Absence of human papillomavirus DNA in nongenital seborrheic keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is a benign epidermal tumor of unknown etiology. Because of its wart-like morphology, human papillomavirus (HPV) has been suggested as a possible causative agent. Viral involvement, however, has not been confirmed yet despite extensive research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of HPV 6/11, 31, 33 DNA in nongenital SK. We analyzed 40 biopsy specimens taken from patients with nongenital SK using in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR with tissue extracts. The SK specimens (n=40), analyzed by in situ PCR, were negative for all HPV probes tested (types 6/11, 31, 33). Control slides (condyloma acuminatum, n=3) were positive for type 6/11, 31, and 33 HPV probes tested. Melasma samples (n=4), the negative controls, were consistently negative. No HPV DNA band was detected by PCR with the tissue extracts from paraffin-embedded SK samples, while condyloma acuminatum, the positive controls, showed DNA bands of the correct molecular weights. Our results show that HPV type 6/11, 31, and 33 cannot be recognized as causative agents for nongenital SK, which is in contrast to the previous studies. Further studies are required to reveal the presence of other types (more than 90) of HPV DNA.

Epidemiologic and clinical survey of Behcet's disease in Korea: the first multicenter study

The prevalence of Behcet's disease is the highest in the East Asian and the Mediterranean countries. Behcet's disease is also distributed in the Asian countries, but the nationwide survey has not been performed in Korea yet. The Korean Study Group for Behcet's Disease, founded in 1999, conducted a multicenter, retrospective survey on epidemiologic and clinical features of the patients with Behcet's disease from 20 hospitals around the nation from 1997 to 1999. Of 3,497 patients, 1,527 were classified into complete or incomplete type of Behcet's disease according to the revised Shimizu's classification. The sex ratio was 1:1.75 with the female predominance. Geographical distribution showed the highest frequency in Seoul (38.5%). Clinically, 98.8% had oral ulcers, 83.2% had genital ulcers, 84.3% had skin lesions and 50.9% had ocular lesions. As for the minor clinical manifestations, articular symptoms were the most frequent. The pathergy test showed positive in 15.4% of patients and revealed a higher positive rate in males (20.2%) than in females (12.7%). In conclusion, we performed the first multicenter study on Behcet's disease in Korea and revealed the female predominance, higher frequency of ocular lesions, and lower positivity of pathergy test in the patients.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium increases S-adenosyl-L-methionine dependent phospholipid methylation

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP(+)) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) cause Parkinson's disease (PD)-like changes. SAM and MPP(+) require their charged S-methyl and N-methyl groups, so the PD-like symptoms may be related to their ability to modulate the methylation process. The SAM-dependent methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PTE) to produce phosphatidylcholine (PTC), via phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PEMT), and the hydrolysis of PTC to form lyso-PTC, a cytotoxic agent, are potential loci for the action of MPP(+). In this study, the effects of MPP(+) on the methylation of PTE to PTC and the production of lyso-PTC were determined. The results showed that SAM increased PTC and lyso-PTC. The rat striatum showed the highest PEMT activity and lyso-PTC formation, which substantiate with the fact that the striatum is the major structure that is affected in PD. MPP(+) significantly enhanced PEMT activity and the formation of lyso-PTC in the rat liver and brain. MPP(+) increased the affinity and the V(max) of PEMT for SAM. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) effect was lesser and inhibited by deprenyl (MAO-B inhibitor). The nor-methyl analogs of MPP(+) were inactive, but some of the charged analogs of MPP(+) showed comparable effects to those of MPP(+). Lyso-PTC that can be increased by SAM and MPP(+) caused severe impairments of locomotor activities in rats. These results indicate that SAM and MPP(+) have complementary effects on phospholipid methylation. Thus, SAM-induced hypermethylation could be involved in the etiology of PD and an increase of phospholipid methylation could be one of the mechanisms by which MPP(+) causes parkinsonism.

