Development of Transfer-Assisting Robot System Using Posture-Supporting Wear and Support Robot

When assisting a care receiver to transfer from one plane to another, a caregiver needs to hold up and move him/her. As a caregiver has to support the weight of one person, transfer assistance imposes a heavy physical burden on the caregiver. Particularly, in Japan, with an increasing elderly population and a decreasing young population, there are a few caregivers to assist numerous care receivers to transfer. In this scenario, it is an extremely vital issue to develop methods to reduce the burden of the caregivers when assisting care receivers to transfer. In this study, by focusing on the clothes that care receivers wear, we developed a transfer-assisting robot system by combining a dedicated posture-supporting wear and a mobile robot based on a lift mechanism.

An Interlaboratory Validation Study of the Improved Transformation Assay Employing Balb/c 3T3 Cells: Results of a Collaborative Study on the Two-stage Cell Transformation Assay by the Non-genotoxic Carcinogen Study Group

The Non-genotoxic Carcinogen Study Group of the Environmental Mutagen Society of Japan organised the first step of an interlaboratory validation study on an improved cell transformation assay employing Balb/c 3T3 A31-1-1 cells. Nineteen laboratories participated in this study. The modified transformation assay was evaluated for its responsiveness, its inter-laboratory reproducibility and its transferability. In this study, a mixture of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and nutrient mixture F12, supplemented with insulin–transferrin– ethanolamine–sodium selenite and 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS) was used during the period of expression of transformed foci, intead of the usual minimum essential medium with 10% FBS. 20-Methylcholanthrene (MCA) and 12 -O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) were selected as a prototype initiator and a tumour promoter, respectively. Two series of experiments were conducted. In the first series, the transformation activity of MCA was examined at various concentrations. In the absence of the promoting treatment with TPA, exposure to MCA only weakly induced transformed foci. In the presence of 0.1μg/ml TPA, all laboratories observed significant dose-dependent increases in the number of transformed foci with increasing MCA concentrations. In the second series of experiments, various concentrations of TPA were tested. In the absence of initiating treatment with MCA, exposure to TPA weakly induced transformed foci in about half of the laboratories. In the presence of 0.2μg/ml MCA, all the laboratories observed significant dose-dependent increases in the number of transformed foci with increasing TPA concentrations. The results from this study support the usefulness of this modified two-stage transformation assay with Balb/c 3T3 cells.

Development of a system to provide different fields of view to eyes with a function to generate rapid movements

We developed a system that provides a human user with the artificial oculomotor ability to control their eyes independently, which was named Virtual Chameleon after Chameleons. Virtual Chameleon consists of two independently controlled CCD cameras, a 3D tracking sensor system and a head-mounted display. The Virtual Chameleon control independently postures of two cameras to follow the sensors of the 3D tracking system smoothly. The successful users of the system were able to actively control visual axes by manipulating 3D sensors held by their both hands, to watch independent view fields presented to the left and right eyes, and to look around as chameleons do. Although it is thought that those independent fields of view the user of Virtual Chameleon corresponds to smooth movements on human eye movements, the system did not have functions to control angles of cameras rapidly in way corresponding to saccadic eye movements and compensatory movements as numerous animals including human do. In this paper, we implemented functions to control angles camera rapidly corresponding to saccadic eye movements in Virtual Chameleon, and we performed fundamental experiments to evaluate effects on the user's visual capabilities.

A portable device to represent different views to both eyes

To investigate the flexible adaptation of human visual system, we developed a system to provide different view fields to both eyes of a user respectively. The system named "Virtual Chameleon" consists of two CCD cameras independently controlled and a head-mounted display was used by twelve healthy volunteers. Eleven of them became able to independently control visual axes and understood two different views. The successful users of the system were able to actively control visual axes by manipulating 3D sensors held by their both hands, to watch independent view fields presented to the left and right eyes, and to look around as chameleons do. The results raise interesting question on adaption to provided two independent view fields.

Incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the relationship between age and smoking in a Japanese population

BACKGROUND

Accurately evaluating a risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires a large-scale longitudinal study using a standard criterion for diagnosing COPD. There have been only a few such follow-up studies in Europe and no reports in Asia. We estimated the incidence rate and incidence rate ratio (IRR) of age and smoking for COPD in a Japanese population using the diagnosis criterion of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines.

METHODS

Subjects were 17,106 participants aged 25-74 years during health check-ups including spirometry from April 1997 through March 2005 in Japan. Total follow-up of participants were 47,652 person-years in males and 25,224 person-years in females. The IRR of age and smoking was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models with both variables.

