Vanadate-mediated oxidation of NADH: description of an in vitro system requiring ascorbate and phosphate

Oxidation of NADH has been observed in an in vitro system requiring NADH, vanadate, ascorbate, and phosphate. Similar results were observed with NADPH. Ascorbate provides the reducing equivalents necessary to reduce vanadate to vanadyl. Vanadyl autoxidizes producing superoxide which initiates a free radical chain reaction resulting in oxidation of NADH. Oxidation is inhibited by superoxide dismutase but not by catalase or ethanol. Ascorbate functions to initiate the free radical chain reaction but is not required in stoichiometric concentrations. At higher concentrations, ascorbate inhibits NADH oxidation. Inorganic phosphate was required for NADH oxidation. Dialysis of phosphate buffers against solutions containing apoferritin or conalbumin or addition of transition metal cations or chelators to the reaction medium did not alter dependence on phosphate. Phosphate and vanadate were interchangeable in their effects on kinetic parameters of NADH oxidation except that vanadate was 100 times more potent than phosphate. Vanadate participates directly in the initiating and propagating redox reactions of NADH oxidation. Phosphate may be important in lowering the energy of activation for the necessary transfer of hydronium ion and water in the transition state between vanadate anion and vanadyl cation.

[Study of organisms isolated from non-infected patients with pneumoconiosis]

Studies on the sputum organisms and their seasonal incidences were conducted on non-infected patients with pneumoconiosis. A total of 3318 organisms were isolated from 1427 sputum examinations, an average of 4 examinations per patient. alpha-Streptococcus, GPC, Neisseria and GNC were isolated in 74.1, 22.1, 64.8, 21.3% of the patients respectively. In addition, organisms to cause respiratory infection were isolated in the non-infected phase. S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, B. catarrhalis, H. influenzae, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were isolated in 1.5, 5.1, 2.5, 3.3, 2.9, 6.4, 2.8% of the patients respectively. Studies of the seasonal incidences in these organisms showed that H. influenzae, B. catarrhalis and S. pneumoniae were isolated mostly in winter, S. aureus mostly in spring, E. coli and K. pneumoniae mostly in summer. On the other hand, P. aeruginosa showed no seasonal incidence. In relation to the causing organisms of respiratory infection with pneumoconiosis, it is very interesting that many organisms were isolated in the non-infected phase, and seasonal incidences were observed.

Stimulation of anaphylaxis in the mouse footpad by dietary fish oil fatty acids

The effect of fish oil-derived omega-3 (omega-3) fatty acids on anaphylaxis, Arthus and delayed type hypersensitivity reactions in mice has been investigated. Mice on a normal chow diet were fed eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid at a dose of 500 and 333 mg/kg/day, respectively, by a gastric tube over a period of 61 days. Control groups were given water, safflower oil or oleic acid. Anaphylactic and Arthus type reactions were induced in the mouse footpad using bovine serum albumin as an antigen. Carrageenin was utilized to produce a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction. The animals fed omega-3 fatty acids induced a more anaphylactic foodpad reaction. There was no significant effect of the diet on Arthus and delayed type hypersensitivity responses. There was no effect of the fish oil-supplemented diet on production of antibodies to bovine serum albumin. Synthesis of prostaglandin E2 by peritoneal macrophages was significantly inhibited in the animals fed omega-3 fatty acid-enriched fish oil, while leukotriene B4 production was not affected. These results suggest that a diet enriched in omega-3 fatty acids modulates production of arachidonic acid metabolites and this may influence anaphylaxis, but not Arthus and cellular mediated hypersensitivity responses.

[Effect of intrapleural and/or intraperitoneal lentinan therapy on carcinomatous pleuritis and peritonitis with special reference to immunological evaluation]

Eleven patients, seven with carcinomatous pleuritis and four with carcinomatous peritonitis, were treated with the intrapleural and/or intraperitoneal administration of Lentinan (4 mg/week X 4). And the following results were obtained. (1) Eight patients revealed a clinical effect; malignant effusion disappeared in two and diminished in two. In six, the cytological grade decreased. (2) Subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and pleural or peritoneal effusion mononuclear cells (PEMNC) were examined using monoclonal antibodies (OKT4, OKT8, Leu7, CD8 X CD11). These showed no change during the course of treatment. (3) NK activities of PBL didn't improved but those of PEMNC significantly improved (P less than 0.01) during this therapy. Anti-Daudi activities of PEMNC tended to be augmented during this therapy. Especially in effective cases, anti-Daudi activities were highly augmented. (4) As a side effect, only one showed an elevation of body temperature. These results indicate that intrapleural and/or intraperitoneal Lentinan administration is a useful treatment for carcinomatous pleuritis and peritonitis.

