溶组织内阿米巴同工酶的初步研究

用3株溶组织内阿米巴及1株侵入内阿米巴以琼脂糖凝胶电泳法检测其四种酶的同工酶,即:苹果酸酶、葡萄糖磷酸异构酶、磷酸葡萄糖变位酶、己糖激酶,以酶谱来区别不同的酶株群。结果显示:3株溶组织内阿米巴与侵入内阿米巴的同工酶谱有显著差异,但3株溶组织内阿米巴的酶谱几无差异,属于强致病的酶株群ⅩⅣ,对来源不同的溶组织内阿米巴,却属同一酶株群的原因进行了讨论。     

Lengths of hepatitis B viremia and antigenemia in blood donors: preliminary evidence of occult (hepatitis B surface antigen-negative) infection in the acute stage

BACKGROUND: The Japanese Red Cross (JRC) implemented a fully automated pooling and nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) system for testing seronegative donations. The JRC sample repository and repeat blood donations allowed for lookback and follow-up studies of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-positive donors, who tested negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis B core antigen in the JRC screening system. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: From February 1, 2000, to March 31, 2003, 17,314,486 units were tested in 50-sample pools with a semiautomated multiplex assay system (AMPLINAT MPX test, Roche). During this period, 328 HBV DNA-positive donations were found. From 26 of these donors, sequential samples were available at short intervals. This enabled us to examine the dynamics of viral markers in acute HBV infection. The length of detectable periods of plasma viremia and antigenemia were estimated by regression analysis from the results obtained in the quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay (JRC) and HBsAg enzyme immunoassay (Auszyme II, AxSYM, Abbott) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (Abbott). RESULTS: The median length of detectable HBV DNA in individual donation and 20-sample minipool (MP) NAT format was estimated to be 74 and 50 days, respectively, whereas the median length of detectable HBsAg was estimated to be 42 days. Six of the 26 donors were infected with mutant viruses, and 3 of these 6 donors did not develop detectable HBsAg during the entire observation period, despite a moderately high viral load of 10(4) to 10(5) HBV DNA copies per mL. CONCLUSION: Transmission of mutant virus may cause occult HBV infection in the acute stage. HBV NAT, even in MP configuration, is more effective than HBsAg testing and capable of interdicting infected donors in the pre- and post-HBsAg window periods.     

Intravesical and intravenous therapy of human bladder cancer by the herpes vector G207

G207, a conditionally replicating herpes vector, efficiently kills human bladder cancer cells in vitro. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of G207, we have established three in vivo models similar to the clinical situation. In vivo, G207 was intraneoplastically, intravesically, or intravenously inoculated in nude mice. Intraneoplastic inoculation into subcutaneous tumor caused significant tumor growth inhibition. Intravesical inoculation of G207 also caused decreased tumor growth in an orthotopic human bladder cancer model. Furthermore, multiple intravenous inoculation markedly inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth. These results suggest that intravesical therapy with G207 is effective for localized bladder tumor, especially for carcinoma in situ (CIS), and intravenous therapy with G207 is promising for invasive or metastasized bladder tumor.     

Respiratory syncytial virus enhances the expression of CD11b molecules and the generation of superoxide anion by human eosinophils primed with platelet-activating factor

BACKGROUND: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infancy and early childhood causes acute bronchiolitis and exacerbates bronchial asthma. Eosinophil infiltration may contribute to airway obstruction in RSV infection. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that RSV affects eosinophil function. METHODS: Eosinophil activation was evaluated by chemiluminescent detection of superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) generation. Expression of CD11b on eosinophils was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Although RSV did not induce O(2)(-) generation by resting eosinophils, RSV enhanced O(2)(-) generation of eosinophils primed with platelet-activating factor (PAF). Enhancement was significantly inhibited by either continuous agitation to prevent eosinophil adhesion to test tube surfaces or by pretreating cells with anti-CD18 antibody, suggesting that the stimulatory effects of RSV on eosinophils depend on cell adhesion via beta(2)-integrins. In fact, RSV enhanced PAF-induced CD11b expression by eosinophils. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that RSV enhances eosinophil CD11b expression and O(2)(-) generation induced by PAF. Thus, RSV infection may exacerbate airway inflammation by enhancing mediator release from eosinophils.     

Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis that formed a fungus ball with 8-years duration

Coccidioidomycosis, caused by inhaling Coccidioides immitis, is a mycosis imported from endemic regions including the southwestern United States. C. immitis is so virulent that even a short-term stay in the endemic area can provide a chance for infection. Here, we report a 33-year-old Japanese man with formation of a fungus ball inside the pulmonary cavity secondary to coccidioidomycosis with a duration of 8 years, which is considered rare. He was infected with C. immitis in the United States in 1996. A nodule remained in the lung, which later cavitated with fungus ball formation. We identified Coccidioides immitis in the cultured specimen from the cavity and serum antibodies against it. We performed a lobectomy in 2003 since anti-fungal treatment was only temporarily effective. He is still free of disease 6 months later.     

克隆化的致病性溶组织内阿米巴诱导的抗补体作用

新近从感染者粪便中分离的溶组织内阿米巴,培养在Robinson氏培养基、TYSGM-9或TYI-S-33培养基中,并根据感染者病史、同工酶分析、基因DNA分析鉴定出4株为非致病性虫株,7株为致病性虫株。另取在TYI-S-33培养基长期培养的致病株HM-1:IMSS通过仓鼠肝脏,称为HM-1-H株,或培养在无免疫性的人血清(NHS)替代灭活牛血清的改良TYI-S-33培养基中,称为     

Relationship between the long-term preventive effect of combined treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs plus angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and circadian variation in the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

We examined the relationship between the efficacy of combined treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) plus enalapril for maintaining sinus rhythm and circadian variation in the onset of paroxysmal AF.Three hundred and forty-four patients with paroxysmal AF (239 men, mean age, 69 ± 11 years) who could be followed up ≥ 12 months were divided into 3 groups on the basis of circadian variation in the onset of AF: a diurnal group (7:00 AM-5:00 PM, n = 57), a nocturnal group (5:00 PM-7:00 AM, n = 108), and a mixed group (onset during both periods, n = 169). The maintenance rate of sinus rhythm during the follow-up period was compared between combined therapy (AAD plus enalapril) and AAD alone.In the diurnal group, the maintenance rates of sinus rhythm at 12, 36, 60, and 90 months were 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, for patients treated with AAD plus enalapril (n = 22) versus 97%, 91%, 89%, and 80% for patients treated with AAD alone (n = 35, P < 0.05). In the nocturnal group, the maintenance rates of sinus rhythm at 12, 36, 60, and 90 months were 96%, 96%, 96%, and 92%, respectively, in patients treated with AAD plus enalapril (n = 24) versus 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100% in patients treated with AAD alone (n = 84, P = NS). In the mixed group, maintenance rates of sinus rhythm at 12, 36, 60, and 90 months were 90%, 71%, 61%, and 57%, respectively, in patients treated with AAD plus enalapril (n = 49) versus 88%, 78%, 68%, and 61% in patients treated with AAD alone (n = 120, P = NS). Our findings suggest that the preventive efficacy of combined therapy with AAD plus enalapril is dependent on the timing of onset of paroxysmal AF, and this regimen seems to be most beneficial for the diurnal type of paroxysmal AF.     

Triacylglycerol deposition with group IVC phospholipase A2 expression in oleate- and linoleate-stimulated Huh-7 hepatocytes

The accumulation of hepatocellular triacylglycerol (TG), a major symptom of fatty liver, is associated with the excessive incorporation of exogenous free fatty acids into hepatocytes, the free fatty acids inducing an increase in TG bearing acyl chains derived from not only themselves but also endogenous fatty acids. However, the mechanisms responsible for the supply of endogenous fatty acids, which are mainly esterified into phospholipids, remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the possible involvement of intracellular phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2))s including group IVA, IVC, VIA, and VIB PLA(2)s, which catalyze the release of endogenous fatty acids, in the deposition of TG in hepatocytes. Stimulation of human hepatoma Huh-7 cells with oleate or linoleate for 48 h increased TG contents time-dependently. Under the conditions, increased expression of group IVC PLA(2) mRNA and protein was observed at 6-12 h and 24-48 h after the stimulation, respectively. However, mRNA levels of group IVA, VIA, or VIB PLA(2) did not change. When cells were treated with methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate used as an inhibitor of group IVC PLA(2), the fatty acid-induced deposition of TG was partially but significantly suppressed at 48 h, although no significant inhibition was observed at 24 h. Overexpression of wild-type group IVC PLA(2) but not a catalytically inactive mutant of group IVC PLA(2) tended to increase cellular TG levels. The present findings suggest that stimulation of Huh-7 hepatocytes with free fatty acids induces the expression of group IVC PLA(2), which is involved in the fatty acid-induced deposition of TG.     

Parietal and temporal activity during a multimodal dance video game: an fNIRS study

Using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) we studied how playing a dance video game employs coordinated activation of sensory-motor integration centers of the superior parietal lobe (SPL) and superior temporal gyrus (STG). Subjects played a dance video game, in a block design with 30 s of activity alternating with 30 s of rest, while changes in oxy-hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels were continuously measured. The game was modified to compare difficult (4-arrow), simple (2-arrow), and stepping conditions. Oxy-Hb levels were greatest with increased task difficulty. The quick-onset, trapezoidal time-course increase in SPL oxy-Hb levels reflected the on-off neuronal response of spatial orienting and rhythmic motor timing that were required during the activity. Slow-onset, bell-shaped increases in oxy-Hb levels observed in STG suggested the gradually increasing load of directing multisensory information to downstream processing centers associated with motor behavior and control. Differences in temporal relationships of SPL and STG oxy-Hb concentration levels may reflect the functional roles of these brain structures during the task period. NIRS permits insights into temporal relationships of cortical hemodynamics during real motor tasks.