Universal bone cutting device for precision knee replacement arthroplasty and osteotomy

Since malplacement contributes most to loosening of total knee replacements (TKR), a jig was devised, aligned to and mounted on the tibia, with a 3 degrees of freedom sliding saw. A central distractor, attached to the jig, positions and aligns the knee at 0 degrees or 90 degrees. The femur is then rigidly linked to the jig for bone cutting. Resurfacing designs (Cloutier and Townley) have been regularly implanted, aligned +/- 1 degree. This precision should minimize loosening and improve function.

Is the site of action of grayanotoxin the sodium channel gating of squid axon?

An attempt was made to elucidate the site of action of grayanotoxin (GTX) in the nerve membrane by using various endopeptidases. The experiment was conducted on squid axons isolated from Doryteuthis bleekeli with both voltage clamp and internal perfusion methods. Intracellular application of various endopeptidases for more than 30 min eliminated the gating action from both Na current and K current systems. When GTX (100 microM) was subsequently applied to the internal medium, the membranes could depolarize to various extents. This finding strongly suggests that the site of action of GTX is not confined to the channel gating but is present in a part of the Na channel having both voltage sensor and ion filter functions. With the application of trypsin, St. fradiae trypsin, pronase, BPN', and St. fradiae protease (group B), GTX-induced depolarization was much smaller than that with the application of alpha-chymotrypsin, N-protease, and thermolysin (group A). The difference in the sensitivity to GTX between group A and group B became remarkable as the time for application of the enzymes was prolonged. Since all enzymes belonging to group B retain trypsin-like activity and are more effective in removing the sensitivity to GTX, it is suggested that the molecular moiety around the binding site of GTX is rich in basic amino acids or the essential part for opening the Na channel should be protected by basic amino acids.

Persistence of Q strain of H2N2 influenza virus in avian species: antigenic, biological and genetic analysis of avian and human H2N2 viruses

The characteristics of an avian influenza virus were compared in detail with those of human Asian (H2N2) influenza viruses. Antigenic analysis by different antisera against H2N2 viruses and monoclonal antibodies to both the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens showed that an avian isolate, A/duck/München/9/79 contained hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subunits closely related to those of the early human H2N2 viruses which had been prevalent in 1957. However, this avian virus gave low HI titers with absorbed and non-absorbed antisera to different human H2N2 viruses isolated in 1957. Like human Q phase variant, such as A/RI/5-/57 (H2N2), hemagglutination of the above avian strain was not inhibited by the purified non-specific gamma-inhibitor from guinea pig serum. Growth behavior at restrictive temperature (42 degrees C) clearly differentiate the avian H2N2 virus from human influenza viruses, showing that the former virus grew well in MDCK cells at 42 degrees C but not the latters. Genomic analysis of these viruses revealed that the oligonucleotide map of H2N2 virus isolated from a duck was quite different from those of human H2N2 viruses from 1957 to 1967. The oligonucleotide mapping also indicated that different H2N2 influenza virus variants had co-circulated in humans in 1957.

Immunological and genomic analyses of two serotypes of avian paramyxovirus isolated from wild ducks in Japan

A total of 11 avian paramyxoviruses isolated from migrating feral ducks in Niigata, Japan, were characterized by serological and genomic analyses. Hemagglutination inhibition and immuno-double-diffusion tests with antisera specific for the isolated hemagglutinin-neuraminidase polypeptides of reference strains indicated that, of these, eight isolates possessed hemagglutinin-neuraminidase antigen closely related to that of duck/Hong Kong/D3/75, and the remaining three isolates possessed antigen closely related to that of duck/Hong Kong/199/77. RNA analysis of the eight isolates identified serologically as duck/Hong Kong/D3/75 by oligonucleotide mapping revealed that these isolates were genetically very similar to each other but different from the reference strain and isolates reported previously. The oligonucleotide maps of duck/Hong Kong/199/77-like isolates appeared to be very similar to each other, suggesting the same origin, but not to the duck/Hong Kong/199/77 virus.

Analyses of lysophosphatidic acids by gas chromatography mass spectrometry without hydrolytic pretreatment

Lysophosphatidic acids having different fatty acyl moieties were directly analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after silylation. Trimethylsilyl derivatives of various LPAs escaped thermal degradation, and electron impact and chemical ionization of these derivatives yielded many ions which were useful for the structural determination. It was found by this new method that five species of lysophosphatidic acids were formed in rat plasma during incubation at 37 degrees C.

