Skin surface material for detecting human papillomavirus infection of skin warts

Warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, have various clinical presentations, making them difficult to differentiate from clavus, callus, and sometimes, squamous cell carcinoma. Although skin biopsies are the gold standard, a less-invasive method of examining these lesions is desired. Ninety patients with warts and related diseases, such as clavus and callus, were recruited to explore new differentiation methods using the surface of the warts. DNA was extracted from three types of specimens in each case: surface swab, shaved hyperkeratotic scale, and post-shaved surface swab. Total DNA was successfully extracted from these three specimens and was sufficient for subsequent HPV DNA detection. We analyzed samples for the HPV type and HPV viral load using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fifty-five cases were PCR-positive, and HPV1a, 2a, 4, 27, 57, and 65 were detected. The amount of HPV1a DNA produced was significantly greater than that of other HPV types. Regarding the correlation between the clinical diagnosis and HPV detection, the positive agreement rate was 90.9%, the negative agreement rate was 40.0%, and the overall agreement rate was 71.1%. Ten of the 21 cases clinically diagnosed as plantar warts were PCR-negative, especially in elderly patients. This suggests that it is difficult to distinguish plantar warts from clavus and callus in clinical practice. Although the amount of HPV DNA in the removed keratinization scale was highest for all HPV types, HPV detection by swabbing before and after shaving is also useful for follow-up as well as for differential diagnosis.

Reliability of a newly-developed immunochromatography diagnostic kit for pandemic influenza A/H1N1pdm virus: implications for drug administration

BACKGROUND

For the diagnosis of seasonal influenza, clinicians rely on point-of-care testing (POCT) using commercially available kits developed against seasonal influenza viruses. However, POCT has not yet been established for the diagnosis of pandemic influenza A virus (H1N1pdm) infection due to the low sensitivity of the existing kits for H1N1pdm.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

An immunochromatography (IC) test kit was developed based on a monoclonal antibody against H1N1pdm, which does not cross-react with seasonal influenza A or B viruses. The efficacy of this kit (PDM-IC kit) for the diagnosis of H1N1pdm infection was compared with that of an existing kit for the detection of seasonal influenza viruses (SEA-IC kit). Nasal swabs (n = 542) were obtained from patients with flu-like syndrome at 13 clinics in Osaka, Japan during the winter of 2010/2011. Among the 542 samples, randomly selected 332 were further evaluated for viral presence by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The PDM-IC kit versus the SEA-IC kit showed higher sensitivity to and specificity for H1N1pdm, despite several inconsistencies between the two kits or between the kits and RT-PCR. Consequently, greater numbers of false-negative and false-positive cases were documented when the SEA-IC kit was employed. Significant correlation coefficients for sensitivity, specificity, and negative prediction values between the two kits were observed at individual clinics, indicating that the results could be affected by clinic-related techniques for sampling and kit handling. Importantly, many patients (especially influenza-negative cases) were prescribed anti-influenza drugs that were incongruous with their condition, largely due to physician preference for patient responses to questionnaires and patient symptomology, as opposed to actual viral presence.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Concomitant use of SEA-IC and PDM-IC kits increased the likelihood of correct influenza diagnosis. Increasing the credibility of POCT is anticipated to decrease the inappropriate dispensing of anti-influenza drugs, thereby minimizing the emergence of drug-resistant H1N1pdm strains.

A retrospective study of immunochemical fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer detection

BACKGROUND

Colonoscopic examination is the common pathway for positive screening tests detecting colorectal lesions. We evaluated a specific, quantitative high-throughput automatic immunochemical fecal occult blood test (Auto iFOBT) method for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and to determine its concordance with physician assessments informed by complete colonoscopy, the gold-standard technique for evaluation of the colonic mucosa.

METHODS

1200 CRC symptomatic patients were recruited for a retrospective investigation. Colorectal neoplasia were localized by colonoscopy and cancer outcomes were enumerated according to severity. In addition, stool samples were collected and analyzed by Auto iFOBT to derive sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. Qualitative colonoscopy and Auto iFOBT results were correlated, as were cancer severities and quantitative hemoglobin concentrations.

RESULTS

Ninety-one patients were found positive for CRC; 50 mucosal, 20 submucosal, and 21 advanced. At standard cutoff, sensitivity was 60%, 90%, and 95%, respectively. Specificity and positive predictive value for all neoplasia and cancers were 89.6% and 86.4%, and 60.9% and 33.7%, respectively. Cancer severities could be approximated roughly according to hemoglobin concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific qualitative 2-day Auto iFOBT is an accurate tool for the detection of colorectal cancer and therefore provides the basis for a large-scale screening program.

