compared with the natural prostaglandin F2 alpha in antinidatory effect, the analogues 4, 7, and 10 were 40 times more potent and the analogue 11 was 50--100 times more potent in the rat.

Prostaglandin analogues possessing antinidatory effects. 2. Modification of the alpha chain

Additional double bonds were introduced into the alpha chain in 16-phenoxy-, 16-(3-chlorophenoxy)-, 16-[3-(tri-fluoromethyl)phenoxy]-, and 16-(4-chlorophenoxy)-17,18,19,20-tetranorprostaglandins which have antinidatory effects. Of these analogues, the delta 3-cis-delta 5 analogues 23b is 1200 times more potent than prostaglandin F2 alpha in antinidatory effect in the rat and more potent than any other known prostaglandin analogues.

Chronologic changes of activities of naphthol AS-D acetate esterase and other nonspecific esterases in the mononuclear phagocytes of tuberculous lesions

Nonspecific esterases of mononuclear phagocytes (MNs) were studied histochemically in the developing and healing tuberculous lesions produced in rabbit skin by bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG). Nonspecific esterases were assayed with the following substrates: naphthol AS-D acetate (AS-D), naphthol AS-D chloroacetate (AS-D Chl), naphthol AS acetate (AS) and alpha-naphthyl acetate (alpha-N), beta-Galactosidase, a lysosomal enzyme of MNs, was also assayed as a marker of MN activation. The number of MNs hydrolyzing AS-D Chl, AS, and alpha-N increased for 2 to 4 weeks after infection. These chronologic changes were similar to that of beta-galactosidase. In contrast, MNs hydrolyzing AS-D appeared predominantly in the healing lesions five to six weeks after infection. These MNs had the morphologic features of balloon-like cells. They contained few lysosomes and gathered in clumps far from the caseous center. The activity of the AS-D esterase was almost completely inhibited by various trypsin inhibitors, but not by the serine esterase inhibitor of phenylmethylsulfonyl-fluoride. These results suggest that the AS-D esterase is a trypsin-like esterase which participates in the healing of tuberculous lesions.

[Degradation of the parathyroid hormone in the kidney and liver (author's transl)]

The cleavage of the parathyroid hormone has been reported to take place in various peripheral tissues, especially in the kidney and liver. In order to claify the mechanism of such a degradation, bovine PTH (bPTH 1--84) and its synthetic N-terminal peptide (bPTH 1--34) labelled with 125I by the chroramine-T method (125I-bPTH 1--84) and (125I-bPTH 1--34) or labelled with horseradish peroxidase Pox-125I-bPTH 1--84 and Pox 125I-bPTH 1 34) were used to study the disappearance from the blood stream and degradation and retension in the kidney and liver after intravenous injections in male Wiastar rats, weighing approximately 200g. Degradation of PTH was also studied in vitro, using isolated cells and a homogenate of the kidney and liver. PTH labeled with 125I and Pox was more readily degraded by the kidney than PTH labelled with 125I alone, but the opposite was found in the degradation by the liver. Isolated intact kidney cells degraded PTH less efficiently than the homogenate, but the isolated intact liver cells degraded PTH more efficiently than the homogenate, indicating the prominence of an intracellular mechanism of degradation in the kidney and an extracellular mechanism in the liver.

Decreased smooth muscle side effects with 16, 16-dimethyl-trans-delta2-PGE1 methyl ester in Japanese monkey (Macaca Fuscata Fuscata)

The smooth muscle stimulating activity of a new PGE1 analog, 16, 16-dimethyl- trans delta2 -PGE1 methyl ester (ONO-802) was evaluated by simultaneously recording the EMG of the uterus and intestines, along with urinary bladder pressure, and blood pressure in pregnant and non-pregnant Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata fuscata). Single intravenous injections of ONO-802 in increasing dosages (0.2-5 microgram/kg) were found to be 50-100 times or more effective in inducing uterine contraction than PGF2alpha and PGE1. A mild, transient gastrointestinal muscle stimulating activity was observed, but change in urinary bladder pressure and blood pressure was not evident. ONO-802 induced uterine contractions in the pregnant animals were 10 times greater than in the non-pregnant animals. These results suggest that ONO-802 may be a suitable clinical prostaglandin for use in therapeutic abortion.

