Effects of thyroid hormone on coenzyme Q and other free radical scavengers in rat heart muscle

Active oxygen species are reported to cause organ damage. This study was therefore designed to determine the behaviour of antioxidants and free radical scavengers so as to reveal changes in animals in the hyper- and hypothyroid state. Levels of antioxidant factors (i.e. coenzyme Q (CoQ)10, CoQ9 and vitamin E) and free radical scavengers (catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) were measured in the heart muscles of rats rendered hyper- or hypothyroid by 4 weeks of thyroxine (T4) or methimazol treatment. Serum levels of CoQ9 and total SOD were also measured. A significant reduction in CoQ9 levels was observed in the heart muscles of both hyper- and hypothyroid rats when compared with control hearts. There was no difference in serum CoQ9 levels in thyroid dysfunction when compared with control animals. Levels of vitamin E in the heart muscles of hyperthyroid rats were significantly increased, and there was no reduction in vitamin E levels in hypothyroid rats when compared with control hearts. GSH-PX levels in the heart muscle were reduced in hyperthyroid rats and increased in hypothyroid rats when compared with control hearts. However, there were no differences in catalase levels in heart muscle between hyper- and hypothyroid rats. The concentration of SOD in heart muscle was increased in hyperthyroid rats and was not decreased in hypothyroid rats compared with control rats, suggesting the induction of SOD by excessive production of O2-. These data suggest that the changes in these scavengers have some role in cardiac dysfunction in the hyper- and hypothyroid state in the rat.

pH-dependent inactivation and reactivation of recombinant sheep angiotensinogen

Purified recombinant sheep angiotensinogen (rsAngn) lost 74% of the reactivity with human renin during storage at pH 8.0 and 4 degrees C. The inactivated rsAngn was reactivated by incubation at acidic pHs. This indicates that pH-dependent inactivation and reactivation occur in rsAngn.

[A rare case of a diabetic patient with small cell lung cancer, initially diagnosed as pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis]

A rare case of a patient with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) with small cell lung cancer, initially diagnosed as pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis, was reported. A 40-year-old male patient was diagnosed with NIDDM about 3 years earlier, but he did not receive any treatment. Then, a two-month history of high fever, persistent cough and back pain developed. Chest X-ray film showed a lung infiltrate with a small cavity in the upper portion of the left lung. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the chest revealed a tumor mass shadow with osteoclasia along the bodies of the 6th and 7th thoracic vertebral bone. Staphylococcus aureus infection was confirmed by arterial blood culture. Administration of antibiotics resulted in the disappearance of the left lung infiltrate and a slight reduction of the tumor mass in the thoracic vertebral bone, suggesting pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis as an unusual complication of NIDDM. However, as the tumor mass still remained, needle biopsy for the mass lesion was performed, resulting in the diagnosis of metastasis of small cell carcinoma from the left lung. Gene aberration in this lung disease has been reported recently, and its correlation with NIDDM which may also be induced by genetic abnormality is an interesting question that remains to be resolved.

Pharmacokinetics of enoximone after various intravenous administrations to healthy volunteers

The pharmacokinetics of enoximone and its sulfoxide metabolite were investigated in healthy male volunteers after various intravenous administrations: a bolus single dose, a continuous infusion, and bolus multiple doses of enoximone. The overall pharmacokinetic profiles of enoximone and sulfoxide metabolite indicated linearity over the range of 0.25-2.0 mg/kg after single doses of enoximone. The hypothetical plasma concentration just after bolus injection of enoximone, the maximum concentration of sulfoxide, and the area under the concentration-time curves of both compounds increased proportionally with dose. The terminal half-lives of both compounds indicated similar values (2.0-2.7 h) and were not dose related. After four consecutive doses given at 3-h intervals, no accumulation was observed for either compound, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were not altered. After a 4-h infusion of enoximone, the areas under the plasma concentration-time curves of both compounds were 30% lower than the estimated values from the single dose study. Also, some pharmacokinetic parameters were changed as compared to those from the single dose study. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained in Japanese healthy volunteers showed no marked differences from those obtained in Caucasians; thus, no racial difference was suggested in the pharmacokinetic properties of enoximone.

