Precessing jet nozzle connecting to a spinning black hole in M87

The nearby radio galaxy M87 offers a unique opportunity to explore the connections between the central supermassive black hole and relativistic jets. Previous studies of the inner region of M87 revealed a wide opening angle for the jet originating near the black hole1-4. The Event Horizon Telescope resolved the central radio source and found an asymmetric ring structure consistent with expectations from general relativity5. With a baseline of 17 years of observations, there was a shift in the jet's transverse position, possibly arising from an 8- to 10-year quasi-periodicity3. However, the origin of this sideways shift remains unclear. Here we report an analysis of radio observations over 22 years that suggests a period of about 11 years for the variation in the position angle of the jet. We infer that we are seeing a spinning black hole that induces the Lense-Thirring precession of a misaligned accretion disk. Similar jet precession may commonly occur in other active galactic nuclei but has been challenging to detect owing to the small magnitude and long period of the variation.

A ring-like accretion structure in M87 connecting its black hole and jet

The nearby radio galaxy M87 is a prime target for studying black hole accretion and jet formation1,2. Event Horizon Telescope observations of M87 in 2017, at a wavelength of 1.3 mm, revealed a ring-like structure, which was interpreted as gravitationally lensed emission around a central black hole3. Here we report images of M87 obtained in 2018, at a wavelength of 3.5 mm, showing that the compact radio core is spatially resolved. High-resolution imaging shows a ring-like structure of [Formula: see text] Schwarzschild radii in diameter, approximately 50% larger than that seen at 1.3 mm. The outer edge at 3.5 mm is also larger than that at 1.3 mm. This larger and thicker ring indicates a substantial contribution from the accretion flow with absorption effects, in addition to the gravitationally lensed ring-like emission. The images show that the edge-brightened jet connects to the accretion flow of the black hole. Close to the black hole, the emission profile of the jet-launching region is wider than the expected profile of a black-hole-driven jet, suggesting the possible presence of a wind associated with the accretion flow.

Gravitational Test beyond the First Post-Newtonian Order with the Shadow of the M87 Black Hole

The 2017 Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations of the central source in M87 have led to the first measurement of the size of a black-hole shadow. This observation offers a new and clean gravitational test of the black-hole metric in the strong-field regime. We show analytically that spacetimes that deviate from the Kerr metric but satisfy weak-field tests can lead to large deviations in the predicted black-hole shadows that are inconsistent with even the current EHT measurements. We use numerical calculations of regular, parametric, non-Kerr metrics to identify the common characteristic among these different parametrizations that control the predicted shadow size. We show that the shadow-size measurements place significant constraints on deviation parameters that control the second post-Newtonian and higher orders of each metric and are, therefore, inaccessible to weak-field tests. The new constraints are complementary to those imposed by observations of gravitational waves from stellar-mass sources.

An origin of the radio jet in M87 at the location of the central black hole

Powerful radio jets from active galactic nuclei are thought to be powered by the accretion of material onto the supermassive black hole (the 'central engine'). M87 is one of the closest examples of this phenomenon, and the structure of its jet has been probed on a scale of about 100 Schwarzschild radii (R(s), the radius of the event horizon). However, the location of the central black hole relative to the jet base (a bright compact radio 'core') remains elusive. Observations of other jets indicate that the central engines are located about 10(4)-10(6)R(s) upstream from the radio core. Here we report radio observations of M87 at six frequencies that allow us to achieve a positional accuracy of about 20 microarcseconds. As the jet base becomes more transparent at higher frequencies, the multifrequency position measurements of the radio core enable us to determine the upstream end of the jet. The data reveal that the central engine of M87 is located within 14-23R(s) of the radio core at 43 GHz. This implies that the site of material infall onto the black hole and the eventual origin of the jet reside in the bright compact region seen on the image at 43 GHz.

The treatment of uterine leiomyosarcoma: clinical outcomes of 18 cases and the effectiveness of chemotherapy

PURPOSE

To investigate clinical outcomes with respect to the effectiveness of chemotherapy in the treatment of uterine leiomyosarcoma.

METHODS

Study subjects were 18 patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma treated surgically at our hospital between February 1986 and December 2007. A chemotherapy regimen that combined ifosfamide, epirubicine, and cisplatin (IEP) was used as the main first-line chemotherapy.

RESULTS

FIGO disease stages were as follows: Stage I (n = 11), Stage II (n = 1), Stage III (n = 3), Stage IV (n = 3). Five-year overall survival of patients with Stage I-III disease was 65.3% (95% CI: 46.1-92.4%). None of patients with Stage IV disease survived for more than two years. Of seven patients who suffered advanced or recurrent disease, six received IEP; the response rate was 50%, one complete response and two partial responses.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of surgery and chemotherapy seems to be an acceptable treatment for uterine leiomyosarcoma. IEP may be an active regimen for this aggressive disease.

Genetic changes in pT2 and pT3 prostate cancer detected by comparative genomic hybridization

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has led to a remarkable increase in prostate cancer cases undergoing operative therapy. Over half of patients with locally advanced cancer (>or=pT3) develop rising PSA levels (biochemical failure) within 10 years. It is very difficult to predict which patients will progress rapidly to advanced disease following biochemical failure (BF). Therefore, a more useful prognostic factor is needed to suggest the most appropriate therapies for each patient. To determine chromosomal aberrations, we examined 30 patients with stage pT2 or pT3 primary prostate adenocarcinomas and no metastases (pN0M0) by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to gather cancer cells from frozen prostate specimens. Common chromosomal alterations included losses on 2q23-24, 4q26-28, 6q14-22, 8p12-22 and 13q21-31, as well as gains on 1p32-36, 6p21 and 17q21-22. Losses at 8p12-22 and 13q21-31 were observed more frequently in pT3 than pT2 tumors (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Losses at 8p12-22 were more frequent in tumors with BF (P<0.05), and those at 13q12-21 were more frequent in tumors with Gleason score (GS) 7 or more than lower GS (P<0.05). These findings suggest that losses of 8p12-22 and 13q21-31 are important determinants of prostate cancer progression.