RESULTS

We identified 466 incidence cases of COPD. The incidence rate per 100 person-years was 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73-0.89) in males and 0.31 (0.24-0.38) in females, and significantly increased with age in both sexes. The incidence rate for current smokers was significantly higher than that for male non-smokers but not significantly for females. Among males, the IRR for current smokers with Brinkman Index < 400, 400-799, and 800+ was 1.2 (0.8-1.9), 2.7 (1.9-3.8), and 4.6 (3.3-6.5), respectively.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that the COPD risk gradually increased with aging, and that there was a dose-response relationship between smoking and COPD risk.

Effects of smoking and age on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Japan

BACKGROUND

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines recommended a forced expiratory volume at one second per forced vital capacity as a standard diagnostic criterion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A few reports on the risk factors of COPD have used the standard diagnostic criteria. In our study, the effects of age and smoking on COPD in Japan under the standard diagnosis criteria were evaluated.

METHODS

Subjects were 11,460 participants aged 25-74 years during health check-ups including spirometry at the Toyota Community Medical Center in Japan. Logistic regression analyses with or without COPD as a dependent variable and age as an independent variable were conducted among non-smokers. The ratio of the observed number of COPD cases in former and current smokers to the number expected for non-smokers with the same distribution of age (O/E) was calculated.

RESULTS

The proportion of males incurring COPD significantly increased with age, and the O/E for former and current male smokers was significantly higher than one, i.e., O/E (95% confidence interval) for current smokers with a Brinkman Index of <400, 400-799, and 800+ were 3.10 (2.00-4.81), 2.78 (2.05-3.73), and 4.76 (3.65-6.19), respectively. Among females, the O/E for current smokers with a Brinkman Index of <400, and 400-799 were significantly higher than one.

CONCLUSION

Age and smoking were shown to constitute strong risk factors for COPD under the standard diagnostic criteria.

Clinicopathologic Study of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Sinonasal and Hard Palate Regions in 15 Japanese Cases

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the sinonasal region have been the subject of numerous studies. Previous reports have suggested that nasal lymphomas occurring in Orientals are mostly of the natural killer cell (NK)/T-cell phenotype which contrasts with the preponderance of the B-cell type in western populations. Recent studies indicated that NK/T-cell lymphoma constitutes the clinical condition of lethal midline granuloma. These reports led us to question whether all NK/T lymphomas are always lethal midline granuloma. We have investigated a series of 15 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphomas in the nasal and/or paranasal sinuses clinically, immunohistochemically and for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This study showed that the presence of EBV was common in nasal NK/T lymphoma, and this type of lymphoma was clearly highly frequent in other types of nasal lymphoma in our department. Moreover, in 4 cases of NK/T-cell lymphomas, the clinical features of lethal midline granuloma did not appear, indicating that NK/T lymphomas are not always lethal midline granuloma.

Development of a wearable computer system with a hands-free operation interface for the use of home health caregiver

We previously developed a network-based medical care support system called the Hyper Hospital, a computer network with an interface that is dedicated to patient care. In this study, we developed a wearable information system that is designed so that a caregiver can obtain information and control various support devices within the home-care environment. In our system, the wearable computer itself consists of a computer network built into a jacket. Each required function is implemented by a dedicated small computer connected to the in-jacket network. A new function may easily be added to the system by connecting additional computers. A network comprising such a set of single-function computers becomes a highly efficient information system when applied to health care support.

Activation of Epstein-Barr virus by saliva from Sjogren's syndrome patients

The aim of this study was to examine the mechanism of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation by soluble factors from the inflamed salivary glands of patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Saliva from SS patients was used to examine the regulation of EBV activation by an inflammatory salivary microenvironment. Transient transfection of the EBV-negative salivary gland cell line (HSY) with BZLF1, a trans-activating EBV gene promoter-fusion construct (Zp-luc), was used in this study. The results showed that under conditions where the BZLF1 promoter is activated by potent stimuli, SS saliva (from eight of 12 patients) exerts a significant effect on expression of the luciferase gene. A specific inhibitor of protein kinase C did not affect the SS saliva-induced Zp-luc activity, whereas treatment with inhibitors of calmodulin, calcineurin and IP3, dose-dependently decreased this induction. Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), which is known to be expressed in SS salivary glands, dose-dependently induced Zp-luc activity. Hence, these results demonstrate the activation of EBV by SS saliva and suggest that EBV activation at the inflammatory site may occur in the presence of TGF-beta1 via triggering of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase signalling pathway.

