Atopic dermatitis successfully treated by eradication of Helicobacter pylori

A relationship between allergic diseases and Helicobacter pylori infection has recently been noted. We report a case of atopic dermatitis and H. pylori infection in a 14-year-old girl. She had had widespread diffuse skin erythema with erosions and pigmentation since the age of 3 years. Endoscopically, there was chronic antral gastritis with H. pylori infection and histological eosinophilic infiltration. A high titer of H. pylori-specific IgG was present in serum. She was treated with a proton pump inhibitor (lansoprazole 60 mg), an antibiotic (clarithromycin 800 mg), and plaunotol (a mucosal protective agent, 480 mg) for 2 weeks to eliminate the infection. After 10 days of treatment, erythema and itching were more widespread and vesicle formation was seen on the foot. Generalized skin lesions abated a few days later. After eradication of the bacterium by the treatment, eosinophils decreased from 38.8% to 19.0%, and the clinical signs of atopic dermatitis almost disappeared. Serum gastrin level and the pepsinogen I/II ratio were normalized and histological findings of gastric mucosa showed improvement. H. pylori-specific IgE antibody, analyzed by the Western blot method, gradually decreased with the eradication treatment.

Regulation of p-aminohippurate transport by protein kinase C in OK kidney epithelial cells

We studied the effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a phorbol ester which activates protein kinase C, on p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport in OK cells. PMA (10(-7) M) almost completely inhibited the transcellular transport of PAH across OK cell monolayers from the basal to the apical side, as well as the accumulation of PAH in the cells. The uptake of PAH across the basolateral membrane of OK cells was inhibited by PMA in a time-and dose-dependent fashion. Exposing the cells with other protein kinase C activators such as active phorbol esters and diacylglycerols also resulted in a significant inhibition of basolateral PAH uptake, but the inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, had no effect. The inhibition of basolateral PAH uptake by PMA was blocked by staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. Cycloheximide, actinomycin D, colchicine, and cytochalasin D did not affect the inhibitory effect of PMA on basolateral PAH uptake. These results suggested that the PAH transport system in OK cells is under the regulatory control of protein kinase C.

[MR relaxation times in diffuse bone marrow disorders: evaluation of their clinical usefulness in differentiation between leukemia and anemia]

T1 and T2 relaxation time measurements of the femoral marrow were performed in 20 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 9 patients with iron deficiency or other severe anemia who had shown diffuse abnormal signals on MR imaging of the femoral marrow. The ability of T1 and T2 values to differentiate between leukemic infiltration and hyperplastic hematopoietic marrow was evaluated. T1 and T2 ratios (T1 abnormal marrow/T1 normal marrow and T2 abnormal/T2 normal) were calculated, and the ratios of T1 to T2 (T1/T2) and of the T1 ratio to the T2 ratio (T1 ratio/T2 ratio) were also analyzed. Diffuse infiltrative marrows revealed prolonged T1 relaxation times in all patients with AML and other severe anemia, and it was not possible to distinguish the two groups of diseases on the basis of T1 values. The T2 relaxation times varied widely in AML, but the mean T2 value of the AML group was not statistically significantly different from that of the anemia group. There were also no significant differences in the T1 ratio, T2 ratio, T1/T2, and the T1 ratio/T2 ratio between leukemic infiltration and hyperplastic hematopoietic marrow. We concluded that measurement of T1 and T2 relaxation times was of limited clinical importance for the histological characterization of diffuse bone marrow disorders.

Heat-induced chaperone activity of HSP90

The 90-kDa stress protein, HSP90, is a major cytosolic protein ubiquitously distributed in all species. Using two substrate proteins, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and firefly luciferase, we demonstrate here that HSP90 newly acquires a chaperone activity when incubated at temperatures higher than 46 degrees C, which is coupled with self-oligomerization of HSP90. While chemically denatured DHFR refolds spontaneously upon dilution from denaturant, oligomerized HSP90 bound DHFR during the process of refolding and prevented it from renaturation. DHFR was released from the complex with HSP90 by incubating with GroEL/ES complexes in an ATP-dependent manner and refolded into the native form. alpha-Casein inhibited the binding of DHFR to HSP90 and also chased DHFR from the complex with HSP90. These results suggest that HSP90 binds substrates to maintain them in a folding-competent structure. Furthermore, we found that HSP90 prevents luciferase from irreversible thermal denaturation and enables it to refold when postincubated with reticulocyte lysates. This heat-induced chaperone activity of HSP90 associated with its oligomerization may have a pivotal role in protection of cells from thermal damages.

