Serum interleukin 6 levels become elevated in acute myocardial infarction.

We have examined serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in 12 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). IL-6 levels became elevated in all patients, following the rise of serum creatine kinase (CK) activity. Peak IL-6 levels showed a good correlation with peak serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, while there was no direct relationship between peak IL-6 levels and peak CK activity. IL-6 mRNA was not detected in unstimulated "quiescent" rat cardiocytes cultured in serum-free medium, but its expression was induced by exposure of the cells to serum or ionomycin. These results show that IL-6 is synthesized in the myocardium and serum IL-6 levels become elevated in AMI, suggesting that IL-6 could affect the progression and/or healing processes of AMI.     

Accelerated reversal of pancuronium blockade with divided administration of neostigmine

Key words  reversal of neuromuscular blockade pancuronium - neostigmine     

Dietary restriction: effects of short-term fasting on protein uptake and cell death/proliferation in the rat liver

Dietary restriction (DR) is known to prolong life in laboratory animals. Intermittent (alternate-day) fasting or short-term repeated fasting has also been reported to increase the life span of animals. In the present study, we investigated the changes or induction of abnormalities of protein metabolism in rats during fasting, and measured asialoglycoprotein uptake and cell death/proliferation in the liver of rats receiving fasting and refeeding. In the results, liver weight decreased significantly after 48 h of fasting and increased during the refeeding period, returning to the pre-fasting level by 12 h of refeeding. Cell death, determined by single stranded DNA (ssDNA) staining method, increased during the fasting period, and returned to the pre-fasting level during the refeeding period. Cell proliferation, determined using antibodies (Ab) against proliferating cell nuclear antigen, decreased during the fasting period, and increased during the refeeding period. Changes in cell death and cell proliferation were inversely related. However, there was no significant difference in asialoglycoprotein uptake by the whole liver between the ad libitum (AL)-fed rats and 48 h fasted rats. Thus, neither the changes in liver weight nor cell death/proliferation affected asialoglycoprotein uptake on a living body. These results suggest that episodes of 48 h fasting do not induce protein metabolism abnormalities in the liver.     

Influence of acute-phase proteins on the activity of natural killer cells

The effects of ₁-antitrypsin ( ₁,-AT), ₁,-acid glycoprotein ( ₁AGP), and haptoglobin (Hp), the main constituents of-globulin and which belong to acute phase proteins, on NK activity were examined using K562 cells as the NK target cells. Among the three proteins, ₁,-AT and ₁AGP had inhibitory effects on NK activity for fast target K562 cells. The,-AT preparations having the same protein concentration and a different trypsin inhibitory capacity (TIC) had an equal effect. Although ₁AT and ₁,-AGP equally reduced the NK activity, the mechanism involved in the reduction differed, in that the effect of ₁,-AT directed toward NK cells reduced their binding capacity with the target cells, ₁,-AGP probably interacts with a cytotoxic factor secreted from NK cells following effector-target interaction. These studies suggest that each of the acute-phase proteins, which increase following inflammation, inhibits NK cell function by two distinct mechanisms.     

Modified Dynabeads method for enumerating CD4+ T-lymphocyte count for widespread use in resource-limited situations

The Dynabeads method showed the potential for enumerating CD4 T lymphocytes (CD4 count) in HIV-1-infected individuals. The large volume of Dynabeads required for 1 sample and complex procedure made the method expensive and not easy for use, however. To decrease the cost and simplify the procedure, we reduced the volume of the Dynabeads, added wash times, and skipped over the staining step so as to count the CD4 cells directly under an optical microscope. The CD4 count of 246 blood samples using our modified Dynabeads method (DynabeadsCD4) showed a significant correlation with that obtained by flow cytometry (FlowcytoCD4) (r = 0.91 [P < 0.0001]; slope = 1.03, intercept = -16). The sensitivity and specificity for a CD4 count less than 200 cells/microL were 79% and 94%, and for a CD4 count less than 350 cells/microL, the sensitivity and specificity were 95% and 88%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values for a CD4 count less than 350 cells/microL were 97% and 83%, respectively. The systematic error was 8 cells/microL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.4-16). The cost of Dynabeads for 1 sample was less than $1.00; thus, the estimated cost per DynabeadsCD4 test is less than $3.00, including the cost of other disposable materials. Our modified method is simple, economic, and accurate enough to monitor antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited situations.     

INTRAUTERINE CANDIDA INFECTION IN PREMATURE BABY

An autopsy case of pulmonary candidiasis occurring in a neonatal girl was reported. The mycological examination of the lung taken at autopsy revealed only Candida albicans and followed by the elucidation under the microscopic sections prepared with special stains; periodic acid-Schiff and methenamine silver, in the lung, stomach, umbilical cord, and amnion. The presence of Candida vaginitis in her mother supported the concept that Candida albicans was the etiological agent of the pulmonary candidiasis.     

Method for In Situ Evaluation of Superoxide Production by Pulmonary Macrophages in the Rat

In order to investigate superoxide production by pulmonary macrophages in the rat, a route was created by ligating both the inferior and superior venae cavae and resecting the aorta after cannulation through the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of the heart. Lung perfusion was performed via this route with nitro blue tetrazolium. Although there was no formazan deposition throughout the lung, it became detectable in both alveolar and interstitial macrophages when phorbol myristate acetate was added to the perfusate. This deposition was markedly enhanced by previous injection of Corynebacterium parvum. The deposition disappeared after further addition of Cu(Lys)₂, a scavenger of superoxide anions. This procedure may be useful for estimating in situ the ability of pulmonary macrophages to produce superoxide in the rat.     

Evaluation of a Membrane Filter Assay System, Ortho HCV Ab Quik Pack, for Detection of Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Antibody

A simple membrane immunoassay assay system, Quik Pack, for the detection of hepatitis C virus antibody was compared with two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in a study of 600 serum samples. Quik Pack exhibited excellent sensitivity and specificity: 96.0 and 99.7%, respectively, versus the ELISA-2 and 99.7 and 99.4%, respectively, versus the ELISA-3.     

Electrical polarization of plasma-spray-hydroxyapatite coatings for improvement of osteoconduction of implants

We have established the electrical polarization method of hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings (HAC) for clinical use, such as dental and orthopedic implants. The HAC examined in the current study was prepared in titanium substrates by plasma spraying of beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) powders followed by hydrothermal treatment. The prepared HAC consisted of a single phase of HA, because the starting TCP phase was completely transformed to the HA phase during the posthydrothermal treatment. Polarization was carried out at the elevated temperature of 400 degrees C under a d.c. field of 1 kV . cm(-1). The electrical measurements showed that the stored charges of the polarized HAC were greater than the reported value of the sintered ceramic HA. The enhanced bioactivity of the polarized HAC was demonstrated using 1.5 simulated body fluid (SBF). The crystal growth from the SBF solution was accelerated on the negatively charged surface in comparison with the untreated HAC. Similar to the polarized ceramic HA, the current results confirmed that the bioactivity of HAC would be effective for improving the initial fixation by polarization.