Simultaneous measurement of mitochondrial and microsomal cytochrome levels in human liver biopsy

The mitochondrial and microsomal cytochromes in patients' livers obtained from needle biopsies have been analyzed using a sensitive spectrophotometric method. To determine simultaneously the concentration of these cytochromes from hemoglobin-contaminated liver, difference spectra of liver homogenates were taken at the temperature of liquid nitrogen before and after photolysis of carbon monoxide molecules from various hemoprotein-CO complexes. This method utilizes a characteristic property of hemoprotein-CO complexes, in which the reassociation of CO molecules with photolyzed hemoglobin, cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome alpha3 is temperature-dependent. The results in 69 cases with a variety of liver diseases have revealed that the concentrations of cytochromes alphaalpha3, P-450 and beta5 showed a huge variation in the injured livers as compared with those in the normal controls. The significance of the measurement of these cytochrome concentrations and their ratios is discussed.

Serum somatomedin peptides measured by somatomedin A radioreceptor assay in chronic liver disease

The levels of serum somatomedin peptides were determined with a somatomedin A radioreceptor assay utilizing human placental membranes. Low levels were found in 25 patients with liver cirrhosis and 28 patients with chronic hepatitis with the mean of 0.47 +/- 0.05 and 0.60 +/- 0.04 U/ml, respectively. There was a positive correlation between somatomedin A on one hand and serum albumin, cholinesterase, total cholesterol and thrombotest on the other. There was a negative correlation between somatomedin A and the indocyanine green retention test. These findings confirm earlier results obtained with bioassay.

Congenital heart disease in high school and college students

The prevalence and relative frequency of congenital heart disease in high school and college students were investigated during the period April 1970-March 1976. Forty congenital lesions were found among 13,127 subjects which shows a rate of 3 per thousand. The ratio of congenital lesion to rheumatic heart disease was 4/1. Ventricular septal defect was the most common defect, found in 30% of all lesions followed by atrial septal defect (20%) and patent ductus arteriosus (17.5%). The prevalence and relative frequency in those investigated differed only slightly from the results obtained among children. The possibility of spontaneous closure of ventricular septal defect during adulthood strongly suggested itself when compared with our previous data on post middle age subjects.

delta-Aminolevulinate synthetases in the liver cytosol fraction and mitochondria of mice treated with allylisopropylacetamide and 3,5-dicarbethoxyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine

Hepatic delta-aminolevulinate (ALA) synthetase was induced in mice by the administration of allylisopropylacetamide (AIA) and 3,5-dicarbethoxy-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC). In both cases, a significant amount of ALA synthetase accumulated in the liver cytosol fraction as well as in the mitochondria. The apparent molecular weight of the cytosol ALA synthetase was estimated to be 320,000 by gel filtration, but when the cytosol ALA synthetase was subjected to sucrose density gradient centrifugation, it showed a molecular weight of 110,000. In the mitochondria, there were two different sizes of ALA synthetase with molecular weights of 150,000 and 110,000, respectively; the larger enzyme was predominant in DDC-treated mice, whereas in AIA-treated mice and normal mice the enzyme existed mostly in the smaller form. When hemin was injected into mice pretreated with DDC, the molecular size of the mitochondrial ALA synthetase changed from 150,000 to 110,000. The half-life of ALA synthetase in the liver cytosol fraction was about 30 min in both the AIA-treated and DDC-treated mice. The half-life of the mitochondrial ALA synthetase in AIA-treated mice and normal mice was about 60 min, but in DDC-treated mice the half-life was as long as 150 min. The data suggest that the cytosol ALA synthetase of mouse liver is a protein complex with properties very similar to those of the cytosol ALA synthetase of rat liver, which has been shown to be composed of the enzyme active protein and two catalytically inactive binding proteins, and that ALA synthetase may be transferred from the liver cytosol fraction to the mitochondria with a size of about 150,000 daltons, followed by its conversion to enzyme with a molecular weight of 110,000 within the mitochondria. The process of intramitochondrial enzyme degradation seems to be affected in DDC-treated animals.

