Experimental validation of cold neutron source performance with mesitylene moderator installed at RANS

The RANS (RIKEN Accelerator driven Neutron Source), one of compact accelerator neutron sources (CANS), tries to expand its performance by installing a cold neutron which may provide new opportunities in many applications. RANS is a low power CANS with a proton beam of 7 MeV and 100 µA at maximum. A moderator system was constructed based on results of optimization design study with mesitylene. Recently, we have done performance tests aiming at showing characteristics as cold neutron source. Cryogenic mesitylene moderator was installed on a plug with a new target moderator reflector configuration of RANS. Experiment using a gas electron multiplier (GEM) detector was carried out to measure neutron spectra of the cold moderator. This paper describes performance of the cold moderator in terms of 1) Cold neutron gain of optimization design with respect to a polyethylene moderator, 2) Temperature dependency of cold neutron spectrum flux regarding scattering kernel (SK), and 3) comparison between experiment and calculation. A note is given for comparison between calculations with different SKs available. Also, two-dimensional imaging of cold and thermal neutron spectrum flux on the viewed surface is shown with a pinhole slit configuration.

Study of a collimation method as a nondestructive diagnostic diagnostic technique by PGNAA for salt distribution in concrete structures at RANS

To meet strong demand for realizing an effective tool to diagnose salt distribution in concrete infrastructures, we have started a development of a new technique using a prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) at the RIKEN accelerator-driven compact neutron source (RANS). So far, by applying PGNAA we have experimentally confirmed that neutrons from RANS can detect small enough amounts of chlorine within the marginal concentration of around 1.2 kg/m3 to involve steel corrosion. In this study, we have proposed two methods to derive the salt depth profile which is critical information of steel corrosion start. The first one utilizes a difference in the intensity ratio of two different γ-ray energies of interest, which is depending on the depth where the neutron capture reaction arises inside the concrete. The second is called the collimator method that measure γ-rays coming through a collimator around detector. Detection of γ-ray associated with 35Cl coming from the assembly of concrete has been also simulated with conditions of neutrons from RANS and a collimator. The feasibility of the method was discussed.

Characteristic elevation of soluble TNF receptor II : I ratio in macrophage activation syndrome with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis

To investigate the clinical significance of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-R) II/I ratio as an indicator of the diagnosis of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) complicating systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (s-JIA), we measured the serum sTNF-RI and II levels in 117 patients with s-JIA, including 29 patients with MAS, 15 with Epstein-Barr virus-induced haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH), 15 with Kawasaki disease (KD) and 28 healthy controls (HCs). We determined their correlation with measurements of disease activity and severity. Furthermore, we measured serum interleukin (IL)-18 levels in patients with EBV-HLH and compared these in levels in patients with MAS. The sTNF-RII/I ratio was elevated significantly in MAS and EBV-HLH patients compared with those in the acute phase of s-JIA and KD patients, whereas there were no significant differences between HCs and those in the acute phase of s-JIA. The sTNF-RII/I ratio increased profoundly as MAS developed and correlated positively with disease activity. Serum IL-18 levels were elevated significantly in MAS patients compared with EBV-HLH patients. The monitoring of serum IL-18 and sTNF-RII/I might be useful for the diagnosis of MAS and the differentiation between MAS and EBV-HLH.

Telmisartan attenuates fatty-acid-induced oxidative stress and NAD(P)H oxidase activity in pancreatic beta-cells

AIM

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) have been shown to lower insulin resistance in obese diabetic animal models and to reduce the risk of new-onset diabetes in hypertensive patients. In the present study, we studied whether telmisartan, an ARB with partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) activity, can exert a direct effect against fatty-acid-induced oxidative stress in pancreatic beta-cells.

METHODS

The effect of telmisartan on lipotoxicity was evaluated using mouse insulin-secreting clonal MIN6 and isolated mouse pancreatic islet cells. Reactive oxygen species, protein kinase-C (PKC) activity and NAD(P)H oxidase activity were examined to clarify the underlying mechanisms.

