Pulmonary hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus: a report of an autopsied case

An autopsied case of systemic lupus erythematosus with pulmonary hypertension is reported. A 29-year-old woman with a seven-year history of polyarthralgia, butterfly rash, nephrotic syndrome and Raynaud's phenomenon was admitted because of progressive dyspnea on exertion. Tests for antinuclear antibody, anti-cardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant were positive. Echocardiographic examination revealed right ventricular hypertrophy and a moderate pericardial effusion. Estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure was 53 mmHg. Despite treatment with corticosteroids including pulse methylprednisolone therapy, lipo-PGE1 and warfarin, she died of progressive congestive heart failure. Postmortem examination of the pulmonary vasculature revealed findings consistent with plexogenic pulmonary arteriopathy, without evidence of vasculitis, fibrinoid necrosis, or thromboemboli.

Structure-activity studies of the s-echistatin inhibition of bone resorption

Synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing peptides were examined in bone resorption or attachment and detachment assays with isolated mammalian osteoclasts in an effort to elucidate the mechanistic and structural basis for the inhibition of bone resorption by s-echistatin. Bone resorption was the process most sensitive to inhibition by s-echistatin, with IC50 = 0.3 nM; inhibition of attachment to bone or detachment (lamellipodial retraction) was 30- to 70-fold less sensitive, with IC50 = 10 or 20 nM, respectively. Single amino acid substitutions within the 49-residue sequence of s-echistatin showed that although the efficacy of s-echistatin is dependent on the Arg24-Gly25-Asp26 sequence, additional residues, including Asp27, Met28, and Cys39, are also critical for potent inhibition of the resorbing activity of isolated rat osteoclasts. Because of the identification of the av beta 3 as the primary integrin on rat osteoclasts interacting the RGD peptides (Helfrich et al.), we examined the possibility of modeling bone resorption with other beta 3-mediated processes. Specifically, av beta 3 endothelial cell (human or rat) attachment to vitronectin and aIIb beta 3 platelet aggregation were compared with bone resorption for sensitivity to s-echistatin analogs, linear RGD peptides, and cyclic RGD peptides. Essentially no similarity in sensitivity to RGD peptides were observed between bone resorption, platelet aggregation, or endothelial cell attachment. Because rat osteoclasts and human giant cell tumors (osteoclastomas) shared similar sensitivity to s-echistatin and rat and human endothelial cells showed a similar sensitivity profile to RGD peptides, the dissimilarity of bone resorption to other beta 3-mediated processes cannot be explained in terms of species differences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Remote subarachnoid haemorrhage in the posterior fossa following supratentorial surgery. Clinical observation of 6 cases

Haemorrhage in regions remote from the site of following intracranial operations is rare, but they do occur. We performed supratentorial craniotomy on 639 patients between the time of introduction of computed tomography (CT) for clinical use in 1983 and June 1992; subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in the posterior fossa occurred postoperatively in six of these cases. These included four patients with tumours in the sellar region, one with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and one who underwent superficial temporal artery (STA)-middle cerebral artery (MCA) anastomosis. The ages of the six patients ranged from 17-72 years. Haemorrhage occurred on the day of operation in one case and was detected on CT examination on the day following surgery in the remaining five cases. Of three patients with disturbance of consciousness, two underwent suboccipital craniectomy for reduction of intracranial pressure, while one received barbiturate therapy and later underwent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt surgery. No special treatment was necessary for the remaining three patients with less serious lesions. Five of the six patients ultimately recovered their pre-operative neurological status apart from the primary diseases. Factors inducing such haemorrhages seem likely to include displacement of the cerebellum by reduced CSF pressure during and after operations, and stretching and tearing of the veins and venules in the sulci of the tentorial surface of the cerebellum. Consideration should therefore be given to the maintenance of an appropriate CSF pressure during operation; this is particularly important in elderly patients and those with an atrophied cerebral cortex.

Cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the nipple after ventriculoperitoneal shunt: case report

A case of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction is presented, in which cerebrospinal fluid was discharged from the nipple. A pseudocyst was found at the end of peritoneal catheter in the right subphrenic abdominal cavity. In addition, a fibrous tract was formed around the peritoneal catheter and communicated with the lactiferous duct probably injured incidentally during the subcutaneous insertion of catheter. Consequently, cerebrospinal fluid accumulated in the pseudocyst in the abdominal cavity and then flowed backward in the fibrous tract to the lactiferous duct during the respiration to discharge from the nipple.

