The characteristics in the inhibitory effects of capsaicin on voltage-dependent K(+) currents in rat atrial myocytes

The electrophysiological effects of capsaicin in rat atrial myocytes were examined. Measurement of contractile force was done in rat left atria. Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was primarily used to study the change in membrane potential and ionic currents. Capsaicin produced an initial rise and a sustained increase in contractile force in rat left atria. Capsaicin (10 μM) caused a significant prolongation of atrial action potential. In voltage-clamp experiments, capsaicin (1-100 μM) caused the reversible reduction in the amplitude of transient outward (I(TO)) and late outward (I(L)) K(+) currents in concentration- and voltage-dependent manners. The time course for inactivation of I(TO) was changed to the biexponential process after the application of capsaicin. Capsaicin failed to cause any significant shift in quasi-steady-state inactivation curve of I(TO). The EC(50) values for the inhibitory effects of capsaicin on I(TO) and I(L) were 5 and 20 μM, respectively. Capsaicin also suppressed the amplitude of acetylcholine- or adenosine-induced K(+) current, i.e., I(K(ACh,Ado)). The EC(50) value for capsaicin-mediated inhibition of I(K(ACh,Ado)) is 50 μM. The present findings suggest that in isolated rat atria, during capsaicin exposure, the capsaicin-mediated inhibition of these K(+) channels is one of the ionic mechanisms underlying the positive inotropic and chronotropic actions.

Fiberglass dermatitis: a case report

Glass fibers are the most widely distributed mineral fibers because of their multiple applications, chiefly as insulation materials, and have become important in replacing asbestos fibers. Fiberglass dermatitis is one of the most common forms of occupational dermatitis resulting from mechanical irritation. Here we report a typical case. A 30-year-old male worker handled the cutting and grinding of fiberglass mats and then mixed them with resin as reinforcing materials. He complained of intense itching after the first two weeks of employment. Erythematous macules, papules and folliculitis with excoriation developed over his arms, neck, face and upper chest. There were many transparent glass fiber spicules with the diameter around 7-10 microns detected by applying the adhesive tape against the skin lesion, followed by microscopic observation. He was much improved during hospitalization with oral antihistamine and topical steroid ointment. To prevent this occupational disease, we suggest proper procedures of production, storage, transportation and cleaning in the industrial setting and proper protective clothing in personnel to minimize the release of and exposure to glass fibers.

The cytotoxic effect of neonatal lupus erythematosus and maternal sera on keratinocyte cultures is complement-dependent and can be augmented by ultraviolet irradiation

To elucidate the role of autoantibodies and ultraviolet (UV) exposure in the pathogenesis of the skin lesions in neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE), keratinocytes were cultured, as the target cells, from a patient with NLE and from a normal neonate. We demonstrated that the expression of nuclear/cytoplasmic Ro/SSA and La/SSB molecules on to the surface of NLE keratinocytes occurred to a much greater extent than that on normal keratinocytes. A dose of 200 mJ/cm2 UVB irradiation on NLE keratinocytes induced a 2.5-3-fold increase in Ro/SSA and La/SSB expression compared to non-irradiated cells. Sera derived from both the NLE patient and from his mother exhibited a cytotoxic effect on NLE keratinocytes, but not on control cells, in the presence of complement. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the sera was enhanced on UVB-irradiated NLE keratinocytes, whereas it had no cytotoxic effects on UVB-irradiated control cells. This suggests that the abnormal expression of both Ro/SSA and La/SSB on the surface membrane of NLE keratinocytes induces the autoantibodies and complements to injure the cells. This complement-mediated cytotoxic effect can be augmented by UV irradiation, a concept not incompatible with the exacerbation of the skin eruption in sun-exposed skin sites.

Lymphocyte beta2-adrenergic receptors and plasma catecholamine levels in lead-exposed workers

The effect of lead exposure on beta2-adrenoceptor density and catecholamine response was studied in 26 male workers and 1 female worker, exposed to lead on average for 6 years. The systolic blood pressure in lead workers (101-160 mmHg, 124.4 +/- 14.7 mmHg) was found to be significantly higher than in controls (97-134 mmHg, 115.4 +/- 10.4 mmHg, p < 0.01) as was plasma norepinephrine (0.51 +/- 0.1 microg/liter vs 0.24 +/- 0.05 microg/liter, p < 0.01). The density of lymphocyte beta2-adrenergic receptors (Bmax) in lead-exposed workers was 86% lower than that in controls (0.15 +/- 0.08 vs 1.08 +/- 0.29 fmol/0.1 x 10(6) cells; p < 0.01). The dissociation constants (Kd) of [125I]iodocyanopindolol were 93.6 +/- 42.6 and 87.9 +/- 42.7 pM in lead-exposed workers and controls, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that elevation of systolic pressure was closely related to (a) blood lead levels, (b) decreased beta2-adrenergic receptor density, and (c) increased plasma catecholamine levels in lead-exposed workers. Linear regression analysis revealed that both plasma norepinephrine levels and beta2-adrenoceptor density (Bmax) were highly correlated with both systolic blood pressures and blood lead levels in lead-exposed workers, and a highly significant negative correlation was found to exist between Bmax and plasma norepinephrine levels (r = -0.82, p < 0.001). These data therefore demonstrate that there is a close relationship between elevated plasma catecholamine levels, decreased beta2-adrenergic receptors, and elevated blood pressure in lead-exposed workers.

Effects of acetylcholine and carbachol on bovine corneal endothelial cells in vitro

PURPOSE

To assess the relative cytotoxicity of Miochol (1% acetylcholine and mannitol), Miostat (0.01% carbachol, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium salts), and their individual components using in vitro models of bovine corneal endothelial cells (BCECs).

SETTING

Laboratories of the Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.

METHODS

The study was divided into four experiments. Experiment 1 used a confluent model to compare the relative cytotoxicity of Miochol and Miostat on BCECs following short-term exposure. In Experiments 2, 3, and 4, the proliferation model (preconfluent BCECs) was used to detect the possible cytotoxicity of individual components in the commercial preparations of the miotics; i.e., the preconfluent BCECs were exposed to buffered salt solutions containing mannitol (1%, 3%, and 4%), acetylcholine (0.5%, 1%, and 2%), or carbachol (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%) for 3 hours.

RESULTS

Confluent BCECs exposed to Miochol for 30 minutes underwent necrosis and degeneration, while those treated with Miostat did not show any morphological changes. None of the tested solutions except 2% acetylcholine and 1% carbachol caused observable changes in the nuclear densities of BCECs at 24, 72, 120, and 168 hours.

CONCLUSION

The major components of Miochol (acetylcholine and mannitol) were found to be nontoxic; the cytotoxicity of the preparation was possibly due to the lack of an appropriate balanced salt solution. These findings may influence the selection of a miotic for use during intraocular surgery.

Biochemical and molecular characterization of a strain KA/S2 of Acanthamoeba castellanii isolated from Korean soil

A strain, KA/S2, isolated from Korean soil and morphologically assigned to Acanthamoeba castellanii, was characterized by isoenzyme analysis, and total proteins profile, and mitochondrial (Mt) DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and compared with four reference strains assigned to the species (the authenitic Castellani, Neff, Ma, and Chang strains). It was found that four isoenzyme, total proteins, and Mt DNA RFLP patterns by eight restriction endonucleases of the strain KA/S2 were identical with those of the Neff strain, isolated from soil of California, USA. The Chang strain was unique in its morphology and total protein patterns. Interstrain polymorphisms of isoenzyme profiles and Mt DNA RFLP patterns were observed among the Castellani, Neff, Ma, and Chang strains. Mt DNA RFLP was confirmed to be highly appropriate for the strain characterization and identification of Acanthamoeba spp.