RESULT

Telmisartan decreased the accumulation of palmitate-induced reactive oxygen species in MIN6 cells by 25% and in mouse islet cells by 55%. Telmisartan also decreased palmitate-induced PKC activity by 36% and NAD(P)H oxidase activity by 32% in MIN6 cells.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that telmisartan attenuated fatty-acid-induced oxidative stress and NAD(P)H oxidase activity in pancreatic beta-cells. Our observations pave the way to the possible use of ARB as a means of protecting beta-cell survival and preserving insulin secretion capacity in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Pioglitazone attenuates fatty acid-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells

AIMS

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, are antidiabetic agents that improve hyperglycemia by decreasing insulin resistance in obese diabetic animal models and patients with type 2 diabetes. We have studied whether pioglitazone, a TZD, can exert a direct effect against pancreatic beta-cell lipoapoptosis.

METHODS

MIN6 cells were cultured in medium containing either 5.6 (low glucose) or 25 mM glucose (high glucose) in the presence or absence of 0.5 mM palmitate for 48 h. We examined the effect of 10 microM pioglitazone on MIN6 cells on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, cellular ATP, uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) mRNA expression, intracellular triglyceride content, reactive oxygen species production, the number of apoptotic cells and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity.

RESULTS

Pioglitazone recovered partly impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and cellular ATP in MIN6 cell exposed to high glucose with 0.5 mM palmitate. Pioglitazone suppressed intracellular triglyceride accumulation in cells exposed to high glucose with 0.5 mM palmitate. Palmitate-induced upregulation of UCP-2 mRNA levels was suppressed by pioglitazone in a dose-dependent manner. Pioglitazone decreased palmitate-induced reactive oxygen species production in MIN6 cells by 24% and in mouse islet cells by 53%. Pioglitazone also decreased palmitate-induced NF-kappaB activity by 40% and protected beta-cells from palmitate-induced apoptosis by 22% in MIN6 cell.

CONCLUSIONS

Pioglitazone attenuated fatty acid-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells. TZDs might be used as a mean for maintaining beta-cell survival and preserving capacity of insulin secretion in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Muonium as a shallow center in GaN

A paramagnetic muonium (Mu) state with an extremely small hyperfine parameter was observed for the first time in single-crystalline GaN below 25 K. It has a highly anisotropic hyperfine structure with axial symmetry along the <0001> direction, suggesting that it is located either at a nitrogen-antibonding or a bond-centered site oriented parallel to the c axis. Its small ionization energy (<or=14 meV) and small hyperfine parameter (approximately 10(-4) times the vacuum value) indicate that muonium in one of its possible sites produces a shallow state, raising the possibility that the analogous hydrogen center could be a source of n-type conductivity in as-grown GaN.

Early events involved in the development of insulin resistance in Zucker fatty rat

AIM

To clarify the mechanism by which insulin resistance develops in obesity, Zucker fatty rats (ZFR) and lean litter mates (ZLR) were temporally subjected to oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) at 6 and 15 weeks of age.

METHOD

As candidates for causative factors of insulin resistance, plasma leptin, free fatty acids (FFA) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels were evaluated.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the body weight between the two groups at 6 weeks of age, but ZFR were significantly heavier than ZLR at 15 weeks of age. At 6 weeks of age, blood glucose levels and area under the curve of glucose (AUCg) during OGTT were not significantly different between the two groups, while plasma insulin levels and area under the curve of insulin (AUCi) in the ZFR group were significantly higher than those in the ZLR group. At 15 weeks of age, the blood glucose levels and AUCg as well as plasma insulin levels and AUCi in the ZFR group during OGTT were significantly higher than those in the ZLR group. The ratio of fasting insulin to glucose in the ZFR group was significantly higher than that in the ZLR group at 6 and 15 weeks of age. Peripheral and portal plasma leptin and FFA levels were significantly higher in ZFR than ZLR both at 6 weeks and 15 weeks of age. Meanwhile, at 6 weeks, plasma TNF-alpha levels and expression of TNF-alpha protein in subcutaneous and visceral fat tissues were similar in both groups; however at 15 weeks, these were significantly higher in the ZFR group than the ZLR group.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that FFA rather than TNF-alpha may play an important role in early events involved in the development of insulin resistance and TNF-alpha accelerates insulin resistance together with FFA in the later stage.

Humoral autoreactivity to an alternatively spliced variant of ICA512/IA-2 in Type I diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The receptor tyrosine phosphatase like-protein ICA512/IA-2 occurs as a proteolytically-processed 65,000 Mr type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein in beta cells and is a major autoantigen of Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. We investigated whether alternative splicing could affect humoral autoreactivity to the molecule.

