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A radioimmunoassay kit for measurement of carboxyterminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1CP) was developed and can be purchased commercially for clinical use. Using the kit, we measured serum concentration in healthy controls and in patients with bone metastasis and other various skeletal disorders. In healthy controls, serum concentration of P1CP ranged within 37-177 ng/ml under age 50, while in serum concentration of women over 50, it elevated upto 350 ng/ml. In patients with skeletal metastasis, in most of patients, it stayed within a normal range, whereas in patients with bone metastasis from prostatic cancer, it raised significantly. In some of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism or hyperthyroidism, serum concentration for P1CP was also elevated. In comparison with other serum bone metabolic markers such as osteocalcin or alkaline phosphatase, P1CP showed less occurrence of an elevation in patients with non-skeletal disease. Serum concentration of P1CP was not affected by renal function, while mild elevation was observed in patients with severely damaged liver diseases. In conclusion, the newly developed radioimmunoassay for P1CP was an excellent assay system and would provide us easily evaluation of type 1 collagen formation.

Excessive vitamin D causes marked and prolonged hypercalcemia by accelerating intestinal calcium absorption and bone resorption. Vitamin D induced hypercalcemia includes the toxic ingestion of excessive amount of vitamin D preparations, granulomatous diseases and lymphoproliferative malignancies. In vitamin D toxicity, the clinical courses vary depending on the vitamin D preparation responsible for the hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia state continues for several months when D2 or D3 are responsible for the toxicity whereas the hypercalcemia would subside in a week when 1 alpha(OH) D3 or 1,25 (OH)2D3 are responsible for the toxicity. Abnormal calcium metabolism can be treated by hydration and glucocorticoids. Hypercalcemia is associated with variety kinds of granulomatous diseases, including sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. The granulomatous tissue is believed to be the site of the ectopic production of 1,25(OH)2D3 in which the regulation of the synthesis is quite different from that in the normal kidney. Glucocorticoid markedly diminishes the synthesis. Hypercalcemia associated with elevated serum 1.25(OH)2D3 levels is also found in patients with lymphomas and some other malignancies. However, there still are not sufficient evidences to prove that the excessive amount of endogenous 1.25(OH)2D3 is the primary cause of the hypercalcemia.

Organelle transport in cultured smooth muscle cell from the rabbit basilar artery was observed. The organelles transported in the cells were moving in both centrifugal and centripetal directions. The instantaneous velocities of organelles were 0.84 +/- 0.36 micron/s in the centrifugal direction and 0.86 +/- 0.48 micron/s in the centripetal direction. The transported organelles consisted mainly of lysosomes (67.5%) and mitochondria (29.0%).

N3-Substituted pyrimidine nucleoside and their related compounds were synthesized. The central nervous system (CNS) depressant effect of the compounds such as hypnotic activity and synergistic effect with pentobarbital have been evaluated. N3-Phenacyl derivatives of uridine (2), thymidine (3), deoxyuridine (4), 6-azauridine (5) and arabinofuranosyluracil (6) exhibited the hypnotic activity, whereas N3-phenacyl-2',3'-O-isopropylideneuridine did not. Compound 2, 3, 4 and 6 significantly enhanced pentobarbital-induced sleep. The results indicate that CNS depressant effect of pyrimidine nucleoside derivatives might relate to functional group at the N3-position on oxopyrimidine ring and stereospecificity of sugar moiety at the N1-position.

The Large Volume Detector (LVD) in the Gran Sasso underground Laboratory is a multipurpose detector consisting of a large volume of liquid scintillator interleaved with limited streamer tubes. In this paper we discuss its power to study low energy cosmic neutrinos. The results show that the first LVD tower (368 tons of liquid scintillator) is well suited to detect neutrinos from gravitational stellar collapses within all of our Galaxy over a wide range of burst duration (up to a few hundred seconds). No burst candidates have been observed in the first two months of data taking.

We conducted an animal experiment to determine how dietary seaweeds rich in iodine and dietary fibers suppress radioactive iodine uptake by the thyroid, using mice and four kinds of experimental diets, three with 1% or 2% powdered fronds of the kelp Laminaria religiosa and 2% powdered laver Porphyra yezoensis, and one with cellulose. Iodine content of a hot-water extract of the kelp was 0.530 +/- 0.001%, and its dietary fiber (DF) values were 52.8 +/- 1.2%. Iodine in an extract of the laver was 0.008 +/- 0.001%, and its DF values were 41.4% +/- 0.7%. A statistically significant reduction of 125I uptake by the thyroid, 3 hours after intragastric administration of the radionuclide at a dosage of 18.5 kBq or 185 kBq in 0.3 ml aqueous solution per mouse, was observed in mice previously fed the experimental diets containing 1% and 2% kelp during periods varying from 24 hours to 7 days. The degree of the suppression was observed to depend on the amount of iodine in the diet or in the injected sample, no matter whether organic or inorganic, judging from the results of an additional experiment. Thus, we conclude that previously fed iodine-rich material, especially dietary seaweeds rich in iodine and other minerals, vitamins, and beta-carotene, such as kelps or laver supplemented with inorganic iodine, may be effective in prevention of internal radiation injury of the thyroid.

