Propagation of focal motor seizures in the pubescent monkey

The rate of local cerebral glucose utilization was determined for quantification of energy metabolism in macrostructures of the sensorimotor system during propagation of focal motor seizures in 24-month-old monkeys. The rate was measured in 4 control animals and in 4 monkeys each with seizures limited to the contralateral face, seizures of the contralateral face and upper extremity, and bilateral expression of seizures. Glucose utilization increased significantly, primarily unilaterally, with propagation. The increase was greatest in the sensory and motor cerebral cortices, putamen, and globus pallidus, was somewhat less in sensory and motor thalamic relay nuclei, and was least in the cerebellar cortex.

Local cerebral glucose utilization in newborn and pubescent monkeys during focal motor seizures

The [14C]deoxyglucose method was used to determine the rate of local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) in newborn and pubescent monkeys during focal motor seizures induced by injecting penicillin into the face-hand area of the right motor cortex. Seizures were studied in 3 newborn and 6 pubescent monkeys, and 3 newborn and 4 pubescent monkeys were used as controls. In controls, the pattern of glucose utilization within structures of the sensorimotor system was quite differenet at the two age levels; newborns showed far less activity, especially in the neocortex and striatum. In the monkeys with seizures, the unilateral increase in LCGU relative to the controls was greater in newborn than in pubescent monkeys except in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices. The increased glucose utilization in cortical and subcortical structures of the newborns was ipsilateral to the discharging lesin and lacked the well-defined pattern seen in the pubescent monkeys. In general, newborn brain was capable of supporting a focal motor seizure but lacked the precise clinical and electrographic expressions or efficient energy metabolism that accompany maturation of the brain at puberty.

Effects of manipulation of the sensorimotor system on focal motor seizures in the monkey

During focal motor seizures induced by injecting penicillin into the face-hand area of the right motor cortex of 24-month-old monkeys, the sensorimotor system was manipulated by three methods. Elimination, by a paralytic agent, of proprioceptive input from contracting muscles and joints did not alter the electrographic expression of the seizure or the pattern of local glucose utilization in cortical or subcortical components of the sensorimotor system. An overall increase in the rate of energy metabolism occurred in the paralyzed monkeys with electrographic seizures. Cryogenic destruction of up to 90% of the ipsilateral ventral caudal globus pallidus had no effect on electrographic or clinical expression of the seizure. Electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral ventral caudal globus pallidus caused reproducible maximum expression of electrographic and clinical seizure phenomena for the 90-second duration of the stimulus.

Successful visualization of cortical malignant lesions on renal scintigram using 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid

The early (dynamic) and late (static) renal images obtained with 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) were utilized to evaluate renal cortical malignant tumors in 30 cases of renal cell carcinoma each of which had been confirmed by operation or autopsy. Early images, performed 20--50 seconds after radionuclide administration, demonstrated abnormal vascular pools in the cortex. A cold area without DMSA uptake was demonstrated on the 2-hour or late images, reflecting a non-functioning renal mass. Lesions demonstrated with combined early and late images showed a good correlation with those demonstrated by renal angiography in 25 out of 27 cases. However, when almost all the renal tumor was replaced by necrotic lesions, the early image did not reveal hypervascularity. When a highly vascular renal tumor extended to the perinephric tissues, the tumor area was sometimes overestimated on the early image. It is almost impossible to diagnose renal cell carcinoma using radionuclide imaging alone. However, 99mTc-DMSA renal studies, using both early and late imaging, have proven to be a useful, noninvasive adjunct in the detection of malignant cortical lesions.

Renal function studies using 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid

99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), provides both a well defined renal image via preferential cortical accumulation, and a quantitative assessment of separate kidney function, correlating well with renal plasma flow obtained from the 131I-Hippuran renogram of each kidney. 99mTc-DMSA is capable of labeling the functioning nephrons in the cortex without interference by the activity of urine flow, suggesting that DMSA should be termed a cortical tubular marker. 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy has advantages over conventional methods in that it can be performed repeatedly with little discomfort to the patients, as a routine clinical examination.

Primary systemic amyloidosis. A case permitting pathological and biochemical investigations

In this 72-year-old male patient, large amounts of amyloid substances were deposited in the mesenchymal organs, but not in the parenchymal organs. Histochemical and electron microscopic studies revealed large amounts of amyloid substances and amyloid fibrils in the skeletal and smooth muscle tissues. In the skeletal muscle tissues, where large amounts of amyloid substances were deposited, glycosaminoglycan was also markedly deposited, especially chondroitin-4-sulfuric acid. The concentrations of silicon were also markedly increased in the amyloid fibrils. The concentrations of nickel and cobalt were increased but those of zinc were decreased in all organs measured, although both nickel and cobalt in another case of amyloidosis experienced were within normal values.

Validity of 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid renal uptake for an assessment for individual kidney function

99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid is a new renal scanning agent that provides a good quality of renal image as a result of preferential cortical accumulation and also makes feasible a quantitative assessment of separate kidney function, correlating well with renal plasma flow obtained from a 131I hippuran renogram of each kidney. By measuring the dimercaptosuccinic acid uptake, the cortical functioning nephrons can be determined independent of the activity from the urinary outflow tract. Such evaluations may replace the conventional split renal function study in which traumatic procedures, such as cystoscopy and ureteral catheterizations, are required. 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy causes less discomfort to the patient and can be performed repeatedly and routinely even in children and debilitated geriatric patients.

