Left ventricular performance and compliance following acute febrile mucocutaneous lymphnode syndrome

Right and left heart catheterizations and biplane cineangiographies were performed on 115 post-MCLS cases to study the left ventricular performance and compliance, and the following conclusions were obtained: 1) The left ventricular performance of the post-MCLS cases with macroscopic cardiac lesions such as coronary aneurysms and stenosis declined compared with the others. 2) The left ventricular contractility of the post-MCLS cases without macroscopic cardiac lesions were within normal limits. 3) The diastolic compliance of the post-MCLS cases seemed to be decreased but the value could be regarded as normal for children.

Modifications by lidocaine and its N-dealkylated metabolites of the response of the isolated rabbit aorta to transmural electrical stimulation

Contractile responses of rabbit aortic strips to transmural stimulation and to exogenously applied norepinephrine (NE), potassium chloride (KCl), and histamine were studied in the presence of lidocaine or its metabolites, monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) and glycinexylidide (GX). Lidocaine, 10(-4) and 5 x 10(-4) M, attenuated the contractile response to transmural stimulation, whereas MEGX, 2 x 10(-5) and 10(-4) M, potentiated, but 10(-4) M, potentiated the response to transmural stimulation. The suppression induced by lidocaine and MEGX was not reversed by excess calcium, 2.2 and 4.4 mM, but was partially reversed by cocaine, 3 x 10(-6) M. Lidoncaine, 5 x 10(-4) M, and MEGX, 2 x 10(-3) M, shifted the dose-response curve of NE to the right, whereas GX, 5 x 10(-4) M, shifted the curve to the left. The maximum tension developed by K+ was attenuated by lidocaine, 5 x 10(-4) M, MEGX, 5 x 10(-4) and 2 x 10(-3) M, and GX, 2 x 10(-3) M. It may be concluded that lidocaine attenuates the response to stimulation of sympathetic nerves innervating the arterial wall by interfering with the release of NE. In contrast, the metabolites, MEGX and GX, potentiate the response, possibly by increasing the release of NE. MEGX in high concentrations appears to have the same mechanism of inhibitory action as does lidocaine.

Effects of amino acid infusion and renal failure on the uptake and release of amino acids by the dog kidney

Net production and utilization (Qmet) of amino acids and ammonia were assessed in the left kidney of 11 normal and eight chronically uremic female dogs. Studies were conducted at the end of two 120-min infusions, first with half-normal saline and then with amino acids which increased plasma concentrations to postprandial levels. In the normal dogs, Qmet for a number of amino acids and ammonia was significantly positive (i.e., net production) or negative (i.e., net utilization). Qmet became more negative with the amino acid infusion. In the uremic dogs, Qmet for amino acids and ammonia was qualitatively similar to normal and tended to change in the same direction with the amino acid infusion. Although the absolute values for Qmet were usually less in the uremic dogs, with the amino acid infusion their mean fractional Qmet (Qmet/creatinine clearance) was often greater. A substantial proportion of the infused amino acids was removed by the kidney) in both groups of dogs. In the uremic dogs, there was evidence for preservation of glomerular-tubular balance between the filtered load of amino acids and tubular reabsorption. Data also suggest that the kidney may release sufficient quantities of certain amino acids into renal venous blood (e.g., serine) to affect the plasma levels. These findings indicate that the dog kidney may make an important contribution to total synthesis or metabolism of certain amino acids by the body and may also affect plasma concentrations of some amino acids. During amino acid infusion, the kidney plays a major role in removal of the added amino acids. In renal failure these functions are decreased, but compared to the fall in glomerular filtration rate, they are relatively well preerved.

Comparative studies on maturation process of secondary ossification centers of long bones in the mouse, rat, dog and monkey

Comparative studies was made on the whole processes of maturation of the secondary ossification centers in the extremity in the mouse, rat, dog and monkey in order to determine points of similarity and difference among these species. The appearance and the union of the secondary ossification centers were observed to follow a common sequence and order in all the species examined. The total bone score was defined as the sum of the bone scores of respective secondary ossification centers over the observation period according to a set criteria. By plotting these indices against the chronological age it was shown in all of these species that the whole process of maturation of the secondary ossification centers in the long bone consisted of three biological stages as indicated by the three straight lines with different slopes. The first stage is considered to account for the appearance of the secondary ossification centers and their accelerated development at early period, while the second stage corresponds to the subsequent gradual development. The third stage represents a period where the ossification centers reach a complete or almost complete unmion to diaphysis. It is concluded that in the mouse, rat, dog and monkey the maturation process of the secondary ossification centers follow the same growth consisting of three developmental stages and that each of these three stages provides a measure of comparison among these species.

Relationship between tumor formation and cell-mediated immunity in hamsters with transplanted HVJ (Sendai virus)-carrying tumor cells

