A beamline for photochemical processes at atmospheric pressure

A beamline especially designed for atmospheric photochemical reactions has been constructed at the NTT synchrotron radiation facility. By inserting a buffer helium chamber with Be and Si(3)N(4) partition windows between the beamline and the reaction chamber, studies can be performed without the differential pumping systems normally used in existing photochemistry beamlines. The reaction chamber is equipped with a gas supply system and analysis systems to investigate gas-phase and surface reactions. Purging using dry purified gases in combination with water-bubbling gives effective control of water concentration in the reaction chamber.

[Involvement of kinin and tachykinin in airway hyperreactivity]

Airway hyperreactivity (AHR) is an important characteristic feature of asthma. Recently, it has been recognized that airway inflammation underlies the phenomenon of AHR. Kinins such as bradykinin (BK) and kallidin (KD) have been implicated as mediators of airway inflammatory diseases. Tachykinins such as substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) produce a variety of effects on the airways. These effects include changes in bronchomotor tone, vasodilatation, increase in vascular permeability and facilitation of the release of other transmitters. Non-cholinergic responses are due to release of neuropeptides such as tachykinins from sensory nerve endings. Kinins and tachykinins have been implicated in neurogenic inflammation. The O3 exposure (3 ppm, 30 min) induced AHR to ACh in guinea pigs. The O3-induced AHR was significantly enhanced by pretreatment with captopril, a kininase II inhibitor. Infusion of subthreshold dose of BK and KD developed AHR to ACh. The O3-induced AHR was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with capsaicin. Infusion of the subthreshold dose of SP and NKA developed an AHR to ACh. The KD-induced AHR was inhibited by pretreatment with capsaicin. Kinins and tachykinins may be therefore involved in the O3-induced AHR, and kinins may act through tachykinin intervention on the O3-induced AHR.

[The effect of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor on pseudomonal proteinases]

We examined the effect of CS-610, a newly developed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, on pseudomonal proteinase in vitro. Alkaline proteinase (1143-4977 unit/ml Type I collagenase equivalent) and elastase (13.6-22.6 unit/ml Type I collagenase equivalent) were obtained from strains of P. aeruginosa of IID-1117, IID-1030 and IID-1130. Zymographic analysis of cultured broth of P. aeruginosa demonstrated that CS-610 inhibited alkaline proteinase with an IC50 (50% inhibition concentration) of 1.06-29.0 (x 10(-8)M) and elastase with an IC50 of 1.0-33.3 (x 10(-8)M). CS-610 is a potent inhibitor of pseudomonal proteinases.

Optical monitoring of living brain tissue

Optical methods can usefully augment classical techniques such as electrical recording for investigating cellular and network physiology. Here, recent developments in optical methods--including confocal and nonlinear fluorescence imaging, semiconductor array imaging, and improved fluorescent indicators of ion concentration and transmembrane electrical potential--are briefly reviewed, and examples are offered that may suggest potential applications to experimental studies in alcoholism research.

Detection of regional lymph node metastases in colon cancer by using RT-PCR for matrix metalloproteinase 7, matrilysin

Lymph node metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in colon cancer. However, more accurate screening for metastasis than that afforded by conventional pathology remains elusive. We have employed a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), 'matrilysin', because this gene is epithelial-specific and consistently expressed in colorectal cancer cells. The sensitivity of this assay was examined with the matrilysin-producing rectal cancer cell line 'CaR-1'. Matrilysin mRNA was detected in this system when more than 10(4) matrilysin-positive cells existed in a lymph node of ordinary size. Fourteen of 15 (93%) primary colon cancers and none of the surrounding normal tissues expressed matrilysin. All 10 histologically-positive lymph nodes were positive for matrilysin, while of 60 histologically-negative lymph nodes, eight were positive for matrilysin. When the additional sequential sectioning and histological re-examination was performed on five of these eight 'matrilysin-positive, but histologically-negative' lymph nodes, micrometastases were detected in three. Only one of the lymph nodes that were histologically-positive, but negative by matrilysin assay was from a patient with colon cancer in which matrilysin was not detected. In conclusion, RT-PCR assay for matrilysin is a sensitive method for detecting occult metastases in patients with colon cancer, and may complement histologic examination.

A new pharyngitis model using capsaicin in rats

1. Application of capsaicin solution onto the rat pharyngeal mucosa caused a well-reproducible increase in vascular permeability in the pharynx. 2. Capsaicin-induced pharyngeal inflammation was unaffected by a histamine H1 blocker and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, whereas dexamethasone was effective in its inhibition. 3. FK224, a dual antagonist of tachykinin NK1 and NK2 receptors, and FK888, a selective antagonist of NK1 receptor, significantly inhibited capsaicin-induced plasma exudation in the pharynx. 4. In capsaicinized animals, the application of capsaicin solution in the pharyngeal mucosa did not induce pharyngitis. 5. These results suggest that the mechanism of the capsaicin-induced pharyngitis primarily involves tachykinins.

Age-related decline in humoral immunity caused by the selective loss of TH cells and decline in cellular immunity caused by the impaired migration of inflammatory cells without a loss of TDTH cells in SAMP1 mice

We investigated the cellular basis of the age-related decline in antibody (Ab) and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in vivo in short-lived senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM) P1. In SAMP1 mice, age-related decreases in CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood occurred earlier than in control mice and occurred in parallel with the age-related decline in Ab and DTH responses. In addition, the involution of the thymus was faster. The injection of thymic T cells from young mice before sensitization completely restored the Ab responses in aged SAMP1 mice. These data suggest that the age-related decline in Ab response is due to the age-related early loss of helper-T (TH) cells. On the other hand, the local transfer of spleen cells from sensitized aged donors into the footpads of naive syngeneic recipients evoked strong DTH responses, demonstrating the existence of DTH-mediating T (TDTH) cells in the spleens of aged SAMP1 mice. Moreover, the local injection of naive spleen cells from young donors, together with the antigen, into the footpads caused DTH responses in sensitized aged recipients. These findings indicate that TDTH cells were induced and were able to migrate and function as effector cells in aged mice. When naive spleen cells from aged donors were injected locally into the footpad, they restored the DTH response in aged mice, but this effect did not work if the cells were injected intravenously. This demonstrates that the inflammatory cells of the aged mice were able to work at the local site, but could not migrate there. The intravenous injection of naive spleen cells from young donors restored the DTH response in aged mice, suggesting that the endothelial cells of aged mice were not impaired and permitted the inflammatory cells to migrate into the extravascular tissues. Thus, although the age-related decline of the Ab and DTH responses occur in parallel, we found different effects of aging on TH and TDTH cells in SAMP1 mice. Furthermore, our data suggest that the reason for the low DTH response in aged SAMP1 mice is not the loss of TDTH cells, but rather the impaired migration of inflammatory cells into the local site.

Comparative study of clinical effects between plasma adsorption and double filtration plasmapheresis in patients with myasthenia gravis

Plasma exchange (PE) has been one of the most powerful treatments for patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) since Pinching et al. reported its clinical usefulness in 1976, despite the need for supplemental human plasma. However, new apheresis techniques, e.g., plasma adsorption (PA) and double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP), which do not need human plasma, were developed and have been introduced for clinical use in MG. We compared the effects of these plasma purification therapies in patients with MG and found that DFPP improved such subjective symptoms as chest compression and general fatigue better than PA while both of them could decrease the serum level of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and relieve objective muscle weakness to a similar degree. It may be that DFPP can remove some circulating pathogenic factors other than AChR antibodies more efficiently than PA.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden interview

Despite a rapid increase in disabled elderly in Japan, the burden of the caregiver has not been properly assessed due to a lack of objective measurements. Our study was aimed at adapting and validating the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI) in Japan, which is one of the most widely used measurements for caregivers' burden in the United States. Sixty-six caregivers answered the self-administered questionnaire, involving the Japanese version of the ZBI and questions regarding their caregiving situation. Our study demonstrated that the Japanese version of the ZBI had equally as high reliability and validity as the original version. The Japanese ZBI had a high test-retest reliability (r = 0.76) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). The total score of the ZBI was highly correlated with the caregivers' score of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score (r = 0.50), as well as a single global rating of burden (r = 0.71). It was also shown that demographic distribution of the score of the Japanese version had a similar trend to that of the original version. Caregivers who looked after patients with behavioral disturbances were found to have a significantly higher ZBI score than those who looked after patients without behavioral disturbances, which is consistent with previous findings. It is concluded that the Japanese version of the ZBI can be used to measure feelings of burden of caregivers in the Japanese population and can be used for cross-cultural comparison.

Basic study of the portable fatigue meter: effects of illumination, distance from eyes and age

Several aspects of a new, small and inexpensive fatigue assessment tool, the Portable Fatigue Meter (PFM), were studied. In the first experiment the effects of room illumination and distance between the PFM and the eyes on critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) values were examined. The results revealed that the PFM CFF value varied significantly as a function of the distance between the indicator and the eyes, but it was not affected by room illumination. The effect of ageing on the PFM CFF value was assessed in a second experiment. The results suggested that PFM CFF values are significantly smaller in middle-aged females than in younger females.

Smoking behaviour and personality: a population-based study in Japan

AIMS

The aim of our study was to determine whether the previously reported findings also apply to a general population in Japan and whether, among current smokers, such personality characteristics can be correlated with the age they started to smoke and their present daily consumption of cigarettes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

Miyagi prefecture, in northern Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

20,538 residents in Miyagi, aged 40-64 years.

MEASUREMENT

A self-administered questionnaire involving smoking status (current, ex- and non-smokers) and patterns and the Japanese version of the short-form Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R).

FINDINGS

(1) Current and ex-smokers were higher on Extraversion and Psychoticism than non-smokers for both genders. (2) Heavy smokers were higher on Psychoticism than light smokers and those who started to smoke prior to the legally permitted age were higher on Psychoticism than those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Our study confirmed that the findings which had been previously reported in selected samples in western countries also apply to a general population in Japan; (2) current smokers were found to be heterogeneous in terms of Psychoticism when the age they started to smoke and their present daily consumption of cigarettes were taken into account.

Mucosal interleukin-8 is involved in neutrophil migration and binding to extracellular matrix in inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES

In this study, our purpose was to determine whether locally generated interleukin-8 (IL-8) is involved in neutrophil migration and binding to extracellular matrix, using the colonic mucosal specimens obtained from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

Levels of IL-8 secreted in the organ cultures were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Chemotactic activity and binding capacity of neutrophils were induced by the organ culture supernatants.

RESULTS

Significantly higher levels of IL-8 were secreted in patients with IBD, and its elevation was more prominent in patients with active ulcerative colitis. The organ culture supernatants induced higher chemotactic activity and binding capacity of neutrophils in patients with IBD, especially in those with active ulcerative colitis, compared with controls. These effects were inhibited significantly when the supernatants were submitted to preincubation with neutralizing anti-IL-8 antibody.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased mucosal generation of IL-8 may attract neutrophils from the circulation into the inflammatory site and induce binding of neutrophils in the interstitial tissue, contributing to accumulation and activation of neutrophils in the affected mucosa with IBD.

