Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in liver diseases

To evaluate the distribution of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) positive cells in various liver diseases, we undertook an immunohistochemical study of liver diseases including chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, intrahepatic cholelithiasis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As a control, fetal livers (gestational age: 22-26 weeks) showed alpha-SMA positive cells along the blood vessels of the portal area, terminal hepatic venules and at perisinusoidal spaces. Perisinusoidal alpha-SMA positive cells were bipolar shaped and had round nuclei. In chronic persistent hepatitis, a few alpha-SMA positive cells were admixed with the inflammatory infiltrates mostly along the intact limiting plate. They were also detected multifocally in a linear pattern along the dilated sinusoid. In chronic active hepatitis, very strong alpha-SMA staining was detected at the site of piecemeal necrosis and adjacent lobules. A-SMA expression was decreased in some cases after interferon treatment. In cases of transplanted liver biopsies, expression of intralobular alpha-SMA was diffusely increased but showed no correlation with degree of acute rejection. Cirrhotic livers revealed strong alpha-SMA positivity in fibrous septae as well as in the perisinusoidal space of intact hepatocytes at the leading edge of fibrosis. Interlobular bile ducts were concentrically circumscribed by alpha-SMA positive cells in cases of intrahepatic cholelithiasis. In trabecular type hepatocellular carcinomas, most sinusoidal lining cells were positive for alpha-SMA. Most intralobular alpha-SMA positive cells represent, if not all, perisinusoidal cells (PSCs) which are involved in intralobular fibrogenesis in various liver diseases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Improved tumour oxygenation and radiosensitization by combination with nicotinamide and pentoxifylline

We hypothesized that the combination of pentoxifylline (PTX) and nicotinamide (NA) can reduce the radioresistance of FSaII murine fibrosarcoma by improving oxygenation of the hypoxic tumour cells. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis; first, tumour blood flow after treatment with NA, PTX, and the combination (PTX+NA) was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. Second, intratumour pO2 after various treatments was measured polarographically using O2 microelectrodes. Third, the radiation response was also measured, i.e. after an exposure to 20 Gy, the time required to reach a four-fold increase in initial tumour volume was 18 days in the saline-treated control group, 21 days in the NA-treated group, 26 days in the PTX-treated group, but was 36 days in PTX+NA treated group. Interestingly, tumour blood flow significantly increased at 10 min after injection of PTX+NA. The mean pO2 in untreated control tumours was 7.5 mmHg, increasing to 13.1 mmHg after 500 mg/kg of NA alone. Repeated injections of PTX with 100 mg/kg/day for 3 days significantly increased intratumour pO2 to 17.2 mmHg. Compared with PTX alone, PTX+NA slightly increased intratumour pO2 from 17.2 to 18.5 mmHg. However, the percentage of regions having values < 2.5 mmHg significantly decreased from 5% with PTX alone to 1% with PTX+NA. In conclusion, single or multiple injections of PTX may increase available O2 in the tumour and thus ameliorate hypoxia in tumour microregions. As previously reported, the subsequent injection of NA may efficiently oxygenate acutely hypoxic cells. Consequently, PTX+NA may increase the radioresponse of tumours by oxygenating chronic as well as acutely hypoxic cells. PTX alone or in combination with NA is potentially useful to radiosensitize tumours.

The fluid dynamic effect on protein adsorption in left ventricular assist devices

Plasma protein adsorption onto an artificial surface is strongly influenced by not only the surface characteristics of materials, but also by the fluid dynamics inside the blood pump, and it would influence subsequent platelet adhesion or activation, which plays a major role in the initiation of thrombus formation at the blood-material interface in vivo. In vitro flow visualization of an electrohydraulic LVAD was performed by a video camera (CCD, Hitachi) and an image processor (PC VISION PLUS) with an IBM PC. The electrohydraulic LVADs were implanted in mongrel dogs of approximately 20 kg. The authors sectioned the blood contacted ventricle after animal death according to the level of shear rate. Because analysis of adsorbed protein might be influenced by the size of the ventricle segment, the number of segments was limited to eight per ventricle. Platelet adhesion and its morphology were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adsorbed plasma proteins (fibrinogen, albumin, and IgG) on each segment were quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The specimens were soaked in 2% (wt/vol) SDS/PBS for 2 days and the released protein concentration assessed. A well developed large vortex was observed at the center of the artificial ventricle. Polyurethane blood pumps displayed different degrees of protein adsorption and subsequent platelet adhesion on each segment.

