Effects of lycopene, a carotenoid, on intrathymic T cell differentiation and peripheral CD4/CD8 ratio in a high mammary tumor strain of SHN retired mice

We previously reported that lycopene, one of the carotenoids, significantly suppressed the development of spontaneous mammary tumors of mice and the contribution of lycopene to the maintenance of physical homeostasis was suggested. In this study, we investigated the effects of lycopene on the intrathymic and peripheral T cell subpopulation as immunoregulatory parameters. In tumorous control mice, inactivation of intrathymic T cell differentiation, an increase of the percentage of CD4+ CD8+ cells and a decrease of CD4+CD8+ cells were observed. On the other hand, in the lycopene-treated mice, the abnormal intrathymic T cell differentiation was recovered and brought to non-tumorous levels. The peripheral CD4/CD8 ratio was partially augmented by lycopene treatment which resulted from an increased CD4+ subpopulation. These observations suggest that one of the immunomodulating roles of lycopene is to normalize the change of intrathymic T cell differentiation caused by tumorigenesis.

Factors affecting graft function in cadaveric renal transplantation from non-heart-beating donors using a double balloon catheter

Experiences in 145 cadaveric kidney transplantation from non-heart-beating donors showed that not only donor age and WIT but also recipient body weight and duration of hemodialysis dependency were the determining factors affecting posttransplant kidney function analyzed with the use of a stepwise logistic regression model. This suggests that the fluid burden on the graft provides an additional insult on the recovery of the grafts from ischemic injury.

Ca(2+)-antagonistic action of bevantolol on hypothalamic neurons in vitro: its comparison with those of other beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, a local anesthetic and a Ca(2+)-antagonist

The Ca(2+)-antagonistic action of bevantolol, a beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, on high- and low-voltage activated Ca2+ currents (HVA- and LVA-ICa) was examined on neurons dissociated from rat brain. Bevantolol (10(-6) to 10(-4) M) inhibited concentration-dependently both ICa. The IC50 value of bevantolol for LVA-ICa was 4 x 10(-5) M, while bevantolol at 10(-4) M inhibited HVA-ICa by 28.5 +/- 7.7%. The potency of bevantolol in inhibiting both ICa was greater than those of propranolol, labetalol and lidocaine, while the inhibitory action of bevantolol on voltage-activated Na+ current was weakest among them. Bevantolol may possess Ca(2+)-antagonistic action that is independent from local anesthetic action.

Intracellular generation of amyloid beta-protein from amyloid beta-protein precursor fragment by direct cleavage with beta- and gamma-secretase

Two amyloid beta protein precursor (beta APP) fragments involving Met and 103 amino acids of C-terminus of beta APP (delta NOR-beta) and its KM-NL substitution (delta NL-beta) were expressed in COS-7 cells to clarify the proteolytic cleavages to generate amyloid beta protein (A beta). The 4.5-kD protein, A beta with additional N-terminal amino acids, and 4-kD A beta were directly produced and released from 12.5-kD expression proteins without any production of 11.4-kD C-terminal fragment starting at N-terminus of A beta and 3-kD "p3" A beta derivative. Intracellular 4-kD A beta was also detected. The substitution of KM-NL of beta APP found in Swedish familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) promoted the production of intracellular A beta and its release with no increase in level of 11.4-kD C-terminal fragment. These results suggested the presence of a distinct pathway in which A beta is directly cleaved at both N- and C-termini from beta APP fragment intracellularly to release A beta. Since KM-NL substitution enhanced intracellular A beta generation, this pathway may be associated with amyloidogenesis in AD.

Fine structure of the acinar and duct cell components in the parotid and submandibular salivary glands of the rat: a TEM, SEM, and HRSEM study

Parenchymal and stromal components of the rat parotid and submandibular glands were examined by conventional and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). Freeze-fractured specimens were subjected to HCl and NaOH extraction procedures to better differentiate connective tissue and cellular components. In addition, the internal three-dimensional morphology of the secretory acinar cells and duct cells was revealed by maceration with a dilute osmium tetroxide solution to selectively remove some of the cytoplasmic components. SEM and HRSEM examination of the HCl-treated samples of both glands revealed a fine filamentous network immediately surrounding each acinus. Coarser bundles of collagen that linked neighboring acini were also observed. NaOH-extracted samples selectively removed the cellular components and showed more clearly the three-dimensional structure of the connective-tissue stroma. A dense-collagenous network surrounded each lobule while more internal regions consisted of a honeycomb-like pattern of evacuated spaces previously occupied by secretory acini. These spaces were smoothened in appearance and often interconnected. Apically-located secretory granules and profiles of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in perinuclear regions were encountered in the acinar and duct cells of macerated samples by HRSEM. In addition, a phenylephrine-induced experimental condition performed in some rats resulted in a significant increase in secretory granule size and density of the serous cells.

CT appearance of interstitial pulmonary emphysema

Interstitial pulmonary emphysema (IPE) is the initial manifestation of ventilator-induced barotrauma. We report two patients in whom computed tomography was useful in showing IPE.

