Weather and the incidence of urinary stone colic in Tokyo

One hundred and thirty-four episodes of stone colic occurring in one center in 1984 were studied. Urinary stone formation was frequent in the hot season. Actual daily climatic factors which provoked the stone to cause colic were examined. Falling barometric pressure was followed by a high incidence of colic, and rising pressure was followed by a low incidence. Falling air temperature in the cold season and rising temperature in the hot season were associated with high incidence of colic.     

Effects of cryosurgery in experimental carcinoma on lectin binding and keratin distribution

Histochemical alterations of lectin binding and keratin distribution in experimental carcinomas of the hamster cheek pouch were obtained following cryotreatment. Cryotreated carcinoma cells showed a characteristic reduction in lectin binding and keratin staining shortly following cryosurgery. Tumor tissue, on the 2nd and 3rd days after cryotreatment, displayed destruction and necrosis with almost a complete loss of lectin binding and keratin staining. The remaining neoplastic cells located in the deeper layer showed positive reaction for both lectin binding and keratin, which is indicative of tumor recurrence. Histochemical staining of lectin binding and keratin proteins were useful markers in cryotreated tumor cells to identify either destruction and necrosis or vital activity of neoplastic growth.     

Kinin release from kininogens by calpains

During the investigation of inhibitory activity of kininogens toward calpains [EC 3.4.22.17], we found that lysyl-bradykinin was liberated from both high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) kininogens by the action of the calpains. The kinin liberation occurred in a limited range of calpain to kininogen molar ratios of 0.5:1 to 8:1, and in that condition calpains were simultaneously inhibited 20 to 80% by kininogens. The maximum level of kinin release from HMW and LMW kininogens by calpain I was about 25% and that by calpain II was 20%. These results suggest that in case of inflammation the kininogens play two physiologically distinct roles by interaction with calpains: to release lysyl-bradykinin and to inhibit proteinase activity of calpains derived from the damaged tissues.     

Isokuraramine and (−)-7,11-dehydromatrine,lupin alkaloids from flowers of Sophora flavescens

Two new lupin alkaloids, isokuraramine and (?)-7, 11-dihydromatrine, were isolated from the fresh flowers of Sophora flavescens along with 16 kno