CBFB/MYH11 fusion transcripts in a case of acute myelogenous leukemia (M1) with partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 16

Pericentric inversion of chromosome 16 [inv(16)(p13q22)] is seen in patients with acute myelomonocytic leukemia with bone marrow eosinophilia. This inversion juxtaposes the MYH11 gene on p13 and the CBFB gene on q22, resulting in the formation of a chimeric mRNA transcript. We describe a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (M1), with del(16)(q22), who expressed the chimeric transcript. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and the sequencing of its product showed fusion of 5'CBFB at position 495 to 3'MYH11 at position 1201. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an AML (M1) case with del(16) and CBFB/MYH11 rearrangement.

Effect of eel ventricular natriuretic peptide on the kidney and cardiovascular system in the dog

Ventricular natriuretic peptide (VNP), a possibly new type of natriuretic peptide with an extended C-terminal tail, has been isolated from eel cardiac ventricles. We investigated the effects of eel VNP on the kidney and cardiovascular system and compared these results with those of mammalian peptides in dogs. Eel VNP, human (dog) ANP, human and dog BNPs were infused into the renal artery at non-hypotensive doses. All peptides produced similar diuresis and natriuresis, but cardiac output and the left and right ventricular stroke work were decreased by BNPs, but ANP and eel VNP did not change these parameters. Systemic vascular resistance was increased by BNPs, but unaffected by other peptides. These results show that eel VNP has renal effects similar to ANP and BNP, but it elicits responses in the heart different from those of BNPs in anesthetized dogs.

Spatial tuning loss of pattern reversal visual evoked response in optic nerve disease

We compared the pattern reversal visual evoked response (PVER) amplitude-check size functions from 25 eyes (25 normal subjects; visual acuities > or = 20/20) with those from 32 eyes (22 patients; visual acuities 20/15 to 20/50; mean, 20/25.5) with mild optic nerve disease to determine if spatial tuning loss of the PVER occurs in the presence of optic nerve dysfunction. The steady-state PVER was recorded with five check sizes (range, 160 to 10 minutes of arc). To analyze the PVER amplitude-check size function, we calculated the difference between the maximum and minimum PVER amplitudes and then calculated the area of spatial tuning (the area under the function). Values were significantly smaller in patients than in normal subjects (1.81 +/- 1.27 microV versus 5.73 +/- 3.27 microV; F = 41.24, p = 0.0001; 3.87 +/- 2.70 area units versus 12.57 +/- 7.60 area units; F = 38.62, p = 0.0001). There was no shift in the distribution of peak check sizes. Results suggest that a spatial tuning loss occurs in optic nerve disease. The shape of the function, including the area of spatial tuning, appears to be a sensitive indicator of early or mild optic nerve dysfunction.

[Changes of factor XIII a and b subunit in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome]

Factor XIII is composed of two distinct proteins, a and b subunit. The dimers of each subunit form a tetrameric complex of a2b2 in plasma. Two separate ELISA systems were developed to measure either factor XIII a or b subunit in plasma. Sensitivity of the ELISAs was 3.0% of factor XIII a and b subunit in normal plasma. The ELISA for factor XIII b subunit quantitate free b2 and a2b2 complex in a equimolar manner. In order to evaluate the changes of each factor XIII subunit in a state of hypercoagulation, 16 plasmas from proteins with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (DIC) were examined. Factor XIII a and b subunit showed 56.5 +/- 30.5% and 63.4 +/- 22.5%, respectively in the DIC subjects compared to normal pooled plasma as 100%. The ratio of factor XIII a and b subunit (a/b ratio) were between 0.5 and 1.0 in DIC cases which improved after treatment. However, the ratios were less than 0.5 in the cases with DIC which deteriorated in spite of the treatment. These results suggest that the a/b ratio would indicate the prognosis of patients with DIC.

