Potent induction of long-term CD8+ T cell memory by short-term IL-4 exposure during T cell receptor stimulation

An important goal of vaccination is to achieve long-term survival of functional memory T cells. Using a MHC-compatible adoptive transfer system, we show here that a short, 3-day IL-4 but not IL-2 or IL-12 exposure during in vitro T cell receptor stimulation of naive CD8(+) T cells induced long-lasting in vivo memory. Such long-term memory CD8(+) T cells expressed antigen-specific cytotoxicity and the potential for IFN-gamma and IL-4 production. Our results support the concept that functional T cell longevity can be regulated by cytokines during initial antigen encounter and provide a rational foundation for vaccine development. They also may have implications in formulating optimal therapeutic regimens of ex vivo expanded autologous cancer- and HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells. In addition, the availability of large numbers of memory CD8(+) T cells generated through our high-efficiency system should facilitate progress in the molecular dissection of CD8(+) T cell memory development.

Novel image analysis of corpus cavernous tissue in impotent men

OBJECTIVES

To objectively evaluate the contents of corpus cavernous tissue in impotent men using an automated novel image analysis system.

METHODS

Thirty-three impotent men and 2 normal potent men (controls) underwent corpus cavernous biopsies. The procedures were performed using a Biopty gun under local anesthesia. The obtained specimens were stained with Masson's trichome technique, and the collagen fiber contents were evaluated by a computerized morphometric analysis method. In addition, we estimated the intraobserver and interobserver reliability of this automated image analysis system.

RESULTS

No major complication was noted during or after the biopsies. Of the 33 impotent patients, 3 were diagnosed as having psychogenic, 11 as having arteriogenic, 13 as having venogenic, 1 as having neurogenic, and 5 as having idiopathic impotence. The collagen fiber percentages in the 35 men were as follows: normal potent: 48.2% +/- 1.4%, psychogenic 55.2% +/- 11.6%, arteriogenic 73.2% +/- 4.4%, venogenic 66.5% +/- 4.2%, neurogenic 76.9%, and idiopathic 77.4% +/- 4.2%. Significant differences were found between the normal potent and arteriogenic groups (P <0.05) and between the normal potent and idiopathic groups (P <0.05). Patients older than 60 years had a higher collagen fiber content (70.4% +/- 3.7%) than those younger than 50 years old (58.6% +/- 5.2%). The interobserver and intraobserver variances were both negligible for this automated image analysis system. This method significantly reduced the amount of variation introduced by the intra-rater reliability of a technician compared with the manual method.

CONCLUSIONS

The present automated image analysis system is believed to be a reliable, accurate quantitative measurement tool for studies of penile tissue. Cavernous biopsy is a rapid, safe, and representative modality to study penile disease. An increase in cavernous collagen fibers (or corporal fibrosis) is considered an important factor in impaired erectile function.

Studies and syntheses of siderophores, microbial iron chelators, and analogs as potential drug delivery agents

Siderophores (microbial iron chelators) play an extremely important role in microbial pathogenicity. Microbial uptake of siderophore-iron complexes through active transport systems allow microbes to survive and proliferate even under iron deficient environments during invasion of a host. Due to their structural complexity, unique iron (III) chelation, acquisition properties, and their therapeutic potential, siderophores have attracted much attention in a broad range of disciplines. Tremendous progress has been made in siderophore syntheses, in determination of the structures and functions of outer membrane receptors (e.g. FhuA and FepA), and in the mechanistic insight into siderophore-iron-mediated active transport processes. One of the important practical applications of this active transport system is development of species-selective active drug transport (the Trojan Horse approach) to potentially treat infections due to drug resistant strains of microbes. Siderophore-drug conjugates have shown great potential in active drug delivery to target pathogenic microbes.

Transitional cell carcinoma in dialysis patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to determine whether there is an increased incidence of urothelial cancer, especially transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), in uremic patients on dialysis.

METHODS

Retrospective chart analyses were completed for 1,910 uremic patients undergoing maintenance dialysis between January 1987 and December 1997. The incidence of urinary tract cancer was assessed. Only the patients with cancers diagnosed after start of dialysis were enrolled in the study.

RESULTS

Of the 1,910 patients, 70 had concomitant urinary tract cancers. Nineteen patients (0.99%), including 17 patients with TCC and 2 patients with renal cell carcinoma, were diagnosed after the initiation of dialysis. The average duration from dialysis to TCC diagnosis was 38.3 (range 2-144) months. Painless gross hematuria was the cardinal symptom in 16 of the 17 patients with TCC. In the 17 patients with TCC, no distant metastases were found at the time of diagnosis. Fourteen patients (82.3%) were stage 0 or A, and 1 patient was stage B1.

CONCLUSIONS

The 0.89% incidence of TCC in our dialysis patients was high as compared with that of the general population. The risks of developing urinary TCC in dialysis patients were examined, and we suggest that immunosuppressive stage, dialysis procedure, and chronic bladder irritation (decreased urinary wash effect) may play a part in the development of urinary TCC in dialysis patients. Early detection of hematuria due to regular visits and decreased exposure of urinary tract epithelium to carcinogens from urine may explain why early-stage TCC was seen in most of our patients.

A pilot study of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine the potential role of three-dimensional (3-D) conformal radiotherapy (RT) in treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Thirteen patients were included in this study, which was conducted between 1993 and 1996. Nine patients (group A) were treated with 3-D conformal RT alone because of main portal vein thrombosis, inferior vena cava thrombosis, obstructive jaundice and failure of previous transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) to control the disease. The remaining four patients (group B) were treated with a combination of TACE and 3-D conformal RT.

RESULTS

The greatest dimension of the main tumour in the whole group of patients ranged from 6 to 25 cm (median 15 cm). The radiation dose ranged from 40 to 60 Gy. The tumour response was evaluated by computed tomography scans of the liver 6-8 weeks after completion of radiotherapy. Partial response was observed in 58% of the patients (seven of 12) and minimal response in another 25% of patients (three of 12). One patient could not be evaluated because of the development of hepatic failure 1 month after completion of RT. All patients in group B lived for more than 1 year (range 16-40 months). In group A, one patient who had a large tumour (11 x 10 x 21 cm) with portal vein thrombosis was converted to become resectable after 45 Gy of radiation. The resection specimen revealed no residual cancer cells. This patient is alive longer than 15 months after treatment without the evidence of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience indicates that HCC is more radiosensitive than it was traditionally expected. Three-dimensional reconstruction of tumour and surrounding organs helps to avoid excessive exposure of the liver and adjacent organs to RT and makes it a safer treatment modality for unresectable HCC. Our preliminary data show promise and are worthy of further study to explore the potential role of radiotherapy in the treatment strategy for HCC at various stages of involvement.

Unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis with presentation of hemoptysis: a case report

Unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis (UPAA), a rare congenital anomaly frequently associated with other cardiovascular abnormalities, is usually diagnosed and surgically treated in childhood. Those who do not suffer other cardiac anomalies (isolated UPAA) have only minor or no symptoms and survive into adulthood. Isolated UPAA in adult patients may present as recurrent respiratory tract infection, dyspnea on exertion, hemoptysis or an incidental finding of an abnormal chest radiograph. We present the case of a 38-year-old man with a congenital absence of the right pulmonary artery (PA) and recurrent hemoptysis. The diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization, which disclosed an absence of the right PA and systemic collaterals to the right lung from the right internal thoracic artery and posterior intercostal arteries.

Antiviral activities of biflavonoids

Biflavonoids such as amentoflavone (1), agathisflavone (2), robustaflavone (3), hinokiflavone (4), volkensiflavone (5), rhusflavanone (7), succedaneflavanone (9), all isolated from Rhus succedanea and Garcinia multiflora, as well as their methyl ethers and acetates, volkensiflavone hexamethyl ether (6), rhusflavanone hexaacetate (8), and succedaneflavanone hexaacetate (10) were evaluated for their antiviral activities. The inhibitory activities against a number of viruses including respiratory viruses (influenza A, influenza B, respiratory syncytial, parainfluenza type 3, adenovirus type 5, and measles) and herpes viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, HCMV, and VZV) were investigated. The results indicated that robustaflavone exhibited strong inhibitory effects against influenza A and influenza B viruses with EC50 values of 2.0 micrograms/ml and 0.2 microgram/ml, respectively, and selectivity index values (SI) of 16 and 454, respectively. Amentoflavone and agathisflavone also demonstrated significant activity against influenza A and B viruses. Amentoflavone and robustaflavone exhibited moderate anti-HSV-1 anti-HSV-2 activities with EC50 values of 17.9 micrograms/ml (HSV-1) and 48.0 micrograms/ml (HSV-2) and SI values of > 5.6 (HSV-1) and > 2.1 (HSV-2) for amentoflavone; EC50 values of 8.6 micrograms/ml (HSV-1) and 8.5 micrograms/ml (HSV-2), and SI values of > 11.6 (HSV-1) and > 11.8 (HSV-2) for robustaflavone. Rhusflavanone demonstrated inhibitory activities against influenza B, measles, and HSV-2 viruses with SI values of 9.3, 8 and > 6.4, respectively. Succedaneaflavanone exhibited inhibitory activities against influenza B virus and VZV with SI values of 15 and < 3.0, respectively.

Measurement of equilibrium factor and unattached fraction of radon progeny in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

To reasonably estimate the population dose from radon, equilibrium factor, Fp, and unattached fraction, fp, of radon progeny are important parameters. A Lucas cell and a working level monitor was used for most Fp measurement. The unattached fraction was measured by SARAD EQF3020. A detached house was chosen to measure the Fp in different rooms. The Fp value depended mainly on the ventilation rate and surface to volume ratio of the rooms. Fp and fp were measured in bedrooms of 14 other dwellings. Two hospitals were also chosen for measurement of Fp in the working place using rooms located in the basement. The average Fp for dwellings was about 0.5 and the average unattached fraction was about 0.055. The radon levels in the hospitals were higher than those in the dwellings but the equilibrium factors in the hospital were very low (about 0.06). The low Fp was attributed to the use of a dehumidifier in the hospitals. Dehumidifiers are popular for reducing fungi problem induced by the high humidity in Taiwan.

Radiostrontium analytical method using crown-ether compound and Cerenkov counting and its applications in environmental monitoring

The radiostrontium content in environmental samples was determined by chemical analysis by means of the fuming nitric acid method and ion exchange method with low-level beta counting and the newly developed method using crown-ether compound. Counting was performed with a low-background counter and a liquid scintillation counter together; the latter was the Cerenkov counting method. All results obtained by these three methods were in good agreement. The time for chemical separation of radiostrontium, using crown-ether compound, is much faster than fuming nitric acid and ion exchange methods. However, due to the high background of the liquid scintillation counter, the detection limit for Cerenkov counting is about two times higher than that for low-background counting.

Fine needle aspiration cytodiagnosis of liver tumors. Results obtained with Riu's stain

OBJECTIVE

To present our experience with liver fine needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis based on Riu's stain.

STUDY DESIGN

We reviewed a total of 322 liver fine needle aspirates from 286 patients seen in a seven-year period from April 1990 to April 1997 at Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center, Taipei. Surgical and/or clinical follow-up was available for confirmation in 292 aspirates.

RESULTS

The cytologic diagnosis was categorized into four groups: benign in 81 cases, suspicious in 13, malignant in 225, and inadequate specimen in 3 cases. There were 16 false negative and no false positive diagnoses. Two suspicious aspirates were negative. Our results showed a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 100% for the detection of malignancy. If suspicious cases were considered positive, the specificity decreased to 95.1%, while the sensitivity increased to 93.6%. Among 87 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) in our series, correct FNA diagnosis was made in 84 cases with an accuracy of 96.6%. Out of 135 cases of non-HCCs, 1 was incorrectly diagnosed. The accuracy of identifying a liver malignancy as non-HCC was 99.3%.

CONCLUSION

Cytologic features of HCC are well demonstrated by Riu's stain, with high accuracy in identifying them. Liver FNAs using Riu's stain combined with cell block study and clinicopathologic correlation can achieve very high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of hepatic malignancies.

Robustaflavone, a potential non-nucleoside anti-hepatitis B agent

Robustaflavone, a naturally occurring biflavanoid isolated from Rhus succedanea, was found to be a potent inhibitor of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in 2.2.15 cells, with an effective concentration (EC50) of 0.25 microM, and a selectivity index (SI, IC50/EC90) of 153. Robustaflavone hexaacetate inhibited HBV replication with an EC50 of 0.73 microM, but exhibited no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 1000 microM. Combinations of robustaflavone with penciclovir and lamivudine displayed synergistic anti-HBV activity, having the most pronounced effects when the combination ratios were similar to the ratio of EC50 potencies. Thus, a 1:1 combination of robustaflavone and penciclovir exhibited an EC50 of 0.11 microM and an SI of 684, while a 10:1 combination of robustaflavone and lamivudine exhibited an EC50 of 0.054 microM and an SI of 894. Statistical analyses of the combination data using the Combostat program confirmed that robustaflavone exhibited synergism with both penciclovir and lamivudine.

Radioactivity concentrations of 137Cs and 40K in basidiomycetes collected in Taiwan

Radioactivity concentrations of 137Cs and 40K in 64 mushroom samples belonging to 16 species of basidiomycetes collected at various locations in Taiwan have been measured in 1994. All of the samples were mushrooms cultivated indoors. The concentrations of 137Cs in many samples were below the limit of detection (< 1.0 Bq kg-1 dry weight), and 134Cs was not detected in any of the samples. The radioactivity concentration ranges of 137Cs and 40K in basidiomycetes were < 1.0-7.3 Bq kg-1 dry weight and < 50-1230 Bq kg-1 dry weight, respectively. The transfer factors of F. velutipes, G. lucidum and L. edodes from sawdust (growing substrate) to mushroom were approximately 10, 10.2, < 3.8 for 137Cs, and 7.2, 1.6, 1.8 for 40K, respectively. The effective dose equivalent due to the dietary intake of radiocesium through mushrooms for the Taiwanese people was estimated to be only 4.4 x 10(-10) Sv y-1.

In vitro anti-HIV activity of biflavonoids isolated from Rhus succedanea and Garcinia multiflora

Eleven biflavonoids, including amentoflavone (1), agathisflavone (2), robustaflavone (3), hinokiflavone (4), volkensiflavone (5), morelloflavone (7), rhusflavanone (9), succedaneaflavanone (10), GB-1a (11), GB-1a 7"-O-beta-glucoside (13), and GB-2a (14) isolated from Rhus succedanea and Garcinia multiflora, as well as their methyl ethers, volkensiflavone hexamethyl ether (6), morelloflavone heptamethyl ether (8), and GB-1a hexamethyl ether (12), were evaluated for their anti-HIV-1 RT activity. The results indicated that compounds 3 and 4 demonstrated similar activity against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), with IC50 values of 65 microM. Compounds 1, 2, 7, 11, and 14 were moderately active against HIV-1 RT, with IC50 values of 119 microM, 100 microM, 116 microM, 236 microM, and 170 microM, respectively. Morelloflavone (7) also demonstrated significant antiviral activity against HIV-1 (strain LAV-1) in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells at an EC50 value of 6.9 microM and a selectivity index value of approximately 10. The other biflavonoids were either weakly active, inactive, or not selective against HIV-1 in human lymphocytes.

Activity concentrations and population dose from radium-226 in food and drinking water in Taiwan

The purpose of this study was to determine the radioactivity of 226Ra in environmental samples in Taiwan. Fish, pork, rice, flour, chicken, vegetable, milk, fruit, egg and water samples were collected and pretreated by radiochemical procedure to extract the 226Ra, and the activity concentrations of 226Ra were determined using a liquid scintillation counter. The 226Ra content of groundwater was 12.0 mBq l-1. The 226Ra contents of the food ranged from 0.02 Bq kg-1 fresh to 0.17 Bq kg-1 fresh. The annual internal dose from ingestion of 226Ra from food and drinking water per caput was evaluated to be 7.5 microSv.

Prognostic significance of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract

BACKGROUND

Haphazard cell proliferation is a fundamental biologic defect in cancer. Thus, assessment of the growth fraction provides a valuable index of biological property for human neoplasm. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression has been used to estimate the growth fraction of human cancer, and its prognostic value. Information in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the upper urinary tract, however, is very few.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 73 patients with TCC of the upper urinary tract was collected between July 1988 and December 1995 for this study. The labeling index of PCNA immunostaining was correlated with clinicopathologic factors and compared for its prognostic value with a median follow-up of 54 months.

RESULTS

The PCNA index was positively associated with histological grading, tumor stage and patient prognosis (P = 0.00, respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that significant factors in relation to patient survival were tumor stage (P = 0.01), followed by PCNA index (P = 0.04) and gender of patients (P = 0.04). Multiple comparison revealed that PCNA index set at 0.30 had prognostic value in terms of patient survival (P = 0.00), and the risk of metachronous bladder recurrence (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Our data suggested that assessment of PCNA index may be used as an adjuvant prognostic factor for patients with TCC of the upper urinary tract.

Small changes in essential amino acid concentrations alter diet selection in amino acid-deficient rats

The rat's sensitivity to changes in the dietary limiting amino acid concentration (LAA) was examined on the basis of dietary selection. Rats were adapted to purified low protein basal (Basal) diets in which threonine (Thr) was the LAA (0.188-0.212% wt/wt of diet). In Experiment 1, rats made a clear selection for their adaptation diet over a diet containing 0.012% less threonine after 2-3 d of choice. Rats made no clear dietary selection when given a choice between their adaptation diet and a diet containing 0.012% more threonine. Experiment 2 was conducted to examine the rat's sensitivity to small decreases in the LAA concentration. Rats adapted to a 0.200% Thr-Basal diet clearly responded to decreases as small as 0.009% in the concentration of threonine and selected against the more deficient diet when given a choice between it and the 0.200% Thr-Basal adaptation diet. Because plasma and brain amino acid concentrations are important for detection of other amino acid deficiencies, these variables were measured to determine whether they were affected by such small changes in dietary amino acid concentration. In Experiments 3 and 4, rats were adapted to the 0.200% Thr-Basal diet and then fed 0.188, 0.200 or 0.212% Thr-Basal diets for 6 h, or 0.188 and 0.212% Thr-Basal for 54 h. Amino acid concentrations in plasma, prepiriform cortex and anterior cingulate cortex were not significantly different among treatments. Norepinephrine concentration in the prepiriform cortex was not affected by dietary treatment. We conclude that small decreases in LAA concentration can cause selection against the more deficient diet, but that detection of such deficiencies does not require significant changes in plasma and brain amino acid concentrations.

Colonoscopic screening for families of patients with colorectal cancer

We conducted a prospective study using primary colonoscopy in the families of patients with surgically treated colorectal cancer (CRC) to evaluate its feasibility as a screening method for CRC. The presumed detection sensitivity of sigmoidoscopy in this group was also evaluated. Over a 3-year period, 142 first-degree relatives (73 men and 69 women) of 117 patients with CRC participated in this colonoscopic screening study. The average age at presentation for examination was 49.1 years (range, 31-79 yr). Forty-nine patients had adenomatous polyps (AP) and four patients had cancer, yielding a frequency of 37% (53/142). Thirty-six family members were under 40 years of age, eight of whom had AP. In total, there were 111 AP and four invasive cancers; 42% (48/111) of AP and 75% (3/4) of cancers were beyond the reach of conventional flexible sigmoidoscope. Of 53 patients with AP or cancer in the large bowel, 36 had AP or cancer in the distal colon (rectosigmoid region and descending colon), 15 (42%) of whom were found to have at least one AP or cancer in the proximal colon (proximal to the descending colon). The remaining 17 patients' lesions were confined to the proximal colon, and would not have been detected with a flexible sigmoidoscope. Sigmoidoscopy in high-risk patients with neoplasm in the large bowel has a sensitivity of 68%. We conclude that a vigorous surveillance program using primary colonoscopy should be set up for those who are first-degree relatives of patients with CRC. Routine examination should start at the age of 40, and the entire colon should be evaluated.

EMG spike trains of succinylcholine-induced fasciculations in myalgic patients

Single spike activity from the surface electromyogram (EMG) of fasciculations induced by succinylcholine (Sch) were studied from limb muscles (biceps, triceps, anterior tibialis and gastrocnemius) in 100 female patients. About 2/3 of them (n = 72) also received nondepolarizing neuromuscular pretreatment (atracurium or vecuronium). We observed from 20% of EMG records in the myalgic (but not in the nonmyalgic) patients, sustained spike trains (mean duration 1.47 s) that resembled motor units firing at physiologically high rates (mean 21.7 spikes/s). The finding reflects Sch's distal actions at the muscle spindle. The implications for myalgia and the possible involvement of micro damage at the extrafusal muscles are discussed.

The rabbit as an intracavernous injection study model

We investigated the feasibility of using the rabbit as an animal model for intracavernous injection studies. The rabbit, having a penile structure rather similar to that of humans, offers the advantage of being a strain-specific, adequately sized, and easily controlled experimental animal. Using intracavernous injections of the two vasoactive drugs prostaglandin E1 (PGE1, 0.2-1.6 micrograms/kg) and papaverine (PAP, 0.25-1 mg/kg), which have been commonly used in the management of erectile dysfunction in man, increases intracavernous pressure (delta ICP) were induced. After intracavernous injection of PGE1, the maximal delta ICP ranged from 18 to 44 mmHg (mean 29.25 +/- 7.85 mmHg) with a duration of tumescence from 3.1 to 13.3 min (mean 8.61 +/- 3.71 min). Intracavernous injection of PAP also induced increases in ICP, with a maximal delta ICP ranging from 24 to 56 mmHg (mean 43.5 +/- 11.35 mmHg) and a duration of tumescence from 5.3 to 15 min (mean 10.25 +/- 3.39 min). The systemic blood pressures were unchanged after all intracavernous injections. In addition, administration of cAMP antagonist in combination with PGE1 inhibited the relaxing effects of PGE1 in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that the effects of vasoactive drugs on the rabbit's corpus cavernosum are similar to those in humans; thus the rabbit model is a suitable alternative for further physiological and pharmacological studies of penile erection.

Swyer-James syndrome associated with Noonan syndrome: report of a case

A 28-year-old man with Noonan syndrome associated with unilateral hyperlucent lung is reported. He had the typical craniofacial appearance and short stature of Noonan syndrome; he had mild mental retardation, atrophic testis, mild funnel chest and kyphosis. cardiovascular abnormalities included asymmetric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a significantly different caliber of the left and right pulmonary arteries. The unilateral hyperlucent lung was shown to result from acquired nondestructive emphysema caused by nonvalvular obstruction of the bronchi (Swyer-James syndrome or Macleod's syndrome). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of Noonan syndrome associated with Swyer-James syndrome.

Correlation of transrectal ultrasonographic findings of the prostate with the occurrence of detrusor instability in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Forty patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were evaluated with urodynamics and transrectal ultrasonography. Seventeen patients were found to have detrusor instability while the remaining 23 did not. No significant differences were noted during ultrasonography in the estimated prostatic volume, the presumed circle area ratio and the incidence of finding prostatic calcification between these two groups. However, the incidence of detecting intravesical protrusion of the prostate is significantly higher in patients with instability than in patients with stable bladder (53 vs. 13%, p < 0.01). It is therefore postulated that intravesical protrusion may increase afferent impulses from the prostate and alter the stability status of the urinary bladder.

Role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate in prostaglandin E1-induced penile erection in rabbits

To investigate the role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in penile erection in relation to the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) male adult New Zealand white rabbits were utilized as a model to study intracavernous pressure (ICP) in vivo. After intracavernous injection of PGE1 (0.2-1.6 micrograms/kg) and 8-bromocyclic adenosine monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP, 0.5-1.5 mg/kg), both drugs raised the ICP in a dose-dependent manner. The increased ICPs induced by PGE1 and 8-Br-cAMP were 33.4 +/- 8.12 and 24.1 +/- 4.9 mm Hg, respectively (p < 0.05, paired Student's t test). Administrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphothioate, Rp-isomer (cAMP antagonist, 0.02-0.08 mumol/kg) prior to PGE1 injections inhibited the effect of PGE1 in vivo in a dose-dependent manner. The systemic blood pressures and heart rates in rabbits were unchanged during all the intracavernous injections. The corpus cavernosal tissues isolated from rabbits were studied for the cAMP contents after incubation of different doses of PGE1 in vitro. The cAMP contents were also elevated in a manner parallel with the increases in PGE1 concentrations (3-9 microM). We conclude: (1) the feasibility of intracavernous injection of vasoactive drugs is similar to that in man, thus the rabbit can be used as a suitable alternative for the studies of penile erection, and (2) cAMP is mediated in PGE1-induced relaxation of the rabbit corpus cavernosum, and the cAMP system only participates partially in penile erection.

Impact of screening blood donors for hepatitis C antibody on posttransfusion hepatitis: a prospective study with a second-generation anti-hepatitis C virus assay

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C is the major cause of posttransfusion hepatitis. Blood components that are positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) can transmit posttransfusion hepatitis.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

To investigate the effect on posttransfusion hepatitis of screening blood donors with a second-generation test for anti-HCV, 249 transfusion recipients who underwent cardiovascular surgery were prospectively followed. Six recipients who were positive for anti-HCV before transfusion and 51 subjects with incomplete follow-up were excluded from this study.

RESULTS

Eleven (13.8%) of 80 subjects who received unscreened blood had two successive serum alanine aminotransferase levels > 90 U per L. Seven (8.8% of total) developed anti-HCV and HCV RNA and two (2.5% of total) developed IgM antibody to cytomegalovirus (IgM anti-CMV). By contrast, 3 (2.7%) of the 112 subjects who received anti-HCV-screened blood had two successive serum alanine aminotransferase levels > 90 U per L. None of these three developed anti-HCV and HCV RNA, but two (1.8% of total) showed the development of IgM anti-CMV. The study shows that screening for anti-HCV in blood donors with a second-generation test almost abrogated posttransfusion viral hepatitis C.

CONCLUSION

After anti-HCV screening, other body fluid-transmitted viruses such as CMV may become important in posttransfusion hepatitis.

Spectral characteristics of embolic heart sounds detected by precordial Doppler ultrasound during venous air embolism in dogs

We have studied the frequency spectrum of embolic heart sounds as detected by precordial Doppler ultrasound after injecting air 0.01-0.1 ml into the external jugular vein of anaesthetized dogs (n = 7). At volumes of 0.05 ml and greater, there was a significant increase in both the maximum frequency of the spectrum and the power of those high frequency components to greater than control values. Both changes correlated significantly with the volume of air injected (P < 0.05). With repeated injections of air at 5-min intervals, there was a small increase in the high frequency components in the control signal between injections (P < 0.05). We conclude that such spectral changes could be used to quantify the volume of air in transit through the heart, and to reflect the short-term history of venous air embolism.

Intensification of relative myocardial T2-weighted magnetic resonance signals in patients with acute viral myocarditis: report of one case

A 10-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital because of frequent attacks of syncope over a period of two days. A physical examination, electrocardiogram, echocardiograms and a cardiac enzyme study concluded that the girl was likely to be suffering from acute viral myocarditis. Intensities of the T2-Weighted magnetic resonance signals between the myocardium and the trapezius muscle of this patient on the first, the eighth, and the twenty-eighth hospital day were 5.1, 7.8, and 3.6 respectively. These values were significantly higher than the values of seven other patients without a history of acute viral myocarditis. Therefore, we concluded that the myocardial T2-weighted signal did intensify in patients with acute viral myocarditis.

