[Secondary hepatic resections in a case of sigmoid colon cancer with multiple liver metastasis (H3) after successful continuous hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy oriented by in vitro chemosensitivity test]

A 43-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for sigmoid colon cancer with multiple liver metastasis (H3). As preoperative CTAP (CT during arterial portography) examination showed 23 metastatic nodules in the whole liver, hepatic resections were not indicated. Angiographic findings showed that right and left hepatic arteries branched separately from the celiac artery. Sigmoid colon resection with D3 lymph node dissection and catheterization to the right hepatic artery via gastroduodenal artery were undertaken as a first operation. Continuous hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy with MMC, 5-FU oriented by in vitro chemosensitivity test (SDI test: Succinic Dehydrogenase Inhibition test) of primary tumor was performed 7 days after the first operation. After administration of MMC (40 mg) and 5-FU (16,500 mg), metastatic nodules in the right lobe almost disappeared except for the one tumor of S7, but the size and number of the nodules in the left lobes increased. At 10 months after the first operation, the left hepatic lobectomy and extirpation of only one tumor in the right lobe (S7) underwent. This case showed the usefulness of continuous hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy oriented by in vitro chemosensitivity test for multiple liver metastasis from colon cancer.

Effect of anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and anti-leukocyte function associated antigen-1 monoclonal antibodies on rat-to-mouse cardiac xenograft rejection

BACKGROUND

The interaction between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and its ligand, leukocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), is especially relevant in allograft rejection. We have previously shown that the simultaneous blockade of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) results in specific immunologic tolerance to cardiac allograft in a mouse model.

METHODS

We evaluated the roles of these adhesion molecules in xenograft rejection by using a rat-to-mouse concordant xenograft model to identify critical molecules for immunosuppression.

RESULTS

Lewis rat hearts transplanted into C3H/He mice were rejected within 5 to 7 days without treatment. A significant prolongation of xenograft survival (mean survival time, 11.6 days) was observed after treatment with anti-rat ICAM-1 and anti-mouse LFA-1 mAbs, when compared with nontreated mice or mice treated with different combinations of mAbs. Graft survival was prolonged in mice treated with FK506 (1 mg/kg/day), anti-rat ICAM-1, and anti-mouse LFA-1 mAbs (mean survival time, 22.2 days), whereas the same dose of FK506 alone was not effective. The mixed lymphocyte reaction showed that a combination of mAbs against mouse LFA-1-rat ICAM-1 and rat LFA-1-mouse ICAM-1 significantly inhibited the proliferation of mouse responders to rat stimulators and rat responders to mouse stimulators, respectively. Infiltration of mouse CD4 positive, mouse CD8 positive, and mouse LFA-1 positive cells, as well as dense deposition of mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and up-regulation of rat ICAM-1, on the graft endothelial cells were demonstrated by immunopathologic analysis of the rejected hearts. Flow cytometric analysis with rat spleen cells demonstrated the presence of xenoreactive antibodies (mouse IgG and IgM) in the recipient's serum. This xenoreactive antibody production was delayed but not inhibited by treatment of the recipients with anti-rat ICAM-1 and anti-mouse LFA-1.

CONCLUSIONS

Blockade of the donor side ICAM-1 and the recipient side LFA-1 is critical for immunosuppression with anti-ICAM-1-LFA-1 treatment. Humoral factors may be responsible for xenograft rejection that occurs even after inhibition of the cell-mediated immune response by anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 mAbs.

Cutaneous localization of endothelin-1 in patients with systemic sclerosis: immunoelectron microscopic study

BACKGROUND

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has some relation to the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Raynaud's phenomenon. This study was performed to determine the localization of ET-1 in patients with SSc.

METHODS

The localization of ET-1 on the specimen by skin biopsies from nine patients with SSc, was observed with immunoelectron microscopic techniques.

RESULTS

High-density deposits existed on the ribosomes and on the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the endothelial cells of microvessels of the upper dermis. The same findings were also seen in the fibroblasts of the dermis, but not found in the skin of normal controls. The level of deposits in the endothelial cells and dermal fibroblasts seemed to have a positive correlation with the serum levels of ET-1 of patients with SSc.

CONCLUSIONS

From these results, it can be seen that ET-1 is produced much more from the endothelial cells and fibroblasts of the dermis in the skin of SSc patients than from the normal controls. It is suspected that ET-1 is one of the pathogenetic factors of SSc.

