Assembly and retention of CD1b heavy chains in the endoplasmic reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site for assembly of MHC class I molecules. Newly synthesized class I heavy chains bind calnexin, an ER-resident molecular chaperone, and dissociate from calnexin following association with beta2-microglobulin (beta2m). The class I heavy chain:beta2m complex then is stabilized by binding endogenous peptides transported to the ER through the TAP molecules. Thus, both beta2m and TAP are required for class I Ag presentation. Human CD1b is a beta2m-associated, non-MHC-encoded glycoprotein that functions in presentation of lipid Ags to T cells. Despite its structural similarities with class I, CD1b-mediated Ag presentation is TAP independent, and CD1b traffics to endocytic compartments for sampling exogenous Ags. Given these distinctive features of CD1b, we set out to analyze its assembly. Immunofluorescence microscopic analysis of CD1b-transfected cells with a rabbit heteroantiserum detecting only beta2m-free CD1b heavy chains revealed a reticular pattern characteristic of ER staining. Consistently, CD1b heavy chains recognized by this antiserum were sensitive to endoglycosidase H and associated with calnexin, indicating a distribution restricted to the ER. Furthermore, CD1b heavy chains were confined to the ER in beta2m-negative cells, whereas they exited the ER and distributed in post-Golgi compartments when beta2m was reconstituted in these cells. These results suggested that assembly of CD1b heavy chains with beta2m occurred in the ER and that only assembled CD1b heavy chain:beta2m complexes were able to exit the ER and traffic to endocytic compartments, where they encounter endocytosed lipid Ags.

Organization of a large gene cluster encoding ribosomal proteins in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 6301: comparison of gene clusters among cyanobacteria, eubacteria and chloroplast genomes

The structure of a large gene cluster containing 22 ribosomal protein (r-protein) genes of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC6301 is presented. Based on DNA and protein sequence analyses, genes encoding r-proteins L3, L4, L23, L2, S19, L22, S3, L16, L29, S17, L14, L24, L5, S8, L6, L18, S5, L15, L36, S13, S11, L17, SecY, adenylate kinase (AK) and the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase were identified. The gene order is similar to that of the E. coli S10, spc and alpha operons. Unlike the corresponding E. coli operons, the genes for r-proteins S4, S10, S14 and L30 are not present in this cluster. The organization of Synechococcus r-protein genes also resembles that of chloroplast (cp) r-protein genes of red and brown algal species. This strongly supports the endosymbiotic theory that the cp genome evolved from an ancient photosynthetic bacterium.

Therapeutic results of resection, transcatheter arterial embolization and percutaneous transhepatic ethanol injection in 3225 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective multicenter study

The outcome in 3225 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was studied in groups with equivalent prognosis treated with resection, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), and percutaneous transhepatic ethanol injection (PEI). Significant factors for better clinical background included a tumor diameter of < or = 30 mm, tumor number < or = 3 and (clinical) Stage I. In patients with Stage I disease having tumors of < or = 30 mm and < or = 3 in number, survival afer resection and PEI did not differ, while survival after TAE was significantly worse. In those patients with Stage II disease, survival after PEI was significantly better than after resection or TAE. In patients with Stage I or II disease having tumors > or = 31 in size and < or = 3 number, survival after resection was significantly better than after TAE. In patients with Stage I disease having tumors of > or = 31 mm and > or = 4 in number, survival after resection was significantly better than after TAE. Our conclusions are as follows. Firstly, resection or PEI is recommended for patients with Stage I disease having < or = 3 tumors all < or = 30 mm in size. Secondly, PEI is recommended for patients with Stage II disease having < or = 3 tumors all < or = 30 mm in size. Thirdly, for patients with Stage I disease having tumors 31 mm or larger in size, whatever the number of tumors, resection should be selected rather than TAE.

Structure and subcellular localization of a small RNA-binding protein from tobacco

In this study, a cDNA encoding a small RNA-binding protein was isolated from a Nicotiana sylvestris cDNA library. The predicted protein (RGP-3) is 144 amino acid residues long, and contains a consensus sequence-type RNA binding domain (CS-RBD) of 83 amino acids and a short glycine-rich region of 15 amino acids. RGP-3 synthesized in Escherichia coli has high affinity for poly(U). Immunocytochemical analysis indicated that RGP-3 is localized in the nucleoplasm, and that RGP-1b, a related protein reported previously, is localized in the nucleolus. Possible roles of these proteins in pre-mRNA or pre-rRNA processing are discussed.

Electrophysiological analysis of cognitive slowing in Parkinson's disease

To analyze chronometrically the evidence for possible cognitive slowing in Parkinson's disease, we measured visual event-related potentials (ERPs) and reaction times (RTs) in 29 patients with nondemented Parkinson's disease and 19 age-equivalent normal controls during the performance of semantic discrimination tasks. The components of the N1, P2, NA, N2 and P3 and simple and GO/NOGO RTs were observed. The N2 was measured from difference waveforms, subtracting the ERPs to frequent stimuli from those to infrequent stimuli in the discrimination task. Difference waveforms were also derived to delineate NA by subtracting the ERPs in the simple RT task from those of the frequent stimuli of the discrimination task. The N2 and P3 latencies and GO/NOGO RT in patients with Parkinson's disease were significantly longer than those in the controls, although there were no differences in N1, P2 and NA latencies or simple RT between the two groups. The results are interpreted as electrophysiological signs of cognitive slowing, particularly with respect to stimulus classification and attention processes in Parkinson's disease, independent of sensory problems. As for the automatic/controlled processes, the present results suggest that the automatic processing stage associated with NA may be less impaired than the attention-controlled processing reflected by N2 in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast genome from the green alga Chlorella vulgaris: the existence of genes possibly involved in chloroplast division

The complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast genome (150,613 bp) from the unicellular green alga Chlorella vulgaris C-27 has been determined. The genome contains no large inverted repeat and has one copy of rRNA gene cluster consisting of 16S, 23S, and 5S rRNA genes. It contains 31 tRNA genes, of which the tRNALeu(GAG) gene has not been found in land plant chloroplast DNAs analyzed so far. Sixty-nine protein genes and eight ORFs conserved with those found in land plant chloroplasts have also been found. The most striking is the existence of two adjacent genes homologous to bacterial genes involved in cell division, minD and minE, which are arranged in the same order in Escherichia coli. This finding suggests that the mechanism of chloroplast division is similar to bacterial division. Other than minD and minE homologues, genes encoding ribosomal proteins L5, L12, L19, and S9 (rpl5, rpl12, rpl19, and rps9); a chlorophyll biosynthesis Mg chelating subunit (chlI); and elongation factor EF-Tu (tufA), which have not been reported from land plant chloroplast DNAs, are present in this genome. However, many of the new chloroplast genes recently found in red and brown algae have not been found in C. vulgaris. Furthermore, this algal species possesses two long ORFs related to ycf1 and ycf2 that are exclusively found in land plants. These observations suggest that C. vulgaris is closer to land plants than to red and brown algae.

Induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the mouse hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia

To assess the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in modulating the process of cerebral ischemic injury, we identified TNF-alpha-producing cells and studied the time course of TNF-alpha expression. Immunoreactivity for TNF-alpha appeared in white matter of the mouse hippocampus as early as 1.5 h following a 30-min global ischemic insult. Double staining for TNF-alpha and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) suggested that the TNF-alpha-positive cells are most likely microglia, not astrocytes. TNF-alpha immunostaining decreased at 6 and 24 h but increased again at 3 days, when pyramidal neurons showed degeneration. Adjacent-section staining for microglia and double staining with GFAP suggested that TNF-alpha-positive cells in the pyramidal cell layer were microglia and those in the white matter were astrocytes. By 5 days TNF-alpha immunostaining disappeared from these glial cells, while a number of microglia were accumulated in the degenerated hippocampal pyramidal layer. Pyramidal neurons never expressed TNF-alpha immunoreactivity. Western blotting confirmed biphasic TNF-alpha expression. Our findings suggest that early production of TNF-alpha by microglia may activate a cytokine network in post-ischemic brain resulting in TNF-alpha synthesis by astrocytes.

Comparison of clinical features and survival in patients with hepatitis B and C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

We analyzed the clinical characteristics and survival of 185 patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV group) and 1033 with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV group) by multi center study. The patients in the HBV group (mean age 52.1 yr) were about 10 years younger than those in the HCV group (mean age 62.9 yr). Liver function, as measured by indocyanine green retention at 15 min, was better in the HBV group (17.5%) than in the HCV group (25.4%). A higher proportion of the HBV group (55%) than the HCV group (44%) had clinical stage I, T-factor differed significantly between the groups: 53% of the HBV group were T3-4 compared with 41% of the HCV group. Furthermore, a higher proportion of the HBV group were graded 2-3 for tumor thrombus in the portal vein (20.3%) and had poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (7%) compared with the HCV group (7.1% and 5% respectively). Univariate analysis identified poor prognostic factors for hepatocellular carcinoma as HBV, age < or = 50 yr, clinical stage II-III, a high AFP level, higher number of tumors, larger tumor size, tumor thrombus in the portal vein 2-3 and in the hepatic vein 2-3. On multivariate analysis, poor prognostic factors were a high AFP level, higher number of tumors, tumor thrombus in the portal vein 2-3 and in the hepatic vein 2-3, but not HBV, age, clinical stage or tumor size. These results suggest that HBV itself is not a stronger prognostic factor than HCV.

[Large-cell carcinoma presenting as diffuse thickening of the pleura and resembling malignant mesothelioma]

A 65-year-old man had a right-sided pleural effusion. A thoracic CT scan revealed diffuse pleural thickening resembling malignant mesothelioma. Repeated needle biopsies did not yield a definitive diagnosis. At autopsy, diffuse pleural thickening was found, and examination of a specimen of lung tissue showed large-cell carcinoma. Hyalinized fibrous tissue with malignant cell infiltration was seen in the thickened pleural tissue and metastatic pleuritis was diagnosed. Large-cell carcinoma of the lung should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pleural thickening.

Hierarchical Structure of Lattices in Film Formation of Core-Shell Type Polymer Microspheres

By adding polystyrene homopolymer in the solid state, super-lattice structures of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) core-polystyrene shell type polymer microspheres were hierarchically changed from a disordered state to a face-centered cubic via a body-centered cubic. The transition of the lattice structures was investigated from the view point of the excluded volume of the microsphere, which was controlled by a changing of the molecular weights and blend tarios of polystyrene homopolymers.

P3 latency change in aging and Parkinson disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether age-related slowing of mental processing assessed by event-related potentials is more prominent in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) than in age-matched control subjects.

DESIGN

Consecutive case series of patients with PD and an age-matched control group.

SETTING

A university hospital in Nishinomiya, Japan.

STUDY PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-eight nondemented patients with PD and 28 age-matched control subjects.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The P3 component of the event-related potentials was elicited during a visual semantic discrimination task. The relation of the P3 latency and the reaction time (RT) to age within each group was evaluated using correlation and regression analysis. The relationship among the P3 latency, the RT, and age was also assessed by dividing both groups into younger (age < 60 years) and older (age > or = 60 years) subgroups.

