Increased expression of T-plastin gene in cisplatin-resistant human cancer cells: identification by mRNA differential display.

The cellular resistance to the potent anticancer agent cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) is thought to be mediated by multiple mechanisms. The technique of differential display of mRNAs was applied to various cisplatin-resistant cell lines and the corresponding parental sensitive human bladder, prostatic, and head and neck cancer cells in order to identify genes that underlie cisplatin resistance. Twenty-four clones were confirmed by Northern blot analysis to be expressed differentially between resistant and the corresponding sensitive cells. Partial DNA sequences of the eight clones that showed a threefold or greater increase in expression in either the resistant cells (seven clones) or sensitive cells (one clone) revealed that two were derived from the T-plastin gene and one from the tissue factor gene. The abundance of T-plastin mRNA in cisplatin-resistant T24/DDP10 cell was approximately 12 times that in the parental T24 cells. Transfection of T24/DDP10 cells with a vector encoding full-length T-plastin antisense RNA demonstrated that reduced T-plastin expression was associated with increased sensitivity to cisplatin. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that several mechanisms participate cooperatively in the acquisition of cisplatin resistance in human cancer.

Re-evaluation of classic senile plaques by three-dimensional analysis.

We evaluated the proportion of classic plaques among all of the senile plaques in four Alzheimer brains (frontal, temporal, occipital and hippocampal areas) by the usual method of two-dimensional analysis using a single methenamine silver-stained section and three-dimensional analysis using a set of serial sections. Three-dimensional analysis showed the number and percentage of classic plaques to be 2-5 times greater than those revealed by two-dimensional analysis. In the hippocampal area of one case, no classic plaques were found by two-dimensional analysis but three-dimensional analysis showed that some classic plaques were present. From these findings, it is suggested that three-dimensional analysis using serial sections is indispensable for subclassifying senile plaques.

Inhibition of the human intermediate conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel, hIK1, by volatile anesthetics.

Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (K(Ca)) regulate a wide variety of cellular functions by coupling intracellular Ca(2+) concentration to membrane potential. There are three major groups of K(Ca) classified by their unit conductances: large (BK), intermediate (IK), and small (SK) conductance of channels. BK channel is gated by combined influences of Ca(2+) and voltage, while IK and SK channels are gated solely by Ca(2+). Volatile anesthetics inhibit BK channel activity by interfering with the Ca(2+) gating mechanism. However, the effects of anesthetics on IK and SK channels are unknown. Using cloned IK and SK channels, hIK1 and hSK1-3, respectively, we found that the currents of hIK1 were inhibited rapidly and reversibly by volatile anesthetics, whereas those of SK channels were not affected. The IC(50) values of the volatile anesthetics, halothane, sevoflurane, enflurane, and isoflurane for hIK1 inhibition were 0.69, 0.42, 1.01 and 1.03 mM, respectively, and were in the clinically used concentration range. In contrast to BK channel, halothane inhibition of hIK1 currents was independent of Ca(2+) concentration, suggesting that Ca(2+) gating mechanism is not involved. These results demonstrate that volatile anesthetics, such as halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane, affect BK, IK, and SK channels in distinct ways.

Effects of benzimidazoles on mouse and rat limb bud cells in culture.

Benzimidazoles exhibited an inhibitory action on the chondrogenesis in a mouse limb bud cell culture system; further, nitro and chloro groups at the 5 position in 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole were found to be potent substituents. However, 2-(2-pyridyl)benzoxazole and 5-methoxy-2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole exhibited no inhibitory action under our experimental conditions. Thus, imidazole NH proton seemed to be important in the inhibitory action in the mouse cell system. The concentrations of thiabendazole (TBZ), 5-hydroxy-TBZ (5-HY-TBZ) and N-methyl-TBZ necessary to reduce the amounts of cartilage proteoglycan by 50% (TP50) were estimated to be about 0.35, 0.25 and 0.70 mM, respectively, in the rat limb bud cell culture system. The TP50 of TBZ and 5-HY-TBZ in the rat cell system were 3- to 4-fold higher than those in the mouse cell system.

Changes in diffusion-weighted MRI after status epilepticus.

