A new method to induce topical cooling of the right atrium for treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia: an experimental study

Supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) such as sinus tachycardia and atrial dysrhythmia is a life-threatening problem in the period immediately following an open-heart operation. Because of their negative inotropic effects, antiarrhythmic agents are not recommended for patients with low cardiac output syndrome. A device was developed that topically cools the right atrial surface for antiarrhythmic treatment. In experiments, this device lowered right atrial temperature and did not affect the temperature of the right ventricle or the whole body. When right atrial temperature decreased from 37 degrees to 28 degrees C, heart rate was reduced from 146.3 to 109.7 beats per minute (p less than .001). Meanwhile, cardiac output and blood pressure remained within control levels. In the treatment of experimental SVT induced by the intravenous infusion of isoproterenol hydrochloride and by direct application of aconitine, this method worked effectively and was reproducible. The results demonstrated the beneficial effects of this method in the treatment of SVT in experimental studies and suggested its future clinical application following open-heart operations.     

Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on transitional cell cancer. Possible significance in immunity against tumor cells.

Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on 17 of 44 transitional cell cancers (TCCs) but not on normal transitional cells. ICAM-1 was frequently expressed in higher stage tumors, especially in those with abundant immune cells scattered within tumor. Analysis of infiltrating immune cells showed that they were composed mainly of T lymphocytes and a smaller number of macrophages bearing the lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1). Expression of ICAM-1 on transitional cell cancer cell lines was augmented by in vitro treatment with interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1 beta. Furthermore, Northern blot analysis revealed higher quantities of a 3.3-kb RNA in T24 cells exposed to interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These results suggest that the expression of ICAM-1 on transitional cell cancers might be modified by cytokines produced by infiltrating immune cells, which might facilitate immune responses against cancer cells.     

In vitro tuberculin reactivity of lymphocytes from patients with tuberculous pleurisy.

Mononuclear cells in pleural fluid from patients with tuberculous pleurisy were predominantly T cells. Responsiveness of pleural fluid T cells to purified protein derivative of tuberculin were studied by the assay of cell proliferation and production of lymphocyte mitogenic factor by the stimulation with purified protein derivative. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were also studied from patients and tuberculin-positive healthy controls. The order of responsiveness was as follows: pleural fluid lymphocytes greater than peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients without effusion = peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy controls greater than peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with effusion. The poor response of peripheral blood lymphocytes from pleurisy patients were recovered by the elimination of adherent cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes to the level of the response of peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy controls. T cells purified from pleural fluid mononuclear cells responded more than those from peripheral blood. These results suggested that in the pleurisy patients purified protein derivative-reactive T cells in peripheral blood did not decrease in activity, but were depressed by suppressor cells, and further suggested that highly purified protein derivative-reactive T cells were accumulated in the pleural fluid.     

Association of common missense changes in ELAC2 (HPC2) with prostate cancer in a Japanese case–control series

 The recently identified prostate cancer susceptibility gene ELAC2 (HPC2) harbors two common missense variants, a serine to leucine substitution at residue 217 (Leu217) and an alanine to threonine substitution at residue 541 (Thr541). We genotyped the two variants in a Japanese cohort consisting of 350 prostate cancer patients 242 male population controls, and 114 male low-risk controls. Both missense alleles, Leu217 and Thr541, were carried at higher frequency in Japanese patients than in the controls (Leu217, P = 0.0012; Thr541, P = 0.0145), and the odds ratios associated with carrying these sequence variants were higher in Japanese than in Caucasians. Although the Leu217 and Thr541 variants of ELAC2 are less common in Japanese than in Caucasians, both variants confer significantly increased risk of prostate cancer in Japanese. Carriage of these variants was not associated with age at diagnosis, tumor stage, or tumor grade in these Japanese prostate cancer patients. The allele-specific pattern of risk observed in Japanese and familial Caucasian patients was qualitatively similar; however, the magnitude of that risk was considerably greater in Japanese than in Caucasians. Received: September 3, 2002 / Accepted: October 2, 2002     

Receptors and transporter for serotonin in Merkel cell-nerve endings in the rat sinus hair follicle. An immunohistochemical study

Serotonin (5-HT) has been a candidate for neurotransmitters in cutaneous type I mechanoreceptors (i.e., Merkel cell-nerve endings). Although recent electrophysiological studies have suggested the presence of the 5-HT2 and 3 receptors in the Merkel cell-nerve endings, the histological localization of these receptors are obscure. We thus immunohistochemically examined the presence of 5-HT1, 2, 3 receptors in Merkel cell-nerve endings in sinus hair follicles of the rat whisker pad. We also studied the immunohistochemical localization of the 5-HT transporter to confirm the site of 5-HT secretion. For this purpose, we used antibodies for the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C and 5-HT3 receptors, and for the 5-HT transporter, as well as antibodies for cytokeratin 20 (as a marker of Merkel cells) and neurofilament H (a marker of type I sensory nerve terminals). The immuno-stained sections were analyzed under a laser-scanning microscope. It was found that the sensory nerve terminals in the Merkel cell-nerve endings showed strong positive immunoreactions of 5-HT1A and 1B receptors but not 5-HT2A, 2C, and 3 receptors. Furthermore, both the Merkel cells and related axon terminals showed strong immunoreactions of the 5-HT transporter. These findings support the idea that 5-HT molecules are released from the Merkel cells during mechanical reception and indirectly regulate neural actions of sensory neurons via 5-HT1 receptors. The localization of the 5-HT transporter found in this study also suggests a possibility that axon terminals in the Merkel cell-nerve endings also release 5-HT.     

Gaps and fragmentation of the superficial cortex in the abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes of elderly Japanese

Gaps and fragmentation of the superficial lymph node cortex are considered to provide intranodal shunt flow between the afferent and efferent vessels. Using serial sections of 205 nodes obtained from 27 donated cadavers more than 70 years of age, we examined the histological architecture of the abdominal and pelvic nodes in elderly Japanese. Secondary follicles were rare in the specimens. Cortex gaps were, to a greater or lesser degree, found in all nodes. We classified these nodes into three types according to how often the gap occurred. Type 1 nodes, with a relatively complete shield for the afferent lymph, were most frequently found in gastric nodes, whereas type 3 nodes, with numerous gaps, were often observed in the colic, para-aortic and pelvic nodes. The type 3 nodes showed a specific architecture characterized by a fragmented superficial cortex, three-dimensionally assembled cords and a common sinus between them. Primary follicles were located in the assembled cord structures as well as at the superficial cortex. Irrespective of the type, B and T lymphocyte areas were intermingled in the cortex-like areas. The present results reveal region-specific histological heterogeneity in aged human visceral nodes. Due to increased surface areas, the type 3 architecture seemed to accelerate systemic immunity rather than act as a local barrier in the para-aortic and pelvic nodes, which are located centrally along the lymphatic drainage routes. However, thick trabeculae often seemed to develop in the type 3 sinus to decrease nodal function with aging.     

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulate progesterone production by luteal cells derived from pregnant and non-pregnant women: possible involvement of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 in corpus luteum function and differentiation

Human luteal cells have been reported to express human leukocyteantigen-DR and lymphocyte functional antigen-3 on the cell surface,suggesting physiological interaction between luteal cells andT-lymphocytes through the menstrual cycle into early pregnancy.To elucidate the role of peripheral lymphocytes on corpus luteumdifferentiation, the effect of peripheral blood mononuclearcells (PBMC) on steroidogenesis by luteal cells was investigated.The production of Th-2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4and IL-10 by the co-cultured cells was also examined, and theeffects of these cytokines on progesterone production by lutealcells were investigated. Corpora lutea were obtained from eightnon-pregnant women in the luteal phase and five women in earlypregnancy for luteal cell culture. PBMC were isolated from unrelatedwomen in the follicular phase, secretory phase, and early pregnancy.After co-culture with allogenic PBMC for 48 h, progesteroneproduction was significantly enhanced by PBMC from the secretoryphase and early pregnancy in the non-pregnant luteal cell culture.In the pregnant luteal cell culture, a significant increasein progesterone production was also observed by the co-culturewith PBMC from women in early pregnancy, showing that PBMC havea luteotrophic effect. The stimulatory effects of PBMC werealso observed in co-culture conditions which prevented directcell-to-cell interaction with luteal cells, showing the minorinfluence of mixed lymphocyte reaction. By co-culture with PBMC,the production of IL-10, but not IL-4, was significantly augmentedin luteal cell culture derived from non-pregnant women, whereasthe production of both IL-4 and IL-10 was significantly enhancedin the luteal cell culture derived from pregnant women. Moreover,IL-4 and IL-10 promoted progesterone production by culturedluteal cells, especially in the luteal cell culture derivedfrom corpora lutea of early pregnancy. These findings indicatethat PBMC stimulate progesterone production by luteal cellsand suggest the involvement of PBMC in corpus luteum functionand differentiation probably via the Th-2-type lymphocytes.