Effect of local anesthesia on trigeminal somatosensory-evoked magnetic fields

For objective neurophysiological evaluation of the function of the trigeminal system, magnetoencephalography- based TSEF (trigeminal somatosensory-evoked field) assessment would be valuable in providing spatial and temporal profiles of cortical responses. However, this necessitates knowledge of how TSEF varies with trigeminal nerve dysfunctions. We introduced a conduction block of the trigeminal nerve using local anesthesia (lidocaine) to temporally mimic nerve dysfunctions, and monitored TSEF changes. Following an electrical stimulation of the lower lip, a magnetic response with peak latency of approximately 20 ms was identified in all participants. Dipole for the peak was estimated on the post-central gyrus in the participant's own magnetic resonance image. After normalization to Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) space and inter-participant data integration, the summary equivalent current dipole localization among participants remained in the post-central gyrus, suggesting validity of the use of MNI space. Partial anesthesia of the lower lip led to a loss of the waveform characteristics of TSEF for electrical stimulation to the trigeminal nerve. We verified that the 20-ms latency cortical response of TSEF components localized at the primary sensory cortex can serve as a robust neurofunctional marker of experimental trigeminal nerve dysfunction.

De novo uterine sarcoma with good response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy

We report here the extremely rare case of a 28-year-old woman with advanced stage uterine sarcoma arising soon after a cesarean section. She underwent an abdominal cesarean section because of a breech presentation. At the time of the procedure, there were no abnormal findings such as leiomyoma of the uterus in the abdominal cavity. One year later, she was referred to our hospital because of a large abdominal tumor. Transabdominal power Doppler ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a large hypervascular tumor in the abdominal cavity. Her serum levels, for the two tumor markers carbohydrate antigen CA125 and LDH, were elevated, at 219 U/ml (< 35 U/ml) and 862 IU/l (115 U/ml-217 U/ml), respectively. On the basis of a diagnosis of malignant tumor of gynecological origin, exploratory laparotomy was performed, and through biopsy, the tumor was found to be advanced undifferentiated uterine sarcoma. She exhibited a good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, epirubicin, and dimethyltriazenoimidazole carboxamide (DTIC) every 28 days, which was successfully followed by a hysterectomy.

NF-kappaB activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in neonatal asphyxia

Neonatal asphyxia results in hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Previous studies have demonstrated that brain hypoxia and ischaemia lead to the production of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6. Transcription factor NF-kappaB is essential for the expression of these cytokines. We examined whether or not NF-kappaB is activated in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) in neonatal asphyxia by flow cytometry. In addition, we examined the relationship between NF-kappaB activation in PBMC and the neurological prognosis. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the level of NF-kappaB activation in CD14+ monocytes/macrophages of the patients with asphyxia who had neurological sequelae was significantly higher than in the controls, and in the patients with asphyxia who survived (31.7 +/- 7.2%versus 2.5 +/- 0.9%, P = 0.008, and versus 1.6 +/- 1.4%, P = 0.014, respectively). Our findings suggest that NF-kappaB activation in peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes/macrophages in neonatal asphyxia is important for predicting the subsequent neurological sequelae.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital epulis: a case report

Congenital epulis or congenital granular cell tumor, is a benign tumor that has rarely been diagnosed prenatally. We report a case of a large congenital epulis diagnosed at 26 weeks of gestation that increased in size during gestation. Color and power Doppler ultrasound examination showed marked blood flow in the tumor. The tumor could be resected completely following Cesarean section and histologically examined. We discuss the prenatal diagnosis and histogenesis of congenital epulis.

Fetal gastric size in normal and abnormal pregnancies

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this observational study was to construct an ultrasound index of fetal gastric size for the prenatal detection of congenital digestive tract obstruction.

SUBJECTS

A total of 386 fetal measurements were performed in routine ultrasonographic examinations of women with normal singleton pregnancies between 18 and 39 weeks of gestation. Gastric measurements were also performed in 13 fetuses with digestive tract obstruction.

METHODS

The ultrasound plane which included the pylorus and which provided the largest stomach area was used for definition and measurement of gastric area and maximal longitudinal dimension. The transverse section at the center of the gastric corpus was used for transverse and anteroposterior dimensions. Gastric volumes were calculated as a prolate ellipsoid. The gastric area ratio was defined as the gastric area divided by the transverse abdominal area. Biparietal diameter (BPD) and abdominal transverse area were also measured.

