Acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a report of two cases

In the past two years, two women with acute fatty liver of pregnancy have presented at this hospital. Both patients survived, but their babies died; published rates for both mother and fetus are up to 85% mortality with this condition. Both patients presented with symptoms and signs of impending hepatic failure including jaundice, elevated aminotransferases, leukocytosis, hepatic encephalopathy and disseminated intravascular coagulation during the third trimester. Diagnosis was established by liver biopsy in both cases. The unusual good outcome for both women can be attributed to early recognition and prompt delivery, once diagnosis was considered.

Eosinophils from patients with blood eosinophilia express transforming growth factor beta 1

The infiltration of eosinophils into tissues during pathologic responses is often associated with extracellular matrix alterations such as fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a well-characterized multifunctional cytokine known to exert potent effects on the extracellular matrix. In this report, we showed the production of TGF-beta 1 by human eosinophils from patients with blood eosinophilia. Northern blot analysis using RNA isolated from eosinophils purified from a patient with the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) detected the 2.5-kb TGF-beta 1 transcript. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry of leukocytes from two patients with HES and two patients with blood eosinophilia localized TGF-beta 1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein to eosinophils. No other cell type contained TGF-beta 1 mRNA by in situ hybridization, whereas other leukocytes contained detectable TGF-beta 1 protein by immunohistochemistry. Eosinophils from four normal donors contained little or no detectable TGF-beta 1 protein by immunohistochemistry, whereas eosinophils from two of these four normal donors labeled weakly for TGF-beta 1 mRNA by in situ hybridization. These results show that eosinophils in the peripheral blood of patients with blood eosinophilia can express TGF-beta 1, but that eosinophils in the blood of normal donors contained little or no TGF-beta 1.

Neuropsychopharmacological studies of a Ca2+ channel blocker on the modulation of brain Ca2+ mobilization of spontaneously hypertensive rats under mild stress

The psychotropic effects of a calcium channel blocker (Ca antagonist) were examined in behavioral studies following changes in 45Ca2+ influx in synaptosomal fractions of brain tissues using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Under a novel circumstance utilizing 85-dB noise, SHR demonstrated hyperactivity and a significant increase in 45Ca2+ uptake into synaptosomal fractions of frontal cortex (FC) and hippocampus. Such hyperactivity may be caused not only be seeking behavior but also by stress-induced anxiety. Such hyperactivity was significantly blocked after 10 days of repeated administration of diazepam (DZP), tandospirone (SM-3997; SM), a 5-HT1A anxiolytic, and nitrendipene (Nit), a Ca antagonist. Moreover, repeated administration of DZP, SM and Nit reduced the maximum binding density of 3H-PN200-110 and reduced the 45Ca2+ uptake in FC of SHR. In hippocampus, midbrain, hypothalamus and striatum, the increased ratio of 45Ca2+ uptake was reduced after repeated administration of Nit or SM. These results suggest that the hyperactivity induced by this novel circumstances was reduced by DZP, SM and Nit and may be attributed to inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca channel activities in FC. In addition, Nit may induce anti-anxiety through the modulation of Ca2+ mobilization in the central nervous system.

Localization of transforming growth factor-alpha in adult Syrian hamster tissues

Using the cheek pouch of the Syrian hamster as an experimental model for oral carcinogenesis, it has been shown that the expression of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) is consistently associated with the malignant transformation process. We have recently shown that production of TGF-alpha has been localized to normal hamster oral epithelium and bone marrow eosinophils. In this study we investigated the production of this cytokine in other normal hamster adult tissues. By using an EGF-radioreceptor assay, immunohistochemistry, Northern blot analysis, and in situ hybridization we have now further detected the presence of TGF-alpha mRNA and/or protein in the kidney, stomach, and pancreas of normal adult hamster. Together with the previously reported detection of TGF-alpha in oral mucosa and bone marrow eosinophils, these adult normal tissue/cellular sources can serve as sites of TGF-alpha production. The availability of hamster specific reagents (cDNA and monoclonal antibodies) and the delineation of the various adult tissues that could produce TGF-alpha make the Syrian hamster a suitable model for the study of how this multifunctional cytokine can influence normal and pathological processes.

[Comparison of rapid latex and conventional methods for the identification of Staphylococcus aureus]

Rapid latex agglutination assay, staphaurex (Wellcome Diagnostics) was compared with the tube coagulase, thermo-stable nuclease, deoxyribonuclease and mannitol fermentation test for the identification of Staphylococcus aureus. A total of 277 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, 201 Staphylococcus epidermidis, and 25 Staphylococcus saprophyticus were tested. The results showed that sensitivities were: staphaurex, 99.6%; rabbit plasma, 99.6%; human plasma, 99.2%; thermostable nuclease, 100%; deoxyribonuclease, 100%; mannitol fermentation, 98.9%; as for specificities results showed: staphaurex, 96.6%; rabbit plasma 100%; human plasma, 100%; thermo-stable nuclease, 98.7%; deoxyribonuclease 95.7%; mannitol fermentation, 91.1%; respectively. In our study, staphaurex is recommended because it is simple to operate, save in time and economic in cost.

[Staphylococcal colonization rate on neonatal nares and umbilical cord in a newborn nursery]

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most important gram positive pathogens found in a five-year study (1985-1989) of nosocomial infection in this hospital. They caused 56.2% of all nosocomial infections in this newborn nursery, particularly skin infections. To determine the reasons, and to decrease effectively the neonatal staphylococcal colonization rate, three different disinfection methods were selected for management of neonatal umbilical cords. A total of 1578 swabs from neonatal nares and umbilical cords were collected. During the first period no disinfectant was applied to the cord after bathing the baby. Beta-iodine in alcohol and bacitracin ointment were used for the second and the third periods, respectively. The result showed a significant difference (P less than 0.05) in staphylococcal colonization rate on neonatal umbilical cord using different disinfectants even after the first day. The same result for neonatal nares was also found, after infants had been in the nursery for two days. During the third period, no case of skin infection was found. Most Staphylococcus aureus isolated were resistant to ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline and penicillin. The percentage of this antibiogram found in neonatal nares and umbilical cords was 44% and 56% respectively. Besides nosocomial infection control and surveillance of medical personnel, environment, materials, instruments and isolation techniques, it is really necessary to choose an effective disinfectant (bacitracin ointment is recommended) to reduce the staphylococcal colonization in newborn nurseries.

The eosinophil as a cellular source of transforming growth factor alpha in healing cutaneous wounds

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) are known to promote the healing of epithelial wounds. Eosinophils are present in healing wounds and have recently been shown to be capable of producing TGF-alpha. This investigation was done to determine if eosinophils infiltrated into healing wounds are capable of expressing this cytokine. Using the rabbit cutaneous open wound model, the study found that the eosinophil is one of the predominant cell types in the healing wound, beginning from the seventh day and thereafter. Most surprisingly, the majority of the eosinophils present in the healing wound were found to contain TGF-alpha mRNA and protein by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Thus it is proposed that the delivery of TGF-alpha by eosinophils to epithelial wound healing sites represents a normal body mechanism whereby this multifunctional cytokine can accelerate the wound healing process.

