Lymphotoxin cDNA clones from a HTLV-I-carrying T cell line HUT-102

The conditioned medium of a HTLV-I-carrying T cell line HUT-102 showed cytotoxic activity against a mouse fibroblast cell line L-M. We prepared the cDNA library from HUT-102 poly(A)+ RNA and screened it using oligonucleotide probes that correspond to the amino acid sequences conserved in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin (LT). As a result we obtained two kinds of cDNA clones encoding LT in which amino acid residue 26t of mature LT is different; one is Asn and another is Thr. The sequence of the genomic clones obtained using a polymerase chain reaction method showed that the HUT-102 genome also contains two types of LT genes. Recombinant LTs expressed in Escherichia coli exhibited the same level of cytolytic activity against L-M cells. These results indicate that the cytotoxin constitutively produced by HUT-102 cells include two kinds of LT.

[Diagnosis and treatment of endometrial hyperplasia]

Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) was found to coexist in 13 of 21 patients (cystic glandular hyperplasia, 13; adenomatous hyperplasia, 9) with endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC), but in only 44 of 940 patients with other than EC. In this study, blood type (A, B, H), c-myc translation products, estrogen receptor and DNA polymerase alpha were examined on endometrium of proliferative phase (EPP), EH and EC. Patient blood type products were shown in EH surrounding EC, and yet they were detected in only small portion or none of EC itself. H products were detected in EC of other than O type. c-myc translation products were shown in only a small portion of cancer cells. EPP had many ER positive cells and a few proliferating cells as they were shown by staining with anti-DNA polymerase alpha monoclonal antibody. EC can be divided into two types, one has few ER positive cells and many proliferating cells, other many ER positive cells and a few proliferating cells. In EH, the numbers of ER positive cells and DNA polymerase alpha positive cells were between those of EPP and EC. In a patient with atypical hyperplasia, high dose Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) therapy induced that stratification and papillary growth of gland lining epithelia disappeared, and that cytoplasmic enlargement and vacuolation appeared. These findings were important histopathological changes in high dose MPA administration to EH and EC.

Prognostic implication of sequential bone marrow cultures in the myelodysplastic syndromes

Twenty-five patients with newly-diagnosed myelodysplastic syndromes were studied by the clonal culture method at least three times during the clinical course. Clinical outcomes of the patients were classified into: a stable disease (ten patients); subsequent leukemic transformation (eight patients) and nonleukemic death (seven patients). The growth of the marrow granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM) at the time of diagnosis was significantly related to the survival. In addition, sequential changes in the CFU-GM growth patterns correlated with the different clinical outcome of myelodysplastic syndromes patients.

Assessment of warfarin therapy under full dose using indium-111 platelet scintigraphy in patients with intracardiac thrombi

Twenty patients in whom intracardiac thrombi were detected by indium-111 platelet scintigraphy (the first platelet scintigraphy) were prospectively studied to examine the effect of warfarin therapy under full dose on the intracardiac thrombogenicity. Eleven patients (group I) who received 2-6 mg/day of warfarin and 9 patients (group II) who did not receive warfarin had the second platelet scintigraphies 14-71 days after the first platelet scintigraphies. In group I, 10 platelet scintigraphies became negative and one remained positive for intracardiac thrombi after administration of warfarin, while in group II 8 platelet scintigraphies remained positive and only one changed to negative. The incidence of negative image at the second platelet scintigraphy was significantly lower in group II than that in group I. In group I, the degree of accumulation of platelets onto the surface of the thrombus (%IE), showed significant reduction (0.69 +/- 0.48 to 0.11 +/- 0.21) after warfarin therapy, while in group II %IE at the second scintigraphy (1.07 +/- 1.03) were not significantly different from those at the first scintigraphy (1.13 +/- 0.79). These results indicated that warfarin therapy under full dose inhibited the deposition of platelets on the intracardiac thrombi and thrombogenicity in the patients with intracardiac thrombi which were detected by indium-111 platelet scintigraphy.

Hepatotoxicity of gardenia yellow color in rats

Acute toxicity by gardenia yellow color was studied in rats. Oral administration of the colorant at doses of 800 mg/kg up to 5000 mg/kg caused diarrhea and increases in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities in a dose-dependent manner. After 24 h of oral treatment with 2000 mg/kg of the colorant, liver showed partially hemorrhagic changes and the intestinal tract, especially the duodenum, appeared blue. The toxicity induced by the colorant was stronger by oral administration than by intraperitoneal administration. The content of geniposide, an iridoid compound, was estimated to be 28% of the colorant, and this iridoid accounted for almost all the hepatotoxic activity of the colorant.

