Dopamine release in the medial preoptic area during male copulatory behavior in rats

In vivo microdialysis was employed to measure the extracellular concentrations of dopamine (DA) in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of rats during male sexual activity to look for a correlation with sexual activity. During copulation, the concentration of DA in the MPOA was significantly increased. A significant difference was detected in changes of DA between copulators and non-copulators. These findings were consistent with the assertion that DA neuron activity in the MPOA facilities male copulatory behavior.

Amyloid beta-proteins 1-40 and 1-42(43) in the soluble fraction of extra- and intracranial blood vessels

To investigate the process of amyloid beta-protein (A beta) accumulation in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the levels of A beta were determined in the soluble fraction of extra- and intracranial blood vessels and leptomeninges obtained at autopsy. Two enzyme immunoassays were employed that are known to sensitively and specifically quantify two A beta species, A beta 1-40 and 1-42(43). A beta was detectable in the intracranial blood vessels and leptomeninges with the latter containing the highest levels, while it was undetectable in the extracranial blood vessels. Thus the levels of soluble A beta correlated well with the predilection sites for CAA. Among individuals aged 20 to 90, the A beta levels in the leptomeninges increased sharply in those aged 50 to 70 and thereafter tended to decline. However, only slight degrees of CAA were detected by immunocytochemistry, even when those leptomeninges contained high levels of A beta comparable with those in Alzheimer's disease. The level of A beta 1-42 was almost always severalfold that of A beta 1-40 in the soluble fraction of leptomeninges. This is in good agreement with the immunocytochemical result showing the presence of A beta 40-negative, A beta 42(43)-positive meningeal vessels. These results indicate that A beta 1-42 is the initially deposited species in CAA and that the disruption of A beta homeostasis precedes A beta deposition in the meningeal vessels.

Spontaneous tone in different types of longitudinal muscle preparations of guinea pig ileum

Spontaneous tone of longitudinal muscle in guinea pig ileum was investigated in three types of preparations, intact segment preparation, segment preparation deprived of the mucosal layer and longitudinal strip preparation. Tone was defined as the sustained contraction that was lost by 10(-7) M atropine in the isotonically recorded manner. The magnitudes of tone were constant for at least 3 hr in the two types of segment preparations. Contractions in response to 10(-6) M acetylcholine, which were induced 9 times with an interval of 20 min between each induction, were almost identical throughout the period. In the longitudinal strip preparation, on the other hand, the tone gradually decayed and was eventually lost, while the amplitudes of acetylcholine-induced contractions were reciprocally increased. The tone in the intact segment preparation was reduced to 19% of the control by tetrodotoxin (3 x 10(-7) M), to 51% by indomethacin (3 x 10(-6) M) and to 26% by N6-cyclopentyladenosine (10(-7) M), but was not affected by AA-861 (3 x 10(-6) M) or CP-96,345 (3 x 10(-7) M). In the three types of preparations, the dose-response curves for acetylcholine were alike with similar EC50s. These results suggest that the tone of longitudinal muscle was mainly induced due to neural activity in the myenteric plexus of guinea pig ileum and that sensitivity to acetylcholine was not affected by the neural activity.

[Manase Dosan (the Elder) and leprosy]

The aim of this paper is to describe the main features of Manase Dosan's (1507-1594) study and treatment of leprosy. Contrary to general medical opinion in the Middle Ages that leprosy was the result of divine retribution. Dosan viewed leprosy as simply another disease and treated it accordingly from a medical perspective. Furthermore, the commonly held belief from the latter half of the 17th century onwards amongst Early Modern era doctors and also the general populace that leprosy was a hereditary disease, was not considered by Dosan. The foregoing two points can be explained by his rational approach to medicine, plus the fact that leprosy at the time was widely prevalent amongst all areas of society, not just restricted to particular households. It is thus fair to say that Dosan's medical philosophy reflected the state of Japanese society during the transition from medieval to the Early Modern period. It should be noted, however, that Dosan's view that leprosy was caused by meat-eating and overindulgence in sex gave rise to a new, negative image of the disease, and in so doing tied in with the Early Modern era prejudices against "lust", "intemperance" and "laziness."

