Clinical significance and time course of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase in Japanese children with type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus

Although anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADAb) have been reported to be a useful diagnostic and predictive marker of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM, type 1 DM) in Caucasians, a precise analysis of GADAb in Japanese children has not been reported. We examined the clinical significance and time course of GADAb in Japanese IDDM children, who have different genetic backgrounds from Caucasians. Twenty-three of 34 (67.6%) sera from recent-onset (< 6 months) IDDM, and 16 of 49 (32.7%) sera from long-standing (> or = 2 years) IDDM patients were positive for GADAb. This prevalence of GADAb in IDDM patients was significantly higher than in normal controls and the other groups including non-insulin-dependent DM, autoimmune thyroid disease and congenital hypothyroidism, and was also significantly higher in recent-onset than in long-standing IDDM. Time course analysis suggested that autoimmune response against GAD could follow different courses in individual cases after the initiation of insulin therapy. The incidence of GADAb was significantly higher in females than in males in the older age group (11-15 years). Other clinical features including residual pancreatic beta-cell function after diagnosis were demonstrated to be similar between GADAb-positive and -negative patients. In conclusion, this study using the newly established radioimmunoassay (RIA) for GADAb revealed a high prevalence of autoimmune reactivity to GAD in Japanese IDDM children. These results, using this RIA procedure, might assist in laying the groundwork for future trials of immunomodulation therapy for IDDM in Japan.

Establishment of a quantitative assay of abnormal glycolipid expression in endometrial cells, and its diagnostic value for endometrial carcinoma

We developed a new quantitative method for detecting abnormal glycolipid expression in endometrial cells using a monoclonal antibody (MSN-1) and analyzed the glycolipid antigen recognized by MSN-1 in 173 clinical endometrial cell samples (66 normal endometria, 39 endometrial hyperplasias, and 68 endometrial adenocarcinomas). The mean glycolipid antigen levels in normal endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial carcinoma were 0.42 +/- 1.37, 2.13 +/- 3.84, and 19.4 +/- 25.8 (mean +/- SD) units, respectively. If the cutoff rate of this assay was fixed at 1.8 units, the positivity rates for patients with normal endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial carcinoma were 6.1% (4/66), 28.2% (11/39), and 76.5% (52/68), respectively. In 35 endometrial carcinoma patients, endometrial smears were simultaneously performed, and there were 22 positive smears (62.9%). When the cytological diagnosis was combined with our assay, 94.3% (33/35) of the carcinomas were detected. Thus, this assay seems to be a supplementary diagnostic method for endometrial carcinoma.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 associated with spinal ependymoma

A 51-year-old man was hospitalized with a gait disturbance and hypoesthesia below the level of his chest. These symptoms were due to a spinal tumor which was surgically resected and identified as an ependymoma. Additionally, the patient had hypercalcemia and a family history of insulinoma. An endocrine evaluation revealed parathyroid hyperplasia and a pancreatic islet cell tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a pituitary microadenoma. He was diagnosed with spinal ependymoma and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1). A review of the literature revealed that chromosome 11q13 abnormalities have been reported in both ependymoma and MEN 1. We discuss the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) production is not essential for acquired resistance of human A375 melanoma cells to anti-proliferative effect of IL-1

The proliferation of human melanoma cell line A375-6 is inhibited by interleukin l (IL-l). However, the cells acquired resistance to IL-l after a long period of culture. We have reported that 2 resistant subclones, A375-R8 and -R19, produced IL-l alpha constitutively and that IL-l induced IL-6 production in an autocrine manner. Therefore, we supposed that IL-l alpha production renders the cells resistant to IL-l. To investigate the relationship between IL-l alpha production and IL-l resistance, we transfected the IL-l alpha expression plasmid to the IL-l-sensitive clone, A375-6, and the anti-sense mRNA expression plasmid to IL-l-resistant cells, A375-R8 and -R19. A375-6MS, a transfectant of mature IL-l alpha expression plasmid, expressed IL-l alpha mRNA and produced IL-l activity at a level comparable to the resistant cells. The transfectant also produced IL-6 and exhibited augmented expression of Mn-SOD mRNA. However, IL-l sensitivity of this transfectant was not affected. With respect to sensitivity to anti-proliferative effects of other cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF alpha, there was no difference between the transfectant and parent cells. Although A375-R8PH10 and -R19PH10, transfectants of IL-l alpha anti-sense mRNA expression plasmid, exhibited a decrease in the level of IL-l production, their IL-l sensitivity did not differ from parent cells. These results, therefore, suggest that IL-l alpha production is not essential or sufficient for the acquisition of resistance to the anti-proliferative effect of IL-l.