METHODS

Genomic and cDNA sequence analysis showed the presence of a ICA512 variant in islets and lymphoid tissues with an in-frame deletion of exon 13 which produces a secreted form lacking aa 557-629 including the transmembrane domain (aa 577 to 600). The alternatively spliced protein is detectable by western blotting in normal islets and translated into a protein that is processed to a series of soluble forms of 25,000-35,000 Mr Radioimmuno-precipitation assays for anti-ICA512 autoantibodies were developed with the widely used ICA512.bdc construct (which has exon 13 deleted) and a series of full-length and modified ICA512/IA-2 molecules.

RESULTS

The assays showed that ICA512.bdc and ICA512604-979 gave the best discrimination between diabetic and control sera. With ICA512604-979 a somewhat greater proportion of patients expressing antibodies were detected than with ICA512.bdc in the groups studied (70.5 % vs 63.2 % of prediabetic/new-onset and 25.0 vs 13.9% in patients with diabetes > 20 years). Conversely, a small proportion (3 % recent-onset and 6% > 20 years) had antibodies to ICA512.bdc but not ICA512(604-979).

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

Important epitopes lie within the exon 13 region and others can be generated by the alternative splicing. As the deltaexon 13 variant is probably secreted by the beta cell, it could be recognized by the cellular and humoral arm of the immune system in the absence of cellular damage.

Detection of interstitial Ga in GaN

We report the direct detection of interstitial Ga by optical detection of electron paramagnetic resonance (ODEPR) in the photoluminescence of n-type GaN after irradiation in situ at 4.2 K with 2.5 MeV electrons. It is stable upon annealing until room temperature, where it becomes mobile and trapped to form a new defect which is observed to emerge as the interstitial disappears. The time constant of the process at room temperature is approximately 200 min. The emergence of another ODEPR center beginning at approximately 135 K suggests even easier migration of one of the other intrinsic defects in the GaN lattice.

[Characteristics of home parenteral nutrition and effectiveness of 3 way valved PICC in regional medical care]

Home medical care is becoming a greater matter of concern along with the increasing population of elderly persons. The various difficulties in home care are also found in regional care, and it could be said that in Japan regional care serves as an "advanced model" for home medical care. Ohya Town is located in the mountains of northern Hyogo Prefecture. It has a population of about 5,000 of which 32% is elderly people. There is no railroad, and it takes around 30 minutes to travel to the central hospital from the area. The three town clinics are in contact with each other and with the central hospital concerning medical information. The characteristics of Home Parenteral Nutrition in this underpopulated district are discussed and reported in reference mainly to cases in which the 3 way valved peripherally inserted central venous catheter (Groshong Catheter) is used, in comparison with HPN cases in the city university hospital.

Localization and functional role of synaptotagmin III in insulin secretory vesicles in pancreatic beta-cells

Pancreatic beta-cells secrete insulin by Ca2+-triggered exocytosis of insulin-containing large dense-core vesicles. Synaptotagmin is a Ca2+/phospholipid-binding protein and is a good candidate for the Ca2+ sensor for exocytosis of synaptic vesicles in neurons. In the present study, we generated a polyclonal antibody against synaptotagmin III, and found that synaptotagmin III immunoreactivity was present at high levels in insulin-containing pancreatic islet cells and insulin-secreting clonal MIN6 cells. In subcellular fractionations of MIN6 cells, synaptotagmin III was recovered in the vesicular fractions containing both insulin and vesicle-associated membrane protein-2 (VAMP-2), but not in synaptophysin-positive fractions. The secretory vesicles immunoprecipitated by anti-VAMP-2 antibody contained synaptotagmin III and insulin. In addition, treatment of streptolysin-O-permeabilized MIN6 cells with anti-synaptotagmin III antibody significantly inhibited Ca2+-triggered insulin secretion. These results indicate that synaptotagmin III is localized in insulin-containing dense-core vesicles in pancreatic beta-cells, and further strongly suggest that synaptotagmin III is the Ca2+ sensor in the exocytosis of insulin secretory vesicles.

