A new cancer-associated antigen defined by a monoclonal antibody against a synthetic carbohydrate chain

Carbohydrate antigens can be designed by referring to previously defined carbohydrate structures. We have generated a novel monoclonal antibody (MAb) (F1 alpha-75) against an artificially designed antigen (F1 alpha), using organic-synthetic chemistry methods and hybridoma technology. F1 alpha (Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-->6GalNAc alpha 1-->Ser/Thr) belongs to core type 6 of O-linked glycans, which has not been previously reported in human cancers. To produce antibodies against F1 alpha, a glycolipid was synthesized which carries the carbohydrate portion of F1 alpha on a ceramide foundation (Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-->6GalNAc alpha 1-->Cer). The MAbs we obtained (F1 alpha-75, F1 alpha-87) specifically recognized F1 alpha and had only a very weak or no cross-reactivity with other glycolipids similar to F1 alpha. We investigated the expression of F1 alpha in human tissues, including 110 gastric cancers, 73 colon cancers and 42 pancreatic cancers. F1 alpha was found in human cancerous tissues but not in normal adult tissues. The rate of positive staining with F1 alpha-75 was 80.0% for gastric cancer, 52.4% for pancreatic cancer and 38.4% for colon cancer. F1 alpha-75 also reacted with the tissues neighboring gastric and pancreatic tumors but not intensely. Among fetal tissues, F1 alpha-75 reacted with the pyloric glands of the stomach, the centro-acinar cells of the pancreas, the convoluted tubules of the kidney and the terminal bronchioles of the lung.

Intralymphocytic free calcium and magnesium in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats and effects of blood pressure and various antihypertensive agents

1. Free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and Mg2+ ([Mg2+]i) were measured in peripheral lymphocytes from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) at the age of 5, 7 and 17 weeks, from various antihypertensive agents-treated SHRSP, and from secondary hypertensive WKY. 2. At the age of 5 weeks, no difference was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP), or lymphocyte [Ca2+]i and [Mg2+]i between SHRSP and WKY. At the age of 7 or 17 weeks, SBP and [Ca2+]i of SHRSP were significantly higher than in WKY, and at the age of 17 weeks, [Mg2+]i of SHRSP was significantly lower than in WKY. Further, [Ca2+]i or [Mg2+]i was positively or negatively correlated to SBP, and [Mg2+]i was negatively correlated to [Ca2+]i. 3. SBP of SHRSP fell significantly after antihypertensive treatment with calcium antagonist, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or hydralazine for 40 days. [Ca2+]i was significantly lower in calcium antagonist and hydralazine groups, and tended to be low in ACE inhibitor group. These four groups showed no difference in [Mg2+]i. 4. After 40-day administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), WKY developed severe hypertension, but there were no significant differences in lymphocyte [Ca2+]i and [Mg2+]i between the L-NNA treated and non-treated groups. 5. These results suggested that increased lymphocyte [Ca2+]i and decreased [Mg2+]i observed in SHRSP are not only secondary to hypertension but possibly related to a basic genetic abnormality of divalent cation handling.

Cerebrovascular protection by sequential bilateral carotid artery ligation in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats

1. Sequential bilateral carotid artery ligation (BCL) separated by a 1 week interval was performed on 5 month spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) (i.e. SHRSR-B1/Izm) and the developmental course of hypertension and cerebrovascular lesions in advanced age were analysed as compared with those in age-matched sham-operated controls. 2. Behavioural activity and behavioural reaction to light were also investigated in the above-mentioned SHR, young and adult stroke-prone SHR (i.e. SHRSP-A3/Izm), SHR (i.e. B1/Izm) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (i.e. WKY/Izm). 3. All of the control SHR developed severe hypertension resulting in cerebral stroke with focal oedema due to cerebral haemorrhage and infarction as a result of arterionecrosis 18 months after birth. 4. SHR usually die within a few days of BCL. In the present study, however, they successfully survived without cerebrovascular damage for a long time, although they developed a similar severe hypertension in a significantly shorter period of time (P < 0.05) and showed behavioural abnormalities that were probably due to severe cerebral ischaemia. 5. These experimental results suggest an ischaemic tolerance phenomenon in a hypertensive model that was exposed to mild ischaemic stress by unilateral carotid artery ligation (UCL) before the subsequent induction of severe ischaemia by BCL. The results also suggest that an aggravation of hypertensive cerebrovascular changes due to long-lasting ischaemia after BCL was prevented through a possible cumulative effect of ischaemic stress.

