Mechanism for the generation of active smooth muscle inhibitory factor (IF) from bovine retractor penis muscle (BRP)

The active smooth muscle inhibitory factor (IF) is generated by acidifying the extracts from the bovine retractor penis muscle (BRP). The activated IF is very similar to endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). However, the mechanism for the generation of active IF is yet unknown. From reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatographic data, the activities of nitrite loss were closely related to the contents of both sulfhydryl (SH) groups and L-cysteine. Thus, under acidic conditions, RSH and nitrite in the extracts are considered to react as follows: RSH + HNO2----RSNO + H2O, RSNO----(1/2) RSSR + NO, NO + (1/2)O2----NO2, NO2 + (1/2)H2O----(1/2)HNO2 + (1/2)HNO3. In addition to NO, RSNO is also a labile but potent vasodilator. Thus, activated IF seems to consist of RSNO and NO, and thiol-containing small molecules (molecular weight of less than 1,000) from BRP are closely involved in the generation of active IF.

[Microcystic adnexal carcinoma--a light and electron microscopic studies]

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) in a 48-year-old Japanese male was studied. A firm nodule had appeared on the right side of his upper lip at the age of 38 years and then had gradually enlarged. Light microscopic examinations revealed numerous strands and islands of basaloid cells and keratinous cysts with desmoplastic stroma in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Some keratinous cysts showed early calcification and some contained pilar structures. Clear cells resembling sebaceous gland cells were observed in the strands of tumor cells connecting the keratinous cysts. In the middle dermis, there were small ductal structures containing amorphous eosinophilic material. Immunoperoxidase staining for carcinoembryonic antigen was focally positive in the lumina of small ducts, on the ductal lining surface of tumor cells, and in the contents of keratinous cysts. Electron microscopic examinations revealed tumor cells resembling non-keratotic keratinocytes, and containing tonofilaments, mitochondria, and vacuoles. In some parts, tumors were differentiated to various types of sebaceous gland, sweat duct, or sweat secretary segments. Sebaceous gland cells contained lipid droplets and glycogen. Tumors differentiated to sweat duct had a marked similarity to embryo eccrine duct in the lower epidermis because of the presence of multivesicular dense bodies and periluminal filamentous zones and the absence of myoepithelial cells. Tumors differentiated to sweat secretary segments had a similarity to embryo eccrine secretary segments because of the absence of multivesicular dense bodies, periluminal filamentous zones and myoepithelial cells.

Pyrrolidine derivatives as inhibitors of platelet aggregation induced by platelet activating factor

Newly synthesized pyrrolidine derivatives inhibited rabbit platelet aggregation induced by platelet activating factor.

Production of optically active esters and alcohols from racemic alcohols by lipase-catalyzed stereoselective transesterification in non-aqueous reaction system

Microbial lipase-catalyzed transesterification between vinyl acetate and (RS)-2-octanol or (RS)-1-phenylethanol was investigated in a reaction system without addition of aqueous or organic solvents. From a screening test with various lipases, it was found that the enzymes from Pseudomonas species could efficiently catalyze the reaction, and R-enantiomers of the racemic alcohols were preferentially esterified by them. Enantiomeric purities of the optically active alcohols (S) and esters (R) obtained from (RS)-1-phenylethanol by the stereoselective transesterification of these lipases were all more than 95%.

Enzymatic transesterification with the lipase from Pseudomonas fragi 22.39 B in a non-aqueous reaction system

The lipase from Pseudomonas fragi 22.39 B catalyzed the transesterification in ester and alcohol mixtures without any other solvent. Activated esters, such as vinyl and phenyl esters, were excellent acyl donors for the reaction, and the activity was enhanced by increasing the carbon number of the fatty acid fraction of the esters. Primary alcohols were esterified faster than secondary ones in this reaction system, while tertiary alcohols such as alpha-terpineol did not react at all. The lipase exhibited stereoselectivity in the esterification of alcohols such as 2-octanol.

The effectiveness of ethanol gauze for hand disinfection in surgical wards

The effectiveness of ethanol gauze in removing transient bacteria on the hands was investigated in a surgical ward during clinical nursing rounds. Two nurses with similar duties were selected as subjects for each round; one disinfected her hands with ethanol gauze when moving between patients while the other immersed her hands in 0.05% aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate when aware of contaminating her hands. Hand samples were taken after preliminary disinfection before the round, and again after the round on 37 occasions. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were not detected in nurses using ethanol gauze, except in one nurse where S. aureus was isolated from both the pre- and postround hand culture. Both organisms were detected on four occasions from the postround hand cultures in the chlorhexidine group. Acinetobacter anitratus was not removed by pre-round disinfection, and was found on five and 11 occasions from the postround hand cultures in the ethanol gauze and chlorhexidine groups, respectively.

High melanosome engulfing activity of cutaneous fibroblasts in macular amyloidosis: an electron microscopic study

Six patients with macular amyloidosis were investigated by electron microscopy and various morphological changes in fibroblasts were identified. Many cells, which seemed to be macrophages by light microscopy, proved to be fibroblasts. The digesting action of fibroblasts was well developed and many melanosomes were taken into the cells making the cells resemble melanophages. The fibroblasts extended long, thin and branched cytoplasmic processes to surround the amyloid mass, and the cells selectively extended these into the narrow spaces between collagen and amyloid. The fibroblast showed highly developed endocytotic activity and probable ingestion of amyloid by pinocytosis or phagocytosis. The developed rough endoplasmic reticulum contained much protein and was active in secretion.

