Effect of food intake on urinary excretions of histamine, N tau-methylhistamine, imidazole acetic acid and its conjugate(s) in humans and mice

The urinary excretions by young healthy men of histamine and its metabolites, N tau-methylhistamine, imidazole acetic acid, and imidazole acetic acid conjugate(s), increased 1-3 h after food intake. The increase was seen even after the intake of konnyaku (mannan) as a protein-deficient food, suggesting that physical stimulation of the gastric mucosa by food is the main cause of histamine release. This suggestion was confirmed by the following findings in patients and mice. In patients with stomach diseases, gastrectomy resulted in decreases in the excretion of histamine and its metabolites in the urine, and patients subjected to intravenous hyperalimentation excreted less histamine and its metabolites in the urine than normal subjects. In mice, a correlation of histamine excretion with food intake was demonstrated experimentally. Namely, mice fed only during the night (21:00-0:00) showed increased excretions of histamine and its metabolites at 23:00-3:00, whereas those fed in the morning (9:00-12:00) showed increased excretions of those compounds at 11:00-15:00. All these results are consistent with the idea that urinary histamine and its metabolites mainly originate from the stomach.

Does total parenteral nutrition (TPN) really promote tumor growth? A morphometric study

An experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on tumor growth in rats. Sato lung cancer was transplanted subcutaneously in male Donryu rats. Two weeks after inoculation, experimental animals were divided into three groups: Group I (5% G); Group II (21% G, 4% A.A; TPN) received intravenous infusion through cervical vein; Group III rats were maintained on a regular diet. All of the animals were killed on the eighth day. There was a significant increase in tumor volume and tumor weight in both G-II (7.3 +/- 3.9 cm3, 8.7 +/- 6.3 g) and G-III (7.4 +/- 4.6 cm3, 9.7 +/- 5.4 g), as compared with G-I (3.3 +/- 1.4 cm3, 3.7 +/- 1.9 g). In morphometric studies, an average area of tumor cell in G-II was 267 +/- 172 microns2, being significantly larger than in G-I (195 +/- 95 microns2) or G-III (185 +/- 93 microns2). The nuclear diameter of tumor cell was 9.9 +/- 2.2 microns in G-II, 9.2 +/- 1.9 micron in G-III, and 8.5 +/- 1.5 micron in G-I, respectively. Total water balance throughout the experimental period was +84.0 +/- 14.5 ml/100 g BW in G-II, +86.3 +/- 8.2 ml/100 g BW in G-III, and +44.8 +/- 22.5 ml/100 g body weight in G-I, respectively. Increased tumor volume and tumor weight found in G-II may not be due to hyperplasia of each tumor cell, but rather due possibly to water retention in tumor tissue.

[Total parenteral nutrition in inflammatory bowel disease. An evaluation of its clinical response]

We studied the effects of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on the course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which evaluation was still conflicting. Since 1972, in our department 32 courses of TPN were done for 27 patients with IBD. Definite improvement on nutritional status and clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting was observed in most courses of TPN, especially for the patients with intestinal tuberculosis, non-specific multiple intestinal ulcers, and Crohn's disease. Clinical remission was obtained in 26 out of 32 courses of TPN (81.3%) on the short-term follow-up. But on the long-term follow-up ranging from 6 months to 11 years, 11 out of 20 patients (55%) were symptom-free without any medical treatment. Clinical relapse occurred in 6 patients and another TPN was required. These results suggest that TPN is useful as an adjunctive therapy for IBD patients requiring bowel rest and nutritional repletion. Two patients requiring prolonged TPN are returning to work with home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for 2.5 and 5 years respectively. HPN is safe and effective for improving life of quality in the patients receiving prolonged TPN.

Serum interferon levels and natural killer cell activity in patients with asbestosis

Natural killer cell activity and serum interferon levels were measured in 30 patients with asbestosis. The chest radiographs showed type 1 changes (ILO pneumoconiosis classification) in nine, type 2 changes in 19, and type 3 changes in two. Thirty control subjects matched for age, sex, and smoking habit were also studied. Patients with asbestosis had significantly higher serum interferon levels than the controls. There was no significant difference in natural killer cell activity between patients with asbestosis and normal controls.

Heritability of erythrocyte Na+-Li+ countertransport in relation to essential hypertension

The Na+-Li+ countertransport system in erythrocytes was investigated in patients with essential hypertension and control subjects. Furthermore, studies on the pairs of parent-offspring and husband-wife were added in order to evaluate heritability of the countertransport. The Na+-Li+ countertransport of patients with essential hypertension and normotensive subjects with the family history of hypertension was significantly increased in comparison with that of normotensive subjects without the family history. The correlation coefficient of the countertransport in pairs of parent-offspring was significant but not between husband-wife. These results support the concept of a genetic determinant for the countertransport system.

Influence of chronic renal failure on protein synthesis in rat liver and muscle

Protein-synthetic activity in the liver and muscle of rats with chronic renal failure (CRF) of 2 weeks' duration was studied by examining RNA/DNA ratios and polysome profiles and in vitro protein synthetic activity of isolated polysomes. CRF was found to cause differential effects on protein synthesis in the liver and muscle. In the liver, CRF caused impairment of protein synthesis only in the fed condition; CRF rats maintained the same "basal" protein synthetic activity as the sham-operated control rats upon 18 hours' starvation. In the muscle, the effect of CRF was manifested only in the starved condition; CRF caused extensive disaggregation of polysomes when animals were starved. It is proposed that the muscle serves as a "reserve" protein when animals sustain a protein-catabolic state such as CRF.

