Controlled hypotension for functional endoscopic sinus surgery: comparison of esmolol and nitroglycerine

Intraoperative bleeding causing poor visibility of surgical field is of major concern during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and impaired visibility may result in many complications. The study aimed to compare surgical conditions for FESS during controlled hypotension provided by esmolol or nitroglycerine (NTG) under general anaesthesia. 52 adult patients of both sexes requiring FESS under general anaesthesia were randomly divided to receive either esmolol (group ESM, n = 26) or NTG (group NTG, n = 26) to provide controlled hypotension. Surgical condition was assessed by surgeon using average category scale (ACS) of 0-5, a value of 2-3 being ideal. In both groups mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was gradually reduced till ACS for assessment of surgical condition (ACS) of 2-3 or lowest targeted MABP (60 mm of Hg) was achieved. Both the drugs produced desired hypotension and improved surgical condition by reducing operative field bleeding but ideal operative conditions were achieved at mild hypotension (MABP 75-70) in ESM group while same conditions were achieved at MABP of 69-65 mm of Hg in NTG group. Mean heart rate was significantly higher in NTG group as compared to ESM group. Blood loss was significantly less in ESM group. Both NTG and esmolol can be used safely to provide controlled hypotension during FESS. Both the drugs improved visibility of surgical field by reducing capillary bleeding. But esmolol offered better operative conditions with only minimal reduction in MABP. No reflex tachycardia and less intraoperative haemorrhage were additional advantages of esmolol.

Effect of age on protein and ribonucleic acid metabolism in mouse skeletal muscle

Protein content, RNA concentration, in vivo and in vitro incorporation of L-leucine-14C (U.L.) into protein and of uridine-2-14C into RNA of the homogenate, and various fractions of muscle of mice were measured at various ages. Protein content showed a continuous increase in the homogenate, nuclei–myofibrillar, and soluble fraction of the muscle of mice undergoing development. Maximum increase was noted in the soluble fraction. RNA content dropped rapidly in the homogenate and in all subcellular fractions of the muscle up to 30 days, followed by a slow decline. Ratio of DNA as well as RNA content to protein decreased continuously in the homogenate and in all subcellular fractions with aging.In vivo incorporation of L-leucine-14C (U.L.) into protein of the homogenate and various subcellular fractions of the muscle decreased with the increasing age of the animal. In vitro incorporation of labelled leucine into protein by the cell-free preparation of skeletal muscle also decreased with aging. Such a decrease in the incorporation was thought to be due to decrease in the content of polysomes in the aging muscle.In vivo incorporation of uridine-2-14C into RNA of the homogenate and subcellular fractions of muscle showed a decrease with age. Similar types of results were obtained in studies in vitro.

Effect of nonessential amino acids on phagostimulation and maintenance of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

Eleven nonessential amino acids and amides, at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 1.0% in 35% sucrose solutions, were individually tested for their role in phagostimulation, growth, and survival in Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris). Alanine and -γ-amino butyric acid were generally phagostimulatory, whereas asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine were generally inhibitory. Asparagine, glutamic acid, glycine, and proline supported growth and prolonged survival; aspartic acid and tyrosine increased weight but did not prolong survival, and alanine, -γ-amino butyric acid, cystine, cysteine, and serine neither promoted growth nor prolonged survival.

Biochemical changes in progressive muscular dystrophy. VII. Studies on the biosynthesis of protein and RNA in various cellular fractions of the muscle of normal and dystrophic mice

Protein nitrogen content, RNA concentration, and in vivo incorporation of L-[U-14C]leucine into protein and of [2-14C]uridine into RNA of homogenate and various fractions of muscle of normal and dystrophic mice were measured at various stages of the disease. Protein nitrogen content was always lower in dystrophic than in normal muscle, and this became more pronounced with the progress of the disease. Most of the decrease was due to loss of proteins from the myofibrils. RNA content increased in the homogenate, nuclei–myofibrils, supernatant, and microsomes of dystrophic muscle. In the mitochondria of dystrophic muscle, no change was noted compared to controls. The ratio of RNA content to protein in the homogenate, nuclei–myofibrils, supernatant, and microsomes was also greater in dystrophic muscle. It was not changed in dystrophic muscle mitochondria. Incorporation of L-[U-14C]leucine into proteins of dystrophic muscle homogenate and various fractions also increased to variable degrees over that in the controls. It was further observed that mitochondrial and microsomal protein incorporate L-[U-14C]leucine in dystrophic muscle at an increased rate but the disappearance of 14C was even greater, compared to controls.In vivo incorporation of [2-14C]uridine into RNA of dystrophic muscle increased at 30 days', remained the same at 60 days', and declined at 90 days' duration of the disease. Similar results were also obtained in the nuclei–myofibrillar fraction of dystrophic muscle. In all other fractions an increase was noted in incorporation in dystrophic muscle. The incorporation of [2-14C]uridine into RNA in supernatant and microsomes was higher in dystrophic muscle but the disappearance of 14C was greater, compared to controls. It is quite evident in the microsomal fraction at 90 days, where no change in the incorporation is noted in normal and dystrophic animals.