Synthesis of recombinant human single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator variants resistant to plasmin and thrombin

Single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA), a potential therapeutic reagent for thrombosis, is activated in plasma by plasmin. The activated enzyme is further digested by plasmin to generate low-molecular-weight urokinase (LMW-UK), which has no affinity for fibrin. To circumvent this dual effect of plasmin, we synthesized in Escherichia coli a variant of scu-PA, which is not converted to LMW-UK on treatment with plasmin. In another variant, the activation cleavage site was modified such that activation by plasmin was slowed down and that inactivation by thrombin was greatly diminished. The combination of these variants may be applicable as an effective thrombolytic reagent for clinical use.

[An autopsy case of parotid clear cell carcinoma with cerebellar invasion and metastasis to the lung]

An autopsy case of a clear cell carcinoma of the salivary gland with a cerebellum invasion and a metastasis to the lung is reported. This case has been classified as a monomorphic variant, although we were unable to demonstrate the presence of glycogens in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Ultrastructurally, most of the proliferating cells were immature cells with few organelles. The tumor cells were unable to be differentiated into ductal cells and myoepithelial cells. Recently, the tumor has been determined to be a low grade malignancy. Obviously, this tumor had a malignant character, with a cerebellum invasion and a metastasis to the lung.

Myospherulosis in Japan. A report of two cases and an immunohistochemical investigation

We report two cases of myospherulosis and offer review of the Japanese literature. Case 1 was a 41-year-old woman with cystic tumors under the fascia of the right major gluteal muscle. Case 2 was a 36-year-old man with subcutaneous cystic tumors in the right buttock. The characteristic saccular structures enclosing numerous small spherules were observed in the cysts. These spherules measured 5-7 micron in diameter and stained with Masson trichrome, Giemsa, Papanicolaou, and alizarin red S for hemoglobin. The myospherules also stained positively by the immunohistochemical method for hemoglobin. These findings support the contention that the spherules and parent bodies were derived from erythrocytes altered by foreign lipids or fat.

Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of phenylalanine dehydrogenase gene of Bacillus sphaericus

The gene coding for phenylalanine dehydrogenase [PDH; L-phenylalanine: NAD+ oxidoreductase (deaminating); EC 1.4.1.-] from Bacillus sphaericus SCRC-79a was cloned onto plasmid pUC9, and the nucleotide sequence of the 2-kb DNA region of the insert was determined. A 1143-bp open reading frame consisting of 381 codons was identified as a pdh gene coding for PDH.

GTP-binding proteins in a cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica

GTP-binding proteins were detected in a crude extract containing membrane components of Anabaena cylindrica. The crude extract was treated with 1% Lubrol PX and was fractionated by gel filtration. The binding of [35S]GTP gamma S to GTP-binding proteins was prevented in the presence of 0.1 mM GTP and in the presence of 0.1 mM ATP. Six fractions of these GTP-binding proteins, tentatively designated GA1 to GA6, were ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin. GA3, GA4 and GA5 had Km values of 10, 60 and 7 nM, respectively. The molecular weights of some of these GTP-binding proteins were reduced after being labelled with [35S]GTP gamma S.

Phenylalanine dehydrogenase of Bacillus badius. Purification, characterization and gene cloning

Phenylalanine dehydrogenase produced by Bacillus badius IAM 11059 was purified from the crude extract of B. badius to homogeneity, as judged by disc gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has an isoelectric point of 3.5 and a relative molecular mass, Mr, of 310,000-360,000. The enzyme is composed of identical subunits with an Mr 41,000-42,000. The substrate specificity of the enzyme in the oxidative deamination reaction was high for L-phenylalanine, but rather low in the reductive amination reaction, with phenylpyruvate, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate, and 2-oxohexanoate. The gene for the enzyme was cloned into Escherichia coli with plasmid pBR322 as a vector. The enzyme was expressed in high level in E. coli. The enzyme produced by E. coli transformant was purified to homogeneity and shown to be identical to that of B. badius IAM 11,059 with respect to the specific activity, Mr, subunit structure and amino acid composition.