Syntheses of 1-O-carboxyalkyl GLA-60 analogues

As part of our ongoing study to survey potent LPS antagonists, the following six compounds were synthesized in an efficient manner: 3-carboxypropyl and carboxymethyl 2-deoxy-2-(2,2-difluorotetradecanamido)-4-O-phosphono-3-O-[(R)-3- (tetradecanoyloxy)tetradecanoyl]-alpha- and beta-D-glucopyranosides (11 and 23; 32 and 36), as well as the non-fluorinated equivalents, carboxymethyl 2-deoxy-4-O-phosphono-2-tetradecanamido-3-O-[(R)-3-(tetradecano yloxy)- tetradecanoyl]-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (44) and carboxymethyl 2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-(hydroxy)tetradecanamido]-4-O-phosphono-3-O-[(R)- 3- (tetradecanoyloxy)tetradecanoyl]-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (48). Of these compounds, 32 was most pronounced in terms of LPS-antagonistic activity.

Spatial frequency sweep pattern reversal VER acuity vs Snellen visual acuity: effect of optical defocus

The effect of artificially induced image defocusing on visual acuities (VAs) measured by spatial frequency sweep pattern reversal visual evoked response (SPVER) and Snellen measurement was studied in six normal subjects. The steady-state SPVER was recorded using vertical gratings of 10 different spatial frequencies ranging from 0.52 to 30.36 c/deg. The SPVER acuity was compared with Snellen acuity (SA) measured under the same conditions of optical defocus. With moderate defocusing [< + 1.0 diopter (D), VA > 20/40], the SPVER acuities were equal to or poorer than the SAs. With more defocus (> + 1.5 D, VA < 20/70), the SPVER acuities became better than the SAs. The discrepancies between the SA and SPVER acuities may be the result of the influence of the parafoveal area on the SPVER at lower visual acuity levels.

Malignant hyperthermia during epidural anesthesia

We anesthesized a patient susceptible to malignant hyperthermia (MH) three different times by epidural anesthesia with different types of local anesthetics. His skinned fiber test showed a marked acceleration of calcium (Ca2+)-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). When ester type local anesthetic was used for ankle contracture repair, MH signs appeared following the release of the tourniquet. CICR test is reliable for diagnosing different types of MH.

Studies on the reduction indices of the deciduous teeth of Chinese living in Taiwan

The reduction index of deciduous teeth was investigated statistically. Materials used were plaster casts of the deciduous dentition taken from Chinese children living in Taiwan. The reduction indices showed no sexual differences. In the maxillary teeth, reduction indices of the bucco-lingual diameters (BL) had the largest values, followed by those of the mesio-distal diameters (MD), and those of the crown area (AREA) which were the least. In contrast to the maxillary teeth, in the mandibular teeth, the reduction indices of MD and those of BL had nearly the same values although the reduction indices of MD were slightly larger than those of BL in females (p < 0.05). With respect to the difference between the maxilla and the mandible, in deciduous incisors the reduction index of MD in the mandible was larger than that in the maxilla (p < 0.01). While in BL the reverse relation was noted. In the deciduous molars the reduction indices of BL and AREA in the maxilla were larger than those in the mandible (p < 0.01). The reduction indices showed no significant difference among the Mongoloid populations sampled. This result may be explained by the primitiveness of deciduous teeth.

Cloning of a cluster of chitinase genes from Aeromonas sp. No. 10S-24

A gene encoding chitinases from Aeromonas sp. No. 10S-24 was cloned into Escherichia coli DH5 alpha using pUC19, and its nucleotides were sequenced. The chitinase gene was clustered in ORFs (open reading frame) 1 to 4, in a 8-kb fragment of DNA. ORF-1 consisted of 1608 bp encoding 535 amino acid residues, and ORF-2 consisted of 1425 bp encoding 474 amino acid residues. ORF-3 was 1617 bp long and encodes a protein consisting of 538 amino acids. ORF-4 encodes 287 amino acids of the N-terminal region. The amino acid sequences of ORF-1 and ORF-3 share sequence homology with chitinase D from Bacillus circulans, and chitinase A and B from Streptomyces lividans. The amino acid sequence of ORF-2 shared sequence homology with chitinase II from Aeromonas sp. No. 10S-24, and chitinase from Saccharopolyspora erythraea. A region of the sequence starting from Ala-28 of the amino acid sequence of ORF-3 coincided with the N-terminal amino acid sequence of chitinase III from Aeromonas sp. No. 10S-24.

