Comparison between reduced intensity and conventional myeloablative allogeneic stem-cell transplantation in patients with hematologic malignancies aged between 50 and 59 years

To evaluate the efficacy of reduced-intensity stem-cell transplantation (RIST), we retrospectively compared outcomes of 207 consecutive Japanese patients aged between 50 and 59 years with hematologic malignancies who received RIST (n=70) and conventional stem-cell transplantation (CST) (n=137). CST recipients received total body irradiation (TBI)-based or busulfan/cyclophosphamide-based regimens. RIST regimens were purine analog-based (n=67), 2 Gy TBI-based (n=2), and others (n=1). Most CST recipients (129/137) received calcineurin inhibitors and methotrexate as graft-versus-host (GVHD) prophylaxis, while 32 RIST recipients received cyclosporin. In all, 23 CST and five RIST recipients died without disease progression within 100 days of transplant. Grade II to IV acute GVHD occurred in 56 CST and 38 RIST recipients. There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival between CST and RIST. On multivariate analysis on OS, five variables were significant: preparative regimens (CST vs RIST) (hazard ratio=1.92, 95% confidence interval, 1.25-2.97; P=0.003), performance status (2-4 vs 0-1) (2.50, 1.51-4.16; P<0.001), risk of underlying diseases (1.85, 1.21-2.83; P=0.004), acute GVHD (2.57, 1.72-3.84; P<0.001), and CML (0.38, 0.21-0.69; P=0.002). We should be careful in interpreting results of this small-sized retrospective study; however, reduced regimen-related toxicity might contribute to better survival in RIST. The low relapse rates following RIST suggest a strong antitumor activity through allogeneic immunity.

Resolving the discrepancy of 135 MeV pd elastic scattering cross sections and relativistic effects

Three precise measurements for elastic pd scattering at 135 MeV/A have been performed with the three different experimental setups. The cross sections are described well by the theoretical predictions based on modern nucleon-nucleon forces combined with three-nucleon forces. Relativistic Faddeev calculations show that relativistic effects are restricted to backward angles. This result supports the two measurements recently reported by RIKEN and contradicts the KVI data.

[Dor operation for left ventricular aneurysm with sustained ventricular tachycardia]

A 60-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of syncope attack due to sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). She was treated medically after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Coronary arteriography revealed a 99% stenosis of right coronary artery (posterior descending artery: # 4 PD), a 90% stenosis of left descending artery (# 6) and left akinetic aneurysm was demonstrated. The patient successfully underwent Dor operation with endocardial cryoablation. The postoperative course was uneventful and the recurrence of VT was never recognized clinically.

Measurements of the response functions of a large size NE213 organic liquid scintillator for neutrons up to 800 MeV

The response functions of 25.4 cm (length) x 25.4 cm (diameter) NE213 organic liquid scintillator have been measured for neutrons in the energy range from 20 to 800 MeV at the Heavy-Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) and at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP) of Osaka University. At HIMAC, white (continuous) energy spectrum neutrons were produced by the 400 MeV per nucleon carbon ion bombardment on a thick graphite target, whose energy spectrum has already been measured by Kurosawa et al., [Nucl. Sci. Eng. 132, 30 (1999)] and the response functions of the time-of-flight-gated monoenergetic neutrons in a wide energy range from 20 to 800 MeV were simultaneously measured. At RCNP, the quasi-monoenergetic neutrons were produced via 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction by 250 MeV proton beam bombardment on a thin 7Li target, and the TOF-gated 245 MeV peak neutrons were measured. The absolute peak neutron yield was obtained by the measurement of 478 keV gamma rays from the 7Be nuclei produced in a Li target. The measured results show that the response functions for monoenergetic neutrons < 250 MeV have a recoil proton plateau and an edge around the maximum light output, which increases with increasing incident neutron energy, on the other hand > 250 MeV, the plateau and the edge become unclear because the proton range becomes longer than the detector size and the escaping protons increase. It can be found that the efficiency of the 24.5 cm (diameter) x 25.4 cm (length) NE213 for the 250 MeV neutrons is -10 times larger than the 12.7 cm (length) x 12.7 cm (diameter) NE213, which is widely used as a neutron spectrometer.

