Cytotoxicity to tumors by alpha, beta-dihydric long-chain fatty alcohols isolated from esterolysates of uncytotoxic sheep cutaneous wax: the dependence on the molecular hydrophobicity balance of N- or iso-alkyl moiety bulkiness and two hydroxyl groups

Wool fatty alcohols (WF-Alc; C10-C33), separated by esterolysis of wool grease secreted from sheep sebaceous gland, inhibited growth of mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in contrast to no inhibition by unesterolysed wool grease. WF-Alc was fractionated by molecular distillation and subsequent octadecylsilica (ODS) gel liquid chromatography, showing that most of the growth-inhibitory activity was found in the most hydrophilic fraction with the lowest boiling-point (MW 200-300; C12-C20), ODS-HPLC of the fraction showed that most of the activity resided in two homogeneous fractions identified by GC-MS and 13C-/1H-NMR as alpha, beta-dihydric saturated fatty alcohols such as 1,2-hexadecanediol (n-C16(OH)2) and 16-methyl-1,2-heptadecanediol (iso-C18(OH)2), respectively. EAC cells implanted into mice were inhibited markedly by n-C16(OH)2 possessing a cytolysing ability and slightly by iso-C18(OH)2, but hardly by other alkyl-alpha, beta-diols (C12-C24) contained in WF-Alc. Thus, the antitumor activity of WF-Alc was exhibited only after saponification of uncytotoxic wool grease, showing necessity of unesterified hydroxyl groups, and was dependent upon the molecular hydrophobicity balance attributed to both hydroxyl groups and n- or iso-alkyl moiety bulkiness specified out of diverse species of fatty alcohols contained in WF-Alc.

Transmission of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia garinii, between infected and uninfected immature Ixodes persulcatus during cofeeding on mice

The ixodid tick, Ixodes persulcatus, serves as a vector for the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia garinii, in Japan. Transmission of the spirochete from infected nymphs to uninfected larvae during their cofeeding on mice was studied under laboratory conditions. Using feeding chambers, infected nymphs and uninfected larvae were allowed to cofeed on heads of normal BALB/c mice. In another group of mice, we separately exposed nymphs to the head and larvae to the back. The resultant engorged larvae were reared and the molted nymphs were examined for spirochetes. Spirochetal infections were found only in ticks that had fed together with infected ticks. The data strongly suggest that spirochetes can migrate from infected feeding ticks to their uninfected neighbors by way of host skin. Moreover, nymphs that had become infected through the cofeeding process could transmit spirochetes to mice.

Traumatic tear of the basilar artery associated with vertebral column injuries

An unusual case of traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to a mechanical tear of the basilar artery is reported. A 70-year-old man who had been suffering from cerebrovascular dementia was found dead in a ditch. Externally, subcutaneous hemorrhage with abrasions was observed on the left side of the forehead, face, and lower jaw, together with small contusions in the left superciliary arch. Internally, a 3-mm-long transversal tear of the basilar artery was observed, and dislocations of both C6-C7 and T1-T2 as well as a small fracture of the processus spinosus of C5 were found. No pathological vascular lesions such as aneurysms and vasculitis, other than arteriosclerosis, were observed in the vertebral-basilar system. Ethanol was not detected in the intracardiac blood or in the urine. These findings indicate that when the man fell into the ditch, severe hyperextension occurred as a result of minor blunt forces to the face, and that the traumatic tear of the basilar artery was mechanically caused by overstretching due to hyperextension of the head. It is also suggested that due to his advanced age the muscle tone of the neck might have declined, impairing its defense action, and that head hyperextension might, therefore, occur rather more readily under such conditions.

Traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents: psychiatric disorders in the second three months

Psychiatric disorders may be common after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children, yet there is a death of prospective studies examining this problem. Fifty children aged 6 to 14, hospitalized after TBI, were assessed soon after TBI regarding preinjury psychiatric, behavioral, adaptive, and family functioning, family psychiatric history status and injury severity. The outcome measure was the presence of a "novel" psychiatric disorder (not present before the injury) during the second 3 months after the injury. Forty-two subjects were reassessed at 6 months. Severity of injury, family psychiatric history, and family function predicted a novel psychiatric disorder. Among children suffering a mild/moderate injury, those with preinjury lifetime psychiatric disorders were no longer (as they had been in the first 3 months) at higher risk than those without such a lifetime history. Thus, there appeared to be children, identifiable through clinical assessment, at increased risk for novel psychiatric disorders after TBI.

