[Simulation of thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer by three-dimensional computed tomography and usefulness for preservation of bronchial arteries]

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer was simulated preoperatively by 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). The anatomical structures such as major vessels, bone, trachea and bronchi, esophagus, lymph nodes, and broncial arteries were extracted from multi-detector row CT scanning and integrated to build the virtual operative field by multi-volume fusion. The virtual thoracoscopy was helpful to understand the location of lymph nodes and bronchial arteries in relation to the adjacent anatomical structures. Preservation of bronchial arteries is important to avoid tracheobronchial ischemia which is a fatal complication in salvage esophagectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy. 3D-CT revealed anatomical variations of bronchial arteries and was useful for identification and preservation of bronchial arteries in thoracoscopic esophagectomy.

The effects of seasonal and interannual variability of oceanic structure in the western Pacific North Equatorial Current on larval transport of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

As the North Equatorial Current (NEC)-bifurcation is known to be related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, the influence of the position of the NEC bifurcation on transport success of the larval Japanese eel Anguilla japonica was investigated. Using a Lagrangian modelling approach, larval transport was simulated and the relative influence of El Niño and La Niña events and the NEC-bifurcation position on the success of particle transport analysed. The number of particles transported from the NEC to the Kuroshio tended to be lowest during El Niño years, and differences between La Niña and regular years were small. The transport success observed in simulations showed some relationships to annual A. japonica glass eel recruitment to Tanegashima Island over 1993 to 2001, but not in 2002. The study shows that particle tracking simulations can be used to improve knowledge of the oceanic migration of A. japonica but further studies are required, including comparisons with the effects on larval survival of fluctuations in temperature and food availability.

Behavior of solutions of the Hodgkin-Huxley equations and its relation to properties of mechanoreceptors

The membrane current in the Hodgkin-Huxley equations is considered to be a stimulus to the membrane and the responses to the simulus are numerically calculated. Responses of the Hodgkin-Huxley model to an alternating current superimposed upon a constant bias current show qualitative analogy to responses of biological mechanoreceptors. The intensity of the bias current seems to correspond to the degree of adaptation of actual receptors.

[Perioperative management and prevention of complication for salvage esophagectomy after definitive chemoradiotherapy]

Salvage esophagectomy has been increasing as a second-line treatment after failure of definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for esophageal cancer. A number of patients who have received CRT, especially those who have residual tumors and shorter waiting times until operation, have developed malnutrition and problems in their immunologic condition because of decreasing oral intake and bone marrow suppression. Because high-dose radiation causes inflammation, fibrosis and peripheral circulatory disturbance of various tissues in the treatment fields, salvage surgery can be a technically difficult operation. In our previous experience, postoperative complications of salvage esophagectomy are more frequent and more serious than that of planned esophagectomy. For example, we have experienced necrosis of the reconstructed gastric tube, esophago-tracheal fistula, mediastinal abscess, hard-to-treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and so on. In particular, respiratory tract necrosis or perforation is the most critical complication and frequently becomes lethal. Patients who undergo a salvage esophagectomy have a significantly higher risk of pulmonary and cardiac complication, and have high rates of repeated surgery. Rapid diagnosis and appropriate treatment of complications are necessary to reduce postoperative mortality. To improve the overall outcome, it is very important to better understand the condition of patients after CRT, so appropriate surgery can be carefully planned. Furthermore, it is absolutely essential to perform the operation with great care and to meticulously manage the perioperative care for salvage esophagectomy.

A quantitative method for estimating hepatic blood flow using a dual-input single-compartment model