Hepatic microsomal oxidation of 11-oxo-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-oxo-delta 8-THC) and 9-anthraldehyde (9-AA) to the corresponding carboxylic acids was investigated using six strains of male and female mice (ddN, ddY, C57BL, DBA, C3H and ICR). No significant sex difference was observed in the activity toward 11-oxo-delta 8-THC except for ICR, whereas the activity toward 9-AA was significantly higher in female than in male of ddN, C57BL, DBA and C3H mice. The present study suggests that female specific form(s) of cytochrome P450 may be responsible at least in part for the microsomal oxidation of 9-AA, but not that of 11-oxo- delta 8-THC.

Addition of saturated and alpha, beta-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes (C8 to C11) significantly increased NADPH oxidation with mouse hepatic microsomes, and the aldehydes themselves were oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acids. When these aldehyde substrates were incubated similarly under oxygen-18 gas and the carboxylic acids formed were analyzed by GC-MS after methylation, it was indicated that oxygen-18 was significantly incorporated into the carboxylic acids formed from alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehydes, but not significantly into the carboxylic acids formed from saturated aldehydes. These results indicate that enzyme and/or mechanism responsible for the oxidation of these two types of aldehydes is different from each other.

A simple direct precise localization with a CT scan for convexity lesions is presented. The shape of the normal calvarium was analyzed and a characteristic pattern was obtained, that is, one spherical surface in the frontal area and 6 flat planes in the temporal, parietal and occipital areas. The temporal plane is perpendicular to the orbito-meatal line (OML), while the parietal plane declined 29 degrees in the A-P view, and the occipital plane declined 60 degrees in the lateral view. A summit of these three planes forming the parietal tubercle, and the crest following the tubercle between the parietal and occipital planes were detected either by CT scan, or by palpating the skull. Conventional methods of preoperative localization include measurement and calculation from the base line such as OML, or obtaining a CT scan with a marker on the scalp. The former might have an error that will be amplified in the parietal region that would not be negligible. The latter is a rather troublesome method demanding that the CT scan be taken after shaving the hair. Landmarks utilized for the localization should be identified both on the CT scan and on the scalp or skull. These involved OML, coronal suture, parietal tubercle, inion, pineal body, midline and so on. Of these, the coronal suture runs almost perpendicular to the OML and would be the best landmark for the localization in the parietal area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regional aortic distensibility was measured noninvasively using cine MR imaging to determine whether it correlates with aging or risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Twenty-two patients with CAD confirmed by angiography and 33 without CAD underwent cine MR imaging. Thirty-two sequential images were obtained in one cardiac cycle. The cross sectional area of the descending thoracic aorta was measured on both diastolic (A) and systolic (A') images. Aortic distensibility (A.D.) was calculated from the following equation: A.D. = (A'-A)/A/delta P. (delta P represents pulse pressure). Results of a simple regression analysis showed that decreased regional aortic distensibility was significantly correlated with the age of the patients (r = -0.762, p less than 0.005). In addition, the parameter was lower in patients with CAD than those without CAD (p less than 0.05). In conclusion, regional aortic distensibility derived from cine MR imaging is a useful parameter to evaluate not only aging but also pathological atherosclerosis of the aorta. In addition, this parameter might have some potential to evaluate the prediction of CAD in patients with normal serum cholesterol.

The technique of magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been developed, and the study of high-energy phosphate metabolites in the liver using phosphorus 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) has been reported in humans and animals, but few studies have used 31P-MRS for the evaluation of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) of the liver. In this study, 31P-MRS was used to evaluate the metabolic changes in hamster liver after ESWL and histological correlation was performed. Syrian golden hamsters were anesthetized and shock waves were irradiated to the left side of the liver. Hamsters were irradiated by LITHOSTAR-PLUS (SIEMENS) at a voltage of 19 KV. 31P-MRS was studied by JNM-GSX model 270 (6.34 Tesla). Typical peaks of 31P-spectra of hamster liver showed a tendency for PDE/beta-ATP, alpha-ATP/beta-ATP and gamma-ATP/beta-ATP to decrease among the irradiated group compared with the control group. However, there were no significant differences in PME/Pi, beta-ATP/Pi or (alpha-ATP-beta-ATP)/beta-ATP between the control group and irradiated group. With regard to intracellular pH and PDE/beta-ATP, a decreasing tendency was noted in the irradiated groups (p less than 0.05). There was no difference in the signal intensity of T1WI and T2WI on 1H-MRI, between these two groups. Pathologically, the irradiated group showed minor hemorrhage and edema in the liver, and subcapsular hematoma. The results obtained from 31P-MRS clearly showed the metabolic changes and were correlated well with the histological findings, but MRI was not capable of providing close visualization of post-ESWL liver damage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of arachidonic acid and arachidonoyl CoA on the catabolism of prostaglandin E2 in a 105000 x g supernatant fraction from rabbit kidney cortex were examined. Arachidonic acid reduced the 15-hydroxy prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity by 50% at 20 microM, while arachidonoyl CoA showed weak inhibition for the enzyme activity (15% at 20 microM). However, arachidonoyl CoA strongly inhibited the prostaglandin delta 13 reductase activity, the concentration required for 50% inhibition being about 3 microM. The dehydrogenase inhibition by arachidonic acid was non-competitive with regard to NAD+ and prostaglandin E2, respectively. Arachidonoyl CoA was also a non-competitive inhibitor for the reductase with regard to NADH and 15-keto prostaglandin E2, respectively. These results suggest that arachidonic acid and arachidonoyl CoA can be important modulating factors in prostaglandin catabolism by the kidney cortex.

