Application of oriented poly-L-lactide screws for experimental Salter-Harris type 4 fracture in distal femoral condyle of the dog

The clinical usefulness of biodegradable oriented poly-L-lactide (PLLA) screws for experimental Salter-Harris type 4 fracture in the distal femoral condyle of dogs was evaluated. Bony union of the osteotomized fragment of the condyle was almost completed radiographically and histologically within 1 to 2 months after surgery, suggesting that PLLA screws maintained strength long enough to fix the fragment until bone healing. At 4 to 6 months after surgery, minute fissures were histologically confirmed on the surface of the screw thread, suggesting the early stage of biodegradation and absorption of the polymer. During the observational period, no significant difference between the treated femur and the contralateral non-treated femur in either total femoral length or maximum condyle width was observed, indicating no growth disturbance in the treated femur. From these results it was concluded that the PLLA screw might be an ideal implant for the reduction and fixation of epiphyseal plate fractures such as Salter-Harris type 3 or type 4 fractures.

Arthritis in a patient with psoriasis after interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C

A 27-year-old man with psoriasis was administered with leukocyte derived interferon-alpha for the treatment of chronic persistent hepatitis C. After 3 weeks of injections and eventual normalization of serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, he began to experience polyarthritis, with worsening of psoriatic skin lesions. Tests for antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor were negative, indicating a direct association between interferon therapy and occurrence of seronegative arthritis.

Transcription of the principal sigma-factor genes, rpoD and rpoS, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is controlled according to the growth phase

The rpoS gene encodes the second principal sigma factor of RNA polymerase in stationary-phase cells in Escherichia coli. We examined the transcription of Pseudomonas aeruginosa rpoS as to the growth of cells. The results of quantitative S1 nuclease mapping of rpoS and rpoD, encoding the principal sigma factor, indicated that the transcription of rpoS is induced in stationary-phase cells, whereas that of rpoD is induced in exponential-phase cells. By high-resolution S1 nuclease mapping, the 5'- and 3'-ends of rpoS mRNA were determined. The results indicated that rpoS is transcribed as a monocistronic mRNA. The sequence preceding the 5' end of rpoS mRNA showed poor homology to the consensus sequences of the previously known promoters. P. aeruginosa rpoS was not transcribed in E. coli. By in vitro transcription assaying, P. aeruginosa rpoS was shown to be transcribed by the RNA polymerase fraction containing the principal sigma (sigma 70)-RNA polymerase of P. aeruginosa.

Preferential dilation of recipient coronary arteries of the collateral circulation by intracoronary administration of nitroglycerin

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the sensitivity to nitroglycerin of collateral vessels and recipient arteries is greater than that of donor arteries of the collateral circulation.

BACKGROUND

The collateral circulation responds vigorously to nitroglycerin. However, the mechanisms of the efficacy of nitroglycerin for improving collateral circulation are not fully elucidated.

METHODS

The diameter of donor and recipient arteries of the collateral circulation was measured with a computer-assisted analysis system in eight patients with well developed collateral vessels. Coronary angiography was repeated before and after the intracoronary injection of 50 micrograms of nitroglycerin.

RESULTS

After nitroglycerin, the mean diameter +/- SD of donor arteries increased to 1.61 +/- 0.53 from 1.29 +/- 0.39 mm (p < 0.01), whereas the diameter of recipient arteries increased to 1.59 +/- 0.50 from 1.10 +/- 0.49 mm (p < 0.01). The change in the diameter of recipient arteries was significantly greater than that of donor arteries (52.3 +/- 24.6% vs. 24.7 +/- 11.5%, p < 0.05). These changes induced by the intracoronary injection of nitroglycerin were accompanied by a decrease in pacing-induced ST segment depression (0.16 +/- 0.06 to 0.06 +/- 0.04 mV, p < 0.01), suggesting increased flow reserve through collateral channels.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that the sensitivity to nitroglycerin of recipient arteries of the collateral circulation is significantly greater than that of donor arteries. This observation may explain the strong response of the collateral circulation to nitroglycerin in patients with functionally significant collateral channels.

