Expulsion of the placenta from the uterus is the principal initiator for collagen degradation in mouse uterus

In unilaterally pregnant mice, collagen degradation in the non-pregnant uterine horn was not initiated by removal of the fetus only but by removal of both the fetus and placenta. The results indicate that expulsion of the placenta from the uterus is a principal factor in the initiation of the process of collagen degradation simultaneously in the whole uterus.

Purification and characterization of REKS from Xenopus eggs. Identification of REKS as a Ras-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase

We have previously identified a protein factor, named REKS (Ras-dependent Extracellular signal-regulated kinase/Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) Stimulator), which is necessary for Ras-dependent MEK activation. In this study, we attempted to highly purify and characterize REKS. We have highly purified REKS by successive column chromatographies using a cell-free assay system in which REKS activates recombinant extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 through recombinant MEK in a guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S)-Ki-Ras-dependent manner. REKS formed a stable complex with GTP gamma S-Ras; REKS was coimmunoprecipitated with GTP gamma S-Ki-Ras or GTP gamma S-Ha-Ras, but not with GDP-Ki-Ras or GDP-Ha-Ras by an anti-Ras antibody. REKS was absorbed to a GTP gamma S-glutathione S-transferase (GST)-Ha-Ras-coupled glutathione-agarose column but not to a GDP-GST-Ha-Ras-coupled glutathione-agarose column and was coeluted with GTP gamma S-GST-Ha-Ras by reduced glutathione. The minimum molecular mass of REKS was estimated to be about 98 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. REKS phosphorylated this 98-kDa protein as well as recombinant MEK. REKS was not recognized by any of the anti-c-Raf-1, anti-Mos, and anti-mSte11 antibodies. These results indicate that REKS is a Ras-dependent MEK kinase.

Proteoglycan degradation in hemarthrosis. Intraarticular, autologous blood injection in rat knees

We determined the degradation of articular cartilage proteoglycans in a single episode of experimental hemarthrosis in rat knees. The right knee joints of rats were injected once with autologous whole blood. Both knee joints were examined histologically. Biochemical studies of cartilage proteoglycans extracted from the knees were also conducted. Histological examination revealed an accumulation of mononuclear cells in intraarticular fibrin clots and subsynovial layers 8 hours after the injection of blood. Accordingly, initiation of proteoglycan degradation occurred 8 hours after injection of blood, lasting from 1 day of limited degradation to 3 days; recovery then occurred within 7 days. The proteoglycan degradation could be inhibited by 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, a general serine proteinase inhibitor, 0.1 M 6-aminohexanoic acid, a specific inhibitor of plasminogen activators, 10 mM EDTA, and 10(-6) to 10(-8) M dexamethasone, indicating that the accumulation of mononuclear cells in intraarticular fibrin clots and subsynovial layers may play an important role in cartilage damage.

Prognostic significance of nucleolar organizer regions in hepatocellular carcinoma

It has been suggested that the number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) correlates with cellular activity and the aggressiveness of malignancy. The mean number of AgNORs per nucleus may, therefore, be a prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the number of AgNORs in HCC. The silver-staining technique was applied to surgically resected specimens to indicate AgNORs. Eighty-nine of the specimens were of HCC, 23 were of normal liver adjacent to HCC, and 32 were of cirrhotic liver adjacent to HCC. The number of AgNORs of HCC (mean +/- SD, 3.26 +/- 1.23) was significantly higher than those of normal liver (1.37 +/- 0.13) and cirrhotic liver (1.49 +/- 0.14). The number of AgNORs was significantly correlated with serum alpha-fetoprotein level, tumor size, portal vein invasion, and Edmondson-Steiner histological grade. In patients undergoing curative resection, the survival rate of those with a high number (> 3.04) of AgNORs was significantly worse than that of those with a low number (< or = 3.04) of AgNORs. Multivariate analysis showed that the number of AgNORs was a significant prognostic indicator in patients without portal vein invasion, and portal vein invasion was the only significant variable when all patients undergoing curative resection were assessed together. The results of this study suggest that the number of AgNORs is useful as an indicator of the grade of malignancy and as a predictor of the prognosis of patients with HCC who do not have portal vein involvement.

Intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring of cranial motor nerves in skull base surgery

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative cranial nerve monitoring has been applied for the preservation of nerve function during skull base surgery. However, its usefulness is controversial because clinical results reported are limited.

METHODS

We evaluated the usefulness of intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring of the third to seventh cranial motor nerves in 15 patients undergoing skull base surgery. Intracranial bipolar electrical stimulation of each nerve was performed, and compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) were recorded from the innervated muscles.

RESULTS

CMAPs were successfully recorded from 23 of the innervated muscles. The loss of the CMAP response during the manipulation of lesions or high stimulus intensity at the end of manipulation seem to be related to the postoperative deficits of nerve function.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring of cranial motor nerves is useful for prediction of postoperative nerve function.

Primary malignant lymphoma of the intestine: clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical studies of 39 cases

Clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features in 39 cases of primary intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in Japanese patients were studied. Only resection materials in state IE and IIE-1 were included in this study because of the certainty that the intestine was the primary site of the lymphoma. The updated Kiel classification was used to classify NHL. Histologically, only two cases (5.1%) were follicular lymphomas, and the others were diffuse lymphomas. Twenty-eight patients (71.8%) had high-grade NHL and 11 (28.2%) had low-grade NHL. Twenty (71.4%) of the 28 high-grade NHL were centroblastic lymphomas, and 14 (70.0%) of these 20 cases of centroblastic lymphoma were the polymorphic variant. Ten (90.9%) of the 11 low-grade NHL were low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. Macroscopically, 18 patients had polypoid masses, 17 ulcerative tumors and four had diffusely infiltrating NHL. Seven of the 10 low-grade MALT lymphomas were polypoid masses. Immunohistochemically, 35 lesions (89.7%) were of the B cell phenotype and three (7.7%) were of the T cell phenotype. In the remaining case, the cell lineage could not be determined. No lesions were considered to be of histiocytic origin. The 5 year survival rate for high-grade B cell lymphomas was poorer than for low-grade B cell lymphomas, and the present study indicated that the histological grade of the intestinal B cell lymphomas was a prognostically significant factor.

Potentiating effects of methamphetamine on the hyperactivity of microencephalic rats treated prenatally with methylazoxymethanol: possible implication of hyperdopaminergia

Microencephalic rats induced by methylazoxymethanol (MAM) were observed to have notable hyperactivity compared to control rats, as measured by several behavioral parameters in an automated field apparatus. Acute injection of the stimulant drug, methamphetamine (MAP), produced an increase in the incidence of locomotion and rearing in control rats, and this stimulatory effect of MAP on motor activity was markedly potentiated in MAM rats. Chronic MAP treatment did not change D1 or D2 dopamine receptor densities in either control or MAM rats. From these results, it was suggested that augmented dopaminergic functions may contribute to the hyperactivity seen in MAM rats.

Possible correlation between DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide and translocation of heat shock 70 protein into the nucleus

Oxygen radicals have been implicated as the causative agent in deleterious processes such as gene mutation, cellular transformation and cell death. Cellular response to DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide was examined in human amniotic cultured cells (WISH). The content of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in nuclear DNA increased during the early period of exposure to hydrogen peroxide, that is, it peaked at 1 h in the cells treated with 1 mM hydrogen peroxide and then declined, but not to the control levels within 4 h. Interestingly, immunofluorescence staining of treated cells revealed that cytoplasmic hsp70 protein translocated transiently into the nucleus, which was most remarkable around 30 min after the addition of 1 mM hydrogen peroxide into the culture medium. On the other hand, the induction of hsp70 gene mRNA was not significant during the early period of treatment by 0.5 mM hydrogen peroxide and was occurred after 5 h. DNA damage induced by Adriamycin further supported the possible correlation between hydroxyl radical-mediated cleavage of DNA and nuclear translocation of hsp70 protein. These results suggest that preexisting hsp70 protein translocated into the nucleus to either protect chromatin DNA from further damage or to facilitate the repair of DNA damage in some unknown ways.

