Concurrent development of hemiplegia and angina pectoris in a 46-year-old man with familial hypercholesterolemia and elevated serum Lp(a) concentrations

We report a 46-year-old man with familial hypercholesterolemia who simultaneously developed angina pectoris and left hemiplegia. Angiography revealed complete tapering occlusion of the right internal carotid artery and a 75% stenosis of the right coronary artery. In addition to hypercholesterolemia, his serum Lp(a) levels were very high, with a mean (+/- SE) of 62 +/- 2 mg/dl.

Elevated plasma interleukin-6 levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a key role in the synthesis of human acute-phase protein and several acute-phase responses occur in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We examined the plasma levels of IL-6 in 23 consecutive patients with AMI over the course of 4 weeks and in 30 control subjects. In patients with AMI, the plasma IL-6 levels (in picograms per milliliter) were increased at all sampling points from admission to discharge (ranging from 28.5 +/- 6.6 to 46.5 +/- 7.8) compared with levels in control subjects (11.4 +/- 2.9; p < 0.01). Cardiac catheterization did not influence plasma IL-6 levels. The plasma IL-6 level reached its peak approximately 3 days (46.5 +/- 7.8) and approximately 1 week after admission in patients with AMI. There was a significant positive linear correlation between the peak level of plasma IL-6 minus the level on admission and the peak level of plasma C-reactive protein in patients with AMI. The peak IL-6 level did not correlate with the peak levels of creatine kinase, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, or left ventricular ejection fraction at 4 weeks. We conclude that the plasma IL-6 level is increased over a time course of 4 weeks in patients with AMI.

Prevention of type I diabetes with lymphotoxin in BB rats

We previously reported that nonspecific immunomodulations with a streptococcal preparation (OK-432), an inducer of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or with recombinant TNF prevented development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in animal models (NOD mice and BB rats). Recently we have further reported that lymphotoxin (LT), a cytokine with functional and structural characteristics similar to those of TNF, also protected NOD mice from diabetes. In this study, we have extended our observation on the LT to BB rats. Male and female BB/Wor rats were treated intraperitoneally with recombinant human LT three times a week from 4 to 11 weeks of age. The cumulative incidence of diabetes by 14 weeks of age was 24/30 (80.0%) in nontreated control rats, whereas it was 10/26 (38.5% vs control, P < 0.01) and 4/29 (13.8% vs control, P < 0.0001) in the rats treated with 1 x 10(3) and 1 x 10(4) of LT, respectively. There was no significant difference in nonfasting blood glucose levels and body weights between nontreated control and LT-treated rats, which were nondiabetic. In the LT-treated rats, intensity of insulitis was significantly reduced in comparison with the nontreated rats. Concanavalin A-stimulated TNF/LT productivity of spleen cells was significantly lower in BB/Wor and BB/Sendai rats than in Wistar rats or other normal rat strains. On the other hand, there was no difference between BB/Sendai and Wistar rats in the in vivo TNF/LT productivity induced with LPS or with IFN-gamma plus LPS, and the TNF/LT productivity of these rats was lower on stimulation with LPS alone, but higher with IFN-gamma plus LPS than the other normal rats. These results indicate that treatment with LT, as well as TNF, modulated autoimmunity and prevented development of IDDM in BB/Wor rats which may be low producers of TNF/LT.

Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in adult periodontal disease: increased monocyte chemotactic activity in crevicular fluids and induction of MCP-1 expression in gingival tissues

The present study shows that monocyte chemotactic activity in crevicular fluids increases with severity of the disease and that a monocyte chemoattractant, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), is expressed as the predominant cytokine of gingival tissues and their fibroblasts treated with Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P-LPS). High monocyte chemotactic activity in the crevicular fluids was neutralized significantly by antiserum specific for the JE/MCP-1 protein. Marked expression of the MCP-1 gene was observed in the gingival tissues of all adult periodontal patients tested, but not in those of healthy subjects. Monocyte chemotactic activity was observed in culture supernatants of human normal gingival tissues treated with P-LPS, and the chemotactic activity increased in a dose-related manner. Expression of MCP-1 in P-LPS-treated human gingival fibroblasts was further examined. P-LPS induced the MCP-1 gene expression in a dose- and treatment time-dependent manner. The MCP-1 gene product in the culture supernatant was detected as two forms with molecular masses of 11,000 and 15,000 Da by immunoprecipitation with the specific antiserum. The MCP-1 gene expression was induced in the fibroblasts treated with interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha, but not with interleukin-6. These results suggest that gingival fibroblasts can participate in monocyte recruitment in gingival tissues of adult periodontal patients via the MCP-1 gene product and that MCP-1 plays an important role in the inflammatory reaction in the disease.

