Spectroscopy of Pionic Atoms in ^{122}Sn(d,^{3}He) Reaction and Angular Dependence of the Formation Cross Sections

We observed the atomic 1s and 2p states of π^{-} bound to ^{121}Sn nuclei as distinct peak structures in the missing mass spectra of the ^{122}Sn(d,^{3}He) nuclear reaction. A very intense deuteron beam and a spectrometer with a large angular acceptance let us achieve a potential of discovery, which includes the capability of determining the angle-dependent cross sections with high statistics. The 2p state in a Sn nucleus was observed for the first time. The binding energies and widths of the pionic states are determined and found to be consistent with previous experimental results of other Sn isotopes. The spectrum is measured at finite reaction angles for the first time. The formation cross sections at the reaction angles between 0° and 2° are determined. The observed reaction-angle dependence of each state is reproduced by theoretical calculations. However, the quantitative comparison with our high-precision data reveals a significant discrepancy between the measured and calculated formation cross sections of the pionic 1s state.

MRI characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in the temporomandibular joint

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate characteristic MRI findings of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs).

METHODS

61 patients (122 TMJs) with RA in the TMJ and 50 patients (100 TMJs) with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) were included in this study. MR images of these patients were assessed by two oral radiologists for the presence or absence of osseous changes, disc displacement, joint effusion and synovial proliferation. These findings were compared between the two patient groups.

RESULTS

Osseous changes in the condyle and articular eminence/fossa in the RA patient group were significantly more frequent than in the TMD patient group, and were often very severe. Joint effusion was also significantly more frequent in the RA patient group. Synovial proliferation was found in all TMJs in the RA patient group, whereas it was very uncommon in the TMD patient group.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe osseous changes in the condyle and synovial proliferation were considered characteristic MRI findings of RA in the TMJs.

Diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging for detecting osseous abnormalities of the temporomandibular joint and its correlation with cone beam computed tomography

OBJECTIVE

With cone beam CT (CBCT) as the reference standard, the objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for assessing osseous abnormalities of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

METHODS

106 TMJs from 55 patients with temporomandibular disorder were examined by CBCT and MRI. CBCT images were evaluated by two experienced oral radiologists with regard to the presence or absence of each of the following eight types of osseous abnormalities: Type 1, destructive and erosive osseous changes of the condyle; Type 2, flattening of the articular surface of the condyle; Type 3, deformity of the condyle; Type 4, sclerosis of the condyle; Type 5, osteophyte formation; Type 6, ankylosis; Type 7, erosion of the articular fossa and/or eminence; and Type 8, sclerosis of the articular fossa and/or eminence. For detection of these osseous abnormalities by MRI, proton density-weighted images and T(2) weighted images were evaluated independently by three observers. Using CBCT findings as the reference standard, the diagnostic performance of MRI for detecting various types of osseous abnormalities was evaluated by calculating its sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

Out of 106 joints, CBCT revealed Types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 abnormalities in 25, 19, 26, 20, 14, 5, 19 and 22 joints, respectively. The mean sensitivities of MRI among the three observers for detecting Types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 abnormalities were 61%, 30%, 82%, 40%, 48%, 34%, 61% and 41%, respectively, whereas the mean specificities were 86%, 92%, 91%, 95%, 84%, 98%, 89% and 91%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although high specificity (84-98%) was obtained with MRI, this modality showed relatively low sensitivity (30-82%) for detecting osseous abnormalities of the TMJ. The value of MRI for the detection of TMJ osseous abnormalities is considered to be limited.

Differentiation between superficial and deep lobe parotid tumors by magnetic resonance imaging: usefulness of the parotid duct criterion

BACKGROUND

The location of a parotid tumor affects the choice of surgery, and there is a risk of damaging the facial nerve during surgery. Thus, differentiation between superficial and deep lobe parotid tumors is important for appropriate surgical planning.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the usefulness of using the parotid duct, in addition to the retromandibular vein, for differentiating between superficial and deep lobe parotid tumors on MR images.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Magnetic resonance images of 42 parotid tumors in 40 patients were reviewed to determine whether the tumor was located in the superficial or deep lobe. In each case, the retromandibular vein and the parotid duct were used to locate the tumor. The parotid duct was only used in cases where the tumor and the duct were visualized on the same image.

