Study by scanning electron microscopy of the morphogenesis of three types of lingual papilla in the mouse

Tongues were removed from fetuses of mice on the 15th day of gestation (E15), from newborns (P0), from juveniles on the 7th day (P7) and on the 14th day (P14) after birth for examination by scanning electron microscopy. In the fetuses at E15, rudiments of fungiform papillae with a relatively regular, lattice-like pattern were visible on the anterior half of the dorsal surface of the tongue. The outline of the rudiment of a circumvallate papilla could be recognized on the median line between the lingual body and the lingual radix. No rudiments of filiform papillae could be seen. At P0, rudiments of filiform papillae were compactly distributed over the dorsal surface, as are the filiform papillae in the adult, their width was approximately one-third of that of fungiform papillae, and their tips were rounded than those of the filiform papillae in the adult. The fungiform papillae then increased in size and became somewhat irregular in shape. In juveniles at P7, the filiform papillae were long and slender, being relatively large on the intermolar eminence. A taste pore was visible in the center of each fungiform papilla at this stage. The shape of the circumvallate papilla was similar to that in the adult. In juveniles at P14, the shapes of all three types of papilla were almost the same as those in the adult. The rudiments of each of the three kinds of lingual papilla appeared at a different stage of development of mice; rudiments of the fungiform and circumvallate papillae, which are related to the sense of taste, were formed earlier than those of the filiform papillae, which are not involved in taste.

The precore/core promoter mutant (T1762A1764) of hepatitis B virus: clinical significance and an easy method for detection

Recently, a new hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutant with HBe antigen-negative phenotype has been characterized, in which one TATA box-like motif of the precore/core promoter had degenerated: most frequently by both A-->T and G-->A mutations at positions 1762 and 1764, respectively. The clinical significance of this mutant is as yet unknown. In our present study, the T1762 A1764 mutant was sought in sera from HBV-infected blood donors and chronic liver disease patients by directly sequencing a PCR-amplified region of HBVDNA. Also, because the A1764 mutation generates a Sau3AI cleavage site (GGTC-->GATC), we digested the PCR products with Sau3AI to see if cleavage would occur at this specific site. Our results mostly corroborated the earlier report but we found a higher-than-predicted frequency of HBe antigen-positive blood donors positive for the mutant (22%). The titres of HBe antigen in these mutant-positive sera were slightly decreased compared to the titres in wild-type HBV infection. In addition, these blood donors had relatively high (though within the normal range) serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, suggesting that the T1762 A1764 mutation could be used as a sensitive laboratory marker for insidious hepatitis in these otherwise 'asymptomatic' carriers. The Sau3AI assay, which is much more convenient than sequencing, was shown to be useful for the detection of the T1762 A1764 mutant in an extensive number of clinical samples.

[Mega-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBS-CT) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC)]

Feasibility and the efficacy of mega-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were evaluated. Autologous peripheral blood stem cell (APBSC) was collected after induction chemotherapy (Extensive disease: CDDP+etoposide+ADM, Limited disease: CDDP+etoposide) followed by the administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Five cases of ED and 2 cases of LD have been entered in the protocol so far. PBSC was harvested after the second course of induction chemotherapy, and a sufficient number of PBSC (CFU-GM > or = 1 x 10(5)/kg) could be harvested and cryopreserved in all 7 cases. After completion of 4 courses of induction chemotherapy, three patients who achieved CR or good PR were treated by the combination of CBDCA (1,600 mg/m2) plus etoposide (1,600 mg/m2) followed by APBSCT and G-CSF. Hematologic recovery after APBSCT was rapid (absolute granulocyte count > 500/microliters: 9-11 day, Plt > 3 x 10(4)/microliters:10-14 day) and no infectious episode nor bleeding tendency occurred throughout the treatment period. Although grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity was seen in one patient, the mega-dose chemotherapy with APBSCT in SCLC was considered safe and feasible. Further clinical trials are needed to establish the role of mega-dose chemotherapy for the treatment of SCLC.

