PCDD, PCDF, planar and other PCB levels in human milk in Japan. off

26 human milk samples in Japan were individually analyzed for PCDDs, planar and other PCB. Mean total concentrations of PCDDs planar and other PCBs were 8.5 pg/g, 8.8 pg/g and 5.5 ng/g of whole milk, respectively. TEQs were calculated using International-TEFs(I-TEFs) for PCDDs/Fs and TEFs proposed by the WHO for planar PCBs. Mean total TEQs of PCDDs and planar PCBs were 0.48, 0.63 and 0.39 pg/g of whole milk, respectively. These values were similar to those of other industrialized countries.

Increased soluble CD23 molecules in serum/saliva and correlation with the stage of sialoectasis in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome

OBJECTIVE

We examined the soluble CD23 (sCD23) molecules in sera and saliva from patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

METHODS

The determination of sCD23 and other soluble molecules were made by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The amounts of sCD23 in the sera/saliva were significantly increased in the patients compared to the controls and the levels were significantly correlated with sialoectasis.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that increased sCD23 molecules in saliva from patients with Sjögren's syndrome may reflect active sialoectasis.

[Effect of sex steroids on serum amyloid P-component (female protein) in rats]

Serum amyloid P-component (SAP) has been designated as a female protein in hamsters. But such a distinction is not made for rats. In order to investigate the effects of sex-steroids on the SAP level in rats, SAP was purified from Wistar rats by affinity chromatography of phosphorylcholine, followed by gel filtration. Anti-SAP was raised through the immunization of rabbits with the rat SAP and Freund's adjuvant. Sample sera were obtained from 180 young and old rats, after which rats were injected with estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Sera were serially obtained from the tail vessels until the 8th day after injection. The SAP level was assayed by micro single radial immunodiffusion. As the rats aged, the SAP levels increased from 2.9 mg/dl at 11 weeks to 10.7mg/dl at 58 weeks. In 37-week-old rats, the SAP levels in females (6.3 +/- 1.8 mg/dl) were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than those in males (3.9 +/- 1.0 mg/dl). The SAP levels did not change after T administration, but were increased rapidly by E2 administration, especially in young male rats (increased from 2.6 +/- 0.2 mg/dl to 4.9 +/- 0.7 mg/dl). The SAP levels were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by DHEA injection. Serum E2 levels in young (11 wk) male rats were very low before E2 injection, and rose steeply on the 2nd day. From these findings, the different SAP levels in mature female and male rats are attributed to E2.

[Social activities in the elderly]

In order to clarify the status of social activities in the elderly, and to investigate an association between social activities and age, ADL, and geographical area, a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on the aged population in four areas in Japan. Social activities was defined as "activities which required contact with society" and was measured by 4 major facets of social activity, which were based on 21 questions on job activity, socially-related activities, learning activities, and personal activities. A total index was also developed by summarizing the 4 major facets as an indicator of whether the elderly is socially active or not as a whole. The following major findings emerged from this survey: (1) Rank correlation coefficients between each item which comprised 4 major activities were relatively high; (2) Excluding two activities, "shopping" and "attending senior school", aged men were more actively involved than women; (3) Trend in degrees of social activities differed by age among the 4 major facets, i.e., (a) job activity decreased with age, (b) socially-related activities and learning activities increased up to about 75 years old, and decreased thereafter, (c) personal activities were unaltered up to about 80 years old, and then decreased, and; (4) The elderly with low ADL had the lowest representation among the "highly active" in 4 major facets and total index as well.

