Low expression of adhesion molecules in a case of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

A case of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with low expression of the adhesion molecules lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) is described. The patient was a 90-year-old man with red round homogeneous tumors on his scalp, trunk, and extremities. He had no history of definite erythema or plaque stage. A biopsy sample taken from a tumor revealed massive infiltration of atypical lymphocytes in the reticular dermis and subcutis with a definite clear zone. The atypical lymphocytes were medium-sized with slightly convoluted nuclei. Immunohistochemically, the infiltrates showed the phenotype of so-called memory T cells. On the basis of these features, the case was diagnosed as CTCL. Expression of LFA-1, ICAM-1 and VLA-4 on the infiltrates was 9%, 13% and 11%, respectively, which is much lower than that in classic mycosis fungoides. This finding suggests that loss of these adhesion molecules may contribute to loss of epidermotropism in the advanced stage of CTCL.

Induction of single ovulation by sequential follicle-stimulating hormone and pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone treatment

OBJECTIVE

To induce single follicular ovulation by sequential treatment with FSH and pulsatile GnRH.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

PATIENTS

Eighteen hypogonadotropic anovulatory patients.

INTERVENTIONS

In sequential treatment, daily FSH injection was switched to pulsatile GnRH administration (20 micrograms/120 minutes SC) when the follicle diameter reached 11 mm. In conventional FSH treatment, daily FSH injection was continued. In both cycles, hCG was given when the diameter of the dominant follicle reached 18 mm.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Developed follicle numbers and serum FSH concentrations during treatment.

RESULTS

Single follicular development was achieved in 80.0% of cycles by sequential treatment but in no cycle by conventional FSH treatment. The number of developed follicles was 1.26 +/- 0.55 (mean +/- SD) on sequential treatment and 3.94 +/- 1.48 on conventional FSH treatment. Preovulatory FSH level was significantly lower on sequential treatment than on conventional FSH treatment (5.26 +/- 1.80 versus 11.55 +/- 3.43 mIU/mL [conversion factor to SI unit, 1.00]).

CONCLUSION

The sequential treatment achieved single follicular development without complications. The sequential FSH-pulsatile GnRH treatment may offer a better chance for development of a single dominant follicle and ovulation.

A new retroviral vector for detecting mutations and chromosomal instability in mammalian cells

A retroviral vector carrying both forward (neo) and backward (herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase or HSV-TK gene) selection markers was constructed as a substrate for mutational assay in mammalian cells. The cells infected with this virus are first selected with G418, mutagenized and then selected with the anti-herpes drug acyclovir (ACV). Since HSV-TK, but not the host TK, is capable of converting ACV to a toxic metabolite, cells retaining the intact HSV-TK gene fail to survive, while the cells carrying a mutated HSV-TK gene or which have lost the gene can form colonies in the presence of ACV, making it possible to detect the genetic defects in a positive manner. It is also possible to discriminate between small mutations and large deletions by checking the presence of the linked marker, neo. As a model experiment, we prepared an uncloned pool of rat fibroblast cells (CREF) infected with this virus and irradiated them with increasing doses of ultraviolet light. Dose-dependent increases in the number of ACV-resistant colonies were observed. Structural analysis of the HSV-TK gene in these clones revealed point mutations or small deletions in the majority of the cases. Since it requires no pre-existing genetic markers in the host cells, this system may be used for a wide variety of mammalian cells and provides a useful tool to assess both their susceptibility to various mutagens and their genomic instability.

Blood flow velocity waveforms of the fetal middle cerebral artery in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus

Fetal blood flow velocity waveforms of the middle cerebral artery were measured by pulsed Doppler ultrasound in 43 pregnant women with diabetes mellitus (33 class B, 3 class C, 6 class D and 1 class R). The recordings were performed between 24 and 38 weeks of gestation. A total of 122 recordings were analyzed prior to establishing the resistance index (RI = peak systolic velocity minus diastolic velocity/peak systolic velocity). The mean maternal serum glucose was 124.3 mg/dl (range: 72.7 to 281.5 mg/dl), the mean hemoglobin A1c was 6.03% (range: 3.3 to 11.0%) and the mean fructosamine level was 255.97 mumol/L (range: 205 to 397 mumol/L). The resistance index did not differ between the fetuses of the diabetic mothers in our study population. Additionally, no significant correlation was noted between RI values and serum glucose levels (r = 0.03), hemoglobin A1c levels (r = 0.13) or fructosamine levels (r = 0.04) during the period of 26 to 34 gestational weeks. These data indicate that the RI within the fetal cerebral artery is unaffected by the maternal glycemic control when mean serum glucose levels are below 280 mg/dl.

