Correlation between heart muscle damage and high-nutrient feed in broiler chickens

One-day-old broiler chickens were given commercial chicken starters during first 4 weeks of growth. The chickens were then divided into two groups: one group was fed commercial intensive growers (control feed), and the other group was fed commercial broiler finishers (high-nutrient feed). Body weights were calculated weekly. At eight weeks old, blood samples were collected and heart tissues were examined histopathologically. Significant increases in body weight as well as pathological findings in the heart muscle and an elevation of serum creation kinase (CK) were observed in chickens fed with broiler finisher. Histopathological changes in heart fiber resembled that of sudden death syndrome, and this heart damage was thought to be related to the increase of CK levels.

Upregulation of neuropeptides and neuropeptide receptors in a murine model of immune inflammation in lung parenchyma

The lung is richly supplied with peptidergic nerves that store and secrete substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and other neuropeptides known to potently modulate leukocyte function in vitro and airway inflammation in vivo. To investigate and characterize neuromodulation of immune responses compartmentalized in lung parenchyma, neuropeptide release and expression of neuropeptide receptors were studied in lungs of antigen-primed C57BL/6 mice after intratracheal challenge with sheep erythrocytes. The concentrations of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid rose early and peaked on day 1 for interleukin (IL)-2, interferon gamma, and IL-10; days 1 to 2 for IL-6; and day 3 for IL-4, whereas the total number and different types of leukocytes in BAL fluid peaked subsequently on days 4 to 6 after i.t. antigen challenge. Immunoreactive SP and VIP in BAL fluid increased maximally to nanomolar concentrations on days 1 to 3 and 2 to 7, respectively in lungs undergoing immune responses. The high-affinity SP receptor (NK-1 R), and VIP types I (VIPR1) and II (VIPR2) receptors were localized by immunohistochemistry to surface membranes of mononuclear leukocytes and granulocytes in perivascular, peribronchiolar, and alveolar inflammatory infiltrates during immune responses. As quantified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, significant increases were observed in levels of BAL lymphocyte mRNA encoding NK-1 R (days 2 to 4), VIPR1 (days 2 to 4), and VIPR2 (days 4 to 6), and in alveolar macrophage mRNA encoding NK-1 R (days 2 to 6) and VIPR1 (days 2 to 4), but not VIPR2. Systemic treatment of mice with a selective, nonpeptide NK-1 R antagonist reduced significantly the total numbers of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and granulocytes retrieved by BAL on day 5 of the pulmonary immune response. The results indicate that SP and VIP are secreted locally during pulmonary immune responses, and are recognized by leukocytes infiltrating lung tissue, and thus their interaction may regulate the recruitment and functions of immune cells in lung parenchyma.

[A family with dentato-rubro-pallido-luysian atrophy (DRPLA): an intergenerational contraction of the CAG repeat]

We describe the relation of the CAG repeat length to the genetic anticipation in a Japanese family with dentato-rubro-pallido-luysian atrophy (DRPLA). The proband, a 21-year-old woman, developed epilepsy at age 19. Her mother has displayed cerebellar ataxia, choreoathetosis, and dementia since age 40, and the grandmother has shown cerebellar ataxia since age 52. So a genetic anticipation was observed. The CAG repeat sizes of peripheral blood lymphocytes from the proband, mother, and grandmother were found to be 61, 59, and 60, respectively. Thus, the mother showed earlier onset but a smaller CAG repeat length as compared to the grandmother. This case is thought to be rare and valuable in respect that the intergenerational contraction of the CAG repeat was shown in spite of the genetic anticipation was observed.

Descriptive epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Japan, 1985-1994

The HIV epidemic in Japan appears to be following a unique course, with no predominance of homosexual contact over heterosexual contact in reported cases and relatively little transmission by injection drug users and commercial sex workers. Infection rates are still low compared with those in southeast Asia and Western countries: 404 cases of nonhemophiliac AIDS (287 Japanese, 117 foreigners) and 1,441 cases of nonhemophiliac HIV infection (634 Japanese, 807 foreigners) were reported as of the end of 1994. Nevertheless, the numbers are increasing and the importance of targeted prevention programs is clear, particularly among those at higher risk because of sexual practices, such as homosexual men and commercial sex workers and their clients, or because of injection drug use. More data are needed to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS in Japan. These should include surveillance data as well as results from epidemiologic and behavioral studies.

