Antigenic cross-reactivity and sequence homology between Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans GroEL protein and human fibronectin

The immunologic cross-reactivity between human fibronectin and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans GroEL was examined. Analyses by SDS-PAGE/Western immunoblotting and ELISA showed that a polyclonal antibody directed against the purified GroEL protein of A. actinomycetemcomitans, but not against the Escherichia coli GroEL, cross-reacts with human fibronectin. No antigenic cross-reactivity was observed between anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans GroEL antibody and type IV collagen, another important constituent of the basement membrane. A comparative analysis of the amino acid sequences of A. actinomycetemcomitans GroEL and human fibronectin revealed eight instances of four-amino acid sequence homology between the two proteins. Six of these tetrapeptide sequences were also shared with E. coli GroEL, suggesting that the remaining two tetrapeptides, GQLI (Glycine-Glutamine-Leucine-Isoleucine) and TGLE (Threonine-Glycine-Leucine-Glutamic acid), may be associated with the epitope that the anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans GroEL antibody specifically recognizes. Reactivity between TGLE, but not GQLI, with anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans GroEL antibody was confirmed by a biospecific interaction analysis using a biosensor technology. Although additional investigations are required, the observed phenomenon may lead to an autoimmune response and thus contribute to tissue destruction during periodontitis.

Endotoxinemia and benzodiazepine-like substances in compensated cirrhotic patients: a randomized study comparing the effect of rifaximine alone and in association with a symbiotic preparation

Aim: The aim of the present investigation was to test study benzodiazepines (BZDs) profile in patients with viral cirrhosis under different combinations of rifaximine and of a novel symbiotic. Methods: Our study groups consisted of 30 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of HCV-related Child B liver cirrhosis. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups: rifaximine 400mg t.i.d. for 2 weeks; (B) SCM-III (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacteria in a ion- and vitamin-enriched medium, Named srl, Italy) 10ml t.i.d. for 2 weeks; (C) rifaximine 400mg t.i.d. for 1 week followed by SCM-III 10ml t.i.d. for 5 weeks. At weekly interval, blood samples were withdrawn to test BZD-like substances, ammonia and endotoxin. Results: Rifaximine treatment brought about a significant early drop of BZDs ( [Formula: see text] versus pre-treatment and versus control) till fourth week of observation when a gradual increase took place with return to pre-treatment values at the sixth week. Symbiotic treatment was comparably effective while given to patients but significantly elevated BZDs level were noted starting from the third week. Similar phenomena were noted for endotoxin and ammonia although symbiotic seemed more effective against endotoxin and rifaximine against ammonia increase. However, the sequential treatment rifaximine-symbiotic brought about a sustained normalization of BZDs, ammonia and endotoxin throughout the 6-week study. Conclusion: The present pilot study suggests that a rifaximine-symbiotic regimen could be an effective tool in compensated liver cirrhosis to limit some triggering factors of hepatic encephalopathy while being amenable to long-term use and devoid of significant side effects.

Transcriptome of mouse uterus by serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE): Comparison with skeletal muscle

The aim of this study was to identify the transcriptome of the normal mouse uterus by Serial Analysis of Gene Expression method. mRNA was extracted from the uterus and also from the gastrocnemius muscle of mice. Short sequences (tags), each one usually corresponding to a distinct transcript, were isolated and concatemerized into long DNA molecules which were cloned and sequenced. We detected 44,484 tags for the uterus and 42,518 tags for the muscle, representing 14,543 and 14,958 potential transcript species, respectively. Seventy-five and sixty-nine genes were expressed at more than 0.1%, thus corresponding to 37 and 34% of the mRNA population detected in the respective tissues. In both cases, the most highly expressed genes are especially involved in muscle contraction, energy metabolism, and protein synthesis. Compared to skeletal muscle, some differentially expressed genes in the uterus are likely to correspond to its specific reproductive functions. The majority of these genes remain to be characterized. More than 70% of the different tags detected in the uterus did not match any sequence in the public databases and can represent novel or poorly identified genes. This study is the first quantitative description of the transcriptome of the uterus.

Percutaneous and laparoscopic approaches of radiofrequency ablation treatment for liver cancer

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) have been gaining acceptance as a standard method in the management strategy of liver cancer, for reasons of minimally invasive techniques and effective results. We present our experience of RFA and MCT in patients with liver cancer, and analyze retrospectively the advantages and disadvantages of both of the percutaneous and laparoscopic approaches.

METHODS

Thirty-two consecutive patients (23 men and 9 women) with 19 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), 12 metastatic liver cancers, and recurrent cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC), were enrolled in this study. Out of these 32 patients, as a prior laparotomy, 19 underwent hepatectomy, colectomy, gastrectomy or cholecystectomy, and 15 were treated with the laparoscopic approach, 17 treated with the percutaneous approach, and 2 treated with the combined approach of those two. All of these procedures were carried out under general anesthesia with ultrasound guidance. Seven and 30 days after these procedures, an assessment helical computed tomography was done.

RESULTS

No sign of the residual tissues was noted in all patients except only one case.

CONCLUSIONS

The percutaneous approach was thought to be a more practical and less invasive method regardless previous laparotomy. For the laparoscopic approach, tumors located at the hepatic surface or margin were preferable candidates.

[Successful management of traumatic aortic valve insufficiency; report of a case]

A case of the successful management of traumatic aortic valve insufficiency is reported. A previously healthy 48-year-old man sustained multiple injuries in a traffic accident. One month after the accident, heart failure, derived from aortic insufficiency, was noted. Three years and 5 months after the injuries, aortic valve replacement was performed, and a large tear, approximately 7 mm in length, was found in the aortic right coronary cusp. This finding corresponded to the traumatic aortic valve insufficiency. Traumatic aortic valve insufficiency is rare, and early diagnosis may be difficult. Examinations for associated intracardiac injuries should be carefully undertaken.

[Study of surgical treatment with omental flap transposition for chronic empyema]

It is difficult to determine what kind of appropriate operations should be applied for which phase of chronic empyema would be administered, especially for a surgical management. We report that the postoperative outcomes of the treatment should be recommended for chronic empyema with the aid of omental flap transposition. Seven cases of chronic empyema (the averaged age was 66.1 +/- 7.5, 6 males and 1 female) in our hospital were operated during from June 1993 to January 2001. The disease-carrying time was 3 to 16 months and the inflammation findings at the admission were positive in all cases. The cause of chronic empyema was pneumonia (n = 3), plombage for tuberculosis (n = 2), and postlobectomy empyema (n = 2). As the first-stage of treatment for empyema cavity, intrathoracic tube drainage and lavage were performed for all cases. The operative procedures were described as below; one-stage operation with both thoracostomy and omental flap transposition was performed after the first-stage treatment (n = 2), simple thoracostomy (n = 1), and two-stage operation with thoracotomy and omental flap transposition (n = 4). Three of the 4 cases with two-stage operation could be completely treated for 1 month interval. However, the rest one case had not been able to be radically cured, which empyema had been extensively turned for the worse for one month after the two-stage operation. Thoracostomy had been redone, and it took 8 months to be cured. All cases could be finally recovered and discharged. On the priority of treatment for chronic empyema, at first, both thoracic tube drainage and thoracostomy should be performed as a first-stage operation, and if they could not be effective, after the combined inflammation was settled down, then the omental flap transposition should be considered as a two-stage operation.

Induction of interferon-inducible protein-10 and monokine induced by interferon-gamma from human endothelial cells infected with Influenza A virus

Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were infected with Influenza virus A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) in order to determine the role of endothelial cells in mediating inflammation induced upon virus infection. Structural proteins of the virus and mRNA of the M2 protein were detected in the infected cells, indicating that virus infection had occurred in HUVECs. The Influenza A virus-infected HUVECs showed elevated levels of gene expression of interferon (IFN)-inducible protein (IP)-10 and monokine induced by IFN-gamma (Mig), while heat-, formalin- and diethyl ether-inactivated viruses did not enhance the IP-10 and Mig gene expression. The results thus indicate that infection of live Influenza A virus is responsible for elevation of IP-10 and Mig gene expression. The elevation of IP-10 and Mig gene expression in infected HUVECs was not accompanied by the elevation of IFN-gamma gene expression, indicating that the elevation of IP-10 and Mig gene expression was independent of the IFN-gamma pathway.

A Japanese family with FEOM1-linked congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type 1 associated with spinal canal stenosis and refinement of the FEOM1 critical region

We identified a Japanese family with congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles, including 24 affected individuals through five generations. To determine their form of congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles, we performed clinical and linkage studies. DNA typing for linkage to the FEOM1 (12p11.2-q12) and FEOM3 (16qter) loci was performed on genomic DNA, using fluorescent microsatellite polymorphic markers. All affected individuals shared the common manifestations of congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type 1 including congenital ptosis, infraducted globe position in primary gaze, and upward gaze palsy in both eyes. Unexpectedly, we found apparent spinal canal stenosis in the cervical spine in all affected family members who were examined. Genetic analysis revealed linkage to the FEOM1 locus with a maximum lod score of 4.42 at theta of zero. One affected family member harbored a recombination event between D12S345 and D12S1692, narrowing the FEOM1 locus from the published 3-cM region flanked by D12S1584 and D12S1668 to a 2.1-cM region flanked by D12S345 and D12S1668. Thus, we have established that this family segregates congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type 1 as an autosomal dominant trait and that their disorder both maps to and refines the FEOM1 locus. This is the first clinical and genetic report of such a family in the Japanese population and the first report of spinal involvement in congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles.

[Clinical outcome of the coronary arterial bypass graft with inferior epigastric artery as a composite graft]

Based on a good long-patency of the internal thoracic arteries (ITA) in coronary arterial bypass graft (CABG), the postoperative early patency of the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) was evaluated by means of the proximal anastomosed types as a composite graft. Among patients performed with CABG during October in 1998 to June, 2000, 39 cases with the IEA composite graft were studied for this clinical outcome (31 males and 8 females, the averaged age was 66.4 +/- 8.0 year old). The preoperative diagnosis were done as acute myocardial infarction (4), old myocardial infarction with angina pectoris (8), effort angina (12), and unstable angina (15). The coronary disease was left main trunk disease (8), 3 vessels (22), and 2 vessels (9). The operation was performed with cold blood-cardioplegia (20 degrees C, blood-GIK liquor used) on cardiopulmonary bypass with a single atrial and aortic cannulation. The averaged extracorporeal circulation time and the aortic clamping one were done for 169 and 131 min, respectively. The bypass number was double (n = 5), triple (n = 10), quadruple (n = 16), and quintuple (n = 8). Total bypass number was 150 (the averaged bypass number was 3.7 +/- 0.9), and total anastomosal number was 145. The postoperative early-patency of IEA was 94.9% (37/39). The proximal sites of IEA were anastomozed to ITA with I-shaped end-to-end (n = 15), to ITA with Y-shaped end-to-side (n = 5), and to SVG with Y-shaped end-to-side (n = 19). Compared with the postoperative early-patency of I-shaped anastomosis to ITA and that of Y-shaped one to ITA or SVG, there was no significance among these cases (100%, 15/15 versus 91.7%, 22/24, p = 0.6738), however, that of Y-shaped one to ITA was significantly better than that of Y-shaped one to SVG (60%, 3/5 versus 100%, 19/19, p = 0.0488). It should be available for spreading of the anastomotic objective vessels that the IEA as a composite graft was used with the proximal site anastomozed to ITA by I-shaped end-to-end and with to SVG by Y-shaped end-to-side, which clinical outcome would sufficiently benefit to the patients.

Heavy-mass fermi liquid near a ferromagnetic instability in layered ruthenates

Low temperature magnetic, thermal, and transport measurements in Ca2-xSrxRuO4 clarify the appearance of a cluster glass phase, after the evolution of a nearly ferromagnetic heavy-mass Fermi liquid from the spin-triplet superconductor Sr2RuO4. As the Mott transition is approached across a 2nd-order structural transition, both the magnetization and specific heat decrease considerably while the transport scattering rate diverges. A metamagnetic transition to a highly spin polarized state, with a local moment S=1/2, is observed. We argue that an orbital rearrangement with Ca substitution changes itinerant ferromagnetism to antiferromagnetism of localized moments.

Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter rectus share a common antigen

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of antigens with immunological cross-reactivity in periodontopathogenic bacteria and Helicobacter pylori, the pathogen associated with gastritis and peptic ulcers in human.

MATERIALS AND METHODS/RESULTS

Among the putative periodontopathogens tested (Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Campylobacter rectus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Treponema denticola), cross-reactive bands were only detected in C. rectus by SDS-PAGE/Western immunoblotting analysis using a polyclonal antibody directed to H. pylori cells. One of these cross-reactive antigens, a 64-kDa band antigen, also reacted with a monoclonal antibody directed to the human heat shock protein (HSP) 60. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this C. rectus protein revealed a high degree of homology with corresponding regions of other HSPs belonging to the HSP60 family, indicating that the 64-kDa antigen was a GroEL protein. The nucleotide sequence of the C. rectus GroEL protein coded for a 547 amino acid protein with a predicted size of 57.8 kDa. Comparison of the alignment of the deduced amino acid sequence of the GroEL protein of C. rectus with that of H. pylori showed a high degree of similarity throughout its length (76.8%). GroEL protein from C. rectus possessed the ability to stimulate production of IL-6 by a confluent monolayer of human gingival epithelial cells and was cytotoxic when used at a high concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals an immunological relationship between H. pylori and C. rectus, and clearly indicates that one of the shared antigens is a GroEL protein possessing a biological activity that might play a role in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease.