Mechanism of anovulation in hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea determined by pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone injection combined with human chorionic gonadotropin

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the mechanism of anovulation in hyperprolactinemic anovulatory women by subcutaneous (SC) pulsatile GnRH injection.

DESIGN

Prospective clinical study.

SETTING

Studies were made on at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the University of Tokushima, School of Medicine.

PATIENTS

Six hyperprolactinemic (group 1) and 7 normoprolactinemic (group 2) anovulatory patients were studied.

INTERVENTIONS

After examinations of pulsatile secretion of LH, the GnRH test, thyrotropin-releasing hormone test and estrogen test, pulsatile GnRH treatment (20 micrograms/2 hours SC) was performed. Two protocols were tested on each patient. In the non-hCG protocol, GnRH treatment was continued until ovulation. In the hCG protocol, 5,000 IU of hCG was injected to induce ovulation when follicles were fully mature.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The rates of follicular maturation and ovulation, serum E2 and P in the two groups.

RESULTS

Pulsatile LH secretion was impaired in both groups. LH release 48 hours after estrogen injection was impaired in group 1 but not in group 2. Follicles matured on pulsatile GnRH treatment in all cycles in both groups. However, with the non-hCG protocol, ovulation occurred in only 17% of group 1, but in 89% of group 2. With the hCG protocol ovulation occurred in all cycles in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The main cause of anovulation is impaired gonadotropin pulsatility and derangement of the estrogen-positive feedback effect on LH secretion in hyperprolactinemic patients, their ovarian response to gonadotropin being well maintained. Subcutaneous pulsatile GnRH therapy combined with hCG can be used as an alternative to bromocriptine treatment for induction of ovulation in these patients.

Haemodynamic and haematologic effects of Acanthaster planci venom in dogs

This study was designed to examine haemodynamic and haematologic effects of the crown-of-thorns starfish venom (Acanthaster planci venom: APV) in dogs. Severe systemic hypotension, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were induced by APV (1.0 mg protein/kg i.v.), followed by gradual return to the baseline level within 60 min. Hypotension was presumably caused by two factors: an early decrease in systemic vascular resistance and the large reduction in cardiac output due to reduced ventricular filling. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, remarkably suppressed systemic hypotension induced by APV. The peak reduction in systemic pressure was associated with concomitant rise of plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, a major stable metabolite of prostacyclin. Thus, the hypotensive effect of APV may be caused primarily by prostacyclin and/or some vasodilating prostaglandins. In contrast, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were not affected by cyclooxygenase inhibitor, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor or platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist. When APV was administered repeatedly, tachyphylaxis was developed in haemodynamic effects, but not in haematologic effects. These findings suggest that APV-induced hypotensive effects may occur mainly through endogenous production of vasodilating prostaglandins including prostacyclin, although APV-induced thrombocytopenia and leukopenia may be caused by other mechanism(s) unrelated to arachidonate metabolites and/or PAF.

Sucrose esters from the surface lipids of Nicotiana cavicola

Three sucrose esters were isolated and identified for the first time from the surface lipids of Nicotiana cavicola. They contained acetic acid and such branched short-chain fatty acids as 5-methylhexanoic, 5-methylheptanoic, and 6-methylheptanoic acids. The structures of the sucrose esters were 6-O-acetyl-4-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-4,6-O-diacetyl-3-O-acyl-beta- D- fructofuranoside, 4-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-1,4-O-diacetyl-3-O-acyl-beta-D-fructofur anoside and 6-O-acetyl-4-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-4-O-acetyl-3-O- acyl-beta-D-fructofuranoside.

