Microorganism inactivation using high-pressure generation in sealed vessels under sub-zero temperature

In order to test the possibility of utilizing high pressure in bioscience and biotechnology, a simple method for high-pressure generation and its use for microbial inactivation have been studied. When a pressure vessel was filled with water, sealed tightly and cooled to sub-zero temperatures, high pressure was generated in the vessel. The pressure generation was 60 MPa at -5 degrees C, 103 MPa at -10 degrees C, and 140 MPa at -15 degrees C, -20 degrees C, and -22 degrees C. The high pressure generated inactivated microorganisms effectively: yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii), bacteria (Lactobacillus brevis and Eschericia coli), and fungi (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae) were completely inactivated when stored in sealed vessels -20 degrees C for 24 h. However, Staphylococcus aureus was only partly inactivated under the same conditions. This method opens up a new application of high pressure for storing, transporting, and sterilizing of foods and biological materials.

Combination chemotherapy in a patient with severe multiple systemic autoimmune disease

We describe the occurrence of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) in a patient who had had both idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) for about 10 years. All of these diseases worsened rapidly, and the patient's clinical condition became critical after an episode of acute pneumonia. His AIHA, ITP and BP were responsive to combination chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone (CVP therapy).

Determining the breast-feeding interruption schedule after administration of 123I-iodide

Radioactivity after administration of 123I-sodium iodide was measured in breast milk samples obtained from a patient with postpartum thyroiditis. The breast milk was collected over 93 h during the infant's regular feeding times. The radioactivity in the breast milk was calculated with a 123I capsule of the same lot number as the standard source. 123I was excreted exponentially with an effective half-life of 5.5 h; 2.5% of the total radioactivity administered was excreted in the breast milk over the 93 h, 95% of which was excreted within the first 24 h, and 98.2% within 36 h. The first milk sample collected at 7 h after administration of the radiopharmaceutical contained 48.5% of the total radioactivity excreted. We estimated the potential absorption of radioactivity to an infant's thyroid in uninterrupted breast-feeding to be 30.3 mGy. With a 24-hour interruption, the absorbed radioactivity would be 1.25 mGy; with a 36-hour interruption, it would be 0.24 mGy. According to our calculations, breast feeding should be curtailed for 36 h to reduce the infant's exposure to 123I radioactivity. By using a correction factor based on maximum radioactivity from another 123I capsule of the same lot, we were able to ascertain the appropriate protocol for our patient and establish a measurement method that can be applied in similar clinical situations.

[Pulmonary actinomycosis with "balls-in-a hole" appearance diagnosed by examination of bronchial lavage fluid]

A 49-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of abnormal chest X-ray findings. Chest X-ray films showed infiltrative opacities in the right lung, and histological findings of a transbronchial biopsy specimen showed non-specific inflammation. The patient was treated with Ofloxacin for one month. After the treatment, chest X-ray films showed that the infiltrative opacities in the right upper lobe had decreased, but that opacities in the right lower lobe had increased, with an air meniscus sign. A chest computed tomography scan at the same time revealed that the remaining opacities contained multiple mass-like lesions within a cavity in the right S6, appearing as "balls in a hole". One year after the first visit, the patient visited the hospital again because of cough and sputum. A chest X-ray film showed that the size of the cavity in the right lower lobe had increased. The histological findings from a fresh transbronchial biopsy specimen revealed a non-specific inflammation again; however, black clots obtained from bronchial lavage fluid after biopsy were histologically identified as sulfur granules, a classic pathological indication of actinomycosis. This confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis. The patient was treated with penicillin, and the opacities in the right lower lobe subsided.

Investigation of the structural basis for thermostability of DNA-binding protein HU from Bacillus stearothermophilus

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify amino acid residues essential for the thermostability of the DNA-binding protein HU from the thermophile Bacillus stearothermophilus (BstHU). Two mutants, BstHU-A27S and BstHU-V42I, in which Ala27 and Val42 in BstHU were replaced by the corresponding amino acids Ser27 and Ile42, respectively, in the homologue from a mesophile B. subtilis (BsuHU), were less stable than the wild-type BstHU (63.9 degreesC), showing Tm values of 58.4 degreesC and 60.1 degreesC, respectively, as estimated by circular dichroism (CD) analysis at pH 7.0. The denaturation of two mutants was further characterized using differential scanning calorimetry; the Tm values obtained by calorimetric analysis were in good agreement with those estimated by CD analysis. The results suggest that Ala27 and Val42 are partly responsible for enhancing the thermostability of BstHU. When considered together with previous results, it is revealed that Gly15, Ala27, Glu34, Lys38, and Val42 are essential for the thermostability of thermophilic protein BstHU. Moreover, five thermostabilizing mutations were simultaneously introduced into BsuHU, which resulted in a quintuple mutant with a Tm value of 71.3 degreesC, which is higher than that of BstHU, and also resulted in insusceptibility to proteinase digestion.

[Pneumonia caused by granulomatous Pneumocystis carinii in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]

A 54-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of fever and general fatigue. A chest roentgenogram on admission showed lobular opacities and ill-defined opacities in both lower lobes. The pneumonia was successfully treated with antibiotics. The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was diagnosed because ELISA and PCR tests for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus were positive and the CD 4+ lymphocyte count was 39 per cubic millimeter. Examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed no Pneumocystis carinii. Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole were given prophylactically, but were withdrawn because of a rash. The patient began to receive aerosolized pentamindine and was discharged. On the next day, he was readmitted to the hospital because of a high fever. A chest roentgenogram showed diffuse miliary opacities. Chest CT scan also showed diffuse small nodular opacities in both lungs. Examination of a transbronchial biopsy specimen revealed well-defined, noncaseating granulomas with pneumocystis organisms in their centers. Cultures for tuberculosis and fungi were all negative. We diagnosed granulomatous pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii, which is an atypical manifestation of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The patient died of sepsis and cardiac tamponade. Microscopically, the lung tissue was found to have foamy intra-alveolar exdates, which is a typical histological feature of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Effects of treatment with nilvadipine on cerebral ischemia in rats

The protective effects of a Ca2+ antagonist, nilvadipine, on focal cerebral ischemia were studied in male spontaneously hypertensive rats. The animals received either nilvadipine (3mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)) or a vehicle subcutaneously. Group 1 (n=11) was treated for 7 days, and Group 2 (n=11) for 14 days. The middle cerebral artery was occluded on the 6th (Group 1) or 13th (Group 2) day of the treatment, and neuropathological outcomes were quantified 24 hours later. The mean arterial blood pressure was significantly reduced with nilvadipine to normal levels. The % infarct volumes of Groups 1 (37+/-2) and 2 (34+/-3) were significantly less than those of their controls (39+/-3 [n=11] and 40+/-4 [n=12], respectively), although the difference between Groups 1 and 2 was not significant. When infarct areas were compared in each of 8 coronal sections, the infarct size had decreased in the 5 posterior sections in Group 2, but only in 2 sections of Group 1. A significant decrease in the edema volumes was observed in Group 2, but not in Group 1. Thus, nilvadipine provided protective effects against cerebral ischemia in rats having chronic hypertension, and the effects were dependent on the duration of treatment.

