A unique and sensitive ELISA technique for typing ABH antigens in bloodstains using UEA-I lectin--the removal of detergent with a Sephadex G-25 mini-column improves sensitivity

A unique sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of ABH antigens in bloodstains has been developed. Human anti-A and -B antisera and Ulex europaeus anti-H lectin were coated on the inner surface of microplate wells. The sample antigens from bloodstains, solubilized with n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside which was then removed by passing through a Sephadex G-25 (G-25) mini-column, were placed in the wells. After washing the wells repeatedly, peroxidase-conjugated Ulex europaeus lectin I was added and incubated. Antigen activities were determined by the development of colors using o-phenylenediamine/H2O2. This technique permitted clear detection of all ABH antigens corresponding to the antisera and lectin with high sensitivities. The A and B antigens were solubilized as aggregates with H antigen from the erythrocyte membrane. Excess detergent remaining in the sample reduced the sensitivity and accuracy of this ELISA, probably due to the removal of antibody from the wells by the effect of the surfactant. The treatment of solubilized antigens with G-25, an indispensable step, eliminated the adverse effect of the detergent on the ELISA. The ELISA method reported here was proved to be easy, economical and sensitive, and this technique should be useful in the forensic practice.

High-resolution CT findings of lung disease in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis

The purpose of this study was to determine the type and distribution of interstitial lung disease seen in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis, using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The presence and distribution of high-resolution CT findings were retrospectively evaluated in 25 patients with polymyositis/dermatiomyositis. In 14 patients, a pathological diagnosis of pulmonary disease was obtained. Three lung specimens were also studied. Results showed that 23 patients had abnormal HRCT showing the following abnormalities: ground glass opacities (92%), linear opacities (92%), irregular interfaces (88%), airspace consolidation (52%), parenchymal micronodules (28%), and honeycombing (16%). A relatively high prevalence of airspace consolidation (52%) and a low prevalence of honeycombing (16%) were observed. Two patients with extensive consolidation proved to have diffuse alveolar damage; eight patients with either subpleural band-like opacities (n = 5) and/or airspace consolidation (n = 7) had bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia; four patients with honeycombing had usual interstitial pneumonitis. We conclude that HRCT findings in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis are nonspecific. However, a high prevalence of airspace consolidation and a low prevalence of honeycombing were observed. Predominant HRCT patterns are suggestive of the pathologic processes occurring in polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

Change in digital blood flow with simultaneous reduction in plasma endothelin induced by hand-arm vibration

Involvement of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) or endothelium-derived constricting factor (EDCF) has been proposed as the pathophysiologic mechanism of vibration-induced white finger (VWF). Recent evidence that endothelin is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide indicates that it may play a role in vasoregulation during vibration exposure through the local actions of EDRF or EDCF. Therefore, we examined the effects of grasping (50 N) and hand-arm vibration (50 m/s2 rms, 120 Hz, x-axis) on digital blood flow (DBF) and on the level of plasma endothelin in seven healthy male office workers. Grasping decreased DBF without affecting endothelin, and vibration increased DBF with a simultaneous reduction in endothelin. The grasping-induced decrease in DBF seemed to be due to mechanical compression of the vessels. The negative correlation between DBF and endothelin during vibration exposure suggests that a reduction in release of endothelin from smooth muscle into the vessel cavity during vibration leads to vasodilatation, possibly attributable to the local axon reflex.

[Acute pulmonary disease in systemic lupus erythematosus successfully treated with prednisolone pulse therapy]

A 46-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of chest pain and left pleural effusion. Fever and dyspnea developed on the third hospital day. Interstitial shadows and pleural effusions in both lower lung fields appeared on chest roentgenograms. Microscopic examination of transbronchial lung biopsy specimens taken on hospital day 5 showed thickening of the alveolar walls and desquamation of macrophages into the alveolar spaces. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed many cells and macrophages. Tests for anti-nuclear antibody and anti-DNA antibody were positive, which, in addition to serositis and proteinuria, established the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. The interstitial shadow on chest roentgenograms was believed to have reflected an acute pulmonary manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. The symptoms and the abnormality on chest roentgenograms were relieved within 1 month of the start of pulse therapy with prednisolone.

[A new embolic material: super absorbent polymer (SAP) microsphere and its embolic effects]

SAP-Microsphere (sodium acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol copolymer) has the ability to absorb fluids within a few minutes and increase its diameter. Its diameter can also be calibrated. The diameters in ionic contrast material and human serum are 2.1 and 3.5 times larger, respectively, than the original size. It can pass through a microcatheter with an ionic contrast material, and swells at the occluding point into the desired size. It can be recognized under fluoroscopy due to its absorption of contrast material. A total of 10 rabbit kidney embolizations were done followed by resection in 1-14 weeks. Recanalization was absent in all cases. No adhesion to the perirenal tissue was found. Limited reactive change in endothelial cells was found at one week. No changes in the smooth muscle layer were found at any time during the study. Limited infiltration of neutrophil cells was found in perivascular tissue within a period of one week. SAP-Microspheres maintained their spherical shape during a 14-week period. Extensive fibrosis and calcification were found after 4 weeks. SAP-Microspheres are promising as an embolic agent to obtain satisfactory results of embolization therapy.