Comparative study of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

An important disease entity distinct from cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in Japan is adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), which shows almost the same phenotype as CTCL, ie, a helper/inducer T-cell phenotype (CD4-positive, CD8-negative), and usually involves the skin. This article describes differences between CTCL and ATL in terms of clinical and immunopathologic cell surface features. In patients with ATL, the predominant physical findings were lymph node, bone marrow and skin involvement, hepatosplenomegaly, leukemic manifestations, and an aggressive course. In patients with CTCL, in contrast, only skin lesions predominated at the onset of the disease and a relatively good prognosis was shown. The predominant phenotype of the neoplastic cells in the skin of patients with CTCL was CD3+, CD4+, CD29+, CD45RO+, HLA-DR+, HLA-DQ+, CD7-, L-selectin-, and CD45RA-. Some phenotypic discrepancy was found between the neoplastic cells in the peripheral blood, lymph nodes and skin of patients with ATL with respect to CD45RA and CD45RO, and CD7, CD29, CD25, and HLA-DR. That is, the predominant neoplastic cell phenotype was helper T-cell, which was CD3+, CD4+, L-selectin+, CD25+, CD45RA+, HLA-DR+, CD29-, and CD45RO- in peripheral blood, and CD3+, CD4+, L-selectin+, CD29+, CD45RO+, HLA-DR+, and CD45RA- in the skin and lymph nodes. Phenotypic heterogeneity of ATL cells and heterogeneity of CD45R isoform expression on ATL cells were evident in different organs. These findings confirm that the difference in antigen expression on the cell surface might reflect the clinical features of ATL and CTCL. CTCL cells do not share the same phenotype as ATL cells.

Antibody responses in the wild vole, Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae, naturally infected with Echinococcus multilocularis by western blotting

Antibody responses against crude antigens and the two (Em18 and Em16) epitopes of Echinococcus multilocularis were analysed by Western blotting using sera from the wild vole, Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae (Crb), which were captured in Hokkaido, Japan and found to have been naturally infected with eggs, and compared with those in patients of AHD and mice experimentally infected with protoscoleces of this parasite. Antibody responses in the wild were demonstrated most clearly with anti-Crb-IgG antiserum but more faintly with anti-rat-IgG antiserum and poorly with anti-mouse-IgG or anti-human-IgG antisera or Protein G. Although only two serum samples of the wild vole found naturally infected were analysed, antibody responses against Em18 and Em16 in these voles appeared to be similar to those in AHD patients but differed from those in mice.

Characterization of three different transgenic mouse lines that carry human poliovirus receptor gene--influence of the transgene expression on pathogenesis

Three transgenic mouse lines, ICR-PVRTg1, ICR-PVRTg5, and ICR-PVRTg21, which are susceptible to poliovirus, have been established by introducing the human gene for poliovirus receptor (PVR) into the genome of mouse strain ICR. Genetic characterizations of the PVR gene were carried out on these mouse lines to define the approximate copy number, insertion site, and expression of the transgene in the central nervous system (CNS). The transgene was integrated in the chromosome 4, 12, and 13 of ICR-PVRTg1, ICR-PVRTg5 and ICR-PVRTg21 mice, respectively, and was stably transmitted to progeny mice. ICR-PVRTg1 appeared to have the most abundant copy numbers of the transgene and showed the highest level of PVR mRNA and membrane associated PVR protein in the CNS among the three mouse lines. Those in ICR-PVRTg21 and ICR-PVRTg5 were at intermediate and lowest levels, respectively. In the CNS, PVR mRNA was detected at high levels only in neurons of the spinal cord and brain stem where poliovirus can replicate, suggesting that the PVR mRNA expression confers cell specificity to poliovirus in the CNS. ICR-PVRTg1 and ICR-PVRTg5 showed the highest and the lowest sensitivity to poliovirus, respectively, whereas ICR-PVRTg21 was in-between. These results may suggest that poliovirus sensitivity of the mice is attributed to relative levels of PVR expression.

Effect of H2-receptor antagonists cimetidine and famotidine on interdigestive gastric motor activity and lower esophageal sphincter pressure in progressive systemic sclerosis

The effect of the H2-receptor antagonists cimetidine and famotidine on interdigestive gastric motor activity and lower esophageal sphincter pressure was assessed in 41 patients with uncomplicated progressive systemic sclerosis. There was no significant change in gastric phasic motor activity after the intravenous administration of cimetidine (n = 6), famotidine (n = 13), and physiological saline (n = 15), or the intragastric infusion of 7% sodium bicarbonate (n = 7). The lower esophageal sphincter pressure was increased significantly by both cimetidine and famotidine, but only famotidine caused a significant pressure rise in patients without an increase of gastric motility. Cimetidine and physiological saline produced a similar pattern of change in the esophageal sphincter pressure, as did famotidine and sodium bicarbonate. These findings suggest that the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity and gastric acid secretion may be involved in the respective mechanisms of action of cimetidine and famotidine.

