Two dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms at the D8S1442 and D8S1443 loci

Two polymorphic dinucleotide (CA) repeat clones were isolated from cosmids, cCI8-1121 and cCI8-1199, mapped to chromosome 8p11.2-p12.     

Platelet interactions with calcium-phosphate-coated surfaces

Many studies have shown that calcium-phosphate (CaP)-coated endosseous implants exhibit more peri-implant bone formation and bone contact at early healing times than uncoated implants. Since the rate of healing is influenced by blood/implant interactions and possibly the degree of blood platelet activation, the aim of this study was to determine whether the topography, microtopography, or the presence of calcium (Ca) and phosphate (PO(4)) ions in the implant surface plays a predominant role in platelet activation. We define the threshold between topography and microtopography as the limit of the scale range of platelets themselves; thus, a microtopographic surface is defined by one which exhibits features 3mum. With the help of four international collaborating laboratories, we prepared 11 titanium and CaP-modified titanium surfaces each with different (micro)topographies and interrogated these surfaces with both platelet adhesion (lactate dehydrogenase activity) and platelet activation (microparticle formation and P-selectin expression) assays. Our results show that: calcium (Ca)- and phosphate (PO(4))-containing surfaces of increasing surface microtopographical complexity exhibit increasing platelet activation; surfaces with similar surface microtopographies show similar levels of platelet activation regardless of the presence of Ca and PO(4) in the surface; and that surface microtopography is responsible for platelet activation rather than the presence of Ca and PO(4) in the surface.     

Conditioned taste aversion using four different means to deliver sucrose to rats

A solution of sucrose either to be drunk from a drinking tube-self-drinking procedure (SD)-or perfused intraorally as a consequence of nose-pokes-self-administration procedure (SA)-or perfused as a consequence of licking an empty tube (LA)-was paired with an LiCl-induced malaise in rats. The effects were compared to those of a procedure consisting of intraoral administration (IO) of sucrose not contingent to any specific action of the rat. Similar levels of conditioned taste aversion (CTA) were obtained but extinction in the IO procedure was quicker than in the SA procedure, which was itself quicker than in the SD procedure. Extinctions in the IO and LA procedures resembled one another and were quicker than in the SD procedure. A step towards deciding between several explanatory hypotheses of these differences was made by conducting two more experiments. The third experiment was based on reinstatement, or not, of the conditioning procedure for the test after standard IO extinction. CTA was produced only when SD was used both at conditioning and test. A fourth experiment was based on latent inhibition where the procedure was changed, or not, between preexposure and conditioning. Latent inhibition was absent only when the rats had been preexposed to sucrose with the SA procedure and conditioned with the SD procedure.     

A study of human interstitial lung diseases with special reference to immune complexes and hyaline membrane

To evaluate the pathogenetic roles of immune complexes and alveolar hyaline membrane in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), immunohistological and ultrastructural studies of the kidney and lung were performed in 23 cases of IIP, 19 cases of autoimmune diseases, 17 cases of interstitial pneumonia other than IIP, and 11 cases of bronchopneumonia as a control group. None of the cases of IIP or interstitial pneumonia other than IIP showed immune complexes in the alveolar and glomerular capillary walls. On the other hand, one case of SLE was positive for IgG and components of complement along the alveolar and glomerular capillary walls. The alveolar hyaline membrane in the present cases revealed immunoglobulins as well as components of complement, which were poorly soluble in chaotropic solution or acidic buffer. These results indicate that circulating immune complexes play a minor role in the pathogenesis of IIP and other types of interstitial pneumonia, and that there is no relationship between immune complex deposition in alveoli and the alveolar hyaline membrane. It is necessary to further investigate factors other than immune complexes involved in alveolar tissue damage and to clarify the significance of the hyaline membrane in the processes occurring from acute changes to pulmonary fibrosis in IIP.     

Galactosylated chitosan as a synthetic extracellular matrix for hepatocytes attachment

Galactose moiety as the hepatocyte anchorage was covalently coupled with chitosan for the development of synthetic extracellular matrix. Hepatocytes adhesion to galactosylated chitosan (GC)-coated polystyrene (PS) dish became as high as 94.7% after 2 h incubation whereas the hepatocytes adhesion to chitosan-coated PS dish was 69.1%, indication of galactose-specific recognition between GC molecules and asialoglycoprotein receptors of hepatocytes. The DNA synthesis of the hepatocytes adhered to GC-coated dish was increased in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) at low concentration of GC (0.05 microg/ml) whereas the DNA synthesis of the hepatocytes adhered to GC-coated dish was decreased in the presence of EGF at high concentration of GC (5 microg/ml). The spreading shapes of the hepatocytes adhered to the surface in the presence of EGF at low concentration of GC (0.05 microg/ml) were enhanced than in the absence of EGF. The hepatocytes adhered to the surface at high concentration of GC (5 microg/ml) showed round shapes and exhibited many spheroid formation after 24 h in the presence of EGF.     

Galactosylated PVDF membrane promotes hepatocyte attachment and functional maintenance

One of the major challenges in BLAD design is to develop functional substrates suitable for hepatocyte attachment and functional maintenance. In the present study, we designed a poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) surface coated with galactose-tethered Pluronic polymer. The galactose-derived Pluronic F68 (F68-Gal) was adsorbed on PVDF membrane through hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction between PVDF and the polypropylene oxide segment in Pluronic. The galactose density on the modified PVDF surface increased with the concentration of the F68-Gal solution, reaching 15.4 nmol galactosyl groups per cm2 when a 1 mg/ml of F68-Gal solution was used. The adsorbed F68-Gal remained relatively stable in culture medium. Rat hepatocytes attachment efficiency on F68-Gal modified PVDF membrane was similar to that on collagen-coated surface. The attached hepatocytes on PVDF/F68-Gal membrane self-assembled into multi-cellular spheroids after 1 day of culture. These attached hepatocytes in spheroids exhibited higher cell functions such as albumin synthesis and P450 1A1 detoxification function compared to unmodified PVDF membrane and collagen-coated surface. These results suggest the potential of this galactose-immobilized PVDF membrane as a suitable substrate for hepatocyte culture.     

Myelin Degeneration in Multiple System Atrophy Detected by Unique Antibodies

A rabbit antiserum (anti-EP), induced against a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 68 to 86 of guinea pig myelin basic protein, powerfully immunostained abnormal-appearing oligodendrocytic processes and cell bodies in demyelinating areas associated with multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, as we reported previously, the antiserum, which is highly specific for the sequence QDENPVV corresponding to human myelin basic protein residues 82 to 88, failed to recognize any structures in normal human brain. QD-9, a mouse monoclonal antibody raised against human myelin basic protein residues 69 to 88, which also recognizes specifically the epitope QDENPVV, gave the same results as did anti-EP. The unusual epitope recognized by anti-EP/QD-9 antibodies appears to be accessible in areas of myelin degeneration, and the antibodies have been shown to detect such areas in multiple sclerosis and infarcted brains. These antibodies detect myelin degeneration more widely than previous conventional methods. The present study emphasizes the importance of myelin degeneration in the pathogenesis of multiple system atrophy.     

Myoblasts fail to stimulate T cells but induce tolerance

Recent interest in myoblast transfer and in the use of myoblastsas vehicles in gene therapy has made it important to understandthe potential immunogenicity of allogeneic or neoantlgen-expresslngmyoblasts. Given the problems of producing a pure populationof myoblasts, In this study we used a tumour-derived musclecell line (TE671), with phenotyplc features of myoblasts, whichwe transfected to express HLA-DR1. However, this cell line wasunable to stimulate either established HLA-DR1-specific alloreactlveT cell clones or a primary alloresponse. Nor could it presenthaemagglutlnln peptide HA 306–324 to DR1-restricted, HA306–324-speciflc T cell clones or lines. Indeed, prelncubatlonwith DR1-expressing TE671 and HA 306–324 rendered suchT cells tolerant as Judged by their subsequent inability toproliferate in response to a DR1⁺ B cell line plus peptide HA306–324. These results imply that myoblasts do not providecostlmulatory signals, and are therefore unlikely to stimulateallospeclfic T cells following myoblasts transplantation orto initiate neoantlgen-speclfic immune responses following Invivo transfection.     

Why is the diverse U letter relationship between embarrassment and psychological distance observed? In view of Schlenker and Leary (1982)'s self-presentation model of social anxiety

The aim of the present study is to explain why there is "the diverse U letter relationship" between embarrassment and psychological distance empirically, in view of Schlenker and Leary (1982)'s self-presentation model of social anxiety. In Study 1, those relationships were observed in three different situations. In Study 2, the main effect of motivation for avoiding rejection and the damage of self-image, and their interaction with embarrassment was examined by hierarchical regression analysis. In the first step, the psychological distance, in the second step, the main effect of both, and in the third step, the interaction was entered. As a result, in the second step, both main effects were significant, but in the third step, only interaction was significant, and both main effects were not significant. This showed that the interaction could predict embarrassment, although the psychological distance was controlled. Finally, this result was discussed in view of social norm.