The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of a quantitative method for estimating arterial hepatic blood flow and portal hepatic blood flow separately using a dual-input single-compartment model compared with the maximum slope method using computer simulations and clinical data. In computer simulations, the rate constants for the transfer of contrast agent (CA) from the hepatic artery to the liver (K(1a)), from the portal vein to the liver (K(1p)) and from the liver to the blood (k(2)) were estimated from simulated time-density curves with various transit times of CA from the aorta to the liver (tau(a)) and from the portal vein to the liver (tau(p)) using the linear least-squares (LLSQ) method. In clinical studies, dynamic CT data were acquired from 27 patients, and parametric maps of K(1a), K(1p) and k(2) were generated by applying the LLSQ method pixel by pixel. In simulation studies, tau(a) and tau(p) were found to have a large and a small effect on the estimates of K(1a) and K(1p), respectively. In clinical studies, the K(1a) and K(1p) values estimated with the maximum slope method were underestimated by 60+/-29% and 37+/-12%, respectively, compared with those estimated by the LLSQ method. In conclusion, our results suggest that correction of tau(a) is necessary for accurately estimating K(1a) and K(1p). Our method is therefore promising for the evaluation of hepatic blood flow in various liver diseases because it allows us to evaluate arterial hepatic blood flow and portal hepatic blood flow separately and visually.

Pdx-1-independent differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into insulin-expressing cells

To investigate whether insulin-producing cells obtained from ES cells via the nestin-positive cell-mediated method are of the pancreatic lineage, we established a pdx-1 knockout ES cell line and analyzed its differentiation into insulin-producing cells. As a result, pdx-1 knockout ES cell expressed insulin 2 gene at the final differentiated cells. Thus, our study demonstrated that pdx-1 is not essential for insulin gene expression, at least in cells differentiated from this population of nestin-expression enriched ES cells, and suggested that the insulin-producing cells derived from ES cells may be different from the pancreatic beta cells in terms of their lineage.

Gr-1highPolymorphonuclear Leukocytes and NK Cells Act via IL-15 to Clear IntracellularHaemophilus influenzaein Experimental Murine Peritonitis and Pneumonia

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) can be divided into Gr-1(high) and Gr-1(low) subpopulations, but the differences in the functions of these cells in the host are unknown. This study investigated the roles of these two cell populations in the clearance of an intracellular pathogen (Haemophilus influenzae) causing murine peritonitis and pneumonia. Microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of proteose peptone-elicited peritoneal murine PMNs showed that IL-15 mRNA levels were significantly higher in Gr-1(high) PMNs than in Gr-1(low) PMNs. In addition, IL-15 was produced only by Gr-1-positive PMNs, especially Gr-1(high) PMNs. IL-15 was required for efficient clearance of experimental murine H. influenzae pneumonia, as 4 days postinfection lungs from IL-15 knockout mice contained 50- to 100-fold more bacteria than did wild-type mouse lungs. Gr-1 PMN-depleted C57BL/6 mice were more susceptible to H. influenzae pneumonia than were Gr-1 PMN replete C57BL/6 mice or C57BL/6 nude mice, demonstrating that Gr-1 PMNs are important in the clearance of intracellular bacteria. IL-15-activated NK cells killed H. influenzae in PMNs. Flow cytometry confirmed the expression of CD69 on the cell membrane of IL-15-activated NK cells. Our results show that Gr-1(high) PMNs produce more IL-15 than Gr-1(low) PMNs, and that IL-15-activated NK cells protect against early infection by H. influenzae.

Calcium signalling during mammalian fertilization

The fertilized mammalian egg is a nice model system for analysing spatiotemporal Ca2+ signalling in the intact cell. Hamster eggs show repetitive Ca2+ transients, associated in the initial response with Ca2+ waves which begin from the site of sperm attachment and are propagated across the deep cytoplasm to the opposite pole. In unfertilized eggs, a regenerative Ca2+ wave is induced by injection of either inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) or Ca2+, and Ca2+ oscillations are produced by continuous injection of InsP3. These Ca2+ waves and oscillations in both fertilized and unfertilized eggs are inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by a monoclonal antibody to the type 1 InsP3 receptor. Ryanodine receptors (both skeletal and cardiac types) are not detected by physiological or immunoblot analyses. Positive and negative feedback between cytosolic Ca2+ and Ca2+ release from InsP3-sensitive pools accounts for the spatiotemporal Ca2+ signalling. In addition to intracellular Ca2+ release, Ca2+ entry from outside the egg is necessary to refill the Ca2+ pools and maintain Ca2+ oscillations. Evidence suggests that inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate activates the Ca2+ influx. The signal transduction process leading to the production of InsP3 and the mechanism of egg activation following the Ca2+ response still remain to be elucidated.