A distinct intron-DNA structure in simian virus 40 T-antigen and adenovirus 2 E1A genes

Distinct structures delineating the introns of simian virus 40 T-antigen and adenovirus 2 E1A genes have been discovered. The structures, which are centered around the branch points of the genes inserted in supercoiled double-stranded plasmids, are specifically targeted through photoactivated strand cleavage by the metal complex tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)rhodium(III). The DNA sites that are recognized lack sequence homology but are similar in demarcating functionally important sites on the RNA level. The single-stranded DNA fragment corresponding to the coding strand of the E1A gene was also found to fold into a structure apparently identical to that in the supercoiled E1A gene based on the recognition by the metal complex. Further investigation of different single-stranded DNA fragments showed that the structure requires the sequences at both ends of the intron plus the flanking sequences but not the middle of the intron. These results provide direct evidence that the positions of these introns are structurally encoded on the DNA level.

A revised strategy for cloning antibody gene fragments in bacteria

The ability to clone and overexpress genes encoding mouse Fab (antigen-binding fragment) proteins in bacteria led to the development of a methodology which has the potential to replace traditional hybridoma technology [Huse et al., Science 246 (1989) 1275-1281]; however, several observations have suggested that clones with desirable chemical properties may be missed in immunoscreens of large combinatorial libraries due to low levels of functional Ab protein. To increase the efficiency of cloning and characterization of Ab gene fragments, we have reconsidered several features of the original cloning vehicles. These studies show that at the present time a unique expression system cannot adequately accommodate the requirements of plaque-lift immunoassays for clonal selection and biochemical assays for further characterization in vitro. A monocistronic arrangement of heavy- and light-chain-encoding genes using two lacP promoters produces sufficient amounts of functional Ab protein for clonal selection from phage lambda libraries and minimizes interference with the lytic cycle of recombinant vectors. In liquid culture, a strong coliphage promoter and a relatively abundant RNA polymerase can be used to produce quantities of Ab protein sufficient for further characterization in vitro. A rapid purification protocol obviates the need for fusing heavy-chain protein to a decapeptide sequence, an affinity-tail sequence which slows the folding and assembly of the Ig heterodimer. These results have been used to formulate a new strategy for cloning and characterization of Ab gene fragments in bacteria.

Effect of angiotensin II induced hypertension on tumor blood flow and interstitial fluid pressure

The effect of angiotensin II-induced hypertension on tumor interstitial fluid pressure (TIFP) and tumor blood flow (TBF) was investigated to examine blood flow and pressure regulation in solid tumors. TIFP measurements were made before and after administration of angiotensin II using the wick-in-needle method in s.c. tumor implants. Relative TBF was continuously monitored by laser doppler velocimetry. The effect of host strain on TIFP was evaluated in MCA-IV mammary carcinoma, transplanted in C3H and SCID mice, and showed no significant difference. The effects of tumor types were evaluated by comparing two murine tumors, MCA-IV mammary carcinoma and FSaII fibrosarcoma, and a human tumor xenograft, LS174T adenocarcinoma, transplanted in SCID mice. Baseline TIFP was elevated in all three tumor lines to significantly different pressures. AII-induced hypertension (approximately 150 mm Hg) had a variable but tumor line-specific effect on TIFP and TBF. The increase in TIFP was correlated with the baseline TIFP (r2 = 0.853) (increasing from 6.9 to 8.7 mm Hg, 10.5 to 15.8 mm Hg, and 21.7 to 29.4 mm Hg in FSaII, MCA-IV, and LS174T, respectively). These data suggest that in addition to blood flow redistribution due to the steal phenomenon, arterial control of TBF and TIFP exists within these solid tumors; however, the extent of control is tumor line dependent and less than that in normal tissues. Moreover, parallel increases in TIFP and TBF do not support the hypothesis that elevated TIFP causes vascular collapse and thus decreases TBF.

Analysis of naturally occurring late flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana

We have examined the late-flowering behavior of two ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana, Sf-2 and Le-0. The late-flowering trait segregates as a single dominant gene in crosses with the early-flowering Columbia ecotype. This gene, which we refer to as FLA, is located at one end of chromosome 4 between RFLP markers 506 and 3843 and is thus distinct from previously mapped genes that affect flowering time. The extreme delay in flowering time caused by the FLA gene can be overcome by vernalization in both the ecotypes in which it occurs naturally and in the Columbia ecotype into which this gene has been introgressed.

