Effect of high- and low-energy entrance surface dose allocation ratio for two-shot dual-energy subtraction imaging on low-contrast resolution.

INTRODUCTION: Dual-energy subtraction (DES) imaging can obtain chest radiographs with high contrast between nodules and healthy lung tissue, and evaluating of chest radiography and evaluating exposure conditions is crucial to obtain a high-quality diagnostic image. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the dose allocation ratio of entrance surface dose (ESD) between high- and low-energy projection in low-contrast resolution of soft-tissue images for two-shot DES imaging in digital radiography using a contrast-detail phantom (CD phantom). METHODS: A custom-made phantom mimicking a human chest that combined a CD phantom, polymethylmethacrylate square plate, and an aluminum plate (1-3 mm) was used. The tube voltage was 120 kVp (high-energy) and 60 kVp (low-energy). The ESD was changed from 0.1 to 0.5 mGy in 0.1 mGy increments. Dose allocation ratio of ESD between 120 kVp and 60 kVp projection was set at 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 2:1. Inverse image quality figure (IQFinv) was calculated from the custom-made phantom images. RESULTS: When the total ESD and aluminum thickness were constant, no significant difference in IQFinv was observed under most conditions of varied dose allocation ratio. Similarly, when the total ESD and the dose allocation ratio were constant, there was no significant difference in IQFinv based on the aluminum plate thickness. CONCLUSION: Using IQFinv to evaluate the quality of the two-shot DES image suggested that dose allocation ratio did not have a significant effect on low-contrast resolution of soft-tissue images. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The present results provide useful information for determining exposure conditions for two-shot DES imaging.

A multi-centre, retrospective case series of oocyte cryopreservation in unmarried women diagnosed with haematological malignancies.

STUDY QUESTION: Is oocyte cryopreservation an applicable option for fertility preservation in unmarried patients with haematological malignancies? SUMMARY ANSWER: Oocyte cryopreservation via the vitrification method is accessible and may be considered an option for fertility preservation in unmarried patients with haematological malignancies. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Haematological malignancies are most commonly observed amongst adolescent and young adult women. Although the survival rate and life expectancy of those with haematological malignancies have improved, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may impair their reproductive potential. Oocyte cryopreservation is thus an ideal option to preserve their fertility. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: This study retrospectively evaluated 193 unmarried patients (age: 26.2 ± 0.4 years) with haematological malignancies, who consulted for oocyte cryopreservation across 20 different fertility centres in Japan between February 2007 and January 2015. The primary outcome measures were the oocyte retrievals and oocyte cryopreservation outcomes. The secondary outcome measures were the outcomes following oocyte warming for IVF. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: The patients had commenced ovarian stimulation cycles via antagonist, agonist, natural and minimal methods for oocyte retrievals, defined according to the treatment strategy of each respective fertility centre. A vitrification method using the Cryotop safety kit was used for oocyte cryopreservation. ICSIs were used for insemination of warmed oocytes. The endometrial preparation method for embryo transfer was hormonal replacement therapy, except in the case of a patient who underwent a spontaneous ovulatory cycle. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Among 193 patients, acute myeloid leukaemia (n = 45, 23.3%) was most common, followed by acute lymphoid leukaemia (n = 38, 19.7%) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 30, 15.5%). In total, 162 patients (83.9%) underwent oocyte retrieval, and oocytes were successfully cryopreserved for 155 patients (80.3%). The mean number of oocyte retrieval cycles and cryopreserved oocytes were 1.7 ± 0.2 and 6.3 ± 0.4, respectively. As of December 2019, 14 patients (9.2%) had requested oocyte warming for IVF. The survival rate of oocytes after vitrification-warming was 85.2% (75/88). The rates of fertilisation and embryo development were 80.0% (60/75) and 46.7% (28/60), respectively. Ten patients (71.4%) had successful embryo transfers, and seven live births (50.0%) were achieved. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study was limited by its retrospective nature. Additionally, there remains an insufficient number of cases regarding the warming of vitrified oocytes to reliably conclude whether oocyte cryopreservation is effective for patients with haematological malignancies. Further long-term follow-up study is required. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Oocyte retrieval and oocyte cryopreservation were accessible for patients with haematological malignancies; however, the number of oocyte retrievals may have been limited due to the initiation of cancer treatments. Acceptable embryonic and pregnancy outcomes could be achieved following oocyte warming; therefore, our results suggest that oocyte cryopreservation can be considered an option for fertility preservation in patients with haematological malignancies. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The authors declare no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Reduced marine phytoplankton sulphur emissions in the Southern Ocean during the past seven glacials.