RESULTS

The P3 latency and the RT of patients with PD were significantly longer than those of the control subjects (P < .01 and P < .02, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the P3 latency and age in both the parkinsonian and control groups (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively). The slope (b = 3.54 ms/y) of the P3 latency vs age was steeper among the patients with PD than among the control subjects (b = 1.66 ms/y) at the Pz site. The P3 latency in the older parkinsonian group (n = 16) was significantly prolonged compared with that in the older control group (n = 16) (P < .01), while no difference was found between the younger patients (n = 12) and the younger control group (n = 12). Similar trends were found for the RTs (P < .05). Neither the P3 latency nor the RT was correlated with any variable (eg, medication, mental status, illness duration, or motor disability).

CONCLUSION

The results provide evidence that patients with PD experience excessive cognitive slowing with advancing age.

[A case of allergic granulomatous angitis with beneficial effects of plasma exchange]

A 54-year-old man had suffered from bronchial asthma, followed by numbness and muscle weakness of the extremities. He was admitted to our department in July, 1994, because of progression of the symptoms. On admission, neurological examination revealed muscle weakness with atrophy and sensory disturbance of multiple mononeuritic type. Blood tests revealed eosinophilia and an increase in rheumatoid factor, IgE levels and P-ANCA. A sural nerve biopsy showed necrotizing vasculitis and inflammation with eosinophil infiltration. The patient was diagnosed as having allergic granulomatous angitis,and treated with steroid pulse therapy without beneficial effect. Plasma exchange was performed twice, which resulted in remarkable improvement in motor and sensory disturbance. The present case suggests that plasma exchange has beneficial effects on severe cases with allergic granulomatous angitis.

[Early postirradiation changes in Na+ and fluid transport across alveolar epithelium in rats]

To study changes in Na+ and fluid transport that occur soon after irradiation of the thorax, we used fluid-filled isolated rat lungs. Irradiation 15 Gy of 60Co doubled the fluid absorption rate across the alveolar epithelium within 2 weeks, but fluid absorption had returned to the baseline values by 3 weeks after irradiation. The timing of this change in fluid absorption was parallel to the time course of Na+ escape across alveolar epithelium and the two correlated closely. These data suggest that a dysfunction of alveolar epithelial Na+ transport is involved in the development of pulmonary edema after irradiation of the thorax.

Cytokine-induced expression of CD1b molecules by peripheral blood monocytes: influence of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine

CD1b is a nonpolymorphic, MHC-like molecule, capable of presenting non-peptide antigens (Ags) to CD3+, CD4-, CD8-, alphabeta or gammadelta T lymphocytes. Previous studies have shown that CD1b can be induced in monocytes/macrophages by GM-CSF+IL-4, and can restrict their presentation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen (Ag) to Ag-specific T cells. Since a number of HIV-positive subjects undergo mycobacterial infections, preliminary studies have been performed to explore whether anti-HIV chemotherapy would influence cytokine-induced CD1b expression in peripheral blood monocytes. The results obtained by treating monocytes with GM-CSF+IL-4, in presence or absence of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) showed that: (a) the majority of adherent mononuclear cells (AMNC) collected from peripheral blood of healthy donors, express CD1b molecule on the cell membrane, upon treatment with GM-CSF+IL-4; (b) CD1b appearance is mainly due to the de novo induction of CD1b gene expression (as confirmed by Northern blot analysis), rather than to migration of the molecule from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane (as suggested by Western blot analysis); (c) AZT does not alter the percentage of CD1b+ AMNC treated with the cytokines; (d) however, AZT inhibits cytokine-induced proliferation of AMNC, thus reducing the overall Ag-presenting potential of the host. Our results suggest that the anti-proliferative effect of AZT could depress anti-mycobacteria immunity in AZT-treated subjects, which may have important implication for the clinical outcome of patients harbouring inadequately treated mycobacterial infections.

Family History of Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Risk in Japan

We studied 132 families with a family history of breast cancer (familial aggregation cases, FA cases) to assess the breast cancer risk presented by such a family history. For comparison with these FA cases, we randomly selected 132 control families of sporadic cases (SP controls) by adjusting for the age of the proband at surgery. Information on family history was collected for all first-degree female relatives and maternal and paternal grandmothers. Japanese women with a first-degree relative affected by breast cancer were found to have an increased risk of the disease. The odds ratio (OR) for women with a family history of breast cancer was 1.99 (95% confidence interval [ CI ], 1.48-2.66). The OR for FA-case doughters of women with breast cancer was 1.54 (95% CI, 0.91-2.63). A higher risk was not observed if a woman's mother had breast cancer. If the proband had a sister with breast cancer, a slightly increased risk of other cancers of the proband was observed (OR, 1.85 [ 0.87-3.92]). These results suggest that a family history of breast cancer in Japanese women may affect their risk of developing cancer of the breast and other organs.

NaCl and/or urea infusion fails to increase renal inner medullary myo-inositol in protein-deprived rats

As we recently demonstrated that in potassium depletion a decrease in inner medullary organic osmolytes might precede and cause a renal concentrating defect, we hypothesized that in the protein deprivation the same mechanism may occur. To clarify the relationship between renal medullary organic osmolytes and urine concentration defects during protein deprivation, we examined the effect of protein malnutrition on organic osmolyte content after water deprivation or sodium and/or urea infusion. Water deprivation did not restore urine urea and osmolality or tissue sodium and urea in protein-deprived rats to control levels. NaCl infusion only increased urinary and medullary Na. Urea infusion increased medullary urea but not urine urea. NaCl plus urea infusion increased only urinary sodium and urea. Regardless of the protocols of hyperosmolality used, protein deprivation significantly decreased the medullary contents of myo-inositol and taurine and the level of sodium-dependent myo-inositol transporter mRNA. We conclude that factors other than NaCl and urea but associated with protein feeding are responsible for the decreased accumulation of organic osmolytes.

