Comparison of Tc-99m pertechnetate with Tl-201 and Ga-67 scintigraphy of malignant soft-tissue tumors

Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy was compared with Tl-201 chloride and Ga-67 citrate to evaluate the avidity of Tc-99m pertechtate for malignant soft-tissue tumors. Twenty-three patients with malignant soft-tissue tumors underwent scintigraphic studies. All 23 received Tc-99m and Tl-201, whereas 14 also were injected with Ga-67. In 21 (91%) of the 23 patients, Tc-99m accumulated extensively in the tumors. Tl-201 accumulated in 12 (52%) of the 23 tumors. Ga-67 accumulated in only 5 (36%) of the 14 tumors. The avidity of Tc-99m for myxoid tumors was markedly different from the other two agents. Tc-99m accumulated in all eight myxoid tumors, while neither Tl-201 or Ga-67 showed marked accumulation except for one patient with increased accumulation of Tl-201. This study shows that Tc-99m pertechnetate has the potential to localize malignant soft-tissue tumors and may be useful in the evaluation of these tumors.

Seasonal variations in the presence of antibodies against Coxiella burnetii in dairy cattle in Hokkaido, Japan

The prevalence and seasonal variations of infection by Coxiella burnetti in cattle were investigated seroepidemiologically on a farm in Hokkaido, Japan, by an immunofluorescent antibody test. A total of 364 serum samples from 28 cows were collected from August 1993 to October 1995 in two barns on the farm. It was found that the number of antibody-positive cows and their antibody titers were significantly elevated in winter and decreased in summer. In addition, antibodies were detectable in seroconverted cows for about five months.

Association of a mutation in thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter with familial Gitelman's syndrome

Gitelman's syndrome is a variant of Bartter's syndrome, characterized by hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalciuria, and hypovolemia. We have observed familial cases of Gitelman's syndrome, and a possible mutation in thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter was investigated in this kindred. The proband was a 47-yr-old Japanese female, and her mother was also affected. Her parents and maternal grandparents are consanguineous. By using PCR-amplification and direct sequencing, we identified a novel non-conservative missense mutation at 623 amino acid position, which substitutes proline for leucine (L623P), and also creates an Nci I restriction site in the exon 15. The mutation was not detected in normal healthy subjects (n = 102). Nci I digestion of PCR-amplified exon 15 DNA fragments from individuals in the family indicated the autosomal recessive inheritance of the disorder. In conclusion, the L623P mutation in the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter gene is suggested to impair the transporter activity, and to underlie this familial Gitelman's syndrome; Gitelman's syndrome observed in this kindred has been inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion.

Function of CD4 molecules in LEC rat thymocytes

Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats show a novel maturational arrest from CD4+8+ to CD4+8- thymocytes but a cause of this mutation is not identified. The candidate for this mutation is a defect in the function of CD4 or major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II because gene-disrupted mice defective for CD4 or MHC class II molecules show a specific defect in CD4+ T cells. Previously, we showed that MHC class II is not a cause of this maturational arrest. Therefore, in this study, we focus on the function of CD4 molecules in LEC rat thymocytes. CD4 molecules on LEC rat thymocytes associated with protein tyrosine kinase, p56[lck], normally. Furthermore, cross-linking of CF4 molecules by anti-rat CD4 mAb elicited the elevation of intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in LEC rat thymocytes, suggesting that CD4 molecules can deliver the signal normally. These results indicate that function of CD4 is normal and the maturational blockade of CD4+8- thymocytes in LEC rats is not caused by specific lymphocyte molecules that have been shown in gene-disrupted mice.

Deposition velocity of gaseous organic iodine from the atmosphere to rice plants

To obtain parameter values for the assessment of 129I transfer from the atmosphere to rice, deposition of CH3I to rice plants has been studied. The mass normalized deposition velocity (VD) of CH3I for rough (unhulled) rice was 0.00048 cm3 g-1 s-1, which is about 1/300 of that of I2. Translocation of iodine, deposited as CH3I on leaves and stems, to rice grain was negligibly small. Distribution of iodine between hull and inner part of the grain was found to depend also on the chemical forms of atmospheric iodine to be deposited. The ratio of the iodine distribution in a grain exposed to CH3I was as follows: rough rice:brown rice (hulled rice):polished rice = 1.0:0.49:0.38. The distribution ratio in polished grains for CH3I exposed rice was about 20 times higher than that for I2.