Human pulmonary hypoplasia was studied statistically and pathologically in a large series of autopsy cases. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated five independent risk factors from 10 statistically significant factors for pulmonary hypoplasia: (1) hydrops fetalis; (2) renal anomalies; (3) hernia, including diaphragmatic hernia and omphalocele; (4) skeletal anomalies; and (5) abnormalities of amniotic fluid, such as oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios. The characteristics of pulmonary hypoplasia for each factor were defined by morphological, morphometric, and biochemical methods. All bronchiolar branching, acinar complexity, and acinar maturation were retarded in hypoplastic lungs with hydrops fetalis, renal anomalies, affected side of diaphragmatic hernia, omphalocele, and skeletal anomalies. Only acinar complexity and maturation were impaired in the lung with oligohydramnios due to prolonged rupture of membranes. The pathogenesis of pulmonary hypoplasias should be considered differently with each associated anomaly and time of impairment. While impairment in early gestational stage before 16 weeks' gestation results in both reduced bronchiolar branching and retarded acinar development, that, at late stage, influences only acinar development.

Intracranial arterial reconstructive techniques were used in three patients for whom conventional neck clipping was not feasible due to the size, location or symptoms of their aneurysms. In the first case, complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage, a giant aneurysm in the right middle cerebral artery was excised and the stump of the parent arteries was reconstructed in end-to-end and end-to-side fashion. The second case had a large thrombosed aneurysm in the left vertebral artery compressing the medulla oblongata, with small perforators originating from the proximal posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) feeding the brainstem. The PICA was transposed to cerebellar cortical artery and the aneurysm excised. The third case presented with TIA and small infarctions were observed in the left thalamus. A giant, partially thrombosed, aneurysm in the left posterior cerebral artery (PCA) was trapped with a revascularization of the distal PCA from the superior cerebellar artery in side-to-side fashion. Indications for these intracranial arterial reconstructions in aneurysmal surgery were discussed and pertinent literature was reviewed.

The epidemiologic study was conducted during the 1973-1984 period. The clinical prospective exam and Montenegro skin, immunofluorescent and passive hemagglutination tests have been carried out in three small localities between Pedro de Toledo e Miracatu municipalities, São Paulo, Brazil. The retrospective study of human-cases involved 108 and 65 cases registered in Pedro de Toledo e Miracatu, respectively. In the three communities studied, 273 people were examined clinically and serologically. Twenty two individuals had had signals of cutaneous leishmaniasis; 10.2 and 12.8% were seropositive to IF and HA. Leishmanin skin testing of a sample of 154 people residents in Pedra do Largo showed prevalence of Leishmania infection in 25.5%. This result involved individual of all ages and sex. However, 5.8% of them were from 0 to 9 years old. The data confirmed that active parasite transmission didn't occur every year, either. The human infection seems not to depend on man contact with a forest. The incidence relatively low suggests low endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis and an explosive behavior of the cases. The temporal distribution of disease was irregular and the epidemiological pattern seen was different from the other endemic area of South America.

Bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4) was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA: QDR-1000), and the values obtained were compared with the frequency of vertebral fracture as assessed by spinal X-ray photographs. Patients with spondylosis or scoliosis, which affect BMD values, were excluded from the study. An essentially linear correlation was observed between the frequency of vertebral fracture and lumbar BMD values: no vertebral fractures were observed in those whose BMD more than 0.8 g/cm2, whereas the frequency of fracture was 100% in patients whose BMD was less than 0.45 g/cm2. Thus, measurement of lumbar vertebrae by DEXA would be very useful in predicting vertebral fractures.

Formal specification languages are increasingly being employed as an aid in the design and implementation of highly reliable systems. Recent experimental evidence indicates that the syntax and semantics associated with a formal specification language can have a large effect on the subsequent program version. This paper analyses the effect formal specification languages have on program development by examining nine diverse versions of a communication protocol created using three different formal specification languages.

