Computerised tomography as an indication of long-term outcome after acute carbon monoxide poisoning

21 patients with acute carbon-monoxide poisoning had repeated brain scans by computerised tomography (CT) between May, 1977 and June, 1979. On the basis of the initial CT findings, the 21 patients could be divided into two distinct groups. In 11, areas of low density were seen bilaterally in the globus pallidus. These areas were still present 3 months after initial CT. In all but one of these patients the outcome was poor. The remaining 10 had no abnormal findings on their initial brain CT scans; outcome was good in this group.

Incorporation of 3H and 14C from (6 alpha-3H)penicillin N and (10-14C,6 alpha-3H) penicillin N into deacetoxycephalosporin C

1. In a cell-free system prepared by lysis of protoplasts of Cephalosporium acremonium mutant M-0198, 3H and 14C were incorporated from singly- and doubly-labelled penicillin N into deacetoxycephalosporin C. 2. The deacetoxcephalosporin C obtained from the above feeding experiments was converted into two different crystalline derivatives, namely N-phthalimidodeacetoxycephalosporin C bisbenzhydryl ester and N-phthalimidodeacetoxycephalosporin C bisdicyclohexylamine salt and recrystallized to constant specific activity or constant ratio of specific activity. 3. That 3H is incorporated at C-7 in the biosynthesized deacetoxycephalosporin C was shown by the loss of radioactivity (95.2%) after methoxylating the derived N-phthalimidodeacetoxycephalosporin C bisbenzyhydryl ester. 4. Deacetoxycephalosporin C was also the product of the cell-free reaction conducted in the presence of ferrous ions and ascorbic acid, as shown by two-dimensional paper electrophoresis-chromatography; these additives appreciably improved the efficiency of conversion.

[Degree of correlation between pulse transit time (PTT) and arterial blood pressure: a question to its utility in blood pressure biofeedback (author's transl)]

PTT and systolic blood pressure were measured 20 times at rest and 10 times with Valsalva's Maneuvre from each of five subjects. Linear correlation coefficients (LCs) were calculated from the data obtained only at rest and from both measuring conditions combined. The results showed that LCs from the combined data were highly negative (--0.428-- --0.854) in all five subjects but LCs from rest alone did not show any significant trend in three subjects. It was concluded that PTT did not highly correlate with arterial blood pressure within its spontaneous variation and, therefore, it called the utility of PTT as a target response in blood pressure biofeedback in question.

[Variation of serum free amino acids in fulminant hepatitis treated with hepatic assists (author's transl)]

A 10 year old boy, in grade IV hepatic coma, was treated by combination of XAD-4 resin hemoperfusion (HP), activated charcoal HP (Adsorba 300C, Gambro), exchange transfusion by up to 12.0 liters of fresh whole blood, and regular dialysis. Serum free amino acids' values were consecutively assessed during 4 days of treatment. The liver was 490 gr in weight at autopsy and histologic examination revealed cellular necrosis compatible with fulminant hepatitis. Pre-treatment values of alanine, lysine, proline, phenylalanine, arginine, threonine, tyrosine and methionine were increased by 2 to 38 times of normal control, while those of cystine, glutamic acid, serine and glycine were minimally increased up to 1.7 times. Histidine, isoleucine, leucine and valine, on the other hand, were decreased by 20 to 30% and aspartic acid was the lowest at 14% of normal control. The effect of XAD-4 resin HP and exchange transfusion was rather non-specific by decreasing the total amount of amino acids. The molar ratios of branched chain amino acids vs. aromatic amino acids or essential amino were elevated by activated charcoal HP, but, did not reach to normal range.

Further studies on microbiological ring-expansion of penicillin N

The rate of microbiological ring-expansion of penicillin N to deacetoxycephalosporin C using protoplast lysates of the antibiotic-negative mutant Cephalosporium acremonium M-0198 has been increased some 70-fold over that of our earlier system. We confirmed the stimulatory effects of FeSO4 and ascorbate described by Hook et al. (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 87: 258, 1979); the optimum concentrations found were 0.04 mM FeSO4 and 0.67 mM ascorbate. Adenosine triphosphate concentration was lowered to 0.83 mM; phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate kinase were eliminated. The optimum pH and temperature for the reaction were 7.2 and 25 degrees C, respectively. Alpha-ketoglutarate and MnCl2 showed no marked effect on the reactions, MgSO4 and KCl were mildly stimulatory, and CuSO4 and ZnSO4 were very inhibitory. Penicillin N was optimal at a concentration of 0.07 mM. Specific ring-expansion activity reached its peak 13 hours after growth ceased and then disappeared rapidly.

Transforming DNA sequences in rat cells transformed by DNA fragments of highly oncogenic human adenovirus type 12

Rat cell lines tranformed by viral DNA fragments, EcoRI-C and HindIII-G, of adenovirus type 12 DNA were analyzed for the viral transforming DNA sequences present in cell DNAs. Cell lines transformed by the EcoRI-C fragment of adenovirus type 12 DNA (leftmost 16.5% of the viral genome) contain most of the HindIII-G sequences of the HindIII-G fragment, but at a different frequency depending on the portions of the fragment. The sequence of the AccI-H fragment of adenovirus type 12 DNA (the left part of the HindIII-G; leftmost 4.5% of the viral genome) was detected dominantly in cells transformed by the HindIII-G fragment Southern blot analysis showed that viral DNA sequences are present at multiple integration sites in high-molecular-weight cell DNA from cells transformed by the EcoRI-C or HindIII-G fragment of adenovirus type 12 DNA. These results suggest that most of the HindIII-G sequences in cells transformed by the HindIII-G fragment are present as fragmented forms.

