Parathyroid hormone immunoreactivity in the plasma filtrate of uremic patients

Plasma filtrate of uremic patients concentrated and fractionated by gel filtration consisted of a large peak with C-terminal immunoreactivity and a small peak with N-terminal immunoreactivity. Further analysis of the first peak with C-terminal immunoreactivity by ion exchange chromatography revealed at least 3 peaks indicating the presence of three peaks with a similar immunological behavior but different charge. The elution profile in a patient under chronic hemofiltration was different in pattern compared with that in 2 patients under conventional hemodialysis.

Urinary p-aminobenzoic acid determined in the pancreatic function test by liquid chromatography, with electrochemical detection

We describe a liquid-chromatographic procedure for determining urinary p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) in the exocrine pancreatic function test. The urine specimen, collected for 6 h after oral administration of N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid, is hydrolyzed in 4 mol/L NaOH containing m-hydroxybenzoic acid as internal standard, to free PABA metabolites, then diluted and injected into the chromatograph. PABA and the internal standard are eluted from a reversed-phase C18 column with phosphate buffer (0.2 mol/L, pH 3.5)/acetonitrile, 87.5/12.5 (by vol), and detected with an electrochemical detector at +1100 mV. Urinary PABA concentration as measured by this method agreed well with that by colorimetry involving p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde. The present procedure is specific for PABA, precise, and fairly rapid. We hope that the present method will minimize instances of interference from drugs, which cannot be avoided in the colorimetric method.

Multivariate analysis using a linear discriminant function for predicting the prognosis of congestive heart failure

Some of cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) are intractable or refractory and respond poorly to conventional treatment. We have examined factors which may influence the clinical course and prognosis. The subjects were 114 hospitalized patients with CHF. Of these, 77 had a good response to treatment and were classified as the curative group (Group C) while the remaining 37 who were difficult to treat, including those with poor prognosis, were designated the refractory group (Group R). Of the various clinical background factors including the findings of laboratory and other examinations, the following 8 variables made a significant contribution to differentiation between the 2 groups: 1) heart rate (X1), 2) hemoglobin content (X2), 3) serum K (X3), 4) serum total protein (X4), 5) A/G (X5), 6) BUN (X6), 7) grade of hepatomegaly (X7), and 8) number of previous CHF episodes (X8). The linear discriminant function represented by the following equation using these 8 variables showed an excellent result in differentiating the 2 groups. Y = - 9.64 - 0.0686X1 + 0.345X2 + 1.351X3 + 1.513X4 + + 1.988X5 - 0.0876X6 - 0.792X7 - 0.737X8. When Y value is over 0, Group C is judged. When Y value is under 0, group R is judged. We concluded that the discriminant equation covering these 8 factors is a useful means of predicting the prognosis in CHF and the response to treatment.

Urinary p-aminobenzoic acid determined in the pancreatic function test by liquid chromatography, with electrochemical detection

We describe a liquid-chromatographic procedure for determining urinary p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) in the exocrine pancreatic function test. The urine specimen, collected for 6 h after oral administration of N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid, is hydrolyzed in 4 mol/L NaOH containing m-hydroxybenzoic acid as internal standard, to free PABA metabolites, then diluted and injected into the chromatograph. PABA and the internal standard are eluted from a reversed-phase C18 column with phosphate buffer (0.2 mol/L, pH 3.5)/acetonitrile, 87.5/12.5 (by vol), and detected with an electrochemical detector at +1100 mV. Urinary PABA concentration as measured by this method agreed well with that by colorimetry involving p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde. The present procedure is specific for PABA, precise, and fairly rapid. We hope that the present method will minimize instances of interference from drugs, which cannot be avoided in the colorimetric method.

Reduction of adriamycin toxicity by ascorbate in mice and guinea pigs

The effect of ascorbate in reducing Adriamycin toxicity has been examined in mice and guinea pigs. Ascorbate had no effect on the antitumor activity of Adriamycin in mice inoculated with leukemia L1210, but it significantly prolonged the life of mice and guinea pigs treated with Adriamycin. Adriamycin elevated lipid peroxide levels in serum and liver, and ascorbate prevented the elevation. The significant prevention of Adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy by ascorbate was proved by means of electron microscopy. The earliest alterations of dilation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubular system and the appearance of a large number of cytoplasmic fat droplets, which were seen in cardiac tissue from guinea pigs receiving Adriamycin, were apparently reduced in animals that were treated with ascorbate.

Rat liver ornithine decarboxylase purification and some immunochemical studies

Ornithine decarboxylase [EC. 4.1.1.17] was purified 3.5 X 10(5)-fold with an overall yield of 8% from livers of rats treated with thioacetamide and DL-alpha-hydrazino-delta-aminovaleric acid. The enzyme preparation was homogeneous as judged by three criteria, namely polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with or without sodium dodecyl sulphate and Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion analysis. The final specific activity was 1.1 X 10(6) nmol/h mg protein, which closely coincided with the value predicted by Pritchard et al. (16). The enzyme was composed of two identical subunits and the molecular weight was estimated to be 105,000 by polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses at several different gel concentrations. It was shown by an immunochemical method that diet-induced change in hepatic ornithine decarboxylase activity was due mostly, if not totally, to the change in the amount of enzyme protein.

Effects of intralesional interferon on neuroblastoma: changes in histology and DNA content distribution of tumor masses

Local injections of interferon, 30 X 10(4) IU, ten times, were found to reduce masses of neuroblastoma. Histologic findings and nuclear DNA measurements of cells from tumors in which interferon has been injected compared with cells from tumors that did not receive injections demonstrated that the reduction of neuroblastoma masses by interferon did not depend on increased cell differentiation or on interruption of tumor cell production. Although the mechanism of interferon's action on reducing neuroblastoma is unknown, the disappearance of tumor cells may be caused by high levels of interferon in tumor tissues.

Identification of residue 103 in hen egg-white lysozyme

Since it has been uncertain whether residue 103 in hen egg-white lysozyme is aspartic acid or asparagine, we reexamined the identity of this residue. To avoid complication, the tryptic peptide T-13 (Ile 98-Arg 112) was further cleaved. The peptide containing residues Gly 102-Arg 112 was obtained by tryptic digestion of lysozyme modified at Asp 101 with diethylenetriamine. The peptide containing residues Ile 98-homoserine 105 was obtained by BrCN treatment of peptide T-13. Both Edman degradation of the former peptide and carboxypeptidase X digestion of the latter peptide identified residue 103 in hen egg-white lysozyme as asparagine.

The usefulness of thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in the diagnosis of chronic cor pulmonale

To open up the possibility of exact clinical diagnoses of chronic cor pulmonale, we performed thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy on patients with chronic pulmonary disease. From the thallium activity in the left ventricle (plus ventricular septum) and right ventricle counted scintigraphically, we determined the thallium activity ratio of left to right ventricle (TAR). The intra- and inter-observer variations of this ratio were negligible. We compared TAR with pulmonary hemodynamic findings and with left to right ventricular mass ratio measured at autopsy, and obtained the following results. 1) Left to right ventricular mass ratio determined in 11 autopsied patients by the method of Fulton et al. was closely correlated with TAR values (r = 0.90, p less than 0.001). 2) In patients with chronic pulmonary disease, there were highly significant exponential inverse correlations between TAR and pulmonary arterial mean pressure, total pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular systolic pressure the the coefficients of -0.75, 0.72 or -0.77, respectively (p less than 0.001). These results suggested the possibility that the severity of pulmonary circulatory disturbance may be ascertained non-invasively by TAR measurement. Thus, thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is able to reveal non-invasively right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic pulmonary disease, and it might be a useful means of clinically diagnosing chronic cor pulmonale. If TAR obtained from scintigrams is smaller than 2, the patient concerned may possibly have right ventricular hypertrophy and he or she may be diagnosed as having chronic cor pulmonale.

Selective modification of aspartic acid-101 in lysozyme by carbodiimide reaction

A general procedure which selectively introduced a nucleophilic group at a particular location in the active site of lysozyme has been developed. The coupling of hen egg white lysozyme with amine nucleophiles by 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) was studied at pH 5 and room temperature. In the presence of an amine nucleophile, such as ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, methylamine, or 4(5)-(aminomethyl)imidazole, the carboxyl side chain of aspartic acid-101 in lysozyme was selectively modified by using a small excess of EDC. The reactivity of Asp-101 is probably due to the specific binding of EDC to the substrate binding site close to Asp-101. With histamine or D-glucosamine, the selectively of Asp-101 was somewhat decreased. This may be due to the specific binding of these amines to lysozyme in competition with EDC, causing a decrease of the selective activation of Asp-101 by EDC. Depending on the amine employed, the lysozyme derivatives obtained exhibited decreased activity (83-52% of native enzyme), suggesting that the modification of Asp-101 weakened substrate binding.

Highly sensitive assay for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in human cerebrospinal fluid by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection: properties of the enzyme

This paper describes a new, sensitive assay for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum and brain tissues by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ED). Dopamine (DA) was used as a substrate and was incubated under optimal conditions. Norepinephrine (NE) formed enzymatically from DA was isolated by a double-column procedure, the first column of Dowex-50-H+ and the second column of aluminum oxide. NE was adsorbed on the second aluminum oxide column and then eluted with 0.5 M-hydrochloric acid and assayed by HPLC-ED. Epinephrine (EN) was added to each incubation mixture as an internal standard, and this assay was therefore highly reproducible. The peak height in HPLC was linear from 500 fmol to 100 pmol of NE and EN. The lower limit of detection for NE formed enzymatically was about 30 pmol, which indicated that the sensitivity of this procedure was comparable to that of radioassay procedures. We applied the method to measurement of the activity of and examination of some of the characteristics of DBH in human CSF. DBH activity in CSF of Parkinsonian patients was lower than that of control patients. The properties of DBH in human CSF were similar to those in serum and adrenal medulla.

[Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-clinical consideration of CT and development of hydrocephalus after SAH (author's transl)]

CT scans were used to evaluate the development of the hydrocephalus, periventricular hypodensity (PVH) and the degree of the brain damage on 33 patients with the normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), following the subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and the following conclusion can be drawn from our study. 1) NPH occurs in 33 cases out of 156 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage (21%), and there was a relatively high incidence of normal pressure hydrocephalus following rupture of the anterior communicating artery aneurysm. 2) Factors causing NPH may be the arterial vasospasms and subarachnoid blood clot of the basal cistern verified by CT. 3) According to the repeated CT and lumbar tap after SAH, PVH, and, hydrocephalus usually become apparent around 7-10 days and most prominent around 3-4 weeks after SAH except for acute hydrocephalus appeared immediately after severe SAH. 4) The results were compared with CT findings and clinical response to shunting. The clinical improvements were achieved in cases (85%), in which CT showed PVH, small brain damage in the frontal lobe due to vasospasms or intracerebral hematoma, and no cortical atrophy. 5) Repeated CT can give better informations on the development of hydrocephalus in cases of SAH and can provide the indication for a shunt.

Double-tuned light-absorption characteristics in the attenuated-total-reflection structure containing a metal-clad dielectric-film waveguide with a low-refractive-index buffer layer

We have demonstrated that double-tuned absorptions have the characteristics of forming a flat peak in an attenuated-total-reflection structure containing a metal-clad dielectric-film waveguide with a low-refractive-index buffer layer. The double-tuned characteristics occur because the guided mode in the film waveguide couples to the surface plasma mode at the metal-buffer layer interface.

[Hypertensive vasculopathy as a causative factor of normal pressure hydrocephalus--a clinical analysis (author's transl)]

Eighteen subjects, who were diagnosed as idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus in our outer patient clinic, were undergone with CT scan, metrizamide CT cisternography (CTC), radioisotope cisternography (RIC), and they were classified into 3 groups in accordance with ischemic score which had been proposed by Hachinski. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed in 17 subjects, but improvement of the symptoms were obtained only in five. Dementia, gait disturbance and urinary incontinence were common features among the ones who had clinical improvement after shunt and the ones who had not, but systemic arterial hypertension and focal ischemic signs were more frequently found in formers than in latters. The subjects with low ischemic score were classified into Group 1, and the one with high ischemic score were classified into Group 2 and the other one with moderate score were into Group 3. The subjects who had clinical improvement postoperatively were exclusively found in Group 2 and 3. If the degree of ischemic score has good correlation with actual existence of cerebral ischemic lesions, we might suspect from our data that systemic arterial hypertension and ischemic lesion of the cerebrum might be basic pathologies which develop an idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of cysteinyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanines and related compounds

The natural catecholic amino acid 5-S-cysteinyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (1) was selectively toxic to a variety of human tumor cell lines in culture and exhibited antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia and B-16 melanoma in mice at doses which were not toxic to the host. Structural analogues of 5-S-cysteinyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine including several new compounds, were synthesized and tested for growth inhibition of cultured cells of human neuroblastoma YT-nu and Chinese hamster fibroblasts Don-6. Some were also examined for antitumor activity against L1210 and B-16 in vivo. 4-S-Cysteinylcatechols and 2- and 4-S-cyteinylphenols, which cannot be prepared by conventional methods, were synthesized by the reaction of catechols and phenols with cystine and boiling aqueous HBr. 5-S-Cysteinyl- and 2-S-Cysteinyl-3,4-dihyroxyphenylalanine (1 and 2), L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-Dopa), and 2- and 4-S-cysteinylphenol (14 and 15) were toxic to the YT-nu cell line only, while 4-S-cysteinylcatechol (6), 3-S-cysteinyl-5-methylcatechol (8), 5-S-cysteaminyldopamine (9), and 4-methylcatechol were strongly toxic to both cell lines. Compound I (1000 mg/kg), 6 (500 mg/kg), and 8 (400 mg/kg) increased the life span of L1210-bearing mice by 50, 50, and 43%, respectively, and compounds 1 and 8 were marginally effective against B-16 melanoma as well. Compound 9 was too toxic to show any activity. There was a good correlation between the cytotoxicity and the in vivo activity.

Foot switch photography with a lecture scope in cystourethroscopy

Photography during cystourethroscopy has been made lighter and easier with a new system involving a special lecture scope and a 16 mm. camera. With this system endoscopic photographs can be made by pushing a foot pedal. Therefore, the system allows for free movement and full control of the cystourethroscope. Bright and sharp photographs are produced, making them useful in the diagnosis of a case. In addition, the same view can be observed by an operator and an assistant simultaneously.

[Absorption, distribution and excretion of 14C-putrescine in mice (author's transl)]

In order to know in detail the distribution, absorption and excretion of putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane), after a single subcutaneous injection of 14C-putrescine (carrier free) in mice, localization of radioactivity in various tissues was followed by whole-body autoradiography and changes in radioactivity levels in blood, various tissues, expiration, urine and feces were examined. During 6 hours after injection, 22.5 +/- 3.2% of radioactivity was excreted in the urine, and after that the percentage excretion increased only slightly. The percentage of fecal excretion was small, being 2.7 +/- 0.2% during 5 days after injection. A considerable amount of putrescine was rapidly degraded to 14CO2; during 2 hours 34.4 +/- 4.9% of radioactivity was expired as 14CO2. In the studies on distribution in the tissues, at 10 minutes after injection, the highest radioactivity per g wet tissue was found in the kidney, but the radioactivity decreased rapidly. At 10 minutes after injection, the next highest distribution was found in the intestine. The high radioactivity in the intestine was detected also at 1 hour and 24 hours. The radioactivity in the pancreas was highest at 1 hour and 24 hours. A high radioactivity was also detected in the bone marrow by autoradiography. Therefore, the present study suggest that the accumulation of putrescine in mice take place mainly in the pancreas, bone marrow, intestine and liver.

Preparation of a highly purified allergen from Dirofilaria immitis. Reaginic antibody formation in mice

A Dirofilaria immitis protein allergen was purified; it had a molecular weight of 15,000-20,000 and a carbohydrate content of 2%. The allergenic activity of adult Dirofilaria extracts was assayed by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats using mouse sera obtained by immunization with various fractions. The mouse-Dirofilaria system was used to study the degree of purification of allergen. The purified Dirofilaria allergen appeared as one band after sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel (SDS-gel) electrophoresis and one precipitin arc by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP). It was inclined to aggregate in buffered solution. The results suggested that the allergen--reagin axis was a simple single antigen-antibody interaction. Immunological responses to the purified allergen were compared among four inbred strains, two hybrid strains and two outbred strains of mice. They produced relatively high titres of reaginic antibody but did not produce detectable indirect haemagglutinating test (IHA) antibody. Among the strains tested, BALB/c was a high responder and also contained to produce the reaginic antibody for longer than the other strains.

Mechanisms of inhibition of aldosterone secretion by adrenocorticotropin

The mechanisms by which prolonged administration of ACTH causes a decrease in aldosterone secretion were studied in the rat. After 6 days of treatment with ACTH (2 U/day), blood corticosterone was elevated and plasma aldosterone was decreased in rats maintained on either a normal or low sodium diet. PRA was also decreased, probably secondary to increased sodium and/or fluid retention. In collagenase-dispersed glomerulosa cells from adrenals of ACTH-treated rats, angiotensin II receptors were markedly decreased, as were the in vitro aldosterone responses to angiotensin II, ACTH, 8-bromo-cAMP, and potassium. However, the production of deoxycorticosterone and precursor steroids was increased, indicating the presence of a block in the late aldosterone biosynthetic pathway. Measurement of the activity of biosynthetic enzymes of the steroidogenic pathway in isolated mitochondria revealed an 80% increase in side-chain cleavage enzyme in both glomerulosa and fasciculata mitochondria from ACTH-treated rats. Although ACTH injection also increased 11-hydroxylase activity in the fasciculata zone, this enzyme was reduced by 50% in capsular mitochondria. The 18-hydroxylase activity in adrenal capsular mitochondria was markedly decreased by ACTH treatment in both normal and sodium-restricted animals. The importance of ACTH-induced steroidogenesis in the development of altered glomerulosa cell function was indicated by the ability of aminoglutethimide to prevent the inhibitory effects of ACTH on angiotensin II receptors and PRA. It is likely that the observed inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system is responsible for the decrease in angiotensin II receptors and 18-hydroxylase, since both are highly dependent on the trophic effect of angiotensin II. The specific lesions produced in adrenal glomerulosa cells by long term ACTH treatment include decreased levels of angiotensin II receptors, 11-hydroxylase, and 18-hydroxylase. These changes are secondary to the suppression of renin-angiotensin activity and are responsible for the impaired aldosterone secretion that results from prolonged treatment with ACTH. (Endocrinology 108: 522, 1981)

[CT in normal pressure hydrocephalus--correlation between CT and clinical response to shunting (author's transl)]

CT scans were obtained on 33 patients (age 73y. to 31y.) with the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus. In each case, the diagnosis was made on the basis of the symptoms, CT and cisternographic findings. Underlying diseases of normal pressure hydrocephalus are ruptured aneurysms (21 cases), arteriovenous malformations (2 cases), head trauma (1 case), cerebrovascular accidents (1 case) and idiopathy (8 cases). Sixteen of 33 patients showed marked improvement, five, moderate or minimal improvement, and twelve, no change. The results were compared with CT findings and clinical response to shunting. CT findings were classified into five types, bases on the degree of periventricular hypodensity (P.V.H.), the extent of brain damage by underlying diseases, and the degree of cortical atrophy. In 17 cases of type (I), CT shows the presence of P.V.H. with or without minimal frontal lobe damage and no cortical atrophy. The good surgical improvements were achieved in all cases of type (I) by shunting. In 4 cases of type (II), CT shows the presence of P.V.H. and severe brain damage without cortical atrophy. The fair clinical improvements were achieved in 2 cases (50%) by shunting. In one case of type (III), CT shows the absence of P.V.H. without brain damage nor cortical atrophy. No clinical improvement was obtained by shunting in this type. In 9 cases of type (IV) with mild cortical atrophy, the fair clinical improvement was achieved in two cases (22%) and no improvement in 7 cases. In 2 cases of type (V) with moderate or marked cortical atrophy, no clinical improvement was obtained by shunting. In conclusion, it appeared from the present study that there was a good correlation between the result of shunting and the type of CT, and clinical response to shunting operation might be predicted by classification of CT findings.

Formation of cysteine conjugates from dihydroxyphenylalanine and its S-cysteinyl derivatives by peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation

Peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine (DOPA) and its S-cysteinyl derivatives(cysteinyldopas) in the presence of cysteine was studied by analyzing the products with chromatography on Dowex 50W. Products of the oxidation of DOPA were found to be 5-S- and 2-S-cysteinyldopa, 2,5-S,S-dicysteinyldopa, and three unknown compounds A1, B, and C. 5-S- and 2-S-cysteinyldopa were also oxidized as easily as DOPA to give 2,5-S,S-dicysteinyldopa and similar patterns of the unknown compounds. Further oxidation of 2,5-S,S-dicysteinyldopa in the presence of cysteine yielded compounds A1, B, and C, whereas in its absence compound B was not formed. From these results coupled with the spectral data, it is suggested that compounds A1 and C are the two isomeric dihydrobenzothiazine derivatives of 2,5-S,S-dicysteinyldopa, while compound B is 2,5,6-S,S-tricysteinyldopa. These date suggest a possibility that peroxidase may play some role in the formation of cysteinyldopa and related metabolites in vivo.

Treatment of angina pectoris patients with niludipine a new calcium antagonistic drug

The antianginal effectivity of niludipine (Bay a 7168), a new calcium antagonistic drug, was investigated in angina pectoris patients, selected for admission to the trials by pre-determined strict criteria. Oral administration of from 60--120 mg niludipine daily for 4--8 weeks, resulted in the following: 1. Number of anginal attacks significantly reduced. 2. Nitrate consumption markedly lowered. 3. Investigating physicians assessed globally the clinical results of niludipine treatment on the basis of the reduction of the number of anginal attacks, nitrate consumption, improved physical ability and reports by the patients as to their subjective evaluation of the test drug. Niludipine was judged clinically effective in 21 out of 27 patients (77.8%). 4. Full records of ECGs, a necessary item for assessment, were obtained from 24 out of 27 patients. Ischemic ECGs were improved or normalized in 6 out of 24 patients (25%). 5. In the investigators' final overall assessment, including the evaluation of ECG changes, niludipine was rated effective for 20 out of 27 patients (74.1%). 6. Tolerance to the test drug was excellent. Only one patient complained of transient, mild nausea. After reduction of the daily dose, the patient completed the trial without any further appearance or complaints of side effects. Results suggest that niludipine is a useful antianginal drug in the management of coronary artery disease patients. Further clinical investigations with a larger number of patients should be conducted.

Scintigraphic evaluation of regional pulmonary circulation and ventilation abnormalities in mitral valvular disease and congestive heart failure

Regional pulmonary mean transit time, MTT (RV-Lung) was measured by radionuclide angiography using 99mTc-pertechnetate or 99mTc-HSA. In 8 normal subjects, MTT (RV-Lung) in upper (U) and lower (L) lung fields averaged 2.48 and 2.81 sec, respectively. In MS and CHF groups, MTT (RV-Lung) in L was markedly prolonged (5.04 and 5.10 sec, respectively) and after appropriate medical or surgical treatment, MTT in L markedly reduced. Pulmonary ventilation perfusion scintigraphy with 133Xe was performed in 18 patients with MS. Both Vu/L and Ou/L increased in accordance with the severity of disease, however, Vu/L had never exceeded unity. The estimation of regional MTT in the lung field is to be useful way in evaluating the severity of pulmonary circulatory disturbance in MS or in congestive heart failure.

Improved analysis for urinary polyamines by use of high-voltage electrophoresis on paper

This method for assay of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) in large numbers of urine samples is based on preliminary analyte isolation by use of a Dowex 50W column, separation by high-voltage paper electrophoresis, reaction with ninhydrin to detect the separated amines, and subsequent direct assay with a dual-wave-length thin-layer chromatography scanner by the zigzag scanning method. By optimizing the conditions for the Dowex 50W column and high-voltage paper electrophoresis, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, and spermine were completely separated. The major technical improvements are room-temperature collection of urine with toluene, shorter hydrolysis time, complete separation of putrescine from cadaverine and histamine, and elimination of interference with spermine measurement. Polyamine concentrations as measured by this method agreed with those obtained by use of an amino acid analyzer. Reference intervals by this method were similar to those reported by Russell (Clin. Chem. 23: 22, 1977) with an automated amino acid analyzer. Putrescine, spermidine, and spermine excretion in urine from patients with blood cancers and solid cancers was significantly increased; information on concentrations of putrescine and spermidine were especially useful for following the clinical efficacy of cancer treatments.

[Intracerebral hemorrhage in brain tumors (author's transl)]

A series of 16 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage associated with brain tumors are described. The literature is reviewed and the incidence of these cases is reported to be low, but we had clinically encountered these cases more commonly than reported, since CT was introduced to the neurosurgical field as a diagnostic aid. The presenting symptoms were those of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage or brain tumor. The intracerebral hemorrhage associated with brain tumor may mask the cause of bleeding and confuse the diagnosis. The majority of the tumor causing the intracerebral hemorrhage are highly malignant as glioblastoma or metastatic brain tumor, but there are some benign tumors such as pituitary adenoma, hemangioblastoma, benign astrocytoma and meningioma, which would have good survival rates if discovered early. The mechanisms of massive hemorrhage with brain tumor are not clear. From pathological findings of our cases and other reports, the mechanism seems to be due to the vascular endothelial proliferation with subsequent obliteration of the lung of the vessel. Thin walled, poorly formed vessels in tumor may also become distorted with growth of the tumor and these may easily rupture and bleed. Necrosis with subsequent loss of vessel support may be a factor in production of hemorrhage. Radiation therapy may be a predisposing factor. Children are rarely involved in these cases. The prognosis in the majority of cases would seen to be poor, since the majority of the tumor are highly malignant and most such patients are seen by the neurosurgeon some time after the hemorrhage has accomplished its fatal mischief.