Fatigue life prediction considering variability for additively manufactured pure titanium clasps

PURPOSE

This study aims to develop a numerical prediction method for the average and standard deviation values of the largely varied fatigue life of additively manufactured commercially pure titanium (CPTi grade 2) clasps. Accordingly, the proposed method is validated by applying it to clasps of different shapes.

METHODS

The Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) equation and finite element analysis (FEA) were used to predict the average fatigue life. The variability was expressed by a 95% reliability range envelope based on the experimentally determined standard deviation.

RESULTS

When predicting the average fatigue life, the previously determined fatigue parameters implemented in the SWT equation were found to be useful after conducting fatigue tests using a displacement-controlled fatigue testing machine. The standard deviation with respect to stroke and fatigue life was determined for each clasp type to predict variability. The proposed prediction method effectively covered the experimental data. Subsequently, the prediction method was applied to clasps of different shapes and validated through fatigue tests using 22 specimens. Finally, the fracture surface was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Many manufacturing process-induced defects were observed; however, only the surface defects where the maximum tensile stress occurred were crucial.

CONCLUSIONS

It was confirmed that the fatigue life of additively manufactured pure titanium parts is predictable before the manufacturing process considering its variability by performing only static elasto-plastic FEA. This outcome contributes to the quality assurance of patient-specific clasps without any experimental investigation, reducing total costs and response time.

Syntheses of Iminophosphomamido Chlorogermylenes and Their Complexation with a Rhodium(I) Complex

Three-coordinated chlorogermylenes of the type [Ph2 P(RN)2 ]GeCl (3: R=t Bu; 4: R=Dip=2,6-i Pr2 C6 H3 ), which bear an N,N-substituted iminophosphonamide ligand, were synthesized. The coordination behavior of 3 and 4 toward rhodium(I) complex was investigated. When 3 was treated with 1/2 of an equivalent of [RhCl(cod)]2 (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene), the corresponding chlorogermylene-Rh(I) complex 5 was obtained as orange crystals. In contrast, the reaction of 4 with a half equivalent of [RhCl(cod)]2 under a CO atmosphere resulted in the formation of a five-membered germarhodacycle 7. Compounds 3, 4, 5, and 7 were characterized using NMR spectroscopies and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 5 can be employed as a catalyst for the hydrosilylation and hydroboration reactions of diphenylacetylene, thus demonstrating the utility of germylene ligands comparable to those of NHCs in the major transition metal catalytic processes.

Comparison of the fatigue life of pure titanium and titanium alloy clasps manufactured by laser powder bed fusion and its prediction before manufacturing

PURPOSE

In this study, the fatigue properties of additively manufactured titanium clasps were compared with those of commercially pure titanium (CPTi) and Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64), manufactured using laser powder-bed fusion.

METHODS

Fourteen specimens of each material were tested under the cyclic condition at 1 Hz with applied maximum strokes ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 mm, using a small stroke fatigue testing machine. A numerical approach using finite element analysis (FEA) was also developed to predict the fatigue life of the clasps.

RESULTS

The results showed that although no significant differences were observed between the two materials when a stroke larger than 0.35 mm was applied, CPTi had a better fatigue life under a stroke smaller than 0.33 mm. The distributions of the maximum principal stress in the FEA and the fractured position in the experiment were in good agreement.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a design of the clasp of the present study, the advantage of the CPTi clasp in its fatigue life under a stroke smaller than 0.33 mm was revealed experimentally. Furthermore, the numerical approach using FEA employing calibrated parameters for the Smith-Watson-Topper method are presented. Under the limitations of the aforementioned clasp design, the establishment of a numerical method enabled us to predict the fatigue life and ensure the quality of the design phase before manufacturing.

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase reduces the adverse effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein while incurring damage itself

In this study, we tried to determine (a) whether there is any permanent effect of oxLDL on the LCAT molecule and its activator lipoprotein apoA-I, and (b) the fate of oxLDL after its exposure to LCAT and apoA-I. Purified LCAT and LDL/oxLDL was incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 h, and separated by gel-permeation chromatography. Its activity was significantly less (30% less) after separating from oxLDL compared to that of LDL. Cofactor activity of isolated apoA-I (incubated with LDL/oxLDL) was found affected by oxLDL. These results indicate modification of the LCAT and apoA-I molecule. But LCAT was found more affected compared to apoA-I in terms of LCAT activity. We are also reporting a novel function of LCAT. It was found to reduce the adverse effects of oxLDL, for example, ability to affect the LCAT activity and TBARS value. This ability of LCAT to repair oxLDL was dose-dependent. But there was no change in its REM values or fluorescence intensity.

Therapeutic value of selective salpingography for infertile women with patent fallopian tubes: the impact on pregnancy rate

OBJECTIVE

To determine the therapeutic value of selective salpingography (SSG) for infertile women with patent fallopian tubes.

DESIGN

Retrospective, case-control analysis.

SETTING

University Hospital, infertility clinic.

PATIENTS

Infertile cases with patent tubes documented by hysterosalpingography (HSG) or by HSG followed by laparoscopic examination (n = 80).

INTERVENTION(S)

Hysteroscopic SSG.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Patency rate of tubes by SSG. Pregnancy rate following SSG.

