Reversibility of Parinaud syndrome in thalamic hemorrhage

Parinaud syndrome, associated with a left thalamic hemorrhage, disappeared completely in a 57-year-old woman after ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The syndrome may be attributed to increased intracranial pressure owing to mass effect on the pretectal region and tectum, or to tightness in the incisura causing hydrocephalus secondary to aqueduct compression. The lesions responsible for the syndrome may not be irreversible.

Concanavalin A agglutination of bladder cells of rats treated with bladder carcinogens; a rapid new test to detect bladder carcinogens

N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN), which is a potent, specific bladder carcinogen in rats, and its related compounds were orally administered to rats for 1 week. The bladder cells were isolated by the treatment with EDTA and sonication and they were subjected to agglutination assay by concanavalin A (Con A). Bladder cells obtained from rats treated with BBN, N-butyl-N-(3-carboxypropyl)nitrosamine (BCPN), N-ethyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (EHBN) and N-butyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)nitrosamine (BHEN) were agglutination-positive, while those cells treated with N-tert-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (t-BBH) and N-butyl-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (BHPN) were negative. Results obtained by this method were highly correlated with the known carcinogenicity of BBN and its analogues. Therefore, this method could be used for rapid screening of bladder carcinogens.

Saccular aneurysm associated with absence of the left cervical carotid arteries

The authors report successful surgical treatment of a patient with an anterior communicating artery aneurysm associated with absence of all of the left cervical carotid arteries. A review of the previous reports of 15 cases of intracranial aneurysm in association with absence of the internal carotid artery emphasizes the rarity of this lesion. Aneurysms with such an association have a distinct distribution different from that observed in the usual population. The data suggest that intracranial aneurysm develops more frequently in the absence of the internal carotid artery as a result of altered hemodynamics.

Basilar-middle meningeal arterial anastomosis. Case report

A rare case of basilar-middle meningeal arterial anastomosis is reported. Pertinent literature is reviewed and an embryological explanation of this anastomosis is discussed.

Carcinogenicity of 4-nitrosoquinoline 1-oxide and its possible role in carcinogenesis by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide

4-Nitrosoquinoline 1-oxide induced malignant tumors at the subcutaneous site of injection in mice. It affected Escherichia coli to induce the so-called UV-type lesion in cellular DNA. DNA base-quinoline adducts produced by the treatment of mammalian cellular DNA with this carcinogen were proved to be identical with those obtained by the action of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. Although this carcinogen was reactive enough to modify DNA chemically by itself, a different DNA modification took place in a chemical process from thos obtained in the in vivo process.

Subunit topography of RNA polymerase (E. coli) in the complex with DNA

E. Coli RNA polymerase binding to different DNAs (from E. Coli, 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) substituted DNA and poly [d(BrU-A)] was induced with ultraviolet (U.V.) light to form protein-DNA crosslinked complexes. Two independent methods of analysis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS and chloroform extraction indicated the formation of a stable complex between the enzyme and DNA. The complexes were formed under different ionic strength conditions, at low enzyme to DNA ratios in order to approach the conditions of specific binding. In contrast there was no crosslinking of the complex in 1 M KCl solution which dissociates the enzyme from DNA. The efficiency of formation of strongly bound complex was found to be much higher with holoenzyme than with core enzyme. The following results were obtained : 1) The large subunits beta and beta' were found to be bound to DNA. 2) Relatively small amount of sigma subunit were bound to DNA while alpha subunits were essentially not attached to DNA. The high binding affinity of beta and beta' subunits was also observed in the studies of isolated subunits. These results lead to a model of enzyme-DNA complex in which the large beta and beta' subunits provide the contacts between the RNA polymerase and the DNA.

LPS-or 8Br-cyclic AMP-induced production of T cell-activating factor(s) in macrophage tumor cell line J774.1

The macrophage tumor cell line J774.1 replaced the function of normal macrophages in the induction of polyclonal killer T cells with 2-mercaptoethanol. J774.1 does not normally release soluble factor(s) which we have shown to be responsible for the differentiation of T cells to killer T cells. However, stimulation of J774.1 with LPS induced soluble factor(s) for T cell activation. An optimum concentration of LPS for the production of soluble factor(s) was 1 to 10 microgram/ml, which completely inhibited growth of the tumor cells. The production of soluble factor(s) was observed within 6 hr after LPS stimulation and reached its maximum level at 24 hr. Incubation of the cell line with 8Br-cyclic AMP and theophylline induced soluble factor(s), suggesting that LPS stimulation induced an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP which leads to the synthesis of soluble factor(s).

LPS-or 8Br-Cyclic AMP-Induced Production of T Cell-Activating Factor(s) in Macrophage Tumor Cell Line J774.1

The macrophage tumor cell line J774.1 replaced the function of normal macrophages in the induction of polyclonal killer T cells with 2-mercaptoethanol. J774.1 does not normally release soluble factor(s) which we have shown to be responsible for the differentiation of T cells to killer T cells. However, stimulation of J774.1 with LPS induced soluble factor(s) for T cell activation. An optimum concentration of LPS for the production of soluble factor(s) was 1 to 10 µg/ml, which completely inhibited growth of the tumor cells. The production of soluble factor(s) was observed within 6 hr after LPS stimulation and reached its maximum level at 24 hr. Incubation of the cell line with 8Br-cyclic AMP and theophylline induced soluble factor(s), suggesting that LPS stimulation induced an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP which leads to the synthesis of soluble factor(s).

