Deep learning based depth map estimation of protoporphyrin IX in turbid media using dual wavelength excitation fluorescence

This study presents a depth map estimation of fluorescent objects in turbid media, such as biological tissue based on fluorescence observation by two-wavelength excitation and deep learning-based processing. A U-Net-based convolutional neural network is adapted for fluorophore depth maps from the ratiometric information of the two-wavelength excitation fluorescence. The proposed method offers depth map estimation from wide-field fluorescence images with rapid processing. The feasibility of the proposed method was demonstrated experimentally by estimating the depth map of protoporphyrin IX, a recognized cancer biomarker, at different depths within an optical phantom.

Anti-interferon-α neutralizing antibody is associated with nonresponse to pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C

Pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN-α) plus ribavirin (RBV) treatment fails to achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) in approximately 20-50% of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We assessed the contribution of an anti-IFN-α neutralizing antibody (NAb) on the nonresponse to treatment. NAbs were detected using an antiviral assay that assessed the neutralizing effects of serum samples against IFN. Serum samples were obtained at the end of the treatment and evaluated for the presence of NAbs using recombinant IFN-α as a standard. We studied 129 PEG-IFN-α/RBV-treated patients. In the 82 end-of-treatment responders, no NAbs were detected. Of the 47 patients who did not respond, seven (15%) were positive for NAbs. We also examined an additional 83 patients who had not responded to PEG-IFN-α treatment, and detected 12 with NAbs. Patients with good IFN-responsive characteristics, including HCV genotype 2/3 and major allele homozygotes for interleukin-28B, were included in the 19 patients with NAbs. No NAbs interfered with the antiviral activity of natural human IFN-β (nIFN-β) and re-treatement of patients with NAbs with nIFN-β/RBV achieved SVR. Our analyses revealed that the emergence of anti-IFN-α NAbs was a candidate causal factor of PEG-IFN-α-treatment failure. Therefore, these antibodies should be assayed in patients who do not respond to PEG-IFN-α therapy, and if detected, other effective treatments, i.e., medications that are not neutralized by anti-IFN-α NAbs, should be considered.

Necrotizing fasciitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans in a patient with pemphigus vegetans

Cryptococcosis occurs most often in immunocompromised people. The cutaneous features of cryptococcosis include papules, pustules, nodules, subcutaneous swelling, abscesses, molluscum contagiosum-like or tumour-like lesions, cellulitis, blisters, ulcers and very rarely, necrotizing fasciitis (NF). NF is a destructive soft-tissue infection that is most typically caused by group A streptococci or by a combination of facultative and anaerobic bacteria. We present the case of a 55-year-old woman with pemphigus vegetans, who developed cryptococcal NF in the legs. She had been treated with immunosuppressants including plasmapheresis and pulse therapy with steroid and cyclophosphamide. Cryptococcal NF localized to the legs is very rare. Because diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcal infection is often delayed, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of cryptococcal infection when antibacterial therapy is not effective in an immunocompromised patient.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver associated with thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver is a rare vascular neoplasm with intermediate malignant potential. The prognosis is highly unpredictable. We report the case of a 59-year-old woman who had the tumor radically resected, but multiple metastases of the liver developed associated with thrombocytopenia and consumption coagulopathy, as observed in Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. The patient did not respond to any treatment and the behavior of the tumor was very aggressive. The patient died 15 months after radical resection of the tumor.

Idiopathic hemochromatosis with the mutation of Ala176Val heterozygous for HFE gene

Most patients with hereditary hemochromatosis are homozygous for C282Y in the HFE gene in populations of Celtic origin, but the genetic cause of this disease is unknown in Japan because of its rarity. A 48-year-old Japanese patient was recently diagnosed with idiopathic hemochromatosis. Analysis of the entire coding region of the patient's HFE by RT-PCR showed a heterozygous nucleotide substitution at nucleotide 527 from C to T, which resulted in A176V amino acid substitution. Another mutation at nucleotide 942 from T to C was observed, but this was a nonsense mutation. C282Y and another mutation, H63D, were not found in the patient. The mutation may have a possible role on the cause of hemochromatosis in this Japanese case.

Development of orally active nonpeptidic inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase

5-Amino-2-phenylpyrimidin-6-ones, some of their desamino derivatives, and miscellaneous derivatives were synthesized and biologically evaluated on both in vitro activity and oral activity in an acute hemorrhagic assay. These compounds contained an alpha-keto-1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety to bind covalently to the Ser-195 hydroxy group of human neutrophil elastase (HNE). Among those tested, compounds 11a-c,e,i-l(F), 11d,e,k(H), 21d,e,k(F), and 21d,e(H) showed a good oral profile. RS-Mixture 3(H) was selected for clinical evaluation based on its oral potency, duration of action, enzyme selectivity, safety profile, and ease of synthesis. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) are discussed.