Role of adhesion molecules in the development of massive hepatic necrosis in rats

Massive hepatic necrosis develops after endotoxin administration in rats pretreated with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes as a result of microcirculatory disturbance caused by endothelial cell destruction by activated macrophages in the hepatic sinusoids. Immunohistochemical hepatic expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 alpha (LFA-1 alpha) and the effect of monoclonal antibodies against both adhesion molecules on liver necrosis provoked after endotoxin administration was studied in these rats. There were increased stains of ICAM-1 in endothelial cells and LFA-1 alpha in macrophages in the hepatic sinusoids in Propionibacterium acnes-pretreated rats compared with normal rats. Such stains were further increased soon after endotoxin administration, followed by development of hepatic necrosis. Monoclonal antibodies against both adhesion molecules significantly attenuated the extent of liver injury compared with controls, without affecting the infiltration and activation of hepatic macrophages. Polyclonal antibodies against polymorphonuclear leukocytes eradicated circulating neutrophils, but did not change such liver injury, although gum arabic, which suppressed macrophage activation, attenuated the extent of liver injury. Thus, adhesion between endothelial cells and activated macrophages in the hepatic sinusoids via ICAM-1 and LFA-1 alpha is essential for the initiation of massive hepatic necrosis of this type. Contribution of neutrophils seems less likely.

Structures and activity of cellulase inhibitors enzymatically synthesized from cellooligosaccharides and 1-deoxynojirimycin

Cellulase inhibitors were synthesized from cellooligosaccharides and 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) by transglycosylation, using a commercial cellulase. The structures of these cellulase inhibitors were proved to be 4-O-beta-cellobiosyl-DNJ, 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-DNJ and 6-O-beta-cellobiosyl-DNJ by the results of 13C- and 1H-NMR analyses. The inhibitory activity of each inhibitor was investigated against several carboxymethylcellulases.

Vestibular training for acute unilateral vestibular disturbances: its efficacy in comparison with antivertigo drug

We carried out a clinical trial on the treatment of acute unilateral vestibular disturbances (AUVD) without typical Meniere's disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Two therapy groups were selected: vestibular training (VT) with drug therapy and drug administration alone. After the experimental period of 8 weeks, all patients were classified into two groups depending on the methods of treatment, and the clinical courses of the patients were compared statistically. It was confirmed statistically by global judgments of symptoms and signs that improvement rates were higher in the group treated by VT with medication than the improvement rate in the group with medication alone. It is concluded that VT is effective for early relief from vestibular ataxia.

Effectiveness of fibronectin in myringoplasty using temporal fascia

A study of myringoplasty with temporal fascia homograft employing fibronectin was conducted in 14 ears in which the same myringoplasty procedure without fibronectin (1-5 times) had failed to afford closure of tympanic membrane perforation. Closure was obtained in eight ears. These results suggest that fibronectin is effective in myringoplasty using treated temporal fascia homograft.

Susceptibility of mice to bacterial and fungal infections after intragastric administration of ebselen

The seleno-organic compound ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) has anti-inflammatory activity and exhibits glutathione peroxidase-like activity in-vitro. Ebselen inhibited candidacidal activity over the same range of concentrations as it inhibited the production of microbicidal H2O2 by human neutrophils and macrophage-like cells. Therefore, the long-term administration of ebselen might be expected to induce an immunocompromised state in the host. To examine such a possibility, mice (5-weeks-old ddY, male) were given daily intragastric doses of 0, 10 or 100 mg/kg-1 ebselen for 21 days and then infected intraperitoneally with Candida albicans (10(8) cells/mouse), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.5 x 10(7) cells/mouse) or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (5 x 10(8) cells/mouse). Ebselen at none of the tested doses affected the increase in body weight of mice during administration of the drug. No evidence was obtained that mice became more susceptible to the various microorganisms after the administration of ebselen at any tested dose.

