[Studies on chemical analysis of mycotoxin (XXI). A rapid analytical method for aflatoxins by immunoaffinity column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography]

An analytical method for aflatoxins using solvent extraction, affinity column (containing monoclonal antibodies against aflatoxins bound onto agarose) clean-up and high performance liquid chromatographic determination was applied to the analysis of aflatoxins in peanuts, pistachio nuts, white and black peppers and corn. Recoveries of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 spiked to peanuts, pistachio nuts and corn at the level of 20 ppb were 77.4-81.4, 70.1-77.9 and 72.3-94.8%, respectively. In the case of white and black peppers, because the spiked aflatoxin recovery rate was low, further purification steps should be studied. The stability of the affinity column was good. This procedure is recommended as a rapid and reliable method for the analysis of aflatoxins in the three kinds of foods, peanuts, pistachio nuts and corn.

1,25 dihydroxyvitamin-D3 regulation of immunoglobulin production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disease characterized by an increase in the secretion of autoantibodies. The mechanisms of autoantibody-induced disease have not been clarified. 1,25-Dihydroxy-vitamin D3 (1,25-D3) is known to be important in the regulation of normal human lymphocyte functions. Among its regulatory functions is the ability to inhibit mitogen-stimulated production of immunoglobulin. The experiments reported here explored the regulation of IgG production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with inactive and active SLE. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibited mitogen-stimulated IgG production in cells from normal individuals and inactive SLE patients, but not spontaneous IgG production by PBMCs from active SLE patients. Addition of exogenous IL-2 (5-50 U/ml) to 1,25-D3-treated cells from all patient groups did not affect IgG production significantly under any conditions tested. The addition of IL-2 to PMBCs had no effect on IgG production in normal individuals or inactive SLE patients, but stimulated IgG production in PBMCs of active SLE patients. We conclude that the regulation of mitogen-stimulated IgG production in inactive SLE patients by 1,25-D3 and IL-2 is similar to normal individuals, but IgG production by active SLE PBMCs is unresponsive to 1,25-D3 regulation and is increased with the addition of IL-2.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with Virchow's node metastasis, responding to concomitant plasma exchange and immunochemotherapy]

We report a case of advanced gastric cancer with Virchow's node metastasis which responded to concomitant plasma exchange and immunochemotherapy. Plasma exchange was conducted three times in total (once a week) using a membrane type plasma separator, with fresh frozen plasma as exchange fluid. Immunochemotherapy was performed simultaneously using MMC, FT and OK-432. By the end of the third plasma exchange, Virchow's node was confirmed by palpation and ultrasonic examination to have vanished. Diminution of the gastric cancer, and improvement of stenosis of the stomach were confirmed under endoscopy. We surmised that plasma exchange eliminated the immunosuppressive substances in serum, and intensified the anticancer effects of MMC and FT, resulting in the disappearance of the Virchow's node and diminution of the gastric cancer itself.

[Specific cytoplasmic crystalline inclusions in multiple myeloma with amyloidosis]

It is widely known that multiple myeloma is sometimes followed by amyloidosis. It is also not particularly rare that inclusions exist in myeloma cells. However, there has been no previous report of a case of myeloma with both inclusions and amyloidosis. A 60-year-old female initially complained of a tendency to bleed, which was caused by fibrinolysis. Amyloid deposition in bone marrow stroma and the gastric submucosa was recognized, in addition to crystalline inclusion in the cytoplasm of myeloma cells. An immunoelectron microscopic study demonstrated the amyloid fibrils and the crystals to react positively to anti-lambda serum. No crystals were found in macrophages, and no relationship was recognized between lysosomes and crystalline inclusions in the cytoplasm of myeloma cells. This case had disturbed transportation or secretion of the lambda type L chain and it was considered that crystals derived from the lambda type L chain were formed in the cytoplasm of myeloma cells.

