Lipoprotein (a) and apolipoprotein A-1 and B in schoolchildren whose grandparents had coronary and cerebrovascular events: a preliminary study of 12-13 year old Japanese children

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the serum levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] and apolipoproteins (apo A-1 and apo B) in schoolchildren with a history of coronary and cerebrovascular events in their grandparents. We measured serum concentrations of Lp (a) and apoliproteins immunochemically in 289 schoolchildren aged 12-13 years and questioned parents about coronary and cerebrovascular events in the children's grandparents. In boys and girls, mean +/- s.d. levels of apo A-1, apo B and Lp (a) were 134 +/- 20.3 and 136 +/- 17.4 mg/dL, 61 +/- 16 and 66 +/- 15 mg/dL and 12.5 +/- 15.3 and 12.5 +/- 15.1 mg/dL, respectively. There were no significant sex differences in the levels of apo A-1, apo B, and Lp (a). The Lp (a) levels (mean +/- s.d., 12.5 +/- 15.2 mg/dL; median 7.5 mg/dL, n = 289) were not affected by other variables. The Lp (a) distribution was strongly positively skewed and 75% of schoolchildren had very low levels. In the total 289 schoolchildren, thirty-two grandparents who had had coronary vascular events (21 myocardial infarction, 11 angina pectoris) and twenty-three grandparents who had had cerebrovascular events were recorded. By the boxplot statistical analysis, no difference was found in Lp (a) levels in children whose grandparents had myocardial infarction compared with those whose grandparents had no such history, or compared with those whose grandparents had suffered cerebrovascular events.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Left ventricular regional wall motion in the early neonatal period

To investigate the changes in regional wall motion of the left ventricle in the early neonatal period, serial echocardiography was performed in normal neonates at 2 and 120 hr after birth. Quantitative analysis of the regional wall motion was performed by the centerline method. We measured right ventricular systolic time intervals, left ventricular stroke volume, flow velocity-time integral of the pulmonary artery, and size of the ductus arteriosus. The ductus arteriosus was 4.5 +/- 0.5 mm at 2 hr but was closed in all subjects by 120 hr. At 2 hr, there was hyperkinesis of the interventricular septum which disappeared by 120 hr. The right ventricular systolic time intervals at 2 hr showed a sign of pulmonary hypertension. At 2 hr, the left ventricular stroke volume was at the highest level and the flow velocity-time intervals of pulmonary artery was at the lowest level. Thus the hyperkinesis of the interventricular septum at 2 hr might reflect the circulatory changes that are characteristic of the early neonatal period.

Cloning and structural analysis of the mouse apolipoprotein B mRNA editing protein gene

Mouse apolipoprotein B mRNA editing protein gene has been isolated and characterized. The amino acid sequences deduced from the exonic sequences of the gene showed 90, 70 and 68% identity to those of rat, human and rabbit, respectively. RNA blotting experiments demonstrated high expression in small intestine especially in the jejunum as a major 2.4 kb mRNA species. mRNA in other tissues including the liver is smaller in amounts and larger in size (3.1 kb) than the intestinal mRNA. The gene spans 12 kb and contains 5 exons and 4 introns. Sequencing of the 5'-flanking region revealed that a canonical TATA box is absent and the consensus recognition sequences for several transcription factors have been identified.

Reperfusion of rat heart after brief ischemia induces proteolysis of calspectin (nonerythroid spectrin or fodrin) by calpain

Rat myocardium expresses the 240- and 235-kD polypeptides antigenically related to alpha- and beta-subunits of brain calspectin (nonerythroid spectrin or fodrin), respectively. In the subcellular fractions of the myocardium, alpha-calspectin was found in the 600g, 10,000g, and 100,000g pellets, whereas beta-calspectin was localized to the 10,000g pellet. On the basis of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity and the contents of a gap junction protein, the sarcolemma was distributed to the 10,000g and 100,000g pellets, and the intercalated disks were enriched in the 10,000g pellet. Both alpha- and beta-calspectin were proteolyzed by calpain in vitro. The two subunits were also proteolyzed in vivo, when the rat hearts underwent 10 to 60 minutes of global ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. The reperfusion following the ischemia induced the proteolysis of alpha-calspectin in the 10,000g and 100,000g pellets, producing the 150-kD fragment. A synthetic calpain inhibitor, calpain inhibitor-1, suppressed the degradation of calspectin in vivo, which indicates that calpain is responsible for the reperfusion-induced proteolysis of calspectin. The inhibitor also improved myocardial stunning. Immunohistochemical study revealed that the proteolysis of alpha-calspectin occurs at the intercalated disks and the sarcolemma after postischemic reperfusion, in accord with the biochemical data. These results suggest that degradation of calspectin partly accounts for the contractile failure of the myocardium after postischemic reperfusion by disrupting the membrane skeleton and the intercalated disks.

