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Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung was diagnosed in a 39-year-old Chinese woman. In situ hybridization of Epstein Barr virus-encoded small nuclear RNA 1 (EBER 1) detected strong EBER 1 signals in the nuclei of tumor cell specimens from the patient. After polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, electrophoresis identified the IR-1 region in this tumor as a positive sharp band, closely resembling Raji cells (Burkitt's cell line). The uniform and intense presence of EBER 1 in the tumor nuclei and the PCR products of EBV DNA in the tumor demonstrated that a high copy number of EB virus genome existed in the tumor, and indicated involvement of the EB virus in the pathogenesis of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung.

DNA aneuploidy, p53 overexpression, and high cell proliferation frequently occur in gastric cancer. However, little is known about the time of their appearance throughout cancer progression. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine when such abnormalities occur during gastric cancer progression. We classified the gastric cancers examined into intestinal (n = 65) and diffuse (n = 34) types. DNA ploidy was examined using flow cytometry and expression of MIB-1 and p53 immunoreactivity were studied using the avidin-biotin complex method in three stages of gastric cancer (mucosal, submucosal, deeply invasive cancer, i.e., advanced cancer). The incidence of DNA aneuploidy in intestinal-type mucosal cancers (15/27, 55.6%) was lower than that of submucosal invasive cancers (14/16, 87.5%) or advanced cancers (19/22, 86.4%), while a low incidence of DNA aneuploidy was observed in each diffuse-type cancer group (mucosal, 1/12, 8.3%; submucosal invasive, 3/9, 33.3%; advanced, 8/14, 57.1%). Although overexpression of the p53 gene in intestinal-type cancer was found in early stage, that in diffuse-type cancer was observed in advanced stage. Among the intestinal-type mucosal cancers, the MIB-1 percent positive was higher in aneuploid tumors than diploid ones. DNA aneuploidy and overexpression of the p53 gene may play an important role in the early tumorigenesis of intestinal-type gastric cancer and in the late event of tumorigenesis of diffuse-type gastric cancer.

DNA heterogeneity of colorectal carcinomas has been investigated by flow cytometry, most studies have focused on the clinical usefulness of DNA ploidy analysis. Since cancers consist of predominant subclones with proliferative advantage due to clonal expansion, we attempted to analyse the clonal expansion of colorectal carcinomas within a tumour by measuring DNA ploidy. The DNA ploidy and heterogeneity of multiple fresh samples obtained from 164 colorectal adenocarcinomas were analysed by flow cytometry. Each tumour was divided into an average of six specimens, which were analysed separately. For 146 of the tumours (89%) at least one DNA aneuploid population was found within the cancer tissue examined. DNA multiploidy was detected in 26 cases (17.8%) among the cancers with aneuploidy. Based on the DNA index (DI), hypertriploid aneuploidy (1.7

A 50-year-old man with AML[M2,t(8;21)] underwent BMT from his younger sister. At that time, he had no unexpected antibody and his blood type was O(+), CcDEe. The type of Kidd was not examined. The donor's blood type was O(+), CCDee, Jk(a+b-). One year after the BMT, the patient's blood type had changed to that of the donor's and anti-E antibody was detected. Despite the use of platelet concentrates (PCs) only, anti-c antibody was later identified. We conclude that there is a need to check red cell antibodies at regular intervals, even when using PCs only, for earlier detection of unexpected antibodies after BMT.

