Search

Cellular stressors initiate the heat shock response mediated by heat shock proteins (HSPs). There are two main types of HSPs, constitutive (always expressed) and inducible (upon stress), but as many in vivo studies fail to distinguish between them and because temporal expression patterns often differ among various types of HSPs, it is unclear when to measure HSPs. In this study, 26 (13 per treatment) adult female Zebra Finches Taeniopygia guttata were heat‐stressed (39 °C) or placed in a control brooder (room temperature) for 3 h and were bled 1 week prior to and at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 20 h post‐treatment. Treatment had no effect on levels of either constitutive HSP70 or inducible HSP90, but both HSPs decreased with time relative to baseline, suggesting a possible effect of handling stress and/or circadian variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: An analysis of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in major orthopedic surgery patients receiving edoxaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) was carried out. Methods: The APTT waveform was analyzed in the above patients to monitor edoxaban administration. Results: Of these 99 patients, 12 exhibited deep vein thrombosis, and 25 had massive bleeding. An increased biphasic pattern of the APTT waveform was observed after the administration of edoxaban, but there were no significant differences between the patients with and without complications. The peak times of acceleration, velocity, and 1/2 fibrin formation were significantly prolonged after the administration of edoxaban, especially in patients with massive bleeding, and were moderately correlated with the anti‐Xa activity. While the heights of velocity and acceleration peak 2 were lower in patients receiving warfarin treatment than in those receiving edoxaban, the widths of these parameters were significantly longer. The height of 1/2 fibrin formation and the width of acceleration peaks 1 and 2 and the velocity were significantly increased after the administration of edoxaban. Conclusion: The peak time of the APTT waveform was significantly prolonged after the administration of edoxaban. The analysis of the APTT waveform may therefore be useful for the prediction of the risk of massive bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change increases the occurrence of chalky rice (Oryza sativa L.) through frequent extreme weather conditions, such as high temperature and low radiation. The objective of this study was to examine the possibility of developing prediction methods for estimating the occurrence of a major type of chalky rice, the milky-white rice. The methods evaluated the chalky patterns on the transverse section of premature grains by visual inspection or by employing a newly developed image analyzer. The predicted grain rates of milky-white rice using the above-mentioned method(s) as well as two other methods using a grain scanner, were compared with periodically sampled grains approaching maturity under shade treatments at Kagoshima and Fukuoka, Japan. The grain rates predicted using visual inspection and the developed analyzer at 6 to 7 d before maturity (DBM) and 9 to 10 DBM, were positively correlated with the target grain rates of milky-white rice obtained at maturity; R² was 0.906 (p < 0.01) to 0.964 (p < 0.001), and the RMSE value ranged from 2.00 to 6.10, at both the DBMs. In the methods employing the grain scanner, the correlations between the predicted and target grain rates at the same DBMs were lower; R² was 0.556 (p = 0.054) to 0.777 (p < 0.01), the RMSE value was between 7.86 and 12.03. Thus, the methods using transverse section of premature grains developed in this study could be applied for predicting the occurrence of milky-white rice a week to 10 DBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RATIONALE: In electrospray droplet impact (EDI) developed in our laboratory, an atmospheric pressure electrospray source has been used. To increase the ion beam intensity and reduce the evacuation load, a vacuum electrospray cluster ion source using a silica capillary was developed. METHODS: A silica capillary with a tip inner diameter of 8 μm was used for vacuum electrospray using aqueous 10% methanol. To stabilize the flow rate of the liquid for nano-electrospray, a home-made constant pressure liquid pump was also developed. RESULTS: By using the silica tip nano-electrospray emitter and a constant pressure pump, stable electrospray with flow rate of 22 nL/min was realized without using any heating system such as laser irradiation. Comparative study of mass spectra obtained by atmospheric pressure EDI (A-EDI) and vacuum EDI (V-EDI) was made for various samples such as