Tumorigenic conversion of xeroderma pigmentosum lymphoblastoid cells without karyotypic alteration

In order to examine the process of malignant transformation of human somatic cells, we studied the tumorigenic conversion of an Epstein-Barr-virus-immortalized lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) derived from a patient with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) complementation group A. Repeated irradiation of the XP cells, XP7NI, with UV-light and subsequent treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) resulted in the acquisition of tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. The tumorigenicity of XP7NI cells was also induced by TPA treatment alone. The tumors formed in athymic mice were of B-cell lymphoma with characteristic histology, cell surface immunoglobulins and an antigen as detected by a B-cell-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb), CD20. The surface immunoglobulins and the HLA type of these tumor cells were identical with those of the parental cells. These malignantly transformed cells retained the same UV sensitivity, serum requirement, colony-forming ability in soft agar, and normal human karyotype as the parental cells. Unlike other tumorigenic lymphoblastoid cell lines, this XP lymphoblastoid cell line provides a unique case in that process(es) leading to tumorigenicity may be induced by UV and TPA without apparent karyotypic changes.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin-D3 regulation of interleukin-2 and interleukin-2 receptor levels and gene expression in human T cells

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin-D3 (1,25-D3) is known to inhibit DNA synthesis, immunoglobulin and lymphokine production [interleukin-2 (IL-2), gamma interferon (G-IFN), and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)] by mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Recent data suggest these inhibitory effects are mediated at the gene level through inhibition of mRNA accumulation of specific lymphokines in the activated cells. In previous studies, we have demonstrated the CD8+ T cell population was less sensitive to the anti-proliferative actions of 1,25-D3 than CD4+ T cells. The purpose of this investigation was to further assess ability of 1,25-D3 to regulate CD4+ and CD8+ T cell functions. Initial experiments showed that 1,25-D3 inhibited both IL-2 production and mRNA accumulation in mitogen-stimulated PBMC. However, IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression and mRNA accumulation in stimulated PBMC was not affected by 1,25-D3. Both FACS sorted CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressed IL-2R equally upon stimulation and neither showed an inhibitory effect on this expression by 1,25-D3. Human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells showed a stimulus-specific production of IL-2. CD4+ cells stimulated with mitogen and HLA-DR positive accessory cells produced measurable levels of IL-2 that were completely inhibited by 1,25-D3. CD8+ T cells did not generate measurable amounts of IL-2 in this system. However, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells produced large amounts of IL-2 when stimulated with mitogen and a protein kinase C activator, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Under these circumstances, both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell IL-2 production was inhibited completely by 1,25-D3. These data suggest that IL-2R expression in PBMCs and T cell subsets is equal and unaffected by 1,25-D3 while IL-2 production in T cell subsets is stimulus-specific and completely inhibited by 1,25-D3.

[Observation with SEM on the displacement of mucosal surface in process of denture fabrication]

The process of denture fabrication entails a series of steps that begin with impression-taking. Dimensional accuracy and displacement of surface repeatability affect results in these individual steps. Although changes in individual materials have already been measured in the past, there has been almost no measurement up to now of denture fabrication up to the denture base, using the mucous membrane as the standard and then measuring changes in the displacement of surface repeatability for each step. Noticing this lack, the authors used a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), presently the only non-contact measuring instrument that can be used, and measured changes at the different stages including the mucous membrane, the impression materials, the plaster and the resin. A drying process is required for the mucous membrane, and such a process can cause changes in the mucous membrane which is the basis of measurement. For this reason, the authors used Araldite, a product from Ciba-Geigy AG, as a replica material and made replicas for all the test materials, using the replicas for measurement. Results were as follows: 1. Araldite was used as the replica material, thus making it possible with the SEM to observe changes in the displacement of surface repeatability at the individual stages. 2. Major changes in the accuracy of surface were observed during impression-taking and in the period of moving from the impression material to the plaster. 3. During high-power observation with the SEM, the fine bumps on the surface of the plaster and resin disappeared and the surfaces became smooth. This is believed to be the result of the separating agent and heat.

