Dominant vasodilator action of norepinephrine in isolated, non-preconstricted simian facial veins

Using the cannula inserting method, we investigated the vascular responses to norepinephrine (NE), phenylephrine and isoprenaline (Isp) in isolated, perfused simian facial veins. NE usually induced only a vasodilation in non-preconstricted veins. Phenylephrine consistently induced only a slight vasoconstriction, and Isp produced only a vasodilation. NE-induced vasodilations were reversed to vasoconstrictions after treatment with a relatively larger dose of propranolol. It is concluded that simian facial veins have a spontaneous intrinsic tone and dominant abundant beta-adrenoceptors but sparse alpha 1-adrenoceptors.

Existence of alpha(1A)- and alpha(1B)-adrenoceptor subtypes in canine mandibular alveolar arteries

1. The present study attempted to pharmacologically characterize the alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes mediating vasoconstriction in canine isolated and perfused mandibular alveolar artery (MAA). 2. Noradrenaline (NA) and phenylephrine (PE) induced a strong vasoconstriction in a dose-dependent manner. The PE-induced vascular constriction was significantly inhibited by treatment with prazosin. Xylazine evoked a moderate vascular constriction and the xylazine-induced response was suppressed by rauwolscine. The NA-induced response was partially inhibited by rauwolscine and the remaining response to NA was abolished by subsequent administration of prazosin. 3. Treatment of MAA with WB4101 produced a dose-dependent inhibition of NA-induced vasoconstriction. Pretreatment of tissues with 10 micromol/L chloroethylclonidine produced a slight and statistically significant inhibition of NA-induced responses. BMY 7378, a selective alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor antagonist, failed to significantly affect vasoconstrictor responses to NA. 4. The present results suggests that: (i) both alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-adrenoceptors are involved in vasoconstrictor responses in the canine MAA; and (ii) the alpha(1)-adrenoceptors involved in the vasoconstrictor responses in the MAA are characterized as mainly of the alpha(1A)- and partially of the alpha(1B)-adrenoceptor subtype.

Effect of triamterene on urinary excretion of immunoreactive prostaglandin E in essential hypertension

The effect of triamterene on urinary excretion of prostaglandin E was studied, and the results were compared with those obtained with spironolactone. Urinary excretion of immunoreactive prostaglandin E was measured radioimmunologically. Triamterene was administered in a dose of 100 mg/day for 8 days to 7 patients with essential hypertension. Following the administration of triamterene, urinary prostaglandin E tended to increase. However, the increment was not significant. The lack of significant increase in urinary prostaglandin E excretion during the administration of triamterene contrasted with our previous finding with spironolactone, in which a significant increase in prostaglandin E excretion was observed on the first day of spironolactone administration. Urinary Na excretion and urinary Na/K ratio were significantly increased and urine volume also tended to increase following the administration of triamterene. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration were increased in all cases. However, there was no significant correlation between these parameters and urinary prostaglandin E. These results suggest that the effect of triamterene on renal prostaglandin E synthesis is different from that of spironolactone and that the change in urinary prostaglandin E after the administration of triamterene is not the reflection of the change in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Potentiating effects of angiotensin II on norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction in isolated and perfused dog mesenteric arteries

Effects of angiotensin II on norepinephrine- and KCl-induced vasoconstrictions were investigated in isolated canine mesenteric arteries which were perfused with Krebs' solution at 37 degrees C. Angiotensin Ii at 0.03-0.3 microgram showed tachyphylaxis in the injection intervals used (10, 20 or 30 min intervals). After treatment with angiotensin II (0.18-1.8 microgram), norepinephrine- and KCl-induced constrictions were consistently potentiated. Imipramine which blocked tyramine-induced action did not significantly influence norepinephrine-induced constriction. pretreatments with both angiotensin II and indomethacin enhanced norepinephrine-induced constriction much greater than that with angiotensin II alone. It is suggested that angiotensin II may modify intracellular Ca movements and prostaglandin production induced by norepinephrine.

