Tetronothiodin, a novel cholecystokinin type-B receptor antagonist produced by Streptomyces sp. NR0489. II. Isolation, characterization and biological activities

A novel cholecystokinin type-B receptor antagonist named tetronothiodin has been isolated by column chromatography and preparative HPLC from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. NR0489. Tetronothiodin inhibited the binding of CCK8 (C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin) to rat cerebral cortex membranes (CCK type-B receptors) with an IC50 of 3.6 nM, whereas it did not inhibit CCK8 binding to rat pancreatic membranes (CCK type-A receptors). It also inhibited CCK8 induced Ca2+ mobilization in GH3 cells, a rat anterior pituitary cell line, but was without effect on the basal cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. This finding indicated tetronothiodin was an antagonist of CCK type-B receptors.

Tetronothiodin, a novel cholecystokinin type-B receptor antagonist produced by Streptomyces sp. NR0489. III. Structural elucidation

Tetronothiodin (1) is a potent and selective cholecystokinin type B (CCK-B) receptor antagonist produced by Streptomyces sp. NR0489. Its structure was elucidated to be a macrocyclic compound comprising cyclohexene, alpha-acyltetronic acid and tetrahydrothiophene moieties based on various 2D NMR experiments on 1 and its dihydro derivative. The stereochemistries for the cyclohexene and tetrahydrothiophene rings were elucidated based on the analysis of NOEs obtained by NOESY experiments and NOE difference spectroscopy. The relative configuration of the cyclohexene moiety in 1 was revealed to be the same as that of the corresponding part in kijanimicin and chlorothricin, which can be structurally related to 1 in terms of their containing a cyclohexene ring with a spirotetronic acid in the molecule.

Significance of endothelial deposition of von Willebrand factor in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: autopsy findings of a case complicated with systemic lupus erythematosus

We report the renal immunohistochemical findings of a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura complicated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Aggregated platelets were observed adhering to the arteriole walls. Intense deposition of von Willebrand factor (vWF) was noted in the endothelium, even in areas where thrombi were not seen. This difference in the distribution of platelets and vWF suggested that the endothelium was damaged prior to platelet aggregation.

Relationship between condylar atrophy and tooth loss in craniomandibular disorders

In order to investigate the relationship between condylar atrophy and tooth loss in craniomandibular disorders, we examined 37 patients with condylar atrophy (atrophy (+) group) and 109 patients without condylar atrophy (atrophy (-) group). No significant difference in the number of missing teeth between the atrophy (+) group and atrophy (-) group was observed. However, a significant relationship between condylar atrophy and loss of the lower first molars was found. And individuals in the atrophy (+) group had a tendency to lose one or both lower first molars and left them without any prosthetic restorations in the growth period of the TMJ components.

Condylar atrophy in craniomandibular disorders

In order to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with condylar atrophy, we examined 146 patients with craniomandibular disorders using tomography. No statistical difference in occurrence of the condylar atrophy between males and females was observed. Patients with condylar atrophy was younger than those without condylar atrophy. And, condylar atrophy was closely related to craniomandibular disorders, especially to internal derangement or osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint.

Identification of TaqI polymorphism in the mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase gene and familial analysis of 3-ketothiolase deficiency

We analyzed the mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase gene (T2) by Southern blotting. Fifteen unrelated healthy individuals and members of five families with 3-ketothiolase deficiency (3KTD) were analyzed. We found a TaqI polymorphism, the heterozygosity of which was calculated to be 0.5 among healthy Japanese individuals. This restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) proved to be useful for detecting 3KTD patients and its obligatory carriers, at the DNA level and in two out of five 3KTD families. This polymorphism was found to be generated by the presence/absence of a TaqI site in intron 9 of the T2 gene. With in vitro amplification of the genomic region around the TaqI site, this RFLP can be detected within 2 days.

Tetronothiodin, a novel CCKB receptor ligand, antagonizes cholecystokinin-induced Ca2+ mobilization in a pituitary cell line

We found a novel nonpeptide CCKB receptor antagonist, tetronothiodin (Ro 09-1468), in the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. NR0489. The structure of the compound (C31O8H38S), which has a 19-membered ring with an alpha-acyltetronic acid and tetrahydrothiophene moiety, is completely different from that of any known CCK receptor antagonist. Tetronothiodin inhibited [125I]CCK-8 binding to rat brain CCKB receptors with an IC50 of 3.6 nM, whereas it showed only weak affinity for rat CCKA receptors (IC50 = 70 microM). As demonstrated autoradiographically, tetronothiodin concentration dependently inhibited [125I]CCK-8 binding to CCKB receptors in rat forebrain slices. The effects of tetronothiodin on cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations in GH3 cells, a rat anterior pituitary tumor cell line, were investigated with the fura-2 method. Tetronothiodin inhibited CCK-8-induced Ca2+ mobilization without affecting basal cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations. In conclusion, tetronothiodin is a new, potent and highly selective CCKB receptor antagonist. It is a useful tool for investigating the pharmacological and physiological roles of CCKB receptors.

