The long-term results of meniscus transplantation for articular cartilage defects in the knee joint

The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term clinical results of meniscus transplantation for articular cartilage defects in the knee joint. The type of study was case series. From October 1990 to June 1995, eight cases underwent allogenic or autogenic meniscus transplantations for articular cartilage defects, and seven cases were available for follow-up evaluations. The age at surgery ranged from 14 to 42 years of age (average 22.5). In one case, transplantation of tissue-engineered cartilage was performed due to pain 5 years after surgery. The other six cases were followed up for 8–13 years (average 10.1). The size of the cartilage defect ranged from 1.0 to 6.3 cm² (average 2.8 cm²). Patients were evaluated with the Lysholm score and MR images. We also performed arthroscopic examinations in three cases at the final evaluation. This study leads to the conclusion that meniscus transplantation for articular cartilage damage is not comparable to autologous chondrocyte transplantation. Two cases showed a good clinical outcome but the tissue remained as fibrocartilage tissue in the long-term.     

Myasthenia gravis developing after discovery of thymoma

We report 4 cases of myasthenia gravis in which myasthenic symptoms developed after a thymoma was known to be present. They include 3 invasive thymomas and one thymoma. In 3 of them, myasthenic symptoms developed 2–7 months after removal of the thymoma; in 1 case, myasthenic symptoms developed 11 years after the thymoma was known to be present. We also discuss here the possible pathogenetic mechanism of post-thymomectomic myasthenia gravis, and propose that it is due to the natural course of the disease.     

Pharmacology of KB‐R7943: A Na+–Ca2+ exchange inhibitor

The Na⁺–Ca²⁺ exchange (NCX) system plays a pivotal role in regulating intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in cardiomyocytes, neuronal cells, kidney and a variety of other cells. It performs a particularly important function in regulating cardiac contractility and electrical activity. One of the leading NCX inhibitors is KB‐R9743 (KBR) that appears to exhibit selectivity for Ca²⁺‐influx‐mode NCX activity (reverse mode of NCX). In this article we reviewed pharmacology of KBR and provide a brief summary of studies with other NCX inhibitors, such as SEA0400 (SEA) and SN‐6 (SN). Potential clinical usefulness of KBR and other NCX inhibitors is still controversial but the reviewed findings may be helpful in designing more selective and clinically useful NCX inhibitors for the treatment of cardiac, neuronal and kidney diseases.     

Development of new immunoradiometric assay for CA 125 antigen using two monoclonal antibodies produced by immunizing lung cancer cells

CA 125 is an antigen associated with non-mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer, which is defined by OC 125 antibody developed by immunizing ovarian cancer cells. We have produced two monoclonal antibodies, 130-22 and 145-9, by using the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line PC-9. Both 130-22 and 145-9 antibodies recognized CA 125 antigen. However, the binding sites seemed to be separate from those of OC 125. Testing by 9 immunoradiometric assays (IRMA), using different combinations of the 3 monoclonal antibodies 130-22, 145-9 and OC 125 demonstrated that the best standard curve for detecting CA 125 could be obtained by a "simultaneous sandwich" assay based on a mixture of 125I-labeled OC 125 and 130-22 or 145-9 coated beads. One-step IRMA, using 130-22 as a tracer and 145-9 as an immunoadsorbent, also showed good reproducibility and sensitivity for measuring CA 125. Antigens were detectable in the culture supernatants of PC-9 cells and 5 of 6 ovarian cancer and endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. These results indicate that one-step IRMA using 130-22 and 145-9 is useful for detecting CA 125 antigen.     

Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Neokadsuranic Acid A, the First Triterpenoid with the 14 (13-->12) abeo Lanostane Skeleton, and (24Z)-3-Oxo-lanosta-8,24-dien-26-oic Acid1

Neokadsuranic acid A, which is the first triterpenoid with the 14(13-->12) ABEO lanostane skeleton, was isolated from KADSURA HETEROCLITA together with (24 Z)-3-oxo-lanosta-8,24-dien-26-oic acid. The present paper deals with the isolation and structure elucidation of these two new compounds.     

Chymase participates in chronic dermatitis by inducing eosinophil infiltration

An epicutaneous application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) to a mouse ear caused a transient skin swelling, and the repetition of the challenge enlarged the contact dermatitis. The repeated challenge with DNFB also induced eosinophil infiltration on the application site. Administration of a chymase inhibitor significantly inhibited the ear swelling as well as eosinophil accumulation. An intradermal injection of human chymase to the mouse ear also elicited transient skin swelling and eosinophil infiltration, both of which were augmented in proportion to the number of injections. Human serum albumin and heat-inactivated chymase failed to induce such skin reactions, suggesting the participation of proteolytic activity of the enzyme. In addition, chymase stimulated eosinophil migration in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, these observations suggest that mast cell chymase may contribute to development of the DNFB-induced dermatitis, probably by promoting eosinophil infiltration. It is therefore possible that chymase plays a role in pathogenesis of chronic dermatitis such as atopic dermatitis.     

The minor outer capsid protein P2 of rice gall dwarf virus has a primary structure conserved with, yet is chemically dissimilar to, rice dwarf virus P2, a protein associated with virus infectivity

Summary. The nucleotide sequence of the genome segment 2 (S2) of rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV), a phytoreovirus, when compared with the amino acid sequence of a component protein of the virus, showed that S2 potentially encoded a 127K minor outer capsid protein. This 127K protein designated as P2 and the 127K minor outer capsid protein (also termed P2) of rice dwarf virus (RDV) are similar in size, located in the outer capsid, and have well-conserved predicted polypeptide sequences, suggesting similar functions. Infectivity to insect vector cell monolayers of RGDV was maintained and the P2 protein was retained irrespective of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) treatment. This is in contrast to the infectivity of RDV which is removed along with P2 protein following CCl₄ treatment. RGDV with P2 was acquired by vector insects and transmitted to host plants, although RDV lacking P2 could not be transmitted to plants as previously published. These results imply that RDV and RGDV require P2 proteins for virus infectivity to vector insects. Received January 6, 1997 Accepted May 14, 1997     

Biological activities of Bacteroides forsythus lipoproteins and their possible pathological roles in periodontal disease

Bacteroides forsythus is a gram-negative, anaerobic, fusiform bacterium and is considered to be an etiological agent in periodontal disease. A lipoprotein fraction prepared from B. forsythus cells by Triton X-114 phase separation (BfLP) activated human gingival fibroblasts and a human monocytic cell line, THP-1, to induce interleukin-6 production and tumor necrosis factor alpha production. BfLP was found to be capable of inducing nuclear factor-kappaB translocation in human gingival fibroblasts and THP-1 cells. By using Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells transfected with Toll-like receptor genes together with a nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent CD25 reporter plasmid, it was found that signaling by BfLP was mediated by Toll-like receptor 2 but not by CD14 or Toll-like receptor 4. BfLP induced apoptotic cell death in human gingival fibroblasts, KB cells (an oral epithelial cell line), HL-60 cells (a human myeloid leukemia cell line), and THP-1 cells but not in MOLT4 cells (a T-cell leukemia cell line). Caspase-8, an initiator caspase in apoptosis, was found to be activated in these cells in response to BfLP stimulation. Thus, this study suggested that BfLP plays some etiological roles in oral infections, especially periodontal disease, by induction of cell activation or apoptosis.     

A NEW METHOD FOR VITAL STAINING OF CENTRAL NERVOUS TISSUES WITH NEUTRAL RED

A new vital staining method with neutral red has been established where by cerebral ganglion cells can be stained in vivo .