L-dopa upregulates the expression and activities of methionine adenosyl transferase and catechol-O-methyltransferase

High nonphysiological doses of l-dopa are administered to Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, to replenish the depleted dopamine (DA). A large portion of the administered L-dopa and the newly formed DA undergoes methylation by reacting with S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). In the process SAM, as well as L-dopa and DA, is utilized and great demands are placed on the transmethylation system. In this study we investigated whether L-dopa increases the transmethylation process by inducing methionine adenosyl transferase (MAT), the enzyme that produces SAM, and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), the enzyme that transfers the methyl group from SAM to L-dopa and DA. Swiss Webster mice were injected with L-dopa, four times/day, for 1 to 16 days. Brain DA, 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD), SAM, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), MAT, and COMT were measured following a 24-h withdrawal period. An increase of 264% of brain DA occurred at days 2 and 3 after which it tapered to about 164% of control. The brain level of 3-OMD increased to 870% of the control. SAM was increased by 44% after the sixth day and SAH level was about double after the second day. After day 3, MAT activity was increased by about 35%. Western blot analysis showed that MAT is more clearly characterized in 10% mercaptoethanol reducing buffer in which 31.5-, 38- (beta), and 48-kDa (alpha1/alpha2) subunits were distinctly revealed. The induction of the 38-kDa and, more prominently, the 48-kDa subunits of MAT and the potential transactivator proteins of MAT, c-Jun/AP-1, was evident by day 6. The 31.5-kDa subunit was downregulated. COMT was detected as 24.7-, 30-, and 47.5-kDa bands in the brain, consistent with the membrane-bound COMT I (MB-COMT) and the dimeric COMT II. The 24.7- and the 30-kDa MB-COMT bands were induced in the brain by day 6 and peaked on day 9. The highlight of the study is the fact that L-dopa induces the enzymes MAT and COMT. In addition, the downturn in brain DA after the sixth day coincides with the increase in SAM and the 48-kDa MAT protein. Thus, during PD treatment with L-dopa the induction of MAT and COMT is likely to occur and in turn increase the methylation and reduction of L-dopa and DA that may help cause the tolerance or the wearing-off effect developed to L-dopa.

Development of porcine oocytes from preovulatory follicles of different sizes after maturation in media supplemented with follicular fluids

The development of porcine oocytes from large (3.1-8.0 mm in diameter) or small (<3.1 mm) follicles was examined after maturation culture in medium containing porcine follicular fluid (pFF). Large follicles yielded larger (256 microm v. 221 microm; P<0.05) cumulus-oocyte complexes and more (22 v. 14%) morphologically normal oocytes than small follicles (Experiment 1). In Experiments 2-4, maturation media supplemented with mixed pFF (10%) from small and large follicles was used. More oocytes from large follicles matured (58% v. 91%), formed pronuclei (81% v. 90%) and developed to the blastocyst stage (2% v. 10%) than oocytes from small follicles. In Experiments 5-7, the effects of pFF collected from either small or large follicles on oocyte development were examined. Regardless of the source of oocytes, large-follicle-derived pFF more significantly enhanced preimplantation development than did small-follicle-derived pFF. The highest rate of blastocyst formation (16%) was found when oocytes from large follicles were cultured in maturation medium containing large-follicle-derived pFF. These results suggest that oocytes from large follicles have greater developmental potential than oocytes from small follicles, and that the origin of pFF, which is added to the maturation media, might be an important factor for improving in vitro development of porcine oocytes.

Novel mutations of the transglutaminase 1 gene in lamellar ichthyosis

Lamellar ichthyosis, one form of congenital autosomal recessive ichthyosis, is caused by mutations in the gene (TGM1) encoding the transglutaminase 1 enzyme. Mutations, deletions, or insertion of TGM1 have been reported so far. Here we report that three novel mutations of TGM1, D101V, N288T, and R306W, cause lamellar ichthyosis in two different families. The patient in family LI-KD has N288T and R306W mutations, and the patient in family LI-LK has D101V and R306W mutations. The activity of the transglutaminase 1 enzyme of the patient in family LI-LK was only about 15% of normal. Also, three-dimensional structural prediction analyses revealed that the N288T and R306W mutations, and possibly the D101V mutation, cause misfolding in the central catalytic core domain of the transglutaminase 1 enzyme that would probably result in reduced enzyme activity. Our data suggest that the greatly reduced transglutaminase 1 activities are due to disruptions of the native folding of transglutaminase 1, and that these mutations may play a critical role in the pathology of lamellar ichthyosis.

