Sequence tagged sites of microclones obtained by microdissection of a human chromosomal region 11q23 and isolation of yeast artificial chromosomes

A human chromosomal region 11q23-specific DNA library has been constructed by means of microdissection-microcloning method with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique (Seki et al., Genomics 16: 1993). DNA sequences were determined for 25 microclones that contained approximately 300-500 bp insert and gave a unique (single copy) signal in Southern blot analysis. The sequence tagged site (STS) was designed and appropriate condition for PCR was determined for each unique microclone. Twelve STSs were established and used for PCR-screening of human genomic libraries constructed with yeast artificial chromosome (YAC). Thirteen YAC clones have been isolated from eight STSs. These chromosomal region-specific STSs and YAC clones will be useful in the positional cloning of disease-related genes localized to the q23 region of chromosome 11.

Cytogenetic and molecular analysis of dynamic mutation associated with fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome is the most common familial form of mental retardation and known to be associated with the fragile site at Xq27.3 (FRAXA). The syndrome has recently been characterized by a unique genetic mechanism which involves dynamic mutation due to a heritable unstable DNA sequence, p(CCG)n repeat, in the FRAXA locus. We were asked to make a genetic diagnosis on the case of a normal male who has two brothers and a maternal uncle with mental retardation. We performed the pedigree analysis of the fragile X syndrome using both cytogenetic and molecular techniques. The affected two brothers and the uncle showed cytogenetic expression of the fra (X)(q27.3) and carried hypermethylated full mutation in the FRAXA locus. The phenotypically normal mother also exhibited fragile X expression and was found to be a carrier of premutation. Via female transmission, the premutation converted to full mutation and exhibited somatic heterogeneity and hypermethylation. However, both cytogenetic and molecular data did not show any evidence of fragile X mutation in the normal male client and, thus, excluded the possibility of his being a carrier.

Re-examination of arousing and de-arousing effects of cigarette smoking

An attempt was made to replicate arousing and de-arousing effects of cigarette smoking originally reported by Golding and Mangan. Changes in electrodermal activity, heart rate, and magnitude in the EEG alpha (7.5-11.5 Hz) and beta (13.5-20 Hz) bands were measured under conditions of both mild sensory isolation as well as stress induced by loud white-noise. Under both conditions, real smoking as well as sham smoking an unlit cigarette increased beta activity and the skin potential response. In contrast, only real smoking produced a significant increase in heart rate, decrease in alpha activity, and increase in skin potential. De-arousing effects reported by Golding and Mangan for white-noise stress were not replicated.

[Manic-depressive psychosis and electroencephalogram]

The literature dealing with electroencephalogram (EEG) in manic-depressive psychosis is reviewed. It is concluded that although there are no specific EEG patterns in the psychosis, some reports suggest a predominance of the alpha activity and a heightened arousal response. From many studies on sleep and depression, it appears that the EEG sleep architecture in depression is characterized by reduced total sleep time, intermittent awakenings, decreased slow-wave sleep and shortened REM latency. In particular, shortened REM latency is important for diagnosis of primary depression. Furthermore, the meaning of abnormal EEGs reported in the psychosis is worth investigating. In order to make the pathophysiology of manic-depressive psychosis clearer, it is important to carry out a comprehensive research, including clinical, physiological, biochemical and molecular biological study.

[Computerized tomography of the brain in patients with affective disorders]

In the past years, numerous papers of structural brain abnormalities which have been studied with computerized tomography scans (CT) in affective (mood) disorders have been reported. In this article, various CT findings in major depression and/or bipolar disorder are reviewed and the clinical significance of the brain structural findings are presented and discussed.

Effects of the antiallergic drug azelastine hydrochloride on proliferative responses of lymphocytes to food antigens in patients with food-sensitive atopic dermatitis

We previously reported that the proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to ovalbumin (OA) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) who are sensitive to hen's egg or cow's milk were significantly higher than those of healthy children and hen's egg- or cow's milk-sensitive children with immediate symptoms. Azelastine hydrochloride is an antiallergic drug used in the treatment of rhinitis and asthma. In this study, we have shown that the proliferative responses of PBMCs to OA are concentration-dependently inhibited by azelastine in patients with AD. Moreover, the inhibition resulted from the effects of azelastine on T-cells.

