Effects of chronic beta-amyloid treatment on fatty acid incorporation into rat brain

The present study evaluated the effects of chronic A beta administration on radio-labeled plasma fatty acid incorporation in rat brain. A beta was chronically infused intraventricularly via an osmotic minipump, for 1 week, at a concentration of 460 microM. After the infusion, fatty acid incorporation was quantified using an in vivo method developed in this laboratory. Three radiolabeled fatty acids were separately infused IV in awake animals. Biochemical analyses of fatty acid incorporation and histology for A beta showed no differences between control (vehicle infusion only) and experimental groups. However, in vitro tests on the cytotoxicity of A beta showed that it caused significant cell death relative to controls (PC-12 cells). The lack of effect of infused A beta on radiolabeled fatty acid incorporation is discussed.

Integrin alpha v beta 3 and phospholipase C regulate prostacyclin formation of endothelial cells caused by ancrod-generated fibrin

Ancrod-generated fibrin has been shown to stimulate prostacyclin synthesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (Chang et al., 1994, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 203, 1920). We further investigated its mechanism of action. The increment of 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha stimulated by ancrod-generated fibrin was almost completely inhibited when endothelial cells were either pretreated with 50 microM 8-(N,N'-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5- trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8) or preloaded with 15 microM 1,2-bis(2- aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA). 6-Keto prostaglandin F1 alpha production during 2 and 10 h incubation period was also inhibited by 1.2 mM ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraace tic acid (EGTA) (41 +/- 12 and 53 +/- 17% inhibition, respectively). Further, ancrod-generated fibrin caused a rapid-onset increase in [3h]inositol monophosphate (IP1) formation in endothelial cells. This increase in IP1 was significantly inhibited by 1 mM Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro, 1 mM neomycin or 100 ng/ml pertussis toxin. At the same time, neomycin and pertussis toxin also significantly inhibited 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha synthesis of endothelial cells stimulated by ancrod-generated fibrin. Additionally, the increment of IP1 production as well as prostacyclin production were significantly inhibited by monoclonal antibodies directed against alpha v beta 3. These results suggest that intra- and extra-cellular Ca2+ participate in prostacyclin synthesis stimulated by ancrod-generated fibrin. Ancrod-generated fibrin stimulates pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein regulated phosphoinositide breakdown, which is responsible for prostacyclin synthesis. This augmentation in prostacyclin synthesis and phosphoinositide breakdown caused by ancrod-generated fibrin area, at least in part, mediated by fibrin binding to integrin alpha v beta 3 on endothelial cells.

Triflavin, an Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptide, prevents platelet plug formation in in vivo experiments

Triflavin, an Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptide from Trimeresurus flavoviridis snake venom (M(r) of 7500 Da) inhibits platelet aggregation through the blockade of fibrinogen binding to activated platelets. The present study demonstrated that the intravenous injection of triflavin (0.1 and 0.25 mg/kg) significantly prolonged the bleeding time about 1.8- to 2.4-fold as compared with control (normal saline) of severed mesenteric arteries in rats, whereas the injection of Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) (2-8 mg/kg) failed to increase the bleeding time in this model. Continuous infusion of triflavin (0.08 mg/kg/min) significantly increased the bleeding time about 2.6-fold, and the bleeding time returned to normal within 20 min after the cessation of triflavin infusion. Triflavin (10-20 mg/kg) significantly prolonged the occlusion time of platelet plug formation induced by irradiation of mesenteric venules of fluorescein sodium-pretreated mice. In contrast, trigramin (10-20 mg/kg) and GRGDS (500 and 1000 mg/kg) showed no significant effect. These results suggest that triflavin has an effective antiplatelet effect in vivo and this peptide may be a useful therapeutic agent for arterial thrombosis.

Incorporation of [1-carbon-11]palmitate in monkey brain using PET

We determined regional incorporation coefficients (k*) of plasma [1-11C]palmitate into stable brain lipids of anesthetized monkeys with PET.

METHODS

Carbon-11-palmitate was injected intravenously in untreated animals and in animals pretreated with methyl palmoxirate (MEP), an inhibitor of beta-oxidation of palmitate in the brain and periphery. Plasma radioactivity was followed, and brain radioactivity was determined at various times using PET. A least-squares method was used to fit the data to an operational equation to obtain regional values of k* and of cerebral blood volume (Vb) in individual experiments.

