Laboratory studies on nitrogen and phosphorus removal from swine wastewater by iron electrolysis.

Biological process-free ("Bio-free") treatment of swine wastewater (pH 8.5 or above) for the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus was examined. In this study centrifugal separation of solids and liquids was followed by iron electrolysis, which enables removal of nitrogen and phosphorus when iron is set as the cathode and anode, respectively. The manner in which the treatment efficiency varies according to the current ratio of iron anode to iron cathode (Rac) was investigated. Nitrogen was removed to a level below 60 mg l(-1) in a 3-h treatment when Rac was above 75% and phosphorus was removed to a level below 8 mg l(-1) in the same period, irrespective of Rac. Nitrogen removal efficiency was 60 kWh kg-N(-1) , which is 6 times higher than that of the same electrolytic treatment when used after aerobic biological treatment ("Post-bio").

Unresponsiveness of intrahepatic lymphocytes to bacterial superantigen: rapid development of suppressive Mac-1(high) cells in the mouse liver.

We previously found that a small dose (2 microg per mouse) of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) induced early emerging unresponsiveness in intrahepatic-lymphocyte populations (IHLs). The purpose of this study was to reveal the inducing role of accessory cells involved in IHLs in this phenomenon. IHLs prepared at 3 to 24 hours after SEB injection failed to proliferate in response not only to SEB but also to SEA, representing ligand-nonspecific unresponsiveness, whereas spleen cells (SPCs) and mesenteric lymph-node cells showed transient proliferation. Unresponsiveness in IHLs was related to a deficit of their accessory cell function as measured by coculture of irradiated IHLs and antigen-specific, type 1 T-helper (Th1) clone cells. High levels of nitrite were detected in the culture supernatant. Supplement of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine lowered nitrite levels and concurrently restored the proliferative response of Th1 cells, indicating the involvement of nitric oxide in suppression. Adherent cells prepared from IHLs well reproduced these results. As shown by flow cytometry, Mac-1(high) Ia(+) cells, which mainly included F4/80(+) cells (macrophages) and a minor population of CD11c(+) cells (dendritic cells), increased in proportion in IHLs but not in SPCs at 6 to 24 hours. Depletion of Mac-1(high) cells from IHLs with antibody-coated magnetic beads recovered the proliferative response. Depleted Mac-1(high) cells had a monocytoid appearance. In immunostained sections, Kupffer cells came to highly express both Mac-1 and Ia at 12 hours. These results indicate that Mac-1(high)Ia(+) adherent cells, largely Kupffer cells activated by SEB, nonspecifically suppress the proliferation of Th1 cells via nitric oxide production before manifestation of ligand-specific unresponsiveness.

Selective occlusion of choroidal neovascularization by photodynamic therapy with a water-soluble photosensitizer, ATX-S10.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal treatment parameters for selective occlusion of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) by photodynamic therapy (PDT) by using the photosensitizer ATX-S10 and a diode laser (wavelength = 670 nm). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental CNV was induced in rat fundi by argon laser photocoagulation. The distribution of ATX-S10 in the chorioretina was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy, and the optimal treatment parameters for selective occlusion of CNV were investigated by changing the dosage and timing of laser irradiation. CNV closure and resulting damage of the surrounding tissue were documented by fluorescein angiography and light and electron microscopies. RESULTS: Fluorescence of ATX-S10 was observed to be localized in the vascular lumen of the retina and choroid within 5 min after dye injection and increased in intensity in CNV up to 2-6 h and decreased rapidly in normal tissue. Laser irradiation with radiant exposures of 7.4 J/cm2 applied immediately after dye injection or with 22.0 J/cm2 at 2-4 h later effectively occluded the induced CNV without causing significant damage to normal retinal capillaries and large choroidal vessels. CONCLUSIONS: PDT using ATX-S10 can selectively occlude CNV. ATX-S10 is a potentially useful photosensitizer for the treatment of CNV.

[Pulmonary edema associated with the Chinese medicine shosaikoto].

A 45-year-old Japanese woman presented with a high fever, a nonproductive coughing, and severe dyspnea, and was admitted to another hospital. During the week prior to hospitalization, she had been given Shosaikoto for treatment of liver dysfunction of unknown etiology. Mycoplasma pneumonitis was initially suspected, so she was treated with antibiotics (clindamycin and minocycline) and received oxygen therapy. Pulmonary insufficiency worsened rapidly, and she was transferred to our hospital. On admission, a chest roentgenogram revealed bilateral alveolar infiltrates predominantly in the medial lung fields. Furosemide and high-dose methylprednisolone were immediately administered, but hypoxemia increased. When the PaO2 was 55.7 Torr while the patient breathed 100% oxygen, mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was started. Arterial blood-gas values improved dramatically, and the chest roentgenogram became clear. Our diagnosis of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema is based on the chest-roentgenographic findings, infiltration of inflammatory cells as seen in two lung-biopsy specimens and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the lack of findings of heart failure on physical examination and electrocardiography, and the good clinical response to PEEP. A positive lymphocyte stimulation test in response to Shosaikoto implicated this non-traditional herbal medicine as an etiologic factor in the non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Shosaikoto has been identified as the cause of interstitial pneumonia or eosinophilic pneumonia, but pulmonary edema associated with Shosaikoto has not been previously described. This case suggests that methylprednisolone treatment may be insufficient for Shosaikoto-induced pulmonary edema, and that mechanical ventilation with PEEP is very effective.

A placebo-controlled, single-blind study to determine the appropriate alendronate dosage in postmenopausal Japanese patients with osteoporosis. The Alendronate Research Group.

Alendronate (4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate) is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption. The efficacy and safety of 36 weeks of treatment with alendronate were evaluated in Japanese women with osteoporosis, osteoporotic osteopenia or artificial menopause. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebrae, markers of bone and calcium metabolism and clinical symptoms were monitored. A total of 113 randomly selected patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia were enrolled in the study, of whom 12 were excluded from the analyses because of lack of data. As a result, 101 patients were evaluated for the safety of the drug. Since eight patients were excluded from the efficacy analysis, 93 were evaluated. The incidence of adverse effects in the placebo (P), alendronate 2.5 mg/day (L) and alendronate 10 mg/day (H) groups increased with increasing dose of alendronate, being 6.1, 14.3 and 18.2%, respectively. The most common adverse effects were gastrointestinal symptoms, none of which was serious. Lumbar BMD increased after 36 weeks of drug administration to 5.21%, 5.64% and -0.90% in the L, H and P groups, respectively (P < 0.001, L vs. P and H vs. P). Serum alkaline phosphatase activity, serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline excretion were significantly decreased in a dose-related manner. Serum calcium and phosphorus were also significantly decreased after alendronate administration. Serum intact PTH was transiently increased. The present results indicate that alendronate effectively decreases bone turnover in a dose-related manner and increases lumbar BMD at a dosage of 2.5 mg/day, the lowest dose used in this study, in Japanese patients with osteoporosis.

Infectivity and arthritis induction of Borrelia japonica on SCID mice and immune competent mice: possible role of galactosylceramide binding activity on initiation of infection.

We investigated the relationship between the binding activity to galactosylceramide (GalCer) and the arthritis induction activity of Borrelia japonica. The B. japonica strains maintained the ability to induce arthritis in inbred C3H/HeN and immunodeficient SCID mice, but the ability was lower than that of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto virulent strain 297. Histopathological changes were restricted to the joints, and a marked effusion of polymorphonuclear neutrophils into the joint space was found. The binding activity of B. japonica strains to GalCer was lower than that of the virulent strain 297 but higher than that of the high-passage strain 297. The lower infectivity and virulence of B. japonica may explain its lower binding ability to GalCer.

Suppressive effect of the angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 on the development of carcinogen-induced hepatic nodules in rats.

Tumor metastasis can be prevented by inhibiting angiogenesis. In the present study, we have demonstrated that the angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 also suppresses the development of primary hepatic nodules. Hepatocarcinogenesis was performed by the feeding of 2-acetylaminofluorene to hepatectomized rats during 8-14 weeks of age. Predominantly arterial-to-portal circulation and sinusoidal capillarization were determined by the staining of nodules with arterially infused ink and immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen, respectively. Intraperitoneal administration of 30 mg/kg b.w. of TNP-470 twice a week significantly reduced the number of hepatic nodules. Among the nodules, hyperplastic nodules stained with ink, atypical hyperplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma, all of which possess structurally altered sinusoidal endothelial cells or capillary-type endothelial cells, were dramatically decreased in number. Suppression was observed equally in nodules of all sizes. TNP-470 was more effective when administered during 8-20 weeks than during 14-26 weeks. In contrast, ink-non-stained hyperplastic nodules, which have normal sinusoidal endothelial cells, were not affected at all. The present results indicate that TNP-470 suppresses the development of primary hepatic nodules whose microvessels are capillaries or transitional forms from sinusoids to capillaries.

Migration of an acupuncture needle into the medulla oblongata.

A case of a delayed lesion of the medulla oblongata caused by migration of an acupuncture needle is presented. The patient was a 60-year-old woman who had undergone embedded-type acupuncture needle treatment around 1975. In 1993 she was admitted to our hospital with a 3-week history of progressive motor and sensory disturbance of her right upper extremity. CT demonstrated that one needle had penetrated the medulla oblongata transversely at the level of the foramen magnum. The needle was removed surgically without any complications. This is the first report of an acupuncture needle migrating in the medulla oblongata.

Low friction total knee arthroplasty with the alumina ceramic condylar prosthesis.

This paper evaluates the failure and wear properties of the alumina ceramic posterior cruciate condylar total knee prosthesis, and reports the preliminary clinical results of this prosthesis. Thirteen sets of the alumina ceramic prostheses were used for destruction and wear tests. The average ultimate load in the static destruction tests showed 2.63 x 10(4) Newtons in the femoral component, and 1.28 x 10(4) Newtons in the tibial component. The average ultimate energy in the impact destruction tests showed 22.1 Joules in the femoral components, and 20.3 Joules in the tibial components. The wear test demonstrated that the average depth of wear was 0.04 mm in the alumina ceramic prostheses, and 0.20 mm in the Vitallium prostheses. Observation of the UHMWPE wear surface with a scanning electron microscope indicated many deep scratches and a scooped concave lesion in the Vitallium prostheses; there were few deep scratches in the alumina ceramic prostheses. Thirty patients underwent 32 total knee arthroplasties using the alumina ceramic posterior cruciate condylar prosthesis between 1988 and 1990. The results were evaluated as excellent for 59%, good for 28%, fair for 10%, and poor for 3%. Critical roentgenographic review demonstrated no cases of loosening or sinking after arthroplasties using the alumina ceramic prosthesis. Radiolucent lines were observed only in 4 knees (12%) cases. All were observed around the tibial components, but were less than 1 mm in thickness. The frequency of the radiolucent lines is less than that observed in the Vitallium prosthesis at the same followup period. The alumina ceramic posterior cruciate condylar prosthesis may have sufficient durability and excellent wear properties for low friction total knee arthroplasty.

Ornithine-containing lipids of some Pseudomonas species.

Ornithine-containing lipids purified by thin-layer chromatography were found to represent 2-15% of the total extractable cellular lipids in two or three strains each of four Pseudomonas species: P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, P. stutzeri and P. cepacia. The structures of the ornithine-containing lipids were elucidated by chemical analysis, thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (electron impact or secondary ion) and infrared absorption spectroscopy. At least six molecular species of ornithine-containing lipids were present in common in all of the preparations of the four Pseudomonas species. The structure which was the most abundantly in P. fluorescens (about 60% of the total amount of the ornithine-containing lipid) was 3-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid amide-linked to ornithine and esterified to hexadecanoic acid. In addition to this structure, 3-hydroxyoctadecenoic acid amide-linked to ornithine and esterified to hexadecanoic acid was a dominant structure in the ornithine-containing lipids of P. aeruginosa, P. stutzeri or P. cepacia. In P. cepacia, another ornithine-containing lipids with a terminal polar fatty acid, 3-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid amide-linked to ornithine and esterified to 2-hydroxynonadecacyclopropanoic acid or 2-hydroxyoctadecenoic acid, was found; its content, which represented 8-11% of the total extractable cellular lipids, was higher than that of the ornithine-containing lipids with a terminal nonpolar fatty acid. These ornithine-containing lipids exhibited hemagglutinating activity. Additionally, it was very interesting that hydroxy fatty acids included in the ornithine-containing lipids were not found in the phospholipids which represented more than 80% of the total extractable cellular lipids.