Positron emission tomography using pyruvate-1-11C in two cases of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy

Positron emission tomography (PET) using pyruvate-1-11C was carried out to investigate the in vivo metabolism of pyruvate in the brains of patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and Leigh's disease. Two epileptic patients were studied as control subjects. Radioactivity was eliminated from the brain tissue of the epileptic patients soon after injection of pyruvate-1-11C. PET images of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy patients showed an increase in radioactivity in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus, with elimination of radioactivity being slower than that of epileptic patients. One patient with Leigh's disease showed similar PET images. PET using pyruvate-1-11C is useful for the evaluation of mitochondrial energy metabolism in the brain.

Cardiomyopathy characterized by abnormal accumulation of desmin-type intermediate filaments in cardiac muscle fibers. A case report and review of the literature

A 42-year-old Japanese male, who had been suffering from congestive heart failure and electrocardiographic abnormalities (A-V block, intraventricular conduction disturbance, ventricular tachycardia), died after a clinical course of 2 years and 1 month. Macroscopic investigation revealed dilation of the left ventricle and thickening of the right ventricular wall. The unique finding in this case was a circumferential fibrous scar in the median circular layer and outer oblique layer of the left ventricular wall. Biopsy and autopsy materials revealed diffuse loss of myofibrils in the central zone of cardiac muscle fibers, and replacement with aniline blue-positive homogeneous material (17-35% of the area of one muscle fiber). Electron microscopy revealed abnormal accumulation of fine filamentous material (7.5-25 nm in diameter), which was immunohistochemically proved to be desmin-type intermediate filament. Moreover, sarcoplasmic reticulum-like material was detected in the degenerated area. At autopsy, degeneration was detected all over the heart. The ventricular muscle fibers were more severely affected than the atrial muscle fibers. The conduction system was also affected, in some parts more severely than the surrounding ordinary muscle fibers. The pathogenesis of this disorder remains to be clarified.

Instability of Mex- phenotype in human lymphoblastoid cell lines

Three lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) had extremely low activities of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (O6-AGT), and were classified as Mex-. They were highly sensitive to cell killing by 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoure a hydrochloride (ACNU), whereas NMO2, a Mex+ LCL with a high O6-AGT activity, was resistant to the agent. Small fractions of these Mex- LCLs survived the treatment with 10 micrograms/ml of ACNU for 24 h, and the surviving cells were found to be resistant to subsequent treatments with the agent. In addition, they contained O6-AGT activities comparable to that of NMO2 and were therefore regarded as Mex+. These results suggest that the Mex- phenotype in LCLs is unstable.

An autopsy case of diffuse myelomatosis associated with systemic kappa light chain deposition disease (LCDD). A patho-anatomical, immunohistochemical and immunobiochemical study

A case of systemic light chain deposition disease in a 48-year-old man is presented. Clinically, the patient showed the signs of multiple organ (liver, heart and kidney) failure, but multiple myeloma was not diagnosed. Autopsy revealed generalized deposition of hyaline, a Congo red-negative substance, especially in the arterial walls of various organs. In the bone marrow, myelomatous proliferations of plasma cells positive for kappa light chain were recognized. The deposited substance was ultrastructurally different from amyloid fibrils, and was identified as kappa light chain by immunohistochemistry. A liver tissue extract was immunobiochemically examined and the deposited substance was confirmed to consist of kappa light chain, its molecular weight being approximately 14,000 to 17,000 Da.