[MR imaging findings of the femoral marrow in myelodysplastic syndrome]

MR imaging of the femoral marrow was performed in 30 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), 11 cases of which evolved to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The MRI appearance was classified into five patterns: 1) fatty marrow; 2) faint signal; 3) nodular pattern; 4) heterogeneous infiltration; and 5) diffuse infiltration. For each type of MDS, MRI patterns of the femoral marrow were evaluated and compared with those in normal subjects as well as in patients with aplastic anemia. Signal intensity alteration, a low signal on T1-weighted SE image and a high signal on STIR image, began in the proximal femoral marrow almost symmetrically in patients with MDS. The area of abnormal signal intensity tended to gradually extend towards the distal portion of the femur as the disease progressed. MRI patterns of the femoral marrow correlated with marrow cellularity, and diffuse marrow infiltration was noted in patients with a more advanced type of MDS or with severe anemia. There were limitations to making an accurate diagnosis of the MDS type on the basis of the MRI pattern. Progression of the MRI appearance in the course of MDS was thought to be a sign suggesting evolution to AML. It was difficult to differentiate hypoplastic MDS from aplastic anemia, although the nodular pattern was commonly seen in the latter disease.

Specificity of p-aminohippurate transport system in the OK kidney epithelial cell line

Substrate specificity of the p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport system was investigated in the OK kidney epithelial cells. PAH uptake by OK cells from the basal side was inhibited by beta-lactam antibiotics such as benzylpenicillin (PCG) and cefazolin. The inhibition of PAH uptake by PCG was competitive and the Ki value was calculated as 108.8 microM. Transcellular transport of PCG across OK cell monolayers occurred unidirectionally from the basal to apical side, and transcellular transport and basolateral uptake were inhibited by PAH, probenecid and beta-lactam antibiotics. The basolateral uptake of cefazolin and cefotiam was also inhibited by PAH and probenecid. The basolateral uptake of PAH and PCG were not affected by aliphatic dicarboxylates with 3 or 4 carbon atoms, but were strongly inhibited by those with 5 or 6 carbon atoms. The inhibitory effect became weaker for a longer dicarboxylate with 7 carbon atoms, then increased again with increasing number of carbon atoms. Such a pattern of inhibition by dicarboxylates is essentially the same with that observed in rat renal proximal tubules in situ. These findings suggest that the PAH transport system in OK cells has a substrate specificity similar to that in rat renal proximal tubules, which is involved in the active secretion of various organic anions including drugs.

The role of ATP hydrolysis in the function of the chaperonin GroEL: dynamic complex formation with GroES

In order to understand the role of ATP hydrolysis of the chaperonin GroEL during protein folding, we have studied GroEL-GroES complex formation in the presence of ATP or ADP by using capillary electrophoresis and surface plasmon resonance. Capillary electrophoresis analysis showed that the GroEL 14-mer and GroES 7-mer formed a 1:1 complex in the presence of ATP. In the presence of ADP, both the association and dissociation rates of the complex were slower by about one order of magnitude than the rates in the presence of ATP at 25 degrees C. The implications of such a stable complex on the overall mechanism of chaperonin function are discussed.

[Detection of nuclear antigen within the leukemic cells using immunocytochemical technique]

Immunocytochemical methods were examined for their sensitivity in the detection of nuclear antigens (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki-67 associated proliferative antigen and p53 protein) in the leukemic cells. A comparative study of the biotin streptavidin enhanced peroxidase technique, the biotin streptavidin enhanced alkaline phosphatase technique and the indirect immunoperoxidase technique showed that the indirect immunoperoxidase technique was more sensitive than the other techniques for detecting p53 protein. The results of several fixation methods demonstrated that formalin and methanol, formalin and ethanol (1:9) and buffered formalin acetone gave good results for detecting p53 protein. In the eosinophils and neutrophils the endogenous peroxidase reaction disappeared after microwave heating for over three minutes. Thus enzyme pre-blocking of blood smears could be omitted. Four solutions for microwave treatment were tested. Excellent antigen retrieval was obtained with pH6.4, pH7.4 phosphate buffer saline and pH6.0 citric acid. However, the nuclear antigens could not be retrieved and the positive reaction could not be obtained after the treatment with distilled water. The optimal microwave heating time was five to ten minutes. The indirect immunoperoxidase technique performed using microwave treatment under these optimal conditions may be potentially applicable for detecting low levels of nuclear antigens in the leukemic cells within conventional blood smears.

