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.

Myocardial protection of only the left coronary artery perfusion in patients with isolated aortic valve replacement

Effectiveness of only left coronary perfusion on myocardial protection was assessed by measuring serially cardiac functions such as cardiac index (CI), stroke index (SI), left ventricular minute work index (LVWI) and left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI) in 22 consecutive patients with isolated, scheduled aortic valve replacement. The cardiac functions were determined 2,4 and 6 hours after open heart surgery. Correlation coefficients(r) between coronary perfusion time and the cardiac functions were less than 0.23, such being statistically insignificant. SI and LVSWI were in statistically significant inverse correlation to the preoperative NYHA classification and extracorporeal circulation(ECC) time for 4 hours following open heart surgery, and CI and LVWI for 2 hours. The correlation coefficients were highest at the 2nd postoperative hour and then decreased with passage of time. Therefore, the cardiac dysfunctions occurring in the postoperative period correlated either to the preoperative NYHA classification or ECC time, or both. It does, however, seem likely that the dysfunctions were correlated to ECC time as the recovery time of 4 hours from the dysfunction is too short for preoperatively existing dysfunction. Therefore, it was concluded that the continuous perfusion of only the left coronary artery was not the determinant factor of the postoperative dysfunctions and that the ECC time afforded detrimental effects, although such continued for 4 hours in terms of SI and LVSWI, and 2 hours in term of CI and LVWI.

Selective toxicity of 5-S-cysteinyldopa, a melanin precursor, to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo

The effect of 5-S-cysteinyl-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (cys-dopa), an intermediate in the pathway from L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) to pheomelanin, on the growth of eight human tumor cell lines in culture was compared to that of L-dopa. The tumor cell lines tested comprise two neuroblastomas (NB-1 and YT-nu), two amelanotic melanomas (HMV and SEKI), a gastric carcinoma (MKN-28), and three squamous cell carcinomas (HeLa-S3, KB, and a salivary gland carcinoma). Cys-dopa at a concentration of 1 mM inhibited growth of NB-1 (66%), YT-nu (67%), HMV (44%), SEKI (60%), MKN-28 (47%), HeLa-S3 (24%), KB (64%), and salivary gland carcinoma (33%), while L-dopa exhibited similar or even lower degree of inhibition at a concentration of 6 mM. On the other hand, both catechols had little effect on the growth of two fibroblasts derived originally from normal tissues (mouse fibroblast L929 and Chinese hamster fibroblast Don-6). Cys-dopa and L-dopa inhibited DNA and protein synthesis in YT-nu cells, but RNA synthesis was less affected. Treatment with cys-dopa at a dose of 1000 mg/kg i.p. for 7 days prolonged by 50% the life span of mice inoculated with L1210 leukemia. Normal mice given cys-dopa at a dose of 1000 mg/kg for 12 days showed no signs of toxicity. These results suggest the potential of cys-dopa as an antitumor agent.

Localization of alkaline and acid phosphatases in healthy human adrenal cortex. Light and electron microscopic study

Localization of alkaline and acid phosphatase activity was investigated in healthy human adrenal cortex by light and electron microscopy. The activity of both was found in the inner part of the adrenal cortex--mainly in the reticular zone. The reaction products of alkaline phosphatase were observed along the plasma membrane and those of acid phosphatase were observed mainly in the lysosomes and secretory vacuoles. The heavier deposit of phosphatase reaction products in the reticular zone may be explained by the fact that the reticular zone is most active in the steroidogenesis of glucocorticoid and adrenal androgen.

IGE in Paragonimus ohirai-infected rats: relationship between titer, migration route, and parasite age

In rats infected with Paragonimus ohirai (P.o.), IgE response against the parasite was influenced by both the site of metacercarial inoculation and the age of the inoculated worms, whereas the IHA response was not influenced by these variables. Intraperitoneal infection and oral infection with 10 metacercariae induced a high level of P.o.-specific IgE (maximum PCA titer of 1:128 and 1:111, respectively). In contrast, intrapleural infection induced little IgE (1:496, maximum titer). Thus migration of the parasite in the peritoneal cavity and the liver, or the former alone, was an important event in the production of IgE, because intrapleurally inoculated metacercariae normally develop into mature worms without migrating into the abdominal cavity. Intraperitoneal transplantation of five immature or adult worms produced significantly lower IgE levels and correlated with the age of the transplanted worms. Four-week-old worms were observed to induce negligible or no P.o.-specific, IgE antibody. The stage-specific, IgE resonse observed in infections established by transplantation appears to be partly dependent on migration of the parasite in the abdominal cavity. Worms in the pleural cavity may have suppressed IgE production.

