[A proposed method for evaluating short-term exposure condition]

High short-term exposure to toxic chemicals can occur during a workday, even if the daily average exposure is lower than the permissible exposure limit, because the exposure concentration varies from minute to minute. To protect workers from acute health effects due to high short-term exposure, the Japan Society for Occupational Health recommends that the maximum value for 15-min time-weighted average (15-min TWA) exposure during a workday should not exceed 1.5 times the occupational exposure limit for 8-hr TWA, and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists issues the threshold limit value-short-term exposure limit (TLV-STEL), that is a 15-min TWA exposure which should not be exceeded at any time during a workday. A workday (8 hr) consists of thirty two 15-min periods. If the thirty-two 15-min TWAs are measured, the short-term exposure situation can be appropriately evaluated by comparing the highest measured value with the standard value (e.g. TLV-STEL), but such continuous monitoring consumes a lot of cost and time. In this paper, we propose a method for evaluating short-term exposure by using three or more measured values. This evaluation method corresponds to two different types of selection of sampling periods. One is a random selection of three or more 15-min periods among the 32 periods. If this selection is adopted, a comparison between the 98.44 percentile of the within-day distribution of 15-min TWAs and the standard value can be made by using one-sided tolerance factors, KI, KII and KIII, and the exposure situation is classified into four exposure classes at 95% and 50% confidence levels. Another is a random selection among high exposure periods. If this selection is adopted, a comparison between the specific percentile of the distribution and the standard value can be made with modified one-sided tolerance factors, and the exposure class is determined similarly. This method can provide a precise evaluation of exposure, so that it is useful in the industrial hygiene field.

[Sarpogrelate hydrochloride for Raynaud's phenomenon of patients with collagen diseases]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate clinical efficacy of sarpogrelate hydrochloride (SPG), a novel 5HT2- serotonergic receptor antagonist, for Raynaud's phenomenon associated with collagen diseases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty two patients with collagen diseases such as scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled. SPG (300mg/day) was administered for 8 weeks. Patients were asked to record the frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon and subjective symptoms in a diary, and evaluations were made in weeks 4 and 8 of treatment. Thermography and determination of whole blood serotonin levels were also conducted in some patients.

RESULTS

The frequency and duration of Raynaud's phenomenon and subjective symptoms such as coldness and pain significantly improved in weeks 4 and 8 compared to the pre-treatment baseline. Thermography showed significantly improvements of skin temperature recovery rate following cold water loading after treatment with SPG. Epigastric distress was reported by 3 patients, but no other adverse reaction or abnormal changes in laboratory tests were observed. Whole blood serotonin levels per platelet increased significantly after treatment with SPG, suggesting that administration of SPG might inhibit activation of the platelets.

CONCLUSION

A global improvement rate ("markedly improved" + " moderately improved") of 66% was obtained and SPG was regarded as safe in 85% of patients and useful or very useful in 82%. SPG is expected to be a useful new therapy for Raynaud's phenomenon in patients with collagen disease.

[ADF/thioredoxin as an indicator of oxidative stress]

Serum ADF was measured in patients with Crush syndrome and various rheumatic diseases by a sensitive sandwich ELISA. Serum ADF level of healthy subjects was highest in 30- to 40-year-olds, and decreased with age. The level was significantly higher in males than females. Crush syndrome patients with an unfavorable prognosis showed markedly high serum ADF level. Serum ADF was significantly increased in patients with SLE, Sjögren's syndrome, and RA. In RA patients, serum ADF was negatively correlated with serum CRP which reflects disease activity. Next, we investigated polymorphisms of Glutathione S-transferase (GST), which is thought to prevent oxidation of lipids and DNA. We have found that the incidence of GSTM1/GSTT1 double null genotypes was significantly increased in SLE patients compared with that in normal subjects. When serum ADF levels were compared among SLE patients, significantly higher ADF was observed in double null patients. Many kinds of oxidative stress are known to attack the immune systems and to bring out inflammation and autoimmunity. The abnormal regulation of ADF system seem to be closely related to such disorders.

Reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 populations in soy sauce, a fermented seasoning

We studied five Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains in soy sauce which was incubated at 4, 18, or 30 degrees C after inoculation. The cell numbers of E. coli O157:H7 decreased to an undetectable level (<20 CFU/ml) within 9 days in all the soy sauce samples at 30 degrees C, but did not decrease in the 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.0) control solution under the same conditions. Soy sauce reduced the cell numbers of bacteria at 18 degrees C to a lesser extent than at 30 degrees C, but to a greater extent than at 4 degrees C. Components of soy sauce such as 10% or 16% NaCl, 5% ethanol, lactic acid, or acetic acid at pH 4.5, sodium benzoate (0.6 g/kg), or p-hydroxybenzoic acid n-butyl ester (0.05 g/liter) caused a reduction of the E. coli O157:H7 population at 30 degrees C, and the anti-E. coli O157:H7 effect of each component was less than that of soy sauce. The fate of E. coli O157:H7 cells in a buffered solution containing various components of soy sauce resembled that in soy sauce at 30 degrees C, which demonstrated the importance of the combination of the soy sauce components for its anti-E coli O157:H7 action.

Induced potential model for muscular contraction mechanism, including two attached states of myosin head

The model for myosin head motion along an actin filament as proposed by Mitsui & Chiba [(1996). J. theor. Biol. 182, 147-159] is here modified so that it can explain the isometric tension and isotonic velocity transients having the same parameter values as the stationary filament sliding. The modified model differs in that a myosin head forms a complex with two actin molecules in an actin filament and has two attached states in the complex instead of three. Thus an incremental step in the myosin head motion is equal to the F-actin monomer repeat (5.46 nm). Muscle properties concerning the stationary filament sliding are calculated with new parameters in a manner similar to that of Mitsui-Chiba, with the results being qualitatively similar to theirs. In studying the transient phenomena, a quantitative expression is given for the potential energy of the myosin head in the complex, and two rate constants are applied to the kinetics of the head. The time course of tension recovery after a quick length change is determined by calculating the statistical distribution of the head in the two attached states, which conforms to experimental observations by Ford et al. [(1977). J. Physiol. 269, 441-515]. The tension variations T1/T0 and T2/T0 calculated with parameters determined from the analysis of stationary filament slidings are in fairly good agreement with the experimental data by Ford et al. The model suggests that a large fluctuation exists in the relative position between the actin and myosin filaments even when the load on a muscle is kept constant. Taking this fluctuation into account explains the characteristics of the isotonic velocity transient observed by Civan & Podolsky.

Effects of variation in exposure to airborne acetone and difference in work load on acetone concentrations in blood, urine, and exhaled air

Using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model, the effects of variation of exposure concentration of acetone on three biological indicators--acetone concentrations in blood, urine, and exhaled air--were investigated. The effect of the difference in work load was also examined. It was confirmed that the model could be used to estimate acetone concentrations during fluctuating exposure by comparing simulated acetone concentrations with the corresponding values observed in field surveys. By inputting the exposure situations into the PBPK model, the variabilities of the biological indicators were simulated. The variation of acetone exposure was expressed by seven 1-hour time-weighted averages (CEXPs). The arithmetic means of the CEXPS were 200 and 750 ppm. The geometric standard deviations (GSDs) were 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0, representing low, moderate, and high variations, respectively. Work loads were set at 15 and 50 W. Consequently, there were 12 exposure situations. The acetone concentrations in venous blood (CB) and exhaled alveolar air (CA) at 1 minute after the end of the work shift were selected as biological indicators of exposure because they were predicted to decrease rapidly at the end of exposure and become relatively stable after 1 minute. The acetone concentration in urine excreted during the last 2 hours of the work shift (CU) was also used as a biological indicator. Simulation was repeated 100 times with randomly permuting CEXPs for each situation. The mean values of CB, CU, and CA showed almost no variation regardless of the difference in the GSD of CEXPs. The coefficients of variation increased with the GSD of CEXPs but were less than 0.2. Consequently, these variables were acceptable as biological indicators of daily average exposure for the same work load. However, the difference in work load greatly changed the mean values of CB, CU, and CA, thus making it difficult to use these variables as indicators of daily average exposure for different work loads.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 present in radish sprouts

Using cultivation, immunofluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrated the presence of viable enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 not only on the outer surfaces but also in the inner tissues and stomata of cotyledons of radish sprouts grown from seeds experimentally contaminated with the bacterium. HgCl2 treatment of the outer surface of the hypocotyl did not kill the contaminating bacteria, which emphasized the importance of either using seeds free from E. coli O157:H7 in the production of radish sprouts or heating the sprouts before they are eaten.

