Kawasaki Disease in a Father and Son

The pathogenesis and etiology of Kawasaki disease are unknown, but some studies suggest increased genetic susceptibility. The case is presented of an infant with Kawasaki disease whose father suffered from the same illness 21 years previously. The A, B and C loci of the HLA antigens were examined.     

Cytotoxicity evaluation of ceramic particles of different sizes and shapes

When artificial hip or knee joints are implanted in the human body, they release metallic, ceramic, and polymeric debris into the surrounding tissues. The toxicity of the released particles is of two types: chemical, caused by the released soluble ions and monomers, and mechanical, a result of mechanical stimulation produced by the insoluble particles. In this study, the cytotoxicity of particles of TiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, Si3N4, and SiC for murine fibroblasts and macrophages were examined to evaluate just their mechanical toxicity because these particles are not expected to release soluble metal ions. Different sizes and shapes of TiO2 particles were used to evaluate the effect of size and shape on particle cytotoxicity. The results suggest that the cytotoxicity of ceramic particles does not depend on their chemical species. Cytotoxicity levels were lower than those of corresponding metal ions, indicating that the mechanical toxicity of particles is lower than the chemical toxicity of released soluble ions and monomers. The differences in size did not affect the mechanical toxicity of these particles. The dendritic particles had a higher cytotoxicity level for macrophages than did spindle and spheric particles.     

Spatiotemporal changes of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor in rat hearts during postnatal development and in cultured cardiomyocytes of neonatal rat

Coxsackievirus B is the most common cause of viral myocarditis and is particularly virulent in neonates and children. Adenovirus is also a leading cause of the disease. The determinant of tropism for both viruses is considered to be the expression of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) in target organs. However, developmental change and physiological localization of CAR in the heart are unknown. We examined expression levels of CAR in rat hearts by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis and found that CAR decreased gradually during postnatal development, although CAR was detectable, even in adults. Immunohistochemistry revealed CAR on the whole surface of cardiomyocytes in immature rat hearts. In contrast, CAR was detected predominantly on intercalated disks in the adult heart and was accumulated especially at the contact point between the cultured cardiomyocytes, even though they were prepared from the neonatal rat heart. In conclusion, CAR was expressed abundantly on the whole surface of cardiomyocytes in immature rat hearts. Both the expression level and the localization of CAR are possible determinants of the susceptibility to viral myocarditis of neonates and children.     

Effect of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) on diphosphoinositide (DPI) synthesis in rat mast cell granules

Rat mast cell granules were obtained by homogenization of highly purified rat mast cells and isolated in a Percoll gradient. DPI synthesis in rat mast cell granules was assayed by measuring the incorporation of 32P from [gamma 32P] ATP into DPI in the absence of exogenous phosphatidylinositol (PI). Lipids were isolated with methanol/chloroform/HC1 and were separated by thin-layer chromatography on oxalic acid impregnated silica gel plates. DPI areas were identified by staining with iodine, scraped and measured for 32P radioactivity. The addition of PMA to the granules caused an increase of DPI synthesis, which can be catalysed by PI kinase. Neither an inactive phorbol ester, 4-alpha-phorbol-12, 13-didecanoate, nor dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) used as a solvent for PMA had any effect. The effect of PMA in the DPI synthesis was dose-dependent and maximal effects were observed at 10-100 ng/ml. Dose-response curves of the effects of PMA in DPI synthesis in the granules corresponded to those of other biochemical effects of PMA in rat mast cells, such as mediator release mediated through the activation of protein kinase C. These results suggest that PMA may directly affect PI kinase or indirectly regulate its activity in rat mast cell granules.     

Calcium phosphate naturally formed on titanium in electrolyte solution.

Surface films formed on titanium specimens immersed in electrolyte solutions (pH 4.5, 5.2, 7.4) at 37 degrees C for 1 h, 1 d, 30 d, and/or 60 d, were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RAS) to understand the reaction between titanium and inorganic ions. For comparison, the surface of Ti-6AI-4V and Ti-50Ni were also characterized. XPS data revealed that calcium phosphates were naturally formed on these specimens. In particular, compared with the calcium phosphates formed on the titanium alloys, the calcium phosphate formed on titanium immersed for 30 d in the solution with pH 7.4 was more like hydroxyapatite. The compositions of the calcium phosphates formed on the specimens changed with the immersion time and the pH value of the solution. The spectrum obtained using FTIR-RAS from titanium immersed in the solution with pH 7.4 for 60 d was similar to that obtained from carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite. The results indicate that a calcium phosphate similar to apatite is naturally formed on titanium in a neutral electrolyte solution in 30 d. In regard to titanium being a biomaterial, we found this to be an intriguing property. It is possible that this calcium phosphate is responsible for the resulting biocompatibility of titanium.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of dental amalgams

The dynamic mechanical properties of two high-copper amalgams (Tytin and Dispersalloy) and two traditional amalgams (Aristalloy and Aristalloy with Zn) were measured over a temperature range of 0-70 degrees C and at frequencies of 0.1, 1, and 10 Hz by means of a DuPont DMA. Values of storage modulus (E') for the amalgams were equivalent to the Young's modulus (E) measured from static mechanical test methods, with Dispersalloy demonstrating the highest moduli. Values of E' decreased with increased temperature. E' of traditional amalgams decreased more rapidly than did those of the Cu-rich amalgams. Values of loss modulus (E") for Tytin were smaller than those of Dispersalloy and the two types of Aristalloy. High values of E" for the traditional amalgams correspond to a greater viscous behavior. Marked differences between the magnitude of tan delta and its temperature coefficients for traditional and high-copper amalgams were observed, which is indicative of differences in visco-elastic behavior between these two amalgam systems.     

Renal cell carcinoma in a patient with malignant lymphoma: a case report

We herein report a case of renal cell carcinoma coexisting with malignant lymphoma. A 69-year-old male complained of an obstruction of the right nasal cavity due to a solid tumor in the paranasal sinuses. A biopsy of the tumor revealed diffuse, large cell and B cell type non-Hodgkin lymphoma. At the same time, just before the patient was scheduled to receive therapy, a left renal cell carcinoma was found. He therefore underwent a left radical nephrectomy.     

Trastuzumab-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: In the present study, we investigated the degree of protein expression and gene amplification of HER-2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines and freshly isolated tumors, and trastuzumab-mediated biological activity, in particular antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against HER-2-expressing esophageal SCC cell lines. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Ten different SCC cell lines with various levels of HER-2 status evaluated by flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry (HercepTest), and fluorescence in situ hybridization were evaluated for ADCC, growth inhibitory, or apoptosis-inducing activities mediated by trastuzumab. RESULTS: Trastuzumab induced ADCC against HER-2-expressing esophageal SCC and the activities reflected the degree of HER-2 expression analyzed by flow cytometric analysis, but not by HercepTest nor fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Furthermore, trastuzumab-mediated ADCC against transforming growth factor-beta-producing SCC was enhanced by the treatment with SB-431542, which is a selective inhibitor of the phosphorylation induced by transforming growth factor-beta. There were very marginal effects of anti-proliferative or apoptosis-inducing activities mediated by trastuzumab for HER-2-expressing esophageal SCC. CONCLUSION: HER-2-expressing esophageal SCC cells could be killed by trastuzumab-mediated ADCC and the activity reflected the degree of HER-2 expression detected by flow cytometry.     

Enhanced osteoconductivity of micro-structured titanium implants (XiVE S CELLplus™) by addition of surface calcium chemistry: a histomorphometric study in the rabbit femur

Objectives: This study evaluated the osseointegration in rabbit cancellous bone of titanium (Ti) implants with a micro-topographically complex surface structure produced by grit-blasting/acid-etching with or without the addition of surface calcium ion (Ca) chemistry.
Material and methods: Micro-structured Ti implants (XiVE S CELLplus^™ screw implant, Dentsply Friadent GmbH) were hydrothermally treated in an alkaline Ca-containing solution to produce a nano-structured Ca-incorporated oxide surface layer. The surface characteristics were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and stylus profilometry before and after Ca surface treatment. Twenty implants (10 control and 10 experimental) were placed in the femoral condyles of 10 New Zealand White rabbits. Histomorphometric analysis was performed 6 weeks after implantation.
Results: Ca-incorporated and untreated control implants showed similar surface morphologies and surface roughness values at the micron scale. Untreated micro-structured Ti implants achieved a high degree of bone-to-implant contact (BIC), and Ca incorporation further increased BIC% ( P <0.05). Active new bone apposition was found on surfaces of Ca-incorporated implants in areas of loose trabeculae.
Conclusion: The nano-structured Ca-incorporated oxide surface significantly enhanced osteoconductivity of micro-structured Ti implants in rabbit cancellous bone. Results indicate that this surface produced by simple hydrothermal treatment may be effective in improving the osseointegration of implants with micro-topographically complex surface structures in areas of loose cancellous bone.