Effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on neutrophil function in normal rats

We studied the effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) on neutrophil functions in vitro using neutrophils isolated from the venous blood of normal rats. FMLP-induced superoxide anion (O2-) release, phagocytosis, and FMLP-induced chemotaxis were evaluated. These functions were significantly enhanced by rG-CSF treatment. In addition to performing neutrophil function assays, we evaluated FMLP binding to rat neutrophils after rG-CSF treatment. FMLP specific binding was not changed by rG-CSF treatment. In addition, we intravenously injected rG-CSF (10 micrograms/kg) or control vehicle into rats for 7 consecutive days, and evaluated the functions of neutrophils isolated from venous blood at 6 h after the final injection. The neutrophil count in the peripheral blood of rG-CSF-treated rats was increased significantly compared with that in control rats. FMLP-induced O2- release, phagocytosis, FMLP-induced chemotaxis and spontaneous migration of rG-CSF-treated neutrophils were significantly enhanced in comparison with those in control rats. These findings demonstrate that rG-CSF not only increases neutrophil counts in peripheral blood, but that it also enhances neutrophil functions, both in vitro and in vivo.

Effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on the mice receiving bone marrow transplantation following lethal irradiation: acceleration of recovery of the peripheral blood neutrophils and potentiation of anti-Pseudomonas resistance

The effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) on the recovery of peripheral blood neutrophil counts and resistance to i.p. infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were studied using a mouse bone marrow transplantation (BMT) model. A severe neutropenic period continued in the BMT mice for greater than 9 days following BMT. In contrast, the number of peripheral blood neutrophils in the BMT mice that received a daily administration of 2.5 micrograms of rG-CSF following BMT returned to normal by day 9. Thus, rG-CSF accelerated the recovery of the peripheral blood neutrophil counts in BMT mice. Anti-Pseudomonas resistance of the control BMT mice examined on days 7, 9, and 11 following BMT was one fifteenth to one fiftieth of normal mice, as indicated by the LD50 value. The anti-Pseudomonas resistance was elevated six- to sevenfold by the rG-CSF treatment. A marked increase in the neutrophils exudating into the peritoneal cavity in response to casein injection was observed in the rG-CSF-treated BMT mice. In addition, the reduced superoxide generative and phagocytic activity of the peritoneal neutrophils of the BMT mice were restored to normal by the rG-CSF treatment. It is suggested that rG-CSF potentiated anti-Pseudomonas resistance of the BMT mice by increasing neutrophils migrating to the infection site and restoring their functions; this may result from a prompt recovery of the peripheral blood neutrophil level together with the effect on neutrophil functions. These results indicate the clinical usefulness of rG-CSF in applications for BMT.

[Study on reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in the monkey knee using polyester artificial ligament]

We performed an experimental study of ACL reconstruction utilizing polyester artificial ligament(Leeds-Keio). The quality of regenerated ligaments was compared between two different procedures; in the one 1 cm wide Leeds-Keio ligament was used alone for reconstruction(Group 1) and in the other, Leeds-Keio ligament of the same size was augmented with one-third width of free patellar tendon (Group 2). Eighteen knees of nine Japanese monkeys were used. The specimens were obtained at 2, 6 and 12 months after the operation and investigated macroscopically, microscopically and biomechanically. Regenerated ligaments in Groups 1 and 2 appeared identical and grossly normal. However, more mature and stable ligament was noted in the cylinder of artificial ligaments after 2 months after operation in Group 2 than in Group 1 in terms of both quality and quantity. Biomechanically, however, the maximum the tension in the regenerated ligaments was approximately 1/2-1/3 of that of normal ACL. The authors believe that more mature ligament was made in ACL reconstruction when the artificial ligament was augmented with autogenous soft tissue.

[Significance & treatment of abnormal blood viscosities in pre-eclamptic patients (author's transl)]

