Breast cancer diagnosis based on lipid profiling by probe electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Probe electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PESI-MS) is an ambient ionization-based mass spectrometry method that surpasses the original electrospray ionization technique in features such as the rapidity of analysis, simplicity of the equipment and procedure, and lower cost. This study found that the PESI-MS system with machine learning has the potential to establish a lipid-based diagnosis of breast cancer with higher accuracy, using a simpler approach. Rapid mass spectrometry for breast cancer.

Tubal compliance--changes with age and in tubal malfunction.

OBJECTIVE: It is known that eustachian tubal compliance has influence on the tubal function. We applied the direct measurement method to ascertain whether or not aging and tubal diseases are related to the compliance of the cartilaginous part of the eustachian tube. METHODS: We developed a method for directly measuring tubal compliance by inserting a balloon catheter, which is inflated with water, into the eustachian tube and comparing the change in balloon pressure with the balloon volume. This method is advantageous in that one can directly measure tubal compliance in the cartilaginous part of the eustachian tube. Using this method we examined tubal compliance in 16 normal young volunteer ears, 21 normal elderly volunteer ears, 11 elderly ears with patulous tube and 12 elderly ears with stenotic tube including otitis media with effusion. RESULTS: In adults the tubal compliance increases in value with age. Tubal compliance of the elderly patulous tube was significantly higher than that of the normal elderly one, on the other hand the compliance of the elderly stenotic tube was significantly lower than that of the normal one. CONCLUSION: Tubal compliance was considered to be changed with aging and influence of the patulous and stenotic tubes.

Direct measurement of eustachian tube compliance.

We developed a method by which tubal compliance can be directly measured, and using this method we examined tubal compliance in 18 adults with a disease-free ear and 8 adults with chronic otitis media. This method is advantageous in that one can directly measure tubal compliance in the cartilaginous part of the eustachian tube. It is our view that each eustachian tube has its own compliance which is not influenced by mucosal swelling or muscle tension around the tube.

Eustachian tube function tests and their diagnostic potential in normal and diseased ears.

We have summarized various methods for testing Eustachian tube function since the 1980's. There have been numerous contributions to our knowledge on Eustachian tube and middle ear functions, and the pathophysiology of disorders of the middle ear has been clarified. Understanding of the Eustachian tube function and controlling the Eustachian tube dysfunction are mandatory for adequate clinical management and for improvement of the prognosis.

Tubotympanoplasty.

Prognostic value of the Eustachian tube function test remains controversial. To prevent ear drum adhesion or the recurrence of cholesteatoma it is important to select cases with severe organic obstruction of the Eustachian tube and to use surgical procedures to restore function. We summarize here the indications and the surgical procedure for organic obstruction of the Eustachian tube, especially in the region of the tympanic orifice. Adequate preoperative evaluation of Eustachian tube function and pertinent surgical procedures will pave the way for a better prognosis for patients subjected to ear surgery.

Active opening function of the human eustachian tube: comparison between sonotubometry and pressure equilibration test.

Sonotubometry and pressure equilibration test are representative test methods to evaluate the active opening capacity of the Eustachian tube. We applied these tests to 72 ears with otitis media with effusion and 21 ears with chronic otitis media. In 73 ears, both tests showed identical results (11 ears with good active function and 62 ears with poor function). Twenty ears showed good active opening by sonotubometry despite inability to relieve applied negative pressure by swallowing. This inconsistency is believed to result from a too short duration of the tubal opening, by which sound is transmitted through the Eustachian tube, without pressure change in the middle ear cavity. We propose that sonotubometry is a suitable method of detecting impairment of the tubal active opening function, but that a good result by sonotubometry does not always indicate a satisfactory pressure equilibration capacity of the Eustachian tube.

Otitis media with effusion and eustachian tube dysfunction in adults and children.

Eustachian tube (ET) function was studied in 162 ears with otitis media with effusion (OME) and chronic otitis media (COM), using tubo-tympanoaerodynamic graphy, patency and pressure equilibration test in the inflation-deflation test. Severe impairment of active opening function was found in both OME children and adults compared with that of COM patients. This impairment in active opening was thought to result from functional obstruction of the ET in 71.8% of OME children and 51.8% of OME adults. However, 45.6% of OME adults had an organic obstruction while such was present only in 28.2% of OME children. We deduce from this study that impaired active opening function of the ET in both OME children and adults is the result of functional obstruction rather than organic obstruction, but organic obstruction is considered to be related to the pathogenesis of OME in adults.

Animal model of otitis media with effusion.