Mucopolysaccharidosis IV A: molecular cloning of the human N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase gene (GALNS) and analysis of the 5'-flanking region

Mucopolysaccharidosis IV A (MPS IV A) is the result of a genetic deficiency in a lysosomal hydrolase, N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS). To investigate MPS IV A patients at the level of the genome, we analyzed the structure of the human GALNS-encoding gene. From the genomic library of a normal subject in lambda EMBL3, we isolated five overlapping clones covering the coding region of the GALNS cDNA and determined the structural organization. The gene is about 50 kb long and contains 14 exons. The 5'-flanking region lacks a canonical TATA box and CCAAT sequences, but is G+C-rich (70.5%), with four GC boxes, characteristic of a housekeeping gene promoter. The transcription initiation site was determined by primer extension analysis, using RNA from human liver and HeLa cells. Transcription was found to initiate at a few sites, the major ones being 58 and 22 bp upstream of the translation initiation codon. The 5'-flanking region had promoter activity by transient expression, determined using a CAT assay. In addition, this region retained promoter activity, even in reverse orientation. The region -98 to -1 upstream of the ATG codon was defined by deletion analysis to be a minimal promoter. One GC box in this region is likely to be a binding site of a regulatory element.

von Recklinghausen's disease with diencephalic syndrome in an adult. Case report

The case of a 39-year-old man with von Recklinghausen's disease, presenting with emaciation and a marked increase in serum growth hormone concentration, is presented. Neuroradiological and histological examination confirmed anaplastic astrocytoma in the optic chiasm-hypothalamic region. This is a rare case of diencephalic syndrome and von Recklinghausen's occurring together in an adult.

Linkage of stress-induced hypocalcemia, gastric lesions, and emotional behavior in Wistar-Kyoto rats

The effects of water-restraint stress on blood calcium levels and gastric pathology and their behavioral relevance were examined in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar rats. The stress induced more severe hypocalcemia (0.32 mM decrease) and gastric lesions (34.6 mm in mean length) in WKY rats than in Wistar rats (0.19 mM and 17.7 mm, respectively). The magnitude of hypocalcemia correlated positively with that of gastric lesions in both strains (WKY, r = 0.59; Wistar, r = 0.69). In the forced-swimming test, WKY rats exhibited a longer immobility time (6.53 min) and a shorter struggling time (0.54 min) than Wistar rats (3.33 and 1.90 min, respectively). The severity of hypocalcemia and gastric lesions correlated positively (r = 0.59 and 0.69, respectively) with the length of immobility time in the WKY rats, while it correlated negatively (r = -0.70 and -0.61, respectively) with the length of struggling time in the Wistar rats. These results suggest that stress-induced hypocalcemia and gastric lesions are closely related and are also influenced by behavioral responsiveness in a strain-dependent manner.

[Case of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia whose diagnosis was delayed by mechanical ventilation]

A 39-year-old male was admitted to our ICU following traffic accident. The major symptoms were short breathness and unconsciousness due to cerebral hemorrhage. He was treated by mechanical ventilation which delayed the diagnosis of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. On the 6 day after traffic accident we performed thoracotomy and repaired ruptured diaphragm. It was difficult to diagnose the patient as diaphragmatic hernia who was treated by mechanical ventilation.

An interleukin-1 beta-induced noradrenaline release in the spleen is mediated by brain corticotropin-releasing factor: an in vivo microdialysis study in conscious rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an intraperitoneal injection of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) affects noradrenaline release in the spleen through its action on the brain of conscious rats. An in vivo microdialysis technique consisting of high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection was used for chronic monitoring of the splenic noradrenaline. The perfusion of a high concentration of K+ Ringer solution through the microdialysis probe significantly increased the concentration of noradrenaline in the spleen, while a perfusion of either Ca(2+)-free or tetrodotoxin-containing Ringer solution decreased the noradrenaline level in the dialysate. These results indicate that the noradrenaline recovered in the splenic dialysate is mainly derived from the nerve terminals of the splenic sympathetic nerve. The intraperitoneal injection of IL-1 beta (100 ng/kg) produced an immediate and significant increase in the noradrenaline levels in the spleen. The increased level reached a maximum level 40 min after injection and then gradually returned to the basal level. An intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) antagonist (alpha-helical CRF9-41, 30 micrograms) significantly attenuated the IL-1 beta-induced increase in the noradrenaline release. An ICV injection of CRF (2 micrograms) also caused a significant increase in splenic noradrenaline, which showed two distinct peaks at 20 and 140 min, respectively. These results suggest that the intraperitoneal injection of IL-1 beta facilitates noradrenaline release in the spleen through activation of the sympathetic nerve, and the increased sympathetic activity is, at least in part, due to the excitation of neurons containing CRF in the brain.

