Beta 1-adrenergic mechanism is involved in stress-induced increase in arousal

It has been shown that 1 h restraint shortens pentobarbital (PbNa)-induced sleeping time and that brain corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is involved in the mechanism by which restraint shortens. PbNa-induced sleeping time. The present study was designed to further examine the mechanism of the antagonistic effect of 1 h restraint on PbNa in rats. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of propranolol and metoprolol, but not butoxamine reversed the shortening of PbNa-induced sleeping time by 1 h restraint. The i.c.v. administration of phentolamine blocked the shortening of PbNa-induced sleeping time by restraint, while the same dose of phentolamine prolonged the sleeping time in unrestrained rats. Atropine did not affect the PbNa-induced sleeping time in restrained rats. These results suggest that in addition to CRH, the brain beta 1-adrenergic system is involved in the restraint stress-induced increase in arousal.

[Lymphocyte phenotype and cytokine mRNA expression of steady-state asthma BALF cells]

Recently, the roles of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of asthma have been emphasized. To elucidate the roles of T lymphocytes in local inflammatory sites in asthma, we examined T cell phenotypes with flow cytometry and carried out cytokine message amplification phenotyping (MAPPing) of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells taken from patients with steady-state asthma (n = 11). The percentage of CD4+ T cells in total lymphocytes correlated significantly (r = 0.784, p < 0.005) with that of lymphocytes in total CD45+ BAL cells. The positivities of T cell activation markers (CD25, HLA-DR) in CD4+ T cells were inversely correlated with the ratio of CD3+ T cells to total CD45+ BAL cells (CD25, r = 0.648, p = -0.059, HLA-DR, r = -0.741, p < 0.05). Most CD4+ T cells were of the CD45 RO+ "memory" phenotype. With cytokine MAPPing, IL-2 or IFN gamma were detected in only 2 of 11 patients, but IL4 or IL-5 were detected in 8 patients. These results suggest that non-activated TH2 type memory CD4+ T cells accumulate in local inflammatory sites of the bronchi of patients with steady-state asthma, and that these cells releases cytokines (IL-4, IL-5) when activated by some stimuli, which can lead to an asthma attack.

Restraint changes pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in rats: evidence that arousal is modulated by brain corticotropin-releasing hormone and opioid in stress

The effect of restraint of different duration on sodium pentobarbital (PbNa)-induced sleeping time was examined in rats. 1 h-restraint significantly shortened PbNa (50 mg/kg b.wt., administered i.p. immediately after restraint)-induced sleeping time as reported previously, whereas 2 h-restraint significantly prolonged the sleeping time. Naloxone (1 mg/kg b.wt.) administered i.p. 15 min before the start of restraint further exaggerated the 1 h-restraint-caused shortening of PbNa-induced sleeping time, and it blocked the 2 h-restraint-caused prolongation of the sleeping time. SDZ202-250 (0.1 pmol and 0.5 pmol), a selective mu agonist, but not [D-Pen2-D-Pen5]enkephalin (0.1 pmol-1.0 nmol), a selective delta agonist, or U50488H (0.1 pmol-1.0 nmol), a selective kappa agonist, administered i.c.v. 15 min before the i.p. injection of PbNa significantly prolonged PbNa-induced sleeping time; its prolongation was blocked by naloxone. These results suggest that a mu receptor-binding opioid prolongs PbNa-induced sleeping time in stress. The 2 h-restraint-caused prolongation of PbNa-induced sleeping time was also blocked by alpha-helical CRH(9-41) (26 nmol), a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor antagonist, administered i.c.v. 15 min before the start of restraint. In conjunction with our previous findings that the i.c.v. administration of CRH shortens PbNa-induced sleeping time and the 1 h restraint-caused shortening of PbNa-induced sleeping time is blocked by the CRH receptor antagonist, the present results suggest that CRH may stimulate an opioid-specific sedative mechanism, thus causing the prolongation of PbNa-induced sleeping time in 2 h-restraint.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abrasion resistance of restorative glass-ionomer cements with a light-cured surface coating

This is a comparative study of the Knoop hardness number and the toothbrush wear of a surface coating agent applied to the surface of a glass-ionomer restorative cement. A reduction in surface hardness of the coating agent resulted in an increase in brush wear. The light-cured glazing agent (Bellfeel Brightener) proved to be significantly harder than those coated with a light-cured bonding agent (Occlusin). Occlusin bonding agent was removed by comparatively rapid abrasion; however, the Bellfeel Brightener was significantly more resistant to such abrasion. The analysis of the surface hardness and scanning electron microscopy observations of the brushed surfaces of the samples suggested that Bellfeel Brightener was effective as a glazing material for glass-ionomer cement restorations.

