Absent myocardial iodine-123-BMIPP uptake and platelet/monocyte CD36 deficiency

Global absence of myocardial 123I-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(R,S)-methyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) uptake is occasionally noted, and it reflects myocardial long-chain fatty acid uptake abnormality. CD36, a membrane glycoprotein expressed on platelet, monocyte and endothelial cells, may contribute to myocardial fatty acid transport, and its deficiency has been reported in a small subset of the population. We hypothesized that CD36 deficiency may be related to absent myocardial BMIPP uptake. Thus, we investigated CD36 expression of platelet/monocyte in patients with absent myocardial BMIPP uptake.

METHODS

Peripheral blood of 7 patients with global absence of myocardial BMIPP uptake (3 of 7 patients in one family) and 3 control subjects were examined in flow cytometric analysis. Platelet/monocyte surface CD36 was detected by using OKM5, an anti-CD36 mouse monoclonal antibody.

RESULTS

There were no apparent relationships between specific clinical symptoms and absent myocardial BMIPP uptake. None of the blood samples of the 7 patients were stained with OKM5 on the platelet/monocyte cell surface, indicating that all of these patients were Type I CD36-deficient subjects. In contrast, all the control subjects showed normal staining.

CONCLUSION

The fact that rare Type I CD36 deficiency was observed in all patients with absent myocardial BMIPP uptake suggests that CD36 plays a role in the myocardial long-chain fatty acid uptake process in humans.

Farnesol-induced generation of reactive oxygen species via indirect inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The mechanism of farnesol (FOH)-induced growth inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied in terms of its promotive effect on generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The level of ROS generation in FOH-treated cells increased five- to eightfold upon the initial 30-min incubation, while cells treated with other isoprenoid compounds, like geraniol, geranylgeraniol, and squalene, showed no ROS-generating response. The dependence of FOH-induced growth inhibition on such an oxidative stress was confirmed by the protection against such growth inhibition in the presence of an antioxidant such as alpha-tocopherol, probucol, or N-acetylcysteine. FOH could accelerate ROS generation only in cells of the wild-type grande strain, not in those of the respiration-deficient petite mutant ([rho0]), which illustrates the role of the mitochondrial electron transport chain as its origin. Among the respiratory chain inhibitors, ROS generation could be effectively eliminated with myxothiazol, which inhibits oxidation of ubiquinol to the ubisemiquinone radical by the Rieske iron-sulfur center of complex III, but not with antimycin A, an inhibitor of electron transport that is functional in further oxidation of the ubisemiquinone radical to ubiquinone in the Q cycle of complex III. Cellular oxygen consumption was inhibited immediately upon extracellular addition of FOH, whereas FOH and its possible metabolites failed to directly inhibit any oxidase activities detected with the isolated mitochondrial preparation. A protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent mechanism was suggested to exist in the inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport since FOH-induced ROS generation could be effectively eliminated with a membrane-permeable diacylglycerol analog which can activate PKC. The present study supports the idea that FOH inhibits the ability of the electron transport chain to accelerate ROS production via interference with a phosphatidylinositol type of signal.

Solid phase micro extraction coupled with semi-microcolumn high performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of benzodiazepines in human urine

SPME/semi-microcolumn HPLC (SPME/LC) was investigated to analyze benzodiazepines in human urine samples. SPME conditions such as extraction time, extraction temperature, salt concentration and pH of matrix, flush volume and desorption time were optimized by extracting various drugs from a prepared water matrix. Combination of adding saturated salts to the matrix and controlling pH ranged from neutral to weakly alkaline conditions makes the increase of extraction efficiency. Under optimal condition SPME/LC is more sensitive than direct HPLC analysis without the SPME process. The limits of detection (LODs) was several ppb level and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was < 15% when human urine samples were analyzed by this analytical system. The system is very useful and is enough to assay benzodiazepines in a human urine sample without tedious and complex analytical procedures. In this paper the applicability of SPME/LC to the analysis of benzodiazepines in human urine samples was reported. In addition, the extension to the evaluation of SPME/LC/MS system was also described.