CV-3988 - a specific antagonist of platelet activating factor (PAF)

CV-3988, rac-3-(N-n-octadecylcarbamoyloxy)-2-methoxypropyl 2-thiazolioethyl phosphate was shown to be a specific inhibitor of platelet activating factor (PAF). This compound in concentrations of 3 x 10(-6) to 3 x 10(-5)M inhibited aggregation of rabbit platelets induced by PAF (3 x 10(-8)M), while it had no effect on the aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, ADP, collagen or A-23187. CV-3988 alone even at a concentration of 10(-3)M had no effect on platelet aggregation. The inhibitory action of CV-3988 on the PAF-induced aggregation was independent of the formation of micelles. The PAF (0.1 to 1.0 micrograms/kg, i.v.)-induced hypotension in anesthetized rats was also inhibited dose-dependently by the i.v. administration of CV-3988 (1 and 10 mg/kg), while the hypotensive actions induced by the i.v. administration of acetylcholine (1 micrograms/kg), arachidonic acid (1 mg/kg), bradykinin (10 micrograms/kg), isoproterenol (1 microgram/kg) and histamine (100 micrograms/kg) were not altered by CV-3988 (10 mg/kg, i.v.). All these findings indicate that CV-3988 specifically inhibits the action of PAF in vitro and in vivo. This is the first report of a PAF antagonist which can specifically inhibit the PAF-induced hypotension as well as the PAF-induced platelet aggregation.

Antitumor activity of tetrahydro-2-furanyl- and tetrahydro-2-pyranyl-glucans obtained by chemical modification of (1 leads to 3)-beta-D-glucan from Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes IFO 13140 and its lower molecular weight glucans

The well-defined (1 leads to 3)-beta-D-glucan with DP (degree of polymerization) 540 and the various chain-length (1 leads to 3)-beta-D-glucans prepared by its hydrolysis were chemically modified to furanyl- and pyranyl-derivatives. As a primary screening, the effect of 20 derivatives thus obtained was tested on Sarcoma 180 solid tumor transplanted sc into allogeneic ICR mice; the dose was 10 mg/kg ip for 10 days. Eleven derivatives that showed a strong antitumor effect on Sarcoma 180 were also tested on Meth-A solid tumor in syngeneic mice. Of the derivatives tested, five furanyl-derivatives (F-4, F-6, F-7, F-10, and F-11) and one pyranyl-derivative (P-5) had potent antitumor effects on this syngeneic tumor system at ip doses of 10 or 30 mg/kg for 10 days. By oral administration, only two derivatives (F-10 and P-3) showed moderate antitumor activity against Sarcoma 180, without complete tumor regression. The mechanism of action of these derivatives was considered to be host-mediated and similar to that of the original glucan, because of a lack of effect in vitro.

Studies on antitumor polysaccharides of Flammulina velutipes (Curt. ex Fr.) Sing.II. The structure of EA3 and further purification of EA5

An antitumor polysaccharide, EA3 isolated from a Japanese edible mushroom, Flammulina velutipes (CURT. ex FR.) SING. is composed of D-glucose. Studies to determine its structure were performed by mean of partial acid hydrolysis, acetolysis and the chemical analysis of the complete hydrolysates of the fully methylated polysaccharide. Thus the chemical structure of EA3 was found to be that of a beta-(1 leads to 3)-glucan. Another antitumor polysaccharide (EA5) also isolated from F. velutipes was fractionated on a concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B column. The active antitumor component was further purified by column chromatography on Sephadex G-200. Among the polysaccharides isolated the highest molecular weight polysaccharide (EA501) showed the highest rate of antitumor activity. The component sugar of EA501 were found to be D-glucose 42.3%, D-galactose 17.3%, D-mannose 12.2%, D-xylose 6.7% and L-arabinose 14.7%.

Experimental study on immunological reactions against the articular cartilage

In rats immunized with articular cartilage antigens, delayed hypersensitivity was detected by the macrophage migration inhibition test and delayed footpad reaction. Additionally, a proliferative response was found in the regional lymph nodes of immunized rats. The mixed addition of sensitized lymphocytes and antibodies exerted a cytotoxic effect on cultured chondrocytes. Articular damage including accelerated chondrolysis may have some relation to delayed hypersensitivity to autologous articular cartilage antigens.

