New genome type of adenovirus serotype 19 causing nosocomial infections of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in Japan

Twelve strains of adenovirus serotype 19, isolated from cases of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in Japan in 1992, 1993, 1997, and 1998, were analyzed by DNA restriction analysis, using restriction endonucleases BamHI, BglI, BglII, EcoRI, HindIII, KpnI, PstI, SacI, SalI, SmaI, and XhoI. Among these 11 restriction endonucleases, EcoRI, PstI, SacI, and SmaI were discriminative enzymes, showing restriction patterns different from those reported previously for the prototype and the variant 19a. This new genome type was isolated in 1997 and 1998, when an increase of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis cases caused by adenovirus serotype 19 was observed for both sporadic and nosocomial infections. Strains from 1992 and 1993 showed restriction patterns similar to those of the worldwide reported variant 19a for all enzymes used. The changes detected in strains from 1997 and 1998 could be the reason for the recent epidemic.     

Serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and interleukin-2 receptor in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis

BACKGROUND: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is characterized by severe ocular allergic inflammation that may have a poor visual prognosis. Due to the high frequency of the presence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in VKC, most systemic parameters are dependent on the clinical severity of AD. METHODS: Serum levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sIL-2R were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay using samples from 30 VKC patients, 30 allergic conjunctivitis (AC) patients, and 20 normal subjects, to determine whether the concentrations of these molecules are elevated. RESULTS: Circulating sICAM-1 and sIL-2R levels were increased in patients with VKC with AD compared with those in VKC without AD, AC, and normal controls. Serum levels of sVCAM-1 in VKC patients with and without AD were significantly higher than those in controls. No significant difference was found in the levels of sVCAM-1 between patients with VKC with and without AD. In VKC patients with AD, the sIL-2R level correlated significantly with severity of AD, whereas no such correlation was found for sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that serum sVCAM-1 can be used as a marker to differentiate VKC from nonproliferative ocular allergic diseases, and specific immunologic features of VKC may underlie the upregulation of serum sVCAM-1.     

Human chondrocyte proliferation and matrix synthesis cultured in Atelocollagen gel

To evaluate the potential of Atelocollagen gel as a carrier for chondrocyte transplantation, histological and biochemical characteristics of the chondrocytes in gel culture were compared with those in conventional monolayer cultures. Articular chondrocytes from 20 patients were isolated by enzyme digestion, embedded in Atelocollagen gel, and cultured for up to 4 weeks. The effects on proliferation, morphological changes, and synthesis of proteoglycans were analyzed by cell counts, light and electron microscopy, and measurement of isomers of chondroitin sulfates. Chondrocytes embedded in the Atelocollagen gel gradually proliferated and produced chondroitin 6-sulfate, maintaining the chondrocyte phenotype for up to 4 weeks. In contrast, although monolayer chondrocytes increased in number, most could be characterized as being fibroblast-like cells with a reduced capability of producing chondroitin 6-sulfate. The results suggest that Atelocollagen gel permitted a gradual proliferation and matrix synthesis of chondrocytes and maintaining its phenotype. Atelocollagen gel represents an important carrier for the clinical application of cultured chondrocyte transplantation for repair of cartilage defects.     

Cortical evoked responses from the perineal nerve

PURPOSE: We characterize and determine normal reference latencies for the cortical evoked response from the perineal nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 healthy, potent men with a mean age of 31.3 +/- 6.8 years underwent genital electrophysiological testing. Square wave stimuli were applied to the perineal nerve at the ventral base of the penis and the perineal floor. Cortical evoked responses were recorded, and onset latencies were measured at baseline and after anesthetization of the dorsal nerve of the penis. RESULTS: In all 15 subjects a cortical evoked response was elicited after stimulation of the perineal nerve at the ventral base of the penis with a mean latency measured from the first positive deflection (P1) of 48.4 +/- 7.8 milliseconds. Penile block of the dorsal nerve of the penis did not change or abolish the cortical evoked response. A similar cortical evoked response was obtained, although less consistently, after stimulation of the perineal nerve through its course in the perineal floor. CONCLUSIONS: A cortical evoked response from the perineal nerve can be elicited reliably at the ventral penis. This neural pathway is independent of the dorsal nerve of the penis. The study of perineal somatic innervation may prove important in understanding the physiology of ejaculatory and erectile dysfunction.     

Ocular manifestations of systemic infections

Ocular involvement, mainly uveitis or retinochoroiditis, is common in various systemic diseases, such as endogenous endophthalmitis, Lyme disease, human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I infection, toxoplasmosis, and toxocariasis. Recent progress, especially in laboratory microbiologic testing, has enabled us to reliably diagnose many formerly idiopathic intraocular inflammatory diseases. A group of systemic infectious diseases, including those discussed here, are implicated as a body of emerging or re-emerging diseases that have appeared in the past two decades and are thought to have a close relation with global socioenvironmental changes. This paper discusses recent clinical and experimental studies of the most important systemic infectious diseases that affect the eye.     

Antitumor Immunity Induction by Intracellular Hyperthermia Using Magnetite Cationic Liposomes

Induction of antitumor immunity to T-9 rat glioma by intracellular hyperthermia using functional magnetic particles was investigated. Magnetite cationic liposomes (MCLs), which have a positive surface charge, were used as heating mediators for intracellular hyperthermia. Solid T-9 glioma tissues were formed subcutaneously on both femurs of female F344 rats, and MCLs were injected via a needle only into the left solid tumors (treatment side). The rats were then divided into two groups, which received no irradiation, or irradiation for 30 min given three times at 24-h intervals with an alternating magnetic field (118 kHz, 384 Oe). On the treatment side, the tumor tissue disappeared completely in many rats exposed to the magnetic field. The tumor tissue on the opposite side also disappeared completely, even though MCLs were not injected into the right solid tumors. To examine whether a long-lasting and tumor-specific immunity could be generated, the rats that had been cured by the hyperthermia treatment were rechallenged with T-9 cells 3 months later. After a period of transient growth, all tumors disappeared. Furthermore, immuno-cytochemical assay revealed that the immune response induced by the hyperthermia treatment was mediated by both CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells and accompanied by a marked augmentation of tumor-selective cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. These results suggest that our magnetic particles are potentially effective tools for hyperthermic treatment of solid tumors, because in addition to killing of the tumor cells by heat, a host immune response is induced.     

Overexpression of the aldo-keto reductase family protein AKR1B10 is highly correlated with smokers' non-small cell lung carcinomas.

PURPOSE: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma of the lung are currently subject to similar treatment regimens despite distinct differences in histology and epidemiology. The aim of this study is to identify a molecular target with diagnostic and therapeutic values for SCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Genes specifically up-regulated in SCC were explored through microarray analysis of 5 SCCs, 5 adenocarcinomas, 10 small cell lung carcinomas, 27 normal tissues, and 40 cancer cell lines. Clinical usefulness of these genes was subsequently examined mainly by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Seven genes, including aldo-keto reductase family 1, member B10 (AKR1B10), were identified as SCC-specific genes. AKR1B10 was further examined by immunohistochemical analysis of 101 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) and its overexpression was observed in 27 of 32 (84.4%) SCCs and 19 of 65 (29.2%) adenocarcinomas. Multiple regression analysis showed that smoking was an independent variable responsible for AKR1B10 overexpression in NSCLCs (P < 0.01) and adenocarcinomas (P < 0.01). AKR1B10 staining was occasionally observed even in squamous metaplasia, a precancerous lesion of SCC. CONCLUSION: AKR1B10 was overexpressed in most cases with SCC, which is closely associated with smoking, and many adenocarcinoma cases of smokers. These results suggest that AKR1B10 is a potential diagnostic marker specific to smokers' NSCLCs and might be involved in tobacco-related carcinogenesis.     

A Hot Water Extract of Curcuma longa L. Improves Fasting Serum Glucose Levels in Participants with Low-Grade Inflammation: Reanalysis of Data from Two Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trials

The dietary spice Curcuma longa L. (C. longa), also known as turmeric, has various biological effects. A hot water extract of C. longa was shown to have anti-inflammatory activities in preclinical and clinical studies. Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with the disruption of glucose homeostasis, but the effect of C. longa extract on glucose metabolism in humans is poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated the effect of C. longa extracts on serum glucose levels in the presence of low-grade inflammation. We reanalyzed our published data from two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in overweight participants aged 50 to 69 years and performed a stratified analysis using the inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). In both studies, participants took a test food with a hot water extract of C. longa (C. longa extract group, n = 45 per study) or without C. longa extract (placebo group, n = 45 per study) daily for 12 weeks, and we measured the levels of serum hsCRP and fasting serum glucose. The mean baseline hsCRP value was used to stratify participants into two subgroups: a low-hsCRP subgroup (baseline mean hsCRP < 0.098 mg/dL) and a high-hsCRP subgroup (baseline mean hsCRP ≥ 0.098 mg/dL). In the low-hsCRP subgroup, we found no significant difference in fasting serum glucose levels between the two groups in either study, but in the high-hsCRP subgroup, the C. longa extract group had significantly lower levels of serum hsCRP (p < 0.05) and fasting serum glucose (p < 0.05) than the placebo group in both studies. In conclusion, a hot water extract of C. longa may help to improve systemic glucose metabolism in people with chronic low-grade inflammation.