Reduced gastric surface mucus layer in experimental portal hypertension

The pathogenesis of portal hypertensive gastropathy has not yet been thoroughly elucidated. Changes in the gastric surface mucus layer in prehepatic portal hypertensive and cirrhotic rat models were studied by observing frozen sections fixed with formaldehyde vapor and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. We produced prehepatic portal hypertensive rats by partial ligation of the portal vein, and cirrhotic rats by prolonged administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and phenobarbital sodium. The thickness of the corporal and antral gastric surface mucus was significantly reduced in prehepatic portal hypertensive and cirrhotic rats compared with the values obtained in control rats for portal hypertension (subjected to sham operation) and control rats for cirrhosis (treated with phenobarbital but not CCl4). These results indicate that the hemodynamic changes associated with portal hypertension reduce the thickness of the gastric surface mucus layer and may be one of the causes of the gastropathy associated with portal hypertension.

The tumor-derived fetal-intestinal alkaline phosphatase cDNA is identical in sequence to the adult intestinal alkaline phosphatase isozyme gene

The alkaline phosphatase (AP) of Caco-2 cells, a cell line derived from a human adenocarcinoma of the colon, is quite similar to fetal intestinal AP in its enzymatic properties. The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding AP produced in Caco-2 cells was examined. The sequence was identical to one of the three sequences of adult intestinal AP reported previously. We further investigated the entire nucleotide sequence of cDNA of intestinal-type AP produced in cancer cell lines such as HuH-7 cells, FL-amnion cells, and HuG-1 cells. The sequence of these cell APs was identical to that of Caco-2 cell AP. These results indicate that cancer cells producing intestinal-type AP have the same nucleotide sequence as that of adult intestinal AP, and suggest that the differences in electrophoretic mobilities of these cell APs compared with adult intestinal AP may be due to post-translational modifications.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha alters the cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide in cultured hepatocytes

We examined whether tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) affects the cytotoxic capacity of reactive oxygen species on rat hepatocytes in culture. Both TNF and reactive oxygen species are involved in many inflammatory events including hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury and endotoxic shock. Synchronous treatment of hepatocytes with both TNF and H2O2 demonstrated that TNF (2000 ng/ml) enhanced the cytotoxic effect of H2O2 (500 microM). By contrast, pretreatment with TNF (2000 ng/ml) for 24 h followed by exposure to H2O2 (1000 microM) reduced the reactive oxygen-induced cytotoxicity. We conclude that TNF increases the effects of reactive oxygen-induced cytotoxicity when exposed synchronously, whereas TNF pretreatment induces a cytoprotective effect to reactive oxygen species, presumably by up-regulation of the reduced form of glutathione levels in hepatocytes.

Familial hypocholinesterasemia found in a family and a new confirmed mutation

A 45-year-old man was hospitalized because of acute hepatitis. His serum cholinesterase (ChE) was below 10 IU/l (normal range: 105-240 IU/l) during the disease course and after his recovery. The patient was suspected of having familial hypocholinesterasemia. His family members were healthy except that his father had hypertension and gall stones. Analysis of ChE gene in the propositus and his family revealed three point mutations at nucleotides 298 (CCA to TCA), 1,410 (CGT to CGG) and 1,615 (GCA to ACA). The first mutation caused an amino acid change at codon 100 from proline to serine, which was a new mutation not previously reported, but the second one was a silent mutation. The third mutation resulted in an amino acid alteration from alanine to threonine at codon 539 in exon 4 of the ChE gene. The mode of transmission of these mutations is described.

Alzheimer-type pathology in a patient with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS)

A 53-year-old Japanese woman with a point mutation in mitochondrial DNA (tRNALeu(UUR), nt3243) consistent with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and Alzheimer-type brain pathology is reported. This woman had suffered myopathy and psychosis without any clinical evidence of, stroke-like episodes during the last 10 years of her life, and had died after an accident. At autopsy 30 h post mortem, a part of the brain was snap frozen for biochemical and histochemical studies, and the remaining part was processed for a routine examination and electron microscopy. In the brain there were no ischemic lesions. Instead, primitive/diffuse senile plaques were found throughout the brain, predominantly in the frontal and temporal lobes, while Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles were found only in the parahippocampal gyrus. These plaques were positive for beta-protein and mostly negative for tau protein, ubiquitin, neurofilaments, alpha-choline acetyltransferase, and acetylcholinesterase. Mutations in codon 331 of the ND2 gene as well as codons 693, 713 and 717 of the beta-amyloid precursor protein gene, known to be responsible for some cases of familial Alzheimer disease, were not found. Furthermore, coincidental Down syndrome was ruled out by chromosome analysis. The results suggest a possible correlation between this mitochondrial DNA abnormality and Alzheimer-type pathology.

