Immunolocalization of tyrosine hydroxylase and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in nerve fibers innervating human palatine tonsil and paratonsillar glands.

The presence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the nerve fibers of the human palatine tonsil and paratonsillar secretory glands is reported. By immunohistochemistry TH-immunoreactive nerves and those immunoreactive to VIP were localized to the tonsil, in particular, the tonsillar vessel wall, extranodular lymphoid tissue and lymph nodule, and to the acinar basal surface of the paratonsillar glands. In the lymph nodule, immunoreactive varicose nerve profiles were observed inside the marginal zone. The germinal center was devoid of immunoreactive fibers.

Elevated immunoglobulin M levels in low birth-weight neonates with chronic respiratory insufficiency.

Ten babies weighing less than 1500 g at birth subsequently developed chronic respiratory insufficiency and bubbly appearance on chest X-ray during their infancy. The clinical diagnoses were compatible with Wilson-Mikity syndrome. They were compared with very low birth-weight infants who did not show these signs and symptoms. On the first day (mean) of life significantly high serum immunoglobulin M levels were found in the study group. The possibility exists that the chronic respiratory insufficiency seen in these very low birth-weight infants may have been caused by intrauterine infection.

Replantation of the great toe: two case reports.

We performed two replantations of the great toe in children less than 4 years of age. Both cases were successful, and there was no complaint of pain or disturbance in gait, postoperatively. Good results seemed to be based on mobility of the metatarsophalangeal joint and on sensation in the replanted toe. In our opinion, all traumatic amputations of the great toe in children should be replanted, if the conditions of the foot and amputated toe allow vascular and neural reattachment.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of alkylthio and alkylsulfonyl derivatives of SM-8668.

Triazole analogues which contained alkylthio or alkylsulfonyl groups where synthesized as derivatives of antifungal SM-8668 and estimated for their in vitro and in vivo activity. Derivatives having pentylthio, heptylthio or nonylthio groups showed excellent efficacy against both candidiasis and aspergillosis. Introduction of a hydrophilic group at the end of their alkyl chain made their activity stronger. Especially, 5-hydroxypentylthio and 7-hydroxyheptylthio derivatives showed the strongest antifungal activity.

Structure-activity relationships of 3-methyl and 3,3-dimethyl analogs of 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(omega-substituted alkyl)sulfonyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-propanols.

3-Methyl and 3,3-dimethyl analogs of 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(omega-substituted alkyl)sulfonyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-propanols were synthesized and evaluated for their antifungal activities against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. The 3,3-dimethyl analogs were found to have more potent activity both in vitro and in vivo than the corresponding 3-mono-methyl analogs. The prophylactic efficacy of the lead compounds against murine systemic candidiasis and aspergillosis was improved significantly by dimethylation of the 3-position.

Increase in bilirubin binding to albumin with correction of neonatal acidosis.

Twenty-six serial measurements of free bilirubin concentration and apparent association constant of bilirubin for albumin (Ka) at a bilirubin: albumin molar ratio of 0.8 were performed and compared with baseline values in 11 newborn infants with acidosis before treatment and during recovery from acidosis. When arterial pH was corrected from 7.12 +/- 0.02 (Mean +/- S.EM.) to 7.34 +/- 0.02, there was a significant decrease in serum free bilirubin concentration and a significant increase in the Ka at molar ratio 0.8. The data offer in vivo evidence that correction of acidosis in the neonate results in an improvement of the apparent bilirubin binding affinity of albumin.

Participation of autonomic nerve in tonsillar focal infection.

Participation of the autonomic nerve in tonsillar focal infection was investigated by measuring neurotransmitters, receptors and microvibration. In focal infection patients, the volume of norepinephrine in the tonsil increased significantly and the number of a-adrenergic receptors decreased. These findings suggest that the focally infected tonsil exhibits a high degree of sympathetic nerve activity. The ratio of N-type in microvibration decreased systematically, which indicates some imbalance or immaturity of the autonomic nervous system in focal infection patients. Based on this data, the production mechanism of tonsillar focal infection was speculated from the point of view of the autonomic nerve.