Extradural buprenorphine suppresses breast feeding after caesarean section

Satisfactory pain relief with postoperative extradural bupivacaine increases the amount of breast feeding after Caesarean section. To investigate the effect of extradural buprenorphine, we have evaluated the amount of breast feeding and the gain in infant weight for 11 days after Caesarean section in patients who received continuous extradural bupivacaine with or without buprenorphine. Extradural buprenorphine significantly decreased both measures although there was no significant difference in pain intensity. We suggest that extradural buprenorphine suppressed breast feeding after Caesarean section.

[Characteristics of bedridden elderly people living at home and in a hospital]

We compared bedridden elderly people living at home to others who were hospital inpatients. Questionnaires regarding medical status and care were returned by 85 of 116 people caring for a bedridden elderly person at home in Obu city, Aichi prefecture and by 62 of 64 nurses and family members caring for bedridden inpatients at Chubu National hospital. All subjects were at least 65 years old. The median age in both groups was 81 years, neither age distribution nor female sex predominance differed between both groups. The percentage of subjects with only one underlying disease was 62.5% among those living at home and 64.4% among inpatients. In both groups the most common disease was cerebrovascular disease (42.5% among those at home and 39.0% among inpatients), followed by dementia (31.3%), infirmity of old age (17.5%) and bone fracture (13.8%) among those at home, and by bone fracture (27.1%), dementia (20.3%) and infirmity of old age (16.9%) among inpatients. The median durations of bedridden status were 2 years and 3 months among those at home and 3 months among inpatients. The proportion of subjects bedridden for less than 6 months was greater among inpatients (p < 0.0001). The percentage who needed medical treatment was 60.0% among those at home and 67.7% among inpatients. The most common conditions for which drugs were taken were hypertension, dementia, chronic cerebrovascular dysfunction, and osteoporosis. Among inpatients, 54.8% were ambulatory before admission, 24.2% were almost completely bedridden, and 17.7% were completely bedridden. The most common cause rending the patients bedridden was infection (usually pneumonia). The degree of disability did not differ between groups. Decubitus ulcers were present in 25.9% of those at home and 17.7% of inpatients.

A spontaneous testicular teratoma in an ICR mouse

A spontaneous teratoma was detected in the left testis of a 7-wk-old male ICR (Crj:CD-1) mouse. The tumor was composed of a variety of well-differentiated tissue elements from all 3 germ layers including neuronal tissue and stratified epithelium as ectoderm-derived tissues, bone, cartilage, striated muscle, and adipose tissue as mesodermal tissues, and respiratory columnar epithelium as endoderm-originated tissue. No tumor metastasis was detected. It may be of congenital origin as in strain 129 mice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning spontaneous testicular teratoma in a strain ICR mouse.

[A case of Sjögren's syndrome associated with EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia]

A 69-year-old woman was admitted to Department of Orthopedic Surgery in our hospital because of lumbago on April 4, 1995. Since laboratory data showed thrombocytopenia (platelet count 2.1 x 10(4)/mm3) on admission, she was transferred to Department of Internal Medicine for further examination on April 11. She noticed abnormal taste and showed remarkable sicca symptoms. Schirmer test, gum test and electrogustometry were positive, and parotid sialogram findings and histology of minor salivary glands of the lip were compatible with those of typical Sjögren's syndrome. Thus, she was diagnosed as Sjögren's syndrome. Although the antibodies to SS-A/SS-B were negative in her serum, anti-nuclear and anti-centromere antibodies were strongly positive (x1280). Serum IgM level was increased. The decreased platelet count was observed when EDTA was used as anticoagulant. The binding activity of the anti-platelet antibody activated by EDTA was dependent on temperature. Its immunoglobulin class was shown to be IgM by enzyme-labelled antibody method. We here report a case of Sjögren's syndrome associated with EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia.

Immune abnormality in relation to nonimmune diseases in SAM mice

A series of related strains of senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM) shows strain-unique age-related diseases, such as amyloidosis, deficit in learning and memory, osteoporosis, and brain atrophy, while many of these disease-prone mouse (SAMP) strains have impaired immune activity as young adults, and have a short life span, probably not due directly to the diseases. Because the mean life span was prolonged and the time of the disease onset was delayed by a low-calorie dietary condition or a specific pathogen-free environment, both of which ameliorate the impaired immune activity, the enhancement of immune activity may help decrease the deteriorative process of aging, to that seen in ordinary strains of mice. Studies using the SAMP model may help elucidate the role of immunity in the aging process. Herein, we review the cellular and genetic basis of the immune abnormality in SAMP mice, then discuss the relationship between immune abnormality and development of the age-related disease, senile amyloidosis, findings obtained on SAMP hybrid mice and congenic mice for disease-related genes. Activation of the gene(s) for senile amyloid per se shortened the life span, and the early development of the immune dysfunction primarily seems to be both genetically and physiologically independent of amyloidosis, although the disease may be indirectly modified in the aged with depressed immune activity.

Factors affecting death at home in Japan

Despite the wish of the Japanese people to spend their final moments at home, the percentage of deaths at home among elderly is decreasing. Moreover, large variations in this rate were observed over the country. The present ecological study analyzed the relationship between the percentage of deaths at home for decedents aged 70 and over, and demographic, medical and socioeconomic characteristics. The data published in 1990 by the Japanese National Government were analyzed by correlation, principal-component, and multiple linear regression analyses. The results showed that the percentage of deaths at home for decedents aged 70 and over was positively associated with the number of persons per household, and the area of floor space per house. The divorce rate, the national tax per capita, and the mean length of hospitalization for stroke showed a negative association with the percentage of deaths at home. In the prefectures where the crude death rates of stroke and senility were high, elderly were more likely to die at home. These results suggested the importance of the number of family caregivers, and the housing conditions for terminal care at home. This research may lead to improve home medical assistance which is still underdeveloped in Japan.