Involvement of 4F2 antigen expressed on the MHC-negative target cells in the recognition of murine CD3+CD4-CD8- alpha beta (V alpha 4/V beta 2) T cells

T cells of an unique phenotype (CD3+CD4-CD8- alpha beta TCR+) develop in vitro from the hematopoietic progenitors, the majority of which carry homologous alpha beta TCR (V alpha 4J alpha 28/V beta 2D beta 1.1J beta 2.6). In the present study, antigen corresponding to the particular alpha beta TCR was investigated, taking advantage of the fact that growth of T cell hybridomas was arrested by their TCR stimulation. Results indicated that both syngeneic and allogeneic thymocytes, particularly from newborn mice, could specifically inhibit the proliferation of a T cell hybridoma with the V alpha 4/V beta 2 TCR (15H1.2). Proliferation of neither TCR-missing hybridoma subclones nor those with unrelated alpha beta TCRs was affected at all. It was also found that embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells without classical MHC antigens could specifically inhibit the proliferation of 15H1.2 cells. We then raised a mAb, 14.37, against an EC line, OTF9, that could interfere with the ability of them to inhibit the growth of 15H1.2. Pretreatment of 15H1.2 cells with anti-V beta 2 and OTF9 cells with 14.37 mAb respectively completely abrogated the growth inhibition of 15H1.2 by OTF9. The 14.37 antigen was a 120 kDa heterodimer glycoprotein consisting of 85 and 36 kDa proteins. In normal lymphoid tissues, the expression of 14.37 antigen exhibited an apparently inverse relationship with that of class I MHC antigens. Thus, ontogenically it was strongly expressed in fetal and newborn mice, rather rapidly declined thereafter, and remained at very low levels in adult organs. In a given stage, the distribution of 14.37 antigen and class I MHC was rather exclusive to each other.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of AETT-induced neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis on learning ability in rats

The behavioral effects of ceroid-lipofuscin accumulation, induced by intraperitoneal administration of acetyl-ethyl-tetramethyl-tetralin (AETT) in Wistar rats for 3 months, were examined in the present studies. A significant increase in neuronal ceroidlipofuscin was demonstrated neuropathologically as well as morphometrically. Although the AETT-intoxicated rats showed neither alteration of locomotor activity nor shock sensitivity, a significant impairment of learning ability, especially an acquisition trial in passive avoidance tests, was observed. Results of the present studies indicate the possibility that a diffuse lipofuscin accumulation causes a learning impairment in rats. The results also imply the possibility of a significant role of age-related lipofuscin accumulation in the dementing processes of human especially in the elderly.

Ethylene production by strains of the plant-pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae depends upon the presence of indigenous plasmids carrying homologous genes for the ethylene-forming enzyme

The molecular characteristics of the ethylene-forming enzymes of strains of Pseudomonas syringae were tested. The ethylene-producing activities of the nine strains as measured in vivo and in vitro were similar, except for that of P. syringae pv. mori M5. A polyclonal antibody and a DNA probe for the ethylene-forming enzyme from P. syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2 were prepared to investigate homologies among the proteins and genes for the ethylene-forming enzymes. With the exception of P. syringae pv. mori M5, eight strains tested expressed the same antigen as the ethylene-forming enzyme from P. syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2 and were homologous to DNA sequences on indigenous plasmids. Molecular masses of antigenic proteins from all ethylene-producing strains were 40 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified ethylene-forming enzyme from P. syringae pv. glycinea KN130 was identical to that of the enzyme from P. syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2. These results show that the ethylene-forming enzymes encoded by the indigenous plasmid(s) in the pathogenic bacteria examined were similar.

Ultrasonically guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for small hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The authors have used percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) as a new percutaneous local treatment for single unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) measuring 2 cm or less in greatest dimension (small HCC). PMCT was used to attempt a cure of the disease. In this study, the efficacy of this treatment was assessed.

METHODS

PMCT was performed on 18 patients with single small HCC. A microwave electrode (custom-made, 30-cm long by 1.6-mm thick) was inserted percutaneously into the tumor area under ultrasonic guidance. Microwaves at 60 W for 120 seconds were used to irradiate the tumor and surrounding area.

RESULTS

After PMCT was administered, various image findings were correlated with tissue necrosis. At the tumor and surrounding area, ultrasonography showed echogenic change, contrast enhancement disappeared on contrast enhanced computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (T2-weighted image) showed decreased intensity in all cases after treatment. Complete necrosis of the tumor area in a specimen obtained from one patient who underwent hepatectomy after PMCT also was confirmed. The treatment reduced levels of the tumor marker, alpha-fetoprotein, which had been high in some patients. Although the follow-up period was short (11-33 months), 17 patients remain alive. Local recurrence in the treated area has not been detected, and no serious side effects or complications have been encountered.