Quantitative measurement of hemosiderin deposition in tissue sections of the liver by image analysis

Hemosiderin has been quantitated in tissue sections by image analysis employing Perls' Berlin blue reaction. A linear correlation was observed between the mean optical density of the tissue section measured with a commercial image analyzer and the iron concentration measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The correlation coefficient of .945 (P < .001) indicated that a linear correlation existed between these measurements. Thus, the hemosiderin volume in tissue sections can be measured quantitatively by image analysis.

Murine endothelial cell line cells, F-2: interaction with leukocytes and cytokines production

Flowcytometry demonstrated that murine endothelial cell line F-2 expresses MHC class I antigen, FcR II, Mac-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), but not intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and class II antigen. However, co-culturing with TNF-alpha for 24 hr resulted in the increased expression of ICAM-1, and the decreased expression of VCAM-1. IL-1 alpha and IFN-gamma exerted this regulatory effect on VCAM-1 but not on ICAM-1. T (Con A blast) and B (LPS blast) cells adhered to F-2 cells at almost equal levels, and the adhesion was enhanced 20 to 50% when the cells were precultured with TNF-alpha for 24 hr. The inhibition assay using either (anti-ICAM-1 + anti-LFA-1, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1) or (anti-VCAM-1 + anti-VLA-4, very late antigen-4) mAbs demonstrated that the ICAM-1 system was utilized more preferentially by T than B blasts when F-2 cells were stimulated with TNF-alpha, and the VCAM-1 system was vice versa under the unstimulated and stimulated conditions. Granulocytes also adhered to F-2 cells, but no mAbs could inhibit the adhesion. Although F-2 cells produced a considerable amount of IL-6, GM-CSF and neutrophil chemotactic activity, a 24 hr incubation with TNF-alpha resulted in an increase of 12 fold in IL-6 and 3 fold in neutrophil chemotactic activity production.

Effect of conagenin in tumor bearing mice. Antitumor activity, generation of effector cells and cytokine production

Antitumor effects and function of T cells in tumor bearing mice given conagenin (CNG), a low molecular immunomodulator, were investigated. The administration of CNG, once a week for 4 weeks, was the most effective schedule in inhibiting growth of IMC carcinoma, a syngeneic tumor. In this regimen, cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer activities in spleens of CNG treated mice were maintained at higher levels than those of non-treated mice. Lymphokine production by splenic T cells was also enhanced in cultures, whereas monokine production by macrophages, which was increased in accordance with tumor growth, was reduced by CNG administration. The antitumor effect of CNG was not observed in mice given anti-asialo GM1 serum and in athymic mice. Results shown in this report suggest that CNG exerts its antitumor effects through activation of T cells and enhancement of generation of antitumor effector cells.

IC101, extracellular matrix antagonist produced by Streptomyces sp. MJ202-72F3. Production, isolation, structure determination and biological activity

In our search for inhibitors of cell adhesion to components of extracellular matrix (ECM), fibronectin, laminin and collagen type IV, we succeeded in finding a novel cyclic hexadepsipeptide antibiotic, named IC101, which was isolated from cultured mycelium of Streptomyces albulus MJ202-72F3. It was purified by centrifugal partition chromatography, preparative reverse phase HPLC and Sephadex LH-20 and was obtained as a white powder. IC101 strongly inhibited cell adhesion to ECM components, suppressed immune responses in vitro and in vivo, and exhibited antimicrobial activity on Gram-positive bacteria.

Difference in plasminogen activator inhibitor activity between non-Q-wave infarction and Q-wave infarction

We examined the plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity in 14 patients with non-Q-wave infarction and in 27 patients with Q-wave infarction before the start of thrombolytic therapy and in 34 control subjects. The mean level of plasma tissue plasminogen activator antigen (ng/ml) was higher (P < 0.01) both in the patients with non-Q-wave infarction and in those with Q-wave infarction than in the control subjects (10.3 +/- 1.9, 9.5 +/- 0.8 vs. 5.8 +/- 0.3), and there was no difference in the level between the patients with non-Q-wave infarction and those with Q-wave infarction. The mean level of plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (IU/ml) was lower (P < 0.01) in the patients with non-Q-wave infarction than in those with Q-wave infarction (7.3 +/- 2.0 vs. 17.1 +/- 2.2), and there was no difference in the level between the patients with non-Q-wave infarction and the control subjects (7.3 +/- 2.0 vs. 4.1 +/- 2.6). The patency rate of infarct-related coronary artery before thrombolytic therapy was higher (P < 0.01) in the patients with non-Q-wave infarction than in those with Q-wave infarction (54% vs. 15%). We conclude that plasminogen activator inhibitor activity was lower in non-Q-wave infarction than in Q-wave infarction and this may be related to the higher patency rate of infarct-related coronary artery in non-Q-wave infarction.

Plasma lipoprotein(a) levels and fibrinolytic activity in patients with unstable angina

The relationship between plasma Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen levels were studied in 15 patients with unstable angina. Plasma levels of Lp(a) (mg/dl) were significantly higher in patients with unstable angina after treatment 2 weeks than on admission (19.7 +/- 2.8 vs 14.6 +/- 2.3, p < 0.01). On the other hand, the plasma levels of PAI activity (IU/ml) and t-PA antigen (ng/ml) in patients with unstable angina were significantly higher on admission than after treatment (PAI activity: 11.4 +/- 1.4 vs 7.7 +/- 1.5, t-PA antigen: 8.7 +/- 0.9 vs 7.0 +/- 0.9, p < 0.01). We conclude that patients with unstable antigen have reduced fibrinolytic capacity, as indicated by increased PAI activity, and that the plasma Lp(a) level may be decreased due to binding with fibrin during the acute stage of unstable angina.

[The etiology of sudden cardiopulmonary arrest in subarachnoid hemorrhage]

Sudden death due to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is not uncommon. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this paper, sixty-eight consecutive patients with sudden death in SAH (DOA group) were studied to clarify the etiology of sudden cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) in SAH. SAH was confirmed by CT scan and/or by autopsy. These patients accounted for 10% of the total intrinsic DOA patients in that period. Clinical symptoms, CT scan and autopsy findings concerning the DOA group were carefully evaluated and compared to those of patients with SAH of WFNS Grade V (V group). The DOA group accounted for 10% of all SAH patients. Average time interval from the onset of SAH to the recognition of CPA was 21.2 minutes. In 30% of cases, the time interval was within 15 minutes. Pulmonary edema was recognized as being significantly higher in the DOA group than in the V group (P < 0.01). In CT finding, the number of patients who were classified into S type (mainly subarachnoid clot only) was significantly higher in the DOA group than in the V group (P < 0.01). The CT Score and MAX. CT NO. in the DOA group were significantly lower than in the V group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.0001, respectively), suggesting that the intensity of subarachnoid hemorrhage was not severe in the DOA group. Postmortem histological examination of the myocardium was carried out on 6 cases of the DOA group. A contraction band necrosis in the myocardium which did not correspond to the coronary perfusion area was found in all 6 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of 3' terminals of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transcripts in persistently infected cells

To examine the 3' terminal processing of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transcripts and the effects of phorbol ester (TPA) on this processing, cellular RNAs from persistently infected T cells (MOLT-4) or promonocytes (U937), with or without TPA treatment, were analyzed. To map the 3' terminals of viral transcripts, the RNA samples were examined by RNase-protection assay with an HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) antisense riboprobe. Without TPA treatment, the viral transcripts initiated at the cap site in 5' LTR and polyadenylated at poly(A) site in 3' LTR were dominantly detected in both types of cells. This analysis demonstrated that some occlusion mechanism inactivating the poly(A) site in 5' LTR might exist in these infected cells. After TPA treatment, we found a dramatic shift in the protected patterns of viral transcripts in MOLT-4 cells, while the shift in U937 cells was less dramatic. These results suggested that the primary factor(s) involved in the observed effect of TPA might be cellular. We also demonstrated that the shift in the protected patterns of viral transcripts was associated with increased steady-state levels of viral transcripts. These results indicated that the factors involved in the TPA-induced shift might have some relation to the trans-activation of HIV-1 by similar substances.

Rheological properties and fractal structure of concentrated polyion complexes of chitosan and alginate

Rheological properties and fractal structure of the polyion complex between chitosan and alginate have been studied using IR spectra, dynamic viscoelasticity and SAXS measurements. The complexation seems to occur between a carboxyl anion of the alginate and an amino group of the chitosan. The complex develops most markedly at a mixing ratio in weight of the chitosan/alginate from ca. 1/1 to 1/2 (in molar ratio), at which the dynamic viscoelastic functions of the systems manifest a plateau region due to a heterogeneous structure at a low frequency range. The heterogeneous structure shows a surface fractal structure having a fractal dimension of ca. 2.4.