Synergistic effects of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (an alkylating agent with a low Swain-Scott substrate constant) and X-rays in the stamen hairs of Tradescantia clone BNL 4430

The mutagenic interaction between N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and X-rays was tested in the stamen hairs of Tradescantia clone BNL 4430, a blue/pink heterozygote. ENU, a monofunctional alkylating agent with a low Swain-Scott substrate constant (s) of 0.26, exhibited a strong cytotoxicity. ENU-induced somatic pink mutation frequency per 10(4) hair-cell divisions increased with increasing ENU dose, with a slope of 1.243 on a log-log graph, the slope value being similar to that for X-ray-induced mutation frequency. Three out of five combined treatments with ENU and X-rays produced mutation frequencies significantly higher than those expected from the additive effects of the two mutagens. Clear synergistic effects were detected when relatively higher X-ray doses were applied, resembling those confirmed earlier between methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and X-rays, although the s value for ENU is very much smaller than that (0.88) for MMS. It is therefore concluded that mutagenic interactions between alkylating agents and X-rays do not have any clear relationship with the s values.

Somatic mutation frequencies in Tradescantia stamen hairs treated with relatively low thermal neutron fluxes

Young inflorescence-bearing cuttings of Tradescantia clone BNL 02, a blue/pink heterozygote, were treated with thermal neutrons for 12-120 s in the Irradiation Tube set in the Heavy Water Facility of the KUR Reactor of the Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University. In this facility, practically all components of the neutron flux were thermal neutrons. The thermal neutron fluxes measured simultaneously with gold foils were 2.90-33.3 x 10(10) nth cm-2, and the gamma-ray contamination per 10(10) nth cm-2 was 2.58 x 10(-4) C/kg (1.0 R). The induced somatic pink mutation frequencies in the stamen hairs increased linearly with thermal neutron flux at a rate of 1.69 pink mutant events per 10(4) hair-cell divisions per 10(10) nth cm-2 in Experiments 1 and 2, but at a higher rate of 3.87 pink mutant events per 10(4) hair-cell divisions per 10(10) nth cm-2 in Experiment 3. The relatively small thermal neutron fluxes applied were calculated to have resulted in absorbed doses of 16.8-193 mGy, and the absorbed doses of contaminating gamma rays were 28.0-321 mGy. Therefore, these mutation frequencies could be converted into 109 and 251 pink mutant events per 10(4) hair-cell divisions per gray, including the contaminating gamma rays, and were 2.14-4.92 times higher than the 51.0 pink mutant events per 10(4) hair-cell divisions per gray for relatively small doses of acute X rays which was obtained in earlier studies. The relative biological effectiveness of heavy particles (p, alpha and 7Li) produced by thermal neutrons was calculated to be between 11.0 and 35.4 compared with acute X rays rather than with 18-20-h exposure to gamma rays, the value of 11.0 being considered to be more reliable.

Changes in adhesion molecule expression during distinct patterns of immune cell migration in the inflamed lung

In response to antigen inhalation, immune cells including alveolar macrophages expressing a VIP1 receptor subtype (VIP1R), lymphocytes and leukocytes participate in the inflammatory event, migrating into and from vascular regions in lung tissue of sensitized mice. To analyze these migratory mechanisms of immune cells, we immunohistochemically examined the expression of the following: cellular adhesion molecules, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) very late activation antigen-4 (VLA-4), and the alpha V (alpha v) subunit and their respective ligands, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and fibronectine; the examination was carried out in pulmonary tissue from days 0, 2, 6 and 12 following intratracheal administration of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as an antigen to previously sensitized mice. Two days following the antigen challenge, VIP1R-positive macrophages strongly expressing the alpha v integrin subunit were found clustered on the endothelial surface and among the aggregates of perivascularly infiltrated leukocytes. On the endothelium of arteries, veins and capillaries, alpha v immunoreactivity was prominently reduced, whereas staining for fibronectin was enhanced more than the prechallenge control level. The blood vessel endothelium was also stained positive for VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, while many of the infiltrating lymphocytes were positive for VLA-4 and LFA-1 immunolabelings. By post-challenge, day 6, delta v integrin subunit immunoreactivity was re-expressed on the blood vessel endothelium and only weakly expressed on VIP1R-positive macrophages, which were in retreat from the leukocyte-aggregating perivascular region and located in the alveoli. VLA-4 bearing lymphocytes conspicuously increased in number among the perivascular leukocytes, while immunoreactivity for LFA-1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and fibronectin was unchanged from that for post-challenge day 2. The results indicate that the expression of the alpha v-bearing integrin and its ligand fibronectin drastically changes as pulmonary inflammatory responses. These changes in expression of adhesion molecules during immune response may play an important role in the dynamic regulation of VIP1R-positive macrophage migration in the lung parenchymal compartment.