Changes of calmodulin concentration and cyclic 3',5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities in cardiac muscle of hyper- and hypothyroid rats

To investigate the effect of thyroid hormone on cardiac muscle dysfunction in hyper- and hypothyroid states, we evaluated cyclic 3',5'-nucleotide metabolism by measuring cyclic 3',5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity and calmodulin concentrations in the cardiac muscles of hyper- and hypothyroid rats. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentration was significantly high in the cardiac muscle of hyperthyroid rats and low in that from hypothyroid rats compared with control rats. Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activities were significantly decreased in the soluble fraction of cardiac muscle from hyperthyroid rats and markedly increased in this fraction in hypothyroid rats compared with normal animals. Calmodulin concentration was high in hyperthyroid and low in hypothyroid rats. It was concluded from these findings that low cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity might, in part, bring about the high concentration of cAMP. Calmodulin was significantly high in the cardiac muscle of hyperthyroid rats and the reverse was the case in hypothyroid rats compared with normal rats. The implication is that, in hyper- and hypothyroid states, these changes may play an important role in cardiac function via their effect on cyclic nucleotide and Ca2+ metabolism.

[The prevalence of antithyroid antibodies and long term follow-up in patients with lipiodol iodine-induced goiter]

We have carried out a follow-up study on iodine-induced goiter to clarify whether or not iodine could be a factor in the progression as well as the promotion of thyroid autoimmunity. We selected 143 women of child-bearing age without any previous thyroid disorders who had received hysterosalpingography (H.S.G.). 45 Sex and age-matched healthy subjects were chosen as controls. Serum nonhormonal iodine (S.N.I.) levels, frequency of goiter and antimicrosomal antibody (MCHA) in all the Lipiodol-cases were significantly higher than those in the controls (p < 0.001, < 0.01 and < 0.01), respectively. When the subjects were divided into 9 groups according to the duration of each 5 months after H.S.G., serum TSH and S.N.I. levels, incidence of goiter and MCHA in the initial group were significantly higher than those in the other groups (p < 0.05). The S.N.I. levels became normalized in 30 months after H.S.G. and the goiters disappeared in almost the same duration, while the incidence of higher MCHA titers declined gradually but significantly around 40 months after H.S.G. compared with that in the first 5 months after H.S.G. (p < 0.05). The frequency of goiter and MCHA in 44 cases after a 6-39 month follow-up decreased significantly compared to that in the initial group (p < 0.05). Therefore, we tried an individual longitudinal follow-up study on MCHA titer in 12 cases for 35-103 months, resulting in a significant reduction or negativeness of the titer in 6 cases. Likewise, MCHA titers in all cases decreased significantly (p < 0.05) on later evaluation. The present data suggest that iodine in Lipiodol administered via the vagina will act not only as the promoting factor, but as an aggravating agent for thyroid autoimmunity.

Simultaneous determination of deflazacort metabolites II and III, cortisol, cortisone, prednisolone and prednisone in human serum by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of human serum from subjects administered prednisolone or deflazacort has been established. Two deflazacort metabolites (metabolites II and III), prednisolone and its metabolite (prednisone), as well as cortisol and cortisone in human serum were analyzed simultaneously. These six compounds and the internal standard, betamethasone, were extracted from 1 ml of human serum using a Sep-Pak Plus Environmental C18 column and then separated on a Hypersil ODS (25 x 0.46 cm I.D.) column using a gradient system. The lower limit of quantitation for each compound was 10 ng/ml based on signal-to-noise ratio of 5 and calibration curve linearity. Within-day and between-day validations gave a coefficient of variation of less than 10% and a relative error of ca. 10% (n = 11).

