Prevention of recurrent bleeding from gastric ulcer with a nonbleeding visible vessel by endoscopic injection of absolute ethanol: a prospective, controlled trial

We performed a prospective, randomized trial to assess the efficacy of endoscopic injection therapy with absolute ethanol in preventing recurrent bleeding in patients with nonbleeding visible vessels in gastric ulcers. During the period of 1990 to 1993, 62 patients who bled were found to have gastric ulcers with nonbleeding visible vessels; all of them were enrolled for this trial. The 62 patients were randomly divided into two groups, which were comparable at entry. In group I (33 patients), we performed endoscopic injection therapy with absolute ethanol. In group II (29 patients), we sprayed the ulcers with 0.1% epinephrine and thrombin. Endoscopic injection therapy with ethanol was performed at the second endoscopy in the patients in both groups who had recurrent bleeding. Among the 33 patients in group I, 4 patients (12.1%) rebled after the initial ethanol injection therapy, whereas 10 of 29 patients (34.5%) rebled in the control group (p < .05). No patients in group I required surgical intervention, and ultimate hemostasis was achieved in all 33 group I patients (100%), indicating that endoscopic ethanol injection therapy achieves ultimate hemostasis and prevents recurrent bleeding in patients with gastric ulcers and nonbleeding visible vessels.

Mouse growth hormone-releasing factor secretion is activated by inhibin and inhibited by activin in placenta

We investigated the effects of activin and inhibin on the regulation of mouse growth hormone-releasing factor (mGHRF) secretion by primary placental cells harvested at Day 12 of pregnancy. Activin-A, an activator of FSH secretion, inhibited mGHRF secretion. In contrast, inhibin, an inhibitor of FSH secretion, activated mGHRF secretion. The lowest concentrations of activin-A and inhibin that significantly affected mGHRF secretion were 2 nM. Follistatin, a binding protein of activin, completely eliminated the ability of activin to inhibit mGHRF secretion. The steady-state level of mGHRF mRNA, as assessed by Northern analysis, was reduced by incubation of placental cells with activin-A. All activin and inhibin subunit mRNAs were expressed in mouse placenta, and their expressions increased during gestation. These findings suggest that activin and inhibin have opposite effects on mGHRF secretion as compared with FSH secretion and that they regulate mGHRF secretion in an autocrine or paracrine manner in the mouse placenta in vivo.

Posttranscriptional inhibition of mouse placental lactogen-II secretion by transforming growth factor beta 1: synergistic effects with epidermal growth factor and interleukin-6

We studied the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) on mouse placental lactogen (mPL)-I and mPL-II secretion by primary cultures of placental cells from Days 7, 9, and 12 of pregnancy. We also studied the effects of co-incubation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) with TGF beta 1 on mPL-I and mPL-II secretion. TGF beta 1 at 10 ng/ml did not affect mPL-I secretion by cells from Days 7 or 9 of pregnancy or mPL-II secretion by cells from Day 7 of pregnancy but significantly inhibited mPL-II secretion by cells from Days 9 or 12 of pregnancy. The lowest concentration of TGF beta 1 that significantly inhibited mPL-II secretion by cells from Days 9 or 12 of pregnancy was 1 ng/ml. Immunocytochemistry for mPL-II indicated that treatment of placental cells from Day 12 of pregnancy with 10 ng/ml TGF beta 1 significantly reduced the number of mPL-II-containing cells. Inhibition of mPL-II secretion by TGF beta 1 was eliminated completely by addition of an anti-TGF beta 1 antibody. Northern analysis showed that steady state levels of mPL-II mRNA were not reduced by incubation of placental cells from Day 12 of pregnancy with 10 ng/ml TGF beta 1 for 5 days. EGF at 10 ng/ml significantly inhibited mPL-II secretion by cells from Day 7 of pregnancy, and addition of 10 ng/ml TGF beta 1, which did not itself inhibit mPL-II secretion by those cells, enhanced the inhibition by EGF of mPL-II secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Estimation of age from soft X-ray findings of Japanese females thyroid cartilages

A method for estimating the age at death using the image processing of soft X-ray pictures of the thyroid cartilages of Japanese females was examined. The soft X-ray pictures showed increasing ossification with age. One index for image processing was introduced. It is ossification rate (OSFR). Corresponding to this index, one age estimation equation was obtained. This age estimation equation showed accuracies of 60% or more for the age range of +/- 5 years and about 80% for the age range of +/- 8 years.

