Cerebral blood volume and oxygenation among poststroke hemiplegic patients: effects of 13 rehabilitation tasks measured by near-infrared spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE

To measure with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) the changes in cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex of poststroke patients with hemiplegia performing several rehabilitation tasks and to analyze the different effects of the tasks.

DESIGN

Case series pilot study.

SETTING

Hospitals and facilities near Tsukuba, Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-four healthy volunteers and 44 patients with hemiplegia.

INTERVENTIONS

For healthy volunteers, conventional rehabilitation tasks of head-up tilt (HUT), calculation, and ergometer. For patients with hemiplegia, these 3 tasks plus reading aloud, listening to music, reciprocal extension, nonparalyzed extension, passive range of motion, pulley, bridge, facilitation, stand-up, and gait.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) and cerebral oxygen volume (COV) in the prefrontal region sensed by a noninvasive NIRS device placed midforehead in healthy volunteers or on the impaired side in patients with hemiplegia. Computer analysis of the quality and quantity of the CBV and COV change patterns.

RESULTS

In healthy subjects, the change patterns of the 3 tasks were clearly different: decrease in COV with HUT, limited increase in CBV and COV with calculation tasks, and gradual increase in CBV and COV with ergometer tasks. In patients with hemiplegia, significant (positive) CBV changes were observed in ergometer, facilitation, stand-up, and gait and significant (negative) changes with Romover. Significant (positive) COV changes were observed in ergometer and facilitation and (negative) in HUT.

CONCLUSIONS

NIRS is useful for monitoring the change in regional hemodynamics and oxygenation in rehabilitation; some tasks commonly used in rehabilitation, such as ergometer and facilitation, increase both CBV and COV in the affected prefrontal cortex of patients with hemiplegia.

Characterization of the gammac chain among 27 unrelated Japanese patients with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID)

X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) is a rare fatal disease that is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the gammac chain. In this study, 27 unrelated Japanese patients with X-SCID were examined in terms of their genetic mutations and surface expression of the gammac chain. Among 25 patients examined, excluding two patients with large deletions, 23 different mutations were identified in the IL2RG gene, including 10 novel mutations. One patient bearing an extracellular mutation and all three of the patients bearing intracellular mutations after exon 7 expressed the gammac chain on the cell surface. Overall, 84% of patients lacked surface expression of the gammac chain leading to a diagnosis of X-SCID.

Early biosynthetic pathway to abscisic acid in Cercospora cruenta

A new biosynthetic intermediate of ABA, (2Z,4E)-gamma-ionylideneacetaldehyde, was isolated from young mycelia of Cercospora cruenta. Under an (18)O2 atmosphere, an oxygen atom of this endogenous aldehyde was exclusively labeled. Similarly, three (18)O atoms were incorporated into the ABA molecule recovered after prolonged incubation; selectively labeled were one of the carboxyl oxygen atoms and the two on the ring portion of ABA. A feeding experiment with [1-(13)C]glucose proved the exclusive operation of the mevalonate pathway for the formation of both ABA and beta-carotene. These results suggest that (2Z,4E)-gamma-ionylideneacetaldehyde can be a key ABA biosynthetic intermediate formed by the oxidative cleavage of a carotenoid precursor.

Clinicopathological characteristics of atypical cystic duct (ACD) of the breast: assessment of ACD as a precancerous lesion

To clarify the clinicopathological features of an atypical cystic duct (ACD) as defined by Tsuchiya's criteria as a precancerous lesion of the breast, we used 200 whole mammary gland serial sections of breast cancer. Forty-four (22%) of the 200 breast cancer patients had ACD breast lesions. The frequency of patients with ACD increased in premenopausal women (P = 0.001). There was no correlation between the ACD-present group and the ACD-absent group for immunohistochemical status of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), p53, or c-erbB2; Ki-67 labeling index of cancer tissues; size of tumor, or lymph node metastases. A number of ACD lesions displayed continuity to cancer lesions. In 500 serial sections of a paraffin-embedded tissue of a ACD case at 3 microm intervals, an apparent transition from ACD into ductal carcinoma in situ was observed. Immunohistochemical analysis using alpha-smooth muscle actin showed that myoepithelial cells of ACD stained strongly, and their nuclei and cytoplasm were thinning. In 16 of the 44 (36%) ACD-present patients, carcinoma cells stained positive for p53. Within those 16 cases, 12 cases (75%) were positive for p53 in ACD lesions. There was a significant correlation between the expression of p53 protein in malignant cells and ACD (P = 0.001). All 44 ACD lesions had no staining of c-erbB2, regardless of staining in malignant lesions. The mean Ki-67 labeling index of ACD lesions was low (0.3%), suggesting that ACD had a low proliferative rate. We suggest that ACD is the precancerous breast lesion because of a histologic continuum between ACD and malignancy, and because of p53 protein expression in ACD.

