Nonspecific giant ulcer of the sigmoid colon--a case report

An unusual case of a 44 year old woman who developed a nonspecific ulcer of the sigmoid colon is reported herein. She presented with lower abdominal pain and fever and colonoscopy revealed a large, sigmoid colon ulcer with normal surrounding mucosa and a well-defined margin. A temporary sigmoidostomy was done to decompress the bowel content and, after the abdominal pain and fever had subsided, the involved segment with an ulcer of 6.1 X 2.5 cm was resected. Her postoperative course was uneventful and she has remained well since.

Ischemic stricture of the jejunum--report of a case

We report herein a case of an 82 year old Japanese woman admitted to hospital after suddenly experiencing upper abdominal pain and vomiting. An upper gastrointestinal series showed a narrow segment with edematous adjacent loops in the proximal jejunum. On the twentieth day following her admission, a barium-meal radiograph revealed that the narrow segment had progressed to a firm tubular stenosis with effacement of the mucosal pattern. The stenotic segment, resected the following day, was 7 cm long with an internal circumference of only 0.5 cm at its narrowest portion. Histologic examination of the resected specimen showed ulceration and marked edema in the intestinal wall, accompanied by organizing and recanalizing thrombi in the subserosal arteries. These features were strongly suggestive of an ischemic process.

Presence of human papillomavirus type-6-related sequences in inverted nasal papillomas

Twenty DNA samples obtained from seven cases of inverted papillomas, eight cases of nasal polyps and five cases of chronic sinusitis were investigated by Southern blot hybridization for the possible presence of sequences homologous to human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18. HPV type-6-related DNA was identified in one of the seven inverted papillomas. The restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns showed that this latter DNA is a new subtype of HPV type 6 DNA. In the other six papillomas and in all cases of nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis, no HPV sequence could be demonstrated, even under low stringent conditions (Tm-40 degrees C). These results indicate that HPV infection might be one of the possible causative factors in the pathogenesis of inverted papillomas but is not essential for the induction of the tumor.

Human papillomavirus DNA in squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract

Nineteen samples of DNA from squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract were analyzed by Southern blot hybridization for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. Two samples of DNA contained HPV 16 DNA or its homologous sequence. In one maxillary carcinoma, the sequences homologous to HPV 16 were detected. In one tonsillar carcinoma, HPV 16 sequence was also shown to be present. The patients positive for HPV DNA were female and had neither smoking nor drinking habits. These results indicate that HPV infections may play a role in the development of some types of squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.

[The relation among the life style and the clinical laboratory data]

The concept of risk pattern is introduced as the new point of view for the cancer prevention. The risk pattern should be got by drawing out the feature of the human information composed of dietary habit, life style, family history, laboratory data. Using the large scale health screening data in Nagano (total population = 93, 403, 1,140 byte/person), the risk pattern is analysed and the relation among the variables are discussed.

Effect of photoperiod on pineal gland volume and pinealocyte size in the Chinese hamster, Cricetulus griseus

Male adult (200-day-old) Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus) raised from weaning under either LD 16:8 or LD 8:16 were used. The pineal gland of the Chinese hamster consists of superficial (major) and deep (minor) components and a continuous, or interrupted, narrow parenchymal stalk interposed between them. The volume of the superficial pineal including the parenchymal stalk is greater under LD 16:8 than under LD 8:16. Under both photoperiods, pinealocytes in the superficial pineal have larger nuclei and more abundant cytoplasm than those in the deep pineal. Nuclei in the superficial pineal appear pale and usually have irregular profiles, whereas those in the deep pineal appear dark and have round profiles. In the superficial pineal, pinealocyte nuclei are larger, paler, and more irregular; and, in addition, nuclear density is lower under LD 16:8 than under LD 8:16. Similar, but less prominent, photoperiod-induced changes occur in the volume of the deep pineal, the size of pinealocytes, and pinealocyte nuclear morphology in the deep pineal. The results indicate that the development and differentiation of pinealocytes in both pineal portions may be advanced under long photoperiods and delayed under short photoperiods, although pinealocytes in the deep pineal may remain not fully differentiated even in adults. Since testicular weights and body weights are similar under both photoperiods, the photoperiod may exert marked influences on the development of the pineal gland without affecting reproductive activity and growth rates of animals.