Changes in work performances in obstructive sleep apnea patients after dental appliance therapy

The effects of dental appliances on work performances of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is not well examined. This study evaluated the polysomnographic and psychological findings before and after therapy. Nine patients were diagnosed OSAS by nocturnal polysomnography. The psychological batter, was performed from 13:00 to 14:00, which consisted of Uchida-Kraepelin psychodiagnostic test (U-K's test) and Bourdon's cancellation test (Bourdon's test). Approximately 3 months after the treatment, the examinations were performed. Apnea and desaturation index decreased significantly after the therapy. In addition, sleep architecture improved after the therapy compared with that before the therapy. Dysfunction of task performances, such as mean level of work amounts in U-K's test, mean error, mean performance time and mean deviation in Bourdon's test improved after therapy. We conclude that dental appliances therapy is effective not only to apnea but also to work performance in OSAS.

The fate and acute toxicity of aflatoxin B1 in the mastomys and rat

The fate and acute toxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) were studied in the mastomys (Praomys coucha) and compared with Fischer rats. The experiment regarding the fate of [3H]AFB1 showed that the radioactivity was excreted mainly through the feces, more rapidly in the mastomys than in the rat, regardless of whether [3H]AFB1 was given orally or intravenously. The levels of radioactivity bound to the liver DNA were lower in the mastomys than in the rat, indicating that the levels of AFB1 binding to the macromolecules in the liver were lower in the mastomys. Consistent with such differences in the fate of AFB1 between the two species, the mastomys were far more resistent to the acute effects of AFB1 than were the rats. Oral administration of AFB1 at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg to rats caused marked microscopic changes in the liver, involving hepatic necrosis and proliferation of bile ducts, but at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg to mastomys caused no pathological changes in the liver or kidneys, and at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg caused only glycogen deposition in hepatic cells in a limited area. The observed differences in susceptibility to the toxic effects of AFB1 and in the fate of AFB1 between the two species are in accord with our previous finding that liver cytosol in the mastomys inhibits microsome-mediated AFB1-DNA binding in vitro more strongly than in rat liver.

Juvenile xanthogranuloma occurring in the oral cavity: case report and histopathological findings

Juvenile xanthogranuloma is commonly seen in the dermis, and only very rarely develops in the oral mucosa. Here were report a case that occurred in the anterior palate of a 9-year-old boy. The lesion appeared as a dark red and well-defined nodule measuring 12 x 14 mm. Histologically, it consisted of a proliferation of histiocytes and fibroblastic stroma intermingled with foamy cells. Many lipid droplets without limiting membrane were observed in the cytoplasm under electron microscopy, but no Langerhans' cell granules were observed. The proliferative histiocytes were positive for lysozyme and macrophage HAM56 under immunohistochemical observation, but not for S-100 protein. From these findings, the lesion was diagnosed as juvenile xanthogranuloma. The post-operative course, now amounting to 7 years, has been uneventful.

Prevalence of antibody to Toxoplasma gondii in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan: comparison at a 10-year interval

We have previously surveyed antibody to Toxoplasma gondii among Japanese populations. In this report, we studied the current situation of antibody prevalence and compared it with the situation approximately 10 years before. A total of 1,800 human serum samples were collected at the Central Laboratory of Kobe University Hospital from June through September, 1995, and were examined for Toxoplasma antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall prevalence was found to be 16.4% with similar seropositivities in males (16.8%) and females (15.9%). Prevalence of antibody increased with age, reaching 41.0% in males and 59.0% in females at 80 years or more. Comparison with data obtained at the same hospital in 1981 to 1982 indicated that seropositivities at 30-39 years significantly decreased in both males and females. A positivity currently obtained at a certain age group was similar to a positivity previously obtained at the corresponding age group (10 years younger), indicating that the previous age prevalence curve shifted to the current position. A serological survey among stray cats collected in Hyogo Prefecture in 1990-1991 indicated that 44 (19.0%) of 231 cats were positive for Toxoplasma antibody as determined by the latex agglutination test. These results suggested less transmission of Toxoplasma to humans in Hyogo Prefecture at least for the last 10 years comparing with the situation in the past, although the transmission cycle among cats was still active in nature.

Association of a new allele of the TAP2 gene, TAP2*Bky2 (Val577), with susceptibility to Sjögren's syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the polymorphisms of TAP (transporters associated with antigen processing) genes among patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in order to clarify the potential association of the polymorphisms with disease susceptibility.

METHODS

Polymorphisms of the TAP1 and TAP2 genes in 108 Japanese SS patients were determined by analyzing TAP genes using the polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded conformation polymorphism technique.

