Determination of prostaglandins and the effect of indomethacin on rat gastric mucosa

Prostaglandins protect the gastrointestinal mucosa against various ulcerogens. There are only a few reports about endogenous prostaglandins in the gastric mucosa. We present a method for determining mucosal prostaglandins and an investigation on the effect of indomethacin on prostaglandin E2 levels in the rat gastric mucosa. The levels of prostaglandins B, E1, E2, and F were higher in the antral mucosa (311 +/- 123, 632 +/- 147, 2099 +/- 455, and 415 +/- 115 ng/g, respectively) than in the fundic mucosa (33 +/- 2, 202 +/- 38, 914 +/- 229 and 138 +/- 22 ng/g, respectively). In both mucosal tissues, the prostaglandin E2 level was the highest and it was markedly reduced with indomethacin in a dose-related manner. The difference in the mucosal levels of prostaglandins suggests that in rats, mucosal damage occurs mainly in the fundus. The observed marked reduction of mucosal prostaglandin E2 following the administration of indomethacin may aid in elucidating the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal lesions induced by these types of agents.

Role of prostaglandin E2 on gastric ulcers induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds (NOSAC)

We investigated the effect of indomethacin and aspirin on the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in rat gastric mucosa. In untreated controls, the PGE2 level was 1085 +/- 80 ng/g in the fundic- and 2435 +/- 339 ng/g in the antral mucosa; it was markedly reduced by indomethacin (6 or 20 mg/kg) in a dose-related manner prior to the formation of gastric ulcers. Aspirin (200 mg/kg) also decreased the mucosal PGE2 content. The simultaneous infusion of 5 microgram/kg 16, 16-dimethyl PGE2 and 20 mg/kg indomethacin inhibited the formation of gastric ulcers. Our experimental results suggested that the indomethacin- or aspirin-induced gastric mucosal lesions are due to a deficiency of endogenous mucosal PGE2.

Effect of water-immersion stress on prostaglandin E2 in rat gastric mucosa

We investigated the effect of stress on the prostaglandin E2 levels in rat gastric mucosa. In untreated controls, prostaglandin E2 levels were higher in the antral than the fundic mucosa. Stress experiments showed tht 30-min stress induced no gastric lesions but effected a significant (p less than 0.05) increase in antral prostaglandin E2: after 7-hr stress exposure, hemorrhagic lesions and prostaglandin E2 levels significantly (p less than 0.05) below normal control values were noted. The formation of HCl-induced gastric mucosal lesions was markedly inhibited if 30-min stress preceded HCl-administration. The infusion of 5 microgram/kg 16, 16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 prior to 7-hr stress exposure inhibited ulcer formation markedly. Our results suggested that stress-induced decrease in intramucosal prostaglandin E2 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of stress ulcer formation.

Human milk folate and folate status in lactating mothers and their infants

Plasma and red blood cell folate levels of healthy, well-nourished lactating mothers were measured. Folate levels in their breast-fed infants were significantly higher than in the mothers. No abnormal hematological findings were observed in either mothers or infants. Folate levels in breast milk and in the infants' plasma were significantly correlated. The mean breast-milk folate level was 141.4 ng/ml. The total daily folate intake for breast-fed infants was assessed at 14 to 25 micrograms/kg body weight. The plasma and red blood cell folate levels of the lactating mothers were significantly increased after oral administration of 1 mg pteroylmonoglutamate daily for 4 weeks. However, milk folate level did not change.

Electrophysiologic effects of pindolol on atrioventricular conduction in canine heart

The effects of intravenous pindolol on the electrophysiologic properties of the atrioventricular conduction system was studied in intact dog, using His bundle electrogram and the extrastimulus method. Pindolol was administered intravenously in a dose range of 4 to 40 micrograms/Kg. The latter dosage of pindolol is above those used clinically. Significant effects of intravenous pindolol were observed on sinus cycle length, the A-V nodal conduction time, the ERP of the atrium, the ERP and FRP of the A-V node, and the ERP of the ventricle. Sinus cycle length was prolonged during sinus rhythm. Intraatrial conduction time was not altered by pindolol, while the ERP of the atrium was slightly increased. The A-H interval was generally prolonged by pindolol without Wenckebach type A-V block, but the H-V interval was unchanged. Both ERP and FRP of the A-V node was prolonged. The ERP and RRP of the His-Purkinje system were not statistically evaluated, because no block within the His-Purkinje system were not statistically evaluated, because no block with the His-Purkinje system or prolongation of H-V interval was produced and only a few QRS complexes by extrastimulus showed aberrant configration in the intact canine heart. In addition, pindolol prolonged the ERP of the ventricle.

Pigmentary degeneration of the retina in heredodegenerative neurological diseases

Frequency of pigmentary degeneration of the retina (PDR) among patients with degenerative and heredodegenerative neurological diseases (HDNDs) was estimated based on the hospital statistics. PDR was detected in 3% of 176 inpatients with HDNDs by careful ophthalmologic examination. On the other hand, out of 30 consecutive cases of PDR seen in our Department of Neurology, 15 patients were associated with some form of HDNDs. Atypical PDR were more frequently associated with HDNDs than typical PDR. Among neurological manifestations in those 15 cases of PDR associated with HDNDs, mental deficiency, hearing disturbance, spasticity, progressive ophthalmoplegia and ataxia were most frequently encountered. Four cases with unusual symptomatology were presented. Clinical analysis of cases of PDR associated with HDNDs in the present series as well as in the relevant literature revealed an extreme variety of clinical manifestations and underlying metabolic disorders, suggesting a possible participation of multiple factors in the pathogenesis of PDR. Importance of careful ophthalmologic examination in HDNDs was stressed from the prognostic point of view.

