Eight cases with ruptured anterior communicating aneurysms, who developed mental signs of mild degree lasting more than two weeks following direct operation, were subjected to our study. The following results were obtained. The mental signs of mild degree in 8 cases consisted of memory and emotional disturbances. The main findings of CT scan was low density area in the subcortical and cortical areas of the frontal lobe. There was no close correlation on CT findings between memory and emotional disturbances. Abnormal density areas were detected on CT scan, but EEG showed no localized abnormalities of slow waves. Abnormal density areas were not clearly shown on CT, but EEG showed localized abnormalities. Background activities on EEG were favorable despite lesions detected on CT. Either local or diffuse abnormalities were observed in EEG background activities while no abnormal mental signs were recognized. In cases with no apparent abnormal findings on CT and with favorable background activities on EEG, EEG showed marked build up during hyperventilation. As indicated by the above data, comparative studies of CT and EEG findings revealed differences in sites of abnormalities and degree of abnormalities. This is considered caused by a possible increase in cerebral blood flow and metabolism at initiation of chronic stage following subarachnoid hemorrhage-resulting in the disappearance of abnormalities on EEG.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

[A report on the epidemiology and the clinical features of the patients with chronic pancreatitis in Hokkaido District].

We carried out through questionnaires the second survey on the epidemiology and the clinical features of chronic pancreatitis in Hokkaido district. Chronic pancreatitis was diagnosed in 258 patients in 19 hospitals during the period April 1977 to December 1984. The ratio of male cases to females was 2.7:1.0 and the average age was 53.9. Alcoholic abuse, observed in 55% of the patients, was a main causative factor. A half of the patients was diagnosed on the basis of pancreatogram and/or image of the pancreas (ultrasonogram and computed tomogram). The incidence of chronic pancreatitis in the second survey was about fourfold over that diagnosed during the period January 1970 to March 1977 in the first survey. Such an increasing number of the patients with chronic pancreatitis in Hokkaido district was considered to be resulted from the difference between two surveys in epidemiological aspects and diagnostic criteria. The proportion of female patients and alcoholic patients was calculated to be increasing. The frequency of the patients diagnosed in a relatively early stage was supposed to be also increasing, because in the second survey a new item (pancreatogram, ultrasonogram and computed tomogram) was added to the diagnostic criteria (histological evidence, pancreatic calcification and definitive disturbance of exocrine pancreatic function) in the first survey. Based on whether alcoholic abuse was causative factor or not, the patients were divided into two groups and the clinical manifestations of both groups were compared.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

Role of in vivo scavenger function of macrophages in priming for endogenous production of tumor necrosis factor.

The effects of systemic administrations of immune complex, complement activators, and insoluble particles on endogenous production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were investigated in mice. Production of serum TNF was triggered by i.v. injection of OK-432, a streptococcal preparation, and measured by in vitro L-929 cytotoxicity assay. Intravenous injection of IgG-opsonized sheep red blood cells (10(8)/mouse) enhanced OK-432-triggered TNF production significantly. This effect was maximal (about 30-fold enhancement) 1.5 to 3 h after the injection and disappeared within 10 h. Complement activators other than immune complex also possessed this activity. Zymosan (0.1 mg/mouse) enhanced OK-432-triggered TNF production maximally (about 25-fold) 3 to 6 h after its i.v. injection, its effect lasting for 10 h, and disappearing within 24 h. Heat-aggregated IgG and cobra venom factor also had similar enhancing effects. In addition, systemic pretreatment with insoluble particles enhanced OK-432-triggered TNF production. The enhancement by latex beads (2 microliters volume of solid/mouse) was maximal (about 60-fold) 3 to 6 h after their i.v. injection, was sustained for at least 20 h, and disappeared within 48 h. Glass beads, dextran beads, alum, silica, and carbon particles all had similar enhancing effects. Based on these results, the in vivo scavenger function of macrophages, as well as direct activation with cytokines, may participate in priming for endogenous production of TNF; alternatively, particles or macromolecules which can be scavenged by macrophages may activate macrophages and prime for TNF production.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Degradation of dynorphin-(1-13) and dynorphin-(1-17) by the neuroblastoma cell membrane. Evidence for the involvement of a cysteine protease.

The membrane of mouse neuroblastoma N-18 cells degraded dynorphin-(1-13), dynorphin-(1-17), and Leu-enkephalin. The degradation of the former two peptides was inhibited strongly by N-ethylmaleimide, moderately by diisopropylphosphorofluoridate and phosphoramidon, and slightly by bestatin. When Leu-enkephalin was the substrate, however, the effects of phosphoramidon and bestatin were marked and those of N-ethylmaleimide and diisopropylphosphorofluoridate were negligibly small. Captopril did not affect the degradation of the two dynorphins and Leu-enkephalin, but inhibited the further cleavage of N-terminal fragments generated from dynorphin-(1-13) by the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive protease. Thus, a cysteine protease and, probably, a serine protease are responsible to the initial fragmentation of the dynorphins.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1986

[Treatment of cerebral infarction in the acute stage with synthetic antithrombin MD-805: a multicenter clinical study].

