Preputial separation and glans penis changes in normal growing Crj: CD (SD) IGS rats

This study was designed to detect preputial separation and glans penis changes in normal growing SD rats. We examined the changes until 53 days after birth. The glans penis surface changed from a protruding os penis structure to a W shape, and from a W shape to a flattened surface with age. The protruding os penis structure changed gradually to the W shape from postnatal day (PND) 30, and all rats had the W shape by PND 35. The flattened surface was observed from PND 39, and all rats had this structure by PND 44. In all rats, the day of complete preputial separation exactly corresponded to the day of appearance of the flattened surface.

Heterotopic gastric mucosa in intrahepatic bile duct, presenting with hemobilia: a case report

We present a 66-year-old man with unique heterotopic gastric mucosa in the intrahepatic bile duct causing hemobilia. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed irregular stenosis of the left intrahepatic bile duct, and a provisional diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma was made. Therefore, partial hepatic lobectomy and cholecystectomy were performed. Histological examination of the liver showed the presence of ectopic gastric mucosa in the intrahepatic bile duct containing mucous glands with parietal and chief cells and bile. Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the intrahepatic bile duct is a rare cause of hemobilia.

Iridoid glucosides from Barleria lupulina

From the aerial part of Barleria lupulina, 8-O-acetyl-6-O-trans-p-coumaroylshanzhiside, saletpangponosides A-C and 8-O-acetylmussaenoside were isolated together with 13 known compounds. The structural elucidations were based on analyses of physical and spectroscopic data.

Megastigmane and iridoid glucosides from Clerodendrum inerme

From the aerial parts of Clerodendrum inerme, two megastigmane glucosides (sammangaosides A and B) and a iridoid glucoside (sammangaoside C) were isolated together with 15 known compounds. The structural elucidations were based on analyses of physical and spectroscopic data.

Refraction imaging and histologic correlation in excised tissue from a normal human lung: preliminary report

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The authors performed this study to evaluate the spatial resolution of refraction imaging performed with synchrotron radiation (SR) on 2-mm-thick sections of excised normal human lung.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Refraction images of specimens from a normal human lung were obtained with 19 keV, a 5-second exposure time, and a 2.4 x 2.4-cm field of view. The specimen-detector distance was 83 cm.

RESULTS

Structures of secondary pulmonary lobule consisting of pulmonary arteriole, terminal bronchiole, air sac, and venules in the interlobular septum in normal lung were clearly illustrated on refraction images obtained with SR. The imaging findings showed good correlation with those from histologic examination. The spatial resolution of the refraction images was approximately 10-30 microm, as measured with light microscopic analysis of specimens stained with hematoxylin-eosin.

CONCLUSION

With refinement, this technique may have some practical purpose for diagnosing lung disease in vivo.

Mutations of either or both Cys876 and Cys888 residues of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase result in a complete loss of Ca2+ transport activity without a loss of Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity. Role of the CYS876-CYS888 disulfide bond

Disulfide-containing peptides in pepsin digest of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were identified by using a fluorogenic thiol-specific reagent 4-fluoro-7-sulfamoylbenzofurazan and a reductant tributylphosphine. Sequencing of the purified peptides revealed the presence of a Cys(876)-Cys(888) disulfide bond on the luminal loop connecting the 7th and 8th transmembrane helices (loop 7-8) of the Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA1a). We substituted either or both of these cysteine residues with alanine and made three mutants (C876A, C888A, C876A/C888A), in which the disulfide bond is disrupted. The mutants and the wild type were expressed in COS-1 cells, and functional analysis was performed with the microsomes isolated from the cells. Electrophoresis performed under reducing and non-reducing conditions confirmed the presence of Cys(876)-Cys(888) disulfide bond in the expressed wild type. All the three mutants possessed high Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. In contrast, no Ca(2+) transport activity was detected with these mutants. These mutants formed almost the same amount of phosphoenzyme intermediate as the wild type from ATP and from P(i). Detailed kinetic analysis showed that the three mutants hydrolyze ATP in the mechanism well accepted for the Ca(2+)-ATPase; activation of the catalytic site upon high affinity Ca(2+) binding, formation of ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme, subsequent rate-limiting transition to ADP-insensitive phosphoenzyme, and hydrolysis of the latter phosphoenzyme. It is likely that the pathway for delivery of Ca(2+) from the binding sites into the lumen of vesicles is disrupted by disruption of the Cys(876)-Cys(888) disulfide bond, and therefore that the loop 7-8 having the disulfide bond is important for formation of the proper structure of the Ca(2+) pathway.

