Radioiodinated anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ferritin. Targeting therapy, tumor imaging and anti-antibody response in HCC patients with hepatic arterial infusion

Radioimmunoimaging and radioimmunotherapy with radioiodinated anti-(hepatocellular carcinoma ferritin) antibody (131I- or 125I-FtAb) have been applied in patients with primary liver cancer. A total of 41 patients with surgically unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and receiving hepatic artery ligation and cannulation during exploratory laparotomy were treated with this regimen by intrahepatic arterial infusion. Compared with the control group, a decline of serum alpha-fetoprotein (65.7% versus 42.9%) and shrinkage of tumor (68.3% versus 33.9%) were observed in the treated group, and a higher second-look resection rate (31.7% versus 5.1%) and longer survival (1-year: 61.0% versus 37.3%, 3-year: 25.0% versus 6.9%) resulted. The administration of antibody through a hepatic arterial catheter (n = 16) was compared with intravenous injection (n = 17) in terms of the tumor-imaging sensitivity in 33 patients with liver cancer. The results indicated that hepatic arterial infusion was superior to intravenous injection. The sensitivity 7 days after the administration was 100% in the i.a. group and 76.5% in the i.v. group, the uptake ratio of tumor to liver being 1.74 +/- 0.57 in the former and 1.34 +/- 0.29 in the latter. Furthermore, intrahepatic arterial infusion revealed a lower anti-antibody detection rate than intravenous injection (0/14 versus 4/11).

Research on rapid identification of auto-microbiology system for pathogenic yeast

The auto-microbiology system yeast biochemical card (AMS-YBC; Vitek System, Inc.) was studied in 77 clinical isolates and 50 laboratory kept isolates on the basis of routine identification. Results of 123 isolates were obtained in 24 hours, while that of the other 4 in 48 hours. 122 (96.1%) were coincidently identified with AMS and routine method. The results suggest that AMS is a rapid, accurate and simple identification method for common pathogenic yeast.

Distribution of PGM1 subtypes in 12 populations of China

The distribution of PGM1 subtypes in 12 populations of China was studied by using isoelectric focusing (IEF) in 0.5 mm thick polyacrylamide gel, pH 5-7. It was found that the PGM1*1A frequency was higher in northern China and lower in the south. Phosphoglucomutase (PGM: E. C. 2. 7. 5. 1) occurs in all human tissues and is controlled by four autosomal loci, i.e., PGM1, PGM2, PGM3 [Hopkinson and Harris 1968] and PGM4 [Cantu and Ibarra 1982]. The Polymorphism at the PGM1 locus in human was first revealed in 1964 [Spencer et al 1964]. Since then, extensive studies showed that two codominant alleles, PGM1*1 and PGM1*2, are present on locus PGM1 in all populations, as well as many rare alleles. Investigations with isoelectric focusing (IEF) revealed the presence of four common allotypes, which were previously labelled as PGM1*1+, PGM*1-, PGM*2+, PGMI*2- [Bark et al 1976]. The workshop, held in West Germany in 1985, recommended a new nomenclature: PGM1*1A, PGM1*1B, PGM1*2A and PGM1*2B instead of PGM*1+, PGM1*1-, PGM1*2+ and PGM1*2- in order to avoid misunderstanding [Dykes et al 1985]. A large body of data on the distribution of the four common PGM1 alleles in different populations in the world has been accumulated. But the data on PGM1 in China are yet very limited. The present paper reports the PGM1 gene frequencies in 8 national minorities and 4 subpopulations of Han in China.

[Observation of monoclonal antibody E4B7D5 inhibitory effect on leptospiral adherence using scanning electron microscope]

BALB/c mice were immunized intraperitoneally with outer envelopes of serogroup icterohaemorrhagiae lai serovar strain 017 leptospires. Monoclonal antibody (McAb) E4B7D5 against outer envelopes (IgG1, agglutinating titre 1:25,600) was produced by hybridoma technique. Passive immunoprotection experiments have demonstrated the immunoprotection of McAb E4B7D5 against strain 017 leptospires. Effect of McAb E4B7D5 on leptospiral adherence to the surface of normal human pulmonary embryonic fibroblasts was observed by using scanning electron microscope. The results indicated that the leptospiral adherence noted in various agglutinating titre McAb E4B7D5 groups was less frequent than that in the three control groups. It was concluded that the inhibitory effect of McAb E4B7D5 on leptospiral adherence may play a role in the immunoprotection.

The effect of CPR on plasma diltiazem concentrations in dogs

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of cardiac arrest with CPR on diltiazem concentrations in dogs.

DESIGN

Prospective, double-blind, randomized trial.