Analysis of relative biological effectiveness of high energy heavy ions in comparison to experimental data

We report that the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of accelerated heavy ions for inactivation of cells can be analyzed by using the quadratic dependence on the linear energy transfer (LET) of the cellular effect. For high-LET radiation in low-dose regions, the inactivation cross section (sigma) can be approximately expressed as sigma max [1-exp[-k.(LET/Li)2]; here, k is the number of heavy-ions traversed in a cell nucleus and Li is a geometrical parameter related to the DNA structure, which depends on cell type. This original expression was first presented by Powers et al [Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 14 (1968)]. Using this expression and the Poisson distribution for the stochastic property of particle hitting, the mortality of cell populations was calculated. The numerical results were compared to the RBE values recently obtained with Chinese hamster V79 cells, and an Lt value of 152 keV/micron was found to give the best fit. At LETs of between 30 and 500 keV/micron, the D10 values (10% survival dose) agreed with the experimental data within an error range of -15%-(+8%).

False identification of urinary ephedrine as methamphetamine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with a DB-17 column

A 17-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a traffic accident. The urine sample collected at autopsy was screened by the Toxi-Lab system; it showed a possible presence of either methamphetamine (MA) or ephedrine (Eph). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was carried out for a trifluoroacetyl (TFA)-derivatized sample after extraction with an Extrelut column. A peak was detected at the same retention time as that of the authentic Eph by GC-MS with a DB-17 wide-bore column; the mass spectrum of the peak was, however, very similar to that of MA. The presence of Eph and absence of MA were proved by GC-MS using a DB-1 column. The Eph in the urine was further confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-MS using an ODS column. By the REMEDi HS system, Eph and methylephedrine were determined in the urine, and their concentrations (hydrochloride salt) were 0.752 and 2.13 micrograms/ml, respectively. Ethanol was detected as well in the blood (1.55 mg/ml) and urine (2.01 mg/ml) by a pulse heating method. Nicotine, caffeine and dihydrocodeine were also qualitatively detected in the urine by Toxi-Lab, HPLC-MS and REMEDi HS systems. The present case warned that urinary Eph can be misidentified as MA by GC-MS with an intermediately polar column after TFA derivatization.

CHARGE association with congenital glaucoma due to maldevelopment of the anterior chamber angle

PURPOSE

We examined the clinicopathologic features of a male infant with the CHARGE association and bilateral congenital glaucoma.

METHODS

Trabeculectomy specimens were obtained from the anterior chamber angle and examined by light and electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Histopathologic examination of the trabeculectomy specimens showed immature development of the trabecular meshwork that was covered by the ciliary muscles. There were few intertrabecular spaces because the meshwork was almost completely filled with cells and extracellular substances. Deposition of a granular and/or homogeneous substance was observed in the subendothelial area of Schlemm's canal.

CONCLUSIONS

Our patient exhibited features typical of the CHARGE association, but also had congenital glaucoma. We hypothesize that these clinical findings are all mediated by a neurocristopathic mechanism. Our findings suggest that the CHARGE association may predispose to anterior chamber angle maldevelopment, which can lead to congenital glaucoma.

[Study of diarrhea-inducing strains of Escherichia coli mainly isolated in Kanto area between June and September 1996]

A total of 21,609 faecal specimens obtained from patients with diarrhea mainly in Kanto area between June and September 1996 were investigated to identify the causative pathogens for diarrhea. One-hundred fifty-seven strains of Escherichia coli of 29 different O-serotypes were isolated as the causative pathogens, which were previously recognized to induce severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Of these, 114 strains, in which the possibility of enterohemorrhagic E. coli due to their O-serotypes was predicted, were examined for the producibility of Vero toxins. Twenty-six (76.5%) of the 34 strains of E. coli O157 produced the Vero toxins, and other 8 strains were the non-producers. Twenty of the 26 producers produced both VT1 and VT2, whereas the other 6 strains produced VT2 only. Furthermore, 4 strains of E. coli O26, and 1 strain each of E. coli O125 and O126 produced Vero toxins. Thirty-two of the 114 strains, isolated from the patients with diarrhea and selected as the enterohemorrhagic E. coli according to the specific O-serotypes, were actually confirmed produce Vero toxins. Thirty-four strains of E. coli O157 tested were susceptible to all antibiotics such as ampicillin, doxycylin, levofloxacin, fosfomycin, chloramphenicol and polymyxin B, and no strains resistant to levofloxacin, polymyxin B and fosfomycin were found.

