Intravascular ultrasound imaging of peripheral arteries as an adjunct to atherectomy: preliminary experience

12 atherosclerotic lesions in nine patients, including four restenoses after balloon angioplasty, were treated by atherectomy under the guidance of intravascular ultrasound (US). Echogenicities of the plaques and morphological alterations in the arterial walls produced by atherectomy were evaluated. The two-layered appearance of post-angioplasty restenoses was found to be inner fibrous intimal thickening with proliferation of smooth muscle cells and outer residual collagen-rich plaque. The deep cut surfaces were shown as concave U-shaped defects. Medial tissues were present in all cases where intravascular US demonstrated the disruption of a thin hyperechoic layer of the internal elastic lamina. Intravascular US imaging may provide valuable information on the degree, eccentricity and histological type of stenosis, the presence of calcification before atherectomy, and on the extent of excision and the morphological changes in the arterial wall after atherectomy.

Effects of footshock-, psychological- and forced swimming-stress on the learning and memory processes: involvement of opioidergic pathways

Modulation of learning and memory acquisition, retention and retrieval in the one trial passive avoidance learning task in mice by three inescapable stresses, i.e., footshock (FS), psychological (PSY) and forced swimming (SW) were investigated. Pre-, post-training and pre-test FS-stress (2 mA, 0.2 Hz, 1 sec for 30 min) and pre-training PSY-stress (communication box, 5 min) resulted in enhanced test latencies. On the contrary, SW-stress (20 degrees C, 5 min) immediately or 1 hr after training impaired retention latencies that tended to recover after 2 hr post-training SW-stress, suggesting that at least 2 hr are required to consolidate newly acquired information. In contrast, pre-stress naloxone (Nx), which did not affect FS- and PSY-stress induced facilitatory effects, returned to control levels the impaired retention latencies induced by SW-stress. Taken collectively, these results imply the involvement of an opioid-dependent mechanism in the modulation of memory by SW-stress and non-opioid in the case of FS- and PSY-stress. Furthermore, they suggest that different mechanisms are involved in stress-induced memory modifications and the production of stress-induced analgesia (SIA) since in the latter, FS and PSY but not SW stress produce Nx-sensitive antinociception.

Expression of the p53 protein in malignant melanomas as a prognostic indicator

It is currently widely accepted that the tumour suppressor gene p53 is critically involved in the proliferation and differentiation of tumour cells including melanoma cells. In the present study, we examined 60 cases of primary melanoma to compare the expression of p53 protein with conventional prognostic markers for melanoma such as clinical and histological parameters. No correlation was found between the p53 protein and clinical factors except for the presence of a metastatic node and development to clinical stage II. However, the expression of p53 protein was significantly associated with tumour thickness over 1.5 mm, levels IV and V of invasion, the presence of ulceration, and high mitotic rate for 5-year survival rate. Although many questions still remain to be answered, our results and those of others for various other malignant tumours, implicate p53 in malignant transformation of pigment cells. Indeed, it could be a new marker for an unfavourable prognosis of malignant melanoma, even though the gene mutation in this highly lethal tumour has yet to be established.

A histological study of cutaneous thermal wounds using a Clostridium perfringens-derived wound healing substance with wound healing stimulation activity

We studied the effects of a Clostridium perfringens-derived wound-healing substance (WHS) on the healing of thermal burn wounds. Third-degree burn injuries were inflicted on the back skin of rats. We histologically evaluated the effects of WHS ointments and compared them with those of lysozyme chloride ointment. We observed the formation of dermal collagen fibers and the increase of capillaries in the WHS ointment treated groups. From the results of hematoxylin and eosin staining and silver staining, an increase in capillaries was observed one week after the application of WHS ointment. Three weeks after the application, when the epithelization was in the final stage, capillary formation ceased. In the WHS ointment-applied groups, electron microscopic observation showed that new collagen fibers were regularly formed in the dermis. On the other hand, in the lysozyme chloride ointment-applied groups, new collagen fibers were present, but were irregularly formed. The main wound healing stimulative action of the WHS ointment could be due to its acceleration of new capillary formation.

