Effects of protein kinase inhibitors on the cell motility stimulated by autocrine motility factor

Preincubation of Dunn osteosarcoma cells for 1 h with both 100 nM of staurosporine and 10 micrograms/ml of genistein resulted in a significant decrease in the motility stimulated by autocrine motility factor (AMF), whereas these reagents did not affect the basal motility and proliferation at these concentrations. The effect of the agents on the stimulated motility was both dose- and time-dependent. The motility stimulated by the anti-AMF receptor mAb was also inhibited. In contrast, H-8 had a negligible effect upon the stimulated motility. These data suggest that both kinase C and tyrosine kinase play a role in AMF-stimulated cell motility, while protein kinase A, which is selectively associated with the adenylate cyclase pathway, may not be required for the stimulation.

Microvessel count and cerebrospinal fluid basic fibroblast growth factor in children with brain tumours

Tumour growth is angiogenesis-dependent; brain tumours have more intense neovascularisation than other tumours and produce basic fibroblast growth factor, a potent angiogenic mediator. Because little is known about the release of basic fibroblast growth factor from brain tumours into extracellular fluids, we tested cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 26 children and young adults with brain tumours and 18 controls for basic fibroblast growth factor and for proliferative activity on cultured capillary endothelial cells. We also measured the density of microvessels in tumours by immunohistochemical staining. Basic fibroblast growth factor was detected in the CSF of 62% (16 of 26) patients with brain tumours but in none of the controls. Specimens with basic fibroblast growth factor stimulated DNA synthesis of capillary endothelial cells in vitro. Endothelial proliferative activity was blocked by neutralising antibodies to basic fibroblast growth factor. Basic fibroblast growth factor correlated with mitogenic activity in CSF in vitro (p < or = 0.0001), and with density of microvessels in histological sections (p < or = 0.005). A microvessel count of > or = 68 per 200 x field was associated with tumour recurrence (p = 0.005) and with mortality (p = 0.02). Basic fibroblast growth factor in brain tumours may mediate angiogenesis as measured by microvessel density in histological sections, so has potential as both a marker for neoplasia and a target for tumour treatments. Furthermore, evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid basic fibroblast growth factor, along with microvessel quantitation in biopsied tumours, may provide improved prognostic information for the management of patients with brain tumours.

The somatotopic localisation of the descending cortical tract in the cerebral peduncle: a study using MRI of changes following Wallerian degeneration in the cerebral peduncle after a supratentorial vascular lesion

We studied the effects of Wallerian degeneration in the cerebral peduncle shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following a supratentorial vascular lesion, to identify the somatotopic localisation of the descending cortical tracts. Patients with a lesion involving a large area of a cerebral hemisphere had an area of abnormal signal intensity in the whole cerebral peduncle, suggesting Wallerian degeneration of all the whole descending cortical tracts. With a small lesion confined to the precentral gyrus, corona radiata, or posterior limb of the internal capsule there was an abnormal signal at the centre of the peduncle, suggesting degeneration of the precentrospinal tract. Those with a small lesion confined to the paracentral gyrus had an abnormal area slightly lateral to the centre of the peduncle, suggesting degeneration of the parietospinal tract. Patients with a lesion of the parietal or temporal lobes, not including the paracentral or precentral gyri, corona radiata, or the posterior limb of the internal capsule, had an abnormal area laterally in the peduncle, suggesting degeneration of the parietopontine or temporopontine tract.

Surgical fusion between incompatible colonies of the compound ascidian, Botrylloides fuscus

In the compound ascidian Botrylloides fuscus, allorecognition responses were observed at the colonial margin (natural growing edge) as necrotic reactions in the subcuticular region of the facing tunic. However, artificial cut surface contacts between incompatible colonies resulted in the formation of chimeras with common vascular systems, termed "surgical fusion." The occurrence of surgical fusion in B. fucus contrasts with rejection occurring under the same conditions in other botryllids. Together the two observations suggest that self-nonself recognition may be a specialized function of tunic cells and their precursors in the blood, and the fusion (vascular interconnection) is a different process than rejection with different effectors and recognition systems. In all pairwise combinations among 12 and 14 colonies, more than 60% of combinations resulted in fusion when colonies were assayed by growing edge contact. This rate of fusible combinations is much higher than those of the other botryllid ascidians previously studied.

