Tumor-conditioned medium increases macromolecular permeability of endothelial cell monolayer

The permeation of macromolecular FITC-labeled dextran (molecular weight 70,000) through bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) monolayer, which were cultured for 5 days with conditioned medium prepared from mouse melanoma B16, was increased. However, when BAEC, which were cultured with normal medium until confluent, were treated with B16 conditioned medium (B16-CM) for 30 min, the permeability did not increase. The B16-CM also increased the permeability of the endothelial monolayers of bovine veins and the human umbilical vein, but did not increase that of the epithelial monolayer. The B16-CM did not alter the distribution or content of F-actin on the BAEC. BAEC cultured in the presence of B16-CM for 5 days were detached from the dish, and then seeded into a chamber at one-fifth of confluent cell density. After 5 days of culture in normal medium, the BAEC were grown to confluence and their permeability was increased. These findings suggest that B16-CM increased the endothelial permeability irreversibly without the decrease of F-actin, and that soluble factor(s) which were secreted from the tumor cells participate in the construction of the hyperpermeable structure of tumor vessels in vivo.

Effect of benzyl alcohol on rat skin as a solvent of liquid droplet dispersion ointment

The action of benzyl alcohol (BA) as a major solvent of a liquid droplet dispersion ointment (LDDS), a preparation enabling excellent percutaneous absorption of drugs, was evaluated and compared with Azone and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which are known percutaneous absorption enhancers. Using a water sorption-desorption test, BA was found to increase hygroscopicity and decrease water-holding capacity to the same extent as Azone and DMSO. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) determination of the whole stratum corneum, and its lipids and proteins confirmed that BA and Azone act on the stratum corneum lipids while DMSO acts on its lipids and proteins. Furthermore, DSC and X-ray diffraction spectrum determinations of lipids in the stratum corneum suggest that the action of BA is moderate and reversible. The effect of BA may be one of the factors underlying the high percutaneous absorption found with LDDS.

Detailed examination of vascular lesions triggered by an inhibitor of endothelium-derived relaxing factor

BACKGROUND

Inhibition of an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) may contribute to the pathogenesis of thrombotic arterial occlusions.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We measured the blood pressure and urinary excretion of protein, sodium, and potassium and histologically examined the brains, hearts, and kidneys in normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) fed on a diet containing: (a) EDRF inhibitor (L-N-nitroarginine:L-NNA); (b) L-arginine, which reverses the effect of L-NNA; or (c) both L-NNA and L-arginine for 1 to 8 weeks. In addition, we examined L-NNA-treated SHRSP, the blood pressures of which were lowered using hydralazine. Furthermore, we produced and examined Goldblatt's renal hypertensive rats, which are of a different type from those resulting from the L-NNA treatment.

RESULTS

Both WKY and SHRSP rats fed on a diet containing L-NNA suffered from hypertension and cerebral infarctions in a dose-dependent manner. Cerebral infarctions occurred whether or not SHRSP rats were treated with an antihypertensive agent when they were fed a high dosage of L-NNA. In contrast, SHRSP rats, treated simultaneously with both L-NNA and L-arginine, suffered few cerebral infarctions, although they were severely hypertensive. In addition, there were no cerebral infarctions in Goldblatt's renal hypertensive rats, although they suffered from advanced hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicate that the inhibition of EDRF injures the vessel walls and encourages platelet adhesion to the damaged areas. The adhering platelets narrow the lumen with resultant thrombotic arterial occlusions. Pathophysiologic conditions that decrease EDRF synthesis appear to play an important role in cerebral, renal, and myocardial infarctions.

[A case report of the radical correction of a truncus arteriosus and peripheral pulmonary stenosis in association with Holt-Oram syndrome]

A one year and 6 months old female infant was admitted to our department for a radical correction of a truncus arteriosus (Collett-Edwards type II). She also had a peripheral pulmonary stenosis and Holt-Oram syndrome. Under a cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermia, PFO was closed directly. First of all, the pulmonary arteries were dissected from the aorta, the defect of the aorta was closed directly and VSD was closed with Dacron fabric patch. The reconstruction of the pulmonary arteries were performed with valved conduit which consisted of Dacron graft and 14 mm Björk-Shily valve. The post-operative course was uneventful. Cardiac catheterization study, done 77 days after surgery, revealed 44 mmHg of pressure gradient between RV outflow tract and right PA. The patient was doing well and two years have passed since the surgery. She should be observed carefully at the out-patient clinic due to the mechanical valve and the presence of pressure gradient at RV outflow tract.