[Analysis of contact dermatitis by cytokines. II]

We examined the mechanism of the onset of contact hypersensitivity reaction (CHR) induced by several kinds of chemical substances in mice, focusing on cytokines. Before doing this experiment, we investigated the involvement of T cells in the formation of CHR using each primer of CD4 and CD8 (surface markers of lymphocytes) positive cells. It was suggested that both cells participate in the formation of CHR. On the basis of these results we analyzed cytokines produced in the reaction site on the mRNA level in with or without the presensitization of two kinds of strong contactants. Consequently, there was a tendency that the expression of mRNA of Th1 types of cytokines was commonly observed around 24 h after the reaction irrespective of the presence or the absence of presensitization. These date suggested that CHR can be presumed on the genetic level by the only one priming of strong contactants.

[Analysis of contact dermatitis by cytokines. I]

The study of the participation of T cells and the kinetic studies of cytokines by the RT-PCR method in the challenge phase of contact hypersensitivity reaction (CHR) were performed using skin tissues collected at regular intervals from mice sensitized with 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB). The results obtained from these studies and the further analyses using anti-CD4 and CD8 antibodies showed that the revelation of phenotype of lymph node cells at the reaction site and T lymphocytes at the CHR site were found to play important roles. Furthermore, we examined cytokines formed at the CHR site on the mRNA level. Consequently, it was found that 24 h after the challenge IFN-gamma, IL-6 and IL-1 beta were expressed and 48 h after the challenge IL-2, IL-4 and TNF-alpha were expressed in addition to these cytokines. The results of the expression of IL-12 and those of the examination using IFN-gamma knock out mice suggested that the expression of IFN-gamma among several Th1 types of cytokine is especially important for the formation of CHR.

[Antiemetic efficacy of granisetron in repeated CAF chemotherapy after breast cancer operation]

The antiemetic efficacy of granisetron in repeated CAF chemotherapy after breast cancer operation was investigated. Twenty-three patients who were treated with repeated CAF chemotherapy after breast cancer operation received drip-infused granisetron (3 mg/body) to prevent nausea and vomiting. Antiemetic efficacy was evaluated by means of the severity of nausea and the frequency of vomiting. The antiemetic efficacy rate of the drug was 74.4%. However, the average rate of antiemetic efficacy was 86.9% on the first through the sixth administration of the chemotherapy (first period). 75.9% on the seventh through the twelfth (second period), 48.4% on the thirteenth through the eighteenth (third period), and 31.8% on the nineteenth through the twenty-fourth (fourth period). There were significant differences in the antiemetic efficacy rate among the first, second and third periods. The antiemetic efficacy of granisetron decreased significantly by repeated CAF chemotherapy.

Subunit Ya-specific glutathione peroxidase activity toward cholesterol 7-hydroperoxides of glutathione S-transferases in cytosols from rat liver and skin

Dermal 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroperoxycholest-5-en-3beta-ols (cholesterol 7alpha- and 7beta-hydroperoxides), regarded as good aging markers in the rat (Ozawa, N., Yamazaki, S., Chiba, K., Aoyama, H., Tomisawa, H., Tateishi, M., and Watabe, T. (1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 178, 242-247), were reduced in the presence of glutathione (GSH) with concomitant formation of GSSG by cytosol from rat liver in which no detectable level of the hydroperoxides had been demonstrated to occur. The GSH peroxidase (GSH Px) activity toward the toxic steroid hydroperoxides was exerted to almost the same extent by both Alpha-class GSH S-transferases (GSTs), Ya-Ya and Ya-Yc, and by selenium-containing GSH Px (Se-GSH Px) in rat liver cytosol. None of three Mu-class GSTs, Yb1-Yb1, Yb1-Yb2, and Yb2-Yb2, and a Theta-class GST, Yrs-Yrs, from rat liver and a Pi-class GST, Yp-Yp, from rat kidney showed any appreciable GSH Px activity toward the hydroperoxides. The subunit Ya-bearing GSTs and Se-GSH Px purified from rat liver cytosol showed marked differences in apparent specific activity toward the cholesterol hydroperoxides (GSTs Ya-Ya > Ya-Yc >> Se-GSH Px). However, a kinetic study indicated that Se-GSH Px had a higher affinity for steroid hydroperoxides than did the GSTs, so that Se-GSH Px could catalyze the reduction of lower concentrations of cholesterol 7-hydroperoxides with approximately equal Vmax/Km values to those by the GSTs. Rat skin had no GST bearing the subunit Ya but contained only a very low concentration of Se-GSH Px, possibly resulting in the accumulation of cholesterol 7-hydroperoxides in the skin but not in the liver. From rat skin cytosol, GSTs Yc-Yc, Yb1-Yb1, Yb1-Yb2, Yb2-Yb2, and Yp-Yp were isolated, purified to homogeneity, and identified with the corresponding GSTs from liver and kidney. The GSTs accounted for 0.23% of total skin cytosolic protein, and the most abundant isoform of skin GSTs was Yb2-Yb2, followed by Yc-Yc, Yp-Yp, Yb1-Yb1, and Yb1-Yb2 in decreasing order.

