Interleukin-6-producing pheochromocytoma

A 42-year-old female with high fever and headache was admitted. Physical examination revealed hypertension, thrombocytosis with megakaryocytosis, hyperfibrinogenemia, and high level of serum noradrenaline. After operation of extramedullary pheochromocytoma, all symptoms disappeared and findings became normal. The supernatant of tumor culture showed high levels of interleukin-6.

[Chest wall reconstruction using a free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap in a case of recurrence after bilateral breast cancer surgery]

A 64 years old woman with anterior chest wall recurrence after bilateral mastectomy for breast cancer was treated by the resection of chest wall in full thickness involving the whole sternum and the anterior part of ribs except the first rib. The thoracic cage was reconstructed using a free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap which was placed over Marlex mesh covering the defect of chest wall. By means of surgical microscope, inferior epigastric artery and vein of the graft were anastomosed with internal thoracic artery and vein at the neck, respectively. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient is alive and well for one year after the surgery. A free myocutaneous flap method provides enough volume of soft tissue for coverage of a large defect and chest wall stability.

[A case of cerebral arterial ectasia accompanied by intraventricular hemorrhage]

A case of cerebral arterial ectasia is reported. A sixty-one year old male revealed sudden disturbance of consciousness. CT examinations disclosed massive intraventricular hemorrhage and the cerebral angiograms showed remarkable elongation and dilatation of cerebral arteries. The authors discuss cerebral arterial ectasia from a clinico-pathological point of view.

Induction of de novo synthesis of crystalline lenses in aphakic rabbits

The mammalian lens, like other ectodermal tissues, can regenerate itself given the proper environment. Endocapsular phacoemulsification of adult rabbit lenses was performed. A lens capsular bag with posterior and anterior lens capsule relatively intact was left in the eye. Regrowth of material in the capsular bag was followed by slit lamp biomicroscopy and photography over a 12-month period. Histopathology of the new material showed regions of relatively normal epithelial cells and lens fibers as well as regions where growth was irregular. All major lens crystallin classes were present in the regenerated lens. Several specific crystallin subunits, known to arise by post-translational modification of primary gene products, were absent or present in abnormally low concentrations.

Age-related changes in the first order Weiner kernel visual evoked potential

Visual evoked potentials were obtained from 112 subjects (215 eyes) aged 5 to 79 years with fast random stimuli. The stimulus (the presence or absence of the initiation of a reversal) and response (voltage measurements) were used in calculating the first order Wiener kernels to obtain the visual evoked potentials. Five check sizes were used to stimulate each eye. The implicit time of the major negative wave showed a significant increase with age for each check size used. Regression lines for the implicit time vs age data for male subjects were significantly different from those of females. The y-intercepts were lower and the slope of the regression lines were consistently steeper for males. Thus the rate of increase in implicit time was higher in males. The relationship of the amplitude of the major wave to age did not appear to be linear. The data suggested that a second-order polynomial curve might be an appropriate representation of the relationship.

[Two cases of B-cell lymphoma occurring in a mother and her daughter at the same time]

Many cases of familial aggregation of lymphoproliferative malignancy have been reported. But familial aggregation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is less frequent than Hodgkin's disease, Burkitt's lymphoma, and adult T-cell leukemia. Here we report familial B-cell lymphomas occurring in a mother and her daughter at the same time. The daughter (43 years old) was admitted because of fever. She died of a rapidly progressive neurological disturbance. The mother (75 years old) was admitted because of fever and pleural effusion, and then died with a complication of cryoglobulinemia. The histological findings of their lymph nodes revealed diffuse lymphoma, medium-sized cell type, with B-cell phenotype and mixture of cleaved and non-cleaved nuclei. They had no common chromosome abnormalities, while they shared HLA-A 2, B 35, and Cw 3 antigen. Viral infection was not identified, by routine serological test and electronmicroscopic study.

