New xenicane diterpenoids from the gorgonian Acalycigorgia inermis

Acalycixeniolides D-G [corrected] (1-4), four new diterpenoids of the xenicane class, have been isolated from the gorgonian Acalycigorgia inermis. The structures of these compounds have been determined by combined spectroscopic methods. These compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against a human leukemia cell-line.

Renin-producing hepatoblastoma

Renin-producing tumors of extrarenal origin are rare in children. An 8-year-old boy with hepatoblastoma and hypertension associated with a high plasma renin level is reported. After chemotherapy, the plasma renin level normalized and the hypertension spontaneously resolved. The patient underwent surgery, and a right trisegmentectomy of the liver and a partial resection of the second and third segments were performed. The tumor was as shown the source of renin by immunohistochemical study and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Pancreatic carcinoma associated with chronic pancreatitis

The incidence of invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas was 3.1% (6 cases) in 196 patients with definite chronic pancreatitis. Five patients (3 men and 2 women) had calcific pancreatitis and 1 patient (man) had non-calcific pancreatitis. Large pancreatic stones were recognized in 2 women. Most of the patients complained of continuous intractable abdominal pain and/or back pain together with weight loss and appetite loss. Serum CA19-9 levels and exacerbation of glucose intolerance were retrospectively noted to have been elevated in 1 patient. However, it was difficult to obtain a definitive diagnosis by imaging examinations earlier, due to the presence of chronic pancreatitis. Median survival of the 6 patients was 6.5 months from admission.

1H double-quantum-filtered MR imaging as a new tool for assessment of healing of the ruptured Achilles tendon

1H double-quantum-filtered magnetic resonance imaging (DQF MRI) was applied to monitor the healing process of the Achilles tendons in rabbits after tenotomy. DQF MRI provides a new contrast, which is based on the non-zero average of the dipolar interaction caused by anisotropic motion of water molecules, determined mainly by their interaction with the ordered collagen fibers. Tissues are characterized by the dependence of their DQF signal on the DQ creation time, tau. With the use of DQF MRI, higher tissue contrast is obtained between tendon, bone, skin, and muscle. The tendons, which give weak signals in standard MRI techniques, are highlighted in the (1)H DQF image. The image changed dramatically during the healing process of the injured Achilles tendon. These changes matched the phases of the healing process. By using a tau-weighted contrast, the DQF images indicate the part of tendon that has not completely healed, even after the conventional MRI appeared normal. Magn Reson Med 42:884-889, 1999.

Proton magnetic resonance assay of total and taurine-conjugated bile acids in bile

Biliary bile acids, coexisting with phospholipid and cholesterol, are partly conjugated with taurine. In the present report we show that total and taurine-conjugated bile acids in bile can be simultaneously and quantitatively measured by high-resolution (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-NMR) spectroscopy. We used a 7.05-Tesla NMR spectrometer to obtain the (1)H-NMR spectra of model and biological biles. Only addition of trimethylsilyl-3-propionic acid sodium salt-D(4) (TSP) to each sample as an internal standard was required in preparation for (1)H-NMR measurement. In (1)H-NMR spectra of rat bile, peaks of C-18 methyl protons of bile acids and of C-25 methylene protons on the taurine moiety of taurine-conjugated bile acids were detected at 0.7 ppm and 3.1 ppm, respectively. Peak areas, of C-18 and C-25 peaks, increased in proportion to the concentrations of bile acids or taurine-conjugated bile acids, even in the presence of phospholipid and cholesterol. The accuracy of NMR measurement of total and taurine-conjugated bile acids was confirmed by comparing the results of NMR with those of enzyme-fluorimetry. The results clearly demonstrate that (1)H-NMR spectroscopy can be applied to the quantitative determination of total and taurine-conjugated bile acids in bile without troublesome preparative steps.

