Different sensitivity to streptolysin-O of cells in macrophage lineage

We have surveyed the sensitivity of cells in macrophage lineage to Streptolysin-O (SLO). SLO had cytotoxic activity on immature myeloid cell lines such as M1 and WEHI-3BD+. SLO was toxic to the cells after a 2-hr incubation. However, mature macrophage cell lines such as A640-BB-2, J774, and P388D1 were not sensitive to the same dose of SLO. After M1 cells were treated with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a differentiation-inducer to macrophage, these cells became insensitive to SLO in one day. This cytotoxic action of SLO was inhibited by pretreatment with anti-Streptolysin-O antibody or cholesterol. These results indicate that SLO has different effects on macrophage lineage.

Structure-activity relationships of synthetic saponins

The haemolytic and antifungal activities of synthetic diosgenyl, tigogenyl, hecogenyl, methyl oleanolate, methyl ursolate and methyl glycyrrhetinate glycosides were compared with each other. Both activities of the steroid glycosides were generally parallel to each other, while almost all haemolytic triterpenoid glycosides showed no antifungal activity.

Structure-activity relationships of synthetic cardiac glycosides

The antiviral, cytotoxic and anti-ATPase activities of 14 synthetic bufalyl glycosides were compared with each other. Among these glycosides, the activities of the gentiobioside and the melibioside were much weaker than those of the others. On the other hand, these three activities were found to be highly correlated with each other. These were parallel to the case of the digitoxigenyl glycosides in our previous paper.

[Role of MR imaging in the differentiation of benign and nonbenign intracranial meningiomas: the utility of contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images]

The purpose of this study was to develop useful criteria for distinguishing nonbenign (atypical and malignant) primary intracranial meningiomas from their benign counterparts by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To determine useful MRI findings for this purpose, 12 benign and five nonbenign meningiomas were retrospectively evaluated according to the following items: 1) tumor signal intensity on plain T1-, T2- and proton density-weighted images, 2) degree of perifocal edema on T2-weighted images, 3) morphology of the tumor margin on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, 4) presence of irregular nodule and/or mushrooming pattern on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, 5) homogeneity of the tumor on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images and 6) presence of marked skull destruction. Markedly irregular tumor margin, presence of irregular nodule and/or mushrooming pattern and markedly inhomogeneous enhancing pattern were significantly more frequent in nonbenign meningiomas. We defined these three MRI findings as nonbenign findings, and tried to categorize meningiomas by the number of nonbenign findings. It was found that 10 meningiomas with no or one nonbenign finding were benign lesions, of four meningiomas with two nonbenign findings two were benign lesions and two were nonbenign lesions, and three meningiomas with three nonbenign findings were nonbenign lesions. The two benign meningiomas with two nonbenign findings were accompanied by increased mitotic activity or brain invasion. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images were considered very useful in distinguishing benign and nonbenign meningiomas.

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in human follicular fluid

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been implicated in a number of reproductive processes ranging from ovulation to parturition. To examine the role of PAF in the human periovulatory processes, the PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity was assayed in the follicular fluid (FF) obtained in conjunction with the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) procedure and the activity related to oocyte maturation. The PAF-AH activity was also related to the concentrations of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in FF. PAF-AH activity was significantly lower in the FFs obtained from follicles of more than 20 mm in diameter. The enzyme activity was significantly lower in the FFs of patients with a successful outcome of their pregnancies. E2 concentrations were negatively correlated with PAF-AH activities in the FFs. No correlation was found between the PAF-AH activity and concentration of P in the FF. Significantly more mature oocytes were recovered in the group who subsequently become pregnant compared to the non-pregnant group. It is suggested that PAF may be increased following follicular maturation. The increase in PAF may contribute to oocyte maturation and to the successful outcome of pregnancy following fertilization. An additional function of the increased PAF in FF may also be the stimulation of the contraction of smooth muscle in the ovary, thereby assisting the extrusion of the oocyte cumulus cell mass and signaling the completion of ovulation.