The reactivity of sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus to seven different species of single and double stranded deoxyribonucleic acids

OBJECTIVE

Anti-DNA antibodies are frequently found in the serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To understand whether the avidity of SLE sera to different species of single-stranded (ss) and double-stranded (ds) DNA is different or not, the reactivity of active SLE sera to seven species of DNA from viral, bacterial, piscine, and mammalian sources was compared.

METHODS

Nineteen sera from patients with active SLE were studied for their reactivity to different ssDNA and dsDNA from Escherichia coli (EC), Micrococcus lysodeikticus (ML), Clostridium perfringens (CP), calf thymus (CT), salmon testis (ST), human placenta (HP) and lambda phage by ELISA. The dsDNA was purified by treating it with S1 nuclease and proteinase K, followed by Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. The ssDNA was purified by absorption on a hydroxyapatite column after heat-cleavage of the dsDNA.

RESULTS

The reactivity of SLE sera to 7 species of dsDNA was not significantly different and they recognized a more widely shared epitope. In contrast, the reactivity of these sera to 7 species of ssDNA was erratic and the antigens could be grouped into high (CP and HP), medium (EC, ML, CT, and ST) and low (lambda-phage) antigenicities.

CONCLUSION

The anti-ssDNA and anti-dsDNA antibodies of SLE patients recognize more widely shared determinants on the DNA of seven different species. Lambda-phage DNA shows the poorest immunogenicity among them.

The expression of cytokines by an established basal cell carcinoma cell line (BCC-1/KMC) compared with cultured normal keratinocytes

A basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cell line (BCC-1/KMC) has recently been successfully established from a patient. The production of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 was assessed in comparison with that of cultured normal keratinocytes. The mRNA expression of these cytokines was measured by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and the protein production by an ELISA. The cultured BCC cells spontaneously secreted more IL-6 and IL-8 but less IL-1 than the keratinocytes after culture for 24 h at 37 degrees C. It is suggested that the increased expression of IL-6 and IL-8 may indicate the transformation of normal keratinocytes to locally aggressive BCC.

Deterioration of cutaneous microcirculatory status and its clinical correlation in tetralogy of Fallot

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic deterioration in cutaneous microcirculation and its clinical correlation in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TF). Laser Doppler flowmetry and capillary microscopy were used to assess thermoregulatory and nutritional microcirculation, respectively. A significant increase in blood flow in thermoregulatory vessels was noticed only in TF patients with hemoglobin (Hb) levels under 19 g/dl. In patients with Hb levels above 19 g/dl, the blood flow declined into the normal range. This result indicated an extreme decrease of blood flow velocity in the thermoregulatory vessels in patients with Hb concentration higher than 19 g/dl. All TF patients with Hb concentrations higher than 19 g/dl revealed Maricq's type III capillaries. Type III capillaries revealed a significant retardation of capillary blood cell velocity (CBV). There was a reciprocal relationship between CBV and hematocrit (Hct). All the responses of the cutaneous microcirculation revealed a good correlation with the clinical severity of TF. All patients with type III capillaries (with Hb concentrations higher than 19 g/dl or Hct level higher than 60%) indicated an advanced disease progression. Laser Doppler flowmetry and capillary microscopy provide a sensitive noninvasive approach for the evaluation of the hemodynamic disturbances in TF and conditions resulting from long-term hypoxia.

Analytical studies of spontaneous and vasopressin-induced calcium oscillations in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

Spontaneous and vasopressin-induced Ca2+ oscillations in cultured vascular smooth muscle (A7r5) cells were further examined and characterized. Intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were measured by use of a high-performance laser cytometer. When the oscillatory patterns in [Ca2+]i were analyzed with a power spectrum method, about 80% of cells exhibited spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations with the frequency of 0.02-0.5 Hz. Nifedipine abolished these repetitive spikes, whereas pinacidil partially attenuated their amplitude and frequency. When vasopressin (100 nM) was applied to A7r5 cells, there was an initial rise in [Ca2+]i, followed by a delayed sustained increase in [Ca2+]i. The one-pool, nonoscillatory model was employed to fit this biphasic change, and the difference between the observed response and the simulated response was then analyzed with a power spectral method. About 50% of cells were noted to display oscillatory patterns in [Ca2+]i after sustained increase in [Ca2+]i. The present study indicates that spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations in A7r5 cells are modulated by the activity of ATP-sensitive K+ channels and are not related to pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein(s). On the basis of the one-pool, nonoscillatory model, it is suggested that the buffering capacity of internal stores appears to be stronger in the cells with spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations than in those in a quiescent state, and the vasopressin-mediated inhibition of accumulation by internal stores was attenuated when the cells exhibited spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations. The implementation of this minimum kinetic model integrated with a power spectrum method would be an alternative to understand the oscillating behavior in [Ca2+]i.

Production of the third component of complement (C3) by peripheral polymorphonuclear neutrophils of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Normal human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) can spontaneously produce the third component of complement (C3) in in vitro culture as detected by ELISA. This C3-producing capacity of PMN can be augmented by TNF-alpha (20 ng/ml) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (100 ng/ml), but not by IL-1 beta or IL-8. The C3 production by PMN was found to be temperature dependent and was suppressed by the addition of protein inhibitor. The C3 mRNA in PMN could be detected by reverse transcription assisted polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after TNF-alpha or LPS stimulation for 6 hours. To further understand C3 production by peripheral blood PMN in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spontaneous and TNF-alpha stimulated production of C3 by peripheral PMN were compared in 15 cases of active RA, 15 inactive RA and 15 normal individuals. We failed to find any significant difference among the three groups. We conclude that PMN plays a negligible role in C3 hypercomplementemia in patients with active RA.

Defective spontaneous and bacterial lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist by polymorphonuclear neutrophils of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) binds competitively to IL-1 receptors but does not transduce the signal which blocks the biological activities induced by IL-1. In this study, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and mononuclear cells (MNC) from the patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n = 11), inactive SLE (n = 13) and normal individuals (n = 13) were compared for the IL-1ra producing capacity of these cells. PMN and MNC at a concentration of 1 x 10(6) cells/ml were incubated with medium alone (spontaneous) or stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng/ml) for 24 h. The IL-1ra concentration in the supernatants was quantified by ELISA method. Both spontaneous and LPS-stimulated production of IL-1ra by PMN, but not by MNC, of active SLE were significantly lower than that of inactive SLE or normal groups. Prednisolone (1 and 5 micrograms/ml) did not change the production of IL-1ra by normal PMN either spontaneously or LPS-stimulation in in vitro study. Moreover, the IL-1ra producing capacity of PMN in seven active SLE on admission and after intensive immunosuppressive treatment was measured. These results suggest that the defective IL-1ra production by SLE-PMN is relevant to disease activity and may be regarded as a new indicator of disease activity in patients with active SLE.