Sub-super bone scan caused by bone marrow involvement of prostate cancer

A 67-year-old man presented with malaise and marked anemia. A diagnostic workup revealed severe pancytopenia on a complete blood count and diffuse sclerotic change in the axial skeleton on a plain abdominal radiograph. Bone metastases being suspected from these findings, bone scintigraphy was performed. The bone scan demonstrated uniformly increased skeletal activity with faint soft-tissue activity. The findings of the bone scan, however, appeared atypical of the super scan caused by diffuse bone metastases, without any decrease in radioactivities of the appendicular skeleton and kidneys. Bone marrow scintigraphy with In-111 chloride demonstrated central marrow failure and peripheral expansion, which indicated the possibility of myelophthisis. The patient underwent bone marrow biopsy, which revealed replacement of the bone marrow by metastatic adenocarcinoma. Further examinations detected the primary lesion in the prostate. In this case, the findings of the bone scan were insufficient for the super scan, and might be categorized as a sub-super scan. It would be important to recognize this incomplete form of super scan as a rare scintigraphic pattern of diffuse bone marrow metastases.

Y chromosome DNA polymorphisms and their haplotypes in a Japanese population

Allele frequencies of two Y chromosome-specific short tandem repeats, locus DYS385 and DYS19, in addition to the Y Alu polymorphic (YAP) insert (DYS287) were investigated in blood samples obtained from 270 unrelated Japanese in Miyazaki Prefecture (south Japan). A total of 47 genotypes in DYS385 and 6 in DYS19 were detected, and the frequency of the YAP(+) allele was found to be 35.2% (95270). The allele distributions of each locus revealed significant differences compared with those in other populations. One hundred and twelve different haplotypes were observed in the combined 55 alleles of three loci. The gene diversity values range 0.96 for DYS385 and 0.71 for DYS19, and the combination haplotype diversity value is 0.98.

Imaging features of pancreatoblastoma: a case report

We present a patient with pancreatoblastoma along with a discussion of various cross-sectional imaging features. The tumor was a large multilocular cystic mass with solid components in the left retroperitoneal space. There were fine internal echoes on ultrasonography, and the signal intensity was high on both T1- and T2-weighted MR images in most of the locules, suggesting the presence of hemorrhagic debris. Among the various retroperitoneal organs displaced by the tumor, only the pancreatic tail was inseparable from the mass, suggesting that the pancreatic tail was the origin of the tumor. Pancreatoblastoma should be included in the differential diagnosis when a large left upper quadrant mass with these imaging features is seen in infants and young children.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with ring calcification: report of two cases

Two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with ring calcification are reported together with their CT findings. HCC in both cases showed little early enhancement followed by delayed enhancement on dynamic CT. The pathologic specimen in one case showed HCC with fairly abundant fibrosis, and calcification was noted underneath the thick fibrous capsule, which might explain the enhancement pattern on CT.

Anisotropic and restricted diffusion of water in the sciatic nerve: A (2)H double-quantum-filtered NMR study

The signals of water in the different compartments of rat sciatic nerve are resolved in the (2)H double-quantum-filtered NMR spectrum, due to their different quadrupolar splittings and relaxation rates. This resolution allowed the independent measurement of the water diffusion coefficients in the different compartments. The water diffusion in all three compartments, the endoneurium, the epineurium and the axon was found to be anisotropic. Parallel to the nerve fiber the average intraxonal water diffusion coefficient was 1.11 x 10(-5) cm(2)/sec, while in the perpendicular direction the diffusion is heavily restricted. The average perpendicular diffusion coefficient ranged from 0.29 x 10(-5) cm(2)/sec to 0.05 x 10(-5) cm(2)/sec for diffusion times of 7 msec and 50 msec, respectively. Assuming restricted diffusion in nonpermeable cylinders, intra-axonal mean diameters of 6.0, 7.4 and 9.0 microm were obtained for nerves taken from three different rats. Magn Reson Med 42:461-466, 1999.

Forensic mtDNA hair analysis excludes a dog from having caused a traffic accident

A dog was suspected of having caused a traffic accident. Three hair fragments were recovered from the damaged car and subjected to DNA sequence analysis of the canine mitochondrial D-loop control region. The results were compared to saliva and hair samples from the alleged dog, as well as to control hair samples from four unrelated dogs of different breeds. Two sequence types exhibiting five nucleotide differences in a 377 bp fragment were identified among the four controls. Whereas the evidence hair fragment was identical to the type 1 control sequence, the alleged dog shared the type 2 control sequence except for one position. Thus the dog could be excluded as the origin of the hair fragment. As canine mtDNA appears to exhibit only limited polymorphism, mitochondrial D-loop sequence comparison is currently only suitable for exclusions.

