Photofrin photosensitization. Correlation of Photofrin:erythrocyte binding processes with photolysis

Unilamellar suspensions of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) can be utilized to remove Photofrin from the erythrocyte. This enables correlation of the Photofrin membrane-binding processes with Photofrin-sensitized photolysis. The observed rates of erythrocyte biding as well as the observed rates of removal of PHotofrin from the erythrocyte membrane suggest the existence of two Photofrin species that differ in their rates of exchange between the erythrocyte and buffer phases. Selective depletion and readdition of these Photofrin species to the erythrocyte membrane permits evaluation of their separate and joint photolytic efficiencies. These rapidly and slowly exchanging membrane-bound Photofrin species are separately much less efficient photosensitizers than the two species together. The two Photofrin species exhibit essentially identical fluorescence emission spectra in the presence of DMPC. Nevertheless, models consistent with the results involve partitioning by chemically distinct Photofrin components or partitioning of chemically similar Photofrin components into distinct membrane environments, or a combination of these.

Chromosome assignments of genes for human Na(+)-dependent phosphate co-transporters NaPi-3 and NPT-1

Chromosome assignments for the genes encoding human renal high affinity Na/phosphate co-transporters NaPi-3 and NPT-1 were derived by analyzing somatic cell hybrid DNAs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using primers specific for two human Na/Pi co-transporters demonstrated that the genes for NaPi-3 was assigned to human chromosome 5 while that for NPT-1 was assigned to human chromosome 6. Renal phosphate transporter genes may be candidates for causing hereditary hypophosphatemia with hypercalciuria in humans.

[Migration and adhesiveness of malignant glioma cells to fibronectin or vitronectin and their expression of integrin subunits]

In order to better understand the cellular mechanism of glioma invasion, we investigated migratory responses and adhesiveness of human malignant glioma cells to fibronectin (FN) or vitronectin (VN). In addition, an expression of integrin subunits for FN and VN was analyzed by flow cytometry. All glioma cells tested migrated to both FN and VN to a various degree. Glioma cells which strongly migrated to FN or VN showed an intense expression of alpha 5 or alpha v, respectively, while there was no correlation between cell adhesiveness to FN or VN and intensity of the integrin expression. Studies using primary tumor cells from surgical specimen revealed that only an intensity of cell adhesiveness to FN was negatively correlated well with the degree of clinical invasion of gliomas. That is, the more glioma cells adhered to FN, the less the original tumor tissues showed tumor invasion.

[The effects of glucose and insulin upon functional recovery in the rat heart preserved by continuous perfusion with St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution]

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the continuous perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHBB) solution or St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution (ST solution) containing glucose and insulin upon the post-preservation recovery in the isolated rat heart.

METHODS

Hearts from male Wistar rats (n = 6/group) were subjected to working perfusion with KHBB solution for measurement of cardiac function. They were continuously perfused (1) with KHBB solution or ST solution for 12 hours at 20 degrees C, (2) with ST solution for 12 hours at 37 degrees C, 20 degrees C or 4 degrees C, (3) with ST solution or ST solution containing glucose (9 mmol/L) for 12 hours at 20 degrees C or 4 degrees C, and (4) with ST solution containing glucose (9 mmol/L) or ST solution containing glucose (9 mmol/L) and insulin (10 U/L solution) for 20 hours at 20 degrees C. This was followed by 15 min of Langendorff perfusion and 20 min of working perfusion with KHBB solution. During the second working perfusion after preservation, cardiac function was measured again.

RESULTS

(1) Percent recoveries of cardiac output (%CO) preserved with KHBB and ST solution were 44.9 +/- 4.0 and 57.7 +/- 3.8%, respectively (p < 0.05). (2) %CO after preservation with ST solution at 37, 20, 4 degrees C were 0*, 57.7 +/- 3.8 and 74.4 +/- 2.2*%, respectively (*p < 0.05 vs the 20 degrees C group). (3) At 20 degrees C, glucose addition to ST solution increased %CO to 76.5 +/- 2.4% from 57.7 +/- 3.8% in glucose-free ST solution group (p < 0.05). However, at 4 degrees C, glucose addition to ST solution was rather harmful and decreased %CO to 61.4 +/- 2.8% from 74.4 +/- 2.2 in glucose-free ST solution group (p < 0.05). (4) The addition of insulin to the glucose-containing ST solution resulted in a significant increase in %CO from 24.6 +/- 4.0% in the insulin-free solution to 69.2 +/- 2.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that 1) ST solution might be better than KHBB solution for a continuous perfusion medium of myocardial preservation, and 2) at 20 degrees C, the addition of glucose and insulin to the ST solution could be beneficial for the continuous infusion as a method of preservation, however, at 4 degrees C, these addition might be harmful, suggesting the temperature dependence in the utility of energy substrate.

