Age-related changes of renal osteodystrophy

Bone changes in 138 patients under hemodialysis were evaluated by radiological methods. Bone mass as was assessed by clavicular score was reduced in patients with chronic renal failure compared with control subjects, especially in male patients, and showed the gradual decrease with aging in both sexes. The incidence of disappearance of lamina dura and that of vascular calcification increased with aging in chronic renal failure. Although serum PTH did not show much difference among various age groups, serum CT and calcium were significantly elevated in 20--24 years of age group compared with other age groups. The etiology of decrease of bone mass in male subjects was discussed from the standpoint of decreased gonadal activity.

Changes in serum isoamylase activities after fibergastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy. Isoamylase after FGDS and FCS

The effects of endoscopic examination on the changes in serum amylase activity were investigated in hospitalized patients without salivary and pancreatic disorders. Sixty-nine patients were selected for the peroral fibergastroduodenal endoscopy and twenty-three patients for the peranal fibercolonoscopy. Blood samples were drawn before, immediately after, 4 hrs and 24 hrs after the termination of the examinations. The serum activities of the salivary type isoamylase increased in 7 out of 69 cases 4 hrs after the examination with the fibergastroduodenoscope, but none in all 23 cases after the examination with the fibercolonoscope. On the other hand, the serum activity of the pancreatic type isoamylase did not change following both examinations. A significant rise in serum cortisol levels was induced by both examinations. There were no correlations between the rise in salivary type isoamylase and that in serum cortisol levels. These results did not suggest that the increase of salivary type isoamylase was mediated by the hypophysio-adrenocortical axis. Other possible mechanisms were discussed.

Effect of graded coronary constriction on the flow reserve in regional myocardium in dog

Effects of coronary constriction on the flow reserve of regional myocardium were studied in the anesthetized open-chest dogs. Regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) was continuously measured using heated crossthermocouple method. Left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) was constricted gradually with a screw type constrictor. The coronary constriction decreased subendocardial myocardial blood flow, while subepicardial myocardial blood flow was not affected until reactive hyperemia in LCX nearly disappeared. Recovery and arrival to peak flow rate of RMBF following the release of 15-second's occlusion of LCX were progressively delayed with an increase in the constriction, especially in the subendocardial myocardium. Repayment of flow debt, however, was remained relatively well since the duration of reactive hyperemia in RMBF was prolonged by an increment of the constriction. From these findings, it might be concluded that in the heart with coronary stenosis recovery from ischemia was caused by prolonged duration of reactive hyperemia, and is suggested that the time required for recovery from ischemia or ischemic abnormalities after the cessation of stress might be an important marker for the severity of coronary insufficiency.

Early changes in the arterial endothelium under various pathological conditions: an electron histochemical study with visualization of altered permeability using electron microscopic tracers

The authors have studied the endothelial changes in the aorta and the arteries of heart, kidney and other organs in cholesterol fed rabbits and endotoxin administrated rats through electron histochemical and vascular clearance methods. The vascular changes are variable presumably due to the functional and morphological difference of vessels. The administration of cholesterol and endotoxin may result in increased vascular permeability which is directly related to the qualitative increase and decrease of hydrolytic enzymes in the vascular wall. The permeability of high molecular substances was enhanced with the widening of the intercellular space in contraction of endothelium and the changing of molecular structure of plasma membrane accompanied with plasma lipid, platelets and hemodynamic stress. This fact was confirmed by use of horseradish peroxidase and dextran fesin as tracers of different molecular sizes. The authors emphasize that direct injury and subsequent abnormal contraction of the endothelial cell may initiate increased permeability of plasma protein and lipid in the medial layer and eventually may develop and enhance arteriosclerosis.