Involvement of neurohumoral factors in the pressor mechanism of NG-nitro-L-arginine

The mechanism of the NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA)-induced pressor response was examined in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. The pressor effect of L-NNA (50 mg/kg, i.v.) was significantly and equally diminished by pretreatment with either hexamethonium (25 mg/kg, i.v.) or phentolamine (5 mg/kg, i.v.). The intracisternal administration of L-NNA (1 mg/kg), which did not cause changes in cardiovascular parameters when administered systemically, produced a significant pressor response and tachycardia. Furthermore, significant suppression of L-NNA-induced pressor responses was observed after treatment of dogs with captopril (5 mg/kg, i.v.) or a non-peptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan (10 mg/kg, i.v.), or bilateral occlusion of renal veins. The inhibitory effects of hexamethonium and losartan were additive. These results suggest that, in addition to vasoconstriction due to the inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide production, increased activity of the sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin systems contributes significantly to the development of pressor responses produced by the intravenous injection of L-NNA in anesthetized dogs.

Induction of apoptosis in cultured retinoblastoma cells by the protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid

The induction of apoptosis in cultured retinoblastoma cells by diverse drugs was examined by analyzing DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis. First, the ability of six retinoblastoma cell lines to undergo apoptosis was surveyed using etoposide (30 micrograms/ml, 20 h exposure). The NCC-RbC-60 cell line, established in this laboratory showed DNA fragmentation clearly, whereas the other cell lines tested, including the representative retinoblastoma cell line, Y-79, did not show distinct DNA fragmentation. Biochemical modulators, such as A23187, forskolin, retinoic acid, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and okadaic acid, were examined to ascertain whether they could induce apoptosis in NCC-RbC-60 and Y-79 cells after exposure for 20 h. Only okadaic acid induced DNA fragmentation in all the retinoblastoma cell lines tested and it induced DNA fragmentation in Y-79 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Flow-cytometric analysis and microscopic examination revealed that Y-79 cells treated with okadaic acid for 24-48 h accumulated at the G2/M, especially M, phases, before undergoing DNA fragmentation. Other mitotic poisons, nocodazole, colcemid and taxol, also induced apoptosis in Y-79 cells. In the K1034 cell line, established from non-malignant retinal pigmented epithelium, okadaic acid failed to induce both G2/M arrest and DNA fragmentation. These findings suggest that okadaic-acid-induced apoptosis occurs as a result of metaphase arrest.

[Evaluation of sexual function in adults with myelomeningocele]

In the present study, sexual function in 46 patients (22 males and 24 females) with myelomeningocele was assessed by a questionnaire study. The mean age of the patients was 24.0 +/- 9.6 years (with an age range of 18 to 50) for male patients and 25.2 +/- 6.2 years (with an age range of 18 to 42) for female patients. Having interest in the opposite sex and sexual desire were evident in 95% and 100% of male patients, and 83% and 75% of female patients, respectively. In male patients, erection was achieved in 95% by visual stimulation and in 86% by tactile stimulation. However, only 27% of the patients with erectility were satisfied with penile rigidity. Ejaculation and orgasm was noted in 67%. Orgasm was frequently seen in patients whose external sphincter activity was maintained. The age and the degree of lower extremity paralysis according to Sharrard classification were not significantly correlated with sexual function. In female patients, menstruation was regular in 95%, vaginal secrete was adequate in 88%, but only 19% of the patients felt ecstacy around perineal lesion at coital movements. In female patients, sexual function was not correlated with the age, the degree of lower extremity paralysis and detrusor activity-sphincter activity. Although most patients had sexual desire, only 18% of the males, and 33% of the females, had sexual intercourse activities. It appears, therefore, that these patients need to be given appropriate advice.

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in hepatocellular carcinoma by in situ hybridization

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma frequently is associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The presence of HCV in hepatocellular carcinoma has been detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction of antigenomic HCV RNA, a tissue-specific replicative form of the virus. Now, however, this method of detecting the presence of HCV has been invalidated by reports of antigenomic RNA in the blood or in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

METHODS

In situ hybridization of HCV RNA was conducted with digoxigenin-labeled cDNA from the core region on surgical specimens of noncancerous and cancerous areas from 12 patients with chronic hepatitis C with or without cirrhosis associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Several control experiments were also performed, including RNase digestion before hybridization, hybridization with the use of a negative control, and immunohistochemical staining of HCV-core protein.

RESULTS

The in situ hybridization showed positive signals both in noncancerous and cancerous areas of the liver tissue in eight cases. Positive signals were confined to neoplastic cells and nonneoplastic hepatocytes. There were fewer HCV-positive cells in the cancerous area than in the surrounding noncancerous area.

