REPEATED INTRANODAL LYMPHANGIOGRAPHY FOR THE TREATMENT OF LYMPHATIC LEAKAGE.

Treatment of patients with chylous or non-chylous lymphatic leakage can be difficult. An approach using therapeutic lymphangiography can reduce the lymphatic leakage, but it seldom stops the leakage immediately and subsequent conservative treatment is necessary. We report three cases in which intranodal lymphangiography was performed multiple times to inhibit lymphatic leakage. In each case, the lymph node was punctured under ultrasound guidance using a 23-gauge needle and lipiodol was injected manually at a rate of 1 ml/3 min. The procedure was repeated twice in two cases of gastrointestinal carcinoma and four times in one case of lymphoma. In all three cases, the postoperative lymphatic leakage stopped after the repeated intranodal lymphangiography.

The water-soluble extract from cultured medium of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) mycelia (Designated as MAK) ameliorates murine colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid.

Ganoderma lucidum Karst is well known as 'Reishi', a traditional food in China and Japan. It contains a polysaccharide component known to induce granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production from murine splenocytes. Moreover, GM-CSF may be a therapeutic agent for Crohn's disease. In this study, we investigated the water-soluble, polysaccharide components of Reishi (designated as MAK) in murine colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS). We examined the concentration of GM-CSF in peritoneal macrophage cells (PMs) of C57BL/6 mice during in vitro and in vivo stimulation with MAK. After feeding with chow or MAK for 2 weeks, 2 mg of TNBS/50% ethanol was administered to each mouse. After 3 days of TNBS treatment, intestinal inflammation was evaluated, and mononuclear cells of the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and colon were cultured for ELISA. To determine the preventive role of GM-CSF, the mice were pre-treated with or without anti-GM-CSF antibody before TNBS administration. In vitro and in vivo MAK-stimulated PMs produced GM-CSF in a dose-dependent manner. Intestinal inflammation by TNBS was improved by feeding with MAK. MLNs of mice treated with TNBS produced IFN-γ, which was inhibited by feeding with MAK. In contrast, MLNs of mice treated with TNBS inhibited GM-CSF production, which was induced by feeding with MAK. The colon organ culture assay also revealed that IFN-γ was decreased and GM-CSF was increased by MAK. The preventive effect was blocked by the neutralization of GM-CSF. We concluded that the induction of GM-CSF by MAK may provide the anti-inflammatory effect.

Three years experience of operating and selling recovered struvite from full-scale plant.

The adoption of phosphorus removal at sewage treatment works (STW) creates two main problems. Firstly large amounts of sludge are produced and secondly the quantity of the effluent deteriorates due to the increase in the phosphorus load of the sidestream. Furthermore, these processes do not remove phosphorus in a form that would enable it to be recycled. Therefore in order to control these process difficulties and produce a recyclable phosphorus product a sidestream struvite crystallisation reactor was developed. The struvite was produced in a fluidised bed reactor using dewatered filtrate from anaerobic sludge digestion. Magnesium hydroxide was added in a magnesium to phosphate ratio of 1:1 and the pH was adjusted to between 8.2-8.8 with the addition of sodium hydroxide. A retention time of 10 days alowed the growth of pellets between 0.5-1.0 mm in size. The recovered struvite contained only minute traces of toxic substances and was sold to fertiliser companies for 27,000 yen tonne(-1). It is used to enhance existing fertilisers, which are widely used on paddy rice, vegetables and flowers.

Alcoholic skeletal muscle myopathy: definitions, features, contribution of neuropathy, impact and diagnosis.

Alcohol misusers frequently have difficulties in gait, and various muscle symptoms such as cramps, local pain and reduced muscle mass. These symptoms are common in alcoholic patients and have previously been ascribed as neuropathological in origin. However, biochemical lesions and/or the presence of a defined myopathy occur in alcoholics as a direct consequence of alcohol misuse. The myopathy occurs independently of peripheral neuropathy, malnutrition and overt liver disease. Chronic alcoholic myopathy is characterized by selective atrophy of Type II fibres and the entire muscle mass may be reduced by up to 30%. This myopathy is arguably the most prevalent skeletal muscle disorder in the Western Hemisphere and occurs in approximately 50% of alcohol misusers. Alcohol and acetaldehyde are potent inhibitors of muscle protein synthesis, and both contractile and non-contractile proteins are affected by acute and chronic alcohol dosage. Muscle RNA is also reduced by mechanisms involving increased RNase activities. In general, muscle protease activities are either reduced or unaltered, although markers of muscle membrane damage are increased which may be related to injury by reactive oxygen species. This supposition is supported by the observation that in the UK, alpha-tocopherol status is poor in myopathic alcoholics. Reduced alpha-tocopherol may pre-dispose the muscle to metabolic injury. However, experimental alpha-tocopherol supplementation is ineffective in preventing ethanol-induced lesions in muscle as defined by reduced rates of protein synthesis and in Spanish alcoholics with myopathy, there is no evidence of impaired alpha-tocopherol status. In conclusion, by a complex series of mechanisms, alcohol adversely affects skeletal muscle. In addition to the mechanical changes to muscle, there are important metabolic consequences, by virtue of the fact that skeletal muscle is 40% of body mass and an important contributor to whole-body protein turnover.