The Eating Disorder Inventory-2 in Japanese clinical and non-clinical samples: psychometric properties and cross-cultural implications

OBJECTIVE

To determine the usefulness of and cross-cultural differences in the Japanese version of the eating disorder inventory-2 (EDI-2).

METHOD

A Japanese version of the EDI-2 was administered to a consecutive series (1995-2001) of 91 Japanese eating disordered inpatients and 119 matched non-clinical controls. Scores were compared with each other and with those of Canadian data previously reported. Internal consistencies were also examined.

RESULTS

All subscales (except Ascetism) reached sufficient internal consistencies. The patients' mean scores were significantly higher than controls on most subscales. Restricting anorexics (AN-R) scored higher than controls on body dissatisfaction (BD) and Social Insecurity (SI) subscales. Purging bulimics (BN-P) scored higher than controls on most subscales, except for maturity fears (MF) and SI subscales. Scores of binge-eating/purging type anorexics (AN-B/P) were higher than controls on all subscales. AN-B/P and BN-P scored higher than AN-R on bulimia (B) subscale. Comparison with Canadian subjects showed that Japanese control subjects scored significantly higher on the MF, ineffectiveness (I), impulse regulation (IR), SI subscales, and lower on the perfectionism (P) subscale.

DISCUSSION

The EDI-2 is useful and reliable in understanding Japanese clinical and non-clinical samples. High MF and low P subscales in our samples confirm previous findings in Chinese samples suggesting meaningful cultural differences in the emphasis placed on family bonds and individual accomplishments. In addition, high I, IR, and SI scores in Japanese non-clinical samples may reflect recent problems in Japanese culture.

Somatosensory-evoked fields for gingiva, lip, and tongue

To localize the oral primary somatosensory cortex, we measured somatosensory-evoked fields for the lip, gingiva, and tongue in six healthy subjects. The latency of the first peak of the posterior-oriented current in the contralateral hemisphere was 50.9 +/- 8.3 ms for the gingiva, significantly shorter than those for the lip and tongue peaks. The equivalent current dipole was localized on the central sulcus. The gingival dipole was localized significantly inferior to the lip dipole but not different from the tongue dipole. The moment of the gingival dipole was significantly smaller than that of the lip dipole but not different from that of the tongue dipole. Differences in the above parameters were negligible between the left and right, anterior and posterior, and upper and lower locations within the same organ, except that the dipole location for the anterior upper tongue was significantly inferior to that for the lower tongue.

Evidence for the existence of the [2 0 2]3/2 deformed band in mirror nuclei 25Mg and 25Al

After 50 years of its prediction, the highest-lying [2 0 2]3/2 orbit among the six Nilsson single-particle orbits originating from the sd shells in prolately deformed nuclei and the rotational band on this orbit were identified. The band members were observed in 25Al at excitation energies of 6-7.5 MeV in a high-resolution 25Mg(3He,t) charge-exchange reaction at 0 degrees having a strong selectivity for Gamow-Teller transitions. In the comparison with the analogous M1 transitions in 25Mg, the J(pi)=3/2(+) bandhead state and the excited 5/2(+) and 7/2(+) members were clearly assigned.

Spallation ultracold-neutron production in superfluid helium

The first ultracold-neutron (UCN) production in superfluid helium placed in a spallation neutron source is carried out. A UCN density of 0.7 UCN/cm(3), which can be used in experiments, is achieved for a proton-beam power of 78 W and a He-II temperature of 1.2 K. The present new UCN source is not limited by Liouville's theorem and extraction losses, which were serious problems in the previous sources. The present source has the possibility of extremely high-density UCN production compared with previous UCN sources.