An efficient method for calculating kinetic parameters in a dual-input single-compartment model

Quantitative measurement of hepatic perfusion has the potential to provide important information in the assessment and management of various liver diseases. The utility of hepatic perfusion characterization relies on the resolution of each component of its dual blood supply, i.e. the hepatic artery and portal vein. In this study, a linear equation was derived by integrating the differential equation describing the kinetic behaviour of contrast agent (CA) in a dual-input single-compartment model, from which the kinetic parameters can be easily obtained using the linear least-squares method. The usefulness of this method was investigated using computer simulations, in comparison with the non-linear least-squares (NLSQ) method. This method calculated the kinetic parameters faster than the NLSQ method by a factor of approximately 10, with almost the same accuracy as the NLSQ method. This method will be useful for analysing the kinetic behaviour of CA in the unique liver environment, especially by generating the functional images of kinetic parameters.

Acute and subacute toxicity studies of Aegle marmelos Corr., an Indian medicinal plant

This study was designed to elucidate the toxicity of the widely used plant Aegle marmelos in rats. We have taken total alcoholic, total aqueous, whole aqueous and methanolic extracts isolated from the leaves of A. marmelos and studied their toxic effects. Acute, subacute and LD(50) values were determined in experimental rats. The dead animals were obtained from primary screening studies, LD(50) value determination experiments and acute studies subjected to postmortem studies. The external appearance of the dead animals, the appearance of the viscera, heart, lungs, stomach, intestine, liver, kidney, spleen and brain were carefully noted and any apparent and significant features or differences from the norm were recorded. Following the chronic administration of A. marmelos for 14 days, the vital organs such as heart, liver, kidney, testis, spleen and brain were carefully evaluated by histopathological studies and any apparent and significant changes or differences from the norm were studied. From the acute administration of A. marmelos, the LD(50) values were determined using graphical method. The hearts stopped in systolic stand-still in the acute experiments. There were no remarkable changes noticed in the histopathological studies after 50 mg/kg body wt of the extracts of A. marmelos when administered intraperitoneally for 14 days successively. Pathologically, neither gross abnormalities nor histopathological changes were observed. After calculation of LD(50) values using graphical methods, we found a broad therapeutic window and a high therapeutic index value for A. marmelos extracts. Intraperitoneal administration of the extracts of the leaves of A. marmelos at doses of 50, 70, 90 and 100 mg/kg body wt for 14 consecutive days to male and female Wistar rats did not induce any short-term toxicity. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the extracts of the leaves of A. marmelos have a high margin of drug safety.

Orthodontic Buccal Tooth Movement by Nickel-Free Titanium-Based Shape Memory and Superelastic Alloy Wire

Objective: To examine the mechanical properties and the usefulness of titanium-niobium-aluminum (Ti-Nb-Al) wire in orthodontic tooth movement as compared with nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) wire.

Materials and Methods: The load deflection of expansion springs was gauged with an original jig. The gradient of the superelastic region was measured during the unloading process. Expansion springs comprising the two types of alloy wires were applied to upper first molars of rats. The distance between the first molars was measured with micrometer calipers.

Results: The force magnitude of the Ti-Nb-Al expansion spring was lower than that of the Ni-Ti expansion spring over the entire deflection range. The initial force magnitude and the gradient in the superelastic region of the Ti-Nb-Al expansion springs were half those of the Ni-Ti expansion springs. Thus, Ti-Nb-Al expansion springs generated lighter and more continuous force. Tooth movement in the Ni-Ti group proceeded in a stepwise fashion. On the other hand, tooth movement in the Ti-Nb-Al group showed relatively smooth and continuous progression. At 17 days after insertion of expansion springs, there were no significant differences between the Ti-Nb-Al and Ni-Ti groups in the amount of tooth movement.

Conclusions: These results indicate that Ti-Nb-Al wire has excellent mechanical properties for smooth, continuous tooth movement and suggest that Ti-Nb-Al wire may be used as a practical nickel-free shape memory and superelastic alloy wire for orthodontic treatment as a substitute for Ni-Ti wire.

Immunochemical quantification of free immunoglobulin light chains from an analytical perspective

Immunoglobulin light chains are components of antibodies, but some exist in a free form in serum and urine as a result of their excess production over heavy chains. Free light chain (FLC) levels are of the order of milligram per liter in normal serum and urine, but marked increases have been observed in various disease conditions. It has now been established that the measurement of FLC levels contributes to diagnosis and clinical management in monoclonal gammopathies. Recent developments in FLC assays have been adapted to several automated platforms and they have now become available in laboratories. There have, however, been some concerns regarding the analytical aspects. The current assay specificity appears to be insufficient to prevent the influence of intact light chains of several orders of magnitude greater than FLCs in serum. Moreover, the heterogeneous nature of light chains makes accurate quantification unreliable. FLC assays have never been standardized because of the lack of an international reference calibrator. In this review, we summarize the reports on FLC measurements and examine the specificity of anti-FLC antibodies and the reliability of FLC assays. We also discuss difficulties in the standardization and setting of normal reference intervals for FLC assays.

Proposed Reference Material for Human Free Immunoglobulin Light Chain Measurement

Human free immunoglobulin light chain (FLC) kappa and lambda are useful clinical markers for light chain myeloma and AL amyloidosis. With the recent development of specific and reliable FLC immunoassays, the quantitative measurement of FLCs will be widely used in clinical practice. However, researchers have used various calibrators, mainly monoclonal FLCs; thus, no standardization has been performed among the assay methods. This prompted us to purify intact FLCs from the pooled urine specimens of healthy volunteers as the first reference materials for FLC assays. After precipitation with ammonium sulfate, FLCs were purified by the following steps of chromatography; cation exchange, gel filtration, and antibody-assisted immunoaffinity. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analyses showed that the purity of FLC kappa and FLC lambda was more than 98%. These purified FLCs did not contain the other immunological types of light chains. These intact and purified FLCs are suitable as the first reference materials to standardize FLC assays.

Strategy for localized stenosis caused by Kawasaki disease: midterm results of percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty in two infants

We report the midterm results of percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty (PCBA) for localized stenosis (LS) caused by Kawasaki disease (KD). Two 2-year-olds, a girl and a boy, underwent PCBA for severe LS of the left anterior descending artery caused by KD. After 4 years, there was no ischemia and no significant restenosis in the target vessels. PCBA provided a good result for early appearing LS caused by KD in two small infants. The 5-years-old boy was the youngest patient to undergo percutaneous transluminal coronary rotablator. Although the postprocedure result was very effective, 1 year later asymptomatic occlusion occurred.

N2-carboxyethyl-2′-deoxyguanosine, a DNA glycation marker, in kidneys and aortas of diabetic and uremic patients

Advanced glycation end product (AGE)-mediated modification of proteins is enhanced both in the kidneys and aortas of diabetic and uremic patients. However, AGE modification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has not yet been reported in these patients. We performed immunohistochemistry of kidneys and aortas using a monoclonal antibody against N(2)-carboxyethyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (CEdG), a marker of AGE-linked DNA. A total of 20 kidneys and 20 aortas were obtained by autopsy. The kidney samples consisted of two groups: nondiabetic nonkidney disease (control) and diabetic nephropathy. The aorta samples consisted of four groups: nondiabetic nonkidney disease (control), diabetes, hemodialysis, and diabetic hemodialysis. In the kidneys CEdG was detected predominantly in the nuclei of epithelial cells, mesangial cells, and endothelial cells of the glomeruli, parietal epithelial cells, and tubular cells. The number of CEdG-positive cells in the glomeruli was significantly increased in diabetic nephropathy compared with control. In the aortic walls, CEdG was detected predominantly in the nuclei of macrophages and myofibroblasts. The number of CEdG-positive cells in the aorta was significantly increased in hemodialysis patients and diabetic hemodialysis patients compared with control. The highest number of CEdG-positive cells in the aorta was observed in diabetic hemodialysis patients. In conclusion, AGE-mediated modification of DNA is enhanced in the kidney of diabetic nephropathy and the aorta of uremic atherosclerosis, and may induce a loss of genetic integrity in these diseases.

The wide distribution of endornaviruses, large double-stranded RNA replicons with plasmid-like properties

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) recently accepted Endornavirus as a new genus of plant dsRNA virus. We have determined the partial nucleotide sequences of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase regions from the large dsRNAs (about 14 kbp) isolated from barley (Hordeum vulgare), kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), melon (Cucumis melo), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), Malabar spinach (Basella alba), seagrass (Zostera marina), and the fungus Helicobasidium mompa. Phylogenetic analyses of these seven dsRNAs indicate that these dsRNAs are new members of the genus Endornavirus that are widely distributed over the plant and fungal kingdoms.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy for initially resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus with multiple lymph node metastasis

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) was expected to improve surgical curability and prognosis for advanced esophageal cancer. However, the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant CRT followed by esophagectomy with three-field lymphadenectomy (3FL) for initially resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear. Since 1998, we have defined the status of metastases to five or more nodes, or nodal metastases present in all three fields as multiple lymph node metastasis, which was previously shown to be associated with poor prognosis. Between 1998 and 2002, 83 patients with initially resectable esophageal SCC were prospectively allocated into two groups, according to the clinical status of nodal metastasis. Nineteen patients clinically accompanied by multiple lymph node metastasis initially underwent neoadjuvant CRT followed by curative esophagectomy with 3FL (CRT group). The other 64 patients clinically without multiple lymph node metastasis immediately received curative esophagectomy with 3FL (control group). Although the overall morbidity rate was significantly higher in the CRT group, no in-hospital death occurred in either group. Patients without pathologic multiple lymph node metastasis in the CRT group showed a significantly better disease-free survival rate than either patients pathologically with multiple lymph node metastasis in the control group or those in the CRT group. However, the differences in the overall survival rate among the groups were not significant. Thus, the significant survival benefit by neoadjuvant CRT in addition to esophagectomy with 3FL was not confirmed, although it may have been advantageous, without increase in mortality, to at least some patients who responded well to neoadjuvant CRT. Therefore, neoadjuvant CRT can be an initial treatment of choice for resectable esophageal SCC clinically with multiple lymph node metastasis. The prediction of response to CRT and the development of alternative treatment for hematogenous recurrence could achieve a further survival benefit of this trimodality treatment.

Clinical characteristics and the prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma - a report from the Study Group for Pediatric Solid Malignant Tumors in the Kyushu Area, Japan

AIM

There have been no nationwide group studies for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma in Japan. This study aims to assess the actual state of treatments and their outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1982 to 1996, 79 rhabdomyosarcomas were registered by the Study Group for Pediatric Solid Malignant Tumors in the Kyushu Area. The prognostic factors and treatments were assessed based on the 5-year survival rate. The staging was done according to the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) Clinical Grouping Classification.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival rate for all patients was 39.1 %. The survival rates for each factor were as follows, according to 1) group; 77.8 % for Group I, 51.9 % for Group II, 33.7 % for Group III, and 20.2 % for Group IV; 2) primary site: 56.3 % for the head and neck, 43.8 % for the parameningeal region, 12.5 % for the extremity, 58.3 % for the genitourinary region, and 30.5 % for the others; 3) histology: 35.8 % for the embryonal type, 36.8 % for the alveolar type.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, the outcome of this study was poor. To improve outcomes, a new nationwide group study for rhabdomyosarcoma, which we belong to, has just started in Japan.

Development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for human cardiac myosin light chain I

We have developed a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of cardiac myosin light chain I (MLI) in human serum. The detection range of ELISA was between 1 and 50 ng/ml, and serial dilutions of human serum showed good linearity. The recovery of different concentrations of cardiac MLI ranged from 87.5% to 100.0%. The intra-assay (n=5) and inter-assay (n=5) showed good results (C.V.<10%). The cross-reactivity with skeletal-myosin light chain (ML) was rather high, but was negligible with other myosin light chains. The concentrations of cardiac MLI in human serum determined by ELISA were similar to those determined by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). The total assay time and sample volume required for ELISA were approx. 2 h and 25 microl, respectively, while those for IRMA are approx. 24 h and 100 microl. Our novel ELISA method therefore has significant advantages for clinical analysis.

