Initiation of alveolar ridge augmentation in the rat mandible by subperiosteal implantation of octacalcium phosphate

The study was designed to investigate the process of bone formation caused by implantation of octacalcium phosphate as well as stability of the bone formed at the alveolar ridge. Synthetic octacalcium phosphate was implanted into a subperiosteal pocket in the rat mandible. Bone formation at the alveolar ridge was examined radiographically and histologically between 1 and 48 week(s) after implantation. Radiopacity of the octacalcium phosphate implant became obvious in week 2. Osteogenesis was initiated from the bone surface near the implantation site and multinucleated giant cells appeared on the implanted octacalcium phosphate in week 1. More apposition of new bone was observed on the implanted octacalcium phosphate in week 2 or later. Some implants were directly enclosed by newly formed bone and no cellular component was seen between the implant and the bone matrix. Many octacalcium phosphate implants were enclosed by bone, whereas the augmented ridge was not seen radiographically in week 24 or later. If its persistence can be improved, octacalcium phosphate could be used to augment atrophic alveolar ridges.

Effects of the Robertsonian translocation on fertilization rates and preimplantation development of bovine oocytes in vitro

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of the 7/21 Robertsonian translocation on fertilization and subsequent development of bovine oocytes matured in vitro. Semen from Japanese Black bulls, 2 with a normal karyotype (Bulls A and B) and 2 that were heterozygous for the 7/21 translocation (Bulls C and D), was used in this study. In vitro matured bovine oocytes were inseminated with frozen-thawed sperm capacitated with heparin. After insemination, oocytes were cultured at 38.5 degrees C on a monolayer of cumulus cells in TCM-199 supplemented with 5% superovulated cow serum and 0.5 mM sodium pyruvate in an atmosphere of 2% CO2 in air. Cleavage rate was evaluated at 54 h after insemination, and development of embryos to the blastocyst stage was observed 7 to 10 d post insemination. There was no difference in the fertilization rate among the 4 bulls. Although the cleavage rate of oocytes inseminated with semen from Bull C (heterozygote) was lower (P < 0.05) than that obtained with semen from Bull B (normal), the blastocyst formation rate did not differ among the 4 bulls. These results indicate that the 7/21 Robertsonian translocation had no effect on the fertilization and blastocyst formation rates of bovine in vitro-matured oocytes.

Simple and sensitive detection of phencyclidine in body fluids by gas chromatography with surface ionization detection

Phencyclidine (PCP) can be detected in body fluids with very high sensitivity by gas chromatography (GC) with surface ionization detection (SID) using pethidine as internal standard. PCP was extracted with Sep-Pak C18 cartridges from whole blood and urine samples, which gave clean extracts. The calibration curve for spiked whole blood was linear in the range 1.25-20 ng/ml. The detection limit of PCP was approximately 15 pg on-column (0.75 ng/ml sample), which was much lower than by GC-nitrogen phosphorus detection. The recovery of PCP and pethidine from spiked whole blood or urine samples was above 85%. This method seems very useful for the determination of PCP in forensic and clinical toxicology.

Establishment and characterization of new human Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines (HBL-7 and HBL-8) that are highly metastatic in SCID mice: a metastatic SCID mouse model of human lymphoma lines

Two newly established human Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines (HBL-7 and HBL-8) were characterized by immunophenotypic, cytogenetic and molecular studies. Both cell lines were negative for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome and had chromosomal translocation: t(8;14) (q24;q32). Immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangement analyses confirmed that both cell lines were derived from primary lymphoma cells. These cell lines were heterotransplanted subcutaneously into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice to investigate the metastatic capacity. The most striking feature of both cell lines was to show highly spontaneous metastasis to distant organs, particularly spleen, bone marrow and ovaries in SCID mice. To elucidate the metastatic factors involved in the process of spontaneous metastasis, cell surface adhesion molecules or extracellular matrix receptors were analyzed. However, the results did not allow a significant correlation between expression levels of those molecules or matrix receptors and spontaneous metastasis in the SCID mouse model. The HBL-7 and HBL-8 cell lines, however, may be a useful tool to elucidate the metastatic mechanisms of human lymphomas in an animal model.