A rare case of a facial-nerve neurofibroma in the parotid gland

The incidence of solitary neurofibroma of the facial nerve originating in the parotid region is extremely low. We report a case of a solitary neurofibroma in a 30-year-old male, who initially presented with a parotid mass without facial paresis or paralysis. A chain of small nodules had been palpable in the right parotid region for the previous 2-3 years. MRI and CT scans revealed several small ovoid lesions extending from the frontal margin of the parotid gland to the retromandibular region. The lesions were surgically removed. The main trunk of the facial nerve was adherent to the dorsal side of the largest nodule; however, this mass was resected atraumatically. Histopathological examination indicated neurofibroma. The incidence, presentation, diagnosis and surgical treatment of intraparotid neurofibroma are discussed and compared with those of Schwannoma.

Sequence analysis of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene in obese/diabetic Japanese

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides play a critical role in body weight regulation in the central nervous system. Mice deficient in POMC developed obesity. We sought mutations in the POMC gene in 50 morbidly obese (body mass index 35-60 kg/m(2)) Japanese subjects with diabetes by direct sequencing. Apart from two silent mutations (C6982T and C7285T), no other mutations were detected. Frequencies of these mutations were not significantly different between 100 obese subjects and 100 controls. Also, the frequencies did not differ in the subjects with or without diabetes. These results suggest that mutations in the POMC gene are unlikely to be a major factor of obesity or diabetes in Japanese subjects.

Induction of photoreceptor-specific phenotypes in adult mammalian iris tissue

We show that iris tissue in the adult rat eye, which is embryonically related to the neural retina, can generate cells expressing differentiated neuronal antigens. In addition, the Crx gene transfer induced the specific antigens for rod photoreceptors in the iris-derived cells, which was not seen in the adult hippocampus-derived neural stem cells. Our findings demonstrate a remarkable plasticity of adult iris tissue with potential clinical applications, as autologous iris tissue can be feasibly obtained with peripheral iridectomy.

Interleukin-1 beta enhances and interferon-gamma suppresses activin A actions by reciprocally regulating activin A and follistatin secretion from bone marrow stromal fibroblasts

Activin A is a multi-functional cytokine with a potent stimulation on erythroid cell differentiation in the bone marrow. The actions of activin A are determined by a balance of the levels of activin A and its inhibitor, follistatin (FS). However, the regulation of its actions in the bone marrow has been unclear. Here we show that bone marrow-derived stromal fibroblasts are the major source of activin A and FS in the bone marrow, and that the production of activin A is enhanced by interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), whereas interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) inhibits the secretion of activin A by stromal fibroblasts. Concomitantly, IL-1beta as well as LPS inhibits and IFN-gamma stimulates FS secretion from stromal fibroblasts. Thus, these cytokines potently regulate activin A actions by reciprocal modulation of activin A and FS secretion from stromal fibroblasts. Because activin A exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in various tissues, up-regulation of activin A actions by IL-1beta and endotoxin in the bone marrow may play a protective role against inflammatory processes as well as anaemia. The present results also suggest that the inhibitory effect of IFN-gamma on erythropoiesis is mediated at least in part by a suppression of activin A actions in bone marrow.

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the gene encoding an intracellular beta-D-xylosidase from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus OPC-520

The intracellular beta-xylosidase was induced when Streptomyces thermoviolaceus OPC-520 was grown at 50 degrees C in a minimal medium containing xylan or xylooligosaccharides. The 82-kDa protein with beta-xylosidase activity was partially purified and its N-terminal amino acid sequence was analyzed. The gene encoding the enzyme was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The bxlA gene consists of a 2,100-bp open reading frame encoding 770 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the bxlA gene product had significant similarity with beta-xylosidases classified into family 3 of glycosyl hydrolases. The bxlA gene was expressed in E. coli, and the recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme was a monomer with a molecular mass of 82 kDa. The purified enzyme showed hydrolytic activity towards only p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside among the synthetic glycosides tested. Thin-layer chromatography analysis showed that the enzyme is an exo-type enzyme that hydrolyze xylooligosaccharides, but had no activity toward xylan. High activity against pNPX occurred in the pH range 6.0-7.0 and temperature range 40-50 degrees C.

Superantigens and autoantigens may be involved in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

To clarify the origin of tumor cells and the possible role of antigens in the pathogenesis of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALTL) of the stomach, we analyzed the DNA sequences of the immunoglobulin (Ig) variable region gene from tumor cells of 4 patients with low-grade and 2 patients with high-grade MALTL associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. There were few somatic mutations in the Ig variable region gene, but intraclonal variations were observed in 2 of the 4 low-grade MALTL cases. In the remaining 2 low-grade MALTL and 1 of the 2 high-grade MALTL cases, somatic mutations and intraclonal variations were evident. In contrast, somatic mutations in the Ig variable region gene were prominent, but intraclonal variation was absent in the other high-grade MALTL cases. The deduced amino acid sequences of the antigen-binding fragments (Fab) from 2 MALTL cases revealed homology with anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, 3 MALTL cases with lupus anti-DNA antibodies, and 1 MALTL case with a rheumatoid factor. Furthermore, the heavy-chain variable region 3 (V(H)3) family genes were used in 5 of the 6 MALTL cases and had conserved amino acid residues for binding to staphylococcal protein A (SpA), a superantigen of B cells. Considering that another superantigen, protein Fv, competes for binding to Fab with SpA and has been shown to play a major role in immune defenses against gut pathogens, SpA and possibly protein Fv may contribute to the development of MALTL. Thus, these observations suggest that most gastric MALTLs arise from memory B cells that are preliminarily activated by superantigens and autoantigens.