Numerous cytokines and chemokines are involved in inflammatory and immune response. Whereas some of them inhibit virus replication in vitro directly or increase the patients' T4-lymphocyte level, others effects are not so clear. Using human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cell cultures we have studied the antiviral effect of complexes of salmon DNA with metals and of a new factor(s) (antiviral factor, AVF) induced in cells by the complexes. The Fe3+/DNA complex possessed the highest antiviral activity. It was found that MT-2, MT-4, CEM and Jurkat cells treated with the complexes secreted AVF which inhibited the replication of nine HIV-1 isolates, was noncytotoxic and stimulated cell proliferation. AVF did not inactivate HIV. The molecular mass analysis of AVF showed that its antiviral activity is associated with its fraction of M(r) of 3 K. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of mRNA from MT-4 cells treated with the complexes showed an increase in the the expression of genes for interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and TNF-beta while expression of genes for IL-1-beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8. IL-10, IL-12; 35p, 40p, IL-13, GMCSF, GSF and RANTES was not detected at all. However, the anti-HIV activity of the cell culture supernatant in vitro cannot be explained by mere presence of the inflammatory substances mentioned above, because they do not possess such activity and their M(r) is higher than that of AVF. Our findings raise the possibility that AVF(s) may be involved in the mechanism of cell resistance against HIV.

The present report describes a case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the lung and presents immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization (ISH) studies of the tumor. A 39-year-old Chinese woman, who was born in China and emigrated to Japan at the age of 29, suffered from a cough for 2 years and received a middle and lower lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection after induction chemotherapy. The tumor consisted of undifferentiated carcinoma and areas of more differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with an intense lymphoid infiltrate. Serological studies and ISH studies showed EBV infection of the tumor. The immunophenotype of tumor-infiltrating T-lymphocytes (TITL) of the present case was examined immunohistochemically and was compared with that of an LELC case reported previously. Most CD3-positive T cells of TITL in both cases were labeled with both CD8 and TIA-1 but not with granzyme-B, indicating the TITL to be cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in the resting state. The lack of CTL activation at the tumor site might have been due to local inhibition of EBV-specific CTL responses such as T-cell anergy. Because the EBV-specific CTL derived from peripheral blood lymphocytes, in contrast to the TITL, may not be influenced by either tumor-produced suppressor factors or negative regulatory T cells, they may inhibit the hematogenous metastasis of EBV-positive LELC, possibly resulting in a better prognosis. Because LELC of the lung responded to preoperative chemotherapy in the present study, it may be useful for reducing the local tumor burden and facilitate subsequent local therapy, although the mechanism of chemosensitivity of LELC remains unknown.

Precise correlation of histomorphology with the results of molecular genetic analysis is difficult in gastric cancer tissue composed of intestinal and diffuse types. A novel microdissection procedure was applied to correlate p53 and APC allelic loss with histologic type and tumor stage (mucosal vs. invasive cancer) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of 25 gastric cancers. In addition, mucosal and invasive lesions were dissected from each of 11 invasive gastric cancers to study progression, and allelic loss of the p53 and APC genes was assessed. The p53 gene underwent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in 4 of 4 informative cases of intestinal-type gastric cancer with mucosal lesions associated with invasion. By contrast, no p53 LOH was found among 6 informative cases with mucosal cancer. LOH of the APC gene in both intestinal and diffuse types of cancer was detected in 4 of 7 and 5 of 6 informative cases, respectively. These data suggest that allelic deletion of the p53 gene in intestinal-type gastric carcinoma predicts the invasive potential of mucosal cancer, and that inactivation of the APC gene plays a role in the genetic tumorigenesis of both intestinal and diffuse types of gastric cancer. Microdissection can correlate genetic alterations with histologic morphology in gastric cancer.

ACE inhibitor is known to have a therapeutic efficacy in renal diseases by reducing proteinuria and maintaining renal function. However, the relationship between ACE gene polymorphism and renal disease has not been fully elucidated. In this study, a 287 base pair(bp) I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene was examined with polymerase chain reaction(PCR) in 100 healthy subjects, 34 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis(CGN), 29 with chronic renal failure(CRF) and 25 with diabetes mellitus(DM) with(13) and without(12) nephropathy. We also measured serum ACE activity of these patients. ACE genotype and derived allele frequencies in each disease group did not differ significantly from those in healthy subjects. In all disease groups, values of serum ACE activity were higher in genotype DD than in genotype II. These findings suggest no significant association between I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and renal disease. Further studies are needed to clarify these findings, considering renal function and type of renal disease.

Two different forms of oxytocinase (L-cystine aminopeptidase, CAP; EC 3.4.11.3) were purified from the 9000 g and 105000 g precipitate fractions of human placenta homogenate by sequential chromatography on columns of hydroxyapatite, DE-32, nickel ion affinity, and Sephadex G-200. One species (CAP-I) purifed from the mitochondrial/lysosomal fraction migrated on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular mass of 61 kDa; the other (CAP-II) from the microsomal fraction was composed of two subunits with molecular masses of 56 and 40 kDa. The molecular masses of CAP-I and CAP-II estimated by gel filtration were 64 and 97 kDa, respectively. The specific activities of the two species for S-benzyl-L-cysteine p-nitroanilide increased by 357- (for CAP-I) and 139-fold (for CAP-II) compared with the starting preparations. The optimal pH values toward the artificial substrate were approx. 7.4-8.0 for CAP-I and 6.8-8.0 for CAP-II. The Km and Vmax values toward oxytocin were 5.6 microM and 23.4 micromol/h/mg protein for CAP-I, and 38 microM and 15.6 micromol/h/mg protein for CAP-II. Both enzymes were inhibited by the metal-chelating agents, EDTA and o-phenanthroline, whereas they were specifically activated by addition of Co2+: CAP-I was more sensitive to these reagents than CAP-II. L-Methionine strongly inhibited CAP-I, while CAP-II activity was only slightly affected. CAP-II was more sensitive to amastatin than CAP-I. Thus, the two enzymes are quite distinct in their molecular nature and biochemical properties. They may play a regulatory role in the metabolism of oxytocin and other biologically active peptides in intact placenta.

Objective: To characterise heart rate variability and high frequency components of restored sinus rhythm after the maze procedure. The maze procedure for chronic atrial fibrillation may prevent thrombotic events and improve the quality of life. However, the electrocardiographic nature of restored sinus rhythm after the maze procedure has not been fully elucidated., Patients and Methods: Between March 1993 and August 1995, 104 consecutive patients undergoing the maze procedure in combination with other cardiac surgery were studied. There were 100 long-term survivors (78 with mitral valve disease, 9 with aortic valve disease, 8 with congenital heart disease, and 5 others). Twenty age-matched patients with mitral valve disease who were in normal sinus rhythm preoperatively were enrolled as a control group. 30 days after surgery, the presence of arrhythmias and the circadian changes of heart rate variability were estimated by ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring and the filtered P duration was evaluated by signal-averaged electrocardiogram., Results: Restoration of sinus rhythm was observed in 73 of 100 cases. Subjects were classified into three groups according to their postoperative ambulatory electro-cardiographic monitoring findings: patients in group 1 (n = 73) (1a: 58 regular sinus rhythm; 1b: 15 sinus rhythm with frequent premature atrial contractions (> 1000/day); patients in group 2 (n = 21) still had persistent atrial fibrillation; and patients in group 3 (n = 6) required permanent pacemaker implantation because of sick sinus syndrome. The success rate of restoration of sinus rhythm was 88.3% if left atrial diameter was small (< 65 mm). Circadian changes in the low frequency to high frequency power ratio in group 1a were significantly diminished compared with control group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the filtered P duration in group 1a (150 (20) ms) and group 1b (158 (23) ms) were longer than in the control group (122 (11) ms) (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: The maze procedure may result in a decreased sinus response and non-uniform transmission of impulses in the atrium.

Platelets are anucleated blood cells that play a fundamental role in the initiation of hemostasis. In addition to platelet adhesion to the extracellular matrix, aggregation or platelet-platelet interaction is a requisite event in hemostasis. Some glycoproteins on platelet membranes mediate adhesion platelets. The glycoprotein (GP) Ib/IX/V complex is important in platelet adhesion and the GPIIb/IIIa complex mediate platelet to platelet interaction. P-selectin is a member of the selectin family and is transferred from secretory granules to the surface of activated platelets. P-selectin may function to mediate the interaction between activated platelets and leucocytes. We reviewed structure, function, biological roles and clinical application of three platelet-associated adhesion molecules.