Studies on the transposition rates of mobile genetic elements in a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster

In an isolated population of Drosophila melanogaster on Ishigaki Island the chromosomal distribution of several retrotransposons, including copia, 412, 297, 17.6, I, and jockey elements, was examined by in situ hybridization. In this population the cosmopolitan inversion, In(2L)t, is known to exist in high frequency. One major haplotype concerning the occupied sites of the transposable elements was identified in the In(2L)t-carrying chromosomes. This haplotype is suggested to be the ancestral one. The age of the inversion in this local population was estimated to be 1,400 generations. The transposition rates of these elements were estimated based on the age of the inversion and the number of the elements lost and gained. The excision rates were in the range from 9.13 x 10(-5) to 2.25 x 10(-4) per site per generation. They were similar each other in the copia-like elements as well as in the LINE-like elements. The rate was higher in the copia-like elements than in the LINE-like elements. Insertions occurred in the range from 6.79 x 10(-4) to 9.05 x 10(-4) per element per generation. It is herein shown that both insertions and excisions occurred at a significantly higher rate in this population than in the laboratory.

A study of the steroid sulfatase gene in families with X-linked ichthyosis using polymerase chain reaction

We have studied the steroid sulfatase (STS) gene in three Japanese families with X-linked ichthyosis (XLI), using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR was performed using three sets of intraexonic primers covering exons 1, 5 and 10. In affected individuals from two of the families, DNA was not amplified in any of the three exons, suggesting that XLI in these families was due to the complete deletion of the STS gene. In affected individuals in the remaining family, DNA was amplified in predicted sizes in exons 1 and 5, but not in exon 10, suggesting that XLI in this family was due to partial deletion of the STS gene including exon 10. These results suggested that STS gene deficiency is heterogeneous in Japanese families with XLI. PCR is useful for the rapid diagnosis of XLI, the differentiation of XLI from ichthyosis vulgaris, and genetic counseling of XLI families. The PCR method was not applicable for carrier detection.

Changes in transmitral and pulmonary venous flow patterns in the first day of life

The purpose of this study was to see the relationship between changes in pulmonary venous flow velocities and those in transmitral flow velocities during the first day of life. A serial Doppler echocardiography was performed in 24 normal neonates at 2, 12, and 24 hours of age. The size of the ductus arteriosus was 4.3 +/- 0.5 mm at 2 hours and 2.1 +/- 0.7 mm at 12 hours, and closed in 21 of 24 neonates at 24 hours. The peak systolic pulmonary venous flow (peak S), peak diastolic pulmonary venous flow (peak D), peak D/S, peak velocity at early diastolic filling (peak E), and peak E/A, which were high at 2 hours, decreased significantly at 12 hours but remained constant thereafter. The size of the ductus arteriosus was found to be correlated with peak S, peak D, and peak D/S. There was a direct correlation between peaks E and D (r: 0.64, p < 0.01) as well as a direct correlation between peaks E/A and D/S (r: 0.36, p < 0.05). These results indicate that the diastolic pulmonary venous flow is determined by the same factors that influence the transmitral flow. These waveforms may reflect the increase in pulmonary circulatory volume by left-to-right shunting through the ductus arteriosus.

Role of age on transmitral flow velocity patterns in assessing left ventricular diastolic function in normal infants and children

This study demonstrated that both peak E and flow velocity integral of early diastole increased to reach the older children's values by 36 months of age and leveled off thereafter, whereas both peak A and flow velocity integral of atrial contraction had little change. These results suggest that age-related changes in E wave reflect the maturational or developmental alterations in LV diastolic properties, especially in the relaxation process.

Direct 99mTc labeling of human immunoglobulin with an insoluble macromolecular Sn(II) complex

An insoluble macromolecular Sn(II)(R-Sn) complex which strongly binds Sn(II) by chelation was applied to the direct 99mTc labeling of human immunoglobulin(IgG) to minimize the influence of Sn(II). 99mTc labeling was achieved at greater than 90% yield simply by the short-term mixing of IgGa containing > 2-SH groups per IgG molecule, 99mTc pertechnetate, and the R-Sn complex in pH 7 solution. The 99mTc-IgGa obtained by this labeling method has high stability based on the thiol-specific binding of 99mTc without transchelation from another weakly bound 99mTc-complex.