Structural characterization of a novel glycoinositolphospholipid from the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum

A novel glycosphingolipid containing inositol phosphate as an acidic group has been demonstrated in whole tissues of the porcine roundworm, Ascaris suum. The thin layer chromatographic pattern of the total acidic glycolipid revealed the presence of several components, of which a major component (named AGL) with positive reactions toward both orcinol-sulfuric acid (sugar) and molybdate (phosphate) spray reagents was isolated and purified by the use of successive column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and silicic acid (latrobeads). From structural studies including compositional sugar analysis, hydrogen fluoride degradation, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, the structure of AGL was deduced to be Gal alpha 1-2Ins(1-->)-P-Cer. Aliphatic constituents were lignoceric acid and its 2-hydroxy homologue as the principal fatty acids, and octadecasphinganine and branched heptadecasphinganine as the major sphingoids.

[Atherectomy in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans: angiographic follow-up study of 186 lesions in 146 patients]

Atherectomy (ATE) is a new catheter-mediated technique for the removal of atheroma in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO). ATE was performed using 7-10 Fr. Simpson Peripheral Athero Track catheters at 186 sites in 146 patients, whose lesions involved 49 common iliac arteries, 66 external iliac arteries, 68 femoral arteries and three other arteries. The initial success rate was 94.1%. The mean percent of the diameter stenosis was reduced from 79.0 +/- 1.2% (mean +/- SD) to 22.7 +/- 1.0%. There were two cases of perforation that required surgical treatment (1.1%). The complication rate was 4.4%. The 0.5-, 1-, 2- and 3-year patency rates were 87.6%, 79.6%, 62.5% and 62.5%, respectively. The rate of long-term patency in each segment of arterial lesions revealed that the patency rate in the common iliac artery was significantly higher than the rates in the external iliac artery (p < 0.05) and femoral artery (p < 0.01). The patency rates for long lesions (> or = 2.0 cm) and occluded lesions were significantly (p < 0.01) lower than those for short lesions (< 2.0 cm). Diabetic patients had a higher re-stenosis rate than nondiabetic patients (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ATE is an effective new method for the treatment of patients with ASO.

The prognosis and the treatment of patients with a C3/4 spinal cord injury

Twenty patients with a C3/4 spinal cord injury have been treated in our hospital since 1974. There were 15 new patients. The average follow up period was 68 months, ranging from 7 to 162 months. The 15 new cases were classified as Frankel A in nine cases, B in one, and C in five. Frankel A or B were usually accompanied by either an unstable spinal fracture or by spinal canal stenosis at the C3/4 level. Twelve patients received surgery. At the most recent follow up, eight of the 15 patients (53.3%) had improved according to Frankel's classification. Five, all Frankel A on remission, have died between 2 and 156 months after injury. Seven patients required tracheotomy on account of severe respiratory disturbance.

Tertiary structure of destrin and structural similarity between two actin-regulating protein families

Destrin is an isoprotein of cofilin that regulates actin cytoskeleton in various eukaryotes. We determined the tertiary structure of destrin by triple-resonance multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. In spite of there being no significant amino acid sequence homology, we found that the folding of destrin was strikingly similar to that of repeated segments in the gelsolin family, which resulted in a new protein fold group. Sequential dissimilarity of the actin-binding helix of destrin to that of gelsolin explains the Ca2+-independent actin-binding of destrin. Possible mechanisms of phosphorylation-sensitive phosphoinositide-competitive actin binding, of pH-dependent filament severing, and of nuclear translocation with actin in response to stresses, are discussed on the basis of the tertiary structure.

Complete removal of sphingolipids from the plasma membrane disrupts cell to substratum adhesion of mouse melanoma cells

GM-95, a mutant cell line derived from mouse melanoma MEB-4 cells, is deficient in glycosphingolipids (GSLs) due to the lack of ceramide glucosyltransferase-1 activity (Ichikawa, S., Nakajo, N., Sakiyama, H., and Hirabayashi, Y. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 91, 2703-2707). In this study, we examined the involvement of the complex sphingolipids in cell to substratum adhesion. Immunofluorescent and chemical analyses revealed that the complex sphingolipids were significantly concentrated in the detergent-insoluble substrate attachment matrix of both GM-95 and MEB-4 cells. In spite of the absence of GSLs, GM-95 cells retained the ability to adhere to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, and laminin. When both GM-95 and MEB-4 cells were treated with neutral sphingomyelinase, GM-95 cells were rounded up and detached from all ECM proteins examined. In contrast, neither the morphology nor the adherence of MEB-4 cells was altered. Under this treatment, sphingomyelin (SM) became undetectable in both cells. A similar inhibition was observed upon pretreatment of cells with fumonisin B1 or ISP-1, both of which block the synthesis of ceramide, a common precursor of both GSLs and SM. Stable transfectants expressing GSLs, which were established by transfection of glucosyltransferase-1 cDNA into GM-95 cells, became resistant to neutral sphingomyelinase-mediated rounding up and detachment from ECM proteins. In conclusion, the complex sphingolipids play critical roles in cell to substratum adhesion, and the presence of either GSLs or SM is sufficient for the adhesion.

