Increased frequency of the heterozygous switch region of IgA2 in Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy.

The relation between IgA hyperproduction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the immunoglobulin heavy chain switch (S) region was examined in Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) using Southern blot hybridization. Polymorphism in the S regions of IgM, IgA1 and IgA2 (SA2) was detected. A significant increase in the frequency of heterozygous phenotype of SA2 was shown in the patients.

[A case of subarachnoid hemorrhage with sick sinus and advanced AV block].

A 35-year-old man was hospitalized after a sudden onset of transient syncopal attack without accompanying complaints of headache or nausea. He was slightly disorientated but neurologically normal. He had a blood pressure of 150/90mmHg and a pulse rate of 40/min.

Influence of the acute stress on agonist-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the rat cerebral cortex.

1. The present study was carried out in order to elucidate the influence of the acute stress on alpha 1-adrenergic, serotonin-2 (5-HT2) and muscarinic cholinergic (M-Ach) receptors-mediated phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis in rat cerebral cortex slices. 2.

Influence of stress and antidepressant treatment on 5-HT-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat brain.

The aim was to elucidate the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) metabolism in stress situations and in the behavioral improvement produced by chronic antidepressant treatment. Rat cerebral cortex slices were used for the purpose. Forced swimming for 15 min and longer induced changes in behavioral activities of rats associated with a significant reduction of 5-HT-stimulated PI metabolism, without any changes in density and affinity of 5-HT2 receptors.

Coexistence of cholinergic, catecholaminergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmitter markers in mouse clonal hybrid neurons derived from the septal region.

Two clonal immortalized neurons designated SN6.1b and SN6.2a were isolated by limiting dilution from a mouse embryonic septal cholinergic neuronal hybrid cell line SN6 (Hammond et al.

Bordetella heat-labile toxin causes release of radioactivity from smooth muscle cells labeled with [14C]arachidonic acid.

The effect of Bordetella heat-labile toxin (HLT) on cultured vascular or tracheal smooth cells labeled with [14C]arachidonic acid for 3 h was examined. At 37 degrees C, in the presence of Ca2+, HLT induced the release of radioactive substances from the cells in a dose-dependent manner but HLT had no effect on release of radioactivity from cells at 0 degrees C or in the absence of Ca2+. After cells were exposed to HLT, a 2-h lag period occurred before release of radioactivity was detected.

Altered production of IgE and IgA induced by IL-4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with IgA nephropathy.

In order to elucidate the factors responsible for altered immunoglobulin production in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the in vitro effects of IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the synthesis of IgE and IgA by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied. Spontaneous IgE and IgA synthesis by PBMC was significantly increased in patients with IgA nephropathy compared with controls. The maximum amounts of IgA and IgE synthesis by PBMC after stimulation with IL-4 were almost the same both in patients with IgAN and in controls.

In vivo antibody response to mucosal (NASAL) and subcutaneous stimulation of influenza virus in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Anomalies in the production of antibodies have been postulated in the development of IgA nephropathy. In order to study the aberrant immune response in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), an influenza virus vaccine was administered to healthy adults and patients with IgAN to demonstrate if there was any in vivo alteration in the antibody production to mucosal and non-mucosal antigenic stimulation in these groups. The vaccine was administered subcutaneously (s.

Lupus nephritis associated with bacterial panperitonitis and lung alveolar hemorrhage.

A 36-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome due to lupus nephritis. The patient had panperitonitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus as a complication, and an emergency laparotomy was performed. After the operation, the patient developed a massive lung alveolar hemorrhage.

Role of alpha 1A adrenoceptor subtype in production of the positive inotropic effect mediated via myocardial alpha 1 adrenoceptors in the rabbit papillary muscle: influence of selective alpha 1A subtype antagonists WB 4101 and 5-methylurapidil.

In order to elucidate the contribution of alpha 1A subtype to the positive inotropic effect mediated by myocardial alpha 1 adrenoceptors, the influence of the alpha 1A selective antagonists WB 4101 and 5-methylurapidil on the alpha 1-mediated positive inotropic effect (induced by phenylephrine in the presence of a beta adrenoceptor blocking agent bupranolol) was assessed in the isolated rabbit papillary muscle. WB 4101 (10(-9)-10(-7) mol/l) shifted the concentration-response curve of the alpha 1-mediated positive inotropic effect to the right in parallel, but the slope of Schild plot did not meet the competitive antagonism: WB 4101 shifted the curve by log one unit at 10(-9) mol/l, whereas it did not cause further shift at higher concentrations of 10(-8) and 10(-7) mol/l. WB 4101 did not affect the beta adrenoceptor-mediated positive inotropic effect.

[Evaluation of cerebral intravascular blood flow by time density curve study of intravenous digital subtraction angiography].

Time density curve (TDC) can be reconstructed from the data of intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IVDSA). We evaluated peak time (PT) and modal transit time (MOTT) of the TDC as the probable indicator of cerebral intravascular blood flow. Cerebral IVDSA and single photon emission CT (SPECT) were performed on 12 patients of ischemic cerebrovascular disease, which consisted of 3 internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusions, one middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, one anterior cerebral artery (ACA) branch occlusion and 7 lacunar infarctions.

Minimum requirements for renal biopsy size for patients with IgA nephropathy.

In order to clarify the minimum requirements for renal biopsy size for a more accurate interpretation of renal biopsy information by light microscopy, we reanalyzed 92 open renal biopsy specimens in 92 patients with IgA nephropathy retrospectively. The mean number of functioning glomeruli per square millimeter in open renal biopsy specimens from 38 patients with a poor outcome was 1.2 +/- 0.

