Heterogeneity of anticardiolipin antibody

The antibody to cardiolipin(ACA) was tested in patients with systemic rheumatic disease. The frequency of IgG ACA was 46/100(46.0%) in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). In other rheumatic disease, this was less than 20%. Significant correlation between the presence of IgG ACA and thrombosis and/or thrombocytopenia was found in patients with SLE. Eight sera containing high titered IgG ACA from lupus patients were selected for further inhibition study. Inhibitors were consisted of cardiolipin(CL), phosphatidyl(p-)serine, p-inositol, p-glycerol, p-ethanolamine, p-choline, ds-DNA, ss-DNA, fresh platelets(PLT)and fresh red blood cells(RBC). All sera were markedly inhibited by negatively charged phospholipids. In 4 sera(group B), there was moderate inhibition by ss-DNA, ds-DNA, PLT and RBC. In another 4 sera(group A), mild but significant inhibition was obtained by PLT alone. The number of platelet in group A was less than that in group B. There were some differences in inhibitory activity, suggesting heterogeneity of antibody to CL. It may be possible to speculate that heterogeneity of IgG ACA cause various combination of clinical features such as thrombocytopenia and thrombosis.     

Women with endometriosis have increased levels of placental growth factor in the peritoneal fluid compared with women with cystadenomas

BACKGROUND: To assess the release of placental growth factor (PlGF) into peritoneal fluid in women with and without endometriosis, we measured its concentration with reference to disease stage, the presence of red endometriotic lesions and the phase of menstrual cycle. METHODS: Surgery was scheduled in the proliferative or secretory phase of the menstrual cycle for 59 women with (n = 35) or without (n = 24) endometriosis. The latter group comprised women undergoing surgery for ovarian cystadenomas. PlGF concentrations in the peritoneal fluid were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: PlGF concentration in the peritoneal fluid was markedly elevated in the endometriosis patients (median 189 pg/ml, interquartile range 84-475 pg/ml) as compared with the controls (88 pg/ml, 41-213 pg/ml; P < 0.001), especially in women with red lesions. Significantly greater values during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle as compared with the proliferative phase were observed in both the control (cystadenoma) group (P < 0.05) and the endometriosis group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that production of PlGF is sensitive to the cyclic changes in ovarian steroids and may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis, especially that of red lesions, by promoting neovascularization.     

Grading score system: A method for evaluation of the degree of senescence in Senescence Accelerated Mouse (SAM)

For evaluation of the degree of senescence in SAM-P, accelerated senescence prone mouse, formerly called SAM or prone series or P-series, consisting of SAM-P/1, SAM-P/2, SAM-P/3 and SAM-P/4 corresponding to P-1, P-2, P-3 and P-4 series, respectively, in the previous reports, and in SAM-R, accelerated senescence resistant mouse, formerly called resistant series or R-series, consisting of SAM-R/1, SAM-R/2 and SAM-R/3 corresponding to R-1, R-2 and R-3 series, respectively, in the previous reports, the grading score system was adopted. The items to be examined in this system include 11 categories selected from the clinical signs and gross lesions considered to be associated with the aging process. The degree of the senescence in each category was graded from 0 to 4 according to the detailed criteria devised in our laboratory. After 8 months of age each mouse was examined every 4 months, and some of the mice were examined after 2 months of age.In almost all categories, the grading score and incidence began to increase from 4 or 6 months of age and continued to increase with advancing age in both SAM-P and SAM-R. The increase, however, was more marked in SAM-P than in SAM-R. The slow but steady increase in the SAM-R levelled out at 24 months of age and was comparable to that of 12 months of age in SAM-P. In both SAM-P/1 at 8 months of age and SAM-R/2 at 12 months of age, there was a significant reverse correlation between total score of this grading score system and length of residual life after examination.Systematic and extensive studies using the grading score system showed that if the validity of the system is, based on “irreversibility” and “universality” of the changes in     

Melanin biosynthesis inhibitory activity of a compound isolated from young green barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in B16 melanoma cells

In the course to find compounds that inhibit melanin biosynthesis (i.e., whitening agents), we evaluated the effects of the methanol-soluble fraction (i.e., the water-soluble portion of methanol extracts-CHP20P-MeOH eluted fraction) from young green barley leaves on melanin production in B16 melanoma cells. Activity-guided fractionation led to an isolate called tricin (compound 1) as an inhibitory compound of melanin production in B16 melanoma cells. Furthermore, tricin analogs such as tricetin, tricetin trimethyl ether, luteolin, and apigenin were used for analyzing the structure–activity relationships (SAR) of 5,7-dihydroxyflavones studies. Tricin demonstrated stronger inhibitory activity compared to three other compounds. The results suggest that a hydroxyl group at the C-4′ position and methoxy groups at the C-3′,5′ positions of the tricin skeleton may have important roles in this inhibitory activity in B16 melanoma cells. Our results suggest that tricin inhibits melanin biosynthesis with higher efficacy than arbutin, and it could be used as a whitening agent.

     

Evaluation of elastase and antielastase balance in patients with chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema

On the basis of the "protease-antiprotease imbalance" theory for the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema, we hypothesized that measurement of elastase burden and antielastase capacity in the alveolar space might correlate with emphysema. To evaluate this, the severity of emphysema, the elastase burden, and the elastase inhibitory capacity were estimated in 28 patients with chronic bronchitis and variable degrees of emphysema, none of whom had congenital deficiency of alpha-1-protease inhibitor, and all of whom underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. Emphysema was assessed by both computed tomography and diffusing capacity. To examine "elastase burden," elastase:alpha-1-protease inhibitor complex and free elastase activity in alveolar lavage fluids were measured. To evaluate "antielastase" capacity, elastase inhibiting capacity in alveolar lavage fluid was measured. Elastase burden correlated directly and antielastase capacity correlated inversely with emphysema. These data provide direct support for the "protease-antiprotease imbalance" theory of emphysema in a group of smokers without congenital deficiency of alpha-1-protease inhibitor.     

Anomalous right coronary artery originating from the distal left circumflex artery: single coronary artery with choronic atrial fibrillation

This report describes a patient with a single coronary artery in whom the right coronary artery originated from the distal left circumflex artery. Single coronary artery is a rare congenital anomaly of the coronary circulation which is often associated with other congenital cardiac malformations. This anomaly is thought to be clinically significant especially in patients with atrial fibrillation, although no other associated cardiac anomaly was detected.