Stimulation by C-type natriuretic peptide of the differentiation of clonal osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells

We examined the effects of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and B-type natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-B) system, which stimulates the intracellular production of cGMP, on osteoblastic differentiation using clonal murine calvarial MC3T3-E1 cells. CNP-like immunoreactivity was detected in the conditioned medium and in lysates of MC3T3-E1 cells. Exposure of cells to CNP caused an increase in the intracellular production of cGMP and the increase was dose-dependent, while ANP had no effect. These results imply that CNP regulates osteoblastic metabolism via NPR-B in an autocrine manner. Northern blot analysis revealed that treatment of MC3T3-E1 cells with CNP increased the steady-state levels of mRNAs for type-I collagen, cellular alkaline phosphatase (ALPase), and osteocalcin, which are well known as markers of osteoblastic differentiation. Our observations suggest the possibility that CNP functions as a local regulator of osteoblastic differentiation, acting via a cGMP-mediated pathway.

His257 is a uniquely important histidine residue for tetracycline/H+ antiport function but not mandatory for full activity of the transposon Tn10-encoded metal-tetracycline/H+ antiporter

His257 is the only histidine residue located in the putative transmembrane region of the Tn10-encoded metal-tetracycline/H+ antiporter (TetA) and contributes to the substrate/H+ coupling [Yamaguchi, A.. Adachi, K., Akasaka. T., Ono. N., & Sawai, T. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 6045-6051]. Tn10-TetA contains five histidine residues, including His257. When these histidine residues were replaced by alanine one by one, only the His257Ala mutant showed almost complete loss of the tetracycline transport activity, whereas the other four His --> Ala mutants, H42A, H158A, H329A, and H359A, retained transport activity comparable to that of the wild type. The mutant which contains only one histidine, His257, retained about 80% of the wild-type activity, whereas the histidine-less mutant, in which all five histidine residues were replaced by Ala, exhibited little activity. These results clearly indicated that His257 is a unique histidine residue in TetA responsible for the transport activity. The His257Tyr mutant, irrespective of the presence or absence of the other four histidine residues, retained about 30% of the wild-type tetracycline transport activity and showed corresponding tetracycline-coupled H+ translocation, indicating that an imidazole group is not necessary at position 257 for the substrate/H+ coupling. A histidine-specific reagent, diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC), equally inactivated the wild-type and one-histidine mutant TetA, whereas the H257Y mutant was hardly inactivated by DEPC irrespective of the presence or absence of the other four histidine residues, indicating that the inactivation by DEPC is due to the modification of His257.

High prevalence of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase in comparison to islet cell antibodies in patients with long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

To elucidate the clinical significance of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD Ab) compared to islet cell antibodies (ICA) in recent-onset and long-standing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We examined GAD Ab and ICA in 29 recent-onset and 85 long-standing patients with IDDM. GAD Ab was detected by a radioimmunoassay kit using purified pig brain GAD as an antigen. The prevalence of GAD Ab in the recent-onset diabetic patients was 55.2%, slightly lower than that of ICA (65.5%). In contrast, the prevalence of GAD Ab in long-standing diabetic patients was 42.4%, which was significantly higher than that of ICA (23.5%) (p < 0.01). GAD Ab were consistently detected in approximately 40% of patients with long-standing disease, while ICA decreased according to duration of disease. The GAD Ab titer in ICA-positive patients (mean +/- SD, 1588.2 +/- 6755.1; range, 6-38574) was significantly higher than that in ICA-negative patients (mean +/- SD, 13.4 +/- 17.9; and range, 5-72 units) (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that GAD Ab are more useful than ICA to know participation of immune disorders in long-standing patients with IDDM.

Expression of a CD44 variant containing exons 8 to 10 is a useful independent factor for the prediction of prognosis in colorectal cancer patients

PURPOSE

To determine the expression of the CD44 variant containing a variant exon 8 to 10 product (CD44v8-10) in colorectal cancer and to evaluate its prognostic value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CD44v8-10 was studied in resected tumors and normal mucosae obtained from 215 colorectal cancer patients (118 colon cancer and 97 rectal cancer). The expression of CD44v8-10 was analyzed immunohistochemically using the anti-CD44v8-10 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 44-1V.

