Increased levels of active pertussis toxin may aid a pertussis vaccine to pass the mouse body weight gain test

The mouse weight gain test was evaluated for its value in toxicity testing for pertussis vaccines. When the reference whole cell pertussis vaccine was tested at dilutions of 1 in 1 and 1 in 16, the mice which received the 1 in 1 dilution achieved the greatest weight gain by the seventh day of injection, although they experienced a more significant weight loss during the first 24 hours than both the normal control mice or those that received the 1 in 16 dilution. A commercial diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine with an increased level of pertussis toxin activity significantly accelerated the weight gain of mice. The effect was lost by heating the vaccine at 80 degrees C for 2 hours. A 1 micrograms dose of endotoxin induced a significant weight loss in mice during the first 24 hours of injection followed by weight gain at the same rate as that of the normal control. Pertussis toxin accelerated the weight gain of mice at a dose of 2 micrograms to a level exceeding that of the normal control mice throughout the observation period of 11 days. Pertussis toxin, when inoculated with endotoxin, showed a marked effect of helping mice to recover quickly from the endotoxin-induced initial weight loss to the level of those receiving only pertussis toxin. The effect of pertussis toxin on the acceleration of the weight gain of mice showed the possibility of inappropriate interpretation of the test results. It suggests, therefore, the necessity for separate quantitative tests for controlling the vaccine's toxicities.

Real-time high resolution ultrasonography of solid breast masses: use of a 10-MHz mechanical sector transducer with a water bag

We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of real-time high-resolution ultrasonography (RHUS) for solid breast masses, using a 10-MHz mechanical sector transducer with a water bag. A total of 103 breast nodules in 100 women were analyzed. The nodules consisted of 42 carcinomas, 10 fibroadenomas, 38 mastopathies, and 13 miscellaneous lesions. Of them, 72.8% were less than 2 cm in size. Diagnostic accuracy was correlated with the size and pathology of the nodules. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 95.2%, 83.6%, and 88.3% for carcinomas, 90.0%, 88.2%, and 88.3% for fibroadenomas, and 50.0%, 98.5%, and 80.6% for mastopathies, respectively. The overall rate of diagnostic accuracy was 74.8%. The rate of accuracy according to mass size were 87.3% (-1 cm), 87.2% (1-2 cm), 88.0% (2-5 cm) and 100% (5 cm-). False positive cases (n = 10) included seven mastopathies, two granulomas, and one fibroadenoma. False negative cases (n = 2) included one fibroadenoma and one abscess. RHUS, using a 10-MHz mechanical sector transducer, was an excellent method for the diagnosis of solid breast masses.

MR findings in seven patients with organic mercury poisoning (Minamata disease)

PURPOSE

To study the long-term MR findings in seven patients with Minamata disease.

METHODS

All patients examined were affected after eating daily considerable amounts of the methylmercury-contaminated seafoods from 1955 through 1958 and showed typical neurologic findings. T1- and T2-weighted images were obtained in axial, coronal, and sagittal sections.

RESULTS

The visual cortex, the cerebellar vermis and hemispheres, and the postcentral cortex were significantly atrophic. The visual cortex was slightly hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images, probably representing the pathologic changes of status spongiosus.

CONCLUSION

MR demonstrated the lesions, located in the calcarine area, cerebellum, and postcentral gyri, which are probably related to three of the characteristic manifestations of this disease: the constriction of the visual fields, ataxia, and sensory disturbance, respectively.

Occlusion of the posterior humeral circumflex artery: detection with MR angiography in healthy volunteers and in a patient with quadrilateral space syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MR angiography in detecting occlusion of the posterior humeral circumflex artery and to determine if the finding is specific for the diagnosis of quadrilateral space syndrome.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Two-dimensional fast low-angle shot MR angiography was used to image both shoulders of one symptomatic patient and six asymptomatic volunteers (10 posterior humeral circumflex arteries).

RESULTS

With the arm in a neutral position, the posterior humeral circumflex arteries appeared normal on MR angiograms of all subjects. However, when the arm was in abduction, occlusion of the posterior humeral circumflex artery was seen both in the symptomatic patient and in 80% of the asymptomatic volunteers.

CONCLUSION

Our data show that occlusion of the posterior humeral circumflex artery is common in asymptomatic volunteers. Thus, MR angiography has no value in the diagnosis of quadrilateral space syndrome.