Assessment of right ventricular regional contraction and comparison with the left ventricle in normal humans: a cine magnetic resonance study with presaturation myocardial tagging

OBJECTIVE

Right ventricular regional contractility has been thought to be difficult to assess precisely. Cine magnetic resonance imaging with presaturation myocardial tagging was employed to quantitate the contraction of the right ventricular free wall and to identify normal performance compared with the left ventricle.

METHODS

Nine normal volunteers, aged 27-39 years, were examined in a 1.5 Tesla superconductive magnet, and short axis and four-chamber sections at the mid-ventricular level were imaged with cine magnetic resonance sequences. Tags, applied at end diastole as two parallel black lines, intersected the mid-portion of the free wall, dividing it into upper, centre, and lower segments in the short axis section, and anterior, middle, and posterior segments in the four-chamber section. From a series of cine magnetic resonance images at 50 ms intervals over a cardiac cycle, end diastolic, and early, mid-, and end systolic images were chosen for calculation of the endocardial, epicardial, and mean percent fractional shortening (%FS) in the six segments.

RESULTS

There was (1) a gradual increase in %FS in systole in both sections (P < 0.001, < 0.005); (2) a poor transmural gradient of contractility; (3) a predominance of meridional shortening (whole length, mean end systolic %FS (SD): short axis, 17.4 (3.1)%; four-chamber, 30.1 (4.1)%; P < 0.001) in contrast to dominant circumferential shortening in the left ventricular lateral wall; (4) lower predominance of contractility in the short axis section (P < 0.001), and a middle dip of contractility in the four-chamber section (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Heterogeneity of contractility was closely correlated with the myocardial fibre architecture, and with wall stress determined by its thickness and curvature. It was proved that right ventricular regional function could be analysed non-invasively using cine magnetic resonance imaging with myocardial tagging.

Effect of vasopressin V1- and V2-receptor stimulation on blood pressure in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats

We recently reported that stimulation of the arginine vasopressin (AVP) V1-receptor enhanced the pressor response in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In the present study, we investigated acute changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) after intravenous injections of AVP, OPC-21268 (a V1-receptor antagonist), and OPC-31260 (a V2-receptor antagonist), in anesthetized DOCA-salt hypertensive rats (DOCA) and age-matched sham-operated Wistar rats (control) to determine whether the pressor effect is specific to SHR or is present in other hypertensive animal models. SBP increased significantly in DOCA rats 9 min after injection of AVP 5 ng/kg without a concomitant increase in HR. Neither OPC-21268 3mg/kg nor OPC-31260 3mg/kg caused significant changes in SBP or HR. SBP tended to increase when AVP was administered after injection of OPC-31260. HR increased significantly 15 min after the combined treatment with OPC-31260 and AVP in DOCA rats compared with control rats. SBP did not change significantly when AVP was administered after injection of OPC-21268 in DOCA or control rats, but HR decreased significantly from 1 to 4 min after injection of AVP in DOCA rats. Our results suggest that V1-receptor stimulation does not enhance the pressor response in the DOCA rat, which is a model of volume-dependent hypertension, suggesting that the AVP system, especially V1-receptor, is not as important in the development or maintenance of hypertension in DOCA rats as in SHR.

Linear transverse forehead incision for patients with alopecia praematura--technical note

A method for craniotomy via a transverse linear scalp incision on the forehead wrinkle line with cosmetic reconstruction is described. The method requires minimal knowledge of plastic surgical techniques. Operative scars are inconspicuous and the normal appearance of the forehead can be retained, which is especially valuable for patients with alopecia praematura.

Structural elucidation of aculeximycin. III. Planar structure of aculeximycin, belonging to a new class of macrolide antibiotics

The planar structure of aculeximycin (1) produced by Streptosporangium albidum has been determined by spectral methods and chemical degradations such as 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene (DBU)-methanol reaction, ozonolysis, and periodative oxidation. The antibiotic consists of a 30-membered polyhydroxy lactone ring, an alpha, beta-unsaturated ester group, an intramolecular hemiketal, an oligosaccharide (aculexitriose), a neutral sugar and an amino sugar. The structure of aculeximycin is closely related to those of sporaviridins produced by Streptosporangium viridogriseum. We consider that aculeximycin and sporaviridins belong to a new class of macrolide antibiotics, which is different from the polyol macrolides produced by Streptomyces.

