Pyrogenic action of endothelin in conscious rabbit

Injection of 0.3 nmol/kg endothelin(ET)-1 into the ear vein of conscious rabbits induced a significant increase in body temperature. ETB receptor specific agonist, namely 4-Ala-ET-1, also caused an elevation of the body temperature in a dose-dependent manner by injection into the ear vein of rabbit. These results suggest that ET play important roles in regulation of body temperature through selective stimulation of ETB receptor.

Observation of Cabibbo suppressed B --> D(*)K- decays at Belle

We report observations of the Cabibbo suppressed decays B-->D((*))K- using a 10.4 fb(-1) data sample accumulated at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) storage ring. We find that the ratios of Cabibbo suppressed to Cabibbo favored branching fractions are B(B--->D0K-)/B(B--->D0pi(-)) = 0.079+/-0.009+/-0.006, B(B(0)-->D+K-)/B(B(0)-->D+pi(-)) = 0.068+/-0.015+/-0.007, B(B--->D(*0)K-)/B(B--->D(*0)pi(-)) = 0.078+/-0.019+/-0.009, and B(B(0)-->D(*+)K-)/B(B(0)-->D(*+)pi(-)) = 0.074+/-0.015+/-0.006. These are the first observations of the B-->D+K-, D(*0)K-, and D(*+)K- decay processes.

Production of monoclonal antibody to bovine leukemia virus glycoprotein gp51 by in vitro immunization

The monoclonal antibody against glycoprotein gp51 of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) envelope antigen was produced by in vitro immunization. This monoclonal antibody reacted with viral antigen was observed at the 69 kilodalton (kDa) glycoprotein. However, this monoclonal antibody was not involved in neutralizing. It was shown that in comparison with in vivo immunization, in vitro immunization has some advantages, namely a short immunization period and a small antigen quantity.

The effect of trituration time on the mechanical properties of four high-copper amalgam alloys

Several manipulative variables have been shown to influence the physical properties of dental amalgam. Variation in trituration time has been reported to affect creep, compressive strength, and diametral tensile strength in various amalgams. Recent classification of amalgam alloys by particle microstructure reveals four categories: single-composition lathe-cut; single-composition spherical; lathe-cut and eutectic admixture; and lathe-cut and single-composition spherical admixture. The effect of variation of trituration times has not been studied for these newer high-copper alloys. A representative from each classification was selected and physical properties tested, with varied times for trituration utilized. Results showed little compromise in laboratory values for the properties tested. Additional laboratory and clinical trials are warranted, but this study supports the premise that clinicians may vary trituration time to improve handling characteristics without significantly affecting mechanical properties.

Observation of the decay B --> Kl+l-

We report a search for the flavor-changing neutral current decay B-->K(*)l+l- using a 29.1 fb(-1) data sample accumulated at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- storage ring. We observe the decay process B-->Kl+l-(l = e, mu), for the first time, with a branching fraction of B(B-->Kl+l-) = (0.75(+0.25)(-0.21)+/-0.09)x10(-6).

Study of time-dependent CP violation in B0-->J/psipi0 decays

We report a measurement of CP asymmetry parameters in the decay B0(B (0))-->J/psipi(0), which is governed by the b-->cc d transition. The analysis is based on a 140 fb(-1) data sample accumulated at the Upsilon(4S) resonance by the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson in the J/psipi(0) final state is fully reconstructed for events used in this analysis. The accompanying B meson flavor is identified by its decay products. From the distribution of proper-time intervals between the two B decays, we obtain the following CP-violating parameters: S(J/psipi(0))=-0.72+/-0.42(stat)+/-0.09(syst) and A(J/psipi(0))=-0.01+/-0.29(stat)+/-0.03(syst).