Human alanyl-tRNA synthetase: conservation in evolution of catalytic core and microhelix recognition

The class II Escherichia coli and human alanyl-tRNA synthetases cross-acylate their respective tRNAs and require, for aminoacylation, an acceptor helix G3:U70 base pair that is conserved in evolution. We report here the primary structure and expression in the yeast Pichia of an active human alanyl-tRNA synthetase. The N-terminal 498 amino acids of the 968-residue polypeptide have substantial (41%) identity with the E. coli protein. A closely related region encompasses the class-defining domain of the E. coli enzyme and includes the part needed for recognition of the acceptor helix. As a result, previously reported mutagenesis, modeling, domain organization, and biochemical characterization on the E. coli protein appear valid as a template for the human protein. In particular, we show that both the E. coli enzyme and the human enzyme purified from Pichia aminoacylate 9-base pair RNA duplexes whose sequences are based on the acceptor stems of either E. coli or human alanine tRNAs. In contrast, the sequences of the two enzymes completely diverge in an internal portion of the C-terminal half that is essential for tetramer formation by the E. coli enzyme, but that is dispensable for microhelix aminoacylation. This divergence correlates with the expressed human enzyme behaving as a monomer. Thus, the region of close sequence similarity may be a consequence of strong selective pressure to conserve the acceptor helix G3:U70 base pair as an RNA signal for alanine.

The extent of amyloid deposition in brain in patients with Down's syndrome does not depend upon the apolipoprotein E genotype

The extent of deposition of amyloid beta protein (A beta) was investigated in 20 elderly patients with Down's syndrome, using the end-specific monoclonal antibodies BC05 and BA27 to detect the presence of A beta 42(43) and A beta 40 (respectively), and related to apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype. No significant differences in the amount of A beta deposited in the brain, either as A beta 42(43) or A beta 40, were noted in patients possessing an ApoE E4 allele, compared to those without. Patients with an ApoE E4 allele in general died at an earlier age than those with only ApoE E3 alleles, the latter in turn being outlived by those with an ApoE E2 allele. In Down's syndrome therefore, ApoE may influence the timing of onset, or the rate of progression, of disease but without affecting the type or total amount of pathology accumulated.

Long amyloid beta-protein secreted from wild-type human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells

The 39- to 43-amino acid amyloid beta-protein (A beta) is deposited as amyloid in Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies have suggested that short A beta (A beta 39 or A beta 40) and long A beta (A beta 42 or A beta 43) play different roles in Alzheimer-type pathology. However, little attempt has been made to investigate the cellular mechanisms underlying the generation of short and long A beta individually. In the present report, we first measured the amount of short and long A beta that are secreted from wild-type human and rodent cells with neuron- or glia-like properties using highly sensitive sandwich-ELISAs that discriminate long A beta from short A beta. The results showed that long A beta secreted by all cells constitutes approximately 10% of the total A beta. To identify the molecular species of long A beta, we next isolated the A beta species secreted from human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells by affinity chromatography, gel-filtration HPLC, and reverse-phase HPLC. Mass spectrometric analysis demonstrated unequivocally that IMR-32 cells produce A beta 1-42 together with A beta 1-37, A beta 1-38, A beta 1-39, and most predominantly, A beta 1-40. Finally, to investigate the cellular mechanisms that generate A beta 1-42, we studied the effects of brefeldin A and monensin on the production of A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-42 in IMR-32 cells. These reagents reduced the production of both A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-42 simultaneously in a concentration-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of antiepileptic drugs on thyroid function

Chronic treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AED) is known to reduce serum thyroid hormone levels. Serum thyrotropin (TSH) level is unchanged despite low thyroxine (T4) level. We studied serum tri-iodothyronine (T3), T4 and TSH in 30 epileptic patients prior to discontinuation and 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks after AED discontinuation. One AED was discontinued in each patient. Serum T3 levels were reduced consistently after AED discontinuation. Serum T4 and rT3 levels were increased, but not persistently. Serum TSH levels were unchanged. Our results suggest that during AED treatment serum T3 level was increased. This could be an increased conversion of T4 to T3. An acceleration of thyroid hormones degradation by enzyme induction is physiologically balanced by an increased conversion of T4 to T3.

Piperonyl butoxide mutagenicity in human RSa cells

Piperonyl butoxide (PB) is used as a pesticide synergist and food additive. Its chemically induced mutagenicity was found in cultured human RSa cells by determination of ouabain-resistant (Ouar) phenotypic mutation, with the highest frequency at the concentration of 0.2 microgram/ml. Moreover, K-ras codon 12 mutations in genomic DNA, analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and differential dot-blot hybridization using digoxigenin-labeled probes, were detected in RSa cells 6 days after exposure to PB (0.03-0.40 microgram/ml).

