Hereditary progressive dystonia with marked diurnal fluctuation caused by mutations in the GTP cyclohydrolase I gene

Hereditary progressive dystonia with marked diurnal fluctuation (HPD) (also known as dopa responsive dystonia) is a dystonia with onset in childhood that shows a marked response without any side effects to levodopa. Recently the gene for dopa responsive dystonia (DRD) was mapped to chromosome 14q. Here we report that GTP cyclohydrolase I is mapped to 14q22.1-q22.2. The identification of four independent mutations of the gene for GTP cyclohydrolase I in patients with HPD, as well as a marked decrease in the enzyme's activity in mononuclear blood cells, confirms that the GTP cyclohydrolase I gene is a causative gene for HPD/DRD. This is the first report of a causative gene for the inherited dystonias.

Effect of perchloroethylene inhalation on nasal mucosa in mice

An experimental group of 16 male pure-bred mice was exposed to perchloroethylene gas at 300 ppm for 6h daily for 5 days. Histopathological study of the nasal mucosa was performed sequentially 1, 2, 4, and 7 days after exposure. Erosion of the olfactory epithelium and dilatation of Bowman's glands were observed from 1 to 7 days after exposure. Atrophy of the olfactory nerves was observed from 4 to 7 days after exposure. At 4 days after exposure, regenerating epithelial cells were observed, indicating that these cells represented the first step of the repair process after exposure. Nonetheless, epithelial degeneration in the nasal mucosa without erosion was observed for 4-7 days after exposure. Such epithelial lesions were more severe in the olfactory mucosa and appeared earlier than in other sites in the respiratory mucosa. The present study revealed that perchloroethylene gas exerted a more potent harmful action on the olfactory mucosa than on the general respiratory mucosa.

[The isolation of novel intracellular factors by differential screening methods]

Synaptic plasticity, a physiological basis of learning and memory, is mainly classified into two categories: 1) relatively short-term changes in electrical activities and 2) more long-lasting morphological changes in synapses. Studies on neuronal differentiation have provided detailed clarification of many of the morphological changes in synapses. Although it has been demonstrated that neuronal differentiation is induced by a variety of stimuli, the mechanism of neuronal differentiation has never been sequentially understood. Since there must be unknown factors relevant to these complicated processes, it is important to find and identify the novel intracellular factors that are able to induce the differentiation of neurons. Differential screening is useful cloning method to identify molecules without any information about their structures. Genes expressed in a distinct pattern among two or more groups, eg. different drug-treated cells, tissues and so on, can be isolated. To identify novel neuronal differentiation factors, we differentially screened approximately 500,000 primary clones from the cDNA library of NG108-15 cells treated with TPA and diBu-cAMP for 72 hr. Using two single strand cDNA probes, which were reverse-transcribed from poly(A)+ RNA, TA-20 was isolated from cells treated with TPA and diBu-cAMP (probe TA) or from cells treated with diBu-cAMP alone (probe A) for 72 hr. Clones that hybridized preferentially to the probe TA were further investigated by Southern and Northern blots. Thus the identified clone TA20 is a novel gene and plays functional roles as a neuronal differentiation factor.

Developmental changes in ANP-stimulated guanylyl cyclase activity enhanced by ATP in rat lung membrane fractions

1. ANP (atrial natriuretic peptides)- or ANP/ATP-stimulated guanylyl cyclase activities were compared in adult (2 month old) and neonatal (5-7 day old) rat lung membrane fractions. 2. The enzyme activities of both membranes depended on the incubation time and ATP concentration: although the activities of both membranes were similar after a short incubation time (4 min), those in adult membranes were lower than those of neonatal membranes after longer incubation times (10 and 30 min) or at lower concentrations of ATP. 3. ANP/ATP gamma S-stimulated guanylyl cyclase activities, which were much higher than ANP/ATP-stimulated activities, were similar in both membranes. 4. ATPase activity of adult membranes was higher than that of neonatal membranes, suggesting that hydrolysis of ATP leads to a decrease of ANP/ATP-guanylyl cyclase activity in adult membranes. Triton X-100 enhanced and diminished ANP/ATP-stimulated guanylyl cyclase activities of adult and neonatal membranes, respectively, and thereby abolished the adult/neonatal difference in the membrane response to ATP. 5. ANP-stimulated activities of both membranes were much more activated by pre-incubation with ATP gamma S than those induced by simultaneous addition of ATP gamma S. The former activities were decreased to levels of the latter by Triton X-100. The latter activities were not affected by Triton X-100. 6. The present results suggested that conformation of lung plasma membranes is related to activation of the ANP receptor/guanylyl cyclase system.