Comparison of four microbial enzymes in Clostridia and Bacteroides isolated from human feces

The activities of four microbial enzymes (azoreductase, nitroreductase, beta-glucuronidase, and beta-glucosidase) in major anaerobic members of human fecal microflora were quantified and the influence of the host factors on expression of these microbial enzyme activities was also investigated. Clostridium paraputrificum and C. clostridiiforme showed much higher activities than other fecal anaerobes tested. Nitroreductase activity in C. paraputrificum isolated from fecal specimens of patients with colon cancer was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in the clostridia isolated from healthy subjects and the subjects given high beef diets. However, the activities of some microorganisms tested showed marked differences in each strain.

Physical interaction of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen leader protein (EBNA-LP) with human oestrogen-related receptor 1 (hERR1): hERR1 interacts with a conserved domain of EBNA-LP that is critical for EBV-induced B-cell immortalization

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen leader protein (EBNA-LP) consists of W1W2 repeats and a unique C-terminal Y1Y2 domain and plays a critical role in EBV-induced transformation. To identify the cellular proteins associating with EBNA-LP, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using EBNA-LP cDNA containing a single W1W2 domain as bait and an EBV-transformed human peripheral blood lymphocyte cDNA library as the source of cellular genes. Our results were as follows. (i) A cDNA in the positive yeast colony was found to encode a cellular protein, human oestrogen-related receptor 1 (hERR1), which is a constitutive transcriptional activator of the various types of oestrogen response elements. (ii) A purified chimeric protein consisting of glutathione S-transferase (GST) fused to hERR1 specifically formed complexes with EBNA-LPs containing one (EBNA-LPR1), two (EBNA-LPR2) or four W1W2 repeats (EBNA-LPR4) transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. Reciprocally, GST fused to EBNA-LPR1 or EBNA-LPR2 pulled down hERR1 transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. (iii) Mutational analyses of EBNA-LP revealed that the Y2 domain of EBNA-LP is responsible for the interaction with hERR1 and two leucines in the Y2 domain (Leu-78 and -82), which are conserved among a subset of primate gammaherpesviruses, are interactive sites for hERR1. So far, it has been reported that the only domain of EBNA-LP critical for EBV-induced transformation is the Y1Y2 domain. Potential roles of hERR1 in EBV-induced transformation are discussed.

No effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields found on cytotoxic activities and cytokine production of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro

Several epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MFs) and cancer in adults and children. A possible target of MFs is the immune system. The effects of the exposure to ELF MFs on the immunological functions of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from healthy male volunteers were assessed by measuring the natural killer (NK) and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) activities and the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interleukin-10 (IL-10). The PBMCs were exposed to three different MF: linearly polarized (vertical), circularly polarized, and elliptically polarized, at 50 and 60 Hz. Magnetic flux densities were set at 500, 100, 20, and 2 microT (rms) for vertical field and at 500 microT (rms) for the rotating fields. Using cytotoxicity assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cytokine production, we could not find any effects of ELF MFs on the cytotoxic activities and the cytokines production of human PBMCs.

Effects of power frequency alternating magnetic fields on reproduction and pre-natal development of mice

Three groups of ICR male and female mice were exposed to 50-Hz, sinusoidal, alternating, horizontal magnetic fields of 0.0 mT (sham), 0.5 mT and 5.0 mT (rms) for 9 and 2 weeks prior to mating for males and females, respectively, through fertilization and until cesarean sectioning. Fetuses were collected by cesarean section on the 18th day of gestation. Approximately half were randomly selected for skeletal examination and the remainder used for visceral examination. No significant differences were found between the field- and the sham-exposed groups in pre-, post- and total implantation losses; number of live fetuses; sex ratio; live fetal weight; number of externally abnormal fetuses; and numbers of fetuses with skeletal and visceral anomalies. These results suggest that exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields has no major effects on reproduction and development in mice, and do not support the association of EMF exposure with adverse reproductive effects suggested by epidemiology.

No effect of extremely low-frequency magnetic field observed on cell growth or initial response of cell proliferation in human cancer cell lines

An effect on the tumor promotion process, as represented by accelerated cell growth, has been indicated as one example of areas that demonstrate the possibility of biological effects of extremely-low frequency magnetic fields. We, therefore, exposed the five cell lines (HL-60, K-562, MCF-7, A-375, and H4) derived from human tumors to a magnetic field for 3 days to investigate the effects on cell growth. Prior to exposure or sham exposure, the cells were precultured for 2 days in low serum conditions. The number of growing cells was counted in a blind manner. To investigate the effect on the initial response of cell proliferation, two cell lines were synchronized in G1 phase by serum starvation and then exposed to a magnetic field for 18 h (H4 cells) or 24 h (MCF-7 cells), both with and without serum stimulation. The rate of DNA synthesis, taken as a measure of the cell proliferation, was determined by following the incorporation of [(3)H]-thymidine into the DNA. Three different magnetic field polarizations at both 50 and 60 Hz were used: linearly polarized (vertical); circularly polarized; and an elliptically polarized field. Magnetic field flux densities were set at 500, 100, 20 and 2 microT (rms) for the vertical field and at 500 microT (rms) for the rotating fields. No effect of magnetic field exposure was observed on either cell growth or the initial response of cell proliferation.