[Experimental study on cisplatin microspheres incorporated in polylactic acid and polyethylene glycol acid]

Cisplatin incorporated into polylactic acid/polyethylene glycol acid blend polymeric microspheres was prepared as a dosage (CDDP-MS) by the solvent evaporation method in an oil-in-oil emulsion system. When CDDP-MS was preserved in phosphate-buffer saline, the dissolution rate of cisplatin from CDDP-MS was 14% after one day, 25% after 5 days, 33% after 7 days, 66% after 21 days and 85% after 30 days. CDDP-MS and CDDP aqueous solution (CDDP-SOL) were intraperitoneally administered to compare the tissue distribution of cisplatin in 42 rats each. On days 0.5, 1, 5, 7, 14 and 21, omentum, lung, liver and kidney were removed, and the CDDP concentration was measured. The CDDP concentration of the CDDP-MS group was maintained at a high level in the omentum for a long time. On the other hand, the CDDP level of CDDP-MS group was low in the lung, liver and kidney, compared with the CDDP-SOL group. Consequently, it was suggested that CDDP-MS is useful as a carrier in a drug delivery system, since it improves the burst effect and releases CDDP for a long time without serious side effects.

[A model for sensitivity determination of anticancer agents against chemical-induced colon cancer in rats]

Chemically-induced colon cancer was used to test the sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapeutic agents. Thirty-four Sprague-Dawley rats received dimethylhydrazine (40 mg/kg) s.c. once weekly for 10 weeks to induce colon cancer. Twenty weeks after beginning the carcinogen treatment, a barium enema was performed to determine the size of colon tumors. The animals were divided into CDDP group and CPT-11 group, in which the maximum tolerable dose of each drug was given. After 5 weeks of treatment, the barium enema was repeated. "Response" was assessed on the basis of tumor doubling time. Response rates in the CDDP and CPT-11 groups were 6% and 35%, respectively. This reflects the clinical data of those drugs and confirms the results of our previous study. The present study may be a predictive model for screening anticancer drugs for human colorectal malignancy.

[Successful treatment with combined chemotherapy (carboplatin, etoposide, adriamycin, bleomycin) and radiotherapy for recurrent intracranial malignant germ cell tumor: case report]

We report a case of a patient with recurrent malignant germ cell tumor who was successfully treated with carboplatin combination followed by radiation therapy. A 13 year-old female presented with diabetes insipidus six years ago. From the homogeneous tumor intensity on CT scan and negative titer of AFP and HCG, we made a diagnosis of suprasellar germinoma, and treated her with radiation therapy (40Gy), which resulted in almost complete disappearance of the tumor. The tumor recurred six years later in the primary region and in the cervical spinal cord with elevated AFP titer (160ng/ml) and HCG titer (404mlU/ml). She was treated with multi-agents chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin (450mg/m2, day 1), etoposide (150mg/m2, days 1-3), adriamycin (30mg/m2, day 1), and bleomycin (20mg/m2, days 1 and 8), followed by radiation therapy to the whole brain (20Gy), the whole spine (30Gy) and the cervical spine (20Gy). The tumors completely disappeared. We discuss treatment failures of clinically diagnosed germinoma without histological verification, and effective aggressive chemotherapy for recurrent malignant germ cell tumors.

Adoptive immunotherapy for primary lung cancer

The data presented in the present clinical trial demonstrated that adoptive immunotherapy using IVS cells and alpha CD3-AT cells for primary lung cancer patients may have therapeutic efficacy in selected groups of patients. Further investigation, such as induction of cytokine genes into effector cells to maximize the in vivo anti-tumor activity, combination of active immunization (tumor vaccine) and adoptive immunotherapy (10) would be definitely required for utilization of adoptive immunotherapy for lung cancer.

Chronic nerve root compression. Pathophysiologic mechanism of nerve root dysfunction

STUDY DESIGN

The pathophysiologic changes of the spinal nerve root caused by chronic compression were assessed in the lumbar spine of the adult dog.

METHODS

The seventh lumbar nerve root was banded with a Silastic tube 5 mm long and a 3 mm internal diameter, which is slightly larger than the diameter of the nerve root. Histologic and electrophysiologic studies as well as assessment of the blood-nerve barrier function in the nerve root were conducted at 24 hours through 12 months.