Autopsy cases of giant heart during the past ten years in Osaka (1985-1994)

We collected data from 30 autopsied cases, in which the heart weight were 800 g or more (maximum 1,300 g), at the Osaka Medical Examiner's office, for past 10 years. Among these cases, the cause of death was cardiac failure in 17 cases (56.7%), followed by pulmonary diseases (3 cases, 10.0%), cerebral infarction (3 cases, 10.0%), and aortic rupture (2 cases, 6.6%). The mean weight of the giant hearts was 880 g (about 77% of the cases) and 4 cases (13%) had 1,000 g or more. The mean height of the giant heart victims was close to the standard level, and thus the mean level of the ratio of heart weight to height were about 2.5 times higher than the standard levels. The liver weights were also greater by 500-1,000 g than the standard levels.

Determination of maprotiline in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of maprotiline, an antidepressant, in plasma. After a single-step extraction from plasma (100 microliters) with n-hexaneisoamylalcohol (19:1, v/v), the drug and desipramine (internal standard) are converted into their chemiluminescent derivatives by reaction with 6-isothiocyanatobenzo[g]phthalazine-1,4(2H,3H)-dione, a new chemiluminescence derivatization reagent for amines. The derivatives are separated within 60 min on a reversed-phase column, TSKgel ODS-80, using isocratic elution with acetonitrile-100 mM acetate buffer (pH 3.2), and produced chemiluminescence by reaction with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) in alkaline medium. The detection limit for maprotiline added to plasma is 0.36 pmol (0.1 ng)/ml plasma (1.5 fmol on column), at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.

Proton-translocating nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase of Escherichia coli. Involvement of aspartate 213 in the membrane-intercalating domain of the beta subunit in energy transduction

Mutations in the beta subunit of Escherichia coli proton-translocating nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase of the conserved residue beta Asp-213 to Asn (beta D213N) and Ile (beta D213I) resulted in the loss, respectively, of about 70% and 90% NADPH-->3-acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide (AcPyAD) transhydrogenation and coupled proton translocation activities. However, the cyclic NADP(H)-dependent NADH-->AcPyAD transhydrogenase activities of the mutants were only approximately 35% inhibited. The latter transhydrogenation, which is not coupled to proton translocation, occurs apparently via NADP under conditions that enzyme-NADP(H) complex is stabilized. Mutations beta D213N and beta D213I also resulted in decreases in apparent KmNADPH for the NADPH-->AcPyAD and S0.5NADPH (NADPH concentration needed for half-maximal activity) for the cyclic NADH-->AcPyAD transhydrogenation reactions, and in KdNADPH, as determined by equilibrium binding studies on the purified wild-type and the beta D213I mutant enzymes. These results point to a structural role of beta Asp-213 in energy transduction and are discussed in relation to our previous suggestion that proton translocation coupled to NADPH-->NAD (or AcPyAD) transhydrogenation is driven mainly by the difference in the binding energies of NADPH and NADP.