Immunoreactive creatine kinase-MB and creatine kinase isozyme concentrations during treatment of hypothyroid patients

Using a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system, we determined creatine kinase isozymes, namely creatine kinase-MB and creatine kinase-MM, in sera of patients suffering from primary hypothyroidism with concomitant signs of myocardial affections before and during treatment. After oral administration of L-thyroxine, the augmented mass concentrations of serum creatine kinase-MB and creatine kinase-MM, and the increased catalytic activity concentrations of serum total creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB gradually decreased in inverse proportion to the increased concentrations of serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). By the 6th to 8th week after treatment, the elevated levels of serum total creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB catalytic activity concentrations (assayed by a routine method) and serum creatine kinase-MM mass concentrations (assayed by EIA) declined to normal values, while serum T3, T4, and thyroid stimulating hormone attained normal values. Serum creatine kinase-MB mass concentrations (assayed by EIA), however, still remained at the higher level, without complete recovery from myocardial damage, as shown by electrocardiogram (ECG). These data indicate that metabolic distortion still exists in the myocardium, as revealed by the high creatine kinase-MB mass concentration, especially as assayed by EIA, even though the plasma levels of thyroid hormones had returned to normal.

Pleural invasion by peripheral bronchogenic carcinoma: assessment with three-dimensional helical CT

PURPOSE

To evaluate the potential role of three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) in assessment of pleural invasion by peripheral bronchogenic carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four-second helical CT scans were obtained during a single breath hold in 42 consecutive patients with peripheral bronchogenic carcinoma. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) images and 3D reconstruction images were reviewed independently by three blinded observers, who reached a decision by consensus. All patients underwent surgical resection of the tumor, and CT findings were correlated with the findings in pathologic specimens.

RESULTS

Twelve patients had visceral pleural invasion, five had parietal pleural invasion, and 25 had no evidence of pleural invasion. Visceral pleural invasion was identified on 2D CT images in two patients and on 3D reconstructions in 11. Parietal pleural invasion was identified on 2D CT images in two patients and on 3D reconstructions in three.

CONCLUSION

3D reconstruction imaging is superior to conventional 2D CT in assessment of pleural invasion by peripheral bronchogenic carcinoma.

ESR spectral transition by arteriovenous cycle in nitric oxide hemoglobin of cytokine-treated rats

Nitric oxide (NO) generation was induced in rats by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) signals of NO hemoglobin (HbNO). However, there were inconsistencies in ESR spectral shape among them. We have therefore carried out a systematic study to clarify the in vivo spectral changes. First, the spectra of the alpha-NO heme species had the distinct three-line hyperfine structure in venous blood but not in arterial blood in all rats treated with tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, and/or LPS, and methemoglobin was not detected at the g = 6 (high-spin methemoglobin) region. Second, when the treated rats died, the three-line hyperfine structure was very distinct even in arterial blood. Third, even if HbNO was formed by injection of nitrite to rats, the three-line hyperfine structure of HbNO in venous blood was more marked than that in arterial blood, independent of the appearance of the methemoglobin signal. Fourth, an ex vivo study using whole blood demonstrated that the three-line hyperfine structure intensified lineally when O2 saturation of hemoglobin decreased but disappeared on reoxygenation of hemoglobin. These results directly demonstrate in vivo quaternary structural transition of the hemoglobin tetramer from the high-affinity state in the arterial cycle to the low-affinity state in the venous cycle. The transition makes the diverse ESR spectra of HbNO in vivo.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: CT findings

Two patients with primary pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis are presented. In both cases, the sigmoid colon was involved and there were no major complications. On computed tomography (CT), at lung window settings, the gas cysts in the colonic wall were clearly delineated. CT was useful in confirming the intramural gas cysts in patients with primary pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis.

Reducing motion artifacts during hepatic DSA

In hepatic digital subtraction angiography, artifacts caused by diaphragmatic motion can interfere with the correct diagnosis of hepatic lesions. This article describes the feasibility of using the exhalation holding method in reducing diaphragmatic motion artifacts in hepatic DSA. The authors compared respiratory holding methods in 30 patients who underwent hepatic DSA. They performed a blind comparison of images to assess diaphragmatic motion artifacts. Results showed the images obtained by the exhalation holding method were superior to those obtained by the inhalation holding method in 20 out of 30 series (66.7%).

