The cephalic gustatory stimuli during a meal yield nutritional information and aid in the efficient control of homeostasis. This study was focused on either appetite for flavored food or feeding behavior in growing male Sprague-Dawley rats under various states of protein nutrition. In fasted rats, endogenous protein degradation was suppressed by ingestion of glucose that was sufficient to meet energy needs. The decrease in the amount of diet intake was compensated by sugar ingestion, except for sucrose. Rats that ingested sucrose exceeded 115% of total energy intake, compared to ingestion of saccharin as a control. Appetite and meal size are primarily dependent upon the dietary protein level, whether it was beyond normal requirements or not and, thus, flavoring by certain taste material is effective for a diet sufficient in protein, but not for a deficient one. In addition, rats fed a diet containing amino acids preferred saccharin and monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) and grew normally. But, when L-tryptophan-deficient diet was offered, the preference for tryptophan was elicited, and then MSG intake was elevated and their growth became normal. However, preference for saccharin never occurred because the level of tryptophan in blood fluctuated and was not maintained within normal limits. The strong preference for sweetness that is evoked by starvation is directly regulated by the negative energy balance. The animals' primary concern was energy intake and their second concern was protein nutrition, regardless of flavoring.

Aging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Change in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in response to exposure to all-night noise and transient noise.

Several experiments conducted by the authors revealed certain characteristic changes in stage rapid-eye-movement sleep in response to noise exposure. Continuous and all-night exposure to noise first decreased the percentage of rapid-eye-movement stage at Leg 45dBA. In contrast, the threshold of shifts from the rapid-eye-movement stage in response to intermittent noise was higher than thresholds noted for slow-wave sleep or stage-2 sleep. We concluded that these results indicated that a silent environment is required to maintain the duration of rapid-eye-movement sleep, even though rapid-eye-movement sleep is stable and is not influenced easily by noise.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo and in vitro assessment of the cardiovascular effects of 8-(benzylthio)-N6-n-butyl-cyclic AMP.

In the canine heart-lung preparation (HLP) and the anesthetized open-chest dog, both 8-(Benzylthio)-N6-n-butyl-cyclic AMP (BTB-cyclic AMP) (10 times more potent) and dibutyryl-cyclic AMP (DB-cyclic AMP) produced a definite positive inotropic effect (PIE) and an increase in the coronary blood flow with either no change (HLP) or a slight increase (anesthetized animal) (BTB-cyclic AMP) and a definite increase in the heart rate (DB-cyclic AMP). In the isolated atrial preparations of the guinea pig (AG), BTB-cyclic AMP produced a slight PIE at 3 X 10(-5) M and a negative chronotropic effect at 3 X 10(-4) M. Aminophylline reversed the latter to the positive one, while potentiating the former. At 10(-3) M marked positive inotropic and chronotropic effects were observed. DB-cyclic AMP was without effects. In the right ventricular papillary muscle preparations of the guinea pig (PMG), both compounds produced PIE. BTB-cyclic AMP initiated a contraction (AG) and a "slow" action potential (PMG) in partially depolarized preparations. Both of these effects were abolished by diltiazem. BTB-cyclic AMP (10(-3) M) suppressed the heart rate increase induced by isoproterenol in right AG. It was concluded that BTB-cyclic AMP was a cardiotonic agent with a relatively weak positive chronotropic effect and that the cardiotonic effect was ascribable to the initiation of slow action potentials and related contractions.

Anesthesia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Small cell carcinoma of the bladder. Two cases diagnosed by urinary cytology.

BACKGROUND: Primary small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder is a rare but important entity. We report two cases of SCC of the bladder diagnosed by urinary cytology. CASES: A 71-year-old male (case 1) and a 79-year-old female (case 2) presented with asymptomatic gross hematuria. Urinary cytology in case 1 showed the presence of a few undifferentiated malignant small cells and many transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cells with a bloody and necrotic background. The former cells were small and round, with naked, hyperchromatic nuclei and finely granular chromatin. Pathologic diagnosis after total cystectomy was TCC > SCC > adenocarcinoma, T2M0N0. Urinary cytology of case 2 showed the presence of many undifferentiated malignant small cells and many TCC cells with or without squamous metaplasia. Cytologic features of the former cells were almost the same as those in case 1. Moreover, these cells were neuroendocrine marker positive by immunocytochemistry. Pathologic diagnosis after tumor resection was SCC and TCC > squamous cell carcinoma, T1b. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of primary SCC of the bladder is usually poor. Because our cases were found by urinary cytology at a relatively early stage, both have been well, without any evidence of recurrence, 30 and 25 months after surgery even without adjuvant therapy.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of ulinastatin, an antiprotease, on alloxan-induced lung injury in dogs.