RESULT(S)

Eighty cases were divided into the study group (SSG performed, 37 cases) and the case-control group (SSG not performed, 43 cases). Successful SSG of at least one tube was obtained in all of 37 cases (100%) in whom SSG was attempted. A patency rate of 95.9% was documented in the 73 cannulated tubes of these cases. The total subsequent pregnancy rate (48.6%) within 12 months of follow-up after SSG was significantly higher than that (11.6%) obtained in the control group (p < 0.001). The cumulative pregnancy rate in the study group was also significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION(S)

The findings of the present study encourage the application of SSG to infertile women, either as a sole therapeutic approach or in association with other methods of assisted reproductive technology, even if their fallopian tubes are shown to be patent by HSG.

Poor renal accumulation of 99mTc-DMSA in idiopathic tubular proteinuria

In Japanese patients idiopathic tubular proteinuria presents mainly as asymptomatic tubular low molecular weight proteinuria. This disease has recently been shown to resemble Dent's disease which is characterized by tubular proteinuria, hypercalciuria, rickets and eventual renal failure. We report on 4 children with idiopathic tubular proteinuria. Although they had normal renal function, as evidenced by serum creatinine or creatinine clearance, they had very poor renal accumulation of 99mTc-DMSA and the presence of large amounts of tracer in the bladder. Additionally, the patient with the largest amounts of tubular proteinuria had the poorest renal accumulation of the 4 patients. The renal accumulation of tracer decreased with time from a maximum at 10 min after injection. These findings demonstrate that the tracer, once taken to be confined to the proximal tubular cells, is immediately excreted to the tubular lumen. We suggest that poor renal accumulation of 99mTc-DMSA is very important in elucidating the mechanism of idiopathic tubular proteinuria, and that 99mTc-DMSA renoscintigraphy is useful in the evaluation of the patient's renal function over time.

Inhibitory effects of lipid oxidation on the activity of plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase

We investigated the effects of free radical generation on the esterification of cholesterol by lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). A water-soluble free radical initiator, 2,2'-azobis-amidinopropane dihydrochloride (AAPH), inhibited the activity of plasma LCAT as a function of the incubation time after its addition. When a small amount of oxidized HDL was added to plasma, LCAT activity was dose-dependently inhibited. To identify the effects of HDL oxidation on LCAT activity, a purified enzyme and cofactor in a vesicle solution (an artificial substrate) were used. i) LCAT activity was inhibited by the oxidation of substrate vesicles, this inhibition being related to the degree of oxidation. ii) This inhibition was observed even if apolipoprotein A-I was not oxidized. iii) Oxidized phosphatidylcholine, but not oxidized cholesterol, in the vesicles affected LCAT activity. iv) The addition of 0-40% of oxidized vesicles to normal substrate vesicles resulted in the activity of LCAT being inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the esterification of cholesterol by LCAT may be affected by the oxidation of substrate phosphatidylcholine via free radical generation in the plasma.

Urinary output changes in racemic ethylamphetamine and optical activity discrimination in rat urine by HPLC analysis

Characterization of optical activity and simultaneous analysis of racemic ethylamphetamine (EAMP) and its metabolites, as well as the urinary excretion of the optical isomers, were examined in rats by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Analysis of the optical isomers of EAMP, amphetamine (AMP), para-hydroxy-ethylamphetamine (p-OH-EAMP), and para-hydroxy-amphetamine (p-OH-AMP) was performed within 90 min. The limit of detection was 30 ng for EAMP and AMP, and 60 ng for p-OH-EAMP and p-OH-AMP per 20 microliters injection. After oral administration of racemic EAMP, rat urine specimens were collected at four intervals, 0-4, 4-12, 12-20 and 20-24 h. After administration of 30 mg/kg EAMP, not only each isomer of EAMP, i.e. AMP, p-OH-EAMP and p-OH-AMP, but also an unidentified substance (UI) were detected. The UI was presumed to be 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-N-EAMP or 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-N-EAMP by gas chromatographic mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The d-isomer of EAMP was generally excreted more abundantly than the l-isomer (p < 0.01-0.05). The d-isomer of AMP and p-OH-EAMP was excreted in the first 4 h in a somewhat smaller amount than the l-isomer but thereafter in a greater amount than the l-isomer. The d-isomer of p-OH-AMP was generally excreted in a smaller amount than the l-isomer (p < 0.1-0.05). The total percentages of the dose excreted up to 24 h were 2.65% of the dose of EAMP administered [d: 2.04% and l: 0.61%], AMP 3.15% [d: 1.68% and l: 1.47%], p-OH-EAMP 63.06% [d: 32.68% and l: 30.38%], and p-OH-AMP 2.57% [d: 1.05% and l: 1.52%]. The optical purity ratio (l/d) of EAMP up to 24 h was 0.31, significantly lower than that (1.03) of the original racemic EAMP (p < 0.01). The changes in the excretion of EAMP and AMP indicated a stereoselective disposition, but those of p-OH-EAMP and p-OH-AMP were unremarkable: the d- and the l-isomer of p-OH-EAMP and p-OH-AMP did not differ significantly. The entire amount excreted up to 24 h was about 71.43% of the dose administered; the d-isomer 37.45% and the l-isomer 33.98%. The l/d was 0.91, which was clearly less than that of the original racemic EAMP (p < 0.01). These results suggested stereoselective disposition of EAMP in the rat, and the methods are potentially applicable to identification of the optical activity of EAMP and thereby of methamphetamine abusers.

