Opiliofauna (ARACHNIDA: OPILIONES) of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Paraná, Brazil.

Opiliones are arachnids that provide different services in terrestrial ecosystems, especially in tropical forests, which justifies inventory studies to better understand the occurrence and distribution of these arthropods in Brazil, since little is known about the harvestmen fauna in Conservation Units such as in the state of Paraná. In this context, the objective of the present study was to survey the harvestmen fauna at the Iguaçu National Park (PARNA) and in the Bela Vista Biological Refuge (BVBR), from September 2021 to May 2022, using a sampling effort of 40 hours in the BVBR, and 66 hours at the PARNA Iguaçu. Ten species/morphospecies were recorded, highlighting a new occurrence for Brazil, the species Opisthoplatus vegetus. The present study reduces the information gap about Opiliones in the state, which reaffirms the importance of Conservation Units for the protection of the biota in the state of Paraná.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency during neurodevelopment in mice models the prodromal state of schizophrenia through epigenetic changes in nuclear receptor genes.

The risk of schizophrenia is increased in offspring whose mothers experience malnutrition during pregnancy. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are dietary components that are crucial for the structural and functional integrity of neural cells, and PUFA deficiency has been shown to be a risk factor for schizophrenia. Here, we show that gestational and early postnatal dietary deprivation of two PUFAs-arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-elicited schizophrenia-like phenotypes in mouse offspring at adulthood. In the PUFA-deprived mouse group, we observed lower motivation and higher sensitivity to a hallucinogenic drug resembling the prodromal symptoms in schizophrenia. Furthermore, a working-memory task-evoked hyper-neuronal activity in the medial prefrontal cortex was also observed, along with the downregulation of genes in the prefrontal cortex involved in oligodendrocyte integrity and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system. Regulation of these genes was mediated by the nuclear receptor genes Rxr and Ppar, whose promoters were hyper-methylated by the deprivation of dietary AA and DHA. In addition, the RXR agonist bexarotene upregulated oligodendrocyte- and GABA-related gene expression and suppressed the sensitivity of mice to the hallucinogenic drug. Notably, the expression of these nuclear receptor genes were also downregulated in hair-follicle cells from schizophrenia patients. These results suggest that PUFA deficiency during the early neurodevelopmental period in mice could model the prodromal state of schizophrenia through changes in the epigenetic regulation of nuclear receptor genes.

Exfoliation of Helicobacter pylori from gastric mucin by glycopolypeptides from buttermilk.

In the human stomach, Helicobacter pylori, an ulcer pathogenic bacterium, colonizes the gastric mucosal layer primarily. The ability of glycopolypeptides (GPP) prepared from buttermilk to exfoliate H. pylori bound to gastric mucin was investigated. The GPP were prepared from buttermilk by digestion with trypsin, papain, pancreatin, bromelain, or pepsin. Helicobacter pylori ATCC 43504T and 43579 adhered more strongly to all of the GPP tested than to whole buttermilk, the soluble fraction of buttermilk, gastric mucin prepared from mouse stomach, or commercial pig gastric mucin. The GPP digested with trypsin, papain, or pancreatin were significantly more adherent. When the GPP concentration was 10 mg/mL, bound H. pylori ATCC 43504T, 43579, and 5 clinical isolates were exfoliated markedly from immobilized porcine gastric mucin following treatment with GPP digested with trypsin or pancreatin. This ability of GPP did not correlate with sialic acid content, indicating that sialic acid content is not important in the exfoliation of this microorganism. Such an ability may depend on the structure or number of sugar chains, or the position of sialic acid. We conclude that GPP promote the exfoliation of H. pylori bound to gastric mucin and prevent the de novo adherence of this microorganism. As such, GPP are a promising food material for preventing H. pylori infection.

EP1 and EP4 receptors mediate exocytosis evoked by prostaglandin E(2) in guinea-pig antral mucous cells.