Lamina propria mononuclear cells express and respond to interleukin-2 differently in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for interleukin-2 (IL-2) were analyzed using lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Compared with control LPMC, Crohn's disease (CD) LPMC exhibited significantly higher levels of LAK cell activity, whereas ulcerative colitis (UC) cells showed significantly lower levels of cytolytic activity with a difference in the frequency of CD3+, CD56+ and CD3+, CD56+ LAK precursor cells. After incubation with IL-2, the proportion of CD3+, CD56+ lymphocytes continued to be higher in CD cultures and substantially lower in UC cultures. Freshly isolated CD LPMC exhibited significantly higher levels of IL-2 mRNA than controls. However, no significant difference was observed between UC and control cells. The level of IL-2 expression or responsiveness to IL-2 may be responsible for different mucosal immune reactivity between CD and UC patients.

Synthesis and biological activities of optically active 6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylamino)-2-hydroxypropoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone (OPC-18790)

The enantiomers of 6-[3-(3,4-dimethoxybenzylamino)-2-hydroxypropoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinon e (OPC-18790), a novel cardiotonic agent, were synthesized and evaluated for positive inotropic activity. The key intermediates, 2,3-epoxypropoxy derivatives, were obtained by the alkylation of 6-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolinone with optically active epichlorohydrin and subsequent ring closure. In an in vitro study, the (R)-(+)-isomer was about 10-fold more potent than the (S)-(-)-isomer.

Termination by early deletion of V beta 8 + T cells of aged mice in response to staphylococcal enterotoxin B

The changes in the T cell repertoire of aging BALB/c mice include an increase of V beta 8 + T cells, most of which have a relatively low density of T cell receptors (TCR). We investigated the response of V beta 8 + T cells to staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), a superantigen from a common bacterium, the anamnestic response to which is thought usually to be part of the defense against infection. The injection of an amount of SEB optimum for V beta 8 + T cell proliferation in young mice induced little or no proliferative response in aged mice, and within one or two days they died in shock with apoptotic cells in the spleen, a sign of T cell-shock caused by SEB. Flowcytometry analysis (FCA) 15 h after SEB injection, when cell division had not yet started, revealed the loss of 90% of V beta 8 + T cells in the blood and of 50% in the spleen in mice of all ages tested. However, conspicuous in the remaining V beta 8 + T cells in the spleens of the young mice but not in those of the aged mice, was an increased cellular complexity, as shown by the fact that light was strongly side scattered in FCA, indicating intracellular re-organization. The remaining T cells in the young could include progenitors for the expanding population of V beta 8 + T cells. As seen in lethal shock, V beta 8 + T cells in the aged are not unresponsive to SEB in vitro. They responded to the antigen by increasing the amount of TCR up to the level of that in young mice, but without proliferation. The proliferation arrest of V beta 8 + T cells of aged mice was found to be an intrinsic defect in in vitro cell mixture experiments, in which they were cocultured with young spleen cells which provided a complete immune microenvironment. It was simultaneously found in vitro that most of the V beta 8 + T cells from aged mice disappeared after antigen stimulation and that their disappearance was prevented by the presence of spleen cells from young mice, although they still did not proliferate. Taken all together the findings suggest that V beta 8+ T cells in the aged are at the end state of maturation and terminate by apoptotic death, causing T-cell shock in response to SEB.

The effect of postoperative analgesia with continuous epidural bupivacaine after cesarean section on the amount of breast feeding and infant weight gain

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of postoperative analgesia on the amount of breast feeding and infant weight gain. Thirty parturients undergoing elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to receive postoperative pain management with (S-E group, n = 15) or without epidural bupivacaine (S group, n = 15). Epidural analgesia was performed for 3 days with a continuous epidural infusion (0.7 mL/h) of 0.25% bupivacaine. Diclofenac was available on demand in all patients. The weight of milk fed by breast and the infant weight were measured for 11 days after cesarean section. In the S-E group, the visual analog pain score after surgery was significantly lower and both the weight of milk fed by breast and the infant weight during the study were significantly more than the respective values in the S group. The S group required a larger dose of diclofenac after the operation than did the S-E group. We suggest that satisfactory postoperative pain relief with continuous epidural bupivacaine for 3 days after cesarean section improved the amount of breast feeding and the gain of infant weight.

An intensive chemotherapy of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: CHOP followed by etoposide, vindesine, ranimustine, and mitoxantrone with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support

SUMMARY

An intensive combination chemotherapy regimen supported by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was evaluated in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) patients in a multiinstitutional, cooperative study. Vincristine 1 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, Adriamycin 40 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, cyclophosphamide 400 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, prednisolone 40 mg/m2 i.v. days 1 to 3 and 8 to 10, etoposide 35 mg/m2 i.v. days 1 to 8, vindesine 2 mg/m2 i.v. day 8, ranimustine 50 mg/m2 i.v. day 8, mitoxantrone 7 mg/m2 i.v. day 8, and G-CSF 50 mg/m2 s.c. days 9 to 21 were given for 2 to 4 courses every 3 weeks to 83 patients with ATLL. Complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) were achieved in 35.8 and 38.3 percent, respectively, of 81 evaluable patients. The median survival of all patients was 8.5 months, with a predicted 3-year survival of 13.5 percent by the Kaplan-Meier method. The median duration of response was 7.6 months (range 0.2-42.7), and 13 patients were alive. Their median survival time was 29.1 months (range 19.2-44.7). In 67.6 percent of courses, white blood cell (WBC) nadirs were < 1.0 x 10(9)/L. Days required for the recovery of WBC from the nadir to > 1.0 x 10(9)/L were <5 days in 71.4 percent of the treatment courses. The G-CSF supported an intensified chemotherapy regimen for ATLL and yielded better response rate and longer survival compared to previous reports in Japan. Because duration of remission is still short, further studies of postremission therapy or other strategies are warranted.

