Circadian rhythm and variability of heart rate in Duchenne-type progressive muscular dystrophy

Using 24-hour Holter monitoring and time domain and power spectral measurements, we evaluated the variability of the heart rate and its circadian rhythm in 55 male patients with Duchenne-type progressive muscular dystrophy (DMD) to characterize their autonomic function versus findings in 20 normal controls. Comparisons were also made in patients with mild, moderate, and severe stages of DMD. The percent difference between successive RR intervals that exceeded 50 ms, a measure of parasympathetic tone, was significantly lower even in patients with early stage of DMD than in controls (p < 0.01). This trend became marked with disease progression. Power in the high-frequency (HF) range (0.15 to 0.40 Hz), a measure of parasympathetic tone, was lower (p < 0.01), and the ratio of the power in the low-frequency (LF) range (0.04 to 0.15 Hz) and that of HF range (LF/HF ratio), a measure of sympathetic tone, was higher in DMD patients versus controls (p < 0.01). This trend was also marked with disease progression. Patients with mild or moderate disease had a slight circadian alteration in HF and LF/HF ratio. Patients with severe disease had virtually no circadian rhythm in HF. Their LF/HF ratio was higher at night (p < 0.01), lower in the morning (p < 0.01), and still lower during the day (p < 0.01), the opposite of control findings. The autonomic abnormalities in DMD were thus characterized by a significant increase in sympathetic activity and a significant decrease in parasympathetic activity. Thus, heart rate variability and circadian rhythm were useful in assessing autonomic dysfunction in DMD.

Synthesis and secretion of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II and IGF binding protein-2 by cultivated brain meningeal cells

The meninges (the pia mater and the arachnoid) covering the surface of brain parenchyma are known to participate in the regulation of blood circulation and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. In the present study, we isolated and characterized some of the major proteins secreted into the conditioned medium of the meningeal cell cultures prepared from 1-2-day-old rats. Five protein molecules (7 kDa, 16 kDa, 18 kDa, 27 kDa and 32 kDa) were recognized as major proteins in the conditioned medium by SDS-PAGE. The major proteins were isolated and purified to homogeneity, respectively. Their N-terminal sequences, except that of 27 kDa protein, were successfully determined. Homology search has revealed that the N-terminal sequences of the 7 kDa protein and the 32 kDa protein were identical with those of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and IGF-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2), respectively. The N-terminal sequences of the 16 kDa and 18 kDa molecules were identical with those of the corresponding fragments of IGFBP-2. The present study demonstrates that cultured meningeal cells produce and secrete large amounts of IGF-II and IGFBP-2. The meninges may, therefore, be one of the main sources of these proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid and involved in the modulation of neuronal and/or glial cell survival or functioning.

Significance of the right ventricular free wall in dogs with and without pulmonary constriction

To evaluate the role of the right ventricular (RV) free wall in cardiac function, RV and left ventricular (LV) wall segment lengths were measured by ultrasonic crystals in 10 open chest dogs with the pericardium preserved. Right coronary artery (RCA) was perfused separately by own blood and the flow was reduced stepwise until active shortening (delta L) of the RV segment disappeared or RCA flow became zero (Ischemia). The experiment was repeated with and without pulmonary stenosis (PS). At Ischemia, RV and LV systolic pressures decreased. RV end-diastolic length increased and RV delta L decreased. LV end-diastolic length and LV delta L were reduced. LV stroke volume concurrently fell. These changes became more prominent with PS. The critical level of RCA flow, at which RV delta L began to change, was higher with PS (5.27 +/- 2.85 ml/min, mean +/- S.D.) than without PS (1.44 +/- 1.16, p < 0.01). Based on the relationships between RV delta L and percent changes in RV developed pressure and stroke volume, the degree of the decreases in RV developed pressure and stroke volume at RV delta L of zero were estimated to be about 20%. These results indicate that the RV free wall partly contributes to maintaining the RV function, especially during RV pressure overload.