[Differences in the clinical feature of Sjögren syndrome in the presence and absence of rheumatoid arthritis]

In our study, we investigated the clinical features of sicca syndrome in the presence and absence of rheumatoid arthritis. Twenty patients with sicca syndrome alone and 22 patients with sicca syndrome accompanied by rheumatoid arthritis were examined. The average onset age of the sicca syndrome alone is 12 years younger than the syndrome associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, rheumatoid arthritis tended to antecede the clinical onset of the sicca syndrome in the latter group. Relevant to the clinical investigative data, frequent lower values of CH 50 and positive reactions to the anti-nuclear antibody were noted in the sicca syndrome alone group. In this group, a lowering of cell-mediated immunity and a decrease in lysozyme density in lacrimal fluid were also noted. Relevant to the clinical manifestation, a high frequency of recurrence of parotitis, purpura and lymphadenopathy was also noted. Related to the joint findings, 45% of the patients with sicca syndrome alone disclosed clinical evidence for arthritis, however, no significant radiographic findings were observed. It is clear that there were distinct differences in clinical figures in both groups, while continuity of the clinical figures between them was also confirmed. When we take the known pathological and molecular genetic findings into consideration, it may be assumed that the differences in the clinical figures between these two entities could result from the difference of the causative mechanism of the conditions. Furthermore, we may safely say that the sicca syndrome alone may reflect the essential pathophysiologic figure of this particular syndrome.

[A case of thymoma associated with prostatic cancer]

A case of prostatic cancer treated with an LH-RH analogue depo-preparation was found to have a mediastinal thymoma which was later removed by surgery. The association of thymoma and prostatic cancer has not been documented in the world literature, and it remains to be elucidated whether the occurrence of the both tumors is a coincidence or etiologically inter-related.

[Spontaneous regression of lung metastasis of renal cell carcinoma: a case report]

A chest X-ray tomography revealed a metastatic shadow in the left lung of a 56-year-old man with pathologically established right renal cell carcinoma. The shadow was found to be regressed to a fibrous lesion on the 18th day after radical nephrectomy. Because of non-A, non-B, hepatitis, the anticancer treatment with alpha-interferon and 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl-5-fluorouracil) was started 40 days after the nephrectomy. At that time, only a fibrous lesion was noted at the site of lung metastatic shadow. At present, the patient remains free of disease for 21 months after nephrectomy.

[Early detection of urogenital cancers: kidney, bladder, prostatic and testicular cancers]

Since there is no definition of early cancer for the genitourinary tract yet, so we tried to make a definition of it before main subjects are discussed. States of early cancer are thought to be small, to have neither surrounding invasion nor metastasis and also to have possibility to be found and to be cured. The early cancers of the genitourinary tracts are primary lesion less than 3 cm in diameter of the renal cell carcinoma, prostatic cancer of stage A and B and testicular tumor of pT1N0M0. Definition of bladder cancer is too difficult to be established at the present time.

The charge effects of the self-diffusion constant of bovine mercaptalbumin

The charge effect on the translational self-diffusion constant, D, of polyelectrolytes has been quantitatively analyzed based on dynamic light scattering experiments. Perfectly monodisperse bovine mercaptalbumin has been used at low pH as a positively charged polyelectrolyte sample. Completely linear plots of log{g2(t)-1} vs. time t have been obtained for uncharged states of the protein, for the cor relation function of the scattered light intensity, g2(t). The plots deviate from linearity as polyions bear the charges. The D values for various ionic states, obtained from the initial slopes of the plots, have been analyzed using the simple theory of Imai and Mandel (N. Imai and M. Mandel, Macromolecules 15 (1982) 1562) derived based on the Onsager-Navier-Stokes equation for solvent flow with counterion distribution around a polyion. It has turned out that the experimental D values coincide well with the theory and that the characteristic nature of D can be elucidated principally from the charge effect.

