Properties of corynephage attachment site and molecular epidemiology of Corynebacterium ulcerans isolated from humans and animals in Japan

Sporadic reports of Corynebacterium ulcerans infection in humans and animals have become increasingly common throughout the world. Between 2001 and 2006, five human cases, in addition to isolation of the bacterium from the carcasses of Orcinus orca and Panthera leo, were reported in Japan. While an isolate from P. leo generated only phospholipase D (PLD), the other isolates produced both PLD and diphtheria-like toxin (DLT). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis showed that isolates from P. leo and humans were genetically homologous. Southern blotting found that a human isolate was lysogenized by two corynephages coding DLT. Sequence analysis of the region of the DLT gene revealed that the integration in C. ulcerans occurred in the same manner as that in C. diphtheriae.

Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery for gastrointestinal stromal tumor dissection

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic wedge resections are increasingly applied for gastric submucosal tumors such as gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Despite this, no defined strategy exists to guide the surgeon in choosing the appropriate laparoscopic technique for an individual case on the basis of tumor characteristics such as location or size. This study aimed to introduce a laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for gastric wedge resection that is applicable for submucosal tumor resection independent of tumor location and size.

METHODS

Seven patients underwent LECS for the resection of gastric submucosal tumors. Both mucosal and submucosal layers around the tumor were circumferentially dissected using endoscopic submucosal dissection via intraluminal endoscopy. Subsequently, the seromusclar layer was laparoscopically dissected on the exact three-fourths cut line around the tumor. The submucosal tumor then was exteriorized to the abdominal cavity and dissected with a standard endoscopic stapling device.

RESULTS

In all cases, the LECS procedure was successful for dissecting out the gastric submucosal tumor. In four of seven cases, the tumor was located in the upper gastric portion near the esophagogastric junction. The remaining three tumors were in the posterior gastric wall. In two cases, the tumors were more than 5 cm in diameter, and one was a GIST of the remnant stomach. The mean operation time was 169 +/- 17 min, and the estimated blood loss was 7 +/- 2 ml. The postoperative course was uneventful in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The LECS procedure for dissection of gastric submucosal tumors such as GIST may be performed safely with reasonable operation times, less bleeding, and adequate cut lines. In addition, the success of the procedure does not depend on the tumor location such as the vicinity of the esophagogastric junction or pyloric ring.

Characterization of a bacteriocin, Thermophilin 1277, produced by Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1277

AIMS

To assess the inhibitory activity and the influence of culture condition on the growth and bacteriocin, Thermophilin 1277, production by Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1277.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thermophilin 1277, which was produced by S. thermophilus SBT1277, showed an antimicrobial activity against several lactic acid bacteria and food spoilage bacteria including Clostridium butylicum, C. sprogenes and Bacillus cereus. Thermophilin 1277 was inactivated by proteinase K. Heating treatment did not affect the antimicrobial activity. The partially purified Thermophilin 1277 had an apparent molecular mass of 3.7 kDa. N-terminal sequence analysis revealed 15 amino acid residues that correspond with amino acid sequence of the lantibiotics bovicin HJ50 produced by Streptococcus bovis HJ50. The effects of culture condition for the bacteriocin production by S. thermophilus SBT1277 were studied. During the batch fermentation, Thermophilin 1277 was produced in M17 broth, but no bacteriocin production occurred in the sucrose-tryptone (ST) broth. Bacteriocin production was detected in pH controlled ST broth at pH values of 5.5-6.5.

CONCLUSIONS

Thermophilin 1277 production from S. thermophilus strain depended on the culture conditions. Some characters and N-terminal amino acid sequence of Thermophilin 1277 differed from bacteriocins produced by S. thermophilus reported previously.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1277 or its bacteriocin which has a wide inhibitory spectrum has a potential use as a biopreservative in dairy products.

