Bruceosides D, E, and F, three new cytotoxic quassinoid glucosides from Brucea javanica

Three new quassinoid glucosides, bruceosides D [1], E [2], and F [3], were isolated from Brucea javanica, and their structures were elucidated by spectral evidence and chemical transformation to known compounds. Compounds 1-3 show selective cytotoxicity in the leukemia and non-small cell lung, colon, CNS, melanoma, and ovarian cancer cell lines with log GI50 values in the range of -4.14 to -5.72.

Hemodynamic-force-induced difference of interendothelial junctional complexes

1. The flow divider of the brachiocephalic branching of the rabbit aorta had both high and low shear stress regions, each of which was covered by endothelial cells with low and high permeability respectively, even in normolipidemic intact rabbits. When rabbits were placed on an atherogenic diet, low shear regions were the most vulnerable for lipid deposition, but the high shear regions were spared from deposition. 2. A freeze fracture study revealed that high shear regions both at the brachiocephalic branching and in the surgically coarctated abdominal aorta of rabbits had a more common appearance of zonular type tight junctions. Mean low shear regions had more macular and less zonular type. 3. Cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells exposed to laminar 30 dyn/cm2 shear stress in a flow chamber developed ridges of membranous protein particles at the cell-cell contact. 4. Increases of magnitude and duration of exposure to shear stress enhanced the structure of the protein ridge of the tight junction and immunohistochemical expression of proteins associated with both tight and adherens junctions.

Decreased cytoplasmic immunoglobulin A production during Epstein-Barr virus immortalization on lymphocytes from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia

Previously, we have reported significantly lower immunoglobulin (Ig) A production in supernatants of cultured lymphoblastoid cells using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) when compared to that of age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Here, we further assess the degree of cytoplasmic Ig production in these cells and also analyze it during the early phase of Epstein-Barr virus immortalization. All classes of cytoplasmic IgM, IgG, and IgA productions were demonstrated in cells from healthy controls. In contrast, cells from patients with AT showed only cytoplasmic IgM and IgG with low or nondetectable levels of IgA during and after the immortalizing process. These results suggest B lymphocytes bearing IgA are functionally immature and/or defective in patients with AT.

Localization of ZP3 mRNA in mouse ovary by non-radioactive in situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labelled cDNA

In situ hybridization using digoxigenin-labelled cDNA has dual advantages of having high structural resolution and high sensitivity and avoiding problems associated with the handling of radioactive materials. We have used this technique to detect and locate mRNA for mouse ZP3 protein in paraffin sections of fixed ovaries of newborn and adult mice. Mouse ZP3 mRNA was restricted to the cytoplasm of oocytes. After day 16, ZP3 mRNA expression was increasingly restricted to the cytoplasm of the oocyte. Previous work on the distribution of ZP3 mRNA was confirmed and we were able to show that using non-isotopic in situ hybridization, sensitive and accurate cellular localization was feasible in paraffin embedded mouse ovary.

Processing and secretion of Alzheimer's disease amyloid precursor protein

We studied in vivo expression and in vitro secretion of the Alzheimer's disease amyloid precursor protein (APP). The results indicate that secretion of APP is mediated by PKC and the initial step of the processing may occur in the acidic secretory granules of the glial cells. Our results suggest that a metabolic switch of APP in neural cells is critical in amyloid deposition.

A neonatal case of hydranencephaly caused by atheromatous plaque obstruction of aortic arch: possible association with a congenital cytomegalovirus infection?

A neonate was seen with hydranencephaly and aortic arch obstruction possibly caused by congenital cytomegalovirus infection. At autopsy the aortic arch was occluded by atheromatous plaque between the right brachiocephalic artery and left common carotid artery. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection may have caused cardiovascular disease and hydranencephaly in this case.

