No association between the neuroleptic malignant syndrome and mutations in the RYR1 gene associated malignant hyperthermia.

The neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a drug-induced disease caused by neuroleptics, but the pathogenesis of NMS is unknown. Since NMS is similar to malignant hyperthermia (MH) in clinical features and treatment, 6 mutations in the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RYR1) gene, which were associated with MH, were investigated in unrelated NMS patients by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP). As a result, MH-susceptible RYR1 mutations were not detected in our NMS patients.

Expression of a photoreceptor protein, recoverin, as a cancer-associated retinopathy autoantigen in human lung cancer cell lines.

Recently, a photoreceptor protein, recoverin, has been recognised as an autoantigen of cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR), a rare paraneoplastic neurological syndrome often associated with patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Although until quite recently the specific expression of recoverin in cancer cells had not been indicated, Polans et al. (Polans AS, Witkowska D, Haley TL, Amundson D, Baizer L, Adamus G 1995, Proc.

Reduction of progressive burn injury by a stable prostaglandin I2 analogue, beraprost sodium (Procylin): an experimental study in rats.

Beraprost sodium is a chemically stable prostaglandin I2 analogue with antiplatelet and vasodilator actions. Burn injury causes thrombosis and vessel occlusion by increasing the blood viscosity and by thermal damage to the vascular network in the dermis. A vascular response also occurs in the uninjured dermis surrounding the site of injury.

Duration threshold of induced hypertension on cerebral blood flow, energy metabolism, and edema after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils.

We have investigated whether there is a duration threshold for the effects of phenylephrine-induced hypertension on CBF, brain energy metabolism, and cerebral parenchymal specific gravity (SG) following transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils. Sixty gerbils were randomly assigned to one of the four treatment groups: one control group and three groups subjected to an increase of 25 mm Hg in MABP induced by treatment, 30 min after reperfusion, with phenylephrine for 15 min, 30 min, or 60 min. The local CBF was measured continuously, and the SG was evaluated 120 min after reperfusion.

Immunohistochemical localization of metallothionein in human prostate cancer.

Purpose: We investigated the expression of metallothionein in human prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissue specimens from 45 patients with primary prostate cancer were stained for metallothionein using a standard immunohistochemical technique.

Results: Metallothionein was detected in 15 of 45 prostate cancers (33.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor concentrations in a patient with plasma cell dyscrasia and clinical features of chronic neutrophilic leukaemia.

In order to study the pathogenesis of plasma cell dyscrasias with associated clinical features of chronic neutrophilic leukaemia, the concentration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was measured in a patient, a 73 year old man, who underwent steroid pulse therapy. High G-CSF concentrations and leucocyte counts prior to treatment declined rapidly on administration of dexamethazone, but rose subsequently. G-CSF was not detected in primary cultures of bone marrow cells, but large amounts of interleukin-6 were found in the culture supernatant.

Three-dimensional structure of myeloid bodies in the retinal pigment epithelium of the frog, Rana pipiens.

The three-dimensional structures of myeloid bodies (MBs) in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the frog (Rana pipiens) were studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. MBs were observed to be an assemblies of numerous membranous lamellae that were formed by a flattened saccule of the paired membranes in the RPE. On thin-section, they appeared as lenticular, crescentic, circular and spherical forms and were associated with adjacent smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) and nuclear membranes.

Multiple but different genetic factors underlie enflurane and isoflurane requirements studied through backcross analysis in C57BL and ddN mice.

We performed a classic backcross analysis to examine the basic genetic nature of enflurane (ENF) and isoflurane (ISO) anesthetic requirement in two inbred mice strains, C57BL (BL) and ddN. We have previously reported different ENF and ISO anesthetic requirements in these two strains. BL (n = 22) and ddN (n = 26) mice were used as parents and were reciprocally crossed to produce F1 hybrid mice.

Protective effects of antithrombin III supplementation on warm ischemia and reperfusion injury in rat liver.

The effect of antithrombin III (AT III) supplementation on energy status, microcirculation, cytoprotection, and prostacyclin (PGI2) production during and after a period of warm ischemia of the rat liver was investigated. AT III supplementation (250 units/kg) stimulate prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) production from 1 hour after administration, with maximal production observed at 3 hours. Ischemia was induced by occluding the hepatoduodenal ligament for 30 minutes, and experiments were continued for 60 minutes after reperfusion.

Expression of calbindin-D28K by reactive astrocytes in gerbil hippocampus after ischaemia.

Calbindin-D28K (Calbindin) is a member of the superfamily of calcium-binding proteins that is implicated in the regulation of intracellular calcium. In the adult mammalian brain, calbindin was thought to be present only in neurones, where it is believed to serve a neuroprotective role. We now report the expression of calbindin after ischaemia in reactive astrocytes in the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus.

Radiologic manifestation of spinal accessory neurinoma: a case report.

Spinal accessory nerve neurinoma is very rare; only 12 cases have been reported in the literature. We describe a 54-year-old woman who had a cisterna magna tumor expanding extracranially to the C1 cervical body. The tumor originated from the spinal root of the right accessory nerve.

Effect of tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane on experimental focal cerebral ischemia.

Systemic and focal cerebral acidosis is considered deleterious to cell metabolism and neuronal recovery. We investigated the immediate effect of tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (THAM), an alkalizing agent, on focal cerebral ischemia produced by occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) in cats with systemic acidosis. Occlusion of MCA resulted in prompt decreases in local cerebral blood flow of the ipsilateral marginal and ectosylvian gyri from 47.

