Specific assay for endotoxin using immobilized histidine, Limulus amoebocyte lysate and a chromogenic substrate

The Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test is inhibited or enhanced by many substances. In order to overcome this problem, a specific endotoxin assay method using a membrane filter unit, a chromogenic LAL reagent, and immobilized histidine (which is a specific adsorbent for endotoxins) was developed. Endotoxins are quantitatively adsorbed on immobilized histidine. The adsorbed endotoxins are separated from LAL-inhibiting or -enhancing substances by the membrane filter unit, and their activities are directly assayed with the LAL reagent in a filter cup without any inhibition or enhancement. The reproducibility and the accuracy of this method are high. This new endotoxin assay method using immobilized histidine can be used for the determination of endotoxins in a solution containing LAL-inhibiting or -enhancing substances such as amino acids and antibiotics, as an alternative to the more common gel-clot technique.

[Application of an angiographic catheter with side holes to intra-arterial drug infusion--improvement of drug distribution by occlusion of the catheter tip]

To improve distribution of drug by intraarterial infusion a new catheter system with sideholes, tip of which was able to be occluded by an embolus, was developed. Inner diameter of the catheter was 0.038 inch. Tip of the catheter was so smoothly tapered to 0.025 inch in inner diameter that it could be occluded by an embolus of 0.038 inch in diameter. After occlusion of the tip, drug flowed out rectangly to catheter axis from only sideholes, resulting that drug flowed out was mixtured by blood stream to make a uniform distribution of it.

[Experimental study of ferromagnetic induction heating combined with hepatic arterial embolization for treatment of liver tumors]

The induction heating to ferromagnetic implants (Ferromagnetic Induction Heating: FIH) has been developed for the purpose of selective hyperthermia on deep-seated tumors. In this investigation, the procedure of FIH combined with hepatic arterial embolization (HAE) was experimentally studied on VX2 liver tumor of rabbit. The induction heating unit is composed of radiofrequency generator (500 KHZ, 6-12 KW) and circular applicator (60 cm in diameter). Ferromagnetic implant used was pure iron particles (100 mu in size), which were suspended in tenacious polysaccharide solution to be injectable through a needle. After HAE with gelatin sponge powder had been made, iron particle suspension was injected into the cavity of tumor with subsequent exertion of induction heating (9KW) for 15 minutes. The measurement of temperature was made on the tumor and the liver parenchyma by fluoroptic thermometer with thin, flexible probe which readily passed through a needle. The temperature measured at peripheral area of tumor elevated at range from 2.5 to 7.1 degrees C, corresponding to the dose of iron particles injected; 2.5 degrees C with 1 g, 4.9 degrees C with 2 g, 7.1 degrees C with 3 g. In contrast, the temperature of liver parenchyma elevated at range of less than 2.5 degrees C, to indicate a successful selective heating of liver tumor. An additional experiment for the effect of heat on normal liver of rabbit were made using a microwave heating system. The histological and serologic examinations after heating of below 40 degrees C did not show any abnormal findings. After heating of 42-43 degrees C, however, serum GOT and GPT transiently elevated more than 3 times to that of before heating. Histologically, there were extensive degeneration and necrosis of liver tissue. From the results we concluded that FIH combined with HAE could provide an intensive therapeutic effect for treatment of well-localized liver tumors with minimal damages to the liver parenchyma, because of selective heating of the tumor.

[A case of interstitial pneumonia after hepatic arterial infusion of lipiodol-anticancer drug emulsion for hepatocellular carcinoma]

We reported a case of interstitial pneumonia immediately after hepatic arterial infusion of Lipiodol anticancer drug emulsion for hepatocellular carcinoma. The reason was considered that Lipiodol-anticancer drug emulsion ran through an A-V shunt to alveolar septum resulting in alveolitis.

[A case of lateral thoracic meningocele without neurofibromatosis]

A case of lateral thoracic meningocele without neurofibromatosis is reported. CT-myelography revealed the mass has the communication with CSF space. So we could differentiate it from a posterior mediastinal tumor. It is important to think of the presence of lateral thoracic meningocele when any posterior mediastinal mass is detected.

