[Body temperature changes during combined inhalational and epidural anesthesia].

We investigated the effects of combined inhalational and lumbar epidural anesthesia on body temperature in 8 women for long-lasting lower abdominal surgery. Probes for forehead deep temperature and skin-surface temperatures were placed on the forehead, forearm, fingertip and toe tip on patients' arrival at the operating room. Tympanic membrane temperature was also measured.

GABAergic inhibition of hiccup-like reflex induced by electrical stimulation in medulla of cats.

We hypothesize that the hiccup reflex is actively inhibited through GABA(B) receptor within central connections of the hiccup reflex arc. Because the hiccup-like reflex can be elicited by electrical stimulation to a limited area within the medullary reticular formation, the hiccup-evoking site (HES), electrical stimulation (50-100 microA, three train pulses at 20 Hz) was delivered to HES by means of a metal electrode containing 1.0 mM baclofen, in anesthetized spontaneously breathing cats.

Type IB secretory phospholipase A2 is contained in insulin secretory granules of pancreatic islet beta-cells and is co-secreted with insulin from glucose-stimulated islets.

Stimulation of pancreatic islets with d-glucose induces insulin secretion from secretory granules contained within the islet beta-cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2) may play a role in the distal events of secretory processes in many different cell types. Since intact pancreatic islets have been reported to contain sPLA2, it was of interest to determine the cellular and subcellular localization of the sPLA2 enzymes in pancreatic islets.

Production of eosinophil chemotactic factor by CD8+ T-cells in Toxocara canis-infected mice.

Production of eosinophil chemotactic factor by T-lymphocytes (ECF-L) was examined in Toxocara canis-infected mice. When spleen cells from T. canis-infected mice were cultured in serum-free RPMI1640, ECF-L production was detectable in an antigen-specific manner.

Dynamics of human cardiorespiratory responses to standing on one leg with eyes closed.

The postural control system has been extensively studied in terms of somatic motor function but little is known about its connection with human autonomic function. The purpose of this study was to determine the cardiorespiratory changes in response to the 1-min balance test that was performed by standing on one leg with eyes closed (SOLEC) or eyes open (SOLEO) in 12 healthy young women [mean age 20.7 (SD 3.

Resistance to endotoxic shock in phospholipase A2 receptor-deficient mice.

Mammals possess various types of secretory phospholipase A2, which differ in the primary structure and tissue distribution. The phosholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) recognizes group IB phospholipase A2 (PLA2-IB) and mediates the PLA2-IB-induced biological responses in non-digestive organs, including eicosanoid production and contraction of airway smooth muscles. In this study, we generated PLA2R-deficient mice to define its biological roles further.

Cell adhesion to phosphatidylserine mediated by a product of growth arrest-specific gene 6.

Gas6, a product of a growth arrest-specific gene 6, potentiates proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and prevents cell death of vascular smooth muscle cells. It has been also demonstrated that Gas6 is a ligand of receptor tyrosine kinases Axl, Sky, and Mer. Gas6 contains gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues, which are found in some blood coagulation factors and mediate the interaction of the coagulation factors with negatively charged phospholipid.

Roles of gamma-carboxylation and a sex hormone-binding globulin-like domain in receptor-binding and in biological activities of Gas6.

Gas6 is a ligand for an Axl/Sky receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily and has a structure composed of a Gla domain, four EGF-like domains and a C-terminal sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)-like domain. When examining the role of each domain in receptor-binding and biological activities of Gas6, we found that receptor-binding and mitogenic activities were markedly reduced by inhibiting gamma-carboxylation of the Gla domain, while a Gas6 mutant composed of only an SHBG-like domain retained both of these activities. Thus, the SHBG-like domain is apparently an entity indispensable for Gas6 activities, and gamma-carboxylation of the Gla domain has a regulatory role in retaining the activity of native Gas6.

Requirement of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues for the biological activity of Gas6: contribution of endogenous Gas6 to the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Gas6 (encoded by growth-arrest-specific gene 6) is a gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-containing protein which is released from growth-arrested vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and potentiates VSMC proliferation induced by Ca2+-mobilizing growth factors, but not that induced by receptor tyrosine kinases. In this study we examined the importance of Gla residues for the biological activities of Gas6 and tried to assess the importance of endogenous Gas6 in VSMC proliferation. We demonstrated that Gla-deficient Gas6 lacked receptor-binding and growth-potentiating activities.

[Combined spinal and epidural anesthesia for laparotomy in a geriatric patient with severe obstructive lung disease].

Asthma and heavy smoking are the risk factors for postoperative respiratory distress, especially after general anesthesia. We experienced a case of sigmoidectomy in a geriatric patient with severe obstructive lung disease accompanied by asthma and a long history of smoking. The patient was a 70 year old man with 1 second volume of less than 0.

Flight and echlocation in the ecology and evolution of bats.

Flight and echolocation are key characters distinguishing most bats from other mammals.The number of ecolological niches for bats is limited by the concurent constraints of the mammalian physiology and reproductive system and the high cost of flight and echolocation. The recent discovery of a biomechanical coupling between echolocation and flight highlights the need to incorporate both chracters as parts of a single adaptive complex in future research on the ecology and evolution of bats.

Stress down-regulates experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) but permits activation and localization of autoreactive V beta 8.2+ T cells.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an autoimmune disease inducible by encephalitogenic helper T cells expressing V beta 8.2. In this study, we examined the relationship between the stressor-induced alternation of clinical EAE and the induction of autoreactive T cells using Lewis rats.

