Pulmonary vascular involvement in neoplastic angioendotheliosis

Neoplastic angioendotheliosis has rarely been described as a respiratory disease. A patient is described with pulmonary vascular involvement induced by neoplastic angioendotheliosis in pulmonary vessels.

(1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in culture fluid of fungi activates factor G, a limulus coagulation factor

Two well-known polysaccharides, (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan and mannan, are major structural components of the fungus cell wall. The G test is a direct method to measure (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan using a (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-sensitive component, factor G, fractionated from the limulus lysate. The concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in culture supernatants of Candida albicans increased to 1,390.0 pg/ml at 24 hours. The concentration of mannan also increased parallel with fungal growth. However, after digestion of supernatants with endo-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucanase, the reactivity to factor G disappeared, although titers of antimannan monoclonal antibody-based latex agglutination were unchanged. Our study demonstrated that cell suspensions of both C. albicans and Cryptoccocus neoformans activated the limulus factor G, and that not only the conidia form but also the filamentous form of Aspergillus fumigatus reacted with factor G. Various Candida spp. (C. paraspilosis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei), Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhodotorula rubra, Trichosporon beigelii, and A. fumigatus released soluble (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan into their culture supernatants, but C. neoformans and Cunninghamella bertholletiae showed only a small reaction to the G test during their culture. Our results indicate that the G test is a good method for serodiagnosis of deep mycosis and also as a screening tool for contamination of medical devices, drugs, and experimental materials with (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan.

Changes in lens organophosphate metabolites in response to endotoxin-induced uveitis

Uveitis was induced in rats by endotoxin administration. The temporal correlation between ocular inflammatory reaction and lens metabolic change was examined. The levels of lens phosphate compounds, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), choline phosphate (CP), and inorganic phosphate (Pi), were measured using 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Anterior chamber inflammation reaction appeared 12 h after administration, peaked at 24 h, and disappeared by 72 h. Concurrent with the active inflammation, lens Pi increased significantly 22 +/- 17% (p < 0.05) and 23 +/- 15% (p < 0.05), 12 and 24 h after administration, respectively, and returned to normal while the inflammation abated. No significant changes were observed in CP and ATP levels in the lens during the course of inflammation. The time course of the inflammation appeared closely related to the change in Pi level, which may be part of the protective mechanism of the lens against inflammation.

Localization of the gene (SLC1A3) encoding human glutamate transporter (GluT-1) to 5p13 by fluorescence in situ hybridization

The glutamate transporter takes up glutamate to terminate neurotransmission and to prevent neuronal cell death. Chromosomal location of the human glutamate transporter, hGluT-1, gene (SLC1A3) was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. SLC1A3 was mapped to chromosome 5p13.

Potentiation of cholecystokinin-induced amylase release by peptide VIP in guinea pig pancreatic acini

The mechanism of the potentiating effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on cholecystokinin (CCK-8)-induced amylase release was studied in isolated and perifused pancreatic acini of the guinea pig. VIP (30 pM-10 nM) potentiated CCK-8 (100 pM)-induced amylase release. Unexpectedly, VIP inhibited CCK-8-induced intracellular Ca2+ oscillations. Forskolin (10 microM), an activator of adenylate cyclase, potentiated CCK-8 (100 pM)-induced amylase release with a time course similar to that observed with VIP. Caffeine (20 mM) inhibited both amylase release and Ca2+ oscillations in response to CCK-8, suggesting that inhibition of Ca2+ oscillations does not necessarily lead to a potentiation of amylase release. When intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) was raised by thapsigargin (10 microM), a selective inhibitor of Ca(2+)-ATPase in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), VIP (10 nM) induced significantly greater amylase release than that induced by VIP alone. When [Ca2+]c was lowered by preincubation with BAPTA-AM (25 microM), a cell-permeant Ca2+ chelator, VIP-induced amylase release was completely abolished. These results suggest that VIP, in spite of its inhibitory action on Ca2+ oscillations, facilitates a Ca(2+)-dependent process distal to the increase in [Ca2+]c to potentiate CCK-8-induced amylase release.