Factors modifying protective effect of anti-CD18 antibodies on myocardial reperfusion injury in dogs

Anti-CD18 monoclonal antibodies (MAb) have demonstrated variable protection against neutrophil (PMN)-mediated myocardial reperfusion injury. To identify factors contributing to this variability, open-chest dogs underwent coronary artery occlusion for 90 min followed by reperfusion for 3.5 h. Ten minutes before reperfusion the dogs received saline (n = 18) or one of three anti-CD18 MAb: MHM.23, R15.7, or PLM-2 (2, 1, and 1 mg/kg and n = 19, 8, and 4, respectively). Collateral flow was measured with radioactive microspheres, area at risk was assessed with monastral blue dye, and infarct size was measured postmortem by triphenyltetrazolium chloride. In vitro, all three MAb bound to canine PMNs, but only MHM.23 and R15.7 inhibited their adherence to keyhole limpet hemocyanin-coated plastic. In vivo, only MHM.23 and R15.7 significantly reduced infarct size after adjusting for the effect of collateral flow. MHM.23 afforded protection in dogs with moderate ischemia (epicardial collateral flow > 0.1 ml.min-1.g-1, infarct size reduced 46%) but not in dogs with more severe ischemia. Only R15.7 was effective in dogs with severe ischemia. Although MHM.23 and R15.7 produced similar inhibition of tissue PMN accumulation, as reflected by myeloperoxidase activity. R15.7 markedly inhibited H2O2 production by PMNs after exposure to platelet-activating factor, whereas MHM.23 had only a minimal effect. The effectiveness of different anti-CD18 MAb in preventing reperfusion injury appears to be 1) highly dependent on the specific anti-CD18 MAb employed, 2) predicted only partially by in vitro binding to PMNs, static in vitro tests of PMN adherence, or the extent of inhibition of PMN accumulation in vivo, 3) related more to their ability to inhibit oxidant release from activated PMNs, and 4) strongly influenced by the severity of myocardial ischemia before reperfusion.

Specific cross-reaction of IgG anti-phospholipid antibody with platelet glycoprotein IIIa

To study the pathological functions of anti-phospholipid (anti-PL) antibodies, we have analyzed their effect on platelet function. We identified an IgG anti-PL mAb, designated PSG3, which cross-reacted specifically with glycoprotein (GP) IIIa in human platelets and inhibited platelet aggregation. PSG3 bound also to certain polyanionic substances, such as double-stranded DNA, heparan sulfate, dextran sulfate and acetylated-LDL, but not to other polyanionic substances. The binding of PSG3 to GPIIIa was completely inhibited by heparan sulfate and dextran sulfate, indicating that PSG3 recognizes a particular array of negative charges expressed on both GPIIIa and the specified polyanionic substances. Since neither neuraminidase- nor endoglycopeptidase F-treatment of GPIIIa had any significant effect on the binding of PSG3, this array must be located within the amino acid sequence of GPIIIa but not in the carbohydrate moiety. Reduction of the disulfide bonds in GPIIIa greatly reduced its reactivity, suggesting that the negative charges in the epitope are arranged in a particular conformation. PSG3 inhibited platelet aggregation induced by either ADP or collagen, it also inhibited fibrinogen binding to activated platelets in a dose-dependent fashion. PSG3, however, did not inhibit the binding of GRGDSP peptide to activated platelets. These results suggest that the PSG3 epitope on GPIIIa contains a particular array of negative charges, and possibly affects the fibrinogen binding to GPIIb/IIIa complex necessary for platelet aggregation.

Rapid formation of a molten globule intermediate in refolding of alpha-lactalbumin

BACKGROUND

The molten globule state is an intermediate between the native and the fully unfolded states of globular proteins and is purported to be an obligatory on-pathway intermediate of protein folding. The molten globule state of alpha-lactalbumin has been best characterized, but two major issues have yet to be clarified. At which stage of the kinetic refolding is the molten globule state stably organized? And what is the major driving force that stabilizes the molten globule state? We address these questions in this paper.

RESULTS

We have investigated the refolding kinetics of alpha-lactalbumin using stopped-flow CD and fluorescence, acrylamide quenching and pulsed hydrogen exchange NMR techniques. A burst-phase intermediate was observed to form within 15 ms. The intermediate was characterized by pronounced, hydrogen-bonded secondary structure, exposure of hydrophobic surfaces and the absence of tertiary structure. Furthermore, the stability of the secondary structure is the same as that in the equilibrium molten globule state.