Noc2, a putative zinc finger protein involved in exocytosis in endocrine cells

We have cloned a cDNA encoding a novel protein of 302 amino acids (designated Noc2, no C2 domain) that has 40.7% amino acid identity with and 77.9% similarity to the N-terminal region of rabphilin-3A, a target molecule of Rab3A. However, unlike rabphilin-3A, Noc2 lacks two C2 domains that are thought to interact with Ca2+ and phospholipids. Noc2 is expressed predominantly in endocrine tissues and hormone-secreting cell lines and at very low levels in brain. Immunoblot analysis of subcellular fractions of the insulin-secreting cell line MIN6 and immunocytochemistry reveal that Noc2 is a 38-kDa protein present in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of Noc2 in PC12 cells cotransfected with growth hormone enhances high K+-induced growth hormone secretion. Screening a mouse embryonic cDNA library with the yeast two-hybrid system shows that Noc2 interacts with the LIM domain-containing protein zyxin, a component of the cytoskeleton, and this interaction is further confirmed by the coimmunoprecipitation experiment. Accordingly, Noc2 is probably involved in regulated exocytosis in endocrine cells by interacting with the cytoskeleton.

A candidate case for lymphocytic infundibulo-neurohypophysitis mimicking a neurohypophysial tumor

A 56-year-old Japanese man presented with a 2-month duration of polyuria and polydipsia. The diagnosis of diabetes insipidus was confirmed by water deprivation and vasopressin injection. The secretory function of the adenohypophysis was estimated as normal by a variety of provocative tests. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) displayed the loss of the hyperintense signal of the neurohypophysis and a tumor-like lesion confined to the neurohypophysis. The tissue specimen resected at transsphenoidal surgery showed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration. These findings suggest that this is a candidate case for lymphocytic infundibuloneurohypophysitis (LIN) that is not identical to classical lymphocytic hypophysitis. This patient will be followed up to determine whether this case simply represents an early stage of classical hypophysitis or a different clinical entity.

Fluorometric detection of glycosphingolipids on thin-layer chromatographic plates

A microdetection system for glycosphingolipid analysis has been developed using 5-hydroxy-1-tetralone as the fluorescent labeling reagent. The reagents in H2SO4 permit the fluorometric detection of acidic and neutral glycosphingolipids both in test tube and on thin-layer chromatographic plates. Glycosphingolipids can be detected at concentrations as low as 5 pmol on the thin-layer chromatographic plate. The method is a rapid and simple, and feasible for determination of glycosphingolipid from small amounts of biological samples.

Cellular localization of synaptotagmin I, II, and III mRNAs in the central nervous system and pituitary and adrenal glands of the rat

Three isoforms of synaptotagmin, a synaptic vesicle protein involved in neurotransmitter release, have been characterized in the rat, although functional differences between these isoforms have not been reported. In situ hybridization was used to define the localization of synaptotagmin I, II, and III transcripts in the rat CNS and pituitary and adrenal glands. Each of the three synaptotagmin genes has a unique expression pattern. The synaptotagmin III gene is expressed in most neurons, but transcripts are much less abundant than the products of the synaptotagmin I and II genes. A majority of neurons in the forebrain expressed both synaptotagmin I and III mRNAs while synaptotagmin II gene expression was confined to subsets of neurons in layers IV-VI of the cerebral cortex, in the dentate granule cell region, the hilus, and the CA1-CA3 areas of the hippocampus. In the cerebellum, all three transcripts were visualized in the granule cell layer. Furthermore, synaptotagmin I probes revealed striking differences between distinct populations of neurons, as in addition to moderate labeling of granule cells, much more prominent hybridization signals were detected on scattered cell bodies likely to be Golgi interneurons. In the most caudal part of the brain, synaptotagmin II transcripts were abundant and were coexpressed with synaptotagmin III mRNAs. This pattern was found in putative motoneurons of the spinal cord, suggesting that the two isoforms might be involved in exocytosis at the neuromuscular junction. Only synaptotagmin I mRNAs were detected in the anterior and intermediate pituitary and in adrenal medullary cells. These data reveal an unexpectedly subtle segregation of the expression of synaptotagmin genes and the existence of multiple combinations of synaptotagmin isoforms which may provide diversity in the regulation of neurosecretion.

