Two distinctive BMP-carriers induce zonal chondrogenesis and membranous ossification, respectively; geometrical factors of matrices for cell-differentiation

A partially purified BMP preparation was combined with a fibrous glass membrane (FGM) or porous particles of hydroxyapatite (PPHAP), and then implanted subcutaneously into the backs of rats. As a control of these new carriers, a conventional carrier of insoluble bone matrix (IBM) was also used. These new geometrically different solid-state carriers induced tissues in quite different manners. FGM/BMP implants induced cartilage formation within the entire inner area of the membrane accompanied by a small amount of bone formation on the surface of the membrane. In contrast, PPHAP/BMP implants induced only bone within the pores of PPHAP without any detectable cartilage formation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that the type II collagen content in FGM/BMP was six times higher than that in IBM/BMP, while there was no detectable type II collagen in PPHAP/BMP. The results were explained by the geometric properties of the two distinctive carriers.

Neuro-otological and neuropathological findings in two cases with Machado-Joseph disease

We report chronological changes of neuro-otological findings and associated neuropathological findings in 2 patients. Concerning gaze limitation, upward gaze was primarily disturbed, followed by downward gaze and abduction. Adduction tended to be preserved although convergence was disturbed at the early stage. And, upward gaze limitation was followed by loss of oculocephalic responses (OCRs). Bell's phenomenon was preserved until the late stage of the disease. Caloric nystagmus was absent at the early stage. One patient showed dissociation between nystagmus and vestibulo-collic reflex in the caloric test at the early stage of the disease. Neuropathological examination revealed gliosis in the interstitial nucleus of Cajal and the MLF as well as neuronal loss and gliosis in the oculomotor nuclei. The vestibular nuclei also showed gliosis and atrophy of nerve cells.

Therapeutic effects of lansoprazole on peptic ulcers in elderly patients

We studied the effects of lansoprazole on ulcer healing and Helicobacter pylori infection in elderly patients with peptic ulcers. In a group of 24 patients with gastric ulcers, the H. pylori infection rate was 100%. In the course of gastric ulcer healing with famotidine or lansoprazole alone, the H. pylori infection showed no signs of decline. The ulcer healing rates after 8 weeks were similar between the H2-receptor antagonist famotidine (73%), and the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole (82%). When eradication of H. pylori infection was attempted by concomitant administration of lansoprazole and amoxicillin 500 mg b.i.d. for 2 weeks, the eradication rate was 33% in the group given lansoprazole 30 mg q.d. plus ampicillin 500 mg b.i.d., whereas it was 77% in the group given lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d. plus ampicillin 500 mg b.i.d. Lansoprazole is considered to be a useful agent for the treatment of patients with peptic ulcers and H. pylori infection and its effectiveness in H. pylori eradication is improved by b.i.d. administration along with ampicillin.

Reinforced cytotoxicity of lymphokine-activated killer cells toward glioma cells by transfection of the killer cells with the gamma-interferon gene

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells generated from peripheral blood lymphocytes incubated with recombinant interleukin-2 were transfected with the human gamma-interferon (HuIFN-gamma) gene by means of liposomes having a positive charge on their surface. The cells secreted significant amounts of HuIFN-gamma (reaching more than 5 U/ml) into the culture medium. The HuIFN-gamma produced by the cells induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and enhanced the expression of Fas antigen on the surface of human glioma cells. Also, LAK cells transfected with HuIFN-gamma gene exhibited reinforcement of cytotoxicity toward human glioma cell lines (U251-MG and SK-MG-1). Furthermore, the reinforcement was significantly quenched by anti-ICAM-1 and/or anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody.

