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Copyright of African Journal of Clinical & Experimental Microbiology is the property of African Journals Online (AJOL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: The impact of glycaemic control on fracture risk is controversial, which may be due to the possible presence of hypoglycaemia. The aim of this study was to separately investigate the impacts of severe hypoglycaemia and poor glycaemic control on fracture risk in people with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Overall, 4706 Japanese participants (2755 men and 1951 postmenopausal women) with type 2 diabetes (mean age 66 years) were followed prospectively (a median of 5.3 years; follow‐up rate, 97.6%), and were stratified by severe hypoglycaemia status and glycaemic control. The primary outcome was fractures at any anatomic site. Results: Fractures occurred in 662 participants (249 men and 413 women). The age‐ and sex‐adjusted incidence rates (expressed per 1000 person‐years) were: 71.2 (multiple episodes of severe hypoglycaemia), 43.1 (one episode), 25.2 [HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol (< 7%) without severe hypoglycaemia], 28.7 [HbA1c 53 to < 64 mmol/mol (7% to < 8%) without severe hypoglycaemia], 27.7 [HbA1c 64 to < 75 mmol/mol (8% to < 9%) without severe hypoglycaemia] and 40.5 [HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥ 9%) without severe hypoglycaemia]. Multivariate‐adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for fractures were 2.24 (1.56, 3.21) in those with multiple episodes of severe hypoglycaemia, and 1.42 (1.04, 1.95) in those with HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥ 9%) without severe hypoglycaemia, compared with those with HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol (< 7%) without severe hypoglycaemia. Conclusions: Both severe hypoglycaemia and poor glycaemic control were significantly related to an increased risk of fracture in people with type 2 diabetes, although severe hypoglycaemia conferred a stronger risk. What's new?: Bone fractures are common among older persons with type 2 diabetes. The impact of glycaemic control on fracture risk is controversial, and may be confounded by the possible presence of hypoglycaemia.Severe hypoglycaemia and poor glycaemic control [HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥ 9%)] were separately related to an increased risk of fracture in people with type 2 diabetes. Recurrent severe hypoglycaemia was strongly associated with fracture risk.This study highlights the importance of glycaemic control to prevent fractures, not only via an HbA1c < 75 mmol/mol (< 9%) but also by avoidance of severe hypoglycaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inducible activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB is one of the principal mechanisms through which resistant prostate cancer cells are protected from radiotherapy. We hypothesised that inactivation of inducible NF-κB with a novel NF-κB inhibitor, DHMEQ, would increase the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy.Methods: PC-3 and LNCaP cells were exposed to irradiation and/or DHMEQ. Cell viability, cell cycle analysis, western blotting assay, and NF-κB activity were measured. The antitumour effect of irradiation combined with DHMEQ in vivo was also assessed.Results: The combination of DHMEQ with irradiation resulted in cell growth inhibition and G2/M arrest relative to treatment with irradiation alone. Inducible NF-κB activity by irradiation was inhibited by DHMEQ treatment. The expression of p53 and p21 in LNCaP, and of 14-3-3σ in PC-3 cells, was increased in the combination treatment. In the in vivo study, 64 days after the start of treatment, tumour size was 85.1%, 77.1%, and 64.7% smaller in the combination treatment group than that of the untreated control, DHMEQ-treated alone, and irradiation alone groups, respectively.Conclusion: Blockade of NF-κB activity induced by radiation with DHMEQ could overcome radio-resistant responses and may become a new therapeutic modality for treating prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first direct measurement of temporally and spatially resolved plasma temperatures at a shock as well as its spatial structure and propagation in laser-produced counter-streaming plasmas. Two shocks are formed in counter-streaming collisionless plasmas early in time, and they propagate opposite directions. This indicates the existence of counter-streaming collisionless flows to keep exciting the shocks, even though the collisional effects increase later in time. The shock images are observed with optical diagnostics, and the upstream and downstream plasma parameters of one of the shocks are measured using Thomson scattering technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Medical nutrition therapy plays a critical role in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, appropriate measures of eating behaviours, such as eating rate, have not yet been clearly established. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations among eating rate, obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: A total of 7,275 Japanese individuals aged ≥40 years who had normal fasting glucose levels, impaired fasting glucose or diabetes were divided into four groups according to self-reported eating rate: slow, medium, relatively fast and very fast. The associations between eating rate and various cardiovascular risk factors were investigated cross-sectionally. Results: The proportions of participants who were obese or who had elevated waist circumference levels increased progressively with increases in eating rate ( p for trend <0.001), regardless of glucose tolerance status. These associations remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders, namely, age, sex, total energy intake, dietary fibre intake, current smoking, current drinking and regular exercise ( p for trend <0.001). Blood pressure and lipid levels also tended to increase in association with eating rate. HbA rose significantly as eating rate increased, even after multivariate adjustment, including BMI, in diabetic patients on insulin therapy ( p = 0.02), whereas fasting plasma glucose did not increase significantly. Conclusions/interpretation: Our findings suggest that eating rate is associated with obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors and therefore may be a modifiable risk factor in the management of cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Inducible activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB is one of the principal mechanisms through which resistant prostate cancer cells are protected from radiotherapy. We hypothesised that inactivation of inducible NF-κB with a novel NF-κB inhibitor, DHMEQ, would increase the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy.Methods:PC-3 and LNCaP cells were exposed to irradiation and/or DHMEQ. Cell viability, cell cycle analysis, western blotting assay, and NF-κB activity were measured. The antitumour effect of irradiation combined with DHMEQ in vivo was also assessed.Results:The combination of DHMEQ with irradiation resulted in cell growth inhibition and G2/M arrest relative to treatment with irradiation alone. Inducible NF-κB activity by irradiation was inhibited by DHMEQ treatment. The expression of p53 and p21 in LNCaP, and of 14-3-3σ in PC-3 cells, was increased in the combination treatment. In the in vivo study, 64 days after the start of treatment, tumour size was 85.1%, 77.1%, and 64.7% smaller in the combination treatment group than that of the untreated control, DHMEQ-treated alone, and irradiation alone groups, respectively.Conclusion:Blockade of NF-κB activity induced by radiation with DHMEQ could overcome radio-resistant responses and may become a new therapeutic modality for treating prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:The potential role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the promotion of tumour growth has been investigated, and the administration of RAS inhibitors, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), may improve disease control in malignancy. We investigated the prognostic impact of RAS inhibitors by analysing data from patients with upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).Methods:A total of 279 patients who underwent nephroureterectomy for localised UTUC (pTa-3N0M0) were identified at our three institutions. We retrospectively investigated the prognostic outcomes following nephroureterectomy in patients administered or not administered ACEIs or ARBs.Results:The median follow-up period was 3.4 years. RAS inhibitors were administered to 48 patients (17.2%). Multivariate analysis showed that the appearance of pathological T3, positive lymphovascular invasion, and no RAS inhibitor administration (P=0.027 HR=3.14) were independent risk factors for a decrease in subsequent metastasis-free survival. The 5-year metastasis-free survival rate was 93.0% in patients who administered RAS inhibitors, and 72.8% in their counterparts who did not (P=0.008).Conclusion:The absence of RAS inhibitor administration was an independent risk factor for subsequent tumour metastasis in patients with localised UTUC. We propose RAS inhibitors may be a potent choice as an effective treatment following nephroureterectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To determine levels of soluble fractalkine (sFkn) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with and without rheumatoid vasculitis (RV), and to assess the relationship of sFkn levels to disease activity. METHODS: Serum was obtained from 98 RA patients (54 without vasculitis, 36 with extraarticular manifestations but without histologically proven vasculitis, and 8 with histologically proven vasculitis) and from 38 healthy individuals. Levels of sFkn were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of Fkn and CX(3)CR1 was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Vasculitis disease activity was assessed using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score and the Vasculitis Activity Index. RESULTS: Serum sFkn levels were significantly higher in patients with RA than in controls and were significantly higher in RA patients with RV than in those without vasculitic complications. Statistically significant correlations were observed between serum sFkn levels in RA patients and levels of C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, immune complex, and complement. In the RV group, sFkn levels also correlated with disease activity. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that Fkn levels were associated mainly with endothelial cells in vasculitic arteries. In addition, expression of CX(3)CR1 messenger RNA was significantly greater in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with active RV than in those from other RA patients or controls. Notably, serum sFkn levels were significantly diminished following successful treatment and clinical improvement. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Fkn and CX(3)CR1 play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of RV and that sFkn may serve as a serologic inflammatory marker of disease activity in RA patients with vasculitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To determine levels of the soluble form of the chemokine fractalkine (sFkn) and its receptor, CX(3)CR1, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with neuropsychiatric involvement (NPSLE) and in SLE patients without neuropsychiatric involvement, and to assess their relationship with disease activity and organ damage. METHODS: Levels of sFkn in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of Fkn and CX(3)CR1 was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Surface expression of CX(3)CR1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined by flow cytometry. Disease activity and organ damage were assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) Damage Index, respectively. RESULTS: Serum sFkn levels were significantly higher in patients with SLE than in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or healthy controls. In addition, significant correlations between serum sFkn levels and the SLEDAI, the SLICC/ACR Damage Index, anti-double-stranded DNA and anti-Sm antibody titers, immune complex levels (C1q), and serum complement levels (CH50) were observed. Expression of CX(3)CR1 was significantly greater in PBMCs from patients with active SLE than in those from RA patients or healthy controls. Levels of sFkn were also significantly higher in CSF from untreated patients with newly diagnosed NPSLE than in SLE patients without neuropsychiatric involvement; treatment reduced both serum and CSF levels of sFkn in patients with SLE. CONCLUSION: Soluble Fkn and CX(3)CR1 may play key roles in the pathogenesis of SLE, including the neuropsychiatric involvement. Soluble Fkn is also a serologic marker of disease activity and organ damage in patients with SLE, and its measurement in CSF may be useful for the diagnosis of NPSLE and followup of patients with NPSLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemoradiotherapy is a multimodal therapy routinely used as a primary treatment for advanced esophageal cancer. However, it is beneficial only to patients who respond. To identify pretreatment markers predicting response and survival, we examined the expression of cell cycle regulatory molecules, p53, P21Waf1/Cip1 cyclin D1, and CDC25B, in biopsy specimens from 76 patients with stage III and stage IV squamous cell carcinoma. Overexpression of p53, p21, cyclin D1 and CDC25B was observed in 58%, 30%, 28%, and 32% of patients, respectively. The expression of p21 correlated significantly with response to chemoradiotherapy (P = 0.0001). Survival of patients with p21-expressing tumors was better than that of patients with p21-negative tumors (P = 0.013). Expression of other genes was not significantly correlated with treatment response and survival. In patients with p53-negative tumors, survival of those patients with p21-positive tumors was significantly higher than that of those with p21-negative tumors (P = 0.0452), but no significant difference was found in patients with p53-positive tumors. Multivariate analysis revealed that p21 expression was an independent variable among pretreatment parameters in predicting survival. These results suggest that p21 expression is potentially useful for predicting the response to chemoradiotherapy and survival of patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Study Aims: A standard treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with submucosal invasion is considered to be radical resection at present. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of multimodality treatments with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of esophageal SCC with submucosal invasion.Method: Eighteen cases of SCC with submucosal invasion were treated with EMR. Lymphatic invasion was found in 11 cases (67%), and there were no cases of blood vessel invasion. EMR was performed prior to any other treatment. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were added if indicated by the histopathological features.Results: There were no cases of local recurrence. Lymph-node recurrence was detected in 1 case treated with EMR alone. There were no cases of cancer death. The overall survival rate was 83% in all patients.Conclusions: Multimodality treatments with EMR were effective in treating esophageal SCC with submucosal invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction is recognized as a distinct clinical entity; however, the choice of surgical approaches is controversial. To analyze the results of surgery among patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (type I) and the cardia (type II) based on Siewert's classification in Japan, surgical procedures, histopathologic characteristics, and outcome were re-evaluated according to the TNM classification in 1263 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (type I) and the cardia (type II) through a questionnaire sent to the members of the Japanese Society of Esophageal Diseases. One hundred and thirty-four (10.6%) patients had type I tumors and 1129 (89.4%) patients had type II tumors. There were significant differences in sex distribution and associated intestinal metaplasia in the esophagus between patients with type I and type II tumors. Although different surgical approaches were performed, the overall 5-year survival rate was 53% without any difference between the two groups. The significant prognostic factors in general linear models were R category, pN category, and differentiation, but not pT category. There was no difference in survival between patients with stage IIB and III disease. The survival rate of the patients who underwent a transhiatal approach was similar to that of those undergoing a transthoracic approach. The results suggest that Siewert's classification (type I and type II) is useful in planning treatment strategy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. Lymph node metastasis was the most important prognostic factor, and staging based on the number of lymph node metastases or the extent of lymph node metastasis is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various factors were assessed in terms of their contribution to arthralgia in a rheumatoid arthritis patient. Eighty-two outpatients (62 women and 20 men) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined with respect to the subjective degree of arthralgia, age, disease duration, dysfunction, steroid dose, steroid period, depression, anxiety, extroversion, neurotic disorder, and number of caretakers. The results were explained on the basis of stepwise regression analysis and psychological and clinical data. We analyzed results of a correlation coefficient test on the mutual relationship between variables. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to assess factors of arthralgia in terms of "depression," "mean activity," "morning stiffness," and "steroid dose." Depression is a factor of arthralgia as shown in this study, but it is clear that other factors are also involved. Anxiety was a factor distinct from the activity of RA. The factor contributing most to arthralgia was found to be depression, whereas anxiety had no effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the activation of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D[sub 3] in liver microsomes. Presence of 25-hydroxylation activities in microsomal and mitochondrial fractions; Enzymes involved in microsomal 25-hydroxylation; Significance on the effect of 1α-OH-D[sub 3] on drug metabolism.

Domestic fowl or chicken (Gallus gallus) and Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) belong to the family Phasianidae. The exchange of marker information between chicken and quail is an important step towards the construction of a high-resolution comparative genetic map in Phasianidae, which includes several poultry species of agricultural importance. We tested chicken microsatellite markers to see if they would be suitable as genetic linkage markers in Japanese quail. Twenty-six per cent (31/120) of chicken primers amplified individual loci in Japanese quail and 65% (20/31) of the amplified loci were found to be polymorphic. Eleven of the polymorphic loci were excluded as uninformative because of the lack of amplification in some individuals or high frequency of nonspecific amplification. The sequence information of the remaining nine loci revealed six of them to contain microsatellites that were nearly identical with those of the orthologous regions in chicken. For these six loci, allele frequencies were estimated in 50 unrelated quails. Although the very few chicken markers that do work well in quail could be used as anchor points for a comparative mapping, most chicken markers are not useful for studies in quail. Therefore, more effort should be committed to developing quail-specific markers rather than attempting to adapt chicken markers for work in quail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the leucocytes infiltrating rheumatoid synovial fluid (SF) are neutrophils capable of producing a variety of inflammatory mediators known to contribute significantly to the disease process during active RA. In the present study, we investigated the contribution made by SF neutrophils to the elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) seen in rheumatoid SF. Rheumatoid SF neutrophils were found to contain significantly larger amounts of both VEGF protein and its mRNA than peripheral blood neutrophils from either RA patients or healthy controls. Levels of cell-associated VEGF were well correlated with free VEGF in SF, which was significantly higher than