[Reconstruction of the crural artery in atherosclerotic occlusive arterial disease]

Limb threatening ischemia in patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease is frequently induced by the association of crural artery occlusion. To improve the patency of distal bypass grafts, we developed a "non-dissection method" for reconstruction of these lesions. This method involves following procedures; an adventitial dissection limited to the frontal surface of the artery at the anastomotic site, complete evacuation of blood from the lower leg using a Esmarch's rubber bandage or a pneumatic tourniquet under systemic heparinization, and distal anastomosis with vein graft in end to side fashion with long arteriotomy (20 mm in length) without use of vascular clamps. This method has several advantages to the conventional method, such as easiness of suturing for accurate anastomosis, preservation of the muscular branches around the anastomosis, avoidance of surgery-induced injury to the artery and prevention of postoperative cicatrization around the anastomosis which may affect natural enlargement of the bypassed native artery. The technical details are described. Since 1982, 76 tibial bypass surgeries were performed using this method. Whenever stenotic lesions were recognized, the grafts were revised and counted as a primary occlusion. The primary patency rates at 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years are 82.2%. 75.8%, 63.9% and 63.9% respectively. The secondary patency rates are 89.1%, 84.8%, 80.8% and 80.8% respectively at the same term.

Microvascular disturbances in the colonic mucosa in antibiotic-associated haemorrhagic colitis: involvement of platelet aggregation

An ultrastructural study of the colonic mucosa was performed in four patients with antibiotic-associated haemorrhagic colitis and new findings are reported. Colonoscopy was performed and biopsy specimens were obtained within 24 h of the onset of bloody diarrhoea. Colonoscopy demonstrated diffuse oedematous and haemorrhagic mucosa with erosions and white coat. Light microscopy revealed mucosal haemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration. Ultrastructurally, platelet aggregation was frequently present in the lumina of colonic mucosal capillaries, causing engorgement of red blood cells in adjacent microvessels. Mild to severe damage was observed in capillary endothelial cells, including discontinuity of basement membranes, gaps between endothelial cells and the destruction of capillaries. There was no evidence of microvascular spasm. In conclusion, our findings suggest that antibiotics directly or indirectly cause microcirculatory disturbances, which result in tissue damage and haemorrhage, in the colonic mucosa.

[Paternity probability in the cases of incest]

To calculate the paternity probability in the cases of incest where the alleged father was either the father or the brother of the plaintiff's mother, some algebraic expressions applicable to a simple codominant diallelic genetic marker system were derived by modifying the formulas of Essen-Möller and Komatsu (the both formulas gave the same result). The paternity probability in the incest case is generally lower than that in usual case, because in the former case an allele present in the mother is sometimes found in both the alleged father and the child (plaintiff), even if the alleged father is not true father. The paternity probability in the incest case, however, becomes higher than that in usual case when an allele is common to both the alleged father and the child but not to the mother. The mean value of paternity probability becomes lower, as the relationship becomes closer between the alleged father and the mother.

Mouse oocytes injected with cryopreserved round spermatids can develop into normal offspring

PURPOSE

This study was performed to determine whether frozen-thawed mouse round spermatids can fertilize oocytes and contribute to normal embryo development.

METHODS

Freshly collected mouse testicular cells were frozen in PBS containing 7.5% glycerol and 7.5% fetal bovine serum. After thawing and removal of the cryoprotectants, round spermatids were selected and injected individually into mature oocytes which had been previously activated with Sr(2+)-containing Ca(2+)-free medium.

RESULTS

After thawing, 75-85% of testicular cells were alive. About 90% of the oocytes were fertilized by intracytoplasmic injection of frozen-thawed round spermatids; 11% (17/150) of embryos transferred to foster mothers developed into normal offspring.

