Body temperature monitoring in subjects with delayed sleep phase syndrome

To clarify the circadian aspects of delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) in 4 patients with DSPS, we recorded polysomnograms and rectal temperature before and after chronotherapy. The time interval (2.7 h) between sleep onset and rectal temperature minimum before chronotherapy was shorter than the time interval after chronotherapy (5.3 h). Before chronotherapy, the period of rectal temperature rhythm was 24.7 h. After chronotherapy, the period of rectal temperature rhythm was 24.0 h. These findings lead to the conclusion that in DSPS there is a weakened mechanism of entrainment similar to that in non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome.

Merkel-neurite complexes in the fungiform papillae of two species of monkeys

Merkel-neurite complexes in tongues of Japanese and cynomolgus monkeys were examined by means of light and electron microscopy. Merkel-neurite complexes were found preferentially in the epithelium of fungiform papillae located at the tip of the tongue. It appears that the anterior fungiform papillae of the monkey are highly adapted for both taste and mechanical sensation.

[Experimental study on mechanism of onset of acute ulcer viewed from blood coagulation and activities of fibrinolysis after hepatectomy in liver cirrhosis]

Using liver cirrhosis rats induced by intraperitoneal administration of 4% thioacetamide (TAA) consecutively for 10 weeks, the authors made a study on the activities of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in the onset of acute ulcer after hepatectomy. The results were as follows: 1. On the 3rd day after hepatectomy increase in the portal blood pressure, approximate 30% decrease in gastric wall blood flow and increase in fibrinolysis in blood and gastric mucosa were observed. While no bleeding was recognized, edema and hyperemia were noticeable. 2. On the 3rd postoperative day when the maximum increase of fibrinolysis in blood and gastric mucosa was observed water immersion restraint stress was loade. Two hours after loading, fibrinolysis in blood and tissue increased further, and in accordance with it, bleeding and erosion were seen to a high degree in gastric mucosa. On the other hand, in the EACA group, in which anti-fibrinolytic agent, epsilon-amino carpic acid was administered, the increase was moderate in the fibrinolysis in blood and mucosa after loading the stress. Though bleeding and development of erosion were not completely controlled, values of fibriolytic activity of the tissue in the EACA group were lower than those of control group.

Characterization of the sppA gene coding for protease IV, a signal peptide peptidase of Escherichia coli

The sppA gene codes for protease IV, a signal peptide peptidase of Escherichia coli. Using the gene cloned on a plasmid, we constructed an E. coli strain carrying the ampicillin resistance gene near the chromosomal sppA gene and an sppA deletion strain in which the deleted portion was replaced by the kanamycin resistance gene. Using these strains, we mapped the sppA gene at 38.5 min on the chromosome, the gene order being katE-xthA-sppA-pncA. Although digestion of the signal peptide that accumulated in the cell envelope fraction was considerably slower in the deletion mutant than in the sppA+ strain, it was still significant, suggesting the participation of another envelope protease(s) in signal peptide digestion.

[Efficacy of vagotomy on liver regeneration in the prevention of stress ulcer after partial hepatectomy in the cirrhotic rat]

Possible effects of vagotomy (a means of preventing stress ulcers after partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic liver) on liver regeneration were explored. Cirrhosis was induced in rats by means of intraperitoneally administering 4% thioacetamide for 10 consecutive weeks. These rats were subjected to partial hepatectomy (ca. 68% resection) and vagotomy at the same time. Normal rats of consistent age served as controls after receiving hepatectomy. In controls, which received hepatectomy alone, both gastric pH and gastric wall blood flow showed a significant reduction on the third day after surgery. In animals which received both hepatectomy and vagotomy, postoperative reduction in gastric pH was suppressed, but postoperative reduction in gastric wall blood flow was more marked compared to those of controls. In animals which received both hepatectomy and vagotomy, postoperative 3H-thymidine intake and thymidine kinase activity were markedly suppressed compared to controls. In animals which received both hepatectomy and vagotomy, the peak level of mitotic index and the hepatic regeneration rate were markedly suppressed compared to those of controls. The above results indicate that vagotomy is not advantageous to liver regeneration and prevention of stress ulcer after partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic rat because of its potency of inducing marked reduction in gastric wall blood flow and impediment of liver regeneration.

