[Stress analysis of bridge abutment teeth with cemented dowels]

Stress analysis of bridge abutment teeth having cemented dowels was conducted using a two-dimensional finite element method. The results obtained are as follows: 1. In fixed-fixed bridges, compressive stress was found concentrated within the dowel, on the mesial side of the dowel apex, and in the distocervical part of the crown. 2. In cantilever bridges, tensile stress was found concentrated in the disto-occlusal and mesiocervical parts of the crown, and along the mesial sides of the root and the dowel. Compressive stress was concentrated in the distocervical part of the crown, along the distal sides of the root and dowel, and on the mesial side of the dowel apex. 3. In comparison with fixed-fixed bridges, stresses were significantly greater in cantilever bridges in the abutment teeth, the dowel, and crown margins. 4. In both fixed and cantilever bridges, stresses increased in relation to the length of the span. The rate of increase was less, however, in fixed-fixed than cantilever bridges.

[Effects of DEAE-dextran, centrifugation, cycloheximide and their combination on infection and growth of Chlamydia psittaci bird isolates]

In order to establish a stable and uniform cultural method in a cell line HaLa 229, we studied the effect of DEAE-dextran, centrifugation, cycloheximide and their combination on infectivity and progeny yields of Chlamydia psittaci isolated mainly from birds. Of 11 strains (10 avian and one human origin Ito strain), 9 showed maximal inclusion formation when host cells were treated with a combination of dextran and cycloheximide. Of the other two strains, one showed maximum inclusion formation with dextran alone and any treatments did not enhance the inclusion formation in another strain. Maximal yields of progeny at 48 hours after infection was observed in 5 (4 avian and Ito) strains when host cells were treated with a combination of dextran and cycloheximide. One avian strain showed maximal yields with a triple treatment; dextran and cycloheximide combined with centrifugation. At 72 hours after infection, three avian and Ito strains showed maximal yields with a double treatment (dextran and cycloheximide) and other two avian strains showed that with a triple treatment (double treatment added with centrifugation). The results suggest that in a cell culture HeLa 229, the treatment with dextran and cycloheximide may provide an efficient isolation and growth pattern for most strains originated from birds.

Zymosan-activated plasma causes prolonged decreases in PMN superoxide release in sheep

It is well established that activation of neutrophils within the pulmonary circulation produces acute lung injury in which adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells is an obligatory step in the mechanism of injury. The effects of in vivo activation of neutrophils on the in vitro responses of these cells to stimulation have not been determined, although such information may be important in understanding how different etiological factors may interact to produce infection or acute respiratory failure. By using an assay to sequentially measure superoxide anion (O2-) release from adherent neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), we measured the in vitro activation response of peripheral blood neutrophils isolated before and 24 h after infusion of zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP; or untreated plasma as a control), air bubbles, or PMA in awake, instrumented sheep. Each of the three inflammatory agents produced an increase in lung microvascular permeability characteristic of acute lung injury; control plasma did not. For the in vivo ZAP experiments, stimulated O2- release in vitro by using PMA was approximately 50% lower (P less than 0.05) for neutrophils isolated 24 h after the in vivo infusion (4.3 +/- 0.8 nmol/500,000 cells) than before (8.1 +/- 0.2 nmol/500,000 cells). For the air emboli or PMA in vivo experiments, there were no changes in neutrophil activation responses in vitro. Similarly, infusion of control plasma did not result in reduced neutrophil O2- release. These results show that alterations in the inflammatory potential of neutrophils may occur in vivo and that such alterations appear to be dependent on the mechanism and agent by which lung injury is produced.

Establishment of a human dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans cell line: cytological characteristics

We established a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) cell line derived from a DFSP tumor from a 69-year-old female. The population doubling time of the cells was about 45 hours. The cells were mostly round, although a few triangular or spindle-shaped cells were also found. They could not be transplanted into nude mice. These cells had some histiocyte characteristics which are not observed in fibroblasts: 1) Electron microscopically, there were more lysosomes and phagolysosomes than in fibroblasts. Dense bodies and myelin figures derived from lysosomes were also observed. 2) Staining with acid phosphatase (ACPase), esterase, and alpha-1-antitrypsin was positive. 3) The cells had C3 receptors but no Fc receptors. However, there were two differences between DFSP cells in the established line and those in the early stages: in the former, the capacity for immunophagocytosis (Fc receptors and phagocytosis of Candida albicans) and collagen synthesis were almost entirely absent.

