Antigen-induced decrease of salicylic acid absorption from the small intestine in actively immunized rats

Rats were intraperitoneally immunized with bovine gamma-globulin (BGG) emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Intestinal absorption of salicylic acid from the rat small intestine was examined by means of in situ recirculation technique. The disappearance of salicylic acid from the luminal solution was significantly decreased in rats challenged intravenously with BGG compared to saline as control. A significant decrease in absorption of salicylic acid was noted in rats immunized twice and three times, but not in rats immunized only once. The effect was maintained for at least 5 weeks after the third immunization, whereas it disappeared within 10 weeks. In normal rats, the decreased absorption of salicylic acid by the intravenous challenge with BGG was hardly observed at all. These findings suggest that the intestinal absorption of salicylic acid may be affected by systemic anaphylaxis in actively immunized rats.

Surgical results of intracranial ruptured aneurysms in the acute stage

To evaluate the operative mortality and morbidity of definitive intracranial microsurgical aneurysm obliteration as a function of timing of early operative intervention and as a function of clinical condition at the acute state, we retrospectively review 164 consecutive patients who underwent surgery within 72 hours following haemorrhage. The series was divided into four operation periods (0-6, 6-12, 12-24, 24-72 hours), and patients were graded according to five clinical conditions described by Hunt and Hess. The mortality of the individual clinical condition at each operation period was to great extent independent of the timing of operation, and there was a distinct correlation between the surgical results and the form of bleeding visualized by C.T. In poor condition (grade 3, 4, and 5) patients, satisfactory surgical results were obtained in patients in whom cisternal blood clots, intracerebral haematoma, and subdural haematoma had been shown by C.T. The optimum operation times for each group were suggested.

A simple and convenient assay method for phosphorolysis of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine

5'-Deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) exhibits antitumor activity through its conversion to 5-fluorouracil by uridine phosphorylase (UPase) in mice. This mode of activation was confirmed by the fact that a mutant strain of Micrococcus flavus resistant to 5'-DFUR but sensitive to 5-fluorouracil was isolated and found to be deficient in UPase activity. Furthermore, since the enzyme level in tumor tissue should be useful as an indicator for therapy with 5'-DFUR, a simple assay method for the enzyme activity with use of the above bacterium was developed, in which the amount of 5-fluorouracil cleaved from 5'-DFUR by the enzyme was estimated through its antibacterial activity without separation from 5'-DFUR. This method is simple and efficient for handling a large number of samples.

Successful replantation of four fingers by a single common digital artery anastomosis

The replantation of 4 digits of 1 hand was attempted in a patient who had completely amputated his fingers at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joints. Anastomosis of the severed ends of the third common volar digital artery proved to be successful not only in re-establishing arterial circulation in the middle and ring fingers but also in the index and little fingers, as evidenced by survival of the digits and as evaluated by postoperative angiography. The reasons for this success are discussed in light of anatomic studies.

A new method to determine urinary quinoline compounds in patients with bladder cancer

We developed a new method to measure quinoline compounds including kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid, and the 8-methyl ether of xanthurenic acid in the urine. The excretion of quinoline compounds in 33 patients with bladder cancer was investigated. Abnormal excretion of the 8-methyl ether of xanthurenic acid was confirmed in 13 patients. There were significant increases in the excretion of kynurenic acid and the 8-methyl ether of xanthurenic acid in males and of xanthurenic acid in females. After a L-tryptophan load, the excretion of all three derivatives was increased in males and kynurenic acid excretion was increased in females.