Weekly CODE chemotherapy with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer

We used cisplatin, vincristine, doxorubicin, and etoposide (CODE) plus recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) weekly for salvage chemotherapy in relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We reviewed the medical charts of patients between January 1993 and December 1996 at the National Nishi-Gunma Hospital. Twenty patients were treated with salvage chemotherapy. The overall response rate was 55.0%. The median survival time of extensive disease patients from the start of CODE therapy was 23 weeks and the 1-year survival rate was 21.0%. Toxicities were severe, especially in myelosuppression. CODE could be selected as a salvage therapy for chemotherapy- relapsed SCLC cases.

Prevalence of microalbuminuria and relationship to the risk of cardiovascular disease in the Japanese population

The prevalence of microalbuminuria and its relationship to cardiovascular disease risk factors were examined in subjects participating in an annual physical and laboratory examination program. The urinary albumin concentration and the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were determined in morning urine specimens. A turbidimetric immunoassay was used for the measurement of urinary albumin. Of the 731 subjects, 41 (5.6%) who were weakly positive or positive on a routine dipstick test for protein were excluded from the final analysis of data. Microalbuminuria was present in 14.5% of the men, in 12.4% of the women, and in 13.2% of the entire subject population when defined as a urinary albumin concentration of 30-299 microgram/ml. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was significantly higher in subjects with a high normal blood pressure (15.0%) or hypertension (26.2%) as compared with normotensive subjects (6.5%). Subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (24.3%) or hyperglycemic subjects (50.0%) had a significantly higher prevalence of microalbuminuria than normoglycemic subjects (11.3%). The prevalence of microalbuminuria was significantly higher in subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy (47.1%) as compared with those with normal electrocardiograms (11.3%). A good correlation was observed between urinary albumin concentration and albumin/creatinine ratio, and both showed a significant positive correlation with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and fasting plasma glucose, total serum protein, albumin, and triglyceride levels, but not with angiotensin-converting enzyme activity. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that both the urinary albumin concentration and the albumin/creatinine ratio show a significant positive correlation with systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was about 13% in this Japanese cohort, and the systolic blood pressure and the fasting plasma glucose level were demonstrated as independent risk indicators for both urinary microalbumin level and urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio.

A case of an inflammatory variant of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: chronic bullous dermatosis associated with nonscarring mucosal blisters and circulating IgG anti-type-VII-collagen antibody

A 42-year-old man showed prominent blistering lesions of the mouth and esophagus in addition to a few bullous lesions of the skin. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy revealed distinct linear deposition of IgG and C3 at the epidermal basement membrane zone where slight deposition of IgA and IgM was also observed. In direct immunoelectron-microscopic examination, antibody was detected in the sublamina densa of the basement membrane zone. Immunoblot analysis with dermal extracts demonstrated that the patient's serum contained circulating IgG antibodies against the 290-kD protein, which comigrated with type VII collagen. The lesions healed without any scars. The results of these studies corresponded to the laboratory findings in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), although the clinical features were distinct from classic EBA.