The mode of action of AKD-2C, an antifungal antibiotic from Streptomyces sp. OCU-42815

The mechanism of the antifungal action of AKD-2C was studied by using Torulaspora delbrueckii IFO 1621 as a model. AKD-2C slightly inhibited the incorporation of radioactive precursors into protein, RNA and lipid, but not into DNA. On the other hand, AKD-2C greatly enhanced the leakage of K+ ions from treated cells and showed a potent effect on liposomal glucose leakage. Using electron microscopic studies, though drastic morphological changes were not observed, an increase in cell membrane irregularities and swelling of the mitochondria caused by AKD-2C were demonstrated. These results suggest that the antifungal action of AKD-2C is due to effects on the yeast cell membrane.

cDNA cloning and expression of a novel serine protease, TLSP

A cDNA for a putative novel serine protease, TLSP, was cloned from human hippocampus cDNA with polymerase chain reaction based strategies. The putative amino acid sequence of TLSP is similar to the trypsin-type serine proteases. TLSP mRNA is expressed in keratinocytes. Overexpressed TLSP protein in neuro2a cells was detected in culture medium.

Norepinephrine-augmenting lipolytic effectors from Astilbe thunbergii rhizomes

An EtOAc-soluble fraction from a 80% Me2CO extract of the rhizomes of Astilbe thunbergii enhanced norepinephrine-induced lipolysis in rat fat cells, while an EtOAc-insoluble fraction had no effect. The active substances isolated from the EtOAc-soluble fraction of the rhizomes were identified as eucryphin (1), bergenin (2), and astilbin (3), which enhanced norepinephrine-induced lipolysis at concentrations of 10-1000 microgram/mL, while they themselves did not cause lipolysis. Furthermore, these compounds slightly stimulated adrenocorticotrophic hormone-induced lipolysis and inhibited insulin-induced lipogenesis from glucose.

Establishment of the cells useful for murine interleukin-18 bioassay by introducing murine interleukin-18 receptor cDNA into human myelomonocytic KG-1 cells

We genetically engineered human myelomonocytic KG-I cells by introducing cDNA of murine interleukin-18 receptor (MuIL-18R) and established human cells which were capable of responding to MuIL-18. These cells expressed larger number of MuIL-18R (> 13,000 sites/cell) than intrinsic human IL-18 receptor (HuIL-18R) (< 2,500 sites/cell). And the cells responded to MuIL-18 as well as to HuIL-18 in a dose-dependent manner, and produced large amounts of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). We could estimate the amount of murine IL-18 based on the amounts of IFN-gamma produced by these cells. The stoichiometry was observed up to 150 ng/ml of MuIL-18. By using these cells, a large amount of MuIL-18 (448 +/- 89.2 ng/ml) was detected in sera of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated endotoxic mice (the same conditions in which IL-18 was first identified). These cells provide us with a useful tool for determining the bioactivity of MuIL-18.

Production of a mixture of antimicrobial organic acids from lactose by co-culture of Bifidobacterium longum and Propionibacterium freudenreichii

The antimicrobial activities of standard solutions of three organic acids (lactic, acetic, and propionic acids) were compared using Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus aureus as test microorganisms. At the same concentrations of the undissociated form, the antimicrobial activities of acetic and propionic acids were higher than that of lactic acid, irrespective of test microorganisms. In a single cultivation of Bifidobacterium longum, a mixture of lactic (17 g/l) and acetic (20 g/l) acids was produced from 50 g/l lactose and its antimicrobial activities against M. luteus, Pseudomonas sp., and S. aureus correspond to that of 32, 19, and 25 g/l of acetic acid, respectively. To increase the total antimicrobial activity, a co-culture of B. longum and Propionibacterium freudenreichii, in which lactic acid produced once from lactose by B. longum was converted to acetic and propionic acids by P. freudenreichii, was done using TPY medium containing commercially available peptones as a nitrogen source. By the sequential conversion of lactose using the two microorganisms, the culture supernatant containing a mixture of acetic (27 g/l) and propionic (13 g/l) acids without lactic acid was produced. The antimicrobial activities of the mixture against M. luteus, Pseudomonas sp., and S. aureus were 35, 30, and 26 g/l as a concentration of acetic acid, respectively, higher than that obtained in the cultivation of B. longum alone. When the medium containing an enzymatic hydrolyzate of whey proteins with a protease was used in the co-culture of B. longum and P. freudenreichii, the culture supernatant containing the mixture of organic acids was also obtained in the same manner as the co-culture using TPY medium and the activities were 43, 29, and 29 g/l as a concentration of acetic acid for M. luteus, Pseudomonas sp. and S. aureus, respectively.

Cellular expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase following rat cortical incision and its suppression by hydroxyl radical scavenger, 1,2-bis(nicotinamido)propane

Cellular expression of an inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was studied immunohistochemically 1,3 and 7 days following rat cortical incision. The induction of iNOS was demonstrated almost exclusively in the macrophages accumulated within the incision cavity on day 3. They were significantly reduced in number by the treatment with 1,2-bis(nicotinamido)propane (P < 0.01), suggesting the involvement of hydroxyl radicals in the macrophage activation after cortical injury.

Dynorphin mRNA expression in dorsal horn neurons after traumatic spinal cord injury: temporal and spatial analysis using in situ hybridization

Dynorphin, an endogenous opioid, may contribute to secondary nervous tissue damage following spinal cord injury. The temporal and spatial distribution of preprodynorphin (PPD) mRNA expression in the injured rat spinal cord was examined by in situ hybridization. Rats were subjected to traumatic spinal cord injury at the T13 spinal segment using the weight-drop method. Motor function of these rats was evaluated by their ability to maintain their position on an inclined plane. Two double-labeling experiments revealed that increased PPD mRNA and dynorphin peptide expression were found exclusively in dorsal horn neurons. Neurons exhibiting an increase in the level of PPD mRNA were concentrated in the superficial laminae and the neck of dorsal horn within several spinal segments from the epicenter of the injury at 24 and 48 h after injury. A number of neurons showing increased PPD mRNA were found in gray matter adjacent to the injury areas. Segments caudal to the injury site exhibited a long-lasting elevation of PPD mRNA in neurons, compared to the rostral segments. The number of neurons expressing PPD mRNA in each rat was significantly positively correlated with its motor dysfunction. These findings suggest that increased expression of dynorphin mRNA and peptide in dorsal horn neurons occurs after traumatic spinal cord injury. This also supports the hypothesis that the dynorphin has a pathological role in secondary tissue damage and neurological dysfunction after spinal cord injury.

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor in the insular cortex. Three dimensional magnetoencephalographic localization of epileptic discharges

A case of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor in the left insular cortex manifesting with intractable seizures is presented. The multichannel magnetoencephalography (MEG) localized equivalent current dipoles of epileptic discharges at the cerebral cortex adjacent to the tumor. The total removal of the tumor resulted in complete disappearance of seizures. This case demonstrated that multichannel MEG was useful in the three-dimensional localization of irritative zone in the concealed cortices such as inside the sylvian fissure.

Expression of Arabidopsis response regulator homologs is induced by cytokinins and nitrate

We examined cytokinin and nitrate responsiveness in gene expression of five distinct response regulator homologs (ARR3-ARR7) in the leaves of nitrogen-starved Arabidopsis plants. The transcripts accumulated after spraying the shoots with t-zeatin. The induction of accumulation was highly specific for cytokinins. The transcripts also accumulated by supply of nitrate to the culture medium. These findings suggest that ARRs are involved in inorganic nitrogen signal transduction mediated by cytokinin as in the case of ZmCip1, a response regulator homolog recently identified in maize.

Sequence analysis and expression of human neuropsin cDNA and gene

Neuropsin is a serine protease which is thought to function in a variety of tissues including the brain and skin. This protease has been shown to have important roles in neural plasticity in mice. Here we have cloned a cDNA and analyzed the gene for human neuropsin by polymerase chain reaction-based strategies. The cDNA had 72% identity to mouse neuropsin. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 72% identity to mouse neuropsin. Key amino acid residues for the enzyme activity and all cysteine residues were conserved between human and mouse neuropsin. The gene for human neuropsin had six exons and five introns, and the gene organization is similar to trypsin-type serine proteases. The mRNA was expressed in primary cultures of keratinocytes.