RESULTS

The earliest findings were thickening of the dura mater and arachnoid membrane around the affected nerve root corresponding to the alteration of the blood-nerve barrier in the nerve root after 1 month. After 3 months, large myelinated fibers decreased in number and small newly formed fibers increased in the periphery of the fascicle. At 6 months, endoneurial fibrosis and Wallerian degeneration of nerve fibers became obvious. Compound action potentials and sensory nerve conduction velocity decreased by 3 and 12 months, respectively. Decrease in amplitude of the compressed action potential was identical to the period of decrease in large myelinated fibers, and nerve conduction velocity did not decrease as long as some large myelinated fiber remained until 12 months after tubing.

CONCLUSION

Intraradicular edema caused by alteration of the blood-nerve barrier is the most important factor in the nerve root dysfunction due to chronic compression.

Intra-amniotic maternal hemorrhage in preterm labor: a case report

A primigravid women was transferred to hospital because of preterm labor at 32 weeks' gestation with no vaginal bleeding. Hematologic studies showed severe anemia. Ultrasound examination revealed polyhydramnios and a clot around the umbilical cord without retroplacental hematoma. Diagnostic amniocentesis revealed heavily blood stained fluid, but HbF was not detected. With a clinical diagnosis of intra-amniotic maternal hemorrhage, immediate cesarean section was performed. The mechanism of intra-amniotic maternal hemorrhage is discussed.

Transmission of hepatitis C virus from mothers to infants: its frequency and risk factors revisited

A total of 16,714 pregnant Japanese women were tested for antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV), and 163 (0.98%) were positive. None of these were infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). We conducted a prospective study to discover the rate of HCV infection in babies born to mothers who were HCV RNA-positive but had no evidence for hepatitis (so called "asymptomatic carriers"), and only 2 (2.3%) of 87 such babies became infected during follow-up. This rate was considerably lower than those from other reports which included mothers with clinically overt chronic hepatitis C. We conducted another study to follow babies born to mothers with chronic hepatitis C, and found two babies infected. All of the four infected babies were born to mothers who had HCV RNA in their circulations around delivery at high titers (greater than 5.0 x 10(6) Eq/ml by branched DNA assay). This confirmed the previous finding that virus load was an important risk factor. In addition, we found three families where mother-to-infant HCV transmission was suspected in a retrospective study by indexing HCV-infected pediatric patients. Throughout the seven families, siblings of infected babies were free from HCV infection, suggesting that maternal infection of HCV owes much to chance. Breast milk feeding was not regarded as a risk factor. We also assessed the prevalence of anti-HCV antibody among 6-year old children, and only 10 of 10,446 (0.1%) were positive, suggesting low frequency of HCV infection during the period from birth to this age.

Solution-phase synthesis of an anti-human immunodeficiency virus peptide, T22 ([Tyr5,12,Lys7]-polyphemusin II), and the modification of Trp by the p-methoxybenzyl group of Cys during trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate deprotection

T22 ([Tyr5,12,Lys7]-polyphemusin II) was previously synthesized by a solid-phase method and was found to have a strong anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity, comparable to that of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-thymidine (AZT). In the present study, the solution-phase synthesis of T22 was attempted in order to produce this peptide on a large scale. An 18-residue peptide amide corresponding to the entire amino acid sequence of T22 was synthesized by assembling four peptide fragments and two amino acid derivatives, followed by thioanisole-mediated deprotection with 1 M trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) in trifluoroacetic acid followed by air-oxidation. During this deprotection, a significant by-product derived from the transfer of the p-methoxybenzyl (MBzI) group from the sulfhydryl group of the cysteine residue to the side chain of the tryptophan residue was formed. This side reaction was found to be efficiently suppressed by adopting a two-step deprotection procedure using silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (AgOTf)-TMSOTf or trimethylsilyl bromide (TMSBr)-TMSOTf.

Intrafamilial clustering of genotypes of hepatitis C virus RNA

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA in the blood was measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 37 subjects from eight families in which 2 or more persons tested seropositive for antibodies against C100-3 or CP9. HCV-RNA was positive in 17 of 37 subjects. Two or more HCV-RNA-positive subjects were observed in six of the families. Intrafamilial HCV infection was studied by determining the HCV-RNA type (I, II, III or IV) by PCR using type-specific primers. In two families, all of the subjects showed type III infection, and in three other families, all of the subjects showed type II infection, with different types of HCV infections being observed in only one family. The HCV type was uniform in all but one. These findings suggest a possibility of intrafamilial infection between husbands and wives and between members of the same household.

