A cell-free extract of Salmonella typhimurium inhibits mitogen-induced proliferation of murine splenic T lymphocytes

In this study, a cell-free extract of Salmonella inhibited T cell mitogen-induced proliferation of spleen cells from non-immunized mice. The proliferation of murine spleen cells stimulated with a T cell mitogen, such as phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (ConA) was suppressed significantly when the cells were treated with a sonicate of S. typhimurium, but not of E. coli. The agent(s) responsible for the suppressive effect existed mainly in the soluble fraction of S. typhimurium, whereas the membrane fraction possessed minimal activity. The T cell proliferation suppression paralleled the level of interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion. Addition of phorbol 12-myristate-13 acetate (PMA) to the cultures restored IL-2 secretion to normal levels, although proliferation remained suppressed and was not reversed by treatment with recombinant IL-2. These results suggest that the suppression of T cell proliferation induced by a soluble Salmonella fraction is associated with inhibition of IL-2 secretion and the response of T cells to IL-2 and the former effect is dependent upon the inhibition of the stimulatory activity of protein kinase C on IL-2 secretion. This type of suppression may explain a mechanism of immunosuppression induced by murine typhoid fever.

c-erbB-2 Oncoprotein expression is associated with poor prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix

BACKGROUND

A polyclonal antihuman c-erbB-2 oncoprotein antibody recognized c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in routinely formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens.

METHODS

Specimens taken from 192 patients with Stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with radiation therapy alone were investigated for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression using an immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS

Cancer cells that were positive for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein showed a surface membrane staining pattern. Of the 192 patients, 143 were negative for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, 12 were weakly positive or ambiguous, 31 were positive, and 6 were strongly positive. The 5-year survival rate of the 155 patients who tested c-erbB-2 negative or weakly positive was significantly better than that of the 37 patients whose results were positive or strongly positive (61% versus 41%, P = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

c-erbB-2 Oncoprotein expression in cancer cells may imply a poor prognosis for patients with Stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with radiation therapy alone.

Effect of low-intensity argon laser irradiation on mitochondrial respiration

We studied influences of low-intensity argon laser irradiation at various wavelengths on mitochondrial respiration in vitro. Isolated guinea pig liver mitochondria were suspended in an isotonic buffer solution (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C). The mitochondrial suspension was introduced into a constant temperature reaction chamber in which an irradiation fiber, a thermocouple, an oxygen electrode, and a stirrer were installed. Under respiratory conditions of state 4, state 3, and uncoupled respiration, mitochondrial oxygen consumption was measured during low-intensity argon laser irradiations at 351nm, 458 nm, and 514.5 nm. The 351 nm and the 458 nm irradiations at 200 mW inhibited uncoupled respiration by 19% and 11%, respectively, and the irradiation at 351 nm inhibited state 3 respiration as well by 10%. In contrast, the 514.5 nm irradiation enhanced both state 3 and uncoupled respiration by 6-7%. Temperature reference experiments indicated that the thermal effect alone could not account for the effects of laser irradiation on mitochondrial oxygen consumption. These results suggest that the 351 nm and the 458 nm laser irradiation may injure the mitochondrial inner membrane, while the 514.5 nm laser irradiation may slightly promote the rate of ATP synthesis.

Histochemical and ultrastructural analyses of glandular differentiation in typical carcinoid tumor of the hindgut

Adenomatous differentiation of typical carcinoid tumors was examined by histochemical and ultrastructural studies on 33 cases of typical carcinoids of the hindgut. Of these 33 carcinoids, 12 (36%) showed a tubular and/or acinar pattern with production of mucus as a minor component. A few tumor cells with mucous globules were scattered among tubules in these carcinoids. Ultrastructurally, microvilli were seen along the luminal surface of tubules, with both numerous mucous globules in the supranuclear area and endocrine granules in basal sites of the same cells. These results indicate that even in typical carcinoid tumors, certain tumor cells have the features of goblet cells or the open type of endocrine cells. The findings of both mucous globules and endocrine granules in the same single cells indicate a close relationship between endocrine cells and mucus-producing and/or tubule-forming cells. It is concluded that pluripotential cells producing carcinoid tumors might be able to differentiate into three types of tumor cells: (i) endocrine cells without microvilli or mucus production; (ii) cells with microvilli and no mucus product; and (iii) mucus-containing cells with microvilli.