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Antithrombins↗

PubMed1986

Age-dependence in capacity-limited uptake kinetics of propranolol by isolated rat hepatocytes.

Overall initial uptake rates of propranolol by isolated rat hepatocytes were analyzed to give both apparently linear and saturable processes. The rate constant for the linear transport process in 7- and 24-week old rats was approximately 0.01 ml X sec-1 X (10(6) cells)-1. For the capacity-limited uptake process of propranolol, the kinetic parameters in 7-week-old rats, were estimated as Vmax = 0.609 microgram X (10(6) cells)-1 X sec-1 and Km = 8.17 micrograms/ml, whereas in 24-week-old rats, Vmax = 0.348 microgram X (10(6) cells)-1 X sec-1 and Km = 9.40 micrograms/ml. The overall uptake rate, when the hepatocytes were incubated with 20 micrograms/ml of propranolol, was reduced with age of the rats between 5 or 7 and 24 weeks and declined gradually thereafter, A higher cell to medium concentration ratio for the initially, net transported component of propranolol in relatively young (5- to 11-week-old) rats suggested an age-dependent saturable uptake process. This was supported by the direct comparison of the saturable uptake rates between 7 and 24 weeks. Therefore, the saturable sinusoidal transport (i.e. saturable uptake by the hepatocytes) may be considered one of the most important mechanisms determining the age-dependence in the intrinsic hepatic clearance of this drug noted in our previous report.

Aging↗

PubMed1986

Aniracetam augments, and midazolam inhibits, the long-term potentiation in guinea-pig hippocampal slices.

The effects of aniracetam, a nootropic drug, and midazolam, which produces amnesia, on the long-term potentiation (LTP) of population spikes was investigated using hippocampal slices (CA3 area) from the guinea pig. Aniracetam at concentrations of 10(-7) and 10(-8) M, but not at 10(-6) M, significantly augmented LTP. On the other hand, midazolam (10(-9) M) significantly suppressed LTP. The suppressive effect was antagonized by Ro 15-1788 (10(-8) M). Both drugs did not affect the population spikes in the absence of tetanic stimulation at those concentrations. It was suggested that in vitro application of LTP is a feasible model system for evaluating the nootropic activity of drugs.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Age-dependent propranolol clearance in perfused rat liver.

The effect of age on the hepatic clearance of propranolol was studied by perfusing the liver isolated from 3- to 104-week-old rats. Propranolol levels in the recirculating perfusate declined biexponentially with time in all age groups. When the liver isolated from 7-week-old rats was perfused with propranolol (1 microgram/ml, 100 ml), hepatic clearance of this drug by the perfused liver (CLperf) increased from 0.589 to 1.14 ml X min-1 X (g liver)-1 with the increase of the perfusion flow rate from 1.0 to 2.0 ml X min-1 X (g liver)-1, confirming evidence of "perfusion-limited" hepatic clearance for this drug. Furthermore, there was no initial concentration(dose)-dependence in CLperf up to 2.5 micrograms/ml (i.e. 250 micrograms/organ). The effect of age on CLperf was then investigated by perfusing the isolated liver with 1.0 micrograms/ml propranolol at 2.0 ml X min-1 X (g liver)-1. Elimination of this drug from the perfusion medium was relatively rapid in 5- to 7-week-old rats, yielding the highest CLperf in these relatively young rats [approximately 1.0 to 1.1 ml X min-1 X (g liver)-1]. In contrast, CLperf values in both immature and older rats were 0.5 ml X min-1 X (g liver)-1 or less. The in vitro intrinsic hepatic clearance estimated in 5- and 7-week-old rats was about ten times as high as that in 104-week-old rats.

Aging↗

PubMed1986

Different effects of dynorphin A on in vitro guinea pig hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells with various degrees of paired-pulse facilitation.

We investigated the effects of dynorphin A (Dyn A), a heptadecapeptide, on the population spikes of the guinea pig hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons, in vitro, using paired-pulse stimulation of the mossy fibers. Dyn A produced facilitatory and inhibitory effects on the population spikes in the preparations with lower and higher degrees of paired-pulse facilitation, respectively. Morphine and D-Ala2, D-Leu5-en-kephalin, mu- and delta-agonist, respectively, predominantly potentiated the population spikes, while kappa-agonists such as U-50, 488H and bremazocine mainly caused an inhibition. These results suggest that Dyn A has two separate (excitatory and inhibitory) effects on the guinea pig hippocampal CA3 neurons through mu-(delta) and kappa-opioid receptors, respectively.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