Determination of the functional domain of a mouse autonomous replicating sequence

We previously isolated from mouse cells an autonomous replicating sequence (ARS) ARS65 (Ariga, Itani and Iguchi-Ariga, Mol. Cell. Biol. 7, 1-6, 1987). Here we report the nucleotide sequence of ARS65. The sequence from BgIII to EcoRI sites cloned as ARS was 2658 bp long. There exist three interesting domains: a TA repeat, a myc like box (essential sequence for c-myc ARS), and a T rich region. Cloned DNAs containing various segments of pARS65 were transfected to rat 3Y1 cells together with the hygromycinB resistance expression vector, and hygromycinB resistant clones were isolated. Established cell lines transfected with plasmids carrying either a myc-like box or a T rich region harbored the replicated plasmids, indicating that these two elements are necessary for the ARS function of pARS65.

An autopsy case of suicidal strangulation with four looped rubber bands

A rare case of suicidal strangulation with four looped rubber bands is reported. A 57-year-old female was found dead in the vestibule of her house, with four looped rubber bands wrapped around her neck. Her face was markedly congestive, and lots of petechial hemorrhages were seen on the face and in the palpebral conjunctive. At the medico-legal autopsy, the ligature mark was 1.7 cm in maximum width at the anterior part of the neck and accompanied by such vital reactions as linear hemorrhage, but there were no other injuries to account for her death. Many petechial hemorrhages were also found in the visceral pleurae and epicardium. There was hemocoagulum in the cardiac blood, and the other organs were as well markedly congestive. Gas-chromatographic analysis revealed ethanol; 0.83 mg/ml in the heart blood and 1.37 mg/ml in the urine. No other drugs or poisons were found with Toxi-Lab and REMEDi-HS systems. In addition, police investigation denied the possibility of homicide and disclosed her living will stating that she had suffered from a chronic heart disease. This case was of suicidal strangulation with looped rubber bands.

[Long-term clinical course of Peyronie's disease treated conservatively]

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the natural history of Peyronie's disease and to determine the suitable time for surgical treatment, we investigated changes of clinical findings of the disease over time.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated changes of plaque size, penile curvature and erectile dysfunction in 10 patients with Peyronie's disease. The mean follow-up period was 36.8 months.

RESULTS

At the first examination, the mean plaque size of patients with erectile dysfunction was larger than that of those without erectile dysfunction, suggesting a positive association between size and erectile function. There was no significant relationship between plaque size and penile pain or penile curvature. The mean size of plaques decreased significantly compared with that at the first examination (p < 0.05). However, penile curvature, pain and erectile dysfunction persisted during the follow-up period in all but one patient, who showed improvement of penile curvature.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that we may recommend a shorter observation period until surgery that we have done for some patients who want to be surgically treated.

In situ nitric oxide (NO) measurement by modified electrodes: NO labilized by photolysis of metal nitrosyl complexes

Described are studies directed at refining quantitative analysis of nitric oxide in solution using electrochemical techniques. The fabrication and behavior of several sensors based on modified carbon-based electrodes are reported. This technique has been used to resolve the vexing problem of determining the stoichiometry of the photochemical decomposition of the known antihypertension agent sodium nitroprusside, Na2[Fe(CN)5NO], as well as of two other metal nitrosyl complexes of biological interest, Roussin's black salt, NH4[Fe4S3(NO)7], and Roussin's red salt, Na2[Fe2S2(NO)4], in aqueous solutions. In this manner it was shown that the molar ratios of nitric oxide produced per starting complex photochemically decomposed were 0.95 +/- 0.03, 5.9 +/- 0.2, and 0.50 +/- 0.02 for Na2[Fe(C-N)5NO], NH4[Fe4S3(NO)7], and Na2[Fe2S2(NO)4], respectively.

