Ultrastructural changes and glutathione level were investigated in the pectoralis muscle of rats fed a low-protein diet. Electron microscopy demonstrated the ultrastructural changes of occasional myofibrils affected with protein deficiency that were characterized with the streaming and/or disruption of the Z-line and disintegration of sarcomeric striation. In the affected sarcomeres, sarcomere length was often elongated and fragmented thick filaments were present together with dense amorphous materials flowing from the damaged Z-line. Glutathione level of muscle in the low-protein diet group (5% casein) was reduced to about one-third of that in the control diet group (20% casein). The study suggests that depletion of glutathione by protein malnutrition is responsible for inducing myofibrillar damage through the excess leaking of Ca2+ into the cytosol.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Alkalinizing water-soluble local anesthetic solutions by addition of cyclodextrin.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of sodium bicarbonate for alkalinization of local anesthetics to improve their efficacy has some disadvantages including decreased stability of the solutions. The present study was performed to evaluate usefulness of cyclodextrins (CDs) in improving the solubility and stability of local anesthetic solutions at near physiologic pH without precipitation. METHODS: Solubility of local anesthetics with or without CDs in physiologic saline was investigated by monitoring cloudiness or precipitate formation visually and by recording absorbance at 620 nm. Interaction of anesthetic and CD was also studied spectrophotometrically using spectral change of the drugs associated with the inclusion complex formation. RESULTS: Cyclodextrins improved the solubility and stability of the four local anesthetics studied (dibucaine, tetracaine, bupivacaine, and lidocaine). In the neutral pH region, the effects of the CDs were more significant with dibucaine and tetracaine, which are more hydrophobic than the other two. A type of effective CD was different for each anesthetic depending partly on the tendency to form inclusion complex with local anesthetic. The local anesthetic solutions solubilized by CDs were found to remain clear for more than 72 hours without any visible precipitation or turbidity at neutral pHs. CONCLUSIONS: The improved solubility of local anesthetics by adding CD may be caused by inclusion complex formation of CD with local anesthetics. This new preparation for the alkalinized water-soluble anesthetic solutions may be useful for practical application in the clinical setting, although this awaits further study.

Anesthetics, Local↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Iatrogenic superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula: ultrasonographic, CT and angiographic features and histological findings of the liver biopsy.

Iatrogenic superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula is rare. We treated a patient with this problem 6 years after small bowel resection for intestinal obstruction. The symptoms and signs were those of intestinal ischaemia and portal hypertension with an abdominal bruit. Ultrasonography and enhanced computerized tomography of the abdomen suggested the presence of superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula, with a dilated portal vein and a communication between the dilated superior mesenteric vein and its artery. The exact location of the fistula was then determined by selective superior mesenteric arteriography. The fistula was ligated in an emergency operation to prevent cardiac or renal failure and to relieve portal hypertension. Liver biopsy showed no cirrhotic changes, but fibrosis was seen around the portal veins. We describe here not only the diagnostic arteriographic findings of superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula, but also the interesting and suggestive ultrasonographic and computed tomographic findings. Early correction of such fistulas is recommended to prevent cardiac or liver failure.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Inhibitory effect of gymnemic acid on intestinal absorption of oleic acid in rats.

Gymnemic acid, a mixture of triterpene glycosides extracted from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre, is known to inhibit the intestinal absorption of glucose in human and rats. This work examined the effect of gymnemic acid on oleic acid absorption by the method of intestinal perfusion in rats. The results showed the following. (i) Gymnemic acid potently inhibited the absorption of oleic acid in intestine. (ii) This inhibition was dose dependent and reversible. (iii) The extent of inhibition and the recovery progress were extremely similar to that of glucose absorption. (iv) Taurocholate did not affect the inhibitory effect of gymnemic acid on oleic acid absorption, but lowering its concentration facilitated the recovery from the inhibition. (v) The absorption of oleic acid was not affected by other glycosides such as phloridzin, stevioside, and glycyrrhizin. These new findings are important for understanding the roles of gymnemic acid in therapy of diabetes mellitus and obesity.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of intraoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the pancreas: prognostic factors and survival analyses.

Among 145 patients with carcinoma of the pancreas who had been admitted to three institutions between 1976 and 1985, 117 were entered into a prognostic factor analysis system according to Cox's proportional hazards model. The treatment was classified into four modalities: bypass surgery, single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy (IOR), IOR combined with external irradiation, and resection with or without various radiations. The most important prognostic factors for treatment were identified as location of tumor, TNM stage, and relief of back pain. Adjusting the imbalances among the treatment groups using Cox's model, the superiority of IOR with external irradiation was confirmed for both bypass and single-dose IOR. With this adjustment, the survival rates proved to be more meaningful than the simple Kaplan-Meier estimates.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transmission and scanning electron microscopic study of the same cytologic material.

The same cytologic material was successively examined by light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After the SEM examination, the specimens were rehydrated for a long period of time to allow the penetration of Epon 812 into the cells. The TEM examination showed the cell organelles to be comparatively well preserved. These consecutively performed LM-SEM-TEM examinations provided useful information on cytologic subjects, especially concerning the origin of the cells.

Cell Nucleus↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro attenuation of highly virulent infectious bursal disease virus: some characteristics of attenuated strains.

Some strains of highly virulent infectious bursal disease virus (HV-IBDV) were adapted through serial passage in embryonated eggs. The embryonated egg-adapted HV-IBDV was successfully adapted to grow in chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cell cultures showing a cytopathic effect by preparing the CEF cells from the virus-infected embryos. The embryonated egg- and cell culture-adapted strains significantly reduced their pathogenicity to, and did not kill any, young chickens in experimental infection. The bursal lesions of the adapted strain-infected chickens were similar to those observed in classical strain-infected chickens. Cross-virus neutralization analysis showed antigenic diversity between the cell culture-adapted HV-IBDV strains and classical strains. In immunization tests, the adapted strain-immunized chickens showed good protection against the fatal infection of HV-IBDV. Especially, in case of challenge at 3 days postimmunization, the adapted strains showed effective immunogenicity. The adapted strains appear to provide a new and effective live vaccine against HV-IBDV infection.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical features, image analysis, and laparoscopic and histological liver findings in Budd-Chiari syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Clinical manifestations and histological features of the liver in Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), with or without idiopathic membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava (MOVC), vary according to whether BCS is acute, subacute or chronic. We clarified the diagnostic features in 6 patients with MOVC and in 1 without MOVC. METHODOLOGY: Five patients with subacute or chronic type BCS with MOVC complaining of epigastric pain, hematemesis and encephalopathy, and signs of portal hypertension or collateral circulation were seen. There was 1 asymptomatic patient with MOVC. One patient with acute type BCS without MOVC revealed hepatic and multi-organ failure. Liver function tests in BCS with MOVC were similar to those in liver cirrhosis, and laboratory data in acute type without MOVC were quite the same as those seen in fulminant hepatitis. Non-invasive image analysis by US, CT and MRI showed thrombi and obstruction of the IVC, and extrahepatic vasculature or communication between hepatic veins and IVC. Vena cavography showed the length of obstruction in IVC and collateral circulation in the extrahepatic or intrahepatic veins. Liver biopsy demonstrated massive hemorrhagic necrosis in acute type without MOVC, and laparoscopy with liver biopsy in asymptomatic, subacute and chronic type with MOVC showed subcapsular hemorrhage, congestion, fibrosis, and cirrhotic features. CONCLUSIONS: The non-invasive image analysis was complementary to vena cavography, and liver biopsy with or without laparoscopy was essential not only for diagnosis of acute, subacute, and chronic BCS, but also for therapeutic decision-making.

Adult↗