Direct binding of CRKL to BCR-ABL is not required for BCR-ABL transformation

CRKL has previously been shown to be a major tyrosine phosphorylated protein in neutrophils of patients with BCR-ABL+ chronic myelogenous leukemia and in cell lines expressing BCR-ABL CRKL and BCR-ABL form a complex as demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation and are capable of a direct interaction in a yeast two-hybrid assay. We have mapped the site of interaction of CRKL and BCR-ABL to the amino terminal SH3 domain of CRKL with a proline rich region in the C-terminus of ABL. The proline-rich region was mutated and the effect of this deletion on BCR-ABL transforming function was assayed. Our data show that this deletion does not impair the ability of BCR-ABL to render myeloid cells factor independent for growth. In cells expressing the proline deletion mutation of BCR-ABL, CRKL is still tyrosine phosphorylated and forms a complex with BCR-ABL as demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation. Our data suggest that the interaction between CRKL and the proline deletion mutant of BCR-ABL is an indirect interaction as CRKL does not interact directly with the proline deletion mutant of BCR-ABL in a gel overlay assay or in a yeast two-hybrid assay. Thus, a direct interaction of CRKL and BCR-ABL is not required for CRKL to become tyrosine phosphorylated by BCR-ABL and suggests that CRKL function may still be required for BCR-ABL function through an indirect interaction.

Prevention of adenocarcinoma colon 26-induced cachexia by interleukin 10 gene transfer

A s.c. injection of a mouse colon adenocarcinoma cell line, colon 26 clone 20, induced cachexia, as evidenced by progressive weight loss and severe hypoglycemia. Several lines of evidence indicate that a pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 (IL-6), plays a major role, albeit partially, in the establishment of cachexia in this model. Because IL-10 can potentially inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, we evaluated the effects of IL-10 gene transfer on the establishment of cachexia. IL-6 transcript was detected at tumor sites of mice inoculated with parental or control vector transfectant cells, and serum IL-6 levels were markedly increased in these mice. The injection of parental cells into IL-6-deficient mice induced cachexia with elevated serum IL-6 levels comparable to wild-type mice, indicating that tumor cells are a major source of IL-6. The inoculation of IL-10-transfectant cells kept IL-10 mRNA expression at tumor sites and induced the elevation in serum IL-10 levels without affecting the growth rates of colon 26 cells both in vitro and in vivo. However, the implantation with IL-10-transfectant cells reduced the expression of IL-6 mRNA at the tumor sites and the elevation in serum IL-6 levels. Concomitantly, mice inoculated with IL-10-transfectant cells did not exhibit progressive weight loss, a reduction in food intake, or severe hypoglycemia, which was observed in mice inoculated with parental or control vector-transfectant cells. Collectively, these results suggest that IL-10 gene transfer prevented the occurrence of cachexia with a concomitant inhibition of IL-6 production at the tumor sites.

Pathogenic gene responsible for the predisposition of Behçet's disease

HLA-B51 is well known to be associated with Behçet's disease (BD) in many different ethnic groups. The hypothesis may be presented that B51 molecules are primarily involved in BD development through specific antigen presentation. Furthermore, HLA-C genotyping by the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers method suggests that the BD pathogenic gene is not the HLA-C gene itself but some other gene located near the HLA-B gene. Polymorphic analysis of the Tau-a microsatellite between the HLA-B and TNF genes indicates that the pathogenic gene of BD is not the HLA-B51 gene itself but other gene located around the HLA-B gene. Recent studies suggest that many novel genes exist in the region between the TNF and HLA-B or HLA-C genes such as MIC and PERB, etc. and furthermore, many unidentified new genes have been suggested to exist in this region. In this paper, the present situation of the investigations on the genetic predisposition responsible for BD was reviewed.

