T lymphopenia in genetically obese rats

Although obese animals are more susceptible to infection, the underlying causes are not fully known. In this study, long-term measurements were made of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood, spleen, and thymus in genetically obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats. Blastogenic response of splenocytes to mitogens was also examined. fa/fa rats developed obesity, hyperlipidemia, and hyperinsulinemia after 5 weeks of age. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that T cells in peripheral blood, spleen, and thymus were all reduced significantly in obese rats after 8 weeks of age compared to nonobese (Fa/-) littermates. All T-cell subsets examined, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, were similarly reduced in spleen and thymus as well as in peripheral blood with advance in age. In addition, proliferative responses of splenocytes to mitogens were significantly low in obese rats. These results indicate that long-term obesity may reduce the size of the T-cell pool and impair the responsiveness of splenocytes in rats.

Staining of eccrine and apocrine neoplasms and metastatic adenocarcinoma with IKH-4, a monoclonal antibody specific for the eccrine gland

The histogenesis of apocrine and eccrine neoplasms has always interested dermatopathologists. In addition, the histologic differential diagnosis of eccrine carcinoma from metastatic adenocarcinoma is of practical importance. We describe a novel monoclonal antibody IKH-4 which stains the eccrine secretory coil, but not the apocrine secretory segment. Positive staining was observed in eccrine hidradenoma, eccrine poroma, eccrine spiradenoma, papillary eccrine adenoma, eccrine hidrocystoma, syringoma, eccrine carcinoma, and in 1 case of syringocystadenoma papilliferum. Negative staining was observed in apocrine adenocarcinoma, hidradenoma papilliferum, erosive adenomatosis of the nipple, and primary and metastatic adenocarcinomas. IKH-4 antibody was useful in differentiating eccrine from apocrine neoplasms and in differentiating eccrine carcinoma from metastatic adenocarcinomas.

The value of emergency CT studies in spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma. Analysis for tumor protrusion and hemorrhagic ascites

CT characteristics of spontaneous rupture of HCC (n = 13) were reviewed retrospectively, and the value of emergency CT studies in this disease was evaluated. Especially, tumor protrusion ratio (TPR) and ascitic CT numbers were measured to for comparison with the data for unruptured HCCs and ordinary (e.g. non hemorrhagic) ascites (n = 13). As a result, except for diffuse type HCCs, the TPR was significantly higher than for the unruptured HCCs. Nine cases had intraperitoneal HDAs, and the laterality of the HDAs corresponded with that of the ruptured tumors in 8 cases. Also, the ascitic CT numbers apart from the HDA were still higher than the ordinary ascites. Therefore, a high TPR, HDAs adjacent to the tumor, and elevated ascitic CT numbers are important CT manifestations indicating HCC rupture. Diffuse HCCs, however, require careful clinical evaluation.

Genetic polymorphism in intron 6 of the LMP7 gene in Japanese and its association with sarcoidosis

Genetic polymorphism in intron 6 of the LMP7 gene was investigated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 90 unrelated healthy Japanese controls and 66 Japanese patients with sarcoidosis. Four alleles, including two new ones recently identified in Koreans, LMP7*C and LMP7*D, were found in the Japanese population. The frequency of LMP7*C in the sarcoidosis patients was higher than in the healthy controls. However, this difference might be explained by a secondary association with HLA-DRB1*08 in the HLA-DRB1 gene, which is thought to be the gene primarily responsible for susceptibility to sarcoidosis.

[Local eosinophilia of the nose, the larynx and the trachea in rats sensitized with Japanese cedar pollen]

Eight Brown Norway rats were immunized twice at days 0 and 13 by intraperitneal injections of 10 micrograms Cry j I, one of major allergen to Japanese cedar pollinosis, mixed with 4.5 mg aluminium hydroxide gel. Serum level of Anti-Cry j I IgE antibody was detected by the method of ELISA. Mean value of serum levels of specific IgE to Cry j I in the sensitized rats was significantly higher than that in the non-sensitized five rats (p < 0.01). The grades of eosinophil and lymphocyte accumulation in the nasal mucosa of the sensitized rats were higher than those in the non-sensitized rats respectively (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). In the laryngeal mucosa, the grade of eosinophilia in the sensitized rats was higher than that in the control (p < 0.01), but no significant differences of lymphocyte accumulation in the larynx between the two groups were found. Only a small number of eosinophil and lymphocyte accumulations in the trachea of the both groups were observed and no significant differences of the grade of inflammatory cells accumulation between the two groups were found. According to the results of this fundamental study, allergic laryngitis in Japanese cedar pollinosis might be originated from Japanese cedar pollen.