RESULTS

The fetal gastric area was significantly correlated with fetal gastric volume (r = 0.91) and gestational age (r = 0.74). However, the correlation coefficient for gastric area with gestational age was smaller than those of the BPD (r = 0.97) with gestational age and abdominal transverse area with gestational age (r = 0.97). Gastric area ratio decreased slightly towards term. The gastric area ratio was below the 95% confidence intervals for the predicted values in all five fetuses with esophageal atresia, and exceeded the 95% confidence intervals in seven of the eight fetuses with duodenal atresia or intestinal tract obstruction.

CONCLUSION

Fetal gastric area correlates with ultrasound-determined gastric volume measurements and appears to be useful in the assessment of digestive tract anomalies.

Ontogeny of fetal rabbit upper gastrointestinal motility

BACKGROUND

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract performs the digestion, propulsion, and absorption of nutrients both pre- and postnatally, although little is known about the development of fetal motility. We evaluated the development of GI motility using a novel fetal rabbit model.

METHODS

Nine pregnant rabbits were obtained and three litters were studied at day 24 (n = 24), 27 (n = 29), and 30 (n = 24) of their 31-day gestation. Under ultrasound guidance fetal position was identified, a spinal needle was percutaneously inserted into each fetal stomach, and fluorescein, labeled with color-coded microspheres, was injected. Two hours later, fetuses were delivered and weighed, and the small intestine was harvested. The absolute length of fluorescein traveled was measured by ultraviolet light optical density and the percentage motility was calculated by dividing the absolute length of fluorescein traveled by the total small intestinal length.

RESULTS

All injected fetuses survived. The length of fluorescein traveled significantly increased from day 24 (8.1 +/- 2.1 cm) to day 27 (18.8 +/- 4.6 cm) and 30 (22.6 +/- 5.2 cm). The length of fluorescein traveled significantly correlated with body weight on day 27 and 30. Calculated percentage motility significantly increased from day 24 to 30. However, percentage motility showed no correlation with fetal weight.

CONCLUSIONS

This study describes a novel rabbit model for the assessment of in vivo fetal GI motility. Motility matured during the last third of gestation when assessed by the absolute length of fluorescein travel and the percentage motility. These results confirm that late-gestation fetuses have developed sufficient motility to propel potential nutrients, drugs, or gene therapy vectors to the small intestinal absorptive surface area.

Effect of hypoxia on fetal rabbit gastrointestinal motility

During fetal hypoxic stress, blood flow is shunted from nonvital to life-preserving organs, including the heart and brain. Reduced oxygen to the small intestine (SI) induces mucosal injury and may contribute to neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). As little is known about the relationship between fetal hypoxia and GI motility, we assessed potential effects in a rabbit model. Twenty-one pregnant rabbits were randomized into two groups, hypoxia (Hyp) and control (Cont). Seven litters were studied at Gestational Days 24, 27, and 30 of their normal 31-day gestation. Under ultrasound guidance each fetal stomach was percutaneously accessed. Fluorescein, labeled with color-coded microspheres for precise fetal identification, was injected. Hyp rabbits breathed 11% oxygen for 1 h after recovery from anesthesia; Cont rabbits breathed room air. Two hours after injection, fetuses were delivered and weighed. The SI was harvested, the length recorded, and the distance fluorescein traveled measured by UV light optical density. Results were analyzed by the unpaired Student test. All injected fetuses (N = 167) survived. The length fluorescein traveled was shorter in Hyp than Cont at all gestational days studied (P < 0.01): Day 24, Hyp = 6.7 +/- 2.0 vs Cont = 8.4 +/- 2.1 cm; Day 27, Hyp = 10.1 +/- 2.9 vs Cont = 19.1 +/- 4.4 cm; and Day 30, Hyp = 16.8 +/- 3.5 vs Cont = 23.1 +/- 5.2 cm. The percentage motility, defined as the length of fluorescein travel divided by total SI length, was also significantly less at all gestational days. Fetal rabbit GI motility was significantly decreased by maternal hypoxia during the last third of gestation. Hypoxia-induced reduction in GI motility may contribute to neonatal NEC.