Differential contribution of the residues in C-terminal half of the heavy chain of botulinum neurotoxin type B to its binding to the ganglioside GT1b and the synaptotagmin 2/GT1b complex

Clostridium botulinum type B neurotoxin was effectively bound to synaptotagmin 2 (Stg2) associated with ganglioside GT1b, however, the molecular interaction between the neurotoxin and the Stg2/GT1b complex has not been identified. Previously, we found that infant botulism-related strain 111 generated a low activity of the neurotoxin (111/NT), which differed in some amino acid residues, especially in the carboxyl terminal half of the heavy chain (H(C)), from the original neurotoxin of strain Okra (Okra/NT) associated with a food-borne botulism. In this study, we evaluated the binding capabilities of site-directed mutants of Okra/H(C) to the Stg2/GT1b complex and to GT1b alone, and investigated the relationship between the toxic action and receptor binding. Replacement of K1187 and E1190 with glutamic acid and lysine, respectively, which substituted for the 111/NT residues, caused a reduction of binding affinity to the Stg2/GT1b complex, suggesting that both these residues contribute to the different binding affinity between Okra/NT and 111/NT. Substitution of four residues, H1240, S1259, W1261 and Y1262, which form a ganglioside pocket, drastically decreased the binding of H(C) to the Stg2/GT1b complex and to GT1b. Mutation in the residues, K1186, E1189, K1191 and K1260 reduced the binding of H(C) to GT1b alone, but not to the Stg2/GT1b complex. Analyses of effects of mutant toxins on toxicity of BoNT/B to cerebellar granule cells suggest the association of cell toxicity with binding to Stg2/GT1b complex but not that to GT1b alone.

Mutations in wheat starch synthase II genes and PCR-based selection of a SGP-1 null line

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) starch synthase II, which is also known as starch granule protein 1 (SGP-1), plays a major role in endosperm starch synthesis. The three SGP-1 proteins, SGP-A1, B1 and D1, are produced by three homoeologous SSII genes, wSSII-A, B, and D. Lines carrying null alleles for each SGP-1 protein have previously been identified. In this report, the mutations occurring in each wSSII gene were characterized, and PCR-based DNA markers capable of detecting the mutations were developed. In the null wSSII-A allele, a 289 bp deletion accompanied by 8 bp of filler DNA was present near the initiation codon. A 175 bp insertion occurred in exon 8 of the null wSSII-B allele. The insertion represented a recently discovered miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) named Hikkoshi that was first found in a wheat waxy gene. A 63 bp deletion was found at the region surrounding the junction of the fifth exon and intron of the null wSSII-D allele. Based on this information, we designed primer sets to enable us to conduct allele-specific amplifications for each locus. The applicability of these primer sets for breeding programs was demonstrated by reconstructing a line lacking all three SGP-1 proteins using marker-assisted selection. These markers will also be useful in breeding programs aimed at obtaining partial mutants missing one or two SGP-1 proteins.

IgE-dependent enhancement of Th2 cell-mediated allergic inflammation in the airways

T helper 2 (Th2) cell-derived cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13, play important roles in causing allergic airway inflammation. In contrast to Th2 cells, however, the role of IgE and mast cells in inducing allergic airway inflammation is not understood fully. In the present study, we addressed this point using transgenic mice expressing trinitrophenyl (TNP)-specific IgE (TNP-IgE mice), which enable us to investigate the role of IgE without the influence of antigen-specific T cell activation and other immunoglobulins. When the corresponding antigen, TNP-BSA, was administered intranasally to TNP-IgE mice, a large number of CD4+ T cells were recruited into the airways. In contrast, TNP-BSA administration did not induce eosinophil recruitment into the airways or airway hyperreactivity. Furthermore, when ovalbumin (OVA)-specific Th2 cells were transferred to TNP-IgE mice and the mice were challenged with inhaled OVA, TNP-BSA administration increased OVA-specific T cell recruitment and then enhanced Th2 cell-mediated eosinophil recruitment into the airways. These results indicate that IgE-induced mast cell activation principally induces CD4+ T cell recruitment into the airways and thus plays an important role in enhancing Th2 cell-mediated eosinophilic airway inflammation by recruiting Th2 cells into the site of allergic inflammation.

Role of biologics in early arthritis

Recent advances in the management and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have provided evidence for the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Biological therapy with monoclonal antibodies, including anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents have shown major efficacy in terms of disease activity and outcome of inflammatory arthritis in trials. Interest has focused on the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis with anti-TNF agents to induce long-term impact on outcome. A major study of etanercept versus methotrexate (MTX) showed some benefit at one year for the etanercept group, but long-term data have shown greater benefit. Two double-blind placebo-controlled studies of infliximab in patients with early RA yielded promising data, showing the possibility of a true 'window of opportunity' with long-term benefit from a short term treatment period. Aggressive treatment by anti-TNF agents as well as combination therapies of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with very early disease would be a logical approach to be investigated in the future.