Effects of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) on exocytosis of mucin were studied in mucous cells isolated from guinea-pig antrum using video-microscopy. Stimulation with PGE(2) elicited a sustained increase in the frequency of exocytotic events in a dose-dependent manner, which was under regulation by both Ca(2+) and cAMP. Stimulation with a selective prostanoid EP4 receptor agonist (ONO-AEI-329, 10 microM), which activates cAMP signals, elicited a sustained increase in the frequency of exocytotic events (30 % of that evoked by 1 microM PGE(2)). Stimulation with an EP1 agonist (17-P-T-PGE(2), 1 microM), which activates Ca(2+) signals, increased the frequency of exocytotic events to a lesser extent (5 % of that evoked by 1 microM PGE(2)), while addition of an EP1 antagonist (ONO-8713, 10 microM) decreased the frequency of exocytotic events (approximately 40 % of that evoked by 1 microM PGE(2)). However, addition of the EP1 agonist potentiated the frequency of exocytotic events evoked by the EP4 agonist or forskolin (which elevates cAMP levels) and increased the sensitivity of the exocytotic events to forskolin. These results suggest that the Ca(2+) signal activated via the EP1 receptor potentiates the cAMP-regulated exocytotic events activated via the EP4 receptor during PGE(2) stimulation, by increasing the sensitivity of the exocytotic response to cAMP. In conclusion, exocytotic events in PGE(2)-stimulated antral mucous cells were regulated by interactions between EP1 and EP4 receptors. Experimental Physiology (2001) 86.4, 451-460.

[Na+]i, [K+]i and [Cl-]i regulation of exocytosis in guinea-pig antral mucous cells.

Effects of intracellular Na+, K+ and Cl- on Ca(2+)-regulated exocytosis activated by 10 microM acetylcholine (ACh) were studied in guinea-pig antral mucous cells which are permeabilized by nystatin treatment. Ca(2+)-regulated exocytotic events were modulated by [Na+]i, [K+]i and [Cl-]i via mediation of PTX-sensitive G proteins. Increases in [Na+]i and PTX inhibit G protein (G(Na)), which suppressed the exocytosis. Increases in [K+]i caused the exchange of G proteins (from G(Na) to G(K)) to increase, and GK evoked activation of the exocytosis and was inhibited by PTX. Increases in [Cl-]i and PTX inhibit G protein (G(Cl)), which stimulates exocytotic events. Based on these observations, the exocytosis in antral mucous cells were modulated by intracellular ions, concentration of which were increased or decreased by cell volume changes caused by Ach.

Breath and blood ammonia in liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hyperammonemia causes dysfunction of multiple organs in patients with cirrhosis, including hepatic encephalopathy. Blood ammonia concentrations are monitored with respect to disease progression and efficacy of treatment. Fetor hepaticus, the characteristic breath odor in hepatic encephalopathy has called little quantitative attention to breath ammonia. We studied the dynamics of ammonia metabolism in cirrhosis in terms of the relationship between breath and blood ammonia. METHODOLOGY: Breath and blood ammonia levels were measured simultaneously in 20 cirrhotic patients and in 10 healthy volunteers. Breath ammonia was measured using ammonia electrodes in collected expired air. Helicobacter pylori serum antibody titers were also measured, since the organism produces ammonia. RESULTS: Blood ammonia correlated positively with breath ammonia in patients with cirrhosis. Breath ammonia levels were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients (0.745 ppm) than in controls (0.278 ppm), and higher in cirrhotic patients with hyperammonemia (0.997 ppm) than in those without (0.558 ppm). Breath and blood ammonia decreased together with treatment of hyperammonemia. H. pylori seropositivity was 20% in controls, 27.3% in cirrhotic patients with normal blood ammonia, and 66.7% in those with hyperammonemia. CONCLUSIONS: Breath ammonia measurement may be useful in diagnosis, treatment assessment, and follow-up in hepatic encephalopathy.

Alteration of colonic mucin after ureterosigmoidostomy.

PURPOSE: Patients undergoing urinary diversion by ureterosigmoidostomy after complete cystectomy for malignant bladder tumors show a high incidence of neoplasia at and near the site of anastomosis. We examined a risk factor for tumor occurrence in the area of anastomosis, alterations of mucus glycoproteins in the surrounding colonic mucosa. METHODS: Colonoscopy was performed in 37 patients who had undergone ureterosigmoidostomy. Biopsy specimens were obtained near the ureteral anastomosis and were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, high iron-diamine alcian blue (pH 2.5), and a fluorescent lectin conjugate (peanut agglutinin). RESULTS: At the anastomotic site colonoscopy showed protruding lesions in 26 of 37 patients (71 percent), all histologically representing inflammatory granulomas. The mucosa around the anastomosis was normal in endoscopic appearance; however, histologically, slight inflammatory cell infiltration, edema, and increased numbers of Paneth cells were observed. Alcian blue staining revealed an increase in mucosal sialomucin postoperatively compared with preoperatively. The proportion of peanut agglutinin-binding mucin, not observed in normal mucosa but seen in malignant or premalignant tissue, was increased. CONCLUSION: As postoperative interval increases, changes in properties of the "background" mucosa become greater, which suggests an association with colonic carcinogenesis.