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with elderly onset of stroke-like episodes

A 52-year-old woman with a history of a hearing disturbance since age 20 experienced visual hallucinations and convulsions, followed by right hemiparesis and aphasia. On the basis of a muscle biopsy and mitochondrial DNA analysis, she was diagnosed as mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). This case is unique in that the stroke-like episodes occurred 30 years after disease onset.

[Present international status and basic approach of lung and heart-lung transplantation]

Lung transplantation has been established as an optional treatment for variable irreversible diffuse lung diseases. To date, more than 5,000 patients have underwent lung transplantation, and nearly 1,000 procedures a year are performed recently. Although heart-lung transplantation has also been technically established, this procedure is confined to quite limited conditions due to the severe shortage of donors and many difficulties in operative procedure and the patient management. Preservation, post-transplantation edema, diagnosis of rejection, chronic rejection, shortage of donor organs, are principal problems in clinical lung transplantation, 24-hour preservation proved to be possible in several recent experimental studies, and the reperfusion injury has been revealed to be one of causes of post-transplantation edema. Establishment of methods for long-term pulmonary preservation and for the treatment of post-transplantation edema may be promising in the near future. Shortage of donor lung is one of major limiting factors. Research works on xenotransplantation and cadaver lung transplantation are on going, and these may help in solving this problem.

Ulinastatin ameliorates acute ischemic renal injury in rats

Effects of ulinastatin (a Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor) administration was examined in a model of acute ischemic renal injury induced by bilateral renal artery occlusion in rats. Compared with rats administered vehicle, rats administered ulinastatin (150,000 U/kg body weight) intravenously 30 min preischemia had significantly lower serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, and much less injury evident by examination of kidney histologies over the course of 48 h postreperfusion. We conclude that ulinastatin exerts a protective effect against ischemic renal injury.

[Role of Na(+)-glucose cotransport in fluid absorption across alveolar epithelium in isolated rat lungs]

To evaluate the role of Na(+)-glucose cotransport in fluid absorption across alveolar epithelial walls in isolated rat lungs, we measured the inhibitory effects of amiloride (a Na+ channel blocker) and phlorizin (a Na(+)-glucose cotrasport blocker) on the fluid absorption rate in fluid-filled lungs. Amiloride (10(-5)-10(-4) M) reduced alveolar fluid absorption by 30%. This value was similar to that obtained in the presence of 10(-3) M phlorizin. The coefficient of Na(+)-glucose cotransport was estimated to be 2.5. The strong correlation between Na+ escape and fluid absorption (r = 0.907) was not affected by phlorizin. These findings suggest that the impact of Na(+)-glucose cotransport was similar to that of Na+ transport alone, and that glucose molecules transported by Na(+)-glucose cotransport do not play an important role in alveolar fluid absorption across rat alveolar epithelium.

Development of low potassium solution (EP4 solution) for long-term preservation of a lung transplant: evaluation in primate and murine lung transplant model

The results of recent studies on long-term preservation using low potassium flush solution, which was originally produced in our department, are presented and discussed. In the primate model, a lung preserved for 24 h with EP4 solution retained sufficient function in single lung allotransplantation. In the murine experiments, we have evaluated the ion transport properties across alveolar epithelial cells in the transplanted lung using the tools of alveolar fluid clearance tests. The alveolar fluid clearance rate, which can be inhibited by 10(-3) M ouabain, is also well preserved for the first 24 h, indicating that the alveolar epithelial Na-K-ATPase is still functioning and that the 72 h preservation decreases those function of Na-K-ATPase in a time-dependent manner. In conclusion, because 24 h hypothermic preservation with EP4 solution did not show any obvious disadvantage on primate lung allografts and the cellular and molecular viability of the preserved lung flushed with EP4 solution could be retained for 24 h, this kind of solution with extracellular electrolyte composition can be applicable in the clinical settings.

Regulation of gene expression in chloroplasts of higher plants

Chloroplasts contain their own genetic system which has a number of prokaryotic as well as some eukaryotic features. Most chloroplast genes of higher plants are organized in clusters and are cotranscribed as polycistronic pre-RNAs which are generally processes into many shorter overlapping RNA species, each of which accumulates of steady-state RNA levels. This indicates that posttranscriptional RNA processing of primary transcripts is an important step in the control of chloroplast gene expression. Chloroplast RNA processing steps include RNA cleavage/trimming, RNA splicing, ENA editing and RNA stabilization. Several chloroplast genes are interrupted by introns and therefore require processing for gene function. In tobacco chloroplasts, 18 genes contain introns, six for tRNA genes and 12 for protein-encoding genes. A number of specific proteins and RNA factors are believed to be involved in splicing and maturation of pre-RNAs in chloroplasts. Processing enzymes and RNA-binding proteins which could be involved in posttranscriptional steps have been identified in the last several years. Our current knowledge of the regulation of gene expression in chloroplasts of higher plants is overviewed and further studies on this matter are also considered.

[Assessment of prognostic factors in surgical treatment for the pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma based on results of 17 patients]

Seventeen cases with surgical treatment for pulmonary metastases of osteosarcomas have been experienced for past 20 years in our institute. Disease free intervals, tumor doubling time, the number of metastatic lesions, the size of metastatic lesions, pathological features on nuclear findings were assessed in relation to their prognosis. These parameters were concluded to have no significant relations to the survival outcomes after the surgery for pulmonary lesions except for the number of metastatic lesions less than 20 in total which is likely to be associated with long survivals, supporting previous reports on the resectability of pulmonary metastatic lesions as an only reliable prognostic indicator. It was also stressed from our experience that the meticulous follow-up after each surgery for both primary and metastatic lesions is absolutely necessary for the early detection of recurrent pulmonary lesions in order not to overlook curable cases with aggressive treatment.

