Characterization of coaggregation and fibrinogen-binding by Porphyromonas gingivalis

We have examined whether the adhesin of Porphyromonas gingivalis which aggregates Streptococcus oralis contributes to its fibrinogen-binding. Various properties of coaggregation between P. gingivalis and S. oralis were compared with those of fibrinogen-binding to P. gingivalis cells. The coaggregation activity was measured by a turbidimetric method and the fibrinogen-binding activity was determined by using 125I-fibrinogen. Both the activities showed maximum values in the pH range from 5.0 to 6.0 and they were inhibited by arginine and lysine. Heating treatment of P. gingivalis 381 cells at 75 degrees C abrogated the activities. However, treatment of P. gingivalis 381 cells with proteinase K considerably reduced the fibrinogen-binding activity but not the coaggregation activity. Metal ions such as Zn2+ and Cu2+ inhibited the coaggregation activity but enhanced the fibrinogen-binding activity. The results also indicated that P. gingivalis strains 381, ATCC 33277 and SU-3 showed relatively higher activities both in coaggregation and fibrinogen-binding, whereas P. gingivalis strains W83, 51 and 165 showing lower fibrinogen-binding activity than P. gingivalis 381 did not coaggregate with S. oralis ATCC 9811. These findings suggest that coadhesin of P. gingivalis with S. oralis is not be associated with its fibrinogen-binding.

Effect of binding of fibrinogen to each bacterium on coaggregation between Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus oralis

Fibrinogen inhibits the coaggregation between Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus oralis. In this study, we determined which bacterium interacts with fibrinogen in this inhibitory process. Although preincubation of each bacterium with fibrinogen did not inhibit coaggregation, its activity was completely eliminated by the addition of protease inhibitors such as N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonate and N alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone to the preincubation mixture with fibrinogen and P. gingivalis. However, the inhibition of coaggregation was not found after preincubation of S. oralis with fibrinogen in the presence or absence of the protease inhibitors. Labelled materials were recovered from the extract of P. gingivalis cells incubated with radioiodinated fibrinogen in the presence of NEM but not in the absence of NEM. In the binding experiment, P. gingivalis showed a much higher binding activity to fibrinogen than S. oralis. These findings suggest that fibrinogen and its fragment(s) may mask directly or indirectly the aggregation site with S. oralis on the P. gingivalis cells in its inhibitory process of coaggregation.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 20(S)-camptothecin derivatives. A-ring-substituted 7-ethylcamptothecins and their E-ring-modified water-soluble derivatives

Twenty-six novel A-ring-modified 7-ethylcamptothecins (6) were synthesized by Friedländer's condensation of the chiral tricyclic ketone (5) with aminopropiophenones (4). The compounds substituted with fluorine at the 11 position showed strong cytotoxicity to KB and L1210 cells. The 11-fluoro derivatives also exhibited strong inhibitory activity on DNA topoisomerase I. Nine compounds 6 with four to ten times stronger cytotoxicity than that of camptothecin were selected and converted into water-soluble 17-O-acyl amide derivatives (8). Compounds 8e (10-Me, O-COCH2CH2SCH3) and 8f (11-F, O-COC2H5) showed activity towards Meth A in mice that was comparable to that of CPT-11, at lower doses than CPT-11.

Growth of Japanese breast-fed and bottle-fed infants from birth to 20 months

Longitudinal data for weight and length from birth to the 20th month of age obtained from 318 healthy infants were analysed in relation to type of feeding during infancy (breast- or bottle-fed). Differences in the growth patterns of infants according to the type of feeding were confirmed, breast-fed infants tending to be lighter in weight between 6 and 20 months of age than bottle- or mixed-fed infants. However, our analyses of the infants' growth patterns suggest that the differences in mean weight between breast- and bottle-fed infants may be due at least in part to overfeeding of bottle-fed infants. Thus, it is advisable that the standard growth curve for breast-fed infants be based on observations of the growth of a large number of infants who are fed on breast milk only.

[Antitumor effect of UFT against differentiated thyroid cancer]

We have determined the levels of 5-FU, tegafur and uracil in the thyroid cancer and normal thyroid tissue in the patients with differentiated carcinoma who were administered UFT 600 mg/day p.o. preoperatively for six days. 5-FU and uracil levels in the thyroid cancer tissue were significantly higher than in normal thyroid tissue. However, tegafur level did not show significant differences in any tissues. Two cases with differentiated carcinoma, which resulted in PR after prolonged administration of UFT were presented. These findings suggest that oral administration of UFT for a long term is a useful treatment for advanced differentiated thyroid cancer.