Face immersion increases vagal activity as assessed by heart rate variability

We examined whether the diving reflex without breath-holding (face immersion alone) increases vagal activity, as determined by heart rate variability. A group of 15 men [mean age 20 (SD 3) years, height 172 (SD 5) cm, body mass 68 (SD 9) kg] performed 12 trials at various breathing frequencies (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 breaths x min(-1) and uncontrolled breath) with or without face immersion. The R-R intervals of the ECG and gas exchange variables were recorded during the 2 min of each trial. The subjects immersed their faces in 8 10 degrees C water while breathing through a short snorkel. The subject sat in the same position either with or without face immersion. The mean R-R interval (RRmean), standard deviations (SD[RR]) and coefficient of variance (CV[RR]) of the R-R interval were calculated from the R-R intervals during 30-120 s. The face immersion significantly increased SD(RR) and CV(RR) (P < 0.05), and increased RRmean (P < 0.05) at 20 breaths x min(-1). Face immersion itself had no effect on oxygen uptake, tidal volume, end-tidal O2 and CO2 partial pressures. The diving reflex without breath-holding increased the heart rate variability, indicating that face immersion alone increases vagal activity.

Major histocompatibility complex class II alleles in Kazak and Han populations in the Silk Route of northwestern China

Genetic polymorphism of the HLA class II loci including the DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 and DPB1 genes was investigated by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in a Kazak population inhabiting the most northwestern part of China, Urümqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu as well as in a Han population in the same area. Forty-two Kazak and 59 Han unrelated volunteers were enrolled in this study. Among 51 DRB1 alleles tested, 29 alleles were detected, and DRB1*0301 (13.1%) and DRB1*07 (10.7%) in Kazak and DRB1*0901 (11.9%), DRB1*1501 (11.0%) and DRB1*07 (11.0%) in northwestern Han were highly predominant. In 8 DQA1 alleles detected, DQA1*0501 (29.8%) and DQA1*0301 (23.8%) in Kazak, and DQA1*0301 (28.8%) and DQA1*0102 (19.5%) in northwestern Han were the most and the second most common alleles, respectively. Of 18 DQB1 alleles tested, 14 were observed, among which DQB1*0201 and DQB1*0301 were very frequent both in Kazak (23.8% and 21.4%, respectively) and northwestern Han (18.6% and 16.9%, respectively) populations. Of 37 DPB1 alleles tested, 14 were detected. Among them, the frequencies of DPB1*0401 (21.4%), DPB1*0501 (20.2%), DPB1*0402 (19.0%) and DPB1*0201 (16.7%) in Kazak, and those of DPB1*0501 (38.1%) and DPB1*0201 (16.1%) in northwestern Han were highly increased. Several three-locus haplotypes were recognized to predominate significantly, namely DRB1*0301-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (13.1%) and DRB1*0701-DQA1*0201-DQB1*0201 (8.3%) in Kazak; and DRB1*0901-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0303 (11.9%) and DRB1*0701-DQA1*0201-DQB1*0201 (10.2%) in northwestern Han. The dendrogram constructed by the neighbor-joining (NJ) method based on the allele frequencies of the DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 and DPB1 genes of 12 representative populations all over the world including northern Han, southern Han, Manchu and Japanese suggested that Kazak and northwestern Han were the closest to each other, but Kazak was a little farther from the Asian ethnic groups than northwestern Han.

Clinical implications of cigarette smoking in acute myocardial infarction: acute angiographic findings and long-term prognosis

This study was undertaken to assess whether reperfusion in smokers could be achieved spontaneously or therapeutically and to assess whether favorable outcome in smokers could be sustained for years after infarction. We studied 260 patients with anterior myocardial infarction who underwent coronary angiography and thrombolysis within 24 hours after the onset of chest pain. There were 158 smokers and 102 nonsmokers. Smoking was associated more with men, younger age, and less multivessel disease. On initial angiography, the distribution of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction grade was similar between smokers and nonsmokers. After thrombolysis, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction grade 3 was more frequent in smokers (32% vs 18%; p = 0.004). In-hospital mortality rates were lower (8% vs 18%; p = 0.022) and long-term cardiac survival was better in smokers (5-year survival: 82% vs 70%; p = 0.022). Our data demonstrated that the infarct artery of smokers responded more efficiently to thrombolysis and favorable outcome in smokers was sustained throughout 5 years.

