[Biocompatibility of polyvinylalcohol gel as a vitreous substitute]

Polyvinylacohol (PVA) gel cross linked by gamma irradiation was assessed as a possible vitreous substitute. In our previous, reports, elevation of intraocular pressure and inflammatory changes in the vitreous cavity after operation were observed in some of the experimental animals. Four types of PVA gel (sol) were produced by a newly refined method. We improved the gel systhesis process to remove the monomer and contamination. Colored rabbits were used for this experiment. Vitreous replacement was performed after vitrectomy. This was followed clinically by ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, fundus photography, electroretinogram, chemotaxis, and laser-flare-cell-metering. Histopathological examination by light microscopy was performed after 3 months. PVA gel has good biocompatibility in the vitreous cavity, and gel with a network similar to that of the vitreous body showed the best biocompatibility. Although it is necessary to investigate the biocompatibility over the long term and to evaluate the tamponade effect, PVA gel will be a bood candidate for a vitreous substitute.

Cardiovascular effects of (2RS,3SR)- 2-aminomethyl-2,3,7,8-tetrahydro-2,3,5,8,8-pentamethyl-6H-furo- [2,3-e]indol-7-one hydrochloride (UK-1745), a novel cardiotonic agent with vasodilatory and antiarrhythmic properties

The cardiovascular effects of (2RS,3SR)-2-aminomethyl-2,3,7,8- tetrahydro-2,3,5,8,8-pentamethyl-6H-furo[2,3-e]indol-7-one hydrochloride (CAS 170684-14-7, UK-1745), a novel cardiotonic agent, were investigated using in vitro and in vivo preparations. In paced left atria isolated from guinea pigs, both UK-1745 and vesnarinone (CAS 81840-15-5) showed a concentration-dependent positive inotropic effect. In spontaneously beating guinea pig right atria, both agents caused only a minimal chronotropic effect. In isolated, blood-perfused canine papillary muscle preparations, UK-1745 and vesnarinone injected intra-arterially into the anterior septal artery (ASA) increased the developed tension in a dose-dependent manner. In isolated, blood-perfused canine sinoatrial node preparations, both agents injected into the right coronary artery (RCA) did not cause any appreciable changes in the sinus rate. UK-1745 increased the blood flow through the ASA and the RCA in a dose-dependent manner, whereas vesnarinone did not. In anesthetized open-chest dogs, UK-1745 injected intravenously increased cardiac contractility and cardiac output, and decreased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, systemic vascular resistance and heart rate. In experimentally induced acute heart failure in anesthetized open-chest dogs, intravenously injected UK-1745 effectively improved hemodynamic functions. In conscious instrumented dogs, orally administered UK-1745 increased LV dP/dtmax with insignificant changes in systemic blood pressure and heart rate. In mice, orally administered UK-1745 protected the development of ventricular fibrillation induced by chloroform inhalation, whereas vesnarinone did not. Thus, in respect of inotropic and chronotropic effects, UK-1745 closely resembled vesnarinone, but differed from vesnarinone in respect of coronary vasodilating and antiarrhythmic effects. The results suggest that UK-1745 is a novel positive inotropic agent with vasodilatory and antiarrhythmic properties, without significant chronotropic action, and may be beneficial for the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Preference for musical tempo involving systematic variations of presented tempi for known and unknown musical excerpts

Previous studies have indicated inconsistently that preferred tempo was moderate or fast. The basis for inconsistency might be differences in methods, i.e., differences in tempo operation and subjects' experience of listening to musical pieces. The present study examined the preference for tempo using known and unknown melodies which were presented at varied tempi systematically. 119 undergraduates not majoring in music were subjects, divided into three subgroups, slow, medium, and fast music groups according to tempi designated by composers. Subjects rated items about Perceived Activity and affect for each stimulus presented at varied tempi. Subjects evaluated fast tempi as active regardless of differences in the designated tempi and prior listening experience. Affect (including preference) showed an inverted-U shape relationship to variations in tempo. The most preferred tempo was the designated tempo for known melodies, while moderate tempi (109 to 130 in metronome measure) were preferred for unknown melodies.