[Effect of hormone replacement therapy on lipid metabolism in patients with premature ovarian failure and Turner's syndrome]

Premature ovarian failure (POF) and Turner's syndrome patients who are also hypoestrogenomic, like postmenopausal women, are considered to be a high risk group for hyperlipemia. Our long-term study was conducted to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on lipid metabolism in 16 POF and 10 Turner's syndrome women. 1. The initial average total cholesterol (TC) of the untreated and treated POF patients (209, 196mg/dl) and that of untreated and treated Turner's syndrome patients (213, 240mg/dl) were significantly higher than those in the control group (175mg/dl) except treated POF patients. LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of the untreated and treated POF patients (135, 113mg/dl) and that of untreated and treated Turner's syndrome patients (142, 144mg/dl) were significantly higher than those in the control group (108mg/dl) except treated POF patients. In comparison to healthy women of a similar age, POF and Turner's syndrome patients were at high risk of hyperlipemia because of higher serum TC and LDL-C levels. 2. After HRT for 2 years, LDL-C decreased by 18% and 13%, and HDL cholesterol increased by 38% and 41% in POF and Turner's syndrome patients, respectively. Hence AI decreased by 40% and 50% respectively. The younger the hyperlipemic patients are, the higher the relative risk for atherosclerosis is. The results of this study suggest that, because of the beneficial effects of HRT on serum lipid metabolism, it can help to prevent the development of coronary heart disease.

Adoptive immunotherapy mediated by anti-TCR/IL-2-activated tumour-draining lymph node cells

The adoptive immunotherapy of cancer with sensitized T lymphocytes is well documented in several animal models. These studies indicate the existence of precursor lymphocytes, in the tumour-bearing animals, which can acquire therapeutic efficacy after in vitro manipulations. To generate immune effector cells, these precursor lymphocytes have to be antigenically stimulated in vitro by the tumour of origin. Using the weakly immunogenic MCA 205 and MCA 203 murine sarcomas, we demonstrate here that this in vitro antigenic stimulation can be achieved by sequential activation with anti-T-cell receptor (TCR) monoclonal antibody and interleukin-2 (IL-2). The culture of tumour-draining lymph node (TDLN) cells with anti-TCR/IL-2 resulted in an up to eightfold increase in cell numbers. The adoptive transfer of these activated cells mediated a significant reduction of 3-day established pulmonary metastases. Although this antibody could activate all of the TCR alpha beta-bearing T cells non-specifically, the therapeutic efficacy mediated by anti-TCR/IL-2-activated cells was tumour specific. Treatment of MCA 205 advanced pulmonary metastases resulted in prolongation of survival, and 30% of treated mice were tumour free for more than 90 days. These tumour-free mice rejected a challenge of MCA 205 but not MCA 203, indicating the development of long-lasting systemic tumour immunity. In spite of their in vivo anti-tumour efficacy, the anti-TCR/IL-2-activated TDLN cells did not exhibit detectable in vitro cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate that this activation method could be an alternative way to generating potent anti-tumour effector T cells.

[Pharmacokinetics of carboplatin in a patient under hemodialysis]

A patient with ovarian cancer under long-term hemodialysis was treated with carboplatin at 240 mg/m2 via intravenous drip infusion for 30 min. Hemodialysis was performed 1 or 2 hrs after the administration of carboplatin. The pharmacokinetics of carboplatin were determined, plasma total and free carboplatin-derived platinum (total Pt and free Pt) levels declined rapidly in the former. The AUC, T1/2 and Cmax of total and free Pt were estimated to be 7.14 and 3.14 mg/ml x min, 35.1 and 18.2 h, and 15.1 and 10.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. Plasma total and free Pt levels showed the same as normal control in the latter. The AUC, T1/2 and Cmax of total and free Pt were estimated to be 8.70 and 5.09 mg/ml x min, 27.6 and 21.9 h, and 13.2 and 13.2 micrograms/ml, respectively. No severe side effect was observed after administration of carboplatin. In conclusion, carboplatin may be given to the patient 2 hrs before hemodialysis in view of the pharmacokinetics.

Treatment of advanced primary lung cancer associated with malignant pleural effusion by the combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy

Twelve patients with advanced primary lung cancers associated with malignant pleural effusion were treated with intrathoracic instillation of recombinant interleukin-2 with or without in-vitro-sensitized cells. Two cases achieved complete response, and 7 partial response. The adverse effects seen in the protocol were marginal, and the protocol was well-tolerated and feasible. Furthermore, 4 cases were treated with the combination of systemic chemotherapy and adoptive immunotherapy. Of these, 3 cases responded well to the therapy and have shown a complete response for more than 20 months, indicating that adoptive immunotherapy together with chemotherapy might be a beneficial treatment for advanced lung cancer patients.

Predictive value of screening tests for persistent hepatitis C virus infection evidenced by viraemia. Japanese experience

In November 1989, Japanese Red Cross Blood Centres started screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) for the C100-3 viral peptide as the first such nationwide programme in the world. Thereafter post-transfusion non-A non-B hepatitis (PTNANBH) was reduced by 61-80%, but this was not as complete a success as our programme to prevent post-transfusion hepatitis B by screening for high titer hepatitis B core antibody, which we began in the same period. In order to acquire more effective control of PTNANBH, the HCV core-related antigen (GOR, N14) and second-generation Elisa (Ortho2, Abbott2) and second-generation antigen agglutination (PA, PHA) tests have been employed. Among 16,500 donors in 11 blood centers, 365 were serologically positive by at least one of these tests. Among these, HCV RNA was detected in 138 units and the remaining 227 were HCV RNA negatives. The effectiveness of these serological tests to detect HCV RNA-positive status were analyzed. Passive haemagglutination and particle agglutination (PHA and PA) tests were highly effective to predict HCV viraemia among blood donors. Also, these tests can easily determine antibody titre. By either PHA or PA, all units with > or = 2(12) agglutination titre (120 and 122 units) were HCV RNA positive and all agglutination-positive units with serum alanine aminotransferase level higher than 35 Karmen units were HCV RNA positive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The relationship between flow velocity waveforms of umbilical and fetal middle cerebral arteries and cord blood gas values]

Umbilical artery (UA) and fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow velocity waveforms were obtained from 55 fetuses just prior to elective cesarean section at 36-39 weeks of gestation and the resistance index (RI) was calculated for each waveform. Cord blood samples were obtained from both the umbilical artery and the vein at cesarean section and the blood gas values were measured immediately. The coefficients of correlation between the cord blood gas values and the resistance indices were obtained. 1. UA-RI had a significant negative correlation with pH and Po2, and a positive correlation with Pco2. 2. MCA-RI had a significant positive correlation with pH and Po2, and a negative correlation with Pco2. 3. The UA-RI/MCA-RI ratio had a significant negative correlation with pH and Po2, and a positive correlation with Pco2. 4. The best correlation was found in the UA-RI/MCA-RI ratio, and the UA-RI, MCA-RI and UA-RI/MCA-RI ratios had a closer correlation with umbilical arterial blood gas values than with umbilical venous blood gas values. A Doppler study of fetal blood distribution would be a useful method in the noninvasive assessment of the fetal blood gas state at 36-39 weeks of gestation.

Vasogenic edema induced by compression injury to the spinal nerve root. Distribution of intravenously injected protein tracers and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

The function of the blood-nerve barrier appears quite unique in the nerve root. Protein tracers that were injected into the subarachnoid space passed through the nerve root sheath and entered into the capillary lumen in the endoneurial space but tracers that were injected intravenously did not appear in the endoneurial space. Marked extravasation of protein tracers in the nerve root was induced at the compressed part by strong compression (60 gram force, 30 gram force) and capillaries in the nerve root showed opening of the tight junction accompanied by an increase in vesicular transport under the electron microscope. This situation was reflected as high intensity on Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. In twenty-one of fifty patients with lumbar disc herniation, the affected nerve root was strongly enhanced by Gadolinium-diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid, indicating that the blood-nerve barrier in the affected nerve root was broken and intraradicular edema was produced in these cases.

