Effect of prostaglandin E1 analogue administration on peripheral skin temperature at high altitude

The effect of prostaglandin E1 analogue on peripheral skin temperature was examined at high altitude, where local cold injuries are common owing to severe environmental conditions. The peripheral skin temperature at rest was significantly lower at higher altitudes. Oral administration of the prostaglandin E1 analogue limaprost reversed this temperature decrease, probably by enhancement of peripheral circulation. The temperature recovery rate after a cold water challenge was also improved after the administration of limaprost. This oral type of prostaglandin E1 analogue is strongly recommended as an effective prophylactic and therapeutic vasodilator for local cold injuries at high altitudes.

[Sequential methotrexate/5-fluorouracil therapy with 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine against advanced gastric cancer: comparison between bolus injection and drip infusion of 5-fluorouracil administration. Hirosaki Cooperative Study Group for Cancer Chemotherapy]

Forty-two patients with gastric cancer were entered in this study. Forty-one of them were eligible and administered sequential methotrexate (MTX)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR). 5-FU was administered intravenously by drip infusion for 2 hours in 22 cases (group A), and was infused by bolus injection in 19 cases (group B). The treatment schedules were as follows: MTX 100 mg/m2 was given intravenously (i.v.) followed by 5-FU 600 mg/m2 i.v. 2 hours later and leucovorin 15 mg/body i.v. 8 and 20 hours later. This cycle was repeated once a week. 5'-DFUR 1,200 mg/body/day was given orally on 5 consecutive days per week. Three of 20 cases (15%) in group A showed PR, while 5 of 15 cases (33%) in group B showed PR. Median survival time was 2.8 months in group A and 3.7 months in group B. There was, however, no statistical difference. Gastrointestinal toxicity was commonly observed. Leukocytopenia was more severe in group B. Alopecia was more frequently observed in group B (p < 0.025). These results suggested bolus injection of 5-FU was a promising way of administration in sequential MTX/5-FU therapy.

Comparative analysis of engraftment after cryopreservation of peripheral blood stem cell autografts by controlled- versus uncontrolled-rate methods

Peripheral blood stem/progenitor cells (PBSC) were cryopreserved by different methods and their clonogenic viabilities were compared. The traditional cryopreservation method involves controlled-rate freezing with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and a programmed freezer (PF). The alternative method incorporates 6% hydroxyethyl starch and 5% DMSO without PF. In this non-randomized study, we analyzed the data of 24 patients (aged 1-17 years) who were in their first complete remission and who had undergone PBSC autograft (PBSCT) for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia, to determine the effects of these two different methods of cryopreservation on time to engraftment and transfusion requirements after PBSCT. In all patients, PBSC were collected within 5 months of diagnosis and all had been conditioned with the high-dose MCVAC regimen (MCNU, cytosine arabinoside, etoposide and cyclophosphamide) without total body irradiation. Twelve patients received PBSC that had been cryopreserved by the uncontrolled method without PF and the data were compared by actuarial analysis to those of 12 historical controls whose cells had been frozen by PF. No difference was observed in the time to engraftment of granulocytes and platelets or the transfusion requirements between the two groups. Our results indicate that, in terms of preserving engraftment potential, the simplified uncontrolled-rate cryopreservation method is at least as effective as the traditional controlled-rate freezing procedure with PF.

[Stereochemistry of benzanilides and N-methylbenzanilides]

Conformations of benzanilide , N-methylbenzanilide and those with a methyl group(s) ortho to the amide bond in solution and in the crystal have been studied. N-Methylbenzanilide exists in cis-amide (E) form in the crystal. In CDCl3 solution, cis-amide form is also predominant (99%), while benzanilide exists in trans-amide (Z) form in the crystal and in solution. In the crystal, all the methyl-substituted benzanilides exist in trans-amide conformation and the introduction of an ortho-methyl group(s) makes the interplanar angles of the aromatic rings and the amide group (Aramide) larger. N-Methylbenzanilides exist in cis form in the crystal except the compound which has four methyl groups ortho to the amide bond. For the N-methylbenzanilides, the effects of introduction of one or two ortho-methyl groups on the dihedral angles of Ar-amide are smaller than that for the secondary benzanilides. In solution, benzanilides exist exclusively in trans conformation except for the compound 12 which has a minor cis conformer (3%) in CDCl3, whereas N-methylbenzanilides exist in equilibrium between the major cis-form and the minor trans-form. The tetramethyl derivative exists in trans conformation in solution as observed in the crystal. For N-methylbenzanilides, an introduction of a methyl group(s) ortho to the amide bond seems to destabilize the cis-amide conformation in solution, resulting in an increased ratio of the trans-amide conformation.

