Two novel pathogenic mitochondrial DNA mutations affecting organelle number and protein synthesis. Is the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene an etiologic hot spot?

We identified two patients with pathogenic single nucleotide changes in two different mitochondrial tRNA genes: the first mutation in the tRNA(Asn) gene, and the ninth known mutation in the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene. The mutation in tRNA(Asn) was associated with isolated ophthalmoplegia, whereas the mutation in tRNA(Leu(UUR)) caused a neurological syndrome resembling MERRF (myoclonus epilepsy and ragged-red fibers) plus optic neuropathy, retinopathy, and diabetes. Both mutations were heteroplasmic, with higher percentages of mutant mtDNA in affected tissues, and undetectable levels in maternal relatives. Analysis of single muscle fibers indicated that morphological and biochemical alterations appeared only when the proportions of mutant mtDNA exceeded 90% of the total cellular mtDNA pool. The high incidence of mutations in the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene suggests that this region is an "etiologic hot spot" in mitochondrial disease.

The accent method of voice therapy: effect of accentuations on FO, SPL, and airflow

The effect of the increased flow rate (delta U) in response to the Accent Method exercises on fundamental frequency (FO) and sound pressure level (SPL) was studied in three subjects (professionally trained, trained, and untrained in this method). In all the subjects, the rhythmic accentuated exercises produced a variable degree of increase in FO (delta FO) and SPL (delta SPL). The professionally trained subject showed greater delta FO and delta SPL in response to the delta U in the fastest tempo, which requires higher skills. Both trained subjects showed a greater correlation between delta U and both delta SPL and delta FO, as well as between delta FO and delta SPL, as compared to the untrained subject. The effects of the accentuated exercises on FO and SPL in response to the increased airflow rate (delta U) thus appear to demonstrate the treating effectiveness of the Accent Method.

Spectral analyses of activity of laryngeal and orofacial muscles in stutterers

Previous studies have reported that the disfluent speech of stutterers is often associated with tremor in orofacial muscle systems. In the present report, spectral analyses of the amplitude envelopes of laryngeal and orofacial EMGs revealed that tremor-like oscillations of EMG activity, similar to those observed in orofacial muscles, are also present in laryngeal muscles during stuttered speech. Furthermore, tremor-like oscillations in orofacial and laryngeal muscles appear to be entrained in some subjects. It is speculated that autonomic systems may provide a mechanism whereby oscillations in different muscle groups may become entrained.

Location of the preepiglottic space and its relationship to the paraglottic space

An investigation was carried out to determine the location of the preepiglottic space (PES) and its relationship to the paraglottic space (PGS). Excised human adult larynges served as materials for this study. The distribution of the PES of the larynx was determined histologically in 3 whole organ serial sections: sagittal, horizontal, and coronal. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The PES exists not only anterior, but also posterolateral and inferolateral to the epiglottis. 2) Its posterior end is located in the vicinity of the anteroposterior midpoint of the thyroid lamina. 3) The PES is adjacent to the PGS posteroinferiorly and is separated by fibrous tissue (the thyroglottic ligament). Posterosuperiorly, the 2 spaces are not clearly delineated from each other.

[Analyses of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS) by ambulatory electrocardiography]

Disorder of cardiac conduction and automaticity have been widely reported in patients with progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS). In the present study, ventricular arrhythmias were monitored by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recording (Holter monitor) in 30 female patients with PSS and 20 apparently healthy female controls. The following results were obtained: 1) In the waking state, 8 cases of 30 patients showed grade III, IVA or IVB of ventricular arrhythmias, according to Lown's classification. On the other hand, ventricular arrhythmias, such as grade III, IVA or IVB, were not observed in the control group. 2) In the patient group, grade IVA arrhythmias were observed during defecation, driving or light working, and grade IVB were during defecation, urination, light working or sleeping. These results suggest that it is important to examine arrhythmias by Holter monitors in patients with PSS.