Marine biogenic sulphur affects Earth's radiation budget and may be an indicator of primary productivity in the Southern Ocean, which is closely related to atmospheric CO2 variability through the biological pump. Previous ice-core studies in Antarctica show little climate dependence of marine biogenic sulphur emissions and hence primary productivity, contradictory to marine sediment records. Here we present new 720,000-year ice core records from Dome Fuji in East Antarctica and show that a large portion of non-sea-salt sulphate, which was traditionally used as a proxy for marine biogenic sulphate, likely originates from terrestrial dust during glacials. By correcting for this, we make a revised calculation of biogenic sulphate and find that its flux is reduced in glacial periods. Our results suggest reduced dimethylsulphide emissions in the Antarctic Zone of the Southern Ocean during glacials and provide new evidence for the coupling between climate and the Southern Ocean sulphur cycle.

Greenland records of aerosol source and atmospheric lifetime changes from the Eemian to the Holocene.

The Northern Hemisphere experienced dramatic changes during the last glacial, featuring vast ice sheets and abrupt climate events, while high northern latitudes during the last interglacial (Eemian) were warmer than today. Here we use high-resolution aerosol records from the Greenland NEEM ice core to reconstruct the environmental alterations in aerosol source regions accompanying these changes. Separating source and transport effects, we find strongly reduced terrestrial biogenic emissions during glacial times reflecting net loss of vegetated area in North America. Rapid climate changes during the glacial have little effect on terrestrial biogenic aerosol emissions. A strong increase in terrestrial dust emissions during the coldest intervals indicates higher aridity and dust storm activity in East Asian deserts. Glacial sea salt aerosol emissions in the North Atlantic region increase only moderately (50%), likely due to sea ice expansion. Lower aerosol concentrations in Eemian ice compared to the Holocene are mainly due to shortened atmospheric residence time, while emissions changed little.

Chromosomal mapping of genes controlling development, histological grade, depth of invasion, and size of rat stomach carcinomas.

Rat stomach cancers induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) are widely used as a model of differentiated-type human stomach cancers. ACI/N (ACT) rats are susceptible and BUF/Nac (BUF) rats are resistant to MNNG-induced stomach carcinogenesis, and the presence of an autosomal gene with a dominant BUF allele has been suggested. In this study, we performed a carcinogenicity test by giving MNNG in drinking water to 117 male ACI x (ACIxBUF)F1 backcross rats. Each of 100 effective rats was diagnosed for its "carcinoma development" and when it was bearing stomach carcinoma(s), for histological grade, depth of invasion, and size and number of tumors. Carcinoma development was diagnosed based both on the age of the rat and on the presence of stomach carcinoma(s). Linkage analysis was performed with the genotypes of 161 loci, covering 1637 cM of the rat genome. Contrary to our original expectations, the most influential gene was the one on chromosome (chr.) 15, Gastric cancer susceptibility gene 1 (Gcs1), which confers susceptibility to stomach carcinogenesis (LOD, 3.8) with a dominant BUF allele by promoting conversion from adenomas to carcinomas. Two resistance genes on chr. 4 and chr. 3, Gastric cancer resistance gene 1 (Gcr1) and Gcr2, were shown to confer dominant resistance (LOD, 2.7 and 2.6, respectively). Gcs1, Gcr1, and Gcr2 exerted additive effects on the development of stomach carcinomas. A gene on chr. 16, Gcr3, was indicated to reduce the depth of invasion (LOD, 2.2) and sizes of tumors (LOD, 1.9). No linkage was obtained using the number of tumors. These findings show that the coordinate effect of a susceptibility gene, Gcs1, and two resistance genes, Gcr1 and Gcr2, is responsible for the development of MNNG-induced stomach carcinomas and that Gcr3 is responsible for the growth of a stomach carcinoma, reflected in the depth of invasion and in the tumor size.

