Inhibitory effects of hyaluronan on [14C]arachidonic acid release from labeled human synovial fibroblasts

The effects of hyaluronan (HA) on the release of arachidonic acid (AA) from phospholipids induced by bradykinin in synovial fibroblasts of osteoarthritic patients were examined. HA inhibited [14C]AA release from prelabeled synovial cells stimulated with and without bradykinin 1 hr after incubation with HA and thereafter. The inhibitory effects of HA on [14C]AA release were dependent on the concentration and molecular weight of HA. However, inhibition of [14C]AA release by HA was not merely due to the viscosity of HA. The [14C]AA release induced by calcium-ionophore A23187 was also inhibited by HA with a high molecular weight. In addition, HA did not affect [14C]AA uptake by the cells. Our results suggest that HA with a high molecular weight elicits anti-inflammatory effects, at least in part, by inhibiting AA release in inflamed joints.

Immunofluorescent antibody response to lactic dehydrogenase virus in different strains of mice

The development of antibody against lactic dehydrogenase virus in five strains of mice (NZB x NZWF1, BALB/c, C.B-17, ICR and C.B-17 scid or SCID mice) was examined by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) of infected liver sections. IIF antibody appeared 1 to 3 weeks and rose progressively 2 to 4 weeks after infection in four strains of mice (NZB x NZWF1, BALB/c, C.B-17 and ICR mice). SCID mice did not develop antibody. These results suggest that IIF may be applicable for detecting LDV infection in many other ordinary strains of mice.

Enhanced clearance of lactic dehydrogenase-5 in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice: effect of lactic dehydrogenase virus on enzyme clearance

The lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level in plasma and the clearance of LDH in C.B-17 scid (severe combined immunodeficiency; SCID) mice were compared with those in C.B-17 or BALB/cCrSlc mice with or without lactic dehydrogenase virus (LDV) infection. The resting enzyme level in SCID mice showed little difference from that in C.B-17 or BALB/cCrSlc mice. The degree of increased plasma LDH level in SCID mice was lower than that in C.B-17 and BALB/cCrSlc mice after LDV infection. To assess the mechanisms of decrease in LDH elevation in SCID mice infected with LDV, virus replication was compared in SCID and BALB/cCrSlc mice. The infectivity titre of plasma in SCID mice was higher (more than 10 times) than that in BALB/cCrSlc mice. Moreover, the percentage of virus antigen positive Kupffer cells was higher in SCID mice than that in BALB/cCrSlc mice. The level of endogenous LDH release as a result of carbon tetrachloride treatment was similar in the SCID and BALB/cCrSlc mice. The clearance rate of endogenous LDH was greater in SCID mice than in BALB/cCrSlc mice with or without LDV infection. The rate of clearance of intravenously injected porcine LDH-5, but not porcine LDH-1, was enhanced in SCID mice as compared with that in BALB/cCrSlc mice. Furthermore, carbon clearance was higher in SCID mice than that in BALB/cCrSlc mice. These results suggest that the smaller increase of plasma LDH after infection might be due, at least in part, to the enhanced LDH-5 clearance function by macrophages in SCID mice.

Growth hormone (GH)-dependent hepatic GH receptors in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica: effects of hypophysectomy and GH injection

Control mechanisms of growth hormone (GH) receptors in the eel liver were examined by following the time course of changes in total (MgCl2-treated membranes) and free (untreated membranes) GH-binding sites after hypophysectomy and replacement therapy with homologous GH. Both total and free binding sites decreased significantly 1 week after hypophysectomy. Scatchard analysis indicated that the reduction in GH receptors was primarily due to a decrease in the number of binding sites, rather than to a change in binding affinity. When recombinant eel GH was injected intramuscularly into hypophysectomized eels (2 micrograms/g body wt), plasma GH concentration increased to a maximal value after 10 hr and decreased to the initial level by 72 hr. Free binding sites decreased to a minimal value 24 hr after the injection and returned to the initial level after 72 hr. The reduction in free binding sites seems to be due to occupation of GH receptors. Total binding sites increased gradually to almost twofold over those of the controls 5 days after the injection, the increase being due to an increase in the binding capacity. GH appears to be importantly involved in inducing and maintaining its own receptors in the eel liver.