Extracellular matrices in peritendinous connective tissue after surgical injury to the chicken flexor tendon

Gene expression of fibronectin, type I collagen and type III collagen and the presence of fibronectin in peritendinous connective tissue were investigated, following flexor tendon injury, using slot-blot hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Fibrous adhesion around the chicken flexor tendon was induced by a partial laceration using a surgical knife. Total RNA was purified from the peritendinous connective tissue surrounding a tendon by combining the guanidine thiocyanate procedure and isoelectric precipitation. Slot-blot hybridization revealed that gene expression of fibronectin and collagens type I and III increased gradually after tendon injury, and levels were maintained high throughout the experimental period of 16 weeks. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed fibronectin to be preferentially located in peritendinous connective tissue around the injured tendon. The prolonged increase of fibronectin in the peritendinous connective tissue may relate to the development of histological adhesion after flexor tendon injury.

High-avidity anti-DNA antibody removal from the serum of systemic lupus erythematosus patients by adsorption using dextran sulfate cellulose columns

The purpose of this study is to determine whether immunoadsorption treatment using a dextran sulfate (DS) column can remove high-avidity anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody from the blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Before and after each immunoadsorption therapy routine, titers of the high-avidity anti-dsDNA antibody of 11 SLE patients were measured by using a newly developed assay kit to exclusively detect high avidity anti-DNA antibody. Patients with active SLE showed significantly higher titers of high-avidity antibody than did those with inactive SLE, and their titers were significantly reduced by immunoadsorption procedures. Removal of high-avidity antibodies in vitro was also confirmed by mixing patients' sera and DS gel. Immunoadsorption therapy using DS columns is effective in the removal of high-avidity anti-dsDNA antibodies that are closely associated with pathogenicity in SLE.

[Late coronary artery aneurysm formation following directional coronary atherectomy]

The most important factor to reduce late restenosis following directional coronary atherectomy is the technical provision of the largest luminal diameter as possible. However, the safety of deep arterial resection and the resulting arterial perforation or late aneurysm formation is questionable. This study examined the frequency of coronary artery aneurysm formation in patients treated by directional coronary atherectomy. Ninety-eight patients with 123 lesions were analyzed by quantitative angiographic and histologic data. Coronary aneurysms (ratio of dilated vessel segment to the adjacent reference segment > 1.2:1) occurred in seven patients (seven lesions: 5.7%). Specimens were categorized by the deepest layer retrieved. Forty lesions (32.5%) were treated by resection of the intima alone, 65 (52.8%) by resection of the medial tissues and 18 (14.6%) received resections of the adventitial tissues including fatty tissues in three lesions. Late coronary aneurysms occurred often in lesions with resection of adventitial tissue (38.9%) and occurred in all three lesions with resections of fatty tissues. Six coronary aneurysms occurred in the left anterior descending artery (six in segs. 6, 7), and one aneurysm in the left circumflex artery. Among the target lesions in which coronary artery aneurysms were formed, six lesions were primary lesions and one lesion was a restenotic lesion after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Statistically, patients with coronary artery aneurysms frequently have associated hypertension (p = 0.02) but rarely diabetes mellitus (p = 0.05). Lesions with late aneurysms had significantly high specimen weight (p = 0.01) and a trend to lower postprocedure % diameter (p = 0.20). There was no significant preprocedural angiographic predictor of aneurysms such as minimal lumen diameter or reference vessel diameter.

Root canal irrigation with citric acid solution

The purpose of this study was to investigate various properties of citric acid and EDTA solution as decalcifying and cleansing agents in root canal irrigation, and antibacterial effects of citric acid and EDTA solution. Powdered dentin-resin mixtures were used for evaluating the decalcifying effect of citric acid and EDTA solution. Twelve bacterial strains isolated from infected root canals, were used to evaluate the antibacterial effects of citric acid and EDTA solution. Powdered dentin-resin mixture was found to be more soluble in a 0.5, 1, and 2 M citric acid solutions than in a 0.5 M EDTA solution. Citric acid solution showed antibacterial effects on all the bacteria used.

Genomic structure of the rice aldolase isozyme C-1 gene and its regulation through a Ca 2+ -mediated protein kinase-phosphatase pathway

Complementary and genomic DNA clones coding for aldolase C-1, the fourth-type isozyme of aldolase in rice Oryza sativa L., have been characterized. The organization of the gene is quite similar to those encoding rice aldolase C-a and a maize cytoplasmic-type aldolase, in that introns are located in the same position. Amino acid sequences are highly conserved among cytoplasmic aldolases in plants. Expression of the gene in rice callus is activated by a protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid, and is inhibited in the presence of thapsigargin, a reagent which increases calcium influx into the cytoplasm. The inhibition is rescued by the simultaneous addition of protein kinase inhibitor H-7. Thus, it is suggested that expression of the aldolase C-1 gene is regulated through a signal transduction pathway involving a Ca 2+ -mediated protein kinase-protein phosphatase system.

