Cancer incidence in children and young adults did not increase relative to parental exposure to atomic bombs

We have examined whether parental exposure to atomic bomb radiation has led to increased cancer risks among the offspring. We studied 40 487 subjects born from May 1946 through December 1984 who were cancer-free in January 1958. One or both parents were in Hiroshima or Nagasaki at the time of the bombing and for childbirth. Using population-based tumor registry data we analyzed cancer incidence data from 1958 to 1997 by Cox regression models, and we examined the effects of both paternal and maternal irradiation with adjustment for city, sex, birth year, and migration. During follow-up, 575 solid tumor cases and 68 hematopoietic tumor cases were diagnosed. Median age at diagnosis was 39.7 years. Median doses were 143 millisierverts for 15 992 exposed (5+ millisierverts or unknown dose) fathers and 133 millisierverts for 10 066 exposed mothers. Cancer incidence was no higher for subjects with exposed parents than for the reference subjects (0–4 millisierverts), nor did the incidence rates increase with increasing dose. For 3568 subjects with two exposed parents, the adjusted risk ratio for all cancer was 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.70–1.36). Because of the small number of cases, however, we cannot exclude an increase in cancer incidence at this time.

Chemical composition and antifungal properties of essential oils of three Pistacia species

The chemical composition of essential oils obtained from the leaves of Pistacia vera, Pistacia terebinthus, Pistacia lentiscus and the resin of Pistacia lentiscus were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. alpha-Pinene, beta-pinene, limonene, terpinen-4-ol and alpha-terpineol were found to be the major components. The antifungal activities of the above oils and P. lentiscus resin (total, acidic and neutral fractions) against the growth of three agricultural pathogens, Pythium ultimum, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium sambucinum were evaluated. Some doses of P. terebinthus, P. vera and P. lentiscus leaf oils and total and neutral fraction of P. lentiscus resin significantly inhibited the growth of R. solani. However, all samples did not show antifungal activity against P. ultimum and F. sambucinum, but increased the growth of F. sambucinum.

Pupal commitment and its hormonal control in wing imaginal discs

The timing of pupal commitment of the forewing imaginal discs of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was determined by a transplantation assay using fourth instar larvae. The wing discs were not pupally committed at the time of ecdysis to the fifth instar. Pupal commitment began shortly after the ecdysis and was completed in 14 h. When the discs of newly molted larvae (0-h discs) were cultured in medium containing no hormone, they were pupally committed in 26 h. In vitro exposure of 0-h discs to 20-hydroxyecdysone accelerated the progression of pupal commitment. Methoprene, a juvenile hormone analog (JHA), did not suppress the change in commitment in vitro at physiological concentrations. Thus the wing discs at the time of the molt have lost their sensitivity to JH, and 20E is not a prerequisite for completion of pupal commitment. These results suggest that the change in commitment in the forewing discs may begin before the last larval molt.

Localization in situ of specific RNA by electron microscopy

To better understand the metabolism of RNA in nuclei, the analysis of precise nuclear distribution of specific RNA would be essential. For this purpose, nonradioactive electron microscopic (EM) in situ hybridization may be the most appropriate technique while the details required for the technique have not been fully established. In the present study, we attempted to localize 28S and 18S rRNAs in the nuclei of mouse Sertoli cells by EM in situ hybridization as a model system. After various preliminary experiments we chose the pre-embedding method; fresh-frozen sections of mouse testis were fixed with a mixture of 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.1% glutaraldehyde, digested with 10 microg/ml of proteinase K and hybridized with thymine-thymine (T-T) dimerized oligodeoxynucleotides (oligo-DNA) complementary to a part of 28S and 18S rRNAs. Then, the T-T dimers were detected enzyme-immunohistochemically with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeled anti-T-T dimer. After osmification of HRP products, the sections were embedded in Epon resin, cut into 100 nm ultra-thin sections and observed under a transmission electron microscope. As a result, we successfully localized both 28S and 18S rRNAs in the dense fibrillar and granular components of the nucleolus, showing the usefulness of nonradioactive EM in situ hybridization in the nuclear localization of specific RNA.

Chlamydia pneumoniae infects and multiplies in lymphocytes in vitro

The obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae is known to be associated with some chronic inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Interaction between C. pneumoniae and immune cells is important in the development of such diseases. However, susceptibility of immune cells, particularly lymphocytes, to C. pneumoniae infection has not been reported, even though lymphocytes play a pivotal role in the development of the diseases caused by this bacterium. In this regard, we examined the susceptibility of lymphocytes to C. pneumoniae infection in vitro. The results demonstrated that human peripheral blood lymphocytes as well as mouse spleen lymphocytes could be infected with C. pneumoniae. Furthermore, purified T lymphocytes as well as established T-lymphocyte cell line cells showed an obvious susceptibility to C. pneumoniae infection, indicating that T cells could be one of the host cells for this bacterial infection. These findings reveal a new infection site for C. pneumoniae, i.e., lymphocytes.

Doxorubicin-induced DNA intercalation and scavenging by nuclear glutathione S-transferase pi

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) functions in xenobiotic biotransformation and drug metabolism. Increased expression of GSTpi, an isozyme of GST, has been found in cancer cells resistant to doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP), and this increase was believed to be correlated with drug resistance of cancer cells. GST is mainly expressed in the cytoplasm; GSTpi in the nucleus has been reported in cancer cells, but the meaning of this result is not known. Here, we studied changes in the amount of nuclear GSTpi after exposure of cancer cells to anticancer drugs, and role of the nuclear GSTpi in drug resistance. We found nuclear GSTpi in cancer cells resistant to DOX, and the amount of nuclear GSTpi was enhanced by treatment of the cancer cells with DOX or CDDP. We also found that a mushroom lectin, an inhibitor of nuclear transport, inhibited the nuclear transfer of GSTpi, suggesting the existence of a specific transport system for the nuclear transfer of GSTpi. Nuclear GSTpi protected DNA against damage by anticancer drugs. These results suggest a possible role of GSTpi in the acquisition of resistance to anticancer drugs by cancer cells.

Increased natural killer-cell activity is associated with infertile women

PROBLEM

An increase in natural killer (NK)-cell activity has been observed in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages. Because of the many similarities between infertility and early pregnancy loss patients, we investigated whether infertile women had raised NK-cell activity.

METHOD OF STUDY

We tested 94 infertile women who, in spite of treatment, were unable to conceive for 6 or more months. NK-cell activity was measured by using a chromium-51 release cytotoxicity assay. with K562 human myeloid leukemia cells as targets.

RESULTS

NK-cell activity of the infertile group (mean +/- SD; 40.2%+/-14.7) was significantly higher than the control group (31.5%+/-11.9, P < 0.0001). The increased NK-cell activity was not associated with age, infertile duration, depression scores, treated hyperprolactinemia, or treated endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In certain patients, elevated NK-cell activity may be considered an independent risk factor for infertility.

Different antiphospholipid antibody specificities are found in association with early repeated pregnancy loss versus recurrent IVF-failure patients

PROBLEM

Patients having in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) failures show an increased incidence of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies; but controversy exists whether aPL can induce IVF-failure. This study was designed to compare aPL specificities between recurrent IVF-failure patients versus repeated early pregnancy loss (RPL) patients.

METHOD OF STUDY

Anticardiolipin (aCL), lupus anticoagulant (LA), antiphosphatidylserine (aPS), antiphosphatidylethanolamine (aPE), and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were measured in 74 recurrent IVF-ET failure patients and compared with 273 early RPL patients ( < 10 weeks).

RESULTS

An increased incidence of IgG-aPE and ANA was observed for both groups in comparison with controls. Patients with recurrent IVF-ET failure showed a significantly higher prevalence of IgG-aPS (P = 0.02) and IgG-aCL (P = 0.02) when compared with early RPL patients or controls.

CONCLUSIONS

IgG-aPS and IgG-aCL may be responsible for some IVF-failures. Additional studies are needed to clarify the pathogenic role of IgG-aPS and IgG-aCL on IVF-ET failure.