Rat gene mapping using PCR-analyzed microsatellites.

One hundred and seventy-four rat loci which contain short tandem repeat sequences were extracted from the GenBank or EMBL data bases and used to define primers for amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the microsatellite regions, creating PCR-formatted sequence-tagged microsatellite sites (STMSs). One hundred and thirty-four STMSs for 118 loci, including 6 randomly cloned STMSs, were characterized: (i) PCR-analyzed loci were assigned to specific chromosomes using a panel of rat x mouse somatic cell hybrid clones. (ii) Length variation of the STMSs among 8 inbred rat strains could be visualized at 85 of 107 loci examined (79.4%). (iii) A genetic map, integrating biochemical, coat color, mutant and restriction fragment length polymorphism loci, was constructed based on the segregation of 125 polymorphic markers in seven rat backcrosses and in two F2 crosses. Twenty four linkage groups were identified, all of which were assigned to a defined chromosome. As a reflection of the bias for coding sequences in the public data bases, the STMSs described herein are often associated with genes. Hence, the genetic map we report coincides with a gene map. The corresponding map locations of the homologous mouse and human genes are also listed for comparative mapping purposes.

Establishment of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring cellular MAGE-4 protein on human cancers.

The MAGE genes encoding tumor-rejection antigens are expressed on various human cancers. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established for measuring cellular MAGE-4 protein (MAGE-4a and/or -4b) expressed on human tumor cells using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) and polyclonal Ab to recombinant MAGE-4b protein. Both the R5 mAb (IgG1) and the polyclonal Ab recognized a 45 kDa protein in extracts of MAGE-4 mRNA positive cancers, and showed no apparent cross-reactivity to the other MAGE gene products (MAGE-1, -2, -3, -6, and -12) by the immunoblot analyses. The R5 mAb and the polyclonal Ab primarily recognized one (the position 119-133) and two oligopeptides (the positions 119-133 and 259-273), respectively, among a series of 31 different MAGE-4b oligopeptides. The amino acid sequences of these two peptides were identical to those of MAGE-4a and -4b, but differed from those of all the other MAGE proteins (MAGE-1, -2, -3, -6, and -12). Substitution of glycine for amino acid in position 123 (arginine, R), 124 (lysine, K), 126 (R) or 128 (K) in a MAGE-4b oligopeptide of the position 119-132 severely decreased the reactivity of the R5 mAb to the oligopeptide. This ELISA also showed no apparent cross-reactivity with the other MAGE gene products (MAGE-1, -2, -3, -6, and -12). The minimum detectable level of MAGE-4 protein was determined to be 10 pg/well (100 pg/ml). The results suggest that this ELISA is a reliable and quantitative method to measure cellular MAGE-4 protein that is a potential target molecule for specific immunotherapy of human cancers.

Determination of the glucurono-conjugated position in bile alcohol glucuronides excreted in urine of a patient with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis by a nuclear magnetic resonance study.

This paper describes the determination of the glucurono-conjugated position in two bile alcohol glucuronides excreted in urine of a patient with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis by a nuclear magnetic resonance study. The urine sample was extracted with reversed-phase resin, and chromatographed on a reversed-phase partition column and a silica gel column to isolate glucurono-conjugates of 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 25-tetrol and 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 23,25- pentol. Proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the natural tetrol glucuronide were identical with those of the chemically synthesized tetrol glucuronide, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 25-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyluronic acid. Hence, the glucurono-conjugated position of the natural tetrol glucuronide was determined to be the C-3 position. By comparison of the 13C chemical shift data with that of the unconjugated pentol, 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 23,25-pentol, the glucurono-conjugated position of the natural pentol glucuronide was determined to be C-23. Thus the natural pentol glucuronide can be formulated as 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 25- tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholestane-23-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid. The difference in the glucurono-conjugated position between the 25-tetrol glucuronide and the 23,25-pentol glucuronide indicates that the former is not the biosynthetic precursor of the latter.

Metabolism of bile alcohols, 24-nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24-tetrol and 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-26,27-dinor-5 beta-cholestan-24-one, in rats.

