Changes in molecular weight of hyaluronan and hyaluronidase activity in uterine cervical mucus in cervical ripening.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to investigate changes in the forms of hyaluronan and hyaluronidase activity in cervical mucus during cervical ripening. METHODS: Uterine cervical mucus was obtained from 57 pregnant women (25 at preterm gestation, ten at term gestation, 11 within 1 week before labor, and 11 during the first stage of labor). We determined 1) concentration of hyaluronan, 2) hyaluronidase activity, and 3) molecular weight of hyaluronan in cervical mucus. Data are presented as mean and range. RESULTS: The hyaluronan concentration in mucus in the 1st stage of labor (1.58 microg/ml, 0.46-23.96) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in all other groups (preterm: 0.29, 0.10-0.88; term: 0.24, 0.11-0.80; within 1 week before labor: 0.30, 0.18-0.62). Hyaluronidase activity both within 1 week before labor group (3.03 min., 1.12-3.95) and in 1st stage of labor group (3.52, 0.43-5.15) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in preterm group (1.70, 0.00-5.47). The molecular weight of hyaluronan in cervical mucus in the 1st stage of labor (0.97x106, 0.86-1.41) was significantly (p<0.05) lower than in the preterm and term groups (preterm: 1.60, 1.21-2.20, term: 1.41, 1.21-2.20). There was a significant correlation between hyaluronidase activity and molecular weight of hyaluronan (p<0.05, r=-0.41, n=23). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that either hyaluronidase or low-molecular weight hyaluronan could be one of the most important regulators in the process of cervical ripening.

Effect of reactive oxygen species on fetal lung maturation.

OBJECTIVES: Fetal lung maturation in preterm infants with chorioamnionitis is known to be accelerated. However, the molecular basis of this pathological acceleration has not been elucidated. We investigated whether reactive oxygen species play a role in the acceleration of fetal lung maturation. STUDY DESIGN: On the 16th day of gestation, xanthine (1mM) and xanthine oxidase solution (0.1-100mU/ml) were injected into the intrauterine cavity of pregnant rats. On the 19th day of gestation, we examined the expression of the mRNA of surfactant associated proteins A, B and C (sp-A, sp-B and sp-C) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: sp-A, sp-B and sp-C mRNAs were observed in lung tissue from fetal rats stimulated by xanthine-xanthine oxidase in contrast to the control. CONCLUSION: Reactive oxygen species in amniotic fluid might be an important factor in accelerated fetal lung maturation associated with chorioamnionitis in the rat experimental model.

Does chondroitin sulfate defend the human uterine cervix against ripening in threatened premature labor?

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate changes in chondroitin sulfate levels in the cervix and the physiologic role of chondroitin sulfate isomers in the process of cervical ripening. STUDY DESIGN: Uterine cervical mucus samples were obtained from 57 women (7 nonpregnant women, 19 at preterm gestation, 9 at term gestation, 16 during the first stage of term labor, and 6 with threatened premature labor). Chondroitin sulfate isomer (chondroitin 0-sulfate, 4-sulfate, and 6-sulfate) concentrations in cervical mucus were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The effect of exogenous chondroitin sulfate on hyaluronidase activity in cervical mucus was evaluated by gel permeation chromatography of fluorolabeled hyaluronic acid. RESULTS: Chondroitin sulfate concentrations in cervical mucus were increased significantly (P <. 05) in the threatened premature labor group compared with the preterm and term groups. However, the same finding was not observed in the first stage of term labor. Exogenous chondroitin sulfate inhibited hyaluronidase activity in mucus. CONCLUSION: Chondroitin sulfate may defend against cervical ripening in threatened premature labor.

New synthetic routes to biscarbonylbipyridinerhenium(I) complexes cis,trans-[Re(X2bpy)(CO)2(PR3)(Y)n+ (X2bpy = 4,4'-X2-2,2'-bipyridine) via photochemical ligand substitution reactions, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties.