Detection of high-risk human papillomavirus in the cervix and semen of sex partners

To investigate the possibility of sexual transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV), 53 married couples were examined for the presence of HPV-16 and -18 DNAs in the uterine cervix and semen using the polymerase chain reaction method. Twenty-three of the 53 women and 12 of the 53 male partners were positive for HPV-16 DNA. No HPV-18 DNA was detected in samples from any of the partners. In 27 pairs, both partners were negative for HPV DNA in cervix or semen; in the remaining 26 pairs, at least 1 of the partners was HPV-16-positive. In 9 (35%) of these 26 pairs, both partners were infected. Furthermore, 9 (75%) of the 12 women with HPV-positive partners were HPV-positive, while 9 (39%) of the 23 men with HPV-positive female partners were HPV-positive. These findings suggest an increased risk of HPV transmission via sexual intercourse, thereby underscoring the importance of preventive care against HPV infection during intercourse.

Body image changes in adolescents II comparison among patients with eating disorders and controls with thin, normal and obese body shapes

The Self-Rating Body Image (SRBI) test was used to determine whether the patients with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia showed their body image disturbance or not. The SRBI was completed by 120 subjects who consisted of 30 low weight (LW) controls, 30 normal weight (NW) controls, 30 high weight (HW) controls, 18 anorexic patients (AN) and 12 bulimic patients (BN). The AN group had a significantly greater dissatisfaction with the scales of the body shape, visceral organ and face image of the SRBI than the weight-matched LW group. The BN group had a significantly greater dissatisfaction with the visceral organ image shape than the weight-matched NW group. However, no significant difference in the body shape and face images between the BN and NW groups was found. Our results suggest that the anorexic patients may disturb more parts of the body image than the bulimic patients though both the anorexic and bulimic patients showed the disturbance of body image.

Clinical and angiographic determinants of ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction is a precursor of the development of overt heart failure and is an important indicator of mortality. However, clinical and angiographic determinants of ventricular remodeling have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of long-standing preinfarction angina and the late reperfusion of the infarct-related coronary artery on ventricular remodeling and function.

METHODS

Coronary angiography and left ventricular cineangiography were performed 35 +/- 16 days after the onset of acute myocardial infarction in 80 patients with a relatively recent anterior Q-wave myocardial infarction who had received conventional therapy.

RESULTS

In patients with preinfarction angina that occurred more than 1 week before the onset of myocardial infarction, the left ventricular size and ejection fraction were better preserved than in those without preinfarction angina. On the other hand, the late reperfusion of the infarct-related coronary artery did not affect ventricular remodeling.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that the presence of residual flow to the infarct area through the collateral circulation, presumably developed by repetitive ischemic stimuli, appears to be a crucial determinant of subsequent left ventricular size and function in patients with acute myocardial infarction who have had conventional therapy.

A frequent alteration of p53 gene in carcinoma in adenoma of colon

In general, colorectal carcinoma is thought to originate mainly from adenoma, and this pathway is called the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Carcinoma in adenoma is an appropriate model for analysis of this mechanism, because adenoma and carcinoma tissues coexist in the same polyp and the carcinoma is thought to have originated from the surrounding adenoma. Expression of the p53 protein was analyzed in 36 cases of carcinoma in adenoma in the colon by immunohistochemistry using an anti-human p53 monoclonal antibody (PAb1801). Alterations of the p53 gene were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction for microanalysis of normal mucosa, adenoma, and carcinoma from histological slides. Mutations were assessed by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis and identified by DNA sequencing in some cases. Loss of heterozygosity was studied by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Positive staining for p53 was detected in three (8%) of 37 adenomas and 20 (53%) of 38 focal carcinomas. One (7%) of 15 adenomas with mild dysplasia, three (14%) of 22 adenomas with moderate dysplasia, and 16 (42%) of 38 focal carcinomas had a mutation in exon 5 through exon 8 of the p53 gene. As for allelic loss in the p53 gene locus, only one adenoma with moderate dysplasia had loss of heterozygosity, whereas six (40%) of 15 focal carcinomas had loss of heterozygosity. Of those tumors (3 of 37 adenomas and 20 of 38 focal carcinomas) that reacted with PAb1801, 78% (18 of 23) showed genetic alterations. Among 52 tumors which showed negative staining, five tumors had a p53 mutation and four of them were nonsense mutations. Putting all of these results together, 71% (24 of 34) of the cases underwent p53 gene and protein alterations during the conversion from adenoma to focal carcinoma. These data clearly indicate that genetic alterations of p53 are involved mainly in the malignant transformation from adenoma to focal carcinoma in colon carcinogenesis. In addition, some cases show heterogeneity of the p53 gene in carcinoma in adenoma of the colon. There may be other pathways than p53 responsible for malignant change in the colon.