[A case of multiple emphysematous bullae treated with living-donor lung transplantation from identical twin brothers]

A 30-year-old man with multiple emphysematous bullae and bronchiectasis was admitted to Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital because of exertional dyspnea and fever. His chest radiograph and CT scan revealed multiple large bullae in the right lung and infiltrative shadows in the left middle lung field. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from his sputum culture. Although standard therapies including various antibiotics were administered, his respiratory condition was exacerbated, accompanied with the enlargement of bullae in the right lung and the consequent shift of the mediastinum to the left. The patient and his family proposed lung transplantation, and we concluded that lung transplantation would be an appropriate treatment for his disease. We transported the patient to Osaka University Hospital. Living-donor lung transplantation from the patient's identical twin brothers was successfully performed.

Anti-annexin V antibodies in patients with early pregnancy loss or implantation failures

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of annexin V antibodies (aANX) in women with early recurrent pregnancy losses (RPLs) or recurrent IVF-ET failure.

DESIGN

Retrospective data analysis.

SETTING

Tokai University Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan.

PATIENT(S)

Two hundred thirty-eight patients with RPLs, 48 patients with recurrent IVF-ET failure and 179 nonpregnant and 120 pregnant control group women.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

ELISA was used to measure autoantibodies to annexin V.

RESULT(S)

An ELISA system developed for aANX revealed a dose-dependent relationship between annexin V and aANX. The positive/negative cutoff was set at 7 multiples of the median based on the 99th percentile of normal nonpregnant control group patients. Patients with RPLs (5.5%) or recurrent IVF-ET failure (8.3%) had a significantly increased incidence of aANX (IgG) compared with normal nonpregnant (1.1%) or pregnant control group women (0), whereas the prevalence of aANX between both patient groups or between both control groups was not statistically different. Specificity was confirmed by absorption studies using annexin V and by immunoblots.

CONCLUSION(S)

Our data show that aANX are associated with both RPLs and IVF-ET failure. We propose that anti-annexin V antibodies should be considered a risk factor for these reproductive failures.

Chemokine receptor expression profile of eosinophils at inflamed tissue sites: Decreased CCR3 and increased CXCR4 expression by lung eosinophils

BACKGROUND

To date, most studies dealing with eosinophil chemokine receptors have used eosinophils isolated from peripheral blood. During the movement of eosinophils from the peripheral blood to inflamed tissue sites, microenvironmental signals might alter their expression of chemokine receptors. However, little is known about the profile of expression of chemokine receptors by eosinophils at inflamed tissue sites in human beings.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether eosinophils that have migrated into inflamed tissues exhibit a profile of chemokine receptor expression that is qualitatively and/or quantitatively different from that of eosinophils in peripheral locations.

METHODS

We studied simultaneously the expression and function of chemokine receptors in eosinophils in both bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood specimens of 7 patients with eosinophilic lung diseases.

RESULTS

De novo expression of CCR2, CCR4, and CCR5 was not detected at either the protein or the mRNA level. However, surface expression of CCR3 was decreased and CXCR4 was conversely increased with statistical significance in BALF eosinophils. Moreover, the changes in CCR3 and CXCR4 expression were reflected in the altered migratory response to their ligands. On the other hand, the levels of CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR3, and CCR1 were virtually unchanged in BALF eosinophils, and these receptors did not have functional significance.

CONCLUSION

Eosinophils at inflamed tissue sites exhibited an expression profile qualitatively similar to that in peripheral locations, except for decreased CCR3 and increased CXCR4 expression. Our results suggest that CCR3 is primarily and CXCR4 is cooperatively involved in eosinophil accumulation at inflamed tissue sites.

[Prognostic factors of eating function in tube-fed infants and young children]

To investigate prognostic factors for eating function of dysphagic infants and young children and to propose a guideline for more reasonable future treatment, we retrospectively evaluated clinical findings at the initial examination of 51 tube-fed infants and young children who visited our center, and correlated them to the grade of improvement of their eating function after treatment. The patients were divided into good and poor groups according to the abilities of swallowing, and a multiple survival time analysis was performed in the former. The rate of successful tube-extraction during treatment was adopted as indices of improvement. We found that in the poor group the following factors are significantly associated with higher rate of tube-extraction: shorter period of dysphagia prior to the treatment, younger age to start treatment for eating, onset of feeding impairment after 8 months old, and the grade of the severity scores up to 2. In the good group, the children who received treatment by 36 months old had a high rate of tube-extraction. Based on these findings, we proposed a guideline for future treatment.