Immunosuppression by gramicidin S of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis, pinealitis and autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Using an in vitro lymphocyte proliferation assay we screened several cyclic peptide antibiotics (bacitracin, oleandomycin, capreomycin, colistin, virginiamycin, and gramicidin S) for their immunosuppressive activity. Gramicidin S (GrS) was found to inhibit [3H]-thymidine incorporation into concanavalin A-stimulated and E coli lipopolysaccharide-stimulated lymphocytes. In vivo studies, experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) and pinealitis were induced in female Lewis rats by immunization with bovine S-antigen and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) were induced by immunization of rats with rat brain homogenates. GrS suppressed the onset of these inflammatory diseases at nontoxic concentrations. Evidence was obtained that GrS inhibits [3H]-thymidine incorporation into lymphocytes by preventing transport of the compound across the membrane. Since GrS binds to various cell membranes, GrS would suppress the proliferation of not only lymphocytes but also of other immune cells by modifying cell membrane properties. The present study indicates that a search for compounds which cause proper cell membrane modification should be a worthwhile strategy for development of immunosuppressive drugs.

bcr rearrangement and C-abl gene expression in Ph1-positive hybrid acute leukemia with simultaneous proliferation of lymphoid and myeloid blasts

bcr gene rearrangement and c-abl gene expression were analyzed in a patient with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive hybrid acute leukemia with simultaneous proliferation of lymphoid and myeloid blasts. These data were compared with those from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in mixed crisis. The leukemic cells of both patients showed immuno-phenotypic profiles such as non-T, non-B common ALL with some MPO-positive leukemic cells and rearranged JH genes. On analysis of molecular events associated with the Ph1 chromosome, the leukemic cells of a patient with CML in mixed crisis showed bcr rearrangement and an 8.5-kb bcr-abl chimeric mRNA, but those of a patient with Ph1-positive hybrid acute leukemia showed no 8.5-kb bcr-abl mRNA, as previously reported in a number of Ph1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. These results revealed that the molecular event found in Ph1-positive ALL is not only restricted to lymphoid lineage but may play an important role in the proliferation of the myeloid lineage.

Twenty-four-hour changes in pinealocytes, capillary endothelial cells and pericapillary and intercellular spaces in the pineal gland of the mouse. Semiquantitative electron-microscopic observations

Semiquantitative electron-microscopic observations on the pineal gland of dd-mice were carried out to determine whether 24-h rhythms exist in pinealocytes, pericapillary and intercellular spaces and capillary endothelial cells. Nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of pinealocytes and the area of condensed chromatin in pinealocytes showed inversely related circadian rhythms; the former two increased, whereas the latter decreased, during the light period. The extent of pericapillary and wide intercellular spaces exhibited 24-h changes, with an increase and decrease occurring during the light period and the dark period, respectively. The cross-sectional area of endothelial cells decreased and the number of fenestrae increased during the light period; this was reversed during the dark period. The results suggest that the increase in the nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of pinealocytes, the area of pericapillary and wide intercellular spaces and the number of fenestrae, and the decrease in the area of condensed chromatin and endothelial cells during the light period may be related to an increase in synthetic activity of pinealocytes in the mouse.

[Experimental study of superior vena caval's reconstruction with ringed E-PTFE grafts]

For evaluating whether 2 types of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, ringed E-PTFE graft can be utilized for venous reconstruction, especially, for superior vena caval reconstruction or not, the ringed E-PTFE grafts which had 10-15 micron fibril length and 30 micron fibril length were implanted between the innominate vein and the right atrium of the 20 dogs. The grafts were removed for histological and scanning electromicroscopic evaluation at intervals varying from one to twelve postoperative months. Overall patency rate was 62% and severe stenosis at the site of anastomosis was seen in 2 grafts. More than half of the graft showed mild to moderate intimal hyperplasia at the anastomotic sites and the early stage of thrombosis at the middle of the grafts. Mesenchymal cell infiltration was occurred in 46% of the grafts.