SETTING

Laboratory at a large university-affiliated medical center.

TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS

Twenty mongrel dogs.

INTERVENTIONS

Following administration of anesthesia, catheters were placed in the pulmonary artery, aortic arch, left ventricle, and right ventricle. Dogs were randomized to receive diltiazem (0.5 mg/kg) either 60 minutes before or during cardiac arrest with CPR. After 13 minutes of cardiac arrest, defibrillation was attempted.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Frequent blood samples for diltiazem concentrations were obtained before, during, and after cardiac arrest. The mean diltiazem concentration rose 70% during CPR in the group that received diltiazem before cardiac arrest. The group that received diltiazem during CPR had concentrations five times greater than expected during sinus rhythm.

CONCLUSION

Increased diltiazem concentrations are observed during CPR and are probably related to altered distribution encountered during CPR.

Simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for esmolol

A procedure for determining esmolol concentrations in blood is described. Dichloromethane was used to extract esmolol from the blood and to inhibit the activity of blood esterases. Blood esmolol concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using 3-methoxy-O-demethylencainide as the internal standard. The limit of detection of this assay was 5 ng/ml. The relationship between the peak-height ratio of esmolol and the internal standard was linear in the concentration ranges 10-30,000 ng/ml. The mean absolute and relative recoveries of esmolol from blood were 84 and 89%, with coefficients of variation less than 3%. This method has been used in our laboratory for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies.

Enzymatic diagnosis of Morquio A syndrome with a new fluorimetric substrate

We synthesized a new fluorimetric substrate for the enzymatic assay of galactose 6-sulphate sulphatase (Gal-6S), an enzyme which is deficient in Morquio A syndrome. Our synthetic 4-methylumbelliferyl-galactoside 6-sulphate (4Mu-Gal-6S) proved highly effective and sensitive in the postnatal, prenatal and retrospective diagnosis of Morquio A syndrome as compared to the commonly used radiolabelled substrate. With 4Mu-Gal-6S as substrate and dialyzed supernatant as the enzyme source, we defined the optimal assay conditions for Gal-6S, determined the normal control values for all available materials, and successfully performed postnatal and prenatal diagnosis of Morquio A syndrome.

Determination of degree of substitution of formyl groups in polyaldehyde dextran by the hydroxylamine hydrochloride method

Colorimetric or potentiometric titration of the aldehyde residues in polyaldehyde dextran by the hydroxylamine hydrochloride/sodium hydroxide method has been found to be a convenient and accurate method to determine formyl content. Nitrogen combustion analyses on the isolated oximes confirmed the titrametric results.

Synchronized oscillation of Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ release in agonist-stimulated AR42J cells

Oscillation in [Ca2+]i induced by agonists has been described in many cell types and is thought to reflect Ca2+ release from and uptake into internal stores. We measured [Ca2+]i and Mn2+ entry in single cells of the pancreatic acinar cell line AR42J loaded with Fura 2 to examine the behavior of Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane (Ca2+ entry) during agonist-evoked [Ca2+]i oscillation. Addition of extracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+out) to agonist-stimulated cells bathed in Ca2(+)-free medium resulted in a marked [Ca2+]i increase blocked by La3+. The use of Mn2+ as a congener of Ca2+ to follow unidirectional Ca2+ movement reveals an oscillatory activation of Ca2+ entry by Ca2(+)-mobilizing agonists. The frequency at which Ca2+ entry oscillated matched the frequency of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Ca2+ entry is activated after completion of Ca2+ release and is inactivated within the time span of each [Ca2+]i spike. These studies reveal a new aspect of [Ca2+]i oscillation in agonist-stimulated cells, that is the oscillatory activation of [Ca2+]i entry during [Ca2+]i oscillation.

Inhibition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated Ca2+ release by Ca2+ in cells from peripheral tissues

Permeabilized cells attached to culture plates were used to evaluate the inhibition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated release (IPMCR) by Ca2+. In AR42J cells, a pancreatic acinar cell line, when permeabilization and Ca2+ uptake were carried out at low ionized Ca2+ (0.06 microM), Ca2+ had little effect on IPMCR. On the other hand, when permeabilization and Ca2+ uptake were performed at 5 microM Ca2+, IPMCR was inhibited by Ca2+ with an apparent affinity of 0.24 microM. This inhibition could be modified by exposing the cytosol of permeabilized cells to low Ca2+. Hence, permeabilizing the cells in the presence of 5 microM Ca2+ and then exposing them to Ca2+ concentrations between 0.01 and 5 microM before washing and Ca2+ uptake in the presence of 5 microM Ca2+ resulted in a Ca2(+)-dependent loss of inhibitory activity. The loss of inhibitory activity occurred with an apparent affinity for Ca2+ of 0.21 microM. A similar phenomenon with a comparable apparent dissociation constant for Ca2+ was found with three other cell types from peripheral tissues: the osteosarcoma cell line UMR-106-01, the kidney inner medullary cell line IMCD, and primary culture of urinary bladder smooth muscle cells. The properties of inhibition of IPMCR by Ca2+ in cells from peripheral tissues differ from those previously described in neuronal tissues and suggest that a different factor(s) mediates the inhibition of IPMCR by Ca2+ in cells from peripheral and neuronal tissues.