Functional abnormalities of hemoglobin Toyoake (142 (H20)beta, Ala leads to Pro)

Oxygen equilibrium of Hb Toyoake (142 (H20)beta, Ala leads to Pro) is characterized by an oxygen affinity 6-times higher than that of Hb A, a slightly decreased alkaline Bohr effect, diminished cooperativity, with Hill's coefficient decreased by 1.2, and reduced response to 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and inositol hexaphosphate. These properties are in qualitative agreement with those shown previously from oxygen equilibrium data for hemolysate containing Hb Toyoake. The heat of oxygenation was -13.5 kcal/mol for Hb Toyoake and -12.9 kcal/mol for Hb A at pH 7.4 in 0.1 M Cl- and they became equal when corrected for the heat of oxygen-linked proton and Cl- release. OxyHb Toyoake autooxidized faster than oxyHb A. The visible absorption spectrum and electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of oxidized Hb Toyake indicated that oxidation of this hemoglobin, either by autooxidation or by K3Fe(CN)6, is followed by gradual conversion into hemichrome derivatives. The soret peak of deoxyHb Toyoake was lowered compared to that of deoxyHb A and the magnitude of narrow-banded oxy-minus-deoxy difference spectrum around 290 nm was smaller for Hb Toyoake than for Hb A, indicating that the former remains predominantly in the R state upon deoxygenation. The functional abnormalities, including tendency to lose heme groups previously reported, were interpreted in terms of structural disturbance by proline at 142beta of 141 leucine, 143 histidine, 145 tyrosine, and 146 histidine residues of the same beta chain.

[A study on the stress analysis of the pelvis by means of the three-dimensional photoelastic experiments (author's transl)]

The processes are as follows: 1) Life-sized photoelastic models molded from a cadaver pelvis are made of Epoxy resin. 2) In order to practice the stress freezing process, the models are set to our original loading apparatus in the electric heater. The forces exerted on the hip models are both body weight and four kinds of muscular forces, those of the abductor, adductor, rectus femoris and gluteus maximus. 3) After the stresses are frozen in the models, they are cut off into slices to observe isochromatic and isoclinic lines. 4) In the stress analysis both the shear difference method and the double slice method are utilized to obtain more accurate stress distributions. And the results have been summarized as follows: 1) In the ring-shaped slices large stresses are observed especially at four areas; namely the central area of the iliac bone, the acetabulum proximal to the ilium, the pubic ramus and the area adjacent to the sacroiliac joint. The specific areas where hydrostatic pressure works are seen at two points in the deep acetabular cavity. 2) The principal stress lines of almost all slices tend to flow smoothly and monotonously along the ilium, the sacrum and the pubic bone, but as they approach the acetabulum they run in complex patterns and make some singular points. 3) Around the acetabulum the principal stress lines of one group run in concentric circles and those of the other group radiate in all directions from the center of the acetabulum at the upper half of the dome which supports the load. The stress here was 5 to 6 times greater than in the lower half of the dome. 4) The acetabulum is stretched vertically and deformed into an oval shape. The horse shoe-shaped articular facet is deformed as both beaks approach each other. 5) As for the slices of the pelvic ring the normal acetabulum tends to be obviously deformed as it holds or embraces the femoral head. As a result of this deformity the stability between the acetabulum and the head increases. On the other hand the dysplastic acetabulum shows none of those phenomena. 6) The iliac bone of the pelvic ring is deformed into the "S" shape and the pubic ramus the "C" shape, the "S" shape, or the "Z" shape depending on the limb position. The pelvic ring tends to be deformed into a heart shape during abduction.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. 2. Derivatives/analogues of dibenz[b,e]oxepin-3-acetic acid

6,11-Dhydro-11-oxodibenz[b,e]oxepins and some related compounds have been synthesized and evaluated for antiinflammatory effect according to the carrageenan paw edema method in rats. The structure-activity relationships have been discussed among acetic acid, carboxylic acid, alcohol, and tetrazole derivatives of dibenzoxepins and acetic acid derivatives of thienobenzoxepins and of the corresponding thiepins. The 3-isopropyl alcohol 9 and 11-deoxo-3-propionic acid (49) were more active than indomethacin but not as active as the title compound (i.e., 43). Carboxylic acids, tetrazoles, esters, amides, and ketones were less active than the corresponding acetic acids. Three compounds (31, 33, and 34) were evaluated for ulcerogenicity and lethality but none surpassed 6,11-dihydro-11-oxodibenz[b,e]oxepin-3-acetic acid (41) in therapeutic ratio.

Breeding of cynomolgus monkeys through successive generations by indoor cage system

Vital statistics on the breeding through successive generations were presented for the cynomolgus monkey colony of NIH, Tokyo. The results of this retrospective survey clearly demonstrated the third (F2) and the fourth (F3) generations could be bred and reared successfully by the indoor caged-breeding system in which either individual timed-mating or group mating procedure was adopted. Several important and difficult problems involved in the production of successive generations of the cynomolgus monkey by our breeding system were discussed from the standpoint of laboratory animal science.

