CamTrapAsia: A dataset of tropical forest vertebrate communities from 239 camera trapping studies

Information on tropical Asian vertebrates has traditionally been sparse, particularly when it comes to cryptic species inhabiting the dense forests of the region. Vertebrate populations are declining globally due to land-use change and hunting, the latter frequently referred as "defaunation." This is especially true in tropical Asia where there is extensive land-use change and high human densities. Robust monitoring requires that large volumes of vertebrate population data be made available for use by the scientific and applied communities. Camera traps have emerged as an effective, non-invasive, widespread, and common approach to surveying vertebrates in their natural habitats. However, camera-derived datasets remain scattered across a wide array of sources, including published scientific literature, gray literature, and unpublished works, making it challenging for researchers to harness the full potential of cameras for ecology, conservation, and management. In response, we collated and standardized observations from 239 camera trap studies conducted in tropical Asia. There were 278,260 independent records of 371 distinct species, comprising 232 mammals, 132 birds, and seven reptiles. The total trapping effort accumulated in this data paper consisted of 876,606 trap nights, distributed among Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Bhutan, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, and far eastern India. The relatively standardized deployment methods in the region provide a consistent, reliable, and rich count data set relative to other large-scale pressence-only data sets, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) or citizen science repositories (e.g., iNaturalist), and is thus most similar to eBird. To facilitate the use of these data, we also provide mammalian species trait information and 13 environmental covariates calculated at three spatial scales around the camera survey centroids (within 10-, 20-, and 30-km buffers). We will update the dataset to include broader coverage of temperate Asia and add newer surveys and covariates as they become available. This dataset unlocks immense opportunities for single-species ecological or conservation studies as well as applied ecology, community ecology, and macroecology investigations. The data are fully available to the public for utilization and research. Please cite this data paper when utilizing the data.

Scale-up Effect in Internal Mixers

In the development of a new polymer and a new compound, mixing equipment plays an important role. However, the properties of a compound tend to vary depending on the size and shape of the equipment used and a means to obtain the same compound by a small scale laboratory mixer as the one obtained by a large scale mixer has been longed for a long time.

As a rubber compound is characterized by the physical properties, they are affected both by the dimensions and shape of the equipment and the mixing conditions. Recently, we developed a laboratory mixer generally following the designs of FH Banbury with exchangeable rotors and mixing chamber blocks which enable us to investigate the influences of the shape of equipment as well as the mixing conditions.

In analysing rubber mixing, we found that the following factors should be taken into account, that is, unit-work which is the applied energy to the unit volume of the material during mixing, Mooney viscosity of the compound, bound rubber which is the amount of polymer unextractable from the compound by a solvent, and weight average molecular weight of polymer extractable by a solvent. If the values of the four factors are close enough for the two compounds obtained by different mixers of different size and shape, one may regard them as the same compounds. Furthermore, we experimentally measured the four factors for the compounds of typical formulations of three species of commercially available rubbers, that is, styrene butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber and butadiene, and expressed the values of the factors as functions of mixing conditions and the parameters of rotor shapes by means of multiple regression analysis. Among the rotor parameters, the following showed significant effects: tip clearance, tip width, total bulkiness and wing overlap ratio. As for the mixing conditions, mixing time, rotor speed and mixing temperature were dominant.

Using the functions obtained by the above mentioned method for the laboratory scale mixer, we tried to find the combinations of rotor shapes and mixing conditions that reproduced the compound mixed by large scale mixers. The optimum parameters of a laboratory mixer for the reproduction of the mixing of an industrial mixer were found to be larger rotor tip clearance, larger rotor tip width, larger wing overlap ratio, higher mixing temperature, and higher rotor speed than those of proportionally reduced dimensions and comparable conditions.

Flow Analysis in an Internal Mixer

A modified laboratory mixer (Banbury-type; batch volume is 250 cm3) with transparent front windows was used to observe the flow of silicone rubber. A pair of specially designed rotors was used in order to estimate the influence of rotor design upon the behavior of silicone rubber. Five parameters were picked up in designing the rotors. The rotor consists of a number of thin plates of identical shape. The plates are designed so that they can construct a double-winged rotor. By assembling the plates properly, the angles of twist of longer and shorter wings and lengths of wings can be varied, i. e. the overlap ratio of longer and shorter wings can be controlled. The rotor tip clearance is also variable. Batch homogenization times were measured with torque and unit-work for all experiments, observing the flow of silicone rubber through the front window at the same time. The torque and unit-work increase as rotor tip clearance decreased and as overlap ratio of wings increased. The twist angle of wings had little influence on torque and unit-work. The batch homogenization time became shorter with increases of rotor tip clearance, overlap ratio of wings and twist angle of wings and with the decrease of rotational speed ratio.

Flow Analysis in an Internal Mixer

An attempt has been made to predict flow behavior of the rub bery material in an internal mixer by means of finite element analysis. For the convenience of analysis, a simplified model for the mixer and some assumptions were introduced. The model consists of a circular cylinder and a rotor with uniform cross sectional shape along the axis which rotates around the axis located at the center of the cylinder. Rubbery material fills the void between the cylinder and the rotor. The assumptions are: the material is a power law liquid, the material is incompressible, and the viscosity is large enough to allow laminar flow.