Cloning and expression of PCPTP1 encoding protein tyrosine phosphatase

A novel cDNA encoding PTP (protein tyrosine phosphatase) was cloned from PC12h cells and designated as PCPTP1 (gene encoding PC12 protein Tyr phosphatase). The longest open reading frame (ORF) of this clone encodes a 656-amino-acid (aa) protein with a single PTP catalytic domain. Western blot analysis using a polyclonal Ab (antibody) raised against the cytoplasmic region of PCPTP1 detected two products, a major 65-kDa and minor 42-kDa protein, designated PCPTP1-MFI and PCPTP1-MVQ, respectively, in PC12h cells. These two proteins correspond to the products translated from the second and fifth methionine of PCPTP1, respectively. The bacterially expressed GST::PCPTP1-MVQ fusion protein had phosphatase activity with pNPP (p-nitrophenyl phosphate) as a substrate. Alignment of the aa sequence of PCPTP1-MVQ with those of other PTP showed the highest similarity to STEP and LC-PTP/HePTP, with 54 and 51% identity, respectively. Northern blot analysis showed only one 3.9-kb transcript in PC12h cells, indicating that PCPTP1 corresponds to this 3.9-kb transcript. The 3.9-kb PCPTP1 mRNA was detected in the brain and adrenal gland, but not in other non-neuronal tissues in adult rats. Two other transcripts of 3.3 and 1.7 kb were also detected in brain. NGF (nerve growth factor) and glucocorticoid are known to bimodally regulate the cell fate decision of sympathoadrenal precursors like PC12 cells, with NGF promoting the neuronal phenotype and glucocorticoid promoting the chromaffin phenotype. Still, both agents decreased the level of PCPTP1 mRNA in PC12h cells. Therefore, it is likely that the decrease in the level of PCPTP1 mRNA might be associated or correlated with cell differentiation in PC12h cells.

Structural studies on a cell wall polysaccharide from Bifidobacterium longum YIT4028

The major fraction of rhamnogalactan was isolated from the cell wall of Bifidobacterium longum YIT4028 by treatment with N-acetylmuramidase. This polysaccharide was composed of rhamnose and galactose in a molar ratio of about 2:3. The 13C NMR spectrum indicated that it contained a pentasaccharides repeating unit. This observation, and the results of Smith degradation, partial acid hydrolysis and methylation analysis led to the conclusion that its structure is [formula: see text]

Analysis of the role of TFIIE in basal transcription and TFIIH-mediated carboxy-terminal domain phosphorylation through structure-function studies of TFIIE-alpha

The general transcription factor TFIIE recruits TFIIH at a late stage of transcription initiation complex formation and markedly stimulates TFIIH-dependent phosphorylation of the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II. To study this function of TFIIE in more detail, systematic deletion mutations were introduced into the large subunit of TFIIE (TFIIE-alpha) and were analyzed with regard to their effects on TFIIH-dependent CTD phosphorylation, TFIIE-dependent basal and enhancer-dependent transcription, and interactions of TFIIE-alpha with both TFIIE-beta and TFIIH. The amino (N)-terminal half of TFIIE-alpha, which possesses several putative structural motifs, was sufficient for the phosphorylation and transcription activities and for TFIIE-beta interactions, whereas a site effecting both strong interactions with TFIIH and large stimulatory effects on transcription and CTD phosphorylation was localized to an acidic region near the carboxy (C) terminus. The fact that these activities appear to be tightly linked supports the idea that TFIIE interacts physically and functionally with TFIIH and that CTD phosphorylation is essential for transcription under normal conditions. The present results suggest that TFIIE, via its effect on TFIIH, may act as a checkpoint for formation of a preinitiation complex.

Elevation of serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) levels in bronchial asthma

We have previously shown the elevation of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) in patients with bronchial asthma during asthma attacks. In the present study, we extended our earlier study by measuring serum sVCAM-1 levels by ELISA in 45 patients with bronchial asthma (23 atopic and 22 non-atopic) during asthma attacks and in stable conditions in order to assess further the state of adhesion molecules in allergic inflammation of bronchial asthma. The levels of sVCAM-1 in sera obtained during bronchial asthma attacks were higher than those in sera obtained in stable conditions. These findings were observed regardless of atopic status. To examine the regulatory mechanism in the elevation of serum sVCAM-1 levels, serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were measured by ELISA. TNF-alpha levels in sera obtained during bronchial asthma attacks were higher than those in sera obtained in stable conditions. The nature of change in serum TNF-alpha levels correlated with the nature of change in serum sVCAM-1 levels, but serum TNF-alpha levels did not correlate with serum sVCAM-1 levels. These results suggest that higher levels of sVCAM-1 during asthma attacks may reflect the up-regulation of VCAM-1 expression in allergic inflammation, and that a soluble form of VCAM-1 molecules may be useful markers for the presence of allergic inflammation. TNF-alpha is shown to enhance the expression and release of VCAM-1 in vitro, however; the regulatory mechanism in the elevation of serum sVCAM-1 levels remains to be clarified.

