Inhibition of cytoplasmic DNA synthesis may be an initial signal for the induction of sexual reproduction in Closterium ehrenbergii

We investigated the effect that inhibitors of cytoplasmic DNA (cytDNA) and/or nuclear DNA (nDNA) synthesis have on the frequency of zygote formation in Closterium ehrenbergii and whether these inhibitors correlate with arrest of pyrenoid production and enlargement of pyrenoidal size accompanying pregametogenesis in the alga. CytDNA inhibitors, ethidium bromide (EB), acridine orange and novobiocin (NB), enhanced zygote formation in the presence of nitrate, and these chemicals correlated with both a decrease in pyrenoid production and an increase in pyrenoidal size. By contrast, a nDNA inhibitor, aphidicolin (APC), enhanced zygote formation in the presence and absence of nitrate, and correlated with only an increase in pyrenoidal size. Meanwhile, inhibitors of both nDNA and cytDNA synthesis, mitomycin C (MC), hydroxyurea (HU) and arabinosyl cytosine (Ara-C), enhanced zygote formation in the presence and/or absence of nitrate. In addition, MC and HU correlated with only an increase in pyrenoidal size and Ara-C only a decrease in pyrenoid production. This result seemed to indicate that MC and HU functioned as selective inhibitors of nDNA synthesis, and Ara-C as a selective inhibitor of cytDNA synthesis. It is suggested that differentiation into pregametes correlates with the inhibition of both nDNA and cytDNA synthesis, levels of which are probably low, the inhibition of cytDNA synthesis being the initial signal for pregametogenesis.

Diazepam-binding inhibitor-like activity in rat cerebrospinal fluid after stimulation by an aversive quinine taste

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) taken from rats after stimulation by an aversive quinine taste (hereafter called quinine CSF) administered into the fourth ventricle of mice suppressed their intake of 5% sucrose solution. We examined the effects of CSF on glutathione-induced tentacle ball formation (TBF) of hydra to determine the change in CSF components associated with aversive taste stimuli. The suppressive activity of quinine CSF on TBF in the presence of 3 microM S:-methyl-glutathione (GSM) was markedly lower than that of CSF obtained from control rats (control CSF). Pronase-treated quinine CSF had suppressive activity similar to that of control CSF. The active principle passed through an ultrafiltration membrane, with a molecular weight cut-off of 30 kDa, but not through one with a cut-off of 3 kDa. A peptide fragment of diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) nullified the suppression of TBF at 3 microM GSM by control CSF. The nullifying activity of quinine CSF was not observed after treatment with a benzodiazepine receptor preparation that was able to bind DBI. When flumazenil, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, was given to mice, the suppression of the intake of 5% sucrose solution by quinine CSF was partially reversed. It is suggested that quinine CSF contains a DBI-like substance.

Fiber-in-tube solid-phase microextraction: a fibrous rigid-rod heterocyclic polymer as the extraction medium

A novel "fiber-in-tube" configuration has been applied to the extraction tube of solid phase microextraction (SPME), and the direct coupling of the extraction process to liquid chromatography (LC) has been accomplished for the analysis of n-butylphthalate in wastewater. By using this fiber-in-tube SPME/LC system the preconcentration factor for the phthalate was about 160 with 20 min extraction and no interference peak was observed in the chromatogram. The results also showed the potential applications of this fiber-in-tube SPME/LC for the analysis of sub-ppb level (i.e., lower than 1 ng/mL) of various organic analytes in aqueous sample matrix without a large solvent consumption during the preconcentration process.

Grooming behavior in mice induced by stimuli of corn oil in oral cavity

Mice show a strong preference for corn oil, which was thought to be elicited by stimulation in the oral cavity. Grooming behavior is known to be induced by dopamine D(1) stimulation in rodents. Therefore, we evaluated stimulation by corn oil in the oral cavity and the contribution of D(1) receptors to corn-oil-induced grooming in mice. Intraoral injection (0.1 ml) of corn oil induced grooming behavior similarly to SKF 38393 (10 mg/kg i.p.), a D(1) agonist, and both were antagonized by pretreatment with SCH 23390, a D(1) antagonist. However, a higher dose was needed for antagonism of the corn-oil-induced grooming compared with that induced by SKF 38393. Long-chain fatty acids, their methyl esters and alcohol, their triglycerides, mineral oil and silicone oil but not glycerin, a short-chain triglyceride, xanthan gum solution, or sucrose solution also induced grooming in mice. Xanthan gum solution, which was suggested to mask oil-like texture, attenuated the silicone-oil- but not corn-oil-induced grooming when injected intraorally as a mixture with an equal volume of the oil (50% suspension). The silicone-oil-induced grooming was reduced by SCH 23390 similarly to that induced by corn oil. These results suggested that stimulation by the oil-like texture in the oral cavity in mice induced grooming behavior and that it might be mediated at least partially via D(1) receptors. Moreover, stimuli other than texture might also contribute to the corn-oil-induced grooming.