The intensely positively charged perineuronal net in the adult rat brain, with special reference to its reactions to oxine, chondroitinase ABC, hyaluronidase and collagenase

Light microscopic observations of healthy adult rat brain sections stained with anionic iron colloid indicated that 5-10% of neurons in the hippocampal subiculum and all neurons in the medial cerebellar nucleus possessed an intensely positively charged perineuronal net. This net was demonstrated to react to oxine, and therefore suggested to consist of guanidino compounds. It was further shown that the intensely positively charged perineuronal net, in accordance with the intensely negatively charged perineuronal net of proteoglycans, was digested by chondroitinase ABC, hyaluronidase, and collagenase, but not by endo-alphaN-acetylgalactosaminidase. This finding suggested that the former positively charged net might be linked to the latter negatively charged one.

Preparation of potent cytotoxic ribonucleases by cationization: enhanced cellular uptake and decreased interaction with ribonuclease inhibitor by chemical modification of carboxyl groups

Carboxyl groups of bovine RNase A were amidated with ethylenediamine (to convert negative charges of carboxylate anions to positive ones), 2-aminoethanol (to eliminate negative charges), and taurine (to keep negative charges), respectively, by a carbodiimide reaction. Human RNase 1 was also modified with ethylenediamine. Surprisingly, the modified RNases were all cytotoxic toward 3T3-SV-40 cells despite their decreased ribonucleolytic activity. However, their enzymatic activity was not completely eliminated by the presence of excess cytosolic RNase inhibitor (RI). As for native RNase A and RNase 1 which were not cytotoxic, they were completely inactivated by RI. More interestingly, within the cytotoxic RNase derivatives, cytotoxicity correlated well with the net positive charge. RNase 1 and RNase A modified with ethylenediamine were more cytotoxic than naturally occurring cytotoxic bovine seminal RNase. An experiment using the fluorescence-labeled RNase derivatives indicated that the more cationic RNases were more efficiently adsorbed to the cells. Thus, it is suggested that the modification of carboxyl groups could change complementarity of RNase to RI and as a result endow RNase cytotoxicity and that cationization enhances the efficiency of cellular uptake of RNase so as to strengthen its cytotoxicity. The finding that an extracellular human enzyme such as RNase 1 could be effectively internalized into the cell by cationization suggests that cationization is a simple strategy for efficient delivery of a protein into cells and may open the way of the development of new therapeutics.

Hyperthermic Enhancement of the Apoptotic and Antiproliferative Activities of Paclitaxel

The antineoplastic agent paclitaxel (PTX), a microtubule-stabilizing agent, is known to arrest cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis. Mild hyperthermia (HT) also disrupts the microtubule system and triggers apoptosis. We therefore investigated whether concurrent exposure of murine breast cancer cells to 10 micromol/l PTX and 43 degrees C HT will promote improved anticancer effects. To do this, we exposed FM3A murine cancer cells to: (1) 10 micromol/l PTX for 1 h at 37 degrees C followed by exposure at 43 degrees C HT for 1 h; (2) 10 micromol/l PTX at 37 degrees C for 2 h; (3) 37 degrees C for 1 h followed by 43 degrees C HT for 1 h, and (4) untreated cells at 37 degrees C for 2 h which served as the control. Treatment No. 1 resulted in an enhanced cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and cytotoxicity. Exposure to 43 degrees C HT alone or 10 micromol/l PTX alone induced lesser apoptosis and cytotoxicity than the two treatments concurrently applied. The apoptotic cell death occurred in a time-dependent manner as follows: (1) concurrently applied 43 degrees C HT and 10 micromol/l PTX (5.6 +/- 0.5, 16.5 +/- 2 and 27.6 +/- 1%); (2) 43 degrees C HT alone (4.3 +/- 1, 6.6 +/- 0.3 and 12.7 +/- 1%) and (3) 10 micromol/l PTX alone (4.4 +/- 0.3, 8.6 +/- 1 and 12.8 +/- 1%) at 1, 6 and 24 h postexposure respectively compared to control of 2.0%. These data indicate that while both HT and PTX can individually induce apoptosis and antiproliferation in FM3A cancer cells, they may offer synergistic benefits when used concurrently.

