Production of bioactive salmon calcitonin from the nonendocrine cell lines COS-7 and CHO

To produce bioactive salmon calcitonin from the conventional nonendocrine cell lines, COS-7 and CHO, we devised a salmon calcitonin expression vector by combining the amino-terminus of human calcitonin precursor with a salmon calcitonin sequence, inserting the efficient furin-cleavable processing sequence Arg-X-Arg-X-Lys-Arg before salmon calcitonin, and deleting the carboxyl-terminal extension peptide. This chimeric calcitonin precursor terminates at glycine to easily receive an amidation reaction. COS-7 and CHO produced a high level of bioactive calcitonin by the resorption pit formation assay. Although amidating activity is highly expressed in CHO, but only a little in COS-7 cells, both cells produced a similar level of bioactive calcitonin. Thus, the engineered salmon calcitonin expression vector enables nonendocrine cells even with low amidation activity to produce bioactive calcitonin.

Zopiclone versus diazepam effects on EEG power maps in healthy volunteers

EEG effects of zopiclone (7.5 mg), a cyclopyrrolone derivative with hypnotic action, were compared with effects of diazepam (10 mg). Multichannel EEG recordings, double-blind crossover trials with placebo, and oral single doses were used in healthy volunteers. Vigilance-controlled EEG before and after zopiclone (and placebo), and before and after diazepam (and placebo) were analyzed into FFT power spectra. Effects were assessed as placebo-referred pre-post-medication power differences in four frequency bands. Overall statistics showed significant (P < 0.007) global differences between medication effects in the delta frequency band (0.5-3.5 Hz). After zopiclone, fronto-central delta increased bilaterally, whereas after diazepam delta decreased over centro-parietal to right temporo-occipital regions. These spatially different brain electric effects show that different neuronal populations must have become active in response to zopiclone and diazepam.

Roxithromycin attenuates acid-induced cough and water-induced bronchoconstriction in children with asthma

In the present study, we evaluated the effect of roxithromycin, a semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic, on the cough response to inhaled acetic acid (AA) and on the bronchoconstriction induced by ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW) in children with asthma. Ten hospitalized asthmatic children (8 boys and 2 girls, mean +/- SEM age 12.6 +/- 0.4 years) were enrolled in this study. They were treated with 150 mg of roxithromycin once a day orally for 8 weeks without any side effects. All the patients underwent AA inhalation challenge before and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the administration of roxithromycin. Seven of the 10 patients, who had a fall in FEV1 of at least 20% after UNDW inhalation, underwent UNDW inhalation challege at the same time. The cough threshold values, the lowest concentrations of AA eliciting coughs, and UNDW provocative dose producing a 20% fall in FEV1 (UNDW PD20) values 4 or 8 weeks after the administration of roxithromycin increased significantly over the initial values (p < 0.05). No significant change was observed in baseline FEV1 or serum theophylline concentrations throughout the study. These results support the notion that administration of roxithromycin may have favorable results in the treatment of childhood asthma.

Possible involvement of nitric oxide in the quinolone-induced tendon lesions in rats

Quinolone antibacterial agents have been reported to induce adverse effects on the tendon and the musculoskeletal system in humans. We have previously demonstrated that Achilles tendon lesions could be induced in juvenile rats by a single oral administration of quinolones at high doses with simultaneous induction of lesions in the muscle, synovial membrane and articular cartilage. In the present investigation, we examined the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in pefloxacin (PFLX)-induced lesions of the Achilles tendon in juvenile rats. The incidence of lesions was diminished markedly by co-administration of a potent NO synthase inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Further, the urinary nitrate/nitrite excretion was decreased significantly by 4 h after administration, unchanged between 4 and 8 h, and significantly increased in the 8- to 24-h samples in the PFLX group, as compared to the control group. In contrast, the serum concentration of nitrate/nitrite was significantly higher in the PFLX group 4 h after administration, but there was no difference from controls was observed at 8 and 24 h. These results suggest that NO is involved in the induction of Achilles tendon lesions in juvenile rats by pefloxacin (PFLX) and may be similar to the tendon disorder of humans receiving quinolones.