Human parvovirus B19 in cord blood of premature infants

We investigated whether intrauterine parvovirus B19 infection is associated with premature birth by evaluating parvovirus B19 antibodies and DNA in umbilical cord blood from 76 premature infants. We performed enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to detect B19-specific IgM antibodies and parvovirus DNA. No parvovirus DNA was detected in cord blood sera, and no sample was positive for anti-parvovirus B19 IgM antibodies. Parvovirus appears unlikely to lead to premature birth.

Congenital aneurysm of the muscular interventricular septum in a fraternal case diagnosed by fetal echocardiography

Two siblings with aneurysms of the muscular ventricular septum are presented. Case 1 (the older brother) underwent fetal echocardiography at 26 weeks of gestation. Initially, it was thought that he had a muscular ventricular septal defect; however, postnatal echocardiography revealed an aneurysm of the muscular portion of the ventricular septum. Retrospective review of the 26-weeks gestation fetal echocardiogram confirmed this diagnosis. Case 2 (a younger brother of the first case) was also diagnosed as having an aneurysm of the ventricular septum by fetal echocardiography at 28 weeks of gestation. Postnatal echocardiography confirmed this diagnosis.

Development of gastric emptying in the human fetus

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate stomach size and the development of gastric emptying in human fetuses using ultrasound.

DESIGN

Clinical observational study.

METHODS

The motility and peristalsis of the fetal stomach were studied in 80 normal fetuses between 12 and 39 weeks of gestation. Fetal gastric motility was assessed by analysis of videotaped recordings of ultrasound images of the stomach taken in real time.

RESULTS

Fetal maximum gastric area gradually increased and minimum gastric areas gradually decreased after 20 weeks of gestation. At term, the maximum and minimum gastric area ratios were approximately 13 and 5%, respectively. The change in fetal gastric area, defined as the difference of maximum and minimum gastric area ratios, was relatively constant at 3% from 12 to 15 weeks of gestation to 20-23 weeks of gestation. It increased significantly (to 8%) after 24-27 weeks of gestation until term.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal gastric emptying was quantified and its development assessed during pregnancy. A critical point of gastric development, associated with an increase in the change of gastric volume, was identified at 24-25 weeks of gestation.

Ontogeny of insulin-like growth factor 1 in a rabbit model of growth retardation

Many cases of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) result from placental insufficiency, but the molecular signals accompanying this event are unknown. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a potent mitogen for fetal tissues and is lowered in the serum of human infants with IUGR. The rabbit provides an optimal model for the study of IUGR based on fetal position. To determine if IGF-1 expression is altered in the growth-retarded fetus, this naturally occurring rabbit model of IUGR was used. Four fetal rabbit pairs were harvested on Days 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, and 31 of their normal 31-day gestation; they were identified based on uterine position as normal or growth retarded. Fetal weight was recorded and the serum, amniotic fluid, liver, kidney, and small intestine (SI) were collected. The SI was divided into three equal segments: proximal, middle, and distal. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure IGF-1/beta-actin mRNA densitometric band ratios in all tissues. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure IGF-1 protein levels in the serum and amniotic fluid. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and the paired Student's t test. Weights were decreased in fetuses with IUGR at all time points (P < 0.05), further validating this rabbit model in the study of IUGR. Liver, proximal, and distal SI IGF-1 mRNA decreased during late gestation (P < 0.01). Kidney IGF-1 mRNA increased throughout late gestation (P < 0.01). Compared with their normal counterparts, fetuses with IUGR had a trend toward decreased IGF-1 mRNA in the kidney, liver, and SI at all time points, reaching significance in the liver on Day 27 (P = 0.002). Serum IGF-1 decreased throughout gestation in all fetuses (P < 0.05). Compared with normal fetuses, fetuses with IUGR had lower serum IGF-1 at all time points, reaching significance at Day 27 (P = 0.02). Amniotic fluid IGF-1 was lower in fetuses with IUGR than in normal fetuses, though not quite reaching significance. Compared with normal fetuses, growth-retarded fetal rabbits trend toward depressed liver, kidney, and intestinal expression of IGF-1 mRNA and lower serum and amniotic fluid IGF-1 protein. Serum IGF-1 levels correlate with fetal weight change. Further studies and potential manipulation of fetal IGF-1 are warranted to investigate potential prenatal intervention in the treatment of IUGR.

Effect of dexamethasone on insulin-like growth factor-1 expression in a rabbit model of growth retardation

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The maternal administration of steroids promotes fetal maturative effects in the gastrointestinal tract. To determine if fetal insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) expression is altered in response to maternal dexamethasone administration, this rabbit model of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was utilized.