Immunohistological study in cases of HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets) and acute fatty liver of pregnancy

We immunohistologically studied the hepatic tissue sections in cases with the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP syndrome; n = 2) and acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP; n = 2) compared to necropsy controls. Unlike in the AFLP cases, a marked infiltration of neutrophils in liver tissues was found in both cases of the HELLP syndrome. Immunostaining with the antihuman (polyclonal) TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-8 and antihuman neutrophil elastase (monoclonal antibody) was performed in paraffin-embedded hepatic tissue sections. Liver tissues in HELLP syndrome patients were stained strongly with TNF-alpha and neutrophil elastase antibody. The strongest staining pattern was observed in the eclamptic case, whereas in the AFLP cases, as in the necropsy controls, a very weak staining for anti-TNF-alpha and elastase antibody was found. The liver sections of the HELLP syndrome cases were moderately stained with polyclonal IL-1 beta and IL-8 antibodies whereas AFLP and controls had a very faint staining. Significant correlations were found between the numbers of necrotic hepatocytes and elastase dots in the same microscopic fields (randomly selected) of liver sections from two cases of HELLP syndrome (r2 = 0.63; p < 0.0001), which might suggest a neutrophil-mediated tissue damage in such a disease. This study suggests that a cytokine- and neutrophil-mediated liver injury occurs in the HELLP syndrome but not in AFLP.

Fibrinolysis during normal pregnancy and severe preeclampsia relationships between plasma levels of plasminogen activators and inhibitors

The antigen levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) were measured during pregnancy and severe preeclampsia. The PAI-1 and PAI-2 antigen levels increased linearly during pregnancy and promptly returned to the level of non-pregnant women after delivery. The t-PA and u-PA antigen levels increased slowly and linearly during pregnancy. In severe preeclampsia, the PAI-2 antigen level was lower than that observed during the 3rd trimester of normal pregnancy, and the t-PA antigen level was higher than that during the 3rd trimester of normal pregnancy. Immunohistochemical examination of placental tissue showed that the PAI-2 and u-PA antigens were localized in syncytiotrophoblasts. In severe preeclampsia, the PAI-2 and u-PA antigens in placental tissue did not stain as clearly as during the 3rd trimester of normal pregnancy. The PAI-2 and u-PA antigen levels showed a positive correlation with birth weight. Therefore, PAI-2 may be an important marker of placental function and abnormality in pregnancies.

[Hyperintense brain lesions on T1-weighted MRI after parenteral nutrition]

We experienced five children having T1-shortening lesions in basal ganglia or thalami on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which were supposed to be caused by manganese (Mn) overdoses. Instead of the presence of above mentioned lesions, no neurological manifestations corresponding to them had developed in all patients. This observation suggests that a MRI is useful for detecting the side effects caused by overdoses of Mn in patients having parenteral nutrition.

Beneficial effect of donor pretreatment with thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitor on the graft survival in pig liver transplantation

With a known evidence that thromboxane A2 (TxA2) is elevated in the perfusate of the liver transplant (LTx) recipient, TxA2 is likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of preservation reperfusion injury. In this study, effectiveness of donor pretreatment with TxA2 synthase inhibitor, sodium ozagrel (SO), in the prevention of primary nonfunction (PNF) was investigated. LTx was performed for eight pigs which received the grafts treated with SO during harvest surgery (treatment group). Eight other animals were the control group. All of the animals in the treatment group survived longer than 7 days, whereas 37.5% (three of eight) of the control group died from PNF within 3 days postoperative. Significantly lower serum LDH levels were noted in the treatment group than control. Serum thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were both elevated in the control group. However, a significant decrease in TxB2 was noted in the treatment group after reperfusion of the liver graft. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration in the graft after reperfusion was significantly greater in the control group than in the treatment group. Hepatocyte microsteatosis was prominent in the control group after reperfusion. Donor pretreatment with SO was effective in the prevention of PNF after LTx. The beneficial effects of this drug are improvement in microcirculation allowing better perfusion of cold preservative and the blocking effect of platelet-PMN-endothelial interaction which is thought to be a primary etiology in reperfusion injury.

Plasminogen activation system in active even in thyroid tumors; an immunohistochemical study

The plasminogen activation system is one of the prominent factors in tumour progression since it enhances both distant metastasis and direct invasion. In this study we investigated the expression and localization of this system in clinical thyroid tumours. It was found that urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its receptor (uPAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) were expressed diffusely in most thyroid carcinomas. The lesions positive for the latter two were equal to or sometimes even a litter more extensive than those positive for uPA. The immunoreactivity of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2), however, was often partially or even entirely absent, and only 56% of the carcinomas expressed it diffusely, indicating that the two types of inhibitors in this carcinoma have quite different characteristics. No relationship between the expression of these proteins and clinicopathological parameters could be determined. THese findings suggest that the plasminogen activation system is functionally active in thyroid carcinoma but that is has hardly any effect on its general characteristics, that is, slow growth and excellent prognosis of usual types and the exceptionally sudden progression of the anaplastic type. In benign tissues, too, this system was often expressed and appeared to enhance their growth to some extent.

