Relationship of cell survival, drug dose, and drug uptake after 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine treatment

The mechanisms that govern the activity and the factors that control the anticancer activity of synthetic ether lipids have not been fully elucidated. In this study, three factors were studied in relationship to cell survival after treatment with 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3): (1) exposure dose, (2) drug uptake, and (3) cell density and cell-cycle distribution. In BG-1 human ovarian carcinoma cells, cell survival was an exponential function of exposure dose and was dependent on drug concentration. Drug uptake was dependent on the concentration of ET-18-OCH3, whereas the reduction in cell survival was directly related to the uptake of drug only in the first decade of cell kill. When the quantity of cells per flask was tripled from 4 to 12 x 10(6) cells, ET-18-OCH3 failed to induce a G2 block. Furthermore, the cell kill induced by a 72-h exposure to 2 microM ET-18-OCH3 was decreased by a factor of 2 when the cell density increased. Therefore, exposure dose and cell density are important parameters in determining the cell kill induced by ET-18-OCH3.

Do astral microtubules play a role in metaphase chromosome positioning?

From several recent studies on monopolar spindles, it is now clear that a phase analogous to metaphase in bipolar spindles exists in the monopolar spindle, denying the validity of the favored model for metaphase which is based on the balance between two oppositely directed poleward forces acting on the unsplit kinetochores. Faced with this new fact, several investigators have proposed new models for metaphase plate formation which work for both the monopolar and the bipolar spindles. Since astral microtubules are thought to play important roles in certain models, we have investigated the role of astral microtubules in maintaining chromosomes at the metaphase position by using monopolar spindles induced in sea urchin embryo cells. When monopolar spindles were exposed to 1 microM nocodazole, a microtubule depolymerizing agent, most of the astral microtubules were rapidly depolymerized while the kinetochore fibers appeared to be little affected. Chromosomes were locked into the metaphase position for as long as 2 min, indicating that the metaphase chromosome position in sea urchin monopolar spindles can be maintained with little or no astral microtubules. By the effect of the antimitotic drug, kinetochore fibers slowly shortened and chromosomes which were attached to the far end of kinetochore fibers moved toward the pole. On the other hand, the chromosome position rapidly shifted farther away from the pole when monopolar spindles were treated with taxol or D2O. These results indicate that the metaphase chromosome position can be altered by affecting microtubule dynamics, particularly that of the kinetochore fiber microtubules as suggested by the results of the nocodazole experiments.

The route of transmission of hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV) 67N strain in 4-week-old rats

Four-week-old Wistar rats were inoculated with HEV by different routes. Animals died of encephalitis after intraperitoneal (i.p.), subcutaneous (s.c.) and intravenous (i.v.) as well as intracerebral (i.c.) and intranasal (i.n.) inoculation. However when inoculated subcutaneously, rats died a few days earlier than those inoculated i.p. and i.v., suggesting that the virus might be transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS) by the neuronal route rather than by blood stream. Rats which were inoculated subcutaneously at the site of the neck (group A) began to die on day 4 p.i., a few days earlier than animals inoculated in the foot pad of the right leg (group B). On day 2 and 3 after inoculation, the virus titer in the brain was higher in group A, but group B animals showed higher virus titers in the lumber region of spinal cord than group A animals. In order to follow the virus spread from the peripheral nerve to the brain, the virus was inoculated into the sciatic nerve of rats. The inoculated rats developed clinical signs on day 4 and began to die on day 6. On day 2, virus was detected in the posterior half of the spinal cord and migrated toward the anterior half and in the brain where it was present on day 3. The highest virus titers in the brain were recorded on day 4 to 6, meanwhile the virus titers in the spinal cord tend to decrease. By immunohistochemical study, antigen positive neurons were found in the spinal cord and brain on day 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aberrant expression of the monocyte/macrophage phenotype in a human T cell line immortalized by HTLV-I and an adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma cell line

An HTLV-I-immortalized human T cell line (JP-2), a N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-treated JP-2 line (JP-2T), and an adult T cell leukemia cell line (ATL-1T) were examined morphologically and phenotypically. All of these cell lines expressed some T cell markers, including CD4, and showed rearrangement of T cell receptor (TCR) genes, but they lacked CD3 and TCR antigens and expressed some myelomonocytic markers (CD68, HL-21, CD15, CD16). JP-2 cells grew in suspension, but JP-2T and ATL-1T cells, which mostly adhered to the surface of culture vessels, showed macrophage-like morphological features and expressed more monocyte/macrophage markers (lysozyme, alpha 1-antitrypsin) and fibronectin. ATL-1T cells transplanted into SCID mice lost the macrophage features. These results suggest that HTLV-I infected T cells can express some macrophage features and that these cells may provide a model that will be useful in elucidating the phenotypic variability of T cell lymphomas.

