The effect of topical CS-088, an angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, on intraocular pressure and aqueous humor dynamics in rabbits

PURPOSE

To evaluate the ocular hypotensive effect of topical CS-088, an angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, and the effect of CS-088 on aqueous humor dynamics.

METHODS

The effects of CS-088 on intraocular pressure (IOP) were studied in 2 models of rabbit ocular hypertension. Experimental ocular hypertension was induced in albino rabbits by injecting alpha-chymotrypsin into the anterior chamber (alpha-chymotrypsin rabbit). The effects of the single application of CS-088 were examined. Additionally, CS-088 was repeatedly administered over a period of 3 weeks to hereditary ocular hypertensive rabbits (buphthalmic rabbits, JWHR bu/bu) and the IOPs were monitored throughout the experiment. The effects of CS-088 on aqueous humor dynamics were also examined in normal rabbits. In this study, the methods of IOP recovery rate, two-level constant pressure perfusion and fluorescein-dextran perfusion were used respectively to determine the aqueous inflow, outflow facility and uveoscleral outflow (USF).

RESULTS

CS-088 at 1% and 2% significantly lowered the IOP in the alpha-chymotrypsin rabbits with a maximum IOP reduction of 10.1 mmHg. The maximum effect obtained with 2% CS-088 was no greater than that with 1% CS-088. In the buphthalmic rabbits, 2% CS-088 also lowered IOP significantly. Timolol was effective in both models. In the study on aqueous humor dynamics, a slight increase in USF (17%) was seen after a topical application of CS-088 whereas changes in aqueous inflow or outflow facility were not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Topical CS-088 can decrease IOP in rabbits. Despite the USF change, the ocular hypotensive mechanism by CS-088 was not fully determined.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid inhibits apoptosis in PC12 cells

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) is an endocrine disrupter that exerts cytotoxic effects on organisms. In this study, the influence of 2,4,5-T at low concentrations on apoptosis in PC 12 cells was investigated. Although no apoptotic features were observed in PC12 cells treated with 2,4,5-T, it inhibited the DNA fragmentation induced by serum deprivation. In addition, the cell viability of PC12 cells increased after treatment with 2,4,5-T. In conclusion, 2,4,5-T suppressed the apoptosis of the cultured cells. Since apoptosis is a morphological and biochemical description of a physiological mechanism of cell death that is commonly associated with programmed events necessary for development of individuals and organs, the inhibitory effect of 2,4,5-T on apoptosis might cause serious damage to cell homeostasis and differentiation.

Near-field fluorescence imaging and simultaneous observation of surface potentials

We present a new detection method to measure simultaneously surface potential and fluorescence intensity distributions using a combined scanning near-field optical microscope-atomic force microscope (SNOM-AFM). A surface potential image of phospholipid monolayers was obtained in non-contact mode using the SNOM-AFM with a thin-step etched optical fibre probe. For applying this technique, a phospholipid of dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine labelled at the head with a nitrobenzoxadiazole group was used as a fluorescent and single component Langmuir-Blodgett film. It is well known that aggregation of the lipid molecules and their fluorescence intensities are very sensitive to its environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature. We demonstrated for the first time the near-field optical imaging and simultaneous observation of surface potentials with Maxwell stress microscopy.

Combined effects of working environmental conditions in VDT work

The combined effects of city noise and luminance of the computer display were evaluated from the changes in lymphocytes and mental activities of participants. Healthy male students were tested under the following four experimental conditions: (1) a calculating task on a video display terminal (VDT) with luminance of 90 cd m(-2) without city noise; (2) a calculating task on a VDT with luminance of 20 cd m(-2) without city noise; (3) a calculating task on a VDT with luminance of 90 cd m(-2) with city noise of 70 dB(A); and (4) a calculating task on a VDT with luminance of 20 cd m(-2) with city noise of 70 dB(A). A visual reaction test (VRT) was performed, and critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF), heart rate (HR), numbers of circulating white blood cells (WBCs), lymphocyte subsets and subjective symptoms of fatigue were measured (1) before; (2) just after; and (3) 30 min after each 60 min test. Subjective symptoms of fatigue significantly increased just after experiments conducted under the two noisy conditions. VRT and CFF showed significant changes in the case of the high-luminance display with noise. WBCs and neutrophils showed significant increases in the two quiet conditions. These results suggested that high luminance with noise had the most effect on subjective fatigue and mental activities.

In vivo evidence for accelerated generation of hydroxyl radicals in liver of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats with acute hepatitis

The Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats accumulate excess copper (Cu) in the liver in a manner similar to patients with Wilson's disease (WD) and spontaneously develop acute hepatitis with severe jaundice. Although hydroxyl radicals (*OH) have been proposed to be a cause of hepatitis by the accumulation of Cu, it is not clear whether or not *OH can be produced in the liver of hepatitic LEC rats in vivo and also can be involved in the onset of hepatitis. In the present study, *OH production in plasma and liver of hepatitic LEC rats was quantified by trapping *OH with salicylic acid (SA) as 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2, 3-DHBA). The ratios of 2, 3-DHBA/SA were significantly higher in plasma and liver of hepatitic LEC rats than those of Wistar rats and LEC rats showing no signs of hepatitis. Furthermore, the ratios of 2, 3-DHBA/SA in plasma and liver of hepatitic LEC rats were almost the same as those of Wistar rats treated orally with CuSO(4) (0.5 mmol/kg) 2 h before acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) injection. We also evaluated the protective effects of D-mannitol (a *OH scavenger) treatment against acute hepatitis in LEC rats. D-mannitol (500 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to 10-week-old LEC rats for 3 weeks. D-mannitol treatment suppressed the increases in serum aspartate aminotransferase activity and total bilirubin concentration. In addition, D-mannitol treatment significantly reduced hepatic mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, which is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of Cu-induced hepatotoxicity. These observations suggest that accelerated generation of *OH catalyzed by free Cu in the liver may, at least in part, play a role in the pathogenesis of acute hepatitis in LEC rats.

Effects of near-infrared low-level laser irradiation on microcirculation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Recently, there has been an increase in the clinical application of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) in various fields. The present study was conducted to explore the effects of LLLI on microcirculation.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIAL AND METHODS

We investigated the effects of LLLI on rat mesenteric microcirculation in vivo, and on cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro.