RESULTS

One hundred of 215 cancer tissues expressed CD44v8-10. Positive staining was intense mainly on the cell membranes. There was no significant correlation between expression of CD44v8-10 and histologic type, primary tumor, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, or peritoneal invasion. There were significant correlations between CD44v8-10 immunoreactivity and both lymph node and hematogenous metastasis. Patients with CD44v8-10-positive tumors had a greater relative risk of death compared with those whose tumors were CD44v8-10-negative. Among 169 patients who underwent curative resection, CD44v8-10 expression correlated with a high recurrence rate. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 90.3% of patients with CD44v8-10-negative tumors, and 72.1% and 58.0% of those with CD44v8-10-positive tumors, respectively; these differences between the two groups of patients were significant (P < .01). In multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model, CD44v8-10 expression emerged as an independent prognostic indicator.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that CD44v8-10 plays a role in metastasis of colorectal cancer, and tha CD44v8-10 expression may be a biologic marker of prognostic significance.

[Administration and dosage of fluorouracil (5-FU) continuous i.v. infusion in patients with non-curative resected/non-resected gastric cancer]

This study was conducted to establish the optimum postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU in patients with gastric cancer. Seventy gastric cancer patients were treated after surgery with one of the following regimens; 5-FU 10 mg/kg/24 hrs c.i.v. x 24 days (arm A, n = 25); 5-FU 20 mg/kg/24 hrs c.i.v. x 4 days/w x 3 courses (arm B, n = 16); 5-FU 30 mg/kg/24 hrs c.i.v. x 2 days/w x 4 courses (arm C, n = 25). Blood 5-FU concentration, adverse effects and prognosis in each arm were compared. Changes in blood 5-FU concentrations were dose-related. The three-year survival rates in arms A, B and C were 15.0, 13.5 and 0.0%, respectively; they tended to be greater in arms A and B, but differences were not statistically significant. The most frequent adverse effects of the treatments were gastrointestinal, such as stomatitis. The incidence of reactions tended to be low in arm C, i.e., high-dose intermittent administration. Arm B (4 days-on, 3 days-off) was modified to 4 days-on, 6 days-off (arm B'), because severe stomatitis developed. The severity and incidence of stomatitis were reduced in the modified arm B group. We believe that intensive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with gastric cancer should be designed using the arm B' approach.

Effects of BMP-2, BMP-4, and BMP-6 on osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow-derived stromal cell lines, ST2 and MC3T3-G2/PA6

The effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) on osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells were investigated using two bone marrow stromal cell lines, ST2 and MC3T3-G2/PA6 (PA6). BMP-2 stimulated ALP activity and induced parathyroid hormone (PTH)-dependent production of cAMP in both ST2 and PA6 cells, but these effects were more apparent in ST2 cells than in PA6 cells. BMP-2 induced the production of osteocalcin in ST2 cells, but not in PA6 cells. BMP-4 and BMP-6 stimulated ALP activity in ST2 cells, but the effect of BMP-6 was less marked than that of BMP-2 and BMP-4. BMP-4 induced PTH-dependent cAMP production of cAMP in ST2 cells, but BMP-6 did not. When ST2 cells were transplanted into the peritoneal cavities of athymic mice with BMP-2 in diffusion chambers, these cells generated mineralized bone in the chambers. These results indicate that BMPs induce the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells into osteoblasts. However, the effects differ among the BMPs and among the types of cell exposed to these proteins.

Duplication of the gallbladder with advanced adenocarcinoma: diagnostic value of MRI and angiography

We present a very rare case of duplicated gallbladder in which the accessory gallbladder was involved by advanced adenocarcinoma with stones. In this case, MRI was the most useful modality in revealing the cystic formation of the accessory gallbladder with packed stones beside the main gallbladder. Additionally, celiac angiography demonstrated the unusual form of the intrahepatic artery which enveloped the cystic tumor, that might be a diagnostic characteristic of accessory gallbladder.

[A case report of St. Jude medical aortic valve prosthesis thrombosis]

We report a case of successful semi-emergent redo aortic valve replacement for thrombosed prosthetic valve. Patient was a 59-year-old male who had undergone aortic valve replacement of St. Jude Medical prosthetic valve and open mitral commissurotomy 14 years ago. He suffered from pneumonia with hemosputum and admitted a neighbor hospital. But he was reffered to our medical center because of progressing dyspnea. We found the immobility of one of the leaflets of the prosthetic valve by cinefuluoroscopy. He was also diagnosed as prosthetic valve thrombosis and mitral valve restenosis using ultrasonic echocardiography. The thrombi were developed on the hinge of one of the leaflets, and they might be formed during the time he had got inappropriate anticoagulation therapy at the former hospital. We emphasise the importance of strict anticoagulation control for the patients valve replaced.

Marked enlargement of the jaws in secondary hyperparathyroidism--a case report

A case of facial deformity and malocclusion due to secondary hyperparathyroidism is presented. Treatment consisted of parathyroidectomy, followed by recontouring of the maxilla and mandible with additional dental treatment. A 3-D reconstruction of the computed tomography (CT) scan was helpful in evaluating the facial deformities and in treatment planning.

An estrogen deficiency caused by ovariectomy increases plasma levels of systemic factors that stimulate proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in rats

To investigate the pathogenesis of accelerated bone formation in estrogen deficiency, diffusion chambers containing osteoblast-like cells isolated from newborn rat calvariae were transplanted into the peritoneal cavity of sham-operated (sham), ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and OVX rats with supplement of 17 beta-estradiol (OVX + E2). Bone formation in the diffusion chambers transplanted into OVX rats was more accelerated than that transplanted into sham rats and OVX + E2 rats. Osteoblast-like cells cultured with the sera isolated from OVX rats exhibited higher levels of the DNA content in the culture wells, alkaline phosphatase activity, messenger RNA expression for alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, calcium content in the cell layer, and formation of bone-like nodules than those exposed to the sera from sham rats and OVX + E2 rats. Antibody against IGF-I almost completely inhibited the increase in DNA contents induced by the sera isolated from OVX rats but partially inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity. Adding IGF-I to the sera isolated from sham rats increased the DNA content to the same extent as that induced by the supplement with the sera from OVX rats but did not increase alkaline phosphatase activity appreciably. Addition of various concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6 to the sera isolated from sham rats did not increase the DNA content or alkaline phosphatase activity in the osteoblast-like cells. These results indicate that some systemic factor(s) other than IGF-I, IL-1, and IL-6 may be responsible for the stimulative effect on osteoblast differentiation in the pathogenesis of the accelerated bone formation induced by estrogen deficiency in rats.

Yearly variation of spontaneous somatic mutation frequency in the stamen hairs of Tradescantia clone KU 9 grown outdoors, which showed a significant increase after the Chernobyl accident

Scoring of spontaneous somatic pink mutation frequency in the stamen hairs of Tradescantia clone KU 9, a heterozygote for flower color (blue/pink; the blue color being dominant), was carried out for 11 years on plants grown outdoors, during the period of May 11-31 (for 3 weeks) in every year from 1982 to 1992. Weekly and yearly variations of the spontaneous mutation frequency were observed, and such variations could mostly be correlated to the difference in temperature. That is, the mutation frequency was generally higher in the weeks and years when the temperature was relatively low, showing the strongest negative correlation with the average minimum temperature. The variations were also correlated to the diurnal temperature difference, the mutation frequency being higher with larger diurnal temperature difference in general. However, the mutation frequency observed in 1986 was exceptionally higher than that expected from the temperature for this year, and was very significantly higher than for other years. The scoring of mutation frequency was thus continued in 1986 for an additional 4 weeks (June 1-28), and it was confirmed that such higher mutation frequencies lasted for 6 weeks in total. The exceptionally high mutation frequency seemed to be related to the radioactive fallout which occurred in early to mid May of 1986, even in Japan, after the serious nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl, and also to the biological concentrations of radioactive nuclides which subsequently occurred, although it was difficult to conclude this definitely. The mutation frequency in 1987 was second highest, and was also significantly higher than the lowest mutation frequency observed in 1990.

[Relationship between postoperative prognosis and preoperative immunological factors in aortitis syndrome]