Crossed fat embolism in a cow with tetralogy of Fallot

A 10-month-old, female Holstein-Friesian cow with tetralogy of Fallot died during surgery for ameliorating pulmonary stenosis. Necropsy revealed no fracture of bones. Microscopically, fat emboli in the capillaries were detected in the brain, kidney, lung, adrenal gland and pituitary. In the kidney, many fat emboli were present in the glomeruli. No significant changes of the neurons were found throughout the brain, and perivascular hemorrhage and/or necrosis were rarely seen accompanying with fat emboli in the cerebral cortex. The trigger for fat embolism might be costectomy, and right-to-left shunt due to heart malformation might be attributed to crossed and systemic distribution of the fat emboli.

Suppression of respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes by azelastine hydrochloride (Azeptin)

The inhibitory action of azelastine hydrochloride (Azeptin) on the respiratory burst in peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) has been studied. Azeptin in vitro suppressed chemiluminescence and superoxide (O2-) generation by human PMN in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Phorbol myristyl acetate (PMA) and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced O2- generation were strongly suppressed by 10(-6) M and 10(-5) M Azeptin, respectively. PMN and PAM from rabbits injected with Azeptin 0.2 mg.kg-1 for 5 days showed lower chemiluminescence and O2- generation than cells from untreated rabbits. Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction activity in human PMN was suppressed by treatment of PMN with 10(-6) M Azeptin for 6 h. Inositol trisphosphate, intracellular free calcium, and protein kinase C activity were decreased by 10(-6) M to 10(-5) M Azeptin. The tyrosine phosphorylation of many proteins, especially a 115 kDa protein, was suppressed by 10(-5) M Azeptin. However, superoxide dismutase activity in PMN, PAM, and lung tissue samples was only slightly decreased, even when the rabbits were treated with 1.0 mg.kg-1 Azeptin for 5 days. The results suggest that Azeptin suppresses multiple signal transduction steps in the respiratory burst of PMN. This suppressive action should be very useful in the prevention and treatment of reactive oxygen-associated disorders.

[Clinical evaluation of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) on advanced and recurrent breast cancer. Clinical study group of CMF for breast cancer in Japan]

The clinical efficacy of "CMF" chemotherapy, (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil), was evaluated on advanced and recurrent breast cancer. The response rate was 36.1% in 61 evaluable cases, including four CR and eighteen PR. In terms of efficacy classified by metastatic lesion, the effective rates were 51.4% in soft tissue, 28.6% in viscera, and 20.0% in bone metastases. The main side effects were nausea/vomiting, anorexia, and leucopenia. In this study, CMF chemotherapy resulted in good clinical effects, and its response rate was almost the same as that to CMF chemotherapy in Europe and USA, but slightly lower than that to CAF chemotherapy. As to the side effects, the incidence of leucopenia, thrombocytopenia or alopecia was lower in CMF chemotherapy than in CAF chemotherapy. Also, unlike CAF chemotherapy, CMF chemotherapy had no cumulative dose-limitation and showed no cardiotoxicity. In conclusion, CMF chemotherapy is considered to be one of the most useful treatments for advanced and recurrent breast cancer.