Effect of whole body vibration on the rat brain content of serotonin and plasma corticosterone

To investigate the effects of whole body vibration on the central nervous system, rats were exposed to various whole body vibrations and changes in whole brain levels of Serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were then determined. Changes in plasma corticosterone levels were also determined and related to the changes in the whole brain levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA. The dose-related changes in the 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels were observed as acceleration increased from 0.4G to 5.0G. Changes in vibration frequency also affected the 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels of brain: they were significantly elevated at a frequency of 20 Hz (P less than 0.05). Plasma corticosterone levels increased as acceleration increased from 0.4G to 5.0G. As the vibration frequency was changed from 5 Hz to 30 Hz, plasma corticosterone levels also rose significantly (P less than 0.05) but the extent of elevation was approximately the same at each frequency. The correlation between brain 5-HT and plasma corticosterone levels with increasing acceleration (r = 0.93, P less than 0.01) was significant.

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver in infant: its roentgen diagnosis

A case of mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver in an 18-month-old boy is reported. CT and US revealed a large, cystic tumour surrounded by a thick wall. In the lower portion of the tumour, a small solid component was recognized on CT. Angiography revealed marked arterial displacement, fine tumour vessels and a large radiolucent area. CT, US and angiography were helpful to make a diagnosis of mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver.

Changes in cerebral norepinephrine induced by vibration or noise stress

To investigate the effects of whole body vibration on the central nervous system, rats were exposed to various whole body vibrations and examined for changes in the levels of norepinephrine (NE) in whole brain or regions of the brain. Whole brain NE had decreased significantly (P less than 0.05) after an acceleration of 5.0G with a frequency of 20 Hz; and the decrease was also observed in the hypothalamus (P less than 0.01) and the hippocampus (P less than 0.10). Exposure to noise [100 dB (A)] caused a significant decrease in NE. This decrease related particularly to a significant decrease in midbrain NE (P less than 0.05) and a non-significant decrease of NE in the hypothalamus.

Jejunal interposition hepaticoduodenostomy for congenital dilatation of the bile duct (choledochal cyst)

In eight cases of congenital dilatation of the bile duct encountered in our institution during the past 3 years, jejunal interposition hepaticoduodenostomy was performed following resection of the involved bile duct. This procedure has no serious technical difficulties but appears to have some advantages over conventional techniques. The postoperative course of the patients has been favorable for a mean period of 1 year and 5 months up to the present. A further follow-up study is necessary before definite conclusions can be drawn.

Regulation of intracellular protein degradation in IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts

Human diploid fibroblasts (IMR-90) regulate their overall rates of proteolysis in response to the composition of the culture medium and the ambient temperature. The magnitude and, in some cases, the direction of the response depend on the half-lives of the cellular proteins that are radioactively labeled and the time chosen for measurements of protein degradation. Fetal calf serum, insulin, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and amino acids selectively regulate catabolism of long-lived proteins without affecting degradation of short-lived proteins. Fetal calf serum reduces degradative rates of long-lived proteins and is maximally effective at a concentration of 20%, but the effect of serum on proteolysis is evident only for the first 24 hr. Insulin inhibits degradation of long-lived proteins in the presence or absence of glucose and amino acids in the medium, but is maximally effective only at high concentrations (10(-5) M). Amino acid deprivation increases degradative rates of long-lived proteins for the first 6 hr, but then decreases their catabolism for the subsequent 20 hr. Lowered temperature is the only condition tested that significantly alters degradative rates of short-lived proteins. Although cells incubated at 27 degrees C have reduced rates of degradation for both short-lived and long-lived proteins compared to cells at 37 degrees C, lowered temperature reduces catabolism of long-lived proteins to a greater extent.

Childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developing from recurrent neck mass

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in an 8-year-old boy developing from recurrent neck mass during 15-months history is presented. Two biopsies carried out during this period were interpreted as reactive change. The third biopsy was diagnosed as NHL. He died of the systemic disease 19 months after the first admission. Clinical, histological and immunocytochemical investigations for the three biopsy materials revealed that the first and the second biopsies were reactive, and the third biopsy was neoplastic, B cell lymphoma. Known etiological factors causing lymphoreticular disorders are reviewed by the literatures, and absence of these factors in the present case is described.

Common channel syndrome--diagnosis with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and surgical management

Six patients with intermittent bouts of vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and jaundice beginning in infancy or early childhood were all demonstrated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to have an anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system with the formation of a characteristic long common channel. A varying degree of dilatation of the bile duct also was noted. Resection of choledochus followed by hepaticoduodenostomy was performed with satisfactory results invariably in all cases. The existence of a pathologic entity that might reasonably be designated "common channel syndrome" is discussed with some comments on its relationship with dilatation of the bile duct (choledochal cyst) as well as on the recommendable method of surgical treatment.