Determination of halogens, with special reference to iodine, in geological and biological samples using pyrohydrolysis for preparation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ion chromatography for measurement

A method for determining iodine, bromine, chlorine and fluorine in geological and biological materials is described. In a quartz tube, solid material was heated to 1100 degrees C under a wet oxygen flow (pyrohydrolysis). By this process the halogens (I, Br, Cl, F) were separated from the matrix and then collected in a receiver solution. The chemical yield of iodine was determined by a radioactive tracer. ICP-MS and ion chromatographic measurements were used for the determination of the halogens. The method was optimized by investigating different experimental conditions. All four halogens can be trapped in the receiver solution from one combustion procedure. Precision and accuracy were evaluated by the analysis of environmental standard reference materials (rock, soil, milk, leaves, marine tissue). The concentrations in the materials analysed were in the ranges 0.006-50 mg kg-1 for I, 0.06-1300 mg kg-1 for Br, 50-1100 mg kg-1 for F and 400-11000 mg kg-1 for Cl. The lower values represent the practical detection limit of this method. The results obtained by the proposed method and the certified values are in good agreement.

Does coinfection of Bartonella henselae and FIV induce clinical disorders in cats?

It was found that Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) may induce clinical disorders in cats in natural conditions from a comparison of the serological status for B. henselae with the serostatus for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and several clinical characteristics in 170 domestic cats. Seropositivity for B. henselae was not significantly different between FIV antibody-positive and -negative cats (18.4% vs 16.0%). The incidence of clinical characteristics were compared among four cat groups distinguished by the reactivity of sera against B. henselae and FIV. The incidence of lymph node swelling was lower in only FIV antibody-positive cats (3.0%), but higher in B. henselae antibody-positive cats (13.6%) and significantly higher in both B. henselae and FIV antibody-positive cats (42.9%) compared with the incidence of lymph node swelling in cats which were negative for both antibodies (5.5%). The same relation was also observed for the incidence of gingivitis among the 4 cat groups, suggesting that coinfection of B. henselae and FIV may be associated with gingivitis and lymphadenopathy in cats.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53 in epithelial dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of oral mucosa--a marker for poor tumor differentiation, increasing nuclear atypia and invasiveness?

The immunohistochemical expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53 was investigated in 9 cases of epithelial dysplasia and 38 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. The intensity of immunoreactivity for each marker was assessed using a semiquantitative grading system, and was correlated with tumor differentiation, nuclear atypia and the patterns of invasive margins in the underlying connective tissue. PCNA expression, in dysplastic epithelium, was observed in the suprabasal and lower spinous layers; and the labeling grade and intensity of staining increased along with the degree of cellular atypia. In 2 cases of dysplasia, weak positive immunoreactivity for p53 could be seen in a few isolated cells of the basal layer. In squamous cell carcinoma, PCNA expression was correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation and nuclear atypia in well and moderately differentiated carcinoma, but not with the invasive pattern of tumor growth. Immunoreactivity for p53 was positive in 30 cases and showed a distribution pattern very similar to PCNA but with fewer positive cells. Three distinct categories of expression for PCNA and p53 were observed, among them a combination of intense reactivity for both markers was indicative of poor differentiation, higher nuclear atypia and more invasive growth of tumor cells.

Intracellular localization of tenascin in squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity: an immunohistochemical study

Tenascin is a multifunctional extracellular matrix glycoprotein generally expressed in epithelial tumors at sites of epithelial tumor-mesenchymal tissue interface. Studies so far have indicated that mesenchymal cells are a major source of tenascin in tumor tissues. The present study evaluated biopsies and surgically resected specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma from 20 patients for the expression of tenascin using immunohistochemical methods. The normal mucosa included in all surgically resected specimens showed a delicate band in the submucosal connective tissue, with infrequent breaks in continuity in the immediate vicinity of the basement membrane. The hyperplastic/hyperkeratinized or dysplastic mucosa either showed a continuous band or enhanced expression of TN in the submucosal connective tissue. Evaluation of serial sections for immunoreactivity of tenascin in 7 cases of carcinoma showed intracellular localization of tenascin; particularly at the invading fronts of carcinomas of the buccal mucosa and tongue. The results of the present study may imply that despite the possible induction of tenascinllfrom mesenchymal cells by carcinoma cells, carcinoma cells, if they produce tenascin, do so at the invasive fronts.

[Central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome with compression of the medulla oblongata by tortuous and elongated vertebral arteries]

A 43-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with hypoventilation, which developed when she took sedatives because of an operation on an adrenal gland tumor. Central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome was diagnosed after neurophysiological and pulmonary-function tests. Magnetic resonance imaging and vertebral angiography revealed that tortuous and elongated vertebral arteries compressed the ventral sides of the medulla oblongata, which may have caused the hypoventilation. Mechanical ventilation during sleep improved her condition. Home mechanical ventilation was prescribed and she has been well during follow up as an outpatient.

Improved method for preparation of samples for the polymerase chain reaction for detection of Coxiella burnetii in milk using immunomagnetic separation

Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) improved the detection of Coxiella burnetii in cow's milk by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). IMS represents a novel approach to the isolation of microorganism from milk. The combination of IMS and PCR analysis has an adequate sensitivity for detection of C. burnetii.