Implications of prodromal angina pectoris in anterior wall acute myocardial infarction: acute angiographic findings and long-term prognosis

OBJECTIVES

This study was undertaken to assess how prodromal angina affects long-term prognosis after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

Although it has been reported that prodromal angina occurring shortly before the onset of acute myocardial infarction has protective effects against ischemia, its implication for long-term prognosis remains unclear.

METHODS

We studied consecutive 350 patients with anterior myocardial infarction who underwent coronary angiography within 24 h after the onset of chest pain. Follow-up was achieved for 340 patients (97%).

RESULTS

Eighty-nine patients had one or more episodes of angina within 24 h before infarction. On initial angiography, patients with prodromal angina in the 24 h before infarction had a patent infarct-related artery more frequently than did those without prodromal angina (34% vs. 22%, p = 0.03). Among 213 patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy for an occluded infarct-related artery, reperfusion was more frequently achieved in patients with prodromal angina in the 24 h before infarction (76% vs. 56%, p = 0.01). Prodromal angina in the 24 h before infarction was associated with a lower in-hospital mortality rate (6% vs. 14%, p = 0.02) and better 5-year survival (p = 0.009). There was no significant difference in survival between patients with previous angina at any time (n = 202) and those without. Multivariate analysis showed that prodromal angina in the 24 h before infarction was an independent factor related to 5-year survival after acute myocardial infarction (odds ratio 0.49, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Prodromal angina occurring shortly before the onset of infarction, but not previous angina itself, has a beneficial effect on long-term prognosis after infarction, suggesting a relation to ischemic preconditioning.

Directional coronary atherectomy for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction

Directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) was performed after intracoronary thrombolysis in 32 patients with a first acute myocardial infarction. DCA was successful in 31 (97%) of 32 patients. Abrupt closure of the treated segment occurred in one patient but was managed successfully by conventional balloon angioplasty. Repeat angiography was performed in 32 patients before discharge (2.7 +/- 0.7 weeks later) and in 29 patients during the follow-up (4.5 +/- 1.5 months later). No restenosis (stenosis > 50%) occurred before discharge; however restenosis occurred in 12 (41%) of 29 patients during follow-up. The restenosis rate in patients with subintimal resection was significantly higher than in those with intimal resection (78% vs 25%, p < 0.01). These data suggest that DCA in patients with acute myocardial infarction is feasible for persistent early patency of the infarct-related coronary artery, but late restenosis continues to limit success and subintimal resection may increase the restenosis rate during the follow-up.

Effects of various doses of intracoronary verapamil on coronary resistance vessels in humans

To investigate the vasodilatory effect of various doses of intracoronary verapamil on coronary resistance vessels, we studied 13 patients with normal angiograms. A coronary Doppler guide wire was inserted into the left anterior descending coronary artery, and coronary blood flow velocity (CBFV) was measured. Verapamil was injected into the left coronary artery at doses of 0.1 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, and 2.0 mg at 10-min intervals. Nitroglycerin was also injected into the same artery to avoid changes in cross-sectional area. As a measure of coronary vascular resistance, coronary vascular resistance index (CVRI) was calculated as the quotient of mean aortic pressure/CBFV. An injection of verapamil produced a dose-dependent increase in CBFV: 79 +/- 38% with 0.1 mg, 131 +/- 56% with 0.5 mg, 143 +/- 46% with 1.0 mg, and 128 +/- 47% with 2.0 mg of verapamil. The percent peak decreases in CVRI were dose dependent: -42 +/- 13% with 0.1 mg, -50 +/- 17% with 0.5 mg, -62 +/- 14% with 1.0 mg, and -60 +/- 9% with 2.0 mg of verapamil. Thus, intracoronary verapamil produces a dose-dependent dilation of coronary resistance vessels, and the optimal effect is produced with an injection of verapamil at a dose of 1.0 mg into the left coronary artery. At this dose, verapamil did not affect atrioventricular conduction.

