Maternal screening and postpartum vaccination for measles infection in Japan: a cohort study.

We investigated the prevalence of measles-sensitive pregnant women and the clinical usefulness of measles vaccination in postpartum women. Measles antibody levels were measured in 751 pregnant women. Forty-four women were vaccinated postpartum, and screened for antibody levels and adverse effects 1 month after vaccination. The prevalence of measles-sensitive pregnant women was 10-20%, with the highest prevalence in those under 24 years of age. Almost all (97.7%) vaccinated women acquired immunity, and did not show any adverse effects. Serum measles antibody levels should be determined in all pregnant women as a screening tool,and sensitive women should be vaccinated immediately after delivery.

Messenger ribonucleic acid expression profile in peripheral blood cells from RA patients following treatment with an anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody, infliximab.

OBJECTIVES: We monitored the mRNA expression profiles of peripheral blood cells during treatment with a TNF-alpha inhibitor, infliximab, in patients with RA. Using a DNA microarray analysis, we demonstrated a unique set of genes, with distinct baseline and post-treatment changes in expression between responders and non-responders to infliximab treatment. METHODS: Using a customized low-density cDNA microarray with 747 genes and a reliable data collection system, we monitored the mRNA expression profiles of whole blood cells from 18 RA patients before and after the infusion of infliximab for up to 22 weeks. The clinical response to treatment with infliximab was determined using the ACR response criteria, the disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28), and individual clinical parameters. The patients were classified as responders or non-responders based on their ACR50% response at 22 weeks. RESULTS: Approximately 15% of the total genes were found to exhibit a >1.5-fold change, compared with their reference values, at one or more time points during the 22 weeks of infliximab therapy. The expression of inflammatory genes, such as IFN-related genes, was strongly correlated with the serum level of CRP and the DAS28. The increased expression of inflammatory genes in responders was normalized within 2 weeks and then remained at a normal level during the treatment period. In contrast, in the non-responders, the elevated expression at baseline, although it was significantly decreased at 2 weeks, returned to the baseline level after 14 weeks. In addition to inflammatory genes, we identified several groups of genes with distinct differences in expression between the responders and non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that a customized low-density microarray is useful for monitoring mRNA expression profiles in peripheral blood cells, enabling us to identify a unique set of genes with differentially regulated expressions in responders and non-responders to a TNF inhibitor among patients with RA.

Ocular following responses of monkeys to the competing motions of two sinusoidal gratings.

Ocular following responses (OFRs) were elicited in monkeys at short latencies ( approximately 50ms) by applying motion in the form of successive 1/4-wavelength steps to each of two overlapping vertical sine-wave gratings that had different spatial frequencies. In the first experiment, the two sine waves had spatial frequencies in the ratio 3:5 and moved in opposite directions. The initial OFRs showed a highly nonlinear dependence on the relative contrasts of the competing sine waves. On average, when the contrast of one was less than a third of that of the other then the one with the lower contrast became ineffective - as though suppressed - and the OFR was entirely determined by the sine wave of higher contrast: winner-take-all. In a second experiment, the two sine waves had spatial frequencies in the ratio 3:7 and moved in the same direction (though at different speeds). The initial OFRs again showed a highly nonlinear dependence on the relative contrasts of the competing sine waves, with a winner-take-all outcome when the contrasts of the two sine waves were sufficiently different. In both experiments, the nonlinear dependence on the relative contrasts of the competing sine waves was well described by a contrast-weighted-average model with just two free parameters. These findings were very similar to those of [Sheliga, B.M., Kodaka, Y., FitzGibbon, E.J., Miles, F.A., 2006c. Human ocular following initiated by competing image motions: evidence for a winner-take-all mechanism. Vision Res. 46, 2041-2060] on the human OFR, indicating that the monkey is a good animal model for studying the nonlinear interactions that emerge when competing motions are used.

CA54/61 as a marker for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Using a new one-step, double-determinant enzyme immunoassay, we performed quantitative measurements of a mucin-type glycoprotein antigen (CA54/61) that we recently detected in sera of ovarian carcinoma patients. When the cutoff value was set at 12 units/ml, at which a high diagnostic efficiency was demonstrated [or at 20 units/ml (mean + 3 SD of healthy females)], the positive rates of ovarian serous, mucinous, clear cell, and endometrioid carcinomas were 76% (or 63%), 63% (or 55%), 57% (or 52%), and 50% (or 38%), respectively. Even in mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, more than one-half of the cases were positive, indicating the potential utility of the assay in the diagnosis of mucinous tumors. In sera from patients with benign ovarian tumors, only 9% (or 4%) of the cases were positive, indicating the quite high specificity of this test for ovarian carcinomas. To make a comparison between CA54/61 and CA125, we set the cutoff level of CA125 at 110 units/ml, at which value a high diagnostic efficiency was demonstrated [or at 35 units/ml (mean + 3 SD of healthy females)]. When both CA54/61 and CA125 were assessed in sera from 36 patients with mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, the positive rates of CA54/61 and CA125 were 64% (or 56%) and 36% (or 56%), respectively, suggesting that CA54/61 is of clinical value as a new tumor marker for ovarian cancers, including mucinous tumors.