Inhibition of Ca(2+) entry caused by depolarization in acetylcholine-stimulated antral mucous cells of guinea pig: G protein regulation of Ca(2+) permeable channels.

The effects of depolarizing conditions resulting from increasing extracellular K(+) concentration or nystatin treatment on intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) were studied in guinea pig antral mucous cells following acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation. ACh stimulation evoked a biphasic increase in [Ca(2+)](i), that is, an initial transient increase followed by a plateau. Depolarizing conditions reduced the [Ca(2+)](i) in the plateau phase during ACh stimulation. However, pertussis toxin (PTX, a G protein inhibitor) treatment caused [Ca(2+)](i) in the ACh-evoked plateau phase to increase under depolarizing conditions, while it had no effect on [Ca(2+)](i) under hyperpolarized conditions. Based on these observations, Ca(2+) permeable channels are regulated by a G protein which is activated by depolarized conditions and inhibited by hyperpolarized conditions and PTX; activation of the G protein (depolarization) causes Ca(2+) permeable channels to inhibit, and in turn, inhibition of the G protein (hyperpolarization) causes them to activate.

[A case of gastric carcinoma treated effectively with 5'-DFUR].

A 79-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for further examination on gastric carcinoma (1' type) in the cardia. The histology of biopsied tissue was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (tub2). The patient refused a gastrectomy and received three cycles of local injection therapy with OK-432 + Beriplast into the tumor. However, the tumor showed no decrease in size. Considering the quality of life, the patient was given out patient treatment with 5'-DFUR (Furtulon, 800 mg/day). Three months later, the patient showed a partial response (PR) on the basis of gastric X-ray and endoscopic findings. No adverse reactions to the drug were seen. The patient has been receiving the same drug since then, and has continued to show PR for 15 months. Biopsied tissues were checked immunohistochemically for expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TdRPase), and changes in tissue TdRPase level were examined by ELISA. The TdRPase level decreased with shrinking of the tumor. These results suggest that the shrinking of tumor following 5'-DFUR therapy is closely related to TdRPase.

Effect of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy on circulation in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in the elderly is increasingly becoming more common, despite the possibility that a minimal load on the circulation can cause serious complications such as shock and cardiac arrest. OBJECTIVE: The effects of endoscopy on the heart and the possibility of predicting circulatory accidents were studied using natriuretic peptide levels. METHODS: The patients were randomly chosen according to their age and divided into an elderly group (over 60 years of age, 64 patients) and a young group (under 30 years of age, 20 patients). The patients in the elderly group were further subdivided into two groups based on the presence or absence of circulatory complications (46 patients with circulatory complications and 18 without complications). The load on the heart was evaluated by measuring human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) and human brain natriuretic peptide (hBNP) which are secreted by the myocardial cells in response to cardiac load. Specimens were obtained before and after endoscopy. RESULTS: The hANP level was significantly higher after endoscopy in the elderly group, regardless of the presence or absence of circulatory complications. No significant difference was observed in the hBNP level. No significant increase in hANP or hBNP levels was observed after endoscopy in the young group. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest an increased atrial load during endoscopy in the elderly. The increase in pulse rate during endoscopy is one possible cause of atrial load. Therefore, the risk of circulatory system damage must be recognized when endoscopy is performed in the elderly. The measurement of plasma hANP and hBNP levels may provide effective indices for evaluating cardiac load during endoscopy.

Isosmotic modulation of Ca2+-regulated exocytosis in guinea-pig antral mucous cells: role of cell volume.