Screening of fungal beta-xylanases for production of acidic xylooligosaccharides using in situ reduced 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan as substrate

Fungal beta xylanases were screened for production of acidic xylooligomers from 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan. In situ reduced hardwood xylan was used as substrate because the products of neutral- and acidic-branched xylooligomers help define substrate specificity of the enzymes. Borohydride reduction in situ transformed 30% of 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid residues into 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl residues and reduced C-1 end groups in the xylan backbones. A total of ten beta-xylanase fractions from four fungi were partially purified by chromatography by anion exchange and molecular sieving, and graded qualitatively for enzymatic hydrolysis of the substrate. The yield of acidic xylooligomers was highly affected by whether alpha-glucuronidases were present in the beta-xylanase fractions. Some fractions gave free 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid, but none of the enzyme fractions could release free 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucose. Among the beta-xylanase fractions studied, xylanase II of Trichoderma viride was the best producer of aldotetraouronic acid [2-O-(4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-D-xylotriose]. The results obtained suggested that there was a difference in the steric hindrance of the branch point on fungal beta-xylanases between 4-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl and 4-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid residues.

Effect of Luminance Contrast on the Motion Aftereffect

The effects of luminance contrast and spatial frequency in the transient channel were investigated by making use of the motion aftereffect (MAE) caused by adaptation to a drifting sinusoidal grating. Two experiments were performed. The PSE of the velocity was measured as an index of the MAE. The adapting grating was made to drift at a velocity of 2.28 deg s−1 and its spatial frequency was 0.8, 1.6, or 3.2 cycles deg−1. In the first experiment, the MAE caused by a luminance contrast grating or an equiluminous chromatic grating was measured. In the second experiment, luminance contrast gratings were used to measure the effect of the contrast differences between adapting and test gratings. The largest MAE was observed when a low-luminance-contrast grating or an equiluminous chromatic grating was presented as test stimulus after adaptation to a high-luminance-contrast grating in the low-spatial-frequency condition. Generally, the MAE increased with increasing adapting contrast and with decreasing test contrast or spatial frequency. Little MAE was observed at high test contrasts. The results may be explained by assuming that activity in the sustained channel (or parvocellular pathway) inhibits activity in the transient channel (or magnocellular pathway) owing to the domination of sustained channel activity when the test is a static high-luminance-contrast grating providing much information about position and form.

[Cooperative multicentre study on posttraumatic epilepsy]

A multicentre cooperative prospective study have been conducted to investigate the factors influencing posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) and to evaluate the prophylactic effect of anticonvulsants. Since April 1994, patients with head injury have been observed following our protocol as follows; anticonvulsants are administered only to the patients with brain parenchymal injury for one month just after head trauma and no anticonvulsants are administered after one month after trauma to any patients except those with posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE). Brain parenchymal injury included traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute subdural hematoma, contusion, intracerebral hematoma, and diffuse axonal injury. To April 1996, 635 patients with head injury have been registered and analyzed. During the follow-up period, 14 patients (2.2%) developed PTEs, which had only been observed in patients with brain parenchymal injury. Multiple regression analysis revealed that two factors, early epilepsy and brain parenchymal injury, could contribute to the prediction of PTE. The frequency of PTE in this study was compared with that in our previous retrospective study (Nakamura, 1995), in which anticonvulsants were administered to the patients with head injury. There was no significant difference in the percentage of patients having PTE between the group treated without anticonvulsants in this study and the untreated group in previous retrospective study. Anticonvulsants treatment after head injury was not likely to have a prophylactic effect against the development of PTE.

CD8+ T lymphocyte counts as an adjunctive predictor of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

We encountered a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis with spontaneous regression in association with an increased number of CD8+ but not CD4+ T lymphocytes in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Thus, we examined the number of CD4 and CD8 counts at the diagnosis of CMV retinitis and compared with those of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). All 21 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PCP (22 episodes) and 14 CMV retinitis patients were included in this study. Although PCP occurred after depletion of CD4 count to below 200/microl, CD8 count at that time varied widely and remained normal in some patients (median: 276.5/microl, range: 133-900/microl). In contrast, as CMV retinitis occurred after further depletion of CD4 count to below 50/microl, CD8 count decreased to below 500/microl (median: 238/microl, range: 43-448/microl) (p<0.05; PCP vs CMV retinitis). The values of the sensitivity and specificity for CMV retinitis obtained at the cutoff point of either 400/microl in CD8 count and 50/microl in CD4 count were similar. When these two cutoff points were combined, the positive predictive value was 46%. Monitoring of CD8 count may prove valuable as an additional predictor of CMV retinitis in patients with AIDS after CD4 depletion.

[Assessment of cerebral circulation using echo planar imaging--basic analysis in quantitating the mean transit time, cerebral blood flow, and cerebral blood volume]

The mean transit time (MTT), cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) using echo planar imaging (EPI) in 22 aged volunteers were measured based on moment analysis and gamma variate method. The first peak of signal intensity curve (p delta R2.) and the area under the curve after the first peak (AUC) were calculated according to the height over area method, as a convenient quantification. Then, MTT, CBF, and CBV were compared with AUC/p delta R2, p delta R2, and AUC, respectively. There was a good correlation between each other parameter (r = 0.67 - 0.92, every p < 0.001). The slow upward slope and the low peak height, however, caused a larger error between each other parameter.

[Assessment of regional microcirculatory changes by EPI perfusion studies in patients with multiple lacunar infarction]

The aim of this report is to assess regional cerebral microcirculatory changes by EPI perfusion study in patients with multiple lacunar infarction(MLI). Especially, we focused on the parameter(rCBV, MTT, rCBF) changes in the white matter and on the relationship between these changes in the gray and white matter. Twenty MLI patients(mean age 72 +/- 15 years) and 10 age-similar normal controls (mean age 65 +/- 12 years) were examined. As a result, the MLI patients demonstrated an insignificant rCBF reduction due to the rCBV elevation in the gray matter and a moderate rCBF reduction with less rCBV elevation in the white matter. These results show a difference in the vascular reserve between the gray and white matter, and insufficiency of the vascular reserve in MLI's white matter.

A strong association between HLA-B*5101 and Behçet's disease in Greek patients

Behçet's disease is known to be associated with HLA-B51, one of the split antigens of HLA-B5, among many different ethnic groups. In a Greek population, an increased incidence of HLA-B5 in the patient group has also been reported. Because the B51 antigen has been recently identified to comprise seven alleles, B*5101-B*5107, we performed HLA-B51 allele genotyping by the PCR-SSP method as well as serological HLA-A and -B typing among 31 Greek patients with Behçet's disease to investigate whether there is any correlation between one particular B51-associated allele and Behçet's disease. The frequency of B51 was remarkably high (80.6%) in the patient group as compared to the ethnically matched control group (26.7%). In addition, HLA-A26 was also increased in the patients (29.0%) as compared with the healthy controls (3.3%). B51 allele genotyping revealed that all these B51-positive patients carried B*5101. This study revealed a strong association of Behçet's disease in Greeks with one of the B51 subantigens, providing insight into the molecular mechanism underlying an HLA association with Behçet's disease.

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the HLA class I region spanning the 237-kb segment around the HLA-B and -C genes

To elucidate the detailed gene organization of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I region on chromosome 6, seven contiguous cosmid genomic clones covering the 237-kb segment around the HLA-B and -C loci were subjected to DNA sequencing by the shotgun strategy to give a single contig of 236,822 bp from the MICA gene (58.2 kb centromeric of HLA-B) to 90.8 kb telomeric of HLA-C. This region was confirmed to contain four known genes, MICA, HLA-17, HLA-B, and HLA-C, from centromere to telomere. Further, a new member of the P5 multicopy genes was found to be about 1.3 kb upstream of the HLA-17 gene and designated P5.8. Five novel genes designated NOB1-5 were identified by RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization. In addition, two pseudogenes, dihydrofolate reductase pseudogene (DHFRP) and ribosomal protein L3 homologous gene (RPL3-Hom), were also found in the vicinity of the HLA-B and -C genes, respectively. The two segments (about 40 kb) downstream of the HLA-B and HLA-C genes showed high sequence homology to each other, suggesting that segmental genome duplication including the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene must have occurred during the evolution of the MHC.

Usefulness of directional coronary atherectomy in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction

To assess the usefulness of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 139 consecutive patients with anterior wall AMI undergoing successful catheter intervention were studied. The reocclusion rate was significantly lower in the last 70 patients who underwent DCA as aggressively as possible compared with the first 69 patients treated with coronary balloon angioplasty (12.1% vs 3.0%, p <0.05).