Effects of oxatomide and KW-4679 on acetylcholine-induced responses in the isolated acini of guinea pig nasal glands

The antiallergic drugs oxatomide and KW-4679 were assessed to show inhibitory effects on ionic currents and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) increase induced by acetylcholine (ACh) in isolated acini of the guinea pig nasal gland. Both K+ and Cl- currents evoked by ACh were inhibited by addition of oxatomide and KW-4679 at the concentration of 10(-5) M. KW-4679 (10(-5) M) inhibited the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by ACh, whereas no effect of oxatomide (10(-5) M) on Ca2+ responses was observed. These findings suggest that both drugs suppress electrolyte and fluid secretion in the nasal glands by different mechanisms.

[Anesthesia in a patient with epidermolysis bullosa]

A 6-year-old-boy with epidermolysis bullosa underwent plastic surgeries for the scar contraction of hands. Anesthesia was induced with inhalation of sevoflurane in combination with nitrous oxide and oxygen. The tracheal was not intubated. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen with continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine. The courses of anesthesia and the operations were uneventful. The most important point in the anesthetic management of the patient with this disease is to avoid mechanical stimulation to skin and mucous membrane.

Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors enhance neurite outgrowth in cultured rat spinal cord neurons

We have studied neurotrophic effects of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on explanted ventral and dorsal spinal cord cultures from 13- and 14-day-old rat embryos. Cultures treated with aFGF and bFGF significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth with cultures of ventral spinal cord, but not with cultures of dorsal spinal cord. Our data suggest that aFGF and bFGF are potent neurotrophic factors on rat ventral spinal cord neurons in vitro.

Oral syndrome: an incomplete form of cheiro-oral syndrome?

Cheiro-oral syndrome is a sensory disturbance observed around the corner of the mouth and the palm of the hand on the same side. We had an opportunity to observe a patient in whom sensory disturbance was limited only around the corner of the left mouth but not the hands or other findings. Computed tomography of the brain showed a low density area in the right thalamus. Could our case be called oral syndrome: incomplete form of cheiro-oral syndrome? We have to ask whether the our case is an oral syndrome or whether our case has to be regarded as a thalamic infarction.

Single-laser three-color immunolabeling of a histological section by laser scanning microscopy: application to senile plaque-related structures in post-mortem human brain tissue

We describe a method for observing three-color immunofluorescence simultaneously in a histological section under a confocal laser scanning microscope. In this study we investigated the spatial relationship of blood vessels, reactive microglia, and amyloid beta-protein (A beta) deposits in post-mortem brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer's disease. HLA-DR was employed as a marker for activated microglia and von Willebrand factor (vWF) as a marker for vascular endothelial cells. HLA-DR was labeled with R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) and vWF with fluorescein isothiocyanate. A beta-protein was immunostained with the tandem conjugate of R-PE and cyanin 5. Three images were obtained serially by scanning a tissue section with a 488-nm laser beam in combination with an appropriate emission filter for each fluorochrome. Overlaying of these three images permitted simultaneous observation of three distinct structures: activated microglia, blood vessels, and A beta deposits. This technique provides an improved way to study the localization of three different antigens in a single tissue section.

In vivo evidence for progressive activation of parathyroid hormone-related peptide gene transcription with tumor growth and stimulation of osteoblastic bone formation at an early stage of humoral hypercalcemia of cancer

The present study was undertaken to clarify in vivo the temporal profile of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHRP) gene expression as well as bone histomorphometric features as a function of tumor growth, using an athymic rat model associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM). Tumor-bearing animals exhibited hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and increased circulating levels of PTHRP, and died within 3 weeks. Steady-state PTHRP mRNA levels and the transcription rate of PTHRP gene in the tumors were markedly increased with tumor growth. RNAse mapping analysis revealed that both upstream and downstream promoters of the human PTHRP gene were utilized in the tumors and became progressively activated with time. Bone histomorphometric analysis showed that osteoclastic bone resorption was progressively increased throughout the course, whereas osteoblastic bone formation was stimulated more than 2-fold at a very early stage (day 6 after tumor implantation) and then markedly suppressed thereafter on day 12 and day 18 compared with age-matched control animals. These results provide in vivo evidence that PTHRP gene transcription is progressively activated with tumor growth and that activation of osteoblasts does occur at a very early phase of HHM syndrome in contrast to the marked suppression of bone formation at later stages.

