Local VEGF administration enhances healing of colonic anastomoses in a rabbit model.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Many studies report the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in wound healing, but few describe local VEGF administration to the digestive tract. Leakage from colonic anastomoses, including those due to ischemia, represents a major complication causing increased mortality and morbidity. Angiogenesis is crucial to anastomotic healing and restoration of blood supply, and VEGF is a potent angiogenic factor showing improved healing in various models of reconstruction and anastomosis. Here, we examine the effects of local VEGF-A(165) administration on postoperative rabbit colon anastomosis. METHODS: Two colotomies per animal were made in the sinistral colon on opposite sides of the mesentery. Randomly assigned VEGF (10 microg/0.1 ml) or saline (0.1 ml) was injected into the muscularis propria on both sides of each colonic anastomosis before closing the access laparotomy using single-layer sutures. On postoperative days 3, 4 and 7, the bursting pressure of partially healed anastomoses was measured. On postoperative day 4, anastomotic tissues were examined for the following: hydroxyproline; histopathologically for inflammatory infiltrate and tissue organization and immunohistochemically for capillary proliferation and density; vessel density of midzone collaterals around anastomoses by microangiography. RESULTS: Compared to saline, VEGF administration significantly improved bursting pressure (p = 0.014, paired t test) and increased hydroxyproline (p = 0.027, paired t test) on postoperative day 4. Inflammatory cell infiltration and fibroblast proliferation were prominent, and submucosal capillary vascular counts were significantly higher for VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of VEGF to colonic anastomosis accelerates wound healing and strengthens the anastomosis by increased angiogenesis.

MTG8 proto-oncoprotein interacts with the regulatory subunit of type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in lymphocytes.

AML1-MTG8 chimeric oncogene is generated in acute myelogenous leukemia with t(8;21), and seems to be responsible for the pathogenesis of the disease. However, the role of MTG8 is ambiguous. Here we found that MTG8 interacted with the regulatory subunit of type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA RIIalpha). The binding site of MTG8 was NHR3 domain, and that of RIIalpha was the N-terminus for interacting with PKA anchoring proteins (AKAPs). NHR3 contains a putative alpha-amphipathic helix which is characteristic in binding of AKAPs with RII. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy showed that MTG8 and RIIalpha were overlapped at the centrosome-Golgi area in lymphocytes. These findings suggest that MTG8 may function as an AKAP at the centrosome-Golgi area in lymphocytes.

Differential gene expression of human telomerase-associated protein hTERT and TEP1 in human hematopoietic cells.

The maintenance of telomere length is crucial for the survival of cells. Recently, genes for proteins that consist of human telomerase have been cloned and the results have indicated a close relationship between telomerase activity and its gene expression. We studied the mRNA expression of the telomerase-associated genes, hTERT and TEP1, in hematopoietic cells in order to clarify the relation between them and telomerase activity using semiquantitative RT-PCR. In polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes isolated from peripheral blood, which had no detectable telomerase activity, no hTERT mRNA expression was seen. On the other hand, lymphocytes and CD34-positive cells both demonstrated hTERT mRNA expression. TEP1 mRNA was detected in all samples, showing no differential expression. We then assessed hTERT and TEP1 mRNA expression in CD34-positive cells cultured in vitro with growth factors. After 4 weeks of culture, all the cells showed myeloid differentiation and the telomerase activity was downregulated. hTERT mRNA was expressed in CD34-positive cells, but was downregulated in 4-week-cultured cells. TEP1 showed no apparent differential expression. We conclude that hTERT mRNA expression is downregulated in accordance with telomerase downregulation during the course of myeloid differentiation, which suggests that it plays a crucial role in the expression of enzyme activity, while TEP1 has a much smaller role to play, if any.

Correlation of telomerase activity with development and progression of adult T-cell leukemia.

