Basic and clinical studies on the measurement of tau protein in cerebrospinal fluid as a biological marker for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders: multicenter study in Japan

The development of a diagnostic marker for earlier and more accurate clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is essential to identify AD patients during life unequivocally. The purpose of this study was to investigate the basic performance and clinical significance of tau level measurement in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed by Innogenetics. The ELISA system showed reliable reproducibility and good linearity. For clinical studies, the CSF samples from a variety of patients (n = 332) were examined. They were classified into the four groups: Alzheimer's disease (AD); neurodegenerative disease (ND); cerebrovascular diseases (VD); and a neurological control (NC) group. The CSF-tau levels for AD, ND, VD and NC were 426 +/- 234 pg/ml, 239 +/- 157 pg/ml, 216 +/- 136 pg/ml, and 188 +/- 103 pg/ml, respectively. The CSF-tau level of the AD group was significantly higher than that of the other groups (p < 0.001). The CSF-tau levels increased during follow-up. The measurement of the tau level in CSF is shown to be a useful marker to confirm a clinical diagnosis of AD.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of the power flow Doppler imaging of intracranial vascular structures in the neonate

Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography reconstructing from power flow Doppler imaging (PF) is able to image the 3D structures of the vascular systems. We tried to display the 3D images of intracranial vascular structures in 5 neonates with a portable data processor. Data acquisition was performed using PF through the anterior fontanel. We succeeded in reconstructing vivid 3D images of the anterior cerebral arteries (ACA), basilar artery (BA), internal carotid arteries (ICA), middle cerebral arteries (MCA), lenticulostriate arteries (LSA), internal cerebral vein (ICV), the vein of Galen (GV) and straight sinus (SS) in all subjects. The MCA could be displayed in only a proximal portion. The images of the LSAs were fainter than the other vessels. These problems are based on the character of PF; the flow signal, sampling from the small sized vessels and the perpendicular vessels to ultrasonic beam, is weak. The images of these vessels are fainter than other vessels. These limitations of PF performance directly influence the quality of the 3D images. The benefits and limitations of 3D ultrasonography system are discussed.

[Enhanced MR imaging with a nonionic contrast gadolinium complex, Gadoteridol, for lumbar disc herniation]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness for lumbar disc herniation of enhanced imaging with a nonionic contrast gadolinium complex (Gadoteridol). Among 130 discs in 26 patients, 27 herniated discs were shown on MR sagittal imaging. They were classified into 4 types according to the enhancement pattern of the disc on MR sagittal imaging (Type Ia: nonenhancement, Type Ib: globular enhancement, Type II: strong enhancement, Type III: ring enhancement). The results were as follows: Type Ia: 3, Type Ib: 15, Type II: 7, Type III: 2. A total of herniated discs were enhanced with Gadoteridol. Surgery was performed in 5 patients (Type Ib: 1, Type II: 4). The herniated disc of Type Ib extruded but did not rupture the posterior ligament, whereas the herniated discs of Type II extruded and ruptured the posterior ligament. Thus, the herniated discs were enhanced with the nonionic contrast agent Gadoteridol. If the disc herniates over the posterior ligament, it might be strongly enhanced. Therefore, enhanced MR imaging is thought to be useful to establish the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation.

Cortical anesthesia reduced the amplitude of local P300 event-related potential in rabbits by auditory oddball paradigm

Eight rabbits were employed in this study. Under anesthesia, one electrode was fixed in the skull at the bregma and another was fixed, with three guide cannulas around it, at a parietal point 5 mm lateral to the bregma. Two weeks later, with a 10-day interval, either 0.5% lidocaine (9 microl) or the same volume of normal saline was injected into cortex through the cannulas. Event-related potentials (ERPs) evoked by auditory oddball paradigm were recorded before and after the injections in alert rabbits. The probability of occurrence for the 2 and 1 kHz stimulus tones was 90% (frequent) and 10% (rare), respectively. After lidocaine injection, P3 amplitude to rare stimuli decreased to 37.6% (P < 0.05), while N1 did not show any significant changes. ERPs from the bregma were intact. P3 and N1 did not change after normal saline injection. Our results show that local parietal cortex is one of the P3 generators.