Acquired von Willebrand disease due to inhibitor of human myeloma protein specific for von Willebrand factor

A patient with acquired von Willebrand disease associated with multiple myeloma (IgG-lambda) is described. Mixture of his plasma or IgG fraction with washed control platelets resulted in the inhibition of aggregation with ristocetin, but mixture of control plasma or IgG fraction with washed patient platelets showed no inhibition of ristocetin-induced aggregation. Although his vWF: Ag, RCo, and factor VIII coagulant activity were all normal, inactivation of RCo was induced in normal plasma by incubation with patient plasma. Crossed immunoelectrophoretic analysis showed that vWF:Ag was composed of much more anodic component. A marked increase of Factor VIII and a rapid return of RCo to the baseline after 1-deamino-8-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) infusion were observed. A transient increase in vWF:Ag after the infusion of DDAVP showed with less anodic forms and in the relative proportion as in normal. Treatment of the underlying disease also led to a correction of the bleeding time, improvement of platelet adhesion and ristocetin-induced aggregation, and normalization of crossed immunoelectrophoresis of vWF:Ag. The present study showed that myeloma-associated IgG interacted specifically with the antigenic sites on the von Willebrand portion of the Factor VIII complex.

Participation of tumor killing factor in the antitumor effect of Sarcophaga lectin

Antibody against tumor-killing factor inhibited cytotoxic activities produced in vitro by mouse peritoneal macrophages and in vivo in the serum of tumor-bearing mice in response to Sarcophaga lectin. These results suggest that tumor-killing factor participates in the antitumor effect of Sarcophaga lectin.

Purification of a cytotoxic protein produced by the murine macrophage-like cell line J774.1 in response to Sarcophaga lectin

A tumor specific cytotoxic protein produced by the murine macrophage-like cell line J774.1 in response to stimulation with Sarcophaga lectin was purified to homogeneity in three steps from the culture medium. This cytotoxin, named tumor killing factor (TKF), was a protein with a molecular weight of 15,000, and aggregated forming an oligomer with a molecular weight of 48,000. Its amino acid composition was similar to that of human TNF. Purified TKF had a significant effect on transplanted murine ascites tumor sarcoma 180. The biological significance of TKF in terms of ontogeny is discussed from the view point of developmental biology.

[Classification of optokinetic after-nystagmus and its topographical-diagnostic significance in man]

The existence of optokinetic after-nystagmus (OKAN) has long been known, as far back as the age of Bárány. The term OKAN means nystagmus appearing after first inducing optokinetic nystagmus, and then the optokinetic stimulation is removed. It appears easily with the eyes open in a dark place. There have been various theories about the mechanism of the onset of OKAN. Sakata et al. previously classified the types of OKAN into the following 7 types: 1) The normal type, (2) the directional preponderance type, (3) the disinhibitory type, (4) the inversive type, (5) the inhibitory type, (6) the dysmetric type, (7) the clonic type. In the present study, the authors performed a vestibular equilibrium function inspection, including an OKAN inspection, on about 10,000 patients who visited the Department of Neuro-Otology with complaints of vertigo and equilibrium disturbance. The results of the inspection were classified in accordance with Sakata's method, and the diagnostic contribution of the OKAN inspection was examined. The diagnostic significance of the OKAN inspection is considered as follows: (1) This inspection can detect a very small difference between the left and right of nystagmus in the vestibular-optokinetic system, which difference cannot be detected with OKP inspection giving a rather strong stimulation or with the caloric test giving a non-physiological strong stimulation. (2) This can be a focal localization diagnostic method by the classification by type.

Antitumor effect of Sarcophaga lectin on murine transplanted tumors

Sarcophaga lectin, a lectin purified from the hemolymph of Sarcophaga peregrina (flesh fly) larvae, was found to be therapeutically effective against both ascitic and solid tumors. It was especially effective when injected directly into or around nodules of the syngeneic tumor Meth A transplanted intradermally into BALB/c mice. It also induced cytotoxic activity against L-929 cells when it was added to the culture medium of macrophages in vitro. Similar cytotoxic activity was detected transiently in the serum when it was injected into the abdominal cavity of mice, in which sarcoma 180 cells had been inoculated. Probably, this cytotoxic activity induced by Sarcophaga lectin partly contributes to the elimination of tumors. The possible role of this cytotoxic activity is discussed from the viewpoint of ontogeny.