RESULTS

MEP significantly decreased the integral of plasma [11C]CO2 following 11C-palmitate infusion. Mean values of k* in monkeys not given MEP were 4.9, 4.2, 4.9, 4.0 and 2.9 x 10(-5) ml/sec.g for the temporal, frontal, parietal and occipital cortices and white matter, respectively. With the exception of k* in white matter, which was increased by MEP, k* in the other brain regions was not significantly changed by MEP. The Vb ranged from 0.035 ml/g to 0.048 ml/g in gray matter regions and equaled 0.022 ml/g in white matter.

CONCLUSION

PET can be used to determine regional incorporation coefficients of 11C-palmitate into the primate brain in vivo. Combined with MEP, 11C-palmitate could be used with PET to examine regional brain phospholipid metabolism in humans in normal and pathological conditions.

The morphologic change of endothelial cells by ancrod-generated fibrin is triggered by alpha v beta 3 integrin binding and the subsequent activation of a G-protein coupled phospholipase C

The mechanism of morphologic change of human cultured umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) caused by fibrin was investigated. Ancrod, a thrombin-like enzyme, did not cause morphologic alteration of HUVEC by itself at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 10 U/ml. However, when 0.02 U/ml of ancrod was added to cultured HUVEC monolayers in the presence of citrated plasma, it caused pronounced morphologic change of HUVEC after 6-10 h incubation period. Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro (4 mg/ml), an inhibitor of fibrin polymerization, prevented the morphologic alteration, indicating that the morphologic alteration was caused by the polymerized fibrin. The morphologic change of HUVEC caused by ancrod-generated fibrin was not observed in the presence of an intracellular calcium mobilization inhibitor TMB-8 (50 microM), and the morphologic alteration was also less pronounced with BAPTA(15 microM)-loaded HUVECs and HUVECs pretreated with EGTA (1.2 mM). Ancrod (in Medium 199) itself did not stimulate phosphoinositide breakdown of HUVEC. However, when ancrod was present in plasma, it caused an increase of [3H]IP1 of HUVECs preloaded with [3H]myoinositol. This IP1 increment was inhibited by Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro. The increase of IP1 was significantly inhibited by the pretreatment of monoclonal antibodies 23C6 and 7E3 directed against alpha v beta 3 integrin. Neomycin (1 mM) and pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml), but not aspirin or mepacrine, blocked this enhanced phosphoinositide breakdown. The morphologic change was also prevented by the monoclonal antibodies, 23C6 and 7E3. These results suggest that both intra- and extra-cellular calcium participate in the event of morphologic change of HUVEC caused by ancrod-generated fibrin, and the morphologic change is mediated, at least in part, by fibrin binding to integrin alpha v beta 3 on HUVECs, causing the subsequent activation of the endogenous G-protein coupled phospholipase C.

Characterization of endothelial cell differential attachment to fibrin and fibrinogen and its inhibition by Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides

We investigated the adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to fibrin(ogen) molecule of varying structure for identifying sites that mediate cell attachment. Fibrin was prepared either with ancrod which liberates only FPA from fibrinogen, or with thrombin, which liberates both FPA and FPB. Both fibrin preparations equally supported HUVEC attachment. GRGDS, RGD-containing peptides of snake venoms, and monoclonal antibodies against alpha v beta 3 (23C6 and 7E3) inhibited the attachment of HUVECs to fibrin by 65-75%. In contrast, the attachment of HUVECs to fibrinogen was less effective and was almost completely inhibited by both RGD-containing peptides and by antibodies against integrin alpha v beta 3 (85-95% inhibition). The C-terminal dodecapeptide of fibrinogen gamma chain (residues 400-411) inhibited minimally the attachment of HUVECs to fibrin. Additionally, the binding of RGD-containing snake venom peptides to HUVECs was both RGD- and divalent-cation-dependent. The IC50S for inhibition of HUVEC attachment to fibrin were 0.09 microM (rhodostomin), 1.54 microM (trigramin) and 1.64 microM (halysin). These results indicate that fibrin mediated support of cell attachment is independent of the cleavage of FPB from fibrinogen. HUVEC attachment to fibrinogen was almost completely inhibited by RGD-containing peptides and by antibodies against alpha v beta 3. In contrast, the attachment to fibrin was partially resistant to RGD-containing peptides and to the monoclonal antibodies against integrin alpha v beta 3. However, alpha v beta 3 is the major receptor mediating HUVEC attachment to fibrin.

