Load-dependent mechanical efficiency of individual myosin heads in skeletal muscle fibers activated by laser flash photolysis of caged calcium in the presence of a limited amount of ATP

Although a contracting muscle regulates its energy output depending on the load imposed on it ("Fenn effect"), the mechanism underlying the load-dependent energy output remains obscure. To explore the possibility that the mechanical efficiency, with which chemical energy derived from ATP hydrolysis is converted into mechanical work, of individual myosin heads changes in a load-dependent manner, we examined the auxotonic shortening of glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle fibers, containing ATP molecules almost equal in number to the myosin heads, following laser flash photolysis of caged calcium. Immediately before laser flash activation, almost all of the myosin heads in the fiber are in the state, M.ADP.Pi, and can undergo only one ATP hydrolysis cycle after activation. When the fibers were activated to shorten under various auxotonic loads, the length, force and power output changes were found to be scaled according to the auxotonic load. Both the power and energy outputs were maximal under a moderate auxotonic load. The amount of M.ADP.Pi utilized at a time after activation was estimated from the amount of isometric force developed after interruption of fiber shortening. This amount was minimal in the isometric condition, and increased nearly in proportion to the distance of fiber shortening. These results are taken as evidence that the efficiency of chemo-mechanical energy conversion in individual myosin heads changes in a load-dependent manner.

Disruptive forces for swine heart, liver, and spleen: their breaking stresses

OBJECTIVES

The mechanical strengths of the swine heart, liver, and spleen were determined by measuring the force that initiated the rupture of the organs.

METHODS

The force was loaded by the compression of a detection bar onto the organ, and the breaking stress was calculated by dividing the force by the bar's contact area. The forces were measured with five measurements in five of each type of organ with and without the serous membrane (SM).

RESULTS

The breaking stresses of the heart were 14.1+/-0.7 kg/cm2 (mean+/-SEM) with intact epicardium and 8.1+/-0.6 without it; those of the spleen were 9.0+/-0.9 with its capsule and 1.8+/-0.1 without the capsule, and those of the liver were 4.6+/-0.3 with and 3.6+/-0.3 without the SM. A three-way layout analysis of variance showed that the organs, their SM and individual swine were independent determinants of the breaking stresses.

CONCLUSION

With the intact SM, the heart was strongest and the liver was weakest. When the SM was not present, the spleen lost 80% of its strength, the liver 22% of its strength, and the heart lost 43% of its strength.

Effects of parent Shamo cocks on the histochemical properties of M. iliotibialis lateralis and M. supracoracoideus on their crossbred broilers

1. Four Shamo (a Japanese game bird) cocks showing different characteristics in the histochemical properties of M. iliotibialis lateralis (ITL) were crossed with White Rock hens to produce male and female crossbred broilers of the 4 lines (90 d of age). Normal broilers (56 d) were used, for comparison. 2. Histochemical properties of ITL and M. supracoracoideus (SC) were compared among the crossbred lines and normal broilers. Myofibres were divided into Types II R, II I and II W showing high, moderate and low reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase (NADH-DH) activities, respectively. 3. In the ITL of the crossbred cockerels, the percentage of Type II R and II I fibres decreased and conversely Type II W increased in comparison to those in the Shamo. 4. Sex differences of the histochemical properties were recognised only in the ITL of the crossbred, in which the percentage of Type II R fibres was greater in the male. 5. The different characteristics of the parent Shamo cocks were reproduced only in the different fibre type composition of the ITL muscle in the crossbred cockerels. 6. The histochemical features of fibre type seemed to develop with bird age, particularly subsarcolemmal accumulation of formazan granules (indicating high NADH-DH activity) in Type IIR fibres. 7. Breed, line, sex and age differences in the histochemical properties were demonstrated clearly in ITL but not in SC.