[Neural mechanisms for the clinical syndromes of Parkinson's disease]

The structural organization and neuronal circuit of the basal ganglia were reviewed, and the neural mechanisms for the clinical syndromes of Parkinson's disease were discussed. Dopamine depletion in parkinsonian patients causes an increase in neuronal activities in the globus pallidus internal segment and the substantia nigra pars reticulata, resulting in an inhibition of neurons in the thalamus and pedunculopontine nucleus, and developing akinesia and rigidity. Distorted integral information processes in the striatum and different involvement patterns of the two pathways of the information flow, the direct and indirect pathways, may cause diversity of the extrapyramidal syndromes in basal ganglia diseases. Also discussed was an instructional role of dopamine in generating a relevant voluntary movement by modulating the striatal neurons.

Experimental studies on potentiation of the antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine for the gastric cancer cell line MKN28 in vivo

A new method of biochemical modulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) was studied experimentally. Nude mice transplanted with cells of the human gastric cancer cell line MKN28 were divided into 4 groups, i.e., control, 5-FU, AZT, and 5-FU plus AZT, and the antitumor activities were compared. Based on the assessment of tumor volume, significant suppression of tumor growth was observed in the 5-FU and 5-FU plus AZT groups (P<0.05, P<0.01, versus control, respectively). The thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibition rate, an index of inhibition of the de novo pathway, was significantly higher in the 5-FU and 5-FU plus AZT groups than in the control group (P<0.01), but it did not differ from the control in the AZT group. TS-bound FdUMP tended to be higher in the 5-FU plus AZT group than in the 5-FU group. The activity of thymidine kinase (TK) and the uptake ratio of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), indices of salvage pathway activity, were significantly lower in the AZT and 5-FU plus AZT groups than in the control group (TK, P< 0.05, P < 0.01; uptake ratio of BrdU, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). There were slight losses of body weight in the 5-FU and 5-FU plus AZT groups compared with that in the control group, but no difference between the AZT and control groups in weight loss. These findings suggest that addition of AZT plays an important role in potentiating the antitumor activity of 5-FU through both blockage of a compensatory increase of activity in the salvage pathway and also an increase in TS-bound FdUMP, and has no adverse effects. Thus, the combination of 5-FU and AZT could be useful as a new modality in gastric cancer chemotherapy.

The effects of betamethasone derivatives on endotoxin-induced uveitis in rats

The anti-inflammatory effects of betamethasone and its derivatives (betamethasone 21-phosphate, betamethasone 21-acetate, betamethasone 17-valerate, clobetasol 17-propionate and betamethasone dipropionate) on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in rats was investigated. Among the compounds examined, betamethasone, betamethasone 21-phosphate, betamethasone 21-acetate and clobetasol 17-propionate strongly inhibited cell infiltration into the aqueous humor in the EIU by instillation into the eye in a dose-dependent manner (0.01-1.0%) and by systemic administration (1 mg kg-1). On the other hand, betamethasone 17-valerate and betamethasone dipropionate showed only weak inhibitory effects or enhancement of cell infiltration by instillation into the eye (0.01-1.0%) and by systemic administration (1 mg kg-1). Combined systemic administration of betamethasone dipropionate and betamethasone reduced the inhibitory effect of betamethasone on cell infiltration and gene expression of IL-1 beta. In an in vitro interleukin-8 (IL-8) release assay, betamethasone showed stronger inhibition of the IL-8 release from rat peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) than betamethasone dipropionate, and simultaneous addition of betamethasone dipropionate with betamethasone reduced the inhibitory effect of the latter. These results suggest that the betamethasone derivative betamethasone dipropionate might behave as an anti-glucocorticoid in rats.

Effects of enalapril on the exercise capacity and neurohumoral factors during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure

The effects of enalapril on exercise capacity and neurohumoral factors during exercise were evaluated in 10 patients with heart failure. Echocardiograms and exercise testing with expired gas analysis were performed before and after enalapril. Blood samples were obtained before and after exercise. Both ejection fraction and percent fractional shortening increased with enalapril (p < 0.05). The anaerobic threshold and peak VO2 did not change with enalapril. Epinephrine and norepinephrine levels at peak exercise decreased with enalapril (p < 0.1). Plasma renin both at rest and at peak exercise increased with enalapril (p < 0.1). Angiotensin II was lower after enalapril both at rest and at peak exercise (p < 0.1 and p < 0.05, respectively). Aldosterone was lower after enalapril both at rest and at peak exercise (p < 0.05). Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was lower after enalapril both at rest and at peak exercise. There was no significant correlations between peak VO2 and changes in neurohumoral factors before and after enalapril during exercise. In conclusion, neurohumoral changes with enalapril occurred during exercise even if exercise capacity did not improve. Moreover, the improvement of cardiac function at rest and neurohumoral factors with enalapril did not lead to a change of exercise capacity.