Beta-chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta (MIP-1beta), is highly expressed in diffuse type human gastric cancers

Chemokines have been shown to be expressed in some malignant or precancerous tissues. However, the role of these chemokines on tumor development or progression is not clear. The expression patterns of chemokines in gastric cancer tissues were examined in 86 surgically resected samples using immunohistochemistry. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta (MIP-1beta) was clearly detected in many gastric carcinoma cells. In most of the differentiated carcinomas, intracellular localization of MIP-1beta was detected in more than 5% of cancer cells, although the percentages of MIP-1beta-positive cells differed among each sample. Undifferentiated carcinomas showed contrasted staining pattern between solid type and non-solid (diffuse) type. MIP-1beta was totally absent in all the poorly differentiated carcinomas with solid type growth pattern (por1). In contrast, MIP-1beta was highly expressed in all of the non-solid type of poorly differentiated carcinoma (por2) and signet-ring cell carcinoma samples. In particular, MIP-1beta was strongly stained in carcinoma cells at the front of invasive lesions. In 43 diffuse type undifferentiated cancers, tumors with high expression of MIP-1beta exhibited significantly more lymph node metastasis. Our results suggest a possibility that MIP-1beta may be related to the scattering and invasion step of gastric carcinoma cells with undifferentiated phenotype.

Carcinoembryonic antigen mRNA in abdominal cavity as a useful predictor of peritoneal recurrence of gastric cancer with serosal exposure

Peritoneal dissemination is the most frequent type of recurrence in patients with gastric cancer with serosal exposure, irrespective of whether they have undergone curative gastrectomy. The purpose of this study was to establish a method to detect micrometastatic cells in the abdominal cavity and predict peritoneal recurrence in patients with such gastric carcinomas. A total of 86 patients with gastric carcinoma, undergoing gastrectomy, were examined. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was used to detect carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA in abdominal lavage fluid. Twenty-four cases without serosal exposure were negative, while all 13 cases with macroscopic peritoneal dissemination were positive for CEA mRNA. Among the 49 cases with macroscopic serosal invasion and without peritoneal metastasis, cancer cells were detected in 27 cases with RT-PCR while in only 6 cases with conventional cytology. All cytologically-positive cases were also positive for CEA mRNA. Among the 27 CEA-positive cases, 15 patients (56%) relapsed with peritoneal metastasis within 12 months after gastrectomy. In contrast, none of the 22 CEA-negative cases had peritoneal recurrence within 16-60 months of observation, whereas in 43 cytologically-negative cases, 10 patients relapsed with peritoneal recurrence. As compared with conventional cytological examination, this method would be clinically more beneficial for detecting free cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity and for predicting peritoneal recurrence in gastric carcinoma with serosal invasion.

An outbreak of gastroenteritis in Osaka, Japan due to Escherichia coli serogroup O166:H15 that had a coding gene for enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1)

In an outbreak of gastroenteritis on 23 July 1996, in Osaka, Japan, 54 of 91 persons who had attended a meeting the previous day became ill. Escherichia coli O166:H15 was isolated from stool specimens of patients (29/33, 88%). Laboratory tests for other bacterial pathogens and viruses were negative. The E. coli 0166 organisms did not adhere to HEp-2 cells in a localized, diffuse, or enteroaggregative manner. The organisms did not express known enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) colonization factors. In polymerase chain reaction tests, the bacteria did not have coding genes for shigatoxin of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), heat-labile, or heat-stable enterotoxin of ETEC, attachment and effacement (eaeA) of EPEC, or invasion (invE) of enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC). Consequently, they could not be assigned to any of the recognized diarrhoeagenic groups of E. coli: EPEC, ETEC, EHEC, EIEC, enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC), or diffusely adhering E. coli. However, the organisms possessed the EAggEC heat-stable enterotoxin (EAST1) gene. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an outbreak caused by E. coli that did not have well-characterized virulence genes other than EAST1. The isolates showed the same DNA banding pattern in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis after digestion with the restriction enzymes XbaI or NotI. Three O166:H15 strains isolated from two sporadic cases and another outbreak during 1997-8 were distinct, indicating that multiple clones have spread already. We propose that diarrhoeal specimens should be examined for E. coli possessing the EAST1 gene.