Inhibition of integrin signaling with Arg-Gly-Asp motifs in rat hepatic stellate cells

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Activation of hepatic stellate cells plays a key role in liver fibrogenesis. Disruption of normal hepatic stellate cell-matrix interactions may contribute to this process. However, little is known about the molecular events leading from integrin-extracellular matrix interaction to hepatic stellate cell function. Therefore, we investigated the role of integrin signaling in tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and cytoskeletal assembly in rat hepatic stellate cells using soluble Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptides.

METHODS

Hepatic stellate cells were isolated from normal rat livers. Integrin alpha5beta1 expression in hepatic stellate cells was analyzed by immunoprecipitation and immunocytochemistry. The cytoskeletal assembly and tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase were determined by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting. We also analyzed the effect of Arg-Gly-Asp containing peptides on the expression of smooth muscle alpha actin by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting.

RESULTS

We identified integrin alpha5beta1 in rat hepatic stellate cells. Stress fiber formation and cell shape were different when hepatic stellate cells were plated on various extracellular matrix components. Treatment of hepatic stellate cells with soluble Arg-Gly-Asp peptides diminished the adhesion-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and inhibited the formation of stress fibers. The peptides also reduced the expression of smooth muscle alpha actin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that adhesion to extracellular matrix induces tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and promotes actin stress fiber formation and focal adhesion assembly in rat hepatic stellate cells, and that these events are disturbed by soluble Arg-Gly-Asp peptides.

Comparison of genetic susceptibility to experimental allergic/immune-mediated blepharoconjunctivitis between Lewis and Fischer rats

BACKGROUND

Fischer rats were less susceptible to experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) than Lewis rats, although both strains have the same MHC molecules. The purpose of this study was to compare the susceptibility of experimental allergic/immune-mediated blepharoconjunctivitis (EAC) between these two strains.

METHODS

Male Lewis and Fischer rats were immunized with either ovalbumin (OVA) or OVA peptide (OVA323-339) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Three weeks later, they were challenged with OVA by eye drops. Twenty-four hours later, after clinical evaluation, they were killed and eyes, blood and lymph nodes were harvested for histology, antibody titer and proliferation assay, cytokine production or flow cytometric analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

Fischer rats developed mild EAC compared with Lewis rats. Cellular proliferative responses, IFN-gamma production of culture supernatant and serum IgG specific for OVA were basically the same between the two strains. The same OVA peptides were selected as immunodominant. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the same cellular profile of lymph node cells in the two strains.

CONCLUSION

EAC in Fischer rats was milder than that in Lewis rats, although no apparent differences in immunological parameters between these two strains were detected. These data suggest that factors unrelated to immunological parameters may depend on the susceptibility of EAC.

N epsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine in blood from maintenance hemodialysis patients may contribute to dialysis-related amyloidosis

BACKGROUND

Recent studies demonstrated not only that advanced glycation end product could be found in amyloid tissue from patient with dialysis related amyloidosis, but also that amyloid beta2-microglobulin was modified with N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML). We wanted to determine if CML could be a biomarker in these patients.

METHODS

To raise polyclonal anti-carboxymethyllysine antibody, human serum albumin was carboxymethylated by glyoxylic acid and was immunized to rabbits as antigen. Carboxymethyllysine-hemoglobin (CML-Hb) levels were measured by the dot blotting method using this antibody.

RESULTS

The levels of CML-Hb were 6.68 +/- 3.10 nmol CML/mg Hb in nondiabetic hemodialysis patients (N = 70), 6.39 +/- 3.43 nmol CML/mg Hb in diabetic hemodialysis patient (N = 21), and 3.13 +/- 0.88 nmol CML/mg Hb in 47 healthy volunteers. For clinical signs of dialysis-related amyloidosis, 70 nondiabetic hemodialysis patients were scored according Gejyo's criteria. The CML-Hb levels in patients with a high amyloid score as well as a low amyloid score were significantly higher than in patients with negative amyloid score (8.89 +/- 3.53 nmol CMLmg Hb, 7.28 +/- 2.32 nmol CML/mg Hb vs. 5.11 +/- 2.09 nmol CML/mg Hb, P < 0.001, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the CML-Hb levels correlated significantly with serum values of the methylguanidine over creatinine ratio and hyaluronate.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that CML-Hb is increased in blood from patients on maintenance hemodialysis and is thus a potential biomarker of oxidative damage in these patients. Moreover, CML-modification of protein may play a pathogenic role in the development of dialysis related amyloidosis.