METHODS

Eight pregnant rabbits received either dexamethasone (Dex 0.1 mg/kg/d intramuscular), or normal saline (Cont) on gestational days 26 and 27. Fetuses were harvested on gestational day 28 or 29 and were identified as favored (Fav) or runt (Runt): DexFav, DexRunt, ContFav, and ContRunt. Fetal weight was recorded and the serum, amniotic fluid, liver, kidney, and small intestine (SI) were collected. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure IGF-1/beta-actin mRNA densitometric band ratios in all tissues. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure IGF-1 protein levels in the serum and amniotic fluid.

RESULTS

Weight was decreased in the Runt fetuses at all time-points (P < .08). The percent weight accretion from day 28 to 29, was greatest in the DexRunt fetus (P < .001), suggesting "catch-up" growth. All Dex fetuses (Fav and Runt) had increased liver and proximal, middle and distal SI IGF-1 mRNA at day 28 and elevated levels in the liver, proximal and distal SI at day 29 compared with control fetuses. The DexRunt fetuses had serum IGF-1 protein surpassing that of the DexFav fetus at day 28.

CONCLUSIONS

This report provides the first description of maternal steroid administration effecting a marked increase in fetal IGF-1 mRNA expression and IGF-1 protein levels in an in vivo rabbit model of IUGR. The growth-retarded fetus appears to be particularly responsive.

A supernumerary ovary of the omentum with cystic change: report of two cases and review of the literature

A supernumerary ovary is a rare gynecological anomaly. Particularly rare is the presence of cystic changes within the supernumerary ovary. We report two cases of neonates found to have a supernumerary ovary resembling an omental cyst. To the best of our knowledge, this report describes the first antenatal diagnosis of an omental cyst with a supernumerary ovary. To explain this unusual occurrence, it is suggested that an omental cyst becomes detached from the ovarian tissue and implants itself in the greater omentum, and that these supernumerary ovaries are of true embryologic origin, and not due to post-surgical or post-inflammatory implantation.

Sonographic evaluation of antepartum development of fetal gastric motility

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the development of fetal gastric motility and emptying. The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of gastric motility sonographically in the human fetus.

METHODS

The motility and peristalsis of the fetal stomach were sonographically studied in 76 normal fetuses at 12-39 weeks of gestation. Fetal gastric motility was assessed by videotaping real-time ultrasonic images of the stomach for periods of 60 or more minutes.

RESULTS

Gastric peristalsis appeared as early as 14 weeks of gestation, and was detected in all fetuses by 23 weeks. The frequency of peristaltic waves was constant, and was 2.2-3 times per minute at 14-39 weeks of gestation. The onset of fetal gastric peristalsis was sporadic and the period with no peristaltic waves was dominant before 24 weeks of gestation. Fetal gastric peristalsis increased and consolidated into long-term clusters from 24 weeks of gestation. The mean duration of peristalsis increased from 4.1 +/- 1.2 min (n = 6) at 20-23 weeks to 14.1 +/- 3.2 min (n = 14) at 32-35 weeks of gestation, and remained constant thereafter.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal gastric motility was quantified and its development during pregnancy was assessed in this study. There was a critical point of development at around 24-25 weeks of gestation when grouped peristalsis was observed in all fetuses.

Prune belly syndrome with penile and urethral agenesis: report of a case

The authors report the case of an infant born with prune belly syndrome associated with penile and urethral agenesis. At 15 weeks' gestation, antenatal ultrasonography showed a fetal giant bladder, congenital hydronephrosis, and oligohydramnios, and at 17 weeks' gestation, a fetal vesicoamniotic shunt operation was performed. A boy was born at 33 weeks' gestation with prune belly syndrome, an anocutaneous fistula, and penile agenesis. A cystostomy and cut-back operation were performed immediately, showing urethral agenesis, no urethral opening, and left renal hypoplasia. Thereafter, his renal system began functioning normally, and a urinary tract infection resolved. The authors speculate that the prune belly syndrome in this patient was caused by penile and urethral agenesis.

Neural network-based PET image reconstruction

In PET image analysis, conventional deconvolution alone will not give sufficient information for a precise study of a localized brain function. In the deconvolution process, which is a type of inverse problem, it is important to confine the solution space by incorporating a priori knowledge such as the tissue distribution given by MR images as well as smoothness in the blood flow distribution profile. An MR-embedded neural-network model is described to reduce the partial volume effect in the restoration of blood flow profiles from PET images.