RESULTS

Using the retromandibular vein criterion, 71% of deep lobe and 86% of superficial lobe tumors were correctly diagnosed, providing an accuracy of 81%. However, the accuracy achieved when using the parotid duct criterion was 100%, although it could be applied to only 28 of the 42 cases. Based on these results, we defined the following diagnostic method: the parotid duct criterion is first applied, and for cases in which it cannot be applied, the retromandibular vein criterion is used. The accuracy of this method was 88%, which was better than that achieved using the retromandibular vein criterion alone.

CONCLUSION

The parotid duct criterion is useful for determining the location of parotid tumors. Combining the parotid duct criterion with the retromandibular vein criterion might improve the diagnostic accuracy of parotid tumor location compared to using the latter criterion alone.

Correlation of darkening of impacted mandibular third molar root on digital panoramic images with cone beam computed tomography findings

OBJECTIVES

Darkening of the lower third molar root on panoramic images is known to indicate an intimate relationship between the root and mandibular canal. The objective of this study was to investigate the anatomical relationship between the third molar root and its surrounding structures that leads to this panoramic finding.

METHODS

Imaging findings of 253 impacted lower third molars examined by both digital panoramic radiography and cone beam CT were reviewed. Panoramic images were evaluated to detect the presence or absence of darkening of the root where the mandibular canal was superimposed. Cone beam CT images were evaluated for the presence or absence of the following two findings: (1) grooving of the root and (2) thinning or perforation of the cortical plate by the root. The correlation between the panoramic and cone beam CT findings was examined using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

80 (32%) third molars showed a panoramic finding of darkening of the root. Between cone beam CT findings, cortical thinning or perforation alone was significantly correlated with this panoramic finding (80%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The panoramic finding of mandibular third molar root darkening was considered to reflect cortical thinning or perforation rather than grooving of the root.

Serum concentration of Hakata antigen, a member of the ficolins, is linked with inhibition of Aerococcus viridans growth

BACKGROUND

Hakata antigen (Hakata) is a novel serum glycoprotein that consists of collagen- and fibrinogen-like domains, similar to ficolin/p35. Our research suggested that serum Hakata may be a target of a polysaccharide (PSA) produced by Aerococcus viridans.

METHODS

A. viridans was incubated with human plasma and Hakata-depleted plasma to examine Hakata binding and growth inhibition of A. viridans through binding with PSA.

RESULTS

When A. viridans was mixed with human acid citrate dextrose-one (ACD-A) plasma, it pulled down Hakata complexed with mannose-binding lectin (MBL)-associated serine proteases 1 and 2 (MASP-1 and MASP-2). This complex had the potential for C4 deposition. Serum Hakata circulates as Hakata-MASPs complex in the blood and is proteolytically active. By mixing A. viridans with human plasma, we prepared a Hakata-depleted plasma, deficient in Hakata-MASPs complex. This plasma failed to inhibit A. viridans growth plasma, but does not inhibit Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica and Escherichia coli. However, a decrease of growth inhibition of A. viridans in Hakata-depleted plasma could be restored by adding a Hakata-MASPs complex preparation in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the Hakata-MASPs complex exhibited strong binding to A. viridans, but not to S. aureus, Y. enterocolitica and E. coli.

CONCLUSIONS

The serum concentration of Hakata is linked with growth inhibition of A. viridans upon binding of Hakata via PSA.

Detection of serum thermolabile beta-2 macroglycoprotein (Hakata antigen) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using polysaccharide produced by Aerococcus viridans

Although a serum thermolabile beta-2 macroglycoprotein (TMG) may play a role in host defense as a lectin, little is known of its related physiological functions, mainly due to a lack of appropriate methods for tracing the functions of TMG. We identified a polysaccharide from Aerococcus viridans, PSA, which reacts with TMG, and based on this finding, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to trace the functions of TMG. Using ethanol precipitation and DEAE-Sepharose and Sephacryl S-400 column chromatographies, we isolated PSA from cultured medium of A. viridans, and it exhibited specific binding against TMG in blood samples. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the isolated PSA showed ladder bands that implied the existence of repeating units composed of D-glucose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-mannose, and D-xylose, as confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. SDS-PAGE and immunochemical analysis, using rabbit anti-TMG antibody, showed that PSA specifically binds solely to intact serum TMG but not to TMG heated at 56 degrees C for 30 min, a condition under which antigenicity is lost. TMG in serum samples bound to PSA in a dose-dependent manner, and this binding was clearly suppressed by addition of PSA. These observations indicate that PSA is a useful adsorbent to TMG and can be used to develop appropriate methods for tracing the functions of TMG.

