Developmental patterns of heart rate in altricial avian embryos and hatchlings

The aims of this study were to determine the patterns of development of heart rate (fH) in altricial avian embryos and hatchlings, and then to examine how fH is regulated to meet metabolic requirements in altricial embryos. Embryonic mean heart rate (fH-) in 12 altricial species (Passeriformes and Psittaciformes) increased during pre-pipping incubation in all species except the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), in which fH- tended to decrease prior to pipping. The rate of increase in fH- tripled during the pipping phase in all species, and fH- was significantly higher during the pipping period and in hatchlings than during pre-pipping development. The O2 pulse (O2 consumed per cardiac beat) of altricial embryos increased in direct proportion to embryo mass (loge/loge base), although fH- was often low prior to pipping, implying that stroke volume increases in the second half of incubation. We conclude that fH contributes more than other factors towards supplying the metabolic demands of the embryo during the middle of incubation and the final pipping phase, but less during the intervening period of late incubation.

Heart rate responses to altered ambient oxygen in early (days 3-9) chick embryos in the intact egg

Normal heart rate (HR), and the HR responses to hypoxia and hyperoxia during early heart development in chick embyros have not been studied in detail, particularly in undisturbed embryos within the intact egg. HR was measured in day 3-9 chick embryos at 38 degrees C using relatively noninvasive impedance cardiography. Embryos were exposed to air (control) and to hypoxic (10% O2) or hyperoxic (100% O2) gas for a 2-h or 4-h period, during which HR was continually monitored. Control (normoxic) HR increased from about 150 beats per min (bpm) on day 3 to about 240 bpm on days 7-9. HR in very early embryos showed a variety of moderate responses to hypoxia (all survived), but as development progressed beyond day 6, hypoxic exposure induced a profound bradycardia that frequently terminated in death before the end of the measurement period. In contrast to the marked developmental changes in hypoxic sensitivity, HR showed little response to hyperoxia throughout development, suggesting no "hypoxic drive" to HR. We speculate that hypoxia has little effect early in development because of the embryo's small absolute O2 demand, but as the embryo grows, hypoxia represents a progressively more severe perturbation. Although general trends were identified, there was considerable variation in both HR and HR responses to ambient O2 changes between individuals of the same developmental stage.

Urinary free beta hCG, beta core fragment and total oestriol as markers of Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy

In a study of 69 random urine samples from cases of Down syndrome and 405 samples from unaffected pregnancies, we have assessed the value of various candidate markers that have been proposed as tools for screening for Down syndrome. We found that the marker urine free beta hCG in Down syndrome had a median MoM of 3.53 (95 per cent confidence interval 2.48-4.68) and at a 5 per cent cut-off would have identified 49 per cent (34/69) of cases. Urine beta core had a median MoM of 4.95 (3.87-8.62) and at a 5 per cent cut-off would have identified 39 per cent (27/69) of cases. Total oestriol had a median MoM of 0.65 (0.55-0.80) and at a 5 per cent cut-off would have identified 35 per cent (24/69) of cases. In conjunction with maternal age, the modelled detection rate increased to 55.8 per cent for free beta hCG, 49.8 per cent for beta core and 48.8 per cent for total oestriol. In combination free beta hCG, total oestriol and maternal age would have detected 68 per cent of cases for a 5 per cent false-positive rate. Using analyte ratios to obviate the need to correct for urine dilution in our study (rather than correcting to a fixed creatinine concentration) was not shown to be as effective as correcting using urine creatinine. Urine markers on the whole are unlikely to be of practical screening value considering the 85 per cent to 90 per cent detection rates achievable in the first trimester using a combination of ultrasound and maternal serum biochemistry.

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms affect secondary hyperparathyroidism in hemodialyzed patients

Adynamic bone disease unrelated to aluminum deposition, with low parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, has increased in patients with end-stage renal failure. Some patients present with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism despite calcitriol administration and phosphate restriction. Because therapeutic and environmental factors are now similar among hemodialyzed patients, the variable incidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism may be caused by genetic heterogeneity. To examine this possibility, we analyzed restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene in 877 Japanese hemodialysis patients. VDR allelic polymorphism was determined by the method of Morrison et al. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and a BsmI endonuclease restriction site at the 5' end of the VDR gene defined BB (absence of restriction site on both alleles), Bb (heterozygous), or bb (restriction site on both alleles). The mean serum PTH level was lower in BB patients (86 +/- 102 pg/mL) than in bb patients (148 +/- 217 pg/mL; P < 0.05). The serum osteocalcin level was also lower in BB than in bb patients (P < 0.05). If results were re-analyzed excluding patients with a history of dialysis exceeding 10 years or those with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or who had undergone parathyroidectomy, the differences in serum PTH levels were greater. However, there was no significant difference in serum PTH levels among the VDR genotypes, only for patients with NIDDM. The present study shows that patients with the b allele for the VDR gene have more severe secondary hyperparathyroidism than patients without the b allele. However, NIDDM or a long history of hemodialysis has a stronger power to influence PTH secretion.

