Primary esophageal T cell lymphoma

A 60 year-old woman with primary esophageal T-cell lymphoma in clinical stage I(E)B is presented. Immunohistologic examination showed tumor cells to be positive for anti-LCA, anti-UCHL-1, anti-MT-1, anti-CD3 antibodies, and negative for anti-L26 antibody. Disappearance of dysphagia and improvement in esophageal findings were noted after 65 Gy of irradiation, and biopsy specimens from the esophagus revealed no malignancy. Primary esophageal lymphoma is extremely rare, and this T-cell lymphoma is only the fourth case reported in the literature.

1H-NMR studies of the interaction of dental adhesive monomer, 4-META with calcium

Our objective was to determine whether high-resolution proton-nuclear magnetic resonance (500 MHz) could be utilized for detection of ionic binding interaction of the 4-META resin system with calcium derived from hydroxyapatite. The stability of 4-META in aqueous medium was studied, findings indicated that 4-META was rapidly converted to 4-MET, a hydrate product of 4-META in 10% D2O/DMSO-d6. The 1H-NMR signals of the methacryloyloxyethoxy group of 4-MET remained intact following the addition of both monocalcium phosphate (MCP) and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (brushite) solution, whereas those of its trimellitic portion were markedly shifted upfield depending on the phosphate concentration. The shielding effect followed by upfield shifts was due to the localization of electron density surrounding the carboxylate anions that were dissociated by the interaction with calcium counter cation. The shielding effect of 4-MET with brushite was larger than that with MCP. An ionic interaction of 4-MET derived from 4-META with calcium was demonstrated.

Low-dose cytarabine-induced hepatic and renal dysfunction in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome

We report a 49-year-old female patient with secondary myelodysplastic syndrome who developed liver dysfunction and acute renal failure caused by low-dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) therapy. Treatment of low-dose Ara-C has widely been used for acute myelogeous leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, and it is thought to be a low toxicity except for myelosuppression. The patient complained of a transient adverse reaction in the second and third course of therapy. This rare case indicates that careful observation should be carried out during low-dose Ara-C therapy in view of allergic reactions.

Mechanical stress-induced Ca2+ entry and Cl- current in cultured human aortic endothelial cells

A fluid stream through a microtube was applied to cultured human aortic endothelial cells to investigate the endothelial responses of both the ionic currents and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) to mechanical stimulation. The fluid stream induced an increase in [Ca2+]i that was dependent on both the flow rate and the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. Gd3+ and niflumic acid inhibited the fluid stream-induced increase in [Ca2+]i, whereas Ba2+ and tetraethylammonium ion exhibited no effect. The fluid stream-induced [Ca2+]i increase was accompanied by the activation of an inward current at -52.8 mV. The reversal potential of the fluid stream-induced current shifted to positive potentials when the external Cl- concentration was reduced but was not affected by variation of the external Na+ concentration. During the exposure to the fluid stream, [Ca2+]i was voltage dependent, i.e., depolarization decreased [Ca2+]i. We therefore conclude that the fluid stream-induced current is largely carried by Cl- and that the Cl- current may thus play a role in modulating the Ca2+ influx by altering the membrane potential of endothelial cells.

Free radical scavenging activity in the nonenzymatic fraction of human saliva: a simple DPPH assay showing the effect of physical exercise

Free-radicals and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated as being major damaging species in pathology and they have been widely investigated. Using 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), we estimated total free radical scavenging activity in the low-molecular-weight nonenzymatic fraction (LMNEF) of human whole saliva. The activity of the whole saliva and serum were measured in terms of the rate of decrease in the absorbance at 517 nm in a 40% ethanol DPPH solution (pH 7.4) at room temperature. The DPPH activity of saliva and serum showed a significant linear relationship. The mean DPPH activities of saliva from 257 subjects aged 4-72 was found to be 0.389+/-.190 micromol/ml and bore no relation to age or sex. The activity in saliva of 86 subjects aged 4-11 was significantly different before and after exhaustive aerobic dance exercise for 1 hr. Physical exercise markedly decreased free radical scavenging activity in whole saliva of children. On the basis of the above results, we concluded that DPPH is useful for evaluating the total antioxidant capacity of LMNEF of human saliva.