Role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in degranulation induced by IgE-dependent and -independent mechanisms in rat basophilic RBL-2H3 (ml) cells

We have examined the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (P13-kinase) in the degranulation induced by the antigen, an IgE-dependent stimulant, and by carbachol and thapsigargin, IgE-independent stimulants, in the muscarine ml receptor-transfected mast cell line RBL-2h3 (ml) cells. These stimulants commonly increased P13-kinase activity in the anti-phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitate. The P13-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 inhibited induced by these stimulants. The membrane ruffling induced by the antigen or carbachol was also inhibited by wortmannin. In contrast, thapsigargin induced by membrane ruffling but induced microspikes, which was not affected by wortmannin. In the permeabilized RBL-2H3 (ml) cells, wortmannin the GTP gamma S-induced membrane ruffling without inhibiting the GTP gamma S-induced degranulation. These findings suggest that P13-kinase is involved not only in IgE-dependent degranulation but also in IgE-independent degranulation, and that the GTP gamma S-sensitive protein at the downstream of P13-kinase is responsible for the degranulation but not for the membrane ruffling.

Expression of nm23 protein in pulmonary adenocarcinomas: inverse 1orrelation to tumor progression

Immunohistochemical assessment was made of nm23 protein expression in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Of the 147 adenocarcinomas 67% (99/147) were weakly and 33% (48/147) strongly positive for nm23 protein. nm23 protein expression in primary tumors was shown to correlate inversely with advancing pathologic stage and the degree of metastasis in regional lymph nodes (P < 0.05). The staining of tumors without nodal metastasis was more intense than with nodal metastasis (P < 0.02). Nodal metastasis was seen in 37% (55/147) cases examined. The immunoreactivity to nm23 protein in tumor cells of nodal metastasis was essentially the same as in those of primary tumors (P < 0.01). Significant correlation between patient prognosis and immunoreactivity for nm23 in primary tumors (P < 0.05) was demonstrated. But none could be found between immunoreactivity and other parameters such as histologic grading, distant metastasis, tumor size or disease-free survival. Neither was there any significant correlation between pathologic parameters examined and the expression of nm23 in any histologic subtype. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards regression model with five variables indicated nm23 and lymph node metastasis to contribute to overall patient survival. Based on risk ratio disadvantageous state/advantageous states, the gravity of prognostic factors was assessed for lymph node metastasis as 9.25, nm23 expression as 2.06, distant metastasis as 1.23, pathologic stage as 0.78 and tumor size as 0.77. The results suggested that in pulmonary adenocarcinoma a reduced expression of nm23 protein was associated with lymph node metastasis and poor patient survival.

Adverse effects of interrupting precordial compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

OBJECTIVES

In the current operation of automated external defibrillators, substantial time may be consumed for a "hands off" interval during which precordial compression is discontinued to allow for automated rhythm analyses before delivery of the electric countershock. The effects of such a pause on the outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation were investigated.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study.

SETTING

Research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats.

INTERVENTIONS

Ventricular fibrillation was electrically induced in 25 Sprague-Dawley rats. After 4 mins of untreated ventricular fibrillation, precordial compression was begun and continued for 6 mins. Animals were then randomized to receive an immediate defibrillation shock or the defibrillation attempt was delayed for intervals of 10, 20, 30, or 40 secs.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Immediate defibrillation restored spontaneous circulation in each instance. When defibrillation was delayed for 10 or 20 secs, spontaneous circulation was restored in three of five animals in each group. After a 30-sec delay, spontaneous circulation was restored in only one of five animals (p < .05). No animal was successfully resuscitated after a 40-sec delay (p < .01). With increasing delays, 24- and 48-hr survival rates were correspondingly reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

During resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation, prolongation of the interval between discontinuation of precordial compression and delivery of the first electric countershock substantially compromises the success of cardiac resuscitation. Accordingly, automated defibrillators are likely to be maximally effective if they are programmed to secure minimal "hands off" delay before delivery of the electric countershock.