Long-term results of microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia with reference to probability of recurrence

Sixty-one patients with trigeminal neuralgia who underwent microvascular decompression were analysed. Vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root was found in all cases. The recurrence rate of pain in this series was 18% with an average follow-up of 80 months (range: 13 to 126 months). Ten patients developed recurrence of their trigeminal neuralgia during follow-up. Fifteen factors, including the clinical and operative findings in the pain-free patients versus the 10 patients with recurrence were analysed. Only the patients with venous compression singly or in combination with arteries were significantly related to recurrence. There was no relationship between recurrence and the duration of symptoms or the degree of compression. Based on vascular compression as the sole cause of TN, the results and interesting findings can not be explained. With reference to the hypothesis that vascular compression is only one of at least two causative factors for the development of trigeminal neuralgia, it is suggested that the intrinsic lesion in trigeminal neuralgia may be responsible for late recurrence.

Spongy metal Lübeck hip prostheses for osteoarthritis secondary to hip dysplasia. A 2-6-year follow-up study

Between May 1987 and December 1990, 66 hips in 59 patients with osteoarthritis secondary to hip dysplasia underwent cementless total hip arthroplasty with a spongy metal Lübeck hip prosthesis (S+G Implants, Lübeck, Germany) that had a fully porous-surfaced short stem made of cased cobalt-chrome-molybdenum alloy. Sixty-five hips in 58 patients were prospectively followed for 2-6 years (mean, 43 months). Patient age at operation ranged from 29 to 63 years (mean, 51 years). The Merle d'Aubigné hip score improved from 7.8 before surgery to 16.9 at the final follow-up evaluation. All hips were rated as either excellent (63%) or good (37%). Mild thigh pain was recognized in only three hips (5%) at 6 months after surgery, but it disappeared within 2 years. Serial roentgenograms showed stable fixation with bone ingrowth in all hips, that is, bone densification in contact with the implant and trabecular connection to the endosteal surface. The authors found no migration of the implant or circumferential radiolucency. Moderate osteopenia, presumably due to stress shielding, was seen in only four hips (6%). Acetabular bone-grafting performed in 31 hips gave successful support to the socket. Cancellous bone chips grafted to small defects showed excellent remodeling. The authors conclude that the spongy metal Lübeck hip prosthesis contributed to lower rates of thigh pain and migration than cementless prostheses.

Detection of a new interstellar molecule, H2CN

We have detected a new interstellar molecule, H2CN (methylene amidogen), in the cold, dark molecular cloud TMC-l. The column density of H2CN is estimated to be approximately 1.5 x 10(11) cm-2 by assuming an excitation temperature of 5 K. This column density corresponds to a fractional abundance relative to H2 of approximately 1.5 x 10(-11). This value is more than three orders of magnitude less than the abundance of the related molecule HCN in TMC-1. We also report a tentative detection of H2CN in Sgr B2(N). The formation mechanism of H2CN is discussed. Our detection of the H2CN molecule may suggest the existence of a new series of carbon-chain molecules, CH2CnN (n = 0, 1, 2,...).

Virtual 1H-1H spin-spin coupling in a linear five-spin system on the pyranose rings of some glucuronides

In the 1H NMR spectra of methyl 2,3,4- tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyluronate-(1-->3)- 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose (6) and methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyluronate-(1-->6)- 1,2:3,5-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose (7), which were obtained by the reaction of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose (1) with methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronate bromide (5) in the presence of Hg(CN)2 in 1:1 benzene-nitromethane at 45 degrees C, protons on both beta-D-glucopyranosyluronate rings were observed as very complex signals that could not be interpreted by first-order analysis. Similar complex signals were also observed for the protons on the beta-D-glucopyranosyluronate rings that were sugar components of some triterpenoidal glycosides (13-15). These complex signals were determined to be due to virtual long-range spin-spin coupling in the linear five-spin system on the glucopyranosyluronate rings of the glucuronides by 1H, 13C, H-C COSY, 1D HOHAHA, and spin-simulation spectroscopies.