RESULTS

The allelic frequency of the TAP1 gene was not significantly different between SS patients and normal subjects. In addition to all known TAP2 alleles, a new allele (Bky2), which had a unique substitution at codon 577 (ATG-->GTG: Met-->Val), was identified in both groups. The allelic frequency of Bky2 was significantly higher in SS patients (12.0%) than in normal subjects (5.1%) (P < 0.05). Moreover, a significantly greater frequency of SS-A antibody was found among SS patients with Bky2 (18 of 23; 78%) than among those without Bky2 (33 of 85; 39%) (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The mutation in TAP2 (Val577) may be involved in SS-A autoantibody production and could be a genetic factor that determines susceptibility to SS.

Immunohistochemical study of tumour angiogenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

To assess the clinical significance of angiogenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), we examined vessel density immunohistochemically in 44 primary oral SCCs using the JC-70A antibody which reacts specifically with vascular endothelial cells. In addition, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors, KDR, Flt-1 and Flt-4 in oral SCCs was examined in relation to the vessel density and lymph node metastasis. There was no association of vessel density with tumour site, T-category (tumour size), degree of differentiation or cervical lymph node metastasis, except that the vessel density of carcinomas with a well-defined tumour-stromal boundary was higher than that of diffusely invasive carcinomas. The intensity of VEGF expression correlated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01), but not with vessel density. The expression of KDR and Flt-1 did not correlate with vessel density and lymph node metastasis. However, the vessel density in Flt-4-positive carcinomas was higher than that in Flt-4-negative carcinomas (P < 0.05), and expression of Flt-4 most significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001). These results suggest that the expression of VEGF or Flt-4 rather than vessel density may be a predictor of lymph node metastasis in oral SCC.

Potential Hazard of Radish Sprouts as a Vehicle of Escherichia coli O157:H7

We studied the contamination of radish sprouts after exposure to Escherichia coli O157:H7-inoculated water in the laboratory. The edible parts, the cotyledons and hypocotyl, became heavily contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 when they were grown from seeds soaked in E. coli O157:H7-inoculated water. These same parts became contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 when their roots were dipped into E. coli O157:H7-inoculated water. These findings suggest that E. coli O157:H7 contamination in the edible parts of radish sprouts could pose a serious hazard if the seeds or hydroponic water are contaminated with the bacterium.

[Inhibition of 5-fluorouracil-cisplatin-induced stomatitis by oral cryotherapy: use of an ice-bar containing fibrinolysin and deoxyribonuclease combine (Elase)]

Stomatitis caused by a combined chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP) is a serious problem in the course of treatment for patients with oral carcinoma. In the present study, we proposed a form of cryotherapy using an ice-bar containing fibrinolysin and deoxyribonuclease (Elase) to inhibit the stomatitis. The therapeutic effect of the ice-bar cryotherapy was evaluated in 20 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma who were undergoing 5-FU-CDDP chemotherapy. Nine of the 20 patients were given the ice-bar cryotherapy while the remaining patients were not. As a result, although there was no significant difference between the incidence of stomatitis in the groups with and without the ice-bar cryotherapy, the incidence of severe stomatitis with ulcers and/or eating disturbance in the 11 cases without the ice-bar cryotherapy (90%) was significantly higher than that in the 9 cases with the cryotherapy (44%) (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference in the clinical response rate of the 5-FU-CDDP chemotherapy was observed between the two groups.

Quantitative determination of urinary metabolites of o-dichlorobenzene using a gas chromatograph

o-Dichlorobenzene (o-DCB) is used as an organic solvent, as a chemical intermediate, and as a heat transfer medium. In humans, o-DCB is metabolized to 2,3- and 3,4-dichlorophenols, and 3,4- and 4,5-dichlorocatechols, and these metabolites are eliminated via the kidneys. In this study, we tried to determine the concentrations of urinary 2,3- and 3,4-dichlorophenols using a gas chromatograph (GC). When control urine specimens were spiked at concentrations of 10, 20 and 40 mg/l, the mean recovery rates of 2,3- and 3,4-dichlorophenols were 98.3 to 101.9% (CV = 4.0 to 4.8%) and 100.6 to 105.4% (CV = 2.5 to 7.0%), respectively. Next, urine samples collected from ten male workers exposed to o-DCB were analyzed. The concentrations of urinary 2,3- and 3,4-dichlorophenols determined by the GC method closely agreed with those by the HPLC method, which we had developed in a previous study, and these metabolite concentrations were linearly correlated to the 8-h TWA values of o-DCB in the range of 0.1 to 2.3 ppm. Consequently, the GC method can be used for biological monitoring of o-DCB, though it is necessary that the linear relation is confirmed in a higher range of exposure.