CONCLUSIONS

In situ detection of HCV presents direct evidence of HCV infection in the neoplastic cells of hepatocellular carcinoma and suggests that neoplastic cells may lose their affinity for HCV in the course of malignant transformation.

How to fashion a TRAM flap in the presence of a lower midline laparotomy scar. An experimental study in rats

The transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap cannot be used successfully in a patient with a pre-existing midline abdominal scar because the area distal to the scar undergoes circulatory failure leading to necrosis. To investigate the usefulness of various procedures to improve the circulation in such a flap, we studied the percentage area survival of experimental abdominal island flaps in five groups of rats with pre-existing midline scar treated by different procedures which depended on the source of blood used to supply the flap (control, arterial, venous, arteriovenous shunt, and delayed, n = 5 in each group). All flaps in the arterial group survived completely. The mean (SEM) percentages of the flaps that survived in the control (17(2)%) and venous (17(1)%) groups were significantly lower than those in the delayed (31(2)%) and arteriovenous shunt (67(6)%) groups (all, p < 0.01). These results indicate that preservation of arterial inflow by arterial anastomosis or arteriovenous shunt on the opposite side is important if the flap is to survive across the midline scar. Preservation of the vein in the opposite flap is not essential, because venous outflow is supposed to drain through the midline scar into the epigastric vein of the pedicle without any signs of congestion.

Platelet-activating factor-acetylhydrolase activity in follicular fluid of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

OBJECTIVE

To examine the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) metabolism in the periovulatory processes.

DESIGN

The PAF-acetylhydrolase activity in the follicular fluid (FF) obtained in conjunction with IVF-ET procedure was assayed and its activity was related to oocyte maturation. The PAF-acetylhydrolase activity also was related to the concentration of various ovarian hormones.

SETTING

All patients were managed and treated at Oita Medical University Hospital, Oita, Japan.

PATIENTS

The study concerned 30 women between 28 and 36 years of age with tubal infertility.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The activity of PAF-acetylhydrolase in FF was assayed as well as E2 and P. Oocyte maturation also was evaluated.

RESULTS

Platelet-activating factor-acetylhydrolase activity was decreased significantly in the FFs of patients with a successful outcome of their pregnancies compared with the nonsuccessful group. Estradiol levels were negatively correlated with PAF-acetylhydrolase activities in the FFs. No correlation was found between the PAF-acetylhydrolase activity and P concentration in the FF. Significantly more mature and less immature oocytes were recovered in the group who subsequently became pregnant compared with the nonpregnant group.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that the decrease in PAF-acetylhydrolase activity may result in an increase of PAF in the FFs, which in turn may contribute to a successful pregnancy. The determination of PAF-acetylhydrolase activity in FF may serve as a prognostic marker for the evaluation of oocytes that are utilized in IVF-ET procedure.

[Lysosomal hydrolases have specific conformational domains for acquisition of mannose-6-phosphate]

In many mammalian cells, the transport of newly synthesized or externally added lysosomal enzymes to lysosomes is depend on their specific recognition by receptors for mannose 6-phosphate (Man-6-P). The physiological importance of this pathway was confirmed by the finding that fibroblasts from patients with mucolipidosis type II (ML-II ; I - cell disease) fail to phosphorylate mannose residues on their newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes, which results in the secretion of a large percentage of their acid hydrolases into the culture medium. However, lysosomal enzymes themselves do not contain the any consensus amino acid sequences for acquiring the Man-6-P recognition marker. Kornfeld et al revealed using cathepsin D-pepsinogen chimera proteins that UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase recognizes not only oligosaccharides but also the three-dimensional structure of the lysosomal enzymes when transfers N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate to lysosomal acid hydrolases.

Synchronous cancers of the esophagus and the ampulla of Vater after distal gastrectomy: successful removal of the esophagus, gastric remnant, duodenum, and pancreatic head

A case of synchronous squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater after previous gastrectomy is presented. The coexistence of these two lesions has never been reported in the English literature. We performed a subtotal esophagectomy, total residual gastrectomy, and pancreaticoduodenectomy with lymph node dissection in a one-stage procedure. An operation of this magnitude could be safely performed with attention to meticulous surgical technique and intensive postoperative care. Histological examination of the ampulla lesion showed adenocarcinoma with Paneth-cell differentiation. This is a rare lesion, and a review of the literature revealed only one other case. Neoplastic Paneth cells were also found in lymph node metastasis that originated from the ampulla tumor. This case confirms that cells with Paneth-cell differentiation can be a significant component in invasive carcinoma.