Real time observation of the echo source of systolic hump in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with high speed ultrasono-cardiotomography

The present study was undertaken to discuss the echo source of systolic hump in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) from a viewpoint of B-mode echocardiography. Cross-sectional images were obtained from 4 patients with HOCM using a Sonolayergraph of Toshiba, SSL-51H. This equipment is characterized by its high speed mechanical sector scanning and wider angle. Recordings were made with ordinary 35 mm camera or Polaroid in conjunction with 8 mm cinecamera. Our data showed that systolic hump in this lesion was not caused by anterior systolic movement of anterior mitral leaflet, but was emanated from the chordae tendineae attached to the anterior or posterior mitral leaflet. In systole, the anterior mitral leaflet moved backward for closure, while the chordae tendineae approached the bulged interventricular septum resulting in the formation of systolic hump.

Clinical study on the acoustic phenomena in coronary venous system with intracardiac phonocardiography

In order to study the intracardiac murmurs in coronary venous system, right heart catheterization was carried out on 35 patients with or without mitral regurgitation. The double-lumen phonocatheter of A. E. L. was used for 33 cases but for 2 the microtip phonocatheter of Millar was employed. As a rule, simultaneous recording of intracardiac and external phonocardiograms was made with the pressure tracing in the majority of cases. The examined subjects were divided into 3 groups; 9 cases with mitral regurgitation confirmed by left ventriculography (Group I), 20 without mitral regurgitation (Group II), and 6 with functional systolic murmur (Group III). In Group I, a loud systolic murmur was recorded in 7 cases (MR 5, MR + AR 1, ECD 1), but in none of IHSS in the coronary sinus or great coronary vein. In Group II, no systolic bruit was noted in VSD and other lesions except ASR in the coronary venous system. The same was true in patients with functional systolic murmur (Group III). Intracardiac phonocardiography is thought to be useful to record mitral regurgitant murmurs in the coronary venous system, since the latter is in the close proximity to the mitral posterior commissure or mitral annulus.

Reduced level of glycine cleavage system in the liver of hyperglycinemia patients

The activity of the glycine cleavage system in liver of hyperglycinemia with organic acidemia was 1/6 to 1/20 tha of normal human livers. The reduced activity results from the reduction in concentration of the enzyme of the glycine cleavage system. All the protein components of the glycine cleavage system examined were reduced when the activity was determined seprately. H-protein was purified from patients' and control livers, and there was found no difference in their chromatographic properties.

Differential diagnosis of pulmonic stenosis by means of intracardiac phonocardiography

The purpose of the present paper is to describe the origin of the systolic murmur in pulmonic stenosis and to discuss the diagnostic possibilities of intracardiac phonocardiography. Right heart catheterization was carried out with the aid of a double-lumen A.E.L. phonocatheter on 48 pulmonic stenosis patients with or without associated heart lesions. The diagnosis was confirmed by heart catheterization and angiocardiography in all cases and in 38 of them, by surgical intervention. Simultaneous phonocardiograms were recorded with intracardiac pressure tracings. In valvular pulmonic stenosis, the maximum ejection systolic murmur was localized in the pulmonary artery above the pulmonic valve and well transmitted to both right and left pulmonary arteries, the superior vena cava, and right and left atria. The maximal intensity of the ejection systolic murmur in infundibular stenosis was found in the outflow tract of right ventricle. The contractility of the infundibulum greatly contributes to the formation of the ejection systolic murmur in the outflow tract of right ventricle. In tetralogy of Fallot, the major systolic murmur is caused by the pulmonic stenosis, whereas the high ventricular septal defect is not responsible for it. In pulmonary branch stenosis, the systolic murmur was recorded distally to the site of stenosis. Intracardiac phonocardiography has proved useful for the differential diagnosis of various types of pulmonic stenosis.

Real-time observation of cardiac movement and structures in congenital and acquired heart diseases employing high-speed ultrasonocardiotomography

Echocardiography has proved useful for cardiac diagnosis during the past several years; however, the conventional one-dimensional ultrasound pulse echo method cannot easily visualize the anatomical relationships of the various cardiac structures. To overcome the limitation, the authors attempted a real-time observation of cardiac structures and introduced high-speed ultrasonocardiotomography with a Sonolayergraph Model SSL-51H (Toshiba) having a logarithmic amplifier. Thirty sector images are produced per second by a mechanically operated, single flat or 75 mm. focus transducer measuring 10 mm. in diameter. The angle of a sector image composed of about 120 scanning lines is arbitrarily changeable from null to 65 degrees. The fast succession of images produced enables clear observation of the movement of cardiac structures in real time. Study of 230 patients by means of the proposed system suggests that it is advantageous as a quick method to provide two-dimensional echocardiograms for cardiac diagnosis and assessment, especially in noninvasive diagnosis.