Effect of interferon-gamma on nitric oxide hemoglobin production in endotoxin-treated rats and its synergism with interleukin 1 or tumor necrosis factor

We studied the in vivo effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on nitric oxide (NO) generation. ESR spectra of nitric oxide hemoglobin (HbNO) appeared after a lag time of 2h in the blood of rats treated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). IFN-gamma enhanced LPS-induced HbNO formation in rats without modifying the time lag, although IFN-gamma alone did not induce HbNO formation. The plasma nitrate concentration was approximately one order of magnitude higher than the HbNO concentration. On treatment with LPS alone, the amount of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) released decreased after 2 h. Simultaneous addition of IFN-gamma and LPS increased TNF release for at least 8 h. Interleukin 1 (IL-1) release was detected only at 2 h in both groups. We also investigated the in vivo interactions of these cytokines. TNF plus IL-1 induced the greatest HbNO generation, followed by TNF plus IFN-gamma, and then IL-1 plus IFN-gamma. These results suggest that increase of TNF release by IFN-gamma plays a key role in NO generation in LPS-treated rats.

[Differentiation of bronchogenic carcinoma from benign nodule by MR imaging: quantitative evaluation]

To distinguish benign from malignant nodules with MR imaging, 39 pulmonary nodules (23 bronchogenic carcinomas, nine tuberculomas and seven other benign lesions) were studied. MR equipment of 1.5 Tesla was used, and relative signal intensities of pulmonary nodules on T 2- and T 1-weighted images before and after administration of gadopentate dimeglumine were evaluated. On T 2-weighted images, the relative signal intensity of bronchogenic carcinomas to subcutaneous fat was 5.48 +/- 1.69, that of tuberculomas was -2.56 +/- 2.22 and that of other benign lesions was -0.88 +/- 3.37; the difference between tuberculomas and bronchogenic carcinomas was statistically significant (p < 0.05). On T 1-weighted images before and after administration of gadopentate dimeglumine, the relative signal enhancement of bronchogenic carcinomas was 17.6 +/- 2.0, that of other benign lesions was 20.0 +/- 5.2 and that of tuberculomas was -0.0074 +/- 0.763; the difference between tuberculomas and bronchogenic carcinomas as well as benign nodules was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The relative signal intensity on T 2-weighted images and the ratio of signal enhancement to noise could differentiate tuberculomas from bronchogenic carcinomas and other benign lesions. However, bronchogenic carcinomas and other benign lesions could not be differentiated by MR imaging.

Bladder tumors: staging with gadolinium-enhanced oblique MR imaging

To clarify the importance of imaging plane in evaluation of invasion by tumor into muscle, 50 patients with bladder tumors underwent examination with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performed with an oblique plane and the early phase of contrast enhancement. After the ideal oblique plane was selected, an oblique T2-weighted image was obtained. Gadopentetate dimeglumine was then administered, and an oblique T1-weighted image was obtained. The staging based on oblique T2-weighted and oblique contrast material-enhanced T1-weighted MR images was then correlated with histopathologic staging. The respective accuracies of oblique contrast-enhanced T1-weighted and oblique T2-weighted images were 78% and 60% for overall staging (P < .05), 90% and 74% for differentiation between (a) stage T1 and lower-stage tumors and (b) stage T2 and higher-stage tumors (P < .05), and 92% and 88% for differentiation between (a) stage T2 and lower-stage tumors and (b) stage T3a and higher-stage tumors (P > .05). Oblique MR imaging performed in conjunction with the early phase of contrast enhancement showed significantly high staging accuracy, especially in differentiation between superficial tumors and tumors with superficial muscle invasion.

[Segmental arterio-portal chemo-embolization in hepatocellular carcinoma (cement therapy)]

When a large amount of iodized oil (LPD) is selectively administered to targeted segments of the liver, the tumor vessels and sinusoids around the tumor are filled with LPD, subsequently regurgitating excessive LPD via the hepatic arterioportal communication into the portal branches surrounding the tumor. Segmental arterioportal chemoembolization in HCC with Doxorubicin-in-oil emulsion (DOE), which we named cement therapy, was performed in 18 patients with HCC. DOE was administered selectively into one segment division of Couinaud in ten patients, two segments in seven and three segments in one. Computed tomography and ultrasonography following the cement therapy revealed an overall response rate of 39%. The one-year cumulative survival rate was 80%, and that for three-years was 33%. Three cases underwent segmental hepatectomy and these specimens revealed total necrosis of the main tumor and whole daughter nodules, followed by various degrees of hepatic parenchymal infarction. This cement therapy realizes the simultaneous chemoembolization via the artery and portal vein, and was considered an effective treatment for extra-capsular infiltration and daughter nodules of HCC nourished by the portal vein blood flow. Limited administration of DOE to the targeted segments enables transarterial oily chemoembolization (TOCE) without any serious side effects.