cDNA cloning and developmental expression of the porcine homologue of WT1.

Wilms' tumors occur most frequently in swines as sporadic tumors. To clarify the role of WT1 gene in the genesis of Wilms' tumors and genitourinary development, we have isolated the porcine homologue of the human WT1 gene (pWT1) and analyzed its expression in various organs including the kidney. The open reading frame of pWT1 cDNA was extremely homologous to the human counterpart: 94% identical at the nucleotide level and 98% at the polypeptide level. In particular, the zinc finger region was more than 97% similar to human WT1 gene at the nucleotide level and 100% at the polypeptide level. pWT1 mRNA was found to be expressed in new-born kidney, spleen, testis, and embryonic kidneys, suggesting a possible association of pWT1 with the development of the genitourinary system. In conclusion, the nucleotide sequence and expression patterns in organs of pWT1 were similar to those of human WT1. Therefore, swines could provide good models for analyzing the contributions of WT1 gene to genitourinary development and genesis of Wilms' tumors.

Enhanced efficacy of nilvadipine in hypertensives whose raised ambulatory blood pressure is sustained during sleep.

This study was designed to clarify the relationship between the antihypertensive effects of the calcium antagonist nilvadipine, and circadian changes in blood pressure. Based on measurements using an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring system (ABPM), 17 outpatients with untreated essential hypertension were divided into two groups: a sustained hypertensive group (with a fall in blood pressure during sleep < 10%, n = 7) and a waking time hypertensive group (with a fall in blood pressure during sleep > or = 10%, n = 10). During treatment with nilvadipine (8 mg/day, > or = 2 weeks), patients were reexamined by ABPM. The antihypertensive effect of nilvadipine was significantly and negatively correlated with the night time fall in blood pressure: this effect was significantly greater in the sustained hypertensive group than in the waking time hypertensive group. These data suggest that the long acting calcium antagonist nilvadipine has more potent antihypertensive effects in patients with sustained hypertension ("nondippers") than in those whose hypertension lessens during sleep ("dippers").

Site-specific introduction of functional groups into phosphodiester oligodeoxynucleotides and their thermal stability and nuclease-resistance properties.

We report here the site-specific introduction of functional groups into phosphodiester oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). ODNs containing both 5-( N-aminohexyl)-carbamoyl-2'-deoxyuridine (H), which serves as a tether for the further conjugation of functional groups, and 5-(N,N-dimethylaminohexyl)carbamoyl-2'-deoxyuridine (D), which contributes to the thermal stability of the duplex and to the resistance to nucleolytic hydrolysis by nucleases, were synthesized. Functional groups such as folic acid and palmitic acid were site-specifically introduced into the terminus of the aminohexyl-linker of H. The thermal stability and resistance toward nuclease digestion of the modified ODNs were studied. We found that ODNs containing D and H formed stable duplexes with both the complementary DNA and RNA strands even when a bulky functional group such as folic acid, palmitic acid or cholesterol was attached to the terminus of the amino-linker. We also found that ODN analogues which contained D were more resistant to nucleolytic degradation by exo- and endonuclease than the unmodified ODN. Furthermore, duplexes formed by ODNs containing D and the complementary RNA could elicit RNase H activity.

Use of monoclonal antibodies, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoaffinity column chromatography to determine ochratoxin A in porcine sera, coffee products and toxin-producing fungi.