Optical isomer analysis of 3,4-methylene-dioxyamphetamine analogues and their stereoselective disposition in rats

Identification of the optical activity and simultaneous analysis of racemates (+/-) of three hallucinogens, 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), and the urinary excretion of their optical isomers in rats was performed by high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis. Analysis of optical enantiomers of three N-alkyl MDA derivatives was performed within 50 min using two different detectors, polarimetry (OR) and ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV). The OR detector proved suitable for identification of the optically active forms, whereas the UV detector was suitable for simultaneous analysis of the enantiomers in urine. After the administration of each of the three N-alkylated derivatives, rat urine specimens were collected over four intervals, 0-4, 4-12, 12-20, and 20-24 h. After the administration of 30 mg/kg of racemic MDA and MDMA, somewhat less of the S(+)-forms of unchanged MDA and MDMA than of the R(-)-forms in each urine specimen were detected, which gave R/S ratios greater than 1.00 (p < 0.01). Conversely, after the administration of 30 mg/kg of racemic MDEA, more of the S(+)-form than the R(-)-form was found in the urine, thus giving R/S ratios less than 1.00 (p < 0.01). The percentage of the dose excreted up to 24 h was approximately 29.4% of the administered dose for MDA [S(+) 13.40% and R(-) 15.98%], 5.8% for MDMA [S(+) 1.96% and R(-) 3.79%], and 7.3% for MDEA [S(+) 3.89% and R(-) 3.43%]. Urinary excretion of optical isomers of N-dealkylated MDA from MDMA and MDEA origin were the opposite of those of the unchanged forms, and their R/S ratios up to 24 h were 0.48 to 0.72 (p < 0.01) and 1.31 to 1.50 (p < 0.01), respectively. The urinary excretion rates up to 24 h were approximately 4.3% for N-dealkylated MDA from MDMA origin [S(+) 2.72% and R(-) 1.63%] and 0.8% for N-dealkylated MDA from MDEA origin [S(+) 0.36% and R(-) 0.47%]. The total percent of unchanged forms and N-dealkylated MDA was approximately 10.1% for MDMA [S(+) 4.68% and R(-) 5.42%] and 8.2% for MDEA [S(+) 4.25% and R(-) 3.91%]. The total R/S ratio of MDMA was found to be 1.95 (p < 0.01), whereas that of MDEA was 0.88 (p < 0.01). The total R/S ratio of MDA was 1.20 (p < 0.01 ), which was comparable with that of MDMA. These three R/S ratios did not conform to the theoretical values for three N-alkyl derivatives used and neither did the R/S ratios of urine specimens collected at the four interval. These results suggested the stereoselective disposition of three N-alkyl MDA analogues in rat. The method would be suitable for the forensic chemistry and toxicology analysis of specimens obtained from hallucinogen abusers.

Evaluation of five polymorphic microsatellite markers for typing DNA from decomposed human tissues--correlation between the size of the alleles and that of the template DNA

For PCR-based genotyping using polymorphic microsatellite markers, DNA from decomposed postmortem human tissues was fractionated into six groups according to molecular size. The minimum required amounts of this degraded DNA, for detecting alleles at five microsatellite loci (ACTBP2, CMAG, HUMTH01, CYP19, and LPL) and one minisatellite locus (MCT118) were investigated respectively. The allele patterns were detected by electrophoresis of the PCR products on a 6%-denaturing polyacrylamide gel following silver staining. The detection of alleles for the loci with large allele size required more template DNA with higher molecular size than for that with small allele size. Amounts from 0.3 ng to 5 ng were needed for allele detection on genomic DNA from fresh blood. When the decomposed DNA mixture was used as the template, approximately ten times the amount of genomic DNA was required to detect alleles at the three loci of LPL, CYP19 and HUMTH01, while 24 to 67 times was required for the loci, CMAG, ACTBP2 and MCT118. It was demonstrated that a minimum molecular, size and amount of template DNA was needed for amplifying alleles of the six loci, and degraded DNA less than minimum size in the samples would prevent the detection of the loci which have large allele size.

Role of the C-termini of human and chicken plasma retinol-binding proteins

The most prominent differences between mammalian and non-mammalian vertebrate retinol-binding proteins (RBP) are in the C-terminal sequences. We have cloned and sequenced the cDNA for chicken RBP. Transfected COS cells that transiently expressed mammalian (human) or non-mammalian (chicken) RBP were used to demonstrate that both proteins were able to bind retinol and human transthyretin. However, we observed an increased retinol-independent secretion in cells expressing chicken RBP and reduced ligand-dependent secretion compared to the human protein. It can therefore be concluded that the C-terminal amino acid tail which is missing in chicken RBP compared to human RBP might play a role in retention and ligand-induced secretion.