IGF-I-induced apoptosis in LM2d6 cultured at a low concentration of fetal bovine serum

We examined the effects of IGF-I (1-1000 ng/ml) on cell proliferation in LM2d6 mouse fibroblast cells at 0.1, 1.0 and 5.0% fetal bovine serum (FBS). In medium containing 0.1% FBS, treatment of LM2d6 cells with IGF-I significantly reduced the cell number in a dose- and time-dependent manner, whereas no effects were seen at 1 or 5% FBS. Treatment of the cells with 0.1% FBS for 72 h caused DNA laddering and nuclear condensation. However, Scatchard analysis for IGF-I binding sites on the cells revealed that both the number and the affinity of IGF-I receptors were not greater than that of Balb/3T3 cells. Furthermore, the apoptotic action of Long (R(3))-IGF-I, an analogue of IGF-I that has a reduced affinity for IGF binding proteins, was not greater than that of IGF-I. Taken together, we conclude that IGF-I reduces cell proliferation at low levels of FBS due to the induction of apoptosis. This effect is probably not caused by an excess production of IGF binding proteins in LM2d6 cells.

Lymph node metastasis and preoperative diagnosis of depth of invasion in early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

No reports have, to date, focused on the relationship between preoperative determination of the depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis. The present study, under the leadership of the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association, was designed to form a basis for decision making in limited treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC).

METHODS

From eight major hospitals in Japan, 2672 gastric cancers whose preoperative depth of invasion was mucosal(M-cancer), and 6209 EGCs, consisting of 3584 mucosal(m-) and 2625 submucosal(sm-) cancers, were collected by questionnaire. All registered patients underwent gastrectomy with D1 or more extensive lymphadenectomy between 1985 and 1998.

RESULTS

The accuracy of preoperative diagnosis of depth of invasion of M-cancers was 80.2% (2144/2672). However, of the total of 2432 M-cancers in which no nodal involvement was observed intraoperatively (N0), histological examination of the resected specimens confirmed that lymph node metastasis was absent in 2353 (96.8%). The frequencies of lymph node metastasis in early gastric, m-, and sm-cancers were 8.9%, 2.5%, and 17.6%, respectively. Node involvement was associated with a higher frequency of undifferentiated than differentiated histology, as well as with greater tumor size. The incidences of lymph node metastasis in m-cancers with a diameter of less than 4 cm, and in sm-cancers with a diameter below 1 cm were 1.3% (37/2837) and 4.9% (4/82), respectively. These metastases rarely extended beyond the first tier.

CONCLUSION

N0 and M-cancers, m-cancers less than 4 cm in diameter, and sm-cancers no larger than 1 cm in diameter may be appropriate indications for limited surgery.

Characterization of capsid genes, expressed in the baculovirus system, of three new genetically distinct strains of "Norwalk-like viruses"

"Norwalk-like viruses" (NLVs), members of a newly defined genus of the family Caliciviridae, are the most common agents of outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the United States. Two features of NLVs have hindered the development of simple methods for detection and determination of serotype: their genetic diversity and their inability to grow in cell culture. To assess the immune responses of patients involved in outbreaks of gastroenteritis resulting from infection with NLVs, we previously used recombinant-expressed capsid antigens representing four different genetic clusters, but this panel proved insufficient for detection of an immune response in many patients. To extend and further refine this panel, we expressed in baculovirus the capsid genes of three additional genetically distinct viruses, Burwash Landing virus (BLV), White River virus (WRV), and Florida virus. All three expressed proteins assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs) that contained a full-length 64-kDa protein, but both the BLV and WRV VLPs also contained a 58-kDa protein that resulted from deletion of 39 amino acids at the amino terminus. The purified VLPs were used to measure the immune responses in 403 patients involved in 37 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis. A majority of patients demonstrated a fourfold rise in the titer of immunoglobulin G to the antigen homologous to the outbreak strain, but most seroconverted in response to other genetically distinct antigens as well, suggesting no clear pattern of type-specific immune response. Further study of the antigenicity of the NLVs by use of VLPs should allow us to design new detection systems with either broader reactivity or better specificity and to define the optimum panel of antigens required for routine screening of patient sera.

