Effect of intravenous omega-6 and omega-3 fat emulsions on nitrogen retention and protein kinetics in burned rats.

The effect of omega-3 fat emulsion on nitrogen retention and kinetics in relation to fatty acid profile were investigated in burned rats receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). A fat emulsion of a structured symmetrical triacylglycerol containing only eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (2:1) was prepared. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed by fat-free chow for 2 wk.

Effects of electrical stimulation of the tentacular digits of a slug upon the frequency of electrical oscillations in the procerebral lobe.

To find the primary mechanism for the frequency changes of electrical oscillations in the procerebral (PC) lobe of a slug, we electrically stimulated the tip, middle and basal regions of the digits of the superior and inferior tentacles and recorded the local field potentials from the PC lobe. Stimuli to the middle and basal regions of the digits of the inferior tentacle significantly decreased the frequency of electrical oscillations in the PC lobe, whereas those to the tip regions of the digits of the inferior tentacle and all regions of the digits of the superior tentacle increased it. These findings suggest that the change in the frequency of electrical oscillations in the PC lobe depends on the excited region in the digits, providing the first presentation of the physiological difference in the olfactory function between the superior and inferior tentacles.

Etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized patients: a 3-year prospective study in Japan.

Study Objective: To compare the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in Japan and Western countries, the causative pathogens were prospectively investigated in patients requiring hospitalization.

Design: Prospective study over a 3-year period.

Setting: A community general hospital in Japan.

Cell survival effect of activin against heat shock stress on OVCAR3.

Activin has been known as the hormone protein which regulates either cell proliferation or cell differentiation. Recently, it has also been reported that activin may have cell survival function. In this study, we have investigated, 1) the expression of inhibin subunits and activin receptors (ActRs) in ovarian carcinoma cell line (OVCAR3), 2) the binding property between activin and its receptors under the exposure to stress, and 3) the effect of activin on cell proliferation.

Diagnosis of measles viral pneumonia in a patient with Hodgkin's disease by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of serum.

We report a case of fatal measles viral pneumonia in a patient with Hodgkin's disease who had no rash. The measles viral cDNA was detected in autopsy tissue from the lung by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. This method was then applied successfully to stored serum.

Effects of intravenous omega-3 and omega-6 fat emulsion on cytokine production and delayed type hypersensitivity in burned rats receiving total parenteral nutrition.

Background: The effects of fat emulsions containing omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on fatty acid profile, cytokine production, and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) in burned rats receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were investigated.

Methods: A fat emulsion containing only eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was prepared (omega-3 fat emulsion). Sprague-Dawley rats were fed fat-free chow for 2 weeks and were divided into three groups according to the contents of TPN.

Pulmonary Mycobacterium avium disease in a young patient with idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia.

A case of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) disease associated with idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia is reported. A rapidly growing pulmonary nodule was detected on a chest roentgenogram in a young man.

Distribution and development of NMDA receptor activities at hippocampal synapses examined using mice lacking the epsilon1 subunit gene.

The effects of targeted disruption of the gene encoding N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor epsilon1 subunit were examined in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell synapses and compared with the effects in the CA3 region. The mutation resulted in the significant reduction of NMDA receptor activities at the synapses in the CA1 stratum oriens, as had been observed in the CA1 stratum radiatum which we reported before. This result was in sharp contrast to our previous observation that in the CA3 region, the epsilon1 mutation suppressed NMDA receptors at the synapses in the stratum radiatum but not in the stratum oriens.

The expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma invaded to the submucosal and proper muscle layer.

The expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 was examined immunohistochemically in a total of 87 colorectal cancer patients. The expression of MMP-2 was in cancer cells: 76.5% (sm), 16.

In vitro determination of direct antimicrobial effect of calcium hydroxide.

The objective of this study was to determine in vitro the time required for calcium hydroxide in direct contact with microorganisms to express its antimicrobial effect. The microorganisms used were: Micrococcus luteus (ATCC-9341), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC-6538), Fusobacterium nucleatum (ATCC-25586), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC-27853), Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus sp. The strains were cultivated in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI), with the exception of F.

[Knockout mouse--its characteristics and application (1): NMDA receptor subunit knockout mouse].

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type of glutamate receptors is thought to be essential in many central actions of neurotransmitter glutamate, including learning, memory, neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent molecular cloning has revealed that the NMDA receptor has multiple subunits with distinct distribution, properties and regulation. This implies that NMDA receptors are different in molecular architecture and functional properties, depending on the brain region and developmental stage.

Effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on endotoxin translocation in burned rats receiving total parenteral nutrition.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on the translocation of endotoxin from the gut of burned rats. Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (7-wk-old) were subjected to 20% full-thickness scald burns and were divided into two groups. One group received 4 mg.