Analysis of effects of stimulation in vitro of ovalbumin primed lymph node cells on adoptive transfer of experimental immune mediated blepharoconjunctivitis in Lewis rats

AIM

To analyse the role of stimulation in vitro of lymphocytes on the augmentation of experimental immune mediated blepharoconjunctivitis (EC, formerly EAC) in Lewis rats induced by adoptive transfer.

METHODS

Two weeks after immunisation with ovalbumin (OVA), rat draining lymph nodes were collected and 50 x 10(6) cells were injected into naive syngeneic recipients either directly or after culture in vitro with OVA, concanavalin A (Con A), or purified protein derivative (PPD) for 3 days. Four days after injection the rats were topically challenged with OVA. 24 hours later, they were sacrificed and eyes and spleens were harvested for histology and proliferation assay. In some experiments, naive recipient rats were irradiated with 7 Gy gamma ray before transfer. The expression of adhesion molecules and cytokine profile of OVA primed lymph node cells were also investigated.

RESULTS

Both infiltrated cell number and splenocyte proliferation in the recipients of stimulated cells were higher than those of unstimulated cells. In vitro stimulation with OVA or Con A induced a severe cellular infiltration, while stimulation with PPD did not. Irradiation markedly diminished cellular infiltration. Stimulation in vitro upregulated the CD4/CD8 ratio by four times and augmented expression of CD25, I-A, ICAM-1 molecules on OVA primed lymph node cells by about five times. IFN-gamma was detected in OVA primed cells by stimulation in vitro, while IL-4 mRNA was extinguished by stimulation in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

Augmentation of EC by stimulation in vitro of transferred lymphocytes might depend on the upregulation of expression of cell surface molecules and cytokine shift as well as augmented antigen specificity.

[An autopsy case of intravascular malignant lymphomatosis with hemophagocytic syndrome, mental confusion and liver dysfunction]

A 66-year-old Japanese man was admitted to Hitachi General Hospital because of fatigue, fever, edema, and icterus. A blood examination showed anemia, leukocytosis, and hyperbilirubinemia. Antibiotics did not alleviate the inflammatory symptoms. On the 13th hospital day, the patient demonstrated mental confusion, with progressive anemia and thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration revealed an increase of macrophages showing erythrophagocytosis. A diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome was made, but no viral infection or hematological malignancy could be detected. The patient was treated with gamma-globulin and methylprednisolone for hemophagocytic syndrome, but died of respiratory insufficiency with progressive hyperbilirubinemia and trombocytopenia on the 29th hospital day, A postmortem examination showed proliferation of lymphoma cells within the small blood vessels of the brain, lungs, liver, and many other organs, but the bone marrow was not involved. An immunohistochemical examination resulted in a diagnosis of intravascular malignant lymphomatosis (IML) of B cell origin. No viral infection was detected with in situ hybridization methods. Although IML occasionally accompanies thrombocytopenia, infiltration of lymphoma cells in the bone marrow is rare. Lymphoma associated hemophagocytic syndrome may cause cytopenia in some patients with IML, as indicated in this case.

Importance of left anterior descending coronary artery curvature in determining cross-sectional plaque distribution assessed by intravascular ultrasound

We assessed the relation between the circumferential distribution of coronary atherosclerotic plaques and the structure of the epicardial coronary arteries in patients with coronary artery disease using intravascular ultrasound in vivo. Coronary atherosclerosis preferentially formed at the inner arc of the curved coronary vessels, and greater vessel curvatures were associated with greater distributions of atherosclerotic lesions along the inner coronary artery wall.