[Positron emission tomography using pyruvate-1-11C on mitochondrial encephalomyopathy]

In order to investigate in vivo metabolism of pyruvate in the brain, positron emission tomography (PET) using pyruvate-1-11C were performed on two patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, one patient with Leigh disease and one patient with epilepsy. PET images of epilepsy showed less RI uptakes in brain tissues than in skull muscles. And RI was cleared rapidly from the brain tissues. But PET images of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies showed increased RI uptakes and slow RI clearance in cerebral cortices, basal ganglia and thalamus. Also RI was cleared slowly or accumulated in ventricles. This suggested that pyruvate metabolism may be impaired with metabolical trapping of 11C by lactic acids, since it is said that 11C of pyruvate-1-11C is cleared rapidly from the normal brain tissues by decarboxylation of pyruvate. The usefulness of PET studies with pyruvate-1-11C are suggested for investigating pyruvate metabolism in brain tissues, and for diagnosing mitochondrial encephalomyopathy.

Prosthetic management of postsurgical fistulas in patients with cleft lip and palate

A prosthesis devised for a young adult patient with a remaining cleft is described. This prosthesis would be effective for similar patients because it has the advantages of both fixed and removable partial dentures, a design acceptable to the patient, better hygiene because of easy insertion and removal, simple construction, and a moderate cost.

Differential hypersensitivity of xeroderma pigmentosum lymphoblastoid cell lines to ultraviolet light mutagenesis

Survival and mutation after u.v. light irradiation were examined in four human lymphoblastoid cell lines; one cell line with normal excision-repair capacity (HH4), two excision-repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cell lines from patient XP3BE (complementation group C) and XP7NI (group A), and one cell line from an XP heterozygote (XPF7NI, father of XP7NI). Relative to HH4 and XPF7NI, both XP3BE and XP7NI were more sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of u.v. by virtue of a diminished shoulder and a steeper slope in the survival curve determined by growth curve extrapolations. The mutagenesis for 6-thioguanine resistance (TGr) was measured by the limiting dilution technique using 96 well microtiter plates. Even at non-cytotoxic fluences, u.v. light induced TGr mutations in HH4 and XPF7NI with no apparent threshold, and the mutagenic response of XPF7NI was no different than that of HH4. Both XP cell lines were more sensitive than normal cells to u.v.-induced mutation. However, XP7NI cells were extremely hypermutable by u.v.; i.e. 3.3 J/m2 induced an approximately 500-fold increase of mutant fraction with the background of 2 X 10(-6). XP7NI cells remained much more mutable by u.v. even when plotted against survival, whereas the mutant fractions for XP3BE and HH4 followed the same line. These results imply that the mechanism of u.v.-induced mutation in XP7NI cells may intrinsically be different from that in XP3BE, XP heterozygote or normal cells, or that potentially mutagenic lesions are repaired much less efficiently in XP7NI cells than are potentially lethal lesions, as compared with XP3BE, XPF7NI and HH4 cells.

A simple ion--chromatographic method for determination of urinary oxalate

A simple and rapid technique for the determination of oxalate in urine by ion chromatography has been described. Although there is difficulty in separating the oxalate peak from the sulfate peak on the conductivity chromatogram of unprocessed urine, it is possible to eliminate the sulfate peak by the addition of barium chloride to the urine. Using this technique, the author has estimated the urinary oxalate in 33 urolithiasis patients and in 40 non-urolithiasis patients. The means of 50 urinary oxalate determinations in 33 urolithiasis patients and of 42 urinary oxalate determinations in 40 non-urolithiasis patients were 21.5 +/- 11.4 and 19.5 +/- 13.0 mg/gCr, respectively. Of the 33 urolithiasis patients, 17 were calcium stone formers and 6 were non-calcium stone formers whose stones had been analyzed by infrared spectrometry, and the mean urinary oxalate values were 19.4 +/- 6.9 and 21.3 +/- 8.2 mg/gCr, respectively. The urinary oxalate was significantly higher in children under the age of 10 years.