Effect of troglitazone, a new oral antidiabetic agent, on fructose-induced insulin resistance

Troglitazone, a newly developed oral antidiabetic agent, improves hyperglycemia, and has been reported to improve insulin resistance and to decrease hepatic glucose production in diabetic animals. However, the exact mechanism of Troglitazone on the improvement of insulin resistance is not known. Chronic administration of fructose to normal rats leads to hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia; it induces insulin resistance. To reveal the mechanism of Troglitazone, we studied the effect of Troglitazone on serum glucose and insulin in the fructose-induced, insulin-resistant rats. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed either on standard chow or one containing fructose. Troglitazone was administrated as a food admixture (150 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. The rats were fed on (1) standard chow, (2) standard chow and Troglitazone, (3) fructose-enriched chow, or (4) fructose-enriched chow and Troglitazone. Blood samples were obtained every two weeks, and the levels of serum glucose and insulin were measured. Fructose-enriched chow increased serum glucose and insulin levels and insulin-to-glucose ratios. Troglitazone improved the fructose-induced increases in serum glucose, insulin levels, and insulin/glucose ratios. In conclusion, Troglitazone improved the fructose-induced insulin resistance.

Eosinophilic neuronal inclusions in the thalamus of ageing B6C3F1 mice

The age-related incidence of thalamic neuronal inclusions in the brains of aged B6C3F1 mice and their histopathological and ultrastructural features were studied. Round to oval or rod-shaped eosinophilic inclusions, which were frequently observed in the neurons of the thalamic area, were stained positively with phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin. The inclusions were detected first at 32 weeks of age and the incidence and severity were higher in older animals, all of the mice being affected after 58 weeks of age. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions appeared as sheaves of parallel osmiophilic filaments in the perikaryon of the neurons in the thalamus. Thus thalamic neuronal inclusions in mice seem to be age-related, but their significance remains unclear.

Transient disappearance of complete right bundle branch block during exercise in a patient with old inferior wall myocardial infarction

To date, there has been no report of temporary disappearance of right bundle branch block (RBBB) during exercise. A patient with old infero-posterior myocardial infarction is described in whom complete RBBB disappeared transiently during treadmill exercise testing. No chest pain or significant ST-T changes occurred during and after the exercise periods. Any of the following mechanisms could have been involved: (1) the patient's complete RBBB might have been bradycardia-dependent, (2) an exercise-induced increase of sympathetic tone might have produced a temporary improvement of the conduction disturbances, or (3) the exercise might have elicited conduction disturbances in the main left bundle branch, which could have concealed a conduction delay in the main trunk of the right bundle branch.

Duration of dentinal tubule occlusion formed by calcium phosphate precipitation method: in vitro evaluation using synthetic saliva

The use of a calcium phosphate precipitation method occluded dentin tubules with apatitic mineral and, thus, showed good potential for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity. The aim of this study was to elucidate the occluding behavior of the precipitate in the oral environment. Dentin disks treated by the calcium phosphate precipitation method, and disks treated with potassium oxalate, NaF, and SrCl2 solutions, were immersed in synthetic saliva, which was regularly replenished so that ionic concentration would be maintained. Treatment of dentin disks by the calcium phosphate precipitation method immediately reduced dentin permeability to 6 +/- 8%. When the disk was immersed in synthetic saliva, dentin permeability remained low, even seven days after immersion. Scanning electron microscopic observation showed no distinct boundary line between the precipitate and intertubular dentin; this indicated further mineralization on the precipitate. Potassium oxalate treatment also reduced the dentin permeability to 8 +/- 3%. However, the dentin permeability gradually but steadily increased with immersion time, reaching 39 +/- 14% at seven days. To elucidate the mechanism underlying dentin permeability changes in synthetic saliva, we immersed the precipitates, i.e., apatitic mineral and calcium oxalate, in a fixed volume of synthetic saliva. When calcium oxalate was immersed in synthetic saliva, there was a large concentration of oxalate ions, indicating dissolution of the calcium oxalate; this phenomenon was ascribed to the increase in dentin permeability. In contrast, calcium and phosphate ions decreased when apatitic powder, the precipitate formed by the calcium phosphate precipitation method, was immersed in synthetic salvia. The decrease in the calcium and phosphate ions in synthetic saliva indicated further precipitation of calcium phosphate on the apatitc precipitate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epidemiology of genotypes of hepatitis C virus in Japanese patients with type C chronic liver diseases: a multi-institution analysis