CONCLUSIONS

PMCT may be an effective and safe treatment for small HCCs.

Ultrasonically guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for small hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The authors have used percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) as a new percutaneous local treatment for single unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) measuring 2 cm or less in greatest dimension (small HCC). PMCT was used to attempt a cure of the disease. In this study, the efficacy of this treatment was assessed.

METHODS

PMCT was performed on 18 patients with single small HCC. A microwave electrode (custom-made, 30-cm long by 1.6-mm thick) was inserted percutaneously into the tumor area under ultrasonic guidance. Microwaves at 60 W for 120 seconds were used to irradiate the tumor and surrounding area.

RESULTS

After PMCT was administered, various image findings were correlated with tissue necrosis. At the tumor and surrounding area, ultrasonography showed echogenic change, contrast enhancement disappeared on contrast enhanced computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (T2-weighted image) showed decreased intensity in all cases after treatment. Complete necrosis of the tumor area in a specimen obtained from one patient who underwent hepatectomy after PMCT also was confirmed. The treatment reduced levels of the tumor marker, alpha-fetoprotein, which had been high in some patients. Although the follow-up period was short (11-33 months), 17 patients remain alive. Local recurrence in the treated area has not been detected, and no serious side effects or complications have been encountered.

CONCLUSIONS

PMCT may be an effective and safe treatment for small HCCs.

Neurotensin transcription is oppositely regulated during development and regeneration

Our previous work demonstrated that neurotensin mRNA expression was transiently up-regulated during development in the hypoglossal motoneurone. The present study was carried out to examine how neurotensin mRNA expression changes during nerve regeneration. Following either unilateral resection or crushing of the hypoglossal nerve, mRNA expression was detected by non-radioactive in situ hybridization histochemistry using an alkaline phosphatase-labelled oligonucleotide probe. A reduction in neurotensin mRNA was observed on the operated side after the nerve injury. It took around 2 months for NT mRNA levels to return to normal. Similar down-regulation was observed following crushing, but recovery was more rapid than that observed with sectioning, probably due to the extent of nerve damage. This finding indicates that neurotensin transcription is up-regulated during development but, on the contrary, down-regulated during regeneration.

Ultrasonically guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for small hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The authors have used percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) as a new percutaneous local treatment for single unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) measuring 2 cm or less in greatest dimension (small HCC). PMCT was used to attempt a cure of the disease. In this study, the efficacy of this treatment was assessed.

METHODS

PMCT was performed on 18 patients with single small HCC. A microwave electrode (custom-made, 30-cm long by 1.6-mm thick) was inserted percutaneously into the tumor area under ultrasonic guidance. Microwaves at 60 W for 120 seconds were used to irradiate the tumor and surrounding area.

RESULTS

After PMCT was administered, various image findings were correlated with tissue necrosis. At the tumor and surrounding area, ultrasonography showed echogenic change, contrast enhancement disappeared on contrast enhanced computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (T2-weighted image) showed decreased intensity in all cases after treatment. Complete necrosis of the tumor area in a specimen obtained from one patient who underwent hepatectomy after PMCT also was confirmed. The treatment reduced levels of the tumor marker, alpha-fetoprotein, which had been high in some patients. Although the follow-up period was short (11-33 months), 17 patients remain alive. Local recurrence in the treated area has not been detected, and no serious side effects or complications have been encountered.

CONCLUSIONS

PMCT may be an effective and safe treatment for small HCCs.

[Follow-up study of MRI imaging in a case of traumatic pulmonary hematoma]

A 29-year-old male was suffered from traumatic pulmonary hematoma by blunt chest trauma. We examined chest roentogenograms, chest CT, and MR imaging of the thorax periodically. Those revealed that: 1) Traumatic pulmonary hematoma produce an intense signal and is not influenced by blood stream in the MR imaging. 2) Like other methods, in MRI, pulmonary hematoma gradually decreased its volume. However, as hematoma is visualized solitarily in MRI, small hematoma can be distinguished easily.

