[Molar size sequence in seven species of Cercopithecidae]

The size sequence of the molar teeth in three genera, including seven species, of the Cercopithecidae was examined on the basis of mesiodistal and buccolingual crown diameters, and rectangle measurements (mesiodistal d. X buccolingual d.). The determination of molar size order was estimated by the three methods of mean values, size sequences and reductive indices (M2/M1, M3/M1). The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The molar size sequence of the seven species. The pattern of sequence in the molars of the Cercopithecidae was divided into six types: (I) M1 less than M2 less than M3 or (M1M2) less than M3, (II) M1 less than (M2M3), (III) M1 less than M3 less than M2, (IV) (M1M2M3), (V) (M3M1) less than M2, and (VI) M3 less than M1 less than M2 or M3 less than (M1M2). 2. The upper molars. i) The most frequent pattern of mean values found was type II for all the species of the Macaca and Colobus. The two species of Cercopithecus showed predominantly the characteristics of types III, IV and V. ii) The molar size sequence individual data revealed that in the mesiodistal crown diameter types I and II were distributed frequently in the Macaca, types IV and V in the Colobus, and type VI in the Cercopithecus. The reduction of the third molar, therefore, seemed to be more pronounced in the Cercopithecus when compared with the other two genus, Macaca and Colobus, because type VI is the type with more size reduction in the third molar. In the case of the buccolingual crown diameters, the most common size sequences were found in types II and III for the Macaca and Colobus. In the Cercopithecus, however, type V exceeded other types in frequence. iii) The results of the reductive indices showed that the second molars in the Colobus were greatly reduced compared to the first, followed by those of the Cercopithecus and Macaca. In the third molar reduction, the Cercopithecus had a relatively small third molar compared to the first, following the Colobus and Macaca. 3. The lower molars. i) The pattern in the mean values were frequently found to be type I for the Macaca and Colobus, and types III and II for the Cercopithecus. ii) The size sequence in the frequency of the mesiodistal crown diameter was well presented in type I for the Macaca and Colobus, while types IV and V were distributed frequently for Cercopithecus in which the reduction of the third molar was noticeable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

CD4 molecules are associated with the antigen receptor complex on activated but not resting T cells

To explore the relationship between CD4 and CD3/Ti on the T cell surface, we have studied a panel of Ag-specific Th cell lines and clones, as well as resting and mitogen-activated CD4+ cells. Our results show that exposure of Th cells to their specific antigenic stimuli, but not to irrelevant stimuli, induced the rapid disappearance of approximately 20 to 35% of CD3 and CD4 molecules. The modulation of these molecules was detected in less than 1 h, became maximal at 12 h, and recovered thereafter in parallel. Treatment of Th cells with anti-CD4 antibody prevented Ag-induced modulation of CD3, and treatment with anti-CD3 blocked modulation of CD4. In the absence of Ag, treatment of these cells with an antibody (WT-31) directed at a conformational determinant within CD3/Ti or with the combination of anti-CD3 antibody and goat anti-mouse Ig, also resulted in significant modulation of CD4. Similar treatment of PHA-activated CD4+ T cells with anti-CD3/Ti antibodies also induced CD4 modulation; however, the same antibodies failed to affect CD4 expression on fresh resting T cells. These results indicate that on activated, but not resting T cells, CD4 molecules can be physically associated with CD3/Ti. We postulate that this association is essential for efficient Th cell activation, and further that the ability of anti-CD4 antibodies to inhibit helper functions is due to their prevention of CD4-CD3/Ti interaction on the T cell surface.

Experimental study on chemonucleolysis. With special reference to the change of intradiscal pressure

The purpose of this study is to investigate mechanical change in the intervertebral disc after chemonucleolysis. Thirteen monkeys were used. After transperitoneal approach to the lumbar spine, 400 units of Discase was injected into each disc. The animals were killed 1 day; 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 weeks; and 1 year after chymopapain injection. Compression load was applied to the segment composed of a disc and adjacent vertebral bodies. Intradiscal pressure was measured simultaneously. A linear relationship was noticed between compression load and intradiscal pressure. In chymopapain-injected discs, the pre-existing pressure decreased or disappeared, and the increase of pressure for a given load was lower than that of the control. Our biomechanical study suggested that the decrease of intradiscal pressure as a possible mechanism of symptom relief in chemonucleolysis.

[Emergency operation in impending rupture of aortic arch dissecting aneurysm--a case report of dissecting aortic aneurysm with adhesion to the lung after lobectomy]

Successful surgical treatment of impending rupture of a aortic arch dissecting aneurysm in a 59-year-old man was reported. The aneurysm was tightly adhered to the lung, because he had a previous history of lobectomy. In this case, the permanent aortic bypass with permanent aortic clamp as a means of exclusion procedure of the aortic aneurysm was effective. The postoperative course was uneventful. In the emergency operation for aortic arch aneurysm, operative procedure should be selected by operative findings and risk.