Relationship between Rotor Designs in an Internal Mixer and Physical Properties of Mixed Rubber Compounds

Internal mixers are commonly used for rubber compounding in industry. However, the relations among the designs of equipments, mixing conditions and the properties of the resulting compound are little known. In this paper we tried to reveal some manners of the relations concentrating, particularly, on rotor designs. A specially designed internal mixer (Banbury type) was developed. A number of double winged rotors of various shapes and replaceable mixing chambers were prepared. In developing the equipment, eight parameters were taken into consideration concerning the shape of rotors, that is, lengths, twist angles and overlap ratio of the wings, width and clearance at the rotor tip, angles of flow-in and flow-out at the gap area and total bulkiness of the rotor. Measured properties concerning mixing are: unit work, Mooney viscosity of dumped compound, the amount of bound rubber, weight average molecular weight of the extracted portion of the compound, and peaks in a torque curve, i.e., values of first peak torque and second peak time. In order to estimate the degree of influences of the design parameters mentioned above and mixing conditions, each measured properties were expressed as functions of these parameters by means of multiple regression analysis.

Antioxidant compound from the rhizomes of Kaempferia rotunda L

This research aimed to investigate the antioxidant effect from rhizomes of K. rotunda for finding the active compounds by DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay. The chloroform-soluble extract of the rhizomes of K. rotunda showed significant scavenging effect on the on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals (IC50 = 180 microg mL(-1)). Two compounds of the chloroform-soluble extract were isolated and identified. Compound 1, 2'-hydroxy-4,4',6'-trimethoxy-chalcone was found as the active constituent (IC50 = 142 microg mL(-1)). Compound 2, (+)-crotepoxide, was inactive (IC50 = 1516 microg mL(-1)). The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were identified based on the basis of spectral evidence, Mass Spectrophotometry (MS) and 2D-NMR (2 dimension of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) data including Heteromolecular Multiple Quantum Coherence (HMQC) and Heteromolecular Multiple Bond Correlation (HMBC) and comparison to published values.

Inhibitors of aldose reductase and advanced glycation end-products formation from the leaves of Stelechocarpus cauliflorus R.E. Fr

Two dihydroflavonol glycosides, engeletin and astilbin, were isolated from an EtOAc extract of the leaves of Stelechocarpus cauliflorus R.E. Fr. (Annonaceae). The inhibitory activity of engeletin against a recombinant human aldose reductase (IC50 value=1.16 microM) was twice that of quercetin as a positive control (2.48 microM), and 23 times greater than that of astilbin (26.7 microM). Engeletin inhibited the enzyme uncompetitively. Astilbin was about as potent as the positive control, quercetin, in its inhibition of advanced glycation end-products formation. These flavonoids displayed therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of diabetic complications.

Esophageal cancer after distal gastrectomy

The effect of gastrectomy on the subsequent development of esophageal cancer was investigated. Duodenogastroesophageal reflux is thought to be common in patients after distal gastrectomy, but whether this contributes to the development of esophageal cancer in such patients is controversial. We retrospectively evaluated 153 patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer between January 2002 and July 2005. They were divided into two groups, according to whether or not they had previously undergone a gastrectomy: group 1, comprising 14 patients who had undergone gastrectomy and group 2, comprising 139 patients who had not. Clinical profiles of the patients were obtained from the medical records and the whole resected esophagus was histopathologically examined. The interval between gastrectomy and esophagectomy in group 1 was significantly shorter in the patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer (10.5 +/- 4.2 years) than in those who had undergone gastrectomy for a peptic ulcer (28.9 +/- 3.0 years). The interval was also somehow shorter in the patients for whom anastomosis had been performed by Billroth I (21.3 +/- 5.6 years) compared with Billroth II (29.7 +/- 3.2 years), although the difference did not reach its statistical significance (P = 0.11). Moreover, the proportion of lower third tumors in patients after gastrectomy was significantly higher compared with that of the patients with intact stomach. These findings suggest that a history of gastrectomy is associated with more lower-third squamous cell esophageal carcinoma.

DNA vaccine against hamster oral papillomavirus-associated oral cancer

Previously we developed a carcinogenesis model involving the combination of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) application with physical wounding of hamster lingual mucosa. The presence of a novel hamster oral papillomavirus (HOPV) was demonstrated and its genome sequenced. In the present study, this HOPV hamster model was used to test whether vaccination with the L1 gene could prevent the development of oral carcinoma. DNA plasmids encoding the L1 gene or the vector alone were injected intramuscularly into 20 vaccinated and 20 control hamsters, respectively. The lingual tips of the hamsters were painted with DMBA for 8 weeks. A portion of the lingual tips was excised, and the tips were then painted daily with DMBA until the animals were killed 13 days later. All control hamsters developed lingual carcinoma, whereas 12 of the L1-vaccinated hamsters showed no lesions. These results suggest that immunization with L1 DNA vaccines may prevent the development of papillomavirus-associated oral cancer.

Aldose reductase inhibitors from the leaves of Myrciaria dubia (H. B. & K.) McVaugh

Ellagic acid (1) and its two derivatives, 4-O-methylellagic acid (2) and 4-(alpha-rhamnopyranosyl)ellagic acid (3) were isolated as inhibitors of aldose reductase (AR) from Myrciaria dubia (H. B. & K.) McVaugh. Compound 2 was the first isolated from the nature. Compound 3 showed the strongest inhibition against human recombinant AR (HRAR) and rat lens AR (RLAR). Inhibitory activity of compound 3 against HRAR (IC50 value = 4.1 x 10(-8) M) was 60 times more than that of quercetin (2.5 x 10(-6) M). The type of inhibition against HRAR was uncompetitive.

CSF hypocretin measures in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

The majority of patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy were reported to have very low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypocretin-1 (orexin-A) levels. The hypocretin-1 levels of secondary excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) disorders are not known. In this study, we found that CSF hypocretin levels in the patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were within the control range. The low hypocretin levels seem to reflect only the presence of cataplexy and DR2 positive in narcoleptics but not EDS itself.

