Transgenic mice with antisense RNA against the nucleocapsid protein mRNA of mouse hepatitis virus

In this study transgenic mice which expressed antisense RNA against the nucleocapsid protein gene of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) under the control of RSV LTR were produced. These transgenic mice were able to transmit the foreign gene to their progeny in a Mendelian fashion. Antisense RNA was detected in various tissues from the transgenic mice including liver and brain, the target organs of MHV infection. One strain of transgenic mice derived from founder mouse No. 19 was more resistant to the lethal challenge of MHV than non-transgenic mice. The results of the present study show the ability of antisense RNA against the viral gene to protect against viral infection in vivo.

Intravenous lidocaine as a suppressant of coughing during tracheal intubation in elderly patients

The effects of intravenously administered lidocaine on cough suppression in elderly patients over the age of 60 yr during tracheal intubation under general anesthesia were evaluated in two studies. In the first study, 100 patients received a placebo of either 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 mg/kg lidocaine intravenously 1 min before tracheal intubation. All visible coughs were classified as coughing. The incidence of coughing decreased as the dose of lidocaine increased. A dose of 1.5 mg/kg or more of intravenous lidocaine suppressed the cough reflex significantly (P < 0.01). In the second study, 108 patients received 2 mg/kg lidocaine intravenously or a placebo 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, or 15 min before intubation. The same criteria for determining whether a patient did or did not cough during tracheal intubation were used as in Study 1. The incidence of coughing decreased significantly (P < 0.01) when 2 mg/kg lidocaine was injected intravenously between 1 min and 3 min before attempting intubation. The cough reflex was almost entirely suppressed by plasma concentrations of lidocaine in excess of 4 micrograms/mL. The results suggest that intravenous administration of lidocaine is effective in suppressing the cough reflex during tracheal intubation in elderly patients under general anesthesia, but that relatively high plasma concentrations of lidocaine may be required for suppression of coughing.

[Clinical evaluation of Augpenin (clavulanic acid-ticarcillin) in urinary tract infections: especially against beta-lactamase producing strains]

Augpenin contains ticarcillin (TIPC) and clavulanic acid (CVA), at a ratio of 15:1. The beta-lactamase inhibitor, CVA, has been added to protect the TIPC from inactivation by beta-lactamase. To investigate the drug efficacy and safety against urinary tract infections (UTI), Augpenin was administered to 33 patients with chronic complicated UTI and 7 patients with acute pyelonephritis. Thirty two cases were evaluable by the UTI criteria. Excellent results were obtained in 6 of the cases of acute pyelonephritis, and moderate results in 1 case, with an overall effectiveness rate of 100%. Excellent results were obtained in 14 of the cases of chronic complicated UTI, moderate results in 9 cases, and poor results in 2 cases, with an overall effectiveness rate of 92%. No adverse reactions were noted, but a transient elevation of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase levels was observed in 2 cases.

Two collagen-binding domains of vitronectin

Vitronectin is a cell-adhesive glycoprotein present in animal blood and extracellular matrix. To establish the molecular basis of vitronectin interactions with extracellular matrix macromolecules, the binding site of vitronectin to collagen has been investigated. Vitronectin fragments obtained by formic acid cleavage were separated by heparin-affinity chromatography followed by gel filtration chromatography. The collagen-binding activity of the fragments was assayed in terms of inhibitory activity on the binding of 125I-vitronectin to immobilized collagen. There were two groups of collagen-binding fragments. One group consisted of 5 heparin-binding fragments with estimated molecular masses of 12 kDa, 14 kDa, 16 kDa, 18 kDa, and 19 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The other group consisted of 2 heparin-nonbinding fragments migrating at 18 kDa and 40 kDa. These results indicate that there are two collagen-binding sites in the vitronectin molecule; one located close to the heparin-binding domain in the COOH-terminal half and the other located in the NH2-terminal half of vitronectin.