[A case of "pure" progressive autonomic failure in an elderly male]

A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of postural hypotension in July 1991. He was also suffering from anhydrosis, urinary disturbances, constipation and impotence. He had not developed signs of Parkinsonism, cerebellar or peripheral neuropathy four years from the onset. Various autonomic function tests showed sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction of mainly postganglionic origins. Thus we diagnosed this patient as "pure" progressive autonomic failure ("pure" PAF). "Pure" PAF is a new entity described by Bannister and Oppenheimer in 1982. It shows symptoms of autonomic failure without other neurological disturbances which manifest as Shy-Drager syndrome. Treatment with L-DOPS increased his blood pressure level and attenuated his symptoms due to orthostatic hypotension.

[Acid-base disturbances in heart failure]

Disturbance in acid-base balance is commonly observed in patients with heart failure. The most common disturbance is metabolic alkalosis combined with hypokalemia, as a result of the excessive use of loop diuretics. Occasionary, hypoxia due to pulmonary edema stimulates ventilation, resulting in respiratory alkalosis. When pulmonary edema develops, carbon dioxide retention occurs, resulting in respiratory acidosis. Decreased tissue oxygen delivery may also produce lethal lactic acidosis. Compensatory mechanisms, coexistence of independent acid-base disorders and changes in electrolytes complicate acid-base balance in the individual patients. As acid-base disturbances have harmful effects on the cardiovascular system, precise diagnosis and proper treatment are highly important.

[Long-term prognosis of nonoperative acute epidural hematoma in children]

Computed tomography(CT) scan has revealed that certain acute epidural hematomas(AEH) don't need operative therapies. But, it is difficult to determine especially in childhood, whether AEH compressing the brain for a short-term would or would not effect the function of the central nervous system in the future. For this reason, the authors report the long-term prognosis of nonoperative AEH in children. Twelve children suffering from AEH were transported to our clinic. On admission, they had no neurological deficits and CT scan revealed hematomas that had maximum thickness of 5-19 mm without midline shift. With nonoperative therapy they were discharged and the hematomas disappeared within 3-12 weeks. After long-term follow-up (3-10 years), it was shown that they had no epileptic episodes, and no changes in their school study records. Also, the Yatabe-Guilford personality test revealed no abnormal data. These data suggest that children can be cured who suffer from AEH with no neural deficits, and in whom the maximum thickness of the AEH is less than 20 mm, and in whom there is no midline shift in CT scan, can be cured without undergoing an operation, and will have a good long-term prognosis.

Induction of micronucleated reticulocytes by potassium bromate and potassium chromate in CD-1 male mice

Micronucleus tests of potassium bromate (KBrO3) and potassium chromate (K2CrO4) were conducted with peripheral blood reticulocytes (PB-RETs) of CD-1 male mice dose intraperitoneally. Peripheral blood cells collected from the tail were stained supravitally with acridine orange (AO) using AO-coated glass slides. Both KBrO3 and K2CrO4 induced micronuclei in PB-RETs in the same manner as in polychromatic erythrocytes of bone marrow.

Clinical classification of the patterns of mandibular movements during mastication in subjects with TMJ disorders

To investigate the chewing patterns of patients with TMJ disorders, analysis of mandibular movement was performed in 25 normal subjects and 150 patients with stomatognathic dysfunction using the Sirognathograph analyzing system. Patients with TMJ disorders demonstrated different chewing patterns than those of normal subjects. Chewing patterns in the frontal, horizontal, and sagittal projections were classified into four, two, and two different patterns, respectively, and each distinct chewing pattern appeared to be associated with a specific TMJ disorder.

[A case of unilateral pulmonary edema associated rupture of mitral chordae tendineae]

A 57-year-old man was admitted with dyspnea and bloody sputum. The chest X-ray showed unilateral alveolar infiltration, and alveolar cell carcinoma was suspected. Physical examination showed orthopnea and a loud systolic murmur, and the echocardiogram showed mitral valve prolapse. A chest X-ray 4 days later revealed bilateral infiltration. The cardiac catheterization showed pulmonary congestion and the capillary wedge pressure revealed a prominent V wave. Papanicolaou's test of sputum was negative. These findings suggested heart failure due to mitral regurgitation rather than lung carcinoma. The patient underwent mitral valve replacement because of his refractoriness to the medical treatment. During the operation, the chordae tendineae of the anterior mitral leaflet was found to be completely ruptured. The mechanisms of unilateral pulmonary edema could not be ascertained, but the effect of posture and gravity was thought to be a possible mechanism.