Evidence for B-->eta'pi and improved measurements for B-->eta'K

We report evidence for the exclusive two-body charmless hadronic B meson decay B-->eta'pi, and improved measurements of B-->eta'K. The results are obtained from a data sample of 386x10(6) BB pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance, with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. We measure B(B+-->eta'pi+)=[1.76(-0.62)(+0.67)(stat)(-0.14)(+0.15)(syst)]x10(-6) and B(B0-->eta'pi0)=[2.79(-0.96)(+1.02)(stat)(-0.34)(+0.25)(syst)]x10(-6). We also find the ratio of B(B+-->eta'K+)/B(B0-->eta'K0)=1.17+/-0.08(stat)+/-0.03(syst) and measure the direct CP asymmetries for the charged modes.

Passive protection of mice against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection by monoclonal antibodies

Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), Y-4b, F-6b and K-6a recognized as capsular antigens of A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1, 2 and 5, respectively, and MAb H-1b as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of serotype 2 were produced. We examined the passive immunizing efficacy of these MAbs on A. pleuropneumoniae infection in C3H/HeJ mice. On the challenge infection of homologous serotype strains, they showed a sufficient protective effect in immunized mice. It was concluded that MAbs recognized as capsular antigen and LPS have a serotype-specific protective effect on A. pleuropneumoniae infection, suggesting the important role in preventing A. pleuropneumoniae infection.

Local pathological reactions induced in pigs and cats by adjuvant ISA-70 containing inactivated Newcastle disease virus antigen

Gross and microscopic changes at the injection site in pigs and cats were investigated for 8 weeks after an intramuscular injection of oil adjuvant ISA-70 emulsion, containing inactivated Newcastle disease virus antigen. In pigs, an egg-sized and discolored lesion with pinpoint to miliary-sized nodules was observed at 2 to 8 weeks post injection (PI). In cats, there was partial thickening of the subcutaneous tissue at 2 to 8 weeks PI. Histopathologic changes in pigs were fundamentally similar to those in cats, however, the local tissue reactions in pigs were severer and more protracted than those in cats. The lesions in pigs were characterized by formation of large-sized cysts and well-developed encapsulation of the cysts with epithelioid cells.

Growth kinetics of gamma 2 crystals on mercury-plated Ag3Sn

Previous work has shown that needles of gamma 2 crystals form when mercury is plated on the surface of an Ag3Sn specimen. In the present study, the growth kinetics of gamma 2 needles were investigated from room temperature to 50 degrees C for varying amounts of plated mercury. Straight-line relationships between crystal length and the square root of the time of growth showed that the growth rate is diffusion controlled. The growth rate increased with temperature up to 40 degrees C but decreased at higher temperatures. Further, as the temperature was increased, fewer gamma 2 crystals formed and their growth length decreased. This demonstrates that a number of competing factors are involved in the growth process at high temperatures.

Determination of /Vub/ from measurements of the inclusive charmless semileptonic partial rates of B mesons using full reconstruction tags

We present a measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element /Vub/, based on 253 fb(-1) of data collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB e+ e- asymmetric collider. Events are tagged by fully reconstructing one of the B mesons, produced in pairs from Gamma(4S). The signal for b --> u semileptonic decay is distinguished from the b --> c background using the hadronic mass Mx, the leptonic invariant mass squared q2 and the variable P+ [triple bond] Ex - /px/. The results are obtained for events with p(l)* > or = 1 GeV/c, in three kinematic regions (1) Mx < 1.7 GeV/c2, (2) Mx < 1.7 GeV/c2 combined with q2 > 8 GeV2/c2, and by (3) P+ < 0.66 GeV/c. The matrix element /Vub/ is found to be (4.09 +/- 0.19 +/- 0.20(+0.14) -0.15 +/- 0.18) x 10(-3), where the errors are statistical, systematic including Monte Carlo modeling, theoretical, and from shape function parameter determination, respectively.

Image quality of dry-processed film

Recently, a lot of dry film processors and its radiographic films have been favorably used in hospitals. We have evaluated the diagnostic capability and measured the image quality of these dry processed films, comparing it with those of conventional wet processed films. It is found that (1) dry processed film has almost the same diagnostic capability to that of wet processed film, and (2) dry film had strong absorption at 804 nm which brought a reddish color tone to dry film and gave radiologists problems in diagnosis. These situations have been improved through this study to some extent.

Evidence for B0-->rho0pi0

We present the first evidence of the decay B0-->rho(0)pi(0), using 140 fb(-1) of data collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We detect 15.1+/-4.8 signal events with a significance of 3.5 standard deviations and measure the branching fraction to be B(B0-->rho(0)pi(0))=(5.1+/-1.6(stat)+/-0.9(syst))x10(-6).

Observation of B0 -->D0K0 and B0 -->D0K*0 decays

We report on a search for B(0)-->D(*0)K(*0) decays based on 85 x 10(6) BB events collected with the Belle detector at KEKB. The B(0)-->D0K(0) and B(0)-->D0K(*0) decays have been observed for the first time with the branching fractions B(B(0)-->D0K(0))=(5.0(+1.3)(-1.2)+/-0.6)x10(-5) and B(B(0)-->D0K(*0))=(4.8(+1.1)(-1.0)+/-0.5)x10(-5). No significant signal has been found for the B(0)-->D(*0)K*0) and B(0)-->D(*0)K(*0) decay modes, and upper limits at 90% C.L. are presented.

Characterization of effector cells responsible for cell-mediated cytotoxicity in patients with carcinoma of the prostate

In earlier experiments it has been shown that cellular cytotoxicity of patients with prostatic carcinoma (CaP) as measured by cytolysis of EB 33 target cells correlates with the extent of their tumor lesion: a high grade of cytotoxicity was observed only when CaP was confined to gland. In order to define a possible in vivo immunological host-tumor interaction, further characterization of the type of effector cell responsible for in vitro killing has been attempted. Effector cells could be either tumor-specific sensitized T cells, K cells, macrophages or NK cells. Antibody-dependent K-cell activity could most likely be excluded, since autologous and homologous serum did not affect the extent of EB 33 killing when added to the test medium. Further separation of effector cells by nylon wool columns resulted in increased cytolysis of EB 33 target cells. This can be due either to tumor-specific T-cell-mediated mechanisms or to an increased natural killer cell activity, as macrophages and B cells were significantly removed by this measure. Separation of T and NK cells is necessary to ascertain the effector cell responsible for the in vitro killing of tumor cells derived from human CaP.

Mercury evaporation from amalgams with varied mercury contents

This study examined the relationship between mercury content and mercury evaporation from amalgams during setting. Two different types of commercial high-copper amalgams (single composition and admixed types) were used. Cylindrical specimens of each amalgam were prepared with five different mercury contents according to ADA Specification No.1. Specimens were also prepared by hand condensation. Mercury evaporation from amalgam specimens maintained at 37 degrees C was measured using a gold film mercury analyzer from 10 min after the end of trituration until the mercury concentration in air reached an undetectable level. The mercury content more clearly influenced the mercury evaporation from the admixed type amalgam specimens when the mercury content decreased below the manufacturers' recommended trituration conditions. Triturating with less mercury than the manufacturers' recommended amount cannot lower the evaporation of mercury from freshly made amalgam. Proper condensing procedures can minimize the mercury evaporation from the amalgam surface.

Basic peptide with insulin-like activity in human serum

A peptide with insulin-like activity was isolated from human plasma. In the purification, insulin-like activity (ILA) was monitored by radioreceptor assay for insulin, using human placental membrane and [125I]-insulin. ILA was extracted from Cohn fraction III with acid-ethanol and chromatographed on Sephadex G-75 in 1% formic acid. When the active fractions were subjected to ion-exchange chromatography with CM-cellulose, the ILA was adsorbed to the column at pH 5.0 and was eluted with a gradient of ammonium acetate. The chromatographic behavior of the ILA was not identical to that of somatomedin A as determined by radioreceptor assay (RRA) for the latter. On isoelectric focusing of the ILA from the CM-cellulose column, insulin-like activity was distributed over a wide pH range. The ILA that was focused at pH 7.5-9.0 was further purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 in 1 M acetic acid. The specific activity of the basic ILA was approximately 200 mU insulin equivalent /mg protein. The apparent molecular weight of the material was estimated to be 7,000. It stimulated [14C]-glucose oxidation in rat epididymal fat cells and had sulfation activity in chick chondrocytes. Furthermore, the basic ILA had a potent mitogenic activity in Balb/c-3T3 cells. Thus, the basic ILA is qualified as an 'insulin-like growth factor' (IGF). It is obviously different from somatomedin A, and may be closely related to IGF-I or somatomedin C. Subsequently, RRA for the basic ILA was developed in serum concentration of the basic ILA were determined. The serum concentrations of the basic ILA were high in acromegalics and low in patients with hypopituitarism. Thus, the basic ILA is entitled to be one of the IGFs.

Isolation of a cDNA for a growth factor of vascular endothelial cells from human lung cancer cells: its identity with insulin-like growth factor II

We have found growth-promoting activity for vascular endothelial cells in the conditioned medium of a human lung cancer cell line, T3M-11. Purification and characterization of the growth-promoting activity have been carried out using ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel-exclusion chromatography. The activity migrated as a single peak just after ribonuclease. It did not bind to a heparin affinity column. These results suggest that the activity is not a heparin-binding growth factor (including fibroblast growth factors) or a vascular endothelial growth factor. To identify the molecule exhibiting the growth-promoting activity, a cDNA encoding the growth factor was isolated through functional expression cloning in COS-1 cells from a cDNA library prepared from T3M-11 cells. The nucleotide sequence encoded by the cDNA proved to be identical with that of insulin-like growth factor II.

Measurement of the wrong-sign decays D0 --> K+ pi- pi0 and D0 --> K+ pi- pi+ pi-, and search for CP violation

Using 281 fb-1 of data from the Belle experiment recorded at or near the (4S) resonance, we have measured the rates of the "wrong-sign" decays D0 --> K+ pi- pi0 and D0 --> K+ pi- pi+ pi- relative to those of the Cabibbo-favored decays D0 --> K- pi+ pi0 and D0 --> K- pi+ pi+ pi-. These wrong-sign decays proceed via a doubly Cabibbo-suppressed amplitude or via D0-D0 mixing; the latter has not yet been observed. We obtain R(WS)(K pi pi0) = [0.229 +/- 0.015(stat)(+0.013)(-0.009)(syst)]% and R(WS)(K3pi) = [0.320 +/- 0.018(stat)(+0.018)(0.013)(syst)]%. The CP asymmetries are measured to be -0.006 +/- 0.053 and -0.018 +/- 0.044 for the K+ pi- pi0 and K+ pi- pi+ pi- final states, respectively.

Oxytocin and glucose oxidation in the rat uterus

The effects of oxytocin on the biochemical pathways of glucose oxidation were investigated in the rat uterus. In the presence of oxytocin, glucose oxidation in uterine segments obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats at diestrus increased 1.5-2.0-fold above the basal rate. A half-maximal response was observed at about 3 nM oxytocin; the maximum response was equal to or greater than the response to 1.7 nM insulin. In stripped myometrial segments (denuded of the endometrial component), oxytocin stimulated glucose oxidation at estrus only; whereas in intact uterine segments, the stimulation of oxidation was observed at both estrus and diestrus. In contrast, stimulation of oxidation by carbachol in stripped myometrial segments was independent of the estrous state of the tissue. The ratio of [1-14C]glucose to [6-14C]glucose oxidation was measured to estimate the relative involvement of the pentose phosphate and the tricarboxylic acid pathways of metabolism. In myometrial tissue, stimulation of glucose oxidation by oxytocin appeared to proceed through the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In intact uterine segments, at diestrus, glucose oxidation involved largely the pentose phosphate pathway (suggesting increased glucose metabolism in endometrial tissue), whereas at estrus, in the intact tissue segments, oxytocin increased glucose oxidation largely via the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and appeared to do so predominantly in the myometrial tissue. Carbachol-stimulated glucose oxidation appeared to proceed mainly via the tricarboxylic cycle in the myometrial tissue, irrespective of the stage of the estrous cycle. In the uterus of the Brattleboro rat (either intact uterine segments or stripped myometrial strips), oxytocin stimulated glucose oxidation only at estrus, predominantly through the tricarboxylic acid cycle. These findings suggest that oxytocin, in addition to its known effect on the contractility of uterine and myoepithelial smooth muscle, may regulate glucose metabolism in both the myometrial and endometrial components of uterine tissue.