Membrane IL-1 induces bone resorption in organ culture

We have studied the role of the membrane-associated form of IL-1 on bone resorption in vitro. Murine macrophages of the P388D1 cell line stimulated with LPS, subsequently fixed with paraformaldehyde, induced the proliferation of C3H/HeJ mouse thymocytes in the presence of a submitogenic concentration of Con A. Membrane IL-1 on P388D1 cells stimulated with LPS induced bone resorption in organ cultures of neonatal BALB/c mouse calvaria. Polyclonal antibodies directed against membrane IL-1 and soluble IL-1 from P388D1, and monospecific rabbit anti-murine rIL-1 alpha serum neutralized the membrane IL-1 activity, as measured by the thymocyte proliferation. In addition, these antibodies suppressed the bone resorption induced by membrane IL-1. The bone resorption induced by membrane IL-1 required direct contact between mouse calvaria and membrane IL-1. Salmon calcitonin strongly suppressed the calcium release from mouse calvaria in the presence of membrane IL-1. Indomethacin partially inhibited the bone resorption induced by membrane IL-1 on P388D1 cells. Moreover, membrane IL-1 on LPS-stimulated BALB/c mouse peritoneal macrophages or LPS-stimulated osteoblastic cells from BALB/c mouse calvaria induced bone resorption in vitro. These results suggest that membrane IL-1 on macrophages and osteoblastic cells may have a significant role in inflammatory bone resorption in vivo.

Membrane IL-1 induces bone resorption in organ culture

We have studied the role of the membrane-associated form of IL-1 on bone resorption in vitro. Murine macrophages of the P388D1 cell line stimulated with LPS, subsequently fixed with paraformaldehyde, induced the proliferation of C3H/HeJ mouse thymocytes in the presence of a submitogenic concentration of Con A. Membrane IL-1 on P388D1 cells stimulated with LPS induced bone resorption in organ cultures of neonatal BALB/c mouse calvaria. Polyclonal antibodies directed against membrane IL-1 and soluble IL-1 from P388D1, and monospecific rabbit anti-murine rIL-1 alpha serum neutralized the membrane IL-1 activity, as measured by the thymocyte proliferation. In addition, these antibodies suppressed the bone resorption induced by membrane IL-1. The bone resorption induced by membrane IL-1 required direct contact between mouse calvaria and membrane IL-1. Salmon calcitonin strongly suppressed the calcium release from mouse calvaria in the presence of membrane IL-1. Indomethacin partially inhibited the bone resorption induced by membrane IL-1 on P388D1 cells. Moreover, membrane IL-1 on LPS-stimulated BALB/c mouse peritoneal macrophages or LPS-stimulated osteoblastic cells from BALB/c mouse calvaria induced bone resorption in vitro. These results suggest that membrane IL-1 on macrophages and osteoblastic cells may have a significant role in inflammatory bone resorption in vivo.

Regulation of prolactin gene expression during early pregnancy in rats

We have shown that administration of estrogen which increases prolactin (PRL) synthesis in the rat may be mediated by an increase in poly [adenosine diphosphate ribose (ADP-ribose)] synthesis. Present investigation was attempted to study whether poly (ADP-ribose) synthesis is involved in rat PRL gene expression during early pregnancy. Anterior pituitaries were obtained on days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 of pregnancy (group C). Another group of pregnant rats was given nicotinamide, an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) synthesis twice a day intra-peritoneally from day 0 to the day of sacrifice (group N). Serum estradiol (E2) concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. PRL mRNA was measured by cytoplasmic dot hybridization using 32P-labeled cDNA. Poly (ADP-ribose) synthesis was assessed by incubating purified nuclei with 14C-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The serum concentration of E2 increased between days 2 and 4, and on day 6 it decreased to the level of day 0. It remained low until day 12. No difference in the serum E2 level was observed in groups C and N. In group C, PRL mRNA increased from day 2 and remained high until day 8. In group C, poly (ADP-ribose) synthesis increased between days 2 and 4, decreased on day 6 to the level of day 0, and thereafter gradually increased until day 10. Administration of nicotinamide abolished the increase in poly (ADP-ribose) synthesis observed in group C during early pregnancy. In group N, the increase in PRL mRNA was completely suppressed. It is suggested that the increase in PRL mRNA in early pregnancy may be mediated by increased poly (ADP-ribose) synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibitory effects of rabbit antisera on mitogenic activity of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharide

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) were isolated from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strains ATCC 29523 (serotype a), Y4 (b), and NCTC 9710 (c) by the hot phenol-water procedure. Y4 lipid A was obtained by the hydrolysis of Y4 LPS in 1% acetic acid. All the LPS preparations and Y4 lipid A were mitogenic for C3H/HeN mouse spleen cells, but not for C3H/HeJ mouse spleen cells. Immunoglobulin preparations partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation at 33% saturation from rabbit antisera against Y4 whole cells inhibited the mitogenic response of C3H/HeN mouse spleen cells to LPSs from all the strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans and Y4 lipid A. Anti-Y4 LPS immunoglobulin preparation inhibited the mitogenic activity of Y4 LPS and Y4 lipid A. Furthermore, anti-Y4 whole cell Fab fragments inhibited the mitogenic activity of both Y4 LPS and Y4 lipid A. These results suggest that antibodies against A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS may modify immune responses of lymphocytes to this organism at periodontal sites.

[Clinical evaluation of serum gamma-seminoprotein in patients with prostatic cancer]

The level of serum gamma-seminoprotein (gamma-Sm) was measured by enzyme immunoassay in 62 patients with untreated prostatic cancer and 89 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy histologically diagnosed to assess the clinical usefulness as a tumor marker. The level of serum prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) was also measured by radioimmunoassay in these patients simultaneously. Serum gamma-Sm levels in prostatic cancer were significantly higher than in benign prostatic hypertrophy. There was a tendency for serum gamma-Sm levels in prostatic cancer to increase with statistically significant difference as the stage progressed. A gamma-Sm level of over 5.0 ng/ml was considered to be positive. The positive rate of gamma-Sm was 56.5% in prostatic cancer (stage A.B: 32.3%, stage C: 75.0%, stage D: 90.9%) and 19.1% in benign prostatic hypertrophy. In stage A.B cases, the positive rate of gamma-Sm was higher than that of PAP. Therefore, the measurement of gamma-Sm is considered to be useful in the diagnosis of early prostatic cancer.

[Statistical observation of crowns and bridges in Matsumoto Dental College]

A study was made of 11,425 crowns and 2,385 bridges which had been fabricated for 5,588 patients at the Prosthetic Clinic of Matsumoto Dental College during the fourteen-year period, from January 1973 to December 1986. Some of the results were as follows: 1. 753 patients, 1,585 crowns and 372 bridges in 1983 were the most numerous in all the survey years. 2. The rate of vital teeth of crowns has increased from 1984. 3. Of crowns, 22.1% and of bridge retainers, 22.3% were fabricated as porcelain fused to metal crown in 1985. 4. The rate of resin facing crowns of crowns and bridge retainers increased sharply in 1986. 5. Of crowns, 19.0% and of bridge retainers, 30.5% were fabricated as partial coverage crowns in 1986. 6. The rate of more than 5-unit bridges increased from 1982 to 1985.

A continuous monitoring of mucosal integrity and secretory activity in rat stomach: a preparation using a lucite chamber

We assembled a new system using a lucite chamber and rat stomach for simultaneous measurement of transmucosal potential difference (PD) and luminal pH as indicators of the mucosal integrity and the secretory activity, respectively. The biological preparation involved only the glandular mucosa and responded to a variety of mucosal damaging agents by different degrees of PD reduction, pH increases and histological damages. When the mucosa was exposed for 10 min to 1 M NaCl, the reduced PD was restored with time, reaching the baseline values within 2 hr with histological restitution. Titration of gastric effluent showed that after the exposure, acid secretion ceased and a considerable amount of HCO3- was evident in the lumen, followed by re-secretion of acid. These secretory changes corresponded with those of luminal pH; this remained elevated for 1 hr after the exposure and returned to the basal values 2 hr later. The histological restitution as well as the PD recovery after damage were significantly interfered with by indomethacin (5 mg/kg, s.c.) or vasopressin (10 unit/kg/hr, i.v.), respectively, at the dose which inhibited the increased pH responses caused by 1 M NaCl or reduced the mucosal blood flow. These results suggest that this system may be useful for studying physiological changes of gastric mucosa after acute injury and for screening drugs that may have an effect on the repair process.

Prolonged exposure of neutrophils to saline or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid does not alter superoxide anion generation

The role played by neutrophils (PMNs) in the genesis of lung injury in diverse clinical situations, such as bronchial asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and the adult respiratory distress syndrome, is an area of intensive investigation. Functional studies of PMNs, particularly those obtained from the alveoli by bronchoalveolar lavage, should shed light on their contribution to lung injury. However, it has not been demonstrated whether procedures used to harvest cells from the lung (bronchoalveolar lavage), particularly the potentially prolonged exposure to saline, commonly used to perform lavage, and other components of lavage fluid, can alter the functional characteristics of PMNs. In this report we demonstrate that a 2- to 3-hour exposure of neutrophils to saline from both humans and sheep in vitro does not alter the functional characteristics of PMNs as determined by superoxide anion generation after activation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA; 6.96 +/- 0.44 vs. 7.60 +/- 0.32 nmol O2-/250,000 PMNs for control and saline-treated human cells, respectively, after a 45-min incubation with 10(-7) M PMA, and 4.73 +/- 0.30 vs. 4.50 +/- 0.42 nmol O2-/250,000 PMNs for control and saline-treated sheep cells). In a second series of experiments, we studied the effect of exposure of human PMNs to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid supernatants obtained from normal volunteers on superoxide anion generation by neutrophils.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hydrogenation of quinone compounds during secondary ion mass spectra measurement