Optimum humidification of air administered to a tracheostomy in dogs. Scanning electron microscopy and surfactant studies

The effect of the inhalation of dried (less than 40% water-saturation) or humidified air (100% water-saturation at 25, 30, 35 and 40 degrees C) was studied in dogs in which a tracheostomy had been performed to determine the optimal humidity. After inhalation for various periods, the dogs were killed and pieces of lung tissue were excised for analysis of surfactant. Sections of the trachea and the primary to tertiary bronchi were taken for scanning electron microscopic examination. Structural changes were observed in the trachea of dogs inhaling dried at and in the tertiary bronchi of dogs inhaling 100% water-saturated air at 35 degrees C. No changes was observed after 24 h in dogs which had inhaled 100% water-saturated air at 25 degrees C under anaesthesia or at 30 degrees C without anaesthesia. Consequently, the optimal range of humidity was determined to be 100% water-saturation between 25 and 30 degrees C.

A new factor from enteric bacteria of rats amplifying induction of liver enzyme by glucocorticoid. 1. Purification, properties and biological action

1. A factor, which amplifies the inductions of several liver enzymes by glucocorticoid, was partially purified from Proteus mirabilis from rat intestine. The factor (amplifier) was completely inactivated by alpha-glucosidase, but not by other glycoside hydrolases, proteases, nucleases or phosphatases tested; it was also hydrolysed by HCl with liberation of reducing sugars. Thus the oligosaccharide in this factor seems to be essential for the amplification. 2. In adrenalectomized rats the amplifier increased the inductions of several liver enzymes, such as tyrosine aminotransferase and leucine aminotransferase, by glucocorticoid. But it did not amplify the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by glucagon or insulin or the activities of enzymes that are not induced by glucocorticoid. The amplifier by itself did not have any glucocorticoid-like action in adrenalectomized rat. These results show that the amplifier specifically increases the inductions of liver enzymes by glucocorticoid. 3. Since similar amplification was also observed in isolated perfused liver and cultured hepatoma cells in vitro, the amplifier seems to act directly on the target organ or cells.

Thallium-201 imaging with color display computer system in old myocardial infarction

In 13 patients with old myocardial infarction diagnosed with use of the electrocardiogram, coronary angiogram and left ventriculogram and in 11 patients without infarction, thallium-201 imaging with a color display computer system was carried out. In the group without infarction the average ratio of activities in two regions of interest within the myocardial wall, excluding the apex, was 1.14 (1.08 to 1.23). In the group with infarction the average ratio of noninfarcted to infarcted areas was 1.44 (1.23 to 1.78). Objective detection of infarction was possible in 12 patients (92 percent) in the group with infarction. In two patients, the earlier electrocardiographic pattern of infarction had resolved by the time of imaging. These results suggest that the sensitivity of thallium-201 imaging in the diagnosis of old myocardial infarction may be greatly enhanced by objective and quantitative analysis using a color display computer system.

Effect of 1alphaOH-vitamin D3 in a case of pseudohypoparathyroidism

A 37-year-old woman with typical features of pseudohypoparathyroidism (chronic tetany, paresthesia, persistent hypocalcemia, round face, short stature, short metacarpals and metatarsals, cucutaneous calcification and lack of response to exogenous and endogenous parathyroid hormone as regards urinary phosphate and cyclic AMP excretion) was treated with oral administration of 2 microgram/day of 1alphaOH-vitamin D3. Serum calcium started to rise within 3 days returning to the normal level with disappearance of symptoms referrable to hypocalcemia. Such a favorable effect of a small dose of 1alphaOH-vitamin D3 in a patient with typical hypoparathyroidism suggests an important role of disturbance of 1alpha-hydroxylation of vitamin D3 by the kidney in the pathogenesis of calcium and phosphorus abnormality in this disease. Forty-four cases of pseudohypoparathyroidism in the Japanese literature were briefly reviewed.

