Dysfunctional parenting and a lifetime history of depression in a volunteer sample of Japanese workers

This study explored whether dysfunctional parenting, as measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument, is linked to a lifetime diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) provided by the Inventory to Diagnose Depression, Lifetime Version, in a non-clinical sample from a non-Western culture. Of a total of 239 Japanese volunteer workers, 22 subjects were diagnosed as having had lifetime MDD. Subjects with lifetime MDD reported a significantly lower 'maternal care' score than did those without lifetime MDD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects who reported a lower 'maternal care' score were at a significantly higher risk for lifetime MDD. The results suggest that the link between dysfunctional parenting and MDD may be independent of cultural differences, lending some support to the hypothesis that dysfunctional parenting in childhood may cause adult depression.

Characterization of an lrp-like (lrpC) gene from Bacillus subtilis

In the course of the Bacillus subtilis genome sequencing project, we identified an open reading frame encoding a putative 16.4 kDa protein. This protein shows, respectively, 34% and 25% identity with the Escherichia coli regulatory proteins Lrp and AsnC. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that it represents a new group in the AsnC-Lrp family. Sequence comparisons, as well as immunodetection experiments, lead to the conclusion that the product of this B. subtilis lrp-like-gene is a bona fide Lrp protein-the first one to be detected in gram-positive bacteria. When expressed in E. coli, the B. subtilis Lrp-like protein is able to repress, by about two-fold, the expression of the ilvIH operon which is normally regulated by E. coli Lrp, indicating functional similarity in their regulatory targets. Vegetative growth of a B. subtilis lrp-like mutant is not affected in rich medium. However, the lrp-like mutation causes a transitory inhibition of growth in minimal medium in the presence of valine and isoleucine, which is relieved by leucine. This points to a possible role in regulation of amino acid metabolism. In addition, sporogenesis occurs earlier in the lrp-like mutant than in the reference strain, implying that the B subtilis Lrp-like protein plays a role in the growth phase transition.

Bioactivation of monocrotaline by P-450 3A in rat liver

Monocrotaline (MCT) is bioactivated in liver cytochrome P-450s to MCT pyrrole (MCTP), which primarily injures the lung endothelium to result in the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in rats. However, whether there is a relation between the degree of PH and the activity of liver cytochrome P-450 to convert MCT to MCTP remains unclear. To examine the relation between these physiological and biochemical changes, we first measured the severity of MCT-induced (20 mg/kg) PH in male, female, castrated male, and phenobarbital (PB, liver P-450s inducer)-pretreated male rats. The degree of right ventricular hypertrophy was more severe in PB-pretreated male than in control male rats. It was also more severe in male than in either female or castrated male rats, suggesting that sex-specific P-450s could be involved in the metabolic pathways of MCT in the liver. Further to explore which of the isozymes (2A2, 2C11, and 3A) of P-450s in the liver is responsible for the bioactivation of MCT, we measured the rate of MCTP production in hepatic microsomes by a modified Mattock's method. Treatment of male rats with PB and pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), which is the specific inducer of P-450 3A, increased the rate of MCTP production, suggesting that P-450 3A may contribute to the conversion to pyrrole. Therefore we measured the amount of P-450 3A protein by immunoblotting and attempted to inhibit MCT metabolism by using antibodies to P-450 3A. P-450 3A was significantly induced by PCN (6.5-fold) and PB (4.6-fold) treatment and reduced by castration (0.38-fold). The amount of P-450 3A was closely correlated with the production of MCTP, and the conversion of MCT to MCTP was strongly inhibited by antibodies against P-450 3A. These results indicated that P-450 3A was predominantly responsible for the metabolism of MCT to MCTP in rat liver and suggested a tight linkage between the degree of PH and the activity of liver P-450 3A.