Characterization of a thrombin-like enzyme, grambin, from the venom of Trimeresurus gramineus and its in vivo antithrombotic effect

A thrombin-like enzyme, grambin, was purified to homogeneity by gel filtration, affinity and ion-exchange chromatography from the venom of Trimeresurus gramineus. Its mol. wt was estimated to be 45,400 by SDS-PAGE under reduced conditions. The mass of neutral sugars in grambin is estimated to be 20.7% of total mass. Grambin's NH2-terminal ten amino acid residues show a high homology to other venom thrombin-like enzymes. It clots human fibrinogen with a specific activity of 220-250 NIH thrombin-equivalent units/mg protein. It preferentially releases fibrinopeptide A accompanied by a slow release of trace amounts of fibrinopeptide B as monitored by HPLC following enzyme treatment of fibrinogen. EDTA, aprotinin, hirudin and heparin did not affect the fibrinogen-clotting activity of grambin in purified human fibrinogen solution. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and leupeptin inhibited the clotting activity of grambin whereas iodoacetamide did not affect its activity, indicating that grambin is a serine protease rather than a cysteine protease. In addition, it caused defibrinogenation and showed a marked antiplatelet effect when administered intravenously to mice. It also significantly prolonged the time lapse of platelet-rich thrombus formation in the irradiated mesenteric venules of fluorescein sodium-treated mice. Therefore, grambin may be used as a therapeutic agent not only in treatment of venous thrombosis but also in prevention of arterial thrombosis.

The antiplatelet activity of ancrod on administration to rabbits

Ancrod, a thrombin-like enzyme purified from the venom of Calloselasma rhodostoma, was administered to rabbits intravenously, and blood samples were obtained at 1, 3, 6, 10, and 24 hours after infusion. Ancrod caused a rapid and sustained defibrinogenation within the first 6 hours, with production of fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs) peaking at 1 hour and declining to background level at 6 hours. No significant changes in platelet count, white cell count, or hematocrit was observed. Citrated PRP prepared 1, 3, and 6 hours after ancrod infusion showed diminished aggregation, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release, and thromboxane B2 formation on the addition of collagen. Although platelet suspension prepared from defibrinogenated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) at 3 hours showed no significant change in aggregation and ATP-releasing activity, the latent period of platelet aggregation was prolonged. When the remaining platelet-poor plasma obtained from defibrinogenated PRP at 3 hours was used to suspend the normal washed platelets prepared from PRP before ancrod infusion, the platelets showed a similar defect in aggregation and release action. Addition of fibrinogen (200 micrograms/ml to 2 mg/ml) to the above preparation partially restored aggregation but not capacity for secretion and thromboxane formation. When normal washed platelets were suspended with the defibrinogenated plasma, prepared by mixing ancrod with normal plasma in vitro and removing the formed fibrin, the platelet suspension showed impaired platelet aggregability, and the aggregability could be restored to the normal level by the addition of exogenous fibrinogen to this preparation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition of tumor promotion in benzo[a]pyrene-initiated CD-1 mouse skin by crocetin

The effects of topical application of crocetin on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced promotion of skin tumors, hyperplasia, hydrogen peroxide, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and inflammation were evaluated in female CD-1 mice. Topical application of crocetin (0.2 or 1.0 mumol) with TPA (15 nmol) twice weekly for 20 weeks to mice previously initiated with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) inhibited the number of TPA-induced tumors per mouse by 69 and 81% respectively. Pre-application of the same amount of crocetin also afforded significant protection against TPA-induced hyperplasia in the ear skin. Topical application of crocetin inhibited tumor promoter-caused induction of epidermal ODC activity by TPA (5 nmol). The topical application of crocetin (0.2 or 1.0 mumol) inhibited TPA-induced edema of mouse ears by 76 and 87% respectively. Pretreatment of mouse skin with various amounts of crocetin caused inhibition of hydrogen peroxide and myeloperoxidase production by TPA. These results indicate that crocetin possesses potential as a cancer chemopreventive agent against tumor promotion.

