Pseudocyst of the pericardium developing during maintenance hemodialysis. Report of two cases.

Two cases of pericardial pseudocyst which developed in the course of maintenance hemodialysis are reported. Both patients were usually free of complaints, although there was evidence of the previous pericarditis with recent accumulation of pericardial effusion. As a possible mechanism leading to pericardial pseudocyst formation, distension of a weak area of the thickened pericardium due to an increase in intrapericardial pressure was assumed. Therefore, pericardial pseudocyst is one of the likely complications of patients on maintenance hemodialysis.     

Bovine seminal ribonuclease is cytotoxic for both malignant and normal telomerase-positive cells

Bovine seminal-ribonuclease (BS-RNase) is a member of the 'ribonucleases with special biological actions' family since it possesses specific anti-tumour, anti-spermatogenic and embryotoxic activities and exerts an immunosuppressive effect on T lymphocytes. In previous studies it was demonstrated that BS-RNase induced apoptosis in proliferating, malignant and normal cells and that telomerase activity loss also caused apoptotic death in neoplastic cells. Since an obvious relationship between cell proliferation and telomerase activity exists, the aim of this work was to study if the pro-apoptotic cytotoxic action exerted by BS-RNase on proliferating malignant cells (HT29) and proliferating normal cells (PHA-stimulated lymphocytes) could be linked to a possible BS-RNase effect on telomerase activity. In BS-RNase-treated HT29 cells (Na-butyrate-differentiated or not) and human lymphocytes (proliferating or not), we investigated cell vitality (MTT method) and morphology (SEM), BS-RNase localization (immunofluorescence), telomerase activity (TRAP-ELISA method), hTR mRNA expression (RT-PCR), and hTERT levels (western blot). While no BS-RNase effect was detectable on not proliferating cells, a clear relationship was noticed between the diminished number of vital elements of both proliferating cell populations after treatment (48 h and 72 h for HT29 and PHA-stimulated lymphocytes, respectively) with 50 microg/ml BS-RNase and the decrease of their telomerase activity. At the same time, we found that hTR levels, the RNA subunit of telomerase, in proliferation-inhibited BS-RNase-treated cells were diminished. Moreover, by immunofluorescence technique, we detected BS-RNase in the HT29 cell nucleolus after 3-h treatment. Therefore, as hTR has been recently proven to co-fractionate with nucleoli, we hypothesize that a BS-RNase direct action on the telomerase hTR subunit could be a possible mechanism of action by which BS-RNase exerts its pro-apoptotic effects only on proliferating cells.     

No association between the cystatin C gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease: a case-control study in an Italian population

Cystatin C is an amyloidogenic protein found together with beta-amyloid in cerebral arteriolar walls of both patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and conghopilic amyloid angiopathy. Several findings implicate cystatin C in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. Recent genetic association studies proposed cystatin C gene (CST3) as a susceptibility factor for AD, although other reports did not replicate this finding. We conducted a case-control study including 192 probable AD cases and 192 age- and sex-matched controls to test the association between CST3 and AD. Possible interaction between CST3 and age at onset of AD or apolipoprotein E (APOE) was also examined. No significant differences in CST3 genotype or allele frequencies between cases and controls was observed, while the risk of AD increased in subjects carrying the APOE epsilon4 allele (OR 3.5, 95% CI [2.1-5.9]). There was no interaction between CST3 with age or APOE. Our findings do not support a role of CST3 gene in Italian sporadic AD.     

Multiple modes of action of tacrolimus (FK506) for neuroprotective action on ischemic damage after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats

While the immunosuppressant tacrolimus (FK506) is known to be neuroprotective following cerebral ischemia, the mechanisms underlying its neuroprotective properties are not fully understood. To determine the mode of action by which tacrolimus ameliorates neurodegeneration after transient focal ischemia, we therefore evaluated the effect of tacrolimus on DNA damage, release of cytochrome c, activation of microglia and infiltration of neutrophils following a 60-min occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in rats. In this model, cortical brain damage gradually expanded until 24 h after reperfusion, whereas brain damage in the caudate putamen was fully developed within 5 h. Tacrolimus (1 mg/kg) administered immediately after MCA occlusion significantly reduced ischemic damage in the cerebral cortex, but not in the caudate putamen. Tacrolimus decreased both apoptotic and necrotic cell death at 24 h and reduced the number of cytochrome c immunoreactive cells at 8 h after reperfusion in the ischemic penumbra in the cerebral cortex. In contrast, tacrolimus did not show significant neuroprotection for necrotic cell death and reduction of cytochrome c immunoreactive cells in the caudate putamen. Tacrolimus also significantly decreased microglial activation at 8 h and inflammatory markers (cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant and myeloperoxidase [MPO] activity) at 24 h after reperfusion in the ischemic cortex but not in the caudate putamen. These results collectively suggest that tacrolimus ameliorates the gradually expanded brain damage by inhibiting both apoptotic and necrotic cell death, as well as suppressing inflammatory reactions.     

Seroprevalence of antibodies that react with Anaplasma phagocytophila,the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis,in different populations in Westchester County,New York

We determined the frequencies of antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophila, the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), in different groups of adults and children from Westchester County, New York. The groups included 159 adult blood donors and 215 children who were seronegative for Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies, 118 adult patients and 57 children who were seropositive for B. burgdorferi antibodies, and 42 adult patients with culture-confirmed erythema migrans. Eighteen (11.3%) of the blood donors and 11 (5.1%) of the B. burgdorferi-seronegative children were found to have A. phagocytophila antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent-antibody assay (IFA). Nine of 42 (21.4%) patients with culture-confirmed erythema migrans tested at the baseline visit, 42 of 118 (35.6%) adults, and 3 of 57 (5.3%) children whose sera were reactive for B. burgdorferi antibodies also tested positive for A. phagocytophila antibodies. The geometric mean titer ranged from 219 to 315 for all groups, and the differences in titers among the groups were not statistically significant. Only one-third of the healthy blood donors reactive by IFA were confirmed to be positive by immunoblotting. We conclude that a significant proportion of adults and children without clinical evidence of HGE will test positive for A. phagocytophila antibodies when the conventional cutoff titer of 80 is used in the IFA. This information must be considered in interpretation of test results.     

Effect of oxyethylene moieties in hydrogenated castor oil on the pharmacokinetics of menatetrenone incorporated in O/W lipid emulsions prepared with hydrogenated castor oil and soybean oil in rats

Lipid emulsions with particle sizes of 190-270 nm were prepared with soybean oil (SO) and a series of hydrogenated castor oils (HCOs) with various oxyethylene numbers, and the effect of oxyethylene numbers of HCOs on the pharmacokinetics of menatetrenone incorporated into the lipid emulsions was studied in rats. Plasma half-life of menatetrenone after administration as the lipid emulsions prepared by HCO with 10 oxyethylene units (SO/HCO10) was similar to that after the administration as SO/egg yolk phosphatides (SO/EYP), but was shorter than that as the lipid emulsions prepared by HCOs with > 20 oxyethylene units (SO/HCO20, SO/HCO30, SO/HCO60, SOHC and SO/HCO100). Menatetrenone incorporated in SO/HCO10, SO/HCO20 and SO/HCO60 was not taken up by the blood cells in vitro, and the plasma level of menatetrenone incorporated in SO/HCO10 was similar to that of triglycerides, suggesting that menatetrenone was not released from the oil particles even after entering the circulation. Menatetrenone uptake by the liver for SO/HCO10 was similar to that for SO/EYP, while those for SO/HCO20, SO/HCO30, SO/HCO60 and SO/HCO100 was less than that for SO/EYP. These findings clearly demonstrate that 20 oxyethylene units in HCOs is the minimum requirement for the prolongation of the plasma circulation time of menatetrenone incorporated in SO/HCOs.     

Comparison of shielding calculations for diagnostic X-ray equipment

Radiation is controlled by the recent revision of the Enforcement Regulations of the Medical Service Law. Law No. 188 prescribes X-ray data for estimating effective dose in the controlled area of a medical facility. For X-ray data such as kerma in air, transmission data are based on NCRP. We compared various X-ray data, and NCRP and Simpkin were compared with law No. 188. Leakage effective doses in a general-purpose radiography room, fluoroscopy room, and X-ray CT room were calculated. All three calculations were below the dose limit for controlled areas, 1.3 mSv/3 months. In the general-purpose radiography room (including fluoroscopy), NCRP and Simpkin underestimated from 1/3 to 1/2 in comparison with law No. 188. In the X-ray CT room, NCRP and Simpkin showed underestimates from 1/2 to 2/3 compared with law No. 188. There were no significant differences between law No. 188, NCRP, and Simpkin, but significant differences were found for individual numerical values. A need for the re-examination of basic data was suggested by the above findings.