Chiral tagging reagents, 4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulphonyl)-7-(2-chloroformylpyrrolidin-1 -yl)-2,1,3- benzoxadiazole (R(+)-DBD-Pro-COCl and S(-)-DBD-Pro-COCl), react with mirror image enantiomers of amines to produce corresponding diastereomers in the presence of pyridine as a catalyst. The maximal excitation and emission wavelengths of the resulting diastereomers were ca. 450 nm and 560 nm, respectively. The diastereomers derived from some aliphatic amines were resolved by a reversed-phase chromatography with water-acetonitrile or normal-phase chromatography with n-hexane-ethyl acetate as the eluent. The reactivities of both enantiomers of DBD-Pro-COCl to chiral amines were almost comparable, whereas a slight difference of fluorescence intensity was observed with S(-)-DBD-Pro-COCl. When (S-)-DBD-Pro-COCl was used as the derivatization reagent, amines corresponding to S-configuration were eluted faster than R-configuration. The opposite elution order was obtained with the use of R(+)-DBD-Pro-COCl, instead of S(-)-DBD-Pro-COCl. The Rs values obtained from 1-cyclohexylethylamine (CEA) having aliphatic ring structure was larger than those of amines (1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine (NEA) and 1-phenylethylamine (PEA)) having aromatic ring structures.

Amines↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ventricular inversion without transposition of the great arteries: a rare anomaly associated with left-sided (tricuspid) atrioventricular valve atresia and unroofed coronary sinus.

Isolated ventricular inversion with concomitant atresia of the left-sided (tricuspid) atrioventricular valve has previously been reported in the English literature in only two patients, and they died during early infancy. We describe the clinical, two-dimensional echocardiographic and angiocardiographic features in a 10-year-old boy with these rare cardiac anomalies in association with unroofed coronary sinus, which compensated for the restrictive atrial septal defect. This is the first published report of this combination of cardiac anomalies.

Angiocardiography↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of GM1-ganglioside and alpha-sialyl cholesterol on amino acid uptake, protein synthesis, and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in superior cervical and nodose ganglia excised from adult rats.

We examined the effect of GM1-ganglioside in combination with cholera toxin B, and synthetic alpha-sialyl cholesterol (alpha-SC) on neutral amino acid (tritiated alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, [3H]AIB) uptake, protein synthesis [( 3H]leucine incorporation), and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in isolated superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and nodose ganglia (NG) from adult rats after aerobic incubation, usually for 2 h at 37 degrees C in vitro. Cholera toxin B, that specifically masks the oligosaccharide chain of GM1-ganglioside, antagonized the GM1-induced changes in [3H]AIB uptake, [3H]leucine incorporation, and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity almost completely in SCG, but partially in NG. Although cholesterol itself had little effect on either [3H]AIB uptake and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity both in SCG and NG, alpha-SC caused considerable reduction of both amino acid uptake and the transport enzyme activity in each ganglia. However, cholesterol was more effective than alpha-SC in decreasing [3H]leucine incorporation in either ganglia. Whereas addition of EGTA markedly reduced either GM1-induced or alpha-SC-induced change in [3H]leucine incorporation into acid-insoluble fraction in both SCG and NG, application of Ca2+ ionophore produced considerable recovery of the protein synthesis from the inhibited level by Ca2(+)-deprivation. ATP and creatine phosphate contents in SCG were elevated by the presence of GM1 or alpha-SC, whereas [3H]AIB uptake and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity were inhibited, suggesting that utilization for membrane transport was diminished as a result of GM1- or alpha-SC-induced decrease of ATPase activity.

Amino Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of depolarizing agents on transglutaminase activity, Ca2+ influx, and protein synthesis in superior cervical and nodose ganglia excised from rats.

Rapid changes in transglutaminase (TG) activity, 45Ca(2+)-influx and [3H]leucine incorporation in superior cervical ganglia (SCG), and nodose ganglia (NG) excised from adult rats were examined following addition of membrane-depolarizing agents veratridine (Ver) or high extracellular [K+]o during aerobic incubation in vitro at 37 degrees C. Addition of KCl (50 mM) stimulated TG activity to a maximal extent (four to six-fold) in SCG and NG after 30 min. Ver (0.2 mM) also increased TG activity in both ganglia after 30 min. Kinetic studies showed that the stimulation of TG activity in both ganglia caused by each depolarization condition was associated with a decrease in Km and an increase in Vmax value. The depolarizing agents Ver and high [K+]o also caused significant increases in 45Ca2+ influx into both ganglia. The Ver-induced increases in TG activity and 45Ca2+ accumulation were antagonized by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 microM), a sodium channel blocker. The K(+)-induced increase in TG activity was not blocked by tetraethylammonium (TEA, 20 mM), a potassium channel antagonist, although TEA did block the K(+)-induced increase in 45Ca2+ accumulation. The membrane-perturbing, sialic acid-containing compounds, GM1-ganglioside (GM1, 5 nM) and alpha-sialyl cholesterol (alpha-SC, 20 microM), were moderate inhibitors of the K(+)-induced effects on TG activity and 45Ca2+ accumulation. The sialyl compounds had little effect on Ver-induced accumulation of 45Ca2+ but enhanced the Ver-evoked stimulation in TG activity. These results suggests that the veratridine- and K(+)-induced increases in TG activity occur via modulation of Ca2+ and Na+ channel gating mechanisms that are pharmacologically distinct for each depolarizing agent. The veratridine- and K(+)-induced decrease in [3H]leucine incorporation could be a result of stimulation of TG activity as a consequence of degenerative alterations.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Late in-stent restenosis of the abdominal aorta in a patient with Takayasu's arteritis and related pathology.