The effects of cold preservation on steatotic graft viability in rat liver transplantation

Clinical experience suggests that grafts obtained from steatotic livers result in primary nonfunction more frequently than those from nonsteatotic livers. To date, however, only a few studies have been done to verify the accuracy of this observation. To investigate the effects of cold preservation on steatotic liver viability, liver grafts obtained from rats fed with a choline-deficient diet were transplanted after periods of cold preservation. Recipient survival rates with normal liver grafts were 8/8 (100%) and those with steatotic liver grafts were 7/8 (88%) (P > 0.05) after 1-hr preservation with UW solution. After 9-hr preservation, however, these rates decreased significantly to 0/8 (0%) with steatotic grafts (P < 0.01), but were not significantly decreased with normal grafts. LDH levels in the effluent at the time of transplantation were 133 IU/L (1-hr) and 512 IU/L (9-hr) in normal livers, but in steatotic livers these were elevated to 598 and 3141 IU/L, respectively (P < 0.01). Recovery rates of hepatic blood flow measured by laser Doppler flowmeter after revascularization were 99% (1-hr) and 96% (9-hr) in normal grafts, but in steatotic grafts they were 98% (1-hr) and 63% (9-hr, P < 0.01). In addition, the oxidative phosphorylation ability of liver mitochondria obtained from steatotic grafts was decreased significantly after cold preservation. The present results suggest that steatotic liver grafts are prone to lose their viability more easily than normal liver grafts after prolonged periods of cold preservation due to a combination of causes.

Expression of the gene for nerve growth factor (NGF) in the monkey central nervous system

The expression of the gene for nerve growth factor (NGF) was examined in the central nervous system of adult and fetal monkeys. In adults, the highest level of NGF mRNA was found in the hippocampus and relatively high levels were observed in the cerebral cortices and thalamus. NGF mRNA was also detected in the cerebellum and the caudate nucleus. In the spinal cord, there was no evidence of the mRNA. The levels of NGF mRNA were closely correlated with those of NGF. At embryonic day 140 (E140), levels of NGF mRNA in the visual cortex and cerebellum were three times higher than those at the adult stage. Our previous study on the ontogeny of NGF (Hayashi, M. et al., Neuroscience, 36 (1990) 683-689) showed that the level of NGF in the visual cortex at E140 is the same as that at adult stage. Thus, at the fetal stage, NGF may be actively transported from the cerebral cortex to other regions of the brain, such as the basal forebrain area. By contrast, the levels of NGF and NGF mRNA in the cerebellum were almost the same at the adult and fetal stages, suggesting that NGF, which is synthesized in the cerebellum, may be taken up locally by cerebellar cells.

Lesions of the arytenoid region in a patient with exertional dyspnoea

A 63 year old woman presented with a 3 year history of exertional dyspnoea. Spirometry suggested extrathoracic airway obstruction (decreased inspiratory flow and saw-tooth pattern of flow-volume curves), and bronchoscopy revealed structural lesions and a trembling motion in the arytenoid region, causing upper airway obstruction on forced respiratory efforts. As there were no abnormal findings other than the lesions, the exertional dyspnoea was probably caused by impaired movement of the arytenoid region.

Three-dimensional videomonitor in microsurgery

The operation microscope was equipped with two small camera heads on both sides, with a 35-mm still camera, and with or without a binocular observer tube. These camera heads were connected with a 3-dimensional (3D) converter. The operator can observe the 3D images of the operation field on a TV monitor through polarization glasses. The microscope with two camera heads is easy to handle because these camera heads are small and light. This is a promising monitoring system for microsurgery.

Localization of electrocutaneous stimuli on the fingers and forearm: effects of electrode configuration and body axis

Four experiments were done on the effects of electrode configuration (concentric vs. unifocal) and body axis (longitudinal vs. transverse) on localization of electrocutaneous pulse stimuli at the fingers and forearm. Subjects pointed to the apparent location of current pulses. For the transverse placement of electrodes, pulses were localized correctly, whatever the configuration and the body site might be. In addition, intrasubject variability at the forearm was smaller for the transverse axis than for the longitudinal axis. For the longitudinal placement of electrodes, pulses were localized as a function of configuration and body site. At the fingers, concentric electrodes provided precise localization but unifocal electrodes provided a great mislocalization; and intrasubject variability of localization was larger for the unifocal electrodes than for the concentric electrodes. At the forearm, whatever the configuration might be, the pulses were localized more proximally than the stimulus site; and intrasubject variability of localization did not differ between the configurations. These results are related to Boring's anchor theory, apparent distance between two points, and the localization of other somatosensory stimuli.

