Marked Increase In Radioactivity Research Articles

Improvement of pain and regional osteoporotic changes in the foot and ankle by low-dose bisphosphonate therapy for complex regional pain syndrome type I: a case series

IntroductionComplex regional pain syndrome is characterized by pain, allodynia, hyperalgesia, edema, signs of vasomotor instability, movement disorders, joint stiffness, and regional osteopenia. It is recognized to be difficult to treat, despite various methods of treatment, including physiotherapy, calcitonin, corticosteroids, sympathetic blockade, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Pathophysiologically, complex regional pain syndrome reveals enhanced regional bone resorption and high bone turnover, and so bisphosphonates, which have a potent inhibitory effect on bone resorption, were proposed for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome.Case presentationA 48-year-old Japanese man with complex regional pain syndrome type I had severe right ankle pain with a visual analog scale score of 59 out of 100 regardless of treatment with physiotherapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for five months. Radiographs showed marked regional osteoporotic changes and bone scintigraphy revealed a marked increase in radioactivity in his ankle. One month after the start of oral administration of risedronate (2.5 mg per day), his bone pain had fallen from a VAS score of 59 out of 100 to 18 out of 100. Bone scintigraphy at 12 months showed a marked reduction in radioactivity to a level comparable to that in his normal, left ankle. On the basis of these results, the treatment was discontinued at 15 months. At 32 months, our patient had almost no pain and radiographic findings revealed that the regional osteoporotic change had returned to normal.A second 48-year-old Japanese man with complex regional pain syndrome type I had severe right foot pain with a visual analog scale score of 83 out of 100 regardless of treatment with physiotherapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for nine months. Radiographs showed regional osteoporotic change in his phalanges, metatarsals, and tarsals, and bone scintigraphy revealed a marked increase in radioactivity in his foot. One month after the start of oral administration of alendronate (35 mg per week), his bone pain had fallen from a visual analog scale score of 83 out of 100 to 30 out of 100 and, at nine months, was further reduced to 3 out of 100. The treatment was discontinued at 15 months because of successful pain reduction. At 30 months, our patient had no pain and the radiographic findings revealed marked improvement in regional osteoporotic changes.ConclusionsWe believe low-dose oral administration of bisphosphonate is worth considering for the treatment of idiopathic complex regional pain syndrome type I accompanied by regional osteoporotic change.

Ultrastructural observations and radiometric assay on cercarial penetration and migration of the digeneanDiplostomum spathaceum in the rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss

The entrance into host tissues by the cercaria of the digenean Diplostomum spathaceum and the parasite's migration to the eyes of the fish host (post-penetration larvae) were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy at the ultrastructural level and by a radiometric assay in experimentally infected rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). It was demonstrated that cercariae penetrated the host surface at several sites, although the major site involved the gill region. This observation was verified by the measurement of radioactivity in different regions of fish at intervals following their exposure to cercariae that had been radiolabeled with selenium in vivo. The migratory routes of the post-penetration-labeled cercariae (diplostomulum) were followed along with the distribution of radioactivity, which was altered with increasing time after exposure in the different regions of the host. A marked increase in radioactivity was noted, particularly in the eyes of the host, whereas the radiolabel decreased elsewhere. The results support the view that the cercariae of D. spathaceum contact the host by chance. The finding that the parasite mainly penetrates the host through the gills may be connected with fish ventilation hydrodynamics. The total amount of radioactivity retained in the fish gradually decreased with time, which may suggest that only a portion of the primarily attached cercariae actually penetrated the fish. The majority of the penetrating parasites reached the eyes of the host, where they became established as metacercariae within 24 h, thus indicating migration directed to the eye region. This is facilitated by the functional morphology of the migrating stage of D. spathaceum.

Intracellular protein changes during pentylenetetrazole induced bursting activity in snail neurons

The intracellular protein changes during pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced bursting activity (BA) which is characteristic of seizure discharge were investigated using microdisk electrophoresis with 5 identified neurons. The identified neurons of the snail, Euhadra peliomphada, were used. The PTZ-sensitive neurons which manifest marked BA by application of PTZ were examined. PTZ induced in PTZ-sensitive neurons: (1) a prominent increase of 5–7 kdalton protein and (2) peak separation into 3 peaks of 10–15 kdalton protein. In the 5–7 and 10–15 kdalton protein, a marked increase in radioactivity of 45Ca was observed after PTZ application. PTZ-non-sensitive neurons showed neither these protein changes nor 45Ca incorporation into these proteins. The above findings suggest that during PTZ-induced BA, intracellular protein changes occurred in relation to the intracellular calcium shift.

Metabolic, membrane, and functional responses of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes to platelet-activating factor

The phospholipid mediator of anaphylaxis, platelet-activating factor (PAF) is chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). We have examined this agent's effects on several other PMN functions. Human PMN were prepared from heparinized venous blood by Ficoll gradient. Metabolic burst was examined by measurement of O2 use and O2.- production in the presence or absence of PAF (10(-6)--10(-9) M). Unless cells were treated with cytochalasin-B (5 micrograms/ml), no significant respiratory burst was demonstrated. However, pretreatment with PAF (10(-7) M) enhanced approximately threefold the O2 utilization found when cells were subsequently stimulated with 10(-7) M FMLP. PAF also stimulated arachidonic acid metabolism in 14C-arachidonic acid- labeled PMN. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of chloroform-methanol extracts showed substances that comigrated with authentic 5- hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid had a marked increase in radioactivity following PAF stimulation at 10(-7) M. PAF failed to stimulate release of granule enzymes, B-glucuronidase, lysozyme, or myeloperoxidase unless cytochalasin-B were added. PAF from 10(-6) M to 10(-10) M affected PMN surface responses. PMN labeled with the fluorescent dye, chlorotetracycline, showed decreased fluorescence upon addition of PAF, suggesting translocation of membrane-bound cations. Further, the rate of migration of PMN in an electric field was decreased following PAF exposure, a change consistent with reduced cell surface charge. PMN self-aggregation and adherence to endothelial cells were both influenced by PAF (10(-6) M--10(-9) M). Aggregation was markedly stimulated by the compound, and the percent PMN adhering to endothelial cell monolayers increased almost twofold in the presence of 10(-8) M PAF. Thus, PAF promotes a variety of PMN responses: enhances respiratory burst, stimulates arachidonic acid turnover, alters cell membrane cation content and surface charge, and promotes PMN self- aggregation as well as adherence to endothelial cells.

Metabolic, Membrane, and Functional Responses of Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes to Platelet-Activating Factor

The phospholipid mediator of anaphylaxis, platelet-activating factor (PAF) is chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). We have examined this agent's effects on several other PMN functions. Human PMN were prepared from heparinized venous blood by Ficoll gradient. Metabolic burst was examined by measurement of O2 use and O2.- production in the presence or absence of PAF (10(-6)--10(-9) M). Unless cells were treated with cytochalasin-B (5 micrograms/ml), no significant respiratory burst was demonstrated. However, pretreatment with PAF (10(-7) M) enhanced approximately threefold the O2 utilization found when cells were subsequently stimulated with 10(-7) M FMLP. PAF also stimulated arachidonic acid metabolism in 14C-arachidonic acid-labeled PMN. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of chloroform-methanol extracts showed substances that comigrated with authentic 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid had a marked increase in radioactivity following PAF stimulation at 10(-7) M. PAF failed to stimulate release of granule enzymes, B-glucuronidase, lysozyme, or myeloperoxidase unless cytochalasin-B were added. PAF from 10(-6) M to 10(-10) M affected PMN surface responses. PMN labeled with the fluorescent dye, chlorotetracycline, showed decreased fluorescence upon addition of PAF, suggesting translocation of membrane-bound cations. Further, the rate of migration of PMN in an electric field was decreased following PAF exposure, a change consistent with reduced cell surface charge. PMN self-aggregation and adherence to endothelial cells were both influenced by PAF (10(-6) M--10(-9) M). Aggregation was markedly stimulated by the compound, and the percent PMN adhering to endothelial cell monolayers increased almost twofold in the presence of 10(-8) M PAF. Thus, PAF promotes a variety of PMN responses: enhances respiratory burst, stimulates arachidonic acid turnover, alters cell membrane cation content and surface charge, and promotes PMN self-aggregation as well as adherence to endothelial cells.

Long Distance Transport in Macrocystis integrifolia

Movement of THO and tritium-labeled photoassimilate was studied in intact fronds and frond cuttings of Macrocystis integrifolia following labeling of a mature blade by tritiated water. Both THO and tritium-labeled assimilate moved from the source blade to sink areas at velocities comparable to those recorded earlier for (14)C- and (32)P-labeled compounds. In intact fronds and frond cuttings, THO and tritium-labeled assimilate showed a declining gradient with increasing distance from the source. In the exudate collected from the basal cut end of the frond, there was a marked increase in radioactivity with time in the photoassimilate, but no such gradient was evident for THO. These results support the idea that, although both tritium-labeled assimilate and THO move in the sieve elements, THO is rapidly exchanged with water in the tissues surrounding the sieve elements. Finally, it is shown that THO is transported to the sink and there "unloaded"; indeed, it can move out of the plant itself. The data on velocity and directionality of transport as well as unloading of THO at the sink are discussed, along with computations on specific mass transfer, and favor the idea that Münch's pressure-flow hypothesis is applicable in Macrocystis for long distance translocation of photoassimilates.

Further characterization of Ca 2+-activated phospholipase A 2 in cat adrenal cortex

When cat adrenocortical cells were incubated with exogenous phospholipid substrate (autoclaved E. coli ) in the presence of corticotropin, there was a Ca 2+-dependent increase in phospholipid breakdown activity, suggesting that a hormone-stimulated phospholipase is localized to the plasma membrane. Phospholipase activity in a particulate fraction from lysed cells at neutral pH was a function of the Ca 2+ concentration. The addition of increasing Ca 2+ concentrations to a subcellular fraction of lysed cells which had been prelabelled with [ 14C]arachidonic acid produced graded increases in fatty acid release. A depletion of label from phosphatidylcholine was observed, as well as a marked increase in radioactivity associated with phosphatidylethanolamine. The subcellular fraction of cells prelabelled with [ 14C]palmitic acid failed to release fatty acid in response to Ca 2+, although a loss of label from phosphatidylcholine and a modest gain in label by phosphatidylethanolamine was demonstrable. A Ca 2+-activated deacylation-reacylation reaction preferentially involving phosphatidylethanolamine was evident in cortical cells prelabelled with archidonic acid; whereas, other Ca 2+-stimulated lipolytic reactions also appeared to be operative in cells prelabelled with either arachidonic or palmitic acid. The Ca 2+-dependent mobilization of arachidonic acid from an endogenous phospholipid pool lends additional support to the idea that Ca 2+-mediated activation of phospholipase A 2 participates in the control of adrenocortical activity. However, since Ca 2+ also stimulated arachidonic acid liberation from cortical triglycerides, these lipid moieties may also contribute to the observed effects of Ca 2+ on fatty acid release.

Effect of cartilage bone marrow extract on the metabolism of collagen in osteoarthrotic cartilage.

The effect of cartilage bone marrow extract (CBME) on the metabolism of collagen and proteoglycan in crude embryo and human cartilage was investigated. While in chick embryos' articular cartilages the increased levels of radioactivity in collagen and proteoglycan were observed, in normal human cartilage only slight changes were detected. In osteoarthrotic cartilages, however, a marked increase in radioactivity was found in collagen and in the proteoglycan fraction containing the glycoprotein link. A blockade of collagenolysis by CBME treatment is suggested.

Artificial radioactivity reference horizons in Greenland firn

Total beta measurements have been made on melt water samples from a stratigraphically dated firn core profile from the inland Greenland ice sheet (77°10′N, 61°08′W). A marked increase in radioactivity is found in the 1953 firn layer which corresponds to the first important fallout from nuclear test bombs. The pre-1953 natural beta activity is 5 d.p.m./kg. The influx of artificial debris from the Ivy tests in 1953 is noted by a sharp rise in beta activity to 10 d.p.m./kg. Total 90Sr deposit to June 1964 is 9.3 ± 1.5 millicuries/km 2 (24 ± 4 mC/mi 2). Average 210Pb activity at time of deposit is 3.9 ± 0.4 d.p.m./kg.