[Characteristics of home care patients with intractable neurological diseases (Nanbyo) in Tokyo]

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of home care of patients with intractable neurological diseases. A survey was conducted of members of Tokyo Medical Association who were home visit doctors. They responded to questions about their patients who have suffered from either Parkinson's disease (PD), spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and whose home care have been supported by the care system for at least three months. Of 205 survey questionnaires collected, 198 were effective to be analyzed. The sample consisted of 105 patients with PD (53.0%), 63 patients with SCD (31.8%), and 30 patients with ALS (15.2%). The mean age of the PD was 75.5 years with a range of 53 to 90, SCD was 66.5 years with a range of 39 to 88, and ALS was 58.7 years with a range of 42 to 86. The major findings in this study were as follows: 1) The patients who had one or more medical equipment installed at the beginning of home care were 30% of ALS, 9% of PD and 18% of SCD. As time elapsed, patients who needed to have some medical equipment installed increased in ALS greater than in PD and SCD. 2) The home doctors predicted that the condition of 37% of ALS patients, 9% of PD, and 8% of SCD would probably be deteriorating within one month. 3) Of the 30 patients with ALS, 47% experienced hospitalization three times or more compared to 27% of PD and 21% of SCD. The most prevalent reason for hospitalization for ALS was respite of caregivers, PD and SCD, however, were hospitalized for control of prescription, a change for the worse, or treatment of other diseases. 4) Ninety percent of ALS caregivers felt extremely tired or slightly tired. Their home doctors responded that 83% of ALS caregivers did their best in caregiving. 5) ALS patients utilized social resources such as volunteers, care workers, services of supply and maintenance of medical equipment, and emergency care for 24 hours more than SCD and PD. In the conclusion, ALS patients experienced the highest hospitalization of the three diseases and respite of family caregivers was necessary. They showed a higher utilization of various social resources than other diseases. It is important to consider these characteristics of home care patients by diseases in order to prepare and develop the necessary support system of home care for the intractable neurological patients.

Multiple streams of time consciousness: a new model of retrospective timing

This note suggests a new hypothesis for retrospective timing, that, when one experiences a period of time in which plural contexts progress simultaneously, a stream of time consciousness is formed for each context and a temporal judgment to the period is made for each of the streams. In the experiment, 17 subjects observed an event in which plural contexts progressed simultaneously and estimated the time a certain thing occurred during the event. Subjects' estimated times varied with the number of changes in the context which the subjects were required to judge. The hypothesis was supported.

[Assessment of the various image display systems affected to the visual analysis using 99mTc-GSA liver scintigraphy]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical performance for the gray-scale monitor and the image display system of the color monitor with the films using the visual analysis of the liver scintigraphy by 99mTc-DTPA-galactosyl-human serum albumin (GSA). The seven kinds of calibration curves (CC) were applied to convert into both the counts of the density of the films and the intensity of the monitors. The relationship between the intensity and density was evaluated in the 123 patients suspected with hepatic dysfunction. The liver scintigraphy images of 1-minute duration from five to six minutes after administration of 99mTc-GSA were converted according to the seven kinds of CC (861 images per image display system). These images were visually classified by the 16 observers following the five-point scoring system arranged beforehand. The intensity of monitors and the density of films showed positive correlation. Thus the CC for both the intensity and the density was centralized. The CC obtained by the present study was suitable for both monitors and films, respectively. The CC, which had the slope of approximately 4.8 for the monitor and 4.2 for the film, showed a good correlation between the indices of liver functions obtained from the biochemical liver function tests and from the 99mTc-GSA liver scintigraphy. Data suggest that the suitable CC in the three sets of image display system may contribute to the other scintigraphy as well as 99mTc-GSA liver scintigraphy, evaluating the scintigraphy using the visual analysis.

Enhanced responses of the chorda tympani nerve to nonsugar sweeteners in the diabetic db/db mouse

Genetically diabetic db/db mice show greater neural and behavioral responses to sugars than lean control mice. The present study examined chorda tympani responses of db/db mice to nonsugar sweeteners and their inhibition by a sweet response inhibitor, gurmarin. The results showed that responses to sucrose, saccharin, glycine, L-alanine, and D-tryptophan, but not to D-phenylalanine, were approximately 1.5 times greater in db/db mice than in control mice. Treatment of the tongue with gurmarin suppressed responses to these sweeteners in db/db and control mice, but the extent of suppression was considerably smaller in db/db mice. The magnitudes of gurmarin-sensitive components of the response to sweeteners in db/db mice were not significantly different from those in control mice, whereas the magnitudes of gurmarin-insensitive components in db/db mice were about twice as large as those in control mice. These results suggest that the enhancement of chorda tympani responses in db/db mice to sucrose and other nonsugar sweeteners may occur through gurmarin-insensitive membrane components.

Redundancy gain in discrimination of colored lights: effects of complexity and eccentricity

The present study investigated the redundancy gain in discrimination of colored lights. Subjects were requested to discriminate a target from 34 nontarget lights differing from the target in luminance, hue, or both, and RTs were recorded. Experimental variables were the complexity of stimulus pattern and the eccentricity of the target in visual angle. The 35 lights were arranged regularly on an imaginary grid in the low-complexity condition and were arranged randomly in the high-complexity condition. The eccentricity of target was varied from 0 degree to 16 degrees. Only when the stimulus pattern was highly complex and eccentricity was large, the combination of luminance and hue made the subject's discrimination faster than when luminance or hue individually operated as a cue for discrimination. That is, a redundant target effect was found only for a highly complex stimulus pattern and in peripheral vision.