Pentanucleotide repeat and size polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein(a) gene are associated with the lipoprotein(a) concentration in chronic hemodialysis patients

The elevation of serum or plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels is regarded as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and many previous reports demonstrated that Lp(a) levels in hemodialysis patients were significantly higher than in controls. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a pentanucleotide repeat polymorphism [(TTTTA)n] in the 5'-flanking region of the apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] gene and of a size polymorphism of apo(a) for elevated Lp(a) concentrations observed in chronic hemodialysis patients. We studied 172 patients on chronic hemodialysis and 199 healthy adults. For analysis of the pentanucleotide repeat polymorphism, polymerase chain reaction products were loaded on polyacrylamide gel for electrophoresis. apo(a) size phenotyping was performed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The median level of Lp(a) in the patients was 14.2 mg/dl which was significantly higher than that in controls (12.0 mg/dl; p < 0.05). In the genotype of (TTTTA)8/8, the median Lp(a) level in the patients (15.9 mg/dl) was significantly higher than that in controls (13.0 mg/dl; p < 0.05). In the genotype of (TTTTA)8/8 with large-sized apo(a) isoforms (A16-A25), the patients had significantly higher Lp(a) levels than the controls (p < 0.05). In conclusion, increased Lp(a) levels in chronic hemodialysis patients were mainly attributed to the combination of eight repeats of the pentanucleotide polymorphism and large-sized isoforms of apo(a).

Analysis of T wave changes by activation recovery interval in patients with atrial septal defect

We examined the distributions of the activation recovery interval (ARI), which is correlated with the local action potential duration (APD), to clarify the origin of the repolarization changes in ASD. The ECGs, QRST isointegral maps and ARI isochronal maps of 21 children with ASD from 3 to 5 years old in age were studied in comparison with 21 age-matched normal children. A conventional and 87 unipolar body surface ECG were simultaneously recorded. The ARIs were determined from the first derivatives of the ECG waveforms. Abnormal ST-T patterns were observed in 11 of 21 ASD, but only in two normal children. The QRST maps of a split positive area pattern were seen in 15 of ASD but none of the normal. In the ARI maps, all the normal children exhibited a short-ARI area on the left and a long-ARI area on the right side of the chest. In 19 of ASD, the ARI distribution revealed a leftward extension of the long-ARI area on the anterior chest, a relative shortening on the right anterior chest, and a localized prolonged ARI on the left anterior chest. The results suggest that right ventricular (RV) volume overload in ASD produces a localized prolongation of the APD on the RV epicardium.

Peroral pancreatoscopy in the diagnosis of mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas

BACKGROUND

Mucin-producing tumor of the pancreas is an increasingly recognized clinical entity. However, the differentiation of benign from malignant mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas is challenging. Peroral pancreatoscopy as recently developed may have potential for the diagnosis of mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas.

METHODS

The subjects were 41 patients with clinically diagnosed mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas, 40 of whom underwent surgical resection. Autopsy findings were available in another patient with unresectable disease. Histologically, hyperplasia was identified in 3 patients, mildly atypical adenoma in 11, severely atypical adenoma in 16, and adenocarcinoma in 11. Peroral pancreatoscopy was performed before surgery or pathologic examination. The findings were retrospectively evaluated and compared with the histopathologic diagnosis.

RESULTS

Pancreatoscopic observation was successful in 30 patients (73.2%). Elevated lesions were identified in 22 (73.3%). Villous or vegetative elevations and red color markings were frequently found in severely atypical adenoma or adenocarcinoma. Tumor location (main or branch duct type) did not correlate with survival after resection. Partial resection was performed in 7 of 30 patients with nonmalignant tumors and resulted in favorable outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Peroral pancreatoscopy can be used to differentiate benign mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas (hyperplasia and mildly atypical adenoma) from the more dysplastic lesions (severely atypical adenoma and adenocarcinoma) and may provide useful information for determining the type of surgery to be performed.

Three new regions on chromosome 17p13.3 distal to p53 with possible tumor suppressor gene involvement in lung cancer

We investigated loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the distal portion of the p53 gene on the short arm of chromosome 17 in lung cancers in order to search for new tumor suppressor genes. The roles of the putative genes were also studied in terms of pathological features. One hundred and forty-five resected non-small cell lung cancers were examined for LOH using 11 markers mapped on, and distal to the p53 locus, and deletion maps were constructed. Four commonly deleted regions were found: one from TP53 to ENO3, where the p53 gene resides, and three others from ENO3 to D17S1566, D17S379 to D17S1574 and distal to ABR, with LOH frequencies almost the same as, or higher than, at the TP53 locus. Examination of the relationship between LOH of the latter three regions and histopathological parameters of adenocarcinomas (genetically negative for p53 mutation) revealed allelic losses on D17S379 to be associated with advanced lesions, while D17S513 was more frequently deleted in poorly differentiated tumors. These results indicate that new tumor suppressor gene(s) may reside on these three distinctly deleted regions on chromosome 17p13.3 distal to the p53 gene in lung cancer, with possible roles in progression and differentiation of adenocarcinomas.

