Intraerythrocytic schizogony of Theileria sergenti in cattle

The characteristics of developing intraerythrocytic stages of T. sergenti were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. The parasites with many ribosomes, acristate mitochondria, cytostome, and food vacuoles were morphologically regarded as the trophozoite stage. Although this type of parasites was frequently detected, intraerythrocytic merozoite stage with electron dense cisternae, rhoptries and small electron dense bodies was rarely observed in high parasitaemia. The intraerythrocytic stages of T. sergenti were divided mainly into four daughters by schizogony, and alternatively into two by binary fission. The daughter parasites in each division had the same ultrastructural features as of merozoites. As a result, it was suggested that T. sergenti trophozoites multiplied by schizogony to four organisms or by binary fission in the peripheral erythrocyte, and differentiated to the merozoites which acquired penetrating ability into the erythrocytes.

The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in a Holstein-Friesian cow

A case of Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome in a Holstein-Freisian cow aged 10-year-old was examined in detail. In electrocardiogram (ECG), the P-wave was the same configuration in both the normal and abnormal ECG. The PR-interval shortened from 0.2 to 0.1 second and the duration of the QRS-complex prolonged from 0.1 to 0.12 second compared with normal ECG. The delta wave, characterized in WPW syndrome, could not be recognized. In echocardiogram, notches were recognized at the early stage of ventricular contraction in the interventricular septum. This cow was, therefore, diagnosed as type B WPW syndrome. The abnormal ECG disappeared by the administration of procainamide. It was strongly indicated that the ventricular contraction showing abnormal ECG was generated only by the stimulation through an accessory pathway in this cow.

Circulating forms of human atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with congestive heart failure

To elucidate the circulating forms of human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), plasma samples obtained from 36 patients with CHF were analyzed and compared with those from normal subjects. Plasma concentrations of hANP-like immunoreactivity (LI) from normal subjects and patients with mild CHF (class I), as classified by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional criteria, did not differ (15 +/- 1 vs. 16 +/- 1 pmol/L, mean +/- SE), whereas plasma levels of hANP-LI in patients with moderate and severe CHF significantly (P less than 0.01) increased in relation to the severity of CHF (class II, 44 +/- 4 pmol/L; class III, 116 +/- 24 pmol/L; class IV, 141 +/- 21 pmol/L). Reverse-phase HPLC and gel permeation chromatography coupled with RIA for hANP revealed that the circulating forms of hANP-LI consisted of alpha-hANP, beta-hANP, and gamma-hANP in CHF, whereas alpha-hANP predominated in normal plasma. The percentage of beta-hANP in total hANP-LI as calculated from the chromatograms by gel filtration was greater in severe CHF (NYHA class III and IV) than those in mild CHF (NYHA class I and II), and apparently exceeded those of other forms. Successful medical treatment for CHF resulted in a marked reduction of total plasma hANP-LI levels with a concomitant disappearance or reduction of beta-hANP in 14 patients examined. These data suggest that beta-hANP and gamma-hANP are secreted from the failing human heart, possibly resulting from the augmented synthesis and/or the altered processing of hANP precursor in cardiocytes, and that circulating beta-hANP may serve as a potential marker for the severity of CHF in man.

Maturation of Theileria sergenti in salivary glands of Haemaphysalis longicornis induced by temperature stimulation

The parthenogenetic Haemaphysalis longicornis larvae engorged on cattle naturally infected with Theileria sergenti were reared at 24 degrees C. The resultant nymphal ticks were incubated at 37 degrees C to clear the effect of incubation on the development and maturation of sporozoites. The sporozoites in the salivary glands of the nymphal ticks exposed to 37 degrees C for 16 days were observed by the methyl green pyronin staining method. The ticks exposed to 37 degrees C were ground up in a mortar and the supernatant of the tick suspension in PBS was inoculated into cattle. The cattle showed parasitemia and specific antibody response 18 days after inoculation. Consequently, the parasites in the tick salivary glands became infective to cattle by incubating infected. H. longicornis nymphs at 37 degrees C.

Synthesis of 4- and 16 alpha-hydroxylated equine estrogens

4-Hydroxyequilin, 4-hydroxyequilenin, and 16 alpha-hydroxyequilenin were synthesized as authentic specimens for the metabolic studies of equine estrogens. The synthetic route leading to the 4-hydroxylated compounds was started from o-vanillin, which was transformed into the beta-ketosulfoxide (2b) by sequential multistep reactions. This was converted to the alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone (3) as Michael acceptor. Condensation of 3 with 2-methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione, followed by ring closure with methanesulfonic acid provided the cyclized estrapentaene (5). Several oxidoreduction reactions were then performed to give the desired compounds. Preparation of 16 alpha-hydroxyequilenin was attained by reductive cleavage of the 16 alpha,17 alpha-epoxide formed from equilenin.