Structural elucidation of aculeximycin. IV. Absolute structure of aculeximycin, belonging to a new class of macrolide antibiotics

Aculeximycin (1) produced by Streptosporangium albidum possesses a 30-membered polyhydroxy macrocyclic lactone and five sugars including aculexitriose. We have described the determination of the planar structure of N-diacetylated aculeximycin (2) using degradation products, which were obtained by DBU-methanol treatment, ozonolysis and periodative oxidation. In order to determine the relative and absolute configurations of aculeximycin, first, the relative and absolute configurations of the degradation products 10, 11, 12 and 13 were determined. Rychnovsky's method was very useful to determine the relative configurations of these degradation products, and CD exciton chirality and the modified Mosher's methods were applied to determine their absolute configurations. From these results, fourteen out of the twenty asymmetric centers in aculeximycin were determined to be 5S, 17R, 20S, 21R, 23R, 24R, 29S, 30R, 31S, 34R, 35S, 36S and 37R. The absolute configurations at C-14 and C-15 on the hemiketal ring were confirmed using 12 obtained by the partial glycol bond cleavage of 9. Absolute configurations of the remaining asymmetric centers were determined by spectral analysis of 15 and NOE experiment on 1. From these results, the absolute configuration of 1 was determined to be 5S, 7R, 10S, 11R, 14R, 15S, 17R, 19R, 20S, 21R, 23R, 24R, 25S, 29S, 30R, 31S, 34R, 35S, 36S and 37R.

Effect of losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on response of cortisol and aldosterone to adrenocorticotrophic hormone

Many imidazole derivatives are shown to inhibit adrenal steroid biosynthesis. The present study was undertaken to examine an effect of another imidazole derivative, losartan (an angiotensin II receptor antagonist), on responses of cortisol and aldosterone to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Nine patients with essential hypertension were given placebo orally for 7 days and 50 mg of losartan for the next 9 days. Response of serum cortisol and plasma aldosterone to intramuscular ACTH injection were determined before and at the end of the treatment with losartan. Serum cortisol and plasma aldosterone significantly increased after ACTH injection in both periods of treatment (placebo and losartan). The increments in these parameters during treatment with losartan were not significantly different from those during treatment with placebo. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of losartan on adrenal steroid biosynthesis is negligible.

Comprehensive treatment of advanced neuroblastoma involving autologous bone marrow transplant

Encouraging results are reported with high-dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of advanced neuroblastoma. However, relapse remains a significant problem. We used high-dose chemotherapy, surgery, intraoperative radiation and an autologous bone marrow transplant treated in vitro to remove tumor cells followed by 13-cis-retinoic acid to treat 36 children with advanced neuroblastoma. This comprehensive treatment appears to improve the survival rate of patients with advanced neuroblastoma, including those with N-myc amplification and bony involvement. The disease-free survival rate was 66% (95% confidence interval, 49-84%) at 3 years. All patients who received 13-cis-retinoic acid developed cheilitis, but no bone marrow depression occurred in these patients. Five patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) post-transplant. This may have been related to the procedure used for total body irradiation. Patients who had their kidneys shielded during this procedure did not develop this syndrome. Patients who received local irradiation at the primary site showed no evidence of relapse in this region, indicating that such therapy may help to prevent a relapse. These data suggest a high rate of 3 year disease-free survival with this treatment strategy. The nonrandomized nature of the study and use of multiple modalities precludes analysis of the specific contribution of each.

Type La glycogen storage disease with focal nodular hyperplasia in siblings

Glycogen storage disease type I (GSD-I) is an inherited disorder that is due to a glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) deficiency. There have been recent reports of hepatocellular tumors in adults with this disease. Hepatic adenoma is the most common tumor described but others, including hepatocellular carcinomas, hepatoblastomas, and focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) have been reported. FNH of the liver is a rare benign lesion that has been reported in eight patients with GSD-I. Three of these eight patients, in addition to the patient in our study, had been treated with portacaval shunts. When these patients were compared with patients who had not received such treatment, it appeared that the portacaval shunts may have induced the development of FNH and may have been associated with earlier complications. FNH is a benign tumor that may coexist with adjacent fibrolamillar carcinomas and/or adenomas and requires careful follow-up.