Antitumor activity of a phenoxazine compound, 2-amino-4,4alpha-dihydro-4alpha,7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazine-3-one against human B cell and T cell lymphoblastoid cell lines: induction of mixed types of cell death, apoptosis, and necrosis

PURPOSE

We studied the antitumor activity of 2-amino-4,4alpha-dihydro-4alpha,7-dimethyl-3H-phenoxazine-3-one (Phx), which was synthesized by the reactions of 2-amino-5-methylphenol with bovine hemoglobin, on human B cell lymphoblastoid cell lines, P3HR-1 and Raji derived from African Burkitt's lymphoma, and the human T cell lymphoblastoid cell line Molt-4. We also studied whether Phx might cause apoptosis and necrosis in these cells.

METHODS

We evaluated cell viability and apoptosis and necrosis of the cells in the presence of Phx, by using agarose gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTS

Phx suppressed the viability of P3HR-1, Raji, and Molt-4 cells, though the suppression patterns were different, i.e., Phx suppressed the viability of P3HR-1, Raji, and Molt-4 cells at higher concentrations, while the drug enhanced the viability of Raji cells, but not those of P3HR-1 and Molt-4 cells at lower concentrations. To investigate which type of cell death - apoptosis or necrosis - is induced by Phx, induction of DNA ladder, phosphatidylserine externalization, and propidium iodide-permeable cells were examined in Phx-treated cells. Although Phx did not induce DNA ladder formation, it induced the phosphatidylserine externalization and propidium iodide-permeable cells, suggesting that Phx caused a mixed type of cell death, both apoptosis and necrosis. The population of early stage apoptotic cells was dominant in Raji cells, and that of the late stage apoptotic/necrotic cells was dominant in Molt-4 cells after 72-h treatment with Phx. The population of the early stage apoptotic cells and the late stage apoptotic/necrotic cells was almost equal in P3HR-1 cells in the presence of Phx, though the population of both types of cells increased with time. The nuclear morphological analysis of Phx-treated Raji, P3HR-1, and Molt-4 cells also showed that Phx induces apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results suggest that Phx shows antitumor activity against human B cell-derived and T cell-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines, in vitro, causing apoptosis and necrosis.

Possible involvement of EBV-mediated alpha-fodrin cleavage for organ-specific autoantigen in Sjogren's syndrome

A cleavage product of alpha-fodrin may be an important organ-specific autoantigen in the pathogenesis of Sjogren's syndrome (SS), but the mechanisms of alpha-fodrin cleavage remain unclear. Since EBV has been implicated in the pathogenesis of SS, we determined whether EBV activation could induce the SS-specific 120-kDa autoantigen alpha-fodrin. ZEBRA mRNA expression, a marker for activation of the lytic cycle of EBV, was found in the salivary gland tissues from SS patients, but not in those from control individuals. ZEBRA-expressing lymphoid cells were also found in the SS glands in double-stained immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, a significant link between production of Abs against 120-kDa alpha-fodrin and reactivated EBV Ag was found in sera from patients with SS, but not in those from control individuals. EBV-activated lymphoid cells showed specific alpha-fodrin cleavage to the expected 120-kDa fragments in vitro. Pretreatment with caspase inhibitors inhibited cleavage of alpha-fodrin. Thus, an increase in apoptotic protease activities induced by EBV reactivation may be involved in the progression of alpha-fodrin proteolysis in the development of SS.

Activation of nuclear factor kappaB at the onset of ossification of the spinal ligaments