Valve detachment or pseudoaneurysm is a well known complication of surgical treatment for cardiovascular disease due to aortitis syndrome. Although the preoperative management of inflammation by steroid therapy is very important, occasionally, the operation in active phase might be recommended because of progressive heart failure or impending rupture of aortic aneurysm. The pathology of aortitis syndrome is related to immunological abnormality, but there has been little information concerning the immunological factors. In order to evaluate the relationship between immunological factors and surgical results in patients with aortitis syndrome, immunological examination was obtained before surgery in 12 patients. Cardiovascular lesions due to aortitis syndrome were aortic regurgitation in 6 patients, annuloaortic ectasia in 1 patient, aortic arch aneurysm in 1 patient, mitral regurgitation in 2 patients, and coronary artery disease in 2 patients. Hospital mortality including initial operative death was not found. However, 6 late death (50%) occurred at late time with the mean of 23.8 months because of severe complications such as valve detachement or pseudoaneurysm after operation. In a comparison of the preoperative immunological values between survival group and late death group, immunoglobulins such as IgG, IgA, C3 and C4 were significantly higher in late death group. According to the recurrence of inflammation, the patients were divided into three groups. Group A included 3 patients who remains in active phase after initial operation in active phase. Group B included 3 patients who changed to active phase after initial operation in inactive phase. Group C included 6 patients who remains in inactive phase after initial operation. In a comparison among 3 groups, IgG and C4 showed no significant difference. However, IgA and C3 of group C were significantly lowest among three groups. This outcome is considered to be related to existence of latent inflammation. At operation, insertion of rigid prosthesis to fragile position due to latent inflammation may stimulate immunological reactions. We conclude that the preoperative values of the immunological factors, especially IgA and C3, are reliable predictors in postoperative prognosis.

An unusual coccidian parasite causing pneumonia in a northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

In June 1993 an unusual coccidian parasite was identified in lung tissue from a northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), collected near Tucson, Arizona (USA), which died in respiratory distress. Histologically, there was evidence of severe, generalized interstitial pneumonia, associated with the parasite. Both asexual and sexual stages were seen. Schizonts, gamonts, and sporulated oocysts were seen in lung tissue. The parasite most closely resembled coccidia of the genus Lankesterella. This is the first report of such a coccidian parasite in the alveolar tissue of a cardinal.

[Replacement of descending thoracic aorta using open proximal anastomosis under hypothermic circulatory arrest]

Open proximal anastomosis under hypothermic circulatory arrest was applied to eleven consecutive patients with descending aortic diseases. These patients included five aortic dissections and six thoracic aortic aneurysms. Fourth and 7th intercostal spaces were opened by left posterolateral thoracotomy. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established by right atrial drainage via femoral vein and main pulmonary artery. Arterial blood was perfused via femoral artery. The descending aorta was opened under hypothermic circulatory arrest with anal temperature of 20 degrees C, and the anastomosis of the proximal site of the graft was performed with bloodless field. After the proximal anastomosis was finished, the main graft was clamped and perfused via the branch of the graft. The distal anastomosis was performed during circulatory arrest of the lower body. Mean circulatory arrest time of the upper body was 31 min, and that of the lower body was 37 min. Nine of the patients arrive without any major complications, but two of them died due to postoperative low cardiac output syndrome and postoperative pneumonia. Open proximal anastomosis under hypothermic circulatory arrest may be useful for the replacement of the diseased descending aorta due to dissection or aortic aneurysm with mural thrombi because of the advantage of non-clamping anastomosis with bloodless surgical field.

[Evaluation of preoperative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer]

Patients who underwent curative resection for colorectal cancer between January 1987 and June 1989 were divided into two groups, to assess the usefulness of preoperative chemotherapy (400 mg UFT therapy daily for 10 days more) and to analyze changes in the proliferative activity of tumor cells. Fifty-five cases were included in the study. Thirty-three had received no preoperative chemotherapy (Group A), and 22 had received the preoperative chemotherapy (group B). The five-year cumulative survival rate was 81.1% for group A and 90.2% for Group B. The proportion of patients with no recurrence was 75.7% in Group A and 85.7% in Group B. Both parameters thus tended to be better in patients who had received preoperative chemotherapy. When PCNA labeling before UFT therapy was compared with that after UFT therapy in 13 cases, the PCNA labeling rate decreased after UFT therapy in 9 (69%) of the 13 cases. These results suggest that preoperative chemotherapy using UFT is useful in treating colorectal cancer, and that the proliferative activity of colorectal cancer can sometimes be reduced by such preoperative adjuvant therapy.

Interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptors in the synovial fluids from rheumatoid arthritis patients are responsible for osteoclast-like cell formation