To determine if alloxan-induced lung injury could be prevented by an antiprotease, ulinastatin, we used three groups of five anesthetized, ventilated dogs. They were given saline (20 ml/kg/hr) infusion alone (saline group), alloxan (75 mg/kg) + saline infusion (alloxan group), or ulinastatin (50,000 U/kg) + alloxan + saline infusion (ulinastatin group). The course of all dogs was followed for three hours. In the saline group, extravascular lung water to blood-free dry weight (Qwl/dQl) was 3.22 +/- 0.31 g/g (mean +/- SE). The alloxan group presented the following significant findings: a decrease in white blood cell and platelet counts (44.2% and 68.2% of control, respectively) at five minutes; an increase in thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (731.6% and 476.6% of control, respectively) at 15 minutes; an increase in beta-glucuronidase (124.8% of control) at 30 minutes; and an increase in Qwl/dQl (8.84 +/- 1.82 g/g) at the end of experiment. The addition of ulinastatin significantly reduced most alloxan-induced effects: differences in white blood cell counts, thromboxane B2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, and Qwl/dQl between the saline and ulinastatin groups were small. We conclude that ulinastatin significantly reduces the extent of lung water accumulation in alloxan-induced lung injury.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum thrombomodulin and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Since thrombomodulin (TM) is a specific cell surface glycoprotein for vascular endothelial cells, serum TM (s-TM) might be a useful marker of endothelial cell damage. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) frequently detected in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been associated with vascular occlusive diseases. Therefore we measured the s-TM in 60 patients with SLE, in 23 patients with other diseases including aPL (disease control group) and in 26 healthy subjects, by means of an enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies to human TM. A significant positive correlation was found between s-TM and serum creatinine levels in SLE patients (r = 0.813, p less than 0.001). When the s-TM level was divided by the serum creatinine level (TM/Cr) to exclude the effect of renal clearance, the TM/Cr ratios were significantly increased in SLE patients with active lupus nephritis (LN) compared to those without LN (p less than 0.05). The ratios did not correlate with the presence of aPL or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS) in SLE patients or in the disease control group, although a weak correlation between the TM/Cr ratios and IgG-anticardiolipin antibody titers was found in the SLE patients without LN (r = 0.449, p less than 0.01). The present results suggest that elevated TM/Cr ratios reflect renal and possibly extra-renal endothelial cell damage in SLE patients with active LN, but that s-TM levels do not associate with the presence of aPL or a history of APLS.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reactivities of antiphospholipid antibodies to blood cells and their effects on platelet aggregations in vitro.

To clarify the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) syndrome, the reactivities of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other diseases to fresh, activated or destroyed blood cells were examined by the inhibition assay using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the effects of lupus anticoagulants (LA) in the patients' plasma and of immune complexes formed between LA and PL antigens on platelet aggregations were also determined. The IgG-aCL activity of patients' sera was markedly inhibited by pre-incubation with freeze-thawed blood cells, including erythrocytes (RBC), mononuclear cells (MNC) and platelets, but not fresh platelets or RBC. The aCL activity was slightly inhibited by fresh MNC, and was definitely inhibited by thrombin-activated platelets and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). However, the activity was not inhibited by platelets stimulated with adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP; 10 microM). Twenty-two LA positive plasma and 17 LA negative plasma from patients similarly enhanced the aggregation of platelets which were obtained from healthy adults and stimulated with low concentrations of ADP (1 or 2 microM). However, such enhancement of platelet aggregation was not observed when high concentrations of ADP (5 microM) or collagen (2 micrograms/ml) were used as stimulators. In four of the 16 LA positive plasma examined, the mixture of plasma and phospholipid reagent for activated partial thromboplastin time induced platelet aggregations without the other stimulations, but the plasmas themselves did not induce such a reaction. The above results indicate that the aPL from patients do not react with intact blood cells in vitro, but they can react with activated or destroyed blood cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Surgical experience with traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta.