Ochratoxin A, produced by a number of fungal species, has been found in many milieu, including porcine sera and coffee beans. It was therefore analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in porcine sera, coffee products and fungal cultures, using monoclonal antibodies, a monoclonal antibody-linked immunoaffinity column (IAC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The chloroform extracts of acidified porcine sera were assayed directly by ELISA, with alkaline phosphatase and horseradish peroxidase as marker enzymes, at detection limits of 0.1 and 0.01 ng/ml, respectively. The presence of ochratoxin A in ELISA was confirmed by HPLC. The average contents in the five different lots tested were: 0.4 ng/ml in lot A (19 samples), 0.36 ng/ml in lot B (104 samples), 5.20 ng/ml in lot C (17 samples), 1.24 ng/ml in lot D (23 samples) and 0.22 ng/ml in lot E (24 samples). ELISA of methanol extracts of rice cultures showed the presence of more than 0.1 ng/g in 3 of 15 isolates of Aspergillus, in 16 of 67 isolates of Penicillum and in 7 of 17 isolates of Eupenicillum; none was found in an isolate of Emericella. IAC-HPLC analysis revealed that P. foetidus, which is similar to A. niger and is used for the production of a Japanese alcoholic drink (shou-chuu), also produced ochratoxin A. Use of IAC-HPLC to analyse coffee beans and instant coffee power resulted in the sharp resolution of ochratoxin A without complicated clean-up steps. The IAP-HPLC technique could thus be used for mass surveys of ochratoxin A residues in biological specimens.

[Effects of calcium antagonists or beta-blockade on left ventricular diastolic function in essential hypertension].

This study was performed to assess the effect of a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) and beta-blockade (atenolol) on left ventricular early diastolic function and filling in essential hypertension (WHO stage I, II; HT). Twenty-two untreated patients were randomly divided as nifedipine (11 patients) and atenolol (11 patients) treatment groups and both the groups had complete echocardiographic and Doppler studies. Twenty normotensive cases served as controls. Clinical and echo-Doppler data obtained at baseline and four weeks after initiation of each therapy showed no difference between the two HT groups as to mean blood pressure (before therapy, 119 +/- 3 vs 117 +/- 11 mmHg; after therapy, 106 +/- 3 vs 110 +/- 3 mmHg), left ventricular dimension, left atrial dimension, and wall thickness. To evaluate early diastolic function, the interval from the aortic closure sound (IIA, phonocardiography) to the opening of the mitral valve (MVO, echocardiography) and that from MVO to the O point of the apexcardiogram were measured. The IIA-O interval was also calculated. The peak velocities in the rapid filling (R) and atrial contraction phases (A) were measured using pulsed Doppler echocardiography at the center of the mitral orifice. The MVO-O/IIA-MVO and A/R ratios were also calculated. Compared with the controls, the IIA-O interval (143.9 +/- 6.8 msec) and the IIA-MVO interval (81.5 +/- 4.9 msec) were significantly prolonged in HT (p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference between the MVO-O interval and R. Velocity A (54.2 +/- 2.7 cm/sec) and the A/R ratio (1.01 +/- 0.11) increased significantly in HT (p less than 0.05). The IIA-O interval (before therapy, 153.3 +/- 7.6 vs after therapy, 134.3 +/- 6.2 msec) and IIA-MVO interval (87.3 +/- 6.3 vs 77.8 +/- 5.9 msec) decreased and R (43.7 +/- 3.8 vs 49.1 +/- 3.0 cm/sec) increased significantly with nifedipine. The IIA-O interval (135.7 +/- 11.3 vs 150.4 +/- 7.6 msec) and the MVO-O (58.4 +/- 3.9 vs 66.5 +/- 4.7 msec) interval were significantly prolonged with atenolol, however the IIA-MVO interval, R, and A/R did not change. A (57.5 +/- 4.0 vs 50.2 +/- 2.9 cm/sec) was also significantly decreased with atenolol. There was a significant correlation between reduction in velocity A and prolongation in the MVO-O interval (r = -0.62, p less than 0.05) with atenolol. These results suggested that the prolongation of the diastolic closure rate of the mitral valve by atenolol was related to increased ventricular filling and decreased atrial contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Chronic toxicity of nivalenol in female mice: a 2-year feeding study with Fusarium nivale Fn 2B-moulded rice.