Venous distensibility during pregnancy. Comparisons between normal pregnancy and preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is associated with increased peripheral resistance. This study was performed to determine whether an increase of venous distensibility occurs as well in preeclampsia. We obtained venous distensibility by measuring the venous pressure-volume relation in the forearm with a water-filled plethysmograph. Twenty-one women with normal pregnancy, 12 women with severe preeclampsia, and 8 women with mild preeclampsia were studied during the third trimester and/or 6 weeks after the delivery. Ten nonpregnant normotensive women were also studied. Venous distensibility was greater (P < .01) in normal pregnant women and smaller (P < .01) in women with preeclampsia during pregnancy than postpartum. The magnitude of the decrease of venous distensibility correlated with the severity of preeclampsia. Venous distensibility was similar between normotensive nonpregnant women, women with normal pregnancy during the postpartum period, and women with preeclampsia during the postpartum period. Thus, venous distensibility increased during normal pregnancy. In preeclampsia, the decrease of venous distensibility occurred during pregnancy but was reversed postpartum. These results may suggest that a decrease of venous distensibility occurs during preeclampsia. These venous abnormalities may contribute to impaired control of hemodynamics in preeclampsia during pregnancy.

Inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II by ICRF-193 induces polyploidization by uncoupling chromosome dynamics from other cell cycle events

ICRF-193, a novel noncleavable, complex-stabilizing type topoisomerase (topo) II inhibitor, has been shown to target topo II in mammalian cells (Ishida, R., T. Miki, T. Narita, R. Yui, S. Sato, K. R. Utsumi, K. Tanabe, and T. Andoh. 1991. Cancer Res. 51:4909-4916). With the aim of elucidating the roles of topo II in mammalian cells, we examined the effects of ICRF-193 on the transition through the S phase, when the genome is replicated, and through the M phase, when the replicated genome is condensed and segregated. Replication of the genome did not appear to be affected by the drug because the scheduled synthesis of DNA and activation of cdc2 kinase followed by increase in mitotic index occurred normally, while VP-16, a cleavable, complex-stabilizing type topo II inhibitor, inhibited all these processes. In the M phase, however, late stages of chromosome condensation and segregation were clearly blocked by ICRF-193. Inhibition at the stage of compaction of 300-nm diameter chromatin fibers to 600-nm diameter chromatids was demonstrated using the drug during premature chromosome condensation (PCC) induced in tsBN2 baby hamster kidney cells in early S and G2 phases. In spite of interference with M phase chromosome dynamics, other mitotic events such as activation of cdc2 kinase, spindle apparatus reorganization and disassembly and reassembly of nuclear envelopes occurred, and the cells traversed an unusual M phase termed "absence of chromosome segregation" (ACS)-M phase. Cells then continued through further cell cycle rounds, becoming polyploid and losing viability. This effect of ICRF-193 on the cell cycle was shown to parallel that of inactivation of topo II on the cell cycle of the ts top2 mutant yeast. The results strongly suggest that the essential roles of topo II are confined to the M phase, when the enzyme decatenates intertwined replicated chromosomes. In other phases of the cycle, including the S phase, topo II may thus play a complementary role with topo I in controlling the torsional strain accumulated in various genetic processes.

[A case of IgG-kappa type multiple myeloma complicated by Fanconi syndrome]

Fanconi syndrome is characterized by some absorptive defects of proximal renal tubules. It is observed either primarily, or secondarily to various diseases. A case of multiple myeloma complicated by Fanconi syndrome is reported. The patient was a 62-year-old female. The serum total protein was elevated, and monoclonal IgG-kappa protein was found on serum immunoelectrophoresis. Urinary Bence Jones protein was positive. Bone marrow aspiration disclosed increased dysplastic plasma cells, which led to the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. A diagnosis of Fanconi syndrome was based on renal glycosuria, hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, and panaminoaciduria due to abnormal excretion from the kidney, and metabolic acidosis. After chemotherapy for multiple myeloma, serum IgG level and urine sugar decreased, and serum potassium level was corrected.

