Cellulose sulfate suppresses immunoglobulin E production by murine B lymphocytes in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin (Ig) E plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and allergic asthma.We previously reported that a sulfate polysaccharide, fucoidan, suppressed IgE production by murine B cells in vitro. However, the mechanism by which fucoidan suppresses IgE production remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We incorporated sulfate groups into cellulose and studied their biological characteristics in vitro to explore the possibility of converting biologically neutral polysaccharides to active reagents with antiallergic functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cellulose was chemically processed using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and DMF-sulfurtrioxide and recovered as cellulose sulfate with a molecular weight of around 10 kDa. We then studied the effect of cellulose sulfate on IgE production from B cells, IgE class-switching, and populations of IgE-secreting B cells prepared from murine spleen. We also investigated the effects of sulfated cellulose on the production of interleukin (IL) 4 and interferon (IFN) gamma and the expression of T-bet mRNA by splenic T cells. The cytotoxicity of cellulose sulfate was also examined. RESULTS: Cellulose sulfate suppressed IgE production in B cells stimulated with IL-4 and anti-CD40 antibody by inhibiting IgE class-switch recombination and decreasing the number of IgE-secreting B cells in vitro. Moreover, both cellulose sulfate and fucoidan suppressed IL-4 production and enhanced IFN-gamma production by murine T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies, despite the decrease in T-bet mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: Cellulose gains an antiallergic effect on B cells and T cells with the addition of sulfate groups.

[Infective endocarditis with acute embolism to the lower extremity artery caused by a vegetation: report of a case].

Successful surgical treatment of a case of infective endocarditis with embolism to a lower extremity artery is reported. A 71-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the treatment of infective endocarditis. Echocardiography showed a vegetation on the non-coronary cusp of the aortic valve measuring 19 mm in diameter. We planned surgical treatment, including aortic valve replacement, however, embolism of a lower extremity artery by the vegetation occurred during the waiting period for the operation. We removed the offending vegetation from the popliteal artery and replaced the peccant aortic valve with a prosthetic valve in separate operations. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was transferred to another hospital on the 33rd day after the valve replacement surgery.

Nephropathy of cyanotic congenital heart disease: clinical characteristics and effectiveness of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

AIMS: Nephropathy has long been recognized as a potential complication of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). There have been few large-scale studies or clinical reports on renal impairment in patients with CCHD; similarly, very few studies have examined the drug treatment of nephropathy in CCHD. We examined the clinical characteristics and effectiveness of enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I), in patients with CCHD complicated with significant proteinuria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical records of 37 patients with CCHD were evaluated; all were older than 10 years of age (median 19, range from 10 to 27) and had regular check-ups, including urinalysis. The treatment criteria for enalapril administration included significant proteinuria (urinary excretion > 1.0 g/24 h), stable cardiac condition and blood pressure within the normal range. RESULTS: Eleven patients (29.7%) had persistent proteinuria, 6 patients met the enalapril treatment criteria and 5 patients were treated for more than 12 months. Enalapril apparently reduced the urinary protein excretion in 4 of the 5 patients (80%). No consistent improvement of renal function, as evidenced in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF) or filtration fraction (FF) was found in these patients, but neither were any significant adverse effects noted. CONCLUSION: The incidence of nephropathy among patients with CCHD was about 30%, which was consistent with previous studies. It is worth considering the use of ACE-I when nephropathy accompanies CCHD.

[Analysis of nuclear DNA heterogeneity of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)].

To evaluate the objective proliferative activity in HCC nuclear DNA contents were measured by means of microspectrophotometry and at the same time the immunohistochemical technique using anti-PCNA antibody was employed. Surgically resected 26 HCCs were analyzed in terms of cell proliferative activity and regional heterogeneity. The analysis was performed by immunohistochemical demonstration of PCNA and pathologic histochemical study in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens and cytophotometric measurements of nuclear DNA contents in fresh specimens. The results were as follows. 1) Nine HCCs showed regional ploidy heterogeneity. 2) PCNA labeling index and histological grade of the marginal area was much higher than that of the central area. From these results, we concluded that in the process of the HCC progression proliferative activity was decreased in the central area and was not decreased in the marginal area.

[Microspectrophotometric analysis of nuclear DNA contents related to the presence of alpha-fetoprotein in human hepatocellular carcinoma].

A total of 28 surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas, including both fresh-smeared specimens and paraffin-embedded tissues, was stained with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) antibody. In all cases we measured the DNA contents using microspectrophotometry. In 5 cases, analyses of the nuclear DNA histogram of both the AFP-positive and negative cells from the same specimen were successfully performed. The ratio of the S-G2.M phase of the AFP-positive cells was 2.24 times more than that of the AFP-negative cells. In addition, not only the ratio of S-G2.M phase cells, but also the incidence of aneuploidy pattern of AFP positive stained cases was higher than the negative stained cases. Histologically, the AFP-positive cases contained various differentiated tissues more than the negative cases. From these results, we confirmed that AFP production was related to the growth of HCC, and the results suggest that AFP producing HCC have a higher potential for growth than AFP non-producing HCC.

[Intraoperative real time observation of tumor blood flow in hepatocellular carcinoma by using color Doppler imaging].

To evaluate the tumor blood flow in hepatocellular carcinoma, we have introduced color Doppler imaging during operation. 37 hepatocellular carcinoma patient with 54 nodules were included in this study. Following categories were analyzed, those were detectability of pulsatile blood flow and continuous blood flow signal in the tumor, pulsatile blood flow velocity depend on tumor size and pathological feature. Even the size of the tumor is less than 1 cm in diameter in 70% of those nodules we could detect and analyze the flow signal. This new modality could have a possibility to be a useful diagnostic device for small mass lesions in the liver.

[Evaluation of radiotherapy for bone and lymph node metastasis in post-operative hepatocellular carcinoma--three case reports].

Successful radiotherapy was performed for three post-operative hepatocellular carcinoma patients, two with bone metastases and one with lymph node metastasis. One patient had severe high back pain and paraplesia caused by spinal compression with bone metastasis on 5th thoracic vertebra. After a total of 45 Gy irradiations, the back pain was removed, and 9 months later the patient recovered from the paraplesia gradually and could start rehabilitation. A second patient with multiple bone metastases was very concerned about skull metastasis and severe headache. Radiation reduced the headache and the tumor vanished. A third patient with cervical lymph node metastasis was irradiated. The size of the lymph node was decreased but did not disappear. We concluded that radiotherapy for distant metastases (ie, bone, skin) in a hepatocellular carcinoma patient, can be an effective therapeutic procedure for patient complaints.

Enhanced endothelial cell proliferation in acute Kawasaki disease (muco-cutaneous lymph node syndrome).

Paired sera from 30 patients with muco-cutaneous lymph node syndrome (Kawasaki disease) were studied for possible effects on human vascular endothelial cells growth in vitro. The majority of sera from acute phase muco-cutaneous lymph node syndrome patients significantly enhanced endothelial cell proliferation more than those from convalescent phase patients, infectious diseases patients, and age-matched normal controls. This stimulation was considered to be specific for EC since muco-cutaneous lymph node syndrome sera did not enhance fibroblast growth more than normal sera. Fractionation of the serum with gel filtration failed to clearly detect the molecular properties of this effect, although both heavy and light material possessed this activity. Extensive search for circulating immune complex in muco-cutaneous lymph node syndrome sera were negative, suggesting that the enhanced endothelial cell proliferation was due to serum components other than immune complexes.

A new microvascular surgical clip system.

A new microvascular clip system has been designed that consists of 3 sets of different sized clips, an applicator, and an approximator. The basic clip is a one-piece design consisting of two blades extending from an annular base. Its construction is simple and durable. The blade closing force is predetermined for each size clip and is set at pressures that are non-traumatic to blood vessels. The tips of the applicator allow the clip to rotate through a wide arc. Two basic clips can be used with the approximator to form a double clip.

An experimental study on traumatic changes in microvessels produced by pressure clamping.

Acute and chronic changes produced in microvessels by clamping with serial clips were investigated by macroscopic observation and by light and scanning electron microscopy. The degree of damage of the artery was well correlated with the clamping pressure. The results of the present study revealed that a pressure of 131 g or less did not produce damage to the endothelium, while a pressure of 250 g or more brought about complete fracture or disruption of the intima and necrosis of the media.

Distribution of alpha 1-antitrypsin in normal, granuloma, and tumor tissues in rats.

Purified rat alpha 1-antitrypsin and albumin were radiolabeled, and their distribution and catabolism in various tissues were studied in rats with inflammatory granuloma or transplanted sarcoma. Intravenously administered labeled alpha 1-antitrypsin accumulated remarkably in extravascular spaces of the granuloma or sarcoma tissues. Among the normal organs examined, the lung preferentially incorporated alpha 1-antitrypsin. Furthermore, most of the alpha 1-antitrypsin accumulated in these three tissues remained in a TCA-precipitable form throughout the observation period. Since alpha 1-antitrypsin is incorporated in large amounts into inflammatory or tumor tissues, it could play a role in regulation of inflammatory processes or in controlling the proliferation of a tumor. The studies on TCA fractionation also suggest that liver and kidney provide the main sites for degradation of this protein. Although the accumulation of labeled albumin in granuloma and sarcoma was less marked, it showed essentially the same distribution and degradation pattern as alpha 1-antitrypsin in both morbid states.