Analysis of cross-resistance of the selective estrogen receptor modulators arzoxifene (LY353381) and LY117018 in tamoxifen-stimulated breast cancer xenografts

PURPOSE

Cross-resistance is the primary issue facing the evaluation of new antiestrogens to treat metastatic breast cancer because they may be tested, initially, in populations of patients that have failed long-term adjuvant tamoxifen (Tam) therapy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We have tested the benzothiophene derivatives, arzoxifene (Arzox; LY353381) and LY117018 in two models of Tam-stimulated tumor growth derived from either MCF-7 (M. M. Gottardis and V. C. Jordan, Cancer Res., 48: 5183-5187, 1988) or T47D (J. MacGregor Schafer et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 6: 4373-4380, 2000) breast cancer cells.

RESULTS

Using the MCF-7:Tam model, we found that both Arzox and LY117018 (1.5 mg/day) resulted in tumor growth and, therefore, were partially cross-resistant with Tam. Next, using the T47D:17beta-estradiol (E(2)) model, we compared the antiestrogenic/antitumor properties of Arzox and LY117018 and determined that neither Arzox nor LY117018 caused T47D:E(2) tumor growth after 21 weeks. In addition, we determined that long-term treatment does not result in failure and subsequent development of transplantable Arzox- or LY117018-stimulated tumors. To establish whether Arzox and LY117018 are cross-resistant in T47D:Tam tumors, mice were treated with Arzox or LY117018 (1.5 mg/day), and, again, we found that neither resulted in the growth of transplantable tumors. Lastly, we showed that Arzox and LY117018 were only partially able to compete with postmenopausal E(2) (0.3 cm silastic capsule) in T47D:Tam tumors. However, when T47D:E(2) tumors were treated for 7 days instead of 5 days, both Arzox and LY117018 were more effective.

CONCLUSIONS

Arzox is not cross-resistant with Tam in the T47D athymic mouse model but does exhibit cross-resistance in the MCF-7 model.

The effect of supplemental oxygen on the transarterial wall oxygen gradients at a prosthetic vascular graft to artery anastomosis in the rabbit

Artery wall hypoxia has been proposed to contribute to many kinds of artery wall pathology, including atherosclerosis and intimal hyperplasia. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supplemental oxygen on the transarterial wall oxygen gradients at a prosthetic vascular device (PVG)-to-artery anastomosis. The transarterial wall oxygen gradient in the infrarenal aorta of New Zealand White rabbits housed for 42 days in a 40% supplemental oxygen was measured with an oxygen microelectrode 2 mm distal to a PVG-to-artery anastomosis. Oxygen tensions were significantly increased throughout the artery wall at all time points in the supplemental oxygen groups compared to those in non-oxygen-supplemented groups. Within the oxygen-supplemented groups, the outer artery wall had diminished oxygen tensions immediately following creation of the anastomosis, with a slow return to control oxygen tensions on postanastomosis day 42 which correlated with a return of the vasa vasorum. These changes were noted without differences in blood pressure or arterial blood oxygen concentrations within the oxygen-supplemented group. Artery wall hypoxia noted following the creation of a PVG-to-artery anastomosis can be eliminated and artery wall oxygen tensions significantly increased by the administration of supplemental oxygen.