Norepinephrine content in guinea-pig nasal mucosa response to histamine and methacholine provocation.

The effects of histamine and methacholine (cholinergic substance) on norepinephrine (NE) content in nasal mucosa of the guinea-pig has been investigated. Histamine application for seven consecutive days was found to reduce NE content on both sides of nasal mucosa with bilateral provocation and on the affected side with unilateral stimulation, whereas NE content increased on the unaffected side with unilateral application. Methacholine provocation enhanced NE content on both sides after the bilateral application to nasal mucosa and the affected side after the unilateral application, whereas there was no effect on the other side. Time course evaluation of NE content after unilateral histamine application demonstrated that NE content on the affected side was decreased 30 min after application, but was restored to a normal level by 120 min after application; there was no change on the other side. These results suggest that histamine promotes NE release in nasal mucosa although it possesses the inhibitory effect mediated by the parasympathetic nerve, suggesting that repeated histamine stimulation may deplete NE content and cause a functional disturbance of the sympathetic nerve predisposing patients to the non-specific nasal hypersensitivity observed in nasal allergy.

Functional disturbances of the sympathetic nerve in experimentally-induced nasal hypersensitivity.

Norepinephrine, alpha-1 and beta adrenergic receptors in the nasal mucosa of toluene-diisocyanate sensitized guinea-pigs were evaluated quantitatively at specific points in time during a pre-determined sensitization period. At 4, 8 and 12 weeks, the norepinephrine content was reduced. The concentration of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors significantly decreased in 8- and 12-week groups. A lower density of beta adrenergic receptors was shown in the 12-week group. Signs of a return to normalcy were observed by four weeks post-sensitization. These results led us to speculate that excess norepinephrine release, which may be promoted by allergy-inducing histamine, depleted the norepinephrine at the sympathetic nerve terminal and caused a lowering of the concentration of sympathetic receptors. Functional disturbance of the sympathetic nerve was suggested by clinical findings of nonspecific nasal hypersensitivity, congestion and nasal discharge.

Rapid changes of serum vasoactive intestinal peptide after removal of ganglioneuroblastoma with watery-diarrhea-hypokalemia-achlorhydria syndrome in a child.

A 23-month-old girl with intractable diarrhea that had persisted for the past 6 months showed typical evidence of water-diarrhea-hypokalemia-achlorhydria (WDHA) syndrome. Serum vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-like immunoactivity was very high, and urine homovanillic acid and noradrenaline were also abnormally increased. A calcified tumor in the right paravertebral region was noted radiologically. Soon after resection of the tumor, the diarrhea dramatically improved. A ganglioneuroblastoma was histologically confirmed. Serum VIP decreased to normal level at 1 h after the removal of the tumor. VIP activity in the tumor was extraordinarily high, and the cells were stained by the indirect immunofluorescence technique with anti-VIP serum. This is to report the rapid turnover of serum level of VIP after resection of ganglioneuroblastoma with WDHA syndrome in a child.

Autonomic nervous system in human palatine tonsil.

The autonomic nervous system in the human palatine tonsil was studied systematically as follows: 1) Using the radio binding assay method, the presence of beta-adrenergic receptors and muscarinic-cholinergic receptors was demonstrated in the tonsil. 2) Using high performance liquid chromatography, the quantity of catecholamines in the tonsillar tissue was determined for the first time. 3) The distributions of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves in the tonsillar tissue were demonstrated by fluorescence- or enzyme-histochemistry. 4) Cases of habitual tonsillitis were compared with cases of simple tonsillitis concerning the quantities of beta-adrenergic receptors and catecholamines. As a result, the difference in quantity of beta-adrenergic receptors between the two was insignificant, but the quantity of catecholamine was greater in the former.