Acylated flavonoid glycosides from Bassia muricata

From the arial parts of Bassia muricata, two acylated flavonoid glycosides quercetin-3-O-(6"-caffeoyl)-sophoroside and quercetin-3-O-(6"-feruloyl)-sophoroside have been isolated together with two known flavonoid glycosides quercetin-3-O-sophoroside and quercetin-3,7-O-beta-diglucopyranoside, as well as four known triterpenoidal saponins, oleanolic acid-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside, chikusetsusaponin IVa, chikusetsusaponin IVa methyl ester and oleanolic acid-3,28-beta-diglucopyranoside. The structures of the isolated compounds were verified by means of MS and NMR spectral analyses.

Lignan and phenylpropanoid glycosides from Fernandoa adenophylla

From the leaves and branches of Fernandoa adenophylla, a lignan glycoside (fernandoside) and a phenylpropanoid glycoside (2"-O-beta-apiosylverbascoside) were isolated together with 12 known compounds. The structural elucidations were based on analyses of physical and spectroscopic data.

Quassinoids from Eurycoma harmandiana

Three quassinoids, iandonosides A and B and iandonone, were isolated from the root of Eurycoma harmandiana, along with five known quassinoids, casteloside B, 13 beta, 21-dihydroeurycomanone, chaparrinone, glaucarubolone and ailanquassin B as well as the coumarin, scopoletin. The structural elucidations were based on analyses of spectroscopic data.

A family with von Hippel-Lindau disease revealed by pheochromocytoma

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an inherited neoplastic disease characterized by a predisposition to develop retinal angiomas, central nervous system hemangioblastomas, renal cell carcinomas, pancreatic cysts and pheochromocytomas. Recently, we encountered three members of the same family who each had both VHL disease and pheochromocytoma. As in all three patients we suspected pheochromocytoma, the diagnosis of VHL disease should be considered. The possible presence of VHL disease was initially investigated in all three patients based on the presence of pheochromocytoma. A mutational analysis of the VHL gene revealed the presence of a missense mutation, consisting of a G to A transversion, at nucleotide 713 in all three patients. This germline point mutation in the VHL gene is often detected in type 2 VHL disease with pheochromocytoma. Genetic analysis seems to be useful for early detection of VHL disease, even when the formal criteria for diagnosis of this disease are lacking.

A rare case of pseudomyxoma peritonei presenting an unusual inguinal hernia and splenic metastasis

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare clinical entity in which a diffuse collection of intraperitoneal gelatinous fluid is associated with gelatinous implants on the peritoneal surfaces and omentum. Hematogenic or lymphatic metastasis is extremely rare. In addition, an inguinal mass as an initial presentation is also relatively rare. This is a case report of a PMP patient who had splenic metastasis and showed an inguinal tumor as an initial presentation. A 59-year-old female patient, who had undergone bilateral oophorectomy because of a ruptured ovarian mucinous tumor of boderline malignancy 12 years previously, presented a presumptive diagnosis of a left inguinal irreducible hernia. Computed tomography revealed a low density mass in the pelvic cavity and in the inguinal lesion, as well as in the spleen without any diseases around the organ. The preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was elevated. The patient underwent a resection of gelatinous tumor in the pelvic cavity, splenectomy, and appendectomy, as well as left inguinal herniorrhaphy. Histological examinations revealed a splenic metastasis of PMP originating from the ovarian low-grade mucinous tumor. She received postoperative intraperitoneal lavage as well as chemotherapy, and has survived for over 7 years postoperatively without any evidence of recurrence, as confirmed by repeated follow-up CT examinations and CEA determination. Splenic metastasis of PMP is extremely rare; this represents only the third reported case of its kind in the literature. Furthermore, it should be noted that an inguinal tumor can sometimes be an initial presentation of PMP.

Strain sensitivity differences in the Hershberger assay

The Hershberger assay is a test method for detecting androgenic or antiandrogenic properties based on alterations in the weights of accessory sex organs in castrate male animals. We performed this study to examine strain sensitivity differences in the Hershberger assay. Flutamide (FLU) at a dose of 3.2 mg/kg was administered to castrated F344, SD, or Wistar rats, in addition to testosterone propionate (TP) administered at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg. Although FLU significantly attenuated the TP-induced increase in glans penis weight in SD and Wistar rats, this attenuation was not observed in F344 rats. Statistical analysis showed differences among the strains in all sex accessory organ weights. The interaction in the ventral prostate, seminal vesicle, and glans penis weights was significant between SD and F344 rats, and between Wistar and F344 rats, but not between SD and Wistar rats. F344 rats were less suitable than SD or Wistar rats for detecting FLU-induced changes.