Father-to-mother-to-infant transmission of HIV-1: clonally transmitted isolate of infant mutates more rapidly than that of the mother and rapidly loses reactivity with neutralizing antibody

The sequences of the V3 loop and surrounding regions of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 from a father-to-mother-to-infant trimmer were studied and the horizontal and vertical transmissions compared. The father's virus was variable for reactivity with neutralizing antibody and sequences of the V3 loop central core sequence. In contrast, the mother's viral sequences were much less diverse and reacted with a virus neutralizing antibody. The infant's viral sequences were also less diverse than those of the father, and N-glycosylation sites were conserved. By phylogenetic analysis, the major clone, of which V3-peptide reacted with the neutralizing antibody, was found to be transmitted from the mother to her infant; however, the mutated minor clones did not bind to the antibody. These findings suggest that both horizontal and vertical virus transmission were selective, and that the clonally transmitted virus in infants mutates more rapidly than viruses in the mother, to whom the virus was horizontally transmitted.

Identification and functional characterization of yeast zeta-COP

Coatomer, the cytosolic protein complex, consists of seven subunits (alpha-, beta-, beta'-, gamma-, delta-, epsilon-, and zeta-COP) and is involved in vesicle trafficking early in the secretory pathway in collaboration with a 20 kDa GTP-binding protein (ARF). In the present study, we have identified a yeast gene which encodes a protein having 39% amino acid sequence identity with bovine zeta-COP. This gene (YZC1 for Yeast Zeta COP) is essential for vegetative growth and the growth defect of delta yzc1 cells was restored by bovine zeta-COP cDNA. We isolated a temperature-sensitive mutant of YZC1 (yzc1ts) and examined its capacity for both the ER-to-Golgi transport and the double lysine motif (KKXX)-mediated retrograde transport from Golgi to ER. At non-permissive temperature, the yzc1ts cells exhibited a weak defect in the anterograde transport, but a strong defect in the retrograde vesicle transport. We conclude that Yzc1p is a yeast homologue of mammalian zeta-COP and participates mainly in the Golgi-to-ER retrograde transport.

Co-receptor-independent signal transduction in a mismatched CD8+ major histocompatibility complex class II-specific allogeneic cytotoxic T lymphocyte

The contribution of co-receptors in signal transduction upon T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated recognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen by mature T lymphocytes expressing TCR derived from the apparently co-receptor-independent, I-Ak-specific allogeneic CD8+ CTL clone QM11 has been examined. Mature double-negative, CD8+ and CD4+ bulk T cell lines and clones expressing TCR(QM11) were developed from TCR(QM11) transgenic mice. All these T cells, irrespective of co-receptor expression, showed specific lytic activity on cells expressing I-Ak. Furthermore, co-receptorless mutants were obtained from a CD4+ and CD8+ clone. The responses of these co-receptorless mutants upon specific recognition of the alloantigen, as judged by cytolytic activity, granule exocytosis, lymphokine production, proliferation, and tyrosine phosphorylation of the zeta chain, were comparable to those of the original clones. Thus, the results proved the co-receptor independence of the recognition of I-Ak by TCR(QM11) and further indicated there is no indispensable unique signal transduced by co-receptors. However, when the amount of the available antigen was limited by anti-I-Ak antibody, the CD4+ T cell clone showed a remarkable resistance to the inhibition whereas the mismatched CD8+ clone was readily inhibitable. The anti-I-Ak-resistant component of the CD4+ clone showed dependency on the CD4 molecule. Taken collectively, the results indicate that the role played by a co-receptor molecule in mature T cells is purely quantitative amplification of the signal through the formation of a TCR/MHC/co-receptor ternary complex, and also indicate that the role of co-receptor molecules as TCR-independent adhesion molecules is at best minimal.

[Internationalization of the English-language journals in Japan in life sciences]

The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of the internationalization of four English-language journals in Japan in life sciences based on the papers published in each of journals during the period of 1992-1994. The journals were identified by impact factors (IFs) according to the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) for the 1994 volume. The mean IFs to the top 25 citing and cited journals were compared in order to evaluate their international contribution. The journals (Journal of Biochemistry, Japanese Journal of Cancer Research, Japanese Journal of Physiology) published in Japan did not have an international reputation except for international immunology in terms of IFs and geographic distribution of authors. The editorial policy and strategy have to be established in order to receive a large international readership.

[Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST) and influence of parent's drinking on their children]

The Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST) is a 30-item screening instrument developed to identify children who are either living with or have lived with alcoholic parents. The Japanese edition of CAST and a questionnaire on parent's drinking were administered; 572 samples of high school students and 44 samples of advanced nursing school students were obtained. The following observations were made. 1) The CAST exhibited a high level of reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient of internal consistency reliability = .92, reliability coefficient theta computed on principle component analysis = .92, test-retest reliability coefficient p = .96). 2) All of the 30 questions of CAST elicited affirmative responses of varying degrees, and none of the questions were found to be incongruous. 3) Factor analysis was performed to detect the potential structure model of the CAST 30 items. It revealed that the CAST is composed of and able to check, in order of relative weight, the cognitive > emotional > behavioral experiences. 4) 17.7% of the total CAST sample scored six and over, which is the score that serves as the cutoff point to identify the children of alcoholics. 5) The average CAST score of female students was found to be significantly greater than that of male students (p = 0.008). On each of the 30 items, female students had a higher rate of answering affirmatively than male students, and on 13 items (item number 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 28) were found to differ significantly. 6) The CAST score of the sample was found to be significantly related to the frequency of the father's drinking, and compared to male students, female students were more sensitive to and affected more seriously by their father's drinking.

[Partial rupture progressing to complete rupture of the left ventricular anterior papillary muscle after acute myocardial infarction: a case report]

A 71-year old man presented with partial rupture progressing to complete rupture of the left ventricular anterior papillary muscle after acute anterolateral myocardial infarction. The progressive rupture was demonstrated by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Transthoracic echocardiography showed exaggerated systolic prolapse of the anterior mitral leaflet with grade III mitral regurgitation and partial disruption of the anterolateral papillary muscle, but transesophageal echocardiography during surgery disclosed the progression of the partial rupture to complete rupture. The flail anterior mitral leaflet with severe mitral regurgitation and the head of the ruptured papillary muscle into the left atrium in systole were confirmed. The patient was treated by coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve prosthesis using a St. Jude Medical valve with good outcome.

Electron-microscopic study of sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease

BACKGROUND

Sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease (SC-GVHD) resembles systemic scleroderma (SSD) closely, both clinically and histologically. Our purpose was to try to define the morphologic differences of collagen fibers between SC-GVHD and SSD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using electron microscopy, we compared the morphology of collagen fibers in a 15-year old girl with SC-GVHD with those of three patients with SSD.

RESULTS

In SC-GVHD, sclerosis is located in the superficial dermis and collagen fibers of irregular diameter are seen in the subepidermal area. In SSD, sclerosis is seen in the lower dermis and subcutaneous fatty tissue, and collagen fibers of irregular diameter are located in the deep dermis. Some of the collagen fibers were degenerative in the superficial dermis in SC-GVHD. We observed low-density, round structures in cross sections of collagen fibers.

CONCLUSIONS

The difference in initial location and morphologic appearance of collagen fibers may indicate a different pathogenesis in SC-GVHD compared to SSD.

In vitro stability and in vivo absorption studies of colloidal particles formed from a solid dispersion system

We investigated the physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties of a solid dispersion (SD) derived from a solution of the poorly water-soluble drug (R)-1-[2,3-dihydro-1-(2'-methylphenacyl)-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1H-1, 4-benzodiazepin-3-yl]-3-(3-methylphenyl)urea (YM022), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 2910 (TC-5E) and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated caster oil 60 (HCO-60). Colloidal particles produced when the SD was dispersed into water had a mean diameter of 160 nm and contained 67-77% YM022. Powder X-ray diffractometry showed that YM022 existed in the colloidal particles in an amorphous state. The particle diameter and YM022 content remained unchanged during storage for 7 d, confirming that the colloidal solution was stable. On oral administration to rats, good absorption was observed for both the colloidal solution prepared immediately before and the sample stored for 7 d before administration. Thus, the stability of this colloidal solution of SD was confirmed by in vitro storage tests and by in vivo absorption experiments in rats.

Presence in Pieris rapae of cytotoxic activity against human carcinoma cells

Cytotoxic activity in extracts of pupae and adults of various kinds of butterflies and moths was tested in vitro against the human gastric carcinoma cell line, TMK-1, which was chosen as an example of human carcinoma cells. Among the species examined, cytotoxicity was limited to Pieris rapae, Pieris napi and Pieris brassicae. Activity was found down to a dilution of 1/10(4), while with the other butterflies and moths no activity was observed, even at 1/10(2). When the cytotoxicity of the three developmental stages, larvae, pupae and adults, of Pieris rapae was compared, the pupae showed the strongest activity, the IC50 against TMK-1 cells being at the 1/10(6) dilution. For larvae and adults, the respective IC50 values were at the 1/10(5) and 5/10(5) dilutions. The active principle in the pupae of Pieris rapae was found to be heat-labile and not extractable with organic solvents, but precipitated with ammonium sulfate and digested by proteases, suggesting that it is a protein. This cytotoxic factor was named pierisin.