Second meiotic nondisjunction of the rearranged chromosome in a familial reciprocal 5/13 translocation

We describe a 20-week-gestation male fetus with partial dup(5p) and proximal dup(13q), 47,XY,t(5;13)(p15;q21), + der(13)t(5;13)(p15;q21) mat. This finding is attributable to second meiotic nondisjunction of the rearranged chromosome in a maternal balanced reciprocal translocation. To the best of our knowledge, there have been only 3 previous reports of a similar error in the segregation of the rearranged chromosomes. For the first time evidence has been given that this unusual segregation is due to maternal second meiotic nondisjunction, using QFQ banding heteromorphisms. Second meiotic malsegregation should be taken into account in the consideration of reproductive problems in carriers of balanced translocations.

[Recurrent hyperkalemia in the course of rheumatoid arthritis--a case report]

A 69-year-old woman with advanced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffered two episodes of hyperkalemic hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis (HCMA). Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were markedly suppressed in the first episode occurring in paralell with the administration of metoprolol during piroxicam and lobenzarit (CCA) therapy. Rechallenge with diclofenac sodium and CCA lead to the second hyperkalemia, but no significant suppression of the renin-aldosterone axis was seen at that time. This suggests that the different mechanisms contribute to the development of these episodes, including the tubulo-interstitial injury which is not uncommon in RA. The combined use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and beta-adrenergic blockers may increase the risk of life-threatening hyperkalemia through their suppressive effect on the renin-aldosterone system, whereas the concomitant administration of CCA with NSAIDs through the impairment in the renal tubular function. These drugs should be most carefully given to patients with a latent defect in renal potassium excretion.

[Involuntary movement complicated with the postoperative stage of ruptured aneurysm: a case report]

Involuntary movement complicated with the postoperative stage of the ruptured cerebral aneurysm is extremely rare. And, the pathophysiology of the involuntary movement has not been established yet. The authors report such a case because of its rarity and to make the mechanism of its appearance clear. The case was a 45-year-old female who was transported to our clinic after the onset of sudden headache. On admission, she had no neurological deficits without severe headache. CT scan revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage, and left carotid angiogram showed an aneurysm at the bifurcation of the left internal carotid artery. On the day of admission, neck clipping for the aneurysm was successfully performed. Postoperative course was uneventful without mild right hemiparesis which diminished until two weeks after operation. Since the 24th day from operation, athetoid involuntary movement occurred to her four toes. 123I-IMP SPECT revealed low perfusion from left frontal base to caudate, and CT scan showed atrophy of the left caudate. Athetoid involuntary movement as postoperative complication of ruptured cerebral aneurysm has not been reported without our case. We suppose it was caused by the ischemic effect of the left caudate due to the operative retraction or the delayed vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Metal concentrations in human lung tissue, with special reference to age, sex, cause of death, emphysema and contamination of lung tissue

Nine element concentrations in the lung tissues of 2,274 autopsies were determined in Japan by atomic absorption spectrometry. The metals determined were iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, cobalt, nickel, lead, and chromium. The range, mean, standard deviation, mode and median are described for each metal. Moreover, these data were analyzed statistically, based on their sex, age, degree of lung contamination (color and the amount of particle deposition), severity of pulmonary emphysema and cause of death. Iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and cobalt concentrations in the lung tissue seemed to be affected mostly by physiological variation and the levels in the blood. On the other hand, nickel, lead and chromium concentrations might reflect environmental exposure. Chromium concentration especially increased with age and showed a significantly positive correlation with the degree of contamination and severity of emphysema.

[A case of hydrocephalus with hypacusis due to hemangioblastoma]

A case of a brain stem hemangioblastoma with recurrent episodes of hypacusis due to progression of hydrocephalus is reported. The patient was a 25-year-old female, admitted to the department of otorhinolaryngology with complaints of hearing difficulty, headache and blurred vision. Neuroradiological studies showed a tumor from the medulla oblongata, obliterating the IVth ventricle, and a secondary hydrocephalus. Hearing loss fluctuated as hydrocephalus progressed. Multiple V-P shunting procedures relieved episodic hypacusis. The patient remains asymptomatic at present and has resumed normal activity. The mechanism of episodic hearing loss due to hydrocephalus is though to be due to the fact that through the ductus perilymphaticus and the ductus endolymphaticus, especially the former, increased intracranial pressure is transmitted to the inner ear. Through the ductus perilymphaticus there is communication between the perilymphatic space and the intracranial subarachnoid space. Through the ductus endolymphaticus there is communication with the subdural space. Increased ICP effects the inner ear. It is suspected that, in this particular case, the progression of hydrocephalus effected the patient's hearing.

