Positive association of free triiodothyronine with pancreatic ß-cell function in people with prediabetes.

AIM: To analyse the effects of thyroid hormones on ß-cell function and glucose metabolism in people with prediabetes who are euthyroid. METHODS: A total of 111 people who were euthyroid underwent 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests, of whom 52 were assigned to the normal glucose tolerance and 59 to the prediabetes groups. Homeostatic model assessment of ß-cell function, insulinogenic index and areas under the curve for insulin and glucose were evaluated as indices of pancreatic ß-cell function. RESULTS: In both groups, BMI, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment ratio and HDL cholesterol correlated significantly with all indices of pancreatic ß-cell function. Free triiodothyronine correlated positively with all insulin secretion indices in the prediabetes group. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that free triiodothyronine was an independent variable that had a positive correlation with all indices of ß-cell function in the prediabetes group. By contrast, no such correlation was found in the normal glucose tolerance group. CONCLUSIONS: Free triiodothyronine is associated with both basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in people with prediabetes who are euthyroid; therefore, the regulation of insulin secretion by thyroid hormones is a potentially novel therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes.

Development of simple, rapid and sensitive detection assay for grouper nervous necrosis virus using real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

A quantitative rapid detection method based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification has been developed for red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV). The nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay is the mainstream inspection of the brooder in the hatchery. In this study, a real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method has been applied for RGNNV detection, known as a high-speed gene amplification procedure. Of the three temperatures (60 °C, 63 °C and 65 °C) attempted, it has been found that 63 °C is giving higher amplification from 11th minute onwards. Sensitivity analysis performed in comparison with real-time polymerase chain reaction, reverse transcriptase PCR and nested RT-PCR using various concentrations of template revealed that real-time LAMP method is efficient in terms of cost and time consumption. Specificity analysis revealed that the method developed is specific to RGNNV, whereas it has sequence cross-match with tiger puffer NNV giving advantage in detecting both the viruses. This method could be much efficient in analysing RGNNV in combination with TPNNV.

Ubiquilin-1 immunoreactivity is concentrated on Hirano bodies and dystrophic neurites in Alzheimer's disease brains.

AIMS: Ubiquilin-1 acts as an adaptor protein that mediates the translocation of polyubiquitinated proteins to the proteasome for degradation. Although previous studies suggested a key role of ubiquilin-1 in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a direct relationship between ubiquilin-1 and Hirano bodies in AD brains remains unknown. METHODS: By immunohistochemistry, we studied ubiquilin-1 and ubiquilin-2 expression in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus of six AD and 13 control cases. RESULTS: Numerous Hirano bodies, accumulated in the hippocampal CA1 region of AD brains, expressed intense immunoreactivity for ubiquilin-1. They were much less frequently found in control brains. However, Hirano bodies did not express a panel of markers for proteasome, autophagosome or pathogenic proteins, such as ubiquilin-2, ubiquitin, p62, LC3, beclin-1, HDAC6, paired helical filament (PHF)-tau, protein-disulphide isomerase (PDI) and phosphorylated TDP-43, but some of them expressed C9orf72. Ubiquilin-1-immunoreactive deposits were classified into four distinct morphologies, such as rod-shaped structures characteristic of Hirano bodies, dystrophic neurites contacting senile plaques, fragmented structures accumulated in the lesions affected with severe neuronal loss, and thread-shaped structures located mainly in the molecular layer of the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: Ubiquilin-1 immunoreactivity is concentrated on Hirano bodies and dystrophic neurites in AD brains, suggesting that aberrant expression of ubiquilin-1 serves as one of pathological hallmarks of AD.

Accumulation of a repulsive axonal guidance molecule RGMa in amyloid plaques: a possible hallmark of regenerative failure in Alzheimer's disease brains.