Immunolocalization of ras oncogene p21 in human liver diseases

Fifty-five cases representing a spectrum of disease states of the human liver and 10 normal liver controls were examined for the presence of the ras oncogene product p21. Conventional formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were immunostained by the avidin-biotin complex method with the broadly reactive ras p21 monoclonal antibody (Mab) RAP-5. The specificity of the reactions was confirmed by immunostaining selected samples with Mab Y13-259. In the normal liver, virtually no hepatocytic immunostaining was noted. Variable, often extensive, and convincing immunoreactions were noted in diverse forms of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and allograft rejection; the strongest immunostaining was found in samples of focal nodular hyperplasia. Hepatic adenomas and hepatocellular carcinomas showed unevenly distributed, moderate to weak reactions or no reaction at all; cholangiocarcinomas did not immunostain. In reactive but non-transformed liver cell populations, enhanced p21 ras reactions seemed to correlate with the severity of the injury and the intensity of the proliferative response. The uneven and comparatively weak ras p21 reactions noted in adenomas and carcinomas suggest that this oncogene product may be involved only transitorily in their transformation processes and possibly may not be involved in certain variants thereof.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours contain a common set of synaptic vesicle proteins and amino acid neurotransmitters

Human neuroendocrine tumours of the gastroenteropancreatic system contain major integral membrane proteins of small synaptic vesicles of neurons, together with characteristic membrane polypeptides of large dense-core vesicles of neurons and neuroendocrine cells. The membrane polypeptides characteristic for small synaptic and large dense-core vesicles are detected in pheochromocytomas (n = 6), functional (n = 6) and non-functional (n = 6) foregut, and midgut carcinoids (n = 17). All gastroenteropancreatic tumours contain large amounts of amino acid neurotransmitters, i.e. glycine and glutamate. gamma-Aminobutyric acid, however, is only found in some foregut carcinoids. Thus, neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumours possess a vesicle type with a content and membrane composition similar to small synaptic vesicles of neurons.

Primary choriocarcinoma of the urinary bladder--a case report

We report a primary choriocarcinoma of the urinary bladder in a 63-year-old man who presented with painless hematuria. He was diagnosed as having an invasive carcinoma and underwent a total cystectomy. The tumor was diffusely hemorrhagic and occupied the dome of the bladder. Histologically, it consisted of cyto-and syncytiotrophoblasts with extensive hemorrhage. No coexisting transitional cell carcinoma component was present. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor expressed beta-hCG and low-molecular weight cytokeratin intensely while it was negative for CEA or EMA. The post-cystectomy serum beta-hCG was 237mlU/ml, and decreased later. The pertinent literature is reviewed and diagnostic criteria are discussed.

Immunoglobulins in milk from cows immunized with oral strains of Actinomyces, Prevotella, Porphyromonas, and Fusobacterium

Immunization of pregnant cows with bacteria leads to the presence of high concentrations of specific antibodies in colostrum and milk. A total of 14 cows was immunized with single strains of heat-killed oral bacteria or pools of strains of Actinomyces, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium. Two cows were treated with adjuvant alone. The mean percentages of IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA in all of the milks were 83.8, 3.8, 9.3, and 3.1, respectively. ELISA and whole cell agglutination assays demonstrated high titers in the milks from the cows immunized with either individual strains or the bacterial pools. The highest titers determined by ELISA belonged to the IgG1 isotype and in several milks were 64-fold greater than titers in milk from cows treated with adjuvant alone. The concentrations of all antibodies and the titers determined by ELISA and whole cell agglutination assays markedly decreased from the first to the sixth milkings. The functional specificity of the antibodies was demonstrated by agglutination tests against a wide range of bacteria including members of Actinomyces, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Streptococcus, Eubacterium, Propionibacterium, Peptostreptococcus, Bacteroides, Actinobacillus, Haemophilus, Capnocytophaga, and Wolinella. Minimal cross-reactions with bacteria in other genera were observed with all of the milks. High-titer milk preparations have been obtained from immunized cows, and the capacity of the bovine antibodies to agglutinate target bacteria indicates their potential usefulness in oral passive immunization studies.

Visualization of the algal polysaccharide carrageenan by scanning tunnelling microscopy

Scanning tunnelling microscopy has been used to obtain images in the constant-current mode in air and moist conditions at molecular resolution for the kappa- and iota-carrageenan algal polysaccharides. The molecules were deposited from an aqueous solution onto a graphite substrate. The samples formed aligned nematic-like arrays and were also found as individual molecules. The molecular dimensions of width, height and repeat distance along the molecule were found to be close to the values previously determined by X-ray diffraction. The results support a molecular model based on a double-helix structure for carrageenan.