Confirmation of the local nature of the plasma grating photorefractive effect

Two-wave mixing measurements made during the encoding of plasma gratings in AlGaAs:Te indicate that there is no phase shift between the illumination intensity pattern and the encoded refractive-index grating. These results support our previously proposed photorefractive mechanism, which is based on persistent plasma gratings and does not require charge transport.

A mathematical model of the volume effect which postulates cell migration from unirradiated tissues

PURPOSE

In order to simulate the large variation in tolerance doses for very small treatment volumes, we introduce a model which assumes the presence of cells which have migrated from unirradiated tissues.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

In order to represent serial architecture, the new model adds a new parameter to the familiar expression for serial architecture. Data derived from the model is fitted to the dose-response data developed by Hopewell et al. (Hopewell, J.W., Morris, A.D. and Dixon-Brown, A. The influence of field size on the late tolerance of the rat spinal cord to single doses of X rays. Br. J. Radiol. 60: 1099-1108, 1987) using white matter necrosis of rat spinal cord.

RESULTS

The new model with a cell-migration term more accurately describes the large differences in threshold doses for a very small treatment volume than a model without a cell-migration term.

CONCLUSION

Although these results do not prove that cell migration is the mechanism behind the volume effect for very small volume, they do suggest that the probability of normal tissue complication is more accurately predicted by the new model.

Cloning and functional characterization of a novel ATP-sensitive potassium channel ubiquitously expressed in rat tissues, including pancreatic islets, pituitary, skeletal muscle, and heart

ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels play a crucial role in coupling metabolic energy to the membrane potential of cells. We have isolated a cDNA encoding a novel member (uKATP-1) of the inward rectifier K+ channel family from a rat pancreatic islet cDNA library. Rat uKATP-1 is a 424-amino acid residue protein (M(r) = 47,960). Electrophysiological studies of uKATP-1 expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes show that uKATP-1 is a weak rectifier and is blocked with Ba2+ ions. Single-channel patch clamp study of clonal human kidney epithelial cells (HEK293) transfected with uKATP-1 cDNA reveals that uKATP-1 closes in response to 1 mM ATP and has a single channel conductance of 70 +/- 2 picosiemens (n = 6), indicating that uKATP-1 is an ATP-sensitive inward rectifier K+ channel. In addition, uKATP-1 is activated by the KATP channel opener, diazoxide. RNA blot analysis shows that uKATP-1 mRNA is expressed ubiquitously in rat tissues, including pancreatic islets, pituitary, skeletal muscle, and heart, suggesting that uKATP-1 may play a physiological role as a link between the metabolic state and membrane K+ permeability of cells in almost every normal tissue. Since uKATP-1 shares only 43-46% amino acid identity with members of previously reported inward rectifier K+ channel subfamilies, including ROMK1, IRK1, GIRK1, and cKATP-1, uKATP-1 is not an isoform of these subfamilies and, therefore, represents a new subfamily of the inward rectifier K+ channel family having two transmembrane segments.

Cloning of a mouse Rabphilin-3A expressed in hormone-secreting cells

Rab3A, a ras p21-related small GTP-binding protein, is implicated in the exocytosis of neurotransmitters. Recently, Rabphilin-3A, a putative target protein for Rab3A, was identified and its cDNA has been cloned from bovine brain. In this study, we isolated a cDNA encoding a mouse Rabphilin-3A homolog from the insulin-secreting cell line, MIN6. Mouse Rabphilin-3A is a protein of 681 amino acids exhibiting overall 88.5% identity with bovine Rabphilin-3A. The amino acid identity between mouse and bovine Rabphilin-3A is highest in their carboxyl-terminal halves (97.8% identity) and amino-termini (93.0% identity), which contain the region of the two internal repeats homologous to the regulatory domain (C2 domain) of protein kinase C and the putative Rab3A-binding region, respectively. RNA blot analysis revealed that Rabphilin-3A mRNA is expressed in endocrine and hormone-secreting clonal cells, including rat adrenal glands, MIN6, the hamster insulin-secreting cell line, HIT-T15, and the rat catecholamine-secreting cell line, PC12, as well as rat brain. These results suggest that Rabphilin-3A might be involved in the exocytosis of secretory vesicles in hormone-secreting cells as well as in neurons.