Potassium accelerates urinary sodium excretion during salt loading without stimulating atrial natriuretic polypeptide secretion

1. Effects of potassium (K) supplementation (100 mEq/day) on urinary sodium (Na) excretion and on the secretion of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) during salt loading (350 mEq/day) were studied in 12 healthy salt-resistant normotensives under strictly controlled metabolic ward conditions. 2. Urinary volume and Na excretion on the first day of the high salt period (HSP) were significantly greater in the K-supplemented group (KG) than in the control group (CG). 3. There was a significant gain in bodyweight after salt loading in both groups, with a significantly greater gain in CG on the second day of HSP. Haematocrit decreased significantly during salt loading in both groups, the degree of which was significantly greater in CG. 4. Plasma norepinephrine decreased significantly during salt loading in both groups, the degree of which was significantly less in KG than in CG. A significant increase in plasma ANP was observed in CG on and after the second day of HSP, while a significant increase in plasma ANP was observed on the fifth day of HSP in KG. 5. These findings indicate that K supplementation accelerates diuresis and natriuresis, resulting in moderate suppression of volume expansion induced by salt loading and that this accelerated diuresis and natriuresis is not a result of the action of ANP.

International cooperative study on the relationship between dietary factors and blood pressure: a preliminary report from the Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study. The CARDIAC Cooperative Study Research Group

1. To investigate the epidemiological relationship of dietary factors to blood pressure (BP) and major cardiovascular diseases, we carried out the international cooperative Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study, which so far involves 48 centers in 20 countries as of August 1991. From each population, 100 men and 100 women aged 50-54 years were randomly selected for BP measurement, 24-h urine collection, blood tests, and medical interview. Various biological markers of diets from urine and blood were analyzed centrally in the Izumo CARDIAC center. 2. Cross center analysis using simple linear regression revealed strong significant correlations of body mass index (BMI) to systolic BP (SBP; p < 0.01) and diastolic BP (DBP; p < 0.001) in men. 24-h urinary sodium (Na) excretion in men also showed significant correlations with SBP (p < 0.05) and DBP p < 0.05) even after controlling for the effect of BMI (SBP; p < 0.05, DBP; p < 0.05). 3. Within center analysis using multiple linear regression implied that BMI and Na strongly adversely affect BP, whereas magnesium may have beneficial influence on BP. 4. Multicolinearities among 24h urinary sodium, calcium, and urea nitrogen were noted in men.

[Acute leukemia successfully treated with natural interferon-alpha]

Natural interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) alone was administered to a 42-year-old man with acute leukemia, whose bone marrow revealed hypocellularity (NCC = 6 X 10(4)/microliters) and a 50% increase in blasts. Initial chemotherapy regimens, including BHAC-DMP or low dose Ara-C were ineffective. One month after starting nIFN-alpha therapy, the blasts in his bone marrow decreased below 3% and peripheral blood cell counts became normal. He has been in remission for at least 7 months.

Aggravating effects of isolated caging on the development of hypertension and its complications in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY)

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were maintained in isolation or in group to analyze the effect of isolation, one type of emotional stress, on the development of hypertension and its complications. SHRSP kept isolated during the whole or a half of the experimental period developed severer hypertension within a shorter period than those kept together with other animals throughout the experiment, and showed significantly higher incidences of cerebral stroke (40 or 33%) than the latter (8.3%). Histological and pathophysiological studies revealed pituitary-adrenal and cardiac hypertrophy accompanying more accelerated urinary epinephrine (E) excretion which indicated emotional stress caused by isolation might aggravate pathological lesions in hypertension. Neither WKY in isolation nor in groups developed hypertension, although isolated WKY had significantly heavier pituitary and adrenal glands accompanied with more accelerated urinary E and calcium excretions than WKY kept in groups.

Effects of long-term cerebral ischemia caused by bilateral carotid artery ligation on the acceleration or the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) or Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY)

Bilateral carotid artery ligation (BCL) was performed with one week interval between the each operation in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) aged 4 months. BP rose immediately after unilateral carotid artery ligation (UCL) and BCL in both WKY and SHR due to carotid sinus reflex. Once returning to preoperative levels after both UCL and BCL, BP of SHR and WKY increased again gradually one and 4 months after BCL and thereafter, respectively. BP was significantly higher than that in the controls of each strain, and the BP increment was significantly greater in SHR than in WKY. A significant regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) increase on the contralateral side of carotid ligation was observed in SHR in contrast to a little change in that of WKY and a reduction of rCBF after BCL was significantly greater in SHR than in WKY. Behavioral activities in SHR were also reduced after BCL. Cerebral edema with nerve cells damage was recognized in SHR. In contrast, little change was found in WKY. On the other hand, upper cervical sympathectomy attenuated convulsive seizures after BCL more markedly in SHR, which survived longer than non-denervated SHR. These results suggest that chronic mild cerebral ischemia caused by BCL with one week interval accelerates the development of severe hypertension in SHR and developed mild hypertension in WKY. Sympathetic innervation might play much more important role in collateral circulation through the vertebrobasilar system in SHR.

