Quantitative analysis of thallium-201 uptake and the effect of heart rate

In the successive myocardial imaging by thallium-201, the uptake by myocardial cells was assessed quantitatively. At a steady hemodynamic state, the second uptake was able to be predicted from the first uptake count and the ratio of the first and the second background counts. This predicted counts showed a high correlation with the actual counts (r = 0.987, p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in two counts. When heart rate was increased in six patients who were implanted a programmable pacemaker during the second myocardial imaging, the actual counts exceeded the predicted ones significantly (p < 0.001). An increase of the counts by 36% was observed in the average following the change of heart rate from 60 beats/min to 90 beats/min. Since the tissue level of uptake is dependent upon the blood level and the partition coefficient, this increase of myocardial uptake suggests an alteration in the partition coefficient.

[Effects of estrogen on fatty acid composition in rat uterine lipids (author's transl)]

Estrogen effects on fatty acid (FA) composition in rat uterine lipids after ovariectomy were investigated. FAs in uterine lipids increased after estrogen injection. Estrogen enhanced the level of FA in phosphatidylethanolamine. The moieties of palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic and linoleic acids increased transiently more than twofold, 6 hours after estrogen administration and stearic and arachidonic acids increased to about two-fold 48 hours after this injection. Each FA measured increased 1.7 to 2.4 fold in phosphatidylcholine and total lipid, 48 hours after estrogen injection. Therefore, estrogen increases the production of phospholipids and has a considerable influence on the pattern of FA content in phosphatidylethanolamine. Membrane conformation in uterine cells is thus affected.

[Inhibitory action of non-steroidal anti-flammatory drugs on prostaglandin synthesis and release (author's transl)]

Inhibitory action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)on the synthesis and release of prostaglandin (PG) was studied both in vivo and in vitro. In the experiment with PG synthetase from beef seminal vesicle, the potency of NSAID on the inhibitory action of PGE synthesis was: flurbiprofen greater than 4-(p-chlorophenyl)-2-phenyl-5-thiazoleacetic acid (CH-800) greater than indomethacin greater than diclofenac-NA greater than aspirin. Inflamed synovial tissue, as induced 6 hours after carrageenin injection into the knee joint cavity of rats was used to examine the inhibitory action of NSAID on PGE release from the tissue. Both in vivo and in vitro, CH-800 was the most potent and flurbiprofen and indomethacin were next potent of the five drugs. Effects of NSAID on the excretion of PGE and PG main urinary metabolite (PGMUM) in rat urine were determined. The excretion of urinary PGE was significantly decreased by administration of NSAID. Flurbiprofen and CH-800 had the most potent inhibitory action on the excretion of PGEMUM, but the urinary excretion of PGFMUM was not significantly inhibited by NSAID. Thus, the inhibitory effects of NSAID associated with PG synthesis were generally in proportion to the effect of the drugs with PG synthetase, however, there were differences regarding PG synthesis in inflamed tissue and the urinary excretion of PG metabolites.

Adrenal estrogens in relation to ovarian function

The effect of gonadotropins and ovarian hormones on adrenal estrogens in female rats was examined in relation to the ovarian function. Pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMS) increased adrenal estradiol level in intact rats but did not alter estrone levels. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) with PMS did not alter the estrone and estradiol levels. Neither PMS or HCG with PMS affected these steroid levels in ovariectomized rats. Injection of hexestrol to intact rats decreased the estrone level. Further decrease in the estrone level resulted after administration of hexestrol with progesterone. In a developmental study, the estrone level at 35 days of age was higher than that at 50 and 80 days of age. The estrone level gradually decreased with adrenal development after ovariectomy performed at 21 days of age. When adrenal slices were incubated with either 3H-estrone or 3H-estradiol, higher radioactivity of estrone accumulated in the adrenal gland of immature rats than in that of adult rats. There was a larger conversion of 3H-estradiol to 3H-estrone than the reverse process in both immature and adult rats. These results indicate that the adrenal estrogens were influenced by ovarian function.

Catabolism of prostaglandin F2 alpha in rat ovary : differences between ovarian and uterine tissues

The catabolism in vitro of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) in rat ovarian homogenate was studied comparing with uterine homogenate. Two kinds of metabolite were recognized by incubation of PGF2 alpha with ovarian or uterine homogenate; 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha (15KD-PGF2 alpha) and 13, 14-dihydro-PGF2 alpha (13, 14H2-PGF2 alpha) in ovarian homogenate and 15-keto-PGF2 alpha (15K-PGF2 alpha) and 15KD-PGF2 alpha in uterine homogenate. Incubation of 15KD-PGF2 alpha with ovarian homogenate resulted in the formation of 13, 14H2-PGF2 alpha but incubation with uterine homogenate did not produce 13, 14H2-PGF2 alpha. 13, 14H2-PGF2 alpha was in accord with Rf value of a compound formed by reduction of 15KD-PGF2 alpha with sodium borohydride.