Aldose reductase inhibitors from the nature

Aldose reductase (AR) is an NADPH dependent enzyme that catalyses the reduction of the aldehyde to the corresponding alcohols. Diabetic complications including neuropathy, nephropathy, cataracts and retinopathy are considerately caused by accumulation of sorbitol, which is produced from glucose by AR in polyol pathway. The aim of AR inhibitor therapy is to normalize the elevated flux of blood and sorbitol through the polyol pathway in the target tissue. A large number of inhibitors have been prepared synthetically, and some of them are used therapeutically. However, none of them is satisfactory. From the plants, many AR inhibitors have been found, which are discussed in this review. By the structure based functioning of AR and its inhibitors, some will be developed promising in the treatment of diabetic complications. The main structural features of the inhibitors will be a polar head group and a hydrophobic ring system. The plants that contain the AR inhibitors may prevent from diabetic complications.

Serum KL-6 levels in patients with pulmonary complications after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

KL-6, a mucinous high-molecular weight glycoprotein expressed on type 2 pneumocytes, has been shown to be elevated in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with interstitial pneumonitis (IP). We measured the serum levels of KL-6 in patients after they had undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) to determine whether KL-6 could be a clinically useful indicator for the development of IP. The serum concentrations of KL-6 were determined by a sandwich-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using an anti-KL-6 monoclonal antibody. A total of 1028 samples were tested from 76 patients (78 transplantations) who received BMTs. The KL-6 values were markedly elevated in patients with pulmonary complications, but not in those with acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, hemorrhagic cystitis, herpes encephalitis, sepsis, and veno-occlusive disease. The serum levels of KL-6 from patients with pulmonary complications were significantly higher than from those without pulmonary complications (P < .001) and those with other complications (P < .001). Of the 12 patients with pulmonary complications, 6 had idiopathic IP (IIP). The levels were not high at the onset of IIP. Four of 6 IIP patients showed marked elevations of KL-6 levels in parallel with the severity of IP and died of respiratory failure without response to treatment. Assessment of serum KL-6 levels might not be useful for the early diagnosis of IP, but may be a useful indicator for monitoring the severity of IP after BMT.

Aldose reductase inhibitors from the fruits of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart

Aldose reductase inhibitors were isolated from an extract of the dry fruits of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. (Leguminosae). Compound 2 was identified as ellagic acid by comparison with a reference sample. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated as 2-(2,3,6-trihydroxy-4-carboxyphenyl) ellagic acid on the basis of spectral evidence, especially 2D-NMR data (HMQC, HMBC and NOESY). These two compounds inhibited aldose reductase in a non-competitive manner.

Experimental study of vascularized nerve graft: evaluation of nerve regeneration using choline acetyltransferase activity

A comparative study of nerve regeneration was performed on vascularized nerve graft (VNG) and free nerve graft (FNG) in Fischer strain rats. A segment of the sciatic nerve with vascular pedicle of the femoral artery and vein was harvested from syngeneic donor rat for the VNG group and the sciatic nerve in the same length without vascular pedicle was harvested for the FNG group. They were transplanted to a nerve defect in the sciatic nerve of syngeneic recipient rats. At 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 24 weeks after operation, the sciatic nerves were biopsied and processed for evaluation of choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity, histological studies, and measurement of wet weight of the muscle innervated by the sciatic nerve. Electrophysiological evaluation of the grafted nerve was also performed before sacrifice. The average CAT activity in the distal to the distal suture site was 383 cpm in VNG and 361 cpm in FNG at 2 weeks; 6,189 cpm in VNG and 2,264 cpm in FNG at 4 weeks; and 11,299 cpm in VNG and 9,424 cpm in FNG at 6 weeks postoperatively. The value of the VNG group was statistically higher than that of the FNG group at 4 weeks postoperatively. Electrophysiological and histological findings also suggested that nerve regeneration in the VNG group was superior to that in the FNG group during the same period. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups after 6 weeks postoperatively in any of the evaluations. The CAT measurement was useful in the experiments, because it was highly sensitive and reproducible.

Cytocidal effect and DNA damage of nedaplatin in vitro by simulating pharmacokinetic parameters

PURPOSE

The pharmacodynamic effects of cis-diammine(glycolato)platinum (nedaplatin, 254-S) in vitro have been reported, but the dosage and exposure time in vitro have not always been based on clinical observations of the drug's actions in vivo. Regardless of the actual exposure conditions used, the effect of cell-cycle nonspecific anticancer agents such as nedaplatin is believed to depend on the area under the drug concentration-time curve (AUC). In this study, we evaluated the pharmacodynamics of nedaplatin in vitro, especially in relation to its AUC dependency, in terms of cell survival and DNA crosslinking.

METHODS

BG-1 human ovarian cancer cells were treated with various concentrations of nedaplatin to simulate the pharmacokinetics of administration in a clinical setting. The BG-1 cells were exposed to nedaplatin dissolved in medium containing serum using constant concentration conditions, either high (maximum 7.69 mg/l) or low (average 1.33 mg/l). These concentrations were based on doses used in clinical studies. We then adjusted the exposure conditions in vitro to simulate the elimination of the drug from serum in vivo as follows: T1/2 alpha 1.20 h and T1/2 beta 2.70 h. The AUC values were set at 4, 8, 16, 25 and 40 mg.h/l for all exposure conditions. A colony-formation assay for the surviving fraction and an alkaline-elution assay for DNA crosslink measurement were done for the pharmacodynamic evaluation with comparison on the basis of the AUC value.