Metabolism of fatty acids and the levels of ketone bodies in the livers of pyridoxine-deficient rats

Lipid metabolism was examined in rats fed a high-protein pyridoxine-deficient diet, and their livers were found to contain large amounts of lipids, mainly in the forms of triglycerides and cholesteryl ester. The contents of ketone bodies in the livers of pyridoxine-deficient and the control rats were similar. Their NAD+/NADH ratios, calculated from the amounts of ketone bodies, were also similar in pyridoxine-deficient and control groups when the animals were fed, but the ratio in pyridoxine-deficient rats was lower than that of control rats when the animals were starved. After injection of 14C-linoleic acid, the amounts of expired 14CO2 in pyridoxine-deficient and control rats were similar. The pattern of incorporations of 14C-linoleic acid into various lipid components of the livers were examined; incorporation into the phospho-lipid fraction was similar in control and deficient rats, but the incorporation into the triglyceride fraction was slower, and the incorporation into cholesterol was faster in deficient animals than in controls.

Echocardiographic features, left heart events and the spatial ventricular gradient in a case with intermittent type A Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

In a patient with intermittent type A Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, the echocardiogram revealed late "double peaked" anterior motions (the former in the late systole, the latter in the early diastole) of left ventricular posterior wall during WPW conduction. In the same condition, phonocardiographic and mechanocardiographic observations indicated a prolonged electromechanical interval, but the external isovolumic contraction time (EICT) and left ventricular ejection time/EICT ratio remained unaltered. In addition, definite but slight alteration in the spatial ventricular gradient was observed. These observations by non-invasive methods present additional informations supporting the concept that conduction abnormalities per se are not responsible for abnormalities of ventricular function unless there is severe underlying heart disease.

Dural arteriovenous malformation in the anterior fossa

A case of dural arteriovenous malformation in the anterior fossa is reported. It first caused a subarachnoid hemorrhage and subsequently an intracerebral hematoma. Pertinent literature is briefly reviewed. Such malformations may be divided into three groups; those involving primarily the basal dura mater of the anterior fossa, the anterior portion of the falx, or the dura mater of the frontal convexity. Principal blood supply comes from the ophthalmic artery with an additional supply from the external carotid system. The treatment of choice is surgical excision with or without artificial embolization of the feeding arteries from the external carotid artery.

An analysis of Wenkebach periodicity during atrial pacing

Seventy-six atrial pacing induced Wenckebach periods in 20 patients were analyzed. They were divided into 5 types according to the manner of increment change of P'V prolongation. Fifty-four % of the periods were atypical (Types II-V). There was a significant increase in the incidence of atypical periods as the length of the periods increased. The recovery curve of the A-V node was obtained by plotting P'V against preceding VP'. The curve was convex and the slope became greater than 45 degrees near the absolute refractory period in the majority of the cases, although there was 1 case in which the slope was less than 45 degrees throughout the curve. The P'V interval was found to be determined mainly by the preceding VP' interval. The mechanism by which these different types of Wenckebach periods develop can be explained by the relationship between the shape of the recovery curve and the pacing rate. The types II, III, and IV periods which have been dealt with as atypical periods were understood to develop by the same mechanism as type I (typical) periods.

Medical data base system with an ability of automated diagnosis

We carried out an experiment on a medical information system in which a clinical data base is combined organically with computer programs for automated diagnosis. In this system, the parameters for automated diagnosis are devised to be renewed as the contents of the data base (patient's information) increase. This system can be regarded as a data base possessing a kind of diagnosing ability which grows up with time. We have named this system "Intelligent Data Base". The algorithm for computer diagnosis used in this study is based on maximum likelihood method, and each likelihood is weighted with a prior probability of each disease. The discrimination efficiency of this method is logically equal to that of the Bayes rule. First 27 cases were learnt by the system and correct diagnosis was obtained in 78% of the cases. When cases for learning increased to 82, the percentage of correct diagnosis was improved to 95%.

Release of phospholipids from liposomal model membrane damaged by antibody and complement

When liposomal membranes were attacked by antibody and complement, enzymatic degradation of membrane phospholipids was not observed. However, intact membrane phospholipids were released into the surrounding medium in amounts beyond that expected from nonspecific protein-phospholipid interaction. On the other hand, when liposomal membranes were treated with phospholipase A purified from venom of "Habu" snake (Trimeresurus flavoviridis), trapped glucose marker was easily released, but phospholipids or their degradation products were not released into the medium and remained in the membrane structure.

Release of phospholipids from complement-mediated lesions on the surface structure of Escherichia coli

When varying numbers of sensitized, 14C-labeled bacteria were treated with a certain amount of complement, in a fixed reaction volume, 14C compounds were liberated into the surrounding medium in proportion to the number of the bacteria, whereas the amount of the phospholipids liberated was constant regardless of the number of the bacteria even in the range of relative excess of complement. Since it is conceivable that a certain amount of complement might form a fixed number of lesions on the surface of all the sensitized bacteria, the amount of the liberated phospholipids seems to be proportional to the number of complement lesions. The 14C-materials released from complement-attacked bacteria were analyzed by isopycnic sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation and they were mainly free phospholipids and other smaller molecules. A small amount of the smaller membrane proteins were also released as revealed by acid and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These results suggest that the release of phospholipids is due to the displacement of membrane lipids by the complexes of the late acting complement components during their insertion into the membrane lipid bilayer.