Dipyridamole combined with tumor necrosis factor-alpha enhances inhibition of proliferation in human tumor cell lines

In the search for cytokines whose antiproliferative action could be enhanced by combination with dipyridamole, 2,6-bis(diethanolamino)-4,8-dipiperidinopyrimido[5,4-d]pyrim idine, the combination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) with this agent was evaluated in various human tumor cell lines. Inhibition of the proliferation of human melanoma cell lines MM-1CB and HMV-1 by TNF-alpha (1-10(2) U/ml) was enhanced in culture dishes by combination treatment with dipyridamole (0.1-10 microM). The enhancement effect was also detected in other tumor cell lines: T98 (glioma), SCC-1CB (squamous cell carcinoma), HAC-2 (ovarian clear-cell carcinoma), HLE (hepatoma), HEC-1 (endometrial adenocarcinoma) and HOC-21 (ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma). The incorporation of [14C]amino acids and [3H]uridine into acid-insoluble cell materials in the combination-treated cells was not significantly different from that in cells treated with TNF-alpha or dipyridamole. However, the incorporation of [3H]thymidine was specifically inhibited in all cell lines examined after more than 12 h of the TNF-alpha and dipyridamole combination treatment, although neither agent alone inhibited this incorporation. On the other hand, the growth of tumors induced by the injection of MM-1CB and HMV-1 cells into nude mice was more markedly inhibited by the subcutaneous administration of TNF-alpha in combination with orally administered dipyridamole than by either agent alone. The results presented suggested that dipyridamole is beneficial in assuring the effectiveness of anti-cancer cytokine therapy.

Treatment of a stage I testicular yolk sac tumor with vascular invasion

There is controversy concerning the treatment of stage I yolk sac tumor of the testis, particularly of those with histological factors that indicate a high risk of relapse. Usually orchiectomy alone is sufficient and adjuvant chemotherapy is unnecessary. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is indicated for patients with persistently high alpha-fetoprotein. Once recurred, treatment at that time is thought to be curative. However, postoperative chemotherapy may be necessary for patients with a tumor expressing histological factors that predict possible relapse. In this paper we report on a case of a 2 year old boy whose tumor invaded the testicular veins. The patient suffered from recurrent disease but was successfully treated by chemotherapeutic regimens including cisplatin and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. The importance of the histological factors in making a decision on the treatment strategy for stage I testicular yolk sac tumor is discussed.

Diversity and variability of smooth muscle phenotypes of renal arterioles as revealed by myosin isoform expression

The contractility and distensibility of renal arterioles are important in the regulation of glomerular filtration. However, little is known regarding the characteristics of contractile proteins in these arterioles. Recently it was demonstrated that vascular smooth muscles contain two types of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms, SM1 and SM2, which are unique molecular markers of smooth muscle cell phenotypes. SM1 is constitutively expressed in all types of smooth muscles, whereas SM2 exists only in mature smooth muscles. We characterized the expression of MHC isoforms as well as the ultrastructural myofilament assembly of renal arteriolar smooth muscles in human, rat and rabbit by immunohistochemical techniques. SM1 and alpha-smooth muscle actin were localized in both the preglomerular vessels (including the afferent arterioles) and efferent arterioles, whereas SM2 was present only in the preglomerular vessels. Renin-producing cells in the afferent arterioles (juxtaglomerular granular cells, JG cells) were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin but negative for SM2. When renin synthesis was stimulated, the more proximal afferent arteriolar smooth muscles turned renin-positive and SM2 disappeared. Glomerular mesangial cells did not show immunoreactivities for SM1, SM2 or alpha-smooth muscle actin. The difference in MHC isoform expression in these arterioles was also reflected by ultrastructures; the afferent arteriolar smooth muscles contained abundant myofilaments including thick filaments, whereas the efferent arteriolar smooth muscles had a few myofilaments composed only of thin microfilaments. The JG cells displayed a myofilament assembly similar to that in the efferent arteriolar smooth muscles. We conclude from these observations that smooth muscles in pre-and postglomerular arterioles, the glomerular mesangial cells and JG cells differ in phenotypes, suggesting that they may have different contractile properties which may be critically involved in the regulation of glomerular filtration.