The retinoblastoma binding factor 1 (RBF-1) site in RB gene promoter binds preferentially E4TF1, a member of the Ets transcription factors family

The tumor suppressor retinoblastoma gene product, pRB, is a well known regulator of G1/S cell cycle progression. Moreover, mutational inactivations within the retinoblastoma gene (RB) are found in many human malignant tumors, and thus, believed to be an essential step in tumor formation. The human RB gene is considered as a housekeeping gene with no characteristic TATA or CAAT elements in its promoter region, but the sequence between 206 and 185 bases upstream of the initiation codon, essential for RB promoter activity, contains putative Sp1 and ATF recognition sites. We have previously reported that point mutations in this region, causing low penetrance retinoblastomas, completely reduced RB promoter activity, and that a nuclear factor, named RBF-1 (retinoblastoma binding factor 1), could specifically bind to this sequence, overlapping Sp1 recognition sequence. We show here, that RBF-1 can recognize a specific DNA sequence, 5'-GGCGGAAGT-3', overlapping the Sp1 and ATF sites and corresponding to the consensus DNA binding site for members of Ets transcription factors family. When RBF-1 site was used for sequence specific DNA affinity purification from erythroleukemia cells, reconstitution assays, immunoblotting analysis and peptide mapping show that the two major co-purified proteins are identical to human E4TF1-60 and -53 proteins. This reveals that E4TF1 can bind to the RBF-1 site of RB gene promoter, which, thus, constitutes a new target for this member of Ets transcription factors family.

Characterization of peroxidases in luminol chemiluminescence coupled with copper-catalysed oxidation of cysteamine

Hydrogen peroxide formed during the course of the copper(II)-catalysed oxidation of cysteamine with oxygen was continuously determined by a peroxidase (POD)-catalysed luminol chemiluminescence (CL) method. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), lactoperoxidase (LPO) and Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase (ARP) were used as a CL catalyst. The respective PODs gave specific CL intensity-time profiles. HRP caused a CL delay, and ARP gave a time-response curve which followed the production rate of H2O2. LPO gave only a weak CL flash which decayed promptly. These differences of CL response curves could be explained in terms of the different reactivities of PODs for superoxide anion and the different formation rate of luminol radicals in the peroxidation of luminol catalysed by POD.

Quantitation of the hydroxyl radical adducts of salicylic acid by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography: oxidizing species formed by a Fenton reaction

There has been controversy concerning the products formed by a Fenton reaction. We determined the hydroxyl radical (.OH) generated in a Fenton reaction system with no iron chelator using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). The hydroxyl radical generated in this Fenton system attacked salicylic acid to produce major products of 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), 2,3-DHB being prominent. Hydroxyl radical scavengers, such as mannitol, ethanol, thiourea and a ferric chelator, Desferal, significantly diminished the peaks for DHBs, showing production of .OH. We compared the MECC method with the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping technique. The quantity of DHBs obtained by MECC increased dose-dependently up to 1 microM Fe2+ at a fixed concentration of H2O2, whereas that of the spin adduct by EPR showed a bell-shaped curve. This quantitation of .OH adducts by MECC supports the proposal that the oxidizing species formed by a Fenton reaction with no chelator is .OH. The EPR spin trapping method appears to be erroneous, particularly when iron is present at a higher concentration than hydrogen peroxide. The application of this method to the paraquat effect in vitro is demonstrated, and the possibility for analysis of .OH in vivo is also discussed.

Sudomotor dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

We performed a quantitative sudomotor function test on 11 patients with classic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 11 age-matched control subjects. Thermal warming increased the sweat rate in the forearm of ALS patients and in the forearm and thigh of control subjects. The sweat rate in the thigh of ALS patients was lower than that of controls. Thyrotropin releasing hormone increased the sweat rate in the forearm and thigh and decreased oral temperature in both ALS and controls but the lower extremity response was reduced in ALS. Results of the sudomotor axon reflex test on the thigh indicate that in ALS, there is mild postganglionic sudomotor dysfunction. We conclude that patients with ALS have mild thermoregulatory sweat dysfunction due to postganglionic lesions in the lower extremities.