Expression of cytokine receptors on follicular dendritic cells

Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in the lymphoid follicle (LF) are essential to the sequential processes of B-cell proliferation, selection, and differentiation. Although the importance of some cytokines in these processes has been pointed out, there is little information about the follicular localization of their receptors. We investigated, with special reference to FDCs, the localization of cytokine receptors as well as cytokines themselves in human tonsils by several means, including immunochemistry, immunoelectron microscopy, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and in situ hybridization. FDCs in the follicular apical light zone expressed transforming growth factor-beta receptor II (TGF-betaR II), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor alpha (GM-CSFRalpha; CDw116), tumor necrosis factor receptor I (TNFR I; CD120a), interleukin-1 receptor II (IL-1R II; CDw121b), IL-2 receptor beta (IL-2Rbeta; CD122), IL-4 receptor (IL-4R; CDw124), and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R; CD126), among the 10 receptors examined. Those in the basal light zone expressed strongly TNFR I and weakly GM-CSFR alpha, IL-1R II, IL-2Rbeta, IL-4R, and IL-6R, and often those in the outer and mantle zones expressed GM-CSFR alpha, IL-4R, and IL-6R. FDCs in the apical light zone expressed only TGF-beta among the 7 cytokines examined. On the other hand, follicular lymphocytes mainly in the light zone expressed 9 kinds of receptors, with the exception being TGF-betaR II; expression was rather frequent for TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, and IL-2 and less frequent for TGF-beta, GM-CSF, IL-4, and IL-6. These data indicate that only FDCs mainly in the light zone express many cytokine receptors, although FDCs may produce the cytokine, TGF-beta. Cytokines may act not only on some follicular lymphocytes but also on most FDCs in the light zone expressing cytokine receptors.

A facilitator in self-reported perception of physical symptoms: the role of contingency between physical symptom and aversive event

Perceptions of physical symptoms are influenced not only by the passive process of physiological stimuli but also by psychological factors such as the contingency between a physical symptom and an aversive event which we examined here in two experiments. 18 subjects in Exp. 1 and 14 subjects in Exp. 2 performed motor tasks. In the Physical condition, an aversive event was contingent on the physical symptom of 'racing heart' in Exp. 1, and on the symptom of 'overstraining shoulder muscles' in Exp. 2. In the Motor condition, an aversive event was contingent on the response of the 'disordered pace of motor tasks' in both experiments. Self-reported scores on attention to and perception of the physical symptoms under the Physical condition were higher than those under the Motor condition. However, there were no differences in the actual physical responses between the two conditions. These results suggest that a contingency between a physical symptom and an aversive event facilitates attention to and perception of the physical symptom.

[Redo operation for recurrent pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with pulmonary stenosis and regurgitation]

A 63-year-old woman who underwent surgical correction of a recurrent pulmonary artery aneurysm associated with pulmonary stenosis and regurgitation is reported. On April 1986, she underwent commissurotomy of pulmonary valve, reconstruction of right ventricle out flow tract using a Polystan monocusp patch and pulmonary aneurysmorrhaphy for pulmonary artery aneurysm. Pathological examination of the resected pulmonary arterial wall revealed mucoid degeneration of media and fragmentation of elastic fiber. Nine years after the operation, recurrence of pulmonary artery aneurysm, pulmonary stenosis and regurgitation were recognized. On September 1995, she underwent redo operation with graft replacement of pulmonary artery and pulmonary valve replacement using woven Dacron prosthesis containing a Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthetic valve. We should choose as an initial procedure with graft replacement for pulmonary artery aneurysm with fragility of the pulmonary arterial wall. She is now doing very well at one year and 5 months after the redo operation.

BE-32030 A, B, C, D and E, new antitumor substances produced by Nocardia sp. A32030

New antitumor substances, designated BE-32030A, B, C, D and E, were isolated from the culture broth of Nocardia sp. A32030. The active principles were extracted from the mycelium by methanol and purified by Sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase column chromatographies and finally by reversed-phase HPLC. BE-32030A, B, C, D and E inhibited the growth of P388 murine leukemia, DLD-1 human colon cancer, PC-13 human lung cancer and MKN-45 human stomach cancer cell lines.