[Three Japanese children with X-linked alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome (ATR-X)]

X-linked alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome (ATR-X), which was first reported by Wilkie, et al. in 1991, is a disorder with severe mental retardation, characteristic facial appearance, genital abnormalities, and mild form of alpha-thalassemia. At present, about 50 cases have been reported in the world, but few in Japan. We report 3 cases of this disorder in 2 families. All cases prefer a peculiar posture and show unique movements, such as self-induced vomiting or self-hanging, which can be diagnostic. ATR-X should be considered as a differential diagnosis in all male patients with severe mental retardation.

Innervation of blood vessels in the rat incisor pulp: a scanning electron microscopic and immunoelectron microscopic study

Although two types of nerve endings have been proposed to innervate blood vessels in the dental pulp, the precise innervation pattern is not well understood. This is mainly due to the lack of information regarding the positional relationships of nerve fibers with blood vessels at the electron microscopic level. The rat incisor pulp was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after connective tissue digestion and by transmission electron microscopy after immunohistochemical localization with polyclonal anti-PGP 9.5 antibody. SEM specimens revealed that unmyelinated nerve fibers passed through the tunica adventitia of the blood vessel in the center of the pulp and that these fibers then entered the tunica media of the smaller arterioles. The nerve fibers divided into many collaterals, and these terminated on the surface of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. The fibers extended toward smaller vessels. The terminal fibers then reached the subodontoblastic capillary plexus and terminated on pericytes, while the odontoblastic capillary plexus had no direct innervation. In the pulpal venules, nerve fibers were located adjacent to the pericytes and endothelial cells, and they extended toward postcapillary venules. The same results were confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. The present study demonstrated that in the rat incisor pulp the microvasculature as well as larger vessels were directly innervated by free nerve endings, suggesting that the local regulation of blood flow could take place not only at larger vessels but also at the level of the microvasculature in this tissue.

High-Resolution X-ray Diffraction of Muscle Using Undulator Radiation from the Tristan Main Ring at KEK

High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan.High-resolution X-ray diffraction studies on striated muscle fibres were performed using a hard X-ray undulator installed in the Tristan main ring at KEK, Tsukuba, Japan. The performance of the undulator, along with an example experiment which exploited the unique characteristics of undulator radiation, are reported. The vertical divergence angle of the first harmonic of the undulator was approximately 10 micro rad under 8 GeV multi-bunch operating conditions and the peak photon flux density was estimated to be approximately 3 x 10(16) photons s(-1) mrad(-2) (0.1% bandwidth)(-1) (10 mA)(-1). The well collimated X-ray beam from the undulator made it possible to resolve clearly, with high angular resolution ( approximately 700 nm), the closely spaced diffraction peaks on the meridional axis in the X-ray patterns arising from the thick filaments of a striated muscle under static conditions. By fitting the meridional intensity pattern, a model for the molecular arrangement of the constituent proteins in the thick filaments is proposed. These studies of muscle demonstrate the promise of undulator radiation from third-generation sources for high-resolution diffraction studies.

Enzymatic synthesis of a neoglycoconjugate by transglycosylation with Arthrobacter endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase: a substrate for colorimetric detection of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity

The transglycosylation activity of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Arthrobacter protophormiae was used for the enzymatic synthesis of a novel oligosaccharide, Man6GlcNAc-p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucose (Man6GlcNAc-Glc-pNP). The reaction was efficiently induced in aqueous solution containing dimethyl sulfoxide. In the medium containing 20% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide with 0.1 M Glc-pNP as an acceptor, the transglycosylation attained yields of 75% by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. The structure of Man6GlcNAc-Glc-pNP was confirmed by ion mass spectrometry and 400 MHz 1H NMR spectrometry. Various endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases hydrolyzed this oligosaccharide and Man6GlcNAc and Glc-pNP were released from the oligosaccharide by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase digestion. We have established a new procedure for the colorimetric detection of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity using Man6Glc-NAc-Glc-pNP, which is simple as that for other exoglycosidase assays with pNP-glycosides as substrates.