Effect of iodinated contrast media on ionic calcium

This study was conducted to characterize the alterations in serum ionized calcium induced by contrast media (CM) and to determine the cause of the change. Fresh human blood samples as well as an electrolyte solution (ES) containing 1.2 mM calcium ions were diluted with CM and alterations in ionized calcium were measured using an electrometer. The CM tested were diatrizoate, iopamidol, iohexol, ioxaglate, isotonic saline, Na2-Ca-EDTA and pure meglumine. When CM were mixed with blood, ionic CM produced a greater decrease in ionized calcium than nonionic CM or saline. When mixed with ES, a significant reduction of ionized calcium was induced by ioxaglate and diatrizoate in comparison with saline. Na2-Ca-EDTA and meglumine caused no reduction in ionized calcium. Ioxaglate and diatrizoate caused calcium binding due to anions; binding induced by the latter was more prominent than that by the former. These observations suggest that a nonionic CM is more desirable for coronary arteriography of high-risk patients.

Therapy of Graves' ophthalmopathy with intravenous high-dose steroid followed by orbital irradiation

We investigated the effects of intravenous high-dose steroid therapy followed by orbital irradiation for Graves' ophthalmopathy in eight patients. All patients presented with diplopia or fixed globes. Extraocular muscle dysfunction showed excellent improvement after the combined therapy; diplopia disappeared completely in five of them, and one patient with fixed globes showed normal eye movement. Two other patients also exhibited great improvement, although their diplopia persisted. Their ophthalmopathy index was decreased from (mean +/- SD) 4.25 +/- 0.82 to 0.75 +/- 1.48. Extraocular muscle enlargement, assessed by magnetic resonance imaging study after the radiotherapy, was also reduced after the combined therapy, although two patients did not show remarkable enlarged extraocular muscles. There was no change in extraocular muscle thickness 6-9 months after the therapy, and the ophthalmopathy index did not show change in a long follow-up (maximum 37 months after the therapy). These results suggest that high-dose methylprednisolone followed by orbital radiotherapy is a good therapeutic design for Graves' ophthalmopathy and justify a prospective randomized trial.

Malignant schwannoma of the intrathoracic vagus nerve: report of a case

We report herein the case of a 48-year-old man with malignant schwannoma of the intrathoracic vagus nerve associated with von Recklinghausen's disease. Malignant intrathoracic vagal tumors are extremely rare and to our knowledge, only four other cases have been documented in the literature, none of which were associated with von Recklinghausen's disease.

Stimulation of liver growth by exogenous human hepatocyte growth factor in normal and partially hepatectomized rats

Human hepatocyte growth factor stimulates DNA synthesis by cultured rat hepatocytes. When human hepatocyte growth factor prepared from the culture medium of human embryonic lung fibroblasts was intravenously injected into normal rats and rats after 70% hepatectomy, it was detected in hepatocytes but not in nonparenchymal cells isolated 30 min after injection. Similar injections of human hepatocyte growth factor at 2-hr intervals for 10 hr significantly increased hepatic DNA content in normal rats at 48 hr, with increased hepatic content of putrescine, the essential polyamine for hepatic DNA synthesis after 70% hepatectomy, and activities of catalytic enzymes of putrescine synthesis at 6 hr almost to the levels in rats after 70% hepatectomy. Those levels in rats after 70% hepatectomy were further enhanced by similar injections of human hepatocyte growth factor starting immediately after surgery. Increased hepatic DNA content in normal rats and rats after 70% hepatectomy was also seen with recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor to a greater extent compared with that seen with human hepatocyte growth factor. In normal rats given recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-labeled and mitotic hepatocytes were significantly increased in number at 26 hr but not at 48 hr. We conclude that exogenous human hepatocyte growth factor acts as a trigger and a promoter of liver growth to increase hepatic putrescine production in rats. Recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor is more potent than human hepatocyte growth factor in this action.