Construction of 110 cosmid markers and a 4.5-Mb YAC contig on human chromosome 8p12-q11

Microcell hybrids containing various regions of human chromosome 8 were formed by microcell-mediated transfer of neo-tagged chromosome 8 into the cells derived from severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse. Thus, 110 cosmid markers were isolated from SV40-transformed SCID fibroblast cell line (SCVA) containing a p12-q11.1 region of human chromosome 8 and were assigned to eight regions in 8p12-q11.1, using a microcell-hybrid panel. For positional cloning of a human gene that restores the DNA-repair defect in a mouse with SCID on 8p11.1-q11.1 (SCID region), we constructed a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig of about 4.5 Mb. Overlapping YACs were further aligned by restriction mapping, using rare-cutting restriction endonucleases. The cosmids and YAC contig should facilitate isolation of the SCID gene and other genes, such as the Werner syndrome-responsible gene in or near this region.

Metal allergy in dentistry: detection of allergen metals with X-ray fluorescence spectroscope and its application toward allergen elimination

Numerous metal allergies possibly resulting from intraoral metal restorations have been reported, although the mechanism of onset is not yet completely understood. Allergen elimination may be the most effective treatment, and location of allergen metal becomes essential. The x-ray fluorescence spectroscope was used to detect the allergen metals in intraoral metal restorations and personal and household items of metal allergy patients. The apparatus was evaluated preceding its clinical application, and restorations and personal items for 381 patients were analyzed to detect allergens. Successful diagnoses and allergen elimination treatment of three patients are reported.

Deficiency of blood coagulation factor XIII in Crohn's disease

OBJECTIVE

Refractory fistula formation is one of most intractable complications in Crohn's disease. Recently, the role of blood coagulation Factor XIII has been recognized as an important wound-healing factor. We investigated the plasma concentration and functional activity of blood coagulation Factor XIIIa, active subunit of the Factor XIII, in patients with Crohn's disease and in healthy volunteers.

METHODS

Peripheral blood was obtained from 24 patients with Crohn's disease and from 10 healthy volunteers. The functional activity of Factor XIIIa was measured by its transglutaminase activity, and plasma concentration was measured by the immunoelectrophoresis method.

RESULTS

The differences in Crohn's disease patients and healthy volunteers were not significant. However, Crohn's disease patients with fistula had significantly lower functional activity than Crohn's disease patients without fistula.

CONCLUSIONS

The deficiency in this wound-healing factor might be one reason for refractory fistulas in Crohn's disease, and supplementation of the factor might be useful therapeutically.

Synthesis and pharmacological activities of novel bicyclic thiazoline derivatives as hepatoprotective agents II. (7-Alkoxycarbonyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]thiazol-3-ylidend) acetamid derivatives

A series of exomethylenic bicyclic thiazoline derivatives (3a--i) was synthesized and evaluated for hepatoprotective activity against galactosamine-induced and monoclonal antibody-induced acute liver injuries in rats. The structure-activity relationships were investigated. Among the compounds synthesized, N-methyl-(7-isopropoxy-carbonyl-6,6-dimethyl-2,3,5,6- tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]thiazol-3-ylidene)acetamide (3i) exhibited the most potent hepatoprotective activity. This compound suppressed galactosamine-induced hepatic injury at 100 mg/kg by oral administration and further prevented monoclonal antibody-induced hepatic injury at 30 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection, as judged from the changes in serum transaminase activities.

Chronic transection of post-ganglionic parasympathetic and nasociliary nerves does not affect local cerebral blood flow in the rat

The role of post-ganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibers from the sphenopalatine ganglion and nasociliary nerve fibers from the trigeminal ganglion in the regulation of basal cerebral blood flow (CBF) was examined using rats, which had been divided into three groups; a sham group, a denervation group and a denervation+NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) group. In the denervation and denervation+L-NMMA groups, unilateral chronic transection of the above nerve fibers had been performed at the ethmoidal foramen (EF) for 2 weeks. In the sham group, the above nerve fibers were only exposed at EF and not severed 2 weeks before the CBF measurement. Local CBF was measured by the [14C]iodoantipyrine autoradiographic method after intravenous administration of saline in the sham and denervation groups or L-NMMA (30 mg/kg) in the denervation+L-NMMA group. No significant difference in CBF was noted on each side in any of the regions between the sham and denervation groups. L-NMMA induced a significant reduction in local CBF on either side in each brain region. Neither the animals which were administered saline nor those with L-NMMA showed any side-to-side differences in local CBF in any of the brain regions examined. These findings suggest that the perivascular nerve fibers running through the EF, which are known to contain substantial nitric oxide synthase (NOS), may not play a pivotal role in the regulation of basal CBF. The reduction in CBF induced by the acute administration of L-NMMA was not affected by the chronic denervation of the above NOS-containing perivascular nerves.

