Subcellular distribution of ubiquitin-protein conjugates in the hippocampus following transient ischemia

Ubiquitin-protein conjugates in the hippocampus were analyzed by immunoblotting with a monoclonal anti-ubiquitin antibody. In the CA1 region, Triton X-100 insoluble ubiquitin-protein conjugates increased after 24 hr following 20 min of ischemia. When the total hippocampi were fractionated subcellularly, ubiquitin-protein conjugates increased in the particulate, especially in the mitochondrial fraction. The ubiquitin-protein conjugates were solubilized by SDS, or were partially solubilized by urea. The results indicate that insoluble ubiquitin-protein conjugates increase after ischemia.

[Effect of increase of pulmonary blood flow on segmental pulmonary vascular resistance--with special emphasis on the pulmonary capillary bed]

The decrease of pulmonary vascular resistance with increase of pulmonary blood flow has been attributed to the function of the pulmonary vascular bed, consisting of capillary recruitment or dilatation. However, experimental evidence of a decrease of capillary resistance is lacking. To clarify this phenomenon, we perfused isolated cat lungs with diluted autologous blood and measured pulmonary microvascular pressure while changing pulmonary blood flow rate. We set the initial flow rate to achieve Ppa of 20 cmH2O and changed the flow rate while keeping left atrial pressure (Pla) and alveolar pressure (Palv) constant at 10 cmH2O and 9 cmH2O, respectively. Thereafter, pulmonary flow rate was increased 2 to 3 fold, and pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and venular pressure (Pvo) were measured by venous occlusion method. The initial flow rate was 150 to 270 ml/min and the achieved maximum flow rate was from 300 to 543 ml/min. There was a linear correlation between Ppa, Pvo, and flow rate, in which the slope (rate of increase of pressure with flow) of Ppa was slightly steeper than that of Pvo. We calculated total and segmental pulmonary vascular resistance from the mean pressure-flow relationship. The total and upstream resistance involving arterial and capillary segments decreased hyperbolically with increase in flow rate. The mean upstream resistance decreased about 54%, from 35.20 x 10(-3) (cmH2O/ml/min) at a flow rate of 150 ml/min to 16.27 x 10(-3) (cmH2O/ml/min) at a flow rate of 450 ml/min. The degree of this decrease was similar to the result observed by micropuncture method (Nagasaka, 1990). Downstream resistance, which represents venous resistance, did not change significantly with the flow rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Craniosynostosis in association with medulloblastoma

A case of a 13-month-old boy with craniosynostosis associated with medulloblastoma was presented. Sagittal suture was prematurely closed, and coronal and lambdoid sutures were widely separated. A large infiltrative tumor in the midcerebellar region was partially removed and treated by irradiation and chemotherapy. A review of the current literature failed to reveal a similar report.

Clinical and histopathologic evaluation of the expression of Ha-ras and fes oncogene products in lung cancer

The expression of Ha-ras and fes oncogenes was investigated with the immunohistochemical method in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of 147 lung carcinomas. Positive immunoperoxidase reactions for Ha-ras p21 were found in 80.5% of the adenocarcinomas, 39.5% of the squamous cell carcinomas, 21.4% of the large cell carcinomas, and 15.4% of the small cell carcinomas; those for fes P85 were found in 51.2% of the adenocarcinomas, 26.3% of the squamous cell carcinomas, 35.7% of the large cell carcinomas, and 15.4% of the small cell carcinomas. Both Ha-ras p21 and fes P85 were expressed most frequently and most strongly in adenocarcinoma. In addition, adenocarcinoma showed significantly higher incidence of concomitant expression of Ha-ras p21 and fes P85 as compared with other histologic types of lung cancer. Thus, the authors suggest that the cooperative effects of Ha-ras and fes oncogenes are especially important in the carcinogenesis of adenocarcinoma. In adenocarcinoma, the incidence and grade of Ha-ras p21 expression increased with the degree of histologic differentiation, suggesting that Ha-ras oncogene might be related to cellular differentiation. Papillary adenocarcinoma showed more frequent Ha-ras p21 expression in comparison with acinar adenocarcinoma. In well- or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, the incidence and grade of Ha-ras p21 immunoreactivity in the cases with poor prognosis were significantly higher than in those with good prognosis if other major prognostic factors were equivalent in the two groups. The authors propose that the expression of Ha-ras p21 may be one of the useful prognostic factors in such carcinomas.

Characterization of an abnormal fibrinogen Osaka V with the replacement of gamma-arginine 375 by glycine. The lack of high affinity calcium binding to D-domains and the lack of protective effect of calcium on fibrinolysis

Prolonged thrombin time was completely corrected by the addition of millimolar concentrations of calcium in a new abnormal fibrinogen, Osaka V. Analysis of lysyl endopeptidase digests of A alpha-, B beta-, or gamma-chains by high performance liquid chromatography, and the following amino acid sequence analysis of relevant peptides revealed that about 50% of the gamma-chain has a replacement of gamma-arginine 375 by glycine. When fibrinogen was digested with plasmin in the presence of millimolar concentration of calcium, the amount of fragment D1 was about 50% of the normal control, and the rest was further cleaved to fragment D2, D3, or D62 with an apparent Mr of 62,000. Plasmic digestion of cross-linked fibrin in the presence of calcium resulted in the appearance of an abnormal fragment with an apparent Mr of 123,000 as well as fragments D2, D3, and D62, concomitant with the decrease of D dimer. The gamma-remnant of the abnormal fragment proved to be a cross-linked complex of the normal D1 gamma-remnant and residues 374-406/411 of the abnormal gamma-chain. The number of high affinity Ca(2+)-binding sites for the normal fibrinogen and fibrinogen Osaka V obtained by equilibrium dialysis was 2.88 (about 3) and 1.85, respectively, and that for the abnormal molecules was calculated as 0.9 (about 1) from their relative amounts in the samples, suggesting the lack of two Ca(2+)-binding sites in the D-domains. These data suggest that the normal structure of the COOH-terminal portion of the gamma-chain including residue 375 is required for the full expression of high affinity calcium binding to D-domains, the ability to be protected by calcium against plasmic digestion, and fibrin polymerization. During these studies, we found that the NH2-terminal amino acid of the gamma-remnant in fragments D or D dimer which were obtained after prolonged digestion with plasmin is gamma-Met89.

Interactions between the finger and kringle-2 domains of tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1

We have shown that plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) inhibits the fibrin binding of both the single chain and two chain forms of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) through two different mechanisms. PAI-1 inhibits the finger domain-dependent fibrin binding of diisopropylfluorophosphate-inactivated single chain tPA and the kringle-2 domain-dependent fibrin binding of diisopropylfluorophosphate-inactivated two chain tPA. In accordance with the data, preformed complexes of single chain tPA/PAI-1 and of two chain tPA/PAI-1 lost the fibrin binding abilities mediated by the finger and kringle-2 domains, respectively. These effects of PAI-1 appear to be mediated by steric hindrance of the fibrin binding sites after PAI-1 binding to adjacent regions in the functional domains of tPA. We thus propose a model in which a PAI-1 binding site resides in the finger domain of a single chain, and plays a role in the reversible association of single chain tPA and PAI-1. Conformational changes may take place during the conversion of single chain tPA to two chain tPA, resulting in burying of the original PAI-1 binding site and exposure of an alternate PAI-1 binding site on the surface of the kringle-2 domain.

Survival for clinical stage I lung cancer not surgically treated. Comparison between screen-detected and symptom-detected cases. The Japanese Lung Cancer Screening Research Group

To assess the extent of overdiagnosis bias in lung cancer screening, clinical Stage I lung cancer cases detected by chest radiograph examination, with histologic or cytologic evidence of malignancy and not treated by surgical operation, were followed up for more than 10 years. Of 1297 screen-detected and 1297 symptom-detected cases collected from 20 institutions, 42 screen-detected and 27 symptom-detected cases satisfied the study criteria. In about half of the cases, the patients had no contraindication for surgical treatment, but they refused surgical procedure. All such patients from the screen-detected and symptom-detected groups died within 122 and 67 months, respectively, of diagnosis. Among the screen-detected and symptom-detected cases, 80% and 81%, respectively, of the patients died of lung cancer. The median survival time was 25 and 13 months for those in the screen-detected and symptom-detected groups, respectively. The difference in survival was statistically significant between the two groups, which indicated the effect of lead time and length-biased sampling. Analysis of the causes of death other than lung cancer showed that there was no difference in the observed cumulative rates of deaths of other causes between the two groups, and these figures were almost the same as those expected from the general population. This indicates that overdiagnosis bias would be minimal in screen-detected lung cancer cases detected by chest radiograph examination.

