Abnormal expression of the human CD44 gene in early colorectal malignancy with special reference to variant exon 9 (9v)

AIMS

To examine the expression of CD44 variant exon 9 in early colorectal malignancies.

METHODS

Formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded tissue sections from 30 cases of tubular adenoma and 35 cases of adenoma with focal carcinoma of the colon were examined immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody (MAb 11.24) directed against CD44-9v.

RESULTS

In the normal colorectal mucosa immunoreactivity was confined to the basal part of the crypts and was expressed in less than 10% of crypt cells. CD44-9v was expressed in the superficial part of tubular adenoma with mild atypia in 67% of the cases and in 19% of the tumour cells. The immunoreactivity was observed along the basement membrane in mild atypia, as in the non-neoplastic crypts. In the course of progression to severe atypia the spatial polarity of immunoreactivity was lost, and the extent of CD44-9v expression increased in intensity and in the percentage of positive cases and positive cells. In the carcinomatous lesions of adenoma with focal carcinoma, 94% of the cases and 44% of the tumour cells were positive for CD44-9v protein.

CONCLUSION

CD44-9v may be overexpressed at the early stage of colorectal tumorigenesis and this increase continues throughout the course of the disease.

Extraction and characterization of the smooth-type lipopolysaccharide from Fusobacterium nucleatum JCM 8532 and its biological activities

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Fusobacterium nucleatum JCM 8532 was isolated by hot-phenol water extraction. Most of the LPS was extracted in the phenolic phase and shown to be the smooth-type, whereas the aqueous phase contained mainly rough-type LPS. The chemical composition of the LPS was similar to that reported in other studies, but D-quinovosamine, which may be a major component of O-antigenic polysaccharide, and 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (Kdoi) were detected for the first time by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The biological activities of smooth-type LPS, including limulus activity, lethal toxicity, pyrogenicity, and B lymphocyte mitogenicity, were comparable to those of entero-bacterial LPS. Smooth-type LPS inhibited the cell growth and DNA synthesis of adult and fetal human gingival fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that LPS may play a role in the occurrence of human gingivitis.

Prolongation of lung xenograft survival in rats with a short course of deoxyspergualin and cyclosporin A

The efficacy of 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG), cyclosporin A (CyA), and splenectomy--alone or in combination--in prolonging the survival of concordant lung xenotransplants was studied in the hamster-to-rat model. In the untreated group, rejection occurred within 3 days, with an elevation of lymphocytotoxic antibody titers. The rejected lung revealed that ED1 + cells were more prevalent than MRC OX8 + cells in the perivascular infiltrates. In the DSG group, the antibody response was suppressed and median survival increased to 7.5 days. The rejected lungs demonstrated a highly significant depression in ED1 + cellular infiltration and a moderate MRC OX8 + cellular infiltration. When maintenance CyA was combined with a short course of DSG, survival dramatically increased to beyond 100 days. There were no deposits of IgM, IgG, or C3 or of any cell infiltrate in the grafts of two animals sacrificed 107 and 119 days post-transplantation. We conclude that initial treatment with DSG combined with continuous CyA can suppress acute rejection in the hamster-to-rat lung xenograft model, resulting in long-term graft survival.

Local increase in polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase is associated with tumor invasiveness in non-small cell lung cancer