Femtosecond measurement of high-order harmonic pulse width and electron recombination time by field ionization

We measured the ultrashort XUV pulse width by the pump-probe method, using femtosecond dynamics of field ionization. We measured the pulse width of the ninth harmonic (88.3 nm) of a Ti:sapphire laser, using the difference of the absorption cross section between Kr and Kr(+). The change of transmission of the ninth harmonic for the delay between the pump and the probe pulses gives both the pulse width of the ninth harmonic and the recombination time of Kr(+). The measured pulse width of the ninth harmonic was 260 fs. The recombination time of Kr(+) was ~2 ps, which does not contradict the estimated time of the threebody recombination.

Induction of hepatocyte growth by intraportal infusion of HGF into beagle dogs

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), originally identified as a potent mitogen for mature parenchymal hepatocytes, is a hepatotrophic factor involved in liver regeneration and is even essential for development of the liver. We report here that human recombinant HGF at a very low concentration and given intraportaly stimulated liver regeneration in dogs. In vitro, HGF dose-dependently stimulated DNA synthesis of primary cultured hepatocytes isolated from a dog. The maximal activity was twofold higher than that of epidermal growth factor, and insulin potentiated the mitogenic activity of HGF. When human recombinant HGF was infused through the portal vein into 30% partially hepatectomized dogs at 0.25 microg/kg body weight in order to directly target the liver, HGF stimulated DNA synthesis of hepatocytes and liver weight at 72 h after the operation; labeling indices in saline- and HGF-injected groups were 0.75 and 1.82%, respectively, and the liver weights in saline- and HGF-injected groups were 302 and 374 g, respectively. Since HGF exerts potent antihepatitis activity as well as mitogenic activity, these results indicate that intraportal administration of HGF may be particularly important to enhance liver regeneration and prevent the severe hepatic insufficiently after hepatic surgery.

Altering conception of dairy cattle by gonadotropin-releasing hormone preceding luteolysis induced by prostaglandin F2 alpha

The objective of these experiments was to determine the effect on fertility of GnRH when used in conjunction with one or two injections of PGF2alpha. In Experiment 1, GnRH was administered 7 d before the second of two injections of PGF2alpha (14 d apart). The control group received two injections of PGF2alpha without GnRH. Conception was reduced from 63.5% for 74 controls to 48.7% for the 79 heifers and cows that had been treated with GnRH, but estrus detection and pregnancy rates were similar. In Experiment 2, 85 heifers and cows received GnRH at a random stage of the estrous cycle, followed in 7 d by PGF2alpha. Thirty to 32 h after PGF2alpha, a second dose of GnRH was given to induce ovulation of the preovulatory follicle, followed by one fixed-time insemination 18 to 19 h later (treatment designated as GnRH, PGF2alpha, and GnRH). Controls (n = 85) were given PGF2alpha and inseminated at estrus. Although conception rate was not different, one fixed-time insemination after the GnRH, PGF2alpha, and GnRH treatment tended (35.3%) to reduce fertility compared with effects of the control (47.1%). It is unclear how an injection of GnRH during the intervening week between two injections of PGF2alpha reduced fertility in Experiment 1. However, in Experiment 2, when GnRH was given 7 d before one injection of PGF2alpha and when ovulation was induced with a second GnRH injection, one fixed-time insemination seemed to produce acceptable fertility in dairy cows but probably less than that when inseminations were based on detected estrus.

Suppressive effects of a herbal formula, TBL-1, on type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice

1. The effects of a formula of traditional Chinese medicine, TBL-1, on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) were investigated in DBA/1J mice. 2. From 4 weeks after the first immunization with bovine type II collagen (CII), TBL-1 or indomethacin was administered orally for 13 weeks. 3. Clinical scores of CIA were decreased by both TBL-1 and indomethacin intervention compared with the control CII-immunized group. 4. Radiographic scores of phalangeal destruction were markedly improved by TBL-1 intervention (P < 0.001), but indomethacin failed. 5. The suppressive effects of TBL-1, but not indomethacin, were manifested in reduced serum anti-CII antibody titres (P < 0.001). 6. These findings suggest that TBL-1 may play a role in regulating some immune responses in the present arthritis model.