We examined the correlation between the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), stimulated by environmental factors involving cytokines and growth factors in ligament cells, and the onset of ossification of the spinal ligaments (OSL) or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Aseptic samples were taken carefully from non-ossified sites during surgery (75 patients). We carried out preliminary hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue staining, using five portions of each specimen, and excluded samples containing chondrocytic, osteoblastic, or inflammatory cells (n = 25). We used specimens from the remaining 50 patients (35 men and 15 women, ranging in age from 45-81 years); average age, 59.5 years (18 nuchal ligament specimens, and 32 yellow ligament specimens). OSL or DISH had occurred in 25 patients, 20 patients were in the non-OSL group (8 with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, and 12 with lumbar canal stenosis), and the remaining 5 samples were collected from patients with injury. For culture study, we used portions of the 14 largest samples from the above 50 patients. We extracted nuclear proteins and cytoplasmic proteins from non-ossified spinal ligaments in 50 patients and detected p65RelA/NFkappaB by Western blotting. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in cytoplasm were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Cultured cells from the 14 samples were then stimulated with 10, 100, 250, or 500 ng/ml of recombinant human (rh)PDGF-B or TGFbeta1. A control experiment was performed without rhPDGF-BB or TGFbeta1 stimulation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was standardized by the DNA content of the cells. The number of NFkappaB-positive samples was significantly higher in patients with OSL or DISH than in non-OSL patients. This tendency was obvious in the case of OSL or DISH with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In OSL and in DISH patients, significantly greater amounts of PDGF-BB and TGFbeta1 were seen in ligament cells than in non-OSL patients (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the detection of p65RelA/NFkappaB band and the content of PDGF-BB and TGFbeta1 in ligament cells (P < 0.05). ALP activity tended to be higher in cells in the OSL group not receiving any other treatment. Our results indicate the possibility that NFkappaB, stimulated by environmental factors involving PDGF-BB and TGFbeta1 in ligament cells, influences the osteoblastic differentiation of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells.

Infection of human lung fibroblasts with Epstein-Barr virus causes increased IL-1beta and bFGF production

An association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and fibroblast proliferation in the interstitial spaces of the lung has been suggested in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. In this study we show that EBV can infect human lung fibroblasts in vitro. A primary-cultured human lung fibroblast cell line, designated CCD-32Lu, expressed EBV nuclear antigen 1 after coculture with lethally irradiated EBV producing cells. The infection further induced CCD-32Lu cells to produce the fibrogenic cytokines basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and interleukin-1beta. These findings indicate that lung fibroblasts may be a target for EBV infection and suggest that EBV may play a role in increased production of these cytokines and induce fibroblast proliferation in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

Detection of lymphocytes productively infected with Epstein-Barr virus in non-neoplastic tonsils

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists for life in the infected host. Little is known about EBV reactivation and regulation of virus persistence in healthy individuals. We examined tonsils of chronic tonsillitis patients to detect EBV transcripts, EBV genomes and lytic proteins. LMP1 transcripts were observed in 11 of 15 specimens and BZLF1 transcripts were detected in six. Multiple copies of EBV genome equivalents per cell, and ZEBRA- and viral capsid antigen-positive cells were also detected in tonsillar lymphocytes. These results indicate that EBV productively infected cells may survive in the face of immune surveillance in the tonsils. Thus, EBV replication may occur in tonsillar lymphocytes, and tonsillar lymphoid tissues may play a role in the maintenance of EBV load in vivo.

Endoscopic management of nasal glioma in infancy

In the surgical treatment of nasal glioma, craniotomy has been recommended for excluding the possibility of intracranial extension of the lesion. We describe a case in whom intranasal glioma was successfully removed by endoscopic surgery without craniotomy at 4 months old. Intranasal endoscopic surgery is considered appropriate for the removal of intranasal glioma having no intracranial extension, since the procedure is less invasive and does not result in postoperative facial deformity. Intranasal endoscopic surgery is also proposed as the preferable procedure to craniotomy for excluding intracranial extension of intranasal glioma.

Possible involvement of IL-12 expression by Epstein-Barr virus in Sjögren syndrome

AIM

To determine the correlation between interleukin 12 (IL-12) expression and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in Sjögren syndrome.

METHODS

Indirect immunohistochemical technique, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoblot analysis were used to investigate IL-12 expression by EBV activation, using 13 surgical specimens and four B cell lines.

RESULTS

Marked expression of IL-12 was found in the epithelial cells and the infiltrating B cells of salivary gland tissues from patients with Sjögren syndrome (six of 10 cases), but not in those from normal individuals (none of three cases). A striking topographic correlation between IL-12 and EBV was found. In addition, levels of IL-12 production by B cell lines were clearly enhanced by EBV activation in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-12 expression closely reflects the intracellular event of EBV activation in Sjögren syndrome, and may contribute to the T helper cell type 1 (Th1) cytokine overexpression seen in this disease.