[Ataxic hemiparesis with ipsilateral cheiro-oral syndrome due to a single lacunar infarct at the border between the posterior limb of the internal capsule and the corona radiata]

A patient with ataxic hemiparesis and ipsilateral cheiro-oral dysesthesia (tingling) due to a single lacunar infarct at the border between the posterior limb of the internal capsule and the corona radiata is described. A 47-year-old hypertensive man was admitted because of weakness of the right upper and lower limbs with ipsilateral peri-oral and palmar dysesthesia, which developed during bathing in the morning. Upon admission, neurological examination revealed right hemiparesis with ipsilateral limb ataxia and ipsilateral peri-oral and palmar dysesthesia. Based on neurological finding, he was diagnosed as having ataxic hemiparesis with ipsilateral cheiro-oral syndrome. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a small lesion at the border between the posterior limb of the left internal capsule and the corona radiata, which was enhanced with gadolinium-DTPA administration. It has been reported that the disturbance of the cortico-pontine tract causes ataxic hemiparesis and that of the thalamo-cortical projection causes cheiro-oral syndrome. These findings of the present case, therefore, suggest that both of these pathways run closely together at the border between the posterior limb of the internal capsule and the corona radiata.

Polyhydramnios: ultrasonic detection of fetal and maternal conditions

Estimation of amniotic fluid volume is an important part of routine obstetric sonography. A relationship between polyhydramnios and poor perinatal outcome has been reported. This study correlates the severity of polyhydramnios with perinatal morbidity and mortality. Among 67 cases of polyhydramnios detected in singleton pregnancies, 8 were associated with maternal conditions including noninsulin-dependent diabetes (5 cases), insulin-dependent diabetes (1 case) and gestational diabetes (2 cases). Forty-four were associated with fetal conditions, including fetal anomalies (31 cases), fetal chromosomal disorders (10 cases) and fetal functional disorders (3 cases). Fifteen of the 67 cases had no apparent underlying fetal or maternal cause. Perinatal death occurred in 19 cases (28%) and was associated with fetal anomalies (12 cases), chromosome disorders (6 cases) and a functional fetal abnormality (1 case). Severe polyhydramnios with amniotic pocket dimensions > or = 120 mm (91%) or with a need for amniocentesis (91%) were associated with fetal abnormalities in most cases. The rate of perinatal death was not increased, indicating that severe polyhydramnios does not always result in lethal abnormalities.

Psychological stress increases arousal through brain corticotropin-releasing hormone without significant increase in adrenocorticotropin and catecholamine secretion

The effect of psychological and psychophysical stress on pentobarbital (PbNa)-induced sleeping time was examined in rats to clarify the influence of psychological stress on arousal. Psychological stress and electric footshock of 5-60 min duration significantly shortened PbNa-induced sleeping time, and the shortening was reversed by intracerebroventricular administration of a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-receptor antagonist. Electrical footshock and restraint significantly raised plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and catecholamine levels, whereas psychological stress did not significantly affect the plasma hormones levels. These results suggest that both psychological and psychophysical stress increase arousal through brain CRH. It is also concluded that expression of the central nervous system action of CRH, such as increasing arousal, is not necessarily accompanied by a significant increase in the secretion of ACTH and catecholamine in psychological stress.

Intracerebroventricular administration of corticotropin-releasing factor induces c-fos mRNA expression in brain regions related to stress responses: comparison with pattern of c-fos mRNA induction after stress

Centrally administered corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) produces a number of physiological and behavioral changes akin to those elicited by exposure to acute stress. However, the specific brain site of action responsible for the centrally activating property of CRF has not been precisely determined. In this study, we used in situ hybridization histochemistry for c-fos mRNA to map potential neuronal structures activated after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of CRF and compared the distribution of c-fos mRNA with that after stress. Wistar male rats were sacrificed 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after the i.c.v. injection of 1 microgram ovine CRF or vehicle alone. Another group of rats was exposed to immobilization stress for 60 min or electrical foot-shock stress (1.5 mA, 1-s duration, 30 x) for 15 min and sacrificed before and 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after the beginning of stress. Centrally administered CRF rapidly (30-60 min) induced c-fos mRNA expression in most of the areas that showed hybridization signals for c-fos after stress: the limbic structures, including the piriform cortex, cingulate cortex, the lateral septal nucleus, the hippocampus, the anterior corticomedial and the medial amygdaloid nuclei, the hypothalamic nuclei, such as the paraventricular nucleus, the supraoptic nucleus (SO) and the dorsomedial nucleus (DMD), and some brainstem nuclei like the pontine nucleus, the locus ceruleus (LC) and Barrington's nucleus. The granular layer of the cerebellum, some thalamic nuclei and the habenula also showed hybridization signals after i.c.v. injection of CRF and stress. However, c-fos induction in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and the nucleus tractus solitarius (SOL) was seen only after i.c.v. administration of CRF; in the septo-hypothalamic nucleus and the superior olive, however, c-fos mRNA expression was observed only after stress. There were no differences in the pattern of c-fos mRNA expression between the two stress paradigms. In contrast, i.c.v. injection of saline-induced expression of c-fos mRNA in the piriform cortex, neocortex, cingulate cortex and the amygdala was much less than that seen after i.c.v.-administered CRF as evident in the intensity of the signals. These results suggest that CRF produces c-fos mRNA expression in the brain areas related to stress response, and that CRF may induce behavioral and neuroendocrine responses through activating these brain structures, such as the limbic system and the hypothalamic nuclei.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Low-dose/long-term erythromycin for treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP)