thermometer molecule, peptide, polystyrene, Alq3, NPD, C60, indium, and SiO2. V-EDI showed slightly milder ionization than A-EDI. CONCLUSIONS: Because V-EDI gave higher target current (5-10 nA) than A-EDI (a few nA at most), V-EDI secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) would be a useful technique for the surface and interface analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous paper, it was suggested that metal fluorides may be useful as cationization matrices in Electrospray droplet impact/SIMS. In this work, NaF and AgF were used as the cationization matrices for cyclodextrin (CD), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polystyrene (PS), garlic juice, and sliced raw rice. EDI mass spectra were measured without and with the use of matrices. Enhancement of ion abundances of [M + Na]+ for CD and PEG with NaF matrix and that of [M + Ag]+ for PS with AgF matrix were observed. However, the addition of matrices was not effective for the cationization of garlic juice and sliced raw rice samples. This may be due to the Coulombic repulsion of the reagent ions of Na+ or Ag+ with the preformed K+ adducts of oligosaccharides already present in the samples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Bloodstream infections ( BSI) are frequently observed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant ( HSCT), and could cause morbidity and mortality. Methods We retrospectively evaluated the incidence, characteristics of, and risk factors for BSI at both pre- and post-engraftment in 209 adult HSCT patients at our institute between June 2006 and December 2013. The median age at transplantation was 45 years (range, 15-65). A total of 122 patients received bone marrow, 68 received peripheral blood stem cells, and 19 received umbilical cord blood. Results The cumulative incidences of pre- and post-engraftment BSI were 38.9% and 17.2%, respectively. Nine patients had both pre- and post-engraftment BSI. In the pre- and post-engraftment periods, respectively, 67.4% and 84.1% of isolates were gram-positive bacteria ( GPB), 28.3% and 11.4% were gram-negative bacteria ( GNB), and 4.3% and 4.5% were fungi. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most commonly isolated GPB, while Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most commonly isolated GNB. Pre-engraftment BSI was associated with an increased risk of death. Overall survival at day 180 for patients with or without pre-engraftment BSI was 70.0% and 82.7%, respectively ( P = 0.02). Conclusions Risk factors for BSI in the pre-engraftment period were the interval between diagnosis and transplantation (261 days or more), engraftment failure, and high-risk disease status at HSCT in a multivariate analysis. No significant risk factor for BSI in the post-engraftment period was identified by a univariate analysis. These findings may be useful for deciding upon empiric antibacterial treatment for HSCT recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cytomegalovirus ( CMV) reactivation still remains a major problem following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ( HSCT). Patients and methods In this study, we analyzed an immunoglobulin allotype, IgG1m(f), in CMV-seropositive HSCT recipients and their donors to distinguish donor-derived antibody from recipient-derived antibody. Eight donor-recipient pairs were informative regarding the appearance of donor-derived immunoglobulin-G (IgG), as the recipients were homozygous null for the IgG1m(f) allotype and the donors were IgG1m(f) positive. In these patients, total IgG, IgM, and allotype-specific IgG against CMV were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All subjects were monitored for at least 9 months after HSCT with ( n = 5) or without ( n = 3) CMV reactivation. Results Donor-derived CMV IgG tended to be elevated earlier in patients with CMV-seropositive donors than in those with CMV-seronegative donors. In 1 patient with a CMV-negative donor, donor-derived CMV IgG was not detected until late CMV reactivation. In 3 patients without CMV reactivation, donor-derived CMV IgG was also elevated within 1-6 months after HSCT. Conclusion In conclusion, the CMV serostatus of the donor may be related to the timing of the appearance of donor-derived CMV IgG and the reconstitution of humoral immunity against CMV, regardless of the CMV antigenemia level after HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cytomegalovirus ( CMV)-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes ( CMV- CTLs) play a crucial role in preventing CMV disease. However, the actual in vivo dynamics of CMV- CTL clones after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo HCT) are still unclear. Methods Using a single-cell T-cell