Extraocular muscle surgery in a rabbit model: site of reattachment following hang-back and conventional recession

To determine the precise site of reattachment of recessed muscles, 4-mm conventional and hang-back recessions of the inferior rectus muscle were performed in 18 albino rabbits. Six weeks later, the distance from the anterior border of the reattached muscle to the insertion was measured both grossly and microscopically. In all cases the operated muscles had advanced minimally from the site of surgical placement. Gross observation showed that the mean forward creep was significantly greater for those rabbits which underwent hang-back recession (1.81 +/- 0.67 mm) than for those that were submitted to the conventional technique (0.83 +/- 0.38 mm). Measurements done on histological sections revealed that the mean distance of the anterior border of the muscle fiber from the reference suture was larger for conventional recession (2.73 +/- 0.75 mm) than for hang-back recession (1.91 +/- 0.72 mm).

Bullous lymphoma of the skin

We describe an extremely rare case of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma associated with bulla formation. The term, 'bullous lymphoma' is proposed for this variant of cutaneous lymphoma.

Critical period for restoration of normal stereoacuity in acute-onset comitant esotropia

We conducted a retrospective study of 25 patients with acute-onset comitant esotropia to evaluate whether the timing of the start of treatment is a critical factor in the development of normal stereopsis. The mean age at onset was 12 years 4 months, and mean age at the start of treatment was 17 years 9 months. Bifixation was defined as a stereoacuity threshold score that was numerically lower than 60 seconds of arc on stereotesting. An operation was performed on the nonfixating eye for the prism-adapted angle. At the final examination, bifixation was observed in four patients (16%) with the Randot test and in 15 patients (60%) with the Titmus test. No relationship was found between the time of the start of treatment and the postoperative development of stereopsis, nor was there a significant (P > .10) difference between the two groups with early and delayed start of treatment in the proportion of patients with bifixation.

Allergens of the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, in patients with mite allergic rhinitis: a clinical investigation by intracutaneous skin tests and nasal provocation tests

To determine the allergens of mite allergic rhinitis, we studied 31 patients with mite allergic rhinitis by skin tests and nasal provocation tests (15 for skin and 16 for nasal tests) using 6 fractions of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) extract differing in molecular weights (15, 25, 32, 53, 95 and 190 kDMW). In skin testing, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 25, 32, 95 and 190 kDMW, among which the most patients showed positive reactions to the fractions of 15 and 25 kDMW. Significant differences were found in patients' positive reactivity among each fraction and between low (15 and 25 kD) and high (95 and 190 kD) molecular weight fractions as well. In nasal provocation tests, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 32, 53 and 95 kDMW, especially to the fractions of 15 and 95 kDMW. Furthermore, the insidence of positive reactions to the 15 kDMW fraction was significantly higher than that to any other fraction in the skin tests (P < 0.05). From these results, the low molecular weight fraction, 15 kDMW, is considered to be the main allergen of this mite and the high molecular weight fractions, 95 and 190 kDMW, may also be considered to be allergens of this mite.

Contact dermatitis due to budesonide: report of five cases and review of the Japanese literature

BACKGROUND

Contact allergy to corticosteroids has recently gained increased attention.

METHODS

Five cases of contact dermatitis due to budesonide, a nonhalogenated steroid, are described. The Japanese literature was reviewed for reports on this allergy, and the occurrence due to budesonide was compared with that of other dermocorticosteroids.

RESULTS

Budesonide use can cause contact dermatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Although budesonide may be beneficial because of its anti-inflammatory effects, clinicians should be alert to its potential for causing contact dermatitis.

[Clinical characterization of allergic patients sensitized to Chamaecyparis obtusa--using AlaSTAT system]

Clinical characterization of patients with allergy to Chamaecyparis obtusa (Cypress) pollen and their specific IgE antibody was investigated by using AlaSTAT assay, a new method for measurement of antigen-specific IgE antibody. Positive rate of antigen-specific antibody in patients with allergic pollinosis was 83.5% for Japanese cedar pollen and 80.0% for Chamaecyparis obtusa pollen. 76.4% of patients were sensitized both to Japanese cedar and Chamaecyparis obtusa pollen, however, 7.9% were sensitized only to the latter. As for clinical symptoms, duration of attack was short and severity was mild or moderate in the patients sensitized only to Chamaecyparis obtusa pollen. Patients who visited hospital in April, in that Chamaecyparis obtusa pollen disseminated in the air predominantly, showed significant elevation in AlaSTAT scores compared with patients who visited in February and March (p < 0.05).