Protein phosphorylation in murine peritoneal macrophages induced by infection with Salmonella species

Infection of peritoneal macrophages from C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice with Salmonella typhimurium or S. enteritidis induced extensive phosphorylation in a set of proteins with molecular masses of 85, 72, 35, 30, and 23 kDa, which were different from those induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide. The phosphorylated proteins of 35, 30, and 23 kDa (pp35, pp30, and pp23, respectively) originated from the infecting bacteria, because living bacteria could induce these phosphorylated proteins themselves, and no induction of the proteins occurred in macrophages after phagocytosis of heat-killed or UV-irradiated organisms. When the infected macrophages were disrupted and separated into bacterial and macrophage debris fractions, pp85 and pp72 remained in the macrophage debris fraction, with none in the bacterial fraction. Induction of pp85 and pp72 in infected macrophages was inhibited in the presence of chloramphenicol but not cytochalasin D, suggesting that bacterial growth in the macrophages is necessary for induction of both proteins. Neither of these proteins could be detected in macrophages infected with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, or Listeria monocytogenes. These results support the view that phosphorylation of the 85- and 72-kDa proteins occurs in the macrophages during the early phases of the interaction between Salmonella organisms and macrophages. The functions of specific proteins remain to be clarified.

[Detection of viability by percent thallium uptake with conventional thallium scintigraphy]

Thallium myocardial scintigraphy (TMS) is used for diagnosis of viability in infarcted myocardium before coronary revascularization. Underestimation of viability by TMS has been reported by many investigators. To evaluate viability precisely, thallium re-injection method or 24 hour delayed imaging is performed. However these techniques are not convenient and are difficult to perform in clinical practice. Percent Tl-uptake method was developed for predicting myocardial viability. To evaluate usefulness of this method, TMS was performed before and after PTCA in 23 patients with myocardial infarction. Left ventricle was divided into 3 layers, then each layer was divided into 4 segments (12 segments in total). Forth three segments showed recovery of perfusion on TMS after PTCA. Viability in infarcted myocardium is predicted by 1) redistribution (RD), 2) %Tl-uptake > or = 45% on the image immediately after exercise (TE), and 3) %Tl-uptake > or = 45% on delayed image (TD). Sensitivity was RD: 60%, TE: 90% and TD: 95% (p < 0.001 vs. RD). Specificity was RD: 74%, TE: 68%, and TD: 60% (NS). Predictive accuracy (PA) was RD: 69%, TE: 77%, TD: 73% (NS). Compared with RD, %Tl-uptake, either TE or TD, increased sensitivity with slightly improved PA, but decreased specificity slightly. Therefore %Tl-uptake would be a sensitive and useful predictor to find patients who are most likely to benefit from re-vascularization.

Effects of intravenous infusion of dopamine on tumor blood flow in rat subcutis

To determine the effects of intravenous administration of dopamine hydrochloride (DA) on tumor blood flow (TBF), we measured the blood flow of normal subcutaneous tissue and subcutaneous tumor (LY-80, a variant of Yoshida sarcoma) in enflurane-anesthetized male Donryu rats using a hydrogen clearance method. Measurements were made before and during intravenous infusion of DA at a rate of 5 micrograms/kg/min, while recording the mean arterial blood pressure of the rats. Under mild hypertension induced by DA, the blood flow of normal subcutis decreased and TBF increased significantly. SCH-23390, an antagonist of the DA1 receptor, inhibited the enhancement of TBF by DA; while domperidone, an antagonist of the DA2 receptor, did not modify the effects of DA. In experimental chemotherapy against the tumor using adriamycin (ADM) 5 mg/kg i.v., only the combination of DA and ADM significantly inhibited the tumor growth. Moreover, DA reduced the weight loss caused by ADM. These results indicate that DA could have a role in increasing TBF and possibly enhance drug delivery to tumors. Moreover, it appears that the DA1 receptor contributes, at least in part, to the enhanced blood flow in rat subcutaneous tumor following DA administration.