The production of tumor cell proteases is implicated in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. To determine whether lung cancer cells can produce polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase (PMN-E), we measured the concentration of immunoreactive (ir)-PMN-E in the conditioned medium of seven lines of non-small cell lung cancer cells, EBC-1, LC-1sq, LK-2, A-549, PC-3, RERF-LC-MS, and RERF-LC-OK, and three normal lung epithelial cell lines, CCD-8Lu, WI-1003, and LL-24, by using a recently developed enzyme immunoassay (EIA). We measured the concentration of ir-PMN-E in extracts of 40 non-small cell lung cancers, and evaluated its association with the clinicopathologic findings in these patients. The ir-PMN-E level in the culture medium increased with time in six of the seven lines of lung cancer cells; the exception was PC-3. No detectable ir-PMN-E was secreted into the culture medium of the three lines of normal lung epithelial cells. The ir-PMN-E was detected in tissue extracts from 34 to 40 specimens at concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 15.5 micrograms/100 mg of protein. When 40 specimens of lung cancer were categorized by clinical stage of disease, the ir-PMN-E concentration was significantly higher in stage IIIB vs stages I, II, or IIIA. Similarly, the ir-PMN-E concentration was significantly higher in stage IIIA than in stage I. Evaluation of correlations between the ir-PMN-E concentration and patient characteristics showed that the ir-PMN-E level was significantly higher in T3 and T4 tumors than in T1 or T2 tumors. Analysis of prognostic factors in a group of 101 patients with non-small cell lung cancer demonstrated that those with high ir-PMN-E had a significantly shorter overall survival vs those with a low ir-PMN-E at the cutoff point of 3.5 micrograms/100 mg of protein. Multivariate analysis showed that ir-PMN-E was a significant porgnostic factor for early death (hazard ratio, 4.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.65 to 9.95) (p = 0.005), suggesting it was an independent marker for prognosis. Results suggest that the local production of PMN-E may be involved in the tumor invasion associated with a poor prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Existence of novel branched side chains containing beta-1,2 and alpha-1,6 linkages corresponding to antigenic factor 9 in the mannan of Candida guilliermondii

Isolation of beta-linkage-containing side chain oligosaccharides from the mannan of Candida guilliermondii IFO 10279 strain has been conducted by acetolysis under mild conditions. A structural study of these oligosaccharides by one- and two-dimensional NMR and methylation analyses indicated the presence of extended oligosaccharide side chains with two consecutive beta-1,2-linked mannose units at the nonreducing terminal of alpha-linked oligosaccharides. The linkage sequence present in this mannan, Man beta 1-->2Man alpha 1-->3Man alpha-->, has also been found in the mannan of Saccharomyces kluyveri but not in the mannan of Candida species. Furthermore, these oligosaccharides are branched at position 6 of the 3-O-substituted mannose units as follows. (Carbohydrate sequence in text) Structure 1 and (Carbohydrate sequence in text) Structure 2 The H-1 signals of the mannose units substituted by a 3,6-di-O-substituted unit showed a significant upfield shift (delta delta = 0.04-0.08 ppm) due to a steric effect. The inhibition of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay between the mannan of C. guilliermondii and factor 9 serum with oligosaccharides obtained from several mannans indicated that only the oligosaccharides with the above structure were active, suggesting that these correspond to the epitope of antigenic factor 9.

Biological activities of lipopolysaccharide of Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) pseudomallei

Endotoxic activities of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) pseudomallei, a causative agent of melioidosis, were investigated. Compared to an enterobacterial LPS (SAE-LPS), B. pseudomallei LPS (BP-LPS) exhibited weaker pyrogenic activity in rabbits, lethal toxicity in galactosamine-sensitized mice and murine macrophage activation, i.e. production of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and nitric oxide. BP-LPS, on the other hand, exhibited stronger mitogenic activity to murine splenocytes than SAE-LPS; moreover, it stimulated even the splenocytes of LPS-resistant C3H/HeJ mice. Unusual chemical structures in the acid-stable inner core region attached to the lipid A moiety of BP-LPS may be responsible for this strong mitogenic activity.

