[Aqueous levels of eosinophil cationic protein and major basic protein in patients with retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis]

We measured the aqueous levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and major basic protein (MBP) to investigate a possible relationship between cytotoxic eosinophil granule proteins and retinal detachment (RD) in patients with atopic dermatitis. While aqueous ECP was detected in only 1 of 15 cases of RD associated with atopic dermatitis, aqueous MBP was detected in 6 of 14 cases (42.9%). 11 cases of RD without atopic dermatitis were also studied, but neither ECP nor MBP was detected. Although the role of aqueous ECP and MBP was not elucidated, the results indicate that cytotoxic eosinophil granule proteins, especially MBP, are present in aqueous humor in certain cases of RD associated with atopic dermatitis.

Signal-averaged electrocardiogram shows a heart rate dependent diurnal variation in healthy subjects

It has not been determined if signal-averaged electrocardiograms (SAECGs) have a diurnal variation. We recorded 3-channel 24-hour ECGs in 30 healthy volunteers and calculated the following parameters for the first 500 sec of every hour over the 24-hour period: the mean heart rate, the filtered QRS duration (f-QRS), the root-mean-square voltage of the signals in the last 40 msec of the QRS (RMS40), and the duration of low-amplitude signals (< 40 microV) in the terminal portion of the QRS (LAS40). Heart rate and RMS40 increased in the daytime compared with the nighttime; f-QRS and LAS40 increased during the nighttime hours. The f-QRS and LAS40 were negatively correlated with heart rate in all and 22 (73%) of 30 subjects, respectively, and RMS40 was positively correlated with heart rate in 21 subjects (70%). In conclusion, SAECGs exhibit a clear diurnal variation in healthy subjects, which is closely related to changes in heart rate.

Dynamics of QT interval in a patient with long QT syndrome and a normal QT interval

A case report of a 15-year-old girl who experienced syncope and torsades de pointes is presented. The girl had a normal QT interval (QTc=0.37 sec) on the resting electrocardiogram (ECG). Infusion of isoproterenol induced QT prolongation (QTc=0.62 sec) and frequent occurrence of multiform ventricular premature beats. Her Holter ECG showed a prolongation of the QTc interval with a shortening of the RR interval. Low-frequency power (LF) and high-frequency power (HF) of heart rate variability were evaluated from the Holter ECG. The patient showed a statistically significant negative QTc/HF and a significant positive QTc/(LF/HF) relationship, whereas none of the age- and sex-matched healthy subjects showed these relationships. The slope of the QT/RR relationship for the patient was below the lower limit of the normal range. This report describes the unusual relationship of QT interval to RR interval and heart rate variability in a long QT syndrome patient with a normal QT interval on resting ECG.

[Acute renal failure in non-fulminant acute hepatitis without hepatitis A, B or C virus infection]

Here, we report a 35-year-old man with non-fulminant acute non A, non B, non C hepatitis which developed into acute renal failure. The patient was admitted to hospital with the chief complaints of general fatigue, nausea and a high-grade fever of 40 degrees C. Laboratory examination revealed severe liver dysfunction and renal insufficiency on admission: his serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase was 3.203 IU/ml, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase was 3.825 IU/ml, lactic dehydrogenase was 2.840 IU/ml, blood urea nitrogen was 65 mg/dl, and creatinine was 7.6 mg/dl. Hemodialysis was conducted during the initial 19-day period after admission because anuria was manifested on admission. On the 36th day after onset, renal functions returned to normal and the patient was negative for IgM-HA antibody. HBs antigen, IgM-HBC antibody, HCV antibody, cytomegalovirus antibody, and Epstein-Barr virus antibody. However, liver biopsy for histological examination on the 44th day after onset revealed no specific findings except the healing stage of acute hepatitis. Renal biopsy on the 49th day showed the healing stage of acute tubular necrosis without any glomerular change. It has been infrequently reported that acute renal failure develops following a non-fulminant acute state without hepatitis A, B or C virus infection. It is necessary to take acute renal failure into account in the clinical course of non-fulminant non A, non B, non C hepatitis.

Circadian variation of QT interval dispersion: correlation with heart rate variability

The circadian variation of QT interval dispersion and its correlation with heart rate variability (HRV) was examined in 17 normal subjects by using 24-hour recordings of three-lead electrocardiograms. Measurements of HRV, R-R intervals, and QT intervals were made for the first 6 minutes of each hour over a 24-hour period. Spectral analysis of HRV yielded low-frequency power (LF) (0.04-0.15 Hz), high-frequency power (HF) (0.15-0.40 Hz), and the ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF). A rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) was calculated by Bazett's formula, and QT and QTc dispersion was defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum values in any two leads. High-frequency power and QT interval were greater at night than during the day: conversely, LF/HF and dispersion of QT and QTc were greater during the day. The QTc interval remained virtually unchanged throughout the 24-hour period. The dispersion of QTc showed a significant negative correlation with HF and a significant positive correlation with LF/HF. The results suggest that an increased sympathetic tone or a decreased vagal tone increases QT dispersion in healthy subjects.