Development of heart rate irregularities in chick embryos

Heart rate (HR) irregularities in chick embryos were defined as large fluctuations (>10 beats/min) comprising irregular, brief deceleration and/or acceleration of instantaneous HR (IHR). IHR was determined directly from the arterial blood pressure while adequate gas exchange was maintained through an eggshell and chorioallantoic membrane. Five embryos were examined on each day from day 11 to day 19 of incubation. Baseline HR was stable until day 12-13, and on around day 13-14 transient, rapid deceleration of HR (termed V pattern) began to appear, with a subsequent increase in its frequency and magnitude. The acceleration patterns (lambda, avian omega, and periodic patterns) appeared later, and the IHR became increasingly irregular, with additional, spontaneous deceleration and acceleration patterns toward hatching. Additional experiments with intravenous administration of autonomic drugs clearly showed that rapid deceleration of HR was mediated by parasympathetic nervous function but did not always show clear relations of sympathomimetic and sympathetic blocking agents to the acceleration patterns.

Development of heart rate in the precocial king quail Coturnix chinensis

Our aim was to examine changes in heart rate (fh) during the embryonic and posthatching periods of the smallest precocial avian species, Coturnix chinensis. In experiment I, repeated measurements of mean fh were made for individual quail by ballistocardiogram (BCG) during incubation, and by both piezo-electric film and electrocardiogram (ECG) during the posthatching period (resting and thermoneutral conditions). Mean fh of all embryos increased during the second half of incubation and the first week posthatching, but a few embryos experienced a very brief period of decreased fh prior to internal pipping. After the first week, fh of posthatching quail was maintained at high levels (550-650 beats min-1), then decreased with age and increase in body mass. The maximal fh of quail chicks represents a greater posthatching increase in fh than is found in larger precocial chickens, this difference being attributable to the higher demands of thermoregulation at small body masses in the quail. In experiment II, the mean fh of quail embryos (day 2-16) was recorded by ECG, and embryonic stage, yolk-free embryo mass (wet and dry) and water content were measured. Mean fh was linearly related to embryo mass throughout incubation, except on the day prior to internal pipping, when the fh of a few embryos declined below this linear relationship. Measurements of instantaneous fh of late incubation embryos, young and adult quail all showed spontaneous fluctuations in fh. Two main frequency components of fh fluctuations were identified for the first time in an avian species. Low-frequency (mean 0.09 Hz, 12.6 s) and high-frequency (1.4 Hz, 0.9 s) oscillations in both young chicks and adult quail were detected and are considered to reflect baroreflex mediation of fh and respiratory sinus arrhythmia, respectively.

Is the bone mass of hemodialysis patients genetically determined?

Polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) has been linked to bone mineral density in twins, postmenopausal osteoporosis, and premenopausal woman. We examined the possibility that the bone mass in hemodialysis (HD) patients might be determined by VDR. The study consisted of 229 HD patients with a mean age of 53.3 years (range 21 to 83), who were dialyzed three times a week for an average of 8.65 (range 0.2 to 24) years. We determined their VDR using DNA of peripheral white blood cells by restriction enzyme BsmI and the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Bone mineral content (BMC) was estimated at 1/3 of the radius using dual energy X-ray bone absorptiometry, and expressed in z-scores standardized by gender and age. Distributions of VDR in this hemodialysis population were BB (9.9%), Bb (13.1%), and bb (77.0%), showing no significant different from those in 105 healthy volunteers (BB, 7.6%; Bb, 13.3%; and bb, 79.0%). Multiple regression analysis revealed that gender, age, duration on HD, and serum osteocalcin are major determinants of BMC (r = 0.762, P < 0.001), while VDR and serum parathyroid hormone are not. In a subgroup with younger (< 65 years) patients dialyzed for less than 8.65 years, the z-score of BMC of patients with BB allele was less than those with Bb and bb allele (N = 77, P = 0.020). We conclude that vitamin D receptor polymorphism is not one of the main determinants of BMC of HD patients, though it might partially effect bone mass in a subgroup of younger HD patients with shorter HD histories. Further studies with longitudinal observation will be needed to confirm these possibilities.

Ballistocardiogram of avian eggs determined by an electromagnetic induction coil

As an avian embryo grows within an eggshell, the whole egg is moved by embryonic activity and also by the embryonic heartbeat. A technical interest in detecting minute biological movements has prompted the development of techniques and systems to measure the cardiogenic ballistic movement of the egg or ballistocardiogram (BCG). In this context, there is interest in using an electromagnetic induction coil (solenoid) as another simple sensor to measure the BCG and examining its possibility for BCG measurement. A small permanent magnet is attached tightly to the surface of an incubated egg, and then the egg with the magnet is placed in a solenoid. Preliminary model analysis is made to design a setup of the egg, magnet and solenoid coupling system. Then, simultaneous measurement with a laser displacement measuring system, developed previously, is made for chicken eggs, indicating that the solenoid detects the minute cardiogenic ballistic movements and that the BCG determined is a measure of the velocity of egg movements.