Determination of the p-monochlorophenol residue in the calcium hydroxide + P-monochlorophenol combination used as an intracanal dressing in pulpless teeth of dogs with induced chronic periapical lesion.

To determine the presence of p-monochlorophenol in the calcium hydroxide (Calen) + p-monochlorophenol combination after its use as intracanal dressing, periapical lesions were induced in 60 root canals of upper and lower premolars of four dogs. After biomechanical preparation, the root canals received the intracanal medication, which was removed from the apical third after 2, 4, 7, and 14 days for chemical analysis by spectrophotometry. The results showed a p-monochlorophenol loss of approximately 50.

Effects of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 on protein metabolism, gut morphology, and cell-mediated immunity in burned rats.

The effects of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were investigated in burned rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed exclusively by total parenteral nutrition and were subjected to 20% third-degree scald burns. The rats were then divided into the following three groups: (1) the GH group received GH at a dose of 1 IU.

Synapse-selective impairment of NMDA receptor functions in mice lacking NMDA receptor epsilon 1 or epsilon 2 subunit.

1. We have explored the effects of targeted disruption of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor epsilon 1 or epsilon 2 subunit gene on NMDA receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (NMDA EPSCs) and long-term potentiations (LTPs) at the two types of synapse in mouse hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons: those formed by the commissural/associational (C/A) and fimbrial (Fim) inputs. 2.

[Effects of administration of Clostridium butyricum to patients receiving long-term tube feeding].

In patients who require total parenteral or enteral nutrition the intestinal lining may atrophy and the ability to absorb nutrients may be lost. To prevent atrophy of the small intestine, we administered a suspension of Clostridium butyricum to elderly patients receiving tube feeding, and then measured the activation of serum diamine oxidase and the number, form, water content, and bacteria content of stools, indicators of intestinal structure. We found a significant increase in diamine oxidase activity and an improvement in stool condition: the number of stools per day decreased, form improved, and water content and the number of aerobic bacteria decreased significantly.

Thrombophlebitis of the inferior vena cava involving the retroperitoneum with Crohn's disease: MR demonstration.

We present a case of thrombophlebitis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with Crohn's disease after intestinal perforation and prolonged indwelling of a catheter in the IVC. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated abnormal thickening and enhancement of the IVC wall. In addition, IVC thrombus formation was shown.

[Prospective study of the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia among patients in a general hospital].

We prospectively studied the etiology of community-acquired pneumonia among all patients who were admitted to our hospital from July 1994 to June 1995. Tests for microbial pathogens including Chlamydia spp. and Legionella spp.

Case report. Antenatal diagnosis of chorioangioma of the placenta: MR features.

We report a case of chorioangioma of the placenta, in which MR findings were useful in establishing the antenatal diagnosis. Polyhydramnios and a placental tumor that was 5 cm in size were visualized. The tumor had relatively high signal intensities on proton density imaging and T2-weighted imaging and showed partially high intensity signal rims on T1-weighted imaging, especially when using a breath-holding technique.

Anaerobic microorganisms in root canals of human teeth with chronic apical periodontitis detected by indirect immunofluorescence.

Aiming to assess the presence of selected anaerobic microorganisms in root canals of human teeth with chronic apical periodontitis. 25 central and lateral upper incisors presenting with radiographic evidence of chronic apical periodontitis were studied. The pulp chamber was opened under aseptic conditions and samples of the root canal content were collected with sterile absorbent paper points, which were placed and dispersed in test tubes containing reduced transport medium RTT.

Age-dependent reduction of hippocampal LTP in mice lacking N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor epsilon 1 subunit.

The effects of targeted disruption of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor epsilon 1 subunit gene were studied during the postnatal development of epsilon 1-disrupted mutant mice. Using the mice at the ages of 2-3, 5-6 and 9-10 weeks, we examined NMDA receptor channel-mediated synaptic currents and long-term potentiation (LTP) in CA1 pyramidal neurons of hippocampal slices. NMDA receptor channel currents, expressed as the ratios to non-NMDA receptor channel currents, decreased with the age in both wild-type and mutant mice, but the values in the mutant mice was approximately half of those of the wild-type mice at all ages examined.

Study of the correlation between the gingival immunologic defense index and parameters associated with dental caries.

The objective of the present study was to determine the possible existence of a correlation between the gingival immunologic defense index (GIDI) and parameters associated with dental caries such as number of teeth with cavities, number of colony forming units (CFU) of streptococci of the mutans group, decay missing filling deciduous teeth (dmft), and decay missing filling permanent teeth (DMFT). Since no correlation was detected with the above parameters, we conclude that the simple presence of caries or of CFU is not sufficient to stimulate IgA production and/or secretion. For this to occur, an unfavorable action of these parameters on gingival health is needed, with the production of gingival inflammation.