Lysis of autologous tumor cells by large granular lymphocytes in patients with acute leukemia in complete remission: correlation between lytic activity and clinical outcome

In order to evaluate the effect of specific immune response on prognosis in acute leukemia, we investigated the correlation between the lysis of autologous tumor cells (ATC) by lymphocytes and prognosis. Peripheral mononuclear cells (PMC) from most patients with acute leukemia in complete remission (CR) do not exhibit cytotoxic activity against fresh-frozen ATC, although they have adequate cytotoxic activity against K562 cells. When the large granular lymphocyte (LGL) fraction was used in this study, we observed lysis of ATC in 17 (43.6%) of 39 patients with acute leukemia (12 (42.9%) of the 28 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and 5 (45.5%) of the 11 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)). With regard to prognosis, the lytic activity of the LGL fraction did not reflect the duration of CR. The median CR duration in AML patients was 13 months for the lysis-positive group and 11 months for the lysis-negative group. No significant correlation was also found between lytic activity of the LGL fraction and overall survival in each patient. However, the lysis-positive group tended to have a longer survival, the median overall survival being 48 months for the lysis-positive group vs 12 months for the lysis-negative group. The prolonging of overall survival in the lysis-positive group was attributed to a high rate of induction of second remissions in this group. Long-term patient survival in the two groups did not differ.

[Increased blood cell destruction during vigorous regeneration of bone marrow after CAMBO-VIP chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

Alternating non-cross-resistant chemotherapy has been induced for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with the aim of cure, even in advanced cases. We formulated a new high dose regimen, CAMBO-VIP, which was a weekly treatment. They were administered during alternate weeks for a total period of 12 weeks. We obtained high response rate and prolonged disease-free survival with this regimen. We noticed the elevation of serum LDH level in some patients at or shortly after the completion of CAMBO-VIP treatment. LDH elevation was not associated with liver function abnormality in terms of elevation of GOT or total bilirubin. All of these patients were in complete or partial response with no evidence of tumor progression. An LDH isozyme study which was done at the time of LDH elevation showed elevation of both LDH1 and LDH2. Interestingly serum haptoglobin was undetectable in all 6 patients measured at the time of LDH elevation. Reticulocytosis and leukoerythroblastosis in peripheral blood were also observed in all of these patients. These abnormalities including LDH elevation returned to normal within a rather short period, usually within 1 to 3 weeks. From these observations, it is most likely that these abnormalities were due to excessive blood cell destruction, which was observed in association with rapid recovery from myelosuppression.

[CAMBO-VIP for advanced diffuse large cell lymphoma (LSG classification)--a long-term follow-up study]

Twenty-two patients with advanced diffuse large cell lymphoma (LSG classification) were treated with the combination chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, methotrexate with leucovorin rescue, bleomycin, vincristine, etoposide, ifosfamide and prednisolone (CAMBO-VIP) from Oct. 1987 to Sept. 1989. Eighteen (90%) of 20 evaluable patients achieved complete remission and 2 patients had partial remission. With a median follow-up of 52 mos, 3 patients relapsed (17%), and 2 patients died. The actuarial overall survival and relapse-free survival at 4 years were estimated to be 90% and 83%, respectively. Myelosuppression was severe, but transient. No serious infection was seen, and no platelet transfusion was required. Oral mucositis and liver damage (Grade 3 in WHO grading) was seen in one patient each, but no treatment-related fatalities were observed. CAMBO-VIP is a well tolerated, effective treatment regimen for advanced diffuse large cell lymphoma.

Effects of 3 chemical treatments on in vitro fermentation of rice straw by mixed rumen microbes in the presence or absence of anaerobic rumen fungi

Rice straw (Rs) was treated by a sodium chlorite/acetic acid mixture (Sct), ammoniation (At) and alkaline hydrogen peroxide (Athp) methods. The objective was to compare their degradation and fermentation products in the presence or suppression of anaerobic fungi. Significant differences (P < 0.01) in degradation of straws were observed during all periods of incubation with Sct having the highest digestibilities during the 48-h and 72-h incubations. The degradation of Sct straw was highest in both of the incubations with whole rumen fluid (WRF) and WRF plus cycloheximide. In sacco digestion followed the order of Sct > At > Rs > Athp. Suppressing fungal activity with cycloheximide resulted in a decrease in dry matter degradation, with concomitant decrease in total volatile fatty-acid concentration. While the suppression of fungal activity with cycloheximide depressed acetate and butyrate production, it favored an increase in propionate production.

Effect of fasting on serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels and IGF-I-binding activity in cockerels

White Leghorn male chicks of 40 days of age were fasted for 5 days and then refed. Blood samples were collected from these chicks before, during and after fasting and serum levels of GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and serum IGF-I-binding activity were determined. The fasting-induced reduction in body weight was accompanied by a significant rise in circulating GH and fall in IGF-I, coupled with increased serum IGF-I-binding activity. When pooled serum was chromatographed under neutral conditions, IGF-I binding activity and IGF-I immunoreactivity were mainly associated with a large (M(r) = 150,000) and a small protein (M(r) = 30,000). Fasting induced a marked increase in the IGF-I-binding activity of the 30 kDa IGF-I-binding protein (IGFBP) and refeeding restored activity to the normal levels seen before fasting. Ligand blotting of serum-binding proteins with 125I-labelled IGF-I, after first subjecting the samples to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transfer to nitrocellulose, revealed that four IGFBPs (M(r) = 20,000, 30,000, 35,900 and 41,000) were present in chicken serum, and that the 125I-labelled IGF-I binding of the 30 kDa monomer was increased by fasting and restored to normal by refeeding in agreement with gel filtration profiles of IGF-I-binding activity. Western blot analysis suggested that the 30 kDa IGFBP is homologous to IGFBP-2 found in mammalian blood plasma. The results show that IGFBPs in chicken serum and their responses to fasting are similar to those in mammals.

Effects of thyroxine supplement on serum insulin-like growth factor-binding activity in propylthiouracil induced hypothyroid cockerels

In propylthiouracil (PTU)-fed (g/kg feed) hypothyroid cockerels, serum levels of growth hormone (GH), but not insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, tended to rise and those of IGF-binding activity to fall. Thyroxine (T4) supplement (200 micrograms/kg/day) to PTU-fed cockerels for 8 days produced a hyperthyroid state and reversed these serum parameters. A chromatographic analysis of serum proteins revealed that T4 supplement markedly enhanced the IGF-binding activity of a 30 kDa protein and slightly lowered that of a 150 kDa protein, suggesting that T4 increases unsaturated IGF-binding proteins by reducing circulating IGF-1 concentrations.

Current studies on tooth enamel development in lower vertebrates

The tooth enamel is a unique tissue in the human body on many characteristic features, in both morphological and developmental aspects. This tissue is widely distributed in the vertebrate world. This hard tissue is divided into two groups, mainly from the developmental feature. One is the enamel in the upper classes of the adult amphibian, called true or ectodermal enamel. The other mainly distributes in fish (both of osteichytyes and chondroichtyes), called enameloid or mesodermal enamel. Enameloid seen in fish has many characteristics compared with enamel, although enameloid after eruption is analog tissue to enamel. Many studies on the enameloid with a long history show its character. (1) The enameloid matrix is mainly composed of collagen fibrils to make thick bundles, most of which are interwoven in a complicated manner. (2) Mineralization of enameloid is initiated by the matrix vesicles similar to bone and dentine. (3) Growth of crystals does not stop the retention of their thin needle shape as with bone and dentine during mineralization, but finally begins to show a large hexagonal shape, as seen in the mature enamel of mammals. (4) Enameloid contains much fluoride and the fluoride exists as a fluoroapatite in enameloid. Many of the recent studies on this subject applied various histochemical methods, especially immunohistochemical studies, which show some evidence that enameloid and enamel might not be continuous in enamel evolution. It is now necessary to reconsider the enameloid from the phylogenetic aspect.

[A study of toxicities and complications observed in alternating non-cross-resistant chemotherapy (CAMBO-VIP) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

Thirty-nine patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with weekly alternating non-cross-resistant chemotherapy (CAMBO-VIP). We obtained a high response rate, and prolonged disease-free survival with side effects and complications of various severity were observed. Three patients were withdrawn from the study due to aggravation of liver cirrhosis, cerebral infarction, and poor tolerance. Thirty-six patients completed this 12-week intensive chemotherapy. The median treatment delay in all patients was 3 days (-4 to 29 days), and a delay of over 15 days was seen in 5 patients. The nadir of the neutrophil count was 0 to 2,100/microliters (median 140/microliters), and 15 patients were below 100/microliters. Two patients had pneumonia and 4 had herpes zoster infection. The platelet count nadir was 20,000 to 240,000/microliters (median 90,000/microliters). Ten patients were below 50,000/microliters, but none required platelet transfusion. Red cell transfusion was given in 6 patients. Elevation of transaminases was seen in 25 patients, but it was not serious except for a patient with liver cirrhosis. The elevation of serum LDH level and decrease of serum haptoglobin level seen shortly after completion of treatment seemed due to the increased blood cell destruction. Stomatitis was observed in 32 patients, 17 of whom showed more than grade 3 toxicity. Blister formation on palms and/or soles was noted in 6 patients. There was no treatment-related death observed.

