The first fluorescent sensor for boronic and boric acids with sensitivity at sub-micromolar concentrations--a cautionary tale

The first reported fluorescent sensor for boronic and boric acids is actually not a sensor for boronic and boric acids but rather is a sensor for protons; the system is also not the first fluorescent sensor since Alizarin has been used as a fluorescent sensor for boric acids since 1936.

Modular fluorescence sensors for saccharides

Modular and modular polymer supported fluorescence photoinduced electron transfer (PET) sensors 2 and 3 with two boronic acid receptor units, a pyren-1-yl fluorophore, and hexamethylene linker show selective saccharide binding in aqueous methanolic solution at pH 8.21.

Effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on combination therapy with aztreonam and clindamycin for infections in neutropenic patients with hematologic diseases

The present multicenter study was performed to evaluate the effect of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) on combination therapy using aztreonam (AZT) and clindamycin (CLDM) to treat severe infection in neutropenic patients with hematologic diseases. Forty-three neutropenic patients with infections (rhG-CSF group) were treated with AZT (2 g) and CLDM (600 mg) 2-3 times daily as well as rhG-CSF (Lenograstim or Filgrastim: 2-5 mu/kg/day). The clinical efficacy of this regimen was compared to that obtained in 44 febrile neutropenic patients, with hematologic diseases, who received only AZT and CLDM in a previous study (historical control group). The overall efficacy rate was 69.8% (30/43) in the rhG-CSF group and 65.9% (29/44) in the historical control group. Although the neutrophil count was significantly increased and C-reactive protein tended to be lower in the rhG-CSF group, the daily maximum body temperature profiles of the 2 groups were nearly the same. These results suggest that rhG-CSF is of little benefit in the treatment of single infectious episodes in neutropenic patients, and that appropriate antibiotic therapy is more important.

Promotion of differentiation and proliferation of peripheral blood CD34+ cells in vitro by G-CSF

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on differentiation and proliferation of CD34+ cells from peripheral blood in presence of recombinant hematopoietic growth factor (HGF).

METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells mobilized by G-CSF were obtained from patients suffering from carcinoma, preparing for autologous bone marrow transplantation. CD34+ cells were isolated by derivatized polystyrene tissue culture flask which had covalently immobilized soybean agglutinin lectin and was coated with anti-CD34 antibody; and this kind of cells were incubated in liquid culture medium for up to 28 days under the stimulation of combination of growth factors, i.e., stem cell factor (SCF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) with or without G-CSF. The changes of nucleated cells, colony forming unit-granulocyte and monocyte (CFU-GM), burst forming unit-erythrocyte (BFU-E), colony forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK), and myeloid-associated markers were evaluated.

RESULTS

An increase of nucleated cells (mean 640-fold increase) occurred during culture CFU-GM production is parallel to the nucleated cell production until the 11th day (mean 82-fold increase) in combination of 3 HGF, i.e., G-CSF, IL-3 and SCF. A large number of cells expressing late myeloid markers appeared on the 11th day in suspension culture of CD34+ cells.

CONCLUSION

G-CSF was found to synergize with IL-3 and SCF in inducing rapid proliferation of purified CD34+ cells and differentiation to multiple myeloid lineages. The stroma-free, cytokine-driven culture system could achieve a degree of amplification of colony forming cells, suggesting the feasibility of culture of hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro as an adjunct to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Nucleotide sequence of a human genomic DNA fragment containing the PCNA pseudogene and its localization on chromosome 4

A one kb human genomic DNA fragment, containing a processed pseudogene of a proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA/DNA polymerase delta auxiliary protein), was isolated and sequenced. The PCNA pseudogene consisted of the 3' half of exon 4 and the 5' half of exon 5 of the PCNA gene, and shared 84% nucleotide homology with the human PCNA cDNA. The PCNA pseudogene was localized on human chromosome 4, based on data obtained from a panel of human-mouse hybrid cell lines.

[Pulmonary functions in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis]

We studied the correlations of pulmonary function with clinical symptoms or autoantibody profiles in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). Percent vital capacity (% VC) was low in 40% of PSS patients and percent diffusing capacity of carbon oxide (% DLCO) was decreased in 76% of the patients. Eighty-five percent of the patients had abnormal pulmonary functions. The % DLCO was significantly low in male patients compared with female patients. The arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in patients with esophageal hypomotility was significantly lower than those without esophageal hypomotility. PSS with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) showed a significant decrease of the % VC (p < 0.05) and PO2 (p < 0.05), and of lung fibrosis was frequent in the patients compared with those without SS. Pulmonary fibrosis was recognized in 63% of PSS patients and was more frequent in the patients with anti-Scl-70 antibody than those without the antibody. The annual decrease of VC was 62 ml in PSS patients, and that of DLco was 0.12 ml/min/mmHg. The annual decrease of VC was more prominent in the PSS patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis or anti-Scl-70 antibody. The decrease of VC, however, was mild in the patients with anti-RNP antibody compared with those without the antibody.

Flow cytometric analysis of cell-surface antigen expressions on acute myeloid leukemia cell populations according to their cell-size

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells which expanded from a single leukemic cell show certain degrees of morphological and biological heterogeneity. In the present study, we determined cell-surface antigen expressions (CD13, 33, 34 and 38, and HLA-DR) on AML cells based on their cell-size (large vs small cells) by flow cytometry. We found that the cell-surface antigens were more strongly expressed on the large leukemic cells than the small cells, regardless of FAB subtypes. Furthermore, our preliminary study demonstrated that AML patients who showed a relatively small difference in antigen expression between large and small leukemic cells had longer remission durations and survival periods, compared with those with a more prominent difference in antigen expression. Thus, the heterogeneity of AML cells determined by the combination of cell-surface antigen expressions and cell-size may be associated with clinically important biological behaviors.