Nucleotide sequence of the genes, encoding the pentaheme cytochrome (dmsC) and the transmembrane protein (dmsB), involved in dimethyl sulfoxide respiration from Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans

The nucleotide sequence of the genes encoding a pentaheme cytochrome (dmsC) and a transmembrane protein (dmsB) were determined upstream of the dmsA gene encoding dimethyl sulfoxide reductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans. dmsC and dmsB encode proteins of 404 and 226 amino acid residues, which show 40% and 26% identity to the pentaheme cytochrome TorC and the transmembrane protein TorD, respectively, of the trimethylamine N-oxide reduction system in Escherichia coli.

[1-11C]octanoate as a potential PET tracer for studying glial functions: PET evaluation in rats and cats

To evaluate the ability of [1-11C]octanoate as a PET tracer for imaging the brain, we examined its distribution in the brain and surrounding tissues in rats and cats with PET. In rats, owing to the accumulated radioactivity in the harderian glands, clear brain images were not obtained at rostral levels. In cats, the brain was imaged clearly at every level of the coronal brain slices, suggesting the potential of [1-11C]octanoate for imaging the brain.

Uptake of radioactive octanoate in astrocytoma cells: basic studies for application of [11C]octanoate as a PET tracer

Fatty acids are taken up and metabolized in the brain. In vitro uptake experiments on astrocytoma cells were carried out to assess the potential use of [1-11C]octanoate as a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for astroglial functions. Uptake of [1-14C]octanoate increased in a time-dependent fashion until 60 min after application. The uptake of [1-11C]octanoate showed similar results to that of [1-14C]octanoate until 10 min. As for medium pH, [1-14C]octanoate uptake increased gradually with the decrease in pH. We also examined the effects of glutamate, glucose deprivation and hypoxia on the uptake of octanoate and found that these conditions did not bring about any change in the extent of [1-14C]octanoate uptake. These results show that the octanoate uptake was not influenced by any of several pathological conditions. When the number of astrocytes increases in the area of hypoglycemia or hypoxia near a brain lesion, the amount of octanoate uptake also increases, so this indicates the possibility that 11C-octanoate will detect a brain lesion.

Peripapillary fluorescein angiographic findings in primary open angle glaucoma

BACKGROUND

Detailed fluorescein angiographic findings in the disc circumference may be useful for evaluating the possible relation of the circumference to glaucomatous nerve damage.

METHODS

Fluorescein angiograms of 25 eyes of 25 subjects with primary open angle glaucoma were observed after they had undertaken Octopus perimetry. Based on the retinotopic projection, disc sectors and corresponding visual field regions were set.

RESULTS

Twenty three eyes (92%) showed a zone of no fluorescence around the disc (non-fluorescent zone). Of these, the zone width of the 20 eyes that had visible ciliary vessels within the zone was wider than that of the other three eyes, and showed fluorescein diffusion from the outer boundary of the zone towards the disc. The diffusion reached the disc if the zone was narrow. In those 20 eyes, a standardised difference in the zone width of inferior temporal sector minus superior temporal sector correlated with the difference in mean loss of corresponding visual field regions (r = 0.48, p = 0.0312).

CONCLUSION

The visible ciliary vessels suggest the absence of the choriocapillaris in the non-fluorescent zone, the width of which correlated with the visual field defect and may affect the amount of the fluorescein diffusion to the disc. This suggests that the diffusion might be related to optic nerve damage in glaucoma.

No proof of HTLV-I/II in intravenous drug abusers with a high rate of HIV-1 infection in central Thailand

Serum specimens of 1,074 intravenous drug abusers (IVDA) were examined for infection with HIV-1, HTLV-I and HTLV-II in central Thailand. Three hundred and sixty-two of the specimens were seropositive for HIV-1 (33.7%). The HIV-1 seropositive IVDAs exhibited increased seropositivity with age through group 40-44 and significantly decreased seropositivity over the age of 45. In contrast, no seropositivity to either HTLV-I or -II was detected in the samples tested by a particle-agglutination assay for HTLV followed by type-specific Western blotting for HTLV. Reference to previous reports suggested that the rate of HIV infection in IVDAs has decreased with no HTLV-I or HTLV-II in Thailand when compared with that of the HIV infection in 1992.