Increase in activity for the C-terminal Pro-X bond by site-directed mutagenesis of Gly137 to Ala in carboxypeptidase Z

A mutant carboxypeptidase Z from Absidia zychae in which Gly137 was replaced by Ala by site-directed mutagenesis was constructed and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae YPH250. The mutant enzyme hydrolyzed C-terminal Pro-X bonds (X = amino acid) more efficiently than the wild-type enzyme and sequentially released amino acids from the C-termini of oligopeptides.

Spinal and femoral bone mass accumulation during normal adolescence: comparison with female patients with sexual precocity and with hypogonadism

Since the attainment of higher bone mineral density (BMD) is a crucial strategy in preventing age-related bone loss and consequent fracture, we determined when bone mass of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) (g/cm2) and femoral neck (g/cm2) reaches its peak in healthy Japanese subjects and examined the influence of early exposure to estrogen and estrogen deficiency on BMD. We also determined the volumetric BMD, termed bone mineral apparent density (BMAD), of the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic QDR-1000), we measured BMD of both the lumbar spine and the femoral neck in 31 healthy children aged 2-11 yr, 269 children (138 males and 131 females) aged 13-19 yr, 12 men and 12 women aged 20-34 yr as adult controls, 11 patients with female central sexual precocity, and 3 patients with female primary hypogonadism. Because the densitometric data obtained from DXA are strongly influenced by the size of the bone in growing subjects, the volumetric BMAD (g/cm3) of the vertebral cube (L2-L4) and femoral neck were determined: BMAD (g/cm3) = BMD (g/cm2)/square root of scanned area (cm2) for the lumbar spine and by BMAD = BMD/width for the femoral neck. The BMD, both lumbar spine and femoral neck, nearly reached its peak at age 14.5-15 yr in girls and 16.5-17 yr in boys when compared with adult normal values. The difference in this age between sexes is identical to the difference in age at sexual maturation. BMD in patients with sexual precocity was high compared to age-matched controls, whereas patients with primary hypogonadism showed lower lumbar apparent BMD, and the increase in lumbar BMAD (g/cm3) was noted after the progression of puberty in healthy children, probably suggesting the importance of sex steroids in the increase of BMD and lumbar BMAD in both sexes. The girls with earlier menarche showed higher lumbar BMD at age 18 and 19 yr. For the femoral BMAD, there was no significant relationship between this value and age in girls. We conclude that peak bone mass is mainly achieved by late adolescence in Japanese as in Caucasians and that pubertal progression and probably estrogen itself play a crucial role in accumulation of bone mass in females.

The origin of pattern reversal short latency visual evoked potential as determined by dynamic topography and the dipole tracing method

The generator sites of the parietal P59 and occipital N26 components elicited by hemi-field pattern reversal stimuli were investigated. The topographic distribution of the occipital N26 component showed a paradoxical lateralization, whereas that of the parietal P59 component exhibited an anatomical lateralization. The equivalent dipoles of both occipital N26 and parietal P59 components were situated on the deep mesial surface of the functioning occipital lobe. The differences in these locations were not statistically significant, but the vector moment of the parietal P59 component projected toward the functioning parieto-occipital region and one of the occipital N26 components projected away from the functioning occipital region. The generator sites of the short latency component were considered to differ from those of the middle latency visual evoked potential. Therefore both the occipital pole and the deep cerebral structure, i.e., the lateral geniculate nucleus, may play a role in the generation of equivalent dipoles.

[CD45 gating for flow cytometric analysis of acute leukemia]

Gating of leukemic cells for immunophenotyping by flow cytometry is currently set on two dimensional display of forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC). However, this gating method can not descriminate leukemic cells from contaminated normal cells (especially normal lymphocytes). Thus, in this paper, we used CD45 monoclonal antibody to detect leukemic cells (CD45dim cells) in conjunction with SSC parameter. This CD45-SSC gating revealed that this method is very useful in AML and ALL, especially leukemia with low percentage blasts. We recommend that this new gating method should be employed for more accurate immunophenotyping of acute leukemia.