Chronic bronchobronchiolitis obliterans associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome

We report a case of bronchobronchiolitis obliterans associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome diagnosed using bronchography and bronchoscopy in a 25-year-old man with dyspnea. Eighteen months prior to admission, the diagnosis of Stevens-Johnson syndrome due to anticonvulsant therapy was made at another hospital. On admission, the patient was wheezing and had overinflation of the lungs, with marked obstructive pulmonary dysfunction. Ventilation and perfusion scintigrams revealed multiple ventilation and perfusion defects but not mismatch. Bronchography revealed central bronchiectasis and obstruction of the peripheral bronchi. Occlusion of the fifth right basal bronchus was observed with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Bronchography and bronchoscopy provide useful information for the diagnosis of this disease.

[Detection of the exoskeleton of Sarcoptes scabiei in histological sections using Fungiflora Y]

Fungiflora Y was applied to a deparaffinized section of a biopsied skin with scabies, a section of a brain infected with Cysticercus cellulosae, a section of a lung infected with Pneumocystis carinii and a section of a cockroach. The exoskeleton of the mite and the cockroach were stained with Fungiflora Y and were visualized as a greenish-blue fluorescence under incident illumination with ultraviolet light, whereas the Cysticercus cellulosae and the Pneumocystis carinii were not visualized at all. Fungiflora Y, which has been reported to stain fungi, is likely to detect arthropods exoskeleton in histological sections.

[Primary adenocarcinoma of the tunica vaginalis testis expressing CA19-9 antigen]

A 47-year-old man presented with a 10-year history of left scrotal swelling. No solid mass detected on sonogram, dark-red colored fluid aspirated, equivocal cytology, and elevated serum CA19-9 level prompted surgical exploration. Frozen section reported no malignancy of thickening of the tunica vaginalis. The final pathology adenocarcinoma, however, necessitated left radical orchiectomy and hemiscrotal resection, demonstrating no malignancy at the left testis nor epididymis. CA19-9 level was high (104,200 U/ml) in the fluid obtained at the first surgery and the tumor cells were positively stained for CA19-9. Imaging study including abdominal CT scan and upper G-I series and normalization of CA19-9 level denied other tumor existing. In conclusion, this is to our knowledge the first case report of adenocarcinoma of the tunica vaginalis expressing CA19-9 antigen.

[MALT lymphoma of large intestine as multiple large polypoid lesions]

We report a case of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in the large intestine in a 38-year-old Japanese female. She developed a dull pain in the right lower abdomen and was found to have ileocecal intussusception. The terminal ileum, cecum and ascending colon were resected. Macroscopically, multiple polypoid lesions were found. Although some authors reported that MALT lymphoma of the colon tend to be solitary, the present case showed seven lesions. Two of the polypoid lesions in the present case were marked large. No such large polypoid MALT lymphoma has been described to our knowledge. A histological and immunohistochemical study revealed those seven lesions to be low grade B cell lymphomas of MALT type.

[Effect of body weight reduction on blood pressure and biochemical data]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between body weight reduction and some complications associated with obesity. The subjects were 248 middle-aged obese persons (male 37, female 209) who participated in a weight reduction program at the Aichi Prefectural Center of Health Care from 1983 to 1990. The subjects had no severe complication, and the obesity indexes of all of them were over 120%. The program was held monthly for five months and consisted of diet (1500 kcal/day) and exercise (10000 walk steps/day). After the program, mean obesity index decreased by about 9%, and mean body weight reduction was about 5kg. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride and GPT were significantly decreased, and HDL cholesterol was slightly increased. For each item the percentage of persons with abnormal values reduced by about 5 to 20%. From the relationship between degree of decrease of obesity and changes of the values of each item, it was estimated that some complications of obesity require greater than 5 to 10% decrease in obesity index to be affected. The value of each examination item before the program and the degree of decrease of obesity index had an effect on changes of the values, but obesity index before the program and age had little effect.

A new animal model of cerebral infarction: magnetic embolization with carbonyl iron particles

A new animal model of cerebral infarction was developed by magnetic embolization with carbonyl iron particles. An electromagnet was placed upon the lateral portion outside the orbit of Mongolian gerbils and charged with a current intensity of 2 A, 3 V (400 G) for 10 min. By intracardiac injection of iron particles at the beginning of the electric charge, infarction was selectively produced in the cerebral cortex. Two days after the operation, microhemorrhaging was seen in the necrotic region. Multiple scattered infarctions accompanied with microhemorrhagic signs closely resembled embolic infarction encountered in the human brain.

