[Marked effect of furosemide and hypertonic saline in the treatment of SIAD after head injury]

A case of SIADH after head injury was encountered and treated successfully with furosemide and hypertonic saline. 250 mg of furosemide was given twice at two hours' interval. The dose of 2.5% saline for the infusion was calculated according to the excretion of sodium in the urine collected during this period. The level of serum sodium quickly rose from 113 mEq/l to 137 mEq/l in 33 hours. The consciousness of the patient returned to normal. The problems of quick correction of hyponatremia including the central pontine neurolysis were discussed.

[Pituitary enlargement with primary hypothyroidism. Report of a case with hyperprolactinemia]

A thirty-nine-year-old house-wife having two children manifested amenorrhea and galactorrhea, since two years before admission. At the same time, she also showed hypothyroidism with high level of serum TSH, which was very sensitive to TRH. Contrast enhanced CT revealed intrasellar mass. Transsphenoidal operation was performed, which revealed a soft, suckable and hypovascularized pituitary mass. The border between the mass and normal pituitary was not clear. Histological diagnosis was pituitary hyperplasia under light and electron microscopy. Before surgery, we were not sure whether this case was primary pituitary tumor or secondary pituitary mass due to hypothyroidism, because we had not been doing thyroid replacement before operation. In this paper, we stress that first choice of treatment for this type of tumor should be thyroid replacement therapy and that, if that replacement therapy failed, pituitary surgery should be the second choice.

Cytotoxicity and calcium-dependent antigen of Yersinia

The relationship between invasiveness and calcium dependency was examined in various strains of Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis by using established cell lines. Infection with calcium-dependent bacteria resulted in the formation of microvilli and the adherence of bacteria on the cell surface, and the adherent bacteria were ingested 1.5 hr after infection. Morphological changes in the cells became visible 2 to 3 hr after infection, and intracellular multiplication of the ingested bacteria was noted. When the cells were incubated with bacteria at 37 C for 1.5 hr and then at 25 C, however, the morphological changes in the infected cells were not observed. No isogenic strains that had lost calcium dependency for growth at 37 C were able to elicit the morphological changes in the cells, though they possessed the ability to adhere to and penetrate the cells. The antigen(s) supposedly related to cytotoxicity of the calcium-dependent Yersinia was sought by using antibodies prepared against calcium-dependent bacteria and then absorbed with calcium-independent bacteria and with calcium-independent bacterial cytosol. Double diffusion tests between the antisera and bacterial cytosol extracts revealed the presence of an antigen which was a cytoplasmic substance common to all calcium-dependent but not calcium-independent strains of Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis.

Nonsense mutations in the can1 locus of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast mutants resistant to L-canavanine were selected. All were recessive and fell into the can1 complementation group. Nonsense mutations were identified among them by using a set of different suppressors. Frequencies of UAA, UAG, and presumed UGA mutations were 14.8, 0.8, and 0.4%, respectively. A high incidence of nonsense mutations having discriminatory suppression patterns was characteristic of the locus.

Cerebral angiographic changes on serial examination of a patient with migraine

Curious cerebral angiographic changes are described in a 27-year-old female migraine patient. During the period of observation of this patient, both the intracranial carotid artery and the vertebrobasilar artery systems presented unusual and fascinating cerebral arteriographic pictures. In an attack of migraine, angiography showed that all the intracranial secondary and tertiary branches of the carotid arterial system were dilated without showing any changes in the extracranial arteries and when the migraine attack had subsided, all branches of the carotid arteries as well as the vertebrobasilar arteries demonstrated abnormal segmental narrowings or vasospasm. These sequential angiographic changes have not been hitherto reported in migraine.

Serological method for identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from marine samples

Use of agglutination with antiserum against lateral flagella (H-agglutination) for the identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was studied. Sucrose-negative bacteria were isolated from seawater, and their characterization was carried out by traditional biological tests and slide agglutination with antiserum specific to lateral flagella of V. parahaemolyticus. Of 135 strains isolated, 78 were identified as V. parahaemolyticus by biological tests and were agglutinated with the above serum. Fifty-five strains did not agglutinate with the serum, and their biological characteristics were different from those of V. parahaemolyticus. Two strains also differed from V. parahaemolyticus in some biological characteristics but agglutinated with the antiserum. All clinically isolated V. parahaemolyticus strains also agglutinated with the above serum. These results suggest that our serological method is useful for the identification of V. parahaemolyticus, especially for samples in which there are many organisms related to V. parahaemolyticus, because many biological tests can be omitted.