Combinations of HLA-DPB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles determine susceptibility to early-onset myasthenia gravis in Japan

HLA class II alleles in the DQA1, DQB1, DRB1, and DPB1 genes were investigated in Japanese patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) by digestion of polymerase chain reaction amplified DNAs with allele specific restriction endonucleases (PCR-RFLP). A significantly higher frequency of DQB1*03, which includes *0301, *0302, *0303 and determines the serological DQ3 specificity, was observed in female patients less than 30 years in age at onset of disease compared with healthy controls (90.5 vs. 53.2%). This study also confirms the high incidence of DPB1*0201 in early-onset female patients compared to the controls (85.7 vs. 40.3%). Moreover, 81.0% of the early onset female patients were found to carry both DQB1*03 and DPB1*0201, compared to 17.7% of the controls. Since DQB1*03 and DPB1*0201 are not in linkage disequilibrium, both these alleles are supposed to be synergistically involved in disease development in early-onset female MG. In contrast, no obvious association of HLA-DQA1, DQB1, DRB1 and DPB1 alleles with either late-onset patients or patients with thymoma was observed. Clearly, the genetic background of Japanese females with early onset MG is different from that of other patients with MG.

[Renal and cerebral infarctions in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus without antiphospholipid antibodies]

Renal artery infarction is a very rare complication in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), even in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome which often causes thromboembolism: Renal infarctions have only been reported in 4 SLE patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Here we report a case of SLE without aPL who accompanied by renal and cerebral infarctions. A 42-year old Japanese woman with 8 year history of SLE manifested by arthralgia, central nervous system symptoms, positive-antinuclear and anti-DNA antibodies was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of progressive lupus nephritis. Physical examinations revealed hypertension (130-160/80-110 mmHg) without pitting pretibial edema. Laboratory evaluations showed proteinuria (3.7 g/day), normal serum creatinine level (0.9 mg/dl), low serum albumin level (2.3 g/dl) and high cholesterol level (317 mg/dl). Old cerebral infarctions were recognized by magnetic resonance imaging. However, hematological and immunological studies revealed that this case has neither a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, lupus anticoagulant nor anticardiolipin antibodies. Prednisolone was increased from 30 mg/every other day to 30 mg/day, and oral azathioprine, 50 mg/day, was started for the treatment of lupus nephritis. On the 11th day, she suddenly complained severe abdominal pain, which gradually localized on the right side. Computed tomography of the kidney suggested right renal infarctions, and arteriography of right renal artery confirmed both an obstruction of the ventral branch and a narrowing of the dorsal branch of right renal artery. No intra-cardiac thrombus was demonstrated by echocardiography. Following to the treatment with fibrinolytic agent and anticoagulant, her symptoms have improved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Estimation of megakaryothrombopoiesis by mean platelet volume in leukemia patients during the course of chemotherapy and patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation]

The mean platelet volume (MPV) was measured in 14 patients with acute leukemia during the course of chemotherapy for remission induction and 21 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation, in order to assess its usefulness as an indicator for megakaryothrombopoiesis at bone marrow suppression and recovery. In patients with acute leukemia, the MPV fell from 9.7 +/- 0.8 fl to 9.2 +/- 0.4 fl during the myelosuppression, and then it rose transiently to 10.2 +/- 0.5 fl and fell to 9.3 +/- 0.5 fl during recovery of platelet count. Similarly, in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation, the MPV elevation was followed by the recovery of platelet count. Thus, when engraftment was defined as this MPV elevation, engraftment was confirmed significantly earlier by MPV (19.9 +/- 5.8 days) than by platelet count (24.8 +/- 6.7 days). MPV should be a useful indicator for engraftment or recovery from marrow aplasia in cases of acute leukemia and those of bone marrow transplantation.

Expression of c-myc, c-Ki-ras and c-Ha-ras oncogene products in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with myasthenia gravis

The oncogene products of c-myc, c-Ki-ras and c-Ha-ras and the subsets of natural killer cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 39 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and 40 healthy individuals were studied by immunocytochemical procedures. The MG patients showed an increased expression of c-myc, c-Ki-ras and c-Ha-ras oncoproteins in both lymphocytes and monocytes compared to those of healthy individuals (P < 0.01, P < 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively). On the contrary, the number of Leu-7-Leu-11c+ cells of MG patients was less than that of healthy controls (P < 0.05). The oncogene expressions in PBMC of MG patients correlated positively with white blood cell counts, total natural killer cell counts (NK), Leu-7+Leu-11c+ of NK cell subset, gamma-globulin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum immunoglobulins; the oncogene expressions were negatively correlated with the Leu-7+Leu-11c-NK subset. Thus, the increased expressions of c-myc, c-Ki-ras and c-Ha-ras oncoproteins accompanying the decreased Leu-7-Leu-11c+NK cell in MG PBMC are likely responsible for the acceleration of the clinical manifestations in MG patients.

[Soluble IL-2 receptor levels in rheumatic diseases]

We measured soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) in plasma and/or joint fluid (JF) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA: 16 patients), Sjögren's syndrome (SS: 24 patients) and Behçet's disease (BD: 23 patients). Plasma sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in RA patients (956 +/- 994 U/ml, p < 0.01) and SS patients (1025 +/- 1112 U/ml, p < 0.01) than 20 healthy subjects (338 +/- 159 U/ml), but not significantly increased in BD patients (408 +/- 329 U/ml). sIL-2R levels higher than the mean of healthy subjects +2 standard deviations were observed in 3 BD patients (13.0%), 7 RA patients (43.8%) and 10 SS patients (41.7%). sIL-2R levels positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels in RA patients, or IgM levels in SS. There was no significant correlation between plasma sIL-2R levels and disease activity, clinical symptoms, or other laboratory parameters in BD patients. However, sIL-2R concentrations in the JF from 4 BD patients (1644 +/- 198 U/ml: p < 0.05) or 16 RA patients (3946 +/- 5424 U/ml: p < 0.01) were significantly higher than corresponding plasma sIL-2R concentrations. Above results indicate that lymphocytes are being activated in patients with RA or SS and in the inflammatory lesions of BD patients, while the whole immunologic activation are relatively lower in BD than RA and SS.