AIMS: RGMa is a repulsive guidance molecule that induces the collapse of axonal growth cones by interacting with the receptor neogenin in the central nervous system during development. It remains unknown whether RGMa plays a role in the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We hypothesize that RGMa, if it is concentrated on amyloid plaques, might contribute to a regenerative failure of degenerating axons in AD brains. METHODS: By immunohistochemistry, we studied RGMa and neogenin (NEO1) expression in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus of 6 AD and 12 control cases. The levels of RGMa expression were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot in cultured human astrocytes following exposure to cytokines and amyloid beta (Aß) peptides. RESULTS: In AD brains, an intense RGMa immunoreactivity was identified on amyloid plaques and in the glial scar. In the control brains, the glial scar and vascular foot processes of astrocytes expressed RGMa immunoreactivity, while oligodendrocytes and microglia were negative for RGMa. In AD brains, a small subset of amyloid plaques expressed a weak NEO1 immunoreactivity, while some reactive astrocytes in both AD and control brains showed an intense NEO1 immunoreactivity. In human astrocytes, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFß1 ), Aß 1-40 or Aß 1-42 markedly elevated the levels of RGMa, and TGFß1 also increased its own levels. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis validated the molecular interaction between RGMa and the C-terminal fragment ß of amyloid beta precursor protein (APP). Furthermore, recombinant RGMa protein interacted with amyloid plaques in situ. CONCLUSIONS: RGMa, produced by TGFß-activated astrocytes and accumulated in amyloid plaques and the glial scar, could contribute to the regenerative failure of degenerating axons in AD brains.

Immunohistochemical characterization of γ-secretase activating protein expression in Alzheimer's disease brains.

AIMS: A recent study showed that γ-secretase activating protein (GSAP), derived from a C-terminal fragment of pigeon homolog (PION), increases amyloid-ß (Aß) production by interacting with presenilin-1 (PS1) and the ß-secretase-cleaved C-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein (APP-CTF). In the study, knockdown of GSAP reduces production of Aß and plaque formation in the brain of APPswe and PS1ΔE9 double transgenic mice without affecting the Notch-dependent pathway. Therefore, GSAP is an ideal target for designing γ-secretase modulators with least side effects in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, at present, the precise distribution of GSAP in AD brains remains to be characterized. METHODS: By immunohistochemistry, we studied GSAP expression in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus of 11 aged AD and 17 age-matched control cases. RESULTS: GSAP immunoreactivity exhibited distinct morphological features, such as fine granular cytoplasmic deposits, dense nodular and patchy deposits, beads and string-like deposits, and diffuse dot-like deposits. In both AD and control brains, a fairly small subset of cerebral cortical and hippocampal neurones expressed fine granular cytoplasmic deposits, while diffuse dot-like deposits were more frequently found in the neuropil and neuronal processes, particularly enriched in the hippocampal CA2 and CA3 regions. Among GSAP-immunoreactive deposits, dense nodular and patchy deposits, located in the neuropil and closely associated with PS1 expression and Aß deposition, indicated the most distinguishing features of AD pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant regulation of GSAP expression plays a key role in acceleration of γ-cleavage of APP-CTF and accumulation of Aß in AD brains.

Efficacy and safety of pregabalin for treating neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a 14 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of pregabalin in treating neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Japanese patients. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre 14 week clinical trial was conducted. Japanese patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (n = 317) were randomized to receive placebo or pregabalin at 300 or 600 mg/day. The primary efficacy measure was a change of mean pain score from baseline to end-point from patients' daily pain diaries. RESULTS: Significant reductions in pain were observed in patients treated with pregabalin at 300 and 600 mg/day vs. placebo (P < 0.05). Improvements in weekly pain scores were observed as early as week 1 and were sustained throughout the study period (300 and 600 mg/day difference from placebo at study end-point, -0.63 and -0.74, respectively). Pregabalin produced significant improvements in weekly sleep interference scores, the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep Scale, the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey scale, and the Patient and Clinical Global Impression of Change. Patient impressions of numbness, pain and paraesthesia were also significantly improved. Regarding treatment responders, 29.1 and 35.6% of patients treated with 300 and 600 mg/day, respectively, reported ≥ 50% improvement in mean pain scores (vs. 21.5% for placebo). Pregabalin was well tolerated; somnolence (26%), dizziness (24%), peripheral oedema (13%) and weight gain (11%) were the most common adverse events and generally were reported as mild to moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Pregabalin was effective in reducing pain and improving sleep disturbances due to pain, and was well tolerated in Japanese patients with painful DPN.

Nasu-Hakola disease with a splicing mutation of TREM2 in a Japanese family.