Measurement of nitric oxide in human nasal airway

The nasal output of nitric oxide (NO) is known to be high, but there have been varying reports of the exact level. We attempted to establish a quantitative measurement of nasal NO, and looked for a possible relationship with nasal resistance, at rest and during exercise. Nasal airway ventilation was performed by using an air pump at a constant flow rate, whilst the soft palate was elevated voluntarily. In a preliminary study, the flow rate for sampling was changed and concentrations of NO were measured. After determination of flow rate, rhinomanometry for nasal resistance and measurement of nasal NO by chemiluminescence were carried out before and after moderate exercise. The concentration of NO ([NO]) exhibited a hyperbolic relationship with flow rate of ventilation (V'E), indicating [NO] x V'E = net nitric oxide output (V'NO) = constant. Hence, nasal NO was expressed quantitatively as V'NO (nL.min-1). For 1 L.min-1 of ventilation, [NO] varied between 2 and 500 parts per billion (ppb) (mean = 323 ppb). The average nasal V'NO in 12 healthy male subjects was 323 +/- 91 nL.min-1 (mean +/- SD). After exercise on a treadmill (10 degrees, 5 km.h-1) for 4 min, nasal V'NO decreased to 229 +/- 63 nL.min-1. At rest, expiratory and inspiratory nasal resistance was 0.27 +/- 0.04 and 0.27 +/- 0.06 Pa.s.cm-3, respectively. After exercise, expiratory and inspiratory nasal resistance decreased to 0.17 +/- 0.04 and 0.16 +/- 0.04 Pa.s.cm-3, respectively. These data indicate that nasal NO can be measured quantitatively as V'NO and might be involved in the control of nasal resistance.

Antibacterial activity of some Garcinia benzophenone derivatives against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Benzophenone derivatives, garcinol (1) and isogarcinol (2) isolated from the pericarps of Garcinia purpurea (Guttiferae), and xanthochymol (3) and a mixture of isoxanthochymol (4) cycloxanthochymol (5) from the pericarps of G. subelliptica were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Among them, 3 showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration at 3.1-12.5 micrograms/ml. This concentration is nearly equal to that of the antibiotic, vancomycin.

Dose-dependent induction of 8-hydroxyguanine and preneoplastic foci in rat liver by a food-derived carcinogen, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, at low dose levels

Male F344 rats were administered 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) in the diet at doses of 200, 50, 12.5, 3.2, 0.8, 0.2 and 0.05 ppm for six weeks, and partially hepatectomized 1 week after the beginning of MeIQx administration. Quantitative values for glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci in the liver were dose-dependently increased by the MeIQx treatment. 8-Hydroxyguanine (8-OHG) levels assessed after 1 week of dietary MeIQx administration were also dose-dependently increased, although the effect was no longer observed at the end of the treatment period. The correlation between numbers of GST-P-positive foci at week 6 and 8-OHG levels at week 1 was linear, values for both parameters being higher than the control levels even in the 0.8 ppm dose group. These findings indicate that, in addition to the previously reported MeIQx-DNA adduct formation, DNA modifications due to oxidative damage may play an important role in MeIQx liver carcinogenesis in rats.

[Evaluation of postoperative hypoxemia with a pulse oximeter]

We investigated postoperative hypoxemia by monitoring of SPO2 with a pulse oximeter for the first 5 hours in the ward. Forty-eight adults were divided into the general anesthesia along (G) group and the combination of epidural and general anesthesia (E) group. The patients were randomly administered either 3 l. min(-1) oxygen with face mask for the initial 3 hours or room air. Postoperative Spo2 values in the patients who breathed room air in both groups were less than 94% in 33% of G group and 50% of E group. 3 l. min(-1) oxygen inhalation through the face mask was enough to avoid postoperative hypoxemia in both groups; the mean values of Spo2 were 99% in G group and 97.9% in E group. Spo2 rapidly and significantly decreased after stopping the oxygen inhalation to under 94% in 25% of G group and 58% of E group. Significant correlations were found between Spo2 levels and both age (R = 0.75) and preanesthetic Spo2 (R = 0.66) in G group. Spo2 was significantly lower in the patients whose anesthesia was stopped after 5 p.m. than in those who were weaned before 5 p.m. In conclusion, there is a high incidence of postoperative hypoxemia for several hours in the ward, which can be relieved by 3 l. min(-1) oxygen inhalation with face mask.