Increased expression of mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) and lymphocyte recruitment in murine gastritis induced by Helicobacter pylori

Although T cell involvement in Helicobactor pylori-induced gastritis is known, mechanism about T cell recruitment is not understood. In this study we examined how mucosal addressin cell adhesion -molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) is involved in lymphocyte recruitment in murine chronic gastritis induced by H. pylori. C57 BL/6 mice were infected with Sydney strain (SS1). Six months after infection, the stomach was removed. The expression of adhesion molecules, MAdCAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and the cell surface antigens CD4, CD8, CD45R/B220 or beta7-integrin were determined by immunohistochemistry. A significant increase in CD4 lymphocytes was observed in the body portion of stomach in SS1-infected mice and most of these CD4 cells express beta7-integrin, a known counter ligand for MAdCAM-1 molecule. Strong MAdCAM-1 expression was observed adjacent to these cells in the lamina propria as well as in the submucosa of SS1-infected stomach. Quantitative analysis showed that the area of MAdCAM-1 expression well correlated with the infiltration of beta7-integrin positive lymphocytes. On the other hand, expression of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 in the lamina propria was few even in the SS1-infected stomach. Increased expression of MAdCAM-1 was well correlated to the location of lymphocytes, which express CD4 and beta7-integrin. These results suggest the possibility that MAdCAM-1 may be largely involved in the lymphocyte recruitment in the gastritis mucosa with H. pylori.

Synthesis of sulfated colominic acids and their interaction with fibroblast growth factors

Colominic acid, an alpha (2-->8)-linked poly(sialic acid), was sulfated and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. During sulfation, the secondary hydroxyl group at C-4 had almost the same reactivity as the primary hydroxyl group at C-9, while the secondary hydroxyl group at C-7 was hardly substituted. Analysis by molecular modeling suggested that the lack of substitution at C-7 was due to a steric hindrance. A mobility shift assay indicated that FGF-2 bound to the sulfated colominic acid. Synthetic sulfated colominic acid potentiated the mitogenic activity of FGFs for fibroblasts in the same manner as heparin. Sulfated colominic acid with a low degree of sulfation was able to potentiate FGF activity. Regardless of the degree of sulfation, sulfated colominic acid-induced cytotoxicity was not observed. It was suggested that the carboxyl groups in sulfated colominic acid cooperate with the sulfate groups to reinforce the interaction with FGFs and to reduce the cytotoxicity of sulfated colominic acids.

FR167653, a cytokine synthesis inhibitor, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects early in rat carrageenin-induced pleurisy but no effect later

We prepared a pharmacological profile of FR167653 (1-[7- (4-fluorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-8-(4-pyridyl) pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-2-yl]-2-phenylethanedion sulfate monohydrate), a cytokine synthesis inhibitor, on early (5 h after irritation) and late (14-24 h after irritation) phases of rat carrageenin-induced pleurisy and on mediator-induced plasma exudation, in comparison with that of dexamethasone. In the early phase, FR167653 (30 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg) equipotently suppressed plasma exudation and leukocyte infiltration. Furthermore, both agents significantly lowered the prostanoid levels in the exudate. Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 protein on leukocytes in the early phase of inflammation was not affected by dexamethasone, but it was suppressed by FR167653. However, FR167653 did not significantly affect the leukocyte mRNA level of cyclooxygenase-2. Both agents significantly suppressed the levels of both tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta. FR167653 had a different pharmacological profile from dexamethasone in the late phase of this model in that, unlike dexamethasone, it did not affect cyclooxygenase-2 expression in mesothelial cells, the 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha level in the exudate or hyperplasia of mesothelium. Furthermore, unlike dexamethasone, FR167653 did not consistently inhibit mediator-induced plasma exudation. These results suggest that FR167653 or one of its analogs may be new candidates for therapy with a spectrum of activity distinct from that of current anti-inflammatory steroids.