Size and position invariance of neuronal responses in monkey inferotemporal cortex

1. Object vision is largely invariant to changes of retinal images of objects in size and position. To reveal neuronal mechanisms of this invariance, we recorded activities from single cells in the anterior part of the inferotemporal cortex (anterior IT), determined the critical features for the activation of individual cells, and examined the effects of changes in stimulus size and position on the responses. 2. Twenty-one percent of the anterior IT cells studied here responded to ranges of size > 4 octaves, whereas 43% responded to size ranges < 2 octaves. The optimal stimulus size, measured by the distance between the outer edges along the longest axis of the stimulus, ranged from 1.7 to 30 degrees. 3. The selectivity for shape was mostly preserved over the entire range of effective size and over the receptive field, whereas some subtle but statistically significant changes were observed in one half of the cells studied here. 4. The size-specific responses observed in 43% of the cells are consistent with recent psychophysical data that suggest that images of objects are stored in a size-specific manner in the long-term memory. Both size-dependent and -independent processing of images may occur in anterior IT.

Human proteasome subunits from 2-dimensional gels identified by partial sequencing

Human proteasomes consist of 14 major subunits which can be resolved by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Tryptic peptides from the subunits were sequenced. This allowed identification of all proteins in two-dimensional electrophoresis gels with proteasome subunits whose sequences are known from cDNA. The results also precisely define the specificity of a panel of subunit-specific monoclonal antibodies. A new proteasome subunit (Z) was discovered. In contrast, the putative subunit MECL-1 could not be detected in human placenta proteasomes.

Inhibition of the T-cell receptor-mediated signal transduction by microinjection of anti-Lck monoclonal antibody into T-cells

Engagement of T-cell receptor (TcR)/CD3 complexes on T-cells rapidly provokes tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, which is thought to be an essential step to the following events of T-cell activation. p56lck, a member of src-related, non-receptor type protein tyrosine kinases, is expressed predominantly in lymphocytes. Accumulating data suggest that p56lck is one of the kinases responsible for TcR-mediated protein tyrosine phosphorylation. To investigate the role of p56lck in TcR-signaling in detail, we injected anti-Lck monoclonal antibody (mAb), MOL171 or MOL294, both specifically suppress Lck kinase activity in vitro, into Jurkat T-cells by the erythrocyte-ghost procedure in order to block the activity of p56lck. In Jurkat cells injected with anti-Lck mAb, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization induced by TcR-stimulation was markedly reduced in comparison with control mouse IgG-injected samples. This block of Ca2+ influx seems to be specific for TcR-signaling because anti-Lck mAb-injection did not cause significant suppression of phytohaemagglutinin-induced Ca2+ increase. Furthermore, injection of anti-Lck mAb inhibited TcR-mediated protein tyrosine phosphorylation of 100 kDa protein and phospholipase C gamma 1. These results confirm that p56lck is an indispensable element of TcR-signaling and p100 and phospholipase C gamma 1 are strongly presumed to be candidates for substrates for p56lck.

Passive transfer and active immunization with the recombinant leucine-zipper (Yo) protein as an attempt to establish an animal model of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration

Passive transfer of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) IgG to rodents as well as active immunization with recombinant Yo fusion protein were tried in order to examine the roles of anti-Purkinje cell antibody (anti-Yo antibody) present in the sera and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with PCD in Purkinje cell loss, the hall mark of PCD pathology. On a single injection of PCD IgG to mouse brain, IgG was taken into Purkinje cells and remained there for more than 36 h without Purkinje cell loss. Injection of PCD IgG together with complement or lipopolysaccharide-activated human macrophages or rat mononuclear cells to rats ventricles did not cause Purkinje cell loss. We made a recombinant Yo fusion protein that has the leucine-zipper protein (Yo protein), the common epitope for anti-Yo antibody. Mice immunized with this Yo protein produced high titer antibody against it for more than 3 months, during which time neither neurological symptoms nor Purkinje cell loss occurred. The anti-Yo antibody, with or without complement or activated mononuclear cells, therefore could not be the sole cause of Purkinje cell loss.

