Studies on the Mechanism of Bile Pigment Formation in Vivo. III. On the Transition of Biliverdin, and Bilirubin in the Bile of Rabbits.

1. In the bile of rabbits, the metabolisms of biliverdin and bilirubin are in a solucible state, and which have a ratio of 2: 1 in normal animals. 2. In the production of biliverdin, the liver, especially the parenchyma of the liver has a very important role, while that of the reticulo-endothelial system is rather minor. However, in the case of glucose administration, the reduction of bilirubin from biliverdin is performed in the reticulo-endothelial system, thus conferring an important part of this system. 3. The production of bilirubin is performed primarily extrahepatically, and the participation of the extrahepatical reticuloendothelial system is of a conservative nature, thus denying us any willingness to agree to the theory of bilirubin production in the reticulo-endothelial system. 4. On administration of hemolysed blood, bile pigments in bile demonstrate a remarkable increase, while as compared when injected into the auricle veins in cases of administration through the portal vein a decline in the functions of the liver reticulo-endothelial system is seen, causing a decrease in biliverdin amount. In the former modus of administration, an occasional stimulation of the liver reticulo- endothelial system is seen, causing reduction of biliverdin to bilirubin. 5. Concluding from these facts, biliverdin in rabbit bile occupies the role of an intermediate product in the production and metabolism of bilirubin.</p

Studies on the Me­chanism of Bile Pigment Formation in Vivo. Part &#8544;. On the Cor­relation between the Production of Bile Pigments and Functions of the Parenchymal Cells of the Liver.

1. In normal adults and in patients of non-hepatic diseases a transient hyperbilirubinemia occurs after peroral administration of hemolysed blood. 2. In cases of severe anchylostomiasis the serum bilirubin displays a remarkable decrease, and on imposition of hemolysed blood, no hyperbilirubinemia occurs but a relative one may be seen. 3. In patients with highly impaired functions of the parenchymal cells of the liver, neither absolute nor relative hyperbilirubinemia occurs on similar imposition of hemolysed blood. 4. Imposed blood or hemoglobin seems primarily to be phagocytosed by the reticulo-endothelial system. 5. A similar transient hyperbilirubinemia is also seen in rabbits after peroral imposition of hemohsed blood. 6. When the functions of the reticulo-endothelial system are accelerated by administration of &#34;Koha&#34;, even incases of nonimposition of blood a hyperbilirubinemia occurs, but when hemolysed blood is imposed an additional transient increase in the hyperbilirubinemia may be detected. 7. In cases of blockage of the reticulo- endothelial system, this degree in the occurrence of hyperbilirubinemia is somewhat lower. 8. In cases of impaired liver cells by carbon tetrachloride, this decline is especially remarkable, and only a tendency of occurence can be dected. Since it is very difficult to explain this fact only by the co-existing impairment in the reticulo-endothelial system, the decline in the functions of the parenchymal cells of the liver must be placed under consideration. 9. By absorption tests of the intestines and by serological procedures, it is apparent that the perorally administerred hemoglobin may be readily absorbed from the jejunum, under any of these conditions. 10. Consequently, as for the cause of the hyperbilirubinemia occurring after peroral administration of hemolysed blood, most naturaly the reticulo-endothelial system participates, but it is impossible to neglect the part payed by the parenchymal cells of the liver.</p

Studies on the Mechanism of Bile Pigment Formation in Vivo. II. On the Process of Intrahepatical Production of Bilirubin.

1. When hemolysed blood is administered orally to rabbits, in cases of healthy and those with blocked reticulo-endothelial systems, a transient increase in the verdohemoglobin (M. Engel) is seen in circulating blood, while in that of rabbits with impaired parenchymal liver cells, no such increase occurs. 2. On irrigation of hemolysed blood through rabbit livers, in healthy rabbits production of indirect bilirubin may be demonstrated while in that with blockage of the reticulo-endothelial system or with impaired liver parenchymal cells, this may not be seen. Moreover, in this case of blockade of the reticulo-endothelial system. production of verdohemoglobin may be demonstrated. while none whatsoever may be demonstrated in cases of impaired liver parenchmal. On the other hand on irrigation of verdohemoglobin and biliverdin solutions, in healthy and in impaired liver parenchymal cell cases, production of bilirubin may be observed while absolutely none was detected in cases of blocked reticulo-endothelial systems, 3. Concluding from the results stated above and those of clinical experiments stated elsewhere, the following process is assumed: when blood is imposed on the organism it is primarily phagocytosed by the reticulo-endothelial system, next dissolved to verdohemoglobin {M. Engel) in the parenchymal cells of the liver, and then dissolved into globin, iron, and biliverdin in the reticulo-endothelial system, of which biliverdin is further reduced to bilirubin. A portion of this remains in the circulating blood as indirect bilirubin, while the majority of it is esterized in the parenchymal cells of the liver, and proceeds to the bile ducts as direct bilirubin.</p

Post-War Time and Liver Affections

To our Dept., so many patients of liver affections entered, after the War: moreover, in our experiences, their prognosis proved to be altogether bad. Therefore, choosing 8 most serious cases out of many, kept record on their disease as well as experiences. Further, at the same time clarifying that there had already existed such a state after the World War 1, due to bibliography, could interpret our own experience to be similar case, namely, the cause by which this kind of strange phenomenon has occurred may roughly be traced back to the decline of nutriment as well as moral degeneration due to financial panic, special in war-time or post-war time. Consequently, today, when man treats various affections it is necessary for him to take much care about the attitude of the liver

Right Hemiplegia Following Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning remains a common cause of poison-related death and influences neurological function. An 83-year-old female was transferred to our emergency unit due to hypertension with dizziness, headache, and right hemiplegia. There was no radiographic evidence of ischemic stroke. The family members reported that the patient may have been exposed to CO by briquettes burned inside a closed room. High flow oxygen therapy was given for suspected CO intoxication and her symptoms quickly improved. Although we do not have clear evidence, we presume that hemiplegia in our patient was caused by CO intoxication, based on rapid recovery with oxygen therapy, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level elevation (3.0%), polycythemia, and neuroimaging. Despite the hematogenous effects of CO, paralysis appeared to be more severe on her right side than on her left side. MRI and blood tests helped to support CO as the suspected cause of her hemiplegia. This case reconfirms the importance of medical interviewing by medical practitioners, even in an emergency setting

Molecular cloning and tissue-specific expression of a new member of the regenerating protein family, islet neogenesis-associated protein-related protein1The sequence data reported in this paper have been deposited to DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank databases under the accession no. AB028625.1

AbstractIslet neogenesis-associated protein (INGAP) is a protein expressed during islet neogenesis. We have cloned a novel cDNA having a similar sequence to INGAP cDNA. The cDNA encodes 175 amino acids designated INGAP-related protein (INGAPrP). INGAP is expressed in cellophane-wrapped pancreas, but not in normal pancreas, whereas INGAPrP was abundantly expressed in normal pancreas

Up-regulation of hepatitis C virus replication by human T cell leukemia virus type I-encoded Tax protein

AbstractCo-infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with other blood-borne pathogens such as human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV) is common in highly endemic areas. Clinical evidence showing a correlation between HTLV-I co-infection and rapid progression of HCV-associated liver disease promoted us to investigate the effect of HTLV-I-encoded Tax protein on HCV replication. Reporter assay showed that HCV replicon-encoded luciferase expression was significantly augmented by co-transfection of the Tax-expressing plasmid. Further, HCV RNA replication in replicon cells was increased either by co-culture with cells stably expressing Tax protein (Huhtax) or by culture in the presence of Huhtax-conditioned medium, indicating that Tax could also modulate HCV replication of adjacent cells in a paracrine manner. Additionally, HCV replication in Huhtax exhibited a reduced responsiveness to interferon-α-induced antiviral activity. This study demonstrates the facilitation of HCV replication by Tax protein, which may partially account for severer clinical consequences of HCV-related disease in HCV/HTLV co-infected individuals

Melanin pigments in the melanocytic nevus regress spontaneously after inactivation by high hydrostatic pressure

We report a novel treatment for giant congenital melanocytic nevi (GCMN) that involves the reuse of resected nevus tissue after high hydrostatic pressurization (HHP). However, the remaining melanin pigments in the inactivated nevus tissue pose a problem; therefore, we performed a long-term observation of the color change of inactivated nevus tissue after HHP. Pressurized nevus specimens (200 MPa group, n = 9) and non-pressurized nevus tissues (control group, n = 9) were subcutaneously implanted into nude mice (BALB/c-nu) and then harvested 3, 6, and 12 months later. Color changes of the nevus specimens were evaluated. In the 200 MPa group, the specimen color gradually regressed and turned white, and brightness values were significantly higher in the 200 MPa group than in the control group after 6 months. This indicated that melanin pigments in the pressurized nevus tissue had spontaneously degraded and regressed. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove melanin pigments in HHP-treated nevus tissue

Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of a Putative Nuclear Protein, SR-25

We cloned a full-length mouse cDNA and its human homologue encoding a novel protein designated as “SR-25.” In Northern blot analysis, SR-25 mRNA was expressed in all organs tested, and relatively abundant in testis and thymus. Deduced amino acid sequences of mouse SR-25 and human SR-25 showed 77.7% identity. SR-25 has a serine-arginine repeat (SR repeat) and two types of amino acid clusters: a serine cluster and a highly basic cluster. Based on the presence of many nuclear localizing signals and a similarity to RNA splicing proteins, SR-25 is strongly suggested to be a nuclear protein and may contribute to RNA splicing