Lesions of the arytenoid region in a patient with exertional dyspnoea

A 63 year old woman presented with a 3 year history of exertional dyspnoea. Spirometry suggested extrathoracic airway obstruction (decreased inspiratory flow and saw-tooth pattern of flow-volume curves), and bronchoscopy revealed structural lesions and a trembling motion in the arytenoid region, causing upper airway obstruction on forced respiratory efforts. As there were no abnormal findings other than the lesions, the exertional dyspnoea was probably caused by impaired movement of the arytenoid region.

[Sudomotor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease]

Sudomotor function was evaluated by using the sympathetic skin response (SSR) and the sweat response to intradermal acetylcholine (ACh) injection in 69 patients with Parkinson's diseases (PD). The incidence of SSR abnormality (34.8%) was as high as that of orthostatic hypotension (30.4%) and increased with the severity of the illness. Anticholinergic drug did not influence the incidence of SSR abnormality. Therefore, the SSR is useful in evaluating sudomotor efferent pathway in PD patients. Moreover, in all patients, sweat response to ACh showed a reduced number of excitable sweat glands and a low volume of sweat. In a patient in whom sweat response to ACh was markedly impaired, however, the density of acetylcholinesterase-positive unmyelinated fibers in biopsied sural nerve was in normal range. Therefore, this is considered to indicate functional disturbance of the postganglionic sympathetic fibers in PD patients, without morphological changes.

Endocrine pathophysiology of luteal phase deficiency as assessed by GnRH/TRH stimulation tests performed in the early follicular and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle

To investigate endocrine pathophysiology of luteal phase deficiency (LPD), GnRH/TRH stimulation tests were performed in the early follicular (EFP) and midluteal phases (MLP) of the menstrual cycle in 52 infertile women with a history of short luteal phase, in whom pituitary responsiveness to GnRH/TRH and steroidogenic competency of the corpus luteum were analyzed. Twelve women with either elevated basal-LH or exaggerated PRL response to GnRH/TRH in EFP were eliminated, and the remaining 40 women were studied. Basal-FSH in EFP inversely correlated with steroidogenic parameters in MLP, indicating that compromised folliculogenesis causes LPD. In a fraction of LPD women, decreased basal-LH in MLP was associated with decreased basal-progesterone (p), in spite of normal steroidogenic potential of the corpus luteum, suggesting that aberrant LH secretion is another progenitor of LPD. The other group of LPD women showed shortening of high phase period and/or extravagant discrepancy in endometrial dating without apparent abnormal endocrine parameters, suggesting that unknown factors are involved in establishment of LPD. From the diagnostic point of view, they were discriminated into three groups, normal, incomplete LPD and complete LPD groups, with a modified classification of LPD; 1) shortening of high phase period < 11 days, 2) delay in histological to chronological dating of the endometrium > 2 days, and 3) decreased max-P in MLP < 10 ng/ml. Normal (n = 14) and complete LPD (n = 7) groups consisted of women having all the criteria of classification within and out of the cut-off values, respectively. The remainders were enrolled into incomplete LPD group (n = 19). Complete LPD group mainly consisted of women having compromised folliculogenesis as a cause of LPD. In contrast, incomplete LPD group appeared a mixture of heterogeneous populations as to the genesis of LPD. GnRH/TSH stimulation test, especially when performed in MLP, would unveil endocrine pathophysiology of LPD and provide an accurate standard for diagnosis of LPD.