Pharmacological effects of 6-azauridine (4) analogues were evaluated using hypnotic activity, pentobarbital (PB)-induced sleep prolongation and locomotor activity as indices. Compound 4, N3-benzyl- (10), N3-o-xylyl- (11), N3-m-xylyl- (12), N3-p-xylyl- (13), N3-alpha-phenylethyl-substituted 6-azauridine (14) exhibited hypnotic activity and PB-induced sleep prolongation, whereas N3-alkyl substituted analogues (methyl-, ethyl-, n-propyl-, n-butyl- and allyl-substitution) did not. Compound 4 and xylyl analogues (11-13) significantly decreased locomotor activity of mice by i.c.v. injection and produced motor incoordination. The results indicate that 4 and its benzyl related analogues, but not alkyl analogues have depressant effects on the central nervous system (CNS).

Ascorbic acid 2-O-alpha-glucoside (AA-2G) has been reported to have antiscorbutic activity in guinea pigs. The present experiments examined the metabolic fate of AA-2G following ingestion. Oral administration of AA-2G (96 mg) to guinea pigs resulted in a remarkable increase of ascorbic acid in various tissues as well as plasma, but intact AA-2G was detected only in plasma, but intact AA-2G was detected only in plasma and urine in small amounts. The absorption efficiency of AA-2G and ascorbic acid was further determined by using everted gut sacs of rats. Ascorbic acid released from AA-2G on the mucosal side was effectively taken up across intestinal membranes into the serosal side, whereas AA-2G poorly permeated via a passive transport system. The hydrolysis of AA-2G on the mucosal surface of everted gut was completely inhibited by an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and the hydrolytic activity of a crude membrane extract diminished to one-forth after immunoprecipitation with the antibody specific to maltase. From these results, it is concluded that ingested AA-2G serves as a vitamin C source through the hydrolysis by intestinal membrane-bound alpha-glucosidase, mainly maltase, and the subsequent absorption of released ascorbic acid.

The design, scientific goals, and capabilities of the DUMAND II detector system are described. Construction was authorized by DOE in 1990, and construction of various detector subsystems is under way. Current plans include deployment of the shore cable, junction box and three strings of optical detector modules in 1993, with expansion to the full 9‐string configuration about one year later.

A new radionuclide technique for the calculation of left ventricular (LV) volume by the first-pass (FP) method was developed and examined. Using a semi-geometric count-based method, the LV volume can be measured by the following equation: CV = CM/(L/d). V = (CT/CV) x d3 = (CT/CM) x L x d2. (V = LV volume, CV = voxel count, CM = the maximum LV count, CT = the total LV count, L = LV depth where the maximum count was obtained, and d = pixel size.) This theorem was applied to FP LV images obtained in the 30-degree right anterior oblique position. Frame-mode acquisition was performed and the LV end-diastolic maximum count and total count were obtained. The maximum LV depth was obtained as the maximum width of the LV on the FP end-diastolic image, using the assumption that the LV cross-section is circular. These values were substituted in the above equation and the LV end-diastolic volume (FP-EDV) was calculated. A routine equilibrium (EQ) study was done, and the end-diastolic maximum count and total count were obtained. The LV maximum depth was measured on the FP end-diastolic frame, as the maximum length of the LV image. Using these values, the EQ-EDV was calculated and the FP-EDV was compared to the EQ-EDV. The correlation coefficient for these two values was r = 0.96 (n = 23, p less than 0.001), and the standard error of the estimated volume was 10 ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Oxidative metabolism of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by liver microsomes was studied in female rats. Delta 9-THC was mainly biotransformed to 11-hydroxy-delta 9-THC (11-OH-delta 9-THC) and 9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-hexahydrocannabinol (EHHC) by liver microsomal fraction of adult female rat. Two isozymes of cytochrome P-450 (P-450) [F-1 (IIC6) and F-2 (IIC12)] were purified from liver microsomes of female rats and oxidation activities toward delta 9-THC were assessed in the reconstituted system containing NADH-P-450 reductase and cytochrome b5. P-450 F-1 showed considerable activity toward 11-OH-delta 9-THC formation (10.62 nmol/min/nmol of P-450), whereas P-450 F-2 did not show any activity toward delta 9-THC oxidation under the conditions used. Preincubation of microsomes with antiserum against P-450 F-1 obtained from rabbits caused a marked decrease in 11-OH-delta 9-THC formation, whereas antiserum against P-450 F-2 did not exhibit any inhibitory effect on the oxidation of delta 9-THC by liver microsomes of adult female rats. Further, antiserum against P-450 F-1 or F-2 did not affect the microsomal formation of 9 alpha,10 alpha-EHHC from delta 9-THC. These results indicate that P-450 F-1 and its immunochemically related P-450 isozyme(s) play important roles in the formation of an active metabolite, 11-OH-delta 9-THC, from delta 9-THC by liver microsomes of adult female rats.