The charge effects of the self-diffusion constant of bovine mercaptalbumin

The charge effect on the translational self-diffusion constant, D, of polyelectrolytes has been quantitatively analyzed based on dynamic light scattering experiments. Perfectly monodisperse bovine mercaptalbumin has been used at low pH as a positively charged polyelectrolyte sample. Completely linear plots of log(g2(t)-1) vs. time t have been obtained for uncharged states of the protein, for the correlation function of the scattered light intensity, g2(t). The plots deviate from linearity as polyions bear the charges. The D values for various ionic states, obtained from the initial slopes of the plots, have been analyzed using the simple theory of Imai and Mandel (N. Imai and M. Mandel, Macromolecules 15 (1982) 1562) derived based on the Onsager-Navier-Stokes equation for solvent flow with counterion distribution around a polyion. It has turned out that the experimental D values coincide well with the theory and that the characteristic nature of D can be elucidated principally from the charge effect.

Improved range of motion with the Y/S total knee arthroplasty system

A total knee arthroplasty system (total knee system) was developed by the authors (Y/S) with instrumentation for controlled soft-tissue balancing both in flexion and extension. The prosthesis was designed to take into consideration the kinematic aspect of full flexion. Vigorous daily postoperative rehabilitation was continued for four weeks. Results were good to excellent in all but two of 50 consecutive knee operations on 39 patients. A minimum of 90 degrees flexion was achieved in all cases, with a better average range of motion than those reported in the past. Four patients (six knees), achieved full squatting. The combination of three elements, prosthetic geometry, well-controlled soft tissue balancing for flexion and extension phases, and vigorous rehabilitation, is important for the recovery of range of motion.

Effect of a fish-oil-supplemented diet on inflammation and immunological processes in rats

The effect of a diet enriched in fish-oil-derived fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DCHA) in inflammation and immunological processes in rats has been investigated. Rats on a normal chow diet were given 500 mg/kg/day EPA and 333 mg/kg/day DCHA by gavage over a period of 50 days. Control groups received water, oleic acid or safflower oil. Acute and chronic phases of inflammation induced by antigenic challenge with bovine serum albumin were examined in the rat air-pouch model. In rats receiving fish-oil-derived fatty acids, there was a reduced production of the arachidonic acid metabolites, prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4, in the exudate in the chronic phase of inflammation, but not in the acute phase. This was associated with an increased infiltration of leukocytes, especially monocytes and macrophages, in the chronic inflammatory phase. The fish-oil-supplemented diet showed no effect on the volume of inflammatory exudate, the amount of protein in the exudate and connective tissue proliferation. Carrageenin-induced paw edema in the animals was not influenced by the diet. There was no effect of the dietary fish oil on production of antibodies to bovine serum albumin in the rats. However, the diet appeared to suppress a delayed-type skin reaction in the animals. These studies suggest that fish-oil-derived fatty acids may modulate chronic inflammation and a cellular-mediated immunological reaction by reducing the synthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites.

Conversion of pyridoxine into 6-hydroxypyridoxine by food components, especially ascorbic acid

In experiments designed to examine interactions between pyridoxine (PN) and food components, PN was found to be converted into an unidentified compound in the presence of the homogenates of various plant foods under mild conditions. The formation of the compound tended to be higher when food samples had a higher ascorbic acid (AsA) content. The reaction was neither thermal decomposition nor photodecomposition. This compound was also formed by incubating PN with AsA in the dark. Conversion of PN into the compound proceeded with oxidation of AsA, and was negligible under anaerobic conditions. The pH optimum for the reaction was between 4 and 7, and the temperature optimum was between 30 and 50 degrees C. The compound was purified by ion-exchange chromatography, isolated as colorless needles, and identified as 6-hydroxypyridoxine from UV, PMR, IR and MS spectral data. 6-Hydroxypyridoxine had neither vitamin B6 nor antivitamin B6 activity for Saccharomyces carlsbergensis 4228 (ATCC 9080). From these results, we inferred that hydroxylation of PN in the presence of food components, especially AsA, caused loss of vitamin B6 in plant foods during food processing, storage and cooking.