Syntheses of glycyrrhetic acid alpha-diglycosides and enol alpha-glycosides

Glycyrrhetinate alpha-monoglycoside derivatives 8, 10 and 12, all having a trichloroacetyl group at the C-2 position of the pyranose ring, were treated with NH3-saturated ether at 0 degrees C to give the corresponding alcohols 13, 15 and 17, accompanied by 2'-chloroderivatives, 14, 16 and 18, respectively. Glycosylations of the alcohols 13, 15 and 17 with methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucuronatopyranosyl bromide 19 in the presence of AgOTf in dry CH2Cl2 gave the corresponding alpha-diglycosides 20, 22 and 24 together with the enol alpha-glycosides 21, 23 and 25, respectively. Glycosylations of the diglycoside derivatives 20, 22 and 35 having no reactive OH group in the molecules with 19 for longer reaction times gave quantitatively the enol alpha-glycoside derivatives 21, 23 and 36, respectively. Glycosylation of the monoglycoside derivative 37, which has a poorly reactive OH group at the C-4 position on the pyranose ring, with 19 gave an enol alpha-glycoside 38. The mechanism of the formation of enol alpha-glycosides was investigated. Removal of the protecting groups of 20, 22 and 24 by successive treatment with 1.5N NaOMe in MeOH and 5% KOH in EtOH-H2O (1:1) gave the free alpha-diglycosides 26-28, and removal of those of 31, 21, 23, 25 and 36 by treatment with 5% KOH in EtOH-H2O (1:1) under reflux gave the free enol alpha-glycosides 41-45, respectively.

Primary directional coronary atherectomy for acute myocardial infarction

The effectiveness of primary coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is now widely recognized. However, the reocclusion rate is as high as 10%. Directional coronary atherectomy (DCA), now used widely in the treatment of stable and unstable angina pectoris, has not been recommended as the primary reperfusion therapy for AMI. This report describes the first preliminary study of primary DCA for AMI without any antecedent thrombolytic therapy or balloon coronary angioplasty. Five patients received primary DCA. The initial results were very good, but further study is necessary to determine the efficacy, particularly the long-term results, of primary DCA in the treatment of AMI.

Cross-reactivity and neutralizing ability of monoclonal antibodies against microcystins

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the microcystin-leucine-arginine variant (MCYST-LR), a cyclic peptide toxin of the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, were prepared from cloned hybridoma cell lines. The specificity of the MAbs and their ability to neutralize the toxin were investigated by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by a neutralizing test in mice, respectively. All MAbs reacted with MCYST-LR and also with the microcystin-arginine-arginine variant (MCYST-RR), 3,7-didesmethylmicrocystin (MCYST-3, 7-dDMLR) and 7-desmethylmicrocystin (MCYST-7-DMLR). Furthermore, the antibodies reacted with cell-extracts of toxic and non-toxic M. aeruginosa strains. The MAbs can apparently recognize the common configuration, but not the variant-specific structure, in the microcystin molecules. The non-toxic strains apparently contain some substance(s) related antigenically to microcystin. The in vivo toxin-neutralizing ability of MAbs was minimal.

Expression of the gene encoding the tyrosine kinase-deficient human insulin receptor in transgenic mice

