Effect of vitamin E-containing liposome on experimental sugar cataract

The effect of vitamin E-containing liposome on experimental sugar cataract formation in vitro was investigated. The lenses of male Wistar rats aged 6 weeks were prepared by incubating with 55. 6 mM glucose with vitamin E-containing liposome (dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine: DPPC). We examined the formation of lens opacity and assayed vitamin E and its related compounds. Incubation with vitamin E-containing liposome prevented sugar cataract formation. In Addition, vitamin E concentration in lens was significantly elevated by incubation with vitamin E-containing liposome. In lenses of the high level glucose group incubated without vitamin E-containing liposome, lipid peroxide (LPO) content was increased, but in lenses of the high-level glucose group incubated with vitamin E-containing liposome the increase was significantly inhibited at each incubation time. Vitamin E had no effect either on the decrease of reduced glutathione (GSH) or the increase of sorbitol content in lens incubated with high level glucose medium. In conclusion vitamin E-containing liposome was transported from medium to lens well and was significantly effective in preventing experimental sugar cataract formation in vitro. The protective effects of vitamin E are probably caused not only by its antioxidative action.     

Analysis of factors influencing early patency of saphenous vein grafts

To determine factors affecting early patency of saphenous vein grafts, 140 grafts in 65 patients were studied angiographically within 2 months after operation. Twenty of the 140 grafts were occluded. Sixteen variables were extracted from the angiographic findings, intraoperative measurements, clinical characteristics, and biochemical data. The univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess their predictive value. Of 16 variables, 3 (coronary artery internal diameter, graft flow, and coronary artery resistance) correlated significantly with graft patency in the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis selected coronary artery resistance, coronary artery internal diameter, and degree of proximal stenosis as predictors of early graft patency. Of these 3 factors, the coronary artery resistance influenced graft patency mostly. Therefore, the coronary artery resistance was considered to be the most reliable predictor of early graft patency.     

Another autosomal recessive form of focal glomerulosclerosis with neurological findings

We report four patients in a consanguineous family with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), early onset nephrotic syndrome, eventual end-stage renal failure, psychomotor retardation, seizures and microcephaly or brain atrophy without hiatus hernia. Other characteristic dysmorphic features were convergent strabismus and narrow forehead. One patient had enamel hypoplasia of the upper incisors and deviation of bilateral thumbs to palm side. We could not detect an NPHS2 mutation in this family. We propose that this may be another autosomal recessive syndrome with FSGS and neurological findings. Received: 18 January 2001 / Revised: 14 August 2001 / Accepted: 14 August 2001     

The discrepancy between immunocytochemical and biochemical assay of estrogen receptor in breast cancer patients treated by endocrine therapy

Estrogen receptor (ER) expression was investigated by ER-immunocytochemical assay (ICA) and the dextran coated charcoal (DCC) method in 10 recurrent or primary-advanced breast cancer patients treated with endocrine or chmmo-endocrine therapy. In 6 of these 10 patients, ER was examined both before and after treatments by the 2 methods. ER contents measured by the DCC method were found to be decreased after treatments, however, no change in the immunoreactivities of ER-ICA was observed. In the remaining 4 patients, the ER of new lesions refractory to endocrine or chemo-endocrine therapy was examined. ER status was determined as negative in 3 of the 4 patients by the DCC method, whereas by ER-ICA, the proportion of ER stained cells was about 70 per cent, those cells being diffusely distributed in the section. A discrepancy between ER-ICA and the DCC method was thus demonstrated in breast cancer patients treated by endocrine therapy.     

Electrophoretic analysis of the major proteins of the human red cell membrane

Fractionation and isolation of red cell membrane proteins using SDS polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis is described.No significant difference was found in electrophoretic pattern between normal red cells and hereditary spherocytosis red cells. Proteolytic digestion (trypsin, pronase) of the major protein components of red cell membrane revealed no significant difference in electrophoretic pattern between normal red cell and hereditary spherocytosis red cells.     

Upregulation of CD80 on glomerular podocytes plays an important role in development of proteinuria following pig‐to‐baboon xeno‐renal transplantation – an experimental study

We have previously reported that co‐transplantation of the kidney with vascularized donor thymus from α‐1,3‐galactosyltransferase gene knockout pigs with an anti‐CD154 with rituximab‐based regimen led to improved xenograft survival in baboons with donor‐specific unresponsiveness. However, nephrotic syndrome emerged as a complication in which the glomeruli showed mild mesangial expansion with similarities to minimal change disease (MCD) in humans. Since MCD is associated with CD80 expression in glomeruli and elevated urinary excretion, we evaluated a potential role for CD80 in xenograft nephropathy. Study 1 confirmed high urinary CD80 excretion in nephrotic animals with renal xenografts showing CD80 expression in glomeruli. In Study 2, baboons receiving xenografts received CTLA4‐Ig once a week from the second postoperative week or no CTLA4‐Ig. The non‐CTLA4‐Ig group developed severe proteinuria with modest mesangial expansion with high urinary excretion of CD80 and documented CD80 expression in glomerular podocytes. All of the recipients in non‐CTLA4‐Ig groups had to be euthanized before POD 60. In contrast, CTLA4‐Ig group showed a marked reduction in proteinuria and survived significantly longer, up to 193 days. These results demonstrate that anti‐CD80 targeted therapy represents a promising strategy for reduction of proteinuria following renal xeno‐transplantation with improved survival.