BACKGROUND: Nasu-Hakola disease (NHD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by a combination of progressive presenile dementia and formation of multifocal bone cysts, caused by genetic mutations of DAP12 and TREM2, which constitute a receptor/adapter signaling complex expressed on osteoclasts, dendritic cells, macrophages, and microglia. No Japanese patients with TREM2 mutations have been reported previously. METHODS: We reported three siblings affected with NHD in a Japanese family. Amongst them, two died of NHD during the fourth decade of life. The analysis of genomic DNA, cDNA cloning, and western blot of lymphocyte proteins was performed on samples of the living patient. The transcriptome was studied in the autopsied brain of one patient. RESULTS: We identified a homozygous conversion of a single nucleotide T to C at the second position of intron 3 in the splice-donor consensus site (c.482+2T>C) of the TREM2 gene, resulting in exon 3 skipping and aberrant expression of truncated proteins. We identified 136 upregulated genes involved in inflammatory response and immune cell trafficking and 188 downregulated genes including a battery of GABA receptor subunits and synaptic proteins in the patient's brain. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of a Japanese NHD family caused by a splicing mutation of TREM2 that induces both neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Aberrant microRNA expression in the brains of neurodegenerative diseases: miR-29a decreased in Alzheimer disease brains targets neurone navigator 3.

AIMS: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate translational repression of target mRNAs. Accumulating evidence indicates that various miRNAs, expressed in a spatially and temporally controlled that manner in the brain plays a key role in neuronal development. However, at present, the pathological implication of aberrant miRNA expression in neurodegenerative events remains largely unknown. To identify miRNAs closely associated with neurodegeneration, we performed miRNA expression profiling of brain tissues of various neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS: We initially studied the frontal cortex derived from three amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients by using a microarray of 723 human miRNAs. This was followed by enlargement of study population with quantitative RT-PCR analysis (n = 21). RESULTS: By microarray analysis, we identified up-regulation of miR-29a, miR-29b and miR-338-3p in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis brains, but due to a great interindividual variation, we could not validate these results by quantitative RT-PCR. However, we found significant down-regulation of miR-29a in Alzheimer disease (AD) brains. The database search on TargetScan, PicTar and miRBase Target identified neurone navigator 3 (NAV3), a regulator of axon guidance, as a principal target of miR-29a, and actually NAV3 mRNA levels were elevated in AD brains. MiR-29a-mediated down-regulation of NAV3 was verified by the luciferase reporter assay. By immunohistochemistry, NAV3 expression was most evidently enhanced in degenerating pyramidal neurones in the cerebral cortex of AD. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest the hypothesis that underexpression of miR-29a affects neurodegenerative processes by enhancing neuronal NAV3 expression in AD brains.

Protein microarray analysis identifies human cellular prion protein interactors.

AIMS: To obtain an insight into the function of cellular prion protein (PrPC), we studied PrPC-interacting proteins (PrPIPs) by analysing a protein microarray. METHODS: We identified 47 novel PrPIPs by probing an array of 5000 human proteins with recombinant human PrPC spanning amino acid residues 23-231 named PR209. RESULTS: The great majority of 47 PrPIPs were annotated as proteins involved in the recognition of nucleic acids. Coimmunoprecipitation and cell imaging in a transient expression system validated the interaction of PR209 with neuronal PrPIPs, such as FAM64A, HOXA1, PLK3 and MPG. However, the interaction did not generate proteinase K-resistant proteins. KeyMolnet, a bioinformatics tool for analysing molecular interaction on the curated knowledge database, revealed that the complex molecular network of PrPC and PrPIPs has a significant relationship with AKT, JNK and MAPK signalling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Protein microarray is a useful tool for systematic screening and comprehensive profiling of the human PrPC interactome. Because the network of PrPC and interactors involves signalling pathways essential for regulation of cell survival, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis, these observations suggest a logical hypothesis that dysregulation of the PrPC interactome might induce extensive neurodegeneration in prion diseases.

Desflurane but not sevoflurane can increase lung resistance via tachykinin pathways.

BACKGROUND: Although there is evidence that the volatile anaesthetic desflurane directly relaxes preconstricted airway smooth muscle in vitro, the anaesthetic increases the lung resistance in vivo. The constrictive mechanisms of desflurane are, however, still unknown. This study was conducted to clarify the increasing mechanisms of desflurane on lung resistance by examining the vagal nerve reflexes in guinea pigs. METHODS: The effects of desflurane and sevoflurane on total lung resistance (R(L)) and dynamic lung compliance (C(Dyn)) were investigated in animals that were either untreated, pretreated with atropine or vagotomy, pretreated with the tachykinin receptor antagonists sendide or MEN-10376, or given chronic pretreatment with capsaicin. RESULTS: Desflurane biphasically and dose-dependently increased R(L) (by 180% and 230% at the first and second peaks, respectively, at 2 minimum alveolar concentration) concomitant with a decrease in C(Dyn). However, sevoflurane had little effect on either R(L) or C(Dyn). Although vagotomy partially inhibited the first peak of R(L) by 30%, neither atropine nor vagotomy had any effect on the other respiratory responses to desflurane. Antagonization of tachykinin receptors of airway smooth muscles completely diminished the increase in R(L) induced by desflurane. Desflurane also had little effect on respiratory parameters after the capsaicin pretreatment, in which tachykinin containing afferent C-fibres was desensitized. CONCLUSIONS: Desflurane but not sevoflurane increased R(L) concomitant with a decrease in C(Dyn) in guinea pigs. The increase in lung resistance by desflurane might be due to antidromic tachykinin release from afferent C-fibres but not acetylcholine release from parasympathetic efferent nerves.