Planomicrobium koreense gen. nov., sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from the Korean traditional fermented seafood jeotgal, and transfer of Planococcus okeanokoites (Nakagawa et al. 1996) and Planococcus mcmeekinii (Junge et al. 1998) to the genus Planomicrobium

A bacterial strain, JG07T, isolated from the Korean traditional fermented seafood jeotgal, was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Cells of strain JG07T are cocci or short rods in the early growth phase but change to rods as the cultures age. The peptidoglycan type is A4alpha, based on L-Lys-D-Glu. The menaquinone profile is characterized by the predominance of MK-8 followed by MK-7 and MK-6. The cellular fatty acid profile contains major amounts of saturated, unsaturated and branched fatty acids. The cellular phospholipids are phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and bisphosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content of the DNA is 47 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain JG07T forms a cluster with Planococcus okeanokoites and Planococcus mcmeekinii, and the relationship between this cluster and two other Planococcus species described previously is supported by bootstrap analysis at a confidence level of 100%. The 16S-23S internally transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence similarity and DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain JG07T and the type strains of other Planococcus species are in the range 74.6-83.2% and 10.4-20.5%, respectively. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic data and the genomic distinctiveness, strain JG07T is considered to represent a new genus and a new species, for which the name Planomicrobium koreense gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. It is also proposed that Planococcus okeanokoites and Planococcus mcmeekinii be transferred to the new genus Planomicrobium as Planomicrobium okeanokoites and Planomicrobium mcmeekinii, respectively.

The correlation of MHC haplotype and development of Behçet's disease-like symptoms induced by herpes simplex virus in several inbred mouse strains

It has been postulated that human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B51 is associated with Behçet's disease. In previous study, we induced Behçet's disease-like symptoms in ICR mice inoculated with herpes simplex virus. In this study, several inbred mouse strains -- B10.BR (H-2k), B10.RIII (H-2r), C57BL/6 (H-2b), C3H/He (H-2k), Balb/c (H-2d) -- which had different types of major histocompatibility complex (MHC), were inoculated with herpes simplex virus type 1 (KOS strain) in order to demonstrate the role of histocompatibility antigen in the development of Behçet's disease-like symptoms. Behçet's disease-like symptoms developed in 40-50% of B10.BR, B10.RIII and C57BL/6 strains, but in only 2% of C3H/He and Balb/c. B10.BR and C3H/He strains had a common haplotype (H-2k) but the rate of manifestation was different. So, we conclude that MHC is not directly correlated with development of Behçet's disease-like symptoms in the animal model of herpes simplex virus induced Behçet's disease-like symptoms.

Establishment of an animal embryo culture system containing various embryotropins and its efficacy for culturing ICR mouse one-cell embryos derived in vivo or in vitro

OBJECTIVE

To develop an effective ICR mouse embryo culture medium.

DESIGN

In vitro model study.

SETTING

University-affiliated hospital.

ANIMALS

Four-week-old, superovulated mice.

INTERVENTION(S)

In vivo- or in vitro-derived one-cell embryos were cultured in preimplantation-1 medium (P-1).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Preimplantation development.

RESULT(S)

In vivo-derived embryos were cultured in BSA-containing P-1, to which one of the following substances was added: [1] no addition, [2] amino acids (aa), [3] aa+hemoglobin (hb), [4] aa+hb+cysteine (cys), [5] aa+hb and glucose (glu) added at the four-cell, or [6] aa+hb and glu+cys added at the four-cell stage. More (P<0.05) blastocysts developed after aa or aa+hb addition than after no addition, and glu addition to such medium further stimulated the formation (54%). In P-1 with aa+glu, the addition of 1 microg/mL hb was optimal. Additional improvement of blastocyst formation (78%) was achieved by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), supplementation and bovine serum albumin replacement with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) did not inhibit the development. P-1 supplemented with aa, hb, glu, EDTA, and PVA also supported the development of in vitro-derived embryos (70%).

CONCLUSION(S)

A modified P-1 medium was developed, and it supported the development of both in vivo- and in vitro-derived ICR mouse embryos.

Cryopreservation of ICR mouse oocytes: improved post-thawed preimplantation development after vitrification using Taxol, a cytoskeleton stabilizer

OBJECTIVE

To establish an effective cryopreservation method.

DESIGN

In vitro model study.