Successful autologous bone marrow transplant for relapsed Ki-1 lymphoma

We report on a 16 year old girl with relapsed Ki-1 lymphoma and a very poor prognosis. The initial manifestation was multiple bone metastases and lymphadenopathy. The patient achieved remission with modified adriamycin, bleomycin, vincristine, daunomycine therapy. However, 14 months after the completion of therapy, relapse occurred in a new cervical lymph node on the left side. After preparation with chemotherapy and total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) the patient underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (A-BMT). Ki-1 lymphoma shows clinically diverse symptoms, but hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be performed in relapsed cases. It may be effective to give TLI followed by A-BMT for patients such as ours who have lymph node involvement without bone marrow metastasis.

Doppler evaluation of normalized peak filling rate in early neonatal period

In conclusion, the NPFR value did not change during the early neonatal period. The fact that this index does not change suggests that it might be useful as a parameter for diastolic filling, assuming that there is no significant diastolic filling change in the left ventricle over this time frame.

Developmental changes in P300 wave elicited during two different experimental conditions

Age-related correlations on auditory event-related potentials were studied using a task-relevant oddball paradigm in 175 normal subjects aged 4-21 years and age-related correlations in the "ignore" condition were studied in 108 normal subjects aged 1-21 years. In the ignore condition, subjects more than 4 years of age were instructed to read a book to divert attention from the auditory stimulus. From 4 to about 17 years of age, the latencies of task-relevant P300 in event-related potentials (ERPs) gradually shortened. In the ignore condition experiment, the P300 latency shortened progressively, but stabilized at about 12 years of age. Whereas P300 in the ignore condition likely corresponds to P3a described previously (passive attention), the conventional P300 wave corresponds to P3b (active attention). The findings indicate a developmental difference between the P3a and P3b potential.

Evaluation of lead exposure in workers at a lead-acid battery factory in Korea: with focus on activity of erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate lead exposure among lead-acid battery workers in Korea, to evaluate in more detail the erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) test for lead exposure, and to evaluate the abnormal accumulation of erythrocyte pyrimidine nucleotides in the battery workers.

METHODS

Activity of P5N and other biological variables were examined in 66 exposed workers in a lead-acid battery factory and in 26 non-exposed workers in Korea.

RESULTS

At the factory the time-weighted average of 13 (72%) of 18 air samples for lead exceeded 0.05 (range 0.012-0.468) mg/m3. Blood lead concentration (PbB) in 39 of the 66 exposed workers was above 40 micrograms/dl, and the mean (SD) PbB in the exposed group was 45.7 (15.7) micrograms/dl. Compared with the nonexposed group, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin in the exposed group was significantly increased, whereas erythrocyte P5N activity and activity of erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) were significantly inhibited. Erythrocyte P5N activity had valid correlation biologically with PbB and with other biological variables, such as ALAD activity. In 28 exposed workers, the concentration of erythrocyte pyrimidine nucleotides (uridine 5'-diphosphate-glucose and cytidine 5'-triphosphate) correlated inversely with P5N activity and positively with PbB.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings show that the depression of erythrocyte P5N activity by lead exposure results in the accumulation of erythrocyte pyrimidine nucleotides. In general, the standard analysis of PbB performed in laboratories around the world remains the most useful index of recent exposure. The results indicate that the erythrocyte P5N activity test provides supporting evidence of lead exposure and shows the effect of lead on nucleotide metabolism.

Manganese deposition in the brain during long-term total parenteral nutrition

BACKGROUND

Manganese deposition was suspected in a pediatric patient who received long-term total parenteral nutrition. T1-weighted magnetic resonance images revealed high intensity areas in the globus pallidus. This study was designed to clarify if these abnormal findings were related to manganese deposition and clinical neurological manifestations.

METHODS

Whole-blood manganese concentrations were measured during manganese supplementation to total parenteral nutrition and after 5 months without manganese. Magnetic resonance images were also examined on each occasion and compared with the blood level of manganese.

RESULTS

The whole-blood manganese level during supplementation was 135 micrograms/L (normal range 14.6 +/- 4.7 micrograms/L), whereas the level was 20 micrograms/L after a manganese-free period of 5 months. Accompanied with normalization of manganese level, abnormal high intensity lesions in the globus pallidus on T1-weighted images also disappeared. No neurological manifestation related to the high manganese level was recognized.

CONCLUSIONS

It is probable that the high manganese level was elicited by manganese supplementation to total parenteral nutrition. This high manganese condition was confirmed by the measurement of whole-blood manganese level, which was associated with the abnormal high intensity lesions on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images.