Sixteen medical institutions in Japan collaborated in this study of the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes. A total of 4176 patients with type C chronic liver disease, from the four main islands of Japan, were evaluated. Of those evaluated, 2794 had chronic hepatitis, 727 had liver cirrhosis and 655 had hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV genotype of the patients was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on serological genotype 1- and 2-specific recombinant peptides (SG-1 and SG-2, respectively) of the NS4 region. The prevalence of SG-1 and SG-2 HCV was similar in the four main islands of Japan. SG-1 HCV predominated in each disease category (69-76%). The percentage of patients with SG-1 HCV increased by 7%, while that of patients with SG-2 HCV decreased by 7%, as liver disease progressed in severity from chronic hepatitis to carcinoma (P < 0.001). Patients with either SG-1 or SG-2 had a similar mean age and history of blood transfusion. In conclusion, SG-1 HCV was found to predominate in Japan, and the HCV genotype was found to be related to the stage of hepatitis C disease.

A neurovascular island flap including a vein for the treatment of an acquired ring constriction

We present a case of an acquired constriction band caused by a tight ring on the left middle finger of a 45-year-old man. Most of the constriction band was excised and the resulting defect reconstructed with a neurovascular island flap, including a dorsal digital vein, from the adjacent ring finger. The distal end of the artery and the nerve in the flap were anastomosed and coapted to the digital artery and nerve, respectively, at the distal edge of the defect after excision of the band. The vein in the flap was anastomosed to a dorsal vein at both the distal and proximal edges of the flap as a vascularised interpositional vein graft. Four months later, the remaining constriction band was excised and the defect closed by an advancement flap. Swelling of the finger decreased and sensation improved.

[Increased gamma delta T cells in peripheral blood of patients with severe neurologic impairment]

We examined peripheral gamma delta T cells in patients with severe neurologic impairment. The gamma delta T cells in these patients significantly increased as compared with those in healthy adults (P < 0.0001). These cells expressed the V gamma 9/V delta 2 phenotype which was reported to proliferate by infections. When patients with severe neurologic impairment and patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) were divided into frequent and non-frequent infectious groups, the gamma delta T cells increased significantly in the frequent infectious group of DMD (P < 0.005), but not significantly in the frequent infectious group of patients with severe neurologic impairment. These results indicated that the gamma delta T cells of patients with severe neurologic impairment increased in frequent infections and other factor(s).

Endothelin-1 contributes to antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness

Endothelin A (ETA)-receptors mediate ET-1 contractions of ovine airway smooth muscle. Therefore, the ETA-receptor antagonist, BQ-123, was used to test the hypothesis that ET-1 contributes to antigen-induced airway responses in sheep allergic to Ascaris suum. We first established the protective effect of BQ-123 by demonstrating that BQ-123 given as an aerosol (0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg in 3 ml buffer) or by continuous intravenous infusion (100 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) significantly blocked the bronchoconstriction to aerosolized ET-1 (0.2-200 micrograms/ml). To determine whether ET-1 contributed to antigen-induced airway responses, BQ-123 was given either as an intravenous infusion (100 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) beginning 30 min before and continuing for 8 h after antigen challenge or as an aerosol (1 mg/kg in 3 ml buffer) 30 min before and 4, 8, and 24 h after antigen challenge. Neither treatment with intravenous infusion nor aerosolized BQ-123 blocked the immediate antigen-induced bronchoconstriction, but both treatments significantly reduced the late response (approximately 50%). The treatments with aerosolized BQ-123 also blocked the antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled carbachol seen 24 h after challenge. Subsequently, we found that sheep developed airway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled carbachol at 4 and 24 h after ET-1 challenge, an effect that was blocked by aerosolized BQ-123. We conclude that in allergic sheep 1) aerosolized ET-1 causes bronchoconstriction, in part, by stimulation of ETA-receptors, 2) ET-1 is released in the airways after antigen challenge, and 3) this peptide contributes to the severity of the allergic responses, probably by increasing airway smooth muscle responsiveness.

