Apotransferrin stimulation of thyroid hormone dependent rat pituitary tumor cell growth in serum-free chemically defined medium: role of FE(III) chelation

Triiodothyronine (T3) dependent growth of GH1 rat pituitary tumor cells in serum-free defined culture requires apotransferrin (apoTf) (Sirbasku et al.: Mol. Cell. Endocrinol., 77:C47-C55, 1991). Diferric transferrin (2Fe.Tf) also is necessary as an iron source (Eby et al.: Anal. Biochem., 203:317-325, 1992). Further, T3 dependence is prevented by soluble Fe(III) addition to the medium (Sato et al.: In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol., 27A:599-602, 1991). While our data suggested that apoTf caused growth by chelation of Fe(III), direct evidence was required. We used urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis along with autoradiography and Western immunoblotting to measure the Fe(III) content of growing GH1 cell cultures and identify the apoTf, mono-metal transferrins and 2Fe.Tf present. We found that apoTf per se did not cause growth but instead chelated inhibitory levels of Fe(III). In fact, apoTf need not be present at all provided that Fe(III) is reduced to < or = 0.6 microM. In addition, other protein and non-protein Fe(III) chelators were shown to be as effective as apoTf. Here, we report that pituitary cells are completely inhibited by > or = 1.2 microM Fe(III), which are concentrations which might be expected in many culture media and usually are not thought to influence growth. The high sensitivity of pituitary cells to Fe(III) suggests further study to determine what cellular functions are affected and how they interfere with thyroid hormone dependence.

Coronary perforation to the left ventricular cavity by a guide wire during coronary angioplasty

We describe a case in which the guide wire penetrated through the left anterior descending artery into the left ventricular cavity during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. This complication of coronary angioplasty which had not been previously reported was suspected because of the characteristic motion of the guide wire on the X-ray image and was confirmed by echocardiography.

Attenuation of ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity and adenosine release in activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

To examine whether activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes attenuates release of adenosine through attenuation of their own ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity, human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were incubated with and without exposure to either N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or complement C5a. Ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was attenuated by both FMLP and complement C5a (22.7 +/- 3.6 vs 9.7 +/- 2.6 nmol/min per 10(7) cells at 10(-6) M FMLP, P < .05; 21.5 +/- 2.2 vs 10.2 +/- 1.2 nmol/min per 10(7) cells at 5 x 10(-7) g/mL complement C5a, P < .001), whereas cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase activity was not affected by either FMLP or complement C5a. These reductions of ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity that were caused by both FMLP and complement C5a were dose and time dependent and were inhibited by superoxide dismutase. Desferrioxamine did not inhibit the decreases in ecto-5'-nucleotidase. In accordance with the decreases in ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity, release of adenosine was attenuated in the FMLP-pretreated and complement C5a-pretreated polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which were restored by concomitant administration of superoxide dismutase. The viability of FMLP-pretreated and complement C5a-pretreated polymorphonuclear leukocytes was markedly decreased compared with the untreated group after 60 minutes of hypoxia followed by 60 minutes of reoxygenation. Thus, we conclude that: (1) activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes attenuates their own ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity and thereby reduces adenosine release, (2) reduction of ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity is attributable to generated superoxide anion in polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and (3) viability of polymorphonuclear leukocytes after hypoxia and reoxygenation largely depends on the extents of decreases in ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity.

Superoxide dismutase enhances both adenosine release and coronary hyperemic flow through protection of 5'-nucleotidase against its degradation during reperfusion following ischemia in dogs

Oxygen-derived free radicals are thought to inactivate ectosolic enzymes that regulate myocardial cellular functions. One such enzyme is ecto-5'-nucleotidase, which is responsible for adenosine production during coronary hyperemic flow. In the present study, we measured both reactive and hyperemic flow and adenosine release during reperfusion with and without superoxide dismutase. In 10 open chest dogs, the left anterior descending coronary artery was perfused through an extracorporeal bypass tube from the carotid artery. In the control hearts, a five-minute occlusion of the coronary artery caused the hyperemic flow with increased release of adenosine. In the superoxide dismutase-treated hearts, although administration of superoxide dismutase altered neither adenosine release nor coronary blood flow in the baseline, it augmented both peak coronary blood flow and repayment, and adenosine release during reperfusion. Therefore, we hypothesized that superoxide dismutase reduces generation of oxygen-derived free radicals during ischemia and reperfusion and attenuates the degradation of ecto-5'-nucleotidase. The administration of superoxide dismutase enhanced the increase in ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity at 10 minutes after reperfusion over the untreated group. Thus, we conclude that superoxide dismutase enhances reactive hyperemic flow and adenosine release during reperfusion following ischemia, which may be attributable to the protection of ecto-5'-nucleotidase by superoxide dismutase during ischemia and reperfusion.