[Clinical study of bilateral metachronous testicular tumors with different histological findings]

Seventy-seven patients with primary malignant testicular tumors were treated in our hospital. Twenty-five of them were given antineoplastic agents containing cis diamine dichloro platinum (CDDP). In three long-term survivors, new malignant testicular tumors developed meta-chronously and had different histological findings from those of the initial tumors. Case 1. A 28-year-old patient with a yolk sac tumor of the left testicle, stage IIO, developed metastasis to the supraclavicular lymph nodes five years after radiation. Chemotherapy containing of VP-16 (837 mg), CDDP (1050 mg), vincristine (32 mg), bleomycin (480 mg), and actinomycin-D (16 mg) achieved complete remission. Four years 11 months later a seminoma of the contralateral testicle, stage I, was disclosed and he died of cancer 11 years and four months after the onset of the initial disease. Case 2. A 30-year-old patient with testicular teratoma, stage IIIA, on the right side gained complete remission after a CDDP containing chemotherapy. One year and four months after the beginning of the CDDP use (1,300 mg totally as CDDP) a seminoma on the contralateral side, stage I, was detected. He died of cancer eight years and two months after his initial tumor was detected. Case 3. A 37-year-old patient with combined tumor of seminoma and yolk sac tumor of the right testicle, stage IIIO, was free from disease for six years and five months under chemotherapy. At this point a seminoma, stage I, of the contralateral testicle was newly found and treated by radiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VII: characterization of mutations and molecular heterogeneity

We identified two different exonic point mutations causing beta-glucuronidase (beta G1) deficiency in two Japanese patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPSVII). Enzyme assay of lysates of the lymphocytes and cultured fibroblasts showed little residual activity. The beta G1-specific mRNA levels were normal, as determined by northern blot analysis. Mutated cDNA clones, including the entire coding sequence, were isolated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products derived from beta G1-deficient fibroblasts. Sequence analysis of the full-length mutated cDNAs showed C----T transitions, which resulted in a single Ala619----Val change (case 1, a 24-year-old male) and a Arg382----Cys change (case 2, a 7-year-old female). The former change was revealed by a loss of the cleavage site for the Fnu4HI in the mutated cDNA. On the basis of the loss of Fnu4HI restriction site, the patient (case 1) was a homozygote with this mutation. The mutational change in patient 2 was confirmed by direct sequencing and by demonstrating heterozygosity for the mutation in her parents. The Ala619----Val and Arg382----Cys mutations each disrupt a different domain which is highly conserved among human, rat, and Escherichia coli beta G1s. Each of these two amino acid changes reduced the beta G1 activity of the corresponding mutant beta G1 expressed following transfection of COS cells with expression vectors harboring the mutated cDNAs.

Treatment of anterior disk displacement without reduction by "disk recapturing bite plane"

Eight subjects with a diagnosis of anterior disk displacement without reduction were used for the evaluation of the efficacy of conservative treatment using Disk Recapturing Bite Plane. Examinations were performed before and after treatment. The post-treatment examination revealed that this bite plane improved the structural bone changes and condylar dislocations. In addition, the characteristic chewing patterns of anterior disk displacement without reduction were normalized. These results indicate that the disk recapturing bite plane is one of the effective treatments of anterior disk displacement without reduction.

Characteristics of condylar movements during mastication in stomatognathic dysfunction

In this investigation of the relationship between mastication and TMJ abnormalities, the movements of the incisal point and condyles during mastication were analyzed in two normal subjects and six patients with unilateral TMJ abnormalities. The path of the nonworking condyle was shorter than that of the working condyle when patients chewed on the side of the normal TMJ, causing the mandible to deviate to the abnormal side at the point of transition from opening to closing. Also, the mobility of the abnormal condyle influenced the convexity of the opening path, and posterior dislocation of the condyle resulted in a crossover chewing pattern.

[Tetralogy of Fallot revealed by autopsy in an elderly subject]

A 62-year-old women had a history of cyanosis and easy fatigability from school age but had refused medical examinations. She was admitted to our department with exacerbation of dyspnea at the age of 59. Laboratory tests showed hypoxia complicated with polycythemia with 35 mmHg of PaO2, 8.5 x 10(6) erythrocytes per mm3. The systolic pressure of the right ventricle was 155 mmHg. RI angio demonstrated a high degree of the right-to-left shunt at the ventricular level. The patient was given oxygen therapy at home without diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and eventually died at the age of 62. Tetralogy of Fallot was diagnosed at autopsy. Pulmonary stenosis of this case was located in infundibulum. The lining of the infundibular inlet was constituted of the thick fibrous tissue which remarkably augmented the pulmonic stenosis. Although the autopsy findings were considered to be relatively mild TOF, the death was presumed to be caused by development of the infundibular stenosis due to formation of fibrous tissue. This is the oldest patient in Japanese medical literature to be identified by cardiac catheterization and autopsy finding as a case of TOF.