[Experimental study of arterial damage induced by anti-cancer drug infusion]

In order to clarify the cause of arterial changes after intra-arterial infusion of anti-cancer drugs (AI-AD) experiments were made on the arteries of rabbits. Histopathologic sections, 7 days after AI-AD revealed endothelial damage characterized by pyknosis, hyalinization with edematous change of the intimal layer. Proliferation of the endothelial cells was also observed. The cause of narrowing or occlusion of the arteries was considered to occur with thrombus formation surrounded by the proliferated endothelial cells and this suggested that thrombolytic agents would be effective to prevent these arterial changes.

[Neurilemmoma of lesser omentum]

A very rare case of neurilemmoma of lesser omentum was reported. The tumor was circumscribed and solid. And it had necrotic parts within it. Echography and X ray CT revealed its inner structure. Angiography showed similarity of benign solitary neurogenic tumor in other sites.

[Experimental study of embolo-hyperthermia for treatment of liver tumor--induction heating to ferromagnetic particles injected into tumor tissue]

Hepatic arterial embolization was performed on VX2 liver tumor of rabbit with subsequent induction heating to the tumor. Prior to the heating, iron particle suspension was injected into tumor tissue as a target of induction heating (500 KHZ, 9 KW). The temperatures of the tumor and liver parenchyma were measured with fluoroptic thermometer. Elevation of the tumor temperature during initial heating for 6 minutes were well correlated to the dose of iron particles injected; 1.4 degrees C with 1 g, 3.0 degrees C with 2 g, and 4.9 degrees C with 3 g. The temperature of liver parenchyma were below 39 degrees C even with 3 g injection.

[Three cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with remarkable fatty metamorphosis]

Three cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with remarkable fatty metamorphosis were reported. When we encounter lipomatous tumor with liver cirrhosis on CT and MRI, further examination is necessary because of its high possibility of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Encephalitis of cattle caused by Iriki isolate, a new strain belonging to Akabane virus

A disease characterized by nervous signs was found in 10 calves in two districts in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, from October to November, 1984. Histopathological changes of nonpurulent encephalitis were found in every case. An agent, named Iriki isolate, was isolated from the cerebellum of a calf in HmLu-1 cell cultures. All of the affected calves possessed neutralizing antibody to the virus. A high seropositive rate to the virus in cohabiting cattle and cattle kept in the epizootic area, and seroconversion to the virus in 1984, were disclosed. Experimental infection of calves with Iriki isolate produced severe nervous signs and histopathological changes similar to those of the natural infection. These seroepidemiological findings and animal experiments established that Iriki isolate is the causative agent of the disease. Iriki isolate was considered as a variant of Akabane virus since the virus showed cross reaction with Akabane virus in virus neutralization tests.

The clicking painful temporomandibular joint. Use of arthrography in diagnosis

Why does the clicking temporomandibular joint not lock, and the locked joint not click. Why is either of these conditions painful? Improved temporomandibular joint arthrography is able to delineate the problem and to direct surgical intervention appropriately, rather than toward the empirical remedies of the recent past.

The role of translational inhibitor in ethionine-induced inhibition of protein synthesis

The soluble fraction from rat liver contains an inhibitor of protein chain initiation when tested in a cell-free protein-synthesizing system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. The administration of ethionine to rats increased the inhibitory activity in the liver. This liver inhibitor displayed properties similar to those of hemin-controlled inhibitor found in rabbit reticulocytes: (i) the liver inhibitor inhibited protein chain initiation in rabbit reticulocyte lysate with characteristic biphasic kinetics; (ii) the liver inhibitor disaggregated the reticulocyte polysomes with a concomitant increase in 80 S ribosomes; (iii) the inhibition was prevented or reversed by eIF-2. The activation of the liver inhibitor by ethionine was rapidly and completely counteracted by the subsequent administration of methionine and adenine to rats. The mechanism of inhibition of protein synthesis by ethionine was discussed in the light of these findings.