Management of new hepatic nodules detected by intraoperative ultrasonography during hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

During hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) it is not uncommon that intraoperative ultrasonography detects "new nodules" that were not found by preoperative examinations. Because the operative procedure may have to be changed if the new nodule is another HCC lesion, differential diagnosis of such nodule is critical. This study examines ultrasonographic findings and clinical features of new nodules and discusses how to cope with such nodules in the operating room.

METHODS

Fifty-one new nodules detected in 92 liver resections were analyzed. Intraoperative ultrasonography was performed by using 5.0 or 7.5 MHz probes after mobilization of the liver. Histologic diagnosis of the new nodules was made by means of enucleation, resection with the primary lesions, thick-needle biopsy, or additional partial resection of the liver.

RESULTS

New nodules were detected in 27 (29.3%) of 92 resected cases. Internal echoic pattern of the nodules were type I, hypoechoic (29 nodules); type II, hyperechoic (19); and type III, mosaic (3). Ten HCC nodules (17.9%) were included, and chance of being malignant for each type was 24.1%, 0%, and 100%, respectively. Of the seven patients with malignant new nodules, three underwent additional systematic resection and all were alive without recurrence 49, 13, and 11 months after the operation. Others were treated by use of enucleation (two cases), intraoperative ethanol injection (one case), and intraarterial chemotherapy (one case).

CONCLUSIONS

Although most of the new nodules lacked specific findings for HCC, hypoechoic nodules, 24.1% of which were HCCs, should not be overlooked. Histologic confirmation of the new nodules is necessary especially when the number of lesions detected before operation is multiple or the interval between lipiodol computed tomography and the operation is longer than 2 months. Once the diagnosis of HCC has been made for the new nodule, systematic additional resection to remove the new lesion is recommended.

A fetal intestinal-type alkaline phosphatase produced in Caco-2 cells

Enzymic, immunological and lectin-binding properties of alkaline phosphatase (AP) produced in Caco-2 cells, a human colon carcinoma cell line, were investigated. The enzyme was very similar to fetal intestinal (meconium) AP in the enzymic and immunological properties, but different from fetal intestinal AP in lectin-binding properties; expression of the galactose moiety was altered in AP of Caco-2 cells, compared to that of fetal intestinal AP. These results indicate that AP of Caco-2 cells can be used in place of fetal intestinal AP when the enzymic properties of an AP of unknown origin are investigated, but cannot be used instead of fetal intestinal AP in the structural study of AP.

Impaired phorbol ester-induced hepatocyte proliferation in cirrhosis

Cirrhotic livers are considered to regenerate less actively than normal livers after hepatic resection. Little is known about the mechanisms responsible for impaired capacity of regeneration in cirrhotic liver. In the present study, we investigated the effect of phorbol ester on hepatocyte proliferation in healthy and cirrhotic hepatocytes, using one of the phorbol esters, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which has a direct effect on activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Cirrhosis was established by the administration of carbon tetrachloride and phenobarbital to rats. Healthy and cirrhotic hepatocytes were isolated from Wistar male rats by a two-step collagenase perfusion technique. DNA synthesis was estimated by [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and by autoradiographic nuclear labeling index. [3H]Thymidine incorporation was measured 24 hr after hepatocytes were stimulated by appropriate reagents. TPA (50 nM) stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in healthy hepatocytes (control vs TPA, 991 +/- 247 vs 2569 +/- 766 mean +/- SEM cpm/microgram DNA; P < 0.05), whereas TPA (50 nM) failed to stimulate in cirrhotic hepatocytes (control vs TPA, 1144 +/- 184 vs 1304 +/- 187 cpm/microgram DNA; NS). Staurosporine, a specific PKC inhibitor, suppressed [3H]thymidine incorporation in TPA-stimulated healthy hepatocytes (806 +/- 263 cpm/microgram DNA; P < 0.05); however, it had no effect on cirrhotic hepatocytes (1295 +/- 180 cpm/microgram DNA; NS). An autoradiographic nuclear labeling index exhibited the same results with [3H]thymidine incorporation. We conclude that TPA stimulates hepatocyte proliferation in healthy rat hepatocytes but has no effect on cirrhotic hepatocytes.