A 3-year-old male developed hemiplegia and aphasia after convulsive status epilepticus. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images demonstrated cytotoxic edema in the white matter 6 days after the seizure episode and subsequently in the gray matter after an additional 7 days. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images demonstrated a subacute evolution of the pathologic process after the status epilepticus.

Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of the hemodynamics in absent aortic valve.

Hemodynamics were estimated by Doppler echocardiography in a neonate with an absent aortic valve and absent or extremely hypoplastic mitral valve. The coronary blood flow depended on the increased end-diastolic pressure of the left ventricle. Pulmonary venous congestion, which was also due to the increased end-diastolic pressure of the left ventricle, may induce decreased oxygen saturation and, subsequently, further myocardial hypoxia, poor contraction and increased end-diastolic pressure of the left ventricle. Finally, hypoxic blood was supplied to each organ from the pulmonary artery through the ductus arteriosus, which induced severe acidosis and differential cyanosis after birth.

Potentiometric argentimetric method for the successive titration of sulphide and dissolved sulphur in polysulphide solutions.

Sulphide sulphur and dissolved sulphur in a polysulphide solution can be successively determined with satisfactory accuracy and reproducibility by potentiometric argentimetry in which a sulphide-selective indicator electrode is used. Before the titration, polysulphide ions need to be converted by an excess of potassium cyanide into thiocyanate and sulphide ions. The excess of cyanide ions is masked with formaldehyde and sulphuric acid, then the solution is made alkaline with ammonia and titrated with silver nitrate till the first end-point is reached (sulphide sulphur). After the acidification of the solution with sulphuric acid, the titration is continued till the second end-point is attained (dissolved sulphur).

Two forms of hemitonic seizure in patients with infantile hemiplegia and epilepsy.

Two forms of unilateral tonic (hemitonic) seizure were observed in two adult epileptic patients with infantile hemiplegia. Their ictal EEGs showed diffuse bilaterally synchronous spike bursts without focal features. In one case, a 31-year-old male, the VTR/EEG recording clearly demonstrated hemitonic seizure which simultaneously involved his paretic limbs and body and were associated with loss of consciousness and autonomic signs. In the other case, a 33-year-old male, partial seizures with secondary unilateral generalization were demonstrated by VTR/EEG recording. The reason why these cases do not exhibit motor seizure activity on the unaffected side despite diffuse bilateral EEG changes, a lower motor threshold in the paretic limbs and inhibitory effect in the brain-stem on undamaged side are postulated. These two cases suggest that hemitonic seizures include heterogeneous characteristics of partial and generalized epilepsy. In patients with diffuse brain damage, such as those with infantile hemiplegia, seizures appear to exhibit complicated patterns, with characteristics of partial and generalized seizures. There is a gradiation of expression of unilateral seizure, range from clearly partial seizures to those with mostly features of generalized seizures, except for an asymmetry of motor expression.

Effect of D-galactosamine on blood clearance of 99mTc-phytate in rats.

The effect of D-galactosamine (GalN) on the blood clearance of 99mTc-phytate (99mTc-P) in rats was examined, and the blood clearance test of 99mTc-P was compared with the cases of serum transaminase and bilirubin test. Serum transaminase and bilirubin levels in rats increased dose-dependantly after GalN administration. The disappearance rate of 99mTc-P from blood decreased with the increase in dose of GalN and with the passage of time after the GalN administration. Changes of the blood clearance of 99mTc-P after GalN treatment in rats may be influenced by the disorder in the hepatocytes and the alteration of the liver reticuloendothelial system phagocytic function. The blood clearance test of 99mTc-P in rats showed a sensitive reaction for the acute hepatic dysfunction induced by GalN equally to or higher than the serum transaminase and bilirubin test.

Blood clearance of 99mTc-phytate for evaluation of hepatic dysfunction in dogs.

Organ distribution pattern, and blood clearance were examined by giving 99mTc-phytate (99mTc-P) to the normal dogs. At the same time, the relation between the severity of hepatic function and blood clearance of 99mTc-P was studied by using the dogs with acute hepatic dysfunction experimentally induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration. Furthermore, a comparative discussion on blood clearance test of 99mTc-P was made with serum transaminase test. It appeared appropriate to administer 99mTc-P at the dose of 100 micrograms/kg in order to obtain an effective blood clearance curve. A major part of 99mTc-P intravenously administered was taken up into the liver, while the remainder of small amount into the spleen, kidneys, lung, and so on. Little was recognized in the thyroid. The disappearance rate of 99mTc-P from blood decreased with the increase in dose of CCl4 and with the passage of time after the CCl4 administration. The blood clearance test of 99mTc-P in dogs showed a sensitive reaction for the acute hepatic dysfunction induced by CCl4 equally to the serum transaminase test.