Behçet's disease and antibody titers to various heat-shock protein 60s

It has been suggested that the 65 kDa heat-shock protein (HSP) of Streptococcus in recurrent aphthae within the oral cavity may be involved in the uveoretinitis of Behçet's disease, possibly through sensitization of the immune system. To investigate this possibility, we examined serum antibody titers for various members of the 60 kDa family of HSPs and their implications with regard to a role for HSP60s in Behçet's disease. We isolated HSP60 of Streptococcus pyogenes from the margin of oral aphthae in one Behçet's disease patient with severe uveoretinitis and the HSP60s of Yersinia enterocolitica, retinoblastoma cell line clone Y79, and bovine retinal extract and investigated the reaction of each of these HSP60s with 100-fold diluted serum samples from 20 Behçet's disease patients using anti-HSP60 antibody titers determined by ELISA. The anti- Streptococcus HSP60 antibody and anti-retinal HSP60 antibody titers of the 100-fold diluted serum samples from the Behçet's disease patients were both significantly higher than those of similarly diluted serum samples from healthy donors. The results of the ELISA antibody titer assay showed that, although the various HSP60s share a common basic antigenicity, they differed in reactivity to the anti-HSP60 antibodies in the sera of the Behçet's disease patients. The results indicate that subtle but significant differences exist in the antigenicity of the various HSP60s tested, all of which share a common basic antigenicity and are of approximately the same molecular weight, and suggest that an immuno-cross-reaction between retinal and streptococcal HSPs and a related autoimmune response may be involved in the development of Behçet's disease.

Optical and magneto-optical properties of copper-nickel compound metal island films

The optical properties of copper Cu-Ni compound metal island (CMI) films composed of nanoclusters of an alloy of Cu and Ni have been experimentally investigated. The spectral characteristics of the Cu-Ni CMI films are intermediate between those of conventional Cu and Ni island films in visible and near-IR regions. In addition, the magneto-optic effect has been observed in the Cu-Ni CMI films. It is also shown that the Faraday rotation in the Cu-Ni CMI films can easily be controlled by selection of the mixture ratio of Cu and Ni.

Retrovirus in salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome

AIMS

To investigate the possibility of an immune response to retroviral antigens or of detecting retrovirus in Sjögren's syndrome.

METHODS

Retroviruses were sought in labial salivary glands and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Sjögren's syndrome by immunoblotting assay, immunohistochemical assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcriptase (RT) activity assay, and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Sera from five of 15 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (33%) reacted against p24 group specific antigen (gag) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Labial salivary gland biopsy specimens from seven of the 15 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (47%) contained an epithelial cytoplasmic protein reactive with a monoclonal antibody to p24 of HIV. PCR was performed to detect HIV and human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) genes from salivary gland tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Mn2+ dependent, Mg2+ independent RT activity was detected in the salivary gland tissues in three of 10 patients. A-type-like retroviral particles were observed in epithelial cells of salivary glands by transmission electron microscopy. Target genes for HIV and HTLV-I were not found in any of the salivary gland tissues or peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Sjögren's syndrome patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest the presence of an unknown retrovirus similar to HIV in the salivary gland which might be involved in the pathogenesis of a subpopulation in Sjögren's syndrome.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) hypersensitivity of peripheral B lymphocytes in patients with EBV genome-positive Burkitt's lymphoma

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from four Japanese patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome-positive Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) during remission were exposed to the B95-8 strain of EBV. Maximum concentrations of the EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) before cellular DNA synthesis were similar to those of healthy counterparts. Subsequently, EBV-immortalised cell lines were established. These immortalised lymphoblastoid cells were treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and superinfected with the P3HR-1 strain of EBV. EBV early antigens (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) were expressed in approximately 3-10 fold higher concentrations by these lymphoblastoid cells than by those from patients with other types of malignant neoplasia including EBV genome-negative BL and from healthy counterparts. Moderate to extremely high IgG antibody titres to EBV VCA as well as IgG antibodies to EA were demonstrated in these patients during the study. These results suggest that defective underlying cellular mechanisms for regulating the replication of EBV may be present in patients with EBV genome-positive BL.

Decreased cytoplasmic immunoglobulin A production during Epstein-Barr virus immortalization on lymphocytes from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia

Previously, we have reported significantly lower immunoglobulin (Ig) A production in supernatants of cultured lymphoblastoid cells using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) when compared to that of age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Here, we further assess the degree of cytoplasmic Ig production in these cells and also analyze it during the early phase of Epstein-Barr virus immortalization. All classes of cytoplasmic IgM, IgG, and IgA productions were demonstrated in cells from healthy controls. In contrast, cells from patients with AT showed only cytoplasmic IgM and IgG with low or nondetectable levels of IgA during and after the immortalizing process. These results suggest B lymphocytes bearing IgA are functionally immature and/or defective in patients with AT.

African Burkitt's lymphoma: a plant, Euphorbia tirucalli, reduces Epstein-Barr virus-specific cellular immunity

Endemicity of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) coincides with profusion of a plant Euphorbia tirucalli in tropical Africa. E. tirucalli contains 4-deoxyphorbol ester that enhances Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of B lymphocytes. In this study, we found that 4-deoxyphorbol ester reduced EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cell function. Furthermore, the B lymphocytes dually exposed to EBV and 4-deoxyphorbol ester were resistant to EBV-specific T cell cytotoxicity, through down-regulation of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), the major target to EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cells. These immunologic findings strengthen the notion that E. tirucalli may be an important environmental risk factor for the genesis of African BL.