Regulation of ovarian carbonyl reductase mediated by estrogen receptor in immature rats.

In the present study, the enhancing effect of synthetic estrogen on ovarian carbonyl reductase, a new prostaglandin (PG)-metabolizing enzyme, was investigated, and the antagonistic effect of antiestrogen on this enhancement was examined in immature rats. Ovarian carbonyl reductase activity towards 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha (15KD-PGF2 alpha), 4-benzoylpyridine (4BP) and menadione was determined photometrically and radiochemically, and quantitation of ovarian carbonyl reductase content was performed by Western blot analysis. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and hexestrol (HX) enhanced the increasing effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on ovarian carbonyl reductase activity and content when these synthetic estrogens (0.2 mg/kg) were administered for 3 days from 26 days of age, before hCG treatment. On the other hand, tamoxifen, which inhibits the binding of estradiol to the estrogen receptor, significantly prevented estradiol (E2) from enhancing the effect of hCG on ovarian carbonyl reductase. Furthermore, the ovarian carbonyl reductase activities towards the three substrates correlated well with the ovarian carbonyl reductase content. These results indicate that ovarian carbonyl reductase in immature rats may be regulated by a specific increase in the ovarian response to luteinizing hormone mediated by estrogen receptor.

Alternative splicing of human papillomavirus type-16 e6-messenger RNA in mouse and monkey cell-lines.

Previous studies have indicated that the splice patterns of E6-transcripts of human papillomavirus type-16 (HPV-16) are uniform. The splice ratios of E6-transcripts, however, seem to be variable in several HPV-positive cell lines, suggesting that cellular factors may affect the alternative splicing of E6-transcripts. To test this hypothesis, the splice ratios of E6-transcripts in various HPV-16 E6-expressing cell lines derived from CV-1 and 10T1/2 cells were quantitatively evaluated by S1 nuclease protection assays. The splice ratios varied among cell lines derived from the same parental lines, indicating that factors specific to cell-type do not play a major role in alternative splicing. The splice ratios appeared to be low in cell lines which prominently expressed longer than expected E6-transcripts indicating that the structure of the E6-transcript affects its splicing. Analysis of the expression patterns of COS-1 cells which transiently expressed various E6-transcript constructs suggested that structure was a factor in determining alternative splicing.

Regional comparison of prolactin gene expression in the human decidualized endometrium in early and term pregnancy.

Prolactin (PRL) is known to be expressed in the decidualized human endometrium and secreted into amniotic fluid. Although the site of synthesis of endometrial PRL is known to be the decidual cells, the difference in PRL gene expression within each area of decidua, i.e. decidua basalis, decidua parietalis and decidua capsularis, during pregnancy is not clear. We have applied an in situ hybridization histochemistry technique using a radiolabeled RNA probe to compare the difference in expression of PRL gene within each area of the decidualized endometrium. Specific hybridization signals were distributed over the decidual cells in early and term pregnancy. More intense hybridization signals were always detected in the tissues of early pregnancy than in those of term pregnancy. In the decidua capsularis of early pregnancy, labeled cells were concentrated close to the amniotic cavity, whereas cells were concentrated close to the maternal surface of the fetal membrane in term pregnancy. In the decidua parietalis, almost all decidual cells were labeled, but no specific labeling was seen in the endometrial glands or capillary endothelium in both groups. In the decidua basalis, most decidual cells showed hybridization signals whereas no hybridization signal was seen over the trophoblast cells. These results show that there are regional and periodic differences in PRL gene expression in the decidual cells during pregnancy.

Suppressive effects of F-1322 on the antigen-induced late asthmatic response and pulmonary eosinophilia in guinea pigs.

We investigated the effects of F-1322 (N-[2-[4-(benzhydryloxy)piperidino]ethyl]-3-hydroxy-5-(3-pyridylmethoxy)-2-naphthamide), a new compound that inhibits both thromboxane A2 synthetase and 5-lipoxygenase and that functions as a histamine antagonist, on the Ascaris antigen-induced late asthmatic response and pulmonary eosinophilia in guinea pigs. Oral administration of F-1322 (10-100 mg/kg) inhibited the antigen-induced late asthmatic response in a dose-dependent manner. Histological analysis revealed that F-1322 prevented the accumulation of eosinophils in the airways and this was paralleled by a decrease in the number of eosinophils and lymphocytes recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. F-1322 (0.1-10 microM) inhibited eotaxin-induced chemotaxis and actin polymerization of eosinophils in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner, while oral administration of F-1322 dose-dependently suppressed the migration of eosinophils into the airways in vivo in response to infusion of interleukin 5 and eotaxin in combination. F-1322 may, thus, improve the late asthmatic response in this model, in part, by preventing the accumulation of eosinophils in the airways. The pharmacological profile of F-1322 indicates that this drug is likely to be useful in the treatment of allergic diseases such as asthma.

Gastric antisecretory effect of FRG-8813, a new histamine H2 receptor antagonist, in rats and dogs.

FRG-8813, a new histamine H2 receptor antagonist, was examined for antisecretory effects and compared with famotidine and cimetidine in rats and dogs. In pylorus-ligated and lumen-perfused rats, FRG-8813 given i.v. reduced basal gastric acid secretion and the acid secretion evoked by histamine, tetragastrin, bethanechol, and 2-deoxy-D-glucose in a dose-dependent manner. The i.v. antisecretory activity of FRG-8813 was equivalent to or slightly less than that of famotidine and the intraduodenal (i.d.) activity was greater than that of cimetidine. The duration of action of FRG-8813 was substantially longer than that of farmotidine and cimetidine for both i.v. and i.d. routes. The i.v. ED40 values for the histamine- and tetragastrin-evoked responses and the i.v. ED30 value for the bethanechol-evoked response were 0.15, 0.09 and 0.43 mg2kg, respectively. In Heidenhain pouch dogs, when the three H2 antagonists were given i.v. or orally, the relative antisecretory potency of the compounds was similar to that in rats. The long-lasting antisecretory effect of FRG-8813 was also observed, and the i.v. ED50 values for histamine-, tetragastrin- and bethanechol-evoked responses were 0.1, 0.24 and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively. Comparison of the parenteral and enteral potencies indicated that FRG-8813 has a lower bioavailability than famotidine and cimetidine in rats and dogs. These data suggest that FRG-8813 has a potent and long-lasting antisecretory effect with a far greater potency than cimetidine and with a slightly lower potency than famotidine.

Serum placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in gynecologic malignancies--with special reference to the combination of PLAP and CA54/61 assay.

Serum placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) levels in patients with gynecological tumors were measured by two kinds of enzyme-antigen immunoassay kits provided by Innogenetics (PLAP-I) and Sangtec Medical (PLAP-S), and the combination assays for PLAP with other tumor markers were studied. None of the healthy women studied were PLAP positive, and the positive rate in patients with benign ovarian tumors was less than 6%. The positive rate in patients with ovarian cancers was about 35%, which was higher than the rates for other cancers. It was significantly higher in patients with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (60%). Remarkably high PLAP-I values were observed in patients with dysgerminoma. By the combination assay for PLAP with CA54/61 antigen in ovarian cancers, the diagnostic efficiency increased compared with that for PLAP and CA125. We conclude that PLAP is useful in the diagnosis of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and dysgerminoma and that CA54/61 is the better partner for the combination assay.

Human chorionic gonadotropin causes an estrogen-mediated induction of rat ovarian carbonyl reductase.

We earlier reported that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulates rat ovarian carbonyl reductase (CR) activity and content, and that estrogen enhances the stimulatory effect. The present study was performed to determine the mode of action of the gonadotropin. Cycloheximide (CHX) and actinomycin D (AD) were given to estradiol-pretreated immature rats 6 h before hCG treatment. The enzyme activity was measured with three substrates, and the enzyme content was determined by the method of Western-blot analysis using anti-rat ovarian CR anti-serum as the first antibody. Both protein inhibitors significantly prevented hCG from increasing the enzyme activity and content in estradiol-pretreated ovary. These results indicate that rat ovarian CR is induced by LH via the action of estrogen.

Human cell clones, RSa and UVr-1, differing in their capability for UV-induced virus reactivation and phenotypic mutation.

UVr-1 is a human cell clone established as a variant with increased resistance to cell killing by ultraviolet light (UV, principally 254 nm wavelength) from a UV-sensitive cell clone, RSa. Both cells have been characterized to have much the same capacity of UV-induced DNA repair synthesis in whole cells, and the parent RSa cells were recently found to be hypermutable. In the present study UVr-1 cells were characterized in comparison RSa cells with respect to UV-induced virus reactivation and phenotypic mutation. Survival levels of UV-irradiated vaccinia virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were much the same in logarithmically proliferating UVr-1 and RSa cells. Correlated with these host cell reactivation levels, the same extent of UV-induced DNA repair replication synthesis was observed in isolated nuclei of the two cell clones. Enhancement of survival levels of UV-irradiated HSV-1 was detected when proliferating RSa cells were irradiated with UV prior to the virus infection. In contrast, this enhanced virus reactivation (EVR) was not detected in similarly irradiated and infected UVr-1 cells. As for phenotypic mutation frequencies assessed by the cloning efficiency of cells with increased resistance to ouabain cell killing (OuaR), OuaR mutants were not obtained from UVr-1 cells either with or without UV irradiation. When the proliferation of cells was synchronized, both EVR and OuaR mutations were detected in RSa cells irradiated with UV at any cell cycle phase, being greatest in the later half of the G1 phase. However, there was no detectable EVR or mutation in any phase of synchronous UVr-1 cells. The hypomutability of UVr-1 cells and hypermutability of RSa cells in a G1 cell cycle phase was also found even if 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide was used as a mutagen or mutant cells with increased resistance to 6-thioguanine cell killing were estimated.

Increased excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and beta2-microglobulin in gestational week 30.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about when the urinary excretion of a combination of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and beta2-microglobulin (beta2MG) concentration [relative to creatinine (Cr)] reaches maximal values during uncomplicated normotensive pregnancy. This study was thus designed to analyze when urinary excretion of biochemical parameters was increased during normotensive pregnancy. METHODS: NAG, beta2MG, total protein, albumin, and Cr were simultaneously measured in random (untimed) midstream urine samples from 22 healthy nonpregnant women and from 82 normotensive pregnant women (22 in gestational week 20, 25 in week 30, and 35 in week 37). RESULTS: NAG/Cr and beta2MG/Cr ratios were significantly higher (P < 0.01-0.05) in the normotensive pregnant women in gestational week 30 than in the nonpregnant control subjects and normotensive pregnant women in gestational week 20. The NAG/Cr and beta2MG/Cr ratios showed maximal values in gestational week 30. The total protein/Cr ratio was significantly higher in gestational weeks 20, 30, and 37 than in the control subjects. The albumin/Cr ratio was significantly higher in women in gestational week 30 and 37 than in women in gestational week 20 and in the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The excretion of both NAG and beta2MG relative to Cr was increased and showed the maximal values in gestational week 30 during normotensive pregnancy. The increase in a tubular enzyme (NAG) might be caused by renal tubular damage, and that in a low molecular weight protein (beta2MG) might result from decreased renal tubular reabsorption. These findings suggest that renal tubular damage and reabsorption dysfunction were increased in gestational week 30.

More confined indications for use of combined passive and active immunization for preventing perinatal development of hepatitis B virus carrier-state--based on the natural history of hepatitis B virus-vertical transmission.

To find more confined criteria for use of passive and/or active immunization for preventing perinatal development of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier-state than maternal HBe antigenemia, maternal HBsAg-titers (R-PHA) around delivery and infantile HBeAg-titers-(EIA) are discussed. No children whose maternal HBsAg-titers around delivery were lower than 3(6) developed carrier-state in spite of maternal HBe antigenemia. In addition, at age 2 months serum HBeAg-titers of 6 children who had acquired persistent HBsAb were lower than 25, while those of 5 children who had developed carrier-state were higher than 70. These findings may contribute to the establishment of more confined indications for the administration of HBIG and/or HB vaccine to the children born to HBeAg-positive carrier women, saving not only HBIG and HB vaccine but all accompanied efforts of both patients and medical staff as well.

Clinical study of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.

The efficacy and safety of a recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine were evaluated in 209 subjects after three administrations at 0, 4 and 20 weeks. Subjects were divided into four groups given 5 micrograms vaccine subcutaneously, 10 micrograms subcutaneously, 10 micrograms intramuscularly and 20 micrograms subcutaneously to define the effective dose and to compare the effect of administration. Seroconversion of the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen after the third vaccination reached 96.6% in the group given 5 micrograms vaccine subcutaneously and 100% in the other groups. The final geometric mean antibody titres were 700 IU/l in subjects given 5 micrograms subcutaneously, 2004 IU/l in those given 10 micrograms subcutaneously, 4674 IU/l in those given 10 micrograms intramuscularly and 3342 IU/l in those given 20 micrograms subcutaneously. In the groups given 10 micrograms, the early seroconversion rate of the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and the geometric mean antibody titres after the third vaccination were significantly higher in subjects administered intramuscularly than subcutaneously (P less than 0.05). No major adverse effects were observed and minor reactions were the same as, or less than, those reported for the plasma-derived vaccine. Before and after administration, no significant fluctuation in the yeast antibody titre was observed. These results demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the yeast-derived vaccine, and show that 10 micrograms was the effective dose.

[Limonoids in Phellodendron amurense (Kihada)].

Limonoids and their glucosides in the seeds and barks of Phellondendron amurense (Kihada) were analyzed. The seeds contained limonin (1950 ppm), obakunone (20 ppm), limonin 17-beta-D-glucopyranoside (820 ppm) and obakunone 17-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1360 ppm). The barks contained limonin (6760 ppm), obakunone (1240 ppm) and nomilin (270 ppm).

[The present situation of the computer system for the clinical laboratory in Japan].

We report the present situation of the computer system utilization for the Clinical Laboratory in Japan. For this studies, the data were calculated to our purpose from the materials for statistics published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan Society of Medical Technologist, and so on. The results were as follows, 1) computer systems were used on the 85% of all hospitals, and the most of them were used for the medical office work included the payment office. At clinical laboratory, there was very few use the computer systems, which account for 25%. 2) In the field of the clinical laboratory, there was mostly used at clinical chemistry, next field was hematology, serology, urinalysis, and microbiology, respectively. 3) Total system for the hospital, including ordering system were used only 0.06% (208 cases) of all hospitals in Japan. We calculated the number of beds with a hundred thousand population, the spread of the computer system, the number of the out-patients, in-patients, and the utilization ratio of beds, then we compared with that data for all of the prefecture included Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. As a result of the calculation, the prefecture which the number of bed with a hundred thousand population was much more than another zone were the utilization ratio of beds was less than another area, and there was worth at the spread of computer system. We think there areas had the smaller hospitals than that of having highly spread of computer system.

[The treatment of refractory choriocarcinoma].

The choriocarcinoma was one of the most curable malignant neoplasms. This is chiefly because the effective chemotherapy was introduced and the sensitivity of hCG was improved. But about 10-20% cases with choriocarcinoma were drug resistant or recurrent cases. And now, the treatment of these refractory choriocarcinomas were one of the most important clinical problems. We describe a new combination chemotherapy for these refractory choriocarcinomas in this paper. This high dose 5-FU + Act-D protocol was effective for drug resistant cases with MEA protocol.

[Resistance to anticancer drugs in relation to cytochrome P-450].

Cytochrome p-450 is a product of a multigene family, and catalyzes the activation and the detoxication of a wide variety of exogenous as well as endogenous compounds. Recent studies have the purified forms of cytochrome p-450 and provided evidence that some anticancer agents are metabolically activated by the cytochrome. In general, cancer cells express lower amounts of cytochrome p-450 as compared to normal liver cells. We recently succeeded in purifying P-450 HFLa, a form of cytochrome P-450 in human fetal livers. Examinations using antibodies to P-450 HFLa, however, showed that proteins cross-reactive with antibodies to P-450 HFLa existed in gynecologic malignancies. Development of multiple drug resistance is usually associated with a decrease in the content of cytochrome P-450, which is in contrast with glutathione S-transferase and a few other enzymes. The mechanisms responsible for such altered enzyme activity by multiple drug resistance are unclear as yet.

[Diagnosis of precancerous lesions of the endometrium].

Cytodiagnosis of the precancerous lesions of the endometrium has remained unclear compared to that for cervical lesions. Endometrial cytology and biopsy have been performed for patients with atypical genital bleeding, who were over fifty, postmenopausal or nulliparous, We studied cytologic findings in cystic glandular, adenomatous and atypical hyperplasia, and compared to them in early cancer. Differential diagnosis was somewhat difficult between cystic glandular hyperplasia and benign lesions. Cytological diagnosis becomes gradually easier with progress of the lesions. A few cases with endometrial hyperplasia developed endometrial carcinoma for several years. Endometrial carcinoma has been detected even in the patients with suspicious endometrial cytology, so endometrial biopsy is still an important method. However, endometrial cytology is very easy, so we need to clarify the cytological cytological characteristics in precancerous lesions of the endometrium.