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is a pathologic entity characterized by intraluminal fibrosis of distal air spaces. Corticosteroids have been widely used for the treatment of this condition, and most patients showed a dramatic response to it. However, long-term treatment with corticosteroids, which often increases the risk of several undesirable side-effects, is usually required because a relapse tends to occur soon after termination of treatment. We administered erythromycin (EM) at low-dose (600 mg daily) for 3-4 months to 6 patients with BOOP, and obtained a good clinical, radiological, and physiological improvement. This suggests that EM can be successfully used, instead of corticosteroids, in the treatment of BOOP.

[A case of bronchocentric granulomatosis associated with uveitis]

A 32-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of abnormal pulmonary shadows and a decrease in visual acuity. Analysis of peripheral blood revealed eosinophilia, and chest roentgenogram demonstrated multiple infiltrates in the right upper lung field. Pathological examination of transbronchial lung biopsy specimens revealed necrotizing granulomatous lesions in the walls of bronchioles, and a definitive diagnosis of bronchocentric granulomatosis was made. The cause of bronchocentric granulomatosis in this patient was suggested to be an allergic reaction to Aspergillus because of positive response to skin test for Aspergillus. Although it is reported that extrapulmonary involvement is rare in bronchocentric granulomatosis, the present case was associated with uveitis, and to our knowledge is the first reported case.

A clinical study on the control of dental plaque using an electronic toothbrush with piezo-electric element

A double-blind clinical study was conducted to compare the plaque-removing efficiency of a newly designed electronic toothbrush to that of a placebo, conventional toothbrush. Twenty-six students were selected at Asahi University, School of Dentistry in Japan. The subjects were divided into two groups, one which used the electronic toothbrush and the other which used the placebo toothbrush. The subjects served as their own control by brushing manually for 3 minutes. The plaque elimination ratio, however, showed no significant difference between the testing and the control group. The main conclusion of this study is that an electronic toothbrush is not superior to the conventional toothbrush.

Early induction of c-fos precedes increased expression of corticotropin-releasing factor messenger ribonucleic acid in the paraventricular nucleus after immobilization stress

CRF plays a role in coordinating endocrine, physiological, and behavioral responses to stressful stimuli. Several kinds of stressors have been reported to induce an increase in CRF mRNA expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Recently, the expression of c-fos mRNA has shown promise as a useful tool for metabolic mapping at the cellular level, because various types of stimulation induce c-fos mRNA expression in specific neuron populations in various brain regions. The aim of the present study is to clarify a possible anatomical-temporal correlation between the early induction of c-fos and the enhanced expression of CRF mRNA after stress. Wistar male rats were exposed to immobilization stress for 60 min and killed before and 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min after the beginning of immobilization. In situ hybridization was performed by hybridizing sections with 35S-labeled prepro-CRF and c-fos cRNA probes. Relative levels of CRF and c-fos mRNA were compared by estimating the number of grains over the PVN in emulsion-dipped autoradiograms. Rapid induction (within 15 min) of c-fos mRNA was noted in the parvocellular division of the PVN after immobilization stress. The level of c-fos mRNA peaked at 30 min, then gradually declined to the control level within 90 min after the beginning of stress [the number of grains over the PVN: control, 326 +/- 180; 15 min, 2091 +/- 680 (P less than 0.05 vs. control); 30 min, 3385 +/- 239 (P less than 0.05 vs. control)]. The distribution of c-fos mRNA was almost identical to that of CRF mRNA in the PVN. On the other hand, the time course of CRF mRNA induction was delayed to the c-fos mRNA expression. A significant increase in CRF mRNA levels was noted only 120 and 180 min after stress [the number of grains over PVN: control, 3868 +/- 221; 120 min, 5957 +/- 677 (P less than 0.05 vs. control); 180 min, 6600 +/- 450 (P less than 0.05 vs. control)]. The results demonstrate that increased expression of CRF mRNA is preceded by c-fos mRNA induction in the PVN after stress suggesting a role of c-fos in the activation of CRF gene expression.