Advances in soil microbial ecology and the biodiversity

Recent studies on the colony formation of soil bacteria opened the way to categorize soil bacteria into colony forming curve (CFC) groups of different growth rates. A bacterial culture collection comprising organisms from every CFC group is called an ecocollection (EC). Outlines of ECs of paddy soil 1992 and grassland soil 1987 and 1992 were described. Phylogenetic studies by 16S rDNA sequencing showed a great diversity of culture strains of the ecocollections. A set of alternative concepts was proposed; the active and the quiescent forms of bacterial cells in soil. The former is able to be cultivated and thus counted by the plate method, while the latter is not unless it transforms into the former. Based on the results several points required for extensive cataloguing of soil bacteria were noted.

[Role of endothelin-B receptors in the pulmonary circulation]

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoactive peptide and is thought to play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone. ET-1 can both constrict blood vessels, via endothelin-A (ET-A) receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells, and dilate then via endothelin-B (ET-B) receptors in endothelial cells in the systemic circulation. To determine the role of ET-B receptors in the pulmonary circulation, we examined the hemodynamic effects of a selective ET-B receptor agonist (IRL 1620) in rats. In rat lungs perfused with a salt solution, IRL 1620 caused pulmonary vasoconstriction in a dose-dependent manner. In lungs perfused with a hypoxic half-blood solution (10% O2), doses of IRL 1620 less than 10 nM caused pulmonary vasodilation, but higher doses caused pulmonary vasoconstriction. IRL 1620 caused transient vasodilation of the systemic circulation at every dose used (0.1, 1, and 5 nmol/kg) in anesthetized rats. In contrast, the effects of IRL 1620 on the pulmonary circulation varied with the dose. Small doses (0.1 or 1 nmol/kg) caused pulmonary vasodilation, but a higher dose (5 nmol/kg) caused pulmonary vasoconstriction. These results show tachyphylaxis in the pulmonary vasodilator response to IRL 1620, but not in the systemic vasodilator response. The present data show the dual action (vasoconstriction and vasodilation) of ET-B receptors.

Personality disorder diagnoses using DSM-III-R in a Japanese clinical sample with major depression

To investigate the availability of DSM-III-R Axis-II diagnoses in Japan, DSM-III-R personality disorders (PDs) were diagnosed in a large sample of Japanese out-patients with major depression. The SCID-II was administered to 118 consecutive out-patients with major depression. In general, the frequency of PD according to DSM-III-R criteria in this study was within the range of frequencies reported in North American and European studies. However, schizoid and narcissistic PDs were more frequent in this study. DSM-III-R diagnoses of PD would also be potentially useful for assessing personality disturbance in Japan. The DSM-III-R criteria for schizoid and narcissistic PDs may not be suitable for Japanese samples.

Sequence analysis of the 36-kb region between gntZ and trnY genes of Bacillus subtilis genome

Within the framework of an international Bacillus subtilis genome sequencing project, we have determined a 36-kb sequence covering the region between the gntZ and trnY genes. In addition to five genes sequenced and characterized previously, 27 putative protein coding sequences (open reading frame; ORF) were identified. A homology search for the newly identified ORFs revealed that six of them had similarities to known proteins. It is notable that new ORFs belonging to response-regulator aspartate phosphatase (Rap) and its regulator (Phr) families, and response regulator and sensory kinase families of two-component signal transduction systems have been identified. Furthermore, we found that some 180-bp non-coding sequence, that might be an remnant of an ancient IS element, is preserved in at least five loci of the B. subtilis genome.

