[Anterior chamber dimensions in normal subjects on Kume Island, Okinawa]

The anterior chamber dimension and axial length were studied by photogrammetry and ultrasonography in 365 normal subjects over 21 years of age on Kume island, Okinawa. There was no difference between right and left eyes in the anterior chamber dimensions, corneal curvature, or axial length. Male subjects had a larger anterior chamber and longer axial length than female subjects. The volume, depth, and diameter of the anterior chamber diminished with age and degree of hyperopia. The axial length was related to the anterior chamber dimensions, corneal curvature, and degree of ametropia. The anterior chamber dimensions and axial length in subjects over 60 years of age on Kume island were significantly smaller than in normal subjects over 60 years in Tokyo.

Purification and characterization of an enzyme releasing lacto-N-biose from oligosaccharides with type 1 chain

An enzyme specific for oligosaccharides with type 1 chain was purified 7,000-fold from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. 142. The enzyme, lacto-N-biosidase, was induced and secreted into culture medium when the strain was cultured in the presence of porcine stomach mucin. The enzyme was purified by anion-exchange chromatography on Q Sepharose, cation-exchange chromatography on S Sepharose, fast protein liquid chromatography on a Mono S column, and gel filtration chromatography on TSK gel HW55S. To remove contaminating alpha-1,3/4-fucosidase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, final purification was done by fast protein liquid chromatography on a Mono S column and affinity chromatography on N-acetylglucosamine agarose. The purified enzyme gave only one major protein band with an apparent M(r) of 60,000 on sodium dodesyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had maximum activity at pH 5.5 and was stable at the pH range of 4.0-10.0. Substrate specificity studies with oligosaccharides labeled with 2-aminopyridine showed that the enzyme specifically hydrolyzed lacto-N-tetraose and the N-acetyllactosamine type of triantennary sugar chain with the type 1 chain, but did not hydrolyze type 2 chain oligosaccharides or the type 1 chain oligosaccharides with fucose or sialic acid including lacto-N-fucopentaose I and II and alpha-2,3-sialyl lacto-N-tetraose. The enzyme released lacto-N-biose from asialofetuin, and almost all oligosaccharides in asialofetuin were found to have only type 2 chains. Sequential digestion of extended type 1 chain oligosaccharides with alpha-1,3/4-fucosidase and lacto-N-biosidase was possible.

Developmental features of the brain in preterm and fullterm infants on MR imaging

Normal development and maturation in pre- and postnatal periods were studied using MR imaging. For this purpose, we performed MR imaging at a postmenstrual age of 37-44 weeks in both low-risk preterm and fullterm infants and assessed the myelination pattern and the dimension of the pituitary gland, corpus callosum, pons and cerebellar vermis. There were no differences in stages of myelination and the size of these structures in both groups. MR imaging was also performed in infants with various cerebral injuries. Focal or diffuse areas of hyperintensity on T2-weighted images and delayed myelination were the commonly observed abnormal findings in these infants.

The regulated expression of B lineage associated genes during B cell differentiation in bone marrow and fetal liver

The expression of B lineage associated genes during early B cell differentiation stages is not firmly established. Using cell surface markers and multiparameter flow cytometry, bone marrow (BM) cells can be resolved into six fractions, representing sequential stages of development; i.e., pre-Pro-B, early Pro-B, late Pro-B/large Pre-B, small Pre-B, immature B, and mature B cells. Here we quantitate the levels of several B lineage associated genes in each of these fractions by RT-PCR, demonstrating different patterns of expression. We find that expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), lambda 5, and VpreB is predominantly restricted to the Pro-B stages. Rag-1 and Rag-2 expression is also tightly regulated, and is found largely in the Pro-B through small Pre-B stages. Mb-1 is present from Pro-B throughout the pathway at high levels. Finally, Bcl-2 is expressed at high levels only at the pre-Pro-B and mature B stages, whereas it is low during all the intermediate stages. We also correlate this expression data with an analysis of the onset of Ig gene rearrangement as assessed by amplifying D-JH, VH-DJH, and VK-JK. Finally, we report differences in gene expression during B lymphopoiesis at two distinct ontogenic timings, in fetal liver and adult BM: both TdT and the precursor lymphocyte regulated myosin-like light chain are expressed at high levels in the Pro-B cell stage in bone marrow, but are absent from the corresponding fraction in fetal liver. In contrast, lambda 5, VpreB, Rag-1, and Rag-2 are expressed at comparable levels.