Performance of four carbon dioxide absorbents in experimental and clinical settings.

To evaluate the performance of four kinds of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) absorbents (Medisorb GE Healthcare, Amsorb Plus Armstrong Medical, YabashiLime Yabashi Industries, and Sodasorb LF Grace Performance Chemicals), we measured their dust production, acceptability of colour indicator, and CO(2) absorption capacity in in vitro experimental settings and the concentration of compound A in an inspired anaesthetic circuit during in vivo clinical practice. In vitro, the order of the dust amount was Sodasorb LF > Medisorb > Amsorb Plus = YabashiLime both before and after shaking. The order of the color acceptability was similar: Sodasorb LF > Amsorb Plus = Medisorb > YabashiLime both initially and 16 h after CO(2) exhaustion. During exposure to 200 ml.min(-1) CO(2) in vitro, the period until 1 kg of fresh soda lime allowed inspired CO(2) to increase to 0.7 kPa (as a mark of utilisation of the absorbent) was longer with Medisorb (1978 min) than with the other absorbents (1270-1375 min). In vivo, compound A (1.0% inspired sevoflurane) was detected only when using Medisorb. While Medisorb has the best ability to absorb CO(2), it alone produces compound A.

Psychosocial factors are independent risk factors for the development of Type 2 diabetes in Japanese workers with impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance.

AIMS: We prospectively studied Japanese workers with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and analysed possible risk factors for diabetes, including psychosocial factors such as stress. METHODS: The participants were 128 male Japanese company employees (mean age, 49.3 +/- 5.9 years) with IFG and/or IGT diagnosed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Participants were prospectively studied for 5 years with annual OGTTs. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox's proportional hazard model were used to analyse the incidence of diabetes and the factors affecting glucose tolerance, including anthropometric, biochemical and social-psychological factors. RESULTS: Of 128 participants, 36 (28.1%) developed diabetes and 39 (30.5%) returned to normal glucose tolerance (NGT) during a mean follow-up of 3.2 years. Independent risk factors for diabetes were night duty [hazard ratio (HR) = 5.48, P = 0.002], higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels within 6.1-6.9 mmol/l (HR = 1.05, P = 0.031), stress (HR = 3.81, P = 0.037) and administrative position (HR = 12.70, P = 0.045), while independent factors associated with recovery were lower FPG levels (HR = 0.94, P = 0.017), being a white-collar worker (HR = 0.34, P = 0.033), non-smoking (HR = 0.31, P = 0.040) and lower serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (HR = 0.97, P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to FPG levels at baseline, psychosocial factors (night duty, stress and administrative position) are risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, while being a white-collar worker, a non-smoker and lower serum ALT levels are factors associated with return to NGT in Japanese workers with IFG and/or IGT.

Inhibitory effects of the alpha-2 adrenergic agonists clonidine and dexmedetomidine on enhanced airway tone in ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The alpha-2 adrenergic agonists clonidine and dexmedetomidine are used as an antihypertensive and a sedative, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of these agonists on ovalbumin-sensitized airway tone in guinea pigs. METHODS: The animals were divided into two groups: control and sensitized. The sensitized group received ovalbumin intraperitoneally and was boosted by exposure to aerosolized ovalbumin. The effects of the alpha-2 agonists were investigated by measuring (1) total lung resistance and (2) smooth muscle tension using a tracheal ring preparation. RESULTS: In the control group, acetylcholine significantly increased total lung resistance in a dose-dependent manner. In the sensitized animals, total lung resistance was significantly higher (by 95%) at 6 mug kg-1 acetylcholine than that in the control group. Both clonidine and dexmedetomidine had a slight but significant inhibitory effect on the response curve of lung resistance at higher concentrations of carbachol, a potent muscarinic receptor agonist. Similar to the data obtained in the control group, both clonidine and dexmedetomidine significantly decreased total lung resistance and the inhibitory effects of these alpha-2 agonists on lung resistance were significantly distinguishable. Similar direct inhibitory effects of the alpha-2 agonists on carbachol-induced muscle contraction were observed in both the control and sensitized groups, the inhibitory effects in the sensitized group being significantly greater. CONCLUSION: Both clonidine and dexmedetomidine can relax the airway even in the hyper-reactive state.

