Cardiomyopathy induced by cardiac Gs alpha overexpression

The goal of this study was to determine whether chronic endogenous sympathetic stimulation resulting from the overexpression of cardiac stimulatory G protein alpha subunit (Gs alpha) in transgenic mice (15.3 +/- 0.1 mo old) resulted in a clinical picture of cardiomyopathy. The left ventricular ejection fraction, measured by echocardiography, was reduced in older mice with Gs alpha overexpression (50.4 +/- 5.4%) compared with age-matched control mice (70.9 +/- 1.6%; P < 0.05). When ejection fractions were compared at similar heart rates, the Gs alpha mice exhibited a greater left ventricular end-diastolic dimension than control mice (4.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.1 mm; P < 0.05). Baseline heart rates were elevated in conscious Gs alpha mice (722 +/- 27 beats/min; n = 5) compared with control mice (656 +/- 28 beats/min; n = 5). Moreover, electrocardiographic monitoring demonstrated a high incidence of arrhythmias. Increased mortality compared with control mice (31.6 vs. 3.0%; P < 0.01) was also observed. Thus older mice with Gs alpha overexpression exhibit many of the features of dilated cardiomyopathy. This study supports the concept that chronic sympathetic stimulation over an extended period of time, i.e., over the life of an animal, is deleterious and actually may result in cardiomyopathy.

Sequence-based association analysis of HLA class I and II alleles in Japanese supports conservation of common haplotypes

Alleles of HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DQB1, and DPB1 loci were fully determined in 117 healthy Japanese. A*2402, A*3303, A*1101, A*0201, B*4403, B*5201, Cw*0102, Cw*1403, Cw*0304, Cw*0702, Cw*0801, and Cw*1202 showed frequencies of over 10%. Multi-locus haplotype frequencies were estimated by the maximum likelihood method. Strength of association between C and B loci was comparable with that between DRB1 and DQB1 loci. Alleles unidentified by a serological method and having very similar nucleotide sequences (A2: A*0201, A*0206, A*0207, B61: B*4002, B*4006) were carried by different haplotypes. Several frequent five-locus haplotypes were identified including A*3303-Cw*1403-B*4403-DRB1(*)1302-DQB1(*)0604, and A*2402-Cw*1202-B*5201-DRB1(*)1502-DQB1(*)0601. These sequence-based haplotypes corresponded to serology-based common haplotypes which have already been described in Japanese. These findings indicate that common HLA haplotypes consist of particular sets of HLA alleles and that these haplotypes have been conserved through recent human evolution.

A follow-up study of progression from dysplasia to squamous cell carcinoma with immunohistochemical examination of p53 protein overexpression in the bronchi of ex-chromate workers

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bronchus is considered to develop from preneoplastic 'dysplasia', but reports of sequential observation of this dysplasia-carcinoma sequence in humans are very few. We followed four dysplastic lesions found in the bronchi of three ex-chromate workers by bronchoscopy and biopsy and found that all of them progressed to SCC. Of the four lesions, three were severe dysplasias at the first biopsy which progressed to SCCs in 7-13 months. The last one was a slight dysplasia at the first biopsy and showed progression of the atypia to carcinoma in 6 years and 10 months. An immunohistochemical analysis of the chronological change in p53 protein expression in these lesions and in normal ciliated epithelium taken from the surroundings was conducted in each case. Overexpression of p53 protein was observed in two of the severe dysplasias and the one slight dysplasia, as well as their eventual SCCs. However, no such change was apparent in one case of severe dysplasia or its eventual SCC. Normal epithelium was consistently negative. Our results provide direct proof of the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence and suggest that alteration in the expression of p53 protein might be an important early event which persists. Therefore, the immunohistochemical detection of p53 overexpression in biopsy specimens of bronchial epithelium might be useful for evaluation of preneoplastic lesions in high-risk group individuals and for early diagnosis of bronchial cancer.

Specific expression of HSP47 in human tumor cell lines in vitro

HSP47 is a stress-inducible glycoprotein of 47 kd molecular weight, and is assumed to be a collagen specific molecular chaperone. The expression of HSP47 is closely related to that of collagen, which is the main component of the extracellular matrix. We investigated the expression level of HSP47 in human tumor cell lines to elucidate collagen biosynthesis in tumor cells. Western blot analysis showed higher levels of HSP47 in solid tumor cell lines than in leukemia cell lines. Tumor cell lines which were derived from metastatic carcinomas and were still metastatic in animals, synthesized higher levels of HSP47. These results suggested that HSP47 may play an important role in tumor metastasis and can be a prognostic marker for the metastatic activity of human tumor cells.