Relationship between age and nephrotoxicity following single low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) injection in rats

We studied nephrotoxicity following a single injection of cisplatin (CDDP) at low dose (1 mg/kg) in two groups of rats aged 52 weeks (adult, A group) and 9 weeks (young, Y group). Renal platinum (Pt) was detectable in both groups 3 h after the CDDP injection, and, from 6 h to 3 d after injection, its level in the A group was higher than that in the Y group. Compared with the levels in age-matched normal rats (non-treated rats examined at time zero), the plasma urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in the A group were significantly increased, beginning 3 d after CDDP injection, while those in the Y group showed little change for 10 d after injection. Beginning 3 d after CDDP injection, the level of renal metallothionein in the Y group increased, while that in the A group decreased remarkably. The renal tissue levels of the heavy metals Zn, Cu, Mn showed similar patterns. There were no significant changes in the renal lipid peroxide (LPO) level in either the A and Y group at any time measured after CDDP injection compared with the value in the respective age-matched untreated group. Morphological evaluation demonstrated degeneration of the proximal tubules in the A group 3 d after CDDP injection. These results suggested that the renal disorders observed following CDDP injection in the A group were caused by mechanisms other than LPO such as decreased tissue metabolic function associated with aging.

[Prevalence of urinary incontinence among institutionalized persons aged 60 and over in Japan]

In order to estimate the prevalence of persons experiencing urinary incontinence among the institutionalized aged 60 and over in Japan, a questionnaire survey was conducted in 16 prefectures in February 1991. The questionnaires were distributed and collected by the nurses in hospitals and in other facilities. A total of 10,022 residents were asked to answer a questionnaire on their urinary incontinence condition and 9,798 responses were analysed. The main results were as follows; 1) The prevalence rate of urinary incontinence occurring almost daily in hospitalized persons aged 60 and over was 23.3% for men, 23.8% for women. 2) The prevalence rate of urinary incontinence occurring almost daily in institutionalized persons aged 60 and over in special nursing homes was 64.2% of the aged 60 and over for men, 67.9% for women. 3) The prevalence of urinary incontinence increased with age for both sexes especially in hospitalized persons. 4) The 95% confidence interval estimate for the number of the hospitalized over 60 years old suffering from almost daily urinary incontinent incidents was estimated to be from 31,000 to 113,000 in men and from 60,000 to 182,000 in women. 5) The 95% confidence interval estimate for the number of the institutionalized in special nursing home over 60 years old suffering from almost daily urinary incontinent incidents was estimated to be from 34,000 to 50,000 in men and from 97,000 to 119,000 in women. 6) The 95% confidence interval estimate for the number of the institutionalized over 60 years old suffering from almost daily urinary incontinent incidents was estimated to be from 318,800 to 570,600 in both sexes. 7) A random sampling survey is required to elucidate the actual state of prevalence in all generations. 8) Future research should emphasize the assessment of preventive and medical interventions, as incontinence is preventable and medical and surgical treatment options are available.

Alternative splicing of CD79a (Ig-alpha/mb-1) and CD79b (Ig-beta/B29) RNA transcripts in human B cells

The CD79a (Ig-alpha/mb-1) and CD79b (Ig-beta/B29) molecules form a membrane heterodimer that is non-covalently associated with surface membrane immunoglobulin and is the major signaling component of the B cell antigen receptor complex. We have defined variant RNA transcripts for both CD79a (Ig-alpha/mb-1) and CD79b (Ig-beta/B29) which appear to arise by alternative splicing. These splice variants are predicted to encode truncated forms of these molecules that result in the deletion of the entire extracellular Ig-like domain of CD79b and of a major portion of the extracellular domain of CD79a. The presence of these short transcripts in a variety of human B cells and B cell lines was established by an RNAse protection assay. The definition of these variant transcripts provides a basis for a continuing effort to define variant protein products of CD79a and CD79b and examine their role in B cell physiology.

