CHEMOTACTIC ACTIVITY FOR POLYMORPHONUCLEAR AND MONONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES IN RHEUMATOID SYNOVIAL FLUIDS

In order to why polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are predominant and mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) are few in rheumatoid synovial fluids, chemotactic factor(s) for PMNs and MNLs were studied in the synovial fluids of rheumatoid arthritis (RA-SF) and osteoarthritis (OA-SF) using both Boyden's and agarose methods. The RA-SF showed strong chemotactic activity for human peripheral blood PMNs compared with non-rheumatoid OA-SF. The chemotactic activity for PMNs was well correlated with the number of PMNs in RA-SF, suggesting that it was a natural mediator for PMN emigration into rheumatoid joint cavity. The major chemotactic factor for PMN in RA-SF was of apparent molecular weight of 14,000 and its activity was suppressed to less than 10 percent by anti-C5a antibody, but it failed to show any anaphylatoxin activity which was an attribute of C5a. It was, therefore, suggested to be C5a-like molecule but not C5a itself. The possibility that the factor may be a C5a des-Arg was discussed. On the contrary, the chemotactic activity for MNLs was not found neither in RA-SF nor OA-SF. These findings may explain the fact that PMNs are predominant in rheumatoid synovial fluids.     

Clinical evaluation of flomoxef in pediatrics and a study on the penetration into cerebrospinal fluid

The transfer to cerebrospinal fluid of a new oxacephem antibiotic flomoxef (FMOX, 6315-S) and its clinical efficacy against bacterial infections were investigated. 1. In 3 cases of purulent meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of FMOX after one shot intravenous injection of 100 mg/kg during the acute stage of infections were 5.12-6.32 micrograms/ml and ratios of FMOX in cerebrospinal fluid in serum were about 5%. During the recovery stage, cerebrospinal fluid concentrations were about 3.8 micrograms/ml and cerebrospinal fluid/serum ratios were about 3.5%. 2. In 1 case of purulent meningitis, the treatment with FMOX was clinically effective but this case was classified as "unevaluable" because other drug was used concomitantly. FMOX was rated effective in other 2 cases of purulent meningitis. Of 9 cases of pneumonia, FMOX was rated very effective in 8 cases and it was rated only effective in the other. Of 4 cases of bronchitis, the drug was rated very effective in 3 cases and only effective in the other. FMOX was rated very effective against 2 cases of tonsillitis, also. 3. As side effects, thrombocytosis was observed in 3 of 20 cases examined. All cases, however, were deemed unrelated to the FMOX treatment and the side effect was only transient as are often found in courses of recovery from infections.     

ASO Author Reflections: Perspectives of Laparoscopic Hepatectomy with Venous Tumor Thrombectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Annals of Surgical Oncology -     

ASO Author Reflections: Laparoscopic Arantius’ Approach as Shortcut Access for Major Hepatic Veins

Annals of Surgical Oncology -     

Comparative study of a novel selective urate reabsorption inhibitor “dotinurad” among patient groups with different stages of renal dysfunction

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Dotinurad is a selective urate reabsorption inhibitor (SURI), which selectively inhibits URAT1 to lower serum uric acid levels in patients with hyperuricemia....     

“Quadriceps myopathy”: a clinical variant form of becker muscular dystrophy

Summary A 26-year-old male with quadriceps myopathy is presented. He had a family history and only the bilateral quadriceps were wasted, without symptomatic weakness. The specimen of the muscle biopsy showed typical myopathic features without inflammatory reactions. The patchy defect of muscular dystrophin was proved by immunohistochemical study. Dystrophin analysis revealed abnormal 380 kDa dystrophin. Gene deletion was proved at exon 45–48 of Xp21 without frameshift. This case was considered to be a clinical variant form of Becker muscular dystrophy.     

Relationship between total mechanical energy and oxygen consumption in the stunned myocardium

We studied the relationship between left ventricular oxygen consumption (LVVO2) and total ventricular mechanical energy production as determined by calculation of the systolic pressure-volume area (P-VA) before and after 25 minutes of warm ischemia in 7 sheep. We compared the relationship between LVVO2 and P-VA with the relationships between LVVO2 and stroke work and between LVVO2 and the systolic stress integral. Using the methods presented, P-VA can be measured in vivo (n = 123) in both preischemic and postischemic hearts. Ischemia increases the slopes of the relationship between LVVO2 and P-VA and between stroke work and the systolic stress integral, and reduces the oxygen utilization efficiency of stroke work to less than 2%. Coefficients of determination for the relationship between LVVO2 and P-VA are, in general, higher than those between LVVO2 and either stroke work or the systolic stress integral. We conclude that systolic P-VA can be measured in vivo using recently developed methods and that it is applicable to postischemic "stunned" hearts. Because P-VA and LVVO2 can be converted into identical energy units, calculation of P-VA permits calculation of myocardial oxygen utilization efficiency.     

Investigation of the renal injury caused by liver ischemia-reperfusion in rats

To explain the mechanism of renal injury caused by liver ischemia-reperfusion, we investigated biochemical and morphological changes in the liver and kidney in rats. After reperfusion following 60 min of liver ischemia, numerous changes were found. The level of serum transaminases and lipid peroxide formation in the liver tissue increased significantly. Electron microscopic studies revealed that most of the hepatocytes had swollen mitochondria and clumping of the nuclear chromatin. The sinusoidal endothelium was disrupted and the sinusoidal lumen was filled with numerous erythrocytes. Blood endotoxin concentration, plasma lipid peroxide levels, and serum -glucuronidase activities were significantly higher than in the control group. Biochemical and morphological renal injury was also observed. Tissue lipid peroxide levels increased in both the kidney and the liver. Microscopic examination revealed damage to the renal tubules, including interstitial edema, dilatation of the lumen, and granular casts derived from necrotic cells in the proximal convoluted tubule. The levels of urinary N-acetyl--d-glucosaminidase (NAG) in the liver ischemia-reperfusion group were also higher than in the control group. These results suggest that the renal injury was caused by an increase in endotoxin, lipid peroxide, and lysosomal enzymes in the blood following the liver injury induced by the ischemia-reperfusion.     

Variable region gene analysis of 2 human monoclonal-antibodies to gd3

We analyzed the genetic origins of anti-GD3 antibodies by comparing nucleotide sequences of the variable regions from the human monoclonal antibody (mAb), 27-26 (mu, k), established from a patient with leukemia, and another human anti-GD3 mAb, HJM-1 (mu, lambda) derived from a patient with melanoma. The variable regions of 27-26 and HJM-1 were remarkably similar to the germ-line genes. The mAb 27-26 was thought to be derived from germ-line repertoire expanded throughout our experiment. HJM-1 was derived from lymphocytes stimulated by GD3 abundantly expressed on melanoma cells.