Vasopressin stimulates DNA synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes

Liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy is significantly impaired in rats with hereditary vasopressin (AVP) deficiency. This suggested that AVP might have a direct effect on cultured rat hepatocytes. Hepatocytes from male Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated using a two-step collagenase perfusion technique and plated at a density of 10(5)/16-mm Primaria plate. After a suitable attachment period, hepatocytes were incubated with minimal essential media, AVP, AVP plus a specific AVP antagonist, or oxytocin. Hepatocyte proliferation was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation ([3H]Thy) into hepatocyte DNA. AVP (10 nM) increased [3H]Thy significantly (and this effect was blocked by an AVP-specific antagonist (50 nM). Oxytocin had no effect on hepatocyte DNA synthesis. To further investigate the influence of AVP on hepatocyte proliferation, the effect of AVP on transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha)-stimulated hepatocyte proliferation was also studied. This combination was chosen based on the ability of AVP to inhibit the biologic effects of EGF (a TGF-alpha analog). There was significant attenuation of TGF-alpha (50 nM)-stimulated [3H]Thy in the presence of AVP (10 nM). In summary: (1) AVP stimulates proliferation of cultured rat hepatocytes. (2) The effect of AVP can be significantly abolished by a specific AVP antagonist. (3) The proliferative response of AVP is specific. (4) AVP significantly attenuates TGF-alpha-stimulated hepatocyte hepatic DNA synthesis. Further studies should elucidate the mechanisms for the effects of AVP on hepatic proliferation alone or in combination with other factors.

Dental findings of the elderly with or without senile dementia at a special nursing home

Survey of dental health condition was performed at a special nursing home for the elderly with senile dementia (28 subjects, 83.3 +/- 6.8 year-old; SD group) or without senile dementia (68 subjects, 84.6 +/- 7.2 year-old; NSD group). There was no difference in number of teeth survived between SD and NSD groups. However, the elderly in SD group had more unfunctionable and/or unrestorable teeth (C4) and less sound and filled teeth (SFT) than those in NSD group. Number of teeth of the elderly in 85- to 89-year-old group was smaller than those of not only younger but older age groups, irrespective of senile dementia. Lower canines showed the highest survival rate among all kinds of teeth in SD as well as in NSD group.

Establishment of an enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibody (HG1-219) and its application for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

A monoclonal antibody (MoAb HG1-219) against a human gastric cancer cell line (HuG-1) and its shedding antigen (HG1-219 Ag) was generated and a solid-phase sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA-219) was developed. The mean serum HG1-219 Ag concentration in normal individuals was 30.5 +/- 14.5 U/ml measured by EIA-219. When the mean +3 SD of the antigen concentration in normal individuals was used as a cut-off level, 4.3% (2/47) of patients with chronic hepatitis, 9.1% (4/44) of cirrhotic patients and 37.5% (18/48) of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) had HG1-219 Ag above the cut-off value. The positive rates of a-fetoprotein (AFP) (> 400 ng/ml) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) for HCC were 26.7% (12/45) and 33.3% (12/36), respectively. There was no significant correlation between HG1-219 Ag and AFP or PIVKA-II in patients with HCC. The combination assay of EIA-219, AFP and PIVKA-II for HCC gave the positive rate of 75% (27/36). The effect of periodic acid on the HG1-219 Ag and the inhibition of EIA-219 by CA 19-9 suggest that the epitope of HG1-219 Ag is a suger chain similar to CA 19-9.

[The current role of devascularization and transection procedures in portal hypertension]

It is not clear which theory should be used in patients with bleeding esophageal varices that are not controlled by emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy. Definitive hemostasis is the key to successful therapy of variceal bleeding. Recurrence of haemorrhage in patients with portal hypertension is the most feared life threatening complication. Based on our management of 658 patients with esophageal varices and the availability of treatment options at our institution, the strategy of management of uncontrollable variceal haemorrhage by endoscopic sclerotherapy has evolved. Bleeding was controlled in 64 liver cirrhosis (100%) by devascularization and transection procedures and 50 patients (78%) survived to leave the hospital including 43 of 64 patients (67%) with Child grade C liver cirrhosis. Cumulative rebleeding rate at 10 years following emergency surgery was 3% (2/64). It is associated with a lower morbidity and mortality as well as a lower incidence of subsequent encephalopathy. We suggest that emergency transection and devascularization is an effective salvage treatment for the endoscopic sclerotherapy failed group.

