Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the maxillary sinus

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the maxillary sinus is a rare lesion. We studied nine patients with malignant lymphoma involving the maxillary sinus, treated between 1980 and 1994 in the Kyushu University Hospital. All lymphomas had a diffuse pattern; five were the large-cell type, two the mixed type, and one the small lymphatic and small cleaved type. Immunohistologically, all tumors were B-cell type. Using the Ann Arbor staging system, six patients were classified as stage I, two stage II, and one stage IV. Two patients received only radiotherapy because of advanced age; the remaining seven received a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (CHOP or VEPA). The tumor doses ranged from 30 to 51 Gy (mean, 46.7). The mean follow-up was 51 months. Only one patient (stage IV) died of disease, and eight stage I-II patients were rendered disease-free. The 5-year survival rate was 80%, suggesting that primary lymphoma of the maxillary sinus has a relatively good prognosis.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies recognizing different fragments of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in human body fluids

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein found at a high concentration in articular cartilage. Recent studies have shown that the joint fluid and serum levels of antigenic COMP, measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which uses a polyclonal antiserum raised against bovine COMP, provide important information about metabolic changes occurring in the cartilage matrix in joint disease. In this report, we describe the specificity of three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to human COMP and their usefulness in quantifying antigenic COMP fragments in body fluids. Two of the mAbs (16-F12 and 18-G3) recognized both oligomeric and monomeric forms of COMP, but the third (17-C10) reacted positively only with the former. Immunoblots of human COMP, predigested with trypsin for up to 6 h, showed that the three mAbs are directed against different epitopes identified on small tryptic fragments of 30 kDa (16-F12), 25 kDa (17-C10), and 40 kDa as well as 30 kDa (18-G3), respectively. The antibodies also recognized a different pattern of fragments in human pathological synovial fluids. This was particularly striking in the case of the medium size fragments (16-F12: 90 and 110 kDa; 17-C10: 70 and 90 kDa; 18-G3: up to five bands from 70 to 130 kDa). Competitive indirect inhibition ELISAs developed with mAbs 16-F12 and 17-C10 revealed further differences in the specificities of these antibodies. Thus, while mAb 16-F12 can be used only to quantify antigenic COMP in human synovial fluid and serum, mAb 17-C10 is useful in addition when analyzing canine and horse synovial fluid as well as canine serum. The results of analyses of synovial fluid samples from patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis provided preliminary evidence in support of the contention that measurement of the different COMP epitopes recognized by these mAbs in body fluids could prove useful in the clinical assessment of patients with joint disease.

Increased activity of the ipsilateral motor cortex during a hand motor task in patients with brain tumor and paresis

PURPOSE

To look for changes in the motor cortex in patients with brain tumors.

METHODS

Both cerebral hemispheres in seven patients with brain tumors were examined with functional MR imaging during a motor task performed by the hand opposite the site of tumor. The ratio of the activated area in the motor cortex ipsilateral/contralateral to the tested hand was calculated for each subject. Twenty healthy subjects were also examined in the same manner for comparison.

RESULTS

The ratio of the ipsilateral/contralateral activated area was abnormally high in three patients with tumor-related paresis of the tested hand. The ratio was significantly greater in patients with paresis than in healthy subjects.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated increased activity in the ipsilateral (unaffected) motor area during a hand motor task in patients with brain tumor and paresis, which was thought to reflect compensatory reorganization induced by the functional damage.

Retinal light damage: protective effect of alpha-tocopherol

We studied histologically the protective effect of alpha-tocopherol to retinal light damage. After 3-week-old albino rats were fed with an alpha-tocopherol deficient or supplemented diet and kept in a 12-hour dim light/12-hour dark environment for 8 weeks, each animal was exposed to intense light (2500 lux) for 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 72 hours. The eyes were enucleated and prepared for transmission electron microscopy study and image analysis of phagosomes. Before light exposure, the alpha-tocopherol content of the neural retina of the deficient and supplemented groups was 0.3 microgram and 23.34 micrograms, respectively. After 1- and 3-hour exposures, morphological changes in the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor membranes were more extensive in the deficient group than in the supplemented group. After a 24-hour exposure, pyknotic photoreceptor nuclei were more numerous in the deficient group than the supplemented group. After 3-, 6-, and 12-hour exposures, large phagosomes were more numerous in the deficient group than in the supplemented group. These findings suggest that alpha-tocopherol can protect the retina from light injury for up to 24 hours of exposure.