Thromboxane A2 as an enhancing factor of coronary vasospasticity in variant angina

To clarify the role of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in evoking coronary spasm, we compared coronary arterial spasticity induced by ergonovine maleate (EM) with coronary sinus thromboxane B2 (TXB2: a stable catabolite of TXA2) in 34 patients with documented variant angina and 11 patients with chest pain syndrome (CPS). We also examined the effect of OKY-1581 (8 mg/kg, i.v.), a TXA2 synthetase inhibitor, on the coronary arterial spasticity of these patients. When blood samples were taken from coronary sinus just before EM test, all patients with variant angina exhibiting markedly augmented TXB2 levels (424 +/- 138 pg/ml), had positive EM test results, while CPS exhibiting lower TXB2 levels (223 +/- 38 pg/ml), had negative EM test. We found that the amounts of EM needed to induce coronary spasm were inversely correlated with TXB2 levels in coronary sinus. In 7 out of these 8 patients, OKY-1581 was found to attenuate the increased spasticity with reduction of coronary sinus TXB2 levels. In 3 patients, an EM rechallenge at symptomatically quiescent stage resulted in negative test with augmented TXB2 levels being markedly decreased. These findings indicate that increased TXA2 in circulating plasma is closely correlated with the hypersensitivity of coronary arteries to EM in patients with variant angina, suggesting a possible role of augmented TXA2 production in the enhancement of coronary vascular spasticity.

Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid with osteoclast-like giant cells. An ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study

An unusual anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells is reported in a 72-year-old woman. Monotonous proliferation of variously sized mononuclear tumor cells interspersed with numerous osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells was dominant. A small area of papillary carcinoma merging with the anaplastic carcinoma was disclosed. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells forming papillary pattern were positive for both thyroglobulin and keratin. Cells and cell clusters positive for keratin were found in anaplastic carcinoma. Electron microscopically, the anaplastic carcinoma cells displayed prominent mitochondria, a rough endoplasmic reticulum, and intermediate cell junctions. The cell clusters formed irregular lumina into which numerous microvilli were extended and which contained colloid-like material. Occasionally incomplete basal laminae were present. Cell clusters showing transitional pictures from cell clusters to multinucleated giant cells and multinucleated giant cells engulfing mononuclear tumor cells were observed by both light and electron microscopy. Findings from this study support the conclusion that anaplastic tumor cells arise in preexisting differentiated thyroid cancer and that associated multinucleated giant cells are formed by the fusion of carcinoma cells.

Idiopathic nonarteriosclerotic cerebral calcification (Fahr's disease): an electron microscopic study

A case of idiopathic nonarteriosclerotic cerebral calcification was studied post mortem by histochemical and scanning and transmission electron microscopic methods. Calcification was found bilaterally in the basal ganglia, cerebral cortex, granular layer and white matter of the cerebellum. Histochemical examination revealed that deposits were composed of a mixture of glycoproteins, mucopolysaccharides, calcium salts and iron. Transmission electron microscopy revealed minute deposits mainly in the cytoplasm of adventitial cells of blood vessels and sometimes in the cytoplasmic processes of glial cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed that some of the spherical and hemispherical bodies, which were formed in the adventitial cells of blood vessels, were connected with filamentous cytoplasmic processes of surrounding cells. Small uncalcified deposits occurring in the cytoplasm of the adventitial cells had subsequently had minerals deposited in them. Some kind of impairment of the pericytes may play an important role at the onset of this disease.

Effect of OKY-046, a thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor, on arachidonate-induced platelet aggregation: possible role of "prostaglandin H2 steal" mechanism

To clarify the mode of action of a selective thromboxane A2 (TXA2) blockade in platelet reactivity, we examined the effect of (E)-3-[4-(1-imidazolylmethyl) phenyl]-2-propenoic acid hydrochloride (OKY-046), a potent TXA2 synthetase inhibitor, on human platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid (1 mM) in the absence and presence of aspirin-treated aortic microsomes containing prostacyclin (PGI2) synthetase activity ex vivo. The production of TXA2 and PGI2 in platelet rich plasma was determined by the amounts of their stable catabolites, TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha respectively, measured by radioimmunoassay. In the absence of aortic microsomes, OKY-046 (greater than 10(-5) M) produced more than 90% inhibition of TXA2 production, whereas platelet aggregation was less inhibited, about 40% inhibition over control, by OKY-046 in that concentration. In the presence of aortic microsomes, the inhibitory effect of OKY-046 on platelet aggregation was markedly augmented in a dose-dependent manner in proportion to the increment of PGI2 production, which paralleled the OKY-046-induced inhibition of TXA2. These results suggest that a selective TXA2 blockade produces effects on platelet aggregation mainly in dual fashion in the presence of PGI2 synthetase: one is due to mere inhibition of TXA2 synthetase and the other is due to the enhancement of PGI2 production probably involving "prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) steal" mechanism, in which PGH2 accumulated in platelets is partly converted to a substrate of PGI2 synthetase in aortic microsomes to produce PGI2.