Primary structure of rat monoamine oxidase A deduced from cDNA and its expression in rat tissues

The cDNA for rat monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) mRNA was isolated from a liver cDNA library in lambda gt11 as the cDNA species cross-hybridizing with rat monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) cDNA. The primary structure of the protein, deduced from the nucleotide sequence, consisted of 526 amino acid residues and its molecular mass was calculated to be 59.6 kD. The amino acid sequence shows about 70% identity with that of rat MAO-B. Northern blot analysis showed that MAO-B mRNA was expressed in various rat tissues and the highest expression was observed in heart. The MAO-B mRNA was quite different from MAO-A mRNA in the tissue-specific expression and liver had the highest level of the mRNA.

Condylar movements during mastication

To investigate the relationship between mastication and TMJ abnormalities, the incisal point and condylar movements during mastication were analysed in two normal subjects and six patients with stomatognathic dysfunction. The patients with stomatognathic dysfunction were two patients with unilateral anterior disk displacement with reduction, two with unilateral anterior disk displacement without reduction, and two with unilateral osteoarthritis. The incisal point movement was recorded using Sirognathograph Analysing System, and condylar movement was recorded with a pantograph. The movement path of the non-working condyle was shorter than that of the working condyle when patients with unilateral TMJ abnormalities used their non-abnormal side to chew, which resulted in deviation of the turning point (the point where the mouth changes from opening to closing) to the non-chewing side. Also, the convexity of the opening path was influenced by the condylar mobility of the abnormal side TMJ. Posterior dislocation of the condyle of the abnormal side TMJ resulted in a crossover chewing pattern of incisal point movement in the frontal or horizontal planes.

Proteins adsorbed on hemodialysis membranes modulate neutrophil activation

The rapid adsorption of plasma proteins is one of the initial events that occur when blood enters into contact with an artificial surface. This study investigates adsorption of plasma proteins in vitro by different types of dialysis membranes and how it influences neutrophil oxygen radical production. The recovery of proteins varied between the membranes and was by far the largest on polysulfone. Electrophoresis of the proteins removed indicated that albumin was present on all of the membranes. A specific band at 45 kD was observed on polysulfone, whereas a band at 12-14 kD was seen on polysulfone and polyacrilonitrile. The adsorbed proteins enhanced or reduced the ability of the membranes to stimulate neutrophil superoxide production, as measured by cytochrome-C reduction. The complement system was involved in this stimulation only on some membranes. Therefore, protein adsorption and neutrophil activation appear to take part in the membrane bioincompatibility process.

Biocompatibility aspects of dialyzer reprocessing: a comparison of 3 re-use methods and 3 membranes

While formalin reprocessing of cuprophan dialyzer membranes is known to improve their biocompatibility, the effects of different re-use methods have not been systematically investigated on different membranes. Therefore, the effects of reprocessing with formalin, hypochlorite-formalin and peracetic acid were successively investigated in 3 groups of 4 patients dialyzed on cuprophan (CU), cellulose acetate (CA) or polysulfone (PS). Leukocyte count, thrombocyte count and complement activation were studied during second and third use of the dialyzer. Formalin 3% storage was found to improve leukopenia, thrombocyte count and complement activation on CU but not on PS or CA where leukocyte and thrombocyte count worsened. Hypochlorite 1% rinsing prior to formalin 3% storage abolished the improvements observed on CU with formalin and induced on CA and PS the same leukopenia as formalin. In contrast, peracetic acid storage improved leukopenia, complement activation and thrombocyte count on the 3 membranes. In addition, it was found that storage of plasma-treated membrane fragments with peracetic acid abolished neutrophil oxygen radical production. Thus it appears that re-used membranes may not be systematically assumed to be more biocompatible, this property varying with both the type of membrane and the reprocessing technique.

[Relationship between condylar atrophy and tooth loss in stomatognathic dysfunction]

In our previous study, we concluded normal subjects did not present an abnormal morphology of condyle, while 30% of stomatognathic dysfunction patients revealed abnormality, and especially about 20% presented atrophy. In this study, we selected 146 patients with stomatognathic dysfunction and analysed patients with atrophy in condyle comparing patients without atrophy. We obtained following results. 1. 37 patients (25%) with dysfunction showed atrophy in condyle. Among them, 15 patients showed bilateral atrophy, and 22 showed unilaterally. 2. Among 22 patients with unilateral atrophy in condyle, 15 patients (68%) showed correspondence between symptomatic side and atrophy side. 3. Among 37 patients with atrophy in condyles, 30 patients (81%) showed organic changes in TMJ components. 4. Mean age of atrophy (+) group was significantly younger than that of atrophy (-) group. 5. No significant relationship was observed between the distinction of sex and atrophy existence in condyle. 6. Significant relationship was observed between loss of lower first molar and atrophy existence in condyle. Most of the patients of atrophy (+) group lost their lower first molars in growth period of TMJ components from mixed dentition through puberty and left them without restoration.