Effect of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate on blood clearance of 99mTc-phytate in rats.

The effect of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) on blood clearance of 99mTc-phytate (99mTc-P) in rats was examined, and blood clearance test of 99mTc-P was compared with the cases of serum transaminase test, serum bilirubin test or histological test of the liver. The disappearance rate of 99mTc-P from blood decreased with the increase in dose of ANIT and with the passage of time after the ANIT administration. Changes of the blood clearance of 99mTc-P after ANIT treatment in rats may be influenced by the disorder in the hepatocytes rather than in the bile ductule cells. The blood clearance test of 99mTc-P in rats showed a sensitive reaction for the acute hepatic dysfunction induced by ANIT equally to the serum transaminase test, the serum bilirubin test or the histological test of the liver.

[Clinical research of patients with epilepsy over age 50 years--a retrospective study of early onset case].

One hundred-sixteen patients with epilepsy over 50 years old were investigated to explore the clinical characteristics of epilepsy in elderly persons. Eighty-four patients having seizures within the last 3 years (residual group) were compared with 32 patients having no seizures within the last 3 years (disappeared group). Regarding the epilepsy type, there were 87 partial epilepsies (64 in the residual group and 23 in the disappeared group) which were approximately 70 percent of the total patients. Generalized epilepsies were comparatively rare in the both groups. Eleven patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsy were observed in the residual group. Regarding the seizure type, generalized convulsive seizures (GCS) were more likely to disappear than partial seizures regardless of number of seizures the patient had. Thirty-eight patients (29 in the residual group and 9 in the disappeared group) had histories of psychiatric problems. Paranoid states were most commonly seen in 12 patients in the residual group and 5 patients in the disappeared group. Intellectual disturbance was seen more frequently in the residual group.

[A patient with gigantic heterotopic gray matter with epileptic seizures].

We report a patient with partial seizure and gigantic heterotopic gray matter. A 23-year-old young man was admitted to our hospital with complaints of frequent epileptic seizures and psychiatric symptoms. There was psychomotor delay in infancy. At the age of 4 years, afebrile convulsions appeared on several occasions. Seizures characterized by a lapse of consciousness started at the age of 13 years. He often stayed in a fantasy world and became very emotional at such time. Cranial CT demonstrated an irregularity in the wall of right lateral ventricle and disappearance of the posterior horn on the same side. This lesion, adjacent to that wall, had a signal intensity that was similar to that of the gray matter on each sequence in MRI. Histopathology of this lesion showed a number of large and small neurons. Therefore, heterotopic gray matter was diagnosed. MRI demonstrated wide cortices suggesting polymicrogyria in the right parietal lobe. Complex partial seizures with eye deviation to the left were recognized. Interictal EEG showed frequent high voltage spikes in the right temporal, fronto-temporal and parieto-occipital areas independently. Therefore, epileptic foci were thought to exist in or around those lesions.

[Changes in hemodynamics and mixed venous oxygen saturation during intraoperative harvest of autologous platelet-rich plasma].

Intraoperative harvest and transfusion back of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are an effective procedure to decrease the requirement of blood transfusion. We selected the right atrium as the site for collection and transfusion back of the blood for the harvest of PRP. We studied changes of the hemodynamics and mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2 during the intraoperative harvest of autologous PRP in two patients who were undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. The whole blood was collected, processed and the red blood cells were transfused immediately back to the patients using the Plasma Collection System (Haemonetics Model 50). The procedure was accomplished prior to starting CPB. The PRP product was transfused back into the patients at the completion of CPB. The arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, and SvO2 decreased during the collecting phase and immediately returned to the baseline values during the returning phase. No change was observed in the heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation. We conclude that the usage of right atrium as the site for collection and transfusion back of the blood to harvest PRP is effective and useful, and the continuous monitoring of SvO2 is mandatory for detecting the decline of the cardiac output.