Developmental and regional alteration of kappa-opioid receptors in seizure-susceptible EL mouse brain

The binding of [3H]ethylketocyclazocine ([3H]EKC) under the suppression of mu and delta sites in the brain of EL mice (seizure-susceptible) was examined to determine the relationship between seizures and the dynorphinergic system. The density of kappa-opioid receptors in the cerebrum of adult EL mice during interictal periods significantly increased, without changes in apparent affinities, compared with that of adult ddY mice (seizure-nonsusceptible; the mother strain of EL). Subsequently, the binding of 0.8 nM [3H]EKC in 8 brain regions was examined in the 2 strains. The [3H]EKC binding in 25-day-old EL mice that had no seizures significantly increased in the hippocampus and amygdala. At the age of 50 days, EL mice displayed abortive seizures, and the number of kappa sites in EL mice was significantly greater in the hippocampus, amygdala and cerebral cortex. It was further shown that the binding of [3H]EKC in 150-day-old adult EL mice during interictal periods was markedly increased in the hippocampus, amygdala, cerebral cortex and striatum, compared with the corresponding regions in ddY mice. The up-regulation of kappa receptors in the EL mouse brain may result from deficits in endogenous dynorphins, which could be involved in the pathogenesis of seizure diathesis and seizure manifestations in the EL mouse.

Tissue angiotensin II concentration in the heart and kidneys in transgenic Tsukuba hypertensive mice

Tsukuba hypertensive mice (THM) are transgenic mice carrying both human renin and angiotensinogen genes, and possessing an overexpressing human renin-angiotensin system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the angiotensin II concentration in the heart and kidney in THM. Twenty-week-old male THM and control C57BL/6 mice (C57) were used. Each group consisted of 3 mice. For each mouse, systolic blood pressure, heart to body weight ratio, renal glomerular sclerosis index and angiotensin II concentration in the heart and kidney were measured. Systolic blood pressure of THM was about 40 mmHg higher than that of C57. Heart to body weight ratio and renal glomerular sclerosis index were significantly higher in THM than those in C57. The angiotensin II concentration in THM was about 4 times higher in the heart and about 5 times higher in the kidney compared with that in C57. These results suggest that accelerated tissue angiotensin II production, significant cardiac hypertrophy and renal glomerular sclerosis all occur because of hypertension.

Intermittent claudication associated with persistent sciatic artery: report of two cases

Two elderly women complaining of intermittent claudication complicated with persistent sciatic artery are herein reported. A direct femoral arteriogram showed hypoplasty of the superficial femoral artery and an unnatural anatomical relationship between the distal superficial femoral artery and the proximal popliteal artery, thus suggesting the presence of persistent sciatic artery. The diagnosis of persistent sciatic artery was finally made based on the aortography findings including the iliac arterial system and computed tomography (CT) scan. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was helpful to demonstrate the entire image of this anomaly in cases with non-thrombolized sciatic artery. These diagnostic methods were useful in designing the optimal surgical strategy. The first case with a gluteal pulsating mass underwent exclusion of the persistent sciatic artery including the aneurysm through a retroperitoneal approach with a combination of femorotibial bypass, while the second case with thrombosed persistent sciatic artery only underwent femoropopliteal bypass. To recognize such a rare lesion, awareness of the differential diagnosis is important, and to provide appropriate treatment, an accurate whole image including adequate angiography, a CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging is necessary.

Hormone-cytokine response. Pneumoperitoneum vs abdominal wall-lifting in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Changes in blood hormone and cytokine were investigated in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy via insufflation (CO2 group) vs those who had abdominal wall-lifting (Air group).

METHODS

Seventeen female patients with cholecystolithiasis were randomly divided into two groups. Peripheral blood samples were obtained during perioperative period, and plasma hormone levels (ACTH, cortisol) and serum cytokine levels (TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10) were measured.

RESULTS

The number of circulating lymphocytes significantly decreased at 1 h after surgery in both groups, but the decrease in the CO2 group was significantly smaller than that in the Air group. There was no significant difference in hormone elevation between groups. Serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 in the Air group were significantly higher than in the CO2 group.