Cisplatin-induced emesis in Suncus murinus

Emetic responses to cisplatin and participation of vagal innervation in emesis were studied in suncus. Intraperitoneal and intravenous administration of cisplatin caused dose-dependent emesis. ED50 values, latencies and frequencies were not significantly different between the two administrations. Cis-diaqodiammineplatinum (DAP), an active metabolite of cisplatin, also induced emesis, but with significantly shorter latency. Vagotomy completely abolished both types of vomiting. These results suggest that cisplatin is metabolized to DAP that subsequently causes emesis through stimulation of the vagus afferent.

A variant serum cholinesterase and a confirmed point mutation at Gly-365 to Arg found in a patient with liver cirrhosis

A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of possible liver cirrhosis. His serum cholinesterase was anomalously low with a delta pH of 0.1 (normal range; 0.8-1.1). His enzyme was more heat-labile than the normal controls. Km value of his enzyme for benzoylcholine was 1.1 x 10(-5) mol/l, while that for normal controls was 2.3 x 10(-6) mol/l. In addition, isozymic alteration of his enzyme was observed. Sequencing of the white blood cell DNA of the patient showed a point mutation at nucleotide 1093 (GGA to CGA), which changes codon 365 from glycine to arginine.

A xanthinuric family--the proposita having immunologically reactive xanthine oxidase but no xanthine oxidase activity

The antibody was raised against purified human liver xanthine oxidase in a rabbit. In a xanthinuric patient, the double immunodiffusion method demonstrated the existence of an immunologically reactive duodenal mucosa xanthine oxidase which did not possess xanthine oxidase activity. These results indicated that xanthine oxidase protein is abnormal in structure and/or amino acid sequence.

A hybrid form of alkaline phosphatase produced in FL-amnion cells

FL-amnion cells have mainly two alkaline phosphatase (AP) isozymes, of which the faster migrating one (FL-APF) on 5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has proved to be identical to the Kasahara isozyme, a tumor-associated AP of intestinal type. But the other slower migrating one (FL-APs) remains to be characterized. Immunological and enzymic examination of purified FL-APs revealed that it is a hybrid form of AP consisting of one subunit with a molecular weight of 66,200 coming from the same subunit as that of FL-APF and another one with a molecular weight of 58,000 from placental AP subunit with modified glycosylation.

Tea tannin components modify the induction of sister-chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations in mutagen-treated cultured mammalian cells and mice

The modifying effects of tannin components extracted from green tea and black tea on mutagen-induced SCEs and chromosome aberrations were studied. These tannin components did not affect spontaneous SCEs and chromosome aberrations in cultured Chinese hamster cells. The frequency of SCEs and chromosome aberrations induced by mitomycin C (MMC) or UV was enhanced by the posttreatment with tea tannin components. When cells were post-treated with tea tannin components in the presence of metabolic enzymes of rat liver (S9 mix), the modifying effects on the induction of SCEs and chromosome aberrations by mutagens were complicated. MMC- and UV-induced SCEs and chromosome aberrations were suppressed by the posttreatment with tea tannin components at low concentrations (less than or equal to 6.7 micrograms/ml) with S9 mix. At a high concentration of tea tannin components (20 micrograms/ml) with S9 mix, a co-mutagenic effect was observed. The modifying effects of tea tannin components were shown to occur in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. In cells from a patient with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and a normal human embryo, MMC-induced SCEs were suppressed by the posttreatment with tea tannin components in the presence of S9 mix, and enhanced in the absence of S9 mix. On the other hand, tea tannin components modified SCE frequencies in UV-irradiated normal human cells but not in UV-irradiated XP cells. Our results suggested that tea tannin components themselves inhibited DNA-excision repair and resulted in a co-mutagenic effect, while in the presence of S9 mix metabolites of tea tannin components promoted DNA-excision repair activity and resulted in an antimutagenic effect. MMC-induced chromosome aberrations in mouse bone marrow cells were suppressed by the pretreatment with green tea and black tea tannin mixture.

Discrimination of liver cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis by analysis of serum cholinesterase isozymes using affinity electrophoresis with concanavalin A or wheat germ agglutinin

Isozymic alteration of serum cholinesterase (ChE) was investigated in patients with chronic liver diseases using affinity electrophoresis with concanavalin A (Con A) or wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). On Con A-containing agarose gel electrophoresis, three bands with enzyme activity (named bands I to III, from the anodic side to the cathodic) were observed in sera of normal controls. Disappearance of band II was observed in 50% (15/30) of cirrhotic patients, but only one of 20 patients with chronic hepatitis lacked band II of the serum ChE isozymes. Meanwhile, WGA-containing agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that normal controls had four ChE isozymes (named bands I to IV from the anodic side to the cathodic). These four isozymes were also observed in patients with chronic hepatitis. However approximately 67% (20/30) of cirrhotic patients lacked band II of ChE isozymes. When these two affinity electrophoreses were used in combination, 22 (73%) of 30 cirrhotic patients had isozymic alteration of their serum ChE on either Con A-containing or WGA-containing agarose gel electrophoresis, or both. Thus, affinity electrophoreses with Con A and WGA seemed to be useful methods in differentiating liver cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis.