Relationship between the effects of a hypnotic drug, zopiclone, on polysomnography and on daytime EEGs

The correlation between the effects of zopiclone (ZPC), a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic drug, on sleep polysomnograms and on daytime EEGs was examined in 12 healthy adult male volunteers. Sleep polysomnograms were recorded after a single oral administration of ZPC 10 mg or placebo according to the double-blind crossover method. Daytime EEGs were recorded after the administration of ZPC, 7.5 mg, or placebo in the same manner, and recorded for 3 min with closed eyes at rest. Then, square roots of the absolute power (amplitude) of the delta-, theta-, alpha-, and beta-activities were calculated from the power spectrum obtained by the fast Fourier transform method. As a result, ZPC decreased the percentage of stage 1 sleep in total sleep time, while it increased the percentage of stage 2, total sleep time, and time of slow wave sleep in the first and second sleep cycles (SWS 1 and 2). Changes in SWS 1 and 2 correlated positively with the amplitude changes in daytime resting delta-activity. This indicates that the increase of SWS due to ZPC could be related to the change of delta-activity in the daytime resting EEG.

Enhancement of tumor antigen expression and inhibition of pulmonary metastasis of rat fibrosarcoma cells by local radiotherapy

Pulmonary metastasis formation after local radiotherapy against a rat fibrosarcoma was investigated. KMT-17 fibrosarcoma cells were transplanted into the hind leg in syngeneic WKA rats and two different doses (30Gy, 60Gy) of irradiation from a 60Co source were applied 5 days after transplantation. Pulmonary metastasis was inhibited by 30Gy irradiation rather than 60Gy irradiation, which was enough to almost completely cure the local tumors. This inhibitory effect of 30Gy irradiation was induced by the continued presence of irradiated tumors. As for pulmonary metastasis, the different effects of irradiation doses were not recognized when the tumor was removed surgically 1 day after irradiation, but when it was removed 4 days after 30Gy irradiation significantly inhibited metastasis. Expression of tumor-associated antigen (TAA), termed CE7 antigen, on the cell surface was enhanced effectively and continuously by 30Gy irradiation rather than by 60Gy. With this increase in CE7-expressing cells, the enhancement of anti-tumor immunity of spleen cells was observed in an in vitro 125I-IudR release assay and an in vivo tumor-neutralizing assay (Winn assay). The above results suggest that an appropriate dose of irradiation such as 30Gy, to a local tumor can efficiently enhance the TAA expression and that TAA-expressing cells may stimulate anti-tumor immunity, resulting in inhibition of pulmonary metastasis. This phenomenon may offer the possibility of resistance to micrometastasis through the induction of antitumor effector cells.

[Doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage in elderly patients with hematologic malignancies]

Cardiac function was evaluated in 53 elderly patients with hematologic malignancies who were being treated with doxorubicin (DXR). The left ventricular ejection fraction was measured by radionuclide angiocardiography, the washout rate by 123I-MIBG myocardial SPECT, the extent and severity scores by 123I-BMIPP myocardial SPECT, and the frequency of premature ventricular contractions by Holter electrocardiography. 1) In some patients, both the washout rate and the extent and severity scores were abnormally high before treatment. 2) Because the washout rate correlated with the total dose of DXR, it may be an early indicator of cardiac sympathetic nervous dysfunction. 3) The left ventricular ejection fraction correlated with the extent and severity scores, but not with the washout rate or with the frequency of premature ventricular contractions. 4) The washout rate correlated with the frequency of premature ventricular contractions. These data show that elderly patients had abnormal cardiac function even before treatment with DXR; that cardiac sympathetic dysfunction and cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction developed at total DXR doses of 250 to 300 mg/m2 or higher; and that the left ventricular ejection fraction was less than or equal to 50% in many patients. Consequently, when DXR is used to treat elderly patients, multimodal evaluation of cardiac function is necessary to detect cardiotoxicity and to determine the optimal total dose and the optimal dosage.