Epidemiological survey of small rodents for spotted fever rickettsial antibody in Hokkaido, Japan

The prevalence of antibody against spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR) was investigated with Rickettsia japonica antigen in small rodents captured in an area in Hokkaido, where no human cases of SFGR infection had been reported. Antibody against SFGR was found in Apodemus speciosus and Clethrionomys rufocanus but not in Apodemus argenteus. None of these rodents had antibody against R. typhi. This is the first report of the antibody against SFGR in rodents in Hokkaido.

Seroepidemiological survey of wild rats for Seoul virus in Indonesia

The prevalence of antibodies against Seoul virus was investigated in 655 wild rats (Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus, R. rattus diardii, R. exulans, R. tiomanicus) captured in seven port areas of Indonesia. Twenty-four of 238 R. norvegicus, one of 142 R. rattus and one of 102 R. exulans from two port areas had the antibodies against Seoul virus.

Seroepidemiological survey of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in wild house mice in China with particular reference to their subspecies

Serum samples from 337 wild house mice (Mus musculus) from 35 sites in China, collected in 1992 and 1993, were examined for antibodies against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Ten samples from eight sites were found to contain such antibodies. Six of the eight positive sites were located in the territory of M. m. gansuensis. One of the other two sites was located in the territory of M. m. castaneus in southern China and the other site was in a habitat of M. m. castaneus which had invaded into the western end of the territory of M. m. homourus. It seems likely that LCMV is distributed in the territories of M. m. gansuensis and M. m. castaneus in China. This is the first report of detection of these antibodies in wild house mice in China and specifically in the territories of M. m. gansuensis and M. m. castaneus.

The prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in the environment of dairy farms

The prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in the environment of dairy farms was surveyed from December 1993 to June 1994 in one city of Hokkaido. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 3 out of 5 farms investigated. Serovar 4b organism was isolated from the brain stem of a cow from one farm which was clinically diagnosed as having listeriosis. The same serovar of L. monocytogenes was also isolated from the rectal contents of a healthy cow, straw on the floor, straw in the barn, and silage scattered around the silo from the same farm. At another farm, with no reported cases of bovine listeriosis, serovar 1/2 organism was isolated from the same types of samples as the above mentioned farm except from straw on the floor. The difference in the isolation rates of the organism from straw on the floor between the two farms (22%:5/23 vs 0%:0/24) is considered to be caused by the different feeding methods of silage between the two farms.

Serological survey of spotted fever group rickettsia in wild rats in Thailand in the 1970s

In Thailand, the first human cases of spotted fever group rickettsiosis were reported in 1994, but no serosurveys on wild rats have yet been conducted. We investigated the seroepidemiology in wild rats collected in the 1970s from two regions in Thailand, and found a 62.2% positive rate of antibodies for spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR) by the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Of the antibody-positive rats, 82.2% had higher titers of antibodies against TT-118 than those against Rickettsia japonica, which suggests that Thailand is infested mainly with the TT-118 strain or its antigenically related organisms. The prevalence of antibodies in Bandicota indica was significantly higher than that in other species, which suggests that B. indica is important as a reservoir of SFGR in Thailand.

Amino acid polymorphisms of PrP with reference to onset of scrapie in Suffolk and Corriedale sheep in Japan

We investigated the relationships between amino acid polymorphisms of the prion protein (PrP), restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of the PrP gene and the incidence of natural scrapie in Japan. Six variant alleles of the PrP gene were found in healthy sheep. Based on the substitutions at codons 112, 136, 154 and 171, these allelic variants were designated PrPMARQ, PrPTARQ, PrPMVRQ, PrPMAHQ, PrPMARR and PrPMARH. Each RFLP haplotype (e1h2, e1h2 or e3h1) consisted bo multiple alleles including PrPMARQ. Three of these variant alleles were found in scrapie-affected Suffolk sheep. PrPMARQ was associated with high disease incidence, PrPTARQ and PrPMARR were associated with low disease incidence. We found that one scrapie-affected Suffolk was homozygous for PrPMARR and four PrPSc-positive Suffolks carried PrPMVRQ. Both of two scrapie-affected Corriedales and two out of three scrapie-affected cross-breeds between Suffolk and Corriedale carried PrPMARH, suggesting that this allele associates with high incidence of scrapie in Corriedale and its cross-breeds.

