Autologous adipose-derived regenerative cells are effective for chronic intractable radiation injuries

Effective therapy for chronic radiation injuries, such as ulcers, is prone to infection. Stiffness is expected since the therapeutic radiation often involves wider and deeper tissues and often requires extensive debridement and reconstruction, which are not sometimes appropriate for elderly and compromised hosts. Autologous adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) are highly yielding, forming relatively elderly aged consecutive 10 cases, 63.6±14.9 y (52-89 y), with mean radiation dose of 75.0±35.4 Gy (50-120 Gy) were included with at least 10-month follow-up. Minimal debridement and ADRC injection in the wound bed and margin along with the injection of mixture of fat and ADRCs in the periphery were tested for efficacy and regenerated tissue quality by clinically as well as imaging by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Uncultured ADRCs of 1.6±1.3×10(7) cells were obtained. All cases healed uneventfully after 6.6±3.2 weeks (2-10 weeks) post-operatively. The done site morbidity was negligible and without major complications, such as paralysis or massive haematoma. The regenerated tissue quality was significantly superior to the pre-operative one and the mixture of fat and ADRCs connected to the intact tissue was very soft and pliable. Mean follow-up at 1.9±0.8 y (0.9-2.9 y) revealed no recurrence or new ulceration after treatment. Thus, the ADRCs treatment for decades-long radiation injuries is effective, safe and improves the quality of wounds.

Acute non-hemolytic transfusion reactions and HLA class I antibody: advantages of solid phase assay compared with conventional complement-dependent assay

To evaluate the specific reactivity of HLA Class I antibodies (HLA-I Abs) in acute non-hemolytic transfusion reactions (ANHTRs) using solid phase assays (SPAs) and conventional complement-dependent lymphocyte cytotoxicity test (LCT). ANHTRs are major issues in transfusion medicine. Anti-leukocyte antibodies have been implicated as one of the causative agents of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and febrile reaction. Antibodies to HLA Class I and/or Class II (HLA Abs) have been intensively studied using SPAs for TRALI, but not for febrile reaction. About 107 patients and 186 donors associated with ANHTRs were screened for HLA Abs by SPAs such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Luminex method. When HLA-I Ab was detected, its specific reactivity was evaluated by comparing its specificity identified by the Luminex method using recombinant HLA molecules and cognate HLA antigens (Ags), as well as LCT with or without anti-human globulin (AHG). The incidences of HLA Abs were as high as 32·7% of patients' serum samples and 16% of donors' serum samples. The incidence of HLA-I Abs did not differ significantly between cases of febrile and allergic reactions. However, HLA-I Abs associated with febrile reaction showed a significantly higher rate of possessing specific reactivity to cognate HLA Ags than those associated with allergic reactions. In addition, the Luminex method enabled the detection of HLA-I Abs much earlier than AHG-LCT in serum samples from a patient with febrile reaction and platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR). SPAs seem more useful than AHG-LCT for evaluating reactivity of antibodies in ANHTR cases.

Combined injuries of the brachial plexus and spinal cord

A total of 11 patients with combined traumatic injuries of the brachial plexus and spinal cord were reviewed retrospectively. Brachial plexus paralysis in such dual injuries tends to be diagnosed and treated late and the prognosis is usually poor. The associated injuries, which were all on the same side as the plexus lesion, were to the head (nine cases), shoulder girdle (five), thorax (nine) and upper limb (seven). These other injuries were responsible for the delayed diagnosis of brachial plexus paralysis and the poor prognosis was probably because of the delay in starting treatment and the severity of the associated injuries. When such injuries are detected in patients with spinal cord trauma, it is important to consider the possibility of involvement of the brachial plexus.

Human mesenchymal stem cells successfully improve skin-substitute wound healing

BACKGROUND

Large or deteriorated skin defects are sometimes life threatening. There is increasing evidence that adult stem cells are useful for tissue regeneration. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are self-renewing and are potent in differentiating into multiple cells and tissues.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of hMSCs in cutaneous wound healing.

METHODS

Wound healing was studied in an hMSC-populated porcine skin substitute, using a nude rat model to minimize immune reactions. Full-thickness skin and soft tissue defects of 1.5 x 1.5 cm in size, including the panniculus carnosus, were excised and covered with hMSCs and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-soaked skin substitutes and an evaluation was made of wound size, histology and protein expression at 3, 7 and 42 days after injury.

RESULTS

The wound size was significantly smaller in the hMSC-treated groups (P < 0.01) and any dose of bFGF (1, 10, 100 microg) enhanced the healing (P < 0.01). The re-epithelialization markers integrin alpha3 and skin-derived antileucoproteinase were remarkably increased with the presence of bFGF in a dose-dependent manner, while the mesenchymal cell surface markers CD29 and CD44 were downregulated in a time-dependent manner. Human pancytokeratin, which does not cross-react with rat antigens, was observed by Western blotting at 38 kDa and 42 kDa from the hMSC-treated tissues on day 7. The expression levels were elevated by 10 microg bFGF (P < 0.01). The immunohistochemical expression of human pancytokeratin was only observed in the hMSC-treated groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that hMSCs together with bFGF in a skin defect model accelerate cutaneous wound healing as the hMSCs transdifferentiate into the epithelium.

Hydrometallurgical recovery of zinc from ashes of automobile tire wastes

Study has been performed on the investigation of metal leaching behavior for fly and bottom ashes from automobile tire wastes using acid and alkaline solutions from both viewpoints of environmental protection and resource utilization. The two ashes were found to contain substantial amounts of zinc and iron along with small quantities of cobalt, manganese, magnesium, copper, titanium and aluminum. The fly ash contained a much larger amount of zinc than the bottom ash, and seems to be a promising secondary source for the metal. Effects of such experimental parameters as temperature, time and solid-liquid ratio on the leaching behavior were investigated. Using three mineral acids and citric acid, selective leaching of zinc was successfully attained; the concentration of zinc in the leach liquors from the fly ash reached as high as 20 g l(-1) while the iron leaching was much suppressed. Selective separation of zinc was also attained in the leaching with alkaline solutions, though the percent leaching was lower than that in the acid leaching. Moreover, solvent extraction and precipitation were applied to the metal-loaded leach liquors as downstream processing to evaluate the feasibility of zinc recovery.

Striking effect of left ventricular high filling pressure with mitral regurgitation on mitral annular velocity during early diastole. A study using colour M-mode tissue Doppler imaging

AIMS

To evaluate the effect of considerably high left ventricular filling pressure with mitral regurgitation on mitral annular velocity during early diastole.

SUBJECTS

Two hundred and forty-three patients who underwent cardiac catheterization for evaluation of chest pain.

METHODS

Mitral annular velocity during early diastole was measured by colour M-mode tissue Doppler imaging. Patients were divided into the following three groups according to the cardiac catheterization data. Group A (n=147): patients having left ventricular relaxation time constant tau<46 ms and left ventricular end-systolic volume index <38 ml m(-2); group B (n=88): patients having tau>or=46 ms and/or end-systolic volume index >or=38 ml m(-2); group C (n=8): patients having mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >or=16 mmHg in addition to tau>or=46 ms and end-systolic volume index >or=38 ml m(-2).

RESULTS

Mitral annular velocity during early diastole was significantly less in group B (4.8+/-1.4 cm s(-1)) than in group A (7.7+/-1.9 cm s(-1)). However, there was no significant difference between groups A and C (8.3+/-0.8 cm s(-1)). A transmitral E/A >1.0 was observed in 12/147 patients of group A, 10/88 of group B, and 8/8 of group C. The incidence of >or=Sellers' grade II mitral regurgitation was higher in group C than the others.

CONCLUSIONS

A paradoxically faster mitral annular velocity during early diastole is found in patients having left ventricular dysfunction with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation and considerably high left ventricular filling pressure. Attention should be paid to an interpretation of mitral annular velocity during early diastole regarding left ventricular early diastolic performance in patients having mitral regurgitation with an E/A >1.0 in their transmitral flow.

Striking effect of left ventricular systolic performance on propagation velocity of left ventricular early diastolic filling flow

Propagation velocity of left ventricular (LV) early diastolic filling flow (PVE) has been acknowledged as a useful parameter for LV early diastolic performance; however, the effect of LV systolic performance on PVE is not fully understood. Thus the purpose of this study was to investigate such an effect. Propagation of LV early diastolic filling flow was visualized by M-mode color Doppler imaging, and the slopes of the peak velocity tracings were measured as PVE in 150 patients who underwent coronary angiography. In cardiac catheterization, mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, time constant tau of LV pressure decay, LV end-systolic volume index, and LV ejection fraction were obtained. In univariate regression analysis, PVE significantly correlated with LV end-systolic volume index (r = -0.68, P <.001), LV ejection fraction (r = 0.66, P <.001), and time constant tau (r = -0.52, P <.001). In multivariate regression analysis, PVE was regressed by the LV end-systolic volume index, tau, and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. The contribution of each parameter to the variance of the PVE was 46%, 3%, and 2%, respectively. A break-point linear regression analysis showed that the relation between the LV end-systolic volume index and PVE was much better characterized by a broken line than a straight line. The broken line had a steeper slope in patients with LV end-systolic volume index < or =41 mL/m(2) than in those with >41 mL/m(2). These findings suggest that PVE is determined mainly by LV systolic performance and partly by both LV relaxation and LV filling pressure. Left ventricular systolic performance may play a key role in generating a much faster PVE, especially in patients with relatively better LV systolic performance.

Selective concentration of gold in water to a polystyrene-embedded fiber disk with polyoxyethylene(10)-p-isononylphenyl ether

A new surfactant-mediated separation method was developed for concentrating traces of gold ion in water. The methodology is based on the combination of selective complexation of gold(III) with polyoxyethylene(10)-p-isononylphenyl ether, PONPE-10, and strong binding of surfactant complex to hydrophobic polystyrene resins embedded in a PTFE fiber disk (Empore disk). A 400-fold concentration of gold(III) was achieved by 400 ml load of the sample containing 0.01% (w/v) PONPE-10 and 0.10 M nitric acid and by the subsequent elution with 1.0 ml of aqueous buffer solution of 0.01 M N-(dithiocarboxyl)sarcosine diammonium. Traces of gold (0.40 ng/l) in river water samples were successfully determined with inductively coupled plasma MS.

The profibrinolytic enzyme subtilisin NAT purified from Bacillus subtilis Cleaves and inactivates plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1

In this report, we demonstrate an interaction between subtilisin NAT (formerly designated BSP, or nattokinase), a profibrinolytic serine proteinase from Bacillus subtilis, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). Subtilisin NAT was purified to homogeneity (molecular mass, 27.7 kDa) from a saline extract of B. subtilis (natto). Subtilisin NAT appeared to cleave active recombinant prokaryotic PAI-1 (rpPAI-1) into low molecular weight fragments. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization in combination with time-of-flight mass spectroscopy and peptide sequence analysis revealed that rpPAI-1 was cleaved at its reactive site (P1-P1': Arg(346)-Met(347)). rpPAI-1 lost its specific activity after subtilisin NAT treatment in a dose-dependent manner (0.02-1.0 nm; half-maximal effect at approximately 0.1 nm). Subtilisin NAT dose dependently (0.06-1 nm) enhanced tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced fibrin clot lysis both in the absence of rpPAI-1 (48 +/- 1.4% at 1 nm) and especially in the presence of rpPAI-1 (78 +/- 2.0% at 1 nm). The enhancement observed in the absence of PAI-1 seems to be induced through direct fibrin dissolution by subtilisin NAT. The stronger enhancement by subtilisin NAT of rpPAI-1-enriched fibrin clot lysis seems to involve the cleavage and inactivation of active rpPAI-1. This mechanism is suggested to be important for subtilisin NAT to potentiate fibrinolysis.

The gene for alternative oxidase-2 (AOX2) from Arabidopsis thaliana consists of five exons unlike other AOX genes and is transcribed at an early stage during germination

We investigated the expressions of genes for alternative oxidase (AOX1a, AOX1b, AOX1c and AOX2) and genes for cytochrome c oxidase (COX5b and COX6b) during germination of Arabidopsis thaliana, and examined oxygen uptakes of the alternative respiration and the cytochrome respiration in imbibed Arabidopsis seeds. A Northern blot analysis showed that AOX2 mRNA has already accumulated in dry seeds and subsequently decreased, whereas accumulation ofAOX1a mRNA was less abundant from 0 hours to 48 hours after imbibition and then increased. The increase of the capacity of the alternative pathway appeared to be dependent on the expressions of both AOX2 and AOX1a. On the other hand, steady-state mRNA levels of COX5b and COX6b were gradually increased during germination, and the capacity of the cytochrome pathway was correlated with the increase of expressions of the COX genes. Antimycin A, the respiratory inhibitor, strongly increased the expression of AOX1a but had no effect on the expression of AOX2. A 5'RACE analysis showed that AOX2 consists of five exons, which is different from the case of most AOX genes identified so far. Analysis of subcellular localization of AOX2 using green fluorescent protein indicated that the AOX2 protein is imported into the mitochondria.

Acid stimulates E-cadherin surface expression on gastric epithelial cells to stabilize barrier functions via influx of calcium

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

E-cadherin, which is a [Ca2+]-dependent, homotypic cell-cell adhesion molecule, is expressed in gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Much has been learned about the down-regulation of E-cadherin expression in gastrointestinal tumours, Barrett's oesophageal dysplasia, and Crohn's disease, but the functions of this molecule in normal gastrointestinal mucosa are less known.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated the relationship between E-cadherin expression and permeability using rat cultured gastric and intestinal epithelial cells following a 30-min exposure to various pH solutions. We also investigated the participation of [Ca2+] in these events.

RESULTS

E-cadherin expression increased under acid (pH 4) but not alkali (pH 10 or 11) exposure only for gastric epithelial cells. Gastric epithelial permeability was maintained only against acid exposure while intestinal permeability increased under both conditions. Transient influx of [Ca2+] was only observed for gastric epithelial cells just after acid exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that E-cadherin expression on gastric epithelium stabilizes the epithelial barrier against acid, probably through influx of [Ca2+]. This event is thought to be one of the protective mechanisms in gastric mucosa against acid back-diffusion, which is one of the causes of peptic ulcer formation.

Leukemia inhibitory factor enhances bone formation in calvarial bone defect

For bone defect reconstruction, locally administered cytokine plasmid was examined. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) can bind to the osteoblast cell surface and induce bone formation both in vitro and in vivo. The authors investigated the local mouse LIF complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) plasmid in the pcDNA 3 expression vector, which is promoted by cytomegalovirus and is stabilized by bovine growth hormone polyadenylation, with a gelatin sponge carrier. A total of 150 male Wistar rats were used. They were divided into three groups. Group 1 (N = 30) was treated with the gelatin carrier of the pcDNA 3 vector, group 2 (N = 90) was treated with three different doses of LIF cDNA (0.1, 1, and 10 micrograms) in the pcDNA 3-vector plasmid along with the gelatin carrier, and group 3 (N = 30) was treated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein -2. Ten animals in each group were euthanized at 1, 3, and 5 weeks postoperatively. Animals treated with LIF cDNA showed significantly enhanced bone mineral density (p < 0.05), as confirmed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), in 3 weeks compared with the control vehicle. By 3 weeks, the number of fibroblast-like cells and collagen fibers decreased, whereas the osteoblast-like cells increased inversely, as revealed during histological examination. LIF messenger ribonucleic acid demonstrated by in situ hybridization was observed most markedly in osteocytes of the LIF cDNA-treated group. Also, LIF peptide was detected in the same cell type by immunohistochemistry. Locally administered LIF cDNA plasmid in a gelatin carrier can increase bone density significantly, with subsequent bone formation, probably via osteocyte activation.

Diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma--imaging diagnosis and significance of tumor biopsy

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To compare the effectiveness of different imaging modalities and the significance of tumor biopsy for diagnosing small hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODOLOGY

Nodules (n = 352) with diameters of 30 mm or less newly detected by periodic ultrasonography and computed tomography in 234 patients with chronic liver disease were investigated with magnetic resonance imaging and digital subtraction angiography. These findings were compared with histologic findings. Histologic diagnoses were dysplastic nodule (n = 23), well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 163), moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 159), and poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 7). We compared three groups based on-diameters of 10, 11-20, and 21-30 mm. Nodules were diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma if they had hypervascular staining on digital subtraction angiography, hyperintensity on magnetic resonance T2-weighted images, arterial phase enhancement on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, or low-high-low density on enhanced computed tomography.

RESULTS

Imaging alone was sufficient to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma in 66.3% of the well-differentiated nodules and 91.6% of the moderately and poorly differentiated nodules (P < 0.001) The size of the nodule influenced the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma by imaging alone in 65.5% (< or = 10 mm), 77.2% (11-20 mm), and 92.3% (21-30 mm) (< or = 10 vs. 21-30: P < 0.0001, 11-20 vs. 21-30: P < 0.0005). It was impossible to determine the degree of differentiation of the hepatocellular carcinoma by imaging alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The effectiveness of imaging for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma improved with decreasing differentiation and increasing diameter of the nodules. Tumor biopsy was required to make a histological accurate diagnosis.

Leukemia inhibitory factor gene improves skin allograft survival in the mouse model

BACKGROUND

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a widely expressed cytokine involved in both local and systemic immune response. Furthermore, it has been implicated in various immunological processes including thymic T cell maturation and embryo implantation. We investigated implication of various modalities in the application of prolonged and viable allograft to the wound, using cytokines and growth factors.

MATERIALS

BALB/c and B6D2F1 strains of mice were used either as a skin graft donor or host. LIF cDNA inserted in plasmid vector or the vector alone was injected intradermally in graft skin and observed up to 21 days. LIF, LIF-receptor, gp130, as well as type 1 and 2 T helper cytokine expressions were investigated by reverse transcription polymerasse chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and histological studies.

RESULTS

LIF cDNA-treated groups showed significantly improved graft survival compared to the vector-treated control in 21 days postoperatively for grafting from B6D2F1 to BALB/c and BALB/c to B6D2F1. LIF and LIF receptor mRNA expressions were observed 24 hr and 21 days posttransplantation. The gp130 expression was only observed in LIF-treated B6D2F1 to BALB/c allografting on day 21 posttransplantation. LIF transcripts were strongly present in the epidermal, dermal, and subdermal tissues as determined by an in situ hybridization of LIF-treated grafting.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that LIF cDNA treatment is an effective and beneficial adjuvant for the skin allograft survival. Improved skin allograft modulation by cytokine gene transfer is a potentially promising therapy for temporary large skin coverage.

Expression of alpha-expansin genes in young seedlings of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice is the only cereal in which germination and coleoptile elongation occur in hypoxia or anoxia. Little is known of the molecular basis directly underlying coleoptile cell extension. In this paper, we describe the expression of alpha-expansin genes in embryos during seed development and young seedlings grown under various oxygen concentrations. The genes Os-EXP2 and Os-EXP1 were predominantly expressed in the developing seeds, mainly in newly developed leaves, coleoptiles, and seminal roots. These expansins expressed in the developing seeds may give cells the potential to expand after seed imbibition begins. In coleoptiles, Os-EXP4 and Os-EXP2 mRNAs were greatly induced by submergence, while they were weakly detected in aerobic or anoxic conditions. Under submerged soil conditions, the signals hybridized with probes Os-EXP4 and Os-EXP2 in coleoptiles were strongest when coleoptiles elongated in the water layer. These data show that expansin gene expression is highly correlated with coleoptile elongation in response to oxygen concentrations. The Os-EXP4 gene was also expressed in leaves, mesocotyls, and coleorhizas of young seedlings. The growth of these tissues was also correlated with the presence of expansins. Therefore, the evidence derived from this study clearly demonstrates that expansins are indispensable for the growing tissues of rice seedlings.