Recessive UAA suppressors of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Recessive lysine-independent revertants were isolated from a psi + haploid strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing one of the leucine-inserting UAA suppressors, SUP29, and various UAA mutations including lys1-1. The majority of the revertants were found to have recessive suppressors in addition to the pre-existing SUP29 mutation. The recessive suppressors were able to suppress only a very limited number of UAA mutations, and none of the UAG mutations thus far examined. The recessive inefficient UAA suppressors were assigned to three complementation groups, sup111, sup112, and sup113. A high incidence of gene conversion was observed for an allele of sup111. An antisuppressor acting on sup111, but not detectably on SUP29, was inadvertently obtained during the course of the study. Interactions between SUP29, sup111 and the antisuppressor asu12 were studied.

[Electrokinetic property of brain tumor cells by the aid of free flow electrophoresis (author's transl)]

Malignant transformation in tumors is characterized by changes in cell surface components such as glycolipids and glycoproteins and is determined by the sialic acid content of the glycoconjugates. Our purpose was to investigate whether or not a similar change occurred in the brain tumor cells during malignant transformation. Change in the electrical charge of the cell surface was studied by means of cell electrophoresis. Experimental cell lines of rat gliomas and fibroblasts were cultured and compared for electrical charge by cell electrophoresis. Four various grade gliomas and three meningiomas from human subjects were cultured and compared for electrical charge by cell electrophoresis. Free flow electrophoresis (Elphar Vap 5) was used because it characteristically does not interfere with the use of the cells for biochemical and biological studies following electrophoresis and because it also allows the possibility of subsequent cell culture. The rat glioma cells had lower electrical charges than the fibroblasts, and the human malignant brain tumor cells exhibited lower electrical charges than the benign tumor cells. These findings suggest a lower sialic acid content in malignant than in benign tumors and agree with theories which postulate a decrease in sialic acid content accompanying malignant transformation. This differentiation between benign and malignant tumors was made on the basis of the cell surface electrical charge and could be used for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Feed digestibility and mineral balance of the diet of young mice kept in mouse cages inside or outside an isolator, using varied concentrations of sodium phytate

Young male mice of the C3H inbred strain were kept inside or outside a Trexler vinyl isolator and fed on three autoclaved purified diets which contained 0%, 1% or 5% sodium phytate. The feed N efficiency, the apparent digestibility of gross components of the diet, the balances of N, Ca, Mg and P, and the ash, Ca, Mg and P contents of bone were investigated for each group of mice. No significant differences in these parameters were found with respect to the location of the mouse cages inside or outside an isolator. Mice fed on 5% phytate diet, as compared with mice fed on 0% or 1% phytate diet, had a higher apparent digestibility of crude fat, and a lower apparent digestibility and retention rate of Mg. Urinary excretion and apparent digestibility of P in mice fed on 5% phytate diet were higher than in other groups of mice.

Adherence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and its relation to pathogenicity

Cultured epithelial cells were used to investigate the adherence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Correlation between adherence in vitro and pathogenicity (colonization) were shown by experiments on the distribution of vibrios in the small intestine of guinea pigs and on the lethal activity of vibrios to mice. In vitro adherence of 32 strains of V. parahaemolyticus including Kanagawa phenomenon (KP) positive and KP-negative strains was studied. The effect of purified KP toxin and antiserum against KP toxin was also studied. Adherence was not related to KP. Adherence of V. parahaemolyticus was thought to depend on viability, since the decrease in the number of colony-forming units paralleled the decrease in the number of bacteria adhering to epithelial cells, and bacteria fixed with ethanol and formalin did not show adherence.

Electrophysiological diagnosis of participation of accessory pathway in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

Electrophysiological studies were performed on 34 patients whose reentrant circuit of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) involved normal atrioventricular (AV) conduction system as the antegrade limb and either overt (25 patients) or concealed (9 patients) accessory AV pathway as the retrograde limb. The diagnosis of this mechanism was made by one or more of the following: 1) eccentric retrograde atrial activation sequence; 2) effect of bundle branch block on ventriculoatrial (VA) conduction time; 3) paradoxically premature atrial capture; 4) atrial capture by premature ventricular stimulation of VA conduction time with retrograde during PSVT; 5) no significant prolongation of VA conduction time with retrograde atrial activation sequence to that of PSVT during incremental and premature ventricular stimulation; 6) shortening of cycle length with constant H-V and V-A intervals after atropine administration. The participation of accessory pathway in PSVT circuit should be decided by as many of the above-mentioned findings or procedures as possible for optimal therapy. Electrophysiological studies have led to the recognition that accessory pathway, functionally silent during antegrade conduction, is responsible for some patients with PSVT. If the mechanisms of PSVT were more carefully analyzed, the recognition of PSVT cases involving accessory pathway would increase.