Chromatographic determination method for 1-nitropyrene and its metabolites in biological samples with fluorescence detection after on-line reduction

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection after on-line reduction for the determination of 1-nitropyrene (NP), 1-nitrosopyrene (NSP), 1-aminopyrene (AP) and N-acetylaminopyrene (AAP) has been developed. The reduction efficiency of NP and NSP on a zinc column was found to be higher than that of an electrochemical reducer. Using a HPLC system equipped with a zinc column (4.0 mm i.d. x 10 mm) and an imidazole/HClO4 (pH 6.8): acetonitrile mobile phase, detection limits (S/N = 3) of 20-30 fmol for NP, NSP and AP and 350 fmol for AAP were obtained. NP, NSP and AP were determined in the incubation mixture of NP and Salmonella typhimurium, YG1021, by this method. Time course studies showed that a large ratio of NP was metabolized in the pre-incubation step of the Ames test.

Immunohistochemical analysis of ras oncogene product p21 in human endometrial carcinoma

Monoclonal antibody rp-28 directed against the ras gene product p21 has been used to evaluate ras p21 expression in endometrial lesions. Endometrial cancer showed a variable reactivity according to histological type: in well differentiated adenocarcinoma 63% were positive (12/19); in moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma 53% were positive (8/15); in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma 40% were positive (2/5). The staining intensity of ras p21 seemed to be stronger in the more differentiated types of endometrial carcinoma. In endometrial carcinoma with premenopausal women, 27% were positive (3/11), and with postmenopausal women 71% were positive (20/28). The difference between premenopausal and postmenopausal groups was statistically significant (Mantel-Haenszel procedure, M-H chi 2 = 6.765, P < 0.01). The results suggest the existence of different carcinogenetic mechanisms in these two groups of endometrial cancer.

Simultaneous determination of methamphetamine and its metabolites in the urine samples of abusers by high performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection

A HPLC determination method for methamphetamine (MA) and its metabolites in the urine samples of abusers has been developed. MA, amphetamine (AP), norephedrine (NE), p-hydroxymethamphetamine (pOHMA), p-hydroxyamphetamine (pOHAP) and an internal standard, namely beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) were derivatized with dansyl chloride. They were separated on a reversed phase column with gradient elution using an acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran/imidazole buffer mobile phase and chemilumigenically determined using bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-oxalate/hydrogen peroxide as post column reagents. The lower determination limits were as low as 1 x 10(-14)-3 x 10(-14) mol. AP, NE, pOHAP and PEA were derivatized with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde, and were separated on a reversed phase column using an acetonitrile/imidazole buffer mobile phase and chemilumigenically determined. The lower determination limits were 3 x 10(-16)-1.5 x 10(-15) mol. Enzymatic hydrolysis of glucuronides of pOHMA (pOHMAG) and pOHAP (pOHAPG) allowed them to be determined as pOHMA and pOHAP, respectively. After adjusting the pH of the urine samples to 10.5 and adding PEA, all metabolites except glucuronides were extracted quantitatively into chloroform-isopropanol (3:1). Utilizing the two methods, MA and all metabolites were determined in urine samples of MA abusers. The tendency, in order of decreasing concentration was: [MA] > [A] > [pOHMAG] > [pOHMA] > [NE] > [pOHAPG] > [pOHAP]. Although ephedrine (EP) was was detected in several samples, it was not considered to be a metabolite of MA but rather a component derived from cough medicine.

