Structure of putative epidermal sensory receptors in an acoel flatworm, Praesagittifera naikaiensis

Acoel flatworms possess epidermal sensory-receptor cells on their body surfaces and exhibit behavioral repertoires such as geotaxis and phototaxis. Acoel epidermal sensory receptors should be mechanical and/or chemical receptors; however, the mechanisms of their sensory reception have not been elucidated. We examined the three-dimensional relationship between epidermal sensory receptors and their innervation in an acoel flatworm, Praesagittifera naikaiensis. The distribution of the sensory receptors was different between the ventral and dorsal sides of worms. The nervous system was mainly composed of a peripheral nerve net, an anterior brain, and three pairs of longitudinal nerve cords. The nerve net was located closer to the body surface than the brain and the nerve cords. The sensory receptors have neural connections with the nerve net in the entire body of worms. We identified five homologs of polycystic kidney disease (PKD): PKD1-1, PKD1-2, PKD1-3, PKD1-4, and, PKD2, from the P. naikaiensis genome. All of these PKD genes were implied to be expressed in the epidermal sensory receptors of P. naikaiensis. PKD1-1 and PKD2 were dispersed across the entire body of worms. PKD1-2, PKD1-3, and PKD1-4 were expressed in the anterior region of worms. PKD1-4 was also expressed around the mouth opening. Our results indicated that P. naikaiensis possessed several types of epidermal sensory receptors to convert various environmental stimuli into electrical signals via the PKD channels and transmit the signals to afferent nerve and/or effector cells.

De novo transcriptome analysis of the centrohelid Raphidocystis contractilis to identify genes involved in microtubule-based motility

The centrohelid heliozoan Raphidocystis contractilis has many radiating axopodia, each containing axopodial microtubules. The axopodia show rapid contraction at nearly a video rate (30 frames per second) in response to mechanical stimuli. The axopodial contraction is accompanied by cytoskeletal microtubule depolymerization, but the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon has not been elucidated. In this study, we performed de novo transcriptome sequencing of R. contractilis to identify genes involved in microtubule dynamics such as the rapid axopodial contraction. The transcriptome sequencing generated 7.15-Gbp clean reads in total, which were assembled as 31,771 unigenes. Using the obtained gene sets, we identified several microtubule-severing proteins which might be involved in the rapid axopodial contraction, and kinesin-like genes that occur in gene duplication. On the other hand, some genes for microtubule motor proteins involved in the formation and motility of flagella were not found in R. contractilis, suggesting that the gene repertoire of R. contractilis reflected the morphological features of nonflagellated protists. Our transcriptome analysis provides basic information for the analysis of the molecular mechanism underlying microtubule dynamics in R. contractilis.

First report of hepatobiliary Mycobacterium avium infection developing obstructive jaundice in a patient with neutralizing anti-interferon-gamma autoantibodies

This study describes a patient who experienced hepatobiliary Mycobacterium avium infection associated with neutralizing anti–interferon gamma (IFN-γ) autoantibodies during treatment for disseminated M. avium disease. Hepatobiliary M. avium infection should be considered in jaundiced patients with neutralizing anti–IFN-γ autoantibodies, including those receiving antimycobacterial therapy for disseminated M. avium disease.

A new approach for estimating the density of liquids

We propose a novel approach with which to estimate the density of liquids. The approach is based on the assumption that the systems would be structurally similar when viewed at around the length scale (inverse wavenumber) of the first peak of the structure factor, unless their thermodynamic states differ significantly. The assumption was implemented via a similarity transformation to the radial distribution function to extract the density from the structure factor of a reference state with a known density. The method was first tested using two model liquids, and could predict the densities within an error of several percent unless the state in question differed significantly from the reference state. The method was then applied to related real liquids, and satisfactory results were obtained for predicted densities. The possibility of applying the method to amorphous materials is discussed.

IL-17 eliminates therapeutic effects of oral tolerance in murine airway allergic inflammation

BACKGROUND

Oral tolerance is a classically used strategy for antigen-specific systemic immunotherapy. However, the roles of IL-17 in modification of oral tolerance are not yet understood.

OBJECTIVE

To define the effects of IL-17 on the modification of oral tolerance, the effects of transfer of Th17 cells, administration of IL-17 or anti-IL-17 antibody (αIL-17Ab) to a murine allergic airway inflammation model were investigated.

METHODS

Mice sensitized to and challenged with OVA, received OVA feeding, followed by OVA challenges. Transfer of Th17 cells, administration of IL-17 or αIL-17Ab were executed during OVA feeding. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), airway inflammation, Th2 cytokine response and lung pathology were assessed.

