Double suicide in Japan in the post-war reconstruction period, with reference to contemporary Japan

After Japan's post-war reconstruction, in the early 1950s, cases of double suicide, in which two people (particularly young lovers) leave a suicide note and die together, were a relatively frequent occurrence. During the three-year period between 1954 and 1956, 5466 suicides were recorded in the special wards of Tokyo, including 79 cases of double suicides, accounting for 158 deaths. In these double suicide cases (2.89% of all deaths by suicide), the evidence revealed that 65.8% involved lovers and 29.1% involved married couples. By contrast, contemporary data indicate a large drop in suicide pacts between lovers to 15.9% and an increase between spouses to 48.8%. Conceivably, the relatively high double-suicide rate after post-war reconstruction reflected difficulties for the younger generation in reconciling 'marriage based primarily on love' and the traditional family system, specifically marriage problems and stress caused by rapidly changing post-war values. One notable difference between victims of double suicide in 1954-1956 and the contemporary period is the younger average age of the former. Another important shift was found in the most common causes of death among victims of double suicide: in 1954-1956 these were poisoning by cyanide or hypnotic drugs, compared to carbon monoxide poisoning and hanging in modern times. We discuss similarities and differences concerning double suicides in relation to social and economic conditions in Japan in the 1950s and today.

Non-polyalanine repeat mutation in PHOX2B is detected in autopsy cases of sudden unexpected infant death

Background

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), which is caused by PHOX2B with phenotypic variations, has a point of controversy: CCHS is putatively involved in autopsy cases of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) including sudden infant death syndrome.

Objective

The relation of CCHS to SUID cases was investigated by extensive genotyping of PHOX2B.

Methods

We analyzed 93 DNA samples of less than one-year-old SUID cases that were autopsied in our department. Unrelated adult volunteers (n = 942) were used as the control.

Results

No polyalanine tract expansion was detected in the SUID cases. The allelic frequencies of repeat contractions and SNP (rs28647582) in intron 2 were not significantly different from that in those control group. Further extensive sequencing revealed a non-polyalanine repeat mutation (NPARM) of c.905A>C in a sudden death case of a one-month-old male infant. This missense mutation (p.Asn302Thr), registered as rs779068107, was annotated to ‘Affected status is unknown’, but it might be associated with the sudden death.

Conclusion

NPARM was more plausibly related to sudden unexpected death than expansions because of severe clinical complications. This finding indicates possible CCHS involvement in forensic autopsy cases without ante-mortem diagnosis.

Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome with novel KCNQ1 and additional gene mutations

We encountered a boy with Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS) with compound heterozygous KCNQ1 mutations, maternal Trp248Phe and a novel paternal mutation, Leu347Arg. His father showed long QT (LQT) and arrhythmia. His mother was asymptomatic with no ECG abnormalities. The proband and his father had an additional mutation (SNTA1 Thr372Met), which is reportedly related to SIDS. These results suggest that multiple gene mutations influence the phenotype of KCNQ1 mutation-related arrhythmia.

The importance of the rate of pure "attended deaths at home" for objective outcome indicator for assessing the prevalence of home care in Japan

BACKGROUND

No study has yet been performed on the importance of the rate of pure "attended deaths at home," excluding examined deaths subjected to a postmortem examination. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated actual state of pure "attended deaths at home," in order to provide reference data for the future development of end-of-life care at home.

METHODS

We performed a detailed survey in Yokohama City according to the type of death, age, and underlying cause of death in cases of home deaths, based on the detailed version of the Vital Statistics Survey Death Forms. Then, we divided deaths occurring in each municipality in Kanagawa Prefecture into two categories: "examined deaths" or "attended deaths," which were also stratified by the place of death, based on the Vital Statistics, and data on number of death cases subjected to postmortem examination from the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters.

RESULTS

In 2013, the survey in Yokohama City showed large differences in age distribution and cause of death between examined and attended deaths. In 2014, home deaths accounted for 15.7% of all deaths in the prefecture, whereas the overall proportion of attended deaths at home was 6.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

We should utilize the rate of pure "attended deaths at home" for objective outcome indicator.