CONCLUSIONS

The burst-phase intermediate in alpha-lactalbumin refolding is identical with the molten globule state. Two different models, the hydrophobic collapse model and the secondary-structure coalescence model, of protein folding are discussed on the basis of the present results. The importance of solvent-separated hydrophobic interactions that stabilize the molten globule state is proposed.

Optokinetic after-nystagmus in the human: a comparative study between normals and patients with peripheral vestibular and central disorders

The purpose of this study was to classify various patterns of optokinetic after-nystagmus (OKAN) appearing in normal subjects, and to investigate the difference of OKAN between 147 normal subjects and 55 patients suffering from central nervous system (CNS) or peripheral vestibular disorders, in which 18 CNS disorders and 37 peripheral vestibular diseases were included. Data was divided into three categories by duration of the 1st phase of OKAN, i.e. hypo-response below 10 sec, middle response between 10 and 60 sec and hyper-response above 60 sec. The patterns of OKAN were then classified into six types with nine subtypes according to the following classification. All combinations of duration times of the 1st phase of OKAN toward both directions were then classified into six types, i.e. type 1, bilateral middle responses; type 2, bilateral hyper-responses; type 3, bilateral hypo-responses; type 4, unilateral hypo-response with contralateral middle response; type 5, unilateral hypo-response with contralateral hyper-response; and type 6, unilateral middle response with contralateral hyper-response. Moreover, subtypes "a" and "b" indicated symmetric and asymmetric in both types 1 and 2. Namely, if a relative value of the difference between bilateral responses against the sum of those was less than 20%, it was called "symmetric", otherwise, "asymmetric". Type 3 was divided into two subtypes: no response (3a) and hypo-response (3b). Results were summarized as follows. All combinations of horizontal OKAN toward both sides appeared in the 147 normal subjects. The incidence of each type, i.e. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a plus 3b, 4, 5 and 6, was 10.9, 15.0, 2.7%, 1.4%, 25.2%, 31.3%, 4.1% and 9.5%, respectively. The incidence of type 3, type 3a in particular, was higher in patients than in the normals (p < 0.001). Also, the incidence of type 4 in normals was significantly higher than that of the patients (p < 0.01). Caloric tests revealed unilateral and bilateral canal pareses (CP) in 44 of 52 patients. The incidence of type 3 in the group of patients with CNS disorders was higher than those with peripheral vestibular disorders (p < 0.01). The 2nd phase of OKAN appeared in only nine of the 147 normals and in nine of the 55 patients. However, the 3rd phase of OKAN was observed in only one patient, the duration of which was 80 sec. The appearance rate of the 2nd phase of OKAN in patients was significantly higher than in the normal subjects (p < 0.05).

[Motor initiation difficulty of right upper extremity induced by tactile-stimulation after infarction in the left anterior cerebral artery territory]

We report a patient who manifested motor initiation difficulty of the right upper extremity, which was caused by tactile-stimulation on his right palm or back. The patient was a 62-year-old right-handed man, who showed reduction of spontaneous speech, slight paresis in the right lower extremity, and left unilateral ideomotor apraxia. He initially showed grasping reflex in the right hand, which disappeared in a month. MRI revealed infarction in the left medial frontal lobe and anterior-half of the corpus callosum. He complained that he was not able to initiate to move his right hand after his right palm or back touched something. He showed no paresis, no abnormal muscle tonus, no involuntary movement. Detailed examination revealed that it was an initiation disturbance caused by tactile-stimulation on his right palm or back. We concluded that this phenomenon, motor initiation difficulty, is one of the disturbances among motor process such as motor initiation, maintainance, and termination. The medial frontal lobe seems to manage the execution of motor process, therefore, lesions in the frontal lobe cause disturbance of motor process. And tactile-stimulation has a close relation to the reaction through the medial frontal lobe, thus, frontal lobe lesion may cause a misinteraction which retrieves a wrong reaction from a certain stimulation.