[Clinical study on the relationship between chewing movements and temporomandibular joint abnormalities]

Chewing movements are accomplished by the harmonious function of the stomatognathic system. Therefore, TMJs play important roles in chewing movements. Recently, significant findings on TMJ abnormalities have been obtained from many studies. However, the relationship between chewing movements and TMJ abnormalities remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine how TMJ abnormalities were reflected in chewing movements. Incisor point movements during chewing (chewing pattern) were investigated in 150 abnormal and 25 normal subjects using Sirognathograph Analysing System. Abnormal subjects were composed of 45 patients with anterior disk displacement with reduction (reciprocal click), 20 patients with anterior disk displacement without reduction (closed lock), 50 patients with osteoarthrosis and 35 patients with MPD syndrome. Analysis of condylar movements during chewing were also performed in 9 normal and 20 abnormal subjects. The results were as follow; 1. Subjects with TMJ abnormalities tended to show abnormal chewing patterns when chewing at their non-abnormal sides. 2. TMJ abnormality of each different type tended to show its respective characteristic chewing pattern. 1) Subjects with osteoarthrosis and reciprocal click without condylar posterior dislocation tended to show deviation of the turning point to the non-chewing side, with a convex opening path in the frontal plane and a lack of anteroposterior width in the sagittal plane. This finding was associated with the limitation in movement of the abnormal-side condyle. 2) Subjects with reciprocal click with condylar posterior dislocation tended to show a concave opening path and reversed or cross-over patterns in the frontal and horizontal planes, respectively. This finding was associated with the movement of the abnormal-side condyle in the medio-anterior direction during the initial phase of opening. 3) Subjects with closed lock without condylar posterior dislocation tended to show deviation of the turning point to the non-chewing side, with a concave opening path in the frontal plane and a lack of anteroposterior width in the sagittal plane. This finding was associated with the severe limitation in movement of the abnormal-side condyle. 4) Subjects with closed lock with condylar posterior dislocation characteristically tended to show reversed or cross-over patterns in the horizontal plane. This finding was associated with the movement of the abnormal-side condyle in the medio-anterior direction during the initial phase of opening. However, this movement was smaller than that of the reciprocal click. 3. Subjects with MPD syndrome showed chewing patterns similar to those of normal subjects. From the results, close relationships were found between chewing movements and TMJ abnormalities.

Molecular cloning of a cDNA for rat liver monoamine oxidase B

The cDNA for rat monoamine oxidase B mRNA was isolated from liver cDNA library in lambda gt11 using specific antibody and oligonucleotide probes derived from FAD-containing peptide of the enzyme. The primary structure of the protein, deduced from the nucleotide sequence, consisted of 520 amino acid residues and its molecular weight was calculated to be 58.4 kD which is in good agreement with that of the in vitro-synthesized peptide. FAD-binding site is located in the carboxy-terminal region. There is no typical structural feature common to the targeting signals for mitochondria, the periodic distribution of basic amino acids spaced by several uncharged residues, at its amino-terminal region. This region has an uninterrupted stretch of 14 hydrophobic residues.

[A case of adrenal myelolipoma]

A case of adrenal myelolipoma is reported. The patient was a 63-year-old female on whom liver dysfunction was diagnosed and a tumor was detected accidentally in the right adrenal region by ultrasound abdominal test. This patient was the 26th patient from whom this tumor was extirpated in Japan. Reports on similar cases are on the increase owing to the advances in diagnostic imaging. A half of such cases were asymptomatic, and 85% of them were right unilateral cases.

Immunochemical studies on the FAD-dependent NADPH-cytochrome c reductase from Trypanosoma cruzi

The cytosolic flavin enzyme from Trypanosoma cruzi was isolated by a modification of the previously reported method (T. Kuwahara, R. A. White, Jr., and M. Agosin (1985) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 239, 18-28). In the present study, rabbits were inoculated with the purified enzyme and antibodies were purified from the sera. Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis indicated that the antibodies reacted specifically with the flavoenzyme and not with other T. cruzi proteins. At the equivalence point, 1 ml of antibody neutralized about 4 nmol of enzyme. The IgG fraction had a small inhibitory effect on the catalytic activity of the enzyme as measured by cytochrome c reduction but only at IgG concentrations well above the equivalence point. Immunotitration of the enzyme in T. cruzi cultures showed that the enzyme corresponds to about 1% of the total protein during the logarithmic phase of growth, but this value decreases to about 0.6% during the stationary phase. Among various trypanosomatids tested, T. cruzi had the highest enzyme concentration; whereas, in other species it ranged from 0.25 to 2.4 micrograms/mg protein. These marked differences suggest that the antibody may be suitable for taxonomic purposes. The presence of the enzyme in amastigotes maintained in tissue culture cells was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. The enzyme was found localized in the periphery of the cell, just beneath the subpellicular microtubules. However, distribution of the enzyme in epimastigotes was more diffuse. As immunofluorescence could be detected only in amastigotes and not in the tissue culture cells, it is suggested that the antibody may be suitable for histopathological diagnosis of Chagas' disease.