Bovine neurophysin lipid complex. Their isolation, characterization and reaggregation

A lipid-containing neurophysin fraction was isolated and purified from bovine posterior pituitary glands by acid extraction and affinity chromatography on a heparin-Sepharose 4B column. This lipid-rich fraction was found to be composed of noncovalent aggregates of neurophysin proteins and phospholipids such as phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine and sphingomyelin. The lipid-containing neuophysin was delipidated by treatment with choloform-methanol. The resultant apoproteins were characterized as bovine neuroions were developed for the reaggregation of purified bovine neurophysin-I and -II with lipids extracted from bovine posterior pituitary and hypothalamus and with synthetic lecithin. The resultant neurophysin lipid complexes have been shown to band upon isopycnic centrifugation at densities different from those of the respective purified bovine neurophysins.

A rapid screening for the specific DNA sequence: analysis of transforming DNA segments in adenovirus-transformed cells

The viral DNA sequences in cells transformed by adenovirus type-12 (Ad12) DNA fragments were investigated by spot hybridization, a detection by autoradiography of nucleic acid hybrids formed between cell DNAs spotted on a membrane filter and various nick-translated Ad12 DNA fragments. In CY1 cell line, a rat cell line transformed by the EcoRI-C fragment (left hand 16%), all of the HindIII fragments included in the EcoRI-C fragment are shown to be present. In GY1 cell line, a rat cell line transformed by the HindIII-G fragment (left hand 7%), both of the BpaI-H and a part of the BpaI-J, two components consisting of the HindIII-G fragment, were found. A dominant presence of the Ad12 BpaI-H fragment (left hand end 4.5%) of the Ad12 DNA molecule, approximately 60% of the Ad12 transforming DNA sequences (Ad12 HindIII-G), was also shown in GY1. Spot hybridization used in the experiment will be of general use for detecting viral nucleic acid sequences in cells and provides a simple and useful screening method for investigating viral etiology of tumors and transformed cells.

Clinical and pathologic studies of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in acute leukemia

One hundred and sixty cases of acute leukemia observed at our Department between 1953 and 1977 were reviewed as to the presence and nature of the accompanying gastrointestinal hemorrhage. A massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage requiring blood transfusions occurred in 29 cases (18%). The most common lesion was hemorrhagic necrosis of the small intestines. There were three forms of hemorrhage: Type I: thrombocytopenia, hemorrhagic diathesis, diffuse hemorrhage of mucosa and submucosa, but no erosion nor ulceration. Type II: no specific pathologic findings. Diffuse hemorrhage, superficial erosions, bacterial and fungal invasions were observed. Type III: single and/or multiple ulcerations, necrosis and perforation of the small intestines and colon. Thrombocytosis was almost always present at the prebleeding phase in these cases. Intravascular microthrombi at the basis of ulceration were seen. Usually, more than one process were seen in each case. An appropriate approach to the severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage with a combination of anti-leukemic chemotherapy, anti-coagulant therapy, platelet transfusion, etc. would further add to the number of long-term survivors in acute leukemia.

[Clinical studies of cefmetazole (author's transl)]

1. Cefmetazole was administered to 10 patients; 5 acute cholecystitis, 4 acute peritonitis and 1 periproctitis. 2. Cefmetazole was given by drip infusion at a daily dose of 2 to 4 g. 3. Clinical response was excellent in 3 patients, and good in other 7 patients. 4. No clinical adverse effect was recognized except the increase of GOT and GPT in 1 patient.

[Results of the special physical examination of workers in a vanadium plant (author's transl)]

Special physical examinations were made in order to find out the actual status of damages to health that had broken out in a factory collecting V2O5 from iron sand; and the following results were found: 1. Pharyngitis and bronchitis were found in 25% of the workers exposed to vanadium, but neither pneumonia nor hepatitis was observed. 2. Among the subjective and objective symptoms, respiratory irritation and discoloration of the tongue were frequent. 3. Black spot-like pigmentations gathering in a zonal form 1-2 mm wide in the transitional part and oral mucosa of the upper lip were found. Prevalence rate of this sign was 14.3% in the workers exposed to vanadium. 4. The mean valus of total serum protein and the serum cholesterol in the exposed workers were lower than those in the controls. The difference in the values between both groups is statistically significant. 5. Both the mean values of vanadium concentrations in vurine and its creatinine ratios in the exposed workers were twice to three times those in the controls; however, these parameters decreased to about one third in two months by improving the health and environmental control-measures. 6. Draft items to be checked in special physical examinations of workers handling vanadium have been proposed.

[An investigation of the environment in a certain vanadium refinery (author's transl)]

An investigation of the environment of the working place was made as part of the investigation of damages to health that had broken out in a certain vanadium refinery; and the following conclusions were obtained: When the atmospheric dust volume and V2O5 concentration by unit working step were measured with a high volume air sampler, V2O5 exceeded the threshold limit value given by ACGIH in the P.O. flake production step, while the measurement of V2O5 concentration during one-shift working hours with a low volume air sampler gave 64.3 micrograms/m3 even in the grinding step where the maximum concentration was found, and values under 10 micrograms/m3 in all the other steps. Such concentrations may be considered to have been derived from the fact that P.O. casting in accomplished in a short time, and that the fume and dust that are transiently produced at high concentrations are dispersed outdoors by spontaneous ventilation. Damages to health such as a high prevalence of green tongue appeared to have resulted from failure in exercising elementary sanitary care such as imperfect facilities for safety and sanitation, and failure to thoroughly enforce wearing of masks.