[A case of tuberculous pericarditis]

A case of tuberculous pericarditis successfully managed with medical treatment alone was reported. A 78-year-old male was admitted because of cough, dyspnea and fever. Chest X-P and echocardiogram revealed massive pericardial effusion. His clinical symptoms and signs suggested cardiac tamponade. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected from pericardial fluid. ADA activity in pericardial fluid was high. Thoracic CT scan showed tracheobronchial, pretracheal, paratracheal and superior mediastinal lymph-node swelling. The diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis was confirmed. Anti-tuberculous therapy consisting of INH, RFP, EB in combination with prednisolone was started. One month later pericardial effusion was controlled and six months later he was in good clinical condition without surgical treatment.

Bar-structure in bovine erythrocytes infected with Theileria sergenti

The purpose of this study is to elucidate some morphological characteristics of the bar-structure in bovine erythrocytes infected with Theileria sergenti. The bar-structure, the veil or the both were observed in infected erythrocytes. Infected bovine erythrocytes were classified into four types according to the included structures. Infected cells containing bar-structures increased with the progress of parasitemia. In Giemsa-stained blood preparations, bar-structures appeared purplish-red and measured a mean of 1.6 micron in length and up to 0.1 micron in width. Bar-structures were usually straight, sometimes S-shaped, and located in the periphery of infected erythrocytes. In the direct fluorescent antibody test with T. sergenti-positive bovine serum both piroplasms and bar-structures exhibited fluorescence. However, in the indirect fluorescent antibody test with monoclonal antibodies against piroplasms only piroplasms showed a highly specific fluorescence. Electron microscopy revealed that bar-structures were vesicular in structure, surrounded by a double membrane connected to the host cell membrane.

Selective expression and induction of cytochrome P450PB and P450MC during the development of hereditary hepatitis and hepatoma of LEC rats

The Long-Evans rat with a cinnamon-like coat color (LEC rat) is a mutant strain displaying hereditary hepatitis with severe jaundice. The age related difference in microsomal dealkylation of pentoxyresorufin and ethoxyresorufin was examined. The enzyme activity levels of pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase in LEC rats were decreased to 25% of the levels in control [Long-Evans rats with an agouti coat color (LEA rats)]. In contrast, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase exhibited a much less marked difference between the strains. In parallel with these strain differences in enzyme activities, a decrease in phenobarbital (PB) inducible P450 isozymes, mainly P450b and P450e, was observed by Western blot analysis. The level of P450PB in LEC rats was more markedly depressed than in the LEA strain. On the other hand, microsomes from uninduced LEC rat liver had more 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) inducible P450MC, mainly P450c and P450d, than microsomes from LEA rat liver and these isozymes in the LEC were markedly induced by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment. The great difference in cytochrome P450PB content of the liver microsomes between LEC and LEA rats and the maintained constitutive levels of hepatic cytochrome P450MC in the LEC rats suggest a possible role of these cytochrome isozymes in the onset of spontaneous hepatitis and hepatoma.

No specific organ removes atrial natriuretic peptide from the human plasma

The fate of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was studied by arterial and venous catheterization in ischemic heart disease patients, and arterio-venous blood sampling in healthy kidney donors at the time of transplantation. In vitro ANP degradation was examined using healthy human plasma. In ischemic heart disease, the plasma ANP concentration at the inferior vena cava was 62.6% of that at the left ventricle, and that at the superior vena cava was 82.8%. Arterio-venous gradients were similar from pulmonary artery to vein (88.3%), from celiac artery to the hepatic vein (75.5%) and from the femoral artery to vein (85.4%). In the donor for kidney transplantation, renal arterio-venous gradient was also similar at 77.1%. No platelet consumption of ANP was noted, and the molecular forms of ANP present in the circulation were similar in samples obtained from both the coronary sinus and the superior or inferior vena cava. We conclude that no specific organ plays a dominant role in ANP degradation, and that ANP molecular forms may not be altered during circulation.

[A case of sarcoidosis presenting ataxic hemiparesis as an initial clinical manifestation]

A case of sarcoidosis presenting ataxic hemiparesis was reported. A 25-year-old man was admitted to Kanto Teishin Hospital because of slight weakness and dysesthesia in the right side of his body. His physical findings were normal. Neurological findings disclosed mild right hemiparesis (MMT 4+), cerebellar signs and mild dysesthesia in the same side. Laboratory findings were within normal limits except for elevated serum ACE and lysozyme. Chest roentgenogram showed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and TBLB disclosed sarcoid granuloma. Though brain CT, brain MRI and cerebral angiography were within normal limits, the neurological features were thought to be due to sarcoidosis. They disappeared along with the decrease of ACE and lysozyme. This is the first report of ataxic hemiparesis due to sarcoidosis, and it is interesting in that ataxic hemiparesis, which is one of signs of diseases in central nervous system, is the first manifest clinical feature of sarcoidosis.