Tubal embryo transfer for the treatment of infertility

The outcome of treatment for male factor infertility with either gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) or in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET) has been unsatisfactory. A better approach may be tubal embryo transfer (TET). In our medical center, from November 1989 to December 1990, 80 couples (male factor, n = 35, non-male factor, n = 45) entered our program for TET. Superovulation was conducted with either human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a, buserelin)/hMG. Ovum retrieval (OR) was possible in 73 patients and successful fertilization after insemination occurred in 64 of them. TET was performed only when there was at least one grade III-V embryo. The mean number of embryos transferred was 3.92 +/- 0.13 (range 1-5). There were 35 pregnancies out of 55 TET (64% per TET, 48% per OR). In the group with male factor infertility, OR occurred in 32, and 24 achieved fertilization. Ten pregnancies were achieved after 19 TET (53% per TET, 31% per OR). In comparison, the group with non-male factor infertility had a higher pregnancy rate (69% per TET and 61% per OR). There have been 15 live births, 14 ongoing pregnancies (eight sets of twins and 21 singletons), five abortions and one ectopic pregnancy. Our results indicate that: 1) TET is a valuable treatment for non-tubal factor infertility; and 2) in the group with male factor infertility, it has the advantages of demonstrating fertilization in vitro and preventing unrewarding laparoscopies.

Interferon production from peripheral blood, synovial fluid, and synovial tissue lymphocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

A previous study demonstrated that interferon was present in the serum of 30% of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which was significantly higher than the 4.5% found in normal controls. We also recently reported that interferon production was deficient from SLE mononuclear cells, which has been attributed to immunodeficiency of the lymphocytes. In this study, interferon measurement included lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood (PB), synovial fluid (SF) and synovial tissue (ST) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). PB from normal subjects (NS) was used as a control. The results showed with PHA stimulation, that the interferon level in PBL (L = lymphocyte) in NS (70.0 +/- 67.5) was significantly higher when compared with PBL in RA (27.9 +/- 21.6). However, there was no difference between PBL in NS and AS. With ConA stimulation, the interferon level was significantly higher in the PBL of NS (130 +/- 59) and as compared with the PBL in RA (83.6 +/- 53.5). The SFL in RA (67.8 +/- 31.1) and the STL in RA (77.2 +/- 93.2) were also significantly different. It is concluded that interferon production was deficient not only in PBL in RA, but also in SF and STL in RA. The reduced interferon production from PB, SF and ST lymphocytes in RA patients may be due to previous release or immunodeficiency. Lymphocyte interferon production was normal in AS, which suggests that the lymphocyte abnormality between RA and AS may be different.

Fasting intragastric total bile acid concentration in patients with gastroduodenal ulcer

It has been suggested that bile reflux is an important factor in the development of gastric ulcers and even duodenal ulcers. In this study we measured the fasting total bile acid concentration (BAC) in gastric juice and used it to represent the bile reflux. A total of 110 subjects were collected consecutively, including 55 panendoscopically normal subjects as controls, 34 patients with duodenal ulcers (DU), 15 patients with gastric ulcers (GU) and 6 patients with both gastric and duodenal ulcers (GDU). The results showed a wide individual variation of intragastric bile acid concentration (BAC) in normal subjects and nearly 95% of them had concentrations below 160 mumol/L. Normal subjects above 40 years of age had significantly lower BACs than those under 40 years. There was no sex influence on BACs. In the subgroup above 40 years of age, DU and GDU patients had significantly higher BACs than normal controls and GU patients. We conclude that: (1) bile reflux is a common phenomenon in normal subjects, being mostly mild; (2) bile reflux may become milder after 40 years of age; (3) bile reflux is not an important factor in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcers; and (4) duodenal ulcers may not enhance the duodenogastric reflux, except in patients over 40 years of age.

Characterization and peptidase specificity of lugworm (Arenicola cristata) protease C

1. Lugworm protease C further purified by benzamidine-affinity chromatography, exhibited peptidase specificity for arginyl and lysyl bonds. 2. Protease C consisted of a single polypeptide with a mol. wt of ca 23,000 as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, exhibited a u.v. absorption maximum at 280 with an (mg/ml) extinction coefficient of 0.93 and fluorescence spectra typical of a protein containing tryptophan, and had an amino acid composition similar to trypsins. 3. The Kms of the cleavages of the arginyl bond of oxidized insulin B chain and of the lysyl bond of the gly23-ala30 fragment were determined to be 0.72 and 0.96 mM; the corresponding kcats were 38 sec-1 and 1.5 sec-1. The Km and kcat for TAME were 0.042 mM, and 110 sec-1. 4. Lugworm protease C was confirmed to be a trypsin.