Possible mechanism of immunosuppression by gramicidin S of S antigen-induced experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis

Gramicidin S (GrS) suppressed the onset of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) induced with S-antigen in rats, and the proliferation of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes in culture. As an immunosuppressive mechanism of the cyclic peptide antibiotic we first postulated that the drug exerts its effect as an ionophore. Although all ionophore compounds tested suppressed lymphocyte proliferation, no correlation was observed between changes in intracellular concentrations of Na+ and K+ and the degree of immunosuppression. For example, monensin inhibited lymphocyte proliferation without affecting intracellular Na+ and K+ levels. Thus it was likely that the immunosuppressive effects of the ionophore compounds including GrS were due to their ability to modify cell membrane properties rather than their ionophore activity. We then tested the hypothesis that GrS inhibits transport of metabolic intermediates or metabolites (thymidine and methionine) into lymphocytes. The idea was experimentally supported. Further, inhibition of metabolite transport by GrS was found to be reversible. To investigate whether inhibition of metabolite uptake can be a mechanism of immunosuppression of EAU, endogenously stimulated lymphocytes were isolated from S-antigen-immunized rats at different stages of EAU and the effect of GrS on metabolite uptake by the cells was determined. The activity of lymphocytes to transport metabolites was enhanced at pre-EAU stages and the enhanced metabolite uptake was markedly inhibited by GrS. We interpreted the result to support that inhibition of metabolite uptake by GrS is probably a mechanism of immunosuppression in vivo by this drug.

Comparisons of sizes of pinealocyte nuclei and pinealocytes in young and adult Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus) under different photoperiod conditions

Semiquantitative electron microscopic observations on pinealocytes of the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) were made to compare the sizes of pinealocyte nuclei and pinealocytes as a whole, their nuclei and cytoplasm together, over a 24-hr period, between young animals (60-70 days old) and adult animals (120-130 days old) under LD 12:12 and between adults under LD 12:12 and LD 14:10. Under LD 12:12, similar 24-hr rhythms exist in the nuclear area and the area of pinealocytes of young animals, whereas in adults these values exhibit no significant 24-hr rhythm. In adults under LD 14:10, there is no significant 24-hr rhythm in the nuclear area, but the area of pinealocytes shows a statistically significant 24-hr rhythm. Thus, in the Chinese hamster, the relationships between nuclear area and area of pinealocytes with time of day vary, depending on the age of animals as well as different photoperiodic conditions, although they differ only slightly.

Different sensitivities of Ca2+, calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases from rabbit aorta and brain to dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers

The concentrations of the dihydropyridines, CD-349, nicardipine, and nimodipine, producing 50% inhibition of Ca2+, calmodulin (CaM)-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CaPDE) from rabbit aorta in the absence of Ca2+-CaM complex were approximately 7 to 13-fold higher than these of aorta CaPDE in the presence of Ca2+-CaM complex and of the trypsin treated enzyme form. On the other hand, these dihydropyridine derivatives inhibited CaPDE from rabbit brain at much the same IC50 values seen in the absence and presence of the Ca2+-CaM complex and the trypsin-treated enzyme. Kinetic analysis revealed that these dihydropyridines inhibited the activities of CaPDEs from both the aorta and brain, competitively with cyclic GMP as substrate, and the Ki values of CD-349 for CaPDE from aorta or brain in the absence or presence of Ca2+-CaM complex and trypsin-treated enzyme were 9.6, 0.75, 0.75 or 0.69, 0.70, 0.66 microM, respectively. These results suggest that CaPDE from the rabbit aorta differs from this enzyme in the brain, with regard to the relationship between the dihydropyridine binding sites on CaPDE molecules and the domains regulated by the Ca2+-CaM complex or limited proteolysis.