Magnetic resonance angiography in prostatodynia

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance venography (3D MRV) of the prostate and the pelvic cavity was demonstrated in 8 normal subjects and 12 patients with prostatodynia. In all normal subjects and patients, 3D MRV images were successfully obtained. The deep dorsal vein of the penis sends major branches into the anterior and lateral capsular veins as well as into the internal pudendal vein. In patients with prostatodynia, the anterior and lateral capsular veins were much thicker in diameter than those in normal subjects, suggesting venous congestion. This congestion was also remarkable in the venous plexuses behind the bladder or along the lateral side of the pelvis in patients with prostatodynia. Another characteristic sign of the disease was a narrowing or an interruption of the internal pudendal vein. Prostatodynia is postulated to be caused by intrapelvic venous congestion.

[A case of Sneddon syndrome]

Sneddon syndrome is a clinical entity that is characterized by livedo reticularis and cerebrovascular lesions and is considered to be a subtype of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Central retinal artery occlusion is one of the ophthalmic complications of this syndrome and its prognosis of visual acuity is generally poor. We report here a 50-year-old man with Sneddon syndrome who had recurrent central retinal artery occlusion with recovery of visual function after each episode.

[Effect of systemic calcium antagonist on a model of ocular circulation disturbance induced by endothelin-1]

We studied the effect of generally applied calcium antagonist on endothelin (ET-1) treated rabbit eyes. Nicardipine (20 micrograms/kg) was injected intravenously 15 minutes before intravitreal injection of 10 microliters of ET-1 at 10(-6) M. We measured the relative caliber of the retinal artery (the caliber of the retinal artery at the edge of the optic nerve head (ONH)/that of ONH), the capillary blood flow in ONH, visual evoked potential (VEP), intraocular pressure (IOP), and blood pressure (BP). In the control group (0.4 ml/kg of saline), administration of ET-1 caused contraction of the retinal artery, decrease of the capillary blood flow in ONH, prolongation of the VEP latency, and reduction of IOP. But these effects were significantly reduced in the calcium antagonist group. These results showed that generally applied calcium antagonist inhibits the disturbance of ocular circulation induced by ET-1. However, it also caused significant reduction of BP until 45 minutes after application, so we will have to work to find the optimum dose of calcium antagonist.

Clinicopathological study on upper urinary tract tumors and associated bladder tumors

We reviewed 82 patients with 83 upper urinary tract tumors and investigated those who had associated bladder tumors. Of these patients, 7 (9%) had previous bladder tumors, 14 (17%) had concurrent bladder tumors, and 18 (22%) subsequently developed bladder tumors. As 1 patient subsequently developed a bladder and a upper urinary tract tumor at different times, 38 patients (46%) had associated bladder tumors. The time interval between the occurrence of a previous bladder tumor and the subsequent upper urinary tract tumor was 11 to 144 months (mean: 41 months), while that between an upper urinary tract tumor and the subsequent bladder tumor was 3-31 months (mean: 12 months). Most of the previous bladder tumors were papillary, multiple, and noninvasive (pT1 or less). Multiple upper urinary tract tumors were associated with a high incidence of concurrent bladder tumors, while high-grade (G2, G3) or invasive (pT2 or more) upper urinary tract tumors were associated with a high incidence of concurrent and subsequent bladder tumors. Patients with concurrent bladder tumors had a worse prognosis than those with previous or subsequent bladder tumors due to the increased incidence of high-stage tumors at either the upper tract or bladder site. Our findings suggest that tumor cell implantation is a possible mechanism for the recurrence of bladder tumors and upper urinary tract tumors.

Flow cytometric nuclear DNA content analysis of renal tumors in children: prognostic significance of nuclear DNA ploidy

We studied, by flow cytometry, the DNA contents of paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 90 infants and children with kidney tumors, and analyzed the relationship of DNA ploidy with histological types and prognosis. Data of adequate quality were obtained from 90 cases: 65 tumors with favorable histology, 5 congenital mesoblastic nephromas and 20 tumors with unfavorable histology. The 90 cases had nuclear DNA histogram patterns that were classified as DNA diploid in 64 tumors, aneuploid in 19 and tetraploid in 7. There were no significant correlations between DNA ploidy and histological types or clinical stages. Survival rates for patients with diploidy were 80 and 70% at 2 and 5 years, respectively, and those of patients with aneuploidy were 72 and 61% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. On the other hand, patients with a DNA tetraploid pattern had significantly worse survival rates of 43 and 29% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. Among patients with aneuploidy or tetraploidy, the S-phase fractions in those who died (mean +/- SD: 10.3 +/- 4.1 and 22.1 +/- 11.6%, respectively) appear to be greater than those in their surviving counterparts (8.8 +/- 4.0 and 12.1 +/- 2.8%). Hence, although the differences between diploid and aneuploid DNA patterns were not correlated with differential prognosis in children with kidney tumors, a tetraploid pattern clearly indicates a poor prognosis, especially in combination with histological types and clinical stages.

