Rapid expression of collagen type X gene of non-hypertrophic chondrocytes in the grafted chick periosteum demonstrated by in situ hybridization

We investigated the spatiotemporal localization of collagen Type I, II, and X mRNAs in the subcutaneously grafted chick periosteum by in situ hybridization. Five days after transplantation, we noted three types of histological findings in the grated tissue. (a) Developing trabecular bone exhibited proliferation of spindle-shaped fibroblastic cells and polygonal osteoblasts with moderate signals for collagen Type I mRNA. (b) Developing cartilage contained ovoid chondrocytes with a moderate level of both collagen Type I and II mRNAs. Differentiating chondrocytes with increased collagen Type X mRNA developed during the course of endochondral ossification. (c) An atypical mass of cartilage weakly stained with alcian blue was composed of a large number of non-hypertrophic chondrocytes exhibiting high signals for collagen Type X mRNA. At Day 9, we observed the typical histological features of both membranous and endochondral ossification. However, sparsely distributed chondrocytes with high signals for collagen Type X mRNA were also demonstrated in osteoid and/or woven bone. The phenotype of chondrocytes showing rapid expression of collagen Type X gene derived from grafted periosteum seems to participate in the important role of endochondral bone formation in the early stage of fracture repair.

Direct measurement of free radicals in the neonatal mouse brain subjected to hypoxia: an electron spin resonance spectroscopic study

Free radical generation in the neonatal mouse brain subjected to acute hypoxia was measured directly by using electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). Free radical density, an index of free radical content, was investigated during exposure to nitrogen gas (N2 group) or carbon dioxide gas (CO2 group) of high purity, and its subsequent recovery in air. Free radical density in the N2 group declined during hypoxia, increased over the control level at 10 min of recovery, and then returned to the prehypoxic level. In the CO2 group, it increased during hypoxia, reached the maximum level at 20 min of recovery, and then returned to the control level. The main origin of the spectrum in control brain was considered as being the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) radical in the mitochondria. The change of free radical density during hypoxia and recovery in the N2 group and that during recovery in the CO2 group was thought to be correlated with changes in CoQ10 radicals indicating mitochondrial function. The increase of free radical density in the CO2 group during hypoxia suggested the generation of free radicals other than the CoQ10 radical. We conclude that the free radicals which appeared during CO2 hypoxia may play a role in producing the differences in brain injury between the two kinds of hypoxia.

Pathological changes in epidemic porcine Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

An outbreak of epidemic porcine Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia on a "farrow-to-finish" pig farm was examined. The clinical disease was observed in weanling piglets, mostly in the seventh to eleventh weeks of life. Lesions of P. carinii pneumonia were detected histologically in the pigs at 36 to 75 days of age. These included pulmonary septal thickening, with mononuclear cell infiltration, swelling of the alveolar lining, an intra-alveolar exudate and the presence of P. carinii organisms. Focal pneumonia was seen at 36-43 days of age and diffuse pneumonia at 46-75 days. This outbreak resembled the infantile epidemic form of P. carinii pneumonia in man, in being age-related and in causing a non-suppurative intense inflammatory response in the lungs.

Histological examination of chick embryos with ocular hypoplasia

From so-called "dead-in-pipped-eggs" provided by the Poultry Breeding Center of Gifu Prefecture, we obtained two chick embryos with hypoplastic eyes on external examination, and studied the visual system and cranial nerve nuclei innervating the extraocular muscles. The upper bills of both embryos deviated toward one side when observed with the naked eye. In histological sections from the most severely affected eyeball of each case primordial retinal tissue in the poorly developed orbit seemed to be at the stage of optic vesicle formation; it had not differentiated into individual layers. The optic nerve was absent from these eyeballs and the neural retina had multiple folds. The ciliary ganglion was smaller on the more severely affected side than on the contralateral side which had only mild hypoplasia. The optic nerve, which was present on the contralateral side, bifurcated at the level of the chiasma close to the diencephalic base; one branch ran toward the ipsilateral optic tectum and the other toward the contralateral brain region. The oculomotor and trochlear nerve nuclei could be identified bilaterally in one of the embryonic brains but not in the other. These findings suggest that hypoplasia of the neural retina and optic nerve in an orbit leads to bifurcation of the contralateral optic nerve which, under normal conditions, should completely cross at the chiasma. This may also suggest that retinal afferents from the brain are also affected in the hypoplastic eyeball.

Synthesis of galactose derivatives that render lectin-induced agglutinating ability to liposomes

Three galactose (Gal) derivatives, Gal beta 1-n-C16H33 (1), Gal beta (1-4)-Glc beta 1-n-C16H33 (2), and Gal beta 1-(CH2CH2O)3-n-C16H33 (3), were synthesized and incorporated into liposomes prepared from egg yolk lecithin. Agglutination of these liposomes with Ricinus communis agglutinin was examined by following the change of turbidity. Liposomes containing 3 were effectively agglutinated in contrast to the cases of 1 and 2, suggesting that the oxyethylene groups act as a favorable spacer to extrude Gal groups into the water. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that 3 was mixed with egg yolk lecithin at room temperature, but 1 and 2 were in the gel state, resulting in the phase separation that makes the recognition of Gal residue with Ricinus communis agglutinin difficult.

[Magnetization transfer contrast imaging of the skeletal muscle in gradient recalled echo sequence]

The human midcalf muscle images were obtained using gradient recalled echo (GRE) sequence with and without magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) sequence. A significant decrease of relative signal intensity was observed in muscle with off-resonance irradiation. The percentage increase of signal intensity after dorsiflexion exercises was 55.6% and 29.0% for MTC-GRE and GRE sequence, respectively. MTC technique might be useful in improving contrast between many tissues as well as muscles.

[Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies of cefditoren pivoxil in the pediatric field. Pediatric Study Group of ME1207]

Cefditoren pivoxil (ME1207) in granules, a new oral cephalosporin, was pharmacokinetically and clinically evaluated in the pediatric field and the following results were obtained: 1. Pharmacokinetics In infants administered single oral doses of 3 mg (potency)/kg and 6 mg/kg, the Cmax was 1.54 +/- 0.68 and 2.85 +/- 1.03 micrograms/ml; Tmax, 2.27 +/- 1.08 and 2.06 +/- 1.16 hours; T 1/2, 2.22 +/- 1.95 and 1.68 +/- 0.66 hours; and AUC (0-infinity), 7.43 +/- 3.68 and 11.90 +/- 4.51 micrograms.hr/ml, respectively. These values have indicated that the drug has a dose-dependent pharmacokinetic behavior. Urinary concentrations peaked in 2-4 hours after administration. Urinary recovery rates in the first 8 hours were 19.4 +/- 6.6% at 3 mg/kg and 17.1 +/- 5.2% at 6 mg/kg. 2. Clinical results The clinical efficacy of the drug was evaluated in 445 patients with various infections. Cefditoren pivoxil was administered at daily doses of 9-18 mg/kg divided into 3 equal doses to most patients. Daily doses of > 7.5-10.5 mg/kg were given to 48.8% of the patients. The overall clinical efficacy rate was 97.3%, and this drug was effective in 97.5% of the 319 patients for whom the causative pathogens were identified and in 96.8% of the 126 patients with infections for whom the causative pathogens were unknown. The efficacy rate at daily doses of > 7.5-10.5 mg/kg was 97.2%, similar to that obtained at daily doses of > 10.5-19.5 mg/kg (97.0%). The bacteriological eradication rate was 90.4%. The efficacy and eradication rates for 66 patients who had not responded to previous chemotherapy were 95.5% (63/66) and 89.4%, respectively. Side effects occurred in 19 (4.2%) of 456 patients subjected to safety analyses. The primary side effect was diarrhea but no serious side effects were noted. As abnormal laboratory test results, moderate increases of the eosinophils and platelets counts as well as moderate elevations of the transaminases were observed. These abnormalities are also seen with other cephems and to a similar extent. No particular and serious problems were associated with administration of this drug. Based on the above results, cefditoren pivoxil is considered to be very useful at a dose level of 3 mg/kg t.i.d. against most infections encountered in the pediatric field.

Spontaneous development of anti-collagen type II antibodies with NTA, and anti-DNA antibodies in senescence-accelerated mice

We previously reported that circulating natural thymocytotoxic autoantibody (NTA) and IgG-anti-DNA antibodies were the major serological characteristics of a substrain of SAM, SAM-P/1. We present here a study of ageing in which we further measured and compared various kinds of circulating IgG antibodies including anti-collagen type II, rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-2,4,-dinitrophenol (DNP), between SAM-P/1 and control SAM-R/1 mice. The results showed that age-associated increases in anti-collagen type II antibodies in SAM-P/1 were distinctively higher than those in SAM-R/1 when the mice were over 4 months of age, and the increases were significantly correlated with increases in NTA, anti-DNA antibodies, RF activities and anti-DNP antibodies. Anti-collagen type II antibody activity was not significantly inhibited by preincubating the antibodies with DNA, IgG-Fc and DNP-BSA samples. These findings suggest that antibodies specifically directed against collagen type II can be produced in a background of polyclonal B cell activation, and that these antibodies in association with NTA and anti-DNA antibodies may play a pathogenic role in the development of accelerated senescence in SAM-P/1 mice.

[Informed consent in orthopedic surgery]

Twenty-eight patients who had total joint replacement (TJR) and twenty-eight patients who sustained open reduction for fracture within or close to the joint were studied to determine their recall of the informed consent procedure. The questionnaire covered a postoperative time range of more than 5 months and less than 6 years (average: 2 years and 4 months). The patient's recall and the doctor's document of informed consent were scored 4 points for diagnosis and treatment, 1 point for prognosis, 3 points for benefits, 4 points for complications and 1 point for alternatives with a total of 13 points. In TJR, the average recall and document score were 8.6 points and 6.5 points respectively; and in fracture, 6.6 points and 4.9 points. Fifty-seven per cent of the patients with TJR recalled the risk of infection; and 54 per cent recalled the problem of loosening. Twenty-nine per cent of the patients with fracture recalled the risk of infection, and 29 per cent the risk of nonunion. In TJR, the recall score was related to the patient's age and the document score. There was significant difference in document scores among doctors. As a result of this study, standard documents for informed consent in each operation have been compiled with the aid of a word-processor to improve the quality of informed consent.

Extracellular matrix production and degradation by adenoid cystic carcinoma cells: participation of plasminogen activator and its inhibitor in matrix degradation

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is characterized by low mitogenic activity, high invasiveness, and vigorous production and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). As it does in vivo, a cell line (ACCS) derived from a human AdCC grows very slowly and displays potential for production of a large amount of ECM. ACCS cells also produce a significant amount of proteolytic enzymes, including urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), and M(r) 72,000 and 92,000 gelatinases. These cells can degrade considerable amounts of ECM elaborated by normal mesenchymal cells, including rat muscle cells and human fibroblasts, mainly through a uPA-plasmin cascade. However, ECM elaborated by ACCS cells themselves is resistant to degradation by either the tumor cells or purified uPA in the presence of plasminogen, whereas the degradation rates of ACCS ECM and mesenchymal ECM by plasmin are comparable. Treatment of ECM with glycine (pH 2.7), which removes plasminogen activator inhibitor from the matrix, results in an increase in the rate of ACCS ECM degradation by uPA. Moreover, fibrin agarose reverse zymography, autoradiography, and immunoblotting showed a high level of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 in ACCS ECM. These findings suggest that the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 in ECM produced by AdCC cells may play a role in preventing matrix destruction by the tumor itself, and thus the ECM components of tumor origin are stably accumulated in the intercellular spaces and may support or promote the growth of AdCC cells, which have primitively low growth activity.