Legionella pneumophila evades gamma interferon-mediated growth suppression through interleukin-10 induction in bone marrow-derived macrophages

We examined the roles of Th1-Th2 cytokine cross talk in Legionella pneumophila-infected bone marrow-derived (BM) macrophages in the presence of costimulation with interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18. Treatment with gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) alone or treatment with IL-12 in combination with IL-18 resulted in a 3- or 2-log reduction in bacterial numbers, respectively, in BM macrophages, whereas treatment with IL-12 or IL-18 alone had no effect. Significant amounts of IFN-gamma were detected in the culture supernatants of infected macrophages stimulated with IL-12 and IL-18 in combination but not independently. Neutralization of IFN-gamma by antibody completely abolished the growth inhibitory effects of IL-12 and IL-18. Interestingly, higher infectivity ratios of L. pneumophila or the addition of increasing concentrations of heat-killed bacteria (HKB) suppressed the production of IFN-gamma, which resulted in the increased intracellular growth of bacteria. Significant amounts of IL-10 were detected in culture supernatants when Legionella-infected macrophages were cocultured with HKB. Furthermore, neutralization of IL-10 by antibody resulted in an increase in IFN-gamma production by infected BM macrophages when cocultured with HKB. Treatment of HKB with trypsin but not polymyxin B attenuated the growth-promoting effects of HKB, suggesting the involvement of a protein component(s) in regulation of the growth of L. pneumophila. These findings demonstrate a crucial role of Th1-Th2 cross talk in L. pneumophila-infected BM macrophages. Our results also suggest that L. pneumophila modulates the cytokine balance from IFN-gamma-driven Th1 to more Th2 responses, likely through the induction of IL-10 by a bacterial protein component(s). These data provide new insights not only into the cellular mechanisms of Th1-Th2 cross talk in Legionella-infected macrophages but also into the pathogenesis of L. pneumophila pneumonia in humans.

New biodefense strategies by neutrophils

Chemokines and other chemotactic factors induce neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells to migrate to an inflammatory site and efficiently ingest and destroy infective microorganisms. Moreover, antigen-presenting cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells, present the microbial antigens via major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, resulting in the activation of specific CD4 T cells. Since neutrophils have a short life-span and are highly susceptible to apoptosis, their role in antigen presentation has been questioned. However, various pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon gamma, produced at the site of inflammation activate neutrophils and suppress apoptotic death. These cytokine-activated neutrophils show enhanced expression of cell surface molecules and become as competent as dendritic cells and macrophages in their ability of antigen presentation. Traditionally, neutrophils are known to be responsible for innate immunity, and recently they are also considered to be intimately associated with the establishment of acquired immunity. In the present review on the role of neutrophils we describe both classic innate and acquired immunity.

High-energy proton generation and suppression of transverse proton divergence by localized electrons in a laser-foil interaction

A suppression of a transverse divergence of high-energy protons generated by an interaction of a laser with a thin slab foil is investigated in this paper by 2.5-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. When an intense (approximately 10(24) W/m(2)) short-pulse (a few ten femtoseconds) laser illuminates a thin foil target of a hydrogen, foil electrons are accelerated and compressed longitudinally by a laser light pressure and fast electron bunches are produced in the thin foil target. The fast electron bunches pass through the foil target, and a strong magnetic field is produced near the opposite side of the foil target. Because the strong magnetic field confines the electrons, a localization of the electrons is observed at the opposite side of a laser illumination surface. The local electron bunch produces not only a longitudinal electric field, but also a transverse electric field, which is directed toward the laser axis. Protons are accelerated and extracted from the foil, and the proton bunch divergence is successfully suppressed by the transverse electric field.