Acute presynaptic inhibition by doxorubicin of negative chrono- and inotropic responses to parasympathetic nerve stimulation in isolated, blood-perfused dog atrium

The clinical use of doxorubicin, an anthracycline antineoplastic agent, is limited by its cardiotoxicity. Although several previous reports have shown neurotoxic effects of doxorubicin, there is little information about the acute effects of doxorubicin on the autonomic nerve functions in the heart. Accordingly, to evaluate the effects of doxorubicin on the cardiac responses to autonomic nerve activation, we studied the effects of doxorubicin on the negative chrono- and inotropic responses to intracardiac parasympathetic nerve stimulation and acetylcholine (ACh), and the positive chrono- and inotropic responses to norepinephrine (NE) in the isolated, blood-perfused dog atrium. Doxorubicin (0.01-3 mumol), injected into the sinus node artery of the isolated atrium, induced negative inotropic effects dose dependently and weak negative chronotropic effects. Doxorubicin inhibited the negative chrono- and inotropic responses to parasympathetic nerve stimulation dose dependently. However, doxorubicin affected neither the negative chrono- and inotropic responses to ACh nor the positive chrono- and inotropic responses to NE. These results indicate that doxorubicin interacts with neither muscarinic receptors nor beta-adrenoceptors and suggest that doxorubicin inhibits the negative cardiac responses to parasympathetic nerve activation due to the inhibition of ACh release from nerve varicosities in the heart.

Inhibition by bertosamil of cardiac responses to pinacidil or Bay k 8644 in isolated dog atria and ventricles

We investigated the effects of a novel bradycardiac agent, bertosamil (3-isobutyl-7-isopropyl-9,9-pentamethylene-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1] nonane sesquihydrogenfumarate), on the sinus rate and atrial contractile force and the left ventricular contractile force in isolated, blood-perfused dog hearts and the blocking effects of bertosamil on the chronotropic and inotropic responses to pinacidil and Bay k 8644 (methyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)- piridine-5-carboxylate). Bertosamil (0.1-100 nmol) caused transient positive, followed by continuous negative, chronotropic responses and positive inotropic responses in atria, and increased the left ventricular contractile force. Neither propranolol nor atropine affected the cardiac responses to bertosamil. Bertosamil (3-100 nmol) dose dependently attenuated the negative chronotropic and inotropic responses to pinacidil but not to acetylcholine. Bertosamil at a high dose attenuated the positive cardiac responses to Bay k 8644, norepinephrine and isoproterenol. These results suggest that bertosamil inhibits negative cardiac responses mediated by an ATP-sensitive K+ channel but not an acetylcholine muscarinic receptor and, at a high dose, attenuates the L-type Ca2+ channel-mediated positive cardiac responses in isolated dog hearts.

Effects of lidocaine on isolated, blood-perfused ventricular contractility in the dog

Direct inotropic effects of lidocaine on ventricular muscle were investigated in isolated canine left ventricular preparations which were perfused with a donor dog's arterial blood. Intravenous administration of lidocaine in doses of less than 1 mg/kg did not cause any significant hemodynamic or cardiac changes in the donor dog and in the isolated ventricular preparation. A large dose of 10mg/kg of lidocaine produced a marked depressor response in the donor and a negative inotropic effect in the isolated ventricle. Direct injection of lidocaine (1-30 micromol) to the isolated preparation induced a dose-related decrease in the ventricular contractile force. Infusion of lidocaine (3 micromol/ml per min) did not influence norepinephrine- or calcium chloride-induced positive inotropic effects. In the frequency-force relationship, lidocaine generally depressed the contractility, exhibiting the positive staircase phenomenon. On the other hand, a calcium entry inhibitor, diltiazem, readily caused the negative staircase. From these results, it is concluded that (1) a large amount of lidocaine has a cardiac depressant property, (2) lidocaine has no antiadrenergic properties, and (3) the action of lidocaine may probably be due to the effect of intracellular calcium movement but not to a modification of Ca inward currents.

Human parvovirus B19-induced aplastic crisis in iron deficiency anemia

Human parvovirus B19 (HPVB19) infects and replicates in erythroid progenitor cells. Its specific cytotoxic effect on these cells results in aplastic crises in patients with congenital hemolytic anemias. Aplastic crisis due to HPVB19 infection in a healthy girl revealed occult iron deficiency anemia. The condition is characterized by a high serum iron level in the aplastic phase and rapid recovery after administration of iron. Temporary HPVB19-induced red blood cell aplasia could occur in patients with other anemias, particularly those with non-inherited form of hemolysis.

Effects of KRN2391, a novel vasodilator, on pancreatic exocrine secretion in anesthetized dogs

The effects of KRN2391, a newly synthesized vasodilator, on pancreatic exocrine secretion in anesthetized dogs were compared with those of Ki3315, pinacidil and nitroprusside. Graded doses of KRN2391 (0.03-3 mumol/kg) and nitroprusside (0.003-0.3 mumol/kg) injected i.a. produced dose-dependent increases in the secretion of pancreatic juice, with a high concentration of protein and low concentration of bicarbonate, but Ki3315 or pinacidil did not (up to 10 mumol/kg). KRN2391 and nitroprusside increased the cyclic GMP levels in pancreatic tissue together with the increase in pancreatic secretion. Methylene blue decreased pancreatic secretion and cyclic GMP levels stimulated by KRN2391 and nitroprusside, but glibenclamide did not. KRN2391, Ki3315, pinacidil and nitroprusside caused vasodilator actions. These results suggest that KRN2391 has direct secretory properties on pancreatic exocrine glands of the dog and its nitro moiety has an important role in the stimulation of pancreatic secretion, but the K+ channel opening action or increasing of blood flow rate does not participate in the secretion.