[Clinical and pathological studies of organizing pneumonia]

Clinical and pathological studies on organizing pneumonia (OP) were performed in 16 cases diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB). All patients were elderly and poorly-nourished with underlying disease, and suffered from fever and various respiratory symptoms. Results of laboratory studies in these cases were positive for C-reactive protein, negative for tuberculin reaction and showed high complement levels. Pathological findings demonstrated that there were two kinds of organizing process classified according to whether fibrin exudation was detected in Masson bodies or not. Twelve of the 16 cases were treated with prednisolone, and two cases were observed without administration. In nine of the 16 cases, abnormal shadows in chest X-ray disappeared, although abnormal shadows remained in five. Regarding the relationship between pathological findings and shadows in chest X-ray, Masson bodies without fibrin were observed in nine cases in which abnormal shadows in chest X-ray disappeared, but Masson bodies containing fibrin were observed in five cases in which abnormal shadows remained. These results suggest that there are two kinds of organizing process in OP. Steroid therapy tends to be ineffective in OP demonstrating organization containing fibrin caused probably by infection. However, prednisolone is effective in the OP associated with a fibrosing process, similar to idiopathic BOOP, without or with unrelated fibrin exudation of unknown origin.

Electrophysiologic evaluation of intermittent sacral nerve dysfunction in lumbar spinal canal stenosis

Intermittent sacral nerve dysfunction, induced by walking in lumbar spinal canal stenosis, may cause symptoms including hyperesthesia and pain in perineum, urinary bladder incontinence, and penile erection. However, it is difficult to objectively document these symptoms. Evoked external urethral sphincter potentials by conus medullaris stimulation were measured both before walking and after walking in five patients who complained of sexual organ or urinary dysfunction during walking, and were compared with simultaneously induced sacral nerve symptoms. These potentials were also measured during surgery. Sacral nerve symptoms were reproduced by walking 80-350 meters (average 177.5 m). These potentials disappeared in one patient and were decreased in four patients at the time when the claudicant symptoms disabled the patient during walking. The amplitude subsequently recovered in keeping with relief of those symptoms during rest. Monitoring of these potentials during surgery showed an increase of amplitude shortly after the decompression procedure of the cauda equina. In conclusion, this measuring method was valuable as an objective evaluation of intermittent sacral nerve dysfunction in lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Syntheses and biological activities of chemically stable prostacyclin mimics with cis-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonene ring system: the novel homoisocarbacyclin analogues

The synthetic studies concerning a series of homoisocarbacyclin analogues, which are homologous compounds of isocarbacyclin, with cis-bicyclo[4.3.0]non-2-ene or cis-bicyclo[4.3.0]non-3-ene as a nucleus have been carried out. The general synthetic methods of homoisocarbacyclin analogues have been accomplished starting with the versatile Corey lactone. Among the analogues synthesized in the present studies, a promising compound (TY-11223) exhibiting a good selectivity in biological actions was found to be studied further.

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.)

Enzymatically isolated leaf-derived protoplasts of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) were cultured in modified B5 medium containing 1 mg/l NAA, 0.4 mg/l BA, 0.5% sucrose, 0.5 M mannitol and 0.1% Gelrite (first medium). After 30 d culture at 25°C in the dark, protoplasts formed colonies consisting of about 100 cells. Gelrite medium blocks were transferred into liquid medium to promote further growth. Colonies of 0.5 mm transferred to 0.2% Gelrite solidified medium (same components as first medium) formed green calli (1-2 mm) under incubation in the light. Green calli transferred to differentiation medium (B5, 0.1 mg/l NAA, 5 mg/l BA, 2% sucrose, 0.2 M mannitol, 0.2% Gelrite) developed shoot buds after 3-4 weeks. Whole plants were recovered following rooting of shoots in B5 medium without hormones.

Head and neck carcinomas in patients under the age of forty years

From 1973 to 1988, 1,104 patients with head and neck carcinomas (excluding thyroid carcinoma) were admitted to the Yokohama City University Hospital, and among them, 48 (4.3%) were under the age of 40 years. We made a retrospective survey of these young patients. There were 36 males and 12 females. An increasing ratio of male to female was seen with increasing age. The primary site was most frequently the nasopharynx (29 cases), followed by the maxillary sinus (9 cases), and the tongue (4 cases). Squamous cell carcinoma in these young patients characteristically showed a low grade of differentiation.

