Cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in senile dementia of Alzheimer's type and vascular dementia with deep white matter changes

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (rCMRO2), oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF), and cerebral blood volume (rCBV) were investigated using positron emission tomography (PET) in 16 patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT), and compared with those of 6 nondemented and 3 demented patients with deep white matter high signal (DWMH) on T2-weighted MRI and 6 controls. rCBF, rCMRO2 and rCBV were determined using C15O2, 15O2 and C15O, respectively. rCBF and CMRO2 were significantly decreased in the frontal, parietal and temporal cortex (P < 0.05) in patients with SDAT, and showed a significant correlation with the severity of dementia (P < 0.05). In patients with DWMH rCBF was significantly decreased in the parietal cortex and in the frontal white matter in nondemented patients, and in the cerebral cortex and white matter of most regions studied in demented patients (P < 0.05), whereas rCMRO2 was significantly reduced in only the frontal and temporal cortex of demented patients (P < 0.05). rOEF was significantly increased in the parietal cortex of patients with SDAT and in the white matter of patients with SDAT or DWMH (P < 0.05), and the increase in the frontal white matter significantly paralleled the progression of dementia in patients with SDAT (P < 0.05). rCBV was significantly decreased in the parietal and temporal cortex of patients with SDAT (P < 0.05), but not in any areas of those with DWMH. These results suggest that rOEF is increased in both SDAT and patients with DWMH. The increase in rOEF in patients with SDAT may be accounted for by reduction in rCBV resulting from decreased activity in the vasodilatory cholinergic system, impairment of glucose metabolism and white matter changes; the rOEF increase in patients with DWMH suggests relative preservation of oxidative metabolism compared to disturbed perfusion.

Carrying and washing of grass roots by free-ranging Japanese macaques at Katsuyama

The acquisition and transmission of new feeding behaviours in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) such as sweet potato washing [1, 2], wheat washing [2] and caramel eating [3, 4] have been well documented. These behaviours are all related to provisioned food. Here we report carrying and washing of grass roots by Japanese macaques in a free-ranging group. This would appear to be the first report of washing of dirt from natural food, such as grass roots, among macaques. Furthermore, some monkeys in the present study rubbed dirt from roots by rolling them along the surface of a flat rock at the edge of a river. This may be considered a tool-using behaviour.

Detection of autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase in autoimmune thyroid diseases by micro-ELISA and immunoblotting

Serum autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in patients with thyroid autoimmune diseases were studied by micro-ELISA and immunoblotting. Twenty-four patients, 15 with Graves' disease and 9 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, whose serum titers were greater than 3200 on the microsomal hemagglutination test (except for 1 patient with a titer of 800) had autoantibodies to TPO. Both immunoglobulin G and M classes of autoantibodies were detected, with the former being more prominent. When TPO and thyroid microsomes were used as a target in a competitive binding inhibition test, the results suggested that TPO was a major thyroid microsomal antigen. On the other hand, immunoblotting analysis showed 3-4 bands in the 45-60K region stained by patients' sera in addition to human TPO with mol wt of 100K and 107K; only the latter 2 bands stained with antiporcine TPO antibody. In the majority of sera, TPO bands were clearer than others, although some sera showed the clearest band with a mol wt of 55K. These results indicate that patients with autoimmune thyroid disease often have autoantibodies to TPO that can be detected by micro-ELISA and immunoblotting, and that TPO is a major component of the thyroid microsomal antigen.

Reduced size of right hippocampus in 39- to 80-year-old normal subjects carrying the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele

Hippocampal size on magnetic resonance imaging was compared between normal subjects with the apolipoprotein E (apo E) epsilon4 allele (epsilon4/4, epsilon4/3, and epsilon4/2) and those without the epsilon4 allele (epsilon3/3, epsilon3/2, and epsilon2/2) in the age range of 39-80 years. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores did not differ between the two groups. The right hippocampal area and its ratio to hemisphere area and intracranial cavity area were significantly smaller in epsilon4 carriers than non-carriers, whereas hemisphere area did not differ between the two groups. These results suggest that as early as their forties, apo E epsilon4 allele carriers have a markedly smaller right hippocampus with no apparent cognitive impairment, which may have some significance in the high prevalence of the epsilon4 allele in Alzheimer's disease as well as other conditions that cause dementia.