N-linked glycosylation of Drosophila rhodopsin occurs exclusively in the amino-terminal domain and functions in rhodopsin maturation

Immature Drosophila rhodopsin is N-glycosylated, but undergoes complete deglycosylation during the process of protein maturation. In order to elucidate the site of glycosylation and its role in rhodopsin synthesis, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo synthesis of rhodopsin whose putative N-glycosylation sites (Asn-20 and Asn-196) were replaced by isoleucine. The results demonstrated that immature rhodopsin binds a single oligosaccharide chain exclusively at Asn-20 in the N-terminal extracellular domain. Furthermore, the results gave the first evidence directly indicating that deletion of the oligosaccharide chain markedly impedes rhodopsin maturation.

Effects of dobutamine on brain surface microvessels in rats

The effects of dobutamine on the diameters of rat pial vessels were investigated in vivo using a closed cranial window technique. Dobutamine (10(-7)-10(-3) M) was dissolved in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Arterioles (17-78 microns in diameter) and venules (20-97 microns in diameter) were observed through the cranial window over the left parietal cortex. Superfusion of the brain surface with only artificial CSF had no effect on vessel diameter. Dobutamine, even at a high concentration of 10(-4) M, did not induce significant diameter changes in the pial vessels, compared with control animals. The arterioles showed marked dilatation (+73%) during superfusion with 10(-3) M dobutamine (p < 0.01 vs. control). The venules were also dilated (+12%), although the increased diameter was not statistically different from controls. Therefore, dobutamine did not induce a dose-dependent dilation. The results strongly suggest that dobutamine at clinical dosages does not have a direct vasomotor effect on brain microvessels.

Enhanced invasion of Tyzzer's organism into cultured mouse hepatocytes by cytochalasin D

The effects of cytoskeleton inhibitors on the invasion of Tyzzer's organism, an obligate intracellular bacterium, into cultured mouse hepatocytes were examined by double immunofluorescence observation and plaque assay. The two techniques gave comparable results. Invasion of bacteria was significantly enhanced by cytochalasin D, a microfilament disrupting drug, and markedly suppressed by vinblastine, a microtubule inhibitor. Another microtubule inhibitor, colchicine, did not show any substantial effect. However, the cytoskeletal system of cultured mouse hepatocytes was sensitive to these three drugs, as judged by inhibition of FITC-dextran uptake. These results suggest that Tyzzer's organisms invade host cells by a unique mechanism that is suppressed by the normal functions of host cell microfilaments.

Effect of protein kinase C inhibitors on cardioprotection by ischemic preconditioning depends on the number of preconditioning episodes

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the possibility that the role of PKC in [corrected] PC, and thus the response to PFC inhibitors, may differ depending on how many ischemic episodes are employed to precondition the heart.

METHODS

In the first series of experiments, myocardial infarct was induced by 30 min of coronary occlusion and 3 h of reperfusion in the rabbit. Infarct size was determined by tetrazolium staining and expressed as a percentage of area at risk (%IS/AR). Prior to the 30-min ischemia, rabbits were subjected to no PC, single PC (i.e., PC with an episode of 5 min ischemia/5 min reperfusion), and repetitive PC (2 cycles of 5 min ischemia/5 min reperfusion) with or without one of three treatments: polymyxin B (PolyB), staurosporine (Stauro), and 8-sulfophenylthephylline (SPT). In the second series of experiments, the rabbits received 5 min of coronary occlusion after repetitive PC with or without PolyB or Stauro treatment. Then, myocardial tissue in the ischemic region was sampled for assay of PKC activity. Untreated rabbits served as controls.

RESULTS

Single and repetitive PC limited %IS/AR to the same extent (%IS/AR = 9.8 +/- 1.9 and 10.4 +/- 2.3, both p < 0.05, vs. the control value of 44.5 +/- 3.4), and single PC was blocked by PolyB (%IS/AR = 43.9 +/- 2.7) and Stauro (%IS/AR = 31.5 +/- 3.2). Although the protocol of PolyB injection maintained the plasma PolyB level during sustained ischemia well above its Ki for PKC, this agent and also Stauro failed to abolish the protection by repetitive PC (%IS/AR = 21.6 +/- 3.0 and 11.4 +/- 4.3, respectively). SPT, an adenosine receptor antagonist, not only blocked single PC (%IS/AR = 44.4 +/- 4.4) but also attenuated protection by repetitive PC (%IS/AR = 28.3 +/- 3.6). Infarct sizes in non-preconditioned hearts were not modified by PolyB, Stauro, or SPT. The ratio of membrane fraction PKC activity to cytosolic fraction PKC activity was elevated by repetitive PC plus 5 min ischemia, and this change in PKC was inhibited in hearts given PolyB and Stauro.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to single PC, repetitive PC protects the heart against infarction even when PolyB and Stauro are administered to inhibit PKC during ischemic insult. This difference may be attributable to a PKC-independent mechanism, in which the adenosine receptor may be partly involved.

Regeneration of ultraviolet pigments of vertebrates

We report here the regeneration of the visual pigments of mouse, rat, goldfish and pigeon, which have wavelengths of maximal absorption at 359 nm, 358 nm, 359 nm, and 393 nm, respectively. The construction and functional assays of the ultraviolet or near-ultraviolet pigments from a wide range of vertebrate species will allow us to study the molecular bases of ultraviolet vision for the first time.

Articular cartilage repair. Rabbit experiments with a collagen gel-biomatrix and chondrocytes cultured in it

To repair a full-thickness articular cartilage defect in rabbit knees, we developed a technique of using a collagen gel hardened by cultured allogeneic chondrocytes in it. The gel-chondrocyte composite accumulated an intense metachromatic matrix, and had elasticity and stiffness enough to be shaped easily after 2 weeks' culture in vitro. It was implanted into full-thickness articular cartilage defects. Histologic evaluation was performed up to 6 months after surgery, using a histologic grading scale composed of 5 categories. In the gel-chondrocyte composite implanted group, good repair was observed from as early as 1 day up to 6 months. On the other hand, in the empty control group, no repair was observed 1 day to 2 weeks after the defects were made. At 4 weeks, some repair occurred, but even at 6 months the repair was not good.