Intracellular Na+ and K+ shifts induced by contractile activities of rat skeletal muscles

The effects of direct and indirect electrical stimulation on intracellular potassium and sodium contents ([K]i and [Na]i, respectively) in rat soleus muscle (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) were investigated under in vivo conditions. The changes of [K]i and [Na]i contents in both muscles which were stimulated indirectly reached respective values at 30 min or 1 hr after the beginning of stimulation, whereas those of EDL stimulated with 60 Hz changed gradually through 2 hr stimulation. The shifts of [K]i and [Na]i in EDL occurred during the twitch contraction at considerably lower frequency stimulation (0.5-10 Hz), whereas those in SOL were observed during the tetanus contraction at high frequency stimulation (10-40 Hz). The difference of change in cationic shifts between EDL and SOL under low frequency stimulation was reduced by ouabain treatment, though the difference was still significant. When the muscles were indirectly stimulated 6000 times at 1, 5, 10 and 20 Hz, the cationic shifts in EDL were greater than those in SOL, extending over all frequencies. It was concluded that such a difference in ionic shift between contracting EDL and SOL may be primarily due to the difference in unidirectional ionic fluxes per stimulation and, secondly, to the difference in Na(+)-K+ pump activity.

Signal transduction for nuclear factor-kappa B activation. Proposed location of antioxidant-inhibitable step

Reactive oxygen species are thought to be messengers for nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B activation because its activation can be abrogated by antioxidants. However, this study identifies, for the first time, NF-kappa B activators that are insensitive to antioxidants. NF-kappa B activation that is induced by either calyculin A or okadaic acid (inhibitors of serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A) is not blocked by N-acetylcysteine or dihydrolipoate in Jurkat and U937 cells. Nonetheless, these antioxidants block induction by TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin, and PMA. Unlike okadaic acid and calyculin A, neither TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin, nor PMA inhibited activities of phosphatases 1 and 2A. NF-kappa B activation induced by okadaic acid or calyculin A was not blocked by a myosin light chain kinase inhibitor, but was prevented by a protease inhibitor. The mitochondrial inhibitor, rotenone, also inhibited NF-kappa B activation by calyculin A; however, this inhibition was accompanied by a depletion of cellular ATP. These results suggest that 1) phosphatase inhibitors either target a component of signal transduction, which occurs downstream to an antioxidant-sensitive step or use distinct signaling pathways; 2) inhibition of phosphatases 1 and 2A is not a step in the pathway of TNF-alpha-, lymphotoxin-, or PMA-induced NF-kappa B activation; 3) myosin light chain kinase does not participate in NF-kappa B activation; and 4) activation of NF-kappa B by phosphatase inhibitors is controlled by proteases.

Immunoelectron microscopic localization of MHC class 1 and 2 antigens on bile duct epithelial cells in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

We studied the distribution of class 1 and class 2 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on bile duct epithelial cells in liver from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) by an immunohistochemical method using monoclonal antibodies to HLA-ABC products and HLA-D subregion products (HLA-DR, -DP, -DQ). By light microscopy, the expression of MHC class 1 antigens (HLA-ABC antigens) was enhanced in PBC compared with controls. While negligible staining of MHC class 2 antigens was detected on the bile duct in controls, de novo expression of MHC class 2 antigens, as well as the coexpression of HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DP antigens on the bile duct epithelial cells, was observed in PBC. By electron microscopy, HLA-ABC and HLA-DR antigens were present preferentially along the basolateral domain of the cell surface of the bile duct epithelial cells and on the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm, suggesting that these MHC antigens are synthesized by the bile duct epithelial cells in PBC. The distribution of these MHC antigens on the basolateral surface of the bile duct epithelial cells, where they are easily accessible to immunocytes, supports the idea that MHC-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes are involved in the bile duct injury in PBC.