RESULTS

Exposure to a low concentration for a long time was the most effective of the exposure conditions at the same AUC value. The greater the AUC value, the higher the crosslink index under all exposure conditions. This index tended to increase particularly after exposure to the low concentration. The natural logarithm of the surviving fraction (Y') was a linear function of the crosslink index regardless of the drug-exposure condition: ln(Y') = -87.2x + ln(5.79), R2 = 0.89. The threshold cytocidal effect was associated with a crosslink index of 0.02.

CONCLUSION

There was a strong correlation between the cytocidal effect of nedaplatin and DNA crosslink formation. The cytocidal effect and DNA crosslinking in vitro depended on the exposure conditions used to define the AUC. Therefore, a new pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model for nedaplatin must be constructed to investigate the most effective administration procedure in vivo.

Cytocidal effect and DNA damage of nedaplatin: a mathematical model and analysis of experimental data

PURPOSE

Cell cycle non-specific anticancer agents such as cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) are believed to depend linearly on the value of the area under the drug concentration time curve, which is supported by a mathematical model. However, the quantitative non-linear phenomena of both the cytocidal effect and DNA crosslink formation by cisdiammine(glycolato)platinum (nedaplatin) have been shown in vitro. Therefore, we developed a new mathematical model to explain these phenomena.

METHODS

We assumed that nedaplatin enters intracellular fluid from medium through simple diffusion to form DNA crosslinks that kill cells. We developed a mathematical model to represent this assumption using differential equations that we then solved using an original computer program. The calculated results were compared with the experimental data.

RESULTS

The drug's simple diffusion rate constant, the DNA crosslink formation rate constant, and the crosslink-dependent cell death rate constant in the model were 1.8 x 10(-14) (l h-1), 1.6 x 10(8) (l mol-1/2 h-1), 5.45 x 10(1) (mol-1), respectively. The model fits the experimental results statistically. The model also demonstrated theoretical proof that continuous exposure at a low dose was superior to the short exposure at a high dose seen in published experimental data.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a mathematical model to describe the non-linear pharmacodynamic effect of nedaplatin in vitro. This model may provide a novel drug infusion procedure for cancer patients.

Cytotoxic polyacetylenes from the twigs of Ochanostachys amentacea

Bioassay-guided investigation of the twigs of Ochanostachys amentacea using LNCaP (hormone-dependent human prostate cancer) cells as a monitor led to the isolation of three alkynes, the known (S)-17-hydroxy-9,11,13,15-octadecatetraynoic acid (minquartynoic acid, 1) and two novel analogues, (S)-17,18-dihydroxy-9,11,13,15-octadecatetraynoic acid (2) and (S)-17-hydroxy-15E-octadecen-9,11,13-triynoic acid (3). Compounds 1-3 were tested against a panel of human tumor cell lines and found to be significantly cytotoxic.

Effects of sesquiterpenoids from "Oriental incenses" on acetic acid-induced writhing and D2 and 5-HT2A receptors in rat brain

Six sesquiterpenoids, namely jinkoh-eremol, agarospirol, alpha- and beta-santalols, dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide, isolated from oriental incenses inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. The incidence of writhing produced by jinkoh-eremol, alpha-santalol and costunolide were revealed by administration of naloxone (mu-, kappa- and delta-antagonists). Inhibitory activities of alpha-santalol on opioid receptors were shown only by the delta antagonist, but not by the mu- and kappa-antagonists. The delta2-antagonist, but not the delta-antagonist, inhibited the activity of alpha santalol. The mechanism of inhibitory activity on the opioid receptor by alpha-santalol was different from that of morphine. Alpha-santalol was shown to be the most potent of the six as an antagonist of dopamine D2 and serotonine 5-HT2A receptor binding. The effect of alpha-santalol, was the same as that of chlorpromazine as an antipsychotic agent, although alpha-santalol was less potent than chlorpromazine.

A long-term study of the donor-site ankle after vascularized fibula grafts in children

We reviewed the long-term course of the donor-site ankle after vascularized fibula grafts in 13 children. The preventive and therapeutic effects of the tibio-fibular metaphyseal synostosis (T-F synostosis) against valgus ankle deformity, which is one of the postoperative donor-site problems, were evaluated based on three radiologic and clinical parameters. Thirteen patients were divided into two groups: patients with or without simultaneous T-F synostosis when the fibula was taken. Three patients underwent T-F synostosis secondarily after the development of the valgus deformity. Follow-up periods averaged 12.4 years. In the patients with primary T-F synostosis, valgus deformity was only observed in one case. No functional disorder of the ankle joints was observed after T-F synostosis. In the patients without T-F synostosis, all the patients younger than 8 years old showed valgus deformity, in which the tilting angle averaged 6.3 degrees. In the three patients who underwent T-F synostosis secondarily, the tilting angle normalized in cases in which the fixation was performed when the lateral wedging was in a mild stage. There was a statistically significant difference in valgus tilt angle between the two groups (with or without T-F synostosis).