Monoclonal antibodies specific to the integral membrane protein P0 of bovine peripheral nerve myelin

Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 58A and 46E, were generated against the major protein P0 of bovine peripheral nervous system myelin (PNSM). The reactivities of the mAbs were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Both mAbs, 58A and 46E, reacted to PNSM of bovine, human, rat and rabbit, but not to chicken PNSM or the brains of rat and rabbit. In the Western blot, these mAbs showed specific binding to bovine P0 as well as deglycosylated P0, but not to myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) of bovine spinal cord. The analyses of the lysylendopeptidase-digested peptides of bovine P0 revealed that the epitopes for the mAbs 58A and 46E were located on the amino acid residues 68-79 and 210-216, respectively. Since the mAbs 58A and 46E recognize the extracellular domain and the cytoplasmic domain of P0, respectively, they could be useful for studies on P0's role in myelin formation, its adhesive properties, and functions of the N-terminal extracellular and C-terminal cytoplasmic domains of the protein.

Abnormal modulation of cholinergic neurotransmission by opioid in hyperresponsive bronchus of rats

1. The electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced bronchoconstriction in vitro in rats challenged by DNP-Ascaris antigen was significantly greater than that in normal rats. 2. Morphine inhibited the EFS-induced bronchoconstriction in normal rats. Whereas the inhibition of EFS-induced bronchoconstriction by the opioid was little, if any, in the DNP-Ascaris-challenged rats. 3. These findings suggest that dysfunction of presynaptic inhibitory modulation through the opioid receptor may take place in the airways of DNP-Ascaris-challenged rats.

Occlusive thrombosis in the femoral artery of the rabbit: a pharmacological model for evaluating antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents

Arterial thrombosis in the rabbit was established as a novel model to evaluate the effects of antithrombotic agents. Endothelial injury was produced by applying electrical stimulation to the femoral artery. The process of primary endothelial injury, and subsequent platelet activation and fibrin formation were confirmed by electron microscopy. In this model, vessel occlusion occurred within 30 min after stimulation without changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Using this model, several agents were evaluated for their antithrombotic activities: aspirin (30 mg/kg, p.o.), ticlopidine (10-100 mg/kg, p.o.), heparin (300 unit/kg, i.v.), PPACK (10-33 micrograms/kg/min, i.v.), WEB-2347 (1 mg/kg, p.o.) and nicardipine (10 micrograms/kg, i.v.). Fifty per cent decrease in vessel temperature (T1/2), assessed by a thermic probe, averaged 15.1 +/- 1.2 (n = 11, p.o.) and 15.6 +/- 1.9 min (n = 8, i.v.) in the vehicle groups, and this was significantly prolonged by aspirin (23.0 +/- 2.6 min), ticlopidine at a dose of 100 mg/kg (24.6 +/- 2.5 min), heparin (27.2 +/- 2.8 min) and PPACK at a dose of 33 micrograms/kg (30.0 min). However, WEB-2347 and nicardipine were without effect. The effect of aprosulate, a new class of polyanion with anticoagulant activity, was further examined. Aprosulate (1-30 mg/kg, i.v.) inhibited thrombus formation in a dose-dependent manner. These results show that acute occlusive thrombus can be readily and reproducibly formed in the rabbit femoral artery and suggest that this thrombus formation depends on the activation of both platelets and blood coagulation. The merit of this model lies in its simplicity for evaluating the antithrombotic effects of antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents and is therefore expected to be extensively used in the future.

Influence of chronic liver damage on regeneration of the organ in rats

To investigate the influence of chronic hepatic damage on liver regeneration, a 70% hepatectomy was carried out in male BDE rats in which chronic hepatic damage had been induced by i.m. injection of 0.1 ml CCl4/100 g b. w. twice a week for 4 weeks. After resection, we examined adenine nucleotide concentration in the remaining liver tissues, also body weight and wet and dry weight of the liver. The total adenine nucleotide concentration fell 6 h after resection from 2.89 +/- 0.22 mumol/g to 2.03 +/- 0.15 mumol/g and then recovered on the 3rd postoperative day. However, control animals showed lowest values 3 h after resection, and had already begun to recover at 6 h. Energy charges fell 3 h after liver both groups to the lowest values, but recovery was slower in the animals with chronic liver damage. These observations suggest that in animals with hepatic damage regeneration is delayed in the initial post-resection period. However, 5 days after resection the wet and dry weights of the liver were completely normalized and there was no difference between the two groups, i.e., 5 days after 70% liver resection we could not find any delayed regeneration tendency in animals with chronic liver damage.