Dialyzed polymorphonuclear neutrophil oxidative metabolism during dialysis: a comparative study with 5 new and reused membranes

Dialyzed neutrophils were isolated at time 0, 5, 15 and 60 min after the onset of hemodialysis in patients successively treated on 5 new and reused membranes, that is cuprophan (CU), cellulose acetate (CA), polysulfone (PS), polycarbonate (PC) and polyacrilonitrile (PAN). Production of oxygen radicals was monitored by luminol and lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL). During dialysis with CU and PC, cells remaining in circulation at the maximum neutropenia showed a significant decrease of luminol-enhanced CL, whether stimulated with opsonized zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate. This defect was transient and the responses normalized at 60 min or upon reuse of the membranes. Among the other membranes tested, only cells collected during the first use of PS showed an impaired CL response to phorbol myristate acetate, but not to opsonized zymosan. CL again normalized upon reuse. At 5 min of dialysis with each membrane, a plasma factor appeared that was able to stimulate oxygen radical production by autologous dialyzed and control cells. A dissociation between the oxidative responses of dialyzed neutrophils and neutropenia was observed depending on the nature of the membranes, suggesting that neutropenia is a multifactorial process in which oxygen radical production appears as an early disturbance.

Neutrophil oxygen radical production by dialysis membranes

The ability of different dialysis membranes to activate polymorphonuclear neutrophil oxygen radical production was investigated with chemiluminescence. All the six membranes, namely cuprophan, cellulose acetate, polycarbonate, polysulphone, polyacrilonitrile and polymethylmethacrylate were able to interact with neutrophils and stimulate their oxygen radical production, the highest responses being seen with polyacrilonitrile, polymethylmethacrylate and polycarbonate. To analyse the role of complement in this interaction, fresh plasma, heat-inactivated and zymosan-activated plasma were added: with fresh plasma oxygen radical production was stimulated on cuprophan, cellulose acetate and polysulphone, not modified on polycarbonate, and decreased on polyacrilonitrile and polymethylmethacrylate. With heat-inactivated plasma, the responses were decreased or abrogated on all the membranes except polycarbonate and polymethylmethacrylate, whereas with zymosan-activated plasma similar responses to fresh plasma were observed. In addition, when plasma was used to precoat the membrane, cuprophan, cellulose acetate and polysulphone disclosed an enhanced neutrophil oxidative burst, while precoated polyacrilonitrile and polymethylmethacrylate were less stimulatory than uncoated membranes. In contrast the precoating of polycarbonate did not modify oxygen radical production. These data suggest that neutrophil activation occurs by direct membrane-neutrophil interaction. Plasmatic factors modulate this interaction but complement seems involved on cellulosic and polysulphone membranes only. Therefore, it appears that oxygen radicals produced from contact of neutrophils with the dialysis membrane might play an initial and/or additional role in the events occurring at the initiation of haemodialysis.

The effect of alpha-ecdysone and phenobarbital on the alpha-ecdysone 20-monooxygenase of house fly larva

The NADPH-dependent cytochrome P-450 20-monooxygenation of alpha-ecdysone is catalyzed both by mitochondria and microsomes isolated from Musca domestica, L. larvae, but about 50% of the activity is associated with mitochondria and 37% with microsomes. The mitochondrial activity is increased by pretreatment with alpha-ecdysone with a concomitant decrease in Km values. This effect is not observed in microsomes. Induction with phenobarbital represses the mitochondrial 20-monooxygenase but does not change the microsomal activity, although a large increase in cytochrome P-450 is observed in the latter fraction. It is concluded that only the mitochondrial 20-monooxygenase appears to be regulated by alpha-ecdysone which suggests that mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 forms are involved in the moulting phenomenon; whereas, microsomal cytochrome P-450 activity may be of a nonspecific nature and not relevant to development.