n-hexane-induced synthesis of hepatic metallothionein is mediated by IL-6 in mouse

The mechanism of metallothionein (MT) synthesis in the liver by n-hexane (HX) was examined. The increased synthesis of MT in the liver by HX was inhibited by dexamethasone pretreatment. Serum IL-6 was increased soon after HX injection, reaching a maximum at 8-16 hr, and then decreased, but neither IL-1 nor TNF was increased. The hepatic MT concentration reached a maximum later than did the serum IL-6 concentration, at 2 days after administration. When the MT synthesis induced by HX was inhibited by dexamethasone pretreatment, the concentration of IL-6 in the serum was suppressed to a very low level. Furthermore, the increase in concentration of hepatic MT and plasma fibrinogen was significantly decreased by the anti-mouse IL-6 monoclonal antibody. The concentration of hepatic MT was higher when the concentration of HX in the olive oil of the solution for injection was higher, even when the amount of HX administered was the same. It is suggested that the cytokine(s) is produced by the macrophage and fibroblast through injury and inflammation at the site of administration. These findings suggest that MT synthesis resulting from HX is induced indirectly through cytokine(s) production, especially IL-6.

Chromosome mapping of the human (RECA) and mouse (Reca) homologs of the yeast RAD51 and Escherichia coli recA genes to human (15q15.1) and mouse (2F1) chromosomes by direct R-banding fluorescence in situ hybridization

We mapped the human (RECA) and mouse (Reca) homologs of the yeast RAD51 and Escherichia coli recA genes to human and mouse chromosomes by direct R-banding fluorescence in situ hybridization. This gene was assigned to human chromosome 15q15.1 and to mouse chromosome 2F1, respectively. This is the first report on the precise localization of this gene to human and mouse chromosomes. This gene was mapped to a region on human chromosome 15q15.1 and mouse 2F1 that is believed to be a conserved syntenic group.

Restraint stress suppresses experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats

We studied the effect of restraint stress on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS), in Lewis rats. Rats were subjected to 12 h restraint stress for 3 consecutive nights from the first (day 1) or the eighth day (day 8) after sensitization with the antigen (guinea-pig spinal cord). All controlled rats exhibited clinical and histologic signs of EAE. The mean +/- SD of incubation time, clinical score (0-4) and histologic score (0-3) for this group were 12.8 +/- 1.0 days, 2.7 +/- 0.6, and 2.3 +/- 0.7, respectively. Restraint stress from day 8 significantly suppressed EAE: the mean +/- SD of incubation time, clinical score, and histologic score for this group were 17.2 +/- 2.2 days (p < 0.001), 1.8 +/- 1.3 (p < 0.05), and 1.5 +/- 0.9 (p < 0.02), respectively. Restraint stress from day 1 did not modify EAE. The findings suggest that stressful factors may exert an influence on the clinical course of MS.

Central interleukin-1 beta enhances splenic sympathetic nerve activity in rats

The central administration of immune cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) results in the suppression of peripheral cellular immunity, which depends, at least partly, on the sympathetic nervous activity. An intrathird cerebroventricular (I3V) infusion of recombinant human IL-1 beta (rhIL-1 beta) (1-5 ng/rat) elicited a dose-dependent increase in the electrical activity of the splenic sympathetic nerve in urethane and alpha-chloralose anesthetized rats. The effect of rhIL-1 beta (1 ng/rat) was completely blocked by pretreatment with an IL-1 receptor antagonist (1 microgram/rat, I3V 10 min before rhIL-1 beta), sodium salicylate (1 microgram/rat), or alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) (400 ng/rat). Furthermore, an antagonist of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), alpha-helical CRF9-41 (2 micrograms/rat), completely abolished the rhIL-1 beta-induced increase in the splenic nerve activity, although an I3V infusion of CRF (1 microgram/rat) excited it. These results suggest that IL-1 beta in the brain activates splenic sympathetic activity by its receptor-mediated and prostaglandin-dependent action that is sensitive to alpha-MSH, depending on CRF system. Our findings, together with the previous results, suggest that the splenic sympathetic nerve represents one of the communication channels from the brain to the immune system.