Different characteristics of gustatory responses between the greater superficial petrosal and chorda tympani nerves in the rat

The integrated responses to gustatory stimuli applied to the soft palate were recorded from the greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSP) and were compared with those from the chorda tympani nerve (CT) innervating the anterior part of the tongue in the rat. Stimuli included various concentrations of NaCl, sucrose, HCl and quinine hydrochloride, and 0.5 M of six sugars. The inhibitory effects of amiloride on the responses to sodium salts, including various concentration of NaCl, 0.1 M sodium acetate and 0.01 M sodium saccharin, were also tested. Both the phasic and tonic responses to sugars in the GSP were significantly larger than those in the CT, whereas both responses to NaCl in the GSP were significantly smaller than those in the CT. Although amiloride at 50 microM significantly depressed the phasic and tonic responses to NaCl with a wide range of concentration in the CT, little inhibitory effect was observed in the GSP. The tonic response to sodium acetate, when dissolved in amiloride solution, was depressed to 15% of the control in the CT, and slightly but significantly depressed to 70% in the GSP. These response characteristics of the GSP may play important roles in the processing of gustatory information.

Involvement of reactive oxygen intermediates in spontaneous and CD95 (Fas/APO-1)-mediated apoptosis of neutrophils

Apoptosis is well known to be mediated by oxidative stress. To evaluate the functional role of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) produced by neutrophils, we compared the rates of apoptosis in neutrophils isolated from normal donors and from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a hereditary defect in ROI production. Spontaneous cell death in CGD neutrophils in vitro was significantly inhibited relative to normal neutrophils. The acceleration of apoptosis induced by anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (MoAb) in CGD neutrophils was much slower than that seen in normal neutrophils. These findings suggest that the apoptosis of neutrophils may be mediated by endogenous oxidative products. This suggestion was confirmed by observation that apoptosis of normal neutrophils was markedly inhibited by reduction of intracellular levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The inhibition of apoptosis in normal neutrophils by adding catalase occurred regardless of the presence of anti-Fas MoAb. H2O2 increased both spontaneous apoptosis and Fas-mediated apoptosis of the CGD neutrophils in proportion to that seen in normal neutrophils. Although several factors that mediate the apoptosis of neutrophils remain to be determined, these results suggest that ROI are major mediators of the apoptosis in neutrophils and may be involved in Fas-mediated signal transduction pathway.

Perceived parental styles in a Japanese sample of depressive disorders. A replication outside Western culture

BACKGROUND

Dysfunctional parental styles, as measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), have been associated with adult depression in Western cultures. This study sought to determine whether such parental styles are also associated with adult depression in a non-Western society.

METHOD

PBI scores and parental styles assessed by PBI quadrants were explored in 51 Japanese depressive patients and controls in a matched, case-control design.

RESULTS

Low care and high protection scores were associated not with melancholic but with non-melancholic depression. Subjects exposed to dysfunctional parental styles demonstrated a high risk for non-melancholic depression.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that the association between dysfunctional parental styles on PBI and non-melancholic depression may be independent of cultural differences.

Triterpene alcohols from the flowers of compositae and their anti-inflammatory effects

Eleven tabular and nine ligulate flowers from 15 species of Compositae plants were investigated for their triterpene alcohol constituents. This led to the isolation and identification of 11 triterpene alcohols as follows: heliaol, taraxasterol, psi-taraxasterol, alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, lupeol, taraxerol, cycloartenol, 24-methyl-enecycloartanol, tirucalla-7,24-dienol and dammaradienol. The tabular flowers of Calendula officinalis, Carthamus tinctorius, Cosmos bipinnatus, Chrysanthemum morifolium, Helianthus annuus and Matricaria matricarioides showed a characteristic feature by containing helianol as the most predominant component (29-86%) in the triterpene alcohol fractions. The triterpene alcohols from Compositae flowers were evaluated with respect to their anti-inflammatory activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced inflammation (1 microgram per ear) in mice. All of these showed marked inhibitory activity, and their 50% inhibitory dose was 0.1-0.8 mg per ear.

Inhibitory effect of Di- and trihydroxy triterpenes from the flowers of compositae on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced inflammation in mice

Ten dihydroxy- and trihydroxy triterpenes, viz., four taraxastanes: faradiol, heliantriol B0, heliantriol C and arnidiol; two lupanes: calenduladiol and heliantriol B2; two oleananes: maniladiol and longispinogenin; and two ursanes: brein and uvaol, isolated from the nonsaponifiable lipids of the flower extracts of Compositae plants were evaluated with respect to their anti-inflammatory activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in mice. All the triterpenes were found to possess marked inhibitory activity. The 50% inhibitory dose of these compounds with respect to TPA-inflammation (1 microgram) was 0.03-0.2 mg/ear.