In vivo effect of GroESL on the folding of glutamate racemase of Escherichia coli

The overexpression of the murI (glr) gene, which encodes the glutamate racemase of Escherichia coli, resulted in the formation of inclusion bodies of the enzyme, and little activity was found in the soluble fraction of the transformant cells. The coexpression of the groESL gene with murI caused an in vivo solubilization of glutamate racemase in an active form. We isolated the active enzyme and purified it effectively.

[Preoperative assessment of aortic dissection by three-dimensional CT angiography]

In 21 patients with aortic dissection including 12 patients with acute aortic dissection, aortic lesions were evaluated preoperatively by newly developed three-dimensional CT angiography (3 D-CTA) using helical scan CT. Rapid and safe three-dimensional evaluation of aortic dissection was achieved with no complications. Three-dimensional structure of aortic dissection was well reflected in the image of 3D-CTA. Preoperative three-dimensional evaluation was useful to determine and proceed the operative procedure for the repair of aortic dissection. All patients were alive and results of surgical treatments were excellent. Intimal flaps and entries were visualized by multiple threshold display (MTD) method of 3D-CTA. Multiple threshold display method is an important three-dimensional reconstructive method and 3D-CTA may be a new useful and powerful diagnostic modality for aortic dissection.

[Inferior vena caval tumor thrombus in a patient with renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis]

A 34-year-old woman with tuberous sclerosis presented with an increase of an abdominal mass and intermittent left flank pain on May 20, 1991. Computed tomography showed multiple bilateral renal masses with fatty density areas and a fatty density thrombus in the inferior vena cava, which extended through the right renal vein of the right kidney on ultrasonography. The inferior vena caval thrombus was also demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging. Since marked deterioration of the right renal function was found on renography, right radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy was performed on July 2. Microscopically all tumors were identical with angiomyolipoma. She was discharged on Jury 20 and had been followed with good renal function at the outpatient clinic for more than 2 years. Follow up CT revealed no interval changes in the left renal masses.

[A case of liver metastasis of leiomyosarcoma of residual stomach successfully treated by TAE and intra-hepato-arterial chemotherapy with infusion-a-port with administration of epirubicin]

A 60-year-old man who had a partial gastrectomy for gastric cancer 10 years ago was referred to our hospital for further examination for liver tumor. He was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma of residual stomach associated with liver metastases. After preoperative transarterial embolization (TAE) with epirubicin of the anterior branch of right hepatic artery, residual stomach was resected, and the reservoir catheter and infusion arterial port were implanted. He was treated by intra-hepato-arterial chemotherapy of epirubicin. The patient has remained well for 2 years and 3 months without apparent complications.

Assessment of aortic disease using three-dimensional CT angiography

The recently developed technique of three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA) was applied to 68 patients with aortic disease. These patients were examined using a unique method of data collection: a helical scanner with continuous tube rotation and continuous table feed. The scanner was used in conjunction with administration of dynamic intravenous contrast material to enhance the vascular image. The group of patients included 35 with aortic dissection, 19 with true thoracic aneurysms, and 14 with abdominal aortic aneurysms. Three-dimensional evaluation was achieved in all patients with no complications. Surgical intervention was used in 45 patients with aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms, and 44 of these patients (98%) survived and were discharged. Preoperative 3D-CTA findings were quite similar to intraoperative findings, and were useful in determining operative procedures. Rapid and accurate assessment of aortic disease was achieved by 3D-CTA. Three-dimensional CT angiography can play an important role in the preoperative assessment of aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms leading to successful surgical treatment.