Morbid changes of the mandible in familial polyposis of the colon

The study was made to ascertain whether the radiographs of the mandible of patients with familial polyposis of the colon show osteomas. Orthopantomography of the mandible was taken in 10 cases of familial polyposis of the colon and 6 cases of the unaffected family members. And radiographic and histological studies were performed in another autopsied case. As a result, radiographic studies revealed sclerotic masses of the mandible in 10 of the 11 cases. In some cases, the changes were also found in the maxilla. The number of sclerotic masses ranged from 2 to 11, and they were associated with odontomas in 2 cases and impacted teeth in one case. Two of the 6 unaffected family members were found to have one or two sclerotic masses. At autopsy of a case died of cancer of the sigmoid colon, a radiographic study of the excised mandible revealed 11 sclerotic masses measuring 5 mm in diameter each, as well as one impacted tooth. A bucco-lingual cross action through the mandible in the canine area revealed central osteomas. Histological examination showed the osteomas were composed primarily of mature, lamellar bony tissue.

Umbilical vein-artery differences of plasma amino acids in the last trimester of human pregnancy

The plasma levels of 20 free amino acids in the umbilical veins and umbilical arteries of 8 premature (29--36 weeks gestation) and 16 mature (38--42 weeks gestation) newborn infants were measured at delivery. In premature newborn infants, most of the 20 amino acids were significantly higher in the umbilical vein than in the umbilical artery. Only glutamic acid was significantly lower in the umbilical vein than in the umbilical artery. In mature newborn infants, 7 (Ala, Lys, Leu, Val, Ile, Phe and His) of the 20 plasma amino acids were significantly higher and 4 (Glu, Gly, Ser and Orn) were significantly lower in the umbilical vein than in the umbilical artery. These results indicate that the relative contribution of individual amino acids to the placental supply of nitrogen to the human fetus discernibly changes with increasing fetal age during the last trimester of gestation.

Impairment of DNA synthesis in Gunn rat cerebellum

Brain DNA synthesis was developmentally investigated in Gunn rat with marked cerebellar hypoplasia due to hereditary hyperbilirubinemia. In this mutant rat, the Purkinje cell was nearly selectively affected in the cerebellar cortex by bilirubin. The impaired DNA synthesis was observed in homozygous (jj) Gunn rat cerebellum, in which the DNA content and [3H]thymidine incorporation rate into DNA decreased after 10 days of age compared to those in the heterozygous (Jj)littermate. In contrast, these impairments were not found in the non-cerebellar parts of the brain and liver of jj Gunn rat. The activity of cerebellar thymidine kinase in jj Gunn rat decreased from a very early stae, being 80% of Jj rat at 6 days, and 50% at 10 days of age. The enzyme activity was not affected in the non-cerebellar parts of the brain. Although bilirubin competitively inhibited cerebellar thymidine kinase activity in vitro (15% at 10(-5) M), such bilirubin level was found to be about 1000-fold that in vivo. Moreover, photo-degradation of bilirubin in jj cerebellum exhibited no improvement in thymidine kinase activity, and the presence of an enzyme inactivator was not suggested in jj cerebellum. These results seem to indicate that the induction of thymidine kinase might be affected in jj Gunn rat cerebellum. The possibility that the impaired DNA synthesis in the external granular cells in jj cerebellum may be due to Purkinje cell damage is discussed.

Measurement of circulating thyroid microsomal antibodies by the tanned red cell haemagglutination technique: its usefulness in the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases

Thyroid-microsomal antibodies were quantitated by a new technique utilizing tanned sheep red blood cells coated with human thyroid microsomal antigens. This haemagglutination assay (MCHA) correlated with the immunofluorescent antibody (FAB) but not with the thyroglobulin haemagglutination antibodies (TGHA) assay. Of forty-one patients with Hasmimoto's thyroiditis, thirty-nine (95%) were MCHA but only twenty-four (59%) TGHA positive. Titres were similar for the hypothyroid and euthyroid patients. Patients less than 20 years of age had either negative (50%) or low titre (less than 1:160) TGHA but 100% positive MCHA at titres greater than 1:1280. Of twenty-one patients with Graves' disease eighteen (86%) were MCHA and six (29%) TGHA positive. Of thirty-two patients without thyroid disease eleven (34%) were MCHA and/or TGHA positive. On the basis of family history and associated abnormalities, in eight of eleven, positive antibodies may have been due to subclinical Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Fourteen subjects of a control group (10%) were MCHA positive. Seven of ten examined had goitres. MCHA is a simple and quantitative test, useful in the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases.