Safe separation of sputum cells from mucoid glycoprotein

OBJECTIVE

To compare the safety and efficacy of homogenizing sputum with deoxyribonuclease I (DNAse I), dithiothreitol (DTT), N-acetyl-L-cysteine, sodium EDTA and trypsin against standard mechanical blending to provide mucus-free, single-cell suspensions for quantitative analysis.

STUDY DESIGN

Clinical sputum specimens or cultured human bronchogenic carcinoma cells were preserved in 2% polyethylene glycol/50% ethanol, divided into aliquots, counted and stained (Papanicolaou and avidin-biotin complex immunostained) at baseline. Cells of each aliquot were separated from mucus by the standard physical blending method or by chemical or enzymatic mucus liquefaction. After staining, washing and resuspending in the original volume of polyethylene glycol/ethanol mixture, aliquots were again counted and stained.

RESULTS

Cell counts, Papanicolaou staining and immunostaining showed that homogenization of induced, preserved sputum with 0.5 mM DTT is safe and provides mucus-free monolayers for immunocytochemistry and single-cell suspensions for flow cytometry. Mucolysis with 0.5 mM DTT resulted in a significant (16%) increase in cells available. In contrast, mechanical blending resulted in up to a 24% reduction in specimen cellularity.

CONCLUSION

Homogenization with low-concentration DTT will probably facilitate the exploration of sputum for protein and gene markers of carcino genesis.

Cell damage and liberation of nitric oxide synthase in rat heart induced by endotoxin administration

To evaluate the relationship between cardiovascular injury and the pathological aspect of the liberation of the nitric oxide synthase in endotoxin shock, Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg E. coli endotoxin and the cardiovascular changes were observed chronologically by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic techniques at 2, 4, 8 and 12 h respectively after endotoxin administration. Light microscopically, irregular contraction of cardiomyocytes was observed in the early stage. After 8 h of endotoxin administration, occasional disintegration of the myocytes as well as lysis of myofibrils became prominent, and diminished stainings of myoglobin and actin were seen in these myocytes. Ultrastructurally, increased pinocytotic vesicles were observed in endothelial cells associated with widened intercellular spaces, and vacuolization of endothelial and medial cells of the vasculature. In cardiomyocytes, swelling of mitochondria and interstitial edema were noted at 12 h after endotoxin administration. Immunohistochemically, an increased permeability of albumin was noted in the myocytes and vasculature and nitric oxide synthase was localized on the cytomembrane of the endothelium of the coronary arteries in control rats. After endotoxin administration, the reaction products of nitric oxide synthase increased in the endothelial and medial cells, and cardiomyocytes. These results suggest that the increased activity of nitric oxide synthase is an important factor in the excessive production of nitric oxide and in promoting the pathologic changes in the cardiovascular system after endotoxin administration.

[Two autopsy cases of malignant mixed müllerian tumor of the uterus with metastasis to alimentary tract and liver]

Two autopsy cases (69 and 87-year-old women) of malignant mixed müllerian tumor (MMMT) following radiation therapy for uterine cervical cancer sixteen and twenty years ago respectively were reported. They were admitted due to abdominal pain and diagnosed as ileus. In the first case, CT examination revealed a tumor measuring about 8 x 10 cm in size in the uterine posterior wall. Recurrence of the uterine cancer was suspected and hysterooophorectomy combined with sigmoidectomy was performed. In the second case, artificial anus formation was performed because of sigmoid stricture by the invasion of the tumor. Histologically, tumors in both cases were composed of carcinomatous and sarcomatous components including heterologous elements such as cartilage. The patients died of extensive spreads and metastasis in the liver and alimentary tract.

dinP, a new gene in Escherichia coli, whose product shows similarities to UmuC and its homologues

A new gene, designated dinP, was found during E. coli genomic sequencing around the 5.5 min region. Its coding region is preceded by a sequence similar to the consensus binding sequence for LexA, the so-called SOS box sequence. The amino acid sequence of DinP (351 amino acid residues) has a strong similarity to the C. elegans hypothetical protein F22B7.6 and weaker similarities to the UmuC homologues in E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium and also to REV1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Another SOS operon (dinJ1 and dinJ2 genes) found in this region is also described.

Increased susceptibility to staphylococcal enterotoxin B intoxication in mice primed with actinomycin D

Mice (BALB/cJ, C3H/HeN, and C3H/HeJ) primed with actinomycin D became highly susceptible to lethal intoxication with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). The mice underwent toxicosis and toxic shock and died. Actinomycin D-primed C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice showed equal sensitivity to SEB, suggesting that bacterial lipopolysaccharide derived from gram-negative bacteria in the gut may not be an important cofactor in intoxication. In a time course study of the illness, prominent pathological changes characterized by blood congestion and thickening of alveolar septa were seen in the lung, while blood congestion, inflammation, epithelial cell flattening, and villous blunting were seen in the small intestine. In lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen, congestion, inflammation, and lymphoid cell depletion were the major reactions. The pathological features of the mice had many similarities to those of rhesus monkeys intoxicated with intravenous SEB. The actinomycin D-primed C3H/HeJ mice are thus an ideal mouse model for studying SEB toxicosis and toxic shock.