Cloning, analysis and expression of an rpoS homologue gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

A homologue of the rpoS gene of Escherichia coli was cloned from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 by hybridization with an oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe designed from an amino-acid stretch conserved among the principal sigma factors of eubacteria. Two open reading frames, the pcm gene and the orf-297 of unknown function, were found in the upstream region of rpoS, and in the same order as in E. coli. The rpoS gene of P. aeruginosa was expressed in E. coli and complemented the catalase deficiency of the rpoS mutant of E. coli. The RpoS protein of P. aeruginosa was identified by Western blot analysis in both P. aeruginosa (Pa) and the transformed E. coli. Levels of RpoS of Pa increased drastically at the onset of the stationary growth phase.

Marked increase in glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST/GluT-1) mRNA following transient retinal ischemia

We have demonstrated the cellular localization of glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST/GluT-1) mRNA in the rat retina and its induction after ischemia by in situ hybridization. GLAST mRNA was expressed in the inner two-thirds of the inner nuclear layer (INL) and in sparse small cells in the inner portion of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of the adult rat retina. GLAST mRNA was also found in about 90% of cells in the optic nerve head where more than 90% of cells express glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA. Moreover, experimental occlusion of the central retinal artery followed by reperfusion for 48 h resulted in degeneration of neurons and a marked increase in GLAST mRNA expression in the INL. These findings suggest that GLAST may be expressed in Müller cells and astrocytes in the retina, and may play an important role in regulation of extracellular glutamate concentration especially under ischemic conditions.

Studies on thermophile products. XI. Biological effect of antigen presenting inhibitor, isofatty acid-containing phosphatidylethanolamine, on mouse macrophages

A new fraction, Fr. 8-A, which consists of a phosphatidylethanolamine with C14:0-C18:0 isofatty acids was obtained from Bacillus stearothermophilus UBT8038. The fraction inhibited major histocompatibility complex class II (Ia) antigen expression and antigen presentation on mouse macrophages. The effect of Fr.8-A on macrophage functions related to antigen presentation was investigated. Fr. 8-A increased arachidonate release, prostaglandin (PG) E2 release and nitrite production from peritoneal macrophages. It increased further the levels of PGE2, nitrite and tumor necrosis factor in the culture supernatant of the macrophages induced by the supernatant from concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cell cultures. Fr. 8-A augmented the activity of peritoneal macrophages to suppress Con A-stimulated T cell proliferation. Addition of either indomethacin or Ng-methyl-L-arginine had no effect on the augmentation of suppressor macrophage activity or the inhibition of antigen presentation by Fr. 8-A, while simultaneous addition of both inhibitors abrogated the effect of the fraction. These results indicate that Fr. 8-A inhibits Ia expression and antigen presentation, and augments suppressor macrophage activity at least partly via the activation of both cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide synthase pathways.

Calcium transients in single myocytes and membranous ultrastructures during the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in rats

1. We examined changes in intracellular calcium transients of separated single myocytes from the right ventricle (RV) of the rat heart during the change from adaptation to maladaptation in response to a pressure overload. 2. Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) secondary to pulmonary hypertension was induced by a subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline. Developed tensions of the RV-free wall were decreased as RVH progressed. Single myocytes were separated from the RV during different stages of RVH. Fura-2/AM-loaded cells were field stimulated, and changes in calcium transients were measured by Olympus OSP-3 system. We also examined membranous ultrastructures (sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, surface caveolae) involved in calcium metabolism in the hearts using scanning electron microscopy. 3. We observed characteristic changes in calcium transients during the change from adaptation to maladaptation, and also found that one parameter (amplitude) of calcium transients appeared to be correlated with the changes in the number of sarcoplasmic reticulum. 4. These results provided some insights into the mechanism of calcium handling of hypertrophied heart in response to a pressure overload from adaptation to maladaptation especially when stimulatory frequency was high, and suggested that heart rate control is a very important factor for the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure.

