Adenine-induced selective apoptosis toward HIV chronically infected cells in vitro.

A novel strategy for anti-HIV therapy is the clearance of the residual infected cells from the body. Here, we show that 6-aminopurine, adenine, induced selective apoptosis toward HIV-1 producing chronically infected MOLT4 cells (MOLT4/HIV) without augmentation of virus production, whereas the growth of uninfected MOLT4 was stimulated. This selective apoptosis did not occur with other adenine nucleotides or with other bases. The purine ring and the amino residue of adenine were responsible for the apoptosis induction and selectivity, respectively. In addition, adenine slightly but consistently reduced viable cell numbers and the production of virus in a fraction of HIV-1 chronically infected human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs/HIV) at day 7. On the other hand, blastogenic response of normal PBMCs to PHA, PWM and Candida albicans were potentiated in the presence of adenine. These results indicated that the effect of adenine may be attributable to activation-induced selective apoptosis toward virus-infected cells.

[Progress in interventional radiology (IVR) in emergency medicine].

IVR has attracted much attention in Japan over the past decade, and it is expected to be rapidly developed and widely used. Not surprisingly, IVR has already become essential in emergency medicine. This paper addresses IVR of the thoracic and abdominal areas and the pelvis in emergency medicine, in particular the recent IVR focus on the vasculature. CO2-DSA, which enables extravasation and easy detection of a arteriovenous or portal shunt, is also useful in the detection of bleeding in emergency situations. In trauma cases, TAE, originating from an expanded concept of "damage control," is commonly used to stop bleeding in order to perform surgical treatment or used during surgery. Occasionally the two applications are combined when appropriate. TAE is effective in controlling retroperitoneal bleeding resulting from pelvic fracture and parenchymatous organ injuries in the abdominal area. Treatment with stent-grafts, originally used to treat true aneurysms, has recently been used for treatment of injuries of the aorta or arteries and for entry closure due to aortic dissection. Furthermore, stent placement is expected to become an effective cure for organ ischemia, resulting from acute dissections. Is addition, in order to cure rupture of esophagus or gastric varices, such new treatments as TIPS and BRTO have increasingly been used, coupled with the conventional PTO treatment. Continuous regional arterial infusion of protease inhibitor, in an attempt to cure severe acute pancreatitis, significantly reduced the infectious rate at the necrotic lesion, and its resulting mortality rate. It is certain that great progress has been made in emergency medicine. We also should realize that it is desirable to be well versed even in new IVR.

A novel magnetic particle agglutination in microtiter plates for rapid detection of human T-lymphotropic virus type I antibody.

We have developed a novel magnetic particle agglutination (MPA) method for rapid detection of antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). This method is suitable for screening determination. The assay uses purified viral antigen coated on magnetic particles, which are novel artificial particles made of gelatin, arabic gum, and ferrite. MPA uses a special magnet and inclined plate holder. In MPA, the specimen is incubated with magnetic particles in the well; magnetic particles are then magnetically attracted to the bottom of the well. Then the plate is inclined and read by the naked eye. In a positive specimen, agglutination particles stay at the bottom of the well. On the other hand, non-agglutination particles with negative sample run down the side of the well. The total assay time of MPA was estimated at 8 min/microtiter-plate. The results obtained by correlating MPA for the detection of HTLV-I antibody with other method emphasized the precision of MPA.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) elicits down-regulation of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E6/E7 mRNA at the transcriptional level in an EGF-stimulated human keratinocyte cell line: functional role of EGF-responsive silencer in the HPV-16 long control region.

We have found that epidermal growth factor (EGF) elicits negative regulation of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E6/E7 at the mRNA level in the HPV-16-immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (PHK160b). This down-regulation of HPV-16 E6/E7 expression was achieved when the cells were stimulated to proliferate with the concomitantly enhanced c-myc expression by EGF in a dose-dependent manner. By using partly synchronized PHK160b cells, negative and positive regulations of the HPV-16 E6/E7 expression was correlated to EGF-linked cell cycle events in this particular human keratinocyte cell line. In order to study transcriptional control mechanisms of the HPV-16 E6/E7, transient expression assays were performed with CAT expression plasmids that the transcription could be directed by the 5'-deleted HPV-16 long control region (LCR) including the virus P97 promoter. We demonstrated that the HPV-16 LCR contained EGF-responsive elements and that a predominant silencer activity was mapped in the proximal 124-bp region (EGFRE) of the LCR. This restricted LCR region had significant influence on HPV-16-homologous promoters in lowering the CAT expression in the presence and absence of EGF. EGFRE was thus considered to be a conditional transcription-controlling element on HPV-16 E6/E7 expression in this EGF-responsive human keratinocyte cell line. This suggests that specific sequences in the LCR play a critical part in the EGF-induced down-regulation of E6/E7 expression at the transcriptional level. Since the results obtained from the transient expression assay agreed with the mode of expression of the endogenous HPV-16 E6/E7, the present study strongly suggests that the transcriptional regulation of the HPV-16 E6/E7 oncogene is mediated by growth-related specific cellular factors interacting with HPV-16 LCR elements.

Hemorrhage into fibrous dysplasia following minor head injury--effective decompression for the ophthalmic artery and optic nerve.

We performed an effective optic canal decompression in a patient with ethmoid and sphenoid fibrous dysplasia and visual impairment following minor head trauma. On admission, the patient's left visual acuity consisted only of light perception, and the left ophthalmic artery was not visible by angiography. A hematoma and fibrous dysplasia tissue in the sphenoid sinus were excised and the left optic canal was decompressed. The vision was markedly improved to an ability to count fingers in the following 2 weeks. The left ophthalmic artery was fully opacified in the postoperative angiogram.

[Clinical studies on the effect of contact at the non-working side on chewing movements].

In recent years, TMJ dysfunction is reported to be increasing, but at present its etiology is not clear now. We have been studying the chewing movements, which are the most important functional mandibular movements. The possibility is indicated that the interference at the non-working side of lateral movement have a harmful effect on the functional occlusion system. In this study, the effect of the interference at the non-working side on chewing movements was investigated. 30 people were selected as the interference group with the interference at the non-working side of lateral movement, and 10 people without that interference as the control group. the interference group was divided into two groups, interference normal group without TMJ dysfunction and interference abnormal group with TMJ dysfunction. Jaw movements were recorded and analysed by Sirognathograph Analysing System II. The results were as follows; Some characteristic patterns in the frontal plane were observed in the chewing movements of the interference group. 1. On interference side chewing, a concave opening pattern was significantly observed. Especially of the interference abnormal group, the working side deviate reverse crossover opening pattern was significantly observed. 2. On non-interference side chewing, a closing path with a step or a concave part was significantly observed.