Echocardiographic findings of floating thrombus in left atrium

We describe the M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiographic findings of a floating thrombus in the left atrium. Though the features resembled those of pedunculated left atrial myxoma, two-dimensional echocardiography was helpful in differentiating between thrombus and myxoma in the left atrium.

Detection and activity of blood group B gene-associated alpha-galactosyltransferase in human urine

alpha-Galactosyltransferase which participates in the biosynthesis of blood group B substance was found in urine from group B and AB healthy persons of both secretors and non-secretors. The activity of alpha-galactosyltransferase in the urine of a healthy variant Bm person was lower than that found in a normal group B person. This enzyme in urine of A1Bm persons must be much lower than that in normal AB persons. Its activity was not detected by the method of group O to group B transformation or erythrocytes.

Myogenic receptivity for Met-enkephalin in the rat duodenum: comparison with the guinea-pig duodenum

Met-enkephalin (ENK) induced a dose-dependent transient relaxation in vitro in the rat duodenum while morphine neither induced a response nor affected the response to ENK. The response was not blocked by tetrodotoxin but was abolished by naloxone. The response of guinea-pig duodenum to ENK was either relaxation or pulsatile contractions depending on the dose and was abolished by tetrodotoxin.

Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the isolated small intestine and taenia coli of the guinea pig

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) produced a contraction in the isolated segment of duodenum and taenia coli of the guinea-pig (pA2, 8.0 and 8.9). TRH induced a contraction, a relaxation, or a contraction followed by relaxation in the jejunum and ileum. All the responses to TRH of the small intestine and the taenia coli were abolished in the presence of tetrodotoxin but not affected by hexamethonium. The contractile response to TRH of the small intestine was abolished and replaced by a relaxation in the presence of hyoscine. This relaxant response was not affected by guanethidine. The taenial response to TRH was partially inhibited by either hyoscine or methysergide and markedly diminished by the two together. These findings indicate that TRH acts on the myenteric neurons of the small intestine and taenia coli of the guinea pig. The contractile response of small intestine is likely to be induced through cholinergic nerves while cholinergic, serotonergic and unidentified excitatory neurons seem to be involved in the taenial response. These neurogenic actions of TRH on the guinea-pig intestine are in contrast with the myogenic natur of the response to TRH in the duodenum of the rat.

Purification and properties of a novel fucose-specific hemagglutinin of Aleuria aurantia

A fucose-binding lectin from fruiting bodies of Aleuria aurantia was purified by affinity chromatography by using the H-active glycopeptide of desialyzed porcine submaxillary mucine coupled to Sepharose 4B and eluting with L-fucose. Homogeneity of the active protein was confirmed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, column chromatography using Sephadex G-100, and ultracentrifugal analyses. It has a molecular weight of 72 000 and is proposed to be a dimer of identical subunits, each of which has combining site of uniform affinity. Chemical analyses revealed the absence of the sulfur-containing amino acid and carbohydrate, neutral and amino sugar, in the lectin molecule. It agglutinated human erythrocytes of all ABO and Lewis types, Bombay phenotype, and group O cells treated with alpha (1 leads to 2)-fucosidase. In double-diffusion experiments, the lectin formed a single precipitin line which fused with all of the fucose-containing blood-group substances tested, including the alpha-fucosidase-treated materials. These findings together with the results of hemagglutination and precipitation studies indicate that the lectin combines the terminal fucose in the carbohydrate chain but doses not require a particular linkage to the penultimate sugar moiety.

alpha-L-Fucosyltransferases related to biosynthesis of blood group substances in human Saliva

alpha-L-Fucosyltransferases were demonstrated in human saliva which catalyze the transfer of L-fucose from GDP-L-[14C]-fucose to oligosaccharides from human milk. An alpha-(1 yields 4)-L-fucosyltransferase that synthesizes lacto-N-fucopentaose II and lacto-N-difucohexaose I from lacto-N-tetraose and lacto-N-fucopentaose I, respectively, was detected in saliva samples of Le(a--b+) secretors and Le(a+b--) non-secretors in which Lea substance was secreted. This enzyme activity was demonstrable neither in saliva samples of Le(a--b--) secretors nor non-secretors. An alpha-(1 yields 2)-L-fucosyltransferase, that synthesizes lacto-N-fucopentaose I from lacto-N-tetraose, was detected in saliva samples from Le(a--b+) secretors which secreted H and Leb substances and from Le(a--b--) secretors which secreted only H substance. An alpha-(1 yields 3)-L-fucosyltransferase was present in all saliva samples of different ABO and Lewis blood groups, irrespective of their ABH secretor status of the donors. The fucosyltransferases in saliva were activated by Mn++ or Mg++ ions, and were inhibited by ATP, GTP and EDTA. They had a broad pH optimum between pH 5.0 and 6.5.

Selective lumbosacral radiculography and block

Selective lumbosacral radiculography and block was performed on 106 patients, using 60% Conray or Dimer-X and 1% lidocaine mixed with corticosteroid. The technique of this method is reported, and the radiculographic findings and diagnostic value of this method are discussed. According to our experience, this method is technically simple and very useful in determining the limit of the lumbosacral nerve root lesion, and occasionally can be used to relieve radicular symptoms. We think it is an especially excellent diagnostic technique for disorders featuring nerve root entrapment in the lateral foraminal recess, in which accurate localization cannot be determined by the other auxiliary diagnostic measures.

Multidrug combination in cancer chemotherapy: MFU therapy

Three-drug therapy with Mitomycin-C (MMC), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and a nitrosourea derivative, ACNU, was carried out in 72 cases of carcinoma patients, mostly of stomach carcinoma. 1) According to Karnofsky's criteria, an effect of above I-A was observed in 10 of 35 cases (29%) treated with MFU-I (0.08 mg/kg of MMC, 10 mg/kg of 5-FU and 0.4-0.8 mg/kg of ACNU twice a week for the first two weeks and once a week thereafter for a total of six weeks as one course), 5 of 14 cases (36%) with MFU-I-O (MFU-I plus 0.2-2.0 KE of OK-432 i.m. three times a week), and 6 of 20 cases (30%) with MFU-II (0.2 mg/kg of MMC once in two weeks, 5 mg/kg of 5-FU every day, 2 mg/kg of ACNU once in six weeks as one course). 2) According to the criteria of the group of Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, a partial response was seen in 29% of the cases treated with MFU-I, in 38% of the cases treated with MFU-I-O, and 30% of the cases treated with MFU-II. 3) Side effect was slight in the digestive organs but the bone marrow suppression was remarkable. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were seen in the majority of patients under treatment. The hematological side effect appeared early in MFU-II therapy, but it was not severe and recovered quickly. Combined use of OK-432 seemed to be effective to shorten the period of hematological disorders. Thus, three-drug combination treatment with MMC, 5-FU, and ACNU seems to be useful for patients with malignant tumor, chiefly of the digestive organs. Especially, MFU-II treatment schedule seems to be a combination therapy that has relatively small hematological side effects.

Subxiphoid two-dimensional echocardiographic detection of tricuspid valve prolapse

A patient with click and late systolic murmur syndrome originating in the right side of the heart is described. Prolapse of the anterior tricuspid leaflet was demonstrated by subxiphoid two-dimensional echocardiography alone. Neither of the mitral leaflets showed any evidence of prolapse on the echocardiogram. The prolapsed anterior tricuspid leaflet and mild regurgitation were confirmed by right heart cineangiogram.