Log-normality of distribution of occupational exposure concentrations to cobalt

In evaluating occupational exposures, the daily exposure levels of a worker are generally assumed to be distributed log-normally between days. When there are many workers in a job group, the individual worker's arithmetic means are assumed to be distributed log-normally. Using the cobalt exposure data in a hard metal factory, these assumptions were examined with the Shapiro-Wilk W test. The hypothesis of log-normality was accepted in all cases, while the hypothesis of normality was rejected in some cases.

Characteristics of toxicity and haemorrhagic toxin produced by Clostridium sporogenes in various animals and cultured cells

The toxic effects of the haemorrhagic toxin of Clostridium sporogenes were studied in mice, rats, guinea-pigs and rabbits, and in various cultured cells. In rabbits, but not in the other animals, intradermal injection with crude toxin and its injection into a ligated intestinal loop caused haemorrhage in both the skin and intestinal wall. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of crude toxin similarly caused death only of rabbits, with marked haemorrhage in the serous surface of kidney, intestines, liver, spleen, mesentery and diaphragm. Histological examination of the rabbits killed after i.p. inoculation revealed leakage of blood into a space beneath the serous membranes of parenchymatous organs in the peritoneal cavity and within the loose connective tissues in the mesentery and diaphragm. Cytotoxicity of partially purified haemorrhagic toxin in vitro was noted with rabbit aorta endothelial cells, human skin capillary vein endothelial cells and bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells, but not with Chinese hamster ovary cells, Vero cells, human epitheloid carcinoma cells, human colon carcinoma cells (T84) and human colon adenocarcinoma cells (Caco 2). The results suggest that the haemorrhagic toxin of C. sporogenes exerts its effects in rabbits but not in mice, rats or guinea-pigs, through direct action on endothelial cells.

Effect of hemorrhagic toxin produced by Clostridium sporogenes on rabbit ligated intestinal loop

In order to characterize the toxicity of the hemorrhagic toxin of Clostridium sporogenes isolated from the rabbit with antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic diarrhoea, we studied the toxin productivity of C. sporogenes cultured in various media and the toxic effect of the partially purified preparation of the culture supernatant in rabbit intestinal loops. The hemorrhagic activity, which was determined by rabbit skin test for assessment of the toxin production, of culture supernatant of C. sporogenes reached maximum in the early stationary phase of the bacterial growth in GAM or Trypticase soy broth that contained rich glucose, ammonia and peptide. The partially purified toxin prepared by hydroxyapatite, phenyl Toyopearl and Superdex 200 columns caused marked hemorrhage in rabbit ligated intestinal loops. Histological examination of the intestinal loops injected with the toxin revealed noticeable pathological alterations which seemed to be a characteristic of this toxin. Marked hemorrhage could be observed in the mucosa, submucosa, muscular layer and subserous spaces. There were various degrees of infiltration of inflammatory cells such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes and granulated leukocytes throughout the intestinal wall, but it was not associated with any necrotic changes of the tissue. These findings indicate that hemorrhagic toxin produced by C. sporogenes induces vascular changes in the intestine without any direct effects on the parenchymal cells.

Diverse properties of human t(8;14) neoplasms: [1] ATLS and absence of BCL-2 [2] modulation of RAG-1 expression with S-Ig ligation

An EBV(-) BL (Burkitt lymphoma) line (Black93), established from a patient exhibiting glucocorticoid-induced ATLS (acute tumor lysis syndrome), was highly sensitive to dexamethazone (DX) in vitro in the studies including 18 lymphoid cell lines (10 BL lines). In the BL lines, the highly sensitive ones always lacked Bcl-2(bcl-2 protein), while the DX resistant ones expressed Bcl-2. Black93 is the first BL cell-line derived from a ATLS patient, proving that cell lines can be established in vitro from ATLS patients. Since some pre-B ALL lines expressing Bcl-2 were DX-sensitive, the relationship between Bcl-2 and DX-sensitivity is not straight-forward. In the BL cells, however, the absence of Bcl-2 appears to be responsible for the DX-sensitivity. The DX-sensitivity and the absence of Bcl-2 is a major characteristic carried by t(8;14) neoplasms. In addition, there may be a stage of B-lineage differentiation without Bcl-2. While rare BL cases have been reported to express TdT (terminal desoxynucleotidyl transferase), Tree92 is the first such line, expressing S-Ig(mu, lambda), TdT and RAG (recombination activating gene)-1. When surface mu is ligated with antibody, RAG-1 was suppressed in expression, indicating that the signal through S-Ig can modulate the expression of RAG-1 in the Tree92 cells. Chromosome translocation is known to be associated with a specific stage of differentiation. Such specific stage for t(8;14), however, is broad enough to cover S-Ig(+), TdT(+) and RAG-1(+) stage, too. The phenotypic classification of leukemia/lymphoma and the delineation of differentiation scheme of normal hematopoietic cells, are dependent on each other. The documentation of the properties such as DX-sensitivity, the absence of Bcl-2, the expression of RAG-1 and its modulation by the signal through S-Ig is an example in which the diverse properties of human t(8;14) neoplasms can contribute for delineating the differentiation scheme of normal hematopoietic cells more precisely.

