Establishment of a human megakaryoblastic cell line (T-33) from chronic myelogenous leukemia in megakaryoblastic crisis

A megakaryoblastic cell line, termed T-33, was established from the peripheral blood of a patient with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia in megakaryoblastic crisis. T-33 cells have been maintained in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% fetal calf serum in a single cell suspension with a doubling time of 24-36 h for over 2 years. Giemsa-banded karyotypes were female hyperdiploid with a modal chromosomal number of 51, all cells including Philadelphia chromosome. The cells showed strong positivity for periodic acid-Schiff and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, and weak for alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, but were negative for myeloperoxidase. Flow cytometric analysis of cell surface markers showed the existence of HLA-DR, MY-7, MY-9, and a platelet antigen (Yukb), and no markers for T- or B-lymphocytes. Most of the cells fixed with acetone were positive for Factor VIII, platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa, IIIa (Yukb), and Ib, but negative for glycophorin A and hemoglobin. Ultrastructural platelet peroxidase was demonstrated in 2-3% of cells and the percentage of positive cells increased up to 20% after the treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. The cells contained small dense granules negative for platelet peroxidase, their number increasing threefold after 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate treatment. Such treated cells frequently showed a complex of the demarcation membrane in the cytoplasm. T-33 responded thrombin to exhibit calcium influx. This cell line may be useful for the study of the early stage of megakaryocytic differentiation in human megakaryopoiesis.

Electrical stimulation of ligament healing. An experimental study of the patellar ligament of rabbits

To examine the effects of direct electric current on ligament healing in rabbits, a full-thickness defect of the patellar ligament was electrically stimulated for time periods of up to seven weeks. The rabbits were randomly assigned to biomechanical and biochemical studies, and healing was evaluated by these parameters. Electrical stimulation was shown to restore tensile stiffness in a short period of time and to decrease the relative proportion of Type III collagen more rapidly than in the control group. However, electrical stimulation did not change the collagen content of newly formed tissue. Electricity enhances the repair process of the ligament by changing the ratio of collagen types.

Electron microscopic pathological patterns of alveolar septum in acute dextran-induced and alloxan-induced pulmonary edema in dogs

We studied the incidence of electron microscopic pathological patterns of the alveolar septum observed 30 min after induction of pulmonary edema by dextran-70 infusion (6 dogs, dextran group) and by alloxan injection (6 dogs, alloxan group). For comparable amounts of extravascular lung water in both dextran and alloxan groups, which were twice as much as control group (6 dogs), we characterized the pathological changes. The incidence of the electron microscopic pathological patterns that appeared in dextran group compared with that in control group was significantly high in terms of the widening of the interstitial space, dispersion and disarray of collagen fibrils, and erythrocytes in the interstitial space. The incidence in alloxan group compared with that in control group was significantly high in terms of the swelling of epithelial cells and endothelial cells as well as the widening of the interstitial space, and dispersion and disarray of collagen fibrils. We conclude that dextran causes interstitial changes exclusively and alloxan causes cellular changes primarily coupled with secondary interstitial changes in acute pulmonary edema.

Spontaneous fractures of the hip in the elderly

The authors found 41 patients with 42 fractures of the hip who had no distinct history of trauma in the total of 1,449 hip fractures treated. They were all women ranging in age from 64 to 91 years. Most of the fractures were of intracapsular type. Three extracapsular fractures, however, were found. Fractures were randomly selected with clear history of trauma, which were matched to the patients with no trauma for age, sex, and type of fracture as a control group. The grades of osteoporosis of the femoral neck, estimated with the Singh index, and of the spine, estimated with the spinal score, were noted statistically significantly higher in the patients than those in the control group. Most of spontaneous fractures of the hip in the elderly are considered similar phenomena to the compression fractures of the dorsolumbar spine.

Hunter's syndrome. An ultrastructural study of an autopsy case

An autopsy case of a 10-year, 8-month-old boy with Hunter's syndrome is reported with emphasis on the ultrastructural findings of almost all the organs, except the brain. Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were observed in various organs as follows: nerve cells and glia in the spinal cord, hepatocytes and Kupffer cells in the liver, sinusoidal endothelium of the spleen, proximal tubules, podocytes and epithelium of Bowman's capsule of the kidney, interstitial fibroblast-like cells among cardiac muscle bundles, cardiac valves and aorta, exocrine and endocrine cells of the pancreas, adrenocortical cells, follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid. Leydig cells of the testis, chondrocytes, fibroblasts and endothelium of capillaries throughout the body. Three types of inclusion bodies were morphologically distinguishable. Type 1: clear vacuole, Type 2: zebra body, Type 3: clear vacuole with a lipid-like lamellar structure. The clear vacuole (Type 1) was thought to represent an accumulation of glycosaminoglycans, and the zebra body (Type 2), probably ganglioside. The type 3 inclusion body might be an intermediate and mixed form of the type 1 and type 2 inclusions. Histochemical study also suggested that the type 3 inclusion body contained glycosaminoglycan and a type of lipid.

Gel-filtration of serum gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase with HPLC in hepatobiliary diseases and its significance

Serum gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) from patients with various hepatobiliary diseases was fractionated by molecular size using HPLC to investigate the heterogeneity of serum gamma-GTP. Serum gamma-GTP eluted with HPLC showed essentially 3 elution peaks of different molecular size. In the sera of normal patients, there was little gamma-GTP in the high molecular fraction, and most occurred in the low molecular fraction. Intermediate molecular gamma-GTP appeared only in the sera of patients with hepatobiliary disease. In the sera of patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction, the percentage of high molecular gamma-GTP to total serum gamma-GTP activity was higher than that of other patients. High molecular gamma-GTP increased in the sera of patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Intermediate molecular gamma-GTP appeared in the relatively higher molecular fraction in the sera of patients in whom alcohol consumption might have caused serum gamma-GTP increase, and in the relatively lower molecular fraction in the sera of patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction. It was concluded, therefore, that the position of elution of intermediate molecular gamma-GTP corresponded to the morbid state. It was shown that intermediate molecular gamma-GTP appeared in the relatively low molecular fraction, corresponding to the increase of serum total bile acids concentration.

Effect of a monoclonal anti-mouse sperm antibody (OBF13) on the interaction of mouse sperm with zona-free mouse and hamster eggs

Mouse eggs freed from zonae by chymotrypsin were mixed with sperm and pronuclear formation was observed. When anti-mouse sperm monoclonal antibody (OBF 13) from ascites fluid was added to the medium (at a final concentration of 0.05%), fertilization was significantly inhibited (9.7 +/- 4.3% compared to control 56.7 +/- 7.4%, P less than 0.01). This was based on the inhibition of sperm binding to the egg. However, when similar experiments were performed using zona-free hamster eggs, addition of the OBF 13 antibody caused no significant reduction in fertilization rate (91 +/- 7.1% compared to control 97 +/- 3.2%). It was also observed that binding of mouse sperm to hamster eggs was not inhibited by the antibody. It is therefore suggested that mouse sperm and mouse egg recognize each other in a species-specific manner.

Pharmacokinetics of single and consecutive doses of cilazapril and its depressor effects in hypertensive patients with renal dysfunction

The pharmacokinetic properties and antihypertensive effects of cilazapril, a long-acting converting enzyme inhibitor, were investigated in seven hypertensive patients with renal failure. Cilazapril 1.25 mg was given orally once a day for 5 or 8 days. Cilazapril induced a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and its antihypertensive effect was still present 24 hours after administration. Serum-converting enzyme activity was markedly suppressed for at least 24 hours. No significant differences were noted in plasma peak level and the area under the curve between the first and last days of treatment. These results suggest that cilazapril has a long-lasting effect and is a useful antihypertensive agent in controlling blood pressure in hypertensive patients with renal failure.

Pharmacokinetics of single and consecutive doses of cilazapril and its depressor effects in patients with essential hypertension