Serum hepatitis C virus RNA level as a predictor of subsequent response to interferon-alpha therapy in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C

Serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level has been shown to be a good predictor of subsequent response to interferon-alpha (IFN) therapy in US patients in whom genotype 1a/1b are both predominant. To determine whether serum HCV RNA level is a predictor of subsequent response to IFN in Japanese patients or not, appropriately collected pre-IFN therapy serum samples from 35 Japanese patients with chronic HCV infection were studied. Serum HCV RNA level and HCV genotype were determined and correlated with the subsequent response to IFN. Response to IFN was defined by serum alanine transaminase level: complete and sustained response (n = 15), complete response followed by relapse (n = 10), and no response (n = 10). Patients with complete and sustained response had lower pre-IFN serum HCV RNA level (median: RT-PCR+, bDNA-) compared to the complete response to relapse group (median: 5.25 x 10(6) genome equivalent/ml [eq/ml], P < 0.001) and the no response group (median: 10.63 x 10(6) eq/ml, P < 0.001). Seven (46.7%) of the complete and sustained response patients had HCV genotype 2a and three patients had a mixture of genotypes 1b and 2a. In contrast, all 10 patients in the complete response to relapse group had genotype 1b whereas 8 of 10 patients in the non-response group had genotype 1b and 2 had genotype 2b. The patients with HCV genotype 2a had lower serum HCV RNA level than those with 1b (P = 0.002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Signal transduction for nuclear factor-kappa B activation. Proposed location of antioxidant-inhibitable step

Reactive oxygen species are thought to be messengers for nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B activation because its activation can be abrogated by antioxidants. However, this study identifies, for the first time, NF-kappa B activators that are insensitive to antioxidants. NF-kappa B activation that is induced by either calyculin A or okadaic acid (inhibitors of serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A) is not blocked by N-acetylcysteine or dihydrolipoate in Jurkat and U937 cells. Nonetheless, these antioxidants block induction by TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin, and PMA. Unlike okadaic acid and calyculin A, neither TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin, nor PMA inhibited activities of phosphatases 1 and 2A. NF-kappa B activation induced by okadaic acid or calyculin A was not blocked by a myosin light chain kinase inhibitor, but was prevented by a protease inhibitor. The mitochondrial inhibitor, rotenone, also inhibited NF-kappa B activation by calyculin A; however, this inhibition was accompanied by a depletion of cellular ATP. These results suggest that 1) phosphatase inhibitors either target a component of signal transduction, which occurs downstream to an antioxidant-sensitive step or use distinct signaling pathways; 2) inhibition of phosphatases 1 and 2A is not a step in the pathway of TNF-alpha-, lymphotoxin-, or PMA-induced NF-kappa B activation; 3) myosin light chain kinase does not participate in NF-kappa B activation; and 4) activation of NF-kappa B by phosphatase inhibitors is controlled by proteases.

A case of renal sarcoidosis showing central necrosis and abnormal expression of angiotensin converting enzyme in the granuloma

We describe a 66-year-old man who developed renal failure related to granulomatous renal sarcoidosis without systemic manifestations. Renal failure was severe enough to require hemodialysis transiently. Renal biopsy of this patient revealed the central necrosis of the granuloma which is usually absent in sarcoid granuloma. Serum level of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was not helpful for diagnosis in this patient because serum ACE level is often elevated in the condition of chronic renal failure. Immunohistochemical detection of ACE was of diagnostic value in this patient. Subsequent course in which glucocorticoid was used for therapy was consistent with the diagnosis. This is the first report of identification of ACE in renal sarcoid granuloma.

Postcaloric nystagmus by positional change and other neurootological findings

The postcaloric nystagmus (PCN) by positional change from the supine position to the upright position and other neurootological findings were studied. Twenety-one patients with a clinical diagnosis of spinocerebellar degeneration or Arnold-Chiari malformation were studied. There was a significant negative correlation between maximum slow phase eye velocity in postcaloric nystagmus by positional change (V2) and maximum slow phase eye velocity in optokinetic nystagmus pattern test (r = -0.47; n = 21). Moreover, patients with vertical gaze nystagmus (VN) had significantly larger V2 than patients without VN. However, there was no significant difference for V2 between patients with and without rebound nystagmus. Through these studies, the authors discussed probable mechanisms and responsible lesions for the exaggerated PCN by positional change.

Immunohistochemical analysis of epithelial cell proliferation in normal-appearing rectal mucosa of patients with colorectal adenoma and cancer using an in vitro labeling method with bromodeoxyuridine

To identify diffuse mucosal changes which may precede the development of colorectal cancer and a possible indicator for detecting high-risk populations, we immunohistochemically studied cell-cycle events in crypts of normal-appearing rectal mucosa of patients with colorectal adenoma and cancer using an in vitro labeling method with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Biopsy specimens of endoscopically normal-appearing rectal mucosa were obtained during colonoscopy from 20 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, 20 with adenoma, and 15 without apparent colorectal diseases. The specimens were incubated with BrdU in vitro, and labeled S-phase cells were identified immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody to BrdU. Modification of the BrdU-labeling pattern in the normal appearing rectal mucosa, such as the presence of BrdU-labeled cells at the mucosal surface or in the upper one-fifth of the crypt column, was observed in 15 of the 20 patients with adenocarcinoma, 17 of the 20 patients with adenoma and 6 of the 15 controls. This upward shift in the frequency of proliferating cells in the crypt was significantly higher in the patients with colorectal adenoma and cancer than in the controls, and may be used to identify subjects at high risk for colorectal cancer.

Distribution of complement regulatory proteins, decay-accelerating factor, CD59/homologous restriction factor 20 and membrane cofactor protein in human colorectal adenoma and cancer

To clarify the events related to complement-mediated immune responses in human colorectal cancers, we immunohistochemically examined the distribution of decay-accelerating factor (DAF), CD59/homologous restriction factor 20 (HRF20), membrane cofactor protein (MCP) and terminal complement complex (TCC) in human colorectal adenomas and cancers, and then compared the findings with their distribution in normal colonic mucosa. In the normal mucosa, TCC was not present on epithelial cells. Whereas DAF and CD59/HRF20 were present only occasionally on the apical surfaces of normal epithelial cells, MCP was diffusely distributed on the basolateral surfaces of most epithelial cells of the colon. These findings suggest that MCP has a primary role in the regulation of complement activation on these cells. In adenoma cells, the expression of both DAF and CD59/HRF20 was enhanced. In cancer cells, the expression of CD59/HRF20 and MCP was diminished, whereas DAF expression was markedly enhanced. Since DAF was frequently stained in the lumen of the cancer glands, it was suggested that DAF was released into the colonic lumen in patients with colorectal cancer.

Distribution profiles of GC content around the translation initiation site in different species

We have analyzed the distribution of guanine-cytosine (GC) content around the translation initiation site in genomic DNA sequences of different species. A set of sequences belonging to one species is aligned at the translation initiation site, and the average GC content is calculated for 100 base windows over a range of 500 bases each for upstream and downstream region. Consistent with previous observations that coding regions are more GC-rich than non-coding regions, we observe a jump in the GC content at the translation initiation site, except for vertebrate sequences. It was also found that the overall shape of the GC content profile is similar within each organism group even though the average GC contents can be very different. Furthermore, by examining different profiles for different species, we have found a negative correlation between the average GC content and the jump size at the translation initiation site. Apparently, more AT-rich genomes, which tend to lack macroscopic mosaic structures, exhibit more marked differences in the GC content at the microscopic level.

Pseudopregnancy-dependent accumulation of cholesterol sulfate due to up-regulation of cholesterol sulfotransferase and concurrent down-regulation of cholesterol sulfate sulfatase in the uterine endometria of rabbits