[Increased HDL-cholesterol level improves the prognosis in patients with coronary vasospasm]

Cardiovascular events were analyzed in the subset of 49 consecutive patients with vasospastic coronary artery disease who underwent diagnostic coronary arteriography from December, 1987 to March, 1991 to confirm coronary artery spasm during anginal attacks. During the follow-up period (30 +/- 14 months, mean +/- SEM), seven patients had cardiovascular accidents including acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and stroke (group A), while the remaining 42 patients were event-free (group B). Current smokers at the end of the follow-up period were more common in group A (71%) than in group B (12%) (p < 0.01). Serum total-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were not significantly different between the two groups before or after the follow-up period. The baseline high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level also did not differ between group A (32.5 +/- 8.3 mg/dl) and group B (41.0 +/- 12.9 mg/dl). However, the HDL-C level significantly increased during the follow-up period in group B (delta HDL-C 6.1 +/- 9.4 mg/dl) (p < 0.01), but not in group A (delta HDL-C -3.3 +/- 7.2 mg/dl). The HDL-C level at the end of the follow-up period in group A (29.2 +/- 9.0 mg/dl) was significantly lower than in group B (47.1 +/- 11.5 mg/dl) (p < 0.01). Cardiovascular accidents were significantly more common in current smokers (50%) (p < 0.01) than in current nonsmokers (5%) after the follow-up.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Technetium-99m-pyrophosphate uptake as an indicator of myocardial injury without infarct

Technetium-99m-pyrophosphate (PYP) is bound to calcium in necrotic myocardium and has been used clinically to evaluate myocardial infarction. Technetium-99m-PYP is also reported to accumulate in myocardium with unstable angina pectoris and it is speculated that severe ischemia with noninfarcted tissue may also increase uptake of 99mTc-PYP. In this paper, 99mTc-PYP uptake was determined in various models of myocardial ischemia of short duration to examine its applicability to the assessment of myocardial viability.

METHODS

In 23 open-chest dogs under anesthesia, models of ischemia-reperfusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) subjected to ischemia for 10, 30 or 60 min were produced. Wall motion was examined by echocardiography and myocardial blood flow was calculated using colored microspheres. Technetium-99m-PYP was injected after each ischemic intervention and reperfusion.

RESULTS

Technetium-99m-PYP showed 1.18 +/- 0.009 in the uptake ratio (ischemic area/normal area) following 10-min ischemia (11 dogs). The uptake ratio following 30-min ischemia (8 dogs) showed a significantly higher increase than that following 10-min ischemia (4.09 +/- 1.75; p < 0.05), permitting in vivo and ex vivo imaging. After 60-min ischemia resulting in infarction (4 dogs), 99mTc-PYP uptake of the ischemic area showed an uptake ten times that of the normal area (transmural: 12.2 +/- 2.9, epicardium: 7.5 +/- 1.9, endocardium: 16.8 +/- 4.1).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that since 99mTc-PYP accumulates in injured myocardium, its concurrent use with blood flow imaging is useful for the assessment of severity of ischemia, injured area and myocardial viability.