Diffuse cystic renal dysplasia: nonsyndromal familial case

We report on a family in which three individuals, a male and two females were affected with nonsyndromal diffuse cystic dysplasia of the kidneys. The parents had no renal abnormality. The occurrence of diffuse cystic dysplasia in three sibs born to normal parents suggests autosomal recessive inheritance.

Adenomyosis in a rudimentary uterine horn with intrauterine fetal death: a case report

A case of pregnancy in a rudimentary uterine horn complicated with adenomyosis resulting in intrauterine fetal death without rupture is reported. Although ultrasonographic and hysteroscopic examinations are useful, laparoscopy or laparotomy should be initiated promptly in a case where a pregnancy with a rudimentary horn is suspected.

Skeletal manifestations in Fryns syndrome

We report on a female baby with Fryns syndrome who died soon after birth. The patient had short limbs, coarse face, hypoplastic lungs, diaphragmatic hernia, and acral hypoplasia. Literature review disclosed varying degrees of skeletal manifestations in Fryns syndrome; short limbs may be a component of Fryns syndrome.

Neural network mapping for nonlinear stereotactic normalization of brain MR images

We present techniques of automatic nonlinear transformation of MR images (2D or 3D). A neural network automatically finds the corresponding parts between the subject's brain images and the standard images. By iterative operations, the network generates a set of image-shifting vectors to realize a plastic transformation. For precise matching, a set of markers can be placed manually before starting the transformation on landmarks of the images, e.g., on the anterior-posterior commissural line and on the central sulcus.

Identification of essential arginine residue(s) for Mg-ATP binding of human argininosuccinate synthetase

Human argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) activity was found to be inactivated by alpha-dicarbonyls such as 1,2-cyclohexanedione and phenylglyoxal in accordance with pseudo first-order kinetics. The enzyme was almost completely protected from this inactivation by Mg-ATP and partially by its analogues. The strongest protective effect against inactivation was found with Mg-ATP, followed by Mg-ADP, AMP, adenosine and Mg-inorganic pyrophosphate. These results suggest the importance of arginine residue(s) for Mg-ATP binding. We determined the amino acid sequence of the peptide with the highest specific radioactivity derived from ASS which had been labeled with [14C]phenylglyoxal and then cleaved by cyanogen bromide treatment. The sequence obtained, PEFYNRFKGRNDLM, corresponds to residues 148-161 of the amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA nucleotide sequence determined by Bock et al. [Nucleic Acids Res 11:6505-6512, 1983], and has a high homology with the sequences of ATP-binding sites proposed for several ATP-requiring enzymes.

The heterogeneous distribution of argininosuccinate synthetase in the liver of type II citrullinemic patients. Its specificity and possible clinical implications

The authors analyzed the heterogeneous distribution of hepatic argininosuccinate synthetase of type II citrullinemia in reference to its specificity and clinical implications. The low content of the enzyme in the liver of type II citrullinemic patients is associated with two kinds of the enzyme distribution that can be visualized by means of an immunohistochemical method (Saheki and colleagues. Biomed Res 1983;4:235-238). Among the 25 cases of type II citrullinemia examined, 11 exhibited homogeneous distribution of the enzyme, as in the control livers. On the other hand, 14 presented the clustered distribution, in which the hepatocytes stained positively with antisera to argininosuccinate synthetase formed a cluster among the poorly stained cells. No clustered distribution of the enzyme was present in the liver of control patients either with or without liver diseases. No clustered distribution of arginase and aldolase B was observed even in the liver of type II citrillinemic patients. These results suggest that clustered distribution is specific to argininosuccinate synthetase in the liver of type II citrullinemic patients. From considerations concerning the heterogeneous distribution of the enzyme and certain clinical parameters as well, the authors suggest that the clustered type in type II citrullinemia has a less favorable prognosis with regard to fatality.