[Day surgery for treatment of varicose veins in the leg]

We had surgically treated varicose veins in 554 legs of 386 patients as of June 30, 2000. Varicose veins of the stem or segment type without skin changes were treated with sclerotherapy combined with high ligation, while a part of secondary varicose veins and the reticular or web type were treated with sclerotherapy alone. This paper describes our methods for day surgery for this condition. The most important therapeutic consideration in the surgical procedure is achieving sufficient venous collapse to prevent the occurrence of intravenous thrombus. In our 386 patients, a massive intravenous thrombus that was resected occurred in one limb (0.1%). Postoperative bleeding also occurred in one limb (0.1%) of a patient with severe liver cirrhosis.

[A case of chronic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis causing cranial polyneuropathy and unilateral central retinal vein occlusion]

We presented a 70-year-old woman who developed unilateral visual loss due to central retinal vein occlusion caused by chronic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis. She had developed right blindness with optic atrophy due to chronic intracranial pachymeningitis one year before admission. In June 1999, she noticed visual loss of the left eye. On admission, neurological examination revealed left visual loss and sensory impairment in the first branch area of bilateral trigeminal nerves. Ophthalmological examination revealed central retinal vein occlusion of the left eye. Brain MRI showed dural thickening with gadolinium enhancement of the cavernous sinus near the left optic nerve and dilatation of the left supraorbital vein. There was no compression of the left optic nerve. We suggest that central retinal vein occlusion may be caused by compression of the supraorbital vein by dural thickening. This is the first case report of central retinal vein occlusion associated with chronic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis.

Noninvasive measurement of cerebral blood flow with (99m)Tc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime single-photon emission computed tomography and 1-point venous blood sampling

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The arterial and venous blood concentration of technetium 99m-labeled hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime ((99m)Tc-HMPAO) reaches an equilibration more rapidly than other CBF tracers. We hypothesized that (99m)Tc radioactivity of a venous sample at equilibrium, which is similar to that of an arterial sample, would allow estimation of the integrated input function for the clinical measurement of CBF by use of single-photon emission CT.

METHODS

In 53 patients with stable cerebrovascular disease, the radioactivity of a venous sample 5 minutes after injection of (99m)Tc-HMPAO was correlated with 5-minute arterial blood radioactivity and the first 5 minutes of the integrated arterial curves of the lipophilic tracer. The measured CBF values were compared with those of xenon 133.

RESULTS

The radioactivity of 5-minute venous blood was almost equivalent to that of 5-minute arterial blood (r(2) = 0.987; y = 0.993x + 1.63; P : <0.0001). The correlation between the venous blood radioactivity and the integrated arterial lipophilic fraction was excellent (r(2) = 0.935, P : <0.0001). A strong correlation was obtained between (99m)Tc-HMPAO and (133)Xe CBF values (r(2) = 0.825, P : <0.0001). CBF values were reproducible (coefficient of variation, 8.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

This approach is fast, simple, and an alternative to continuous blood sampling in clinical quantitative (99m)Tc-HMPAO CBF studies.

Electroretinographic assessment of early changes in ocular siderosis

We examined a patient with an iron intraocular foreign body and recorded electroretinograms (ERGs) before and after the removal of the foreign body by vitrectomy. The amplitudes of the rod and cone ERGs and the oscillatory potentials (OPs) in the injured eye were reduced before the operation. In addition, the photopic on-responses (b wave) were more reduced than off-responses (d wave). One year after surgery, the amplitudes of the rod, cone and photopic on- and off-responses were markedly improved to within the low normal limit. However, the OP amplitudes remained unchanged with lower values. These findings suggest that iron retinotoxicity leads to a dysfunction of all layers but the changes may be reversible in the early period of the disease. The late period iron toxicity produces more severe damage to the inner retina than the outer retina.