Usefulness of computed tomography after myelography for surgery on dogs with cervical intervertebral disc protrusion

Computed tomography after myelography (CTM) was performed pre- and postoperatively on four dogs diagnosed as having cervical intervertebral disc protrusion. The surgery was performed by ventral slot technique in all the cases. The direction of the ventral slot was precisely adjusted according to the location of the protruded discs as seen on CTM. Postoperative values for the transversal area of the spinal cord were greater than those measured preoperatively, suggesting effective decompression of the cord. The prognosis for these patients was excellent. In view of these results, it was considered that preoperative confirmation of the positional relationship between the spinal cord and the protruded disc by CTM was quite useful in planning the surgical technique for disc disease in the dog.

[A case of multiple sclerosis with intractable hiccup and acute respiratory arrest]

A 41-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) manifesting optic neuritis, cerebellar ataxia and myelopathy was admitted for intractable hiccup and aggravation of sensory disturbance in both lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a Gd-DTPA enhanced lesion from the level of the medulla oblongata, involving the reticular formation, to that of the vertebral body C2. She became abruptly unable to breath following aggravation of bulbar palsy and tetraplegia and mechanical ventilation was immediately initiated. The next day, voluntary breathing re-appeared but automatic respiratory failure remained unchanged. The respirator was completely removed after one month, and then the breathing was almost normal. In MS patients who develop intractable hiccup as an early symptom, it is suggested that the causative lesion is in the medulla oblongata. In such cases, we must carefully observe the clinical course because expansion of the lesion may induce respiratory failure.

Development of hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance in conscious genetically diabetic (C57BL/KsJ-db/db) mice

A bolus injection of insulin dose-dependently reduced plasma glucose levels in genetically diabetic (db/db) mice and their normoglycaemic litter-mates (+/+ mice) aged 5, 8 and 12 weeks. Compared between the groups, the dose-response curves showed that insulin resistance was already present in the 5-week-old db/db mice when they were still normoglycaemic. The minimum effective dose of insulin was lower in the +/+ (32 micrograms/kg) than in the db/db (100 micrograms/kg) mice and the maximum response which was obtained at 320-1000 micrograms/kg of the hormone was higher in the former (about 80%) than in the latter (about 55%). Although the basal plasma glucose levels in the db/db mice were significantly increased with age as compared with those in the +/+ mice, the insulin response curves were identical in the db/db mice from 5 to 12 weeks of age. The number of insulin binding sites were significantly decreased by 22-50% (5-12-week-old) in the liver plasma membrane from the db/db mice compared with that from the +/+ mice, while its affinity was not significantly changed between the groups. Streptozotocin (100 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment increased the number of insulin receptors in the db/db mice to a number comparable with those in the +/+ mice. Coinciding with the change, the hypoglycaemic action of insulin was slightly enhanced in the streptozotocin-treated db/db mice compared with that in non-treated db/db mice, but was still considerably depressed when compared with that in +/+ mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Differences related to the production of arachidonic acid between collagen- and thrombin-stimulated human platelets

The effects of collagen and thrombin on the liberation of free arachidonic acid were investigated in human platelets by fluorometric high-performance liquid chromatography. Collagen induced a concentration-dependent increase in the extent of platelet aggregation, as well as an accumulation of arachidonic acid in human platelets. By contrast, thrombin effectively provoked a potent aggregation at relatively low concentration without any accumulation of free arachidonic acid, although the accumulation of arachidonic acid was detected at a high concentration of thrombin (> 0.1 U/ml) that induced full aggregation. The selective liberation of arachidonic acid was found in thrombin-stimulated platelets. Non-selective liberation of fatty acids occurred in platelets that had been stimulated with a high concentration of collagen (10 micrograms/ml), as well as in platelets stimulated with A23187. The net amount of free arachidonic acid in collagen-stimulated platelets was estimated by use of eicosatetraenoic acid (ETYA), which is an inhibitor of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. ETYA markedly potentiated the accumulation of free arachidonic acid in collagen-stimulated platelets without changing the amounts of other fatty acids in the cell.