Characterization of regucalcin effect on proteolytic activity in rat liver cytosol: relation to cysteinyl-proteases

The increasing effect of regucalcin, isolated from rat liver cytosol, on neutral proteolytic activity in the hepatic cytosol was characterized. The proteolytic activity was markedly elevated by the addition of regucalcin (0.1-0.5 microM) in the absence of Ca2+. This increase was not significantly altered by the presence of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DPF; 2.5 mM)--although DFP caused a significant decrease in the proteolytic activity. Regucalcin (0.25 microM) additively enhanced the dithiothreitol (DTT; 1.0 mM)--increased proteolytic activity, while the regucalcin or DTT effect was completely abolished by NEM (5 mM), indicating that regucalcin may act on the SH group in proteases. Also, regucalcin (0.25 microM) enhanced the effect of Ca2+ (10 microM) increasing liver proteolytic activity, suggesting that regucalcin does not influence on the active sites for Ca2+ in proteases. Moreover, the proteolytic activity of regucalcin (0.25 microM) was significantly decreased by the presence of calpastatin (24 micrograms/ml), an inhibitor of Ca(2+)-activated neutral protease (calpain). Now, regucalcin (0.25 microM) increased about 7-fold the activity of m-calpain isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle. These observations demonstrate that regucalcin directly activates cysteinyl-proteases. Regucalcin may have a role as a potent proteolytic activator in the cytoplasm of liver cells.

Effect of nuclear Ca2+ uptake inhibitors on Ca(2+)-activated DNA fragmentation in rat liver nuclei

The effect of nuclear Ca2+ uptake inhibitors on the Ca(2+)-activated DNA fragmentation in rat liver nuclei was investigated. The addition of Ca2+ (40 microM) into the reaction mixture containing liver nuclei in the presence of 2.0 mM ATP caused a remarkable increase in nuclear DNA fragmentation. This Ca(2+)-activated DNA fragmentation was not seen in the absence of ATP, because nuclear Ca2+ uptake is not initiated without ATP addition. Moreover, the presence of various reagents (10 microM arachidonic acid, 2.0 mM NAD+, 10 microM zinc sulfate and 0.2 mM N-ethylmaleimide), which could inhibit Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and Ca2+ uptake in the nuclei, produced a significant inhibition of the Ca(2+)-activated DNA fragmentation in the nuclei. The results show that the Ca(2+)-activated DNA fragmentation is involved in the uptake of Ca2+ by the nuclei, suggesting a role of Ca2+ transport system in the regulation of liver nuclear functions.

[Video assisted lung resection and mediastinal lymph nodes dissection for lung cancer: small incisions for 4th intercostal space]

We established a thoracotomy method in which visual observation and a thoracoscope are used in combination. This method requires only small dermal incision--a three-cm-long posterior and two-cm-long anterior incision--in the fourth intercostal space around the angulus inferior scapulae. Using this method, we performed lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection on 20 lung cancer cases (preoperatively diagnosed as stage I, T1N0M0 cases). Because the conventional thoracoscopic surgery relies strictly on two-dimensional images obtained from a thoracoscope, stereoscopic information on the location of the operation could not be obtained. Our new method, however, in corporates both a direct view obtained from two small incisions and a view on a video monitor, so the surgeon has constant access to a stereoscopic information on the location of the operation. We found that this thoracotomy using a thoracoscope was not only very useful in terms of respiratory function, the alleviation of pain, and aesthetic appearance, but that it also reduced hemorrhaging during surgery, decreased the length of time required for the thoracotomy and suturing, and enabled mediastinal dissection equal to that of standard thoracotomy.

Inhibition of prostaglandin E2 and interleukin 1-beta production by low-power laser irradiation in stretched human periodontal ligament cells