Microstructure of etched "IPS Empress" heat-pressed ceramics observed by SEM

A valuable characteristic of the "IPS Empress" used for producing all ceramic dental restorations is that it is a prefired ceramic ingot. The ingot is heated, softened and press-injected into the cavity, and ceramic restorations are fabricated by the lost wax casting method. The leucite crystal present in the ingot are scattered and distributed into the glassy phase in a more homogeneous manner through this pressing procedure, and the resulting ceramics are of higher flexural strength than conventional ones. The present study was carried out to clarify the microstructure of Empress ceramics by etching, and to observe the etched surface by scanning electron microscopy, in comparison with several other conventional ceramics. It was shown that the form and distribution of the leucite crystals in Empress ceramics are quite different before and after pressing, and that the staining and layering ceramics are also different from conventional ceramics. The method of surface treatment of ceramics prior to etching, such as fracturing or grinding, the kind of etching material used, the concentration and the etching time are important factors for revealing, observing and evaluating the microstructure of ceramics containing leucite crystals.

[Non-selective cation channel]

Non-selective cation channels, which are permeable to monovalent and divalent cations, are expressed in various tissues. cDNAs encoding cGMP-gated cation channels (cGCC) have been cloned in retinal rods, cones, heart, and kidneys. cGCC in retinal rods is closed when a level of intracellular cGMP decreased by photon. On the other hand, the cGCC in the kidney IMCD is inhibited by ANP via cGMP. P2X receptors play a role in fast synaptic transmission between neurons. They are the molecules which open on binding to extracellular ATP and allow cations to enter the cell. cDNA encoding P2X receptors from vas deferens and PC12 cells share considerable sequence similarity with rENaC (epithelial Na+ channels) and mechanosensory genes (mec-10) in C. elegans.

ATP-activated cation conductance in a Xenopus renal epithelial cell line

1. Using a whole-cell voltage-clamp technique and fura-2 fluorescence measurements, the actions of extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in single cells of an epithelial cell line (A6), were investigated. 2. ATP (0.1-1000 microM) induced currents in cells held under voltage clamp. The sequence of purinergic agonist potency in activating the currents (2-methylthio ATP > adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) > ATP > alpha, beta-methylene ATP) was consistent with that of P2y receptors. 3. Reversal potentials (Erev) of the currents under various ionic conditions suggest that potassium channels and non-selective cation channels were responsible for the ATP-activated conductance, which was permeable to calcium. 4. ATP activated the currents in a calcium-free extracellular solution. In the presence of extracellular calcium, the currents were completely inhibited with 10 mM EGTA in the pipette. 5. ATP (10 microM) increased the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) whether cells were bathed in a solution containing calcium or not. 6. These results indicate that ATP evoked a calcium-dependent cation conductance, permeable to calcium, through P2y receptors by releasing calcium from intracellular stores in A6 cells.

Enhanced E-cadherin expression and increased calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion in human T-cell leukemia virus type I Tax-expressing PC12 cells

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) Tax protein induces the expression of host cellular genes, some of which are crucial in cell proliferation and differentiation. We examined the mechanisms by which HTLV-I Tax protein induces phenotypic changes in PC12 cells. We demonstrated that the HTLV-I Tax gene induces epithelioid changes and increases cell-cell contact in PC12 cells. No change in the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule was observed between HTLV-I Tax-expressing PC12 cells and PC12 cells transfected with a control plasmid. However, HTLV-I Tax-expressing PC12 cells demonstrated a marked change in the abundance and distribution of E-cadherin, which was concentrated at regions of cellular contact and accompanied by changes in calcium-dependent cell adhesion. Although E-cadherin is expressed at low levels in PC12 and PC12 transfected with a control plasmid cells, the steady state level of E-cadherin in tax-expressing PC12 cells increases significantly, apparently as a result of regulation at the transcriptional level. Diminished expression of Tax protein in Tax-expressing PC12 cells exposed to antisense oligonucleotides for the Tax gene suppresses E-cadherin expression and decreases cell-cell adhesion. These findings imply that HTLV-I Tax protein enhanced E-cadherin expression modulates calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion mechanisms.

