Intramuscular nerves were obtained at autopsy from five adult controls and were morphometrically analyzed. The number of myelinated fibers was directly proportional to the diameter of the fascicles. The fascicles were grouped into six sizes according to diameter. For each group, the normal range of distribution of the number of myelinated fibers could be estimated. Fiber size distribution and myelinated fiber density were also calculated. A unimodal fiber size distribution was observed for the small fascicles (less than 50 microns in diameter), and a bimodal pattern was observed for the large fascicles. Total myelinated fiber density was high in the small fascicles, and it decreased as the fascicles became larger in size, approaching the values observed in the large peripheral nerves. This study will be helpful in objectively evaluating morphological changes of intramuscular nerves in adult neuromuscular disorders.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Beneficial effect of tetrahydrobiopterin on the survival of rats exposed to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

INTRODUCTION: The protective role of nitric oxide (NO) against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains controversial. In this study we investigated the effect of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) on the survival of rats exposed to an hepatic I/R injury. METHODS: The rats were subjected to 100 minutes of 70% hepatic ischemia 30 minutes after administration of BH4 or saline. A specific inducible NO synthase (iNOS) blocker, 1400W, was used to evaluate endogenous iNOS. NOS protein measured the histological appearance of the liver by Western blotting, and survival was evaluated after reperfusion. RESULTS: The 1-week survival rate was 60% among the BH4 group and 10% for the saline group. The serum ALT and bilirubin values in the BH4 group were significantly lower than the saline group. Histological examination of the liver revealed only a small necrotic area in the BH4 group as opposed to massive necrosis and cell infiltration in the saline group. Injection of 1400W significantly decreased the prolongation of survival produced by BH4. CONCLUSIONS: BH4 significantly improved the survival rate, the histological findings, and the liver function, thereby reducing liver failure. Western blotting showed a higher level of iNOS protein in the BH4 group than the saline group, 1400W suppressed this effect of BH4. Taken together, these observations suggest that NO derived from reactions driven by BH4-induced iNOS exerts a protective effect against reperfusion injury.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Daily cost of ophthalmic solutions for treating glaucoma in Japan.

PURPOSE: We conducted a study of the daily cost of various ophthalmic solutions used in Japan for treating glaucoma: beta-adrenergic blockers (11 products), epinephrine (3), cholinergics (3), prostaglandins (2), and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (2). METHODS: The total number of drops in one bottle of each solution was counted drop by drop. The cost per drop was calculated by dividing the government-controlled standard prices by the total number of drops in one bottle. The daily cost of therapy was calculated by multiplying the cost per drop by the number of drops typically used per day. RESULTS: The average cost of each preparation was calculated based on the prices and the daily usage. The daily cost of the beta-adrenergic blockers studied ranged widely, from $0.43 to $1.04. CONCLUSIONS: These data may be useful in selecting ophthalmic products for glaucoma therapy in Japan.

Adrenergic Agonists↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Branch retinal vein occlusion in a Japanese patient with neurofibromatosis 1.

BACKGROUND: To report an Asian patient with branch retinal vein occlusion secondary to neurofibromatosis 1. CASE: A 64-year-old woman presented with a loss of vision in her right eye of 9-month duration. A diagnosis of neurofibromatosis 1 was made. A general medical examination showed no abnormalities except the signs of neurofibromatosis 1. OBSERVATIONS: Fundus examination of the right eye revealed irregularities of the venous caliber, partial sheathing of the corresponding vein and macular edema. Multiple dilated and tortuous collateral channels and an arteriovenous communication bridged the perfused and nonperfused retina. Fundus examination of the left eye showed a tortuous vein in the temporal region of the fovea. Fluorescein angiography of the right eye confirmed delayed filling in a superotemporal artery and in the corresponding vein. The temporal region of the fovea had large areas of capillary loss. The collaterals were tortuous and mimicked a neovascularization. Fluorescein angiography of the left eye confirmed that the vein in the temporal part of the fovea was tortuous and not leaking. A diagnosis of branch retinal vein occlusion of the superotemporal vein was made. CONCLUSIONS: Neurofibromatosis 1 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of retinal vascular occlusive disease without other risk factors.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Differences in the expression of glucose transporter protein isoforms in human retinoblastoma cell lines.