Enzymatic sulfation of glycosides and their corresponding aglycones by arylsulfate sulfotransferase from a human intestinal bacterium

A novel type of arylsulfate sulfotransferase (ASST) from a predominant human intestinal bacterium catalyzes the stoichiometric transfer of a sulfate group from phenolic sulfate esters to phenols. We clarified that polyphenols were better substrates of this enzyme than the corresponding glycosides. Additionally, a coumarin derivative, esculetin, was sulfated by ASST at the 6-position to give 6-monosulfate. Therefore, ASST is more useful for the preparation of sulfated polyphenols at their specific hydroxyl groups and would play an important role in the metabolism of phenolic compounds in vegetable food and traditional medicines.

[Influence of age on long-term memory]

Memory for past public events having occurred between 1950-1989 was examined in Japanese subjects with average education aged forty to seventy-nine years. We compiled a public events test battery consisting of 80 multiple-choice questions regarding events, persons, or places that were prominent in the news during the four decades 1950 to 1989. With increasing age, performances of a public event test declined equivalently each decade. The effect of both age and decade was significant by three-way analysis of variance. The interaction term (age x decade) was not significant, which indicates that performance on questions relating to each decade was affected about equally by age. Performance on this test was clearly age-dependent across the time period sampled. Considering the results obtained in this study, we could conclude that aging influences very old memories as well as recent memories.

Effect of excitatory amino acid receptor agonists on secretion of growth hormone as assessed by the reverse hemolytic plaque assay

Recent findings indicate that excitatory amino acids (EAAs) can modulate growth hormone (GH) secretion in several mammalian species in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we examined the effects of EAA receptor antagonists [N-methyl-D,L-aspartate (NMDA), kainic acid, L-glutamate] on GH secretion by the reverse hemolytic plaque assay (RHPA). Anterior pituitary cells of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were enzymatically dispersed and subjected to RHPA. EAA receptor agonists increased the mean plaque area in a dose-dependent manner: the maximal increase was observed at 10 microM and increased the fraction of somatotrophs forming large plaques. NMDA (10 microM) did not increase the mean plaque area in the presence of the NMDA receptor antagonists 10 microM AP-7 and 10 microM MK-801. Coincubation of kainic acid with the non-NMDA receptor antagonist CNQX blocked the kainic-acid-stimulated increase in GH secretion. The addition of MK-801, AP-7 or CNQX to glutamate caused a partial reduction of the mean plaque area. Ten micromoles per liter glutamate with 10 nM GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) produced an additive effect on GHRH-induced GH release. Somatostatin suppressed the stimulatory action of glutamate. We speculate that glutamate plays a role in the regulation of GH secretion.

Development of Theileria sergenti schizonts in the lymph node of experimentally infected cattle

Schizogony of Japanese Theileria sergenti of cattle was studied by light and electron microscopy. Schizonts were detected in the draining lymph node between 4 and 8 days after sporozoite inoculation. Macroschizonts (the phase of nuclear division having invaginations) were formed 6 days after inoculation. Subsequently, microschizonts (the phase of merozoite formation displaying rosette-like appearance) were observed 8 days after inoculation. Multiple infections of a host cell with sporozoites were suggested to occur since different stages of schizonts were simultaneously detected in the same cell. Host cells of schizonts were considerably enlarged by parasitism. However, morphological characteristics of the developmental stages of T. sergenti schizonts resembled those of malignant Theileria species (e.g. T. parva). Schizogony of T. sergenti observed in this study seems to be the primary generation.

Effects of nicardipine, nitroglycerin, and nitroprusside on left ventricular diastolic function during enflurane anesthesia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of nicardipine (NCR), nitroglycerin (NTG), or nitroprusside (SNP) on left ventricular diastolic function during enflurane anesthesia in acutely instrumented dogs. Using echocardiography, time constants for the decline in isovolumic left ventricular pressure (T), stiffness constant (K), diastolic time intervals, and left ventricular filling rates were measured in 21 mongrel dogs during the following conditions: (1) 0% enflurane (control), (2) 3.3% enflurane, (3) intravenous infusion of NCR, 1 microgram/kg/min, NTG, 2 micrograms/kg/min, or SNP, 2 micrograms/kg/min, during 3.3% enflurane, and (4) intravenous infusion of NCR, 2 micrograms/kg/min, NTG, 4 micrograms/kg/min, or SNP, 4 micrograms/kg/min, during 3.3% enflurane. During 3.3% enflurane anesthesia, T and K increased significantly, and left ventricular filling rates decreased. The administration of NCR, NTG, or SNP returned T and K to control levels. Left ventricular rapid filling rate returned toward the control level only with NCR (P < 0.05, NCR v NTG, SNP). It is concluded that the depression of diastolic function during enflurane anesthesia was improved by NCR or other vasodilators. The extent and mechanism of action of these vasodilators might differ, however.