Diabetes mellitus decreases hippocampal release of neurotransmitters: an in vivo microdialysis study of awake, freely moving rats

Possible diabetes mellitus-induced changes in hippocampal monoaminergic activities were studied to understand the relationships between neurotransmitter levels and various abnormalities in freely moving diabetic rats. We used both experimentally (STZ rats) and spontaneously diabetic rats (WBN/Kob rats) as the diabetic animal model, and compared the findings with those obtained from non-diabetic rats (C rats). Measurement of neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) was carried out using an in vivo microdialysis method. We found that: 1) the basal level of serotonin in the hippocampus was lowest in WBN rats, followed by STZ rats, then by C rats. The level of serotonin in WBN rats was about a half of that in C rats; 2) the basal level of dopamine was also significantly lower in the diabetic WBN and STZ rats than in C rats. The data show that diabetes mellitus decreases in the monoamine release from the hippocampus in both experimentally and spontaneously diabetic rats.

[Clinical and bacteriological studies of ceftriaxone (CTRX) once daily administration in pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections]

Clinical studies of ceftriaxone (CTRX) were performed at a dose of 40 mg/kg once daily to evaluate its pharmacokinetics, and clinical and bacteriological efficacies in pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections. The following results were obtained. 1. Of 45 patients, clinical responses to CTRX were excellent in 34 (75.6%), good in 9 (20.0%) and poor in 2 (4.4%), indicating the overall efficacy rate of 95.6%. 2. Haemophilus influenzae (23 strains), Streptococcus pneumoniae (20 strains) and Moraxella catarrhalis (17 strains) were isolated from the patients as the main causative organisms. MIC90 of CTRX against these detected bacteria was < or = 0.06 microgram/ml with H. influenzae [beta-lactamase (-)/ABPC (S)], 0.25 microgram/ml with H. influenzae (BLNAR), 0.05 microgram/ml with PSSP, 1.0 microgram/ml with PISP/PRSP and 2.0 micrograms/ml with M. catarrhalis, respectively. 3. The eradication rate of causative organisms was 90.0% (27/30). 4. Serum levels of CTRX after administration of a 1-hour intravenous drip infusion of 40 mg/kg were investigated in 12 patients. Mean serum level at 24 hours after the administration was 9.4 +/- 2.8 micrograms/ml, which covered the level of MIC90 throughout the 24 hours. 5. No adverse reactions related to CTRX were observed. As the approved dosage of CTRX in pediatric patients is twice daily, while it is once daily in adults, there have been few reports on the efficacy of once-daily CTRX in pediatrics. According to the results of the study, it is suggested that once-daily CTRX for the pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections is useful. Further studies might be required to establish outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) in pediatric infections.

No evidence for AT2R gene derangement in human urinary tract anomalies

BACKGROUND

It has been recently found that mice, especially males, with a disrupted angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) gene, which is located on the X-chromosome, often have a range of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), including renal hypoplasia, and that Caucasian male patients with ureteropelvic junction stenosis (UPJ) and multicystic dysplastic kidneys frequently have A-G transition in intron 1 of the AT2R gene. We have previously found that renal hypoplasia is remarkably predominant in Japanese boys.

METHODS

We investigated sex ratios for the frequency of each CAKUT. The frequency of the A-G transition between the controls and 66 Japanese boys with CAKUT were compared. There was renal hypoplasia in 16, UPJ in 17, vesicoureteral in 20, and other anomalies in 13. We also investigated whether any mutations in AT2R genes were detectable in patients with renal hypoplasia.

RESULTS

In contrast to mice with a disruption of the AT2R gene, the male-to-female ratios in human patients proved to be considerably variable: 16 for renal hypoplasia, 2.1 for UPJ, 0.8 for vesicoureteral, and 1.2 for others. The frequency of the A-G transition was not different between the control population and the patients with CAKUT [31 of 102 (30%) vs. 23 of 66 (35%), respectively]. A sequencing study disclosed no mutations in nine boys with renal hypoplasia.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that the AT2R gene may not play a major role in the development of renal hypoplasia and other CAKUT in humans, at least in the Japanese population.

Postrest contraction in the ventricular papillary muscle of spontaneously diabetic WBN/Kob rat

In the present study, we investigated the characteristics of the postrest contraction (PRC) in chronic diabetic ventricular muscle. We used WBN/Kob rats of 7-8 weeks as the spontaneously diabetic animal and Wistar rats of 7-8 weeks as the control. We found: (1) No significant differences were seen in the amplitude, the contracting speed, and the relaxing speed of electrically stimulated twitch tension between control and WBN/Kob rats. In addition, the relationship between amplitude of twitch tension and stimulus cycle lengths (0.2-5 sec) was very similar in both animals. (2) The ratios of the first twitch tension (T1) of PRC with various rest intervals (5-600 sec) to the steady-state tension (Tss) were significantly smaller in the diabetic rats than in the controls. (3) When the preparation was stimulated at shorter cycle lengths, the recovery process of PRC was separated into at least two components (fast and slow components). In the diabetic rats, the time constant (tau) of both components was significantly longer than in controls. (4) After caffeine (10(-3) M) treatment, tau of the fast component in the control rats became longer, whereas it remained unchanged in diabetic rats. These findings suggest a dysfunction of the intracellular calcium handling system in spontaneously diabetic heart that is likely to include impaired calcium sequestration and/or extrusion.