Clinical trials of intrasplenic arterial infusion of interleukin-2 (IS-IL-2) to patients with advanced cancer

We tried a infusion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) of a relatively low dose via an intrasplenic arterial catheter connected to a chronometric infusion (IS-IL-2). Eighteen patients of colorectal cancer with metastases to the liver or lung or of unresectable hepatoma received a 24 hour continuous infusion with low dose recombinant of IL-2 (mainly 8 x 10(5) JRU/day) for 25-40 days. All patients tolerated this protocol of the therapy and the main toxic effects were fever and general fatigue. Such serious toxicity as previously reported by high dose IL-2 therapy was not observed. Data of hepatic and renal functions were normal. IS-IL-2 therapy induced a high incidence of eosinophilia (12/18) and thrombocythemia (12/18). Peripheral natural killer (NK) and LAK activities were augmented in all patients and total white blood cell counts were increased during IS-IL-2 therapy. An increase in IL-2 receptor expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and significant rises in numbers of Leu11 (CD16)+, OKM1(CD11)+ and OKIa1(HLA-DR)+ were observed. Of 18 patients 12 were evaluable for their response to therapy. Partial response (PR) was observed in one unresectable hepatoma and 11 demonstrated no change (NC) or progressive disease (PD). Six patients were not evaluable because of additional therapy (3 cases) or decreasing tumor cell markers having no measurable lesions (3 cases). Three patients of colorectal cancer from an unresectable group were presumed to have micrometastases to the liver as suggested by an elevated serum CEA level. After receiving IS-IL-2 therapy they demonstrated a decrease in the serum CEA level for more than 3 years after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

CT findings in "pseudoalveolar" sarcoidosis

To determine the specific high resolution CT (HRCT) features for "pseudoalveolar" sarcoidosis, we reviewed HRCT of 10 patients with pathologically proven sarcoidosis. On HRCT the lesions of pseudoalveolar sarcoidosis were shown as homogeneous or inhomogeneous opacities 1-4 cm in diameter located either along the bronchovascular bundles or in the lung periphery adjacent to the pleural surface. The margin was irregular, and numerous nodules 1-2 mm in diameter were observed in the surrounding lung. Air bronchograms were observed in 6 patients. In addition to these lesions, other CT abnormalities such as nodules, groundglass opacities, thickened bronchovascular bundles, and interlobular septa were found in all 10 cases. Good response of pseudoalveolar sarcoid lesions to administration of corticosteroid was observed in all three cases in which follow-up CT was available.

[MR imaging of thyroid masses]

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed in 35 patients with histologically proved thyroid masses. Gadopentetate dimeglumine was used in 25 of these cases. The thyroid tumors were analyzed by MR imaging as to shape, margin, pseudocapsulation, homogeneity, and enhanced pattern. Gd-DTPA was helpful in identifying pseudocapsules and showing the extent of the tumor. Papillary carcinoma tended to display unclear margins, heterogeneous intensity, and inhomogeneously enhanced patterns. In follicular adenoma, the tumor margin was smooth and pseudocapsules were clearly detected. Follicular adenoma was enhanced homogeneously, but it was difficult to distinguish follicular adenoma from follicular carcinoma by MR imaging. Adenomatous goiter was delineated as multiple nodules with smooth margins, but without pseudocapsules. These nodules were enhanced in various ways after Gd-DTPA administration.

[False aneurysm formation during the chronic phase of myocardial infarction at the margin of a previously-detected true aneurysm]

The patient was a 59-year-old man who had acute extensive anterior myocardial infarction in October, 1989. One month later, he was transferred to Kyoto University Hospital and underwent cardiac catheterization. Left ventricular aneurysm and significant stenosis in the proximal portion of the left anterior descending artery were documented. Because he experienced chest pain on slight exertion accompanied by a slight increase in the depth of the negative T wave on electrocardiogram, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed. Thereafter, chest pain disappeared, and the patient was discharged. Three months later, he was re-admitted to Kyoto University Hospital for a repeat cardiac catheterization after PTCA. PTCA site was found to be restenosed, and a small diverticulous aneurysm was found at the margin of the previously-detected ventricular aneurysm. As the diverticulous aneurysm was considered likely to precipitate the ventricular aneurysm into rupture, expeditious left ventricular aneurysmectomy was performed to prevent cardiac rupture. Ventricular aneurysms, common complications in myocardial infarction, are of two types, either true or false. Most aneurysms develop during the acute phase of myocardial infarction, and rupture of true aneurysms during the chronic phase of myocardial infarction rarely occurs. However, in the present case, a small diverticulous aneurysm, which was not demonstrated at the initial cardiac catheterization, developed during the chronic phase of myocardial infarction. Pathological examination revealed that the diverticulous aneurysm was a false aneurysm due to incomplete rupture. When the common pathogenesis of ventricular aneurysms in myocardial infarction is considered, the present report might represent an extraordinary rare case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