Improved sensitivity and decreased sample size in a cytotoxicity test for biomaterials: a modified colony microassay using a microplate and crystal violet staining

Modified Eagle's minimum essential medium supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum was highly sensitive to cytotoxicity and formed large control colonies in the V79 colony assay. A highly sensitive cytotoxicity test was developed using 96-well microtiter plates. Test chemicals or extracts of polyurethane materials containing the same chemicals were added 24 h after inoculation of cell suspensions. The cells were fixed and stained with crystal violet after additional culture for 6 days (V79 cells) or 10 days (Balb/3T3 cells). In terms of sensitivity and rapid quantitative measurement, this modified colony microassay, using a low cell density in 96-well microplates, was superior to various cytotoxicity tests such as colony, growth inhibition, cytolethality, and agar diffusion assays.

Different reactivity with monoclonal anti-tubulin antibodies between native and fixed mitotic microtubules in sea urchin eggs

The effect on fixation on the reactivities of mitotic microtubules with monoclonal anti-tubulin antibodies was investigated by the indirect immunofluorescence procedure. All of the seven antibodies used intensely stained mitotic microtubules in sea urchin eggs lysed and fixed with methanol at -20 degrees C, whereas only two of them stained the stabilized microtubules in the lysed eggs before the fixation. The other five did not stain the mitotic microtubules even after microtubule components other than tubulin were removed by treating the lysed eggs with 0.4 M KCl solution containing taxol. These results exclude the possibility that the fixation affects proteins, which interact with microtubules including microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) and interfere with the binding of monoclonal antibodies with tubulin, and strongly suggest that the fixation directly affects the three-dimensional conformation of tubulin. Furthermore, microinjection of these antibodies indicated the results as follows [combining the results reported previously; Oka et al., 1990: Cell Struct. Funct. 15: 373-378]: The antibodies which stained mitotic microtubules stabilized in the lysed eggs induced disassembly of native mitotic microtubules in the living eggs, but those which did not stain the stabilized microtubules did not disassemble the native microtubules. From these results, it is suggested that the monoclonal antibodies which stain microtubules in the eggs lysed but not fixed are useful for microinjection experiments.

Effect of ooplast activation on the development of oocytes following nucleus transfer in cattle

We assessed the effect of ooplast (enucleated oocytes) activation prior to receiving a donor nucleus on the development of nucleus transferred oocytes in cattle. The ooplasts were activated by electric stimulus at 30, 33, 36 and 39 h after being placed in culture medium for meiotic maturation. The activated ooplasts were further cultured in vitro, for a total 42 h from the beginning of maturation, 16- to 32-cell stage embryos produced by in vitro fertilization were used as donor embryos. The nucleus transferred oocytes were co-cultured with bovine oviductal epithelial cells in vitro. The fusion rate was not different between the activated (90%) and aged (94%) ooplasts 42 h after culture. Activated ooplasts receiving a donor nucleus showed a higher developmental rate than the aged ooplasts. Maximal development of the oocytes was obtained if the ooplast was activated at 9 h prior to receiving a donor nucleus. Thirty-nine percent developed to morulae and 24% to blastocysts. This compares (P<0.01) with 13% of the aged ooplasts developing to morulae and 8% to blastocysts. Of the activated ooplasts at 3, 6 and 12 h prior to fusion with a donor blastomere, 12, 16 and 13% developed to blastocysts, respectively. Of the 17 recipient cows receiving nucleus transferred embryos, 9 (53%) were diagnosed pregnant by palpation per rectum examination, and 3 normal offspring were obtained.

In vivo phosphorylation sites in fetal and adult rat tau

Fetal tau and tau in paired helical filaments show similar immunoreactivities with several phosphorylation-dependent paired helical filament-polyclonals and monoclonals, suggesting that the two molecules share several distinct phosphorylated epitopes. To make clear the similarities and differences between the two, we have undertaken work to identify the in vivo phosphorylation sites in fetal rat tau. We have approached this problem by identifying phosphopeptides by means of mass spectrometry and sequencing of those phosphopeptides after modification with ethanethiol. Although remarkable heterogeneity was present, fetal tau was found to bear at most 10 phosphates at Ser-189, Ser-190, Ser-193, Ser-226, Ser-387, Ser-395, Thr-172, Thr-222, and, presumably, Ser-391 and Thr-208 (numbering is according to the longest form of rat tau; Kosik, K. S., Orecchio, L. D., Bakalis, S., and Neve, R. L. (1989) Neuron 2, 1389-1397). In contrast, adult rat tau was much less phosphorylated; only Thr-172, Ser-190, Ser-193, Thr-222, and Ser-395 were phosphorylated to a slight-to-moderate extent. All these sites except for Ser-189 and Ser-391 were followed by Pro residues. Thus, tau is an in vivo substrate for proline-directed protein kinase(s), and its phosphorylation state is developmentally regulated.