Differential staining of DNA strand breaks in dying cells by non-radioactive in situ nick translation

Various lines of evidence indicate the involvement of DNA strand breaks (DSB) in the regulation of physiological states of cells, especially in cell death. Currently, cell death is divided into two categories, apoptosis and necrosis. As lysosomal integrity is maintained in apoptosis, while disrupted in necrosis, it is possible to assume that necrotic chromatin is exposed to digestion by various lysosomal enzymes. We have therefore investigated whether apoptotic DSB and necrotic DSB can be discriminated by in situ nick translation (INT) under various conditions of protease pretreatment. Used models of apoptosis and necrosis were the rat thymus with an intraperitoneal injection of hydrocortisone (10 mg/100 g body weight (b.w.)) and rat liver with an intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (100 microliters/g b.w.), respectively. As results, we found that necrotic DSB was readily detected by INT without protein digestion, whereas apoptotic ones were not. These results indicate that the environment around DSB and/or the nature of DSB in apoptosis differs from that of necrosis, and that INT is a convenient molecular histochemical tool to discriminate both types of cell death in frozen sections.

[Allogenic bone marrow transplantation for Fanconi's anemia with leukemic transformation from an HLA identical father]

We report a case of a 19-year-old male with congenital aplastic anemia and multiple abnormalities; short stature, hypoplastic thumb, skin pigmentation and mental retardation. He was admitted to our hospital because of severe pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration showed markedly hypocellular marrow with 42% myeloblasts. He was diagnosed as AML (M2) transformed from Fanconi's anemia and underwent allo-BMT from an HLA-identical father. The conditioning regimen consisted of high dose Ara-C, high dose etoposide and 12Gy fractionated total body irradiation. Severe toxicity associated with the conditioning regimen was not observed. Cyclosporin A and short-term methotrexate were administered for prophylaxis of acute GVHD. Neither acute nor chronic GVHD were observed. He is well and free of disease for 15 months since BMT. Very few cases of Fanconi's anemia with leukemic transformation treated by BMT have been reported. Long-term observation will be necessary to evaluate our conditioning regimen for Fanconi's anemia with leukemic transformation.

Apoptosis is induced in BHK cells by the tsBN462/13 mutation in the CCG1/TAFII250 subunit of the TFIID basal transcription factor

A temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of the BHK21 cell line derived from golden hamsters, tsBN462 has a mutation in the gene encoding the largest subunit of the TFIID complex, TAFII250/p230/CCG1, and arrests in the G1 phase at the nonpermissive temperature, 39.5 degrees C. We found that tsBN462 cells underwent apoptosis following growth arrest at 39.5 degrees C, suggesting a role for CCG1 as a repressor of apoptosis. By electron microscopic observation, tsBN462 cells at 39.5 degrees C showed characteristic features of apoptosis. Apoptosis was not suppressed by expression of Bc1-2 or the adenovirus E1B 19 kDa protein. Cell death was suppressed completely by expression of wild-type CCG1 and partially by wild-type p53, a growth suppressor protein. Cell cycle arrest induced by p53 may help survival of tsBN462 cells at 39.5 degrees C. Apoptosis was accelerated in SV40 large T antigen-transformed tsBN462 cells at 39.5 degrees C where SV40 large T antigen formed a complex with p53, implying that the apoptosis of tsBN462 cells at 39.5 degrees C occurred in a p53-independent manner. Our results suggest that CCG1/TAFII250 is required for the expression of factors regulating apoptosis.

Case report: the first report of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome involved with lung and middle ear

It has been reported that various organs are involved in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. Frequently, the heart, lung, skin, and nervous system are involved. Involvement of the middle ear, however, has not yet been reported. In this article, the authors describe the first case of hypereosinophilic syndrome involving the lung and middle ear. A 39-year-old woman had a 4-month history of low grade fever, non-productive cough, and a feeling of fullness and hearing loss in both ears. Peripheral blood cell count showed eosinophilia. Bilateral tympanic cavities were obstructed with granulation tissue, and she was diagnosed as obliterative otitis media. The granulation tissue consisted of foamy histiocytes and eosinophils. Chest X-ray film and computed tomography showed patchy infiltrative shadow in the lung. Histologic examination of the open lung biopsied specimen showed alveolar spaces infiltrated by eosinophils. After treatment with 30 mg oral prednisolone daily, there was a rapid improvement in her clinical condition. Based on the clinical course and the histologic findings of this case, obliterative otitis media may be caused by eosinophilic infiltration and eosinophilic pneumonia.