Stroke-prone SHR (SHRSP) as a model for osteoporosis

Since previous studies on SHRSP showed various abnormalities in Ca metabolism, aged SHRSP together with age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) were examined for bone mineral density and contents as well as bone histomorphometry and mechanical properties. SHRSP and WKY, 10 rats of each group at the age of 7 to 8 months were sacrificed with or without tetracycline and calcein labellings for the estimation of mineral appositional rate. Both femurs, tibia and the 1st lumbar vertebra were extirpated from each rat; one femur was used for mineral density and content analyses and the other was used for analyzing mechanical properties by three point-bending and torque methods (Maruto, MZ500D). Mineral density and cortical thickness index were decreased significantly in SHRSP compared with WKY, and Ca contents were decreased as well. Correspondingly femurs from SHRSP were proven to be fragile in the maximum bending stress. Undecalcified histological sections of tibial proximal epiphysis histomorphometrically indicated bone volume and trabecular thickness were significantly decreased in SHRSP. These findings together with others indicate SHRSP can be a good model for spontaneous osteoporosis in man.

Relative frequencies of dementia of the Alzheimer type and vascular dementia in Japanese nursing homes

We have studied neuropathologically 200 aged nursing home residents (101 men and 99 women) autopsied between 1976 and 1985. Seventy-three of the 200 showed dementia during life, that is, 27% and 55% of the residents in nursing homes and special nursing homes, respectively. The relative frequencies of SDAT and VD in nursing homes as a whole were the same (34%). The relative frequencies of SDAT and VD in special nursing homes, where usually high concentrations of VD have been noted, were 21% and 52%, respectively. A comparison of the results of our special nursing homes (SDAT:VD = 1:2.5) and nursing homes as a whole (SDAT:VD = 1:1) with those of Barnes and Raskind (SDAT:VD = 2:1) and Rovner et al. (SDAT:VD = 3:1) showed that the frequencies of VD in Japanese nursing homes are considerably higher than those in their American counterparts.

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats as a model for toxemia of pregnancy and aggravating and preventive effects of maternal modifications during pregnancy on offspring's growth

Genetical differences in changes in blood pressure (BP) were chronologically investigated during pregnancy in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP), Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Especially, the early stages were carefully studied. Maternal conditions in SHRSP were modified by the treatments with NaCl and taurine, respectively. BP in SHRSP and WKY rose significantly at the early stage of pregnancy compared to prepregnancy levels (SHRSP; 208 +/- 2 mmHg vs 197 +/- 5 mmHg, WKY; 133 +/- 2 mmHg vs 126 +/- 1 mmHg) (p less than 0.05). In contrast, no such changes were observed in SD rats. Differences in 24-hour urinary epinephrine excretion before and during pregnancy ran parallel with such BP changes among these strains. NaCl-loaded SHRSP died during pregnancy with severe pathohistological changes in their kidneys and severe proteinuria. Taurine treatment had a marked prophylactic effect on these maternal pathological changes during pregnancy, resulting in better growth in offsprings. These results suggest that SHRSP could be one of the suitable animal models for the studies on toxemia of pregnancy and also suggest an important role of hypertensive genetical disposition in the development of toxemia of pregnancy.

A new view of the arterial smooth muscle cells and autonomic nerve plexus by scanning electron microscopy in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells and their associated autonomic nerve plexus were simultaneously studied by scanning electron microscopy in 3-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats. The adventitial surface of the outermost muscle layer revealed numerically more protrusions accompanied by a denser network of nerve fibers in spontaneously hypertensive rats vs normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats.

A new approach to the prevention of hypertensive cardiovascular diseases by controlling the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

Cholera toxin subunit B suppressed the proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from the thoracic aorta of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), stroke-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and stroke-prone SHR (SHRSP). Since cholera toxin subunit B did not stimulate cyclic AMP accumulation in vascular smooth muscle cells, the effect of cholera toxin subunit B might be due to another mechanism. Cholera toxin subunit B bound to the surface of vascular smooth muscle cells and was rapidly incorporated into them. The morphological structure of vascular smooth muscle cells was transformed from the synthetic type to the non-synthetic type, in which microfilaments and intermediate filaments were abundantly formed, while rough endoplasmic reticulum was decreased after CTB treatment.

Effects of low-dose chronic diltiazem treatment on hemodynamic changes in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effects of long-term diltiazem treatment on hemodynamic and cardiovascular characteristics were investigated in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and their respective untreated controls. The drug was administered to treated rats over a period of 24 weeks. Body weight, left ventricular weight, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, max dp/dt or maximum velocity of the contractile element (Vmax) were not significantly different in diltiazem-treated SHR and untreated SHR. In diltiazem-treated SHR, cardiac index (CI) and stroke volume index (SI) were significantly increased and total peripheral resistance and the index of left ventricular compliance (delta P/delta V) were significantly decreased compared with untreated SHR. Left ventricular pumping ability in treated SHR was higher than that in untreated SHR, despite the low dose of diltiazem given. However, there was no significant difference between treated and untreated WKY. Long-term diltiazem treatment did not affect left ventricular function or biochemical properties in SHR and WKY. These data suggest that long-term diltiazem treatment improves pump function in SHR without changing blood pressure.

Effects of sulphur amino acids on the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

We investigated the effects on blood pressure of 5% taurine administered prenatally or postnatally via maternal parents in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Prenatal and/or postnatal administration of taurine produced a blood pressure reduction in the offspring until at least 3 months of age. Furthermore, offspring exposed to high concentrations of taurine through the placenta during the prenatal period and also for 1 month after birth via maternal milk, showed a greater reduction in blood pressure than the group given taurine prenatally but not postnatally. The stroke-prone SHR were fed a high-fat cholesterol and low-protein diet containing 1% methionine or with 3% lysine in drinking water, and effects of the dietary amino acids on the development of atherogenesis were investigated. Intake of additional 1% methionine or 3% lysine had marked preventive effects on atherogenesis in the cerebral and mesenteric arteries in SHRSP. Therefore, early dietary intake of sulphur amino acids delays the onset of hypertension and attenuates the development of both severe hypertension and atherosclerosis in SHRSP.

Effect of milk protein and fat intake on blood pressure and the incidence of cerebrovascular diseases in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP)

The intake of two milk protein-rich diets containing casein and whey protein attenuated the development of severe hypertension in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP), and extended their life span in comparison with SHRSP on a regular stock diet. Milk fat-rich diet intake reduced the incidence of cerebrovascular disease in SHRSP without a significant fall in blood pressure. These results suggest that certain milk components have a preventive effect on hypertension and cerebrovascular disease in SHRSP.

Catecholamine-induced polyploidization in vascular smooth muscle cells

Polyploidy formation of vascular smooth muscle cells was observed in vivo by intravenous infusion of norepinephrine or epinephrine in Wistar-Crea rats for 12 days at the rate of 0.02 mumol/hr with an osmotic minipump and in vitro by exposing cultured vascular smooth muscle cells obtained from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) to norepinephrine (10(-7)M to 10(-5)M) in the cultured medium. Infusion in vivo of norepinephrine but not epinephrine increased blood pressure slightly. However, both agents increased significantly the frequency of tetraploidy of smooth muscle cells up to 14.9 +/- 0.6% (mean +/- SE) and 9.2 +/- 0.5% compared with saline (6.5 +/- 0.7%). Exposure in vitro to norepinephrine (10(-6)M) increased the frequency of tetraploidy and octaploidy of smooth muscle cells from SHR up to 14.2% and 2.1%, respectively, compared with nonexposed cells (8.1% and 0.2%). These results appear to indicate that norepinephrine and epinephrine induce polyploidy of smooth muscle cells independently from blood pressure elevation.

Dietary prevention of stroke and its mechanisms in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats--preventive effect of dietary fibre and palmitoleic acid

Previously it was reported that dietary protein, some amino acids and potassium are effective in preventing stroke in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). The present study revealed that other dietary factors could also prevent cerebral lesions, and the mechanism of this effect was studied. In SHRSP given 1% NaCl in their drinking water, a diet containing 10% active fibre (powdered brown seaweed converted to K+ form) significantly lowered blood pressure (BP) and markedly reduced the incidence of stroke (0 versus 100% in controls on the 30th day of experiment). Since the faecal to urinary sodium (Na) excretion ratio was increased in this group and a similar increase in faecal Na content was noted in SHRSP given a diet containing 10% alginic acid, the inhibition of intestinal Na absorption by alginic acid in the seaweed fibre was considered to be a possible preventive mechanism. Among SHRSP given various fatty acids, a diet containing 1% palmitoleic acid (POA) significantly improved the survival rate, with concomitant reduction in the incidence of stroke in spite of their excess NaCl intake through 1% NaCl water for drinking. Since neither BP nor urinary Na excretion was changed by POA which had high affinity for the vascular wall, the preventive effect was ascribed to the possible direct metabolic improvement of vascular smooth muscle cells.