Red ginseng ameliorated place navigation deficits in young rats with hippocampal lesions and aged rats

Effects of hippocampal lesions and aging on spatial learning and memory and ameliorating effects of red ginseng on learning deficits were investigated in the following two experiments: performance of young rats with selective hippocampal lesions with red ginseng by mouth (p.o.; Experiment 1) and aged rats with red ginseng (p.o.; Experiment 2) in the spatial tasks was compared with that of sham-operated or intact young rats. Each rat in these two behavioral experiments was tested with the three types of spatial-learning tasks (distance movement task, DMT; random-reward place search task, RRPST; and place-learning task, PLT) in a circular open field using intracranial self-stimulation as reward. The results in the DMT and RRPST tasks indicated that motivational and motor activity of young rats with hippocampal lesions with and without ginseng were not significantly different from that of sham-operated young rats in Experiment 1. However, young rats with hippocampal lesions displayed significant deficits in the PLT task. Treatment with red ginseng significantly ameliorated place-navigation deficits in young rats with hippocampal lesions on the PLT task. Similarly, red ginseng improved performance of aged rats on the PLT task in Experiment 2. The results, along with previous studies showing significant effects of red ginseng on the central nervous system, suggest that red ginseng ameliorates learning and memory deficits through effects on the central nervous system, partly through effects on the hippocampal formation.

Successful graft-versus-leukemia effect of second bone marrow transplantation on relapsed leukemia cutis that was refractory to intensive chemotherapy and donor lymphocyte transfusions in a patient with acute monocytic leukemia

We report a patient with acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL; M5) who received a second bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect on relapsed leukemia cutis, which had been refractory to intensive chemotherapy and donor lymphocyte transfusions (DLTs). A 21-year-old woman was diagnosed with AMoL and achieved complete remission after intensive chemotherapy. The patient received a nonmanipulated allogeneic BMT from her HLA-identical father. Skin tumors developed in her upper extremities, chest, and thigh 11 months after BMT. Leukemia cutis was confirmed by skin biopsy. There was no evidence of relapse in bone marrow. The patient received several courses of chemotherapy and DLTs for the skin relapse, but the skin tumors persisted. The patient then received a second BMT from the same donor. On day 80, grade II acute graft-versus-host disease developed, and the remaining skin tumors were eradicated on day 98, most probably because of GVL effect.

Clinical application of malignancy potential grading as a prognostic factor of human esophageal cancers

BACKGROUND

Various biologic markers have been reported to be prognostic factors in human esophageal cancers. In the current study, we established a new tumor-grading system representing the malignancy potential of cancer cells and compared it with the clinical-stage system.

METHODS

Tumor samples from 77 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were immunohistochemically evaluated for the expression of 10 molecules: the cell cycle-related molecules of cyclin D1, Rb, p16INK4, p27KIP1, and PCNA; the cell-cell adhesion molecules of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, and beta-catenin; and the heat shock proteins of HSP27 and HSP70.

RESULTS

P27KIP1, beta-catenin, and HSP70 were selected for their high hazard ratio in multivariate analysis, and the number of their disordered molecules was used to define the malignancy grade (MG). Five-year survival rates were 83%, 54%, 17%, and 0% for MG1, MG2, MG3, and MG4. The gradation of survival curves was better for MGs than for clinical stages. MGs and clinical stages showed significant correlation; however, 55% of those in higher clinical stages (stage 3 or 4) had lower MG (MG1 or 2) and showed better prognosis than others in their group (stage 3 or 4 and MG3 or 4). The proportions of shorter survival span to cancer death patients (less than 1 year) were 0%, 33%, 75%, and 100% in MG1, 2, 3, and 4, but the clinical stage was not associated with the survival span.

CONCLUSIONS

The grading of malignancy potential is clinically useful, especially for selecting patients who may show good prognosis in the advanced clinical stage and for predicting short survival span. These predictions are not possible with the clinical-stage system, which is based on the anatomic spread of cancer cells.

Loss of p27(KIP1) expression predicts poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Immunohistochemical studies of cell cycle-regulating proteins were conducted on tissue samples from 106 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Reduction of p27(KIP1) was observed in 41 (39%) cases and was significantly associated with a poor prognosis by univariate and multivariate analyses (p = 0.015). In contrast, p16(INK4) expression was reduced in 55 (52%) of the cases and was not correlated with prognosis. p27(KIP1) was not correlated with the PCNA index, while p16(INK4) expression was inversely correlated with the PCNA index (p = 0.01). The expression of these two proteins was not correlated with the clinicopathological parameters of the patients. Nodal status was shown by univariate analysis (p = 0.01) to be a prognostic factor, and poorly differentiated tumors were significantly associated with a poor prognosis by multivariate analysis (p = 0.027). Thus, reduction of p27(KIP1) plays an important role in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and is considered to be an independent prognostic indicator of this disease.

Correlation between loss of E-cadherin expression and overexpression of autocrine motility factor receptor in association with progression of human gastric cancers

Loss of intercellular adhesion and increased cell motility synergistically facilitate tumor cell invasion. We studied these factors in 90 patients with gastric cancers by using an immunohistochemical technique to detect strong or weak expression of E-cadherin (ECD) and autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR). Normal gastric mucosa (control) reacted strongly for ECD and weakly for AMFR. In study cases, ECD was weak in 47 cases, and AMFR was strong in 39 cases. Weak ECD and strong AMFR expression were associated with tumor dedifferentiation. AMFR expression correlated positively with depth of invasion but not with lymph node metastasis. ECD expression correlated negatively with lymph node metastasis but not with depth of invasion. A strong inverse correlation was found between ECD and AMFR expression. Tumors with weak ECD and strong AMFR expression displayed a more aggressive phenotype than tumors with strong ECD and weak AMFR expression. The postoperative survival of patients with tumors with weak ECD and strong AMFR expression was significantly shorter than that of other groups. Since they are involved in the pathway to development of tumors with a more aggressive phenotype, ECD and AMFR should be examined to evaluate the biologic potential of gastric cancers.