Abnormal splenic and thymic IL-4 and TNF-alpha expression in MRL-lpr/lpr mice

The MRL-lpr/lpr and MRL-(++) mice were studied for the expression of cytokines in the spleen, lymph node, thymus, kidney and brain through the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The frequencies of IL-4 and TNF-alpha expression in the thymus and spleen were significantly higher in MRL-lpr/lpr mice than in MRL-(++) mice from the age of 17 to 32 weeks. More importantly, IL-4 transcript was demonstrated in the early rather than in the terminal stage of the lupus disease. At the 20th week, MRL-lpr/lpr mice with active disease exhibited higher concentrations of IL-1 alpha, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in serum than MRL-(++) mice. Interestingly, in MRL-lpr/lpr but not MRL-(++) mice, the IL-6 concentration in cultured supernatants of the thymic cells was significantly higher than that of the splenic or lymph node cells. On the other hand, IL-6 and IL-1 beta were expressed in the brain and kidney of MRL-lpr/lpr mice but not of MRL-(++) mice. Cultured MRL-lpr/lpr mesangial cells could also express IL-6 but to a lesser extent. These results suggest that the abnormal splenic and thymic IL-4 and TNF-alpha expression may predispose the development of autoimmune reactions. The expression of IL-1 beta and IL-6 in the brain and kidney may be implicated in the damage of these two organs in MRL-lpr/lpr mice.

Induction of Ca2+ oscillations by vasopressin in the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

The change of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) caused by vasopressin was examined in indo-1-loaded A7r5 smooth muscle cells by use of the high-performance laser cytometer and ratiometric fluorescence method. Vasopressin (100 nM) caused an initial rapid rise and a delayed increase in [Ca2+]i (n = 6). However, in the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride (10 mM), vasopressin consistently triggered sustained Ca2+ oscillations which were preceded by a large peak of [Ca2+]i. The latency for the development of this huge increase in [Ca2+]i prior to the occurrence of sustained Ca2+ oscillations was always the same. The frequency and amplitude of this type of Ca2+ oscillation varied depending upon the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. Ca(2+)-free solution did not completely suppress the sustained Ca2+ oscillations, but caffeine (20 mM) effectively abolished them. The present findings indicate that in A7r5 smooth muscle cells, the sustained Ca2+ oscillations triggered by vasopressin in the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride were mainly due to Ca2+ release from IP3-sensitive Ca2+ stores and Ca2+ influx from extracellular space, and did not require the pacemaker activity derived from the surface membrane. Moreover, the vasopressin-induced change in [Ca2+]i appeared to be linked to pertussis toxin-insensitive GTP-binding protein(s).

Intra- and interethnic variability in reduced haloperidol to haloperidol ratios

Steady-state haloperidol and reduced haloperidol concentrations were measured in 250 schizophrenic patients from 4 ethnic groups: 39 Blacks, 66 Caucasians, 82 Chinese, and 63 Mexican Americans. The distribution of the reduced haloperidol to haloperidol concentration (RH/HL) ratios was bimodal in all ethnic groups, with the antimode determined by probit plot as 0.46, 0.51, 0.36, and 0.76, respectively. With these antimodes, the proportion of patients with low RH/HL ratios were 41%, 42%, 73%, and 57% in the four ethnic groups, respectively. Compared with the other three ethnic groups, in the Chinese patients the ratio was lower. The mean RH/HL ratio in the Chinese was 0.34 compared with 0.81 to 0.87 in the non-Chinese groups. In 53 patients who were treated with two or more haloperidol dosage regimens, steady-state haloperidol and reduced haloperidol drug concentrations obtained from the different regimens were positively correlated with the haloperidol dose (R = .79 and R = .62, respectively). Our data suggest not only the existence of a bimodal distribution in the RH/HL ratio, but also that the antimode separating the low and high ratio subgroups is different among the various ethnic groups.

Multiple risk factors associated with arsenic-induced skin cancer: effects of chronic liver disease and malnutritional status

In order to evaluate the prevalence and multiple risk factors of arsenic-induced skin cancer among residents in Taiwanese villages in which chronic arseniasis is hyperendemic, a total of 1571 subjects aged 30 or more years were recruited between September 1988 and March 1989. All of them were interviewed personally by a public health nurse using a structured questionnaire, and 1081 interviewed study subjects, including 468 men and 613 women, participated in physical examination, giving a participation rate of 68.8%. The overall prevalence of skin cancer was as high as 6.1%, showing an increase with age in both men and women. There was a significant dose-response relation between skin cancer prevalence and chronic arsenic exposure as indexed by duration of residence in the endemic area, duration of consumption of high-arsenic artesian well water, average arsenic exposure in parts per million (p.p.m.) and cumulative arsenic exposure in p.p.m.-years. Chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen with liver dysfunction had an increased prevalence of skin cancer. Undernourishment, indexed by a high consumption of dried sweet potato as a staple food, was also significantly associated with an increased prevalence of arsenic-induced skin cancer. All these risk factors remained statistically significant in the multiple logistic regression analysis. Consistent with animal experiments, the findings imply that liver function and nutritional status may affect the metabolism of inorganic arsenic and the development of subsequent skin cancers.

Quantitative differences in sperm cells and organelles of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) grown under differing environmental conditions

In flowers grown at warm temperatures in environmental chambers and at cooler temperatures in the greenhouse, eight parameters of the sperm-cell organization of Nicotiana tabacum were examined during sperm cell maturation using serial ultrathin sectioning, transmission electron microscopy and quantitative cytology. Despite employing the same seed source, and similar soil and nutrient conditions, the surface area and volume of the cell, the nucleus and the chondriome were larger in flowers grown in growth chambers under warmer controlled conditions, whereas the number of plastids appeared to be the same, or slightly higher, in flowers grown under cooler greenhouse conditions. These results suggest that environmental conditions may influence the quantity of cytoplasmic organelles, including mitochondria and plastids, thus potentially influencing the likelihood of male cytoplasmic inheritance.

Decreased spontaneous and lipopolysaccharide stimulated production of interleukin 8 by polymorphonuclear neutrophils of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

Interleukin 8 (IL-8) acts as a potent chemotactic cytokine and also as an autocrine factor for polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), thus amplifying the acute inflammatory reaction. We undertook to study the IL-8 producing capacity of PMN in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

PMN from twelve patients with active SLE, from fifteen patients with inactive disease and from sixteen healthy individuals were incubated for 24 hours in medium alone, or in medium with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or TNF-alpha. The IL-8 concentration in the culture supernatants was measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

We found that the spontaneous and LPS-stimulated, but not TNF-alpha-stimulated, production of IL-8 by the PMN of active SLE patients were significantly lower than that of healthy individuals. The impaired IL-8 production by SLE-PMN was linked to disease activity but not to the administration of steroid, because incubation of normal PMN or inactive SLE-PMN with prednisolone (1 microgram/ml and 5 micrograms/ml) for 24 hours did not affect IL-8 production. In addition, IL-8 production increased in three active SLE patients after effective treatment with immunosuppressants but not in two cases of ineffective treatment, in the follow-up study.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that decreased IL-8 production is one of the defects of PMN in patients with active SLE, which might predispose SLE patients to infection.