Expression of cell division cycle 2 kinase transcription in chronically rejected cardiac allografts of nonhuman primates

Accurate diagnosis and prevention of graft arteriosclerosis, known as chronic rejection, is critical to the success of cardiac transplantation, but often is difficult to attain. Expression of cell division cycle (cdc) 2 kinase, which plays a critical role in cell transition through the G2/M phase, is critical to the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. To evaluate the usefulness of cdc2 kinase expression for pathophysiological analysis of chronic rejection, heterotopic cardiac transplantation was performed in Japanese monkeys (n = 7). Standard reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ RT-PCR were performed to evaluate the expression. In the coronary arteries of chronically rejected allografts, enhanced cdc2 kinase expression was observed in thickened intima and media, while none was expressed in native hearts. The cdc2 kinase was also expressed before the intimal thickening occurred. These results indicate that enhanced expression of cdc2 kinase is a sensitive indicator for chronic cardiac rejection; targeting cdc2 kinase may be a viable gene therapy for prevention of this vasculopathy.

Clinical study of the relationship between cytological behavior and postoperative prognosis in colorectal cancer cases with special reference to nuclear DNA content and nucleolar organizer regions

BACKGROUND

We studied the usefulness of nuclear DNA patterns and argyrophylic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) for evaluating the malignant potential of colorectal cancers, which is increasingly being regarded as important in predicting patients' prognosis and for their appropriate postoperative management.

METHODS

We measured these two factors in curatively resected specimens of 91 colorectal cancer cases, which were followed up for 1,549 +/- 788 days postoperatively. Ploidy pattern was either diploid or aneuploid, and AgNORs score was either low (LS) or high (HS). Thus, we classified our cases into Group I (diploid, LS). Group II (aneuploid, LS), Group III (diploid, HS), and Group IV (aneuploid, HS). Postoperative survival curves in the cases belonging to these groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

Survival rates in Groups I and II were significantly higher than those in Group IV. Correlation between subgroups and clinicopathological factors such as average age, histologic type, depth of invasion, and histologic stage were observed. Incidence of lymph node metastasis at the time of operation and that of postoperative recurrence were higher in group IV than that in groups I and II.

CONCLUSIONS

Measurement of DNA ploidy patterns and AgNORs score were found to be useful in evaluating malignant potential of colorectal cancers.

Evidence of a novel redox-linked activation mechanism for the Src kinase which is independent of tyrosine 527-mediated regulation

The kinase activity of p60c-src has been shown to be basically regulated through phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Y527. We found that catalytic activity of the immunoprecipitated c-Src kinase from NIH3T3 cells was elevated several folds by exposure to 0.5-50 microM of sulfhydryl-reactive Hg2+. Vmax of the kinase was increased whereas Km was decreased. N-acetylcysteine neutralized this Hg2+ effect, suggesting a critical role of the Hg2+-mediated sulfhydryl modification of the kinase in the mechanism. Addition of protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor Na3VO4 into the reaction mixture did not inhibit the Hg2+-mediated activation. Further study revealed that Hg2+ was capable of activating the v-Src kinase lacking Y527 and the c-Src kinase from mutant cells defective of the Y527-phosphorylating Csk kinase. Cyanogen bromide cleavage maps of radiolabeled Src proteins showed that Hg2+ selectively promoted the autophosphorylation at Y416 and that the previously in vivo radiolabeled phosphorous on Y527 was not deleted during the promotion of Y416 autophosphorylation by Hg2+. Phosphoamino acid analysis demonstrated selective promotion of phosphorylation at tyrosine but not at serine/threonine. Not like bivalent Hg2+, monovalent p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid was incapable of activating c-Src kinase. These results suggest a novel Y416 phosphorylation-linked activation pathway for Src kinases which is initially triggered independent of Y527-mediated or serine/threonine phosphorylation-linked regulation, possibly through sulfhydryl-based protein structural modification for functional alteration.

Identification and purification of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase V from human gastric carcinoma

We previously purified a novel Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) V, which has proven to be a member of the CaM kinase I family. Immunohistochemical staining of surgically-resected specimens from human subjects using specific antibody which reacts with CaM kinases I and V demonstrated heterogeneous distribution of CaM kinase I/V in normal gastric mucosa. The kinase was located mainly at the bottom of foveoral epithelium and in the gastric gland (< 25% immunopositive). In contrast, this kinase was abundant in various types of gastric carcinomas (> 75%), but not in gastric adenomas. Preferential and consistent presence of this kinase was confirmed by immunoblot analysis of gastric carcinoma and human gastric cancer cell lines, Kato-III and MKN-45. CaM kinase I/V was co-purified with CaM kinase II from resected gastric carcinoma using anion-exchange chromatography followed by calmodulin-affinity chromatography. The two kinases were finally separated by HPLC-based gel filtration. Purified CaM kinase I/V from gastric carcinoma did not possess detectable autophosphorylating activity, in contrast to CaM kinase II. The findings suggest CaM kinase I/V may possess abnormal biochemical properties in human gastric carcinoma, and the kinase could participate in cell growth of the carcinoma.

Intracavity second-harmonic generation with a periodically domain-inverted LiTaO(3) device

Efficient intracavity second-harmonic generation (SHG) based on a bulk-type quasi-phase-matched (QPM) SHG device in a LiTaO(3) crystal is demonstrated. The periodically domain-inverted regions were fabricated by a high-voltage application technique. The internal loss from the refractive-index change in the domain-inverted regions was reduced to less than 0.1% by an annealing technique. Intracavity frequency doubling of a Nd:YVO(4) laser with the QPM SHG device pumped by a laser diode was effected to generate 13-mW green light for a pump power of 130 mW without suffering transverse mode distortion from a photorefractive effect.

Physical and functional interaction of rabphilin-3A with alpha-actinin

Rabphilin-3A is a downstream target molecule of Rab3A small GTP-binding protein and implicated in Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release. Here we have isolated a rabphilin-3A-interacting molecule from a human brain cDNA library by the yeast two-hybrid method and identified it to be alpha-actinin, known to cross-link actin filaments into a bundle. alpha-Actinin interacts with the N-terminal region of rabphilin-3A, with which GTP-Rab3A interacts, and this interaction stimulates the activity of alpha-actinin to cross-link actin filaments into a bundle. The interaction of rabphilin-3A with alpha-actinin is inhibited by guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate-Rab3A. These results suggest that the Rab3A-rabphilin-3A system regulates the alpha-actinin-regulated reorganization of actin filaments. It has been shown that reorganization of actin filaments is also involved in Ca2+-dependent exocytosis. Therefore, rabphilin-3A may serve as a linker for Rab3A and cytoskeleton.

Dynamics of soluble adhesion molecule levels in patients with pollinosis

OBJECTIVES

To define the dynamics of systemic and local soluble adhesion molecule levels and to discuss the role of these molecules in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.

DESIGN

Randomized control trial.

SUBJECTS

Twelve volunteers with Japanese cedar pollinosis and 7 healthy volunteers.

INTERVENTIONS

The levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), soluble E-selectin, and soluble L-selectin in serum samples and nasal epithelial lining fluids (ELF) from 12 patients with pollinosis were measured 5 times throughout the allergy preseason to postseason, and the results were compared with those from 7 healthy subjects.

RESULTS

The levels of sICAM-1 (P < .05) and sVCAM-1 (P < .05) in sera were up-regulated, and the levels of soluble L-selectin (P < .01) in sera were down-regulated during the early stage of the season in the allergic subjects. The difference between the levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in sera in the early and mid-season was statistically significant in the allergic subjects (P < .05). The levels of sICAM-1 in ELF were up-regulated during the early and mid-season. The levels of sVCAM-1, soluble E-selectin, and soluble L-selectin in ELF were undetectably low throughout the preseason to postseason.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence of the unique stage-dependent differential contributions of various soluble adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of seasonal allergic rhinitis with a small amount of natural allergen provocation.

Loss of tuberin from cerebral tissues with tuberous sclerosis and astrocytoma

We studied the expression of tuberin, the TSC2 gene product, in cerebra with or without tuberous sclerosis. Tuberin was abundant in the gray matter of normal cerebra, but was undetectable in the subependymal astrocytomas from 3 patients with tuberous sclerosis. In 1 patient, cortical tubers and normally appearing cortical tissue also showed a marked loss of tuberin. These results indicate the critical role of tuberin in the neuropathology of tuberous sclerosis.

Giant purulent mesenteric cyst

Infected intra-abdominal cystic lymphangiomas are very rare. We report a case of a purulent mesenteric cyst, histologically a cystic lymphangioma, w which developed in a 1-year-old girl who presented with marked abdominal distension and high fever. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the huge cystic lesion occupied the entire peritoneal cavity. It originated from the mesocolon. It was removed completely, and contained sticky pus at the base where the right fallopian tube penetrated it, which indicated the focus of infection. This may be the first report of a purulent mesenteric cyst in which the route of infection was suspected.