We investigated the expression of glucose transporter (GLUT) protein isoforms in two human retinoblastoma cell lines, Y79 and WERI-Rb1, by Western blotting analysis with anti-GLUT1, 2, 3, and 4 antibodies. GLUT1 and GLUT4 proteins were detected in Y79, whereas GLUT1 and GLUT3 proteins were found in WERI-Rb1. GLUT2 protein was not detected in Y79 or WERI-Rb1. Our findings are of interest because (1) the expression of GLUT protein isoforms in the two retinoblastoma cell lines was different, and (2) GLUT4 protein, the insulin-sensitive GLUT isoform, was detected in Y79. This suggests that these cell lines have different mechanisms of glucose transport.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Glycopathological study of eyelid tumors and pseudotumors.

The expression of MUC1, Tn (GalNAc alpha 1-O-Ser/Thr) and sialosyl Tn (STn) (NeuAc alpha 2,6 GalNAc alpha 1-O-Ser/Thr) antigens, which are useful markers for the prognosis of cancer in other organs, was examined immunohistochemically in a series of 45 eyelid tumors and 5 pseudotumors: basal cell carcinoma, 18; squamous cell carcinoma, 11; sebaceous gland carcinoma, 6; seborrheic keratosis, 4; papilloma, 3; verruca vulgaris, 2; nevus, 1; and granuloma, 5. The MUC1 antigen was identified in all squamous cell and sebaceous gland carcinomas, but not in basal cell carcinoma or the benign tumors. The Tn antigen was expressed in all the sebaceous gland, half of the squamous cell, and only rarely in the basal cell carcinomas. The STn antigen was expressed in all seborrheic keratosis and in the majority of squamous cell carcinomas, but only rarely in sebaceous gland and basal cell carcinomas. Eyelid tumors are frequently associated with apomucin and mucin-carbohydrate antigens: the MUC1 glycoprotein appears to be related to the malignant potential of eyelid tumors, and may be a useful marker for the differential diagnosis of invasive tumors, including sebaceous gland and squamous cell carcinomas.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular cloning of the cDNAs encoding the feline B-lymphocyte activation antigen B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) homologues which interact with human CTLA4-Ig.

We cloned the cDNAs encoding the feline homologues of B-lymphocyte activation antigens B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86). We expressed recombinant feline CD80 and CD86 molecules by the baculovirus expression system, and demonstrated their binding ability to human CTLA4-murine immunoglobulin fusion protein.

Abatacept↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Equine herpesvirus-1-induced encephalomyelitis in mice: a comparative study of neuroadapted virus and its parental strain.

Little is known about the neuropathogenicity of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in mice. No neurological signs were observed in 6-day-old mice inoculated intracerebrally with the HH1 strain (HH1) of EHV-1. However,6-day-old mice inoculated intracerebrally with a variant derived by serial passage of HH1 in mouse brain showed severe neurological symptoms and eventually died. Histological analyses were performed on 6-day-old mice inoculated with the neuroadapted HH1 (NHH1) and the parental HH1 strain by the intracerebral, intranasal or intraperitoneal route. All routes of inoculation with NHH1 caused encephalitis, but myelitis was observed only in mice inoculated intraperitoneally. Prominent histological findings were perivascular cuffing sometimes associated with small fibrin thrombi, neuronal and glial degeneration and necrosis, and intranuclear inclusion bodies in neurons, glial cells and ependymal cells. Intracerebral and intranasal inoculation, but not intraperitoneal inoculation, with HH1 induced central nervous system (CNS) lesions that were milder than those in mice inoculated with NHH1. The distribution of viral antigen was more widespread in mice inoculated with NHH1 than with HH1. No viral antigen was detected in the CNS of mice inoculated intraperitoneally with HH1. These results indicate that increased viral multiplication and spreading in the CNS were responsible for the enhanced neurovirulence of NHH1. Although EHV-1 has been considered to be primarily endotheliotropic in horses, both NHH1 and HH1 showed tropism for the parenchymal cells of the CNS in mice, namely neurons, glial cells and ependymal cells.

Administration, Intranasal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Monoclonal antibody inducing human sperm agglutination.

A mouse fused splenic cell line producing antibody that induces agglutination of human sperm was cultivated. The antibody was localized to the midpiece and tail of human spermatozoa by an indirect immunofluorescence method. The interacting antigen was identified in a sperm membrane protein preparation by SDS gel/protein blot immunofluorescence method. The molecular weight of the antigen was in the vicinity of 84 Kdaltons.

Animals↗