It is well-known that orthodontic treatment usually causes some discomfort and pain to the patients. Recently, it has been reported that low-power laser irradiation is effective in reducing the pain accompanying tooth movement. However, the mechanism of such pain relief cannot be elucidated. Since high levels of prostaglandin (PG) E2 and interleukin (IL)-1 beta are found in the periodontal ligament (PDL) during tooth movement, and both factors are involved in the induction of pain, the effects of low-power laser irradiation on PGE2 and IL-1 beta production in stretched human PDL cells were studied in vitro. The PDL cells, derived from healthy premolars extracted for orthodontic treatment, were utilized for experiments. Cells were seeded in flexible-bottomed culture plates, and the bottom of each plate was elongated (18% increase) under vacuum at 6 cycles per min for 1, 3, or 5 days. The stretched cells were irradiated with a Ga-Al-As low-power diode laser (60 mW) once a day for 3, 6, or 10 min (from 10.8 to 36.0 J) for 1, 3, or 5 days. PGE2 and IL-1 beta levels in the medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. In response to mechanical stretching, human PDL cells showed a marked elevation in PGE2 production in a time-dependent manner. IL-1 beta production was also elevated, but this remained constant. The increase in PGE2 production was significantly inhibited by laser irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in IL-1 beta production was also significantly inhibited by laser irradiation, although the inhibition was only partial.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Evaluation for mitral valvuloplasty using rasping procedure]

From April 1992 through July 1994, 7 patients underwent mitral valvuloplasty using rasping procedure in conjunction with open mitral commissurotomy. All patients had satisfactory postoperative results without the complications such as restenosis, regurgitation, infection. However, thromboembolism was observed in 1 patient at the postoperative 6 months. And no reoperation for repaired mitral valve was observed. Transvalvular pressure gradient significantly decreased from 14.3 +/- 8.5 mmHg to 4.7 +/- 1.6 mmHg after operation. Mitral valve areas significantly increased from 1.01 +/- 0.31 cm2 to 1.78 +/- 0.41 cm2 after operation. As compared with preoperative value of 0.32 +/- 0.02, postoperative left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) significantly improved to 0.40 +/- 0.03. The advantages of this method is considered to be equable and safe débridement, and no anticoagulation at late period. Mitral valvuloplasty using rasping procedure, except for transmural calcified lesions, is useful and effective method. And excellent postoperative long-term results could be expected.

Efficacy of intraportal injection of anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody against liver cell injury following warm ischemia in the rat

BACKGROUND

Increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and lymphocyte-function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) has been reported to play a major role in reperfusion injury after ischemia. In the present study we tested the effects of anti-rat-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody (1A29) on partial-liver warm ischemia in rats.

METHODS

Histological changes and expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 were investigated in rat partial-liver warm ischemia, performed by clamping hepatic hilar vessels distributing to the right lateral lobe for 30, 45, and 60 minutes. In a second study, the effects of intraportal 1A29 injection after 60 minutes of warm ischemia in the rat were examined histologically. In both studies, the liver tissue was removed for analysis 48 hours after clamping.

RESULTS

Reperfusion after 60 minutes of warm ischemia induced histological liver injury and strong expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-1, although 30 and 45 minutes of ischemia did not provoke either histological damages or the expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-1. Intraportal injection of 1A29 after 60 minutes of warm ischemia clearly suppressed liver cell injury histologically.

CONCLUSION

Intraportal injection of 1A29 prevented the histological inflammation of an ischemic liver and may be useful in liver surgery or liver transplantation, because high concentrations can reach the target organ and nonspecific immunosuppression in other tissues and organs can be decreased.

A nucleotide sequence essential for the function of DRE, a common promoter element for Drosophila DNa replication-related genes

Promoter regions of the Drosophila proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) gene and the DNA polymerase alpha 180-kDa catalytic subunit gene contain a common 8 base pair (bp) promoter element, 5'-TATCGATA (DRE, Drosophila DNA replication-related element). We have generated various base substitutions and internal deletions in and around DRE (nucleotide positions -93 to -100 with respect to the transcription initiation site) of the PCNA gene in vitro and subsequently examined their effects on the binding to DREF (DRE-binding factor) and PCNA gene promote activity in cultured Drosophila Kc cells as well as in living flies. Gel mobility shift assays using nuclear extracts of Kc cells with and without competitor DNA fragments carrying the mutations indicated that the 10-bp sequence from positions -91 to -100 is essential for complex formation with DREF. Transient expression assays of chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT) in Kc cells transfected with PCNA promoter-CAT fusion genes carrying the mutations revealed that the 8-bp sequence from -93 to -100 is essential for activation of the promoter in Kc cells. Examination of lacZ expression from PCNA promoter-lacZ fusion genes carrying the mutations, introduced into flies by germ-line transformation, revealed that the 8-bp sequence is also important for DRE function during development. However, we obtained two exceptional mutations in the 8-bp sequence that did not or only marginally affected the PCNA gene promoter activity in transgenic flies. Both of these mutations effectively reduced the promoter activity in CAT transient expression assay in Kc cells and the binding to DREF in vitro. Therefore, the 8-bp sequence requirement for DRE function appears to be less stringent in living flies than in the cultured cell or in vitro cases.