Determination of methamphetamine and related compounds by capillary electrophoresis with UV and laser-induced fluorescence detection

Methods for the simultaneous determination of methamphetamine (MP) and its related compounds (MPs) using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV absorbance and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection are described. In UV detection, MPs were applied to CE without any derivatization procedure and detected at 210 nm for a rapid and simple analysis. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and electrokinetic capillary electrophoresis (MEKC) were used. MP, amphetamine (AP), 1-phenylethylamine (1-PA as an I.S.), 2-phenylethylamine (2-PA), 4-hydroxymethamphetamine (4-HMP) and 4-hydroxyamphetamine (4-HAP) were separated within 15 min by both CZE and MEKC. Detection limits of MPs were in the range 48-72 fmol/injection for CZE and 85-191 fmol/injection for MEKC. MEKC was successfully applied to the determination of MPs in urine. For a highly sensitive analysis, LIF detection was also examined using 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F) as a fluorescent derivatization reagent. By the method, in which MPs derivatives were separated within 45 min by MEKC, 22-40 amol/injection of primary amines (AP, 4-HAP and 2-PA) and 690 amol/injection of MP and 300 amol/injection of 4-HMP were detected. The concentration of MP and AP in 50 microliters urine from MP addicts were successfully determined. A comparison of the characteristics for both UV and LIF detections was also discussed.

Photographic detection of fluorescent-labelled oligodeoxynucleotide in the blotting format by peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence

The preparation of a fluorescent labelled oligonucleotide and its photographic detection by peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) are described. Fluorescent labelling of an oligonucleotide (15-mer) was performed with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde to give an N-substituted 1-cyanobenz[f]isoindole (CBI) derivative (CBI-15-mer). For the photographic detection of CBI-15-mer, the bis(2,6-difluorophenyl) oxalate (DFPO)-dimethyl phthalate (DMP) system was selected to obtain a long-lived CL emission. After optimizing the conditions for the CL reaction, the system was applied to the photographic detection, and as little as 250 fmol per spot of CBI-15-mer on a membrane were detected as a visible spot with an instant photographic film.

Apoptosis induction in human breast cancer MRK-nu-1 cells by a polyamine synthesis inhibitor, methylglyoxal bis(cyclopentylamidinohydrazone)(MGBCP)

We have investigated the antiproliferative effects of a polyamine synthesis inhibitor, methylglyoxal bis(cyclopentylamidinohydrazone) (MCBCP), on human breast cancer MRK-nu-1 cells. MGBCP inhibited tumor growth of MRK-nu-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner as the polyamine contents in the cells decreased. Moreover, morphological changes indicating blebbing and chromatin condensation were observed in the MGBCP-treated cells, and hypodiploid subpopulations containing apoptotic cells were clearly detected in the profile of flow cytometric analysis. The number of characteristic oligonucleosome-sized fragments also increased as the concentration of MGBCP increased. The apoptotic effects of MGBCP were partially prevented by the addition of exogenous spermine. The results presented here suggest that, in addition to reducing the growth rate, MGBCP can induce apoptotic cell death in MRK-nu-1 human breast cancer cells by the reduction of intracellular concentrations of polyamines.

Increased levels of GM2 ganglioside in fibroblasts from a patient with juvenile Niemann-Pick disease type C

A 15-year-old boy was suffering from splenomegaly and a 10-year history of a neurologic disorder that included mental retardation, vertical supranuclear gaze palsy, dysarthria, ataxia, and dystonia. Bone marrow aspirates revealed foamy cells with storage materials which were positive with filipin staining. Cultured skin fibroblasts derived from the patient showed moderate loss of sphingomyelinase activity and the impairment of cholesterol esterification. The characteristic clinical presentations and typical histochemical findings of this patient met the diagnostic criteria of Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC). In the fibroblasts from the patient, there was an accumulation of GM2 ganglioside around their cytoplasms. Increased levels of glycolipids. including GM2 ganglioside are reported in the cerebral cortex of NPC, but not in the fibroblasts. The fibroblasts derived from NPC may reflect the abnormal metabolism of glycolipids in the central nervous system of NPC.

Use of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) pulse sequences in perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) techniques in patients with perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. 13 patients with a history of perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (age range 1 month to 3.6 years) underwent T1 and T2 weighted spin echo and FLAIR imaging with a 1.5 T superconducting unit. FLAIR images were qualitatively evaluated in comparison with T1 and T2 weighted images by three experienced radiologists. Quantitative analysis (contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio) was also performed. FLAIR images were preferred to T1 and T2 weighted images in the demonstration of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), cystic PVL and subcortical lesions near the brain surface. On T1 and T2 weighted images, almost all lesions were demonstrated as hypointense or hyperintense areas, respectively. However, FLAIR images could differentiate cystic lesions by their signal intensities. FLAIR images were not diagnostic in two cases with PVL. In conclusion FLAIR sequences provide useful information in patients with perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.