Synthesis and alpha-glucosidase-inhibiting activity of a new alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, 4-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosylmoranoline and its N-substituted derivatives

Various N-substituted derivatives of 4-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosylmoranoline have been synthesized, and their inhibitory activities against rabbit sucrase and maltase have been measured, as well as their effects on postprandial hyperglycemia in the sucrose-loaded rat, 4-O-alpha-D-Glucopyranosylmoranoline was also shown to have potent hypoglycemic activity in starch-loaded dogs.

Studies on the development of growth hormone and prolactin cells in the rat pituitary gland by in situ hybridization

Cytogenesis of growth hormone and prolactin cells in the rat pituitary gland was studied using in situ cDNA-mRNA hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Frozen or Paraplast sections of fetal and neonatal pituitaries were hybridized with 3H-cDNAs for rat prolactin or growth hormone, and were then processed for autoradiography. A number of growth hormone mRNA-positive cells were encountered throughout the anterior lobe on day 19 of gestation. Individual variation in growth hormone gene expression was observed between fetuses at day 19 of gestation (6 out of 8 fetuses examined were positive for growth hormone mRNA). In contrast, growth hormone mRNA was detected in the all fetuses examined on day 20 or later. The autoradiographic signal (number of reduced silver grains) appeared to increase with later stages of development. Fetal growth hormone mRNA-positive cells were evenly scattered throughout the anterior lobe. Most of them were isolated, however, small clusters of several growth hormone cells were infrequently observed. Prolactin mRNA-positive cells were found first on the 22nd day (the last day of gestation) in 3 of 6 fetuses examined, but were rarely observed on earlier gestational days. By postnatal day 8, prolactin mRNA-positive cells were numerous and the grain density over prolactin cells increased. Both growth hormone and prolactin cells were found as early as 18 days of gestation using immunocytochemistry, although the number of positive cells was very small at this stage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ossification of the ligamentum flavum. A case report and its MRI finding

A case of thoracic myelopathy due to ossification of the ligamentum flavum is presented. A fifty-five year old female complained of sensory and motor disturbance of lower limbs. Neuroradiologically, in addition to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament throughout the spines, ossified ligamenta flava were found at the Th10-11 level and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clearly showed the spinal cord compressed at the same level by a low-intensity-signal lesion. Laminectomy and removal of the ossfied ligamenta flava improved her neurological dysfunction. The usefulness of the MRI in the neuroradiological diagnosis was confirmed.

Inhibition of intestinal alpha-glucosidase and postprandial hyperglycemia by N-substituted moranoline derivatives

The inhibitory activity of N-substituted derivatives of moranoline (1-deoxynojirimycin) against intestinal alpha-glucosidase and postprandial hyperglycemia was evaluated. None of the N-substituted derivatives studied displayed more potent inhibition of sucrase or maltase from rabbit intestines than the parent compound moranoline. However, unlike the in vitro results, many compounds exhibited more potent hypoglycemic activities than moranoline in sucrose-, or starch-loaded rat models. Alkenyl or aralkenyl derivatives displayed more potent hypoglycemic activities than alkyl or aralkyl derivatives. There was a weak correlation between in vitro and in vivo assay systems found by statistical analysis. It is necessary to evaluate compounds in vivo in order to select the most potent hypoglycemic compound.

[Self-disclosure patterns of college students and their gender-differences in the patterns]

Self-disclosure patterns of adolescents were examined. Subjects (105 male and 159 female college students) were requested to complete the questionnaire on self-disclosure of 11 different aspects of self to four target-persons (father, mother, the best friend of same sex, the best friend of opposite sex). The following results were found. Both male and female showed the highest self-disclosure to the best friend of same sex, while the lowest to father. But sex differences were found in regard to both overall extent and pattern of self-disclosure. Female disclosed significantly more than male, especially to mother. Although male put the focus of self-disclosure on only the best friend of same sex, female put it on both the best friend of same sex and mother. Moreover, the subjects tend to vary the extent of self-disclosure with respect to the category to which each item about the self belonged. There was the interaction among sex, target-persons, and aspects of self.

