A clinical study on gallstones in Bolivia

To clarify the prevalence of gallstone disease in Bolivia, all the X-ray films of the biliary system in a total of 656 cases taken during 10 months in La Paz were checked. Gallstones were found in 103 cases (15.7%). The ratio of male to female was 1:1.9. Cholecystolithiasis comprised 76.7% of them, while choledocholithiasis was rare. The analysis of gallstones removed surgically by an infrared absorption spectroscopy revealed that cholesterol was main constituent of stones in 62 cases (93.9%) out of 66 cases.

Effects of morphine on noxious stimuli-induced release of substance P from rabbit dorsal horn in vivo

We investigated the effects of morphine on the noxious mechanical stimuli-induced release of immunoreactive substance P (iSP) from the rabbit dorsal horn in vivo. Systemic morphine in a dose of 10 mg/kg, but not 1 mg/kg, inhibited the iSP release induced by noxious stimuli, although both dosages inhibited the nociceptive responses of rabbits to the stimuli. The inhibitory effect of morphine (10 mg/kg) on the iSP release was partially or completely antagonized by the local application of naloxone or prazosin, respectively, to the dorsal horn. The local application of methysergide did not affect the morphine action. The inhibitory effect of morphine (10 mg/kg) on the iSP release was diminished in acute spinal animals. These results suggest that the inhibition of the evoked release of substance P participates only in the action of the larger dose of morphine, and that this inhibition of the substance P release may be mediated by opioid receptors and the noradrenergic system, but not the serotonergic system, in the spinal cord.

[Clinical investigation of combined therapy (cefotiam, sulbenicillin and cefsulodin) against infections complicated by acute leukemia]

Prophylaxis effect and clinical therapy of combination use of cefotiam (CTM), sulbenicillin (SBPC) and cefsulodin (CFS) have been investigated, and the results were as follows. 1. Prophylaxis effect of CTM-SBPC combination therapy was very useful. CTM-SBPC combination therapy was performed to patients who are at high risk for infectious complications. Prophylaxis effect of CTM-SBPC was judged by fever over 38 degrees C, and was better than usual antibiotic treatment. 2. CTM-SPBC-CFS combination therapy was performed against severe infections during early remission, and the overall effectiveness rate was 83.3% (5/6). 3. No remarkable side effect was observed in this investigation.

Lack of effect of morphine and noxious stimuli on the MET-enkephalin content in the spinal dorsal horn and nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis of the rat

The Met-enkephalin contents in the dorsal horn of the lumbar enlargement and the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis of the medulla oblongata of the rat were measured, using a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for Met-enkephalin, and the effects of morphine and noxious stimuli on the Met-enkephalin contents in these regions were examined. In this radioimmunoassay, the IC50 and assayable limits for Met-enkephalin were 45 and 5 fmol/tube respectively, and the IC50 for Leuenkephalin was 0.56 nmol/tube (0.008% cross reactivity between Met-and Leu-enkephalins). The contents of Met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the lumbar enlargement and the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis were not altered by either subcutaneous injection of morphine or thermal (hot plate) and chemical (formalin injection) noxious stimuli applied to the hind-paws.

The effect of cytochalasin B on the superoxide production by alveolar macrophages obtained from normal rabbit lungs

Resident alveolar macrophages and lung lavage fluids were obtained from normal rabbit lungs. Superoxide production by alveolar macrophages exposed to lung lavage fluids and cytochalasin B was measured by superoxide dismutase-inhibitable nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction. Glycogen-elicited peritoneal macrophages were used as a control. Cytochalasin B, as well as lung lavage fluids, enhanced superoxide production by resting alveolar macrophages. The cytochalasin B-induced superoxide production was associated with enhanced attachment to glass and with remarkable alterations of the cell surface morphology, probably relating to interference with the microfilament functions of cells. On the other hand, glycogen-elicited peritoneal macrophages showed only a slight production of superoxide when exposed to the same stimulants.

