Expression of APOBEC3G in kidney cells.

The apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G), a member of the APOBEC family possessing DNA mutator activity through cytosine deamination, is reported to play an important role in host defense against infections such as those of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus. Here, we examined the expression of APOBEC3G in human kidney cells to better understand its biological role against infection. APOBEC3G was immunohistochemically detectable in kidney mesangial cells and also to some extent in kidney epithelial tubular cells. In addition, overexpression of APOBEC3G was shown in renal carcinoma tissues and cell lines. APOBEC3G expression was upregulated by inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor. These results may provide new insight into the role of APOBEC3G in host defense against viral infection and cancer.

Holmium laser resection of the prostate.

A total of 35 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were treated with the Ho: YAG laser using a new technique termed holmium laser resection of the prostate or HoLRP. The laser energy was applied directly to prostatic tissue exclusively through the use of a standard 550 micron end-firing fiber. A high-powered holmium laser was used and was set at 2.4 J per pulse at 25 pulses per second for an average power of 60 W. The mean preoperative AUA Symptom Score was 24. Postoperatively, the score dropped to 10.9, 8.2, 5.2, and 4.6 at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively. The peak urine flow rate improved from 6.3 mL/sec preoperatively to 15.1, 15.3 and 16 mL/sec at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. A foley catheter was removed within 24 hours of completion of the operation in 31 patients (89%), and voiding was improved. The HoLRP technique was bloodless, and the short-term results were satisfactory. Most importantly, the defect produced by HoLRP is identical to that of a conventional transurethral resection. These initial results demonstrate that HoLRP is a useful surgical alternative in the treatment of patients with obstructive BPH.

Localization of parathyroid glands in hemodialysis patients using Tc-99m sestamibi imaging.

UNLABELLED: Tc-99m sestamibi parathyroid imaging was performed in 28 patients with chronic renal failure to localize abnormal parathyroid glands in patients receiving hemodialysis, and compared the localization with ultrasonography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. METHODS: We imaged 28 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism using Tc-99m sestamibi (about 600 MBq) at 10 min and 2-3 h following radiotracer injection. In addition, mediastinal images were recorded at approximately 1 h following injection to identify ectopic parathyroid glands. All patients also were evaluated with ultrasonography and MR imaging. RESULTS: Tc-99m sestamibi scans demonstrated focal uptake in 60 glands of the 28 patients, and was categorized as slight uptake in 71.7% (43/60), and intense uptake in 28.3% (17/60). Seventeen of the 28 patients underwent parathyroidectomy. A total of 64 glands were resected. Sestamibi imaging was more sensitive for localizing abnormal parathyroid glands than ultrasonography or MR imaging. Histologic evaluation of 27 resected parathyroid glands revealed that the number of oxyphil or chief cells was not proportional to sestamibi uptake. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that Tc-99m sestamibi imaging should be used initially to localize abnormal parathyroid glands in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, prior to MR imaging or ultrasonography. Sestamibi uptake in parathyroid glands may not correlate with the degree of hypercellularity of oxyphil cells.

Histocompatibility leukocyte antigen-A2-restricted and tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of patient with testicular embryonal cancer.

T lymphocytes play an important role in tumor rejection. To understand T cell-mediated specific immunity at the tumor site of testicular embryonal cancer, we investigated whether interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) of a patient with testicular embryonal cancer show histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-class I-restricted and tumor-specific cytotoxicity. We established a CD3+CD4-CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line from the IL-2-activated TIL of a 37-year-old patient with testicular embryonal cancer. A 6 h 51Cr-release assay was performed to measure the cytotoxicity of the CTL. The CD3+CD4-CD8+ CTL line showed cytotoxicity against HLA-A2+ tumor cells, including freshly isolated autologous tumor cells, adenocarcinoma cell lines from various organs (lung, breast, pancreas, colon and kidney) and squamous cell carcinomas (esophagus and oral cavity). No other cell lines examined, including an autologous tumor cell line and HLA-A2- tumor cell lines, were lysed by this CTL line. These results suggest the existence of HLA-A2-restricted and tumor-specific CTL at the tumor site of testicular embryonal cancer.

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric determination of tin in canned food.

Various canned foods were digested sequentially with HNO3 and HCl, diluted to 100 mL, and filtered, and then tin was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP/AES). Samples of canned Satsuma mandarin, peach, apricot, pineapple, apple juice, mushroom, asparagus, evaporated milk, short-necked clam, spinach, whole tomato, meat, and salmon were evaluated. Sample preparations did not require time-consuming dilutions, because ICP/AES has wide dynamic range. The standard addition method was used to determine tin concentration. Accuracy of the method was tested by analyzing analytical standards containing tin at 2 levels (50 and 250 micrograms/g). The amounts of tin found for the 50 and 250 micrograms/g levels were 50.5 and 256 micrograms/g, respectively, and the repeatability coefficients of variation were 4.0 and 3.8%, respectively. Recovery of tin from 13 canned foods spiked at 2 levels (50 and 250 micrograms/g) ranged from 93.9 to 109.4%, with a mean of 99.2%. The quantitation limit for tin standard solution was about 0.5 microgram/g.