RESULTS

Administration of IL-17 as well as transfer of Th17 cells aggravated AHR and airway allergic inflammation as compared with the findings in mice subjected to OVA feeding alone, whereas administration of αIL-17Ab ameliorated AHR and airway eosinophilia. The effects of Th17 transfer were presumably attributable to augmentation of endogenous IL-6 production in gut. The number of Foxp3-positive regulatory T (Treg) cells in lungs and Payer's patches was increased in the OVA fed mice, whereas the number of these cells was decreased in the mice subjected to OVA feeding + Th17 cell transfer. Neutralization of IL-6 by monoclonal antibody in the mice subjected to OVA feeding + transfer of Th17 cells restored the effects of oral tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

These data suggest that IL-17 may inhibit the induction of tolerance to antigen through, at least in part augmenting IL-6 production, thereby suppressing the expansion of Treg cells.

Income maximizing in concurrent interval-ratio schedules

Three mice chose between concurrent variable-ratio variable-interval schedules to produce a warm air stream while they were housed in a cold chamber. Across conditions, the duration of the warm air stream was varied between 10 and 80 s and was equal for both schedules. Preference for the VI schedule covaried with reinforcer duration as predicted by maximizing accounts of choice.

A prostacyclin agonist with thromboxane inhibitory activity for airway allergic inflammation in mice

BACKGROUND

ONO-1301 is a novel drug that acts as a prostacyclin agonist with thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) synthase inhibitory activity. We investigated the effect of ONO-1301 on development of airway allergic inflammation.

METHODS

Mice sensitized and challenged to ovalbumin (OVA) received ONO-1301, OKY-046 (TxA(2) synthase inhibitor), beraprost, a prostacyclin receptor (IP) agonist, ONO-1301 plus CAY10449 (selective IP antagonist) or vehicle during the challenge period. Twenty-four hours after the OVA challenge, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine was assessed and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed. Lung specimens were excised for goblet cell staining and analysis of lung dendritic cells (DCs). Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were generated, in the presence or absence of drugs, for analysis of DC function.

RESULTS

Mice that received ONO-1301 showed significantly lower AHR, airway eosinophilia, T-helper type 2 cytokine levels, mucus production and lung DCs numbers than vehicle-treated mice. These effects of ONO-1301 were mostly reversed by CAY10449. BMDCs treated with ONO-1301 alone showed lower DC functions, such as expression of costimulatory factors or stimulation to spleen T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that ONO-1301 may suppress AHR and airway allergic inflammation through modulation of DCs, mainly mediated through the IP receptor. This agent may be effective as an anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of asthma.

Interobserver agreement in endoscopic evaluation of reflux esophagitis using a modified Los Angeles classification incorporating grades N and M: a validation study in a cohort of Japanese endoscopists

The Los Angeles classification system is the most widely employed criteria associated with the greatest interobserver agreement among endoscopists. In Japan, the Los Angeles classification system has been modified (modified LA system) to include minimal changes as a distinct grade of reflux esophagitis, rather than as auxiliary findings. This adds a further grading M defined as minimal changes to the mucosa, such as erythema and/or whitish turbidity. The modified LA system has come to be used widely in Japan. However, there have been few reports to date that have evaluated the interobserver agreement in diagnosis when using the modified LA classification system incorporating these minimal changes as an additional grade. A total of 100 endoscopists from university hospitals and community hospitals, as well as private practices in the Osaka-Kobe area participated in the study. A total of 30 video clips of 30-40 seconds duration, mostly showing the esophagocardiac junction, were created and shown to 100 endoscopists using a video projector. The participating endoscopists completed a questionnaire regarding their clinical experience and rated the reflux esophagitis as shown in the video clips using the modified LA classification system. Agreement was assessed employing kappa (kappa) statistics for multiple raters. The kappa-value for all 91 endoscopists was 0.094, with a standard error of 0.002, indicating poor interobserver agreement. The endoscopists showed the best agreement on diagnosing grade A esophagitis (0.167), and the poorest agreement when diagnosing grade M esophagitis (0.033). The kappa-values for the diagnoses of grades N, M, and A esophagitis on identical video pairs were 0.275-0.315, with a standard error of 0.083-0.091, indicating fair intraobserver reproducibility among the endoscopists. The study results consistently indicate poor agreement regarding diagnoses as well as fair reproducibility of these diagnoses by endoscopists using the modified LA classification system, regardless of age, type of practice, past endoscopic experience, or current workload. However, grade M reflux esophagitis may not necessarily be irrelevant, as it may suggest an early form of reflux disease or an entirely new form of reflux esophagitis. Further research is required to elucidate the pathophysiological basis of minimal change esophagitis.

Local adaptation and population differentiation at the interleukin 13 and interleukin 4 loci

A 25.6 kb region at chromosome 5q31, covering the entire human interleukin 13 (IL-13) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) genes, has been reported to be associated with bronchial asthma. We have examined nucleotide variations at this locus in African, European American, and Japanese populations, using 120 diallelic variants. A block of strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) (mid R:D'mid R:>0.7) spans a 10 kb region containing IL-4 in European American and Japanese populations, and is present but less clear in African samples. Two major haplotypes at IL-4 account for >80% of haplotypes in European Americans and Japanese. These haplotypes are common and quite diverged from each other and the ancestral haplotype, resulting in highly significant deviations from neutrality. F(ST) statistics show that European American and Japanese populations are unusually distinct at the IL-4 locus. The most common haplotype in the European American population is much less common in the Japanese population, and vice versa. This implies that natural selection has acted on IL-4 haplotypes differently in different populations. This selected variation at IL-4 may account for some genetic variance underlying susceptibility to asthma and other allergic diseases. The strong LD observed in the IL-4 region may allow more efficient disease-association studies using this locus.

Successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori prevents relapse of peptic ulcer disease

BACKGROUND

The NIH consensus conference in 1994 recommended that all patients with peptic ulcers should be tested and treated for Helicobacter pylori. Recent studies have shown that the eradication of H. pylori is associated with a significant reduction in the relapse rate of peptic ulcers, but there are few reports about long-term outcome.

AIMS

To evaluate the relapse rate of peptic ulcer in the long-term follow-up of patients after H. pylori eradication therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients infected with H. pylori (445; 88 duodenal ulcer, 357 gastric ulcer) were randomly divided into three groups. In group A, patients received 'conventional treatment' including acid decreasing therapy with a histamine H2-receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitor (PPI). In group B, patients received 'dual therapy' including one antibiotic plus acid-decreasing therapy. In group C, patients received 'triple therapy' with PPI plus amoxicillin and clarithromycin. Eradication of H. pylori infection was assessed by histology of biopsy specimens from both the antrum and body corpus at 4 weeks, and 6 and 12 months after stopping therapy. Endoscopy was performed at intervals of 6 months for 5 years.

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat eradication rates for the duodenal ulcer patients were 0% for group A, 46% for group B and 80% for group C; eradication rates for the gastric ulcer patients were 0%, 33% and 83% respectively. No recurrence was noted in the duodenal ulcer patients and only 4% of gastric ulcers recurred after successful eradication during follow-up for 5 years. In contrast, in patients with persistent H. pylori infection all DU and 92% of gastric ulcers recurred.

CONCLUSION

Eradication of H. pylori infection changes the natural course of peptic ulcer.

Experimental gastric carcinogenesis related to Helicobacter pylori

In this paper, we present our research on the lipid A of Helicobacter pylori, an experimental study using the Mongolian gerbil model and experimental carcinogenesis using the mouse model to evaluate roles of host factors and bacterial factors which are related to the pathogenicity of Helicobacter pylori including gastric carcinogenesis. Future study on bacterial factors and host factors may give more insight into the role of Helicobacter pylori in gastric carcinogenesis.

[The relation between resistance to change and preference in pigeons with concurrent chained schedules]

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the relation between resistance to change and preference. Four pigeons responded in concurrent chained schedules in which variable-interval (VI) 60-s schedules were arranged in the initial link. In Experiment 1, VI and fixed-interval (FI) schedules of equal mean reinforcement rates were arranged in the terminal link. Response rates were higher in the initial link leading to VI terminal link. Under the prefeeding test, the initial-link response rates leading to VI terminal link were more resistant to change than were those leading to FI terminal link, but under the extinction test there were no consistent differences between the two initial-link response rates. In Experiment 2, FI value of the terminal link was manipulated so that pigeons maintained approximately equal responding in the initial link. The two initial-link response rates showed equal resistance to change under the prefeeding and extinction tests. Thus, the data suggest that although the use of extinction as a manipulation to study resistance to change is questioned, resistance to change and preference are different measures of a single object.

Branch retinal vein occlusion in the right eye and retinal hemorrhage in the left in a patient with classical Tsutsugamushi disease

PURPOSE

To report branch retinal vein occlusion and retinal hemorrhages associated with tsutsugamushi disease.

METHODS

Case report of a 60-year-old woman who complained of fever, chills, headache, lymphadenopathy, and blurred vision in the right eye following an insect bite to the lower right forehead.

RESULTS

Serological findings showed elevated titers for the strains of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. Ophthalmologic examination disclosed bilateral conjunctival injection, flame-shaped hemorrhage in her right fundus, and scattered hemorrhage in her left fundus. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated dye leakage and dilation of capillaries.

CONCLUSIONS

Branch retinal vein occlusion associated with classical tsutsugamushi disease, as demonstrated in our patient, may be rare.

Influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on development of stress-induced gastric mucosal injury

Immediately after the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe in 1995, the recurrence rate of peptic ulcer in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori was higher than that in patients in whom H. pylori had been eradicated. We evaluated the influence of H. pylori infection on stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in Mongolian gerbils and C57BL/6 mice. These animals were immersed in water for 30, 120, and 720 min 12 weeks after inoculation with H. pylori, and then killed to assess gastric mucosal damage, and to measure cytokine production (interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10; interferon [IFN]-gamma; and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha) in the gastric tissue of the mice. The stress treatment for 30 min resulted in a significantly higher bleeding rate and bleeding index among infected gerbils and mice compared with results in uninfected animals. Conversely, the bleeding and ulcer indexes were significantly higher in uninfected gerbils after 720 min of the stress treatment than in infected gerbils. Prior to the stress treatment, gastric IL-1beta and IFN-gamma production was significantly higher in the infected group than in the uninfected group. After 120 min of the stress treatment, TNF-alpha production was increased in the infected group, and IL-1beta and IL-10 production was increased in the uninfected group. However, the production of these cytokines showed no change at 30 min of the stress treatment. These results suggest that H. pylori infection influences the development of gastric mucosal injury in the early phase of stress exposure; cytokines do not play a major role in this process.