Interleukin-1-deficient mice exhibit high sensitivity to gut-derived sepsis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

BACKGROUND

The role of interleukin (IL)-1 in infectious diseases is controversial; some investigators indicated an enhancing effect of IL-1 on host resistance whereas others demonstrated the protective role of IL-1 receptor antagonist in infection. We evaluated the role of endogenous IL-1 in gut-derived sepsis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by comparing IL-1-deficient mice and wild-type (WT) mice.

METHODS

Gut-derived sepsis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide after colonization of P. aeruginosa strain D4 in the intestine.

RESULTS

The survival rate of IL-1-deficient mice was significantly lower than that of WT mice (P<0.01). Bacterial counts in the liver, mesenteric lymph node and blood were significantly higher in IL-1-deficient mice than in WT mice. Tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-6 in the liver were significantly higher in IL-1-deficient mice than in WT mice. In vitro, phagocytosis and cytokine production by macrophages were impaired in IL-1-deficient mice compared with WT mice.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate a critical role for IL-1 during gut-derived P. aeruginosa sepsis. The results also suggest that both impairment of cytokine production and phagocytosis by macrophages are caused by IL-1 deficiency and lead to impaired host response.

Changes in receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB, and its ligand, osteoprotegerin, bone-type alkaline phosphatase, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in ovariectomized rats

We investigated time-course changes in the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB (RANK), its ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), bone-type alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Samples of sera and coccyges were used for analysis of the enzyme activities and expression levels of proteins and mRNAs, and an immunohistochemical analysis was also performed. Serum BAP activity increased to 158.6% of the pre-operation value at 1 week after OVX, and then decreased to 38.7% at 8 weeks after OVX. On the other hand, the serum TRAP activity increased to 130.9% of the pre-operation level at 1 week after OVX, and was maintained at a high level, compared with the pre-operation level. The patterns of BAP and TRAP activity in the coccyges specimens were similar to those seen in the sera. The expression profiles of TRAP, RANK, and RANKL proteins in the coccyx specimens were similar to the pattern of serum TRAP activity, while the profiles of the BAP and OPG proteins were similar to the pattern of serum BAP activity in OVX rats. The changes in the mRNA expression levels of the osteogenic proteins were similar to those for protein expression. These biochemical changes in OVX rats were confirmed by immunohistochemical studies. Our results suggest that not only osteoclastogenesis accelerated but also osteoblastogenesis transiently increased during the early phase of osteoporosis.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, -dibenzofurans, and biphenyls in domestic animal food stuff and their fat

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDFs) and dioxin-like coplanar PCBs and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) were measured in domestic animal related samples such as feed ingredient, mixed feed and animal fat from Japan. The mean concentration of total PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs in fish oil was 17000pg g-1 lipid wt, which 9- to 30-fold greater than that from other animal originated ingredients. Mixed feed for chicken and chicken fat contained greater total PCDDs, PCDFs, coplanar PCBs concentrations (190 and 2100pg g-1 lipid wt) compared to those for pig (120 and 320pg g-1 lipid wt). WHO-TEQs were ranged 0.39-13, 0.15-0.22 and 0.73-2.8pg g-1 lipid wt for ingredients, mixed feeds and animal fats, respectively. Greater biomagnification factor was noticed for congeners 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF and 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF in chicken and pig fat. Biomagnification factors for both mono- and non-ortho coplanar PCBs were greater in chicken fat compared to those in pig fat.

Intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide induces dynamic migration of Gr-1high polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the murine abdominal cavity

Intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 microg) in mice resulted in the disappearance of almost all proteose peptone-induced polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) with high-level fluorescence for the cell surface marker Gr-1 (Gr-1(high)) at 15 min postinjection, followed by doubling of their proportion at 30 min postinjection. High staining levels of 3'-acetyl-2'-carboxyl-6',7'-(dihyropyran-2'-one)-5 or 6-carboxyfluorescein diacethoxylmethyl ester-labeled PMNs injected into the peritoneal cavity were detected in mesenteric lymph nodes 15 min postinjection of LPS. Therefore, the time of decrease of Gr-1(high) PMNs coincided with that of the increase in cell accumulation in mesenteric lymph nodes. Since milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8), which is secreted by macrophages, bound many PMNs exhibiting Gr-1(high) and Gr-1(medium) at 30 min postinjection of LPS, the staining level of annexin V on those cells was very low because its binding site is the same as the receptor for MFG-E8. At 60 min postinjection of LPS, the proportion of Gr-1(high) PMNs decreased, and almost all Gr-1(medium) PMNs tended to shift to the right compared with those at 30 min postinjection. The geomeans of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression on PMNs at 15, 30, and 60 min postinjection of LPS were 63, 66, and 24%, respectively, compared with that on normal PMNs, indicating that the expression of TLR4 decreases in response to exposure to LPS. Our results suggest that LPS induced PMN death and that many PMNs expressing Gr-1(high) undergo apoptosis 180 min postinjection of LPS.

COAL SEAM GAS EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES IN AUSTRALIA: A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

A total of 2,223 PJ of proved plus probable gas reserves has been identified in coal seam gas fields and pilot production areas in Australia. The production of coal seam gas is rapidly growing, reaching about 40 PJ per year in 2003. A total of more than 108 PJ will be supplied annually by the end of 2007 under existing contracts, representing about 9% of Australia’s projected total primary consumption of natural gas. About two thirds of Queensland’s natural gas consumption will be met by coal seam gas by the end of 2007. Further expansion of the coal seam gas industry depends largely on the medium-term production performance of the pioneering production projects now in operation.The long-term production performance of a coal seam gas well is not well understood. Analogues of conventional natural gas have often been applied to the estimation process of coal seam gas reserves without proper consideration of the fundamental differences in trapping mechanisms and production techniques. Definitions of petroleum reserves recommended by various organisations are not always applicable to coal seam gas, and the inconsistent application of reserves definitions may have resulted in inconsistencies in reserves reporting in Australia.

Compensatory response of IL-1 gene knockout mice after pulmonary infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae

This study was designed to determine the role of interleukin (IL)-1 in the inflammatory response against experimentally induced pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. The host immune responses of IL-1 gene knockout (IL-1 KO) mice and immunocompetent wild-type (WT) mice were compared after pulmonary infection with K. pneumoniae. There were no significant differences between the survival rates and viable bacterial counts in lungs and blood of IL-1 KO and WT mice after pulmonary infections under different conditions. Histopathological analysis showed a similar inflammatory response in both groups of mice. However, in the early stage of infection, the level of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in homogenized lungs of IL-1 KO mice was significantly higher than in WT mice. To determine the role of endogenous TNF-alpha in the recovery of the defence mechanism in IL-1 KO mice, mice were treated with an anti-TNF-alpha mAb before infection with K. pneumoniae. The results revealed a significantly lower survival rate of anti-TNF-alpha mAb-treated IL-1 KO mice than BSA-treated IL-1 KO mice. The data suggest that compensatory production of TNF-alpha in IL-1 KO mice contributes to the host defence against K. pneumoniae infection.

Mechanisms of the contractile effect of the alcoholic extract of Aegle marmelos Corr. on isolated guinea pig ileum and tracheal chain

In the present work, the effect of the alcoholic extract of the leaves of Aegle marmelos Corr. on guinea pig isolated ileum and tracheal chain was investigated, as this plant is used traditionally to treat asthma and related afflictions. These effects were investigated using the isolated organ bath method. 1 mg/ml and 2mg/ml doses of the alcoholic extract of this plant produced a positive relaxant effect in isolated guinea pig ileum and tracheal chain, respectively. In addition, they antagonized the contractions, which are produced by histamine. Because the alcoholic extracts elicited the antagonistic effect against histamine and also relaxed the histamine-induced contractions, it can be concluded that relaxations induced by A. marmelos in both guinea pig ileum and tracheal chain were due to the depression of H1-receptors. Since we observed a complete relaxation of the guinea pig ileum and tracheal chain produced by the extract, we investigated its antagonistic effect against histamine. These results were due to the presence of one or more anti-histaminic constituents present in the alcoholic extract of this plant, therefore supporting to the traditional use of A. marmelos in asthmatic complaints.