Re-evaluation of chromosomal aberration induction on nine mouse lymphoma assay "unique positive' NTP carcinogens

In a collaborative study organized under the JEMS MMS, nine mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) "unique positive' NTP rodent carcinogens were re-evaluated by an in vitro chromosomal aberration assay using Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cells (CHL/IU). Six of nine chemicals induced chromosomal aberrations; bromodichloromethane, chlorendic acid and isophorone induced structural aberrations, and chlorodibromomethane, pentachloroethane and 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane induced numerical aberrations (polyploidy). These six chemicals, therefore, are not uniquely positive in the MLA. The difference between the NTP results and ours might be due to the use of different cell lines and protocols, and in some cases, to different interpretations of polyploidy. The remaining three chemicals, benzyl acetate, cinnamyl anthranilate and trichloroethylene, were negative in this study.

AVASCULAR NECROSIS AND THE PAVLIK HARNESS

We analysed the incidence of avascular necrosis in 101 hips of 90 infants with congenital dislocation treated with the Pavlik harness and followed up for more than one year. Using ultrasonography in the flexed-abducted position the hips were classified as type A when the femoral head was displaced posteriorly, but within the socket and making contact with the posterior inner wall of the acetabulum; type B when it was in contact with the posterior margin of the acetabulum, with its centre at this level or anterior to it; and type C when it was displaced out of the socket, with its centre posterior to the posterior rim of the acetabulum.

Eighty-seven hips were reduced by the harness (86%), and seven of these developed avascular necrosis (8%). All 69 hips with type-A dislocation were reduced, and only one (1.4%) showed slight avascular necrosis. Eighteen (78.3%) of 23 hips with type-B dislocation were reduced, and six developed avascular necrosis (33.3%). In one hip, the femoral head was severely damaged. None of the nine hips with type-C dislocation was reduced in the harness.

We conclude that the Pavlik harness is indicated for type-A, but not for type-B or type-C dislocations.

[Assessment by flow cytometric method of IgE-binding state of basophils in allergic disorders]

Basophils, as well as mast cells, express Fc epsilon RI on the surface. It is known that activation of basophils and mast cells leads to induction of chronic allergic inflammation. In this study, levels of IgE bound to the surface of peripheral blood basophils were measured using a flowcytometry, and their clinical relevance was evaluated. Peripheral whole blood samples were stained with FITC-conjugated anti-IgE. The fluorescence intensity of the FITC-positive cells within mononuclear cell region was determined. Basophil-bound IgE levels increased along with age and reached invariably high levels of adults. The levels of basophil-bound IgE were higher among allergics than normal controls, in early infancy. In addition, many of the infants with repeated wheezing episodes also exhibited high levels of it. These findings suggest that early exposure of predisposed infants to antigens leads to early sensitization of circulating basophils. Basophil-bound IgE levels correlated well with serum IgE concentration, but they remained constant when IgE concentrations exceeded 300 ng/ml, suggesting that IgE-binding capacity of basophils become saturated at this IgE level. In conclusion, it is shown that flowcytometric measurement of basophil-bound IgE provides a useful method of analyzing this rare cell population within the peripheral circulation, and it serves as a critical parameter to evaluate the allergic inflammation in vivo.