Epstein-barr-virus hypersensitivity of lymphocytes from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT), an autosomal recessive disorder with a high incidence of lymphoreticular malignancies including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD), was investigated to assess the susceptibility to EBV infection and oncogenesis. When the patients' lymphocytes were infected with B95-8 EBV, there was a tendency toward an enhanced growth in semisolid agar, as compared with the healthy donor counterparts. Among the preparations tested, from 14 patients, 2 cell lines showed extremely high colony forming efficiency. The lymphocytes from patients with AT did not contain a large number of EBV target cells, as determined by the maximum frequency of EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) induction prior to cellular DNA synthesis. Fourteen different lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from the 14 patients with AT were then examined for their EBV inducibility and superinfectibility. By treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate TPA) and culturing at a lower temperature of 33-degrees-C, early antigen (EA) induction occurred approximately 6-fold and 5-fold higher, respectively, as compared with the lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from healthy controls. Viral capsid antigen (VCA) was also induced significantly by TPA or culturing at lower temperature in the lines from patients with AT, but only slightly in the control counterparts. When the lymphoblastoid cells from patients with AT were exposed to P3HR-1 EBV, EA and VCA syntheses were approximately 6- and 12-fold higher, respectively, than those in the cells derived from the healthy controls. This evidence suggested B lymphocytes of patients with AT were highly susceptible to EBV infection and possibly linked to the development of EBV-induced LPD.

High irradiation sensitivity of epstein-barr-virus (ebv) in lymphoblastoid-cells from patients with ataxia-telangiectasia and ebv genome-positive burkitts-lymphoma

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from the peripheral blood of patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) and EBV genome-positive Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) were tested for expression of EBV-related lytic antigens by means of irradiation. We used 1 Gy in each experiment, according to the results of the P3HR-1 (derived from African BL) cell line. Significantly higher expression of early antigens (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) was demonstrated in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from both patients with AT and those with EBV genome-positive BL, as compared to those derived from healthy individuals. These results suggested that defective regulating mechanisms on B lymphocytes, responsible for EBV infection, may underlie for the pathogenesis of development of lymphoproliferative diseases both in patients with AT and EBV genome-positive BL.

High Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) susceptibility of both lymphoblastoid and lymphoma cell lines derived from a Japanese patient with EBV genome-positive Burkitt's lymphoma

A Lymphoma cell line from the tumor tissue was established spontaneously from a Japanese patient with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome-positive Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). Additionally lymphoblastoid cell lines from peripheral blood of this patient were established either spontaneously or by in vitro infection with B95-8 EBV. Lymphoma cells showed monoclonal surface immunoglobulins (kappa and gamma) with specific chromosomal translocations, t (8; 14). In contrast, lymphoblastoid cells expressed polyclonal surface immunoglobulins without specific chromosomal abnormalities. Lymphoma cells made colonies in soft agarose approximately 10 times more than those of the lymphoblastoid cells. When each cell line was cultured at lower temperature of 33 degrees C, treated with 12-O-tetradecanoyl- phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), and superinfected with P3HR-1 EBV, all cell lines expressed 5 to 10 times higher levels of EBV early antigens (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) than lymphoblastoid cell lines from healthy controls. Furthermore, lymphoblastoid cell lines obtained from peripheral blood of this patient during the period of remission also exhibited high EA and VCA inducibility and superinfectibility. These findings suggested that the lymphoid cells in this patient were genetically highly susceptible to EBV infection, and this evidence possibly linked to the lymphomagenesis of EBV genome-positive BL.

Establishment of HIV-1-producing cells from peripheral mononuclear cells cultured with normal human serum

Normal human serum (NHS) contributed to the establishment of cells producing HIV-1 under the conditions of coculture of peripheral mononuclear cells (PMC) from HIV-1 seropositive patients and of PHA-prestimulated or -non-stimulated PMC from seronegative healthy donors. No addition of IL-2 and Polybrene was necessary. Since, in the case 90101, the mitochondrial displacement-loop DNA showed identical sequences in the established cells and the HIV-1 seropositive patient's cells, it can be asserted that the HIV-1-producing cells originated from the patient. These cells are still releasing HIV-1-virion more than one year after their establishment.