Effect of krestin (PSK) as adjuvant treatment on the prognosis after radical radiotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

From 1976 to 1985, 185 patients with non-small cell lung cancer at stages I-III were treated with definitive radiotherapy in Gunma University Hospital. As a result of analyzing the long-term survivors treated with radiotherapy, suitable conditions of the patients for radical radiotherapy were as follows; 1) stage I or II, and some stage III, 2) as regards the histologic type epidermoid carcinoma or well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, 3) as regards the primary sites, the upper lobe and the superior segment of the lower lobe, 4) the optimum dose was 60-70Gy, 5) the size of the radiation fields given > 40Gy was 100 cm2 or less, and 6) the host condition was satisfactory (BRM combined use). In particular, as a result of administering PSK as adjuvant treatment to patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the lung showing satisfactory tumour shrinkage after radiotherapy, the five year survival rate of the patients with stages I or II disease, as well as stage III was 39% and 22% respectively, compared with the non-administered group's 16% and 5%. These differences are statistically significant. Although an improvement in the results of treatment with the combined use of appropriate BRMs is anticipated in the future, when clinical trials for combined BRM and radiotherapy are planned, the subjects should be patients with satisfactory tumour regression after radiotherapy.

High-performance gel-permeation chromatographic analysis of protein aggregation. Application to bovine carbonic anhydrase

Protein association in bovine carbonic anhydrase (bCA) was investigated by high-performance gel-permeation chromatography (HPGPC). It was shown that bCA undergoes a time-dependent aggregation after freezing and storing at -20 degrees C. The addition of 50% ethylene glycol or glycerol prevented the aggregation. The HPGPC data were confirmed by the use of cross-linking with subsequent sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis. The esterase activity of the aggregated bCA was comparable to that of the monomer, suggesting that the observed protein association does not affect the esterase catalytic centre of bCA. This study illustrates how HPGPC can be a convenient and reliable tool for monitoring storage-induced aggregation of proteins.

The 3G11+ antigen, a marker for murine CD4+ TH1 lymphocytes, is a ganglioside

Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), SM3G11 and SM6C10, can be used to discriminate between functionally distinct murine CD4+ T cell subsets. In this study we use high-performance thin-layer chromatography and immunostaining techniques to show that the 3G11 mAb reacts with two bands of a ganglioside fraction from murine spleen and thymus, and rat spleen. The 6C10 antibody shows no evidence of glycolipid reactivity. The 3G11+ bands have a mobility between those of the reference gangliosides GD1a and GD1b from human brain. The 3G11+ reactive bands were eluted in the disialyl fraction of rat spleen gangliosides using DEAE anion-exchange chromatography. Treatment of spleen gangliosides with endoglycoceramidase eliminates 3G11 antibody binding over time, indicating that the antigen contains a Glc beta 1-1'ceramide linkage, characteristic of a glycosphingolipid. Treatment of thymus or spleen gangliosides with sialidase eliminates binding of 3G11, thus indicating that the 3G11 epitope is dependent on the expression of one or more sialic acid residues. Immunostaining studies with a variety of reagents indicate that the 3G11+ gangliosides: (i) probably do not contain either the asialo-GM1 or the GM1 core structures; (ii) are not recognized by mAbs specific for the oligosaccharides of asialo-GM2, GM2, GD2 and GD3 gangliosides; and (iii) are also not recognized by antibodies or reagents that are specific for several structures representative of other major glycosphingolipid classes. Overall, these studies strongly suggest that the 3G11+ gangliosides have structures that have not been previously recognized in murine lymphoid tissue. Structures that could account for the known properties of the 3G11+ molecules are described. Finally, ways in which the selective expression of 3G11+ gangliosides might be linked to functionally distinct T-cell behaviours are discussed.