A case of episodic angioedema associated with blood eosinophilia: upregulated C5a receptor expression on eosinophils

A 47-year-old woman was admitted to hospital complaining of swelling and pain of the extremities, accompanied by high fever and generalized erythema. Laboratory examination showed marked blood eosinophilia with elevation of IgM, IgE, and C-reactive protein. All autoantibodies examined were negative. The heart and lungs showed no untoward findings. Biopsies of the skin and muscle revealed cellular infiltration of eosinophils around small blood vessels. Quantitation of C5a receptor (C5aR) expression by flow cytometry using anti-C5aR antibody showed upregulated expression of C5aR on blood eosinophils but downregulated expression on neutrophils. The abnormal C5aR expression on eosinophils and neutrophils became normal after spontaneous resolution of symptoms and blood eosinophilia. The possibility that C5aR expression on granulocytes is related to the pathogenesis of this syndrome may be considered.

Effects of troglitazone on dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance in rats

Troglitazone, a thiazolidinedione derivative, has been shown to counteract insulin resistance in obesity and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). To test its effects on dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance, we measured hepatic glucose production (HGP) and the insulin-stimulated glucose disposal rate (Rd) by a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique coupled with 3-3H-glucose infusion in male Wistar rats treated with low-dose dexamethasone ([LoDex] 0.05 mg/kg/d, n = 7), high-dose dexamethasone ([HiDex] 0.1 mg/kg/d, n = 7), or dexamethasone plus troglitazone (LoDex + T, n = 8; HiDex + T, n = 6). Dexamethasone was injected subcutaneously for 4 days. Troglitazone was administered orally at 20 mg/d for 3 days before and for 4 days along with the dexamethasone treatment. The glucose clamp study was performed after an overnight fast in chronically catheterized conscious rats with a continuous insulin infusion of 57.4 pmol/kg/min. Basal HGP was comparable among the control (45.8 +/- 2.1 micromol/kg/min, n = 7), LoDex (47.9 +/- 4.7 micromol/kg/min), LoDex + T (46.0 +/- 2.6 micromol/kg/min), and HiDex + T (54.7 +/- 3.4 micromol/kg/min) groups. It increased about twofold in the HiDex group (80.1 +/- 5.2 micromol/kg/min, P < .05 v control). Under hyperinsulinemia, HGP was suppressed to a similar level in the control (11.3 +/- 8.8 micromol/kg/min), LoDex (10.2 +/- 8.4 micromol/kg/min), and LoDex + T (7.8 +/- 7.9 micromol/kg/min) groups. The suppressive effect of insulin on steady-state HGP during the clamp was impaired in HiDex (63.7 +/- 9.7 micromol/kg/min, P < .05) and HiDex + T (64.0 +/- 6.5 micromol/kg/min, P < .05). Rd decreased 27% in LoDex (81.5 +/- 5.8 micromol/kg/min, P < .05) and 36% in HiDex (71.3 +/- 9.4 micromol/kg/min, P < .05) compared with the controls (111.4 +/- 7.4 micromol/kg/min). Troglitazone prevented the decrease in Rd in LoDex + T (102.6 +/- 5.7 micromol/kg/min), but not in HiDex + T (67.0 +/- 6.4 micromol/kg/min). These results indicate that the development of peripheral insulin resistance was prevented by troglitazone in LoDex rats. Troglitazone may be a useful drug to treat steroid-induced diabetes.

Possible involvement of protein kinase C in apoptotic cell death of macrophages infected with Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

We have previously reported the evidence for apoptosis in the mouse macrophage cell line J774.1 by the periodontopathic bacterium Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. In this study, we examined the role of protein kinases in the induction of apoptosis in A. actinomycetemcomitans-infected J774.1 cells by the MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analysis. After J774.1 cells were precultured with protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), J774.1 cells infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans showed the increased percentage of apoptotic cells. On the contrary, protein kinase A (PKA) activators, such as forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP, do not mimic the effect of PMA. PKC inhibitors, such as staurosporine, calphostin C, chelerythrine chloride, and H7 were found to suppress apoptotic cell death in J774.1 cells infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans. However, HA1004, known as PKA inhibitor, had no effect on apoptosis in infected macrophages. The results presented here suggest that the signals through PKC may play crucial roles in the modulation of apoptosis in macrophages infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans.

Complementary DNA sequence for a 42 kDa rat kidney choline/ethanolamine kinase

By means of peptide sequence information, several cDNA clones encoding a 42 kDa choline/ethanolamine kinase were isolated from a rat kidney cDNA library. Eight clones were sequenced with all of them resulting in identical overlapping nucleotide sequences. Four of them possessed entire open reading frame which could encode 394 amino acids with a calculated molecular size of 45 100. The predicted amino acid sequence contained all of the internal peptide fragment sequences derived from the purified 42 kDa enzyme. When the open reading frame was introduced into pGEX-2T vector and transfected into E. coli cells, a significant choline/ethanolamine kinase activity did appear in the cell lysate. A homology comparison with the previously reported choline kinase cDNAs (CKR1 and CKR2) from rat liver showed 66%-68% in entire nucleotide sequences and 57%-59% in amino acid sequences, indicating that the cloned cDNA here must be a novel CK/EK gene product. (c) 1998 Elsevier Science B. V.

Effect of dentin treatment with citric acid/ferric chloride solutions on glass ionomer bond strength

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of dentin treatment with mixed solutions of citric acid and ferric chloride on the tensile bond strength of resin-modified glass ionomers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

120 freshly extracted bovine incisors were ground to expose dentin surface. Vitremer and Fuji II LC were bonded to dentin surfaces that were (1) rinsed with distilled water and dried with oil-free compressed air, (2) treated with Super Bond Dentin Activator for 30 seconds, (3) treated with Bondwell LC Conditioner for 20 seconds, (4) treated with Scotchbond Multi-purpose Etchant for 15 seconds, (5) treated with Dentin Conditioner for 20 seconds, or (6) treated with K-etchant for 40 seconds following manufacturers' recommendations. Specimens were stored in water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours. The tensile bond strength was measured at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/minute. The data were statistically analyzed by a one-way ANOVA and Dunnett's Post-hoc Procedure (P < 0.05).

RESULTS

Super Bond Dentin Activator and Bondwell LC Conditioner increased the tensile bond strength of Vitremer and Fuji II LC. Scotchbond Multi-purpose Etchant, Dentin Conditioner, and K-etchant did not improve the tensile bond strength of Vitremer and Fuji II LC.

cDNA cloning and characterization of neuron-specific enolase from chicken

Chicken gamma-enolase cDNA was cloned and its sequence and tissue-specific expression were analyzed. The cDNA, consisting of 2273 bp of nucleotides, was composed of 86 bp of the 5'-noncoding region, 1305 bp of an open reading frame encoding a protein of 434 amino acids and 882 bp of the 3'-noncoding region. The deduced amino acid sequence showed higher homology (more than 90%) to those of mammalian gamma-enolases than to those of chicken alpha- or beta-enolases. Northern blot analysis has revealed that the mRNA for gamma-enolase (2.3 kb) is expressed in the brain and, to much less but significant extents, in the pituitary and adrenal gland of the chicken.

Plasma lactic acid and pyruvic acid levels in migraine and tension-type headache

We examined the lactic and pyruvic acid levels in the plasma of 14 patients with migraine, 17 patients with tension-type headache, and 12 normal controls. The lactic and pyruvic acid levels in the plasma of the migraine patients were significantly higher than those of the normal controls (9.6 +/- 5.0 mg/dL and 0.51 +/- 0.30 mg/dL versus 3.3 +/- 1.9 mg/dL and 0.26 +/- 0.20 mg/dL, respectively). There were no significant differences in the levels between the patients with tension-type headache and normal controls. Our results suggest that migraine patients may have functional abnormalities in mitochondrial energy metabolism.

Chemiluminescent derivatization of adenyl compounds with glyoxal derivatives in the presence of heteropoly acids and its application to the simple and sensitive determination of DNA

A chemiluminescence (CL) determination of adenyl compounds is described. CL derivatization of adenyl compounds with methylglyoxal dimethyl acetal was performed in the presence of tungstosilicic acid and propan-2-ol. CL from adenyl compounds was produced by hydrogen peroxide and L-cysteine ethyl ester in DMF and water. The proposed method is highly sensitive and specific to compounds containing adenine. Adenine was determined in the range 1.0 x 10(-3)-5.0 x 10(-8) M with the detection limit of 3.0 x 10(-8) M (150 fmol per assay). The method was applied to the determination of DNA and detection limits of a few nanograms of DNA achieved.