This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between Ga-67 uptake and radiotherapeutic response to primary lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma), Ga-67 uptake of tumor was estimated on 16 patients with untreated primary lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma). Ga-67 uptake was then compared with the response to radiation therapy (tumor reduction ratio). There was statistically significant inverse correlation between Ga-67 uptake and response to radiation therapy (r = -0.701, p less than 0.01). The fewer the Ga-67 accumulation in the tumor, the more effective radiotherapy in reducing tumor size. In conclusion, Ga-67 scintigraphy appears to be able to predict the response of primary lung cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) to radiation therapy.

A 72-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of inferior myocardial infarction. During intervention with heparin, ventricular fibrillation suddenly occurred. Twelve minutes after resuscitation he was successfully defibrillated with cardiac massage and defibrillation therapy. His respiratory condition progressively worsened and the …

Helicobacter pylori was implicated in gastric carcinogenesis through the induction of metaplasia of the gastric mucosa. In this experiment a co-carcinogenic effect of H. pylori on chemically induced gastric carcinogenesis was examined. Wistar WKY male rats received drinking water containing 50 mg/l of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), and intragastric administration of 10(6) to 10(8) colony forming unit of H. pylori thrice a week for 40 weeks. Thus, 3 groups were assigned as Group I; MNNG alone, Group II; MNNG + vehicle, and Group III; MNNG + H. pylori (n = 30, each). At autopsy, 9 rats (30%) had 7 glandular stomach and 3 duodenal tumors in Group I, and 10 rats (33%) had 8 glandular stomach and 2 duodenal tumors in Group II, whereas in Group III 4 rats (13%) had 2 glandular stomach and 2 duodenal tumors (chi 2 = 4.257, P0.15 for the incidences of glandular stomach tumors among 3 groups). The finding seems to suggest that H. pylori has an ambitendency in the gastritis-metaplasia-carcinogenesis sequence as a promoter for the induction of the predisposing mucosa and as an inhibitor against certain carcinogens.

The pathogenesis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in the early stage after burn injury remains still unclear. We investigated 12 burn injured patients by serial determination of anti-thrombin III (AT-III) activities and thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) levels. Of these patients 4 developed DIC (DIC group) and the others had no hematological complications (non-DIC group). The mean levels of TAT increased markedly and peaked at 6 hr; the increment being more pronounced in DIC group (p less than 0.001). A significant correlation was recognized between TAT and Burn Index (r = 0.871, p less than 0.001). We also observed low AT-III activities those inversely related to Burn Index (r = 0.875, p less than 0.001), whereas closely correlated with serum albumin levels (r = 0.864, p less than 0.001), suggesting that this depression might be caused by both massive infusion and shifts of plasma into the extravascular space rather than consumption. These findings suggest that massive thrombin generation and decrease of anticoagulant activity, correlated to the severity of burns, might concurrently develop. Non-DIC group may remain to latent activation of coagulation cascade where anticoagulants could inactivate thrombin generated. This compensatory mechanism may fail in severe burn patients who have Burn Index of more than 90, developing DIC with high levels of TAT (316.3 +/- 104.5 ng/ml) and low AT-III activities (19.5 +/- 8.7%).

In vivo formation of ascorbic acid 2-O-alpha-glucoside (AA-2G) in guinea pigs and rats given ascorbic acid (AA) orally in combination with maltose was examined. A metabolite of AA which has the same HPLC retention characteristics as authentic AA-2G was detected in the blood, urine and liver of guinea pigs 1-2 hr after their administration. The metabolite was isolated from the urine by chromatographic procedures and identified as AA-2G by its UV spectrum, non-reducibility, susceptibility to alpha-glucosidase hydrolysis, HPLC profile and elementary analysis. The same glucoside was also synthesized by rats and found in the urine, although it could not be determined qualitatively in the blood. AA-2G-forming activities of tissue homogenates from both animals were apparently correlated with their alpha-glucosidase activities and, moreover, both activities were completely inhibited by a specific neutral alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. Thus, we conclude that AA-2G is a possible metabolite produced by enzymatic alpha-glucosidation after a combined administration of AA and maltose to guinea pigs and rats.

Twenty-six patients with orbital fractures diagnosed with plain radiography and computed tomography were examined with surface coil magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Fifteen patients had blow-out fractures, and 11 had maxillofacial complex fractures. In all patients with blow-out fractures, the location of the fracture was precisely indicated by the presence of prolapsed orbital fat. Incarceration of the extraocular muscle or orbital fat was correctly diagnosed with MR imaging, which was less sensitive in depicting maxillofacial fractures but was useful in assessment of soft-tissue involvement. Postoperative follow-up MR studies provided valuable information about the cause of motility impairment. While T1-weighted images are useful for the detection of the fracture site, both T1- and T2-weighted images are usually necessary for evaluating soft-tissue lesions. The results of this study indicate that surface coil MR imaging is an important adjunct procedure in the diagnosis and treatment of orbital fractures.