[Iatrogenic injury of tracheobronchial membranous wall]

Tracheobronchial injuries remain uncommon, but they are of great significance, because they can result in death or substantinal functional compromise. Such injuries are mostly from blunt trauma and motor vehicle accidents, but there also is an incidence of penetrating thoracic trauma inclunding iatrogenic accidents. Three cases of iatrogenic injury of tracheobronchial membranous wall were reported. Two cases were tear at the membraneous portion of the left main bronchus and trachea by forceful endotracheal intubation. Another case was tracheal membranous wall injury during operation at blunt dissection for esophageal carcinoma. We reported the emergent managements for iatrogenic injury of tracheobroncheal membranous wall in differents 3 ways. We should select the best treatment according to the condition of the patients and situation of the injury.

Cardiac, respiratory, and locomotor coordination during walking in humans

Interactions between locomotor, respiratory, and cardiac rhythms were investigated in human subjects (n = 11) walking on a treadmill. Investigation of the phase relationship between heart rate and gait signals revealed that cardiac rhythms were entrained to locomotor rhythms when both frequencies were close to an integer ratio. Coherence spectra were estimated between heartbeat fluctuation, respiratory, and gait signals, and their magnitudes were evaluated. The results suggest that the respiratory-induced fluctuation in heartbeat would vary depending on the strength of the cardiolocomotor coupling. The synchronization tends to occur for one or two specific phases in an individual subject, but there was some variation among subjects. When the subjects voluntarily synchronized their cadence with the cardiac rhythm, the heart rate and blood pressure varied depending on the phase lag within a cardiac cycle. The coordination of locomotor and cardiac rhythms is discussed.

[Suspension of ventilation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with veno-venous by pass in dogs]

We studied whether extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with a veno-venous bypass would allow withdrawal of mechanical ventilation. Three mongrel dogs were anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital. A Swan-Ganz catheter was placed via the left jugular vein into the main pulmonary artery, and an extra-long total volume catheter was placed in the right femoral artery. The animals were placed in the lateral position, and cannulas (15 Fr.) were placed in the inferior vena cava and the superior vena cava via the right jugular vein and the right femoral vein. These cannulas were connected to a pump and a membrane oxygenator. When the pump flow was almost the same as the previous cardiac output, the partial pressure of oxygen in the pulmonary artery, was high enough to allow ventilation to be suspended. All dogs survived. This suggests that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with a veno-venous bypass can allow mechanical ventilation to be suspended during tracheocarinal operations such as tracheocarcinal resection.

Induction of apoptosis in murine clonal osteoblasts expressed by human T-cell leukemia virus type I tax by NF-kappa B and TNF-alpha

We investigated the effects of various cytokines in the presence of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) tax protein in murine clonal osteoblasts, MC3T3-E1 cells. Skeletal remodeling by osteoclasts and osteoblasts is coordinated by cytokines, which are activated by HTLV-I tax protein via nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B). MC3T3-E1 cells were cocultured with an irradiated HTLV-I-producing lymphocyte cell line, MT-2. After coculture, the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level in the medium was markedly elevated during the 7 days of culture, and MC3T3-E1 cells underwent apoptotic cell death. Marked apoptosis was also observed in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with MT-2 culture medium and in HTLV-I tax-expressing MC3T3-E1 clones, which both expressed high levels of TNF-alpha. This apoptosis was prevented by treatment with neutralizing anti-TNF-alpha antibody (alpha TNF). HTLV-I tax protein and TNF-alpha induced activation of NF-kappa B in apoptotic MC3T3-E1 cells. Decreased NF-kappa B activation was observed in HTLV-I tax-expressing MC3T3-E1 cells treated with alpha TNF. Our results suggest that HTLV-I tax activated NF-kappa B and subsequently TNF-alpha, leading to apoptosis of osteoblasts.