Movement-related magnetic fields to tongue protrusion

Movement-related magnetic fields (MRFs) associated with tongue protrusion were measured in five normal subjects using a helmet-shaped magnetoencephalography system. Bihemispherical two-dipolar patterns appeared from approximately -2000 or -1000 to 0 ms to the trigger signal indicating when protrusion of the tongue tip reached the frontal part of the palate. Equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) for the MRFs were localized on the central sulcus, 14.4 +/- 6.1 mm inferior (P < 0.0001) and 7.6 +/- 6.9 mm anterior (P < 0.01) to the ECD for the N20m in the somatosensory evoked fields for median nerve stimuli. The ECD orientations of MRFs were anterior and perpendicular to the central sulcus. These results correspond to the movement-related potentials for tongue protrusion previously recorded from subdural electrodes in patients with epilepsy. Magnetoencephalography can be applied to analyze cortical functions related to tongue movement with high resolution in time and space in normal subjects.

Emotional stress activates MAP kinase in the rat heart

Emotional stress evoked by immobilization of the rat induces c-fos mRNA or other immediate early genes. This response is mediated by activation of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors, through mechanisms that have not yet been elucidated. Here we show that immobilization stress activates p44/p42 Mitogen-Activated Protein kinase (p44/p42 MAP kinase, Erk1/Erk2). Pretreatment with the beta1-blocker, metoprolol, did not inhibit the activation of stress-induced MAP kinase, while blockage of the alpha1-adrenoceptor by pretreatment with alpha1-blocker, prazosin or the alpha/beta-blocker, amosulalol, attenuated the activation. Application of the alpha1-agonist, phenylephrine, but not the beta-agonist, isoproterenol, to the perfused rat heart elicited MAP activation. Thus, emotional stress activates the alpha1-adrenoceptor-mediated MAP kinase pathway, whereas the pathway of the response mediated by the beta-adrenoceptor remains unknown.

Successful non-myeloablative allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia with severe pancytopenia

We report a 62-year-old male who underwent non-myeloablative allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) because of his life-threatening severe pancytopenia due to refractory Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. This therapy was performed safely and he made a marked recovery from his cytopenia that had not been improved with any other therapy. Bone marrow aspirates showed post-transplant mixed chimerism during engraftment, and became completely donor-derived after a series of GVHD symptoms, without subsequent donor lymphocyte infusion. Our results suggest that non-myeloablative allogeneic PBSCT could be a good alternative for patients suffering from multi-drug resistant Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

Synthesis of oligosaccharide with controlled sequence

A simple method for the synthesis of alternate heteropolysaccharide was investigated. Two types of modified glucose were combined into a cellobiose-type disaccharide monomer having only acetyl groups except a free hydroxyl group at C-3'. Polycondensation of this monomer, using stannic tetrachloride as catalyst, easily gave a novel copolysaccharide having regularly alternating 1,3-beta and 1,4-beta linkages.

Transatrial repair of ventricular septal rupture under preoperative localization by transesophageal echocardiography

We report about a 71-year-old woman with postinfarction ventricular septal rupture who was successfully treated by the transatrial closure under preoperative localization by transesophageal echocardiography. In an attempt at transatrial repair of the ventricular septal rupture, the most important thing is preoperative localization of the defect in the septum, which is located high and posterior, where it is smooth with relatively few trabeculations and can be readily exposed by retraction of the tricuspid valve.

Immobilization stress-induced thymocyte apoptosis in rats

Immobilization of rats is a well known model of emotional stress. We studied apoptosis in rat thymocytes during immobilization for 2-8 hours (h). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells increased with time of immobilization. The positive cells increased significantly after 2 h and comprised about 33% of total cells after 8 h. The apoptotic cells aggregated as scattered foci predominantly in the cortex of the thymus and diffusely distributed with time of the stress. The DNA laddering also increased with time of immobilization, which was inhibited by a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU-486. These results suggest that the emotional stress evoked by immobilization induces thymocyte apoptosis through glucocorticoid overflow.

Ischemic preconditioning upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression and neovascularization via nuclear translocation of protein kinase C epsilon in the rat ischemic myocardium

Ischemic preconditioning (IP) exerts cardioprotection through protein kinase C (PKC) activation, whereas myocardial ischemia enhances vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression. However, the IP effect or the involvement of PKC on the VEGF expression is unknown in myocardial infarction. We investigated whether IP enhances VEGF gene expression and angiogenesis through PKC activation in the in vivo myocardial infarction model. Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into the following 3 groups: the sham group; the IP group, which underwent 3 cycles of 3 minutes of ischemia and 5 minutes of reperfusion (IP procedure); and the non-IP group. The latter 2 groups were subsequently subjected to left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. To examine the involvement of PKC, the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine (5 mg/kg) or bisindolylmaleimide (1 mg/kg) was injected intravenously before the IP procedures. PKCepsilon was translocated to the nucleus after 10 minutes of ischemia after the IP procedure but was not translocated in the non-IP and the sham groups. VEGF mRNA expression 3 hours after infarction was significantly higher in the IP group than in the non-IP and the sham groups. Capillary density in the infarction was significantly higher, whereas the infarct size was smaller in the IP group than in the non-IP group at 3 days of infarction. Chelerythrine but not bisindolylmaleimide blocked all of the IP effects on the nuclear translocation of PKCepsilon, enhancement of VEGF mRNA expression and angiogenesis, and infarct size limitation. These results show that IP may enhance VEGF gene expression and angiogenesis through nuclear translocation of PKCepsilon in the infarcted myocardium.

The effects of single lung transplantation in rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension

Acute haemodynamic change after single lung transplantation for primary pulmonary hypertension was evaluated using a rat transplantation model. Inbred Fisher 344 rats were administered with 40 mg/kg monocrotaline in order to induce pulmonary hypertension. The rats whose mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) was over 30.0 mm Hg received a left lung isograft from a normal donor after right heart catheterization. In the control group, PAP increased after single lung transplantation. On the other hand, in the pulmonary hypertensive group, PAP was significantly decreased 60 min after the transplantation, but 3 and 6 h after the transplantation, the PAP significantly increased again. On the day after the operation, it again decreased significantly. Left-to-right lung blood flow ratio was significantly increased in rats with pulmonary hypertension compared to rats with normal pulmonary pressure on both the 1st and 3rd postoperative days. The oedema of the grafted lung was more severe in the pulmonary hypertensive group than in the control group in the acute phase. In conclusion, single lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension shifted pulmonary blood perfusion to the grafted lung and this shift made pulmonary oedema of the grafts more severe in the acute phase. These oedematous changes, which were more pronounced in the grafts in the pulmonary hypertensive rats, might have contributed to the transient rise in PAP in those rats after single lung transplantation.

Development of rigor mortis is not affected by muscle volume

There is a hypothesis suggesting that rigor mortis progresses more rapidly in small muscles than in large muscles. We measured rigor mortis as tension determined isometrically in rat musculus erector spinae that had been cut into muscle bundles of various volumes. The muscle volume did not influence either the progress or the resolution of rigor mortis, which contradicts the hypothesis. Differences in pre-rigor load on the muscles influenced the onset and resolution of rigor mortis in a few pairs of samples, but did not influence the time taken for rigor mortis to reach its full extent after death. Moreover, the progress of rigor mortis in this muscle was biphasic; this may reflect the early rigor of red muscle fibres and the late rigor of white muscle fibres.