Effect of ACTH on adrenal estrogens

Tissue levels of rat adrenal estrogens during the estrous cycle were determined by radioimmunoassay, and effect of ACTH on the adrenal estrogen levels was examined. The levels of estrone and estradiol in proestrus were 2.75 +/- 0.61 pg/mg tissue and 1.0 +/- 0.19 pg/mg tissue (mean +/- SE), respectively. The higher level of estrone but not of estradiol was inclined to appear in proestrus rather than in other phases. Injection of 250 IU/kg of alpha 1-24-ACTH significantly increased the estrone level at 15 and 30 min, and estradiol at 15 min. Administration of reserpine, which was used as the ACTH releaser, produced an increase in the estrone level but did not change the estradiol level. While dexamethasone injection decreased the estrone level significantly at 8 hours after the treatment, the level of estradiol remained unchanged. Hypophysectomy produced a considerable decrease in both steroid levels, particularly estrone. These results indicate that the major estrogen in the rat adrenal gland is estrone and that the level is regulated by hypophyseal ACTH.

[Biological assay of prostaglandin in rat urine using fundus of rat stomach (author's transl)]

Male Wistar rats, weighing about 180 g, were used. Strips from the fundus of the stomach were prepared from animals deprived of food for 24 hours and fed for 10 minutes before the decapitation. The strips were suspended in 2 ml of organ bath containing Tyrode solution kept at 30 degrees C, and the isometric contraction was determined. Prostaglandins in rat urine were separated by column chromatography and determined by biological assay. No less than 50 pg of PGE2 and 250 pg of PGF2 alpha with good precision could be determined quantitatively using this particular bioassay. Excretion of urinary PGE in the healthy male rat was 29+8+/-1.79 ng/day and PGF was 1.9+/-0.27 ng/day.

[Effect of uterine prostaglandin F2 alpha on the level of ovarian steroids in rats (author's transl)]

Effects of intra-uterine or tail vein administration of prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha on hormone levels in ovaries were studied. Adult Wistar rats weighing 150-180 g were used. PGF2 alpha was injected into the uterine lumen (100 ng/rat) and tail vein (200 ng/0.1 ml) of estrus rats, respectively, and intra-uterine administration of PGF2 alpha was given to hypophysectomized rats. Variation in the levels of ovarian steroids (estradiol, progesterone, 20 alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (20 alpha-OH-P) were studied. The amount of PGF2 alpha injected into rats was minute compared with that of the usual PGF2 alpha injection (microgram/0.1 ml). Before start of the experiments, the levels of ovarian steroids of adult rats in all stages of estrous were measured. Each of the three steroids showed a maximum level at the time of proestrus. When PGF2 alpha was administered into the uterine lumen and tail vein of rats, the level of estradiol increased gradually, while that of progesterone and 20 alpha-OH-P decreased sharply at 10 min (p <0.05) after administration. On the other hand, when PGF2 alpha was given into the uterine lumen of hypophysectomized rats, the reverse pattern was seen, that is, estradiol decreased, whereas progesterone and 20 alpha-OH-P gradually increased. Thus, the intrauterine administration of PGF2 alpha does have an effect on levels of ovarian steroids.

Hemodialysis-associated asthma in a renal failure patient

In a renal failure patient, asthma developed after 1 year hemodialytic treatment. The attack was exclusively associated with each hemodialysis. Skin test to the usual allergen such as house dusts or pollens was negative. The provocation test by inhaling acetate solution or oral intake of acetic acid was positive resulting in an increase in the pulmonary resistance, or asthmatic attack. This asthma disappeared completely after substitution of acetate in the hemodialysis by the use of a bicarbonate dialysate. Acetate might therefore precipitate the attack of asthma.

[Influence of methyl 0-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-cinnamoyl) reserpate (CD-3400) on the gonadal and adrenal functions in rat (author's transl)]

Influence of CD-3400, which has been developed as a new antihypertensive agent in the class of rauwolfia alkaloids, was studied and effects were compared to those seen with reserpine. A single, oral administration of CD-3400 in a dose of 50 mg/kg to female rats had no effects on ovarian estradiol levels in contrast to the significant decrease at 6 and 18 hr seen after reserpine administration. CD-3400 given in a dose of 50 mg/kg to female rats increased to a lesser degree the adrenal corticosterone level at 1 hour than did reserpine. While the serum corticosterone level in the female rats was not changed with CD-3400 administration, a large increase was detected in the case of reserpine. Administration of CD-3400 or reserpine in a dose of 100 mg/kg to male rats produced no change in the testicular testosterone level, but in both cases induced a significant decrease in the testicular estradiol levels. This inhibition was higher in the case of reserpine treatment. In addition, the serum corticosterone level in male rats treated with reserpine was higher than levels after administration of CD-3400. Our results indicate that CD-3400 exerts a weaker effect than does reserpine on gonadal and adrenal functions of both sexes of rats.

