Changes of white blood cells, immunosuppressive acidic protein, and interleukin-2 receptor after open heart surgery

There are a lot of immunological changes after major surgery, especially in open heart surgery when blood flows through a cardiopulmonary bypass system. We monitored leukocyte count, lymphocyte subpopulation count, soluble IL- 2 receptor (sIL-2r) and serum IL-2 levels, and an immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) level before and on the 1st, 7th, and 14th day after open heart surgery. It was noted that there were significant increases of total leukocyte and granulocyte counts for more than two weeks. But total lymphocyte, T-lymphocyte, b-lymphocyte, natural killer cell, suppressor T-cell, and helper T-cell all showed significant decreases in absolute numbers for more than one week as compared to the preoperative values. Serum IAP level was elevated for more than two weeks after operation. Serum IL-2 decreased but serum sIL-2R increased in the postoperative period. It is concluded that there is a period of immunosuppression after open heart surgery which lasts for at least one week and perhaps more than two weeks.

Congenital muscular dystrophy (non-Fukuyama type): a case report

A Taiwanese girl, aged 12 years, presented with early myogenic hypotonia, multiple joint contractures, mental subnormality and epilepsy. Computerized tomography scanning of the brain showed white matter hyperlucency. According to her clinical manifestations and radiological pictures, the patient could be the fourth oriental case who had the features of occidental-type cerebromuscular dystrophy.

The in vitro activity of beta-lactamase inhibitors in combination with cephalosporins against M. tuberculosis

Although there are reports that the addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor to ampicillin or amoxicillin greatly improves their in vitro activity against M. tuberculosis, there are no written reports about the antituberculosis effects of beta-lactamase inhibitors in combination with cephalosporins against M. tuberculosis. In this report, we have determined the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 5 cephalosporins with or without combination with beta-lactamase inhibitor against M. tuberculosis strains isolated from patients before antituberculosis treatment and checked the production of beta-lactamase by bacteria before this procedure. Four strains of M. tuberculosis were contaminated during the experiment, and all the other 16 strains hydrolyzed the nitrocefin disc, thus indicating a beta-lactamase producer. The MICs of cephalosporins alone against M. tuberculosis were 200-400 micrograms/ml for ceforanide, 100-400 micrograms/ml for cephapirin, 400-1600 micrograms/ml for cefamandole, 200-1600 micrograms/ml for cefotaxime, and 800-1600 micrograms/ml for ceftriaxone. After adding the equimolar concentrations of sulbactam, the MICs were reduced to 100-200 micrograms/ml for ceforanide, 12.5-100 micrograms/ml for cephapirin, 100-400 micrograms/ml for cefamandole, 25-200 micrograms/ml for cefotaxime, and 100-800 micrograms/ml for ceftriaxone. We concluded that sulbactam enhanced the antituberculosis effect of cephalosporins.

High affinity binding of the Entamoeba histolytica lectin to polyvalent N-acetylgalactosaminides

Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites initiate pathogenic colonization by adherence to host glycoconjugates via an amebic surface lectin which binds to galactose (Gal) and N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) residues. Monovalent and multivalent carbohydrate ligands were screened for inhibition of E. histolytica lectin-mediated human red cell hemagglutination, revealing that: (i) the synthetic multivalent neoglycoprotein GalNAc39BSA (having an average of 39 GalNAc residues linked to bovine serum albumin) was 140,000-fold more potent an inhibitor than monovalent GalNAc and 500,000-fold more potent than monovalent Gal; and (ii) small synthetic multivalent ligands which bind with high affinity to the mammalian hepatic Gal/GalNAc lectin do not bind with high affinity to the E. histolytica lectin. Radioligand binding studies revealed saturable binding of 125I-GalNAc39BSA to E. histolytica membranes (KD = 10 +/- 3 nM, Bmax = 0.9 +/- 0.08 pmol/mg membrane protein). Maximal binding required the presence of calcium chloride (300 microM) or sodium chloride (50 mM), and had a broad pH maximum (pH 6-9). GalNAc39BSA was 200,000-fold more potent than monovalent GalNAc in blocking radio-ligand binding. Among synthetic saccharide-derivatized linear polymers, the GalNAc beta and GalNAc alpha 3Gal beta derivatives were the most potent, with GalNAc alpha and GalNAc alpha 3(Fuc alpha 2)Gal beta derivatives much weaker. The data support a model in which a unique pattern of spaced multiple GalNAc residues are the highest affinity targets for the E. histolytica lectin.