Reciprocal t(14;19)(q32.3;q13.1) in a patient with B-cell lymphoma

A patient with B-cell lymphoma with a chromosome rearrangement of t(14;19)(q32.3;q13.1) is reported. This patient had leukemic features and an aggressive clinical course. The histopathologic diagnosis was malignant lymphoma, small noncleaved cell. Chromosome analysis of the cells from a cervical lymph node and peripheral blood showed a reciprocal translocation between chromosome 14 with a break at band q32.3 and chromosome 19 with a break at band q13.1, to which the bcl-3 gene has been mapped. Monoclonal rearrangement of the JH gene was detected by Southern blot analysis. However, we could not detect rearrangement of the bcl-3 gene. This case also had a t(2;8)(q13;q24.1), but the c-myc gene remained in its germline. This is the first case with the reciprocal t(14;19) and 8q24 chromosomal breakpoint in a B-cell lymphoid malignancy.

Expression of a hybrid form of alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme in a newly established cell line (HuG-1) from a gastric cancer patient

An unusual alkaline phosphatase (AP), named HuG-AP, was found in a newly established cell line (HuG-1) derived from a patient with stomach cancer. The enzyme was purified about 300-fold by affinity chromatography. On polyacrylamide gradient (4-30%) gel electrophoresis, the one band with the enzyme activity was observed. The enzymic properties of HuG-AP did not conform to those of liver, intestinal, placental, and germ cell AP isoenzymes which were recognized as homodimeric structure. Thermostability of the HuG-AP showed an intermediate value between intestinal and placental APs. Immunologically, the HuG-AP reacted with both anti-intestinal and anti-placental AP monoclonal antibodies. Dot blot analysis showed that both intestinal and placental AP mRNAs were expressed in HuG-1 cells concurrently. Therefore, we concluded that this novel AP had a hybrid form, namely heterodimeric structure, consisting of one subunit each of intestinal and placental APs. However, all of the properties of this hybrid AP did not conform to the intermediate enzymic properties between intestinal and placental APs which would be shown when they both coexist. Because an AP identical to HuG-AP had already been found in the metastatic lesion of the liver of the same patient, the expression of this novel AP seemed to occur in the patient's original cancer cells but did not result from spontaneous transformation of cultured cells.

In vivo anticlastogenic and antimutagenic effects of tannic acid in mice

The anticlastogenic effect of tannic acid was studied in vivo in the mouse micronucleus test. The frequencies of micronuclei induced by mitomycin C, ethyl nitrosourea (ENU) or 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide in mouse bone marrow cells were decreased by the oral administration of tannic acid 6 h before the mutagen injection. The observed suppressing effect was not a reflection of a delay in the formation of micronuclei by the cytotoxic effect of tannic acid. The antimutagenic effect of tannic acid was also investigated in vivo in the mouse spot test using male PW and female C57BL/10 mice. Tannic acid was given orally to pregnant females 6 h before the intraperitoneal injection of ENU on the 10th day of pregnancy. The frequency of pups with recessive color spots induced by ENU was decreased by the administration of tannic acid. The observed decrease was not due to toxic effects on the embryo. These results indicate that tannic acid acts as an anticlastogen and antimutagen in vivo.

Suppressing effects of vanillin, cinnamaldehyde, and anisaldehyde on chromosome aberrations induced by X-rays in mice

X-ray-induced chromosome aberrations were suppressed when vanillin, cinnamaldehyde, or p-anisaldehyde was given orally to mice after X-ray irradiation. Chromosome aberrations were monitored by the occurrence of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei in bone marrow cells. The frequency of micronuclei was depressed about 55-60% without toxicity of the test compounds to the bone marrow.

Suppressing effect of antimutagenic flavorings on chromosome aberrations induced by UV-light or X-rays in cultured Chinese hamster cells

Chromosome aberrations induced by UV-light or X-rays were suppressed by the post-treatment with antimutagenic flavorings, such as anisaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, coumarin, and vanillin. UV- or X-ray-irradiated surviving cells increased in the presence of each flavoring. X-ray-induced breakage-type and exchange-type chromosome aberrations were suppressed by the vanillin treatment in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and a greater decrease in the number of X-ray-induced chromosome aberrations during G1 holding was observed in the presence of vanillin. Furthermore, a greater decrease in the number of X-ray-induced DNA single-strand breaks was observed in the presence of vanillin. Treatment with vanillin in the G2 phase suppressed UV- and X-ray-induced breakage-type but not exchange-type chromosome aberrations. The suppression of breakage-type aberrations was assumed to be due to a modification of the capability of the post-replicational repair of DNA double-strand breaks. These G1- and G2-dependent anticlastogenic effects were not observed in the presence of 2',3'-dideoxythymidine, an inhibitor of DNA polymerase beta. Based on these results, the anticlastogenic effect of vanillin was considered to be due to the promotion of the DNA rejoining process in which DNA polymerase beta acts.