MicroRNA profiling of gastric content from breast-fed and formula-fed infants to estimate last feeding: a pilot study

Recently, we were consulted about a challenging case, where an infant died by poisoning and the drug-dependent mother insisted that she unintentionally gave the toxic drug through breast milk. Accordingly, we investigated the utility of immunoblotting and microRNA (miRNA) profiling of the infant's gastric content (GC) to differentiate between breast-feeding and formula-feeding. As a pilot study, we sampled the GC from breast-fed (GCB) and formula-fed (GCF) infants, as well as gastric juice (GJ) from fasted adults at autopsy. Breast milk (BM) samples were collected from volunteers within 1 year post-delivery. By immunoblotting, lactoferrin and gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDEP) were clearly detected in BM, but could not be detected in GCB. Similarly, β-lactoglobulin was detected in formula milk, but could not be detected in GCF. Meanwhile, miRNA sequencing revealed that the miRNA expression profile of GCB was closer to BM than GCF and GJ. Especially, miR-151a and miR-186 were more abundant in BM and GCB than in GCF and GJ. Our study is the first to elucidate the human GJ miRNA profile and demonstrate the possibility that miR-151a and miR-186 in GC may be the biomarker of breast-feeding.

Human short tandem repeat identification using a nanopore-based DNA sequencer: a pilot study

Short tandem repeats (STRs) are repetitive DNA sequences that are highly polymorphic and widely used for personal identification in the field of forensic medicine. The standard method for determining the repeat number of STRs is capillary electrophoresis of PCR products; however, the use of DNA sequencing has increased because it can identify same-sized alleles with nucleotide substitutions (iso-alleles). In this study, we performed human STR genotyping using a portable nanopore-based DNA sequencer, the MinION, and evaluated its performance. Because the sequence quality obtained by MinION is considerably lower than those obtained with other DNA sequencers, we developed an original scoring scheme for judging the genotypes from MinION reads. Analysis of seven human samples for 21-45 STR loci yielded an average of 857 thousand reads per sample, and the accuracy of genotyping and iso-allele identification reached 75.7% and 82%, respectively. Although the accuracy is higher than that reported previously, further improvements are required before this method can be practically applied.

A descriptive study of solitary death in Yokohama City

BACKGROUND

The solitary death rate in Japan is expected to continue increasing because of its growing super-aged society and the rapid growth of home care in the country. To accurately determine the actual status of solitary deaths, we used a novel analysis method of combining vital statistics and ambulatory care information in Yokohama City.

METHODS

Data of persons who died at home in 2013 were obtained from death certificate notifications. We also obtained the emergency transportation records that matched the cases of these death certificate notifications. Then, we gathered information regarding age, gender, marital status, and cause of death for the matched cases.

RESULTS

There were 1890 "suspected unnatural deaths," in which most solitary deaths could be included, among all citizens who died at home (n = 4847). We were able to match 1503 of these cases with emergency transportation records. These 1503 cases were divided into two groups, "solitary death" (n = 349) and "un-solitary death" (n = 1154) according to the postmortem interval until finding (PMI-f). Pearson's χ2 tests conducted for the two groups revealed that there were significant differences regarding the proportion of persons who were elderly, unmarried, male, and had a hepatic disease and senility. A logistic regression analysis also showed that an increased likelihood of a prolonged PMI-f was associated with males and an unmarried status with hepatic diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Unmarried, male sex, and liver diseases are independent risks for solitary death in Yokohama City.