[Evaluation of 123I-MIBG clearance from the myocardium; comparison of two methods--SPECT & planar methods]

In 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigram, MIBG clearance from the heart is used to evaluate the severity of various heart diseases. There are two methods for calculating MIBG clearance. One involves planar images (planar method) and the other uses a bull's eye map (SPECT method). In 158 patients and 10 normal subjects, we compared these two methods. Fifteen minutes and 4 hours after intravenous injection of 111 MBq MIBG, planar images and SPECT images were obtained. Then clearance from the heart was calculated by each method. Abnormal increase was defined as present if clearance was more than the mean + standard deviation of 10 normal subjects. Then, we examined the sensitivity with which each method could detect clearance abnormality in 158 patients. Thirty-two patients showed abnormality only on SPECT images, while planar images alone showed abnormalities in only 5 patients. The reason the SPECT method was more sensitive than the planar method may be as follows; in the case of decreased MIBG clearance from the lung, for example, in congestive heart failure, clearance by planar method is apparently decreased. Thus, the SPECT method can detect clearance abnormality more sensitively than the planar method, and if we evaluate MIBG clearance from the heart by the planar method, we must take into account MIBG clearance from the lung.

Effects of excitative and sedative music on subjective and physiological relaxation

Previous investigations using heart rate as a measure have not clarified the excitative-sedative effects of music. One of the sources of this failure was considered to be use of the index of heart rate. The present purpose was to examine the excitative-sedative effect of music on indices of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous activities through spectral analysis of heart rate. The presented stimuli were three excitative musical pieces and three sedative ones. Subjective feelings about music were measured by an adjective checklist concerning musical activity. Heart-rate variabilities divided into two components of Low Frequency, mainly affected by the sympathetic nervous system and of High Frequency, mainly affected by the parasympathetic nervous system. Six types of heart-rate indices were employed: (1) mean increments from posttrial base, (2) coefficient of variances of heart rate, (3) mean powers of Low Frequency, (4) coefficient of component variances of Low Frequency, (5) mean powers of High Frequency, and (6) coefficient of component variances of High Frequency. From the factor analysis based on responses to an adjective checklist, there was a single major activity factor. Activity scores showed some were high during excitative pieces and others low during sedative ones. For heart rate, excitative-sedative effects of music were observed only in indices related to High Frequency. This result suggests that musical effect was observed in measures of the parasympathetic nervous system but not in the sympathetic nervous system.

The method for keeping low perfusion flow weaning from centrifugal pumps: an evaluation of hemolysis in the circulator units

Currently, the clinical application of extracorporeal and assisted circulation using centrifugal pumps is becoming popular. However, a problem in the use of centrifugal pumps is the difficulty in controlling the flow rate when it is a low range. Although we have been controlling the flow rate with a control unit that simply squeezes the blood outlet tube from the outside, hemolysis resulting from turbulent flow in the tube was discovered. Therefore, this control procedure was evaluated experimentally. Two groups were tested as follows: in Group A (n = 10), the tube was squeezed from the outside using the control unit, and in Group B (n = 10), no control unit was used. Blood in each circuit was circulated at 1,500 rpm, and the flow rate was controlled to 250 ml/min using the control unit for Group A. Time-course changes of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and free hemoglobin in the blood were measured during 8 h of circulation. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the mean values of LDH and free hemoglobin. Therefore, the present low flow rate control provided by the control unit makes it appear to be a simple and useful apparatus for controlling blood circulation using centrifugal pumps.