[Thoracoscopic surgery versus axillary thoracotomy for spontaneous pneumothorax]

From October 1974 through March 1995, 453 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax admited to our institution and 416 patients underwent an operation. Among them, except bilateral pneumothorax, 204 patients under sixty years of age underwent an axillary incision (Group Ax) and 80 patients underwent a thoracoscopic surgery (Group Ts). In Group Ax, 178 male and 26 female, median age was 26.6 years old and in Group Ts, 68 male and 12 female, median age was 24.6 years old. The median operating time was significantly shorter for patients in Group Ts than for those in Group Ax (73.2 versus 111.3 minutes; p < 0.05). The median intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in Group Ts than in Group Ax (5.4 versus 65.6 g; p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the duration of intercostal drain placement between the two groups (2.1 versus 2.7 days) but the median postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in Group Ts than in Group Ax (8.0 versus 12.5 days; p < 0.01). 58.9% of the patients needed postoperative analgesia in Group Ts, while 82.3% of the patients in Group Ax, and it was significantly less in Group Ts. The rate of recurrent pneumothorax was more in Group Ts (5.0% versus 2.9%), because of fail to notice the bulla under the thoracoscopy. Recently we observe the thoracic cavity using electric bronchoscope in order that we may not miss the bulla, and we take laser treatment for bullous emphysema with much effect.

A case of bronchopleural fistula detected by monitoring plasma endothelin-1

Levels of endothelin (ET)-1 peptide are transiently increased after major physical stress. While studying sequential changes in plasma ET-1 levels during various types of stress, we noticed that the level of plasma ET-1 began to rise 10 days post-operatively in one patient with lung cancer who had undergone a left lower lobectomy. 35 days postoperatively a bronchopleural fistula became clinically manifest. The case is presented and the use of plasma ET-1 as an indicator is discussed.

Planar asymmetric lipid bilayers of glycosphingolipid or lipopolysaccharide on one side and phospholipids on the other: membrane potential, porin function, and complement activation

We have determined some physicochemical properties of the monosaccharide-type fraction (GSL-1) of glycosphingolipids, the major glycolipid components of the outer leaflet of the Gram-negative species Sphingomonas paucimobilis. These properties included the state of order of the hydrocarbon moiety, the effective molecular area, surface charge density, and intrinsic transmembrane potential profile of reconstituted planar asymmetric GSL-1/phospholipid bilayer membranes. We have, furthermore, investigated the insertion into and the function of porin channels in the reconstituted bilayers and the complement-activating capability of GSL-1 surfaces. All results were compared with respective data for deep rough mutant lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella minnesota R595. We found a remarkable agreement in most functional properties of the two glycolipids.

Binding of human leukocytes to fibronectin is augmented by an anti-CD44 mAb (TL-1) and blocked by another anti-CD44 mAb (Hermes-3) but not by anti-VLA-4/VLA-5 mAbs

Fibronectin (FN) forms meshworks in extracellular spaces, and it plays an important role in cellular trafficking. Lymphoid cells are activated by binding to FN of the VLA-4 and VLA-5 receptors. CD44 also acts as a receptor of FN, but the mechanism and physiologic regulation of their binding are poorly understood. We have developed an anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody (mAb) (TL-1) in which lymphoid cells are activated and form homotypic cell aggregation. In this study, we found that the adhesion of CEM, HSB2, and LAD lymphoid cells to FN was augmented by TL-1 treatment and was apparently blocked by another anti-CD44 mAb (Hermes-3), but TL-1 Fab' fragments treatment did not induce FN-binding. A similar phenomenon is reported in the binding of the CD44 molecule to HA. This augmentation was not inhibited by the CS1 and RGD peptides of FN or by anti-VLA-4 and -VLA-5 mAbs; it was energy-dependent and associated with cytoplasmic actin filaments. Tl-1 treatment did not alter the cell surface expression of CD44 molecules. These findings above suggested that activated and/or altered cell surface distribution of CD44 molecules via a conformational change augmented the avidity of its binding to FN, which may be similar to lymphocyte-hyaluronate and lymphocyte-endothelial cell binding. As the Hermes-3 binding site is also involved in the interaction between lymphocytes and endothelial cells, activation of lymphocytes via CD44 molecules may facilitate the binding of lymphocytes to endothelial cells, extravasation, and migration to inflammatory sites rich in FN.