Cytokine Elevation in Sudden Death With Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Case Report of 2 Children

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young children worldwide. Premature birth, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, and Down syndrome are risk factors for high mortality and prolonged morbidity after RSV infection. Conversely, many previously healthy, full-term children are also admitted to the hospital because of RSV, and some of them experience severe sequelae or die due to the virus. Various complications of RSV infection have been reported, such as encephalopathy, encephalitis, and cardiomyopathy. However, the pathogenesis of serious cases in children without an underlying disease has not been elucidated. In this report, we present 2 RSV-related deaths of children who were born at full-term and developed normally up to the age of 19 months. Their cardiopulmonary arrests occurred within half a day after the onset of symptoms, such as cough and high fever. Many postmortem examinations were performed to investigate their unexpected deaths. Histopathological examinations revealed extensive bronchiolitis and mild pneumonia accompanying airway obstruction. Immunostaining revealed the presence of the virus mainly in bronchial epithelia, but not in alveoli. Complete brain edema was prominent, and encephalopathy was developing. Blood tests revealed that the IL-6 level was elevated more than >200-fold above normal, despite a normal C-reactive protein level. Because IL-6 may reflect the severity of bronchial epithelial damage and contribute to brain edema, an extreme elevation of IL-6 may predict the risk for sudden death in children with RSV infection.

Combined effects of multiple linked loci on pairwise sibling tests

The advanced multiplex STR system, PowerPlex Fusion, includes four linked locus pairs. The conventional Identifiler system has one pair of linked loci. Therefore, sibling tests conducted using the advanced system might be more affected by linkage than those conducted using the conventional system. This study simulated single and combined effects of the four linked locus pairs on pairwise sibling tests. Simulated genotypes of 100,000 pairs of full siblings and nonrelatives were constructed according to allele frequencies of the Japanese population. The single linkage effect was evaluated for simulated genotype data by calculating both the likelihood ratio accounting for the linkage between two loci and the likelihood ratio ignoring the linkage. The combined effect was obtained by multiplication of the respective single effects. Furthermore, we investigated the possibility that ignoring the linkage affects subject classification by introducing a scale of the likelihood ratio into sibling tests. The single effect in the Identifiler analysis was 0.645-1.746 times if the linkage was ignored. Overestimations and underestimations were predictable from the identical-by-state status at two linked loci. The combined effect in the PowerPlex Fusion analysis was 0.217-7.390 times. Ignoring the linkage rarely caused a false conclusive or inconclusive result, even from PowerPlex Fusion analysis. Application of the advanced system improved sibling tests considerably. The additional examined loci were more beneficial than the adverse effect of the linkage derived from the four linked locus pairs.

MicroRNA deep sequencing reveals chamber-specific miR-208 family expression patterns in the human heart

BACKGROUND

Heart chamber-specific mRNA expression patterns have been extensively studied, and dynamic changes have been reported in many cardiovascular diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are also important regulators of normal cardiac development and functions that generally suppress gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Recent focus has been placed on circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers for cardiac disorders. However, miRNA expression levels in human normal hearts have not been thoroughly studied, and chamber-specific miRNA expression signatures in particular remain unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed miRNA deep sequencing on human paired left atria (LA) and ventricles (LV) under normal physiologic conditions. Among 438 miRNAs, miR-1 was the most abundant in both chambers, representing 21% of the miRNAs in LA and 26% in LV. A total of 25 miRNAs were differentially expressed between LA and LV; 14 were upregulated in LA, and 11 were highly expressed in LV. Notably, the miR-208 family in particular showed prominent chamber specificity; miR-208a-3p and miR-208a-5p were abundant in LA, whereas miR-208b-3p and miR-208b-5p were preferentially expressed in LV. Subsequent real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis validated the predominant expression of miR-208a in LA and miR-208b in LV.

CONCLUSIONS

Human atrial and ventricular tissues display characteristic miRNA expression signatures under physiological conditions. Notably, miR-208a and miR-208b show significant chamber-specificity as do their host genes, α-MHC and β-MHC, which are mainly expressed in the atria and ventricles, respectively. These findings might also serve to enhance our understanding of cardiac miRNAs and various heart diseases.