Laparoscopic deroofing for symptomatic liver cysts: report of a case

We present herein the case of a 73-year-old woman with symptomatic liver cysts and cholelithiasis for whom successful deroofing of the liver cysts and cholecystectomy were performed via laparoscopy. Histopathological diagnosis of the resected cyst wall and direct observation of the inner surface of the remaining cyst wall confirmed that they were benign biliary cysts. The laparoscopic deroofing of liver cysts is therefore not only an effective means of treatment, but it also facilitates the establishment of an exact differential diagnosis.

Differentiation as symbiosis

Preservation of the identity of DNA is the ultimate goal of multicellular organisms. An abnormal DNA sequence in cells within an individual means its parasitic nature in cell society as shown in tumors. Somatic gene arrangement and gene mutation in development may be considered as de novo formation of parasites. It is likely that the developmental process with genetic alterations means symbiosis between altered cells and germ line cells preserving genetic information without alterations, when somatic alteration of DNA sequence is a major mechanism of differentiation. According to the selfish gene theory of Dawkins, germ line cells permit symbiosis when somatic cell society derives clear profit for the replication of original DNA copies.

Progressive bronchial obstruction during the acute stage of respiratory tract infection in asthmatic children

To study the time-course of infectious asthma, we retrospectively examined FEV1 from 5 days before to 10 days after the onset of illness in 31 asthmatic children (20 boys and 11 girls), aged 8 to 12 years. Infections were confirmed by a rise of at least fourfold in serum compliment fixation titers (respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae) and hemoagglutination inhibition titers (parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, and 3). All the patients had 20 percent or more fall in FEV1 from baseline value during acute phase, but were clinically tolerable and required minimum or no bronchodilators. Regardless of infectious agent, FEV1 began to fall on the first disease day or the previous day, and deteriorate for the first few days. Mean(SD) maximum fall in FEV1 ranged from 39(12) percent to 45(20) percent. Thereafter, FEV1 began to improve and returned to the preillness level by the seventh to tenth day. These results suggest that progressive bronchial obstruction may be inevitable during the acute stage of any infectious asthma.

Plasmids in several strains of Deinococcus radiodurans

Deinococcus radiodurans is known as a radioresistant bacterium. For the construction of the shuttle vector, plasmids of this bacterium were isolated and investigated. At least two new plasmids in the cells of D. radiodurans MR1, KR1 and Sark were found in this experiment. However, a common plasmid among MR1, KR1 and Sark strains could not be found. These plasmids would be useful for the construction of the shuttle vector for cloning radioresistant genes of this bacterium.

pH profile of kinetic constants of RNase Rh from Rhizopus niveus and its mutant enzymes towards UpU, and possible mechanisms of RNase Rh

In order to elucidate the mechanism of action of Rhizopus niveus RNase Rh, we investigated the pH profiles of the kinetic parameters of RNase RNAP Rh, a derivative of RNase Rh, and its mutant enzymes, i.e., RNase RNAP Rh H104F, RNase RNAP Rh E105Q, and RNase RNAP Rh D51N. Based on comparisons of their profiles we concluded that protonation of His104 is indispensable for the enzymatic activity and Glu105 accelerates the enzymatic activity, especially at acid pH centered at pH 3.5. Based on these data and the previous data on the chemical modification and enzymatic properties of other mutant enzymes, we propose the following as a possible mechanisms of RNase Rh action. (i) His109 participates in enzymatic action as a general base catalyst which removes the hydrogen of the 2'-OH of the ribose moiety. (ii) His46 participates in the reaction as a general acid catalyst which interacts with the 5'-oxygen atom of the scissile phosphodiester bond and becomes a proton donor to the departing nucleoside or nucleotide. (iii) His104 interacts with phosphate anion and its protonation is favorable for the enzymatic activity. (iv) Since the protonated form of Glu105 is more favorable for activity, we postulate two possible roles for Glu105: (a) its stabilizes the intermediate, and (b) it interacts with the oxygen atom of P = O and polarizes the phosphorus atom.

Total circular annuloplasty with absorbable suture for the repair of left atrioventricular valve regurgitation in atrioventricular septal defect

To obtain a better control of left atrioventricular valve regurgitation, we applied total circular annuloplasty with the use of absorbable sutures to 14 children with atrioventricular septal defect (six complete forms and eight incomplete forms). In the intraoperative period, a good coaptation of the leaflets was achieved and the regurgitation was minimized or disappeared. Follow-up studies with echocardiography for 13 survivors showed a gradual increase of annular size during the postoperative period. Ten patients of the survivor group (77%) maintained good valvular competency in a long-term period. Total circular annuloplasty is a simple and effective procedure to reduce the regurgitation and prevent the annular dilatation during the immediate postoperative period.