CONCLUSIONS

CO2 insufflation may reduce cytokine production in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Prolonged resolution of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis following myeloablative chemotherapy and subsequent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

A 30-month-old boy with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) received an autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) following high-dose chemotherapy. He presented with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) at 6 months of age, but relapsed despite the repeated administration of prednisolone, VP-16, cyclosporin A (CsA), and other cytotoxic agents. PBSC were obtained using combination chemotherapy with etoposide (VP16, 450 mg/m2), doxorubicin (70 mg/m2), vincristine (2 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (CY, 1200 mg/m2). 2.7 x 10(5)/kg CFU-GM PBSC were transplanted after similar high-dose VP16 preconditioning used for allogeneic BMT for HLH. The boy continues to remain in complete remission 30 months after PBSCT while receiving low-dose PSL/CsA therapy. High-dose chemotherapy followed by PBSCT may be an optional therapeutic approach for patients with HLH.

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous blood stem cell transplantation in children with metastatic neuroblastoma

High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by autologous blood stem cell transplantation (ABSCT) was performed to improve the prognosis of children with metastatic neuroblastoma over 1 year of age at diagnosis. Seven stage IV neuroblastoma patients with a median age of 3.9 years (range 1.6-11.4 years) received conventional chemotherapy before leukapheresis for ABSCT. The median duration of chemotherapy before harvest was 8 months (range 3-23 months). Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were harvested from them after the use of cytotoxic drugs plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The median number of granulocyte-macrophage colony forming units collected after harvest was 23.2 x 10(4)/kg (range 10.1-45.3 x 10(4)/kg). The patients were administered HDC consisting of carboplatin, etoposide, and melphalan followed by ABSCT. Hematopoietic reconstitution after ABSCT was favorable; recovery of granulocytes count > 0.5 x 10(9)/L occurred within 2 weeks and stable platelet engraftment occurred at a median duration of 23 days (range 7-33 days). The toxicity of ABSCT was well tolerable. Two of the four patients who received ABSCT at their first complete remission remained in remission 67 and 68 months after ABSCT. One with partial remission also showed a good response for 8 months. The other two at first relapse showed a transient regression of the tumor. The prognosis of seven patients who received ABSCT was significantly better than that of 13 patients who received conventional therapy alone. These findings suggest that HDC followed by ABSCT is safe and useful as consolidation therapy for the treatment of patients with metastatic neuroblastoma.

Successful treatment with ranimustine and carboplatin for recurrent intraocular retinoblastoma with vitreous seeding

This is the first report of successful treatment of recurrent retinoblastoma with vitreous seeding by a combination of ranimustine (MCNU) and carboplatin. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma at 3 years of age. Although he received photocoagulation and radiotherapy for the left eye after enucleation of the right eye, a recurrent tumor associated with vitreous seeding developed 6 years later. The child underwent chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU), and a transient decrease of tumor cells in the vitreous was seen. We then changed the chemotherapy regimen to MCNU (70 mg/m2/ day for 1 day) and carboplatin (400 mg/m2/day for 2 days). After five courses of this chemotherapy, the tumor in the vitreous completely disappeared. No recurrence has been observed for > 4 years. Side effects, including myelosuppression, general fatigue, and vomiting, were observed during the course of chemotherapy, but they were ameliorated with supportive therapy. Neither nephro- nor ototoxicity was observed. The patient has useful vision. These results warrant further study of this novel drug combination in patients with recurrent, or even primary, retinoblastoma.

Halothane counteracts acetylcholine-induced increase in Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus in airway smooth muscle

The direct relaxing effect of halothane on airway smooth muscle has been reported to involve the reduction of the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and the [Ca2+]i-independent inhibitory mechanism. To clarify the extent of the contribution of these mechanisms, the effect of halothane on the [Ca2+]i-tension relationship in porcine tracheal smooth muscle strips was evaluated, using fura-2 fluorometry. The control [Ca2+]i-tension relationship was constructed from data of [Ca2+]i and tension during the contractions induced by the stepwise increment of extracellular Ca2+ concentrations under high K+ depolarization. In the presence of acetylcholine (1 microM), the [Ca2+]i-tension relationship shifted upward, which indicated the acetylcholine-induced increase in the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus. Halothane (0.034 mM), in the absence of acetylcholine, did not alter the increases in either [Ca2+]i or tension, hence no change in the [Ca2+]i-tension relationship. However, in the presence of acetylcholine, halothane did attenuate the acetylcholine-induced upward shift of the [Ca2+]i-tension relationship. Halothane proved to have a potent attenuating effect on the acetylcholine-induced increase in Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus with little influence on [Ca2+]i. This desensitization of the contractile apparatus to [Ca2+]i may play a major role in the direct airway relaxing effect of halothane.