Pulmonary fibrosis with megakaryocytoid cell infiltration in accelerated phase of chronic myelogenous leukaemia

We report a patient in the accelerated phase of Philadelphia-chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia who developed fibrosis in lungs, spleen and bone marrow. In the lungs, fibrosis was demonstrated in the alveolar septa which had been infiltrated by giant, bizarre-shaped cells resembling the megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. The relationship between the fibrosis and megakaryocytoid cell infiltration in the lungs is discussed.

Phase IV group study of natural human interferon alpha (HLBI) on chronic myelogeneous leukaemia

Under the control of Kanagawa CML/HLBI phase IV study group in Japan, 18 cases out of registered 30 cases of chronic myelogeneous leukaemia consisting of 17 chronic phase and 1 accelerated phase, during July, 1991 to January, 1992, were analyzed for their hematological responses and cytogentic responses preliminarily. Hematological response rate (PR + CR) was 83.3% including 50.0% of CR, as judged by Kimura's criteria after treatment with HLBI alone (16 cases) or/and with other chemotherapy (2 cases). The dosage and duration of HLBI therapy required to get into the complete remission ranged from 212 to 1272 millions IU and between 6 to 42 weeks (mean value was 20 weeks), respectively. The clonally proliferated leukocytes and decreased physiological hematopoiesis started to recover from 2 to 4 weeks and reached their normal ranges from 16 weeks after 6 millions IU of HLBI were administered every day. In the 4 cases examined, 3 cases showed minimal cytogenetic responses and a case showed no cytogenetic response. Slight and temporary adverse effects were observed in 15 out of 18 cases (83.3%) including fever, general malaise, appetite loss, eruption, diarrhea, glossitis, hypogustation, weight loss and local muscle pain.

[Refractory acute myelogenous leukemia successfully treated with a continuous infusion chemotherapy of low dose aclarubicin and cytosine arabinoside: a case report]

A 44-year-old female with refractory acute myelogeneous leukemia had experienced an early relapse after a third complete remission (CR) with combination chemotherapy (BHAC-AMP) using daily one-shot infusion of 20 mg aclarubicin (ACR). Further treatments including intermediate dose of cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) were not effective. After treatment with a continuous administration of low dose ACR (9 mg/day) and Ara-C (21 mg/day) for 14 days she entered a fourth CR. The mechanism of this treatment relates to both cell-killing and differentiation effects on leukemic cells.

HLA-DPB1 allele associates with early-onset myasthenia gravis in Japan

We investigated the HLA-DPB1 allele in 43 unrelated Japanese patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) using digestion of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified DNA with allele-specific restriction endonucleases (PCR-RFLP method). We found a higher frequency of the DPB1*0201 allele in female patients whose ages at onset were less than 30 years (83.3%) than in controls (35.6%). The study also included serologic typing of HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DR antigens in 72 patients with MG, and confirmed previous results demonstrating a strong association of HLA-DR53 with early onset of MG in females. These results indicate that both the DPB1*0201 allele and DR53 play key roles in the disease process of MG in early-onset females, and that the genetic background of Japanese females with early-onset MG is different from that of other patients with MG.

Case report: the effect of a Chinese herbal medicine, BG-104 in two HIV positive hemophiliacs

The BG-104, a Chinese herbal medicine, has been reported to restore decreased plasma superoxide scavenging activity. This report showed in vivo effect of BG-104 on two patients with hemophilia A infected with human immunodeficiency virus by infusions of the concentrated Factor VIII. Both patients, showed a peripheral CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia for more than half a year. BG-104 was administered daily and follow-up observations were continued for 3 years. The number of CD4+ T-lymphocytes remained relatively constant during BG-104 treatment without disease progression.

[Hematologic response to low dose natural interferon-alpha in a case of CML with myelo-megakaryoblastic crisis]

A 59-year-old female with splenomegaly was admitted in November, 1989. Her WBC was 7,900/microliters with 51% myeloblasts and 10% megakaryoblasts. Analysis of the surface markers showed that 56.5% were CD13 positive and 66.8% carried platelet GpIIb/IIIa. The Ph1 chromosome was 100% positive. VPM therapy was started but proved ineffective, as was subsequent MCNU therapy. The patient was given intramuscular human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha (1.2 million IU daily) for more than 20 months. She had improved to the accelerated phase after INF-alpha therapy for 13 months. Thus there appears to be a relationship between INF-alpha and myelo-megakaryoblastic crisis.

Molecular analysis of abnormal satellite I DNA from a BUF/Mna rat thymoma

BUF/Mna rats develop spontaneous thymomas in an autosomal dominant manner. We constructed recombinant plasmid library of 90 and 185 base-paired (bp) satellite I DNA fragments isolated from BUF/Mna rat thymoma DNA. Four unusual clones containing 93, 95, 95, and 173 bp inserts were isolated by colony hybridization with Wistar rat satellite I DNA. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the inserts of the 4 clones revealed abnormal sequence organization and unusual subunit structure of the rat satellite I DNA. Sequence comparisons between normal and abnormal satellite I DNA suggested that the unusual subunit structure could be generated by the change of the Hinf I recognition sequence to an Eco RI cleavage site, in addition to random deletions, insertions and base substitutions. The heptanucleotide sequence TGGGAAC, which is strictly conserved in normal subunits, was completely lost in all these clones. Southern blot hybridization revealed the amplification of abnormal satellite I DNA in BUF/Mna rat thymomas.

MDR1 (multidrug resistance) gene expression in adult acute leukemia: correlations with blast phenotype

Resistance to multiple chemotherapeutic agents is related to the production of P-glycoprotein, a transmembrane drug efflux pump that is encoded by the multidrug resistance gene (MDR1). To detect low-level or heterogenous expression of the MDR1 gene in acute leukemia, we have developed sensitive, specific and semi-quantitative protocols for measuring levels of MDR1 mRNA, based on the polymerase chain reaction. Using this assay, we screened blasts from 20 patients with untreated adult acute leukemia for evidence of MDR1 gene expression. The level of MDR1 mRNA was normalized to beta 2-microglobulin mRNA and was defined by reference to the highly resistant trimetrexate-selected leukemia cells MOLT-3/TMQ200 (1.80). MDR1 mRNA was observed in 14 out of 20 patients. Higher MDR1 mRNAs were observed in three patients with phenotypes of undifferentiated or minimally differentiated nonlymphocytic acute leukemia, as compared with other types of acute leukemia (0.98 vs. 0.25). In contrast, lower MDR1 mRNAs were found in five patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia, as compared with other types of acute leukemia (0.08 vs. 0.45). These findings suggest that MDR1 gene expression is correlated with the leucocyte differentiation stage of leukemia. MDR1 gene expression may, in part, explain the responsiveness to chemotherapy in these distinct subtypes of acute leukemia.

Acquired chronic pure red cell aplasia successfully treated with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone therapy

A 65-year-old male patient developed acquired chronic pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) associated with hypergammaglobulinemia and positive Coombs' test during the treatment of eosinophilic pneumonia with prednisolone (PSL). His PRCA was treated with oral PSL at a dose of 60 mg/day for 3 weeks, but anemia further progressed. Immediately after high-dose intravenous pulse methylprednisolone therapy (1 g/day for 3 days) however, reticulocyte crisis occurred and his anemia rapidly improved. He has been in complete remission under a maintenance dose of PSL for more than 2 years. This patient indicates that high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy is one of the useful treatments, not only for constitutional PRCA, but also for acquired chronic PRCA.

Essential thrombocythemia developing into refractory anemia and complicated by acute myeloid leukemia

We report a case of essential thrombocythemia (ET) that climaxed in acute myeloid leukemia after developing into refractory anemia. The male patient had ET that was stable for 8 years on carboquone therapy. However, at the age of 72 years he developed an acute terminal illness that was characterized by severe pancytopenia, circulating myeloblasts, extensive bone marrow infiltration by myeloblasts, and an abnormal karyotype [46, XY, t(8q-; 20q+)]. He subsequently died of severe bilateral pneumonia and heart failure. This case suggests that ET may be similar to polycythemia vera; progression to leukemia is unusual except after chemotherapy. Therefore, treatment of patients with asymptomatic ET may not be advisable.

Time course of superoxide generation by leukocytes--the MCLA chemiluminescence system

This study was performed to examine the pattern of superoxide (O2-.) generation from leukocytes using the O2-. specific chemiluminescence (CL) method. Cypridina luciferin analog, 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo [1,2-alpha]pyrazin-3-one (MCLA) was used as a CL probe. The appropriate conditions of the MCLA method was first determined for the evaluation of the time course of O2-. generation by leukocytes. The time course of O2-. generation obtained by the MCLA-CL system was compared with that by the luminol-dependent CL, electron spin resonance (ESR)/spin trapping, and cytochrome c systems. Following stimulation by three different stimulants (PMA, OZ, FMLP), leukocytes continuously generated O2-. for up to 5 h in the MCLA-CL system, irrespective of the kind of stimulation. The curves obtained by generation ceased more rapidly in the luminol-CL, ESR/spin trapping, and cytochrome c systems. A 50% activity of the initial value was observed at 70 min in the MCLA-CL system, but 30, 10 and 35 min in the other systems, respectively. The CL or O2-. generation value decreased to less than 1% (possible termination) at 300, 90, 120 and 180 min, respectively. With the exception of ESR studies with OZ, the cell viability was not significantly affected in any of the trials. These results indicate that leukocytes can generate O2-. much longer than previously estimated and that the MCLA-CL-system is the most suitable system for the measurement of the O2-. generation by leukocytes.

Differential effects of IL-3, GM-CSF and G-CSF in an adult with congenital neutropenia

Using a methylcellulose culture system, we studied the effects of recombinant human interleukin-3 (IL-3), recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the growth of myeloid progenitor cells (CFU-C) from an adult patient with congenital neutropenia. The moderate clinical course and the maturation arrest at blast-promyelocyte stage in the marrow differentiated this patient from those described as having Kostmann-type congenital neutropenia. CFU-C growth in bone marrow cells from the patient responded to IL-3 normally in a dose-dependent manner. GM-CSF stimulated only macrophage colony formation in a dose-dependent manner comparable to that in normal subjects. Neither GM-CSF nor G-CSF stimulated any significant granulocyte colony formation. This evidence suggests that the hematopoietic progenitor cells in this patient had the potential for developing CFU-C with IL-3, and that the neutropenia in this patient could be a result of an intrinsic defect in myelopoiesis along a granulocytic pathway responsive to GM-CSF or G-CSF.

Accessory molecules expressed on the peripheral blood or synovial fluid T lymphocytes from patients with Sjögren's syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis

We previously demonstrated that the cells expressed by activation antigens were increased in several T cell subsets from the peripheral blood (PB) and joint fluid (JF) of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present report, we further determined by three-color flow cytometry the homing receptors (Leu8) for peripheral lymph nodes expressed on naive (CD45RA+) or memory (CD45RA-) CD4+ cells and on the two subsets of CD8+ cells (CD11b+ and CD11b-) in the PB and JF from SS and RA patients. In addition, the activation antigens (HLA-DR) and two adhesion molecules, including the alpha-chain of the leukocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA 1 alpha: CD11a) and its ligand (intercellular adhesion molecule-1: ICAM-1: CD54) expressed on T cells, were compared. We found that CD45RA-CD4+ cells were markedly increased in JF, while CD45RA+CD4+ cells were almost absent. Leu8+ cells were decreased in both CD45RA-CD4+ and CD8+CD11b-cells (cytotoxic T cells) in the JF, and were also decreased in the CD8+CD11b-subset in the patients' PB. Furthermore, activated (DR+) T cells were markedly increased in JF, and the cells expressed more adhesion molecules in both the PB and JF from patients, compared with the DR-T cells. The DR+ T cells therefore are considered to be memory T cells, which are more efficient for cell-to-cell interactions. These observations also suggest that the Leu8- and DR+ T cells with increased adhesion molecules might preferentially migrate into inflammatory tissues, and that naive T cells are being further converted to to memory T cells by in vivo stimulation within the tissues.

Cardiac tamponade in the blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia

A 36-year-old man with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) developed hemorrhagic pericarditis with tamponade as a terminal manifestation of the blastic crisis. Cardiac tamponade should be kept in mind as an uncommon cause of death of CML patients. Based on a literature review, symptomatic pericarditis in patients with CML blast crisis suggests imminent death. This is in contrast to long-term survival for patients in the chronic phase.

Thymic carcinoma associated with pinealoma and terminating with peroxidase-negative acute myeloid leukemia

Thymoma is associated with a wide variety of syndromes. However, an association with peroxidase-negative acute myeloid leukemia and pinealoma, although feasible due to the marked influence of this tumor on the lymphoid system, has not been described previously. A patient with thymic carcinoma and pinealoma who developed peroxidase-negative acute myeloid leukemia as a late event is presented in this report.

Cell surface antigens expressed on polymorphonuclear cells in the peripheral blood from patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases: two-color flow-cytometric analysis

Cell surface antigens, such as CR3, Fc gamma RIII, cALLa and Leu 8 antigen, expressed on polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) in the peripheral blood (PB) are associated with certain functions of PMN. Functional alterations of PMN have been reported in some rheumatic diseases. In this study, therefore, the cell surface antigens were examined by 2-color flow-cytometry using monoclonal antibodies to clarify whether expressions of the antigens on PMN are abnormal in patients with rheumatic diseases including Behçet's disease (BD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS). We found that expressions of CR3 and cALLa were increased on PB-PMN from patients with BD or RA, but not from those with SS. In BD, we further determined the phagocytic activity of PMN by a flow-cytometric method using fluorescent particles. The phagocytic activity was significantly higher in BD patients than in healthy controls, and correlated slightly with the expression of CR3 on PMN in the patients. In addition, prednisolone or colchicine seemed to decrease the expression of CR3 and/or cALLa in patients. The above results indicated that PB-PMN in BD and RA, but not SS, are phenotypically activated in vivo, and the activation probably reflects several cytokines and/or other stimuli to PMN produced in the inflammatory process.

Lack of deletion of complement C4 and steroid 21-hydroxylase genes in Japanese patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome

A null allele at C4A (C4AQO) is associated with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in Japanese. Since a deletion of the C4A and CyP21A genes is reported to account for C4AQO in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Caucasians, we studied the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of genomic DNA to determine whether similar deletions of the C4A and CyP21A genes occur in Japanese patients with SS. Patients with C4AQO did not show the extensive deletion of C4A and CyP21A, which would be recognized by the appearance of 8.5 kb/HindIII and 6.4 kb/TaqI fragments hybridizing with a C4 probe. It is yet to be shown whether the lack of expression of C4A genes in Japanese patients with primary SS is due to point mutations, or to small deletions or insertions that were not detected by the RFLP approach.

Serum apolipoprotein H levels in systemic lupus erythematosus are not influenced by antiphospholipid antibodies

Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were recently discovered to recognize a complex consisting of phospholipids and apolipoprotein H (apo H). In this study, we determined the serum apo H levels in 36 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with or without antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), including aCL and lupus anticoagulants, to clarify the possible effects of aPL on apo H levels in vivo. The apo H levels were low in SLE patients as compared with 22 healthy controls. However, no associations were found between apo H levels and circulating aPL or clinical features of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. A secondary hyperlipidemic state, which probably related to lupus nephritis (proteinuria) and/or prednisolone treatment, increased apo H levels in SLE patients.

Plasma free catecholamine level during hemopurification in a case of pheochromocytoma

To examine the alteration of the plasma free-catecholamine level during hemopurification in a patient with pheochromocytoma, the levels of plasma free-catecholamine and total catecholamine in the filtrate were monitored pre- and post-hemopurification. Approximately 100 micrograms of total catecholamine was removed by the hemopurification procedure though the high level of plasma-free catecholamine remained unaltered.

Two-color flow cytometric analysis of thymic lymphocytes from patients with myasthenia gravis and/or thymoma

Phenotypic characteristics of lymphocyte components of the thymus were determined by two-color flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies to T cell-differentiation antigens and activation antigens, and B cells in eight myasthenia gravis (MG) thymuses and eight thymomas including four associated with MG to clarify the roles of thymus in the diseases. Fifteen normal thymuses and four thymuses from non-MG patients were used as controls. Phenotypes of lymphoid components in thymoma resembled those in normal thymuses, in which the majority of lymphoid cells were immature (common) thymocytes (CD4+CD8+ or CD1+CD3-). The proportions of immature thymocytes, however, were relatively higher and those of mature thymocytes (CD4+CD8-, CD4-CD8+, CD1-CD3+ or CD2+CD3+) were lower in thymomas than normal thymuses. The results speculate that functions which support further differentiations of immature thymocytes into mature thymocytes are deficient in neoplastic epithelial cells of thymoma. In thymomas, therefore, occasional T cells might escape from the thymic surveillance system which eliminates auto-reactive T cells. Between thymomas associated with MG and those without, however, no significant difference was found in the proportions of thymocytes at various stages of maturation. In nonthymomatous thymuses from MG patients, an increase of both B cells (CD2-DR+ or CD2-CD21+) and activated T cells (CD2+DR+ or CD2+IL-2R+) was observed. Furthermore, immature thymocytes were significantly decreased and mature thymocytes were increased in the MG thymuses, as compared with normal thymuses, non-MG thymuses, and thymomas. These alterations were relevant to the histological findings observed in MG thymuses such as thymic involutions and germinal center formations: decreased immature thymocytes are considered to reflect thymic involutions, while germinal centers, in which lymphocytes from peripheral lymphoid organs are activated, are responsible for the increase of B cells, activated T cells, and mature T cells. In conclusions, our results suggest that neoplastic epithelial cells of thymomas are functionally deficient and that MG thymuses are immunologically active and resemble peripheral lymphoid organs.

Decreased plasma superoxide scavenging activity in immunological disorders--carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) as a promoter of prednisolone

We investigated so-called superoxide scavenging activity (SSA) of plasma in patients with several immunological disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polymyo-dermatomyositis (PM), progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), myasthenia gravis (MG) and autoimmune thyroid disease (AT), using the electron paramagnetic resonance/spin trapping technique. Since carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide, Ge-132, has been reported to modulate both the immune response and leukocyte functions, we have studied in vivo effect of Ge-132 on plasma SSA and other laboratory parameters in these disorders. The plasma SSA was significantly lower in RA, SLE, PM and PSS, but not in MG and AT, as compared with that in healthy controls. An inverse correlation was observed between plasma SSA and parameters such as erythrocytes sedimentation rates, absolute number of leukocytes, C-reactive protein and serum globulin levels. Furthermore, plasma SSA was significantly decreased in rheumatoid factor-positive patients as compared to negative patients. No correlation was observed between plasma SSA and factors such as ages, sex of patients or the other laboratory parameters, such as serum albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, hemoglobin and serum iron levels. Patients treated with prednisolone, especially ones with RA, showed an increase of plasma SSA. It appears that Ge-132 promotes prednisolone effects. Our results indicate that a decrease in plasma SSA is not disease specific, but inversely correlates with the severity and activity of inflammation. The methodology to measure plasma SSA presented in this work provides a helpful tool for determining the actual activity of the diseases as well as in vivo studies of antiinflammatory agents.

[Recurrent case of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis in young man]

A 10-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of lymphadenopathy and fever. Biopsy of a cervical lymph node demonstrated nodular necrotic foci containing many macrophages phagocyting the karyorrhexic nuclei. He was diagnosed as subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis (SNL) and all the symptoms disappeared spontaneously within a month. Five year later, lymphadenopathy recurred, and re-biopsy showed the same histological findings and he also recovered spontaneously. Although the prognosis of SNL is generally excellent and the majority of the patients recover without any treatment, recurrences are very rare, especially in young male patient.

[Clinical study of miconazole on deep-seated fungal infections]

An investigation was made on the efficacy and the safety of miconazole (MCZ) in the treatment of deep seated mycosis. The drug was administered through intravenous drip infusion at dose levels of 800 to 2,000 mg/day to 21 cases of confirmed mycosis for which causative organisms was identified and to 32 cases to which other antibiotics considered to be appropriate had been administered at febrile stages but had failed to take effect, hence mycoses were strongly suspected. The overall clinical efficacy rate was 84.3% (43/51). Treatments were "remarkably effective" in 6 cases, "effective" in 37, "not effective" in 8 and "indeterminable" in 2. The efficacy rates were 100% (21/21) in the confirmed mycosis cases and 73.3% (22/30) in the suspected mycosis cases. The mycological efficacies in the cases for which causative strains were identified were: disappeared in 14 (66.7%), decreased in 4 (19%), unchanged in 2 (9.5%) and unknown in 1 (4.8%), thus the overall disappearance ratio was 70% (14/20). Chest X-ray showed the disappearance of shadow in 1 patient and improvements in 14 of 23 patients examined. Adverse reactions were observed in 5 of the 53 cases (9.4%). From these results, MCZ may be considered as a highly useful drug not only in the treatment of deep mycosis but also in cases for which mycosis is strongly suspected.

"Yellow nail syndrome" and rheumatoid arthritis

A nail dystrophy characterized by the slow growth of nails and their yellowish discoloration, the so-called yellow nail syndrome (YNS), has been associated with various conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We reviewed the histories of RA patients reported in the literature and our own cases. Most of the RA patients with YNS had been treated with the anti-rheumatic agents D-penicillamine and bucillamine. In non-treated patients, spontaneous YNS was very rare. However, pulmonary diseases, edema and other systemic complications were frequently observed in both drug-induced and spontaneous YNS associated with RA. Although the nail changes and systemic complications are probably due to different causes in drug-induced YNS, a careful search for systemic complications are necessary in patients who develop nail changes. The exact mechanism of nail growth retardation is not understood in patients with YNS, including those with drug-induced YNS. The nail changes in the latter were not associated with deficiencies of inorganic elements in either nails or sera.

T cells bearing gamma/delta T cell receptor and their expression of activation antigen in peripheral blood from patients with Sjögren's syndrome

T cells bearing gamma/delta T cell receptor (gamma/delta + T cells) and their expression of activation antigen (HLA-DR) or the marker of natural killer (NK) cells (CD56), were examined in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from twenty-two patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) by three-color flowcytometry to elucidate possible pathological roles of the T cell subset in SS. The frequency of gamma/delta + T cells in PBL was not elevated in SS patients, while that of gamma/delta - T cells, which are T cells bearing the alpha/beta T cell receptor (alpha/beta + T cells), was significantly low in the patients, as compared with 22 healthy controls. We found that the proportions of activated cells (HLA-DR+) in both the gamma/delta + and alpha/beta+T cell subsets were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. The proportions of HLA-DR+ cells in cells in both patients and controls. Furthermore, the frequency of activated cells in both T cell subsets correlated with the duration of disease in SS patients. However, no difference was found in the percentages of total CD56+ cells, CD56+CD3- cells (true NK cells), CD56+CD3+T cells, CD56+gamma/delta+T cells, or CD56-gamma/delta+T cells between the patients and controls. The above results indicate that immunologic activation in SS patients is progressive and involves both alpha/beta+ and gamma/delta+ T cell subsets.

BG-104 enhances the decreased plasma superoxide scavenging activity in patients with Behçet's disease, Sjögren's syndrome or hematological malignancy

BG-104, a compound of Chinese herbs, has been reported to exert superoxide scavenging activity (SSA) in cell free systems. This report addresses in vivo effects of BG-104 in various disorders. The plasma SSA and laboratory parameters were determined in patients Behçet's disease (BD), Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) or hematological malignancy (M), and the effects of BG-104 treatment on these parameters were studied and compared with those of another antioxidant, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol). The plasma SSA was significantly lower both in patients with BD and M, and in patients with SjS without antioxidant treatment as compared to that in healthy controls, and it showed an inverse correlation with disease activities. The treatment with BG-104 and/or vitamin E significantly enhanced the plasma SSA in all disorders studied. Both the erythrocyte sedimentation rates, the absolute number of neutrophils, as well as C-reactive protein levels were significantly lower in patients treated with BG-104 and/or vitamin E than those without these drugs. These results indicate that the BG-104 has an anti-inflammatory effect through enhancing plasma SSA in patients with BD, SjS or M.

Serum thrombomodulin and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Since thrombomodulin (TM) is a specific cell surface glycoprotein for vascular endothelial cells, serum TM (s-TM) might be a useful marker of endothelial cell damage. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) frequently detected in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been associated with vascular occlusive diseases. Therefore we measured the s-TM in 60 patients with SLE, in 23 patients with other diseases including aPL (disease control group) and in 26 healthy subjects, by means of an enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies to human TM. A significant positive correlation was found between s-TM and serum creatinine levels in SLE patients (r = 0.813, p less than 0.001). When the s-TM level was divided by the serum creatinine level (TM/Cr) to exclude the effect of renal clearance, the TM/Cr ratios were significantly increased in SLE patients with active lupus nephritis (LN) compared to those without LN (p less than 0.05). The ratios did not correlate with the presence of aPL or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS) in SLE patients or in the disease control group, although a weak correlation between the TM/Cr ratios and IgG-anticardiolipin antibody titers was found in the SLE patients without LN (r = 0.449, p less than 0.01). The present results suggest that elevated TM/Cr ratios reflect renal and possibly extra-renal endothelial cell damage in SLE patients with active LN, but that s-TM levels do not associate with the presence of aPL or a history of APLS.

Sjögren's syndrome and pregnancy

We analyzed 117 histories of pregnancy obtained from 40 female patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) including 13 patients with primary SS and 27 patients with secondary SS. The frequency of spontaneous abortions did not differ in the 40 patients and those with primary SS compared with 129 healthy women. However, both spontaneous abortions and premature deliveries were significantly more frequent in the SS patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B antibodies were not associated with the outcomes of pregnancy although spontaneous abortions were more frequent in secondary SS patients with false positive serological tests for syphilis, anti-erythrocyte antibodies, thrombocytopenia or prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. Neither congenital anomalies nor connective tissue disease was found in the 77 neonates of the patients. We concluded that SS does not influence the outcome of pregnancy except in patients with SLE or those with serological and hematological abnormalities related to lupus anticoagulants or antiphospholipid antibodies.

Protective effect of carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) on superoxide generation by 60Co-irradiated leukocytes

The carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide, Ge-132, is an organogermanium compound which has been shown to modulate leukocyte functions. In this study, we examined the effect of Ge-132 on the generation of superoxide radicals (O2-) either from leukocytes or in cell-free system, employing the highly sensitive 2-methyl-6-[p-methoxy-phenyl]-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-alpha]pyra zin-3-one (MCLA)-dependent chemiluminescence method and the specific electron spin resonance/spin trapping method, respectively. In addition, the in vitro protective effect of Ge-132 on the leukocytes irradiated with 60Co was studied. The incubation with Ge-132 resulted in an increase in basal O2- release of intact leukocytes, but had no effect on O2- generation from leukocytes stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Irradiation with 60Co decreased the O2- generation from leukocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Ge-132 had no effect on basal O2- release from 60Co-irradiated leukocytes, but it prevented the decrease in PMA-stimulated O2- generation by irradiated leukocytes. Ge-132 itself had no superoxide scavenging activity in cell-free system. On the other hand, higher concentrations of Ge-132 had decreasing effects on both basal O2- release and PMA-stimulated O2- generation from leukocytes, but they did not affect leukocyte viability. Above results indicate that 1) Ge-132 can stimulate the basal O2- release from leukocytes, 2) Ge-132 can prevent the decrease of O2- generation by 60Co-irradiated leukocytes, 3) in higher concentrations, Ge-132 may have a membrane stabilizing effect.

[Influence of healthy human bone marrow fibroblasts on differentiation and proliferation of human leukemic cell line HL-60]

The influence of bone marrow fibroblasts from healthy subjects on differentiation and clonal proliferation of HL-60 cells was studied. Clonal proliferation of HL-60 cells was examined by using agar culture method, DNA synthesis was done by counting 3H-thymidine incorporation into the cells, and differentiation of the cells was checked by non-specific esterase staining. The bone marrow fibroblasts and their conditioned-medium significantly stimulated colony formation and DNA synthesis of HL-60 cells, but they inhibited differentiation of the HL-60 cells. From these results, it was suggested that the bone marrow fibroblasts stimulated clonal proliferation of HL-60 cells and inhibited differentiation of the cells through humoral factors secreted by the fibroblasts.

[Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with Behçet's disease]

In patients with Behçet's disease, venous thrombosis has often been described as a complication. The pathogenesis of this complication, however, has not been fully understood. In this work, various parameters of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis were studied in 20 patients with Behçet's disease and 13 sex-matched healthy volunteers. Patients were classified into three subgroups according to the number of clinical signs involved; group I (no sign): 4 patients; group II (one or two signs): 11 patients; group III (more than three signs): 5 patients. Patients with Behçet's disease, showed an activation of blood coagulation, such as the shortening of prothrombin time (p less than 0.001), decreases in concentrations and activities of plasma antithrombin III (AT-III) (p less than 0.01) and elevated levels of plasma thrombin-antithrombin-III complex (TAT) (p less than 0.01), compared to the control group. Plasma levels (p less than 0.01) and activities (p less than 0.01) of protein C (PC) and total protein S (PS) levels (p less than 0.05) were increased in the patients. Decreased levels of alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor (p less than 0.001) also indicated an activation of fibrinolysis in the patients. When analyzed among the subgroups, patients belong to group II and III showed higher levels of plasma FDP D-dimer (p less than 0.05) and lower levels of plasminogen (p less than 0.05), as compared with patients in group I or control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Enhanced superoxide generation and the decreased superoxide scavenging activity of peripheral blood leukocytes in Behçet's disease--effects of colchicine

Enhanced superoxide radical (O2-) generation by polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) has been suggested to mediate tissue damage associated with Behçet's disease (BD). Because superoxide dismutase (SOD) provides protection from O2- we investigated whether the superoxide scavenging activity (SSA) of PMN, mononuclear cells (MNC) or plasma has a correlation to the amount of O2- generated by PMN in BD. We also studied the effects of colchicine, a potent inhibitor of phagocytosis, on the SSA of PMN. In BD, O2- release by both non-stimulated PMN and those stimulated with opsonized zymosan (OZ), or 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (PMA), was enhanced. The SSA of PMN, but not MNC and plasma, was significantly lower in BD patients as compared with healthy controls. The SSA of PMN showed a strong negative correlation with their O2- release. The SSA of PMN was lower in the BD patients with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels than in those with normal test results. In addition, we found that colchicine treatment increased the SSA of PMN toward normal levels in BD patients. In vitro studies demonstrated that the SSA in PMN obtained from healthy adults was decreased after stimulation with either OZ or PMA. Colchicine could prevent the decrease in the SSA when PMN were stimulated with OZ, but not when stimulated with PMA. Our results suggest that the enhanced O2- release by PMN in vivo may be responsible for the decreased SSA of PMN in BD and the PMN might be able to release more O2- in tissues. Colchicine may increase the SSA of PMN toward normal levels by blocking phagocytosis.

Association of enhanced superoxide generation by neutrophils with low superoxide scavenging activity of the peripheral blood, joint fluid, and their leukocyte components in rheumatoid arthritis: effects of slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs and disease activity

To study the role of the superoxide radical (O2-) in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), both the O2- generation of peripheral blood (PB) polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and the superoxide scavenging activity (SSA) of PB-PMN, plasma, joint fluid (JF) and PB- or JF-mononuclear cells (MNC) were measured in forty-five patients with RA using the highly sensitive and specific 2-methyl-6-methoxyphenyl-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-alpha] pyrazin-3-one dependent chemiluminescence and the electron paramagnetic resonance/spin trapping methods, respectively. Since many drugs, particularly the slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs (SARDs) used in RA, may alter O2- metabolism, the effects of SARDs on SSA were also studied. The basal O2- release and opsonized zymosan- or phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated O2- generation by PB-PMN from RA patients were significantly increased, while the SSA of PMN was decreased as compared to those from healthy controls. In addition, the SSA of PMN showed a negative correlation with their O2- generation rates. The JF-PMN showed lower SSA levels than PB-PMN. A negative correlation was also found between the SSA of the plasma and the erythrocyte sedimentation rates. The SSA of the plasma, PB-PMN, JF and JF-PMN were significantly higher in patients treated with SARDs than those without. In cell-free systems, sulfasalazine (SAP) and its metabolite, 5-amino-salicylic acid, had a direct SSA within a millimolar range. The other metabolites of SASP and D-penicillamine had an indirect SSA, since they affected the O2- generating system. Auranofin and bucillamine had no SSA. However, none of the SARDs examined could scavenge O2- at concentrations reported in patients' plasma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)