An ambulatory respirometer (Hotmate) as a tool for screening of sleep apnea syndrome

The gold standard diagnostic method for sleep apnea syndrome(SAS) is overnight polysomnography(PSG), but is costly in terms of time and money. We studied the usefulness of a 24-hour ambulatory respirometer equipped with oximeter(Hotmate) for screening of SAS. Seventy-six cases of suspected SAS were enrolled(68 males and 8 females, mean age 51). The correlation between data from Hotmate and PSG was evaluated in 24 cases who underwent both of the tests for the final diagnosis of SAS. There was a good correlation between the two parameters of the data obtained by Hotmate(H) (H-apnea index(AI) vs H-desaturation index(DI)). Among 24 cases who underwent both Hotmate and PSG, there was a good correlation between the data from PSG and Hotmate(PSG-AI vs H-AI: r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Both sensitivity and specificity were highest when screening criteria of H-DI > 15 was utilized(sensitivity = 91.7%, specificity = 66.7%). Our findings suggest that the respiromonitor with oximeter is useful for the screening the patients with SAS.     

Rat costochondral cell characteristics on poly (L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) scaffolds

This study was designed to examine the adhesion, proliferation, and morphology of chondrocytes on new scaffolds; and to examine these cells histologically for the ability of the chondrocytes to maintain chondrogenic properties after subcutaneous implantation into nude mice. Both 75:25 poly (L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) (75PLC) and 50:50 poly (L-lactide-co-epsilon-capro-lactone) scaffold (50PLC) were tested as a scaffold for rat costochondral resting zone chondrocytes in comparison with a type I collagen sponge scaffold (collagen scaffold). Both of the poly (L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) scaffolds (75PLC and 50PLC) were coated with type I collagen solution and the effects of the collagen coat (hybrid-PLC) were also examined. The hybrid-75PLC bound the same number of cells as the collagen scaffold, whereas the 75PLC and the 50PLC bound 60% and 50% fewer cells than the collagen scaffold, respectively. The cell growth on the scaffolds progressed with culture time in all scaffolds. Cell morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy for differences in the structure of cellular interaction. Chondrocytes on every scaffold maintained a spherical shape. The hybrid-PLCs were superior to the PLCs with respect to the number of cells attached. The PLCs had an advantageous degradation characteristic in that they retained their original shape better than the collagen scaffold. Additionally, in the PLCs seeded, the cells retained their integrity 4 weeks after implantation, although the volume of collagen scaffold decreased by 50%.     

Purification and characterization of Staphylococcus aureus FRI 1169 and 587 toxic shock syndrome exotoxins.

An exotoxin was purified from a toxic shock toxin (TST)-producing Staphylococcus aureus strain, FRI 1169, and another exotoxin was purified from a pyrogenic exotoxin C (PEC)-producing S. aureus strain, 587. Both strains had been isolated from toxic-shock syndrome patients. The two exotoxins were purified by the same method of ion-exchange chromatography, chromatofocusing, and gel filtration. After purification, those exotoxins gave a line of identity against an anti-TST serum and also were immunologically similar to TST in a double-diffusion test. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, each exotoxin gave a single band with a relative mobility identical to that of the other. Their molecular weights (24,000), isoelectric points (7.0), amino acid compositions, and NH2-terminal amino acid sequences (the first four residues) were identical. Both produced fever and enhanced host susceptibility to lethal endotoxin shock in rabbits, comparable with PEC. These findings show that the two exotoxins are the same protein, which is assumed to be TST. When injected into rabbits, the culture supernatant of strain 587 showed biological activity like that described above, whereas the culture supernatant neutralized with anti-TST immunoglobulin did not. This showed that PEC-producing strain 587 does not produce any toxin with these biological activities in rabbits except TST.     

Wear properties of alumina/zirconia composite ceramics for joint prostheses measured with an end-face apparatus

While only alumina is applied to all-ceramic joint prostheses at present, a stronger ceramic is required to prevent fracture and chipping due to impingement and stress concentration. Zirconia could be a potential substitute for alumina because it has high strength and fracture toughness. However, the wear of zirconia/zirconia combination is too high for clinical use. Although some investigations on composite ceramics revealed that mixing of different ceramics was able to improve the mechanical properties of ceramics, there are few reports about wear properties of composite ceramics for joint prosthesis. Since acetabular cup and femoral head of artificial hip joint are finished precisely, they indicate high geometric conformity. Therefore, wear test under flat contact was carried out with an end-face wear testing apparatus for four kinds of ceramics: alumina monolith, zirconia monolith, alumina-based composite ceramic, and zirconia based composite ceramic. Mean contact pressure was 10 MPa and sliding velocity was 40 mm/s. The wear test continued for 72 hours and total sliding distance was 10 km. After the test, the wear factor was calculated. Worn surfaces were observed with a scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The results of this wear test show that the wear factors of the both composite ceramics are similarly low and their mechanical properties are much better than those of the alumina monolith and the zirconia monolith. According to these results, it is predicted that joint prostheses of the composite ceramics are safer against break down and have longer lifetime compared with alumina/alumina joint prostheses.     

Role of complement in acute tubulointerstitial injury of rats with aminonucleoside nephrosis.

The present work was designed to elucidate the in vivo role of complement in the proteinuria-associated tubulointerstitial injury. Rats were intravenously injected with puromycin aminonucleoside, and massive proteinuria was observed within 5 days. Prominent tubulointerstitial injury characterized by proximal tubular degeneration, tubular dilatation, and leukocyte infiltration were observed 7 days after injection. C3 and C5b-9 were observed in the luminal side of proximal tubular cells. Renal function, assessed by inulin and para-aminohippurate clearance, was significantly decreased. To-assess the role of complement in this model, rats were injected with either cobra venom factor or soluble recombinant human complement receptor type 1 starting at day 3. These manipulations significantly improved tubulointerstitial pathology and para-aminohippurate clearance without affecting the degree of proteinuria. Deposition of C3 and C5b-9 was not detected in the kidney of rats depleted of complement by cobra venom factor. In rats treated with soluble complement receptor, C3 was still detected in the tubules, but deposition of C5b-9 was not observed. Soluble complement receptor was detected at the site of C3 deposition and in the urine. These data strongly suggest that complement plays a pivotal role in proteinuria-associated tubulointerstitial injury and that systemic complement depletion or inhibition of complement in the tubular lumen may diminish the tubulointerstitial damage.     

Fenoterol, a selective beta2-adrenergic agonist, and inhibition of IgE-mediated basophil histamine release

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of fenoterol, a selective beta 2-adrenergic agonist, on basophil histamine release. Fenoterol at 10(-7) to 10(-3) M did not inhibit the release of histamine induced by Dermatophagoides farinae extract (D.f.) from leukocytes from allergic patients sensitive to mite. Similarly, there was no suppression of histamine release induced by anti-IgE and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine under the influence of fenoterol. Fenoterol caused a slight inhibition of the calcium ionophore A23187-induced histamine release at 10(-3) M with % inhibition of 11.8 +/- 2.4 (means +/- SEM, P less than 0.05). There was no synergism between fenoterol and theophylline in inhibiting D.f.-induced histamine release. Fenoterol did not suppress the release of histamine induced by antigen at low as well as high levels of release. Based on the data on the effect of fenoterol on IgE-mediated histamine release, it was concluded that in contrast to a human lung mast cell system, the beta-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase system is not a control mechanism in IgE-mediated basophil histamine release.     

Hemopoietic growth factors regulate the survival of human basophils in vitro.

Human basophils were purified from normal peripheral blood, using density gradient followed by negative panning selection. We tested the effects of hemopoietic growth factors on the survival of these basophils in vitro. In the absence of exogenous factors, basophils (purity greater than 90%) decreased in number rapidly. At day 7 only 11% of the cells remained alive in cultures; less than 1% of cells survived at day 14. Interleukin (IL)-3 maintained numbers of viable cells; cell viability was 67% at day 7 and 45% at day 14. Granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-colony-stimulating factor (CSF) exhibited slight effect on the survival; 33% of cells remained at day 7. Other growth factors including granulocyte (G)-CSF, macrophage (M)-CSF, and IL-4 had no significant effect on the survival of basophils at all. Morphological and functional characterization of cells maintained by IL-3 revealed that they belonged to the basophil lineage. These observations indicate that normal basophils possess functional receptors for IL-3 and GM-CSF and that both factors modulate immediate- and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions by prolonging the life span of basophils.     

Histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigations of giant cell tumors of bone

The origin and characteristics of so-called stromal cells (stromal cell) and the osteoclast-like giant cell series of 19 cases of giant cell tumor (G.C.T.) of bone were studied. Immunohistochemically, two interesting cases were found. The stromal cells of one case were alpha-1-antitrypsin positive and those of the other case were alpha-1-antichymotrypsin positive. The histiocytic stromal cells of the latter case seemed to be surely neoplastic since they showed mild to moderate cell atypism. There were foci consisting of fibroblastic cells or osteoid and osteoblasts within the tumor. Those cells in the foci were apparently continuous with the surrounding stromal cells, and they were, therefore, also considered to be neoplastic. These findings strongly indicate that the stromal cells originate from the undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in the bone marrow and may differentiate to osteoblastic, fibroblastic, and histiocytic cells. All cells of these three series were not stained for a high stable form of acid phosphatase (SAPhase). SAPhase activity was demonstrated only in osteoclast-like giant cells and some mononuclear cells, which are recently believed to be non-neoplastic. Therefore, the cell atypia of SAPhase negative stromal cells is considered to have a prognostic value.