Non-invasive determination of instantaneous heart rate in developing avian embryos by means of acoustocardiogram

Previous noninvasive studies of the mean heart rate of embryonic birds have prompted an investigation into the instantaneous heart rate (IHR), which may be informative in developmental studies of cardiac rhythm. Using the acoustocardiogram (ACG), a noninvasive, long-term measuring system for embryonic IHR is developed, and the IHR in chickens during the last half of embryonic development is determined. The system, which uses a micro-computer, samples the ACG at a frequency of 50 Hz, restores the ACG wave by sinc function and calculates the IHR with an error in accuracy of less than 1 beat min-1. It was found that characteristic, transient bradycardia begins to appear late in the second week of incubation, and, with the additional development of transient tachycardia, the embryonic cardiac rhythm becomes more arrhythmic towards hatching. Simultaneous measurements of IHR with somatic movements showed no relationship between arrhythmia and embryonic activities. This system is useful, providing new evidence on long-term IHR developmental patterns.

DNA ploidy heterogeneity in early and advanced gastric cancers

To evaluate the clinical utility of flow cytometric DNA analysis in gastric cancers, four or more fresh tissue specimens were systematically taken from gastric cancers in 127 consecutive patients including 68 early cancers. DNA ploidy and its variation in individual tumors were determined, and the data were related to clinicopathologic findings. DNA aneuploidy was detected frequently (84.3%) irrespective of tumor progression and correlated significantly with histologic grade (G1-2 [89.6%] vs. G3-4 [76.0%], P < 0.05). DNA ploidy heterogeneity was found in 67.7% of tumors and correlated with invasion depth (mucosa [40.5%] vs. submucosa-serosa [81.2%], P < 0.001), regional lymph node metastases (negative [58.4%] vs. positive [82.0%], P < 0.01), and stage grouping (I [58.8%] vs. II-IV [86.0%], P < 0.01). The maximum DNA index of a tumor correlated significantly with invasion depth (mucosa [1.16, median] vs. submucosa [1.82], P < 0.01) and lymph node metastases (negative [1.22] vs. positive [1.86], P < 0.001). The DNA index of the subpopulation that was the most widely distributed within the tumor was significantly associated with lymph node metastases (negative [1.14, median] vs. positive [1.44], P < 0.001) and histologic grade (G1-2 [1.37] vs. G3-4 [1.12], P < 0.001). More than 80% of the diploid and/or single aneuploid stemline tumors were stage I, whereas more than half of diploid and multiple aneuploid stemline tumors were stage IV. Variation in DNA ploidy rather than presence of DNA aneuploidy correlates best with progression of gastric cancer.

Developmental patterns of O2 consumption, heart rate and O2 pulse in unturned eggs

The effects of failure to turn eggs on the developmental patterns of oxygen consumption (MO2), heart rate (fH) and O2 pulse during the second half of incubation of individual chicken eggs were examined. The MO2 of unturned eggs increased at a significantly lower rate than the control toward the end of prenatal incubation, and the plateau MO2 between day 17 and 19 was significantly lower than the control. Lack of turning also resulted in significant changes in the developmental patterns of fH and O2 pulse. It is suggested that the effects of lack of egg-turning on the developmental patterns of MO2 may be attributable to lower embryonic growth rate in addition to impairment of gas exchange through the chorioallantoic gas exchanger.

Effects of pre-incubation egg storage on embryonic functions and growth

The effect of pre-incubation storage on physiological functions of chick embryos during the last half of incubation and the relationship to embryonic growth were studied. In the first experiment, eggs were stored for 20 or 30 days, respectively, and the developmental patterns of oxygen consumption (MO2), heart rate (fH) and O2 pulse of individual embryos were examined. The MO2 of stored eggs increased at significantly lower rate than the control between day 12 and 17 of incubation, and the stored eggs had a significantly lower plateau MO2 between day 17 and 19. The decrease in MO2 of some stored eggs was correlated with late incubation mortality. Pre-incubation storage also resulted in significant changes in the developmental patterns of fH and O2 pulse. In the second experiment, the eggs were stored for 10 and 20 days, respectively, to also examine the effect of short-term storage on the development of MO2 in relation to embryo growth. Pre-incubation storage for 10 days had no significant effect, but 20 days storage shifted developmental patterns of MO2, wet mass, dry mass and embryo water fraction to the right of the control. Furthermore, MO2 was significantly lower than expected on the basis of embryo mass after day 17 of incubation. Prolonged pre-incubation storage caused not only a rightward shift in MO2 pattern due to retarded growth, but also severe depression of MO2 during the last stages of prenatal development.