Development and usefulness of the gelatin-particle-agglutination test for titration of antibodies against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus toxins

The gelatin-particle-agglutination (PA) test for titrating antibodies against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus toxins was developed and used for assaying 65 sera from healthy children to assess the antitoxin acquisition in relation to the administration of adsorbed diphtheria-purified pertussis-tetanus (DPT) combined vaccine. The antitoxin titers obtained by the PA test and the conventional methods were correlated well; the correlation coefficient of the diphtheria antitoxin titers between the PA test and the cell culture method was 0.908, that of the tetanus antitoxin titers between the PA test and the passive hemagglutination test 0.968, and that of anti-pertussis toxin titers between the PA test and polystyrene-ball ELISA 0.885. The PA test was shown to be useful in both developed and developing countries, since it is simple to perform, sensitive and specific, and the three antitoxins can be titrated by the same procedure.

Characterization of tumor-necrosis-factor-gene-transduced tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from ascitic fluid of cancer patients: analysis of cytolytic activity, growth rate, adhesion molecule expression and cytokine production

We characterized tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from ascites of patients with ovarian or pancreatic cancer in which the human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene was successfully transduced with retrovirus vector. The TNF-gene-transduced TIL (TNF-TIL) from these patients showed a higher level of TNF production and higher cytotoxic activity against K562 and Daudi cells than did neomycin-phosphotransferase-gene-transduced TIL (neo-TIL). Of these TIL preparations, only that from pancreatic cancer was further characterized since it was collected in a relatively large amount. In spite of the fact that the autologous tumor cells showed resistance to soluble TNF, the TNF-TIL clearly demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity against them as compared with neo-TIL. The enhanced cytotoxicity was ascribed to autocrine effects of secreted TNF on TIL, which included augmentation of adhesion molecule (CD2 and CD11a) and interleukin-2 receptor expression, and elevation of production of interferon gamma, lymphotoxin and granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor and its paracrine effect on target cells to facilitate them to be more susceptible to TIL.

Alteration of the respiratory burst and phagocytosis of macrophages under protein malnutrition

To understand the role of macrophages in impaired host defense under protein malnutrition (PM), we examined the activities of the respiratory burst and phagocytosis of resident peritoneal macrophages from weaning female mice fed 5% casein or 5% soy protein isolate (SPI) diet for 14 days. Resident macrophages from the low-protein diet groups released larger amounts of superoxide anion (O2-) after stimulation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or opsonized zymosan than those from the 20% casein and 20% SPI diet groups. Activation of macrophages from protein-deficient mice in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) under LPS-free conditions did not further enhance O2- production. In spite of the increased O2- production with opsonized zymosan, macrophages from protein-deficient mice did not show any acceleration of phagocytosis of Candida albicans in the presence of normal serum. Our results confirm that the phagocytic function of macrophages is susceptible to PM, and suggest that functional alterations of macrophages may be involved in the failure of development of a specific immune response under PM. Furthermore, the enhanced production of oxygen intermediates by macrophages may augment tissue damage under PM.

[A case of rigid spine syndrome with congenital cardiac abnormality of sinus venosus defect]

A 28-year-old male with a rigid spine syndrome who had congenital cardiac abnormality of sinus venosus defect was described. The patient was admitted to our hospital because of easy fatigability and palpitation. At the age of 4 years, he had an operation for his congenital cardiac abnormality and developed persistent atrial fibrillation thereafter. On neurological examination, he had average mentality, rigid spine with joint contractures, especially in the left elbow joint, and winged scapulae. He had marked muscle weakness and atrophy, predominantly in the left half of the extremities and trunk. Electromyographic studies demonstrated myopathic with partial neurogenic changes. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity was normal. A muscle biopsy specimen obtained from the right rectus femoris showed some marked hypertrophic and atrophic muscle fibers, with prominent internal nuclei, fiber splitting and pyknotic nuclear clump. ATP-ase stain showed type 2B fiber deficiency, increased number of type 2C fibers and fiber type grouping.