Patterns of peripheral enhancement in breast masses: correlation of findings on contrast medium enhanced MRI with histologic features and tumor angiogenesis

PURPOSE

Our goal was to review patterns of peripheral enhancement on contrast-enhanced MRI of the breast and to correlate radiologic findings with pathologic features.

METHOD

We reviewed the MR images of 124 consecutive women with breast lesions. Peripheral enhancement was identified in 35 (32 malignant, 3 benign) lesions. MRI findings were correlated with pathologic features including microvessel density and distribution determined histologically.

RESULTS

Early peripheral enhancement with centripetal progression was seen in invasive carcinomas with a high peripheral and a low central microvessel density, associated with fibrosis and/or necrosis (n = 18; 15 with central fibrosis, 2 with fibrosis and necrosis, and 1 with necrosis alone). Early peripheral enhancement with minimal or no change in enhancement was seen in both malignant (n = 10) and benign (n = 3) lesions. Delayed peripheral enhancement with centrifugal progression was seen in carcinomas that had an expansive growth pattern and a high marginal vessel density with or without a vascularized rim of connective tissue (n = 4).

CONCLUSION

Early peripheral enhancement with centripetal progression appears to be fairly specific for carcinomas, whereas early enhancement with minimal or no centripetal progression, although more common in malignant tumors, may be seen in some benign lesions as well.

Endothelin-1 and intraocular inflammation in pigmented rabbit eyes

We assessed the function of Endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the development of anterior chamber inflammation in pigmented rabbit eyes. After the injection of ET-1 solution (10(-13), 10(-11), 10(-9), or 10(-7) M, diluted with 300 microL of artificial aqueous humor) into the anterior chamber, the aqueous protein concentration (APC) increased significantly in a dose-dependent fashion. Peak effects were observed 1-2 hours posttreatment. The APC returned to normal 12 hours after the injection. Pretreatment with antiprostaglandin agents, topical indomethacin, or intravenous diclofenac sodium suppressed the increase in APC. In an endotoxin-induced experimental uveitis model, the ET-1 concentration in the aqueous humor was significantly higher than in normal controls, as was the plasma ET-1 level. These results suggest that ET-1 is an important mediator in ocular inflammatory reactions via arachidonic acid cascade.

Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy by retrograde transcaval coil embolization of an ileal vein-to-right gonadal vein portosystemic shunt

A 43-year-old non-cirrhotic woman suffered from encephalopathy caused by an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt between the ileal vein and inferior vena cava via the right gonadal vein. Percutaneous transcatheter embolization with stainless steel coils was performed by the retrograde systemic venous approach. Encephalopathy improved dramatically.

Peripheral framework of carrot cell nucleus contains a novel protein predicted to exhibit a long alpha-helical domain

A monoclonal antibody, CML-1, raised against carrot (Daucus carota L.) nuclear-matrix proteins selectively labeled the nuclear periphery of carrot protoplasts when visualized by confocal and electron microscopy. To identify the constituent proteins of higher plant cells structurally homologous to the vertebrate nuclear lamina, we cloned overlapping cDNAs partially encoding a CML-1-recognized protein and determined the entire sequence including the open reading frame. When the deduced amino acid sequence was compared with other known protein sequences contained in major databases, no protein was found to show high sequence identity across the whole region of the protein, while the partial sequence showed strong similarities with myosin, tropomyosin, and some intermediate filament proteins. The protein, designated NMCP1, had an estimated molecular mass of 133.6 kDa and showed three characteristic domains. The central domain contains long alpha-helices exhibiting heptad repeats of apolar residues, demonstrating structural similarity to that of filament-forming proteins. The terminal domains are predominantly nonhelical and contain potential sequence motifs for nuclear localization signals. NMCP1 has many recognition motifs for different types of protein kinases, including cdc2 kinase and PKC. These results suggest that NMCP1 protein forms coiled-coil filaments and is a constituent of the peripheral architecture of the higher plant cell nucleus.

Differential N-glycan patterns of secreted and intracellular IgG produced in Trichoplusia ni cells

Structures of the N-linked oligosaccharide attached to the heavy chain of a heterologous murine IgG2a produced from Trichoplusia ni (TN-5B1-4, High Five) insect cells were characterized. Coexpression of the chaperone immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding protein (BiP) in the baculovirus-infected insect cells increased the soluble intracellular and secreted IgG level. This facilitated the detailed analysis of N-glycans from both intracellular and secreted IgG. Following purification of the immunoglobulins using Protein A-Sepharose, glycopeptides, prepared by trypsin-chymotrypsin digestion, were further digested with glycoamidase from sweet almond emulsin to obtain the oligosaccharide moieties. The resulting oligosaccharides were then reductively aminated with 2-aminopyridine and the structures identified by two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography mapping (Tomiya, N., Awaya, J., Kurono, M., Endo, S., Arata, Y., and Takahashi, N. (1988) Anal. Biochem. 171, 73-90). The N-glycans obtained from the secreted IgG contain 35% complex type, some with terminal galactose residues at either alpha1, 3-Man or alpha1,6-Man branches of the Man3GlcNAc2 core. The remaining oligosaccharides detected in the secreted IgG were principally hybrid (30%) and paucimannosidic (35%) type N-glycans. Most (84%) of these secreted glycoforms contained fucose alpha1, 6-linked to the innermost GlcNAc residue and the presence of a potentially allergenic fucose alpha1,3-linked to the innermost GlcNAc residue was also detected. In contrast, the intracellular immunoglobulins included 50% high mannose-type N-glycans with lower levels of complex, hybrid, and paucimannosidic-type structures. Reverse phase one-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography analysis of the IgG N-glycans in the absence of heterologous BiP exhibited a similar distribution of intracellular and secreted glycoforms. These studies indicate that Trichoplusia ni TN-5B1-4 cells are capable of terminal galactosylation. However, the processing pathways in these cell lines appear to diverge from mammalian cells in the formation of paucimannosidic structures, in the presence of alpha1,3-fucose linkages, and in the absence of sialylation.

Acute suppurative perithyroiditis: MR findings

We report the MR findings in two cases of acute suppurative perithyroiditis. MR has the advantages over other imaging modalities of being able to distinguish areas of inflammation from adjacent normal tissue and of allowing imaging in planes which more accurately demonstrate the extent of the lesion. MR imaging is one of the most useful methods to evaluate this entity.

[Anterior chamber inflammation after the injection of endothelin-1 into the vitreous and the effect of ETA receptor antagonist]

To assess the receptors which mediate the inflammatory reaction induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1), we investigated the influence of pre-treatment with an ETA receptor antagonist (97-139) on the increase of aqueous protein concentration (APC) after the injection of ET-1 (10(-4), 10(-5)M) into the vitreous cavity of pigmented rabbits. The concentration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in the aqueous humor after the injection of 10(-4)M ET-1 with or without pre-treatment with 97-139 (10(-1), 10(-2), 10(-3)M) was also studied. Pre-treatment with 10(-2)M and 10(-1)M 97-139 completely prevented the APC increase induced by 10(-5)M and 10(-4)M ET-1, respectively. Increases in aqueous PGE2 concentration were observed after the injection of ET-1, which was inhibited by pre-treatment with 97-139. Aqueous LTB4 concentration was not changed significantly by ET-1. These results indicate that the effects of ET-1 on APC are at least partially mediated by the cyclooxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid cascade, and that ETA receptors play an important role in these reactions.

Response to hypercapnia in moyamoya disease. Cerebrovascular response to hypercapnia in pediatric and adult patients with moyamoya disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We have previously reported that cerebral blood flow decreased and oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral blood volume increased in pediatric patients with moyamoya disease, whereas these values did not change significantly in adult patients. In this study, we measured the cerebrovascular response to hypercapnia using 15O H2O positron emission tomography (PET) in each group of patients. These data were also compared with the oxygen extraction fraction and transit time (cerebral blood volume/cerebral blood flow) measured by 15O PET.

METHODS

The subjects consisted of 20 patients with moyamoya disease (7 pediatric and 13 adult patients). Cerebral blood flow was measured by the 15O H2O bolus injection method at the resting state and during the inhalation of 5% CO2. Cerebrovascular CO2 response was estimated as the percentage change of cerebral blood flow per 1 mm Hg change of PaCO2. Oxygen extraction fraction and transit time were measured by the 15O steady-state method.