Plasma neuropeptide Y in patients with major depressive disorder

It has been suggested that neuropeptide Y (NPY) is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Plasma peptide-rich fraction from patients with major depressive disorder and control subjects was eluted with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), followed by radioimmunoassay of NPY. The screening patterns of the NPY-like immunoreactivity in 50 fractions eluted by HPLC from the plasma peptide-rich fraction were different between the two groups. The values of NPY in the 16 controls and the 14 patients were 427 +/- 38 and 310 +/- 27 fmol/ml plasma (P < 0.05), respectively. These results suggest that impaired metabolism of plasma NPY and the reduced plasma NPY in patients with major depressive disorder could be involved in the pathogenesis or pathophysiology of major depressive disorder.

Destabilization of bacteriophage T4 mRNAs by a mutation of gene 61.5

We identified a novel gene of bacteriophage T4, gene 61.5, which appears to be involved in protein synthesis late in infection. Northern blot analysis revealed that a mutant of 61.5 accumulated truncated transcripts of representative late genes. Using a double mutant of genes 61.5 and 55, which prevents transcription of late genes, we demonstrate that even transcripts of middle genes, while full-length when initially expressed, are similarly truncated at later stages of infection. These results indicate that the abnormality in transcript length occurs late in infection, regardless of whether the transcript derives from a middle or a late gene. Primer-extension analysis revealed that the 5' ends of the late gene 23 transcripts that accumulated in gene 61.5 mutant-infected cells were located at internal discrete sites as well as at the expected transcription start site. Moreover, the decay rates of full-length transcripts from genes uvsY or 45 were more than twofold faster in the absence of a functional gene 61.5. These results suggest that mutation of gene 61.5 activates endonucleolytic cleavage of middle and late transcripts, probably by RNase M.

Clinical and prognostic implications of bone lesions in childhood leukemia at diagnosis

We studied 168 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 57 with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) by retrospectively analyzing clinical symptoms, bone or joint involvement, and hematological findings to verify the clinical features and prognosis of children with acute leukemia who showed radiographic bone changes at the time of diagnosis. Of these, 36 with ALL (21.4%) and 6 with ANLL (10.5%) had symptoms referable to the bones or joints. Thirteen patients (7.7%) with ALL showed bone lesions radiographically. Phenotypically, 12 of the 13 had common ALL, 8 were incorrectly diagnosed and had received treatment for osteomyelitis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for 1 to 7 months prior to diagnosis of ALL. Leukocyte count was nearly normal with few or no blasts, and anemia and thrombocytopenia were mild or absent in all patients. Twelve of them remained in a complete remission for 26 to 148 months. Our data suggest that children with bone lesions related to acute leukemia exhibit clinical features that mimic infectious or collagen disease at diagnosis, and may belong to a subgroup of ALL with a better prognosis.

Granulocyte transfusion: stimulation of low dose granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in donors for leukapheresis

In order to assess the clinical utility of granulocyte transfusions (GT), the stimulating effects of donor granulopoiesis for GT therapy were examined using either low dose recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) or dexamethasone (DEX). The increment of leukocytes, polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and monocytes in the subjects stimulated with rhG-CSF (0.7 microgram/kg SC) surpassed each increment in those with DEX alone (1 mg PO). The lymphocyte counts after DEX stimulation decreased in contrast to those after G-CSF stimulation. This dose of G-CSF did not enhance the priming effects on the superoxide release from PMN. The serum levels of lysozyme, but not of lactate dehydrogenase, in G-CSF stimulated donors were higher than those in DEX-treated donors. The serum macrophage/monocyte-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) levels in DEX stimulation were lower than in either G-CSF stimulation or no stimulation. The net yield of the PMN in GT on G-CSF stimulation was practically larger than that on DEX stimulation. One of the two patients who received GT collected by DEX stimulation died of aspergillosis. Two of the five patients who received PMN mobilized by G-CSF died of fungal infections or necrotizing fasciitis, although two of the remaining patients overcame severe bacterial infections. These results suggest that low dose G-CSF effectively and safely mobilizes a sufficient quantity of PMN from GT-donors without excessive superoxide generation from the transfused cells. This low dose G-CSF stimulation may be substituted for conventional DEX stimulation for GT.