Vascular permeability responses and the role of prostaglandin E2 in an experimental allergic inflammation of air pouch type in rats

Rats were sensitized with azobenzene arsonate-conjugated acetyl bovine serum albumin. An allergic inflammation was induced in the preformed air pouch in the dorsum of the sensitized rats by injecting the antigen dissolved in a 2% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution into the air pouch. Time course changes of vascular permeability, accumulated pouch fluid volume and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in the pouch fluid were compared in sensitized and non-sensitized rats to characterize the allergic inflammatory reaction. Effects of three cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin, diclofenac sodium and tiaprofenic acid) on vascular permeability and accumulated pouch fluid volume 4 and 24 h after the immunological challenge injection were examined to elucidate a possible role of PGE2 in the inflammatory response. Four h after initiating the allergic reaction, although the level of PGE2 in the pouch fluid reached a high level, the vascular permeability response, measured over the period 3.5-4 h, was not suppressed by treatment with the three cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors and neither was the pouch fluid volume measured over the period 0-4 h. However, vascular permeability and accumulated pouch fluid volume at 24 h were suppressed by the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors in a dose-dependent manner. These observations suggest that in this model, endogenous PGE2 does not affect oedema formation measured at 4 h. However, oedema formation measured at 24 h may be dependent on PGE2 generation.

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the HU-1 gene of Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli HU-1 was cloned by use of mixed synthetic oligonucleotides (17-mer) predicted from a portion of its amino acid sequence. The amino acid sequence of the HU-1 protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence is in good agreement with the published sequence. The nucleotide sequence has a possible promoter and a typical ribosomal binding site upstream from the translational initiation codon (GUG) of the HU-1 gene.

Inflammation induced by bacterial cell wall fragments in the rat air pouch. Comparison of rat strains and measurement of arachidonic acid metabolites

Streptococcal cell wall fragments, suspended in phosphate-buffered saline, were injected into a preformed subcutaneous air pouch in rats. The advantage of the air pouch model is the capacity for quantitation of exudative, cellular, and proliferative responses and soluble mediators. Accumulation of pouch fluid containing many leukocytes occurred during the first 3 days. Granulation tissue separable from the surrounding subcutaneous tissue developed by 6 days. Immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase staining showed the presence of cell walls in inflammatory cells both in pouch fluid and in pouch tissue. Histologic features of this inflammation included an acute exudative phase with a predominantly neutrophil infiltration followed by a chronic phase characterized by fibroblast proliferation, formation of blood vessels, and infiltration with mononuclear cells. The lining of the pouch before injection of cell wall developed morphologic features of synovial membrane, which became more evident during the chronic phase of induced inflammation. Outbred Sprague-Dawley and inbred Lewis rats developed more pouch fluid, cell numbers in the pouch fluid, and granulation tissue than inbred Buffalo rats. The arachidonic acid metabolites, prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4, were measured in the pouch fluid, and more of each was produced in the Lewis than in the Buffalo strain. These measurements of inflammation are consistent with the relative susceptibility of these strains to cell-wall-induced arthritis. This model of inflammation can be used in the examination of the regulatory mechanisms of evolving chronic inflammation.

Fibronectin in chronic inflammation: studies using the rat air pouch model of chronic allergic inflammation

Fibronectin is a large glycoprotein of plasma, tissue fluids and tissues. The rat air pouch model of mesenchymal inflammation was used to examine changes in fibronectin levels during inflammation within a mesenchymal cavity. Rat plasma fibronectin levels showed a rapid and significant rise in relation to the induction of an air pouch. In contrast pouch fluid fibronectin levels were initially low and gradually increased with chronicity. They were unrelated to plasma levels. Pouch fluid fibronectin showed no relationship to cell content of the fluid, its volume, nor the weight of granulation tissue. Two-dimensional immuno-electrophoresis showed pouch fluid fibronectin was partially complexed but plasma fibronectin was not. These results show plasma and tissue fluid fibronectin have different patterns of response to inflammation. In rats plasma fibronectin is an acute-phase reactant, although this is not the case in humans.

Effect of blood on the activity and persistence of antigen induced inflammation in the rat air pouch

The hypothesis that haem iron derived from synovial microbleeding has a proinflammatory effect on the synovial membrane was tested by adding autologous whole blood and fractions derived from it to a naturally remitting rat air pouch model of allergic inflammation. The induction of such a subcutaneous air pouch produces a cavity lined by mesenchymal cells comparable to the synovial membrane. Autologous whole blood was found to prolong a low grade inflammatory state, this effect being attributable to a red cell component, most probably haem iron. Whole blood in the absence of an inflammatory stimulus does not have this effect, indicating that the mechanism is one of prolonging or promoting existing allergic inflammation, rather than inducing an inflammatory response.

Multiple replacements of major joints in rheumatoid arthritis

Multiple total joint replacements were performed in 51 handicapped rheumatoid patients. Three joints were replaced in 23 patients, four joints in 25 patients, five joints in one patient, and six joints in two patients, for a total of 186 replacements of elbow, hip, knee and ankle joints. By the time of followup, seven of the patients had died due to unrelated causes. Evaluation of the walking ability in the remaining 43 patients revealed that 20 out of 22 nonambulatory patients had become able to walk indoors and outdoors, and 21 patients who had been able to walk only indoors became able to walk outdoors as well. Major complications occurred in 11 patients: femoral neck fracture in three, supracondylar fracture of the femur in three, cervical myelopathy in two, and loosening of the femoral prosthesis in two patients. The factors responsible for poor results in two patients were cervical problems and loss of motivation.

The effect of desferrioxamine on antigen-induced inflammation in the rat air pouch

The effect of desferrioxamine, a relatively specific iron chelating drug, has been examined in an allergic air pouch model of inflammation in the rat. The model has both an acute and chronic phase and allows quantitative measurements of the cellular and exudative response within the pouch fluid and the tissue response in the membrane that develops around the preformed cavity. Desferrioxamine given as a single bolus injection, directly into the cavity, stimulated the acute inflammatory phase, increasing both the exudative and leukocyte response, in a dose-dependent fashion. In marked contrast, repeated injections during the acute to chronic phase or during the established chronic reaction, led to a reduction in both leukocyte numbers within the cavity and the amount of granulation tissue surrounding it. The exudative response was, however, unaltered. These results are discussed in relation to the potential role of iron in promoting an acute and chronic inflammatory reaction.

Bilateral joint replacement of hip and knee joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Between 1973 and 1981, bilateral total replacement of hip and knee joints was performed in 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. During follow-up, 2 patients died of diseases not directly related to the operation. Besides these patients, there were 2 patients who could not be followed up. The remaining 18 patients constituted the subjects for study. We studied the postoperative results, emphasing improvement in the ability to perform everyday activities. Walking ability was improved in 16 patients. There was an increase in the number of patients able to rise from a chair, go up and down stairs, and get in and out of a car, bus or train. Of the 14 married patients (not including 2 patients who were unable to walk and 5 patients over 60 years of age) 7 were able to perform sexual intercourse as well as they had been able to when healthy. The patients who underwent bilateral total replacement of hip and knee joints often presented various problems, for example with regard to indications, the operative technique to use, as well as complications such as heart disease, pulmonary disease, and secondary amyloidosis. We have found, however, that bilateral total replacement of hip and knee joints can accomplish the operative objectives of eliminating pain and improving the quality of daily life in severely handicapped rheumatoid patients.

A model of persistent antigen-induced chronic inflammation in the rat air pouch

Continuing antigen-induced inflammation was established in a subcutaneous air pouch in rats by recurrent local challenge. The animals were sensitized using bovine serum albumin in Freund's complete adjuvant and were challenged 14 days later by injection of the antigen in a solution containing sodium carboxymethylcellulose into the air pouch to produce allergic inflammation. A single antigenic challenge induced acute inflammation with a predominantly polymorph infiltration in the first 48 h. Later samples showed a low-grade mononuclear response which persisted for 4-5 days. Repeated challenge produced chronic inflammation with an accentuated mononuclear response. Connective tissue activation involving fibronectin and collagen was seen as the inflammation progressed, and this was associated with production of ferritin by mononuclear cells. Discontinuation of challenge injections resulted in resolution of the granuloma. We suggest this model can be used to investigate the mechanisms involved in chronic inflammatory diseases with an immunological component and to evaluate the effects of therapeutic intervention upon chronic allergic inflammation.