A mutant strain (LEC) of rat with low degree of zinc-induced hepatic metallothionein gene expression

A mutant strain (LEC) of rats was found to possess the feature of low degree of the zinc-induced hepatic metallothionein (MT) gene expression due to an alteration of the transcription factor concerned in the gene expression. Northern blot analyses showed that the amount of MT-1 mRNA induced by intraperitoneal zinc injection is smaller in LEC mutant rat liver than in normal rat liver, while the amount of MT-1 mRNA induced by copper injection is indistinguishable between LEC and normal rat livers. Gel retardation assays showed that LEC and normal rat livers are different in the nuclear protein which binds to the metal-responsive element (MRE) of the MT gene in a zinc-dependent manner, and that the efficiency of the zinc-dependent binding of the nuclear protein to the MRE is lower in LEC rat liver than in normal rat liver. LEC rat should provide a useful model to understand the transcription factor concerned in the MT gene expression by zinc.

The rat homologue of the Wilson's disease gene was partially deleted at the 3' end of its protein-coding region in Long-Evans Cinnamon mutant rats

LEC mutant rats exhibit an abnormal hepatic copper accumulation, due to the defection of the rat homologue of the Wilson's disease gene. In this study, we found a definitive evidence that the rat Wilson's disease gene of LEC rats was partially deleted at the 3' end of its protein-coding region, by performing Southern blot analysis. Furthermore, in Northern blot analysis, we confirmed that expression of the rat Wilson's disease gene was deficient in the liver of LEC rats. The partial deletion of the rat Wilson's disease gene should be responsible for the deficient expression of that gene in LEC rats.

Opposite actions of transforming growth factor-beta 1 on the gene expression of atrial natriuretic peptide biological and clearance receptors in a murine thymic stromal cell line

The regulation of the gene expression of the atrial natriuretic peptide receptor (ANPR) subtypes, ANPR-A, ANPR-B, and ANPR-C, was investigated in a murine thymic stromal cell line, MRL 104.8a. When MRL 104.8a cells were cultured with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, [125I]ANP binding sites increased with increasing dose of TGF-beta1. These binding sites were identified as ANPR-C by a displacement experiment with ANPR-C-specific ligand, C-ANF, and by the affinity cross-linking of the [125I]ANP binding sites with a chemical cross-linker to determine the molecular weight of the ANPR. This augmentation of the ANPR-C expression was elucidated to occur at the transcriptional level by Northern blot experiment, comparison of the relative amounts of mRNA by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and in vitro nuclear transcription assay. Conversely, the expression of the ANP biological receptors, ANPR-A and ANPR-B, was shown to be down-regulated by TGF-beta1. These data suggest that TGF-beta1 regulates the gene expression of ANPRs in the thymic stromal cells and that ANP and TGF-beta1 might affect the thymic stromal cell functions.

Transfer of technetium from soil to paddy and upland rice

Soil-plant transfer factors (concentration ratio between the plant and soil) of technetium in paddy and upland rice plants were obtained from laboratory experiments. The transfer factor is one of the most important parameters for environmental radiation dose assessment. Technetim tracer (95mTcO4-) was added to the soil prior to rice cultivation. The transfer factor of technetium for the hulled grains (brown rice) of paddy rice (< or = 0.0002) was much lower than for that of upland (0.021). The transfer factors for both types of hulled grains were much lower than in the leaves. The technetium decontamination rate from hulled grains by polishing was 34%, the percentage of the weight decrease being 12%. The concentration of technetium in the soil solution collected from the paddy rice soil (flooded conditions) decreased rapidly with time due to its adsorption on the soil. In the upland rice soil (non-flooded) solution, the decrease in the technetium concentration was fairly slow. The low transfer factors for the paddy rice plants could be explained by the immobilization of technetium in the flooded soil. The oxidation-reduction potentials (Eh) in the flooded soil decreased rapidly with time. We conclude that technetium tracer added as TcO4- to flooded soil is readily transformed to an insoluble form (e.g. TcO2) under the reducing conditions provided by flooding.

Role of technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy in the management of extra-abdominal fibromatosis

The purpose of this study was to investigate technetium-99m pertechnetate (Tc-99m) as a tumor-scanning agent in patients with extra-abdominal fibromatosis, and to establish the sensitivity of this type of scintigraphy. Eleven patients with extra-abdominal fibromatosis were studied: all but one having postsurgical recurrences. Of the 11 patients, diagnosed histologically, 5 underwent repeated Tc-99m scintigraphic follow-up examinations. The injected 370 MBq Tc-99m gave us an early scintigram within 10 min and a delayed one 2 h later. For adequate comparison, the region of interest (ROI) of the scintigram was placed over the tumor. The tumor-to-background (T/BG) count ratio was computed. Extra-abdominal fibromatoses, even recurrences, were demonstrated scintigraphically in both the early and the delayed phase, in all 11 patients. The average T/BG ratio was 2.11 in the early scintigram and 2.15 in the delayed one. The sensitivity and the specificity were both 100%. Tc-99m scintigraphy has proved useful in detecting extra-abdominal fibromatoses and in the follow-up of patients.