Intensely negative-charged pericapillary spaces in the rat pineal gland

Electron microscopy of ultrathin sections stained with cationic iron colloid revealed that the rat pineal gland is provided with wide and intensely negative-charged pericapillary spaces. Light microscopically, the negative charging of the pericapillary spaces was completely eliminated by digestion with hyaluronidase and chondroitinase ABC. This pericapillary negative charging was also erased by digestion with collagenase. The results indicate that the negative charging is derived from sulfated proteoglycans which are bound to collagen molecules. These sulfated proteoglycans in the pericapillary spaces may retain numerous water molecules to form a tissue gel, and so act as a selective sieve regulating the passage of tissue molecules.

[Four cases of the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery]

We report perioperative management of 4 patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. This report involves with 3 infant cases and an adult. Two infants underwent coronary reimplantation procedure and Takeuchi's method was performed on the other infant. In all infant cases, mitral valve plasty was performed to correct mitral regurgitation secondary to papillary muscle dysfunction. The adult patient underwent CABG with ligation of LCA. General anesthesia was performed with high doses of fentanyl in all cases. We employed a relatively high PaCO2 and low FIO2 in order to maintain a high pulmonary vascular resistance. It aims to decrease the incidence of left to right shunt. We used epinephrine to wean one infant and the adult from cardiopulmonary bypass. Perioperative course was uneventful with the use of catecholamines and high doses of vasodilators for left ventricular dysfunction and coronary perfusion under mechanical ventilation.

Increased urinary excretion of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in patients with IgA nephropathy: tonsil stimulation enhances urinary M-CSF excretion

Upper respiratory tract infection including chronic tonsillitis is considered to be involved in the onset and/or the progression of IgA nephropathy. It is well known that deterioration of urinary findings occurs after episodes of upper respiratory tract infection in patients with IgA nephropathy. We previously showed that the expression of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is increased in the glomeruli of patients with IgA nephropathy and correlated with glomerular mesangial proliferation, suggesting that M-CSF plays an important role in the progression of IgA nephropathy. In the present study, we measured the serum and urinary concentrations of M-CSF in patients with IgA nephropathy associated with chronic tonsillitis. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of the local provocation test of tonsils (mechanical tonsil stimulation) on the serum and urinary concentrations of M-CSF in the following three groups: (1) IgA nephropathy with severe mesangial proliferation, (2) IgA nephropathy with mild mesangial proliferation, and (3) patients with chronic tonsillitis without renal disease. The serum and urinary levels of M-CSF in the groups with severe and mild IgA nephropathy were significantly higher than those in the chronic tonsillitis group. The urinary M-CSF level but not the serum M-CSF level was positively correlated with the degrees of mesangial proliferation and glomerular M-CSF expression in the renal biopsy specimens. The urinary M-CSF concentration was significantly increased after tonsillitis stimulation in both mild and severe IgA nephropathy groups. Enhanced urinary excretion of M-CSF prolonged for 7 days after tonsil stimulation in the severe IgA nephropathy group; in contrast, the urinay M-CSF level was increased for only 2 days after tonsil stimulation in the mild IgA nephropathy group. The urinary M-CSF level was not changed in the chronic tonsillitis group after tonsil stimulation. The serum concentrations of M-CSF were not changed after tonsil stimulation in these three groups. Our present results suggest that tonsil stimulation contributes to the progression of IgA nephropathy via enhancement of glomerular production of M-CSF. The urinary excretion of M-CSF may be a useful predictor to evaluate the relevance of chronic tonsillitis to the disease and the indication of tonsillectomy in patients with IgA nephropathy.

In vivo NMR micro-imaging of kidney and liver of mouse at 9.4 T

NMR micro-images of the kidney and liver were measured at 9.4 T in intact mouse, schistosoma Mansoni-infected mouse, and lupus nephritis in an MRL/lpr mouse. High-field NMR imaging has the advantages of sensitivity, spatial resolution, and tissue contrasts based on longitudinal and transverse relaxations, magnetic susceptibility differences and blood flow.

Enantioresolution by the chiral phthalic acid method: absolute configurations of substituted benzylic alcohols

Substituted benzylic alcohols were enantioresolved by the chiral phthalic acid method as follows; 1) esterification of racemic alcohols with chiral phthalic acid, 2) separation of a diastereomeric mixture of the esters formed by HPLC on silica gel, and 3) recovery of enantiopure alcohols from the separated esters. The absolute configurations of chiral phthalic acid esters of benzylic alcohols were unambiguously determined by the X-ray crystallography using the campharsultam moiety as the internal standard of absolute configuration.

Clinical usefulness of urine-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibody to Helicobacter pylori: a collaborative study in nine medical institutions in Japan

BACKGROUND

A urine-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for detection of antibody to Helicobacter pylori has been developed in Japan. Urine samples can be obtained noninvasively and are easier and safer to handle than are serum samples. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical usefulness of this urine-based ELISA kit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A pair of random, single-void urine and serum samples was collected from each of 1,061 subjects, including 238 patients with gastroduodenal disease. The sensitivity and specificity of the urine-based ELISA was compared with those of three commercially available serum-based ELISA kits. For those patients with gastroduodenal disease, the urine- and serum-based ELISA results were also compared with those for other diagnostic methods using endoscopic biopsy specimens, such as culture, histology, and rapid urease tests.

RESULTS

Based on the three serum-based ELISA results, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the urine-based ELISA were 97.7%, 95.6%, and 96.8%, respectively. On the basis of the biopsy test results, the sensitivity (96.2%), specificity (78.9%), and accuracy (91.0%) of the urine-based ELISA were almost equivalent or superior to all three serum-based ELISAs tested. In addition, 10 of the 12 false-positive cases for urine-based ELISA were confirmed to be true positives for antibodies to H. pylori by Western blot analysis and inhibition ELISA.

CONCLUSIONS

The urine-based ELISA (URINELISA H. pylori Antibody) is very accurate and should be useful as an alternative to serum-based ELISAs for screening of H. pylori infection.

New strategy for the diagnosis of parotid gland lesions utilizing three-dimensional sialography

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging for parotid gland lesions was performed using 3D sialography. This method provided a detailed surface structure of the parotid gland, and made it possible to overcome the disadvantages of X-ray sialography, planar CT, and MRI. Immediately after the conventional sialography via an oral route, CT scanning was performed with a slice-thickness of 3 mm using a helical CT scanner. CT data were analyzed on a workstation to reconstruct 3D images. 3D sialography was found to have the following advantages: (1) The structure of the acinar surface is visualized in detail; (2) The 3D structure of the entire parotid system from Stensen's duct to the gland is shown in one image; (3) The parotid gland can be assessed in the context of the bony architecture of facial bones; (4) The surface structure of the parotid gland can be understood very easily, like a scanning electron micrograph. We conclude that 3D sialography is a useful imaging technique for parotid gland lesions.

[Treatment of 522 patients with sudden deafness performed oxygenation at high pressure]

INTRODUCTION

Oxygenation at high pressure (OHP) is thought to be useful, even though regional blood flow is decreased, because increasing dissolved oxygen prevents the death of nerve tissue. In this report, we retrospectively investigated the effect of OHP on sudden deafness.

OBJECT AND METHOD

We reviewed 522 patients treated with OHP at Kagawa Rosai Hospital over a ten-year period (January 1989 to December 1998). We discussed some prognostic factors: comparison between cases which had been treated with OHP previously and those which had not, number of days between onset and beginning of the treatment which included OHP, age, initial averaged five-frequency hearing level, vertigo, tinnitus, complications of OHP, cases of relapse and the time of the onset, which is about season, month and week. OHP was administered at a pressure of 2.5 atmospheres for 80 minutes a day from 10 to 15 times. All patients also received a course of intravenous administration of steroid, vitamin B12, Prostaglandin E1, ATP, and low-molecular dextran.

RESULTS

Overall, complete recovery occurred in 19.7% of the patients, definite improvement in 34.9% (complete recovery included), and slight improvement in 58.1% (definite improvement included). Most of the patients (78.0%) were referred by other hospitals, because our hospital was the only one in the Sikoku area which had a big equipment of OHP. All 161 patients had already been treated in other hospitals over 8 days, but they had shown little improvement after the initial therapy. Of this group, complete recovery after the second course of treatment occurred in 13.0% of the patients, definite improvement in 19.3%, and slight improvement in 39.1%. OHP was thus effective for about 40% of patients who had been unresponsive to the initial therapy. Delay in treatment usually produces poor hearing recovery. There was a significant difference between those patients treated within 14 days and those treated 15 days or more after onset. The improvement rate also decreased with age. The prognosis of patients with vertigo was worse than those without vertigo. Tinnitus had no influence on the prognosis. There were no severe complications during the course of OHP, but otitis media with effusion occurred in 90 patients, and paracentesis was performed for 53 patients.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of sudden deafness with OHP has been discussed in this report. Important prognostic factors were time between onset and beginning of the treatment which included OHP, age, vertigo, and the initial averaged five-frequency hearing level. We conclude that OHP should be performed within 14 days from onset, and that OHP was able to achieve hearing improvement in many cases unresponsive to the initial therapy if it was performed very early.

Oculocardiac reflex induced by zygomatic fracture; a case report

Oculocardiac reflex has been recognized as the result of mechanical stimulation to the orbital tissue. The authors encountered a case of severe arrhythmia due to oculocardiac reflex in a patient with a zygomatic fracture. Previous health examinations suggested no abnormalities in the heart in his schooldays, and the initial diagnosis of his arrhythmia as complete A-V block due to injury (using ECG and cardiac ultrasonography). Because his arrhythmia did not improve spontaneously, he underwent cardiac pacing. After repair of the fracture, his arrhythmia completely disappeared. The pacemaker was removed on the first postoperative day. The pathogenesis of this rare case will be discussed.