Serial assessment of left and right ventricular filling in patients with congestive heart failure

Serial changes in the diastolic filling of both ventricles were studied using Doppler echocardiography in 19 patients with congestive heart failure from the acute to the convalescent stage. During the acute stage, left ventricular early filling velocity (E) was high (88 +/- 17 cm/s) and atrial filling velocity (A) was low (44 +/- 23 cm/s), whereas the right ventricular E was depressed (17 +/- 8 cm/s) and A was enhanced (40 +/- 9 cm/s). As the condition improved, left ventricular E decreased (43 +/- 11 cm/s, p < 0.01) and A increased (59 +/- 24 cm/s, p < 0.01) along with a decrease in the left ventricular and atrial dimensions. In contrast to the changes in left ventricular filling, right ventricular E increased (31 +/- 10 cm/s, p < 0.01) and A decreased (32 +/- 5 cm/s, p < 0.05). There are opposite directional changes in left and right ventricular filling with clinical improvement from the acute to the convalescent stage of congestive heart failure, which suggest that the changes are related to improvement of the hemodynamic conditions of both ventricles. The changes in the right ventricular filling pattern was likely to be related to changes in right ventricular afterload, ventricular interaction and external constraint rather than a change in right ventricular filling pressure.

Regulation of dally, an integral membrane proteoglycan, and its function during adult sensory organ formation of Drosophila

In Drosophila, imaginal wing discs, Wg and Dpp, play important roles in the development of sensory organs. These secreted growth factors govern the positions of sensory bristles by regulating the expression of achaete-scute (ac-sc), genes affecting neuronal precursor cell identity. Earlier studies have shown that Dally, an integral membrane, heparan sulfate-modified proteoglycan, affects both Wg and Dpp signaling in a tissue-specific manner. Here, we show that dally is required for the development of specific chemosensory and mechanosensory organs in the wing and notum. dally enhancer trap is expressed at the anteroposterior and dorsoventral boundaries of the wing pouch, under the control of hh and wg, respectively. dally affects the specification of proneural clusters for dally-sensitive bristles and shows genetic interactions with either wg or dpp signaling components for distinct sensory bristles. These findings suggest that dally can differentially regulate Wg- or Dpp-directed patterning during sensory organ assembly. We have also determined that, for pSA, a bristle on the lateral notum, dally shows genetic interactions with iroquois complex (IRO-C), a gene complex affecting ac-sc expression. Consistent with this interaction, dally mutants show markedly reduced expression of an iro::lacZ reporter. These findings establish dally as an important regulator of sensory organ formation via Wg- and Dpp-mediated specification of proneural clusters.

Differences between conduction aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia

Conduction aphasia and Wernike's aphasia have been differentiated by the degree of auditory language comprehension. We quantitatively compared the speech sound errors of two conduction aphasia patients and three Wernicke's aphasia patients on various language modality tests. All of the patients were Japanese. The two conduction aphasia patients had "conduites d'approche" errors and phonological paraphasia. The patient with mild Wernicke's aphasia made various errors. In the patient with severe Wernicke's aphasia, neologism was observed. Phonological paraphasia in the two conduction aphasia patients seemed to occur when the examinee searched for the target word. They made more errors in vowels than in consonants of target words on the naming and repetition tests. They seemed to search the target word by the correct consonant phoneme and incorrect vocalic phoneme in the table of the Japanese alphabet. The Wernicke's aphasia patients who had severe impairment of auditory comprehension, made more errors in consonants than in vowels of target words. In conclusion, utterance of conduction aphasia and that of Wernicke's aphasia are qualitatively distinct.

An eudesmanolide and a carotane from Ferula sinaica

Re-examination of the chemical constituents of the leaves of Ferula sinaica afforded a new eudesmanolide and a new carotane. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

Drosophila heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase (dHS6ST) gene. Structure, expression, and function in the formation of the tracheal system