[Combination chemotherapy of BOF-A2, a new 5-FU derivative, with various anticancer agents against human cancer xenografts in nude mice]

In order to select a suitable combination chemotherapy with BOF-A2 from the view of both anti-tumor effect (IR) and decrease of side effect, we studied a combination significance of BOF-A2 with CPT-11 that promised for a new anticancer drug, CDDP or mitomycin C (MMC) that used widely to many cancer patients and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) against colon, stomach and renal cancer, respectively, by using xenografted nude mice. The combination therapy of BOF-A2 with CDDP was effective against stomach cancer (H-111) from the cellular change and decreased side effect. The combination therapy of BOF-A2 with MMC showed additive effect against stomach cancer (H-111) from IR and cellular changes. The combination effect of BOF-A2 with IFN-alpha was additive and synergistic against renal cancer (H-12). The combination therapy with CPT-11 was effective (IR > or = to 58%) from antitumor effect, additive from IR and synergistic from cellular change against lung cancer (H-74) and colon cancer (H-110), to which conventional drugs were generally insensitive and spontaneously tolerant. BOF-A2 was expected to be a promising new anti-cancer agent in the future clinical trial.

Topography of commissural fibers in the corpus callosum of the cat: a study using WGA-HRP method

The topography of the commissural fibers in the corpus callosum (CC) of the cat was systematically investigated using the WGA-HRP method. WGA-HRP was injected into various parts of the cerebral cortex and locations of WGA-HRP-stained commissural fibers in the CC were examined. Commissural fibers were arranged in a topological fashion in the CC. Cortical areas rostral to the cruciate sulcus (CrS), corresponding to motor or premotor cortices, projected fibers into the genu of the CC, while fibers from the cortex caudal to the CrS passed through the CC slightly caudal to the genu. When WGA-HRP was injected into the lateral gyrus (LG), it was observed that fibers from the anterior LG passed through the anterior one-third of the CC, whereas those from the posterior LG passed through or near the splenium, and fibers from the middle LG passed between those from the anterior and posterior LG. Similarly, the suprasylvian gyrus (SSG) projected commissural fibers in the CC in a rostrocaudal topological manner. Fibers from the anterior SSG passed through the anterior one-third of the CC, and those from the middle SSG through the middle one-third of the CC and upper part of the splenium. Injection into the most posterior part of the middle SSG revealed fibers passing through the caudal end of the splenium. Callosal fibers from the anterior SSG were focused on in this study, because this area (area 2v) is considered one of the vestibular projection cortices and is an area of special interest to the authors. Callosal fibers from the anterior SSG were observed to pass through the anterior one-third of the body of the CC. When WGA-HRP was injected into auditory areas, fibers from the anterior and middle ectosylvian gyri (ESG) were observed to pass through the posterior one-third of the body of the CC or through the splenium, while fibers from the posterior ESG passed through the splenium. WGA-HRP was also injected into the cingulate gyrus (CiG). Fibers from the anterior CiG (area 24) passed through the anterior portion of the CC while those from the posterior CiG (area 23) passed through the posterior portion of the CC.

Detection of multiple virulence-associated genes of Listeria monocytogenes by PCR in artificially contaminated milk samples

The inhibitory effect of milk in the PCR detection of Listeria monocytogenes could be overcome by washing the contaminated milk sample with phosphate-buffered saline and concentrating the bacteria to 1/10 of the original volume. In order to avoid a possible failure in the detection of virulent L. monocytogenes, a one-step procedure which enabled demonstration of three virulence-associated genes, prfA, hlyA, and plcB, simultaneously in a single PCR mixture was developed.

[Usefulness and safety of segmental-subsegmental TAE for hepatocellular carcinoma in cases of liver hypofunction]

We analyzed the safety of the segmental-subsegmental TAE for hepatocellular carcinoma in 18 cases of liver hypofunction by checking total bilirubin change after TAE. The TAE was performed safely in all of the cases. The highest value of total bilirubin before TAE was 5.1 mg/dl in the 1-2 subsegment TAE group, 3.8 mg/dl in the 3-4 subsegment TAE group and 2.0 mg/dl in the 6 subsegment TAE group. We conclude that segmental TAE is safe even in the patient of liver hypofunction.