Time-lapse changes of d- and l-enantiomers of racemic (dl)-ethylamphetamine in human urine

The time-lapse changes of d- and i-forms in urine specimens collected in the 24 h after the oral dosing of two adult male subjects with 20 mg of racemic (dl)-ethylamphetamine (EAMP)-HCl were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The percentage of the excreted dose of nonmetabolized l-EAMP was larger than that of d-EAMP, and the percentage of the excreted dose of metabolized l-amphetamine (AMP) was smaller than that of d-AMP in both subjects, A and B. These differences were observed 4.5-24 h after administration of the drug. The changes in the l/d ratio of EAMP and AMP were not similar between subjects A and B, but the change in the total l/d ratio was nearly the same. The regression line for subject A was as follows: y = 0.021323x + 0.98399. The regression line for subject B was as follows: y = 0.020947x + 0.94893. These two regression lines suggested that the time lapsed after the administration to humans could be predicted. The total percent of the excreted doses of EAMP and AMP was 47.46% (the d-forms, 20.73%; the l-forms, 26.73%) for subject A and was 31.43% (the d-forms, 14.14%; the l-forms, 17.29%) for subject B. The l/d ratio was 1.29 for subject A and 1.22 for subject B, which was somewhat higher than that (1.01) of the dl-EAMP-HCl used.

Allele detection and population study in Japanese using two STR loci (CYP19 and HUMTH01)

Allele fragments at two polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) loci, CYP19 and HUMTH01, were simultaneously amplified in a sample of 200 unrelated Japanese individuals living in the Kanto area, including Tokyo. After electrophoresis in PAG, the new alleles 7, 10, 11, 12, and 13 were detected at the CYP19 locus in Japanese. HUMTH01 allele frequencies in Japanese differed greatly from those reported for Caucasians and Asians living in the US. The polymorphism information content (PIC) in Japanese was calculated as 0.46 for CYP19 and 0.66 for HUMTH01. The power of discrimination (PD) was 0.7 for CYP19 and 0.86 for HUMTH01, and the combined PD was calculated as 0.96. No significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium could be observed for these systems.

Inhibitory effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein on the activity of plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase

Lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is an enzyme that is important in the cholesterol reverse-transport system by converting the surface cholesterol of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to cholesterol ester inside HDL. We have investigated changes in plasma LCAT activity induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). (i) LCAT activity was inhibited by the addition of even a small amount of ox-LDL, (ii) This inhibitory effect was dose-dependent and was related to the degree of oxidation of LDL, (iii) As this inhibitory effect was not prevented by antioxidants, it is suggested that it does not occur via oxidation of substrate HDL. These results suggest that cholesterol reverse-transport via HDL may be affected by ox-LDL and they are noteworthy in suggesting a new physiological function for ox-LDL.

Analysis of time-lapse changes of d- and l-enantiomers of racemic ethylamphetamine and stereoselective metabolism in rat urine by HPLC determination

The analysis of time-lapse changes of d- and l-enantiomers after administration of racemic dl-ethylamphetamine (EAMP) to rats was performed by a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a chiral activity column. After oral administration of dl-EAMP to five rats (dose, 15 mg/kg), the rat urine specimens were collected at four time intervals, 0-4, 4-12, 12-20, and 20-24 h. The two enantiomers of nonmetabolized EAMP and the two enantiomers of metabolized amphetamine (AMP) in urine were simultaneously detected within 20 min. The rate of urinary excretion during 24 h was 3.67% for d-EAMP, 1.03% for l-EAMP, 2.14% for d-AMP, and 1.92% for l-AMP. The total percent of the excreted doses of EAMP and AMP was approximately 8.8% of the administered dosage of dl-EAMP (5.81% for the d-enantiomers and 2.95% for the l-enantiomers). The l/d ratio was 0.51, which was significantly smaller than that (1.01) of the original dl-EAMP powder used (p < .01). The percentages of the doses of l-EAMP in each collection time were significantly less than those of d-EAMP (p < .01), and the l/d ratios of nonmetabolized EAMP decreased to 0.17 within 24 h. For the AMP metabolites, there was a somewhat greater percentage of l-AMP in urine collected up to 4 h than d-AMP (p < .05). Thereafter, it decreased more slowly than d-AMP with time. The l/d ratios of AMP changed from 1.57 to 0.76 within 24 h. The greater decrease of l-EAMP as compared with d-EAMP suggested the stereoselective metabolism of dl-EAMP in rats.

A novel compound, 9-hydroxy-1-nitropyrene, is a major photodegraded compound of 1-nitropyrene in the environment

1-Nitropyrene is a widely distributed environmental contaminant, but its fate in the environment remains unknown. 1-Nitropyrene in benzene exposed to sunlight was found to degrade rapidly, whereas 1-nitropyrene adsorbed on soot was stable and degraded at a rate of 42% in 40 d. The major degraded compound was identified as 9-hydroxy-1-nitropyrene, using nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Concentrations of 9-hydroxy-1-nitropyrene were found to be between 15 and 23 pg/m3 in urban airborne samples. The mutagenic potency of 9-hydroxy-1-nitropyrene was much lower than that of 1-nitropyrene. We concluded that 1-nitropyrene in the environment is photodegraded into 9-hydroxy-1-nitropyrene to become a less mutagenic compound.

[Optical isomer analysis of ethylamphetamine from human urine and an anorectic drug, Apetinil Depo]

Two analyzed cases of Ethylamphetamine (EAMP) were reported. By using HPLC with a chiral column, racemic (d, l)-EAMP were detected from the urine of a Japanese male and an anorectic drug, which had been possessed by a Thai club hostess. From the urine of the former, d-MAMP, d-AMP and l-MAP were also detected. EAMP is now categorized to be one of psychotropic drugs in Japan, but not under the strict control of Psychostimulants Law. In near future, because of the similar action to stimulant drugs, EAMP will be apprehensive of the abuse in Japan.