MicroRNA Stability in Postmortem FFPE Tissues: Quantitative Analysis Using Autoptic Samples from Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are very short (18–24 nucleotides) nucleic acids that are expressed in a number of biological tissues and have been shown to be more resistant to extreme temperatures and pH compared to longer RNA molecules, like mRNAs. As miRNAs contribute to diverse biological process and respond to various kinds of cellular stress, their utility as diagnostic biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets has recently been explored. Here, we have evaluated the usefulness of miRNA quantification during postmortem examination of cardiac tissue from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Cardiac tissue was collected within one week of the patient’s death and either frozen (19 samples) or fixed in formalin for up to three years (36 samples). RNA integrity was evaluated with an electropherogram, and it appears that longer RNAs are fragmented after death in the long-term fixed samples. Quantitative PCR was also performed for seven miRNAs and three other small RNAs in order to determine the appropriate controls for our postmortem analysis. Our data indicate that miR-191 and miR-26b are more suitable than the other types of small RNA molecules as they are stably detected after death and long-term fixation. Further, we also applied our quantitation method, using these endogenous controls, to evaluate the expression of three previously identified miRNA biomarkers, miR-1, miR-208b, and miR-499a, in formalin-fixed tissues from AMI patients. Although miR-1 and miR-208b decreased (1.4-fold) and increased (1.2-fold), respectively, in the AMI samples compared to the controls, the significance of these changes was limited by our sample size. In contrast, the relative level of miR-499a was significantly decreased in the AMI samples (2.1-fold). This study highlights the stability of miRNAs after death and long-term fixation, validating their use as reliable biomarkers for AMI during postmortem examination.

Pyogenic granuloma associated with Actinomyces israelii

Peculiar findings of orofacial actinomycosis mimicking the clinical appearance of a tumor of the upper gingiva are reported. An 83-year-old man with bleeding of the gingiva visited our hospital. The clinical diagnosis was a benign gingival tumor, and the lesion was surgically removed. Histologically, the excised specimens showed an ulcerative granuloma lesion covered by bacterial colonies consisting of club-shaped filaments. DNA samples were extracted from paraffin sections and examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Actinomyces species. The PCR products examined by direct DNA sequencing demonstrated the presence of Actinomyces israelii. Finally, a pathological diagnosis was made of a pyogenic granuloma associated with actinomycosis. The PCR method aided the early and exact diagnosis of the paraffin-embedded sample of oral mucosal infectious diseases including actinomycosis.

Longitudinal evaluation of immunohistochemical findings of milk aspiration: an experimental study using a murine model

To examine the longitudinal change of pathological findings of the lung and other organs in milk aspiration, an experimental study using a murine model was carried out. Either 0.5 or 1.0 ml cow's milk was instilled into the trachea of rats. From immediately after to 14 days after instillation, the animals were sacrificed, and the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen were removed. The results of immunostaining with anti-human α lactalbumin antibody indicated that not only the lung but also the kidney and spleen showed a positive reaction against the antibody over time. Experimentally aspirated milk was detectable in alveoli until 2 days after instillation. It was also detectable in renal tubules from 1 to 6h after instillation. Macrophages containing granules of aspirated milk were observed in splenic red pulp from 3h to 14 days after instillation. Detection of aspirated milk in other organs except the lung would be clear evidence of intravital milk aspiration and would suggest previous or recurrent milk aspiration.

Toxicological analysis of 17 autopsy cases of hydrogen sulfide poisoning resulting from the inhalation of intentionally generated hydrogen sulfide gas

Although many cases of fatal hydrogen sulfide poisoning have been reported, in most of these cases, it resulted from the accidental inhalation of hydrogen sulfide gas. In recent years, we experienced 17 autopsy cases of fatal hydrogen sulfide poisoning due to the inhalation of intentionally generated hydrogen sulfide gas. In this study, the concentrations of sulfide and thiosulfate in blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and pleural effusion were examined using GC/MS. The sulfide concentrations were blood: 0.11-31.84, urine: 0.01-1.28, cerebrospinal fluid: 0.02-1.59 and pleural effusion: 2.00-8.59 (μg/ml), while the thiosulfate concentrations were blood: 0-0.648, urine: 0-2.669, cerebrospinal fluid: 0.004-0.314 and pleural effusion: 0.019-0.140 (μmol/ml). In previous reports, the blood concentration of thiosulfate was said to be higher than that of sulfide in hydrogen sulfide poisoning cases, although the latter was higher than the former in 8 of the 14 cases examined in this study. These results are believed to be strongly influenced by the atmospheric concentration of hydrogen sulfide the victims were exposed to and the time interval between exposure and death.