Hinokiflavone, a cytotoxic principle from Rhus succedanea and the cytotoxicity of the related biflavonoids

Hinokiflavone (1) was isolated as the cytotoxic principle from the drupes of Rhus succedanea L. A comparison of the cytotoxicity of 1 and other related biflavonoids, including amentoflavone (2), robustaflavone (3), agathisflavone (4), rhusflavone (5), rhusflavanone (6) and its hexaacetate (7), succedaneaflavanone (8) and its hexaacetate (9), cupressuflavone (10), neorhusflavanone (11), volkensiflavone (12) and its hexamethyl ether (13), spicataside (14) and its nonaacetate (15), morelloflavone (16) and its heptaacetate (17) and heptamethyl ether (18), GB-1a (19) and its hexamethyl ether (20) and 7"-O-beta-glucoside (21), and GB-2a (22), indicates that an ether linkage between two units of apigenin as seen in 1 is structurally required for significant cytotoxicity. Compounds 13 and 20 also demonstrated significant cytotoxicity.

Isolation from lugworm (Arenicola cristata) of four proteases that activate cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase

1. Four cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase-activating activities, designated as A, B, C and D, were isolated from lugworm, Arenicola cristata, by preparative flat-bed isoelectric focusing. Activators C and D were further purified by TSK 3000SW HPLC to homogeneity. 2. Activators A, B, C, and D corresponded to pIs of 4.4, 5.0, 5.2 and 5.4; their mol wts were estimated to be 36,200, 30,500, 30,200 and 28,300 respectively. 3. The protease nature of these activities were confirmed by the inhibition by several trypsin inhibitors of their activation of phosphodiesterase and by their hydrolysis of TAME, a synthetic trypsin substrate. Only protease A also hydrolyzed BTEE, a chymotrypsin substrate.

Monoclonal antibodies against antigens expressed on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Monoclonal antibodies with selectivity for human hepatoma cell lines were produced by immunizing BALB/c mice with human hepatoma cell lines, HA22T/VGH or Hep 3B, and fusing sensitized mouse spleen cells with mouse myeloma cells. Two monoclonal antibodies recognizing antigens present only on human hepatoma cell lines were investigated. The monoclonal antibody IB1 was found to react with 3 of 9 hepatoma cell lines. Monoclonal antibody 9B2 reacted with all nine hepatoma cell lines. None of the other 20 cell lines tested was bound by IB1 and 9B2. The immunoperoxidase staining of monoclonal antibodies on frozen sections of paired hepatoma and normal liver tissues from the same individuals were studied. Antibody IB1 reacted with 3 of 13 hepatoma tissues, but with none of the normal liver and other tissues, and antibody 9B2 was reactive with antigens appearing on the bile canalicular domain of hepatoma and normal liver tissues. The antibody 9B2 stained no normal tissues with the exception of proximal tubules of kidney. Radioimmunoprecipitation tests identified two antigens reacting with 9B2. The major antigen had an apparent molecular weight of 140,000 and a minor one of 130,000. Therefore, antibody IB1 seems to be specific for antigens present on a group of human hepatoma cells and may be useful for classification and diagnosis of human hepatomas. Antibody 9B2 is quite specific to human liver cells and may be used to provide clues for the characterization of tumor cell lines, identification of metastatic tumors with hepatocytic origin, and study of the structure and function of bile canaliculi.

[A new human hepatoma cell line: establishment and characterization]

We have grown a human hepatoma cell line, designated as HA22T/VGH, from a 52-yr-old male hepatoma patient since July 1, 1980. This cell line has been subcultured more than 100 passages. The chromosome analysis of HA22T/VGH indicated that the chromosome numbers varied from 70 to 146, with the mode of 73. Methylcellulose soft agar assay showed that approximately 40% of the HA22T/VGH cells formed colonies. The HA22T/VGH produced tumors in nude mice. Histopathological studies of the tumor revealed the arrangement of hepatoma. Detected by the complement fixation method HA22T/VGH cells secreted ceruloplasmin, Factor B, C3, C4, Gc-globulin and alpha 1-acid-glycoprotein. These cells contained the liver associated enzymes: alanine amino transferase, tyrosine amino transferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase. HBsAg and alpha-fetoprotein were not detectable in the HA22T/VGH culture media or cell lysates by the radioimmunoassay.