[Reduced expression of class I MHC antigens in NIH3T3 cells transformed with activated ras oncogenes]

For CTL-mediated lysis of tumor cells the existence of class I molecules is required, in addition to tumor specific antigens, on the cell surface. Therefore, it is likely that tumor cells with altered class I antigen expression might escape from immune surveillance by T-cells. There have been many reports that virally-or chemically-induced murine and human tumor cells and/or tissues expressed reduced number of cell surface class I molecules. However, it is unknown how the regulatory pathway of class I antigen expression and the intracellular oncogenic cascade are interrelated. In this report, class I antigen expressions in NIH3T3 cells transformed with activated ras genes are analyzed. Transformed cells were tumorigenic in allogeneic immunocompetent mice and less sensitive to allogeneic killer T-cells than untransformed NIH3T3. The levels of cell surface expression of H-2K and H-2D region products analyzed using a monoclonal antibodies and a flow-cytometer showed marked reduction of antigen expression in the transformants. Scatchard analysis of the binding of monoclonal antibodies to cell-surface class I molecules indicated that the affinity of the reaction was unchanged after transformation of NIH3T3 cells with activated N-ras oncogene, thus confirmed that the reduced expression observed by flow-cytometric analysis was due to decreased number of the antigen in the transformants. Northern hybridization analyses of H-2 class I and B2-microglobulin transcripts showed that the amounts of both class I and B2-microglobulin mRNAs paralleled with the levels of cell surface expression of the antigen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Selective inhibition of catalytic activity of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase

Systematically synthesized derivatives of ML-9, 1-(5-chloronaphthalenesulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine, were found to inhibit both Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent and -independent smooth muscle myosin light chain kinases with a similar concentration dependence, and their inhibitions were of the competitive type with respect to ATP. Moreover, ML-9 as well as ATP or ADP exhibited an effective protection to inactivation of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase by the nucleotide affinity label 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine, suggesting that ML-9 binds at or near the ATP-binding site on the kinase molecule. These derivatives, which were structurally unrelated to ATP and exhibited more hydrophobic properties detected by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, exhibited more potent inhibition toward smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase, indicating that the hydrophobic properties of these derivatives positively correlated well with their potencies of inhibiting the catalytic activity for the enzyme. These findings suggest that the ATP-binding site at the active center of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase is located in a hydrophobic environment. The potent vaso-relaxing effect of ML-9 on rabbit vascular strips and on saponin-treated skinned smooth muscle cells was discussed in relation to the in vivo inhibition by this drug of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase.

Non-T, non-B acute lymphocytic leukemias: cellular origin based on molecular analyses of immunoglobulin and T-cell alpha- and beta-chain receptor gene rearrangements

Fifteen non-T, non-B acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) cases were investigated for determining cellular origin based on molecular (immunoglobulin and T-cell alpha-receptor (TcR alpha) and T-cell beta-receptor (TcR beta) genes) and immunophenotypical analyses. As defined by monoclonal antibodies, they were classified into 2 groups; 12 cases as common ALL antigen (CALLA)-positive ALL and 3 cases as CALLA-negative ALL. Southern blot analysis revealed that 11 CALLA-positive ALL cases contained rearranged JH gene and 2 of them contained rearranged Jx genes, similar to recent views that most CALLA-positive leukemic cells are neoplastic B-cell precursors. One CALLA-positive ALL case, whose leukemic cells were also Leu-1 positive, showed no rearrangement of JH and TcR beta genes. On the other hand, non-T, non-B CALLA-negative ALL, so called null ALL, consisted of heterogenous groups with regard to lymphocyte differentiation and lineage; one out of 3 null ALL cases may be truely undifferentiated as shown neither JH nor TcR beta gene rearrangement, but other 2 cases showed either JH or TcR beta gene rearrangement. Dual rearrangements of Ig and TcR beta genes occur frequently in 3 out of 15 non-T, non-B ALL cases, but all cases of bigenotype showed no doubly marked profile and retained a completely fidelous immunophenotypic pattern. We further investigated the possibility that analysis of TcR alpha gene may be useful for determining cellular origin of non-T, non-B ALL leukemic cells.