Induction of apoptosis in WEHI 231 cells by cationic liposomes

PURPOSE

Liposomes are of considerable interest as drug carriers and immunoadjuvants. However, few investigators have studied the changes exerted by liposomes in the cells with which they interact. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether liposomes induce apoptosis in B cells.

METHODS

The mouse immature B cell line WEHI 231 cells and mouse splenic B cells were treated with liposomes, and the induction of apoptosis was evaluated by monitoring changes in DNA content, DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation by flow cytometry, agarose gel electrophoresis and by morphological investigation.

RESULTS

Cationic liposomes induced apoptosis in WEHI 231 cells, but neutral and anionic liposomes did not. A contact time of 30 min between WEHI 231 cells and cationic liposomes was sufficient to induce apoptosis, and 80% of the cells showed hypodiploid DNA content. Apoptosis induced by cationic liposomes composed of stearylamine was inhibited by addition of the oxidant scavenger, N-acetyl-cysteine.

CONCLUSIONS

Cationic liposomes induced apoptosis in WEHI 231 cells, and the production of reactive oxygen species is important in the regulation of apoptosis induced by cationic liposomes. It is well known that cationic liposomes show cytotoxicity, and apoptosis may be one of the causes of this toxicity.

Hemodialysis together with peritoneal dialysis is one of the simplest ways to maintain adequacy in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

When long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) is performed without change in the dialysis prescription, uremic symptoms appear owing to insufficient dialysis dose. In such cases, an increase in dialysate volume is required, but this increase is difficult to obtain in all patients owing to limitations in abdominal volume, lifestyle, or body weight. A combination of PD and hemodialysis (HD) is the simplest method of overcoming these limitations. Combination therapy--HD once per week for 4 hours and PD 6 days per week--was performed in our patients. The total weekly dialysis dose (urea) was calculated as follows: to convert the dialysis dose by HD to that of continuous treatment, the equivalent renal urea clearance (EKR) was calculated and added to the dialysis dose by PD. Combination therapy was performed in 12 patients. The reasons for the combination therapy included ultrafiltration (UF) loss in 2 patients, uremic symptoms in 3 patients, poor fluid management in 5 patients, umbilical hernia in 1 patient, and hydrothorax in 1 patient. Total Kt/V per week was increased from 1.61 +/- 0.19 to 2.05 +/- 0.25 in these patients. In the 2 patients with UF loss, weight control became easier after the combination therapy was started, and this control was possible with hypotonic dialysate alone. In patients with uremic symptoms, the symptoms improved; furthermore, dermal pigmentation improved in these patients. In summary, the dialysis dose was increased and body fluids became controllable after inducing combination therapy, resulting in improvement uremic symptoms and increased quality of life.

Direct Infusion of Ascites into the Blood Circuit during Hemodiafiltration in Uremic Patients with Cirrhosis

Two chronic dialysis patients with massive ascites caused by cirrhosis were treated by infusion of their ascites directly into the blood circuit. This stabilized their hemodynamics during dialysis, facilitating the control of weight gain and ascites, and thus markedly improving their general condition. Long-term use of this therapy was able to prevent the accumulation of ascitic fluid. Interestingly, fever occurred when this therapy was performed with hemodialysis, but not with hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration, suggesting that a pyrogen in the ascites was removed by filtration.

Association of Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3-adrenergic receptor gene and no association of Gln223Arg polymorphism of the leptin receptor gene in Japanese schoolchildren with obesity

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3-adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) gene and Gln223Arg polymorphism of the leptin receptor (Ob-R) gene are associated with obesity in Japanese schoolchildren.

DESIGN

Population study of participants from a rural town located within 50 km northeast of Tokyo based on school medical examinations.