A rat model of otitis media with effusion (OME) was developed by intratympanic injection of E. coli endotoxin and section of the third branch of the trigeminal nerve (V3). The period of fluid retention induced by the endotoxin was prolonged for 5 days or longer, in cases when tubal function was impaired by cutting of V3. Three Eustachian tube function tests (patency test of inflation-deflation tests, forced response test and negative pressure test) were carried out before and after the endotoxin inoculation and V3 sectioning. At 4 days after these procedures, passive opening pressure (Po), closing pressure (Pc) and tubal resistance (R2) were significantly lowered. The negative pressure test showed impaired capacity of active opening. This model of Eustachian tube dysfunction is considered to reveal functional obstruction, a condition similar to that of clinical cases of OME. The study shows that both inflammation in the middle ear and tubal dysfunction, such as functional obstruction, are factors in the development and prolongation of OME.

Quantitative immunoelectron microscopic localization of Na, K-ATPase alpha-subunit in the epithelial cells of rat vestibular apparatus.

Na, K-ATPase was quantitatively localized in the epithelial cells of rat vestibular apparatus such as macula utriculi, macula sacculi and crista ampullaris. Immunogold localization method was carried out at the saturation level of antibody using an affinity purified antibody against the alpha-subunit of rat kidney Na, K-ATPase. Numerous gold particles were found on the basolateral membrane of the dark cells, a small number of gold particles were found on the basolateral membrane of the transitional epithelium cells and hair cells, but the luminal surface membranes of the hair cells, transitional epithelium cells, planum semilunatum cells and dark cells were rarely labeled by gold particles. Significance of the abundant localization of Na, K-ATPase on the basolateral surface of the dark cells in the production of endolymph was discussed.

Tissue reaction to collagen-coated porous hydroxyapatite.

To give tenacity to high porosity (80%-90%) hydroxyapatite (HA) and to make a stronger bone substitute, a collagen-coated porous HA (C-HA) was prepared, and its compressive strength was examined. By implanting C-HA into the femoral condyle of adult rabbits, the capacity for new bone formation and foreign-body reactivity were quantitatively compared with those of HA alone. The compressive strength of C-HA was 4.3 times greater than HA. At four weeks after implantation, the mean areal ratio of the newly formed bone in the C-HA block in each rabbit was 9.9%, which was somewhat less than the 13.7% in the HA block; the mean number of multinucleated giant cells (MGC) per visual field at x25 in the C-HA-implanted specimens in each rabbit was 14.4, significantly larger than the 6.1 in the HA specimens. However, 12 weeks after C-HA implantation, the areal ratio of new bone increased to 32.7%, the number of MGC decreased to 9.4, and the differences compared to the values in HA cases, 31.5% and 6.8, disappeared. These results showed that C-HA is mechanically stronger than HA and that there is no difference between HA and C-HA in capacity for new bone formation or foreign-body reaction.

Sensation of ear fullness caused by eustachian tube dysfunctions.

One hundred and ninety-four patients with a sensation of ear fullness were examined with the audiometry, tympanometry, and tubotympanoaero-dynamic graphy (TTAG) as a eustachian tube ventilatory test. In 74 cases of 194, the eustachian tube dysfunction was thought to cause an ear fullness sensation and patulous tube was found in 19 patients which is more frequent than expected. Functional unbalance of the both eustachian tubes which results from minimum ventilatory disturbance on the complaining side was also thought to be one of the causes of this symptom. The eustachian tube dysfunctions like stenotic or patulous tube could not be fully diagnosed by the audiometry and tympanometry because most patients with the eustachian tube dysfunctions showed normal middle ear pressure measured by the tympanometry. From our study, it could be concluded that eustachian ventilatory test like TTAG was very available in the patient with an ear fullness feeling which is one of the most common symptoms in the otolaryngological field.

Roentgenographic and clinical findings of patellofemoral osteoarthrosis. With special reference to its relationship to femorotibial osteoarthrosis and etiologic factors.

In order to determine definitive clinical and roentgenographic findings of patellofemoral osteoarthrosis (PF-OA) and the etiologic factors of this disease as well as its relationship to femorotibial osteoarthrosis (FT-OA), 108 knees having moderate to severe PF-OA with or without FT-OA were investigated. Pain and disabilities of activities of daily living (ADL) due to PF-OA most likely appeared during movements requiring deep flexion of the knee. Roentgenographic findings revealed a great majority of the disease occurred on the lateral side of the PF joint, both in cases of PF-OA alone and in PF-OA combined with FT-OA. There was no relationship between the degree of PF-OA advancement determined by roentgenographic findings and that of ADL disabilities. PF-OA and FT-OA seemed to be caused by different etiologic factors, because the degrees of involvement of the PF and FT joints were not correlated with each other in the cases of PF-OA combined with FT-OA. Since a clear history of dislocation or subluxation of the patella was noted in 18% of PF-OA (this figure increased to 28% if limited to the cases affected with PF-OA alone), and since roentgenographic findings also agreed with this evidence, dislocation or subluxation of the patella seemed to be one of the causes of PF-OA.

