Changes of hepatic vitronectin levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon alpha.

Hepatic vitronectin expression was assessed in 27 patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after interferon alpha treatment and in 7 control patients. Before interferon therapy, vitronectin was localized in the hepatocytes and in the portal and central venous regions. A high correlation was found for the vitronectin expression level with the histological grading and staging scores in the hepatocytes as well as in the portal region. After interferon therapy, the hepatic vitronectin was significantly decreased in the sustained and transient responders, but it was not as markedly decreased in the nonresponders and the non-treated group. A good correlation was found for the vitronectin expression with the staging scores but not with the grading scores in the portal region. These findings suggest that hepatic vitronectin is influenced by interferon therapy and that it may play an important role as a hepatic adhesion molecule through the improvement of inflammation, necrosis and fibrogenesis.

Changes in lymphoproliferation and DTH responses after vaccination immediately before surgery in puppies.

To clarify the effects of the presurgical vaccination canine parvovirus vaccine (CPV) on immunological responses to surgery in puppies, we assessed it by measuring the blastogenic responses of lymphocytes and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses after laparotomy in the non- and vaccinated puppies. The inhalation anesthetic used was isoflurane or halothane. In post-surgery, the blastogenic responses of lymphocytes in the non-vaccinated puppies decreased, especially, those in these puppies with halothane anesthesia (GOF) did significantly, and the duration of this decrease prolonged more than that in the non-vaccinated puppies with isoflurane anesthesia (GOI). However, the responses in the vaccinated puppies with each anesthesia didn't almost decrease below the presurgical levels. In GOI groups, the DTH responses in vaccinated puppies increased significantly over those in non-vaccinated ones, but in GOF groups, there were few differences between the DTH responses in the non- and vaccinated puppies. These results suggest that the CPV vaccination immediately before surgery possibly prevents the postsurgical immunosuppression, and that GOI may depress the immunocompetence less than GOF.

Effects of bathing in hot water on portal hemodynamics in healthy subjects and in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis.

Bathing in hot water induces vasodilatation of the peripheral vessels and alteration of blood distribution. Using a Doppler flowmeter, we evaluated the effect of bathing in hot water on portal hemodynamics. Eight controls and 8 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis remained immersed in hot water at 42 degrees C for 5 minutes. Portal flow significantly decreased from 811 +/- 141 (ml/min) at the baseline to 530 +/- 98 in the controls and from 855 +/- 308 to 642 +/- 208 in cirrhotics immediately after bathing. This decrease (25%) in cirrhotics was significantly less than that (35%) in controls because vessel diameter did not decrease as rapidly as it did in controls. Portal flow after 30 minutes returned to the baseline values in controls but remained low in cirrhotics. These findings suggest that cirrhotics have a lower hemodynamic response to bathing in hot water compared with that in controls.

Quantitative analysis of endometrial stromal cells including behavioral changes related to the menstrual cycle in smear specimens.

We aimed to obtain quantitative data regarding certain characteristics of stromal cells in smear specimens of normal endometrium, including the cytological changes associated with progression through the menstrual cycle. Eleven histological and 25 cytological specimens of normal endometrium were examined immunochemically using monoclonal antibodies to vimentin and keratin by streptavidin-biotin method. As a result, we decided to use the antibody to vimentin for the differential staining of endometrial smears: cells showing positive staining to vimentin were considered stromal cells. The quantitative nuclear measurements in the smear specimens revealed that the nuclei of endometrial stromal cells were more elongated and had a more dispersed distribution than the glandular cells in the proliferative phase. Although a part of the nuclei of stromal cells became rounder in shape in the secretory phase, they were larger in size than those of glandular cells.

[An inquiry into the factors affecting the complaints of subjective symptoms in VDT operators].

In a study of VDT workers the relationship between 1) their general life condition and working environment and 2) their eye, shoulder, neck, arm, waist and back complaints and their psychological symptoms was investigated. The subjects of the study were (147 workers whose age ranged from 18 to 39 years, and who had used VDT for a monthly average of more than 40 h. The results were as follows: 1) For most of the symptoms, a tendency was observed for females to complain more than males and for younger workers to complain more than the older workers. Neck, shoulder, arm, waist and back complaints were more common than psychological symptoms. These physical complaints appeared to be the most common among VDT workers. 2) The occurrence of eye-related symptoms is related to items directly affecting sight. This reaffirms the importance of illumination for the visual system. 3) This investigation showed that a relatively good VDT working environment was secured for the subjects of the present study. It is important that consideration be given to labor management such as provision of rest period and supervision.

Effect of oleic acid on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity.

Both Km and Vmax values of cytochrome c oxidase for cytochrome c were elevated in oleic acid-incorporated mitochondria, whereas the amount of oleic acid incorporated into submitochondrial particles was smaller than that into mitochondria and the fatty acid had little effect on the enzyme activity. The degree of change in the bulk membrane fluidity was, however, almost the same in mitochondria and submitochondrial particles. Solubilized cytochrome c oxidase was insensitive to the effect of oleic acid. Oleic acid may act as a modifier of the interaction between cytochrome c oxidase and membrane lipids.

A case of Déjerine-Sottas disease with schizophrenic symptoms. A clinical and pathological study.

A case of hypertrophic interstitial neuritis with a disturbance of intelligence and schizophrenic symptoms was reported. The patient, a 41-year-old male, showed monologia at the age of 14 and auditory hallucination at the age of 21. He was diagnosed as schizophrenia. Torsion of the head to the right side and muscular atrophy were also noticed at 21 years. Atrophy of the muscles progressed gradually, particularly in the distal parts of the upper and lower extremeties. Psychiatric examination revealed schizophrenic symptoms such as auditory hallucination, thought disorder, lack of spontaneity, autism, apathy, etc. There was also a disturbance of intelligence (imbecility). In neurological examination, the torsion of the head to the right side, slight exaggeration of the peripheral reflexes, muscular atrophy in the distal parts of the extremeties were noted. The bilateral ulnar nerves were markedly hypertrophied. The biopsy of the right ulnar nerve revealed a remarkable thickening of the endoneuria and "onion bulb" formations. A large amount of the interstitial accumulation of PAS positive substance, which showed metachromasia in cresyl violet staining, was also noted. Schwann cell processes were proved electron-microscopically to surround the myelin sheaths and some of them meandered and extended and into the metachromatic substance. The basement membrane of the sheath cell was hypertrophic in some portions and elongated into interstitium. The nucleus of the sheath cell was hyperchromic and showed marked atrophy. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen obtained from the gastrocnemius muscle suggested neurogenic muscular atrophy. The relationship among the hypertrophic interstitial neuritis, schizophrenic symptoms, disturbance of intelligence and torsion of the head was also discussed.