[Successful surgical treatment of total cavopulmonary connection on a 4-year-old boy with complete transposition of the great arteries and hypoplastic left ventricle]

A four-year-old boy with complete transposition of the great arteries, intact ventricular septum and hypoplastic left ventricle, underwent total cavopulmonary connection after two palliative operations; B-T shunt and central shunt. He had undergone cardiac catheterization three times; four months after birth, and at two and four years of age. LVEDV (% normal) were calculated 31%, 26%, 27%, and RVEDV (% normal) were 226%, 115%, 105% respectively. PA index increased from 178 to 230 and further to 380. This case indicates that intracardiac repair is possible, if appropriate palliative operations suitable for patient's cardiac function and pulmonary artery morphology are applied.

[Study of sexual function in male hemodialysis patients--analysis of the cause of erectile dysfunction]

Erectile dysfunction is a well documented complication among male hemodialysis patients. The cause has been reported to be related to multiple factors, including neurological, endocrinological and vasculogenic elements. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors which most greatly determine erectile dysfunction in hemodialysis patients. Male hemodialysis patients without diabetes mellitus and severe anemia (Hb value < 8.0 g/dl) were entered into the study. We measured nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) values in these patients and carried out neurological studies (measurement of the penile dorsal nerve conduction velocity and the bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) latency). a vasculogenic study (measurement of the penile blood pressure index (PBPI) and endocrinological studies (measurement of serum free testosterone levels and serum prolactin levels before hemodialysis). NPT values (maximum penile circumference changes) in hemodialysis patients decreased compared with those in healthy males. In both hemodialysis patients and healthy males, NPT values decreased with age. NPT values in hemodialysis patients were significantly lower than those in healthy males in the fifties and sixties. 32.2% of hemodialysis patients had severe penile neurological disorder. 55.6% of them showed abnormal NPT. PBPI was low in only 10.0% of hemodialysis patients. However, there was a significant correlation between PBPI and the NPT value (r = 0.387). Serum free testosterone levels in hemodialysis patients were significantly lower than those in healthy males. There was a significant correlation between the serum free testosterone level and the NPT value (r = 0.328). However, there was no correlation between the serum prolactin level and the NPT value. To identify the factors which most greatly determine erectile dysfunction in hemodialysis patients, we carried out multivariate analysis. The criterion variables in this analysis were NPT values. The coefficient of determination was highest for a neurological disorder (30.7%), followed by an endocrinological disorder (a reduction in the serum free testosterone level) (11.6%) and a vasculogenic disorder (a reduction in PBPI) (4.2%).

Sea urchin ovoperoxidase: solubilization and isolation from the fertilization envelope, some structural and functional properties, and degradation by hatching enzyme

The soft fertilization envelope (SFE) devoid of tyrosine-derived cross-links was isolated from the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus embryos fertilized in the presence of 2 mM aminotriazole, a reversible inhibitor of ovoperoxidase (OPO). Most of the component proteins including OPO were solubilized from SFE by the use of a buffer containing 10 mM EDTA. The solubilized OPO was purified by chromatographies on Sepharose CL-6B, DEAE-Sephacel, and Superose 12HR columns to apparent electrophoretical homogeneity with Mr 70,000. The enzyme accounts for at least 3% of the total FE by weight and 10% by gel densitometry. Partial amino acid sequences of three proteolytic fragments of OPO, accidentally including the distal and proximal His residues, revealed up to 84% homology to mammalian thyroid peroxidases, myeloperoxidases, and lactoperoxidases (LPO), but the N-terminal sequence showed little homology to them. The uv-VIS absorption spectrum of OPO has a maximum at 279 nm, Soret band at 415 nm, and a small quartet at 490, 542, 580, and 642 nm. The tyrosine cross-link profile in the reaction products of the OPO/tyrosine/H2O2 system as analyzed by HPLC with uv and fluorescence detection was similar to those of LPO and HRPO, with dityrosine as the only major component. However, it is different from that of the HCl hydrolysate of normally hardened FE that has much higher contents of trivalent cross-links trityrosine and pulcherosine. This result reflects the difference in the accessibility of the substrates to the enzyme: free tyrosine and OPO in solution vs Tyr residues and OPO both immobilized in FE. The enzyme OPO was degraded limitedly by purified hatching enzyme (envelysin) after 24 h incubation to mainly a 47-kDa fragment with its 67% peroxidase activity retained.