Quantitative immunogold localization of Na+,K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit in the tympanic wall of rat cochlear duct.

Ultrastructural localization of Na+,K(+)-ATPase was quantitatively investigated in the tympanic wall of rat cochlear duct by use of the protein A-gold method, using an affinity-purified antibody against the alpha-subunit of rat kidney Na+,K(+)-ATPase. A moderate number of gold particles were found on the basolateral membrane of the interdental cells of the spiral limbus. A small number of gold particles were found on the basolateral surfaces of the border cells and Hensen's cells. On the inner and outer sensory hair cells, however, the plasma membranes were rarely labeled by gold particles. The general pattern of labeling densities in cochlear structures determined here and in a previous communication from our laboratory shows good correlation with the distribution of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity as previously estimated biochemically, cytochemically, and autoradiographically.

New findings in observations by tubo-tympano-aerodynamic method.

We studied Eustachian tube function of healthy adults by two air flow methods, namely tubo-tympano-aerodynamic graphy by Valsalva maneuvre, and Tyonbee maneuvre during swallowing. We observed for the first time the presence of reciprocal features in normal Eustachian tubes. We also compared the tubal function of the same group using an air flow method and sound transmission method. The results of these observations showed that 77.4% of the subjects were positive for TTAG in Valsalva pattern, and 85.4% for sonometry. It can be inferred that data on the tubal opening in response to Valsalva and Toynbee maneuvres is obtained more easily by sonometry than by TTAG. TTAG, which permits examination of minute changes in air flow dynamics even in healthy Eustachian tubes, provides more important information on tubal function than does sonotubometry.

Quantitative immunocytochemical localization of Na+,K+-ATPase alpha-subunit in the lateral wall of rat cochlear duct.

Ultrastructural localization of the alpha-subunit of Na+,K+-ATPase on the lateral wall of rat cochlear duct was investigated quantitatively by the protein A-gold method, using affinity-purified antibody against the alpha-subunit of rat kidney Na+,K+-ATPase. In the stria vascularis, gold particles were sparse over the endolymphatic luminal surface of the marginal cells but were numerous over the basolateral membrane. The labeling density of the basolateral membrane was almost equal to that of the same domain of the distal tubule cells of kidney. The intermediate cells were studded with a large number of gold particles on the plasma membrane domain facing the basolateral domain of the marginal cells. On the luminal surfaces of the other epithelial cells, including those of Reissner's membrane, no significant amount of gold particles was found. Many gold particles were localized on all the plasma membranes of the spiral prominence stromal cells and on the intracellular membrane domain of the external sulcus cells.

Quantitative immunoelectron microscopic localization of (Na+,K+)ATPase in rat parotid gland.

Distribution of (Na+,K+)ATPase on the cell membranes of acinar and duct cells of rat parotid gland was investigated quantitatively by immunoelectron microscopy using the post-embedding protein A-gold technique. In acinar cells, ATPase was localized predominantly on the basolateral plasma membranes. A small but significant amount of (Na+,K+)ATPase was, however, detected on the luminal plasma membranes, especially on the microvillar region of the acinar cells; the surface density on the luminal membrane was approximately one third of that on the basolateral membranes. In duct cells, many gold particles were found on the basolateral membrane, especially along the basal infoldings of the plasma membranes, whereas no significant gold particles were found on the luminal plasma membranes, suggesting unilateral distribution of ATPase in duct cells. We suggest that in acinar cells sodium ion is not only transported paracellularly but is also actively transported intracellularly into the luminal space by the (Na+,K+)ATPase located on the luminal plasma membranes, and that water is passively transported to the luminal space to form a plasma-like isotonic primary saliva, while in the duct cells the same ion is selectively re-absorbed intracellularly by (Na+,K+)ATPase found in abundance along the many infoldings of the basal plasma membranes, thus producing the hypotonic saliva.

Chemical modification of cytosine residues of mouse 5 S ribosomal RNA with hydrogen sulfide. (Nucleosides and nucleotides 43).

Cytosine residues of nucleic acids were converted to 4-thiouracil residues with hydrogen sulfide in pyridine and water to examine the secondary and tertiary structures of mouse 5 S rRNA. The cytosine residues at positions 10, 24, 34 (or 36), 39, 44 (or 46) and 63 were converted preferentially when the treatment was carried out at 28 degrees C. This result supports the model of the secondary structure of 5 S rRNA of Nishikawa, K. and Takemura, S. ((1974) FEBS Lett. 40, 106-109) consisting of five helices and five loops. As the temperature was increased to 35 degrees C, additional cytosine residues in positions 26, 52 and 78 were modified to moderate extents.