Reduction of serum cholesterol levels alters lesional composition of atherosclerotic plaques. Effect of pravastatin sodium on atherosclerosis in mature WHHL rabbits

We examined whether serum cholesterol reduction alters the lesional composition of atherosclerotic plaques. To reduce serum cholesterol levels, we gave pravastatin sodium, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, to mature Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits, an LDL receptor-deficient animal model, for 48 weeks. Atherosclerotic lesions were immunohistochemically and conventionally stained and each lesional component area was measured by a color image analyzer. Compared with those of a placebo group, serum LDL cholesterol levels were reduced by 22% (P<.05). Data for atherosclerosis indicated a significant decrease in percent of surface lesion area (26% reduction) and in intimal thickening (30% reduction) in the abdominal aorta, as well as in coronary stenosis (29% reduction). Data for lesional composition indicated a significant decrease in the percent area of macrophage plus extracellular lipid deposits in aortic lesions (32% reduction) and coronary lesions (45% reduction). A significant increase was observed in the percent area of collagen in aortic lesions and in the percent area of smooth muscle cells in coronary lesions. The plaques seemed to become stable lesions as a result of pravastatin treatment. In conclusion, a long-term reduction of serum LDL cholesterol reduced lipid-related lesional components, in addition to suppressing the progression of established atherosclerosis.

Age-related enhancement of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in mice

We investigated age-related changes in the production of TNF at the cellular level using immunocompetent peritoneal and spleen cells from C3H/He mice of various ages. The density of cultured peritoneal macrophages and spleen cells required for TNF production was at least 5 x 10(5) cells/dish. The optimal concentration of OK-432 for 24-h culture of peritoneal macrophages (1 x 10(6) cells) and spleen cells (1 x 10(7) cells) was 0.5 and 0.1 KE/ml, respectively. Among peritoneal cells, adherent macrophages were the major TNF-producing cells, whilst nonadherent T or B cells alone did not produce TNF after stimulation with OK-432. In the case of spleen cells, T or B cells were involved in the production of TNF when cultured with a few adherent cells in the presence of OK-432. However, T or B cells alone failed to produce TNF. Production of TNF by peritoneal macrophages from both male and female mice increased significantly with aging. In contrast, although TNF production by spleen cells tended to increase with aging, no significant change was noted. The total number of peritoneal and spleen cells, respectively increased up to about 18 months after birth with B cells being principally responsible for this age-related increase. We previously reported that systemic production of TNF increases with aging. The present study of TNF production at the cellular level in mice indicated (1) that TNF production per macrophage increased with aging, and (2) that the number of T and B cells involved in the production of TNF in the presence of macrophages also increased at least up to middle age.

Repeated confocal imaging of individual dendritic spines in the living hippocampal slice: evidence for changes in length and orientation associated with chemically induced LTP

Using confocal microscopy in conjunction with microdrop application of Dil, we have imaged and measured individual dendritic spines of living hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in acute brain slices, before and approximately 3 hr after induction of long-term potentiation by chemical means. Statistical analysis of changes in the length of individual spines, and comparison with results of Monte Carlo simulations, suggests that two forms of structural change occur in chemically induced long-term potentiation: growth of a subpopulation of small spines, and angular displacement of spines. These changes could provide a structural basis for the expression of long-term potentiation.

Epidural anaesthesia blocks changes in peripheral lymphocytes subpopulation during gastrectomy for stomach cancer

To examine the effects of surgery and anaesthesia on cell-mediated and humoral immunity, we investigated changes in subpopulations of peripheral T cells and B cells during gastrectomy. Twenty-one patients with gastric cancers who underwent total or subtotal gastrectomy were randomly assigned to receive thiopental/N2O general anaesthesia supplemented with either epidural (epidural group, n = 12) or enflurane(enflurane group, n = 9). The changes in peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations were detected and quantified using single and double label analysis of monoclonal antibodies against lymphocyte membrane surface markers (Leu series). Subpopulations were measured before induction, and 1 and 2 hours after skin incision. In the enflurane group, B cells (Leu12+), total T cells (Leu4+), inducer T cells (CD4+, Leu8+) and the CD4/CD8 ratio decreased and suppressor T cells (CD8+, Leu15+) increased significantly after skin incision. Whereas, the epidural group showed no change in the number of B cells and each T cell subpopulation during the study. These data suggest that epidural anaesthesia blocks the effect of stress induced by major surgery on fluctuation of peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations which may be associated with suppression of immunity.

Leukocyte subpopulation changes in rats with autotransplanted endometrium and the effect of danazol

PROBLEM

This study examines immune cell populations in rats with autotransplanted endometrium and determines the effect of danazol on leukocyte subsets.

METHODS

As an experimental model of endometriosis, an autologous endometrial segment was implanted in the rat peritoneum. We used flow cytometry to analyze lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood (PB) and peritoneal fluid (PF) of the following groups of rats: no treatment, sham operation, endometrial implantation, endometrial implantation treated with danazol, and normal rats treated with danazol.

RESULTS

The natural killer (NK) cell population was decreased in both the PB and PF of rats with autotransplanted endometrium. Moreover, NK cells increased in a dose-dependent manner following danazol administration. Surgery itself increased the number of peritoneal macrophages as compared with the untreated group. This elevation was suppressed partially by endometrium-implantation and was attenuated by subsequent administration of danazol in a dose-dependent fashion.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that ectopic endometrial cells may release immunosuppressive factors. This is the first documentation that rats with autotransplanted endometrium show the same immunologic changes as humans with endometriosis, and establishes the utility of this model for the study of endometriosis.

Development of autoreactivity and changes of T cell repertoire in different strains of aging mice

Physiological changes with increasing age are generally accompanied by disorders of immunity, including autoaggression which can be seen in some syngeneic host-versus-graft reactions provoked when responder and stimulator cells are of different ages. The magnitude of the response, however, varies with the strain of mice. Footpad injection of irradiated spleen cells from 1-year-old, but not from 2-month-old, BALB/c mice (H-2d) into syngeneic young mice evoked popliteal lymph node-swelling, but this was not the case in DBA/2 (H-2d) mice. Therefore, the generation of autoreactivity was thought to be closely related to the change of T cell repertoire with age in the former strain of mice. At around 1 year of age, when only a small reduction in T cell number was observed and when a slight increase in CD8+ T cells in the periphery caused the CD4/CD8 ratio to be lower than in young mice, the proportion of V beta 8+ cells in BALB/c mice started to increase, increasing from 16% in the young to 27% in 2-year-old mice (P < 0.01). On the other hand, V beta 6+ T cells remained at the same level as in young mice throughout life. The increasing fraction of V beta 8+ T cells was characterized by a low density of T cell receptors (TcR) and it was more conspicuous in the spleen than in the peripheral blood in mice more than 1 year of age. A shift to a TcR-low population in V beta 8+, T cells was followed in a few months by a shift in V beta 6+ T cells. Although both the change of T cell repertoire and development of autoaggression may be parameters of aging, no direct correlation was demonstrated between them in experiments with cross-hybrids and recombinant inbred strains of BALB/c and DBA/2 mice. Probably, the two parameters are genetically and independently controlled. All the data taken together indicate that T cells undergo V beta-TcR-restricted changes during their life history, depending on their genetic background.

[Antineuronal autoantibody to a 40-kDa protein in a patient with cerebellar ataxia and breast cancer]

A 49-year-old woman was admitted to Utsunomiya Saiseikai hospital complaining of right breast swelling. There was half a year history of difficulty in walking. A diagnosis of breast cancer was made by biopsy. Neurological examination revealed scanning speech, nystagmus, intention tremor and ataxic gait, but brain CT scan and MRI showed neither metastatic, invasive lesions nor atrophy in the brain. Lumpectomy for breast cancer was performed. For immunocytochemical studies, the cytoplasm of neurons in sections of normal human cerebral cortex, cerebellum, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia were stained by the patient's serum, but glial cells were not. Upon Western blot, the patient's serum reacted with a 40-kDa protein in extracts of both cerebrum and cerebellum obtained from normal rats. A diagnosis of paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) was made on the basis of clinical manifestations and detection of the antineuronal antibody. The antibody accompanying the breast cancer which stained neuronal cytoplasm and bound to a 40-kDa protein may be a subtype of antibody causing PCD.

Marked increase of peripheral blood myeloblasts following G-CSF therapy in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

A 9 year old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) received recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) and showed a marked increment of myeloblasts in the peripheral blood. He was administered repeated courses of intermediate-dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) therapy (1500 mg/m2, days 1-5) for frequent central nervous system (CNS) relapse of ALL. The peripheral white blood cell nadir was less than 1000/microL, so he was treated with rhG-CSF. A marked increment of peripheral blood blasts was noted 3-5 days after rhG-CSF treatment. These cells decreased with the appearance of mature myeloid cells and disappeared about 2 weeks after the start of treatment. These findings suggested that the blasts might have the ability to differentiate into mature myeloid cells. A control patient with repeated CNS relapse of ALL showed no increment of peripheral blood blasts after similar repeated courses of Ara-C without rhG-CSF treatment. Cultured peripheral blood blasts obtained from the present patient showed differentiation into mature myeloid cells by morphological studies and surface marker analysis. These findings indicate that the peripheral blood blasts drawn by G-CSF were not leukemic blasts but normal myeloblasts.

Keratinocytes constitutively express the Fas antigen that mediates apoptosis in IFN gamma-treated cultured keratinocytes

The Fas antigen is a cell surface protein that can mediate apoptosis in many cell types. Although its physiological function is still unclear, recent evidence indicates that this surface molecule is involved in apoptosis in the immune system and the liver. The epidermis is an organ that undergoes terminal differentiation with the eventual death of keratinocytes, and it has been suggested that this is a specialized form of apoptosis. In the present study, we examined whether or not the Fas antigen is involved in keratinocyte apoptosis. Immunoreactivity for the Fas antigen was found throughout the epidermis in normal human skin sections and cultured normal human keratinocytes, and mRNA for the Fas antigen was found to be constitutively expressed in normal epidermis and cultured normal keratinocytes by RT-PCR analysis. To determine whether the Fas antigen in keratinocytes is functional, we used a cytotoxic monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the Fas antigen to induce apoptosis. This antibody did not induce apoptosis of cultured keratinocytes even though they expressed the Fas antigen. We then tested the ability of several cytokines (TGF beta, TNF alpha and IFN gamma) to induce Fas-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis. Only pretreatment with IFN gamma followed by the addition of the anti-Fas mAb induced apoptosis, as assessed by cell viability, morphological changes and ultrastructural characteristics, suggesting that constitutive expression of the Fas antigen is not sufficient to induce apoptosis in keratinocytes and that keratinocyte apoptosis via the Fas antigen-mediated mechanism may require the activation of keratinocytes by IFN gamma, which is thought to be produced by activated T cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Bathing a patient with cancer pain treated with continuous epidural blockade--subcutaneous catheter track and Lapack method]

Continuous epidural blockade is considered to be the most useful device for the management of cancer pain. However, it has the disadvantage to compel the patients to restrict their daily activities. We report a unique "Subcutaneous catheter track & Lapack-method" that enabled a patient with epidural catheter to safely bath at home. A 56-year-old male with a local recurrence of rectal cancer was suffering from perineal pain, which was well controlled by oral and epidural morphine. Since his wishing was to bath, we made a long subcutaneous catheter track with Tuohy-needle to prevent infection, and let him bath with transparent film dressings (Bioclusive) and Lapack to tightly cover and seal up the catheter. Although subcutaneous pustule occurred 7 days after the beginning of bathing, it was easily cured by local disinfection. He was able to enjoy bathing without any infection with this method at home for about 2 months after discharge, until he returned to the hospital. "Subcutaneous catheter track & Lapack-method" offers a safe and comfortable bathing to patients with epidural catheter, and contributes to the improvement of their quality of life.