Increased production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and release of soluble CD4 and CD8 molecules, but decreased responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Twelve patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were studied for spontaneous and phytohemagglutin (PHA)-stimulated production of cytokines, soluble markers and [3H] thymidine incorporation by mononuclear cells. The same number of patients with skin cancer and healthy subjects were used as control groups. Our results showed that the NPC group produced much more tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), soluble CD4 (sCD4) and CD8 (sCD8) in PHA-stimulated mononuclear cell supernatants than those in the other two groups. The levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and gamma-interferon (IFN gamma) in PHA-stimulated supernatants were at the same high level in the NPC and healthy subjects groups while the concentrations were much lower in the skin cancer group. We also noticed that the early stage group in NPC patients had higher levels of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), TNF alpha, IFN gamma and sIL-2R in both spontaneous and PHA-stimulated mononuclear cell supernatants. The stimulation index of PHA-responsiveness was 155, 5.2 and 37, respectively, in the healthy subjects, skin cancer and NPC groups. The PHA-responsiveness was depressed in both the NPC and skin cancer groups. It seems that cancer patients have an impaired T cell mitogenic response after mitogen stimulation. NPC patients had better immune response than skin cancer patients in immune factor release or PHA-responsiveness.

[Vitamin A status in patients with cholelithiasis]

In order to assess the status of vitamin A and determine the frequency of vitamin A deficiency in adults with cholelithiasis, we measured plasma vitamin A levels in 40 healthy subjects and 64 patients with cholelithiasis. Among them, 40 were icteric and the remaining 24 were anicteric. Vitamin A levels were determined in biopsied liver tissues in 26 patients with cholelithiasis. Plasma levels of vitamin A in patients with cholelithiasis was significantly lower than that of healthy subjects (P < 0.05). A significant difference of vitamin A in liver tissue was noted between these two patient groups (P < 0.05). The frequency of vitamin A deficiency, defined as a plasma vitamin a level below 90 micrograms/dl, was 50% (32/64) in cholelithiasis patients, 65% (26/40) in jaundiced patients, and 25% (6/24) in jaundice-free patients. We conclude that biochemical deficiency of vitamin A occurs in patients with cholelithiasis. We suggest that vitamin A should be evaluated in patients with cholelithiasis, and an effective therapy should be initiated to prevent vitamin A deficiency.

Interleukin 8 modulates interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha release from normal human mononuclear cells

Recombinant human interleukin 8 (IL-8) enhanced the release of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) from normal human mononuclear cells in a dose-related manner (from 1 ng/ml to 10 ng/ml with a maximal effect at 5 ng/ml) when the cells incubated with IL-8 for 24 h. This cytokine-releasing activity of IL-8 is temperature-dependent and required protein synthesis since low temperature (4 degrees C) and cycloheximide (100 micrograms/ml) minimized the cytokine release from MNC. However, when IL-8 concentration was greater than 20 ng/ml, the cytokine release was suppressed. For further investigating the subcellular mechanism of the adverse effect of high dose IL-8 (20 ng/ml) in cytokine synthesis, human mononuclear cells (1 x 10(6)/ml) were stimulated with PHA (1 microgram/ml) in the presence of 20 ng/ml IL-8 for 3 days. We found not only [3H]thymidine incorporation of MNC was tremendously inhibited but DNA fragmentation appeared. Subsequently, the cell cycle of PHA-stimulated MNC retarded in the phase of G0/G1. These results suggest that in low concentration (5-10 ng/ml) IL-8 not only activated neutrophil phagocytosis but facilitated the release of inflammatory cytokines from mononuclear cells. Higher dose of IL-8 (more than 20 ng/ml) conversely suppressed these cytokine release from damaged cells by its cytotoxic effect. This newly found cytokine-releasing activity of IL-8 may play a role in the modulation of inflammation.

Establishment and characterization of a continuous human basal cell carcinoma cell line from facial skin (I) cytological behavior of early passages

Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are one of the most common skin malignant diseases of human beings in the course of a lifetime. BCC is a slow growing tumor of epithelial origin. Most of the BCC tumors have a normal diploid DNA configuration and have been successfully passaged for a short-term only. We now report a long-term culture (BCC-1/KMC) of human BCC derived from the undifferentiated type of facial BCC tumor on the thermal traumatic scar, which was aneuploidy and subculture for more than 100 passages. The population doubling time of BCC-1/KMC cells at the third passage was 38.86 hours. This immortalized and tumorigenic cell line expresses epithelial markers of keratin filaments and desmosomes. The genetic markers of this cell line have HLA-A2, A24, B27, B35, Cw3, DR2 and DR12. The BCC-1/KMC cells have successfully adapted to grow in a cheaper commercial medium (RPMI 1640) and at a moderate concentration of calcium (0.4 mM).

Vibration induced neurophysiological and electron microscopical changes in rat peripheral nerves

This study was conducted to clarify the effects of vibration on the peripheral nerves. Rat tails were exposed to vibration (acceleration 56.9 m/s2, frequency 60 Hz, amplitude 0.4 mm for two or four hours daily, six days a week. The maximum motor conduction velocity (MCV), the amplitude of evoked response, and the motor distal latency were measured on rat tail nerves every two months. Thin sections of tail nerves were examined under the electron microscope after 200, 500, and 800 hours of vibration. Neurophysiological and ultrastructural changes in tail nerves increased with the dose of vibration. In the groups exposed to vibration the MCVs were significantly reduced after a vibration time up to 400 hours, whereas the motor distal latency was not delayed significantly until 600 vibration hours. The ultrastructural changes were (1) detachment of the myelin sheath from the axolemma, (2) constriction of the axon, (3) protrusion of the myelin sheath into the axon, (4) accumulation of vacuoles in paranodal regions, and (5) dilatation of the Schmidt-Lanterman incisures. The ultrastructural changes induced by vibration in the paranodal regions and myelin sheaths were possibly responsible for the reduction in MCVs.

Cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6, prostaglandin E2 and autoantibodies in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus and central nervous system infections

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with a variety of central nervous system (CNS) disorders was assayed for cytokines, prostaglandins, and autoantibodies. CSF interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with CNS infection (374.24 +/- 92.61 pg/mL) and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NP-SLE) (71.40 +/- 5.89 pg/mL) were significantly higher than in patients with CNS inflammation (33.92 +/- 29.36 pg/mL) or controls (non-inflammatory CNS diseases) (4.35 +/- 3.00 pg/mL). Interleukin-1 beta, interferon alpha, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were undetectable in these samples: CSF prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) also exhibited similar patterns as IL-6. CSF immunoglobulin G (IgG) in patients with NP-SLE (8.84 +/- 1.80 mg/dL) was much higher than in patients with CNS infection (4.65 +/- 3.09 mg/dL), CNS inflammation (2.54 +/- 1.24 mg/dL), or controls (2.11 +/- 1.03 mg/dL). CSF autoantibodies against calf thymus antigens were present in patients with NP-SLE but not in patients with CNS infection as demonstrated by immunoblot. These results suggest that high IL-6 and PGE2 in CSF favors the diagnosis of CNS infection, while modestly elevated IL-6, high IgG, and autoantibodies against calf thymus antigens in CSF are the features of NP-SLE.

Responses of cutaneous microcirculation to cold exposure and neuropathy in vibration-induced white finger

In order to clarify the mechanisms of cold temperature on vibration-induced white finger (VWF), three groups of forestry chain saw operators served as the subjects of this study. Groups I and II worked in a cold high-altitude area, and group III worked in a warm low mountain climate. Group I workers had VWF sign [VWF(+)] but groups II and III did not [VWF(-)]. In the present study, finger nailfold microcirculation before and after cold exposure, finger skin sympathetic alpha receptor response, and sympathetic skin response were measured. The results showed that there was no significantly different neuropathy in any of the groups. However, vibration-induced microcirculatory disturbances including blood stasis and red blood cell aggregation were more prominent in VWF(+) group, whereas both of the VWF(-) groups (groups II and III) had no significant difference in microcirculatory disturbances. This suggests that the severity of the microcirculatory disturbances is dose-effect correlated and is aggravated by cold in vibration syndrome. Thus it can be realized that a cold working environment is an important contributing factor in causing microcirculatory disturbances of VWF.