A simple method for confirming correct endotracheal intubation in mice

Endotracheal intubation in mice is both a common and important technique. However, it is a difficult procedure because of the small orotracheal size and the success rate is variable. There have been many reports of refined techniques that facilitate intubation but only a few reports have proposed how to verify the proper placement of the endotracheal tube. We describe a novel, safe and reliable method to confirm endotracheal intubation in mice using an extension tube for intravenous infusion. One drop of water was instilled in the extension tube and connected to the end of the catheter used as an endotracheal tube. When the catheter was inserted correctly into the trachea, the water in the extension tube oscillated in synchrony with the movement of the mouse's thorax, indicating correct placement of the catheter. This method was simple, reliable and use materials that are routinely available. This method is helpful for experimental mouse models that require airway access.

Identification of proteins whose synthesis is preferentially enhanced by polyamines at the level of translation in mammalian cells

In Escherichia coli, several proteins whose synthesis is enhanced by polyamines at the level of translation have been identified. We looked for proteins that are similarly regulated in eukaryotes using a mouse mammary carcinoma FM3A cell culture system. Polyamine deficiency was induced by adding an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, alpha-difluoromethylornithine, to the medium. Proteins enhanced by polyamines were determined by comparison of protein levels in control and polyamine-deficient cells using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and were identified by Edman degradation and/or LC/MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry. Polyamine stimulation of the synthesis of these proteins at the level of translation was confirmed by measuring levels of the corresponding mRNAs and proteins, and levels of the [(35)S]methionine pulse-labeled proteins. The proteins identified in this way were T-complex protein 1, beta subunit (Cct2); heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (Hnrpl); and phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (Pgam1). Since Cct2 was most strongly enhanced by polyamines among three proteins, the mechanism of polyamine stimulation of Cct2 synthesis was studied using NIH3T3 cells transiently transfected with genes encoding Cct2-EGFP fusion mRNA with normal or mutated 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of Cct2 mRNA. Polyamines most likely enhanced ribosome shunting on the 5'-UTR of Cct2 mRNA.

Improvement of wastewater treatment performance of the Fukashiba treatment plant

The Fukashiba Treatment Plant Kashima Rinkai Specified Sewage Works has received wastewater from the petrochemical complex (90%) and public sewage of Kamisu and Hasaki town (10%). For this reason, the plant is facing many difficulties in producing good quality effluent. In order to solve these difficulties, we are reviewing the treatment performance and making efforts for its improvement with nitrification inhibition, control of bio-persistent substances and the PRTR approach.

Operation and management of the Fukashiba treatment plant

Since the opening of the Fukashiba Treatment Plant in 1970, the number of industries and the amount of wastewater requiring treatment in the service area have been steadily increasing. In response to the recent economic downturn in Japan, these rates of increase have slowed, but are not decreasing. The pollution load in the wastewater from these industries has decreased and is now stable. Unlike the case of ordinary domestic sewage, the effects of the various types of substances contained in wastewaters delivered from the petrochemical complex to the treatment plant, for example, corrosion, are quite large. Measures to deal with corrosion problems, such as replacement or modification of the facilities, improvement of the efficiencies of facility operation and wastewater treatment, and improvement of measures against odours, are being implemented.

Financial management of Kashima Rinkai Specified Sewage Works

The Kashima Rinkai Specified Sewage Works (KRSSW) is located at the northern side of the Kashima Coastal Industrial Zone, facing the Sea of Kashimanada (Pacific Ocean). It straddles one city and two townships: the city of Kashima, which boasts Kashima Port, a transportation center that was constructed on Kashimanada Beach by digging into the virgin sands, and the towns of Kamisu and Hasaki. The industries located there include steel, petrochemicals, chemicals, foodstuffs, livestock feeds, electric power and machinery metals. Industrial wastewaters with public sewage, except steel industry, are treated by the Fukashiba Treatment Plant which is managed by the Ibaraki Prefectural Government. The financial management of KRSSW is analysed to show its stand-alone condition.