Functional characterization of visual and nonvisual pigments of American chameleon (Anolis carolinensis)

Using only 11-cis 3, 4-dehydroretinal as a chromophore in the pure-cone retina, American chameleon (Anolis carolinensis) detects a wide range of color from ultraviolet (UV) to infrared. We previously characterized its visual opsin genes sws1Ac, sws2Ac, rh1Ac, rh2Ac, and LwsAc that encode SWS1Ac, SWS2Ac, RH1Ac, RH2Ac, and LWSAc opsins, respectively, and the pineal gland-specific opsin (PAc) gene. Here we present the light absorption profiles of the visual pigments obtained by expressing these opsins and reconstituting them with 11-cis retinal using the COS1 cell cDNA expression system. The purified SWS1Ac, SWS2Ac, RH1Ac, RH2Ac, LWSAc, and PAc pigments have the wavelengths of maximal absorption at 358, 437, 491, 495, 560, and 482 nm, respectively. SWS1Ac is the first vertebrate UV opsin whose spectral sensitivity has been directly evaluated. RH1 pigments, orthologous to the rod pigments of other vertebrates, are sensitive to hydroxylamine in the dark, exhibiting a cone pigment-like characteristic, probably reflecting their adaptation to the pure cone retina. Interestingly, the blue-sensitive SWS2Ac pigment shows an exceptionally low level of sensitivity to hydroxylamine, possessing a rod pigment-like characteristic.

Lack of selectin-dependent adhesion in prostate cancer cells expressing sialyl Le(x)

BACKGROUND

Recently, it has been reported that upregulation of the oligosaccharide sialyl Le(x) (SLe[x]) in prostate cancer is associated with hormone-resistant, aggressive disease. However, it is not clear that SLe(x) expressed on prostate cancer cells has a biological function related to metastatic potential.

METHODS

The expression levels of SLe(x), sialyl Le(a) (SLe[a]), disialosyl galactosylgloboside (DSGG), monosialosyl galactosylgloboside (MSGG) and variousfucosyltransferases in 3 prostate cancer cell lines were determined. The function of SLe(x) expressed on prostate cancer cell lines was determined by a selectin-dependent adhesion assay.

RESULTS

No prostate cancer cell lines expressed SLe(a), DSGG, or MSGG, but all prostate cancer cells moderately expressed SLe(x). Fucosyltransferase expression did not correlate with the expression of SLe(x), and all prostate cancer cells failed to bind immobilized selectin.

CONCLUSION

The expression of SLe(x) on these prostate cancer cells does not correlate with selectin-dependent adhesion.

Pregnancy among long-term survivors of acute leukemia. A second nationwide survey

A second nationwide survey was conducted to determine the outcome of pregnancy in long-term survivors of acute leukemia and to clarify the influence of treatment on the offspring of long-term survivors. In July 1996, 336 survey responses were received from the 498 Japanese institutions surveyed. A total of 89 cases (39 spouses of male patients and 50 female patients) who had babies during their first remission were analyzed, including 43 patients from the first survey in 1991. Median age at the birth of first baby was 30.7 years for male patients and 28.6 years for female patients. A total of 109 of the 117 pregnancies resulted in live births and eight resulted in abortions. A total of 58 cases had single children and 23 cases had two or more, generally from separate pregnancies, but including two pairs of twins. The infant was male in 59 cases, female in 37 and gender was not reported in 13 cases. Ages of children ranged from 2 months to 20 years at the time of this study and all children were in good health. There were two minor anomalies, both of which were surgically corrected. Of the 81 parents bearing live infants, 75 remained in complete remission. Five fathers died (four of relapse and one of another disease). In conclusion, there was no apparent increase in pregnancy complications or congenital anomalies in the children of long-term survivors with acute leukemia.

Arterial occlusive lesions following wrapping and coating of unruptured aneurysms

Seven patients (mean age 57 years) developed arterial occlusive lesions following both wrapping and coating during surgery for unruptured aneurysms. Five patients had no risk factors for arteriosclerosis, and two had hypertension or diabetes mellitus. The aneurysms were located in the middle cerebral artery in four cases, and the internal carotid artery in three. Both 100%-cellulose cotton (Bemsheet) and cyanoacrylate glue (Biobond) were used as reinforcement materials. Postoperative angiography revealed complete clipping, and no parent artery stenoses, although one patient had a non-symptomatic diffuse narrowing in the entire carotid fork 7 days following surgery. Three patients had progressive stroke 4-5 weeks following surgery, and two had no symptoms. Both reinforcement materials were used as little as necessary in the last two patients, but they had either transient ischemic attacks or progressive stroke 2 months following surgery. Arterial steno-occlusion was confirmed angiographically in all patients. These vascular lesions were probably induced by both direct toxicity of the cyanoacrylate glue and fibrosis or granuloma formation caused by the cotton fibers. The observed angiographical reversibility suggests that the cyanoacrylate glue is more likely to be the cause of the lesions than the cotton fibers.

[Hematological characteristics of hypoplastic MDS patients with chromosomal abnormalities, who had been followed for aplastic anemia with normal karyotypes]

During 1990 to 1993, five patients who had been treated in our hospital for aplastic anemia (AA) with a normal karyotype, were found to have hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndromes (hMDS); three patients with RA, one RAEB, and one RAEB-T, and all of them have chromosomal abnormalities. The mean age of the hMDS patients (4 men, 1 woman) was 51.0 years (range 31-61). We retrospectively studied the hematological features of the 5 cases in the early stage without chromosomal abnormalities. They showed, 1) appearance of erythroblasts (3/5), 2) more reticulocyte counts than typical AA (mean 7.8 x 10(4)/microliter), 3) macrocytic anemia (mean MCV 106fl) in peripheral blood, 4) relative erythroid hyperplasia (M/E ratio 0.2-1.5), and 5) low lymphocyte counts (mean percentage of lymphocytes 32, 8%) in bone marrow. Considering about the differences or transformation between AA and hMDS, it is interesting that all five patients have initially had a normal karyotype and subsequently developed chromosomal abnormalities.

Impaired spermatogenesis in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica: possibility of the existence of factors that regulate entry of germ cells into meiosis

In the cultivated male Japanese eel, spermatogonia are the only germ cells present in the testis. Weekly injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) can induce complete spermatogenesis from proliferation of spermatogonia to spermiogenesis. In some cases, however, HCG injection fails to induce complete spermatogenesis. Testicular morphological observations revealed that HCG-injected eels could be classified into three types based on their testicular conditions. Type 1 eels had a well-developed testis and the milt could be acquired by hand-stripping. In type 2 eels, spermatogenesis was also induced by HCG injection, but testicular size was remarkably smaller than that of type 1 eels, and the milt could not be hand-stripped. At the end of the experiment, type 2 fish had only spermatogonia and a small amount of spermatozoa, but no spermatocytes or spermatids, in their testis. Type 3 eels had thready testis, which did not develop any germ cells during the experimental period. These results suggest that, despite elevations of plasma 11-ketotestosterone levels, HCG injections were not successful in inducing the completion of spermatogenesis in type 2 and type 3 eels. In most spermatogonia of type 2 eels, meiosis was not induced by HCG injections. Furthermore, only few mitotic divisions had occurred as evidenced by the presence of 2(3) to 2(6) late type B spermatogonia in most cysts. This suggests that spermatogonial stem cells undergo four or five, and occasionally six, mitotic divisions before the interruption of spermatogenesis in type 2 eels. It is proposed that those numbers of mitotic divisions are related to a mediator that regulates entry of spermatogonia of the Japanese eel into meiosis.