Prolactin-induced expression of TATA-less cyclin D3 gene is mediated by Sp1 and AP2

The TATA-less cyclin D3 gene is stimulated by prolactin (PRL) in rat Nb2 T-lymphocytes. DNA mobility shift assay and luciferase transfection analysis revealed that the gene has a potential promoter region, two enhancer domanins and a silencer region. The promoter region possessed three Sp1 sites and two AP2 sites, and both enhancer regions had one AP2 binding site each. Analysis using oligonucleotide probes and purified AP2 protein has suggested that the expression of rat cyclin D3 gene is promoted by Sp1 and AP2 factors.

Prolactin receptor gene expression in the brain and peripheral tissues in broody and nonbroody breeds of domestic hen

The objective of this study was to establish whether the gene encoding prolactin receptor (PRLR) is expressed in the hypothalamus and peripheral tissues of the domestic chicken and, if so, to determine whether there are breed differences in the structure or expression of the gene which might account for the observation that broodiness does not occur in the White Leghorn hen but does occur in other breeds of domestic hens, including the bantam. A preliminary experiment demonstrated that the absence of broodiness in White Leghorns is not due to a lack of a prolactin response to the avian prolactin-releasing hormone vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The largest amounts of PRLR mRNA in the brain, which did not differ significantly between laying White Leghorns and bantams, were found in the pituitary gland and basal and preoptic hypothalamus. Small or nondetectable amounts were found in both breeds in the forebrain, cerebellum, and optic lobes. Prolactin receptor mRNA was widely distributed in peripheral tissues in both breeds, in the following descending order of abundance: kidney, leg skin, brood patch, duodenum, intestine > thyroid gland > adrenal gland, liver, ovary >> adipose tissue > thymus, spleen > muscle > blood. Southern blotting analysis using four restriction enzymes and a chicken PRLR cDNA probe demonstrated identical digestion patterns for White Leghorn and bantam genomic DNA. Northern blotting analysis identified two sizes of chicken PRLR mRNA transcripts (7.5 and 3.3 kb) in hypothalami from laying White Leghorn and bantam hens. It is concluded that differences in the expression of broodiness in White Leghorn and bantam hens cannot be explained by differences in the amounts of PRLR mRNA in the hypothalamus or in the transcription or gross structure of the PRLR gene.

Prognosis of Parkinson's disease in Japan. Tottori University Parkinson's Disease Epidemiology (TUPDE) Study Group

Therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) has been progressing. However, the prognosis for patients with PD is still unclear. We studied the course of PD in patients in the San-in Area of Japan over a long time period. The main purpose of this study was to see whether there was a difference in survival between PD patients and the general population. Information on 114 deceased PD patients, who died between 1989 and 1996, was collected from hospitals belonging to the Tottori University Parkinson's Disease Epidemiology Study Group. Although the duration of illness was prolonged, the survival of PD patients was still poorer than that of the general population. The most common cause of death was pneumonia. The main cause of death in young PD patients was also pneumonia. In order to improve the survival of PD patients, PD-related conditions should be treated more extensively, especially pneumonia.

Defective mammopoiesis, but normal hematopoiesis, in mice with a targeted disruption of the prolactin gene

Prolactin (PRL) has been implicated in numerous physiological and developmental processes. The mouse PRL gene was disrupted by homologous recombination. The mutation caused infertility in female mice, but did not prevent female mice from manifesting spontaneous maternal behaviors. PRL-deficient males were fertile and produced offspring with normal Mendelian gender and genotype ratios when they were mated with heterozygous females. Mammary glands of mutant female mice developed a normal ductal tree, but the ducts failed to develop lobular decorations, which is a characteristic of the normal virgin adult mammary gland. The potential effect of PRL gene disruption on antigen-independent primary hematopoiesis was assessed. The results of this analysis indicated that myelopoiesis and primary lymphopoiesis were unaltered in the mutant mice. Consistent with these observations in PRL mutant mice, PRL failed to correct the bone marrow B cell deficiency of Snell dwarf mice. These results argue that PRL does not play any indispensable role in primary lymphocyte development and homeostasis, or in myeloid differentiation. The PRL-/- mouse model provides a new research tool with which to resolve a variety of questions regarding the involvement of both endocrine and paracrine sources of PRL in reproduction, lactogenesis, tumorigenesis and immunoregulation.