Soybean protein lowers serum cholesterol levels in hamsters: effect of debittered undigested fraction

The undigested fraction (UDF) of soybean protein exerts a marked hypocholesterolemic effect in relation to soybean protein (SOY) in rats. The present study was conducted to confirm whether UDF was effective in hamsters as in rats in combination with different fat sources, either perilla oil (PER) or safflower oil (SAF). Because the hamster, unlike the rat, disliked the bitter taste of UDF, the effect of debittering UDF also was studied. Cholesterol-enriched (0.2%) diets containing 20% protein and 10% fat were fed to hamsters for 4 wk. UDF was more hypocholesterolemic than soybean protein in hamsters regardless of the dietary fat source. The ratio of high-density lipoprotein to total cholesterol essentially remained unchanged. The debittered UDF, without influencing food intake and thereby weight gain, exerted a significant hypocholesterolemic effect comparable with UDF in relation to SOY accompanying stimulation of fecal neutral and acidic steroid excretion. The fatty acid composition of liver phospholipids was influenced by the type of the dietary protein, and both UDF seemed to interfere characteristically more than SOY with the desaturation systems between linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. Thus, the debittered UDF, similar to UDF, exerted a distinct influence on the various parameters of lipid metabolism in relation to SOY.

The diagnostic role of 201T1 SPET imaging in patients with lung tumours: comparison with computed tomography

The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of 201Tl single photon emission tomography (SPET) in differentiating histological types and lymph node sized of lung tumours based on the early uptake ratio (EUR), delayed uptake ratio (DUR) and retention index (RI). We also wished to compare the effectiveness of 201Tl SPET and computed tomography (CT) in detecting lymphadenopathy. We examined 41 subjects using both 201Tl SPET and CT. Fifty-seven lymph nodes were detected and were grouped according to size. The EUR, DUR and RI were determined and analysed using Student's t-test and a P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Lymphadenopathy detected by both 201Tl SPET and CT correlated with the operative findings. There were no statistically differences in the EUR, DUR and RI between the various histological types. Statistically significant differences in EUR were noted between lymph nodes > 5 cm in size and those 3-5 cm in size, as well as between those < 3 cm and > 5 cm in size No significant differences were seen for the RI. The specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of 201Tl SPET were 81.3, 90.2 and 87.7% respectively, whereas for CT they were 81.3, 100 and 94.74% respectively. In conclusion, quantitative analysis with 201Tl SPET was unable to differentiate with accuracy between histological types but it could differentiate between nodes of varying sizes. However, CT had a better specificity and accuracy.

Purification and characterization of recombinant mouse and herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase R2 subunit

Overexpression of recombinant mouse and herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase small subunit (protein R2) has been obtained by using the T7 RNA polymerase expression system. Both proteins, which constitute about 30% of the soluble Escherichia coli proteins, have been purified to homogeneity by a rapid and simple procedure. At this stage, few of the molecules contain the iron-tyrosyl free-radical center necessary for activity; however, addition of ferrous iron and oxygen under controlled conditions resulted in a mouse R2 protein containing 0.8 radical and 2 irons per polypeptide chain. In this reaction, one oxygen molecule was needed to generate each tyrosyl radical. Both proteins had full enzymatic activity. EPR spectroscopy showed that iron-center/radical interactions are considerably stronger in both mouse and viral proteins than in E. coli protein R2. CD spectra showed that the bacterial protein contains 70% alpha-helical structure compared to only about 50% in the mouse and viral proteins. Light absorption spectra between 310 and 600 nm indicate close similarity of the mu-oxo-bridged binuclear iron centers in all three R2 proteins. Furthermore, the paramagnetically shifted iron ligand proton NMR resonances show that the antiferromagnetic coupling and ligand arrangement in the iron center are nearly identical in all three species.