Blood viscosity, a blood flow volume determinant, is one of the primary indicators of the state of pregnancy. The viscosity of peripheral veins was measured using a cone-plate viscometer (share rate 150 sec-1, 375 sec-1) and the results were utilized in comparisons between control and experimental groups to determine their importance to pre-eclamptic patients. Compared with values of 11 non-pregnant subjects (3.614 cp), 165 normal pregnancy cases had lower measurements during the entire term of pregnancy. The viscosity of these normal pregnant subjects decreased up to the 24th week, and increased thereafter. It is hypothesized that this results from the increased plasma volume of pregnant women. In severe pre-eclamptic subjects (3.508 cp), viscosity was significantly higher than in normal pregnancy cases. The natural decrease in peripheral blood flow resulting from elevated viscosity threatens the lives of both mother and fetus. Further analysis of clinical symptoms placed these 31 preeclamptic subjects in the conventional categories of hypertensive, proteinuric, and edematic. Viscosity measurements were highest for hypertensive (4.0059 cp), and lowest for edematic (2.7615 cp) and of intermediate value for proteinuric (3.2122 cp). To normalize these viscosities, the administration of dextran infusion therapy to hypertensive subjects and short-term furosemide therapy to edematic subjects was undertaken and brought considerable beneficial results.

[Studies on the physiological changes of blood coagulation factor XIII during pregnancy and their significance (author's transl)]

We measured the blood coagulability in pregnancy. Factor XIII, that showed unusual variations in these experiment, was investigated for its biological significance. The results are summarized as follows: 1) Blood coagulation factors XII, IX, VIII, VII and X, prothrombin and plasminogen showed a increasing tendency as the course of pregnancy. These was not very much change in factor V and plasmin activity during pregnancy. Factor XI showed a decreasing tendency. The further dramatic variation appeared in each coagulation factor at the onset of labor. 2) With regards to the factor XIII, XIII-S a carrier protein was inclined to increase from the value of 94.0 +/- 16.0% before pregnancy and reached the value of 109 + 16.3% at the last stage of pregnancy, while XIII-A an active site showed a decreasing tendency from 97.5 + 17.5% before pregnancy to 67.0 + 12.0%. 3) In placenta homogenate XIII-A was observed, but XIII-S absent. In retro-placental blood XIII-S was observed, but no XIII-A was seen. No significant difference between uterine venous blood and maternal peripheral blood was recognized. 4) The placental localization of XIII-A was investigated by the methods of fluorescent antibody technique and enzyme labeled antibody technique. XIII-A appeared in syncitiotrophoblast, but was not found in stroma, vessel wall and fetal side. In regards to decidua region its presence was not confirmed.

[Report on the accuracy and the reliability of dip sticks]

Urinary examination with dip sticks is essential for clinical screening test and primary health care. Recently Japanese Society of Clinical Pathology has stressed the clinical use of dip sticks. Many dip sticks are available in Japan. However, few attempts have been done for external quality control of dip sticks. It is well known that there are considerable differences in the accuracy, sensitivity and stability of dip sticks. Makers are at variance in indicating concentration levels in accordance with the given color charts. Some urine chemistry analyzers for dip sticks have been developed. There was a few cases of simultaneous study on dip sticks from various makers. We, four technologists have attempted external quality control of eleven dip sticks for protein, glucose and occult blood with the same lot number (one was only for glucose) using the four different pooled urine samples and two artificial urine samples. Based on the results of this study, the following proposal to improve the accuracy and reliability of dip sticks was derived. 1) Users should have a plenty of knowledge on the difference of the quality of dip sticks of each makers. 2) Makers of dip sticks should clarify to users the method of examination, standard materials and errors. 3) Users should perform internal quality control using different pooled urine samples or different artificial urine samples on a daily basis before going with the routine work.

[Evaluation of agar media for growth of Campylobacter pylori]

The supporting ability for the growth of Campylobacter pylori was tested on various agar plates. C. pylori grew on media supplemented with blood, serum or egg-yolk, and it showed good growth on Mueller Hinton agar with horse blood, and on brain-heart infusion agar with yeast extract and horse blood. The organism grew moderately on Mueller Hinton agar, but could not grow on the other unsupplemented media. Mueller Hinton medium may be of use as a proper base of blood agar for growth of C. pylori. Egg-yolk may be substituted as a low-priced enrichment material for blood.

Clinical and roentgenological studies on malalignment disorders of the patello-femoral joint. Part II: Relationship between predisposing factors and malalignment of the patello-femoral joint

To clarify the relationship between the predisposing factors and malalignment of the patello-femoral joint, a study was conducted on the basis of roentgenograms of 621 cases in which a disorder of the dérangement was suspected in at least one knee. The degree of alignment was classified into four grade groups according to the dynamic skyline view arthrograms. Each predisposing factor was expressed by patellar tendon-patella ratio, patellar facet ratio, depth index, and femoro-tibial axis angle. As to each of the parameters each joint was categorized into three classes, on the basis of its mean and standard deviation. The frequency of occurrence of each of the three classes in each of the grade groups was then examined. For the patellar shape, the joints were categorized according to Baumgartl's taxonomy. The study indicates that there exists a causal relationship between the predisposing factors such as patella alta, narrow medial facet, shallow patellar groove of femur and unstable patellar shape, and the patello-femoral malalignment.