Results of local resection with regional lymphadenectomy for early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

In 1999, the authors reported preliminary results of local resection with regional lymphadenectomy(LR) for early gastric cancer.

METHODS

Twenty-four patients underwent LR until May 2000. Laparoscopic techniques were recently applied. The dissected area for lymphadenectomy depended on the lymphatic flow from the tumor. Local gastric resection was performed with a 2 cm cancer-free margin. Among the 24 patients, 14 who had been followed up for more than 1 year were eligible for the nutritional study, and the nutritional parameters were compared with those for patients undergoing pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG).

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients not receiving additional gastrectomy needed no restriction of food intake and had neither postgastrectomy symptoms nor recurrence. All nutritional parameters remained stable between the preoperative and the subsequent period. Nutritional superiority of LR over PPG was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

For selected patients with early gastric cancer, LR can be a treatment of choice to provide a good quality of life.

Treatment of intestinal graft-versus-host disease using betamethasone enemas

Intestinal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can readily easily induce generalized metabolic disturbance that influences morbidity and mortality after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Although adding a new drug or increasing the doses of immunosuppressive agents will probably be effective for controlling intestinal GVHD, the systemic side effects of such therapy cannot be ignored. In this study, we used betamethasone retention enemas as a local treatment for eight patients with refractory and/or severe intestinal GVHD. Six of the eight patients showed improvement of diarrhea and/or abdominal pain, with a reduction in the stage of GVHD. When treatment with betamethasone enemas was continued for 10 to 27 days in the 6 responding patients, no severe toxicity was observed. One patient failed to respond to treatment and another could not tolerate the enemas. Despite some uncertainty regarding the indications and duration of treatment, betamethasone enemas seem to be a potential alternative method for the management of intestinal GVHD.

Bilateral humeral lengthening in achondroplasia

Twenty humeral lengthenings were done on 10 achondroplastic dwarfs using the Ilizarov circular fixator. There were five female and five male patients from 6 years 11 months to 17 years 8 months of age (mean, 12 years 10 months) at the time of the operation. Mean length obtained was 7.8 cm (range, 3.5 cm-10 cm). External fixation time ranged from 105 days to 368 days (mean, 221 days). Healing index averaged 30 days/cm (27 days/cm when two patients with radial nerve palsy were excluded). Two half pins in one patient required replacement. Two humeral fractures occurred, one while in the fixator and the other after removal of the apparatus. Transient radial nerve palsy developed during lengthening in two patients, and lengthening was discontinued. Symptoms of radial nerve palsy resolved completely in both patients, but one patient required an additional surgery to explore the radial nerve for persistent paresthesia of the forearm. Although preexisting loose shoulders deteriorate during lengthening and sometimes cause pain and discomfort, they always resolve spontaneously as lengthening proceeds. Bilateral humeral lengthening was very effective for improving function and overall proportion in patients with achondroplasia.

Sequential magnetic resonance imaging in slipped capital femoral epiphysis: assessment of preslip in the contralateral hip

Thirty-three images using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 10 patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis were evaluated. The MRI of affected hips delineated typical widening of the physis. Sequential MRI demonstrated the process of premature closure of the physis developing from the posterior portion anteriorly. In 4 of the 10 asymptomatic contralateral hips, physeal widening was clearly observed in the center or posteromedial region of the physis on T1-weighted images. We performed prophylactic pinning for the four cases showing physeal widening on MRI, and none of the other cases developed a slip. MRI accurately documented detailed features of slips, as well as physeal changes, and may provide indicative information on prophylactic pinning for contralateral hips.