The reason for as well as the consequence of the Cambrian explosion in animal evolution

The first 1 billion years of our 4.5-billion-year-old planet were extremely violent, characterized by constant meteorite bombardment. Therefore, it is with a great surprise that we note that cellular life flourished 3.5 billion years ago. It appears that the cellular life came into being as soon as the earth's environment became hospitable. Because the main ingredient of the Archean sea was sodium bicarbonate, neither archeobacteria nor eubacteria but rather photosynthesizing organisms dominated-initially, prokaryotic cyanobacteria, soon joined by eukaryotic blue-green algae. These consumers of carbon dioxide were also releasers of molecular oxygen. The toil of 3 billion years by these releasers of molecular oxygen finally triggered the Cambrian animal explosion. With exceptions of two animal phyla, Porifera and Coelenterata, which amde slightly earlier appearances, nearly all other extant animal phyla sprang into almost simultaneous existence within 6 to 10 million years. The notion of the Cambrian pananimalia genome was advanced to explain various evolutionary consequences of this Cambrian explosion.

Simultaneous combination therapy of carboplatin and radiation for patients with carcinoma of the esophagus

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Carboplatin is a less nephrotoxic analog of cisplatin with a significant effect against a variety of malignancies including carcinoma of the esophagus. Furthermore, the supra-additive effect between carboplatin and radiation has been reported in both clinical and experimental studies.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Seven patients with carcinoma of the esophagus underwent a combined therapy of carboplatin (30 mg/m2, total 1500-2000 mg) and radiation (1.6 Gy/day, five days/week, total 50-70 Gy).

RESULTS

Six patients had a complete tumor remission while in the remaining patient a partial response was observed. In five of these six cases, no evidence of recurrence has been recognized at 9-13 months after the treatment. Two patients survived without any evidence of recurrent disease 43 and 57 months after the initiation of the treatment. The major side effects were leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, which were grade II to IV but not fatal. However, no significant renal toxicity, gastrointestinal disorders nor liver toxicity were recognized.

CONCLUSIONS

These data thus indicate the clinical utility of the combined therapy of radiation and carboplatin for patients with carcinoma of the esophagus.

Effectiveness of hyperthermia and radiation treatments for patients with esophageal cancer predicted by the succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test

We used in vitro succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test (SDI test) to predict the combined effects of hyperthermia and irradiation on specimens of esophageal cancer obtained at endoscopy. The mean activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SD) after combined treatment of 6 Gy of irradiation and 43.0 degrees C for 20 hours of hyperthermia was significantly decreased compared to findings with each single treatment (to irradiation; p < 0.01, to hyperthermia; p < 0.05). A correlation between the SD activity and the clinical remedial value was also examined in tissues from 47 patients with esophageal cancer, and treated with hyperthermia and irradiation, in combination. The clinical effect, determined radiographically, showed a correlation of 76.6%. Thus, hyperthermia plus irradiation is effective clinical treatment and the SDI test facilitates prediction of the outcome of this combined treatment.

The Malthusian parameter of ascents: what prevents the exponential increase of one's ancestors?

The reason that the indefinite exponential increase in the number of one's ancestors does not take place is found in the law of sibling interference, which can be expressed by the following simple equation: [equation: see text] where Nn is the number of ancestors in the nth generation, ASZ is the average sibling size of these ancestors, and Nn + 1 is the number of ancestors in the next older generation (n + 1). Accordingly, the exponential increase in the number of one's ancestors is an initial anomaly that occurs while ASZ remains at 1. Once ASZ begins to exceed 1, the rate of increase in the number of ancestors is progressively curtailed, falling further and further behind the exponential increase rate. Eventually, ASZ reaches 2, and at that point, the number of ancestors stops increasing for two generations. These two generations, named AN SA and AN SA + 1, are the most critical in the ancestry, for one's ancestors at that point come to represent all the progeny-produced adults of the entire ancestral population. Thereafter, the fate of one's ancestors becomes the fate of the entire population. If the population to which one belongs is a successful, slowly expanding one, the number of ancestors would slowly decline as you move toward the remote past. This is because ABZ would exceed 2. Only when ABZ is less than 2 would the number of ancestors increase beyond the AN SA and AN SA + 1 generations. Since the above is an indication of a failing population on the way to extinction, there had to be the previous AN SA involving a far greater number of individuals for such a population. Simulations indicated that for a member of a continuously successful population, the AN SA ancestors might have numbered as many as 5.2 million, the AN SA generation being the 28th generation in the past. However, because of the law of increasingly irrelevant remote ancestors, only a very small fraction of the AN SA ancestors would have left genetic traces in the genome of each descendant of today.