SETTING

Infertility Medical Center, Pochon CHA University.

ANIMAL(S)

Four-week-old ICR mice superovulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin.

INTERVENTION(S)

Vitrified-thawed oocytes were fertilized and subsequently cultured in vitro.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Post-thawed development, chromosome/spindle normalities, and blastocyst quality.

RESULT(S)

More cumulus-enclosed oocytes were fertilized and developed to the 8-cell stage after vitrification and thawing than denuded oocytes. However, cryopreserved oocytes of both types had lower spindle and chromosome normalities than fresh oocytes, which resulted in reduced developmental competence after thawing. The addition of 1 microM of Taxol, a cytoskeleton stabilizer, to vitrification solution greatly promoted the blastocyst formation of vitrified-thawed oocytes, compared with no addition (24.0% vs. 58.6%). No difference in blastocyst quality, which was evaluated by blastomere and inner cell mass cell numbers and inner cell mass cell per trophoblast ratio, was found between fresh oocytes and oocytes vitrified with Taxol.

CONCLUSION(S)

A vitrification solution consisting of 5.5 M ethylene glycol, 1.0 M sucrose, 10% fetal bovine serum, and 1 microM Taxol greatly improved post-thawed development of vitrified oocytes.

Fra-1 expression in malignant and benign thyroid tumor

BACKGROUND

The differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules is very important in deciding the treatment modality and the fine needle aspiration is the best diagnostic method. But, there are some limitations in use because of inadequate test materials and difficulty in interpreting. According to the study of oncogene and tumor suppressor gene about the origin of thyroid tumor, expression of Fra-1, one of AP-1 complex, is increased in thyroid neoplasm, though not present in the normal tissue. So, there is a possibility that it will be used as a method for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. We tried to know whether presence or absence of Fra-1 expression can be used as a diagnostic method in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules using the immunohistochemical (IHC) staining method.

METHODS

In 4 types of thyroid tumor that were confirmed by histologic diagnosis after operation (18 cases of adenomatous goiter, 16 cases of follicular adenoma, 30 cases of papillary cancer, 10 cases of follicular cancer), IHC staining method was performed to evaluate the expression of Fra-1.

RESULTS

In papillary and follicular thyroid cancers, the expression of Fra-1 was stronger than in benign thyroid tumor, but there was no difference in Fra-1 expression between the two types of carcinoma. Weak expression of Fra-1 was observed in all cases of follicular adenoma, though it was weaker than in carcinoma, and it was also weakly expressed only in some cases (33%) of adenomatous goiter.

CONCLUSION

The expression of Fra-1 was stronger in thyroid cancer than in benign thyroid tumor, but it was impossible to differentiate thyroid cancer from benign thyroid tumor by presence or absence of Fra-1 expression using IHC staining method.

Silencing and reactivation of the selective estrogen receptor modulator-estrogen receptor alpha complex

4-Hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), a selective estrogen receptor modulator, is an agonist at a transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) target gene in situ in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells stably transfected with wild-type human ERalpha. In contrast, raloxifene (Ral) is a complete antiestrogen silencing activation function (AF) 1 and AF2 in this system. A natural mutation D351YERalpha enhances 4-OHT agonist activity and changes Ral-like compounds from antagonists to partial agonists. We reasoned that: either the conformation of the Ral-D351YERalpha is altered, thereby reactivating AF2 in the ligand binding domain, or the change at amino acid 351 allosterically reactivates AF1 in the Ral-D351YERalpha complex. Unlike the estradiol-ERalpha complex, agonist activity of 4-OHT and raloxifene through ERalpha and D351YERalpha were not attributed to coactivator (such as SRC-1, AIB1) binding to the ligand binding domain. We conclude that the classic AF2 is not responsible for the agonist activities of 4-OHT-ERalpha, 4-OHT-D351YERalpha, and Ral-D351YERalpha. To address the role of AF1, stable transfectants of ERalpha or D351YERalpha with an AF1 deletion (D351deltaAF1, D351YdeltaAF1) were generated in MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, D538A/E542A/D545A triple mutations within helix 12 (D351-3m, D351Y3m) or the COOH-terminal 537 deletion (D351delta537) were tested. The agonist activities of 4-OHT and raloxifene were lost in these stable transfectants, but antiestrogenic action was retained. The reactivation of an estrogen-like property of the Ral-ERalpha complex through AF1 with the D351Y mutation illustrates a novel allosteric mechanism for the selective estrogen receptor modulator ERalpha complex.