[Chronic active EB virus infection accompanied by monoclonal proliferation of granular lymphocytes]

An 18-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of 39 degrees C fever for over one month, marked hepatosplenomegaly, and pancytopenia. Malignant histiocytosis, malignant lymphoma, or hemophagocytic syndrome were ruled out by bone marrow aspiration and liver biopsy. A diagnosis of chronic EB virus infection was made according to his characteristic clinical features, abnormally high titiers of anti-EBV antibodies (VCA-IgG x 2560, EA-IgG x 1280), and the detection of EBV genome in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells by polymerase chain reaction. He also manifested granular lymphocyte proliferative disorder (GLPD). The phenotype of the proliferating granular lymphocytes was CD2 (+), CD3 (-), CD56 (+), and IL-2R beta (+), showing the NK lineage of these cells. Chromosomal abnormality of the cells cultured for a short time with IL-2 and a monoclonal junctional DNA structure of EB virus terminal repeat analyzed by the Southern blotting provided definitive evidence for the monoclonal expansion of the granular lymphocytes. These findings indicate a causative role of EV virus in NK-GLPD or NK-leukemia.

Comparisons between invasive and noninvasive determinations of embryonic heart rate in chickens

The embryonic heart rate (HR) of chicken eggs was determined by ballistocardiography, electrocardiography, impedance-cardiography and acoustocardiography. The effects of these different methods on the HR were examined for young (12-day-old) and late (16- and 18-day-old) embryos. Ballistocardiography is a non-invasive method. Nevertheless, the mean HRs determined using this method at 5-hr intervals were significantly different in many embryos. This difference was caused by the natural variability of embryonic HR. The statistical analyses indicated that any of these four methods did not influence the HR measurement and can be used as a simple means for determination of the embryonic HR.

[Diagnostic value of DNA ploidy in epithelial elevated lesions of the stomach]

Using flow cytometry, we evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of DNA aneuploidy in epithelial elevated lesions of the stomach. Four biopsy specimens were obtained from each lesion in 14 elevated early cancers, 21 adenomas, 37 hyperplastic polyps and 11 cases of chronic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia. All samples obtained from benign lesions indicated diploidy. DNA aneuploidy was detected in 12 lesions (85.7%) of early cancers. DNA indices ranged from 1.10 to 1.19 in six of 10 intramucosal cancers with DNA aneuploidy. Meanwhile, a total of two submucosally invasive cancers had stemlines with a DNA index of more than 2.00. Four early cancers, including two submucosally invasive ones, had multiple aneuploid stemlines. DNA aneuploidy is a useful marker of malignancy in epithelial elevated lesions of the stomach. A higher DNA index and multiple aneuploid stemlines may be possible markers of submucosal invasion in early cancer.

[Intraocular penetration of current antibiotics]

We studied the intraocular penetration of 42 antibiotics in white rabbit eyes between 1980 to 1990 in our department. The parenteral route (intravenous, intramuscular): the ratios of maximum aqueous humor to serum level were 5.28-11.6% in penicillins (PCs), 5.95-20.17% in cephems and 13.4-30.27% in aminoglycosides (AGs). The aqueous concentration of antibiotics reached a peak within 1/4-1 hour after injection. Oral administration: the ratios of aqueous to serum level were 8.52-20.6% in PCs, 3.62-20.11% in cephems, 22.8-75.8% in macrolides (MLs) and 6.38-23.6% in quinolones. The aqueous concentration of antibiotics reached a peak within 1-4 hours after oral administration. The ratio of aqueous to serum level was the highest in MLs. The aqueous level reached a peak faster and the ratio of aqueous to serum level was higher by injection than by oral administration.

Simple, noninvasive system for measuring the heart rate of avian embryos and hatchlings by means of a piezoelectric film

Using a flexible piezoelectric film, the authors developed a simple system to determine noninvasively the heart rate of chicken embryos and hatchlings. The film was piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which is sensitive enough to detect cardiogenic ballistic movements of the egg (ballistocardiogram (BCG)) and precordial movements of the hatchling attributable to cardiac contractions (apexcardiogram (ACG)). The BCG could be detected, during the second half of incubation, by placing the egg on the PVDF film on a soft substrate. The detected signal was found to be a measure of movement velocity. The ACG could be measured when the hatchling's chest wall made contact with the PVDF film installed in a box in which the hatchling was confined. The heart rate was counted from the lag time of autocorrelation calculated for a certain time segment (e.g. 2 s) of the BCG and ACG recordings.

[Histopathology of corneal plaque in vernal keratoconjunctivitis]

The author reported 2 cases of vernal keratoconjunctivitis with corneal plaque showing a white board-like appearance. Conventional medications were not effective in both cases and during the course of the disease corneal ulcer developed followed by formation of corneal plaque. After the plaque spontaneously peeled off, or were surgically removed, the ulcers of both cases healed. The histological specimens from the 2 cases were examined by light and electron microscopy. The plaques showed lamellae-like structures, and formed alternate accumulation of hyaline-like material and another amorphous material. No cell components, such as corneal epithelial cells, keratocytes, or fibroblasts, were found either on the surface of and within the plaques. The corneal epithelial cells and/or eosinophils, however, were found at the edge of the plaque. These findings may suggest that these corneal plaques were formed by repeated episodes of deposition and that corneal epithelial cells and eosinophils may have been involved.