Inhibition of cephalic neural tube closure by 5-azacytidine in neurulating rat embryos in vitro

Head-fold stage rat embryos (9.5 days of gestation) were cultured for 48 h in rat serum with or without 0.8 microM 5-azacytidine. Incomplete closure of the cephalic neural tube was observed in 5-azacytidine-treated embryos cultured for 48 h (25-somite stage). Control embryos showed complete fusion of cephalic neural folds at 33 h (16-somite stage) in culture. Drug administration or removal experiments revealed that embryos were sensitive to 5-azacytidine during 6-12 h of culture (three to five somite stages). Electron microscopical studies indicated that the arrangement and fine structure of cephalic neuroepithelial cells were almost the same in control and treated embryos. There was no significant difference in DNA and protein contents between control and treated embryos cultured for 36 h. Immunocytochemical observations using 5-methylcytosine-specific antibody revealed that the staining of neuroepithelial cells in the median part of the transversely sectioned cephalic neural plate, and of mesenchymal cells near the apices of the plate, was suppressed by 5-azacytidine. These results suggest that DNA methylation of these cells plays an important role in closure of the cephalic neural tube.

Biological and biochemical activity of v-Crk chimeras containing the SH2/SH3 regions of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-gamma and Src

The chicken CT10 virus oncogene product, P47gag-crk, contains SH2/SH3 domains that have been identified as conserved domains among proteins involved in signal transduction. We studied the functional similarity of the SH2/SH3 domains by replacing those of v-Crk with those of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-gamma, v-Src, or c-Src. The transforming activity of v-Crk was partially retained in a mutant with a v-Src SH3 domain but not in the other mutants with heterologous SH2/SH3 domains. Mutant viruses with Crk-SH2/SH2' domains induced tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, but mutants with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-gamma or Src SH2/SH2' domains did not. However, the mutant proteins with heterologous SH2/SH2' regions were able to weakly associate with some phosphotyrosine-containing proteins in vitro. These results indicate that in the context of the P47gag-crk structure, the requirement of Crk-SH2/SH3 is more stringent for its activity to induce cell transformation than to cause phosphorylation of cellular proteins. The substitution with heterologous sequences least perturbs the capacity to bind phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. In each case, the SH3 domain is more flexible to substitution than is the SH2 domain.

Lymph node interdigitating cell sarcoma. A case report

A 54-year-old man was admitted because of right supraclavicular lymphadenopathy of some weeks duration. Computed axial tomography revealed a large multinodular lesion in a supraclavicular lymph node. The patient then had a supraclavicular lymph node biopsy. Light microscopy showed a tumor whose structure was suggestive of an interdigitating cell sarcoma. Enzyme and immunohistochemical analysis showed that the tumor cells possessed membranous adenosine triphosphatase activity, intracytoplasmic S100 protein, surface CD1a and CD4 antigens, and HLA-DR antigen. Ultrastructural examination showed that the cells exhibited many interdigitating cytoplasmic extensions, but no Birbeck granules. DNA content analysis of the tumor cells proved that the cells were malignant. These data are consistent with derivation from a lymph node interdigitating cell.

Production, purification, and characterization of botulinolysin, a thiol-activated hemolysin of Clostridium botulinum

A hemolysin, botulinolysin, produced by Clostridium botulinum was purified to homogeneity and characterized. First, a strain of C. botulinum type C, strain C-203 Tox, which produced a large amount of hemolysin, was selected, and optimal culture medium and conditions for its production of hemolysin were determined. The hemolysin produced in the culture supernatant of this strain under optimal conditions was purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel permeation chromatography, and SP-Toyopearl 650 M cation-exchange column chromatography, with a recovery of 12%. The purified hemolysin gave a single protein band in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with and without sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The protein in this band in PAGE with SDS was estimated to have a molecular weight of 58,000 and was immunostained with a neutralizing monoclonal antibody. In PAGE without SDS, the hemolytic activity corresponded in position to the single protein band. The pI of the hemolysin was 8.4. Amino acid analysis of the purified hemolysin indicated the presence of four half-cystine residues per molecule. The purified hemolysin had a specific activity of 2,100 hemolytic units per microgram of protein on rabbit erythrocytes. It was activated by SH compounds, inhibited by cholesterol, and heat labile. The optimum pH for hemolysis was 6.0 to 7.0. Rabbit, human, and guinea pig erythrocytes were the most susceptible to the hemolysin, while sheep, mouse, rat, and chicken erythrocytes were much less susceptible. The purified hemolysin had a lethal effect in mice and was cytotoxic for some cultured cells: its 50% lethal dose in mice was 310 ng, and its 50% cytotoxic dose for Vero cells was 120 ng/ml.