Expression of Th2 cytokines decreases the development of and improves Behçet's disease-like symptoms induced by herpes simplex virus in mice

In the etiology of Behçet's disease (BD), viral infection has long been postulated as a contributing factor, and viral involvement has been demonstrated. However, viral infection alone is not sufficient to explain the pathogenesis of BD, and some evidence suggests that immunologic abnormalities are also important. To study the possible role of immune regulation in the development of BD-like symptoms induced by herpes simplex virus inoculation in ICR mice, macrophages were deleted by use of liposome-encapsulated clodronate (lip-Cl(2)MDP). Treatment with lip-Cl(2)MDP suppressed the development of BD-like symptoms, and this suppression was correlated with the induction of interleukin-4 expression in mouse spleens. When the Th2 adjuvant ovalbumin (OVA)-alum was injected into mice with BD-like symptoms, their cutaneous symptoms improved. Adoptive transfer with splenocytes from OVA-alum-injected mice also resulted in improvement. These findings suggest that up-regulated Th2 cytokine expression can attenuate the development of and improve some BD-like symptoms.

Interleukin 12 gene therapy of cancer by peritumoral injection of transduced autologous fibroblasts: outcome of a phase I study

A phase I dose-escalation clinical trial of peritumoral injections of interleukin 12 (IL-12)-transduced autologous fibroblasts was performed in patients with disseminated cancer for whom effective treatment does not exist. The goals of this study were to assess the safety and toxicities as well as the efficacy, and ancillarily the immunomodulatory effects, of peritumoral IL-12 gene transfer. Primary dermal fibroblasts cultured from the patients were transduced with retroviral vector carrying human IL-12 genes (p35 and p40) as well as the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (TFG-hIL-12-Neo). Patients received four injections at intervals of 7 days. Nine patients were enrolled in this dose-escalation study, with secreted IL-12 doses ranging from 300 ng/24 hr for the first three patients to 1000, 3000, and 5000 ng/24 hr for two patients in each subsequent dosage level. Although a definite statement cannot be made, there appears to be perturbation of systemic immunity. Also, the locoregional effects mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and CD8+ T cells were observed with tumor regression. Treatment-related adverse events were limited to mild to moderate pain at the injection site; clinically significant toxicities were not encountered. Transient but clear reductions of tumor sizes were observed at the injected sites in four of nine cases, and at noninjected distant sites in one melanoma patient. Hemorrhagic necrosis of tumors was observed in two melanoma patients. These data indicate that gene therapy by peritumoral injection of IL-12-producing autologous fibroblasts is feasible, and promising in patients with advanced cancer.

Possibility of reciprocal infection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between medical personnel and patients undergoing middle ear surgery

The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection after middle ear surgery has recently increased in our hospital. In this study we tried to determine whether the strains of MRSA isolated from infected patients are identical to those obtained from medical personnel, to prove a reciprocal transmission between medical personnel and patients. Surveillance bacterial cultures of medical personnel were performed from the anterior nares and from the fingertip. Molecular epidemiological studies, ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were used to compare the 12 MRSA strains obtained from carriers among medical personnel with the 60 strains identified from patient's otorrhea. Six different MRSA strains were identified from ribotyping, and three subtypes from PFGE. There was a particular subtype which was the most frequently identified strain found in both medical carriers and patients. Postoperative MRSA infection rates after the treatment of medical carriers and application of preventive procedures decreased from 11.9 to 5.7%. These findings suggest that the MRSA transmissions have occurred between medical personnel and patients.