Photochemical ligand substitution of fac-[Re(X2bpy)(CO)3(PR3)]+ (X2bpy = 4,4'-X2-2,2'-bipyridine; X = Me, H, CF3; R = OEt, Ph) with acetonitrile quantitatively gave a new class of biscarbonyl complexes, cis,trans[Re(X2bpy)(CO)2(PR3)(MeCN)]+, coordinated with four different kinds of ligands. Similarly, other biscarbonylrhenium complexes, cis,trans-[Re(X2bpy)(CO)2(PR3)(Y)]n+ (n = 0, Y = Cl-; n = 1, Y = pyridine, PR'3), were synthesized in good yields via photochemical ligand substitution reactions. The structure of cis,trans-[Re(Me2bpy)(CO)2[P(OEt)3](PPh3)](PF6) was determined by X-ray analysis. Crystal data: C38H42N2O5F6P3Re, monoclinic, P2(1/a), a = 11.592(1) A, b = 30.953(4) A, c = 11.799(2) A, V = 4221.6(1) A3, Z = 4, 7813 reflections, R = 0.066. The biscarbonyl complexes with two phosphorus ligands were strongly emissive from their 3MLCT state with lifetimes of 20-640 ns in fluid solutions at room temperature. Only weak or no emission was observed in the cases Y = Cl-, MeCN, and pyridine. Electrochemical reduction of the biscarbonyl complexes with Y = Cl- and pyridine in MeCN resulted in efficient ligand substitution to give the solvento complexes cis,trans-[Re(X2bpy)(CO)2(PR3)(MeCN)]+.

The role of cytokines in cervical ripening: correlations between the concentrations of cytokines and hyaluronic acid in cervical mucus and the induction of hyaluronic acid production by inflammatory cytokines by human cervical fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was (1) to explain the relationship between levels of inflammatory cytokines and levels of hyaluronic acid in cervical mucus of pregnant women and (2) to investigate whether cytokines promote hyaluronic acid production by human cervical fibroblasts in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: The concentration of hyaluronic acid, interleukin-1beta, and interleukin-8 were measured in cervical mucus of pregnant women, and hyaluronic acid production by cytokine-treated (interleukin-1beta and interleukin-8) cultured fibroblasts was measured. RESULTS: Hyaluronic acid concentrations in the mucus of pregnant women with threatened premature labor were higher than in mucus of normal pregnant women (P < .05). Correlations were found between hyaluronic acid concentrations and interleukin-1beta (P = .018) and interleukin-8 (P = .003) concentrations in cervical mucus. Cytokines (especially interleukin-8) stimulated hyaluronic acid production by cultured cervical fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Cytokines induce hyaluronic acid production by human cervical fibroblasts, which may promote cervical ripening.

A case of pregnancy with adult T-cell leukemia.

The incidence of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) arising in women of childbearing age is documented infrequently. This report is the second in the world's literature of a case of ATL that occurred during pregnancy. A 43-year-old woman developed ATL during pregnancy and died of widespread disease 4 weeks after cesarean delivery.

[Pyomyositis of iliopsoas muscle with infection of renal cyst: a case report].

We report a case of pyomyositis of iliopsoas muscle with infection of renal cyst. A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of left lumbago, and we suspected that she had a left ureteral stone at first. Ultrasonogram and intravenous pyelography showed bilateral multilocular renal cyst and enlargement of the left iliopsoas muscle. Finally she was diagnosed with left pyomyositis of iliopsoas muscle with infection of renal cyst by ultrasonogram, computerized tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging. She had no complaints after she had received antibiotic therapy for a week.

[Prostatic carcinoma presenting as an abdominal mass: a case report].

Prostatic carcinoma presenting as an abdominal mass is a very rare disorder. A 64-year-old man was referred to our hospital with the chief complaint of a right lower abdominal mass on March 6, 1984. Physical examination revealed a firm, smooth, fixed, non-tender, pulseless fist size mass in the right lower abdomen. Rectal examination revealed an apple size, smooth and elastic firm prostate which had an induration. Needle biopsy of the prostate showed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. At first we regarded the abdominal mass as retroperitoneal tumor unassociated with prostatic carcinoma. After preoperative irradiation (20 Gy) to the pelvis, the abdominal mass was resected and bilateral orchiectomy was performed on April 11, 1984. The mass was histologically diagnosed as a metastatic lesion from prostatic carcinoma. On the basis of these findings, we considered the mass to be due to pelvic lymph node metastasis from prostatic carcinoma. His postoperative course was uneventful. In April 1991, he is still alive without evidence of recurrence or bone metastasis.

[Cavernous hemangioma of the spermatic cord: a case report].

Cavernous hemangioma of the spermatic cord is a very rare disorder. A 26-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with chief complaints of right intrascrotal mass and hematospermia on October 19, 1990. Physical examination revealed a hard, non-transilluminated mass in the right spermatic cord. The mass was resected via the groin. Pathological examination showed cavernous hemangioma. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. This is only the fourth case of cavernous hemangioma of the spermatic cord to be reported in the literature in Japan.

Intestinal absorption of choline in rats.

The intestinal absorption of choline, an endogenous quaternary ammonium, from the rat jejunum has been investigated with an in situ ligated loop method and an in vitro everted sac method. Choline was absorbed rapidly from the ligated jejunum and structural analogs inhibited choline absorption competitively. In in vitro experiments, choline was transported from the mucosal fluid to the intracellular fluid against a concentration gradient and the rate of tissue uptake was highly affected by incubation temperature, aerobic condition and the presence of a metabolic inhibitor, 2,4-dinitrophenol. The tissue accumulation of choline was saturable at concentrations below 100 microM and, above this concentration the uptake ratio of choline (medium to tissue) was almost constant. One mM hemicholinium-3, which is well known to inhibit choline uptake by neurons through the choline specific carrier, also significantly inhibited choline uptake, especially at concentrations of choline below 100 microM. The fact that the choline uptake is linear in the presence of hemicholinium-3 shows that choline is partially absorbed by passive diffusion. The difference between the total tissue accumulation and choline uptake by the passive diffusional pathway followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the apparent Kt of 47 microM and Vmax of 4.1 nmol/ml intracellular fluid/min were determined by an in vitro everted sac method. These findings suggested that, a lower concentrations, choline was absorbed from the rat intestine mainly by an active transport system.

The relation between structure and distribution of quaternary ammonium ions in mice and rats. Simple tetraalkylammonium and a series of m-substituted trimethylphenylammonium ions.

In order to determine the relationship between structure and distribution in mono-quaternary ammonium ions, the distribution of a series of 14C-labeled tetraalkylammonium and substituted trimethylanilinium ions in mice were comparatively studied by means of whole-body autoradiography and radioassay. The partition coefficient in n-octanol/water were also determined. With tetraalkylammonium, the concentration in blood and tissues decreased in the order of tetramethyl, tetraethyl and tetrapropylammonium, which was opposite to expectation based on their partition coefficient values, but was in the order of increasing steric hindrance at the cationic head. With substituted trimethylanilinium, the concentrations in the blood, skeletal and cardiac muscles, diaphragm and salivary gland after i.v. injection to mice increased in the order: m-NO2 less than Cl less than OCH3 less than H less than CH3. This did not coincide with the order of increasing the partition coefficients, but coincided with the decrease of the Hammett sigma-constants of the substituent. These results were interpreted on the basis of the assumption that the ion-pair formation of the cationic head with an anionic site of the tissue macromolecules played an important role in determining distribution. It was pointed out that although the lipophilic character of the molecule has been often cited as the most important factor determining the distribution of the drugs, the ionic character of the molecule or of the functional group can participate as a more important factor in determining tissue distribution.

Intestinal absorption of tetramethylammonium and its derivatives in rats.