Evaluation of biological characteristics of lung cancer by the human 28 kDa vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein, calbindin-D28k

We evaluated the biological characteristics of lung cancer by measuring their contents of human 28 kDa vitamin D-dependent calcium binding protein (calbindin-D). Calbindin-D concentrations were determined in tumor tissue and normal lung tissue extracts from patients with lung cancer by enzyme immunoassay. The percentage of high calbindin-D containing tissues in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) was significantly higher than that in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the calbindin-D concentration was low in normal lung extracts. In addition, most of the NSCLC which had a significantly high level of calbindin-D were at the advanced cancer stage with lymph node metastasis. Calbindin-D concentrations were also determined in lung cancer cell lines. The percentage of high calbindin-D containing cell lines was high in classic type SCLC, followed in order by variant type SCLC and NSCLC. In addition, in order to examine the usefulness of calbindin-D as a marker of neuroendocrine properties of lung cancer, we compared the sensitivity and specificity of calbindin-D for distinguishing classic from variant type SCLC with neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) by relative operating characteristic curves. The diagnostic accuracy of AADC was the highest of the three and that of calbindin-D was as high as that of NSE. These findings suggest calbindin-D to be related to the neuroendocrine properties of lung cancer.

Esophageal carcinoma simultaneously associated with gastric carcinoma: analysis of clinicopathologic features and treatments

Among 1,420 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma, 85 (6.1%) had synchronous gastric carcinoma. Seventy-two patients (84.7%) underwent esophagectomy. Their operative mortality and prognosis were similar to those without gastric carcinoma. Among them, 25 patients, of whom the majority had advanced gastric carcinoma, underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with total gastrectomy (group A); eight died of esophageal cancer and four of gastric cancer. Forty-six patients, of whom the majority had gastric carcinoma in an early stage, underwent esophagectomy and esophagogastric anastomosis following partial gastrectomy or local treatment for gastric carcinoma (group B). None of the group B patients had recurrent gastric carcinoma. The operative burden was larger in group A. The 5-year survival rate for groups A and B were 38.8% and 23.0%, respectively. Esophagectomy and esophagogastric anastomosis after limited treatment for gastric carcinoma is an adequate treatment for the majority. However, esophagectomy and total gastrectomy are recommended for patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.

Changes in normal and abnormal colony formation of thyroid cells in vivo, when transplanted at 1 day or 6 weeks after X-irradiation in situ

Thyroid cells were given 5.5 Gy X-rays in situ and transplanted after 1 day or after 6 weeks to form colonies in fat pads. The colony-forming efficiency unexpectedly decreased by a factor of about 2 with this increase in delay time before transplantation. In addition, there was a concomitant marked increase above the control levels in the proportion of new structures of thyroid origin containing abnormal follicles. These quantitative and qualitative increases in injury may be related to the gradual expression of thyroid abnormalities following irradiation in situ, and they may have implications for the recovery of functional tissue subunits in other organs.

Clinical significance of prostate specific antigen for early stage prostate cancer detection

The characteristics of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) in normal Japanese men were studied in 1480 subjects examined by mass screening (MS) for prostate cancer (Pca) in Gunma Prefecture in 1992. The serum PSA concentration was correlated with patient age. The average serum PSA level increased by 0.04 ng/ml/year. The upper normal limits (95 percentiles) of age specific PSA for normal men are 1.33 ng/ml for those aged 39-49 years, 3.65 ng/ml for those aged 50-59 years, 4.06 ng/ml for those aged 60-69 years, 5.09 ng/ml for those aged 70-79 years and 5.66 ng/ml for those aged 80-89 years. Among 227 normal men examined by our MS in 1991 and 1992, the PSA velocity (PSAV) was calculated to be 0.05 ng/ml/year. Among 10 Pca patients with normal PSA levels (< 6 ng/ml) detected previously by our MS, three had an abnormal PSAV. We demonstrated the possibility that PSA density could distinguish between Pca and benign prostate hypertrophy. The significance of PSA as a Pca screening modality should be evaluated across multiple age ranges and in combination with previous PSA data and/or prostate volume estimated by sonography.