Avascular necrosis and the Pavlik harness. The incidence of avascular necrosis in three types of congenital dislocation of the hip as classified by ultrasound

We analysed the incidence of avascular necrosis in 101 hips of 90 infants with congenital dislocation treated with Pavlik harness and followed up for more than one year. Using ultrasonography in the flexed-abducted position the hips were classified as type A when the femora head was displaced posteriorly, but within the socket and making contact with the posterior inner wall of the acetabulum; type B when it was in contact with the posterior margin of the acetabulum, with its centre at this level or anterior to it; and type C when it was displaced out of the socket, with its centre posterior to the posterior rim of the acetabulum. Eighty-seven hips were reduced by the harness (86%), and seven of these developed avascular necrosis (8%). All 69 hips with type-A dislocation were reduced and only one (1.4%) showed slight avascular necrosis. Eighteen (78.3%) of 23 hips with type-B dislocation were reduced, and six developed avascular necrosis (33.3%). In one hip, the femoral head was severely damaged. None of the nine hips with type-C dislocation was reduced in the harness. We concluded that the Pavlik harness is indicated for type-A but not for type-B or type-C dislocations.

Inhibitory effect of taraxastane-type triterpenes on tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin

Two taraxastane-type hydroxy triterpenes, taraxasterol and faradiol, isolated from the flowers of Compositae plants Cynara scolymus (artichoke) and Chrysanthemum morifilolium (chrysanthemum), respectively, showed strong inhibitory activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in mice. At 2.0 mumol/mouse, these compounds inhibited markedly the tumor-promoting effect of TPA (1 microgram/mouse) on skin tumor formation following initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene (50 micrograms/mouse).

The relationship of DSM-III-R personality disorder to clinical variables in patients with major depression: possible difference between personality disorder clusters

The relationship of DSM-III-R personality disorder (PD) to demographic and clinical variables was investigated based on 96 consecutive outpatients with major depression. No significant difference in the variables was found between those with and those without PD. Those with PD from each cluster were compared with those without PD in terms of the variables. In these comparisons many relationships of PD to the variables were found, and these relationships were different between the three PD clusters detailed in DSM-III-R. Patients with cluster B PD demonstrated a prominent uniqueness in his/her relationship to the variables. This uniqueness was similar to what had been reported previously with regard to patients with PD. There was no significant difference in the variables between those with cluster C PD and those without PD. Those with cluster A PD may have a negative family history of affective disorders.

Inhibitory effect of alkane-6,8-diols, the components of safflower, on tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin

Erythro-alkane-6,8-diols were isolated from the flowers of Carthamus tinctorius. 12-0-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 1 microgram/ear), a tumor-promoting agent, was applied to the ears of mice to induce inflammation. Of 8 alkane-6,8-diols assayed, the C27, C31, C32, C33 and C35 alkane diols inhibited the inflammation. The 50% inhibitory dose of these compounds for TPA-induced inflammation was 0.5-0.7 mg/ear. However, C21, C23 and C25 alkane-6,8-diols were found to have no effect. Furthermore, the mixture of erythro-alkane-6,8-diols from the flowers of C. tinctorius markedly suppressed the promoting effect of TPA on skin tumor formation in mice following initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

Prediction of reduction in developmental dysplasia of the hip by magnetic resonance imaging

The acetabular rim of 33 hips in 29 patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The hips were classified into the following three groups according to the shape of the acetabular rim: 12 hips with sharp acetabular rim (group 1), 13 hips with dysplastic and round acetabular rim (group 2), and eight hips with inverted acetabular rim (group 3). The position of the femoral head with the hip flexed and abducted was also recorded, according to the criteria proposed by Suzuki. They were all treated initially with the Pavlik harness. All group 1 hips were successfully reduced with the Pavlik harness, whereas in group 2 hips, all but three hips were reduced. In all group 3 hips, reduction was not successful. MRI provided useful information regarding the probability of reduction with the Pavlik harness.