[Hormone therapy as postoperative care in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer]

TSH suppression therapy has been performed for 150 patients as postoperative care for differentiated thyroid cancer. L-thyroxine (LT4) was given in a dose of 2.1-4.8 micrograms/kg/day, per os. Serum thyroid hormone determinations were done after confirming that the drug had continually been taken for more than three months. Serum free T4 (FT4) values were elevated higher than the upper normal limits (1.9 ng/dl) in 127 of 150 cases (84.7%). In 100 cases of these, serum free T3 (FT3), reverse T3 (rT3) and TSH were estimated. In 98 cases (98%), serum FT3 was within the normal limits (3-6 pg/ml) and no correlation was found between values of FT4 and FT3. These serum rT3 values, however, were elevated higher than the normal range (13-43 ng/dl) in 41 cases (41%) correlating with FT4 values. Serum TSH, FT4 and FT3 showed no correlation with given LT4 doses. There was no correlation between the serum TSH and FT3. However, some correlation (r = -0.4046) was found between serum TSH and rT3 values. From these results the following conclusions were obtained: i) There must be some auto-regulating mechanisms to keep the serum FT3 values at the normal level by promoting a de-iodinating process from T4 to rT3 when serum T4 level increased, since rT3 has no hormone activity. ii) Administration of synthesized LT4 is safer and more adequately usable than synthesized L-triiodothyronine or desiccated thyroid, as the TSH suppression therapy, because the above mentioned autoregulating mechanism would take place.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A trial of sustained-release anticancer chemotherapy with silicone]

Mitomycin C (MMC) was incorporated into liquid silicone which was then vulcanized into solid form. Pellets of MMC were implanted at 5 different sites within the mediastinum of 9 dogs. Implants were removed at regular intervals after sacrificing the test animals. Though the mean doses of MMC released leveled off during 4 weeks, it began to increased rapidly after the 5 week with the result of, this one month delay compared with in vitro. Necrosis appeared to prevent MMC from liberating itself from the implants. Further, the cumulative doses of MMC released were found to be superior in the subaortic and subcarinal sites than in the other three places. No serious complications were encountered in this study.

Preventive effects of the cerebral circulation improver 6,7-dimethoxy-1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4-([4-(2-methoxyphenyl)- 1-piperazinyl]methyl)isoquinoline on stroke symptoms in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were treated with food admixed, 6,7-dimethoxy-1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4-([4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1- piperazinyl]methyl)isoquinoline (Ro 22-4839), a novel cerebral circulation improver, for a period of 15 weeks starting from 5 weeks of age at an average daily dose of 30.6 or 66.0 mg/kg. As compared with normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats, SHRSP in the control group rapidly developed severe hypertension (244 mmHg at the end of the experiments) accompanied with deterioration of cardiovascular parameters including left ventricular hypertrophy, reduction in pumping ability and increase in peripheral vascular tone. At 20 weeks of age (i.e. at the end of experiments), 75% of SHRSP developed stroke signs and concomitant cerebral edema evidenced by the increases in water and sodium contents in the brain. These stroke symptoms were accompanied with a profound externalized shape change of erythrocytes after in vitro treatment with Ca2+ and ionophore A23187, an increased plasma level of thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS), a measure of lipid peroxides, and a decreased sensitivity of platelets to ADP. The long-term treatment with Ro 22-4839 prevented the progress of stroke and cerebral edema, although the deteriorated cardiovascular parameters were not prevented by the treatment. This compound was also found to prevent the hypersusceptibility of erythrocyte membrane to Ca2+-ionophore and Ca2+, the hypoaggregability of platelets and the elevated plasma TBARS in SHRSP. These results indicate that the beneficial effects of Ro 22-4839 in SHRSP may be attributable to its calmodulin antagonistic and anti-lipid peroxidative actions but not to its hypotensive action.

Calmodulin antagonistic action of the cerebral circulation improver 6,7-dimethoxy-1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4- ([4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]methyl)isoquinoline

6,7-Dimethoxy-1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4-([4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1- piperazinyl]methyl)isoquinoline (Ro 22-4839) is a new cerebral circulation improver with vasospasmolytic properties. Preliminarily, Ro 22-4839-induced arterial relaxation was confirmed under the treatment of various constrictors and it was hardly overcome by addition of extra calcium. In this study the mode and site of action of this agent were further explored. Ro 22-4839 was found to more strongly inhibit the superprecipitation of chicken gizzard smooth muscle actomyosin (IC50 = 2.0 mumol/l) than trifluoperazine (38 mumol/l) and W-7 (N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene-sulfonamide) (220 mumol/l), an in vitro model for relaxation-contraction coupling of the smooth muscle in which calmodulin is known to play an important role through phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase. The calmodulin antagonistic action of Ro 22-4839 was also demonstrated in other calmodulin-related reaction systems such as phosphodiesterase and hydrophobic fluorescent probe, but was very weak in Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase of rat erythrocyte membrane. Thus, Ro 22-4839 was suggested to have a relative preference for smooth muscle contraction process unlike trifluoperazine and W-7. Moreover, Ro 22-4839 prevented the decrease in erythrocyte deformability induced by hyperosmolarity or intracellular Ca2+ accumulation, like trifluoperazine and W-7. However, Ro 22-4839 itself caused hardly an internal stomatocytic shape of erythrocytes in contrast to known calmodulin antagonists. Further, Ro 22-4839 inhibited erythrocyte membrane rupture, platelet aggregation and lipid peroxidation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)