[Study of sexual function in male hemodialysis patients--a sexual function survey using a questionnaire]

Sexual dysfunction is a well-documented complication among male hemodialysis patients. To evaluate it in detail, we conducted a sexual function survey using the Sapporo Medical University Sexual Function Questionnaire. Two hundred five male patients receiving outpatient hemodialysis were entered into this study. Patients with diabetes mellitus and severe anemia (Hb value < 8.0 g/dl) were excluded. The control group consisted of 3,462 healthy male subjects. Of male hemodialysis patients, 33.7% showed deterioration of libido, while 44.4% showed deterioration of potency, both of them decreased greatly with age. Ejaculatory ability correlated with potency. We compared the frequency of sexual intercourse in male hemodialysis patients with that in normal males. Twelve point nine percent of hemodialysis patients (HP) ranging from 30 to 39 in age versus 3.5% of age-matched normal males had no sexual intercourse and 22.4% of HPs from 40 to 49 versus 3.0% of age-matched normal males, 52.2% of HPs from 50 to 59 versus 7.5% of age-matched normal males, and 89.3% of HPs from 60 to 69 versus 18.0% of age-matched normal males had no sexual intercourse. These results revealed that the sexual frequency in hemodialysis patients decreased more than that in normal males in all age groups and with age.

A possible role of estrone produced in adipose tissues in modulating postmenopausal bone density

Estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women is a major contributing factor to bone loss occurring after menopause. Although serum estradiol levels decrease conspicuously, a considerable amount of estrone still exists in women after natural menopause. Since most of the estrone is converted from androgens in adipose tissues, we attempted to seek interrelationship among serum estrone levels, fat mass and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Thirty women who underwent natural menopause at the age between 45 and 53 were examined for BMD of head, arms, trunk and legs, as well as total body fat and total lean body mass using a Lunar DPX, a dual energy X-ray absorptiometer. Serum estrone concentration in each subject was measured by RIA. BMD of all sites of bones examined showed a positive correlation with relative fat mass (total body fat/body weight). Serum estrone levels were positively correlated with BMD of arms, trunk and legs, as well as relative fat mass. Multiple regression analysis further demonstrated that relative fat mass and serum estrone levels were significantly related to BMD of both arms and trunk, and BMD of trunk, respectively. These results suggest that estrone produced in adipose tissues may have, if only in part, a role in modulating the loss of bone mass occurring after menopause.

Gastrointestinal manometry findings in a case with dilated small bowel and disturbed transit treated successfully with bowel plication

We report the manometric findings in a case of dilated small bowel and disturbed transit successfully treated with plication of the dilated small bowel. The female newborn infant required total parenteral nutrition following an operation for small bowel atresia. X-ray showed a dilated proximal small bowel. Jejunal manometry showed normal phase 3 migration but persistently low-amplitude contractions in the dilated segment. After plication of the dilated intestine, symptoms of bowel obstruction disappeared. A second manometry two weeks after the operation showed contractions with normal amplitude. These findings indicate that: (1) disturbed transit in the dilated intestine proximal to small intestinal atresia is associated with persistently low contraction amplitude, and (2) the amplitude can be increased by the plication of the dilated loop.

Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression and apoptosis in neuroblastoma

Bcl-2 protooncogene, originally discovered at the chromosomal breakpoint of the t(14;18) in follicular lymphoma, is known to regulate the process of programmed cell death or apoptosis. The inhibition of apoptosis is thought to be one of the mechanisms involved in the development of tumors. To investigate the possible association of bcl-2 protooncogene with the tumorigenesis of neuroblastomas, the authors examined bcl-2 expression by immunohistochemistry in 49 neuroblastomas and 7 ganglioneuromas. The distribution of apoptotic cells was also examined by the TUNEL method (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling). Bcl-2 oncoprotein was detected in the cytoplasm in 40 of 49 neuroblastomas (81.6%). There was no correlation between bcl-2 oncoprotein expression and the clinical features of neuroblastoma. The incidence of bcl-2-positive tumors in ganglioneuroma was significantly lower than that in neuroblastoma (28.6%) (P < .01). TUNEL stained the nuclei of tumor cells in 11 of 34 (32.4%) neuroblastomas. TUNEL-positive cells tended to be located around calcifications in neuroblastomas in patients less than 1 year old. Examination of serial sections showed that apoptotic cells were distributed in the area where bcl-2 oncoprotein was not expressed. What we have observed indicates that apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells may be regulated by bcl-2 expression. Our observations suggest that the survival of neuroblastoma cells might be promoted by bcl-2 expression and that bcl-2 might be associated with the tumorigenesis of neuroblastomas.