Aging and parathyroid hormone secretion

Influence of age on parathyroid hormone secretion and release was studied in vitro using rat parathyroid glands in culture and in vivo by EDTA injection. Parathyroid hormone was measured by radioimmunoassay using guinea pig antibody for bovine parathyroid hormone and 125I-labeled synthetic N-terminal peptide of bovine parathyroid hormone. Significantly less PTH was released from parathyroid glands of 18-mo-old rats than from those of 1 mo of age at various calcium concentrations of the medium in vitro. Secretion of parathyroid hormone in response to EDTA-induced hypocalcemia in vivo was also less in older rats than in younger ones, giving lower deltaPTH/deltaCa values in the older animal. Secretion of parathyroid hormone therefore appears to decrease along with aging in rats.

Mononuclear cell turnover in chronic inflammation: studies on tritiated thymidine-labeled cells in blood, tuberculin traps, and dermal BCG lesions of rabbits

Rabbits were injected intradermally in multiple sites with BCG. Four days after the BCG injection, they were injected intravenously with a single pulse of tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR) at various times thereafter, the BCG lesions were biopsied and evaluated for 3H-TdR-labeled mononuclear cells (MN). Periodically, Old Tuberculin (OT) was injected intradermally, creating MN traps which were biopsied and evaluated 1 day after their onset. 3H-TdR-labeled cells were also evaluated in samples of blood. During the first 8 days after the 3H-TdR pulse, the labeled MNs represent short-lived cells, i.e., recently dividing monocytes and lymphocytes. During this time, the percentage of labeled MNs in the blood, in the traps, and in the BCG lesions rose and fell together. This result suggests that the majority of the MNs in the BCG lesions had a turnover rate of about a week. By 12 days and afterward, the percentage of MNs labeled by 3H-TdR in the blood was higher than that in the BCG lesions which was in turn higher than that in the traps. At this time the circulating MN population probably contained labeled long-lived lymphocytes that did not enter inflammatory sites (the traps) as readily as the short-lived lymphocytes. The labeled MNs remaining in the BCG lesions probably did not divide and dilute out their 3H-TdR label as readily as those that were trapped from the bone marrow via the blood. The percentage of MNs labeled with 3H-TdR in the traps had decreased to about one-fifteenth of its peak value by 12 days, suggesting that the bone marrow's supply of labeled MNs was depleted at this time, except for the few cells labeled as a result of 3H-TdR reutilization.

Capillary density in developing and healing tuberculous lesions produced by BCG in rabbits. A quantitative study

Dermal tuberculous lesions were produced in rabbits by the intradermal injection of BCG. At various times after infection, anesthetized animals were perfused with a gelatin-colloidal carbon medium via the abdominal aorta. The capillary density of the nonnecrotic granulation tissue in the lesions was determined quantitatively by counting the capillaries under an ocular grid of a microscope. The capillary density in normal skin near the lesions was 3.8 plus or minus 0.5 in millimetersof capillary lengths per square millimeter in 250-mu tissue sections. The capillary density of the nonnecrotic tissue in BCGlesions averaged 6.1 plus or minus 0.6 mm/sq mm, an increase of 60%. The capillary density remained more or less constant as the BCG lesions grew and then regressed. The development of delayed hypersensitivity seemed to increase the capillary density, but this increase may have been a response to an extension of the necrosis at the time delayed hypersensitivity developed. Capillary densities in tuberculin reactions resembled those in BCG lesions. In the early stages, the increaseed capillary network of dermal BCG lesions was derived mainly from the subpapillary vascular plexus of the deep dermis supplied branches that surrounded the lower half of the caseous necrotic center and anastomosed with capillaries from the subpapillary plexus supplying the upper half. When the necrotic center extended, nearby capillaries thrombosed and in turn became necrotic. Peripherally, new capillaries formed and anastomosed with existing capillaries. From these vessels, mononuclear phagocytes emigrated, destroyed the tubercle bacilli, and enabled the lesion to heal. In the BCG lesions at all stages of development and healing, the capillary network in the nonnecrotic areas seemed adequate to supply and nourish the defense cells controlling the infection.