The pharmacokinetic properties and antihypertensive effects of cilazapril, a long-acting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, were investigated in five patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (mean age 57 years, mean serum creatinine 1.2 mg/dL, mean glomerular filtration rate 69 mL/min/1.73m2, mean blood pressure 158/94 mm Hg). All patients were hospitalized and placed on a constant sodium diet (7 g of NaCl/day) throughout the study. After an overnight fast, a 1.25-mg dose of cilazapril was given orally once a day for 5 or 8 days. On the first and last days of treatment, blood samples were taken and blood pressure was measured. All patients tolerated cilazapril with no untoward effects. Cilazapril induced a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and its antihypertensive effect was still present 24 hours after administration. Serum ACE activity was markedly suppressed for at least 24 hours. The peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) of cilazapril and its diacid were 117 and 24.6 ng/mL on the first treatment day, and 144 and 31.1 ng/mL on the last day. The area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC) of cilazapril and its diacid were 408 and 227 ng.h/mL on the first day, and 501 and 305 ng.h/mL on the last day. In looking at the data gathered on the first and last treatment days, no significant differences were noted in Cmax and AUC values. These results suggest that cilazapril has a long-lasting effect and is a useful antihypertensive agent in controlling blood pressure in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Measurement of sulfidopeptide leukotrienes and their metabolism in human synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Leukotriene (LT)C4 in the synovial fluid of patients with osteoarthritis deformans (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) after extraction with Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. The amounts of immunoreactive LTC4 (i-LTC4) in samples from patients with OA and RA were not significantly different, being 0.198 +/- 0.018 pmol/ml (n = 11) and 0.179 +/- 0.016 pmol/ml (n = 12), respectively. After separation by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and measurement by RIA, the levels of other sulfidopeptide LTs, such as LTD4 and LTE4, in synovial fluid from patients with RA were found to be significantly higher than those in fluid from patients with OA. The leukocyte number in synovial fluids did not correlate with the i-LTC4 level. The metabolic activities of these synovial fluids were determined by incubating them with 3H-LTC4 and then separating sulfidopeptide LTs by HPLC. The conversion of LTC4 to LTD4 in synovial fluids of patients with OA and RA were similar, but the dipeptidase activity converting LTD4 to LTE4 was higher in fluid from patients with RA. It is suggested that a high level of LTE4 may contribute to exudation of synovial fluid, since LTE4 increases vascular permeability.

Direct inhibitory projection of pontine omnipause neurons to burst neurons in the Forel's field H controlling vertical eye movement-related motoneurons in the cat

This study examines the nature of the efferent projection of omnipause neurons (OPNs) in the midline pontine tegmentum to medium-lead burst neurons (BNs) in the Forel's field H (FFH), both of which exhibit activities related to vertical eye movements, using chronically prepared alert cats. Antidromic spikes of the BNs evoked by oculomotor nucleus stimulation were suppressed by shortly preceding (less than 5 ms) microstimulation within the OPN area including actual recording sites of OPNs. Many OPNs were antidromically activated by microstimulation at recording sites of the BNs. Furthermore, systematic tracking in and around the FFH with the stimulating microelectrode substantiated that the OPNs issued axonal branches within the BN area. These results suggest direct inhibitory projection of OPNs to the BNs.

Lack of atrial natriuretic peptide receptors in human aldosteronoma

The effect of synthetic alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on aldosterone secretion was studied in human aldosterone producing adrenocortical adenoma obtained surgically from a patient with primary aldosteronism and in human apparently normal adjacent adrenal cortical tissues obtained from a patient with pheochromocytoma, in vitro. Apparently normal adrenal cortical tissue responded to ANP with the known inhibition of aldosterone secretion. In contrast, the aldosterone producing adenoma did not respond to ANP. When stimulated by either ACTH or angiotensin II, there is no inhibition by ANP in the adenoma tissue, whereas normal tissue was inhibited. Immunohistochemical examination utilizing an ANP-receptor antiserum demonstrated that there was no evidence of binding site in the cortical adenoma, in contrast, zona glomerulosa cells in the cortical tissues adjacent to either aldosterone producing adenoma or pheochromocytoma were densely stained. This apparent lack of ANP-receptors is an associated finding with the hypersecretion of aldosterone in the aldosterone producing adenoma.

Type V collagen selectively inhibits human endothelial cell proliferation

Type V collagen from human placenta remarkably inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation in a dose-dependent manner when coated on the culture dishes. Other types of collagen (I, III, IV) and fibronectin enhanced HUVEC proliferation under the same conditions. The inhibitory activity of type V collagen was seen not only when it was coated on the dishes, but also when it was directly added into cell culture. The attachment effect of type V collagen did not differ from that of type I collagen. The inhibitory activity is a phenomenon selective for endothelial cells, since type V collagen did not affect the proliferation of human umbilical vein smooth muscle cells, aortic smooth muscle cells, or nasal mucosa fibroblasts.

Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen in bladder cancer tissues detected by monoclonal antibody

Monoclonal antibodies against Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (T-Ag) were obtained by the hybridoma technique. The expression of T-Ag in 73 specimens of bladder cancer was examined by the immunofluorescence method using these monoclonal antibodies. Seventeen (53%) of grade I, 18 (44%) of grade II and 5 (50%) of grade III were diffusely stained with anti-T. Of the T-negative tumors, 14 (44%) of grade I and 13 (32%) of grade II showed positive staining after neuraminidase treatment (cryptic T-positive) while only 1 (10%) of grade III was cryptic T-positive. On the contrary, only 1 case (3%) of grade I was cryptic T-negative while 10 (24%) of grade II and 4 (40%) of grade III (were. The T-antigen expression and the histological grades correlated significantly (p less than 0.05). Twenty-eight (70%) of the T-positive cases and 9 (60%) of the cryptic T-negative cases recurred while only 3 (11%) of the cryptic T-positive cases did (p less than 0.01). The monoclonal antibodies were more useful than peanut lectin (PNA) or conventional polyclonal antibodies on the detection of T-antigen.

Biphasic effects of alcohol drinking on methamphetamine metabolism in man

In methamphetamine (MAP) addicts, long-term ethanol ingestion 3-4 times per week induced an increased rate of p-hydroxylation of MAP and amphetamine (AMP). Simultaneous ingestion of ethanol and MAP inhibited both p-hydroxylation of MAP and AMP and N-demethylation of MAP in inebriated addicts. The p-hydroxylation of MAP and AMP was also significantly inhibited in daily drinkers despite the almost total absence of urinary ethanol. This suggests that the intensity of MAP-induced behavioral and psychological effects in MAP addicts may, in part, depend upon their drinking habits.

Substratum-bound elastin peptide inhibits aortic smooth muscle cell migration in vitro

Migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the media through the internal elastic lamina to the intima in response to various chemoattractants is considered to be an important event in the development of atherosclerosis. We evaluated the influence of elastin peptides prepared from normal aorta on migration of cultured rat aortic SMCs in vitro. Studies with filters coated with elastin peptides in a modified Boyden's chamber showed that the migratory response of cultured rat aortic SMCs in response to platelet-derived factors was impeded by filter-bound elastin peptides. The inhibitory effect appeared to be relatively specific for elastin peptides and for SMCs, as other matrix components (Types I, III, IV, and V collagens and fibronectin) did not impede SMC migration, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were not impeded by elastin peptides. Elastin peptides in solution in the lower well caused the migratory response, and this response was also inhibited by filter-bound elastin peptides. Attractants such as platelet-derived factors and elastin peptides are likely to be present in the matrix around migrating SMCs. These studies suggest that elastin peptides adhering to the substratum or elastin, a major component of elastic fiber, may be one of the natural inhibitors of vascular SMC migration in response to chemoattractants in the fluid phase.

Left ventricular responses to dopamine in dilated cardiomyopathy as assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography and compared with findings of thallium-201 scintigraphy

The effects of dopamine on the left ventricular regional wall motion were studied in 11 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy by use of two-dimentional echocardiography and compared with the findings on the uptake of thallium-201. There were no significant changes in heart rate after dopamine infusion (6 micrograms/kg/min). However, the administration of dopamine significantly reduced PEP/ET and increased the systolic blood pressure, fractional shortening, ejection fraction and mVcf. The percentage of segments with reduced thallium-uptake area was significantly higher in abnormal wall motion segments than in normal wall segments both before and after dopamine administration. The percentage of segments with reduced thallium-uptake area was significantly higher in abnormal wall motion segments after loading than in normal wall segments before loading or in dopamine responding segments. However, in reduced uptake area, the asynergy of the left ventricle was improved significantly after dopamine administration. These results demonstrated that the abnormality of Tl-uptake was correlated roughly to the asynergy of the left ventricle, but that the state of remaining myocardium was not necessarily evaluated correctly by Tl-uptake. Dopamine loading seemed to be useful for more accurate evaluation of myocardial residual function.

Purification of a kappa-carrageenase from marine Cytophaga species

A mixture of extracellular carrageenases was isolated from the cell-free medium of a culture of marine Cytophaga sp. 1k-C783 grown on ZoBell 2216 E broth with 0.1% commercial carrageenan. A single active peak of kappa-carrageenase was separated and purified from the mixture by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration chromatography. Molecular weight of the purified kappa-carrageenase was estimated as 100,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The purified kappa-carrageenase had pH optimum 7.6 and temperature optimum 25 C.