HTLV-II-specific antisera raised in rabbits immunized with a synthetic peptide of HTLV-II envelope protein

In order to discriminate HTLV-II from HTLV-I, HTLV-II-specific polyclonal antibodies against a synthetic peptide of HTLV-II envelope sequence were raised in rabbits. We immunized two adult rabbits with a KLH-conjugated synthetic peptide corresponding to the amino acid sequence 171-196 of the HTLV-II envelope sequence, which is a specific region for HTLV-II as evaluated with an ELISA method. The resulting rabbit antisera to the synthetic peptide reacted with gp46 of HTLV-II lysates in Western blot analysis but not with that of HTLV-I. Flow cytometric analysis and immunohistochemical study revealed that these affinity purified antisera recognized some HTLV-II-producing cell lines examined, but not HTLV-I-producing cell lines or other cell lines uninfected by HTLV. These findings indicate that these antisera specifically recognized the envelope glycoprotein (gp46) of HTLV-II and suggest the specificity of this region in the immune response to HTLV-II. Such antisera are useful in distinguishing between HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection and in determining the presence of individual HTLV-II-infected cells both in vivo and in vitro, including non-lymphoid cells. They may also assist in the elucidation of the pathogenesis of HTLV-II.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) using a heterobifunctional cross-linking agent, N-[beta-(4-diazophenyl)ethyl]maleimide

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) was first labeled with an enzyme, beta-D-galactosidase (beta-Gal; EC 3.2.1.23), using N-[beta-(4-diazophenyl)ethyl]maleimide (DPEM) as a heterobifunctional cross-linking agent. An antigen was similarly prepared by coupling LH-RH to mercaptosuccinylated bovine serum albumin with DPEM and was used for the immunization of rabbits for antibodies against LH-RH. A new, simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for LH-RH was developed by using the principle of direct competition between LH-RH and beta-Gal-labeled LH-RH for anti-LH-RH IgG which had been adsorbed to the plastic surface of microtiter plates. LH-RH concentrations lower than 50 pg/assay well were measurable reproducibly by the ELISA, the sensitivity of which was found to be about 6250 times greater than the corresponding high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure. The specificity of this ELISA seems to be primarily toward the C-terminal region of LH-RH, showing a cross-reaction with the LH-RH6-10 fragment to the same extent as with LH-RH, but no cross-reaction with the LH-RH1-3 and LH-RH4-6 fragments. Using this assay, LH-RH levels were easily measured in the blood and urine of rats following the administration of LH-RH in a single dose of 0.5 mg/kg i.v. The present, newly developed ELISA is a nonradioactive, inexpensive and rapid method, and might be useful for elucidating experimental hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad interactions.

A new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for spermidine using glutaraldehyde coupling of the hapten to carrier-coated microtiter plates

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for small molecular haptens needs conjugates of the hapten with larger protein molecules for coating the wells of microtiter plates. The formation of such conjugates is not always reproducible. This makes it difficult to evaluate hapten-protein stoichiometries and to understand the precise orientation of the hapten on the protein. In this paper we describe an assay in which the polyamine spermidine (Spd) is coupled with glutaraldehyde (GA) to carrier poly-L-lysine (PL) or human serum albumin (HSA) coated on polystyrene microtiter wells. Each step of the assay was tested for maximum efficiency. This ELISA detected Spd with excellent reproducibility (coefficient of variation = 5.9%), an EC50 of 4.3 x 10(-6) M and a detection limit of 0.1 x 10(-6) M. The present ELISA was about 100 times more sensitive in detecting Spd than a conventional ELISA for Spd using a Spd-HSA conjugate for coating microtiter wells. The Spd antiserum showed 215% cross-reaction with N1-acetyl-Spd, 30.7% with N8-acetyl-Spd, 10% with spermine, 3.3% with cadaverine, 1.7% with putrescine, and less than 0.43% with 1,3-diaminopropane in the new ELISA system. A much higher degree of hapten binding to the plate occurred with the present method than with the previously reported method using microtiter wells activated directly with GA. The hapten conjugation is simple, reproducible and should provide a general method for developing ELISAs, not only for polyamines but also for amino acid and small peptides.

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the gcv operon encoding the Escherichia coli glycine-cleavage system

P-protein, H-protein and T-protein of the glycine cleavage system have been purified from Escherichia coli. Their N-terminal amino acid sequences were determined, and a set of oligonucleotide probes was designed for gene cloning. The nucleotide sequence of a fragment of DNA around the 62-min region of the E. coli chromosome, containing genes for the components of the glycine-cleavage system has been determined. The sequence includes three structural genes encoding T-protein (363 amino acids, 40013 Da), H-protein (128 amino acids, 13679 Da) and P-protein (956 amino acids, 104240 Da). These genes are named gcvT, gcvH and gcvP, respectively. They are organized in the above-mentioned order on the same strand of DNA with short intercistronic sequences. The presence of a potential promoter preceding gcvT and a typical rho-independent terminator sequence following gcvP indicated that the three genes constitute a single operon. Each component of the E. coli glycine-cleavage system exhibits considerable amino acid sequence similarity with the animal and plant counterparts. When the plasmid containing the gcv operon was transfected in E. coli cells, the gene products of gcvT, gcvH and gcvP were overexpressed under the direction of the promoter of the gcv operon. However, bacteria harboring the plasmid that contained the gcv operon without the promoter region and the 5' terminal portion of gcvT failed to overexpress any of the three components.

Current topics of immunohistochemistry as applied to skin tumors

Suppressor oncogene p53 is expressed more frequently in the nodular portion than the superficial spreading portion of the same melanoma. PCNA expression follows the same pattern but it is strongly expressed already in the superficial spreading portion. CD34 is found to label dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. There is the mixture of negative strands but the immunostains are predominantly positive in the three cases studied. Neurogenic tumors are reactive but the intensity of staining is only moderate. Fibrous histiocytoma, dermatofibroma and other fibrohistiocytic tumors are non-reactive. CD34 is expressed in the outer root sheath of hair follicle below the sebaceous gland level. A case of piloepidermal cyst is CD34 positive. CD34 is expressed in vascular endothelial cells; not only hemangiomas but also lymphangiosarcoma is CD34 positive. A case of indeterminate cell histiocytosis following scabies and superficial variant of clear cell sarcoma are discussed as examples of new entities.

Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin administration on immunological indices in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis

In patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, marked anemia may cause decreased immunological function. To improve this anemia, we investigated the effect on immunological indices of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) administration in 24 hemodialysis patients (13 males and 11 females) with renal anemia complications. Their mean age was 54.9 +/- 14.8 years and the mean duration of dialysis was 100.5 +/- 54.9 months. The subjects were treated with rHuEPO for 12 months, which helped to maintain a hematocrit value elevated by 5% from the baseline. Cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity were assessed prior to as well as throughout the treatment period. Of the total number of patients studied, the anemia of 16 improved while 8 did not show signs of sufficient improvement. The improved group showed an increase in in vitro lymphocytic response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), CD4/CD8, CD16 and serum IgM levels, while the CD8 level decreased significantly. Improvement in the general physical condition with rHuEPO treatment appeared to be associated with the changes in immunological indices, but the precise mechanism remains obscure.

Serum levels of transforming growth factor-alpha in patients after partial hepatectomy as determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring serum transforming growth factor-alpha levels was developed with monoclonal IgM and polyclonal IgG antihuman transforming growth factor-alpha antibodies and a system to amplify the activity of the conjugated enzyme. The assay detected serum transforming growth factor-alpha levels as low as 5 pg/ml. Serum transforming growth factor-alpha levels were below the detection limit of the assay in 19% of healthy adults, with a mean (+/- S.D.) detectable level of 22.0 +/- 16.7 pg/ml. In 13 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy, serum transforming growth factor-alpha levels were determined serially after surgery. The levels were increased within 28 days of surgery in all the patients, with a mean maximal level of 118.2 +/- 90.8 pg/ml. The maximal level achieved in each case correlated significantly with the resected volume of the liver and the increased volume of the remaining liver 28 days after hepatectomy (r = 0.59, p < 0.05, and r = 0.71, p < 0.005, respectively). In contrast, serum transforming growth factor-alpha levels showed no increase after laparotomy for nonhepatic surgery. Serum transforming growth factor-alpha levels may vary depending on the regenerative stimulus and reflect the degree to which liver regeneration will occur in patients after partial hepatectomy.

