The relationship of sun protection factor to minimal erythema dose, Japanese skin type, and skin color

The relationship of sun protection factor (SPF) to minimal erythema dose (MED), Japanese skin type, and skin color was investigated on the unexposed backs of 48 healthy subjects. SPF of a UVB-sunscreen was determined using sun lamps as a light source. A significant correlation was found between SPF and MED; subjects with lower MED showed higher SPF. The average SPF decreased with increasing skin type. There was no significant correlation between SPF and skin color (L*a*b* color system).

The use of robotics technology to study human joint kinematics: a new methodology

Robotics technologies have been modified to control and measure both the force and position of synovial joints for the study of joint kinematics. One such system was developed to perform kinematic testing of a human joint. A 6-axis articulated robotic manipulator with 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) of motion was designed and constructed; a mathematical description for joint force and position was devised; and hardware and software to control forces applied to the joint, as well as position of the joint, were developed. The new methodology was utilized to simulate physiological loading conditions and to perform an anterior-posterior (A-P) translation test on a human cadaveric knee. Testing showed that this new system can stimulate complex loading conditions and also measure the resulting joint kinematics.

Expression of oryzacystatin cDNA using yeast artificial chromosome under ADH promoter in baker's yeast

We constructed an expression vector into a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) harboring the cDNA for oryzacystatin, a cysteine proteinase inhibitor from rice, under the control of the yeast ADH promoter. When the expression vector was introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the form of either an artificial chromosome or a circular plasmid, transformants carrying the DNA grew well in a selective medium. However, the content of the introduced DNA decreased significantly during passages in non-selective YPD medium. The stability of the introduced DNA was enhanced in selected clones obtained as colonies viable in selective medium after many passages in YPD medium. The stable transformants thus obtained expressed the mRNA for oryzacystatin at levels as high as those of intrinsic yeast ADH.

[Perioperative insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheter]

Silicon rubber peritoneal dialysis catheter (Tenkoff) was inserted perioperatively in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery and also in those patients in whom right-sided heart failure may occur. This method is easy and safe even in neonates. Post operative excessive fluid retention could be avoided using this method.

Primary structure and cell-type specific expression of a gustatory G protein-coupled receptor related to olfactory receptors

We have reported on the partial structures of a multigene family encoding GTP-binding protein (G protein)-coupled, seven-transmembrane receptors expressed in the tongue (Abe, K., Kusakabe, Y., Tanemura, K., Emori, Y., and Arai, S. (1993) FEBS Lett. 316, 253-256). Here we describe a full-length cDNA clone encoding a tongue cell-type specific receptor. The encoded protein consists of 312 amino acid residues. In overall structure, the protein is similar to known G protein-coupled, seven-transmembrane receptors such as an olfactory receptor (56% identity) but is significantly different in part, particularly in NH2-terminal extracellular and COOH-terminal cytoplasmic domain structures. Northern analysis showed that the mRNA for this protein is expressed only in the epithelium of the tongue, not in other organs. In situ hybridization experiments clearly indicated that the mRNA is expressed exclusively on the tongue apical surface, not on the reverse side of the tongue nor in its muscle layer. Expression was also detected in the taste buds and surrounding cellular tissues of the fungiform and circumvallate papillae. It is suggested that this gustatory receptor structurally related to olfactory receptors may be a candidate for a taste receptor.

Early detection of acute allograft rejection in rat heart transplantation: flowcytometric monitoring of interleukin 2 receptor expression on CD8 positive lymphocytes