Microtubule-associated proteins, MAP 1A and MAP 1B, interact with F-actin in vitro

Microtubule-associated protein (MAP) 1 consisting of MAP 1A and 1B was purified from rat brain by the poly-L-aspartic acid (PLAA) method. We found that MAP 1 bound to F-actin in vitro up to a molar ratio of MAP 1 to actin monomers of 1:10. The apparent binding constant was about 2.7 x 10(7) M-1. In contrast to the binding of MAP 2 or tau to F-actin, the binding of MAP 1 to F-actin did not affect the low-shear viscosity of actin filaments. Binding experiments performed using fragments of MAP 1, obtained by chymotrypsin digestion, indicated that MAP 1 included binding domains to F-actin that were different from those in microtubules and also two light chains (31 and 29 kDa) that were cosedimented with F-actin as well as with microtubules.

Immunosuppression induced by Salmonella involves inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation in murine T lymphocytes

It is well known that facultative intracellular pathogens such as Salmonella suppress the host immune system. In the present study we attempted to clarify the mechanism responsible for the suppression of T-cell proliferation in mice infected with Salmonella typhimurium. The proliferation of murine spleen cells stimulated with a T-cell mitogen such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (ConA) was significantly suppressed when the mice were infected with S. typhimurium, but not with Escherichia coli. The suppression of T-cell proliferation did not necessarily parallel the level of interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion, and was not restored by treatment with a calcium ionophore, indomethacin or IL-2. Only phorbol 12-myristate-13 acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), caused a slight recovery of cell proliferation with an augmentation of IL-2 secretion. Furthermore, Western blotting using anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies showed that the mitogen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of 120-, 106-, 94-, 76-, 68- and 57-kDa proteins in murine splenic T-cells was inhibited by S. typhimurium infection. Also, the inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation was not restored by treatment with PMA. These results suggest that the suppression of T-cell proliferation induced by Salmonella infection may be regulated by inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation in T-cells, although the inhibition is not associated with PKC activation and subsequent IL-2 secretion of T cells.

[Protective effect of a human immunoglobulin preparation on mouse experimental infection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus]

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) selectively increased by extensive chemotherapy is now one of the major causative agents of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Immunotherapy should be applied because this infection is based on the immunocompromised state of the patients. But this therapy has not been applied because S. aureus is known to have protein A which binds to the Fc portion of IgG and blocks phagocytosis through Fc receptor of phagocytic cells which plays the major role for the killing of infected bacteria in vivo. It should be known that MRSA strains often did not express protein A. Recently isolated MRSA strains were collected from three medical institutions and examined for their expression of protein A. Incidences of protein A-negative strains were different among institutions. It was found that more than a half of the strains from a general hospital which expressed typical heat sensitive methicillin resistance did not express protein A, but that incidences of protein A-negative strains were around 20% in the MRSA strains of a complicated history from a university hospital and a research center. All protein A-negative strains were found to be agglutinated by a commercially available immunoglobulin preparation (Venilon). And this immunoglobulin was proved to have a protective effect for the mouse experimental infections of these protein A-negative MRSA strains.

The state of the art of CO laser angioplasty system

A unique percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty system using new infrared therapy laser with infrared glass fiber delivery under novel angioscope guidance was described. Carbon monoxide (CO) laser emission of 5 mm in wavelength was employed as therapy laser to achieve precise ablation of atheromatous plaque with a flexible As-S infrared glass fiber for laser delivery. We developed the first medical CO laser as well as As-S infrared glass fiber cable. We also developed 5.5 Fr. thin angioscope catheter with complete directional manipulability at its tip. The system control unit could manage to prevent failure irradiations and fiber damages. This novel angioplasty system was evaluated by a stenosis model of mongrel dogs. We demonstrated the usefulness of our system to overcome current issues on laser angioplasty using multi-fiber-catheter with over-the-guidewire system.