[Suppression of ontogenic development of the rat popliteal lymph node due to blockage of the afferent lymphatic vessels at early postnatal age]

We reported previously that surgical interruption of the afferent lymphatics to the popliteal node at the lowest edge of the popliteal fossa in young rats caused suppression of ontogenic development of the popliteal node. However, in that experiment we did not take into consideration the fact that, in the rat, the popliteal node sometimes receives minute afferent lymphatic channel(s) from the tail. In the present study, therefore, we interrupted the afferent lymphatic vessels at the lowest edge of the left popliteal fossa in Wistar rats at 7 days after birth in order to examine the effects of lymphatic drainage from the tail on the treated nodes, and sacrificed the animals at 2, 5, 10 and 18 weeks after the operation. A solution of 0.4% Evans blue was injected into the root of the tail on the left side 30 min before the animals were killed. Treated nodes receiving lymphatic channel(s) from the tail were stained with the dye and referred to as Eb(+)-treated nodes, whereas those without the channel(s) were unstained and referred to as Eb(-). At 7 days after birth, the normally developing popliteal node weighed 0.2 mg, and its parenchyma was composed of reticular cells with dispersed lymphoid cells. At 4 weeks after birth, each normal node weighed 2-3 mg; its parenchyma was comprised of two layers, an outer layer of peripheral cortex containing 30-40 lymph follicles and an inner discontinuous layer of deep cortex made up to 2-3 deep cortical units.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of KCA-098 on bone metabolism: comparison with those of ipriflavone

We previously found that 3,9-bis(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyloxy)-5H- benzofuro[3,2-c]quinoline-6-one (KCA-098) inhibited bone resorption in organ culture. In this study, to determine if KCA-098 is therapeutically applicable for the treatment of osteoporosis, we compared the effect of KCA-098 on bone tissues with that of ipriflavone, a drug that is clinically used for the treatment of osteoporosis. Both KCA-098 and ipriflavone inhibited parathyroid hormone-, prostaglandin E2-, 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3- and interleukin 1 beta-induced bone resorption of fetal rat bones, but the inhibitory activity of KCA-098 was more potent than that of ipriflavone. In fact, the effective concentrations of KCA-098 were 10 to 100 times lower than those of ipriflavone. Oral administration of KCA-098 (1 and 3 mg/kg) or ipriflavone (100 mg/kg) to ovariectomized rats on a low-calcium diet increased the breaking force and bone density of the femora, indicating that KCA-098 is an effective on the whole animal as ipriflavone. Furthermore, KCA-098 increased the length and calcium content of 9-day chick embryonic femora cultured in vitro, whereas ipriflavone did not, suggesting that KCA-098 had a direct stimulatory effect on bone mineralization. Therefore, KCA-098 seems to be more potent than ipriflavone in stimulating bone tissue formation and may thus be expected to become a useful agent for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Induction of osteopenia in confined rats

We have developed a simple model of osteopenia in rats which is induced by confinement without requiring surgical operation. Each rat was maintained for 8 weeks in a compartment of a commercially-available wire netting cage subdivided into 10 areas (compartment size, 9 x 16 x 14 cm) to restrict exercise. The femora isolated from the confined rats showed significant decreases in mineral (calcium and phosphorus) content, compared with the level in normal rats, 2 weeks after the start of their confinement. Confined rats showed significantly lower values for the physical properties of bones such as breaking energy and breaking force and also density composed with normal rats 4 weeks after the start of confinement. KCA-098 (1 mg/kg), a new benzofuroquinoline derivative that inhibits bone resorption and at the same time stimulates bone mineralization in organ culture, protected against these decreases when given orally for 8 weeks. All these results show that confinement of rats offers a simple and useful animal model of osteopenia.

[Effects of maternal food intake on the total protein, fat, lactose and calcium concentrations in human milk]

The concentrations of total protein, fat, lactose and calcium (Ca) in human milk were measured in 68 lactating women who were 14-425 days postpartum. Relationships of those concentrations in human breast milk with maternal food intake frequency, and the amount of dairy milk intake were investigated. Quantification theory III statistical analysis was applied to analyze food intake patterns. The concentrations of total protein at 2-5 months postpartum, fat and Ca at 1-5 months postpartum were low in milk obtained from mothers with low frequency of consumption of meat, egg, dairy products and food prepared with oil, while having a high frequency of consumption of rice, vegetables, beans and seaweed. The concentration of Ca in milk from mothers who habitually had no dairy milk intake was significantly lower compared to that from mothers who had more than 300 ml intake of dairy milk per day. Lower frequency or no intake of animal food and dairy milk appeared to affect the quality of mother's milk.

In vivo visualization of lymphatic microvessels and lymphocyte migration through rat Peyer's patches

BACKGROUND/AIMS

In the small intestine, lymphocytes migrate through Peyer's patches. The distribution of lymphatic microvessels in rat Peyer's patches and lymphocyte traffic through them were studied.

METHODS

Vital dyes were injected via a micropipette into the Peyer's patches tissue to fill lymphatic microvessels and to stain lymphocytes in lymphatic microvessels.