P-31 MR spectrum and histologic changes after intrahepatic arterial injection of iodized oil in normal and cirrhotic rat liver

Injection of iodized oil (Lipiodol) into the hepatic artery is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, no reports have yet appeared concerning temporal changes in hepatic metabolism following Lipiodol injection. In the present study, Lipiodol was injected into the hepatic arteries of normal and cirrhotic rats, successive P-31 MR measurements were performed, and temporal changes in metabolism were compared with histologic findings. Both normal and cirrhotic rats displayed minimum levels of beta-ATP/PME and beta-ATP/Pi 5 days after hepatic arterial injection of Lipiodol. However, 10 days after injection these values had reverted to the preinjection levels. The metabolic dysfunction observed in the liver following hepatic arterial injection of 0.3 ml/kg b.w. Lipiodol was transient. Moreover, no distinct differences were observed between P-31 MR changes in normal and cirrhotic rats. Conversely, histologic impairment assessed on the basis of hepatic necrosis ratios was most severe 2 days after hepatic arterial injection in both normal and cirrhotic rats, and this did not coincide with the time of the most pronounced metabolic impairment as inferred from P-31 MR changes.

MRI of anterior mediastinal tumors

To compare the abilities of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT to provide information about anterior mediastinal tumors, we retrospectively evaluated the MR (n = 28) and CT images (n = 25) of patients with anterior mediastinal tumors. T1-weighted and T2-weighted images were obtained with spin echo sequences using cardiac gating. Six of 12 thymomas and seven of nine teratomas showed characteristic findings by MRI, while four of the 10 thymomas and five of the eight teratomas were correctly diagnosed by CT. The other tumors did not show a characteristic MR appearance. All nine malignant tumors were correctly diagnosed as malignant lesions on MR images, while one false positive case and one false negative case were recorded on CT images. We conclude that MRI and CT provide nearly the same information for the evaluation of anterior mediastinal tumors. However, in some cases, only MRI can provide information about malignancy or a specific diagnosis.

[Evaluation of US contrast medium (LEVOVIST) to experimental liver cancer]

Enhancement of liver cancer on ultrasonography (US) by injection of new contrast medium (LEVOVIST) was performed in rats with 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced hepatic carcinoma. Echosignals of cancer nodules increased remarkably after the intrahepatic arterial injection of LEVOVIST (200, 300 mg/ml), and contrast enhancement was observed for at least 15 minutes. Furthermore, US after the intrahepatic arterial injection of LEVOVIST (200 mg/ml) can visualize small nodule, which was not recognizable on plain US. As a result of increased echosignals of normal liver parenchyma after the intra-portal injection of LEVOVIST (300 mg/ml), the cancer nodules were demonstrated as hypoechoic. These results indicate that this new contrast medium for sonography is effective in the diagnosis of liver cancer.

Synteny between the loci for a novel FACIT-like collagen locus (D6S228E) and alpha 1 (IX) collagen (COL9A1) on 6q12-q14 in humans

A 1.8-kb cDNA encoding portion of a novel collagenous chain was isolated from a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line by cross-hybridization using a chicken type V collagen probe. Sequence analysis suggests that this chain belongs to the recently discovered group of collagens, termed the FACIT class of macromolecules. This cDNA was used to locate the corresponding gene (D6S228E) to chromosome 6, notably at position 6q12-q14. Interestingly, within this region of human chromosome 6 residues the alpha 1 (IX) collagen gene (COL9A1), a member of the FACIT group.

[Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies with meropenem in the pediatric field. Pediatric Study Group of Meropenem]

Pharmacokinetic and clinical evaluations in pediatrics were made on meropenem (SM-7338, MEPM), a new parenteral dehydropeptidase-1 stable carbapenem used without any inhibitors, at 33 medical institutions. The results are summarized as follows. 1. Pharmacokinetic studies. MEPM at a dose of 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg was administered to 53 children by 30-minute drip infusion. Peak plasma concentrations (Cmax's) and plasma half-lives (T1/2's) of these doses were 28.5, 47.2 and 130.0 micrograms/ml, and 0.80, 0.93 and 0.94 hours, respectively. A clear dose response was observed in Cmax's and T1/2 values were quite similar to those observed in adults. In the first 6 hours after administration, 54.4 to 68.1% of the administered drug was recovered in urine. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of MEPM in patients with purulent meningitis were 0.13 microgram/ml at a dose of 6 mg/kg, and 0.64 to 4.22 micrograms/ml at a dose of 29 to 44 mg/kg within day 4 of onset. The penetration rate of MEPM showed an intermediate value among those for other cephalosporin antibiotics. 2. Clinical study. Clinical efficacies of MEPM were evaluated in 389 cases. The most common doses used were 10 to 20 mg/kg/once, 2 to 3 times a day. The maximum dose was 173 mg/kg/day q.i.d. MEPM gave "excellent" or "good" responses in 242 (97.6%) out of 248 cases in which causative organisms were documented and in 134 (95.0%) out of 141 cases in which causative organisms were not identified. Clinical efficacy rates were 100% in 11 patients with purulent meningitis, 85.7% in 7 with septicemia, 98.8% in 173 with pneumonia, and 100% in 65 with UTI. Bacteriologically, 260 strains (96.7%) out of 269 strains were eradicated by MEPM treatment. Eradication rates were 89.2% for Staphylococcus aureus (37 strains) and 100% for Streptococcus pneumoniae (35 strains). The overall eradication rate for Gram-positive bacteria was 94.6%. Among Gram-negative bacteria, 98.3% out of 172 strains were eradicated. The eradication rate of Haemophilus influenzae (73 strains) was 98.6% and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11 strains) was 90.9%, and all of Branhamella catarrhalis (15 strains), Escherichia coli (42 strains), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6 strains) were eradicated. Out of 84 cases for which previous antibiotic therapies of 3 days or longer were not successful, MEPM gave "excellent" or "good" responses in 77 cases (91.7%) and excellent bacteriological responses (95.7%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Immunohistochemical localization of basal lamina components in the developing rat epiphyseal cartilage canals

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the appearance of basal lamina components (Type IV collagen and laminin) and the development of cartilage canals. In the distal femoral epiphyses from developing rats, the distribution of basal lamina components in the cartilage canal was examined immunohistochemically. The formation of cartilage canals from the perichondrium was first observed on the fifth day after birth. By Day 8, a few cartilage canals penetrated the epiphyseal cartilage and considerably increased in size and length. By light microscopic immunohistochemistry, reticular structures stained with anti-Type IV collagen and antilaminin antibodies were observed in the cartilage canals. In the early development of cartilage canals, however, immunostaining by anti-Type IV collagen antibodies was weaker than that by antilaminin antibodies. In eight-day-old rats, the laminin-positive reticular structures were more densely colored and more widely distributed in the canal than the Type IV collagen-positive ones. Type IV collagen was found around the endothelial cells of the developing capillaries by electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. Laminin was observed in the cytoplasm of the mesenchymal fibroblastic cells and their pericellular matrix as well as in the capillary basal lamina. These immunohistochemical electron microscopic observations can explain the differences that are observed in Type IV collagen and laminin immunostaining patterns as cartilage canals develop. Laminin synthesized by the mesenchymal fibroblastic cells may promote the migration and the outgrowth of endothelial cells in the formation of cartilage canals.