Chronic immune responses and inflammatory reactions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often cause severe destruction of cartilage and bone, but its mechanism is still a matter of controversy. We reported that interleukin-6 (IL-6) alone does not induce osteoclast formation, but soluble interleukin-6 receptors (sIL-6R) triggered the formation in the presence of IL-6 in cocultures of murine osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells. In this study, we examined the involvement of sIL-6R and IL-6 in joint destruction in patients with RA. Although the frequency of patients having osteoclast-like multinucleated cells in synovium derived from the knee joint was not significantly different between RA (65%) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients (43%), the number of osteoclast-like cells found in the synovium was greater in the former than in the latter. Multinucleated cells obtained from RA synovium expressed the osteoclast-specific phenotype such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, carbonic anhydrase II, vacuolar proton-ATPase and vitronectin receptors at similar levels to those from a human giant cell tumor of bone. The concentration of both IL-6 and sIL-6R was significantly higher in the synovial fluids from patients with RA than with OA. The concentration of IL-6 and sIL-6R correlated well with the roentgenologic grades of joint destruction. Dose-response curves for human IL-6 and human sIL-6R in inducing osteoclast-like cell formation in cocultures indicated that the RA synovial fluids contained sufficient IL-6 and sIL-6R to induce osteoclastogenesis. When synovial fluids from RA and OA patients were added to the cocultures, some of the RA synovial fluids containing high levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation, which was strikingly inhibited by adding anti-IL-6R antibody simultaneously. These results suggest that IL-6 in the RA synovial fluids is at least in part responsible for joint destruction in the presence of sIL-6R through osteoclastogenesis.

Extracellular processing of bone and dentin proteins in matrix mineralization

There are two steps in the process of matrix-mediated bone and dentin mineralization. First, as in other soft tissues, osteoblasts/odontoblasts synthesize collagenous matrices and second, mineral deposits in these matrices at a location distant from the cells that synthesized the matrices. We suggest a sequence of events that lead the matrix to mineralization: the phosphoproteins of bone and dentin are posttranslationally processed by limited proteolysis, then they are extracellularly processed into a more phosphorylated species that, we believe, facilitates mineralization. Our in situ phosphorylation experiments done with [gamma-32P] GTP suggest the existence of extracellular phosphorylation by a casein kinase II (CKII)-like enzyme, the enzyme known to phosphorylate most of the phosphate residues in dentin phosphophoryn and bone sialoproteins (osteopontin and BSP II).

Chemical synthesis of novel biodegradable polyesters

Distannoxane complexes catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of optically active β-butyrolactone (β-BL) to afford a high molecular weight poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). When 1-ethoxy-3-chlorotetrabutyldistannoxane was used as a catalyst (catalyst/(R)-β-BL = 1/8000 at 100 °C for 4 h), poly((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate) was obtained from (R)-β-BL in a yield of 99%. The copolymerizations of (R)-β-BL with racemic β-BL in several ratios gave corresponding stereocopolymers. The copolymerizations of (R)-β-BL with ε-caprolactone, δ-valerolactone, β-methyl-δ-valerolactone, and L-lactide afforded novel optically active and biodegradable polyesters of high molecular weights, comprising (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB). The polymerization of (R)-β-BL catalyzed by the distannoxane complexes proceeded by bond breaking between the carbonyl carbon and oxygen atom of the lactone ring (acyl cleavage) with retention of the configuration and little or no racemization. Polymers that have over 80 mol% of the (R)-3HB unit were found to have almost the same degree of biodegradability as the copolyester of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 11% 3-hydroxyvalerate produced by the microbial method.Key words: distannoxane, ring-opening polymerization, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates), biodegradable polymer.

Bone and brain involvement in a case of diffuse large B cell lymphoma associated with t(2;3)(p12;q27)

We report a 57-year-old male with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) associated with t(2;3)(p12;q27). The patient showed bone lesions at presentation and brain involvement at relapse in addition to systemic lymph node swelling. Histological diagnosis was malignant lymphoma, diffuse, large cell, immunoblastic, plasmacytoid. Chromosome analysis revealed t(2;3) which is a variant type of t(3;14)(q27;q32). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis disclosed splits of signals of BCL-6 gene. Among the cases reported in the literature, the common feature of t(2;3)(p11 or p12;q27) was diffuse, large cell lymphoma of B cell, kappa phenotype and four patients immunosuppressive state before lymphoma.

[Cerebral infarction after the cardiovascular operation]

From January, 1990 through July 1994, 615 adult patients were undergone cardiovascular operation under the cardiopulmonary bypass. Sixteen patients were suffered perioperative cerebral infarction. The etiology of the cerebral infarction was evaluated on the pre and postoperative brain CT findings by the neurologists. In the 283 coronary artery bypass operations, 4 patients suffered watershed infarction (WS) and 4 cerebral embolism. In the 252 valve operations, one WS and one embolism. In the 80 thoracic aortic operations, 5 WS and one embolism, respectively. The risk factors of WS were the elderly, emergency, the longer operative period, and the longer cardiopulmonary bypass period. The risk factor of the embolism were male, preoperative cerebral infarction, the calcified finding of the ascending aorta by the chest CT. It is important to take preventive strategies against the watershed infarction.