Non-invasive determination of heart rate in newly hatched chicks

1. Using a flexible piezoelectric probe, we detected non-invasively the cardiogenic precordial movements of domestic fowl chicks and measured heart rate (HR) daily over the first week after hatching (day 0) for comparison with previously measured embryonic HR. 2. HR of the hatchlings was much more variable than embryonic HR. The mean HR at a given age also varied among the 5 chicks measured. 3. The overall mean HR was 280 +/- 20 (SD, n = 5) bpm on day 0. This value was similar to the prepipping HR and lower than that of externally pipped embryos. It increased to 342 +/- 39 bpm 3 days later.

[Symptoms, signs and laboratory findings in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome]

This review summarizes the symptoms, signs and laboratory abnormalities seen in 59 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), 2 patients with post-infectious CFS and in 26 patients with possible CFS whose illnesses fulfill the criteria proposed by the study group of the Ministry of Welfare, Japan. The characteristic symptoms and signs of CFS are prolonged generalized fatigue following exercise, headache, neuropsychological symptoms, sleep disturbance and mild fever. In possible CFS patients, the frequency of mild fever, muscle weakness, myalgia and headache is low. Our standard hematologic and laboratory tests revealed a few abnormality in patients with CFS. The characteristic abnormality in CFS patients is the low values of 17-Ketosteroid-Sulfates/creatinine in morning urine and the acylcarnitine deficiency. It seems likely that this deficiency of acylcarnitine induces an energy deficit in the skeletal muscle, resulting in general fatigue, myalgia, muscle weakness and postexertional malaise in CFS patients. Virologic studies revealed no evidence of retrovirus infection with HTLV-1, HTLV-2 and HIV, but the reactivation of HHV-6 infection was apparent.

Early diagnosis of tuberculosis by fibreoptic bronchoscopy

We carried out a retrospective study of the methods used to achieve an early diagnosis of 67 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis treated at our institute between 1984 and 1989. Sputum bacteriology was positive in 56 of the 67 patients, 22 were positive on microscopical examination of smears and on culture and 34 on culture alone. The 11 patients with negative sputum bacteriology were all diagnosed by fibreoptic bronchoscopy. In addition, 21 of the 34 smear-negative/culture-positive patients were examined by fibreoptic bronchoscopy and the initial diagnosis was made in 7 of these. Thus the initial diagnosis was made by sputum bacteriology in 49 cases and by fibreoptic bronchoscopy in 18 cases. The median number of days between obtaining a specimen and starting therapy was 7 days for sputum microscopy, 41 days for sputum culture, 7 days for microscopic examination of bronchoscopy specimens, 51 days for culture of the same and 19 days for biopsy. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy is therefore useful for the diagnosis of cases of tuberculosis in which tubercle bacilli are not detected in sputum and, in some instances, for an earlier diagnosis of smear-negative/culture-positive patients.

Synchronous cancer of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and lymphocytic leukemia (B-cell type): a case report

The patient was an 82-year-old male who consulted us over a lymph node enlargement in the right side of his neck. The WBC was 23,700/microliters (lymphocytes 80%), and a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was given based on the findings of a bone marrow puncture and lymph node biopsy. During the observation period, abnormal shadows accompanied by cavitation appeared in the right lower lung field, and CT-guided percutaneous biopsy findings indicated a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. No metastatic lesions were noted. No aggressive surgical or internal treatments were performed in consideration of the patient's age. The patient was admitted again and died of respiratory failure due to lung carcinoma. Reports of CLL and other malignant tumors arising in one patient are rare in Japan, and those of their occurring concurrently are even rarer. In the present report, a case of synchronous cancer of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and CLL is described, together with a review of the literature.

[MRSA ocular infections]

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are organisms that frequently cause conjunctivitis, keratitis and endophthalmitis. MRSA comprised about 25% of the S. aureus isolated from ocular infections; most were from compromised host. MRSA was resistant to penicillins, cephems and macrolides but was sensitive to amikacin, netilmicin, minocycline and ofloxacin. Ofloxacin-resistant strains, however increased rapidly. Topical vancomycin, arbekacin and minocycline were used when commercially available antibiotics were inadequate.

Metabolic responses of chicken embryos and hatchlings to altered O2 environments

The oxygen consumption (MO2) response over a 4 h period of exposure to altered ambient O2 (air, 10, 15, 40, 60, 80 and 100%), helium (He) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) environments was determined for young (12 days old) and late (16 and 18 days old) embryos, externally pipped (EP) eggs and just hatched chicks (hatchlings) of the domestic fowl. The young embryos were insensitive to hyperoxic gas mixtures and to He exposure, while the late embryos increase their MO2 in hyperoxic environments, independently of O2 concentration, and also in a He atmosphere. Both the young and late embryos responded to SF6 exposure with decreasing MO2, as SF6 reduces O2 diffusivity through the eggshell. The MO2 of EP eggs and hatchlings in He and SF6 varied very widely, the effects of altered diffusivity being insignificant. In hypoxic environments in which the MO2 decreased, the fall of MO2 became smaller as embryos developed and particularly after they pipped the shell and hatched. In an atmosphere of 10% O2, the MO2 of all embryos in the egg before hatching decreased to below 10% of the control after 4 h, while in hatchlings the MO2 remained above 80% of the control. As all embryos in situ in the egg depend entirely or partly on diffusion in order to obtain O2, this emphasizes the limitation of the diffusive process. A 4 h exposure to 10% O2 was lethal for embryos in the egg even if they had pipped the shell and were breathing air with the lungs.