CONCLUSIONS

Mouse round spermatids can be cryopreserved for production of normal offspring.

Protective effects of chlorogenic acid on paraquat-induced oxidative stress in rats

The protective effects of chlorogenic acid on paraquat-induced oxidative stress were examined in rats. The activities of erythrocytes and liver glutathione peroxidase, and of both liver catalase and glutathione reductase, which were increased by feeding paraquat, declined to the levels in the control rats by supplementing chlorogenic acid to the paraquat diet. The activity of superoxide dismutase was not changed by dietary paraquat or by supplementing chlorogenic acid to the paraquat diet. Paraquat in the diet markedly decreased the liver triacylglycerol and phospholipid concentrations, as well as the food intake and body weight gain, while chlorogenic acid protected against these decreases. These in vivo results and the in vitro superoxide anion scavenging activity of chlorogenic acid suggest that chlorogenic acid acted preventively against paraquat-induced oxidative stress.

In vitro fertilization and microinsemination with round spermatids for propagation of nephrotic genes in mice

The ICGN is an inbred strain of mice with a hereditary nephrotic syndrome of an unknown cause. The disease progresses to renal failure, resulting in the deterioration of the systemic condition and in a drastic reduction of reproductive capacity. The present study was undertaken to determine if in vitro fertilization (IVF) and microinsemination using round spermatids could ameliorate the reduced fertility of ICGN mice. Mature oocytes (9.4 +/- 1.1 per mouse) were obtained from PMSG/hCG-primed females 2 to 5 mo of age. When spermatozoa from males aged 3 to 4 mo was used for IVF, a high fertilization rate (82.6%) was achieved and a high rate of embryos developed into blastocysts (92.6%). When spermatozoa from males aged 5 to 7 mo was used, the rates of fertilization and development to blastocysts were significantly lower (63.9 and 47.1%, respectively; P < 0.001). However, the production rate of offspring after embryo transfer was satisfactory irrespective of the age of males (59.1%). When males older than 9 mo were used, no fertilization was achieved due to the very poor motility of the spermatozoa. Microinsemination techniques with round spermatids (electrofusion and intracytoplasmic injection) resulted in the production of normal offspring from the older males, including one azoospermic case. These findings indicate that a conventional IVF technique and microinsemination using round spermatids can be used for propagating mutant genes which cause poor reproductive ability in mice.

Effect of dietary paraquat on a rat mutant unable to synthesize ascorbic acid

To obtain some insight into the toxicity of paraquat (PQ) in humans, PQ dichloride at 250 ppm in the diet was administered to both normal (NO) rats and ODS-od/od (OD) rats which are unable to synthesize ascorbic acid (AsA). Firstly, OD rats and NO rats treated with PQ were compared with untreated NO rats (CO). Only OD rats displayed several symptoms of PQ poisoning such as anorexia, hypokinesia, diarrhea, epistaxis, tremor and their pili became rough about 9 days after. Their cysteine proteinase inhibitor level in plasma and lung increased to 2- and 6-fold, respectively, of CO. In contrast, NO rats treated with PQ resembled CO rats, and their cysteine proteinase inhibitor levels were unchanged until 11 days. After this period they began to display symptoms. Secondly, OD rats fed with different amounts of AsA were compared. Excess AsA delayed the onset of symptoms by only 1 day. Thirdly, the day of onset of symptoms was found to be influenced with the weight of rats.

Development in vitro of preimplantation embryos from 55 mouse strains

Mouse pronuclear embryos were obtained by in vitro fertilization with oocytes of 55 strains of immature females by gonadotrophin-induced ovulation and epididymal sperm of Slc:ICR strain. The number of oocytes ovulated with hormones (5.3-49.4 oocytes per head; average, 22.6), rates of in vitro fertilization (12.2-95.3%; average, 70.7%) and subsequent preimplantation development in Whitten's medium (WM) varied greatly among strains. F1 hybrids developed significantly better than other strains of mice and outbred animals did not develop as well as inbred animals. Within inbred mice, coat colour had no significant effect. In addition, the observation of preimplantation development in WM supplemented with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) showed that the beneficial effect of the chelator was not universal to mouse embryos; EDTA had a good effect on ICR and PW/aSlc embryos but not on AKR or ddY embryos. The results indicate that strain differences should be considered when interpreting reproductive experiments using mouse embryos.