Pulmonary acinar development was assessed in 17 autopsy cases of pulmonary hypoplasia associated with diaphragmatic hernia. Morphologic examination was conducted by light and electron microscopy, and morphometric study was achieved by radial alveolar count and biochemical quantitation of surfactant phospholipid. In most cases of unilateral diaphragmatic hernia, the ipsilateral lung was underdeveloped morphologically and biochemically compared with the contralateral lung. However, both ipsilateral and contralateral lungs were well developed in some cases of unilateral diaphragmatic hernia. Thus, acinar development of hypoplastic lung in diaphragmatic hernia is varied. The influence of other conditions, such as oligohydramnios, polyhydramnios, and other anomalies that may influence retention of lung fluid or fetal respiratory movement, should be considered to assess the acinar development of hypoplastic lung in diaphragmatic hernia.

The oxygenation of an aldehyde, 11-oxo-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol to a carboxylic acid, delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol-11-oic acid was catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 MUT-2 purified from hepatic microsomes of male ddN mice. The oxygenation mechanism was confirmed by the incorporation of oxygen-18 from molecular oxygen into the carboxylic acid formed. An aldehyde form but not a hydrated form of 11-oxo-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol may be a substrate for the cytochrome P-450. The oxygenation of aldehyde catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 might be a common metabolic reaction in biological systems, and should be considered as an additional role of cytochrome P-450 in biotransformation of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics.

We investigated the postoperative bile excretion and serum concentration of cefuzonam (CZON) in 6 cholecystectomized patients with postsurgical biliary drainage. CZON was administered intravenously by infusion at a dose of 1.0 g immediately following the operation. Serum and bile concentrations of CZON were determined on the day of the operation and the second day after the operation. The following results were obtained. 1. Serum concentrations of CZON were at their highest levels at 30 minutes after administration of CZON. Levels were 45.8 +/- 13.8 micrograms/ml on the day of the operation and 60.9 +/- 12.2 micrograms/ml on the second postsurgical day. 2. Bile concentration peaked 1 hour after administration (4,083 +/- 1,427 micrograms/ml on the day of the operation and 4,376 +/- 630 micrograms/ml on the second postsurgical day). In particular, bile concentrations of CZON at 6 hours (259 +/- 140 micrograms/ml and 154 +/- 23 micrograms/ml) exceeded MIC80 of CZON against Gram-negative bacteria except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 3. Serum and bile concentrations were higher on the second postsurgical day than on the day of the operation, but the differences between these 2 days were not significant. These results have indicated that CZON is a useful drug with excellent bile excretion following cholecystectomy, and that bile concentrations of CZON are maintained at high levels for 6 hours after intravenous administration.

The metabolism of N3-benzyluridine (N3-ByUd), which possesses hypnotic activity, was studied in mice. The decrease in brain concentration of N3-ByUd was faster than that of uridine (Ud) after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intravenous (i.v.) administration. Liver and plasma concentrations of N3-ByUd were also lower than those of Ud after both i.c.v. and i.v. administrations. N3-Benzyluracil (N3-ByU) was identified as a metabolite of N3-ByUd in urine after i.c.v. administration. However, N3-ByUd was not metabolized in brain until 3 hr after i.c.v. administration. It was also not metabolized in the in vitro metabolic studies of N3-ByUd (brain and liver). The possible metabolites, e.g. Ud, uracil (U), N3-ByU and D-ribose, did not possess any hypnotic activity following i.c.v. administration. These results indicate that N3-ByUd itself, but not its metabolites, produced central nervous system (CNS) depressant activity.

Thirty-five patients with symptomatic vasospasm (SV) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were managed according to a method based on hemodynamic manipulation, monitored by Swan-Ganz catheter. Nine out of these had delayed surgery. For those who developed SV, the pulmonary wedge pressure (Pcwp) and/or central venous pressure (CVP) were immediately increased up to the point at which neurological deficit was reversed by rapid injection of fresh frozen plasma, albuminates, low molecular dextrose, and glycerol. On this regimen, patients were closely observed for any neurological change. Then the hemodynamic parameters were maintained as optimal values until they could be reduced below optimal values without reappearance of neurological deficit. In inoperable patients, special attention was given in making a decision about discontinuing the regimen. The results were compared with thirty-seven patients with SV who were treated with conventional hypervolemic therapy (CHT) by continuous administration of albuminates. In the treatment of CHT, optimal values could hardly be established, so the same hemodynamic parameters were applied in all the cases. From this study, in the majority of the cases optimal values were found as follows: Pcwp up to 10-15 mmHg, and CVP below 11 cmH2O. On the contrary, in 20% of patients, neurological deficit was reversed by increasing CVP to a point not above 7 cmH2O. Correlation between neurological reversal and systemic blood pressure was not statistically significant. After this regimen (OHT), 74% of patients showed immediate improvement after volume expansion, and, in 80%, outcome was good, while 20% died. The motor function at the time of discharge was more than 3 on the manual test in all cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The scientific goals, design, capabilities, and status of the DUMAND II detector system are described. In June, 1989, the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel recommended support for construction of DUMAND II to the U.S. Department of Energy. Funding began in 1990, and prototype development for various detector subsystems is under way. Current plans include deployment of the shore cable, junction box and three strings of optical detector modules in 1992, and expansion to the full 9‐string configuration in 1993.