Distribution of cocaine recognition sites in rat brain: in vitro and ex vivo autoradiography with [125I]RTI-55

The distribution of binding sites of [125I]RTI-55 (3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropan-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester), a phenyl tropane analog of cocaine, and the selective labeling of the dopamine transporter (DAT) were studied by in vitro and ex vivo autoradiography in the rat whole brain. Recent evidence has shown that RTI-55 binds to not only DAT but also serotonin transporter (5HTT). In the present study, in vitro autoradiography revealed that [125I]RTI-55 bound to the olfactory tubercle, the caudate putamen, the accumbens nucleus, the midline and lateral geniculate nuclei of the thalamus, the hypothalamic nuclei, the substantia nigra compact part, the subthalamic nucleus, the ventral tegmental area, the superior colliculus, the dorsal raphe nucleus, and the facial nucleus. Further, in the presence of clomipramine, a selective ligand for 5HTT, [125I]RTI-55 binding was remarkably inhibited in the midline and lateral geniculate nuclei of the thalamus, the hypothalamic nuclei, the superior colliculus, the dorsal raphe nucleus, and the facial nucleus, while [125I]RTI-55 binding remained in the olfactory tubercle, the caudate putamen, the accumbens nucleus, the substantia nigra compact part, the subthalamic nucleus, and the ventral tegmental area. These findings suggest that [125I]RTI-55 binds to 5HTT in the former areas and to DAT in the latter areas. It is therefore concluded that RTI-55 is a suitable ligand for studying the action of cocaine in whole brain regions, including the thalamus, the hypothalamus and the dorsal raphe nucleus, regions in which cocaine is thought to act evoking several neurological effects, e.g., analgesia and elevation of adrenocorticotropic hormone. DAT was also labelled selectively both in vitro and in vivo using [125I]RTI-55 combined with clomipramine. Therefore, radiolabelled RTI-55, combined with unlabelled clomipramine, which displaces its binding to 5HTT, also appears to be suitable for the selective imaging of DAT in vivo.

Clinicopathological characteristics of p53 overexpression in endometrial cancers

Using immunohistochemical methods, we analyzed the association between nuclear p53 overexpression and various clinicopathological parameters in patients with endometrial cancers. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 139 cases of endometrial cancer (endometrioid type, 126; serous papillary type, 12; and clear-cell type, 1) were stained with anti-p53 monoclonal antibody (MAb) DO7. Overexpression of p53 was associated with high malignant potential, including extensive muscular invasion, advanced surgical stage, high histological grade, serous papillary type and a personal history of cancer. Lymph-node metastasis was also related to p53 overexpression with marginal significance. Survival curves determined by the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate analysis showed p53 overexpression to be associated with a poor outcome in endometrial cancer patients. However, multivariate analysis using the stepwise Cox proportional-hazard model showed that whereas lymph-node metastasis, a personal history of cancer and muscular invasion were related to poor survival rates, p53 overexpression was not. Consequently, p53 overexpression itself does not appear to be an independent prognostic factor in endometrial cancer, although a still larger sample of patient material would be required to assess this issue definitively.

Degradation of alkylphenol ethoxylates by Pseudomonas sp. strain TR01

An alkylphenol ethoxylate-degrading bacterium was isolated from activated sludge of a municipal sewage treatment plant by enrichment culture. This organism was found to belong to the genus Pseudomonas; since no corresponding species was identified, we designated it as Pseudomonas sp. strain TR01. This strain had an optimal temperature and pH of 30 degrees C and 7, respectively, for both growth and the degradation of Triton N-101 (a nonylphenol ethoxylate in which the average number of ethylene oxide [EO] units is 9.5). The strain was unable to mineralize Triton N-101 but was able to degrade its EO chain exclusively. The resulting dominant intermediate was identified by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as a nonylphenol ethoxylate with 2 mol of EO units. A carboxylated metabolite, [(nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid, was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. This bacterium also metabolized alcohol ethoxylates with various numbers of EO units but not polyethylene glycols whatever their degree of polymerization. By oxygen consumption assay, the alkyl group or arene corresponding to the hydrophobic part of alcohol ethoxylates or alkylphenol ethoxylates was shown to contribute to the induction of the metabolic system of the EO chain of Triton N-101, instead of the EO chain itself, which corresponds to its hydrophilic part. Thus, the isolated pseudomonad bacterium has unique substrate assimilability: it metabolizes the EO chain only when the chain linked to bulky hydrophobic groups.