Acute effects of salmon calcitonin on renal electrolyte excretion in intact, thyroparathyroidectomized and sulfacetylthiazole-induced uremic rats

Acute effects of salmon calcitonin (CT) on renal electrolyte excretion were investigated in intact, thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) and uremic rats. Glomerular filtration rate did not change during CT infusion and there was no volume expansion in any experimental group. Plasma calcium levels gradually fell below the control period in each experimental group. Urinary calcium excretion increased at the early period in both intact and TPTX rats but fell below the control period with the continuous infusion of CT. In uremic rats, a decrease in plasma calcium was followed by a decrease in calcium excretion. Plasma phosphate gradually decreased and simultaneously measured phosphate excretion increased in both intact and TPTX rats. In uremic rats, however, there was no change in phosphate excretion and only a slight decrease of plasma phosphate. Phosphaturia is the result of the predominant renal action of CT and occurs even when the filtered load of phosphate decreases. In uremic animals, there appears to be a resistance to exogenous CT which manifests itself by the absence of natriuretic, calciuric and phosphaturic responses.

Investigation of intrarenal blood flow and urine flow aspects by scintillation camera

In order to clarify intrarenal dynamic processes related to regional distribution in patients with unilateral renal disease, two radioactive tracers, 133Xe and 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) were introduced into a renal artery and intrarenal blood flow and urine flow aspects were observed by scintillation camera. Cortical blood flow decreased and medullary blood flow relatively increased with the advance of renal damage. Urine flow curve from normal cortex showed two phasic patterns. One early phase might correspond to the appearance of the tracer through the proximal tubule and a second phase might correspond to the appearance of the tracer through the loop of Henle to the distal tubule. Under mannitol diuresis, two phasic urine flow curves from the cortex became obscured and the peak time of pelvic curve shifted to the earlier period. These studies were considered to be useful in evaluating unilateral renal function and might offer a good insight for intrarenal physiology concerning blood flow as well as urine flow.

Damage and repair of rat liver DNA by simultaneous oral administration of amines and nitrite

The effect of simultaneous oral administration of dimethylamine or aminopyrine and sodium nitrite on the damage and repair of rat liver DNA was studied by the use of centrifugation in alkaline sucrose gradient. Fragmentation of the intact DNA was observed significantly shortly after combined treatment with aminopyrine and nitrite when no liver necrosis occurred yet and the damaged DNA at the lower dosage level of aminopyrine with nitrite was found to be repaired in contrast to the increased activity of serum aminotransferase. The lowest effective dose on DNA damage at 2 hr after administration was about 40 mg/kg of aminopyrine and 80 mg/kg of sodium nitrite. This effect was equal to that caused by single oral administration of 2 to 10 mg/kg of dimethylnitrosamine, while dimethylamine at 160 or 320 mg/kg together with 80 mg/kg of sodium nitrite produced no pronounced DNA damage. The significant damage of rat liver DNA by aminopyrine and nitrite correlates well with the easier nitrosation of aminopyrine and the occurrence of high incidence of malignant liver tumors in rats fed aminopyrine together with nitrite already reported by Lijinsky.

Enzymatic synthesis of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in Zoogloea ramigera

The enzyme activity synthesizing poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was mainly localized in the PHB-containing particulate fraction of Zoogloea ramigera I-16-M, when it grew flocculatedly in a medium supplemented with glucose. On the other hand, the enzyme activity remained in the soluble fraction when the bacterium grew dispersedly in a glucose-starved medium. The soluble PHB synthase activity became associated with the particulate fraction as PHB synthesis was initiated on the addition of glucose to the dispersed culture. Conversely, the enzyme activity was released from the PHB-containing granules to the soluble fraction when the flocculated culture was kept incubated without supplementing the medium with glucose. PHB synthase was also incorporated into the newly formed PHB fraction when partially purified soluble PHB synthase was incubated with D(-)-beta-hydroxybutyryl CoA in vitro. Although attempts to solubilize the particulate enzyme were unsuccessful, and the soluble enzyme became extremely unstable in advanced stages of purification, both PHB synthases had the same strict substrate specificity for D(-)-beta-hydroxybutyryl CoA, and showed the same pH optimum at 7.0.

Angioplasic surgery for renal artery aneurysm in pediatric hypertension

Aneurysmectomy and renal angioplasty were performed on a 14-year-old Japanese male and the blood pressure was within normal values 3 years after this surgery. Measurement of renal blood flow was facilitated by using 133Xe washout technique. This incidence is the eighth such case to be reported from Japan.

Giant axonal neuropathy. A clinical entity affecting the central as well as the peripheral nervous system

An 8-year-old girl had progressive muscle weakness and a unique posture of the lower limbs, areflexia, distal sensory impairment, and remarkably kinky hair. Histologic examination of the sural nerve showed giant axons filled with neurofilamentous masses. The clinical and histologic findings resembled those of recent cases reported as "giant axonal neuropathy." Our patient's precocious puberty, Babinski's sign, and electroencephalographic abnormalities suggested central nervous system involvement. Two cases previously reported and the present one appear to represent a new clinical entity that affects the central and the peripheral nervous system.