To assess the usefulness of flowcytometric monitoring in the early detection of acute allograft rejection, we studied surface markers of graft infiltrating lymphocytes, coronary sinus blood lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes after rat heart transplantation. Fisher rats served as donors and Lewis rats as recipients. Among recipients that received no immunosuppression, grafts were removed 2 days after transplantation (Ongoing Rejection Group: n = 7) and on the day of terminal rejection (Rejection Group: n = 7). The Immunosuppression Group (n = 7) was treated with cyclosporine A at a dose of 3 mg/kg/day intramuscularly for 14 days. The following two color analyses were studied: OX8 (anti-CD8) with OX39 (anti-interleukin 2 receptor; IL2R), W3/25 (anti-CD4) with OX39, W3/25 with OX8. Histological grading demonstrated no significant difference between the Ongoing Rejection Group and the Immunosuppression Group, which showed mild rejection (1.29 +/- 0.27 versus 1.14 +/- 0.24). The proportion of CD8(+)IL2R(+) graft infiltrating lymphocytes showed a more significant increase in the Ongoing Rejection Group than in the Immunosuppression Group (32.1 +/- 3.05 versus 20.6 +/- 9.02; p < 0.01). The proportion of CD8(+) IL2R(+) coronary sinus blood lymphocytes also showed significant increase in the Ongoing Rejection Group compared with the Immunosuppression Group (4.63 +/- 1.91 versus 2.52 +/- 1.60; p < 0.05). These results suggest that this technique can detect acute allograft rejection earlier than endomyocardial biopsy, before the phase in which histological findings become evident.

Early stage of development in testicular choriocarcinomas

Choriocarcinoma is the most malignant among germ cell tumors in the testis. However little is known about the early stage of its development. To understand the development of testicular choriocarcinomas, twenty cases of testicular choriocarcinoma were studied histologically and immunohistochemically. It was found that in the early stage of development, choriocarcinomas imitate the morphologic or functional differentiation of normal trophoblasts. It was also found that some choriocarcinomas regress spontaneously in the early stage. The majority of choriocarcinomas seemed to develop by first going through the embryonal carcinoma phase. However, there were some choriocarcinomas that showed no relationship with embryonal carcinoma.

Induction of macrophage-mediated production of tumor necrosis factor alpha by an L-form derived from Staphylococcus aureus

We investigated the capability of an L-form derived from Staphylococcus aureus to induce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production in murine peritoneal macrophages. The activity for TNF-alpha induction was found in the membrane fraction of the L-form but not in the cytoplasmal fraction purified by the sucrose step gradient centrifugation. TNF-alpha mRNA was also detected in macrophages stimulated with L-form membranes. L-form induced TNF-alpha production in macrophages from both lipopolysaccharide-responsive and -unresponsive mouse strains. Regardless of the presence of polymyxin B, the activity of TNF-alpha induction of L-form was mostly found in the phenol layer, but not in the aqueous layer, both of which were prepared by phenol extraction method. Fractions of L-form membranes representing molecular masses of approximately between 29 and 36 kDa were primarily responsible for inducing the production of TNF-alpha consistently. Moreover, this stimulatory effect was abolished by digestion with Streptomyces griseus protease. In Western blot (immunoblot) analysis with anti-lipoteichoic acid antibody, two bands (65 and 45 kDa) were observed in the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the phenol layer, whereas one band (14 kDa) was observed in either the aqueous layer or lipoteichoic acid of S. aureus. These results suggest that the component in the membrane of the L-form, distinct from cell wall components such as teichoic acid or lipopolysaccharide, possesses the capability to stimulate TNF-alpha production by macrophages.

Large-scale production and purification of an Erwinia ananas ice nucleation protein and evaluation of its ice nucleation activity

The ice nucleation-active protein of Erwinia ananas IN-10 (inaA protein) was over-expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli in a yield of 15.3 mg of inaA protein from 60 mg of bacterial cells on a dry-matter basis. The inaA protein was purified from the inclusion bodies by solubilization with detergents to obtain a protein preparation free from sugar and lipid. This preparation had a distinct ice nucleation activity, indicating that the inaA protein per se is able to act as a nucleus.