receptor repertoire analysis, we monitored clones and chimerism of CMV- CTLs in 3 CMV-seropositive allo HCT recipients from CMV-seronegative donors, with or without CMV reactivation. Results Nearly all of the CMV- CTLs during follow-up were CD45 RA− CCR7− effector memory/ CD45 RA+ CCR7− effector T cells, and were highly matured. In each case, the use of BV gene families was restricted, especially in BV5, 7, 28, and 29. Although no common predominant CMV- CTL clones were found, several shared motifs of complementarity-determining region-3 were identified among the 3 cases; QGA in all, TGE and TDT in Case 1 and Case 2, and RDRG in Case 2 and Case 3. In all cases, CMV- CTL clones that were detected for the first time after allo HCT persisted as the dominant clones. In Case 1, without CMV reactivation, recipient-derived CMV- CTLs exclusively persisted as a dominant clone, while all CMV- CTLs in the other 2 cases, with CMV reactivation, were donor derived. Conclusion Clone monitoring and chimerism analyses should help to further clarify novel aspects of immuno-reconstitution after allo HCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Inoperable patients with lymph node metastasis from extramammary Paget's disease ( EMPD) have limited curative treatment options. Objective The aim of this study was to review the efficacy and toxicity of radiation therapy for lymph node metastasis from EMPD. Methods Eight EMPD patients with pelvic and inguinal lymph node metastasis, representing a total of 43 metastatic lymph nodes, underwent radiation therapy. Of these eight patients, two received radiation therapy as an initial treatment for EMPD and six for recurrence only in the lymph nodes after they had undergone surgery. Total doses of 45-61.2 Gy (median, 59.4 Gy) were delivered to metastatic lymph nodes in 25-34 fractions (median, 33 fractions). Results Of the 43 metastatic lymph nodes in the eight patients, all but one had no progression at the median follow-up time of 22 months. The 2-year local control rates were 86% in all patients and 98% in all metastatic lymph nodes, respectively. No therapy-related toxicities of grade 3 or greater were observed. Conclusion Radiation therapy is effective and safe, and appears to offer a curative treatment option for lymph node metastasis from EMPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Currently, acyclovir ( ACV) at 1000 mg/day is widely used as prophylaxis in the early phase of hematopoietic stem cell transplant ( HSCT) in Japan. However, low-dose ACV (200 mg/day) has been shown to prevent varicella zoster virus reactivation in the middle and late phases of HSCT. Methods Therefore, in this study, we decreased the dose of ACV to 200 mg/day in the early phase after HSCT. We analyzed 93 consecutive herpes simplex virus ( HSV)-seropositive patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT for the first time in our center between June 2007 and December 2011. Results Before August 2009, 38 patients received oral ACV at 1000 mg/day ( ACV1000) until day 35 after HSCT, whereas 55 patients received oral ACV at 200 mg/day ( ACV200) after September 2009. We compared the cumulative incidence of HSV infection in the 2 groups. Oral ACV was changed to intravenous administration because of intolerance in 66% and 45% of the patients in the ACV1000 and ACV200 groups, respectively ( P = 0.060). The probability of severe stomatitis (Bearman grade II- III) was 76% and 60% in the ACV1000 and ACV200 groups, respectively ( P = 0.12). The number of patients who developed HSV disease before day 100 after HSCT was 0 in the ACV1000 group and 2 in the ACV200 group, with a cumulative incidence of 3.6% ( P = 0.43). HSV disease in the latter 2 patients was limited to the lips and tongue and was successfully treated with ACV or valacyclovir at a treatment dose. Conclusion ACV at 200 mg/day appeared to be effective for preventing HSV disease in the early phase after HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Corticosteroid insensitivity is a major therapeutic problem for some inflammatory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it is known to be induced by reduced histone deacetylase (HDAC)-2 activities via activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. The aim of this study is to evaluate effects of a novel macrolide/fluoroketolide, solithromycin (SOL, CEM-101), on corticosteroid sensitivity induced by oxidative stress.Experimental Approach: Corticosteroid sensitivity was determined by IC50/EC50 of dexamethasone (Dex) on TNF-α-induced CXCL8 production in U937 monocytic cell line and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from COPD patients. Activities of HDAC and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) were measured