Evidence for the load-dependent mechanical efficiency of individual myosin heads in skeletal muscle fibers activated by laser flash photolysis of caged calcium in the presence of a limited amount of ATP

Although a contracting muscle regulates its energy output depending on the load imposed on it ("Fenn effect"), the mechanism underlying the load-dependent energy output remains obscure. To explore the possibility that the mechanical efficiency, with which chemical energy derived from ATP hydrolysis is converted into mechanical work, of individual myosin heads changes in a load-dependent manner, we examined the auxotonic shortening of glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle fibers, containing ATP molecules almost equal in number to the myosin heads, after laser-flash photolysis of caged calcium. Immediately before laser-flash activation, almost all of the myosin heads in the fiber are in the state M.ADP.Pi, and can undergo only one ATP hydrolysis cycle after activation. When the fibers were activated to shorten under various auxotonic loads, the length, force, and power output changes were found to be scaled according to the auxotonic load. Both the power and energy outputs were maximal under a moderate auxotonic load. The amount of M.ADP.Pi utilized at a time after activation was estimated from the amount of isometric force developed after interruption of fiber shortening. This amount was minimal in the isometric condition and increased nearly in proportion to the distance of fiber shortening. These results are taken as evidence that the efficiency of chemomechanical energy conversion in individual myosin heads changes in a load-dependent manner.

Thin filament cooperativity as a major determinant of shortening velocity in skeletal muscle fibers

The mechanism underlying the calcium sensitivity of the velocity of shortening of skeletal muscle fibers was investigated using a multiple shortening protocol: within a single contraction, skinned rabbit psoas fibers were made to shorten repetitively under a light load by briefly stretching back to their initial length at regular intervals. At saturating [Ca2+], the initial fast shortening pattern was repeated reproducibly. At submaximal [Ca2+], the first shortening consisted of fast and slow phases, but only the slow phase was observed in later shortenings. When the fibers were held isometric after the first shortening, the velocity of the second shortening recovered with time. The recovery paralleled tension redevelopment, implying a close relationship between the velocity and the number of the preexisting force-producing cross-bridges. However, this parallelism was lost as [Ca2+] was increased. Thus, the velocity was modified in a manner consistent with the cooperative thin filament activation by strong binding cross-bridges and its modulation by calcium. The present results therefore provide evidence that the thin filament cooperativity is primarily responsible for the calcium sensitivity of velocity. The effect of inorganic phosphate to accelerate the slow phase of shortening is also explained in terms of the cooperative activation.

Assessment of growth potential by MIB-1 immunohistochemistry in ameloblastic fibroma and related lesions of the jaws compared with ameloblastic fibrosarcoma

Specimens from two ameloblastic fibromas (including one recurrent case), two ameloblastic fibro-odontomas, and one ameloblastic fibrosarcoma were subjected to investigation by MIB-1 immunohistochemistry in order to elucidate the growth potential of these tumors. MIB-1 labeling indices in the epithelial component of these tumors ranged from 2.9 to 7.5%, whereas those in the mesenchymal component ranged from 1.5 to 13.5%. Of these, labeling indices in the mesenchymal component of the recurrent ameloblastic fibroma and ameloblastic fibrosarcoma were quite high. These findings suggest that evaluation of growth potential in ameloblastic fibroma and related lesions could be of help in understanding tumor aggressiveness and in selecting appropriate surgical procedures.

Effect of a cardiotonic agent, MCI-154, on the contractile properties of skinned skeletal muscle fibers

We have studied the effect of a cardiotonic agent, MCI-154 (6-[4-(4-pyridylamino)phenyl]-4,5-dihydro-3(2H)-pyridazinone hydrochloride trihydrate), on the contractile properties and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of chemically skinned rabbit skeletal muscle fibers. As in cardiac muscle, MCI-154 potentiated isometric tension and improved isometric tension cost at full Ca2+ activation. It showed little Ca2+-sensitizing effect. In contrast to its effect on cardiac muscle, however, MCI-154 decreased all the kinetic parameters tested (shortening velocity, the rate of rise of tension, and actomyosin ATPase activity). All the results are explainable if MCI-154 acts directly on skeletal actomyosin and inhibits a reaction step(s) of the ATPase cycle later than the force-generating event. The qualitative difference between cardiac and skeletal muscles in the responsiveness to this class of cardiotonic agents (MCI-154 and EMD 53998, a thiadiazinone derivative) is most readily understood if the agents have two independent actions, one on troponin and the other on actomyosin itself, the latter being dominant in skeletal muscle.