Cytogenetics of tumor cells from patients with nonfamilial renal cell carcinomas

We analyzed cytogenetically 20 nonfamilial renal cell carcinomas, using a combined method of enzymatic technique and short-term culture with several passages. From 16 of the 20 patients, metaphase cells suitable for analysis were successfully obtained. Fourteen of the 16 patients demonstrated clonal chromosome aberrations which included missing Y chromosome in 8, gain of chromosome 7 in 7, an extra X chromosome in 4, translocation between chromosome 3 and other chromosomes in 4, deletion of the short arm of chromosome 3 in 2 and monosomy 3 in 2. Abnormalities of chromosome 7 and sex chromosomes were only numerical, and those are thought to be related to the neoplastic changes of various malignant tumors. Abnormalities of chromosome 3, however, were not only numerical but also structural, especially in the short arm, and those may be possibly associated with the genesis of renal cell carcinoma.

[Growth of the graft and astrocytic reaction following transplantation of fetal brain to adult rat's brain. Part II: Cell suspension transplantation into the subarachnoid space]

Suspensions of basal forebrain cells of fetal rats were transplanted into the subarachnoid space of adult rats through a microsyringe needle which was transcortically inserted to the subarachnoid space. Two to 3 months after the transplantation, growth of the graft, neuritic elongation, neovascularization, and astrocytic reaction were examined by Nissl staining, histochemical staining for acethylcholinesterase and Klüver-Barrera's myelin staining, vascular relief images and immunohistochemical staining for laminin, and immunocytochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Transplanted fetal neurons survived and grew very well over the brain surface and exhibited facilitated neuritic elongation. Several bundles of myelinated fibers linking the subarachnoid and the subpial grafted cells were noticed, but the myelinated fibers penetrating the intact pia mater were not verified. In the grafted tissue, extracellular matrix was formed and a lot of small vessels and capillaries were noticed. Many GFAP-immunoreactive cells were seen in the graft. They had a tendency to gather perivascularly and near the margin of the graft tissue facing subarachnoid space. The subarachnoid space is thought to be an adequate place for transplanted neuronal and glial cells to grow. The subarachnoid space contains the cerebrospinal fluid and also it contacts with rich pial vessels, so that it seems to be superior to the intraparenchymal area in respects of a supply of oxygen and nutrition and of low tissue pressure. Transplanted tissue may be supposed to work as the exocrine and/or endocrine organ which secretes neurotransmitters and their synthetic enzymes and neurotrophic factors. If this is true, it would imply that the subarachnoid space is considered as a promising site for implantation.

[Growth of the graft and astrocytic reaction following transplantation of fetal brain to adult rat's brain. Part I: Tissue transplantation into cerebral cortex, lateral ventricle, subarachnoid space and cerebral cortical cavity]

Brain transplantation has been examined as one of the therapeutic methods in the animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Among a lot of problems inherent to therapeutic brain transplantation, we have investigated implanting techniques and methods. Small pieces of fetal basal forebrain tissue containing cholinergic neurons were transplanted into adult rats' cerebral cortex, lateral ventricle, subarachnoid space, and the cerebral cortical cavity which had been made 10 days before transplantation (delayed cavity technique). Two to 3 months after transplantation, growth of the grafts, neurites elongation and astrocytic reaction were observed by Nissl staining, histochemical staining for acetylcholinesterase and immunocytochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Intracortical grafts were small and surrounded by thick glial scar formation, but there was found a partial lack of glial scar and host-graft neuronal integration was also observed. Both intraventricular and subarachnoid grafts grew relatively well. GFAP-immunoreactive cells had a tendency to gather near the margin of the graft and perivascularly. These facts seemed to suggest that reactive astrocytes were also taking part in support of the homeostasis of environments in the graft tissue. By delayed cavity technique, better growth of the grafts was observed, but dense glial and connective tissue scar tissues developed and prevented the outgrowth of neuronal processes. Nevertheless, hyperinnervation from graft to host cortex was partially noticed. It should be stressed that although the hyperinnervation may be effective for recovery of the host from the central nervous system damages, it may possibly damage the host's neuronal circuits.

Characteristics of toxin-neutralization by anti-tetanus human monoclonal antibodies directed against the three functional domains [A], [B] and [C] of the tetanus toxin molecule and a reliable method for evaluating the protective effects of monoclonal antibodies

Five anti-tetanus human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) produced by hybrid cell lines we established previously were characterized. Their abilities to neutralize tetanus toxin in vitro and to protect mice against challenge with toxin were studied by observing the changes in the progress of symptoms in mice. Immunostaining showed that MAbs MAb-G4 and G2 recognized the N-terminal domain, [A] and the C-terminal domain, [C] of the tetanus toxin molecule, respectively, while MAbs MAb-G1, G3 and G6 recognized its middle domain, [B]. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the binding affinity of MAb-G3 was 2.9 x 10(10) M-1 and those of the other MAbs were as high as approximately 10(11) M-1. In in vitro neutralization experiments, at sufficient doses all the MAbs as single reagents protected mice completely against the effect of tetanus toxin. However, at lower doses than those sufficient to rescue mice, the kinetic patterns of progress of symptoms with the individual MAbs differed with each other and, except for MAb-G4, were different from that of anti-tetanus human polyclonal antibody. They suppressed the development and/or slowed the rate of progress of symptoms for over 96 h and delayed death of the mice. We propose that the comparison of the minimum survival dose with that of human polyclonal antibody of known international units is a reliable method for estimating the actual protective activity of a MAb. Intravenous (IV) injection of doses of individual MAbs or their mixtures at over 0.03 IU per mouse protected mice from subsequent challenge with 20 MLD of tetanus toxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Two cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with transient hypothyroidism

Two cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis are presented: a woman who suffered twice from transient hypothyroidism (Case 1), and a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome who had transient hypothyroidism which was inferred to have been caused by exacerbation of Hashimoto's disease (Case 2). In both cases, fluctuation in titers of both anti-thyroglobulin (TGHA) and antimicrosomal antibodies (MCHA) was observed. Although an increased serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration in Case 2 was associated with the increased titer of MCHA, this was not true of Case 1. Measurement of serum iodine concentration in Case 1 disclosed no correlation between serum TSH and iodine concentrations, suggesting that episodes of hypothyroidism in this patient are not due to iodine-induced hypothyroidism. The transient hypothyroidism in Case 2 was considered to be due to fluctuations in immune mechanism(s), but the reason in Case 1 was not clear in the present study.

Protective activity of adult T cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF) against tumor necrosis factor-dependent cytotoxicity on U937 cells

Adult T cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF) is a human homologue of thioredoxin with many biologic functions including IL-2R induction, growth promotion, thiol-dependent reducing activity, and radical scavenging activity. The regulatory effect of ADF on the cytotoxic activity of TNF was examined by using a human histiocytic lymphoma cell line, U937. When U937 cells were preincubated with recombinant ADF (rADF) (0.1-100 micrograms/ml) at 37 degrees C for 30 min, TNF-dependent cytotoxicity on U937 cells was markedly inhibited. This inhibitory effect was as high as 95% in the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay (rADF 100 micrograms/ml) and 85% in the 51Cr-releasing assay (rADF 10 micrograms/ml). After pretreatment of U937 cells with IFN-gamma to augment the sensitivity to TNF, an inhibitory effect of rADF was also found. When U937 cells were washed after preincubation with rADF, resistance to TNF-dependent cytotoxicity was still observed, indicating that rADF inhibited the sensitivity of U937 to TNF-dependent cytotoxicity rather than modifying TNF molecules. Scatchard analysis of TNF receptors on U937 cells using 125I-TNF showed that rADF modulated neither the density nor the affinity of the cell membrane significantly. rADF also reduced the cytotoxicity induced by anti-Fas IgM mAb which shows cytotoxicity quite similar to TNF. rADF (10 micrograms/ml) reduced 90% of the cytotoxicity by anti-Fas IgM mAb, without a detectable change either in Fas Ag expression (MFI 58.1 vs 53.3) or in the degradation of anti-Fas IgM mAb as determined by flow cytometric analysis. These findings indicated that the rADF-induced resistance to the cytotoxic effect of TNF and anti-Fas mAb was not related to the modulation of the TNF receptor or Fas Ag.