Observation of B+ --> chi(c0)K+

Using a sample of 31.3x10(6) BB pairs collected with the Belle detector at the Upsilon(4S) resonance, we make the first observation of the charged B meson decay to chi(c0) and a charged kaon. The measured branching fraction is B(B+-->chi(c0)K+) = (6.0(+2.1)(-1.8)+/-1.1)x10(-4), where the first error is statistical, and the second is systematic.

Observation of B+-->K1(1270)+gamma

We report the observation of the radiative decay B+-->K1(1270)(+) gamma using a data sample of 140 fb(-1) taken at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider. We find the branching fraction to be B(B+-->K1(1270)(+)gamma)=(4.3+/-0.9(stat.)+/-0.9(syst.))x10(-5) with a significance of 7.3sigma. We find no significant signal for B+-->K1(1400)(+)gamma and set an upper limit B(B+-->K1(1400)(+)gamma)<1.5 x 10(-5) at the 90% confidence level. We also measure inclusive branching fractions for B+-->K+pi+pi-gamma and B0-->K0pi+pi-gamma in the mass range 1 GeV/c(2)<M(K+(0)pi+pi-)<2 GeV/c(2).

Observation of the decay B0-->lambda+cp

We report the measurement of the charmed baryonic decay B(0)-->Lambda(+)(c)p with a branching fraction of (2.19(+0.56)(-0.49)+/-0.32+/-0.57)x10(-5) and a statistical significance of 5.8 sigma. The errors are statistical, systematic, and the error of the Lambda(+)(c)-->pK(-)pi(+) decay branching fraction. This is the first observation of a two-body baryonic B decay. The analysis is based on 78.2 fb(-1) of data accumulated at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider.

Observation of B+-->LambdaLambdaK+

We report the first observation of the charmless hyperonic B decay, B+-->LambdaLambdaK+, using a 140 fb(-1) data sample recorded at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB (e+)(e-) collider. The measured branching fraction is B(B+-->LambdaLambdaK+) = (2.91(+0.90)(-0.70) +/- 0.38) x 10(-6). We also perform a search for the related decay mode B+-->LambdaLambdapi+, but do not find a significant signal. We set a 90% confidence-level upper limit of B(B+-->LambdaLambdapi+) < 2.8 x 10(-6).

Clinical application of monoclonal antibodies to small cell lung cancer

Monoclonal antibodies to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were produced by fusion of P3X63/AgU1 mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized against intact cells of SCLC tumors grown in BALB/c athymic nude mice. The antibody TFS-2 demonstrated "pancarcinoma" reactivity showing binding to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and carcinomas derived from other organs such as stomach, pancreas, and colon. This antibody failed to react with a variety of normal tissues including lung, bone marrow, spleen, stomach, colon, and pancreas. TFS-2 showed complement-mediated cytolysis of target cells. TFS-2 had no significant effects on hematopoietic stem cells. This antibody will serve as a powerful tool for the in vitro removal of tumor cells from bone marrow, thus facilitating high-dose chemotherapy of SCLC with autologous bone marrow transplantation. In contrast, TFS-4 monoclonal antibody reacted specifically with SCLC but not with NSCLS tumors. This antibody can distinguish SCLC from NSCLC tumors in histologic diagnosis at transbronchial biopsy, and in cytological identification of tumor cells in malignant effusion, and in infiltrated bone marrow. Radiolabeled TSF-4 specifically accumulated into SCLC tumors that were implanted subcutaneously into athymic nude mice. Thus, the antibody will be useful not only for diagnosis of lung cancer but also for targeting anti-tumor agents.