1. Exocytotic events and changes of cell volume in mucous cells from guinea-pig antrum were examined by video-enhanced optical microscopy. 2. Acetylcholine (ACh) evoked exocytotic events following cell shrinkage, the frequency and extent of which depended on the ACh concentration. ACh actions were mimicked by ionomycin and thapsigargin, and inhibited by Ca2+-free solution and Ca2+ channel blockers (Ni2+, Cd2+ and nifedipine). Application of 100 microM W-7, a calmodulin inhibitor, also inhibited the ACh-induced exocytotic events. These results indicate that ACh actions are mediated by intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in antral mucous cells. 3. The effects of ion channel blockers on exocytotic events and cell shrinkage evoked by ACh were examined. Inhibition of KCl release (quinine, Ba2+, NPPB or KCl solution) suppressed both the exocytotic events and cell shrinkage evoked by ACh. 4. Bumetanide (inhibition of NaCl entry) or Cl--free solution (increasing Cl- release and inhibition of NaCl entry) evoked exocytotic events following cell shrinkage in unstimulated antral mucous cells and caused further cell shrinkage and increases in the frequency of exocytotic events in ACh-stimulated cells. However, Cl--free solution did not evoke exocytotic events in unstimulated cells in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, although cell shrinkage occurred. 5. To examine the effects of cell volume on ACh-evoked exocytosis, the cell volume was altered by increasing the extracellular K+ concentration. The results showed that cell shrinkage increases the frequency of ACh-evoked exocytotic events and cell swelling decreases them. 6. Osmotic shrinkage or swelling caused the frequency of ACh-evoked exocytotic events to increase. This suggests that the effects of cell volume on ACh-evoked exocytosis under anisosmotic conditions may not be the same as those under isosmotic conditions. 7. In antral mucous cells, Ca2+-regulated exocytosis is modulated by cell shrinkage under isosmotic conditions.

Persistently increased gastrin and decreased pepsinogen concentrations in serum from some patients with Graves' disease of triiodothyronine-predominant type and common type.

This study aimed to investigate the cause of persistently increased serum gastrin concentration seen in some Graves' disease patients even when euthyroid during antithyroid drug treatment. The subjects studied consisted of three groups: 33 patients with a common-type of Graves' disease, 14 with triiodothyronine (T3)-predominant Graves' disease (characterized from previous studies as having potent immunologic abnormalities including greater concentrations of thyroid-stimulating antibodies together with larger goiter size), and a group of 20 normal subjects. Fasting serum gastrin concentrations in common Graves' disease patients were significantly higher than those of normal subjects (58.4 +/- 38.9 pmol/L vs. 37.8 +/- 18.9 pmol/L [mean +/- SD], p < 0.05). The serum gastrin concentrations were even greater in T3-predominant Graves' disease patients than common Graves' disease patients (162.9 +/- 224.0 pmol/L vs. 58.4 +/- 38.9 pmol/L, p < .05). Serum pepsinogen I (PGI) concentrations were significantly lower in the T3-predominant patient group than the common Graves' group (24.0 +/- 12.9 ng/mL vs. 39.7 +/- 19.6 ng/mL, p < .05). Serum ratios of PG I to PG II were significantly lower in the T3-predominant Graves' disease patients than normal subjects (3.59 +/- 2.66 vs. 5.97 +/- 1.56, p < .01). The ratios also had a significant (p < .05) inverse correlation with serum gastrin concentrations in T3-predominant Graves' disease patients. The results suggest that autoimmune gastritis is associated with Graves' disease, particularly in patients with potent thyroid-autoimmunity.

Comparison of lidocaine with and without bupivacaine for local dental anesthesia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a combination of bupivacaine and lidocaine and that of lidocaine alone for local dental anesthesia. First, on different days, healthy volunteers were given 2% lidocaine with 1/80,000 epinephrine or 2% lidocaine with 1/80,000 epinephrine + 0.5% bupivacaine, after which pain was produced with a pulp tester. No difference was found in the time until onset of anesthetic effect between the preparations. However, the duration of anesthetic effect was longer with both lidocaine and bupivacaine than with lidocaine alone. Next, patients undergoing dental surgery were given one of the anesthetic preparations, after which serum concentrations of the anesthetics and epinephrine were measured. The maximal serum concentration of lidocaine was higher and was reached sooner after injection in patients receiving lidocaine alone (1.74 microgram/ml after 5 min) than in patients receiving both anesthetics (0.85 microgram/ml after 3 min). The mean maximal serum concentration of lidocaine was higher in patients receiving lidocaine alone (1.77 +/- 0.03 microgram/ml) than in those receiving both anesthetics (0.99 +/- 0.45 microgram/ml). Furthermore, the mean plasma concentration of epinephrine 1 min after injection was significantly higher in patients receiving lidocaine alone (0.671 ng/ml) than in patients receiving both lidocaine and bupivacaine (0.323 ng/ml). The results of this study suggest that the combination of lidocaine with epinephrine and bupivacaine produces lower systemic levels of the anesthetic and epinephrine and a longer duration of activity than lidocaine with epinephrine alone for local dental anesthesia.

[The effects of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy on the circulatory system of elderly patients as evaluated by measuring hANP and hBNP].