Immunocytochemical detection of bone marrow-invasive neuroblastoma cells

We evaluated the utility of an immunocytochemical technique employing the commercially available anti-CD56 monoclonal antibody, NKH 1. The utility and sensitivity of this technique in the detection of invasive neuroblastoma (NB) cells in the bone marrow were compared with those of Wright-Giemsa staining. The correlation coefficient for the percent NB cells detected using Wright-Giemsa staining with the percent NKH 1 immunoreactive cells was 0.78. In the analysis of specificity, this monoclonal antibody showed slight cross-reactivity with normal bone marrow cells, including macrophages, lymphocytes and osteoblasts. In the evaluation of the sensitivity of the NKH 1 immunocytochemical technique, SK-N-DZ and SK-N-SH NB cell lines were added to morphologically normal bone marrow mononuclear cells from patients without NB to the final NB cell line at concentrations of 2%, 1% and 0.1%. NB cells at the final concentration of 0.1% could be detected by the immunocytochemical technique. We conclude that the NKH 1 immunocytochemical staining technique is useful in the detection of metastatic NB cells in bone marrow.

Morphometry of arterioles and capillaries in hearts of senescent mice

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to characterise quantitative changes in the coronary arterioles and capillaries with aging in mice.

METHODS

Morphometric analysis of the coronary resistance vessels was carried out in 12 "young" mice (63 days) and 11 "old" mice (650 days).

RESULTS

Compared to hearts from young mice, those from senescent mice were heavier, contained less water, and differed in several variables characterising terminal vessels. The main changes were a decreased capillary and arteriolar density, increased heterogeneity of capillary spacing, and larger arterioles with thicker walls.

CONCLUSIONS

Aging of the murine myocardium is characterised by important changes at the level of the terminal vascular bed, the most prominent being a decrease in capillary and arteriolar density. The decrease in arteriolar density is most prominent in the classes of smallest vessels. All these changes represent an impairment of geometrical conditions for the oxygen supply to the myocardial tissue.

Differential sensitivity of organic anion transporters in rat renal brush-border membrane to diethyl pyrocarbonate

The effect of various chemical modifiers on p-aminohippurate (PAH) uptake by a potential-sensitive system and by an anion exchanger was studied in rat renal brush-border membrane vesicles. Among various chemical modifiers, diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) selectively inhibited potential-sensitive PAH uptake but not the uptake by the anion exchanger. The inhibitory effect of DEPC on potential-sensitive PAH uptake was not due to the facilitated dissipation of membrane potential, which was evidenced by the studies with a potential-sensitive fluorescence dye diS-C3(5). The potential-sensitive PAH uptake was inhibited by DEPC in a concentration-dependent manner, and kinetic analysis showed that the decreased uptake of PAH in DEPC-treated vesicles was due to the decrease of Vmax. The inhibition of the PAH uptake was protected by the presence of organic anions during the DEPC treatment. These findings indicate that PAH transport by the potential-sensitive system and by the anion exchanger is mediated by structurally distinct transporters. Amino acid residue(s) modified by DEPC, most likely a histidine residue, should play an important role in the potential-sensitive transport of PAH in rat renal brush-border membrane.

p-Aminohippurate transport in apical and basolateral membranes of the OK kidney epithelial cells

p-Aminohippurate (PAH) transport in apical and basolateral membranes of OK cells was studied to characterize each membrane process and to determine which process is important for the vectorial transport of PAH across the OK cell monolayers. PAH uptake from the basal side into OK cells was much higher than from the apical side, and was inhibited almost completely by anion transport inhibitors (probenecid and furosemide) and low temperature. On the other hand, PAH efflux from OK cells to the apical side was higher than to the basal side. The efflux across the apical membrane also was inhibited by the transport inhibitors and low temperature. The uptake of PAH across the basolateral membrane was inhibited by dicarboxylates such as alpha-ketoglutarate, and kinetic analysis showed that the inhibition was a mixed-type. These findings suggest that PAH transport in apical and basolateral membranes of OK cells is a specifically mediated process, and both processes contribute to the vectorial transport of PAH across the cell monolayers. PAH/dicarboxylate exchange may be involved in PAH transport in the basolateral membrane of OK cells.