The intestinal absorption of tetramethylammonium (TMA) and its derivatives from rat jejunum has been investigated with an in situ loop method and an in vitro everted sac method. At a low concentration, TMA was absorbed rapidly from the in situ intestinal lumen without being metabolized in the tissue and the rate of absorption was dependent upon the concentration used. The profile of TMA absorption included two processes, i.e. saturable and non-saturable. The absorption of TMA was inhibited competitively by analogs that have a N-trimethyl group in their structure. Among them, choline showed the strongest inhibition to TMA absorption. The inhibitory potency of these analogs was related to their chemical structure. Although TMA was not transported into the intracellular fluid of the everted intestine against a concentration gradient, the tissue accumulation of TMA was inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), a metabolic inhibitor, and was highly dependent upon the incubation temperature. These findings demonstrate that TMA is absorbed through the rat small intestine by a carrier mediated transport system. An apparent Kt of 0.73 mM and a maximum V of 11.5 nmol/g tissue wet wt/min were determined by an in situ loop method. It was also suggested that the endogenous quaternary ammonium compound, choline, might be absorbed by the same carrier system.

[Experimental investigation of the mechanism of propagation of the interdigestive migrating electric complex].

The following results were obtained from investigations of the mechanisms of propagation of the interdigestive migrating electric complex (IMEC) obtained by inducing action potential from dogs in a fasted conscious state according to anastomosis of the transected small intestine. The IMEC occurring on the oral side always showed normal continuous propagation in the stump of the blind loop with no anastomosis in the small intestine. Even in cases of transplantation of the small intestine in different parts of the same digestive tract during IMEC propagation, the IMEC skipped over this and propagation showed normal continuity. From the above results, it appears that the normal mechanism of propagation occurs with no relation to anastomosis of the small intestine, and movement of the intestinal contents also play no role. It is therefore assumed that coordination of the propagation of IMEC is via the exrinsic nervous system. When the distal small intestine was transected, the frequency of the IMEC was the same as the frequency of the distal BER and the velocity was also decreased. The transplanted small intestine maintained the normal propagation velocity after transection. New electric complexes were seen from the stump of the distal intestine and they migrated to the caudal side. From these results, it appears that the propagation of IMEC also occurs via nervous systems other than the extrinsic nervous system and that innervation by regulation of the extrinsic and intrinsic nervous system is involved in the propagation of IMEC.

[Experimental research on the interdigestive migrating electric complex after transection and anastomosis of the small intestine].

To study the motility functions after transection and anastomosis of the intestinal tract, the interdigestive action potential was induced experimentally and observed in the small intestines of conscious fasted dogs. When the intestinal tract was transected, the frequency gradient of the basic electric rhythm was disturbed even in cases of subsequent anastomosis. Differences arose in the frequency as upper and lower part of anastomosis, and it did not return to normal. The spike potential which appeared with the building up of the basic electric rhythm was propagated to the distal intestine in a normal course after transection of the intestinal tract according to observations centered on propagation of the IMEC. The propagation velocity of the IMEC gradually drops from the proximal jejunum toward the terminal ileum in the nonmanipulated intestine, while in the intestine undergoing transection and anastomosis, the velocity of propagation was reduced by half in the area of anastomosis, and tended to be even lower in cases of a double section and two anastomoses of the distal intestine. However, the total elapsed time in the small intestine was not extended by much. A new electric complex appeared from the stump of the distal intestine when the intestine was subjected to transection, and a stimulation which is involved in the appearance of the spike potential was formed.

Stimulation of protein and RNA synthesis by methylmercury chloride in the liver of intact and adrenalectomized rats.

(1) A single injection of methylmercury chloride in the rat (10-50 mg/kg) increased both in vivo and in vitro rates of 14C-leucine incorporation into the protein of the post-mitochondrial supernatant fraction of the liver. In contrast, no stimulation of protein synthesis was observed in the brain of the methylmercury-treated rats. (2) Methylmercury administration also stimulated RNA polymerase activities in isolated hepatic nuclei, stimulation of Mg-dependent activity being higher than that of Mn-dependent activity. (3) In experiments with adrenalectomized rats, it was found that the stimulatory effect of methylmercury on protein and RNA synthesis in the liver was mediated partly through the adrenal gland. (4) Analysis of serum by starch-block electrophoresis revealed that synthesis of all serum proteins, including albumin and alpha-gamma globulin fractions, was stimulated by methylmercury treatment. (5) These results suggest that the observed effects of methylmercury on the liver depend on mechanisms other than enhancement of the synthesis of acute-phase proteins.