Effect of cobalt ion on radical intensity and cytotoxic activity of antioxidants

The effect of CoCl2 on the cytotoxic activity of various antioxidants against human oral tumor cell lines (HSC-2, HSG) and normal human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) was investigated. Noncytotoxic concentrations of CoCl2 significantly reduced the cytotoxic activity of sodium ascorbate, gallic acid, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), curcumin and dopamine, but not that of sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate (SBA) and benzaldehyde. Among these compounds, benzaldehyde showed the most prominent tumor-specific cytotoxic action. ESR spectroscopy showed that these antioxidants produced radicals under alkaline condition and that their radical intensity was transiently enhanced and finally disappeared by addition of CoCl2. Antioxidants which are sensitive to CoCl2 generally had higher cytotoxic activity and oxidation potential (measured by NO monitor) and addition of CoCl2 significantly reduced their oxidation potential. The present study suggests that cobalt ion stimulates the oxidation of antioxidants to their inactive products.

Comparison of pathologic changes in Helicobacter pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils and humans

Helicobacter pylori has been recognized as a pathogen causing gastroduodenal disease, with adequate evidence to prove this relation in clinical research. Available animal models, however, were inadequate until 1995, when a new animal model of H. pylori infection was established using Mongolian gerbils. In this study we compared pathological changes in seven H. pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils with ulcers to five patients with gastric ulcer who underwent operation. All of the animals showed positive reactions for both H. pylori culture and serum anti-H. pylori antibody titer. All human subjects had H. pylori on the mucosal surface. Thus, inflammatory cell infiltration in the pyloric gland area was observed throughout almost all layers in the animals. In contrast, inflammation was observed in the surface layer of the mucosa in the pyloric gland area in the human subjects. Lymph follicle formation was observed more often in humans than in the animals. Inflammation of the fundic gland area in both groups was weaker than of the pyloric gland area and was observed within the mucosa. Histological changes observed in both groups were chronic active gastritis, lymph follicles, and intestinal metaplasia in the stomach. H. pylori-associated gastritis in humans is characterized by erosion, inflammation with neutrophil infiltration, lymph follicles, intestinal metaplasia, and atrophy. These findings are similar to those in this animal model. Thus, H. pylori infection might participate in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal mucosal damage. In conclusion, the Mongolian gerbil is a good animal model for H. pylori-associated gastric diseases, and it might be useful for investigating the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection.

Pathologic changes in the glandular stomach and duodenum in an H. pylori-infected Mongolian gerbil model

We have established a Helicobacter pylori-infected Mongolian gerbil model following Hirayama's method to investigate gastric diseases associated with H. pylori infection. We orally administered the culture broth of H. pylori ATCC 43504 to 8-week-old male Mongolian gerbils. After this, the gerbils were fed in a vinyl isolator. Subsequently, over the course of 48 weeks some of them were sacrificed for histopathologic examination and H. pylori culture. H. pylori colonization in the glandular stomach was seen in all the infected gerbils but only a few H. pylori were detected histologically. Acute inflammation, immature epithelium, and erosion were observed 2 weeks after H. pylori infection. Chronic inflammation was noted from 4 weeks after H. pylori infection. In addition, we found intestinal metaplasia and gastric ulcers from 12 and 24 weeks, respectively. There was mild to moderate inflammation in the duodenum but no ulcerative lesions or gastric metaplasia were observed. Some histologic findings were similar to those in humans, but inflammation occurred mainly in the deep mucosa and submucosa. This is a good animal model for H. pylori-associated gastric diseases but not for duodenal ulcers or gastric metaplasia. It might be useful for investigating the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection in the stomach.

[Epidemiological study for infection with H. pylori in Japan compared with that in USA, Europe and Asian Pacific area]

The prevalence of infection with H. pylori in developed countries was about 20%, on the other hand in developing countries it reached over 80%. In developed countries 40% of infants already had anti-H. pylori antibody and the prevalence of infection rapidly increased and then reached the peak (80%) in teenager. In contrast in developed countries the rate of infection with H. pylori was below 20% in teenager and gradually increased by age (1% per 1 year). In our country an unique pattern of the prevalence of infection with H. pylori was observed. The rate of infection with H. pylori in young person was low and increased with 1% per 1 year (developed countries pattern). However, middle-aged person had higher rate of infection of H. pylori (over 85%) (developing countries pattern). These results suggested H. pylori infection would be closely associated with childhood living conditions than current living (including socioeconomic) status. From this point of view, the prevention for infection with H. pylori in childhood will be most important to prevent the gastroduodenal disease related with H. pylori in the future.