Synaptotagmin III is a novel isoform of rat synaptotagmin expressed in endocrine and neuronal cells

Synaptotagmin (p65), an integral membrane protein of synaptic vesicles, is thought to be involved in calcium-dependent exocytosis of synaptic vesicles. Here, we report the cloning and tissue distribution of a novel isoform of synaptotagmin, designated synaptotagmin III. The cDNA clones encoding synaptotagmin III have been isolated from a rat brain cDNA library. Rat synaptotagmin III is a protein of 588 amino acids having 40.5, 38.3, and 64.0% identity with rat synaptotagmin I, rat synaptotagmin II, and o-p65-C, a third synaptotagmin isoform of marine ray Discopyge ommata, respectively. The region of the two internal repeats homologous to the regulatory domain (C2 domain) of protein kinase C is highly conserved among synaptotagmin I, II, and III. RNA blotting studies reveal that synaptotagmin III mRNA is expressed in brain, various endocrine tissues, and hormone-secreting clonal cells. These results suggest that rat synaptotagmin III is a mammalian homolog of o-p65-C and is involved in Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis of secretory vesicles in endocrine cells, as well as in neurons.

Cloning and functional characterization of a third pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptor subtype expressed in insulin-secreting cells

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide belonging to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/glucagon/secretin family. It is widely distributed in the body, and a variety of biological actions have been reported. PACAP exerts its biological effects by binding to specific receptors that are coupled to GTP-binding proteins. Recent studies have shown that there is a family of PACAP receptors (PACAPRs), and two members of this family have been identified. We report here the cloning, functional expression, and tissue distribution of a third PACAPR subtype, designated PACAPR-3. The cDNA encoding PACAPR-3 has been isolated from a mouse insulin-secreting beta-cell line MIN6 cDNA library. Mouse PACAPR-3 is a protein of 437 amino acids that has 50% and 51% identity with rat PACAP type I and type II receptors, respectively. Expression of recombinant mouse PACAPR-3 in mammalian cells shows that it binds to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide as well as PACAP-38 and -27, with a slightly higher affinity for PACAP-38, and is positively coupled to adenylate cyclase. The expression of PACAPR-3 in Xenopus oocytes indicates that calcium-activated chloride currents are evoked by PACAP and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, suggesting that PACAPR-3 can also be coupled to phospholipase C. RNA blot analysis studies reveal that PACAPR-3 mRNA is expressed at high levels in MIN6, at moderate levels in pancreatic islets and other insulin-secreting cell lines, HIT-T15 and RINm5F, as well as in the lung, brain, stomach, and colon, and at low levels in the heart. Furthermore, insulin secretion from MIN6 cells is significantly stimulated by PACAP-38. These results suggest that the diverse biological effects of PACAP are mediated by a family of structurally related proteins and that PACAPR-3 participates in the regulation of insulin secretion.

[A case of loxoprofen-induced pulmonary eosinophilia]

A 65-year-old female suffering from lumbago, headache, and hypertension had been treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihypertensive drugs. On June 13, 1990, 2 weeks after the commencement of loxoprofen administration, she developed cough and low grade fever. She was treated with antibiotics and NSAIDs without improvement. Laboratory data showed marked eosinophilia (2200/mm3), elevation of IgE (3090 IU/ml), and liver dysfunction. Her chest X-ray revealed no active lesion, but the percentage of eosinophils in BALF was elevated (38%). Because drug-induced eosinophilic pneumonia was suspected, all drugs were discontinued. Her symptoms improved and the abnormalities of laboratory data normalized. The lymphocyte stimulation test was weakly positive with three NSAIDs (loxoprofen, pranoprofen, and alminoprofen). The challenge test by loxoprofen reproduced eosinophilia and liver dysfunction, suggesting that she had loxoprofen-induced eosinophilic pneumonia. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of loxoprofen-induced lung injury.