Defects in the insulin receptor (IR) in diabetic patients have been given much attention. To address the role of such defects, we generated a transgenic (TG) mouse carrying the cDNA encoding a tyrosine-kinase (TK)-deficient human IR (hIR), under the control of the native promoter. The TG mouse expressed the transgene (TG) mRNA in the liver, as identified in Northern blots. Analyses of various tissues by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that expressions of the TG mRNA in brain, heart, kidney, lung, stomach, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue were higher than those seen with the endogenous mouse IR (mIR), but expression in small intestine, colon, spleen, testis and ovary were approximately half those seen with the endogenous mIR. In the liver, the expression of the TG was about one tenth that of the endogenous mIR. In analyses of insulin binding and IR autophosphorylation, using a human-specific anti-IR antibody, the TK-deficient hIR was synthesized in the tissues of the TG mice. Despite the expression of TK-deficient hIRs in various tissues, including the major insulin-target tissues, muscle and adipose tissues, of the TG mice, no glucose intolerance was observed as assessed by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, before and after sucrose feeding for 55 weeks. Our results suggest that a higher expression of the mutated IR, especially in the liver which is another major insulin-target tissue, or additional pathogenic factors, environmental or genetic, might be required for glucose intolerance.

Interleukin-8 production by CD16-CD56bright natural killer cells in the human early pregnancy decidua

Decidual CD16-CD56bright natural killer (NK) cells were sorted from the decidual mononuclear cells (MNC) at the early pregnancy using a fluorescence activated cell sortor. The CD16-CD56bright NK cell population occupies a major population in the decidual MNC, in contrast to a very small population (< 1%) in the peripheral blood MNC. These decidual CD16-CD56bright NK cells produced a large amount of IL-8, i. e., mean of 96.7 +/- 19.8 ng/ml in the 24 hr-cultured supernatants without any stimulant, which was comparable to the IL-8 production by LPS-stimulated peripheral blood MNC. Most of the IL-8 was ascribable to the production from decidual CD16-CD56bright NK cells. Intracytoplasmic IL-8 in the decidual CD56bright NK cells was also detected by flow cytometry. RT-PCR methods confirmed IL-8 mRNA expression in this population, while no or very scarce expression of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA was observed. The present study is a first observation revealing that decidual CD16-CD56bright NK cells express IL-8 mRNA and produce IL-8.

Measurement of somatostatin release in rat brain by microdialysis

We determined the most suitable conditions for measuring the somatostatin (SRIF) level by brain microdialysis and investigated its release from the hypothalamus. The relative recovery rate of SRIF was 8.4 +/- 0.5% (mean +/- SE) using a polycarbonate (PC) membrane with the push-pull method at a flow rate of 2 microliters/min. Using tubes with an internal diameter of 0.28 mm and lengths of 5, 25, 50 and 100 cm, the relative recovery rates using a PC membrane with the push method were 8.2 +/- 0.5%, 7.3 +/- 0.6%, 6.2 +/- 0.5% and 4.1 +/- 0.6%, respectively. When using tubes with an internal diameter of 0.1 mm and lengths of 5, 25, 50 and 100 cm, the relative recovery rates were 7.3 +/- 0.7%, 5.6 +/- 1.0%, 3.5 +/- 1.1% and 1.4 +/- 0.7%, respectively. The relative recovery rate was 5.2 +/- 0.5% with a polysulfone (PS-F, Fresenius) membrane, 4.5 +/- 0.4% with a PS-H (Hospal) membrane, 2.6 +/- 0.2% with an ethylenevinyl alcohol membrane (EVAL), 5.1 +/- 0.8% with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membrane and 10.4 +/- 0.8% with a PS-K (Kaneka) membrane. With the push method, the extracellular SRIF level in rat pituitary was 42.8 +/- 1.8 pg/ml with a PC membrane, 23.1 +/- 2.9 pg/ml with an EVAL membrane at a flow rate of 2 microliters/min. With the push-pull method, it was 52.7 +/- 5.2 pg/ml using a PC membrane, 33.5 +/- 2.8 pg/ml using a PVA membrane and 54.4 +/- 3.2 pg/ml using a PS-K membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Morphological aspects of LFA-1/ICAM-1 and VLA4/VCAM-1 adhesion pathways in human lymph nodes