Antibiotics containing a quinone group show characteristic reduced pseudo-molecular ions (M + 2)+ and (M + 3)+ during the measurements of secondary ion mass spectra using glycerol as a matrix. The ratios of peak intensities (M + 2)+ and (M + 3)+ over (M + 1)+ increase with time. As this phenomenon is not found using sulfolane as a matrix, the quinone group seems to be hydrogenated to a hydroquinone by active hydrogen which is produced from a free hydroxyl group of the glycerol by bombardment with the Xe+ beam. This hydrogenation reaction is specific for the quinone group.

Decreased activity of cytochrome c oxidase in the macular mottled mouse: an immuno-electron microscopic study

The macular mottled mouse is a murine model of the kinky hair syndrome, characterized by a deficiency in copper transport. Cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), a respiratory enzyme, is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane and consists of seven subunits, along with copper and iron. Biochemical and histochemical findings indicated that CCO activity was decreased in the cerebellum of the macular mottled mice but not in that of the controls. Immunocytochemical analysis, using anti-CCO and anti-complex III rabbit sera, revealed that CCO in the macular mottled mice was stained more weakly than that in the controls. Immuno-electron microscopic examination of CCO and complex III, using a method of gold labeling, was also performed. In the control mice, a high concentration of gold particles present over CCO and complex III could be seen in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The number of CCO-labeled gold particles was remarkably less, however, in the macular mottled mice, while no significant difference was found in the labeling of complex III between the two groups. It may be concluded that the very low CCO enzyme content in the macular mottled mouse results not only from a copper transport disorder but also from a CCO protein synthesis disorder which impairs the localization of CCO protein in the cerebellum.

Virucidal effect of chlorinated water containing cyanuric acid

The inhibitory influence of cyanuric acid on the virucidal effect of chlorine was studied. The time required for 99.9% inactivation of ten enteroviruses and two adenoviruses by 0.5 mg/l free available chlorine at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C was prolonged approximately 4.8-28.8 times by the addition of 30 mg/l cyanuric acid. Comparative inactivation of poliovirus 1 by free available chlorine with or without cyanuric acid revealed the following. The inactivation rate by 1.5 mg/l free available chlorine with 30 mg/l cyanuric acid or by 0.5 mg/l free available chlorine with 1 mg/l cyanuric acid was slower than by 0.5 mg/l free available chlorine alone. Temperature and pH did not affect the inhibitory influence of cyanuric acid on the disinfectant action of chlorine. In the swimming-pool and tap water, cyanuric acid delayed the virucidal effect of chlorine as much as in the 'clean' condition of chlorine-buffered distilled water. The available chlorine value should be increased to 1.5 mg/l when cyanuric acid is used in swimming-pool water.

Effects of nitroprusside on lung mechanics and hemodynamics after endotoxemia in awake sheep

We examined the effects of intravenous sodium nitroprusside (NP) infusion on pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), dynamic compliance (Cdyn), resistance to airflow across the lungs (RL), and alveolar-arterial O2 pressure gradient (PAO2-PaO2) (room air) after endotoxemia in awake sheep. NP infused 2.5 h after endotoxin administration immediately reduced mean Ppa from 30 +/- 3 to 17 +/- 3 (SE) cmH2O, PVR from 6.3 +/- 0.7 to 4.8 +/- 0.5 cmH2O.l-1.min, and RL from 340 +/- 48 of base line to 205 +/- 73% and increased Cdyn from 54 +/- 5 of base line to 80 +/- 14% without affecting PAO2--PaO2. Ppa and lung mechanics returned immediately to preinfusion levels when NP was stopped. In vitro experiments with NP showed a dose-dependent relaxation of preconstricted pulmonary artery and vein, carbachol-preconstricted sheep tracheal strips, and bronchial rings. We conclude that NP reverses pulmonary hypertension and lung mechanics abnormalities after endotoxin and that this is due to effects of NP on airway and vascular smooth muscle. The return of these abnormalities after NP cessation suggests the continued presence of vascular and airway-constricting factors late after endotoxin. The lack of effect of NP on blood oxygenation suggests that deleterious effects on hypoxic vasoconstriction are offset by improved lung mechanics.