Embryonic heart rate of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) in a quasiequilibrium state of altered ambient temperatures

1. The heart rates (fH) of 12-day-old embryos (young), 16- and 18-day-old embryos (late) and of 20-day-old embryos (externally pipped eggs, EP) were measured noninvasively at a temperature of 38 degrees C and after a 5 hr exposure to an ambient temperature (Ta) within the range 34-46 degrees C. 2. All embryos survived the 5 hr exposure to Ta of 42 degrees C. The lethal Ta ranged from 44 degrees C (EP eggs) to 46 degrees C (young embryos). 3. The temperature coefficient (Q10) of fH became smaller than 2 in EP eggs as Ta was decreased or increased from 38 degrees C, implying an incipient homeothermic response of fH.

Cardiogenic ballistograms of chicken eggs: comparison of measurements

In the incubated avian egg, minute movements occur that are synchronised with embryonic cardiac contractions. We previously developed two systems to noninvasively record this cardiogenic ballistic movement of the egg (referred to as the ballistocardiogram, BCG); one was based on applying an audiocartridge and the other a laser speckle phenomenon. A third system, which detects the ballistic movement as the measurement of displacement (referred to as displacement BCG), is applied in the present study, together with the previous two systems, to the ballistocardiography of the egg. The BCG is measured with three systems simultaneously for comparison. The differentiation of the displacement BCG produces a pattern identical to the BCG recorded by the cartridge method, and the integrated pattern of the latter BCG is identical to the displacement BCG. This indicates that the cartridge system detects the cardiogenic movement as the measure of velocity and it may be referred to as velocity BCG. The BCG by the laser speckle method is not related to that recorded by the other two systems, which may be referred to as movement BCG.

[Informed consent of the family in the chemotherapy for lung cancer]

In Japan where the question of cancer notification has yet to be resolved, it is difficult to obtain an informed consent from the patient himself in clinical studies of the chemotherapies for cancer. In fact, the chemotherapy is administered while not enough explanation is given to the family let alone the patient. Such is the present situation. For the purpose of finding out the best possible method at present, we carried out a method whereby an informed consent of the family is substituted for a consent of the patient in phase II study of inoperable non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. As a result, the consent was obtained from 21 (91.3%) out of 23 families. This method should be taken into consideration as a feasible one under the present circumstances. It was in only one family (4.3%) that a consent on the notification of diagnosis from the family to the patient was obtained. In order for the informed consent to be established, efforts to form a social consensus on cancer notification are needed.

[Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the rabbit corneal epithelium]

Adherence of bacteria to the corneal epithelium is the first step in the pathogenesis of corneal infection. Keratitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa usually occurs among the contact lens wearers. Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to rabbit corneal epithelium, damaged by one week of hard contact lens wear, was examined histologically. The cornea was excised for scanning electron microscopy at 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after inoculation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.2 ml, 10(8)CFU/ml). Pseudomonas aeruginosa did not adhere to the intact corneal epithelium, but traumatized cornea provided a site for adherence. In rabbits in which the eyelid was opened by lid retractors, large numbers of organisms were observed adhering to the injured cornea mediated by ocular surface mucin. Thirty minutes after inoculation, the adherent bacteria began to penetrate the epithelial cells and surface mucin by the formation of pockets surrounding the organism.

Comparative metabolic responses to prolonged cooling in precocial duck (Anas domestica) and altricial pigeon (Columba domestica) embryos

1. Embryos and hatchlings of the duck and pigeon were exposed to a lowered temperature for 6 hr. The oxygen consumption (MO2) was measured before and after cooling and the ratio of the two was compared with that predicted for a temperature coefficient of 2 (Arrhenius value). 2. Late prenatal ducks kept the MO2 above the Arrhenius value at 28 degrees C, while the MO2 of pigeon hatchlings became the same as the Arrhenius value even at 32 degrees C. 3. Thus, incipient homeothermic ability appears in the duck during prenatal development, but it is not evident in the pigeon even after emergence from the shell. The precocial chicken and semi-precocial noddy previously studied are intermediate in their metabolic response between the duck and the pigeon.

[Giant renal cell carcinoma: a case report]

Though renal cell carcinoma is a fairly common disease, it is extremely rare to encounter a case providing a resected mass as large as over 2,000 g in weight. We report a case in which a giant 2,200 g tumor was resected after renal arterial embolization and interferon treatment for reduction of its size. A forty-three-year-old woman was first seen at a certain hospital with a chief complaint of fever and right flank pain. Under suspicion of right renal tumor, nephrectomy by extraperitoneal flank incision was attempted. However, the tumor was too large to be resected. After transfer to our department, she was treated by renal arterial embolization with absolute ethanol and steel coil and by the administration of interferon (rIFN-alpha A). As the tumor shrank to 77% of its original size on CT measurements and became mobile, transperitoneal nephrectomy was performed. The resected mass was as large as 12 x 12 x 21 cm. Pathologically, it was a clear cell type tumor showing mucinous degeneration and hyaline degeneration of tumor cells. Interferon used amounted to as high as 864 x 10(6) units, but no particular side effect occurred. No recurrence has been detected so far.

Noninvasive heart rate monitoring system for avian embryos based on the ballistocardiogram

A noninvasive heart rate (HR) monitoring system for avian embryos has been developed based on the ballistocardiogram (BCG). The BCG was detected using a phonograph cartridge as a record of the velocity of the minute ballistic movements of the eggshell, which are generated by recoil and impact of heart contraction and blood ejection. The autocorrelation coefficients (ACCs) of the detected signal were computed to confirm whether the detected signal contained ballistic movement. An envelope of ACC was calculated by the monitoring system to measure the intervals between peaks and/or highly correlated parts in the ACC, and then the system obtained HR by measuring these intervals. To demonstrate the valid range of the detecting method, the BCGs of chickens and Japanese quail embryos of different ages were measured. The result of the experiment shows that the BCGs of chickens and quail embryos are detected fully after about two-thirds of the incubation period has passed. The monitoring system will enable us to perform long-term HR measurement for developing avian embryos up to hatching.

Simultaneous acquisition of ECG, BCG, and blood pressure from chick embryos in the egg

The applicability of the audiocartridge system to simultaneous measurements of the ballistic movements from multiple points of the egg was examined in late chick embryos. Despite direct contact between the cartridges and the egg, minute movements of the egg attributable to cardiac contractions of the embryo (ballistocardiogram, BCG) could be simultaneously detected from at least three points. The results showed that the amplitude of BCG waves was dependent on the site of detection, indicating that the BCG was a directional wave. The cartridge system for BCG measurement was incorporated in the electrocardiography and arterial catheterization to acquire simultaneously electrocardiogram (ECG), BCG, and blood pressure from the embryo confined in the egg. Isochronal comparison of these waves indicated that the ballistic movements of the embryo might be caused not only by the ventricular contraction but also by the atrial excitation, i.e., the BCG comprised waves appearing in the ventricular presystolic, contraction, and ejection periods. For wide changes in the heart rate, the approximate isometric ventricular contraction period remained almost constant.

[Microbiological and pharmacokinetic studies on flomoxef in ophthalmologic field]

Microbiological and pharmacokinetic studies were carried out on flomoxef (FMOX, 6315-S), a new oxacephem parenteral antibiotic, in the ophthalmologic field. The results obtained are summarized as follows. FMOX has a broad antimicrobial activity spectrum against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The MIC distribution against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical cases was less than or equal to 0.20 - greater than or equal to 100 micrograms/ml with the peak value of 0.39 micrograms/ml. Concentrations of FMOX in aqueous humor and ocular tissues were determined after intravenous injection of 50 mg/kg to rabbits. FMOX showed a peak level of 2.2 micrograms/ml in the aqueous humor at 1/2 hour after administration with the ratio to serum level of 3.4%. Levels of FMOX in external and internal ocular tissues were 12.7 - 76.5 micrograms/g, less than 0.8 - 34.4 micrograms/g (ml) at 1/2 hour after administration, respectively. From these results, we concluded that FMOX may be expected to be a useful and valuable agent against infections in the ophthalmologic field.

Metabolic responses of chicken embryos to graded, prolonged alterations in ambient temperature

1. Chicken embryos aged 12, 16, 18 and 20 (externally pipped) days of incubation were exposed to graded reductions (2 degrees C) in ambient temperature from 38 to 28 degrees C, exposure to each temperature lasting up to 9 hr. 2. Oxygen uptake was measured first at 38 degrees C and then in the quasi-equilibrium state at lowered temperatures. The temperature coefficient (Q10) was calculated for each egg. 3. For mild cooling (32 degrees C), the Q10 in 18-day-old embryos was about 1.5, while 12- and 16-day-old embryos had a Q10 value of about 2, indicating that a feeble homeothermic metabolic response to cooling appears in late prenatal embryos. It became more marked in externally pipped embryos and further augmented in hatchlings.

Oxygen consumption of brown noddy (Anous stolidus) embryos in a quasiequilibrium state at lowered ambient temperatures

1. The oxygen consumption (MO2) of the semi-precocial Brown Noddy embryos at different stages of development was measured at 36 degrees C and again after 5-hr exposure to lowered ambient temperatures (30 and 32 degrees C). 2. The MO2 measured in a quasiequilibrium state was equal to the value predicted by a temperature coefficient of 2. 3. In contrast to precocial chickens, the semi-precocial Noddy had no apparent metabolic response to cooling before hatching.