DSC and NMR spectroscopic studies of the interaction between camphorated phenol and phospholipid liposomes

To clarify the interaction mechanism of biological activities induced by camphorated phenol (CP), the interactions between CP and phospholipid liposomes [dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes, dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes and DMPC/dilauloyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DLEA) liposomes] were studies by DSC and NMR spectroscopy. CP exhibited a larger DSC phase transition properties [shift of phase transition temperature to a lower temperature and decrease in Height/Half-Height Width (H/HHW) of DSC peak)] than phenol in the various liposome systems. It was concluded from the NMR studies that CP is highly incorporated into the DPPC bilayer, the 1H and 13C signals of phenol in a complex between phenol and camphor being markedly broadened but shielded in the presence of DPPC liposomes. It was clear that CP is incorporated as a complex into the lipid bilayers.

Fibronectin in saliva inhibits Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbria-induced expression of inflammatory cytokine gene in mouse macrophages

The aim of this study was to examine whether fibronectin in saliva plays a regulatory role in Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbria-mediated pathogenesis in adult periodontal disease. Our previous study demonstrated that fibronectin is one of the binding proteins of P. gingivalis fimbrillin. In the present study, we observed that fibronectin in saliva binds specifically to the fimbrillin. The fibronectin content in saliva of adult periodontal patients was significantly lower than that of healthy subject. In addition, the inhibitory action of salivary fibronectin from adult periodontal patients toward P. gingivalis fimbria-induced expression of the neutrophil chemoattractant KC gene in mouse macrophages was clearly weak compared with that of the fibronectin from healthy subjects. These results suggest that fibronectin in saliva plays an important role as a regulator in the pathogenesis of P. gingivalis fimbriae in adult periodontal disease.

A rare case of bilateral supernumerary teeth in the mandibular incisors

This paper describes a rare case of bilateral completely erupted supernumerary teeth found in the incisor region of the mandible of a 19-year-old Japanese female.

[The effect of continuous and intravenous application of carteolol chloride on tissue blood flow in the rabbit optic nerve head]

The effect of systemic application of carteolol, which induces almost the same plasma carteolol level as obtained by a long-term instillation on rabbit eyes, on the tissue blood flow in the optic nerve head (ONH) was investigated in rabbits. The plasma carteolol levels in 27 rabbits which received 3-week instillation, intravenous injection (10, 20, 30 micrograms/kg), or continuous intravenous injection (2.5, 5, 20, 40, 80 micrograms/kg/hr) were measured by gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The plasma level with 3-week instillation was determined as 5.55 ng/ml and a continuous intravenous injection (5 micrograms/kg/hr) caused nearly the same plasma level. The intravenous injection of this dose significantly increased the ONH blood flow which was determined by the hydrogen clearance method, compared with controls from 30 minutes to 2 hours after the injection (n = 10). The vascular resistance in ONH was thought to be reduced because mean blood pressure and intraocular pressure (n = 6) were not significantly changed. The results suggest that the plasma carteolol level in rabbits after a long-term instillation can increase ONH blood flow due to a decreased vascular resistance.

Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae use beta2 integrin (CD11/CD18) on mouse peritoneal macrophages as a cellular receptor, and the CD18 beta chain plays a functional role in fimbrial signaling

In this study, we demonstrate that Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae use molecules of beta2 integrin (CD11/CD18) on mouse peritoneal macrophages as cellular receptors and also show that the beta chain (CD18) may play a functional role in signalling for the fimbria-induced expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) genes in the cells. Using a binding assay with 125I-labeled fimbriae, we observed that fimbrial binding to the macrophages was inhibited by treatment with CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, or CD18 antibody but not by that with CD29 antibody. Western blot assays showed that the fimbriae bound to molecules of beta2 integrin (CD11/CD18) on the macrophages. Furthermore, Northern blot analyses showed that the fimbria-induced expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha genes in the cells was inhibited strongly by CD18 antibody treatment and slightly by CD11a, CD11b, or CD11c antibody treatment. Interestingly, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), a ligand of CD11/CD18, inhibited fimbrial binding to the cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, ICAM-1 clearly inhibited the fimbria-induced expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha genes in the cells. However, such inhibitory action was not observed with laminin treatment. These results suggest the importance of beta2 integrin (CD11/CD18) as a cellular receptor of P. gingivalis fimbriae in the initiation stage of the pathogenic mechanism of the organism in periodontal disease.

The induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by arsenic trioxide in lymphoid neoplasms

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has recently been shown to induce complete remission in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). As2O3 reportedly has dose-dependent dual effects on APL cells, triggering apoptosis at relatively high concentrations and inducing differentiation at lower concentrations. However, its effect is still controversial for other AML cells and hematological neoplasms. We studied the in vitro effect of As2O3 on lymphoid lineage cells: lymphoma cell lines, NOL-3, Raji and Daudi, a myeloma cell line, NOP-1, normal peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cells and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, and compared it with the effect on APL cell line, NB4, as well as other myeloid cell lines, HL-60 and NKM-1. As2O3 at a concentration of 1 micromol/l markedly inhibited both proliferation and viability of NB4, NOP-1, NOL-3 and NKM-1 cells, but it reduced only viability in normal PBL, CLL cells and NHL cells. As2O3 induced apoptosis and down-regulated bcl-2 expression in NB4, NOP-1 and NKM-1 cells. On the other hand, in HL-60, Raji and Daudi cells, 1 micromol/l As2O3 inhibited only the proliferation weakly, and neither induced apoptosis nor down-regulated bcl-2 expression, but arrested only cell cycle at G1 phase. As2O3 at a low concentration of 0.1 micromol/l had no effect on proliferation and viability of these cells except for NB4. These results showed that As2O3 exerted variable and definite effects on lymphoid cells and indicated that As2O3 might be clinically useful in lymphoid neoplasms such as malignant lymphoma and CLL.

Effect of antioxidants on radical intensity and cytotoxic activity of eugenol

The effect of antioxidants on the radical intensity of 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenol (eugenol) was investigated, using ESR spectroscopy. Eugenol produced radicals in alkaline solutions, with an optimum pH of 9.5. The intensity of eugenol radical was a positive function of its concentration, reaching a plateau level at 100 mM. The eugenol radical was rapidly diminished under alkaline conditions. Water-soluble antioxidants, such as cysteine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, glutathione and sodium ascorbate, completely scavenged the eugenol radical. Gallic acid at lower doses significantly, but not completely, scavenged the eugenol radical. Among water-insoluble antioxidants, terpenes (beta-carotene, retinol, lycopene) effectively scavenged the eugenol radical, whereas phenolic compounds (alpha-tocopherol, Trolox) were inactive. Millimolar concentrations of eugenol were cytotoxic against human salivary gland and oral squamous carcinoma cell lines. Addition of sodium ascorbate or beta-carotene reproducibly reduced the cytotoxic activity of eugenol. The applicability of the antioxidants in dentistry was discussed.