A cause of paired ventricular extrasystoles

Eight patients with ventricular extrasystoles are reported in whom coupling intervals of the extrasystoles to the proceding sinus beats were variable and in whom paired ventricular extrasystoles were occasionally seen. In all patients, paired ventricular extrasystoles were initiated only by comparatively late coupled ventricular extrasystoles. However, the interval between the first and the second of these paired extrasystoles was always much shorter than the coupling interval of this first extrasystole to the preceding sinus beat, so that the latter extrasystole often interrupted the T wave of the first one, indicating the R-on-T phenomenon. In two patients there was a gap between the ranges of coupling intervals for single extrasystoles and for the first ones of paired extrasystoles. These observations suggest the presence of longitudinal dissociation in the reentrant pathway as one of the causes of paired ventricular extrasystoles.

Sensitivity of group A streptococci to antibiotics. Prevalence of resistance to erythromycin in Japan

More than 60% of all strains of group A streptococci isolated during the period from 1974 to 1975 from children with streptococcal infections in Hokkaido district, Japan, were highly resistant to erythromycin. These strains were found to be multiply resistant to lincomycin hydrochloride monohydrate, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline, and were exclusively type 12 by T-protein typing. The clinical symptoms produced by these organisms were rather mild, responded to penicillin well, and were rarely complicated with glomerulonephritis. The high prevalence of resistant group A streptococci was nationwide, which may have been related to recent excessive use of erythromycin and other macrolide antibiotics. Erythromycin can no longer be considered the drug of choice in the management of streptococcal infections in Japan. This suggests that a periodic surveillance of antibiotic sensitivity of streptococcal isolates may be necessary in other countries in which macrolide antibiotics are frequently prescribed.

Hydronephrosis in ACI/N rats

Of 45 ACI/N rats 9 were found with renal agenesis and 2 with hydronephrosis. The hydronephrosis may have been due to faulty development of the mesonephric duct.

The role of cyclic AMP in aldosterone production by isolated zona glomerulosa cells

The role of cyclic AMP in the regulation of aldosterone production by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), angiotensin II (A II), potassium, and serotonin was examined in collagenase-dispersed adrenal glomerulosa cells. The ability of 8-bromo cyclic AMP and choleragen to stimulate maximum aldosterone production indicated that cyclic AMP could act as second messenger for certain of the aldosterone-stimulating factors. The actions of ACTH and choleragen on aldosterone and cyclic AMP production were correlated in dog and rat cells, and a similar relation was seen during stimulation of rat cells by serotonin. In contrast, A II and potassium did not cause changes in cyclic AMP formation while stimulating aldosterone production. Intracellular and receptor-bound cyclic AMP were increased 3-fold by 10(-7) M ACTH but not by A II. Addition of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor increased the magnitude of the cyclic AMP response to ACTH but did not change the lack of stimulation by A II or potassium. In dog cells, the effects of A II and potassium on aldosterone production were partially additive to those of ACTH, choleragen, and 8-bromo cyclic AMP. In contrast, no additivity was observed between A II and potassium, or between combinations of the cyclic AMP-dependent stimuli. These results indicate that the actions of ACTH on aldosterone secretion are mediated by cyclic AMP formation, whereas A II and potassium stimulate aldosterone production through an independent mechanism. The lack of additivity between steroid responses to A II and potassium suggests that these factors could share a common mode of action on steroidogenesis in zona glomerulosa cells.

Pharmacokinetics of tobramycin in the newborn

Following an intramuscular dose of 5.0 mg of tobramycin in eight full-term newborn infants, peak levels averaging 2.69 +/- 0.70 microgram/ml were attained after 30 to 60 minutes. The serum half-life thereafter correlated inversely to postnatal age during the first seven days after birth. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that in newborn infants the elimination rate was markedly declined, but the absorption rate was nearly the same as that in older children. Average urinary recovery within eight hours was as low as 26.8%, which suggested accumulation of this antibiotic in the renal tissue.