Expression of L-selectin (CD62L) discriminates Th1- and Th2-like cytokine-producing memory CD4+ T cells

Human memory (CD45RO+) CD4+ T cells can be distinguished into two subpopulations on the basis of expression of the lymph node homing receptor, L-selectin (CD62L). In a prior study we showed that human L-selectin-positive memory T-helper (Th) cells promote the maturation of IgG- and IgA-producing cells by naive B cells. To further elucidate the contribution of memory CD4+ T cells to B-cell differentiation, human memory CD4+ T cells with or without L-selectin expression were evaluated for production of cytokines that participate in regulation of immunoglobulin production. It was found that L-selectin-positive human memory CD4+ T cells produce mainly interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, whereas L-selectin-negative CD4+ T cells produce mainly interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). This profile of cytokine expression coincides with the profile that distinguishes Th1 and Th2 subsets. In contrast to the murine system, IL-10 production was similarly contributed by human L-selectin-positive and -negative memory CD4+ T-cell subpopulations. These results suggest that the human L-selectin-negative and -positive subpopulations of human memory CD4+ T cells contain Th1-like and Th2-like cytokine-producing cells, respectively.

The test-retest reliability of the inventory to diagnose depression, lifetime version

The test-retest reliability of the Inventory to Diagnose Depression, Lifetime Version (IDDL) was investigated, based on 57 first-degree relatives of probands with major depression. The subjects were first interviewed using the SCID, and then the IDDL was administered to them twice at a 1-month interval. The chance-corrected agreement in diagnosing a lifetime history of DSM-III-R major depression was high between the 2 trials of the IDDL (kappa = 0.77), and between the SCID and each of the 2 IDDL trials (kappa = 0.75 for the 1 trial, and 0.68 for the 2nd trial). The positiveness on all items except "increased appetite' and "weight gain' was also highly concordant between the 2 trials. These results strongly suggest that time-stable data with sufficient validity for diagnosing a lifetime history of depression can be given by using the IDDL.

[Effects of thromboxane A2 on chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in the rat]

Chronic hypoxia (10% O2 for 2-3 weeks) causes pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling in the rat. To study the role of thromboxase A2 in chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, the hemodynamic effects of intravenous administration of a thromboxane analogue (STA2) were measured in chronic hypoxic (H) and normoxic (N) Sprague-Dawley rats. During anesthesia baseline pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) was higher in H rats (34.6 +/- 1.0 mmHg) than in N rats (18.4 +/- 1.2 mmHg). Intravenous STA2 (0.3 microgram) acutely increased pulmonary artery pressure by 74% +/- 11% (25 +/- 4 mmHg) in H rats and by 47% +/- 2% (9 +/- 1 mmHg) in N rats, which indicates that both the absolute and relative acute pulmonary vasoconstriction caused by STA2 were greater in H rats. The changes in systemic arterial pressure caused by STA2 were smaller than the changes in pulmonary arterial pressure both in H rats (11% +/- 3%) and in N rats (17% +/- 3%). Lungs were isolated and perfused with saline, and the vasoconstrictive response to 0.05 microgram of STA2 in lungs (14.5 +/- 2.4 mmHg) from H rats was greater than the response to 0.1 microgram of STA2 (5.6 +/- 1.3 mmHg) in lungs from N rats. To examine whether blockade of calcium channels could suppress the vasoconstrictor response to STA2, the effects of the calcium channel blocker nicardipine hydrochloride on vasoconstriction caused by STA2 were measured in H and N rats. In vivo, the blockade of calcium channels suppressed the increase in pulmonary artery pressure caused by STA2. This suppression was greater in H rats (56% +/- 11%) than in N rats (25% +/- 4%). Similar results were obtained with isolated perfused lungs. Blockade of calcium channels suppressed the vasoconstriction caused by STA2 and this suppression was greater in H rats than in N rats. The finding that thromboxane A2 induced greater vasoconstriction in H rats than in N rats indicates that thromboxane A2 may play an important role in pulmonary hypertension, and suggests that blockade thromboxane A2 may benefit some patients with primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, the finding that suppression of thromboxane-induced vasoconstriction by blockade of calcium channels was greater in H rats than in N rats indicates that such treatment may also benefit some patients.