Progressive alterations of cytokeratin expressions in the process of chronic arsenism

Recent studies of an endemic occurrence of chronic arsenism in a limited area on the southwest coast of Taiwan are focusing on its cytokeratin analysis in hopes of tracing the disease's biochemical expression. Specimens were obtained from uninvolved skin and arsenical cancers including Bowen's disease, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, we used two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to analyse cytokeratin expression. Progressive alterations in cytokeratin expression were found in various skin lesions. These include an expression of K16 in the uninvolved skin; K16 and K6 in Bowen's disease; and K16, K6 and K17 in squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. In addition, we found that the K1 isoelectric variants shifted to more acidic forms with the complete absence of K1 in basal cell carcinoma. K16 expression in uninvolved skin indicates that it is nevertheless in a hyperproliferative status. K17 was expressed in squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, but not in Bowen's disease. The progressive impairment of phosphorylation of K1 and K2 in the process of chronic arsenism provides us with a suitable model for studying the biological significance of phosphorylation in intermediate filaments during chemical carcinogenesis.

Prostaglandin E2 suppresses phytohemagglutinin-induced immune responses of normal human mononuclear cells by decreasing intracellular glutathione generation, but not due to increased DNA strand breaks or apoptosis

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) at concentrations more than 1 x 10(-8) M markedly suppressed the cell proliferation and release of soluble molecules of interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), CD4 (sCD4) and CD8 (sCD8) from phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated normal human mononuclear cells (MNC) in a dose-related manner. To further elucidate the subcellular mechanism of the inhibitory effect of PGE2 on PHA-stimulated MNC, intracellular concentration of glutathione (GSH) in PHA-stimulated MNC was sequentially measured from day 1 to day 3 by enzymic method. Furthermore, the effect of PGE2 on nuclear DNA including DNA strand breaks in alkali treatment and DNA fragmentation (apoptosis) of PHA-stimulated MNC were also measured. We found intracellular GSH levels were significantly decreased in the early stage of lymphocyte activation (day 1), but no evidence of increased DNA strand breaks or apoptotic process appeared in 3-day culture. In addition, butathione sulfoximine (a specific GSH inhibitor) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP also exhibited both proliferation inhibition and GSH-decreasing effects on PHA-stimulated MNC as well as PGE2. These results suggest that the immunosuppressive effect of PGE2 is mediated by the decreased generation of intracellular GSH, but not by the increased DNA strand breaks or apoptotic mechanism in the cells.

Study on blackfoot disease: with special reference to evaluating its cutaneous microcirculatory status

We evaluated the microcirculatory status of blackfoot disease by skin temperature measurement, laser Doppler flowmetry and capillary microscopy. The results of these assessments revealed a good correlation between the disease stage and the microcirculatory status. No effective therapy other than surgical amputation was recommended before. In this study, we treated this endemic disease with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) infusion therapy. PGE1 was most effective in the erythematous stage and some minor ulcer with an improvement of microcirculatory status. However, PGE1 had no effect in severe ulcerative (ulcer > 0.5 cm) and gangrenous stages. These microcirculatory improvements foreshadowed the improvement of clinical manifestations. The microcirculatory status after PGE1 treatment demonstrated the effectiveness of the therapy.

Three-dimensional ultrastructure of generative cell mitosis in the pollen tube of Nicotiana tabacum

Generative cell mitosis was examined in stylar-grown pollen tubes of Nicotiana tabacum using serial sectioning, transmission electron microscopy and computer-assisted reconstruction. Before mitosis, the generative cell has a cage-like organization of cytoplasmic microtubules. The mitotic spindle forms when the cytoplasmic microtubules reduce in frequency and kinetochore microtubules form in an area delimited by sheets of endoplasmic reticulum; no preprophase band of microtubules is observed. At metaphase, 21 pairs of kinetochores are distributed unevenly along the length and depth of the cell without the formation of a strictly planar metaphase plate. The metaphase spindle is highly oblique, with diffuse subpoles distributed along the sides of the cell, colocalized with endoplasmic reticulum lamellae. From these dispersed subpoles the kinetochore bundles emanate, closely associated with tubular endoplasmic reticulum. Anaphase consists of three principal processes: convergence of diffused mitotic poles, shortening of the kinetochore bundles, and the elongation of the spindle by an average of nearly 50%. At mid-anaphase, a phragmoplast begins to form, mainly by the assembly of new microtubules at the equatorial area, which form as a cluster of numerous short microtubules. Cytokinesis is essentially conventional, with centrifugal cell plate formation. Cytoplasmic microtubules are restored in the newly formed "brother" sperm cells in a distribution similar to that in the generative cell but fewer in number.

Coexistence and relationship of antikeratinocyte and antimelanocyte antibodies in patients with non-segmental-type vitiligo

To test for autoantibodies in patients with vitiligo, skin biopsies from 16 patients with active vitiligo and 12 patients with stable vitiligo were examined by direct immunofluorescence. In periodate-lysine-paraformaldehyde-fixed biopsy specimens, the presence of IgG deposits in keratinocytes and the number of keratinocytes with focal IgG in active vitiligo were significantly greater than in stable vitiligo. To test whether the antibodies to normal human keratinocytes or melanocytes are present in vitiligo, we used an indirect immunofluorescent test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to test the serum of 43 patients. With unfixed viable melanocytes, we found a granular pattern of IgG staining on the plasma membrane of melanocytes incubated with patients' sera but not in cells incubated with the control sera. With methanol-fixed melanocytes, however, we found a homogeneous pattern of IgG staining in the cytoplasm of melanocytes. With unfixed viable keratinocytes as targets, there was no deposit of IgG on the cells. A homogeneous pattern of IgG binding in the cytoplasm of methanol-fixed keratinocytes suggested the presence of antikeratinocyte autoantibodies to cytoplasmic keratinocyte components. The fluorescence staining for IgG binding was more prominent in active or extensive vitiligo. Vitiligo sera were cytotoxic for melanocytes but not for keratinocytes in vitro. Antimelanocytic antibodies may play a role in melanocytotoxicity, whereas antikeratinocyte antibodies may occur secondary to cellular damage.

Melatonin inhibits the proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro

The possible antiproliferative effect of melatonin on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro was investigated. Bovine RPE cells cultured in Ham's F12 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum had a nuclear density of 73.6 +/- 6.1 nuclei/mm2 at 72 h after seeding. The nuclear density at this time-point was doubled if either 50 or 100 ng/ml human epidermal growth factors (hEGF) was added to the culture medium. When these hEGF-stimulated cells were treated with melatonin from 10 to 500 pg/ml, the proliferation was suppressed with a dose-response relationship. At 250 and 500 pg/ml melatonin, the nuclear densities of the melatonin-treated cells were similar to those of the control cells. Using mitotically active SV-40 transformed human fetal RPE cells cultured in a serum-free medium, melatonin was also shown to be antiproliferative. In the presence of 500 pg/ml melatonin, the proliferation of these cells was inhibited to 77% as compared to the control. These results were further supported by the reduced [H3]thymidine uptake in the melatonin-treated cells. We propose that melatonin, at physiologic concentrations, has an antiproliferative effect, and that cultured RPE cells stimulated to proliferate by either hEGF treatment or SV-40 transfection are responsive to melatonin. Melatonin may either inhibit mitosis in actively dividing cells or modulate hEGF action.