Determination of enantiomers of histidine, arginine and other amino acids by HPLC of their diastereomeric N-ethoxycarbonyldipeptides

Oxazolones and symmetrical anhydrides react efficiently with amino acids if the aqueous solvent includes a high proportion of dimethylformamide, the temperature is not lowered and sodium carbonate is used for neutralizing the amino acids. Subsequent separation of the diastereomeric products by high-performance liquid chromatography on a C-18 column provides a simple method for determining enantiomers. The symmetrical anhydrides of N-ethoxycarbonylvaline and phenyl-alanine are reagents suitable for determining enantiomers. Enantiomers of arginine and histidine in a mixture of amino acids can be determined if the products of the reaction are first fractionated by a simple extraction.

Surgical treatment of second primary lung cancer: report of eight cases

Of 312 patients undergoing resection for lung cancer at National Taiwan University Hospital during 1980 to 1990, eight presented with second primary lung cancer. One patient had synchronous and seven patients had metachronous primaries. There were five males and three females with ages ranging from 41 to 77 years. In the metachronous group, two patients had a different histology between the first and the second tumor, and the intervals between the two tumors varied from 12 to 60 months. The initial resections included pneumonectomy in one and lobectomy in six patients. At the second operation, the surgical procedures included lobectomy in three, completed pneumonectomy in one, segmentectomy in another, and wedge resection in two patients. There was no operative mortality and all patients were regularly followed up from 6 months to 6 years after the second operation. Two patients died, one from repeated respiratory tract infection and the other from brain metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed 2-year and 3-year survivals of 80% and 60%, respectively. It can be concluded that surgical resection for second primary lung cancer is justified, as it can prolong the patient's survival. Lobectomy can be performed for patients with a second primary lung cancer and sufficient lung reserve, but limited resection should be chosen for patients with poor lung reserve.

Enzymatic activity of a developmentally regulated member of the sialyltransferase family (STX): evidence for alpha 2,8-sialyltransferase activity toward N-linked oligosaccharides

We have detected sialyltransferase activity of recombinant mouse STX, which was cloned from rat brain as a new member of the sialyltransferase family, but sialyltransferase activity of which had not been detected previously [Livingston and Paulson, J. Biol. Chem. (1993) 268, 11504-11507]. The activity of mouse STX was specific toward sialylated glycoproteins. N-Glycanase treatment and linkage-specific sialidase treatment of glycoproteins revealed that STX transfers sialic acids through alpha 2,8-linkages to only N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. However, polymerase activity for polysialic acid synthesis was not detected for this sialyltransferase. Since this alpha 2,8-sialyltransferase gene is highly restricted in fetal and newborn brain, it may be involved in the polysialylation of glycoproteins, especially of N-CAM.

Adrenocortical pregnenolone binding activity resides with estrogen sulfotransferase

Cytosol prepared from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells transfected with guinea pig estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) cDNA demonstrated high affinity binding activity for pregnenolone as well as 17 beta-estradiol but failed to bind dehydroepiandrosterone or testosterone. In contrast, cytosol prepared from nontransfected CHO-K1 cells did not demonstrate steroid binding activity. Additionally, the binding activity for pregnenolone and 17 beta-estradiol was dependent on the presence of the cofactor adenosine-3',5'-diphosphate. Pregnenolone and 17 beta-estradiol effectively competed with each other for binding. On the other hand, pregnenolone, which was not sulfonated, did not inhibit the sulfonation of 17 beta-estradiol by expressed EST.

Integrity of intermediate filaments is associated with the development of acquired thermotolerance in 9L rat brain tumor cells

Withangulatin A (WA), a newly discovered withanolide isolated from an antitumor Chinese herb, has been shown to be a vimentin intermediate filament-targeting drug by using immunofluorescence microscopy. Together with cytochalasin D and colchicine, these drugs were employed to investigate the importance of vimentin intermediate filaments, actin filaments, and microtubules in the development of acquired thermotolerance in 9L rat brain tumor cells treated at 45 degrees C for 15 min (priming heat-shock). Acquired thermotolerance was abrogated in cells incubated with WA before the priming heat-shock but it could be detected in cells treated with WA after the priming heat-shock. In contrast, cytochalasin D and colchicine do not interfere with the development of thermotolerance at all. The intracellular localizations of vimentin and the constitutive heat-shock protein70 (HSC70) in treated cells were examined by using immunofluorescence microscopy and detergent-extractability studies. In cells treated with WA before the priming heat-shock, vimentin IFs were tightly aggregated around the nucleus and unable to return to their normal organization after a recovery under normal growing conditions. In contrast, the IF network in cells treated with WA after the priming heat-shock was able to reorganize into filamentous form after a recovery period, a behavior similar to that of the cells treated with heat-shock only. HSC70 was found to be co-localized with vimentin during these changes. It is suggested that the integrity of intermediate filaments is important for the development of thermotolerance and that HSC70 may be involved in this process by stabilizing the intermediate filaments through direct or indirect binding.

Obstruction after self-expanding metallic stents in tuberculous bronchial stenosis

Expandable metallic stents seemed to be a good method in tuberculous bronchial stenosis that does not respond to medical therapy. But there was no long-term follow-up study after stents insertion in tuberculous bronchial stenosis. We report a case of obstruction after successful Gianturco metallic stents insertion due to tuberculous bronchial stenosis.

Structural and functional characterization of estrogen sulfotransferase isoforms: distinct catalytic and high affinity binding activities

Estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) purified from the guinea pig (gp) adrenal gland consists of multiple charge isoforms with isoelectric points (pls) ranging from 6.5 to 5.2. Four individual isoforms were isolated for use in antibody production, as well as for tryptic fragmentation analysis. The multiple charge isoforms manifested a high degree of relatedness as evidence by complete immunocross-reactivity. This relatedness was further demonstrated by peptide mapping analysis, which revealed essentially identical elution profiles for three of the isoforms, whereas the fourth most acidic isoform, although similar to the other three isoforms, demonstrated some differences. To further explore the nature of the charge isoforms, native gpEST and EST expressed by CHO-K1 cells transfected with the gpEST cDNA were subjected to additional biochemical characterization. An interesting finding was that, in addition to EST activity, gpEST bound estradiol with a high affinity [dissociation constant (Kd) 10 nM]; furthermore, the binding activity was absolutely dependent on the cofactor, adenosine-3',5'-diphosphate (3',5'-ADP). An unexpected and novel finding was that only the most basic pl 6.5 isoform was catalytically active, while estradiol-binding activity was associated with a more acidic isoform (pl 5.5-5.2); however, it has not as yet been possible to definitively assign the binding activity to a specific isoform.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Exon 8 mutation of p53 gene associated with nodal metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer

The epidemiologic characteristics of lung cancer in Taiwan differ from those in other parts of the world in low male-to-female ratio, the high percentage of adenocarcinoma, and the relatively high percentage of nonsmokers who are victims. To investigate possible correlation between p53 gene alteration and the unique characteristics of lung cancer here, p53 gene status of 36 patients with primary, resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was studied by directly sequencing the cDNA of the p53 gene, then acquiring clinical and pathologic data to correlate p53 gene status with clinical parameters and pathologic staging. Missense mutations were present in 42% (15 of 36) of patients with NSCLC, including 42% (10 of 24) with adenocarcinomas, and 45% (five of 11) with squamous cell carcinomas. The frequency of p53 mutation was 50% in smokers and 29% in nonsmokers (p = 0.355). The mutation occurred most frequently in exon 8 (56%), and G:C to A:T transitions in non-CpG or CpG sites were the most commonly observed base changes (56%). These findings differ from the high prevalence of G to T transversion found in previous reports. The frequency of metastasis in hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes was significantly higher in tumors with p53 mutations. The association with nodal stage was strong for mutations within exon 8, but it was less apparent for mutations in other exons probably because of the small number. This study suggests that p53 gene missense is common in NSCLC in Taiwan, but smoking is probably not the sole contributing factor. More interestingly, p53 gene mutations, especially those in exon 8, may be associated with regional nodal metastasis.

Comparison of the enzymatic activities of native and recombinant protein phosphatase-1 toward histone

The activities of native and recombinant rabbit muscle protein phosphatase-1 toward phosphorylated lysine-rich histone and phosphorylase a were compared. The activity of rabbit muscle protein phosphatase-1 toward histone is strongly stimulated by Mn++. In the case of the recombinant enzyme, both phosphorylase phosphatase and histone phosphatase activities exhibit a dependence on Mn++. Examination of the activities of both enzymes assayed under optimal conditions show that they exhibit similar substrate specificities toward histone and phosphorylase, contrary to previous claims (Alessi et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 213, 1055-1066, 1993).

Immunostimulation by Alsophila spinulosa extract fraction VII of both humoral and cellular immune responses

Alsophila spinulosa (Cyatheaceae) has been used in Asia as a herbal medicine. In this study, the immunomodulatory effects of Alsophila spinulosa dried stems water extract fraction VII (AS-VII) were studied in vitro using an animal model. The results showed that AS-VII stimulated splenocyte proliferation in both BALB/c and C3H/HeJ mice. By cell fractionation analysis, the results showed that the mitogenic effect of AS-VII was predominantly on B cell population. The antibody response was also augmented by AS-VII in BALB/c and C3H/HeJ mice. The augmentation of immune responses in C3H/HeJ, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-hyporesponsive mouse strain, indicated that the activity was not simply due to the LPS contamination which may be present in AS-VII preparation. Furthermore, AS-VII caused an increase in cytotoxic T cell activity in a mixed lymphocyte reaction culture. These data indicate that AS-VII possesses the capability of augmenting both humoral and cellular immune responses.

A crucial effect of ligand clustering on the inhibition of binding by L-selectin in intercellular adhesion

Glucan sulfates were found to be potent ligands for L-selectin by a quantitative liquid phase analysis system (Yoshida, T. et al., Eur. J. Biochem., in press). The affinity of glucan sulfates to L-selectin-IgG chimera was dependent on the size of the glucan sulfates as well as on the inter-glucose linkages. In the current report, these glucan sulfates are shown to inhibit the interaction of an endothelial cell line with lymphocytes. The effect of ligand size appears to be more remarkable in the cell-cell binding than in the liquid phase analysis. The affinity of amylose sulfate continues to increase, as their size increases even beyond 12 kDa, at which its affinity reached a plateaux in the liquid phase analysis.

Extracellular matrix synthesis by coal dust-exposed type II epithelial cells

Although integrity of the alveolar basement membrane may influence progression of lung injury induced by inhaled particulates, little is known about direct effects of coal dusts on the alveolar epithelium or its extracellular matrix (ECM). Effects of dust on synthesis of cell and ECM proteins by type II cells (T2P) was thus investigated. Three coal dusts (anthracite no. 867; bituminous no. 1451 and no. 1361) and mine dust MIT-3, of respirable size, were studied as a function of dose and time over 3 days of primary T2P culture. On day 1, 750 micrograms/ml of 867 were required to increase relative synthesis of ECM proteins (ECM/cell). MIT-3, 1451, and 1361 were without effect. By day 3, 867 or MIT-3 increased ECM/cell 60-100% at 300 micrograms/ml; 1451 produced modest, dose-dependent stimulation, whereas 1361 remained without effect. None of the dusts caused significant cytotoxicity. The results show dose- and time-dependent effects of well-characterized coal and mind dusts to modify partitioning of newly synthesized proteins into the ECM and suggest that coal dust exposure may modulate structure or function of the subepithelial basement membrane.

Adjuvant immunotherapy with intrapleural Streptococcus pyogenes (OK-432) in lung cancer patients after resection

A prospective randomized study to evaluate the effect of adjuvant intrapleural OK-432 immunotherapy after resection of lung tumor was conducted in 93 patients with primary lung cancer. Among them, 46 patients had had intrapleural OK-432 injection, 47 had not. In the meantime, serial measurements of serum immunosuppressive acidic protein, of serum interleukin-2 receptor and of the subpopulation of the peripheral blood cells and lymphocytes were performed in all these patients. Patient characteristics in these two groups (sex, age, histological type, pathological stage, type of operation, and performance status) were compatible. The results showed that adjuvant intrapleural OK-432 injection after resection had no beneficial effect on a patient's survival time. Patients who received intrapleural OK-432, had an increase in blood leukocytes, granulocytes and monocytes and serum immunosuppressive acidic protein level. But the cell numbers of total T cells, suppressor/cytoxic cells, helper/inducer cells and natural killer cells of peripheral blood were decreased in the OK-432 positive group. Over half of the patients had transient 1- or 2-day febrile reactions after intrapleural OK-432 injection. It was concluded that neither clinical observation nor immunological monitoring of peripheral blood could demonstrate a beneficial effect from intrapleural OK-432 immunotherapy after complete resection of the tumor.

