Characterization of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in human labial salivary glands

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors were studied in human labial salivary glands with (-)-[3H]MQNB. The radioligand bound with a Kd value of 150 pM. The density of muscarinic receptors was 220 fmol/mg protein. Most muscarinic antagonists bound to a homogeneous population of muscarinic receptors in this tissue. However, the inhibition curves of pirenzepine had a Hill slope of 0.57 and could be analyzed by a two site model. These results suggest that the muscarinic receptors in human labial salivary glands are a mixture of M1 and M3 types.     

A nuclear DNA study of uterine cervical dysplasia with reference to its prognostic significance

To further define the nuclear DNA content of uterine cervical dysplasia and its relationship to prognosis and epidemiological features, a retrospective study using Papanicolaou stained cytological specimen and TICAS was undertaken. 1. Dysplasia patients was common among young females who had a background of low age first pregnancy, multiple Gravidity-Parity, the complication of inflammation and the use of hormonal contraceptives and progressed rapidly. It is recommended that a test should be repeated within 2 to 3 months regardless of the severity of the dysplasia and patients should be followed up for at least 2.5 to 3 years. 2. The DNA histograms were classified into 3 types (A,B and C): Type C, which had the stem line in an aneuploidy area, showed more severe dysplastic cases. This may be due to the proliferation rate and significant alternation in the chromosomes and mitoses. Nuclear DNA analysis using TICAS and Papanicolaou stained cytological material could discriminate between the progressive group and the persistent or regressive group. In addition, the mean nuclear area might be the best indicator of prognosis in uterine cervical dysplasia.     

Rhythm of daily living and detection of atypical days for elderly people living alone as determined with a monitoring system

We have developed a system for monitoring the health of elderly people living at home. Infrared and other sensor outputs are collected using a monitoring program installed on a personal computer (PC) in the home at a sampling rate of 1 Hz. Once each day, the data are transferred to a server through the Internet using a cable television (TV) connection. An elderly subject was monitored for a 12-day baseline period and completed a daily questionnaire about her activities. This enabled us to identify the rhythm of daily living (sleeping, 23:00-04:59; getting up/breakfast, 05:00-08:59; indoor activities/going out, 09:00-16:59; and dinner/going to bed, 17:00-22:59) and the average outputs from the sensors in the rooms. The subject was then monitored for a further six months. By identifying sensor output counts outside the limits of mean +/- 3SD, we were able to detect atypical days. During the six-month monitoring period, 29 atypical days were detected. We suggest that the monitoring system may be effective in tele-rehabilitation.     

Effect of inorganic salts on crystallization of poly(ethylene glycol) in frozen solutions

The effect of inorganic salts on eutectic crystallization of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) 1500-20,000 in frozen solution was studied to model the polymer and inorganic salt interaction in freeze-dried formulations. Thermal analysis of an aqueous PEG 3000 solution showed a eutectic PEG crystallization exotherm at approximately -47 degrees C and a subsequent PEG crystal melting endotherm at -14.9 degrees C. Addition of sodium chloride prevented the PEG crystallization in the freeze-concentrated solution surrounding ice crystals. Higher concentration NaCl was required to retain higher molecular weight PEG in the amorphous state. Various inorganic salts prevented the PEG crystallization to varying degrees depending mainly on the position of the anion in the Hofmeister's lyotropic series. Some salting-in and 'intermediate' salts (NaSCN, NaI, NaBr, NaCl, LiCl, KCl, and RbCl) inhibited the crystallization of PEG 7500 in frozen solutions. On the other hand, salting-out salts (NaH2PO4, Na2HPO4, Na2SO4, and NaF) did not show an apparent effect on the PEG crystallization. Some salting-out salts induced PEG crystallization in PEG and sucrose combination frozen solutions. The varying abilities of salts to prevent the PEG crystallization in frozen solutions strongly suggested that the solutes had different degrees of miscibility in the freeze-concentrates.     

The keratin-related Ouroboros proteins function as immune antigens mediating tail regression in Xenopus metamorphosis

Tail resorption during amphibian metamorphosis has been thought to be controlled mainly by a cell-autonomous mechanism of programmed cell death triggered by thyroid hormone. However, we have proposed a role for the immune response in metamorphosis, based on the finding that syngeneic grafts of tadpole tail skin into adult Xenopus animals are rejected by T cells. To test this, we identified two tail antigen genes called ouro1 and ouro2 that encode keratin-related proteins. Recombinant Ouro1 and Ouro2 proteins generated proliferative responses in vitro in T cells isolated from naive adult Xenopus animals. These genes were expressed specifically in the tail skin at the climax of metamorphosis. Overexpression of ouro1 and ouro2 induced T-cell accumulation and precocious tail degeneration after full differentiation of adult-type T cells when overexpressed in the tail region. When the expression of ouro1 and ouro2 were knocked down, tail skin tissue remained even after metamorphosis was complete. Our findings indicate that Ouro proteins participate in the process of tail regression as immune antigens and highlight the possibility that the acquired immune system contributes not only to self-defense but also to remodeling processes in vertebrate morphogenesis.     

Myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a nationwide survey in Japan

We retrospectively surveyed the data of 233 patients who underwent myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Donors were HLA-matched relatives in 154 patients (66%) or unrelated volunteers in 60 (26%). Ninety patients (39%) were in complete remission. One hundred ninety-three (83%) received a total body irradiation (TBI)-based regimen, and 40 (17%) received a non-TBI-based regimen. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurred in 155 (67%) of the 233 evaluable patients; grade II to IV in 90 (39%), and grade III to IV in 37 (16%). Treatment-related mortality (TRM) was observed in 98 patients (42%), and 68% of them were related to GVHD. In a multivariate analysis, chemoresistance, prior autograft, and chronic GVHD were identified as adverse prognostic factors for TRM. Relapse or progression of lymphoma was observed in 21%. The 2-year overall survival rates of the patients with indolent (n = 38), aggressive (n = 111), and lymphoblastic lymphoma (n = 84) were 57%, 42%, and 41%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, chemoresistance, prior autograft, and prior radiotherapy were identified as adverse prognostic factors for overall survival. Although myeloablative allo-HSCT represents an effective therapeutic option for patients with NHL, more work is still needed to decrease TRM and relapse.     

Sebaceous adenoma in the retromolar region: report of a case with a review of the English literature

This paper reports a rare case of sebaceous adenoma on the right mandibular retromolar mucosa in a 73-year-old Japanese man, with a review of the English literature of sebaceous adenomas of salivary gland origin. A painless and yellowish polypoid lesion in the retromolar mucosa was histologically a relatively well-circumscribed neoplastic mass composed of well-differentiated sebaceous cells with cystic and duct-like structures, and was considered to be a true sebaceous gland neoplasm arising from the minor salivary gland tissue.