Serum concentrations of rutoside metabolites after oral administration of a rutoside formulation to humans

In the present study a highly specific and sensitive method by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been established for the determination of the blood levels of four metabolites of 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavonol-3-rutinoside (rutoside, rutin), i.e. 3,4-dihydroxytoluene (DHT), 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (mPHAA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DHPAA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (homovanillic acid, HVA) after the oral administration of rutoside to healthy volunteers. By the established method the pharmacokinetics in the blood and the urinary excretion of those metabolites were investigated. Blood levels of DHT, mHPAA, DHPAA, and HVA started to increase at 4 to 8 h after the oral dosage of the rutoside formulation, Esberiven (further active ingredient: coumarin). At 8 to 12 h post-administration, blood levels reached a maximum level which was 2- to 3-fold the time 0 level. Blood levels decreased gradually afterwards and returned to the original level at 20 to 35 h. The sum of the four metabolites was at a maximum value at 8 h which then returned to the initial levels at 35 h yielding a half-life of 11 h. Total urinary excretion of metabolites was 50.5% of the dose in 48 h.

Induction of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase isozymes in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes

The activities of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase isozymes were studied using adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture. Hepatocytes from adult rats were isolated and cultured for several days. The activities of the synthetase isozymes did not change during primary culture. The activity of the alpha-form increased with increasing ethionine plus adenine or methionine in the medium, and reached about 5 fold after 2 days. However, the increased activity of the beta-form showed less than twice.

A sensitive assay method for the measurement of S-adenosylmethionine in tissue

An assay method has been developed for the measurement of tissue levels of S-adenosylmethionine based upon the ability of this compound to activate tripolyphosphatase associated with S-adenosylmethionine synthetase beta prepared from rat liver. The method has been used to measure S-adenosylmethionine levels in rat liver after feeding rats on various concentrations of methionine in the diet. The results obtained by this method agree well with those measured by the spectrophotometric method. The limit of sensitivity of the assay was about 0.1 nmol of S-adenosylmethionine in an incubation volume of 0.1 ml (10(-6) M).

The uptake of creatine by various tissues from a mouse bearing tumor cells

The activity of guanidoacetate methyltransferase has been measured in various tissues of mice and tumor cells. The creatine levels in tumor cells are high, although guanidoacetate methyltransferase activity was not detected. To confirm these results, labeled creatine was synthesized by guanidoacetate and its methyltransferase in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H]methionine, and administered to a mouse with or without tumor cells. High levels of the uptake of the creatine were observed in tumor cells, intestine, heart and muscle of the mouse injected with [3H]creatine into a tumor-bearing mouse. These organs, however, had no detectable activity of guanidoacetate methyltransferase. Labeled creatine phosphate in the tissue was less than 10% compared to total labeled creatine.

Ribonuclease H from chick embryos cleaves precisely at the junction between the RNA and DNA portion of the hybrid helix

DNA polymerase from Micrococcus luteus and RNA polymerase from E. coli catalyze the synthesis of poly(dA) with poly(dT) template, in the presence of ATP and [alpha-32P]dATP. The reaction is completely dependent on poly(A) primer synthesis. Poly(A) chains are covalently extended by DNA polymerase. Primer poly(A) is linked to the product poly(dA) via a 3':5'-phosphodiester bond, and can be specifically removed by ribonuclease H from chick embryos, leaving a 5'-phosphate end of poly(dA). The length of RNA and DNA products appears to be relatively variable. The size of the DNA is less than 3 000 nucleotides.