Activation of NADPH oxidase in Alzheimer's disease brains

The present study is the first to show that superoxide (O(-)(2)) forming NADPH oxidase is activated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains by demonstrating the marked translocation of the cytosolic factors p47-phox and p67-phox to the membrane. In conjunction with a recent in vitro study showing that amyloid beta activates O(-)(2) forming NADPH oxidase in microglia, where these phox proteins are localized in this study, the present results suggest that, in AD, NADPH oxidase is activated in microglia, resulting in the formation of reactive oxygen species which can be toxic to neighboring neurons in AD.

Changes in caspase expression in Alzheimer's disease: comparison with development and aging

Changes in caspase-2 and -3 protein levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains were assessed in comparison with their expression in development and aging. The protein levels of caspase-2 and -3 were significantly increased in AD brains, caspase-2 in the particulate fraction and caspase-3 in both the cytosolic and particulate fractions, compared with controls. Immunoblot analysis of brain extracts from embryonic day 19 (E19) to postnatal 96-week-old rats indicated that caspase-3 levels were high from E19 to 2 weeks, while caspase-2 remained high from 4 to 96 weeks, indicating that the expression of caspase-2 and -3 is differentially regulated during development and aging. These results suggest that caspase-2 and -3 are upregulated in AD and that the changes in AD are different from those observed in senescent brains.

Differential expression of rat brain bcl-2 family proteins in development and aging

We have previously examined the involvement of the B cell leukemia-2 gene product (Bcl-2) family proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Bax, Bak, and Bad) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and found that Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Bak, and Bad were upregulated. As AD is an aging-associated disease, in the present study we examined the developmental and aging-related changes in Bcl-2 family proteins in the rat brain. Immunoblot analyses of brain extracts from embryonic day 19 (E19) to postnatal 96-week-old rats indicated that the Bcl-2 protein level was highest at E19 and decreased after birth. Bcl-x levels remained high from E19 to 96 weeks. Bax levels were high from E19 to 2 weeks and decreased from 4 weeks onward. Bak levels were highest at E19 and decreased abruptly after birth. Bad levels were high from E19 to 2 weeks and decreased abruptly at 4 weeks. The present results suggest that the expression of each Bcl-2 family protein is differentially regulated during development and aging and that the changes in the senescent brains are different from those observed in AD.

Disappearance Curves for Tumor Markers after Resection of Intrathoracic Malignancies

Determination of the standard elimination kinetics of tumor markers will be helpful in the diagnosis of malignancies. We analyzed the disappearance curves for serum tumor marker levels after resection of intrathoracic malignancies. Serum levels of CEA, SLX, AFP, CA 19-9, SCC, TPA and CYFRA were measured several times after surgery in a total of 40 patients. To obtain precise biological half-lives, we applied non-linear least square analysis, taking into consideration the possibility of residual tumor cells. Disappearance curves were monophasic for CEA, SCC, TPA, CYFRA and SLX and biphasic for CA 19-9 and AFP. Temporary elevation of serum levels after surgery was observed for SCC, TPA and CYFRA. The average half-lives of CEA, SLX, SCC, TPA and CYFRA were 1.5 days, 2.7 days, 2.2 hours, 2.5 hours and 1.5 hours, respectively. The average half-life of CA 19-9 was 0.5 days in the first compartment and 4.3 days in the second compartment, while that of AFP was 1.0 days and 6.3 days, respectively. These values will be helpful in the interpretation of serum tumor marker levels after surgery.

Differential expression of rat brain caspase family proteins during development and aging

It is well recognized that caspases are essential effector molecules for carrying out apoptosis in eukaryotic cells. The expression of rat brain caspase family proteins (caspase-2, -3, -6, -7, -8, -9, 10) in development and aging was assessed using immunochemical detection. All of these caspases were expressed in the rat brain. Immunoblot analysis of brain extracts from embryonic day 19 (E19) to postnatal 96-week-old rats indicated that cytosolic caspase-3, -7, -8, and -10 were highly expressed at E19, and decreased after birth. In contrast, cytosolic caspase-2, -6, and -9 were constitutively expressed from the early stages to 96 weeks of age. These results show that the expression of rat brain caspase family proteins is differentially regulated during the development and aging.

Long-term results of conventional varus half-wedge proximal femoral osteotomy for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head

We have previously described the mid- to long-term results of conventional simple varus intertrochanteric osteotomy for osteonecrosis of the femoral head, showing that 19 of the 26 hips had good or excellent results. We extended the follow-up to a mean of 18.1 years (10.5 to 26) including a total of 34 hips in 28 patients, with a mean age at surgery of 33 years (19 to 53). There were 18 men and ten women and 25 hips (74%) had a satisfactory result with a Harris hip score ≥ 80. In all, six hips needed total hip replacement (THR) or hemiarthroplasty. The collapse of the femoral head or narrowing of the joint space was found to have progressed in nine hips (26%). Leg shortening after osteotomy was a mean of 19 mm (8 to 36). With conversion to THR or hemiarthroplasty as the endpoint, the ten-year survival rate was 88.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 82.7 to 93.7) and the 20-year survival rate was 79.7% (95% CI 72.1 to 87.3); four hips were converted at ten years and other two hips were converted at 20 years.