Pathological changes in glandular stomach of Helicobacter pylori-infected Mongolian gerbil model

We have established a Helicobacter pylori-infected Mongolian gerbil model, following Hirayama's method, to clarify gastric diseases associated with H. pylori infection. We administered the culture broth of H. pylori ATCC 43504 orally to 8-week-old male Mongolian gerbils. After H. pylori inoculation, the gerbils were fed in a vinyl isolator. Subsequently, over the course of 48 weeks, they were killed for histopathological examination, H. pylori culture, and serum antibody measurement. H. pylori colonization in the glandular stomach was seen in all the infected gerbils, but only a few H. pylori were detected histologically. The serum antibody titer in the H. pylori-inoculated group increased gradually in comparison with controls. Acute inflammation, immature epithelium, and erosion were observed 2 weeks after H. pylori infection. Chronic inflammation was noted from 4 weeks after H. pylori infection. We also found intestinal metaplasia and gastric ulcers from 12 and 24 weeks after inoculation, respectively. Some histological findings were similar to those in humans, but the chronic inflammation in the gerbils was present mainly in the deep mucosa and submucosa. This appears to be a good animal model for H. pylori-associated gastric diseases and it may be useful for investigating the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection.

The endotoxin of Helicobacter pylori is a modulator of host-dependent gastritis

Atrophic gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori is the precursor lesion in the development of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. In animal models, atrophic gastritis induced by Helicobacter felis has been shown to be host dependent, developing in some mouse strains and not in others. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of H. pylori has been suggested to play a role in the induction of gastritis. The goal of this study was to compare the inflammation induced by long-term infection of the C3H/He and the C3H/HeJ strains of mice with H. felis. C3H/HeJ mice are unresponsive to LPS. Six months after infection, severe atrophic gastritis had developed in the body mucosae of all infected C3H/He mice, with replacement of parietal and chief cells. Atrophy was associated with a loss of the H. felis from the antral mucosa. In contrast, no atrophy was seen in the infected C3H/HeJ non-LPS responder animals, and heavy colonization of the antrum remained. There were no significant differences between both the quantitative and qualitative serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and salivary IgA levels in both strains of mice. The main difference between the two strains of long-term-infected mice was a lack of macrophage infiltration in the lamina propria. Immunization induced good protective immunity to challenge with viable H. felis. Helicobacter-induced, host-dependent gastritis is likely to be cell mediated. The C3H/He and C3H/HeJ mouse model provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the cellular basis of atrophic gastritis.

[Critical review on the WHO/IARC report regarding carcinogenicity of Helicobacter pylori]

Helicobacter pylori has been defined as a "definite carcinogen" at the WHO/IARC meeting in 1994. H. pylori causes histological gastritis. Long-lasting infection may induce atrophic gastritis, which is considered to be the first step in the gastritis-metaplasia-carcinoma sequence of the stomach. In a pooled analysis of the three prospective epidemiological studies, the relative risk for developing gastric cancer with H. pylori infection was 3.8, which was statistically significant. Thus, it was concluded that there was sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of infection with H. pylori. However, there was no evidence experimentally for the carcinogenicity of infection with H. pylori. Further study is necessary to elucidate the role of H. pylori in gastric carcinogenesis.

Atrophic gastric changes in both Helicobacter felis and Helicobacter pylori infected mice are host dependent and separate from antral gastritis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The role of host factors has been neglected in studies of the pathogenesis of Helicobacter associated disease. The aim of this study was to assess the response of different mouse strains to infection with a single strain of Helicobacter felis.

METHOD

Six strains of inbred mice were infected with the identical H felis culture and were killed at one month, two months, and six months after infection to assess histopathological changes. In addition, two strains of mice were infected with a mouse adapted strain of H pylori and examined at six months after infection.

RESULTS

In SJL, C3H/He, DBA/2, and C57BL/6 infected mice, severe to moderate chronic active gastritis was observed only in the body of the stomach, which increased in severity over time with specialised cells in the body glands being replaced. As the severity of this damage in the body increased and atrophic changes were seen, the level of bacterial colonisation of the antrum decreased. In contrast, in BALB/c and CBA mice, there was only mild gastritis in the antrum, no remarkable changes were detected in their body mucosa, and no atrophy was seen over time. In both these strains of mice, heavy bacterial colonisation was seen, which tended to increase over the period of the experiment. Of particular importance in this experiment was that bacterial colonisation was mainly restricted to the antrum yet the atrophy, when present, was only observed in the body of the stomach. H pylori infected C3H/He mice showed moderate colonisation of the antrum, which persisted up to six months with little development of atrophy. In contrast, H pylori in C57BL/6 mice showed excellent colonisation of the antrum at two months but six months after infection there was moderate to severe body atrophy, which was associated with a loss of bacteria from the antrum.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings challenge current concepts of the development of Helicobacter induced atrophy in that active chronic gastritis of antrum or the body mucosa, or both, is not a prerequisite. They also suggest an autoimmune basis for the pathology although no autoantibody or antibody to the H+/K+ ATPase was detected. Loss of infecting helicobacters from the stomach together with development of an atrophic gastritis in the body of the stomach is similar to the pattern found in certain H pylori infected human subjects.