[A human monoclonal antibody cocktail for experimental mouse infection with clinically isolated strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa]

A human IgG monoclonal antibody cocktail against Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotypes A, B, E, G, I, and M (MCA5) was tested for its therapeutic effect on the infected mice with clinically isolated P. aeruginosa strains. More than 80% of the collected strains were found to belong to the above six serotypes. Direct agglutination with MCA5 gave slight reduced rates, but over 70% of the strains were agglutinated with MCA5. Fifty percent lethal doses of the representative strains to mice (LD50) were estimated, and 50% protective doses of MCA5 to the infected mice with 5 LD50 of the strains (ED50) were determined. MCA5 was found not to be protective to all the infected mice with above six serotypes but protective only to the mice infected with the agglutinated strains. Confirmation of the agglutination of the causative organism with MCA5 is required for the treatment by MCA5. ED50 for a clinically isolated strain and the virulent stock strain were determined under the various challenge doses. It was found that ED50 increased in parallel with the increase of challenged doses but did not change depending on the virulence of the infected strains. These results indicated that this cocktail worked as opsonin. Opsogenic anti-O IgG antibody could be most effective to protect the opportunistic infections caused by the bacteria which have not so powerful exotoxins.

[Roentgenographical and anatomical study of the midcarpal joint--morphology and degenerative change of ulnar side]

The present investigator has studied the following anatomic variations and degenerative changes of the articular cartilage of the ulnar side of the midcarpal joint: the perforation of the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC), and the ruptures of the scapholunate and lunotriquetral interosseous ligaments (S-L lig., L-T lig.). The materials were 127 wrist joints obtained from 66 cadavers (age 32-95, average age 74) and were studied radiographically and anatomically. Two types of the ulnar side of the midcarpal joint were classified radiographically and anatomically. In the first type, there was no articulation present between the hamate and the lunate in 42.5% of the dissected specimens. In the second type, there was an articulation present between the hamate and the lunate in 57.5% of the dissected specimens. Wrists of the second type correlated significantly with the ulnar shift ratio of lunate on the radiographical measurement (p < 0.01). Significant cartilage erosion and exposed subchondral bone were found at the joints of the second type. There was no correlation between the TFC perforation, the carpal interosseous ligament ruptures and degenerative changes of the articular cartilage of the ulnar side of the midcarpal joint.

Local control prediction by histologic grading or radiation effects with drill biopsy specimens for uterine cervical cancer

PURPOSE

Local control predictability by histologic grading for radiation effects was analyzed on 224 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinomas obtaining complete regression.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The cervical specimens after radiation therapy were obtained by drill biopsy technic. Radiation effect was assessed with Shimosato's histologic classification for radiation effect.

RESULTS

The cancer tissues were altered by radiation to various degree from destruction of cancer nests with numerous viable cancer cells indicating grade 2a to scar tissues without viable or non-viable cancer cells indicating grade 4 at the end of treatment. Forty five percent of the patients had viable cancer cells remaining on the specimens at that time. The numbers of the grades 2a, 2b, 3, and 4 in biopsy specimens were 36, 65, 39, and 84, respectively. The local control rates and 5-year survival rates were 53% and 28% for grades 2a, 75% and 51% for grade 2b, 95% and 74% for grade 3, and 92% and 76% for grade 4, respectively. The histologic grading was significantly associated with the local control and 5-year survival. Of 41 patients having remaining viable cancer cells, residual tumors disappeared in 33 patients (80%) and 8 (20%) still persisted to show grades 2a-b at 1 to 2 months after radiotherapy. Of the 8, all four patients without any salvage treatment, died of local recurrence.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that the remaining viable cancer cells in the specimens at 1 to 2 months after radiation therapy were highly associated with recurrence and that the histologic grading system was an indicator predictive for prognosis.

MEN type 1 associated with mediastinal carcinoid producing parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and chorionic gonadotropin

A 34-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital with a mediastinal tumor. Laboratory data showed high levels of calcitonin (CT), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the serum. Surgery was performed, but the tumor could not be completely resected. The patient died in the 10th postoperative month due to systemic metastasis and cachexia. At autopsy, diffuse parathyroid hyperplasia and multiple islet cell tumors of the pancreas were found. A pathological diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1 associated with mediastinal atypical carcinoid tumor was made. Immunohistochemical study indicated the tumor cells of the mediastinum to be positively stained for hCG beta but not for PTH or CT. The tumor tissue contained significantly high levels of CT, PTH and whole hCG. This is the first case report on MEN type 1 associated with mediastinal carcinoid tumor producing PTH, CT and hCG beta.