Neuropathological studies of chickens infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses

Central nervous system lesions of chickens inoculated with three highly pathogenic avian influenza virus strains, A/chicken/Victoria/1/85 (H7N7), A/turkey/England/50-92/91 (H5N1), and A/tern/South Africa/61 (H5N3), were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. The chickens either died within 7 days of inoculation or were killed 2 weeks after inoculation. No significant differences were observed in the lesions induced by these three viruses. The lesions were divided into two types, disseminated foci of microgliosis and necrosis, and ventriculitis. The former lesions were associated with infection of the vascular endothelium and dissemination of the virus to the peripheral parenchymal cells of the chickens that died within 3 days of inoculation. The ventriculitis lesions, however, were observed mainly in the chickens that died between 4 and 7 days after inoculation. These findings suggest that viral infection of the vascular endothelium and subsequent involvement of ependymal cells play important roles in the pathogenesis of the central nervous system lesions.

[A clinical study of renal pelvic and ureteral cancer associated with bladder cancer]

We reviewed 45 cases of transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter with reference to the coexistence or subsequent development of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer was associated with an upper urinary tract neoplasm in 26 of the 45 cases. The 5-year survival rate for coexistence of bladder cancer was 56% and that for subsequent bladder cancer was 65.6%. The 5-year survival rate for 19 cases unrelated with bladder cancer was 46.7%. Therefore, there was no significant difference among the three groups. As to degree of the malignancy of the renal pelvis and ureter, the 5-year survival rate was 73.7% for G1 and G2 and 26.2% for G3. As to the depth of invasion, of the renal pelvis and ureter the 5-year survival rate was 71.8% and 31.1% in the patients with stage of T1, T2 and T3, T4. The prognosis of cancer of the upper urinary tract depended on the degree of the malignancy, and the depth of invasion. Ninety two percent of subsequent bladder cancer was detected within 2 years after resection of the primary cancer.

Normal host prion protein necessary for scrapie-induced neurotoxicity

Accumulation of the prion protein PrPSc, a pathological and protease-resistant isoform of the normal host protein PrPC, is a feature of prion disease such as scrapie. It is still unknown whether scrapie pathology comes about by neurotoxicity of PrPSc, acute depletion of PrPC, or some other mechanism. Here we investigate this question by grafting neural tissue overexpressing PrPC into the brain of PrP-deficient mice which are scrapie-resistant and do not propagate infectivity. After intracerebral inoculation with scrapie prions, the grafts accumulated high levels of PrPSc and infectivity and developed the severe histopathological changes characteristic of scrapie. Moreover, substantial amounts of graft-derived PrPSc migrated into the host brain. Even 16 months after inoculation no pathological changes were seen in PrP-deficient tissue, not even in the immediate vicinity of the grafts. Therefore, in addition to being resistant to scrapie infection, brain tissue devoid of PrPC is not damaged by exogenous PrPSc.

15N labeling method of peptides using a thioredoxin gene fusion expression system: an application to ACTH-(1-24)

For structure analysis of peptides by multinuclear NMR, stable isotope-labeled samples are required. A direct over-expression system by E. coli cells does not work for that purpose because of rapid degradation of the peptides and/or the mRNA in host cells. We here developed an over-expression system by means of thioredoxin gene fusion system. The fused protein composed of thioredoxin and the objective peptide was expressed in E. coli and then the peptide part was released by enterokinase. This system was successfully applied for the production of 15N-labeled human adrenocorticotropic hormone fragment (ACTH-(1-24)) as needed for multinuclear NMR analysis.

Deletion in the 190 kDa antigen gene repeat region of Rickettsia rickettsii

The 190 kDa outer membrane protein of Rickettsia rickettsii is a major immunodominant protective antigen which contains 13 tandem nearly identical repeating sequences. We have identified a deletion in the 190 kDa antigen gene of R. rickettsii strain Smith maintained in the laboratory. The deletion occurred within the repeat region of this gene and the mutated repeat region corresponded to one repeating unit in size.