Energy restriction that inhibits cellular proliferation by torpor can decrease susceptibility to spontaneous and asbestos-induced lung tumors in A/J mice

BACKGROUND

Energy restriction (ER) inhibits various tumors in mice. A/J mice have a very high incidence of lung tumors, that are correlated with elevated levels of pulmonary cell proliferation in this strain. Using A/J mice, we studied the effects of ER on spontaneous and asbestos-induced lung tumors and on labeling indices in the lung as a proximal marker of susceptibility to lung tumors to obtain better understanding of the mechanism of ER in reducing tumorigenesis.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Experiment 1: A/J female mice were instilled intratracheally with asbestos or titanium dioxide or simple saline at 20 weeks of age. At 21 weeks of age, mice of the ER diet group were switched from the control diet (350 kJ/week) to the ER diet (175 kJ/wk) until sacrifice at 105 weeks of age, whereas mice of the control diet group were continued on the control diet. Experiment 2: A/J female mice were begun on ER or control diets at 6 weeks of age. The control and ER mice were kept at 20 to 22 degrees C, whereas mice of another ER group (ER+I) were kept at 30 degrees C until 24 weeks of age. Body temperatures of these mice were monitored by telemetery.

RESULTS

The present ER was shown to suppress the development of both asbestos-induced and spontaneous lung tumors. ER mice were confirmed to become torporfic, whereas control and ER+I mice did not. Labeling indices were reduced by ER in the lung as well as in other organs. The reduction of labeling indices was, however, almost recovered by increasing the housing temperature to 30 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONS

ER which reduces cellular proliferation in various organs by torpor was shown to inhibit lung tumors. Inhibition of lung tumors by ER is likely to involve a decrease in cell proliferation.

Energy restriction suppresses microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase activities in various organs in C57BL/6 female mice in both euthermic and torpor states

C57BL/6 female mice were fed a daily control diet (n = 5, 3.9 g/day, 95 kcal/week) or ER diet (n = 5, 2.3 g/day, 48 kcal/week) at 1800 h from 6 weeks of age. Telemetry, conducted at 6 months of age, confirmed that all ER mice entered daily torpor (core body temperature less than 31 degrees C) for 6.63 +/- 2.34 h/day while control mice were euthermic (> 35 degrees C). In vitro activities of microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase were determined in the brain, liver, salivary gland and kidney from these mice at 6 months of age. Assays were performed at three incubation temperatures of 37 degrees C, 31 degrees C and 25 degrees C. In assays at 37 degrees C, the activities of Ca(2+)-ATPase in the brain and salivary gland from ER mice were lower than those in corresponding organs from control mice. The suppression became profound as the incubation temperature decreased. On the other hand, at 37 degrees C Ca(2+)-ATPase activities in the liver and kidney from ER mice were not lower than those in corresponding organs from control mice, but decreased significantly at low temperatures. Microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase activities thus appeared to be reduced in ER mice, although it remains unknown whether the present results represent reduced in vivo capacities to regulate cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations.

Effects of energy restriction on age-associated changes of DNA methylation in mouse liver

DNA methylation is known to change with age in several mammalian species. Here we have examined the effect of dietary energy restriction on this age-associated change in liver DNA of C3H/SHN mice. The total 5-methyldeoxycytidine level in the genome decreased slightly soon after energy restriction started. The effect, however, diminished with time and no appreciable difference was detected at middle and old ages. The degree of methylation at the c-myc gene, on the other hand, was not affected by energy restriction at early periods, but the age-dependent alterations at later ages were repressed. This is a new finding to show that DNA methylation is one of the molecular indices of aging affected by energy restriction. It suggests an importance of DNA methylation in the aging process.

Retroviral gene expression as a possible biomarker of aging

We examined effects of aging on endogenous retrovirus gene expression of mouse lymphocytes with a hypothesis that it may be a useful biomarker of aging. Mice have endogenous murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) in their chromosomes. We detected the gene expression of long terminal repeats (LTRs) of MuLVs. Brains, livers and spleens were taken from young (3 months old) and old (27 months old) male C57BL/6 mice. In addition to these control (C) mice, we also determined gene expression in dietary restricted (DR) mice, in which rates of aging are known to be slowed. RNA was extracted from the tissues and converted into cDNA. The MuLV-LTR portion of cDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Gene expressions of young mice were found to be tissue-specific. Expressed LTRs from brains, livers and spleens were that of 370 base-pairs (bp), those of 370 and 620 bp, and those of 370, 400 and 620 bp, respectively. Old mice of C group, however, decreased tissue specificity: expressed LTRs became those of 370-400 bp in any tissues. In contrast the tissue specific gene expression was conserved in old DR mice which had to get prolonged life span and decreased lymphoma incidence. Thereby, gene expression of endogenous retroviruses appears to change during aging and to be modifiable by life-prolonging DR. It may be therefore used as a biomarker of aging in mice. Humans are known to have similar gene elements like MuLV. The present findings demonstrate a possibility of application of endogenous gene expressions to the epidemiology of aging.