[Studies on the metabolism of conjugated drugs. II. 3-Deoxyestradiol 17-sulfate. (2). Analytical procedure for determination by high-performance liquid chromatography of potential metabolites]

To investigate the metabolic pattern of such a drug having two counter functional groups in the molecule: a hydrophylic sulfate group and a hydrophobic aromatic ring, as 17-sulfate of 17 beta-hydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-triene (3-deoxyestradiol) was incubated with rat hepatic microsomes under a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-generating system. The metabolites assigned were mono- and dihydroxylated products hydroxylated only at the aromatic ring. The phenolic products having hydroxyl group at the position 2, 3, or 4 were detected in the male and female rats. The two catechol products having hydroxyl groups at 2, 3 and 3, 4 were detected only in the male rats. No other metabolites were formed except a phenol product hydroxylated at the position 1 in the case of the male rats. These metabolisms were confirmed to proceed without removal of the sulfate group. A simple method for the determination of these metabolites was established by using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The devised technique involves an elution with a mixture of 0.5% NH4H2PO4 (pH 3.0) and methanol on a TSK-Gel ODS-120A column with electrochemical and/or ultraviolet detectors.

Synthesis of 6-hydroxylated bile acids and identification of 3 alpha,6 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid in human meconium and neonatal urine

Three 6-hydroxylated bile acids, 3 alpha,6 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-, 3 alpha,6 beta,7 alpha,12 alpha- and 3 alpha,6 beta,7 beta,12 alpha-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acids, were synthesized from methyl cholate, and a sensitive method was developed for analyzing them by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the stoichiometric study of fetal bile acids. 3 alpha,6 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-Tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (6 alpha-hydroxylated cholic acid) was identified from human meconium and healthy neonatal urine by comparison with the mass spectrum of the reference compound. In human meconium, 6 alpha-hydroxylated cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids were determined in 1.2% and 29.0% of the total bile acids, respectively. We discuss the significance of hydroxylation at the C-1 beta and C-6 alpha positions of bile acids and their elimination in fetal and neonatal periods.

Atrial natriuretic peptide in human urine

A highly sensitive radioimmunoassay to measure atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration in urine has been established, and its clinical usefulness is presented. ANP in urine was stable at 4 degrees C for several days and was easily measured by our radioimmunoassay. The average ANP excretion in 65 healthy persons was 25.0 +/- 1.4 ng/day (mean +/- SEM) and the fractional excretion of ANP was 0.7 +/- 0.05%. In 14 patients with congestive heart failure, the average ANP excretion was 119.2 +/- 29.4 ng/day, which decreased to 53.3 +/- 11.0 after successful treatment.

Changes of molecular forms of atrial natriuretic peptide after treatment for congestive heart failure

In the present study, an attempt was made to clarify whether ANP molecular forms in the plasma of severe congestive heart failure patients differ from those in healthy persons and whether ANP molecular forms in the plasma of the patients were changed by successful treatment of cardiac disease. Twenty patients with congestive heart failure were treated at Kitasato University Hospital. They were classified as class III or IV by New York Heart Association criteria at the time of admission. Plasma ANP concentrations decreased after treatment from 356 +/- 58.2 to 72.3 +/- 14.8 pg/ml. The gel permeation chromatograms from the plasma of healthy persons showed low, or low and high molecular weight ANP peaks which correspond to the elution positions of authentic alpha-ANP or ribonuclease A (mol. wt., 13.7 kdalton). In patients with severe congestive heart failure at a severe stage, middle molecular weight ANP consisted with the elution position of authentic beta-ANP was particularly noted in addition of low and high molecular weight ANP peaks. This middle molecular weight peak disappears in most of cases by successful treatment. Molecular forms in the plasma obtained from the coronary sinus and the inferior or superior vena cava were essentially the same. These results indicate that the middle molecular weight ANP supposed as beta-ANP may particularly be secreted in severe congestive heart failure patients.

Atrial natriuretic peptide is only a minor diuretic factor in dehydrated subjects immersed to the neck in water

To determine if the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is an important factor for inducing diuresis during head-out water immersion even in dehydrated subjects, six healthy volunteers were immersed up to the neck in water at 34.5 degrees C for three hrs. Significant diuresis and natriuresis occurred, but urine osmolality decreased and negative CH2O was restored in a positive direction toward zero, even though subjects were still in a state of considerable dehydration. Plasma renin activity and plasma angiotensin I and II concentrations decreased but that of plasma aldosterone remained unchanged during water immersion, and plasma ANP did not increase throughout the examination. On the basis of the data of the present study, the factor inducing diuresis during head-out water immersion in hydrated subjects appears to differ from that in dehydrated subjects, and the main factor inducing diuresis during water immersion in dehydrated subjects may be the suppression of vasopressin release and not ANP.