Homeostatic regulation of intestinal epithelia by intraepithelial gamma delta T cells

Although T cells bearing gamma delta T-cell receptors have long been known to be present in the epithelial lining of many organs, their specificity and function remain elusive. In the present study, we examined the intestinal epithelia of T-cell-receptor mutant mice, which were deficient in either gamma delta T cells or alpha beta T cells, and of normal littermates. The absence of gamma delta T cells was associated with a reduction in epithelial cell turnover and a downregulation of the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. No such effects were observed in alpha beta T-cell-deficient mice. These findings indicate that intraepithelial gamma delta T cells regulate the generation and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells.

Right or left trisegment portal vein embolization before hepatic trisegmentectomy for hilar bile duct carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous transhepatic embolization of the right portal vein plus the left medial portal branch (R3-PE) and the left portal vein plus the right anterior portal branch (L3-PE) is not well described.

METHODS

Four patients with far advanced carcinoma of the hepatic hilus underwent R3-PE (n = 1) or L3-PE (n = 3) as preoperative management for right hepatic trisegmentectomy or left hepatic trisegmentectomy. The portal vein embolization was performed with the ipsilateral approach through the right anterior portal branch.

RESULTS

In all patients the embolizations were successful without complications. Volumetric study with computed tomography showed sufficient hypertrophy of the nonembolized hepatic segments. Three of the four patients eventually underwent trisegmentectomy. The postoperative courses in two of the patients were uneventful. The remaining patient suffered from posthepatectomy liver failure but recovered.

CONCLUSIONS

R3-PE or L3-PE is advisable as preoperative management for trisegmentectomy and appears effective for increasing the safety of the operation. This embolization is achievable only through the ipsilateral approach.

Surgical treatment guided by spinal cord evoked potentials for tetraparesis due to cervical spondylosis

Sixteen consecutive patients who were unable to ambulate independently due to cervical spondylotic myelopathy were treated surgically with the guidance of spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEPs). The SCEPs were recorded intraoperatively with needle electrodes inserted into serial cervical intervertebral discs after caudal epidural stimulation. Despite the presence of multiple extradural defects and/or cord compression seen on MRI, anterior decompression followed by fusion was able to be focused on a single level where the distinct change in waveform of the SCEP suggestive of spinal conduction block was revealed. Excellent neurological improvement resulted from the operation and all patients followed up for a period of more than 6 months were found to be ambulatory without walking aids.

Intravascular hyperthermia: experimental study of transcatheter treatment

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

External hyperthermia has frequently been used to treat superficial malignant tumors. We postulated that transarterial internal hyperthermia may be effective for deeply located hypervascular tumors. We performed intravascular hyperthermia (IVH) for malignant hypervascular tumors that were transplanted into animals and evaluated the resulting histologic changes and antitumoral effects.

METHODS

We designed a special catheter to heat the injected saline. Sixteen rabbits with hypervascular VX2 tumors ranging from 2 to 2.5 cm in diameter in their left hindlimb muscles served as subjects. IVH was performed via the left femoral artery (temperature = 50 degrees C) in 11 rabbits. Two sessions of IVH were performed during 1 week. Two weeks after the two sessions of IVH, the rabbits were sacrificed and their tumors and feeding arteries were resected. Five control rabbits had 37 degrees C saline infused using the same technique.

RESULTS

The temperature in the central zone of the tumor increased markedly to 42.3 +/- 0.5 degrees C (mean +/- standard deviation), compared with 40.3 +/- 0.4 degrees C and 39.2 +/- 0.5 degrees C in the peripheral zones of the tumor and the surrounding tissue, respectively. Tumor sizes were calculated on angiograms as having decreased by 63 +/- 35% of their initial sizes during the 2 weeks after the two IVH sessions. However, tumor sizes increased to 171 +/- 41% in the control group (p < .01). Necrosis in the peripheral zones of the tumors in the IVH group was more severe than that in the control group (p < .05). Necrosis in the central zones of the tumors in the IVH group was slightly more severe. The surrounding tissue was not damaged. Although the femoral artery was not severely damaged, there was severe damage to the feeding arteries.