ELISA for urinary trehalase with monoclonal antibodies: a technique for assessment of renal tubular damage

BACKGROUND

alpha,alpha-Trehalase, located on renal proximal tubules, is a glycoprotein that hydrolyses alpha,alpha-trehalose to two glucose molecules. Urinary trehalase reflects damage to renal proximal tubules, but its activity has not been measured routinely because measurement of catalytic activity is rather complicated and because conventional assays for enzyme activity might not reflect all of the trehalase protein because of enzyme inactivation in urinary samples.

METHODS

We established novel monoclonal antibodies for human trehalase and a sandwich ELISA for quantification of urinary trehalase. We determined the urinary trehalase protein concentration with this ELISA and trehalase catalytic activity, and the results of these two methods were compared.

RESULTS

The ELISA system was more sensitive than the detection of enzyme activity and could detect a subtle difference in the amount of trehalase present in renal diseases. The within- and between-assay CVs in the ELISA were 6.7-7.6% and 6.2-8.2%, respectively. Highly significant increases in both the quantity and activity were seen in patients with nephrotic syndrome (acute phase), Lowe syndrome, and Dent disease. The quantities were 70- to 200-fold greater, whereas enzyme activities were, at most, 10-fold higher than those of control subjects. In the detection of small amounts of trehalase in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and renal anomalies, quantities were better than enzyme activities.

CONCLUSIONS

We have established an ELISA system for quantification of urinary trehalase that uses novel monoclonal antibodies. Our ELISA system is simpler and more sensitive than a conventional activity assay and reflects trehalase protein. This ELISA can be a useful as a common tool for clinical assessment of renal proximal tubular damage.

Intraluminal duodenal diverticulum in a child: incidental onset possibly associated with the ingestion of a foreign body

Funnel-type intraluminal duodenal diverticulum (windsock web) is a rare congenital malformation. A 4-year-old boy with vomiting and abdominal pain for several weeks was referred to the hospital. A plain abdominal X-ray on admission disclosed a double bubble sign. Abdominal echography and CT disclosed a foreign body lodged in the alimentary tract. After the foreign body was removed with a fibrescope, endoscopy showed a stenotic descending portion where the foreign body was located. An upper gastro-intestinal contrast study demonstrated a post-bulbar duodenal stenosis with a barium-filled pear-shaped sac in the descending portion of the duodenum. Surgical exploration was done under the diagnosis of windsock web of the duodenum. A simple excision of the web at its base was carried out. A hole 7 mm in diameter was found at the edge of the web. The microscopic appearance of the resected specimen was characterized by the duodenal mucosa with an extensive chronic inflammation lining both sides of the diverticulum and the lack of muscular layer of mucosa.

CONCLUSION

If an ingested material is not excreted in the stool, possible clogging in the intestinal tract should always be considered and a further intensive examination is warranted.

A patient with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia evaluated by serial abdominal ultrasonography

Adrenal enlargement was followed by serial ultrasonography in an infant with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (lipoid CAH) from day 12 until 2 years and 4 months of age, when they were no longer detectable. Contrary to other types of CAH in which the configuration changes soon after replacement therapy, this infant with lipoid CAH showed persistent adrenal cortex enlargement due to massive accumulation of lipids and cholesterol resulting in a damaged glandular cyto-architecture.

CONCLUSION

ultrasonographically persistent enlargement of the adrenals after replacement therapy is suggestive of the lipoid form of CAH.

Ultrasonographic follow-up of the healing process of medically treated hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

In hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS), prompt pyloromyotomy is, in general, the treatment of choice. There has been no information available as to the natural history of the pyloric tumour. We present four infants with medically treated HPS who were followed by sonography to observe the anatomical changes that occur with atropine sulfate. The initial change was shortening of the pyloric canal, followed by thinning of the muscular layer as clinical symptoms improved.

Molecular cloning, sequencing and expression of cDNA encoding human trehalase

A complete cDNA clone encoding human trehalase, a glycoprotein of brush-border membranes, has been isolated from a human kidney library. The cDNA encodes a protein of 583 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 66,595. Human enzyme contains a typical cleavable signal peptide at amino terminus, five potential glycosylation sites, and a hydrophobic region at carboxyl terminus where the protein is anchored to plasma membranes via glycosylphosphatidylinositol. The deduced amino acid sequence of the human enzyme showed similarity to sequences of the enzyme from rabbit, silk worm, Tenebrio molitor, Escherichia coli and yeast. Northern blots revealed that human trehalase mRNA of approx. 2.0 kb was found mainly in the kidney, liver and small intestine. Expression of the recombinant trehalase in E. coli provided a high level of the enzyme activity. The isolation and expression of cDNA for human trehalase should facilitate studies of the structure of the gene, as well as a basis for a better understanding of the catalytic mechanism.

The amino acid sequence of mitogenic lectin-B from the roots of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

The complete amino acid sequence of pokeweed lectin-B (PL-B) has been analyzed by first sequencing seven lysylendopeptidase peptides derived from the reduced and S-pyridylethylated PL-B and then connecting them by analyzing the arginylendopeptidase peptides from the reduced and S-carboxymethylated PL-B. PL-B consists of 295 amino acid residues and two oligosaccharides linked to Asn96 and Asn139, and has a molecular mass of 34,493 Da. PL-B is composed of seven repetitive chitin-binding domains having 48-79% sequence homology with each other. Twelve amino acid residues including eight cysteine residues in these domains are absolutely conserved in all other chitin-binding domains of plant lectins and class I chitinases. Also, it was strongly suggested that the extremely high hemagglutinating and mitogenic activities of PL-B may be ascribed to its seven-domain structure.