Gallbladder function and plasma cholecystokinin levels in diabetes mellitus

Contractile motility of the gallbladder and plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) responses to egg yolk administration were studied in 28 diabetic patients and 12 normal subjects. The patients were divided into three groups: group A (n = 10) had no diabetic neuropathy, group B (n = 8) had diabetic neuropathy with little autonomic neuropathy, and group C (n = 10) had advanced diabetic autonomic neuropathy. In groups A and B, contraction of the gallbladder after egg yolk administration was not significantly different from that of normal subjects. However, in group C, gallbladder contraction was impaired (p less than 0.01-0.05), compared with that in normal subjects. After the administration of egg yolk, plasma CCK levels increased from 12.4 +/- 4.5 to 25.3 +/- 12.0 pg/ml in normal subjects. In group A, plasma CCK levels increased from 17.9 +/- 8.5 to 39.3 +/- 14.2 pg/ml, and in group B, from 15.2 +/- 5.1 to 38.3 +/- 9.9 pg/ml. In group C, however, plasma CCK levels increased from 33.1 +/- 13.9 to 72.4 +/- 31.9 pg/ml, and fasting CCK levels and responses to egg yolk were significantly higher than those in normal subjects and in groups A and B (p less than 0.01-0.05). In conclusion, this study showed that in a group of diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy, gallbladder contraction was impaired despite the exaggerated CCK response to egg yolk.

[The survey on the perinatal variables and the incidence of cerebral palsy for 12 years before and after the application of the fetal monitoring systems]

The effects of electrical fetal monitoring such as cardiotocogram (CTG) and nonstress test (NST) were studied during the years 1975-86 in 6,981 cases (6,893 singletons, 41 twins and 2 triplets). These cases were divided into three groups according to the mode of fetal monitoring. The first group was managed without electrical fetal monitoring (control group). The second was managed mainly with intrapartum fetal monitoring (transitional group) and the third was managed with antepartum and intrapartum fetal monitoring (fully monitored group). The incidence of cerebral palsy (CP) was investigated at the social health center during the same period. The introduction of intrapartum fetal monitoring resulted in a reduction in neonatal asphyxia from 7.0% in the control group to 5.2% and 4.3% in the transitional group and fully monitored group respectively. The perinatal mortality rate showed a significant reduction from 0.61% in the period without antepartum fetal monitoring to 0.31% in the fully monitored group, and this was attributed to the significant reduction in the number of stillbirths. The incidence of CP in the district decreased from 2.2 to 0.2 per 1,000 children during the period studied. In these circumstances, the caesarean section rate increased from 7.0% in the control group to 11.8% in the transitional group but decreased to 9.8% in the fully monitored group. These results showed the clinical and social benefits of electrical fetal monitoring.

A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial of Shosaiko-to in chronic active hepatitis

The efficacy of Shosaiko-to (SST) on 222 patients with chronic active hepatitis was studied in a double-blind multicenter clinical study. One hundred and sixteen patients received SST in a daily oral dose of 5.4 g for 12 weeks, followed by the same dose for a further 12 weeks. One hundred and six patients received a placebo containing 0.5 g of SST for 12 weeks, followed by a cross-over to SST for a further 12 weeks. Among the liver tests, serum AST and ALT values decreased significantly with the administration of SST. The difference of the mean value between the SST group and the placebo group was significant after 12 weeks. In patients with chronic active type B hepatitis, a tendency towards a decrease of HBeAg and an increase of Anti-HBe antibodies was also observed. No remarkable side effects were noticed.

[Studies on the influence of maternal delivery position on fetal status]

The maternal delivery position was evaluated in 148-full term parturient women with various factors including quantitative fetal heart rate (FHR) analysis, the duration of delivery, neonatal Apgar score, the gases and catecholamine in umbilical cord arterial blood and neonatal heart rate (NHR) at 5 minutes after birth. FHR factors, including the FHR score, fetal distress (FD) index, FHR baseline, its variability and acceleration were determined every 5 minutes with a microcomputerized automatic analyser. The rates of vacuum extraction and neonatal depression were lower in the sitting primiparous group than in the supine group. The catecholamine in the umbilical arterial blood and the 5 minutes NHR showed insignificant differences between the two groups. Blood gases in the umbilical arterial blood in the multiparous supine group were significantly better (p less than 0.05) than in the sitting group. The FD index was lower in the primiparous sitting group than that in the supine. The FHR score, FHR baseline and variability amplitude in the sitting group were better than that in the supine. However, there was no significantly favorable difference between factors for any of the sitting and supine groups analysed.