Preference for vegetable oils in the two-bottle choice test in mice

We evaluated in mice their preference for different vegetable oils using the two-bottle choice test. Mice showed preference for all vegetable oils (at 1% concentration in emulsion) tested, including corn oil, canola oil, and mixed vegetable oil, compared to a control fluid without oil. Mice also significantly preferred highly palatable sucrose solutions (5-20%) in this test. One percent corn oil was selected to the same extent as were these sucrose solutions. Mixtures of 1% corn oil and several concentrations of sucrose were preferentially selected as compared to corn oil or sucrose alone. The concentration-response curves of oil-sucrose mixtures vs sucrose (0.5-20% concentrations) were similar to those of sucrose vs control solutions. These results suggest that 1% corn oil and sucrose at the concentrations tested did not affect each other's preference. Chronic intake of 20% sucrose solution, but not 100% corn oil, changed the preference for lower concentrations of each, and both induced remarkable increases in body weight of mice. In conclusion, we showed that mice preferred vegetable oils, and this preference compared favorably with highly palatable sucrose solutions and was not changed by chronic intake of corn oil.

Indium-111 platelet scintigraphy in a patient with chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation

The authors describe a relation between the in vivo localized consumption of In-111 platelets and results of laboratory tests in a 82-year-old man with an aortic graft prosthesis who had chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation. In-111 platelets accumulated markedly over the abdominal aortic graft with a shortened platelet survival time and reflected changes in hematologic studies, which showed low platelet counts and a high concentration of fibrinogen degradation products in the plasma. If a strong clinical likelihood of local disseminated intravascular coagulation exists, then In-111 platelets may be valuable in localizing the focus of platelet consumption.

Thyroid hormones influence serum leptin levels in patients with Graves' disease during suppression of beta-adrenergic receptors

Leptin is a protein product of the ob gene, mainly produced by adipocytes. Leptin is thought to play an important role in the homeostasis of body weight by suppressing appetite and increasing energy consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of thyroid hormone on the regulation of the leptin system during suppression of beta-adrenergic receptors in Graves' patients. We studied 15 adult female patients with Graves' disease. Thyroid function, serum levels of leptin, and percent body fat (%BF) were examined at four different clinical conditions during therapy (A, untreated; B, beta-adrenergic antagonist only [A, B; hyperthyroid], C, beta-adrenergic antagonist and antithyroid drug; D, antithyroid drug only [C, D; euthyroid]). The use of beta-adrenergic antagonist significantly reduced heart rate in spite of hyperthyroid state, indicating sufficient suppression of beta-adrenergic receptors. During treatment with beta-adrenergic antagonist, leptin percentage of body fat (%BF) ratio significantly decreased in euthyroid state compared to that in hyperthyroid state (from 38.7 +/- 21.3 to 18.1 +/- 19.3, p = 0.003). Moreover, there was a significantly positive correlation between delta leptin/%BF and delta free thyroxine (FT4) (r = 0.51, p = 0.008). Under a euthyroid state induced by antithyroid drug treatment, leptin/%BF did not change in spite of withdrawal of beta-adrenergic antagonist. Our data indicate that thyroid hormones could increase serum leptin level during suppression of beta-adrenergic receptors in Graves' patients. Our data also suggest that the beta-adrenergic action of thyroid hormones might be partly mediated by regulation of leptin.

Effects of oil intake in the conditioned place preference test in mice

We investigated the effects of corn oil intake in the conditioned place preference (CPP) test in mice. Voluntary intake of corn oil in the light box in the CPP test showed place preference, but its peroral administration 60 min before conditioning did not show either place preference or aversion. Acquisition of the place preference by corn oil intake was blocked by i.p. injection of SCH 23390 (0.03 mg/kg) and haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg), but not by that of (+/-)-sulpiride (100 mg/kg), (-)-sulpiride (100 mg/kg), and L-741, 626 (1 mg/kg) 15 min before conditioning. These results suggest that stimulation of corn oil in the oral cavity, but not its postingestive effects, have positive reinforcing effects and the stimulation of corn oil is at least partly mediated via dopaminergic systems through the D(1) receptors. Moreover, the present results suggest that the CPP test is useful for the study of preferable stimulation and rewarding effects of food intake.

[An successful case of combined daily oral administration of UFT and low-dose etoposide for multiple metastases of lung cancer]

The authors treated a 49-year old female patient, who had multiple metastases of lung cancer, by combined daily oral administration of UFT and low-dose ETP. She was admitted to our hospital due to complaints of cough and dyspnea, and multiple nodular shadows were seen in both lungs on chest X-rays. The pulmonary lesion was diagnosed as pulmonary metastasis of lung cancer (squamous cell car) by lung biopsy under CT-guide. She also had bone metastasis of the ribs and cerebellar metastasis from the lung cancer. Combination chemotherapy of UFT 300 mg/body daily and etoposide 25 mg/body daily was performed for 13 months. The pulmonary metastatic tumors were reduced significantly. No side effects of the carcinostatic agents were noted. She is now doing well. Combined daily oral administration of UFT and low-dose etoposide is considered to be safe and effective, and the treatment useful for recovering QOL in advanced lung cancer patients.