CONCLUSION

IVH reduced the size of hypervascular tumors in our rabbits. The antitumoral effects are attributed to direct damage of the tumor vessels and to the effect of heat on the tumor cells.

Coexpression of cdk2/cdc2 and retinoblastoma gene products in colorectal cancer

The retinoblastoma gene (Rb gene) is a tumour-suppressor gene and its product (pRB) is known to act as a negative regulator of the cell cycle. Although lack of pRB expression resulting from gene alterations is considered to be responsible for the genesis of several human malignancies, increased expression of pRB has been demonstrated in a majority of colorectal cancer cases. In the present study, we investigated the expression of pRB as well as that of its related kinases, cdk2 and cdc2, in colorectal cancer, since these kinases have been reported to phosphorylate and inactivate pRB. Western blot analysis revealed that colorectal cancer expressed higher levels of cdk2 and cdc2 than did normal mucosa and that the ratio of the hyperphosphorylated form of pRB was higher in colorectal cancer. Furthermore, immunohistochemical studies showed that cdk2/cdc2 was expressed exclusively in the cancer cells positive for pRB. These results suggest that an increase in the expression of cdk2/cdc2 in colorectal cancer may have prevented pRB from braking the cell cycle through phosphorylation.

A new family of Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome: coexistence of Holmes type cerebellar atrophy, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and retinochoroidal degeneration: case reports and review of literature

The association of familial hypogonadism with progressive cerebellar ataxia is only rarely encountered, and the exact link between the symptoms remains unknown. We report here two sisters presenting with Holmes type cerebellar ataxia, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and retinochoroidal degeneration recently diagnosed as Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome. There was consanguinity between the parents of the affected individuals and the condition seemed to be inherited as an autosomal recessive defect. On endocrinological examinations, in both cases, the responses of LH and FSH to LH-RH (100 micrograms) were impaired even after repetitive stimulation with LH-RH (400 micrograms, 7 days), suggesting that the hypogonadism was due to a primary pituitary disturbance. Impaired GH responses to GRF (100 micrograms) and insulin-induced hypoglycemia (0.1 U/kg) were also noted. The two sisters shared an almost identical clinical and endocrinological picture. Their karyotypes were 46, XX. They had been treated for primary and secondary amenorrhea at the age of 20 years and neurological problems had started at the age of 30 years. This unique family displays clinical evidence of a possible common mechanism responsible for a progressive hypothalamo-pituitary and cerebellar impairment of late onset.

Y-shaped lower bilateral incisors. A previously undescribed oral malformation

A case of Y-shaped lower bilateral central incisors found in an 18-year-old Japanese man is reported. Each of the central incisors had an abnormally high cusp located at the labial surface. The cause of this malformation of the lower central incisors is obscure, but we suspect that it was due to hyperplasia of the labial surface of the central lobe of the incisor during tooth development.

Daytime hypertension and the effects of short-term nasal continuous positive airway pressure treatment in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Daytime blood pressure (BP) in 31 male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) was measured and the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on daytime BP were studied. Subjects were 48 +/- 10 (mean +/- SD) years old and weighed 80 +/- 13 kg. The mean systolic BP and diastolic BP were 135 +/- 15 mmHg and 88 +/- 14 mmHg, respectively and daytime hypertension was present in 12 (38%) subjects. Apnea index (AI) and the lowest oxygen saturation during sleep were significantly more severe in the hypertensive (HT) than in the non-hypertensive (NHT) patients (p < 0.05). AI was significantly correlated with diastolic BP (p < 0.05) and the mean and lowest oxygen saturation during sleep were significantly correlated with both systolic (p < 0.05) and diastolic BP (p < 0.01). After nasal CPAP treatment for two weeks, both systolic and diastolic BP were significantly reduced; the former from 135 +/- 15 mmHg to 126 +/- 10 mmHg (p < 0.005) and the latter from 88 +/- 14 mmHg to 78 +/- 6 mmHg (p < 0.001). These data form direct evidence that daytime hypertension is partially induced by OSAS and is reversible with nasal CPAP treatment.