Regulation of mouse soluble interleukin-6 receptor secretion by decidua

Regulation of msIL-6R secretion by mIL-6 and 8-bromo cAMP was examined using primarily cell culture of mouse decidua. Mouse decidua on day 11 of pregnancy was digested by collagenase and decidual cells were cultured for up to 3 days. Addition of mIL-6 and 8-bromo cAMP resulted in significant inhibition of msIL-6R secretion from cultured mouse decidual cells by the 2nd day in culture. The effects were dose-dependent and the lowest concentrations of mIL-6 and 8-bromo cAMP which cause significant inhibition of msIL-6R secretion were 250 pM and 50 microM, respectively. Northern blot analysis indicated that treatment of decidual cells with 8-bromo cAMP significantly decreased the steady-state level of mIL-6R mRNA. However, treatment of decidual cells with mIL-6 did not affect the steady-state level of mIL-6R mRNA. These results suggest that mIL-6 decreases msIL-6R secretion without changing of the steady-state level of mIL-6R mRNA, and that cAMP is one of the second messengers in mouse decidual cells involved in this down regulation of msIL-6R secretion.

Establishment of a new human cell line, LI90, exhibiting characteristics of hepatic Ito (fat-storing) cells

BACKGROUND

Thus far, human hepatic Ito (fat-storing) cell lines have not been established. Therefore, functional characteristics of Ito cells have not been fully investigated.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We established a new cell line, LI90, that exhibited characteristics compatible with those of Ito cells from a human hepatic mesenchymal tumor. LI90 cells were examined with phase-contrast microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and cytogenetics, and their vitamin A-storing activity was analyzed. To obtain a marker specific for Ito cells for immunohistochemical analyses, we raised mAb against LI90 cells and clarified the molecular nature of the Ag recognized with the new Ab using an expression cloning approach.

RESULTS

LI90 cells showed polygonal shape and had well developed alpha-smooth muscle actin filaments in their cytoplasm. In an overconfluent culture condition, LI90 cells aggregated to form a typical hills-and-valleys structure, LI90 cells produced various connective tissue components, such as collagen types I, III, IV, V, and VI, laminin, and fibronectin. In culture media containing vitamin A, LI90 cells formed many fat droplets in their cytoplasm, and fluorescence characteristic of vitamin A was observed in the droplets. By immunizing mice with LI90 cells, three separate mAb specifically reacting with Ito cells in human liver sections were established, and the Ag recognized with all three Ab were identified as extracellular matrix tenascin.

CONCLUSIONS

The above-described morphologic and functional characteristics, including vitamin A-storage and biosynthesis of tenascin, are compatible with those of Ito cells. Therefore, LI90 cells will be useful for in vitro studies of functions of human Ito cells.