Breeding of the northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster) as a laboratory animal

Laboratory matings were attempted to establish breeding colonies of Northern grasshopper mice, Onychomys leucogaster (which were captured in New Mexico, U.S.A.), as experimental animals. The results were as follows. The rate of pregnancy was 75% with cohabitation for more than 30 days, and 4% with cohabitation from 1 to 7 days. Both cases were of monogamous mating. The mean litter size was 3.5 +/- 1.2, with a range of 1 to 6. The rate of weaning was 78.8%. The mean gestation period was 27.4 +/- 2.0 days, with a range of 25 to 31. The gestation period was achieved by the method of confirming sperm from smears. Further, it was possible to breed all year round in a rearing room with fixed temperature and humidity.

Inhibitory effect of vapiprost on contractile responses of isolated dog renal arteries to thromboxane A2 analogue, U46619

1. Cumulative administrations of U46619, a thromboxane A2 analogue, and prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha produced concentration-dependent contractions of isolated dog renal arterial preparations, which were significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited by vapiprost. 2. A bolus administration of U46619 or PGF2 alpha produced sustained contracture of these preparations, which was concentration-dependently relaxed by cumulative vapiprost. 3. Results indicate that vapiprost inhibits U46619- and PGF2 alpha-induced dog renal arterial contractions through antagonism for so-called TP receptors.

Laboratory rearing of a hibernating animal, pocket mouse (Perognathus flavus)

Hibernating pocket mice (Perognathus flavus) were obtained from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, in September 1990, and attempted to rear them in National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP. Rearing of pocket mice was possible under the general conditions used for rearing mice. As a result of random mating of 4 females to 2 males for breeding, gestation was achieved in only one pair of animals, and parturition under artificial rearing conditions was observed for the first time. The animal gave birth to 3 offspring that had no body hair. Their eyes were closed. Each of the offspring weighed about 1.0g. The mean body weight of the females was 6.5g and that of males 5.6g at 3 weeks. Weaning was possible at this age. Subsequently the animals grew rapidly; the body weight was almost equal to that of an adult animal (8.0g) at 5 weeks of age for the females and 7 weeks for the males. The gestation period was estimated to be 26 days. These findings indicate that pocket mice can be bred and reared under general laboratory conditions.

Cardioprotective effects of hydrolyzed bopindolol against contractile dysfunction produced by coronary stenosis and reperfusion in dogs

The effects of the active metabolite (18-502) of bopindolol, which is a new nonselective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, were studied on the ischemic changes in myocardial segment shortening, cardiac lactate metabolism and S-T segment of subendocardial electrocardiogram during coronary stenosis and on their recoveries after reperfusion in anesthetized dogs, and were compared with those of propranolol at a dose exhibiting a comparable degree of beta 1-blocking activity. In the presence of coronary stenosis, intravenous administration of 18-502 (5 micrograms/kg) and propranolol (0.2 mg/kg), but not saline, produced significant improvements of regional myocardial dysfunction, lactate production and S-T segment elevations in the ischemic myocardium, which were associated with significant decreases in heart rate and cardiac contractility. After release of the stenosis, administration of 18-502, but not propranolol, resulted in a significantly accelerated recovery of the ischemic segment function as compared with the control group. In rat heart homogenates, 18-502 inhibited the lipid peroxidation approximately 4 times more potently than propranolol. These data show that 18-502 exerts favorable effects during myocardial ischemia produced by coronary stenosis and that it has a cardioprotective action against the contractile dysfunction following reperfusion.

Molecular cloning and biological activity of a novel developmentally regulated gene encoding a protein with beta-transducin-like structure

In the developing mammalian central nervous system, neural precursor cells show a tightly regulated inverse relationship between cell proliferation and differentiation. The molecular mechanisms which control the inter-relationship between these two events are poorly understood. To approach this problem, we previously identified several novel genes which are most prominently expressed in the early embryonic brain. Further cloning and sequencing of one such gene, Nedd1, revealed that it can encode a protein with a M(r) of 71,000, the amino-terminal half of which shares significant structural similarity with the beta-subunit of heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins. Nedd1 mRNA is strongly expressed in early embryonic brain, but it can be detected at low levels in a number of adult tissues as well as cell lines and is up-regulated in an embryonal carcinoma cell line upon retinoic acid-induced differentiation. Ectopic expression of Nedd1 gene by means of eukaryotic vectors in various cell lines resulted in varying degrees of growth suppression. The strongest effects were evident in differentiation-competent neuroblastoma-derived cell lines. Our results suggest that the Nedd1 gene may play a role in the differentiation-coupled growth arrest in neuronal cells.