Changes of lipid peroxide levels in blood and liver tissue of patients with obstructive jaundice

Plasma lipid peroxide levels, hereafter referred to as PLP levels, were measured in a group of 40 apparently healthy controls and 64 cholelithiasis patients, 40 with and 24 without jaundice. Hepatic lipid peroxide (HLP) levels were also measured in 26 patients, 15 with and 11 without jaundice. There was a significantly higher mean concentration of PLP in the jaundiced patients than in the control or jaundice-free cases. However, the difference in PLP levels between the jaundice-free and the control cases was insignificant. Meanwhile, patients with jaundice had significantly higher HLP levels than those without jaundice. In the jaundiced cases, the increased PLP and HLP levels were clearly related to the serum levels of bilirubin respectively. In addition, the HLP levels were positively correlated with the PLP levels; however, in the non-jaundiced cases, there was little evidence of these two relationships. Patients with or without jaundice had lower plasma vitamin E levels in comparison to the control cases. The correlation of plasma vitamin E and PLP levels was weak in all of the jaundiced. However, when we subdivided the jaundiced into two groups, the correlation was strong in those with plasma vitamin E levels < 8.5 micrograms/ml, while the correlation was weak in those with plasma vitamin E levels > 8.5 micrograms/ml. Consequently, these results suggest that there is an involvement of lipid peroxidation in liver cells damaged by obstructive jaundice in cholelithiasis patients and there exists a negative correlation between low vitamin E and lipid peroxide levels in plasma.

Prevalence of shoulder and upper-limb disorders among workers in the fish-processing industry

A cross-sectional study was conducted among fish-processing workers to evaluate the prevalence of shoulder and upper-limb discomforts and to assess the associated ergonomic risk factors. A prestructured interview, a medical check-up, and job analyses were performed to determine musculoskeletal disorders among 207 workers in eight factories. The results showed shoulder girdle pain (30.9%), epicondylitis (14.5%), and carpal tunnel syndrome (15.0%) as the three most common soft-tissue disorders. The odds ratio of shoulder girdle pain was 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.5) among the workers who performed tasks with repetitive movement of their upper limbs, while it was 1.8 (95% CI 1.2-2.5) for the workers who sustained forceful movement of their upper limbs during work. Women taking oral contraceptives had a 2.0 times higher odds ratio for carpal tunnel syndrome than did other women. It would appear that untrained or unskilled workers were prone to suffer from musculoskeletal disorders.

The gastro-intestinal absorption of griseofulvin can be enhanced by encapsulation into liposomes

Liposomes are microscopic structures consisting of one or more lipid bilayers enclosing a definite aqueous space. They are widely used as a drug carrier and for the delivery of drugs through membranes. Drugs can be encapsulated into the inner water phase or lipidic wall, depending on their own hydro- or lipophilicity. The characteristics of the vesicles is fusion with cells and natural endocytosis uptake. We applied the properties of liposomes to overcome the poor gastro-intestinal (GI) absorption of griseofulvin and compared results with the traditional dosage form. In this experiment, the maximum plasma concentration obtained from griseofulvin liposomes was about 2.6 times than that from griseofulvin suspension. We used the lipids to prepare liposomes that consisted of phosphatidycholine, cholesterol, and dicetylphosphate in the molar ratio, 1:1.6:0.2, which is similar to the membrane composition of red blood cells. We examined some factors affecting the encapsulation ratin (E.R.%) and physicochemical properties of liposomes. When the lipid-to-griseofulvin weight ratio approached 38:1, the encapsulation ratio reached 94%. The different lipid/aqueous ratio (19/1 48/1 96/1) appeared to have little effect on E.R. value. The stability of griseofulvin liposomes in terms of leakage of griseofulvin was negligible over a period of 18 days at 4 degrees C. The sedimentation of vesicles bearing negative charges exhibited the best flocculation state. The plasma level-time profile of griseofulvin obtained from ingestion of liposomal dosage form showed itself to be significantly higher (P<0.01) Cmax, AUC, Ka, and t1/2 than that from suspension.

Sodium-dependent ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acid uptake by SV-40-transformed retinal pigment epithelial cells

The present data confirmed previous studies with other cell types that ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid are transported through different transporters into SV-40-transformed retinal pigment epithelial cells. These experiments were performed on cells grown on 96-well culture plates. Ascorbic acid was taken up into the cell by a high-affinity transporter with Km = 0.041 mmol/l and a low Vmax of 2.74 pmol/min/well. Dehydroascorbic acid was taken up by a low-affinity transporter with Km = 5.67 mmol/l; however, the Vmax was 325.5 pmol/min/well. The uptake of both ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid was dependent on the sodium concentration. The uptake of ascorbic acid does not involve oxidation-reaction steps because the uptake of [14C]-ascorbate was unaffected by the presence of an excess amount of unlabelled dehydroascorbic acid.

Characterization of functional antagonism of adenosine and isoproterenol in guinea-pig atrial myocytes

The role of adenosine action in modulating the action potential duration (APD) of single isolated guinea-pig atrial myocytes during beta-adrenergic stimulation with isoproterenol was investigated. Membrane potential and ionic currents were measured by the tight-seal, whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Adenosine (10 microM) antagonized isoproterenol (20 nM)-stimulated L-type calcium inward current (ICa). In the presence of isoproterenol, adenosine (10 microM) also increased holding and late outward currents. Isoproterenol (20 nM) caused a significant prolongation in atrial action potential at the level of 0 mV, rather than at 90% repolarization. Adenosine shortened atrial action potential dose-dependently in the presence of isoproterenol. The respective values for EC50 and maximally shortened action potential duration at 0 mV of adenosine with or without isoproterenol (20 nM) were 3.0 vs. 2.2 microM and 42.9 vs. 30.4 ms. In summary, during beta-adrenergic stimulation with isoproterenol, in guinea-pig atrial myocytes, adenosine elicited the specific K(+)-outward current and concomitantly attenuated the isoproterenol-stimulated ICa. These phenomena may account for the modulation of atrial action potential by adenosine with or without isoproterenol effect.

Levels of plasma lipid peroxides before and after choledocholithotomy in patients with obstructive jaundice

Plasma lipid peroxide levels were measured in a group of 40 healthy controls and 11 patients with jaundice. In the case of these 11 patients, we checked the plasma lipid peroxide concentrations prior to and after choledocholithotomy. Before choledocholithotomy, there were significantly higher mean concentrations of plasma lipid peroxides and bilirubin in patients with jaundice than in the control cases (11.8 +/- 2.3 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.1 nmol/ml and 10.3 +/- 1.82 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.03 mg/dl, respectively, P < 0.05). In addition, patients with jaundice had lower plasma vitamin E levels in comparison to the controls (8.2 +/- 0.6 vs. 12.2 +/- 0.5 micrograms/ml, P < 0.05). In patients with jaundice, the increased plasma lipid peroxides were clearly related to the serum levels of bilirubin (r = 0.87, P < 0.05). After surgery, the higher plasma levels of lipid peroxide and bilirubin were reduced markedly (11.8 +/- 2.3 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.4 nmol/ml and 10.3 +/- 1.82 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.47 mg/dl, respectively, P < 0.05) with the restoration of bile flow which was associated with improvement in liver function tests. Consequently, these results suggest that there is an involvement of lipid peroxidation in liver cells damaged by obstructive jaundice in patients with cholelithiasis, and that these high plasma lipid peroxide levels may correlate with the severity of the disease.

