The "baboon sydrome" is the term used to denote a characteristic distribution pattern of systemic allergic contact dermatitis. Such skin manifestation is described as mercury exanthem in Japan. Until now, mercury, ampicillin, nickel is reported to produce this condition. We report herein 3 cases of the baboon syndrome. Among 3 cases, 2 cases were associated with mercury, but in the other we could not demonstrate the allergen.
Ampicillin ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Exanthema ; Japan ; Nickel ; Papio* ; Skin Manifestations

The Baboon syndrome is used to denote a characteristic distribution pattern of systernic allergic contact dermatitis. Diffuse erythema of the buttock, upper inner surface of the thighs and axillae are characteristic features. We report three cases of Eaboon syndrome developed after contact with mercury through breaking a clinical thermometer in a 30 year-old, 16 year-old, 32 year-old females, respectively. Mercury sensitivity was confirmed by a patch test in all three patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Axilla ; Buttocks ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Papio* ; Patch Tests ; Thermometers ; Thigh

Baboon syndrome is used to denote a systemic allergic contact dermititis with a characteristic color and distribution pattern. It is also referred to as mercury exanthem, because inhalation of mercury vapor usually causes the skiri lesion in a sensitized person. Diffuse pi,ikish erythema of the buttock, upper inner thigh, and axilla are characteristic features. We report a case of baboon syndrome developed after exposure to the smoke of a burning amulete a charm written on a piece of paper in a 12 year-old female. Mercury sensitivity was confirrned by a patch test. Atomic absorption by a spectrographic method and Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive for analysis X-ray detected mercury in the urine and the ed scraped pigments from the amulet, respectively.
Absorption ; Axilla ; Burns ; Buttocks ; Child ; Erythema ; Exanthema ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Papio* ; Patch Tests ; Smoke* ; Thigh

Morphine is known to inhibit nocturnal uterine contractions in several animal models, and oxytocin is known to be a primary causative factor of uterine contractions. The purpose of the present study was to determine the tocolytic effect of morphine in relation to the pharmacokinetics of oxytocin, after a bolus injection of oxytocin. The metabolism of oxytocin was investigated during the third trimester in baboons. Four animals were placed on a tether system with venous and arterial access, including continuous uterine monitoring. Plasma oxytocin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay after extraction with petroleum ether/acetone. Morphine consistently increased the metabolic clearance rate of oxytocin in all four animals (p < 0.05) and this was in accordance with suppressed uterine contractions. We conclude that morphine could be used as an inhibitor of nocturnal uterine contractions, and that this is caused by the morphine induced increased metabolic clearance rate of oxytocin.
Animal ; Female ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Morphine/*pharmacology ; Oxytocin/*pharmacokinetics ; Papio ; Pregnancy ; Tocolytic Agents/*pharmacology ; Uterine Contraction/drug effects

Lactate dehydrogenase-C4 isozyme has been widely studied as the sperm-specific antigen in the research of the contraceptive vaccine. Developmental and testis-specific expression of the LDH-C gene requires mechanisms for activation in germ cells and repression in somatic cells. LDH-C promoter, several transcription factors and methylation of CpG dinucleotides have been proved of governing action on LDH-C gene transcription. The strategy is to induce antibodies in the female reproductive tract against LDH-C antigens at a sufficient level to block fertilization. Chemically modified LDH-C4 offers a potential application in the induction of infertility of homologous species in marked contrast to native LDH-C4. In addition, advances are being made in researches on the male contraceptive vaccine and synthetic peptide immunocontraceptive.
Animals ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; genetics ; immunology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Papio ; Rabbits ; Spermatozoa ; enzymology ; Transcription, Genetic ; Vaccines, Contraceptive ; immunology