by fluorescence-based assay in cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). We also investigated steroid insensitive airway neutrophilia in cigarette smoke exposed mice in vivo.Key Results: SOL (10 μM) restored Dex sensitivity in PBMC from COPD patients, H2O2-treated U937 cells and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-differentiated U937 cells. In addition, SOL restored HDAC activity with concomitant inhibition of Akt phosphorylation as surrogate marker of PI3K activation. The inhibition of Akt phosphorylation by SOL was due to increased PP2A phosphatase activity, which was reduced in COPD and oxidative stress model. Other known macrolides, such as eryhthromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin, were significantly less effective in these responses. In cigarette smoke-exposed mice, SOL (100 mg kg(-1), po) showed significant but weak inhibition of neutrophilia, whereas Dex (10 mg kg(-1), p.o.) showed no such effect. However, a combination of SOL and Dex inhibited neutrophilia by over 50%.Conclusions and Implications: SOL has potential as novel therapy for corticosteroid-insensitive diseases such as COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We retrospectively investigated L-index, which evaluates both the intensity and duration of lymphopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ( HSCT) (n = 50). L-index was defined as the area over the lymphocyte curve during lymphopenia (absolute lymphocyte count < 700/μL). We calculated the L-index from the start of conditioning to day 30 - L-index(30) - and to day 100 - L-index(100) - after HSCT. Multivariate analysis revealed that human leukocyte antigen mismatched donor, female gender, and non-lymphoid disease were significantly associated with high L-index(30). Grade III- IV acute graft-versus-host disease, alemtuzumab-containing regimen, and non-lymphoid disease were identified as independent significant factors for high L-index(100). Cytomegalovirus ( CMV) antigenemia was detected > 3 cells/2 slides by C10/11 method in 30 patients ( CMV- AG ≥ 3 group) and was not detected in 20 patients ( CMV- AG < 3 group). Although no significant difference was seen in absolute lymphocyte count on day 30 between the 2 groups, the L-index(30) was significantly higher in the CMV- AG ≥ 3 group than in the CMV- AG < 3 group ( P = 0.050). L-index(30) was identified as an independent factor on CMV reactivation in multivariate analysis, when it was treated as a dichotomous variable with a cut-off value of 22,318, determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. In conclusion, both the intensity and duration of lymphopenia in early phase after HSCT evaluated on the basis of L-index(30) showed significant association with CMV reactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the reactivation of varicella zoster virus ( VZV) is a common complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ( HSCT), VZV meningoencephalitis is a rare life-threatening infectious disease after HSCT. We describe here a patient who developed VZV meningoencephalitis 2 years after human leukocyte antigen-matched unrelated HSCT for acute myeloblastic leukemia. She developed chronic graft-versus-host disease, and cyclosporine ( CSA) was continued until 17 months after HSCT. Low-dose acyclovir ( ACV) at 200 mg/day was administered to prevent the reactivation of VZV from day −7 to the termination of CSA. At 22 months, she suddenly developed fever, loss of consciousness, and seizure, with generalized skin rash. A high level of VZV DNA was detected in her cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF). She was diagnosed to have VZV meningoencephalitis. Intravenous ACV at 30 mg/kg/day was given for 2 months. Although loss of consciousness was quickly resolved, some neurologic symptoms persisted. She did not have any known risk factors for VZV reactivation. Therefore, we should keep in mind that any HSCT recipient may develop VZV meningoencephalitis, and examination of CSF for VZV infection with an empiric administration of ACV may be recommended for HSCT recipients with central nervous system symptoms, even in the absence of skin manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonists have potential in the treatment of allergic diseases. However, the therapeutic utility of current low molecular weight TLR7 agonists is limited by their systemic activity, resulting in unwanted side effects. We have developed a series of TLR7-selective 'antedrugs', including SM-324405 and AZ12441970, which contain an ester group rapidly cleaved in plasma to reduce systemic exposure. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Agonist activity at TLR7 of the parent ester and acid metabolite was assessed in vitro in reporter cells and primary cells from a number of species. Pharmacokinetics following a dose to the lungs was assessed in mice and efficacy evaluated in vivo with a mouse allergic airway model. KEY RESULTS Compounds were selective agonists for TLR7 with no crossover to TLR8 and were metabolically unstable in plasma with the acid metabolite showing substantially reduced activity in a number of assays. The compounds inhibited IL-5 production and induced IFN-α, which mediated the inhibition of IL-5. When dosed into the lung the compounds were rapidly metabolized and short-term exposure of the 'antedrug' was sufficient to activate the IFN pathway. AZ12441970 showed efficacy in a mouse allergic airway model with minimal induction of systemic IFN-α, consistent with the low plasma levels of compound. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The biological and metabolic profiles of these TLR7-selective agonist 'antedrug' compounds are consistent with a new class of compound that could be administered locally for the treatment of allergic diseases, while reducing the risk of systemic side effects. LINKED ARTICLE This article is commented on by Kaufman and Jacoby, pp. 569-572 of this issue. To view this commentary visit [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because forage rice (Oryza sativa L.) must be cost-competitive with other forage crops, high grain yield is essential. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of planting density (11, 25, or 100 hills m-2) and N application method (the 79-21N method, with 79% of the N applied before the panicle initiation stage and 21% after, or the 36-64N method, 36% before and 64% after) on grain yield and its components in the cultivar Mizuhochikara, which produces an unusually large number of spikelets per square meter. Grain yield was not different between N application methods but increased from 799 g m-2 to 870 g m-2 with increasing planting density. The number of spikelets per square meter was not strongly influenced by the planting densities. The percentage of filled spikelets and the 1000-grain weight was higher at 100 and 25 hills m-2 than at 11 hills m-2. The amount of nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) in the leaf sheaths plus stems per square meter at the full heading stage was larger at 100 and 25 hills m-2 than at 11 hills m-2. The percentages of both primary and secondary spikelets increased with increasing planting density, whereas that of tertiary spikelets decreased. Grain weight per spikelet was generally higher at primary and secondary spikelets than at tertiary spikelets. At each position in the panicle, grain weight per spikelet was heavier at 100 and 25 hills m-2 than at 11 hills m-2. Thus, dense planting may increase the grain yield, the percentage of filled spikelets, and the 1000-grain weight by increasing NSC at full heading stage and decreasing the number of tertiary spikelets even at a large number of spikelets per square meter in Mizuhochikara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sepsis caused by the bacterial contamination of blood products is a major infection risk associated with blood transfusion. Diversion of the initial 25 mL of blood and prestorage leukoreduction were implemented in Japan in 2007 for all donated blood products. We assessed the efficacy of these new collection procedures in preventing bacterial contamination of red blood cell (RBC) concentrates. Methods: Broad-range 16S ribosomal RNA polymerase chain reaction was used to determine bacterial contamination in segment samples of RBCs before and after implementation of the new collection procedures. To evaluate whether these new procedures reduced bacterial contamination, we compared bacterial contamination rates of blood samples from diversion pouches with those of segment samples from the same donor's RBCs. Results: The rate of bacterial contamination of RBCs before implementation of the new collection procedures was 1·27%. Most of the isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus epidermidis or Propionibacterium acnes. After implementation, this rate was significantly reduced to 0·10%. Of the 233 whole blood samples obtained from the Mie Red Cross Blood Center, 1·72% of blood samples from diversion pouches were contaminated, but no bacterial contamination was detected in segment samples from the same donor's RBCs after prestorage leukoreduction. Conclusions: The new collection procedure significantly reduced bacterial contamination of RBC concentrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article regarding a patient with afibrinogenaemia who developed a central venous catheter-related thrombosis after replacement therapy for an intracranial haemorrhage.

Abstract Nine marble horizons from the granulite facies terrane of southern India were examined in detail for stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in calcite and carbon isotopes in graphite. The marbles in Trivandrum Block show coupled lowering of δ13 C and δ18 O values in calcite and heterogeneous single crystal δ13 C values (- 1 to - 10‰) for graphite indicating varying carbon isotope fractionation between calcite and graphite, despite the granulite facies regional metamorphic conditions. The stable isotope patterns suggest alteration of δ13 C and δ18 O values in marbles by infiltration of low δ13 C–δ18 O-bearing fluids, the extent of alteration being a direct function of the fluid-rock ratio. The carbon isotope zonation preserved in graphite suggests that the graphite crystals precipitated/recrystallized in the presence of an externally derived CO2 -rich fluid, and that the infiltration had occurred under high temperature and low f O2 conditions during metamorphism. The onset of graphite precipitation resulted in a depletion of the carbon isotope values of the remaining fluid+calcite carbon reservoir, following a Rayleigh-type distillation process within fluid-rich pockets/pathways in marbles resulting in the observed zonation. The results suggest that calcite–graphite thermometry cannot be applied in marbles that are affected by external carbonic fluid infiltration. However, marble horizons in the Madurai Block, where the effect of fluid infiltration is not detected, record clear imprints of ultrahigh temperature metamorphism (800–1000 °C), with fractionations reaching <2‰. Zonation studies on graphite show a nominal rimward lowering δ13 C on the order of 1 to 2‰. The zonation carries the imprint of fluid deficient/absent UHT metamorphism.... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We evaluated the effect of low-flow sevoflurane anaesthesia, in which compound A is generated, and isoflurane anaesthesia, in which compound A is not generated (n=13 in each group), on hepatocellular integrity using alpha glutathione S-transferase (GST). Alpha GST is a more sensitive and specific marker of hepatocellular damage than is aminotransferase activity and correlates better with hepatic histology.Methods: Sevoflurane or isoflurane were delivered without nitrous oxide with a fresh gas flow of 1 l/min. Concentrations of compound A in the circuit were measured hourly, and plasma alpha GST concentrations were measured perioperatively.Results: Mean duration of anaesthesia was 338+/-92 min in the sevoflurane group and 320+/-63 min in the isoflurane group. Mean compound A concentration in the sevoflurane group was 28.6+/-9.0 ppm. There was no significant difference in alpha GST concentrations between the sevoflurane and isoflurane groups during or after anaesthesia.Conclusion: These results indicate that low-flow sevoflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia have the same effect on hepatic function, as assessed by plasma alpha GST concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We evaluated the effect of low-flow sevoflurane anaesthesia, in which compound A is generated, and isoflurane anaesthesia, in which compound A is not generated (n=13 in each group), on hepatocellular integrity using α glutathione S-transferase (GST). α GST is a more sensitive and specific marker of hepatocellular damage than is aminotransferase activity and correlates better with hepatic histology. Methods: Sevoflurane or isoflurane were delivered without nitrous oxide with a fresh gas flow of 1 l/min. Concentrations of compound A in the circuit were measured hourly, and plasma α GST concentrations were measured perioperatively. Results: Mean duration of anaesthesia was 338±92 min in the sevoflurane group and 320±63 min in the isoflurane group. Mean compound A concentration in the sevoflurane group was 28.6±9.0 ppm. There was no significant difference in α GST concentrations between the sevoflurane and isoflurane groups during or after anaesthesia. Conclusion: These results indicate that low-flow sevoflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia have the same effect on hepatic function, as assessed by plasma α GST concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract An extensive humite-bearing marble horizon within a supracrustal sequence at Ambasamudram, southern India, was studied using petrological and stable isotopic techniques to define its metamorphic history and fluid characteristics. At peak metamorphic temperatures of 775±73°C, based on calcite-graphite carbon isotope thermometry, the mineral assemblages suggest layer-by-layer control of fluid compositions. Clinohumite + calcite-bearing assemblages suggest XCO2 < 0.4 (at 700°C and 5 kbar), calcite + forsterite + K-feldspar-bearing assemblages suggest XCO2>0.9 (at 790°C); and local wollastonite + scapolite + grossular-bearing zones formed at XCO2 of c. 0.3. Retrograde reaction textures such as scapolite + quartz symplectites after feldspar and calcite and replacement of dolomite + diopside or tremolite+dolomite after calcite+forsterite or calcite+clinohumite are indicative of retrogression under high XCO2 conditions. Calcite preserves late Proterozoic carbon and oxygen isotopic signatures and the marble lacks evidence for extensive retrograde fluid infiltration, while during prograde metamorphism the possible infiltration of aqueous fluids did not produce significant isotopic resetting. Isotopic zonation of calcite and graphite grains was likely produced by localized CO2 fluid infiltration during retrogression. Contrary to the widespread occurrence of humite-marbles related to retrograde aqueous fluid infiltration, the Ambasamudram humite-marbles record a prograde-to-peak metamorphic humite formation and retrogression under conditions of low XH2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine the usefulness of colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) in detecting prostate cancer, by comparing CDUS with grey-scale transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients and methods In all, 278 patients who underwent prostate biopsies because of an abnormal digital rectal examination, elevated prostate specific antigen levels, and/or abnormal TRUS between May 1998 and November 1999 were evaluated. The diagnostic accuracies of TRUS, CDUS, MRI and combinations of these imaging techniques in detecting prostate cancer were compared, based on the biopsy results. Results Carcinoma was detected in 233 of 1696 specimens, and 87 patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer. For each detected cancer site, the sensitivity of CDUS was lower than those of other imaging techniques, but CDUS had high a specificity and positive predictive value. The combination of grey-scale TRUS and CDUS or MRI improved the sensitivity and negative predictive value. The specificity and positive predictive value of the combination of grey-scale TRUS and MRI were less than those for grey-scale TRUS alone, while those for the combination of grey-scale TRUS and CDUS were higher than those for grey-scale TRUS alone. Five tumours were isoechoic but seen as hypervascular lesions with CDUS. Conclusion CDUS provides information useful for detecting prostate cancer when used in combination with grey-scale TRUS, and should be included in the routine examination for prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a review on the influence of middle ear disorders on otoacoustic emissions. Relationship between middle ear dynamic characteristics and otoacoustic emissions; Influence of middle ear disorders on otoacoustic emissions.

We investigated the cellular requirement for primary in vitro generation of cytotoxic Tlymphocytes (CTL) in BALB/c spleen cells against Ld-binding self-peptide p2Ca. Depletion of CD4+ T-cells in vitro by pretreatment with anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and complement or in vivo by administration of anti-CD4 mAb abrogated generation of CTL. Depletion of adherent cells by passing spleen cells through a nylon wool (NW) column also abrogated generation of CTL. Addition of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) to spleen cells passed through the NW column restored CTL generation. These findings indicate that both CD4+ T-cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC) were necessary for CTL generation. Treatment of PEC with paraformaldehyde (PFA), but not mitomycin-C (MMC) abrogated their ability to restore CTL generation when mixed with spleen cells from the NW column, suggesting that an endocytic pathway could be involved in presentation of p2Ca on APC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression or human placental cell surface antigens was examined in cells of lymphoid origin, including peripheral blood lymphocytes and cultured lymphoblastoid cells of bone marrow or thymus derivation. A select group of this defined set or surface antigens was detected on all three cell preparations. The most remarkable observation was the conspicuous absence of three subunits previously demonstrated to be present on all human cell surfaces examined to date. Antiserum directed against several placental components prevents adhesion and spreading of cells which grow attached to surfaces. These results suggest a role for these three glycoproteins in mediating cellular adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using KOLT-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) recognizing a 44,000 molecular weight (MW) T-cell activation antigen (CD28), we observed the co-expression of KOLT-2 (CD28) antigen and Tac (CD25) antigen, associated with a 55,000 MW chain of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R)complex, IL-2R (p55), on several T-cell lines transformed by human T-lymphotropic virus-I (HTLV-I), as well as several subclones of the natural killer (NK)-like cell line YT. When YT cells (YTC3T, YT5.1) and IL-2-dependent HTLV-I+ T-cell line cells (ED, ATL35C) expressing both IL-2R (p55) and IL-2R(p70) chains were cultured with recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2), KOLT-2 antigen was downregulated in 24 hr. However, KOLT-2 antigen on HPB-ALL (Kurume) cells expressing neither of the IL-2R chains was unaffected by IL-2. IL-2 also failed to down-regulate KOLT-2 antigen on MT-1 cells bearing IL-2R(p55)/Tac without IL-2R(p70). To clarify the role of IL-2R(p70) in the IL-2induced down-regulation of KOLT-2 antigen, we analysed the effect of IL-2 on a Tac+ subclone of YT (YT2C2) that expresses IL-2R(p70). As was the case with Tac+ YT cells, KOLT-2 antigen was down-regulated by IL-2, and this down-regulation was inhibited by anti-IL-2R(p70) mAb but not by anti-Tac mAb. These results show that the signalling through the IL-2/IL-2R system down-regulates KOLT-2 (CD28) antigen by way of the interaction between IL-2 and IL-2R(p70), irrespective of IL-2R(p55)/Tac. Possible involvement of the IL-2/IL-2R system in the CD28-mediated mitogenic mechanism is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]