Transcriptional activation of the human c-myc gene by simian virus 40 large T antigen without binding to p53 and RB proteins in the transient expression system

Transcriptional activation of the human c-myc gene by SV40 large T antigen was examined using HepG2 cells by co-transfecting a T antigen expression plasmid with a myc-CAT construct containing the 2.3-kb upstream region from the P1 promoter and the P2 promoter region fused to the CAT gene. T antigen increased the basal activity of the P2 promoter region containing the E2F binding site, but both the P2 promoter region and the upstream region from the P1 promoter were important for overall activation by T antigen. CAT assay using mutated T antigen lacking p53 or the RB binding site indicated that p53 or RB was not mainly involved in transcriptional activation of the c-myc gene. It appears that activation of the c-myc gene by T antigen is probably dependent upon E2F and a cellular factor through a mechanism which is independent of binding of T antigen to p53 and RB.

[4-year clinico-statistical observation of outpatients]

Clinico-statistical observations were made on the outpatients visiting the Department of Initial Diagnosis and Emergency, Faculty of Dentistry Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990. The following findings were obtained according to sex, age group, and chief complaints of new outpatients. Approximately 60% of the outpatients were female during the year examined. The number of outpatients tended to increase in March and to decrease during the winter. The largest number of new outpatients visiting the hospital was in the 20-24-year-old group in both males and females. In the female patients, the 50-54-year-old group had a relatively higher peak. The greatest chief complaint was tooth pain. Further, the chief complaint involving oral soft tissues was due to inflammation. The main disease diagnosed due to chief complaints was caries in the 20-29-year-old group, marginal periodontitis in the 50-59, pericoronitis of wisdom tooth in the 20-29, temporomandibular joint problem in the < or = 19 and masticatory disturbance in the 60 < or = -year-old groups.

In vivo electron spin resonance analysis of nitroxide radicals injected into a rat by a flexible surface-coil-type resonator as an endoscope- or a stethoscope-like device

The flexible surface-coil-type resonator (FSCR) operating in a 700 MHz microwave electron spin resonance (ESR) system was applied to measure the nitroxide radicals at a specific area in rats. The FSCR was composed of a single-turn coil with a diameter of 5 mm and two flexible coaxial lines of 450 mm in length. For an endoscope-like application, the FSCR was inserted into the rectum of the rat and sequential changes in the ESR signals of the intravenously injected nitroxide radical (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine-1-oxyl; TEMPOL or 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-yloxy; carbamoyl-PROXYL) were measured. The ESR signal intensity of the nitroxide decreased according to first-order kinetics. For a stethoscope-like application, the FSCR was placed at several sites on the abdominal skin of the rats receiving a subcutaneous injection of carbamoyl-PROXYL, and diffusion and/or metabolism of the radical in the skin was observed.

Evaluation of left ventricular wall motion and function in patients with previous myocardial infarction by three-dimensional 99mTc-HSAD multigated cardiac pool imaging

To evaluate left ventricular (LV) wall motion stereoscopically from all directions and to calculate the LV volume by three-dimensional (3D) imaging. 99mTc-DTPA human serum albumin-multigated cardiac pool-single photon emission computed tomography (99mTc-MUGA-SPECT) was performed. A new data processing program was developed with the Application Visualization System-Medical Viewer (AVS-MV) based on images obtained from 99mTc-MUGA-SPECT. In patients with previous myocardial infarction, LV function and LV wall motion were evaluated by 3D-99mTc-MUGA imaging. The LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and end-systolic volume (LVESV) were obtained from 3D-99mTc-MUGA images by the surface rendering method, and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated at thresholds of 35% (T1), 40% (T2), 45% (T3), and 50% (T4). There was a strong correlation between the LV volume calculated by 3D-99mTc-MUGA imaging at a threshold of 40% and that determined by contrast left ventriculography (LVEDV: 194.7 +/- 36.0 ml vs. 198.7 +/- 39.1 ml, r = 0.791, p < 0.001; LVESV: 91.6 +/- 44.5 ml vs. 93.3 +/- 41.3 ml, r = 0.953, p < 0.001), respectively. When compared with the LVEF data obtained by left ventriculography, significant correlations were found for 3D images reconstructed at each threshold (T1: r = 0.966; T2: r = 0.962; T3: r = 0.958; and T4: r = 0.955). In addition, when LV wall motion obtained by 3D-99mTc-MUGA imaging (LAT and LAO views) was compared with the results obtained by left ventriculography (RAO and LAO views), there was good agreement. 3D-99mTc-MUGA imaging was superior in allowing evaluation of LV wall motion in all directions and in assessment of LV function, since data acquisition and image reconstruction could be done within a short time with the three-detector imaging system and AVS-MV. This method appears to be very useful for the observation of both LV wall motion and LV function in patients with ischemic heart disease, because it is a noninvasive examination.