Comparative Analysis of Patient-Matched PDOs Revealed a Reduction in OLFM4-Associated Clusters in Metastatic Lesions in Colorectal Cancer

Metastasis is the major cause of cancer-related death, but whether metastatic lesions exhibit the same cellular composition as primary tumors has yet to be elucidated. To investigate the cellular heterogeneity of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), we established 72 patient-derived organoids (PDOs) from 21 patients. Combined bulk transcriptomic and single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed decreased gene expression of markers for differentiated cells in PDOs derived from metastatic lesions. Paradoxically, expression of potential intestinal stem cell markers was also decreased. We identified OLFM4 as the gene most strongly correlating with a stem-like cell cluster, and found OLFM4⁺ cells to be capable of initiating organoid culture growth and differentiation capacity in primary PDOs. These cells were required for the efficient growth of primary PDOs but dispensable for metastatic PDOs. These observations demonstrate that metastatic lesions have a cellular composition distinct from that of primary tumors; patient-matched PDOs are a useful resource for analyzing metastatic CRC.

•

Seventy-two PDOs were established from 21 stage IV CRC patients

•

Forty-one DEGs were identified between primary and corresponding metastatic PODs

•

scRNA-seq analysis identified OLFM4 as a potential cancer stem cell marker

•

Different roles of OLFM4⁺ cells in primary and metastatic PDOs were demonstrated

Biochemical changes in progressive muscular dystrophy. IX. Synthesis of native myosin, actin, and tropomyosin in the skeletal muscle of mouse as a function of muscular dystrophy

The synthesis of native myosin, actin, and tropomyosin in the skeletal muscle of normal and hereditary dystrophic mice was studied with the help of direct counting as well as acrylamide-gel electrophoresis and protein purification procedures.Labelling of the nascent protein indicated that heavier polysomes from the normal muscle were able to incorporate more radioactivity into the protein than the heavier polysomes from the dystrophic muscles. Contrary to this, lighter polysomes in the dystrophic muscle demonstrated higher incorporation as compared to the normal.Results of in vivo and in vitro incorporation as well as those of acrylamide-gel electrophoresis and protein purification procedures indicated that synthesis of myosin decreased in the dystrophic muscle. The synthesis of actin did not show a significant change either in normal or dystrophic muscle, whereas that of tropomyosin increased sharply in the dystrophic mouse muscle.

Biochemical changes in progressive muscular dystrophy. VI. Incorporation of uridine-2-14C into RNA of various tissue of normal and dystrophic mice

Normal and dystrophic mice were injected intravenously with uridine-2-14C at various stages of the disease. Radioactivity in the acid-soluble fraction of most of the tissues studied was unchanged or not significantly different in dystrophic animals. In vivo incorporation of uridine-2-14C into RNA increased in dystrophic muscle as compared to normal muscle at 30 days, remained the same at 60 days, and was reduced at 90 days. Similar results were also observed on the in vitro incorporation of uridine-2-14C catalyzed by homogenates of normal and dystrophic muscle. Dystrophic brain and pancreas showed a decrease in the incorporation at each stage investigated as compared to controls. No change in the incorporation was noted in dystrophic and normal liver, kidney, spleen, and heart. The decrease in uridine-2-14C incorporation in dystrophic muscle at 90 days could be due to an increased RNA content. Such a phenomenon was explained as due to infiltration of dystrophic muscle by invading macrophages.It is concluded that the metabolism of RNA is not decreased in the dystrophic muscle in preliminary stages of the disease as compared to the control.