Photosensitivity induced by fleroxacin

A case of photosensitivity induced by fleroxacin (FLRX) is reported. A 71-year-old man had erythema on sun-exposed areas after 5 months FLRX treatment for prostatitis. The minimal erythema dose to UVA was reduced at the initial examination and became normal 4 weeks after he stopped taking FLRX. Oral photo-challenge with FLRX 100 mg was positive, but photopatch testing was negative. Fleroxacin (FLRX), in use since 1992, is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial derived from quinoline. Photosensitivity induced by FLRX is not uncommon, but a photobiological study has not been reported. The mechanism of action of photosensitivity induced by the fluoroquinolones is considered to be phototoxic in origin in that in vitro technique studies are positive. FLRX, a quinoline derivative may be a photosensitizer as well as enoxacin, lomefloxacin and sparfloxacin.

Chronic neutrophilic leukemia associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

A 30-year-old man with chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) in association with monoclonal gammopathy is presented. Physical examination on admission revealed moderate hepatosplenomegaly. Initial blood count showed neutrophilic leukocytosis (42.2 x 10(9)/1 with 90% mature neutrophils). Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) score was elevated. Bone marrow aspiration showed myeloid hyperplasia without dysplastic features. Karyotypic and molecular analyses of bone marrow cells showed the absence of Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome and bcr gene rearrangement. Because there was no underlying infection or neoplasm, he was diagnosed as having CNL associated with IgG kappa-type monoclonal gammopathy (IgG, 1,269 mg/dl). In addition to its association with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), the present case was also characterized by spontaneous remission of CNL during the 12-year follow-up, accompanied by a gradual increase in serum IgG levels up to 3,000 mg/dl. As far as we know, there have been 19 cases of CNL associated with monoclonal gammopathy in the literature. The median survival of these cases was 5 years. Although there have been only 6 cases of CNL associated with MGUS, survival of these cases was particularly favorable. Taken together with the observation that leukocytosis and hepatosplenomegaly in the present case subsided without specific treatment, we speculate that myeloid proliferation in the present case may have been a leukemoid reaction to underlying monoclonal gammopathy.

Liberation of vasoactive substances and its prevention with thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitor in pig liver transplantation

There are multiple causes of liver graft nonfunction in the early post-transplant period. Since a severe microcirculatory disturbance based on ischemia-reperfusion liver injury is considered to be the main underlying pathophysiology, it is suspected that various vasoactive substances are liberated after reperfusion of the graft. In order to investigate this matter, we conducted an experimental study with pig liver allotransplantation. Two groups of animals received donor grafts with or without thromboxane synthase inhibitor (sodium ozagrel), 1.25 mg/ kg body weight intravenously, given at the time of liver harvesting. All of the recipient animals in the treatment group (n = 10) survived longer than 7 days whereas three of ten animals in the control group died within 7 days. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the recipient serum at 1 h after reperfusion was significantly lower in the treatment group (915.1 +/- 167.3 U/l) than in the control group (1264.4 +/- 134.7 U/l). Serum thromboxane B2 (2261.7 +/- 1055.7 pg/ml) and endothelin-1 (6.3 +/- 2.2 pg/ml) after reperfusion in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (4220.0 +/- 1711.0 pg/ml and 11.2 +/- 3.1 pg/ml, respectively). Although serum angiotensin II after reperfusion tended to be lower in the treatment group than in the controls serum renin activity was less than 3 ng/ml in both groups of animals. There were no differences in the plasma endotoxin levels between the two groups. We conclude that the administration of sodium ozagrel to the donor animals provided better graft function in recipients than no such treatment. We speculate that the inhibition of thromboxane A2 production suppresses the liberation of other vasoconstrictive substances, preventing microcirculatory disturbance and, thereby, contributing to improved graft function after liver transplantation.

The habit of sniffing in nasal diseases as a cause of secretory otitis media

To clarify the role of habitual sniffing caused by nasal diseases in the pathogenesis of middle ear diseases, 112 pediatric patients with secretory otitis media (183 ears) were examined for associated nasal diseases and habitual sniffing. Middle ear pressure and nasopharyngeal pressure were simultaneously measured during forceful sniffing. Fifty-four percent of the patients with secretory otitis media had allergic rhinitis and/or chronic sinusitis. Sixty percent of the patients with nasal diseases habitually sniffed, whereas only 30.8% of those without nasal diseases had this habit. In the patients with the habit of sniffing, a higher negative pressure tended to be created in the nasopharynx on forceful sniffing than in the patients who did not sniff. Thirty-one of 112 patients (27.7%) were positive on the sniff test. Of these 31 patients, 20 were associated with the habit of sniffing, and in 14 of the 20 patients, nasal diseases were considered to be the primary cause of the habit of sniffing. That is, in 14 of the 112 patients (12.5%) with secretory otitis media, the patients with nasal diseases frequently sniffed and their middle ears were evacuated. This study suggests that in many patients, sniffing provoked by nasal diseases plays an important role in the pathogenesis of secretory otitis media through the creation of negative nasopharyngeal pressure. This mechanism is presumed to be present in approximately one-tenth of pediatric patients with secretory otitis media.