Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody in an area endemic for hepatitis B virus and human T cell leukaemia virus

To clarify the prevalence of concurrent infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human T cell leukaemia virus (HTLV), we measured HCV antibody in the population of a district endemic for HBV and HTLV infection. Blood samples were collected in June 1990 from 579 inhabitants of four islands of Uwa Bay in the southwest of Ehime Prefecture in Japan. Anti-HCV antibody against C100-3 protein was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Ortho Diagnostics). Thirteen of the 579 inhabitants (2.2%) were positive for anti-HCV, and this prevalence rate was not significantly different from the frequency of anti-HCV in Tokyo blood donors. A total of 11% (64 of 579) of the subjects were positive for HBsAg and 3.3% (19 of 579) were positive for anti-HTLV. These frequencies of HBsAg and anti-HTLV positivity were distinctly higher than the respective means of Japanese. All anti-HCV positive individuals were negative for HBsAg and anti-HTLV, while 54% (7 of 13) had increased alanine aminotransferase levels. These data suggest that the prevalence of HCV infection is not high even in an area endemic for HBV and HTLV infection.     

Selective depletion of neutrophils by a monoclonal antibody, RP-3, suppresses dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in rats

Administration of dextran sulphate sodium to animals induces acute colitis characterized by infiltration of large numbers of neutrophils into the colonic mucosa, which histologically resembles human active ulcerative colitis. It has been reported that neutrophils and the reactive oxygen metabolites produced by them are involved in the progress of ulcerative colitis. This study was intended to clarify their roles by using this animal model. First, possible sources and species of reactive oxygen metabolites were determined using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence with addition of enzyme inhibitors and reactive oxygen metabolite scavengers. Next, to examine whether neutrophils and hypochlorous acid derived from them contribute to tissue injury, we administered RP-3, a monoclonal antibody capable of selectively depleting neutrophils, and taurine, a hypochlorous acid scavenger, to rats treated with dextran sulphate sodium. Addition of azide, taurine, catalase, superoxide dismutase and dimethyl sulphoxide into colonic mucosal scrapings significantly inhibited chemiluminescence production, but allopurinol and indomethacin had no effects. These results suggest that excessive hypochlorous acid, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical are generated by the inflamed colonic mucosa. Intraperitoneal injections of RP-3 significantly suppressed bleeding, tissue myeloperoxidase activity, chemiluminescence production and erosion formation. On the other hand, administration of taurine tended to inhibit bleeding and erosion formation to some extent, although it could not significantly suppress them. These data suggest that neutrophils play an important role in the development of this colitis and that hypochlorous acid might be one of the causes of tissue injury induced by neutrophils.     

A boy with atrophic thyroiditis of prepubertal onset,who was positive for TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulins

A 12 year old boy was admitted to our hospital because of short stature. From the age of 7, his growth velocity decreased and he manifested intolerance to low temperatures, hoarseness, dry skin, and slowness of thought and physical movement. On admission, his height was 129.8 cm (-3 s.d.) and his body weight was 43.2kg (-0.5 s.d.). His clinical features also included relaxation phase of tendon reflexes, periorbital puffiness and cold skin but no struma. His bone age was 9 years. His serum thyroxine (T₄), tri-iodothyronine (T₃), free T₄ and free T₃ were low, while his thyrotropin was high. He was positive for antithyroglobulin antibodies, antimicrosomal antibodies, and TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulins. He was diagnosed as having atrophic thyroiditis. We also determined the HLA haplotypes of his family members. His father's HLA haplotypes were A2, BW61(a) and A24, BW52(b), while his mother's haplotypes were A24, BW52(c) and A30, BW61(d). The HLA haplotypes of both the patient and his younger brother showed a and d, while the patient's elder brother's HLA haplotypes showed b and c. His family members all had normal thyroid function, but his father was positive for antimicrosomal antibodies. In summary, we describe a rare case where the onset of hypothyroidism was prepubertal, where the pathogenesis may have involved TSH-receptor blocking antibodies, and where the inheritance of the disease may have been from the paternal side of the family.     

Protective antibodies against Taenia taeniaeformis in rats infected with eggs or injected with non-viable oncospheres or recombinant antigens of oncospheres

Antibody responses against Taenia taeniaeformis in rats infected with eggs or injected with non-viable oncospheres or recombinant antigens of oncospheres were analysed by passive transfer of serum and Western blotting. When recipient rats were injected with 1 ml serum from donors infected with eggs (infected serum), they all showed complete resistance to oral egg challenge, whereas those injected with 1 ml serum from donors injected with either oncospheres or recombinant antigens (vaccinated serum) showed no resistance. IgG and IgG subclass responses detected by Western blotting revealed that antibody responses to oncosphere antigens in infected serum thoroughly differed from those in vaccinated serum. It is suggested that IgG_2a responses in infected serum should be used for screening of epitopes for candidate vaccine.     

新疆巴音布鲁克羊现状及发展对策

巴音布鲁克羊是新疆巴州的优良地方品种,全州饲养量达120万只,对巴州畜牧业的发展具有举足轻重的作用。本文就巴音布鲁克羊现状及提高巴音布鲁克羊品质提出了发展对策。     

Acute myeloblasts leukaemia without Philadelphia chromosome developing after interferon therapy for chronic myelocytic leukaemia with Philadelphia chromosome

Summary. We report a patient who developed Philadelphia chromosome negative acute myeloblastic leukaemia with trisomy 8 and trisomy 11 after receiving treatment with alkylating agents and interferon for chronic myelocytic leukaemia positive for Philadelphia chromosome. Leukaemic cells were positive for myeloperoxidase and expressed CD13, CD33 and DR; some expressed CD2, CD4 and CD34. The fluorescence in situ hybridization method revealed that bcr-abl fusion genes were absent from > 90% of the bone marrow cells. The major bcr rearrangement was not detected by Southern blot analysis. We conclude that the leukaemic cells negative for Philadelphia chromosome may have developed as a result of treatment with alkylating agents and interferon in the present case.     

Effects of the anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody on dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis in rats

Increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the colon of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been reported. We evaluated the effects of monoclonal antibodies to ICAM-1 on acute colitis induced by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) in rats. Colitis was induced by feeding rats 3% DSS for 7 days. Anti-ICAM-1 antibody or vehicle alone was injected intraperitoneally in rats daily from day 0 to day 6. On day 7 the rats were killed and colitis was evaluated histologically. Prophylactic treatment with anti-ICAM-1 significantly attenuated colonic damage, neutrophil infiltration and the shortening of the colon in DSS colitis. Our findings demonstrate that ICAM-1 plays an important role in this model of inflammatory bowel disease. Although this study does not directly address the effect of anti-ICAM-1 therapy in IBD, our findings encourage experiments using therapies that target ICAM-1 in rats with already developed disease.     

Three-year results of treatment for prostate cancer with low-dose rate temporary iridium-192 brachytherapy

AIM: To report the 3-year treatment results of definitive irradiation by using a temporary interstitial implant with low-dose rate iridium-192 with or without external beam radiotherapy in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. METHODS: One-hundred and forty-three patients with pathologically defined prostate carcinoma were treated from December 1997 to April 2003. The patients were classified into a low-risk group (T2, PSA20 ng/mL or Gleason score>or=7). Low-risk patients were treated with low-dose-rate iridium brachytherapy as monotherapy delivering 70 Gy. High-risk patients were treated with the combination of brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy delivering 40 Gy and 36 Gy, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression-free survival rate were analysed. To assess the treatment quality in different periods, PSA progression-free survival rates in late era (year of 2000 and after) and in early era (before 2000) were compared. Morbidity was graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grading scale. RESULTS: One hundred and nineteen patients were analysed, of which 86 patients underwent monotherapy with an iridium implant, and 33 were treated with the combination of external beam radiotherapy. Twenty-four patients were excluded from the analysis because the classification of risk group did not suit the criteria. The total (n=119) PSA progression-free survival rate at 3 years was 80.3%. The PSA progression-free survival rate at 3 years for the monotherapy group (n=86) and the combination therapy group (n=33) were 78.2% and 86.9%, respectively. There were 23 patients who were followed for more than 36 to 63 months, and, during this period, only 1 patient who received the monotherapy was diagnosed as PSA failure at 50 months. The 3-year PSA progression-free survival rate of monotherapy in late era was significantly higher than that in early era; however, no significant difference was seen in the combination treatment. Morbidity for the combination treatment was low; however, for the monotherapy, three patients developed severe rectal ulcers, and colostomies were made. CONCLUSIONS: The PSA progression-free survival rate after low-dose rate iridium-192 brachytherapy with or without external beam radiotherapy can be satisfactory and longer follow up is necessary to compare the efficacy of other treatments.     

Hurler syndrome with severe complication in post-bone marrow transplantation course: Life threatening interstitial pneumonitis and hypertension

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was performed in a 3 year old patient with Hurler syndrome. The post-BMT course was complicated by interstitial pneumonitis and severe hypertension, which were life threatening. The patient responded well to therapy and recovered. BMT in this patient resulted in significant clinical improvement in the signs and symptoms of Hurler syndrome. Biochemical improvement, including elevated α-l -iduronidase activity in white blood cells and decreased urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion was significant. However, skeletal and neurological impairment were not improved. We conclude that BMT for Hurler syndrome should be performed at an earlier stage, before severe neuronal damage has occurred. Moreover, BMT is a high risk procedure and there will always be a possibility that life threatening complications will occur, as in our case.