RESULTS

Direct microscopic observation revealed a dense plexus of lymphatic microvessels in the perifollicular and interfollicular areas. Injection of the dyes into the germinal center failed to delineate lymphatic microvessels. The lymphatic microvessels in the perifollicular area were filled with lymphocytes. Most lymphocytes in the perifollicular lymphatics stayed in the lymphatic microvessels. Some lymphocytes became detached and drained into lymphatic microvessels in the interfollicular areas. Lymphocytes then moved toward the submucosal lymphatics beneath the villi around the Peyer's patches. The interfollicular lymphatics did not display contractile activity but had valves. Opening and closing of valves was synchronized with the respiration and the back and forth flow of lymphocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

There are numerous lymphocytes in a dense lymphatic network in the perifollicular and interfollicular areas of Peyer's patches. This well-developed lymphatic network has the potential capacity for storage of lymphocytes and modulation of lymphocyte migration.

[A case of microscopic polyarteritis nodosa accompanied by peripheral neuropathy]

We reported a 64-year-old woman with subacute sensorimotor polyneuropathy accompanied by marked inflammatory reactions and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Polyneuropathy was followed in 3 months by a rapidly progressive renal dysfunction. Sural nerve biopsy revealed marked loss of myelinated fibers and myelin ovoid formation with vasculitis of the small-sized arteries and arterioles. Renal biopsy showed segmental necrotizing glomerulitis. These pathological findings were distinct from those of polyarteritis nodosa and led to a diagnosis of microscopic polyarteritis nodosa (MPN). Oral administration of prednisolone with an additional immunosuppressant was effective not only in alleviating the polyneuropathy, but also in preventing the deterioration of renal function. This is the first report that clearly describes the peripheral neuropathy in MPN.

[A case of nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy with anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)]

A 26-year-old woman with mononeuropathy multiplex complained of severe pain of right foot and ipsilateral steppage gait. Careful examination failed detect evidence of systemic lesions. Sural nerve biopsy revealed myelin ovoids and loss of myelinated fibers, which were different in severity among the fascicles. There were mild mononuclear cell infiltrations around arterioles in the epineurium. A diagnosis of nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSN) was made. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA), a specific marker for microscopic polyarteritis nodosa and Wegener's granulomatosis, was positive in the patient. Oral administration of prednisolone ameliorated the sensorimotor disturbances, and ANCA turned to be negative. This is the first report of a patient with NSN showing positive ANCA.

Effect of KCA-098, a new benzofuroquinoline derivative, on bone mineral metabolism

The effect of 3,9-bis(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyloxy)-5H-benzofuro[3,2-c]quinoli ne-6-one designated as KCA-098) on the bone mineral metabolism of chick embryonic bone was examined. KCA-098 dose-dependently inhibited bone resorption of cultured chick embryonic femora and calvariae. It increased the length, dry weight, and calcium and phosphorus contents of 9-d-old chick embryonic femurs cultivated for 6 d, indicating that it stimulated bone formation. These results show that KCA-098 has the unique effects of inhibiting bone resorption and stimulating bone formation of chick embryo. In addition, in an in vivo experiment, oral administration of KCA-098 (3.0 mg/kg/d) for 16 weeks led to an increase in calcium and phosphorus content as well as an increase in the amount of force required to break the femur from ovariectomized rats, suggesting that it may be useful for the treatment of bone diseases.

[Dietary and life-style characteristics and physical condition of school children]

Dietary and life-style characteristics and the presence of 13 subjective symptoms were surveyed by a questionnaire in 2869 school children, 9 and 11 years old, in urban and rural districts in Kyoto Prefecture. 1. School children in the urban districts consumed a greater variety of foods than those in the rural districts, with the 9 years old having a greater variety than the 11 years old. 2. There appeared to be no difference in the number of subjective symptoms between the two districts. The 11 years old children complained of more subjective symptoms than the 9 years old. 3. Children consuming less varieties of foods or with undesirable dietary and life-style characteristics generally complained of many subjective symptoms. The obese children seemed to take juice, instant-foods, meats, foods cooked with oil more frequently than the non-obese children. From these results, the need for desirable dietary and life-style characteristics for maintaining school children in the good physical condition is apparent.

In vitro effect of KCA-098, a derivative of coumestrol, on bone resorption of fetal rat femurs

The effects of 3,9-bis(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyloxy)-5H-benzofuro[3,2-c]quinoli ne-6-one (KCA-098), a derivative of coumestrol, on bone resorption was studied in organ cultures of 20-day fetal rat femora. KCA-098 increased the length, dry weight, and calcium and phosphorus contents of parathyroid hormone (PTH)-treated fetal rat femur. As PTH significantly reduced the calcium and phosphorus contents of the femora, probably by stimulating bone resorption, KCA-098 seems to inhibit bone resorption. In fact, KCA-098 inhibited the PTH-induced release of 45Ca from pre-labeled fetal rat femora into the medium in organ culture. Coumestrol also inhibited the release of 45Ca from bone into the medium. However, KCA-098 did not increase the uterine weight of ovariectomized rats, whereas coumestrol did so. Thus KCA-098 is a unique, new inhibitor of bone resorption that has no estrogenic activity.