Comparison of the complete DNA sequences of human herpesvirus 6 variants A and B

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), which belongs to the betaherpesvirus subfamily and infects mainly T cells in vitro, causes acute and latent infections. Two variants of HHV-6 have been distinguished on the basis of differences in several properties. We have determined the complete DNA sequence of HHV-6 variant B (HHV-6B) strain HST, the causative agent of exanthem subitum, and compared the sequence with that of variant A strain U1102. A total of 115 potential open reading frames (ORFs) were identified within the 161,573-bp contiguous sequence of the entire HHV-6 genome, including some genes with remarkable differences in amino acid identity. All genes with <70% identity between the two variants were found to contain deleted regions when ORFs that could not be expressed were excluded from the comparison. Except in the case of U47, these differences were found in immediate-early/regulatory genes, DR2, DR7, U86/90, U89/90, and U95, which may represent characteristic differences of variants A and B. Also, we have successfully typed 14 different strains belonging to variant A or B by PCR using variant-specific primers; the results suggest that the remarkable differences observed were conserved evolutionarily as variant-specific divergence.

Effect of cisplatin on cell death and DNA crosslinking in rat mammary. Adenocarcinoma in vitro

The pharmacodynamic effects of cisdiamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) in vitro have been reported, but the dosage and exposure time in vitro have not been based on clinical observations of the drug's actions in vivo. In this study, the authors attempted to evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects of CDDP in vitro in terms of cell survival and DNA crosslinking by simulating unbound CDDP administration at varying concentrations to a rat mammary adenocarcinoma line (known as line 66). CDDP exposure was conducted by both constant concentration procedures and a simulated in vivo procedure. Colony formation assay for the surviving fraction and alkaline elution assay for DNA crosslink measurement were performed in order to evaluate the pharmacodynamics of CDDP. Cell survival was a function of the area under the drug concentration time curve (AUC) of unbound CDDP (R2 = 0.77, P < 0.002) for all drug exposure procedures as analyzed by the analysis of covariance test. There was a strong correlation between the surviving fraction and the crosslink index of the total amount of DNA crosslinks (R2 = 0.85, P < 0.0005). Both the total amount of DNA-DNA crosslinks and the DNA-protein crosslinks, of which the latter were dominant, were affected not by the exposure procedures, but by the AUC value (P < 0.002). The thresholds of cytocidal effect were 1.59 mg.h/l for the AUC and 0.008 for the crosslink index. The pharmacodynamic effects in vitro by simulated in vivo exposure were identical to those of constant.

[Clinical effect of arotinolol hydrochloride and its influence on renal function in elderly patients with essential hypertension]

Arotinolol hydrochloride with alpha-and beta-receptor blocking action, developed in Japan, is mainly used for the treatment of hypertension. The study population consisted of 42 outpatients with essential hypertension with a blood pressure greater or equal to 160/96 mmHg. 10 men and 32 women, with a mean age of 77.5 year. The patients received 10 mg arotinolol hydrochloride daily for 24 weeks which was taken orally twice a day. We evaluated the changes of blood pressure, heart rate and chief complaints of patients before and every 4 weeks during treatment and the renal function before, 12 weeks after and 24 weeks after, the administration of arotinolol hydrochloride. Blood pressure and heart rate decreased significantly after 4 weeks of treatment with arotinolol hydrochloride (p < 0.05). However, no significant changes were found in blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum albumin, beta2-microglobuline, NAG or creatinine clearance during the 24 weeks of treatment. These results indicate that arotinolol hydrochloride has antihypertensive effects without renal dysfunction in elderly patients with essential hypertension.

Synthesis and anti-influenza virus activity of novel pyrimidine derivatives

Efficient synthetic routes of 2-amino-4-(omega-hydroxyalkylamino)pyrimidine derivatives were investigated in relation to the anti-influenza virus activity of these compounds. The derivatives in which cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups were introduced to the beta-position of the aminoalkyl group (especially the cyclobutyl group substituted by a phenylalkyl group at the 3'-position) resulted in improved antiviral potency: i.e. an average 50% effective concentration for inhibition of plaque formation (EC50, microM) of 0.1-0.01 microM for both types A and B influenza virus. The antiviral efficacies were in the order of amino group > hydroxyiminomethyl group > halogen substitution at the 5-position, and chlorine or methoxy group > hydrogen at the 6-position of the pyrimidine ring. The antiviral indices of these compounds were 2-6 with respect to the 50% inhibitory concentration for cell proliferation (IC50, microM) for growing cells, but > 500 to > 10(4) with respect to the IC50 for stationary cells, indicating that these compounds may be efficacious for the topical treatment of influenza virus infection.

Prognostic significance of heat shock proteins 27 and 70 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) first were defined as proteins induced by heat shock and other environmental and pathophysiologic stresses and are implicated in protein-protein interactions such as folding, translocation, and prevention of inappropriate protein aggregation. Many of their functions suggest that they play important roles in cancer.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical study for HSP 27 and HSP 70 was performed on buffered formalin fixed, paraffin embedded sections of 102 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens using monoclonal anti-HSP 27 antibody and anti-HSP 70 antibody.

RESULTS

Normal squamous cells expressed both HSP 27 and HSP 70 with the exception of the basal layer. In cancerous tissue, expression of HSP 27 was evaluated as positive (+) (39 cases; 38%), reduced (+/-) (53 cases; 52%), or negative (-) (10 cases; 10%) and expression of HSP 70 was evaluated as (+) (14 cases; 14%), (+/-) (57 cases; 56%), or (-) (31 cases; 30%). There was a strong correlation between the expression of HSP 27 and HSP 70 (P < 0.0001). When compared with clinicopathologic features, expression of both HSP 27 and HSP 70 correlated negatively with lymph node metastases (P < 0.05), but not with depth of invasion or histologic grade. The reduction of the HSPs was associated significantly with poor postoperative survival (P < 0.0001). In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that HSP 27 (-) was the strongest prognostic factor among the clinicopathologic features.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the expression of HSP 27 and HSP 70 frequently is reduced in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and therefore should be considered an independent prognostic factor of this disease.