Stability of blood carbon monoxide and hemoglobins during heating

The effects of heating on hemoglobin (Hb) and carbon monoxide (CO) levels in human blood were investigated by in vitro experiments. Head-space gas chromatography (HS-GC) using a molecular sieve 5A stationary phase and thermal conductivity detection was adopted for the measurement of CO gas, and spectrophotometric methods were used for the measurement of various Hb forms, protein and heme contents. Deteriorated absorbance spectra were observed for heat-treated blood samples, and double wavelength spectrophotometry was proven to give wrong percent saturation of carboxyhemoglobin content (% CO-Hb). The blood sample taken from one fatal fire casualty gave significantly higher % CO-Hb measured spectrophotometrically, compared to that by HS-GC. Control blood or purified Hb solution, which was saturated with CO in designated extent, was heated in a sealed vial. Under the incubation below 54 degrees C, all Hb forms were stable, except for oxyhemoglobin (Hb-O(2)), which was partially oxidized to met-hemoglobin (Met-Hb). In contrast, under the incubation at 65 degrees C, Met-Hb was denatured completely to be insoluble, and Hb-O(2) was partially denatured via Met-Hb formation. CO-Hb was resistant against heating. The difference of heat susceptibility and precipitability among Hb forms resulted in artificial increase of % CO-Hb. During heating, spontaneous CO was produced from blood.

A case of bone metastasis from gastric carcinoma after a nine-year disease-free interval

A case featuring very late and unusual metastasis of gastric cancer is presented. A 49-year-old woman presented with metastatic disease in the seventh cervical vertebra 9 years after a total gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. The resected primary tumor was a Borrman type III, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma which had invaded the subserosal layer of the stomach and had generated lymph node metastases. The patient was treated for the metastatic tumor with sequential administration of cisplatin, calcium leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil and subsequent irradiation. Remission was achieved and she survived for a further 13 months without major symptoms.

Development of ultra-high sensitivity bioluminescent enzyme immunoassay for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) using firefly luciferase

A bioluminescent enzyme immunoassay (BLEIA) for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) using biotinylated firefly luciferase-labelled antibody was developed. PSA is an important marker for the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. Our BLEIA for PSA, based on the two-step sandwich method, had ultra-high sensitivity and a very wide measurable range. The detection limit (mean of nine replicates of the zero standard +2 SD) for PSA was 0.25 pg/mL and the measurable range for PSA was 0.25 pg/mL-100 ng/mL. Generally, PSA in the serum exists on two forms, called free PSA (f-PSA) and complex PSA (c-PSA), which is formed with alpha-antichymotripsin. Thus, the response of the PSA assay to these two forms has to be equimolar in the construction of the assay system. Our BLEIA for PSA also had an equimolar response to them.

The role of donor T cells for target organ injuries in acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease

Donor T cells are crucial for target organ injury in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We examined the effects of donor T cells on the target organs using a parent-into-F1 model of acute and chronic GVHD. Donor T cells showed engraftment in the spleen, small intestine and liver of mice with acute GVHD, causing typical GVHD pathology in these organs. Interferon-gamma and Fas ligand expression were up-regulated, and host lymphocytes were depleted in the target organs of these mice. In contrast, donor T cells did not show engraftment in the small intestine of mice with chronic GVHD, and no GVHD pathology was observed in this organ. However, both donor T-cell engraftment and GVHD pathology were observed in the spleen and liver of chronic GVHD mice, along with the up-regulation of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 expression plus the expansion of host lymphocytes such as splenic B cells and hepatic natural killer (NK) 1.1+ T cells. Donor anti-host cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity was observed in spleen cells from mice with acute GVHD, but not in spleen cells from mice with chronic GVHD. Transplantation of Fas ligand-deficient (gld) spleen cells did not induce host lymphocyte depletion in target organs. These results indicate that donor T cells augment type 1 T helper immune responses and deplete the host lymphocytes from target organs mainly by Fas-mediated pathways in acute GVHD, while donor T cells augment type 2 T helper immune responses and expand host splenic B cells and hepatic NK1.1+ T cells in chronic GVHD.

Plasma triglyceride-rich lipoprotein remnants as a risk factor of 'Pokkuri disease'