A double blind comparative study of tegafur (FT) and UFT (a combination of Tegafur and uracil) in advanced breast cancer

A double blind study to compare the efficacy of oral UFT (400 mg Tegafur (FT) plus 896 mg uracil/day) with that of oral FT (800 mg/day) on advanced breast cancer was performed between November, 1986, and November, 1989. Sixty patients were registered for the trial and fifty-six cases were evaluated (28 for UFT and 28 for FT). The primary end points in the study were response rate and time to relapse. There were no significant differences in patients' characteristics in either group. The objective response rates were 39% (11/28; 95% confidence interval (C.I.), 22-59%) in UFT and 21% (6/28; 95% C.I., 8-41%) in FT, without statistical significance (P = 0.25). For time to relapse, a trend was seen in favor of UFT, but this effect did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.09). Both subjective and objective adverse effects were similar between the two treatments. The overall survivals were similar in both parts of the study. The size of the trial was too small for a definite conclusion to be drawn although, for both response rate and time to relapse, a trend was seen in favor of UFT. A large scale randomized study will be necessary to compare the drugs in the management of patients with advanced breast cancer.

A nine-year chronic toxicity study of cadmium in monkeys. II. Effects of dietary cadmium on circulatory function, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride

The effects of long-term (9 y) po administration of daily low doses of cadmium on blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram and plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were examined in rhesus monkeys. Thirty-five male rhesus monkeys were divided into 5 groups and fed pelleted food containing cadmium chloride at dosages of 0, 3, 10, 30 or 100 micrograms cadmium/g food (= ppm). The 100 ppm group had increased blood pressure during the initial 1 1/2 y. Thereafter, the expected increase in blood pressure that occurred due to aging in the control and 3 ppm groups was not evident in the 100 ppm group. No changes attributable to cadmium were detected in pulse rates or in electrocardiograms. Plasma cholesterol in the 2 highest dosage groups and triglyceride in the 100 ppm group were slightly lower than in controls after 2 1/2 y. Long-term exposure to cadmium contributed to the development of elevated blood pressure during the first and second years and then inhibited the hypertension expected due to aging.

Effect of obesity on echocardiographic parameters in children

We studied the effect of obesity on echocardiographic parameters in Japanese children. The subjects were 341 children: 106 first graders (age 6 years), 166 seventh graders (age 12 years), and 69 tenth graders (age 15 years). They were assigned to six groups according to school grade and sex. Echocardiographic parameters included thickness of the interventricular septum and of the posterior wall, end diastolic left ventricular internal dimension, and left ventricular mass. Left ventricular parameters were normalized for height, and for height to the power of 2.7. The obesity index as well as the body mass index were used to estimate obesity, because the obesity index is frequently used in Japan. There were significant correlations between the indices of obesity and left ventricular internal dimension or left ventricular mass in each group. The obesity index was more strongly correlated than the body mass index with posterior wall thickness and left ventricular internal dimension. For normalization of left ventricular parameters, correction for height was better for the first graders, whereas correction for height to the power of 2.7 was better for seventh and tenth graders. The most important finding was that the effect of obesity on left ventricular parameters was evident at 6 years of age.

The monoamine content of the brain in the neurofilament-deficient quail, (the Quiver quail)

Changes in neurotransmission are known to take place in a variety of conditions, such as Parkinson's disease. A neurofilament-deficient mutant of the Japanese quail, named the Quiver quail, exhibits generalized quivering as a clinical sign. The content of monoamines (noradrenaline (NA), dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine) and the uptake and release of L-[3H]NA were measured in brain of this bird. In Quiver, the NA content in neostriatum and thalamus, and the 5-hydroxytryptamine content in neostriatum, paleostriatum and thalamus were significantly increased, in comparison with the normal quail. The dopamine content and L-[3H]NA uptake and release in the Quiver mutant were similar to those in normal quail.