[Functional and morphological changes in the cochlea of cholesterol fed guinea pigs]

Although sensory neural hearing loss stemming from hypercholesterolemia has received attention in recent years, no information is available about inner ear injuries resulting from this condition. In this study, we prepared guinea pig models at hypercholesterolemia and observed the inner ear with a transmission electron microscope, and also investigated the effect of vitamin E (Vit. E) on these injuries. One hundred and thirty-nine white male Hartley guinea pigs weighing a mean of 250 g each were divided into three groups. Group A consisted of the control animals, which were fed by a stock diet. Group B animals were fed by a hyperlipid diet (2.5% cholesterol, 0.25% cholic acid, and 7.5% cattle fat). Group C animals were fed by a Vit. E-added (50 units/100 g) hyperlipid diet. All the animals were sacrificed either one, two or three months after treatment and the cochlea duct vasculature, cochleal nerve fiber under spiral limbus, stria vascularis and inner hair cell and outer hair cell of Corti's organ was observed with a transmission electron microscope. Cholesterol, triglyceride, and TBARS values were concurrently measured in the serum. Auditory threshold was measured by auditory brain stem response (ABR). In groups B and C, cholesterol and triglyceride levels remained high,. The TBARS level elevated in group B but remained unchanged in groups A and C. In groups B and C, the threshold of ABR increased mildly. The cholesterol load led to injuries in the endothelium of the vasculature dominating the cochlea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of vitamin E on vascular integrity in cholesterol-fed guinea pigs

This study was designed to clarify the effects of vitamin E on the alterations in proteoglycan distribution and vascular permeability, which were examined by immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques in the aortas of cholesterol-fed guinea pigs. The animals were divided into three groups: a control group, a cholesterol group, and a vitamin E group. Serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were measured. An increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances was observed in the cholesterol group compared with control and vitamin E groups. Intimal atheromatous lesions of the aorta were significantly decreased in the vitamin E group compared with the cholesterol group. Histochemically, an increased distribution of proteoglycans such as chondroitin, dermatan, and heparan sulfates and ruthenium red reaction products in the intima; decreased glycocalyx on the endothelial surface; and increased permeability to horseradish peroxidase were revealed in the cholesterol group compared with the vitamin E group. Hypercholesterolemia, resulting in superoxide production, may have contributed to the endothelial damage and increased permeability to plasma proteins and lipids in the vascular wall of the cholesterol group. However, vitamin E administration inhibited lipid deposition and development of this abnormal permeability associated with an irregular distribution of proteoglycan. These results suggest that vitamin E preserves the morphological and functional integrity of the vascular wall and may contribute to the inhibition of atherogenesis in cholesterol-fed guinea pigs.

Optical network for real-time face recognition

An optical network is described that is capable of recognizing at standard video rates the identity of faces for which it has been trained. The faces are presented under a wide variety of conditions to the system and the classification performance is measured. The system is trained by gradually adaptingphotorefrac tive holograms.

Electrical fixing of photorefractive holograms in Sr(0.75) Ba(0.25)Nb(2)O(6)

Photorefractive holograms stored in Sr(0.75)Ba(0.25)Nb(2)O(6) crystals are electrically fixed at room temperature. The fixed holograms can be read out directly or after a positive-voltage pulse is applied that can dramatically enhance the diffraction efficiency. Single gratings as well as images are recorded and fixed.

An influenza virus temperature-sensitive mutant defective in the nuclear-cytoplasmic transport of the negative-sense viral RNAs

An influenza A virus mutant ts-51, which contains a temperature-sensitive (ts) defect in the genome encoding the M1 and M2 proteins, was characterized. Nucleotide sequencing of the M segment revealed a predicted single amino acid change of phenylalanine to serine at amino acid position 79 in the M1 protein. The nuclear-cytoplasmic transport of the negative-sense viral RNAs (vRNAs) was then investigated using an in situ hybridization technique. At 6 hr after the ts-51 virus infection, approximately 95% of the vRNAs were accumulated in the nucleus at a non-permissive temperature, when approximately 50% of the vRNAs were transported into the cytoplasm in the wild-type virus-infected cells. The M1 protein of the ts-51 virus was also accumulated in the nucleus under the same conditions. Therefore, the M1 protein of the ts-51 virus may be associated with the vRNPs, but the possible M1-vRNP complex thus formed was defective in the nuclear-cytoplasmic transport and the single amino acid change in the M1 protein was responsible for this defect.

Local learning algorithm for optical neural networks

An anti-Hebbian local learning algorithm for two-layer optical neural networks is introduced. With this learning rule, the weight update for a certain connection depends only on the input and output of that connection and a global, scalar error signal. Therefore the backpropagation of error signals through the network, as required by the commonly used back error propagation algorithm, is avoided. It still guarantees, however, that the synaptic weights are updated in the error descent direction. With the apparent advantage of simpler optical implementation this learning rule is also shown by simulations to be computationally effective.

The value of adrenal autotransplantation with attached blood vessels for the treatment of Cushing's disease: a preliminary report

We treated 5 patients with Cushing's disease by total adrenalectomy and left adrenal autotransplantation with attached blood vessels. An end-to-end vascular anastomosis was made between the adrenal central vein and the inferior epigastric artery, and the saphenous vein and adrenal middle artery were anastomosed by intussuscepting the artery into the vein in 4 patients. Steroid replacement was withdrawn 7 to 90 days after bilateral total adrenalectomy. The patients were followed for 1 to 4 years. Repeated measurement of plasma cortisol, 24-hour urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid and 17-ketosteroid levels in all cases was normal. As soon as the adrenal central vein and inferior epigastric artery were anastomosed part of the adrenal gland was then excised. Oozing of blood from the cut surface was retained and the adrenal gland was then embedded into the inguinal muscle in 1 patient. Small doses of steroid replacement (12.5 mg. cortisone per day) were still necessary 1 year postoperatively. The result thus indicates that this procedure is feasible and valuable for the treatment of patients with Cushing's disease and no evidence of pituitary adenoma on magnetic resonance imaging or computerized tomography.

Microsurgical treatment of chyluria: a preliminary report

We treated 80 patients with recurrent chyluria (68 men and 12 women) by a microsurgical technique since 1978. Transinguinal spermatic lymphangiovenous anastomosis was performed in 64 patients and inguinal lymph node-saphenous vein anastomosis was performed in 16. Followup was 6 months to 11 years in 50 of the former and 12 of the latter patients. Chyluria disappeared completely in 30 (60%) and 8 (66.7%) patients, respectively. In 6 of the former patients (12%) chyluria had disappeared immediately after the operation but it recurred within 1.5 to 3 years. The procedure has the advantage of a superficial operative field, and is simple and less traumatic.

Immunohistochemical localization of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and calmodulin in rat myocardium

The immunohistochemical localization of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and calmodulin was investigated in rat heart muscle using antiserum against the catalytic subunit of the human kidney Na+, K(+)-ATPase and bovine testis calmodulin at the electron microscopic level. Immunostaining for both Na+, K(+)-ATPase and calmodulin was noted on the plasma membrane and plasmalemmal vesicles of the vascular endothelium and cardiac muscle cells. Calmodulin was also detected in the cytoplasm. These immunohistochemical localizations were evaluated by immunoblot analyses. Such localization of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and calmodulin suggests that they may play an important role in the regulation of Na(+)-Ca++ exchange across the cell membrane.

Bragg holographic structures for XUV applications: a new approach

We report a new technique for producing high-efficiency XUV Bragg (volume) holographic optical elements by recording interference patterns in a photosensitive coating in either the visible or XUV region. Theoretical calculations and analysis of experimental results have successfully demonstrated the significance of this new fabrication methodology for XUV holographic optical elements, with over 25% diffraction efficiency achieved. In addition, volume holographic optics offer high flexibility in conventional and nonconventional operations, high laser-damage threshold and temperature stability, low surface roughness, and cost effectiveness in mass production.

Adrenal autotransplantation with attached blood vessels for treatment of Cushing's disease

A case of Cushing's disease was treated successfully by staged total adrenalectomy, left adrenal autotransplantation with the attached blood vessels and pituitary irradiation. In the first stage the left adrenal gland was removed with its attached blood vessels intact, and adrenal autotransplantation then was performed. An end-to-end anastomosis was made between the adrenal central vein and the right inferior epigastric artery. The anastomosis between the right saphenous vein and the adrenal middle artery was accomplished by intussuscepting the artery into the vein followed by suturing. The second stage operation was total right adrenalectomy. Steroid replacement therapy was stopped 7 days postoperatively and all laboratory studies were normal. Two months after total right adrenalectomy the patient had a sensation of facial fullness. Plasma cortisol and 24-hour urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid levels were elevated. Part of the graft was excised with the patient under local anesthesia. The symptoms disappeared and the laboratory studies returned to normal. Pituitary irradiation was administered as supplementary treatment of Cushing's disease. This method for the treatment of Cushing's disease has proved feasible. The inguinal region is the optimal site for adrenal autotransplantation.