Sodium valproate-induced cardiovascular abnormalities in the Jcl:ICR mouse fetus: peak sensitivity of gestational day and dose-dependent effect

Sodium valproate was administered to Jcl:ICR mice in order to determine its effect on cardiovascular development. A single dose of 600 mg/kg of sodium valproate was injected intraperitoneally on gestational days 6, 7, 8, or 9. In same animals, a single dose of 300, 400, 500, or 700 mg/kg was injected on gestational day 7. On day 18 of gestation, dams were laparotomized to observe number of live, dead and resorbed fetuses. In addition, live fetuses were examined for cardiovascular abnormalities. Although cardiovascular abnormalities were noted in 3% of live fetuses and in 26% of litters in the group treated on day 6 (600 mg/kg), there was no significant difference from the control group, suggests that there may have been a biologically significant increase, although not a statistically significant increase. Cardiovascular abnormalities were found in 30%, 11%, and 8% of live fetuses in the groups treated with 600 mg/kg on days 7, 8, and 9, respectively. These represented a statistically significant increase in effects as opposed to the control groups. Among the varying dosages administered on day 7 of gestation, cardiovascular abnormalities occurred in 2%, 6%, 16%, and 36% of live fetuses in groups treated with 300, 400, 500, and 700 mg/kg, respectively, showing a significant dose-dependent increase. These cardiovascular abnormalities observed were divided into the following groups: ventricular septal defect, endocardial cushion defect, transposition of the great arteries, double outlet right ventricle, tricuspid atresia, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Maternal death did not occur at any treatment level.

Expression of c-kit mRNA and protein during the differentiation of human hematopoietic progenitor cells

To investigate how c-kit and c-kit ligand play a role in the function of hematopoietic stem cells, we determined the expression of c-kit in sorted human hematopoietic stem cells, CD34+CD33- cells and CD34+CD33+ cells. CD34+ cells constituted approximately 1% of the population of gated bone marrow cells and contained colony-forming cells. Two-color analysis by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) revealed that about one-third to one-half of the total CD34+ cell population were positive for the CD33 antigen. To analyze the relative accumulation of c-kit mRNA in sorted cells, we used the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, followed by Southern blot analysis. There was a linear relationship between the amount of input RNA and products amplified in the range of 10(3) to 10(5) cells. Using this procedure, we carried out an analysis of c-kit mRNA expression in CD34+CD33-, CD34+CD33+, CD34-CD33+, and CD34-CD33- cells. Enhanced expression for c-kit mRNA was observed solely in CD34+CD33- cells. In contrast, flow cytometry shows that c-kit protein was expressed most abundantly in CD34+CD33+ cells. Colony-forming cells were generated on a human stromal cell layer for 5 weeks initiated with CD34+CD33- cells but not with CD34+CD33+ cells. During co-culture with stromal cells, CD34+CD33- cells differentiated into CD34+CD33+ cells. From these findings, it is concluded that CD34+CD33+ cells are direct progenies of CD34+CD33- cells. In this differentiation pathway, the expression of c-kit mRNA decreased and the c-kit protein increased.

Improved high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of biotinidase activity with biotinyl-6-aminoquinoline as substrate

An improved high-performance liquid chromatographic assay method for biotinidase activity was developed using the fluorimetric substrate biotinyl-6-aminoquinoline, which was found to be more specific than the biotinyl-4-aminobenzoate previously used. The new method measures the intensity of the fluorescent signal at wavelengths (excitation 350 nm; emission 550 nm) longer than those (excitation 276 nm; emission 340 nm) for 4-aminobenzoate. The analysis of fluorescence in the visible spectrum reduced considerably the number of interfering peaks compared with analysis in the ultraviolet region. This method also made it possible to measure the biotinidase activity directly in samples usually difficult to calculate, such as human and bovine milk or porcine serum; the use of biotinyl-6-aminoquinoline allowed the analysis of the enzyme reaction in milk and porcine serum without pretreatment or dialysis. Stoichiometric increase and decrease of the substrate and product, respectively, were demonstrated. Michaelis constants for biotinyl-6-aminoquinoline were measured at various stages of partial purification. Because the solubility of these synthetic substrates in the aqueous phosphate buffer is limited, the determination of both Michaelis constant and maximum velocity by extrapolation may be helpful for the characterization of the kinetics of biotinidase.