[Study of local shiftings of the brain stem in increased intracranial pressure by a supratentorial balloon]

The study of the mechanism of pressure transmission is important for the treatment of rapid deterioration of a patient's condition with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) from a space taking lesion in neurosurgical practice. The aim of this experiment is to clarify the mechanism of pressure transmission during supratentorial balloon inflation, by continuously monitoring local shiftings of the brain using strain gauge sensors. Mongrel dogs and macaca fuscatas were fixed in stereotaxic head frames with light anesthesia. Brain shiftings were evaluated by sensors discriminating two dimensional directions, sagittal and coronal planes, at the cerebrum. Brain stem shift was measured as displacement from the midline at the midbrain and ventro-dorsal shifting in the pons. ICP was raised by inflation of a supratentorial balloon located in the frontal lobe in one group or the temporal lobe in other group. As parameters detecting the changes in the functions of the brain stem, systemic blood pressure (SAP), respiration and pupil size were simultaneously monitored. Shifting of the brain stem occurred in four staged in both groups. During a minimum increment of ICP shifts to the antiballoon side were observed at the occipital lobe and the midbrain. The pons showed no shift in stage I. During the further inflation of the balloon stage II, the pons started to shift to the ventral side. In this stage the temporal lobe, in addition to the occipital lobe, shifted to the antiballoon side. There was a tendency for stage II to last longer for the frontal balloon than for the temporal balloon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Distribution and constitutional changes of edema fluid in cytotoxic brain edema analyzed by electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry]

To understand the pathogenesis of brain edema, we studied distribution and constitutional changes of brain-tissue water by morphological and thermoanalytical methods in cytotoxic brain edema induced by 6-aminonicotinamide (6-ANA). Ninety-two Wistar rats were divided into three groups; Group I rats receiving physiological salt solution intraperitoneally served as controls. Group II and III animals were intraperitoneally given 120 mg/kg and 36 mg/kg of 6-ANA respectively. All animals were starved after injection of drugs to exclude differences in water intake. Then they were decapitated at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 or 48 hours to measure specific gravity (SG) of large brain tissue (1.1-1.5 g), and to evaluate water content (WC) and free water ratio (FWR) of small brain-tissue samples (15-35 mg) taken from the frontal cortex; WC was measured by a drying-weighing method, and FWR was analyzed with a differential scanning calorimeter. Moreover morphological changes of the frontal cortex of the brain were studied in Group II (n = 12) at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours with an electron microscope. Neurological status of animals administered 6-ANA (Group II and III) deteriorated with time. Morphological studies showed that perivascular astrocytes and astrocytic processes in the cerebral cortex were swollen most remarkably at 48 hours. However neuronal and endothelial cells were almost intact. The FWR of Group I decreased significantly about four per cent (p less than 0.001) after being starved for 48 hours. But the SG and WC of the group showed little change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Oncogenic potential of hepatitis B virus

The function of the X gene was clarified by examination of the transient production of hepatitis B virus (HBV) particles by transfected recombinant HBV DNA (pHBV-3 DNA) and its frameshift mutant (delta X) of the X open reading frame into hepatocellular carcinoma HuH-7 and HepG2 cells. No reduction of viral mRNAs was observed in the HuH-7 cells by the delta X mutant, whereas mRNAs underwent marked reduction in HepG2 cells. No reduction in core particle production was observed in HuH-7 cells, but in HepG2 cells reduction was considerable. To clarify the significance of the delta X mutation in the trans-acting function of the X gene in hepatoma cells, the chloramphenicol acetyl/transferase (CAT) assay was conducted. Transfection of plasmid pHBV-3 into HepG2 cells increased CAT activity of pSV2-CAT, while the delta X mutation clearly showed no stimulation of activity. On the other hand, in the HuH-7 cells, pHBV-3 exhibited no such stimulation. The trans-acting function of the X gene product in two different hepatoma cells was clearly shown to differ. Furthermore, transfection of X gene expression plasmid pKSV-HBx into mouse NIH3T3 cells increased the CAT activity of pSV2-CAT. Trans-activation was still detectable even following deletion of enhancer sequences in the pSV2CAT. The oncogenic potential of HBV is discussed with special attention to the X gene product, which may be able to activate a cellular transcription factor at the viral and cellular promotor sequences in the cells.

Role of c-Myc on erythroid differentiation

In the early event of the induction of mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cell differentiation, c-myc mRNA levels show a biphasic change. The elevated expression of a transfected c-myc gene inhibits the commitment and differentiation of MEL cell transformants. In the present work, we have introduced human c-myc mutants into MEL cells under the inducible promoter to define the functional domains of c-Myc involved in erythroid differentiation. The c-Myc domains necessary for commitment and differentiation are not colocalized; almost entire regions are required for inhibition of commitment, whereas domains II and IV that are essential for co-transforming activity with ras are required for inhibition of differentiation. Interestingly, mutants that delete domains for c-Myc dimerization motifs enhanced differentiation. Thus, c-Myc interferes with MEL cell differentiation by interacting with c-Myc partners and the induced protein(s) through dimerization domains. These results suggest that c-Myc may regulate commitment and differentiation by interacting with proteins through different domains.

Urinary glycopeptides of fucosidosis

Fucosidosis is unique among congenital exoglycosidase deficiencies, because not only oligosaccharides but large amount of glycopeptides are excreted in the urine. The structures of 22 major glycopeptides isolated from urine of a fucosidosis patient were determined. One of the prominent features common to all these glycopeptides was that they all contain 1 fucosyl residue at either C-3 or C-6 position of the N-acetylglucosamine which is linked to asparagine. Possibly, accumulation of glycopeptides in fucosidosis urine is caused by the inability of human endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase to cleave the asparagine-linked sugar chains, which have a fucose at the innermost N-acetylglucosamine residue.

[Cognitive function and MRI findings in very low birth weight infants]

Twenty-two very low birth weight infants at preschool ages of 5-6 years were studied to clarify the correlation between cognitive function and MRI findings. Cognitive function was evaluated by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and the Frostig developmental test of visual perception. Ventricular enlargement, assessed by the bioccipital index (B. I.) measured on MRI, was correlated to cognitive disorders. Children with periventricular high intensity areas (T2-weighted images) extending from the posterior periventricular region to the parietal lobe tend to highly suffer from cerebral palsy and visuo-perceptual impairment. These results indicate that the disorders of cognitive function in very low birth weight infants were caused by a damage of association fibers in periventricular areas which was detectable by MRI.