[Fleroxacin treatment for acute uncomplicated cystitis in women: comparison of 3-day and 7-day therapy]

The clinical efficacy of fleroxacin (FLRX), a new fluoroquinolone, for acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) in women was assessed. Two regimens, 3-day and 7-day courses of FLRX, 200 mg once a day, were compared. Clinical and bacteriological efficacy were evaluated after the therapy, and recurrence rate was evaluated 1 week and 4 weeks after termination of the therapy. Of 136 registered subjects, 35 in the 3-day group and 47 in the 7-day group were evaluated. According to the criteria of Japanese UTI Committee (3rd edition), the rate of excellent results was significantly higher in the 7-day group (78.9%) than in the 3-day group (48.6%), but the overall clinical efficacy rate was similar being 100% and 97.9%, respectively. Although no recurrence was seen 1 week after the therapy in either group, recurrence was seen in 14.3% and 7.4% of the cases in the 3-day and 7-day groups, respectively, 4 weeks after the therapy. Adverse reactions were observed in 2 and 3 cases in the 3-day and 7-day groups, respectively. Both 3-day and 7-day regimens of FLRX treatment showed good efficacy. Although the 7-day treatment was superior to the 3-day treatment as to high rate of excellent results and low rate of recurrence, the 3-day treatment was concluded to be sufficient for AUC.

Mammalian Polycomb group genes are categorized as a new type of early response gene induced by B-cell receptor cross-linking

Polycomb group (PcG) genes were initially described in Drosophila melanogaster as regulators of the homeobox gene. Four mammalian homologues, mel-18, bmi-1, M33 and rae-28, are analyzed in this study. They not only regulate mammalian homeotic genes by analogy with their Drosophila counterparts, but also have some influence on the growth and differentiation of B lymphocytes. Here we report that these four mammalian PcG genes are rapidly induced after antigen-receptor cross-linking in B cells. Thus we would like to propose that mammalian PcG genes can be categorized as a new type of immediate early gene.

Fluorine-18-FDG PET imaging is negative in bronchioloalveolar lung carcinoma

The goals of our study were to establish PET accuracy with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in finding localized formations of bronchioloalveolar lung carcinoma (BAC) and to investigate the correlation between FDG uptake and the degree of cell differentiation in adenocarcinoma of the lung.

MATERIALS

Twenty-nine patients with 30 adenocarcinomas of the lung (7 bronchioloalveolar lung carcinomas, 9 well differentiated, 2 well-moderately differentiated, 11 moderately differentiated and 1 poorly differentiated) were studied. All patients underwent thoracotomies within 4 wk after the FDG PET study. For qualitative analysis, the degree of FDG activity in the tumors was visually scored using a five-point grading system: 0 = same to background activity, 1 = less than mediastinal blood-pool activity, 2 = same to mediastinal blood-pool activity, 3 = slightly greater than mediastinal blood-pool activity and 4 = substantially greater than mediastinal blood-pool activity. Foci of activity with Grades 2-4 were considered tumors. For semiquantitative analysis, standardized uptake values (SUV) were calculated.

RESULTS

In 7 BACs, 4 lesions (57%) showed negative results on FDG PET, while in 23 non-BACs, only 1 lesion (4%), which was a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma showed a negative result. BACs' mean visual score (1.43 +/- 1.27) was significantly lower than that of non-BACs (3.17 +/- 1.03) (p = 0.001). The BACs' mean SUV (1.36 +/- 0.821) was significantly lower than that of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas (2.92 +/- 1.28) (p = 0.014); the mean SUV of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas was significantly lower than that of moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas (4.63 +/- 1.86) (p = 0.031). No significant differences were apparent in average size among these three histologic types.

CONCLUSION

A correlation was observed between FDG uptake and the degree of cell differentiation in adenocarcinoma of the lung. FDG PET may show negative results for BAC.

[Clinical significance of serum lipoprotein(a) in elderly patients with aortic valve sclerosis]

BACKGROUND

Calcified aortic value disease is increasing with explosively in the elderly. Elevated serum lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Thus, we investigated the relationship between aortic valve sclerosis and serum Lp(a) levels in elderly patients.