T cell responses to myelin basic protein in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-resistant BALB/c mice

In strains of mice that are susceptible to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), cloned CD4+ T cells reactive with autologous myelin basic protein (MBP) have been shown to cause disease when transferred to naive syngeneic recipients. Recent reports indicate that under particular experimental conditions, 'resistant' strains of mice can also develop EAE, although cloned cells have not been isolated and characterized. An analysis of the characteristics of a panel of MBP-specific T cells and the antigen presenting capability of CNS-derived cells obtained from the resistant strain BALB/c is presented here. The data demonstrate that immunization of EAE-resistant BALB/c mice results in the activation of a heterogeneous group of T cells reactive with autologous MBP. Both peripheral antigen presenting cells, as well as microglia isolated from brains of BALB/c mice, are capable of stimulating these cloned MBP-specific T cells to proliferate. When optimally activated in vitro and then injected in vivo into syngeneic BALB/c recipients, three clones studied induced severe cachexia, resulting in loss of up to 35% of body weight before death. Two of the clones also induced clinical and histological EAE, while the third induced only occasional histological evidence of disease. Differences in epitope recognition, T cell receptor usage, cytokine profiles or regulatory mechanisms of self tolerance, may play important roles in preventing potentially destructive autoimmune reactions by these T cells capable of recognizing autologous myelin in the central nervous system.

Purification and substrate specificity of beta-xylosidase from sycamore cell (Acer pseudoplatanus L.): application for structural analysis of xylose-containing N-linked oligosaccharides

A beta-xylosidase was purified 51-fold from culture medium of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) cells using p-nitrophenyl beta-D-xylopyranoside as a substrate. This enzyme can remove a xylose residue from asparagine-linked oligosaccharides, derivatized with 2-aminopyridine. A pentasaccharide, Xy1 beta 2Man beta 4GlcNAc beta 4(Fuc-alpha 3)GlcNAc was the favorite substrate in N-linked oligosaccharides, but a xylose residue in Xy1 beta 2(Man-alpha 3)Man beta sequence could not be removed by the enzyme. We also propose an efficient method for detection of xylose residue in N-linked oligosaccharides by a combination of the two-dimensional sugar mapping technique and the xylosidase digestion.

[Experimental model for differentiation therapy of leukemia]

Recently, a new therapeutic approach to leukemia has been developed by induction of differentiation of leukemic cells. To improve this therapy, various factors involved in in vivo induction of differentiation of leukemia cells should be clarified. Clinical studies showed that inducers of differentiation of leukemia cells including retinoic acid, hexamethylene bisacetamide and some chemotherapeutic drugs induced remission in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. Clonal analysis of the matured granulocytes revealed that the effectiveness of these drugs was due to their ability to induce differentiation of the leukemic cells rather than their cytocidal activity. On the other hand, various types of agents have been found to induce in vitro differentiation of leukemia line cells and fresh human leukemic cells. To evaluate therapeutic efficacy of these differentiation-inducing agents, pre-clinical experiments using animal model and tests for in vivo inducibility of differentiation of the leukemia cells are essential. We are developing an experimental system to monitor in vivo induction of differentiation of murine leukemia cells inoculated into syngeneic mice.

An inhibitor of squalene epoxidase, NB-598, suppresses the secretion of cholesterol and triacylglycerol and simultaneously reduces apolipoprotein B in HepG2 cells

NB-598, a specific inhibitor of squalene epoxidase, suppressed the secretion of cholesterol and triacylglycerol from HepG2 cells into the medium. L-654,969, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, inhibited the secretion of cholesterol as potently as NB-598, but did not suppress the secretion of triacylglycerol. Both compounds decreased the intracellular cholesterol content almost equally, and neither of the compounds reduced the intracellular triacylglycerol content. The suppression of lipid secretion by NB-598 was associated with a significant reduction in apolipoprotein (apo) B secretion into the medium. Therefore, the suppression of lipid secretion by NB-598 may be caused by a reduction in the number of triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein particles. In contrast, the suppression of cholesterol secretion by L-654,969 may be due to a modulation of lipoprotein lipid composition, since this agent did not reduce the secretion of apo B or triacylglycerol. The secretion of apo A-I was unaffected by either NB-598 or L-654,969. Pulse chase studies using [35S]methionine showed that the suppression of apo B secretion by NB-598 depended on an enhancement of intracellular degradation of apo B. These results indicate that the secretion of apo B from HepG2 cells is not regulated by the lipid synthesis alone, and suggest that the mechanism of the hypolipidemic effect of NB-598 involves the suppression of triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein secretion from the liver as well as an inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in the liver.