Ménétrier's disease evaluated serially by abdominal ultrasonography

We report the case of a 3-year-old boy with Ménétrier's disease who presented with prominent anasarca associated with hypoproteinemia, but no proteinuria. An early sonogram of the stomach demonstrated thickening of the gastric wall which was found to resolve gradually on serial sonograms. Consequently, we considered that the submucosal layer of the gastric wall was particularly thickened as a result of Ménétrier's disease. A gastric biopsy was performed 18 days after onset of the disease, and an electron-microscopic examination of the sample disclosed persistent widening of gastric tight junctions by more than 10 nm. The patient made a full recovery on supportive treatment in 3 weeks. Ultrasonography provided us with a potent tool not only in making the diagnosis, but also in following the course of the disease.

Altered intracellular calcium and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding to intact platelets in young obese subjects

The study was designed to examine cytosolic free calcium ((Ca2+)i) and phorbol dibutyryl ester binding in intact platelets of young obese subjects as compared with the platelets of age-matched subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and those of healthy control subjects. The assay was studied in basal and thrombin-stimulated conditions. The binding parameter of phorbol ester is a criterion for active protein kinase C (PKC) units in the platelet plasma membrane. The resting (Ca2+)i correlated with body mass index (BMI)(r = 0.385, p = 0.0034) and plasma insulin level (r = 0.316, p = 0.0269), and the resting (Ca2+)i level was higher in the obesity group (160.6 +/- 15.8 nmol/L; n = 25) than controls (78.9 +/- 7.6 nmol/L; n = 24, p < 0.0001). Among the obesity and control groups, there was a correlation between BMI and fasting plasma insulin level (r = 0.399, p = 0.0237). Systolic blood pressure correlated with BMI(r = 0.504, p = 0.0005). The mean systolic blood pressure of the obesity group was higher than those of the other two groups. The mean Hill coefficient for thrombin-treated platelets of phorbol dibutyrate binding was higher in the obesity group when compared with healthy controls and the subjects with NIDDM (1.47 +/- 0.21 vs 1.06 +/- 0.16 and 0.99 +/- 0.09, respectively; p < 0.05). In conclusion, young subjects with simple obesity have already developed altered platelet Ca2+ regulation that is usually observed in adult patients with a number of metabolic diseases. These data are interpreted to indicate that a relationship exists between dysregulation of PKC and impaired glucose tolerance that precedes other complications of obesity.

[Clinical study of a macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin, in pediatric patients]

Azithromycin (AZM), 10% fine granules or 100 mg capsules, were given orally to 27 children with various pediatric infections. The results of the study are shown below. 1. Pharmacokinetic investigation. We studied plasma and urinary concentrations after 100 mg AZM capsules were given. One patient received 8.3 mg/kg of AZM once a day for 3 days, and AZM concentration in plasma was 0.033 microgram/ml 48 hours after the final dosing. Doses of 8.3 and 12.5 mg/kg body weight of AZM were respectively given to two patients once daily for 3 days. As a result, AZM concentrations in urine during a period between 96 and 120 hours post-dosing were 1.67 and 4.53 micrograms/ml, respectively, and urinary excretion rate in 120 hours after the first dosing was 10.54% in the patient that was given 12.5 mg/kg. 2. Clinical investigation. Clinical efficacies were examined in 24 patients. Excellent results were obtained in 7 patients, good results in 14 patients, hence the clinical efficacy rate was 87.5%. Bacteriologically, Haemophilus influenzae strains isolates from 2 patients were eradicated in 1 and decreased in the other. Safety was evaluated in 26 patients. An adverse reaction was observed in 1 patient (urticaria). Abnormal laboratory test results were observed in 2 patients, decreased WBC in 1 and elevation of eosinophils in the other. The above results suggest that AZM is a useful oral antibiotic for pediatric patients with infection with susceptible organisms.

Endothelin-1 has a priming effect on production of superoxide anion by alveolar macrophages: its possible correlation with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of endothelin (ET)-1 in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Tracheal aspirates were obtained from 27 newborn babies with respiratory distress (13 with BPD and 14 without BPD) who were mechanically ventilated. Production of superoxide anion (O2-) by rabbit alveolar macrophages was determined by preincubation with the tracheal aspirate supernatant (TAS) and stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). O2- production was demonstrated only when PMA was added to the experimental system and was enhanced with TAS of infants who later developed BPD compared with TAS from infants without BPD. The effects of ET-1 and ET-3 on O2- production and the blockade by anti-ET-1 antibody and BQ123 (ET A receptor antagonist) were also examined. The enhancing effect was blocked by either anti-ET-1 antibody or BQ123. PMA-stimulated production of O2- increased when cells were preincubated with several doses of ET-1 (5 x 10(-13) to 2 x 10(-12) M), whereas ET-3 was without effect. TAS contained significant amounts of immunoreactive ET-1, and there was a close positive correlation (r = 0.764) between the activity of O2- production and immunoreactive ET-1 levels in TAS samples. These results may be interpreted to indicate that ET-1 synthesized by and secreted from tracheal epithelial cells and/or alveolar macrophages has a priming effect on alveolar macrophages to produce O2-, thus possibly contributing to the development of BPD.

Purification and characterization of three mitogenic lectins from the roots of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

Three mitogenic lectins, designated PL-A, PL-B, and PL-C, were purified from the roots of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) using Q-Sepharose column chromatography followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, hydrophobic chromatography on Butyl-Toyopearl, and FPLC on a Mono-Q column. PL-A, PL-B, and PL-C are acidic proteins having isoelectric points of 4.35 and their apparent molecular masses were 22, 48, and 21 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol, respectively. The three lectins have similar amino acid compositions rich in half-cystine and similar N-terminal sequences, indicating that they are homologous proteins. Identical sequences of N-terminal regions and six corresponding tryptic peptides in PL-A and PL-B suggested that PL-A may be an N-terminal half fragment of PL-B. Although all of three lectins have mitogenic activities, PL-B is a mitogenic lectin with the most potent hemagglutinating and mitogenic activities, and PL-C has almost no hemagglutinating activity.