The expression of placental-type glutathione S-transferase (GST-pi) in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and normal human skin

The expression of human placental-type glutathione S-transferase (GST-pi) was investigated in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and normal skin using Northern blot and immunohistochemical analysis. In Northern blot examination, the expression of GST-pi transcript was recognized in all instances, and SCC showed a significantly higher expression of GST-pi than normal skin. In immunohistochemical examination, GST-pi was stained well in the cytoplasm of all cells of the stratum granulosum, many cells of the stratum spinosum and a few cells of the stratum basale in normal skin. Some cells of the stratum spinosum and almost all cells of the stratum basale showed only a weakly positive or almost negative reaction for GST-pi. No nuclear staining of GST-pi was obvious in normal epidermal cells. In SCC, many cells showed strong positivity for GST-pi in the cytoplasm, and some were obviously accompanied by nuclear staining of GST-pi. These findings suggest that GST-pi exists mainly in many cells in the upper layers of the normal epidermis and that GST-pi is involved in the process of carcinogenesis.

Effects of alcohol ingestion on vestibular function in postural control

In order to define the acute effects of a moderate quantity of alcohol on balance, related to the vestibular function, vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) test, caloric test and dynamic posturography (EquiTest) were performed. Ten healthy male volunteers aged 19-27 average 22.8) years old imbibed 1.5 ml whisky (alcohol content 43%) per kilogram of body weight within 5 min. Blood alcohol level (BAL) was measured before administration and then after 30, 90, and 150 min. Equilibrium examinations were performed immediately after each blood sample was taken. At the highest alcohol level, significant reductions were found in VOR gain, in the maximum slow-phase velocity of the caloric test and in the equilibrium score of the sensory organization test in condition 5, when compared with those before drinking. In some typical cases, the subjects' response in all tests were most disturbed at the time when the highest alcohol level was measured. From our results, we conclude that a moderate quantity of alcohol affects not only the oculomotor system but also the vestibular system. Furthermore, it was suggested that one of the reasons for postural instability after drinking alcohol may be reduced vestibular function.

A Japanese case of the fibrillar type of dermatitis herpetiformis

BACKGROUND

Although dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a relatively common disease in Caucasian populations, this disease is very rare in Asian populations including the Japanese.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We present a Japanese DH patient, who showed a fibrillar pattern of deposition of IgA, IgG, IgM and C3. The HLA typing revealed no B8/DR3. The survey of the Japanese literature and the comparison to studies on American or European DH revealed several interesting differences: high frequency of the fibrillar pattern, relatively high incidence of deposits of immunoglobulins other than IgA, rarity of gluten-sensitive enteropathy and HLA-B8/DR3 in Japanese DH.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that there may be a significant difference in pathophysiology between Caucasian and Japanese DH patients.

Occlusion of the left coronary ostium due to fusion of the aortic cusp to the wall

We report on a patient with occlusion of the left coronary ostium and aortic regurgitation due to fusion of the left aortic cusp to the aortic wall. The left coronary flow was restored by excision of the adherent left aortic cusp and aortic valve replacement.

An approach for an immunoaffinity AIDS sensor using the conservative region of the HIV envelope protein (gp41) and its monoclonal antibody

A monoclonal antibody for the conservative region of gp41, which is one of the HIV envelope proteins, was produced. The antigen determining site of gp41 was examined using the epitope mapping technique, followed by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Some peptides had comparable affinities for the monoclonal antibody, but the peptide EGIEE, having a slightly weaker immunoaffinity than gp41, was the most preferable for the construction of an immunoaffinity AIDS sensor. For the detection of gp41, EGIEE was labelled with catalase and used as a mimic antigen; it was bound to the antibody present on an immuno-membrane and, due to the replacement reaction of the mimic antigen by gp41, indirect quantitative measurement of gp41 was possible using an oxygen electrode. Anti-gp41 antibody was also detected using a mimic antibody, which was chemically modified with polyethylene glycol. An immunoaffinity AIDS sensor was constructed using the mimic molecules which were tailored to have a suitable immunoaffinity for HIV antigen and/or antibody.