Maximum-likelihood estimation of current-dipole parameters for data obtained using multichannel magnetometer

A method is proposed to reduce the influence of external noise magnetic field on the accuracy of estimating current dipole parameters. It utilizes the spatial correlation of external noises, and is applied to data measured using a multichannel magnetometer. Computer simulation clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Effect of coating materials on restorative glass-ionomer cement surface

Historically glass-ionomer samples have been coated with a varnish to protect the material from the effect of water on the surface. However, varnishes have been shown to peel from this surface. The set cement matrix may become chalky and can erode rapidly. Light-cured glazing agents may demonstrate the ability to limit water movement across the setting-cement surface. In this in vitro study samples were investigated colorimetrically to evaluate the effect of water contamination. Perceivable differences were not found, particularly when a coating of light-cured bonding or glazing agents was applied. We conclude that the color stability of glass-ionomer cements is enhanced with the use of a protective coating of light-cured bonding or glazing agents.

[A case of hyperinsulinemia due to hypersecretion of incretin]

A 65-year-old male presented with postprandial hypoglycemic episodes. He had normal glucose tolerance, but plasma glucose reached a hypoglycemic level of 31 mg/dl at 120 min during 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. He had markedly increased insulin response to oral glucose but not to intravenous glucose, intravenous arginine or intravenous glucagon. Hyperresponse of insulin after oral but not intravenous glucose suggested the possible involvement of insulinotropic hormonal factor in the gut (incretin) in hyperinsulinemia of this patient. Therefore we evaluated the secretory response of glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a most likely candidate for incretin, to oral and intravenous glucose administration. Plasma GLP-1 response to oral glucose was almost five times greater than that of normal subjects. On the other hand, there was no significant response in plasma GLP-1 after intravenous glucose. These results suggest that hypersecretion of GLP-1 may be responsible for the hyperinsulinemia after oral glucose in this patient.

Pharmacokinetics of the new antiplatelet agent 2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinoyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine in laboratory animals

KC-764 (2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinoyl)pyrazolo [1,5-a]pyridine CAS 94457-09-7) and its metabolites in serum and urine were determined after intravenous and oral administration in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs at a dose of 5 mg/kg. KC-764 was rapidly eliminated from serum in all species. The biological half-lives of unchanged KC-764 after intravenous administration in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs were 1.31, 0.29, 1.94 and 1.20 h, respectively. 2-Methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-oxonicotinoyl)pyrazolo-[1,5-a]pyr idine was a common major metabolite in serum of all species, although 6,7-dihydro-6,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6- tetrahydro-6-oxonicotinoyl) pyrazolo-[1,5-a]pyridine (M-8) was more abundant in rabbits. Urinary recovery of unchanged KC-764 was as low as 0.4-2.2% in all species. The major urinary metabolite was 2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-ureidonicotinoyl)pyrazolo-[1,5-a] pyridine in mice, rats and dogs, but M-8 was in rabbits. KC-764 was rapidly and well absorbed by oral administration, and extensively metabolized in all species tested.

Solid phase synthesis of human growth hormone-releasing factor analogs containing a bicyclic beta-turn dipeptide

Three analogs derived from the N-terminal 29-residue fragment of human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF) which contained a bicyclic beta-turn dipeptide (BTD) at 7-8, 8-9, and 9-10 positions were synthesized by solid phase methodology to ascertain if the beta-turns are important for the biological activity of hGRF and also to show the applicability of the BTD unit to solid phase synthesis. All three analogs were obtained in good yield and purity indicating that the BTD unit can be used in the usual condition of solid phase synthesis. The capacity of these analogs to release growth hormone (GH) was tested in an in vitro bioassay using rat anterior pituitary cells. All three BTD-containing analogs showed the same maximal GH secretion with parallel dose-response curves to that of hGRF(1-29)NH2, except their relative potencies were very low.

Comparison of air-dried treatments after etching on the micromechanical bonding of the composite to ionomer surface

Comparisons of air-dried treatments after etching on the micromechanical bonding of the composite to ionomer surface were made and clinical recommendations are provided. This in vitro study was made to evaluate the adhesion of the interface with a composite resin/bonding agent followed by air-drying surface treatment. The most effective surface conditions were found in the drying treatment groups. Non-air-dried (wiped dry with a tissue) surface groups were less effective.