[Protective effect of dicloguamine maleate (MN-1695) on HCl-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats--histologic studies]

Effect of MN-1695, a new cytoprotective antiulcer agent, on 0.2 N HCl-induced gastric surface epithelial cell damage was investigated by optical and transmission electron microscopy in rats. Tissue examination after five minutes exposure to 0.2 N HCl showed extensive damage of the surface epithelial cells: dilatation of intercellular spaces including marked edema of lamina propria. It was found that MN-1695 (3 mg/kg) pretreatment prevented such 0.2 N HCl-induced damage of the surface epithelial cells, and it reduced the percentage of damaged mucosa, but not significantly.

Moyamoya disease presenting as intracerebral hemorrhage during pregnancy: case report and review of the literature

Intracranial hemorrhage during pregnancy is rare. The authors present a case of moyamoya disease associated with pregnancy. A 32-year-old woman who was at 32 weeks of gestation experienced sudden severe headache followed by loss of consciousness. Computed tomography revealed an intracerebral hematoma in the left temporal lobe, and left carotid angiograms revealed moyamoya disease. The patient underwent emergency craniotomy, the hematoma was removed, and encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis was performed. The patient showed good recovery and, 2 months later, delivered a child vaginally without any trouble. Most intracranial hemorrhages during pregnancy result from cerebral aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and few cases due to moyamoya disease have been reported. It is generally believed that subarachnoid hemorrhage due to cerebral aneurysms is likely to occur during the middle trimester of gestation, with the risk increasing progressively toward the third trimester. This may be explained by the fact that the cardiac output increases rather acutely from the first to the middle trimester. There seems to be no significant correlation between the stage of pregnancy and the occurrence of hemorrhage due to AVM. Most authors think that the operative indications for intracranial hemorrhage during pregnancy should be the same as for the nonpregnant state.

OF4949, new inhibitors of aminopeptidase B. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and characterization

New aminopeptidase B inhibitors that we named OF4949-I, II, III and IV were isolated from the culture broth of a fungus, Penicillium rugulosum OF4949. The molecular formula of I was C23H26N4O8 and that of II, C22H24O8, judging from elemental analysis and secondary ion mass spectrometry. The concentrations of I, II, III and IV required for 50% inhibition of aminopeptidase, using Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells as the source of the enzyme, were 0.0054, 0.0048, 3.4 and 1.7 micrograms/ml, respectively. Components I and II augmented delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice to sheep red blood cells.

OF4949, new inhibitors of aminopeptidase B. II. Elucidation of structure

The structures of OF4949-I, II, III and IV were identified by analysis of the products of their chemical degradation and by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry. These compounds were new cyclic peptides containing diphenyl ether as a chromophore. OF4949-I had two amino acids, beta-hydroxy-L-asparagine and 4-methylisodityrosine. The structural differences between I and II and between III and IV lay solely in the diphenyl ether moiety; the phenolic hydroxyl group in II and IV was methylated in I and III. OF4949-III and IV contained L-asparagine instead of the beta-hydroxy-L-asparagine moiety of I and II.

A mouse model for Niemann-Pick disease. Influence of genetic background on disease expression in spm/spm mice

Sphingomyelinosis (spm), an autosomal recessive mutation in mice originally occurred in the C57BL/KsJ inbred strain. Spm/spm mice of this genetic background show striking hepatosplenomegaly with a marked accumulation of sphingomyelin and cholesterol due to a deficiency of sphingomyelinase. However, in spm/spm mice of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J backgrounds, hepatosplenomegaly was not pronounced in spite of marked elevation of hepatic lipid concentrations. The lifespan of C57BL/6J-spm/spm and DBA/2J-spm/spm mice was shorter than that of C57BL/KsJ-spm/spm mice. This appeared to be associated with the comparatively rapid rise in hepatic lipid concentrations, which in turn might be related to the absence of hepatomegaly. Histological study revealed the formation of massive foam cell clusters in the livers and spleens of C57BL/KsJ-spm/spm mice, whereas in the case of C57BL/6J-spm/spm and DBA/2J-spm/spm mice, diffusely scattered foam cells were found. These findings suggest that the functions of reticuloendothelial system (RES) play a crucial role in the development of hepatosplenomegaly in response to lipid accumulation.

