High glucose-enhanced mesangial cell extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase activation and alpha1(IV) collagen expression in response to endothelin-1: role of specific protein kinase C isozymes

High glucose (HG) stimulates glomerular mesangial cell (MC) expression of extracellular matrix, a process involving protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes and enhanced signaling by autocrine peptides such as endothelin-1 (ET-1). The purpose of this study was to identify the specific PKC isozymes mediating the effects of HG on MC extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) signaling and alpha1(IV) collagen expression in response to ET-1. HG (30 mmol/l for 72 h) enhanced ET-1-stimulated alpha1(IV) collagen mRNA expression from 1.2 +/- 0.1-fold to 1.9 +/- 0.2-fold (P < 0.05 vs. normal glucose [NG] + ET-1), and the effect was significantly reduced by Calphostin C or the MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) inhibitor PD98059. In transiently transfected MCs, dominant-negative (DN)-PKC-delta, -epsilon, or -zeta inhibited ET-1 activation of ERK1/2. Likewise, downstream of ERK1/2, ET-1 stimulated Elk-1-driven GAL4 luciferase activity to 11 +/- 1-fold (P < 0.002 vs. NG + ET-1) in HG, and DN-PKC-delta, -epsilon, or -zeta attenuated this response to NG levels. HG enhanced ET-1-stimulated intracellular alpha1(IV) collagen protein expression, assessed by confocal immunofluorescence imaging, showed that individual DN-PKC-delta, -epsilon, -zeta, as well as DN-PKC-alpha and -beta, attenuated the response. Thus, HG-enhanced ET-1 stimulation of alpha1(IV) collagen expression requires PKC-delta, -epsilon, and -zeta to act through an ERK1/2-dependent pathway and via PKC-alpha and -beta, which are independent of ERK1/2.

[The study on the occult metastases to cervical lymph node in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx]

OBJECTIVE

To study the metastastic regularity of cervical lymph node in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx, which will provide some theoretical basis for surgeon to use selective neck dissection (SND) in some patients with carcinoma above.

METHOD

Sixty-nine originally cN0 staged neck dissection specimens from 40 patients were evaluated using mutipl-level sectioning in 4 microns intervals, which were respectively processed by H&E-staining and immunostaining with an antibody to cytokeratin (CK AE3). These patients weren't given any treatment (radiotherapy or chemotherapy or surgery in neck) before surgery. All cases had been followed up 1 year or more.

RESULT

The examination of lymph nodes from 40 patients revealed 31 (0.59% 31/2219) occult metastases in 14 (35% 14/40) patients. Among them, six patients with supraglottic cancer, 1 patient with transglottic cancer and 7 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. There were no occult metastases to cervical lymph node among 9 patients with glottic cancer. All occult metastases mainly located in ipsilateral level II and/or level III. Occult metastases weren't found in nodes from level I, level IV and level V.

CONCLUSION

The study further prove that metastases to cervical lymph node mainly occur in the ipsilateral level II and level III among patients with carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx. According to the risks of occurring occult metastases to cervical lymph node, we suggest applying to ipsilateral or bilateral SND (level II and level III be dissected) among patients with carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx which staged T2-T4 N0M0 clinically.

Novel mutations in ABCA1 gene in Japanese patients with Tangier disease and familial high density lipoprotein deficiency with coronary heart disease

Mutations in the ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) gene have been recently identified as the molecular defect in Tangier disease (TD) and familial high density lipoprotein deficiency (FHA). We here report novel mutations in the ABCA1 gene in two sisters from a Japanese family with TD who have been described previously (S. Ohtaki, H. Nakagawa, N. Kida, H. Nakamura, K. Tsuda, S. Yokoyama, T. Yamamura, S. Tajima, A. Yamamoto, Atherosclerosis 49 (1983)) and a family with FHA. Both probands of TD and FHA developed coronary heart disease. Sequence analysis of the ABCA1 gene from the patients with TD revealed a homozygous G to A transition at nucleotide 3805 of the cDNA resulting in the substitution of Asp 1229 with Asn in exon 27, and a C to T at nucleotide 6181 resulting in the substitution of Arg 2021 with Trp in exon 47. Sequence analysis of the ABCA1 gene from the FHA patient revealed a homozygous 4 bp CGCC deletion from nucleotide 3787 to 3790 resulting in premature termination by frameshift at codon 1224. These mutations were confirmed by restriction digestion analysis, and were not found in 141 control subjects. Our findings indicate that mutations in the ABCA1 gene are associated with TD as well as FHA.