Involvement of integrins alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 in ocular neovascular diseases

Angiogenesis underlies the majority of eye diseases that result in catastrophic loss of vision. Recent evidence has implicated the integrins alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 in the angiogenic process. We examined the expression of alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 in neovascular ocular tissue from patients with subretinal neovascularization from age-related macular degeneration or the presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome or retinal neovascularization from proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Only alpha v beta 3 was observed on blood vessels in ocular tissues with active neovascularization from patients with age-related macular degeneration or presumed ocular histoplasmosis, whereas both alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 were present on vascular cells in tissues from patients with PDR. Since we observed both integrins on vascular cells from tissues of patients with retinal neovascularization from PDR, we examined the effects of a systemically administered cyclic peptide antagonist of alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 on retinal angiogenesis in a murine model. This antagonist specifically blocked new blood vessel formation with no effect on established vessels. These results not only reinforce the concept that retinal and subretinal neovascular diseases are distinct pathological processes, but that antagonists of alpha v beta 3 and/or alpha v beta 5 may be effective in treating individuals with blinding eye disease associated with angiogenesis.

[Clinicopathologic assessment of primary thymic carcinoma based on eighteen cases]

In order to study clinicopathologic characteristics of thymic carcinomas, 18 patients with thymic carcinoma and 56 patients with invasive thymoma were reviewed. All of them were underwent thoracotomy. Both 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 44% in the thymic carcinoma patients, while 5-year survival and 10-year survival rates were respectively 62% and 52% in the invasive thymoma patients. The survival rate of the thymic carcinoma cases was significantly lower than that of invasive thymoma cases (p < 0.05). Both surgical technique and anticancer chemotherapy. However, have been improved in these years, such as artificial vessels for great veins, panpleuro-pneumonectomy, cisplatin and so on. Those new techniques have brought the significantly higher survival rate in recent 10 cases of thymic carcinoma patients. Three-year survival rate of 10 cases after 1990 was 80% and it was 13% in 8 cases before 1989 (p < 0.01). We conclude that surgical procedure are necessary for the treatment of thymic carcinoma patients, and both chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be combined with the surgical procedures to completely remove the tumors.

Potassium depletion modulates aldose reductase mRNA in rat renal inner medulla

The organic osmolytes present in renal inner medullary cells balance the extracellular hyperosmolality and protect the cell against the effects of high salts and urea. We previously demonstrated that a renal concentrating defect due to potassium depletion was associated with a decrease in organic osmolytes including sorbitol. However, we could not determine whether a reduction in medullary organic osmolyte would be cause or effect of urine concentration defect associated with potassium depletion. We focused on the synthesis of sorbitol catalyzed by the enzyme, aldose reductase. To clarify whether the treatment of potassium depletion would affect aldose reductase when extracellular tonicity, and medullary sodium or potassium was maintained at the level of control rats, we administered a hypertonic solution of NaCl or KCl to potassium-depleted rats and evaluated aldose reductase enzymatic activity and mRNA abundance as well as the medullary contents of organic osmolytes. Either infusion significantly reduced tissue sodium content in potassium-depleted rats. With KCl infusion protocol but not that of NaCl, sorbitol as well as aldose reductase mRNA abundance increased to the control level. Medullary contents of other organic osmolytes exhibited a pattern similar to sorbitol. Data suggested that aldose reductase mRNA abundance was reduced in potassium depletion irrespective of medullary sodium content. A decrease in sorbitol level may precede a urinary concentrating defect. Our finding constitutes the first demonstration of the relationship between a potassium deficiency and the abundance of aldose reductase mRNA, an osmoregulatory protein in the kidney.

[Long-term follow-up and autopsy of a Japanese patient who had emphysema associated with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency]

A 49-year-old woman was found to have emphysema associated with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency in February 1975. She was followed until her death in October, 1994. The Pi phenotype was M null and the genotype was M malton. She had been on home oxygen therapy since 1987. An autopsy revealed the typical bullous lungs with panacinar emphysema. We know of no previous case in Japan of emphysema associated with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Structural characterization of a novel glycoinositolphospholipid from the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum

A novel glycosphingolipid containing inositol phosphate as an acidic group has been demonstrated in whole tissues of the porcine roundworm, Ascaris suum. The thin layer chromatographic pattern of the total acidic glycolipid revealed the presence of several components, of which a major component (named AGL) with positive reactions toward both orcinol-sulfuric acid (sugar) and molybdate (phosphate) spray reagents was isolated and purified by the use of successive column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and silicic acid (latrobeads). From structural studies including compositional sugar analysis, hydrogen fluoride degradation, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, the structure of AGL was deduced to be Gal alpha 1-2Ins(1-->)-P-Cer. Aliphatic constituents were lignoceric acid and its 2-hydroxy homologue as the principal fatty acids, and octadecasphinganine and branched heptadecasphinganine as the major sphingoids.

Cytoplasmic tail-dependent localization of CD1b antigen-presenting molecules to MIICs

CD1 proteins have been implicated as antigen-presenting molecules for T cell-mediated immune responses, but their intracellular localization and trafficking remain uncharacterized. CD1b, a member of this family that presents microbial lipid antigens of exogenous origin, was found to localize to endocytic compartments that included the same specialized subset of endosomes in which major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules are proposed to bind endocytosed antigens. Unlike MHC class II molecules, which traffic to antigen-loading endosomal compartments [MHC class II compartments (MIICs)] primarily as a consequence of their association with the invariant chain, localization of CD1b to these compartments was dependent on a tyrosine-based motif in its own cytoplasmic tail.