Relationship between ascorbyl radical intensity and apoptosis-inducing activity

Ascorbic acid and its related compounds were compared for their ascorbyl radical intensity and apoptosis-inducing activity. Sodium L-ascorbate, L-ascorbic acid, D-isoascorbic acid, sodium 6-beta-O-galactosyl-L-ascorbate and sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate, at the concentration of 1-10 mM, induced apoptotic cell death characterized by cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation and internucleosomal DNA cleavage in human promyelocytic leukemic HL-60 cells. On the other hand, L-ascorbic acid-2-phosphate magnesium salt and L-ascorbic acid 2-sulfate did not induce any of these apoptosis-associated characteristics. ESR measurements revealed that all the active compounds were progressively degraded, producing the ascorbyl radical (g = 2.0064, hfc = 0.17 mT) in culture medium, whereas the inactive compounds were stable and did not produce the ascorbyl radical. Cytotoxicity began to appear when the radical intensity exceeded a certain threshold level. In the presence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, both ascorbyl radical intensity and apoptosis-inducing activity were significantly reduced. These data suggest the possible involvement of the ascorbyl radical in apoptosis induction by ascorbic acid-related compounds. Exposure of HL-60 cells to ascorbic acid or its active derivatives resulted in the rapid elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration, which might serve as the initial signal leading to the cell death pathway.

[Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer]

H. pylori has been included as a definite biological carcinogen by WHO/ IARC. H. pylori is thought to play a role in the gastritis-metaplasia-carcinoma sequence by inducing atrophic gastritis. Clinical and epidemiological studies have shown a close association between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer. Yet, experimental evidence is equivocal. Epidemiological evidence also suggests that there are significant variable(s) other than H. pylori infection in gastric carcinogenesis. Clearly many questions regarding the role of H. pylori in gastric carcinogenesis have been left for further study. The authors have summarized these aspects together with their experimental results.

Induction of DNA fragmentation by tannin- and lignin-related substances

A variety of tannin and lignin-related compounds were compared for their ability to induce nucleosome-sized DNA fragmentation (a biochemical hallmark of apoptosis), using agarose gel electrophoresis and a fluorescence activated cell sorter. Monomeric, dimeric, trimeric and tetrameric hydrolysable tannins induced nucleosome-sized DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells, more potently than condensed tannins. The highest activity was detected in gallic acid, a component unit of tannins. Natural lignified materials, except for caffeic acid and its dehydrogenation polymer, showed much weaker activity. Protein-bound polysaccharide (PSK) was inactive. Gallic acid induced DNA fragmentation in four human myelogenous leukaemic cell lines, but not in human T-cell leukaemia and erythroleukaemia cell lines. Ca2+ depletion from the culture medium slightly, but significantly, reduced the apoptosis-inducing activity of gallic acid, but did not significantly affect that of tannic acid or caffeic acid. After treatment with gallic acid, intracellular Ca2+ concentration was significantly elevated. The apoptosis-inducing activity of polyphenols may further emphasize their medicinal efficacy.

Hypochlorite scavenging activity of polyphenols

Chemiluminescence, generated by the mixture of sodium hypochlorite solution and luminol, was completely eliminated by polyphenols, such as natural lignins, phenylpropenoid monomers and polymers, and epigallocatechin gallate. On the other hand, hypochlorite scavenging activity of polysaccharides, such as PSK (Krestin) and Schizophyllan, was relatively weak. Human myelogenous leukemic cell lines (HL-60, ML-1) showed higher production of active oxygen(s) (detected by luminol chemiluminescence) and iodination capacity, than six other cultured cell lines. Since lignin did not completely eliminate the active oxygen production by HL-60 cells, possible stimulation of hypochlorite production by lignin was suggested.

Endonuclease activity and induction of DNA fragmentation in human myelogenous leukemic cell lines

When four human myelogenous leukemic cell lines (HL-60, ML-1, U-937, THP-1) were exposed to either ascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide, etoposide, tumor necrosis factor, hyperthermia or UV irradiation, their growth inhibition and oligonucleosome-size DNA fragmentation were induced. Non-myelogenous leukemic cell lines (MOLT-4, K-562) were similarly sensitive to ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide, but relatively resistant to etoposide, TNF, hyperthermia and UV irradiation. Furthermore, these treatments except for UV irradiation, did not induce any apparent DNA fragmentation in MOLT-4 and K-562 cells. An autodigestion experiment revealed that all of these six cell lines contained divalent cation-independent endonuclease activity as a major endonuclease. The ability of this endonuclease to produce oligonucleosome-size DNA fragmentation was stimulated at acidic, but not at neutral pH. Since this enzyme activity was not detected in the lysosomal enzyme-free nuclei, prepared from all six cell lines, the cytoplasmic localization of this enzyme was suggested. The results suggest that the endonuclease activity might be differently regulated between myelogenous and non-myelogenous leukemic cell lines.