Mutations in ras genes in cells cultured from mouse skin tumors induced by ultraviolet irradiation

Mutations in ras oncogenes were detected in cultured cells of mouse skin tumors induced by near-UV irradiation. DNA extracted from the UV-induced tumor cells was transfected to golden hamster embryo cells, and focus-forming ability was confirmed in 22 of 26 cell strains, 15 of which had the repetitive mouse sequence. Mouse ras genes were detected in 10 of these 22 cell strains. Point mutations in the ras genes were at Ha-ras codon 13 (GGC-->GTC in two strains, GGC-->AGC in one strain), Ki-ras codon 61 (CAA-->GAA in two strains), and N-ras codon 61 (CAA-->CAT in two strains, CAA-->AAA in two strains). In one tumor cell strain no base change was directed. Most mutations occurred at dipyrimidine sites. Pyrimidine dimers or pyrimidine(6-4)pyrimidone photoproducts are the likely cause of the skin cancers. The base change occurred preferentially at G.C base pairs, and transversions predominated.

A high-level and regulatable production system for recombinant glycoproteins using a human interferon-alpha promoter-based expression vector

A novel expression vector for human cells, pIFP, which expresses a cloned gene under the control of the human interferon-alpha-encoding gene (IFN-alpha) promoter (pIFN) was constructed. As a model of glycoprotein production, a human erythropoietin-encoding cDNA (EPO) inserted downstream from pIFN in pIFP was introduced into human B-cell leukemia-derived BALL-1 cells, and EPO-producing cells were established. Upon stimulation with Sendai virus, the cells produced human EPO at high levels. The highest production level and the highest inducibility were 872 IU/ml and 67-fold, respectively. Simultaneously, the transformed cells also produced IFN-alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), as the parental BALL-1 cells did. Comparing the amounts of the substances produced, activity of the exogenous pIFN introduced seemed much higher than that of the endogenous one. Further, the transformed cells could be obtained in a large quantity by being applied to the 'in vivo cell proliferation method (hamster method)'. Human EPO produced by the transformed cells had a molecular mass range of 35 to 42 kDa, similar to that of EPO produced by CHO cells. The processing of EPO seemed to occur properly. The combination of the human pIFN, BALL-1 cells and the hamster method provides us with a useful production system for bioactive glycoproteins of human origin.

Difference in response to colony-stimulating factors and involvement of protein kinase C signal transduction system in three subclones from the ME-1 cell line and two sublines

We previously established a cell line from a patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia with eosinophilia (M4E0), ME-1. ME-1 cells are responsive to colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) such as interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-4, and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), and exhibit monocyte-macrophage differentiation. We isolated three subclones, ME-F1 from ME-1, and ME-F2 and ME-F3 from two sublines of ME-1. These subclones had different morphologic, cytochemical, phenotypic, and cytogenetic features. They represented different monocytic-lineage differentiation stages and exhibited different responses to IL-3, GM-CSF, and especially IL-4. IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-4 enhanced proliferation and differentiation to macrophage-like cells in the ME-F1 subclone. However, they enhanced only proliferation of ME-F2 cells and only differentiation to macrophage-like cells in the ME-F3 subclone. To elucidate possible differences in signal transduction mechanisms in ME-F1, ME-F2, and ME-F3 cells following stimulation by CSFs, we studied the effects of IL-3 and IL-4 on protein kinase C (PKC) activity. Both IL-3 and IL-4 induced a rapid, transient decrease of cytosolic PKC in ME-F1 cells, but did not affect PKC activity in ME-F2 and ME-F3 cells. The PKC inhibitors, 1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) and calphostin C inhibited IL-3-induced enhancement of proliferation and differentiation of ME-F1 cells, but did not inhibit enhancement of proliferation of ME-F2 cells and differentiation of ME-F3 cells. Our data suggest that PKC-dependent signal transduction is considerably related to IL-3-induced proliferation and differentiation of ME-F1 cells. In addition, it was demonstrated that the two subclones, ME-F2 and ME-F3, lost one of the two responses of ME-F1 cells to CSFs, either proliferation or differentiation, and simultaneously lost PKC-dependent response to CSFs.

Pigments from the cultured lichen mycobionts of Graphis scripta and G. Desquamescens

Two new pigments, named grapheone and graphisquinone, were identified in the cultures of the spore-derived mycobionts of the lichens Graphis scripta and Graphis desquamescens, respectively.