Binding mode of phospholipase A2 with a new type of phospholipid analog having an oxazolidinone ring

Inhibition of phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) by a new type of monodispersed phospholipid analog, 3-dodecanoyl-4-phosphatidylcholinohydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinone (oxazolidinone-PC), was investigated by the pH stat assay method using monodispersed 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (diC6PC) as the substrate. The PLA2s used were those from bovine pancreas and cobra (Naja naja atra) venom (Group I) and from Japanese mamushi (Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii) venom (Group II). This new-type substrate analog was shown to inhibit competitively both types of venom and bovine pancreatic enzymes by binding to the active site in a similar manner to the carboxamide-type analog 2-dodecanoyl-amino-1-hexanol-phosphocholine (amide-PC). The binding of a stereoisomer, (R)-amide-PC, to N. naja atra (Group I) and A. halys blomhoffii (Group II) PLA2s was facilitated by the binding of Ca2+ to the enzymes. On the other hand, the binding of (R)-oxazolidinone-PC to the N. naja atra (Group I) enzyme was found to be independent of Ca2+ binding, while its binding to the A. halys blomhoffii (Group II) enzyme was markedly facilitated by the binding of Ca2+ to the enzyme. The binding of (R)-amide-PC to N. naja atra PLA2 (Group I) was markedly influenced by the ionization state of the catalytic residue His 48, whereas the binding of (R)-oxazolidinone-PC was found to be practically independent of the ionization state of this residue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Case report of long-term survivor of advanced gastric cancer associated with peritoneal dissemination successfully treated with cancer chemotherapy]

We reported a case of gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination, which was successfully treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and partial gastrectomy. A 71-year-old female visited to our hospital because of umbilical tumor (Sister Mary Joseph's node). UGI series showed a Borrmann 1 type gastric cancer and laparoscopic examination revealed peritoneal metastasis. Her abdominal cavity was treated with MTX and CDDP and she was given intravenous administration of 5-FU/LV. Repeated laparoscopy revealed complete disappearance of peritoneal seeding, and a partial gastrectomy was done. The histopathological findings of resected specimen showed the significant effects of preoperative chemotherapy. She has been living for more than 2 years with no recurrence after initial chemotherapy.

[Departure map]

Departure maps were developed for the easy recognition of abnormalities on the body surface potential maps. To construct departure maps, mean (m) and standard deviation (SD) was calculated for each lead to a value, such as potential, time-integral value, ventricular activation time, etc. For a measured value (x) of each lead, departure index was calculated as (x-m)/SD. The departure maps demonstrated body surface distribution of the departure index. Areas of departure index > 2 or < -2 were considered abnormal. Departure maps represent the location and extent of abnormal increase or decrease, and are useful for the assessment of myocardial infarction, ventricular hypertrophy, and myocardial ischemia. This technique may be applied to various parameters of body surface mapping.

[Data base for body surface potential maps of normal populations--normal data base by the Japanese Circulation Society Task Force Committee on Criteria for Body Surface Mapping]

In order to evaluate the normal ranges of the body surface potential maps, data from normal healthy subjects were compiled by the Japanese Circulation Society Task Force Committee on Criteria for Body Surface Mapping (Chairman: Shoji Yasui, Nagoya National Hospital). The subjects met all the following criteria; (1) normal physical findings; (2) no heart or lung diseases; (3) no hypertension (160/90 mmHg); (4) normal 12-lead electrocardiogram; (5) normal chest roentgenogram (may be omitted in children); (6) normal findings in exercise test in subjects 40 years of age or older; and (7) no major morbidity. Body surface mapping data were recorded by use of 87-lead mapping systems, HPM-5100, HPM-6500, and VCM-3000 (Fukuda Denshi, and Chunichi Denshi), or 128-lead mapping systems Cardiovision (Tokyo Technological University-Teijin), and Cardiomap (Gakken). To construct the database, each original set of body surface mapping data was copied to an MS-DOS file. Data recorded by a 128-lead mapping system was transformed into an 87-lead system data. Next, each individual data was transformed into a file of common format with a header containing clinical information, and the onset and offset of each electrocardiographic waves. From these secondary files, mean and standard deviation of each electrocardiographic lead were calculated for instantaneous voltages of P wave, QRS wave, and ST-T; time integrals of P, QRS, and QRST; and ventricular activation time, to subgroups divided age and gender. All these data were stored in a optical disk, and also mean and standard deviation for subgroups were stored in a set of floppy disks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Histometric effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor in wobbler mouse motor neuron disease