Metabolism of nucleic acids and protein in the liver, brain, and kidney of female rats subjected to dietary restriction during the period of gestation as well as the period of growth, gestation, and lactation

The metabolism of nucleic acids and protein, and. cellular growth, were studied in various organs of female rats subjected to a diet restriction during the period of gestation as well as the period of growth, gestation, and lactation. In general, both body and organ growth were retarded during this restriction, with certain exceptions. For example, only the liver demonstrated a decrease in organ weight when the diet was restricted during the period of gestation only. The number of cells in the various organs decreased in the experimental groups, whereas the cell size was observed to increase. Furthermore it was found that restrictions during the period of growth, gestation, and lactation increased the accumulation of cellular ribonucleic acid and protein content. The metabolism of ribonucleic acid and protein also seemed to have increased significantly.It was concluded that although dietary restriction caused changes in cellular growth, size, and metabolism of various organs these changes were much less marked when the restriction was imposed only during the period of gestation.

Proteolytic enzymes in normal and dystrophic mouse muscle

Proteolytic enzymes extracted from normal and dystrophic mouse muscle were studied, and optimum conditions for their activities were established. It was found that these enzymes were active at two pH values, 7.5 and 9. In normal and dystrophic mice, the enzymatic activity increased with age. When the activities of dystrophic muscle enzymes were compared with those of normal muscle enzymes, the increase was most significant in animals 60–90 days of age. The results obtained when the enzymes extracted from normal or dystrophic muscle were incubated with substrates from normal or dystrophic muscle indicate that the defect in the muscle is due to an increase in the activities of the proteolytic enzymes rather than to a chemical change in the muscle proteins.

Aldolase activity in confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Duval (Tenebrionidae, Coleoptera)

Certain biochemical characteristics of aldolase in Tribolium confusum homogenate have been determined. The Michaelis constant (Km) has been calculated to be 1.2 × 10−3 M. The effect of various inhibitors suggests that T. confusum aldolase resembles muscle aldolase.Intracellular localization of the enzymatic activity shows that aldolase is contained mainly in the soluble fraction and to a less extent, in an unbound form, in nuclei.Aldolase activity has been demonstrated in relation to various stages in the life cycle of this insect. Such a study reveals that the Embden-Meyerhof glycolytic pathway is not a prominent energy-yielding pathway in T. confusum.

Cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase activities in skeletal muscle of normal and hereditary dystrophic mice

Acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase activities in dystrophic mouse muscle are increased significantly, whether the results are expressed in relation to (a) the fresh weight or (b) the total nitrogen, of the muscle. Activities of these enzymes do not show any change in normal and dystrophic mouse liver and brain. However, in dystrophic lens, the enzymatic activity is decreased when the results are expressed on the basis of fresh weight. This is because of a change in the chemical composition of the lens since no significant change in both enzymatic activities could be observed when the results were expressed on the basis of lens protein. This increase in the cholinesterase activity of dystrophic muscle is not incompatible with the change in the distribution pattern of these enzymes in the muscle noted by many workers, or to the high sensitivity of dystrophic muscle to acetylcholine.Monoamine oxidase activity in dystrophic mouse muscle showed a significant increase when the results are expressed in relation to (a) the fresh weight or (b) the total nitrogen, of the muscle. This increase in activity could be due to enzyme induction, i.e. increase in the amine content followed by an increase in monoamine oxidase activity in dystrophic muscle.

Biochemical changes in progressive muscular dystrophy. X. Studies on the biosynthesis of protein and RNA in cellular fractions of the skeletal muscle of normal and vitamin E deficient rabbits

Present investigation was undertaken to elucidate the metabolism of protein and nucleic acids in the skeletal muscle of control and vitamin E deficient rabbits. In order to attain this objective, the content and synthesis of protein and RNA were measured in the homogenate and various subcellular fractions of the skeletal muscle of control and vitamin E deficient rabbits. Our results indicate a possibility of reduction in the muscle volume in the dystrophic muscle since the content of DNA and RNA did not change in such muscles. The protein content, however, decreased considerably in the dystrophic muscle.Incorporation studies indicated a considerable increase in the synthesis of protein and RNA. It was also observed that the excretion of radioactivity was much higher in the urine of dystrophic animals. These findings indicate a rapid turnover of protein in the dystrophic muscle.The sucrose density gradient analysis of polysomal material from the dystrophic muscle indicated a lowering in the concentration of heavier polysomes synthesizing myosin and a considerable increase in the region of lighter polysomes synthesizing tropomyosin. From these findings it is speculated that vitamin E may play an important role in the synthesis of specific muscle proteins. Addition of 250 μg of poly-U restored the polysomal content of dystrophic muscle to that of control, leading to the hypothesis that vitamin E deficient rabbit muscle may be lacking in the messenger RNA content.