A transforming gene, hst, found in NIH 3T3 cells transformed with DNA from three stomach cancers and a colon cancer

DNA samples from 5 out of 15 stomach cancers and from 5 out of 15 colon cancers showed transforming activity in NIH 3T3 cells upon transfection. A transforming gene from an NIH 3T3 transformant induced by transfection of DNA from a stomach cancer was cloned, and showed transforming activity amounting to 120 focus-forming units/micrograms. The transforming gene was identified as hst. The hst gene was also responsible for acquisition of the transforming activity in DNA samples from 2 other stomach cancers and one colon cancer.

Establishment and characterization of a cell line, TOM-1, derived from a patient with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia

A new Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive cell line, designated TOM-1, was derived from bone marrow cells of a patient with Ph1-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). The TOM-1 cells were positive for Ia and B1 antigens and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) but negative for common ALL antigen. Although neither surface Ig nor cytoplasmic Ig was detected, the TOM-1 cells contained rearranged immunoglobulin-H chain genes but retained germ-line kappa chain and germ-line T cell receptor beta-chain genes. These results indicate that the TOM-1 cells reside as the progenitor of pre-B cells. We have investigated the chromosome 22 breakpoint and c-abl gene expression in the TOM-1 cells. We found that the breakpoint on chromosome 22 was within the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) in the TOM-1 cells. We also found the breakpoints within or near bcr in four of six Ph1-positive ALL cases, similar to the findings in Ph1-positive CML cases. Amplification of the c-abl gene was not detected in the TOM-1 cells. The leukemic cells isolated from a patient with CML in myeloid crisis contained a novel 8-kilobase (kb) abl-related messenger RNA (mRNA), but the TOM-1 cells contained c-abl transcripts of only normal sizes, despite the fact that they showed the bcr gene rearrangement.

A radiological population study on the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the spine

This paper reports the results of a radiological population study on the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in both the cervical and the thoracic spine among Japanese. The study was carried out in the Yachiho-mura district in the central part of Japan, where 5074 people were living. X-ray examinations were made of 1058 of the people; there were 440 men and 618 women, 50 or more years of age. The roentgenograms showed 34 cases of OPLL in the cervical spine (3.2%): 19 men (4.3%) and 15 women (2.4%). The condition was most frequently observed at the level of C-4. Radiological classification showed 18 cases of the segmental type, 11 of the continuous type, and five of a mixed type. There were eight cases of OPLL in the thoracic spine (0.8%), four in men (0.9%) and four in women (0.6%). OPLL in the thoracic spine was most frequently observed at the midthoracic levels. All eight cases showed a continuous type of ossification. There were three subjects with OPLL in both the cervical and the thoracic spine. Therefore, the number of subjects with OPLL in either the cervical or the thoracic spine was 39 (3.7%) total.

Immunological functions and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement of proliferating lymphocytes in a case of T gamma lymphocytosis with neutropenia

A case of T gamma lymphocytosis with neutropenia is presented. The patient showed mild lymphocytosis, splenomegaly, anemia, neutropenia and recurrent infections without progression for 15 years. The expanded lymphoid cells were morphologically large granular lymphocytes (LGL), had receptors for both sheep red blood cells and IgG-Fc portion and were positive for OKT3 and 8 antigens. They displayed ADCC activity, whereas they showed low responses to T-cell mitogens and deficient NK activity. They showed neither suppressor activity on antibody production by B-cells nor suppressor activity on CFU-C formation. The DNA isolated from the expanded cells of the patient showed T-cell beta-chain (T beta) gene rearrangement, indicating monoclonality of the proliferation. This finding supports that the proliferation of T8 lymphocytes in the present case is neoplastic rather than reactive, regardless of the benign clinical course.

Conversion of 4-aminobutyraldehyde to gamma-aminobutyric acid in striatum treated with semicarbazide and kainic acid

4-Aminobutyraldehyde (ABAL) has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and to be converted rapidly to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in various regions of the brain. In this paper, the formation of GABA from ABAL was studied with striatum that had suffered a lesion to GABA synthesis via glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). The GABA formation from ABAL was invariably observed in striatum in which GAD was severely inhibited by semicarbazide or kainic acid. Thus, this is another pathway for GABA formation.