[Prevalence of anti C100-3 and HBsAg in blood donors--comparative study of total collected blood units, total collection adjusted to exclude repeat blood donations, and in first time blood donors]

Prevalence of anti C100-3 and HBsAg in donor blood collected at the Hiroshima Red Cross Blood Center during the period of Aug., 1990 to July, 1991 was studied in three groups--total received blood units (187,532 units) without any adjustment, blood units after adjustment by excluding repeat donations of blood units by the same donors (142,160 units), and blood units of first time donors (28,596 units). The results of the study is summarized as follows. 1) There was no significant difference in the prevalence of anti C100-3 between the group comprising the total collected units, and the group after the adjustment. This result suggests that repeat donors do not necessarily belong to any fixed age group. 2) The prevalence of HBsAg is significantly higher in the first time donor group than in the other two groups. In both the total blood units group and the group after the adjustment, prevalence of HBsAg among older age groups was as low as that of younger age groups. This is presumably because of the introduction of selective exclusion of HBsAg positive subjects from donors since 1980. When data from blood donors are used for the epidemiological studies of viral infection among healthy subjects, it is important to know the characteristics of such donor subjects and whether or not they are pre-screened for the viral markers in question.

[Treatment of urinary tract anomalies detected by prenatal ultrasonography]

Twelve pediatric patients with antenatal diagnosed urinary tract anomalies from 1988 to 1992 in Niigata University Hospital were clinically examined. 1: All patients were diagnosed by ultrasonography. Eleven cases did not have any abnormal pregnancy and other had oligohydramnious. 2: Postnatal surgical treatments were performed in 11 cases, but antenatal therapy was not performed in any case. 3: Temporary percutaneous nephrostomy (PNS) were carried out on 7 kidneys in 6 cases during infantile period seems to be effective in preserving function of congenital obstructed kidneys.

[A report of 4 cases from whom Chlamydia pneumoniae was isolated]

Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) was isolated from respiratory tract of 4 girls. Case 1 is 5-year-old, diagnosed as pneumonia, had had a prolonged productive cough. She was treated with RKM with improvement of symptoms, however, C. pneumoniae was isolated repeatedly and was not deleted. Neither anti-mycoplasmal nor viral antibodies were positive and no significant pathogens were cultured from nasophrayngeal swabs. Case 2, the sister of case 1, is a 3-year-old girl with acute bronchitis treated with EM. C. pneumoniae was negative on the tenth day after treatment. Case 3, a 5-year-old girl, had a fever and was diagnosed as bronchopneumonia with a mild attack of bronchial asthma. She was initially treated with CFIX followed by therapy including EM. Her symptoms had disappeared after treatment and anti-mycoplasmal antibody was 1:320. Case 4 was an asymptomatic carrier of C. pneumoniae. Specimen was obtained at regular health examinations of junior high school. C. pneumoniae was isolated from a 14-year-old girl without respiratory symptoms. Clinical figures of C. pneumoniae infections varies from asymptomatic carrier to pneumonia. Pathogens other than C. pneumoniae could modify symptoms of infections. Precise examinations of these cases would establish a proper management of a C. pneumoniae infection.

[Polypeptide profiles of Chlamydia pneumoniae strains isolated from Japan and western blot analysis using patients' sera]

Polypeptide profiles were compared among Chlamydia pneumoniae strain of AC-43, which was isolated from a Japanese child, and other strains of C. pneumoniae. There was no distinctive differences among these strains. All strains showed marked band on 39.5 KDa area, which is equivalent with the major outer membrane protein (MOMP). Patients infected with C. pneumoniae were analyzed by Western blot using AC-43. Reaction for 98, 68, 60 KDa proteins were recognized among sera which showed positive results for anti-C. pneumoniae IgG antibody. There were two family members from whom C. pneumoniae was not isolated and anti-C. pneumoniae IgG antibody was negative. Sera obtained from them also showed weak reaction on 98 KDa protein area. Strong reaction on MOMP area was demonstrated in one patient from whom C. pneumoniae was isolated. Monoclonal antibody produced from AC-43 strain showed no reaction against homologous antigen. Reaction to 98 KDa protein was detected in all of the patients infected with C. pneumoniae. However, recognition to MOMP of C. pneumoniae seems to be different among patients. This result might suggest the presence of subtype among C. pneumoniae strains.