[Identification of optical isomers of methamphetamine and its application to forensic medicine]

In order to identify optical isomers (d and l-) of methamphetamine (MAMP), GC-MS analysis using optically resolvable reagent of N-trifluoroacetyl-L-prolyl chloride (L-TPC) and HPLC analysis using chiral cellulose-based columns were compared. In analysis of d- or l-MAMP (M) of TPC (T) derivatives by the GC-MS, contrary to the expectation that only d(M)-L(T) or l(M)-L(T) could be detected chemically, two diastereomers of d(M)-L(T) and d(M)-D(T) for d-MAMP and two of l(M)-L(T) and l(M)-D(T) for l-MAMP were demonstrated respectively. This results was attributed to a small percentage of D-TPC present in L-TPC. For racemic (dl)-MAMP, none of these four isomers could be individually isolated, and they were detected as two overlapping peaks. In the HPLC analysis using chiral columns, d- and l-isomers of MAMP and amphetamine (AMP) could be clearly isolated with merely one analytical procedure, and the l/d ratio was possible to calculate with facility. From the rats urine administered d- or l-MAMP, only the corresponded optically active form of the administered drug was detected, and when racemic (dl)-MAMP was administered, d-MAMP, l-MAMP and their metabolites AMP were distinctly detected. The l/d ratio calculated from amount of MAMP and AMP excreted in rat urine within 24 hr was not in accordance with that of the administered dl-MAMP (l/d = 1.01): the l/d ratio was 0.45 for MAMP and 0.58 for AMP, and 0.50 for the total of MAMP and AMP. The similar results were observed in case of racemic (dl)-AMP. From several human specimens obtained from the cadavers dead by MAMP poisoning, only d-MAMP and the metabolite d-AMP were detected, and neither l-MAMP or l-AMP were demonstrated. In particular, a high concentration of d-MAMP was detected in gastric contents, brain, lung and liver. From the MAMP powder in possession, only d-MAMP was detected. These results suggest that this chiral column-HPLC procedure could be applied to medicolegal practice and forensic scientific investigation.

A skin-specific MMTV provirus is stably transmitted by horizontal transmission

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a retrovirus with a life cycle that remains to be elucidated. In establishing Mtv-4 congenic mice, an extra copy of the MMTV provirus was found specifically in the skin of both sexes of SHN mice but not in C3H/He mice. This extra copy was not, however, found in other normal tissues such as brain, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, uterus, testis, and mammary glands from SHN or C3H/He mice. In the skin of SHN mice, an 11-kb DNA fragment, which approximates in size to the entire MMTV genome, was detected in undigested high-molecular weight DNA. This unique MMTV provirus was shown to be transmitted horizontally from SHN mice to exogenous-MMTV-free C3H/He mice through nursing. The virus is thus concluded to be exogenous. Clusters of MMTV type A particles were found in sebaceous glands by electronmicroscopic examination. The present findings indicates that exogenous MMTV may be stably maintained in the skin as an unintegrated provirus during its life cycle.

Specific inhibition of pituitary prolactin production by energy restriction in C3H/SHN female mice

Pituitaries were excised from control (C; 95 kcal/week) or energy restricted (ER; 48 kcal/week) female mice of 2, 3, 7, and 18 months of age. The total RNA and relative actin mRNA amounts in the pituitary were significantly greater in C than in ER mice both at 7 and 18 months. Prolactin (PRL) mRNA, standardized with actin mRNA, was significantly less in ER mice of 7 (50%) and 18 (51%) months of age than in age-matched controls, suggestive of specific inhibition of PRL mRNA transcription. Pituitary RNA and actin mRNA increased from 7 to 18 months in C mice but not in ER mice. Similarly, mean pituitary volumes increased between 2 and 18 months in C mice but not in ER mice. PRL mRNA, standardized with actin mRNA, did not change in either C or ER mice 7-18 months of age. All examined C mice of 3, 7, and 18 months of age had estrous cycles but none of the ER mice of the same ages. After 1 month of ER, the pituitary volumes and serum insulin concentrations in 2-month-old female mice were reduced. Thus net reduction of PRL mRNA per pituitary by ER is attributable to decreases in pituitary size and specific inhibition of PRL production, both of which may be due to low estrogen and insulin levels.

Simultaneous HPLC analysis of optical isomers of methamphetamine and its metabolites, and stereoselective metabolism of racemic methamphetamine in rat urine

Simultaneous identification of optical isomers (D and L) of methamphetamine (MAMP), amphetamine (AMP), para(p)-hydroxy(OH)-MAMP, and para(p)-hydroxy(OH)-AMP in rat urine was attempted by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). They were determined as benzoyl derivatives. After administration of D- or L-isomer (15 mg/kg), only D- or L-isomers of the above mentioned metabolites were found in rat urine. In rats administered racemic MAMP (15 mg/kg), each percent dose of L-isomers of MAMP or AMP excreted at four collection times up to 24 h was less than that of the D-isomer (L/D less than 1.00), but the doses of L-isomers of p-OH-MAMP and p-OH-AMP excreted were higher than those of D-isomers (L/D greater than 1.00). Simultaneous analysis within 36 minutes showed good peak resolution. The L/D ratio for each metabolite decreased with time. The total percent doses of D- or L-isomer excreted by 24 hours were about 50% of the administered dose, 23.70 +/- 1.45% for the D-isomer, 25.70 +/- 1.54% for the L-isomers. The total L/D ratio was 1.08 +/- 0.03. These results indicated that Wistar rats have no chiral isomerization enzyme of MAMP, and show stereoselective metabolism of DL-MAMP. In the optical isomer analysis of 11 MAMP powder samples and 28 human urine specimens obtained from Japanese abusers, only D-MAMP was detected in the powder, and D-MAMP and D-AMP were detected in urine, respectively. This suggested that humans have no chiral isomerization enzyme of D-MAMP.