Mutations in the v-mos gene abolish its ability to induce differentiation but not transformation

The v-mos oncogene product has the ability to induce differentiation in human monocytic leukemia U937 cells, thereby arresting cell proliferation, and also exhibits transforming activity in mouse NIH3T3 cells. Mutation in the v-mos gene consisting of one or two amino acid substitutions in the putative ATP-binding domain impaired its differentiation-inducing activity although mutant proteins showed rather higher levels of autophosphorylation in vitro. Macrophage-specific characteristics such as their morphology, expression of C3b receptor and Fc receptor, and production of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha, were equally diminished in cells transfected with mutant mos genes when compared to those with intact v-mos. The ability of the gene to arrest the proliferation of U937 cells was likewise diminished, while the transforming efficiency of the intact and mutant mos genes were essentially the same. These results suggest that the mos product functions differently in cell differentiation and transformation.

Prediction of the coding sequences of unidentified human genes. IV. The coding sequences of 40 new genes (KIAA0121-KIAA0160) deduced by analysis of cDNA clones from human cell line KG-1

In this series of projects regarding the accumulation of sequence information of unidentified human genes, we newly deduced the sequences of 40 full-length cDNA clones of human cell line KG-1, and predicted the coding sequences of the corresponding genes, named KIAA0121 to 0160. The results of a computer search of public databases indicated that the sequences of 13 genes were unrelated to any reported genes, while the remaining 27 genes carried sequences which showed some similarities to known genes. Obvious unique sequences noted were as follows. A stretch of triplet repeats was contained in each of three genes: These were GAG(Glu) in KIAA0122 and KIAA0147, and TCC(Ser) in KIAA0150. A stretch of 10 amino acid-residues was repeated 21 times in KIAA0139, and a homologous sequence of 76-78 nucleotides was found repeated 6 times in the untranslated region of KIAA0125. Northern hybridization analysis demonstrated that 13 genes were expressed in a cell- or tissue-specific manner. Although a vast number of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) have been registered for comprehensive analysis of cDNA clones, our sequence data indicated that their distribution is very unbalanced: e.g. while no EST hit 7 genes, 85 ESTs fell in a single gene.

[Two case reports of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma]

Two cases of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma are presented. The first case was in a 67-year-old female, whose chief complaint of right upper abdominal mass and dull pain. The tumor, 13 x 12 x 8 cm in size, developing in the retroperitoneum was removed with the right kidney and vena cava. The pathological diagnosis was reported as leiomyosarcoma. The second case was in a 62-year-old male, whose complaint was left abdominal swelling, also with general fatigue. A large tumor mass, invading over all of the left flank organs, was palpable by physical examinations, from which the mass was far beyond surgical approach. Needle biopsy revealed the pathological finding of leiomyosarcoma. One month later, the patient died of cachexia. Review of the literatures for the retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma, revealed only a few cases; 1.7%, of all leiomyosarcoma to date.

[Neurobiology of learning and memory and anti-dementia drug]

Discoveries of long-term potentiation and immediate early gene in the central nervous system have enabled new developments in experiments on learning and memory. These experiments are conducted in many kinds of animals with different procedures, physiology, chemistry and pharmacology. However, there is still some confusion when these various procedures are discussed. Memory is defined as information storage of an animal's previous experiences. The memory induces changes in behavioral performance. This means that memory must be observed in whole animals, and one question that can occur is how does long-term potentiation, for example, correlate with memory. Furthermore, memory has been divided into two major classifications, declarative and non-declarative, from the comparison of amnesias observed in humans and animals. The declarative memory can be observed in human subjects, but not in animals. This article presents a neuronal circuit concerning memory formation and some results obtained from benzodiazepines, and it discusses some problems encountered executing when experiments on learning and memory. In addition, the discussion speculates over the possibility for an "anti-dementia drug".