Localization of hepatitis C viral RNA and capsid protein in human liver

In the livers of patients whose sera contained antibodies to C100-3 antigen (anti-HCV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, the presence of HCV RNA and HCV capsid protein (CP) antigen was demonstrated by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. It was found that occasional hepatocytes in four of ten livers from patients whose sera were positive for both anti-HCV and HCV RNA hybridized with antisense as well as sense oligonucleotide DNA probes, whereas the probes did not hybridize with livers from patients whose sera were negative for anti-HCV and HCV RNA. Monoclonal antibody against a synthetic oligopeptide with amino acid sequence of HCV CP reacted with occasional hepatocytes in six of 14 livers from patients whose sera contained these HCV markers, but not with livers from patients whose sera were negative for both of them. These results suggest that HCV proliferates within hepatocytes since both antisense and sense probes hybridized with cytoplasm of the hepatocytes and that the virus matures in the cytoplasm as the capsid proteins were also found in the hepatocytes.

[Establishment and characterization of a human rectal cancer cell line, SRM from primary diffuse infiltrating type cancer]

Primary diffuse infiltrative cancer of the large bowel shows poor prognosis. A human rectal cancer cell line, designated as SRM, was established from the metastatic lymph node of a 35-year-old female patient. SRM cells have been cultured with RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and grew as monolayers, showing a tendency to pile up. The doubling time of this cell line was 23.0 hours, and the modal number of chromosomes was 64 at passage 14. The cells produced CA19-9 and TPA in the spent medium and formed tumors in nude mice, the histology of which was similar to that of the primary tumor. CA19-9 in the cytoplasma of the transplanted tumor cells was demonstrated by the ABC method and the c-myc oncogene was amplified in the transplanted tumor in nude mice.

Clinical observations on adoptive immunotherapy with vaccine-primed T-lymphocytes secondarily sensitized to tumor in vitro

The adoptive immunotherapy of human malignancy requires reliable methods to sensitize and expand patients' T-cells reactive to autologous tumors. In animal studies, we have generated therapeutic effector cells against a poorly immunogenic tumor by a two-step procedure: vaccination of the host followed by the secondary stimulation of vaccine-primed lymph node (LN) cells by in vitro sensitization (IVS) with tumor in the presence of interleukin 2 (IL-2). Based on these observations, we performed a clinical trial in patients with advanced cancer to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of vaccine-primed LN cells which were similarly activated in vitro. Patients were vaccinated with irradiated autologous tumor admixed with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin and had draining LN excised 10 days later for IVS culture. During IVS culture, LN cells expanded up to 14-fold (average of 8.4-fold). A mean of 6.7 x 10(9) cells was infused in ten patients (seven melanoma, three renal cell cancer) along with the concomitant i.v. administration of IL-2 (180,000 IU/kg every 8 h for 5 days). Phenotype analysis of IVS-LN cells revealed 78 +/- 4% CD3+ T-cells which were predominantly CD4+ (67 +/- 5%) with expression of HLA-DR and IL-2 receptor. IVS-LN cells displayed relative specificity of autologous tumor lysis in four of ten cases compared to zero of seven IVS-peripheral blood lymphocytes derived from the same patients as measured by the 51Cr release assay. One mo after therapy, seven of nine patients treated with IVS-LN cells and IL-2 developed delayed-type hypersensitivity reactivity to autologous tumor compared to zero of nine patients treated with tumor vaccination and IL-2 only (P < 0.002). These observations suggest that antitumor reactivity was passively transferred with the IVS-LN cells. Major toxic side effects including fever, hepatic dysfunction, and weight gain associated with the capillary leak syndrome were associated with exogenous IL-2 administration. Tumor vaccination and cell transfer were well tolerated without significant complications. Of the ten patients treated with IVS-LN cells and IL-2, there were one partial and one minor response, and one patient has had stable disease for 27+ mo. There was no evidence of tumor response in ten patients treated with tumor vaccination and IL-2 only. Further clinical studies evaluating the antitumor reactivity of vaccine-primed LN cells are warranted.