[Myocardial perfusion assessed by dynamic computed tomography, with respect to viable muscle in the infarcted region]

To clarify the significance of regional myocardial perfusion, 31 patients of old myocardial infarction including 11 cases undergoing PTCA with a left anterior descending artery lesion were studied using dynamic transmission computed tomography with excellent time resolution. Serial one-second dynamic scans with an electrocardiographic triggering system were performed at the middle level of the left ventricle using a bolus injection of contrast medium via the inferior vena cava. The F/V (F = flow, V = volume) ratio, a parameter of perfusion per unit of myocardium, was calculated from gamma-variate fitted time density curves obtained in the myocardium and in the left ventricular cavity. The F/V ratio was significantly lower in patients not only with severe but also mild and no coronary artery stenosis (post PTCA: 185 +/- 54, 50-75% stenosis: 193 +/- 47, 90% stenosis: 181 +/- 51, 99% stenosis: 140 +/- 34, 100% stenosis: 142 +/- 27 ml/min/100 g, control value: 243 +/- 51 ml/min/100 g, post PTCA, 50-75% stenosis, 90% stenosis vs control p less than 0.05, 99%, 100% stenosis vs control p less than 0.005). The functional images depicting myocardial perfusion frequently revealed abnormal perfusion findings in patients not only with severe but also mild and no coronary stenosis. In the patients with mild or insignificant coronary stenosis, the F/V ratio was dependent on the severity of left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (hypokinesis: 192 +/- 51, akinesis or dyskinesis: 141 +/- 32 ml/min/100 g; p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Expression of the human multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) and prognostic correlation in human osteogenic sarcoma

The overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-Gp), encoded by the human multidrug resistant gene (MDRA), decreases lipophilic drug accumulation in multidrug resistant cells in vitro. It is still not clear whether P-Gp contribute to the problem of multidrug resistance (MDR) in osteogenic sarcoma (OS). We examined the MDR1 expression of 20 OS specimens (11 primary tumors, 10 xenografts, 1 overlapping), by Northern blotting and by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and evaluated by the relationship between MDR1 expression and patient prognosis. RT-PCR revealed MDR1 expression in 9/20 OS; 5/11 primary tumors and 5/10 OS-xenografts; northern blotting revealed MDR1 expression in only 5/20 OS. One primary OS specimen and its corresponding xenograft had similar levels of MDR1 expression. All 20 patients with OS were treated with chemotherapeutic protocols including doxorubicin, cisplatin, methotrexate and ifosfamide. Eight of 9 OS-patients expressing MDR1 were resistant to chemotherapy and had a poor prognosis. The relationship between MDR1 expression and poor prognosis in the 20 OS-patients was significant (p < 0.01). The results support the assumption that MDR1 expression is related to MDR in human OS.

KEKCB electron cyclotron resonance charge breeder at TRIAC

The KEKCB is an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source for converting singly charged ions to multicharged ones at Tokai Radioactive Ion Accelerator Complex. By using the KEKCB, singly charged gaseous and nongaseous ions were converted to multicharged ones of A/q approximately 7 with efficiencies of 7% and 2%, respectively. The conversion efficiency was found to be independent of the lifetime of the radioactive nuclei having lifetimes of the order of one second. Three collimators located at the entrance and the exit of the KEKCB defined the beam axis and facilitated beam injection. Grinding and washing the surfaces of aluminum electrode and plasma chamber dramatically reduced impurities originating from the ECR plasma of the KEKCB.

Wall-loss distribution of charge breeding ions in an electron cyclotron resonance ion source

We investigated the ion-loss distribution on the sidewall of an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma chamber using the 18-GHz ECR charge breeder at the Tokai Radioactive Ion Accelerator Complex (TRIAC). Similarities and differences between the ion-loss distributions (longitudinal and azimuthal) of different ion species (i.e., radioactive (111)In(1+) and (140)Xe(1+) ions that are typical volatile and nonvolatile elements) was qualitatively discussed to understand the element dependence of the charge breeding efficiency. Especially, the similarities represent universal ion loss characteristics in an ECR charge breeder, which are different from the loss patterns of electrons on the ECRIS wall.