Regulation of influenza virus RNA polymerase activity by cellular and viral factors

An in vitro RNA synthesis system mimicking replication of genomic influenza virus RNA was developed with nuclear extracts prepared from influenza virus-infected HeLa cells using exogenously added RNA templates. The RNA synthesizing activity was divided into two complementing fractions, i.e. the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes and the fraction free of RNP, which could be replaced with RNP cores isolated from virions and nuclear extracts from uninfected cells, respectively. When nuclear extracts from uninfected cells were fractionated by phosphocellulose column chromatography, the stimulatory activity for RNA synthesis was further separated into two distinct fractions. One of them, tentatively designated RAF (RNA polymerase activating factor), stimulated RNA synthesis with either RNP cores or RNA polymerase and nucleocapsid protein purified from RNP cores as the enzyme source. In contrast, the other, designated PRF (polymerase regulating factor), functioned as an activator only when RNP cores were used as the enzyme source. Biochemical analyses revealed that PRF facilitates dissociation of RNA polymerase from RNP cores. Of interest is that virus-coded non-structural protein 1 (NS1), which has been thought to be involved in regulation of replication, counteracted PRF function. Roles of cellular factors and viral proteins, NS1 in particular, are discussed in terms of regulation of influenza virus RNA genome replication.

Efficient fuzzy control strategies for the application of pH-stat to fed-batch cultivation of genetically engineered Escherichia coli

In the cultivation of genetically engineered Escherichia coli it is very important to control the substrate concentration at an appropriate level in order to avoid the accumulation of acetate, thereby elevating the expression level of plasmid-encoded protein. In this paper, a pH-stat mode of fuzzy control was considered for the overexpression of beta-galactosidase in the fed-batch cultivation of recombinant E. coli. In the simple pH-stat fuzzy control, the response of pH change in the culture broth to the feeding rate of glucose was used to estimate the glucose consumption rate. In the modified pH-stat fuzzy control, the glucose consumption rate was accurately estimated by using pH change and the change in the carbon dioxide content of the exhaust gas. With this control strategy, the cell density could be increased to 72 g DCW dm-3, which was twofold higher than that attained in the cultivation with the simple pH-stat fuzzy control. The bulk beta-galactosidase concentration was increased to 4150 U cm-3, which was threefold higher than when the simple pH-stat control was used.

[Selective gene therapy of malignant gliomas using brain-specific promoters: its efficacy and basic investigations]

Retroviral vector is often used for gene therapy of malignant tumors. The main characteristic of this vector is that it integrates only into the genes of dividing and proliferating cells. Glioma cells proliferate actively, while surrounding normal brain cells rarely divide. Thus, we can expect the recombinant retrovirus modified to express cytotoxic genes to kill glioma cells selectively. However, this characteristic of specific toxicity to the dividing cells is also observed in many chemotherapeutic agents, and it is well known that they cause severe side effects, such as bone marrow suppression or diarrhea caused by simultaneous toxicity of the drugs to proliferating bone marrow cells or intestinal epithelial cells, respectively. We have cloned many genes which are specifically expressed in brain, and identified their promoter regions conferring tissue-specific expression. If we use the brain-specific promoters to regulate the expression of the toxic genes, these genes may not be expressed in the myeloid cells or intestinal epithelial cells, even if they were infected with the retrovirus. Therefore, we searched for brain-specific promoters which are also active in glioma cells to kill glioma cells specifically. Then, MBP promoter showed the strongest promoter activity in mouse glioma cells. These mouse glioma cells transduced with retrovirus containing the MBP promoter directing the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HTK) gene were extremely sensitive to ganciclovir, even when transduced with the MBP promoter-HTK gene-containing retrovirus. And we could get complete remission in the mouse brain tumor models, which were transfected HTK genes in more than 25% glioma cells, with ganciclovir.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)