Identification of a Second Dynamic State During Stick-Slip Motion

Stick-slip, or interrupted, motion rather than smooth uninterrupted motion occurs in many different phenomena such as friction, fluid flow, material fracture and wear, sound generation, and sensory "texture." During stick-slip, a system is believed to undergo transitions between a static (solid-like) state and a kinetic (liquid-like) state. The stick-slip motion between various types of pretreated surfaces was measured, and a second, much more kinetic state that exhibits ultra-low friction was found. Transitions to and from this super-kinetic state also give rise to stick-slip motion but are fundamentally different from conventional static-kinetic transitions. The results here suggest practical conditions for the control of unwanted stick-slip and the attainment of ultra-low friction.

SDS-PAGE after micro-affinity adsorption for analysis of heterogeneous antigen polypeptides in individual sera

A method was developed for the analysis of heterogeneity in antigen polypeptides in individual sera. Polypeptides in sera were adsorbed by polystyrene beads coated with antibody in wells of a microplate. They were dissociated with a small volume of elutant, and transferred to slots on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Polypeptides separated on gel were then immunoblotted with antibodies labeled with horseradish peroxidase. The method was applied to analyze different populations of hepatitis B surface and e antigen polypeptides in sera from carriers of hepatitis B virus. Applicability to mass-scale and high sensitivity of the method would allow surveys of heterogeneous antigen polypeptides in serum for any biological significance.

p26 protein and 33-nm particle associated with nucleocapsid of hepatitis C virus recovered from the circulation of infected hosts

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has not yet been cultured or visualized. We attempted to recover HCV-associated particles from plasma of infected humans to assess the natural properties of the virus. Starting with 720 ml of donor plasma containing high titer of HCV core antigen ELISA activities, we identified HCV core antigen activity and viral RNA enriched in a potassium bromide density gradient fraction with a density of 1.115 g/ml. Icosahedron-shaped particles with an average diameter of 33 nm were liberated by treatment of the fraction with the detergent Tween 80. These particles were selectively visualized with an electron microscope using a grid coated with a murine monoclonal antibody directed to HCV core peptide and were also observed in aggregated forms with an immune electron microscope (IEM) with use of the anti-core antibody. An ultracentrifugation pellet of the above fraction was treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) and run in SDS-PAGE. A protein that bound antibodies directed to the predicted core protein of HCV was found at a molecular size estimated as about 26,000 Da, significantly greater than the 191 amino acid residues predicted from the presumed core gene of HCV. It is possible that translation initiation and/or the COOH-terminal cleavage site for HCV core protein in vivo may differ from estimates derived from the amino acid sequence of the polyprotein precursor. The nucleocapsid could also be chemically altered in the infected cell, resulting in a gel mobility different from the native protein.

Genetic drift of hepatitis C virus during an 8.2-year infection in a chimpanzee: variability and stability

Extensive variability in genomic sequence, especially at "hypervariable regions" within the NS1/E2 region of the long open reading frame, has been reported for RNA cloned from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected humans and chimpanzees. However, genetic changes of HCV occurring during the course of chronic infections in humans and animals have been evaluated only for partial sequences of the HCV genome. We compared two full-length cDNA sequences of HCV obtained from a chimpanzee that was experimentally infected with the HC-J4 strain of HCV: one during the early acute phase and another during a chronic phase 8.2 years afterward. Both isolates had 9412 nucleotides plus the 3' poly(U) tail with varying length organized as follows: 5'UTR (1-341); C (342-914); E (915-1490); NS1/E2 (1491-2528); NS2 (2529-3359); NS3 (3360-5186); NS4 (5187-6380); NS5 (6381-9371); and 3'UTR (9372-9412). We found that 111 (1.18%) of the 9412 nucleotides differed between the two isolates and estimated the mutation rate as approximately 1.44 x 10(-3) base substitutions per site per year. Changes in amino acid coding were associated with 42 mutations, 8 of which were clustered at 5' end of NS1/E2 coding region, so-called "HVR-1." We analyzed the HVR-1 and HVR-2 sequences during the course of infection and found that homologous populations were present at the beginning of infection, and sequence heterogeneity within the region had developed 3.5 years later. Two regions of the HCV genome were characterized by a high degree of conservation of nucleotide sequence: 5'UTR and the 3' half of the NS4 region. The possible secondary structure of the 5'UTR suggests a region for internal ribosomal entry. The 3' half of the NS4 region may also have some specific function which depends upon a strict conservation of nucleotide sequence.