Protein synthesis dependent and independent apoptosis of murine splenic T cells

To elucidate the mechanism of apoptosis in matured T cells, we examined the effect of phorbol esters capable of activating protein kinase C, cAMP agonists, calcium ionophores, and dexamethasone on apoptosis in mouse splenic T cells. All of these agents induced apoptosis in thymocytes. Neither phorbol esters nor calcium ionophores induced apoptosis in the splenic T cells. Dibutyrylcyclic AMP induced apoptosis in splenic T cells but to a lesser extent than that in thymocytes. The results suggest that matured T cells are more resistant to various apoptogenic stimuli than thymocytes. Dexamethasone induced apoptotic cell death in splenic T cells as well as in thymocytes. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis which completely inhibited thymocyte apoptosis, induced slight apoptosis in splenic T cells, but it inhibited the dexamethasone-induced apoptosis to a level at which cycloheximide induced apoptosis, indicating that at least two pathways of apoptosis exist in peripheral T cells; one protein synthesis dependent and the other independent. Taken together, the results suggest that the apoptosis of peripheral T cells is regulated by a mechanism different from that of thymocytes.

Cancellation of motion artifact in MRI due to 2D rigid translational motion

A new algorithm for cancelling MRI artifact due to translational motion in the image plane is described. Unlike the conventional iterative phase retrieval algorithm, in which there is no guarantee for the convergence, a direct method for estimating the motion is proposed. In the previous approach, the motions in the readout(x-) direction and the phase encoding(y-) direction are estimated simultaneously. However, the feature of the each x- and y-directional motion is different. Based on the analysis of their features, each x- and y-directional motion is cancelled by different algorithms in two steps. First, we notice that the x-directional motion corresponds to a shift of the x-directional spectrum of the MRI signal, so the x-directional motion can be cancelled by shifting the spectrum in inverse direction. Next, the y-directional motion is cancelled using a new constraint, with which the motion component and the true image component can be separated. The algorithm is shown to be effective by simulations.

Neuropeptide Y in the dorsal vagal complex stimulates bicarbonate-dependent bile secretion in rats

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Central administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY) enhances bile secretion through vagal pathways in animal models. NPY nerve fibers and receptors are localized in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC), and retrograde tracing techniques have shown that hepatic vagal nerves are projected mainly from the left DVC. However, nothing is known about the central sites of action for NPY to elicit bile secretion. The medullary sites of the action for NPY were investigated in this study.

METHODS

The bile duct was cannulated in urethane-anesthetized and bile acid-compensated rats. After measuring basal secretion, NPY was microinjected into the DVC and bile response was observed for 100 minutes. Either left or right cervical vagotomy or hepatic branch vagotomy was performed 2 hours before the peptide.

RESULTS

Microinjection of NPY (7-30 pmol) into the left DVC, but not the right DVC, dose-dependently increased bile acid-independent and bicarbonate-dependent bile secretion. Stimulation of bile secretion by NPY was eliminated by left cervical and hepatic branch vagotomy but not by right cervical vagotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

NPY acts in the left DVC to stimulate bile acid-independent and bicarbonate-dependent bile secretion through the left cervical and hepatic vagus; these findings suggest that neuropeptides may act in the specific brain nuclei to regulate hepatic function.

Competence of a migratory bird, red-bellied thrush (Turdus chrysolaus), as an avian reservoir for the Lyme disease spirochetes in Japan

To evaluate the competence of migratory birds as reservoirs for the Lyme disease spirochetes, we examined two species of migrants, Red-bellied thrush (Turdus chrysolaus) and Black-faced bunting (Emberiza spodocephala) in Nemuro, the northern part of Japan. Spirochetes were found in four individual birds out of 11 T. chrysolaus, three isolates were detected from the skins and the other one was obtained from the liver. No spirochete was found to be infected in 20 E. spodocephala. As far as we know, this is the first record of direct detection of the spirochetes from migratory birds in Japan. The spirochetes were also isolated from immature ixodid ticks, Ixodes persulcatus, fed on those species of birds. The spirochetes were transmitted trans stadially to the next stage, when infected ticks molted. All of the isolates from birds and ticks were identified as Borrelia garinii by our ribotyping and flagellin gene sequence analyses. Our results strongly suggest that the migratory birds are reservoirs in the transmission of the Lyme disease spirochetes in Japan.