Chronological changes in latent prostatic carcinoma found in surgical specimens from Japanese during 28 years

Out of 1,193 specimens from open prostatectomies in Japanese at Tokyo Teishin Hospital during the 28 years from 1953 to 1980, 38 focal type latent prostatic carcinomas were found. These were classified histologically by Gleason's criteria and subdivided into two groups, a low grade group (patterns 1 and 2) and a high grade group (patterns 3, 4 and 5). The incidence of the focal type of latent prostatic carcinoma in 1967-1980 was significantly higher than that in 1953-1966 (P less than 0.05). The incidence of the high grade group was significantly higher in the recent 14-year period (P less than 0.05), while the incidence of the low grade group was not. The prevalence of latent prostatic carcinoma in the Japanese male population, especially the prevalence of the high grade group, may have increased during these 28 years, which may be associated with the increasing mortality rate for prostatic cancer in the Japanese.

Induction of a delayed type hypersensitivity to carrageenin in mice

Induction of delayed type hypersensitivity to carrageenin in mice was investigated with successful results. Male ddY/s mice were immunized with 1 mg of carrageenin 100 microliters of Freund's complete adjuvant-saline (1:1) emulsion and challenged 10 d after the immunization on their footpads with either 10 or 40 micrograms of the antigen in 2.5 microliters of Freund's incomplete adjuvant-saline (1:1) emulsion. The mice exhibited a strong allergic footpad reaction at 24-48 h after the challenge injection. The footpad reaction was successfully transferred with spleen cells. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, indomethacin, and steroidal antiinflammatory drug, dexamethasone, suppressed the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction.

Postoperative results of Yoshino total knee prosthesis. A report of 264 arthroplasties performed between 1974 and 1980

A review was made of 264 Yoshino total knee arthroplasties performed on 154 patients between February 1974 and July 1980. The average duration of the follow-up was 3 years and 2 months. Eighty-six percent were rheumatoid patients. Complications occurred in seven patients. The evaluation results indicated excellent relief of pain and improvement in walking ability. However, pain of the patellofemoral joint was noted in a number of osteoarthritic patients. This implies that a patella implant is necessary in the case of osteoarthritis. In addition, a new surgical technique was performed on "stiff" knees to improve their degree of movement; the average range of movement achieved in these patients was 70 degrees.

A possible role of arachidonate metabolism in allergic air pouch inflammation in rats. Anti-inflammatory effect of indomethacin and dexamethasone and the level of prostaglandin E2 in the exudate

The effect of indomethacin and dexamethasone on an allergic inflammation in rats, a novel model of allergic inflammation of an air pouch type, was examined. Indomethacin and dexamethasone exerted a dose-dependent inhibition of both the accumulation of inflammatory exudate and the migration of leukocytes into the exudate. And although prostaglandin E2 levels in the exudate were lowered to the same extent by treatment with indomethacin and dexamethasone, inhibition of both exudate accumulation and and leukocyte migration was more pronounced after treatment with dexamethasone. The difference in the effectiveness of indomethacin and dexamethasone in terms of inhibition of arachidonate metabolism in the allergic air pouch inflammation are discussed.

Induction of an allergic air-pouch inflammation in rats

An allergic air pouch inflammation was induced on the dorsum of rats using azobenzenearsonate-conjugated acetyl bovine serum albumin as an antigen. Rats were immunized by intradermal injection with 5 mg of the antigen in 0.5 ml Freund's complete adjuvant saline (1:1) emulsion. 9 days after the immunization 8 ml of air was injected subcutaneously on the dorsum, and 24 h later 4 ml of 2% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution containing 2 mg of the antigen was injected into the preformed air pouch to provoke the allergic inflammation. In addition to the histological observations of the inflammatory tissues of the pouch wall, time course studies on the volume of the inflammatory pouch fluid, on the number and species of inflammatory cells in the pouch fluid and on the wet weight of granulation tissues were carried out to characterize the nature of the inflammatory reaction, which was shown to be suitable as a model to perform quantitative measurements and biochemical analyses of the allergic inflammation.

Results of surgical treatment of nonambulatory rheumatoid patients

Total joint replacements were performed in 37 nonambulatory rheumatoid patients. Postoperatively, 35 patients regained the ability to walk. Our accumulated clinical experience indicates that such operations should be performed only when at least all of the following criteria are satisfied: 1) strong motivation for restoration of walking ability; 2) good relationship between physician and patient; 3) absence of severe systemic complications, and 4) the rheumatoid arthritis can be controlled by medication.