24-Nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,25-tetrol and 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-26,27-dinor-5 beta-cholestan-24-one were administered intraperitoneally to bile fistula rats, and the metabolites excreted in the bile were analyzed. No formation of bile acids from these bile alcohols was observed. 7 alpha,12 alpha,25-Trihydroxy-24-nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosid)uronic acid was identified as the only biliary metabolite of the 24-nor-5 beta-cholestanetetrol. The major metabolite of the trihydroxy-26,27-dinor-5 beta-cholestanone was 7 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-24-oxo-26,27-dinor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosid)uronic acid, and the minor metabolite was the glucurono conjugate of 26,27-dinor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24 beta-tetrol. The results indicated that in rat liver these C25- and C26-bile alcohols, in contrast to C27-bile alcohols, were not converted into bile acids, and that the glucuronide production became necessary for hepatic elimination of the accumulated bile alcohols.

Effects of deoxycholic acid and its epimers on lipid peroxidation in isolated rat hepatocytes.

We studied the effects of deoxycholic acid and its three epimers with beta-hydroxyl groups (3alpha,12beta-, 3beta,12alpha-, and 3beta,12beta-dihydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-oic acids), which were hydrophilic and less cytotoxic, on lipid peroxidation to elucidate the relationship between structural features of bile acids and their effect on lipid peroxidation. Taurodeoxycholate markedly increased the production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, end products of lipid peroxidation, in isolated rat hepatocytes, whereas epimers of taurodeoxycholate did not. Deoxycholic acid inhibited mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase and NADH:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase activities, leading to free radical generation, whereas epimers of deoxycholic acid had no effect on mitochondrial enzymes. These findings suggested that hydrophobic bile acids cause lipid peroxidation by impairment of mitochondrial function, leading to the generation of free radicals; and epimerization of alpha-hydroxyl groups in the steroid nucleus to beta-hydroxyl groups results in a decrease of the toxic effects of deoxycholic acid on lipid peroxidation.

Bile acid profiles in a peroxisomal D-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase/D-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional protein deficiency.

Bile acid profiles in serum, urine and bile from an infant with a peroxisomal D-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase/D-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional protein (D-bifunctional protein) deficiency were analyzed by means of gas-liquid chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography. As in such several peroxisomal disorders as Zellweger syndrome, neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy, and infantile Refsum disease, the accumulation of C27-bile acid intermediates was also demonstrated in the infant with D-bifunctional protein deficiency, accounting for 74% of the total bile acids in serum, 59% in urine, and 35% in bile. In addition, the major constituents of the C27-bile acids were (24R,25R)- and (24R,25S)-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,24-tetrahydroxy-5be ta-cholestanoic acids along with small amounts of their 24S counterparts. Since immunoreactive acyl-CoA oxidase, L-bifunctional protein, and thiolase were all present in the liver, the impairment of the oxidative side-chain cleavage in bile acid biosynthesis is considered to be due to the defect of D-bifunctional protein.