Hospital outbreak of MEN-1-derived extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

An outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to broad spectrum cephalosporins occurred in a hospital in the Kinki area in Japan. During 18 months, from February 1998 to July 1999, 23 strains were isolated from 21 patients (10 with pneumonia, 4 with urinary tract infection, 1 with sepsis, 1 with vaginosis, 1 with a wound infection, and 1 with both pneumonia and sepsis; 3 patients showed noninfective colonization with K. pneumoniae) in seven wards, including the intensive care unit. MEN-1-derived gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction from the majority of the strains. Ninety-nine strains of K. pneumoniae were isolated during this period. The isolation rate of K. pneumoniae resistant to broad spectrum cephalosporins was 21%. We distinguished three clones by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, and one of them was isolated from 18 patients. The presence of an R-plasmid of more than 160 kb was confirmed by plasmid analysis, but it was not possible to obtain transconjugants from all strains. This outbreak of K. pneumoniae was immediately confirmed by genetic analysis, and it was promptly ended by the infection control procedures. This is the first hospital outbreak of MEN-1-producing K. pneumoniae in Japan.

Separation of naturally occurring triterpenoidal saponins by capillary zone electrophoresis

A high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) was successfully applied to the separation and quantitation of naturally occurring oleanene triterpenoidal saponins. The HPCE adapted to the separation of two pairs of disteriomeric saponins (1-2) or (3-4), obtained from Trifolium alexandrinum seeds, was based on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in borate buffer with UV detection at 195 nm. An usual technique for isolation and group separation of saponins was developed as an appropriate purification step prior to determination of individual saponins by CZE. The separation parameters such as borate concentration, pH and applied voltage were varied in order to find the best compromise that complied with demands for high separation, short duration and sufficiently high detector response. The optimum running conditions were found to be 60 mM borate buffer, pH 10 and 12 kV. Under the alkaline borate electrolyte, no resolution was achieved for the saponins (1 and 3) or (2 and 4) in a single mixture, except when 20 mM beta-cyclodextrin was added to the running electrolyte. With the combined techniques of group separation, purification and CZE, a rapid and efficient method for the determination of naturally occurring diasteriomeric saponins is now available.

Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum reduces levels of TNF-a mRNA in the brain, liver, and peritoneum in mice

BACKGROUND

Cytokines are important regulators of the biological response to surgical stress. The aim of this study was to determine whether the CO(2) pneumoperitoneum would change the expression of TNF-a mRNA in the visceral organs, including the brain, in mice.

METHODS

Mice were randomly assigned to one of six groups: control, anesthesia alone, insufflation with carbon dioxide, insufflation with air, laparotomy by short incision, or laparotomy by long incision. The brain, liver, jejunum, and peritoneum were harvested either 3 or 24 h after surgery. Levels of TNF-a mRNA in each tissue was measured by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

The air insufflation group showed higher TNF-a mRNA levels in the brain and liver than the short-incision group. Levels of TNF-a mRNA in the brain, liver, and peritoneum were lower in the CO(2) pneumoperitoneum group than in the air insufflation group. Plasma IL-6 and catecholamine in the urine were lower in the CO(2) pneumoperitoneum group than the air insufflation group.

CONCLUSION

Reduced synthesis of TNF-a in the visceral organs, including the brain, is correlated with a less marked biologic response to laparoscopic surgery.

Risk of alanine aminotransferase flare-up among asymptomatic hepatitis C virus RNA carriers: a 10-year follow-up study

AIMS

The aim of this study was to determine the cumulative rate of flare-up of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level during a 10-year follow-up period, and characterize the clinical, virologic features in 120 hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-positive asymptomatic carriers with persistently normal ALT levels for 6 months.

RESULTS

All flare-up cases occurred during the first 5 years of the present study, 27.4% of carriers showed ALT flare-up during this period, but none in the second half of the study. Multivariate analysis showed that C100-3 antibody (Ab) and anti-human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-I Ab were two independent and significant predictors of ALT flare-up in hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA asymptomatic carriers (P = 0.04, P = 0.03, respectively). Liver biopsy was performed in 44 patients (11 with flare-up of ALT level, whereas 33 had normal ALT levels). Histological features of chronic hepatitis with lymphoid infiltration in the portal tracts were commonly observed in all specimens, and no differences were noted between the flare-up ALT group and the persistently normal ALT group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that flare-up of ALT levels in asymptomatic HCV-RNA carriers with normal ALT levels occurs during the first 5 years of diagnosis, and that the presence of C100-3 and anti-HTLV-I antibodies are good predictors of a transient rise in ALT.