Liver lysosomal enzymes in rats during long-term dietary restriction. 1. Changes during the developmental period of life

The specific activities of the lysosomal enzymes acid phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, arylsulphatase B and cathepsin D were determined in homogenates of livers of rats fed ad libitum and of rats subjected to long-term dietary restriction (10%, 30% and 50% of diet consumed by the ad libitum group). Dietary restriction began soon after weaning and animals were sacrificed 3, 9, 15 and 24 weeks later. Dietary restriction influenced all four enzymes but the changes depended on the enzyme as well as on the degree and duration of the dietary restriction. Total activity of acid phosphatase increased significantly at 3 weeks of restriction but only in the 50% group. The activity returned to normal values at 9 weeks. Arylsulphatase B increased in all experimental groups with a more pronounced change observed at 3 weeks and in the more severely restricted rats. No notable change in the activities of beta-galactosidase and cathepsin D activities was observed. Changes in the liver ultrastructure paralleled the biochemical changes seen at 3 weeks. Numerous autophagic vacuoles and dense bodies resembling age pigments were formed in the hepatocytic cytoplasm. Mitochondrial enlargement, increased matrical density and rough endoplasmic reticulum fragmentation were also noted. Few of these changes were observed at 9 weeks, and the hepatocyte's morphology was virtually normal at 15 and 24 weeks. The marked changes seen at 3 weeks may be a manifestation of the body's adaptive processes to the nutritional stress.

Maternal dietary deficiency and its effect on the metabolism of nucleic acids and proteins. "Effect of exchanging the young, during the lactation period, between the control and undernourished female rats"

The effect of maternal dietary deficiency on the metabolism of nucleic acids and proteins was studied by exchanging the pups of control and undernourished dams during the lactation period. In the pups of control dams fostered by undernourished dams during the lactation period (E3), it was observed that the body and organ weight, and RNA, DNA, and protein content failed to increase normally. Contrary to this, the free leucine and nucleotide contents were higher and their specific activities lower in the plasma and various organs of the E3 group as compared with the control group.Specific activity of protein was higher in the liver, brain, kidney, and lung, and was lower in the spleen and heart of the E3 group as compared with the control group. Specific activity of RNA was higher in the liver, spleen, and lung, and was lower in the brain, kidney, and heart of the E3 group as compared with the control group.In the pups of undernourished dams fostered by the control dams during the lactation period (E1), the body and organ weights, the RNA, DNA, and protein content, the content of free leucine and nucleotides as well as their specific activities, and the specific activity of protein and RNA were partially or completely restored. However, the DNA content of the brain remained unchanged in comparison with those pups of undernourished dams nursed by their own mother (E2). In the brain, kidney, spleen, and lung of the E1 group, the specific activity of RNA increased considerably and even exceeded the control values.The radioactivity results discussed above clearly demonstrate an accelerated metabolism of protein and RNA in the various organs of the E3 group and a partial or complete normalization in the E1 group.

Effect of various amino acids on the incorporation of 14C-L-leucine in the tissue proteins of normal and dystrophic mice

Normal and dystrophic mice received daily injections of either water, saline, glutamate, aspartate, glycine, ACPC, or actinomycin D for 5 days. One parallel group of animals received no injections and served as control. On the 6th day after the start of the experiment, all the animals received an intravenous injection of 14C-L-leucine and were killed at various time intervals, ranging from 4 h to 12 days. Daily injections of water or saline to the animals did not cause any change in the incorporation of 14C-L-leucine into various tissue proteins. Glutamate administration increased the retention of 14C-L-leucine in normal muscle but not in dystrophic muscle. A daily injection of aspartate increased the retention of the radioactive amino acid in both normal and dystrophic muscles, the higher increase being found in the dystrophic muscle. Administration of glycine reduced the turnover of proteins in both normal and dystrophic muscles. ACPC (1-amino-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid) or actinomycin D administration caused a decrease in the incorporation of 14C-L-leucine into normal and dystrophic muscles.The continuous injection of glutamate or aspartate for 8 days after the 14C-L-leucine administration caused a very large increase in the retention of the labelled amino acid into the proteins of various tissues of normal and dystrophic mice. It is concluded that variations in the amino acid pools can modify the turnover of proteins, which can be of importance in muscular dystrophy.