[P-glycoprotein expression in hematological malignancies]

To clarify the common characteristics among P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-expressing hematological malignancies and whether chemotherapies could or could not induce P-gp expression, we analyzed P-gp/MDR1 expression in tumor cells from 200 Japanese patients (104 with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML); 30 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); 66 with mature lymphoid malignancies). Functional P-gp expression was examined by Rhodamine-123 efflux test, and estimated with the data by RT-PCR method. In mature lymphoid malignancies, the cells of T or natural killer (NK) cell malignancies frequently expressed P-gp/MDR1. In AML, frequent P-gp/MDR1 expression was associated with the expression of CD7 or c-kit and with 8; 21 chromosomal translocation (p < 0.01), which were thought to be the characteristics of the hematopoietic stem cell. Though the expression of P-gp/MDR1 was more frequent at onset than at relapse phase, the increase is thought to result from the expansion of blastic fraction expressing P-gp/MDR1. In ALL, P-gp/MDR1 expression was not frequent in B-cell precursor lineage (three of eighteen patients), but the incidence was high in CD7(+) surface CD3(-) cases (seven of the cases). These results indicate P-gp/MDR1 expression is more frequently in the tumor of T, NK cell and stem cell, reflecting the characteristics of its normal counterpart.

Enhancement of nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in regenerating rat liver: involvement of nuclear DNA increase

The alteration of calcium content, Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, DNA content and DNA fragmentation in the nuclei of regenerating rat liver was investigated. Liver was surgically removed about 70% of that of sham-operated rats. The reduced liver weight by partial hepatectomy was completely restored at 3 days after the surgery. Regenerating liver significantly increased Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and DNA content in the nuclei between 1 and 5 days after hepatectomy. The nuclear calcium content was clearly increased from 2 days after hepatectomy. The increase of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in regenerating liver was clearly inhibited by the presence of trifluoperazine (10 microM), staurosporine (2.5 microM) and dibucaine (10 microM), which are inhibitors of calmodulin and protein kinase, in the enzyme reaction mixture. However, the nuclear enzyme activity in normal rat liver was not significantly altered by these inhibitors. Meanwhile, the increase of nuclear DNA content in regenerating liver was completely blocked by the administration of trifluoperazine (2.5 mg/100 g body weight), suggesting an involvement of calmodulin. Now, the nuclear DNA fragmentation was significantly decreased in regenerating liver, suggesting that this decrease is partly contributed to the increase in nuclear DNA content. The present study clearly demonstrates that regenerating liver enhances nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and induces a corresponding elevation of nuclear calcium content. This Ca(2+)-signaling system may be involved in the regulation of nuclear DNA functions in regenerating rat liver.

Induction of stress proteins in mouse peritoneal macrophages by the anti-rheumatic agents gold sodium thiomalate and auranofin

Gold sodium thiomalate and auranofin, anti-rheumatic gold-containing compounds, induced some stress proteins in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages. The enhanced synthesis of two proteins, heme oxygenase (a 34-kDa protein) and a 23-kDa protein, was particularly prominent. The 23-kDa protein induced by the gold compounds was identical to that found in macrophages exposed to oxidative stress and was suggested to have antioxidant activity. Intraperitoneal injection of gold sodium thiomalate and oral administration of auranofin to mice induced enhanced synthesis of these proteins in peritoneal macrophages analyzed ex vivo. These data suggest that increased synthesis of these proteins may have a role in mediating the pharmacologic effect of these agents.

Expression of calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex of rats: the stimulation by calcium administration

The expression of calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex of rats was investigated. The change of regucalcin mRNA levels was analyzed by Northern blotting using liver regucalcin complementary DNA (0.9 kb of open-reading frame). Regucalcin mRNA was expressed in the kidney cortex, and this expression was clearly increased by a single intraperitoneal administration of calcium chloride solution (5-15 mg Ca/100 g body weight) in rats; this increase was remarkable at 60-120 min after the administration. Thyroparathyroidectomy (TPTX) caused a slight decrease of regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex. However, the administration of calcium (10 mg/100 g) in TPTX rats produced a clear increase of regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex. The subcutaneous administration of calcitonin (10-100 MRC mU/100 g) or parathyroid hormone [1-34] (1-10 U/100 g) in TPTX rats which received calcium (10 mg/100 g) administration did not cause an appreciable alteration of regucalcin mRNA levels in the kidney cortex, suggesting that the mRNA expression is not stimulated by calcium-regulating hormones. The administration of trifluoperazine (TFP; 5 mg/100 g), an inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin action, completely blocked the expression of regucalcin mRNA stimulated by calcium administration. Now, calcium content in the kidney cortex was significantly elevated by a single intraperitneal administration of calcium (10 mg/100 g) in rats. The present study clearly demonstrates that the expression of regucalcin mRNA in the kidney cortex is stimulated by calcium administration in rats. This expression may be mediated through Ca2+/calmodulin action in the kidney cortex.