Regulation of intracellular Ca2+ oscillation in AR42J cells

Recordings of [Ca2+]i in single AR42J cells loaded with Fura 2 were used to study regulation of [Ca2+]i oscillation. Continuous stimulation with the cholecystokinin analogue, (t-butyloxycarbonyl-Tyr-(SO3)-norleucine-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-2-phenylethyl ester) or carbachol evoked long lasting oscillation in [Ca2+]i. Removal of CCK-JMV-180 after brief stimulation did not abruptly stop the oscillation. Rather, removal of CCK-JMV-180 resulted in time-dependent reduction in amplitude with little change in frequency of oscillation. The patterns of [Ca2+]i oscillation were affected by activation of protein kinase C and protein kinase A. However, down-regulation of protein kinase C activity did not prevent stimulation of [Ca2+]i oscillation. Hence, we conclude that an active protein kinase C pathway is not crucial for [Ca2+]i oscillation in this cell line. Variation in extracellular Ca2+ concentration (Ca2+out) was used to further characterize the oscillation. Reducing Ca2+out to approximately 10 microM resulted in a time dependent inhibition of [Ca2+]i oscillation. Subsequent step increases in Ca2+out up to 2-3 mM resulted in increased amplitude and frequency of oscillation. Further increase in Ca2+out or an increase in plasma membrane permeability to Ca2+, brought about by an increase in pHo, resulted in increased amplitude, decreased frequency, and modified shape of the [Ca2+]i spikes. These observations point to the existence of regulatory mechanisms controlling the duration of Ca2+ release and entry during [Ca2+]i oscillation.

Effects of estrogens on the ultrastructural characteristics of female rat prolactin cells as evaluated by in situ hybridization in combination with immunogold staining technique

We have recently reported that, in the rat pituitary, prolactin (PRL) is synthesized and stored in two different cell types: the typical PRL cell characterized by the presence of large irregular secretory granules and another cell type containing small round secretory granules. Since the secretion of PRL is stimulated by estrogens, we decided to investigate the effect of gonadectomy and estradiol (E2) replacement therapy in female rats on both cell types using a combination of in situ hybridization and immunostaining. Gonadectomy induced a marked decrease in hybridization signal and an almost complete disappearance of the classical PRL cells. The most abundant PRL cells were the small-granule-containing cells and other PRL cells characterized by the presence of both small and large granules. These changes in the PRL cell population were completely prevented by E2 administration to castrated animals. These studies indicate that E2 cannot only regulate PRL mRNA but also induce important morphological changes in PRL cell types.

Agonist-mediated Ca2+ release in permeabilized UMR-106-01 cells. Transport properties and generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

Permeabilized and intact UMR-106-01 cells attached to culture plates or coverslips were used to evaluate compartmentalized generation and the effective concentration of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (In-1,4,5-P3) during agonist-mediated Ca2+ release. In permeabilized cells, Ca2+ release had the following characteristics. In-1,4,5-P3 released approximately 65% of the Ca2+ incorporated into intracellular stores. Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), endothelin, or GTP(gamma S) alone released a small amount or no Ca2+. However, the agonists together with GTP(gamma S) were as effective as In-1,4,5-P3 in releasing Ca2+. Both agonist- and In-1,4,5-P3-mediated Ca2+ release required the presence of permeable ion. Agonists, like In-1,4,5-P3, stimulated 45Ca uptake from low Ca2+ medium devoid of permeable ions into Ca2(+)-loaded intracellular stores. The permeabilized cell system was then used to evaluate compartmentalized generation and action of In-1,4,5-P3 during agonist stimulation. Mass measurement shows that in intact resting cells In-1,4,5-P3 concentration was 1.4 microM and was reduced to 0.05 microM following permeabilization. Stimulation with agonists increases In-1,4,5-P3 concentration from 0.05 to 0.34 microM. Ca2+ release by this concentration of In-1,4,5-P3 evenly distributed in the cytosol can account for only part of the agonist-mediated Ca2+ release. However, the effects of saturating In-1,4,5-P3 concentration and agonists were blocked by the specific inhibitor heparin. Measurement of heparin dependency of In-1,4,5-P3-mediated Ca2+ release was used to calculate an affinity for In-1,4,5-P3 of 0.39 microM. Similar measurements with agonists show that In-1,4,5-P3 concentration at the site of Ca2+ release during agonist stimulation is 11.2 microM. Hence, the total increase in In-1,4,5-P3 is reflected in considerably higher localized concentrations. This is interpreted to suggest compartmentalized generation and action of In-1,4,5-P3 during agonist stimulation.