Distinct induction of c-fos mRNA in NG108-15 cells transfected with muscarinic m1 and m3 receptors

The differences of intracellular signalling mechanisms between muscarinic acetylcholine m1 and m3 receptors, which are coupled with polyphosphoinositide turnover, were examined by using m1- and m3-transfected NG108-15 cells. The c-fos mRNA was induced by 1 mM acetylcholine peak at 60 min in both m1 and m3 cells. The c-fos induction in m1 cells was inhibited by 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetraacetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM) and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide hydrochloride (W-7), but was not inhibited by prolonged treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), suggesting that intracellular Ca2+ and calmodulin are involved in the induction. The c-fos induction in m3 cells was inhibited by BAPTA-AM and prolonged treatment with TPA, but was not influenced by W-7, suggesting that protein kinase C is mainly involved in m3-induced c-fos expression. Acetylcholine induced an increase in inositol phosphates and a transient increase in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ in both m1 and m3 cells. Sustained stimulation of acetylcholine strongly increased the inositol monophosphate content in m3 cells, but that of inositol trisphosphate and inositol diphosphate in m1 cells. These results suggest that the difference between m1- and m3-induced c-fos mRNA induction mechanisms is due to the difference in respective properties in polyphosphoinositide turnover.

[3H]Rolipram binding and phosphodiesterase activity in neuroblastoma N18TG-2 and glioma C6Bu-1

To clarify the functional significance of type IV phosphodiesterase (PDEIV) in neurons and glia cells [3H]rolipram binding and phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity were examined in cytosol and membrane fractions of neuroblastoma N18TG-2 and glioma C6Bu-1 cells. [3H]Rolipram binding was highly observed in cytosolic fractions of N18TG-2 compared to C6Bu-1. Binding was hardly observed in membrane fractions of both types of cells. Rolipram strongly (70%) inhibited the hydrolytic activity of cAMP in cytosolic fractions of N18TG-2. The activity in cytosol fractions of C6Bu-1 was slightly (20%) inhibited by rolipram. These results suggest that PDEIV plays important roles in neurons.

Interferon as adjunctive treatment for non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of recombinant alpha 2b-interferon therapy on natural killer (NK) activity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in the peripheral blood in patients with renal cell carcinoma who had undergone radical nephrectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 1988 and June 1989, 20 patients (14 men and six women, mean age 59 years, range 43-80) received interferon (IFN) therapy following radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. Thirteen patients had stage I disease, one had stage II and six had stage III; none had metastases.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in NK activity at 5 and 7 months after starting IFN therapy but there was no increase in ADCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Low doses of IFN administered long-term increased NK activity in patients with renal cell carcinoma. This finding should be helpful in designating protocols for randomized studies of post-operative IFN administration as adjuvant therapy.

Spontaneous hemangioendothelial cell hyperplasia of the heart in B6C3F1 female mice

Spontaneous hemangioendothelial cell hyperplasia of the heart was found in 12 of 3,910 female B6C3F1(C57BL/6CrSlc x C3H/HeSlc) mice that were used in chronic toxicology and carcinogenicity studies at the An-Pyo Center (Shizuoka, Japan). Histologically, the lesions appeared diffusely in the heart as widened vascular spaces lined by a single layer of endothelial-like cells with enlarged nuclei between the muscle fibers. These proliferating cells were identified as hemangioendothelial cells by immunohistochemical techniques, lectin-binding patterns, and electron microscopic examination. Morphological differences were found between this spontaneous hemangioendothelial hyperplasia and that which has been reported as a preneoplastic lesions of hemangiosarcoma. Spontaneous hemangioendothelial cell hyperplasia of the heart occurs rarely; however, it was interesting that spontaneous hemangioendothelial cell hyperplasia was only seen in females with adenocarcinomas of the mammary gland.