Nonspecific antibacterial factors in milk from cows immunized with human oral bacterial pathogens

Both the immunoglobulins and non-specific antibacterial factors in milk from cows immunized with pathogenic oral bacteria have the potential to influence the oral microflora during passive immunization studies. The first six milks after calving were collected from 2 cows immunized with adjuvant and from 14 cows immunized with adjuvant and heat-killed strains of periodontopathic Actinomyces, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium. Analysis of the products from the first to the sixth milks revealed that the protein and lysozyme content decreased approximately 66 and 72%, respectively; the mean specific activity of the enzyme remained relatively constant. In contrast, the mean lactoperoxidase activity increased 2.3-fold in the second milking and increased further in the fourth and sixth milkings. The mean iron-binding activity increased 1.2-fold from the first to the second milkings and then decreased 3.6-fold through the sixth milking. Cows immunized with adjuvant alone showed similar responses. Per unit volume, the milk contained approximately 150 times less lysozyme than whole human saliva obtained from six subjects but higher concentrations of lactoperoxidase and iron-binding components. Purified bovine nonspecific factors prevented the growth of the bacteria used for immunization when bacteria were tested at concentrations similar to those found in saliva and milk. Because bovine nonspecific antibacterial factors could influence both the pathogenic target bacteria and the indigenous microflora in oral passive immunization studies with bovine immunoglobulins, the presence of these proteins should be considered.

Nicotinamide can lower tumor interstitial fluid pressure: mechanistic and therapeutic implications

Several investigators have shown that nicotinamide (NA) may increase the tumor blood flow and/or alleviate temporal fluctuations in tumor blood flow and, consequently, increase pO2. However, the mechanisms of these changes in tumor blood flow are not understood, especially because NA lowers the mean arterial blood pressure in mice. Our hypothesis is that NA may decrease flow resistance in tumors, which would lower vascular pressure and tumor interstitial fluid pressure (TIFP). To test this hypothesis, we measured the physiological parameters: mean arterial blood pressure, TIFP, tumor water content, and hematocrit in C3H mice bearing FSaII tumors, before and after treatment with 500 mg/kg of NA. In control animals, TIFP increased with tumor growth up to 400 mm3, reached a plateau, and then decreased when the tumor size was above 1000 mm3 (n = 135). Tumor water content correlated significantly with TIFT (for tumors less than 500 mm3) (n = 26). NA caused approximately a 15% decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (P less than 0.05) and a 35% decrease in TIFP (P less than 0.001) at 2 h postinjection, without any change in hematocrit. The change in TIFP was found to be tumor size dependent. Specifically, NA decreased the TIFP by 47% (P less than 0.001) and 39% (P less than 0.001) in medium (200 to 500 mm3) and large (500 to 800 mm3) tumors, respectively. The decrease in TIFP in small (less than 200 mm3) and very large (greater than 800 mm3) tumors was not statistically significant (P greater than 0.1). Our results may explain the size-dependent enhancement in pO2 and radiation response reported by I. Lee and C. W. Song (Radiat. Res., 130: 65-71, 1992) for this tumor line. If our results could be confirmed in human tumors in situ, they would have significant implications in noninvasive measurements of TIFP using NMR and in cancer treatment using radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Cytogenetic analysis of meningiomas

Cytogenetic analysis of 4 cases of meningiomas from 3 male and 1 female patients is reported. One of male patients suffered from neurofibromatosis type 2. Histologically, the meningiomas were meningotheliomatous (1), transitional (2), and psammomatous (1). Chromosomal abnormalities were found in all cases with a karyotype 45,XY,-22, 45,XY,-16, 45,XX,-2, and 45,XY,t (15p;22q), respectively. Monosomy of chromosome 22 was detected only in the patient with neurofibromatosis type 2. These cytogenetic analysis demonstrates that variable clonal karyotype aberrations exist in meningiomas.

The oxygenation of murine tumor isografts and human tumor xenografts by nicotinamide

The changes in pO2 caused by nicotinamide in the FSaII mouse tumor and three different xenografts of human tumors, HP-56, FaDu, and EO1, grown subcutaneously in the legs of mice were studied. The tumor pO2, as measured with microelectrodes, began to rise soon after the host mice were injected intraperitoneally with 500 mg/kg nicotinamide, and it increased continuously for 100-120 min. The rate and magnitude of the increase in tumor pO2 was dependent on the tumor line and also on the tumor size. In FSaII tumors, the increase in pO2 caused by nicotinamide was relatively small in the well-oxygenated small tumors (173 +/- 5 mm3) compared with that in the larger tumors (515 +/- 25 mm3). The blood perfusion in FSaII tumors as measured with the laser Doppler method was also increased by nicotinamide. The growth delay in FSaII tumors induced by X irradiation was enhanced significantly by nicotinamide. It was concluded that the enhancement of radiation damage in the experimental tumors in mice by nicotinamide, as observed in the present study and reported by others, is due to an increase in intratumor pO2, possibly as a result of an increase in blood perfusion.