Supplemental oxygen controls cellular proliferation and anastomotic intimal hyperplasia at a vascular graft-to-artery anastomosis in the rabbit

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the administration of 40% supplemental oxygen (O ( 2) ) will decrease cellular proliferation and intimal hyperplasia (IH) at a prosthetic vascular graft (PVG)-to-artery anastomosis.

METHODS

Twenty New Zealand white rabbits underwent placement of a 3-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft in their infrarenal aorta. Four groups of five rabbits were placed either in a normoxic (21%) environment or in a 40% supplemental O ( 2) environment for 7 or 42 days. Twenty-four hours before the rabbits were humanely killed for aortic graft harvest, BrDU (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) was injected into the rabbits intraperitoneally. Image analysis (Bioquant) morphometrics were used to measure cells with BrDU staining and intimal areas at the distal anastomosis. Cellular proliferation is defined as positively staining BrDU cells divided by all cells in the artery wall. IH is reported as a ratio between the intimal area and the medial area to standardize the varying aortic size and degree of aortic fixation among rabbits. The Student t test was used to compare cellular proliferation and IH between control and O ( 2) -treated rabbits.

RESULTS

Cellular proliferation in the intima at 7 days was significantly reduced in the O ( 2) -treated animals (1.7% +/- 1%) versus the control animals (28.6% +/- 3%) ( P =.0001). The cellular proliferation in the intima at 42 days returned to preoperative levels in the O ( 2) -treated group (0.15%) and in the control group (0.11%) ( P = not significant). IH at 7 days was minimal, and no difference between the O ( 2) -treated group (0.017 +/-.006) and the control group (0.009 +/-.03) ( P = not significant) was found. IH was significantly reduced at 42 days in the O ( 2) -treated animals (0.031 +/-.012) when compared with the control animals (0.193 +/-.043) ( P =.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Supplemental O ( 2) (40%) significantly reduces cellular proliferation and IH at the distal anastomosis of a PVG-to-artery anastomosis in the rabbit model.

Acquired bleeding disorder in a patient with malignant lymphoma: antibody-mediated prothrombin deficiency

BACKGROUND

Bleeding manifestations secondary to acquired hemostatic abnormalities in cancer patients have been well described. Bleeding due to the development of hemostatic inhibitors is observed less frequently. In this report, the authors describe a patient with a low grade lymphoma who presented with an acquired bleeding disorder and abnormal hemostatic screening tests.

METHODS

Patient plasma samples were collected initially and during the course of treatment. Mixing studies and specific coagulation factor assays were performed to detect and confirm any deficiencies. Patient immunoglobulin G was isolated from plasma, and binding to prothrombin was demonstrated by immunoblot method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques.

RESULTS

Initial prolongations in the prothombin time and the activated partial thromboplastin time suggested a factor deficiency in the common pathway of coagulation. Factor assays confirmed that the coagulation abnormality in this patient was the result of an acquired prothrombin (factor II) deficiency. This was confirmed by an immunoassay for prothrombin antigen. Further studies demonstrated the presence of a noninhibitory antibody to prothrombin that interacted with a calcium dependent epitope.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful treatment of the lymphoma resulted in clearance of the antibody and complete correction of all hemostatic abnormalities and manifestations. An acquired prothrombin deficiency has not been reported previously in association with a malignancy, and this patient represents the first such documented case.

Revascularization and quality of life for patients with limb-threatening ischemia

Traditional outcomes following revascularization for chronic critical limb ischemia consider limb retention and hemodynamic results. Health-related quality of life is not measured. This study was undertaken to determine if surgery for chronic critical limb ischemia improves health-related quality of life. Forty-six patients undergoing revascularization (anklebrachial index <0.4 for nondiabetics, ankle-brachial index <0.6 for diabetics and rest pain or nonhealing ischemic ulcers) completed pre- and postoperative Short-Form 36 questionnaires, which were used to assess health-related quality of life in patients undergoing arterial reconstruction for chronic critical limb ischemia. Patients reported a mild improvement in functional status postoperatively, and overall low health-related quality of life. Health-related quality of life is slow to show progress following revascularization. Health-related quality of life should become an important outcomes end point.