Human islet isolation in 104 consecutive cases. Factors affecting isolation success

One of the major steps toward successful islet transplantation for the treatment of type diabetes is to obtain islets of sufficient number and viability. Using a standardized method of isolating islets, the goal of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the outcome of islet isolation. A total of 104 cadaveric human pancreata were processed for islets by the same team. Data from the islet-processing charts were reviewed retrospectively. The two endpoints were the recovery of islets, viable after 2 days of culture (group V = viable, group NV = nonviable) and the islet yield. Viable islets were recovered in 61% of cases (n = 63). Minimal blood glucose recorded during hospitalization was very significantly lower in group V (124 +/- 5 vs. 148 +/- 9, P = 0.01). Lack of significant medical history in the donor was associated with better viability as compared with various donor predispositions (chi-2 4.21, P = 0.04). Cold ischemia time (8.1 +/- 0.5 hr in group V vs. 9.8 +/- 0.9 hr in group NV, P = 0.07) and collagenase lot (5 lots tested, chi-2 13.1, P = 0.01) also affected the recovery of viable islets. Hospital time was shorter in group V (65.3 +/- 6.8 vs. 80.9 +/- 17.9 hr, P = 0.35). Multivariate logistic regression analyses of viable islet recovery identified minimal blood glucose (P = 0.03) and collagenase lot (P = 0.06) as the most significant risk factors. However, the best multivariate predictive model--which includes blood glucose, collagenase lot, donor age and surgical procurement team--correctly predicted 66.2% of cases only. Multivariate analysis of final islet yield designed hospitalization length, cardiorespiratory arrest, surgical procurement team, and collagenase lot as the best predictors. These data obtained in a large series of pancreata emphasized several donor and technical factors that should target the attention of islet transplant researchers in order to improve islet yield and viability.

[A randomized clinical trial of adjuvant endocrine therapy after breast conserving surgery for early breast cancer. Cooperative Study Group for Breast Conserving Therapy]

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of adjuvant endocrine therapy after breast conserving surgery for early breast cancer, we have conducted a randomized controlled study since 1989. One hundred twelve-patients having a small breast tumor, less than 2 cm in diameter, and no palpable axillary lymph node, were the subjects of this study. All these patients underwent partial mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection and were randomly divided into two groups according to the type of postoperative adjuvant endocrine therapy: Group I, tamoxifen (20 mg/day) for 2 years; Group II, no tamoxifen administration. The median follow-up period was 32.2 months. The incidence of local recurrence in the ipsilateral breast was 1.9% in Group I, which was lower than in Group II (6.8%). Three-year disease-free survival rates were also more favorable in Group I (94.2%) than in Group II (88.9%). This difference in prognosis was evident in patients with ER-positive tumors but not related to the menopausal status. These results suggest that adjuvant endocrine therapy with tamoxifen may be recommended for patients who underwent breast conserving surgery for early breast cancer, especially in those with ER-positive tumors.

[Experimental techniques for developing new drugs acting on dementia (1)--Senescence-accelerated mouse: neurochemical approaches and the findings]

The senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM) was established by Takeda et al (1991) as a model of accelerated aging. A P/8 strain of SAM spontaneously shows learning and memory disturbances with increasing age. Several neurochemical markers were examined in the brain of mice of P/8 strain and were compared with those in the R/1 strain as a control. Here, the author describes neurochemical methods and our findings obtained by the methods regarding measurement of: 1) the glutamate content, 2) release of glutamate and acetylcholine (ACh) from brain slices, 3) ligand bindings to neurotransmitter receptors (NMDA, muscarinic ACh), protein kinase C and glial cells and 4) mRNA expression and metabolism of amyloid precursor protein (APP).

[The two cases of examination of chemotherapy in advanced gallbladder carcinoma]

Two cases of advanced carcinoma of gallbladder were treated by combination chemotherapy consisting of 5-FU, leucovorin and continuous administration of etoposide. One of the cases was a male 61 years old and another was a female 64 years old, both of whom were diagnosed as inoperable cases by imaging studies. When combination chemotherapy consisting of 5-FU (750mg/day or 1,000mg/day infusion) was given, leucovorin (30mg/day) and etoposide (25mg/day oral or 33mg/day continuous infusion), angiography or other imaging studies pointed out a reduction in their lesions of over 50%, and their QOL was markedly improved.