Subtle increase in leukocyte counts in association with drinking and smoking habits

Peripheral leukocyte counts were examined in venous blood of more than 800 male workers exposed to toluene, xylenes, a combination of the two, or neither. Information on the social habits of smoking and drinking was obtained in an occupational health interview. The analysis showed that smoking (15 cigarettes/day on average) induced a significant increase (by 7%) in leukocyte counts, and that an additional increase was induced when the drinking habit was coupled with smoking. Drinking alone tended to increase the leukocyte counts but the effect was statistically nonsignificant, possibly because the number of nondrinking smokers was limited. The study stresses the importance of paying attention to smoking and drinking habits when evaluating hematological parameters such as peripheral leukocyte counts in solvent-exposed workers.

Efficacy of a skeletal muscle-powered dynamic patch: Part 1. Left ventricular assistance

In this study, we examined the capability of a skeletal muscle-powered, dynamic patch to provide left ventricular assistance. An actuator was developed that used linear traction power furnished by the latissimus dorsi muscle and liquid as the medium for power transfer. The proximal portion of the muscle was dissected and was reattached to the actuator. The left ventricular apex was excised, and the dynamic patch lined with autologous pericardium was implanted during cardiopulmonary bypass. Hemodynamic studies were performed in 8 dogs after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. Muscle stimulation was found to significantly increase the systolic aortic pressure (91.6 versus 112.1 mm Hg; p < 0.01), the mean aortic pressure (65.2 versus 73.0 mm Hg; p < 0.01), and aortic blood flow (0.77 versus 0.92 L/min; p < 0.01). The left atrial pressure decreased from 17.9 to 16.6 mm Hg (p < 0.01). This "hybrid" left ventricular assist device possesses notable clinical advantages because of its remarkable efficacy in assisting circulation. Further experimental studies using preconditioned skeletal muscle are necessary to assess the long-term effects of this technique.

In vivo glycation of aldehyde reductase, a major 3-deoxyglucosone reducing enzyme: identification of glycation sites

We have reported that the enzyme which reduces 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), a major intermediate and a potent cross-linker in the Maillard reaction, is identical with aldehyde reductase [Takahashi, M., Fujii, J., Teshima, T., Suzuki, K., Shiba, T., & Taniguchi, N. (1993) Gene 127, 249-253]. The enzyme purified from normal rat liver was found to be partially glycated as judged by binding to a boronate column and reactivity to anti-epsilon-hexitol lysine IgG. Sites of in vivo glycation of rat liver aldehyde reductase were identified by sequencing of digested peptides labeled with NaB[3H]4 and by mass spectrometry. The major glycated sites were lysines 67, 84, and 140. The glycated enzyme had low catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) as compared to the nonglycated form. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, the glycated form was significantly increased in kidneys. Because the enzyme plays a role in detoxifying 3-DG formed through the Maillard reaction in vivo, glycation of aldehyde reductase and reduction of its activity may result in the metabolic imbalance under diabetic conditions.

Tyr13 is essential for the activity of omega-conotoxin MVIIA and GVIA, specific N-type calcium channel blockers

Two analogs of omega-conotoxin MVIIA, a 25mer peptide neurotoxin, were synthesized by replacing Lys2 or Tyr13 with Ala. The activities of synthetic analogs were estimated from the inhibitory action on 125I-omega-conotoxin GVIA binding to chick brain synaptic plasma membranes. As in the case of omega-conotoxin GVIA, replacement of Tyr13 resulted in an enormous reduction in activity. In contrast, substitution of Ala for Lys2 gave only a small effect. These results indicate that Tyr13 is a critical amino acid of omega-conotoxin MVIIA and GVIA for blocking N-type calcium channel function.