Localization of FGFR-1 in axotomized and peripheral nerve transplanted ferret retina

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) survive axotomy and regenerate their axons into the peripheral nerve graft in adult mammals. To understand the potential role of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in survival and regeneration of axotomized RGCs, we examined FGF receptor 1 (FGFR-1) localization in normal and PN grafted ferret retinas by immunohistochemistry in combination with retrograde labeling. Prominent expression of FGFR-1 was observed in outer plexiform layer and ganglion cell layer of normal ferret retina. In the ganglion cell layer, FGFR-1 immunoreactivity was detected in about 30% of RGCs, predominantly in large cells. In the PN grafted ferret retina, 90% of RGCs with regenerated axons expressed FGFR-1. Our findings suggest that FGFs may play an important role in the survival and axonal regeneration of RGCs of adult mammals.

Cytoplasmic delayed neuronal death in the myenteric plexus of the rat small intestine after ischemia

The present study demonstrates light and electron microscopic changes in neurons in the myenteric plexus of the rat ileum following four-hour ischemia. Macroscopically, an intestinal constriction occurred at the damaged portion at three weeks after ischemia; the segment oral to the constriction markedly swelled at four weeks. In light microscopy, at three weeks after ischemia, the myenteric neurons appeared spongy or foamy, containing many vacuoles in their somatic cytoplasm. At four weeks, the neuronal cytoplasm and nerve fiber bundles had disintegrated to form vacant spaces in the myenteric plexus. The neuronal nucleus of the damaged plexus did not show positive nick-end labeling. In electron microscopy, neuronal cytoplasm revealed degenerative signs already at one week after ischemia: a distended endoplasmic reticulum and swollen mitochondria with fragmentary cristae. The nerve fibers also showed destruction of the mitochondria, and degenerative changes in the postsynaptic sites appeared earlier than the presynaptic terminals. The results suggest that intestinal ischemia causes delayed neuronal death, which differs from the apoptotic process previously demonstrated in the ischemia-damaged brain.

Fas ligand-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes in natural killer cell leukaemia

Neoplastic natural killer (NK) cells overexpress Fas ligand (FasL), which may cause damage of Fas-bearing tissues. We report a patient with NK cell leukaemia who developed liver injury after pharyngitis. The NK leukaemic cells expressed functional FasL. In addition to soluble FasL, serum levels of interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma were increased dramatically when liver injury was aggravated. Moreover, hepatocytes expressed Fas and apoptotic hepatocytes were detected in the portal areas. These findings are consistent with the notion that inflammatory cytokines enhance the sensitivity to FasL and trigger apoptosis of hepatocytes in NK cell malignancies.

Developmental and hormonal regulation of thermosensitive neuron potential activity in rat brain

To understand the involvement of thyroid hormone on the postnatal development of hypothalamic thermosensitive neurons, we focused on the analysis of thermosensitive neuronal activity in the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic (PO/AH) regions of developing rats with and without hypothyroidism. In euthyroid rats, the distribution of thermosensitive neurons in PO/AH showed that in 3-week-old rats (46 neurons tested), 19.5% were warm-sensitive and 80.5% were nonsensitive. In 5- to 12-week-old euthyroid rats (122 neurons), 33.6% were warm-sensitive and 66.4% were nonsensitive. In 5- to 12-week-old hypothyroid rats (108 neurons), however, 18.5% were warm-sensitive and 81.5% were nonsensitive. Temperature thresholds of warm-sensitive neurons were lower in 12-week-old euthyroid rats (36.4+/-0.2 degrees C, n = 15, p<0.01,) than in 3-week-old and in 5-week-old euthyroid rats (38.5+/-0.5 degrees C, n = 9 and 38.0+/-0.3 degrees C, n = 15, respectively). The temperature thresholds of warm-sensitive neurons in 12-week-old hypothyroid rats (39.5+/-0.3 degrees C, n = 8) were similar to that of warm-sensitive neurons of 3-week-old raats (euthyroid and hypothyroid). In contrast, there was no difference in the thresholds of warm-sensitive neurons between hypothyroid and euthyroid rats at the age of 3-5 weeks. In conclusion, monitoring the thermosensitive neuronal tissue activity demonstrated the evidence that thyroid hormone regulates the maturation of warm-sensitive hypothalamic neurons in developing rat brain by electrophysiological analysis.