Hypothalamic stimulation induces vagally mediated hypocalcemia in the rat

To elucidate hypothalamic involvement in blood calcium homeostasis, the effects of unilateral electrical stimulation (0.1 mA, 0.5 ms, 30 Hz, 60 min) of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) on the blood concentration of ionized calcium were examined in the anesthetized rats. LHA stimulation induced a sustained decrease (0.05-0.07 mM fall) in the blood calcium level during the period of 60 to 150 min (end of the measurements) after stimulation. In contrast, PVN stimulation elicited a transient hypocalcemia (0.07 mM decrease) 60 min after stimulation. The hypocalcemic effects of LHA and PVN stimulation were eliminated by vagotomy of the gastric branches and the thyroid/parathyroid branches, respectively. VMH stimulation, using the same parameters, did not induce any significant change in blood calcium. The results suggest that the LHA and the PVN have a hypocalcemic function that is mediated, at least in part, by the vagus nerve innervating the stomach and the thyroid/parathyroid glands, respectively.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-catenin and plakoglobin enhanced by hepatocyte growth factor and epidermal growth factor in human carcinoma cells

The effect of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on cadherin-mediated adhesion of human carcinoma cells was studied. HGF/SF induced scattering of colonic adenocarcinoma HT29 and gastric adenocarcinomas MKN7 and MKN74 cells. Likewise, EGF induced scattering of HT29 and MKN7 cells. These cells expressed E-cadherin, which was concentrated at cell-cell contact sites. When the scattering of these cells was induced by HGF/SF or EGF, the E-cadherin concentration at cell-cell boundaries tended to decrease. Immunoblotting analyses, however, demonstrated that these growth factor treatments did not alter the expression of E-cadherin and E-cadherin-associated proteins, alpha- and beta-catenin and plakoglobin. beta-Catenin, plakoglobin and an unidentified 115-kDa molecule associated with E-cadherin were found to be phosphorylated at tyrosine residues, and these phosphorylations were enhanced by the growth factor treatments. These results suggest that HGF/SF and EGF may modulate the function of the cadherin-catenin system via tyrosine phosphorylation of cadherin-associated proteins.

[Experience in surgical management for active aortic valve endocarditis with periannular abscess--outcome of abscess cavity after patch closure]

Two patients with active aortic valve endocarditis and periannular abscess underwent surgical management. Both patients had bicuspid aortic valves. Involvement of the aortic annulus with the formation of the periannular abscess was found at one third circumference in the aortic annulus and extended to the sinuses of Valsalva. In one patient the periannular abscess ranged from the right side of the ostia of a left coronary artery to the right commissural region, and in another patient it existed at the left commissural region. the ostia of coronary arteries were separated from the inflammatory and necrotic tissue in both patients. The wall of periannular abscess could not be totally excised. Instead, debridement and transaortic patch closure of the abscess cavity were performed. In the former patient, partial resection of the aneurysmal wall of the abscess was performed and the remaining aortic wall was approximated with extra-luminal sutures supported by Teflon felt pledgets. However, in the latter patient, the plication of the abscess wall could not be performed. Prosthetic mechanical valve was implanted at the paraannular position by utilizing the patch. In the former patient it took a month and a half until the disappearance of the inflammatory reaction, and the echo free space could not be detected at the same place of the abscess cavity by the two-dimensional echocardiogram since early postoperative period. However, in the latter patient it took three months until the disappearance, and the echo free space had been existing at the same place for thirteen months after the operation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Thermoregulatory effect of intracerebral injections of neuropeptide Y in rats at different environmental temperatures

1. In order to characterize the thermoregulatory actions of brain neuropeptide Y (NPY), the effects of intra-third ventricular (I3V) injection of NPY on temperatures of colon (Tco), brown adipose tissue (TBAT) and tail skin (Ts) were observed at ambient temperatures (Ta) of 19 and 8 degrees C. 2. The injection of NPY in a dose of 8 mcg/100 g body wt evoked a fall of Tco by about 2 degrees C in both neutral and cold environments. NPY (4 and 8 mcg/100 g body wt) induced dose-dependent Tco falls in rats at thermoneutral environment. The thermolytic reactions induced by I3V administration of NPY were associated with a fall in TBAT but no changes in Is were observed. 3. The results suggest that NPY may mediate hypothermic response in neutral and cold environments mainly by its effects on the brown adipose tissues in the rat.