We investigated the histological effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor on degenerating motor neurons, their axons, and skeletal muscles in 68 wobbler mice with motor neuron disease. Treatment consisted of recombinant rat or human ciliary neurotrophic factor (or a vehicle solution), 1-mg/kg subcutaneous injection, three times per week for 4 weeks after the clinical diagnosis. The number of motor neurons immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide was higher in mice receiving rat ciliary neurotrophic factor (p < 0.03), although the number of choline acetyltransferase-reactive neurons was the same in both treated and untreated control groups. Treatment did not prevent vacuolar degeneration of motor neurons. In mice treated with human ciliary neurotrophic factor, the percentage of axons undergoing acute axonal degeneration (myelin ovoids) was smaller in the entire C5 ventral root (p < 0.02) and in the musculocutaneous nerve (p < 0.04), and the number of myelinated nerve fibers was 30% higher in both nerves (p < 0.01 and p < 0.04, respectively) than in controls. In ciliary neurotrophic factor-treated mice, the biceps muscle weight was 20% greater, the mean muscle fiber diameter was 30% larger, and the number of atrophied muscle fibers was 75% lower than that in the vehicle-treated wobbler mice (p < 0.001 for all three results). The number of terminal axonal branching points and the mean length of motor end-plates were also higher in the ciliary neurotrophic factor-treated mice (p < 0.001 and p < 0.02, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Degradation products of sevoflurane during low-flow anaesthesia

Low-flow (1 litre min-1) sevoflurane anaesthesia was used in 16 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (group LSC, n = 8) or tympanoplasty (group TP, n = 8), and concentrations of sevoflurane degradation products were measured. Degradation products in the circuit were measured hourly, and end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration, inspired and end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations, and carbon dioxide elimination were monitored. The only degradation product detected was CF2=C(CF3)-O-CH2F (compound A). The mean maximum concentrations of compound A were 21.6 (SEM 1.6) ppm and 19.6 (0.8) ppm in the LSC and TP groups, respectively (ns). The maximum temperatures of soda lime were 46.4 (0.5) degrees C and 44.8 (0.5) degrees C, respectively (P < 0.05). Hourly end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations and concentrations of sevoflurane degradation products were the same for both groups. Carbon dioxide elimination was the same for both groups 1 h after the start of anaesthesia, but was higher in group LSC after 2 h (P < 0.05). Intraperitoneal carbon dioxide insufflation associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy had no effect on the concentration of sevoflurane degradation products.

Evidence for the uptake of a vitamin D analogue (OCT) by a human carcinoma and its effect of suppressing the transcription of parathyroid hormone-related peptide gene in vivo

The present study was undertaken to clarify the pharmacokinetics of 22-oxa-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (22-oxa-1,25-(OH)2D3, OCT), a vitamin D3 analogue with little calcemic activity, and its effect on the transcription of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHRP) gene in nude mice bearing a human carcinoma (FA-6) associated with humoral hypercalcemia. FA-6 tumor expressed vitamin D receptor (VDR) mRNA, and its nuclear extract contained a specific and saturable 1,25-(OH)2D3 binding activity. Although [3H]OCT administered intravenously into FA-6 tumor-bearing nude mice was cleared from the circulation more rapidly than [3H]1,25-(OH)2D3, the uptake of [3H]OCT into the tumor tissue, relative to the radioactivity in the circulation, was greater than that of [3H]1,25-(OH)2D3. Intravenous or oral administration of OCT reduced the steady-state levels of PTHRP mRNA in FA-6 tumor, and nuclear run-off assays demonstrated that the effect of OCT on PTHRP gene expression occurred at a transcriptional level. RNase mapping analysis revealed that both upstream and downstream promoters of the human PTHRP gene were down-regulated by OCT. Finally, OCT exerted a preventive as well as therapeutic effect on cancer-associated hypercalcemia with a marked prolongation of the survival time in tumor-bearing animals. These results suggest that OCT is effectively taken up by a VDR-positive human carcinoma in vivo and has a therapeutic potential for cancer-associated hypercalcemia through suppression of PTHRP gene transcription.

No allelic association between Parkinson's disease and dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptor gene polymorphisms

Parkinson's disease is thought to be caused by a combination of unknown environmental, genetic, and degenerative factors. Evidence from necropsy brain samples and pharmacokinetics suggests involvement of dopamine receptors in the pathogenesis or pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Genetic association studies between Parkinson's disease and dopamine D2, D3 and D4 receptor gene polymorphisms were conducted. The polymorphism was examined in 71 patients with Parkinson's disease and 90 controls. There were no significant differences between two groups in allele frequencies at the D2, D3, and D4 dopamine receptor loci. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that susceptibility to Parkinson's disease is associated with the dopamine receptor polymorphisms examined.