RESULTS

LLLI caused potent dilation in the laser-irradiated arteriole, which led to marked increases in the arteriolar blood flow. The changes were partly attenuated in the initial phase by the superfusion of 15 microM L-NAME, but they were not affected by local denervation. Furthermore, LLLI caused a power-dependent decrease in [Ca2+]i in VSMCs.

CONCLUSION

The circulatory changes observed seemed to be mediated largely by LLLI-induced reduction of [Ca2+]i in VSMCs, in addition to the involvement of NO in the initial phase.

Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric ulcer exhibits enhanced mucosal chemokine activity at the ulcer site

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Although mucosal alpha- and beta-chemokines are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis, little is known how these chemokines are related to the ulcerogenesis in peptic ulcer patients. We examined the levels of interleukin (IL)-8 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) in organ cultures and the numbers of inflammatory cells infiltrating the lamina propria by using the mucosal tissues obtained from gastric ulcer (GU) patients with and without H. pylori infection.

METHODS

Levels of IL-8 and MIP-1alpha secreted in organ cultures were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Numbers of myeloperoxidase-positive neutrophils, CD68-positive macrophages, and mononuclear cells were determined in tissue sections.

RESULTS

The mucosal tissues of both the gastric antrum and the ulcer site obtained from patients with H. pylori-positive GU showed significantly higher levels of IL-8 and MIP-1alpha and increased numbers of inflammatory cells compared with the corresponding mucosal tissues from those with H. pylori-negative GU or the antral mucosal tissues from H. pylori-negative controls. When the values were compared between the mucosal tissues from the gastric antrum and those from the ulcer site, the latter group of tissues showed significantly higher levels of IL-8 and MIP-1alpha and increased numbers of neutrophils and macrophages than the former group regardless of its healing process in patients with H. pylori-positive GU.

CONCLUSION

Mucosal alpha- and beta-chemokines may be important to the ulcerogenesis in H. pylori-associated GU disease.

Restitutive response of Mini rat liver to injury induced by a single oral administration of thioacetamide

Mini rats are a transgenic rat strain carrying antisense gene for rat growth hormone (GH), resulting in retarded growth and a lower blood GH level (136 +/- 42.0 ng/mL) compared with that of age-matched parental strain Wistar rats (329 +/- 337 ng/mL). Mini rats have been used by several investigators as a GH deficiency model. In this work, we gave a single oral administration of thioacetamide (TAA), a hepatotoxicant, to both Mini rats and Wistar rats to ascertain the influence of GH deficiency on liver response to chemically induced injury and subsequent regeneration. TAA administration caused liver injury in both strains, with a greater extent of injury in Mini rats. Proliferation of bile epithelial cells and so-called oval cells was prominent at Day 3 in Mini rats only, and this change correlated well with serum total bilirubin concentrations. Antibody against Ki-67 antigen revealed that cellular proliferation after TAA-induced liver injury was suppressed but prolonged in the Mini rat liver. Although hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells/macrophages were more abundant in the livers of TAA-treated Mini rats, the hepatic expression patterns of hepatocyte growth factor and transforming growth factor beta 1 were comparable to those of Wistar rats. Insulin-like growth factor-I gene expression was significantly reduced in the Mini rat liver. Our results imply that a lower GH level may exacerbate chemically induced liver injury, enhance infiltration/proliferation of non-parenchymal cells, suppress regeneration of hepatocytes, and induce proliferation of bile epithelial cells and oval cells when the liver is injured by TAA.

Formation of bioorganic compounds in simulated planetary atmospheres by high energy particles or photons

Various types of organic compounds have been detected in Jupiter, Titan, and cometary coma. It is probable that organic compounds were formed in primitive Earth and Mars atmospheres. Cosmic rays and solar UV are believed to be two major energy sources for organic formation in space. We examined energetics of organic formation in simulated planetary atmospheres. Gas mixtures including a C-source (carbon monoxide or methane) and a N-source (nitrogen or ammonia) was irradiated with the followings: High energy protons or electrons from accelerators, gamma-rays from 60Co, UV light from a deuterium lamp, and soft X-rays or UV light from an electron synchrotron. Amino acids were detected in the products of particles, gamma-rays and soft X-rays irradiation from each gas mixture examined. UV light gave, however, no amino acid precursors in the gas mixture of carbon monoxide, nitrogen and nitrogen. It gave only a trace of them in the gas mixture of carbon monoxide, ammonia and water or that of methane, nitrogen and water. Yield of amino acid precursors by photons greatly depended on their wavelength. These results suggest that nitrogen-containing organic compounds like amino acid precursors were formed chiefly with high energy particles, not UV photons, in Titan or primitive Earth/Mars atmospheres where ammonia is not available as a predominant N-source.

The antioxidant effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on copper-induced acute hepatitis in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats

The Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, due to a genetic defect, accumulate excess copper (Cu) in the liver in a manner similar to patients with Wilson's disease and spontaneously develop acute hepatitis with severe jaundice. In this study we examined the protective effect of DL-alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) against acute hepatitis in LEC rats. LA was administered to LEC rats by gavage in doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg five times per week, starting at 8-weeks-old and continuing till 12-weeks-old. Although LA had little effect against the increases in serum transaminase activities, it suppressed the loss of body weight and prevented severe jaundice in a dose-dependent manner. Antioxidant system analyses in liver showed that LA treatment significantly suppressed the inactivations of catalase and glutathione peroxidase, and the induction of heme oxygenase-1, an enzyme which is inducible under oxidative stress. Furthermore, LA showed dose-dependent suppressive effect against increase in nonheme iron contents of both cytosolic and crude mitochondrial fractions in a dose-dependent manner. Although at the highest dose, LA slightly suppressed the accumulation of Cu in crude mitochondrial fraction, it had no effect on the accumulation of Cu in cytosolic fraction. While LA completely suppressed the increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the microsomal fraction at the highest dose, the suppressive effect against LPO in crude mitochondrial fractions was slight. From these results, it is concluded that LA has antioxidant effects at the molecular level against the development of Cu-induced hepatitis in LEC rats. Moreover, mitochondrial oxidative damage might be involved in the development of acute hepatitis in LEC rats.