Alterations of mitogenic responses of mononuclear cells by arsenic in arsenical skin cancers

We have studied the endemic occurrence of chronic arsenism in a limited area on the southwest coast of Taiwan. The effects of arsenic on the mitogenic responses of mononuclear cells (MNC) derived from patients with arsenical skin cancers in that area were evaluated. The subjects enrolled in this study included patients with 1) Bowen's disease, 2) arsenical skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), 3) non-arsenical skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), 4) nasopharyngeal cancer and 5) healthy controls from endemic and non-endemic areas. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in MNC in all groups except the arsenical skin cancer group. However, when a low concentration of As2O3 (2.5 x 10(-7) M) was added to PHA-stimulated MNC, a tremendous amplification of the uptake of [3H]thymidine was noticed in patients with arsenical skin cancer. In this study, this phenomenon did not occur in cancers not related to arsenic. This result shows that arsenical carcinomas are hyperreactive to its specific etiology--arsenic. Arsenic seems to play a role as a co-stimulant of PHA similar to interleukin-1.

[Clinical and scanning electron microscopic studies on Norwegian scabies infection]

Two typical cases of Norwegian scabies were studied clinically, scanning electron microscopically and histopathologically. Case 1 was a boy with Down's syndrome and case 2 was a man with adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma. Their clinical pictures showed hyperkeratotic plaques and warty crusts on hands, feet, ears, elbows and buttocks. Direct examination of the KOH preparation revealed many embryonated sarcoptic eggs, postpartum egg-shells, fecal pellets, larvae and male and female adult mites. Histopathologic examination showed several burrows inside the thick horny layer. Many sarcoptic egg-shells, mites and fecal pellets were found in the burrows. Psoriasiform hyperplasia and parakeratosis were noted, too. The size and shape of the sarcoptic eggs and the detailed structure of mites and molt were observed by using a scanning electron microscope. Besides, hook-like structures were noted at the tarsi of both forelegs and hindlegs. We suggest that the larvae crawl out from longitudinal openings in the egg-shell by the use of hook-like structures. The mites also used these hook-like structures to make the burrows. Scanning electron microscopy provides a good method to understand the dynamics of these burrowing parasites. It is helpful in illustrating the behavior of the scabies mites in their burrows in Norwegian scabies patients.

Effects of flurbiprofen and suprofen on the miotic activity of 1% acetylcholine and 0.01% carbachol

The nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents (NSAIAs) flurbiprofen and suprofen applied topically to reduce miosis may counteract the desired effects of miotics used during ocular surgery. In a pigmented rabbit model, 1% acetylcholine was shown to cause a greater, significant initial (for the first 30 minutes) constriction (P less than .05) than 0.01% carbachol in eyes pretreated with flurbiprofen and suprofen. From 2 to 8 hours, NSAIA pretreatment had a greater miotic effect with carbachol than with acetylcholine. There were no significant differences between flurbiprofen and suprofen on the miotic effect of carbachol or acetylcholine.

Comparison of the effect of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) plus UVA (PUVA) on human melanocytes in vitiligo vulgaris and in vitro

In this study, we examined the various effects of PUVA treatment on cultured human melanocytes, and it revealed that 1) the higher the dose of PUVA treatment, the more significant the inhibition of cell DNA and protein synthesis; 2) the higher the dose of PUVA treatment, the more significant the depletion of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression; 3) PUVA treatment at 124 mJoule/cm2 depleted the vitiligo-associated melanocyte antigens (VAMA) immediately after irradiation, and both the VAMA and EGFR expression progressively recovered at 24 or 72 h after PUVA; 4) PUVA treatment stimulated tyrosinase activity, but not in a dose-dependent fashion. In vitiligo vulgaris, PUVA treatment may stimulate the regrowth of melanocytes from hair follicles, but deplete the epidermal Langerhans cells in depigmented lesion of patients with stable vitiligo. Comparing the above results obtained from in vivo and in vitro studies, it reveals significantly different biologic responses. Although the precise therapeutic mechanism of PUVA treatment in vitiligo is still not well known, it is proposed that 1) PUVA treatment may stimulate the other components of skin, such as keratinocytes, to release inflammatory mediators and some of them may act as melanocyte growth-stimulatory factors (MGSF), which further enhance the proliferation of remaining melanocytes in hair follicle; and 2) PUVA treatment may deplete the VAMA expression on cell membrane of melanocytes and also deplete epidermal Langerhans cells, which may result in blocking the progressing of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity to melanocytes in vitiligo.

Alterations of skin-associated lymphoid tissue in the carcinogenesis of arsenical skin cancer

We investigated the skin-associated lymphoid tissue in arsenical skin cancers, including 14 Bowen's disease, 6 basal cell carcinoma and 6 squamous cell carcinoma patients from an endemic area by immunohistochemical and morphometric methods. There was a progressive decrease of Langerhans cells in the order of normal skin, normal appearing edge and arsenical cancers. A disruption of the uniform Langerhans cell dendrites was also noticed. The Langerhans cell density in arsenical tumors did not correlate with the peritumoral infiltrates. The prominent infiltrated cells in the peritumoral area had T cell markers. The number of peritumoral T lymphocytes in squamous cell carcinoma was significantly less than that of Bowen's disease and basal cell carcinoma. Peritumoral mononuclear infiltrates in Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma showed a higher helper/suppressor T cell ratio than that in basal cell carcinoma. This may be accounted for by a selective increased recruitment of helper T cells to the tumor infiltrates in Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma.

Characterization of an immortalized human cell line derived from neonatal foreskin diploid fibroblasts

A new human skin cell line, designated as CCFS-1/KMC, immortalized from human neonatal foreskin diploid fibroblast cells, has been subcultured successfully in vitro for more than 500 passages. This anchorage-dependent cell line possesses many common features of transformation such as morphological and cytoskeletal changes, hypotriploidy, infinite lifespan, increasing plating efficiency and saturation density, and decreasing serum requirement and population doubling time. Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 18 DNA was detected in the cell line before and after immortalization by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Tumorigenicity, however, was not demonstrated in vivo. The isoenzyme activity of the cell line shows activation of a placental form of alkaline phosphatase and a changing lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern that is different from transformation by carcinogens. Class I HLA and class II HLA antigens are constitutively expressed on this skin cell line. Here we report that these immortalized human fibroblasts derived from neonatal HPV-18-DNA-contained diploid fibroblasts possess double minute chromosomes (DMs), a karyotypic aberration usually found in cancer cells.