[Squamous papillomatosis of the left main bronchus and trachea: a case report]

A 49-year-old female complaining of dyspnea at exercise was admitted. Bronchoscopic examination revealed that the left main bronchus was almost obstructed by a tumor. A sleeve resection of the left main bronchus was performed. Histological examination confirmed that the tumor was squamous papilloma. After one year and eight months, bronchofiber examination disclosed papilloma in the trachea. Therefore, papilloma was treated with endoscopic methods, including Nd-YAG laser. The patient has survived for 11 years since first treatment.

Effects of hepatic enzyme inducers and mitogens on experimental Tyzzer's disease in rats

We studied the effects of chemicals which induce liver enlargement and can induce hepatic protein synthesis on experimental Tyzzer's disease in rats. Plasma transaminase values were evaluated as an indicator of the severity of the disease. Chemicals used were phenobarbital sodium and 3-methylcholanthrene as hepatic enzyme inducers, and lead nitrate and ethylene dibromide as mitogens of hepatocytes. In rats non infected with Tyzzer's organism, liver weight in those treated with these chemicals was higher than that in rats without chemical treatment. Tyzzer's disease-infected rats treated with these chemicals showed higher plasma transaminase values and more severe histopathologic liver lesions than infected rats without chemical treatment. The results indicated that the growth of Tyzzer's organisms in hepatocytes was accelerated in the course of hepatocytic metabolic changes during liver enlargement, and that protein synthesized in the hepatocyte may play an important role in the nutritive requirements of the organism.

Subarachnoid fluid collection in infants complicated by subdural hematoma

In the natural history of infantile extracerebral fluid collections, subarachnoid fluid collection itself is regarded as a benign lesion, and surgical treatment is not indicated. As this condition is age-related and self-limiting, spontaneous resolution can be expected in most cases by 2-3 years of age. However, out of 20 cases of infantile subarachnoid fluid collection in an 8-year period, 3 infants developed subdural hematoma. Infantile subarachnoid fluid collection seems to be prone to complicate subdural hematoma. Surgical treatment should be considered when subarachnoid fluid collection is complicated by subdural hematoma due to arachnoid ruptures or tearing of the bridging veins. Therefore, all patients should be observed closely and measures should be taken to prevent head trauma since it may precipitate subdural hematoma.

[The sprotte needle decreases the incidence of postspinal headache]

Postspinal headache (PSH) is the most frequent complication of spinal anesthesia. The factors responsible for the development of PSH include needle size, shape of the needle tip, patient's age, sex, infusion volume and period of resting. The purpose of this study is to compare the incidence of PSH between two different types of needle, Sprotte needle and Quincke needle. The Sprotte needle is characterized by a round profiled tip equipped with a lateral orifice. Our investigation by questionnaires revealed that the incidences of PSH after using either 22G Sprotte needle or 21-25G Quincke needle were 0% and 38.8%, respectively. We conclude that the Sprotte needle decrease the incidence of PSH.

[Brain protection on the aortic arch replacement--with deep hypothermic selective cerebral perfusion via right axillary artery]

Graft replacement was performed in the treatment of 31 patients with aneurysm involving the aortic arch from May, 1986 to December, 1992. Of the 31 patients, 16 had true aneurysm, 13 had aortic dissection and 2 had Annuloaortic ectasia. From May 1986 to May 1989, we did not have the policy about brain protection. Since June 1989, we performed the aortic arch surgery with deep hypothermic selective cerebral perfusion via right axillary artery and used open distal anastomosis technique. Besides, we exchanged the perfusion site to the ascending aorta when we finished the selective cerebral perfusion. In that way, brain complication rate was decreased from 57.1% to 11.7% and operative mortality was decreased from 85.7% to 29.1%.