A putative transcription factor binding to the upstream region of the puf operon in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Gel shift assays of the upstream region of the puf operon in Rhodobacter sphaeroides were performed using cell-free extracts from cells grown under various culture conditions. The results suggested that a protein binding to the upstream region functioned as a repressor-like substance of the expression of the operon by oxygen tension or light. The density of the shifted band of cell-free extracts from cells irradiated with blue light under semi-aerobic conditions was higher than that with red light. Phosphatase treatment of the cell-free extracts strongly increased the DNA-binding affinity of the protein.

Multiplicity of virus-encoded helper T-cell epitopes expressed on FBL-3 tumor cells

To identify retroviral antigenic determinants recognized by CD4+ T helper cells during tumor rejection, we established four noncytolytic, helper-type, CD4+ T-cell clones by limiting dilution cultures of mixed lymphocyte-tumor cultures from mice immune to a Friend virus-induced tumor, FBL-3. Among these, three T helper cell clones were isolated from C57BL/6 mice and the fourth was isolated from a (BALB/c x C57BL/6)F1 mouse. All these clones proliferated in response to the immunizing FBL-3 tumor cells in a major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted manner. Each clone expressed a distinct T-cell receptor with a characteristic combination of alpha and beta chains. The localization of helper T-cell determinants on viral proteins was analyzed with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) gag or env genes or shorter fragments of the env gene. Epitopes recognized by these T-cell clones were mapped to at least two distinct portions in the env region of the F-MuLV genome. These epitopes were identified more precisely with synthetic peptides derived from the F-MuLV envelope protein sequence. One of these epitopes was common to Friend and Moloney MuLVs and was located in the N-terminal region of the gp70 glycoprotein at amino acids 122 to 141. The second epitope, which was recognized in the context of hybrid I-Eb/d major histocompatibility complex class II molecule, was located close to the C-terminal end of gp70 at amino acids 462 to 479. In addition, a possible third epitope was located in the N-terminal half of the gp70 sequence and differed from the first epitope in that it was not cross-reactive with the Moloney MuLV envelope protein.

Increased plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor activity after coronary spasm

To examine whether ischemic attack induced by coronary spasm changes fibrinolytic activity, we examined plasma levels of tissue-plasminogen activator antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity before and after hyperventilation test in patients with variant angina and in control subjects. In 12 patients with variant angina, ischemic attack associated with ST-segment elevation on the electrocardiogram was induced by hyperventilation and plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor activity levels increased significantly 15 min after the attacks (pre, 5.1 +/- 0.8; immediately after, 5.8 +/- 1.1; and 15 min after, 7.2 +/- 0.9 IU/ml, P < 0.01). In 12 control subjects, plasminogen activator inhibitor activity levels did not change. Plasma tissue-plasminogen activator antigen levels did not change in both two groups. We conclude that coronary artery spasm increases plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor activity and that it may thereby lead to the coronary thrombus formation.

Quantitative assessment of a change of hemosiderin deposition with age in splenic compartments of rats

Hemosiderin deposition was quantitatively estimated in paraffin sections stained using Perls' iron reaction in the spleens of untreated male rats aged from 0 to 28 months. Hemosiderin was deposited in the periarteriolar lymphocyte sheath (PALS), lymph follicles, and marginal zone, as well as in the red pulp which was the main compartment of hemosiderin deposition. Special attention was paid to the PALS and marginal zone. Marked hemosiderin deposition was evident from 4 months, although only few hemosiderin-laden macrophages appeared in the first 3 months. Hemosiderin deposition peaked at 12 months in the red pulp and at 20 months in the white pulp and marginal zone. The deposition in the white pulp and marginal zone was about 1/9 to 1/4 of that in the red pulp. A few hemosiderin-laden macrophages were found in the lymph follicles after 2 months. In the periarterial region of the splenic hilus, deposition of hemosiderin granules was observed even at 1 month when there was little hemosiderin deposition elsewhere. Since no arteries open there, the presence of hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the PALS and lymph follicles suggested movement of some macrophages from the red pulp and/or the marginal zone. In addition, hemosiderin deposition in the PALS increased with age after it decreased in the other compartments.