[Virological evaluation of mumps meningitis following vaccination against mumps]

1) We report 5 cases of aseptic meningitis following vaccination against mumps. Of the 5 cases, 4 cases were diagnosed as mumps meningitis. 2 cases received monovalent mumps vaccine and the other 2 MMR vaccine. They consisted of 2 boys and 2 girls, aged 2 years and 2 months to 4 years and 5 months. The period between vaccination and symptoms ranged from 15 days to 20 days (mean 18 days). Cerebrospinal fluid of the cases contained 507 to 2688 cells/mm3. Eruption was observed in the 2 cases who received MMR vaccine, while parotid swelling was not seen in any case. 2) In all 4 cases, IgM antibody to mumps virus in the cerebrospinal fluid was detected by the ELISA or EIA methods. Causative organism of the fifth case was obscure. 3) PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests revealed that mumps virus isolated from 2 cases were of vaccine strain origin. 4) To evaluate the frequency of mumps meningitis following vaccination, it seems important to investigate carefully the number of children who received the vaccine and to exclude the cases of aseptic meningitis caused by other agents. On the other hand, cases of young infants tend to be overlooked because of atypical signs.

Concentration and degradation of hyaluronic acid in knee synovial fluid from carrageenin-induced rabbit arthritis

The concentration and degradation of hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid of carrageenin-induced arthritic joints of rabbits was studied. A 0.5-ml volume of 1% lambda-carrageenin was intra-articularly injected three times into a right knee joint, and saline into a left. After 5 d from the last injection, inflammatory changes were observed in the synovial membrane and synovial fluid, but not in the articular cartilage. In the inflammatory synovial fluid, lipid peroxide content, phosphatase activity and cell counts were significantly increased, but the copper concentration was not changed. Concentration of polymeric hyaluronic acid and total hyaluronic acid were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using gel-permeation columns. Total hyaluronic acid was appreciably decreased in the inflammatory fluid. The polymeric hyaluronic acid determined was 38% of the total hyaluronic acid in the inflammatory fluid and 74% in the control fluid. This suggests that in the inflammatory fluid, molecular weights of hyaluronic acid are distributed in the broader range. The concentration of chondroitin sulphates was similar in both the inflammatory fluid and the control fluid, but the content ratio of chondroitin sulphates to hyaluronic acid was higher in the inflammatory fluid. In the inflamed synovial membrane, synthesis of hyaluronic acid as measured by incorporation of [14C]glucosamine into glycoconjugates was increased by about twice that in the control membrane.

Acute infantile hemiplegia in a patient with propionic acidaemia

A 10-month-old girl with mild developmental delay became hemiplegic after seizures. Cranial CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed no lesions related to vascular diseases, but brain atrophy on the right side was remarkable. Digital subtraction angiography showed slightly decreased visualization of peripheral branches of the right medial cerebral artery. Propionic acidaemia was diagnosed on the basis of high plasma levels of propionic acid and its metabolites and the elevated urinary excretion of these acids. With therapy, the levels of these acids fell, and her left hemiplegia disappeared 3 months later.

Neuroendocrine differentiation in a case of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland

We report a case of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland with neuroendocrine differentiation. Light microscopically, the tumor appeared as clear cell-type acinic cell carcinoma. In addition, the tumor showed neurosecretory features such as Grimelius positivity and the presence of neurosecretory granules by electron microscopy. We suggest that a tumor cell arising from a stem cell can show simultaneous differentiation to both neuroendocrine and acinic cells.

Quantitation of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphates in rabbit synovial fluid by high-performance liquid chromatography of oligosaccharides enzymatically derived thereof

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for quantifying unsaturated hexasaccharide and tetrasaccharide from Streptomyces hyaluronidase enzyme digestion products of hyaluronic acid was developed using a gel-permeation column packed with a sulphated polystyrene-divinylbenzene gel. For the oligosaccharides, the separation was accomplished in less than 7 min with a detection limit of 65 ng. An unsaturated non-sulphated disaccharide prepared from hyaluronic acid (delta Di-HA) and an unsaturated sulphated disaccharide (delta Di-4S) were analyzed by a HPLC method using a combination of two different gel-permeation columns. The separation of the disaccharides required less than 17 min at a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min with detection limits of as little as 4 ng for delta Di-HA and 5 ng for delta Di-4S. Both chromatographic methods were used for assay of a major component of hyaluronic acid and trace amounts of chondroitin sulphates in rabbit synovial fluid. The resulting contents of hyaluronic acid were compared to the values of polymeric hyaluronic acid directly measured by a HPLC method using two gel-permeation columns packed with a poly(hydroxyalkyl methacrylate) gel and the amounts of hyaluronic acid converted from uronic acid content determined by a colorimetric method.