An upstream activating sequence containing curved DNA involved in activation of the Clostridium perfringens plc promoter.

The plc gene, which encodes phospholipase C (alpha-toxin) of Clostridium perfringens, possesses three poly(A) tracts forming an intrinsically curved DNA region immediately upstream of the promoter. The in vivo transcriptional activity of the plasmid-borne plc gene was stimulated by this curved-DNA-containing sequence, depending on its proper linear and rotational orientation. The in vitro transcriptional activity of the plc gene was also stimulated by the upstream sequence.

Characteristic properties of a retinoic acid synthetic cytochrome P-450 purified from liver microsomes of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rats.

An inducible cytochrome P-450 (P-450) catalyzing retinoic acid synthesis was purified from liver microsomes of 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-treated rats, based on the activity of all-trans-retinoic acid formation from all-trans-retinal. We previously reported that the retinoic acid synthesis by microsomes was catalyzed by a cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase system (Tomita et al. (1993) Int.

Increased expression of cytokines in liver and serum in patients with extrahepatic diseases.

To determine whether the liver plays an immunological role in certain extrahepatic disorders, we investigated the expression of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in 11 patients who had recovered from cholecystolithiasis, 12 patients with gastric cancer, 20 patients with chronic hepatitis, and 6 healthy controls. Cytokine mRNAs in the liver were detected by semiquantitative reverse transcribed-polymerase chain reaction. Serum cytokines and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Cerebral energy metabolism in insulin induced hypoglycemia in newborn piglets: in vivo 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The effect of insulin induced hypoglycemia on cerebral energy metabolism was examined in four newborn piglets. Cerebral energy metabolism was assessed using in vivo 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that the normal level of phosphocreatine/inorganic phosphate (PCr/Pi), an indicator of phosphorylation potential, was maintained at a blood glucose level of 40 mg/dL or above, whereas when blood glucose was reduced to less than 40 mg/dL, PCr/Pi rapidly decreased in parallel with this.

Thymic nurse cells as the site of thymocyte apoptosis and apoptotic cell clearance in the thymus of cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

Structural changes in the thymus of BALB/c mice after the intraperitoneal injection with a single high dose (200 mg/kg) of cyclophosphamide (CY) were examined. A large number of thymic nurse cell (TNC)-like structures that contained apoptotic thymocytes were observed in the thymus between 8 and 20 hours after CY treatment, just before a marked reduction in the number and proportion of PNAhi, CD3-, CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes. The majority of apoptotic thymocyte-containing TNC-like structures had an epithelial nature and were mainly located in the subcapsular and outer cortex, perivascular area of the cortex, corticomedullary junction and, in part, in the medulla.

Thrombopoietin modulates platelet activation in vitro through protein-tyrosine phosphorylation.

To determine the roles of thrombopoietin (TPO) in platelet function in vitro, we examined the effects of TPO on platelet aggregation. Although several proteins in platelets were tyrosine-phosphorylated by TPO treatment, TPO alone was unable to induce platelet aggregation. However, the secondary wave of platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was enhanced by TPO in a dose-dependent manner.

[Second phase 99mTc-HMDP accumulation using three phase bone scintigraphy in a case of primary breast cancer].

Accumulation of 99mTc-HMDP was recognized by three-phase bone scintigraphy in a case of primary breast cancer. A 67-year-old female was found to have a 14 x 13 mm mass in the upper lateral area of the left breast. At operation the histopathological finding was a proven solid-tubular carcinoma.

Enhanced expression of the protein kinase substrate annexin in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Annexin (AX) constitutes a new family of Ca2+-dependent membrane-binding proteins; 13 of them have been described. Among these, annexin-1 (AX-I) has displayed many biological functions in vitro. Its actual role in vivo, however, remains unknown.

Effects of released products from platelets on neutrophilic adhesion to endothelial cells and nylon fibers.

In this study, the effects of platelet release products (PRPr), ATP, and ADP on the adhesion of human neutrophils to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and nylon fibers (NF) are described and the implications of various adhesion molecules are considered. Adhesion of neutrophils to HUVEC and NF was increased by PRPr, ATP, and ADP, while their adhesion-increasing actions were cancelled or considerably repressed by apyrase treatment. When anti-CD11a or anti-CD11b was added to neutrophils with PRPr, ATP, or ADP, the adhesion-increasing action was cancelled or considerably repressed.

Distribution and morphology of valves in the human external jugular vein: indications for utilization in microvascular anastomosis.

Purpose: This study examined the valves in the external jugular vein (EJV) that could affect microvascular anastomosis and increase the risk of thrombogenesis.

Materials And Methods: The EJVs of 57 sides from 36 cadavers aged 40 to 95 years (20 males and 16 females) were dissected. After opening the veins, the distribution and morphology of the valves were investigated using a stereoscopic microscope.

Localization of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons innervating pancreas and spleen in the cat.

The localization of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons innervating the pancreas and spleen was studied in the cat utilizing retrograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). Injection of WGA-HRP into the pancreas resulted in retrograde labeling in the whole of the solar plexus, while injection of WGA-HRP into the spleen also resulted in heavy labeling in the celiac ganglia bilaterally. Only a few labeled neurons were distributed in the superior mesenteric ganglion.