Serum uric acid and the renin-angiotensin system in hypertension

To study whether the renin-angiotensin system is related to hyperuricemia in hypertension, the serum concentration of uric acid was determined in 96 patients with various types of hypertension and various degrees of plasma renin activity (PRA). In malignant hypertension, both PRA and the serum uric acid level were higher than in essential hypertension; but in primary aldosteronism or desoxycorticosterone-excess hypertension, they were lower than in the essential type. In renovascular hypertension, PRA was higher than in essential hypertension, but the serum uric acid levels were similar. There were no differences in PRA and serum uric acid concentration between Cushing's syndrome and essential hypertension. The serum uric acid level in high-renin essential hypertension was higher than in either the normal-renin or the low-renin type. There was a significant correlation between serum uric acid concentration and PRA in the basal state, and between the change in PRA and the change in serum uric acid induced by administration of furosemide. Apparently the close correlation between the renin-angiotensin system and the concentration of serum uric acid is related to changes in extracellular fluid volume, although an intrarenal effect of angiotensin II cannot be excluded.

Applicability of ultrasound muscle thickness measurements for predicting fat-free mass in elderly population

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the applicability of ultrasound muscle thickness (MT) measurements for predicting whole body fat-free mass (FFM) in elderly individuals.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional study of 77 healthy elderly individuals.

METHODS

MTs at nine sites of the body and FFM were determined using B-mode ultrasound and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), respectively, in 44 women and 33 men aged 52 to 78 yrs. Stepwise multiple regression analysis produced two equations for predicting DXA-based FFM with sex (dummy: woman = 0 and man = 1) and either MTs at the anterior and posterior of thigh and lower leg (Eq1) or the product of MT and limb length (MT×LL) at thigh anterior and posterior, lower leg posterior, and upper arm anterior (Eq2) as independent variables.

RESULTS

The R2 and SEE for each of the two equations were 0.929 and 2.5 kg for Eq1 and 0.955 and 2.0 kg for Eq2. The estimated FFM from each of Eq1 (44.4 ± 8.9 kg) and Eq2 (44.4 ± 9.0 kg) did not significantly differ from that of the DXA-based FFM (44.4 ± 9.2 kg), without systematic error. However, the absolute value of the difference between the DXA-based and estimated FFM was significantly greater with Eq1 (2.0 ± 1.5 kg) than with Eq2 (1.5 ± 1.3 kg).

CONCLUSION

The current results indicate that ultrasound MT measurement is useful to predict FFM in the elderly, and its accuracy is improved by using the product of MT and limb length as an independent variable.

Novel calcium antagonists. Synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of benzothiazoline derivatives

A series of novel compounds having a benzothiazoline skeleton was studied for their structure-activity relationship (SAR) with respect to Ca2+ antagonistic activity. As test compounds, analogues of 3-acyl-2-arylbenzothiazolines (3) were synthesized. Benzothiazoline derivatives (3) exerted higher Ca2+ antagonistic activity than the corresponding thiazolidine derivatives (2). Effects of substituents R1-R4, the substitution position of the aminoalkoxy group and R2, and the length of the methylene chain on biological activities were examined. Compound 4 [3-acetyl-2-[5-methoxy-2-[4-[N-methyl-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethyl ) amino]butoxy]phenyl]benzothiazoline hydrochloride] showed a potent Ca2+ antagonistic activity in vitro and dual inhibition on the fast Na+ inward channel and the slow Ca2+ inward channel in Langendorff perfused rabbit hearts. Compound 4 also showed a long-acting hypotensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats and prevented acute pulmonary thrombotic death in mice.