This report describes an in-stent restenosis of the infrarenal aorta in a patient with Takayasu's arteritis in a nonactive state. A 10-mm-diameter Wallstent had been deployed 42 months previously. The stented restenosed segment was replaced by a surgical graft. Histopathological examination of the excised aortic segment showed a thin layer of fibrocellular neointima and massive organized and calcified thrombus. To our knowledge, this is the first histopathological report of a late in-stent restenosis of the abdominal aorta in Takayasu's arteritis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Estimation of the area under the concentration-versus-time curve of carboplatin following irinotecan using a limited sampling model.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop limited sampling models for estimating the area under the concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) of carboplatin. METHODS: Based on pharmacokinetic analyses of 14 patients who received 300 mg x m2 of carboplatin over a 90-min infusion following irinotecan, we developed limited sampling models with stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. We validated these models to be unbiased and precise using pharmacokinetic data of a second group of 14 patients. We also compared the observed and the predicted AUC in the patients using Calvert's formula with the patients' renal function. RESULTS: We developed the following models: AUC (mg x ml(-1) x min) = 0.784 x C4 + 1.30 (r2=0.930) and AUC=0.100 x C0.25 + 0.597 x C4 + 0.140 (r=0.992), where C0.25 and C4 denote unbound plasma concentrations (microg x ml(-1)) of carboplatin at 0.25 h and 4 h after the end of infusion, respectively. These models were validated to be unbiased and precise: a mean prediction error (MPE) with standard deviation (SD) = 2.41 (9.45)% and a root mean squared error (RMSE) = 9.42% for the one-sample model, and MPE with (SD) = 1.22 (5.56)% and RMSE = 5.49% for the two-sample model. We also calculated predicted AUC in the patients using Calvert's formula: MPE with (SD)= -5.87 (21.5)% and RMSE = 21.5%. CONCLUSIONS: These estimations were, as expected, more accurate than the prediction using Calvert's formula based on patients' renal function. The result of this study confirmed the idea that the pharmacokinetic parameters derived from limited sampling models would be more suitable for pharmacokinetic analysis of carboplatin than those obtained using Calvert's formula.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Struma ovarii: appearance on MR images.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to examine the appearance of struma ovarii on magnetic resonance (MR) images. METHODS: MR images of 12 patients with histologically proven struma ovarii were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images with Gd-DTPA were available in 10 patients. The following determinations were made: tumor morphology, signal intensities, contrast-enhancement effects of solid components with Gd-DTPA, and comparison of MR images with resected specimens. RESULTS: All 12 patients had both cystic and solid components, with a multilobulated surface and thickened septa. Signal intensities on T1-weighted images were mainly low, partly intermediate to high, or high, and those on T2-weighted images were mainly high, with different signal intensities. Contrast-enhancement effects were marked or moderate. The contents that showed low signal intensities on T1-weighted images and signal voids or low signal intensities on T2-weighted images were viscid gelatinous materials. CONCLUSIONS: A multicystic tumor with a solid component, a multilobulated surface, and signal intensities that indicate the presence of viscid gelatinous materials appear to be a characteristic MR finding of struma ovarii.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Presence of two subcomponents in P9 far-field potential following stimulation of the median nerve.

Close scrutiny of scalp recorded P9 far-field potentials following stimulation of the median nerve often revealed dilobed wave forms. We observed that the P9 became 2 distinct peaks (P9a and P9b) when the arm was flexed 90 degrees forward at the shoulder and that it became a pointed single peak with 90-170 degrees lateral abduction of the arm. A simultaneously recorded stationary negative peak (N9), registered over the stimulated arm with the use of a distant reference, also showed similar changes, a dilobed configuration (N9a and N9b) with forward flexion and a single peak with lateral abduction. The latencies of the scalp recorded P9a and P9b and arm recorded N9a and N9b were close but not exactly the same. Nevertheless, the latencies of the scalp-positive and arm-negative peaks shifted in nearly a parallel fashion by changing the arm positions. These findings suggest that the change of axial orientation of the propagating nerve impulse plays an important role for the rise of P9a and that the change of volume geometry surrounding the nerve contributes to the P9b generation. Also, the scalp recorded P9 and arm recorded N9 are one and the same, and oriented with dipole fields extending from the arm, body and to the scalp.

Action Potentials↗