Weather and the incidence of urinary stone colic

There were 204 patients in one specific district with renal colic who were studied to determine the relationship of the condition to climatic conditions. It was found that stones were prone to cause colic on warm days when air pressure was falling.

Comparison of X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity in human cerebrospinal fluid with that in serum

X-Prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activities in cerebrospinal fluid and serum from the same patients without neurological diseases, undergoing surgery under lumbar anesthesia, were assayed fluorometrically with a newly synthesized fluorogenic substrate, 7-glycylproline-4-methylcoumarinamide; the values were 129.1 +/- 19.5 nmoles/min/l and 54.17 +/- 3.11 mumoles/min/l (mean +/- SEM, n = 23), respectively, and there was no correlation between both activities (r = 0.0894).

Diphallia with a normal and a blind-ending urethra

A 65-year-old male with incomplete double penis is reported. He has a duplicated glans on a single shaft. Both glans each have an urethra surrounded by a corpora spongiosum. The right urethra drained a normal bladder and the left urethra vanishes near the seminal colliculus.

Cross-correlation analysis of the lateral pulvinar and scalp EEG in man

Cross-correlation analysis of the EEG between the lateral pulvinar and various cortical regions was made after EEG was recorded during stereotactic pulvinectomy. Cross-correlation analysis of the alpha-waves between the lateral pulvinar and the scalp EEG showed that the lateral pulvinar has the highest degree of functional connection with the pre-central area, diminishing in degree with the parietal and frontal areas, and has poor functional connections with the occipital area. From these results, it might be concluded that the lateral pulvinar may be related to motor function by functional connections with the pre-central area rather than the parietal area.

Immunological and physicochemical properties of a highly purified allergen from Dirofilaria immitis

Allergen in crude extract of Dirofilaria immitis was purified and separated from IgG-inducing antigens by a combination of DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration and starch gel zone electrophoresis. The purified preparation was proved to be one protein band by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel (SDS-gel) electrophoresis and one precipitin arc by immunodiffusion. The molecular weight of the purified allergen was estimated to be approximately 20,000 by gel filtration and 15,000 by SDS-gel electrophoresis. The carbohydrate content of the preparation was apparently low, about 2%. The allergen was positively charged, and its determinant group was protein in nature. It was resistant to tryptic, pepsic and chymotryptic digestion, periodate oxidation and DNase and RNase digestion but very sensitive to pronase digestion. Allergen was inclined to aggregate each other in the buffered solution. It was also very resistant to vibration, heat (80 degrees C for 1 h) and acid (pH 2.5) and alkali (pH 11.0) treatments. Rats as well as mice immunized with allergen developed only a reaginic antibody and no hemagglutination antibody.

Epidemiology of urinary stone colic

Epidemiological study of urinary stone colics was done for 5 years in a defined basin located in the center of Japan. It was 2.5 times more frequent in males than in females. The difference was observed only in the age over 30 years. Recurrence occurred in 24.5% of the cases. Climatic factors were also analysed. The incidence was significantly high in summer and low in autumn. Days of decreasing air pressure and high temperature were frequently associated with stone colic.

Relation of stroke and cardiac indices to serum catecholamines following open heart surgery

Serum catecholamines (epinephrine, dopamine and norepinephrine) were measured two, four and six hours after open heart surgery. The ratios of stroke index (SI) and cardiac index (CI) to catecholamines (CA) were determined. Patients studied consisted of 27 with congenital and 14 with acquired heart disease. Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) time was longer than 90 minutes in 17 and shorter in 24 patients. SI and CI diminished in elder patients with congenital disease (Group Cg-ad), patients with acquired disease (Group Ac) and patients with a longer ECC time (Group L). Therefore, elder age and/or longer ECC time seems to be responsible to the lower indices. However, the ratios of the indices to CA showed that the lower indices indicated the poor response of the myocardium to CA in Group Ac and Group L. The response was larger in Group Cg-ad and the lower indices were related to lower serum CA level. It was concluded, therefore, that the indices of stroke volume and cardiac output had inverse correlation to ECC time, but not to age, namely, prolonged ECC compromised more severely the myocardium and resulted in the poor response of the myocardium to CA. Subsequently, to compensate for the poor response, serum CA levels were elevated probably to maintain due SI and CI in patients with prolonged ECC.