[A study of hierarchical structure in personality traits: asymmetry judgments in category breadth and class inclusion]

Many personality theorists postulate a hierarchical structure in trait words. However, most evidences are indirect, mainly because the theorists rely on factor-analytic methods. Assuming a global structure, the factor approach is not necessarily adequate to investigate concrete relationship among trait words. In this study, we used two direct measures to study the hierarchical structure: direct comparison of breadth and asymmetry class-inclusion judgment on trait concepts. Results of three experiments in general confirmed robustness of the hierarchical structure in the domain of personality traits. Traits were organized in the structure at several different levels of abstractness. But the structure was fuzzy in nature, unlike the taxonomy in biology. It was also found that inter-relations among traits could vary considerably from individual to individual. Cognitive complexity may be one of the variables that explain such an individual difference.

Expression of CD44 variant exons 8-10 in gastric cancer

The expression of CD44 variant containing variant exons 8-10 product (CD44v8-10) was studied by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry in gastric cancers using a monoclonal antibody, 44-1V. On western blots, a single band of 130 kD was recognized in stomach cancer cell lines. CD44v8-10 expression, with reactivity localized in the cell membrane, was found in 65 (33.5%) of the 194 advanced gastric cancers. There was no correlation between CD44v8-10 immunoreactivity and serosal, lymphatic, or lymph node invasion. However, there was significant correlation with CD44v8-10 immunoreactivity and venous invasion. CD44v8-10-positive cancers were more frequently associated with hematogenous metastasis than those which were immunonegative. There was an inverse association between CD44v8-10 immunoreactivity and peritoneal dissemination, especially in diffuse type adenocarcinomas. These observations indicate that CD44v8-10 may play a role in the metastasis of gastric cancer.

Are region-specific changes in fibre types attributable to nonuniform muscle hypertrophy by overloading?

Muscle fibre composition was compared among the proximal (25%), middle (50%) and distal (75%) regions of the muscle length to investigate whether compensatory overload by removal of synergists induces region-specific changes of fibre types in rat soleus and plantaris muscles. In addition, we evaluated fibre cross-sectional area in each region to examine whether fibre recruitment pattern against functional overload is nonuniform in different regions. Increases in muscle mass and fibre area confirmed a significant hypertrophic response in the overloaded soleus and plantaris muscles. Overloading increased the percentage of type I fibres in both muscles and that of type IIA fibres in the plantaris muscle, with the greater changes being found in the middle and distal regions. The percentage of type I fibres in the proximal region was higher than that of the other regions in the control soleus muscle. In the control plantaris muscle, the percentage of type I and IIA fibres in the middle region were higher than that of the proximal and distal regions. With regard to fibre size, type IIB fibre area of the middle and distal regions in the plantaris increased by 51% and 57%, respectively, with the greater changes than that of the proximal region (37%) after overloading. These findings suggest that compensatory overload promoted transformation of type II fibres into type I fibres in rat soleus and plantaris muscles, with the greater changes being found in the middle and distal regions of the plantaris muscle.

Association of HLA-B39 with HLA-B27-negative ankylosing spondylitis and pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Japanese patients. Evidence for a role of the peptide-anchoring B pocket

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of HLA-B27 that render susceptibility to seronegative spondylarthropathies.

METHODS

Serologic HLA class I typing of Japanese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and healthy controls, was performed. HLA-B39 subtypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligohybridization.

RESULTS

HLA-B27 was present in 40 of 48 patients with AS (83%), and in only 1 of 210 healthy controls (0.5%). Three of 8 patients (37.5%) who were negative for HLA-B27 were positive for HLA-B39, which was significantly higher compared with the HLA-B27-negative controls (6.2%; P = 0.01). Significant association with HLA-B39 was also noted in the JRA patients (16.7%; P < 0.01), especially in those patients with pauciarticular-onset disease (33.3%; P < 0.01). Ten of 13 HLA-B39-positive patients had subtype B*3901 and 3 had B*3902.

CONCLUSION

Because HLA-B27 and HLA-B39 share Glu at position 45 and Cys at position 67, both of which constitute components of the peptide-anchoring B pocket, and because they possess similar peptide-ligand motifs, our results may support either the role of the peptides presented by class I antigens or the importance of Cys at position 67, in the development of spondylarthropathies and pauciarticular-onset JRA.