[Advances in the experimental analysis of behavior: issues of choice behavior, comparative cognition, and human language]

As the opportunity to contact with related areas has increased, the study of of the experimental analysis of behavior has experienced revolutionary changes. Some of the most active and important areas-studies of choice, comparative cognition, and human language--are reviewed to acquaint readers. Studies of CHOICE have linked to the molar theories of behavioral economics and behavioral ecology, which promoted research of choice by animals under uncertainty conditions. Further approach has been made to integrate the molar and molecular analyses on the basis of the ideas of behavior dynamics. COMPARATIVE COGNITION is a part of a larger field including cognitive science, behavioral neuroscience, and biological science. Recent developments, aided with a comparative perspective, made significant contributions to our understanding of the phylogeny and ontogeny of cognition. Advances in analysis of human behavior provided tools to study behavioral aspects of semantics, syntax, and pragmatics of HUMAN LANGUAGE. Using the paradigm of stimulus equivalence, the emergence of stimulus relations, stimulus-stimulus networks, hierarchical structure of verbal behavior, and other language-related behaviors have been investigated.

Structure and chromosomal locus of the mouse gene encoding a cerebellar Purkinje cell-specific helix-loop-helix factor Hes-3

HES-3 is a cerebellar Purkinje cell-specific helix-loop-helix factor structurally related to the products of the Drosophila hairy and Enhancer of split genes. Here, we report the nucleotide sequence and chromosomal locus of the mouse Hes-3 gene. This gene consists of four exons and the exon-intron boundaries are well conserved when compared with those of the mouse Hes-1 and Drosophila hairy genes. Southern blot and interspecies backcross analyses show that the mouse Hes-3 gene is a single-copy gene and is located around position 80 on chromosome 4. Further analysis indicates that this locus is close to the Hes-5 locus, which is different from the Hes-1 locus (position 26 on chromosome 16). These results suggest that the Hes-3 and Hes-5 genes may be clustered on chromosome 4 while the Hes-1 gene is not.

Induction of DNA fragmentation in human myelogenous leukemic cell lines by sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate and its related compounds

High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate (SBA), dissolved in distilled water, was gradually decomposed into ascorbic acid and benzaldehyde. Among these three compounds, ascorbic acid showed the most potent cytotoxic activity. The cytotoxic activity of each compound was significantly reduced during degradation in culture medium. Agarose gel electrophoresis and fluorometric determination of DNA revealed that ascorbic acid, as well as SBA, induced DNA fragmentation into nucleosomal oligomers in human myelogenous leukemic cell lines, but not in freshly isolated human peripheral blood cells. The results suggest that antitumor activity of SBA might be at least in part mediated by the action of ascorbic acid, a degradation product of SBA.

[Frequency of food intake of dentulous and complete denture wearers]

The study was carried out on 1466 subjects, whose ages ranged from 20 to 80 years of age, of whom 1181 were dentulous and 285 were complete dentures. We studied the frequency with which the 1466 cases partook of food. The results were as follows: 1) Ingested foods were classified into 10 groups along with the frequency with which they were ingested on a yearly seasonal basis. Food groups were classified as follows: vegetables, grain, sea food, beans, meat, seaweed, potatoes, fruits, etc. 2) The Ingested foods of the dentulous group were similar to those of the complete denture wearers. 3) In all age groups the foods most ingested were: steamed rice, wakame, tofu, bread, scallions, Japanese omelette, and tomatoes. 4) The younger subjects (20 to 39 years) statistically ate significantly lower amounts of steamed rice than did the older age groups. 5) The younger generation ate more meat, while the older groups ate more sea food.

Phospholipid metabolism in bile duct-ligated rat plasma and erythrocytes

Incorporation of [32P]orthophosphate into phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine and molecular species of phosphatidylcholine in vivo was observed in liver, plasma and erythrocytes of bile duct-ligated or sham-operated rats. Both the amount and radioactivity of dienoic species of phosphatidylcholine in all tissues examined increased in bile duct-ligated rats as compared to sham-operated rats. The experiments in vivo and in vitro showed that the ratio of lysophosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylcholine transferred to erythrocytes from plasma in sham-operated rats was much higher than that in bile duct-ligated rats. It is suggested that one of the mechanisms by which abnormal erythrocytes appear might be explained by the facilitated and direct transfer of phosphatidylcholine, which is caused by the interaction of erythrocytes with bile acid in bile duct-ligated rat plasma.