Effects of new quinolones on Mycoplasma pneumoniae-infected hamsters

The efficacies of the new quinolones temafloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were investigated against Mycoplasma pneumoniae in an experimental hamster pneumonia model. Hamsters were infected intratracheally with M. pneumoniae and sacrificed 18 h after the final medication, and their lungs were aseptically removed, homogenized, and cultured quantitatively. The efficacies of these drugs were determined by the CFU of M. pneumoniae in lungs. Temafloxacin and ofloxacin, but not ciprofloxacin, were active when the oral administration of 200 mg/kg of body weight per day (once per day) for 5 days was initiated 24 h after infection. Although no effect on the elimination of M. pneumoniae was observed after the administration of these drugs at 200 mg/kg/day at 5 days after infection, the continuous administration for 15 days of temafloxacin, but not ofloxacin or ciprofloxacin, significantly reduced viable M. pneumoniae in the lungs. These results suggest that temafloxacin and ofloxacin are effective in the acute phase of infection and, moreover, that temafloxacin is effective in the late stage of infection during which progressive lung alterations and continuous increases in mycoplasmal growth occurred. The peak levels of temafloxacin in sera and lungs after oral administration were similar to those of ofloxacin and higher than those of ciprofloxacin. The areas under the curve of temafloxacin in the lung tissue, however, were higher than those of ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. On the basis of these results, temafloxacin and ofloxacin might be promising antimicrobial agents for the treatment of mycoplasmal infection.

Inhibition of Corynebacterium parvum-primed and lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic necrosis in rats by selective depletion of neutrophils using a monoclonal antibody

To examine whether neutrophils are involved in the pathogenesis of experimental liver dysfunction, we observed the effect of selective in vivo neutrophil depletion by a monoclonal antibody (RP-3) on the pathogenesis of acute experimental hepatic necrosis in rats induced by a preparative injection of heat-killed Corynebacterium parvum and a challenging dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (positive control group). The serum transaminase titer 8 h after LPS injection was reduced by selective depletion of peripheral blood neutrophils as a result of RP-3 treatment (RP-3 group). A kinetic study showed that the serum transaminase titer of the RP-3 group was significantly lower than that of the positive control group from 4 to 24 h after LPS injection. The transaminase level was significantly lower in the group with less than 400/mm3 peripheral blood neutrophils than in the group with a greater number. The effect of RP-3 on the transaminase level was due neither to the injection of cancer ascites nor to RP-3 injection with the accompanying decrease in complement titer. These results suggest that neutrophils play an important role in the induction of liver dysfunction in this system.

The in vivo and in vitro postantibiotic effect of aminoglycosides using a clinically isolated micro-organism

We reported a case of abscess in which Serratia marcescens was isolated as the causative organism. We measured the postantibiotic effect (PAE) of dibekacin (DKB) and gentamicin (GM) against S. marcescens and studied the relationship between the clinical effect and the PAE. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of DKB against S. marcescens was 6.25 micrograms/mL and the serum concentration 30 min after infusion of 100 mg DKB was 5.99 micrograms/mL. The abscess was cured by the administration of DKB every 12 h. The PAE in vivo was 2.5, 2.9 and 3.3 h when DKB was administered at 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively. This PAE is one of the reasons that infection can be effectively treated with intermittent administration, even if the serum concentration is below the MIC.

Multiple genes for G protein-coupled receptors and their expression in lingual epithelia

Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we identified a gene family including more than 60 members which encoded similar G protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptors. Sequence analyses of six representatives out of the 60 PCR clones showed that they had significant structural similarity to olfactory and optic receptors. Their expression is restricted in the surface of lingual epithelia.

Antiviral effect of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma secreted from a CD8+ influenza virus-specific CTL clone

We observed that an influenza-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone (B7B7) stimulated with peptide-antigen could produce TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma simultaneously. The culture supernatant containing both TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma of antigen-stimulated CTL clone B7B7 significantly enhanced the lysis of influenza A/PR/8 virus-infected L-M2d6 cells or Meth A cells. Enhanced lysis of influenza virus-infected cells by the supernatants was inhibited by pretreatment of the supernatant with antimurine TNF-alpha antibody and antimurine IFN-gamma antibody. In addition to a single CTL clone, we observed that bulk-cultured CTLs were able to produce TNF and IFN when incubated with target cells. These results suggest that the protective mechanism mediated by TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma secreted from CTL may be possible in the course of an influenza infection.