Age-related changes in event-related potentials in visual discrimination tasks

Visual event-related potentials and reaction times in physical and semantic discrimination tasks were studied in 29 normal subjects between the ages of 21 and 74 years. The NA, N2 and P3 components of the evoked potential, and simple and GO/NOGO reaction times were observed in both kinds of discrimination. Significant age-related slowing of the GO/NOGO reaction time was observed only in the semantic discrimination task. The N2 and P3 latencies elicited by both the physical and semantic stimuli were significantly and positively correlated with age, although there was no significant correlation between the NA latency and age. The interpeak latency between N2 and P3 showed no age-related changes. The decline of cognitive information processing with advancing age was evident from the classification of a perceived event as reflected by the N2 component.

Visual form agnosia in multiple sclerosis

We report a case of multiple sclerosis with visual form agnosia and callosal syndromes. Initially, the patient's visual recognition of object form was severely disturbed at the perceptual stage, in association with left-sided ideomotor apraxia and agraphia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed large white matter lesions in the bilateral frontal and occipital lobes, the latter extending to the occipitotemporal junction, and widespread corpus callosum lesions. Over the course of one year follow-up, neuropsychological examinations indicated that the patient's visual recognition defects occurred not only at the early substage of form perception, but also at the stage of reproducing the shape of objects from visual memory store. The present case suggests that neural connections between the striate cortex and occipitotemporal visual areas are crucial for both the perceptual and associative stages of visual object recognition.

Organization and transcription of a putative gene cluster encoding ribosomal protein S14 and an oligopeptide permease-like protein in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 6301

A 2.0-kbp Pst I DNA fragment of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 6301 genome contains two open reading frames (ORFs). The first ORF of 100 codons potentially encodes a polypeptide having 47% amino acid identity to Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S14, suggesting it as a ribosomal protein S14 gene (rps14). The second ORF of 351 codons is located 81 bp downstream of rps14 and its deduced amino acid sequence is in part similar to that of the Salmonella typhimurium oligopeptide permease membrane protein OppC. Northern blot analysis showed that rps14 is expressed as a 0.48-kb transcript whereas no transcript was detected from ORF351. Pulsed-field electrophoresis and blot hybridization analysis revealed that rps14 is a single-copy gene and is found within a 165-kbp region located upstream of rrnA on the circular genome.

Usefulness of ultrasonography in operation for pulmonary arteriovenous fistula

A 54-year-old woman presented with nonhereditary, bilateral pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas. One of them was small (10 x 10 mm) and embedded in the parenchyma; it was neither visible nor palpable from the pleural surface. We therefore used intraoperative ultrasonography and succeeded in detecting and enucleating the small fistula with minimal resection of the normal lung tissue.

In vivo evaluation of antiplatelet agents in gerbil model of carotid artery thrombosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Antiplatelet agents are widely used for the prevention of ischemic stroke. However, their effects on thrombus formation have rarely been evaluated in experimental animals in vivo. We introduce methods for evaluating antithrombotic action in gerbils and the effects of several antiplatelet agents on thrombus formation.

METHODS

In gerbils 8 to 10 weeks of age, we tightly compressed the unilateral common carotid artery for 2 minutes using the device prepared for this purpose to damage the endothelium. Thrombus formation in the damaged artery was observed directly through the microscope for 30 minutes. In six animals, the damaged artery was examined immediately after the experiments by electron microscopy. We studied the effects of antiplatelets by injecting the drugs intravenously 10 minutes before endothelial damage.

RESULTS

In control studies, 70% to 90% of animals developed thrombi after arterial compression. The electron microscopic examination displayed endothelial damage in association with platelet thrombus at the damaged site. Administration of 2 mg/kg aspirin, 3 and 10 mg/kg ticlopidine, and 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg ibudilast, a novel prostacyclin accelerator, decreased the frequency of thrombus formation significantly, whereas 20 mg/kg aspirin and 20 mg/kg dipyridamole failed to decrease thrombus formation.

CONCLUSIONS

This model is considered useful for evaluating the antithrombotic effects of drugs because of its feasibility and high reproducibility. The present results support the view that a lower dose of aspirin may prevent cerebral vascular accidents as efficiently as a higher dose of aspirin.

Structure and expression of the tobacco nuclear gene encoding RNA-binding protein RZ-1: the existence of an intron in the 3'-untranslated region

We have previously characterized a tobacco cDNA encoding a novel type RNA-binding protein (RZ-1), which contains a zinc finger motif in addition to a consensus sequence-type RNA-binding domain and is localized in the nucleus. Here we isolated its genomic clone from a Nicotiana sylvestris genomic library. Southern blot analysis suggested that RZ-1 is coded for by a single locus per haploid genome. Comparison of the cDNA and genomic sequences indicated that the RZ-1 gene contains two introns, one in the coding region and another in the 3'-untranslated region. RT-PCR and ribonuclease protection analyses showed that splicing of RZ-1 pre-mRNA occurs efficiently. The RZ-1 protein is actively synthesized in rapidly dividing tobacco cells, as demonstrated by immunoblot analysis.

Physical and gene maps of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC6301 genome

A physical map of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC6301 genome has been constructed with restriction endonucleases PmeI, SwaI, and an intron-encoded endonuclease I-CeuI. The estimated size of the genome is 2.7 Mb. On the genome 49 genes or operons have been mapped. Two rRNA operons are separated by 600 kb and transcribed oppositely.