RESULTS

Cerebrovascular response to hypercapnia severely decreased over the cerebral cortices in both pediatric and adult patients with moyamoya disease when compared with those of normal control subjects, and there was no significant difference between pediatric and adult patients. A significant correlation was observed between the CO2 response and transit time, whereas no significant correlation was seen between the CO2 response and oxygen extraction fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that the cerebral hemodynamic reserve capacity decreased to an equal degree in both pediatric and adult patients with moyamoya disease. This finding may thus help to explain the occurrence of transient ischemic attack in adult patients.

Phenotypes and invariant alpha beta TCR expression of peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells

A novel subset of peripheral T cells, peripheral NK T cells, is found to be a major population comprising 5% of splenic T and 40% of bone marrow T cells. The majority of peripheral NK T cells are characterized by the expression of an invariant TCR-alpha encoded by V alpha 14/J alpha 281 with a one nucleotide N region. Moreover, a specific reduction of V alpha 14+ NK T cells has been demonstrated to be tightly associated with various autoimmune diseases, indicating their decisive role in autoimmune disease development. In this study, we investigated the phenotypes of peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells and their TCR-beta repertoire. Peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells, comprise two populations, i.e., small and large sized cells, at an equal frequency, belonged to the CD4- CD8- fraction, and are heat stable antigen(bright), macrophage-1bright, B220bright, CD45RBdim, and Mel-14dim, but CD5-, distinct from thymic NK T cells. TCR-beta analysis clearly showed that peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells utilized two to three dominant invariant TCR-beta, such as V beta 8.2 D beta J beta 2.5/V beta 7 D beta J beta 2.1 in the spleen and liver, V beta 8.2 D beta J beta 2.5/V beta 8.3 D beta J beta 2.2/V beta 7 D beta J beta 2.6 in the bone marrow, and V beta 7 D beta J beta 2.1/V beta 3 D beta J beta 1.2 in intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes. Judging from the unusual surface phenotypes, such as heat stable antigen, macrophage-1, B220, CD45RBdim, and Mel-14dim, which are known to be T cell activation markers, peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells may always be activated under physiologic conditions, resulting in the oligoclonal expansion of V alpha 14+ NK T cells with different invariant TCR-beta in different peripheral organs. The unique features of V alpha 14+ NK T cells are discussed.

Purification, characterization, and localization of a novel trypsin-like protease found in the human airway

A novel trypsin-like protease was purified to homogeneity from the sputum of patients with chronic airway diseases, by sequential chromatographic procedures. The enzyme migrated on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to a position corresponding to a molecular weight of 28 kDa under both reducing and non-reducing conditions, and showed an apparent molecular weight of 27 kDa by gel filtration, indicating that it exists as a monomer. It had an NH2-terminal sequence of Ile-Leu-Gly-Gly-Thr-Glu-Ala-Glu-Glu-Gly-Ser-Trp-Pro-Trp-Gln-Val-Ser-Leu- Arg-Leu, which differed from that of any known protease. Studies with model peptide substrates showed that the enzyme preferentially cleaves the COOH-terminal side of arginine residues at the P1 position of certain peptides, cleaving Boc-Phe-Ser-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide most efficiently and having an optimum pH of 8.6 with this substrate. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate, leupeptin, antipain, aprotinin, and soybean trypsin inhibitor, but hardly inhibited by secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor at 10 microM. An immunohistochemical study indicated that the enzyme is located in the cells of the submucosal serous glands of the bronchi and trachea. These results suggest that the enzyme is secreted from submucosal serous glands onto the mucous membrane in patients with chronic airway diseases.

[Anterior chamber inflammation after the injection of endothelin-1 into the vitreous and the effect of an anti-prostaglandin agent]

We measured the time course of aqueous protein concentration (APC) with a laser flare-cell meter after the injection of endothelin-1 (ET-1) into the vitreous cavity of pigmented rabbits and investigated the influence of pre- or post-treatment with an anti-prostaglandin agent on these effects of ET-1. Injection of ET-1 significantly increased APC in a dose-dependent fashion. After 10(-5)M ET-1 injection, APC reached maximum at 4 hours after treatment and returned to the normal level 24 hours after the injection. On the other hand, the 10(-4)M ET-1 model displayed a bi-phase time course, with a peak value observed at 4 approximately 8 hours and 48 hours post-treatment, and APC did not return to normal even 7 days after treatment. Treatment with anti-prostaglandin agents before and after the injection blocked APC increase completely in the 10(-5)M ET-1 model, and partially in the 10(-4)M ET-1 model. These results indicate that ET-1 effects on APC are at least partially mediated by the cyclooxygenase pathway of the arachidonic acid cascade.