Nine cases of traumatic thoracic aortic rupture (TAR), operated on at St. Marianna University Hospital between July 1980 and December 1988, were reviewed in order to evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced CT in the early diagnosis of TAR. The absence of mediastinal hematoma on CT eliminated the need for aortography in 30 (38.5%) of the 78 patients suspected of having TAR on the basis of chest roentgenograms. The presence of mediastinal hematoma necessitated aortography in 48 patients. However, operative treatment was carried out without aortography in 3 patients who had specific signs of rupture on CT. CT proved to be a reliable indicator for the selection of the patients who need aortography. As a rule, emergency operations were performed in these patients. Simple aortic crossclamping was employed in 4 patients, and heparinless left heart bypass with the BioPump was performed for spinal cord protection in 2 recent patients without complication of embolization. Use of the BioPump as an adjunct in the repair of TAR appears to be promising.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A case of invasive primary mediastinal seminoma treated radically with replacement of the superior vena cava.

A primary mediastinal seminoma in a 30-year-old man, invading intraluminally into the superior vena cava, was radically treated with reconstruction of the superior vena cava using Gore-Tex grafts. The patient has been doing well without any evidence of tumor recurrence for two years after the surgery, with the grafts being nicely patent. Even when a primary mediastinal seminoma is growing locally into the major veins, the tumor could and should be treated radically, with performing reconstruction of the removed venous system. Gore-Tex graft seems to be acceptable as a venous substitute for major vein replacement.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Beta-blocking action of bopindolol, a new beta-blocker, and its active metabolites in open chest dogs.

The beta-blocking activity of bopindolol, a new nonselective beta-blocker, and of its active metabolites (18-502 and 20-785) was compared with that of propranolol and atenolol in anesthetized open chest dogs. No remarkable changes in basal cardio-hemodynamic parameters were observed in all groups, except for dp/dtmax which was decreased in the bopindolol-, propranolol-and atenolol-treated groups. All beta-blockers used inhibited the isoproterenol (0.1 microgram/kg, i.v.)-induced tachycardia and the increase in myocardial oxygen consumption dose-dependently. The active metabolite 18-502 was the most potent; it was 19 times as potent as propranolol with respect to the antitachycardic action and 34 times as potent as propranolol in inhibiting the increase in oxygen consumption induced by isoproterenol (0.1 microgram/kg). The potency of bopindolol was nearly equal to that of propranolol, while the potency of atenolol and the metabolite 20-785 was weaker than that of propranolol. As 18-502 was found as a metabolite also in man, it is suggested that 18-502 is a more important active metabolite of bopindolol than 20-785 in in vivo conditions, though the metabolite 20-785 is also a potent beta-blocker.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lower leg ischemia associated with aortic dissection.

Lower leg ischemia associated with aortic dissection is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate treatment. To better understand the diagnostic factors and improve the treatment strategy of this serious complication, we analyzed our experience regarding the radiographic findings, treatment, and outcome in eight patients (aged 28-72 years, six men and two women). CT revealed type A aortic dissection in seven patients and type B in one. The obstructed site was in the iliac artery in five patients and in the abdominal aorta below the renal arteries in three. Surgical procedures included five ascending aortic graft replacements, three femoro-femoral bypasses, and one each of surgical fenestration, aorto-iliac bypass, and axillo-femoral bypass with thrombectomy. Endovascular treatment was performed in two patients, iliac stent placement in one, and thrombolysis of the iliac artery in one. Five patients survived and three died due to myonephrotic metabolic syndrome in two and postoperative bleeding in one. Treatment strategy depends on several issues regarding aortic dissection including ascending aortic involvement, patent false lumen, entry site, renal artery involvement, and thrombosis in a true or false lumen. CT and angiography are the most important methods for deciding upon appropriate therapy in each individual.

Adult↗