[Impairment of benzodiazepine receptor in Parkinson's disease evaluated by 123I-iomazenil SPECT]

123I-iomazenil is a partial inverse agonist of central-type benzodiazepine receptor (BZR). Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) using 123I-iomazenil was performed in 15 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). SPECT images were obtained 3 hours after intravenous injection of 167 MBq of 123I-iomazenil. The ratio of 123I-iomazenil SPECT count in the cerebral cortex to that in the cerebellum was calculated as the binding potential index (BPI). The BPIs in the lower frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortices correlated with the motor disability evaluated by Yahr's stage. The BPI in the upper frontal cortex showed the same tendency as in the other regions but did not reach a significant level. These results suggest that BZR in the cerebral cortex of patients with PD may be impaired in proportion to the severity of the disease and that 123I-iomazenil SPECT is useful for evaluating the pathophysiological condition in PD.

Isolation of a novel RNA-binding protein and its association with a large ribonucleoprotein particle present in the nucleoplasm of tobacco cells

A cDNA encoding a protein with a consensus sequence-type RNA-binding domain (CS-RBD) has been isolated from a Nicotiana sylvestris cDNA library. The deduced protein (designated 'RZ-1') contains CS-RBD in its N-terminal half, arginine/aspartic acid repeats in its center and a glycine-rich-C-terminal region in which a zinc finger motif of the CCHC type is present. The corresponding gene appears to be expressed constitutively in all tobacco organs. Immunocytochemical assays revealed that RZ-1 is localized in the nucleoplasm of tobacco cultured cells. Glycerol gradient fractionation of tobacco nuclear lysates showed that RZ-1 is associated with a large ribonucleoprotein particle of around 60 S in size. Nucleic acid-binding assays indicated that RZ-1 binds preferentially to poly (G) and both the CS-RBD and glycine-rich region are necessary for its binding activity. A possible role of RZ-1 is discussed.

Hypercalcemia reduces renal medullary content of organic osmolytes

Hypercalcemia is often associated with a urinary concentration defect. During antidiuresis, organic osmolytes [sorbitol, myo-inositol, taurine, and glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC)] accumulate in the renal inner medulla and are essential for urinary concentration. To clarify the relationship between organic osmolytes and urinary concentration defect in hypercalcemia, examination was made of the effects of hypercalcemia on renal medullary osmolytes content. Rats were put in a state of hypercalcemia by a calcium-rich diet supplemented with CaCO3 (2.5%/wt) and daily s.c. injection of 1.25(OH)2VitD3 (1.6 micrograms/kg). They were killed on days 7 and 14. Hypercalcemia induced a urinary concentration defect. Myo-inositol, sorbitol, and GPC contents in the renal medulla were significantly reduced. Aldose reductase activity decreased significantly. Hypercalcemia would thus appear to directly affect renal medullary content of organic osmolytes, thereby modifying renal concentration ability.

Aldose reductase and myo-inositol transporter mRNA are independently regulated in rat renal medulla

During antidiuresis, renal papillary cells accumulate organic osmolytes preferentially over inorganic ions. It has been previously demonstrated that sodium infusion increased all of these organic osmolytes except myo-inositol (1). Conversely, urea infusion increased only glycerophosphorylcholine significantly. In addition to sodium and urea, potassium localized in tissue and urine influenced the composition of organic osmolytes. The goal of this study was to clarify how the level of mRNA of osmoregulatory protein is regulated by the extracellular solutes and how it affects the accumulation of organic osmolytes. To clarify the relationship between intra- or extracellular solutes and the regulation of Na/myo-inositol cotransporter and aldose reductase, mRNA of these osmo-regulatory proteins were determined in water-deprived sodium chloride-, potassium chloride-, and urea-loaded rats. Medullary content of sorbitol and myo-inositol, and aldose-reductase enzymatic activity were measured simultaneously in these animals. In water-deprived, sodium-loaded, and potassium-loaded rats, the inner medullary sorbitol content increased significantly in accordance with the rise in the enzymatic activity and the level of aldose reductase mRNA. In urea-loaded rats, both the sorbitol content and the level of aldose reductase mRNA were equal to that in hydrated rats. In the outer and inner medullary tissues, the level of myo-inositol transporter mRNA was increased in all hyperosmolality protocols, including urea infusion, which corresponded with the rise in myo-inositol content. In conclusion, potassium chloride infusion is as effective as water deprivation and sodium chloride infusion in raising the level of aldose reductase and myo-inositol transporter mRNA, whereas urea influenced only myo-inositol transporter. Although aldose reductase and myo-inositol transporter are osmoregulatory proteins in the renal medulla, the levels of aldose reductase and sodium-dependent myo-inositol transporter mRNA are regulated independently.

Insufficient expression of Fas antigen on helper T cells in Behçet's disease

AIMS

To investigate the lack of equilibrium in the regulatory mechanism of the immune system in Behçet's disease (BD), the expression of Fas antigen, an apoptosis related antigen, on peripheral blood lymphocytes from BD patients was analysed.

METHODS

Twenty one BD patients were the subjects in this study. Ten healthy adults were examined as controls. Cell surface antigens of lymphocytes were analysed with flow cytometry.

RESULTS

There was a significant (p < 0.01) difference in the proportion of CD4 positive cells with CD25 between BD patients with active uveoretinitis (27.6% (SD 8.4%)) and the controls (14.7% (2.3%)), but no significant difference in the proportion of CD4 or CD45RO positive cells with Fas. On the other hand, the proportion of CD8 positive cells with Fas was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in BD patients with active uveoretinitis (45.6% (11.6%)) than in those with inactive uveoretinitis (23.8% (8.1%)) or in the controls (24.4% (2.5%)). The proportion of CD19 positive cells with Fas was also significantly (p < 0.01) higher in BD patients with active uveoretinitis (13.0% (5.0%)) than in the controls (5.1% (2.1%)).