[A clinical study on upper urinary tract calculi treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) monotherapy, with regard to bacteriuria before ESWL treatment]

To study a clinical problem in urolithiasis complicated with bacteriuria treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), we studied relationships between the frequency of bacteriuria and some clinical factors such as sex, location of, size of and composition of calculi in patients with upper urinary tract calculi. We also evaluated whether bacteriuria caused fever elevation after ESWL monotherapy. Six hundred seventy patients with upper urinary tract calculi, 440 renal calculi and 230 ureteral calculi, were subjected to the present study. The results were summarized as follows: 1) Bacteriuria was found in 40 of 440 patients with renal calculi (9%) and 12 of 230 patients with ureteral calculi (5%). 2) The frequency of bacteriuria was significantly higher in female (11%) than in male (6%) (p < 0.05). 3) Ten strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 7 of Escherichia coli and 6 of Proteus mirabilis were isolated in patients with bacteriuria. 4) On the location of renal calculi in patients with bacteriuria, 37 out of 40 patients (93%) were found in R2. In contrast, bacteriuria was the most frequently found in DS 6 (19%), whereas the positive rates were about 10% in DS 3 (7%), DS 4 (*7%) and DS 5 (9%). The presence of bacteriuria was not related to the location of calculi or the size of calculi in patients with ureteral calculi. 5) Most of the calculi with bacteriuria were composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate or the mixture of calcium phosphate and carbonate with or without oxalate. 6) Patients with bacteriuria had a significantly higher rate of fever elevation after ESWL than those without bacteriuria (p < 0.01).

The prevalence and retention of lead pellets in Japanese quail

Thirty-six Japanese quail (18 control birds, 18 lead-dosed birds) were used. The 18 quail were dosed with #4 lead weight that were orally inserted into the proventriculus. Delta-aminolevulunic acid dehydrase (ALAD) activity in erythrocytes in the dosed quail decreased 90% (p < 0.01) after one week as compared with the undosed quail. This inhibition of ALAD activity in erythrocytes indicates lead exposure. Radiographics were obtained at 0, 1, 4, 9, 22, and 32 days. The lead pellets remained in the gizzard and became smaller in 4 days. At day 22, after the lead treatment, in 8 quail of the treated quail 12, the lead pellets disappeared. At day 32, all lead pellets disappeared. These findings indicate that the ingested lead pellets are absorbed gradually in the intestine. The lead concentrations in the blood, liver, kidney, and femur of the lead-dosed quail were significantly higher than in the undosed quail until the 6th week. At week 2, the lead concentration of the proventriculus, gizzard, gizzard contents, duodenum, small intestine, and cecum in the dosed quail was significantly higher. Lead concentration of feces was significantly higher at weeks 2 and 4 (p < 0.01). Throughout this study, no lead pellets were found in the feces.

Comparative study of active absorption by the intestine and disposition of anomers of sugar-conjugated compounds