TGF-beta1 mediates 70-kDa heat shock protein induction due to ultraviolet irradiation in human skin fibroblasts

Ultraviolet B (UVB) alters the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in cultured fibroblast cells derived from human skin. However, the nature of the signal transduction pathway remains to be determined. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has a large variety of biological functions, including cell growth control, modulation of inflammation and immunoregulation. In this study, we examined whether TGF-beta is associated with the process of HSP70 expression induced by UVB irradiation. The constitutive expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and HSP70 expression in human skin fibroblast cells were detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. The results indicate that: (1) UVB irradiation stimulates HSP70 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner, (2) constitutive expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA is detected after UVB irradiation, the level of which peaks at 4 h after 10 mJ cm-2 of UVB irradiation, (3) HSP70 expression is induced by TGF-beta1 without UVB irradiation, and (4) HSP70 expression induction with UVB irradiation is inhibited by preincubation of the cells with the anti-TGF-beta type II receptor antibody. Our results suggest that HSP70 expression induced by UVB involves the autocrine signalling of TGF-beta production.

Biclonal lymphoplasmacytic immunocytoma associated with Crohn's disease

A 33-year-old man with a 4-year history of Crohn's disease presented with marked ascites and an abdominal tumor. Two M-protein peaks, immunoglobulin (Ig) G-kappa and IgA-kappa, were detected in the serum. Neoplastic lymphoplasmacytic cells were infiltrated in the bone marrow and ascites. Histological examination of the abdominal tumor showed marked proliferation of lymphoplasmacytic cells that were positive for either IgG or IgA. Moreover, DNA sequences of the expressed IgG and IgA genes were different in the complementarity-determining region 3. These results suggest that chronic inflammation in Crohn's disease contributes to the simultaneous development of biclonal lymphoplasmacytic immunocytoma of the small intestine.

Humanized anti-HM1.24 antibody mediates myeloma cell cytotoxicity that is enhanced by cytokine stimulation of effector cells

To develop a new immunotherapy for multiple myeloma, we have generated a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) that detects a human plasma cell-specific antigen, HM1.24. Our previous study has shown that mouse anti-HM1.24 MoAb inhibits the proliferation of human myeloma cells implanted into severe combined immunodeficiency mice. In this report, we evaluated the antitumor activity of the humanized anti-HM1.24 MoAb (IgG1kappa), which was constructed by grafting the complementarity-determining regions. In contrast to the parent mouse MoAb, humanized anti-HM1.24 MoAb mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against both myeloma cell lines and myeloma cells from patients in the presence of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The PBMCs from untreated myeloma patients exhibited ADCC activity as efficiently as those of healthy donors. Although decreased ADCC activity of PBMCs was observed in patients who responded poorly to conventional chemotherapy, it could be significantly augmented by the stimulation with interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-12, or IL-15. There was a strong correlation between the percentage of CD16(+) cells and ADCC activity in the PBMCs of myeloma patients. Moreover, peripheral blood stem cell collections from myeloma patients contained higher numbers of CD16(+) cells than PBMCs and exhibited ADCC activity that was enhanced by IL-2. These results indicate that humanized anti-HM1.24 MoAb has potential as a new therapeutic strategy in multiple myeloma and that treatment of effector cells with immunomodulating cytokines can restore the effect of humanized anti-HM1.24 MoAb in patients with diminished ADCC activity.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a surface antigen preferentially overexpressed on multiple myeloma cells

HM1.24 antigen has been identified as a surface molecule preferentially expressed on terminally differentiated B cells, and its overexpression is observed in multiple myeloma cells. The HM1.24 antigen is, therefore, expected as a most potent target molecule for antibody-based immunotherapy for multiple myeloma. Here, we have identified the cDNA for human HM1.24 antigen and also analyzed its gene structure including the promoter region. The HM1.24 antigen is a type II membrane glycoprotein, which has been reported as a bone marrow stromal cell surface antigen BST2, and may exist as a homodimer on myeloma cell surface. Although a reason for the overexpression in myeloma cells is not understood, very interestingly, the promoter region of the HM1.24 gene has a tandem repeat of three cis elements for a transcription factor, STAT3, which mediates interleukin-6 (IL-6) response gene expression. Since IL-6 is a differentiation factor for B cells, and known as a paracrine/autocrine growth factor for multiple myeloma cells, the expression of HM1.24 antigen may be regulated by the activation of STAT3. Importantly, a humanized anti-HM1.24 antibody effectively lysed the CHO transformants which expressed HM1.24 antigen as high as human multiple myeloma cells, but not the cells with lower antigen expression. This evaluation shows that ADCC heavily depends on the expression level of target antigens and, therefore, the immunotherapy targeting the HM1.24 antigen should have a promising potential in clinical use.

Diverse oxygenations catalyzed by carbazole 1,9a-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. Strain CA10

Carbazole 1,9a-dioxygenase (CARDO) from Pseudomonas sp. strain CA10 is a multicomponent enzyme that catalyzes the angular dioxygenation of carbazole, dibenzofuran, and dibenzo-p-dioxin. It was revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analyses that xanthene and phenoxathiin were converted to 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenylmethane and 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenyl sulfide, respectively. Thus, for xanthene and phenoxathiin, angular dioxygenation by CARDO occurred at the angular position adjacent to the oxygen atom to yield hetero ring-cleaved compounds. In addition to the angular dioxygenation, CARDO catalyzed the cis dihydroxylation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and biphenyl. Naphthalene and biphenyl were converted by CARDO to cis-1, 2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene and cis-2,3-dihydroxy-2, 3-dihydrobiphenyl, respectively. On the other hand, CARDO also catalyzed the monooxygenation of sulfur heteroatoms in dibenzothiophene and of the benzylic methylenic group in fluorene to yield dibenzothiophene-5-oxide and 9-hydroxyfluorene, respectively. These results indicate that CARDO has a broad substrate range and can catalyze diverse oxygenation: angular dioxygenation, cis dihydroxylation, and monooxygenation. The diverse oxygenation catalyzed by CARDO for several aromatic compounds might reflect the differences in the binding of the substrates to the reaction center of CARDO.

Quantitative analysis of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with IgA nephropathy after tonsillectomy

The biological response to tonsillectomy was studied in 21 patients suffering from chronic tonsillitis with or without IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Serum and urinary interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured before and after tonsillectomy. Serum IL-6 levels in case of IgAN peaked 3 h after tonsillectomy and more rapidly than control cases. No significant differences were observed between two cases through the time. Urinary IL-6 levels were significantly higher before and at 6 and 48 h after tonsillectomy in IgAN cases. Stimulation of tonsils caused serum IL-6 elevation and changes in urinary IL-6 levels in IgAN cases. Elevation of urinary IL-6 levels after tonsillectomy in patients with IgAN may reflect an increase in the production of IL-6 in the kidneys. Measurement of urinary IL-6 levels after tonsillectomy is useful to elucidate the efficacy of tonsillectomy in IgAN patients.

The humanized anti-HM1.24 antibody effectively kills multiple myeloma cells by human effector cell-mediated cytotoxicity

A mouse monoclonal antibody, anti-HM1.24 (IgG2a/kappa), binds to a surface antigen preferentially overexpressed on multiple myeloma (MM) cells, and exhibits potent antitumor cell activity against MM cells by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). To develop an antibody-based immunotherapy against MM, a humanized anti-HM1.24 antibody, in which all FRs correspond to naturally processed human FRs, has been successfully constructed with the aid of both the hybrid variable region and two-step design methods. This humanized anti-HM1.24 antibody (IgG1/kappa) is able to effectively induce ADCC against human myeloma KPMM2 and ARH77 cells in the presence of human PBMCs as effectively as a chimeric anti-HM1.24 antibody. The humanized anti-HM1.24 antibody, therefore, could be expected as a potent immunotherapeutic agent for MM patients.

[Results of a survey of the relationship between palatine tonsil and IgA nephropathy]

To investigate the relationship between palatine tonsil and IgA nephropathy, a survey was performed by questionnaire to 154 non-ENT medical doctors who had reported case of IgA nephropathy. The questionnaire was sent in February 1997, and answers were obtained within one month from 93 doctors (79 internal physicians, 12 pediatricians and 2 pathologists); a 60.4% response rate. A total of 72.0% of doctors answered that renal pathology was the most important prognostic factor for IgA nephropathy. A total of 73.1% of doctors thought that the administration of corticosteroid was the most effective therapy for IgA nephropathy, whereas only one doctor answered that tonsillectomy was most effective. Urine protein was the most useful factor for the estimation of the treatment, according to 37.6% of doctors. The majority of doctors who replied to the questionnaire thought that palatine tonsil seemed to be involved in the pathophysiology of IgA nephropathy in less than half of patients with IgA nephropathy. In addition, they answered that the rate of patients with IgA nephropathy to whom tonsillectomy was effective was also less than 50%. The tonsillar provocation test was rarely performed for the diagnosis of tonsillar focal infection in IgA nephropathy. Furthermore, 51.6% doctors answered that urine protein was the most important factor in any estimation of the provocation test.

Sweet's syndrome associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia: demonstration of leukemic cells within a skin lesion

We report a case of acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, Sweet's syndrome, associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in which we found rearrangement of the bcr gene in DNA obtained from a skin lesion as well as in blood DNA by Southern blot analysis. This indicated the presence of CML cells within the skin lesion. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which the presence of CML cells is shown within skin lesions of Sweet's syndrome. In our patient, leukocyte alkaline phosphatase activities returned to normal levels when he was suffering from Sweet's syndrome and decreased again to below normal levels after it subsided. Whether the normalization of leukocyte alkaline phosphatase activity is common among CML patients with Sweet's syndrome remains to be determined.