Heparan sulfate, one of the most abundant components of the cell surface and the extracellular matrix, is involved in a variety of biological processes such as growth factor signaling, cell adhesion, and enzymatic catalysis. The heparan sulfate chains have markedly heterogeneous structures in which distinct sequences of sulfate groups determine specific binding properties. Sulfation at each different position of heparan sulfate is catalyzed by distinct enzymes, sulfotransferases. In this study, we identified and characterized Drosophila heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase (dHS6ST). The deduced primary structure of dHS6ST exhibited several common features found in those of mammalian HS6STs. We confirmed that, when the protein encoded by the cDNA was expressed in COS-7 cells, it showed HS6ST activity. Whole mount in situ hybridization revealed highly specific expression of dHS6ST mRNA in embryonic tracheal cells. The spatial and temporal pattern of dHS6ST expression in these cells clearly resembles that of the Drosophila fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor, breathless (btl). RNA interference experiments demonstrated that reduced dHS6ST activity caused embryonic lethality and disruption of the primary branching of the tracheal system. These phenotypes were reminiscent of the defects observed in mutants of FGF signaling components. We also show that FGF-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase activation is significantly reduced in dHS6ST double-stranded RNA-injected embryos. These findings indicate that dHS6ST is required for tracheal development in Drosophila and suggest the evolutionally conserved roles of 6-O-sulfated heparan sulfate in FGF signaling.

Evaluation of a floating dosage form of nicardipine hydrochloride and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate prepared using a twin-screw extruder

A floating dosage form composed of nicardipine hydrochloride (NH) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (enteric polymer) was prepared using a twin-screw extruder. By adjusting the position of the high-pressure screw elements in the immediate vicinity of die outlet, and by controlling the barrel temperature, we were able to prepare a puffed dosage form with very small and uniform pores. It was found that the porosity and pore diameter could be controlled by the varying amount of calcium phosphate dihydrate. In the shaking test, the puffed dosage form was found to have excellent floating ability and mechanical strength in acid solution (JP First Fluid, pH 1.2). The dissolution profile of NH was controlled by the amount of wheat starch. In the dissolution test using JP Second Fluid (pH 6.8), rapid dissolution of NH and loss of buoyancy were observed. It was shown that the puffed dosage form, consisting of enteric polymer prepared using the twin-screw extruder, was very useful as a floating dosage form that was retained for a long period in the stomach.

Emotional distress of infertile women in Japan

Although recent papers have suggested that psychological factors are implicated in the experience of infertility, few studies have assessed this relationship in a sample of Japanese infertile women. This study was carried out in order to clarify whether Japanese infertile women experience emotional distress. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was performed to assess the psychological states of 101 infertile women compared to 81 healthy pregnant women. The hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the profile of mood states (POMS) were administered. These questionnaires produced scores for depression/dejection, anxiety, aggression/hostility, lack of vigour, fatigue, tension anxiety, and confusion. The HADS and the POMS scores of infertile women were significantly higher than those of pregnant women, except for fatigue score. Infertile women with positive HADS indicating emotional disorders (39/101, 38.6%) were significantly (P = 0.0008, chi(2) test) more than those of pregnant women (13/81, 16.0%) when the threshold was set at 12/13 of total HADS scores. The HADS scores were not affected by the women's age, duration of infertility, experience of conception, routine tests, and work states. In this Japanese population, infertile women reported higher levels of emotional distress than pregnant women, suggesting psychological support is needed for infertile women.

Structural analysis of gene encoding cuticle protein BMCP18, and characterization of its putative transcription factor in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

BMCP18(2) is one of the major cuticle proteins identified in the larval cuticle of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. A genomic clone coding for BMCP18 was isolated from a B. mori genomic library, and its structure was analyzed. The BMCP18 gene consists of three exons interspersed by two introns. Bm1 element-like sequences were identified around this gene, suggesting possible involvement of this retroposon in the duplication of B. mori cuticle protein genes during evolution. A structural comparison of the BMCP18 gene and related cuticle protein genes of other lepidopteran species (MSCP14.6 and HCCP12) showed that the 5' upstream region of the BMCP18, MSCP14.6, and HCCP12 genes has a 12-bp identical sequence matching the recognition sequence for transcription factors COUP-TF and HNF-4. This implies that molecular mechanisms regulating expression of these cuticle protein genes are also conserved. mRNAs coding for Bmsvp, the B. mori homolog of Drosophila Seven-up, which is known as a homolog of vertebrate COUP-TF, and BmHNF-4, a homolog of vertebrate HNF-4, were detected in the larval epidermis. Bmsvp bound to the 12-bp sequence in vitro, suggesting that Bmsvp regulates the BMCP18 gene expression.