[The ethanol elimination pharmacokinetics--the effects of genotypes of ALDH2 and CYP2E1 on the ethanol metabolism]

The effects of the genotypes of CYP2E1, ALDH2, ADH upon the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels were investigated. The predicting 95% confidence bounds determined on regression analysis of the data suggested that after venous injection of ethanol, the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations in a volunteer normal homozygous for ALDH2 (ALDH2*1/1) were significantly lower than that heterozygous (ALDH2*1/2). And the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations in a volunteer with C2 allele (C1/C2) were significantly lower than that in (C1/1). However, there were no significant differences in the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations between volunteers with ADH2*1/1 and ALDH2*1/2. It is possible that the ALDH2*1 and C2 alleles may correspond to the lower blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations after intravenous administrations of 0.2 g /kg of ethanol.

[Progress of DNA based HLA typing methods]

HLA genes exhibit high degrees of polymorphism, and a total of about 400 alleles have been identified at HLA-A, B, C and DR loci up to now. A number of DNA-based typing methods using specific primers, specific probes or restriction enzymes have been developed. In HLA class II allele typing, a few methods which are simple in handling and able to determine the alleles automatically, have been available. We have recently developed PCR MPH (microtiter plate hybridization) method, and this method has been in use for routine typing of DRBI alleles. In HLA class I typing, however, DNA typing system suitable for routine typing laboratories has not been established yet, because the polymorphism spreads two exons intervened by an intron. Nevertheless, allele typing of some antigen groups such as A2 and B61 groups have been established using PCR MPH method.

Decreased expression of the DCC gene in human breast carcinoma

Inactivation of the "deleted in colon cancer" (DCC) gene on chromosome 18 is known to be associated with the tumorigenesis and metastasis of colorectal cancer. In the present study, we investigated the expression of DCC and the c-erbB-2 product in surgical specimens from 45 patients with breast cancer by immunohistochemical staining, and found the expression of DCC to be decreased in 23 (51%) tumors. In 8 years of follow-up, 11 of 22 (50%) patients with DCC-positive staining tumors, and 17 of 23 (74%) patients with DCC-negative tumors developed recurrence. The stratified analysis, according to the status of axillary lymph node metastasis, showed the same tendency. Overexpression of erbB-2 was detected in 13 (29%) of the 45 breast cancer specimens, but there were no differences in the relapse rate between patients with erbB-2 positive and those with erbB-2 negative tumors. Although the individual alteration of DCC or erbB-2 did not possess independent prognostic significance for the prediction of recurrence, patients with tumors having the double alteration of DCC-negative and erbB-2-positive showed adverse relapse-free survival (0.025 < P < 0.05). These findings suggest that a decrease in DCC expression and erbB-2 overexpression may influence the progression of breast carcinoma.

A pediatric case of ureteropelvic junction obstruction treated with retrograde endopyelotomy

To determine the feasibility of retrograde endopyelotomy in the management of pediatric ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction, we treated one girl aged 6 years with the Acucise cutting balloon devise for symptomatic UPJ obstruction. The Acucise catheter (7 Fr, flexible) was placed by a cystoscope over a guide wire with fluoroscopic guidance under general anesthesia. After cutting the stenotic area electronically and dilation until 24 Fr for 10 seconds, a 6/10 Fr endopyelotomy ureteral catheter was left in situ for 8 weeks after the operation. Total operating time was 45 minutes and the child was discharged 3 days after the operation. There were no acute complications and short-term, follow-up 8 months after the operative results were satisfactory as determined by intravenous pyelography and diuretic renogram. UPJ obstruction in children may be treated by retrograde endopyelotomy with the Acucise catheter as well as adults. The principal potential advantage of this procedure is reduced morbidity as compared with antegrade endopyelotomy.

Ovarian sex cord-stromal tumours in cattle, with particular reference to the lamination of basal laminae

Three cases of bovine sex cord-stromal tumours, including a sex cord tumour with annular tubules and two granulosa cell tumours, are described. These tumours had tubular structures and hyaline or eosinophilic bodies, composed of multilayered basal laminae. The present study suggests that bovine granulosa cell tumours of the ovary are able to show morphology similar to that of Sertoli cell tumours of the testis and that sex cord tumours with annular tubules arise from granulosa cells but indicate Sertoli cell differentiation.

Allele typing of HLA-A10 group by nested-PCR-low ionic strength single stranded conformation polymorphism and a novel A26 allele (A26KY, A*2605)

HLA-A26 is one of the most polymorphic HLA-A locus antigens among the Japanese population. Four HLA-A26 subtypes have so far been defined: A*2601-2604 [1]. We developed a means of typing alleles of the HLA-A10 group by nested PCR low ionic strength single-stranded conformation polymorphism (NPCR-LIS-SSCP) that is simple and cost effective. We used it to type 200 DNA samples from unrelated Japanese individuals who were serologically HLA-A26 positive. We found a novel A26 allele that had been suggested by PCR-SSO. Sequence analysis of A26KY (officially assigned A*2605, Accession No. D50068) revealed that the allele differs from A*2601 by a single nucleotide substitution at position 299, which leads to an amino acid substitution Ala-->Glu at position 76 in the alpha helix loop of the alpha 1 domain. From our results, A*2605 is likely to originate from A*2601 by a single point mutation. HLA-A*2601 showed the highest frequency (61.9%), followed by A*2603 (19.5%), A*2602 (17.6%), A*2604 (0.5%), and A*2605 (0.5%) in Japanese.

[Effects of beta-adrenergic blockers on retinal circulation]

We evaluated the effects of 0.5% betaxolol hydrochloride and 0.5% timolol maleate on retinal blood flow. We measured the diameter of the retinal artery (Da) and vein (Dv), and retinal venous blood flow rate (V) in 8 healthy young volunteers by laser speckle velocimetry before and after the application of betaxolol or timolol topically to both eyes daily for one week. There were no any significant changes. Da before and after the application of betaxolol was 114.2 +/- 6.3 (mean +/- standard deviation) microns and 115.6 +/- 6.7 microns and before and after the application of timolol, 117.5 +/- 12.7 microns and 101.3 +/- 9.5 microns. Dv before and after the application of betaxolol was 149.5 +/- 11.1 microns and 148.4 +/- 13.3 microns, and before and after the application of timolol 148.5 +/- 9.2 microns and 146.2 +/- 10.3 microns. V before and after the application of timolol was 12.3 +/- 2.6 mm/s and 12.6 +/- 2.4 mm/s, and before and after the application of betaxolol, 11.6 +/- 1.5 mm/s and 11.4 +/- 2.1 mm/s. Thus one-week application of the beta-blockers, betaxolol and timolol did not change the retinal arterial or venous blood flow.

Neurally mediated cardiac effects of forskolin in conscious dogs

Because major cardiovascular disease states are characterized by defects in adenylyl cyclase regulation, it becomes important to understand the mechanisms by which adenylyl cyclase activators affect inotropy and chronotropy in intact conscious animals. Accordingly, we examined the inotropic and chronotropic responses to forskolin in 11 normal conscious, chronically instrumented dogs and 3 dogs with ventricular denervation (VD). Left ventricular first derivative of pressure (LV dP/dt) increased by 96 +/- 7%, P < 0.05, in response to forskolin (50 nmol.kg-1.min-1) in normal dogs and by significantly less, 52 +/- 14%, in VD dogs. Circulating norepinephrine (NE) levels increased similarly in both groups (from 226 +/- 18 to 389 +/- 33 pg/ml in normal dogs, from 177 +/- 23 to 329 +/- 71 pg/ml in VD dogs). In the presence of ganglionic blockade, the increase in LV dP/dt in response to forskolin was reduced (+62 +/- 4%) in normal dogs but was unchanged in VD dogs (+52 +/- 12%). Ganglionic blockade abolished the increase in circulating NE levels in both groups. Increases in heart rate in the presence of ganglionic blockade (+54 +/- 6 beats/min) were less than in the presence of atropine alone (+92 +/- 10 beats/min). Notably, the LV dP/dt and heart rate responses to forskolin were further attenuated by beta-adrenergic receptor blockade in the presence and absence of ganglionic blockade. Morphine also attenuated the increases in both LV dP/dt and plasma NE in response to forskolin. Increases in LV dP/dt in response to NKH-477 (30 micrograms/kg), a water-soluble forskolin derivative, were similar before and after ganglionic blockade (+63 +/- 8 and +51 +/- 10%, respectively). However, in vitro experiments in LV sarcolemmal membrane preparations demonstrated that stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by forskolin and NKH-477 was not affected by beta-adrenergic receptor blockade. These results indicate that in conscious dogs, inotropic and chronotropic effects of forskolin are not only due to direct activation of adenylyl cyclase, but the effects also are mediated by neural mechanisms and potentiated by the prevailing level of sympathetic tone.

Intestinal adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine cells in a clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

Adenocarcinoma of the small intestine was found in a 6-year-old clouded leopard. This tumour was characterized by the presence of goblet and neuroendocrine cells. The latter were labelled positively for either serotonin, somatostatin, neurotensin, gastrin or secretin. These neuroendocrine cells were reduced in number in most of the metastatic lesions, including those of the mesentery, diaphragmatic pleura, lungs, liver and heart, and squamous metaplasia was detected in some metastatic sites.