Plasma thromboxane B2 concentration in patients with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary hypertension

Plasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2)-a stable metabolite of thromboxane A2 (TXA2)-conventional hemodynamic parameters, mean pulmonary input energy (input energy), and mean pulmonary output energy (output energy) were measured to assess platelet activation in 21 patients with pulmonary hypertension and a ventricular septal defect (VSD). The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (normal range) and group B (high level). TXB2 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. There was no relationship between plasma TXB2 concentrations and conventional hemodynamic parameters except the pulmonary-to-systemic pressure ratio. Output-to-input energy ratio was correlated logarithmically with the plasma TXB2 concentration. We concluded that patients with output/input energy ratio >0.15 had a high TXB2 concentration and activated platelets in pulmonary capillaries.

Direct chronotropic and inotropic responses to guanosine and five different guanine nucleotides in isolated perfused dog atria

The effects of guanosine and of five guanine nucleotides on sinus rate and contractile force were investigated using the isolated, blood-perfused dog atrium preparation. Guanosine consistently induced a positive chronotropic and inotropic effect which was not suppressed by treatment with a potent beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent, carteolol. GMP, GDP and CTP induced a biphasic chronotropic and inotropic effect. The potencies for inducing the positive effects of GMP, GDP and GTP were almost the same. However, their rank order of potency for inducing negative effects was GTP greater than or equal to GDP greater than GMP. The negative responses to GTP were not inhibited by atropine. Cyclic GMP and dibutyryl cyclic GMP produced only slight negative chronotropic and inotropic effects but not consistently even at larger doses. The positive chronotropic and inotropic responses to norepinephrine were not modified by treatment with dibutyryl cyclic GMP.

Neutrino signals from the formation of a black hole: A probe of the equation of state of dense matter

The gravitational collapse of a nonrotating, black-hole-forming massive star is studied by nu-radiation-hydrodynamical simulations for two different sets of realistic equation of state of dense matter. We show that the event will produce as many neutrinos as the ordinary supernova, but with distinctive characteristics in luminosities and spectra that will be an unmistakable indication of black hole formation. More importantly, the neutrino signals are quite sensitive to the difference of equation of state and can be used as a useful probe into the properties of dense matter. The event will be unique in that they will be shining only by neutrinos (and, possibly, gravitational waves) but not by photons, and hence they should be an important target of neutrino astronomy.

Mutation screening of phenylketonuria in the Far East of Russia

We analyzed mutant genotypes at the human phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) locus among phenylketonuria (PKU) patients in the Far East of Russia. A total of 60 variant alleles from 30 PKU families were analyzed for prevalent Caucasian mutations and restriction fragment length polymorphism/variable number of tandem repeats (RFLP/VNTR) haplotypes. Seventy-eight percent of all variant alleles carried six mutations. The most prevalent mutation was R408W (63%), with a haplotype background of 2.3. It also showed a very high degree of homozygosity (43%). The other five mutations (R158Q, R261Q, R252W, R261X, and IVS12nt-1) accounted for 1.7%-6.7% of all PKU alleles, and a single haplotype was associated with each genotype, except for R261Q. The genetic structure of PKU patients in the Far East of Russia seems to be relatively homogeneous, compared with that in the other Slavic and Oriental populations of surrounding countries. Prediction of a clinical phenotype and carrier detection will be feasible using DNA tests.

Involvement of endogenous prostaglandins in pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion in dog pancreas

The involvement of endogenous prostaglandins (PGs) in pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion was investigated, using the isolated and perfused dog pancreas. Spontaneous production of both PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was recorded in venous effluent. Prostaglandin production increased following stimulation with both 10 x 10(-11) and 20 x 10(-11) mol of CCK-8, but was not affected by a 5 x 10(-11) mol infusion. Insulin, glucagon, and amylase release was stimulated by 10 x 10(-11) mol of CCK-8. Indomethacin pretreatment with 10 mg/kg totally abolished endogenous PG production, but failed to suppress an insulin and glucagon response. On the other hand, an amylase response was accelerated by indomethacin pretreatment. Although low dose CCK-8 failed to stimulate endogenous prostaglandin production, a brisk exocrine secretion was not suppressed by indomethacin pretreatment. From the above results, we conclude that endogenous PGs do not appear to play an important role in pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion, but might have a cytoprotective effect on the pancreatic acinar cells damaged by CCK-8.