Rapid determination of parvalbumin amino acid sequence from Rana catesbeiana (pI 4.78) by combination of ESI mass spectrometry, protein sequencing, and amino acid analysis

The complete amino acid sequence of beta-type parvalbumin (PA) from bullfrog Rana catesbeiana (pI 4.78) was determined by tandem mass spectrometry in combination with amino acid analysis and peptide sequencing following Arg-C and V(8) protease digestion. The primary structure of the protein was compared with that of beta-type PA from R. esculenta (pI 4.50), with which it is highly homologous. Compared with R. esculenta beta-type PA4.50, R. catesbeiana beta-type parvalbumin (PA 4.78) differed in 15 out of 108 amino acid residues (14% displacement), PA4.78 had Cys at residue 64 and was acetylated at the amino terminus, but 25 residues of the carboxyl terminus were completely conserved. Several amino acid displacements were found between residues 51 and 80 (30% displacement), although the functionally important sequence of PA was completely conserved. The amino acids residues of putative calcium-binding sites were Asp-51, Asp-53, Ser-55, Phe-57, Glu-59, Glu-62, Asp-90, Asp-92, Asp-94, Lys-96, and Glu-101, which were conserved in all a and b-types of R. catesbeiana as well as other parvalbumins. In addition, Arg-75 and Glu-81, which are thought to form a salt bridge located in the interior of the molecule [Coffee, C.J. et al. (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 453, 67-80], were also conserved in PA4.78.

Biochemical studies of dopaminergic activation by stimuli of corn oil in the oral cavity in mice

We investigated the effects of corn oil stimuli in the oral cavity on monoaminergic neurones by measuring the amount of monoamines and their metabolites in brains of mice. Intraoral injection of corn oil (0.1 ml) increased dopamine (DA) turnover rate in the cortex 3, 5 and 10 min after injection in mice. A significant increase of DA turnover rate was also observed in midbrain 10 min after the corn oil injection. Turnover rates of noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT) were not affected by the corn oil injection in any of the regions or times tested. In the chronic study, DA and 5-HT contents in the left and right cortexes and 5-HT contents in diencephalon in the chronic corn oil-fed group were significantly higher than those in the-control but NA contents were not significantly different between the two groups in all regions. In conclusion, the present results suggested that the stimuli of corn oil in the oral cavity might activate dopaminergic systems in the brain of mice and its chronic stimuli might increase DA contents in the brain. Although 5-HT contents increased in the brains of mice by the chronic corn oil intake, its physiological implication remains to be elucidated.

[Progression of silent cerebral infarction in Japanese: a hospital-based study]

Little is known about the risk factors for progression of silent cerebral infarction (SCI). We evaluated the 5-year change in high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images of the brain in 50 asymptomatic patients with SCI. SCI progression was evaluated by the sum of the high intensity score (HIS) and the number of new lesions found on reexamination. Progression of SCI was seen in 19 patients (38%) on the 5-year follow-up examination. The baseline HIS in the whole brain was 8.02 +/- 6.93 and the follow-up HIS was 8.7 +/- 7.16 (p < 0.001). SCI progression was frequently seen in the corona radiata (p < 0.02 or < 0.05) or posterior periventricular white matter (p < 0.05). Patients with poor control of hypertension (> 160/95 mmHg) have a higher prevalence of SCI progression (9/12 (75%) vs. 10/38 (26.3%); OR = 8.4, p < 0.005) than the patients with effective control of BP (< or = 160/95 mmHg). The progression group showed a significantly higher baseline-HIS in the whole brain than the nonprogressing group (9.7 +/- 5.6 vs. 7 +/- 7.5; p < 0.05). Neither age percentages of alcohol drinkers, male sex, current smokers, hypertensives, hyperuricemia, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, left ventricular hypertrophy, ischemic heart disease, nor differences in the controls of diabetes and hypercholesterolemia during the study were different between the progressing and the nonprogressing groups. Our data showed that poor control of high blood pressure and the degree of T2 high intensity in the baseline were strong predictors of SCI progression.

A quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method for the detection of leukaemic cells with t(8;21) in peripheral blood

We evaluated the usefulness of a recently developed real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) system to detect minimal residual diseases (MRD) in patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) with chromosomal translocation t(8:21). The method was simple, rapid and reproducible for the quantity of chimeric AML1-ETO (MTG8) transcripts. The ratio of the absolute copy number of a target gene (AML1-ETO) to a control gene (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, GAPDH) was calculated by using a fluorescence curve prepared from amplicons of serially diluted standard RNA. The relative points of MRD in bone marrow (BM) of 8 patients in the acute phase of the disease was from 0.85 to 3.0, whereas those of MRD in complete remission (CR) decreased to below 6.4 x 10(-3). This method was also applied to evaluate chimeric transcripts in peripheral blood (PB) samples. The values in patients with t(8;21) AML were from 0.97 to 2.0 in the acute phase, whereas those in CR showed less than 2.2 x 10(-4). There was 10(-5)-fold difference in AML1-ETO mRNA expression between PB samples in the acute phase and those in CR. The results suggest that we may easily monitor MRD in patients with t(8;21) AML through quantitative analysis of AML1-ETO transcripts in blood samples.

Mutation detection by TaqMan-allele specific amplification: application to molecular diagnosis of glycogen storage disease type Ia and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

We have devised an allele-specific amplification method with a TaqMan fluorogenic probe (TaqMan-ASA) for the detection of point mutations. Pairwise PCR amplification using two sets of allele-specific primers in the presence of a TaqMan probe was monitored in real time with a fluorescence detector. Difference in amplification efficiency between the two PCR reactions was determined by "threshold" cycles to differentiate mutant and normal alleles without post-PCR processing. The method measured the efficiency of amplification rather than the presence or absence of end-point PCR products, therefore allowing greater flexibility in designing allele-specific primers and an ample technical margin for allelic discrimination. We applied the TaqMan-ASA method to detect a prevalent 727G>T mutation in Japanese patients with glycogen storage disease type Ia and a common 985A>G mutation in Caucasian patients with medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency. The method can be automated and may be applicable to the DNA diagnosis of various genetic diseases.

[Animal models of 'anxiety']

Many animal models of anxiety have been reported; for example, Geller-type or Vogel-type anticonflict tests and ethologically based tests without punishment such as a light/dark test, a hole-board test, a social interaction test, an elevated plus-maze test and so on. These models were pharmacologically validated by the evidence that clinically useful anxiolytic benzodiazepines were active, but activities of serotonergic anxiolytics in these models were inconsistent. These models might measure a mixture of several types of anxiety. Many disorders of anxiety are classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) and several disorders can not be treated with benzodiazepines very well. Animal models to evaluate the drugs for the benzodiazepine-untreatable disorders are needed. Graeff et al. performed studies to measure inhibitory avoidance latency from an enclosed arm to open arms and escape latency from the open arms to the enclosed arm as parameters of conditioned and unconditioned fears, respectively, in the elevated T-maze in rats. The latter was suggested for use in the evaluation of drugs efficacious on a panic disorder. A marble burying test as an animal model for an obsessive-compulsive disorder was also reported. However, establishment of the models for these disorders remains for future investigations.

Adenocarcinoma at the esophageal gastric junction arising in an 11-year-old girl

Gastric adenocarcinoma is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, especially among Japanese adults, but represents only 0.05% of all malignant pediatric GI tumors. We report a case of gastric adenocarcinoma arising at the esophageal gastric junction of an 11-year-old girl. The tumor was polypoid, measuring 3.0 x 3.0 x 1.2 cm and was light gray and partially red in color with a stalk. Light microscopic examination of the lesion demonstrated adenocarcinoma of variable degrees of both architectural and nuclear atypia with invasion into the submucosa. Immunohistochemical findings of cytokeratin subtypes revealed positive immunoreactivity for cytokeratin subtypes 8, 19 and 20 and negative for 5/6/18, 7, 13 and 14, which is consistent with those of gastric adenocarcinoma. The patient was alive and well 12 months postoperatively.

Detection of apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells in vivo during differentiation-induction with all-trans retinoic acid in combination with chemotherapy

In two patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in combination with chemotherapy, we demonstrated that cells with apoptotic morphology were recognized in a small fraction of whole blood cells (0.2-0.4%) at the regression phase of leukocytosis with mostly maturing aberrant granulocytes of APL clone origin. Moreover, in a light-density cell fraction ( < 1.077) of peripheral blood or marrow cells obtained from three patients, DNA fragmentation was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis temporarily. These findings may suggest that, during the treatment with ATRA, a small fraction of APL cells maturing toward the stage of terminal differentiation underwent apoptosis in vivo, which might be enriched by the combination of chemotherapy to ATRA administration.