Improvement of molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids to tyrosine (BTR) associated with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon-alpha

The molar ratio of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to tyrosine (BTR), which has recently been possible to easily determine by an enzymatic method, can be clinically used as a substitute for that of BCAA to aromatic amino acids (AAA). We used this method to investigate the diagnostic implications of serum BTR in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha. There was a good correlation between BTR and staging (fibrosis) scores both before and after treatment. BTR increased significantly at 24 months after treatment in the responder group (P < 0.01). Moreover, a significant increase in BTR was observed in patients with improved staging (P = 0.015), but not grading (necroinflammatory), scores. BTR in chronic hepatitis C patients seems to be reflected by the extent of liver fibrosis, and, in the responder group, it can be improved, together with liver fibrosis, by interferon-alpha treatment.

Diffuse bone metastasis with hematologic disorders from gastric cancer: clinicopathological features and prognosis

Bone metastases diffusely invading the bone marrow from gastric cancer often manifest a rapid clinical course and the prognosis is very poor due to hematologic disorders such as DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) and/or MAHA (microangiopathic hemolytic anemia). The objective of this study was to clarify the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with gastric cancer in whom diffuse bone metastasis associated with hematologic disorders were evident. Thirty-eight patients with bone metastasis from a primary gastric cancer were thus selected and placed into 2 groups consisting of 15 with diffuse bone metastasis with DIC and/or MAHA, and 23 patients who had bone metastasis without hematological disorders. We compared the clinicopathological features and prognosis between the two groups. The clinicopathological features in patients with diffuse bone metastasis accompanied by hematologic disorders were significantly related to undifferentiated adenocarcinoma, a relatively younger age, elevated levels of serum ALP-BI and LDH, and a lower frequency of extraosseous metastasis. The median survival time after manifestation was 2 and 11 months for the patients with or without hematologic disorders, respectively. The prognosis was significantly worse in cases of DIC with the median survival being only one month. Since, prognosis of diffuse bone metastasis from gastric cancer is significantly poor, close attention should be directed to the specific clinicopathologic features related to diffuse bone metastasis plus hematologic disorders. Regarding high risk patients, a regular follow-up of the serum chemistry levels and a bone scan will aid in the early detection of the disease.

Intestinal energy metabolism during ischemia and reperfusion

BACKGROUND

In order to evaluate acute ischemic damage in the small intestine induced by superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) and subsequent reperfusion, changes in ATP, ADP, and AMP were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and changes in tissue blood flow were measured (from the serosal surface) by the laser doppler flow meter in a rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The superior mesenteric artery of the rat was occluded for 30, 60, 90, and 120 min and then reopened. Core temperature was maintained carefully at 37 +/- 0.3 degrees C.

RESULTS

All rats that underwent 90 and 120 min of SMAO died within 2 days, but those with 30 and 60 min of SMAO survived. ATP (10.39 +/- 0.90 micromol/g dry weight), ADP (3.34 +/- 0.33), and total adenine nucleotides (TAN; 14.08 +/- 0. 86) decreased with longer SMAO times. After 30 and 60 min of SMAO followed by reperfusion, recoveries of ATP and TAN were relatively good and ADP levels remained fairly steady, but little or no recovery of these levels was observed after 90 and 120 min of SMAO followed by reperfusion. There were linear correlations between the levels of ATP and TAN after 30 min of reperfusion and the time of SMAO. Tissue blood flow levels were constant during SMAO. After reperfusion, those levels were recovered along with the SMAO periods. But recovery rates compared with control values were not related with those of ATP. CONCLUSIONs. ATP and TAN levels, particularly at 30 min after reperfusion, seemed to be in good agreement with the tissue damage and the viability of the small intestine. We propose that the measurement of these levels may be useful for the evaluation of intestinal damage and viability.

New Bis(Indole) alkaloids of the topsentin class from the sponge spongosorites genitrix

Four bis(indole) alkaloids of the topsentin class, including two new brominated compounds (1 and 2), have been isolated from the sponge Spongosorites genitrix collected from Jaeju Island, Korea. The structures of the novel compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. These compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against a human leukemia cell-line (K-562).