Four putative subtypes of human parvovirus B19 based on amino acid polymorphism in the C-terminal region of non-structural protein

The nucleotide sequence of 10 isolates of human parvovirus B19 (B19) were determined and compared throughout 96.3% of the open reading frames (4145 nucleotides from nt. 509-4653). In the 4145 nucleotides, 122 mutation sites were found, of which 24 were accompanied by amino acid displacement. Furthermore, the polymorphism of the amino acids was seen in about 110 bases near the carboxy terminal of the non-structural protein, ranging from nt. 2011 to 2123, where four amino acid mutation points were found to exist. Based on the amino acid polymorphism of these four mutation sites in this area, 10 isolates of the B19 parvovirus could be divided into 4 subtypes (subtypes A, B, C, and D). The frequency of isolation of the subtypes depended on the time and location of collection of the B19 viremic blood specimens.

Screening of blood donors for human parvovirus B19 and characterization of the results

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Human parvovirus B19 (B19 virus) can be transmitted through blood transfusion and plasma-derived products. In a previous report, we utilized the simple hemagglutination method based on the interaction between the B19 virus and P antigen on human erythrocytes in order to screen the blood donors. We called this method receptor-mediated hemagglutination (RHA) [Lancet 1995;346:1237-1238]. In this paper, we report on a large-scale screening of the B19 virus by RHA and discuss the results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Donor sera from September 1995 to March 1997 and seroconversion panels were enrolled. Donor sera were examined by RHA for large-scale screening. The positive sera in the first screening were then further investigated by the RHA inhibition test, countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We also evaluated the infectivity and neutralizing activity of various kinds of sera by the erythroid colony forming unit (CFU-e) assay. To examine the detection limits of the B19 virus by RHA, B19-viremic sera were purified by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation.

RESULTS

Among 257,710 sera specimens, 293 sera (0.11%) gave a positive reaction in the first screening using RHA. Out of these 293 sera specimens, 31 were positive for PCR, of which 28 were also RHA inhibition-positive, and 25 of the 28 CIE-positive. In the CFU-e injury assay, all the RHA inhibition (+) sera showed a decrease in the number of erythroid colonies. The RHA inhibition (-) PCR (+) B19 antibody (+) sera did not affect the erythroid colony formation and protected CFU-e from injury by the B19 virus. By measuring the amount of purified B19 protein and its RHA titer, the detection limit of the B19 virus by RHA was calculated to the 0.37+/-0.03 ng/ml.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the RHA(+) RHA inhibition (+) sera were infectious in vitro. The combination of RHA and the RHA inhibition test is considered to be useful for the large-scale screening of infectious B19 virus in blood donors with high specificity.

Biological response to ionizing radiation in mouse embryo fibroblasts with a targeted disruption of the DNA polymerase beta gene

Base excision repair (BER) is carried out by two distinct pathways in mammalian cells, one dependent on DNA polymerase beta (Polb) and the other on proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Pcna). We studied whether the Polb-dependent pathway plays an important role in BER in vivo after exposure to ionizing radiation. For this purpose, we used mouse embryo fibroblasts derived from wild-type and Polb gene knockout littermates. Both cell lines had essentially the same clonogenic cell survival and low levels of apoptosis as determined by a colony formation assay and by a change in mitochondrial membrane potential, respectively. No significant cleavage of protein kinase C delta (Pkcd) in vivo, which is a substrate for caspase 3, was detected, and intact Pkcd was retained in both cell lines for at least 72 h after irradiation. Similar significant increases in caspase 3-like activities as measured by Asp-Glu-Val-Asp (DEVD) cleaving activity in vitro were observed in both cell lines after irradiation. Radiation induced cell cycle arrest in the form of a G(2)-phase block, and G(2)/M-phase fractions reached a peak approximately 10 h after irradiation and decreased thereafter with a similar time course in both cell lines. Similar levels of chromatin-bound Pcna were observed immediately after irradiation in non-S-phase cells of both cell lines and disappeared by 4 h after irradiation. We conclude that the deficiency in Polb does not have a significant influence on the radiation responses of these cells. Together with evidence accumulated in vitro, these results strongly support the idea that the Pcna-dependent pathway predominantly acts in BER of radiation-induced DNA damage in vivo.