Oral absorption improvement of poorly soluble drug using solid dispersion technique

A new triazol antifungal agent, (+)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-methyl-1-(1H-1, 2,4-triazol-1-yl)-3-[6-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pyridazin++ +-3-ylthio]butan-2-ol (MFB-1041), shows poor oral absorption and is practically insoluble in water (1.2 micrograms/ml). Solid dispersion systems with an enteric polymer such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate (HP-55) and carboxymethylethylcellulose (CMEC), and a nonenteric polymer, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Metolose) were evaluated to improve drug absorption and solubility. The oral bioavailabilities of these solid dispersions in beagle dogs were over 6 times higher than that of a suspension system with increasing drug solubility in an alkaline medium. X-Ray powder diffraction measurement of the solid dispersion showed a complete drug phase change from a crystal to an amorphous state. Further, from the results of a stability test, the preparations were stable in a desiccated condition and the absorption profiles also showed no change. From the results, it was suggested that the oral administrative preparation of MFB-1041 having a superior absorption profile and a high stability could be obtained by a drug phase change from a crystal to an amorphous state, especially in the spray-drying method using enteric polymers.

Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia with t(8;9)(p11;q34) in childhood: an example of the 8p11 myeloproliferative disorder?

We describe the case of a 10-year-old girl with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia with the chromosomal translocation t(8;9)(p11;q34), who had developed tonsillar lymphoma as extramedullary involvement at the initial presentation. The cytogenetic study of the cells in both bone marrow and tonsils demonstrated t(8;9)(p11;q34), despite no malignant features in the bone marrow specimens. She developed acute leukaemic transformation 8 months after diagnosis during chemotherapy for lymphoma. Although etoposide reduced the number of blasts, t(8;9)(p11;q34)-bearing cells were not eradicated. Complete remission was obtained following an unrelated bone marrow transplantation. The clinical characteristics of this patient are similar to those of the patients with t(8;9)(p11;q34 or q32) or t(8;13)(p11;q11 or q12) reported previously. The unusual progression of the disease might be associated with the presence of (8;9)(p11;q34), suggesting a part in the 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome.

Distribution of transforming growth factor-beta and its receptors in gastric carcinoma tissue

The distribution of the three mammalian isoforms of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta (TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3) as well as their signaling receptors, TGF-beta type I and type II receptors (T beta R-I and T beta R-II, respectively), in gastric carcinoma tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies. Tissue specimens were obtained from 25 cases of gastric carcinoma, which were classified into two groups according to Lauren's classification, i.e. 15 cases of diffuse carcinoma and 10 cases of intestinal carcinoma. In normal gastric mucosa apart from carcinoma nests, all of TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, -beta 3, T beta R-I and T beta R-II were clearly demonstrated in fundic glands. In sharp contrast, none of them was detectable in surface mucous cells. In carcinoma cells, strong staining for TGF-beta 1, -beta 2 and -beta 3 was obtained only in diffuse-type carcinoma. In particular, carcinoma cells scattered as single cells or small nests had a tendency to show strong staining for TGF-betas. The receptors tended to be distributed concomitantly with the ligands, and diffuse-type carcinoma showed stronger receptor staining than intestinal-type carcinoma. In cancer stroma, TGF-betas and receptors were detected in both diffuse and intestinal types, but the area with positive staining was wider and more dispersed in diffuse-type carcinoma than in intestinal carcinoma. These results suggest that TGF-beta may contribute in part to the variety of histogenesis and mode of progression of gastric carcinoma.

Effect of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, TCV-116, on neointimal formation following balloon injury in the SHR carotid artery

1. In the present study, we examined the effect of a novel angiotensin II type I receptor antagonist, TCV-116, on carotid neointimal formation after balloon injury in SHR and WKY rats. 2. Oral administration of TCV-116 at a dose of 10 mg/kg per day reduced not only systolic blood pressure but also neointimal formation after carotid balloon injury. TCV-116 also suppressed cardiac hypertrophy. An angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, lisinopril (20 mg/kg per day), had a similar effect to that of TCV-116. 3. In the WKY experiment, both TCV-116 and lisinopril suppressed neointimal formation as well as systolic blood pressure, but did not suppress cardiac hypertrophy. 4. Although SHR showed markedly enhanced neointimal formation after balloon injury compared with age-matched WKY rat, both TCV-116 and lisinopril showed similar suppressive effects on neointimal formation in both SHR and WKY rats. 5. These results confirm the important role of angiotensin II in neointimal formation following balloon injury. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of the difference between SHR and WKY rats in the response of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Analysis of the in vitro translation product of a novel-type Drosophila melanogaster aldolase mRNA in which two carboxyl-terminal exons remain unspliced