[Clinical usefulness of 111In transferrin scintigraphy in colorectal cancer]

As assessment was made regarding the clinical value of 111In transferrin in scintigraphy on 28 lesions in 26 cases of colorectal cancer. The positive rate of colorectal cancer was high: 21 lesions out of the 28 (75%) were found to be positive. As for the location of cancer, there was a tendency for the positive rate to be high in the ascending and transverse colon. There was no obvious trend regarding Borrmann's classification, histological type, or macroscopic depth of invasion. There was a trend for cases in which the maximum diameter of the tumor was large and depth of invasion was in progress to be positive. Ten cases in which a specimen was resected were all shown to be positive by scintigraphy. Radioactivity in the tumorous regions was 4.41 +/- 2.96 times that of the non-tumorous regions. Moreover, tumorous tissue was strongly stained by the immuno-histological staining with anti-Tf.receptor antibody. From the above findings, it was considered that 111In transferrin is clinically useful in scintigraphy, since it is evident that it accumulates in the tissue of colorectal cancer.

Influence of a small number of mature T cells in donor bone marrow inocula on reconstitution of lymphoid tissues and negative selection of a T cell repertoire in the recipient

Allo-chimerism and clonal elimination of self antigen (Ag) (Ia + Mls-1a) reactive V beta 6+ T cells were analyzed and compared between allogeneic bone marrow (BM) chimeras reconstituted with BM cells which had been treated with anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) plus complement (C) (T- chimeras) and BM chimeras which had been reconstituted with BM cells pretreated with anti-Thy-1 mAb alone (T+ chimeras). When lethally irradiated AKR (Mls-1a) mice were reconstituted with BM cells from B10 or B10 H-2 congenic mice, both T+ and T- chimeras were entirely free of signs of graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). However, complete replacement of the AKR lymphoid tissues by donor BM cells was accomplished at an early stage in T+ chimeras but not in T- chimeras. On the other hand, clonal elimination of V beta 6+ T cells reactive to the recipient Ag (Mls-1a) was abolished in T+ chimeras but successfully induced in T- chimeras. The V beta 6+ T cells not eliminated in T+ chimeras showed depressed responses against Mls-1a antigens. The findings herein demonstrate that T cells which contaminate a BM inoculum survive in recipient mice after treatment with anti-Thy-1 mAb without C in vitro followed by BMT. The surviving T cells have been estimated to represent fewer than 0.5% of the BM cells inoculated. These cells appear to accelerate the full replacement of recipient lymphoid tissues by donor cells. Furthermore, the T cells which survive in the marrow inoculum influence eventually the development of a tolerant state in the T cell repertoire of the donor.

CGRP-immunoreactive cells supplying laryngeal sensory nerve fibres in the cat's nodose ganglion

Through a combination of retrograde staining by wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and immunohistochemistry, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-reactive sensory neurons projecting from the laryngeal mucosa were detected in the feline nodose ganglion. The size of the CGRP-immunoreactive cell which was regarded as a laryngeal sensory neuron, was about 60 microns in diameter: the shape of the immunoreactive laryngeal sensory neuron was unipolar. CGRP-reacted laryngeal sensory cells were found in the rostral part of the nodose ganglion extending to the middle part. They aggregated in the most rostral part, were sparse in other parts and were approximately 50 per cent of WGA-reactive laryngeal sensory neurons in number. Our results suggest that this neurotransmitter might play an important role in laryngeal peripheral sensory innervation.

Effect of phencyclidine on endogenous excitatory amino acid release from the rat anterior cingulate cortex--an in vivo microdialysis study

The effect of systemically administered phencyclidine (PCP) on the extracellular concentration of aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) in the rat anterior cingulate cortex was investigated using in vivo microdialysis. PCP significantly reduced the K(+)-evoked release of Asp and Glu, while it had no effect on the basal efflux of Asp and Glu. These results suggest that PCP might inhibit excitatory amino acid (EAA) release through an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated mechanism.

Reconstitution of lymphoid tissues under the influence of a subclinical level of graft versus host reaction induced by bone marrow T cells or splenic T cell subsets

Reconstitution of lymphoid tissues under the influence of subclinical graft versus host reaction (GVHR) has been investigated. Lethally irradiated AKR mice were reconstituted with B10 bone marrow (BM) cells which had been treated with anti-Thy-1 antibody alone without complement (GVHR chimera). Their immunological reconstitution was analyzed and compared with that of AKR recipients which had been reconstituted with B10 BM cells treated with anti-Thy-1 antibody plus complement (control chimera). One hundred percent of both chimeras survived more than 100 days without showing clinical signs of GVHR. However, full donor chimerism was accomplished at an early stage after reconstitution in the former GVHR chimeras, whereas a substantial number of recipient T cells persisted in control chimeras for the entire observation period. When reconstitution of various lymphoid tissues was compared between control and GVHR chimeras, no difference in the reconstitution of the thymus and spleen was noted. By contrast, the cellularity of peripheral lymph nodes in GVHR chimeras was regularly considerably lower than that of the control chimeras. The apparent insufficiency of lymph node reconstitution appeared to be attributable to the impairment of lymph node structure itself which may be involved in lymphocyte homing. Furthermore, clonal deletion of V beta 6+ T cells which are reactive to recipient (Mls-1a) antigens was abrogated in the GVHR chimeras but was normally induced in the more completely T cell-depleted control chimeras. This abrogation of clonal deletion of V beta 6+ T cells appeared to result from the early disappearance of recipient T cells in these chimeras. Thus, it appeared that donor T cells in the BM that survive anti-Thy-1 treatment in vitro plus subsequent BM transplantation induced a subclinical level GVHR which contributed to the full donor chimerism as well as abrogation of clonal elimination of V beta 6+ donor T cells. Indeed, inoculation of CD8+ T cells along with the transplantation of the T cell-depleted BM cells (anti-Thy-1 plus C-treated cells) from donor mice into the AKR recipients was also shown to induce a similar state in the recipients.

Cytochrome C oxidase deficiency and neuronal involvement in Menkes' kinky hair disease: immunohistochemical study

Antibodies against subunits II and IV of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and against complex III of the respiratory chain were used to study the expression of these proteins in the cerebellum, spinal cord, and other regions of the central nervous system in an autoptic case of Menkes' kinky hair disease (MKHD). We found a reduced expression of COX subunits in all examined areas whereas staining for complex III appeared normal. Immunostaining was altered in morphologically well-preserved neurons, suggesting that COX deficiency may have a pathogenetic role in the neuronal degeneration of MKHD.

An autopsy case of coexisting portal systemic encephalopathy and senile dementia of the Alzheimer type

An autopsy case of portal systemic encephalopathy and senile dementia of the Alzheimer type coexisting in a 77-year-old man is described. The patient had suffered recurrent episodes of delirium after a subtotal gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. He died of DIC 45 months after the gastrectomy. A pathological examination revealed a vascular plexus around the liver which might have served as collateral circulation. Neuropathologically, spongy necrosis and Alzheimer type II changes of astrocytes were found in the basal ganglia and fronto-occipital cortices. In the same anatomical regions, only immunohistological staining using antibody against amyloid beta-protein and the periodic-acid methenamine silver method revealed abundant neuriticplaques, cerebral amyloid angiopathy and diffuse plaques. We discussed the clinicopathological findings in this case.

[Analysis of abnormal alkaline phosphatase in patient with high alkaline phosphatasemia]

We describe here a 69-year-old male with high serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity who was showed high alkaline phosphatasemia. High ALP level, 112.4 K.A. was found in his serum. But, except for ALP, all other laboratory data including cancer markers were within normal range in this case. An electrophoretic pattern of patient ALP isozyme without neuroaminidase digestion showed liver-type ALP, but the ALP isozyme pattern with neuraminidase digestion from Vibrio Cholerae was identified as bone-type ALP. Moreover, the patient ALP reacted with anti-bone ALP MoAb. The apparent molecular size of patient ALP was 160kDa similar to bone ALP. Furthermore, we investigated the multiformity of the sugar chain(s) of patient ALP by serious lectin affinity chromatographies. From these results, the increase of multiantennary complex type and/or bisecting GlcNAc type sugar chain(s) of ALP was shown in patient serum. These results suggested that the patient might have a distant metastasis as in a case of carcinoembryonic antigen described previously. Besides, patient urinary pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline was high level comparing normal adult urine. From detailed bone survey, the patient was observed the bone metastasis of cancer. Thus, the measurement of ALP sugar chain subfractions may be useful for diagnosis of patient with bone metastasis of cancer.

Resistance to phorbol ester-induced differentiation of a U-937 myeloid leukemia cell variant with a signaling defect upstream to Raf-1 kinase

Previous studies have demonstrated that treatment of human U-937 myeloid leukemia cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is associated with growth arrest and induction of monocytic differentiation. The present work describes the isolation of a U-937 cell variant, designated TUR, which is unresponsive to the growth-inhibitory effects of this agent. The results demonstrate that, in contrast to U-937 cells, the TUR line fails to respond to TPA with induction of the c-jun, junB, c-fos, and EGR-1 early response genes. The finding that these cells also fail to exhibit adherence or induction of the tumor necrosis factor and c-fms genes further supports their resistance to TPA-induced differentiation. In contrast, TUR cells responded to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, another inducer of monocytic differentiation, with growth arrest and induction of early response gene and c-fms transcripts. TUR cells also responded to okadaic acid, an inhibitor of type 1 and 2A protein phosphatases, with similar changes in gene expression. Further characterization of TUR cells has demonstrated decreased expression of protein kinase C as compared to wild-type U-937 cells. We also demonstrate that although treatment of U-937 cells with TPA is associated with activation of the Raf-1 serine/threonine kinase, there was no detectable decrease in electrophoretic mobility of this protein in TPA-treated TUR cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that the TUR variant is defective in TPA-induced signaling events upstream to activation of Raf-1 kinase.

The pectic polysaccharide from Bupleurum falcatum L. enhances immune-complexes binding to peritoneal macrophages through Fc receptor expression

Binding of glucose oxidase-anti-glucose oxidase complexes (GAG), a model of immune complexes, to macrophages was enhanced by treatment with an acidic pectic polysaccharide, bupleuran 2IIb, from Bupleurum falcatum L. GAG binding to macrophages by bupleuran 2IIb increased in a dose-dependent fashion, and was abolished when the Pronase-treated macrophages were incubated with bupleuran 2IIb. The GAG binding enhancing activity of bupleuran 2IIb was reduced by periodate oxidation but not Pronase digestion of bupleuran 2IIb. When bupleuran 2IIb was digested with endo-polygalacturonase, the resulting enzyme resistant carbohydrate portion showed potent activity. Scatchard analysis indicated enhanced expression of the Fc receptor (FcR) on the surface by the action of bupleuran 2IIb. The enhancement of GAG binding by bupleuran 2IIb was inhibited by the presence of actinomycin D or cycloheximide. Bupleuran-2IIb-stimulated cells showed enhanced expression of both FcRI and FcRII mRNA, which were measured as PCR products. These results suggested that the endo-polygalacturonase resistant carbohydrate portion of bupleuran 2IIb is important for the expression of the activity, and that the activity of bupleuran 2IIb on GAG binding was mediated by receptors for polysaccharide on the cells. The up-regulation of the Fc receptor by bupleuran 2IIb was also suggested to mediate by de novo synthesis of the receptor protein.

Antifungal activities of pradimicin derivatives modified at C4'-amino group

In order to explore potent derivatives of pradimicins (PRMs), modification of their C4'-amino group was carried out. 4'-N-Cyano (1,2), 4'-deamino-4'-nitroguanidino (4), 4'-deamino-4'-ureido (7-9) and 4'-deamino-4'-thioureido (10) derivatives were synthesized by trimethylsilylation of PRMs A and C, followed by condensation with appropriate reagents. 4'-Deamino-4'-guanidino (5) and 4'-deamino-4'-amidino (6) derivatives were synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of 4 and 2, respectively. 4'-N-Nitroso derivative 3 was prepared by treatment of PRM A with nitrous acid. Among these compounds, the 4'-N-cyano derivative of PRM C (2) exhibited in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities comparable to the parent compounds together with good water-solubility.

[Autonomic innervation of feline laryngeal glands: an immuno-electronmicroscopic study]

Autonomic innervation of feline laryngeal glands was investigated immunoelectronmicroscopically using antisera for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). A relatively dense population of immunoreactive (ir) VIP fibers was found in the vicinity of the basement membranes of glandular and myoepithelial cells. Some VIP -ir fibers contacted the basement membrane and some of the fibers penetrated the adjoining glandular cells intercellularly without making synaptic contacts with them. Ir-NPY and -TH fibers were less abundant than VIP-fibers and were distributed beneath the basement membranes of myoepithelial cells. These fibers were not encountered between glandular cells. The estimated ratio of ir-VIP, -TH and -NPY fibers was 20:4:1, based on the density of fibers in glandular tissues. Because this value was equal between serous and mucous glandular cell, these two tissues may receive the same pattern of autonomic innervation.

Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy abolishes increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity of rat duodenal mucosa after ischemia-reperfusion in superior mesenteric artery

In order to evaluate the systemic and neural factors on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity of rat intestinal mucosa, ODC activity in duodenal mucosa, where blood flow did not decrease by superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion, was compared to that of jejunal and ileal mucosa, where blood flow decreased to 90% of the initial value after SMA occlusion. Rats were allowed to recover after SMA occlusion before harvesting intestinal mucosa for measuring ODC activity. ODC activity in the jejunum and the ileum increased markedly 6 h after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and more than 72 h were required for ODC activity to return to normal. ODC activity in the duodenum did not change until 24 h after I/R, but the activity increased 48 h after I/R, and this increase continued for 2 days. Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy completely abolished the increase in ODC activity in the duodenum, whereas the same procedure had no influence on ODC activity in the jejunum or the ileum. These results indicate that a neural signal from the central nervous system via the efferent vagal nerve following I/R was an important factor in the increase in ODC activity of duodenal mucosa, where blood flow was not influenced by SMA occlusion.

Roles of histamine and diamine oxidase in mucosa of rat small intestine after ischemia-reperfusion

To examine the roles of histamine and diamine oxidase in the intestine after ischemia-reperfusion, we measured histamine content, diamine oxidase activity, and ornithine decarboxylase activity in rat intestinal mucosa 6 hr following various periods of ischemia. In addition, mortality rates of rats after various periods of ischemia were observed. The superior mesenteric artery was occluded for 15, 30, or 60 min. Ornithine decarboxylase activity increased in the 15-, 30-, and 60-min ischemic groups compared to the sham-operated control group. In the prolonged ischemic group (60-min ischemia), both histamine concentration and diamine oxidase activity in the mucosa decreased, contributing to an increase in circulating histamine. In the 60-min ischemic group, the mortality rate of rats was 25%, which was significantly larger than the control groups. Pretreatment with aminoguanidine, which suppressed diamine oxidase activity, increased the mortality rate. These results indicate that histamine released from the intestinal mucosa has a harmful effect on rats, and diamine oxidase activity plays an important role when the small intestine is subjected to prolonged period of ischemia.

[A case of achalasia evaluated with esophageal scintigraphy in terms of efficacy with endoscopic pneumatic dilatation]

The therapeutic effects on pneumatic dilatation were evaluated quantitatively by radionuclide transit study using 99mTc-Sn colloid in an achalasia patient. After dilatation, transit time (T3/4) with distilled water has improved from 13.5 seconds to 5.5 seconds. Radionuclide transit study using 99mTc-Sn colloid was a preferable method to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment quantitatively in an achalasia.

Distribution of SP- and CGRP-immunoreactivity in the cat's larynx

The distribution of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive (ir) fibres in the cat's larynx was investigated utilizing immunohistochemistry. Many SP- and CGRP-ir fibres with varicosities were found within and below the epithelium and along the basement membrane of the mucosa of all different regions except in the membranous portion of the vocal fold. In the subepithelium, some SP- and CGRP-ir nerve bundles and nerve fibres were recognized around the vessels and glands. In the mucosa, the pattern of distribution and the density of SR-ir fibres were similar to those of CGRP-ir fibres. These reactive fibres were denser in the supraglottic region than in the subglottic region. In the taste bud-like structures, only SP-ir fibres appeared, whereas in the motor endplates, CGRP-reaction was found exclusively. The present findings suggest that the regional distribution of SP- and CGRP-immunoreactivity might be related with sensory and autonomic innervation in the larynx.