High-recovery protein purification by high-performance gel-permeation chromatography: application to human serum biotinidase

A reproducible, high-yield high-performance gel-permeation chromatographic method for proteins was developed and applied to the final step of purification of human serum biotinidase. One diol-type silica gel column, Tosoh TSK-gel 3000 SW (300 mm x 7.9 mm I.D.; average pore size 30 nm), and two Jasco Bio-Fine GFC SI 150-K columns (300 mm x 7.9 mm I.D.; average pore size 15 nm) were connected in series. A 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) solution containing 0.3 M sodium chloride, glycerol (2.5%, v/v) and the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P-40 (NP-40, 0.15%, v/v) was utilized as an eluent. Recovery of the protein bovine serum albumin from the separating columns was measured by a spectrophotometric method and found to be 77.0 +/- 3.74% (mean +/- S.D.). The recovery of the total activity of human serum biotinidase was 72.6 +/- 13.0%. Since biotinidase activity was not recovered from the column in the absence of NP-40, the introduction of this non-ionic detergent to the mobile phase was shown to be essential for the final purification step of human serum biotinidase.

Clinical study of radioprotective effects of amifostine (YM-08310, WR-2721) on long-term outcome for patients with cervical cancer

PURPOSE

A retrospective analysis was performed to investigate the radioprotective effects of amifostine on the long-term outcome of radiation therapy for the patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Eighty-three patients with histologically proven epidermoid carcinoma (Stage II-IVA disease) of the uterine cervix were treated with definitive radiation therapy between January 1978 and December 1984. Forty-six patients treated with radiation alone, whereas 37 patients treated with radiation plus amifostine. Amifostine was given intravenously 30 min prior to every radiation. Most patients received 75 mg/m2 of amifostine daily from the initiation of the course of radiation therapy. The median total dose of amifostine given was 1300 mg/m2, with a range of 280 mg/m2 to 3700 mg/m2.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall actuarial survival for the patients treated with radiation alone and with radiation plus amifostine were: 72% and 88% in Stage II disease (p = 0.45); 52% and 50% in Stage III disease (p = 0.68); and 40% and 43% in Stage IVA disease (p = 0.51), respectively. The 5-year intra-pelvic recurrence rates in the patients treated with amifostine were almost the same as those observed in the patients treated without amifostine (0% vs. 6% in Stage II disease; 15% vs. 10% in Stage III disease; 25% vs. 40% in Stage IVA disease). There was also no statistically significant difference of the chronic rectal or bladder complication rate between the groups treated by each regimen.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that any radioprotective effects of amifostine on tumor tissue and any beneficial effects of amifostine against chronic radiation injury were not observed in the patients with cervical cancer followed up for more than 5 years after radiation therapy.

Successful treatment of hypothyroid Graves' disease with a combination of levothyroxine replacement, intravenous high-dose steroid and irradiation to the orbit

A 46-year-old woman with hypothyroid Graves' disease (EMO syndrome) is reported. The patient had bilateral exophthalmos, conjunctival chemosis, periorbital edema and limitation of lateral gaze. Laboratory examination revealed the presence of primary hypothyroidism with positive thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) binding inhibitory immunoglobulin and thyroid stimulation antibody. These findings indicated a diagnosis of hypothyroid Graves' disease or EMO syndrome. She received levothyroxine replacement and steroid pulse therapy followed by radiotherapy. Her visual symptoms showed marked improvement and pretibial myxedema disappeared. Although several studies indicate that hypothyroid Graves' disease is a different entity from hyperthyroid Graves' disease, this report suggests that steroid pulse therapy combined with radiotherapy may be effective to treat ophthalmopathy in both diseases.

[Linkage analysis in a Japanese long QT syndrome family]

Romano-Ward syndrome is an autosomal dominant trait disease, which is characterized by QT prolongation and normal hearings and shows predisposal to sudden death from cardiac arrhythmia. Recently, Keating et al. reported that Harvey ras-1 locus (H-ras-1) was closely linked to long QT syndrome (LQTS), being located on the short arm of chromosome 11. In this study we have examined a three-generation Japanese family whose members had recurrent fainting with prolongation of the QT interval on electrocardiogram. Using the H-ras-1 probe as DNA marker, we could not determine that the H-ras-1 gene was linked to LQTS. LQTS seems to be a genetically heterogeneous disease. Further study is needed to clarify the chromosomal location of the LQTS.