Longitudinal change in serum cholesterol levels among isolated hypertriglyceridemic cases

The present study investigated longitudinal change in serum cholesterols of isolated hypertriglyceridemic cases (54 males, 34 females) and age-matched controls (115 males, 98 females) based on a 4-year longitudinal observation. At the baseline, the level of triglyceride was significantly higher in hypertriglyceridemic cases (329 +/- 133mg/dl in males, 274 +/- 76mg/dl in females) than in the controls (81 +/- 18 mg/dl in males, 73 +/- 16mg/dl in females). Further, body mass index (BMI) was also significantly higher than that of the controls. There were no statistical differences in total cholesterol(TC) between the cases (197 +/- 23mg/dl males, 211 +/- 30mg/dl females) and the controls (189 +/- 19mg/dl males, 202 +/- 18mg/dl females). In hypertriglyceridemic cases, both TC and low density lipoprotein plus very low density lipoprotein cholesterols significantly increased between the baseline and the four years later (TC: 197 +/- 23mg/dl to 205 +/- 26mg/dl in males, p < 0.05. 211 +/- 30mg/dl to 227 +/- 44mg/dl in females, p < 0.01), whereas no change was observed in the controls. The BMI of the cases and the controls were unchanged throughout the study period. The present study shows that isolated hypertriglyceridemia with normocholesterolemia proceeds to hypercholesterolemia, which is compatible with endogenous lipoprotein metabolism.

Incidence of diarrhea with antibiotics and the increase of clostridia in rabbits

Rabbits were treated with a single intravenous injection of various antibiotics. More than 40 per cent of the animals showed diarrhea after being treated with sulbactam/cefoperazone, cefmetazole, clindamycin, piperacillin or aspoxicillin. Clostridium difficile was isolated from sulbactam/cefoperazone-treated diarrheic rabbits, with their cecal contents showing positive reaction in a latex agglutination test for C. difficile enterotoxin. However, 27 cefmetazole-induced diarrheic cases were not associated with C. difficile. Other enteropathogenic bacteria, such as Campylobacter spp., Bacillus cereus, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp., Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium spiroforme, were not isolated from either of diarrheic rabbit. However, the counts of clostridia remarkably increased in the intestine of cefmetazole-associated diarrheic rabbits. This was ascribed to the overgrowth of Clostridium innocuum and Clostridium sporogenes. There were no remarkable differences in changes in other bacterial population between diarrheic and non-diarrheic rabbits.

Autoimmune disease of exocrine organs in immunodeficient alymphoplasia mice: a spontaneous model for Sjögren's syndrome

Mice homozygous for an autosomal recessive mutation aly (alymphoplasia) lack both lymph nodes and Peyer's patches, and show defects in both humoral and cellular immunity. Histopathological analysis revealed chronic inflammatory changes in exocrine organs such as the salivary gland, lacrimal gland, and pancreas of the homozygotes (aly/aly), but not the heterozygotes (aly/+). In these exocrine organs, mononuclear cells consisting mainly of CD4+ T cells infiltrate periductal areas, and, in some cases, the cell infiltration extended to lobules. The inflammatory changes in exocrine organs were transferred by a T cell-enriched fraction of spleen cells from homozygous animals. These results suggest that autoimmune mechanisms mediated by self-reactive T cells may be involved in the inflammatory lesions of various exocrine organs in the homozygous mice, although these mice show immunodeficiency. Inflammatory changes were also observed in the lung of the homozygotes. Since Sjögren's syndrome is characterized by diffuse lymphocyte infiltration in the periductal areas of the lacrimal and salivary glands and is occasionally associated with pulmonary disease, aly/aly mice may serve as a unique spontaneous model of Sjögren's syndrome.