Absence of atrial contraction and exercise in patients with isolated atrial fibrillation

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of absence of atrial contraction during exercise. During the incremental ergometer exercise tests, heart rate, oxygen uptake, and oxygen pulse in patients with isolated atrial fibrillation were compared with those in control subjects at rest, at the exercise level of gas exchange anaerobic threshold, and at peak exercise. The study population consisted of 51 subjects aged 40 years or more: 12 patients with isolated atrial fibrillation and 39 control subjects with normal sinus rhythm. Heart rate in control subjects was lower than that in patients with isolated atrial fibrillation, at rest, anaerobic threshold, and peak exercise (74 +/- 12 vs 85 +/- 8 beats/min at rest, 108 +/- 16 vs 134 +/- 18 beats/min at anaerobic threshold, and 151 +/- 16 vs 173 +/- 22 beats/min at peak exercise, all p less than 0.01). During exercise, oxygen uptake in patients with isolated atrial fibrillation was not significantly different from that in control subjects. Oxygen pulse in patients with isolated atrial fibrillation was lower than that in control subjects during exercise (6.45 +/- 2.04 vs 7.84 +/- 1.63 ml/beat at anaerobic threshold, 7.79 +/- 2.28 vs 9.16 +/- 1.79 ml/beat at peak exercise, both p less than 0.05). In patients with isolated atrial fibrillation, the oxygen pulse might be reduced due to the lack of atrial contraction during exercise. However, the oxygen uptake that represents the exercise capacity would be preserved with the increase in heart rate.

Autosomal recessive lethal mutations in two mutator stocks of Drosophila ananassae

The frequency of recessive lethals in the 2nd chromosome was examined in two mutator stocks of Drosophila ananassae, ca and ca; px. They are characterized respectively by possessing an extrachromosomal clastogenic mutator in males, and by the retrotransposon "tom", which induces Om mutability only in females. The frequencies of recessive lethal mutations in the 2nd chromosome among progenies from males and females of the ca; px stock are 0.35 and 0.34 percent, respectively. Similarity of these frequencies indicates that tom does not induce recessive lethals in females. In contrast to the ca; px stock, the frequency of recessive lethals in males of the ca mutator stock was estimated to be 1.54 percent for the 2nd chromosome. No visible mutants except Minutes were recovered. Some recessive lethals derived from ca stock males were associated with chromosomal rearrangements. Being consistent with its high rate of Minute mutation it was demonstrated that the ca clastogenic mutator also induced recessive lethals.

In vivo evaluation of NM441, a new thiazeto-quinoline derivative

NM441 is a lipophilic prodrug of a new thiazeto-quinoline carboxylic acid derivative NM394, and when it is administered orally it is readily absorbed and hydrolyzed to its parent compound. After oral administration of NM441 at a dose of 20 mg/kg to dogs, the peak concentration of NM394 in plasma was 2.39 micrograms/ml, whereas it was 0.63 micrograms/ml for NM394 administered alone. The in vivo activity of NM441 was compared with those of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and enoxacin in mouse protection studies. NM441 was as effective as ofloxacin and was twice as effective as ciprofloxacin against systemic infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Against infections with streptococci, NM441 was two to three times as effective as ofloxacin and five times as effective as ciprofloxacin. Against infection with Escherichia coli, NM441 was as effective as ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, but against infections with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NM441 was two to four times as effective as ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. NM441 was three to seven times as effective as enoxacin in systemic infections. Against urinary tract infections with E. coli, NM441 reduced the number of bacterial CFU per gram of kidney by 1 to 2 log10 more and, with P. aeruginosa, by 1 to 6 log10 more than did ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. Against respiratory tract infections with K. pneumoniae, NM441 was as effective as ofloxacin and was twice as effective as ciprofloxacin.