[Clinical evaluation of a new oral penem, SY5555, in infants and children]

A clinical study was performed on SY5555, a newly developed penem antibiotic, in children. SY5555 was given orally to 14 patients at 19-29 mg/kg/day in 3 doses for 4 to 12 days. Clinical evaluations were made on the 14 patients including 4 with pharyngitis, 7 with tonsillitis, one with urinary tract infection, and 2 with impetigo. Overall clinical effects were excellent in 2, good in 12, with an efficacy rate of 100%. Causative organisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes) were all eradicated. As to adverse reactions, mild diarrhea was observed in 4 patients. These data suggest that SY5555 is a useful oral antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections in children.

Thiamine disulfide as a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (type-1) production

Thiol and disulfide compounds were tested as an anti-HIV drug against transactivator (Tat)-mediated transactivation of HIV-1. Of all the compounds tested, thiamine disulfide, alpha-lipoic acid, and N-acetycysteine significantly depressed HIV-1 Tat activity. Thiamine disulfide alone in these compounds possessing anti-HIV-Tat activity markedly inhibited production of progeny HIV-1 in acute and chronic HIV-1-infected CEM at nontoxic concentrations of 500-1000 microM. Thiamine disulfide (500 microM) blocked 99.7% of HIV-1 production after 96 hr culture in acute HIV-1 (LAV-1) infection (m.o.i. = 0.002), whereas it inhibited 90-98% of HIV-1 production in chronic-infected cells (CEM/LAV-1, H9/MN, and Molt-4/IIIB). The results suggest that thiamine disulfide may be important for AIDS chemotherapy.

[Clinical evaluation of a new parenteral cephem, cefozopran, in children]

Cefozopran (CZOP, SCE-2787), a new parenteral cephem, was evaluated for its antibacterial activity and clinical efficacy. CZOP, 24.0-78.0 mg/kg/day, was given to 11 pediatric patients in 3 dose a day via 30-minute drip infusion. Clinically evaluated were nine patients including 4 with acute pneumonia, 2 with urinary tract infections, 2 with lymphadenitis and 1 with sepsis. Two patients were excluded because of possible non-bacterial infections. Clinical efficacies were excellent in 5, good in 3 and fair in 1. Bacteriological responses were confirmed for 5 strains in 5 patients. Four strains were eradicated, but one strain was not. MICs of CZOP were equal to those of ceftazidime. Side effects or abnormal laboratory test results were observed in 3 patients; diarrhea in 1, elevated GPT in 1 and thrombocytosis in 1, but none of them was significant.

[Clinical evaluation of a new cephem S-1108 in infants and children]

A clinical study in children has been performed on S-1108, a newly developed cephem antibiotic. S-1108 was given orally to 30 patients, at doses between 8 and 12 mg/kg/day in 3 divided doses for 2 to 10 days. Clinical evaluations were made on 26 patients consisting of 12 patients of pharyngitis, 5 of tonsillitis and of impetigo, one each of bronchitis, cystitis, lymphadenitis and cellulitis. Overall clinical effects were excellent in 10, good in 15, fair in 1 with an efficacy rate of 96%. As to adverse reactions, mild diarrhea (2 patients) and transients elevation of transaminases (one patient) were observed. These data suggest that S-1108 is a useful oral antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections in children.

Allyl compounds selectively killed human immunodeficiency virus (type 1)-infected cells

Various allyl compounds were tested as anti-HIV reagents. Of all the allyl compounds tested, allyl disulfide (CH2 = CH-CH2-S-S-CH2-CH = CH2), allyl alcohol (CH2 = CH-CH2-OH), and its ester strongly depressed cell proliferation of HIV-1-infected cells. KC50 (50% killing concentration) of the allyl disulfide and the allyl alcohol were 34 microM and 10 microM, respectively. The allyl alcohol, in particular, completely inhibited cell growth of HIV-1-infected cells by a single injection at a concentration of 40 microM, ultimately killing the viable CEM/LAV-1 cells within 96 hr cultivation. No effect of the allyl alcohol and its esters on cell proliferation of CEM cells, which are a HIV-1 noninfected human T-cell cell line, was observed at the concentration range of 20 to 200 microM under the same experimental conditions. The results suggest that the effect of the allyl alcohol and its esters resulted in remarkable promotion of the cytopathic effect induced by HIV-1 virus.

[Clinical evaluation of a new oral cephalosporin, cefprozil, in pediatrics]

Cefprozil (CFPZ, BMY-28100), a new oral cephalosporin, was evaluated for its antibacterial activity and clinical efficacy. Thirty-four patients were treated with 7.7-36.2 mg/kg per day of CFPZ divided into 3 times. A total of 33 patients including 3 with acute pneumonia, 2 with acute bronchitis, 17 with acute upper respiratory tract infections, 4 with urinary tract infections, 1 with suppurative lymphadenitis and 6 with other soft tissue infections were evaluated for clinical efficacy except for 1 patient whose general conditions were too serious to continue to be treated with orally medication. Clinical effects were excellent in 8 patients and good in 23 but 2 cases were excluded because they were suspected for viral infections, hence the overall efficacy rate was 100%. Bacteriological responses were confirmed on 6 (66.7%) strains which were eradicated by the treatment out of 9 strains identified. CFPZ showed stronger antibacterial activities than those of cefaclor. Side effects or abnormal laboratory test results were observed in 2 patients; nausea and pallor of face in 1 patient and an increase of eosinophil in 1. The above findings suggest that CFPZ is a safe and useful antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections in pediatric patients.