[Clinical application of magnetic resonance angiography for coronary arteries: correlation with conventional angiography and evaluation of imaging time]

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the coronary arteries is a particularly difficult task because of the small size of the vessels and cardio-respiratory motion. The authors describe a method of performing of ultrafast MRA of the coronary arteries with a standard MR system and body coil. Each image was obtained within a single breath hold by "segmented Turbo FLASH" sequences using an electrocardiography gate. Clinical application was performed in 20 patients with ischemic heart disease, and a comparison was made with conventional coronary angiography. The imaging time was shortened significantly by our methods. The diagnosis was made by at least two different images to avoid false positives. The results indicated a good correlation between MRA and conventional angiography.

Hepatitis E probably contracted via a Chinese herbal medicine, demonstrated by nucleotide sequencing

Hepatitis E is endemic in developing countries and may occur as imported hepatitis in industrialized countries. A 46-year-old Japanese man developed immunoserologically diagnosed acute hepatitis E in Japan 4 months after he had made a trip to China. He had bought a Chinese herbal medicine there, taking it occasionally until approximately 6 weeks prior to the onset of acute hepatitis. Nucleotide sequencing of the 3' terminal region of the viral cDNA amplified from the patient's serum by polymerase chain reaction revealed a high degree of homology (99.8% of 752 nucleotides) with the Chinese strain. Thus, the results of sequencing suggest that his hepatitis E was caused by infection with the Chinese strain, via the Chinese herbal medicine.

Detection of neoplastic clone in the hypoplastic and recovery phases preceding acute lymphoblastic leukemia by in vitro amplification of rearranged T-cell receptor delta chain gene

This study assessed the clonality of hypoplastic and subsequent recovery phases before the development of overt leukemia by molecular genetic analysis. We describe a boy who had transient granulocytopenia and anemia before the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Initially, his bone marrow was hypocellular with 23.6% of lymphoblastic cells, whereas subsequent marrow after the administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) appeared almost normal without any lymphoblasts. At diagnosis, we found the rearrangement of T cell receptor (TCR) delta gene in the leukemic cell DNA by Southern blot hybridization. The junctional sequence of the V delta 2-D delta 3 recombination of leukemic cells obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for a clonospecific probe. Using the probe, the presence of leukemic clone in the materials before and after diagnosis was examined. We found that the clonospecific probe could detect one leukemic cell in 10,000 normal cells, and we demonstrated the presence of the leukemic clone at the initial hypoplastic and the subsequent recovery phase. The PCR method is very useful to confirm the presence of leukemic clone even in a retrospective analysis using low-quality materials and may be helpful to understand the pathogenesis of a smoldering preleukemic phase.

Evidence for an increased intracellular free calcium concentration in platelets of bronchial asthma patients

The pathogenesis of bronchial asthma is not yet fully understood. Recently much attention has been given to the hypothesis that intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) metabolism is abnormal in various diseases. In this study we investigated whether [Ca2+]i exists abnormally in subjects with bronchial asthma. The [Ca2+]i in 32 treated or untreated subjects with bronchial asthma were compared with 63 normal subjects. Resting levels of [Ca2+]i were estimated by loading the fluorescent indicator Fura-2 in washed platelets. The [Ca2+]i level in the control subjects was 129.7 +/- 18.0 nM (mean +/- SD). However, in that of the bronchial asthma patients was 152.7 +/- 44.1 nM, significantly higher than that of the control subjects (p < 0.05). It is well recognized that an increase of [Ca2+]i in vascular smooth muscle involves contraction. The findings suggest that the same phenomenon is quite possible in the tracheal smooth muscle and that it plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

Comparison of the entire nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the attenuated hog cholera vaccine strain GPE- and the wild-type parental strain ALD

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequences of a live attenuated hog cholera virus (HCV) and its progenitor strain. The viral RNA of each strain consisted of 12,298 nucleotides including untranslated regions of 373 and 228 bases at the 5' and 3' end, respectively. There was a single large open reading frame spanning 11,697 nucleotides which could encode a large protein of 3,899 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 438-kDa. We have found 225 nucleotide difference between the two strains, of which six were located in the untranslated region. Four-sixths of these differences resulted in amino acid substitutions.