Allen score in clinical diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Allen score is a validated weighted linear score for clinical distinction between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. As the prevalence of hemorrhagic stroke differs between Caucasian and Chinese populations, and the predictive value of any diagnostic score depends greatly on the prevalence of disease being considered, we tried to verify prospectively this score among the Chinese living in Taiwan.

METHODS

From 1 April to 31 August 1993, all patients with acute stroke syndrome, who visited the emergency room at Veterans General Hospital-Taichung, were studied prospectively. Clinical features were recorded thoroughly to calculate the Allen score. The diagnosis was all confirmed by computed tomography (CT) of the head.

RESULTS

Totally 255 stroke cases were identified. The types of the stroke were cerebral infarction in 186 subjects (73%), cerebral hemorrhage in 64 subjects (25%), and subarachnoid hemorrhage in 5 subjects (2%). Seventy-five cases were excluded because of the lack of clinical details for calculation. Thus, 180 patients were included. When a cut-off of 4 or 24 was taken into account, the sensitivity of Allen score for diagnosing a hemorrhage was 67%, specificity 100%, accuracy 93%, positive predictive value 100%, and negative predictive value 91%.

CONCLUSIONS

Although Allen score can be used for epidemiological studies of incidence and outcome in stroke as well as for a first bedside screening to decide the priority of patients for CT, it is not safe enough as a guide for anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy. Its validity should be verified before use in a given population other than the Caucasian.

Sonographic detection of inferior vermian agenesis in Dandy-Walker malformations: prognostic implications

PURPOSE

To compare the prognoses for fetuses with sonographically detected inferior vermian agenesis (IVA) or complete vermian agenesis (CVA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The sonograms of 65 fetuses with Dandy-Walker malformations were retrospectively reviewed. Fetuses were divided into two groups--those with IVA and those with CVA.

RESULTS

Of the 65 fetuses, 37 had IVA; 28, CVA. Thirteen (20%) of the 65-nine (24%) of the 37 with IVA and four (14%) of the 28 with CVA--lived for longer than 1 year. Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 23 (45%) of the 51 fetuses tested for karyotypic abnormalities or clinically thought to have Down syndrome. Seventeen (53%) of the 32 with IVA and six (32%) of the 19 with CVA that were tested for karyotypic abnormalities or clinically thought to have Down syndrome had chromosomal abnormalities (P = .07). Associated morphologic abnormalities were prenatally detected in 49 (75%) of the 65-in 28 (76%) of the 37 with IVA and in 21 (75%) of the 28 with CVA.

CONCLUSION

The overall guarded prognosis is similar for fetuses with Dandy-Walker malformations for whom IVA or CVA has been sonographically diagnosed. Fetuses with IVA have a higher prevalence of karyotypic abnormalities.

Taiwan's transition from high fertility to below-replacement levels

This article compares the fertility experience of Taiwanese in the eight years since the total fertility rate reached 2.1 with that before fertility reached replacement levels. During the earlier period, two-thirds of the fertility decline resulted from falling marital fertility and one-third from higher age at marriage. The changing age distribution retarded this decline. Since 1983, the further decline to 1.7-1.8 has been entirely the result of the trend toward later marriage. Older age distributions now facilitate the decline. Births postponed by those marrying later make the conventional TFR misleading. Computation based on parity-progression ratios raise TFRs from 1.7 to 2.0, a number less alarming to policymakers. Contraceptive prevalence is at saturation levels in all major populations strata. The "KAP-GAP" has disappeared. What would have happened without Taiwan's effective family planning program is impossible to determine, but clearly, contraceptive services supplied by the program were the major proximate cause of Taiwan's fertility decline.

Detection of human papillomavirus types in cervical lesions of patients from Taiwan by the polymerase chain reaction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The association of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection with cervical carcinoma is well documented. The HPV types in cervical lesions of patients from Taiwan are analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

STUDY DESIGN

DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissues using a sonication method. PCR was performed using type-specific primers for the presence of HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, and 33 DNA. Amplified product was subjected to gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 129 cervical lesions and normal cervical biopsies were examined. Histologic examination revealed a spectrum of lesions, which were classified as condyloma acuminata (AC), condyloma (CL), koilocytosis (KL), various grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN I, II, and III), carcinoma in situ (CIS), and invasive carcinoma (ICa). Of 114 cervical lesions, 65% (26 of 40) of AC; 61% (11 of 18) of CL; 20% (2 of 10) of KL; 25% (1 of 4) of CIN I; 69% (9 of 13) of CIN II; 80% (12 of 15) of CIN III; 83% (5 of 6) of CIS; and 100% (8 of 8) of ICa were positive for at least one type of HPV by the PCR. Among the 74 HPV-positive specimens, 19 (26%) were detected with multiple types. HPV DNA was detected in the cervical biopsies of 1 of 15 (6.7%) normal individuals.