Asymmetric division of lymphoid cells of the thymus of embryonic guinea-pigs. A cell kinetic study

Cell division of thymus lymphoid cells from 30- to 60-day-old embryonic guinea-pigs, as well as young adults was investigated on cell smears stained with Giemsa. Asymmetrically dividing cells were found in the developmental stage of thymocytes. At the telophase of such cells, the cytoplasma of one of two immature daughter cells was apparently larger in amount than that of the counterpart cell. When 40-day embryonic lymphoid cells were examined, most of the asymmetrically dividing cells at telophase belonged to the larger cell population (mean diameter 15.7 micrometer). The mean diameters of the larger and smaller immature daughter cells of these dividing cells were estimated as 12.0 and 9.2 micrometer, respectively. Ultrastructural study also revealed a lymphoid cell which was under-going in situ apparent symmetric division at telophase. One of two immature daughter cells alone possessed a large cytoplasmic protrusion with few organella. The frequence of asymmetric division calculated by a rough estimation was around 10% of the total cell division between days 30 and 40 of embryonic development, and decreased thereafter. During this developmental period, thymic lymphoid cells were shown to progressively transform into smaller cells. A scheme regarding the mode of thymocyte proliferation during the embryonic period is proposed. and the biological meaning of the present phenomenon is discussed.

Asymmetric division of immature lymphoid cells of the embryonic mouse thymus

Cell division of thymus lymphoid cells from 15- to 19-day-old embryonic mice, as well as from 2- and 7-day-old mice was investigated on cell smears stained with Giemsa or with the Feulgen reaction followed with malachite green. Asymmetrically dividing cells were observed during the development. At the anaphase and telophase of such cells, the nucleus of one of two immature daughter cells was apparently smaller and more condensed than that of the counterpart cell. The asymmetry was already apparent at the level of sister chromosomes at anaphase. Sometimes a difference also existed in the cytoplasm: the cytoplasm of the smaller immature daughter cell with condensed nucleus was stained with Giemsa more deeply than that of the counterpart. The frequency of cells displaying apparent asymmetric division among total dividing cells at the telophase was around 10% between 15 and 19 days of gestation, and decreased to 2% on days 2 and 7 after birth. Asymmetrically dividing cells belonged to immature lymphoid cells of larger size. The biological implications of the present phenomenon are discussed.

Allorestriction and xenorestriction phenomena in the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses in the guinea pig against azobenzenearsonate- (ABA) modified peritoneal exudate cells

The role of MHC products in the induction of DTH responses Ia antigens play a crucial role in these cells in the recognition of ABA determinants by lymphocytes. Second, JY-1 guinea pigs were employed as responder animals. A clear allorestriction phenomenon was observed again when weakly modified ABA-PEC were used. On the other hand, the allorestriction phenomenon was apparently abrogated when heavily modified ABA-PEC were employed: allogeneic as well as syngeneic ABA-PEC induced strong and comparable DTH responses. Even in this condition, xenogeneic (mouse) ABA-PEC were barely immunogeneic, On the basis of these observations, the cross-reactivity of Ia antigens in the conjunctive recognition of haptenic determinants by T cells is discussed.

Allorestriction and xenorestriction phenomena in the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses in the guinea pig against azobenzenearsonate- (ABA) modified peritoneal exudate cells

The role of MHC products in the induction of DTH responses Ia antigens play a crucial role in these cells in the recognition of ABA determinants by lymphocytes. Second, JY-1 guinea pigs were employed as responder animals. A clear allorestriction phenomenon was observed again when weakly modified ABA-PEC were used. On the other hand, the allorestriction phenomenon was apparently abrogated when heavily modified ABA-PEC were employed: allogeneic as well as syngeneic ABA-PEC induced strong and comparable DTH responses. Even in this condition, xenogeneic (mouse) ABA-PEC were barely immunogeneic, On the basis of these observations, the cross-reactivity of Ia antigens in the conjunctive recognition of haptenic determinants by T cells is discussed.

[A case of intracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma--changes observed by computed tomography before and after radiotherapy (author's transl)]

Intracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is very rare, only 14 cases being reported in Europe and in the United States of America. Recently we experienced a case in which the follow-up indicating computed tomograms (CT) demonstrated interesting data on the radiosensitivity of this tumor. The patient, a 14-year-old female was admitted to out hospital with the complaint of left hemiplegia which had gradually progressed. CT revealed an area spreading upward from the right median base of the skull and consisted of two components showing (A) a density as high as that of calcium and (B) a density higher than that of surrounding brain tissue, but much lower than that of calcium. Temporoparietal craniotomy was performed to react approximately one-half of the tumor. Histological finding revealed mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. The component-A was though to be a cartilaginous tissue, and-B to be an undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue. Postoperative irradiation of 7,000 rad was initiated. The effect of radiotherapy as seen on computed tomograms is as follows, (1) decrease in the volume of the tumor by 26%, (2) decrease in density and enhancement of the area which is considered to be the undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, (3) mild reduction of the area which is considered to be the cartilaginous tissue, and (4) a very high density of the entire tumor similar in degree to that of the bone one year later. These results suggested that radiotherapy is effective for this tumor.