Inhibition of transmitter release in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia induced by gamma-aminobutyric acid

1. Effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the nicotinic synapses in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia were studied. 2. When GABA (100 microM--1 mM) was applied to the ganglion, the post-synaptic membrane depolarized slightly and transiently with a slight decrease in the membrane resistance. 3. GABA (5 microM--1 mM) decreased the amplitude of the fast excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fast e.p.s.p.) and its quantal content without a significant change in the quantal size, and these effects were seen even after the subsidence of the membrane depolarization. Picrotoxin (10 microM) did not antagonize the GABA action. 4. The sensitivity of the subsynaptic membrane to ACh was unaffected by GABA. On the other hand, the synaptic current underlying the fast e.p.s.p. was significantly depressed in the presence of GABA. 5. Neither the frequency nor the amplitude of the miniature e.p.s.p.s which occurred spontaneously were altered by GABA, in either normal or high K+ solutions. 6. The depressant action of GABA on the fast e.p.s.p. was not changed in a high K+ solution, while it was markedly decreased in a Cl- -deficient solution. 7. A small, but significant reduction in the amplitude of the presynaptic terminal spike recorded with a focal extracellular electrode was observed under the effect of GABA. 8. It was concluded that GABA inhibits synaptic transmission of bullfrog sympathetic ganglion mainly by decreasing the evoked release of transmitter and only partly by post-synpatic action. Possible mechanisms of the presynaptic action of GABA were discussed.

The influence of antecedent renal disease on pregnancy

The influence of antecedent renal disease on pregnancy was studied retrospectively in 72 women with various renal diseases that had been proved by biopsy. Among 105 pregnancies studied, normal deliveries were observed in 74 (71%), abnormal deliveries with live infants in 14 (13%), fetal or neonatal deaths in 11 (10%), and spontaneous abortions in six (6%). The incidence of normal delivery, as well as that of live births, was the highest in the cases of membranous glomerulonephritis, but there was no obvious difference in the incidence among IgA nephropathy and non-IgA proliferative glomerulonephritis. Cases in which there were tubulointerstitial changes of the cortical area or arteriosclerosis in biopsy specimens and cases that included hypertension (greater than 140/90 mm Hg) or decreased renal function (glomerular filtration rate, less than 70 ml/min) were clearly associated with an unfavorable outcome in delivery. It was concluded that assessment of the advisability of pregnancy in nephritic women should be made on the basis of a combination of the clinical and histologic parameters.

Idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis: aspects of geographical differences

Clinicopathological studies of 89 cases of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis was carried out to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of the disease. The results were compared with those of previous published reports to observe whether any difference between Japanese and caucasian patients exists. There were no obvious differences as to main clinical features, although an apparently better prognosis in our data was observed during long term follow up. In renal biopsy findings, especially glomerular capillary wall injuries, the prevalence of advanced electron microscopic stages (stages III and IV) was higher in the Japanese cases. A higher rate of clinical remission was observed in the treated group. It was concluded that Japanese cases had an obviously better prognosis despite having more advanced histological findings than the caucasian patients.

Recurrent attacks of vomiting, hypertension and psychotic depression: a syndrome of periodic catecholamine and prostaglandin discharge

A syndrome of periodic catecholamine and prostaglandin E2 discharge is described in 2 patients aged 17 and 3 years. They had recurrent attacks of vomiting, hypertension and psychotic depression for several years with a fixed periodicity. At initiation of the attack, plasma ACTH, AVP, norepinephrine and prostaglandin E2 were markedly elevated, whereas dopamine was undetectable. This resulted in hypercortisolemia, hyponatremia and oliguria, which were completely normalized when the attack subsided. Dopaminergic inhibition by metoclopramide injection induced a sustained rise in plasma bicyclo-prostaglandin E2 in the patients, a transient rise in 4 controls, and no response in 8 control children. The 4 control responders had significantly higher plasma norepinephrine levels and aldosterone responses than the non-responders (P less than 0.001). There was a linear correlation between peak values of bicyclo-prostaglandin E2 and basal norepinephrine levels (r = 0.990, P less than 0.001). The patients released bicyclo-prostaglandin E2 and aldosterone more easily than the control responders in terms of plasma norepinephrine and dopamine levels. Treatment of the patient with clonidine was partially effective, whereas administration of indomethacin completely suppressed recurrence of the attacks for 1 year. These results suggest the etiologic possibility that the patients have a decreased dopaminergic inhibition of prostaglandin E2-mediated norepinephrine secretion, which causes periodic discharge of norepinephrine and concomitant release of ACTH and AVP.

Terahertz surface-wave resonant sensor with a metal hole array

A surface-wave sensor based on the resonant transmission characteristics of metal hole arrays is demonstrated in the terahertz (THz) region. Since the frequency of the transmission peak of a metal hole array, which corresponds to the resonant frequency of the surface waves, is particularly sensitive to the refractive index in the vicinity of the metal surface, a very small change in the substances attached to the surface can be detected by monitoring the transmission spectrum. By attaching a layer of substance (thickness t < 5 microm) much thinner than the wavelength of the THz wave (lambda(THz) = 1 mm at 0.3 THz) to the surface of a metal hole array, we demonstrated that the existence of such a small amount of substance can be detected more easily than without the metal hole array. This demonstration of THz sensing with metal hole arrays indicates the possibility of realizing THz surface-wave sensors for biochemical molecules in the THz region.

Significance of tubulointerstitial lesions in biopsy specimens of glomerulonephritic patients

To evaluate the significance of tubulointerstitial lesions in the cortical area of renal biopsy specimens, clinicopathological studies were performed on 101 cases of IgA nephropathy, 31 cases of IgA-negative (non-IgA) proliferative glomerulonephritis and 75 cases of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis. The degree of tubulointerstitial lesions was assessed semiquantitatively by light microscopic observation and was correlated with the several histopathological and clinical parameters at biopsy, as well as with status at final follow-up (average follow-up period: 72 months). In these three types of glomerulonephritis, the degree of tubulointerstitial lesions in the cortical area was clearly correlated with the severity of glomerular injury, the prevalence of segmental sclerosis, global sclerosis, arteriolosclerosis, decreased renal function (GFR less than 70 ml/min) and hypertension (greater than 150/90 mm Hg) at the time of biopsy. The prevalence of stable renal function at final follow-up was statistically higher in the cases without tubulointerstitial lesions or with those whose lesions included less than 20% of the cortical area. From the above data, it was concluded that a semiquantitative evaluation of tubulointerstitial lesions in the cortex would reflect the severity of glomerular injury and also contribute to the assessment of prognosis in such primary glomerulonephritic patients.

Biscoclaurine alkaloids inhibit receptor-mediated phospholipase A2 activation probably through uncoupling of a GTP-binding protein from the enzyme in rat peritoneal mast cells

The mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of biscoclaurine (bisbenzylisoquinoline) alkaloids on phospholipase A2 activation in the signalling system of stimulated rat peritoneal mast cells was studied. Cepharanthine, berbamine and isotetrandrine inhibited antigen- and compound 48/80-induced arachidonic acid liberation, but not diacylglycerol formation or histamine release. They had no effect on A23187-induced arachidonic acid liberation, which was prevented by p-bromophenacyl bromide, a known phospholipase A2 inhibitor, and also did not affect phospholipase A2 activity in a cell-free system including an exogenous phospholipid substrate. Each alkaloid also inhibited arachidonic acid liberation induced by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) in saponin-permeabilized mast cells, and by mastoparan or NaF plus AlCl3 intact cells. Furthermore, each alkaloid abolished the inhibitory effect of islet-activating protein on the compound 48/80-induced arachidonic acid liberation. These data suggest that these alkaloids suppress the receptor-mediated phospholipase A2 activation through, at least in part, uncoupling of a GTP-binding protein from the enzyme, rather than by affecting the enzyme directly.

Central and peripheral effects of bradykinin and prostaglandin E2 on blood pressure in conscious rats

Bradykinin or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), when injected intravenously, decreased blood pressure of conscious rats in a dose-dependent manner, while intracerebroventricular injections of bradykinin or PGE2 caused a dose-dependent increase in blood pressure. SQ 14,225, an inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme, potentiated the central pressor or peripheral depressor effect of bradykinin. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, almost completely inhibited the central pressor effect of bradykinin when injected intraventricularly. Indomenthacin, when injected intravenously, failed to inhibit the peripheral depressor effect of bradykinin, whereas it significantly attenuated the peripheral depressor effect of bradykinin when the angiotensin converting enzyme was inhibited with SQ 14,225. These results suggest that the central pressor effect of bradykinin is mainly mediated by the synthesis of prostaglandins in the central nervous system, while only a small fraction of peripheral depressor effect of bradykinin is, at least in conscious rats, mediated by the synthesis of prostaglandins in the systemic circulation.

Production of Enterotoxin A

A method for production of enterotoxin A in multiple liter lots is described. The medium contained 4% N-Z Amine NAK supplemented with 0.001% niacin and 0.00005% thiamine, and was adjusted to p H 6. The inoculated medium in lots of 400 to 600 ml, in 2-liter Erlenmeyer flasks, was incubated at 37 C for 24 hr on a gyrotory shaker at 280 rev/min. Production of 4 to 6 μg of enterotoxin A per ml occurred.

Thin basement membrane syndrome in adults

Eight (two men, six women) cases of adult thin basement membrane syndrome were studied to clarify the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. The average age at the time of biopsy was 40 years. All the patients had persistent microscopic haematuria, normal renal function, and normal blood pressure, with the exception of one who was hypotensive. Most of them had persistent or transient proteinuria. Renal symptoms were found in four families, although no relative had Alport's syndrome. Renal biopsy findings observed by light and immunofluorescence microscopy did not indicate any important abnormalities, but extensive diffuse thinning of the glomerular basement membrane, ranging from 153 to 213 nm, was a constant finding by electron microscopy. All the patients retained stable renal function at the time of final follow up, indicating a benign prognosis of the syndrome.

Study of the presence of the spores of Clostridium botulinum in honey in Brazil

The isolation of Clostridium botulinum from honey samples is described. Botulism is characterized as an intoxication provoked by ingestion of contaminated foods with this toxin. Infant botulism happens by the ingestion of spores of C. botulinum together with food that in special conditions of the intestinal tract, such as those present in babies of less than 1 year old, will allow the germination and colonization of the intestine with production and absorption of botulinic toxin. The samples were subjected to dilution and to a thermal shock and cultivated in modified CMM (Difco). Cultures were subjected to Gram smears and toxicity tests in mice. The toxic cultures were purified in RFCA (Oxoid) plates and incubated in anaerobic jars. Positive samples were typed using the mouse assay neutralization test. From the 85 honey samples analyzed, six were positive for C. botulinum (7.06%), and identified as producers of type A, B, and D toxins.

Occurrence of Yersinia enterocolitica in house rats

From July 1976 to May 1977, 270 rats (259 Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus) in Sapporo were examined for the presence of Yersinia enterocolitica in house rats. The organism was isolated in 55 rats (54 R. norvegicus and 1 R. rattus). Isolated strains were determined as O group (O)3, biovar 4; O4, biovar 1; O5A, biovar 1; and O6, biovar 1. The isolation of O3, biovar 4 strains from R. norvegicus is the first in the world, as far as we know. The organism was isolated from the duodenum in 3 rats, the jejunum in 7 rats, the ileum in 8 rats, the cecum in 34 rats, the colon in 23 rats, the rectum in 16 rats, and the mesenteric lymph nodes in 5 rats. The organism was not isolated from liver, spleen, and kidneys. Isolation of the organism from the mesenteric lymph nodes was made in 1 out of 2 O3-positive rats, 1 out of 7 O5A-positive ones, and 3 out of 29 O6-positive ones. A high agglutinin titer was recorded in the two O3-positive rats and in one O6-positive animal.