Serum tumor necrosis factor in mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis with macroscopic hematuria in children

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (INF)-gamma levels were measured in the sera obtained from 29 patients with IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA GN), 8 patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and 12 patients with upper respiratory tract infection (URI) without renal diseases in children. The serum TNF-alpha level of IgA GN was 123.0 +/- 175.4 pg/ml, MCNS was 4.9 +/- 4.0 pg/ml and URI was 10.5 +/- 4.5 pg/ml respectively. The serum TNF-alpha level of IgA GN was significantly higher than those of MCNS and URI. The serum TNF-alpha level of URI was on the high trend compared with that of MCNS, but was not statistically significant. Although the TNF-alpha level was related to mesangial cell proliferation in patients with IgA GN, it was unrelated to the grade of mesangial matrix expansion and magnitude of proteinuria. In 17 patients with IgA GN having macroscopic hematuria, the serum TNF-alpha level was 190.5 +/- 201.6 pg/ml, and in other IgA GN patients with microscopic hematuria it was 37.4 +/- 75.7 pg/ml. The serum TNF-alpha level of IgA GN with macroscopic hematuria was significantly higher than that with microscopic hematuria. In 6 patients with IgA GN with macroscopic hematuria, the serum TNF-alpha level was significantly decreased after macroscopic hematuria disappeared. The mean serum IFN-gamma level of IgA GN was 0.3 +/- 0.6 IU/ml, and MCNS was not detectable. Although the serum IFN-gamma level was related to mesangial cell proliferation in patients with IgA GN, it was unrelated to magnitude of proteinuria, the grade of mesangial matrix expansion and also the presence or absence of macroscopic hematuria. We suggest that macroscopic hematuria of IgA GN was closely related to the serum TNF-alpha level.

Basophilic deposits on the cupula: preliminary findings describing the problems involved in studies regarding the incidence of basophilic deposits on the cupula

In this study, the possibility of whether basophilic deposits adhered to the cupulas in the semicircular canals was investigated histologically. Results indicated that basophilic deposits were present in all three cupulas of the semicircular canals. The overall incidence of basophilic deposits in the superior, lateral and posterior semicircular canal cupulas was 26%, 41% and 37%, respectively. The incidence of basophilic deposits bound to the cupulas increased with age. The possible origin of these basophilic deposits on the cupulas and the increased incidence of basophilic deposits with increasing age are discussed.

Initial symptoms and retrospective evaluation of prognosis in Menière's disease

Clinical studies on an initial symptom and a long-term course of vertigo and hearing impairment and retrospective evaluation of the prognosis were performed in Menière's disease. One hundred and fifty-one patients (67 males and 84 females) with Meniere's disease were treated in the Neuro-otological clinic, Kitasato University Hospital from 1990 to 1995. Ages ranged from 17 to 77 years (mean 47.3 years) at the onset of the disease when the first vertigo attack occurred. There were 106 (70.1%) in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and 28 (18.5%) aged 60 years or over. Seventy-eight patients visited the clinic within one year of the onset of the disease, but the mean interval was 4 years and 5 months (the longest was 25 years). The mean duration time for the follow-up studies from the time of their first visit to the hospital was 2 years and 5 months. The bilateral ears were invaded in 19 patients (12.6%) and the mean length of their time course was 9 years and 10 months which is longer than the length in unilateral cases. Several important key points for diagnosis of Menière's disease were investigated in 28 of the 151 cases who had been followed up successfully over a relatively long time course (the mean follow-up time was 7 years and 3 months). Fluctuated or stational cochlear signs, such as tinnitus, hearing impairment and/or fullness in the ear, had started prior to the onset of the first vertigo attack in 17 (61%) of 28 cases. Vertigo without cochlear sign appearing at the onset and cochlear signs were combined later in six (21%) of the 28 cases. Only five (18%) of the 28 cases had vertigo combined with a cochlear sign simultaneously at the onset of the disease. The affected ear was on the left in 15 cases and on the right in seven of 22 unilateral cases. In six bilateral cases the left ear was the first to be invaded in four out of six cases. The interval between the first and second attacks was over 1 year in six of the 28 cases and over 6 months in 10 of the 28 cases. Nine out of the 28 patients had recurrence of vertigo attacks during the first month and five of the nine had a cluster of attacks in the first month. Our study of 28 patients over a long time course revealed eight patients (28.6%) free from the disease. These patients had no recurrence of vertigo for more than 2 years after their last attack, and sixteen (57.1%) of the 28 patients had no recurrence of vertigo for more than 1 year. However, a long period of relief time of more than 2 years in 11 of the 28 patients and a period of more than 1 year was noticed in 16 of the 28 patients. Hearing levels at the middle and low frequencies in the first hearing test were compared with the last test. The mean of hearing levels changed from 38.1 to 36.2 dB after 2 years and 1 month in six cases with the right ear affected and from 34.1 to 45.3 dB after 5 years and 3 months in 15 cases with the left ear affected, but in seven cases with bilateral diseased ears the hearing in both ears became worse, from 25.5 to 57.1 dB in the right ear and from 30.5 to 53.6 dB in the left ear during a period of more than 10 years. These clinical findings should be utilized for diagnosis at the onset of Menière's disease to determine the interval for observation in order to evaluate the efficacy of treatment.