Calcium-dependent changes in structure of calmodulin with substance P

Solution x-ray scattering using synchrotron radiation as an x-ray source has been used to study the solution structure of calmodulin complexed with substance P, a undecapeptide neurotransmitter. The x-ray data indicate that the complex has a compact globular structure, the formation of which is dependent upon the binding of Ca2+ to calmodulin. In the Ca(2+)-saturated condition, the radius of gyration of complexed calmodulin was 4.2 A smaller than that of uncomplexed calmodulin. The Ca(2+)-dependent change in radius of gyration of calmodulin with substance P is complete by the third and fourth Ca2+ binding. The behavior of the Guinier plot at small-to-moderate angles for uncomplexed calmodulin corresponds to a dumbbell shape. The Guinier plot for complexed calmodulin, however, corresponds to a non-dumbbell shape. The susceptibility of calmodulin to proteolytic attack with trypsin was used to examine the nature of the calmodulin complexed with substance P. In the presence of equimolar substance P, the first and second Ca2+ binding to calmodulin was enough to form a trypsin-resistant complex. These biochemical and x-ray data suggest that the binding of substance P to calmodulin is completed when the C-terminal half of calmodulin is occupied by Ca2+, while a significant structural change of calmodulin in the complex is still induced by successive Ca2+ occupancy on the N-terminal half of this molecule.

Regeneration of the intralobular duct and acinus in rat submandibular glands after YAG laser irradiation

The present study was performed to understand the regeneration of the intralobular duct and acinus of partially injured salivary glands. Sections of rat submandibular glands irradiated with YAG laser were investigated histologically, and the proliferative activity of regenerating tissue was also investigated immunohistochemically with anti 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) monoclonal antibody. After YAG laser irradiation, duct-like structures continuous to the remaining ducts were regenerated at the periphery of the injured lobule. At the distal end of the duct-like structures, squamous cells were shown to form epithelial clusters. Additionally, immature acinar cells appeared budding off from the duct-like structures. During regeneration, BrdU-positive cells were observed in these duct-like structures, epithelial clusters, and immature acini. This study showed that duct-like structures, epithelial clusters and immature acini appear during the regeneration process of partially injured lobules, and that each structure proliferated in order to contribute to the rapid regeneration of the salivary gland.

Expression of a novel human homeobox-containing gene that maps to chromosome 7q36.1 in hematopoietic cells

A homeobox is a DNA sequence of 180 base pairs that encodes a DNA-binding domain known as a homeodomain. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to prepare probes of homeobox-containing genes. We cloned and sequenced the amplified products of PCR that was performed with human genomic DNA and two primers that correspond to well-conserved regions in homeoboxes. Fifteen kinds of homeobox gene were identified and 13 of them were assigned to HOX genes that have already been reported. Two others represented novel homeobox genes and one of them, GBX1, was mapped to chromosome 7q36.1 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Northern hybridization of mRNA for various kinds of hematopoietic cell showed that the newly identified GBX1 gene is expressed in K562 cells and Daudi cells.

Effect of hypophysectomy on insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 binding activity of serum in chickens

1. Hypophysectomy elevated IGF-1 binding activity of serum concurrently with decreases in circulating concentrations of IGF-1 and growth hormone (GH). 2. When sera pooled from each experimental group were chromatographed on a Sephadex G-200 column, IGF-1 binding activity was mainly found in 150 and 30 kilodalton (kDa) proteins. 3. Most of the serum IGF-1 were distributed among 150 kDa protein fractions. 4. Hypophysectomy elevated IGF-1 binding activity of these proteins, especially that of 30 kDa protein. 5. The binding of [125I]IGF-1 to the 30 kDa protein was inhibited by unlabelled IGF-1 but not by insulin, and saturated with a small amount of the ligand compared to the 150 kDa protein. 6. The IGF-1 binding activity of 30 kDa protein was dependent on GH status of chickens.