Free-space optical interconnections with liquid-crystal microprism arrays

Liquid-crystal microprism arrays are shown to be useful for providing electrically controlled alignment of optical beams and fixed various free-space optical interconnections. They can deflect closely spaced micro-optical beams individually to any position with high transmittance (95%), high deflection angle (~10°), and low voltage (<2.8 V(rms)). Various fixed optical interconnections can be made simply by changes in the voltages applied to the microprism.

[A case of sarcoidosis with right pneumothorax and multiple cavities in both lung fields]

A 26-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of cavitary lesions on his chest X-ray film. Chest CT and conventional tomograms showed multiple cavities in both lung fields, as well as hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. He had uveitis and the laboratory data showed a high level of angiotensin converting enzyme in the serum. Histological findings of the specimen obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy showed non-caseating epithelioid cell granuloma, consistent with sarcoidosis. Corticosteroid therapy (prednisolone 40 mg/day) resulted in reduction of the cavitary lesions and the lymphadenopathy. Negative bacteriological studies and the clinical course strongly suggested primary cavitation, a relatively rare form of pulmonary parenchymal involvement in sarcoidosis.

Establishment of a CD4+ T cell clone recognizing autologous hematopoietic progenitor cells from a patient with immune-mediated aplastic anemia

In some patients with aplastic anemia (AA), hematopoietic function is dependent on continuous administration of cyclosporine A (CyA). These AA patients may have T lymphocytes whose myelosuppressive effect is mitigated by CyA. We established a total of 29 T cell clones from the bone marrow of a CyA-dependent AA patient in relapse. Some of the CD4+ T cell clones demonstrated a specific proliferative response to irradiated autologous bone marrow cells enriched for CD34+ cells (CD34(+)-rich cells) obtained from the patient in remission. One of the T cell clones showing the best proliferative response to CD34(+)-rich cells carried the T cell receptor V beta 17 and produced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) only when cultured with autologous CD34(+)-rich cells. This T cell clone inhibited colony formation by colony-forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) and burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) by approximately 60% when it was cultured with autologous CD34(+)-rich cells in methylcellulose medium, although the clone did not exhibit direct cytotoxicity to the CD34(+)-rich cells. The inhibition of in vitro hematopoietic progenitor cell growth by the T cell clone was partially abrogated by the addition of CyA to the culture. These findings suggest that in some patients with CyA-dependent AA, CD4+ T cells autoreactive to hematopoietic progenitor cells exist and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bone marrow failure.

[Analysis of the drill hole orientation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction]

In the reconstructive procedure of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the relationship was investigated between the orientation of the drill holes from the isometric points and the deformity in the ligament graft. We first investigated, by numerical analysis, the optimal orientation of the drill holes for minimal deformation. Secondly, we experimentally by using eight fresh cadaveric knees, measured the relationship between the orientation of the drill holes and the bending angle in the grafts. The optimal orientation of the drill hole in the femur was found to be tilted 20 degrees laterally in the coronal plane and 23 degrees anteriorly in the sagittal plane. In the tibia, the drill hole should be directed 24 degrees medially and 50 degrees anteriorly from the isometric point. The numerically analysed bending angle corresponded well to the results from the experimental study. The deformation in the graft on the femoral side was larger than that on the tibial side. Therefore, the orientation of the femoral drill hole was concluded to be more important than the orientation of the tibial drill hole.