Platelet-activating factor detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from an asthmatic patient

It recently has been recognized that platelet-activating factor (PAF) may be a mediator of asthma exacerbation. We had the opportunity to analyze bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from an asthmatic infant, which were characterized by neutrophil infiltration. The patient's lungs were washed on three occasions with saline during asthmatic attacks. PAF was found in each case on the basis of its ability to cause the immediate aggregation of washed rabbit platelets. The PAF detected was equivalent to 1-1.4 pmol of 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, three quarters of which were recovered in cell-associated form. By contrast, we did not detect PAF in bronchoalveolar exudates from patients with laryngeal stenosis or with respiratory distress syndrome. LysoPAF, the direct precursor as well as initial metabolite of PAF, was also analyzed after being converted to PAF by acetylation. There was a wide variation in the amount of lysoPAF present in individual patients, suggesting that lysoPAF levels cannot be taken as an indicator for the presence of PAF.

[Pharmacokinetic and clinical study of cefpirome in children]

Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies of cefpirome (CPR) in children were carried out, and the following results were obtained. 1. Peak serum levels were obtained at the end of drip infusion of 20.0, 17.5 and 6.8 mg/kg for 30 minutes and the half-lives were 1.93, 1.91 and 0.48 hours, respectively. 2. Urinary excretion rates in 6 hours were 40.0-96.2%. 3. Thirty-two patients including 17 with respiratory infections, 7 with urinary tract infections and 8 with skin and soft tissue infections were treated with CPR at 52.2-92 mg/kg per day by intravenous administration. Clinical effects were excellent in 12 cases, good in 13 cases, fair in 3 cases and unknown in 4 cases, and the overall efficacy rate was 89.3% (25 cases/28 cases). 4. Bacterial eradication rate was 93.8% (15 strains/16 strains). 5. Rash and diarrhea were found in 1 case each, and abnormal laboratory test values were found in 7 cases.

Cardiorenal effects of an orally active dopamine prodrug (TA-870) in patients with congestive heart failure

The effects of TA-870, a newly synthesized orally active dopamine prodrug, on the cardiorenal functions were investigated in 12 patients with severe chronic congestive heart failure. A single oral dose of TA-870 (1,200 mg) improved left ventricular fractional shortening and mean circumferential velocity on M-mode echocardiography (p less than 0.01 for both). Renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate improved with TA-870 (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively); urine volume and sodium excretion increased (p less than 0.01 for both). Blood pressure and heart rate did not change during the 4-h experimental period. Mean plasma free dopamine levels peaked 1 h after dosing. These data suggest that the cardiorenal effects of oral TA-870 are comparable with those of continuous intravenous injections of dopamine. Thus, TA-870 appears to be a useful alternative drug to intravenous dopamine.

[Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of cefodizime in children]

Cefodizime (CDZM, THR-221), a new cephem antibiotic, was investigated for its clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetics in children. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. Antimicrobial activities Antimicrobial activities of CDZM against clinically isolated organisms were determined. MICs of CDZM against 1 strain each of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 0.05 micrograms/ml to 0.10 micrograms/ml. Especially, MIC against all 6 strains of Haemophilus influenzae was less than or equal to 0.024 micrograms/ml. This MIC value was lower than those of other antibiotics such as cefotaxime, cefotiam, cefazolin, piperacillin. 2. Pharmacokinetics CDZM was given to 1 case at a dose of 20 mg/kg by a 60-minute intravenous drip infusion. The peak value of serum concentration of CDZM was 207.80 micrograms/ml at the end of the infusion. The half-life was 2.15 hours. The mean urinary excretion rate was 68.5% in the first 4 hours, 79.2% in 6 hours and 76.5% in 8 hours after the 30-minute drip infusion. 3. Clinical efficacy CDZM was given to a total of 27 patients, 13 with pneumonia, 1 with bronchitis, 2 with acute pharyngitis, 1 with purulent tonsillitis, 5 with urinary tract infection, 1 each with retrograde cholangitis, acute enteritis, pericementitis, phlegmon and inguinal lymphadenitis. Overall clinical efficacies were excellent in 5 cases, good in 17 and the efficacy rate was 81%. Bacteriological effects were investigated in 13 cases and the eradication rate was 85%. No adverse reactions were observed in any case. As abnormal laboratory findings, elevated GOT, GPT, A1-P, LAP and gamma-GTP, were noted in 1 out of the 28 cases examined.

Recurrent bacterial meningitis. Secondary to malformation of the inner ear

A 5-year-old girl with congenital sensorial deafness experienced four episodes of bacterial meningitis in a 13-month period. On the fourth episode, an extensive search for the cause of recurrent meningitis was conducted. Complete immunologic studies, humoral, cellular, and phagocytic, yielded negative results. Precise otological examination, i.e., skull roentgenograms, an inner ear target CT scan, and puncture of the eardrum, was attempted, which disclosed the inner ear malformation (Mondini's anomaly) and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula. CSF discharge from the oval window was repaired surgically. Extensive otologic evaluation should be conducted in patients with recurrent bacterial meningitis.