Effects of a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist on vascular smooth muscles, cardiac muscles and [3H]-nitrendipine binding

The effects of methyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophenyl)-5-(2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2- yl)-1,4- dihydropyridine 3-carboxylate (DHP-218), a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, on vascular smooth muscles, cardiac muscles and [3H]-nitrendipine binding to the cardiac muscle and brain membranes were investigated in vitro. Vascular smooth muscles: Calcium-induced contraction of the rat aorta in high K+ solution was inhibited by DHP-218 with the pA2 value of 9.11. The IC50 value for the inhibitory effects of this compound in high K+-induced and phenylephrine-induced contraction was 6.3 nmol/l and 66 nmol/l, respectively. Vasodilatory effects of this drug on various blood vessels of rabbits contracted by high K+ appeared to a similar extent. The onset of the vasodilatory effect was very slow and the recovery rate of vasodilatory response after washout with the bathing solution containing high K+ or phenylephrine was also very slow. Cardiac muscles: Negative chronotropic and inotropic actions were observed at concentrations more than 30 and 100 nmol/l, respectively. Duration of the plateau phase of normal action potential was shortened and the amplitude and duration of slow action potential were reduced at concentrations more than 1 mumol/l. Very high vasculoselectivity was observed. Displacement of [3H]-nitrendipine binding: The pattern of displacement of [3H]-nitrendipine binding by DHP-218 was very similar to that of other 1,4-dihydropyridines but this compound was about 70 times less potent than nifedipine in [3H]-nitrendipine displacement capacity. These results indicate that DHP-218 has specific vasodilatory action due to calcium antagonism, but association and dissociation rates with tissue and receptors were different from those of nifedipine.

Antihypertensive effects of a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist

Methyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophenyl)-5-(2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2 -yl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylate (DHP-218) is a new vasodilatory calcium antagonist with pronounced and long-lasting antihypertensive effects. It produced a significant decrease in blood pressure at doses more than 1 mg/kg in normotensive rats, 0.1 mg/kg in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats and 0.3 mg/kg in renal hypertensive rats. In SHR, the antihypertensive effect of DHP-218 was approximately 7 times more potent than nifedipine. The antihypertensive effect of DHP-218 appeared very slowly and persisted even after it was injected i.v. No tolerance to the antihypertensive effects of DHP-218 was observed for 5 weeks at daily doses of 0.3 and 1 mg/kg. The antihypertensive effects of DHP-218 in cats and dogs with normal blood pressure was more than 10 and 30 times more potent than those of nifedipine, respectively. At an equivalent antihypertensive dose, the effect of DHP-218 persisted longer than that of nifedipine in all the animal species used.

Cardiovascular effects of a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist

The effects of methyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophenyl)-5-(2-oxo- 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-yl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylate (DHP-218), a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, on the cardiovascular system and myocardial oxygen consumption were investigated. Effects on cardiovascular system: In urethane-alpha-chloralose anesthetized dogs, DHP-218 at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg i.v. decreased blood pressure (BP), and at 0.03 mg/kg i.v., long-lasting BP decrease was accompanied by an increase in heart rate (HR), and an increase in blood flow of the coronary, vertebral and internal carotid arteries. No significant changes in myocardial contractile force (MCF) and blood flow of the common carotid and renal arteries were observed. The duration of action was different for various effects. At doses more than 0.05 mg/kg i.d., blood pressure decreased and HR, MCF and the blood flow of coronary and vertebral arteries increased. The effects of nifedipine on the cardiac and regional blood flow were observed at doses more than 0.001 mg/kg i.v. and 1 mg/kg i.d., but the duration of its action was very short compared to those of DHP-218. Effects on cardiohemodynamics: In urethane-alpha-chloralose anesthetized dogs, DHP-218 at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg i.v. produced a decrease in BP and total peripheral resistance (TPR) and an increase in cardiac output (CO). At a dose of 0.03 mg/kg, a decrease in BP and TPR and increases in HR and CO were observed. The duration of action was different for various parameters. No significant changes in dp/dtmax, stroke volume and cardiac work were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)