[Expression of keratin 16 in normal and lesional skin of solitary and multiple Bowen's disease using monoclonal antibody Ks 8.12 staining]

Bowen's disease is an intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma usually consisting of a solitary lesion. However, multiple Bowen's lesions are one of the characteristics of arsenicalism in endemic areas where people drink deep well water containing high concentrations of arsenic along the southwest coast of Taiwan. This work seeks to clarify the differences between multiple Bowen's disease in the blackfoot disease endemic area, and solitary Bowen's disease in a non-endemic area by means of Ks 8.12 monoclonal cytokeratin antibody staining. Ks 8.12 may be regarded as a specific antibody for Keratin 16 in the skin and is used as a marker for hyperproliferation. Our results show that Ks 8.12 staining of normal skin in patients with a solitary Bowen's lesion is patchy and always restricted to the basal cell layer. By contrast, the normal skin of patients with multiple Bowen's lesions shows diffuse Ks 8.12 staining of the basal cell layer and various degrees of staining of the suprabasal layers. Similar results were observed in both solitary and multiple Bowen's lesions showing diffuse Ks 8.12 staining of the epidermis. Our results revealed clear differences in keratin expression between the clinically normal skin of patients with solitary Bowen's disease and that of patients with chronic arsenicalism. Finally the clinically normal skin of patients with multipole Bowen's disease showed characteristic changes in the expression of Keratin 16 in the suprabasal layers.

Mast cell degranulation and elastolysis in the early stage of striae distensae

The lesions of nine patients with early striae distensae (SD) during puberty were examined by light and electron microscopy. Specific changes were seen in very early stage SD, and in clinically uninvolved skin 0.5 to 3 cm remote from the edge of the long axis of the SD lesions. Sequential changes of elastolysis accompanied by mast cell degranulation appeared first, followed by an influx of activated macrophages that enveloped fragmented elastic fibers. The relationships among elastic fibers, mast cells, and macrophages seen in the present work suggest their critical roles in the process of SD formation, especially in the early stage. Our results also indicate that the elastic fiber is the primary target of the pathological process, and the abnormalities extend as far as 3 cm beyond the lesion into normal skin.

[Necrolytic migratory erythema as the first manifestation of glucagonoma]

A 49-year-old woman suffered from recurrent episodes of necrolytic migratory erythema over the lower legs, lower abdomen, and buttocks for more than two years. Stomatitis, glossitis and vaginitis were the accompanying symptoms and signs during each episode. The result of skin biopsy revealed superficial necrosis in the upper half of the epidermis. Laboratory examinations revealed mild glucose intolerance and hypoaminoacidemia. Fasting plasma glucagon level measured by radioimmunoassay was 890 pg/mL. Oral glucose loading test showed a paradoxical increase in plasma glucagon level up to 1,500 pg/mL. Abdominal echo, computerized axial tomography, and celiac angiography demonstrated a hypervascular tumor, 4 cm in diameters, located at the pancreatic head. Glucagonoma syndrome was confirmed and diagnosed. The patient underwent surgical resection of the tumor mass. Necrolytic migratory erythema disappeared thereafter, and the plasma glucagon level declined to 120 pg/mL. Histologically, the tumor revealed an islet cell carcinoma composed of moderately uniform cells with a few mitosis, arranged in cords and nests. Abundant characteristic secretory granules of the pancreatic A cell were found within the tumor cells by electron microscopic examination.

Dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria: report of a case

The case of a 43-old-year woman who had a generalized asymptomatic pigmentary disorder with onset at about age 20 is presented. Tracing back her family history, we found that her father and six of her siblings had also suffered a similar skin pigmentary defect with onset at the same approximate age. In depigmented lesions, three distinct histopathological features were observed: (1) decreased epidermal melanin content and lower density of melanocytes in the upper dermis; and (3) ultrastructural vacuolar degeneration in the focal melanocytes and in the keratinocytes immediately nearby. No deposit of amyloid was observed in the biopsied skin specimens. In hyperpigmented lesions, the histopathological features included: (1) increased melanin content and high density of melanocytes; (2) few melanophages in the papillary dermis of focal areas, but no vacuolar degeneration of the epidermal cells; and (3) an increased number of melanosomes in the basal and suprabasal keratinocytes. Direct immunofluorescence examination revealed no deposit of immunoglobulins in either the hyperpigmented or depigmented lesions. By indirect immunofluorescence examination, the serum of the patient was found to contain antinuclear antibodies (ANA, IgG, class, homogeneous pattern); however, the maximal positive dilution titer of sera against cultured human cells was much higher in melanocytes (1:500 dilution) than in keratinocytes (1:50 dilution) or fibroblasts (1:10 dilution). The pathogenesis of dyschormatosis universalis hereditaria remains unclear; however, hereditary genetic defects may play an important role in alternating regular melanogenesis, which results in a pigmentary anomaly.

Modulation of epidermal terminal differentiation in patients after long-term topical corticosteroids

The expression of the various markers for terminal epidermal differentiation in atrophic skin of patients after long-term topical corticosteroids (TCS) was studied by electron microscopy, immunofluorescence using antibody to profilaggrin/filaggrin (PF/FG), immunoperoxidase staining using antibody to involucrin, and oil red O stain for neural lipids of the stratum corneum. Thirty-nine patients were subdivided into two groups: (A) 19 patients suffering from rebound phenomenon after stopping TCS and (B) 20 patients without rebound phenomenon. Biopsy specimens were taken before ending the use of TCS in both groups. In group A, both the morphological markers (including the different epidermal strata, keratohyalin granules, lamellar granules, and cornified cell envelopes) and the molecular markers (including involucrin, PF/FG, and neutral lipids) of terminal epidermal differentiation were significantly suppressed. On the other hand, the differentiational markers in the atrophic skin of patients without rebound phenomena were only slightly altered. These results suggest that potent TCS not only has antiproliferative actions but also inhibits the differentiation of epidermis, resulting in structural defects in the epidermis, especially the stratum corneum.

Effects of temperature on cutaneous microcirculation in vibration syndrome

In order to clarify the role of cold on the cutaneous microcirculation in vibration syndrome, groups of rabbits vibrated at 4 degrees and room temperature served as the subjects of this study. A cold provocation test, capillary microscopy, and laser-Doppler flowmetry were used to evaluate the microcirculations of the test rabbits. The results indicated that vibration-induced impairment of the microcirculation was more prominent in the 4 degrees vibration group than in the room temperature group. The severities of the microcirculatory disturbances were dose-effect correlated. Vibration induced not only functional disturbances but also structural destruction of the capillaries. Furthermore cold temperatures enhanced these abnormalities of the blood vessels.

A survival study of surgically treated lung cancer in Korea. Lung Cancer Surgical Study Group

Survival rate over a 5-year period were studied in a series of 658 proven primary lung cancer patients treated by thoracic surgeons at 8 institutes during the period from 1976 to 1987 in Korea. The study was designed as a multi-center cooperative work for the statistical analysis of the followup result. Clinical data of age, sex, morbidity, and staging of the tumor were assessed in 540 patients to evaluate their 5-year survival rates. Eventually, 405 resectable patients were analyzed by stage, cell type, surgical procedure, and TNM status. The 5-year actuarial survival rates by stage in the resectable group were: stage I 39.7%, II 30.6% III A 16.3%, III B 6.7%, and IV 0%. The 5-year survival rates by cell type were: squamous cell 31.9%, adenocarcinoma 21.2%, large cell 11%, and small cell 6%. The survival rates by surgical procedures were: lobectomy 30.7% and pneumonectomy 25.7%. The survival rates by TNM status in the operable group were: T1 34.7%, T2 26.8%, T3 7.5%, T4 5%; N1 23%, N2 10%, N3 3%; MO 21%, and M1 0%, respectively. The overall actuarial 5-year survival rate in the group of 405 resectable patients was 25.9%.