Polyethylenimine-mediated gene transfer into pancreatic tumor dissemination in the murine peritoneal cavity

Although peritoneal dissemination of cancer cells often occurs at the advanced stages of pancreatic, gastric or ovarian cancers, no effective therapy has been established. Cationic lipid-mediated gene transfer into peritoneal dissemination may offer a prospect of safe therapies, but vector improvements are needed with regard to the efficiency and specificity of the gene transfer. In this study, the intraperitoneal injection of plasmid DNA:polyethylenimine (PEI) complexes into mice was evaluated as a gene delivery system for the peritoneal disseminations. The luciferase and beta-galactosidase genes were used as marker genes. PEI was more efficient than the cationic lipids examined in this study in vivo, and the transgene was preferentially expressed in the tumors. Although PCR analysis showed that the injected DNA was delivered to various organs, the distributed DNA became undetectable by 6 months after the gene transfer. Blood chemistry and histological analysis showed no significant toxicity in the injected mice. This study demonstrated that the intraperitoneal injection of DNA:PEI is a promising delivery method to transduce a gene into disseminated cancer nodules in the peritoneal cavity.

Suppression of colorectal cancer growth using an adenovirus vector expressing an antisense K-ras RNA

In human colorectal cancer, K-ras point mutations occur in approximately 40-50% of the cases, a frequency second only to pancreatic cancer (80-90%). Unlike pancreatic and lung cancers, however, the tumor-suppressive effect of antisense K-ras RNA expression has not been examined for colorectal cancers. A recombinant adenovirus vector expressing an antisense or sense K-ras gene fragment (AxCA-AS-K-ras or AxCA-S-K-ras) was first transduced into seven human colorectal cancer cell lines. Stable expression of antisense or sense K-ras RNA was detected by RNA blot analysis. Western blot analysis confirmed a reduction of up to 25% of K-ras-specific p21 protein in the antisense K-ras-transduced HCT-15 cells. In contrast to our previous findings on pancreatic cancer, the status of K-ras point mutations was not correlated with the growth-suppressive effect of the antisense K-ras vector: both the K-ras-mutation-positive and -negative colorectal cancer cell lines were suppressed for their growth in vitro. There was no growth-inhibitory effect on normal cells such as hepatocytes. Next, to test the efficacy in vivo, HCT-15 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the left flank of SCID mice, and AxCA-AS-K-ras was injected intratumorally three times after the tumor mass was established. The infection of AxCA-AS-K-ras, but not the control AxCA-S-K-ras, significantly suppressed the growth of the HCT-15 subcutaneous tumor. This study shows that the adenovirus-mediated in vivo gene transfer of the antisense K-ras construct may be a useful therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer.

Onset of rigor mortis is earlier in red muscle than in white muscle

Rigor mortis is thought to be related to falling ATP levels in muscles postmortem. We measured rigor mortis as tension determined isometrically in three rat leg muscles in liquid paraffin kept at 37 degrees C or 25 degrees C--two red muscles, red gastrocnemius (RG) and soleus (SO) and one white muscle, white gastrocnemius (WG). Onset, half and full rigor mortis occurred earlier in RG and SO than in WG both at 37 degrees C and at 25 degrees C even though RG and WG were portions of the same muscle. This suggests that rigor mortis directly reflects the postmortem intramuscular ATP level, which decreases more rapidly in red muscle than in white muscle after death. Rigor mortis was more retarded at 25 degrees C than at 37 degrees C in each type of muscle.

Diagnosis of cyanide intoxication by measurement of cytochrome c oxidase activity

Cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), a mitochondrial enzyme, is inactivated by cyanide or carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication. We measured CCO activity, in the major organs of the rat at various times after death caused by cyanide intoxication. Tissue samples were homogenized, and the CCO activity in the mitochondrial fraction was measured using ferrous cytochrome c as the substrate. The CCO activity inhibition was highest in the brain, although the cyanide concentration was lowest level. As a result of this and the clinical symptoms displayed, we consider the brain to be the primary organ of cyanide intoxication. As cyanide is highly toxic to humans, in small amounts and many patients and victims have already had some medical care, it is difficult to detect cyanide in criminal investigations. The CCO activities in various organs remained significantly low for 2 days after the cyanide intoxication, suggesting that the diagnosis may be possible by measuring not only the cyanide concentration but also the CCO activity.