Effects of energy restriction on mouse mammary tumor virus mRNA levels in mammary glands and uterus and on uterine endometrial hyperplasia and pituitary histology in C3H/SHN F1 mice

We investigated the effects of energy restriction on the pituitary-ovarian axis and on a hormone responsive gene, the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). Female C3H/SHN F1-hybrid mice, known to display a high incidence of mammary tumors, ate an energy-restricted diet (48 kcal/wk) or a control diet (95 kcal/wk) beginning at the time of weaning. By 67 wk of age, 12 of 32 mice in the control group, but none of the 33 mice in the energy-restricted group, had developed mammary tumors. Six tumor-free mice from each group were studied in detail at 67 wk of age. All six tumor-free control mice, but none of the six energy-restricted mice, showed uterine endometrial hyperplasia at autopsy. Mice subjected to energy restriction did not display an estrous cycle. The average levels of MMTV mRNA in mammary glands and uteri were strongly reduced by energy restriction. MMTV mRNA levels in mammary glands from control mice were two orders of magnitude lower than those in mammary tumors. Energy restriction lowered the percentage of pituitary mammatropes and suppressed proliferation of mammatropes with advancing age. Energy restriction thus appeared to inhibit endometrial hyperplasia and to decrease MMTV production at the mRNA level in the mammary glands and in the uterus. These effects may be a consequence of hormonal changes originating at the pituitary-ovarian axis.

[Contamination of urban air in a snowy district with 1-nitropyrene and particulate matter during the winter]

Nitroarenes, potent rodent carcinogens, have attracted much attention as environmental contaminants. Recently, simultaneous exposure to dust have been found to potentiate tumorigenicity of nitroarenes in rats (14). We hypothesized that inhabitants of northwestern Japan may be exposed to such substances in winter. First, we sought to develop a sensitive yet time saving method to determine nitroarene concentrations in airborne particulate matter. The method developed used a high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a fluorescence detector. By on-column catalytic reduction, using silica coated with platinum and rhodium, 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), 1,3-dinitropyrene, 1,6-dinitropyrene, and 1,8-dinitropyrene were effectively reduced to their amino derivatives which were easily detectable with the fluorescence detector. The lowest detectable limits found using the present method were on the order of picograms for individual compounds. Subsequently, we sought to determine the concentrations of nitroarenes using the new method on airborne particulate matter during the period from November to April. Samples were collected at sampling sites on road with high-volume air samplers for 24 hours or 72 hours in four different rural areas in Iwate Prefecture. At one location in the city of Morioka, samples were collected at the height of 25 m from the ground. Among the four nitropyrenes mentioned above, only 1-NP was detected in the samples. The concentrations of 1-NP and airborne particulates changed significantly in all examined areas in parallel with the rise and fall of the frequencies of studded tire use. The highest 1-NP and airborne particulate concentrations were 1.210 pg/m3 and 1,291 micrograms/m3, respectively, being recorded at the busiest road in Kitakami. In contrast, the lowest values were 38 to 66 pg/m3 for 1-NP and 54 to 94 micrograms/m3 for airborne particulates in Morioka, being recorded in November and April, respectively. The mutagenicities of extracts of airborne particulate matter showed similar trends. Thus, exposure situations with high concentrations of dust and 1-NP were confirmed to occur in Iwate. Finally, the risk posed by 1-NP in airborne particulate matter was estimated using the equation proposed by Cuddihy and McClellan (37) and was found to range from 3.12 x 10(-2) to 24.2 x 10(-2) lung cancer/year/10(6) people. Although the estimated risk due to 1-NP is relatively small, further surveillance is highly recommended in those areas since heavy dust exposure also occurs there.

[Experimental glomerulonephritis induced by Coxsackie B4 virus in mice--glomerular changes associated with intermittent viral inoculations]

It has been considered that viruses may be implicated in the genesis and progression of glomerular diseases. Several experimental and clinical studies have reported nephritogenecity of Coxsackie (Cox.) B4 virus infection. So in order to elucidate glomerulopathy of intermittent Cox. B4 virus infection, one-month-old Swiss albino mice were inoculated intravenously with purified Cox. B4 virus, 3 x 10(7) TCD50, once a month, and then were sacrificed from 4 to 9 mo. of age (from 3 to 8 times inoculation) at one month after final inoculation. Virological assay of neutralization titer (NT) of sera and histological study of the kidneys were performed. The results were as follows: 1) NT of sera was 1:16 at 4 mo. of age and gradually elevated to 1:256 at 8 and 9 mo. of age. 2) Light microscopy revealed PAS-positive mesangial deposits that were increased by degrees and marked showing hemispherically. Several glomeruli had GBM alteration, mesangial sclerosis and crescent formation with interstitial inflammatory response. 3) By immunofluorescence, IgG, IgA, and Cox. B4 viral antigen were stained in mesangial pattern and its intensity were increased in proportion to the number of inoculations. These results demonstrated that intermittent intravenous inoculation with Cox. B4 virus in mice produces virus mediated immune complex type glomerulonephritis closely resembling those in human chronic glomerulonephritis with mesangial immune deposits.