Quantitative three-dimensional confocal microscopy of synaptic structures in living brain tissue

In order to study changes in synaptic structure that accompany learning and memory, we have developed optical methods to visualize dendritic spines and presynaptic terminals in living, electrically monitored brain slices maintained in vitro. Focal microapplication of the fluorescent lipophilic dye DiI provides Golgi-like staining of small numbers of cells and processes that can be resolved clearly using confocal microscopy; viability of stained cells is established by exclusion of the fluorescent DNA-binding dye ethidium bromide. Serial optical sections are enhanced by deconvolution and other image processing methods. The resulting high-resolution images are combined in an automated procedure to generate three-dimensional reconstructions, in which submicron synaptic structures can be viewed and measured. These unbiased methods allow volume changes in individual, living synaptic structures to be assessed quantitatively over periods of hours or days in development or in response to stimulation, drug application, or other perturbations.

[Clinical studies on cefozopran in pediatrics]

We conducted clinical studies on cefozopran (CZOP), a newly developed parenteral cephalosporin, for its clinical application in the field of pediatrics. 1. A clinical study was performed on 16 children with infections, including 9 with pneumonia, 1 each with acute bronchitis, enterocolitis, purulent lymphadenitis, 4 with skin and soft tissue infections. CZOP was administered by 30 minutes intravenous drip infusion. Doses varying from 20 to 35 mg/kg body weight were given t.i.d. Lengths of treatment ranged from 4 to 14 days. 2. Clinical efficacies were excellent in 10 and good in 6 cases, with an efficacy rate of 100%. The overall bacterial eradication rate for the pathogenic bacteria was also 100%. 3. Side effect was noted in 1 case with skin rash. Abnormal laboratory test data were found in 5 cases including slight elevations of GPT in 4 cases and GOT in 2 cases.

[A survey on elderly patients' knowledge of management of health care]

We conducted a questionnaire survey on the awareness of elderly patients in our hospital concerning medical management. As to the recognition of their own diseases, patients aged 80 or older, showed a lower degree of understanding than those under age 80. The proportion of patients who wished to known about their diagnosis decreased with age, although no statistical significance was recognized. Those who wished to known about their diagnosis, even if it were malignant, reduced significantly depending on the increase in age. In addition, the proportion of patients who would not like to know their diagnosis, if it were malignant, increased significantly as age increased. Proportions of patients who wanted to know other information, such as prognosis, the aims, methods and results of medical examination, the methods and adverse effects of treatment, and the names, effects and side effects of drugs, also decreased significantly as age increased. However, there were no statistical significant differences in the proportion of answers between cases of malignant and non-malignant disease. These data show that elderly patients had more anxiety or fear about malignancy, and wished to know less about medical management than non-elderly patients.

The effect of the partial pressure of oxygen on blood glucose concentration examined using glucose oxidase with ferricyan ion

Glucose oxidase with ferricyan ion (GOD-F) is widely applied in clinical settings as a glucose sensor. However, blood oxygen concentration affects this blood glucose value because oxygen, at increased concentrations, consumes blood glucose, which cannot then be measured by this sensor. We investigated the effect of PO2 on blood glucose concentration in 48 patients who were breathing high concentrations of oxygen. Arterial and pulmonary arterial blood glucose values were analyzed using the GOD-F method and, as a control, the hexokinase method. The respective PO2 values were also measured. The blood glucose concentrations measured by the GOD-F method show a significant linear relation with that measured by the hexokinase method in both arterial (y = -24.4 + 1.01x, r = 0.99) and pulmonary arterial blood (y = -3.4 + 1.01x, r = 0.96). The difference of intercepts is statistically significant, but because of the relatively large limits of agreement indicating any hidden extraneous variabilities, the error of the GOD-F method could not be assessed just by the difference. The equation defining the effect of PO2 on the percent change between blood glucose measured by the GOD-F method and that measured by the hexokinase method is -19.8/(1 + 203900/PO2(2.68) (r = 0.62). This formula generally follows our measured materials and introduces the relationship among blood glucose value, PO2, and the error of the GOD-F method. We hesitate to suggest that the arterial blood glucose concentration when measured by the GOD-F method could be underestimated by as much as 20% in patients with high arterial oxygen pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Accuracy of self-report for stomach cancer screening

Limited evidence is available regarding the accuracy of recall for cancer screenings. We compared the self-report of stomach cancer screening with medical records in 337 residents of a rural town in northeastern Japan, who were eligible for annual screening offered by the town. Frequencies of attendance within the last 5 years were asked in a self-administered questionnaire, and determined from the records of the organization conducting the screening. When the frequencies were dichotomized as ever/never screened within 5 years, the self-report agreed substantially with medical records, but tended to overestimate the actual attendance (kappa = 0.68, sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 75.6%). Past history of gastroduodenal diseases and family history of stomach cancer were associated with the overreport. Although the population studied was highly selective (rural Japanese volunteers), review of the previous studies on mammography and Pap smear also showed that self-reports tended to be exaggerated. Self-report of cancer screening should be regarded as an overestimated indicator of its true prevalence.