Endoscopic examinations of the elderly have been increasing annually due to increase in the size of the elderly population, and due to the development and increased use of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The reserve potential of the circulatory system is frequently diminished in the elderly. Thus, a minimal load on the circulatory system can induce a critical status. Therefore, the effects of endoscopic examination on the circulation, most notably on the heart itself, was examined in the elderly (over 60 years old) and in younger (under 30 years old) individuals. Atrial and ventricular load were evaluated by measuring the concentration of human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) and human brain natriuretic peptide (hBNP), both before and after endoscopic examination. These peptides are secreted by myocardial cells in reaction to sharp increases in cardiac load. No significant difference was observed between the blood pressure of the elderly group (21 cases) and that of the young group (10 cases), either before or after endoscopic examination. However, the pulse rate was raised significantly after the examination in both groups. Furthermore, the hANP concentration was significantly higher after the endoscopic examination in the elderly group, although no notable difference in hBNP concentration was observed after endoscopy. In the younger group, the hANP concentration did not change significantly, but the hBNP concentration was notably lower after the examination. Increased atrial load during endoscopic examination of the elderly was indicated by these observations. Therefore, overall patients status must be correctly evaluated, with particular recognition of potential circulatory system damage, when endoscopic examinations are performed on the elderly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of acid secretagogues on mucin synthesis using primary monolayer culture of the guinea pig gastric mucous cells.

Mucin plays a principal role in protecting the gastric mucosa against injury. We investigated the effect of acid secretagogues on mucin synthesis using a primary gastric mucous cell monolayer culture system of guinea pig. Significant increases in mucin synthesis were observed in response to the secretagogues pentagastrin (10(-8)M, 10(-7)M) and carbachol (10(-4)M, 10(-3)M), but not to histamine. After pretreatment with indomethacin (10(-5)M), 10(-8)M pentagastrin significantly increased mucin synthesis to 125.6 +/- 3.9%, but carbachol did not. Prostaglandin E2 release into the culture medium was significantly increased by 10(-4)M carbachol to 118.0 +/- 5.9%, but there was no change after application of pentagastrin. These findings suggest that pentagastrin and carbachol may act directly on mucous cells, and that part of the mucin synthesis-promoting action of carbachol is mediated by prostaglandins. There were no changes in intracellular cAMP concentration after the addition of these acid secretagogues. However, calcium ionophore (A23187) produced an increase in mucin synthesis, suggesting a Ca++ involvement in mucin synthesis. No differences were found in the sugar side chain structures of newly synthesized mucin glycoprotein as a result of exposure to acid secretagogues by histochemical or biochemical methods using lectins.

Kimura's disease (angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) associated with ulcerative colitis.

We treated a 35-year-old Japanese woman who had Kimura's disease associated with ulcerative colitis. Kimura's disease is an uncommon chronic inflammatory disease considered to be of allergic origin based on the presence of eosinophilia and IgE hyperimmunoglobulinemia, and may be a manifestation of a systemic immunologic disturbance. Some immunological complications such as nephrotic syndrome have been reported in association with Kimura's disease, but the present case is the first associated with ulcerative colitis.

Determination of free N-acetylamino acids in biological samples and N-terminal acetylamino acids of proteins.

N-Acetylamino acids were derivatized with 9-anthryldiazomethane to the corresponding esters. The anthryl esters were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and detected fluorimetrically (excitation at 365 nm; fluorescence emission measured at 412 nm). N-Acetyl derivatives of Asn, Gln, Ser, Thr, Gly, Ala, Tyr, Pro, Met, Val, Ile and Leu as well as N-formyl-Met could be separated and identified in the same chromatographic run. The detection limit was from 0.10 pmol for AcGln to 5.5 pmol for AcIle and AcLeu. When the acetylamino acids listed above were added to the 700 g supernatant of a rat liver homogenate, the mean recovery was 72%. AcAla and AcTyr were found in free form in baker's yeast. Proteins with an acetylated N-terminus were digested by a protease, and the peptides formed were treated with an N-acylamino acid-releasing enzyme. This method was applied to end-group determination of four proteins (each 0.5 nmol).

Report of a case of Crohn's disease associated with hyper-creatine phosphokinase-emia.

A young male patient with myositis associated with Crohn's disease is reported. His serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level was markedly elevated, but he had no muscle symptoms. The serum CPK level was not correlated with the activity of Crohn's disease. Muscle biopsy showed myositis with only degeneration of the muscle fibers and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The etiology of myositis in this case was not clear. Diagnosis of myositis based on a muscle biopsy in patients with Crohn's disease showing an elevated serum CPK level without any discernible cause has not been reported previously. Careful attention to the serum CPK and muscle symptoms in patients with Crohn's disease is suggested.