Effect of oxidative stress on the structure and function of human serum albumin

PURPOSE

Human serum albumin (HSA) was mildly oxidized by a metal-catalyzed oxidation system (MCO-HSA), chloramine-T (CT-HSA) or H2O2 (H2O2-HSA), and the effects of these treatments on the structural, drug-binding and esterase-like properties were studied.

METHODS

Protein conformation was examined by calorimetric, chromatographic, electrophoretic and spectroscopic techniques. Drug binding was studied by ultrafiltration method, and esterase-like activity was determined using p-nitrophenyl acetate as a substrate.

RESULTS

Far-UV and near-UV CD spectra indicated that significant structural changes had occured as the result of treatment with MCO-HSA and CT-HSA but not with H2O2-HSA. However, SDS-PAGE analysis does not provide precise information on gross conformational changes such as fragmentation, cross-linking and SDS-resistant polymerisation. The results of differential scanning calorimetry, the fluorescence of the hydrophobic probe 1,1-bis-4-anilino-naphthalene-5,5-sulfonic acid and the elution time from a hydrophobic HPLC column indicated that MCO-HSA and CT-HSA in particular, have a more open structure and a higher degree of exposure of hydrophobic areas than unoxidized HSA. In all cases, high-affinity binding of warfarin remained unchanged for all the oxidized HSAs. However, high-affinity binding of ketoprofen to CT-HSA and, especially, MCO-HSA was diminished. In addition, the esterase-like activity of these proteins were all decreased to the same low level.

CONCLUSIONS

Mild oxidation of HSA has no detectable effect on the binding of drugs to site I in subdomain IIA. In contrast, both the ligand binding property of site II and the esterase-like activity of oxidized HSAs are decreased, most probably due to conformational changes in subdomain IIIA.

[Usefulness of a simple expiratory gas monitor during sedation under spinal anesthesia]

We introduce a simple expiratory gas monitor during sedation under spinal anesthesia. A small extension tube for infusion used as a gas sampling line is placed in the nasal vestibule. It is necessary to make it sure that the point of the tube should not contact with the mucous membrane of the nose. Our method needs no special equipments such as Capnoxygen or Nazorcap, but a cheap extension tube available in any operating room. Therefore this is a simple method. Expiratory gas monitor can detect apnea early, airway obstruction and stenosis and predict PaCO2 during sedation. The change of fractional concentration of oxygen in inspired gas predicts the change of tidal volume. Increase in the former reflects a decrease in the latter under the administration of oxygen. It is possible to evaluate whether sedation became steady with analysis of respiratory pattern. However, nasal discharge may interrupt monitoring expiratory gas. Our simple method to monitor expiratory gas is useful during sedation under regional anesthesia.

Interaction mechanism between indoxyl sulfate, a typical uremic toxin bound to site II, and ligands bound to site I of human serum albumin

PURPOSE

The study was performed for clarifying the mechanism of interaction between indoxyl sulfate (IS), a typical uremic toxin bound to site II, and site I-ligands when bound to human serum albumin (HSA). The effect of the N to B transition on the interactions was also examined.

METHODS

Quantitative investigation of the relations between ligands bound to HSA was performed by equilibrium dialysis, and the binding data were analyzed on the basis of a theoretical model for simultaneous binding of two ligands.

RESULTS

The high-affinity binding constants for the site I-ligands warfarin (WF) and dansyl-L-asparagine (DNSA) increased with increasing pH, whereas those for the site II-ligands IS and dansylsarcosine (DNSS) were hardly affected by pH. Mutual displacement experiments showed that even though IS binds to site II it influenced binding of DNSA at the azapropazone binding area in site I. By contrast, it is unlikely that IS affects the WF binding area of site I. Furthermore, pH-profiles showed that the interaction between IS and DNSA was very sensitive to the N to B transition: "competitive-like" strong allosteric regulation was observed for binding of the two ligands to the N conformer (pH 6.5), whereas in the B conformation (pH 8.5) binding of these molecules was nearly "independent".

CONCLUSIONS

The present data provide useful information for elucidating a potential mechanism of interaction between drugs and endogenous substances including uremic toxins.