N3-Substituted oxopyrimidines and their related compounds were synthesized. The central nervous system (CNS) depressant activities of the compounds such as hypnotic activity and barbiturate-induced narcosis have been evaluated. N3-Benzyl, o,m,p-xylyl, alpha-phenylethyl, phenacyl substituted and related oxopyrimidine nucleosides exhibited potent hypnotic activity by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration to mice. The results indicate that hypnotic action of oxopyrimidine nucleoside derivatives might relate to functional group at the N3 position on oxopyrimidine ring and stereospecificity of sugar moiety.

Mouse hepatic microsomes oxidized 11-oxo-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-oxo-delta 8-THC, aldehyde) to delta 8-THC-11-oic-acid (carboxylic acid). The reaction required NADPH and molecular oxygen and showed an optimal pH around 7.5. The activity of NADPH-dependent carboxylic acid formation was mainly localized in microsomes. The reaction was inhibited by various inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidation such as SKF 525-A, alpha-naphthoflavone, and metyrapone. Disulfiram and menadione also inhibited the microsomal oxidation of the aldehyde to the carboxylic acid, but pyrazole did not inhibit the reaction. The pretreatment of mice with phenobarbital significantly increased the oxidation activity on the basis of microsomal protein, but did not affect it on the basis of cytochrome P-450 content. The mechanism for the oxidation of the aldehyde to the carboxylic acid was confirmed to be oxygenation, since oxygen-18 was incorporated into delta 8-THC-11-oic acid from molecular oxygen during the hepatic microsomal oxidation of 11-oxo-delta 8-THC.

We fabricated Fe (iron metal) cores structure by using a low energy Ar+ ion beam. A monolayer of ferritin molecule (Fe2O3: iron oxide) was adsorbed on the thermal silicon oxide layer. The bombardment energy was optimized using Ar gas by changing the input power after the protein of the monolayer was eliminated with UV/O3. Though it was resulted in a poor reduction when the time of ion beam was less than 30 sec, Ar+ ion beam enabled completely reduction when the time of ion beam was in 60 sec. We reduced the core particles to conductive Fe nanodots. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements confirmed the reduction of the cores. As a result, the diameter of the ferritin nano-structure was 7 nm, which was not identical to that of the iron core in the ferritin after ion beam. Additionally, the Kelvin Probe Force microscopy (KFM) profile was not almost identical between Fe2O3 and Fe cores. It is very difficult for conventional Ar+ beam processes to fabricate such fine structure of Fe cores, because the high energy ions enhanced the bombardment damage of the iron core in the conventional reduction processes. The results that the change of lattice constant from 0.25 to 0.2 nm corresponds from ferrihydrite (110) to α-Fe(111), respectively, which suggests the ferrihydrite cores reduced to Fe nanodots after ion beam process. Furthurmore, the diameter of the ferritin core decreased from 7 nm to 5 nm after the ion beam process.

delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was incubated with a reconstituted system consisting of dilauroylphosphatidylcholine, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, cytochrome b5, and cytochrome P-450 (P-450) isozyme UT-2, UT-4, or UT-5, which was purified from liver microsomes of adult male rats. It was biotransformed by UT-2 to 11-OH-delta 9-THC and 3'-OH-delta 9-THC, and by UT-4 to 8 beta-OH-delta 9-THC and 11-OH-delta 9-THC. UT-5, however, showed only a little activity for 11-OH-delta 9-THC formation. Activity of the isozyme UT-2 for 11-OH-delta 9-THC formation from delta 9-THC was calculated to be 4.07 nmol/min/nmol P-450 while those of UT-2 for the formations of 16 alpha-OH-testosterone (16 alpha-OH-T), 2 alpha-OH-T, and androstenedione from testosterone were 14.7, 6.6, and 2.2 nmol/min/nmol P-450, respectively. Anti-P-450 UT-2 IgG fraction obtained from rabbit serum dose-dependently suppressed formations of 16 alpha-OH-T, 2 alpha-OH-T, and androstenedione from testosterone with liver microsomes of adult male rats. The antibody, in the amount that inhibited above 90% of 16 alpha-OH-T and 2 alpha-OH-T formations from testosterone, also reduced 80% of the microsomal formations of 11-OH-delta 9-THC and 3'-OH-delta 9-THC from delta 9-THC, as compared with control experiments using preimmune IgG fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The hypothesis of radiation hormesis has been proposed. To elucidate the hormetic effect on the immune system, we studied the effect of low dose whole body irradiation on the in vitro mitogen-induced proliferation of rat thymocytes and splenocytes. The rats were irradiated with low doses (0.01-2 Gy) of X-ray and the cells were cultivated in the presence of various mitogens. The cell proliferation was evaluated by the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into the cells. Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced proliferation of splenocytes prepared at 4 hr after irradiation was augmented with 0.05 Gy, whereas that of thymocytes was not affected. Irradiation of rats with 0.05 Gy also induced the enhanced proliferation of splenocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin or lipopolysaccharide, though their responses were lower than that by Con A. This augmentation in mitogen-induced proliferation of splenocytes was observed within a few hours after irradiation, being a temporary effect. These results suggest that very low dose whole body irradiation possibly induce a hormesis-like effect on the immune splenocytes.