Tyrosyl free radical formation in the small subunit of mouse ribonucleotide reductase

Each R2 subunit of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase contains a pair of high spin ferric ions and a tyrosyl free radical essential for activity. To study the mechanism of tyrosyl radical formation, substoichiometric amounts of Fe(II) were added to recombinant mouse R2 apoprotein under strictly anaerobic conditions and then the solution was exposed to air. Low temperature EPR spectroscopy showed that the signal from the generated tyrosyl free radical correlated well with the quantity of the Fe(II) added with a stoichiometry of 3 Fe(II) needed to produce 1 tyrosyl radical: 3 Fe(II) + P + O2 + Tyr-OH + H+----Fe(III)O2-Fe(III)-P + H2O. + Tyr-O. + Fe(III), where P is an iron-binding site of protein R2 and Tyr-OH is the active tyrosyl residue. The O-O bond of a postulated intermediate O2(2-)-Fe(III)2-P state is cleaved by the extra electron provided by Fe(II) leading to formation of OH., which in turn reacts with Tyr-OH to give Tyr-O.. In the presence of ascorbate, added to reduce the monomeric Fe(III) formed, 80% of the Fe(II) added produced a radical. The results strongly indicate that each dimeric Fe(III) center during its formation can generate a tyrosyl-free radical and that iron binding to R2 apoprotein is highly cooperative.

Ligation and catheterization of the hepatic artery for palliative treatment of malignant hepatic tumors

Eleven unresectable hepatoma patients and three metastatic tumor patients with colonic cancer underwent ligation and/or catheterization of the hepatic artery of the main tumor-bearing zone. Mitomycin C (liquid or microcapsulated) or Adriamycin were administered via the catheter intermittently or continuously with a portable pump device. In follow-up study the tumor size was frequently visualized by arteriography via the cannula. Some tumors became smaller with calcification. The levels of alpha-Fetoprotein of CEA in some cases dropped remarkably and stayed low for a fairly long period. There was no immediate postoperative death. Six of 11 unresectable hepatoma patients survived longer than 8 months with a maximum survival of 17.5 months. Two of three metastatic patients have survived more than 11 months at this writing. This method seems effective for prolongation of patient survival.

Percutaneous needle muscle biopsy in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders in children. Histological, histochemical and electron microscopic studies

Percutaneous needle biopsy was carried out in 75 patients with various neurological and muscle diseases (myopathies in 7, lower motor neuron diseases in 22, upper motor neuron diseases in 6, and unlocalized or miscellaneous diseases in 13) and its usefulness as a diagnostic procedure was evaluated. The ages of the subjects ranged from 2 months to 35 years, 77% were younger than 6 years. The materials were examined histologically, histochemically and electron microscopically with the following results. 1. The muscle volume obtained by needle biopsy was sufficient for studies in 64 cases (85%), insufficient in 8 (11%), while in 3 cases no muscle tissue was obtained. 2. Histological staining properties were excellent in all samples examined. In histochemical preparations, staining was judged as good in 61 cases, but poor in 11 due to an inappropriate freezing procedure. 3. In 33 cases, both needle and open biopsies were carried out simultaneously, and the morphological findings of the specimens were compared. There were no significant differences between them histologically as well as histochemically. Electron microscopic examinations also provided identical information in the seven cases studied so far. 4. The method of needle biopsy has many advantages over open biopsy as a routine diagnostic procedure for neuromuscular disorders in infants and young children, but there are a few disadvantages such as the requirement of technical skill and the inappropriateness for histogram construction in some cases.

The Mechanism of Oxygenation Reactions Catalyzed by Rhodium(I) Complexes in Solution

The mechanism of oxygenation reactions catalyzed by a rhodium complex which forms a 1:1 molecular oxygen adduct has been elucidated by infrared spectroscopy. Hydrogen abstraction from the substrate by the coordinated oxygen is involved, and the data give the first direct evidence for hydroperoxide intermediates in such reactions of d8 metal complexes.