Detection of Cry1Ab protein in gastrointestinal contents but not visceral organs of genetically modified Bt11-fed calves

The fate of insecticidal Cry1Ab protein was examined in the gastrointestinal (GI) contents and visceral organs of calves fed insect-resistant genetically modified maize Bt11. Twelve cross-breed (Japanese black x Holstein) calves were fed either Bt11 or non-genetically modified isoline maize for 90 d. Peripheral blood, rumen juice and feces were collected fortnightly, and GI contents and visceral organs were collected at slaughter at the end of the experiment. Samples were checked for Cry1Ab protein by immunological methods, and visceral organs were examined pathologically. Trace amounts of Cry1Ab protein were detected in the GI contents but not in the liver, spleen, kidney, muscle or mesenteric lymph nodes. No lesions were observed pathologically. Cry1Ab protein in the feces was degraded quickly at atmospheric temperature. These results suggested that only a trace amount of Cry1Ab protein survived passage through the GI tract but was not transferred to liver, spleen, kidney, lymph nodes or muscles.

Structure-activity relationships among zearalenone and its derivatives based on bovine neutrophil chemiluminescence

We compared the effects of zearalenone (ZEN), an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi, and its derivatives--a- and b-zearalenols (Zel), zearalanone (ZAN), and a- and b-zearalanols (Zal)--on bovine neutrophils in vitro by using chemiluminescence, a bactericidal parameter. ZEN, a-Zel, and b-Zel suppressed luminol-dependent, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-elicited chemiluminescence at a concentration of 10(-5) M, whereas ZAN, a-Zal and b-Zal did not. The suppressive zearalenols are derived from ZEN through reduction of the C6'-ketone into hydroxide, whereas the non-suppressive ZAN and Zal group possesses a hydrogenated C1'-2' bond in place of the double bond adopted in the macrolide ring or ZEN and the zearalenols. In consideration of these structure-activity relationships among ZEN and its derivatives, we conclude that possession of the C1'-2' double bond is essential for zearalenones to induce neutrophil suppression.

Regulation of haptoglobin secretion by recombinant bovine cytokines in primary cultured bovine hepatocytes

We examined the regulation of haptoglobin (Hp) secretion in primary cultured bovine hepatocytes using recombinant bovine (rb) proinflammatory cytokines. The concentrations of Hp in the supernatant of cultured hepatocytes after incubation with rb interleukin (IL)-6, rb tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, rbIL-1 beta or rbIFN-gamma alone or with combinations of two of these cytokines were measured by ELISA. The rbIL-6, rbTNF-alpha and rbIL-1 beta increased Hp synthesis, but rbIFN-gamma did not, and rbIL-6 was the most effective Hp inducer among these cytokines. The Hp secretion was accelerated synergistically by combined treatment with rbIL-6 and rbTNF-alpha, whereas it remained unchanged with a combination of rbIL-6 and rbIL-1 beta. In contrast, the combination of rbIL-6 and rbIFN-gamma downregulated Hp secretion. In conclusion, IL-6 is the principal cytokine in Hp secretion in bovine hepatocytes in vitro, and its activity may be regulated by other cytokines.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3 in experimental atherosclerotic plaques

In atherosclerotic lesions, matrix metalloproteinases produced by foam cells (macrophages) are thought to increase plaque instability, promote plaque rupture, by degradating extracellular matrix. To investigate the relationship between the expression of these proteinases and the histologic appearance of atheromas, immunohistochemical analysis of matrix metalloproteinase 3 and cell-type markers was performed in atherosclerotic plaques induced in rabbit abdominal aortas by high-cholesterol diets and mechanical injury. In addition to an antibody against matrix metalloproteinase 3, RAM-11 and HHF-35 were used to detect macrophages and smooth muscle cells, respectively. Matrix metalloproteinase 3 was expressed diffusely within the plaques with a fibrofatty histologic pattern. In plaques with foam cell accumulation, matrix metalloproteinase 3 was seen in areas rich in foam cells and the smooth muscle cells near the lumen. In the plaques with fewer macrophages, the proteinase was expressed only in such smooth muscle cells. Matrix metalloproteinase 3 was expressed in the smooth muscle cells in plaques of all histologic types, and macrophages also expressed the metalloproteinase when present in significant numbers. These findings suggest that macrophage accumulation plays an important pathophysiologic role in causing the instability of atherosclerotic lesions by increasing the levels of matrix metalloproteinase 3.