Dystrophin analysis in the differential diagnosis of autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy of childhood and Duchenne muscular dystrophy

We report 2 patients with childhood autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy. Both patients had slight muscle weakness without enlargement of the calf muscles or involvement of the facial muscles. Their clinical courses are static. Muscle histology revealed characteristic features of muscular dystrophy. Dystrophin was identifiable in the sarcolemma of both patients by immunocytochemical staining with an antidystrophin antibody. At an early age, immunocytochemical analysis with antidystrophin antibody was useful in distinguishing between childhood autosomal recessive and Duchenne muscular dystrophies.

Effects of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)nicotinamide nitrate (nicorandil; SG-75) and its derivatives on pancreatic exocrine secretion in the dog

Nicorandil, a compound containing a nitrate moiety, can act as a K+ channel opener. Previously we reported stimulatory effects of an intraarterial injection of nicorandil on pancreatic exocrine secretion in the isolated, blood-perfused pancreas under a constant perfusion pressure. To clarify this mechanism in relation to the chemical structure we studied the effects of nicorandil and its derivatives [nitrate containing structure, N-(3-hydroxy-propyl)nicotinamide nitrate (SG-89); nitrate lacking structure, N-(2-acetoxyethyl)nicotinamide (SG-209)], in addition to nitroglycerin (TNG) and pinacidil (a potent K+ channel opener) under a constant perfusion flow rate to the pancreas. Nicorandil, SG-89, and TNG elicited a dose-dependent increase in pancreatic fluid secretion, showing increases in bicarbonate and amylase concentrations. In contrast, SG-209 and pinacidil did not stimulate pancreatic secretion. Furthermore, stimulatory action of nicorandil was not inhibited by treatment with an intraarterial infusion of tetraethylammonium (TEA). These results suggest that nicorandil has direct secretory properties on pancreatic exocrine glands and its nitrate moiety has an important role in the stimulation of pancreatic exocrine secretion, but increasing flow rate and K+ channel opening action do not participate in the secretion.

Cytomegalovirus-mononucleosis in a newborn infant

A 3-week-old infant with haemophilia A developed fever and mononucleosis and was found to have cytomegalovirus, infection, possibly acquired by blood transfusion. At 6 months, while still excreting cytomgalovirus, he developed transient clinical jaundice with a hepatitis-like picture.

Renal kallikrein-kinin system and the depressor effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors MK 421, SA 446, and captopril in rats

Responses in urinary kallikrein and kinin excretion and systolic blood pressure to MK 421, SA 446 or captopril were studied in normotensive rats fed on a regular or a low sodium diet to assess the role of renal kallikrein-kinin system in their hypotensive effect. MK 421, SA 446 or captopril were infused at a rate of 6 mg/kg/day by osmotic minipump implanted intraperitoneally for up to 6 days. The magnitude of fall in systolic blood pressure was greater on a low sodium diet when compared to on a regular diet, whereas the pattern of the fall was similar on both diets. The magnitude of falls in plasma angiotensin II and aldosterone concentration induced by MK 421, SA 446 and captopril was not significantly different between both regular and low sodium diets. Urinary kallikrein and kinin excretion and sodium excretion were increased during infusion of MK 421, SA 446 or captopril on a low sodium diet, however any significant changes were not found in each of them on a regular diet. The present results suggest that on a low sodium diet the augmented hypotensive response to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in the rats might be due to the enhanced renal kallikrein-kinin system in addition to suppressed renin-angiotensin system.

Successful unrelated cord blood transplantation in Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia during pulmonary aspergillosis treated by anti-fungal therapy, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized granulocytes and surgical resection: case report

A 3-year-old girl with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed pulmonary aspergillosis during severe neutropenia by re-induction therapy. She was treated by intravenous fluconazole, oral itraconazole with plasma level monitoring and surgical resection of the focus for 3 months after clinical diagnosis of fungal infection was made. Once she had recovered from surgery we attempted to induce remission with anti-fungal treatment. She developed fever and neutropenia and appeared unlikely to remit with conventional chemotherapy. Unrelated one-antigen-mismatched cord blood (CB) transplantation was performed 2 months after the induction therapy. Her pulmonary aspergillosis was reactivated during subsequent conditioning. Anti-fungal drugs were switched to amphotericin B and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized granulocyte concentrates were transfused. She obtained engraftment and has maintained complete hematological and molecular remission without signs of aspergillus infection for 13 months so far after transplantation. Even very high-risk transplantation in pediatric patients could be successfully supported by carefully designed intense comprehensive medical care.