Increase of urinary putrescine in 3,4-benzopyrene carcinogenesis and its inhibition by putrescine

A significant increase in putrescine was noted in the urine of mice with experimental s.c. tumors induced by a single injection of 3,4-benzopyrene solution (2.52 mg of 3,4-benzopyrene in 0.5 ml of tricaprylin). When 10 mg of putrescine were added to the 3,4-benzopyrene solution, the development of tumors was completely inhibited and the increase of urinary putrescine in mice was suppressed simultaneously. Animal weight data of a control group receiving only putrescine indicated that the inhibitory effect of putrescine is not due to its toxicity.

[Cerebro-vascular accident during pregnancy (author's transl)]

Cerebro-vascular accident is an uncommon but formidable complication of pregnancy. Faced with these cases, the neurosurgeon and obstetrician might differ in the planning of the treatment, when the interests of mother and child appear to conflict between them. From our clinical data of 5 cases and review of the literatures, the following points should be considered for the management of a cerebro-vascular accident during pregnancy. (1) The possibility of cerebro-vascular accident should be considered in any pregnant patients with neurological symptoms, and full investigation should be done if clini-indicated. (2) Aneurysm and angioma are most often encountered in pregnant patients with a cerebro-vascular accident. (3) Unless labour begins during investigation, a cerebral lesion should be treated before delivery, irrespective of the stage of pregnancy and the method of treatment should be decided primarily on neurosurgical grounds. (4) The time of onset of cerebro-vascular accident may be related to the hemodynamic and hormonal change. It occurs more frequently after the second trimester, when the blood volume and cardiac output reach their peak. (5) Pregnancy per se does not influence the mortality from a cerebro-vascular accident in pregnant patients.

Serum glycylproline p-nitroanilidase activity in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

Glycylproline p-nitroanilidase activity in serum of patients with advanced rheumatoid arthritis or with systemic lupus erythematosus but with normal hepatic function was found to be significantly lower than that of normal adult controls. Decrease of this enzyme's serum activity was more pronounced in systemic lupus erythematosus. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the enzyme activity and the duration of rheumatoid arthritis.

Effect of leaf extracts of Aloe arborescens Mill subsp. natalensis Berger on growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes

The antifungal activity of a lyophilized powder containing aloe leaf homogenate (whole-leaf powder) against Trichophyton mentagrophytes was investigated. The minimal inhibitory concentration was 25 mg/ml by the agar dilution method, using Sabouraud glucose agar medium. At subinhibitory concentrations, the powder exerted its main effect on colony growth by prolongation of the lag phase and inhibition of growth rate. Homogenates of fresh whole leaf were filtered through Whatman GF/A paper, and the filtrate was dialyzed and concentrated by molecular filtration using an Amicon hollow-fiber dialyzer concentrator DC-2, and a powder containing components with molecular weights higher than 10,000 (high-molecular-weight component powder) was prepared by lyophilization. The minimal inhibitory concentrations against three strains of T. mentagrophytes were all 10 mg/ml. The inhibitory activity was fungicidal and was lost by heating at 100 degrees C for 30 min. Both the whole-leaf powder and the high-molecular-weight component powder induced various morphological abnormalities in spores and hyphae by the inhibition of spore germination and development of hyphae.

Specific reaction of aloe extract with serum proteins of various animals

We found that aloe extract contains a lectin-like substance which reacts with serum proteins of various animals. Furthermore, in human serum 2 proteins, alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin, were shown to be reactive with aloe extract.

Development of lingual brachet technique. (Esthetic and hygienic approach to orthodontic treatment) (Part 1) Background and design

The present study relates to a development of the new technique and the new appliances, for the treatment of malocclusion and minor tooth movement. The primary purpose of the present study consists in to reduce mental burden of the patients receiving orthodontic treatment and to improve effect of the treatment further by making the appliance invisible when mouth is opened. The second purpose of the study is in orthodontic treatment carried out from lingual side, to control all teeth movement in oral cavity in three dimensions so that the normal occlusion may be operated. The third purpose of the present study is to make the exchange of wire readily when the wire with bigger elasticity is exchanged by turns during the process of the treatment. The background and the design of appliances for the lingual-bracker technique(lingual-bracket mushroom arch wire technique) is found out in this report.