Anti-Candida albicans activity of essential oils including Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil and its component, citral]

The effects of 12 essential oils, popularly used as antifungal treatments in aromatherapy, on growth of Candida albicans were investigated. Mycelial growth of C. albicans, which is known to give the fungus the capacity to invade mucosal tissues, was inhibited in the medium containing 100 micro g/ml of the oils: lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) and cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica). Not only lemongrass oil but also citral, a major component of lemongrass oil (80%), in the range of 25 and 200 micro g/ml inhibited the mycelial growth but allowed yeast-form growth. More than 200 micro g/ml of citral clearly inhibited both mycelial and yeast-form growth of C. albicans. These results provide experimental evidence suggesting the potential value of lemongrass oil for the treatment of oral or vaginal candidiasis.     

Light microscopy of GTP-binding protein (Go) immunoreactivity within the retina of different vertebrates

To examine species differences in the distribution pattern of guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein (Go) within the vertebrate retina, paraffin-embedded retinae from a number of vertebrate species, including the goldfish, frog, turtle, chicken, monkey, and human, were immunohistochemically stained with affinity-purified antibody against the alpha-subunit of Go. Go-immunoreactive products were found to be located in the neuropil, but not in the cell bodies of neurons, in the retina of all these species. However, some species differences were observed. In the frog, monkey and human, the inner plexiform layer (IPL) was homogeneously stained with this antibody, but in the goldfish, turtle and chicken, the IPL was heterogeneously stained. In the frog, chicken, turtle and human, the outer plexiform layer (OPL) was densely stained with this antibody, but in the goldfish and monkey, the OPL was rather faintly immunoreactive to the antibody. In the goldfish, monkey and human, the outer nuclear layer (ONL) was not immunoreactive to the Go-antibody, whereas in the frog, turtle and chicken, the ONL was immunoreactive to it. The implications of these species differences in Go localization in the vertebrate retina are discussed.     

Expression of the cell surface antigen detected by the monoclonal antibody A7 in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines

In a previous study, we used a murine monoclonal antibody, A7, against human colon carcinoma as a drug-carrier to treat colorectal cancer.¹ In the present study, we found that MAb A7 also reacted immunohistochemically with 73% of human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, with the A7 antigen mainly being detected on the cell surface. However, the A7 antigen was found in only 9% of the spent media of these human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines by ELISA. On the other hand, the positive incidence of CA19-9, POA, ferritin, CEA, DU-PAN-2 and SLX in those spent media was 100%, 64%, 64%, 55%, 55% and 36%, respectively. These results suggest that the A7 antigen may only rarely be shed into the sera of pancreatic cancer patients, in which case MAb A7 could be a suitable drug-carrier in targeting chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer patients.     

Toluene in blood as a marker of choice for low-level exposure to toluene

The validity of two new biological exposure markers of toluene in blood (TOL-B) and toluene in urine (TOL-U) was examined in comparison with that of the traditional marker of hippuric acid in urine (HA-U) in 294 male workers exposed to toluene in workroom air (TOL-A), mostly at low levels. The exposure was such that the geometric mean for toluene was 2.3 ppm with a maximum of 132 ppm; the workers were also exposed to other solvents such as hexane, ethyl acetate, styrene, and methanol, but at lower levels. The chance of cutaneous absorption was remote. Higher correlation with TOL-A and better sensitivity in separating the exposed workers from the nonexposed subjects were taken as selection criteria. When workers exposed to TOL-A at lower concentrations (< 50 ppm, < 10 ppm, < 2 ppm, etc.) were selected and correlation with TOL-A was examined, TOL-B showed the largest correlation coefficient which was significant even at TOL-A of < 1 ppm, whereas correlation of HA-U was no longer significant when TOL-A was < 10 ppm. TOL-U was between the two extremes. The sensitivities of TOL-B and TOL-U were comparable; HA-U showed the lowest sensitivity. Thus, it was concluded that TOL-B is the indicator of choice for detecting toluene exposure at low levels.     

Relationship of Diet to Small and Large Adenomas of the Sigmoid Colon

The relation of dietary factors to the risk of adenomas of the sigmoid colon was examined in men receiving a retirement health examination at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital between October 1986 and 1990. A total of 187 adenoma cases and 1557 controls with normal colonoscopy were identified in the series. Cases were further classified into small-adenoma (<5 mm, n=78) and large-adenoma (≥5 mm, n=67) groups. The consumptions of selected foods and beverages were ascertained before colonoscopy by means of a self-administered questionnaire. After adjustment for smoking, alcohol use, rank and body mass index, low rice consumption and high meat intake were independently associated with an increased risk of large adenomas. The risk of small adenomas was not related to either rice consumption or meat intake. Adjusted odds ratios of large adenomas for the low, intermediate and high consumption levels of rice were estimated to be 1.0 (referent), 0.83 and 0.43, respectively (trend P = 0.08), and the corresponding figures for meat consumption were 1.0 (referent), 1.58 and 2.38, respectively (trend P =0.02). The findings suggest that low rice consumption and high meat intake may promote the growth of colon adenomas, thereby increasing the risk of colon cancer.     

A Case of Pelvic Osteomyelitis

A patient presenting with osteomyelitis of the pelvis is described. In this case it was difficult to establish a correct diagnosis by use of scintigraphic scanning, in spite of clear roentgenographic evidence of osteomyelitis.     

Effect of FK-506 on xenografted human Graves' thyroid tissue in severe combined immunodeficient mice

OBJECTIVE We studied the macrolide antibiotic FK-506, an immunosuppressive agent, in an attempt to ameliorate the lesion of autoimmune thyroid disease in human thyroid tissue xenografted into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. It was not felt appropriate to employ this agent directly in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease because adequate therapeutic modalities are available and the introduction of new, experimental agents could not be justified. Moreover, the study of the tissue before and after treatment could not have been undertaken directly in patients. DESIGN Human thyroid xenografts from four patients with Graves' disease and two normal persons were xenografted into SCID mice. Two weeks after xenograft-ing, human immunoglobulin G (IgG) was detectable in all SCID mice xenografted with Graves' thyroid tissue. Mice were divided into two groups with human IgG levels similar to each other. Mice in the first group were treated with FK-506 daily for 6 weeks; mice in the second (similar) group were given phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) only (control group). MEASUREMENTS Blood samples were taken every 2 weeks from the tail veins for human IgG, thyroid stimulating antibody, thyroperoxidase antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, and interferon-gamma (IFN-7). After 8 weeks treatment, animals were sacrificed; thyroid tissue was examined histologically and for thyrocyte HLA-DR expression. FK-506 was also added to thyrocytes in in-vitro tissue culture conditions. RESULTS After 4–6 weeks of FK-506 therapy, human IgG, all thyroid antibodies and IFN-7 were suppressed, while the levels remained elevated in the control group. Lymphocytic infiltration virtually disappeared in the human thyroid tissue of the FK-506-treated mice and thyrocyte HLA-DR expression markedly declined; in the control mice, lymphocytic infiltration remained heavy and HLA-DR expression remained high. On the other hand, FK-506 added directly to thyrocytes in vitro (without lymphocytes) did not reduce thyrocyte HLA-DR expression. CONCLUSIONS FK-506 appears to suppress the activation of intrathyroidal lymphocytes, but not thyrocytes. From these observations, it is concluded that this agent, by its action on intrathyroidal lymphocytes, is able to ameliorate the immunologically mediated histological and serological disturbance in human autoimmune thyroid disease, at least under these circumstances.     

Inhibition of inward rectifier K+ currents by angiotensin II in rat atrial myocytes: lack of effects in cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We examined the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) on inward rectifier K+ currents (IK1) in rat atrial myocytes. [125I]Ang II-binding assays revealed the presence of both Ang II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors in atrial membrane preparations. Ang II inhibited IK1 in isolated atrial myocytes with an IC50 of 46 nmol/l. This inhibition was abolished by the AT, antagonist RNH6270 but not at all by the AT2 antagonist PD123319. Treatment of cells with pertussis toxin or a synthetic decapeptide corresponding to the carboxyl-terminus of Gialpha-3 abolished the inhibition by Ang II, indicating the role of a Gi-dependent signaling pathway. Accordingly, Ang II failed to inhibit IK1 in the presence of forskolin, dibutyryl-cAMP or protein kinase A catalytic subunits. In spite of the increased binding capacities for [125I]Ang II, Ang II failed to affect IKI in cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). AT, immunoprecipitation from atrial extracts revealed decreased amounts of Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3 proteins associated with this receptor in SHR as compared with controls. The reduced coupling of AT, with Gialpha. proteins may underlie the unresponsiveness of atrial IK1 to Ang II in SHR cells.