Shortening of the leg after osteotomy remains a concern; however, the conventional varus half-wedge osteotomy provides favourable long-term results in hips with less than two-thirds of the medial part of the femoral head affected by necrotic bone and with normal bone superolaterally.

Health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus after medium to long-term follow-up of hip arthroplasty

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with hip arthroplasty after medium to long-term follow-up has not been reported. We conducted a retrospective study for SLE patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONF). Forty-seven consecutive arthroplasties were performed in 36 patients. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Medical Outcome Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Harris hip score were evaluated. Two patients died before the four-year follow-up and two patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining 43 hips in 32 patients with an average age at surgery of 35 years and an average follow-up of 12.0 years (range 4.0-25.0) were assessed. Bipolar hemiarthroplasty was performed for 18 hips in 12 patients, and total hip arthroplasty (THA) was performed for 25 hips in 20 patients. The mean WOMAC scores for pain and function at the recent followup were 90.8 +/- 8.5points and 79.0 +/- 18.3 points. Patients with THA had significantly high scores in SF-36 physical functioning (P < 0.05) and bodily pain (P < 0.03) compared to those with bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Although improvement could not reach the level of general population, the hip arthroplasty contributed to support HRQOL of SLE patients.

Differential subcellular localization of caspase family proteins in the adult rat brain

The distribution of the caspase family (caspase-2, -3, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10) was assessed using immunochemical detection of subcellular fractions of 8-week-old rat brain tissues. The present study demonstrated that the relative protein level of caspase-2, -3, -6, -8 and -10 was highest in the soluble cytosolic fraction, while that for caspase-9 was highest in the nucleus. We also found that caspase-3 and -6 were present at high levels and caspase-2, -8 and -9 at moderate levels in the nerve endings fraction as well as in the soluble cytosolic fraction. These results suggest that rat brain caspases are differentially expressed in the subcellular fractions of the rat brain, and that caspases not only contribute to the regulation of neuronal death, but also to synaptic plasticity.

Three-dimensional computer-aided design based design sensitivity analysis and shape optimization of the stem using adaptive p-method

The number of stem designs for total hip arthroplasty is increasing, and occasionally design changes have yielded unexpected clinical results. At present, we are not able to clearly identify which parameter of the stem is most important, and the optimum value of many parameters. The goals of this study were to identify which parameter is most important, to understand the effect of design change, and to find the optimum stem shape. For this purpose, we used adaptive p-method together with three-dimensional computer-aided design software program for the design sensitivity analysis (DSA) and shape optimization of the stem. The results suggested that increasing the lateral and medial width of the distal cross-section together with decreasing the medial-lateral width and the medial radius of the distal cross-section from the default value would lead to a decrease in the largest maximum principal stress of the distal cement. The medial width of middle cross-section, however, was not so simple. The result of DSA suggested that decreasing this parameter from the default value decreased the stress in the distal cement, but the optimum shape was obtained by increasing this parameter. The method used in this study will assist our engineers and surgeons in the process of modifying and optimizing the stem design.

Resistant mechanisms of anthracyclines--pirarubicin might partly break through the P-glycoprotein-mediated drug-resistance of human breast cancer tissues

Juliano and Ling initially reported the expression of a 170 kDa glycoprotein in the membrane of Chinese hamster ovarian cells in 1976, and named this glycoprotein P-glycoprotein (P-gp) based on its predicted role of causing "permeability" of the cell membrane. After much research on anthracycline-resistance, this P-gp was finally characterized as a multidrug-resistant protein coded by the mdr1 gene. Multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP) was initially cloned from H69AR, a human small cell-lung carcinoma cell line which is resistant to doxorubicin (DXR) but does not express P-gp. MRP also excretes substrates through the cell membrane using energy from ATP catabolism. The substrate of MRP is conjugated with glutathione before active efflux from cell membrane. Recently, membrane transporter proteins were re-categorized as members of "ATP-Binding Cassette transporter"(ABC-transporter) superfamily, as shown at http://www.med.rug.nl/mdl/humanabc.htm and http://www.gene.ucl.ac.uk/nomenclature/genefamily/abc.html. A total of ABC transporters have been defined, and MDR1 and multidrug resistance associated protein 1 (MRP1) were reclassified as ABCB1 and ABCC1, respectively. Their associated superfamilies include 11 and 13 other protein, in addition to ABCB and ABCC, respectively. Lung resistance-related protein (LRP) is not a member of the superfamily of ABC transporter proteins, because it shows nuclear membrane expression and transports substrate between nucleus and cytoplasm. LRP was initially cloned from a non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line, SW1573/2R120 which is resistant to DXR, vincristine, etoposide and gramicidin D and does not express P-gp. The mechanisms of resistance remains unclear, and why some resistant cell lines express P-gp and others express MRP and/or LRP is likewise unclear.

Analysis of the early postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen time-course as a prognostic tool for bronchogenic carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The serum kinetics of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) after resection of lung carcinoma are not well characterized. Its prognostic implications remain unclear. This study was designed to clarify the correlation between postoperative CEA time-course and patient prognosis.

METHODS

The authors analyzed early postoperative CEA time-course in 31 lung carcinoma patients using nonlinear least square analysis with the following three equations: Equation 1: C(t) = C(0); Equation 2: C(t) = C(0)exp(-kt); and Equation 3: C(t) (C(0)PLAT)exp(-kt) + PLAT, in which t: postoperative day; C(t): postoperative CEA; PLAT: postoperative CEA at plateau; C(0): CEA at postoperative Day zero; and k: rate constant of elimination. The equation that yielded the least Akaike's information criterion was adopted as the best fitting regression equation for each patient. When Equation 3 was adopted, postoperative CEA production (PROD) was calculated as PLAT multiplied by k.

RESULTS

Equations 1, 2, and 3 were adopted for 16 (Group 1), 0, and 15 (Group 2) patients, respectively. In Group 1, no decrease in serum CEA level after surgery was detected and CEA production appears to have been little or none. In Group 2, biologic CEA half-life was 1.1 +/- 0.7 days and was not useful for predicting patient prognosis. Tumor recurrences were observed in 9 of the Group 2 patients 19 +/- 9 months postoperatively and there was no significant difference in PLAT or PROD between patients with and without recurrence. Early recurrence within 6 months after surgery was recognized in 5 (early-REC) of the 15 Group 2 patients, in whom there was a tendency for PLAT to be higher than in the other 10 patients without recurrence (early-NON) (early-REC: 3.8 +/- 4.9 ng/mL; early-NON: 1.5 +/- 1.1 ng/mL; P = 0.08). PROD was significantly higher in early-REC than in early-NON (early-REC: 3.5 +/- 4.2 ng/mL/day; early-NON: 0.8 +/- 0.4 ng/mL/day; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Although PROD is more sensitive than PLAT, both parameters appear to be useful as prognostic tools for predicting early recurrence after resection of lung carcinoma. This is probably because they represent the number of residual tumor cells immediately after surgery.

Alteration of myo-inositol monophosphatase in Alzheimer's disease brains

myo-Inositol monophosphatase (E.C.3.1.3.25) catalyzes the hydrolysis of myo-inositol 1-phosphate in the presence of Mg2+ at a physiologic pH to form free myo-inositol, maintaining a supply that represents the precursor for inositol phospholipid second messenger signaling systems. In the present study the activity and protein level of myo-inositol monophosphatase were investigated in samples from normal human and Alzheimer's disease (AD) postmortem brains. The separation profile on Sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography revealed one major form of myo-inositol monophosphatase in crude extracts from both normal human and AD brains. In AD brains myo-inositol monophosphatase activity and its protein level were significantly higher than in control brains. The activity of myo-inositol monophosphatase per enzyme molecule was similar in control and AD brains. These results suggest that myo-inositol monophosphatase is upregulated in AD, probably reflecting compensatory mechanisms concerned with phospholipid metabolism.

The Chiari pelvic osteotomy for patients with dysplastic hips and poor joint congruency

We report the mid- to long-term (mean 20.3 years, 10 to 32.5) results of the Chiari pelvic osteotomy in patients with pre- to advanced stage osteoarthritis in dysplastic hips. We followed 163 Japanese patients (173 hips) with a mean age at surgery of 20 years (9 to 54). Overall, 124 hips (72%) had satisfactory results, with Harris hip scores ≥ 80. Satisfactory results were seen in 105 of 134 hips with pre- or early osteoarthritis (78%) and 19 of 39 hips with advanced osteoarthritis (49%). A total of 15 hips (9%) underwent a total hip replacement (THR) with a mean interval between osteotomy and THR of 16.4 years. With conversion to THR as the endpoint, the 30-year survival rate was 85.9% (95% confidence interval 82.3 to 89.5). It was 91.8% for patients with pre- or early osteoarthritis and 43.6% for those with advanced osteoarthritis (p < 0.001).

We now perform the Chiari osteotomy for patients with dysplastic hips showing poor joint congruency and who prefer a joint-conserving procedure to THR.

A metastatic model of human colon cancer constructed using cecal implantation of cancer tissue in nude mice

COL-2-JCK, a human colon cancer xenograft line able to be transplanted into nude mice, was implanted in the subserosal layer of the cecum, either as cancer tissue or as a single cell suspension. When cancer tissue was used for the cecal implantation, 100% extensive local tumor growth and a high incidence of metastases to the regional lymph nodes, peritoneum, liver, and lung was observed. In contrast, when the cell suspension of this line was injected into the cecal wall, no metastases were observed, with significantly reduced local tumor growth. The use of cancer tissue maintaining the original cancer tissue structure is therefore considered imperative for allowing full expression of the biological characteristics of cancer cells. This nude mouse model using the cecal implantation of cancer tissue should thus prompt further study on the biology of human colon cancer.

Colorimetric chemosensitivity testing using sulforhodamine B

A colorimetric chemosensitivity test was investigated using sulforhodamine B (SRB), which stains protein synthesized by cells, as an end-point marker. Four cultured cell lines, 9 human tumor xenografts serially transplanted into nude mice, and 14 fresh surgical specimens were subjected to this assay. The optimal conditions for the assay were 3-5 x 10(4) cells per well in a 96-microplate, an SRB concentration of 4%, and an incubation time of more than 10 minutes. When mitomycin C, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil were assessed by the SRB assay, the concentration-effect curves revealed a sharp slope between plateaux at low and high concentrations, suggesting that this assay has an excellent sensitivity which can assess the effect of drugs as "all or none." Although this high sensitivity resulted in good reproducibility of the assay for cultured cell lines, the predictive rate of the SRB assay for the chemosensitivity of human tumor xenografts in vivo was limited to 63.9%. As a result, this SRB assay is thought to be useful for evaluating the chemosensitivity of cultured cells as all or none, since it can assess directly cellular protein synthesis, which is one of the most important parameters of cell renewal, with excellent sensitivity.

The sphericity of the bearing surface in total hip arthroplasty

This study evaluated the sphericity of bearing surfaces in total hip arthroplasty. The out-of-roundness of metal femoral heads, the inner surface of polyethylene liners, and commercially available ball bearings was measured. The hip prostheses were obtained directly from the manufacturers. The sphericity of the bearing surfaces was significantly inferior to that of the ball bearings. The sphericity of the femoral head on the sagittal plane was inferior to that on the transverse plane. Several significant differences were found among different manufacturers. The sphericity of the femoral head on the sagittal plane and that of polyethylene significantly improved in 1999 and 2000 compared with those in 1995. Further improvement is desirable, however, because good sphericity is expected to prolong the functional performance of the prosthesis after total hip arthroplasty.

Abundance of low molecular weight phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase in the nerve-ending fraction in the brain

The distribution of low molecular weight phosphotyrosine protein phosphatase (LMW-PTP) in subcellular fractions of rat brain tissue was investigated by immunoblotting analysis using anti-LMW-PTP antibody. The enzyme was detected in the 105000 g precipitate in addition to the supernatant of brain homogenate, even after the precipitate was extensively washed, and was abundant in the particulate fraction of nerve endings. Nerve ending LMW-PTP was effectively solubilized by 1% Triton X-100 or 1% deoxycholate, though the enzyme was solubilized by thorough sonication. Two forms of LMW-PTP, designated as LMW-PTP-I and -II, were separated from the nerve ending-rich fraction by chromatofocusing. Nerve endings PTP-I and -II were different in molecular weight, isoelectric point and susceptibility to activators and inhibitors. The properties of nerve endings LMW-PTP-I and -II were similar to those of cytosolic LMW-PTP-I and -II. The abundance of LMW-PTP in nerve endings as well as in the cytosol suggests that this enzyme plays an important role in synaptic function.

Significance of in vitro attachment of human colon cancers to extracellular matrix proteins in experimental and clinical liver metastases

The attachment of 7 human colon cancer lines transplantable into nude mice, and primary tumors and liver metastases from 30 patients with colon cancer to 4 extracellular matrix proteins (EMPs)--Matrigel, laminin, fibronectin, and type IV collagen--was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H (MTT) assay. Cancer cells from the 4 established tumor lines which produced experimental liver metastases in vivo showed significantly greater attachment to each EMP than those from the other 3 tumor lines which did not. Although there were no significant differences between attachment to EMPs of cancer cells from 15 clinical primary tumors with liver metastases and those without, attachment to each EMP of cells derived from liver metastases was significantly greater than that of the cells from the corresponding primary tumors in 8 cases for which liver metastases and primary tumors were examined simultaneously. Attachment to EMPs, which could be determined simply and rapidly using the MTT assay, is thus considered a significant factor in experimental and clinical liver metastases of human colon cancers.