[Chronic myelogenous leukemia with long-term hypoplasia induced by alpha-interferon and hydroxyurea]

A 48-year-old woman was admitted with chronic myelogenous leukemia in November, 1996 and was treated with hydroxyurea (HU), because of marked leukocytosis; WBC 404,000/microliter. On January 29, 1997, administration of HU was stopped, and treatment of alpha-interferon (IFN alpha) was started with 6x 10(6)U, every day. However, the WBC count rose from 19,600/microliter to 56,800/microliter, and the combination of IFN and 2,000 mg of HU was started on February 4. The dose of HU was reduced to 500 mg on February 27, and the IFN administration was reduced to 3 times a week from April 4, because the WBC count was less than 10,000/microliter. Pancytopenia was revealed in May. The bone marrow biopsy specimen demonstrated marked hypoplastic changes, and chromosome analysis of bone marrow cells showed Philadelphia chromosome in all 20 metaphases. Treatment was interrupted for 7 months, but hematologic parameters did not recover. There were 9 cases reported in detail with bone marrow hypoplasia induced by IFN. One patient received IFN alone and 8 patients received anti-cancer drugs before treatment of IFN. We concluded that great care must be taken for IFN treatment of CML.

Residual leukemic cell counts in the bone marrow at the end point of intensive induction therapy may be a prognostic factor for acute myeloblastic leukemia in adults

Between January 1990 and May 1994, 59 previously untreated adult patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) were treated with a combination of behenoyl-cytosine-arabinoside (BHAC), daunorubicin (DNR), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and prednisolone (PSL). Forty one patients (69.5%) achieved complete remission (CR). The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed an actuarial probability for remaining in remission of 36% in patients who achieved remission and a survival of 29% in all patients at 5 years. A favorable factor relative to achieving CR was performance status (P=0.04). In addition the presence of 300 cells/microl or less of residual leukemic cell counts in the bone marrow at the end point of induction therapy tended to favor remission (P=0.06) using the multivariate analysis with a multiple logistic regression model. In addition the residual leukemic cells counts of less than 300/microl in the bone marrow at the end point of induction therapy was the most significant factor for durable remission (P=0.05) by the Cox's proportional hazard model. We concluded that residual leukemic cells counts in the bone marrow at the end point of intensive induction therapy is a valuable prognostic factor for adults receiving response-oriented individualized induction therapy for AML.

Cytotoxicity of photosensitizers camphorquinone and 9-fluorenone with visible light irradiation on a human submandibular-duct cell line in vitro

The cytotoxic effect of two types of photosensitizers (camphorquinone, CQ, a widely used aliphatic type and 9-fluorenone, 9F, an aromatic type) in the presence of 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DM) as a reducing agent with exposure to visible light (350-550 nm) was examined in a human cell line. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in terms of the percentage of cell survival, and the production of reactive oxygen in living single cells was measured with an adherent cell analysis and sorting laser cytometer and a peroxide indicator. The amount of reactive oxygen generated in the cells irradiated in the 9F (1 mM-3 min) system was about 9-fold greater than under the same conditions in the CQ system. Similarly, the decrease in cell survival in the 9F system was about 10-fold greater than in the CQ. Both the production of reactive oxygen in the cells and the decrease in cell survival paralleled the concentration of photosensitizers and the irradiation time. Although the cell-damaging effects with the CQ system were mild, at a higher dose (10 mM) and longer irradiation time (24 min) it produced cell survival equal to that in the 9F (1 mM-3 min) system. These results suggest that in the case of irradiated photosensitizer systems, 9F was much more damaging to the cells than CQ, which damage probably occurred via free radicals involving reactive oxygen generation.

Interaction between eugenol-related compounds and radicals

The radical modulating activity of 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenol (eugenol), 2-t-butyl-4-methoxy-phenol (BHA), and their dimers (bis-eugenol, bis-BHA) was investigated, using ESR spectroscopy. Eugenol produced radicals in alkaline solutions, and enhanced the radical intensity of both sodium-L-ascorbate and sodium 5,6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate. BHA has similar, but slightly lower activity, and their dimers were inactive. Their ability to scavenge the superoxide anion (O2-), generated by hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase reaction, was in the order of eugenol > bis-eugenol > BHA > bis-BHA. The relative radical intensity among these compounds was paralleled by their cytotoxic activity. The present study demonstrates that eugenol and BHA were very reactive with radicals and their reactivity was considerably reduced by dimerization. The applicability of the dimerized eugenol in dentistry was discussed.