Genetic polymorphism and activities of human colon alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases: no gender and age differences

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isoenzyme patterns from 69 (men, 47; women, 22) surgical colon mucosal specimens were identified by agarose isoelectric focusing. gamma-ADH was found to be the predominant form in the mucosa, whereas only beta-ADH was detectable in the muscle layer. ALDH1, ALDH2, and ALDH3 were detectable in the mucosa, with cytosolic ALDH1 being the major form. At pH 7.5, the ADH activities in the colon mucosae with the homozygous phenotype (exhibiting gamma 1 gamma 1) and the heterozygous phenotype (exhibiting gamma 1 gamma 1, gamma 1, gamma 2, gamma 2, gamma 2) were determined to be 183 +/- 13 and 156 +/- 30 nmol/min/g tissue, respectively. The ALDH activities in the ALDH2-active and ALDH2-inactive phenotypes were determined to be 40.2 +/- 2.3 and 34.6 +/- 2.0 nmol/min/g tissue, respectively. The lack of significant difference in the ALDH activities between these two phenotypic groups can be attributed to the very low expression of the mitochondrial ALDH2 in the colon mucosa. No significant differences in the ADH or the ALDH activities were found between the men and women studied and between the three age groups (20-40, 49-70, and 72-83 years). The ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colons exhibited similar ADH and ALDH activities. The isoenzyme patterns of ADH and ALDH remained unaltered in colon carcinomas, except that a significant reduction of the enzyme activities was found in the cancer tissue as compared with the adjacent normal portions. it is concluded that human colon mucosa exhibits significant amounts of ethanol- and acetaldehyde-oxidizing activities.

Current role of surgery in the management of pleuropulmonary tuberculosis

This article reviews the recent surgical treatment of patients with pleuropulmonary tuberculosis in the northern Taiwan area. With the advent of effective chemotherapeutic agents and fewer failed medical treatments, the need for surgery has decreased. During the period 1985 to 1991, a total of 62 patients in the northern Taiwan area received surgical treatment for lesions or complications associated with pleuropulmonary tuberculosis. In the majority of cases, patients underwent operations for undiagnosed tumors. Other indications for surgery included tuberculosis cavity with aspergilloma, localized cavity or anatomic residue with a positive acid fast bacilli smear, complications with altered anatomy secondary to tuberculosis and chronic tuberculous empyema. The appropriate selection of patients for surgical intervention should ensure satisfactory surgical results. Surgery continues to play a vital role in the management of certain patients with pleuropulmonary tuberculosis.

Major lectin of alligator liver is specific for mannose/L-fucose

We surveyed the calcium-requiring (C-type) lectins in alligator liver. The major lectin purified by affinity chromatography was termed alligator hepatic lectin (AHL) and was found to be specific for mannose/L-fucose. AHL contained approximately equal amounts of 21- and 23-kDa bands upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Binding characteristics of AHL were similar to those of hepatic lectins of other classes in that 1) only terminal monosaccharide was recognized, and 2) the affinity increased exponentially when neoglycoproteins containing increasing numbers of mannose or L-fucose were used as ligand. However, unlike mammalian and chicken hepatic lectins, which exist as hexamers in Triton-containing solutions, AHL was present mainly as monomers, although small amounts of dimer and higher oligomers were present in equilibrium. Mannose-binding proteins and mannose-specific lectins of macrophages bind N-acetylmannosamine, glucose, and N-acetylglucosamine in addition to mannose, indicating that the nature and orientation of the C-2 substituent are not important to these lectins. In contrast, AHL shows a strict requirement for the presence of an axial hydroxyl group at the C-2 position (i.e. mannose).

Requirement of a COOH-terminal pro-sequence for the extracellular secretion of aqualysin I (a thermophilic subtilisin-type protease) in Thermus thermophilus

Thermus thermophilus cells harboring an expression plasmid for the aqualysin I gene secrete the mature enzyme into the medium. In an Escherichia coli expression system, a precursor of the enzyme with the C-terminal pro-sequence is accumulated in the cells, and upon treatment at 65 degrees C the active enzyme is produced. One- to 10-amino acid residue deletions, as well as complete 105-residue deletion of the C-terminal pro-sequence from the C-terminus, did not affect the production of the enzyme in E. coli cells. T. thermophilus cells harboring plasmids for mutant precursors with one- and three-residue deletions secreted the enzyme extracellularly. However, transformants harboring plasmids for mutant precursors with deletions of five or more amino acid residues could not be obtained. These results suggest that the C-terminal pro-sequence plays an important role in the extracellular secretion of the enzyme in T. thermophilus cells.