Structures of the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of an alkaline phosphatase, kasahara isozyme, purified from FL amnion cells

Asparagine-linked oligosaccharides were quantitatively released by hydrazinolysis from an alkaline phosphatase, Kasahara isozyme, which was purified from FL amnion cells. Almost all of the oligosaccharides (98%) were acidic components, all of which can be converted to neutral oligosaccharides upon sialidase digestion. Structural analysis of the oligosaccharides by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis revealed that the alkaline phosphatase of FL cells contains sialylated mono-, bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary complex type sugar chains with the Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1---- outer chains. Some of the tetraantennary sugar chains contain a single Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1---- outer chain on their Man alpha 1----6 arm. Both fucosylated and nonfucosylated trimannosyl cores were found in the sugar chains. However, it is of interest that the core portion of monoantennary oligosaccharide was not fucosylated and that of the tetraantennary oligosaccharide with a tetrasaccharide outer chain was completely fucosylated.

Suppression of 6-TG-resistant mutations in V79 cells and recessive spot formations in mice by vanillin

The antimutagenic effects of vanillin, anisaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde and coumarin were investigated in cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells in vitro. The frequencies of 6-TG-resistant mutations induced by UV or X-rays were decreased by treatment with each compound during the expression time. These decreases were not due to cytotoxic effects on cellular growth or killing effects on damaged cells. The antimutagenic effect of vanillin was also investigated in vivo in the mouse spot test using male PW and female C57BL/10 mice. Female mice were injected intraperitoneally with ethylnitrosourea (ENU) on the 10th day of pregnancy and received 3 successive oral administrations of vanillin. Administration of vanillin decreased the ENU-induced frequency of recessive carrier pups. These results indicate that vanillin acts as an antimutagen in mammalian cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Purification and some properties of the fast migrating alkaline phosphatase in FL-amnion cells (the Kasahara isoenzyme) and its cDNA cloning

One of two main FL-amnion cell alkaline phosphatase (AP), the fast migrating one (FL-APF) has been reported to be identical to Kasahara isoenzyme (K.I.), which occurs preferentially in sera of patients with primary hepatoma. We purified FL-APF of which the apparent molecular weight was 135,000 by gel filtration, and that of the subunit was 62,000 on SDS/PAGE, indicating homodimeric structure of FL-AL-APF. FL-APF was found to react with monoclonal antibody against adult intestinal AP, but not with monoclonal antibody to placental AP. We isolated FL-APF cDNA clone from FL-amnion cells, of which cDNA was 2525 base pairs in length. Nucleotide sequence of the coding region and the 3' untranslated region was identical to the sequence of human adult intestinal AP cDNA. But the untranslated region of the 5' end of the isolated clone was slightly longer than that of intestinal AP. Hence, FL-APF (K.I.) may occur by altered glycosylation of intestinal AP.

Suppressing effect of tannic acid on the frequencies of mutagen-induced sister-chromatid exchanges in mammalian cells

The effects of tannic acid (m-galloyl gallic acid) and 7 of its analogues on the frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were investigated in cultured Chinese hamster cells. SCEs induced by UV-light or mitomycin C (MMC) were suppressed by post-treatment with tannic acid and 5 of its analogues. These effects were independent of the extension of the cell cycle. The compounds which showed an SCE-suppressing effect have a common structure of 3 neighboring hydroxy or methoxy groups substituted on the phenyl group in benzoic acid or ester. These decreasing effects of tannic acid were observed in the G1 phase but not in the S or G2 phase of the cell cycle and a greater decline of the frequencies of UV-induced SCEs during liquid holding was seen in the presence of tannic acid. However, cells irradiated with X-rays were not influenced by tannic acid. In cells from a xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patient, a Fanconi's anemia (FA) patient, and a normal human embryo, MMC-induced SCEs were also decreased by post-treatment with tannic acid. Tannic acid reduced the SCE frequencies in UV-irradiated FA and normal human cells but not in UV-irradiated XP cells. Our results suggest that tannic acid modifies DNA-excision repair and that the decrease in the amount of unrepaired DNA damage might cause the reduction of induced SCEs.