Interstrain crosses enhance excision of Tc1 transposable elements in Caenorhabditis elegans

We report here an unusual activation of the Tc1 transposable element system in Caenorhabditis elegans. Germline Tc1 activity, as measured by reversion of unc-22::Tc1 alleles, is elevated 50- to 100-fold by certain crosses. For example, unc-22::Tc1 reversion is 1 x 10(-3) in a mut-6 IV strain and less than 1 x 10(-6) in a non-mutator strain, but in the unc-22::Tc1 progeny of a cross between mut-6 hermaphrodites and non-mutator males, reversion is 10(-1). The reciprocal cross does not induce this enhancement of reversion. Results similar to those for mut-6 were obtained using a mut-5 II strain. The mutator hermaphrodite by nonmutator male cross per se is not required for the enhancement of reversion, as mut-5 hermaphrodites x mut-6/+ males also induce unc-22 revertants at an elevated frequency. This reversion enhancement appears to depend on a maternal component inherited from a mutator strain, suggesting that the regulation of Tc1 activity may be complex.

Sinusoidal dilatation of the liver as a paraneoplastic manifestation of renal cell carcinoma

Prominent sinusoidal dilatation of the liver, spleen, and adrenals has been observed in nude mice with transplanted human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). To confirm whether this is a paraneoplastic manifestations specific for patients with RCC, 145 human autopsy specimens of RCC, transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and cerebral hemorrhage (CH) were studied histologically. Sinusoidal dilatation of the liver was found in nine of 45 RCC cases. That incidence rate was significantly high when compared with three of 50 TCC cases (P less than .05) and with none of 50 CH cases (P less than .005) in which sinusoidal dilatation of the liver was found. There were no significant differences among the RCC, TCC, and CH groups in the incidence of sinusoidal dilatation in the spleen and adrenals. The sinusoidal dilatation of the liver associated with RCC was unique in that it occurred focally in the mid-zone of the hepatic lobules without any findings related to passive congestion of the central vein, endothelial damage, or hepatocellular necrosis. This change was not necessarily accompanied by abnormal liver function, although sinusoidal dilatation has been reported as one of the histologic manifestations of the nonmetastatic liver dysfunction syndrome of RCC known as the Stauffer syndrome. Sinusoidal dilatation is thought to be one of the tumor-specific manifestations and the influence of some tumor products is suggested, although the exact etiology remains unclear.

Highly sensitive spectrophotometric determination of human serum albumin with 3',4',5',6'-tetrachlorogallein-molybdenum(VI) complex

A highly sensitive spectrophotometric determination of human serum albumin (HSA) with 3',4',5',6'-tetrachlorogallein (T.Cl.Gall)-Mo(VI) complex in a Triton X-100 + polyvinyl alcohol micellar medium is proposed. This method can be used to determine up to ca. 150 micrograms/10 ml of HSA from the optical absorbance at 640 nm, and is superior in sensitivity to the other extremely sensitive spectrophotometric methods. The great sensitivity of this method results from the use of third-derivative spectrophotometry. The binding parameters of T.Cl.Gall-Mo(VI) complex to HSA are n = 77.3 and K = 1.05 x 10(4) M-1 as determined from dual double-reciprocal plots. It is suggested that the colored complex in this system may be the association complex between [HSA]m+ and [MoVI(T.Cl.Gall)2]n- involving hydrophobic interaction between HSA and T.Cl.Gall. The proposed method should also be useful for the detection and determination of some peptides (e.g. low molecular weight peptides containing basic amino acids), as well as proteins.

Primary small intestinal adenocarcinoma diagnosed by endoscopic examination prior to operation

Progress in diagnostic procedures has made it possible to diagnose neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract preoperatively. However, preoperative diagnosis of tumors of the small intestine remains difficult. We report here detection of an adenocarcinoma of the jejunum by endoscopic examination prior to operation. A 73-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of intermittent periumbilical pain, nausea, and vomiting. An upper gastrointestinal series showed an abnormal segmet 10 cm distal to the duodenojejunal flexure. Small intestinal endoscopic examination revealed a tumor with a crater and an irregular surface of mucosa near the duodenojejunal flexure, and annular constriction due to tumor extension, and endoscopic biopsy specimens contained tissue from a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Wide resection, including the duodenum, proximal jejunum, and adjacent mesentery was performed. The resected tumor was confirmed histologically to be a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the jejunum.