Molecular genetic analysis of variant phenotypes of the ABO blood group system

ABO is clinically the most important blood group system in transfusion medicine and includes many variant phenotypes. To understand the molecular genetic basis of this polymorphic system, we have analyzed genomic DNAs obtained from Japanese individuals possessing variant ABO phenotypes including A2, Ax, Ael, cis-AB, Bx, and Bel. By polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and nucleotide sequence analyses, we identified 11 different alleles. These alleles had nucleotide sequences different from those of the previously described 13 different alleles responsible for the common ABO phenotypes. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the alleles responsible for those variant phenotypes showed that the amino acid residues at position 266 and 268 may be crucial for transferase specificity, whereas those at positions 214, 216, 223, 291, and 352 may be critical for the activity level. Nine of the 11 alleles, responsible for the A2, Ax, Ael, cis-AB, Bx, and Bel phenotypes, were presumed to be generated from common ABO alleles by single nucleotide mutations such as nonsynonymous substitution, deletion, or insertion. Two other alleles, responsible for the A2 and Ael phenotypes, may have originated by recombination, gene conversionlike events or accumulation of nucleotide substitutions. Our data indicate that different alleles could cause the same ABO variant phenotypes, and that these alleles do not necessarily belong to a single evolutionary lineage.

Locally-confined signet-ring cell carcinoma of the prostate: a case report of a long-term survivor

It is generally believed that signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of the prostate is a high-grade neoplasm with a poor prognosis. We report a case of a long-term survivor diagnosed with localized prostatic SRCC (T3N0M0), who has been alive without any clinical evidence of disease for 100 months after combination therapy which consisted of local irradiation and hormone administration. A posttreatment needle biopsy confirmed the pathological complete response.

[Characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis patients by mode of detection--comparison of patients detected between 1993-94 with those detected between 1986-88]

In a previous study it was concluded that pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients who were detected at a hospital, excluding those detected by mass screening (group A), should be classified into three distinct groups. Namely some patients were detected only after the onset of TB symptoms (group B), with the others being treated for other diseases before being diagnosed as having TB (group C). In group C, some patients were detected because of manifesting additional symptoms related to TB such as cough (group C-1), while the remaining patients were detected by chance while being examined for other diseases (group C-2). Four groups respectively had specific characteristics which differentiated each other. The aim of this study is to elucidate changes of proportion and characteristics of group C compared to the former results. Pulmonary TB patients, who were registered between 1993 and 1994, in the area served by Kochi Prefectural Chuo Health Center (N = 332) were compared with those registered between 1986 and 1988 in the area. The results were as follows. 1) The proportion of group C was significantly higher in the period of 1993-94 than during 1986-88. The proportion of elderly people in group C was higher in the period of 1993-1994 than in 1986-88. The proportion of group C is projected to continue increasing as the proportion of elderly among the population increases. 2) The proportion of smear positive cases by sputum was lower in group C-2 than in group B and group C-1. The proportion of either inactive TB or non TB cases was estimated to be higher in group C-2 than in group B and group C-1. 3) In group C-1, the proportion of bacillus positive cases was higher in the period of 1993-94 than 1986-88. The elongation of the interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis (total delay) was related to the severity of bacillus finding.

Mini ecosystem in space--preliminary experiment on board STS-77

An enclosed ecosystem which is stable on Earth will behave differently when brought into space. Micro-gravity and radiation will affect the dynamics of material circulation or the activities of small creatures of the ecosystem. One series of space experiments aiming to address such issues was planned in the United States (It is termed as ABS--Autonomous Biological System) and Japanese group has been involved with cooperating with the analysis of the flight samples. Before the ecosystem will be on board Russian Space Station "Mir" later 1996 for 3 months, a preliminary flight was carried out in May 1996 on Space Shuttle (STS-77) for 10 days flight. It was the first of such experiments to fly one whole ecosystem in space.

Quantitative estimation of dystrophin protein: a sensitive and convenient "two-antibody sandwich" ELISA

As dystrophin protein, the protein product of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene, represents only 0.002 approximately 0.03% of the total muscle proteins and human dystrophin protein has not been purified, quantitative estimation of this protein has been difficult. We describe a sensitive, reliable and convenient "two-antibody sandwich" enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using commercially available monoclonal antibodies. This system, using a capture antibody specific for carboxyl terminus and two different detection antibodies for the mid-rod domain and the amino-terminal domain, is highly specific for dystrophin, since muscle specimens from DMD patients gave almost zero response (n = 3, 0.38 approximately 0.45%; expressed as a percentage of normal muscle tissue). This assay should prove to be an accessible and useful tool for the diagnosis of DMD/BMD and for the evaluation in clinical trials such as myoblast transfer and gene therapy.