Rare occurrence of ras and p53 gene mutations in mouse stomach tumors induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea

The incidence of point mutations of H-, K- and N-ras and p53 oncogenes in male BALB/c mouse stomach tumors induced with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) was examined by direct sequencing and PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). A mutation of GGT to AGT at K-ras codon 12 was found by SSCP in one adenocarcinoma from a total of 19 specimens including 5 adenocarcinomas, 9 adenomatous hyperplastic regions, 1 squamous cell carcinoma and 4 normal-like stomach regions from 4 mice. No mutations were detected by direct sequencing of H-, K- and N-ras oncogenes at exons 1 (codons 12 and 13) and 2 (codon 61) in a total of 26 specimens comprising 10 adenocarcinomas, 10 adenomatous hyperplastic regions, 2 squamous cell carcinomas and 4 normal-like stomach regions from 6 mice. No mutations were detected by direct sequencing of p53 oncogene at exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 in a total of 30 specimens including 13 adenocarcinomas, 8 adenomatous hyperplastic regions, 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 papilloma and 6 normal-like stomach regions from 7 mice. These results suggest that ras and p53 oncogenes do not play a role in mouse stomach carcinogenesis induced by MNU.

Isolation and analysis of cellular DNA fragments directly binding to c-Myc protein

c-Myc protein, the product of cellular oncogene c-myc, is thought to play an important role in the control of cell cycle progression by binding to the E-box sequence (CACGTG) of cellular DNA, but only a few target genes are known. We cloned two small human DNA fragments (n16 and r37) that bound to c-Myc protein in vitro by random screening. Both clones contained the E-box sequence, to which c-Myc protein bound directly in vitro. Northern blot analysis showed that a low molecular-weight RNA was transcribed from the region near the n16 c-Myc binding site. The function of this low molecular-weight RNA and the regulatory role of c-Myc protein in related transcription are now under investigation.

Two forms of hemitonic seizure in patients with infantile hemiplegia and epilepsy

Two forms of unilateral tonic (hemitonic) seizure were observed in two adult epileptic patients with infantile hemiplegia. Their ictal EEGs showed diffuse bilaterally synchronous spike bursts without focal features. In one case, a 31-year-old male, the VTR/EEG recording clearly demonstrated hemitonic seizure which simultaneously involved his paretic limbs and body and were associated with loss of consciousness and autonomic signs. In the other case, a 33-year-old male, partial seizures with secondary unilateral generalization were demonstrated by VTR/EEG recording. The reason why these cases do not exhibit motor seizure activity on the unaffected side despite diffuse bilateral EEG changes, a lower motor threshold in the paretic limbs and inhibitory effect in the brain-stem on undamaged side are postulated. These two cases suggest that hemitonic seizures include heterogeneous characteristics of partial and generalized epilepsy. In patients with diffuse brain damage, such as those with infantile hemiplegia, seizures appear to exhibit complicated patterns, with characteristics of partial and generalized seizures. There is a gradiation of expression of unilateral seizure, range from clearly partial seizures to those with mostly features of generalized seizures, except for an asymmetry of motor expression.

Interictal cerebral and cerebellar blood flow in temporal lobe epilepsy as measured by a noninvasive technique using Tc-99m HMPAO

The usefulness of noninvasive regional cerebral blood flow measurements using Tc-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) was evaluated in 45 patients with interictal temporal lobe epilepsy. Seizure frequency did not show any influence on flow values or side-to-side asymmetry. Patients taking phenytoin had a significantly lower mean cerebral blood flow (mean 9.5%) and lower mean cerebellar blood flow (mean 12.9%) than those not taking it. Moreover, phenytoin reduced regional cerebral blood flow in the temporal regions more prominently on the contralateral side of the epileptic focus than on the ipsilateral side. Positive MRI findings of hippocampal sclerosis along with visually detected temporal hypoperfusion on SPECT showed a lower regional cerebral blood flow and greater flow asymmetry than other imaging findings in the temporal region. Results suggest that noninvasive cerebral blood flow measurements using Tc-99m HMPAO may give useful information about interictal cerebral blood flow around an epileptic focus and about the effects of antiepileptic drugs on brain function in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Investigation of IFN type-I receptor and IFN regulatory factor expression relating to induction of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in cells persistently infected with the mumps virus