PET imaging of non-small-cell lung carcinoma with carbon-11-methionine: relationship between radioactivity uptake and flow-cytometric parameters

Carbon-11-methionine PET scans were obtained from 24 patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma for whom surgical treatment was considered. The tumor mass was visualized with clear delineation. After PET scanning, the tumor was removed by lobectomy or pulmonectomy. The tumor tissue was first processed to yield tumor cell suspensions and then subjected to DNA flow cytometry. Comparison between 11C uptake rate and flow-cytometric data gave the following results: 11C uptake rate in the tumor correlated well with the cellular DNA content (DNA index) of tumor cells at the resting state of cell division (G0 + G1-phase) (r = 0.67). The correlation between 11C uptake rate and S-phase cell percentage was markedly high (r = 0.76), and the correlation between 11C uptake rate and S+G2/M-phase cell percentage was extremely high (r = 0.86). It was concluded that the tumor uptake rate of 11C-methionine was representative of tumor growth rate in this tumor type.

Substrate specificity of alkaline proteases from Cephalosporium sp. KM388

Serine alkaline proteases from Cephalosporium sp. KM388 were specific against esters of aromatic and hydrophobic amino acids. Against oxidized insulin B-chain, the enzymes initially cleaved the site of Leu-Tyr(15-16). The cleavage specificity of KM388 protease D was broader than those of other alkaline proteases, and the site of Arg-Gly(22-23) was cleaved, which is a specific site for trypsin-like protease.

Technical considerations and intermediate-term results with modified DeVega tricuspid annuloplasty

Because of unsatisfactory long-term results with current DeVega tricuspid annuloplasty, 43 patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation associated with mitral disease were treated with a modified DeVega operation. This procedure continues the suture line to the tendon of Todaro, resulting in almost circumferential traction of the tricuspid annulus. The suture is tied securely around a 29-mm or 31-mm (for women and men, respectively) ball-shaped obturator. Atrioventricular block was not observed. One patient died during the early postoperative period. During a mean(s.d.) follow-up of 5.0(2.0) years, one patient died from causes unrelated to tricuspid regurgitation 2 years after surgery. The mean(s.d.) functional class (New York Heart Association) was 3.1(0.5) on admission and improved to 1.2(0.4) at the end of follow-up. The mean(s.d.) cardiothoracic ratio improved from 67(6) to 60(5)% at 1 month after operation and was 59(5)% at the final examination. Preoperative Doppler echocardiography revealed a mean(s.d.) regurgitation grade of 2.7(0.7). (Grades 1-4 are equivalent to mild, moderate, severe and massive regurgitation, respectively.) At 1 month, regurgitation was corrected almost completely in all patients (grade 0.2(0.4)) and remained significantly improved at follow-up (grade 0.5(0.6)). The actuarial freedom rate at 5 years for moderate or severe regurgitation (> grade 2) was 93%. This modification of the DeVega technique substantially improved early and late tricuspid valve competence.

Deuterium chemical shift imaging for the estimation of cerebral perfusion in rabbit infarction model

In order to develop a new technique for the measurement of local cerebral blood flow (CBF), the deuterium chemical shift imaging (2H-CSI) technique, an application of in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), was used for the estimation of cerebral perfusion in rabbit infarction model. The 2H chemical shift images of rabbit brain were obtained every 30 seconds before and after intravenous injection of deuterated saline. The changes in 2H NMR signal intensity documented that the cerebral perfusion in the damaged area due to infarction decreased obviously compared to that in the intact area. These findings indicate that the 2H-CSI technique can be applied to the measurement of local CBF. The readily availability and limited toxicity of deuterated water may make possible to use this method in clinical cases.

[Changes in human evoked spinal potentials (ESP) by epidural lidocaine]

Controversies exist on the sites of action of epidural anesthesia. Leading opinion says that it works on spinal nerve root. We examined ESP and tactile sensations in 4 patients during epidural anesthesia with lidocaine to determine the effects of the anesthesia on spinal cord. Prolongation of latency and decrease in amplitude of ESP appeared 10 min after injection of 1.5% lidocaine 4 ml, each parameter reaching maximum value of 115% and 60% of the control value 30 min afterwards, respectively. Then they started to recover slowly, reaching normal values 150 min later. Changes in ESP and tactile sensation were closely related. Decreases in amplitude to 90%, 80%, 60% of the control values were observed for hypesthesia, analgesia, and anesthesia, respectively. We conclude that the spinal cord also is an important site of action of epidural anesthesia.