Sleep patterns during 20-m nitrox saturation dives

The sleep patterns were examined through three simulated 20-m nitrox saturation dives. The standard polysomnography of 12 divers was recorded respectively for a total of 204 nights, as were patterns of change or consistency in sleep variables. For the 11 divers in their 20s and 30s there was nothing unusual about their sleep variables. However, a reduction of total sleep time in accordance with the lengthening of sleep latency was observed. This was recognized from the latter part of the bottom period to the postdive period. This tendency was notable for the diver in his 50s. These findings suggest that the decompression environment and the psychological stress of the long-term closed environment of a hyperbaric chamber have effects on divers' sleep.

A sandwich enzyme immunoassay for human muscle-specific beta-enolase and its application for the determination of skeletal muscle injury

A sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay for human beta-enolase was developed and used to examine beta-enolase in blood or bloodstains as a marker for the determination of skeletal muscle injury. Human beta-enolase was purified from human skeletal muscle, and then an antibody against it was prepared. Polystyrene balls coated with rabbit anti-human beta-enolase IgG were incubated with human beta-enolase and then with anti-human beta-enolase Fab'-peroxidase conjugate. Peroxidase activity bound to the polystyrene balls was assayed by fluorometry using 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid as a hydrogen donor. The detection limit for human beta-enolase was 2.6 pg (30 amol) per assay. The degree of cross-reaction of the sandwich enzyme immunoassay for other organs except for heart (1/10) was about 1/150 or less. Moreover, the localization of beta-enolase in various human tissues was examined by Northern blot analysis, and this confirmed that beta-enolase was expressed only in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Antigenic activity in bloodstains containing beta-enolase was recovered well after storage for 60 days at room temperature. The ratio of beta-enolase to total protein in bloodstains made from non-traumatic blood, nasal hemorrhage and menstrual blood, was within the normal range. In contrast, the ratio of beta-enolase in bloodstains from traumatic blood was obviously elevated (10-30 fold) in comparison with non-traumatic blood. Furthermore, the ratio of beta-enolase was proved to be higher in stains adhering to weapons that had passed through skeletal muscle, indicating that detection of beta-enolase in bloodstains could be used to distinguish crime weapons. These results suggest that beta-enolase is a useful marker for identification of skeletal muscle injury as well as for detecting the origin of bleeding.

New acetylenic enol ethers of glycerol from the sponge Petrosia sp

Ten acetylenic enol ethers of glycerols, including six new compounds (1-6) and a linear acetylenic alcohol (7), have been isolated from a sponge of the genus Petrosia. The structures of the novel compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The absolute stereochemistry of 1-7 was determined by chemical transformations and the Mosher method. Some of these compounds exhibited weak cytotoxicity against a human leukemia cell-line (K-562).

Outcomes of stent-graft treatment of false lumen in aortic dissection

BACKGROUND

Stent-graft treatment for aortic disease promises to lead to a less invasive therapy than conventional surgical therapy. However, this treatment has not been established as a therapy for aortic dissection. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of stent-graft treatment of aortic dissection, as measured by follow-up data on entry site closure, clotting in the false lumen, and the outcome of the false lumen from the acute to chronic phase after operation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We used a stent-graft of our own design to close the entry site of aortic dissection in 21 cases: 9 were acute (< 14 days), 8 subacute (< 6 months), and 4 chronic (> 6 months). Nine were type A and 12 were type B. In 15 cases, the stent-graft was inserted through the transverse arch, which had been surgically opened under median sternotomy. In the other 6 cases, the stent-graft was inserted by means of a transcatheter through a femoral artery. Using computed tomographic scans, we followed and examined clot formation in the false lumen and reduction in size of the false lumen at 3 levels: at the level of maximum aortic diameter, at the distal end of the stent-graft, and 50 mm distal to the stent-graft. The entry sites were successfully closed in 19 cases (90.4%); in the remaining 2 (both treated with a transcatheter) there was perigraft leakage into the false lumen. The hospital mortality rate of these stent-graft treatments was 14.3% (3 of 21). At 2 weeks after operation, the false lumen had completely clotted, respectively, in 100%, 77%, and 38% of cases at the 3 measurement levels. Substantial shrinkage (> 50% in diameter) of the false lumen at 6 months after the operation was observed in 72%, 60%, and 38% of cases at the respective levels. Shrinkage of the false lumen was particularly enhanced in patients treated within 6 months from the onset of dissection: The false lumen shrank by > 50% in 93%, 75%, and 50% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of aortic dissection, the stent-graft is an effective tool for closing the entry site and promoting clot formation in the false lumen and for reducing the size of the false lumen within 6 months of the onset of dissection if the entry site has been closed.