Prevention of horizontal transmission of hepatitis B: efficacy of hepatitis B immunoglobulin and vaccine in an institution for the handicapped

In a Japanese institution for the handicapped with confirmed continuous outbreaks of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by horizontal nosocomial transmission, 29 susceptible subjects (8 institutionalized children and 21 medical staff) were injected intramuscularly with anti-human HBs immunoglobulin (HB Ig) and subcutaneously with HB vaccine. All cases acquired HBs antibody after injection of HB Ig and seropositivity for HB after the third inoculation of HB vaccine was 78.6%. No new case of HB occurred among the study population throughout the period investigated. This suggested the effectiveness of HB Ig and HB vaccine in the prevention of horizontal nosocomial transmission of HBV.

Biochemical analysis of the activation of adherent neutrophils in vitro

The role played by neutrophil oxidative responses in host defense and injury is an area of active investigation. In order to study neutrophil responses in vitro, methods are required for cell purification, enumeration, and quantification of activation responses, which mimic the in vivo situation as closely as possible. In this communication (and its companion paper, Albertine et al., 1988) improved methods for all of these tasks are described and applied to investigate neutrophil structure-function relationships in vitro and in vivo. Human neutrophils were purified by using a series of platelet-poor plasma-Percoll gradients (51, 62, 76 and 80% in Percoll). This modification of previously published procedures results in consistently successful neutrophil purification and has allowed us to purify neutrophils from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as blood. Activation of human and sheep neutrophils (superoxide anion production) was quantitated by the reduction of ferricytochrome c using a microtiter plate reader to measure the increase in absorbance at 550 nm from adherent neutrophils. Adherence of neutrophils was quantitated by measurement of LDH in cells lysed with Triton X-100 using a new method which uses readily available commercial reagents and can quantitate the LDH content of as few as 5000 neutrophils (or the LDH released from 5% of 100,000 neutrophils). Assay conditions for superoxide anion were optimized, limitations both in assay design and instruments used to measure OD were explored and enumerated, and these methods were used to quantitate sheep and human neutrophil activation responses. Using methods described in Albertine et al. (1988) for fixing neutrophils in microtiter wells after assay of their functional capacity, we have studied the same cells functionally and morphologically. We have used these techniques to study blood and alveolar neutrophils from a patient with acute respiratory failure. His alveolar neutrophils displayed 67% of the activation response as peripheral neutrophils (4.31 +/- 0.12 nmol superoxide released per 250,000 neutrophils at 60 min vs. 6.38 +/- 0.18 in blood, P less than 0.01) and structural changes which suggested previous activation in vivo. These studies demonstrate that similar morphological changes are observed in neutrophils activated with phorbol myristate acetate in vitro, as are observed in cells which have been activated by pathophysiologic processes in vivo.

Morphological analysis of the activation of adherent neutrophils in vitro

One approach to study the inflammatory potential of neutrophils involves in vitro methods, using either adherent or suspended cells. In order to do structure-function studies, traditional methods require that experiments be done in parallel: one experiment for structure and another for function. In this report new morphological methods for coordinated structure-function studies on the same cells are described. Isolation and biochemical analysis of sheep and human adherent neutrophils were done as described in the companion paper (Cerasoli et al., 1988). Then, at designated time points, the adherent cells were fixed and processed in the microtiter wells for high-resolution light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The principal obstacle to the morphological studies was chemical etching of the microtiter wells by the processing solutions and embedding media. Insertion of No. 3 BEEM capsule 'sleeves' (the cap and conical tip were removed) into the wells before processing eliminated the obstacle and provided standard-sized, polymerized blocks for microtomes. Adherent neutrophils activated in vitro with 10(-7) M phorbol myristate acetate developed prominent cytoplasmic vacuoles. Furthermore, the activated cells assumed irregular shapes and cytoplasmic processes. These changes in adherent cell morphology in vitro are similar to those seen in neutrophils which have been activated and fixed in vivo. Thus, the in vitro approach we devised retains the morphologic characteristics of cells in vivo and provides an efficient method to do integrated structure-function studies. Using these techniques, we have studied alveolar neutrophils obtained from a patient with acute respiratory failure. These cells contained conspicuous cytoplasmic vacuoles, few granules, and their border was ruffled. The same morphologic changes observed after activation of peripheral blood neutrophils with phorbol myristate acetate in vitro were seen in the alveolar neutrophils obtained from this patient. Therefore, these studies reveal that similar morphologic changes are seen in neutrophils stimulated in vitro as well as cells which have been activated pathophysiologically in vivo.