Gas chromatography with surface ionization detection: a highly sensitive method for determining underivatized codeine and dihydrocodeine in body fluids

Underivatized codeine and dihydrocodeine in human plasma and urine have been determined with a high degree of accuracy by capillary gas chromatography (GC) with surface ionization detection (SID). The drugs were extracted with the aid of Sep-Pak C18 cartridges. Recovery of both drugs was > or = 90%. The calibration curves obtained with dimemorfan as an internal standard showed linearity in the range 4.5-72.3 and 3.0-75.5 ng/ml of plasma for codeine and dihydrocodeine, respectively. The detection limit was about 100 pg on column (2.5 ng/ml sample). Codeine was determined quantitatively in plasma and urine obtained from a volunteer who had received 10 mg codeine phosphate orally 3 h before the sampling: the levels were found to be 14.1 and 142 ng/ml, respectively. The present GC-SID method has been compared carefully with GC-NPD (nitrogen-phosphorus detection) using the same extracts; the sensitivity of GC-SID was more than ten times greater than that of GC-NPD, with background noise correspondingly lower.

Reversible structural changes of octacalcium phosphate and labile acid phosphate

Acid phosphate is one of the major impurities incorporated into bioapatites, and its quantity and environment in forming mineral have been used as diagnostic probes to pursue acidic precursor(s). Currently, little is known about the structural feature of nonstoichiometric octacalcium phosphate (OCP), which has been advocated to be, most plausibly, mineral salt initially formed during amelogenesis. In the present report, we attempt to define the state of acid phosphate in OCP crystals which were Ca-deficient and contained 40% total phosphate as acid phosphate. We assessed fractions of acid phosphate in discrete environments by extracting the crystals in either deionized water, 10 mmol/L NaOH solution (initial pH 11), or 150 mmol/L Tris buffer at pH 7.4. Solid samples before and after the treatments were examined by chemical analyses and x-ray diffraction. The results indicated that successive extractions with use of the alkaline solution brought about a reversible change (not hydrolysis) in the interior structure of OCP, which accompanied a marked decrease in acid phosphate. A substantial part of the lost acid phosphate was restored during subsequent treatments at neutral pH, and, intriguingly, this restoration accompanied a re-ordering of OCP structure. The data suggested that the acid phosphate in OCP is separated into three pools: (a) a stable pool corresponding to roughly 50 to 60% of the total acid phosphate, (b) a reversibly exchangeable pool corresponding to 25 to 30% of the acid phosphate which may exist either in the water layer or on crystal surfaces, and (c) an unstable (or irreversibly lost) pool corresponding to 15 to 20% of the acid phosphate, a part of which might be explained by the presence of excess hydrogen in OCP. The present work supports the concept that protons and, to a lesser magnitude, phosphate species can diffuse into and out of the OCP lattice prior to initiation of its hydrolytic transition into apatite.

Predicting the severity of coronary lesions by the continuous recording method of exercise two-dimensional echocardiography

We estimated the severity of coronary artery disease by the continuous-recording method of exercise two-dimensional echocardiography (Ex.2DE) in 56 patients with angiographically significant coronary artery stenosis ( > 50% diameter narrowing) who had undergone both Ex.2DE and coronary angiography. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of findings of coronary angiography: group 1 had 50% to 89% stenosis (n = 24) and group 2 had 90% or greater stenosis (n = 32). The sensitivity and specificity of Ex.2DE for the detection of ischemic segments were 82% and 88%, respectively in the overall patient population. The sensitivity was 67% in group 1 and 94% in group 2. Hyperkinesis occurred at the beginning of exercise in 21 (88%) of 24 patients in group 1 and 15 (47%) of 32 patients in group 2 (p < 0.05). Our findings demonstrated that patients who did not show hyperkinesis at the beginning of exercise had more severe coronary artery disease. Careful observation of serial wall motion during exercise by the continuous-recording method may provide important information about myocardial ischemia.