Groups of 42 7-wk-old female C57BL/6CrSlc SPF mice were fed diets containing 0, 6, 12 and 30 ppm nivalenol (NIV) for 2 years. Body-weight gain was reduced in all treated groups of animals and feed efficiency was reduced, significantly so, in the high-dose group. The absolute weights of the liver in the 30-ppm group, and of the kidneys in the 12- and 30-ppm groups were significantly reduced, compared with those of the controls. When expressed relative to brain weight there was a reduction in the kidney weight of the 12-ppm NIV group only. Some leucopenia was seen in the treated mice, particularly in the 30-ppm group, although this was not statistically significant, and there were dose-dependent increases in the serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase and non-esterified fatty acids. No tumours attributable to NIV were found in any of the experimental groups. Naturally occurring tumours, mostly lymphomas, were of similar incidence in all groups, but developed later and appeared to grow more slowly in the mice of the 30-ppm group than in those of other groups. The incidence of amyloidosis, particularly in the small intestine, was low in the two higher dose groups compared with that in the control group. The mortality rate of the 30-ppm NIV group was lower than that of the control group and this may be partly due to the lower tumour incidence in the earlier period and partly due to the lower incidence of amyloidosis.

Hemodynamic and neurohormonal changes in the development of DOC hypertension in the dog.

In this article we summarize studies of the hemodynamic and endocrine effects of desoxycorticosterone (DOC)-induced hypertension in dogs and also review new data of the action of this steroid on baroreceptors. The hemodynamic effect of subcutaneous injections of DOC to dogs, without supplementation of salt in their diet, consisted of increases in arterial pressure that were sustained for a 28-day observation period and associated with augmented cardiac output. At the early stage of the hypertensive response there was a rise in plasma Na+ concentration accompanied by increases in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of vasopressin. The activity of the peripheral renin angiotensin system, as evaluated by the longitudinal changes in plasma renin activity and plasma immunoreactive angiotensin II (irAng-II), was markedly depressed in the hypertensive dogs. In contrast, the concentration of irAngII in the CSF did not change. Additional studies of the carotid occlusion reflex in anesthetized dogs revealed an enhanced buffering baroreceptor capacity in the early (less than day 10), but not the late (greater than day 28), stages of the hypertension. The abnormality in baroreflex function may be mediated by an effect of the steroid on an activity of brain angiotensin II that influences the inhibitory interaction between high and low pressure baroreceptors. The data acquired in these studies agree with the notion that excess mineralocorticoid production causes hypertension by mechanisms that influence the neurohormonal control of blood pressure by the central nervous system.

Effects of nivalenol on the bone marrow in mice.

In order to investigate the toxic effects of nivalenol, one of the trichothecene mycotoxins, we performed a short-term feeding trial for 24 days using feed supplemented with rice artificially molded with nivalenol producing fungus, Fusarium nivale Fn 2B, in female C57BL/6CrSlc SPF mice. A significant erythropenia and slight leukopenia were observed in the 30 ppm group, but no marked changes were observed in other hematological parameters, feed consumption, body weight gain, or weights of the liver, spleen, and thymus. Ultrastructural studies also revealed polyribosomal breakdowns of the bone marrow cells in the 30 ppm group.

Changes in local cerebral blood flow and neuronal activity during sensory stimulation in normal and sympathectomized cats.

Activities of neurons of the thalamic relay nucleus and cortical somatosensory area which are capable of producing excitatory potentials in response to stimulation of the sciatic nerve were recorded, and local cerebral blood flow was measured simultaneously using a double microelectrode under local anesthesia in both non-pretreated cats and cats undergoing chemical denervation of the vasoadrenergic nerves by intraventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), in order to unmask the neural control on the cerebral vessels during increase of local metabolic rate. The results obtained may be summarized as follows. (1) A positive correlation was found between an increase in firing rate of a single neuron in the thalamic relay nucleus and somatosensory area and an increase in local cerebral blood flow following stimulation of the sciatic nerve. A distinct spatial and quantitative correlation was thus observed between neural activity and cerebral blood flow. (2) In 6-OHDA-pretreated cats, an increase in neuronal firing rate was observed following stimulation of the sciatic nerve, as it was in non-pretreated cats, but the concurrent response of local cerebral blood flow was seriously impaired. All these findings indicate that the increase in local cerebral blood flow occurring in association with increased neural activity does not result solely from increased local metabolism and a consequent increase in CO2 production, but requires for its occurrence that certain basic conditions be satisfied and maintained by the vasoadrenergic innervation.

Production of luteoskyrin, a hepatotoxic pigment, by Penicillium islandicum Sopp.

Various factors affecting the yields of luteoskyrin, a hepatotoxic mycotoxin, and related pigments in the liquid medium were studied. Maximal yields of luteoskyrin (0.13% by isolation) and of other pigments were attained in the late phase of the cultivation. The yield of the pigment was increased by supplying malt extract, malonic acid, glutamic acid, or asparagine. A useful material for preparation of (14)C-labeled luteoskyrin was 2-(14)C-malonate.