Cellular sources of transforming growth factor-alpha in human oral cancer

Aberrant expression of TGF-alpha is associated with human malignant oral epithelium. Experiments were initiated to determine the cellular sources of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in human oral cancer. Ten freshly resected human oral cancers and four specimens of normal human oral epithelium were studied by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Tissues were probed with 35S-labeled sense and antisense riboprobes to (i) human TGF-alpha (hTGF-alpha), (ii) human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to determine the distribution of TGF-alpha responsive cells, and (iii) histone H3 to examine TGF-alpha and/or EGFR's possible contribution to altered proliferation in transformed epithelium. Results of our experiments showed that TGF-alpha mRNA could be detected in normal and transformed human oral epithelium. More surprising, we have identified the major source of TGF-alpha mRNA to be the infiltrating eosinophils. A monoclonal antibody to the mature human TGF-alpha peptide stained similar areas in normal and malignant specimens. Eosinophils associated with tumors exhibited positive cytoplasmic immunostaining for TGF-alpha protein. Labeling of EGFR mRNA in human oral epithelium demonstrated uniform labeling of basal layers in normal, hyperplastic, and mildly dysplastic epithelium. In severely dysplastic epithelium and carcinomas (particularly moderate to poorly differentiated types), cellular levels of EGFR mRNA were significantly higher. The profile of altered cellular levels of EGFR mRNA correlated well with the profile of altered proliferation as indicated by H3 mRNA labeling. We hypothesize that the overproduction of EGFR mRNA in tumor epithelium--together with the localized delivery of high amounts of TGF-alpha by eosinophils at tumor-developing sites--is responsible for the increased proliferation of the tumor epithelium.

[Survey on oral hygiene status in children with Down's syndrome and mental retardation]

The purpose of this study was to compare the periodontal condition of children with Down's syndrome and other types of mental retardation with normal children. We used two indexes: a plaque index and a gingival index. By means of the student t-test and ANOVA statistical procedure, we found the following. Mentally retarded children had a higher average intelligence than children with Down's syndrome, and significant differences existed among the three groups on both the plaque index and the gingival index, while sex had no influence on these results.

Molecular cloning of the complementary DNA encoding for the hamster TGF-alpha mature peptide

The expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) is consistently associated with the malignant transformation of oral mucosal tissues in both hamster and human. The cheek pouch of the Syrian hamster represents an ideal model to elucidate the role of TGF-alpha in epithelial cancer development. A prerequisite for such investigations at the molecular level is to obtain hamster-specific TGF-alpha molecular probes. Here we report the successful cloning of the hamster TGF-alpha cDNA from a hamster oral cancer cell line (HCPC-1) by the polymerase chain reaction technique using synthetic oligonucleotide primers based on human TGF-alpha cDNA sequence. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the newly isolated hamster cDNA encoding the portion of the mature TGF-alpha peptide revealed that it is 92.6% (139/150) homologous to that of the rat and 93.3% (140/150) homologous to that of the human sequences. The predicted hamster TGF-alpha amino acid sequence is 96% (48/50) similar to that of human, while 94% (47/50) similar to that of rat. Using this hamster TGF-alpha cDNA as a probe, molecular hybridization experiments revealed that it detects hamster TGF-alpha mRNA with approximately 40 times and approximately 5 times greater sensitivity than similar probes from human and rat origin respectively. This hamster TGF-alpha cDNA should be of great value as a probe to evaluate the role of TGF-alpha in the normal and pathological processes using the hamster as an experimental model.

Production of transforming growth factor alpha by hamster eosinophils

Previously it was demonstrated that malignant transformation of the Syrian hamster cheek pouch mucosa is associated with the expression of TGF-alpha. Therefore in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the cellular sources of TGF-alpha production in this model system. Surprisingly one cell type in the inflammatory infiltrate present in the connective tissue adjacent to the transformed epithelium represented a major source of TGF-alpha mRNA. Detailed analysis of these cells revealed that they were eosinophils. In addition to TGF-alpha mRNA, about 40% of the eosinophils associated with the oral tumors exhibited TGF-alpha product reactive with a monoclonal antibody against the C terminus of the mature TGF-alpha peptide. Normal hamster bone marrow eosinophils also exhibited TGF-alpha mRNA and product by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. These results suggest that the eosinophil represents a biologically significant source of TGF-alpha.