Effects of enalapril on left ventricular mass and diastolic function in essential hypertension: special reference to duration of hypertension

Using M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiography, the effects of enalapril on left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in essential hypertension and the relation between improvement in these two parameters and duration of hypertension were evaluated. The subjects, 30 previously untreated hypertensive patients, were divided into nonhypertrophy (18 patients) and hypertrophy (12 patients) groups. All patients received enalapril at a daily dose of 5 to 10 mg for 6 months. Left ventricular mass by M-mode echocardiography and LV inflow (LVIF) velocity by transthoracic pulsed Doppler echocardiography were measured before and after enalapril therapy. In the nonhypertrophy group, enalapril significantly increased peak early diastolic LVIF (E) velocity (P < .05), slightly lowered peak atrial systolic LVIF (A) velocity, significantly decreased their ratio (A/E) (P < .01), and significantly shortened both the deceleration time, from the peak of the early diastolic wave, and isovolumic relaxation time (P < .05 and P < .01, respectively). In the hypertrophy group, enalapril significantly increased E (P < .05), slightly lowered A, significantly decreased A/E (P < .05), slightly shortened the deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time, and slightly decreased LV mass. The administration of enalapril correlated significantly and positively with the duration of hypertension and the rates of change in A/E and LV mass in all of the hypertensive patients (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively). These results suggest that long-term administration of enalapril to hypertensive patients improves LV diastolic hemodynamics regardless of the presence or absence of LV hypertrophy and that the effects are most remarkable in patients with the shortest duration of hypertension.

Bacterial infection in prostatodynia

PURPOSE

We investigated a possible bacterial etiology for prostatodynia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated segmented urine specimens from 22 patients and 16 controls by bacteriological localization studies. Immunological studies were performed on patient and control sera.

RESULTS

Nine patients had positive cultures from prostatic secretions. When compared to controls, this novel finding was statistically significant (p < 0.025). Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common isolates (68%). No humoral (IgG) immune differences were found between patients and controls.

CONCLUSIONS

In a subset of prostatodynia patients bacteria may have an etiological role. Antibiotic treatment demonstrated clinical efficacy.

Growth, development and nutritional status in Japanese children under 2 years on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We examined the growth, development and nutritional status over a period of 10 years of 15 young children (< 2 years old) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). There were 6 males and 9 females with a mean age of 12.5 months, mean weight of 6.3 kg, mean height of 66.2 cm at the start of CAPD and a mean duration of therapy of 2.6 years. Height, weight, head circumference, development quotient (DQ), blood chemistry and dietary intake were assessed over a period of 10 years. The patients' mean height standard deviation score (SDS) did not change significantly (from -2.51 to -2.74) during CAPD therapy. The mean growth velocity index (GVI) during CAPD was 76.5% and correlated positively with energy intake but not with protein intake. The mean DQ was low (67.0%) at the start of CAPD and 69.3% at the end of CAPD. DQ did not correlate with energy intake, GVI, head circumference SDS or with the weight/height ratio; however, 2 patients with low DQ (< 60%) had a low energy intakes. Although most patients had a low DQ, the IQ at 5-6 years of age was normal in all patients except 1 without cerebral disease. Our study showed minimal growth (delta SDS) and mental developmental (IQ) delays during CAPD therapy, but an adequate nutritional intake must be assured to obtain the above results.

A new approach for bronchoplastic procedures in the treatment of bronchial carcinoid tumors

Usually patients with typical carcinoid tumors originating in a segmental bronchus undergo segmentectomy with or without a bronchoplastic procedure. We have performed only sleeve resection of the bronchus for a bronchial carcinoid tumor located in the left basal bronchus thus preserving the lung tissue. This was made possible by transecting and reanastomosing the pulmonary artery.