Neuroendocrine studies in dementia patients: responses of plasma GH and PRL following bromocriptine administration

Bromocriptine stimulates growth hormone (GH) secretion at the hypothalamus and suppresses prolactin (PRL) secretion at the pituitary level. We administered bromocriptine to 30 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), 30 patients with multi-infarct dementia (MID) and 22 age matched healthy controls, and compared response patterns of GH and PRL. Incomplete PRL suppressive responses (suppression rate < 50%) were seen in 36.7% of DAT patients and in 30.0% of MID patients, indicating that both groups had the same degree of pituitary dysfunctions. Blunted GH responses (< 5 ng/ml) were seen in 93.3% of DAT patients, in 63.3% of MID patients and in 31.8% of the controls. The results indicate that neuroendocrine regulation of GH is more selectively and severely damaged in DAT patients than in MID patients at the hypothalamus.

Ki-ras and c-myc oncogene expression measured by coamplification polymerase chain reaction

Ki-ras and c-myc oncogene mRNA in carcinoma tissue was quantitatively detected by the coamplification polymerase chain reaction. After the reverse transcription of the mRNA mixture with random hexanucleotide primer the coamplification polymerase chain reaction of the oncogene and the internal standard beta-actin cDNA was done. The amount of oncogene mRNA was calculated from the coamplified product ratio. Ki-ras expression in a human gastric cancer strain H-111 was estimated to 5 percent of beta-actin. The expression of c-myc mRNA in colorectal carcinoma tissue was observed to be ten to one hundred times higher than normal mucosa. Gene expression was compared numerically in mole/liter without using hybridization and radioactive probes.

Variable responses of highly stenotic coronary arteries and collateral circulation to intracoronary injection of nitroglycerin in patients with chronic effort angina

AIM

To assess the direct effects of nitroglycerin on coronary and collateral circulation, 31 consecutive patients with low exercise capacity resulting from chronic effort angina but who had not suffered previous myocardial infarction were investigated.

METHODS

Rapid atrial pacing was used to induce myocardial ischemia, with the same pacing rate before and after an intracoronary injection of 50 micrograms nitroglycerin. Fifteen patients (group A) with an obstructed ischemia-related coronary artery (IRCA) (TIMI flow grade 0 or 1), were injected with nitroglycerin into a major donor artery of the well-developed collateral circulation. Sixteen patients with patent IRCAs (TIMI flow grade 2 or 3) were injected with nitroglycerin into the IRCA. These patients were subdivided according to the morphologic findings of the stenosis in the IRCA: group B, nine patients with eccentric elliptical residual lumens, and group C, seven patients with circular residual lumens.

RESULTS

In group A, 0.21 +/- 0.08 mV of pacing-induced ST-segment depression was consistently ameliorated to 0.08 +/- 0.05 mV after pretreatment with nitroglycerin (P < 0.0001). In group B, the extent of ST-segment depression was markedly improved from a basal value of 0.21 +/- 0.05 mV to 0.05 +/- 0.03 mV with nitroglycerin (P < 0.001). In contrast, in group C ST-segment depression remained unchanged despite pretreatment with nitroglycerin (0.21 +/- 0.04 mV to 0.21 +/- 0.05 mV, P = NS).

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the contribution of the dynamic stenosis of the IRCA to effort angina differs greatly among patients and depends on the morphologic findings of the stenosis in the IRCA, and also that collateral circulation responds effectively to intracoronary injection of nitroglycerin in all patients with a well-developed collateral circulation.