Partial purification and properties of neutral PTHase from the cytosolic fraction of rat renal cortex

A possible new enzyme, a cytosolic neutral PTH-degrading enzyme previously described by us, was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephadex G-200 column chromatography and DEAE cellulose column chromatography from the 100,000 x g supernatant of rat kidney. Three active peaks (designated P-I, P-II and P-III) were obtained through a DEAE cellulose chromatographic column. These three activity peaks were interchangeable on rechromatography. Further characterization of the major P-II fraction was attempted. When PTH was used as the substrate, this enzyme preparation (P-II) was inhibited by Ca2+, ATP and glutathione (GSH), but not by trypsin inhibitor, PMSF, E-64, leupeptin, chymostatin or pepstatin. This enzyme preparation could hardly hydrolyze several synthetic analogs containing MCA but not Leu-MCA and Z-Phe-Arg-MCA. When Z-Phe-Arg-MCA was used as the substrate, this enzyme preparation was activated by ATP and GSH, while no activation was induced when PTH was used. These results indicate that the neutral PTH-degrading enzyme seems to represent a new PTHase capable of specifically splitting PTH at certain locations.

Parathyroid hormone-degrading enzyme of high molecular weight in the cytosol of rat renal cortical cells

Using unlabeled bovine parathyroid hormone (b-PTH) as the substrate, the PTH-degrading activity in the 100,000 x g supernatant of rat renal cortex was examined. The PTH-degrading activity showed the highest peak at pH 7.25, along with 3 minor peaks at pH 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5. The neutral PTH-degrading activity of the 100,000 x g supernatant (pH 7.25) was eluted at V0 in Sephadex G-200 gel filtration corresponding to a high molecular weight. The neutral PTH-degrading activity was inhibited by ATP and calcium, but the acid PTH-degrading activity (pH 4.5) was slightly activated by ATP and was uninfluenced by calcium. The cytosolic neutral PTH-degrading activity was not inhibited by PMSF, trypsin inhibitor, E-64, chymostatin, leupeptin or pepstatin, whereas the acid PTH-degrading activity was inhibited by pepstatin, leupeptin, trypsin inhibitor and chymostatin. The neutral and acid PTH-degrading activities most probably depend on different enzymes. The neutral PTH-degrading enzyme is unlike any of the PTH-degrading enzymes so far reported.

Absence of argininosuccinate lyase protein in the liver of two patients with argininosuccinic aciduria

The enzyme defects in two cases of argininosuccinic aciduria were examined at the molecular level by enzymatic and immunological methods. No argininosuccinate lyase activity was detected in the liver or erythrocytes of either patient nor in the kidney or brain of one of the patients even in the presence of high concentrations of the substrate. The titration curve of antiserum to human argininosuccinate lyase with the liver extract from a control subject was not affected by the addition of the liver extracts from one of the patients. Double immunodiffusion analysis revealed a single precipitin line between the purified antiserum and the liver extract from a control, but no precipitin lines between the antisera and the liver extracts from the two patients. These results indicate a complete or almost complete defect of an immunologically cross-reactive material in the liver of the patients.

Level of translatable messenger RNA coding for argininosuccinate synthetase in the liver of the patients with quantitative-type citrullinemia

The translation activity of mRNA coding for argininosuccinate synthetase in total RNA extracted from the liver of three patients with quantitative-type citrullinemia was determined using a cell-free translation system. In two patients, the hepatic content of the enzyme was about 20% of the control value, whereas translatable mRNA level for the enzyme was similar to or slightly lower than those of control livers. In the third patient, the enzyme content was about 50% of the control value, and mRNA activity for the enzyme was low normal. These results indicate that at least in the first two patients, the decrease in the enzyme protein is due either to increased degradation of the enzyme or to decreased translation in the patient's liver.

[A study on the mechanism of production and secretion of HPL (author's transl)]

Our preliminary data suggest that HPL was present in the largest quantity in chorionic villi of 16-18 weeks of pregnancy but the concentration of HPL in mother blood was maximum at 30-40 weeks of pregnancy. To clarify the discrepancy of term of those maximum values, the following experiments were done. The immuno-precipitate caused by the reaction with anti-HPL serum in the crude extract from chorionic villi incubated with MEM medium containing [3H]-leucine was subjected to SDS gel electrophoresis. Three radioactive bands were observed. Their molecular weights were 22000, 29000 and 48000, native HPL is 22000 molecular weights and other heavier molecular weights protein are surmised pre- or pro-HPL. Native HPL was few in 30 min. incubated cases but increased in over night incubated cases. Other heavier molecular weights protein changed into native HPL with the lapse of time. The concentration of HPL in mother blood is surmised to reflect the production of two pro-HPL is syncytium cells, change into free HPL and furthermore their secretion.