Expression cloning of a cDNA for human ceramide glucosyltransferase that catalyzes the first glycosylation step of glycosphingolipid synthesis

We have isolated a cDNA encoding human ceramide glucosyltransferase (glucosylceramide synthase, UDP-glucose:N-acylsphingosine D-glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.80) by expression cloning using as a recipient GM-95 cells lacking the enzyme. The enzyme catalyzes the first glycosylation step of glycosphingolipid synthesis and the product, glucosylceramide, serves as the core of more than 300 glycosphingolipids. The cDNA has a G+C-rich 5' untranslated region of 290 nucleotides and the open reading frame encodes 394 amino acids (44.9 kDa). A hydrophobic segment was found near the N terminus that is the potential signal-anchor sequence. In addition, considerable hydrophobicity was detected in the regions close to the C terminus, which may interact with the membrane. A catalytically active enzyme was produced from Escherichia coli transfected with the cDNA. Northern blot analysis revealed a single transcript of 3.5 kb, and the mRNA was widely expressed in organs. The amino acid sequence of ceramide glucosyltransferase shows no significant homology to ceramide galactosyltransferase, which indicates different evolutionary origins of these enzymes.

Changes in diastolic regional stiffness of the left ventricle before and after coronary artery bypass grafting

To evaluate the effect of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on regional diastolic function of the left ventricular wall, we applied the concept of the stiffness constant to the diastolic sigma-ln (1/H) relation, where sigma is the mean wall stress, and H is the wall thickness of the region of concern, and ln (1/H) is the natural logarithm of the reciprocal of wall thickness. We assessed 12 cardiac regions in six patients with coronary artery disease who underwent CABG at the Cardiovascular Hospital of Central Japan between May 1994 and January 1995. Left ventricular pressure and regional wall thickness were measured simultaneously, with a micromanometer-tipped catheter and by two-dimensional echocardiography, respectively, before and after CABG. The stiffness constant (K) was obtained by fitting the diastolic sigma-ln (1/H) data points to an exponential curve with zero asymptote: sigma = Cexp[Kln (1/H)]. Preoperatively, the stiffness constant in the affected region (CABG region) was greater than that in the unaffected region (non-CABG region) (4.79 +/- 2.56 vs 2.95 +/- 0.72). Postoperatively, the stiffness constant in the CABG region was significantly decreased, to 3.21 +/- 1.22. The stiffness constant, which is derived from the sigma-ln (1/H) relation, is useful for the assessment of LV regional diastolic function.

[Single-stage surgery for annulo aortic ectasia, Stanford type-A aortic dissection and pectus excavatum in a patient with Marfan's syndrome]

A 43-year-old female was hospitalized on October 25, 1993, due to severe back pain. She was diagnosed with annulo aortic ectasis, Stanford type-A acute aortic dissection and pectus excavatum caused by Marfan's syndrome. On November 30, 1993, single-stage surgery was performed, including modified Bentall procedure, aortic arch replacement, elephant trunk method and sternoplasty. Concerning the procedure for pectus excavatum, sternoplasty was selected because we thought that sternoplasty could endure the long procedure which would cause infection compared with sternal turnover. Postoperative course was satisfactory, and she is well 18 months after surgery.

Association between family history and gastric carcinoma among young adults

The relationship between family history of gastric carcinoma and gastric carcinoma in Japanese under 40 years of age was analyzed. The subjects were 108 gastric carcinoma patients (86% were diffuse type) at 9 hospitals in the Kanto area of Japan. Firstly, incidence of gastric carcinoma among the parents of the subjects were compared with that in the general population. Observed/expected (O/E) ratios (P-value) were 1.8 (0.06) for all subjects, 1.3 (0.62) for male subjects, 2.1 (0.04) for female subjects, 0.5 (0.41) for early carcinoma, 2.6 (P<0.01) for advanced carcinoma, 2.3 (0.22) for intestinal-type carcinoma and 1.7 (0.13) for diffuse-type carcinoma. Association between gastric carcinoma and parents' history of gastric carcinoma was strong among women and regarding advanced carcinoma, and the difference in O/E ratios between early and advanced carcinoma was remarkable. Secondly, factors related to advanced-stage gastric carcinoma were analyzed. Histological type (diffuse and intestinal types) was not related, but family history of gastric carcinoma among parents and grandparents was related to advanced stage, and the relationship was independent of other factors. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 3.3 (1.1-9.9). Family history may be related to stage of gastric carcinoma through its relationship to the manner or speed of the tumor's progression. We hypothesis that some genetic factor exists which is involved both in progression from early to advanced stage and in occurrence of gastric carcinoma.