Monoclonal antibodies specific for the adhesion molecules participating in lymphocyte homing, lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and very late antigen 4 (VLA4), and their respective ligands, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), were used to characterize their expression pattern in human lymph nodes by immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic techniques. The location of LFA-1-positive lymphocytes and selective expression of ICAM-1 on the luminal plasma membrane of high endothelial venule endothelium suggested that the LFA-1/ICAM-1 adhesion pathway participates only in the initial step of the lymphocyte migration process. Lymphocytes passing through endothelium appear not to be influenced by this pathway. VCAM-1 was detected occasionally on the endothelium of high endothelial venules in the hyperplastic lymph nodes in the mesentery, but not in peripheral lymph nodes. VLA4-positive lymphocytes tended to be more frequently observed within high endothelial venules in mesenteric lymph nodes than in peripheral ones. Strong expression of both ligands, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, was noted on the plasma membrane of follicular dendritic cells, and was especially prominent on their labyrinthine folding, and on the interdigitating cells in the paracortex. Furthermore, both LFA-1- and VLA4-positive lymphocytes localized around these cells. This suggests that LFA-1/ICAM-1 and VLA4/VCAM-1 adhesion pathways play an important role in the lymphocyte recognition of antigen-presenting cells.

Physiological increase in plasma insulin concentration suppresses proinsulin secretion in normal controls but not in subjects with glucose intolerance

Since insulin negatively controls its own secretion, we examined if insulin also inhibits the secretion of its precursor, proinsulin, in subjects with varying degrees of glucose tolerance. Under comparable hyperinsulinemia (50-70 microU/ml) achieved by the euglycemic insulin clamp technique, plasma C-peptide concentrations were equally suppressed to approximately 40-50% in nonobese subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) (n = 13, 35.5 +/- 3.7%, M +/- SEM), borderline glucose intolerance (BGI) (n = 12, 46.7 +/- 5.6%), and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (n = 12, 48.9 +/- 5.4%). In contrast, plasma proinsulin concentrations were slightly but significantly suppressed in NGT (4.1 +/- 0.2 to 3.7 +/- 0.2 pmol/L, P < 0.05), but not in patients with BGI (4.6 +/- 0.3 to 4.8 +/- 0.5 pmol/L, NS) and NIDDM (5.5 +/- 0.5 to 4.9 +/- 0.4 pmol/L, NS). The basal concentrations of proinsulin increased as glucose tolerance declined (P < 0.05 between NGT and NIDDM). These results suggest that the basal secretion of proinsulin by beta-cells seems relatively insensitive to insulin compared with C-peptide, and that the insulin-proinsulin feedback loop is disturbed in glucose-intolerant subjects. Therefore, a defective feedback inhibition of proinsulin secretion by insulin may be partly involved in the disproportionate increase of plasma proinsulin concentrations in patients with NIDDM.

Characteristics of gangliosides including O-acetylated species in growth cone membranes at several developmental stages in rat forebrain

Growth cones, the motile tips of extending neuronal processes, are involved in accurate synaptogenesis. To study the developmental changes in ganglioside composition including O-acetylated gangliosides in growth cones, we analyzed the gangliosides in growth cone membranes (GCM) prepared from rat forebrains at different developmental stages. At several stages, GCM contained significantly larger amounts of gangliosides than the other membrane subfractions. The ganglioside content of GCM increased in amount with development. Moreover, in GCM, the relative amount of GD3 gradually decreased, and that of GD1a dramatically increased. There were significant differences in the composition of ganglioside species between GCM and the perinuclear plasma membrane subfraction (NM); most importantly, GCM had a higher ratio of GD1a to GM3 plus GD3 than NM. There were three different O-acetylated gangliosides in GCM: O-acetyl-GD3, O-acetyl-GT1b, and O-acetyl-GQ1b. The molar ratio of O-acetyl-GD3 decreased in GCM at later stages (5% of the total gangliosides at embryonic day 17, to 1% at postnatal day 5). However, those of the other two O-acetylated gangliosides were almost constant (1-2% of the total). Our results show that there are significant differences in ganglioside content and composition between the membrane subfraction of growth cones and the perinuclear portion. This suggests that several species of gangliosides, including O-acetyl-GD3, play a role in growth cone function.

Rat spinal cord neurons contain nitric oxide synthase

We describe the distribution and characteristics of nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons in rat spinal cord using a polyclonal affinity-purified antibody against rat cerebellar nitric oxide synthase. Numerous neurons were stained throughout the entire rostrocaudal extent of the spinal cord. Cell bodies, dendrites and axons stained in a uniform manner. Nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity was intense in neurons of laminae I-IV and X throughout the entire spinal cord. Neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord were also intensely stained for nitric oxide synthase. The sacral cord demonstrated substantial nitric oxide synthase immunostaining within lamina VII. For the entire cord, scattered neurons in laminae V, VI, VII, and VIII were weakly positive. In addition, punctate nitric oxide synthase staining throughout laminae I, III and surrounding some large motor neurons in the ventral horn suggested the presence of nitric oxide synthase at synapses. Axons and dendritic terminals located in the gray and white matter were also stained. The majority of nitric oxide synthase positive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column were double-labelled by subcutaneously injected FluoroGold confirming that these cells were preganglionic autonomic neurons. Most NADPH-diaphorase-stained neurons were also nitric oxide synthase-positive. The distribution of nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons in spinal cord suggests that nitric oxide plays a role in spinal cord neurotransmission including: preganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic, somatosensory, visceral sensory and possibly motor pathways. In particular, the autonomic nervous system appears enriched with nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity. The precise role of each neuron type remains to be demonstrated in physiologic and pathophysiologic paradigms.

[Vestibular function in bilateral idiopathic progressive sensorineural hearing loss]

To investigate vestibular function in patients with bilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss (BPSHL), we examined 5 cases using electronystagmography. Cases 1, 2 and 3 were adult type, cases 4 and 5 were juvenile type. All patients had dizzy spells in the early stage of the disease, and showed spontaneous nystagmus. Bilateral reduction of caloric response and very low VOR (vestibulo-ocular reflex) gain on rotation testing were observed in cases 1, 2 and 3. Case 4 showed right canal paresis on the caloric test and left directional preponderance on the rotation test. Case 5 showed good responses to both tests. Optokinetic afternystagmus (OKAN) in cases 2, 3 and 5 was not brisk, and cases 1 and 4 showed directional preponderance of OKAN. Although OKAN is useful for detecting directional preponderance, it does not always reflect peripheral vestibular function. We suggest the existence of two types of BPSHL which correlate with vestibular function. One type is associated with high grade vestibular dysfunction while, in the other, vestibular function is fair.

A case of the 'dapsone syndrome'

The 'dapsone syndrome' developed in a 44-year-old woman who was treated for pyoderma gangrenosum with 100 mg/day dapsone for about 5 weeks. Symptoms included fever, malaise, jaundice with hepatic dysfunction, lymphadenopathy, mononucleosis and dermatitis. These symptoms disappeared with 30 mg/day of oral prednisolone. A lymphocyte stimulation test with dapsone was positive, as was the delayed-type intradermal skin test with 0.5 and 0.05% dapsone in saline. Immunohistochemical studies of the rash and skin test reaction revealed that the dominant infiltrating T cells in the upper dermis were of the Leu 2a+ cytotoxic/suppressor-type rather than the Leu 3a+ helper/delayed hypersensitivity-type.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor induces the growth and differentiation of normal pregnancy human cytotrophoblast cells and hydatidiform moles but does not induce the growth and differentiation of choriocarcinoma cells

In the present study, we examined whether or not macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF; CSF-1) is involved in the growth and differentiation of human chorionic, hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma cells. M-CSF promotes the growth of early gestation chorionic cells, hydatidiform mole cells, and a human term placenta cell line (tPA30-1). However, the growth of choriocarcinoma cells, BeWo, Jar, Jeg-3, and NUC-1, was not influenced at all by M-CSF. M-CSF promoted the secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL), which are secreted from differentiated trophoblast, from early gestation chorionic cells and from hydatidiform mole cells. However, the secretion of hCG and hPL from choriocarcinoma cells was not affected by M-CSF. When M-CSF localization was examined by immunohistochemical staining, M-CSF was detected in chorionic and hydatidiform mole cells, but was absent in choriocarcinoma cells. These results suggest that the growth and differentiation of normal chorionic and hydatidiform mole cells are M-CSF-dependent, while the growth and differentiation of choriocarcinoma cells are not.