Beta-lactoglobulin suppresses melanogenesis in cultured human melanocytes

The effects of whey proteins from bovine milk on melanogenesis in cultured human melanocytes were examined. Among the major protein components of milk whey including beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), alpha-lactalbumin, serum albumin, and IgG, only BLG exhibited the depigmenting effect at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. Also, BLG suppressed the activity of tyrosinase in these cells. Retinol, to which BLG is known to bind, slightly increased the pigmentation of the cells at concentrations in the range of 1-100 nM, and retinoic acid, a metabolite of retinol, exhibited a strong pigmentation-promoting effect within the same concentration range. Treatment of the cells with 1 mg/ml BLG completely abrogated the pigmentation induced by these A vitamins. These results demonstrate a novel biological activity of BLG and suggest that this activity is dependent on its ability to bind retinol.

Lumbar spinal canal stenosis examined electrophysiologically in a rat model of chronic cauda equina compression

STUDY DESIGN

A model of chronic cauda equina compression with conductive stress was studied electrophysiologically.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the pathophysiology arising from chronic compression electrophysiologically.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

This rat model of cauda equina compression that is chronic, not acute, has been reported elsewhere.

METHODS

A stainless steel wire and plate were fastened to the spine at L5 of 8 rats 3 weeks old. One year later, the ascending and descending nerve action potentials were recorded and the conduction velocities (CVs) were measured. Electrophysiologic changes after high-frequency stimulation (HFS) were observed.

RESULTS

The waveform of the ascending cauda equina action potential at the cauda equina had three peaks, and that at the conus medullaris had a peak followed by a broad wave. The waveform of the descending nerve action potential had two peaks. The mean ascending and descending CVs of the treated rats were slower (P < 0.001) than those of the control rats. In the control rats, the mean CV and mean amplitude after HFS decreased slightly and returned to normal within 30 seconds, and the waveform was unchanged. In treated rats, the mean CV decreased after HFS but returned to normal within 10 minutes. The mean amplitude decreased after HFS and did not return to normal within 10 minutes. The waveform was unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Because the differences between treated and control rats in amplitude (and CVs) were greater before HFS than after HFS, we concluded that treated rats had disturbance of the blood flow in vessels around the nerves of the cauda equina with histologic damage. In human patients, such disturbance may be one cause of intermittent claudication.

[Effect of body mass index on morbidity and mortality in a general Japanese population--the Hisayama study]

In order to investigate the effect of body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) on life expectancy, 2053 Hisayama residents, aged 40 years or older were studied for 13 years from 1974. During the follow-up period, 419 subjects died; of these, 39 deaths due to accident or suicide were excluded from further analysis. On initial examination, male subjects with BMI > or = 27 had significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence rates of hypertension, glucose intolerance, hypercholesterolemia, electrocardiogram abnormalities and proteinuria, as compared with those with 23-25 BMI. In contrast, the frequency of male smokers was inversely associated with BMI levels. Female prevalence rates of glucose intolerance, hypercholesterolemia and proteinuria were significantly higher in 25-27 BMI than in 23-25. Body Mass Index showed a U-shaped relationship with all cause mortality rates with the lowest rate in 23-27 BMI for men and in 23-25 BMI for women. These associations remained substantially unchanged, even after controlling for age, systolic blood pressure, glucose intolerance, serum cholesterol, proteinuria, electrocardiogram abnormalities, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits. When analyzing the BMI mortality relationship by cause of death, age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates from myocardial infarction and stroke significantly increased in subjects with BMI > or = 27 compared with those with 23-25 BMI. In contrast, there was a decreasing risk of death from malignant neoplasms with rising BMI levels, but the relationship was not significant. Mortality from pneumonia and other causes showed a U-shaped relationship with significantly higher rates seen in BMI < 19 than in 23-25 BMI. These data indicate that BMI has a U-shaped relationship with total mortality in the general Japanese population, which results from various associations between BMI and cause-specific mortality rates.