Sweet pregnane glycosides from Telosma procumbens

An intensely sweet polyoxypregnane glycoside, telosmoside A15 (15), was isolated from an Asian Asclepiadaceae plant, Telosma procumbens, collected in Vietnam. This is the first time a sweet pregnane glycoside has been found, and its sweetness intensity is 1000 times greater than that of sucrose. From the same plant, 17 other new glycosides were isolated, having the same aglycone; they are named telosmosides A1-A14 (1-14) and A16-A18 (16-18). Some of these glycosides are also sweet, but others are tasteless or bitter. Chemical structures of the 18 glycosides were determined, and the structure-taste relationship was discussed.

Effects of olive, corn, sesame or peanut oil on the body weights and reproductive organ weights of immature male and female rats

Olive, corn, sesame or peanut oil which have been used as vehicles in the immature rat uterotrophic assay or Hershberger assay, for detection of endocrine disrupting effects of environmental chemicals, was administered to ten immature female rats by subcutaneous injection from postnatal day (PND) 21 for 3 or 7 days, and each oil was also administered to ten male rats from PND 21 for 7 and 10 days. The body weights, and the weights of sex and sex accessory organs in female and male rats were measured. There were no significant differences in body weights of female rats between each oil group and the control group, while the body weight of male rats in the group given peanut or olive oil was significantly increased from 8 or 9 days after administration. There were no changes in the sex and sex accessory organ weights of female or male rats related to the endocrine disrupters. The results of the body weights and organ weights demonstrate that each oil is a suitable vehicle for the immature rat uterotrophic assay. However, each oil is suggested to be unsuitable for the Hershberger assay, because the analysis of changes of sex accessory organ weights in this assay might be confused by the increased body weights.

Development of non-radio isotopic endpoint of murine local lymph node assay based on 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation

Allergic contact dermatitis is a serious health problem. Over the last decade, the murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) has been developed to detect chemical allergens, and international validation studies have been conducted. We have tried to establish an alternative non-radioisotopic endpoint for the LLNA by using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation in place of radioisotopes, such as [3H]thymidine, employed in the standard method. BrdU was given as a single administration at 5 mg/animal 2 days following three consecutive daily applications of a test chemical. BrdU incorporation into draining lymph node cells was measured using an enzyme immunosorbent assay technique. In this study, p-benzoquinone(PBQ), trimellitic anhydride (TMA), citral(CT) and dextran (DEX) were used as pilot chemicals. PBQ, TMA and CT, which are classified as moderate to strong sensitizers in the guinea pig maximization test and were positive in the original LLNA, were also found to elicit positive responses in the alternative LLNA using BrdU incorporation. In contrast, DEX tested negative in the modified assay consistent with previous guinea pig and LLNA data. Consequently, the modified LLNA endpoint using BrdU incorporation may represent a useful alternative to the standard assay in situations, where there is a need to avoid the use of radioisotopes.

ADP-insensitive phosphoenzyme intermediate of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase has a compact conformation resistant to proteinase K, V8 protease and trypsin

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase was digested with proteinase K, V8 protease and trypsin in the absence of Ca(2+). Unphosphorylated enzyme was rapidly degraded. In contrast, ADP-insensitive phosphoenzyme formed with P(i) and phosphorylated state analogues produced by the binding of F(-) or orthovanadate, were almost completely resistant to the proteolysis except for tryptic cleavage at the T1 site (Arg(505)). The results indicate that the phosphoenzyme and its analogues have a very compact form in the cytoplasmic region, being consistent with large domain motions (gathering of three cytoplasmic domains). Results further show that the structure of the enzyme with bound decavanadate is very similar to ADP-insensitive phosphoenzyme. Thapsigargin did not affect the changes in digestion time course induced by the formation of the phosphorylated state analogues.

Canthin-6-one and beta-carboline alkaloids from Eurycoma harmandiana

Two alkaloids, canthin-6-one 9-O-beta-glucopyranoside and 7-hydroxy-beta-carboline 1-propionic acid, were isolated from the roots of Eurcoma harmandiana together with the five known canthin-6-one alkaloids, 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one, 9-methoxycanthin-6-one, 9,10-dimethoxycanthin-6-one, canthin-6-one and canthin-6-one N-oxide, and the two known beta-carboline alkaloids, beta-carboline 1-propionic acid and 7-methoxy-beta-carboline 1-propionic acid. Their structures were based on analyses of spectroscopic data.