[A new modified wick catheter for measurement of the brain tissue pressure-an evaluation of static and dynamic properties of the catheter (author's transl)]

The interstitial pressure of the brain was measured with wick catheter by Lassen in 1972. But original wick catheter inserted into the brain tissue does not always measure the real interstitial pressure as indicated by experimental results of Brodersen, because, the interstitial pressure is always affected by solid pressure such as cells in the brain tissue, in the condition of which surrounded by positive CSF pressure in the semiclosed skull box. It is not yet clarified what kinds of the pressure are measured by wick catheter method in the brain tissue. The size of wick catheter is 300-500 times as large as the width of interspace of the brain tissue and the catheter is easily obstructed by brain tissue. Therefore, a new, modified wick catheter is made for improvement of these problems which is observed by using original wick catheter. The new, modified catheter has 0.4 mm inside diameter and 10 cm length. The tip of catheter is closed and 6 small side holes(0.1 mm0)are made. Inside the catheter, several pieces of 0.04 mm diameter nylon threads are inserted as shown in figure 1, and the catheter is filled up with the cerebrospinal fluid. In this paper, the structure of the new, modified catheter is demonstrated, and the brain tissue pressure is measured, comparing with the results of the original wick catheter to test the function of the new, modified catheter. The results of measurement of the brain tissue fluid pressure with the new, modified catheter are as follows; 1) The brain tissue fluid pressure is relatively constant and shows a positive pressure of 5.2 mmHg. 2) As there are few blocking effects in the catheter, the new, modified catheter is useful for the measurement of the brain tissue fluid pressure for a long time. 3) The brain tissue fluid pressure is not altered by the number's of nylon threads in the catheter at static condition, but movement of brain tissue fluid pressure with respiration is a little dumped by the increased conductancy with the numbers of nylon threads in the catheter. 4) The tissue fluid pressure affected by the viscosity and osmolarity of the fluid in the catheter, CSF should be used for correct measurement. According to these results, it might be concluded that the new, modified wick catheter is better than the original wick catheter regarding prevention of obstruction of the catheter by brain tissue fragments, artifacts which causet by movement of wick fibers, measurement of brain tissue fluid pressure for a long time and clarify the resistance of catheter to pressure conductancy.

A scanning electron microscopy of subcellular structures of the human hepatic cell

Human liver specimens obtained by needle biopsy were extensively osmicated by the revised tannin-osmium method of MURAKAMI (1974) and cracked in air after critical point drying, to be observed in the scanning electron microscope. The fracture tended to occur along the membranous elements and exposed beautifully fractured faces of the hepatic cell. The nucleus of the hepatic cell was spherical. The nuclear pores were demonstrated as small pits 0.1 mu in diameter and their total occurrence in one nucleus was estimated to be 2,100. In the spongy framework resembling the endoplasmic reticulum, oval-shaped mitochondria and multivesicular tufts of the Golgi complex were observed. The nucleolus of the hepatic cell nucleus was noticed as a highlighted mass in the cloudy nucleoplasm.

Clinical observations during a relatively early stage of hepatocellular carcinoma, with special reference to serum alpha-fetoprotein levels

Five cases of hepatocellular carcinoma in whom diagnosis was made when the tumor was relatively small, are described. In 2 cases, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) strted to rise sharply, which enabled early detection and surgical removal of the tumor. Serum AFP was below 100 ng per ml, but above the upper normal limit by radioimmunoassay, and was unfluctuating for a considerable period of time before it began to rise in 2 cases. It was negative throughout in 1 case, who lived more than 4 years after the tumor had reached a detectable size. In 4 of 5 cases, the tumor seemed to have evolved during a stage of chronic hepatitis or its transition to cirrhosis. In 1 case with chronic schistosomiasis and advanced mixed macro- and micronodular cirrhosis, a 1.5-cm tumor was detected by celiac angiography. These observations on time relationship of oncogenesis may be generalized to modify the cirrhotic liver. Necessity is emphasized for the early detection of this type of carcinoma to monitor serum AFP in chronic hepatitis patients, particularly in those with unfluctuating, mildly abnormal levels of AFP.

NOTIZEN n-Paraffins from the Flow ers and Leaves of parabenzoin praecox (Sieb. et Zucc.) Nakai (lauraceae)

P. praecox (Sieb, et Zucc.) Nakai (Lauraceae), flowers and leaves, n-paraffins (C17 to C34)

Monoterpene Hydrocarbons from Ants

Pristomyrmex pungens Mayr, Pheidole nodus Smith, Lasius

(Dendrolasius) spathepus Wheeler, Crematogaster laboriosa Smith, monoterpene hydrocarbons (α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, limonene)