The effect of selenium ions on the catabolism of prostaglandin E2 by 15-hydroxy prostaglandin dehydrogenase and prostaglandin delta 13 reductase in rabbit kidney cortex was examined. Selenium ions had no effect on the 15-hydroxy prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity. On the other hand, selenium ions inhibited the prostaglandin delta 13 reductase activity at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 mM. The effect was concentration-dependent. The inhibition by selenium ions was non-competitive with regard to NADH and 15-keto PGE2, respectively. These results suggest that selenium ions have the potential to increase 15-keto PG levels in the kidney by inhibiting the prostaglandin delta 13 reductase activity and that such action of selenium ions may participate in renal damage of selenium poisoning.

This is a case report on a patient with double cancer of kidney and urinary bladder. The patient was a 65-year-old female, and she was admitted with the chief complaint of gross hematuria and right flank pain. After careful examinations, she was diagnosed with right nonfunctioning kidney caused by invasive bladder cancer. Computerized tomography incidentally revealed a mass in the upper pole of the left kidney. Selective left renal arteriography showed stretched arteries and irregularity and tortuosity of the smaller vessels. She was diagnosed with double cancer of bladder and left kidney. Owing to the damage of the right renal function, left partial nephrectomy, total cystectomy, right nephroureterectomy and left ureterocutaneostomy were performed. According to DMSA scintigraphy measured 15 days later, the uptake value of the left kidney was 13.25%, compared to the preoperative value of 25.62%. To date, this case is 36th reported case in Japan.

Enhancement of interleukin 2 (IL 2) activity in the culture medium of splenocytes of BALB/c mice occurred if the cells were precultured before concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin stimulation. This enhancing effect was much greater in autoimmune NZB/W F1 mice than BALB/c mice, the induced high level of IL 2 being sustained for 11 days of culture. The continuously elevated IL 2 activity induced by precultivation was lowered by the addition of the intact normal thymocytes, but not by precultured or irradiated thymocytes. Lipopolysaccharide-induced anti-DNA antibody production in the precultured splenocytes of NZB/W F1 mice was higher than that in freshly prepared ones. Mitogen-induced proliferative responses in both freshly prepared thymocytes and splenocytes of BALB/c mice treated with hydrocortisone (HC) were significantly enhanced, although the number of splenocytes and the primary in vitro plaque-forming cell response to sheep erythrocytes were reduced. Con A-induced IL 2 elevation in the supernatant of splenocytes precultured before the antigen stimulation was potentiated in HC-treated mice. Similar results were obtained in splenocytes from BALB/c mice loaded with restraint stress. These findings suggest that disturbance of IL 2 metabolism might be involved in the pathogenesis of NZB/W F1 mice, and an increased level of glucocorticoids might lead to a condition in which the body becomes susceptible to the development of hyper-immune responses.

In January 1983, a number of premature infants under management in the premature infants' unit of our hospital were found to have bacteremia due to Staphylococcus aureus. By the end of February of the same year, 4 of these infants, who had been treated in the same unit, developed impetigo. The S. aureus responsible for this condition was classified as type IV by a coagulase typing. In a subsequent antimicrobial susceptibility test using the disk diffusion method, this microorganism was found to be resistant to methicillin, erythromycin and lincomycin, and to be susceptible to tetracycline, chloramphenicol and cefmetazole, indicating that it was a methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Because the result from the coagulase typing agreed with the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in all cases, we concluded that these cases represented nosocomial infection with MRSA. The source and route of the infection were investigated, and measures taken to prevent bacterial spread from carriers and to keep instruments and environments clean. Although the source of infection was not identified. Then, we tried wiping the body surface of the premature infants with an Isodine solution (10% PVP-I, 1:100 dilution) in order to prevent colonization of the microorganism on the body surface. With this application+, MRSA was no longer detected from the body surface of the premature infants, and no additional MRSA infection occurred in the premature infants' unit. Data collected for premature infants' managed at our hospital in the subsequent 6 years allows us to conclude that MRSA infection can be almost completely controlled by frequent surveys of carriers and appropriate body surface wiping with Isodine solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)