Soluble CD4 and CD8 in the peripheral blood of patients with multiple sclerosis and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy

We evaluated the presence of soluble (s) CD4 and sCD8, released from activated T cells, in the sera of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, peripheral blood T cell subsets in patients with MS and HAM were analyzed by single and two color flow cytometry. The serum level of sCD8 was significantly elevated in MS patients as compared with controls (p less than 0.001). Sera from patients with an exacerbation of acute relapsing MS showed a higher sCD8 level than the patients in remission or controls (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively). The serum levels of both sCD4 and sCD8 were also significantly elevated in patients with HAM (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.001, respectively). In addition, a significantly increased serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) was found in patients with HAM as compared with that of controls (p less than 0.001). These observations suggest that CD8 cells may be activated in the peripheral blood of patients with MS and sCD8 may be related to clinical activity, but that both CD4 and CD8 cells may be activated in the peripheral blood of patients with HAM.

In vitro antibacterial activity of a new quinolone, NM394

NM394 is a new 6-fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent with a tricyclic structure which has a bridge that connects the N-1 and C-2 positions of the quinolone. The antibacterial activity of NM394 against clinical isolates of staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci, members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was equal to or one-half that of ciprofloxacin. NM394 was as active as ofloxacin against gram-positive bacteria and was two to eight times more active against gram-negative bacteria, including P. aeruginosa. NM394 was two to eight times more active than enoxacin against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The MICs of NM394 against Escherichia coli and P. aeruginosa at pH 5.5 were reduced 4 to 16 times compared with those at pH 7.0. Ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and enoxacin were 2 to 32 times less active against these two bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus at an acidic pH than they were at pH 7.0. In the presence of 5 mM Mg2+, the MICs of all of these drugs increased 2 to 32 times, but they were only slightly affected by 5 mM Ca2+, type of medium, serum, or size of inoculum. NM394 showed potent bactericidal activity and inhibited the supercoiling activity of E. coli DNA gyrase. The in vitro antibacterial profile of NM394 is similar to that of other 6-fluoroquinolones.

Protective activity of adult T cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF) against tumor necrosis factor-dependent cytotoxicity on U937 cells

Adult T cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF) is a human homologue of thioredoxin with many biologic functions including IL-2R induction, growth promotion, thiol-dependent reducing activity, and radical scavenging activity. The regulatory effect of ADF on the cytotoxic activity of TNF was examined by using a human histiocytic lymphoma cell line, U937. When U937 cells were preincubated with recombinant ADF (rADF) (0.1-100 micrograms/ml) at 37 degrees C for 30 min, TNF-dependent cytotoxicity on U937 cells was markedly inhibited. This inhibitory effect was as high as 95% in the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay (rADF 100 micrograms/ml) and 85% in the 51Cr-releasing assay (rADF 10 micrograms/ml). After pretreatment of U937 cells with IFN-gamma to augment the sensitivity to TNF, an inhibitory effect of rADF was also found. When U937 cells were washed after preincubation with rADF, resistance to TNF-dependent cytotoxicity was still observed, indicating that rADF inhibited the sensitivity of U937 to TNF-dependent cytotoxicity rather than modifying TNF molecules. Scatchard analysis of TNF receptors on U937 cells using 125I-TNF showed that rADF modulated neither the density nor the affinity of the cell membrane significantly. rADF also reduced the cytotoxicity induced by anti-Fas IgM mAb which shows cytotoxicity quite similar to TNF. rADF (10 micrograms/ml) reduced 90% of the cytotoxicity by anti-Fas IgM mAb, without a detectable change either in Fas Ag expression (MFI 58.1 vs 53.3) or in the degradation of anti-Fas IgM mAb as determined by flow cytometric analysis. These findings indicated that the rADF-induced resistance to the cytotoxic effect of TNF and anti-Fas mAb was not related to the modulation of the TNF receptor or Fas Ag.

Transoral esophagectomy

A technique for transoral esophagectomy is presented herein. The major advantages of this operative technique are: less tissue dissected, minimal chance of contamination of the surgical field and preservation of the vagus nerve when the occasion requires it. The operation can be done with small incisions, insignificant blood loss and, with more simplicity and safety than in other similar procedures.