Detection of insulin and insulin-like growth factors I and II in saliva and potential synthesis in the salivary glands of mice. Effects of type 1 diabetes mellitus

The salivary glands of mammals synthesize and secrete a number of peptide growth factors that play important roles in cell/tissue homeostasis and embryonic development. Using a radioimmunoassay, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) were detected in saliva from mice. Unlike epidermal growth factor (EGF), there was no sexual dimorphism in the concentrations of the insulin growth factor family. Immunohistochemical localization of IGF-I and IGF-II was confined to the duct cells of both the parotid and the submandibular glands. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification of total RNA from parotid and submandibular glands confirmed the presence of all three hormone/growth factor mRNAs in both glands. The levels of insulin and IGF-I were higher in saliva from an animal model for autoimmune type 1 diabetes, the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, than in a second inbred strain, BALB/c. In contrast, the IGF-II levels were decreased relative to the BALB/c strain. With the onset of diabetes in NOD mice, insulin levels declined, while IGF-I and IGF-II levels showed trends toward lower levels of these growth factors when compared with non-diabetic animals. These changes were reflected in the concentrations from parotid and submandibular gland cell lysates.

Preparation of tau from the peripheral nerve: presence of insoluble low molecular weight tau with high phosphorylation

Purely axonal tau protein of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) obtained from adult rat ventral roots was composed of both high (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) isoforms. While the PNS-specific HMW isoform (110 kDa) was soluble, 60-70% of the LMW isoforms with apparent molecular weights of 67 kDa, 62 kDa and 58 kDa was insoluble. When analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis, these axonal LMW isoforms corresponded to the most acidic species among the large number of isoforms found in brain microtubule-associated tau. Immunoreactivities towards phosphorylation-dependent antibody tau-1 and the two anti-phosphopeptide antibodies (PP1 and PP2) indicate that PNS axonal tau is highly phosphorylated at Ser190, Ser193, and Ser387, which are the sites shown to be phosphorylated in fetal brain tau and tau comprising the paired helical filaments of Alzheimer's disease.

An anatomical analysis of the dorsoventral relationship between the sacral plexus and the pudendal nerve in man by use of computer aided three-dimensional reconstruction

In order to investigate the dorsoventral relationship between the sacral plexus and the pudendal nerve in man, morphological examination was performed on one pelvic half of a male cadaver. The second and third spinal nerves were removed en bloc and sectioned serially for three-dimensional reconstruction imaging of the selected sections. Comparison of the sequential images revealed that the root of the pudendal nerve is first situated ventral to the caudal root of the sacral plexus, and that the former and the latter are shifted cranialward and caudalward, respectively, at the point of exit from the second anterior sacral foramen.

Effects of exposure to NO2 or SO2 on bronchopulmonary reaction induced by Candida albicans in guinea pigs

The effects of NO2 or SO2 on the bronchopulmonary reactions induced by Candida albicans in guinea pigs were evaluated. Thirty-six guinea pigs (3 groups of 12 animals each) were sensitized with intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg of C. albicans, given twice. Two groups of animals were exposed to about 5 ppm of NO2 or SO2 for 4 h/d, 5 d/wk; this exposure was conducted a total of 30 times during the study. The third group served as the control and was not exposed to these pollutants. Two weeks after the second sensitization, all the animals were subjected to inhalation exposure to C. albicans. For 42 h after the antigen challenge, the respiratory rates and expiration/inspiration ratios of the animals were automatically monitored. The number of animals showing tachypnea was significantly higher in the NO2 exposure group than in the control from 15 h after antigen challenge. In the SO2 exposure group, the number of animals showing prolonged expiration or prolonged inspiration, or both, was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the symptoms were observed from approximately 15 h after antigen challenge. These findings showed that delayed-type dyspneic symptoms in guinea pigs were increased by exposure to NO2 or SO2, although the symptoms and degree of dyspnea were different for the two gases.

The dopaminergic system modulates the endogenous opioid system in guinea-pig isolated ileal longitudinal muscle

The effects of the dopamine antagonists haloperidol and sultopride were investigated on the twitch response, evoked by 0.1 Hz stimulation of guinea-pig isolated ileal longitudinal muscle, and on the inhibition of the twitch response induced by 10 Hz stimulation (post-tetanic twitch inhibition) and by application of opioids. Both haloperidol and sultopride concentration-dependently inhibited the twitch response, with threshold concentrations of 2 and 50 microM, respectively, and could also shift the concentration-response curve for ACh-contraction to the right in a non-competitive manner. Haloperidol (1 microM) and sultopride (20 microM) increased post-tetanic twitch inhibition and this could be prevented by naloxone (100 nM). Twitch inhibition induced by morphine and dynorphin 1-13 was not affected by haloperidol (1 microM) or sultopride (20 microM). Prazosin (1 microM) and yohimbine (2 microM) did not affect either the twitch response or the post-tetanic twitch inhibition. These results suggest that dopamine receptors are involved in the modulation of the ileal opioid system, in such a manner as to diminish the release of endogenous opioids by tetanic stimulation.