Recombinant ret oncogene products induce T-lymphocyte proliferation, and suppress lymphoma derived from ret transgenic mice

3Recombinant ret oncogene products in complete Freund's adjuvant were injected into normal mice and ret oncogene transgenic mice. Spleen cells from the mice immunized with ret proteins were highly proliferated in vitro by the stimulation of ret proteins. The proliferating T cells have CD4(+) phenotype and secreated CTLL-2 reactive interleukins. The peritoneal exudate cells from ret protein-immunized mice suppressed ret-2 lymphoma, which was derived from ret lymphoma transgenic mice. The peritoneal exudate cells from ret melanoma transgenic mice did not suppress ret-2 lymphoma, when they were immunized with ret proteins.

Germ line mutations of the ret proto-oncogene in Japanese patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A and type 2B

We investigated mutations of the ret proto-oncogene in Japanese patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A and type 2B. DNAs from pheochromocytomas and/or medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) of five MEN 2A and three MEN 2B patients were amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed. Tumors of four MEN 2A patients had missense mutations in Cys 634 in the extracellular domain of the ret proto-oncogene. The same mutations were detected in normal tissues of the patients, indicating that the mutations had arisen in the germ line. Using a reverse transcriptase(RT)-PCR, both normal and mutant transcripts of the ret proto-oncogene were detected in a tumor of one patient with MEN 2A mutation. In addition, three MEN 2B patients examined had the same point mutation (ATG-->ACG) at codon 918 in the tyrosine kinase domain of the ret proto-oncogene. Since all mutations identified in this study generated new restriction enzyme sites or eliminated a restriction site, the mutant alleles of affected family members could be readily detected without sequencing.

Dynamic MR imaging of hepatic adenomas with pathologic correlation

Two patients with hepatic adenomas (HAs) were evaluated using dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Findings of conventional MR imaging of HAs have varied according to reports in the literature, and dynamic MR imaging of HAs has not been previously reported. Dynamic MR imaging using Gd-DTPA showed homogeneous enhancement in the early dynamic phase and prolonged enhancement in the late phase in the typical HA of Case 2. The HA of Case 1 contained fibrosis and exhibited delayed enhancement. The opacification of contrast enhancement was homogeneous and did not occur from the peripheral region as is observed in typical hemangiomas. In addition, washout of contrast material was not as rapid as with typical hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Ovarian 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-4-isomerase of rainbow trout: its cDNA cloning and properties of the enzyme expressed in a mammalian cell

A cDNA clone encoding 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase delta 5-4-isomerase (3 beta-HSD) was isolated from a cDNA library of rainbow trout ovarian thecal cells. Southern hybridization analysis of trout genomic DNA with the cDNA suggested the presence of a single gene encoding 3 beta-HSD in the rainbow trout showing a total genomic size of less than 4 kilobases (kb). The cDNA hybridized to a species of mRNA isolated from rainbow trout ovaries; the 1.4 kb transcripts were most abundant in trout ovaries during the later stages of oogenesis. The trout 3 beta-HSD expressed in non-steroidogenic monkey kidney tumor (COS-1) cells showed a unique enzymatic 3 beta-HSD activity. Dehydroepiandrosterone was a more favoral substrate of the trout 3 beta-HSD than 1- alpha-hydroxypregnenolone. Interestingly, the trout 3 beta-HSD expressed in COS-1 cells exhibited minimal ability to convert pregnenolone to progesterone.

Selective suppression of IgG2a subclass in LEC rats during development

The LEC rat is a mutant strain that has been established as a model of hepatitis and hepatoma. In addition to hepatic disorders, it has been found that this strain has a defect in T cell maturation, and has low levels of serum IgG. Sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblot analysis showed that low levels of serum IgG were largely due to reduction of the IgG2a subclass. Quantitative determination of IgG subclasses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using subclass-specific antibodies indicated that IgG2b and IgG2c subclasses were increased during development in this strain, whereas the IgG2a subclass was markedly decreased. These results suggest that dysfunction of some helper T cells in LEC rats selectively suppress synthesis of the IgG2a subclass during development but not affect production of IgG2b and IgG2c.

