Increased production of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in HIV-induced syncytia formation: An efficient infection process

Syncytia or multinucleated giant-cell formation is one of the major cytopathic effects induced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Cell fusion results from the strong interaction of CD4 molecules on the surface of the uninfected T cells and gp120, an external envelope glycoprotein of HIV on the infected T cells. We studied the production of HIV in fusion cells between MOLT-4 and virus-infected MOLT-4/HIV cells and found that HIV production was enhanced up to three- to fivefold, which showed a good correlation with the appearance and extent of syncytia formation. Blocking the fusion by monoclonal antibody against a binding epitope of CD4 molecule to gp120 decreased the HIV production significantly. Enhancement of HIV production was observed by more than five-fold in comparison with chronically infected cells, which were fusion free 20 hr postcocultivation. Electron microscopic observation also showed the presence of abundant HIV particles inside the fused cells and on the outer surface. AZT blocked the HIV augmentation of fused cells in coculture completely. Southern blot analysis revealed that both integrated and unintegrated HIV DNA were highly accumulated in fusion cells, as compared with fusion-free MOLT-4/HIV cells. Among unintegrated DNA, circular and linear DNA were accumulated to a similar degree. Northern blot hybridization showed that rapid enhancement of all three species of HIV-specific RNA containing genomic (9.2 kb) and subgenomic (4.3 and 1.9 kb) RNAs were found 20 hr postinfection in fusion cells. These data suggest that syncytia formation is an extremely active infection process of HIV, by which multiple rounds of reinfection might take place.     

Follow-up study in a patient with Setleis syndrome

We report on an 8-year-old Japanese boy with Setleis syndrome. The patient had a very characteristic “coarse” facial appearance, bitemporal “forceps marks,” skin aplasia, sparse hair, and skin hypo- and hy-perpigmentation. He also had previously undescribed manifestations, including an aberrant hair pattern of the forehead, linear skin lesions on the forehead, short palpebral fissures, a small skin tag on the right cheek, cone-shaped teeth, and pectus carinatum. Dermatoglyphic studies documented aberrant distal palmar creases (simian crease variant), 8 arches, and reduced total finger ridge count. When serial photographs were reviewed, his facial characteristics became more obvious with increasing age. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Lamivudine and IFN-beta sequential therapy in HBe antigen-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B virus genotype C infection.

Sequential treatment with lamivudine and interferon (IFN) has induced sustained biochemical and virologic responses in the majority of patients with chronic hepatitis B in France. However, the efficacy of sequential treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C infection has not been evaluated. Twenty-four HBe antigen-positive patients were treated with 100 mg lamivudine alone for 16-32 weeks, then with both 6 MU IFN-beta and lamivudine for 4 weeks, and lastly with IFN-beta alone for 20 weeks. Sustained response was achieved in 7 (29%) patients 24 weeks after the end of therapy. No lamivudine-resistant variants emerged in any patient. Hepatitis flare occurred in 3 patients after the withdrawal of lamivudine, but none had decompensation. The patients with sustained response were significantly younger at baseline (p = 0.033) and had a significantly lower HBV DNA level at the start of IFN (p = 0.020) than those without sustained response. In conclusion, the rate of response to sequential therapy with lamivudine and IFN in HBe antigen-positive patients with HBV genotype C infection was lower than the rate reported previously. Patients who were young or who had a favorable virologic response to lamivudine were more likely to have a sustained response.     

BRONCHIOLO-ALVEOLAR ADENOCARCINOMA WITH MULTIPLE CYSTS

An autopsy case of bronchiolo-alveolar adenocarcinoma in the lung is reported. The patient is a 70-year-old male who complained of severe cough with 500–600 ml watery sputum a day, loss of weight, and general fatigue. Autopsy revealed numerous whitish tumors in various sizes with multiple cysts in both lungs, with no metastasis being found in any other organs. Histological findings identified the tumor as a bronchiolo-alveolar adenocarcinoma originating from the lungs. Electron-microscopic findings showed that the tumor cells were covered by prominent microvilli, and contained abundant irregulary-shaped cytoplasmic vacuoles suggestive of mucin.     

Stoichiometric salt-linkage formation of trimethylammonium glycol chitosan iodide with a carboxylic type ion exchanger

The adsorption of trimethylammonium glycol chitosan iodide (TGCI) on Dowex CCR-2 resin was investigated at different pH values and resin weights. The concentration of Na⁺ or Ca²⁺ ions, released by the ion exchange reaction with TGCI, was measured by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. It was found that the amount of the released ions is comparable to that of the absorbed TGCI. This indicates that the salt-linkage formation of carboxylate ions of the exchanger with ⊕N(CH₃)₃-groups in TGCI follows a stoichiometric relationship. This result is discussed in connection with the form of the polymer layer adsorbed on the solid surface.     

The dimerization of 1-alkynes by rhodium(I) catalysts. Effect of phosphorus ligands on regioselectivity

The dimerization of 1-alkynes by rhodium(I) complexes in the presence of phosphorus ligands is described. The products are linear and branched dimers, the ratio of which is correlated with the electronic parameters, v_CO of Ni(CO)₃L, of the ligands L, but no simple correlation is apparent between their steric parameter and the selectivity. Electron-donating ligands promote the formation of the linear dimer. The substituents of the 1-alkynes also affect the distribution of linear and branched dimers. Electron-donating substituents prefer linear isomer to branched one. The reactivity of the substituted 1-alkynes (R? C?C? H) increased with substituent R in the order      

Posthepatectomy hepatitis shortens tumor-free intervals in hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma patients

In hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is frequently sustained on a high level after hepatectomy, with the formation of recurrent HCC tumors during follow-up periods. We investigated whether or not postoperative serum ALT level affects the interval before recurrence in hepatitis C virus-associated HCC. The subjects studied were 50 hepatectomized HCC patients who were HCV-Ab(+), and underwent a curable surgery in our Hospital from June 1990 to December 1999. We assessed the significance of the postoperative serum ALT level affecting tumor-free survival rates, as compared with other clinicopathological parameters, using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis. Thereafter, tumor-free and overall survival rates after hepatectomy were compared between high and low ALT groups, using Kaplan-Meier plotting and a log-rank test. The factor of ALT levels (a high or low ALT group) was most strongly associated with a tumor-free survival rate. Both tumor-free and overall survival rates were significantly poorer in the high ALT group than in the low ALT group among HCV-associated HCC cases (p<0.05). The results in this study suggest that postoperative hepatitis, which is indicated by sustained high ALT levels, may shorten the interval before recurrence in HCV-associated HCC. We should take care to control postoperative hepatitis to improve the prognoses of HCV-associated HCC cases.     

Four cases of wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis with negative gluten cap-rast score]

BACKGROUND: Either omega-5 gliadin or high molecular weight glutenin is known to be a major allergen in wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA). It is generally considered that gluten specific IgE score is more reliable than that of wheat specific IgE score for the diagnosis of WDEIA. Our aim was to verify the significance of gluten specific IgE in the diagnosis of WDEIA. METHODS: We evaluated the result of gluten CAP-RAST score and omega-5 gliadin specific IgE score on four WDEIA patients who visited our hospital during the years 2004 and 2005, whose diagnosis were onfirmed by prick tests, immunoblot tests and provocation tests. RESULTS: Contrary to our expectations, all four patients showed negative gluten CAP-RAST scores, however all patient's omega-5 gliadin specific IgE scores were positive. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that gluten specific CAP-RAST score is unreliable in the diagnosis of WDEIA. On the other hand omega-5 gliadin specific IgE score is possibly a better candidate as a diagnostic tool for WDEIA.     

Diffusion coefficient of water through dental composite resin

Water sorption of polymer filling materials affects dimensional stability, mechanical properties and bonding strength with tooth structures. To clarify the effect of the degradation on service life and micro-leakage, the diffusion coefficient of water through the resin should be identified. Distributions of time-dependent water concentrations in the resin were computed. Water sorption of composite resin discs with different thicknesses was measured and compared with the solution of Fick's second law. The diffusion coefficient of water through the resin discs was computed to be D=3.9-5.0 x 10(-13)m(2)/s from the measurements of specimens with different thicknesses. Results of water sorption measurements for the discs with different thicknesses were in good agreement with the theoretical results. The relationship among the thickness of the disc, the diffusion coefficient and the water sorption ratio was shown clearly. The testing method for water sorption by International Standard ISO 4049 for resin-based filling materials was discussed.