Evidence of clonal proliferation of hepatocytes after carbon-tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury in PGK-1 mosaic mice

During aging processes, the liver is exposed continuously to both endogenous and exogenous chemicals which result in various degrees of hepatic damage. Hepatocytes maintain mitotic potential so that damaged cells are replaced by proliferation of selected clones of cells. Changes in the clonality after hepatic damage were investigated using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) as a model hepatotoxin. The changes in clonality were determined by the alteration of the electrophoretic patterns of the allozyme, phosphoglycerate kinase-1A/1B (PGK-1A/1B), the locus of which is on the X-chromosome. In mammalian females random inactivation of one of the two X-chromosomes, of either paternal or maternal origin, are known to result in phenotype mosaicism. Heterozygous female (PGK-1a/1b) mice were obtained by crossing female (PGK-1b/1b) and male (PGK-1a/-) C3H/He mice. Liver samples were collected from these mice 5 days before (by biopsy) and 18 days after dosing with CCl4 (1 ml/kg, i.p.). Quantitative evaluation of the electrophoretic bands showed significant changes (percent change more than 7.2%, P less than 0.01) in the relative PGK-1A activity in 4 out of 10 cases. In one mouse a remarkable change, from 83.0 to 59.2%, was observed. Thus we concluded that selective hepatocyte proliferation occurs after cellular damage. We speculated that this process may play an important role in the aging of the liver.

Structure and pulmonary toxicity relationship on O,O-dimethyl S-alkyl phosphorothioate esters

The structure-pulmonary toxicity relationship was investigated using three different O,O,S-trimethylphosphorothioate (OOS-TMP) analogues, which is known to induce a typical mortality pattern (delayed death) and pulmonary injury; O,O-dimethyl S-ethyl (OOS-DMEP), O,O-dimethyl S-propyl (OOS-DMPP), and O,O-dimethyl S-butyl (OOS-DMBP) phosphorothioates. The mortality pattern in rats dosed with OOS-DMEP was similar to the "delayed death" pattern: the LD50s in rats for OOS-DMEP decreased dramatically from more than 200 mg/kg within 24 hr to 41.1 (males) or 13.8 (females) mg/kg 7 days after treatment while the LD50s in rats for OOS-DMPP and OOS-DMBP did not. Histopathological examinations revealed that OOS-DMEP induced pulmonary oedema and bleeding at a dose of 1/2 LD50 by 72 hr after dosing while the other two compounds did not. Thus, it was concluded that OOS-DMEP induces pulmonary injury, thereby eliciting the "delayed death" mortality pattern.

Electrophoresis of phosphoglycerate kinase-2 to determine testicular damage induced by ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and sterility associated with chromosomal abnormality

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK, EC 2.7.2.3), which is expressed specifically in sperm and spermatids, is an enzyme in the Embden-Meyerhof pathway that converts glucose to pyruvate. We developed an electrophoresis method to determine relative PGK-2 quantity and applied it to evaluate spermatogenesis activity. In the ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME)-induced testicular toxicity, relative PGK-2 quantity had not decreased until 4 weeks of exposure. Mean relative PGK-2 quantities, defined as PGK-2 quantity over PGK-1 quantity in a pooled spleen sample (+/- SD) were: 1.43 +/- 0.32 for control animals (N = 10); 1.67 +/- 0.24 for the group exposed at 500 mg/kg for 5 days (N = 6); 1.85 +/- 0.58 for the group exposed at 500 mg/kg for 2 weeks (N = 6); 0.09 +/- 0.06 for the group exposed at 500 mg/kg for 4 weeks (N = 6); not detectable in animals exposed at 500 mg/kg for 5 weeks (N = 7); 0.208 +/- 0.103 for the group exposed at 250 mg/kg for 5 weeks (N = 6); and 1.35 +/- 0.38 for the group exposed at 125 mg/kg for 5 weeks (N = 6). These relative quantities showed a good correlation with sperm/spermatid counts (r = 0.823, p less than 0.01) and histological findings. These findings suggest that EGME has toxicity on primary spermatocytes and spermatogonia. In the case of sterility associated with a chromosomal abnormality (chromosomal translocation between chromosome X and 16), relative PGK-2 quantity was not detected in any of the seven adult (12 weeks of age) mice, although many primary spermatocytes were detected by histological examination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Demonstration of a new mouse mammary tumor virus locus in the genome of the mammary tumor prone strain SHN mouse

Until this report, there have been no detailed analyses of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) loci in the mammary tumor prone strain SHN. Using a probe, which hybridizes to the env sequence of MMTV, Southern blotting of genomic DNA from the brain after digestion with EcoRI revealed 5 endogenous proviruses: Mtv-1 (4.5kb), Mtv-2 (11 kb), Mtv-8 (6.7kb), Mtv-17 (8.3kb) and a newly-found 6.5-kb fragment. F1-hybrid mice (C3H/He female x SHN male) also possessed the 6.5-kb fragment. Thus, we conclude that the 6.5-kb fragment is unique to SHN mice. Genomic DNA from mammary tumors of SHN mice showed MMTV insertions, suggesting that activation of an oncogene(s) occurred in this strain.