Regulation of intracellular calcium in epithelial cells

The role of [Ca2+]i as a second messenger in non-excitable cells has been appreciated for almost 3 decades. The advent of fluorescent Ca2+ indicators has allowed the monitoring of Ca2+ signalling in suspensions of these cells. Agonist mediated changes in [Ca2+]i usually show an initial Ca2+ transient followed by a maintained increase. The former has been shown to be due to Ca2+ release from one or more intracellular stores, the latter due to activation of receptor operated Ca2+ entry (ROCE). More recently it has been recognized that many cells show distinct maintained oscillatory behavior when examined by single cell optical methods. It is proposed here that these oscillations are the consequence of IP3 and Ca2+ stimulation of Ca2+ release and ligand activation of ROCE followed by Ca2+ inhibition of Ca2+ and ROCE as Ca2+ pumps are activated. These oscillations allow more exact regulation of a pump/leak controlled second messenger such as [Ca2+]i.

Treatment of functional headache with Chinese herbal inhalant--a report of 496 cases

Headaches of the neurofunctional type, blood vascular type, neuro-vascular type, and musculotonic type are commonly encountered clinically. The authors report a nasal inhalant of Chinese herbal drugs which has been effective in the treatment of these varieties of headache.

[Study on the characteristics of agglutination reaction of McAb with Leptospira interrogans outer envelope]

Three McAb were produced against an outer envelope preparation from Leptospira, interrogans, serovar Lai by fusion of SP2/0 myeloma cells with immune BALB/c mice spleen cells. The fusion rate was 96% and the antibody positive rate was 50%. One of the hybridomas, E4B11C9, reacted with 13 of the 13 serovars of the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup in microscopic agglutination test (MAT) but did not react with the 18 representative serovars of L. interrogans and L. biflexa serovar patoc and Leptonema illini. For all non-reactive serovars the MAT titres were greater than 1:25. The McAb, E4B7G5, reacted similarly with all serovars except smithi and tonkini. E4B7D4 reacted also similarly with all serovars except serovars birkini, ndambari, bogvere, smithi and tonkini. Therefore, 3 McAb showed serogroup specificity and partial serogroup specificity by agglutination. The agglutination titres were high and hybridomas were stable, so it might be useful in providing a simple, rapid method for the classification and identification of clinical isolates such as pathogenic L. interrogans in place of the complicated and time-consuming conventional methods.

A fluorimetric enzyme assay for the diagnosis of Morquio disease type A (MPS IV A)

4-Methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside-6-sulphate was synthesized and used for the determination of galactose-6-sulphate sulphatase activity. Fibroblasts and leucocytes from 12 different Morquio A patients, showed 0.0-2.7% of mean normal galactose-6-sulphate sulphatase activity. Heterozygotes showed intermediate activities. The enzymatic liberation of the fluorochrome from 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside-6-sulphate requires the sequential action of galactose-6-sulphate sulphatase and beta-galactosidase. Normal beta-galactosidase activity caused nearly complete hydrolysis of non-fluorescing 4-methylumbelliferyl-galactoside, formed during incubation. In cell extracts with a beta-galactosidase deficiency however, a second incubation in the presence of excess beta-galactosidase is needed to avoid underestimation of galactose-6-sulphate sulphatase activity.

Prenatal diagnosis of Morquio disease type A using a simple fluorometric enzyme assay

A new fluorogenic substrate, 4 methylumbelliferyl beta-D-6-sulphogalactoside, was used for the assay of galactose-6-sulphate sulphatase activity in chorionic villi, cultured villus cells, and amniocytes. The fluorometric assay is much more convenient than the conventional assay using radiolabelled, sulphated oligosaccharides. Both types of substrate were used in the prenatal diagnosis of three pregnancies at risk for Morquio type A disease using amniocytes. These enzyme tests, as well as electrophoresis of glycosaminoglycans in the amniotic fluid, indicated affected fetuses in two pregnancies and a non-affected fetus in one.