Deficiencies of hippocampal Zn and ZnT3 accelerate brain aging of Rat

We examined the link of hippocampal Zn to the functional impairments with aging using senescence-accelerated mouse prone 10 (SAMP10) with deficits in learning and memory. Zn in hippocampal mossy fiber pathway was less distributed in aged SAMP10 than that in the age-matched control. Furthermore, expression of Zn transporter 3, ZnT3, which plays to accumulate Zn in synaptic vesicles in the mossy fiber pathway, was markedly reduced in the hippocampal region even in young SAMP10. Moreover, excessive presynaptic release of glutamate as well as glycine and expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, a marker of neuronal cell injury, were observed in the hippocampus of aged SAMP10 compared to the control. The present results suggest that age-dependent deficiencies of Zn in synaptic vesicles of the mossy fiber pathway induced by low expression of ZnT3 cause glutamatergic excitotoxicity in the hippocampal neurons and the deterioration of learning and memory in SAMP10.

Strategies for reaching by individuals with mental retardation: empty and filled glasses

The purpose of this study was to assess the reaching strategies of individuals with mental retardation under different conditions. Much about reaching has been studied from the points of view of the optimization of the reading performance and the adaptation to the object's attributes. Few studies, however, have concerned reaching among individuals with mental retardation. Eight right-handed individuals with mental retardation reached for two types of glasses, one empty and the other filled with water. We translated the position of the index finger into X-Y-Z coordinate values and examined movement time, length of trajectory, and tangential velocity under the empty and filled conditions. There was no difference between conditions on any of the variables thought in many studies for individuals without mental retardation to indicate differences between attributes. This suggests that the present individuals with mental retardation might have difficulty in using information or context for planning movement and in optimizing their reaching movement for different conditions.

[Therapeutic efficacy of amantadine hydrochloride in patients with epidemic influenza A virus infection]

A virus infection was studied using half of the normal oral dose of amantadine hydrochloride-100 mg/d instead of 200 mg/d. The patients in this study, who visited the clinics during January and February 1999, were confirmed within 48 hours to have influenza A virus infections by the Directigen FluA test. Using a quasi-randomized controlled trial, 26 patients were treated with amantadine hydrochloride in addition to the usual medication, while 23 were treated with only the ordinary medication. There were no significant differences in the mean age, 35.6 years old, or in clinical features between the two groups. The period of fever over 38 degrees C in the amantadine treated group was 1 day while that in the control group was 1.7 days, which shows a significant difference (p = 0.049). There was no significant difference in the duration of aching, such as arthralgia, or of general fatigue. There was no significant difference in the appearance of subsequent new symptoms after the onset of influenza A virus infection. In conclusion, it is expected that oral amantadine hydrochloride, 100 mg/d, together with the ordinary medication, will reduce the duration of the period of fever over 38 degrees C.

Distribution of zinc-binding metallothionein in cirrhotic liver of rats administered zinc

This study was undertaken in order to investigate the effect of zinc (Zn) administration on induction of Zn-binding metallothionein in rat liver with thioacetamide-induced cirrhosis, and the localization of metallothionein in the liver. Normal and cirrhotic rats received intraperitoneal injections with or without Zn. Subsequently, metal analyses, purification of metallothionein by gel filtration and immunohistochemical assessments of metallothionein were carried out. Although in Zn-injected cirrhotic rats, the Zn contents in the liver and plasma increased significantly depending upon the dose of Zn, the Zn contents in the liver and plasma of the cirrhotic rats were lower than those of normal rats after the same dose of Zn. The results of gel filtration also showed that the levels of Zn-metallothionein in the cirrhotic liver were reduced in comparison with those of the normal liver. By the immunohistochemical method, the presence of metallothionein in the parenchymal areas but not in the fibrotic areas of the cirrhotic liver was confirmed. These results suggested that the induced metallothionein was only located in the parenchymal areas. The metallothionein induced in the parenchymal areas was considered to play a role in protecting the parenchymal cells against the progression of fibrosis, because metallothionein has been thought to be involved in the cellular defense against oxidative stress.

Genetic analysis of lifespan in hybrid progeny derived from the SAMP1 mouse strain with accelerated senescence

The SAMP1 mouse, a senescence-accelerated mouse prone (SAMP) strain, shows accelerated senescence coupled with a short lifespan as a genetic trait, and has been used in gerontological research. The accelerated senescence and short lifespan of SAMP strains is considered to be under the control of multiple genes. To identify the chromosomal regions encompassing the genes for the accelerated senescence and short lifespan, we performed whole genome scanning with polymorphic marker loci in a progeny from a cross between the SAMP1 strain and normal B10.BR strain. A genetically recessive effect of the amyloidogenic Apoa2(c) allele from SAMP1 on chromosome 1 to shorten the lifespan was demonstrated in the progeny, consistent with the previous report. The recessive effect was observed also at D1Mit67, D5Mit267, D6Mit384 and D19Mit33, suggesting the presence of genes for accelerated senescence in the SAMP strains around these loci. Other markers on chromosomes 8, 14, 16, and 17, however, exhibited a dominant or additive effect to shorten or prolong the lifespan, demonstrating a complex genetic control of the trait.

Immune response to gangliosides in a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome after varicella

An 8 year old girl was admitted to hospital with the typical clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after recovering from varicella. Onset of the disease was just two weeks after the onset of varicella in her young sister. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid and nerve conduction studies showed typical findings of GBS. Although serum from both the patient and sister were analysed for autoantibodies to gangliosides and myelin P0 protein, IgM anti-GM1 antibody and anti-GD1b antibody were only detected in the patient. HLA DR haplotypes were quite different between the two subjects. This suggests that these autoantibodies may play an important role in the pathogenesis of GBS after varicella zoster virus infection.

Relation between the superconducting gap energy and the two-magnon raman peak energy in Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(1-x)Y(x)Cu(2)O(8+delta)

The relation between the electronic excitation and the magnetic excitation for the superconductivity in Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(1-x)Y(x)Cu(2)O(8+delta) was investigated by wide-energy Raman spectroscopy. In the underdoping region the B(1g) scattering intensity is depleted below the two-magnon peak energy due to the charge-spin interactions. The depleted region decreases according to the decrease of the two-magnon peak energy, as the carrier concentration increases. This two-magnon peak energy also determines the B(1g) superconducting gap energy as 2Delta approximately alphaPlanck's over 2piomega(two-magnon) approximately J(eff) (alpha = 0.34-0.41) from under to overdoping hole concentration.

Diverse effect of tributyltin on apoptosis in PC12 cells

It has not been fully elucidated how endocrine-disrupting chemicals disrupt hormone functions or how strong their effects are compared with natural hormones. There is little information concerning the effects of tributyltin (TBT), one of the endocrine disrupters on living organisms. Although TBT at high concentration induced apoptosis in PC12 cells, TBT at low concentration inhibited the DNA fragmentation in the cells cultured in serum-free medium or in medium containing 6-hydroxydopamine. The cell viability grown in both medium conditions increased after treatment with TBT. These findings suggest that TBT exerted a apoptosis-inducing and -inhibiting effect. These diverse effect of TBT on apoptosis would cause serious damages on cell differentiation.

Troxipide, a novel antiulcer compound, has inhibitory effects on human neutrophil migration and activation induced by various stimulants

BACKGROUND

Neutrophils are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastroduodenal diseases on account of their potent biological functions as effector cells. Troxipide, a new antiulcer compound used for patients with gastric ulcer or gastritis, has been shown to inhibit migration and activation of guinea pig neutrophils, but little is known about the pharmacological effects on human neutrophils.

AIMS

To study the effects of troxipide on chemotactic migration and superoxide generation by human neutrophils.

METHODS

The chemotactic response of neutrophils was determined in a multi-well chamber with a polycarbonate filter and the generation of O2- by neutrophils was measured using a chemiluminescence method. Concentrations of troxipide in gastric mucosa were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

Incubation of neutrophils with 10(-6) to 10(4) M troxipide caused inhibition of recombinant interleukin-8-induced migration. These concentrations of troxipide also inhibited superoxide generation by neutrophils stimulated by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine or platelet activating factor. These phenomena were not simply due to the direct cytotoxic effects since the above concentrations of troxipide did not induce neutrophil apoptosis. The concentrations of troxipide detected in the gastric mucosa after oral administration were in the range able to inhibit chemotactic migration and superoxide generation by neutrophils in vitro.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that troxipide may exert its therapeutic effect in patients with gastric ulcer or gastritis by inhibiting inflammatory responses and mucosal injury mediated by neutrophils in gastric mucosa.

Histochemical characterization of silver-induced metallothionein in rat kidney

Histochemical characterizations of Ag-induced metallothionein (MT) in the kidney of the rat have been reported. Ag, Cu and Zn contents increased in kidney and liver after Ag injection. In particular, the Cu content in kidneys increased dramatically after three injections of Ag. Sephadex G-75 elution profiles of the renal cytosol of rats injected with Ag revealed that the accumulated Cu in the kidney was bound to MT as were Ag and Zn. In addition, localization of Cu- and Ag-MT in the kidney was studied using autofluorescent signals, which are dependent on Cu- or Ag-thiol clusters, and immunohistochemistry. Although the MT induced by Ag was predominantly observed in the cortex of the kidney, some MT signals were also detected in the outer stripe of the outer medulla, as well as in the kidneys of LEC rats, an animal model of Wilson disease (a hereditary disorder of Cu metabolism). In these LEC rats, the Cu-MT also accumulated in the outer stripe of the outer medulla of the kidney. From these results, one possibility could explain that the Cu-MT detected in the outer stripe of the outer medulla in the kidney of Ag-injected rat was associated with the Cu transporter affected by Ag.

Suppression of cellular immunity by surgical stress

BACKGROUND

Suppression of cellular immunity is one of the host responses to surgical stress. In cancer patients this immunosuppression may accelerate the growth and metastasis of residual cancer cells, so it is desirable to restrict immunosuppression by surgical stress to a minimum. However, the extent and duration of immunosuppression caused by operations on gastrointestinal cancer, as well as the mechanisms involved, have not been determined.

METHODS

To clarify these points, we investigated immunocyte function and measured the blood levels of hormones, cytokines, and acute phase reactants from before to after operation in 20 patients with stage I gastrointestinal cancer.

RESULTS

In patients exposed to surgical stress, peripheral blood lymphocyte numbers and function were suppressed until at least 2 weeks postoperatively. This immunosuppression was mainly due to a decrease of helper-inducer T cells, cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells, and interleukin-2 receptor-positive cells, as well as an increase of suppressor T cells. In addition, hypersecretion of cortisol and overproduction of immunosuppressive acidic protein were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Cellular immunosuppression by surgical stress was mainly due to an increase of lymphocyte subsets that depress cellular immunity coupled with a decrease of the subsets that promote it. Overproduction of cortisol and immunosuppressive acidic protein in response to surgical stress may play an important role in the development of immunosuppression.

[Two cases of rheumatoid arthritis associated with IgA -type multiple myeloma]

We report here two Japanese cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated with IgA [symbol: see text]-type multiple myeloma (MM). Case 1. The patient was a 68-year-old man with eight-years history of RA. The M-proteinemia (IgA 2838 mg/dl) in laboratory findings suggested a complication of MM which had been noticed since four years ago. On May 1997, he was referred and admitted to our hospital because of cough, right chest pain and dyspnea. Serum immunoelectrophoresis showed monoclonal IgA[symbol: see text]-type light chain. Bone marrow aspirate contained 6.5% atypical plasma cells. The X-ray findings revealed radiolucent myelomatous foci in the skull. From these findings, IgA[symbol: see text]-type MM was diagnosed. His condition was recovered by administration of antibiotics for bacterial pleuritis. Case 2. The patient was a 75-year-old woman with twelve-years history of RA. The laboratory findings of M-proteinemia (IgA 1215 mg/dl) with the decrease of other serum immunoglobulin level (IgG 611 mg/dl, IgM 60 mg/dl) and monoclonal IgA[symbol: see text]-type light chain in serum immunoelectrophoresis suggested MM four years ago. Bone marrow aspirate contained 5% plasma cells. From these findings, IgA[symbol: see text]-type MM was diagnosed. In the review of reported Japanese cases of RA associated with MM, it might be characteristic that IgA type MM was found more frequently in RA patients than other immunoglobulin types.

Analysis of IgG subclasses in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection

BACKGROUND

Although elevated serum levels of immunoglobulins are frequently observed in patients with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, there have been no reports concerning levels of IgG subclasses.

METHODS

Serum levels of IgG subclasses were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 30 children with severe chronic active EBV infection.

RESULTS

Serum levels of IgG1 were elevated in most patients, except for one who showed an abnormally low level of IgG1 and progressive hypogammaglobulinemia. Serum levels of IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 in the patients were comparable to those in control children, while abnormally low levels of IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 were observed in six, three and four cases, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Although not always susceptible to bacterial infections, low levels of IgG2 were frequently observed in patients with chronic active EBV infection and elevated IgG1 is responsible for the increase of serum IgG in these patients.

Autobiographical recollection and affects of cues in an amnesic patient

The individual described herein (Y.K.) is a pure amnesic patient with severe anterograde amnesia and a selective loss of specific personal episodes in his remote memories. In this study, we examined whether more concrete cues could elicit specificity in his autobiographical memory. It was found that the richness of his autobiographical memory under the condition with probes was significantly higher than condition without probes, although Y.K.'s performance on recalling autobiographical memory was inferior to that of control subjects under both conditions. These results and our previous findings indicate that neither the disorder at the level of the framework's thematic retrieval nor the destruction of individual traces will account for the loss of Y.K.'s autobiographical memory. We suspect that Y.K.'s loss of autobiographical memory may be due to problems in the interface between thematic retrieval frameworks and individual traces.

Cognitive influence on motor control in reaching

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of objects with different attributes on motor control in the act of reaching for them. Much about reaching has been studied from the point of view of spatial relations between objects and subjects, and kinematic approaches have played an important role in this field. Recently, some researchers have proposed that factors other than spatial relations characterize reaching. Therefore, we focused on reaching for an empty glass (empty condition) and a water-filled glass (filled condition) where the positions of the glasses were the same to examine the importance of the objects when reaching for them. Eight young adults participated. We translated the position of the index finger into X-Y-Z coordinate values and examined movement time, length of trajectory, and velocity between the empty and filled conditions. It took longer to reach for an empty than a filled glass, and the filled condition showed a longer trajectory and slower velocity than the empty condition. This indicated that objects with different attributes influenced the reaching and that the role of cognition of attributes is important in the act of reaching.

Interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor in the colonic mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has multiple immunological effects on a wide variety of cells and tissues. The expression of IL-6 and IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) may be important to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

In the present study, we examined whether mucosal IL-6 and soluble IL-6R were associated with the pathophysiology of IBD using the colonic mucosal specimens obtained from patients with IBD. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R in organ cultures of mucosal tissues and in cell cultures of fractionated mucosal cells as well as in the serum. Expression of IL-6 and IL-6R was analysed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis using freshly isolated lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC).

RESULTS

The levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R in organ cultures were substantially elevated in patients with IBD, especially in those with histologically active inflammation. In contrast, considerably higher levels of sIL-6R were detected in patients with other types of colonic inflammation who were included as inflammatory controls, but elevation of IL-6 was less prominent in such patients. The positivity for expression of IL-6 and IL-6R mRNA in LPMC was in parallel with the results obtained in organ cultures. In cell cultures, mucosal macrophages were the main cell type producing both IL-6 and sIL-6R on a per cell basis and other cell fractions including colonic epithelial cells and lymphocytes produced substantially lower amounts of these molecules. The levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R in organ cultures, but not those in the serum, showed a significantly positive correlation with the degree of clinical disease activity in patients with IBD.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced IL-6/sIL-6R-mediated immune and inflammatory responses may be implicated, at least partly, in the continuation of intestinal inflammation in patients with IBD.

Troglitazone can prevent development of type 1 diabetes induced by multiple low-dose streptozotocin in mice

Recent investigations suggest that cytotoxic cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta or free radicals play an essential role in destruction of pancreatic beta cells in Type 1 diabetes and that, therefore, anti-oxidant or anti-TNF alpha and IL-1beta therapy could prevent the development of Type I diabetes. Troglitazone belongs to a novel class of antidiabetic agent possessing the ability to enhance insulin action provably through activating PPAR gamma and to scavenge free radicals. In the present study, we examined whether troglitazone can prevent the development of Type 1 diabetes in multiple, low-dose streptozotocin (MLDSTZ)-injected mice. In addition, effects of troglitazone on cytokine-induced pancreatic beta cell damage were examined in vitro. Type 1 diabetes was induced by MLDSTZ injection to DBA/2 mice (40 mg/kg/day for 5 days). Troglitazone was administered as a 0.2% food admixture (240 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks from the start of or immediately after STZ injection. MLDSTZ injection elevated plasma glucose to 615 +/- 8 mg/dl 4 weeks after final STZ injection and was accompanied by infiltration of leukocytes to pancreatic islets (insulitis). Troglitazone treatment with MLDSTZ injection prevented hyperglycemia (230 +/- 30 mg/dl) and, suppressed insulitis and TNF alpha production from intraperitoneal exudate cells. TNF alpha (10 pg/ml) and IL-1beta (1 pg/ml) addition to hamster insulinoma cell line HIT-T15 for 7 days in vitro decreased insulin secretion and cell viability. Simultaneous troglitazone addition (0.03 to approximately 3 microM) significantly improved cytokine-induced decrease in insulin secretion and in cell viability. These findings suggest that troglitazone prevents the development of Type 1 diabetes in the MLDSTZ model by suppressing insulitis associated with decreasing TNF alpha production from intraperitoneal exudate cells and the subsequent TNF alpha and IL-1beta-induced beta cell damage.

Inhibitory effects of vesnarinone in the progression of myocardial damage in experimental autoimmune myocarditis in rats

OBJECTIVES

Vesnarinone, a positive inotropic and immunomodulatory agent, diminishes nitric oxide (NO) levels by suppressing the induction of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expressed in cytokine-stimulated macrophages and cardiomyocytes. We examined whether vesnarinone exerts inhibitory effects on the progression of myocardial damage in experimental autoimmune myocarditis in rats through suppression of iNOS.

METHODS

Myocarditis was induced in 30 Lewis rats by injection of porcine cardiac myosin and vesnarinone was orally administered to 20 of the 30 rats. On day 21 after immunization (the climax of inflammation), the hemodynamics were examined and the severity of myocarditis was evaluated by determining the area ratio (%) [affected/entire area] of myocardial lesions in histological sections. Levels of serum CK-MB, NOx (NO2(-)+NO3-), TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, and cyclic GMP, iNOS mRNA, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta in heart tissues were determined. Expression of iNOS and TNF-alpha protein were examined by immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTS

Histopathological examination revealed extensive myocardial destruction and massive infiltration of inflammatory cells in the vesnarinone-untreated rats. The area ratio of the lesions in the treated rats was significantly lower than that in the untreated ones. Levels of CK-MB, NOx, cyclic GMP, cytokines and iNOS mRNA were significantly lower in the vesnarinone-treated rats. Infiltrating macrophages and cardiomyocytes in the untreated rats showed much higher levels of expression of iNOS and TNF-alpha than those in the vesnarinone-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Vesnarinone may prove to be useful in the treatment of myocarditis by attenuating NO production through suppression of iNOS induced by cytokines.

Hepatic cytochrome P450 and flavin-containing monooxygenase in male Nts:Mini rat, a transgenic rat carrying antisense RNA transgene for rat growth hormone

We investigated the characteristics of hepatic cytochrome P450s and flavin-containing monooxygenase 1 (FMO1) in male Nts:Mini rats, a Wistar/Jcl-derived transgenic rat strain showing less plasma GH concentration than the parental strain. The total hepatic P450 contents of Mini rats were significantly reduced. A suppression was observed in the activities and protein expression of male-specific P450s (CYP3A and CYP2C11) and was speculated to be a potential cause of the reduction in total P450 contents. The activity and protein expression of CYP2B1 were suppressed and those of CYP2E1 and CYP2B2 were enhanced. With the exception of our data on CYP2B1, these results largely agreed with previous reports concerning GH-depletion rat models (hypophysectomized rats, rats neonatally treated with glutamate, and dwarf rats), implying that the changes in Mini rats were caused by GH insufficiency. The liver FMO1 protein expression in Mini rats was higher than that in Wistar rats but the activity was comparable, suggesting that GH is not a positive regulator of FMO expression. With their insufficient but not depleted levels of plasma GH, Mini rats may thus become another candidate for use in the investigation of GH regulation of hepatic mixed-function monooxygenases.

Imaging of various surface properties of fluorescently labelled phospholipid Langmuir-Blodgett films with a combined scanning probe microscope

We present results of phase separation of a single-component system of 1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-[N-(4-nitrobenz)-2-oxa-1,3-diazolyl]ethanolamine in which a liquid-condensed (LC) phase co-exists with a liquid-expanded (LE) phase. Domain formation in the co-existence region was studied using a newly developed combined scanning near-field optical microscope-atomic force microscope (SNOM-AFM). We demonstrate for the first time that the topographic, friction, fluorescence and surface potential distributions for a phase-separated single-component Langmuir-Blodgett film between the LE and LC phases can be simultaneously observed using the SNOM-AFM with a thin-step etched optical fibre probe.

Immunohistochemical determination of the Wilson Copper-transporting P-type ATPase in the brain tissues of the rat

Immunohistochemical localization of Copper-transporting P-type ATPase (ATP7B), a gene product responsible for Wilson disease, was visualized in the brain tissues of the Long-Evans agouti rat in detail using tissue-blotting technique and confocal laser microscopy. The ATP7B was intensely detected in neuronal cells of the hippocampal formation, olfactory bulbs, cerebellum, cerebral cortex and nuclei in the brainstem in which high amounts of copper and cuproenzymes, dopamine beta hydroxylase and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) were detected. The present results suggest that ATP7B plays key roles in neurotransmissions of catecholamine pathway and preventing brain tissues from injury by superoxide radicals to regulate the cellular Cu concentration and/or activities of cuproenzymes related to neurotransmissions and a free radical metabolism. Furthermore, it is reasonable to assume that neurotoxicity due to abnormal copper accumulation or irregular regulation of cuproenzymes in the critical brain regions by mutation of the ATP7B gene leads to neurological failures of Wilson disease.

[A giant invasive thymoma made resectable by cisplatin + vincristine + doxorubicin + etoposide (CODE)]

A 39-year-old man experienced cough and dyspnea by right massive pleural effusion. A large tumor was found in the anterior mediastinum and it had invaded the chest wall all around. The diagnosis was invasive thymoma stage IV a by biopsy. His tumor was too large to be resected, so chemotherapy was planned. The tumor responded well to cisplatin + etoposide until day 7, but it relapsed immediately between doses. Hence, we administered cisplatin + vincristine + doxorubicin + etoposide (CODE) with G-CSF for its high-dose intensity. The tumor diminished in size, and the chest wall invasion almost disappeared. An operation was performed. We describe our experience with a case of invasive thymoma which responded to CODE.

Hemispheric asymmetry in a perceptual priming task: evidence from patients with unilateral brain damage

The present study examined the relationship between unilateral brain damage and the effect of nonverbal perceptual priming using a picture-fragment completion task. Subjects consisted of 11 left brain-damaged patients, 8 right brain-damaged patients, and 10 healthy normal controls. The mean score of normal controls was significantly higher than those of left and right brain-damaged patients. Although there were significant effects of priming in all the groups, a significant difference in amplitude of priming effects was found only between right brain-damaged patients and normal controls. The correlation between amount of fragmentation at which there was identification and priming effect was not significant. We conclude that the right hemisphere is more involved in perceptual priming of form than is the left hemisphere, and form-dependent processing in the perceptual priming task has an asymmetrical distribution in the right and left hemispheres.

[Anti-myeloperoxidase and anti-lactoferrin antibodies in patients with IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura]

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) for two antigens, i.e. myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lactoferrin (LF) in sera from 19 IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 3 adult Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) and 8 child HSP patients were examined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin isotypes. All of child HSP patients showed negative ANCA. On the other hand, one IgAN patient and two adult HSP patients showed weak positivity for IgA class anti-MPO antibody. There was no patients who showed positivity for IgG and IgM class anti-MPO antibody. In anti-LF antibody, one IgAN and one adult HSP showed positivity in IgG class; 2 IgAN and 2 HSP in IgA class and 2 IgAN and one HSP in IgM class. These results indicate that adult HSP patients have higher prevalence of IgA class anti-MPO antibody and anti-LF antibody than IgAN or child HSP.