[A case of malignant lymphoma in the skull base]

A case of malignant lymphoma located in the clivus, sella and cavernous sinus is reported. A 46-year-old female was hospitalized with a 3-week history of diplopia. Neurological examination showed left oculomotor, trochlear, abducens and hypoglossal nerve palsy. Improvement of cranial nerve palsy was achieved with the administration of prednisolone but it was only transient. Laboratory studies and endocrinological examination showed almost no abnormal findings. Skull x-ray film revealed a widely damaged base. MR studies showed a homogeneously enhanced mass lesion in the clivus, sella and bilateral cavernous sinus. Partial removal of the lesion was performed via the transsphenoidal route. The histopathological diagnosis of the mass was consistent with diffuse, medium sized cell, B-cell type malignant lymphoma. A postoperative systemic evaluation by tumor scan with 67Ga disclosed no abnormal uptake except in the skull base. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with radiation, a total of 50 Gy, followed by chemotherapy every 3 week consistent of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, pirarubicin, bleomycin, procarbazine and prednisolone. The cranial nerve symptoms disappeared during radiation therapy. The MR studies after three courses of chemotherapy revealed almost complete remission. The patient died of acute progression of pneumonia without any evidence of the recurrence of malignant lymphoma 10 months after the operation. Skull base involvement of malignant lymphoma is unusual. Five cases of malignant lymphoma invading the skull base have been reported since 1987. In most cases, the lesion originated from paranasal sinuses and was usually accompanied with intradural extensions. In the case we have reported there was no intradural invasion of the tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Primary central nervous system lymphoma in Japan--a retrospective, co-operative study by CNS-Lymphoma Study Group in Japan

This manuscript reports the results of the first cooperative study on primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in Japan. Of 196 patients registered, 170 were judged as having PCNSL. No patients were immunocompromised. Of the 170 patients with PCNSL, 93 were males and 77 were females. The mean was 56.7 years. One hundred and nineteen tumors were confirmed histopathologically, and 51 were diagnosed by neuroimaging alone. All the tumors were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. According to the Working Formulation for Clinical Usage (WF), 96 out of 119 tumors were classifiable: 53 were diffuse large cell type (55.2%), 17 immunoblastic type (17.7%), 9 diffuse small cleaved type (9.4%), 6 diffuse mixed type (6.3%), 5 polymorphous type (5.2%), 5 small lymphocytic type (5.2%) and 1 small non-cleaved type (1.0%). Of 21 tumors studied immunohistochemically, 18 were B-cell type and 3 were T-cell type. Irradiated patients (144) survived significantly longer than non-irradiated patients, (median survival time, MST: 19.2 and 2.7 months, respectively; p < 0.001). There was a remarkable difference in survival among patients of the intermediate lymphomas; MST (18 months) of patients with large cell lymphoma was significantly shorter than MST (over 96 months) of patients with other intermediate grade lymphomas (small cleaved and mixed) (p < 0.001) and had no significant difference from MST (9 months) of patients with high grade lymphomas. If patients were irradiated with more than 40 Gy, higher doses and different modes of irradiation brought no further survival advantage. Chemotherapy was performed in 87 of 144 irradiated patients (60.4%). No regimens were effective in prolonging survival. Of 144 irradiated patients, a complete or partial response to initial treatment was demonstrated in 91 (63.2%) and 43 patients (29.9%), respectively. Improvement in performance status was confirmed in 82 patients (57.0%). Despite a good response to initial treatments, 88 out of 144 evaluatble patients have died of PCNSL (MST: 19 months). Multivariate analysis based on the Cox hazard model revealed that histology of tumor, age at onset, performance status, and radiotherapy were prognostic factors. Neither chemotherapy nor mode of surgery was a beneficial factor.

Ventromedial hypothalamus mediates stress-induced hypocalcemia via the gastric vagus in rats

A hypothalamo-vagal mechanism of immobilization (IMB) stress-induced hypocalcemia was investigated in rats. Bilateral lesions in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH), but not those of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) or the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), eliminated the calcium-lowering effect of IMB. None of these lesions, however, affected the basal levels of the blood calcium. An electrical stimulation of the VMH induced a significant decrease in the blood calcium level (0.07 mM fall) 60 min after stimulation. The hypocalcemic response was eliminated by a vagotomy of the gastric branches but not by that of the thyroid/parathyroid branches. These results suggest that the VMH mediates IMB-induced hypocalcemia through its influence on the gastric vagus.

Chromosomal localization of the epsilon 1, epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunit genes of the human NMDA receptor channel

Partial complementary DNAs for the epsilon 1, epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunits of the human N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel were cloned using the corresponding mouse subunit cDNA clones as probes. Genomic DNA clones for the human epsilon 1, epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunit genes were isolated using the corresponding partial cDNA clones as probes. By the fluorescence in situ hybridization, we mapped the genes for the epsilon 1, epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunits of the human NMDA receptor channel to chromosomes 16p13, 17q25 and 9q34, respectively.