The influence of plasma lipids and the degree of adiposity on red blood cell (RBC) tocopherol levels was investigated in children. In the first study of nonobese children with a wide range of plasma lipid values, the correlation coefficient between RBC tocopherol levels and plasma tocopherol levels was 0.39 (P less than 0.001, n = 195) but when RBC tocopherol was compared with plasma tocopherol based on plasma total lipids, the coefficient increased to 0.69. From this finding it is assumed that RBC tocopherol levels are governed by the tocopherol concentration in plasma lipids. In the second study of obese children, RBC tocopherol levels decreased in the children with 30% or more excess weight, as compared with those of control children and those with less than 30% obesity, while plasma tocopherol levels were unrelated to obesity grades. Because of no significant difference in plasma total lipid levels among these three groups of children, decreased RBC tocopherol in children with 30% or more obesity is probably attributable to their adiposity.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evidence of alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated chronotropic action in children.

We investigated alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated positive chronotropic action in children using a pharmacological autonomic function test. Under cardiac vagal and sympathetic blockade, chronotropic responses to intravenous infusion of an alpha-agonist, phenylephrine, were determined in 129 patients with suspected autonomic dysfunction. Heart rate changes to phenylephrine infusion (0.4 microg/kg/min) for 5 minutes ranged from -2 to 50 beats/min (mean +/- SD, 13.8 +/- 9.7 beats/min). alpha-Adrenoceptor-mediated chronotropic (APC) action more than 5 beats/min was observed in 88 (68%) subjects. APC was negatively correlated with age. Multivariate analysis showed that APC was correlated negatively with beta-sympathetic tone and positively correlated with intrinsic heart rate. These results suggest that the alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated chronotropic action is a developmental phenomenon and may play an important role in controlling heart rate in response to cardiac sympathetic activation.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

CT findings of BALTOMA.

OBJECTIVE: To review the CT findings of BALTOMA, a low-grade malignant lymphoma originating from bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). METHODS: The CT findings, symptoms, and clinical courses of BALTOMA in five patients were reviewed. The specimens obtained at operation were investigated, and the pathological findings were compared with the CT findings. RESULTS: There were no symptoms in four patients and normal laboratory data in all patients. One patient who complained of general malaise underwent surgery under suspicion of lung carcinoma. Four patients were observed from 4 months to 7 years and 1 month under the diagnosis of organizing pneumonia or chronic inflammatory processes. On CT images a localized lesion was seen in four cases, while multiple lesions were seen in one case. Attenuation of the lesions was between 39.15 and 60 HU on nonenhanced CT. Lesions were homogeneously enhanced by contrast material. The margins of the lesion were clearly demarcated by interlobular septa in one portion and were unclear in the other portion in all cases. Air bronchograms were seen in four cases. CT angiogram signs were seen in three of four cases in which contrast study was performed. There was no lymphadenopathy, pleural changes, or invasion to other organs. The pathological investigation revealed small lymphocytes that showed monoclonality in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of the CT findings of BALTOMA can help to avoid misinterpreting BALTOMA as chronic inflammation and/or lung carcinoma. When a slowly progressive chronic pneumonia is being followed up, transbronchial lung biopsy and immunoglobulin staining of lymphocytes should be recommended for the correct diagnosis.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Developmental changes in alpha-tocopherol, especially during infantile period.

Developmental changes in expression of alpha-TTP after birth were investigated using rats with respect to plasma changes of tocopherols. The expression of alpha-TTP in the neonatal rat liver, which was very low immediately after birth, increased steadily during the two weeks of life before weanling and reached the adult level at 4 weeks. During the suckling period, the plasma ratio of alpha-tocopherol to gamma-tocopherol linearly increased, because plasma alpha-tocopherol was low immediately after birth, increased rapidly during the period, while gamma-tocopherol remained unchanged. The increase in the ratio seemed to correlate with the developmental expression of alpha-TTP in the liver during this period. The ratio also reached the adult level after 4 weeks. The expression of alpha-TTP was investigated using primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The expression of alpha-TTP was found to be extremely low after 20 h of culture. The decrease in alpha-TTP expression was exacerbated by adding epidermal growth factor to the culture medium and was inhibited by adding dexamethasone. These observations suggest that expression of alpha-TTP may be affected by the state of hepatic differentiation. The Western and Northern blot analysis of alpha-TTP in vitamin E deficient and enriched rats were compared to control rats. The decrease of mRNA of alpha-TTP observed in alpha-Toc-enriched rat liver and the increase of mRNA observed in the vitamin E deficient rat liver indicate the synthesis of alpha-TTP, although alpha-TTP itself was not altered.

Animals↗