Using macrophage migration inhibition (MMI) and the cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) test, the cell-mediated immune response in hamsters with transplanted HVJ-carrying tumor cells (THEL-HVJ or THEL-HVJpits) was examined in relation to the lowered transplantability of the cells. The cells cultured at a temperature (34 degrees) permissive for HVJpits (temperature-sensitive HVJ) showed significantly lowered transplantability in hamsters. After shifting the cell culture temperature up to 39 degrees (non-permissive for HVJpits) for 5 days, THEL-HVJpits cells which had lost their cellular HVJ antigens regained the same high transplantability observed in parent THEl cells. However, culture of the cells at 37 degrees (partially permissive) for 24 hr did not significantly affect their tumor-forming ability with lowered transplantability, in spite of a considerable reduction in cellular HVJ antigens. The MMI test on hamsters with transplanted THEL-HVJ or THEL-HVJpits cells cultured at 34 degrees (MMI/THEL-HVJ 24 or MMI/THEL-HVJpits 34) was more markedly positive, and for a longer period (1 to 4 weeks), than the same test on hamsters inoculated with THEL cells. However, the MMI/THEL-HVJpits 39 cells acquired lowered reactivity like those from THEL-tumor bearing animals, while MMI/THEL-HVJpits 37 cells were still positive, just as in MMI/THEL-HVJpits 34. In the CMC test, much more cytotoxic activity was observed in spleen cells from hamsters with transplanted THEL-HVJpits cells than in those from THEL-transplaned animals; there was a general correspondence with the results obtained in the above MMI test. These findings strongly indicate that the lowered transplantability of HVJ-carrying tumor cells may be due to a significant induction of cell-mediated immune responses. It is suggested that cell membrane antigens modified (xenogenized) by the complete or partial expression of HVJ genomes carried may play an important part in this induction in vivo.

Long-term follow-up study after pulvinotomy for intractable pain

Pulvinotomy was performed on 42 cases with intractable pain. 19 cases survived for more than 1 year, the results were classified as follows: 4 were excellent, 4 good, 5 fair, and 4 were poor. The effects of the operation are discussed based on the disease. 2 cases, who survived for more than 1 year, suffered from the pain due to infiltration or metastasis of cancer, they died 22 and 14 months after the operation, respectively, but they had no intractable pain during the year before death. 14 cases who underwent CVD survived for more than 1 year. Results of the operation were as follows: 3 were excellent; 4 good, 4 fair, and 4 were poor. These cases were followed up for 3-10 years and the average was about 5 years. After more than 1 year, 2 cases with atypical facial pain were considered as being either fair or poor, one (fair case) of whom still does routine housework and is not drug dependent. A case of causalgia has been free from pain for 5 years after the operation.

Chronic uremia syndrome in dogs induced with uranyl nitrate

11 adult female dogs were given periodic intravenous injections of uranyl nitrate [UO2(NO3)2 . 6H2O] to create a syndrome of chronic uremia. Initially, dogs usually received 2.0 mg/kg of uranyl nitrate; subsequent doses were generally less. After the initial injection, there was an abrupt fall in creatinine clearance and rise in plasma urea nitrogen. Low and relatively constant creatinine clearances (10.2 +/- SD 2.7 ml/min) were easily maintained with further injections. Dogs developed proteinuria, aminoaciduria, weight loss, and plasma amino acid levels similar to those of chronically uremic humans and rats. With creatinine clearances of 4 ml/min or less, dogs became listless and lethargic, and daily activity and food intake decreased. Repeated injections of uranyl nitrate appear to be an easy and reliable method for creating a model of chronic uremia in dogs.

Specific immunotherapy for non-curatively resected gastric cancer

The prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with non-curative resection is very poor. In order to improve patient prognosis, we have tried specific immunotherapy as an adjunct to surgery since January 1968. Sixty-two patients with gastric cancer underwent non-curative resection during the period of this study. Twenty-eight of these patients were treated with specific immunotherapy after surgery, and 34 patients received no additional therapy. The five year survival rate was 35 per cent in the former group, and zero in the latter. No significant difference in the degree of tumor extension and invasion was noted between the two patient groups. We concluded that specific immunotherapy as an adjunct to non-curative resection for advanced cancer is worthy of further study.

The development of hepatogenic potency in the endoderm of quail embryos

Hepatogenic potency of the endoderm is detectable in the anterior half of the endoderm of quail embryos older than 2-somite stage when endodermal fragments are cultured with or without heterologous chick mesenchymes, in the coelomic cavity of 3-day chick embryos. On the other hand, the posterior half of the endoderm never has hepatogenic potency. The hepatogenic potency of the endoderm is gradually stabilised with increasing age. However, expression of hepatogenesis can be affected when the endoderm is associated with inductively active digestive tract mesenchymes. Mesenchyme taken from the presumptive cardiac region ('cardiac' mesenchyme) of chick embryos is necessary for the uncommitted anterior endoderm to acquire hepatogenic potency, and this effect is specific for the 'cardiac' mesenchyme. The 'cardiac' mesenchyme, however, fails to induce hepatic epithelium in the allantoic endoderm, which can differentiate heterotypically when cultured in combination with digestive tract mesenchymes. The evidence presented in this study suggests that the effect of 'cardiac' mesenchyme on the acquisition of hepatogenic potency in the endoderm is limited.

Evidence that dog kidney is an endogenous source of histidine

Net production or utilization (Qmet) of histidine by the kidney was evaluation or utilization (Qmet) of histidine by the kidney was evaluated in 11 normal and 8 chronically uremic female dogs during intravenous infusion, first of half-normal saline and then an amino acid solution containing L-histidine. Also, Qmet for histidine, alanine, beta-alanine, and carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) was determined during infusion of half-normal saline and then carnosine into the renal artery in seven normal dogs. During infusion of half-normal saline, Qmet histidine, calculated from the plasma data, was significantly positive in normal but not uremic dogs. Qmet histidine correlated with creatinine clearance. In uremic dogs, plasma histidine was decreased possibly due to decreased renal production and increased urinary excretion. Qmet histidine, calculated from the whole blood data during infusion of half-normal saline, was positive but not significantly so. During carnosine infusion, there was significant utilization of carnosine, and histidine production increased. Thus during fasting, the dog kidney appears to produce histidine, and histidine production increases with carnosine infusion. Hydrolysis of carnosine, possibly by carnosinase, may be a source of histidine released by the dog kidney.