Kinetics of the phenotype and function of murine peritoneal macrophages following acute inflammation

This study was undertaken to have a better understand for the process and the underlying mechanisms to limitmacrophage activation and population of activated macrophages.A comprehensive kinetics of cytokineproduction was performed in murine peritoneal macrophages recovered from Balb/c mice at various timeduring the course of an intraperitoneal injection with thioglycollate (TG).The expression of cell surfacemolecules such as MHC-Ⅰ,MHC-Ⅱ,B7-1 and B7-2 of these macrophages were also determined by flowcytometry.The present findings of our research suggested that the population of activated macrophages and theactivation of macrophages (including cytokines production and expression of cell surface functional molecules)were strictly controlled during inflammation process.This is one of the important mechanisms to retain the hosthomeostasis.Cellular & Molecular Immunology.2004;1(1):57-62.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">GPC5</Emphasis> is a possible target for the 13q31-q32 amplification detected in lymphoma cell lines

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analyses have detected gains of copy number on 13q, especially at 13q31-q32, in cell lines and primary cases of various types of lymphoma. Since amplification of chromosomal DNA is one of the mechanisms that can activate tumor-associated genes, and because 13q amplification had been reported in various other types of tumors as well, we attempted to define by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) a common region at 13q31-q32 in which to explore genes that might be targets for the amplification events. Although the commonly amplified region we defined was relatively large (approximately 4 Mb), only one true gene, GPC5, was found there. GPC5 was over-expressed in lymphoma cell lines that had shown amplification, in comparison with those that had not. Our findings suggest that GPC5 is a likely target for amplification, and that over-expression of this gene may contribute to development and/or progression of lymphomas and other tumors.     

Melanocytes and melanosis of the oesophagus in Japanese subjects — analysis of factors effecting their increase

Summary Normal oesophagus specimens taken from 65 autopsy cases and surgical specimens from 127 oesophageal carcinoma cases were examined histopathologically to determine melanocyte incidence and distribution. Melanocytes were found in the epithelio-stromal junction in 7.7% of normal oesophagus specimens examined at autopsy, and in 29.9% of surgical cases with oesophageal carcinoma. Positive specimens in the latter groups, especially from pre-operatively irradiated individuals, showed a more remarkable increase of melanocytes than was evident in any of the normal oesophageal samples. There were no significant differences in incidence between males and females, or between age groups. In cases where the cancer invaded into deeper stroma, the melanocytes were mainly observed in the normal epithelium around the carcinomas. Epithelial and stromal elements of the melanotic mucosa commonly showed hyperplastic changes such as acanthosis or basal cell hyperplasia, and chronic oesophagitis. Melanocytes were observed most commonly in the lower part of the oesophagus, the site where malignant melanoma of the oesophagus, most often originates. These results strongly suggest that the melanocyte increase observed in areas of hyperplastic epithelium and chronic oesophagitis may play an important role as a precursor lesion for malignant melanoma in the oesophagus.     

Investigation of optimal drug in moderate bronchial asthma]

BACKGROUND: Many drugs and the combinations of drugs are recommended for each treatment step in bronchial asthma. However, there are few issues examined about the optimal drug and combination of drugs in a long term prognosis. In this study, we investigated the optimal drugs and combinations of drugs from a point of view of prognosis. METHODS: One hundred and ninety four patients who visited our hospital for treatment from November, 2003 to October, 2004 and were managed according to GINA guideline were surveyed retrospectively. We compared the rate of step up and the frequency of urgent visit and urgent hospitalization in one year between drug groups in each treatment step. RESULTS: The rate of step up was significantly higher in leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) group than in inhalation corticosteroid (ICS) group and theophylline group in Step 2. The frequency of urgent visit and urgent hospitalization was significantly higher in ICS+LTRA group than in ICS+theophylline group and ICS+long-acting beta 2-agonist (LABA) group in Step 3. CONCLUSION: There is a possibility that the prognosis becomes bad when we use LTRA in the practical treatment according to GINA guideline.     

维生素D3受体对hsp90β基因表达的调控作用

鉴于热休克蛋白９０β（ｈｓｐ９０β）基因内含子中含有维生素Ｄ３受体（ＶＤＲ）结合位点，为探讨作为核受体家族成员的ＶＤＲ是否对核受体特异分子伴侣的ｈｓｐ９０β基因的表达具有调控作用，我们开展了本项研究。分别将野生型ＶＤＲ、含Ｎ端（１～１３３氨基酸残基）及Ｃ端（２８１～４２７氨基酸残基）片段的ＶＤＲ突变体真核表达质粒与人ｈｓｐ９０β基因调控片段（－１０３９／＋１５３１）介导的氯霉素乙酰基转移酶（ＣＡＴ）报告基因质粒共转染Ｊｕｒｋａｔ细胞，检测正常及经热休克（４２℃，１ｈ）处理后细胞裂解液中ＣＡＴ活性。结果表明ＶＤＲＮ端增强、而Ｃ端抑制ｈｓｐ９０β的组成性表达；在热诱导条件下野生型ＶＤＲ对ｈｓｐ９０β的表达有一定的抑制作用，而其Ｃ端片段的抑制较强。为进一步研究ＶＤＲ对细胞内源性热休克基因表达的影响，我们用ＲＴＰＣＲ方法研究了ＶＤＲ的对细胞内ｈｓｐ９０β基因ｍＲＮＡ水平的影响，发现ＶＤＲ过表达对ｈｓｐ９０β的热诱导表达明显抑制。结果提示ＶＤＲ对ｈｓｐ９０β基因的组成性和热诱导表达的调控机制不同。     

人工假肢膝关节微电脑控制装置的研究

高位截肢的伤残病人，即使安装了人工假肢，也因为人工假肢的关节不能自由活动，因而行走起来很吃力，动作不协调，姿态不美观。如果在人工假肢的关节处安装一个步进电机，采用微电脑控制技术，使步进电机按照人的意志转动，那么人在行走（或奔跑、弹跳、上下楼梯、下蹬起立等）时，假肢的逼真程度将会大大提高，动作也就十分自然。本文就这种构想谈了制作过程。     

Adrenalectomy increases local cerebral blood flow in the rat hippocampus

The present study examined the effect of glucocorticoid manipulations on local cerebral blood flow in the hippocampus. We measured local cerebral blood flow in the hippocampus at 1-h intervals over a 1-day period in freely moving rats, by means of the H₂ clearance method, before and after sham adrenalectomy, adrenalectomy or adrenalectomy with corticosterone replacement. We also measured local cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex before and after adrenalectomy. Four weeks after the adrenalectomy, hippocampal blood flow at each time of day was an average of 47% greater than before the operation, showing diurnal variation as before. After the sham adrenalectomy or adrenalectomy with corticosterone replacement, hippocampal blood flow did not change significantly with respect to either its level or its diurnal variation. Local cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex increased by only 19% after adrenalectomy. The present study demonstrates that adrenalectomy causes a remarkable increase in hippocampal blood flow, probably due to a lack of corticosterone.     

Custom step wedge blocking using dynamic multileaf collimation for parametrial pelvic boost irradiation following brachytherapy for carcinoma of the cervix

Carcinoma of the cervix is typically treated with a combination of intracavitary brachytherapy and external beam radiation. The external beam dose is delivered with whole pelvis fields followed by split fields that protect midline organs at risk (bladder and rectum) while treating the parametria. Three approaches have been developed to shield midline structures: a simple rectangular block, a block customized to a single brachytherapy isodose line, and a step wedge filter constructed to conform to multiple brachytherapy isodose lines. A customized step wedge filter has the potential to produce a more homogeneous dose distribution but has not achieved widespread use due to labor intensive construction. We have developed a simple, novel method to produce a custom midline step wedge using dynamic multileaf collimation (dMLC). A comparison of film measurements in a phantom with the dose calculated by a commercial treatment planning system demonstrated agreement within 3% or 3 mm. The technique requires delivery times comparable to conventional techniques.