[A case of acute retinal necrosis syndrome caused by herpes simplex virus type 1]

A case of bilateral acute retinal necrosis syndrome accompanied by viral meningitis in a 46 year-old male is reported. The characteristic scattered yellowish-white retinal exudates and retinal detachment appeared in both eyes within 2 weeks, and after treatment with intravenous acyclovir and gamma-globulin, and encircling, scleral buckling, pars plana vitrectomy, 100% SF6 tamponade procedures, the retinal detachment was repaired and the yellowish-white retinal exudates disappeared. On virological examination, the complement fixation titer for herpes simplex virus (HSV) in serum increased more than eightfold in pair serum, and the quotient of antibody for HSV type 1 (HSV-1) IgG was high. HSV-1 was isolated and cultured from the subretinal fluid. From these results, it is concluded that HSV-1 infection was the cause of the meningitis and acute retinal necrosis in this case.

Metabolic responses to gradual cooling in chicken eggs treated with thiourea and oxygen

1. Late prenatal chicken embryos in eggs injected with saline showed a feeble homeothermic metabolic response to gradual cooling. This response was absent in thiourea-treated eggs. This suggests that the incipient homeothermic metabolic response before paranatal life may be attributed to thyroid development. 2. The compensatory metabolic response disappeared in embryos exposed to a hypoxic environment, while it was augmented in eggs in pure O2, decreasing as ambient temperature fell. 3. These results may indicate that the homeothermic metabolic response in late embryos is O2-conductance-limited and power-limited as previously suggested.

Short-term effects of altered shell conductance on oxygen uptake and hematological variables of late chicken embryos

The preceding report on the O2 uptake (MO2) of chicken embryos whose shell conductance (GO2) was altered from the beginning of incubation showed that the MO2 was decreased despite increased GO2 [Okuda, A. and H. Tazawa (1988) Respir. Physiol. 74: 187-198]. This was attributed to an excess water loss which reduced the growth of the embryos. The present study was designed to investigate the short-term effects of altered GO2, obviating the effect of excess water loss, on the MO2 and simultaneously on the hematological variables of embryos on days 16-17 and days 18-19 of incubation. The MO2 measured 5 h after increasing the GO2 was neither decreased nor increased significantly. The diffusing capacity of the chorio-allantoic membrane, which was estimated using the Bohr integration procedure, decreased as the GO2 was increased. When the GO2 was decreased, on the other hand, the decrease in MO2 was not so large as expected from the decrease in GO2, for both 16- and 18-day-old embryos. The effect of reduced GO2 on MO2 was more prominent in 18-day-old embryos than 16-day-old embryos. One-day-long hypoxia due to decreased GO2 induced erythropoiesis in 18-19-day embryos, but did not do so in 16-17-day embryos. The increase in hematocrit value of the latter group of embryos was attributed to an increase in cell volume due to concurrent hypercapnia.

Gas exchange and development of chicken embryos with widely altered shell conductance from the beginning of incubation

The O2 uptake of chicken embryos confined in the eggshell (MO2) is governed by a shell diffusive conductance (GO2) and PO2 difference between ambience and air space, suggesting that a relation between GO2 and air space PO2 (PAO2) is hyperbolic at constant MO2. Upon wide alteration of GO2 from the beginning of incubation, the MO2 was measured on day 16 of incubation and the relation between GO2 and PAO2 examined. The MO2 increased hyperbolically with increasing GO2, reached maximum at control conductances and decreased with further increase in GO2. From these changes in MO2 with GO2, an equation was derived predicting PAO2 as a quadratic function of inverse gO2 (mass-specific conductance, i.e., GO2 standardized by fresh egg mass), and the relation between air space PO2 and shell conductance was no longer hyperbolic. The arterialized blood PO2 (PaO2) of the allantoic vein measured individually was also expressed by a quadratic equation of inverse gO2. While for widely altered conductance the MO2 was little related to PaO2, the mass (embryo)-specific O2 uptake increased with PaO2. The excess water loss associated with increased conductance was involved in changes in these variables.

A blood-gas nomogram of the chick fetus: blood flow distribution between the chorioallantois and fetus

This paper presents equations for quantifying the relationships between the O2 and CO2 concentrations and tensions in the blood of the 18-day chick fetus. A blood-gas nomogram showing these relationships is presented. Starting with the reported chorioallantoic artery and vein gas tensions and using the blood-gas equations, the range of embryonic arterial and venous gas tensions as well as the distribution of the cardiac output and the degree of mixing between the chorioallantoic and embryonic circulations are explored. It is concluded that at least 65% of the blood in the chorioallantoic artery consists of blood of embryonic mixed venous composition. A model of the blood flow distribution is proposed in which chorioallantoic and embryonic flows are equal, with 70% of the blood returning from the tissues of the embryo going to the chorioallantois and vice versa.