Hydrostatic pressur influences mRNA exprssion of trnsforming growth factor-β1 and heat shock protein 70 in chondrocyte-like cell line

The present study investigated the influence of hydrostatic prssure on the exprssion of cytokines and heat shock protein 70 in a chondrocyte-like cell line. Chondrocyte-like cells (HCS-2/8) were exposed to hydrostatic pressur by a special pressure apparatus. Total RNA for cytokines (interleukin-1β, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-I, and transforming growth factor-β1) and for heat shock protein 70 was extracted and was analyzed by a polymerase chain reaction method and Northern blotting. An assay for incorporation of [³⁵S]sulfate was performed to assess proteoglycan synthesis. The expression of transforming growth factor-β1 mRNA was enhanced after exposure to 5 Mpa of hydrostatic prssure and was reduced after 50 Mpa, whereas the expression of heat shock protein 70 was enhanced following exposure to 50 Mpa of hydrostatic pressure. The incorporation of [³⁵S]sulfate into the cultured cells increased following exposure to 1-5 Mpa of hydrostatic pressure and decreased following 10-50 Mpa of pressure. These results suggest that hydrostatic pressure at physiologic levels enhances the expression of transforkming growth factor-β mRNA in addition to increasing proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes and that excessively high hydrostatic pressure reduces the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 mRNA and increases the expression of heat shock protein 79 mRNA while decreasing proteoglycan synthesis.     

Laparoscopic Findings in Senescent Patients with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Abstract: Fifty -two patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), 10 of whom were 65 years or older at the time of diagnosis, were investigated by laparo-scopy. Laparoscopic findings in these 10 patients were evaluated and compared with those in younger patients. The 10 cases were composed of nine females and one male, and two had been diagnosed as having symptomatic PBC with skin itching, while the remaining eight had asymptomatic PBC. Two, seven and one case were in Scheuer's stage I, II and III, respectively, and eight had chronic non-suppurative destructive cholangitis (CNSDC) on liver biopsy specimens. The majority of senescent PBC patients had typical findings of the early stage of PBC on the liver surface; mild undulations in nine and reddish patches in eight. The laparoscopic findings in senescent PBC were relatively mild.     

Effect of wrist and ulna head position on gliding resistance of the extensor digitorum minimi and extensor digitorum communis III tendons: a cadaver study.

While attrition from sharp bony surfaces is the most common cause of extensor digiti minimi (EDM) tendon rupture, the etiology of other cases of spontaneous EDM tendon rupture is still unknown. Friction within the compartment may play a role, especially with ulna dislocation. The purpose of this study was to compare gliding resistance of the EDM tendon with that of a tendon which rarely ruptures spontaneously, the extensor digitorum communis of the middle finger (EDC III) tendon, under various wrist and ulna head positions. Eight fresh frozen cadavers were used. Gliding resistance between the tendon and its sheath in each compartment was measured in five different wrist positions and three different ulna head positions. Gliding resistance of the EDM tendon (0.13 +/- 0.03 N) was significantly greater than the EDC III tendon (0.09 +/- 0.03 N) (p < 0.05). For the EDM tendon, the gliding resistance in ulnar deviation or pronation was higher than the gliding resistance in neutral, radial deviation, or supination (p < 0.05), and the gliding resistance with ulnar lengthening (over 6 mm) or dorsal ulnar dislocation (over 9 mm) was higher than in neutral ulnar head positioning. For the EDC III tendon, the gliding resistance in ulnar deviation was significantly higher than the gliding resistance in neutral, radial deviation, or supination, or dorsal dislocation with ulnar lengthening (p < 0.05). Wrist ulnar deviation, ulnar dorsal dislocation (over 9 mm), and ulnar lengthening (over 6 mm) increased the gliding resistance of the EDM tendon. In patients at risk for EDM rupture, such as those with rheumatoid arthritis or distal radioulnar joint osteoarthritis, avoiding such positions may be advantageous.     

Neurochemical Findings in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Schizophrenic Patients with Tardive Dyskinesia and Neuroleptic-Induced Parkinsonism

Abstract: Monoamine and their acid metabolites were determined in the CSF of 18 drug-treated chronic schizophrenic patients with the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia and neuroleptic-induced Parkinsonism (Parkinsonism). Six healthy volunteers were used as the control group.
The norepinephrine (NE) levels were found to be significantly higher in the patients with tardive dyskinesia than in the controls. Furthermore, elevated CSF NE levels were also observed in the patients with Parkinsonism. Epinephrine (E) and Dopamine (DA) were not present in the CSF of the control group, whereas measurable levels of DA could be detected in 4 out of 9 and E was found in 8 out of 9 patients with tardive dyskinesia. The mean concentration of HVA was slightly but not significantly elevated in the patients with tardive dyskinesia and Parkinsonism. The mean values of CSF 5-HIAA were all within the normal range in both patient groups. From the above results, it was suggested that abnormal adrenergic activity rather than abnormal dopaminergic activity may play an important role as a mechanism in the etiopathogenesis of extrapyramidal disorders. Furthermore, in the patients with Parkinsonism, CSF neurochemical observations were similar to those of the patients with tardive dyskinesia in this study. It may help to explain the clinical coexistence of tardive dyskinesia and neuroleptic-induced Parkinsonism.     

Development of new immunoradiometric assay for CA 125 antigen using two monoclonal antibodies produced by immunizing lung cancer cells

CA 125 is an antigen associated with non-mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer, which is defined by OC 125 antibody developed by immunizing ovarian cancer cells. We have produced two monoclonal antibodies, 130-22 and 145-9, by using the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line PC-9. Both 130-22 and 145-9 antibodies recognized CA 125 antigen. However, the binding sites seemed to be separate from those of OC 125. Testing by 9 immunoradiometric assays (IRMA), using different combinations of the 3 monoclonal antibodies 130-22, 145-9 and OC 125 demonstrated that the best standard curve for detecting CA 125 could be obtained by a "simultaneous sandwich" assay based on a mixture of 125I-labeled OC 125 and 130-22 or 145-9 coated beads. One-step IRMA, using 130-22 as a tracer and 145-9 as an immunoadsorbent, also showed good reproducibility and sensitivity for measuring CA 125. Antigens were detectable in the culture supernatants of PC-9 cells and 5 of 6 ovarian cancer and endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. These results indicate that one-step IRMA using 130-22 and 145-9 is useful for detecting CA 125 antigen.     

Immunocytochemical Evidence of Amyloid-enhancing Factor (AEF) in Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Amyloid enhancing factor (AEF) was extracted from spleens of mice that had received amyloidogenic stimulation. Sephacryl S 300 gel filtration of the crude AEF yielded five fractions, among which strong AEF activity was present in the first peak (Fl), and confirmed by an amyloid induction experiment. An anti AEF antiserum was obtained from a rabbit by immunization with Fl. This antibody reacted strongly with splenic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PML) from mice given amyloidogenic stimulation, and weakly with those from normal untreated mice. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) analysis of both Fl and sera from mice given amyloidogenic stimulation was performed. A single band was observed on IEF analysis of Fl, whereas many bands were seen on IEF analysis of the sera. After the substances in the gel had been transferred to nitrocellulose membranes by capillary blotting, the membranes were made to react with the anti-AEF antiserum. The results suggested that AEF is a high molecular-weight substance derived from PML and increases in the serum at the time of, or shortly prior to, amyloid deposition in the spleen. Acta Pathol Jpn 39: 349∼355, 1989.     

Cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers with latent initiators, 3. 1-(p-methoxybenzyl)tetrahydrothiophenium hexafluoroantimonate as a new potent cationic initiator

Cationic polymerization of styrene in the presence of 1-(p-methoxybenzyl)tetrahydrothiophenium hexafluoroantimonate ( 3 ) as an efficient cationic initiator was investigated. 3 was synthesized in an excellent yield by the reaction of p-methoxybenzyl bromide with tetrahydrothiophene and the subsequent exchange of bromide ions for hexafluoroantimonate ions. In the polymerization of styrene, 3 acted as a potent thermally latent initiator which initiates the polymerization at a slightly higher temperature than room temperature, although no polymerization occurs at room temperature for 30 min. 3 is a much more active initiator than the previously reported benzylsulfonium salt 1 . The enhanced activity of 3 was also confirmed in the polymerization of glycidyl^b phenyl ether.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF AN ANAPLASTIC GIANT-CELL CARCINOMA FOUND 8 YEARS AFTER OPERATION ON A PAPILLARY CARCINOMA OF THE THYROID

Light and electron microscopic studies have been made on an anaplastic giant-cell tumor that developed in a woman 8 years after an operation on the thyroid for papillary carcinoma. Many giant cells were observed in the anaplastic tumor tissue, but no follicles. Numerous tightly-packed mitochondria and abundant ribosomes were present, but there were no desmosomes. The basement membrane was not distinct.     

Vesicles in the subacrosomal space and partial diaphragms in the subacrosomal nuclear envelope of round spermatids of a rat injected intravenously with gold labeled-testosterone-bovine serum albumin conjugate: vesicular trafficking from acrosome to nucleus

Colloidal gold labeled-testosterone-bovine serum albumin conjugate (testosterone-BSA-gold) injected into the vascular system of rats is taken up by endocytosis into round spermatids. Based on observation of silver deposits indicating testosterone-BSA-gold with silver enhancement, we have suggested that testosterone-BSA-gold enters the nuclei through not only the postacrosomal nuclear envelope but also the subacrosomal nuclear envelope (SNE) via the acrosome (Nishimura and Nakano, 1997). However, it was unclear how testosterone-BSA-gold in the acrosome entered the nucleoplasm. Spermatids showing silver deposits on the subacrosomal space were observed under electron microscope without silver enhancement, to clarify the courses of translocation. In the spermatids, vesicles with the gold particles were seen in the subacrosomal space. Some of the vesicles were in contact with the SNE. A part of the outer nuclear membrane projected into the space. Furthermore, local single-bilayer nuclear membranes, which seemed to partially lack nuclear lamina, were present in the SNE. These results indicate the possibility that the vesicles mediate the transport of testosterone-BSA-gold from acrosome to nucleus, and that the vesicle membrane fuses with not only the outer nuclear membrane but also a shared bilayer in the SNE.