Micronucleus test with procarbazine hydrochloride administered by intraperitoneal injection and oral gavage

The difference in effect of route of administration of procarbazine hydrochloride (PCZ) in the mouse was investigated in the micronucleus test. PCZ was administered by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and oral administration (p.o.) to 2 strains of male mice (MS/Ae and CD-1). On the basis of a small-scale acute toxicity test and a pilot micronucleus test, bone marrow preparations were prepared 24 h after the administration by the i.p. and p.o. routes of 50-400 mg/kg and 200-1600 mg/kg, respectively. The maximum incidence of polychromatic erythrocytes with micronuclei (MNPCEs) was somewhat higher after p.o. treatment in MS/Ae mice and the same with both routes in CD-1 mice. Thus, the clastogenicity of PCZ in mouse bone marrow was revealed by both routes.

Enhancing effects of cinoxate and methyl sinapate on the frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations in cultured mammalian cells

Sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) induced by mitomycin C (MMC), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) or UV-light in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO K-1 cells) were enhanced by cinoxate (2-ethoxyethyl p-methoxycinnamate) or methyl sinapate (methyl 3,5-dimethoxy 4-hydroxycinnamate). Both substances are cinnamate derivatives and cinoxate is commonly used as a cosmetic UV absorber. Methyl sinapate also increased the frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations in the CHO K-1 cells treated with MMC, 4NQO or UV. These increasing effects of methyl sinapate were critical in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and the decline of the frequencies of UV-induced SCEs and chromosome aberrations during liquid holding was not seen in the presence of methyl sinapate. Both compounds were, however, ineffective in cells treated with X-rays. In cells from a normal human embryo and from a xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patient, MMC-induced SCEs were also increased by the post-treatment with methyl sinapate. The SCE frequencies in UV-irradiated normal human cells were elevated by methyl sinapate, but no SCE-enhancing effects were observed in UV-irradiated XP cells. Our results suggest that the test substances inhibit DNA excision repair and that the increase in the amount of unrepaired DNA damage might cause the enhancement of induced SCEs and chromosome aberrations.

Modifying effects of components of plant essence on the induction of sister-chromatid exchanges in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells

The influence of 21 kinds of components of plant essence on sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) induced by mitomycin C was investigated in cultured Chinese hamster CHO K-1 cells. Posttreatment with scopoletin, jasmone, caffeic acid and ferulic acid significantly increased the frequency of SCEs. Further investigation of the SCE-enhancing effect of analogues of caffeic acid and ferulic acid revealed that an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group may be necessary for SCE-enhancing effects. The influence of caffeic acid and ferulic acid on X-ray- or UV-induced SCEs was also studied. The frequencies of SCEs induced by UV were increased by treatment with these compounds. This increasing effect was observed in the S phase of the cell cycle. On the contrary, X-ray-induced SCEs were reduced by the treatment with these compounds. The decreasing effect was observed in the G1 phase but not in the S or G2 phase. To explain these contradictory results, we assumed that caffeic acid and ferulic acid may modify the repair of DNA strand breaks.

Suppression of mitomycin C-induced micronuclei in mouse bone marrow cells by post-treatment with vanillin

Induction of micronuclei by mitomycin C (MMC) in mouse bone marrow cells was suppressed by post-treatment with vanillin, a component of vanilla essence flavour. Vanillin was given orally to mice 7.5 h after intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg MMC. Post-treatment with vanillin at 500 mg/kg caused about 50% decrease in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCEs). The effect of vanillin administration on the time-course of formation of MN-PCEs was also investigated. The suppressing effect was not due to a delay in the formation of MN-PCEs by the cytotoxic action of vanillin. Vanillin acts as an anticlastogenic factor in vivo.

Ultrastructural changes in peripheral nerves of the fingers of three vibration-exposed persons with Raynaud's phenomenon

A finger biopsy was performed on three patients with vibration-induced white finger (VWF), and the specimens were examined by electron microscopy for peripheral nerve changes. A characteristic neuropathy with perineurial fibrosis was revealed which was often accompanied by a thickened perineurium with a lamellar structure resembling onion skin. This peculiar fibrosis consisted of elongated cytoplasmic projections of perineurial cells or fibroblasts and a greatly increased amount of collagen which occasionally contained fibrous long-spacing collagen. In the endoneurium, a decrease in the number of nerve fibers and a marked increase in collagen with fibroblasts were noted. Myelinated axons became smaller, and this occurrence suggested incomplete regeneration. The pathological changes were presumably the result of the long-term clinical course of VWF.