Analysis of vocal abuse: fluctuations in phonation time and intensity in 4 groups of speakers

We have seen many patients with a voice disorder due to vocal abuse. However, there is little information about the speaking behaviour of such patients. The object of this study was to analyze speaking behaviour and to evaluate the relationship between the cause of voice disorders and its effects on speech. We had previously measured phonation time with a speech time accumulator. Recently, we have developed a speech intensity/speech time accumulator. We obtained data by accumulating the phonation time at 4 degrees of vocal intensity, ranging from weak to strong. By using this instrument, we measured the speaking habits of 29 subjects for 131 days and collected data about the criteria for vocal abuse. Our results showed that the office workers exhibited a phonation time (33.6 +/- 13.6 min for 8 h) three times shorter than that of teachers and patients with vocal fold nodules (102.1 +/- 22.9 min for 8 h). For the teachers and patients with a long phonation time, half of the total phonation time was at high intensity.

[Muscle fiber conduction velocity in right and left biceps brachii for badminton players]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the laterality of muscle fiber conduction velocity in biceps brachii for badminton players, who have stronger arm in the handedness side for long term training. The muscle fiber conduction velocity was calculated from the propagation time of the action potentials along the muscle fibers and the electrode separation using cross-correlation method. For badminton players, significant lateral differences (e.g. right side skillful) were observed in the upper arm girth (P < 0.01) and isokinetic peak torque at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 rpm (P < 0.01). For control subjects, significant lateral differences were in upper arm girth (P < 0.05) and isokinetic peak torque at exactly 30 rpm (P < 0.05). As for muscle fiber conduction velocity, there were no statistically significant differences between right (4.16 +/- 0.34 m/sec) and left (4.08 +/- 0.34 m/sec) sides in badminton players, and the control group exhibited same tendency (right: 4.36 +/- 0.25 m/sec, left: 4.28 +/- 0.33 m/sec) as well. These results suggest no training-induced change in the muscle fiber conduction velocity.

Interferon-gamma-producing tumor induces host tumor-specific T cell responses

We investigated the mechanism of host immune responses against two interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene-transduced tumors, plasmacytoma MOPC104E(Mu gamma) and mammary cancer SC115(K gamma), which originally had weak immunogenicity. Both IFN-gamma-producing tumor cells had reduced tumorigenicity and were rejected by syngeneic mice. The rejection was completely blocked by in vivo treatment with anti-CD8 or anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibodies. While anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody also blocked the rejection of SC115(K gamma), it enhanced the initial tumor growth of MOPC104E(Mu gamma). Specific protection against subsequent challenge with the respective parental tumor cells was demonstrated in mice which rejected the IFN-gamma-producing tumor cells. Cultured lymphocytes derived from immunized mouse spleens had cytotoxic T cell activity against parental tumor cells, as well as against cells that produced IFN-gamma. These findings indicate that the antitumor effects are mediated by cytotoxic T cells and, partly, by helper T cells, and that locally secreted IFN-gamma plays an important role in generating these effector cells.

Surfactant apoprotein A secretion by human tracheobronchial epithelial cells

To determine whether surfactant apoproteins are produced locally by the airway walls, we used a two-site simultaneous immunoassay with monoclonal antibodies and measured the surfactant apoprotein-A (SP-A) content in media cultured with human airway explants or cultured epithelial cells. Tracheobronchial explants were cultured for 2 successive periods (periods I and II). Significant SP-A concentrations were detected in both periods. Methacholine (MCh) or isoproterenol (ISP), added to the medium at the beginning of period II, reduced the ratio of SP-A concentration in period II to that in period I, compared to samples without treatment. The SP-A concentration in the medium at the confluent period of cultured epithelial cells was significantly higher than at the mid-period, indicating that SP-A secretion is dependent on the cell number. The supernatant from explants stimulated by MCh was capable of reducing SP-A secretion from cultured epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical study of SP-A using monoclonal antibody demonstrated positive immunoperoxidase staining in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Further, Western blots of electrophoresed proteins from epithelial cells showed the characteristic properties of SP-A. These findings indicate that tracheobronchial epithelium can secrete SP-A.

Differential damage by hypoxia to dopamine and serotonin nerve terminals

Serotonin and dopamine resemble each other in terms of their synthetic and degradative pathways, as well as in terms of structural features. However, responses to a low-oxygen environment differ between these two compounds. In this experiment, we studied the fluctuations of levels of serotonin, dopamine and their metabolites in the striatum of the rat brain under low-oxygen conditions using a microdialysis technique. Comparison of the extents of increases in extracellular levels of dopamine and serotonin, accompanied by decreases in levels of metabolites, indicates that the effects of hypoxia on the two types of neuronal terminal are different. This study suggests that dopamine plays a more important role than serotonin in the mechanism of irreversible destruction of neurons during moderate hypoxia.