[Coronary revascularization with bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts]

Thirty-two patients underwent coronary revascularization with bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts. Each patient received 2.7 grafts in average including double ITA grafts. Seventeen patients had the right ITAs as free grafts. The other sixteen were treated with 13 autologous veins and 9 right gastroepiploic arteries in addition. Fifty-five grafts out of 56 (98.2%) were proved to be patent at the time of hospital discharge. The postoperative morbidity included three reoperations for bleeding and one perioperative inferior myocardial infarction. One patient died of colon perforation after surgery and another died of cerebral infarction late after surgery. These results exhibited that coronary artery bypass grafting with bilateral ITA grafts had relatively low risks and could contribute to complete revascularization in patients with diseased coronary arteries.

Lithocholate binding by Y and Y' proteins in bovine small intestine

Cytosolic proteins may play an important role in the intracellular transport of bile acids in enterocytes. The lithocholate binding properties of cytosolic protein from bovine small intestine were studied. Lithocholate binding was observed in the Y (45-50 kDa), Y' (30-35 kDa), and Z fractions (10-15 kDa) following gel filtration of cytosol. A Y protein with glutathione S-transferase activity (46 kDa) was purified by S-octyl-glutathione affinity chromatography and chromatofocusing (eluted at pH 7.5) of the Y fraction. Two Y' bile acid binding proteins with dihydrodiol dehydrogenase activity were partially purified from the Y' fraction by chromatofocusing and hydroxyapatite-HPLC. The lithocholate binding affinity of Y' protein (Kd < 0.35 microM) was higher than that of Y protein (Kd = 2 microM) and was comparable to that of Z protein (Kd = 0.2 microM). The binding affinity of Y protein was higher for bilirubin (Kd = 2.5 microM) than that for BSP (Kd = 200 microM). This was comparable to the binding affinity of bovine hepatic Y protein. These data indicate that Y' and Z proteins participate in the intracellular transport of bile acids from the brush border to the basolateral pole in enterocytes.

[Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on cefprozil in pediatric patients]

Cefprozil (CFPZ, BMY-28100), a new oral cephem antibiotic, was studied for its antibacterial activities, absorption and excretion upon administration. Its clinical efficacies were also studied in pediatric patients with infections. A study on antibacterial activities of CFPZ against 11 clinical isolates including 6 species found that its activities against Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus, Escherichia coli and Haemophilus influenzae were equal or superior to those of CCL. When CFPZ was given to patients orally at 15 mg/kg, maximum serum concentration was obtained between 1 to 2 hours after administration and urinary excretion rate in the first 6 hours was 33.8 +/- 17.6%. Clinical evaluation was done in a total of 25 patients with various infections. Responses were excellent in 15 cases and good in 10 cases, hence the efficacy rate was 100%. As side effect, soft stool was found in 1 case, and eosinophilia in 2 cases and elevation of GOT and GPT in 1 case were found as abnormal laboratory test results, but none of them was serious. It appears that CFPZ is an effective and safe antibiotic in the field of pediatrics.

Corn kernel cysteine proteinase inhibitor as a novel cystatin superfamily member of plant origin. Molecular cloning and expression studies

A full-length cDNA clone for a cysteine proteinase inhibitor (cystatin) was isolated from a lambda gt10 cDNA library of immature corn kernels by screening with a mixture of cDNA inserts for oryzacystatins I and II. The cDNA clone spans 960 base pairs, encoding a 135-amino-acid protein containing a signal peptide fragment. The protein, named corn cystatin I, is considered to be a member of the cystatin superfamily, since it contains the commonly conserved Gln-Val-Val-Ala-Gly region that exists in most known cystatins as a probable binding site and is significantly similar to other cystatins in its overall amino acid sequence. Corn cystatin I expressed in Escherichia coli showed a strong papain-inhibitory activity. Northern blot analysis showed that the amount of mRNA for corn cystatin I reaches a maximum 2 weeks after flowering and then decreases gradually.