Quantitation of the crosslinks, pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline and pentosidine, in human aorta with dystrophic calcification

Pyridinoline and, its minor analogue deoxypyridinoline, are trifunctional crosslinks of mature collagen in the connective tissues. Pentosidine, a new type of fluorescent crosslink, is possibly one of the senescent crosslinks but its function and metabolism are still unclear. In this study, we quantitated the crosslinks, pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline and pentosidine, in human aorta which were obtained from 21 autopsy cases. In each case, the existence of dystrophic calcification in the aorta and complications (diabetes, chronic renal failure and hypertension) were examined. The determination of the content of the three crosslinks was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. In calcified lesions, the amount of deoxypyridinoline/collagen showed a decrease and the amount of deoxypyridinoline/pyridinoline showed a prominent decrease compared to those in non-calcified lesions (deoxypyridinoline/collagen, P < 0.005; deoxypyridinoline/pyridinoline, P < 0.0001). In non-calcified lesions without complications, the amount of pentosidine/pyridinoline and that of pentosidine/deoxypyridinoline significantly increased with age (pentosidine/pyridinoline, r = 0.704, P < 0.05; pentosidine/deoxypyridinoline, r = 0.624, P < 0.05). This result suggests a possible relationship between dystrophic calcification and crosslink formation of collagen in human aorta.

Spatial and temporal expression of the ret proto-oncogene product in embryonic, infant and adult rat tissues

Immunohistochemical analysis with the anti-Ret antibody was performed to investigate the expression of the c-ret proto-oncogene product (c-Ret protein) in embryonic, infant and adult rat tissues. During embryogenesis, the c-Ret expression became detectable by day 11.5 in the developing peripheral and central nervous systems as well as in the excretory system. In the peripheral nervous system of the trunk, it was expressed at high levels in the enteric neuroblasts and the autonomic and dorsal root ganglia. c-Ret positive cells appeared in the mesenchyme around the foregut and the dorsal aorta at day 11.5 and formed the myenteric plexus of the whole embryonic gut and the sympathetic trunk at later stages respectively. Examination of the cranial region revealed that the c-Ret protein was expressed in neural crest cells migrating from rhombomere 4 at day 11.5 and then became positive in the facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus cranial ganglia at day 12.5-13.5. After day 16.5 of gestation, the c-Ret expression was also observed in the trigeminal ganglion. In the central nervous system, the c-Ret protein was expressed in the neuroepithelial cells of the ventral neural tube (day 11.5-14.5), the motor neurons of the spinal cord (day 18.5) as well as in the embryonic neuroretina (day 18.5). In addition to the nervous system, the c-Ret expression was detected in the nephric duct (day 11.5), the ureteric bud (day 13.5) and the collecting ducts of the kidney (day 16.5). After birth, neurons in the nervous systems mentioned above continued to express the c-Ret protein at variable levels while no c-Ret expression was observed in the kidney of adult rats. Furthermore, the c-Ret expression was found in the acinar cells of the salivary gland, the epithelial cells of the thymus and the follicular dendritic cells of the spleen and lymph node in infant and adult rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cytotoxicity and DNA-binding property of non-diynene class of dynemicins and aza-anthraquinones

Dynemicin A is a potent antibacterial and antitumor antibiotic having a striking hybrid structure of both anthraquinone as a DNA intercalator and diynene as a DNA strand breaker. We have investigated the DNA-binding property and cytotoxicity of non-diynene class of dynemicins (H, L, M, O and Q) and several related synthetic tri- and pentacyclic aza-anthraquinones 1a-3a (R = H) and 1b-3b (R = CH3). Among them, dynemicin H, L, M, O, Q, 1a, 1b and 2b exhibited DNA-binding property. All non-diynene class of dynemicins investigated exhibited intercalative binding activity, however, synthetic aza-anthraquinones 1a-3a did not show such ability. Dynemicin H, Q, 2a, 2b and 3b showed cytotoxicity against HL-60 and K-562 cell lines.

MR angiography of the coronary arteries

Coronary vessels have been the most difficult regions to demonstrate by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging because of their motion with respiration and heart beat. MR coronary angiography may be utilized for evaluation of the coronary arteries. The purposes of the present study were to demonstrate coronary arteries in normal volunteers by using a fast MR imaging technique and to evaluate the feasibility of this imaging technique. Thirteen healthy volunteers in a prone position were imaged with a 1.5 Tesla unit by using an ECG-gated fat-suppressed Turbo fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequence with k-space segmentation. The imaging time for one slice was approximately 15-23 seconds, within one breath-hold. The left main coronary trunk (LMT), left anterior descending (LAD), circumflex (LCX), and right coronary (RC) arteries were imaged at rates of 92.3, 100, 92.3, and 84.6%, respectively. Diameters of the LMT, LAD, LCX, and RC in proximal portions were 5.2 +/- 1.1, 3.2 +/- 1.3, 2.2 +/- 0.6, and 4.0 +/- 1.6 mm, respectively. The segmented Turbo FLASH technique was able to image the normal coronary arteries, and is a promising method by which to evaluate coronary artery diseases.

Effect of hypergravity on vestibular compensation in guinea pigs

The effect of hypergravity on vestibular compensation was studied in guinea pigs. Pharmacological labyrinthectomy was performed by injecting chloroform into the middle ear cavity under ether anesthesia. The guinea pigs were exposed to hypergravity on a centrifuge. The animals were divided into four groups: a group stimulated with 2G after labyrinthectomy of the right ear, a group stimulated with 2G after labyrinthectomy of the left ear to evaluate the influence of the centrifugal rotation, a group stimulated with acceleration and deceleration alone, and a control group which was maintained under similar conditions, but without centrifugation. Head deviation and nystagmus were recorded and analysed to assess the process of compensation at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 h after labyrinthectomy. The 2G-stimulated group showed faster compensation in head deviation than the control group. In this study, the hypergravity stimulation seemed to facilitate the compensation in head deviation.

Relationship between premacular cortical vitreous defects and idiopathic premacular fibrosis

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between the defect in the premacular cortical vitreous detached from the retina and the development of idiopathic premacular fibrosis.

METHODS

One hundred six consecutive patients (106 eyes) with posterior vitreous detachment but no other ocular disorders were prospectively studied. All follow-up periods were longer than 6 months. The vitreous condition was studied using an aspherical, +58.6-diopter preset lens with a slit-lamp.

RESULTS

The detached premacular cortical vitreous was a continuous, unbroken sheet in 93 (88%) of the 106 eyes; in 13 (12%) eyes, the detached premacular cortical vitreous had an oval or round defect ranging from 4 to 7 disc diameters over the macula. At the study's conclusion, 36 (34%) of the 106 eyes had idiopathic premacular fibrosis; 70 (66%) eyes did not. The defect in the detached premacular vitreous was observed in 9 (25%) of the 36 eyes that eventually developed idiopathic premacular fibrosis and in 4 (6%) of the 70 eyes that did not undergo such development. The incidence of the defect in the detached premacular cortical vitreous was significantly higher in eyes with idiopathic premacular fibrosis than in eyes without (P = 0.011). Nine (69%) of thirteen eyes with the defect in the detached premacular cortical vitreous developed premacular fibrosis, whereas only 25% of eyes without the defect developed it. Twenty-seven (75%) of thirty-six eyes with premacular fibrosis did not have a defect in the detached premacular cortical vitreous.

CONCLUSIONS

The defect in the detached premacular cortical vitreous probably occurs because the premacular cortical vitreous remains attached to the internal limiting lamina when a posterior vitreous detachment develops. The vitreous that remains attached to the macula may be related to the development of idiopathic premacular fibrosis.

Effect of pyrethroid (allethrin and fenvalerate) on excitability changes following nerve impulse

Pyrethroid insecticides induce two different clinical symptoms. The difference has been reported to depend on the effect on the sodium channel opening time. We performed the present study to confirm this report by a double stimulation method. Allethrin (type I) 5 mg/kg and fenvalerate (type II) 1.5 kg/mg were injected into pentobarbital anesthetized rats. Tail nerve excitability was examined by a double stimulation method at from 4 msec to 40 msec intervals. The excitability was expressed as a percentage of the response to conditioned stimuli following supernormal stimuli to response to unconditioned stimuli. In control rats, the largest excitability was 94.6 +/- 19.2% at an 8 msec stimulus interval. After allethrin injection, we obtained two types of excitability changes. In some rats, supernormal excitability was present from 4 msec to 15 msec up to 120%. In other rats, the excitability was lower than that in the control from 4 msec to 15 msec. In fenvalerate treated rats, there was supernormal excitability from 4 msec to 40 msec. The peak of excitability was 122.4 +/- 35.3% at 10 msec. By double stimulation methods, we obtained characteristic nerve excitability changes in allethrin and fenvalerate treated rats after symptoms disappeared. These results showed that it should be possible to detect human nerve subclinical changes following lower doses or during chronic exposure.

In vivo screening models of cisplatin-resistant human lung cancer cell lines using SCID mice

In vivo screening models of a cisplatin (CDDP)-resistant human small-cell lung cancer cell (SCLC) line, H69/CDDP, and a non-small-cell lung cancer cell (NSCLC) line, PC-14/CDDP, were evaluated. The transplantability of the tumor xenografts to SCID mice was more than 90%. Tumor xenografts of H69/CDDP and PC-14/CDDP showed CDDP resistance during in vivo treatment. The novel anticancer agent 254-S showed only a partial effect on the growth of H69/CDDP and PC-14/CDDP while ormaplatin showed no cross resistance to CDDP. The in vivo results correlated well with the results of the in vitro MTT assay. In this in vivo sensitivity test, H69/CDDP and PC-14/CDDP were more sensitive to ormaplatin than its parental cell lines. In vivo sensitivity testing using SCID mice bearing transplanted CDDP-resistant tumors was shown to be useful for evaluating the effects of new anti-cancer drugs, especially those that might overcome CDDP resistance.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining as a prognostic indicator in soft-tissue malignant fibrous histiocytoma

To determine the value of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining as a prognostic indicator in soft-tissue malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), we studied 27 patients who underwent resection including an adequately wide margin but without chemotherapy. The survival rate of patients with a lesion in which less than 70% of the cells was positively stained was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than of those with more than 70% positive staining. Twenty-two patients (81.5%) evidenced disease-free survival (mean follow-up period 4.6 years), 1 patient was alive with disease, and 4 (14.8%) died of the disease with lung or lymph node metastasis. In all 4 patients who died, PCNA staining was over 70% positive. In 2 of them, an increase in the number of PCNA-positive cells was observed after repeated recurrence. We conclude that PCNA is a useful prognostic indicator which provides a quantitative measure of the grade of malignancy in MFH patients who receive operative treatment without chemotherapy.

[Disturbance of hypothalamic-pituitary hormone secretion in familial chorea-acanthocytosis]

An endocrinological study was performed dopaminergic regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of 3 patients with familial chorea-acanthocytosis (females, 38 to 47 years of age). All 3 patients exhibited low basal levels of triiodo-thyronine (T3), and 2 patients had a slightly elevated baseline plasma prolactin (PRL) level. The patients had a delayed plasma thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) response and plasma PRL excessive response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), and a low plasma growth hormone releasing hormone (GRF) response to L-dopa. These TSH, PRL and GRF responses represent a secretion pattern due to a hypothalamic disorder, suggesting impaired regulation of hormone secretion by the dopaminergic system, primarily in the hypothalamus. In addition, an increased growth hormone (GH) response secretion following TRH (paradoxical response) was observed in 2 patients, suggesting that the pituitary was also involved. An oral glucose tolerance test (75g-OGTT) revealed a diabetic pattern in all 3 patients, indicating frequent association with impaired glucose tolerance.