Refined evaluation of the exponential curve parameters and initial exchange rate constant for 22Na+ washout in cultured human skin fibroblasts

A technique is proposed to evaluate the exponential curve parameters and the initial exchange rate constant (kie) for 22Na+ washout from cultured human skin fibroblasts. After loading with the isotope, the cells were subjected to cold washing and warming steps. A desaturation curve for 22Na+ washout was developed including the activity in the warming medium that corresponded to t = 0 min. Using nonlinear regression analysis, a general three exponential function adequately described the 22Na+ washout in the time interval of 0-70 min. A back extrapolation was performed to estimate the initial time (ti; a negative number) when the total activity was present in the cells. The ti was substituted into the first derivative function of the three exponents to yield the kie. Calculated from the equilibrium distribution of 22Na+ and the specific activity of the medium, the concentration of Na+ (in mM; mean +/- SD) for fibroblasts of two individuals were 13.3 +/- 2.3, n = 3, and 19.0 +/- 5.2, n = 4. This indicates that the washout originated mainly or exclusively from the cellular milieu. Therefore, the kie represents the equilibrium exchange rate constant for Na+ washout from an inhomogeneous cell-related space. Multiple experiments demonstrated that the kie value for the two subjects were significantly higher than the initial slopes of the washout curves (kA), a commonly used parameter to characterize Na+ washout, and significantly lower than the slopes of the fastest exponential components (k3): kie = 0.531 +/- 0.017, kA = 0.502 +/- 0.019, and k3 = 0.557 +/- 0.017 min-1 (n = 3) for one subject, and kie = 0.567 +/- 0.065, kA = 0.479 +/- 0.031, and k3 = 0.667 +/- 0.094 min-1 (n = 6) for the other subject. The respective equilibrium exchange rates for these cells, namely the products of kie and cellular Na+ contents, were 1.10 +/- 0.16 and 1.19 +/- 0.24 nmole/10(5) cells. Using the exponential curve parameters, analytical solutions of a serial model and a parallel model with three compartments were performed. According to these analyses the major portion of the cellular Na+ comprises a fast exchangeable cellular compartment. The relative size of this compartment (expressed as a fraction of total cellular Na+ content) for fibroblasts of the two subjects was 96.2 and 89.2% for the serial model and 96.1 and 89.3% according to the parallel model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II effect on 22Na+ transport in vascular smooth muscle cells

It is well established that angiotensin II (AII) rapidly increases free cytosolic Ca2+ in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Several studies have indicated that the hormone also plays a role in Na+-K+ regulation of these cells. In this study, we explored the mechanism of AII effect on 22Na+ transport in cultured rat VSMCs. The 22Na+ washout from these cells was described by three exponents with exponential factors k1 greater than k2 greater than k3. In 1.8 mM Ca2+ medium, AII (10(-9)-10(-6) M) increased (in a dose response manner) the k1 value, and consequently the initial washout rate constant (kei) for the isotope. AII had no effect on kei in Ca2+-deficient medium or in the presence of ouabain. Amiloride (10(-3) M) and verapamil (10(-5) M) abolished the AII induced increase in kei. These findings are consistent with angiotensin II stimulation of an amiloride-sensitive Na+ transport, which is likely to represent the Na+/H+ antiport. In cultured VSMCs, the sustained stimulation by AII of this transport system requires the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and its influx into these cells.

[Noninvasive estimation of left ventricular end-systolic pressure]

A method for noninvasively determining left ventricular (LV) end-systolic pressure (ESP) using carotid pulse tracings and cuff-measured blood pressure was re-evaluated. It was validated during diagnostic cardiac catheterization in 60 patients with cardiovascular diseases. LVESP calculated by this method and systolic blood pressure measured by the cuff were compared with aortic dicrotic notch pressures obtained by a catheter-tip manometer system as true LVESP. The calculated ESP was measured by the following formula; [the ratio of the excursion of dicrotic notch (b) to the peak (a) in carotid pulse tracings: (b/a) x pulse pressure] + diastolic blood pressure. This calculated ESP had a high correlation coefficient with true ESP invasively measured (r = 0.96), but was estimated to be 5.3 +/- 5.0 mmHg less than true ESP. Systolic blood pressure, used as a noninvasive index of ESP, accurately estimated ESP, but it was higher by 14.8 +/- 11.2 mmHg (r = 0.84). Calculated ESP measured by the present method was not affected by age or systemic vascular resistance. This is a reliable noninvasive means of estimating LV end-systolic pressure. Compared with the peak arterial pressure, this is a better parameter for the analysis of LV contractility, such as stress-shortening, and end-systolic pressure-volume relations.

Multifactorial evaluation of blood pressure fall upon hospitalization in essential hypertensive patients

1. Studies were prospectively performed on 72 hospitalized patients with essential hypertension. Blood pressure was normalized within 1 week of admission in 33 patients (group I), but did not decrease in 39 patients (group II). To determine the factors that differentiate group I from group II, cardio-renal haemodynamic and endocrinological indices were evaluated using multivariate analysis. 2. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures on admission were higher in group II (P less than 0.001), whose optic fundi showed more severe changes (P less than 0.001). Although group II had greater left ventricular posterior wall thickness (P less than 0.02), left ventricular mass index (P less than 0.05) and systemic vascular resistance (P less than 0.01) on echocardiography, their cardiac index and ejection fraction were comparable with those of group I. 3. Renal blood flow (P less than 0.05) and glomerular filtration rate (P less than 0.01) were lower in group II than in group I. Renal vascular resistance was more elevated (P less than 0.01) in group II than in group I. 4. After severe sodium depletion and ambulation, group I showed a greater increase in plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline (P less than 0.05). On multivariate analysis, those with lower systolic blood pressure, better renal function and more reactive sympathetic nervous system were discriminated as group I. 5. These data suggest that group I patients have lower systolic blood pressure on admission, greater sympathetic reactivity and better renal function, all of which contribute to their spontaneous blood pressure fall after admission.