A fluorimetric determination of the activity of glycolipid transfer protein and some properties of the protein purified from pig brain

The fluorimetric method of Correa-Freire et al. (Correa-Freire, M.C., Barenholz, Y. and Thompson, T.E. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 1244-1248) to measure glucosylceramide transfer between phospholipid bilayers has been applied to the determination of the activity of glycolipid transfer protein purified from pig brain. The transfer of pyrene-labeled galactosylceramide (PyrGalCer) from donor to acceptor vesicles was measured by a decrease in the intensity ratio of eximer (E) to excited monomer (M). A sensitive determination of the glycolipid transfer activity is possible by the fluorimetric method without separation of the donor and acceptor vesicles. The newly developed fluorimetric assay of glycolipid transfer protein was used to study the effects of N-ethylmaleimide, HgCl2 and sugars on the transfer activity. The treatment with N-ethylmaleimide inactivated the activity to about 40%. The activity was almost completely inactivated by the treatment with HgCl2. Monosaccharides and methyl-alpha-D-glucoside had no inhibitory effect on the transfer activity. A marked and immediate drop of the E/M ratio was observed by the addition of glycolipid transfer protein to vesicles containing PyrGalCer at a protein-to-PyrGalCer molar ratio of 1.56:1. The result suggests a complex formation of glycolipid transfer protein with PyrGalCer.

Experimental biliary obstruction of rat. Initial changes in the structure and lipid content of erythrocytes

The bile duct was ligated and the resulting changes in the plasma and erythrocyte lipid composition and in the shape of erythrocytes were observed. Electron microscopy at 8th hour after ligation revealed the appearance of spur cells, and on the 7th day target cells began to be observed. The appearance of spur cells was considered to be a reflection of abrupt increases in bile acid and bilirubin levels in the plasma. The conversion of spur cells to target cells which was observed was accompanied by increased levels of cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine in the erythrocytes. Plasma phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol levels were increased immediately after the commencement of ligation. On the other hand, erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol levels only gradually increased when compared to those in plasma, and the maximum value was observed from the 5th to the 7th day. The fatty acid composition of the increased plasma phosphatidylcholine after ligation resembled that of phosphatidylcholine in bile. On the other hand, the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine changed remarkably between the 1st and 3rd days after bile duct ligation. These changes were also reflected by those of phosphatidylcholine in bile. These results led to the conclusion that the appearance of target cells observed in the present study was due to the accumulation of erythrocyte lipids which derived from bile. This is the first report on experimentally induced target cells and the mechanism for their appearance that seems applicable for humans.

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase does not catalyze vectorial production of adenosine in the perfused rat liver

From the results obtained in perfused rat hearts, Frick and Lowenstein proposed that ecto-5'-nucleotidase catalyzes a vectorial reaction in which AMP hydrolysis is accompanied by transfer of adenosine across the cell membrane (Frick, G.P., and Lowenstein, J.M. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 1240-1244). We have examined by the use of perfused rat livers, the uptake mechanism of adenosine generated from AMP by ecto-5'-nucleotidase. Recirculating perfusion of rat livers was performed with a buffered saline containing [2-3H]AMP at an initial concentration of 5 microM. One-half of the [2-3H] AMP was dephosphorylated by 0.8 min of perfusion; less than 13% of the radioactivity of hydrolyzed [2-3H] AMP was located in [2-3H]adenosine plus [2-3H]inosine appearing in the perfusate. Addition of 6-[(4-nitrobenzyl)thio]-guanosine, an inhibitor of the nucleoside transport system, at 120 microM to the perfusate caused a 3.9-fold increase in the amount of the [2-3H]AMP-derived 3H-nucleosides appearing in the perfusate. Moreover, in a perfusion in which uridine was added to the perfusate at 2.6 mM to compete with the [2-3H] AMP-derived [2-3H]adenosine for the nucleoside transport system, more than 87% of the radioactivity of hydrolyzed [2-3H]AMP was located in [2-3H]adenosine appearing in the perfusate; the result indicates that the uridine added to the perfusate efficiently trapped the [2-3H]adenosine formed from [2-3H]AMP. These results support an uptake mechanism of the AMP-derived adenosine in which the adenosine formed by ecto-5'-nucleotidase in the blood-sinusoidal plasma membrane of hepatocytes, is taken up by the nucleoside transport system located at the plasma membrane side by side with ecto-5'-nucleotidase. The results therefore indicate that the ecto-5'-nucleotidase of hepatocytes does not catalyze vectorial production of adenosine, in contrast to the previous report on perfused rat hearts.

Effect of prostaglandin E1 and polyphloretin phosphate on hemolysis of human erythrocytes

Prostaglandin E1 was found to reduce the hemolysis rate induced by various factors, such as frequent shakings, treatment with hog pancreatic phospholipase A2, the addition of active oxygens generated by a xanthine oxidase system, and the addition of a prostaglandin antagonist, polyphloretin phosphate (PPP). Prostaglandin E1 was found to act on the erythrocytes in such a way as to cause the phospholipids in the membrane to become more compactly arranged thus becoming less susceptible to the attack of hemolytic reagents. It was observed that the extents of hemolysis were different between erythrocytes from males and females and furthermore, it was shown that prostaglandin E1 clearly reduced the rate of hemolysis of erythrocytes from males, while, in females, the effects of prostaglandin E1 were less than those in erythrocytes from males.