SPIKING INDUCED BY COOLING IN THE MYOCARDIUM OF THE LOBSTER PANULIRUS JAPONICUS

The heart rate of crustaceans changes with variations in ambient temperature within the normal environmental range (Maynard, 1960). The temperature coefficient (Q10) of the heart rate of crabs over the range 4­19 °C is about 2 (Florey and Kriebel, 1974). There are few studies of the heart response to a rapid change in temperature, although aquatic crustaceans often meet with warm or cold water masses (Spaargaren and Achituv, 1977). Electromechanical coupling of muscle fibres becomes less effective with decreasing temperature (Dudel and Ruedel, 1968), but a mechanism has been described that compensates for the tonus effect during leg muscle activity (Fischer and Florey, 1981). Compensatory mechanisms may also exist for heart muscle, and I have recently found that myocardial cells of a marine lobster begin to produce large action potentials in response to cooling. Lobster myocardial fibres develop tension in response to excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) generated by impulse activity of motor neurones in the cardiac ganglion (Van der Kloot, 1970; Anderson and Cooke, 1971; Kuramoto and Kuwasawa, 1980; Kuramoto and Ebara, 1984a). The heart tension produced is fed back to the cardiac ganglion because the cardiac neurones are sensitive to filling pressure (Maynard, 1960; Kuramoto and Ebara, 1984a, 1885, 1988, 1991). Thus, the responses of the isolated heart to cooling will result from the combined activities of the cardiac ganglion and the muscle cells. This report focuses on the development of a spiking response by the myocardial cells when the heart is cooled. The spikes produced correspond to enhanced contractions of the myocardium, suggesting that the myocardial cells may use this as a mechanism to compensate for the reduced efficacy of excitation­contraction coupling that occurs with falling temperature. Lobsters (Panulirus japonicus Von Siebolt, both sexes, approximately 200 g, N=25) were reared in an indoor aquarium continuously supplied with fresh natural sea water. Seasonal changes of aquarium temperature ranged from 15 to 25 °C. The isolated hearts were subjected to cooling experiments. The rate of cooling ranged from 1 to 3 °C min-1, the magnitude from 1 to 6 °C and the duration from 5 to 6 min. The methods for perfusing and recording from the isolated hearts were substantially the same as those used previously (Kuramoto and Ebara, 1984a, 1985, 1988, 1991). The perfusion saline was switched to warm or cold. Bath temperature near the heart was monitored with a platinum sensor (1 k omega at 0 °C). Myocardial membrane potentials were measured with glass microelectrodes (3 mol l-1 KCl, 10­30 M omega). Muscle tension was recorded using a strain gauge.

Relatively poor oocyte quality is an indication for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between the insemination method used and the quality of oocytes and embryos. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Assisted reproductive centers at Yamagata University Hospital and Kuramoto Women's Clinic in Yamagata, Japan. PATIENT(S): Forty patients undergoing IVF and 40 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). INTERVENTION(S): To estimate oocyte quality, the granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte were fixed and stained with a commercial dye in both groups of patients. One thousand granulosa cells were examined under a fluorescence microscope. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells surrounding each oocyte. RESULT(S): The incidence of apoptosis in the granulosa cells enclosing the oocytes that were fertilized by IVF was significantly lower than that in the oocytes that were fertilized by ICSI. Moreover, the incidence of apoptosis in the granulosa cells enclosing the oocytes that grew into good-quality or fair-quality embryos was significantly lower after conventional IVF than after ICSI. With ICSI, the incidence of apoptosis was not significantly different among the granulosa cells surrounding the oocytes that were inseminated, were fertilized, or developed into good-quality or fair-quality embryos. With IVF, the incidence of apoptosis was highest in the granulosa cells surrounding the oocytes that were inseminated and lowest in the granulosa cells surrounding the oocytes that developed into good-quality and fair-quality embryos. CONCLUSION(S): A good-quality oocyte is necessary for the development of a good-quality embryo with IVF but not with ICSI. Thus, relatively poor oocyte quality is a good indication for the use of ICSI.

Determining the appropriate stimulus intensity for studying the dipole moment in somatosensory evoked fields: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a simple method of determining the appropriate stimulus intensity for studying the dipole moment in somatosensory evoked fields. METHODS: In 17 patients (20 hemispheres), the authors studied the relationship between the dipole moment and stimulus intensity, which was quantified using the threshold of thenar muscle twitch (TMT). The dipole moment was measured at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 TMT. Two measurements were obtained at 1.5 TMT to determine the procedure's margin of error. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the dipole moments measured at 1.5 and 2.0 TMT. CONCLUSIONS: Setting the stimulus intensity at 1.5 TMT or more ensures a consistent response.

Membrane properties of a human neuroblastoma.

The electrical properties of the SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cell were studied by standard intracellular recording techniques; the average resting membrane potential was -21 +/- 11 mV, with a few cells showing mebrane potentials greater than - 40 mV. Under standard tissue culture conditions, as used in these experiments, less than 1% of these cells show morphological differentiation (process formation). In response to current injection, a variety of graded responses with a relatively slow rise time were observed. In some cells only delayed rectification was observed. In no instance did current injection result in a characteristic action potential. An analogous method for determining electrical excitability was to measure (22)Na influx in the presence and absence of a depolarizing agent, veratridine (0.1 mM). In such experiments, the influx of (22)Na in SK-N-SH cells was only slightly altered by veratridine. Taken together, these data suggest that the morphologically undifferentiated human neuroblastoma cells are relatively inexcitable electrically. The iontophoretic application of acetylcholine to the cell body produced depolarizing responses whose amplitudes were dependent on the membrane potential.

