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Physiological strain plays an important role in maintaining the normal function and metabolism of bone cells. It is well known that the mineral content of astronauts' bones decreases during spaceflight. Thus, gravity is one of the important factors in the muscloskeletal system. The vector-free horizontal clinostat has been used to simulate conditions of microgravity for examining such effects on cells in culture. We analyzed the effects of simulated microgravity using a horizontal clinostat on cultured osteoblast-like cells (HuO9 cell line). Total cellular protein, which was measured as an indication of cell proliferation, was not significantly inhibited under simulated microgravity conditions. No morphological changes were detected under microgravity conditions by phase-contrast microscopy. However, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin production of the HuO9 cells decreased significantly under microgravity conditions. Our data indicate that simulated microgravity directly inhibits some differentiation phenotypes and some functions of osteoblasts. On the other hand, the addition of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D₃ (1,25-(OH)₂-D₃) increased ALP activity under simulated microgravity conditions, although the total activity of ALP in the cells treated with 1,25-(OH)₂-D₃ was still lower under simulated microgravity conditions than that in the control cells. However, the cells under simulated microgravity conditions showed a greater enhancement of ALP activity by treatment with 1,25-(OH)₂-D₃.

Our aim was to study the effect of iron supplementation on the following aspects of erythrocyte metabolism in experimental hyperthyroidism: glutathione (GSH) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Hyperthyroidism induced by L-thyroxine administrations significantly raised erythrocyte GSH, GSH-Px and SOD levels of the rats (P < 0.001). Likewise, we observed that iron supplementation induced significant rises in erythrocyte GSH, GSH-Px and SOD levels (P < 0.001) as compared with the control group. The erythrocyte GSH, GSH-Px and SOD levels of hyperthyroidism-induced iron-supplemented animals were significantly higher when compared with either the iron-supplemented group (P < 0.001) or the only L-thyroxine-administered hyperthyroid group (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). The results of this study show that L-thyroxine administration and/or iron supplementation increases GSH, GSH-Px and SOD levels of erythrocytes.

We studied 92 patients with allergic rhinitis in Syodoshima, Japan, during the pollen season between April and June to evaluate the cross-reactivity to different antigens, including pollen from the olive tree (Olea europaea) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). Olive tree pollen was present in the atmosphere for 23 days, from May 19 to June 12, 1994. Specific IgE antibodies for olive tree pollen antigen were present in 21 (26.9%) of the 78 patients with allergic rhinitis. Nine (24.3%) of the 37 patients with allergic rhinitis exhibited positive skin reactivity to an extract of olive tree pollen. Fifteen (88.2 %) of the 17 patients who had IgE reactivity in their sera to olive tree pollen antigen demonstrated allergic reactions to an extract of olive tree pollen. Specific IgE antibodies for orchard grass pollen antigen were present in 43 (48.3%) of the 89 patients with allergic rhinitis and 20 (95.2%) of the 21 patients who had IgE reactivity in their sera to olive tree pollen antigen. The inhibition test using the CAP System revealed that the reactivity of the IgE antibody specific for olive tree pollen antigen was inhibited dose-dependently by an extract of orchard grass pollen. These findings show that there is a reaction in some patients with grass (Gramineae) pollinosis that might be induced by olive tree pollen.

We have established an Adriamycin (ADM) -resistant small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line, SBC-3/ADM100, which shows multifactorial mechanisms of resistance to ADM, such as overexpression of P-glycoprotein, an enhanced detoxifying system and a decrease in topoisomerase II activity. In the present study, we confirmed that SBC-3/ADM 100 showed collateral sensitivity to methotrexate and TNP-351, a new antifolate, though this cell line showed a typical multidrug resistance (MDR) pattern. We also demonstrated a faster uptake and higher accumulation (1.3-fold) of TNP-351 in the SBC-3/ADM100 cells than those in the parent SBC-3 cells. These results explain one of the mechanisms for collateral sensitivity in the resistant cells. Furthermore, this cell line was found to have no cross-resistance to edatrexate and minimal cross-resistance to trimetrexate, 254-S (cisplatin analog), 5-fluorouracil and 4-hydroperoxyifosfamide. These drugs will have clinical importance in patients with SCLC who were previously treated with an ADM-containing regimen. Thus, antifolates, especially TNP-351 and edatrexate, can be expected to eradicate residual multidrug resistant SCLC cells selected by ADM.