Determination of beta-lactam antibiotics in water by fluorescence quenching of mercurochrome, and application for simple investigation of potency

The fluorescence quenching reaction between fluorescein mercury or halogeno-fluorescein mercury compounds (fl. Hg, 2,7- or 2,4-dichloro-fl.Hg, 3',4',5',6'-tetrachloro-fl.Hg, mercurochrome) and beta-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin (AB-PC) and cephalexin (CEX] was investigated, and mercurochrome was selected for the detection of beta-lactam antibiotics; the detection limit was about 0.8 micrograms/ml. A fluorimetric assay of beta-lactam antibiotics was established by measuring the fluorescence of mercurochrome and mercurochrome-beta-lactam antibiotics solutions in weakly basic media to determine the degree of fluorescence quenching. The maximum emission wavelength of mercurochrome solution was at 544 nm with excitation at 470 nm. The calibration graphs were linear over the ranges of about 0-6 micrograms/ml beta-lactam antibiotics penicillins (AB-PC, penicillin G, sulbenicillin, amoxicillin, cyclacillin, oxacillin, hetacillin and piperacillin) and cepham antibiotics (CEX, cefazolin, cephaloglycin, cephaloridine and cefpyramide), and the relative standard deviation was 2.7% for 1.4 micrograms/ml of AB-PC (n = 5). This fluorescence quenching reaction between mercurochrome and beta-lactam antibiotics was applied in a survey of decomposition and remaining potency of beta-lactam antibiotics.

Determination and biokinetics of germanium in mouse tissues by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization

There are few papers on the analysis of Ge in biomaterials. A highly sensitive method is required for such determination of Ge because its concentration is very low. We developed a sensitive analytical method for determining Ge in biomaterials by using 0.05 mol/l Co (NO3)2 media as a matrix modifier with flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. This method was applied to the determination of Ge in mouse tissues, and the biokinetic parameters of Ge in mouse tissues were evaluated using the data of uptake and retention after a single peroral administration of GeO2 solution. Ge was not detectable in the blood or tissues of normal mice. The uptake of Ge into kidney is much larger than that into other tissues after injection of GeO2 solution. The disappearance of Ge from blood and the tissues is very fast. It could hardly be detected in any of the tissues 24 h after injection. The biological half-life of Ge in brain is 6.3 h, but in other tissues--1.2 h (in blood) to 4.5 h (in pancreas)--it is shorter than in brain. By the fact that Ge is rapidly excreted from all tissues, it can be understood that Ge is not detected in normal mouse tissues and its toxicity is weaker than that of other metals.

[The study of polyamine levels and enzyme activities in metabolic pathway of polyamine in spleen of mice inoculated tumor cells]

Polyamine concentrations, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase activity in the spleen of ICR mice after s.c. inoculation of 2 X 10(6) Sarcoma-180 ascites tumor cells were studied. ODC activity and putrescine concentration in spleen were markedly elevated at 1 and 5 d after inoculation of tumor cells, and spleen weight increased from 3 to 7 d after the inoculation. The elevations at 5 d after inoculation corresponded to the enlargement of spleen. By s.c. inoculation of 2 X 10(6) METH-A ascites tumor cells into BALB/c mice, ODC activity and putrescine concentration in the spleen were also elevated at about 1 d after inoculation. On the other hand, when normal cells (spleen cells) were inoculated into ICR mice, those variations were not observed. From these facts, it was thought that elevations of ODC activity and putrescine concentration in the spleen at 1 d after inoculation of tumor cells were related to the immune response. Further, those were elevated according to the number of inoculated cells, and when cell membranes of 2 X 10(6) Sarcoma-180 ascites tumor cells were inoculated, those were also elevated at about 1 d after the inoculation. From the above facts, it was proved that elevations of ODC activity and putrescine concentration in the spleen at 1 d after the inoculation of tumor cells were due to antigenicity of tumor cell membranes and those were dependent on the number of inoculated tumor cells.

[Metastatic calcification associated with malignancy]

From 1975 to 1986, 15 cases (2%) of metastatic calcification associated with an underlying malignancy were found in a review of 702 autopsied cases with histories of malignancy. These underlying malignancies included 7 cases of lung cancer, 6 cases of malignant lymphoma, one case of breast cancer, and one of urinary bladder cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma was of the histological type most often associated with metastatic calcification in lung cancer, and ATL in malignant lymphoma. Hypercalcemia was found in 10 (83%) out of cases, and almost all were accompanied by renal dysfunction. Calcium deposits were most frequently observed in the kidneys and the lungs. It has been suggested that metastatic calcification in the lungs and kidneys of a patient with a history of malignancy showing hypercalcemia is sometimes accompanied by respiratory and renal dysfunction, causing the patient's condition to deteriorate.