In our recent report, it remained unclear whether or not triglyceride-rich lipoprotein remnants (RLP) were associated with the risk of sudden coronary death in younger cases without coronary atherosclerosis that were detected in about 10% of all sudden coronary death cases in Japan. These cases were categorized as 'origin unknown, but suspected to be due to coronary spasm', the so called 'pokkuri disease' in Japan. The present study population consisted of 108 sudden death cases without coronary atherosclerosis [(pokkuri disease n=57) and non-cardiac sudden death (control n=51)] aged 20-69 years from Kanagawa prefecture in Japan. All individuals had died suddenly and unexpectedly, most had no significant history of medical conditions including cardiac symptoms and had not taken medications prior to death according to their medical records. All the autopsies were performed within 12 h after death. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), phospholipids, RLP-C and RLP-TG, VLDL-C, LDL-C, HDL-C, apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, B, C-II, C-III, E, Lp (a) and homocysteine were measured in postmortem plasma samples. The TG-rich lipoprotein remnants measured as RLP-C and RLP-TG were significantly higher in pokkuri disease compared with controls both in fasting and postprandial states (P<0.05 and P<0.001), indicating that RLP-C and RLP-TG were the most significant risk factor in pokkuri disease among the parameters tested in this study. In conclusion the TG level in RLP (RLP-TG) appeared to be strongly associated with the risk of sudden death in the absence of coronary atherosclerosis (pokkuri disease).

Hepatocyte growth factor ameliorates acute graft-versus-host disease and promotes hematopoietic function

Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and is characterized by hematopoietic dysfunction, immunosuppression, and tissue injury in the skin, liver, and intestinal mucosa. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), originally identified and cloned as a potent mitogen for hepatocytes, induces mitogenic and antiapoptotic activity in various epithelial cells and promotes hematopoiesis. Working in a murine model of acute GVHD, we performed repeated transfection of the human HGF cDNA into skeletal muscle and showed that this treatment inhibited apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells and donor T-cell infiltration into the liver, thereby ameliorating the enteropathy and liver injury caused by acute GVHD. HGF also markedly suppressed IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha expression in the intestine and liver and decreased the serum IL-12. Furthermore, extramedullary hematopoiesis by donor cells was increased, and the survival rate was improved. These results suggest that HGF may be useful for controlling acute GVHD after allogeneic BMT.

Rapid determination of cyanide and azide in beverages by microdiffusion spectrophotometric method

A rapid screening method was developed for the determination of the toxic volatile anions, cyanide and azide, in beverages. This method consisted of a microdiffusion extraction combined with spectrophotometry using the Konig cyanide reaction and ferric azide complex formation in conjugation with cerium azide oxido-reduction. The time required to achieve full recovery in the extraction of hydrogen cyanide and hydrazoic acid from samples was considerably shortened by increasing the diffusion temperature from 25 degrees C to 40 degrees C. The time required to achieve saturated color development in the Konig cyanide reaction was also shortened by increasing incubation temperature to 40 degrees C. The interference in both azide color reactions was examined for volatile compounds. Cyanide interfered only in the case of ferric azide complex formation. Sulfide, sulfate, nitrite, and acetic acid interfered in both the color reactions. The established method gave a detection limit of 6 microM for cyanide and 0.5mM for azide, and it required only 1 h to determine both anions. Cyanide and azide disappeared by evaporation from beverages during 25 degrees C storage under open conditions in a pH-dependent manner as a function of their respective pKa values of 9.2 and 4.6.

Effect of pedological characteristics on aqueous soil extraction recovery and tert-butyldimethylsilylation yield for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of nerve gas hydrolysis products from soils

Detection and identification of alkyl methylphosphonate (RMPA) and methylphosphonate (MPA) are performed to verify the existence of nerve gases by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after tert-butyldimethylsilylation (TBDMS). However, it is sometimes difficult to detect RMPA and MPA in soils. This study examines the relationship between the pedological characteristics and the aqueous extraction recoveries and TBDMS derivatization yields of ethyl-, isopropyl- and pinacolyl methylphosphonate and MPA for 21 soil samples. The aqueous extraction recoveries were measured directly by capillary electrophoresis. Andosols showed low extraction recoveries, while Regosols and Fluvisols showed high recoveries. RMPA were extracted with higher recoveries than MPA from all soils. MPA could not be extracted from Andosols. Within the pedological characteristics, phosphate absorption coefficients showed a strong negative correlation with the extraction recoveries of all phosphonates. The levels of RMPA and MPA in aqueous soil extracts were also determined for eight soils by GC-MS after TBDMS. Compared to the aqueous extraction recoveries, the yields of TBDMS derivatives were low. Strong anion exchange led to a significant improvement in derivatization yields. The efficiencies of TBDMS derivatization were inversely correlated with the levels of alkaline earth metals extractable from soils when the three soils that possessed high total carbon were excluded.