SUBJECTS

553 Japanese schoolchildren (291 boys and 262 girls) who were 9-15 y old with a mean age of 11.9 +/- 1.8 y.

MEASUREMENTS

DNA was extracted from whole blood and genotyped by PCR-RFLP. Height, weight and blood pressure were measured in school medical examinations. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol concentrations were measured by an autoanalyzer. Obesity index, body mass index (BMI) and LDL-cholesterol concentration were calculated by the respective formulae.

RESULTS

In Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3-AR gene, the number of obese subjects with Trp/Arg or Arg/Arg genotypes was significantly higher than that of the non-obese subjects (chi2=5.79, P=0.02). The obesity index of subjects with the Arg/Arg or Arg/Trp genotype was significantly higher than that of those with the Trp/Trp genotype (8.2 +/- 18.7% vs 4.5 +/- 15.8%, P=0.04). Moreover, after adjustments for age and gender, BMI of subjects with the Trp/Arg or Arg/Arg genotype was significantly higher than that of those with the Trp/Trp genotype (19.4 +/- 3.6 kg/m2 vs 18.9 +/- 3.2 kg/m2, P= 0.02). However, no significant differences were observed in the clinical characteristics among the genotype groups of the Ob-R gene.

CONCLUSIONS

Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3-AR gene appears to be a genetic risk factor for obesity in Japanese children, but Gln223Arg polymorphism of the Ob-R gene does not appear to be associated with obesity.

Direct infusion of ascites into the blood circuit during hemodiafiltration in uremic patients with cirrhosis

Two chronic dialysis patients with massive ascites caused by cirrhosis were treated by infusion of their ascites directly into the blood circuit. This stabilized their hemodynamics during dialysis, facilitating the control of weight gain and ascites, and thus markedly improving their general condition. Long-term use of this therapy was able to prevent the accumulation of ascitic fluid. Interestingly, fever occurred when this therapy was performed with hemodialysis, but not with hemofiltration or hemodiafiltration, suggesting that a pyrogen in the ascites was removed by filtration.

A phase II study of combined chemoradiotherapy for limited disease-small-cell lung cancer

A study to evaluate the efficacy of cisplatin, doxorubicin, and etoposide chemotherapy with combined radiotherapy was undertaken in 26 patients with limited disease-small-cell lung cancer. Patients were treated with cisplatin (80 mg/m2) intravenously (i.v.) on day 1, doxorubicin (30 mg/m2) i.v. on day 1, and etoposide (80 mg/m2) i.v. on days 1, 3, and 5, every 4 weeks for four cycles. Thoracic irradiation of 40 Gy in 20 fractions was delivered during 4 weeks to the primary site starting on day 8 of the second cycle of chemotherapy. The objective response rate was 100%. A complete response was observed in 10 patients (38%). The median survival time was 23 months, and the 3-year survival rate was 42%. Seven patients (27%) continued to survive at least 8 years and remain free from disease. Grade III/IV leukopenia was observed in 25 patients (96%). Grade III/IV thrombocytopenia developed in 19 patients (73%). Grade III/IV esophagitis was not seen. Interstitial pneumonitis occurred in two patients. This regimen is effective and has acceptable toxicity for use in the treatment of limited disease-small-cell lung cancer.

Stimulation of gastric acid secretion by progesterone metabolites as neuroactive steroids in anesthetized rats

The effect of neuroactive progesterone metabolites, 5alpha- and 5beta-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one, and their stereoisomers at the 3 C site, 5alpha- and 5beta-pregnan-3beta-ol-20-one, on gastric acid secretion was investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats. Both 5alpha- and 5beta-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one dose-dependently (0.3-3 mg x kg(-1), i.v.) stimulated gastric acid secretion with an early onset of action. Their potency and efficacy were almost the equivalent of one another. In contrast, their stereoisomers did not have a significant effect even at 10 mg x kg(-1) (i.v.). The 5beta-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one (3 mg x kg(-1), i.v.)-stimulated gastric acid secretion was remarkably inhibited by bilateral vagotomy or pretreatment with atropine (1 mg x kg(-1), i.v.). An antagonist of the GABA(A) receptor, picrotoxin, at 3 and 6 mg x kg(-1) (i.v.), significantly inhibited the 5beta-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one (3 mg x kg(-1), i.v.)-stimulated gastric acid secretion. These results indicate that naturally occurring neuroactive steroids, 5alpha- and 5beta-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one, stimulate gastric acid secretion in a stereoselective and dose-dependent manner in urethane-anesthetized rats. It is likely that the action of these neuroactive steroids is of central origin and that interaction with GABA(A) receptors and stimulation of vagal pathway are involved in its mechanism of action.

Novel mutations, no detectable mRNA and familial genetic analysis of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein gene in six Japanese patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a primary X-linked immunodeficiency disease caused by mutations of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) gene. The present molecular studies of six Japanese WAS patients identified five different mutations of WASP, including two novel mutations (45delG, 395insGGAGAT), the latter appearing to have occurred de novo. Familial carriers were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism analysis, restriction enzyme digestion and direct sequencing of PCR products. Neither mRNA nor the protein product were detectable in any of the patients, while various amounts of WASP protein were expressed in carriers, normal controls, haematopoietic cell lines of all lineages and in one patient after receiving allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Conclusion Genetic and protein analysis is useful in the definite diagnosis and follow up of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome patients and in carrier detection, especially of atypical or sporadic patients.

Stimulatory effect of dibutyryl cyclic GMP on acid secretion in mouse isolated stomach and on histamine release in gastric mucosal cells

We previously reported that endogenous nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the peripheral control of gastric acid secretion induced by some secretagogues, and that endogenous NO is involved in the acid secretion process via histamine release from histamine-containing cells. However, the stimulus-secretion coupling in the cells remains to be clarified. In the present study, we investigated the effect of dibutyryl cyclic GMP on gastric acid secretion in mouse isolated stomach and on histamine release in gastric mucosal cells, in comparison with those of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Dibutyryl cyclic GMP (300 microM) produced a slight but significant increase of gastric acid secretion, which was completely inhibited by the histamine-H2 receptor antagonist famotidine. In contrast, dibutyryl cyclic GMP (1 mM) markedly inhibited histamine-induced acid secretion. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (100 microM) produced a sustained increase of gastric acid secretion. The pretreatment with famotidine partially inhibited dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced gastric acid secretion. Dibutyryl cyclic GMP and dibutyryl cyclic AMP significantly increased the histamine release from gastric mucosal cells. These results suggest that both intracellular cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP act as second messengers for histamine release in the histamine-containing cells, probably ECL cells. On the other hand, in gastric parietal cells, cyclic AMP has a stimulatory effect on gastric acid secretion, whereas cyclic GMP has an inhibitory effect.

Chromogranin A expression in hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with germline MEN1 gene mutation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was found in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1). The intriguing finding was that the HCC in the patient was positively stained for chromogranin A (CgA), a cellular marker for endocrine and neuroendocrine tumors. The patient had a pancreas endocrine tumor and type C hepatitis, that made pathological diagnosis of the origin of the tumor complicated.

Macrosialin may not be involved with the regulation of nitric oxide production from mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS

We reported previously that nitric oxide (NO) production from mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS was inhibited by negatively charged liposomes composed of phosphatidylserine (PS-liposomes) or oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) which have an affinity for scavenger receptors (SRs). In this study, to clarify whether macrosialin, an SR, participates in the inhibitory effects of PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL on NO production, the effects of anti-macrosialin monoclonal antibody (FA/11) on inhibition of NO production by PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL were investigated. FA/11 itself showed no effect on NO production induced by LPS. Binding of FA/11 to macrophages was inhibited by the addition of PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL, indicating that PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL have an affinity for macrosialin. However, the inhibitory effects of these ligands on NO production were not reduced in the presence of FA/11. These findings suggest that macrosialin does not contribute to the inhibitory effects of PS-liposomes or Ox-LDL on NO production from mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS.

Induction of apoptosis in macrophages by cationic liposomes

The effects of liposomes on apoptosis in macrophages were evaluated from DNA content and DNA fragmentation. Cationic liposomes composed of different kinds of cationic lipids induced apoptosis in mouse splenic macrophages and the macrophage-like cell line, RAW264.7 cells. Generation of reactive oxygen radicals from macrophages treated with cationic liposomes was detected using flow cytometry, and further apoptosis was inhibited by the addition of oxidant scavenger, N-acetylcysteine. From these findings, the production of reactive oxygen species may be important in the regulation of apoptosis induced by cationic liposomes.