[Analysis of dysarthria in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--MRI of the tongue and formant analysis of vowels]

To evaluate dysarthria in patients with ALS, we used MRI (gradient rephasing echo method) and compared it with the computed acoustic analysis. Five ALS male patients of progressive bulbar palsy type and five normal male were asked to phonate the five Japanese vowels, /a/./i/./u/./e/./o/. MRI of the sagittal tongue and vocal tract was obtained by the gradient rephasing echo method (0.2 Tesla, TR:30 ms, TE:10 ms, FA 25 degrees C, Hitachi). We could clearly visualize the change of tongue shape and the narrow site of the vocal tract for each vowel phonation. In normal subjects, the tongue shape and the narrow site of the vocal tract were distinguishable between each vowel, but unclear in ALS. Acoustic analysis showed that the first formant frequency of /i/./u/ in ALS was higher than normal and the second formant frequency of /i/./e/ in ALS was significantly lower than normal. The discrepancy from the normal first, second and third formant frequency for each vowel of ALS was most seen in /i/./e/. It was speculated that /i/ and /e/ were the most disturbed vowels in ALS. The first and second formant frequency of vowel depends on the tongue shape and the width of the oral cavity. Therefore the results of the acoustic analysis in ALS indicated poor movement of tongue in /i/./u/./e/ and were compatible with the findings of the sagittal tongue MRI. The sagittal view of the tongue in the gradient rephasing echo MRI and the acoustic analysis are useful in evaluation dysarthria in ALS.

[Relationship between volume and concentrations of various components of breast milk in early and 2-6 months lactation]

The concentrations of total protein, fat, lactose, calcium and s-IgA in human colostrum and matured milk and 24-hour milk production for the same day were measured on 99 and 47 lactating women at 5 days and 2-6 months post-partum, respectively. Relationships between measured concentrations, calculated energy content, and milk volumes were investigated. 1. In colostrum, the concentrations of protein and s-IgA showed significant negative correlations with milk volumes, while those of fat and lactose, and energy content showed significant positive correlations with milk volumes. 2. In matured milk, the concentrations of protein and s-IgA showed significant negative correlations with milk volumes. However, the negative correlation between protein concentration and milk volumes was not statistically significant when subjects were limited to mothers breast-feeding only. In matured milk fat, lactose and calcium concentrations, and energy content were not significantly correlated with milk volume.

[Prostaglandin E1 suppresses hypersecretion of antidiuretic hormone induced by surgical stress]

We studied the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on decrease in urine output during surgery in patients for radical total hysterectomy under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Five patients (control group) were given no PGE1 and served as control. Seven patients (PGE1 group) were given continuous infusion of PGE1 at a rate of 50 ng.kg-1 x min-1 after first measurement (baseline). Urine output in control group decreased by 68%, but in PGE1 group it did not change from the baseline. Urine sodium and fractional sodium excretion in control group decreased, but in PGE1 group they increased. Creatinine clearance increased from the baseline in both groups. Antidiuretic hormone in control group increased by 30%, but in PGE1 group decreased by 53%. Plasma renin activity, angiotensin I, angiotensin II in both groups increased, and those in the control group were higher than those in PGE1 group. However, aldosterone in the control group was lower than that in PGE1. These results indicate that diuretic effect of PGE1 could be mediated by suppression of antidiuretic hypersecretion induced by surgical stress, inhibition of the action of antidiuretic hormone, and suppression of sodium and water reabsorption in proximal and distal tubules. Also, PGE1 did not directly stimulate renin-angiotensin system.

Histatin as a synergistic stimulator with epidermal growth factor of rabbit chondrocyte proliferation

Histatin 5 dose-dependently increased DNA synthesis in rabbit costal chondrocytes in culture. The level of DNA synthesis was stimulated by histatin 5 to about 4 times that of the control. The combination of histatin 5 and epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased the DNA synthesis to about 40 times that of the control while EGF alone stimulated it 15-fold, indicating synergistic stimulation by both factors. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using anti-histatin 5 demonstrated that human serum contained histatin-like substances. These findings suggest that histatins play an important role in chondrocyte proliferation, presumably as a physiological modulator of the action of EGF.