Can Aggressive Lipid Lowering Using Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis Prevent Restenosis After Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty in Patients with Normocholesterolemia?

Abstract: We examined whether aggressive lipid lowering using low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis could prevent restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Fifteen patients with 17 lesions underwent LDL apheresis once within a week before and after PTCA and thereafter every 2 or 3 weeks (apheresis group) for about 4 months. The control group consisted of 17 patients with 17 lesions. No patients received additional lipid lowering drugs after PTCA. In the apheresis group, the time interval means of the total and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly lower than those in the control group whereas no significant differences were found between the 2 groups regarding the mean percent diameter stenosis or minimal lumen diameter before and after PTCA and at follow-up. The restenosis rate was 29.4% in the apheresis group and 47.1% in the control group. The restenosis rate tended to be slightly lower in the apheresis group. The overall results, however, indicated that aggressive lipid lowering does not prevent restenosis.     

Immune response to syngeneic or autologous testicular cells in mice. I. Augmented delayed footpad reaction in cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

A delayed footpad reaction against syngeneic or autologous testicular cells was detected in mice of inbred C57BL/6, AKR and C3H/He strains. The reaction was only provoked to a measurable level if the immunization was preceded by treatment with cyclophosphamide (CY). Footpad reaction was strongest on day 6 after immunization and was detected in both male and female mice. It was found that the reaction was elicited not only with the immunizing antigen, but also with allogeneic or xenogeneic testicular antigen in mice immunized with syngeneic testicular cells.     

Human Tumor–infiltrating Lymphocytes Transfected with Tumor Necrosis Factor Gene Could Augment Cytotoxicity to Autologous Tumor Cells

Human tumor–infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) derived from pleural or ascitic fluid were incubated with recombinant interleukin 2 and transfected with human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) a gene by the lipofection procedure. The resulting TILs secreted significant amounts of TNF in the culture supernatant and exhibited cytotoxicity against established cell lines, such as K562 and Daudi, and autologous tumor cells. The TNF gene–transfected TILs exhibited an augmented killing of autologous tumor cells.     

Rheological analyses of coagulation of blood from different individuals with special reference to procoagulant activity of erythrocytes.

In our previous papers, we reported that factor IX (FIX), when activated by erythrocyte membranes, causes coagulation. We have identified and characterized the FIX-activating enzyme located in normal human erythrocyte membranes. In this paper, to examine physiological and pathological significances of procoagulant activity of erythrocytes, coagulation of blood obtained from different individuals was analyzed by means of a rheological technique. In more than 65% of subjects including normals and patients, the initiation of coagulation seemed to be governed by erythrocytes. Coagulation of whole blood and platelet-free plasma supplemented with erythrocytes had a tendency to occur rapidly in the elderly. It was suggested that the concentration of FIX-activating enzyme on erythrocyte membranes for aged donors was somewhat higher than that for young ages. Propagation reactions on erythrocyte membranes (i.e. factor X activation leading to thrombin generation after FIX activation) was slower than that on platelet membranes. Moreover, the propagation reaction on erythrocyte membranes was greatly dependent on individuals, whereas that on platelet membranes was not so much. Our study demonstrates that the activation of FIX by erythrocytes and subsequent propagation reaction on platelet membranes may be important for initiating and controlling blood coagulation reactions.     

Normal axial alignment of the lower extremity and load-bearing distribution at the knee

Based on a series of 120 normal subjects of different gender and age, the geometry of the knee joint was analyzed using a full-length weight-bearing roentgenogram of the lower extremity. A special computer program based on the theory of a rigid body spring model was applied to calculate the important anatomic and biomechanical factors of the knee joint. The tibiofemoral mechanical angle was 1.2 degrees varus. Hence, it is difficult to rationalize the 3 degree varus placement of the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty suggested by some authors. The distal femoral anatomic valgus (measured from the lower one-half of the femur) was 4.2 degrees in reference to its mechanical axis. This angle became 4.9 degrees when the full-length femoral anatomic axis was used. When simulating a one-legged weight-bearing stance by shifting the upper-body gravity closer to the knee joint, 75% of the knee joint load passed through the medial tibial plateau. The knee joint-line obliquity was more varus in male subjects. The female subjects had a higher peak joint pressure and a greater patello-tibial Q angle. Age had little effect on the factors relating to axial alignment of the lower extremity and load transmission through the knee joint.     

Treatment and Posttreatment Effects of Fluoride Mouthrinsing after 17 Years

Objectives: This study assessed the treatment and posttreatment effects of a school-based, fluoride mouthrinse regimen. Methods : Children in a nonfluoridated community in Japan participated in a daily rinse program using a 0.05 percent NaF solution in nursery and primary schools, and a weekly rinse with 0.2 percent NaF in junior high school. Students were examined at least annually for dental caries and dental treatment was provided in a public dental clinic through the ninth grade. Incipient carious lesions with no cavitation were not restored. Results : The percent of children in grades one through nine (6–14 years of age) with caries-free permanent teeth increased from 13.4 percent in 1974 to 73.0 percent in 1991, while the mean DMFT decreased by 86 percent during this period. For 12-year-olds, mean DMFT scores declined to about one tooth per child after 1982. For adults 20 years of age, there was a 64 percent difference in DMFS between the treatment group who started the rinse regimen at 4 years of age and continued for 11 years, and the controls who lived in different districts and did not participate in a fluoride rinse regimen. Conclusions : Children who began rinsing at 4 or 5 years of age benefited the most from the program. The program was inexpensive, simple to implement and well accepted by families and teachers. The conservative treatment policy in the public clinic likely contributed to the benefits derived by participants.     

Absorption of methylmercury compounds from rat intestine

Intestinal absorption of methylmercury complexed with non-protein sulfhydryl compounds (NPSHs) as occurs in bile was studied by means of direct injection of mercury compounds into ligated intestinal segments of rats. The extent of absorption of methylmercury-cysteinylglycine (MM-CysGly) was similar to that of methylmercury-cysteine (MM-Cys) and 1.5 times larger than that of methylmercury-glutathione (MM-GSH). This result suggested that MM-CysGly, which is recognized as a major component of methylmercury in rat bile, can be easily reabsorbed from the intestine. These results indicate that not only MM-GSH and MM-Cys but also MM-CysGly may play important roles in the intestinal reabsorption of methylmercury during its enterohepatic circulation.

When the ligated intestine was pretreated with probenecid and acivicin, the intestinal absorption of MM-GSH was depressed much more than in the case of treatment with acivicin alone. This indicates the possibility that there are at least two systems for intestinal transport of MM-GSH i.e. γ-glutamyltrans-peptidase (GGT)-dependent and -independent systems.     

Prognostic significance of histopathological classification in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix

In a retrospective study of 724 patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the uterine cervix from 1980 through 1986, the histological classification and clinical stage (FIGO) were investigated for their prognostic value. The clinical stage was very important in relation to prognosis. The histological type of the squamous cell carcinoma (keratinizing, large cell non-keratinizing, small cell non-keratinizing) did not have any value in predicting survival, but small cell non-keratinizing tumor showed a less favorable prognosis than other tumors when surgery was employed. As to survival, there was no difference between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma when compared in all patients, but adenocarcinoma had a worse prognosis than squamous cell carcinoma when surgery was employed. The pelvic lymphnode status at operation was correlated with the clinical stage. Adenocarcinoma had more positive nodes than squamous cell carcinoma. There was no significant difference in the frequency of pelvic node involvement among cell types of squamous cell carcinoma. The present histopathological classification of the uterine cervical carcinoma was of little prognostic value in predicting patient outcome.