[Malignant paraganglioma of the peri-iliac artery]

A malignant nonfunctioning paraganglioma of the pelvic retroperitoneum (left external iliac artery) with metastases to the femoral lymph nodes was found in a 68-year-old woman at exploratory laparotomy. Light microscopy showed a typical alveolar pattern with fine vascular stroma. The tumor cells had finely granular eosinophilic cytoplasm and oval to round nuclei with pleomorphism and mitotic figures, Grimelius stain showed no argyrophilic granules, but S 100 protein was demonstrated in the cytoplasm by the PAP method of Sternberger. Formaling fixed tissues were examination by electron microscopy, and dense core granules consistent with neurosecretory granules were found in the cytoplasm of some tumor cells.

Exfoliative cytology of a primary adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis. A case report

The cytologic features of a primary adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis in a 64-year-old woman are reported. Cytologic examination of voided urine revealed an ordinary papillary pattern, characterized by clumping of cells with nuclear overlapping, eccentric position of nuclei and cytoplasmic vacuolization due to mucus production. Leukocytes and micro-organisms were also present. Multiple lesions of papillary adenocarcinoma were subsequently found in the right renal pelvis and ureter. The histogenesis of the primary adenocarcinoma seemed to be closely related to columnar-cell metaplasia of lining of the renal pelvis of this patient, who had previously been treated for tuberculosis of the urinary bladder.

Syntheses and differentiating action of vitamin D endoperoxides. Singlet oxygen adducts of vitamin D derivatives in human myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60)

Singlet oxygen adducts of various vitamin D derivatives, 6,19-dihydro-6,19-epidioxyvitamin D (vitamin D endoperoxides, 2 and 2'), were chemically synthesized, and their biological activity in inducing differentiation of a human myeloid leukemia cell line (HL-60 cells) was examined. The potency of the endoperoxides derived from vitamin D derivatives possessing the 1 alpha-hydroxyl group such as 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 endoperoxides (2b and 2b') was markedly (10(-2)) diminished relative to the respective parent vitamin D compounds. In contrast, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 endoperoxides [25-(OH)D3 endoperoxides, 2a and 2a'] and their analogues fluorinated at the 24- or 26- and 27-positions were 2.5-10 times more potent than 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1a) in spite of the absence of the conjugated triene structure typical of vitamin D compounds. The potency of these vitamin D endoperoxides (2 and 2'), especially those lacking the 1 alpha-hydroxyl group, in inducing differentiation of HL-60 cells was not correlated with their activity in binding to the cytosol receptor for 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1b). The binding efficiency to the receptor was relatively lower than the differentiating activity. To examine the action of vitamin D endoperoxides, carbon analogues of 25-(OH)D3 endoperoxides, two C-6 epimers of 25-hydroxy-6,19-dihydro-6,19-ethanovitamin D3 (6 and 6'), were synthesized. The carbon analogues (6 and 6') had no potential to induce differentiation of HL-60 cells. These results suggest that vitamin D endoperoxides (2 and 2') express their biological activity probably after being converted to some other compounds.

Synergistic activity of astromicin and beta-lactam antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro and in vivo

Synergistic activity of astromicin and an antipseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotic such as piperacillin, cefsulodin or carbenicillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Synergy in vitro was observed more often when astromicin was combined with piperacillin or cefsulodin than when it was combined with carbenicillin. The combination of astromicin with piperacillin showed a bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a bacteriostatic concentration of each antibiotic alone. The synergy observed in vitro was reproduced against experimental mouse infections, and the astromicin-piperacillin or cefsulodin combination produced significantly greater protective effects than the single use of individual antibiotics.