Magnetic resonance imaging of osteomyelitis in the mandible. Comparative study with other radiologic modalities

Magnetic resonance imaging of 14 histopathologically confirmed cases of osteomyelitis of the mandible was retrospectively reviewed. The findings of magnetic resonance imaging were compared with conventional radiography, computed tomography, bone scintigraphy, and histopathologic examinations. All lesions in bone marrow were shown as areas of low (64%) or low-to-intermediate (36%) signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and areas of high (29%), mixed (high and low, 21%; high and intermediate, 36%) or low (14%) signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Histopathologically, high T2-weighted signal intensity areas that showed enhancement after contrast injection corresponded to active infection. These were not collections of pus but were predominantly areas of granulation tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging showed larger areas of abnormality than plain radiography or computed tomography. Bone scintigraphy did not accurately reveal the locations of lesions but showed heterogeneous increased uptake in all patients. MRI was an extremely useful technique for assessing osteomyelitis of the mandible.

Transarterial embolization of an extrahepatic portal vein aneurysm with arterioportal fistula

We successfully performed transcatheter arterial embolization of an extrahepatic arterioportal fistula with a portal vein aneurysm. The fistula was considered secondary to cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis 5 years earlier. After occlusion of the fistula with platinum coils, the aneurysmal cavity thrombosed.

The reeler gene-associated antigen on Cajal-Retzius neurons is a crucial molecule for laminar organization of cortical neurons

In the neurological mutant mouse reeler, the histological organization of the neocortex develops abnormally and essentially results in an inversion of the relative positions of the cortical layers. The reeler mutation, therefore, provides an insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of the cortical layers. We have generated a monoclonal antibody (CR-50) that probes a distinct allelic antigen present in wild-type but not in reeler mutant mice. CR-50 reacted specifically with Cajal-Retzius neurons, one of the first cortical neurons to differentiate in the neocortex, but whose functional role is not known. When dissociated cerebral cortical cells were incubated with CR-50 in reaggregation culture, the genotype-dependent histogenetic assembly of wild-type cortical cells resembled that of reeler mutants. These findings revealed that the selective expression of a distinct molecule on Cajal-Retzius neurons is critical for the normal lamination of cortical neurons in the mammalian neocortex.

Immunostaining of human amniotic epithelial cells: possible use as a transgene carrier in gene therapy for inborn errors of metabolism

Immunoreactivity of human cultured amniotic epithelial (AE) cells was investigated to evaluate the possible use of these cells as a transgene carrier in gene therapy for inborn errors of metabolism. AE cells were prepared and cultured by the methods described previously. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that these cells did not express any class II antigen at all on their surfaces. But the class I antigen was slightly expressed on their surfaces. Immunoperoxidase staining was slightly positive as to the class I antigen but not to the class II antigen at all. pSV-beta-galactosidase was transfected into AE cells by means of electroporation, followed by staining of the cells with X-gal. Several cells in 60 mm dish expressed beta-galactosidase activity. The possible gene transfer of beta-galactosidase into cultured AE cells may suggest that these cells could be used as a transgene carrier in gene therapy for inborn errors of metabolism.

Suppression of matrilysin inhibits colon cancer cell invasion in vitro

Matrilysin is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase gene family, which is believed to play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. We examined the effects of over- and under-expression of matrilysin on the ability of colon cancer cells to migrate across an artificial membrane in vitro. Introduction of matrilysin caused colon cancer cells to become more invasive as assessed by an in vitro invasion assay. In contrast, expression of matrilysin was down-regulated by all trans-retinoic acid or by introduction of anti-sense matrilysin in BM314 colon cancer cells. This down-regulation caused these cells to become less invasive. We demonstrated a correlation between matrilysin level and the invasive potential of human colon cancer cells, implying an important role for matrilysin in the control of tumor invasion in vitro.