Purification and characterization of ouabain-binding protein in human plasma

Ouabainlike factors are thought to be a kind of important modulators of salt and water metabolism in essential hypertension. We purified the binding-protein of ouabain (OBP) from human plasma. The amino-terminal sequence of OBP from human plasma, (NH2-TLGQPREPQVYTLPPXREEM-), indicated that OBP is the carboxy-terminal fragment (14.4 kDa by SDS-PAGE) from T218 of IgG2 heavy chain and from A221 of the IgG1 heavy chain constant region. Moreover, plasmin-cleaved Fc fragment (pFc) of IgG possessed the ouabain-binding activity by the gel-filtration method of pFc and authentic ouabain mixture, whereas neither intact, aggregate, nor papain-cleaved Fc fragment did. The amino-terminal sequence of pFc was NH2-THTXPPXPAPELLGGPXVFL-, and this sequence corresponded to the T105 to L125 fragment of the IgG1 heavy chain constant region. The growth of cultured THP-1 cells were arrested in the dose-dependent manner by ouabain, which was inhibited by the addition of 20 microg/mL of pFc. These results suggested that plasmin-cleaved Fc of human IgG is one of the binding protein of ouabain/ouabainlike factor(s) in human plasma.     

The use of epoxy patch grafts for the repair of experimentally-created diaphragmatic defects in dogs

Canine pericardium which had been treated with polyepoxy compounds (Denacol EX-313) was used as a patch graft for the correction of experimentally-created diaphragmatic defects in five dogs belonging to the same litter. Clinical, macroscopic and histological examinations were conducted every month up to five months after suturing of the patch graft. Clinical examination of the patch graft showed no apparent abnormalities. Macroscopic examination conducted during autopsy showed that the patch graft maintained adequate elasticity for five months after suturing, the surface of the patch graft was covered with a thin membrane and neovascularization was observed. Histological examination showed that the surface of the patch graft was covered with a thin membrane. Inflammatory tissue reactions were observed at one month, but gradually decreased from the second month onwards. In addition, the patch graft had excellent tissue affinity.     

Changes in neuropeptide-containing nerves in human colonic mucosa with inflammatory bowel disease

The distribution abnormality of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing nerves (VIP-nerves) and substance P-containing nerves (SP-nerves) was immunohistochemically investigated in the colonic mucosa with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in relation to colonic glands and blood vessels in the lamina propria. In active ulcerative colitis (UC), VIP- and SP-nerves decreased in severe inflammatory lesions. VIP-nerves were almost absent particularly around crypt abscesses. Even in resolving and quiescent UC, VIP-nerves still decreased, depending on the decrease of glands and blood vessels. On the other hand, both nerves increased in some hypervascular lesions. In the uninvolved mucosa of UC, they did not change their distribution. In Crohn's disease, the distribution abnormality of both nerves resembled that of UC. These results suggest that the changes in VIP- and SP-nerve distributions in the mucosa with IBD are subsequent to mucosal inflammation and damage. However, these peptides are known to be immunoregulators, and their distribution abnormalities may induce the disorder of immunoregulation in the IBD mucosa and cause the mucosal damage and/or chronicity.     

A 0.65-ns, 72-kb ECL-CMOS RAM macro for a 1-Mb SRAM

An ultrahigh-speed 72-kb ECL-CMOS RAM macro for a 1-Mb SRAM with 0.65-ns address-access time, 0.80-ns write-pulse width, and 30.24-μm ² memory cells has been developed using 0.3-μm BiCMOS technology. Two key techniques for achieving ultrahigh speed are an ECL decoder/driver circuit with a BiCMOS inverter and a write-pulse generator with a replica memory cell. These circuit techniques can reduce access time and write-pulse width of the 72-kb RAM macro to 71% and 58% of those of RAM macros with conventional circuits. In order to reduce crosstalk noise for CMOS memory-cell arrays driven at extremely high speeds, a twisted bit-line structure with a normally on MOS equalizer is proposed. These techniques are especially useful for realizing ultrahigh-speed, high-density SRAM's, which have been used as cache and control storages in mainframe computers     

Electrophysiological effects of ketamine on Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel in single rabbit portal vein cell

The effects of ketamine on Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel currents were studied in dispersed single smooth muscle cells from rabbit portal vein using inside-out patch clamp technique. In a near physiological K+ and Ca2+ gradient, three populations of outward rectangular single currents were recorded in isolated cell membrane of rabbit portal vein at +60 mV membrane potential. These currents were judged as Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel currents since application of EGTA or Apamin in the internal solution inhibited these currents. Application of 10(-5)M or 10(-4)M ketamine inhibited the number of occurrences of channel opening and decreased open times, but did not reduce the amplitudes. When the 10(-3)M ketamine was applied, the Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel currents were abolished. We suggest that the depression of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel currents may explain the continuous contraction observed in rabbit portal vein at a clinical concentration of ketamine from a point of electrophysiological K+ current study.     

Simultaneous measurements of specific heat and total hemispherical emissivity of chromel and alumel by a transient calorimetric technique

Using a transient calorimetric technique, the specific heat and total hemispherical emissivity of chromel and alumel were measured simultaneously in the temperature range 360–760 K. Two types of specimens for each material were prepared. To obtain reliable experimental values of specific heat and total hemispherical emissivity, an expression for the time history of the temperature of the specimens was developed; this expression is accurate over the whole temperature range. An error analysis is made and the uncertainty (the total error) in the values of specific heat and total hemispherical emissivity is estimated to be 3.1% for the well-designed specimens.

     

Efficacy of epidural analgesia in minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery

Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery (MIDCAB), coronary bypass grafting with small thoracotomy using no cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), became popular recently. To attenuate perioperative stress-response, we used epidural analgesia (EPI) with general anesthesia for MIDCAB operation. In this study, we compared retrospectively 11 cases of MIDCAB managed with EPI [ED (+)], and 14 cases of MIDCAB anesthetized without using EPI [ED (-)], concerning extubation time, ICU stay, hospital stay and perioperative complications. The mean time from cessation of general anesthesia to extubation was significantly shorter in ED (+) patients (0.5 hours) when compared to ED (-) patients (18.2 hours). Mean periods of ICU stay and hospital stay were, also, shorter in ED (+) patients (2.1 days, 30.5 days, respectively) when compared to ED (-) (4.3 days, 45.1 days, respectively) patients. We experienced ventricular tachycardia in three patients of ED (-). No major complication occurred in ED (+) patients. These results suggest that EPI shortened extubation time, ICU and hospital stay for MIDCAB patients.     

Immunogenetics of episcleritis in leprosy

BACKGROUND: Neurenteric cysts are rare endothelium-lined structures. Two patients with symptomatic neurenteric cysts at the craniovertebral junction are presented. CASE PRESENTATION: Intermittent progression of neurologic symptoms delayed diagnosis for both patients. In one case, marked enlargement of the cyst was detected on serial imaging studies, and pathological examination of the excised lesion indicated rupture of the cyst. These cysts were totally resected by transoral or suboccipital approaches, as they were not firmly adherent to surrounding neural structures. The diagnosis of neurenteric cyst was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis of the cyst wall. CONCLUSION: In view of the clinical course of these patients, we recommend early surgical resection of neurenteric cysts located at the craniovertebral junction.