Human seminal plasma proteinase inhibitor: action toward some trypsin-like arginine amidases from humans

Human seminal plasma trypsin-like proteinase inhibitor (HSTPI) was separated and examined by trypsin Cellulofine affinity adsorption and Cellulofine GCL-300 gel filtration and its inhibitory action toward some arginine amidases obtained from the urine, semen, and blood of humans. HSTPI showed strong inhibitory action toward two types of human seminal plasma basic arginine amidases (BHSAA-L and -A), human seminal plasma acidic arginine amidase with affinity to lima bean trypsin inhibitor (LBTI) column (AHSAA-L), and human acrosin and thrombin. Conversely, no or little inhibition was observed toward human urinary arginine amidase-2, human high molecular weight urokinase, or human seminal plasma acidic arginine amidase with affinity to aprotinin column (AHSAA-A, tissue kallikrein). Measurement of Ki values of BHSAA-L with affinity to LBTI column toward HSTPI and LBTI revealed that the arginine amidase had a stronger affinity for LBTI than that for HSTPI. This indicates that it is the difference in Ki values that allows BHSAA-L to be separated by the LBTI affinity adsorption method from human seminal plasma containing a large amount of HSTPI.

Parvovirus B19-associated haemophagocytosis in Evans syndrome: aplastic crisis accompanied by severe thrombocytopenia

A 36-year-old man who had been treated for Evans syndrome (ES) developed an aplastic crisis caused by acute human parvovirus B19 (HPV) infection. Profound thrombocytopenia (8.0 x 10(9)/l) followed with a sudden increase in platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) (1376.9 ng/10(7) plts). Bone marrow examination revealed a considerable number of haemophagocytic histiocytes without any disturbance of megakaryopoiesis. To our knowledge this is the first case of aplastic crisis with virus-associated haemophagocytosis in a patient with ES, which provides an interesting insight into the mechanisms for thrombocytopenia in HPV infection.

[Retrograde systemic venous perfusion with selective jugular cannulation]

46 patients underwent surgery for the ascending aorta and the aortic arch using continuous hypothermic retrograde systemic venous perfusion (RSVP). Good cerebral protection has been obtained by this method in most patients including four in whom periods of retrograde perfusion exceeded 90 minutes (the longest 140 min). In first 19 patients retrograde perfusion was performed through conventional caval cannulae, but one of them sustained serious neurological damage despite a relatively short duration of retrograde perfusion probably due to impediment of retrograde flow to the brain with venous valves at the jugular-subclavian junction. Then we have developed a new technique that employs a cavoatrial cannula inserted selectively into the internal jugular vein beyond the valve at the venous angle and have applied this technique in last 27 patients.

The neurosurgical management of brain metastasis from colorectal cancer: a report of three cases

We report herein three cases of brain metastasis from primary colorectal cancer in which the metastatic lesion was resected to effectively relieve neurological symptoms. Case 1 was a 61-year-old woman with a solitary brain metastasis from colorectal cancer and no other metastases; case 2 was a 59-year-old woman who died from liver metastasis 11 months after resection of the metastatic brain tumor; and case 3 was a 68-year-old woman with multiple metastases to the lungs and bones detected before the brain metastasis. According to 16 cases previously reported in the Japanese literature and our 3 cases, the interval between diagnosis of the primary cancer and discovery of brain metastasis was 23 months on average, while the median survival after the discovery of brain metastasis was 7 months. Brain metastases with liver and lung metastases were seen more frequently than brain metastases alone. In these three cases, chemotherapy appears to have been of no use in preventing recurrence. Thus, we believe neurosurgical management to be appropriate for a solitary lesion and that it should be actively pursued to prolong survival and improve quality of life.

Serological evidence of pneumonia virus of mouse (PVM) infection in laboratory rats

PVM specific antibody was determined using 3 serological tests (Parker's original hemagglutination-inhibition [HI] test, modified HI test, and indirect fluorescent antibody [IFA] test). IFA test was found to be the most sensitive method, so that IFA test was considered to be the method of choice for a small scale microbiological monitoring in animal facilities. A total of 1,280 sera including rats, mice, hamsters and rabbits were tested for PVM antibody. The prevalence of PVM antibody was 17.2% (116/674) in conventional rats and 30.0% (160/200) in SPF rats obtained from commercial breeders and research facilities. Furthermore, two samples of 144 conventional rabbits (1.4%) were showed specific antibody positive to the virus. However, hamsters and mice showed no evidence of PVM infection. These results suggest that PVM infection is prevalent, especially in laboratory rats in Japan.

Purification of exfoliative toxin produced by Staphylococcus hyicus and its antigenicity

We previously reported the isolation of an exfoliative toxin from culture filtrates of Staphylococcus hyicus (shET) and reproduction of exfoliation in piglets injected with partially purified shET. In this study, we purified shET and compared the biological and physicochemical properties of shET and Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative toxin (sETA and sETB). shET was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulofine A-500 column chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (7.5% polyacrylamide). Purified shET (p-shET) did not cause exfoliation of the epidermis in suckling mice but did cause exfoliation in 1-day-old chickens, whereas sETA and sETB produced by S. aureus caused exfoliation in suckling mice but not in 1-day-old chickens. The molecular mass of p-shET was determined as 27 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. p-shET did not show any cross-reactivity with sETA and sETB in Western immunoblotting analysis or the immunodiffusion test.

Comparative free radical scavenging action of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with and without the sulfhydryl radical

The free radical scavenging effects of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor containing sulfhydryl (SH; captopril) were compared with those of ACE inhibitors not containing SH (enalapril, enalaprilat, delapril and its de-esterified products). Electron spin resonance (ESR) using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) as the spin trap showed that enalapril and delapril (0.6-4.8 mmol/l) inhibited hydroxyl radicals concentration-dependently. Captopril (2.4-10 mmol/l), enalaprilat and the de-esterified product of delapril (1.2-4.8 mmol/l) also inhibited hydroxyl radicals in a concentration-dependent manner. The effects of captopril and enalapril (2.4-4.8 mmol/l) on the scavenging of superoxide anion radical were also concentration-dependent. Delapril, its de-esterified product, and enalaprilat weakly inhibited superoxide anion radical. These results indicate that both SH- and non-SH-containing ACE inhibitors scavenge hydroxyl radical more strongly than the superoxide anion radical and that the free radical scavenging action of ACE inhibitors is probably not related only to the presence of the SH radical.

Induction of stress proteins in mouse peritoneal macrophages by oxidized low-density lipoprotein

The synthesis of 23-kDa and 34-kDa proteins in mouse peritoneal macrophages was enhanced when they were incubated with oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This response required the oxidation of the lipid of the LDL, because native LDL had little effect and acetylated LDL enhanced the synthesis of 34-kDa protein only slightly. Since macrophages can bind and sequester oxidized LDL, they are subjected to an oxidative stress. The results suggest that the 34-kDa protein, which is identical with heme oxygenase, and the 23-kDa protein serve as stress protein that might afford protection against the oxidative stress.

Analysis of fra-2 gene expression

We have analyzed the transcriptional regulation of the fra-2 gene in chicken embryo fibroblasts. Like c-fos, fra-2 was inducible by phorbol ester, cAMP and calcium ionophore, as well as serum. In all three cases, the induction of two species of fra-2 transcript (5.7 kb and 6.8 kb) was delayed and prolonged compared with that of c-fos mRNA. The size difference between the two transcripts was attributable to the heterogeneity of the 3'-end, probably reflecting utilization of different polyadenylation sites. The major transcriptional start point is located at 30 bp downstream of a TATA-like sequence. In the fra-2 promoter region, which is located in a typical CpG island, enhancer consensus sequences such as SCM, SRE, GC boxes and CRE-like sequences were detected upstream of the TATA-like sequence in the same order as that in the 5'-upstream region of the chicken c-fos gene. Fibroblast transfection studies with a series of promoter deletion constructs positioned upstream of bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase indicated, however, that SRE-like sequence is not the sole responsible element for the serum induction, and that a minimal fragment containing no SRE-like sequence is sufficient for this induction. Two typical AP-1 sequences are located between the major transcriptional initiation site and the coding sequence, and the binding activity of protein complexes to these sequences was induced by serum.

Relationship between frontal midline theta activity in EEG and concentration

The relationship between the appearance of EEG theta rhythm in the frontal midline area (Fm theta) and the level of concentration was investigated by using warning signals in simple reaction tasks on 6 male subjects. The result that Fm theta appeared in the foreperiods between the warning and the signal to respond suggests a relation between Fm theta and concentration. Fm theta also appeared, however, at other times. This suggests that a component of Fm theta may not be related to concentration.

Participation of macrophages in segmental endocapillary proliferation preceding focal glomerular sclerosis

We studied infiltrating cells in the glomeruli of eight cases with focal segmental endocapillary proliferation (FSEP) using monoclonal antibodies to leukocyte common antigen, T cells, B cells, and monocytes/macrophages (Mo/M psi). It was demonstrated by sequential biopsies performed in five cases that FSEP preceded focal glomerular sclerosis (FGS). Cell types in FSEP were compared with those in FGS from 17 patients with persistent nephrotic syndrome, ten non-nephrotic patients, and eight patients with nephrotic syndrome which was initially responsive to steroid therapy but relapsed, as well as minimal change specimens from nine nephrotic patients. In the glomeruli, the mean total leukocyte counts increased significantly in the FSEP group (P < 0.01). The serial sections in FSEP revealed that Mo/M psi were the predominant cells and were localized in areas of endocapillary proliferation. T-cell or B-cell infiltration was less marked. The extensive intracapillary distribution of p150,95 antigen belonging to the integrin family and acting as a C3bi receptor suggested that FSEP may be mediated by adhesion molecules expressed on Mo/M psi. These findings indicate that Mo/M psi may play a key role in FGS which shows endocapillary proliferation in the initial stage.