Stretch-induced enhancement of mechanical work production in frog single fibers and human muscle

The relations between the velocity of prestretch and the mechanical energy liberated during the subsequent isovelocity release were studied in contractions of frog single fibers and human muscles. During isometric contractions of frog single fibers, a ramp stretch of varied velocity (amplitude, 0.02 fiber length; velocity, 0.08-1.0 fiber length/s) followed by a release (amplitude, 0.02 fiber length; velocity, 1.0 fiber length/s) was given, and the amount of work liberated during the release was measured. For human muscles, elbow flexions were performed with a prestretch of varied velocity (range, 40 degrees; velocity, 30-180 degrees/s) followed by an isokinetic shortening (velocity, 90 degrees/s). In both frog single fibers and human muscles, the work production increased with both the velocity of stretch and the peak of force attained before the release up to a certain level; thereafter it declined with the further increases of these variables. In human muscles, the enhancement of work production was not associated with a significant increase in integrated electromyogram. This suggests that changes in intrinsic mechanical properties of muscle fibers play an important role in the stretch-induced enhancement of work production.

The role of cellular immunity both in the induction and effector phases of experimental allergic blepharoconjunctivitis (EAC) in rats

In allergic conjunctivitis, the early phase reaction has been studied extensively both in humans and animals. Although cellular infiltration is the main feature of the late phase reaction, the role of cellular immunity remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of cellular immunity both in the induction and effector phases of experimental allergic blepharoconjunctivitis (EAC). To analyse the involvement of cellular immunity in the induction phase, 6-8-week-old male Lewis rats were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA), TiterMaxR (TM), aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH)3], or without any adjuvant. Three weeks after immunization, the rats were challenged with OVA by eye drops, and 24 hr later they were euthanized and their eyes, including the lids, blood, and lymph nodes were harvested for analysis of disease and immune responses. The results indicated that adjuvants were necessary to induce disease as well as both cellular and humoral immunity. Al(OH)3, CFA and TM induced stronger disease and cellular immunity than IFA. The intensity of disease correlated with that of cellular immunity. To further investigate the involvement of cellular immunity in EAC, lymph node cells collected from immunized rats were adoptively transferred into naive syngeneic recipients that were challenged 4 days later with OVA. EAC developed in the recipients of lymph node cells that were also stimulated in culture with OVA. These recipient rats developed cellular infiltration in the lid and conjunctiva, in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that cellular immunity played a major role in the development of EAC, both in the induction and effector phases.

[Two cases of toluene embryopathy with severe motor and intellectual disabilities syndrome]

We reported two patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities syndrome, who were born to mothers having inhaled organic solvents during pregnancy. They had microcephaly, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, seizures, growth failure and minor craniofacial anomalies, variable growth deficiency including a small midface, narrow bifrontal diameter, low-set ears, thin upper lips and micrognathia. Patient 1, a male, died at 8 years and 8 months. The autopsy of his brain revealed marked cerebral atrophy and destruction of bilateral temporal lobes with ventricular enlargements. Microscopic examination revealed migration disorders with polymicrogria at the remaining cerebrum and the cerebellum as well as very thin white matter. Much hemosiderin was found around ventricles, suggesting recurrent minimal bleedings which led to more brain atrophy. Patient 2, a 5 months old male infant, had infantile spasms. On CT and MRI, he had bilateral temporal lobe defect, which might be due to the infarction of bilateral middle cerebral arteries at the prenatal period. These clinical findings are similar to those of other embryopathies, caused by alcohol, phenytoin and other agents. Hersh et al. reported five cases of toluene embryopathy in 1985 and 1988, but they did not report such central nervous system abnormalities. The pathogenesis of toluene embryopathy remains to be solved, but our cases suggested the possible teratogenesis of toluene.