Increase of CD23-positive cells in peripheral blood from patients with IgA nephropathy and non-IgA proliferative glomerulonephritis.

CD23 is a surface marker of activated B cells as well as a low-affinity Fc receptor for IgE. In this study, we enumerated CD23-positive peripheral blood lymphocytes and evaluated their clinical significance in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Twenty-five patients with IgAN and 16 patients with non-IgA proliferative glomerulonephritis (PGN) were studied.

Heat-labile toxin from Bordetella parapertussis induces contraction of smooth muscle cells in culture.

The ability of Bordetella heat-labile toxin (HLT) to contract various types of cells in culture was examined. HLT from B. parapertussis induced contraction of cultured smooth muscle cells from trachea, intestine, uterus and vas deferens as well as from aorta.

Effects of a cardiotonic quinolinone derivative Y-20487 on the isoproterenol-induced positive inotropic action and cyclic AMP accumulation in rat ventricular myocardium: comparison with rolipram, Ro 20-1724, milrinone, and isobutylmethylxanthine.

The effect of a new cardiotonic agent Y-20487 [6-(3,6-dihydro-2-oxo-2H-1,3,4-thiadiazin-5-yl)-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)- quinolinone] on cyclic AMP levels of rat ventricular cardiomyocytes and the contractile force of papillary muscles was investigated in comparison with selective cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, milrinone (PDE-III selective), rolipram and Ro 20-1724 (PDE-IV selective), and a nonselective inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Rolipram and Ro 20-1724 did not elicit cyclic AMP accumulation and positive inotropy, but they potentiated the isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cyclic AMP accumulation more effectively than IBMX. Rolipram was more effective than Ro 20-1724 in enhancing ISO-induced cyclic AMP accumulation but was less effective in enhancing the ISO-induced positive inotropic effect, indicating that these agents produce a differential action on cyclic AMP metabolism and inotropy.

No increase in antibodies to six food antigens in Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy.

It has been postulated that mucosa-related antigens are involved in the development of IgA nephropathy. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether food antigens have any relation to IgA nephropathy in Japan. Sera from 15 patients with IgA nephropathy and 15 healthy controls were examined using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Idiopathic acute interstitial nephritis associated with uveitis.

A case of acute interstitial nephritis associated with uveitis is presented, An 18-year-old man developed uveitis followed by renal dysfunction. Moderate renal dysfunction (sCr 3.0 mg/dl), and increased levels of urinary beta 2 microglobulin (over 8,000 micrograms/I) were observed.

Physiological and pathophysiological modulation of calcium signaling in myocardial cells.

The relationship between changes in intracellular Ca2+ transients and isometric contractions has been assessed in intact cardiac muscle preparations, superficial cells of which have been microinjected with the Ca(2+)-sensitive bioluminescent protein aequorin. Regulation of myocardial contractility by physiological and pathophysiological intervention is achieved by either (1) modulation of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, or (2) modulation of Ca2+ sensitivity of myofibrils, or both. Regulation of contractility by changes in heart rate a well established frequency-force relationship that plays an important role in the cardiac pumping function in situ is mainly achieved by mechanism (1), other mechanisms becoming involved depending on the range of frequency of stimulation.

[A case of post-traumatic medial longitudinal fasciculus syndrome].

Medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) syndrome recognized 2 days after a head injury is described. The patient was a 48-year-old man who had fallen from a ladder about 3m high. On his admission, scalp contusion on the left occipital area was noticed.

Eosinophilic peritonitis responding to treatment with glycyrrhizin.

A 63-year-old man with diabetes mellitus for 15 years was admitted to our hospital in 1990 because of end-stage renal failure. Five days after beginning continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) he developed an eosinophilic peritonitis (EP). With protein loss in the dialysate and a decreased serum albumin level, the patient developed ankle edema.

Characterization of positive inotropic effect of endothelin on mammalian ventricular myocardium.

Endothelin-1 elicited a positive inotropic effect (PIE) on isolated rabbit, guinea pig, and rat but not on dog ventricular myocardium. Specific high-affinity binding of 125I-labeled endothelin-1 was detected in the ventricular membrane fraction of these species. Maximal binding capacity was the highest in the rabbit, lowest in the dog, and in between in the guinea pig and rat; this rank order corresponds roughly to the effectiveness of endothelin-1 in producing a PIE.

Influence of aging on the contractile response to endothelin of rat thoracic aorta.

Age-related changes in the contractile response to endothelin-1 and ACh were assessed in thoracic aortas isolated from 2-, 6- and 24-month-old male Fischer 344 rats. In aortic strips with an intact endothelium, the maximal contractile response to endothelin-1 decreased with development to maturity. Removal of the endothelium did not affect the contractile response to endothelin-1.

Pharmacological characteristics of adenosine-induced inhibition of dog ventricular contractility: dependence on the pre-existing level of beta-adrenoceptor activation.

Experiments were carried out to characterize the adenosine-induced negative inotropic effect in relation to the extent of beta-adrenoceptor activation in the isolated dog left ventricular myocardium. Adenosine and R-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine inhibited the positive inotropic effect of isoprenaline (10(-7) mol/l and lower) about 20% of its maximal response, which was antagonized by an A1 adenosine receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine in a concentration-dependent manner. The negative inotropic effect of adenosine disappeared and that of R-N6-phenylisopropyl-adenosine decreased when the isoprenaline concentration was elevated to the level higher than 10(-7) mol/l.