Effects of interferons on cortisol production in bovine adrenal fasciculata cells stimulated by adrenocorticotropin.

The effects of interferons (IFNs) IFN-alpha, IFN-beta and IFN-gamma on the production of cortisol in bovine adrenal fasciculata cells have been investigated. Pretreatment of the fasciculata cells with recombinant interferon-alpha-2b from man (over 300 units mL(-1)), but not with fibroblast IFN-beta or recombinant IFN-gamma from man, reduced the production of cortisol in cells stimulated with adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) (1 nM). IFN-alpha-2b inhibited ACTH-induced cortisol production in a concentration- (300-15000 units mL(-1)) and time- (2-24h) dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of IFN-alpha-2b on the production was abolished when the cells were simultaneously treated with anti-IFN-alpha antibody, and it was reversible. IFN-alpha-2b also inhibited dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced production of cortisol but not pregnenolone-induced production. The effect of IFN-alpha-2b was not influenced by increases in external ACTH and Ca2+ concentrations and IFN-alpha-2b did not affect the ACTH-induced increase in cyclic AMP level in the cells. These results strongly suggest that IFN-alpha-2b reduces ACTH-induced production of cortisol in bovine adrenal fasciculata cells by affecting the early process of cortisol synthesis. The results also indicate that IFNs might not directly affect steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex in-vivo, because of the requirement of high concentrations of IFN-alpha-2b for inhibition, and because of the ineffectiveness of IFN-beta and IFN-gamma.

Clinical application of cardiac output during ramp exercise calculated using the Fick equation--comparison with the 2-stage bicycle ergometer exercise protocol in the supine position.

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the direct Fick method is applicable to the measurement of cardiac output (Q) during ramp exercise. Twelve patients with chronic health failure underwent both a ramp exercise test and a steady-state exercise test. Oxygen intake (VO2), arterial oxygen saturation and mixed venous oxygen saturation were continuously measured using a pulse oximeter and a fiberoptic catheter, and the arteriovenous oxygen difference (a-v O2 diff) and Q were calculated. Both VO2 and a-v O2 diff were significantly lower in the ramp protocol than in the steady-state protocol when they were compared at the same workload. However, the VO2 vs Q relationship and the VO2 vs a-v O2 diff relationship were very similar in the 2 protocols. The difference between Q measured during steady-state exercise and Q calculated at the matched VO2 during ramp exercise was small (3.7 +/- 7.0% and 5.6 +/- 6.6%). The results indicate that, clinically, Q measured by the direct Fick method with simultaneous measurement of VO2 and a-v O2 diff during ramp exercise is a good substitute for the true Q measured by the steady-state protocol. We conclude that Fick Q is applicable to ramp exercise.

Hypobaric-hypoxic exposure and histochemical responses of soleus muscle fibers in the rat.

Hypoxia-acclimatized rats had a higher percentage of fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic fibers and a lower percentage of slow-twitch oxidative fibers in the soleus muscle than age-matched normoxic-rats. However, there was no difference in the fiber type composition of the soleus muscle between hypoxic- and normoxic-male rats after hypoxic-rats were bred at the sea level atmospheric pressure for 5 weeks. Therefore, it is suggested that a higher percentage of fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic fibers in the muscle is found only under hypoxic conditions and is due to an acute response to hypoxia.

[Two cases of anomalous origin of coronary artery from non-coronary sinus of valsalva identified by transesophageal echocardiography].

A 36-year-old male (case-1) and a 54-year-old female (case-2) were admitted to our hospital because of chest oppression on effort. Exercise electrocardiograms of both patients revealed significant ST segment depression in leads II, III, aVF and V5-6. Coronary angiograms demonstrated an anomalous origin of the left circumflex coronary artery in case-1 and an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery in case-2. Furthermore transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed that both anomalous coronary arteries were running from the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva. The anatomical relation between the anomalous coronaries running from non-coronary sinus of valsalva and the great vessels was directly detectable by TEE. Although these cases are very rare, TEE is useful for the assessment of this type of coronary anomaly.

[A case of stunned myocardium: dual SPECT findings similar to acute myocardial infarction (AMI)].

Emergent cardiac catheterization was performed on a 70-year-old female patient who was admitted for further evaluation of acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography didn't reveal any significant stenotic lesion, but levogram showed extensively abnormal contractility around the center of the apex region. On the second hospital day, 99mTc-PYP/201TlCl dual SPECT gave findings similar to those found in acute myocardial infarction, but myocardium--released enzyme stayed within the normal range. Two weeks after, 201TlCl myocardial scintigraphy showed disappearance of the perfusion defect, and normal contractility was observed on the levogram of the chronic phase. Since this case was clinically denied to be myocardial infarction, it was considered a typical case of stunned myocardium which showed prolonged left ventricular abnormal contractility with transient myocardial ischemia. This is a case suggestive for estimations of myocardial reversibility in patients with myocardial perfusion and metabolic disorder in dual SPECT.