Takayoshi Kuroume

Erythromycin induces migrating motor complex in human gastrointestinal tract

Fifteen healthy subjects, fasted at least 8 hr, were studied by means of an infused manometric method. Twenty minutes after termination of the natural phase III activity in the duodenum, erythromycin or normal saline was administered intravenously for 15 min. When normal saline (N=5) was infused, the next migrating motor complex (MMC) was initiated 151.2±42.1 min after the infusion. On the other hand, when erythromycin was infused at a rate of 1.0 mg/kg/hr (N=5) or 3.0 mg/kg/hr (N=5), MMC-like contractions were initiated at shorter intervals, ie, 47.8±40.9 min (P<0.005) or 23.0±13.0 min (P <0.001), respectively. The duration, frequency, amplitude, and migrating velocity of the naturally occurring MMC (N-MMC) were not significantly different from those of the erythromycin-induced contractions except for the duration of the phase III contractions in the stomach; the duration (5.3±2.2 min) of the erythromycin-induced contractions being significantly (P<0.05) longer than that (3.2±0.9 min) of the naturally occurring MMC. The immunoreactive motilin (IRM) concentration did not increase significantly after the infusion of erythromycin, when compared to that after infusion of normal saline. It is concluded that erythromycin at a dose of 1–3 mg/kg/hr for 15 min during the interdigestive state, similar to motilin, has a significant influence upon the initiation of MMC in the human gastrointestinal tract, but further investigations are required to confirm whether endogenous motilin is involved or not.

Allergenicity of Major Component Proteins of Soybean

Allergenic activities of major component proteins of soybean 11S-, 7S- and 2S-globulins were examined by the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and by RAST inhibition experiments with the sera from soybean-sensitive patients. The reactivity with specific IgE antibody was found in all fractions. There was considerable cross-reactivity among three fractions, and 2S-globulin had the highest allergen potency to inhibit the RAST against 11S, 7S- and 2S-globulin. When the fractions were heat-treated at 80, 100 and 120 degrees C for 30 min, the RAST reactivity of 2S-globulin heated at 80 degrees C for 30 min was slightly enhanced, while that of others was reduced to 39--75% of that of the native globulin. IgE antibody could be produced in BALB/c mice only with one of the three fractions, i. e. 2S-globulin, and the produced IgE antibody lacked reactivity with 11S- and 7S-globulin.

Allergenicity and lymphocyte-stimulating property of rice protein

Two protein fractions of rice, grain, glutelin and globulin, were prepared by dilute alkali and salt extraction, respectively. The globulin fraction was separated into G1-1, G1-2, and G1-3 fractions by Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. The allergenic activities and lymphocyte-stimulating properties of these fractions were investigated by the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) with sera from 6 individuals who showed immediate skin reaction to soluble rice extract and by 3H-thymidine incorporation tests with 5 subjects with indurated skin reaction of delayed onset. All fractions were found to be reactive with specific IgE antibody, and G1-1 and G-2 revealed lymphocyte-stimulating activity. RAST inhibition revealed considerable cross-reactivity of IgE antibody with the glutelin and globulin fractions. When the glutelin and globulin fractions were heated at 60 degrees C for 1 hr, 100 degrees C for 2 min, or 100 degrees C for 10 min, RAST activities were reduced to 40%-70% of native. On the other hand, lymphocyte-stimulating activities of the globulin fraction heated at 60 degrees C for 1 hr or 100 degrees C for 2 min were enhanced up to 6 times of native activities, while those of identically treated glutelin fractions remained unchanged.

Nonmigrating rhythmic activity in the stomach and duodenum of neonates.

We studied gastrointestinal motility in 20 infants, using a modified manometric method for neonates, and compared it to that in adults. Changes in the intragastric and intraduodenal pressures were recorded for 3 h after the ingestion of milk. Bands of contractions with the same rhythmicity as phase III activity in adults were frequently recorded. Some of them migrated caudally and were speculated to the equivalent of phase III activity of the interdigestive migrating complex (IMC) in adults. However, others did not migrate and showed some differences from phase III activity of adults and infants in the time of occurrence, duration and amplitude. The characteristic of gastroduodenal motility in infants was the frequent occurrence of these bands of nonmigrating rhythmic concentrations. Our findings indicated the following problems: (1) there are some differences in gastrointestinal motility between infants and adults and further investigations are required for the evaluation of the physiology or pathophysiology of this phenomenon; (2) in infants, many bands of rhythmic contractions of the alimentary tracts can exist without migration. This indicates the possibility that the occurrence of rhythmic contractions and their migration are regulated by different mechanisms.

Studies of Vascular Permeability Factor derived from T Lymphocytes and Inhibitory Effect of Plasma on Its Production in Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome

Peripheral T lymphocytes from patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and controls were treated for their ability to produce vascular permeability factors (VPF) without concanavalin A stimulation. In vitro cultures of T lymphocytes from active MCNS produced VPF in the supernatant, whereas T lymphocytes from inactive MCNS or normal subjects did not. Furthermore, the plasma from patients with active MCNS markedly inhibited VPF production when compared with plasma taken from inactive MCNS or fetal calf serum alone. However, the plasma from MCNS in neither the active nor the inactive stage had any direct blocking effect on VPF activity. These results seem to suggest that the plasma from patients with MCNS in the active stage inhibits VPF production, but does not neutralize T lymphocytes derived VPF activity.

Endoscopic findings in pediatric patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura and gastrointestinal symptoms

We report the gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in nine patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Eight patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, which revealed erosive gastritis in one patient, hemorrhagic-erosive duodenitis in four, and both findings in one. The rectum and the sigmoid colon were examined in six patients. Aphthoid ulcers were noted in two. In one of these patients, a rectal ulcer was also noted. Severe inflammatory changes and angiitis were found in the biopsy specimens obtained from the duodenum and the colon. The vascular abnormalities in the gastrointestinal mucosa are similar histologically to those found in the skin in Henoch-Schonlein purpura.

A prefecture-wide survey of mumps meningitis associated with measles, mumps and rubella vaccine

A survey of untoward reactions, especially central nervous system reactions, after the administration of a newly introduced measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, was initiated soon after 4 patients were hospitalized for aseptic meningitis. Thirty-five, 6 and 2 children developed meningitis, convulsive disorders and parotitis, respectively, within 2 months after MMR vaccination during the 8-month period extending from April to November, 1989. The time lag between MMR vaccination and meningitis ranged from 14 to 28 days in the 35 cases of meningitis. Mumps virus, isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid in 13 patients with aseptic meningitis, was characterized by determination of the nucleotide sequences of the P gene as mumps vaccine strain. The incidence of aseptic meningitis with positive mumps vaccine virus was estimated to be 0.11% (0.3% as a whole) during the 8 months from April to November and increased to 0.3% (0.7% as a whole) in September and October. We conclude that the incidence of aseptic meningitis after MMR vaccination seems to be higher than that reported previously.

Erythromycin Increases Gastric Antral Motility in Human Premature Infants

The aim of this study was to determine if erythromycin (EM), which is a potent motilin agonist, alters gastrointestinal motility in premature infants. Six infants who were born after 23-30 weeks gestation and weighed 825-1,408 g at birth were studied when 6-31 days old. Intraluminal pressure changes within the gastric antrum and proximal duodenum were recorded. We infused EM 0.75 mg/kg intravenously for 15 min and we compared gastric and duodenal contractions for 30 min between before and after the initiation of EM infusion. In these preterm infants the migrating complex was not present, and was not induced by EM. However, in all 6 infants EM increased nonpropagating antral clusters of contractions (p < 0.05). The antral motility index increased 4-fold (p < 0.05). We concluded that human premature infants have functioning motilin receptors.

Effect of Supernatants Derived from T Lymphocyte Culture in Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome on Rat Kidney Capillaries

The effect on the kidney capillaries of T lymphocyte culture supernatants from patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome was studied by infusion into the left renal artery of rats. The supernatants of T lymphocyte cultures from nephrotic patients induced significant proteinuria and a reduction of anionic sites in the glomerular basement membrane of the kidneys in the rats. These changes were not produced in rats receiving equivalent supernatants from healthy controls.

Epidermal growth factor in cow's milk and milk formulas

ABSTRACT. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in human milk, cows milk and 10 different milk formulas was measured by radioreceptor assay (RRA) using human placental membrane as an EGF receptor. The raw and pasteurized cows milk contained 324.2 ng/ml and 155.0 ng/ml of RRA‐EGF, respectively. These values were almost the same as that found in human milk, when the concentration was expressed as the proportion of protein contents in the samples. On the other hand, no trace of RRA‐EGF was detected in 9 different milk formulas, and only one contained a very small amount of it.