The uterine endometria of rabbits induced into pseudopregnancy by intramuscular injection of 17 beta-estradiol, followed by intravenous injection of human chorionic gonadotropin, expressed cholesterol sulfate at a significantly high concentration. The highest concentration of cholesterol sulfate was observed 4 days after the injection of gonadotropin for formation of the corpus luteum, being 10 times higher than that in nonpregnant endometria, and 15.2% of the total cholesterol in the endometrium was converted to the sulfated form, whose percentage in nonpregnant endometrium was 3.2%. However, no significant change in the concentration of gangliosides was observed during the period of pseudopregnancy. In the pseudopregnant endometria, the activity of cholesterol sulfotransferase, a cytosolic thiol enzyme, was increased thirtyfold over that in the nonpregnant endometria, whereas cholesterol sulfate sulfatase, a microsomal enzyme, exhibited approximately one-tenth of the activity in nonpregnant endometria. Arylsulfatase C, but not arylsulfatases A and B, exhibited the same change in activity as cholesterol sulfate sulfatase. Thus, the striking increase in cholesterol sulfate after induction of pseudopregnancy was found to be due to the activation of cholesterol sulfotransferase and the simultaneous inhibition of cholesterol sulfate sulfatase.

[Influence of the angle between the nasal cavity axis and nosepiece in acoustic rhinometry]

We evaluated the influence of the angle between the nasal cavity axis and the nosepiece (made with acrylics) in acoustic rhinometry (AR). This study was composed of three experiments. In the first experiment, the influence of angulation on nasal volume was evaluated using a silicone nasal model based on a cast of the nasal cavity of a cadaver. The angle between the nosepiece and the horizontal plane was changed by 10 degrees, 40 degrees or 70 degrees, vertically; the angle between the nosepiece and the sagittal plane was similarly changed horizontally. The nasal volume, obtained as the AR area-distance curve from 6.9-14.1cm, was measured under each condition. While the horizontal change in angle did not significantly influence the result obtained by AR, in the vertical change, the measured value rose as the angle was decreased from 70 degrees to 10 degrees. In the second experiment, an evaluation in healthy subjects (5 males, 4 females, mean age 28.6 years) revealed the same tendency in changing the horizontal angle, whereas vertically a change of 10 degrees produced a significant decrease over that seen with angles of 40 degrees and 70 degrees. This result contradicted that obtained in the model study mentioned above. In studying the effect of changing the vertical angle, the volume of the posterior 5 cm and that of the anterior 2 cm of the nasal cavity was evaluated in the same subjects. The volume of the posterior 5 cm did not differ significantly among angles, while that of the anterior 2 cm showed the same trend as observed with the whole nasal cavity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Exercise-induced 31P-NMR metabolic response of human wrist flexor muscles during partial neuromuscular blockade

The effects of a depolarizing (decamethonium, DECA) and a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent (vecuronium, VECU) on the phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR)-detected metabolic response to muscle contractions were studied separately in six healthy untrained males. Subjects who showed splitting of the P(i) peak during graded rhythmic forearm exercise without the drugs were selected. It was found that both drugs abolished the P(i) peak splitting during exercise. Despite a similar reduction in phosphocreatine (PCr) during exercise with each drug, a smaller increase in P(i) was observed with DECA than with VECU (P < 0.05). End-exercise muscle pH was higher with DECA (6.93 +/- 0.07) than with VECU (6.79 +/- 0.11) (P < 0.05). The PCr and P(i) recovery was two- and threefold faster with DECA than with VECU, respectively (P < 0.05). On the basis of the concept that depolarizing and nondepolarizing agents have a preferential effect on fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibers, respectively, the present results support the hypothesis that the NMR-observed splitting of the P(i) peak reflects the metabolic differences between the two major fiber types of human skeletal muscle.

Different gene expression of mouse transforming growth factor alpha between pregnant mammary glands and mammary tumors in C3H/He mice

Mouse transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) gene expression was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method in pregnant mammary glands and mammary tumors in C3H/He mice. Both normal pregnant and tumorous mammary tissues expressed mRNA for mouse TGF alpha. When primers from rat TGF alpha cDNA sequence as well as those in the previous report [12] were used, the PCR amplified products were the same sizes in both normal pregnant mammary gland and tumor. However, there were obviously different PCR products between pregnant mammary gland and tumor in case of using primers according to the mouse TGF alpha cDNA sequence. In tumors, various sizes of PCR products were detected in addition of a predicted size. This is unlikely the experimental artifact, but the polymorphic TGF alpha gene expression is induced in mammary tumors.

Transfection-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha increases the susceptibility of human glioma cells to lysis by lymphokine-activated killer cells: continuous expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on the glioma cells

To develop more effective adoptive immunotherapy, we transfected the human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene into human glioma cells (U251-SP), which were used as target cells. TNF-alpha is known to increase both the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the surface of glioma cells and the susceptibility of glioma cells to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell cytolysis. We compared the expression of ICAM-1 induced by TNF-alpha generated by the TNF-alpha gene-transfected cells with that induced by exogenously added TNF-alpha. When the TNF-alpha gene was transfected into U251-SP cells, the expression of ICAM-1 was detected on the cell surface from 3 days after the transfection and continued until at least 9 days. In contrast, it was expressed only transiently in the case of exogenously added TNF-alpha. Also, the cytolytic activity of LAK cells induced by transfection-induced TNF-alpha was significantly stronger than that induced by exogenously added TNF-alpha. The increased susceptibility was quenched by anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody. These data indicated that continuous expression of ICAM-1 induced by TNF-alpha gene transfection of glioma cells resulted in higher cytolytic activity of LAK cells.

The effect of B-HT 920, a dopamine D2 agonist, on bar-press feeding in the monkey

Although the dopamine (DA) system has been shown to regulate food intake, the function of the DA receptor subtypes on behavior still remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we examined the effect of B-HT 920, a selective agonist of DA D2 receptors that preferentially affect presynaptic autoreceptors, on both food consumption and execution of a high fixed-ratio bar-press task for food reward in monkeys. Two kinds of bar-press task were used: 1) a cue-triggered bar-press task during the first 40 trials, and 2) a self-paced bar-press task in which the monkeys freely performed bar-press trials until they were satiated. A SC injection of B-HT 920 (25 micrograms/kg) increased food consumption in the home cage. The same facilitatory effect on food consumption was also observed in the operant task condition. During the cue-triggered bar-press task, however, both the latency of the bar-press responses to a cue light and the time required to complete the bar-press trials were prolonged after the injection of B-HT 920. The results suggest that the activation of D2 autoreceptors suppresses the operant food acquisition behavior and increases food consumption through an inhibition of the satiety mechanism rather than an activation of any hunger-related drive.

Importance of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the rejection of transplanted hepatocellular carcinoma

Fischer rats became resistant to syngeneic hepatocellular carcinoma (FAA-HTC1) cells on repeated sensitization with mitomycin C-treated FAA-HTC1 cells. In contrast, FAA-HTC1 cells injected into the liver killed normal control Fischer rats within 2 months. Histopathological studies revealed massive accumulation of mononuclear cells in the tumor tissues of sensitized rats that rejected syngeneic FAA-HTC1 cells, whereas very few mononuclear cells were found in the tumor tissues of control rats. Cell populations infiltrating the tumor tissues were identified by flow cytometric analysis. Mononuclear cells found within the regressing tumors of the sensitized rats were identified as mostly T cells, and two-thirds of these T cells were CD8-positive. Compared with the activity in control rats, the killer activity of mononuclear cells infiltrating tumors was significantly increased in the sensitized rats 7 days after tumor inoculation. Depletion of CD8(+) T cells significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of mononuclear cells infiltrating tumors obtained from sensitized rats. In contrast, depletion of CD16(+) cells reduced the cytotoxicity of mononuclear cells infiltrating tumors obtained from both control and sensitized rats. Furthermore, the CD16(+) cell-depleted fraction of mononuclear cells infiltrating tumors showed significant cytotoxicity against FAA-HTC1 cells, but failed to show cytotoxicity against other syngeneic tumor cells or allogeneic hepatoma cells.