Role of gastrointestinal microflora in nitrogen and mineral balances in young mice fed on autoclaved and irradiated diets

Male germ-free (GF) and conventional (CV) mice were fed on steam-sterilized (autoclaved for 30 min at 121 degrees C) and gamma irradiation-sterilized (5 Mrad with 60Co) diets for a one-week adjustment period from 4 weeks of age. During the subsequent week, the amounts of feed eaten were determined, and the feces and urine were collected eaily. The effects of the mode of diet sterilization and intestinal microflora on the feed consumption, body weight gain, feed efficiency (body weight gain/feed consumption), feed N efficiency (body weight gain/feed N consumption), and the excretion, absorption and retention of N, Ca, Mg and P and the bone deposits of these minerals were investigated. 1) The method of sterilization of the diet did not appreciably influence these parameters, except for the apparent digestibility of N and ratio of N retention. Compared to autoclaved diet-fed mice, irradiated diet-fed mice showed a higher apparent digestibility of of N and lower ratio of N retention. 2) Feed consumption in both GF and CV mice showed no major differences. Body weight gain, feed efficiency and feed N efficiency were higher in GF mice than in CV mice. 3) GF conditions increased the apparent digestibility of N, Ca, Mg and P. Lower total excretion of N, Ca and P in the feces and urine, a higher retention of Ca and P, and higher ratios of retention of N and these minerals were observed in GF mice. 4) The results in GF mice indicated a higher weight of moisture- and fat-free bone and a higher Ca, Mg and P concentration in the bones (femurs and tibias with fibulas) with respect to the body weight minus the weight of the digesta.

Differences between surface antigenic determinants of polar monotrichous flagella of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and of related species

Polar monotrichous flagella (M-flagella) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus have antigens in common with those of various species of Vibrio including V. cholerae and V. anguillarum, and of Beneckea, revealed by gel diffusion tests with flagelli monomers. However, antiserum against M-flagellin of V. parahaemolyticus did not agglutinate cells of V. cholerae and V. anguillarum, although it did agglutinate cells of V. parahaemolyticus. Agglutination tests after absorption of the antiserum with purified M-flagellar filaments or flagellin monomers and H-agglutination inhibition tests demonstrated that there are two different antigenic determinants in M-flagella as in lateral flagella. One is on the surface of the M-flagella (surface antigenic determinant, SA) and disappears or is buried in dissociated monomers. The other is inside the flagella (internal antigenic determinant, IA) and is exposed when the flagella are dissociated to flagellin monomers. SA of V. parahaemolyticus is different from those of V. cholerae and V. anguillarum, whereas the three species have a common IA.

Behavior of a surface antigenic determinant of lateral flagella of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The behavior of a surface antigenic determinant (SA) of lateral flagella of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was studied. SA, located on the surface of flagellar filaments, is responsible for H-agglutination and specific for serotype. Results of H-agglutination inhibition tests demonstrated that SA could not be detected on the flagellin molecule when the flagellar filaments were dissociated to flagellin monomers by heating or treatment with urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate, HCl, or acetone, although SA could be detected on short flagellar fragments obtained by milder heat treatment. When flagellar filaments were reconstituted from flagellin monomers, SA was detected on the surface of the filaments. These results suggest that SA is buried in the flagellin molecule with dissociation of flagellar filaments to flagellin monomers or steric configuration of SA itself is altered to a different form which cannot react with the responsible antibody.

Antigenicity of lateral flagella of Vibrio parahaemolyticus: existence of two distinct antigenic determinants in a flagellum

Cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus treated with Formalin agglutinated with anti-lateral flagella antiserum. On the basis of agglutination tests, antigens of lateral flagella were divided into three groups. HL1, HL2, and HL3. However, in gel diffusion tests, flagellins prepared from strains belonging to different groups showed a common antigenicity. It is assumed that these results are due to the existence of two distinct antigenic determinants in the lateral flagella. One of them exists on the surfaces of the flagella and is responsible for H-agglutination, and the other exists inside the flagella and is exposed when the flagella are solubilized to flagellin monomers.