Increased mucosal production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is related to a delay in neutrophil apoptosis in Inflammatory Bowel disease

Tissue accumulation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) might be, in part, due to a delay in apoptotic processes associated with the effects of their specific growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. We addressed this hypothesis by examining the activity of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) in the organ culture supernatants of colonic mucosal specimens and their regulatory effects on PMN apoptosis in patients with IBD. The contents of G-CSF and GM-CSF in the supernatants were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and PMN apoptosis was evaluated by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, respectively. Mucosal specimens obtained from patients with active IBD exhibited higher levels of G-CSF and GM-CSF activity than controls. Notably, the levels of G-CSF activity were approximately 1000-fold higher than those of GM-CSF activity. Freshly isolated PMN showed a time-related increase in the proportion of cells with characteristic features of apoptosis when they were incubated with the culture medium alone and exposure of PMN to recombinant G-CSF and GM-CSF caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of apoptosis. Incubation of PMN with the supernatants from patients with active IBD induced an inhibitory effect on PMN apoptosis; this effect was abrogated to a significant degree by pre-incubation of the supernatants with anti-G-CSF serum. This study suggests that PMN apoptosis may be delayed under the influence of soluble mediators, especially G-CSF, in the microenvironment of IBD-affected mucosa, thus providing possible mechanisms for tissue accumulation of PMN in IBD.

[Polymyalgia rheumatica and myelitis associated with anti-cardiolipin antibody]

A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital on September 14, 1992, because of systemic myalgia and stiffness, joint pain, and gait disturbance. She had begun to feel headache and pain in the neck and shoulder in the middle of August, 1992. The pain became systemic, and was accompanied by a low-grade fever, which was unresponsive to NSAIDs. On admission, she had no joint swelling or deformities in the extremities. Neurological examination revealed weakness in the right leg, hypoalgesia below the left C4 level, hyperreflexia in the right extremities, and right Babinski's sign. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was very high (100 mm/h). Levels of other acute phase reactants were also high. Tests for antinuclear antibody and anti-cardiolipin antibody were positive, but a test for rheumatoid factor was negative. Creatine kinase activity was within normal limits. A T1-weighted magnetic resonance image of the cervical spine at 0.5 T showed an intramedullary low signal. A T2-weighted image showed a borderless spindle-like high signal. Four nodules enhanced by Gd DTPA were seen at C1-C4. The age at onset, myalgia, stiffness, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were considered to be consistent with a diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica. Glucocorticoid treatment was therefore started, and a dramatic clinical improvement was evident within a few days. The patient was discharged from hospital on November 30, 1992. To our knowledge, myelopathy complicated by polymyalgia rheumatica has never been reported previously. Recently, some patients with polymyalgia rheumatica have been reported to have anti-cardiolipin antibody in serum. In the present case anti-cardiolipin antibody may have played a role in the formation of microemboli or in angitis of the cervical spine.

Comparative study of efficacy of plasma exchange versus intravenous gammaglobulin treatment on acute postinfectious polyradiculoneuropathy: a preliminary report

We tried to compare the efficacy of plasma exchange (PE) with that of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in patients with postinfectious polyneuritis (Guillain-Barré syndrome [GBS] and cranial neuritis). Fifteen patients with postinfectious polyneuritis were divided into 2 groups. The IVIG group included 5 cases of GBS and 2 cases of postinfectious cranial neuritis (ophthalmoplegic type). The PE group included 5 cases of GBS and 3 cases of postinfectious cranial neuritis (ophthalmoplegic type). The changes and incidences of improvement of muscle strength scores (MSSs) and ocular movement scores (OMSs) were evaluated before treatment and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after treatment. No significant differences between the IVIG and PE groups were found in the MSSs or OMSs at any time after treatment. These data suggested that PE and IVIG had equivalent efficacy. In the IVIG group, the proportion of suppressor-inducer T cells significantly increased (p < 0.01) (before versus after treatment), and the proportion of suppressor-effector cells also increased but not significantly (before versus after treatment). In the PE group, the percentage of suppressor-inducer T cells significantly decreased (p < 0.05) (before versus after treatment) while the proportion of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells significantly increased (p < 0.05) (before versus after treatment). The percentage of suppressor-effector T cells also increased (before versus after treatment) but not significantly.

[Effect of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor on experimental pseudomonal corneal ulceration]

We examined the effect of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor (CS-610) on experimental pseudomonal corneal ulceration by clinical and histological evaluation. Intrastromal injection of 3.5 microliters sterile culture broth of P. aeruginosa, IID-1117 (13.5 unit Type I collagenase equivalent proteinase activities), was done to induce corneal ulcers in guinea pigs. The animals were divided into two groups of 23 each. The CS-610 group received topical CS-610 (400 micrograms/ml) treatment at 2-hour intervals and the control group received only the vehicle of CS-610 at the same intervals. In the control group, corneas developed acute corneal damage following corneal ulcerations at 6-12 hours. In the CS-610 group, these corneal lesions were inhibited in most of the eyes (p < 0.01). In the late period, as inflammatory cells migrated into the cornea, some animals of the CS-610 group developed corneal ulcer. The results indicated that CS-610 had a potent inhibitory activity against pseudomonal proteinases in vivo. The results also suggested that the mechanism of the ulceration model involved not only pseudomonal proteinases but also endogenous responses.

Heart rate variability during chemical thoracic sympathectomy

BACKGROUND

Chemical thoracic sympathectomy (CTS) resulted in profound bradycardia in a patient with severe post-therapeutic neuralgia. To clarify the cause of this bradycardia, the authors evaluated heart rate variability using a Poincaré plot, which is a scatter diagram of the current R-R interval plotted against the R-R interval immediately preceding it, in this patient and in others scheduled for CTS or mandibular block (MB).

METHODS

Twenty-three patients were scheduled for CTS (n = 13, CTS group) and for MB (n = 10, MB group). Heart rate and the SD of the R-R interval variabilities spreading along the x axis (SDRR) and perpendicularly along the diagonal line of the Poincaré plot (SDdeltaRR) were evaluated before, just after, and 1 h after the block.

RESULTS

Neither group had significant changes in heart rate. The MB group showed no significant change in the SD(RR):SDdeltaRR ratio. In the CTS group, however, the SD(RR):SDdeltaRR ratio decreased significantly from 1.72+/-0.20 to 1.23+/-0.11 just after CTS. The previous patient, who had a high SD(RR):SDdeltaRR ratio of 3.45 before CTS, exhibited severe bradycardia (22 beats/min).