Poor induction of interferon-induced 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) activity has been demonstrated in cells persistently infected with the mumps virus or human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I). The suppression of 2-5AS induction is the result of the repression of 2-5AS gene expression at the transcription level. In a general way, after the binding of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) to cell surface-specific receptors, expression of 2-5AS gene is thought to be regulated by some transacting factors, IFN-regulatory factors (IRF-1 and IRF-2) and the IFN-stimulated gene factor (ISGF-3, a complex consisting of STAT-1 alpha, STAT-2 and p48). To clarify the cause of the suppression mechanism(s), fluctuation in the number of IFN receptors and the levels of mRNAs in both IRF-1 and IRF-2 were examined in cells persistently infected with the mumps virus (FLMT and KBMT). There were few differences in the number of IFN receptors and the level of IRF-2 mRNA between persistently infected cells and uninfected control cells. After the treatment of cells with IFN, a slight reduction of IRF-1 mRNA was found in persistently infected cells as compared with that of the uninfected control cells.

Carboxyl-terminal mutations of Gq alpha and Gs alpha that alter the fidelity of receptor activation

The carboxyl terminus of the G protein alpha subunit is a key determinant of the fidelity of receptor activation. We have previously shown that the Gq alpha subunit (alpha q) can be made to respond to alpha i-coupled receptors by replacing its carboxyl terminus with the corresponding alpha i2, alpha o, alpha z residues. We now extend these findings in three ways: 1) carboxyl-terminal mutations of alpha q/alpha i chimeras show that the critical amino acids are in the -3 and -4 positions, 2) exchange of carboxyl termini between alpha q and alpha z allows activation by receptors appropriate to the carboxyl-terminal residues, and 3) we identify receptors that either do or do not activate the expected carboxyl-terminal chimeras (alpha q/alpha i, alpha q/alpha s, alpha s/alpha q). Replacement of the five carboxyl-terminal amino acids of alpha q with the alpha s sequence permitted an alpha s-coupled receptor (the V2 vasopressin receptor but not the beta 2-adrenergic receptor) to stimulate phospholipase C. Replacement of the five carboxyl-terminal amino acids of alpha z with residues of alpha q permitted certain alpha q-coupled receptors (bombesin and V1a vasopressin receptors but not the oxytocin receptor) to stimulate adenylyl cyclase. Thus, the relative importance of the G alpha carboxyl terminus in permitting coupling to a new receptor depends on the receptor with which it is paired. These studies refine our understanding and provide new tools with which to study the fidelity of receptor/G alpha activation.

Quantification of systemic and local immune responses to individual rotavirus proteins during rotavirus infection in mice

The purpose of the present study was to develop a quantitative assay that could be used to measure the local and systemic immune responses to specific rotavirus proteins following rotavirus infection of adult mice. To measure these responses, we used an immunocytochemical staining assay of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) cells which were infected with recombinant baculovirus expressing selected rotavirus proteins. The specificity of the assay was documented by using a series of monoclonal antibodies to individual rotavirus proteins. We observed that the assay had high levels of sensitivity and specificity for a series of VP7- and VP4-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies which recognized conformation-dependent epitopes on their target proteins. We also studied immunoglobulin G (IgG) immune responses in serum and IgA immune responses in the stools of mice infected with wild-type murine rotavirus strain EHPw. In both sera and stools, the most immunogenic proteins were VP6 and VP4. VP2 was less immunogenic than VP6 or VP4, and the immune responses to VP7, NSP2, and NSP4 were very low in serum and undetectable in stools.

Pentoxifylline potentiates the antitumor effect of cisplatin and etoposide on human lung cancer cell lines

The effect of pentoxifylline (PENT) on the sensitivity of two human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, PC-9 and PC-14, to cisplatin (CDDP) and etoposide (ET) was studied. PENT at 0.5 and 1 mM enhanced the cytotoxicity of CDDP and ET on PC-14 and PC-9, respectively. Isobologram analyses of IC50 data, as well as combination index calculations, revealed that PENT had an additive or a synergistic effect when applied in combination with CDDP or ET, respectively. PENT potentiated the antitumor effect of ET in a nude-mouse xenograft model using PC-14 cells, when PENT was administered at 150 mg/kg subcutaneously for 6 days. Flow cytometry revealed that PENT decreased the accumulation of cells in the G2+M phase caused by CDDP when using PC-9 cells. However, PENT did not remarkably alter the accumulation of cells in G2+M caused by ET. These results suggest that PENT enhanced the antitumor effects of CDDP additively and those of ET synergistically. The enhancement mechanism probably differs between CDDP and ET. PENT needs more study to elucidate its potency as a new agent for combination chemotherapy.