[Body movements during sleep in Lennox syndrome]

In Lennox syndrome the brainstem which plays important roles in regulating sleep and its parameters is thought to be disturbed. In order to clarify the importance of the dysfunction of the brainstem in Lennox syndrome, polygraphic examination were studied and their findings were assessed with prognosis. 8 patients aged from 6 to 17 years were subjected to this study. They were divided into two groups according to their prognosis. Group 1 showed good prognosis. Seizures were easily controllable and have not occurred for more than 24 months. In group 2 seizures were intractable and were uncontrollable by medication. In 4 normal children ranging in age from 4 to 10 years, the same studies were performed. Recordings were performed on two consecutive nights and the second night recordings were used for analysis. Polygraph consisted of EEG from C4 and P4, bipolar EOG from electrode attached to outer canthus, surface EMG from submental muscle and 5 or 6 other muscles including trunk and limbs. Sleep stages were determined in each minute according to the standard of APSS. Body movements were classified into two types on the basis of their distribution over body parts and on duration of movements. Gross movements (GM) involved the body trunk and lasted for more than two seconds. Twitch movements (TM) were localized in one muscle on surface EMG recordings lasting less than 0.5 seconds. In normal children, the rate of GM in sleep stage 1 and REM are significantly higher than slow wave sleep. And this is the same in TM of all muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Basal cell epithelioma of the penis: a case report

A 65-year-old man had a tumor with a small ulcer on the foreskin of his penis. A local excision was performed. Histological examination of the specimen revealed superficial basal cell epithelioma. Basal cell epithelioma is a common tumor of the skin, but is rarely found on the penis. Only 11 cases have been reported in the European and American literature. Basal cell epitheliomas were formerly called basal cell carcinomas and were treated as true carcinomas. However, recently they have been treated as benign tumors because of their good prognosis and rare metastasis.

Signet ring adenocarcinoma of ileal segment following ileocystoplasty

We report a case of signet ring adenocarcinoma arising in the ileal part of an ileocystoplastic bladder. Postmortem examination revealed multiple polypoid tumors in the ileal mucosa of the ileocystoplasty invading slightly into the bladder wall. Metastatic lesions were found in the liver, lungs, myocardium, right kidney, pancreas, vertebrae, left epididymis and lymph nodes.

[Close classification method of undetermined cases of trophoblastic disease (author's transl)]

With the improvement of recovery ratio of trophoblastic disease by means of primary chemotherapy, undetermined cases of trophoblastic diseases, whose morphological examination has not been conducted, have increased. The respective sickly constitutions of these cases are extremely complicated, and we have deviced a new close classification of these cases from clinical standpoint. For the purpose, we have chosen out the following items.: A. Major subdivision 1. Types of antecident pregnancy. 2. Duration between the antecident pregnancy and the commencement of chemotherapy. 3. Urinary hCG secretion pattern following molar pregnancy. 4. Following treatment of hydatidiform mole. B. Minor subdivision 1. Urinary hCG titer at the commencement of chemotherapy. 2. BBT pattern. 3. Chest x-ray findings. 4. PAG. 5. Clinical signs. 6. Development of focuses (clinical). 7. Necessary reasons for chemotherapy. These items are expressed respectively by figures. This close classification method is based on the combinations of these figures. The authors believe, this method will enable the easy classification of early chemotherapy examples and will present a strong key for the analysis of enormous cases.

Isotachophoretic determination of ethylenediaminetetraacetate in salad dressing, mayonnaise, and margarine

An isotachophoretic method was developed for the determination of EDTA in foods imported by Japan. Skimmed samples of dressings, mayonnaise, or margarine were chromatographed on an anion exchange column, and interfering organic acids were eluted with water and 0.01N HCl. EDTA was eluted with 0.2N HCl and reacted with ferric chloride to form a stable EDTA--Fe complex. Electrophoresis was carried out with dilute HCl containing 0.05% Triton and beta-alanine (pH 3.5) as the leading electrolyte and 0.01M caproic acid as terminating electrolyte. Since uncoupled EDTA showed more than one zone, it was reacted with ferric chloride to form EDTA-Fe complex which showed only a single zone on an isotachopherogram. More than 90% of EDTA spiked at 100 or 1000 ppm level as disodium salt was recovered from the above mentioned three types of food. Detection limit was 10 ppm as disodium EDTA.

Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of tertiary-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in dried fish, frozen shrimp, vegetable oils, butter, and margarine

Tertiary-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is extracted from foods with ethyl acetate, the solvent is evaporated, the residue is dissolved in n-hexane-ethyl acetate (99 + 1), and the TBHQ is selectively transferred into an aqueous layer (2% sodium chloride) as a separation from food interferences. Finally, TBHQ is reextracted with n-hexane-ethyl acetate (1 + 1), concentrated, and determined by flame ionization gas-liquid chrmoatography. Dried fish, frozen shrimp, vegetable oils, and edible fats were analyzed by the method. More than 85% was recovered when the samples were fortified with 100 ppm TBHQ. Detection limit was 1.0 ppm TBHQ.

Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of thiourea in citrus peels

A gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) method was developed for the detection and determination of thiourea in citrus peels. After the peel is extracted with ethyl ether, the ether extract is adsorbed on sodium sulfate together with water. Thiourea is recoverd from both the sodium sulfate and the peel residue with ethyl acetate-acetone(2+1). The extracted mixture is cleaned on an alumina column, the eluate is concentrated under vacuum, and thiourea is extracted from the concentrate with sodium carbonate solution. GLC was carried out on the prepared benzoyl derivative of thiourea. The average recoveries of thiourea from lemon peel were 85.3, 93.1, and 97.6% at the fortification levels of 1, 10, and 100 ppm, respectively. The detection limit was low as 0.08 ppm.

Modification of cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity by inhibition of dopamine beta-hydroxylase

The influence of sympathetic nervous activity on cerebral circulation and cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity was investigated through inhibition of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH). A PO2 electrode, a PCO2 electrode and a plate-type thermocouple-flowmeter were placed on the pial surface of the cat brain. Cerebrocortical PO2, PCO2, cerebrocortical blood flow and arterial blood pressure were continuously recorded before, during and after intracarotid infusion of 10 mg/kg of fusaric acid, a potent DBH inhibitor. The effects of 5% CO2 inhalation and hyperventilation were measured before and after the inhibition of DBH. Following the intracarotid infusion of fusaric acid, cerebrocortical PO2 and cerebrocortical blood flow increased significantly. After the inhibition of DBH, the degree of the increase in cerebrocortical PO2 during 5% CO2 inhalation was enhanced while the degree of the decrease in cerebrocortical PO2 during hyperventilation did not show any significant change. The cerebral vasodilatation caused by fusaric acid suggests that the sympathetic nervous system takes part in the resting tone of cerebral blood vessels. The increase in the cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity produced by the inhibition of DBH suggests that the sympathetic nervous system modifies cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity.

Colorimetric determination of boric acid in prawns, shrimp, and salted jelly fish by chelate extraction with 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol

Borate was directly chelate-extracted from foods with 5% 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol (EHD) in n-hexane-n-butyl acetate mixture (8 + 2), from which borate was selectively transferred into 1% NaOH, since EHD-chelated boron did not react with curcumin to develop color. Finally, an aliquot of the alkaline solution was acidified with HCl and reacted with curcumin in a rotary evaporator. Color development was increased by heating for 8 min at 80 degrees C under reduced pressure of 16 mm Hg. Frozen shrimp and prawns (peeled and with shells) and salted jelly fish were analyzed by the proposed method. Results were compared with the contemporary official method of Japan based on curcumin reaction on an incinerated sample. Over 90% of the boric acid was recovered by the proposed method when samples were fortified with 20 ppm boric acid. Recoveries were superior to those of the official method especially for shrimp and prawns with shells and salted jelly fish. Detection limit of boric acid is 1 ppm. Moreover, the method requires only about 1 hr for analysis of one sample, making it suitable for routine analysis.