METHODS

Echocardiography was performed in 97 subjects (77 +/- 7 years, 48 males and 49 females), Lp(a), fasting plasma glucose, and blood pressure were measured at the time of the study. Aortic valve sclerosis was assessed using echocardiography.

RESULTS

Aortic valve sclerosis was observed in 63 patients (sclerosis group; 24 males and 39 females) and not in 34 subjects (non-sclerosis group; 24 males and 10 females). Univariable analysis revealed that age, Lp(a) level, and the number of females were higher in the sclerosis group than in the non-sclerosis group (age; 78 +/- 7 vs 74 +/- 7 years, p = 0.0090, Lp(a); cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose did not seem to affect aortic valve sclerosis. In all of 9 patients with serum Lp(a) greater than 60mg/dl aortic valve sclerosis was present. In discriminative analysis, gender (female) (lambda = 0.9038, p = 0.0020) and Lp(a) (lambda = 0.8316, p = 0.0053) were related to aortic valve sclerosis.

CONCLUSION

Elevated serum Lp(a) was observed in elderly patients with aortic valve sclerosis.

Regulation of Na+/myo-inositol cotransporter gene expression in hyperglycemic rat hippocampus

myo-Inositol is accumulated into cells by means of the Na+/myo-inositol cotransporter (SMIT), which is of interest because its activity is upregulated by hyperosmotic stress. We investigated the effects of hyperglycemia on the expression of SMIT mRNA mainly in rat hippocampus. In normal control rats, SMIT mRNA signals were predominantly located in the hippocampus, cerebellum and choroid plexus. Interestingly, massive induction in the hippocampus was observed on the acute stage of induced hyperglycemia in the CA3/CA4, the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, and the hippocampal fissure. The perivascular cells along the hippocampal fissure also expressed prominent signals. In the cerebral cortex, heterogeneous induction was observed from layers 2 to 6. Furthermore, these changes immediately returned to baseline levels after normalization of glucose levels. These results suggest that regional specificity of permeability of the blood-brain barrier and/or cellular differences in sensitivity to hyperglycemic stress would exist in the brain.

Computational imaging of cerebral perfusion by real time processing of DSA images. Clinical applications

Real time and high resolution functional imaging of cerebral perfusion was developed, which displays the color coded image of the cerebral perfusion index (PI) from the serial images of digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The small (3 x 3 pixels) regions of interest (ROI) were set on the images, and the time density curves of the contrast media for each ROI were obtained. The perfusion indices, corresponding to the mean transit time (MTT), were calculated for all the ROIs on the image in real time (5 sec) by the area over height method and then, converted to the PI image. A large ROI (64 x 64 pixels) was also used to estimate the parenchymal perfusion. In the normal subjects, consistent PI values at the various parts of the cerebral arteries were obtained, which reasonably agreed with the published values when converted to the blood flow. Then the study on the pathological subjects were made. Firstly, the alteration in the PI images agreed well with the CBF SPECT study in the case of moyamoya disease with the synangiosis operation. Secondly, even a 5% change of the parenchymal perfusion could be detected with the PI imaging, which was obscure when inspecting the series of DSA images, in the case of intra-arterial papaverine infusion for delayed vasospasm. Thirdly, the vortex inside a large aneurysm could be estimated with the same resolution as DSA. Our method offers real time, high resolution, projection angle independent and semiquantitative imaging of the cerebral perfusion from the conventional DSA images without introducing any new expensive devices. This method could be used to evaluate the therapeutic change and especially to monitor the rapidly changing cerebral perfusion in interventional angiography.

Single photon emission CT images in a case of intraventricular neurocytoma

Although Tc-99m HMPAO uptakes in various brain tumors have been reported, SPECT images of neurocytoma have not been described. The authors report a patient with intraventricular neurocytoma (IN) who demonstrated significant uptake of Tc-99m HMPAO and Tl-201 Cl before brain biopsy. Residual tumor after biopsy showed significant uptake of I-123 IMP on early SPECT images, but this uptake was decreased on delayed images. The three radionuclides seem to have different uptake mechanisms.