Approximately 90% of freshly imported macaques and other Old World Monkeys are known to be infected with respiratory mites. The lung associated pigments are integral components of pulmonary acariasis in Old World Monkeys; at least three distinctive pigmental bodies are identified in association with lung mite infection. Two major components of pigments are recently identified as silica by using elemental analysis using a high voltage electron microscope and an energy-dispersive X-ray analysis technique. Since a limited number of infected monkey lung tissues and associated pigments can be examined by this tedious procedure, it was important for us to examine much greater number of specimens to verify our initial observation. Ten microincineration technique described provided a unique and practical way to identify the mineral elements in as many 27 histologic sections within a short span of time. Silica and silicates are heat resistant whereas majority of organic materials including lung mite parasites disintegrated under the extreme temperature. Mineral elements were exclusively located within the polarizable white ash. More than 90% of total pigmental bodies identified were found to be related to siliceous materials in 20 incinerated infected monkey lung tissues whereas five noninfected lungs similarly examined did not reveal any pigmental bodies. Other than a small of fine granular mucin substances which were PAS positive, the majority of lung mite associated pigments such as large granules of hemosiderin, needle-like crystals and other fine granules engulfed by macrophages were identified to be siliceous materials as they have persisted even after microincineration. Mite parasites and other organic materials were completely disintegrated. Similar pigmental bodies examined by microscope X-ray analysis were positive for silicate. This finding suggests that lung mite infection in Old Monkeys apparently predisposed silicosis. Therefore, until the link between lung mite infection and silicosis is clarified, expreimental inhalation toxicologic findings in mite-infected Old World monkeys should be interpreted cautiously.
Animals ; Lung/*parasitology ; Macaca/*parasitology ; Macaca fascicularis/parasitology ; Macaca mulatta/parasitology ; Macaca nemestrina/parasitology ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mite Infestations/*veterinary ; Mites/*chemistry ; Papio/parasitology ; Primate Diseases/*parasitology ; Silicon Dioxide/*analysis

To evaluate possible roles of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, -2 and membrane-type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in invasion of human gliomas, expressions of these proteins were investigated in ten cases of human glioma and two meningioma tissues and eight human glioma cell lines. In gelatin zymography, MMP-2 activities of glioblastomas were higher than astrocytomas. The activated form of MMP-2 was seen in five of six cases of glioblastomas, but not in astrocytomas. MMP-9 activity was detected in all cases of malignant astrocytomas but the reactivity of MMP-9 was weaker than that of MMP-2. MT1-MMP mRNA expression in glioblastomas was higher than that in astrocytomas. Five cases of glioblastomas with activated form of MMP-2 had MT1-MMP expressions. In vitro, human glioma cell lines with high expression of MT1-MMP also showed high MMP-2 activity. TIMP-1 transcripts were constitutively present in almost all glioma tissues and cell lines, whereas TIMP-2 mRNA were weak especially in malignant gliomas. Imbalance of TIMP-2/MMP-2 was observed using immunoprecipitation analysis in a glioma cell line. High expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP is possibly involved in invasiveness of malignant glioma.
Animal ; Blotting, Northern/methods ; Brain/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/enzymology* ; Enzyme Activation ; Gelatinase A/metabolism ; Gelatinase A/genetics* ; Gelatinase B/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic* ; Glioma/pathology ; Glioma/enzymology* ; Human ; Metalloendopeptidases/genetics* ; Papio ; Tissue Inhibitor-of Metalloproteinase-2/genetics ; Tissue-Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

To evaluate possible roles of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, -2 and membrane-type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in invasion of human gliomas, expressions of these proteins were investigated in ten cases of human glioma and two meningioma tissues and eight human glioma cell lines. In gelatin zymography, MMP-2 activities of glioblastomas were higher than astrocytomas. The activated form of MMP-2 was seen in five of six cases of glioblastomas, but not in astrocytomas. MMP-9 activity was detected in all cases of malignant astrocytomas but the reactivity of MMP-9 was weaker than that of MMP-2. MT1-MMP mRNA expression in glioblastomas was higher than that in astrocytomas. Five cases of glioblastomas with activated form of MMP-2 had MT1-MMP expressions. In vitro, human glioma cell lines with high expression of MT1-MMP also showed high MMP-2 activity. TIMP-1 transcripts were constitutively present in almost all glioma tissues and cell lines, whereas TIMP-2 mRNA were weak especially in malignant gliomas. Imbalance of TIMP-2/MMP-2 was observed using immunoprecipitation analysis in a glioma cell line. High expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP is possibly involved in invasiveness of malignant glioma.
Animal ; Blotting, Northern/methods ; Brain/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/enzymology* ; Enzyme Activation ; Gelatinase A/metabolism ; Gelatinase A/genetics* ; Gelatinase B/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic* ; Glioma/pathology ; Glioma/enzymology* ; Human ; Metalloendopeptidases/genetics* ; Papio ; Tissue Inhibitor-of Metalloproteinase-2/genetics ; Tissue-Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured