Malfunction of arterial sarcoplasmic reticulum leading to faster and greater contraction induced by high-potassium depolarization in young spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The contribution of sarcoplasmic reticulum was studied with regard to the increase in arterial contraction induced by a high-potassium depolarization in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The 20 mmol/l potassium-induced contraction of femoral arteries was faster and greater in 6-week-old SHR than in age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Relaxation after washing the arteries with a Krebs solution was slower in SHR than in WKY rats. When the sarcoplasmic reticulum of SHR arteries had been depleted of calcium by caffeine in a calcium-free solution, the rate of high-potassium-induced contraction of the calcium-depleted SHR arteries was slowed, the same result as that with non-calcium-depleted WKY arteries. In ryanodine-treated arteries, the rate and magnitude of high-potassium-induced contraction were enhanced slightly in SHR and greatly in WKY rats, resulting in no final difference between SHR and WKY rats. Ryanodine slowed the relaxation rate in WKY rats but not in SHR. These results suggest that the diminution in ability of sarcoplasmic reticulum to sequester calcium may be responsible for the faster rate and greater magnitude of high-potassium-induced contraction with the slower relaxation in SHR arteries. We postulated that genetic malfunction of sarcoplasmic reticulum causes the increased contraction of arterial smooth muscle leading to the enhanced vasoconstriction and elevated blood pressure in SHR.     

Potentiating effect of inhaled acetaldehyde on bronchial responsiveness to methacholine in asthmatic subjects.

BACKGROUND--It has recently been reported that acetaldehyde induces bronchoconstriction indirectly via histamine release. However, no study has been performed to assess whether acetaldehyde worsens bronchial responsiveness in asthmatic subjects so this hypothesis was tested. METHODS--Methacholine provocation was performed on three occasions: (1) after pretreatment with oral placebo and inhaled saline (P-S day), (2) after placebo and inhaled acetaldehyde (P-A day), and (3) after a potent histamine H1 receptor antagonist terfenadine and acetaldehyde (T-A day) in a double blind, randomised, crossover fashion. Nine asthmatic subjects inhaled 0.8 mg/ml acetaldehyde or saline for four minutes. After each inhalation a methacholine provocation test was performed. RESULTS--Methacholine concentrations producing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20-MCh) on the P-A day (0.48 mg/ml, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.08) and T-A day (0.41 mg/ml, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.77) were lower than those on the P-S day (0.85 mg/ml, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.54). There was no change in the PC20-MCh between the P-A and T-A days. A correlation was observed between the logarithmic values of PC20-MCh (log PC20-MCh) on the P-S day and the potentiating effect of acetaldehyde on the methacholine responsiveness [(log PC20-MCh on P-A day)-(log PC20-MCh on P-S day)] (rho = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS--Acetaldehyde induces bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with asthma by mechanisms other than histamine release.     

The relation between bronchial infiltration of eosinophils and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in two cases of eosinophilic pneumonia]

We evaluated the bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in the two cases of eosinophilic pneumonia with infiltration of eosinophils into bronchial mucosa. Bronchial responsiveness was not increased in either case in spite of marked infiltration of eosinophils into the bronchial mucosa and submucosa. Hypodense eosinophils are reported in the sputum of patients with bronchial asthma. This suggests that infiltration of activated eosinophils into the bronchial mucosa is an essential factor in bronchial hyperresponsiveness.     

Lugol-combined endoscopic detection of minute malignant lesions of the thoracic esophagus.

Early-stage esophageal carcinomas, particularly cases of intraepithelial carcinoma and mucosal carcinoma, are extremely difficult to detect because the patients have no particular complaints, and findings on the x-rays are nil. At present, endoscopic examination is the only tool of any value for discerning such lesions. Lugol-combined endoscopy with biopsy has proven to be most effective for detecting the presence and spread of small malignant lesions of the esophagus. Studies were conducted on the diagnostic features of one intraepithelial, five mucosal and 29 submucosal carcinomas of the esophagus, detected through the use of Lugol-combined endoscopy.     

EFFECTIVENESS OF CYTODIAGNOSIS WITH PANCREATIC DUCT LAVAGE FLUID FOR PANCREATIC DUCTAL CARCINOMA: NEW SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

Background: Pancreatic carcinoma is one of the most lethal cancers. Because pancreatic carcinoma is still very difficult to diagnose in its early stage, many of these patients will be considered unsuitable for surgery. If a cytological diagnosis is obtained at initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), suitable treatment will be initiated without delay. Methods: To increase the number of exfoliated cells from the pancreatic duct, we devised a new technique, pancreatic duct lavage fluid (PDLF), following bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The present paper reports the effectiveness of cytological examination using PDLF in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. We examined 18 pancreatic carcinoma cases. After the endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP), PDLF was collected from a double‐lumen catheter inserted into the main pancreatic duct. Saline injected from the lumen for the injection, and PDLF was aspirated from the other lumen for the guidewire at the same time. The cytological examination was performed using PDLF. Results: Exfoliated cells were more frequently found in PDLF from all patients. In 15 cases (83%), cytological examination of PDLF revealed positive cytological results as the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Conclusion: Cytological examination using PDLF has a high sensitivity for detection of pancreatic carcinoma. The new examination, PDLF, is simple, safe and effective, so we expect PDLF to become widely popular.     

Constitutive expression of the nef gene suppresses human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in monocytic cell lines.

In order to study the effect of nef gene expression on viral replication in monocytic cells, we established monocytic (U937 and THP-1) cell transfectants constitutively expressing the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nef gene. We constructed a plasmid expressing the nef gene derived from an infectious clone, NL432, under the control of SR alpha promoter which can drive a high level of gene expression. We found suppressed viral replication in nef-expressing monocytic cells, although a negative effect of nef was observed, with some variation depending on the virus strain and the cell. We also observed that the expression of the surface CD4 molecule is inversely related to the expression of the nef gene, especially in the U937 transfectants. These results indicate that the suppression of viral replication and the down-modulation of CD4 molecule by nef gene expression occur in monocytic cell lines as in T cell lines.     

Pemphigus Vulgaris Associated with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Elevated TNFα

A 76-year-old female was admitted with many bullae and erythema on her trunk and extremities. A biopsy specimen showed significant intercellular edema in the lower epidermis and eosinophilic infiltration into the dermis and the epidermis. Immunofluorescent staining revealed the deposition of IgG in the intercellular area of her prickle cells. From these histologic findings and the typical clinical features, we diagnosed her as having pemphigus vulgaris. Examination of her blood revealed that she also suffered from autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Despite intensive treatment with prednisolone, she finally died. This case is of interest because of its rarity and the TNFα detected significantly in the blister fluid of this patient.     

Surgical treatment of dissecting aortic aneurysm using GRF glue]

A 62-year-old woman underwent primary anastomosis for dissecting aortic aneurysm (DeBakey IIIb) using GRF glue. GRF glue consists of mixture of gelatin and resorcin. The mixture is hardened by the addition of medical formaldehyde. Resorcin is diphenole which reacts with formaldehyde, creating tridimentional network. Primary anastomoses were performed after the lumen of dissected aorta was adhered with GRF glue. It appears that primary anastomosis using GRF glue is a simpler and safer operative method for dissecting aortic aneurysm.