Sequence polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA control region in Japanese

Sequence polymorphisms of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region, hypervariable regions I and II, from 100 unrelated Japanese were determined by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Sequences of 404 nucleotides for hypervariable region I and 379 nucleotides for region II were obtained. Variable sites (85 and 45) were revealed in region I and region II, respectively, as compared to the reference sequence, and a total of 96 different genetic patterns from both regions I and II were determined. A point mutation heteroplasmy was observed at the ratio of approximately 50:50 from one individual at the sequence position 151 showing a nucleotide transition from C to T. The probability of identity was estimated as 2.3% for region I, 3.9% for region II, and 1.1% combined for both regions. These results suggest that sequence polymorphism of mtDNA control region would be very useful in forensic practice as a marker for individual identification.

Selective detection of biexponential relaxation in isotropic solutions by mixed coherence filtering NMR

This is a trial to simplize sequences to get the relaxation function f31(t), which is usually detected by the double- or triple-quantum filtered (DQF or TQF) NMR in an isotropic phase. The results indicate that only two phase cycling is needed to get the f31(t) function, which shows the advantage of S/N (signal-to-noise ratio) in a minimum acquisition time. The filtering of coherence levels in the creation time need not be limited to double- or triple-quantum coherences. An 87Rb signal from a 4% (w/w) agar powder in 500-mM RbCl solution is recorded at 130.9 MHz as a Larmor frequency using a Bruker MSL 400 spectrometer.

New secosteroids from a gorgonian of the genus Muricella

Calicoferols F-I (2-5), four new 9,10-secosteroids, have been isolated from a gorgonian of the genus Muricella collected from Jaeju Island, Korea. The structures of these compounds have been determined by combined spectroscopic methods. Calicoferols exhibited significant cytotoxicity and inhibitory activity against PLA2.

Proton double-quantum filtered MRI--a new method for imaging ordered tissues

The imaging of connective tissues such as cartilage and tendons using standard MRI techniques is hampered by their low signal relative to the surrounding tissues. 1H double-quantum filtered (DQF) MRI is an imaging method that detects molecules associated with ordered structures, while the signal from isotropic fluids is filtered out, thus creating a new type of contrast. The technique is demonstrated on an intact rat tail, where the image of the tendons is highlighted. Although the signal-to-noise ratio is inferior to that in gradient-echo MRI, the contrast between the tendons and the surrounding tissues is significantly better in the DQF MRI. It is demonstrated how, by adjusting the parameters of the DQF imaging pulse sequence, one can modify the contrast and enhance the images of specific compartments within an organ. A comparison with 2H DQF imaging of the same tissue is also given.

Tandem repeat structure of the duplicated Y-chromosomal STR locus DYS385 and frequency studies in the German and three Asian populations

The Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (STR) locus DYS385 can be typed using PCR amplification and separation of the resulting polymorphic fragments by non-denaturing high resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining. The PCR primers amplify a duplicated repeat sequence on the Y chromosome revealing a two-band pattern in male individuals. To determine the internal repeat structure as a basis for a consensus nomenclature, DNA sequence analysis was carried out after subcloning of PCR-amplified fragments revealing the uniform 4-bp repeat structure 'GAAA'. The shortest allele observed consisted of 10 repeat units thus providing the basis for the designation 'allele 10'. Except for isolated point mutations, no systematic differences could be observed either in the repeat sequence or in the flanking regions between the two fragments of a given individual. Thus it was not possible to discriminate between the two loci of the DYS385 system. Four population samples of German (n = 146), Chinese (n = 100), Japanese (n = 100), and Thai (n = 95) origin were studied. In the four groups, alleles 10 to 24 could be observed and genotype frequencies differed significantly. In Germans only one common genotype was present (11-14; 33.8% frequency). In the Asian populations, the frequencies were more evenly distributed with the 13-13 genotype (9%) in Chinese, the 13-17 genotype (14%) in Japanese and the 14-18 genotype (7%) in Thai being the most common. Overall, 69 different genotypes were found, of these 36 were observed in Germans, 36 in Chinese, 33 in Japanese and 44 in Thai. No mutations were detected in 62 father-son pairs. Thus DYS385 is a highly polymorphic STR system with population-specific genotype distributions.