Shrimp hepatopancreatic deoxyribonuclease--purification and characterization as well as comparison with bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease

Deoxyribonuclease (DNase), isolated from shrimp hepatopancreas by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-100, phenyl-Sepharose and hydroxyapatite, is homogeneous as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The metal ion requirements and the pH-activity optima of shrimp DNase are very similar to those of bovine DNase. Both shrimp and bovine DNases are sensitive to iodoacetate inactivation under the same condition. The active shrimp DNase molecule is a monomer of Mr 44,000, approx. 13,000 larger than the Mr of bovine DNase. Shrimp DNase is rich in glutamic acid, glycine and half-cystine. The single polypeptide chain of shrimp DNase is highly cross-linked by 18 disulfides as compared to only two disulfides in bovine DNase. In contrast to bovine DNase, shrimp DNase is not a glycoprotein, is devoid of the activity against p-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonate (a synthetic substrate for bovine DNase), and resists to inactivation by beta-mercaptoethanol or trypsin under the Ca2(+)-free condition at pH 8. Shrimp DNase shows an isoelectric point of 4.06 on the thin-layer isoelectric focusing and rapidly loses its activity at pH below 5.

Human eosinophils express transforming growth factor alpha

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) is a pleuripotential cytokine with diverse biological effects, including the ability to influence the proliferation of normal cells or neoplastic epithelial cells. Eosinophils are a subset of granulocytes that normally enter the peripheral tissues, particularly those beneath gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital epithelium, where they reside in close proximity to the epithelial elements. In this study, we demonstrate that the great majority of eosinophils infiltrating the interstitial tissues adjacent to two colonic adenocarcinomas and two oral squamous cell carcinomas labeled specifically by in situ hybridization with a 35S-riboprobe for human TGF-alpha (hTGF-alpha). No other identifiable leukocytes in these lesions contained detectable hTGF-alpha mRNA. We also examined leukocytes purified from a patient with the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. 80% of these eosinophils, but none of the patient's neutrophils or mononuclear cells, were positive for hTGF-alpha mRNA by in situ hybridization, and 55% of these eosinophils were positive by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody directed against the COOH terminus of the mature hTGF-alpha peptide. Finally, the identification of the purified eosinophil-associated transcript as hTGF-alpha was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction product restriction enzyme analysis followed by Southern blot hybridization. In contrast to eosinophils from the patient with hypereosinophilic syndrome, the peripheral blood eosinophils from only two of seven normal donors had detectable TGF-alpha mRNA and none of these eosinophils contained immunohistochemically detectable TGF-alpha product. Taken together, these findings establish that human eosinophils can express TGF-alpha, but suggest that the expression of TGF-alpha by eosinophils may be under microenvironmental regulation. Demonstration of TGF-alpha production by tissue-infiltrating eosinophils and the eosinophils in the hypereosinophilic syndrome identifies a novel mechanism by which eosinophils might contribute to physiological, immunological, and pathological responses.

Use of intracellular H3 messenger RNA as a marker to determine the proliferation pattern of normal and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-transformed hamster oral epithelium

One of the major goals in cancer research and diagnosis is to identify in a tissue the population of actively dividing cells and their pattern of growth and to differentiate the proliferation patterns of normal and transformed tissues. We now describe a method for determining the proliferation pattern of any tissue (normal, diseased, or transformed), applicable in any mammalian species. This method is based on the fact that the transcription of histone H3 gene in mammalian cells is tightly coupled to DNA synthesis during cellular division. Resting cells or cells that just exited the cell cycle will have no detectable H3 mRNA. The presence of H3 mRNA in a cell is thus a good indicator of its proliferation status. We carried out in situ hybridization of H3 mRNA in hamster oral epithelia exhibiting a variety of altered growth patterns as a consequence of exposure to the chemical carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to demonstrate the usefulness of this technique. This application does not require in vitro manipulation of tissues nor does it require the prior administration of a tracer. The proliferation pattern at a single moment in time instead of an accumulated pattern over a period of time is produced. Finally, since the technique of in situ hybridization can be applied to archival tissues, retrospective studies can be done. This application should find usefulness in a wide variety of experimental research settings, particularly cancer research.