Sixty-seven trigger fingers of 58 idiopathic and hemodialysis patients were treated by percutaneous A1-pulley release technique. Severity of triggering was classified into five grades for treatment selection and prediction of possible results. Results were excellent in 41 fingers, good in 9, fair in 7, and poor in 10, requiring additional treatment. The results of the lower grades were better, and those of the higher grades were poor. Excellent or good results appeared to depend on the proper selection of the patients according to the grading system and confirmation of triggering disappearance just after the release. There were neither infections nor neuro-vascular deficits after treatment. Compared to conventional open release, this treatment was found to be more useful from the standpoints of ease and safety of the technique, and the patients' quick return to normal life.

We compared the transfection efficiency of four types of positively charged liposomes composed of (i) N-(α-trimethylammonioacetyl)-didodecyl-D-glutamate chloride (TMAG), dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC), and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) (1:2:2 molar ratio); (ii) 3β [N-(N′, N′-dimethylaminoethane)-carbamoyl] cholesterol (DC-Chol) and DOPE (3:2 molar ratio); (iii) dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB) and DOPE (1:2.2 molar ratio); (iv) N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy) propyl] -N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA) and DOPE (1:1, w/w; lipofectin). Luciferase gene was used as a reporter gene. Among the cationic liposomes used, the liposomes composed of TMAG, DOPE and DLPC showed a much higher efficiency of plasmid DNA entrapment than the other cationic liposomes tested. In the absence of serum, the cationic multilamellar vesicles (MLV) and small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) composed of TMAG, DOPE and DLPC gave highly efficient transfection. On the other hand, MLV, dehydration-rehydration vesicles (DRV), and SUV liposomes prepared with the mixtures of DC-Chol and DOPE showed similar levels of transfection efficiency. However, the cationic liposomes composed of DDAB and DOPE showed inferior efficiency, whether in the form of DRV, SUV or MLV. The transfection efficiency of lipofectin was also low. In the presence of serum, on the other hand, a considerable (about 30-50%) amount of transfection activity was still observed at 10% fetal calf serum in the cationic MLV and SUV composed of TMAG, DOPE and DLPC. Cationic MLV, composed of TMAG, DOPE and DLPC, can transfect plasmid DNA, not only in the adherent cell lines but also in the suspension cell lines. These findings indicate that the transfection efficiency of cationic liposomes is affected by the lipid composition, the type of liposome, or the presence or absence of serum. They also indicate that the cationic liposomes containing TMAG, DOPE and DLPC are efficient vectors for gene transfer into cells.

Accurate assessment of elbow function is important to determine the total ability of the arm. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between isometric muscle strength of the elbows of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Larsen's X-ray evaluation. Fifty-six elbows of 45 RA patients aged 47 to 77 years (mean age, 63 years) were tested. Muscle strength was measured with an isometric torque-cell dynamometer. Test-retest reliability of the dynamometer was proven by measuring 12 elbows of 6 healthy young men. In RA patients, elbow flexion and extension strength decreased in proportion to increases in the severity of Larsen's grades from Grade 1 to 4. However, Grade 5 elbows had greater muscle strength than those in Grade 4. Forearm pronation and supination strength also decreased in proportion to increases in the severity of Larsen's grades from Grade 1 to 5. This quantitative study made it clear that the muscle strength of RA patients' elbows almost completely correlates to X-ray finding according to the grade of Larsen's evaluation based on X-rays. With regard to muscle strength of postoperative elbows, both flexion strength and supination strength after total elbow replacement (TER) were about two times greater than before TER, and after synovectomy it was as great as those in non-operative RA patients of Grade 2.

A case of a male patient with Kniest dysplasia is reported. The patient's growth and the development and evolution of the patient's abnormalities were tracked for a 30 year period, starting at the patient's birth. The clinical and radiographic features during this period, along with the differential diagnosis of Kniest dysplasia, are discussed. Femoral capital epiphyses and the presence of a cataract in one eye were noted from the early stages of the patient's life. The patient's final height was 165 cm. We believe this to be the first long-term follow up of this condition.

The expression of osteonectin (ON) in osteoarthritic articular cartilage was investigated by enzyme immunohistochemistry and colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy. A total of 96 specimens from 9 knees of 8 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were examined. In OA cartilage, ON-positive cells varied in distribution and were not seen in all the specimens obtained from the same patient. However, in over half of the specimens (56 of 96), especially in the specimens of Mankin's grades from 4 to 9, which corresponds to relatively early stages of OA, ON was expressed in the cartilage above the calcified layer. On the other hand, ON was detected only in the calcified layer below the tidemark in normal articular cartilage. In addition, colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy revealed ON in chondrocytes and matrix vesicles (MVs). These findings suggest that ON acts through MVs in the early stages of OA as a significant pathogenetic factor involved in intracartilage calcification, which is known to have a close relationship to the progression of OA.

We used a yeast functional assay (functional analysis of separated alleles in yeast: FASAY) to determine the p53 gene status of human cell lines maintained in our laboratory. This assay enables the researcher to score wild-type p53 expression on the basis of the ability of expressed p53 to transactivate the reporter gene HIS 3 via the p53-responsive GAL 1 promoter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The cell lines examined were ten hepatoma, two hepatoblastoma, three in vitro immortalized fibroblast, two osteosarcoma, a chondrosarcoma, an ovarian teratocarcinoma and a colon cancer cell line. Out of 20 cell lines, 11 cell lines had mutations in both alleles of the p53 gene, and another 8 cell lines had no mutation in the p53 gene. Thus, 55% of the cell lines examined had mutations in the p53. Interestingly, PA-1 cells had both the normal and the mutant p53 alleles, showing that FASAY is a useful method for detecting the wild-type and mutated p53 genes simultaneously. As for the three liver cell lines harboring HBsAg, there was no relationship between their p53 gene status and the presence of HBsAg. Two cell lines were normal for p53 status, while the other had a mutation of the p53 gene.

Retinal cells from chick embryos aged 7.5 days of gestation were cultured for two months in a non-adherent suspension culture dish to study the effects of growth factors and co-culture with retinal pigment epithelial cells on their differentiation. Dissociated retinal cells became cellular aggregates (multicellular spheroids) within a day, and rosettes were formed in the spheroids after 2 days. Ultrastructurally, neurons of the rosettes developed connecting cilia, ellipsoids (accumulation of mitochondria), and external limiting membrane, indicative of their differentiation into photoreceptor cells. Epidermal growth factor enhanced the expression of rhodopsin by rosette-forming neurons, while basic fibroblast growth factor induced the growth of Mueller cells at 4 weeks, and their transdifferentiation into lens-epithelial-like cells at 8 weeks. Co-culture of retinal cells with retinal pigment epithelial cells enhanced the formation of rosettes in spheroids. Multicellular spheroids formed in a dish for suspension culture would provide a convenient in vitro system to examine differentiation and transdifferentiation of the retina.

UDP-galactosyltransferase (UDP-Gal-T) is a key enzyme in the synthesis of mucus glycoprotein which plays an important role in gastric mucosal defensive mechanisms. Analysis of gastric UDP-Gal-T activity should clarify the mechanisms of the action of antiulcer drugs regarding gastric defensive factors. Here, we examined UDP-Gal-T activity in rat gastric mucosa treated with the antiulcer drugs geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) and cetraxate hydrochloride (CET). The effects of coadministration of indomethacin and exogenous administration of prostaglandins (PGs) were also studied. GGA and CET significantly increased UDP-Gal-T activity, and coadministration of indomethacin inhibited the increase of enzyme activity. UDP-Gal-T activity level with GGA was significantly higher than the control level, even in the presence of indomethacin. With CET, however, this was not the case. Among PGs, PGE1 significantly increased enzyme activity. Concomitant administration of PGE1 and GGA or CET increased UDP-Gal-T activity even with indomethacin to the levels achieved when these antiulcer drugs were administered without indomethacin. Our findings suggest that GGA and CET exert antiulcer effects by increasing mucus glycoprotein synthesis and that endogenous PG synthesis may be involved in this process. However, mechanisms not mediated by endogenous PGs may also exist in the stimulatory action of GGA on UDP-Gal-T activity.

A study was conducted to examine the relationship of testicular atrophy to bone metabolism in male leprosy patients. The study consisted of 31 leprosy patients (mean age: 62.0 years) and 31 healthy control men (mean age: 60.0 years). Measurements were made of their serum levels of free testosterone (FT), estradiol (E₂), luteinizing hormone (LH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 OHD). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at radial sites and the lumbar vertebral bodies (L2-L4) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry using a Hologic QDR-2000 densitometer. FT and E₂ levels were significantly lower and LH levels higher in leprosy patients than in controls. This represents a primary hypogonadal pattern. A value of 7.20pg/ml of FT (= Mean -1 SD of control) was used as a cut off value, and the subjects were subdivided into a hypogonadal group (HG) and a non hypogonadal group (non-HG). When the subjects were compared for differences in age, age at onset of disease, duration of disease, body mass index and BMD, only the duration of disease and BMD were significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, BMD of the forearm significantly correlated with FT levels (r = 0.689, P < 0.0001). Low BMD may be due to orchitis and testicular atrophy.

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging of hepatic hemangiomas (10 patients, 16 lesions) and hepatic cysts (8 patients, 10 lesions) was performed. All hemangiomas were hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. With Gd-DTPA (0.1 mmol/kg), all hemangiomas were enhanced but not all cysts. It was necessary to perform contrast enhanced imaging to differentiate hepatic hemangiomas from hepatic cysts. However, on FLAIR imaging, hepatic hemangiomas were strongly hyperintense and 9 of the 10 hepatic cysts were isointense. One of the hepatic cysts was slightly hyperintense. FLAIR images were useful in differential diagnosis of hepatic hemangiomas and hepatic cysts without using Gd-DTPA.

In this study, we reviewed the clinical features of 11 patients with malignant schwannoma who were treated in our institute. Five patients had coexistent von Recklinghausen's disease and one of them showed multifocal occurrence. Patients with the centrally located tumors had a poorer prognosis than those with the others. The overall 3-year survival rate was 36%; 40% in patients with von Recklinghausen's disease and 33% in the others. At the time of the last follow-up, 9 patients had died of the tumor, one continued to be tumor free, and one was alive with tumor. Postoperative local recurrence developed in 5 patients (45%); 4 out of 6 patients (67%) who underwent a marginal excision and one out of 3 (33%) who underwent primary amputation. There was no local recurrence in patients after a wide excision with at least 3cm of normal tissue removed surrounding the tumor in all directions. Nine patients (82%) developed pulmonary metastasis. The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy was not clear in this study. The high risk of pulmonary metastasis in this disease indicates the necessity of more effective adjuvant chemotherapy.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is diagnosed by clinical symptoms, Tinel's sign, Phalen's test and electromyography. Carpal tunnel pressure measurement can also aid in the precise identification of excessive pressure sites that indicate locations for release. In this study, pressure measurements made during endoscopic carpal tunnel release at 5 points were significantly higher anywhere in the carpal tunnel than outside the tunnel and decreased markedly after release. We concluded that our measurement technique can improve the reliability of endoscopic carpal tunnel release by decreasing the likelihood of missing any nerve entrapment sites.

A novel endonuclease of 55-kDa was found in rat liver mitochondria by a zymographic assay, in addition to the 29 kDa enzyme that is well-known as endonuclease G (Endo G). Subcellular localization of these enzymes in rat liver cells was examined by biochemical fractionation. Endo G was located in both nuclei and mitochondria as has been previously reported, while the 55-kDa enzyme was only detected in the mitochondrial fraction. The levels of the endonucleases in the mitochondria varied greatly among the rat organs, and the activity in the heart was about 30 times higher than that in the liver. The 55-kDa enzyme and Endo G were extracted from bovine heart mitochondria with 0.4 M NaCl. During purification the 55-kDa enzyme and Endo G were copurified because of their similar chromatographic behavior, so they were separated by gel filtration or electrophoresis in the presence of SDS and the proteins were then renatured. The nucleolytic properties of the 55-kDa enzyme resembled those of Endo G and other known mitochondrial nucleases. The enzyme degraded single-stranded DNA more rapidly than duplex DNA at a weak alkaline pH, requiring Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ but not Ca²⁺ or Zn²⁺. Nicks generated by the enzyme had 5′-P and 3′-OH ends. The 55-kDa enzyme, like Endo G, displayed an unusually strong preference to nick within a (dG)_n · (dC)_n tract.

The serum levels of the carbohydrate antigen sialyl Lewis X (SLEX) increase in liver diseases (Sunayama T, Okada Y, Tsuji T., J Hepatol 1994; 19: 451-458). However, it is not known whether the increased serum SLEX levels are associated with the increased levels of its carrier molecules and/or the increased density of SLEX per carrier molecule. By using of rabbit antibody against an SLEX-positive fraction from HepG2 culture supernatant, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the serum levels of the carrier molecules of SLEX (CM_SLEX). The CM_SLEX-levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly higher than those of normal controls (P < 0.001) and benign chronic liver diseases, i.e., chronic active hepatitis, mild and severe form, and liver cirrhosis (P < 0.05). Patients with chronic persistent hepatitis and chronic active hepatitis, mild form, had higher CM_SLEX-levels than normal controls (P < 0.05). The serum CM_SLEX-levels did not differ significantly among benign liver diseases. We concluded that serum CM_SLEX-levels increase nonspecifically in liver diseases. This is a possible molecular mechanism for the increased serum SLEX levels in liver diseases.

A number of approaches have been put forward to monitor spinal cord ischemia during thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic occlusion. However, none of these can ultimately prevent devastating complications which result from ischemic spinal cord injury. A direct measurement of the oxygen content of the spinal cord may accurately indicate the perfusion state, but in practice it is impractical. We surmised that intrathecal and/ or epidural oxygen concentration(I-pO₂ and E-pO₂, respectively) accurately reflect oxygen content in the spinal cord. So, we examined whether or not I-pO₂ and/or E-pO₂ correlated with the spinal cord pO₂ (S-pO₂) in dogs. In nine mongrel dogs, a model of graded spinal cord ischemia was developed by stepwise alternation of the level of aortic occlusion with an intraaortic balloon catheter. I-pO₂, E-pO₂ and S-pO₂ were measured with a mass spectrometer. Our results show that, both I-pO₂ and E-pO₂ significantly correlated with S-pO₂. I-pO₂ correlated with S-pO₂ better than E-pO₂ did. Therefore, I-pO₂ can be used as a new indicator for spinal cord ischemia, and I-pO₂ monitoring would be useful to prevent paraplegia associated with thoracic aortic surgery.

Using a transcranial Doppler blood flowmeter, the blood flow velocity (BFV) ratio of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) to the basilar artery (BA) was investigated in 12 patients with severe motor and intellectual disability syndrome. The BFV of the MCA was also investigated in 58 handicapped children, classified according to the severity of their motor and intellectual disability. The ratio of the MCA to the BA was lower by 2 SD from the mean of our previously reported standard value in 8 out of the 12 cases with severe motor and intellectual disability syndrome, suggesting a more profound decrease in the level of brain activity in the MCA area than that of the BA area. The BFV of the MCA mainly decreased in cases belonging to the category of the most severe motor disability (bed-ridden). Hence, it is suggested that motor disability is the main factor related to the decrease in the BFV of the MCA.