Evaluating bronchial drainage pathways in patients with lung disease using digital subtraction angiography

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the venous drainage pathways of the bronchial circulation during bronchial embolotheraphy or infusion therapy.

METHODS

The subjects consisted of 21 patients with lung disorders. All of them underwent bronchial arteriography for drug infusion or embolization. Bronchial arteriography was done using both cut-film and digital subtraction methods.

RESULTS

The venous drainage pathways of arteriograms could be determined in 15 (71%) patients and classified into the four types: type 1, direct drainage into a pulmonary vein; type 2, drainage into a pulmonary artery with antegrade flow; type 3, drainage into a pulmonary artery with retrograde flow; and type 4, drainage into a bronchial vein. No drainage route could be identified in six (29%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital subtraction angiography can depict the venous drainage pathways in most patients. Drainage occurs into a pulmonary vein in the majority of patients.

Acute electrolyte disturbances in coronary sinus during left coronary arteriography in man

Electrolyte disturbances, particularly reduction of ionized calcium, induced by iodinated contrast media (CM) are important considerations in coronary arteriography. A study was conducted in 24 patients to evaluate the acute electrolyte alterations in the coronary sinus during left coronary arteriography. During left coronary arteriography, coronary sinus blood was withdrawn for measurement of electrolytes. The CM used were diatrizoate, ioxaglate, iohexol, and iopamidol. The hematocrit was decreased moderately by all 4 CM used at 5 s and returned to the control level at 15 s. The level of ionized calcium was decreased by all CM at 5 s. Prolonged reduction of ionic calcium was observed with diatrizoate and ioxaglate at 15 s. The level of potassium was almost unchanged by diatrizoate and ioxaglate in spite of hemodilution, which may lead us to a hypothesis that potassium can be released from the intracellular spaces such as red blood cells and vascular endothelial cells. Thus the depression of left ventricular function might be caused not only by reduction of ionized calcium, but also by a relative increase in the level of serum potassium.

Selective enrichment of major histocompatibility complex class II-specific autoreactive T cells in the thymic Thy0 subset

We show here a unique enrichment of autoreactive T cells in the CD4+ mouse thymic subset, Thy0. A single- and 10-cell AMLR (autologous mixed leukocyte reaction) assay demonstrates that more than 30% (one cell per well) and almost all (10 cells per well) Thy0 cultures from normal mice exhibit reactivity specific to autologous cells, resulting in induction of interleukin 3 secretion. In contrast, no other mature thymic or splenic CD4+ T cell subsets showed such a high frequency. The majority of this AMLR reactivity in the Thy0 subset is accounted for by reactivity with self-major histocompatibility complex class II. Furthermore, antigenic selection in generating Thy0 subset is suggested by studies with T cell hybrids from a T cell receptor (TCR) V beta transgenic mouse line, 2B4 beta EH. TCR V-gene analysis of T cell hybrids revealed that those from Thy0, half of which responded to self-class II, consisted predominantly of cells that expressed endogenous TCR V beta s alone (without the transgene), unlike hybrids generated from peripheral naive T cells. Thus, we suggest that the presence of Thy0 results from selective stimulation of cells expressing TCR with sufficient affinity for autoantigens in the thymic CD4+ T cell repertoire.

Comparative terminal sterilization

Thermal processing of product in its final container to achieve product safety has been a major process operation of the pharmaceutical and food industries for many years. The original batch type autoclave (retort) is still in prevalent use today. However, high volume continuous and semi-continuous methods are also utilized, primarily in the food industry. Each different terminal sterilization method and load type requires assurance of process adequacy. This paper examines some of the types of moist heat terminal sterilizers in both the pharmaceutical and food industries and compares their features.