Long-term results of valve replacement with the St. Jude Medical valve

Between 1980 and 1992, 908 patients underwent single aortic (n = 178), single mitral (n = 577), or double aortic and mitral (n = 153) valve replacement with the St. Jude Medical valve at our hospital. There were 392 male patients and 516 female patients whose ages ranged from 1.2 to 74 years (mean, 52 years). The early mortality rate was 5.0% (45 patients). A 94% complete follow-up was accomplished for 863 patients who were discharged from the hospital (4682.3 patient-years). Sixty-nine of these patients died, for a late mortality rate of 8.0%. Fifty-two patients, including four patients (0.3%/100 patient-years) had anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, 4(0.1%/100 patient-years) had prosthetic valve endocarditis, 11 (0.2%/100 patient-years) had nonstructural valve dysfunction, and 16 (0.3%/100 patient-years) underwent reoperation. There were no structural valve failures in this series. The total number of valve-related deaths was 22. Of those patients who survived, 98% were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II at the date of the last follow-up. The probabilities of freedom from thromboembolism and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage at 10 years were 94% +/- 2% and 97% +/- 2% in aortic valve replacement, 89% +/- 2% and 98% +/- 4% in mitral valve replacement, and 89% +/- 6% and 92% +/- 6% in double valve replacement, respectively. Significant hemolysis related to the St. Jude Medical valve occurred in 8 of the 577 patients who received mitral valve replacement in our early experience, and modifying the valve orientation appeared to play an important role in reducing hemolysis. The event-free rate, including all complications and late deaths, at 10 years was 75% +/- 7%, 74% +/- 3%, and 81% +/- 6% in aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, and double valve replacement, respectively. On the basis of these results, the St. Jude Medical valve seems to be an excellent mechanical valve in terms of durability and low thrombogenicity and remains our prosthetic valve of choice when valve replacement with a mechanical valve is indicated.

Popliteal venous aneurysm with pulmonary embolism

A 29-year-old female was admitted to the hospital because of increasing exertional dyspnea, chest oppressive feeling and palpitation. Lung perfusion scan, pulmonary angiography, and venography of the lower extremities revealed multiple pulmonary embolism and a right popliteal venous aneurysm as the probable source of emboli. B-mode/Doppler echography and magnetic resonance imaging were useful for the preoperative evaluation. Following anticoagulant therapy and thrombolytic therapy using intravenous heparin and urokinase, respectively, the popliteal venous aneurysm was surgically excised; the walls contained organized thrombus. She delivered a baby without any complication 2 years after the surgery.

Contrasting effects of isoproterenol and phosphodiesterase III inhibitor on intracellular calcium transients in cardiac myocytes from failing hearts

1. Effects of a newly developed phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibitor, E-1020, on intracellular calcium transients were compared with those of isoproterenol (ISO) in isolated single myocytes from failing hearts secondary to pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline injection. Myocytes were isolated by enzyme digestion using a Langendorff apparatus. Changes in intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were recorded using a fura-2 fluorescence microscopic technique. Cyclic AMP contents of the hearts were measured by radio-immunoassay. 2. Myocytes from failing hearts showed Ca2+ transients with a low peak (low amplitude) and delayed decline of Ca2+ transients. Both ISO and E-1020 increased peak [Ca2+]i, max + d[Ca2+]i/dt, and max - d[Ca2+]i/dt in a concentration-dependent manner while both agents decreased T80L (time to 80% decline of amplitude from peak light). The concentrations which increased peak [Ca2+]i by 50% were 1.6 x 10(-9) mol/L of ISO and 2 x 10(-6) mol/L of E-1020. These concentrations increased cAMP in the heart to the same levels. Analysis of the effects of both agents on peak [Ca2+]i versus max - d[Ca2+]i/dt showed that ISO is much more effective on peak [Ca2+]i while E-1020 is more effective on max - d[Ca2+]i/dt. 3. These results showed that the effects of ISO and E-1020 on the parameters of intracellular Ca2+ transients of single myocytes from failing hearts are slightly different, and suggest that E-1020 may improve diastolic function as well as systolic function in failing hearts.