The comparison of sun protection factor values with different light sources

Sun protection factors (SPFs) were evaluated with three light sources (sunlight, a xenon arc solar simulator, and fluorescent lamps) in indoor and outdoor studies. Two types of light, UV-A+B and UV+Visible, were obtained from the solar simulator. The untanned backs of twenty-four healthy male volunteers were used as test sites. A broad spectrum sunscreen containing SPF 6, according to the manufacturer, was used. The sunscreen tested was applied at 2 mg/cm2. The actual SPF values were 4.8 with sunlight, 6.0 with UV-A+B, 4.9 with UV+Visible, and 11.8 with fluorescent lamps. There were no significant differences between the SPF values with sunlight and those with the solar simulator; the SPF value for fluorescent lamps was significantly higher. The SPF with UV-A+B of the solar simulator was similar to that with sunlight; the use of this light served to reduce pain on tested subjects. Therefore, UV-A+B from the solar simulator seems to be the most appropriate artificial light source for evaluating sunscreens.

The impact of FK506 on graft coronary disease of rat cardiac allograft--a comparison with cyclosporine

We studied the impact of FK506, a potent immunosuppressant, on graft coronary disease and graft-infiltrating lymphocyte subset after rat heart transplantation. Fisher rat heart grafts transplanted into Lewis rat recipients were divided into three groups: control (n = 7), rats treated with FK506 at a dose of 0.32 mg/kg/day intramuscularly (n = 7), and rats treated with cyclosporine at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day intramuscularly (n = 7). Grafts were removed on day 71 in the treated groups and on rejection in the control group. We blindly scored graft rejection and graft coronary disease on a scale of 0 to 4. Graft-infiltrating lymphocytes were investigated by flow-cytometric analysis with the following monoclonal antibodies: W3/25, anti-helper T lymphocyte; OX8, antisuppressor and cytotoxic T lymphocyte; and OX39, antiinterleukin-2 receptor. No difference of graft rejection was found between the two treated groups (FK506 1.66 +/- 0.49 versus cyclosporine 1.45 +/- 0.37), but the FK506 group showed severe graft coronary disease (FK506 2.14 +/- 0.82 versus cyclosporine 0.78 +/- 0.17; p less than 0.01) in this model. In flow-cytometric analysis, we found an increased proportion of OX8-positive lymphocytes (FK506 25.7 +/- 6.4 versus cyclosporine 4.9 +/- 2.4, p less than 0.01). These results suggest that suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocytes may be involved in graft coronary disease.

Dopamine receptor antagonists increase markedly the quantity of retrograde transport of HRP in the rat masseteric motoneuron

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected, bilaterally, into the rat masseter muscle, subsequent to an intramuscular or intraperitoneal injection of one of five dopamine antagonists (chlorpromazine and haloperidol as the D1 and D2 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390 as the specific D1 receptor antagonist, sulpiride and domperidone as the specific D2 receptor antagonist). Control rats received an injection of a corresponding vehicle solution. After a survival period of 16 h, the brainstem was cut into 60 microns cryosections and processed with the TMB technique. The amount of retrogradely transported HRP was quantitatively measured in terms of the amount of HRP reaction product present in the motoneuron by the method which we have developed using an image processing system combined with a light microscope and a TV camera. Chlorpromazine, haloperidol, SCH 23390 and sulpiride significantly raised the quantity of retrograde transport of HRP. On the contrary, domperidone which can not penetrate the blood-brain barrier showed no significant change in the amount of the retrograde transport. In addition, an intravenous injection of chlorpromazine (8 mg/kg) was found to increase the amplitude of monosynaptic masseteric reflex EMG activity evoked by stimulations of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus. These results suggest that a possible regulatory system involving the dopamine receptor in the uptake and retrograde transport of HRP from axon terminals to cell bodies of the masseteric motoneuron exists in higher order neurons which make synaptic contact with the motoneuron.

Antimycoplasmal activities of new quinolones, tetracyclines, and macrolides against Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Fifty strains of Mycoplasma pneumoniae were tested for susceptibility to new quinolones, tetracyclines, and macrolides. Temafloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin possessed the most mycoplasmacidal activity against these organisms. The MBC for 50% of the strains (MBC50)-to-MIC50 ratio for each of these drugs was 4. The MBC50-to-MIC50 ratios for the tetracyclines and macrolides were markedly higher, within a range of 32 to 2,000. On the basis of these results, temafloxacin and ofloxacin might be promising antimicrobial agents for the treatment of mycoplasmal infection.