Application of computerized image analysis in pigmentary skin diseases

BACKGROUND

Melanocyte number and the amount of melanin pigment are related to diagnosis and treatment of pigmentary skin diseases. Various histologic methods are used, such as Fontana-Masson stain for melanin pigment or immunohistochemical stain for melanocytes. Recently, computerized image analysis has been applied to many fields to avoid interobserver bias. In this study, we applied a computerized image analysis to assess the melanin content and melanocyte density of human epidermis.

METHODS

We evaluated the skin biopsy specimens (paraffin blocks) from normal human skin (33 +/- 6.6, n = 11) and diseased skins; vitiligo (32 +/- 10.0, n = 8), melasma (35 +/- 8.6, n = 11), and lentigo senilis (40 +/- 7.2, n = 11) (mean age +/- SD). Each specimen was stained with Fontana-Masson for melanin pigments and immunohistochemical method for melanocytes. Quantitative analysis of melanin pigment and melanocyte number (density) were investigated through two methods: (1) two dermatologists measured the visual scales; and (2) computerized image analysis was used to measure melanin content indices (MCI). The data were evaluated using one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

The visual scale of the Fontana-Masson stain was the highest for lentigo senilis (3.8 +/- 0.40), followed by melasma (2.6 +/- 0.67), normal skin (1.8 +/- 0.60) and vitiligo (0) (P < 0.05). These findings were consistent with objective measurements made by computerized image analysis. MCI values were 120.3 +/- 20.74 for lentigo senilis, 81.1 +/- 19.27 for melasma, 45.5 +/- 16.92 for normal skin, and 0.3 +/- 0.30 for vitiligo in decreasing order (P < 0.05). MC/1E (melanocyte number per 1 mm epidermis) was about two fold larger in lentigo senilis (18.1 +/- 8.92) than melasma (9.7 +/- 2.40) or normal skin (9.3 +/- 2.67) (P < 0.05). MC/1B (melanocyte number per 1 mm basal layer) was about 1.5 fold higher in lentigo senilis (13.5 +/- 4.17), compared to normal skin (9.0 +/- 3.55) (P < 0.05). Melasma showed increased melanocyte numbers compared to normal skin, but it was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We believe this computerized image analysis could be useful tool for diagnosis and comparison of interval changes in pigmentary diseases like melasma or lentigo senilis by quantifying melanin pigments or melanocytes in skin biopsy specimens.

Quantum correlations in the nonperturbative regime of semiconductor microcavities

The nonlinear optical response of semiconductor microcavities in the nonpertubative regime is studied in resonant single-beam-transmission and pump-probe experiments. In both cases a pronounced third transmission peak lying spectrally between the two normal modes is observed. A fully quantized theory is essential for the agreement with the experimental observations, demonstrating that quantum fluctuations leading to intraband polarizations are responsible for this effect.

Expression of progesterone receptor in human keratinocytes

Despite the various responses of human skin to female sex hormones, cellular and subcellular targets and the mechanisms of action of estrogen and progesterone in human skin are not well understood. The detection of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the skin is of great importance to understand the effect of estrogen and progesterone. In primary cultures of human keratinocytes, expression of ER and PR was monitored by immunocytochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Paraffin embedded skin tissues were stained with monoclonal antibodies to human ER and PR by immunohistochemistry. Cultured human keratinocytes expressed cytoplasmic PR protein and PR mRNA transcripts. By contrast, ER was detected only at the mRNA level. Suprabasal keratinocytes from samples of pruritic urticarial papules, plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) and psoriasis were stained positively only for PR, while those from samples of erythema nodosum were negative for both ER and PR. Lesional epidermis of PUPPP showed positive PR immunoreactivity, while nonlesional epidermis did not. No other cells in the normal human skin were stained with ER and PR. The present study suggests that by expressing PR human keratinocytes act as targets for progesterone action.