CONCLUSIONS

The SD(RR):SDdeltaRR ratio decreased after CTS without any significant concomitant change in heart rate. The decrease in the SD(RR):SDdeltaRR. ratio indicates a reduction of cardiac sympathetic activity. However, CTS in patients having high SD(RR):SDdeltaRR ratios can result in profound bradycardia.

Exogenous thrombospondin stimulates the proliferation of non-thrombospondin-producing cells

The effects of thrombospondin (TSP) on the proliferation of two different human carcinoma cell lines (KIM-1 and CW-2) were investigated. The characterization of these two carcinoma cells by immunohistochemistry using anti-TSP antibody and anti-TSP-receptor antibody showed that the KIM-1 had TSP-receptors and TSP, while the CW-2 had only TSP-receptors. The addition of exogenous TSP (10 or 20 microg/ml) to culture medium stimulated the cell proliferation of CW-2 but not that of KIM-1. The cell count for CW-2 was increased dosage-dependently from 10.3 0.6x104/ml at zero TSP concentration to 12.9 0.6x104/ml at 10 microg/ml TSP concentration and to 14.7 0. 4x104/ml at 20 microg/ml TSP (each p<0.0001). In conclusion, though TSP promoted the proliferation of non-TSP-producing cells, it did not promote proliferation of TSP-producing cells. Therefore, it is predicted that TSP was already at saturated activity concentration in the TSP-producing cell line (KIM-1).

Sex differences in facial skin temperature when exposed to darkness with and without warning

The changes in skin temperature under anxiety were investigated by noninvasive measurements. The nasal skin temperature of 20 subjects was assessed by thermography. The measurement of the skin temperature by thermistor causes stress in subjects. The primary advantages of a thermography over use of a thermistor are noninvasive and accurate. Each subject was made anxious under the 2 conditions of sudden darkness (Sudden darkness condition) or experienced darkness (Experienced darkness condition). Under former, after a baseline facial skin temperature was established, the room light was suddenly turned off. The subject remained seated in darkness for 2 min. The time-series changes were significant for women, but not for men. For women, skin temperature significantly declined in sudden darkness. Experiments on experienced darkness were performed a week later. After a baseline facial skin temperature was established, the subject was told; "The room light would be turned off from now on, but please remain seated without moving". After the instruction, the room light was turned off. The subject remained seated in darkness for 2 min. The resultant time-series changes in skin temperatures were significant in neither men nor women.

Short report: An imported case of cystic echinococcosis in Japan diagnosed by imaging and serology with confirmation of Echinococcus granulosus-specific DNA sequences

We report one case of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Japan in a native of Nepal. Ultrasonography and computed tomography scan of the liver revealed unique cystic lesions with or without daughter cysts of Echinococcus granulosus. Immunoblot analysis using crude antigens of E. multilocularis and cyst fluid of E. granulosus, without reference to these image analyses, strongly suggested this was a case of CE. We found protoscoleces in surgically removed hepatic lesions and analyzed the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene by the polymerase chain reaction. Based on the similarity in DNA sequences of the COI gene of this Echinococcus spp. with that of previously reported sheep-dog strain (GI), the parasite was considered to be the so-called common sheep strain of E. granulosus.

Cloning and characterization of a new swine MHC (SLA) class II DQB allele

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of pigs is known as swine leukocyte antigen (SLA). The cDNA encoding a new allele of SLA class II DQ beta-chain was successfully isolated from a CSK miniature pig (derived from Göttingen strain) and characterized by sequence analyses. SLA-DQB cDNA fragment encoding beta 2-domain was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using the sequences preserved in a various vertebrates as primers. Using non-radioisotope technique with the PCR product as a probe, cDNA clone G01 was isolated from a spleen cDNA library, and nucleotide sequence of this clone was determined. This clone encompassed a whole SLA-DQ beta-chain coding region, containing a total length of 1161 nucleotides with an open reading frame (ORF) of 786 nucleotides, 5' untranslated region of 15 nucleotides, and 3' untranslated region of 360 nucleotides ending with a canonical polyadenylation signal, followed by a poly A tail. Sequence comparisons of the ORF of this clone with those of known SLA-DQB genes confirmed that this clone is a new allele (SLA-DQB*G01). Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of swine, human, and murine MHC class II genes indicated that SLA-DQB was more similar to HLA-DQB1 than H-2A beta. Comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences among SLA-DQB alleles showed that the SLA-DQ beta-chain polymorphism was found almost in beta 1-domain which contains the antigenic peptide binding sites.

A novel biomarker for hyperglycemia, MRX isolated from hydrolysate of glycated proteins

Long-lived proteins can undergo non-enzymatic glycation to form highly crosslinked structures with characteristic fluorescence during aging and diabetes processes. In this paper, a typical fluorophore, named Maillard reaction product X (MRX), was isolated from the hydrolysate of glycated proteins. MRX could be formed by incubation of bovine serum albumin with glucose, followed by acid hydrolysis. The structure of MRX was determined to be 8-hydroxy-5-methyldihydrothiazolo[3,2-alpha] pyridinium-3-carboxylate. MRX was also found to be formed by the incubation of cysteine and arginine with glucose, followed by hydrolysis. We found the formation of MRX in the recently developed genetically diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and compared them with that in the control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats. Significantly higher levels of MRX were observed from the serum (p < 0.005) and urinary protein (p < 0.001) of OLETF rats in comparison with those of LETO rats. MRX must be a potential candidate as a biomarker for hyperglycemia.

Synchrotron-radiation-induced formation of salt particles on an X-ray lithography mask

The suppression and removal of contaminants on X-ray masks are required for the application of X-ray lithography to practical semiconductor production, because contamination is easily transferred to the replicated resist patterns and degrades the LSI patterns. In order to study contamination of a Ta/SiN X-ray mask, its growth process was investigated using an atmospheric reaction chamber and in situ observation apparatus for gases at atmospheric pressure. It was found that the contamination particles were ammonium sulfate and oxalate. The sources of the salt particle were also identified.

Suppressing the X-Y coupling effect in compact electron storage rings

The x-y coupling effect, especially the tilt of the beam profiles, in the Super-ALIS compact electron storage ring has been effectively eliminated. The main feature of this method is the suppression of the most harmful Fourier components of the skew-quadrupole perturbation by using just one thin skew-quadrupole magnet. Therefore, the method should be simple and effective for coupling suppression in compact storage rings that have little space for correction instruments.