Telomerase is an enzyme that adds hexameric TTAGGG nucleotide repeats to the ends of vertebrate chromosomal DNAs (i.e. telomeres) to compensate for losses that occur with each round of DNA replication. Telomerase activity, demonstrable in most human tumors, enables them to maintain telomere stability. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were sampled from 57 patients seropositive for human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), including 24 asymptomatic viral carriers, ten smoldering type, five chronic type, and 18 acute type adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Telomerase activity was determined in samples using a modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol. We semiquantitatively determined telomerase activity by serial dilution of each sample. All of 23 samples from acute and chronic type ATL patients were positive, seven of ten (70%) smoldering type patients and seven of 24 (29.2%) asymptomatic viral carriers were positive. Disease progression from asymptomatic viral carrier to acute type correlated with telomerase activity. Two samples from chronic type ATL patients with relatively high telomerase activity progressed to the acute type within 1 month. Serum lactate dehydrogenase level also correlated with telomerase activity. These results indicate that reactivation of telomerase activity is a key event in development and progression of ATL, and telomerase could be a useful marker for predicting the course of disease. Accordingly, ATL could be a good candidate disease for trials of telomerase inhibitors, as novel anticancer drugs.

Ruvalcaba syndrome: autosomal dominant inheritance.

A kinship is described in which nine individuals in four generations were affected with the Ruvalcaba syndrome including postnatal growth retardation, an oval face with a high forehead, antimongoloid slant of palpebral fissures, small beaked nose with hypoplastic nasal alae, small downturned mouth with thin vermilion borders, pointed chin, and short fingers and toes. Less frequently seen were osteochondritis of the lumbar vertebral bodies, cone-shaped epiphyses of the phalanges, and narrow diaphyses of the metacarpals and metatarsals. None of the affected individuals was mentally retarded. The propositus, a 3-year-old boy, and his mother were typically affected, while his 8-month-old sister, the 55-year-old maternal grandfather, and his 46-year-old younger sister had several of these manifestations. Information on the remaining four affected relatives was incomplete. The syndrome was transmitted in a dominant fashion with variable expressivity. There were two instances of male-to-male transmission. This effectively ruled out X-linked inheritance. The transmission of the syndrome in three other reported pedigrees was also compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance with variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance.

Translocation t(X;21)(q13.3; p11.1) in a girl with Menkes disease.

A girl with a 46,X,t(X;21) (q13.3;p11.1) karyotype presented with skin redundancy, especially in the neck, prominent occiput and micrognathia, and later developed hypotonia, hypopigmentation, sparse scalp hair, and profound mental retardation characteristic of Menkes disease. Her serum copper (14 microg/dl) and ceruloplasmin (9 mg/dl) levels were extremely low. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis with a 100-kb P1-derived artificial chromosome probe containing the Menkes disease gene demonstrated three twin-signals, one on the normal X chromosome and one each on derivative chromosomes X and 21, indicating that the Xq13.3 breakpoint was located within the gene. Replication pattern analysis showed that the normal X chromosome was late replicating, whereas the derivative X chromosome was selectively early replicating. These results indicated that Menkes disease in our patient resulted from a de novo translocation that disrupts the disease gene.

Median nodule of the upper lip: an autosomal dominant trait.

We describe a total of 18 individuals, in 3 families, with a median nodule of the upper lip. In family 1, the proposita, an 8-month-old infant girl, was otherwise phenotypically normal except for a median nodule of the upper lip. The proposita's elder brother and mother, both phenotypically normal, also had the similar nodule of the upper lip. On the mother's side, the proposita's greatgrandmother, greatgrandaunt, grandfather, greataunt, two aunts, and one female cousin all had a median nodule of the upper lip. In family 2, the proposita, proposita's mother and maternal grandfather had a median nodule of the upper lip. In family 3, the proposita, proposita's father, paternal grandfather, paternal uncle, and cousin had a median nodule of the upper lip. Analysis of 3 families indicates that the condition is an autosomal dominant trait.

No evidence of PEG1/MEST gene mutations in Silver-Russell syndrome patients.

Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is characterized by prenatal and postnatal growth retardation with morphologic anomalies. Maternal uniparental disomy 7 has been reported in some SRS patients. PEG1/MEST is an imprinted gene on chromosome 7q32 that is expressed only from the paternal allele and is a candidate gene for SRS. To clarify its biological function and role in SRS, we screened PEG1/MEST abnormalities in 15 SRS patients from various standpoints. In the lymphocytes of SRS patients, no aberrant expression patterns of two splice variants (alpha and beta) of PEG1/MEST were detected when they were compared with normal samples. Direct sequence analysis failed to detect any mutations in the PEG1/MEST alpha coding region, and there were no significant mutations in the 5'-flanking upstream region containing the predicted promoter and the highly conserved human/mouse genomic region. Differential methylation patterns of the CpG island for PEG1/MEST alpha were normally maintained and resulted in the same pattern as in the normal control, suggesting that there was no loss of imprinting. These findings suggest that PEG1/MEST can be excluded as a major determinant of SRS.

Amelioration of microvascular myocardial ischemia by gene transfer of vascular endothelial growth factor in rabbits.

OBJECTIVES: Restoration of coronary blood flow by angiogenesis may offer a new approach to intractable ischemic heart disease. In the present study, we investigated the angiogenic effects of gene transfer of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 on microvascular myocardial ischemia. METHODS: A rabbit model of microvascular myocardial ischemia was created by plugging coronary microvessels with microspheres (15 microm in diameter, 2.8 x 10(5)/kg, n = 29). Gene transfer was performed by semi-selective intracoronary injection of recombinant adenovirus expressing vascular endothelial growth factor 165 forty minutes after microsphere injection (n = 9). RESULTS: Microsphere injection reduced myocardial perfusion (78% +/- 9% of baseline tissue flow) and diminished myocardial contraction (61% +/- 12% of the baseline ejection fraction) and cardiac performance (elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and decreased systemic flow) in the acute phase. At 17 +/- 3 days, gene transfer of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 had had the following effects: (1) promoted coronary angiogenesis as evidenced by myocardial flow above the baseline (121% +/- 24%), (2) increased vascular density revealed by synchrotron radiation microangiography and histologic analysis, (3) ameliorated the degree of myocardial ischemia as evidenced by myocardial lactate content and the extent of histologic necrosis, and (4) restored heart function as evidenced by increased ejection fraction (95% +/- 10%), reduced left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and restored body weight. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo vascular endothelial growth factor 165 gene transfer promoted angiogenesis and was an effective approach to treating microvascular myocardial ischemia.

Giant hepatic granuloma caused by Bartonella henselae.

We report a 10-year-old girl with a 3.0- by 3.5-cm giant hepatic granuloma caused by Bartonella henselae. Such a solitary and large granuloma associated with B. henselae infection has not been previously reported. We believe that B. henselae infection is a consideration in the differential diagnosis of a large hepatic mass.

Ticlopidine-Associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with an IgG-type inhibitor to von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease activity.

A 41-year-old Japanese man complained of a left-sided visual disturbance. Imaging by magnetic resonance angiography revealed a narrowing of the left internal cervical artery. Thus, ticlopidine (Tc) administration was started at a daily dose of 300 mg. However, 2 weeks later, severe thrombocytopenia, fever, nausea, and psychiatric symptoms developed; Tc was therefore discontinued. Based on the diagnostic hallmark of 5 clinical signs, the patient's disease was diagnosed as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Daily plasmapheresis was performed for the first 4 days, and the patient's clinical signs gradually improved. Von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (vWF-CPase) activity in his plasma was less than 3% of that of the control sample at diagnosis, but that value recovered steadily following plasmapheresis. In addition, immunoglobulin G purified from the patient plasma inhibited vWF-CPase activity in normal plasma with a specific activity of 0.8 Bethesda units/mg. No sign of TTP relapse has been noted following cessation of Tc. Thus, it was concluded that the patient developed TTP by producing an inhibitory autoantibody against vWF-CPase activity that was presumably triggered by Tc administration.

MLL gene rearrangement in t(9;11) acute myelogenous leukemia with minimal myeloid differentiation (FAB subtype M0).

A 25-year-old man was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), French-American-British (FAB) subtype M0, based on cytochemical and flow cytometric findings. Cytogenetic analysis revealed the chromosome translocations t(9;11)(p22;q23), and MLL gene rearrangement was identified by Southern blotting. In adult AML, MLL gene rearrangement was initially reported in FAB M4 and M5 cases, and recently in M1 and M2 cases, but was rare in M0 or M3 cases. Because the sensitivity of detecting MLL gene rearrangement by cytogenetic analysis is extremely low compared with Southern blotting analysis, the MLL gene may be involved in substantial numbers of adult AML cases, regardless of FAB subtype.

Down-regulation of human telomeric protein TRF1 gene expression during myeloid differentiation in human hematopoietic cells.

The maintenance of telomere length is crucial for cell survival. Recently, it has been indicated that the human telomeric protein TRF1 is involved in the negative feedback mechanism that stabilizes telomere length. We studied TRF1 mRNA expression in hematopoietic cells to clarify the relation between TRF1 and telomerase by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. In polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes isolated from peripheral blood, relatively low levels of TRF1 mRNA expression were seen, compared with those of lymphocytes and CD34+. We then assessed TRF1 mRNA expression in CD34+ cells cultured in vitro with growth factors. After 4 weeks of culture, all the cells showed myeloid differentiation, and telomerase activity was down-regulated. TRF1 mRNA was expressed in CD34+ cells but was down-regulated in cells cultured for 4 weeks. We conclude that TRF1 mRNA expression is down-regulated in accordance with telomerase down-regulation during the course of myeloid differentiation.

A case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder with a (2;5) chromosomal translocation in peripheral lymphocytes.

Chromosome analysis was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes of a patient with rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder. It showed a reciprocal t(2;5) translocation with the breakpoints at 2q37.3 and 5q31.3. This is the first report of such an anomaly in the peripheral lymphocytes of a patient with rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder.

Effect of a new H2-blocker, famotidine, in reflux esophagitis among severely handicapped children.

Vomiting, hematemesis, and esophagitis resulting from gastroesophageal reflux or hiatal hernia are frequently observed in severely handicapped children. This study was conducted to determine whether the use of a new H2-antagonist, famotidine, could prevent recurrence of reflux esophagitis among such children. Seventeen severely handicapped, bedridden children admitted to a children's medical center between April 1985 and September 1986 were studied. All had vomiting or hematemesis as a main symptom, and the cause of esophagitis was suggested to be gastroesophageal reflux in 13 cases and hiatal hernia in four. Six had been previously treated with cimetidine or other drugs or a combination thereof without relief. Famotidine was administered at about 1 to 2 mg/kg/day, two times daily to patients weighing more than 10 kg and three times daily to those weighing less than 10 kg. In 13 cases, famotidine was administered intravenously for between seven and ten days and then given orally, while the rest were given the drug orally from the outset. The following results were obtained: (1) improvement was seen within seven days after start of famotidine treatment, and reduction of vomiting or hematemesis or both was reached within two weeks in 70% of cases and within three weeks in 94%; (2) famotidine was markedly effective in 29% and moderately effective in 41%; in no case was the drug ineffective; (3) no side effects were observed; five patients had transient, mild elevation of SGOT . SGPT, but this was not attributable to the drug.

Vaccination of a refractory essential monoclonal cryoglobulinemia patient with cryoglobulin-pulsed dendritic cells.

We vaccinated a refractory essential monoclonal cryoglobulinemia patient with monocyte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs) pulsed with purified cryoglobulin as a tumor antigen. During the vaccinations, his acrocyanosis improved and we were able to reduce the number of hot baths used to treat his symptoms, with no side effects. Furthermore, cryoglobulin-specific proliferative responses were observed after the vaccination. As there was a recurrence of acrocyanosis after the final vaccination, vaccination with Mo-DCs pulsed with purified cryoglobulin would seem to be a useful treatment for refractory essential monoclonal cryoglobulinemia.

Intracellular cytokine profile of CD14 positive cells in patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors during hematologic recovery phase after intensive chemotherapy designed to mobilize peripheral blood stem cells.

We studied intracellular cytokines in monocytes by flow cytometry from 28 patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors to analyze the role of monokines in the hematologic recovery phase for peripheral blood stem cell harvest. The patients were divided into three groups: the first group, A, had a documented infection; the second group, B, had fever of unknown origin; and the third group, C, was afebrile. We found an increase in intracellular IL-1alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha positive monocytes as CD14 positive gated cells cultured with lipopolysaccharide in all groups, but no increase was found with medium only when cultured for 4 h. We also found an increase in intracellular IL-1a, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha positive monocytes cultured with autologous serum for 4 h, but only in group A. The rate of intracellular cytokine positive cells was higher in monocytes cultured with only autologous serum from group A patients compared to those cells from the other groups; the data concerning IL-1a, IL-6 and TNF-alpha reached statistical significance (P < 0.05). However, increasing intracellular cytokine levels in the control group of patients exhibiting only infectious disease were observed. Thus, it appear that pro-inflammatory intracellular cytokine levels in monocytes are only related to microbial infections.

Argon laser irradiation to the semicircular canal.

In order to elucidate the effects of argon laser irradiation on the lateral semicircular canal of the guinea pig, the vestibular labyrinth was histologically studied after irradiation, using the conventional celloidin method. Irrigation of the external meatus with ice water was used to evaluate the function of the semicircular canal by recording caloric nystagmus. When irradiation was performed, a laser probe was approximated to the lateral canal, 0.5 to 1 mm away from the surface of the canal. Each time, power applied was 1.0 W on the dial of the laser machine. The duration of irradiation was 0.5 s. The lateral canal was irradiated one to 15 times. Twenty-five to 87 days after irradiation, the temporal bones were fixed in Heidenhein-Susa solution, removed, and subjected to celloidin processing. The irradiated bony wall of the lateral canal demonstrated charring. Lucent areas were observed around and under the charred area. The semicircular duct showed shrinkage with disappearance of the trabecular mesh. New bone formation was observed along the endosteum of the irradiated area. The lateral canal was completely occluded by ossification with or without fibrosis when sufficient energy was applied. The anterior and posterior canals were normal. Caloric tests using 5 mL of ice water for 5 s failed to elicit nystagmus on the irradiated side.

[Three children with systemic cat scratch disease].

Three girls with systemic cat scratch disease, aged 10, 13 and 9 years, were reported. They presented a prolonged fever and back pain in the early stage of the disease, and had no regional lymphadenopathy. Two of them had hepatosplenic granulomas, one with multiple 5 mm hypoechoic lesions in the liver and spleen, and the other with a single 2.5 cm hypodense lesion in the left hepatic lobe. The latter patient underwent a partial left hepatic lobectomy. All patients had elevated titers of antibodies to Bartonella henselae. Polymerase chain reaction detected B. henselae DNA in tissue specimens of the patient who underwent a hepatic lobectomy. Cat scratch disease should be recognized as a cause of fever of unknown origin because the prevalence of B henselae infection might be higher in Japan.

[Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation--practices of mobilization and harvest].

Recently, mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are increasingly used as an alternative to bone marrow for engrafting procedures. Chemotherapy followed by recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) or rhG-CSF alone are the most commonly used PBSC mobilization schedules. Current timing of apheresis has now been yet decided on time by flowcytometric analysis of CD34 positivity of peripheral blood whole white cell count. Because apheresis procedure has been established quite well, PBSC harvest procedure becomes fast, safe and stable.