Based on the assumption that somatostatin may inhibit peptide release through junctional complexes or through local circulation, an immunfluorescent technique for somatostatin and GLI in the gut was applied in order to investigate whether suppression of GLI release by i.v. administration of somatostatin was a physiological effect of somatostatin or not. Somatostatin-immunoreactive cells (GIF-cells) in the human and canine intestine had no direct cellular contacts with GLI-immunoreactive cells (GLI-cells). This finding suggests that somatostatin in the intestine does not inhibit GLI release through junctional complexes between GIF- and GLI-cells. As to the local circulation, most of GIF-cells in the canine intestine were distributed in the deeper portion of the intestinal gland which corresponds to the upstream sides of the local blood supply of the intestinal gland, as reported by REYNOLD et al. The ratio of GIF-cells to total cells (GIF-cells + GLI-cells) was 68% in the duodenum and 25% in the ileum. In contrast a limited number of GIF-cells was found in the human duodenum where a few GLI-cells were distributed and a few GIF-cells were seen in the human ileum where a large number of GLI-cells were located. Findings in the dog suggest the possibility that somatostatin inhibits GLI release from GLI-cells through the local circulation system of intestinal glands. However, findings in humans suggest that the same possibility does not apply to the human gut. Differences of population density of intestinal GIF-cells between humans and dogs indicate that the functional meaning of GIF-cells may vary from one species to another.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sterols of some Clerodendrum species (Verbenaceae): occurrence of the 24 alpha- and 24 beta-epimers of 24-ethylsterols lacking a delta 25-bond.

The configurations at C-24 of 24-alkylsterols of six samples of Clerodendrum species (Verbenaceae) - the aerial parts of C. fragrans, C. inerme, C. infortunatum, C. scandens, and C. siphonanthus, and the seeds of C. infortunatum - were examined by NMR. All samples contained 24 beta-ethylsterols possessing a delta 25-bond, clerosterol and 22-dehydroclerosterol, as the dominant sterol components. The other 24-ethylsterols lacking a delta 25-bond, 24-ethyl-22-dehydrocholestanol, 24-ethylcholesterol, and 24-ethyl-22-dehydrocholesterol, which were present as minor components, were shown to be mixtures of the 24 alpha- and 24 beta-epimers, with the 24 alpha-epimers predominating in all cases. Four minor 24-methyl-sterols, 24-methylcholestanol, 24-methylcholesterol, 24-methyl-22-dehydrocholesterol, and 24-methyllathosterol, were shown to be C-24 epimeric mixtures, whereas two others, 24-methyl-22,25-bisdehydrocholesterol and 24-methyl-22-dehydrolathosterol, were found to be present only as the 24 beta-epimers. This is the first report of the occurrence of 24 beta-ethyl-22-dehydrocholestanol in higher plants.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Electroencephalogram and evoked potentials in the primate model of viral encephalitis.

Squirrel monkeys with induced canine distemper virus (CDV) encephalitis showed characteristic clinical signs such as seizures or myoclonus, with EEGs showing periodic synchronized discharge (PSD). Histopathologically, there was gliosis and neuronal degeneration diffusely distributed in both the gray and white matters in the subacute phase, the lesions resembling those found in childhood acute viral encephalitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The auditory brain-stem response (ABR) changes were remarkable in the subacute phase, and the recovery of latency was correlated with survival. The visual evoked potential (VEP) abnormalities disappeared in the acute phase and appeared again with delayed latency in the subacute stage. One monkey which did not show clinical signs but had the pathological changes showed the VEP abnormality. These data suggest that the evoked potentials are helpful in judging the prognosis, and that this model is useful for the analysis of the pathogenesis of viral encephalitis.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Different effects of long-chain and medium-chain triglycerides on glucose oxidation during total parenteral nutrition.

This study was undertaken to clarify differences in the effects of lipid emulsions containing either long-chain or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) on glucose metabolism during total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Glucose kinetics were assessed in beagle dogs using primed, constant infusions of [14C]- and [6-3H]glucose. The rate of appearance of glucose, the percent of VCO2 derived from the oxidation of glucose, the rate of glucose oxidation, and the percent of glucose uptake oxidized were measured at the end of 72 hours of each of the two TPN regimens, ie, TPN in which soybean oil served as long-chain triglyceride comprising 40% of nonprotein calories (L-TPN), and TPN in which tricaprylin emulsion served as MCT (M-TPN). Glucose intake was 5.9 +/- 0.5 mg/kg per minute in L-TPN and 5.8 +/- 0.2 mg/kg per minute in M-TPN. There was no significant difference in the rate of glucose appearance between L-TPN and M-TPN. The rate of glucose oxidation was higher with M-TPN than with L-TPN (p < .05). Not only the percent of VCO2 derived from the oxidation of glucose but also the percent of glucose uptake oxidized tended to be higher during M-TPN than during L-TPN. These findings suggest that the glucose metabolism of dogs receiving L-TPN is different from that of dogs receiving M-TPN.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of CD44 variants in lung cancer and its relationship to hyaluronan binding.

We examined the expression of CD44 variant forms and their binding to hyaluronan (HA) in lung cancer cell lines. There was no relationship between the level of expression of CD44 variants and HA binding in different lung cancer cell lines. The expression of CD44v6 and CD44E in some cell lines was not always associated with HA binding. There was no relationship between the tissue pathological type and CD44 expression or HA binding. Deglycosylation by neuraminidase induced CD44-HA binding in human lung cancer cell lines. Our findings suggest that the HA binding ability of CD44, which is negatively regulated by glycosylation, might be a more important factor in tumorigenesis or metastasis than the expression of CD44 variant forms.

Glycoproteins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological function and nutritional status in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Infection is a major complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We compared the immunological function and nutritional status in 16 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (13 patients had liver cirrhosis) with those of 21 normal healthy subjects. METHODOLOGY: The immunological function was assessed by chemotaxis and superoxide anion production by neutrophils, phagocytosis and killing activities of neutrophils and monocytes, absolute and relative number of peripheral blood lymphocytes, the percentage of peripheral lymphocyte subsets and serum concentrations of immunoglobulins. RESULTS: Although the phagocytic and bactericidal activities of monocytes and superoxide production of neutrophils were not different between the groups, the phagocytic and bactericidal activities of neutrophils and the percentage of natural killer cells were significantly reduced in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. In the latter group, the prognostic nutrition index was significantly high compared with normal subjects, indicating a poor nutritional status. The phagocytic and bactericidal activities of neutrophils were low in patients with a poor nutritional status compared to those with a good nutritional status. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that impaired immunological competence and undernourishment may be one of the mechanisms causing increased susceptibility of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma to infection.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The surgical treatment of bullous emphysema. A new method for management of giant bulla.

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Adult↗