Frequent association of Epstein-Barr virus in Japanese patients with Burkitt's lymphoma

Seven Japanese patients with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), residing in Hokkaido, were studied during the period, 1979-1991. Immunological analyses of their lymphoma cells showed all to express surface and/or cytoplasmic immunoglobulins. Chromosomal analysis was performed in five cases. Four of the five lymphomas had the chromosomal translocation, t(8;14), and one had t(2;8). Three patients had extremely high IgG antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral capsid antigen (VCA) and to EBV early antigens (EA). Two patients had positive antibodies to EA, and two others had normal antibody patterns comparable to those of EBV-seropositive age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Four of the seven lymphomas (57.1%) were positive for EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) by anticomplement immunofluorescence and/or EBV DNA using DNA-DNA reassociation kinetics, and/or Southern blot analysis. The frequency of EBV positivity in BL patients residing in Hokkaido was higher than that of cases previously reported in Japan. Three of the four EBV genome-positive BL patients responded well to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgical treatment, with no significant relapse being observed during the study period. In contrast, EBV genome-negative patients had poor prognoses despite having similar levels of clinical staging at the time of diagnosis.

[Detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in salivary gland tumors]

To evaluate the relations between salivary gland tumors and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the levels of EBV-related antibodies were examined, and detection of EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) and EBVDNA in tumor tissue was attempted by the anti-complement immunofluorescence technique and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The mean VCA-IgG antibody level was increased to 925 (80-2560) in Warthin's tumor, 496 (40-2560) in mucoepidermoid tumor, and 206 (40-640) in pleomorphic adenoma. The positive rate of EA-IgG was high in Warthin's and mucoepidermoid tumors. VCA-IgA antibody was positive in 2 of the 7 cases of Warthin's tumor. EA-IgA antibody was negative in all cases. EBVDNA was detected in 7 of the 7 cases of Warthin's tumor, 3 of the 5 cases of mucoepidermoid tumor, and 2 of the 26 cases of pleomorphic adenoma. A relationship between Warthin's tumor and EBV was suggested by the 100% detection rate of the viral DNA.

High correlation in antibody titers between the Sabin-Feldman dye test and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detecting immunoglobulin G antibodies to the nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase of Toxoplasma gondii

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies against nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase, which is a specific and dominant antigen of Toxoplasma gondii, was developed, and the sensitivity and specificity of the test were compared with those of the Sabin-Feldman dye test. One hundred percent agreement was observed in comparative study between those tests on 37 positive and 50 negative human sera. Antibody titers in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, which were expressed as the reciprocal of the highest positive dilution of serum, were just 100 times those in the dye test on 81% (30 of 37) of the positive sera.

Mass spectrometric identification of a phorbol diester 12-O-hexadecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, an Epstein-Barr virus-activating substance, in the soil collected from under Sapium sebiferum

Soil-extracts collected from the ground from under several Euphorbiaceae plants have been known to possess Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-activating substances which are thought to be one of the environmental co-factors causing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in southern part of China and Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) in tropical Africa. Then, a model experiment aimed at chemical characterization of such active substances was carried out using a soil-extract around Sapium sebiferum, a Japanese representative Euphorbiaceae plant. Chromatographic separation guided by the EBV early antigen (EA) inducing activity gave a highly active fraction. Application of this fraction to desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometry identified a major active substance to be 12-O-hexadecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (HPA), which originally occurs in this plant. The method in this model experiment is suggested to be applicable to other samples from the endemic areas of NPC and BL.

Chromosome translocation and c-MYC activation by Epstein-Barr virus and Euphorbia tirucalli in B lymphocytes

Dual exposure to Epstein-Barr virus and purified 4-deoxyphorbol ester derived from the plant Euphorbia tirucalli induced a high frequency of chromosomal rearrangements in human B lymphocytes in vitro. Rearrangements most commonly affected chromosome 8, the chromosome most often showing structural changes in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cells. E tirucalli is indigenous in parts of Africa where BL is endemic and may be an important risk factor for the disease.

[A senile case of B-cell lymphoma with high titers of an EB virus-associated antibodies]

An 83-year-old man suffering from general malaise and discomfort in the epigastrium was admitted to hospital. On testing, peripheral blood and bone marrow smears disclosed a number of abnormal lymphocytoid cells, and a CT and a linear echo scan revealed splenomegaly and a multiple intraperitoneal lymphadenopathy, although no superficial lymph nodes were palpable. Further, abnormal lymphocytoid cells were positive for B1, B4, OKIa1, Leu1, Tac, anti-IgM, anti-IgD, and anti-lambda. Thus, a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma of the intermediate B-cell type was made. Surprisingly, serological examination reveared extremely high titers of EB-virus associated antibodies (VCAIgG 20, 480x, VCAIgA 320x, EAIgG 2,560x), but no EBNA or virus particles were detected in the tumor cells, so that no direct relationship was established between the development of the tumor and the EBV infection.