Additional evidence of the formation of unbalanced embryos in cattle with the Robertsonian translocation

To confirm the effect of the 7 21 Robertsonian translocation on fertility in Japanese Black Cattle, cytogenetic studies were performed on embryos collected from the following 3 mating groups: normal bull cross normal cow, translocation carrier bull cross normal cow, and normal bull cross translocation carrier cow. All the analyzable embryos showed normal chromosome complements when the parents had a normal karyotype. In the group sired by the 7 21 translocation heterozygous bulls, a total of 56 embryos had metaphases suitable for chromosome analyses. Out of these embryos, 28 had normal chromosome complements and 25 were embryos with a balanced karyotype. However, 3 (5.4%) were monosomic and trisomic embryos, presumably resulting from the fertilization of normal ova by aneuploid spermatozoa. Unbalanced embryos were also observed in the chromosome analyses of embryos derived from the 7 21 translocation heterozygous cows. These results suggest that the 7 21 translocation in the heterozygous state may be associated with a slight reduction in reproductive efficiency.

Rupture of an isolated internal iliac artery aneurysm into the rectum: report of a case

Aneurysmal rupture into the intestinal tract is a rare but disastrous complication of an internal iliac artery aneurysm. We report herein the successful surgical repair of a fistula between a huge aneurysm of the right internal iliac artery and the rectum in an 81-year-old man. After a femoro-femoral cross-over bypass had been performed, the aneurysm was opened and its patent arterial branches were ligated with sutures. The fistula was then intra-aneurysmally sutured and covered with an omental flap. The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to this severe complication are discussed with a review of the literature following the presentation of this case.

Subperiosteal implantation of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) stimulates both chondrogenesis and osteogenesis in the tibia, but only osteogenesis in the parietal bone of a rat

BACKGROUND

It is not known whether long bones and calvaria have distinct biological characteristics. Octacalcium phosphate (OCP), which is a precursor phase of the hydroxyapatite, has been reported to stimulate bone formation if implanted in the subperiosteal region of mouse calvaria. The present study was designed to investigate how the long bone and the calvarium respond to OCP implantation and to compare their biological characteristics.

METHODS

The synthetic OCP was implanted into the subperiosteal region of rat tibiae and parietal bones being mixed with bovine type I collagen treated by pepsin (Atelocollagen). The biological response was examined histologically and immunohistochemically for collagen matrix phenotypes of types I and II to identify bone and cartilage formation.

RESULTS

Both chondrogenesis and osteogenesis were initiated in the tibia 1 week after implantation of OCP and most of the cartilage was replaced by bone at week 2. However, the parietal bone did not show osteogenesis responding to OCP implantation until week 3, and no cartilage formation was associated with the osteogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated the distinct characteristics of biological response to OCP implantation between the long bone and the calvarium in terms of whether or not cartilage formation is involved in the stimulated osteogenesis by OCP, and in terms of timing of the stimulated chondrogenesis and/or osteogenesis, i.e., the parietal bone takes more time to respond to OCP implantation than the tibia.

Levels of pyrroloquinoline quinone in various foods

The levels of free pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) in various foods were examined by the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. PQQ was extracted from the samples, after addition of [U-13C]PQQ as internal standard, with n-butanol and Sep-Pak C18 cartridges. After derivatization of PQQ with phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, molecular peaks at m/z 448 and 462 were used for detection of PQQ and [U-13C]PQQ respectively, by selected ion monitoring. Free PQQ could be detected in every sample in the range 3.7-61 ng/g or ng/ml. Since its levels in human tissues and body fluids are 5-10 times lower than those found in foods, it is probable that PQQ existing in human tissues is derived, at least partly, from the diet.