Focusing and spin polarization of atomic hydrogen beam.

We have developed a spin-polarized-hydrogen beam with a hexapole magnet. By combining the beam chopper and pulsed laser ionization detection, the time-of-flight of the hydrogen beam was measured, and the dependence of the beam profile on the velocity was acquired, which was consistent with the beam trajectory simulations. The spin polarization of the beam was analyzed by using the Stern-Gerlach-type magnet in combination with the spatial scan of the detection laser. The spin polarization was about 95% at a focusing condition due to the hexapole magnet. The polarization was, on the other hand, reduced to about 70% for the beam at higher velocities, which is consistent with simulation results.

Comparative risk of common peroneal nerve injury in far anteromedial portal drilling and transtibial drilling in anatomical double-bundle ACL reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of common peroneal nerve injury in FM drilling as compared to transtibial drilling in anatomical double-bundle ACL reconstruction. METHODS: Ten cadaveric knees without ligament injury or significant arthritis were used for this study. Knees were secured at 90° and 120° of flexion. In transtibial drilling groups, a guide pin was drilled through either the anteromedial bundle (AMB) or posterolateral bundle (PLB) tibial insertion site to either the AMB or PLB femoral insertion site (tibial insertion site-femoral insertion site: AM-AM, PL-PL, PL-AM and AM-PL). In FM drilling groups (FM-AM and FM-PL),the pin was drilled at the AMB or PLB femoral insertion site through the FM. We measured the shortest distance between the point at which the pin ran through the lateral cortex of the femur and the ipsilateral common peroneal nerve at a knee flexion of 90° and 120°. RESULTS: At a knee flexion of 90°, the shortest mean distance to the common peroneal nerve was 15.3 mm in the FM-PL group, 13.4 mm in the FM-AM group, 27.9 mm in the PL-PL group, 30.8 mm in the AM-AM group, 37.8 mm in the PL-AM group and 29.5 mm in the AM-PL group. At a knee of flexion 120°, the mean distance was 17.3 mm in the FM-PL group, 18.1 mm in the FM-AM group, 32.2 mm in the PL-PL group, 36.6 mm in the AM-AM group, 38.0 mm in the PL-AM group and 35.2 mm in the AM-PL group. Significant differences were observed between 90° and 120° of knee flexion in the FM-AM, PL-PL, AM-AM and AM-PL groups (P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed at flex 90° between the FM-AM group and AM-AM group, and between the FM-AM group and PL-AM group. Significant differences were observed at flex 120° between the FM-AM group and AM-AM group, between the FM-AM group and PL-AM group and between the FM-PL group and AM-PL group. CONCLUSION: The distance to the peroneal nerve in FM drilling was significantly longer at 120° than at 90° of knee flexion. Therefore, the risk of peroneal injury using FM drilling should decrease at a higher angle of knee flexion.

Behavior of cellulose-degrading bacteria in thermophilic anaerobic digestion process.

Previously, we found that the newly isolated Clostridium sp. strain JC3 became the dominant cellulose-degrading bacterium in thermophilic methanogenic sludge. In the present study, the behavior of strain JC3 in the thermophilic anaerobic digestion process was investigated quantitatively by molecular biological techniques. A cellulose-degrading experiment was conducted at 55 degrees C with a 9.5 L of anaerobic baffled reactor having three compartments (Nos. 1, 2, 3). Over 80% of the COD input was converted into methane when 2.5 kgCOD m(-3) d(-1) was loaded for an HRT of 27 days. A FISH probe specific for strain JC3 was applied to sludge samples harvested from the baffled reactor. Consequently, the ratio of JC3 cells to DAPI-stained cells increased from below 0.5% (undetectable) to 9.4% (compartment 1), 13.1% (compartment 2) and 21.6% (compartment 3) at day 84 (2.5 kgCOD m(-3)d(-1)). The strain JC3 cell numbers determined by FISH correlated closely with the cellulose-degrading methanogenic activities of retained sludge. A specific primer set targeting the cellulase gene (cellobiohydrolaseA: cbhA) of strain JC3 was designed and applied to digested sludge for treating solid waste such as coffee grounds, wastepaper, garbage, cellulose and so on. The strain JC3 cell numbers determined by quantitative PCR correlated closely with the cellulose-sludge loading of the thermophilic digester. Strain JC3 is thus important in the anaerobic hydrolysis of cellulose in thermophilic anaerobic digestion processes.

Extensor tendon rupture related to calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition disease.

We report a rare case of spontaneous rupture of the extensor tendons at the wrist which was shown histologically to be related to calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition disease. The causes of tendon rupture were chronic synovitis with crystal deposition and a dorsal prominence of the ulnar head.

IL-1beta-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases and gliostatin/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (GLS/PD-ECGF) in a chondrosarcoma cell line (OUMS-27).

The purpose of this study was to examine how chondrocytes are involved in the molecular mechanism of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A chondrosarcoma cell line (OUMS-27) was cultured and treated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). Changes in the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), and gliostatin/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (GLS/PD-ECGF) were assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. IL-1beta induced the expressions of MMP-1, MMP-13, and GLS mRNAs and proteins in a dose-dependent manner. Selective inhibition of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathway with SB 203580 and SB 202190 blocked the expression of MMP-1, MMP-13, and GLS more strongly than selective in hibition of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway by PD 98059. These findings suggest that chondrocytes may intensify cartilage destruction and inflammation in RA by the induction of MMP-1, MMP-13, and GLS by IL-1beta and that the p38 MAPK pathway plays an important role in these inductions.

Serum gliostatin levels in patients with rheumatoid factor-negative and -positive rheumatoid arthritis and changes of these levels after surgical treatments.

Gliostatin/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (GLS/PD-ECGF) has a potential for arthritogenic action. The aim of this study was to examine whether measurement of serum GLS can be used to evaluate symptomatic improvements after surgery (arthroplasty or synovectomy) as well as the aggressiveness of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Serum GLS levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay in rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive and -negative RA patients. In those undergoing surgery, levels were measured 3 months before and after the operations. Both RF-positive and -negative RA sera showed higher GLS levels than normal and osteoarthritis sera. Patients undergoing arthroplasty demonstrated a decrease in serum GLS levels after the operations, but patients undergoing synovectomy did not, reflecting the extent of remaining or reproliferating synovial tissues rich in GLS production. These findings suggest that the serum GLS level is a useful indicator for evaluation of synovitis and the systemic efficacy of surgical treatment.

Diagnosis and therapy of rheumatoid arthritis in the future.

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, systemic disease characterized by joint pain and destruction. We describe the importance of early diagnosis, recording magnetic resonance images images at an early stage, monitoring disease progression using gliostatin purified in our laboratory, and sugar-chain analysis of RA serum IgG. For treatment of RA, cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitors, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, biological products, and the possibility of gene therapy are discussed. The development of therapeutic methods based on the elucidation of the pathology of RA has progressed markedly in the past decade, and further progress and the development of an early diagnostic method are expected.

Synovial inflammation and hyperplasia induced by gliostatin/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor in rabbit knees.

Neovascularization, proliferation of synovial cells, and mononuclear cell influx and activation are characteristic events observed in synovial joints in the pathohistology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to examine synovial inflammation in rabbit knees induced by intra-articular administration of human gliostatin/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (GLS/PD-ECGF), which shares a high degree of chemical homology with thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) and is known to have angiogenic activity. Purified recombinant human gliostatin (rHuGLS) and its mutant protein, which was prepared by site-directed mutagenesis and which lacks dThdPase activity, were administered at various doses to rabbit knee joints. The effects of rHuGLS and the mutant were examined histologically. Intra-articular injection of rHuGLS resulted in the development of diffuse synovitis resembling RA. The mutant protein also brought about the same effect. These findings suggest that human GLS can cause RA-like synovitis in rabbit knee joints via a mechanism other than its dThdPase activity.

Autocrine induction of gliostatin/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (GLS/PD-ECGF) and GLS-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases in rheumatoid arthritis synoviocytes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine how gliostatin/platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (GLS/PD-ECGF) is involved in the molecular mechanism of cartilage degradation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with special reference to the GLS-induced gene expression and protein synthesis of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 (collagenase-1) and MMP-3 (stromelysin-1). METHODS: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) obtained from RA patients were cultured and stimulated by GLS. Changes in the expression levels of GLS, MMP-1 and MMP-3 were assessed by Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for GLS, and by RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for MMPs and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1. RESULTS: GLS demonstrated a self-induction of mRNA in cultured RA FLSs. GLS evoked a dose-dependent induction of MMP-1 and MMP-3 mRNAs, and subsequently their extracellular secretion. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that GLS is a plausible pathogenic factor causing the extensive joint destruction in RA mediated via MMPs.

A nasal allergy model developed in the guinea pig by intranasal application of 2,4-toluene diisocyanate.

An experimental model of nasal allergy has been developed in guinea pigs by intranasal application of 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI). A 10% TDI solution in ethyl acetate was painted onto the nasal vestibuli of the animals once a day for 5-10 days. During the course of repeated application of TDI, the number of animals which secreted rhinorrhea containing eosinophils increased. Morphological survey of the nasal mucosa showed infiltration of eosinophils and some other changes indicative of acute inflammation. Moreover, mast cells were found not only in the subepithelial connective tissue but also in the epithelial layer. Nasal mucus obtained from the mucosa has been found to be an effective test material for studies of nasal allergy. A striking decrease of specific granules was found in some mast cells contained in the mucus. In parallel with the symptomatology, biochemical and serological studies suggested the involvement of type I allergy in the experimental system; TDI-specific histamine release from the nasal mucosa and positive passive cutaneous anaphylaxis were found 3 weeks after the application of TDI.