Vascular responsiveness and body fluid status in patients on chronic hemodialysis

The vascular responsiveness and the body fluid distribution were studied in 5 hypotensive and 11 normotensive patients on long-term hemodialysis. A diminished vascular responsiveness to intravenously infused norepinephrine or angiotensin II was found in uremic patients, especially in the hypotensive group. A slightly larger, but non-significant circulating blood volume (CBV) and a less extracellular fluid volume (ECF) was found in the hypotensive group as compared with those of the normotensive group. These results suggest that with autonomic nervous dysfunction, such a diminution of vascular responsiveness may be an another factor responsible for the development of hypotension.

Fluid kinetics during hemodialysis

The reflection coefficient of urea was estimated in the present paper since some clinical experiences suggest an importance of urea dependent osmolality for the circulatory stability. In the physiology, the reflection coefficient of urea is usually regarded to be negligibly small though it varies from one organ to another. The value obtained in the present paper is large and urea was supposed osmotically to be active affecting the fluid movement across the capillary wall. A fall of urea concentration during hemodialysis may aggravate potentially the decrease of circulating blood volume.

A fall of plasma osmolality created at dialyzer and its possible effect on circulating blood volume

A mathematical analysis of fluid exchange during hemodialysis therapy was performed in order to determine which factors affect the circulating blood volume, and hence the circulatory stability. It was found that both fluid removal and also the fall of plasma osmolality during the passage of blood through the dialyzer can affect the circulating blood colume profoundly. The later was found to accelerate the decrease of circulating blood volume by an indirect action on capillary refilling. Some treatment systems such as those involving recirculation or ultrafiltration were found to show a small fall in osmolality with a correspondingly small fall in blood pressure. This result seems to be compatible with clinical experiences reported earlier and may explain why some methods of treatment are accompanied by stable circulatory function in spite of rapid removal of large amounts of fluid.

[Influence of carrageenin inflammation on prostaglandin release from rat synovial membrane and action of anti-inflammatory drugs (author's transl)]

Carrageenin was injected into the knee joint cavity of rats, and influence of anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandin (PG) release in vitro from inflamed synovial membrane was studied. Release of PGE and F from inflamed synovial membrane was increased. Aspirin suppressed PGE and F release from non-inflamed and inflamed synovial membrane in vivo and in vitro, but suppression of PGF release was more intense. Hydrocortisone suppressed release of PGE and F from inflamed synovial membrane in vivo, and did not influence PG release in vitro. Release of PGE and F fron non-inflamed synovial membrane was not influenced by hydrocortisone in vivo and in vitro. PGE content in inflamed synovial membrane was increased markedly, and PGE and F content in inflamed and non-inflamed synovial membrane was decreased markedly by aspirin in vivo. Content of PGE and F in non-inflamed and inflamed synovial membrane showed a tendency to decrease with hydrocortisone administration in vivo, but such was not significant.

Effect of intra-uterine administration of indomethacin on ovarian steroids

Proteolytic enzymes increase the sensitivity of the bronchial system against acetylcholine when inhaled as aerosols. These experiments were performed on 33 dogs in order to localize the area of sensitivity in the bronchial system responsible for bronchoconstriction. Pronase given in a small dosage as proteolytic enzyme aerosol only to the upper part of the airtract sensitises the lower part of the airways against acetylcholine. Pronase aerosol given to the lower part of the airways needs higher dosages for sensitization to acetylcholine. This effect assumes an interaction between the upper sensoric part in the reflex way of airway obstruction and the lower airways. Changes caused by proteolytic enzymes in the upper part of the airtract can cause increased reactivity of the lower airways.

Monoclonal IgG1 immunoglobulinaemia with strictly pH dependent cryoprecipitability

A monoclonal IgG1 lambda protein with peculiar cryoprecipitable characteristics was found in the serum of a patient with advanced multiple myeloma. The cryoprecipitate was observed only when the serum was exposed to the air. Further studies defined this phenomenon as being strictly pH-dependent. No antiglobulin activity (rheumatoid factor) was detected in the cryoglobulin. The isoelctric focussing of isolated cryoglobulin showed four distinct fractions around the pH 7.8 zone, which was comparable to the pH at which the cryoprecipitate began to form. Electrostatic bonds probably contribute to the mechanism involved in the formation of cryoprecipitate in this case.