Induction of peroxisome proliferation in rat liver by dietary treatment with 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane

1. Exposure of rats to 1% (w/w) of 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane in the diet for 2 weeks resulted in marked induction of liver peroxisome proliferation as judged from electron micrography, elevated activities of hepatic catalase (36%), cyanide-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidase (10-fold), carnitine acetyl transferase (9.6-fold), lauric acid hydroxylase (12.4-fold), and the induction of the 80 K protein in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (4.1-fold). 2. 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-Heptamethylnonane dicarboxylic acid, a non-beta-oxidizable fatty acid, was detected as the major metabolite in the liver, an example of an unmetabolizable lipophilic anion as a peroxisome proliferator.

Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate-induced stimulation of hyaluronic acid synthesis in rabbit knee synovial membrane: involvement of binding protein and calcium ion

We have previously reported that naturally occurring sulfated glycosaminoglycans having a chondroitin-type structure and glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (GAGPS, a persulfated derivative of chondroitin sulfate) caused a specific stimulation of hyaluronic acid synthesis in rabbit knee synovial membranes [H. Nishikawa et al. (1985) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 240, 146-153]. In the present study, the interaction of [3H]GAGPS and the surface of the rabbit knee synovial membranes and the relationship between this interaction and the stimulatory effect of GAGPS on the hyaluronic acid synthesis were examined in order to define the stimulatory mechanism of hyaluronic acid synthesis by GAGPS. A part of the [3H]GAGPS taken up by the synovial membranes was released from the membranes by trypsin treatment. The interaction of [3H]GAGPS and the surface of the isolated synovial membranes was diminished by pretreatment of the membranes with proteases or chelating reagents. Pretreatment of synovial membranes with trypsin or ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N'-tetraacetic acid had little effect on the basal hyaluronic acid synthesis but caused the loss of GAGPS-induced stimulation of hyaluronic acid synthesis accompanied by significant decrease (20% P less than 0.05-P less than 0.01) in the interaction between GAGPS and the surface of the synovial membranes. Dermatan sulfate having a chondroitin-type structure also stimulated hyaluronic acid synthesis but this effect was not additive to the stimulation of hyaluronic acid synthesis by GAGPS. Heparin had no effect on either the basal hyaluronic acid synthesis or the GAGPS-induced stimulation of hyaluronic acid synthesis. These results indicate that binding of GAGPS to certain distinct protein components on the surface of synovial membranes is involved in the stimulatory mechanism of hyaluronic acid synthesis by GAGPS, and that the binding may be mediated by Ca2+ ion. The binding was also found to be specific for sulfated glycosaminoglycans having a chondroitin-type structure.

Analysis of a mutator activity necessary for germline transposition and excision of Tc1 transposable elements in Caenorhabditis elegans

The Tc1 transposable element family of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans consists primarily of 1.6-kb size elements. This uniformity of size is in contrast to P in Drosophila and Ac/Ds in maize. Germline transposition and excision of Tc1 are detectable in the Bergerac (BO) strain, but not in the commonly used Bristol (N2) strain. A previous study suggested that multiple genetic components are responsible for the germline Tc1 activity of the BO strain. To analyze further this mutator activity, we derived hybrid strains between the BO strain and the N2 strain. One of the hybrid strains exhibits a single locus of mutator activity, designated mut-4, which maps to LGI. Two additional mutators, mut-5 II and mut-6 IV, arose spontaneously in mut-4 harboring strains. This spontaneous appearance of mutator activity at new sites suggests that the mutator itself transposes. The single mutator-harboring strains with low Tc1 copy number generated in this study should be useful in investigations of the molecular basis of mutator activity. As a first step toward this goal, we examined the Tc1 elements in these low copy number strains for elements consistently co-segregating with mutator activity. Three possible candidates were identified: none was larger than 1.6 kb.

[Effect of combined BCG and UFT therapy of human maxillary cancer transplanted into nude mice]

Twenty male 5-6 week-old nude mice transplanted with human maxillary cancer (MC-Ya) were divided into 4 groups. Group I was treated with oral administration of 0.2 ml of 0.9% saline solution daily for 10-30 days, and served as control. Group II was treated with oral administration of 1 mg/mouse of BCG once a week for 10-30 days. Group III was treated with oral administration of 15 mg/kg of UFT daily for 10-30 days. Group IV was treated with the combination therapy of BCG and UFT. In comparison of the treatment effects in 4 groups, following results were obtained: 1) Mouse immunosuppressive acidic protein in the sera of nude mouse elevated in all groups, especially in group III. 2) The inhibitory effect on the growth of tumor was observed in group III and IV, especially in group IV, but not in group II. 3) The reason why the growth-inhibitory effect was observed more remarkably in group IV than in group III, would be explainable as the immunosuppression by UFT was restored by the immunostimulating effect of BCG.