Influence of blood substrate levels on myocardial kinetics of iodine-123-BMIPP

To evaluate the influence of blood substrate levels on myocardial uptake of 123I-labeled beta-methyl-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP), we examined the correlation between myocardial BMIPP uptake and blood levels of free fatty acid (FFA), glucose, insulin, triglyceride and total cholesterol.

METHODS

In 180 patients, venous blood samples were obtained, and the early and late myocardial uptakes (MU15 and MU150) were determined on planar images at 15 and 150 min after injection at rest, respectively, and the clearance rate of BMIPP from the myocardium was calculated. Dynamic SPECT with BMIPP, PET with [18F]fluoro-deoxyglucose and determination of myocardial carnitine contents were performed in 15, 1 and 3 patients, respectively.

RESULTS

In the 180 patients, MU15 correlated with blood insulin (r = 0.22, p = 0.005) and FFA (r = -0.19, p = 0.02) levels, whereas MU150 did not correlate with blood levels of any variables that were measured (p > 0.05). The clearance rate correlated with blood insulin (r = 0.28, p < 0.001), glucose (r = 0.17, p = 0.03) and FFA (r = -0.40; p < 0.001) levels. The correlations were, however, weak, and five patients (2.8%) with no myocardial BMIPP uptake, all of whom had anterior myocardial infaction, had no characteristics regarding the blood substrate levels. Although dynamic SPECT demonstrated rapid myocardial extraction of BMIPP in 13 patients with myocardial BMIPP uptake, it demonstrated no myocardial BMIPP extraction in two patients with no myocardial BMIPP uptake. One of the five patients with no myocardial BMIPP uptake showed increased myocardial [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and decreased myocardial carnitine content.

CONCLUSION

The influence of blood substrate levels on myocardial BMIPP uptake is not very significant, although high serum FFA levels may be associated with slow clearance of BMIPP from the myocardium. The complete absence of myocardial BMIPP uptake is not rare and may not be associated with changes in blood substrate levels or early back diffusion of BMIPP.

[4-year clinico-statistical observation of outpatients]

Clinico-statistical observations were made on the outpatients visiting the Department of Initial Diagnosis and Emergency, Faculty of Dentistry Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990. The following findings were obtained according to sex, age group, and chief complaints of new outpatients. Approximately 60% of the outpatients were female during the year examined. The number of outpatients tended to increase in March and to decrease during the winter. The largest number of new outpatients visiting the hospital was in the 20-24-year-old group in both males and females. In the female patients, the 50-54-year-old group had a relatively higher peak. The greatest chief complaint was tooth pain. Further, the chief complaint involving oral soft tissues was due to inflammation. The main disease diagnosed due to chief complaints was caries in the 20-29-year-old group, marginal periodontitis in the 50-59, pericoronitis of wisdom tooth in the 20-29, temporomandibular joint problem in the < or = 19 and masticatory disturbance in the 60 < or = -year-old groups.

Action of eugenol as a retarder against polymerization of methyl methacrylate by benzoyl peroxide

This study was undertaken to examine an effect of eugenol on polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) by benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in the presence of eugenol. The induction period and initial rate of polymerization (IRP) were determined from polymerization curves of MMA using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The induction period increased with increasing concentration of eugenol in both BPO and AIBN systems. The IRP decreased as the concentration of eugenol in both BPO and AIBN systems. The IRP decreased as the concentration of eugenol increased. Its decreasing rate in the BPO system was higher than that in the AIBN system. In the BPO system, the IRP was reduced to zero at 0.5 mol% of eugenol. Eugenol in the BPO system was an efficient retarder, although the decrease in IRP was relatively small, below 0.05 mol%. Eugenol was an inhibitor even at high concentration in the AIBN system. The suppressible effect of eugenol appears to be due to the interaction between free radicals from BPO and eugenol.