A-72363 A-1, A-2, and C, novel heparanase inhibitors from Streptomyces nobilis SANK 60192, II. Biological activities

Inhibitory activities of A-72363 A-1, A-2 and C, the diastereomers of a neuraminidase inhibitor siastatin B, against various glycosidases were tested in comparison to siastatin B. Despite these compounds differing only in their configuration, each compound showed strikingly different specificities towards the various glycosidases tested. A-72363 C inhibited bovine liver beta-glucuronidase and tumor cell heparanase with IC50 values of 1.6 microM and 12 microM, respectively.

Influence of vestibular organ stimulation on stomach movement and respiration

Some previous investigators have reported controversial results in the stomach movement in response to labyrinthine stimulation (1). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of vestibular stimulation on the stomach movement and respiration in anesthetized cats, and to investigate the differences between increased and decreased responses of the stomach movement. This study used an electrophysiological technique: a bipolar stainless-steel stimulating electrode with a tip diameter of 20 microns introduced chronically into the anterior and/or lateral semicircular canal (2). The intragastric pressure was recorded by using a balloon-transducer system. Respiration was recorded by measurement of the thorax. When the peripheral labyrinth was stimulated, we found conflicting results in that the pressure in the stomach increased several times and sometimes decreased. Respiration usually became irregular or intensified. It seems that forced respiration may be involved in vestibular vomiting but we were unable to induce vomiting.

Effect of a novel histamine H2 receptor antagonist, IT-066, on acute gastric injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats, and its antioxidative properties

The effect of a novel histamine H2 receptor antagonist IT-066 (3-amino-4-[4-[4-(1-piperidinomethyl)-2-pyridyloxy]-cis-2-++ +butenylamino]- 3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione hydrochloride), on acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion was investigated from the standpoint of oxygen radical-mediated lipid peroxidation in rats. Ischemia-reperfusion injury was produced in the rat stomach by applying a small vascular clamp to the celiac artery for 30 min and subsequent removal of the clamp for 60 min. The decrease in gastric mucosal blood flow was not influenced by treatment with IT-066. The antiulcer activity of IT-066 was demonstrated in this injury after intragastric ingestion as well as after intravenous injection. IT-066 significantly inhibited this injury in the presence of exogenous HCl. The mucosal protection by IT-066 was not reversed by pretreatment with indomethacin or nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. The increase in lipid peroxides in the gastric mucosa after ischemia-reperfusion was significantly inhibited by the intragastric treatment with IT-066 at doses of 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg. The total area of erosions closely paralleled the accumulation of lipid peroxide with a significant correlation. A spin trapping method using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide showed that IT-066 scavenged superoxide radical and hydroxyl radical generated by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system and the hydrogen peroxide-ferrous iron system, respectively. IT-066 also significantly inhibited the in vitro increase of lipid peroxide in the gastric mucosal homogenates induced by a free radical initiator. These results suggest that the protective effect of IT-066 against ischemia/reperfusion-induced gastric mucosal injury may result in part from its antioxidative properties.