Chaperonin GroE and ADP facilitate the folding of various proteins and protect against heat inactivation

In the presence of ADP, the molecular chaperones GroEL and GroES from Escherichia coli not only facilitated the refolding of various proteins, but also prevented their irreversible heat inactivation in vitro. Without nucleotides the refolding reactions were arrested by GroEL. Addition of GroES and ADP to the reaction mixture initiated the refolding reactions and the enzyme activities were regained efficiently. The presence of GroE (GroEL and GroES) and ADP also protected against heat inactivation of native enzymes at various temperatures. These findings suggest that in the presence of GroES, nucleotide binding is an important event in the mechanism of GroEL-facilitated protein folding.

[Preoperative evaluation of a distal aortic arch aneurysm by spiral CT with three-dimensional reconstruction]

Sixty-seven-year-old male with a distal aortic arch aneurysm was evaluated by spiral CT with three-dimensional reconstruction. Spiral CT allows rapid data acquisition through an entire anatomic region during a single breath hold. The helically acquired data undergo interpolation. Transverse images are reconstructed with slice intervals 1-4 mm apart. Three-dimensional images were generated by these data with the transverse images. The entire anatomical correlation with the aneurysm and the aortic arch branches was clearly recognized by these three-dimensional images. Preoperative evaluation of the distal aortic arch aneurysm by spiral CT with three-dimensional reconstruction was useful for the surgical treatment.

[Preoperative diagnosis of the thoracic aortic aneurysm by three-dimensional CT angiography]

Serial eight patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms were evaluated by a newly developed three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CT) from December 1992 to January 1993. The patients include 3 aortic dissections, 3 aortic arch aneurysms, one descending aortic aneurysm and one thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The surgical treatment was performed after the evaluation of 3D-CT, and the operative findings were compared to the three-dimensional images reconstructed by 3D-CT in all patients. Three-dimensional displays were achieved using the unique method of data collection of the helical (spiral) scanner with continuous tube rotation and continuous table feed. A intravenous contrast material was used to image the thoracic aorta and major aortic branches with the single-breath-hold technique. Two and three-dimensional images reconstructed by 3D-CT were displayed within 10-20 minutes after the scanning. These three-dimensional images of the aortic lesions could be displayed in any angle we chose. Three-dimensional structures of the thoracic aorta and major aortic branches were clearly visualized and easily recognized by 3D-CT. These images were similar to the intraoperative findings and were quite useful to determine the operative procedure. The successful repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm was achieved in all cases. 3D-CT is a new and attractive modality to assess the vascular system. Although our experience is limited, 3D-CT may be a useful and powerful diagnostic method for the surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm.

[A case report of the preoperative diagnosis of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm by three-dimensional CT angiography]

A sixty-year-old woman with the thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (7 cm in the diameter) was evaluated by the newly developed three-dimensional CT angiography. The thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm was scanned by spiral CT and three-dimensional images were generated preoperatively. The three-dimensional structures of the thoracoabdominal aorta with the aneurysm, the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery were clearly visualized by this method. The thoracoabdominal aorta was replaced by the graft with the reconstruction of celiac trunk. The post-operative course was uneventful. The preoperative diagnosis of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm by this method was very useful in the determination of operative procedure in this case. Three-dimensional CT angiography may be the useful method in the preoperative diagnosis of the aortic surgery.

[A case of renal hemangiopericytoma]

A 27-year-old female was referred with an abdominal mass. Examination revealed a non tender firm mass in the right flank and hypertension (200/100 mmHg). An angiomyolipoma was suspected on computed tomography and arteriography and a radical nephrectomy was performed. On cut section, the kidney was occupied by a well-capsulated, grayish tumor measuring 10 x 9 cm. Pathological diagnosis was a renal hemangiopericytoma without involvement of the capsule. Her blood pressure has normalized after the operation. She has no evidence of recurrence after 18 months' follow-up.

An attempt at sperm-mediated gene transfer in mice and chickens

Experiments were carried out to transform laboratory mice and domestic chickens by use of sperm incubated with bacterial plasmid DNA. Following demonstration of "uptake" of such DNA by sperm of both species, attempts were made to replicate a previously published procedure (Lavitrano et al. 1989, Cell 57: 717–723) for producing transgenic mice through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Also, female mice and hens were inseminated (AI) with sperm which had been incubated in a DNA solution. Such incubation did not influence the fertility or hatchability of the hens' eggs. However, no transformed progeny were detected among 45 mice produced by IVF or among 69 mice and 470 chickens produced by AI. Key words: Sperm-mediated DNA transfer, mice, chickens