Serial changes in plasma levels of pancreatic elastase 1 after pancreatic surgeries

The alterations of the plasma level of elastase 1 (Ela) were investigated in 15 patients undergoing total pancreatectomy (TP), 18 patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), 8 patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy (DP) and 10 patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GR). The Ela level decreased rapidly below the normal level after TP. The plasma half-life of Ela was 4.6 +/- 1.2 h (Mean +/- SEM). The Ela levels after PD were abnormally elevated until the 7th postoperative day. The Ela levels after DP and GR were elevated gradually until the 7th postoperative day. From 1 to 6 months after PD, DP and GR, the Ela levels were normal. An additional release of Ela from the remaining pancreas following direct surgical interventions to the pancreas resulted in the elevated of the plasma level of Ela in the early postoperative period. The plasma level of Ela was normalized within 2 weeks after pancreatic surgery.

Non-destructive elemental analysis of vertebral body trabecular bone using muonic X-rays

Non-destructive elemental analysis with muonic X-rays was performed on human vertebral bone and lumbar torso phantoms. It can provide quantitative information on all elements in small deep-seated localized volumes. The experiment was carried out using the superconducting muon channel at TRIUMF in Vancouver, Canada and a lithium drifted germanium detector with an active area of 18.5 cm2. The muon channel produced backward-decayed negative muons with wide kinetic energy range from 0.5 to 54.2 MeV. The muon beam was collimated to a diameter of 18 mm. The number of incoming muons was about 4 x 10(6) approximately 5 x 10(7) per data point. In the measurements with human vertebral bones fixed with neutralized formaldehyde, the correlation coefficient between calcium content measured by muons and by atomic absorption analysis was 0.99 and the level of significance was 0.0003. In the measurements with lumbar torso phantoms, the correlation coefficient between calcium content measured by muons and by atomic absorption analysis was 0.99 and the level of significance was 0.02. The results suggest that elemental analysis in vertebral body trabecular bone using muonic X-rays closely correlates with measurements by atomic absorption analysis.

Messenger RNA expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) during ocular development

The heat shock proteins (HSPs) are believed to act as molecular chaperones which appear to play some roles in regulation of normal protein folding and also in preventing damage to protein structures under various conditions of environmental stress. We examined the expression of the major HSP families, HSP60, 70 and 90 families and small HSP32, at the mRNA level in ocular development. Expression of HSP32, HSP60, HSP70, HSP84, HSP86 and heat shock cognate protein (HSC)70 mRNAs was examined by in situ hybridization. HSC70, HSP84, HSP86 and HSP60 mRNAs were expressed strongly in all ocular tissues during early stages 3 to 5, corresponding to embryonic day (E)11.5 to E14.5. At stages 6 to 7 (E15.5 to E18.5), the expression of these four mRNA species was decreased markedly in most ocular tissue, while in the retina strong HSC70 and HSP86 mRNA expression was still detected. HSP32 and HSP70 mRNAs were not detected at any stage. These results suggest that the expression of HSPs is developmentally regulated through ocular organogenesis, and the proteins may play some important roles in ocular development.

[Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) type I and the therapies]

Since autonomic dysfunction in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) Type I is recognized in the early stage of FAP patients and restricts their daily life, we developed various therapies for various autonomic manifestations: Loading glucose was often effective for faintness caused by hypoglycemia and erythropoietin was also good therapy for orthostatic hypotension as well as anemia found in the end stage of FAP patients. Stoma and nasal drop of L-threo-DOPS were useful to control diarrhea and orthostatic hypotension. Duplex ultrasonography of the 4 vessels revealed that reverse flow was always recognized in FAP patients with faintness, which was effectively treated by the administration of L-threo-DOPS. Orthotopic liver transplantation revealed effective therapy for autonomic dysfunction in FAP patients. Precise analysis of protein metabolism in FAP patients revealed that among apolipoproteins, only apolipoprotein AII decreased as the progression of the disease and high density lipoprotein gained the negative charge by agarose electrophoresis study. Concerning low density lipoprotein (LDL) study, only variant transthyretin in the circulation associated with LDL in FAP patients, suggesting that LDL may play an important role in the amyloid formation of FAP.