Retinoic acid up-regulates erythropoietin production in hepatoma cells and in vitamin A-depleted rats

Retinoic acid (RA) stimulated the production of erythropoietin (Epo) in a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2 cells. The stimulation was due to the accumulation of Epo mRNA. The Epo production in HepG2 cells was also dependent on O2 tension for cell culture but the enhancement of Epo production by RA was independent of O2 tension, indicating that RA exerts its effect through a pathway different from O2. Oral administration of RA to the vitamin A-depleted rats elevated the concentration of Epo in serum. These results suggest that RA up-regulates EPO production in vivo as well as in vitro.

N-glycosylation of erythropoietin is critical for apical secretion by Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

Erythropoietin (Epo) has three N-linked carbohydrate chains at positions 24, 38, and 83 in its 166-amino acid residues. When the human wild-type Epo was expressed in the polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells, Epo was preferentially secreted from the apical domain. The polarized secretion was perturbed by the treatment of the cells with tunicamycin, suggesting the involvement of N-linked carbohydrate chains in the apical sorting mechanism in MDCK cells. Replacement of asparagine residues at all N-glycosylation sites of Epo with glutamine by site-directed mutagenesis resulted in roughly equal secretion from apical and basolateral domains. Comparative studies on MDCK clones expressing the mutant Epos lacking one or two of the three N-glycosylation sites in every possible combination showed that the N-linked carbohydrate chain at position 38 is critical for the polarized secretion. Nocodazole, a microtubule-disrupting drug, reversed the polarized secretion of the wild-type Epo from the apical to basolateral preference with little change in the total secretion. Hepatocyte growth factor, a scatter factor known to induce the tubule-like structure of MDCK cells, caused almost equal secretion of the wild-type Epo into the apical and basolateral sides, although the tight junctions of MDCK cells remained intact.

Immunohistochemical characterization of a stage-specific antigen during oogenesis and spermatogenesis recognized with monoclonal antibody

In order to detect and characterize novel molecules which function in oogenesis, immunohistochemical study using a monoclonal antibody (MAb) raised against oocytes of Xenopus laevis was carried out. The distribution of the detectable molecule with MAb X-80, which specifically reacts with Xenopus previtellogenic oocytes; stages I and II (Dumont, 1972), in particular was analyzed. The hamster, mouse, chick, quail, Caenorhabditis elegans and Lilium longiflorum were also examined. Interestingly MAb X-80 bound not only in Xenopus oocytes but in its secondary spermatocytes and spermatids. Furthermore, MAb X-80 gave a similar staining pattern in the Lilium and other, although the stage when the positive reaction is detectable is different in the male and female germ cells.

A novel site of erythropoietin production. Oxygen-dependent production in cultured rat astrocytes

It has been shown that neurons express erythropoietin (Epo) receptor, but the production of Epo protein in neural tissues has not been demonstrated. Cerebral cells of rat fetuses were cultured, and Epo in the spent medium was measured with an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Production of the immunoreactive Epo was dependent on O2 tension for cell culture; hypoxia enhanced the production. The immunoreactive Epo purified from the spent medium stimulated the growth of Epo-dependent myeloid cells and formation of fetal liver erythroid colonies. These biological activities were completely inhibited by the anti-Epo antiserum and the extracellular domain of the Epo receptor capable of binding with Epo. When brain Epo was compared with serum Epo, brain Epo was smaller in size and more active in vitro at low ligand concentrations. These differences appear to be caused by the different extent of sialylation. Analyses with the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method indicated that the regulation of Epo production by oxygen operates at the level of its mRNA. Immunochemical staining of the immortalized clonal cells revealed that astrocytes produced brain Epo. These results provide a novel site of Epo production and suggest that Epo acts on neurons in a paracrine fashion.