Vasculitis and Sjögren's syndrome with IgA-IgG cryoglobulinemia terminating in immunoblastic sarcoma

Generalized lymphadenopathy and other manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome developed in a 68 year old woman with a long history of systemic vasculitis and arthralgia. An unusual immunologic feature was hypogammaglobulinemia and immunoglobulin A (IgA) monoclonal immunoglobulinemia with mixed IgA-IgG cryoglobulin. At autopsy, the histopathologic findings were compatible with immunoblastic sarcoma. The monoclonal IgA protein, found in serum, pleural and pericardial fluids, showed rheumatoid factor activity. Immunocytes from the immunoblastic sarcoma were found to be the source of the monoclonal IgA protein.

Reflex vasoconstriction to a cold stimulus for non-invasive evaluation of neurovascular function in man

The response of limb blood flow to cold stimulus was determined by venous occlusion technique in 30 healthy subjects. The stress was applied by immersing one hand into ice-floating water for 35 sec, and the blood flow was measured serially in the contralateral upper limb. The change of blood flow at the 15th sec of stress was the largest among the intermittent measurements, and decreased by 48+/-8% of the control value. A significant rise in plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase was found in response to the same stress. This simple cold stress test may be used to evaluate the function of the reflex arc involved in reflex vasoconstriction. A significantly diminished vasoconstriction was observed in 12 uremic patients with a concomitantly smaller rise of plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in the test.

Effect of acetate upon arterial gases

Following infusion of sodium acetate, a significant fall in arterial oxygen tension (PO2) was observed (p less than 0.001). A rise in PCO2 or bicarbonate was also statistically significant. pH was however remained unchanged. Though a rise in PCO2, bicarbonate, pH was observed following infusion of sodium bicarbonate, no significant fall in PO2 was observed. These results suggest a role of acetate ion for the fall of arterial oxygen tension; the hemodialysis-induced hypoxemia.

Autonomic nervous dysfunction in patients on long-term hemodialysis

The level of plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in subjects at rest was found to be significantly lower in 12 patients on long-term hemodialysis than in a healthy 8-member control group: 28.3 +/- 7.2 and 13.6 +/- 7.6 IU/1, respectively (p less than 0.01). Following immersion of one hand of each subject into cold water (4 degrees C) for 1 min, a significant rise was observed in both groups, 6.1 +/- 4.8 IU/1 for the control and 1.6 +/- 1.4 IU/1 for the patient group (p less than 0.01). Upon tilting up the head of all subjects, activity in both groups increased significantly, but a markedly smaller rise was found in the patient group: 5.8 +/- 4.8 and 1.1 +/- 1.6 IU/1 for the two groups, respectively (p less than 0.01). The data suggest an autonomic nervous dysfunction in patients on long-term hemodialysis.

[Effect of prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha on steroid biosynthesis in rat ovary (author's transl)]

Conversion in vitro of pregnenolone to progesterone by the ovaries from immature rats after treatment of PMS and HCG was inhibited by addition of PGE2 (1.4 X 10(-7)M) or PGF2 alpha (1.4 X 10(-7)M). Result of conversion in vitro of pregnenolone to progesterone and estradiol-17 beta by ovary of adult rat in estrus showed that the progesterone biosynthesis in the ovary was inhibited by PGF2 alpha (1.4 X 10(-7)M) but the releasing rate of progesterone from the ovary into the medium increased by about 1.25 fold. Progesterone in the medium decreased dramatically following incubation. Estradiol-17 beta in the ovarian tissue and in the medium did not differ from the control rate with addition of PGF2 alpha. When the effect of PGF2 alpha (1.4 X 10(-7)M) in vitro on the conversion of testosterone to estrone and estradiol-17 beta by the ovary from adult rat in estrus was studied, we found that the releasing rate of estrone from the ovary into the medium was increased by addition of PGF2 alpha; the rate was significantly different from control level after addition of PGF2 alpha 30 min of incubation (p less than 0.01). Thus a minute amount of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha influences steroid biosynthesis in the rat ovary.

Effects of estradiol and oxytocin on the release of prostaglandin-like substance from isolated rat uterus

Effects of estradiol on the release of prostaglandin-like substance (PG) from rat uterus was investigated. The amount of PG released into a medium that did not contain oxytocin was decreased by estradiol, but the release of PG was remarkably increased by the addition of oxytocin. No significant correlation was found in the relationship between PG release and uterine contraction in uterus of either the ovariectomized rat and that of the estradiol-injected rat. The amount of PG released from the uterus of ovariectomized rat and the uterus of 6 hours after estradiol injection was decreased by indomethacin. The PG release promoting action of oxytocin observed in estradiol-injected rat uterus disappeared completely with treatment of phospholipase C.