in SF from osteoarthritis patients. Levels of SF neutrophil-associated VEGF also correlated with RA disease activity and cell surface integrin expression. Thus, SF neutrophil-associated VEGF may be considered an indicator of both local and systemic inflammation of RA, contributing to the neovascularization seen during RA synovitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Chemotherapy is an important component of the multimodal approach to the treatment of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods. We investigated the associations between p53, p21 (Waf1), bcl-2, and bax expression and response to chemotherapy (cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil + leucovorin) in 43 patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The expression of p53, p21 (Waf1), bcl-2, and bax proteins was analyzed immunohistologically in pretreatment biopsy and post-treatment resected specimens. Results. The 23 patients who had objective evidence of either a complete response (CR) or a partial response (PR) to chemotherapy survived for significantly longer than the 20 patients who had no response (NR). The expression of p53, p21 (Waf1), bcl-2, and bax was detected in 26 (61%), 12 (28%), 6 (14%), and 19 (44%) of the pretreatment biopsy specimens, respectively. The response to chemotherapy was not independently associated with the expression of any of these proteins. However, in the 26 patients with p53-expressing tumors, the response rate was 80% in patients whose tumor also expressed p21, whereas it was 19% in those whose tumor did not coexpress p21. No change in p53 expression was observed before and after chemotherapy, except in 1 patient; however, p21 expression appeared to be induced by chemotherapy in 5 patients. Patient survival was also not independently associated with the expression of any of these proteins. However, patients with p53-negative or p21-positive tumors had a better response to chemotherapy and survived for longer than those with p53-positive and p21-negative tumors. Conclusion. p53 and p21 expression in biopsy specimens obtained before chemotherapy could be useful predictors of response and survival in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the contribution made by synovial fluid (SF) neutrophils to the augmented expression of macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1alpha) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: Neutrophils were isolated from samples of SF from RA patients and peripheral blood (PB) samples from RA patients and healthy controls. Cell associated MIP-1alpha was visualised immunohistochemically, and cell associated MIP-1alpha as well as MIP-1alpha secreted into the SF was assayed by ELISA. Steady state expression of MIP-1alpha mRNA was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results: Freshly isolated SF neutrophils contained significantly higher concentrations of both MIP-1alpha protein and its transcript than PB neutrophils from either RA patients or healthy controls; incubation in the absence or presence of tumour necrosis factor alpha for 24 hours resulted in a significant increase in MIP-1alpha secretion by RA SF neutrophils compared with neutrophils obtained from either normal PB or RA PB; and expression of MIP-1alpha by SF neutrophils was well correlated with both RA disease activity and SF mononuclear cell (MNC) counts.Conclusion: Expression and secretion of MIP-1alpha by SF neutrophils may be indicative of local and systemic inflammation in RA. Moreover, this C-C chemokine may contribute to the recruitment of MNCs from the bloodstream into synovial joints and tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vibration problems relating to living bodies have so far been studied from the perspectives of engineering physiology and psychology. This study shows the relationship between vibratory sensibility and temperature in the living body. Psychological experiments were carried out by using the vibrometer of an acoustic calibration apparatus in sine, triangular and square waves. The sensibility-threshold measurements were made using 30-700 Hz sine waves, 30-300 Hz triangular and sawtooth waves, or 30-250 Hz square waves. Each of ten subjects was kept seated. The average value of the vibratory levels, varied by ascending and descending steps, was taken as that of the threshold. As the vibrometer in the apparatus used makes a noise at frequencies greater than 250 Hz it was masked from the subject by presenting him with a different noise. The threshold curve for square waves is lower by 12·3 dB than that for sine waves at about 30Hz. The threshold curve of the 26°C sine wave was lower by 10 dB than that of the 58°C sine wave vibration near 200 Hz. For example with a sine wave, at 58°C the amplitude threshold was lowest at about 270 Hz, but at −11°C at about 200 Hz. At frequency stimulation higher than 120 Hz, as the temperature of the contact point was lowered, the amplitude threshold increased and the frequency at which the threshold curve was at a minimum shifted to a lower frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies related to human sensation have been made from the viewpoints of engineering, medical science and psychology. The problem of the quantification of sensation is of great importance and cannot be ignored, although only a few papers on this subject have appeared. This paper discusses the relationship between the recognition of shapes and the electromyogram (e.m.g.) generated in the human on the surface of the muscle involved. To observe the e.m.g., the subject was placed inside a shielded room with Ag−AgCl electrodes located at two points on the skin. The two electrodes were spaced 50 mm apart, but variations of the separation in the range 5-7 mm had no effects on the e.m.g. Three spectral peaks (100, 160, 250 Hz) for the response were obtained for each shape (sphere, tetrahedron, cube). The frequencies corresponding with the peak spectral values in the response are the same, and are independent of the forms. Shapes can therefore be characterised by the spectral forms of the forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study in mongrel dogs was designed to observe the effects of ethanol on both endothelial cells of the basilar artery and brain function. By use of sterile surgical technique, a super-selective catheter was placed in the proximal portion of the basilar artery in the dogs. Five dogs received 3 ml of 25% ethanol and 5 dogs received 3 ml of 50% of ethanol through the catheter over 2 minutes. The remaining 5 dogs received 3 ml of saline as a control. Auditory brain stem response (ABR) was monitored for 2 hours after ethanol infusion, and then perfusion-fixation was performed from the heart with 4% paraformaldehyde. The basilar artery was observed with scanning electron microscopy after routine procedures. The endothelial cells were intact in the control group. The 50% group showed a higher level of injury to the endothelium as well as a higher degree of platelet adhesion and fibrin clot formation compared with the 25% group. The extensive endothelial-cell damage subsequently caused thrombus formation. The ABR disappeared immediately after ethanol infusion in both ethanol groups, and recovered gradually in the 25% group, but did not re-appear during the time course of 2 hours in the 50% group. The ethanol less than 25% in concentration near the endothelium is considered to be safe as a transcatheter embolic agent with the attention to the central toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lipoperoxide values and glutathione peroxidase activity in blood plasma, along with the glutathione peroxidase, catalase and cupro-zinc superoxide dismutase activities in erythrocytes were investigated in 60 women with Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and in 71 healthy women. The mean lipoperoxide value and the mean plasma glutathione peroxidase activity in the diabetic patients were significantly higher than those in the control subjects (lipoperoxide p<0.001, plasma glutathione peroxidase activity p<0.01). The plasma glutathione peroxidase activities did not, however, correlate with the plasma lipoperoxide values. The erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was approximately ten times higher than that of the plasma glutathione peroxidase activity, nor did they correlate with each other. In contrast to the findings of other authors on the activities of the protective enzymes in erythrocytes against oxidative damage, there were no significant differences of erythrocytes glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities between diabetic and control women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 8-oxo-7,8-dihydropurines (8-oxopurines) are important cellular premutagenic lesions produced in DNA by free radicals. Specific antibodies were prepared to detect these lesions. For antigens, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroadenosine (8-oxoAdo) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGuo) were synthesized from the bromonucleosides, and the immunogens were produced by conjugating these to either bovine serum albumin or rabbit serum albumin by the periodate method. Polyclonal antibodies specific for the haptens were elicited from rabbits immunized with the BSA conjugates. The antibodies to 8-oxoAdo (anti-8-oxoAdo) and 8-oxoGuo (anti-8-oxoGuo) precipitated the homologous antigens in an Ouchterlony gel diffusion assay and no cross-reactivity was observed toward the normal nucleosides or to the heterologous 8-oxopurine. Specificity was also examined by hapten inhibition of antibody reactivity with the homologous conjugates using ELISA. For anti-8-oxoAdo, the IC50 for 8-oxoAdo was 8 µmol/L and 8-bromoadenosine, guanosine, and inosine did not inhibit, even at concentrations of 1.25 mmol/L. Similarly, the IC50 for anti-8-oxoGuo for 8-oxoGuo was 0.1 µmol/L. 8-Methoxyguanosine also inhibited the reaction but was about 500-fold less effective than the eliciting hapten. Other nucleosides tested did not inhibit at concentrations up to 100 µmol/L. Both antibodies could easily detect the corresponding damage in x-irradiated fl DNA at a dose of 7.5 Gy and both antibodies recognized the corresponding lesion in duplex DNA; however, with anti-8-oxoGuo the signal was reduced about 50% compared to single-stranded DNA. In order to determine the exact amount of each lesion produced in irradiated DNA, and to standardize the ELISA signal, both products were measured after alkaline phosphatase digestion of x-irradiated calf thymus DNA using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to an electrochemical detector. Anti-8-oxoGuo could detect ten 8-oxoG residues and anti-8-oxoAdo could detect two 8-oxoA residues per 10 000 nucleotides. Thus, these antibodies should be useful for the detection and measurement of 8-oxopurines in cellular DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic ultrasonography was carried out on 55 patients whose X-ray films or endoscopic examinations indicated the presence of a submucosal tumor. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed 8 cases of extraluminal compression and 48 cases of submucosal tumors. Histological studies were performed on 29 cases with submucosal tumors. In 28 of the 29 cases (97%) the location of the tumor in the esophageal wall was correctly estimated ultrasonographically, and appropriate treatment was selected. Tumors ranging from 3 to 50 mm in diameter could be measured accurately. This method may be helpful in follow-up studies. Endoscopic ultrasonographic findings, such as characteristics of the tumor border and internal echoes, were studied to predict the histological diagnosis of the tumor. Leiomyoma, cyst, granular cell tumor, lipoma, and intraluminal metastasis of esophageal cancer were all found to have specific ultrasonographic findings indicating the histological nature of the tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In selection for esophageal cancer treatment, it is necessary to evaluate the tumor stage. We have used endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for diagnosis of the depth of cancer invasion and the presence of lymph node metastasis since 1983. The EUS image of the normal esophageal wall showed 5 layers. In all, 222 cases of esophageal cancer were examined with EUS, and a radical operation was performed on 139. In 78 of those cases, the scope was passed beyond the cancer site, and total observation was achieved (56%). The extent of cancer invasion was correctly determined in these 78 cases (84%). Thoracic lymph nodes that could be detected by EUS were located in the posterior mediastinum and measured more than 3 mm in diameter. Diagnostic criteria for lymph node metastasis were designated as follows: (1) spherical shape, (2) a distinct border, and (3) heterogenous echo spots within the nodes. The above criteria yielded a sensitivity of 87%, a specificity of 90%, and an overall accuracy of 89% according to the histological examination of the removed lymph nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and Design: To determine whether interleukin-13 (IL-13) possesses anti-inflammatory properties with respect to polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Effects of IL-13 on production of the chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α), by PMNs were analyzed.¶ Subjects: Human peripheral blood PMNs obtained from healthy volunteers.¶ Methods: PMNs were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or IL-13 for selected periods of time, and MIP-1α expression was assessed by ELISA and Northern blot analysis.¶ Results: IL-13 suppressed expression and production of PMN-derived MIP-1α mRNA and protein in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Inhibition of protein synthesis caused significant enhancement of MIP-1α mRNA expression. The inhibitory activity of IL-13 was abrogated, however, in the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting that IL-13's effect was via synthesis of de novo repressor protein(s).¶ Conclusions: PMN-derived chemokines are regulated by both proinflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokines. The coordinated production of these substances is likely to be important in the orchestration of inflammatory and immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When dissociated neuroretinal cells of the 9-day-old chick embryo were cultured, the cells formed monolayer sheets of somewhat flattened epithelial cells within 15 days after inoculation. During 15 to 30 days, numerous foci of non-pigmented epithelial cells were formed. During 30 to 50 days, melanin appeared in the cells of these foci. When amphotericin B (1 μg/ml) was added to the culture medium on day 25 of culture, brown pigments appeared precociously, i.e. within the first two days, in the cells. The brown pigments were identified as melanins by histochemical and electron-microscopic methods. Induction of melanogenesis required continuous treatment with amphotericin B. With the precocious appearance of melanins, tyrosinase activity increased rapidly. This rapid increase in tyrosinase activity was inhibited by the addition of phenylthiourea or diethyl-dithiocarbamate. It was not enhanced by iodoacetamide, but was blocked by a low concentration of cycloheximide or actinomycin D. These findings indicate that amphotericin B induces de novo synthesis of tyrosinase rather than activation of pre-existing tyrosinase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medical & Biological Engineering (0025696X) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)