Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. Electron microscopic and ultracytochemical studies

Lesions from a patient affected with multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MR) were studied by ultracytochemical techniques to determine the relationship of PAS-positive materials and/or acid phosphatase (AP) activity to electron-dense granules found in the large mononucleated or multinucleated giant cells that are characteristic of this entity. The lead phosphate reaction products that mark the sites of AP activity were found in the electron-dense granules. The granules were also PAS positive by the periodic acid-thiosemicarbazide-silver proteinate method. These findings suggest that the PAS-positive and diastase-resistant materials in the large mononucleated or multinucleated giant cells of MR are not phagocytized materials but are pre-existing lysosomes.

Dissociated nystagmus in a comatose patient. A clinicopathological study

Electro-oculographic recordings of dissociated vertical (oblique and upbeat) nystagmus were carried out in a patient in coma due to vascular lesions. Based on the clinical and neuropathological findings, it was suggested that dissociated vertical (oblique and upbeat) nystagmus in a patient in coma can be caused by bilateral lesions in the brachium pontis.

[An experimental study on the regeneration of lymphatic vessels after replantation of the limb (author's transl)]

In order to determine the role of the lymphatic vessels in the subsidence of the edema after replantation of the amputated lim the stage of regeneration of lymphatic vessels was studied by 2 ways: lymphangiography and 198Au colloid scinti-scanning with the chronological measurement of the circumference at the thigh and legs of hind limbs from 15 adult dogs which were replanted after the complete amputation. As the results, edema gradually increased after the operation with the maximal rates on the seventh day at the thigh and on the sixth day at the leg. On the other hand, the earliest regeneration of lymphatic vessels at the proximal site of the transection was seen by the lymphangiography on the twelfth day. 198Au colloid scinti-scanning showed that the accumulation of 198Au at the proximal site of transection took place on the tenth day after the subcutaneous injection of 198Au at the distal site of transection. In spite of the fact that there appeared to be more available to find the earliest regeneration of lymphatic vessels by scinti-scanning than by lymphangiography, the former method failed to show any lymphatic drainage at the peak of edema. The lymphatic regeneation was demonstrated by scinti-scanning during the decreasing period of edema and, in consideration of limitation of experimental method, it was strongly suggested that the subsidence of edema depended on the regeneration of lymphatic vessels.

Topographical localization of the Onuf's nuclear neurons innervating the rectal and vesical striated sphincter muscles: a retrograde fluorescent double labeling in cat and dog

In both cats and dogs propidium iodide (PI) which fluoresces red was injected into the rectal striated sphincter muscle and bisbenzimide (BB) which fluoresces blue into the vesical striated sphincter muscle of the same animal. In both cats and dogs neurons labeled with PI were concentrated dorsomedially in Onuf's nucleus, while those labeled with BB were concentrated ventrolaterally. Double labeled neurons were not present either in cats or dogs. With this technique, the neurons innervating the different muscles can be demonstrated simultaneously.

Amino acid sequence of a purothionin homolog from barley flour

A purothionin homolog was isolated from barley flour and purified by CM-52 column chromatography. It showed potent lethal activity towards brewer's yeast and its complete amino acid sequence was determined to be as follows. Lys-Ser-Cys-Cys-Arg-Ser-Thr-Leu-Gly-Arg-Asn-Cys-Tyr-Asn-Leu-Cys-Arg-Val-Arg-Gly-Ala-Gln-Lys-Leu-Cys-Ala-Gly-Val-Cys-Arg-Cys-Lys-Leu-Thr-Ser-Ser-Gly-Lys-Cys-Pro-Thr-Gly-Phe-Pro-Lys. It thus consists of 45 amino acid residues with 8 cysteines. The number of amino acid residues and the positions of the 8 cysteines are identical with those of wheat purothionins. There is a high degree of homology in the primary structures of these proteins.

Effects of taurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid on akinesia and analgesia induced by D-Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide in rats

Effects of taurine or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on akinesia and analgesia induced by D-Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide were investigated in rats. Administration of taurine (dose range: 2.375 X 10(-2) M-9.5 X 10(-2)-Met-enkephalinamide were investigated in rats. Administration of taurine (dose range: 2.375 X 10(-2) M-9.5 X 10(-2) M/10 microliters) into the left lateral ventricle 10 min prior to the injection of D-Ala2-Met enkephalinamide (50 microgram/10 microliter) produced a dose-dependent reduction in the duration of akinesia and to some extent of analgesia, as estimated at 30 min and 60 min following the enkephalinamide injection; at the first estimation-time (10 min), taurine did not alter the duration of akinesia or that of analgesia. The median effective dose (ED50) for akinesia determined at 60 min after D-Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide was 5 times greater and that for analgesia assessed at the same time was 1.7 times greater in taurine-treated rats than the respective doses in control animals. Administration of GABA under similar experimental conditions produced a dose-dependent reduction in the duration of analgesia from the initial estimation time (10 min) following the injection of D-Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide. The ED50 for analgesia determined at 30 min after D-Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide was 3 times greater in GABA-treated rats than in control animals. Unlike the effects of taurine, GABA did not alter the duration of akinesia. Neither the duration of akinesia nor that of analgesia was modified by taurine or GABA alone in rats tested 9 min after the injection of each amino acid. These findings suggest that taurine may promote a recovery from both akinesia and analgesia, while GABA decreases only the analgesia induced by D-Ala2-Met-enkephalinamide.

[Vaginal fungi in toxemia of pregnancy (author's transl)]

In order to prevent the transfer of the fungi in maternal vagina into a neonate through transvaginal delivery, we examined the presence of vaginal fungi in the patients with toxemia of pregnancy occurring chiefly from the later stages of pregnancy and made an analysis from the quantitative aspect of fungi (number of colonies produced on Mizuno-Takada medium). The results obtained are as follows: 1) The detection rate of vaginal fungi was evidently so high as 37.1% in toxemia group compared with 27.6% in non-toxemia group (p less than 0.01). And the detection rate of vaginal Candida albicans (hereinafter: C. albicans) also proved to be higher tendency in toxemia group. 2) When the toxemia patients were divided into mild cases and severe ones for comparison, the detection rate of vaginal fungi and that of vaginal C. albicans were both higher in the severe case group. Particularly in the group which had the symptoms of toxemia at the examination time of vaginal fungi there was seen the higher rate. 3) From the quantitative aspect of vaginal fungi it is evident that there were more cases with over 51 colonies in the group showing the symptoms of toxemia at the time of fungi examination than in the group showing no such symptoms at the examination and the group of non-toxemia (p less than 0.01).

Comparison of the protective action of glutathione and cysteamine on radiation-induced mitotic delay in cultured S-5 cells

The protective effect of glutathione (GSH) and cysteamine (MEA) on radiation-induced mitotic delay in cultured mammalian L-5 cells was studied. Cells treated with 20 mM of GSH during irradiation with 2 Gy (200 rad) showed faster recovery of the mitotic index than control cells irradiated without chemical treatment; however, GSH had no effect on mitotic delay time. Inhibition of mitosis was observed with 80, 100, and 120 mM of GSH. Cells treated with 5 mM of MEA during irradiation also showed faster recovery of the mitotic index than the controls, but in addition the delay time was shortened. Progression of G2-phase cells treated with 5-fluorouracil to mitosis after irradiation was protected by MEA but not by GSH. Progression of S-phase cells labeled with 3H-thymidine to mitosis was accelerated by both agents during irradiation.