[Effect of human hepatic stimulator substance on intracellular calcium and potassium homeostasis in CCl4-intoxication dissociated hepatocytes]

The human hepatic stimulator substance (hHSS) was extracted from abortive fetal liver according to the method of LaBrecque. The intracellular free calciumion was measured by fluorescent probes Fura-2/AM. Rat hepatocytes were isolated from liver by the method of Seglen and intoxicated by CCl4 vapour, then the changes of [Ca2+]i, the leakage of intracellular K+, ALT and viability of hepatocytes were observed. The results were as follows: The hHSS does exist in the human fetal liver, hHSS could increase the viability of intoxicated hepatocytes, maintain the intracellular calcium homeostasis, and decrease the leakage of intracellular potassium and ALT into the culture medium. These results indicate that hHSS could protect hepatocytes against CCl4 through maintaining calcium homeostasis, preventing potassium leakage and sustaining stability of hepatocyte polasmalemma.

Macrophages in the urine in acute bacterial cystitis

In the previous study in this series of studies concerning the role of macrophages in urinary tract infection, we attempted to detect macrophages in the urine of acute bacterial cystitis patients by nonspecific esterase staining of urinary sediment, however none of the leukocytes stained, probably because of cell damage caused by the urine and by centrifugation. In the present study, detection of macrophages in urine was again attempted, this time by prompt transfer of urinary leukocytes to culture medium after minimum centrifugation, 1 hr culture in a glass bottom chamber and non-specific staining of leukocytes adhering to glass. Macrophages in urine were detected by this method, and they comprised 5.9% of the adherent leukocytes, although macrophage spreading, which implies macrophage activation and is often seen in the early stage of nonbacterial prostatitis, was hardly ever observed. The percentages of adherent leukocytes were not correlated with urine osmolarity, probably because the effect of urine was minimized by prompt transfer of urinary leukocytes to culture medium after the urine samples had been collected. There have been quite few studies involving culture of urinary leukocytes in the past. Our simple techniques, such as prompt transfer of urinary leukocytes to culture medium after centrifuging with minimum gravity and for a minimum period of time, appear to be useful in the study of urinary leukocytes using other cells which appear in urinary tract infection, as well as cytokines and antibiotics, to clarify cellular mechanisms of defenses in urinary tract infection.

Investigation of the clinical value of assessing renal size on computed tomography in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

We examined relationship between serum creatinine concentration (Scr) and renal size on CT scans on 32 occasions in 25 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). As a result, a significant correlation was observed when the Scr was less than 5 mg/dl, as shown by the correlation coefficient (r) and P values of 0.803 and 0.0001, respectively. However, these values changed to 0.482 and 0.0093, respectively when 2 cases with Scr 6.2 and 6.4 mg/dl were included, and further changed to 0.005 and 0.9775 when an additional 4 cases with Scr 7.8, 9.9, 11.1 and 20.1 mg/dl were included. Renal size is therefore thought to be a useful parameter of renal function when the Scr is less than 5 mg/dl in ADPKD, but not when the Scr exceeds 6 mg/dl, and is regarded as useless for predicting the time at which dialysis would be required.

Hepatic stimulator substance protects against acute liver failure induced by carbon tetrachloride poisoning in mice

Hepatic stimulator substance was extracted from the liver of weanling Sprague-Dawley rats according to the method of LaBrecque. Quang-Ming mice were injected with carbon tetrachloride to induce acute liver failure. Hepatic stimulator substance suppressed the elevation of ALT and AST induced by carbon tetrachloride in a dose-dependent manner. Hepatic histological changes indicated that hepatic stimulator substance reduced the severity of hepatic lesion induced by carbon tetrachloride and reversed carbon tetrachloride-induced reduction of hepatic mitochondrial succinic dehydrogenase activity. In attempting to elucidate the mechanism or mechanisms of this protective effect, we found that hepatic stimulator substance significantly restored the carbon tetrachloride-induced decrease of hepatocyte plasmalemma and mitochondrial and microsomal membrane fluidity. Hepatic stimulator substance also decreased the malondialdehyde content of carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated mice; restored the liver-reduced glutathione content, which was lowered by carbon tetrachloride intoxication; stimulated liver regeneration, as shown by enhanced DNA synthesis; and increased the 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of hepatocytes. We propose that hepatic stimulator substance protects the liver against acute liver failure induced by carbon tetrachloride poisoning, probably by an antioxidative effect on hepatocyte membrane lipid peroxidation, which was increased by free radicals produced from carbon tetrachloride. In addition, hepatic stimulator substance stimulates hepatocyte proliferation. These protective mechanisms may act in concert to protect against carbon tetrachloride injury.

