Freeze-fracture studies of muscle plasma membranes in myopathic patients with hypo-and hyperthyroidism

To examine the influence of thyroid hormone on the skeletal muscle plasma membrane, we analyzed the changes in ultrastructural architecture and membrane area complexed with digitonin of muscle plasma membrane in myopathic patients with hypo-and hyperthyroidism by the conventional freeze-fracture (F-F) technique and F-F cytochemistry using the sterol-specific ligand digitonin. The densities of flask-shaped invaginations, which are mainly thought to correspond to caveolae, intramembranous particles, and orthogonal arrays, and the changes of digitoninreacted membrane areas in the muscle plasma membranes in three patients with hypothyroid myopathy and one patient with both myasthenia gravis and hyperthyroidism were compared with those in age-matched controls. In the conventional F-F study, the muscle plasma membrane of hypothyroid patients showed increased invagination density, whereas that of the hyperthyroid patient was normal ultrastructurally. In the F-F cytochemistry study, however, the ratio of digitonin-reacted membrane areas versus fractured membrane areas was not different between hypothyroid patients and controls, whereas that of the hyperthyroid patient was lowered in comparison with that of control. These results suggest that thyroid hormone may alter the biochemical properties and ultrastructural architecture of muscle plasma membrane.This study was presented at the 29th annual meeting of the Clinical Electron Microscopy Society of Japan, Sapporo, October 2–3, 1997     

A Morphological and Immunohistochemical Study of Lymphoid Germinal Centers in Synovial and Lymph Node Tissues from Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Special Reference to Complement Components and Their Receptors

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the immune complex (IC) diseases in which lymphoid germinal centers (GCs) are found in the synovial tissue. Simultaneously, patients with RA often show swelling of lymph nodes. The morphology and function of the lymph node GCs in patients with RA is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in morphology and immunoreactions to complement (C) components, their receptors, and lgM-rheumatoid factor (RF) between synovial GCs and lymph-node GCs in RA. Furthermore, the relationship between these immuno-reactive substances and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in GCs was investigated. The tissues examined were 41 RA synovial specimens, seven RA lymph nodes with massive lymphadenopathy, and 10 non-RA lymph nodes. The number of synovial GCs was relatively decreased in comparison with lymph-node GCs in RA, and the diameter of each synovial GC was smaller than that of each lymph-node GC. The synovial GCs were edematous and less cellular, and moreover, those from RF-seronegative cases were smaller than those from RF seropositive cases. On the other hand, the lymph-node GCs in RA were larger, more cellular and hyperplastic, but contained more tingible-body macro-phages (TBMs) and neutrophils. In the GCs of both synovial tissues and lymph nodes in RA, early C components (C1q, C4, C3c, C3d), IgM RF, and C3b receptor (C3bR) and C3d receptor (C3dR) were expressed as a lacy network by light microscopy, and were demonstrated on the surfaces of FDCs and lymphocytes, and in the intercellular spaces by electron microscopy. Furthermore, immuno-staining for dendritic reticulum cells (DRC, DAKO DRC1) was observed in a lacy pattern by light microscopy and on the cell surface of FDCs by electron microscopy. In the GCs of non-RA lymph nodes, early C components, C3bR, C3dR, and DRC showed a similar reaction pattern, but IgMRF did not. Consequently, no marked difference in immunoreactions in the GCs, except for the immunoreactions of late C components, was found between synovial tissues and lymph nodes in RA. On the basis of these findings, we discuss the possibility of the presence of a RF-IC.     

Thermodynamic studies on poly(a) · poly(u) duplex-dye systems

The interaction between poly(A) · poly(U) duplex and dyes (proflavine (PF) and 9-aminoacridine (9-AA)) was studied by means of the heat of mixing. From the results, thermodynamic quantities of poly(A) · poly(U) duplex-dye systems for the intercalation process were estimated. The free energy change for the poly(A) · poly(U) duplex-(PF) system is smaller than that for the poly(A) · poly(U) duplex-(9-AA) system, indicating that PF intercalated into poly(A) · poly(U) duplex is more stable than the intercalated 9-AA. This conclusion is based on the absolute value of the heat of interaction between PF and poly(A) · poly(U) duplex being larger than that between 9-AA and the poly(A) · poly(U) duplex.     

General Pathology Of Kawasaki Disease

Systemic pathological alterations were studied in thirty-seven autopsied patients with Kawasaki disease. Systemic vasculitis was the most characteristic pathological finding and was present in all the patients. In addition to the vasculitis, there was a high incidence of inflammatory lesions in various organs and tissues: in the heart, endocarditis, myocarditis, and pericarditis; in the digestive system, stomatitis, sialoduct-adenitis, catarrhal enteritis, hepatitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, and pancreas ductitis; in the respiratory system, bronchitis and segmental interstitial pneumonia; in the urinary system, focal interstitial nephritis, cystitis, and prostatitis; in the nervous system, aseptic leptomeningitis, choriomeningitis, ganglionitis, and neuritis; in the hematopoietic system, lymphadenitis, splenitis, and thymitis. Dermatitis, panniculitis or myositis were also observed in some patients. Therefore, Kawasaki disease is a systemic inflammatory disease which mainly affects the cardiovascular system. These systemic inflammatory lesions are considered to correspond to the variegated clinical manifestaitions. The relationship between Kawasaki disease and infantile polyarteritis nodosa (IPN) were discussed, based on the clinicopathological characteristics.     

Crystal Growth in Poly(L‐lactide) Thin Film Revealed by in situ Atomic Force Microscopy

Direct visualization of crystal growth in poly(L ‐lactide) thin films was carried out by using a temperature‐controlled atomic force microscopy (AFM). At the initial stage of crystallization, edge‐on lamellar crystals have nucleated and elongated. Subsequently, the edge‐on lamellar crystals showed S‐shaped morphology and changed their orientation from edge‐on manner to flat‐on one. The curvature of edge‐on lamellar crystal has been discussed in terms of inclination and distortion of polymer chains in the crystal. In addition, mechanism on the formation of flat‐on crystal from edge‐on lamellae was proposed as derivative growth on the basis of in situ AFM observation of crystal growth and enzymatic degradation.

     

Functional evaluation of lung by Xe-133 lung ventilation scintigraphy before and after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) in patients with pulmonary emphysema

We evaluated the respiratory functions of patients with pulmonary emphysema who underwent lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) by the mean transit time (MTT) with Xe-133 lung ventilation scintigraphy, forced expiration volume in 1 sec (FEV1.0), residual volume (RV), distance walked in 6 min (6-min walk), and the Hugh-Jones classification (H-J classification) before and after LVRS. In 69 patients with pulmonary emphysema (62 men, 7 women; age range, 47-75 years; mean age, 65.4 years +/- 6.1, preoperative H-J classification, III (two were II)-V) who underwent LVRS, all preoperative and postoperative parameters (MTT 3 weeks after LVRS and the others 3 months after LVRS) were judged statistically by the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test and Odds ratio. Every postoperative parameter was improved with a significant difference (P < 0.05) compared to preoperative parameters. MTT at 3 weeks after LVRS was not associated with %FEV1.0 and the H-J classification at 3 months after LVRS, but was associated with RV and a 6-min walk at 3 months after LVRS. MTT was useful for the clinical evalution of aerobic capability after LVRS.     

Increased production of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in leptomeningeal cells through contact with astrocytes

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is dominantly expressed in the leptomeninges surrounding the brain and secreted into the cerebrospinal fluid as β-trace, a major cerebrospinal fluid protein. To examine the interaction between the leptomeninges and the brain parenchyma, we co-cultured rat leptomeningeal cells with cells dissociated from the neonatal rat cortex and found that the production of L-PGDS was remarkably increased after the co-cultivation. A similar increase in L-PGDS production was observed by the co-culturing of the leptomeningeal cells with cells dissociated from astrocyte-rich cultures or with 1321-N1 astrocytoma cells. When a crude membrane fraction prepared from 1321-N1 cells was added to leptomeningeal cell cultures, L-PGDS gene expression was slowly increased up to 48 h after the addition. These results indicate that leptomeningeal cells enhance their L-PGDS production by a slow activation of L-PGDS gene expression through their contact with astrocytes.     

Effects of drug adherence on patient outcomes to early treatment for Japanese cedar pollinosis]

Drug adherence is one of the important aspects in caring for patients with allergic rhinitis. To improve clinical efficacy of early treatment for Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP), we evaluated the effect of drug adherence on patients' outcomes. Patients were randomly selected from 16 ENT clinical sites in Osaka and Wakayama between February 24 and March 8, 2003 (peak pollen season). Efficacy was assessed using patients' ratings of nasal and ocular symptoms and overall assessment in their condition compared with previous season ones. Costs include direct costs of the drugs used for treatment to JCP from January to February. Five hundred one patients taking early treatment were enrolled. Compared to low adherence patients, those who reported higher level of adherence significantly improved overall health condition, and achieved better symptom relief of rhinorrhea and nasal congestion. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the following factors were independent risk factors for low adherence: student (p=0.002), using OTC medications (p=0.006), and short-duration of medication (p=0.001). Low costs were also risk factor for low adherence. We conclude that taking medications for JCP for 22-28 days is the best way to enhance patients' outcomes.     

I-J as an Inducible T Cell Receptor for Self

"Jedenfalls, wenn man davorsteht, dann sieht man sich selbstaber eben nicht wie in einem gewöhnlichen Spiegel, versteht sich. Man sieht nicht sein Äusseres, sondern man sieht sein wahres inneres Wesen. so wie es in Wirklichkeit beschaffen ist. Wer da durch will, der muß - um es mal so auszudrücken -in sich selbst hineingehen."
Die undendliche Geschichte, bei Michael Ende, K. Thiehemanns Verlag, Stuttgart, 1979.