Effects of some ionophore antibiotics and polyoxins on the growth of anaerobic rumen fungi

The growth of mixed rumen fungi in vitro was suppressed by both ionophore antibiotics (salinomycin, monensin and portmicin) and polyoxins (polyoxin B and D: inhibitors of chitin synthesis). The fungistatic effect of the ionophores on a Piromonas spp. was more pronounced than on a Neocallimastix spp. The polyoxins, however, were more potent fungistatically against the Neocallimastix spp. than the Piromonas spp. Higher concentrations of the polyoxins were required to elicit the same effect as that observed with the ionophores. Salinomycin administration decreased fungal count in the rumen of sheep, but fungal count increased after the cessation of the feeding of the antibiotic. Polyoxin D also suppressed the growth of fungi in vivo, but the effect was short-lived. Nevertheless, both bacterial and protozoal counts tended to increase during and after the administration of polyoxin D. Total volatile fatty acid concentrations in the rumen tended to increase during the period of polyoxin D administration. This increasing tendency was maintained for 10 d after the cessation of antibiotic administration. Offering polyoxin D to sheep increased production of propionate (P < 0.05), while decreasing that of acetate. The results indicate that the rumen fungi are sensitive to chitin synthesis inhibitors as well as ionophores, and are essential members of microbes in the rumen ecosystem.

[Rearrangements of immunoglobulin light chain and heavy chain constant region genes in B-cell malignancies]

We analyzed immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangements in 69 patients with B-cell malignancies by Southern hybridization. We used 5 probes which covered JH 5'S mu and S gamma 3 loci of the Ig heavy (IgH) chain gene, and C kappa and kappa de loci of the Ig light (IgL) chain kappa gene, respectively. DNA rearrangements were observed in 68 out of the 69 patients using the JH probe. In 97% (33/34) of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), 100% (5/5) of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 42% (10/24) of non-T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (non-T ALL), and in 0% (0/4) of chronic myelogenous leukemia lymphoid crisis (CML-LBC), the rearrangements were detected by C kappa and/or kappa de probes. Furthermore, the genotype of the light chain was defined by rearrangement patterns of these 2 probes. The by using the 5'S mu-probe, class switch recombinations were detected in 76% (25/33) of NHL, 20% (1/5) of CLL, 17% (4/24) of non-T ALL, and in 0% (0/4) of CML-LBC. Among them, 1 case of IgM NHL and 3 cases of double bearer NHL had rearranged on both IgH alleles by the constant region. The results of this study indicate that genotypes correspond well to phenotypes of B-cell malignancies and that the determination of genotype will be useful for making an exact diagnosis of B-cell malignancies.

Structure of the proteolytic fragment F34 of calmodulin in the absence and presence of mastoparan as revealed by solution X-ray scattering

The solution X-ray scattering technique has been applied to examine the conformations of the proteolytic fragment F34 (78Asp-148Lys) of calmodulin in the absence of both Ca2+ and mastoparan, in the presence of Ca2+ only, and in the presence of both Ca2+ and mastoparan. The radius of gyration and the molecular weight for the F34 fragment increased by 1.1 +/- 0.3 A and 19%, respectively, upon binding of both 2 mol of Ca2+/mol to the F34 fragment and mastoparan to form the tertiary complex. A smaller change was found for the Ca(2+)-saturated F34 fragment in the absence of mastoparan (0.3 +/- 0.3 A) without any change of the molecular weight. The analysis based on the small-angle scattering data showed that the F34 fragment in the presence of Ca2+ alone preserved the tertiary structure of the globular domain in the crystal to a great extent. Further analyses based on a two-domain model showed that the center-to-center distance between F34 and mastoparan is about 12.7 A, if the structure of the F34 fragment in the presence of mastoparan resembles that in the absence of mastoparan and if mastoparan in the complex retains an alpha-helical conformation. The modeling studies using their crystal structure coordinates have been made on the basis of the solution X-ray scattering data. The combined results support a model proposed by Persechini and Kretsinger [Persechini, A., & Kretsinger, R. H. (1988) J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 12 (Suppl. 5), S1-S12], although the center-to-center distance between mastoparan and the F34 fragment is shorter by about 5 A than that in their model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A Japanese pedigree of autosomal dominant congenital stationary night blindness with variable expressivity

Three cases in three successive generations of one family with autosomal dominant congenital stationary night blindness are presented. Case 1, the proband, and Case 3, his grandfather had the same electroretinographic responses: nonrecordable scotopic electroretinogram (ERG), normal but slightly diminished flicker ERG, and negative-shaped single bright-flash ERG. Their dark adaptation curves were monophasic with no rod segment. However, Case 2, the proband's father, showed different ERG findings; a moderately diminished scotopic ERG, a normal flicker ERG, and a biphasic dark adaptation curve with an elevated final rod threshold. The authors believe that these differences reflect variations in the expressivity of a single gene mutation with the lowest expressivity being seen in Case 2.