Functional and histopathologic correlation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: an integrated evaluation by multivariate analysis

To correlate left ventricular function and histologic features in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, precise indexes of hemodynamics and semiquantitative histologic data were combined for multivariate analysis. Right endomyocardial biopsy was performed at the time of cardiac catheterization. Five hemodynamic indexes were used for functional assessment: ejection fraction, ratio of end-systolic stress to volume index, end-diastolic stress, time constant (T) of left ventricular pressure fall, and end-systolic stress. Six histologic findings (disarray of myofibers, hypertrophy of myofibers, scarcity of myofibrils, nuclear changes of myofibers, vacuolization of myofibers and proliferation of collagen fibers) were graded from (-) to (4+). Each finding was assigned to category (-) or (+) according to the absence or presence of significant abnormality. Ordinary statistical analysis revealed that, although ejection fraction was lower in category (+) for proliferation of collagen fibers, ratio of end-systolic to volume index was reduced for category (+) of hypertrophy of myofibers. A significant correlation was present between hypertrophy of myofibers and proliferation of collagen fibers by Spearman rank correlation. When principal component analysis was applied to the hemodynamic data, two principal components could be extracted. Fisher's discriminant analysis could clearly differentiate two categories (-) and (+) in the semiquantitative histologic finding of proliferation of collagen fibers. The analysis indicated that contractility was reduced with elevated afterload in that category (+). Thus, proliferation of collagen fibers may play a pivotal role in deteriorating contractility in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Intravenous isosorbide dinitrate infusion in the management of unstable angina pectoris refractory to conventional medical therapy

During the past 2 years, 102 patients were treated for unstable angina pectoris (AP) in our department. Fifteen of them had recurrent chest pain at rest despite treatment with various anti-anginal agents, or prolonged chest pain unresponsive to sublingual nitroglycerin; they received intravenous isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) infusion. A rapid bolus injection of 2 to 6 mg followed by an infusion of 2 to 5 mg/hr was given to 10 patients with acute chest pain, and 5 patients, who were free of chest pain at the time, but had repeated episodes of angina in the past 24 hours, were given ISDN infusion without a bolus injection. Chest pain disappeared completely in 13 patients, but recurred in 2 of them when the dose was tapered. Two other patients experienced recurrent chest pain during ISDN infusion, and additional boluses were given. The hospital course was uneventful in 11 patients. Four patients who had recurrent anginal attacks underwent emergency coronary cineangiography under intraaortic ballon counterpulsation and aorto-coronary bypass surgery. There were no hospital deaths, no one had subsequent acute myocardial infarctions, and only 2 patients had mild to moderate headache as a side effect. Although the patient population is small, intravenous ISDN infusion is useful in the management of severe unstable AP.

Effect of acute serum depletion on Na+-K+ homeostasis in cultured human skin fibroblasts

In order to elucidate changes in cell transport behavior of cultured human skin fibroblasts in response to acute serum depletion, we performed uptake and washout of 22Na+ and 86Rb+ as well as measurements of the intracellular Na+ and K+ levels in the presence and absence of ouabain. Pronounced and lasting increase in cellular Na+ and decrease in K+ were observed after removal of fetal bovine serum (FBS) from the medium. The sum of the Na+ and K+ contents (nEq/10(5) cells) was lower in FBS-free medium (mean +/- SD; 17.3 +/- 2.2) than in FBS-containing medium (26.2 +/- 3.8; P less than .02). Simultaneously, a decrease in cellular water volume was detected in the FBS-free medium. The cation uptake and washout data suggest that FBS removal primarily renders the cells more permeable to Na+ and K+ with a secondary stimulation of the ouabain-sensitive Na+ extrusion mechanism. FBS at a concentration of 0.2% prevented approximately 50% of the maximal increase in the 86Rb+ washout rate constant associated with FBS depletion. Ouabain (2 microM) produced an increase in the 86Rb+ washout rate constant. This effect was substantially larger in cells subjected to medium without FBS (from 0.0303 to 0.2500 min-1) than in fibroblasts incubated in medium with FBS (from 0.0107 to 0.0487 min-1). The cellular K+ content was drastically reduced by ouabain to a level not different in medium with or without FBS (33.9 +/- 4.5 to 1.75 +/- 0.38 and 16.7 +/- 1.4 to 1.4 +/- 0.13 nEq/10(5) cells, respectively). The 22Na+ washout data exhibited a three-exponential pattern. Analytical solutions of the washout data by means of two models (serial and parallel) with three compartments showed that FBS depletion resulted in increase of the size of all three compartments. It is concluded that in cultured human skin fibroblasts, FBS is essential to the maintenance of a normal Na+ and K+ homeostasis. The removal of FBS results in dramatic permutation of this homeostasis that develops within minutes and lasts for hours.

Sodium 22+ washout from cultured rat cells

The washout of Na+ isotopes from tissues and cells is quite complex and not well defined. To further gain insight into this process, we have studied 22Na+ washout from cultured Wistar rat skin fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In these preparations, 22Na+ washout is described by a general three-exponential function. The exponential factor of the fastest component (k1) and the initial exchange rate constant (kie) of cultured fibroblasts decrease in magnitude in response to incubation in K+-deficient medium or in the presence of ouabain and increase in magnitude when the cells are incubated in a Ca++-deficient medium. As the magnitude of the kie declines (in the presence of ouabain) to the level of the exponential factor of the middle component (k2), 22Na+ washout is adequately described by a two-exponential function. When the kie is further diminished (in the presence of both ouabain and phloretin) to the range of the exponential factor of the slowest component (k3), the washout of 22Na+ is apparently monoexponential. Calculations of the cellular Na+ concentrations, based on the 22Na+ activity in the cells at the initiation of the washout experiments, and the medium specific activity agree with atomic absorption spectrometry measurements of the cellular concentration of this ion. Thus, all three components of 22Na+ washout from cultured rat cells are of cellular origin. Using the exponential parameters, compartmental analyses of two models (in parallel and in series) with three cellular Na+ pools were performed. The results indicate that, independent of the model chosen, the relative size of the largest Na+ pool is 92-93% in fibroblasts and approximately 96% in VSMCs. This pool is most likely to represent the cytosol.