Detection of antibodies to Borrelia species among patients with confirmed sarcoidosis in a region where Lyme disease is nonendemic

BACKGROUND

Lyme disease is a multisystemic disorder caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, while sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Lyme disease and sarcoidosis.

METHODS

We examined the seroprevalence of antibody to Borellia species in patients with sarcoidosis. We performed the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using three Japanese Borrelia species in addition to B. burgdorferi, and dotblot analysis using purified Borrelia-specific proteins in 38 patients with histopathologically confirmed sarcoidosis and 80 healthy controls.

RESULTS

Two patients (5.3%) were positive for antibodies to Borrelia species according to one or both assays, and one (1.2%) healthy control was positive. In both patients it was suspected that Borrelia infection had developed prior to the development of sarcoidosis.

CONCLUSION

Borrelia species were thought not to be responsible for the development of sarcoidosis in a nonendemic region in Japan. Since clinical manifestations of Lyme disease share certain similarities with those seen in sarcoidosis, ophthalmologists should be aware of the need to differentiate between the two diseases and the need for prompt treatment in each case.

LMP7 polymorphism in Japanese patients with sarcoidosis and Behçet's disease

To evaluate the influence of the MHC-linked LMP7 gene on disease susceptibility in HLA class I and class II-associated diseases, the distribution of LMP7 alleles was determined using the PCR-RFLP method in 69 Japanese patients with Behçet's disease, 65 patients with sarcoidosis, and 100 unrelated healthy controls. No differences were found between either of the patient groups and the healthy control group, indicating that LMP7 allelic variation may not contribute to the pathogenesis of either Behçet's disease or sarcoidosis. We also analyzed linkage disequilibria between LMP7 and HLA class II alleles in Japanese populations.

Immunochemical distribution and immunohistochemical localization of 20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in neonatal pig tissues

Immunochemical distribution of 20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) in neonatal pig tissues was investigated by Western blot analysis of the proteins reacting with anti-20beta-HSD antibody. 20beta-HSD was present in all organs investigated: brain, lung, thymus, submandibular gland, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, adrenal gland, testis, epididymis, prostate, vas deferens and seminal vesicle. In particular, high concentrations of 20beta-HSD were detected in the testis, followed by the kidney and liver, by the [125I]-protein A binding method. Immunohistochemical localization of the enzyme was achieved in paraffin sections of the testis, kidney, liver, epididymis, and vas deferens by the streptoavidin-biotin complex method. In the testis, very strong immunostaining was found only in interstitial Leydig cells, whereas the cells in seminiferous tubules, such as Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells, were entirely negative. In the kidney, strong immunostaining was detected in epithelial cells of Henle's loop. The immunoreactive proteins were also localized in the hepatic lobules of the liver, tall columnar cells of the ductus epididymidis of the epididymis, and mucosal epithelium cells and muscularis of the vas deferens. These observations indicate that tissue distribution of 20beta-HSD is similar to that of carbonyl reductase in the human and rat. However, the specific and abundant expression of 20beta-HSD in testicular Leydig cells of the neonatal pig, which are concerned with the synthesis of androgens, suggests that 20beta-HSD has a very important physiological role in testicular function during the neonatal stage.

Regression of duodenal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma after eradication of Helicobacter pylori

It is rare for low-grade lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) to affect the duodenum, and no reports have mentioned any relationship between this disease and Helicobacter pylori infection. This case report describes a patient with multiple small erosions and diffuse erythema in the duodenal bulb diagnosed histopathologically as MALT lymphoma. Immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy-chain gene rearrangement was detected, and monotypic plasma cell proliferation (IgG kappa) was shown by immunohistochemistry. The lesion was localized to the duodenal bulb. Antibiotic therapy for H. pylori resulted in resolution of the morphological features of the lymphoma, as confirmed by endoscopic and pathological examination. Moreover, the gene rearrangement could not be detected after eradication of the bacterium. Although additional follow-up is needed, it is suggested that H. pylori eradication therapy may be effective for patients with MALT lymphoma in the duodenum as well as the stomach.

The inhibition of differentiation caused by TGFbeta in fetal myoblasts is dependent upon selective expression of PKCtheta: a possible molecular basis for myoblast diversification during limb histogenesis

Embryonic and fetal skeletal myoblasts are responsible for the formation of primary and secondary fibers in mammals, but the mechanism which diversifies their fate is unknown. In vitro, embryonic myoblasts are resistant to the differentiation inhibitory effects of transforming growth factor beta and phorbol esters. Thus, differential expression of specific molecules involved in the transduction of extracellular signals may contribute to the different phenotypes. We report here that protein kinase C theta, but none of the other known protein kinase C isoforms, is selectively expressed in fetal and postnatal muscle cells (at both the myoblast and myotube stage) in vitro and in vivo. By contrast, embryonic myoblasts and myotubes do not express protein kinase C theta in vitro or in vivo. This difference is causally related to a differential response to transforming growth factor beta, since overexpression of protein kinase C theta, but not of protein kinase C alpha or zeta, in embryonic myoblasts makes these cells sensitive to transforming growth factor beta. These data demonstrate for the first time that a protein kinase C isoform is a key component of the signal transduction cascade which follows exposure of myoblasts to transforming growth factor beta. They also suggest a specific role for protein kinase C theta in determining the fate of different myoblasts during muscle histogenesis.

[Tonoko pneumoconiosis with deposition of titanium]

A 56-year-old man had worked as a furniture painter and had been exposed to tonoko polishing powder for 30 years. He had complained of dyspnea on exertion for 7 years, and was admitted to our hospital in 1991. A chest X-ray film revealed large opacities and emphysematous changes in both lung fields. Tonoko pneumoconiosis was diagnosed after transbronchial lung biopsy. Home oxygen therapy was given because of progressive hypoxemia, but the patient died of respiratory failure. At autopsy, examination of the lungs showed severe emphysematous changes, and collapse of alveoli. Many gray masses resembling coating cement were seen especially in the upper lobes. Microscopical examination showed that the large opacities were composed of hyaline nodules, similar to silicotic nodules, with anthracosis. Scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis revealed a high concentration of titanium in the gray mass. A low dose of titanium would not be expected to induce fibrotic changes in the lung, but a high dose and long-term exposure might have that effect. Titanium contained in paint might have exacerbated tonoko pneumoconiosis in this patient.

Determination of ultratrace amounts of copper (II) by its catalytic effect on the oxidative coupling reaction of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone with N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropyl)-3,5-dimethoxyaniline

A spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of ultratrace amounts of copper(II) based on its catalytic effect on the oxidative coupling reaction of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone with N-ethyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropyl)-3,5-dimethoxyaniline to produce an intensely coloured dye (lambda(max) = 525 nm) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. In this reaction, pyridine acted as an effective activator for the catalysis of copper(II). By measuring the absorbance of the dye, copper(II) can be determined at the 0.002-0.1 ng cm(-3) (3.1 x 10(-11)-1.6 x 10(-9) mol dm(-3) level. The relative standard deviation for ten determinations of 0.06 ng cm(0-3) of copper(II) was 2.6%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of copper(II) in tap water and biological material.

Seroepidemiological studies on Silk Road ethnic groups

To clarify the origin of the Japanese, the Jomom and/or Yayol, we screened for HTLV-1 and -II antibodies among inhabitants of the Silk Road, the Han, Uygur and Kazaks. We also screened for HIV, HBV, and HCV. The HTLV-I, -II, HIV, and HCV antibody tests were uniformly negative in all the studied groups. In contrast, a significantly higher incidence of HBs antigen was observed in all the groups tested (Northern Han: 11.9%, Uygur: 6.0%, Kazak: 9.1%). These results indicate that these ethnic groups are not the origin of the indigenous Japanese (the Jomon), and that HBV is prevalent in the various groups along the Silk Road.

Oesophageal cancer coexisting with colorectal lesions

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence of colorectal lesions in patients who present with oesophageal cancer.

DESIGN

Prospective open study.

SETTING

University hospital, Japan.

SUBJECTS

135 of 218 patients who presented with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus during the seven year period 1988-1994 were randomly allocated to have a barium enema examination.

INTERVENTIONS

Barium enema examinations, and if colorectal lesions were found, colonoscopy and biopsy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Incidence of coexistent colorectal lesions.

RESULTS

No abnormal findings were found in 52 (39%), diverticula were present on 37 (27%), benign polypoid lesions in 51 (38%), and malignant lesions in 6 (4%). We examined the clinical and histopathological details of all patients to see if it was possible to distinguish the patients at high risk of developing oesophageal and colorectal cancer but could find no differences among the groups.

CONCLUSION

Asymptomatic colorectal lesions are relatively common in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus in Japan.

A carboxy-terminal deletion mutant of protein kinase C beta II inhibits insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells

Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA encoding the carboxy-terminal (C-terminal) exons of protein kinase C beta (PKC beta) leads to the expression of two protein isoforms, PKC beta 1 and PKC beta II, with the potential for different functions. PKC beta II expression is regulated by insulin via alternative mRNA splicing. A physiological consequence of its activation was investigated in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells expressing GLUT4 transporters, a cell line in which PKC is involved in glucose transport. We examined the contribution of PKC beta II for insulin-stimulated [3H]2-deoxyglucose uptake by constructing three PKC beta II C-terminal deletion mutants designated M216, M217, and M218. When transiently expressed in COS1 cells, M217, with nine amino acids deleted, demonstrated autophosphorylation activity 10-fold less than full-length PKC beta II. The mutants M218, with 13 amino acids deleted, and M216, with 52 amino acids deleted, demonstrated no autophosphorylation activity and are kinase negative. When transiently expressed in L6 myotubes, M217 inhibited insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake by 45% (with a 45% transfection efficiency) whereas M216 and M218, kinase-negative mutants, had no effect compared with cells transfected with control plasmid. Cotransfection of full-length PKC beta II with M217 was able to rescue the inhibition of insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake as compared with cotransfection of M217 with the control plasmid, suggesting that M217 acts as a dominant-negative. In contrast, cotransfection of full-length PKC beta I, the other alternatively spliced form, did not rescue inhibition of insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake by M217. To further demonstrate the involvement of PKC, specifically PKC beta II, in insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake, we used two inhibitors, CG41251 (a specific PKC inhibitor) and CG53353 (a PKC beta II-specific inhibitor at 1 microM). Both inhibited insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake 50-60% in L6 myotubes. We conclude that M217 may act as a specific PKC beta II dominant-negative and that PKC beta II is more specific for insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake in these cells than PKC beta I.

Protein kinase C activates the MEK-ERK pathway in a manner independent of Ras and dependent on Raf

Although the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in the activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway has been implicated through experiments using 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), there has been no direct demonstration that PKC activates the MAP kinase pathway. A Raf-dependent intact cell assay system for monitoring the activation of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) permitted us to evaluate the role of PKC isotypes in MAP kinase activation. Treatment of cells with TPA or epidermal growth factor resulted in the activation of MEK and ERK. The activation of the MAP kinase pathway triggered by epidermal growth factor was completely inhibited by dominant-negative Ras (RasN17), whereas the activation triggered by TPA was not, consistent with previous observations. The introduction of an activated point mutant of PKCdelta, but not PKCalpha or PKCepsilon, resulted in the activation of the MAP kinase pathway. The activation of MEK and ERK by an activated form of PKCdelta requires the presence of c-Raf and is independent of RasN17. These results demonstrate that activation of PKCdelta is sufficient for the activation of MEK and ERK and that the pathway operates in a manner dependent on c-Raf and independent of Ras.

HLA-C genotyping of patient with Behçet's disease in the Japanese population

Behçet's disease has been known to be strongly associated with a particular HLA-B allele, B51. To address the possibility that the HLA-C gene, which is closely linked to HLA-B but has been poorly defined for allo-antigen specificity by the serologic method is involved in the susceptibility to Behçet's disease, HLA-C genotyping was performed for 90 Japanese Behçet's disease patients by the PCR-SSP method. The frequencies of HLA-Cw*14 and -Cw*15 were significantly higher in the patient with Behçet's disease as compared to the controls (48.9% vs. 24.0%, p = 0.0005, and 17.8% vs. 7.3%, p = 0.0434, respectively). On the other hand, the frequencies of HLA-Cw*0304 and -Cw*01 were significantly decreased in the patient group as compared to the control group (7.8% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.0027, and 23.3% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.0398, respectively). The significantly higher HLA-Cw*14 and -Cw*15 alleles may tightly correlate with the B51 antigen, and hence may have increased as a result of a linkage disequilibrium with B51. Accordingly, the HLA-C allele frequencies were compared for the B51-positive or -negative patients and controls, but there was no HLA-C allele showing a significant difference between these patient and control groups. Conversely, analysis of the HLA-B allelic distribution in association with HLA-Cw*14 revealed that in the healthy controls, B44 and B51 were present at the frequencies of 57.1% and 35.7% of the HLC-Cw*14-positive individuals, respectively. In contrast, in the Cw*14-positive patients the frequency of B44 was merely 14.0% (p = 0.0001) and that of B51 was significantly high, amounting to 82.0% (p = 0.0001). These facts suggest that the pathogenic gene of Behçet's disease is not the HLA-C gene (HLA-Cw*14 and/or HLA-Cw*15) but the HLA-B gene (HLA-B51) itself or a non-HLA gene residing in the centromeric side of the HLA-B gene rather than in the telomeric side around the HLA-C gene. This finding supports our previous mapping result, which located the susceptible gene between the TNF and HLA-B genes.

Protective effect of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine against hypotension inducted by combined tumour necrosis factor-alpha and whole body hyperthermia in rats

We studied: (a) the adverse effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) given during whole body hyperthermia (WBH) on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and gut mucosa in anaesthetized rats; (b) the potential protective effect of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase; and (c) the influence of L-NMA on the antitumour effect of the trimodality therapy, WBH + TNF + Carboplatin (CBDCA). In normothermic rats, TNF alone (10(5) or 10(6) U/kg) did not cause hypotension, but increased MAP (p < 0.05). L-NMA alone (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) increased MAP moderately and dose-dependently (p < 0.05). WBH (41.5 degrees C for 2 h) increased MAP markedly (from 103 +/- 4 to 161 +/- 4 mm Hg). This increase in MAP was sustained throughout the hyperthermia, but was followed by a transient relative hypotension (MAP = 80 +/- mm Hg) on cessation of WBH and an eventual return to near baseline at 30 min post-WBH (MAP = 94 +/- 5 mm Hg). WBH + TNF (10(5) or 10(6) U/kg) initially increased MAP similarly to WBH alone. During the second hour of WBH, however, MAP decreased towards pre-treatment levels, and cessation of WBH was followed by sustained hypotension. This late hypotensive state was associated with a mortality during the early (first 2 h) post-WBH period of 17 and 100% at TNF dose of 10(5) and 10(6) U/kg TNF, respectively. L-NMA given to rats receiving WBH + TNF (10(6) U/kg) maintained MAP at levels similar to WBH alone during WBH treatment. L-NMA prevented the post-WBH hypotension, and extended the survival beyond the early (first 2 h) post-WBH period. No rat, however, receiving high dose TNF (10(6) U/kg) survived more than 12 h even with L-NMA (totally 40 mg/kg). WBH + TNF (10(5) and 10(6) U/kg) also produced marked histopathological injury to the gut mucosa at 2 h post-treatment. L-NMA substantially protected the gut from this injury. In rats bearing a transplantable fibrosarcoma, L-NMA did not decrease the antitumour effect consisting of WBH + TNF (10(5) U/kg) + CBDCA, while it decreased (p < 0.05) the general toxicity (weight loss, diarrhea and foot oedema) of this combination. We conclude that L-NMA may prevent or ameliorate the early toxicity but not the late lethal effects of WBH + high dose TNF (10(6) U/kg). Additionally, L-NMA reduces some of the toxicity of WBH + TNF (10(5) U/kg) + CBDCA without decreasing the antitumour effect of this trimodality therapy. Inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase such as L-NMA may provide a novel approach to overcoming the toxicity of TNF in combination with WBH.

Analysis of HLA-DM polymorphisms in sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disorder showing significant increases in the HLA-DRB1*11, *12, *14 and *08 alleles in the Japanese population. To evaluate the role of polymorphism in the DMA and DMB genes in predisposition to sarcoidosis, seventy Japanese patients with sarcoidosis and 95 unrelated healthy controls were analyzed in the third exon polymorphisms within the DMA and DMB genes by the PCR-RFLP method. There were no differences in the distribution of DMA alleles between the patient and control groups. The frequency of DMB*0102 was higher (p < 0.05) and that of DMB*0101 was lower (p < 0.05) in the patients than in the healthy controls. However, this association and negative association could be explained by linkage disequilibrium with the disease-associated DRB1 alleles. The DMA and DMB genes do not primarily confer the susceptibility to sarcoidosis.