Median raphe cyst of the penis

A case of median raphe cyst of the penis in a 7-year-old boy is reported. Although the lesion is rare, characteristic clinical features makes it easy to diagnose median raphe cyst of the penis, which has been mistakenly reported as apocrine hidrocystoma. Surgical excision must be performed to prevent recurrence.

Sequential production of Birbeck granules through adsorptive pinocytosis

A case of vitiligo with inflammatory raised borders was observed electron microscopically, resulting in an interesting view of the formation of Birbeck granules in Langerhans cells. Following the formation of larger coated vesicles, which perform adsorptive pinocytosis from the cell membrane, membrane invagination of the cell occurred shown as the tubular infolding, resulting in the observation of the characteristic Birbeck granule band pattern in its interior. This phenomenon supports the theory of Hashimoto and Tarnowski (1968) that Birbeck granules are formed from the infolding of the cell membrane. In addition, our study shows the involvement of adsorptive pinocytosis in the formation of the granules. It was suggested that when the coated Birbeck granule shifts into the cell, possibly its coat is detached and the vesicle portion forms the globule of the Birbeck granule.

Macular amyloidosis with patchy filamentous degeneration of collagen islands

Unusual patchy filamentous degeneration of collagen islands, found in a typical case of macular amyloidosis, is described. This phenomenon was found to begin in intact islands scattered among the amyloid islands in the papillary and upper reticula dermis. Since the patches varied in size, they were thought to have grown gradually with time. They were derived from the degeneration of collagen fibrils and demonstrated a tropocollagen-like structure. Although the small patches preserved some characteristic structures of collagen fibrils or tropocollagen, the large patches showed amyloid-like filamentous masses surrounding the collagen islands.

Studies on the light-focusing plastic rod. 8: Copolymer rod of diethylene glycol bis (allyI carbonate) with methacrylic ester of fluorine containing alcohol

The two-step copolymerization of diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate) (CR-39) with methacrylic ester of fluorine containing alcohol (FMA), i.e., trifluoroethyl methacrylate (3FMA) and 1,1,3-trihydroperfluoropro-pyl methacrylate (4FMA), was carried out to prepare a light-focusing plastic rod. The relations between the preparation conditions and the optical characteristics of the resulting rods were considered in the following terms: (a) diffusibilities of CR-39 and FMA; (b) copolymerization of FMA with CR-39; (c) slower diffusion rate of 4FMA than that of 3FMA due to molecular size effect. Low chromatic aberration and the excellent imaging property of the CR-39-3FMA rod lens are also presented.

Assay of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method using preparative and analytical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is proposed for the assay of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) in human plasma. A constant volume (0.2--2.0 ml) of a plasma sample was saponified. The unsaponifiable matter was first applied to preparative HPLC using a column of the straight-phase type (Zorbax SIL) in order to separate a 25-OH-D3 fraction from lipophilic concomitants giving ultraviolet-absorbing noise. Then, the separated 25-OH-D3 fraction was applied to analytical HPLC using a column of the reversed-phase type (Zorbax ODS) in order to measure the content of 25-OH-D3 from the peak height. This is a revised method from Jones (1978): Clin. Chem., 24, 287--298). The results showed that the clean-up procedure by the first preparative HPLC was successfully performed because the peak corresponding to 25-OH-D3 on the chromatogram of the second analytical HPLC was not disturbed by any other interfering peaks. Moreover, recovery through the whole procedure was satisfacotry (about 100%) and the procedures of saponification and isolation of the unsaponifiable matter diminished the overload to the columns. These are the revised points of Jones' method. When two determinations were performed on 12 samples of plasma taken from normal adults in October, the values were 22.6 +/- 4.8 and 21.0 +/- 3.6 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml, respectively.

Intracardiac flow dynamics with bi-directional ultrasonic pulsed Doppler technique

1) Intracardiac flows were investigated by bi-directional pulsed Doppler technique with a combined use of the two-dimensional echocardiography. The flow at sampling sites in the heat and great vessels were correctly identified on the two-dimensional echocardiograms. 2) Soundspectrographic analysis of the flow Doppler signals was useful in obtaining information about flow modes and in differentiating flow signals from those of valves. 3) In healthy subjects, intracardiac flow revealed a laminar mode. As a matter of interest, a flow toward the aorta, which is a cranially turned flow, was found at the center and at the outflow tract of the left ventricle from mid to late diastole. 4) In mitral stenosis, the central stream at the stenotic portion exhibited an almost laminar and rapid flow. A good coincidence in flow mode was observed between clinical cases of mitral stenosis and experimental stenosis. 5) Disturbed flows were observed in the following diseased conditions. The diastolic regurgitant flow in the left ventricular outflow tract and mitral inflow in aortic regurgitation, the regurgitant flow into the left atrium and the diastolic mitral inflow in mitral regurgitation, the ejection flow in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with outflow tract obstruction, and the tricuspid inflow in atrial septal defect. 6) Mechanisms of intracardiac flow dynamics were also discussed.