Engineering of head-mounted projective displays

Head-mounted projective displays (HMPD's) are a novel type of head-mounted display. A HMPD consists of a miniature projection lens mounted upon the user's head and retroreflective sheeting material placed strategically in the environment. First, the imaging concept of a HMPD is reviewed and its potential advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The design and a bench prototype implementation are then presented. Finally, the effects of retroreflective materials on the imaging properties and the optical properties of HMPD's are comprehensively investigated.

Chalcone, acyl hydrazide, and related amides kill cultured Trypanosoma brucei brucei

BACKGROUND

Protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma cause disease in a wide range of mammalian hosts. Trypanosoma brucei brucei, transmitted by tsetse fly to cattle, causes a disease (Nagana) of great economic importance in parts of Africa. T. b. brucei also serves as a model for related Trypanosoma species, which cause human sleeping sickness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chalcone and acyl hydrazide derivatives are known to retard the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and inhibit the malarial cysteine proteinase, falcipain. We tested the effects of these compounds on the growth of bloodstream forms of T. b. brucei in cell culture and in a murine trypanosomiasis model, and investigated their ability to inhibit trypanopain-Tb, the major cysteine proteinase of T. b. brucei.

RESULTS

Several related chalcones, acyl hydrazides, and amides killed cultured bloodstream forms of T. b. brucei, with the most effective compound reducing parasite numbers by 50% relative to control populations at a concentration of 240 nM. The most effective inhibitors protected mice from an otherwise lethal T. b. brucei infection in an in vivo model of acute parasite infection. Many of the compounds also inhibited trypanopain-Tb, with the most effective inhibitor having a Ki value of 27 nM. Ki values for trypanopain-Tb inhibition were up to 50- to 100-fold lower than for inhibition of mammalian cathepsin L, suggesting the possibility of selective inhibition of the parasite enzyme.

CONCLUSIONS

Chalcones, acyl hydrazides, and amides show promise as antitrypanosomal chemotherapeutic agents, with trypanopain-Tb possibly being one of their in vivo targets.

A novel 18-amino acid deletion in apolipoprotein E associated with lipoprotein glomerulopathy

BACKGROUND

Lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG) is a novel disease characterized by proteinuria, lipoprotein thrombi in glomeruli, and an increased concentration of plasma apolipoprotein (apo) E. Previous studies have shown that a genetic disorder of apo E may be associated with the genesis of this disease.

METHODS

An apo E mutation was analyzed in a 57-year-old Japanese male with LPG and systemic atherosclerotic complications. Apo E phenotypes were analyzed by isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. Apo E genotypes were determined by restriction fragment isotyping with HhaI. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of apo E coding region exons 3 and 4 were cloned into pT7Blue-T-vector and were sequenced.

RESULTS

A novel apo E mutation was identified in this patient and his family. There was a discrepancy between an apo E phenotype (E1/3) and genotype (E3/3). Sequence analysis showed a 54 bp deletion in exon 4 of the apo E gene, causing the 18-amino acid deletion (Gln 156-Gly 173-->0). This deletion mutation was further confirmed by the detection of a short fragment of PCR-amplified DNA using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The patient was a heterozygote with apo E1, and this mutation was determined to be the structural basis for the apo E1 phenotype. One of two daughters was a heterozygous carrier of apo E1, although she did not have proteinuria or atherosclerotic diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Apo E1 (Gln 156-Gly 173-->0) is a novel mutation of apo E that may be etiologically related to LPG and to the development of atherosclerosis. The result of this family study suggests that the occurrence of LPG may involve other genetic or environmental factors.

[Effect of guchijianzhou decoction on antioxidation in aged mice]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the antioxidation effect of Guchijianzhou decoction in aged mice.

METHODS

The Guchijianzhou decoction was given to aged mice by gastric intubation and compared with a group of young mice and a group of aged mice giving tape water. The LPO, SOD and CAT level were examined.

RESULTS

There were significant differences as the experimental group was campared with the control groups.

CONCLUSION

The results show that Guchijianzhou decoction is effective in antioxidation and against danage by free radical. It can reinforce antibacterial function and is benificial in the restoration of periodontal health.