Mutagenic activities of dictamnine and gamma-fagarine from dictamni radicis cortex (Rutaceae)

A methanol extract of Dictamni Radicis Cortex exhibited a mutagenic effect on Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98 with S9 mix. Two mutagenic compounds in Dictamni Radicis Cortex were isolated on a Sephadex LH 20 column and silica gel column chromatography and by preparative TLC. These were identified as dictamnine and gamma-fagarine by UV, EI-Mass, 1H-NMR. Dictamnine and gamma-fagarine were mutagenic in strain TA100 and TA98 with S9 mix. The dose-response curves were linear in the range 10-40 micrograms. Dictamnine and gamma-fagarine had specific activities (His+/microgram) of about 50-70 revertant colonies in strain TA100, while in strain TA98 there were about 30-50 revertant colonies.

Time-course of mutagenicity due to flavonols in a pickled vegetable

The mutagenicity of the leafy vegetable, Takana (Brassica juncia var. integrifolia), pickled with salt for various durations was examined. The mutagenicity increased with increasing duration of pickling time, and analysis by HPLC showed that is was caused by mutagenic flavonols. The flavonols contained in the fresh Takana as glycosides were found to be freed by pickling. This was confirmed by acid hydrolysis.

Clinicopathological studies of the Dubin-Johnson syndrome complicated with chronic hepatitis

Eleven patients with Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS) were studied clinicopathologically. In three patients with DJS, concomitant chronic hepatitis was observed. They showed long-standing jaundice with the symptoms of general fatigue and anorexia. Laboratory tests revealed mild hypertransaminasemia, elevated serum bilirubin (over 5.0 mg/dl) and a high level of serum Bromsulphalein (BSP) retention at 45 min (above 18%). Two patients complicated with chronic hepatitis showed a rather slow secondary rise in the BSP excretion curve in comparison with the patients who had no complication. One patient accompanied with the most severe fibrosis showed no secondary rise in the BSP excretion curve. After the treatment of the patient with phenobarbital, however, a secondary rise in the BSP excretion curve appeared and the serum BSP level was also significantly decreased at all points on the BSP excretion curve. Histological examination of the liver revealed the decreased number of the Dubin-Johnson pigments in the patients complicated with chronic hepatitis. Laparoscopically, a patient with a chronic aggressive hepatitis showed a dark gray decololization of the liver surface and another patient with a chronic aggressive hepatitis showed a black color of the liver surface with partial nodule formation.

Studies of alpha-napthylisothiocyanate-induced hepatic disturbance

In order to clarify the mechanism of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) induced cholestasis in rats, a few hepatic changes seen after administration of ANIT 80 mg/kg body weight were examined in relation to time. To clarify changes in the bile production system and bile flow, the concentrations of bile acid and bicarbonate, as well as of sodium in the bile, were measured after infusion of secretin and taurocholic acid. The canalicular bile flow was estimated by measuring the biliary clearance of erythritol-C14. To assess hepatocellular injury, the levels of cytochrome P-450 in the microsome of hepatocytes and protein synthesis in the liver were estimated. It seems that ANIT is activated in the drug metabolising system through cytochrome P-450 in the liver, and significant changes are produced in both the bile acid metabolism and its transport system. Bile acid-independent bile flow in the canaliculus was inhibited, too. Hence, both the bile ductules and the bile ducts are functionally and histologically disturbed.

Clinical implications of alpha-fetoprotein in liver cirrhosis: five-year follow-up study

The level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was estimated by radioimmunoassay or passive hemagglutination method in a series of 159 patients with liver cirrhosis, and the incidence of serum hepatitis B antigen, histopathologic features of the liver, incidence of development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and mortality in AFP-positive cases were studied. Approximately 40 per cent of the patients had an AFP level higher than 20 ng/per ml, and all the elevations of AFP over 100 ng per ml were transient. In contrast, patients who developed HCC during the course of the disease always exhibited an increasing value of AFP. The seropositivity for AFP was significantly related to the presence of serum hepatitis B surface antigen and also to liver cell dysplasia as well as to thickening of the liver cell plates. As compared with a group of AFP-negative cases, the AFP-positive group showed a higher incidence of development of HCC and poorer prognosis over a five-year follow-up period. The data obtained suggested that increased AFP-production in patients with liver cirrhosis might reflect, largely an abnormal or altered liver cell regeneration, probably associated with hepatitis B virus, and that patients with transiently elevated AFP values might be at greater risk for the development of HCC.