A receptor tyrosine kinase, Sky, and its ligand Gas 6 are expressed in gonads and support primordial germ cell growth or survival in culture.

Although a number of growth factors and their receptors are involved in the proliferation and differentiation of primordial germ cells (PGCs), the only factor that has been shown to be active in vivo is Steel factor, a ligand for c-Kit. To identify new growth factor receptors that may be required for PGCs function in vivo, we used an reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-based strategy to screen for protein kinase genes expressed in PGC-derived embryonic germ cells. We report here that one such gene encoding the receptor tyrosine kinase, Sky, is expressed in both PGCs and their supporting cells in male genital ridges after 11.

Nonadrenergic relaxation of the cat cervical trachea evoked by stimulation in the lateral hypothalamic area.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate hypothalamic contributions to control of tracheal tone. We found hypothalamic sites where electrical stimulation (60-90 microA: 1 ms pulse duration: 50 Hz: 5-10 s) and microinjection of L-glutamate (5-50 nmol) produced tracheal relaxation responses along with decreased blood pressure and heart rate in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing cats. Responsive sites were located in anterior (LHAa) and tuberal (LHAt) regions of the lateral hypothalamic area indicating that neuronal cells in those regions are responsible for development of tracheal relaxation.

Identification of the product of growth arrest-specific gene 6 as a common ligand for Axl, Sky, and Mer receptor tyrosine kinases.

Axl, Sky, and Mer, members of an Axl/Sky receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily, are typified by the cell adhesion molecule-related extracellular domain. The product of growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6), structurally homologous to the anticoagulant protein S, was recently identified as the ligand for Axl and Sky, but the ligand for Mer remained unknown. We have now obtained evidence that Gas6 can also function as a ligand for Mer.

Response of tracheal smooth muscle tone to lower brain stem hypoxia in dogs.

We examined effects of central hypoxia on tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) tone, phrenic nerve activity (PNA) and blood pressure (BP) in decerebrated, paralysed, and artificially ventilated dogs. Central hypoxia was induced by injection of N2-saturated saline (5 ml; PO, 25-32 torr) through a catheter in the vertebral artery. The effects of central hypoxia were compared with the responses to central chemoreceptors stimulation, namely central hypercapnia induced by intravertebral injection of high CO2 saline (5 ml; PCO2 90-100 torr, PO2 80-120 torr, pH 7.

Prevention of growth arrest-induced cell death of vascular smooth muscle cells by a product of growth arrest-specific gene, gas6.

We have purified Gas6 as a growth-potentiating factor for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) [Nakano, T. et al. (1995) J.

Characterization of a high-affinity and specific binding site for Gas6.

We have purified a novel growth-potentiating factor and demonstrated that the factor is coded by the gas6 gene. Moreover, we have suggested the presence of a Gas6 receptor on rat vascular smooth muscle cells. In this study, we further analyzed the binding of Gas6 to its receptor.

Cardiorespiratory changes when balancing one's whole body on one leg with eyes closed.

Postural control system has been extensively studied in terms of somatic motor function, but little is known about its connection with human autonomic function. The purpose of this study was to determine the cardiorespiratory changes in response to the 3-min load that was performed by balancing one's whole body on one leg with eyes closed (SOLEC load) or eyes open (SOLEO load) in 11 healthy young subjects (5 males and 6 females, mean age 20.8 +/- 1.

Differences in motor control in the bronchus and extrathoracic trachea.

The motor control of the bronchus and extrathoracic trachea was evaluated by continuously measuring bronchial diameter and tracheal muscle tension as well as phrenic nerve activity in decerebrated, paralyzed, artificially ventilated dogs. Spontaneous rhythmic changes in bronchial diameter and tracheal muscle tension occurred in phase with phrenic burst during mechanical ventilation and during apnea induced by disconnecting the ventilator. There was a small but consistent difference in the timing of their rhythmic activities; bronchial constriction started at mid-inspiration, whereas tracheal contraction began just prior to the end of inspiration.

Stimulation of sky receptor tyrosine kinase by the product of growth arrest-specific gene 6.

Sky (also called Rse, Brt, and Tyro3) is a member of a subfamily of related receptor tyrosine kinases, including Axl/Ufo/Ark and c-Eyk/Mer. We obtained evidence that Gas6 (the product of growth arrest-specific gene 6) is a ligand of the Sky receptor tyrosine kinase. Gas6, but not protein S (an anticoagulant protein structurally similar to Gas6), specifically bound to the soluble form of Sky (Sky-Fc), composed of the extracellular domain of Sky fused to the Fc domain of human immunoglobulin G1.

Serotonergic cells in nucleus raphe pallidus provide tonic drive to posterior cricoarytenoid motoneurons via 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptors in cats.

Microinjection of serotonin and 5-hydroxytryptamine2 (5-HT2) agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM) in nucleus ambiguus caused excitation of posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscles of the larynx in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing cats. Intravenous administration of 5-HT2 antagonist ketanserin produced complete block of excitatory effect of DOM injection. Electrical stimulation of nucleus raphe pallidus caused excitation of PCA activity, that was blocked by pretreatment of ketanserin.

[Anesthetic management for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy].

A 55-year-old female with dilated cardiomyopathy was scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Pre-operative tests revealed abnormal ECG and hypokinesis of left ventricular wall motion on echocardiography. A detailed medical examination resulted in the diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy, although there was a very mild decrease in cardiac function.