In situ inhibition of vesicle transport and protein processing in the dominant negative Rab1 mutant of Drosophila

Rab proteins play an essential role in vesicle transport. In particular, RAB1 is thought to participate in the transport of most membrane and secretory proteins. To investigate the role of RAB1 in developing or functioning cells in situ, we constructed transgenic, dominant-negative Rab1 mutants of Drosophila, and examined the protein transport and cellular and subcellular structures of mutant photoreceptor cells. In the transgenic fly, the expression of mutant RAB1 was induced by Gal4 protein, whose expression was triggered by heat treatment (37 degrees C) of the fly. Within several hours after the heat induction, the lumens of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) became swollen, and Golgi bodies were disassembled into vesicle clusters. Corresponding to these changes in cell structure, rhodopsin transport was blocked between the rER and the Golgi body, as indicated by the accumulation of immature rhodopsin carrying a large high-mannose-type oligosaccharide chain. Long-term expression of mutant RAB1 caused the degradation of photoreceptive microvilli and the accumulation of numerous swollen rERs, whereas no distinct changes were found in the axonal regions. These results indicate that, in Drosophila photoreceptor cells, RAB1 contributes to the maintenance of local cell structure by mediating vesicle transport between the rER and Golgi body.

Molecular mechanism of S-modulin action: binding target and effect of ATP

S-Modulin is suggested to increase the light sensitivity of rods by inhibiting phosphorylation of light-activated rhodopsin (Rh*) at high Ca2+ concentrations. The inhibition of rhodopsin phosphorylation was almost constant over a wide range of the Rh*/S-modulin ratio (10(-4)-approximately 10[1]). A 125I-labeled cross-linker that had been conjugated with S-modulin interacted with a protein of 60 kDa, a molecular mass close to that of frog rhodopsin kinase. These results suggested that the target molecule of S-modulin is rhodopsin kinase. To investigate the mechanism of the S-modulin action, we measured rhodopsin phosphorylation in the presence and absence of inhibition by S-modulin at various timings of ATP addition. The results suggested the following in situ mechanism of S-modulin action. After light-activation of rhodopsin kinase, the S-modulin/Ca2+ complex binds to the activated kinase and inhibits the phosphorylation of rhodopsin. The complex, however, does not affect the overall kinetics of the phosphorylation. The inhibition of the kinase by S-modulin is reversible in terms of the Ca2+ concentration. On the other hand, the kinase activity decreases as a function of time, probably via autophosphorylation.

Apoptosis of murine hepatocytes induced by high doses of galactosamine

Apoptosis induced by high doses of Galactosamine (GalN) was investigated in mice hepatocytes in vivo. In mice intraperitoneally (i.p.) treated with GalN 3 g/kg, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were first observed at 6 hr postadministration (PA). Both acidophilic bodies in hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections and TUNEL-positive cells were markedly found at 24 hr PA. At 48 hr PA, cellular degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes were prominently observed, and TUNEL-positive cells were scarcely found. In the mice ip treated with GalN 1.5 g/kg, the lesion was milder than that in those treated with GalN 3 g/kg. Acidophilic bodies and TUNEL-positive cells were scarcely found at 24 hr PA, whereas they were markedly seen at 48 hr PA. In addition, a ladder-like DNA fragmentation pattern by agarose gel electrophoresis was observed most remarkably at 24 hr PA with GalN 3 g/kg and at 48 hr PA with GalN 1.5 g/kg, and less distinctly at 48 hr PA with GalN 3 g/kg. On the other hand, sGOT and sGPT activities increased prominently at 48 hr PA with GalN 3 g/kg. These results suggest that the cell death induced by high dose of GalN may be caused by apoptosis, and subsequently by necrosis in vivo.

Implication of protein kinase C-alpha, delta, and epsilon isoforms in ischemic preconditioning in perfused rat hearts

Ischemic preconditioning is a phenomenon in which one or several cycle(s) of brief ischemia-reperfusion protects the myocardium against the cell injury caused by subsequent prolonged ischemia. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors blunt the cardioprotection arising from ischemic preconditioning. To investigate which PKC isoform is involved in ischemic preconditioning, we identified the PKC isoform that translocates to the membrane fraction by means of immunoblotting with specific antibodies. PKC-alpha, delta, epsilon isoforms all increased in the membrane fraction after three cycles of 3 min ischemia and 5 min reperfusion (ischemic preconditioning) in the perfused rat heart. The ischemic preconditioning significantly improved the recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) during reperfusion following 20 min of ischemia. A PKC specific inhibitor, chelerythrine (1.0 microM) blocked the effect of ischemic preconditioning on LVDP recovery and the translocation of PKC-alpha, delta, epsilon isoforms. These data suggest that one or more of these three isoforms of PKC is involved in ischemic preconditioning by phosphorylating membrane proteins.

Galactosamine-induced apoptosis in the primary mouse hepatocyte cultures

Galactosamine (GalN)-induced apoptosis was investigated in cultured hepatocytes from mice. The percentage of fragmented DNA measured by the ELISA method increased in a concentration-dependent manner from the very early stage, i.e. 0.5 hrs, after GalN-exposure. In addition, a ladder-like fragmentation pattern by agarose gel electrophoresis appeared first at 3 hr-exposure to 20 mM GalN, at 6 hr-exposure to 10 mM GalN and at 12 hr-exposure to 5 mM GalN, respectively. On the other hand, cytotoxicity indicated by leakage of lactate dehydrogenase from cultured hepatocytes to culture medium was first detected at 24 hrs after GalN-treatment. Morphologically, formation of blebs and apoptotic bodies was observed from 12 hr-exposure to 20 mM GalN and from 24 hr-exposure to 10 mM GalN, respectively. Thus GalN could induce apoptosis in primary hepatocyte cultures from mice.

Expression of visual and nonvisual opsins in American chameleon

We previously characterized five visual opsin genes of American chameleon (Anolis carolinensis). Here we report its nonvisual opsin gene orthologous to the chicken pineal gland-specific opsin (p-opsin) gene. In the pure-cone American chameleon retina, all visual opsins including rod opsin are expressed. In both pineal and parietal eye, three visual opsins as well as P-opsin are expressed. Although opsins are detected in the pineal glands of a wide variety of vertebrates, Southern analysis suggests that the P-opsin gene is used mainly by birds and reptiles.

Restricted TCR V alpha repertoire in the T cell response to a tolerogenic determinant of type II collagen

Tolerization of B10.RIII mice (H-2r) with i.v.-injected type II collagen (CII) renders the animals resistant to induction of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The B10.RIII mouse is of particular interest, in that the T cell determinants that induce tolerance are different from those that induce arthritis. To characterize T cells that react with the tolerogenic determinant and play a role in regulation of arthritis, we have developed a panel of T cell hybridomas reactive with the tolerogenic T cell epitope, CII 607-621. None of the hybrids cross-reacted with either the arthritogenic CII 445-453 or murine CII. As determined by PCR and immunofluorescence, the T cell response to the tolerogenic determinant was oligoclonal, with evident preferential usage of V alpha. Through the analysis of a large panel of T cell hybridomas, preferential usage of V alpha2, J alpha44, J beta2.7, and D beta2.1 was observed. Characterization of T cells reactive with the immunodominant determinant, CII 607-621, responsible for the induction of tolerance should prove important in developing novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Restricted TCR V alpha repertoire in the T cell response to a tolerogenic determinant of type II collagen

Tolerization of B10.RIII mice (H-2r) with i.v.-injected type II collagen (CII) renders the animals resistant to induction of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The B10.RIII mouse is of particular interest, in that the T cell determinants that induce tolerance are different from those that induce arthritis. To characterize T cells that react with the tolerogenic determinant and play a role in regulation of arthritis, we have developed a panel of T cell hybridomas reactive with the tolerogenic T cell epitope, CII 607-621. None of the hybrids cross-reacted with either the arthritogenic CII 445-453 or murine CII. As determined by PCR and immunofluorescence, the T cell response to the tolerogenic determinant was oligoclonal, with evident preferential usage of V alpha. Through the analysis of a large panel of T cell hybridomas, preferential usage of V alpha2, J alpha44, J beta2.7, and D beta2.1 was observed. Characterization of T cells reactive with the immunodominant determinant, CII 607-621, responsible for the induction of tolerance should prove important in developing novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Prevalence of uterine myoma detected by ultrasound examination in the atomic bomb survivors

Benign tumors of several organs have been demonstrated to occur as late effects of atomic bomb exposure, and a recent addition to the list of affected organs is the uterus. The increased incidence of uterine myoma noted in Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) Adult Health Study Report 7 (Wong et al., Radiat, Res. 135, 418-430, 1993), however, was based on self-reported information, optional gynecological examination and patient-requested ultrasound examination. Thus the possibility of dose-related bias in case detection was a serious concern. Therefore, the relationship between the prevalence of uterine myoma and dose to the uterus was examined after excluding as much bias as possible by asking all women who had undergone biennial examinations from December 1991 through December 1993 to undergo ultrasound examinations. Among 2506 female participants in Hiroshima, the uterus was visualized by ultrasound examination in 1190, and 238 were found to have uterine nodules. Multiple logistic analysis using Dosimetry System 1986 uterine doses revealed a significant dose response for the prevalence of uterine nodules. The odds ratio at 1 Gy was 1.61 (95% confidence interval: 1.12-2.31). It is unlikely that the observed relationship after adjusting for bladder filling, volume of the uterus, age and menopause status was the result of dose-related bias. These results support previous findings at RERF and provide further evidence that radiation exposure is one of the factors associated with uterine myoma.

[Palliative intubation of esophageal prosthesis in two patients with lung cancer]

Case one: A 61-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of coughing. Adenocarcinoma of the lung was diagnosed. The patient was treated with bronchial artery infusion of cisplatin and mitomycin C, followed by irradiation; and there was a partial response. Eighteen months later he was admitted to the hospital because of dysphagia. An esophageal prosthesis was inserted because of esophageal stenosis surrounded by local recurrent tumor. After intubation, the patient was able to eat and was discharged. Although the patient died 5 months later, the tube was patent and functional until that time. Case two: A 63-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of coughing. Adenocarcinoma of the lung was diagnosed. The patient was treated with 3 cycles of chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, vindesine, and mifomycin C, which were followed by irradiation; and there was a partial response. Six months later he was admitted to the hospital because of dysphagia. An esophageal prosthesis was inserted because of esophageal stenosis surrounded by mediastinal lymph nodes. Although the patient was able to eat, bilateral pleuritis and mediastinitis developed and he died ten days after intubation. At autopsy the esophagus was found to have been perforated. Palliative intubation of an esophageal prosthesis can be effective in patients with esophageal stenosis due to lung cancer, but care must be taken to prevent fatal complications.

Functional expression and characterization of frog photoreceptor-specific calcium-binding proteins

S-modulin (sensitivity-modulating protein) is a photoreceptor-specific calcium-binding protein which plays an important role in the light adaptation process by controlling rhodopsin phosphorylation in rods. S-modulin and its cone homologue, s26, were expressed at high level (more than 30% of total protein) in Escherichia coli and then purified. They both inhibited rhodopsin phosphorylation in a calcium dependent manner. Myristoylated recombinants of S-modulin and s26 showed calcium-dependent changes in tryptophan emission spectra with half-maxima at about 0.7 microM free calcium concentration. However, the spectral changes are distinctive from each other, suggesting that there is some difference in the structural change between S-modulin and s26.