Interferon alpha-2a therapy for disseminated intravascular coagulation in a patient with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome. A case report

The authors present a sixteen-year-old girl with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) associated with disseminated hemangiomas involving the skin, oral cavity, skeletal muscle, and cerebrum. Although she denied neurologic symptoms, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated dilatated cerebral veins and the Chiari I malformation. Examination of hemostasis revealed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) manifesting as Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, with the potential for life-threatening bleeding or thrombosis in the central nervous system. Since successful management of life-threatening hemangiomas with interferon alpha-2a (IFN alpha-2a) has been reported, the authors administered IFN alpha-2a with an improvement in hemostasis. These findings suggest that IFN alpha-2a therapy is beneficial for relieving the life-threatening consumptive coagulopathy associated with BRBNS.

Small hepatocellular carcinoma on magnetic resonance imaging. Relation of signal intensity to angiographic and clinicopathologic findings

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The authors discuss the clinicopathologic features and angiographic vascularity of various signal intensity patterns on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

METHODS

Magnetic resonance images of 88 resected HCCs (< or = 3 cm) were obtained using T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo images and T1-weighted images after gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA administration. Images were compared with angiographic and histopathologic findings.

RESULTS

Forty HCCs (45%) were depicted on T1-weighted images, 51 (58%) on T2-weighted images, and 41 (49%) on T1-weighted images after Gd-DTPA administration. Overall, 64 (76%) were found on at least one image. On T1-weighted images, hyperintense HCCs histologically showed fatty metamorphosis and portal tracts within the tumor. On T2-weighted images, HCC hyperintensity correlated with expansive growth, peliotic change, and hypervascularity. By contrast, HCCs that were undetected or hypointense on T2-weighted images were well differentiated with replacing growth and portal tracts. On T1-weighted images after Gd-DTPA, hyperintense HCCs had peliotic change; undetected HCCs were well differentiated and hypovascular.

CONCLUSIONS

Histologic grade, vascularity, portal tracts and peliotic change correlate with MR signal intensity. For hyperintense HCCs on T1-weighted images and hypo- or isointense HCCs on T2-weighted images, treatment methods must be assigned with the consideration that HCCs may be receiving transsinusoidal and portal blood supplies.

Effects of different intensity endurance training on the capillary network in rat skeletal muscle

Effects of low- and high-intensity endurance training on the capillary luminal diameter and number were studied morphometrically in the rat plantaris muscle. Male Wistar-Imamichi rats were divided into three groups: sedentary control group (Cont, n = 9), low-intensity (running speed of 20 m/min) training group (T-20, n = 8) and high-intensity (running speed of 40 m/min) training group (T-40, n = 7). Rats in both training groups were subjected to each treadmill running program for 60 min/day, 5 days/week for 9 weeks. After 9 weeks of training, citrate synthase activity significantly increased in T-40 compared with Cont, but did not change in T-20. All morphometric parameters with respect to capillary and muscle fiber area were determined in the perfusion-fixed plantaris muscle. The mean muscle fiber areas in both T-20 and T-40 were similar to that in Cont. The capillary-to-fiber ratios were significantly higher in T-20 (2.28 +/- 0.06) and T-40 (2.29 +/- 0.06) than in Cont (2.00 +/- 0.07). The number of capillaries with a small luminal diameter (2-4 microns) was significantly higher in T-20 than in Cont. In contrast, T-40 had a significantly higher number of capillaries with a large luminal diameter (8-10 microns) compared with Cont. This study indicates that endurance training induces changes in the capillary luminal diameter as well as capillary number, and that the adaptive response of the capillary luminal diameter to endurance training depends on the training intensity.

A biomechanical study of fast throwing movements of the shoulder in baseball pitching

OBJECTIVE

To define the biomechanic function of the shoulder in fast throwing movements in baseball pitching.

METHODS

Using NAC high-speed video and PIAS LA-555 computer system, overhand pitching movements carried out by 12 healthy Japanese professional baseball pitchers were analyzed in three dimensions. The pitching motion was displayed as stick to sick figures dynamically.

RESULTS

Pitching motion was a combination of translational and rotational movements. Acceleration and deceleration, being two typical motion patterns, worked sequentially through the anatomic link system from the pivot leg to the pitching hand. During the acceleration phase, the shoulder joint acted as a junction point and a fulcrum, supporting the rotational acceleration motion, shoulder forward flexion and elbow extension. According to the changing glenohumeral angles of the pitching shoulder, shearing force turned into tension force which worked on the anterior shoulder structures and then shifted to the posterior part of the joint.

CONCLUSIONS

In fast throwing motion, the shoulder functions as an important fulcrum to support the pitching arm during the acceleration phase. Avoiding excessive stress and shearing force on the joint components and enhancing coordination of muscle action are important to a successful throwing motion and the prevention of shoulder injury.

Phenotypes and invariant alpha beta TCR expression of peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells

A novel subset of peripheral T cells, peripheral NK T cells, is found to be a major population comprising 5% of splenic T and 40% of bone marrow T cells. The majority of peripheral NK T cells are characterized by the expression of an invariant TCR-alpha encoded by V alpha 14/J alpha 281 with a one nucleotide N region. Moreover, a specific reduction of V alpha 14+ NK T cells has been demonstrated to be tightly associated with various autoimmune diseases, indicating their decisive role in autoimmune disease development. In this study, we investigated the phenotypes of peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells and their TCR-beta repertoire. Peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells, comprise two populations, i.e., small and large sized cells, at an equal frequency, belonged to the CD4- CD8- fraction, and are heat stable antigen(bright), macrophage-1bright, B220bright, CD45RBdim, and Mel-14dim, but CD5-, distinct from thymic NK T cells. TCR-beta analysis clearly showed that peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells utilized two to three dominant invariant TCR-beta, such as V beta 8.2 D beta J beta 2.5/V beta 7 D beta J beta 2.1 in the spleen and liver, V beta 8.2 D beta J beta 2.5/V beta 8.3 D beta J beta 2.2/V beta 7 D beta J beta 2.6 in the bone marrow, and V beta 7 D beta J beta 2.1/V beta 3 D beta J beta 1.2 in intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes. Judging from the unusual surface phenotypes, such as heat stable antigen, macrophage-1, B220, CD45RBdim, and Mel-14dim, which are known to be T cell activation markers, peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells may always be activated under physiologic conditions, resulting in the oligoclonal expansion of V alpha 14+ NK T cells with different invariant TCR-beta in different peripheral organs. The unique features of V alpha 14+ NK T cells are discussed.

Helical CT evaluation of arterial invasion in pancreatic tumors: comparison with angiography

BACKGROUND

Although helical computed tomography (HCT) has been widely employed for the evaluation of pancreatic tumors, its capability in the diagnosis of peripancreatic arterial invasion has not been established.

METHODS

HCT with a sequential cine-display was carried out in 34 patients with solid pancreatic tumors and 28 control subjects without angiographic abnormality. The HCT scans were compared with angiograms.

RESULTS

All major arteries (celiac, superior mesenteric, splenic, gastroduodenal) and superoanterior pancreaticoduodenal arteries were well demonstrated by HCT in control subjects. However, posterior pancreaticoduodenal arcades and other smaller arteries were poorly identified. Although 19 major arterial invasions were equally diagnosed by HCT and angiography in patients with pancreatic tumors, only 4 of 11 minor arterial invasions were correctly diagnosed by HCT.

CONCLUSIONS

Although HCT has some limitations in the evaluation of minor peripancreatic arteries, it can provide enough information for making a decision about conducting pancreatic surgery.

Cleavage of amino acid residue(s) from the N-terminal region of alpha A- and alpha B-crystallins in human crystalline lens during aging

The current study reports for the first time a post-translational modification at the N-terminal region of alpha A- and alpha B-crystallins in normal human lens. The post-translational modification involves a loss of amino acid residues from the N-terminal region. We found three types of losses of N-terminal amino acid(s) from alpha-crystallin. One is the loss of the N-terminal amino acid residues 1-3 from alpha A-crystallin in aged lenses of the age 70 group. The other two modifications were found in alpha B-crystallin. One is the loss of Met(1) of the N-terminus and the other is the loss of 6 amino acids from the N-terminal region. These phenomena were observed in the lenses > 40 age group. Recent studies suggest that the N-terminal region of alpha-crystallin may play a chaperone-like role at the molecular level. These losses of amino acids from the N-terminal region may affect this molecular chaperone-like activity as well as the transparent properties of the human lens.

Reduced susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis in B-1 cells

Elimination of activated T and B cells by Fas-dependent apoptosis may contribute to the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. CD40 ligation was recently shown to up-regulate Fas expression and enhance susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis in mouse splenic B cells. In the present study, we have investigated the regulation of Fas expression and Fas-triggered apoptotis in mouse peritoneal B-1 cells. B-1 cells expressed a similar level of CD40 as that on B-2 cells, and proliferated in response to a soluble CD40 ligand (CD40L)-CD8alpha chimeric protein, suggesting that CD40 on B-1 cells is functional. In contrast to B-2 cells, B-1 cells expressed Fas at only low levels in response to CD40L-CD8alpha alone or CD40L-CD8alpha + interleukin-4, and were resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis following these treatments. While Fas expression could be induced in B-1 cells to a comparable level as that in B-2 cells by cross-linking CD40L-CD8alpha with an anti-CD8alpha antibody, the sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis in B-1 cells was significantly reduced compared with B2 cells. These results suggest that peritoneal B-1 cells from normal mice have a lower susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis and may distinguish B-1 from B-2 cells. Similarly, B-1 cells from the peritoneal cavity and spleen of autoimmune-prone NZB mice exhibited reduced susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis relative to their B-2 counterparts. NZB splenic B-1 cells, however, were more susceptible to Fas-mediated apoptosis than NZB peritoneal B-1 cells. The results presented here raise the possibility that the reduced susceptibility to Fas-triggered apoptosis in B-1 cells might be an accelerating factor for the autoantibody production in NZB mice.

[Human leukocyte antigens and episcleritis in leprosy (Hansen's disease)]

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) were analyzed in Japanese leprosy patients to ascertain whether immunogenetic differences exist between leprosy patients with episcleritis (ES) and those without it. The subjects were 79 Japanese leprosy patients, including 33 patients with a past history of ES, and 49 patients without ES. Controls were 114 healthy subjects. A standard microcytotoxicity test was used for typing HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR and -DQ antigens. HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 genotypings were performed by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single strand conformation polymorphism and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. The occurrence of HLA-Cw3 was significantly greater in the patients with ES (66.7%) than in those without ES (43.5%; odds ratio = 2.6, p < 0.05). The occurrence of HLA-DR4 was significantly lesser in the patients with ES (15.2%) than in those without ES (39.1%; odds ratio = 0.28, p < 0.05) and the controls (46.5%; odds ratio = 0.21, p < 0.005). At the genomic level, the occurrence of HLA-DRB1*0405, DQB1*0401, and DQB1*0302 was significantly lesser in the patients with ES (0%, 0% and 6.1%, respectively) than in those without ES (15.2%, 13.0%, and 26.1%, respectively; odds ratio = 0.07, 0.09 and 0.18, p < 0.05). HLA-DRB1*0405 and DQB1*0401 were also significantly lesser in the patients with ES than in the controls (29.8% and 29.8%; odds ratio = 0.04, p < 0.0001). Our results suggest that HLA-Cw3 causes susceptibility to episcleritis in Japanese patients with leprosy, whereas DR4 (DRB1*0405), DQB1*0401, and DQB1*0302 provide some protection against leprous episcleritis.

Clinical evaluation of UF-021 (Rescula; isopropyl unoprostone)

We have reviewed two Phase III clinical studies of isopropyl unoprostone conducted in Japan: a 12-week comparative study of 0.12% isopropyl unoprostone and 0.5% timolol, and a 52-week administration of two concentrations of isopropyl unoprostone in ocular hypertensive and primary open-angle glaucoma patients. These studies showed a similar ocular hypotensive effect of 0.12% isopropyl unoprostone to 0.5% timolol and a sustained ocular hypotensive effect of the drug for up to one year. Adverse reactions of isopropyl unoprostone were minor and similar to those of timolol. No pigmentary changes of the irides were noticed. In view of these results, isopropyl unoprostone seems to be a useful antiglaucoma medication.