cDNA cloning and expression of chicken aminopeptidase H, possessing endopeptidase as well as aminopeptidase activity

Chicken aminopeptidase H is a cysteine protease possessing endopeptidase as well as aminopeptidase activity [Rhyu, M. R., Nishimura, T., Kato, Y., Okitani, A. & Kato, H. (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 208, 53-59]. This enzyme exhibits molecular masses of 400 kDa on gel filtration and 52 kDa on SDS/PAGE, indicating that it consists of eight subunits with the same molecular mass. In the current study, we cloned the cDNA for the catalytic subunit of chicken aminopeptidase H. The open reading frame of the aminopeptidase H gene consists of 1362 base pairs encoding a 52-kDa protein consistent with the molecular mass determined on SDS/PAGE; the deduced amino acid sequence contains all the partial sequences determined for the purified enzyme. The sequence is similar to that of the bleomycin hydrolase of rabbit lung, which has been partially determined. The recombinant 52-kDa protein expressed in COS7 cells exhibited both aminopeptidase and endopeptidase activities, which were inhibited by monoiodoacetic acid. Furthermore, the expression of aminopeptidase H in COS7 cells was also recognized on immunoblotting. This gene is the first one for aminopeptidase H in an animal tissue whose sequence has been completely determined.

Extraction and purification of effective antimicrobial constituents of Terminalia chebula RETS. against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Examination of the EtOH extract of the fruiting bodies of Terminalia chebula RETZ. led to the isolation of two potent antimicrobial substances against even methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. On the basis of spectroscopic evidence, the two isolates have been identified as gallic acid and its ethyl ester.

Amelioration of hemiplegia-associated osteopenia more than 4 years after stroke by 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 and calcium supplementation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been demonstrated that bone mass was significantly reduced on the hemiplegic side of stroke patients, which might increase their risk of hip fracture. We evaluated the efficacy of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha (OH)D3] and supplemental elemental calcium in maintaining bone mass and decreasing the incidence of hip fractures after hemiplegic stroke.

METHODS

In a randomized study, 64 patients with hemiplegia after stroke with a mean duration of illness of 4.8 years received either 1 microgram 1 alpha (OH)D3 daily (treatment group, n = 30) or an inactive placebo (placebo group, n = 34) for 6 months and were observed for this duration. Both groups received 300 mg of elemental calcium daily. The bone mineral density (BMD) and metacarpal index (MCI) in the second metacarpals were determined by computed x-ray densitometry. The incidence of hip fractures in these patients was recorded.

RESULTS

BMD on the hemiplegic side decreased by 2.4% in the treatment group and 8.9% in the placebo group (P = .0021), while BMD on the intact side increased by 3.5% and decreased by 6.3% in the treated and placebo groups, respectively (P = .0177). In the treatment group, the difference in BMD between hemiplegic and nonhemiplegic sides decreased significantly compared with that before randomization. This difference increased in the placebo group. We observed a similar improvement in MCI in the treatment group but not in the placebo group. Four patients in the placebo group suffered a hip fracture compared with none in the treatment group (P = .0362).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with 1 alpha (OH)D3 and supplemental elemental calcium can reduce the risk of hip fractures and can prevent further decreases in BMD and MCI on the hemiplegic side of patients with a long-standing stroke. Treatment also may improve these indices on the intact side.

A new type-II membrane protein in erythropoietic organs enhances erythropoiesis

Erythropoiesis is regulated by erythropoietin and microenvironment of erythropoietic organs such as fetal liver and spleen in mice. We developed in vitro erythropoietic microenvironment by established stromal cell lines from erythropoietic organs, in which proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells are supported by direct cell-to-cell contact between erythroid progenitor cells and the stroma cells. To identify the functional molecules of the stromal cells, we established monoclonal antibodies which detected specific molecules of the erythropoietic organs. Among those monoclonal antibodies, 11 D exhibited specific immunohistochemical staining of the red pulp of spleen where erythropoiesis dominates. Using this monoclonal antibody, we cloned a new gene (SMAP-1) which codes a type-II membrane protein. Over expression of its antisense cDNA in a stroma cell line caused a decrease in the erythropoietic supporting activity. Thus, SMAP-1 may play an important role in the erythropoietic stimulatory activity of the stromal cells.