Prognostic significance of heat shock proteins 27 and 70 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) first were defined as proteins induced by heat shock and other environmental and pathophysiologic stresses and are implicated in protein-protein interactions such as folding, translocation, and prevention of inappropriate protein aggregation. Many of their functions suggest that they play important roles in cancer.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical study for HSP 27 and HSP 70 was performed on buffered formalin fixed, paraffin embedded sections of 102 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens using monoclonal anti-HSP 27 antibody and anti-HSP 70 antibody.

RESULTS

Normal squamous cells expressed both HSP 27 and HSP 70 with the exception of the basal layer. In cancerous tissue, expression of HSP 27 was evaluated as positive (+) (39 cases; 38%), reduced (+/-) (53 cases; 52%), or negative (-) (10 cases; 10%) and expression of HSP 70 was evaluated as (+) (14 cases; 14%), (+/-) (57 cases; 56%), or (-) (31 cases; 30%). There was a strong correlation between the expression of HSP 27 and HSP 70 (P < 0.0001). When compared with clinicopathologic features, expression of both HSP 27 and HSP 70 correlated negatively with lymph node metastases (P < 0.05), but not with depth of invasion or histologic grade. The reduction of the HSPs was associated significantly with poor postoperative survival (P < 0.0001). In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that HSP 27 (-) was the strongest prognostic factor among the clinicopathologic features.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the expression of HSP 27 and HSP 70 frequently is reduced in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and therefore should be considered an independent prognostic factor of this disease.

Impaired endothelial function in hypertensive elderly patients evaluated by high resolution ultrasonography

BACKGROUND

Multiple investigations both in experimental models and in middle-aged patients with essential hypertension have demonstrated impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether hypertension exerts an additional negative effect on endothelial function of large arteries in hypertensive elderly patients who may already be affected by endothelial dysfunction due to aging.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirteen elderly patients with hypertension (69 9 years of age [mean SD]) were compared with 13 matched healthy elderly subjects (72 6 years of age). High resolution vascular ultrasound was used to measure brachial artery responses to reactive hyperemia (with increased flow causing endothelium-dependent dilation) and to sublingual nitroglycerine (causing endothelium-independent dilation).

RESULTS

Flow-mediated diameter (FMD) was significantly impaired in the hypertensive elderly group (6.7 3.3% versus 13.3 3.8% in the control group, P<0.05). No significant difference could be found in nitroglycerine-induced dilation between the elderly control group (12.1 4.9%) and the hypertensive elderly (10.2 6.8%). On simple linear analysis, FMD was inversely correlated with age (r=-0.60, P=0. 03) in the healthy elderly group. FMD in the hypertensive elderly was inversely related to age (r=-0.41, P=0.04) and mean blood pressure (r=-0.67, P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed decreased FMD with aging even in the healthy elderly, with a further decline in hypertensive elderly compared with healthy elderly subjects. This impairment of FMD in the hypertensive elderly group was related to age and mean blood pressure, indicating that aging and hypertension may impair endothelial function in the brachial artery of elderly patients with hypertension.

Cytoplasmic beta-catenin in esophageal cancers

beta-Catenin has 2 distinct roles in E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and carcinogenesis through APC gene mutation. One occurs at cell-adhesion sites, where cadherins become linked to the actin-based cytoskeleton. The others occur in the cytoplasm and nuclei and are thought to regulate cell transformation. We studied these different beta-catenins and evaluated their significance in carcinogenesis. Fresh surgical specimens were obtained from 22 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus. beta-Catenin in the free soluble fraction and the insoluble fraction was immunoblotted separately. At the same time, its localization was observed by immuno-histochemical techniques. In the normal esophageal epithelium, 91% of beta-catenin was detected in the insoluble fraction and beta-catenin staining occurred at the cell membrane, in co-existence with E-cadherin. In cancerous tissues, the amount of soluble beta-catenin was significantly (about 4-fold) higher than in normal tissues. Also, in cancerous tissues with higher amounts of soluble beta-catenin, immuno-histochemical techniques revealed the presence of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and nuclei, as well as in the cell membrane. However, in samples with lower amounts of beta-catenin, expression was found only at the cell boundaries. The amount of soluble beta-catenin was not associated with the clinico-pathological grading of the tumors. Our results show that the accumulation of free soluble beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and nuclei frequently occurs during carcinogenesis of the squamous epithelium of the esophagus.

Prognostic significance of heat shock proteins 27 and 70 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) first were defined as proteins induced by heat shock and other environmental and pathophysiologic stresses and are implicated in protein-protein interactions such as folding, translocation, and prevention of inappropriate protein aggregation. Many of their functions suggest that they play important roles in cancer.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical study for HSP 27 and HSP 70 was performed on buffered formalin fixed, paraffin embedded sections of 102 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens using monoclonal anti-HSP 27 antibody and anti-HSP 70 antibody.