Human multiple organ-reactive monoclonal autoantibody recognizes growth hormone and a 35,000-molecular weight protein.

By fusing peripheral leukocytes from a patient with insulin-dependent diabetes with mouse myeloma cells, a heterohybridoma was isolated that, for over one year, has secreted a human monoclonal autoantibody, designated MOR-h1 (multiple organ-reactive human 1). This antibody reacts with antigens in several endocrine organs including the pituitary, thyroid, stomach, and pancreas. By double immunofluorescence, MOR-h1 was found to react specifically with growth hormone (GH)-containing cells in the anterior pituitary and, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, MOR-h1 was shown to react with both natural and biosynthetic GH. Absorption experiments revealed that GH could remove the capacity of MOR-h1 to react not only with cells in the anterior pituitary, but also with cells in the thyroid, stomach, and pancreas. The demonstration with hyperimmune serum that these organs do not contain GH indicated that MOR-h1 was reacting with a different molecule(s) in these organs. By passing extracts of pituitary, thyroid, and stomach through an MOR-h1 affinity column and analyzing the eluted antigens by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a 35,000-mol wt polypeptide was isolated from each of these organs. In addition, a 21,500-mol wt polypeptide with an electrophoretic mobility identical to purified human GH was isolated from the pituitary, but not the other organs. It is concluded that MOR-h1 reacts with a 35,000-mol wt polypeptide present in the pituitary, thyroid, and stomach and that this antibody also recognizes a determinant on GH.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies against a human multiple organ-reactive autoantibody. Detection of idiotopes in normal individuals and patients with autoimmune diseases.

We have recently isolated and characterized a human monoclonal autoantibody, MOR-h1 (multiple organ-reactive human 1), that reacts with antigens in multiple organs and have shown that this antibody binds to human growth hormone and a 35,000-mol wt protein. In the present study we generated three monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies (4E6, 3E5, and 3F6) against MOR-h1. These anti-idiotypic antibodies specifically reacted with MOR-h1 and not with 26 other multiple organ-reactive monoclonal IgM autoantibodies nor with pooled human IgM (myeloma proteins). The binding of the anti-idiotypic antibodies to MOR-h1 was inhibited by both human growth hormone and the 35,000-mol wt protein, which strongly suggests that these antibodies react with epitopes at or near the paratope on MOR-h1. The results of competitive binding experiments revealed that the epitope recognized by 4E6 is distinct from that recognized by 3E5 and 3F6. Using these anti-idiotypic antibodies, lymphocytes and sera from normal individuals were tested for the presence of the 4E6 and 3E5/3F6 idiotopes. By indirect immunofluorescence, the 4E6 idiotope was detected on an average of 1.1% of normal circulating B lymphocytes, and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, the 4E6 and to a lesser extent the 3E5/3F6 idiotopes were found on IgG molecules in sera of normal individuals. In spite of the expression of idiotopes known to be present on MOR-h1, no MOR-h1-like antibody activity was detected in normal sera. Examination of sera from patients with several autoimmune diseases failed to show an increased expression of the 4E6 idiotope as compared with normal controls. These data suggest that anti-idiotypic antibody 4E6 recognizes a public idiotope, the expression of which is not restricted to autoimmune disease.

Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha suppresses autoimmune diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice.

We previously reported that administration of a streptococcal preparation (OK-432) inhibited insulitis and development of autoimmune diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice and BB rats as animals models of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In this study, we screened various cytokines that could be induced by OK-432 in vivo, for their preventive effect against diabetes in NOD mice. Among recombinant mouse IFN gamma, human IL1 alpha, human IL2, mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and human TNF alpha, only human TNF alpha suppressed insulitis and significantly (P less than 0.001) inhibited development of diabetes. NOD mice were the lowest producers of the mRNA of TNF and serum TNF on stimulation with OK-432 or with IFN gamma plus LPS, compared with C57BL/6, C3H/He, and Balb/c mice. The results imply a role for low productivity of TNF in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice.