Fas antigen expression and its relationship with apoptosis in transplanted kidney

A total of 244 human renal biopsy cases were examined under the following three categories of renal disease: (i) transplanted kidney (TK; 127 cases); (ii) primary glomerular disease (GD; 88 cases); and (iii) others (29 cases). In these cases, the immunohistochemical distribution of apoptosis-related proteins (Fas antigen and bcl-2 protein) was investigated. Despite no detection in normal kidney tissues, Fas antigen was highly expressed in the tubular epithelium, indicating that Fas antigen expression was induced on the tubular epithelium in human renal disease. Furthermore, in TK Fas antigen expression was significantly frequent in acute rejection including acute rejection borderline (9/43 cases) and acute rejection stages I-III (10/28 cases), as compared with that in control cases (no rejection, 1/32 cases). Fragmented DNA stained with in situ nick end-labeling was predominantly detected in the tubular epithelium in 6 of 48 cases (23 with transplanted kidney and 21 with glomerular disease). Characteristic nuclear apoptotic changes were detected in the tubular epithelium by light microscopy. These results indicate that apoptosis takes place mainly in the renal tubular epithelium. The present experimental study revealed that Fas mRNA transcripts were induced in human renal cell line by interferon-gamma. This suggests that in situ induction of Fas antigen in the tubular epithelium is mediated, at least in part, by cytokines in association with inflammatory lymphocytic infiltrates. It was also revealed that anti-Fas monoclonal antibody induced apoptosis of the renal cell line through stimulation with interferon-gamma. Taken together, the results suggest that induced expression of Fas antigen on the tubular epithelium might play an important role in apoptosis under acute renal graft rejection.

Penetrating head injury caused by chopstick--case report

A 4-year-old boy suffered a transorbital penetrating head injury caused by falling on a wooden chopstick while walking. The chopstick was removed completely, but full diagnosis was delayed for 3 years because the entry wound had not appeared to be serious. The patient later experienced rhinorrhea of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and recurrent bacterial meningitis. Surgical repair of the CSF fistula at the anterior skull base was performed when the patient was 7 years old. Previous penetrating head injury should be considered in patients with recurrent CSF fistula and meningitis.

[Successful treatment of intraoperative myocardial ischemia with nicorandil]

We report five patients who developed intraoperative myocardial ischemia but were treated successfully with nicorandil. Case 1; An 84 year-old male underwent emergent laparotomy and ileolysis under inhalational plus thoracic epidural anesthesia. During his emergence from anesthesia, arterial pressure and heart rate increased abruptly due to excitement, leading to ST-T depression on V5 lead. Bradycardia and hypotension developed subsequently. Immediately after i.v. injections of nicorandil 4 mg and atropine 0.3 mg, ST-T change and hemodynamics improved dramatically. Case 2; A 67 year-old male underwent esophagectomy under inhalational plus thoracic epidural anesthesia. Following the completion of surgery, elevation of ST-T developed suddenly on lead II, though hemodynamics were not compromised. ST-T elevation disappeared immediately after nicorandil 6 mg and continuous infusion of nitroglycerin (TNG) was initiated. Case 3; A 71 year-old female underwent aortic valve replacement under high-dose fentanyl anesthesia. Shortly after starting cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), ST-T segment on leads II and V5 was elevated suddenly. This was accompanied by severe pulmonary hypertension suggestive of severe left ventricular failure. Shortly after nicorandil 4 mg via a pulmonary artery (PA) catheter, ST-T segment returned to the baseline and pulmonary arterial pressure was normalized. Case 4; A 61 year-old male underwent coronary revascularization under high-dose fentanyl anesthesia. During weaning from CPB, elevation of ST-T segment occurred on leads II and V5. ST change improved, responding to nicorandil 6 mg en bolus via a PA catheter. Case 5; A 67 year-old male underwent coronary revascularization under high-dose fentanyl anesthesia. He was unable to be weaned from CPB for several hours because of frequent and repeated attacks of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. The arrhythmia did not respond to various kinds of treatments including intra-aortic balloon pumping and continuous infusions of inotropes, anti-arrhythmic drugs and anti-anginal drugs. In spite of repeated intracoronary injections of TNG, graft flow to the left anterior descending branch remained low at 40 ml.min-1. After an intracoronary injection of nicorandil 1 mg, however, blood flow increased to 100 ml.min-1, resulting in a marked reduction in frequency of ventricular arrhythmia. The patient came off bypass successfully. In each case, intraoperative myocardial ischemia was treated successfully with nicorandil. Neither hypotension nor arrhythmia resulted from its bolus injection. Nicorandil might be a useful therapeutic tool for myocardial ischemia during anesthesia.

Immunohistochemical study of endothelin-1 in preeclamptic nephropathy

Whether the serum levels of endothelin, a vasoconstrictive peptide produced in the endothelial cell, increase in preeclamptic patients is still controversial. We performed immunohistochemical studies to observe the changes in endothelin-1 (ET-1) in preeclamptic kidney tissues. The monoclonal anti-human ET-1 antibody (Yamasa, Japan) and anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF, Dako, Denmark), a marker of endothelial cells, were used for the studies by the strepto-avidin-biotin peroxidase method (ABC-POD Kit, Wako, Japan). Twenty-nine patients and 12 normal controls were divided into four groups. The preeclamptic group included 14 patients diagnosed with preeclampsia by clinical symptoms of hypertension, proteinuria, and edema occurring in late pregnancy and as having preeclamptic nephropathy. They underwent renal biopsy 16.7 +/- 1.0 (mean +/- SEM) days after delivery. The nephrotic group comprised 10 normotensive nonpregnant patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria examined through biopsy before treatment (six cases of minimal change, two of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, one of membranous nephropathy, and one of IgA nephropathy). The pregnant women with preexisting glomerular disease group included five pregnant women with normal renal function who were normotensive and had no increase in the amount of proteinuria throughout pregnancy. They underwent renal biopsy 10.8 +/- 2.9 days after delivery (two cases of membranous nephropathy, one of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, one of thin basement membrane disease, and one of non-IgA mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis). The normal kidney group comprised 12 healthy tissue samples taken from nephrectomized kidneys (five cases of renal cell carcinoma, one case of lipofibrosarcoma, and six cases of kidney transplant donors). In these four groups, ET-1 and vWF showed equally positive staining in small arteries. VWF also showed positive staining in arterioles and peritubular capillaries in all groups. Although the glomeruli showed positive staining with ET-1 along the capillary walls in the normal group and the nonpregnant nephrotic group, they showed very weak or negative results in the preeclamptic group. Moreover, gravida with underlying glomerular disease without superimposed preeclampsia also showed negative findings of ET-1 in the glomeruli. The glomeruli in the four groups showed positive findings, with vWF readings the same as in the controls. These results indicate that the production of ET-1 in the glomerular endothelial cells decreases in cases of both preeclampsia and normal pregnancy, and the condition may be caused by pregnancy itself.