Infection of the erythroid cell line, KU812Ep6 with human parvovirus B19 and its application to titration of B19 infectivity

A human parvovirus B19 (B19) infectivity assay was developed using the erythroid cell line, KU812Ep6. KU812Ep6 was cloned for high efficiency infection with B19 in vitro, in the presence of erythropoietin by a limiting dilution method from the parent cell line, KU812. B19 was effectively propagated in KU812Ep6 and was detected for B19 antigens, VP1 and VP2. The titers of B19 positive sera measured with KU812Ep6 cells were in the range of 10(6) to 10(8) TCID50 ml. This KU812Ep6 infectivity assay had a 10(3)-10(4.5) higher sensitivity than the colony forming unit-erythroid (CFU-e) injury assay. It was calculated that one TCID50 needed 10(3) B19 genome copies, judging from the infectivity assay and semi-quantitative PCR. The KU812Ep6 infectivity assay was also used to determine infectivity of B19 in vitro, and to evaluate inactivation, as well as clearance of the virus. The inactivation of B19 by heating was carried out and infectivity declined from 10(4) TCID50 ml to < 10 TCID50 ml (lower limit of detection) at 60 degrees C for 3 h or at 70 degrees C for 30 min, but only decreased to 10(2.5) TCID50 ml at 50 degrees C for 8 h.

Efficacy of donor screening for HTLV-I and the natural history of transfusion-transmitted infection

BACKGROUND

It has been 10 years since the implementation in Japan of donor blood screening for human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). This report reviews the effectiveness of screening in preventing transmission of HTLV-I through blood transfusion and the current status of patients with confirmed seroconversion due to transfusions given before the implementation of screening.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients who received blood at Kyushu University Hospital from 1990 to 1997 were followed. Serum samples were collected before transfusion and 60 days or more after transfusion. Seroconversion was determined by a second-generation particle agglutination test. Confirmation tests were an immunofluorescence assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoblotting. Confirmed seroconverted patients were followed by a search of hospital records.

RESULTS

Seroconversion was found in one of 4672 transfused patients, but the donor was identified and confirmed to be negative for anti-HTLV-I and virus genome by nested polymerase chain reaction. A total of 23,323 red cell concentrates and 17,237 platelet concentrates were transfused to these 4672 patients. Therefore, the anti-HTLV-I prevalence in blood for transfusion after screening was estimated at 1 in 45,560 (0.0022%; the upper 95% CI was 0.0080%). One hundred two seroconverted patients who were transfused before donor screening for HTLV-I were followed. One patient developed HTLV-I-associated myelopathy, diagnosed 18 weeks after seroconversion, and another patient developed uveitis 1 month after seroconversion. No patients developed adult T-cell lymphoma, and the survival rate of seroconverted patients was 92.5 percent 15 years after transfusion.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that the present donor screening program for HTLV-I by the new particle agglutination test can almost completely prevent virus transmission by transfusion. Complications of HTLV-I transmission were at lower rates than expected.

Cloning and characterization of the Hakata antigen, a member of the ficolin/opsonin p35 lectin family

The Hakata antigen is a novel, thermolabile beta2-macroglycoprotein that reacts with sera from patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus. In this study we present the structure and the function of the Hakata antigen. We have identified cDNA clones encoding the Hakata antigen and analyzed its function. The cDNA included a possible open reading frame of 897 nucleotides, encoding 299 amino acids. The Hakata antigen consisted of a collagen-like domain in the middle section and a fibrinogen-like domain in the COOH terminus, both of which are homologous to human ficolin-1 and opsonin P35, indicating that these three molecules form a distinct family. The molecular mass of the Hakata antigen expressed in transfected cells was 35 kDa under reduced conditions, and it formed ladder bands under nonreducing conditions compatible with the previous result that the Hakata antigen exists in serum as homopolymers. Purified Hakata antigen sustained lectin activity, showing affinity with GalNAc, GlcNAc, D-fucose as mono/oligosaccharide, and lipopolysaccharides from Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella minnesota. These results suggest that the Hakata antigen, a new member of the ficolin/opsonin P35 family, plays a role in the serum exerting lectin activity under physiological conditions.

Human parvovirus B19 infection in blood donors

Using an immunodiffusion assay, we tested all of the blood units donated at the Fukuoka Red Cross Blood Center from June 1991 to July 1994 for B19 antigen. Over this 3-year trial period, we detected 16 viremic cases out of approximately 560,000 blood donors. Interestingly, most of the viremic donors (15 out of 16) were detected between February 1992 and January 1993, which coincided with a local erythema infectiosum epidemic in the Fukuoka area (December 1991 to August 1992). In particular, we detected 4 cases of viremia in March 1992, which was the peak of the erythema infectiosum epidemic. The incidence of B19 viremia in this peak period was approximately 1/4,000. The viremic donors ranged in age from 17 to 45 years, and most (11/16) were between 31 and 39 years old. By ELISA, using virus particles purified from viremic donor plasma as antigen, we analyzed the prevalence of B19-specific antibody among blood donors. The antibody-positive rate was approximately 40% in donors 16-30 years old, gradually increased in middle age, and reached a peak of 92% in donors more than 61 years old.

Quantitation of HTLV-I provirus among seropositive blood donors: relation with antibody profile using synthetic peptides

To study the pathophysiological state of HTLV-I carriers and the quantitative aspect of the risk of HTLV-I infection, we measured the absolute amounts of HTLV-I provirus in 39 seropositive blood donors. The amount of provirus varied from less than one to more than 10(4) molecules per 10(5) peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The average amount of HTLV-I provirus among seropositive blood donors was estimated as 3.7 x 10(3) molecules per 10(5) PBMC. The titer of the antibody against only the synthetic peptide (aa 100 to 130) of the gag p19 region of the HTLV-I provirus showed a weak but significant correlation with the amount of the provirus.

Gly145 to Arg substitution in HBs antigen of immune escape mutant of hepatitis B virus

A Japanese child born to an HBeAg-positive carrier mother received anti-HBs immunoglobulins and a plasma-derived HBs vaccine with a poor anti-HBs-antibody response. The child, who is now 3 years old, is presently suffering from chronic hepatitis with unusual serological findings that are positive for HBsAg, anti-HBs and HBeAg, since being infected with a measles virus at 12 months of age. The nucleotide sequences of the S region of HBV DNA obtained from the patient, the mother and an HBeAg-positive brother were completely identical except for one nucleotide at position 587 (mother and brother: guanosine, patient: adenosine), giving an amino acid change: Gly - greater than Arg at position 145 of the major HBs protein.

Identification and mapping of neutralizing epitopes of human parvovirus B19 by using human antibodies

We identified and mapped the regions responsible for neutralization in the human parvovirus B19 structural protein by using region-specific human antibodies derived from seropositive blood donors. The region-specific antibodies were purified by using affinity columns coupled with synthetic peptides of the hydrophilic regions including the beta-turn structure deduced by the predicted secondary structure of VP2. Fifteen highly specific antibodies against the synthetic peptides were obtained. Ten of them were able to precipitate the radiolabeled virus. Six of them proved to be able to protect the colony-forming unit erythroid cells in human bone marrow cell cultures from injury by the virus. The sequences recognized by the six neutralizing antibodies were sites corresponding to amino acids 253 to 272, 309 to 330, 325 to 346, 359 to 382, 449 to 468, and 491 to 515 from the amino-terminal portion of VP2. These observations suggest that the neutralizing epitopes were distributed in the region from amino acid 253 in the amino-terminal portion of VP2 to the carboxyl terminus of VP2.

Isolation and characterization of a thermolabile beta-2 macroglycoprotein ('thermolabile substance' or 'Hakata antigen') detected by precipitating (auto) antibody in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

A novel thermolabile beta-2 macroglycoprotein ('thermolabile substance' (TLS) or 'Hakata antigen' (HA], which was detected by the precipitating (auto) antibodies of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, was isolated and characterized. The purification procedure entailed the following steps: isoelectric precipitation in the range between pH 5.2-6.1, hydroxyapatite absorption chromatography, 35% saturated ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, Pevikon block electrophoresis, lentil lectin affinity chromatography and immobilized rabbit anti-human whole serum IgG column chromatography. Utilizing these procedures, 0.1 mg of HA was purified from 3 1 of pooled human serum. The molecular mass of HA was determined as 650 kDa by Sepharose 4B gel filtration. On SDS-PAGE analysis, HA showed a single band at 35 kDa under reduced conditions and numerous ladder bands between 35 kDa to more than 300 kDa under nonreduced conditions. On analytical ultracentrifugation, HA gave a molecular mass of 520 kDa with a single meniscus and a sedimentation constant of 12.0. The amino acid and carbohydrate analysis of reduced and S-pyridylethylated HA revealed that it contained five residues of hydroxyproline and an N-linked type sugar chain.

Identification of the region including the epitope for a monoclonal antibody which can neutralize human parvovirus B19

In this study, we identified a region in the human parvovirus structural protein which involves the neutralization of the virus by a monoclonal antibody and site-specific synthetic peptides. A newly established monoclonal antibody reacted with both viral capsid proteins VP1 and VP2. The epitope was found in six strains of independently isolated human parvovirus B19. The monoclonal antibody could protect colony-forming unit erythroid in human bone marrow cell culture from injury by the virus. The monoclonal antibody reacted with only 1 of 12 peptides that were synthesized according to a predicted amino acid sequence based on nucleotide sequences of the coding region for the structural protein of B19 virus. The sequence recognized by the antibody was a site corresponding to amino acids 328 to 344 from the amino-terminal portion of VP2. This evidence suggests that the epitope of the viral capsid protein is located on the surface of the virus and may be recognized by virus-neutralizing antibodies.

Serological studies of an SLE-associated antigen-antibody system discovered as a precipitation reaction in agarose gel: the HAKATA antigen-antibody system

Current population studies indicate that the HAKATA antigen is one of the normal plasma proteins not yet completely characterized. The frequency of Japanese donor, patients and Swedish patients was 100%, 99.99% and 99.98%, respectively. Anti-HAKATA antibody production was found in three patients, all with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Transient HAKATA antigen deficiency was found in 13 patients and appeared to be strongly associated with SLE (11 out of 13). None of the 14 SLE patients had a history of transfusion. It is therefore concluded that anti-HAKATA antibody is produced as one of the autoantibodies in SLE.

Study of seroconversion of antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-I in children of Okinawa, Japan

From 1983 to 1986, 1,813 children in nursery schools in Ishigaki Island and 1,228 children under 15 years old in the rural area in the Yaeyama District of Okinawa, Japan, were tested for anti-HTLV-I; 18 children (1.0%) in Ishigaki Island and 39 children (3.2%) in the rural area were positive. In order to survey when anti-HTLV-I developed in these children, their older serum samples were investigated retrospectively for 1 to 5 years. Two cases of seroconversion from anti-HTLV-I negative to positive were found between the age of 2 and 4, and there were no cases of seroconversion over 4 years old. Among the children who suffered maternal transmission of HTLV-I and developed anti-HTLV-I before the age of 15, about 80% of the children were considered to have anti-HTLV-I before the age of 2, and the remainder developed anti-HTLV-I before the age of 4.

Prevention of transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) through transfusion, by donor screening with antibody to the virus. One-year experience

To prevent the transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus, type 1 (HTLV-1) during blood transfusion, a program was implemented to screen donors for antibodies to the virus, using a newly developed, passive agglutination (PA) method. During the period April 1986 to March 1987, 675 recipients of donor blood in whom the antibody to HTLV-1 was not present before transfusion were followed for at least 50 days after transfusion. One of these 675 seroconverted despite the transfusion of screened blood, but this seroconversion rate (0.15%) represents a marked decrease from the rate of 8.3 percent prevalent before donor screening began. The rate in the Fukuoka area of donors seropositive for anti-HTLV-1 is 5.34 percent, as detected by the PA method and 1.80 percent, as assessed by the indirect immunofluorescence (IF) technique, with PA-positive but IF-negative blood units thus accounting for 3.5 percent (5.34-1.80) of the total blood donated. The seroconversion rate among recipients transfused with blood screened by IF (at Kyushu University Hospital only) from 1981 to 1985 was 0.41 percent, which was not significantly different from the rate of 0.15 percent observed after PA screening. The discrepancy between PA and IF in the rate of seropositivity was due, in part, to the higher sensitivity of PA in detecting anti-HTLV-1. It is proposed that all donor blood in areas where HTLV-1 is endemic be screened by PA before transfusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Elevated serum antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM)

We studied the serum antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in 11 patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM). HAM patients showed significant increases in IgG antibodies to EBV-capsid antigen (VCA) and -early antigen (EA) and in VCA-specific IgA compared with 25 seronegative subjects. However, there were no significant differences in antibodies to EBV-nuclear antigen (EBNA) or to other viruses between the two groups. In HAM patients, altered antibody responses occurred specifically to EBV-associated antigens, not to other viruses.

Spontaneous proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes increased in patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy

We found unstimulated (spontaneous) peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) proliferation significantly increased in 14 patients with human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I-associated myelopathy (HAM) compared with findings in HTLV-I seropositive non-HAM carriers (N = 8) or HTLV-I seronegative controls (N = 16). The proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, or pokeweed mitogen was decreased in the HAM patients. Cell clusters were frequent in cultures of unstimulated PBL from the HAM patients, but much less common in the controls or carriers. This spontaneous PBL proliferation was depressed when adherent-cell populations were depleted from the cultures. IL-2 activity increased in the supernatant of 3-day cultured cells from HAM patients, but not in cultured cells from the controls. Since IL-2 receptor positive cells increased in HAM, this spontaneous PBL proliferation is probably a response to IL-2 through the expression of IL-2 receptors.

Altered subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM)

We studied subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 12 patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) associated myelopathy (HAM). The percent of OKT8+ cells was significantly decreased, and the percentages of OKDR+ cells and IL-2R+ cells and the ratio of OKT4+ cells to OKT8+ cells were significantly increased compared with either HTLV-I seronegative healthy adults (controls) or HTLV-I seropositive non-HAM subjects (carriers). The subsets of PBL from eight carriers showed no differences from those in controls. The patients with HAM showed significantly higher antibody titers to HTLV-I compared with carriers. These altered PBL subsets and high HTLV-I antibody titers in the patients suggest that immune functions are in an activated state in HAM.

The occurrence of precipitating antibodies in transfused Japanese patients with hereditary ninth component of complement deficiency and frequency of C9 deficiency

Antibodies to the ninth component of complement (C9) were found in a patient with hereditary C9 deficiency (C9D) who had received multiple transfusions. The incidence of anti-C9 precipitating antibodies following transfusion was investigated in 63,625 patients treated at Kyushu University Hospital, and 475,886 blood donors at the Fukuoka Red Cross Blood Center were studied to determine the frequency of C9D in Japan. Transfusion reactions in recipients having anti-C9 were also monitored. One hundred and eighty-six subjects (15 patients and 171 donors) with C9D were identified (a prevalence of 0.036%). Four of 15 C9-deficient patients had received transfusions. One of the patients who had received several units of blood within 1 week developed low-titer C9-precipitating antibody. This patient was transfused in the presence of the antibody without evidence of adverse reactions. No precipitating antibody was detected in the remaining three patients who had received several units of blood on a single day. These observations suggest that multiple transfusions may contribute to the development of anti-C9.

Absence of HTLV I from New Zealand

Sera from 1,943 individuals from Auckland, New Zealand, were tested for the presence of serum antibodies to human T cell lymphotropic virus I (HTLV I), mainly with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with cell extracts as target antigen. The individuals tested were blood donors and mostly Caucasian, but included indigenous Maoris and representatives of several groups of Pacific islanders now resident in New Zealand. Also included were 37 patients with various hematological malignancies, including seven with T cell leukemias. Although 1% of samples were positive by ELISA, none of these were confirmed as positives by Western blotting. On the basis of these results we consider that it is unlikely that HTLV I infection occurs in Auckland; however, we cannot exclude the possibility that pockets of virus infection may occur in other parts of New Zealand or the South Pacific.

Incidence of antibody to HTLV-I is not increased in Japanese MS patients

To examine the association between MS and anti-human T-cell lymphotropic virus-I (HTLV-I) antibody, we studied serum and CSF antibody to HTLV-I in 27 Japanese MS patients by an indirect immunofluorescence method sensitive and specific enough to detect carriers of HTLV-I. The antibody was detected in 3 of 27 MS patients (11.1%), in 4 of 48 patients (8.3%) with other neurologic diseases, and in 8.3% of 2,500 healthy blood donors. There was no significant difference in the incidence between the three groups. The titer of the antibody was low in CSF when compared with that in serum in all seropositive MS patients. Fluctuations in the CSF antibody titer were not observed in any of 14 MS patients sampled repeatedly.

Transmission of adult T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I) through blood transfusion and its prevention

Cell-associated transmission of adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV/HTLV-I) suggested early in a follow-up study on recipients of blood has been supported with the latest results of an extended follow-up. Approximately 10(8) lymphocytes of blood donors carrying the antibodies against ATLV seemed to be necessary for the infection through blood transfusion. The infection transmitted by transfusion is now almost completely prevented by eliminating blood units that have been derived from blood donors having antibodies to ATLV/HTLV-I.