Tumorigenicity study of phloxine (FR 104) in B6C3F1 mice

The aim of this study was to examine the tumorigenicity of the food colouring phloxine (Food Red 104) in (C57BL/6N x C3H/HeN) F1 mice. Groups of male or female mice received 0, 0.1 and 0.4% phloxine in the diet starting at 6 wk of age for a maximum of 90 wk. Survivals of mice were more than 85% at 64 wk after the start of phloxine administration. Their body weights reached maximum at 48 wk and both male and female mice given 0.1 and 0.4% phloxine weighed significantly more than their respective controls. Tumours developed in 13 organs, the greatest incidence in males being of liver tumours (67.3%), followed by lung tumours (10.9%), lymphomas (9.7%), altered foci of liver (8.4%) and hepatic haemangioma (7.8%). In females, hepatic tumours (11.5%) had the greatest incidence followed by lymphomas (10.8%), pulmonary tumours (8.2%) and hepatic haemangioma (3.2%). In males, the incidence of altered foci and haemangioma in the liver was 19 and 14%, respectively, in the control groups, whereas only 2% occurred in the group given 0.4% phloxine (P < 0.05). It is concluded that average body weights increased significantly in female mice of groups given 0.1 or 0.4% phloxine, compared with body weights of the female controls, and that altered liver foci were significantly reduced in male mice given 0.4% phloxine. There was a significant increase in pituitary tumour incidence in the test groups compared with the control groups.

Allorecognition in compound ascidians

In botryllids (colonial ascidians), there are two types of allorecognition: colony specificity and colony resorption. Colony specificity is manifested by fusion and rejection between two conspecific colonies. The genetic basis for this colony specificity resides in a single highly polymorphic gene locus (fusibility locus) with codominantly expressed alleles. Two colonies with no alleles in common at this locus reject each other, whereas colonies sharing at least one allele at the fusibility locus fuse and form a chimera. That is, in colony specificity, self components are distinguished from nonself components, and failure to recognize self induces rapid rejection reactions. The process of rejection in colony specificity is not uniform among all botryllid ascidians. Colony resorption can occur after the establishment of fusion between two colonies. Zooids of one partner of a chimera are resorbed more than 1 week after fusion, or, by amputation of fused blood vessels, the chimera becomes separated into the two original colonies. Colony resorption is also controlled mainly by the fusibility locus. It usually occurs in a chimera between two colonies sharing only one allele at this locus. In colony resorption, nonself determinants are recognized and chronic rejection reactions are induced resembling MHC-dependent graft rejection. Based on these findings, the fusibility locus of botryllids seems to be very similar to the MHC of vertebrates. Considering that vertebrates evolved directly from ascidians, it is likely that the fusibility locus is an ancestral form of the vertebrate MHC.

Crossreactivity of anti-cardiolipin antibodies with glycolipids and endothelial cells

To investigate the crossreactivity of anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL) with glycolipids and endothelial cells, we used (1) culture supernatants derived from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed peripheral lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by antiphospholipid syndrome, and also (2) sera from patients with SLE. The results obtained from culture supernatants demonstrated that aCL crossreacts with myelin-derived acidic glycolipid sulfatide, bacterial endotoxin glycolipid lipid A and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The results obtained from sera showed a significant correlation between levels of aCL and anti-sulfatide antibody, and between levels of aCL and anti-HUVEC antibody. These findings indicate that aCL can bind to the myelin sheath and HUVEC, which may have implications for the pathogenic potential of aCL for nervous system involvement and thrombotic complications.

[Breast cancer and flow cytometry: comparative study of DNA ploidy pattern with clinicopathological parameters]

There is evidence that DNA quantization and histopathological classification of breast cancer may be useful for its therapeutic management. DNA flow cytometry, clinical and anatomopathological features of 60 paraffin embedded primary breast cancer tissue samples were studied. The aneuploidy percentage was 67%. There was a correlation between DNA index and degree of cellular pleomorphism, degree of differentiation and the fraction of cells in S phase. Likewise a correlation was found between the degree of cellular pleomorphism and the mitotic index. DNA cytophotometry was useful to solve cases of difficult diagnosis with flow cytometry ("near" diploid and tetraploid tumors). No correlation was found between aneuploidy, percentage of cells in phase S, degree of cellular atypia and mitotic degree with clinical stage, degree of lymph node involvement, tumoral size or age. It is suggested that these variables may have an independent behavior.