RESULTS

Normal squamous cells expressed both HSP 27 and HSP 70 with the exception of the basal layer. In cancerous tissue, expression of HSP 27 was evaluated as positive (+) (39 cases; 38%), reduced (+/-) (53 cases; 52%), or negative (-) (10 cases; 10%) and expression of HSP 70 was evaluated as (+) (14 cases; 14%), (+/-) (57 cases; 56%), or (-) (31 cases; 30%). There was a strong correlation between the expression of HSP 27 and HSP 70 (P < 0.0001). When compared with clinicopathologic features, expression of both HSP 27 and HSP 70 correlated negatively with lymph node metastases (P < 0.05), but not with depth of invasion or histologic grade. The reduction of the HSPs was associated significantly with poor postoperative survival (P < 0.0001). In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that HSP 27 (-) was the strongest prognostic factor among the clinicopathologic features.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the expression of HSP 27 and HSP 70 frequently is reduced in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and therefore should be considered an independent prognostic factor of this disease.

Assessment of myometrial invasion at the invasion site of an endometrial carcinoma by ultrasonography along with an intrauterine catheter

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate by transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU) the thickness of the intact myometrium at the presumed tumor-origin site and to establish criteria for a half myometrial invasion.

METHODS

A total of 19 successive patients with endometrial cancer who were treated between January 1, 1997, and January 31, 1998, participated in this study. TVU mode B with and without the use of an intrauterine silicon catheter was performed.

RESULTS

Using a catheter, the origin site was correctly detected in 15 cases (79%). The best criterion for half myometrial invasion was a 6-mm thickness of the intact myometrium at the origin site. The sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of TVU with the use of a catheter in cases with the correct estimated origin site, were 1.00/0.67/0.86 for myometrial invasion < 1/2, and 0.67/1.00/0.86 for myometrial invasion > or = 1/2.

CONCLUSION

It is of value to use 6-mm as the criterion for the thickness of the intact myometrium at the estimated tumor-origin site in connection with TVU with the use of a catheter for preoperatively assessing half myometrial invasion.

Cytoplasmic beta-catenin in esophageal cancers

beta-Catenin has 2 distinct roles in E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and carcinogenesis through APC gene mutation. One occurs at cell-adhesion sites, where cadherins become linked to the actin-based cytoskeleton. The others occur in the cytoplasm and nuclei and are thought to regulate cell transformation. We studied these different beta-catenins and evaluated their significance in carcinogenesis. Fresh surgical specimens were obtained from 22 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus. beta-Catenin in the free soluble fraction and the insoluble fraction was immunoblotted separately. At the same time, its localization was observed by immuno-histochemical techniques. In the normal esophageal epithelium, 91% of beta-catenin was detected in the insoluble fraction and beta-catenin staining occurred at the cell membrane, in co-existence with E-cadherin. In cancerous tissues, the amount of soluble beta-catenin was significantly (about 4-fold) higher than in normal tissues. Also, in cancerous tissues with higher amounts of soluble beta-catenin, immuno-histochemical techniques revealed the presence of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and nuclei, as well as in the cell membrane. However, in samples with lower amounts of beta-catenin, expression was found only at the cell boundaries. The amount of soluble beta-catenin was not associated with the clinico-pathological grading of the tumors. Our results show that the accumulation of free soluble beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and nuclei frequently occurs during carcinogenesis of the squamous epithelium of the esophagus.

Both positive and negative portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradients stimulate hepatic glucose uptake after the same amount of glucose is infused into the splanchnic bed in conscious dogs

We studied the effects of both positive and negative portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradients on hepatic glucose uptake after the same amount of glucose was administered into the portal vein and/or hepatic artery. Studies were performed on eight unrestrained conscious dogs with catheters in the portal vein, hepatic vein, gastroduodenal artery, superior mesenteric vein, and femoral artery and Doppler flow probes on the portal vein and hepatic artery. Glucose was infused as follows: protocol 1, 55.6 micromol/kg/min into the portal vein for the first 90 minutes; protocol 2, 27.8 micromol/kg/min into both the portal vein and hepatic artery for the next 90 minutes; and protocol 3, 55.6 micromol/kg/min into the hepatic artery for the last 90 minutes. The portal venous and hepatic arterial plasma glucose gradient was 2.1+/-0.3, -3.0+/-0.5, and -7.1+/-0.6 mmol/L, the rate of hepatic glucose uptake divided by the administered glucose load was 46%+/-11%, 42%+/-10%, and 57%+/-8%, net hepatic glucose uptake was 25.4+/-5.9, 23.5+/-5.6, and 31.6+/-4.6 micromol/kg/min; and the fractional hepatic extraction of glucose was 10.7%+/-2.2%, 11.6%+/-2.5%, and 15.0%+/-2.1%, respectively (mean+/-SEM of three points at 60, 75, and 90 minutes in each protocol). The rate of hepatic glucose uptake divided by the administered glucose load, net hepatic glucose uptake, and fractional hepatic extraction of glucose did not change significantly despite the various portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradients. We also studied the effect of the same amount of intraportal glucose infusion for 240 minutes on net hepatic glucose uptake. From 60 to 240 minutes, net hepatic glucose uptake did not change significantly. In conclusion, the liver took up a large amount of glucose administered into the portal vein and/or hepatic artery, regardless of positive or negative portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradients. Augmentation of hepatic glucose uptake is not dependent on the signal of the positive or negative portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradient.

Automated fluorimetric determination of cellular cholesterol

We developed a completely automated fluorimetric method for the determination of cellular cholesterol, consisting of enzymatic hydrolysis of cholesteryl ester to free cholesterol and enzymatic oxidation of free cholesterol in the presence of an indicator substrate to produce a fluorescent product. For control preparations of monocytes, the mean detection limit was 2.57 mumol/5 x 10(5) cells and the mean within-batch coefficients of variation were 9.30, 6.00 and 3.73% at mean cholesterol concentrations of 1.94, 9.05 and 12.49 mumol/5 x 10(5) cells, respectively. The results correlated well with those obtained by gas-liquid chromatography.