A novel motility effect of tachykinins in normal and inflamed colon

The role of tachykinins in stimulating phasic and giant migrating contractions (GMCs) in the normal and inflamed colon in conscious dogs was investigated by close-intra-arterial infusions of test substances. At low doses (0.1 nmol), substance P and neurokinin (NK1) receptor agonist ([Sar9,Met(O2)11]substance P] stimulated phasic contractions only. At higher doses (2.0 nmol), they stimulated phasic contractions and GMCs. The phasic contractions were blocked partially but significantly by prior close-intra-arterial infusions of tetrodotoxin and atropine but not by hexamethonium. NK1 receptor antagonist partially but significantly inhibited the phasic contractile response to substance P, whereas NK2 and NK3 receptor antagonists had no significant effect. The contractile response to NK2 receptor agonist was less than one-half of the response to substance P; NK3 receptor agonist did not stimulate any contractile activity. The stimulation of GMCs by higher doses of substance P was not blocked by prior infusions of atropine, tetrodotoxin, or NK1, NK2, and NK3 receptor antagonists, nor was the contractile response to substance P blocked by H1 and H2 receptor antagonists. Inflammation depressed the phasic contractile response but enhanced the stimulation of GMCs by substance P. The ability of substance P to stimulate GMCs is novel and suggests its potential role in increasing the frequency of these contractions during colonic inflammation.

Effective prevention of thrombocytopenia using adenovirus-mediated transfer of HST-11FGF-4 gene: in vivo and in vitro studies

A novel biological function of HST-1 protein (FGF-4) was investigated by constructing an adenovirus vector containing the HST-1 cDNA and applied for thrombocytopenia as a gene therapy. A single intraperitoneal injection of the replication-deficient adenovirus containing the HST-1 gene (Adex1HST-1) into mice caused a two-fold increase in peripheral platelet count for 30 days, and effectively prevented experimentally induced thrombocytopenia. Studies of Adex1HST-1-infected or HST-1 protein-treated megakaryocytic Dami cells suggested that HST-1 protein promotes megakaryocyte maturation, and increases cytokine secretion from megakaryocyte and adhesive interactions between megakaryocyte and endothelial cells. Colony assay revealed that HST-1 protein stimulated CFU-MK (colony-forming unit of megakaryocyte) not alone but synergistically with early-acting cytokines such as IL-3 or Tpo (c-mpl ligand) as a megakaryocyte potentiating factor. These results have important implications for clinical application of the Adex1HST-1 for thrombocytopenia.

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies to the endothelial hybridoma cell line (EAhy926) in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with antiphospholipid antibodies

The endothelial hybridoma (EAhy926) cell line was employed to clarify whether antiphospholipid antibodies (aPA) [lupus anticoagulant (LA), antiprothrombin antibody (aPT) and/or anticardiolipin antibody (aCL)] and anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) are identical, and establish whether beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) is needed for reactivity of aPA to endothelial cells. Ig-G AECA was positive in 9/30 SLE patients with aPA (30.0%) and 10/22 SLE patients negative for aPA (45.5%). Ig-M AECA was positive in one SLE patient with aPA and one SLE patient without aPA. AECA-positivity was not significantly different among unfixed, TNF-stimulated and fixed EAhy926. The influence of beta2-GPI on the reactivity of serum to EAhy926 was minimal, and absorption experiments of serum with cardiolipin-liposome/beta2-GPI or phosphatidylserine-liposome/prothrombin gave little evidence of cross-reactivity of aPA and AECA. The results of our study suggest that aPA and AECA may have partially cross-reacted, but were different antibodies. However, further study is needed to clarify the clinico-pathological significance of AECA.

A Free Cyclotrigermenium Cation with a 2pi-Electron System

The reaction of tetrakis(tri-tert-butylsilyl)cyclotrigermene with trityl tetraphenylborate in benzene produces tris(tri-tert-butylsilyl)cyclotrigermenium tetraphenylborate [(tert-Bu3SiGe)3+BPh4-], which can be isolated as a yellow solid that is stable in the absence of air. The crystal structure of the cyclotrigermenium ion reveals a free germyl cation with a 2pi-electron system. The three germanium atoms form an equilateral triangle similar to the carbon analog, the cyclopropenium ion.

