Effect of quantity and quality of dietary protein on choline acetyltransferase and nerve growth factor, and their mRNAs in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats.

The brain protein synthesis is sensitive to the dietary protein; however, the role of dietary protein on biomarkers including choline acetyltransferase and nerve growth factor (NGF) for the function of cholinergic neurons remains unknown in young rats. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the quantity and quality of dietary protein affects the concentration of NGF and activity of choline acetyltransferase, and their mRNA levels in the brains of young rats. Experiments were carried out on five groups of young rats (4 weeks) given the diets containing 0, 5, 20% casein, 20% gluten or 20% gelatin for 10 days. The activity of choline acetyltransferase in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus declined gradually with a decrease in quantity and quality of dietary protein. The concentration of NGF in the cerebral cortex and the mRNA levels of choline acetyltransferase in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus did not differ among groups. However, the concentration and mRNA level of NGF in the hippocampus was significantly lower in rats fed with lower quantity of protein or lower quality of protein. In the hippocampus, the mRNA levels of NGF significantly correlated with the NGF concentration when the quantity (r = 0.704, P < 0.01) and quality (r = 0.682, P < 0.01) of dietary protein was manipulated. It was further found that a significant positive correlation existed between the NGF concentration and the activity of choline acetyltransferase in the hippocampus (dietary protein quantity, r = 0.632, P < 0.05; dietary protein quality, r = 0.623, P < 0.05). These results suggest that the ingestion of lower quantity and quality of dietary protein are likely to control the mRNA level and concentration of NGF, and cause a decline in the activity of choline acetyltransferase in the brains of young rats.

The role of growth hormone and amino acids on brain protein synthesis in aged rats given proteins of different quantity and quality.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the regulation of brain protein synthesis was mediated through changes in the plasma concentrations of insulin and growth hormone (GH), and whether the concentrations of amino acids in the brain and plasma regulate the brain protein synthesis when the quantity and quality of dietary protein is manipulated. Two experiments were done on three groups of aged rats given diets containing 20% casein, 5% casein or 0% casein (Experiment 1), and 20% casein, 20% gluten, or 20% gelatin (Experiment 2) for 1 d (only one 5-h period) after all rats were fed the 20% casein diet for 10 d (only 5-h feeding per day). The aggregation of brain ribosomes, the concentration in plasma GH, and the branched chain amino acids in the plasma and cerebral cortex declined with a decrease of quantity and quality of dietary protein. The concentration of plasma insulin did not differ among groups. The results suggest that the ingestion of a higher quantity and quality of dietary protein increases the concentrations of GH and several amino acids in aged rats, and that the concentrations of GH and amino acids are at least partly related to the mechanism by which the dietary protein affects brain protein synthesis in aged rats.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for acute thrombotic occlusion of the cervical internal carotid artery using a perfusion balloon catheter.

SUMMARY: We performed emergency percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with a perfusion balloon catheter (PBC) for PTCA and, at the same time, thrombolytic therapy was administered by urokinase (UK) perfusion in five cases of severe cervical internal carotid artery stenosis in which sudden cerebral hemisphere ischemia occurred due to acute thrombotic obliteration. In four out of the five cases, effective revascularization was obtained; three resulted in Good recovery, but one showed extensive cerebral infarction after PTA. In the remaining one case, where stenosis of the internal carotid artery of the opposite side occurred subclinically, effective revascularization by PTA was impossible resulting in the death of this patient. While "artery to aetery embolism" was confirmed in all four cases in which revascularization was successful, most emboli were dissolved by combined thrombolysis. As poor prognostic factors, findings of a low density area and closing of cerebral sulci in an initial CT and poor development of the collateral circulation mediating the circle of Willis and leptomeningeal collateral on the cerebral surface were indicated. Since PBC is capable of performing PTA while assuring circulation distant from the balloon, it facilitates gradual and prolonged balloon inflation, which is said to be safer and more effective, and is considered a reasonable method of revascularization at the time of an acute obliteration in the cervical internal carotid artery. In addition, this method can be used as a bridge to carotid endarterectomy. However, "artery to artery embolism" accompanying PTA in the acute stage remains a major problem, and a combination of thrombolysis seems indispensable.

A male case of synchronous double cancers of the breast and prostate.

A male case of synchronous double cancers of the breast and prostate is reported. An 84-year-old male was admitted to the hospital complaining of general malaise, anorexia and weight loss. A tumor 3 cm in diameter was noted in his left breast, which was removed by mastectomy, and was diagnosed as papillotubular carcinoma. An induration of his prostate and elevated prostate specific antigen, gamma-seminoprotein and prostatic acid phosphatase levels were also noted. Needle biopsy of his prostate revealed adenocarcinoma. Among the previous 18 reported cases of this combination of cancers, those with no prior estrogen therapy were very rare, the present case being the third ever reported.

Effect of ileo-jejunal transposition on intestinal adaptation after total colectomy in dogs.

The effect of ileo-jejunal transposition (IJT) on the intestinal adaptation after total colectomy was investigated in 4 mongrel dogs. Hyperenteroglucagonemia was observed in the IJT with colectomy group, especially in postprandial state. Obvious hyperplastic changes were observed in all part of the small intestinal mucosa in the colectomy with IJT group. However, there were no significant differences in body weight changes between the colectomy with IJT group and the colectomy group. Postprandial plasma gastrin levels were lower in the colectomy with IJT group compared to the control. These results suggest that IJT causes hyperenteroglucagonemia and intestinal mucosal hypertrophy in colectomized dogs. Enteroglucagon may have an inhibitory effect on postprandial gastrin release.