Involvement of mixed function oxidase systems in polychlorinated biphenyl metabolism by plant cells

Nineteen different polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners ranging in chlorine content from 2 to 6 chlorine atoms were provided to nonphotosynthetic suspension cultures of rose (Rosa sp. cv. Paul's Scarlet). After a 96 h incubation period, 11 individual congeners had been metabolized by > 10%. Provision of mixed function oxidase inhibitors (10 mM metyrapone or 0.5 mM 7,8-benzoflavone) either stopped or severely reduced the metabolism of individual congeners; whereas (inhibitors of peroxidase) (1 mM benzoate or 1 mM n-propylgallate) had minimal influence on PCB metabolism. The metabolism of PCBs by rose cultures appears to be catalyzed by a cytochrome P-450-and/or P-448-dependent enzyme system.

Increases in tumor response by pentoxifylline alone or in combination with nicotinamide

Pentoxifylline (PENTO), a derivative of methylxanthine, has been reported to improve fluidity of red blood cells (RBC), and thus improve the flux of RBC through narrow capillaries. Additionally, PENTO increases 2,3-DPG levels in RBC, thereby increasing the O2 release from RBC. Nicotinamide (NA) has been known to increase tumor blood flow, reducing the hypoxic cell fractions in the tumors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of PENTO alone or in combination with NA (PENTO + NA) on the oxygenation and radio-response of FSaII murine fibrosarcomas of mice. We observed a significantly enhanced, radiation-induced growth delay of the FSaII tumors by the treatment of either single or multiple injections of PENTO. The combination of PENTO and NA further delayed the growth of tumors. The TCD50 of control tumors was about 56.6 Gy, whereas that of PENTO + NA treated tumors was about 31.9 Gy. Thus, TCD50 was modified by a factor of 1.8. PENTO + NA exerted no effect on the acute skin damage of C3H mice after local irradiation and the gastrointestinal death after whole body irradiation. However, PENTO + NA slightly increased the bone marrow death as demonstrated by the decrease in LD50(30) from 5.5 Gy to 5.2 Gy. The average pO2 in the saline-treated control group of FSaII tumors was 8 mmHg and it significantly increased to 19 mmHg in the PENTO + NA treated group (p less than 0.001). We concluded that the PENTO + NA treatment increased the radio-response of tumors by improving tumor oxygenation.

Improvement in RBC flux, acidosis and oxygenation in tumour microregions by Fluosol-DA 20%

Using laser Doppler flowmetry, we investigated the effects of Fluosol-DA 20% on RBC flux in FSaII tumours and on RBC flux in normal skin of C3H mice. The RBC flux in tumours was significantly increased; however, the RBC flux in normal skin fluctuated only slightly after the treatment with Fluosol-DA 20%. Since an increase in RBC flux by Fluosol-DA 20% may facilitate the removal of acidic metabolites from the tumours, the effects of Fluosol-DA 20% on intratumour pH was also measured. We also measured intratumour pO2 after various dosages of Fluosol-DA 20% with carbogen inhalation. We concluded that the administration of Fluosol-DA 20% selectively increased the RBC flux in tumours compared to that in normal skin. Moreover, carbogen inhalation combined with increasing dosages up to 36 ml/kg of Fluosol-DA 20% effectively enhanced tumour oxygenation in FSaII tumours.

Human fibroblasts in idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis express HLA-DR antigens

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) is a rare human disease characterized by non-neoplastic fibroblastic proliferation associated with chronic inflammatory cells; its pathogenesis is obscure. We undertook an immunohistochemical study for the expression of HLA-DR antigens and other immune-related markers by retroperitoneal proliferating fibroblasts and inflammatory cells from 2 IRF patients. Patterns of immunoreactivity were compared with those expressed by human nodular fasciitis (NF) and granulation tissue. In IRF, most fibroblasts immunostained strongly for HLA-DR antigens, whereas fibroblasts in NF and granulation tissue did, not immunostain at all. The fibroblasts did not immunostain for interleukin 2 receptor, C3b receptor, CD-4, CD-8, or Leu-M1 in any of the tissue studied. Most macrophages and lymphocytes in IRF and NF immunostained Strangly for HLA-DR antigens. In IRF, the CD-4 and CD-8 immunostained T-lymphocytes appeared equally distributed. The expression of HLA-DR antigens by fibroblasts in IRF indicates that this rare disease may indeed be an immune-associated hypersensitivity disorder.

Health costs of the Gulf war

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