Buffer may be the critical factor in measurement of anti-prothrombin antibody on a gamma-ray-irradiated plate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

We investigated the influence of different buffers (Tris-buffer and phosphate buffered saline (PBS)/Tween-20 buffer) on anti-prothrombin antibody (aPT) measurement by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), employing a gamma-ray-irradiated plate. We found considerable discrepancies in aPT positivity between each buffer, and we suggest that the use of Tris-buffer is not suitable for aPT measurement with a gamma-ray-irradiated plate to measure aPT.

Cyclic motor activity of the gallbladder maintained in a pylorus-preserving gastrectomy in dogs

The gallbladder has cyclic motor activity (CMA), which is impaired after a conventional gastrectomy. We conducted experiments to determine whether or not a pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) could maintain gallbladder CMA. Six strain gauge force transducers were implanted into the gastrointestinal tract and gallbladder of six dogs, respectively. The motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract and gallbladder was recorded as a control. PPG was then carried out. The phasic contractions of the gallbladder, which were correlated with the antral contractions in the control state, were synchronized with contractions of the pylorus after PPG. Intravenous administration of CCK-OP (40 ng/kg) induced phasic contractions of the gallbladder at 4.6 +/- 0.2 c/min in 3 of the 6 days with gastric contractions. After PPG, the gallbladder had phasic contractions (4.5 +/- 0.2 c/m), which were synchronized with the contractions of the pylorus in all dogs regardless of the contractions in the remnant stomach. These findings suggest that gallbladder CMa has a closer relationship with the CMA of the pylorus than with the remnant stomach after PPG. Thus, a preservation of the pylorus at the time of gastric surgery will help in maintaining gallbladder function and coordination with the remnant stomach.

[Early and late results of surgical intervention for 32 active infective endocarditis patients in last 10 years]

Thirty-two active infectious endocarditis patients who underwent 36 surgical procedures (23 NVEs, 13 PVEs) in last 10 years were reviewed. Seven patients (19.4%) died early postoperatively, 3/23 (13%) in NVEs and 4/13 (31%) in PVEs, and the causes of death were LOS in 5, MOF in one and cerebral bleeding in one. NVE patients of double valve deterioration who developed cardiogenic shock had poor operative results, 3 death in 4 (75%) despite of circulatory assist. Aortic PVEs who underwent Danielson's translocation technique also showed 3 death in 4 (75%). Five in 25 survivors (20%) developed late death and 3 of them were related with reinfection of prosthetic valve. We concluded that surgical treatment for active IE provides reasonable results, although they are still challenging for double valve NVEs and aortic PVEs, for which aortic root replacement using homograft would be the procedure of choice.

Negligible synergistic effect of beta2-glycoprotein I on the reactivity of antioxidized low-density lipoprotein antibody to oxidized low-density lipoprotein

We conducted this study to investigate whether antioxidized low-density lipoprotein (a-oxLDL) is an antibody to cryptic and/or neo-antigen on beta2-glycoprotein I (GPI), which is introduced by binding to anionic phospholipid, similar to that of GPI-dependent anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) employing a-oxLDL ELISA. We found that no significant optical density differences existed among systemic lupus erythematosus patients, including cases with aCL and/or lupus anticoagulant positivity, before and after the addition of GPI. Our results suggest that a-oxLDL is not an antibody to denatured GPI, but rather to oxLDL.

Phosphatidyl serine-dependent antiprothrombin antibody is exclusive to patients with lupus anticoagulant

We conducted this study to determine whether antiprothrombin antibody (aPT) [to prothrombin (PT) alone or PT/phosphatidyl serine (PS) complex] actually existed in patients with lupus anticoagulant (LA) and/or anticardiolipin antibody (aCL). aPT to PT alone was positive in 2/7 LA-positive (29%) and 3/7 LA/aCL-positive (43%) patients. aPT to PT/PS complex was positive in 4/7 LA-positive (57%) and 4/7 LA/aCL-positive (57%) patients in the presence of Ca2+. However, none of the aCL-positive patients without LA or the LA/aCL-negative patients were positive for aPT and aPT/PS. Thus, we confirmed the existence of aPT and aPT/PS specifically among LA-positive patients. However, the clinicopathological significance of aPT and aPT/PS in this clinical setting is yet to be clarified.