Active absorption in the intestine and metabolism of the beta- and alpha-anomers of the glucoside and galactoside of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) were studied to find a more suitable prodrug for poorly absorbed drugs. The everted sac technique was used to investigate the intestinal absorption of these glycosides at 250 microM from the mucosal to the serosal side in the rat jejunum. The absorption clearance of p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside (p-NP alpha glc) (0.271 +/- 0.089 microL/min/cm, mean +/- SE, N = 8) was much lower than that of p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (p-NP beta glc) (4.45 +/- 0.34 microL/min/cm, mean +/- SE, N = 4) which is actively absorbed by a glucose transport carrier [Mizuma et al., Biochem Pharmacol 43: 2037-2039, 1992]. However, the major constituent appearing on the serosal side was p-NP (aglycone) after absorption of pNP alpha glc, whereas it was p-NP beta glc itself after absorption of p-NP beta glc. The total amount transported to the serosal side after 20 min of p-NP alpha glc absorption, which was similar to that of p-NP beta glc, was significantly decreased in the absence of Na+, indicating the active absorption of p-NP alpha glc by a Na(+)-dependent glucose transport carrier. Perfusion with a mucosal solution of p-NP alpha glc showed that the p-NP concentration on the serosal side (15.8 +/- 1.56 microM, mean +/- SE, N = 3) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that on the mucosal side (5.84 +/- 1.24 microM, mean +/- SE, N = 3) at 20 min. This indicated that the p-NP appearing on the serosal side was derived not from absorption of p-NP but from hydrolysis of p-NP alpha glc through the intestinal membrane during absorption. On the other hand, after absorption of p-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (p-NP beta gal), which is actively absorbed by glucose transport carrier, p-NP beta gal itself appeared mostly on the serosal side. However, p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside (p-NP alpha gal) absorption, which resulted in appearance on the serosal side, was not significantly decreased in the presence of 1 mM phloridzin or in the absence of Na+, indicating that the contribution of the glucose transport carrier to p-NP alpha gal absorption was minimal. The order of the Na(+)-dependent intestinal absorption was p-NP beta glc > p-NP alpha glc > p-NP beta gal > p-NP alpha gal.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of (nitrooxy)alkyl apovincaminates

A series of (nitrooxy)alkyl apovincaminates has been synthesized and evaluated for their effects on vertebral and femoral blood flow. These derivatives were prepared from apovincaminic acid (4). In cerebral circulation, compound 5 (0.03-1.0 mg/kg iv) caused a dose-dependent increase in cerebral blood flow (CerBF) without affecting the blood pressure. It was more potent than vinpocetine (2). The structures of 2 and 5, determined by X-ray crystallography, showed differences in the electrostatic potential image and in the conformation of the ethyl group at the 16-position.

Detection of recombinational mutations in cultured human cells by Southern blot analysis with minisatellite DNA probes

Using the human acute monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, a hypermutability of minisatellite loci was demonstrated in cell culture by Southern blot analysis with minisatellite DNA probes. DNA was isolated from 98 subclones and hybridized to a panel of minisatellite probes consisting of three multilocus minisatellite probes (ML probes) and seven locus-specific minisatellite probes (LS probes). The Southern blot patterns of the hybridized subclones were compared with those of the parental THP-1. Four mutated bands with two ML probes and two mutated bands with two LS probes were detected. The mutation frequency was estimated roughly at 0.1% based on the total number of bands analyzed, and it was much higher than that expected for other DNA regions. Four of these mutations were thought to be alterations of repetitions caused by insertion or deletion of tandem repeats, and one mutant lost a complete minisatellite allele. The nature of the sixth mutant was unclear. Because of the hypermutability of minisatellite DNA, Southern blot analysis using minisatellite DNA probes can be used as a mutation assay system directly based on the DNA.

Sympathetic skin response in patients with cerebellar degeneration

Sudomotor function was studied based on sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) in 87 patients with various types of cerebellar degeneration. Evaluations of orthostatic hypotension and the R-R interval variation were also performed in these patients. The respective incidences of SSR abnormality and orthostatic hypotension were 44 (50.6%) of 87 and 39 (44.8%) of 87. Fourteen percent of the patients with abnormal SSRs did not have orthostatic hypotension, but 8% of the patients with normal SSRs did have orthostatic hypotension. Sympathetic skin responses were abnormal in most patients with Shy-Drager syndrome, sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA), and striatonigral degeneration, whereas SSRs were normal in patients with familial OPCA, sporadic cerebellar atrophy, and familial cerebellar atrophy. We demonstrated that SSR can be used to evaluate sudomotor function in degenerative disorders of the central nervous system as well as in peripheral neuropathies. The vasomotor and sudomotor functions usually are both disturbed in patients with cerebellar degeneration, and the SSR can detect autonomic dysfunction as sensitively as does the head-up tilt test. We also concluded that sporadic OPCA differs from familial OPCA in that it has a much higher incidence of autonomic dysfunction and that degeneration of the cerebellar cortex did not affect the autonomic regulation.