Anti-dsDNA antibody kinetics during in vivo apheresis in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and in an in vitro apheresis model

Levels of anti-dsDNA measured just after an immunoadsorption procedure in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are sometimes paradoxically larger than those measured just before the procedure. A 1:100 in vitro single-compartment immunoadsorption system model was devised to determine which of two models, one- or two-compartment, more closely approximates the kinetics of anti-dsDNA during apheresis procedures. Ten SLE patients were employed in this study. A total of 4,100 ml of plasma was passed through the dextran sulfate cellulose columns during one clinical apheresis session. In eight of ten patients, the log of RIA-measured anti-dsDNA titers decreased linearly as treated plasma volume increased, in both the clinical procedure and the experimental model. The mean adsorption efficacy in the clinical apheresis procedure and in the in vitro model was 0.37 and 0.27, respectively. However, in one patient the RIA-measured level of anti-dsDNA increased during the apheresis procedure; this phenomenon was mirrored in the model (definitely a single pool model). In contrast, the level of anti-dsDNA, as measured by ELISA, decreased in accordance with the increase of treated plasma volume in both the clinical and the in vitro apheresis procedures. Therefore, an increased titer of anti-dsDNA as measured by RIA immediately following clinical apheresis cannot be accounted for exclusively by an inflow of antibodies from a secondary (extravascular) pool into the circulating plasma. In short, a one-compartment model is applicable and an explanation must be sought elsewhere.

Acrania: report of the first surviving case

The first known surviving case of acrania is presented. The patient was the first child of a 29-year-old Japanese woman. Fetal ventriculomegaly was documented in the 35th gestational week. Prenatal sonography and magnetic resonance imaging suggested hydrocephalus with a wide encephalomeningocele. The baby was born at 38 weeks of gestational age by vaginal delivery. The patient had no calvarium, but did have a complete skull base with a partial defect in the occipital scalp and an underlying dural defect. Subsequently, the patient underwent repair of the scalp defect. At 3 months of age, after hydrocephalus developed, a subduro-peritoneal shunt was placed because of cosmetic and nursing problems. His developmental quotient was 10 at 3 years.

Anti-DNA antibody kinetics following selective removal by adsorption using dextran sulphate cellulose columns in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The aim of this study is to determine by mathematical analysis which of two models, the one- or the two-compartment model, more closely approximates the kinetics of anti-dsDNA following immunoadsorption procedures in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Titers of anti-dsDNA were measured at specified intervals after apheresis to each model by nonlinear least-squares methods, and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) was calculated to determine which model most approximately described the kinetics. The AIC of the two-compartment model was larger than that of the one-compartment model in all 14 SLE patients (P < .001). Therefore, the one-compartment model is thought to be suitable. The generation rate and catabolic rate of anti-dsDNA were obtainable using this model. The anti-dsDNA replenishment curve after an immunoadsorption session was defined by only two parameters: the generation and catabolic rates of anti-dsDNA.

A role for gradient en expression in positional specification on the optic tectum

The optic tectum, the primary visual center in non-mammalian vertebrates, receives retinal fibers in a topographically ordered manner. en (en-1 and en-2, homologs of the Drosophila segment polarity gene engrailed) is expressed in the tectal primordium in a rostrocaudal gradient, around the stage when the polarity of the retinotectal projection map is being determined. Here we report that scattered en expression, caused by retroviral gene transfer, perturbed the retinotopic order. Nasal retinal fibers, which normally recognize the caudal side of the tectum (strong en expression side) as a target, arborized at ectopic sites, as if they found their targets, or degenerated. Temporal retinal fibers, which normally recognize the rostral side of the tectum (weak en expression side) as a target, were also affected in some cases by degeneration or prevention of innervation in the tectum. These results suggest that gradient en expression defines the positional identity of the tectum along the rostrocaudal axis.

Uterine circulatory dysfunction induced by whole-body vibration and its endocrine pathogenesis in the pregnant rat

Effects of whole-body vibration on normal pregnancy were studied in the rat. Uterine blood flow and five endocrine functions corticosterone (CS), estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) concentration were measured in rats exposed to whole-body vibration with an acceleration of 10 m.s-2 at a frequency of 8 Hz. While no change in uterine blood flow was observed in control rats, uterine blood flow was significantly decreased 75 and 90 min after exposure to vibration. The uterine blood flow at 15 and 30 min was increased by pretreatment with intraperitoneal injections of angiotensin II (AII). In contrast, in AII pretreated rats exposed to the vibration, uterine blood flow was significantly reduced 90 min after exposure. The CS concentration was increased by vibration independently of the pretreatment with AII. Neither E2 nor PGF2 alpha concentration were changed by the vibration with or without AII administration. The P and PGE2 concentrations were both decreased by vibration in the absence of AII, while the decrease in PGE2 induced by the vibration was also found in AII-treated rats. The present results indicated that the pregnant rats subjected to whole-body vibration responded with changes in uterine and ovarian function. The observed decrease in uterine blood flow may have been the result of reduced PGE2 concentration resulting from an indirect effect of vibration.