Association of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and thyroid papillary carcinoma. A study of surgical cases among Japanese, and white and African Americans

BACKGROUND

An association between lymphocytic thyroiditis and thyroid papillary carcinoma is still controversial. To determine a definite statistical relation, a histopathologic study was performed on tissues from in three races, because there is a racial and age-related difference in the susceptibility to thyroiditis.

METHODS

The prevalence and severity of thyroiditis combined with adenomatous goiter, follicular adenoma, or papillary carcinoma was defined by examination of surgically resected materials from Japanese (626 patients), and white and African Americans (330 and 90 patients, respectively).

RESULTS

The prevalence of lymphocytic infiltrates, which are indicative of autoimmune thyroiditis, was significantly higher in patients with papillary carcinoma than in patients with adenomatous goiter or follicular adenoma among Japanese females (63.0%) and males (50.0%), white females (76.0%), and African American females (46.2%). Lymphocyte infiltration into the follicular adenoma or papillary carcinoma correlated with the severity of combined thyroiditis.

CONCLUSION

An association between chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and papillary carcinoma was confirmed in the Japanese, and white and African American populations. The possibility of autoimmune thyroiditis as a predisposing factor for papillary thyroid carcinoma, is suggested.

[Biosynthesis, processing, and lysosome targeting of acid phosphatase]

The biosyntheses, processing, and intracellular transport of lysosomal APase were studied using pulse-chase experiments with primary cultured rat hepatocytes and subcellular fractionation techniques of rat liver after pulse-labeling with [35S] methionine in vivo. Apase was transported as a membrane-bound enzyme from the site of synthesis in the ER through the Golgi complex to lysosomes. Unlike many lysosomal enzymes which are translocated into lysosomes through the mediation of the Man-6-P receptors, transport of APase to lysosomes was independent of the Man-6-P receptor system. The transport of APase to lysosomes is dependent on the GY-motif which is located in its cytoplasmic domain. Kinetic experiments combined with subcellular fractionation of rat liver showed that after reaching the lysosomes, the membrane-bound APase (67 kDa) is subsequently released into the lysosomal matrix in the 64 kDa form, which is further processed via the 55 kDa form to the 48 kDa one, the major form of APase in rat liver lysosomal content. Our data from the in vitro experiments further showed that APase is released from lysosomal membranes into the lysosomal matrix by cathepsin D in the 65 kDa form, with release of a 1 kDa peptide, following which the released enzyme is further processed to the 64 kDa form, probably by lysosomal cysteine protease.

[Analysis of 4 cases of intralobar pulmonary sequestration]

Four cases with pulmonary sequestration treated in Tottori university hospital between January 1993 and December 1994 were reported. Case 1 was a 63-year-old male who had lung tumor without inflammatory findings. Differential diagnosis from lung cancer was needed, and aortography showed a aberrant artery from descending aorta. Pulmonary partial resection and division of aberrant artery were performed. Case 2 was a 71-year-old female who diagnosed pulmonary sequestration in other hospital 10 years ago. Tumor shadow did not progress compared with the old X-ray film. Because tumor size was remarkably diminished by aspiration of cystic tumor, conservative follow up was continued. Both case 3 and 4 were a 20-year-old man and 16-year-old female who had typical findings of pulmonary sequestration with inflammation and easily detection of aberrant artery by CT or aortography. Resection of sequestrated lung and division of aberrant arteries were performed in both cases. Pulmonary sequestration was the disease which should be always kept in our mind in differential diagnosis from various lung disease.

Fracture of the tarsal navicular associated with calcaneonavicular coalition: a case report

Fracture of the navicular occurred in a 23-year-old male with unilateral cartilaginous calcaneonavicular coalition. Inversion sprain of the left foot caused the longitudinal navicular fracture next to the coalition. En bloc resection from the beak of the calcaneus to the fracture line of the navicular including the calcaneonavicular coalition was performed, and a short leg cast was applied for 10 days. Four weeks after surgery, he returned to his preinjury level of activity and job as a long-distance truck driver. Two years and 3 months after surgery, he was totally asymptomatic and had gained a full range of subtalar motion. He had no peroneal spasm or recurrence of the coalition.