CONCLUSION

The insufficient expression of Fas on activated CD4 positive T cells and its high expression on CD8 positive T cells seem to play an important role in the chronic inflammation in BD.

[Development of quality of life questionnaire for patients with colorectal cancer in surgical area--a study of reliability and validity of Tokyo Yamabuki Forum Version]

We developed a new questionnaire in the surgical area based on a core quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for patients with gastrointestinal cancer. In this study, we investigated the validity and reliability of a QOL questionnaire (Tokyo Yamabuki Forum Version) for patients with colorectal cancer. The questionnaire was composed of 17 items including 5 scales (basic sensory scale, psychological scale, physiological scale, defection-related scale and active scale) and a face scale as an global scale. The time needed to answer questionnaires was expected to be around 7 minutes and the questionnaires should basically be answered by the patients themselves everyday in the hospital. The study was performed in 10 hospitals in the Tokyo area, and 394 samples collected from 21 patients with rectal and colonic cancers were analyzed. A number of respondents failed to answer the question "Do you feel your foods tasty?", so we judged this item inappropriate and deleted it from the analysis. Fifteen items, including 5 scales showed satisfactory internal consistency and construct validity in correlation and factor analyses. Performance status showed a low correlation between each item, each scale and the global scale, while SDS and STAI showed an inordinately negative correlation with the fundamental and physical scales. Especially, SDS revealed an extremely close correlation with the active scale, and STAI showed an excessive correlation with the psychological scale. In the time course of QOL under chemotherapy, reductions (aggravations) were observed in both the total score of 15 items and global scale within one week postoperatively, but after that recovered to preoperative levels at 2 weeks postoperatively. A tendency to QOL improvement was observed 2 weeks after starting chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy. QOL of 13 patients was measured over 3 months, and the longest term was 8 months. The results suggested that this QOL questionnaire has sufficient reliability and validity to be usable for patients with colorectal cancer in the surgical area and that this model is applicable for long-term QOL surveys and frequent measurement.

Visual and somatosensory evoked potentials in Parkinson's and Binswanger's disease

To compare subcortical involvement of Parkinson's disease (PD) with that of Binswanger's disease (BD), we examined visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in 29 patients with PD and 7 patients with BD and 11 control subjects. The patients with PD were divided into two groups: PD without dementia (nD-PD: n = 18) and PD with dementia (D-PD: n = 11). The D-PD patients showed significantly longer P100 latencies in VEPs compared with the nD-PD patients or controls. The P100 latencies were negatively correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in the PD patients. The BD patients showed significantly longer central conduction time (CCT) in SEPs (interpeak latency between N13 and N20 responses) compared with the nD-PD patients or controls. There was no correlation between CCT and MMSE score in the BD patients. These results suggest that PD has a predilection for sensory system involvement distinct from that of BD. In D-PD, the visual system seems more vulnerable than the somatosensory system, but almost the reverse is true of BD.

[Significance of high normal blood pressure in occupational health care]

In order to elucidate the significance of high normal blood pressure in occupational health care, a 5 year follow up survey was performed on 874 men with normal blood pressure and 225 men with high normal blood pressure. The major results of this survey were as follows. 1) Sixty-seven out of 874 with normal blood pressure (7.7%), and 78 out of 225 with high normal blood pressure (34.6%) became hypertensive in 5 years. 2) High normals started with a higher frequency of obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hyper gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidasemia compared with normal blood pressure at the start of the survey. 3) Logistic regression analysis showed that age, SBP, DBP were risk factors of developing hypertension from normal blood pressure, while only the amount of alcohol drinking applied for high normal blood pressure. 4) Logistic regression showed that high normal blood pressure, drinking, obesity and were significantly related to the development of hypertension. These results suggested that interventive activities for high normal blood pressure should be included in occupational health care because of a high tendency of underlying poor life style and a high risk of getting hypertension.

Multimodal evoked potentials in Alzheimer's disease and Binswanger's disease

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), visual evoked potentials (VEPs), and auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were studied in 15 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), eight patients with Binswanger's disease (BD), and 15 normal subjects. Patients with BD showed significant prolongation of the interpeak latency between N13 and N20 (N13-N20) and N20-P40 of SEPs as compared with the normal controls, whereas patients with AD only demonstrated significant prolongation of N20-P40. The interpeak latency between waves I and V of BAEPs in patients with both AD and BD was significantly longer than that of controls. There were no significant differences in P100 latency of VEPs among these three groups. Both groups with dementia showed significant prolongation of N200 and P300 latencies of ERPs compared with normal controls. In addition, patients with AD showed significant prolongation of P200 latency. We conclude that these two dementing diseases have different electrophysiologic features that may be related to their underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, the measurement of multimodal evoked potentials may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of AD and BD.

Sleeve superior segmentectomy of the right lower lobe for endobronchial neurinoma. Report of a case

A 30-year-old woman was found to have an obstructive intrapulmonary tumor at the right intermediate bronchus which caused atelectases of both right middle and lower lobes. The diagnosis of endobronchial neurinoma was made by bronchofiberscopic biopsy. Since the tumor was benign, we considered an operative procedure which would enable both complete resection of the tumor and preservation of the pulmonary function. By utilizing the techniques of sleeve superior segmentectomy of the right lower lobe and telescoping bronchial anastomosis, both objectives were achieved.