Immune cell migration through the arterial wall in the murine lung during a pulmonary inflammatory response

Perivascular accumulation of leukocytes in the lung was induced by intratracheal administration of sheep erythrocyte antigen to primed mice. The route of migration of intravascular leukocytes to the perivascular space in the lung, in particular from arteries, and the structure of lymphatic vessels among the aggregated leukocytes were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Leukocytes--lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes and macrophages--were demonstrated to adhere to the endothelial surface and to migrate between endothelial cells to reach the internal elastic lamina of arteries. Becoming conspicuously constricted, the leukocytes penetrate through this elastic lamina. They further migrate through the smooth muscle layer to the interstitium, passing through the external elastic laminar region. At 2 days after antigen administration, dilated lymphatic vessels containing large numbers of leukocytes in the lumen and bearing endothelial gaps open to the interstitium began to be seen. The lymphatic walls were more convoluted and richer in pinocytotic vesicles than those prior to antigen challenge. This study confirms the light microscopic findings by Curtis et al. (1990) that arteries, besides veins, venules and capillaries, may represent a major route of inflammatory cell entry into the lung parenchyme in an acute and vigorous immune response. In addition, lymphatic vessels were suggested to be newly formed for the transport of fluid and immune cells from the sites of inflammation in the lung.

[Coronary artery bypass grafting for ischemic heart disease associated with acromegaly: a case report]

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for ischemic heart disease associated with acromegaly has never been reported in Japan, though coronary artery sclerosis is known as complicating factor in acromegaly. A 44-year-old man with ischemic heart disease was admitted to our hospital and emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary recanalization was performed. After admission, he was diagnosed as acromegaly from endocrinological studies and operated on CABG. The peri- and post-operative course was uneventful in spite of our fear for complications due to acromegalic heart muscle disease.

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic serum protein patterns of acute inflammation induced by intramuscular injection of turpentine in young broiler chickens

Changes in the serum protein patterns accompanying inflammation in young broilers were examined by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Sera were obtained from blood of 4-week-old male broilers after induction of acute inflammation by an injection of 0.5 ml/kg turpentine. Electrophoretic patterns at 48 hr after injection, showed an increase in transferrin (Tf) and a segment containing albumin (Alb) with multiple peaks. The unbound iron binding capacity (UIBC) increased by 10 times, and the serum iron (SI) concentration in acute inflammation was reduced to one-half its initial value. These are considered to be typical changes in serum proteins and iron after acute inflammation.

Yearly variation of spontaneous somatic mutation frequency in the stamen hairs of Tradescantia clone KU 9 grown outdoors, which showed a significant increase after the Chernobyl accident

Scoring of spontaneous somatic pink mutation frequency in the stamen hairs of Tradescantia clone KU 9, a heterozygote for flower color (blue/pink; the blue color being dominant), was carried out for 11 years on plants grown outdoors, during the period of May 11-31 (for 3 weeks) in every year from 1982 to 1992. Weekly and yearly variations of the spontaneous mutation frequency were observed, and such variations could mostly be correlated to the difference in temperature. That is, the mutation frequency was generally higher in the weeks and years when the temperature was relatively low, showing the strongest negative correlation with the average minimum temperature. The variations were also correlated to the diurnal temperature difference, the mutation frequency being higher with larger diurnal temperature difference in general. However, the mutation frequency observed in 1986 was exceptionally higher than that expected from the temperature for this year, and was very significantly higher than for other years. The scoring of mutation frequency was thus continued in 1986 for an additional 4 weeks (June 1-28), and it was confirmed that such higher mutation frequencies lasted for 6 weeks in total. The exceptionally high mutation frequency seemed to be related to the radioactive fallout which occurred in early to mid May of 1986, even in Japan, after the serious nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl, and also to the biological concentrations of radioactive nuclides which subsequently occurred, although it was difficult to conclude this definitely. The mutation frequency in 1987 was second highest, and was also significantly higher than the lowest mutation frequency observed in 1990.