Autoantibodies against CD38 (ADP-ribosyl cyclase/cyclic ADP-ribose hydrolase) that impair glucose-induced insulin secretion in noninsulin- dependent diabetes patients.

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) has been shown to be a mediator for intracellular Ca2+ mobilization for insulin secretion by glucose in pancreatic beta cells, and CD38 shows both ADP-ribosyl cyclase to synthesize cADPR from NAD+ and cADPR hydrolase to hydrolyze cADPR to ADP-ribose. We show here that 13.8% of Japanese non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) patients examined have autoantibodies against CD38 and that the sera containing anti-CD38 autoantibodies inhibit the ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity of CD38 (P

Analysis of the composition of 'original' and generic sevoflurane in routine use.

BACKGROUND: Original sevoflurane (Sevofrane) contains a small amount of water, which can inhibit the production of hydrofluoric acid. Hydrofluoric acid is highly pungent, and sevoflurane that contains a high concentration of hydrofluoric acid is not suitable for volatile induction of anaesthesia. Recently, generic sevoflurane (Sevoness) has become available in some countries. The generic product is produced by a different method and kept in a different kind of bottle. We questioned whether the original and generic sevoflurane differed in their composition and thus might differ in their resistance to degradation. METHODS: Sevoflurane from groups of three bottles of Sevofrane and three bottles of Sevoness was kept in the bottle at 24-37 degrees C for 2 weeks or in two kinds of vaporizer for 3 days, and the resulting contents measured by gas chromatography. RESULTS: Both products contained sevoflurane concentrations exceeding 99.998%. Fluoride ion concentration did not differ between the products (0.043 ppm). The original sevoflurane contained more (0.07% w/v) water than the generic anaesthetic (0.003% w/v). Original sevoflurane contained 5 ppm compound A, 10 ppm sevomethylether, and 5 ppm of unknown materials. Generic sevoflurane contained 32 ppm hexafluoroisopropanol and 12 ppm of unknown materials. While stored in a vaporizer for 3 days, the water content in the original sevoflurane decreased by two-thirds but the water in the generic sevoflurane increased by a factor of three-fold. CONCLUSIONS: Generic sevoflurane contains high-quality sevoflurane and only a small amount of fluoride ions, making it comparable with the original sevoflurane product.

Cloning and characterization of 5'-flanking region of mouse non-selective cation channel 1.

We have previously cloned mouse non-selective cation channel 1 (mNSC1) cDNA inducing cation current, from a mouse insulin secreting beta-cell line, MIN6. The current has characteristics of the Ca2+-activated non-selective (CAN) cation channel, and the mRNA is localized in the brain, heart, and lung. To understand the molecular mechanisms of the transcriptional regulation, we have cloned and characterized the 5'-flanking region of mNSC1. By the PCR method, we obtained 987 bp of mouse genomic fragment. The computer program-based analysis revealed that it contained several consensus motifs; insulin responsive element (IRE), AP-2, PEA3, and GC box-like region. But there were neither typical TATA box nor CAAT box. Primer extension analysis and RNase protection assay were performed to identify the transcription start site. Transient transfection analyses using a series of 5'-end deletion and reporter gene constructs with CHO and LA-4 cells demonstrated some relatively active regions. The significantly active border correlated with IRE consensus with CHO cells. This observation may support that CAN current is activated by insulin.

Streptococcal preparation (OK-432) inhibits development of type I diabetes in NOD mice.

OK-432 (a streptococcal preparation) has been widely used for cancer immunotherapy in Japan. It is the most potent immunomodulator in activating both macrophages and killer T cells and in increasing interleukin 2 production. Two K.E. (Klinische Einheit, clinical unit) of OK-432 were given intraperitoneally to each of 17 female nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice every week from 4-24 wk of age. NOD mice as well as BB rats spontaneously develop type I diabetes. During administration of OK-432, the development of diabetes was inhibited in 17 of 17 mice over the 24-wk observation period, whereas 14 of 17 female NOD mice given physiological saline had developed diabetes by 24 wk of age. At the onset of diabetes, nonfasting blood glucose was 511 +/- 82 mg/dl. Histologic examination showed that in the OK-432-treated NOD mice, 98% of total islets were intact or mildly infiltrated with mononuclear cells, whereas in saline-treated NOD mice, 79% of total islets exhibited severe insulitis. In OK-432-treated NOD mice, both the number of the mononuclear spleen cells and their natural killer cell activity was significantly increased.