Enhanced expression of CD14 antigen on myeloid lineage cells derived from the bone marrow of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

We previously reported the accumulation of abnormal myeloid cell populations reacting with CD14 (MY4) monoclonal antibody in the iliac and epiphyseal bone marrow of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, we investigated in vitro production and modulation of CD14+ myeloid cells from iliac bone marrow cells.

METHODS

Mononuclear cells were prepared from iliac bone marrow aspirates from patients with RA. The presence of unusual myeloid cells was assessed by 2 color flow cytometry of cells cultured under various conditions.

RESULTS

Cultured iliac bone marrow cells of patients with severe RA produced 14.7% of CD14+ CD15+ cells on average. Cultures derived from healthy donors and from patients with a milder form of RA produced fewer CD14+ CD15+ cells (< 10%). The production of CD14+ CD15+ cells was enhanced by granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor and interleukin 1beta, but inhibited by T lymphocytes.

CONCLUSION

Production and modulation of CD14+ myeloid cells were observed in iliac bone marrow of patients with severe RA.

Contribution of a salt bridge to the thermostability of DNA binding protein HU from Bacillus stearothermophilus determined by site-directed mutagenesis

We have employed site-directed mutagenesis to evaluate the contribution of the amino acid residues, Glu34, Arg37, and Lys38, to the thermostability of the thermophilic protein, Bacillus stearothermophilus DNA binding protein HU (BstHU), relative to the mesophilic homologue, Bacillus subtilis HU (BsuHU). Mutants BstHU-E34D and BstHU-K38N, in which Glu34 and Lys38 were individually replaced by the corresponding residues, Asp34 and Asn38, in BsuHU, exhibited decreased thermostabilities by 2.08 and 2.17 kJ/mol, respectively, whereas mutant BstHU-R37K with Lys instead of Arg at position 37 showed no change in thermostability. These results suggested that Glu34 and Lys38 contribute to the thermostability of BstHU by forming a possible salt bridge on the hydrophilic surface. The role of Glu34 as a salt bridge partner was corroborated by generating BstHU mutant protein BstHU-E34Q, in which the Glu residue was changed to Gln; this substitution clearly decreased the stability of the protein by 2.71 kJ/mol. The contribution of this favorable salt bridge to the thermostability was further investigated as the salt and pH dependencies of the stabilities of the wild-type BstHU, BstHU-K38N, and BstHU-E34D. As for salt dependency, the stability of the wild-type relative to those of the two mutants decreased with an increase in ionic strength, indicating that the electrostatic interaction between Glu34 and Lys38 indeed significantly contributes to the thermostability of BstHU. As for pH dependency, the difference in thermostability between the wild-type BstHU and mutant BstHU-K38N showed that the mutant protein was as stable as the wild-type protein at pH 2.0, however, at neutral pH, the mutant protein was less stable than the wild-type protein. In contrast, the difference between the melting temperatures of mutant BstHU-E34D and the wild-type did not change as a function of pH. This suggested that the Glu34 residue may play an important role in the thermostability not only as a partner in the salt bridge with Lys38, but also by stabilizing the alpha-helix from residue 18 to 35 in BstHU. On the basis of the present results, together with the previous results [Kawamura et al. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 1195-1200], three mutations, Glu15 to Gly, Asp34 to Glu, and Asn38 to Lys, were simultaneously introduced into mesophilic protein BsuHU to demonstrate their contributions to thermostability. This combination of multiple thermostabilizing mutations generated a more stable mutant protein HU, showing a Tm value of 64.5 degrees C compared to 48.6 degrees C for the wild-type BsuHU.

Comparison between Wako-WB003 and Fungitec G tests for detection of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in systemic mycosis

The limulus factor G reacts with (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, a major structural component of fungal cell walls. The Fungitec G test is a colorimetric assay that measures the concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan and is used as a serodiagnostic test for deep mycosis. Wako-WB003 is another assay for (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan that determines the change in turbidity of the gelatin reaction of limulus factor G with (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan. In five rabbits inoculated intravenously with 1 x 10(7) CFU of Candida albicans, the concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan measured by the fungitec G test increased gradually reaching a peak of 660.9 +/- 427.9 pg/ml (mean +/- SD) 4 days after inoculation, but to 42.225 +/- 41.275 ng/ml on day 6 in the Wako-WB003 test. In one rabbit challenged intravenously with 5 x 10(6) CFU of C. albicans, (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan increased to 101.5 pg/ml on day 4 on the fungitec G test, whereas the level remained below the detection limit of the Wako-WB003 test throughout the course of the disease. We also detected high concentrations of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in 11 patients with candidemia, 4 with suspected candidemia, 1 with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and 12 patients with aspergilloma. The concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan measured by the Fungitec G test was > 150, > 1006.8; 312.1, and 55.6 +/- 37.4 pg/ml (range, 20.1-138.0 pg/ml), and by the Wako-WB003 test > 153.000, > 17.70, 153.000 and 2.645 +/- 7.248 ng/ml (range, < 25.20 ng/ml) in these patients, respectively. In contrast, the concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in 9 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis and 6 with superficial candida colonization ranged from < 13.2 and < 15.3 pg/ml in the Fungitec G test and < 0.53 and < 0.12 ng/ml in Wako-WB003 test. There was a weak relationship between the concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan measured by the Fungitec G test and Wako-WB003 test (r = 0.521). Our results indicate that the sensitivity of the Wako-WB003 test is lower than that of the Fungitec G test.

Endoscopic observation for detection and monitoring of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine--induced bladder tumor in rats

Recent advances in tumor carbohydrate biochemistry have demonstrated antitumor effects of locally administered GM3 ganglioside on mouse MBT-2 tumor. When intravesical therapy in N-butyl-N(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN)-induced rat bladder tumor is attempted, it is essential to identify the tumor, to classify its size before therapy and to monitor the effect of the therapy. To establish a more reliable experimental therapeutic system, we assessed the development of BBN-induced rat-bladder tumor by endoscopic observation. BBN-induced bladder tumors in rats were observed serially using a 4.2-F flexible fiberscope. The endoscopic findings were compared with the histopathological findings. Intravesical tumor growth varied greatly between individual rats. The smallest change detected by endoscopy was a small edematous lesion histologically proved to be papilloma. The largest nodular lesion was determined to be a papillary, transitional cell carcinoma. This noninvasive method makes the BBN rat experimental system more reliable by allowing confirmation of tumor formation and classification of the tumor volume prior to therapy.