Hypervitaminosis D associated with drinking milk

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D has been added to milk in the United States since the 1930s to prevent rickets. We report the unusual occurrence of eight cases of vitamin D intoxication that appear to have been caused by excessive vitamin D fortification of dairy milk.

METHODS

Medical records were reviewed and a dietary questionnaire was sent to eight patients who had unexplained hypervitaminosis D. Vitamin D analyses with high-performance liquid chromatography were performed on samples of the patients' serum, the dairy milk they drank, and the vitamin D concentrate added to the milk.

RESULTS

All eight patients drank milk produced by a local dairy in amounts ranging from 1/2 to 3 cups (118 to 710 ml) daily. All had elevated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (mean [+/- SD], 731 +/- 434 nmol per liter [293 +/- 174 ng per milliliter]). Six of the eight patients had elevated serum vitamin D3 concentrations. Of the eight patients, seven had hypercalcemia and one had hypercalciuria but normocalcemia (mean serum calcium, 3.14 +/- 0.51 mmol per liter [12.6 +/- 2.1 mg per deciliter]). Analysis of the dairy's vitamin D-fortified milk revealed concentrations of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) that ranged from undetectable to as high as 232,565 IU per quart (245,840 IU per liter). An analysis of the concentrate that was used to fortify the milk, labeled as containing vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), revealed that it contained vitamin D3.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypervitaminosis D may result from drinking milk that is incorrectly and excessively fortified with vitamin D. Milk that is fortified with vitamin D must be carefully monitored.

The vitamin D content of fortified milk and infant formula

BACKGROUND

The fortification of milk and infant formula with vitamin D has had an important role in eliminating rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. A recent outbreak of vitamin D intoxication caused by drinking milk fortified with excess vitamin D has led to questions about the level of vitamin D in milk from other producers.

METHODS

We used high-performance liquid chromatography to measure vitamin D in samples of 13 brands of milk with various fat contents and 5 brands of infant formula purchased at random from local supermarkets in five Eastern states.

RESULTS

Only 12 (29 percent) of the 42 samples of the 13 brands of milk and none of the 10 samples of the 5 brands of infant formula contained 80 to 120 percent of the amount of vitamin D stated on the label. Twenty-six of the 42 milk samples (62 percent) contained less than 80 percent of the amount claimed on the label. No vitamin D was detected in 3 of the 14 samples of skim milk tested (lower limit of assay, 4.7 IU per quart [5.0 IU per liter]). One milk sample labeled as containing vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) contained vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Seven of the 10 samples of infant formula contained more than 200 percent of the amount stated on the label; the sample with the highest concentration contained 419 percent of the stated amount. None of the samples of infant formula contained less than the amount stated.

CONCLUSIONS

Milk and infant-formula preparations rarely contain the amount of vitamin D stated on the label and may be either underfortified or overfortified. Since both underfortification and overfortification are hazardous, better monitoring of the fortification process is needed.

Dynamic study on iliac trabeculae of normal Chinese

We studied 41 iliac bone blocks taken by biopsies from normal Chinese who were divided into several groups by age. On the schedule of 3-11-3-5 days, double tetracycline labellings were administered before bone biopsies. Ten microns undecalcified sections were made with Reichert-Jung microtome and analyzed with Zeizz MOP-Videoplan by light and fluorescent microscopy. The results showed that bone formation had a peak value at adolescence and the mean wall thickness decreased gradually with age. Bone dynamics fluctuated with age because of endocrinological changes in the intrinsic environment. The data we obtained may be used as a reference for clinical investigation of various metabolic bone disorders.

A study of the history of the Chinese family structures

"It is...the purpose of this paper to discuss the [Chinese] family structure by starting from the major characteristics of family structures in traditional times and moving on from there to a brief description of family structures in modern China and the directions of change in family structures in present-day China." Consideration is given to family size and interpersonal relationships.