Expression of MAGE genes in osteosarcoma.

Expression of MAGE genes that encode tumor-rejection antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes with major histocompatibility complex class-I antigens was investigated in human osteosarcomas (20 cell lines and eight fresh tumor tissues). MAGE-1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 genes were expressed at the mRNA level in 11 (52.4%), 10 (47.6%), 10 (47.6%) one (4.8%), and 10 (47.6%) of 21 tumor cell lines, respectively, and in five (62.5%), six (75%), five (62.5%), one (12.5%), and five (62.5%) of eight fresh tumor tissues as determined by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. MAGE-1 or 4 protein was detected by immunoblot analysis in eight of 11 or one of one tumor cell lines, respectively, where it was expressed at the mRNA level. Major histocompatibility complex class-I antigens were expressed in 19 of 21 tumor cell lines. These results suggest that MAGE tumor-rejection antigens are expressed in substantial numbers of osteosarcomas in a major histocompatibility class-I-restricted manner.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: clinical and biochemical evaluation of eight patients and review of the literature.

We present the clinical and laboratory findings of 8 patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. The clinical features consisted of a combination of bilateral Achilles tendon xanthomas, cataracts, low intelligence, pyramidal signs, cerebellar signs, convulsions, peripheral neuropathy, foot deformity, cardiovascular disease or atherosclerosis, EEG abnormality, and increased CSF protein. Increased cholesterol was present in the serum, CSF and red cell membrane of all 8 patients. The bile of one patient with late age onset of the disease showed an attenuated production of bile acids and bile alcohols. Three of the 7 had obstruction and/or marked narrowing of the coronary arteries. Data on 136 patients reported throughout the world are reviewed.

Urinary bile alcohol profiles in healthy and cholestatic children.

BACKGROUND: Bile alcohols are normal constituents of urine. METHODS: To better understand bile alcohol profile in childhood, urinary specimens from 41 healthy children and 10 children with cholestasis, and 3 healthy adults, were analyzed by GLC and GC-MS. RESULTS: Five bile alcohols, 27-nor-5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,24S,25R-pentol, 5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,24S, 25-pentol, 5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,24S,26-pentol, 5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha, 12alpha,25,26-pentol, and 5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,26,27-pentol were identified in all specimens. C(26)-Pentol was the most abundant constituent, constituting 29.5 to 65% of bile alcohols. Among healthy children (n=41), no significant relationship was seen between proportions of the C(26)-pentol and age, but older children (n=15, 6 to 14 years) showed a significantly greater mean percentage of the C(26)-pentol than young children (n=26, 0 to 5 years; 58.1+/-4.23% vs. 46.0+/-9.24%, p<0.001). In children with cholestatic liver diseases, the percentage of C(26)-pentol in urinary bile alcohols was significantly lower than age-matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increased composition of C(26)-pentol in older children and relatively decreased composition of C(26)-pentol in children with cholestatic liver diseases.

Identification of bile alcohols in normal rabbit bile.

Rabbit bile was examined for bile alcohols. Using combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 25,26-pentol, 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 25--tetrol, 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha,24 beta-tetrol, 24-methyl-25-homo-5 beta-cholane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 24-tetrol, and 5 alpha-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha, 24 beta-tetrol were identified as the minor constituents of normal rabbit bile.

New bile alcohols - synthesis of (22R)- and (22S)-5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,22,25-pentols.

The synthesis of (22R)- and (22S)-5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha,22,25-pentols is described. Bisnorcholyl aldehyde was prepared from cholic acid and converted into the cholestane-pentols by a Grignard reaction with 3-methyl-3-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy)-butynylmagnesium bromide followed by hydrogenation and acid hydrolysis. One of the synthetic pentols, the 22R-isomer was identical with a metabolite of 5beta-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha,25-triol formed in the rabbit.