CONCLUSION

Excluding AC, HPV 6 and/or 11 (HPV 6/11), HPV 16 and/or 18 (HPV 16/18), and HPV 31 and/or 33 (HPV 31/33) were detected in 40% (19 of 48), 71% (34 of 48), and 12% (6 of 48) of neoplastic lesions of patients from Taiwan respectively. These findings are compatible with those reported by others worldwide.

Ancrod-formed fibrin stimulates prostacyclin production of human umbilical vein endothelial cells via de novo synthesis of cyclooxygenase

Ancrod, a thrombin-like enzyme, has been used as defibrinogenating agent in prevention of venous thrombosis. This study showed ancrod in citrated plasma elevated 6-keto PGF1 alpha production of human umbilical vein endothelial cells; this increment of 6-keto PGF1 alpha was completely inhibited by Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro, an inhibitor of fibrin polymerization. The enhanced prostacyclin production, but not basal level of prostacyclin, was inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. In washed aspirin-pretreated cells, ancrod-formed fibrin induced restoration of prostacyclin production by a cycloheximide- and actinomycin D-sensitive process. Ancrod-formed fibrin stimulated synthesis of cyclooxygenase as probed by Western blotting and this enhancement was blocked by actinomycin D and cycloheximide. In conclusion, we first report that ancrod-formed fibrin stimulates prostacyclin production of human endothelial cells and this event is dependent on de novo synthesis of cyclooxygenase.

Gastric tonometry supplements information provided by systemic indicators of oxygen transport

HYPOTHESIS

Assessment of splanchnic perfusion by gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) adds to the information provided by systemic indicators of oxygen transport.

SETTING

University Hospital level I trauma center.

DESIGN

Prospective study in 20 critically ill trauma patients comparing pHi with base deficit, lactate, oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption (indexed to body surface area), mixed venous oxygen saturation (Svo2), oxygen utilization coefficient, and arterial pH. All measurements were obtained at admission, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours, or at death.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Correlation of pHi with the measured systemic variables, prediction of organ dysfunction, development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and mortality.

RESULTS

There was a poor correlation between pHi and the systemic hemodynamic and oxygen transport variables. Patients with a low pHi (< 7.32) on admission who did not correct within the initial 24 hours had a higher mortality (50% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.03) and incidence of organ dysfunction (2.6 organs/patient vs. 0.62 organs/patient, p = 0.02) than those who did. Using logistic regression analysis, only pHi, base deficit, and Svo2 were significantly associated with mortality during the study period. At 24 hours, only pHi was different between patients who developed multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and those who did not. There was a threshold value for pHi (7.10) which identified those patients who would go on to develop multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Uncorrected splanchnic malperfusion is associated with a higher incidence of organ dysfunction and mortality. Gastric tonometry supplements information provided by systemic indicators of oxygen transport during resuscitation of critically ill trauma patients.

The effect of methyl palmoxirate on incorporation of [U-14C]palmitate into rat brain

We examined the dose response, time course and reversibility of the effect of methyl 2-tetradecylglycidate (McN-3716, methyl palmoxirate or MEP), an inhibitor of beta-oxidation of fatty acids, on incorporation of radiolabeled palmitic acid ([U-14C]PA) from plasma into brain lipids of awake rats. MEP (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered intravenously from 10 min to 72 hr prior to infusion of [U-14C]PA. Two hr pretreatment with MEP (0.1 to 10 mg/kg) increased brain organic radioactivity 1.2 to 1.8 fold and decreased brain aqueous radioactivity by 1.2 to 3.0 fold when compared to control values. At 10 mg/kg, MEP significantly increased brain organic fraction from 40% in controls to 85%, 30 min to 6 hr pretreatment, and resulted in a redistribution of the radiolabeled fatty acid toward triacylglycerol. MEP changed the lipid/aqueous brain ratio of incorporated [U-14C]PA from 0.67 to 5.7. The incorporation rate coefficient, k*, was significantly increased by MEP (10 mg/kg) at 2 hr (31%), 4 hr (59%) and 6 hr (34%). All effects were reversed by 72 hr, consistent with a half-life of approximately 2 days for carnitine palmitoyl transferase I. These results indicate that intravenous MEP may be used with [1-11C]palmitic acid for studying brain lipid metabolism in vivo by positron emission tomography, as it significantly reduces the large unincorporated aqueous fraction that would result in high background radioactivity.