[Sialographic follow-up study of patients with Sjögren's syndrome]

Sialographic follow-up studies of 36 cases of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) were performed with the duration of 5-72 months (mean 25 months). Three groups were divided according to the intenational criteria: secondary group, 14 cases (xerophthalmia, or/and xerostomia, and connective tissue diseases), primary group, 14 cases (xerostomia and xerophthalmia), and possible group, 8 cases (xerophthalmia or xerostomia only). Sialographic findings at follow-up examination included (1) delayed evacuation, which may occur as early as 5 months later; (2) increased punctate sialectasis; (3) decreased punctate sialectasis with globular increase; (4) Punctate, globular, and cavity sialectasis with radiolucent sialolith; and (5) centripetal atrophy. The cases with secondary and possible SS without xerostomia demonstrated little involvement of the parotid gland, without sialectasis. But sialodochitis was shown when radiolucent sialolith formed. The stimulated whole salivary flow rate (SWSFR) was closely related to sialographic appearance, i.e., the cases with lower value of SWSFR showed more sialectasis sialographically, but with higher SWSFR value, and less sialectasis.

Magnesium transport induced ex vivo by a pharmacological dose of insulin is impaired in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus may be associated with magnesium depletion, which in turn may contribute to metabolic complications of diabetes including vascular disease and osteoporosis. Intracellular depletion is thought to be due to osmotically induced renal magnesium loss; however, impaired ability of insulin to increase intracellular magnesium during insulin deficiency or insulin resistance could also play a role. Magnesium deficiency per se has also been reported to result in insulin resistance. In order to determine if magnesium transport is altered in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), we measured intracellular Mg(2+) in circulating lymphocytes obtained from nine normal subjects and seven patients with NIDDM. Ionized intracellular Mg(2+) was determined by fluorescent spectroscopy using Mg-fura-2. A 30 min incubation of insulin with lymphocytes obtained from normal subjects resulted in an increase in Mg(2+) of 8.6 +/- 3.6 percent (mean +/- SEM) at 100 mu U/ml which reached a plateau at approximately 250 mu U/ml (11.0 +/- 1.7 percent). The mean lymphocyte Mg(2+) in the patients (0.198 +/- 0.011 mM) was not significantly lower than normal (0.218 +/- 0.017). Insulin (500 mU/ml) added acutely during the fluorescence reading caused a rapid 31 +/- 3.9 percent rise in intracellular Mg(2+) in the normal subjects, which was significantly greater than the 18 +/- 1.6 percent rise observed in the NIDDM subjects (P < 0.01). The effect of magnesium deficiency was also studied in 3 normal subjects experimentally Mg deficient for 3 weeks. The mean lymphocyte Mg(2+) fell from 0.198 +/- 0.009 mM pre-diet to 0.153 +/- 0.006 mM post-diet. and the insulin-induced rise in Mg(2+) fell from 27.2 percent pre-magnesium depletion to 12.7 percent post-magnesium depletion. These data suggest that insulin resistance and magnesium depletion may result in a vicious cycle of worsening insulin resistance and decrease in intracellular Mg(2+) which may limit the role of magnesium in vital cellular processes.

Sialographic follow-up study of patients with Sjogren's syndrome

Sialographic follow-up studies of 36 cases of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) were performed with the duration of 5-72 months (mean 25 months). Three groups were divided according to the international criteria: secondary group, 14 cases (xerophthalmia, or/and xerostomia, and connective tissue diseases), primary group, 14 cases (xerostomia and xerophthalmia), and possible group, 8 cases (xerophthalmia or xerosptomia only). Sialographic findings at follow-up examination included (1) delayed evacuation, which may occur as early as 5 months later; (2) increased punctate sialectasis; (3) decreased punctate sialectasis with globular increase; (4) punctate, globular, and cavity sialectasis with radiolucent sialolith; and (5) centripetal atrophy. The cases with secondary and possible SS without xerostomia demonstrated little involvement of the parotid gland, without sialectasis. But sialodochitis was shown when radiolucent sialolith formed. The stimulated whole salivary flow rate (SWSFR) was closely related to sialographic appearance, i.e., the cases with lower value of SWSFR showed more siatectasis sialographically, but with higher SWSFR value, and less sialectasis. The relationship between the SS and pyogenic or candidal infection was discussed.

[An immunohistochemical study of HLA-DR expression in salivary glands from patients with Sjogren's syndrome]

Specimens of salivary gland tissue from 21 cases of SS were analyzed by ABC immunohistochemistry technicue with a monoclonal antibody to HLA-DR. The results showed that positive immunostaining for HLA-DR were found in duct cells, acinar cells and a part of infiltrating cells respectively. The proportions of duct and acinar cells expressing HLA-DR were not increased between SS and controls. However, there are differences in their staining intensity. The HLA-DR expression on the epithelial cells in SS was most intense than in controls. Our data suggest that the HLA-DR expression of SS may be regarded as an important factor in local immune rections.