A two-dimensional echoaortocardiographic approach to dissecting aneurysms of the aorta to prevent false-positive diagnoses

Two patients with dissecting aneurysms of the aorta of Debakey type I and II, 10 healthy subjects, and 2 patients with signs mimicking aortic-root dissection were studied by two-dimensional echoaortocardiography, standard echocardiography, and M-mode scanning. In both electrocardiographically gated and nonelectrocardiographically gated two-dimensional echoaortocardiograms of each patient, aortic-root dissections were clearly visualized. Because of the possibility of a false-positive diagnosis of an aortic-root dissection by previously reported criteria (including cases in the authors' experience and in the literature), the authors are convinced that the combination of two-dimensional and standard echoaortocardiography provides the most reliable echo diagnosis of this disease.

Isolation of two forms of activated C1s, a subcomponent of the first component of rabbit complement

Two forms of activated C1s, a subcomponent of the first component of complement, were present in preparations of C1 specifically purified from rabbit serum by affinity chromatography on IgG-Sepharose 6B and were separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography in the presence of EDTA. These two activated C1s, designated C1s(I) and C1s(II), were indistinguishable with regard to hemolytic activity as well as C1s esterase activity, though they had different molecular weights. C1s(I) had a molecular weight of 106,000, consisting of H and L chains connected by disulfide bonds; the molecular weights of the chains were 70,000 and 36,000, respectively. On the other hand, C1s(II), with a molecular weight of 72,000, consisted of two chains each with a molecular weight of about 37,000, which were also connected by disulfide bonds. These results suggest that, in the case of rabbit C1s, the primary product of activation with C1r, C1s(I), may be susceptible to further cleavage of its H chain without any loss of C1s activity, resulting in the formation of C1s(II), though the active principle responsible for this conversion remains to be elucidated.

[Nursing procedures for cynomolgus monkey infants (author's transl)]

This paper describes the results of the artificial nursing of 8 infant cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) weighing 230-350 g at birth. The infants were separated from their mothers just after or 2 days after birth and were kept in a specially deviced small cage (Photo 1 & 2). They were fed on 6.4-16.6% solution of a commercially available powdered milk for the human baby. Apple juice also was given to them from the 3rd or 4th week on. In about the 6th week, the infants received solid foods such as small pieces of apple, biscuit and monkey chow. The main part of the dietary regimen was changed to the solid diet around the 12th week. The volume of milk taken was recorded every day, and the daily intake ff three major nutrients was estimated with the milk intake (Fig. 1,2,5,6). The body weights were between 600 and 750 g on the day of weaning, that is at about 12 weeks of age, except No. 2 infant showing a slight growth retardation (Fig.4). Their physical growth can be judged as normal as that of breast-nursed infants of the saame species from our laboratory. On the basis of these results, an example of the artificial feeding schedule for the infant cynomolgus monkeys was introduced (Fig. 7).

Echocardiography diagnosis of ruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva. Report of two cases

Echocardiographic features of two cases of ruptured congenital aneurysm of Valsalva sinus with (case1) and without (case 2) a supracristal ventricular defect were studied before and after surgery by standard echocardiography. M-mode scan and two-dimensional echocardiography. Discontinuity was observed in the echo from the aneurysm wall of the Valsalva sinus in case 1 with ruptured aneurysm, but was not observed in a similar case of unruptured aneurysm. Herniation of the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve into the right ventricular outflow tract was also observed in case 1. After surgical correction the echo from the aneurysm wall and from the herniated right coronary cusp of the aortic valve disappeared. Discontinuity in the echo from the anterior aortic wall and the interventricular septum also disappeared. In case 2, discontinuity in the echo from the anterior aortic wall, and tricuspid flutter with an abnormally low early diastolic peak were observed. These abnormalities disappeared after surgery. The ability of echocardiography to detect ruptured Valsalva aneurysm is discussed.

Isolation, purification, and structure of components from acidic polysaccharides of Pleurotus ostreatus (Fr.) Quél

Isolation of an antitumor component from polysaccharide fraction A5 of some Basidiomyces was achieved by column chromatography on Sephadex G-200. A detection method based on the specific rotatory characteristics of the polysaccharide was applied to estimate components in effluent fractions from the chromatography, and it was confirmed that a series of eluates having similar specific rotation was made up of homogeneous polysaccharide. Three components (H51, H52, and H53) were isolated, in chromatographically pure state, from fraction A5. Component H51 consisted of a skeleton of beta-(1 leads to 3)-linked glucose residues, probably having branches of galactose and mannose residues, and also containing acidic sugars. Component H53 had a main structure similarly consisting of beta-(1 leads to 3)-linked glucose residues and a larger proportion of acidic sugar than H51. Component H52 was a heteropolysaccharide made up of alpha-linked galactose and mannose residues. Components H51 and H53 had a higher and a lower molecular weight, respectively, than H52. The only antitumor-active component was H51.