A multistate model of fecundability and sterility

This paper develops a multistate hazards model for estimating fecundability and sterility from data on waiting times to conception. Important features of the model include separate sterile and nonsterile states, a distinction between preexisting sterility and sterility that begins after initiation of exposure, and log-normally distributed fecundability among nonsterile couples. Application of the model to data on first birth intervals from Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and the Amish shows that heterogeneity in fecundability is statistically significant at most ages, but that preexisting sterility and new sterility are unimportant before age 40. These results suggest that sterility may not be an important determinant of natural fertility until later reproductive ages.

A case of intrathoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis with massive pleural effusion: successful pleurodesis with intrapleural minocycline

Extramedullary hematopoiesis is a compensatory process for some hematologic diseases, such as spherocytosis, myelofibrosis and thalassemia. We report a 34-year-old man with beta-thalassemia intermedia who developed intrathoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis with recurrent pleural effusion. Diagnosis of extramedullary hematopoiesis of the pleura and soft tissue was established after thoracoscopic biopsy. Subsequently, the pleural effusion was controlled with intrapleural minocycline instillation. To our knowledge, this is the first case of extramedullary hematopoiesis described in the parietal pleura associated with massive pleural effusion and successfully treated with minocycline.

[The correlation between cytology and histopathology of primary adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix]

Cytodiagnosis is a simple, non-invasive and economical screening method for uterine cervical malignancy. Adenocarcinoma as a primary tumor of uterine cervix, although relatively rare, is increasing recently. The first part of the study consisted of 113 patients, seen during a 10-year period, with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix proven by tissue diagnosis with prior and/or coincident Papanicolaou smears available in our hospital. Their cytology were as follows: positive/suspicious for adenocarcinoma in 72 cases (63.7%) and incorrect diagnosis for adenocarcinoma in 41 cases (36.3%). These included epidermoid carcinoma, 21 cases (18.6%); atypia, 8 cases (7.1%); negative smears, 8 cases (7.1%); inadequate specimens, 3 cases (2.7%) and radiation effect, 1 case (0.8%). The second part of the study is concerned with the 82 cases whose smear diagnosis was adenocarcinoma in the same period. The results of their tissue diagnosis and accuracy were as follows: adenocarcinoma in 62 cases (75.6%); epidermoid carcinoma in 9 and epidermoid carcinoma in situ in 3 cases totalling 12 cases (14.6%); and false positive in 8 cases (9.8%). The cytomorphology and its correlation to underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis is discussed. Our data revealed that cervicovaginal smears served as a routine for the screening of primary adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix and for follow-up and detection of recurrence. In order to increase the accuracy, screening cytotechnicians and cytopathologists should acquaint themselves with the morphology of cervical adenocarcinoma by comparing cervicovaginal smear with histopathology.

Cerebral microvessel phospholipase A2 activity in senescent mouse

Phospholipase A2 activity was measured in cerebral microvessels isolated from 5 to 6 month (young adult) and 21 to 24 month (aged adult) old mice. Radiolabeled 1-stearoyl-2-[1-14C]arachidonyl choline phosphoglyceride was used as the enzyme substrate, and enzyme activity determined at pH 8 and pH 9. Activity in older animals was significantly less than in younger animals at both pH's. With choline phosphoglyceride as a substrate, phospholipase A2 activity was predominantly Ca(2+)-dependent, although a small, but measurable Ca(2+)-independent component was present. Negligible production of diacylglycerol indicated little or no phospholipase C activity. These findings indicate that activity of a phospholipase A2, which utilizes choline phosphoglyceride as a substrate, is affected by the aging process. Moreover, a change in PLA2 activity would result in altered metabolism of specific phosphoglycerides and turnover of fatty acids at the sn-2 position in cerebral microvessels.