Visual discrimination performance after lesions of the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus in pigeons (Columba livia)

Pigeons were trained to perform simultaneous pattern and color discrimination tasks. After their training was completed, bilateral electrolytic lesions were made in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (GLv). Following the surgery, they were retrained to their preoperative performance levels. Lesions of GLv caused no deficits in pattern discrimination performance. The birds which had been trained for discrimination of red vs. magenta showed a slight decline in their performance. This impaired performance on color discrimination was not, however, as severe as that of a bird with lesions in the nucleus rotundus. These results suggest that GLv plays some role in the detection of short wavelengths of light.

[High-dose adjuvant chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for breast cancer with poor prognosis--a pilot study]

Three patients with breast cancer with poor prognosis were treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) as adjuvant treatment. After radical mastectomy, the consolidation chemotherapy with Adriamycin 50 mg/m2, Cyclophosphamide 1,000 mg/m2, Vincristine 1.0 mg/m2 and Methotrexate 200 mg/m2 with Leucovorin rescue was started. Recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) was also added for early recovery from myelosuppression. This combination chemotherapy was given every 3 weeks for 3 courses, and after the 2nd and 3rd courses, peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were collected and cryopreserved. HD-CT with Cyclophosphamide 2,000 mg/m2/day, Thio-TEPA 200 mg/m2/day, and Etoposide 300 mg/m2/day, were administered for 3 consecutive days, and after 48 hours of last doses, frozen-thawed PBSC (6.4-8.9 x 10(4)/kg of CFU-GM) were administered. rhG-CSF was also added. HD-CT and PBSCT were well tolerated, recovery from myelosuppression of the HD-CT was very quick and no serious side effects were observed.

[Multiple hepatosplenic abscesses: successful treatment by continuous intraportal administration of amphotericin B in a case with acute promyelocytic leukemia]

A 40-year-old female was admitted in August 1989 with a diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML; M3). One course of modified-DCMP regimen induced complete remission in September, but she developed spiking fever at a nadir period of WBC after induction chemotherapy. CT revealed multiple hepato-splenic abscesses presumably due to candida infection. She was treated with intravenous administration of amphotericin B (AMPH-B) and other antifungal agents. Despite the hematological remission and prolonged use of these antifungal agents, high fever persisted. A catheter was inserted into the portal vein under ultrasonic-guidance. AMPH-B was administered through the catheter: the initial dose was 3 mg/day and was soon increased to 20 mg/day. Her fever subsided in 1 week, and the sizes of liver abscesses on CT reduced markedly. Chill and hypokalemia were observed during this therapy. The catheter was removed from the portal vein after 29 days. Partial portal vein thrombosis was noted around the catheter tip. This case suggests the usefulness of intraportal administration of AMPH-B in patients with hematological malignancy developing multiple liver abscesses.

Conformations of dibucaine and tetracaine in small unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles as studied by nuclear Overhauser effects in 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Conformations of dibucaine and tetracaine in small unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles have been investigated by nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) in 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Two-dimensional NOE and chemical exchange correlated spectroscopy (NOESY) and rotating frame NOE spectroscopy (ROESY) methods have been applied for obtaining the NOEs. In the NOESY spectra, NOEs between protons within the drug were overwhelmed by spin diffusion even at a short mixing time. This observation reduced the usefulness of the NOESY method on the one hand, however, on the other hand it facilitated remarkably in revealing signals due to the drug, hidden in the broad resonances of the membranes. In the ROESY spectra, the spin diffusion phenomena were less effective; accordingly the conformations of the drugs interacting with membranes were determined by the ROESY method. The observed NOE data showed that dibucaine takes more than two conformations and that both dibucaine and tetracaine are present as a dimer in the membranes. Molecular dynamics calculations supported these findings.

Interactions between local anesthetic dibucaine and pig erythrocyte membranes as studied by proton and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The interactions between amine local anesthetic dibucaine and pig erythrocyte membranes have been studied by proton and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (1H- and 31P-NMR) spectroscopy. It was found that dibucaine, bound to the membranes, increases the mobility of the hydrophobic acyl chains of the phospholipids, but that it decreases the mobility and/or changes the structure of the polar headgroups. The interactions with peripheral membrane proteins, i.e., spectrin and actin, were found to be weak. These observations indicate that the dibucaine locates across the polar and hydrophobic areas of the lipid phase of the membranes by both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. It is assumed that the changes in the mobility and/or the conformation of the phospholipids residing around the Na channel protein are essential in causing anesthesia.