Drosophila melanogaster generates three different types of aldolase mRNAs from a single gene by selective usage of the triplicate exons 4 (4 alpha, 4 beta, and 4 gamma), which encode three different isozymes having respective carboxyl termini. We have found the presence of a novel-type mRNA (named alpha beta) in which two final exons, 4 alpha and 4 beta, were retained unspliced. Herein, a cDNA clone containing the alpha beta sequence was inserted into pINIII and expressed in an Escherichia coli system. The product, which exhibited aldolase activity, was found to be isozyme alpha from the primary structure and the enzymological properties, with the 4 alpha sequence alone being present as the carboxyl terminus. In tissues of D. melanogaster, the production of mRNA encoding exon 4 alpha is known to be restrained to a low level. This may be understood by the fact that the aldolase gene of this species does not have a typical poly(A) signal at the 3' end in exon 4 alpha. Instead, the transcript-encoding exons, 4 alpha and 4 beta, might be produced when AATATA, which resides downstream of the coding frame in exon 4 beta, is recognized as a poly(A) signal during RNA processing.

Effects of midazolam on intracellular Ca2+ and tension in airway smooth muscles

BACKGROUND

It has been demonstrated that a group of minor tranquilizers, benzodiazepines, are able to relax airway smooth muscles. To determine the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon, the effects of midazolam on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and tension in airway smooth muscles were investigated.

METHODS

Using front-surface fluorometry and fura-2-loaded porcine tracheal smooth muscle strips, both [Ca2+]i and isometric tension developments were simultaneously recorded.

RESULTS

When the tracheal strips were exposed to a high external K(+)-solution (40 mM) or 10(-7) M carbachol containing 1.25 mM Ca2+, both [Ca2+]i and tension increased rapidly until they reached a plateau (the steady state). During steady-state contraction induced by K(+)-depolarization or carbachol, the cumulative application of midazolam (10(-7) approximately 10(-4) M) caused decreases in both [Ca2+]i and tension, in a concentration-dependent manner. During 40 mM K(+)-induced depolarization, the stepwise increases in the extracellular Ca2+ concentration induced the stepwise increases in [Ca2+]i and tension. Midazolam (3 x 10(-5) M) inhibited these increases in [Ca2+]i and tension, but had no effect on the [Ca2+]i-tension relationship. In the presence of 3 x 10(-3) M NiCl2 (a nonselective cation channel blocker), midazolam (3 x 10(-5) M) did not cause any additional reduction of [Ca2+]i or tension during the contraction induced by carbachol (10(-7) M). In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, midazolam (3 x 10(-5) M) had no effect on the transient increases in either [Ca2+]i or the tension induced by carbachol (10(-7) M) or caffeine (20 mM). Pretreatment with both 10(-5) M flumazenil (a specific central antagonist of benzodiazepines) and 10(-5) M PK11195 (a specific peripheral antagonist of benzodiazepines) did not influence the effect of 10(-5) M midazolam on [Ca2+]i or tension during the contractions induced by carbachol.

CONCLUSIONS

Midazolam directly relaxes airway smooth muscles by decreasing [Ca2+]i; this can be attributed to the inhibition of the influx of extracellular Ca2+. Midazolam has no effect on the release of stored Ca2+. In addition, midazolam has no effect on Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus. Finally, benzodiazepine antagonists, flumazenil and PK11195, have no effect on this mechanism of direct action of midazolam on airway smooth muscles.

Plasma neuropeptide Y is reduced in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is demonstrated to be involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, as well as somatostatin. We measured the plasma NPY content in patients with Alzheimer's disease and healthy control subjects (n = 25) by HPLC coupled with radioimmunoassay. The difference in screening pattern of NPY-like immunoreactivity in 50 fractions eluted by HPLC obtained from the plasma peptide-rich fraction between patients with Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls suggested the abnormal metabolism of plasma NPY in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Plasma NPY in patients with Alzheimer's disease was significantly decreased compared with that in healthy controls, which was compatible with the findings obtained from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid and could be involved in the pathogenesis or pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease.