Alcohol intake and serum lipids in a Japanese population

BACKGROUND

Previous epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that alcohol, which increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, has an anti-atherogenic effect. But data on the effects of alcohol on low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are scarce. In this paper a cross-sectional study on the associations of alcohol in graded doses with serum lipids in a Japanese population is presented.

METHODS

The daily alcohol intake of 832 Japanese men aged 35-59 was determined and the subjects were divided into five categories according to their daily alcohol consumption. The associations of alcohol intake and the kind of alcoholic beverage with serum lipids were determined by multiple regression analyses taking into consideration the differences of other confounding factors, i.e. age, body mass index (BMI) and smoking.

RESULTS

Serum triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were higher (P < 0.001) with higher alcohol intake while LDL-cholesterol was lower (P < 0.01). In multiple regression analysis, after adjusting for age, BMI and number of cigarettes smoked per day, HDL-cholesterol and the ratio of HDL-cholesterol to LDL-cholesterol were found to have a significant positive relationship with daily alcohol consumption (P < 0.001) and LDL-cholesterol to have a significant negative relationship (P < 0.001). The kind of alcoholic beverage had no significant relationship with serum HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol; however, serum triglycerides were found to be significantly lower in those who drank beer (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol drinkers have a higher HDL-cholesterol level and lower LDL-cholesterol level than non-drinkers. This anti-atherogenic lipid profile in alcohol drinkers may be explained by the effect of alcohol on serum lipids independent of age, BMI and smoking.

The successful application of jejunal interposition for severe dumping syndrome: report of a case

We report herein the case of a 76-year-old man with intractable dumping syndrome which had manifested itself 3 years after he underwent a gastric resection and Billroth I reconstruction for a gastric ulcer. Despite aggressive medical therapy by the time of admission, he had suffered from disabling dumping symptoms for 9 years. In an attempt to relieve these symptoms, a 15-cm segment of the jejunum was placed isoperistaltically between the lesser curvature of the remnant stomach and the duodenum, and a selective vagotomy was performed. The dumping symptoms that he had experienced preoperatively completely disappeared after the revisory surgery. Postoperatively, an upper gastrointestinal series demonstrated a larger gastric pouch and slower gastric passage into the small intestine than what was seen preoperatively, while gastric emptying studies using the acetaminophen method also showed normal patterns in both the early and late postoperative phases. Thus, we consider that this surgical procedure is a simple and effective way to inhibit rapid gastric emptying and to slow intestinal transit in the treatment of dumping syndrome.

The surgical treatment of aortic dissection in a patient with Turner's syndrome: report of a case

We report herein the successful surgical management of a 42-year-old patient with Turner's syndrome (TS) complicated by Stanford type B aortic dissection. The patient had a single entry in the proximal descending aorta with dissection extending from the entry point to the abdominal aorto-left iliac bifurcation. A patch plasty using felt reinforcement was performed through a left 4th intercostal space thoracotomy. Her postoperative course was uneventful and she has been well during the 3 years since her operation. There have been only nine reports of patients with TS complicated by aortic dissection for whom operations were performed; however, the details of surgical treatment have not been well documented. This paper reports the course of aortic dissection and the surgical methods employed in the treatment of our patient.

Crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion indicates the degree of uncoupling between blood flow and metabolism in major cerebral arterial occlusion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In patients who have major cerebral arterial occlusive disease with low perfusion, a decrease in cerebral metabolism may be reflected by a reduction in contralateral cerebellar blood flow (crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion). This study was done to investigate whether comparison of the extent of cerebral blood flow asymmetry and crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion could be used to estimate the degree of uncoupling of cerebral blood flow and metabolism on the basis of a single blood flow study.

METHODS

We used positron emission tomography before and after reconstructive vascular surgery to evaluate regional blood flow and oxygen metabolism in the cerebral and cerebellar cortexes of 11 patients with major cerebral arterial occlusive disease.

RESULTS

Preoperatively these patients had cortical blood flow asymmetry in the middle cerebral artery territory. The degree of crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion had no relation to the extent of cerebral blood flow asymmetry but was significantly correlated with the extent of asymmetry in cerebral oxygen metabolism. The preoperative extent of asymmetry in the cerebral oxygen extraction fraction and the postoperative improvement of asymmetry in cerebral blood flow were correlated with the preoperative difference between the severity of cerebral blood flow asymmetry and crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

The difference between the extent of cerebral blood flow asymmetry and crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion can be used to estimate the degree of uncoupling between blood flow and metabolism, which can in turn predict the postoperative improvement of cerebral blood flow asymmetry. We suggest that this approach may be a simple means of estimating the relative uncoupling between blood flow and metabolism from a single blood flow study in patients who have major cerebral arterial occlusive disease with low perfusion.

A novel angiogenesis model using interstitial cells derived from skeletal muscle

A novel angiogenesis model using co-culture of endothelial and interstitial cells was developed, in which bovine capillary endothelial cells (BCEC) formed capillary-like structure on the monolayer of interstitial cells (like smooth muscle cells) isolated from rat skeletal muscle. The capillary formation of BCEC occurred even under serum-free conditions. Insulin stimulated the capillary growth under serum-free condition, but not BCEC growth in the single culture system. These results suggested that the insulin effect on the capillary growth was brought about indirectly through the interstitial cells, and that this co-culture system may be useful for the study of angiogenesis (especially in skeletal muscle).

[An autopsy case of AIDS with hemophilia A who died of DIC and gastrointestinal bleeding associated with gastric carcinoma (signet ring cell carcinoma)]

We describe a 39 years-old male hemophilia A patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) developing to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) due to gastric carcinoma. He had been diagnosed as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sero-positive in 1990. Since then, he has been treated by the oral administration of zidovudine (AZT), dideoxyinosine (ddI) and intravenous administration of glycyrrhizin. In September 1990, he suddenly complained abdominal pain with bloody stool. His condition deteriorated in spite of our intensive treatment for DIC. He died of multiple organ failure (MOF) due to DIC. The autopsy findings showed gastric carcinoma, defined of signet ring cell carcinoma histopathologically. But neither opportunistic infection nor other cause of DIC were observed.

[Successful surgical correction of endocardial cushion defect in a 64-year-old female patient]

We have experienced a surgical correction of ECD of a 64-year-old female patient. The preoperative left ventriculogram showed typical goose-neck deformity of the left ventricle and mild mitral regurgitation. The correction consisted of repair of the mitral cleft, and patch closure of the ostium primum. Postoperative course was uneventful. The operation of ECD should be recommended even in an older patient.

Binding properties of the coagulation factor IX/factor X-binding protein isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis

The binding properties of the coagulation factor IX/factor X-binding anticoagulant protein (IX/X-bp) isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu snake) were investigated with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The half-maximal binding and maximal binding of IX/X-bp to both factors IX and X were observed at concentrations of Ca2+ ions of 0.4 mM and 1 mM, respectively. Concentration of IX/X-bp at half-maximal binding to solid-phase bovine factor IX and solid-phase bovine factor X were 0.4 +/- 0.1 nM and 1.1 +/- 0.4 nM, respectively, in the presence of 1 mM Ca2+ ions. The kinetics of binding activity of IX/X-bp to bovine factors IXa and Xa and to human factors IX and X resembled those of the binding to bovine factors IX and X. IX/X-bp did not bind to solid-phase coagulation factors other than factor IX/IXa and factor X/Xa, for example, prothrombin, factor VII, protein C, and protein Z, under the conditions of the experiment. To localize the binding sites of IX/X-bp on the coagulation factors, the ability of IX/X-bp to bind to various fragments derived from factors IX and X was examined. The binding of IX/X-bp to solid-phase factor IX was inhibited by a peptide containing the 4-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domain derived from factor IXa beta' (residues 1-42) in the liquid phase, but the binding was not inhibited by Gla-domainless factor IXa beta'. Half-maximal binding of IX/X-bp to solid-phase Gla-domain peptide of factor IX occurred at 9.2 +/- 1.9 nM. Factor X was partially reduced and the S-carboxymethylated light and heavy chains of factor X were prepared. IX/X-bp bound to the S-carboxymethylated light chain of factor X but not to the heavy chain. The binding of IX/X-bp to solid-phase factor X was inhibited by the Gla-domain peptide of factor X (residues 1-44) but not by Gla-domainless factor X. IX/X-bp bound to PCGFX, a recombinant human protein C whose Gla-domain region (residues 1-43) had been replaced by residues 1-43 of human factor X. The affinity of binding was about one tenth of that to intact human factor X. IX/X-bp was unable to bind at all to human protein C. These data indicate that IX/X-bp is a protein that binds to the Gla-domain regions of factors IX and X in the presence of Ca2+ ions.

Time course of the recovery of adenosine triphosphate content with adenosine in post-ischemic hearts--a 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

Restoration of the ATP level after brief ischemia is limited by slow de novo ATP synthesis and substrate loss in a salvage pathways for ATP synthesis, and complete recovery requires several days in the stunned heart. Adenosine is a substrate for myocardial ATP synthesis. We measured myocardial ATP in both ex vivo and in vivo experiments by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) and investigated the time course of ATP content recovery after application of adenosine. Guinea-pig perfused hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia and reperfused for 3 h with 50 microM adenosine. The ATP level increased from 54 +/- 5% to 117 +/- 4% of the pre-ischemic value (p < 0.01). In dogs, we occluded the left anterior descending coronary artery for 40 min to produce regional ischemia. Afterwards, we administered 100 mumol/h adenosine into the left ventricle for 2 h. ATP levels increased from 63 +/- 4% to 77 +/- 5% of the pre-ischemic value with adenosine (p < 0.05). However, ATP levels did not increase for a few hours after reperfusion both ex vivo and in vivo. Our 31P-MRS studies demonstrated that brief ischemia depressed ATP levels and that administration of adenosine accelerated ATP formation in post-ischemic hearts.

[Surgical removal of right atrial myxoma in the elderly]

We have experienced a surgical treatment of right atrial myxoma in a 76-year-old woman. The patient was admitted with complaints of palpitation and low grade fever. Echocardiography revealed the atrial tumor, which prolapsed into the right ventricle in diastole. The tumor was removed under cardiopulmonary bypass including the atrial septum where it was attached. The tumor weighed 68 g and showed typical pathological findings of myxoma. The patient is doing well 6 years after surgery.

Effects of hyperglycemia on FDG uptake in human brain and glioma

This study evaluates the effects of hyperglycemia on fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the human brain and in brain tumors.

METHODS

We performed glucose loading during FDG PET studies in nine patients with brain tumors (eight gliomas and one brain metastasis) and one with resected glioma. Two FDG PET scans were obtained in all cases within 1 wk in a control state and with glucose loading by intravenous infusion of 10% glucose solution. Serial arterial blood sampling was performed in all cases to obtain fractional uptake of FDG normalized by the plasma integral uptake of radioactivity (FU).

RESULTS

In all nine patients with brain tumors, the tumor was depicted more clearly with glucose loading than in the control state. Glucose loading decreased FU in the cerebral cortex (54.2% +/- 13.8%) nearly in inverse proportion to the plasma glucose level, while the tumors showed a decrease (42.5% +/- 15.6%), resulting in an increased tumor-to-cortex ratio by 26.0% +/- 5.7%. Fractional uptake in the cerebellum, white matter and the edematous area also decreased by glucose loading (53.9% +/- 13.2%, 49.6% +/- 10.3% and 34.9% +/- 9.6%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate the different effects of hyperglycemia on normal brain tissue and on tumor, suggesting that glucose loading may be a valuable adjunct to FDG PET to enhance detection of recurrent or residual brain tumors.

Characterization of recombinant Xenopus MAP kinase kinases mutated at potential phosphorylation sites

Xenopus mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) previously inactivated with protein phosphatase 2A can be reactivated by serine phosphorylation catalyzed by a partially purified MAPKK kinase (MAPKK-K), and is phosphorylated by MAPK on a threonine residue. The sequence analysis of a threonine-phosphorylated tryptic peptide of Xenopus MAPKK from mature oocytes suggested that Thr388 is phosphorylated in vivo. A mutant MAPKK that has Thr388 changed to Ala (T388A-MAPKK) was not phosphorylated by purified MAPK, indicating that Thr388 is phosphorylated by MAPK. We then produced and analysed MAPKKs mutated at potential serine phosphorylation sites (S218A-MAPKK and S222A-MAPKK). The wild-type MAPKK (WT-MAPKKK), T388A-MAPKK and a kinase-deficient (K97S)-MAPKK were phosphorylated efficiently by MAPKK-Ks purified from Xenopus eggs, and WT-MAPKK and T388A-MAPKK became activated. In contrast, neither S218A-MAPKK nor S222A-MAPKK was phosphorylated and activated efficiently by the Xenopus MAPKK-Ks. Similarly, WT-MAPKK, but not S218A-MAPKK or S222A-MAPKK, was activated efficiently by an active Raf-1 immunoprecipitate. However, when the recombinant STE11, a putative MAPKK-K in S. cerevisiae, was used as a source of MAPKK-K, S218A-MAPKK as well as WT-MAPKK, but not S222A-MAPKK, was phosphorylated and activated. Furthermore, replacement of Ser222 with an acidic residue (S222E) elevated substantially the basal kinase activity of MAPKK, while replacement of Ser218 (S218E) did not. These results may suggest an essential role for Ser222 phosphorylation in activating Xenopus MAPKK.

Evaluation of transvaginal color Doppler sonography, transvaginal sonography and CA 125 for prediction of ovarian malignancy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of color Doppler ultrasonography as the predictor of malignant ovarian tumors and to compare the results with CA 125 levels and ultrasonographic morphological patterns.

METHODS

We compared color Doppler ultrasound with sonographic findings and serum CA 125 levels for predicting ovarian malignancy in 16 patients with malignant and 12 patients with benign ovarian tumors.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in pulsatility index (PI) value of ovarian vessel between benign and malignant tumors (2.42 +/- 0.67 for benign and 1.35 +/- 0.78 for malignant, respectively, P < 0.01). The specificity of morphological findings and CA 125 was lower than that of PI measurements, but sensitivity was not different between the three methods. In addition, the combination of color Doppler and CA 125 or morphological assessments resulted in a sensitivity of 100% and a negative predictive value of 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

PI measurements by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound combined with CA 125 levels or morphological findings could be an accurate and appropriate screening method for ovarian tumors.

Evaluation of hypothermic heart preservation with University of Wisconsin solution in heterotopically and orthotopically transplanted canine hearts

In simple cold storage of the heart, 4 hours has been proved to be a clinically safe ischemic time. The University of Wisconsin solution has been reported to extend cold ischemic time in preservation of the liver, kidney, and pancreas. The purpose of this study is to clarify the safe cold ischemic time in heart preservation with University of Wisconsin solution experimentally in heterotopically and orthotopically transplanted canine hearts. In heterotopic heart transplantation, 120 minutes after reperfusion, maximum slope of the left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship was recovered to 94% +/- 13% in the 4-hour simple cold preservation group with GIK solution and 104% +/- 11% in the 8-hour simple cold preservation group with University of Wisconsin solution but was not recovered in the 8-hour simple cold preservation with GIK solution and 16-hour simple cold preservation with University of Wisconsin solution groups. One hundred twenty minutes after reperfusion, myocardial tissue blood flow measured by laser Doppler flowmeter was recovered to 90% +/- 19% after 4 hours with simple cold preservation with GIK solution and 98% +/- 9% after 8 hours with simple cold preservation with University of Wisconsin solution but was not recovered after 8 hours with simple cold preservation with GIK solution and 16 hours with simple cold preservation with University of Wisconsin solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the Hokkaido University Hospital]

We surveyed the hyperbaric oxygen therapy during the past seven years in the Hokkaido University Hospital. The mean number of patients was 27 per year. The average number of the therapy was 328 per year. There were neither complications nor accidents attributable to the hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Three representative diseased states hypoxic brain damage, sudden deafness and occlusion of retinal arteries, showed remarkable recovery by this therapeutic modality. A safety standard has been revised in 1991. We have been operating the hyperbaric oxygen therapy according to the revised standard. The inter-departmental approach in this therapeutic modality is mandatory in order to achieve effective outcome.

A randomized prospective study of gonadotrophin with or without gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist for treatment of unexplained infertility

The use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in combination with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) for ovulation induction has been advocated for the treatment, particularly by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) of various types of infertility. The present study was designed to compare the clinical efficacy of HMG alone with a short protocol of GnRHa/HMG for treatment of unexplained infertility. A total of 91 couples with unexplained infertility were randomly assigned to one of two treatments; either HMG with intra-uterine insemination (IUI) (45 patients, 62 cycles) or GnRHa/HMG with IUI (46 patients, 69 cycles) treatments. Progesterone concentrations on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration were significantly higher in HMG (1.5 +/- 0.9 ng/ml) versus GnRHa/HMG (0.8 +/- 0.6 ng/ml; P < 0.05) cycles. Furthermore, GnRHa suppressed the occurrences of premature luteinization (GnRHa/HMG 5.8% and HMG 24.2% respectively). However, there were no significant differences in HMG dose requirements, plasma oestradiol concentrations or follicular development on the day of HCG administration between the two groups. Nor were any significant differences found in the pregnancy rates between the two treatment protocols (GnRHa/HMG 13.0% and HMG 11.3% respectively). Our results suggest no beneficial effect of GnRHa/HMG compared to HMG alone for the treatment of unexplained infertility, based on pregnancy rates.

Effect of opioid peptides on dopamine release from nucleus accumbens after repeated treatment with methamphetamine

The effect of opioid peptides on extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens was compared between rats treated with methamphetamine and saline repeatedly (for 9 days) by using microdialysis. After the period of repeated treatment, the rats in both groups were kept for an additional 9 days without further treatment. Repeated administration of methamphetamine reduced the decreasing effect of dynorphin (10 microM), applied locally in the perfusate, and enhanced the increasing effect of [D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAGO, 10 microM) on the extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens. It is possible that repeated treatment with methamphetamine leads to attenuation of the inhibition and enhancement of the stimulation of dopamine release from the nucleus accumbens via presynaptic dynorphin- and enkephalin-sensitive receptors, respectively.

[A case of severe measles encephalitis in a pregnant woman]

A 23-year-old woman in her 23rd week of gestation became febrile and then developed cutaneous eruption typical of measles on July 16, 1993. Two weeks prior to this, her 8-month-old daughter has developed measles. The woman became comatose in a few days and was admitted to our hospital where coma, flaccid paralysis of all four limbs and midbrain corectopia were apparent. High titers of anti-measles antibodies were found in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. She received a 3-day course of pulse-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, however, without effect. Her consciousness gradually improved and after 1 month, subtle volitional movements were observed. However, fetal death was found and the fetus was removed by cesarean section. In MRI T2-weighted images, earlier in her illness, high signal intensity areas were scattered deeply in the cerebral white matter and the posterior limbs of the internal capsule. However, T1-weighted image was unremarkable. Marked, diffuse cerebral atrophy was noticed 3 months later by both CT and MRI, which was accompanied by wide spread high signal intensity areas around the lateral and fourth ventricles. Regarding the pathogenesis, there are two possibilities, i.e., her encephalitis was due to direct measles viral invasion into the CNS, or due to the autoimmune processes triggered by measles infection. Immune dysfunction known to occur during pregnancy might be responsible for the severity of encephalitis the patient suffered from. A recent increase in the number of adult measles infection might be an admonition that pregnant women are not exceptional to measles infection and that the infection could give rise to a severe form of measles encephalitis.

Abscisic acid-induced heat tolerance in Bromus inermis Leyss cell-suspension cultures. Heat-stable, abscisic acid-responsive polypeptides in combination with sucrose confer enhanced thermostability

Increased heat tolerance is most often associated with the synthesis of heat-shock proteins following pre-exposure to a nonlethal heat treatment. In this study, a bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss cv Manchar) cell suspension cultured in a medium containing 75 microM abscisic acid (ABA) without prior heat treatment had a 87% survival rate, as determined by regrowth analysis, following exposure to 42.5 degrees C for 120 min. In contrast, less than 1% of the control cells survived this heat treatment. The heat tolerance provided by treatment with 75 microM ABA was first evidenced after 4 d of culture and reached a maximum tolerance after 11 d of culture. Preincubation with sucrose partially increased the heat tolerance of control cells and rendered ABA-treated cells tolerant to 45 degrees C for 120 min (a completely lethal heat treatment for control cells). Comparative two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cellular protein isolated from heat-tolerant cells identified 43 ABA-responsive proteins of which 26 were heat stable (did not coagulate and remained soluble after 30 min at 90 degrees C). Eight heat-stable, ABA-responsive proteins ranging from 23 to 45 kD had similar N-terminal sequences. The ABA-responsive (43-20 kD), but none of the control heat-stable, proteins cross-reacted to varying degrees with a polyclonal antibody directed against a conserved, lysine-rich dehydrin sequence. A group of 20- to 30-kD heat-stable, ABA-responsive proteins cross-reacted with both the anti-dehydrin antibody and an antibody directed against a cold-responsive winter wheat protein (Wcs 120). In ABA-treated cells, there was a positive correlation between heat- and pH-induced coagulation of a cell-free homogenate and the heat tolerance of these cells. At 50 degrees C, control homogenates coagulated after 8 min, whereas cellular fractions from ABA-treated cells showed only marginal coagulation after 15 min. In protection assays, addition of heat-stable, ABA-responsive polypeptides to control fractions reduced the heat-induced coagulation of cell-free homogenates. Sucrose (8%) alone and control, heat-stable fractions enhanced the thermostability of control fractions, but the most protection was conferred by ABA-responsive, heat-stable proteins in combination with sucrose. These data suggest that stress-tolerance mechanisms may develop as a result of cooperative interactions between stress proteins and cell osmolytes, e.g. sucrose. Hypotheses are discussed implicating the role of these proteins and osmolytes in preventing coagulation and denaturation of cellular proteins and membranes.

Comparison of the effects of dobutamine and isoproterenol in ischemic hearts by phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

We compared the effects of 2 inotropic agents, dobutamine and isoproterenol on regional coronary blood flow, contractile function, hemodynamics and levels of phosphate compounds in the acutely ischemic canine heart. Dogs were instrumented to determine regional coronary blood flow (non-radioactive microsphere method), contractile function (sonomicrometry), and hemodynamics. Myocardial phosphate compounds were measured simultaneously by the phosphate-31 (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopic technique. Both drugs augmented the global performance of the heart, but produced no significant improvement in regional contractile function in the ischemic region. Isoproterenol significantly increased the ratio of inorganic phosphate to phosphocreatine in the ischemic region, as compared to dobutamine. However, no significant differences were seen in myocardial lactate consumption with inotropic stimulation between the 2 groups. 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy could be used to differentiate between the effects of dobutamine and isoproterenol on energy metabolism in ischemic myocardium despite the lack of significant differences in regional function and myocardial lactate consumption. The significant tachycardia without an augmentation of systemic blood pressure induced by isoproterenol may account for this unfavorable effect on myocardial energy metabolism.