Genetic polymorphisms in the keratin-like S gene within the human major histocompatibility complex and association analysis on the susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris

Psoriasis vulgaris is associated with the HLA-Cw6 and Cw7 antigens. However, it has not yet been clarified if the HLA-Cw6 and Cw7 genes themselves are the susceptible gene related to this disease or if it is some other non-HLA gene in a linkage disequilibrium with these HLA-C alleles. The S gene, recently identified in the HLA class I region 160 kb telomeric of HLA-C, encodes a keratin-like protein and is expressed specifically in the granular layer of the epidermis. Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that the S gene is one of the strong candidate genes responsible for the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris. Direct sequencing of the first and second exon of the S gene after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification has allowed the identification of two diallelic polymorphic sites in exon I and seven diallelic polymorphic sites in exon 2, three among which result in amino acid exchanges, a Ser-Phe substitution at amino acid position 186, a Gly-Val substitution at position 393 and a Ser-Leu substitution at position 394. No significant difference in the dimorphic distributions of the S gene was observed between the patients with psoriasis vulgaris and healthy controls, suggesting that the susceptible gene for psoriasis is not the S gene itself.

Breast lesions: correlation of contrast medium enhancement patterns on MR images with histopathologic findings and tumor angiogenesis

PURPOSE

To compare qualitative and quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) mammographic features of breast lesions with histopathologic findings, especially tumor angiogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-three patients (72 women, one man; aged 30-78 years; mean age, 51.0 years) with suspicious breast lesions underwent MR imaging. Noncontrast medium-enhanced localization imaging and then gadolinium-enhanced dynamic fast spoiled gradient-recalled-echo (SPGR) imaging were performed in all patients. In selected patients, subtraction fast SPGR images were obtained. The Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were used to determine the strength of the relationships between enhancement parameters and microvessel determinations.

RESULTS

Time intensity curve type correlated with microvessel density grade (Spearman rank correlation test: r = .90, P < .001). The steepest slope of contrast medium uptake correlated with microvessel counts (Pearson correlation test; r = .83, P < .001). Peripheral enhancement in invasive carcinomas (n = 9) correlated with high peripheral and low central microvessel densities, which were associated with desmoplasia and/or necrosis. Internal septations (n = 2) were seen only in fibroadenomas.

CONCLUSION

The density and distribution of microvessels may play major roles in the determination of the initial rate of contrast medium uptake and the heterogeneity of tumor enhancement.

Rapid diagnosis of adenoviral conjunctivitis by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis

To detect and identify adenovirus (Ad), we used a combination of PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Nested PCR with two primer sets that hybridize to the conserved region for hexon proteins of 14 prototypes of Ad, Ad serotype 1 (Ad1) to Ad8, -11, -14, -19, -37, -40, and -41, amplified a 956-bp DNA fragment. The amplified fragments from the 14 prototypes were completely differentiated with a combination of three restriction endonucleases, EcoT14I, HaeIII, and HintI. We applied this new method for 127 samples of conjunctival scrapings from patients with conjunctivitis and compared the results with those obtained with the combination of culture isolation and a neutralization test (NT). PCR gave a positive result in 69 of 127 cases (54.3%), while only 61 of the 127 samples (48.0%) tested positive by culture isolation. Compared with isolation, the PCR method had a sensitivity of 100% (61 of 61). Positive PCR samples were further classified as Ad37 (59.5%), -3(31.9%), -11 (4.3%), -8 (2.9%), and -4 (1.4%) by PCR-RFLP analysis. Of eight samples that were PCR positive and culture isolation negative, six were Ad37 and two were Ad8 by PCR-RFLP analysis. These differentiations of isolation-positive samples were identical to the results obtained by the NT. It took only 3 days to detect and identify Ad by PCR-RFLP analysis, whereas it took at least 3 weeks by culture isolation and NT. Our newly developed method of detecting and typing human Ad by PCR-RFLP analysis is more sensitive, accurate, and rapid than the conventional method of culture isolation and an NT.