Population analysis of cellular responses to synthetic peptides of Der p II, a major allergen molecule of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, in allergic and nonallergic subjects

Responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to synthetic oligopeptides of Der p II, one of the major allergen molecules of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, were compared between allergic and nonallergic subjects. Healthy subjects showed positive responses to crude extracts of D. pteronyssinus, but only allergic subjects showed elevated cellular responses to Der p II. We synthesized three oligopeptides of Der p II in which motifs of a possible T-cell epitope were included. Of 14 subjects with positive response to Der p II, three responded to all three peptides, while five did not respond to any peptide tested. In 11 allergic patients who showed positive response to Der p II, responsiveness to the peptide K33-T47 was significantly higher than that to other peptides (P < 0.05). All the responding patients were also positive for scratch test to Der p II, suggesting that those epitopes induced IgE-promoting helper T-cell response in allergic persons. On the other hand, the in vitro cellular responses were not necessarily correlated to IgE production against Der p II in healthy subjects.

Anaphylactoid purpura with intestinal perforation: report of a case and review of the Japanese literature

A 78 year old man suffering from anaphylactoid purpura complained of abdominal pain and bloody stools. Combined therapy with Prednisolone and cyclophosphamide had been given against nephrotic syndrome caused by purpura nephritis. Severe abdominal pain with symptoms and signs of pan-peritonitis necessitated laparotomy. Rectosigmoid perforation due to necrotizing angiitis (phlebitis) was also demonstrated histologically. The patient died of septicemia 18 days after surgery. Perforation of the alimentary tract rarely occurs in anaphylactoid purpura. Twenty similar cases were briefly reviewed from the Japanese literature.

Junction complexes of endothelial cells in atherosclerosis-prone and atherosclerosis-resistant regions on flow dividers of brachiocephalic bifurcations in the rabbit aorta

To determine how hemodynamic forces influence the permeability of endothelial cells, we observed the composition of junction complexes of the endothelial cells at the flow dividers of bifurcations of the aorta in normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic rabbits by a freeze-fractured replica method. We found that the leading edge of the brachiocephalic flow dividers exposed to high shear stress in a laminar fashion was nonsudanophilic and was covered by long fusiform endothelial cells predominantly showing continuous tight junctions, rather than discontinuous forms, and smooth, regular gap junctions. In contrast, the "hip" of the brachiocephalic flow dividers, a region of relatively low shear stress, was sudanophilic, and was covered by ellipsoidal cells. The tight junctions were primarily discontinuous and the gap junctions had an irregular shape. These findings suggest that exposure of the arterial wall to a relatively low wall shear stress, rather than to high shear stress, may functionally activate the endothelial cells, increasing intercellular permeability. These events may increase the vulnerability of these regions of the vessel to atherosclerosis.

A case of fulminant ecthyma gangrenosum associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a patient with methylmalonic acidemia

A 6-month-old boy with methylmalonic acidemia died of ecthyma gangrenosum caused by systemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Subtle malnutrition accompanied by the occasional protein restriction treatment may have underlain the development of serious infection in this case.

Bruceanols D, E, and F three new cytotoxic quassinoids from Brucea antidysenterica

Three new quassinoids, bruceanols D [1], E [2], and F [3], were isolated from Brucea antidysenterica, and their structures were elucidated by spectral evidence and chemical transformation. All of these compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines, malignant melanoma (RPMI-7951), lung carcinoma (A-549), ileocecal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8), epidermoid carcinoma of the nasopharynx (KB), and medulloblastoma (TE-671), and against murine lymphocytic leukemia (P-388).

A case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a child

We report an additional case of histopathologically confirmed xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a 9-year-old boy. He was admitted to hospital with a two-day history of sustained fever. Physical examination revealed tenderness in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Results of a complete blood count and serum biochemical investigations showed slight anemia and positive C reactive protein. Culture of urine failed to grow any bacteria. Excretory urography revealed deformity of the right renal calyces. Computed tomography showed a focal area of low density in the right kidney. Nephrectomy was carried out as fever had been sustained despite intensive treatment with antibiotics. Sectioning revealed that the renal parenchyma had been replaced by a butter yellow nodule, which was histopathologically confirmed as xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. This is the nineteenth reported case in children in Japan to our knowledge.