[Investigation on the relation between hepatitis B virus knowledge and needle-stick injury of hospital personnel]

The purposes of this study are: (1) to understand the knowledge of Hepatitis B virus known by hospital personnel. (2) to investigate the injury caused by accidental needle stick and its frequency. (3) to identify those personnel and job activities at high risk of needlestick injuries, to assess current medical management of these injuries in our hospital, and also to develop rational guidelines for prevention, based on the findings. 510 effective questionnaires were collected and analyzed by SPSS analytical system. The result of the present study showed that 77.1% hospital personnel had been experienced by needlestick injury. Most injuries occurred during recapping the needle after use and disposal of used needle. 92.7% hospital personnel felt that hospital should provide all the expense needed for Hepatitis B virus immunoglobulin while needle-stick injuries happened within the hospital. 86.3% of them felt that hospital should establish a special committee to evaluate and manage all the needle-stick injuries events. This study also showed that hospital personnel who have been working less than five years and their age between 21-30 can pay more attention to this kind of event. Dietitian and doctor got higher score in this study. Hospital personnel who were infected by Hepatitis B virus scored higher than uninfected one. In conclusion, we recommend not recapping used needles and making widely available and promoting use of an efficient needle disposal system. And we hope that those who have never been infected by Hepatitis B virus should accept vaccination as soon as possible.

A rapid method to determine proliferation patterns of normal and malignant tissues by H3 mRNA in situ hybridization

A general method applicable for the determination of any mammalian tissue's proliferative pattern is described. This method determines the cellular mRNA level of a proliferation-dependent gene, histone H3, by in situ hybridization. The cell-cycle S-phase-specific expression of this highly conserved ubiquitous cellular gene, and the lack of it in resting cells, permits the unambiguous identification of cycling cells in any tissues, normal or diseased. This method can be conveniently coupled with routine biopsy and could be streamlined for a central laboratory with results obtainable in 2 days. Furthermore, this procedure works successfully on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections, thus allowing retrospective studies of biopsies or autopsy materials.

Detection of transforming growth factor-alpha messenger RNA in normal and chemically transformed hamster oral epithelium by in situ hybridization

We have recently demonstrated the consistent detection of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) in chemically transformed hamster oral tumors. By Northern blot analysis, no TGF-alpha mRNA can be detected in normal cheek pouch mucosa. The consistent expression of TGF-alpha associated with the malignant transformation in the well-defined hamster oral cancer model prompted us to hypothesize that the aberrant expression of this important cellular gene could be related to a specific stage of epithelial alteration. In situ hybridization was used to test this hypothesis. We now report that by in situ hybridization we can detect TGF-alpha mRNA in normal hamster oral epithelium and also at all stages of transformation. In all epithelium, labeling of TGF-alpha mRNA in the basal layer is more pronounced than that observed in the spinous and squamous layers. There is a significant increase of TGF-alpha mRNA labeling early in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anathracene-induced oral carcinogenesis. This increase is associated with morphological changes of epithelial hyperplasia or dysplasia. Although lesions exhibiting full-thickness epithelial dysplasia (carcinoma in situ) showed more labeling of TGF-alpha mRNA than do areas of lesser dysplasia, the transition to full-fledged papillary or invasive squamous cell carcinoma is not associated with further elevations of TGF-alpha expression.

Inhibition of growth and development of the transplantable C-6 glioma cells inoculated in rats by retinoids and carotenoids

Experimental data were provided to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of retinoids (retinal, retinoic acid, retinyl acetate and retinyl palmitate) and carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene and crocetin) on the growth and development of the C-6 glioma cells inoculated in rats. In the pretreatment experiments, most of these compounds could prolong the latency period of T50 (time for 50% tumor incidence). At week 7, the growth inhibition was 57-67% (P less than 0.02) with carotenoids and 40-55% (P less than 0.05) with retinoids. In the post-treatment experiments, the growth inhibition was 30-55% (P less than 0.05) with carotenoids and 21-42% (P less than 0.05) with retinoids. No significant hepatotoxic effect was observed in all treated groups as indicated by the constant levels of serum enzymes (e.g. aspartate amino-transferase, alanine amino-transferase and alkaline phosphatase) and bilirubin. The mechanisms of tumor inhibition through the enhancement of anti-tumor immunity by both carotenoids and retinoids were discussed.