Sexual problems of women with rheumatoid arthritis

A questionnaire concerning sexual problems was given to 112 female rheumatoid arthritic (RA) patients. Replies were collected from 91 (81%). The results indicated that 1) recently married patients were concerned about pregnancy; 2) the sexual desire of most patients diminished, and intercourse became less frequent and less satisfying; 3) affected hip and knee joints made it difficult to assume sexual intercourse positions; and 4) patients who had unsatisfying sexual relationship reported a decreased demand for intercourse by their spouses and diminished frequency of their own orgasms. To lead a fulfilling married life, patients with RA should be counselled to adopt a positive attitude toward sexual relationship with their husbands.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity as revealed on the footpads of mice to azobenzenearsonate-acetyl bovine serum albumin

A strong delayed-type footpad reaction was established in mice using azobenzenearsonate-acetyl bovine serum albumin (ABA-AcBSA) as an antigen. Male ddY/S mice were sensitized by subcutaneous injection of 100 microliter of Freund's complete adjuvant - saline (1:1) emulsion containing 100 microgram of the antigen and challenged by subcutaneous injection of 2.5 microliter of Freund's incomplete adjuvant - saline (1:1) emulsion with 2.5 microgram antigen in the footpad on the 10th day after the sensitization. The analysis of the system which fulfilled criteria for delayed-type hypersensitivity with regard to kinetics, passive transfer and histology of the footpad reaction, and the effect of dexamethasone, indomethacin and quinacrine on the footpad reaction were described.

Preliminary report on postoperative results of newly designed stable total knee prosthesis

A newly designed stable total knee prosthesis was made for the severely destructed knee. This prosthesis was named the Yoshino total knee prosthesis, and is a non-hinged type prosthesis consisting of a vitallium femoral component and a ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene tibial component. Clinical results of 127 Yoshino total knee arthroplasties showed the following characteristics: 1) good stability, and 2) good mobility. Stability was exceptionally good, and the results were the same as the hinged total knee prosthesis.

Side-effects of prosthetic materials on the human body

The authors report 6 patients (7 joints) in whom inflammation, dermal necrosis, dermatitis or fistula formation was attributed to the materials commonly used for joint endoprostheses. Histological appearances and chemical analyses of the involved tissues are presented, together with a discussion of the possible mechanism and methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Requirement of calcium ions for cell degeneration with a toxin (vibriolysin) from Vibrio parahaemolyticus

A highly purified toxin (vibriolysin) from Vibrio parahaemolyticus caused degeneration of cell shape, such as bleb and balloon formation, of mouse myocardial cells and mouse melanoma cells in culture. An extracellular Ca2+ concentration of more than 10(-6) M was necessary for the degeneration of cell shape, but extracellular Mg2+, Na+, and K+ were not necessary. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, vibriolysin also caused full contraction of myofibrils of mouse myocardial cells and reduction of both actin cables and tubulin networks of mouse melanoma cells. Vibriolysin also caused excess uptake of Ca2+ from the incubation medium by mouse myocardial cells and mouse melanoma cells. Chick myocardial cells, which show neither degeneration of cell shape nor full contraction of myofibrils, did not take up excess 45Ca2+ in the presence of vibriolysin. These findings suggest that the vibriolysin-induced degeneration of cell shape of mouse myocardial cells and mouse melanoma cells is due to excess uptake of Ca2+ from the incubation medium by the cells.

Optical diffraction study of muscle fibers. II. Electro-optical properties of muscle fibers

When an electric field is applied along the fiber axis, the intensities of all observable optical diffraction lines of skeletal muscle fibers increase. This electro-optical effect was extensively studied and it was confirmed that the effect is due to the interaction between electric dipole moments of thin filaments and the applied field. From the present study on the intensity modulation due to applied field in sinusoidal and square forms, we confirmed that (1) the thin filament is a semiflexible rod, (2) the second order mode of the bending motion of thin filaments contributes to the electro-optical effect of muscle fibers at higher frequencies of a sinusodidal field or shorter durations of a square field, (3) the induced moment has no appreciable effect, and (4) the estimated value of the flexural rigidity of thin filaments strongly depends on the concentrations of free calcium ions in the myofibrillar space.