FCCP modulation of Ca2+ oscillation in rat megakaryocytes

The effects of a mitochondrial uncoupler, FCCP, (carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluromethoxyphenyl-hydrazone) on the regulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ were investigated in ATP-induced Ca2+ oscillation system of rat megakaryocyte. Application of FCCP did not induce any detectable Ca(2+)-activated K+ current (IKCa) but pretreatment with FCCP modulated the ATP-induced repetitive IKCa. FCCP abolished the IKCa induced by low concentrations of ATP. However, when the concentration of ATP was high, the uncoupler also changed the periodic current to a sustained one. Similar biphasic regulation by the uncoupler was observed in the case of IP3-evoked repetitive IKCa. These results indicate that FCCP inhibits both Ca2+ mobilization and elimination processes after IP3 liberation induced by agonist stimulation.

Spectroscopic observation of renaturation between polynucleotides with RecA in the presence of ATP hydrolysis

To obtain mechanistic insights about RecA-promoted base pairing between complementary polynucleotides, the complex formation of RecA with poly(dA) and poly(dT) in the presence of ATP (and ATP-regenerating system) has been studied. The reaction was followed using a fluorescent probe, benzopyrenediolepoxide (BPDE), covalently attached to less than 1% of the adenine bases of poly(dA). BPDE is sensitive to its environment and has been found useful for detection of interactions between DNA strands, in the three binding positions of the RecA filament, in the presence of adenosine 5'-O-3-thiotriphosphate (ATP[S]) [Wittung, P., Nordén, B. & Takahashi, M. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 5799-5803]. The emission spectrum of RecA:BPDE-poly(dA) formed in the presence of ATP is similar to that observed with ATP[S] supporting similar structures of the complexes. However, the fluorescence anisotropy is considerably reduced, suggesting a higher degree of freedom of DNA in the presence of ATP hydrolysis. Upon addition of a complementary strand, poly(dT), to a preformed filament of RecA:BPDE-poly(dA) in the presence of ATP, the fluorescence intensity slowly decreases and a change of emission profile consistent with Watson-Crick base pairing is observed. This contrasts with the case of ATP[S] in which normal base pairing is never observed. Hence, ATP hydrolysis appears necessary for the RecA filament to be able to promote true renaturation. The renaturation reaction is found more effective when one of the complementary DNA strands is bound in the primary RecA DNA-binding position and the other is added as the third strand, but the reaction can also occur between DNA strands in any combination of binding positions in the RecA filament. This observation suggests the importance of the third DNA-binding position of the RecA filament. Renaturation between DNA strands in the other two combinations of binding positions is speculated to have a role in aborting the strand-exchange reaction when the strands are insufficiently complementary.

Cell proliferation induced by laxatives and related compounds in the rat intestine

Induction of cell proliferation by laxatives and related compounds in rat intestines was analysed by BrdU-labelling and compared with histopathological changes in the mucosa and findings for feces. Male F344 rats were fed a diet containing danthron, sennosid A, bisacodyl, 1-hydroxyanthraquinone (1-HAQ), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), pectin, carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na) or sodium chloride (NaCl) for 7 days. The stimulant laxatives, danthron, sennosid A and bisacodyl, significantly induced cell proliferation in almost the entire intestinal epithelia in a clear dose-dependent manner. DSS also induced cell proliferation in some portions at high doses. Increase in BrdU-labelling indices was correlated well with the severity of inflammatory changes in the intestinal mucosa as well as with purging effects of stimulant laxatives and DSS. In contrast, the bulk-forming laxative CMC-Na did not consistently enhance cell proliferation nor cause apparent cytotoxicity in the intestine despite exerting remarkable purging effects. 1-HAQ and MgSO4 slightly induced cell proliferation in the cecum and the colorectum, although there was little or no intestinal cytotoxicity. Pectin and NaCl did not influence cell kinetics of the epithelia, nor cause any inflammatory changes in the mucosa. Our results thus indicate that diarrhea caused by laxatives is not necessarily correlated with induction of cell proliferation, as in the intestinal mucosa, and that inflammatory changes followed by regenerative process could be responsible for enhancing cell kinetics. Although the precise significance of cell proliferation in carcinogenesis remains unclear, it is crucial for setting doses of carcinogenicity testings that charges in cell kinetics caused by chemicals be taken into account.

Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats

The effect of intragastric gavage administration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats was studied. Male F344 rats were treated s.c. with 15 mg/kg of AOM once a week for 2 weeks and were given either 0.7 ml of DHA or water intragastrically twice a week starting the day before the first carcinogen treatment. The number of crypt multiplicity (number of crypts/focus) of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon were measured after 4, 12, and 36 weeks. The numbers and average crypt multiplicities of ACF induced by AOM were significantly lower after 12 and 36 weeks in animals given DHA. DHA also reduced the incidence of spontaneous ACF in animals without carcinogen treatment. Colorectal tumor incidence and number of tumors per rat after 36 weeks were slightly, but not significantly, lower in the DHA-treated group. These results suggest that DHA slightly suppresses colon carcinogenesis, and a possibility that warrants further study.

Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on rat cardiac myocytes by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

OBJECTIVE

Cytokine induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on cardiac myocytes may be a critical step in cardiac inflammation associated with acute myocardial infarction and myocarditis. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a homologue of mouse JE, in the neutrophil-myocyte adhesion in vitro.

METHODS

MCP-1/JE and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes was evaluated by northern blot analysis. ICAM-1 molecule content on myocytes was determined by ELISA. For adherence assay, myocytes and neutrophils were co-incubated and the number of bounded neutrophils was counted.

RESULTS

MCP-1/JE transcripts were not clearly observed in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes; however, its transcripts were clearly detected by exposure to interleukin 1 alpha (100 U.ml-1), lipopolysaccharide (1 microgram.ml-1), or hypoxia (95% N2 + 5% CO2). In ELISA analysis, the expression of ICAM-1 molecules on cardiac myocytes was significantly stimulated by MCP-1 in a dose dependent manner, and the effect of MCP-1 was observed as early as at 6 h. In northern blot analysis, ICAM-1 mRNA expression was constitutively observed in myocytes, and the expression was markedly stimulated by exposure to MCP-1 with a peak elevation at 2 h. In adherence assay, MCP-1 stimulated the adhesion of rat neutrophils to rat cardiac myocytes, and this effect of MCP-1 was inhibited by an anti-ICAM-1 MAb.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that cardiac myocytes produce MCP-1, which could in turn promote the adhesion of neutrophils to myocytes via ICAM-1 expression, suggesting the involvement of MCP-1 in cardiac inflammation associated with acute myocardial infarction and myocarditis.

Trends in physiological role of opioids in psychoneuroendocrine-immune network

Extensive evidence suggests that opioid influences on the immune response are mediated through opioid receptors on the surface of immune cells. In addition, the binding of opioid agonists to centrally located opioid receptors appears also to alter immune activity through interactions with the neuroendocrine and the nervous systems. Finally, other findings summarized in this review provide evidence consistent with the hypothesis that under stressful stimuli, the immune system is altered through the interrelations among the neuroendocrine system, the sympathetic nervous system and central opioidergic pathways.

Physical dependence produced by dihydroetorphine in mice

Using various administration schedules, the physical dependence produced by dihydroetorphine (DHE) was compared with that of morphine in mice. Physical dependence, evaluated by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs, did not develop following daily treatment with DHE (10, 20, 100 and 1000 micrograms/kg, i.p. or 30, 100 and 1000 ng/mouse, i.c.v.) for 6 d. However, 5 repeated injections of DHE (10 micrograms/kg, i.p.) at 1 or 2 h intervals did produce physical dependence and the dependent state disappeared after 2 h. Accordingly, it was demonstrated that a sufficient degree of antinociceptive activity needed to be maintained, longer than several hours, for the development of physical dependence on DHE and that the duration of the dependent state was very short. In the single dose suppression test, a single dose of DHE completely suppressed the natural withdrawal signs that appeared following abstinence in morphine-dependent animals without reappearance of significant withdrawal signs, indicating the suitability of DHE as a substitute for morphine. The characteristic properties of DHE, the extremely potent antinociceptive effect and minimal dependence, indicate the separation of the antinociceptive effect from dependence, and suggest that it may be possible to develop a novel drug which may be safely used in clinical situations.

Isolation and characterization of oryzatensin: a novel bioactive peptide with ileum-contracting and immunomodulating activities derived from rice albumin

A novel bioactive peptide was isolated from the tryptic digest of rice soluble protein based on ileum-contracting and anti-opioid activities in the isolated guinea pig ileum. The structure of the peptide was Gly-Tyr-Pro-Met-Tyr-Pro-Leu-Pro-Arg, and it was named oryzatensin. Oryzatensin showed a biphasic ileum-contraction, which was characterized by a rapid contraction followed by a slower one. The latter was mediated by the cholinergic nervous system because it was inhibited by tetrodotoxin and atropine. Although oryzatensin showed weak affinity for mu-opioid receptors, the apparent anti-opioid activity seemed to be associated with the slower contraction. On the other hand, oryzatensin showed phagocytosis-promoting activity for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and augmented the production of superoxide anion by human peripheral leukocytes.

Prognostic factors of poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx

Retrospective analysis was performed with intent to evaluate prognostic factors in radiation therapy for 72 patients with histologically confirmed poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx. The 10-year overall actuarial and cause specific survival rates were 36 and 40%, respectively. The median survival time was 43 months. Sixteen patients survived for more than 10 years (maximum 297 months). The five- and 10-year cause specific survival rates for Stages I, II, III and IV disease were 100 and 100%, 80 and 27%, 83 and 83%, and 38 and 31%, respectively. Two patients with Stage II disease died of a re-recurrent tumor more than seven years after their initial treatment. There was a significant difference between the survival curve for Stage I or III disease and that for Stage IV disease (P < 0.05). The patients with a T1-3 tumor had a statistically better survival rate than those with a T4 tumor (T1:T4, P < 0.001, T2 or T3:T4, P < 0.05). The patients with N0 had statistically better survival rates than those with N3 (P < 0.01). Twenty-eight patients developed loco-regional recurrence. Twenty-one patients developed distant bone metastases, most of which occurred within a year of the initiation of radiation therapy. The survival for the patients with loco-regional recurrence was nearly the same as that for the patients without loco-regional recurrence. The 10-year survival rates for patients with and without distant bone metastases were 0 and 48%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the parameters influencing cause specific survival were stage categories of T and N, and adjuvant chemotherapy, whereas those influencing loco-regional recurrence were only stage categories of T and N. The only parameter to influence distant bone metastases was sex. We concluded the most important cause of failure for the patients with poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx to be distant bone metastases.

[Successful primary correction for tetralogy of Fallot associated with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (type Ia)]

The surgical correction was performed successfully in a 3-year-old girl with tetralogy of Fallot associated with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (type Ia). The preoperative cardiac catheterization and angiography showed high systolic pulmonary artery pressure (58 mmHg) and small left ventricular volume (54% of normal). The early postoperative course was stormy because of the unstable circulatory state. During the early postoperative period, we estimated the volume of left ventricle by 2 D echocardiography. A significant increase of the volume was observed on the 8th postoperative day, when her circulatory state became stable. The cardiac catheterization before discharge revealed Pp/Ps of 0.38 and normal LV volume. We conclude that primary repair should be done for this combined cardiac anomaly, even if small left ventricle and pulmonary hypertension is present.

High-yield induction of uterine endometrial adenocarcinomas in Donryu rats by a single intra-uterine administration of N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine via the vagina

A total of 130 female Donryu rats (10-week-old) were divided into two groups; 80 animals in the experimental group were given a single intra-uterine administration of 20 mg/kg N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG) dissolved in polyethylene glycol (PEG) via the vagina without laparotomy, and 50 animals in the control group received PEG alone in the same manner. Small numbers of animals in both groups were killed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after ENNG treatment for sequential histological and endocrinological examination, and at 12.5 experimental months (15 months of age) all survivors were killed. At the termination, endometrial adenocarcinomas were present in 49% of the experimental group, compared to 0% in the control group. Severe endometrial hyperplasias were also found only in the experimental group and sequential histological examination showed first appearance of hyperplasia at 6 months and adenocarcinoma at 9 months. No tumors other than uterine carcinomas were induced by ENNG and the carcinogen treatment did not affect the endocrine environment of rats, persistent estrus appearing at 6 months after the start and increasing with age in both groups. The estradiol-17 beta:progesterone (E:P) ratio was also increased after 6 months, with further elevation at 12 months to about 8 times higher than the level at 6 months. These results indicate that an increased E:P ratio might act as a promoter of development of endometrial proliferative lesions initiated by ENNG in this rat strain. The study indicates that the present simple method using Donryu rats provides a good animal model for endometrial adenocarcinoma development in women.