To obtain insight into the axis-forming mechanism in ascidian embryogenesis, Hroth, an ascidian counterpart of orthodenticle/otx, was isolated from Halocynthia roretzi and its expression in embryogenesis was examined by whole mount in situ hybridization. It was revealed that Hroth is expressed in both involuting mesoendoderm and anterior ectoderm during gastrulation while later expression is restricted to the sensory vesicle and anterior epidermis. Expression pattern of Hroth around gastrulation was compared with that of Hrlim, the ascidian LIM class homeobox gene that is known to be expressed during gastrulation. In the light of the present findings on the expression of Hroth, properties of the axis-forming mechanism in ascidian embryogenesis are discussed.

An anonymous unlinked HIV antibody test was conducted on 1632 Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) antibody positive women from 10 institutes of 7 prefectures in Japan. All the sera were negative for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies. The result may support the suggestion that HIV prevalence is low among general population in Japan. Such a test as this study will be useful not only for developing a reliable HIV surveillance system but also for the study of sexual behavior of general population, since C. trachomatis infection is sensitive to reflect sexual contact.

Background: Adherence of circulating monocytes and lymphocytes to arterial endothelium is detectable early in experimental and human atherosclerotic plaque formation. The purpose of the present study was to assess vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) mRNA expression and the properties of soluble VCAM-1 in patients with atherosclerotic aortic disease., Methods: Thirteen patients with aortic disease (mean age 64 years) and 40 healthy volunteers (mean age 32 years) were included in the study. We investigated the expression of VCAM-1 mRNA in eight human aortic specimens obtained during surgery. Of these, two showed no evidence of atherosclerotic plaque formation [aortic dissection (n = 1) and annuloaortic ectasia (n = 1)], whereas six had demonstrable complex atherosclerotic formation [abdominal aneurysm (n = 5) and aortic dissection (n = 1)]. The RNase protection assay was performed using an alpha 32P-labeled 121 base pair VCAM-1 cRNA probe. We also measured concentrations of the soluble VCAM-1 using two-site enzyme immunoassays in 40 healthy volunteers and in 13 patients with abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms., Results: In human samples, VCAM-1 mRNA expression was found to be higher in the six patients with complex atherosclerotic formation [optical density (OD), 0.71 +/- 0.14] than in the two patients with no evidence of atherosclerotic plaque formation (OD, 0.53 and 0.49). The concentration of serum soluble VCAM-1 was higher (850 +/- 298 ng/ml) in patients with aortic or thoracic disease than in the healthy volunteers (494 +/- 94 ng/ml). In addition, there was a relationship between VCAM-1 mRNA expression and the concentration of soluble VCAM-1 (y = 2088x-554, r2 = 0.73)., Conclusion: VCAM-1 expression is higher in the human aorta in patients with atheromatous changes. Furthermore, concentrations of soluble VCAM-1 may provide important information about endothelial activation or in-vivo damage.

The protein CD62P expressed on platelet surface membrane was measured by flow cytometry to evaluate its clinical significance. Whole blood contained 0.32% citrate from 64 patients with heart disease and 30 healthy adults were fixed with 0.1% paraformaldehyde. To 50 microliters of the fixed blood, 10 microliters of CD62 PE (Becton Dickinson) was added. After standing for 20 minutes at room temperature, the samples were washed and suspended in 1ml of PBS. Platelets were analyzed with Spectrum III (Ortho) flow cytometer. In healthy control, the percentage of platelets positive for anti-CD62P was 0.16 +/- 0.20 (mean +/- SD)%. Abnormal levels of CD62P were observed in 5 patients with unstable angina, 6 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 1 patient with old myocardial infarction, and 2 patients with mitral stenosis. These results show that activated platelets may play some roles in pathogenesis of heart disease though it is not fully clear yet.

Recently, many laboratory tests associated with lymphocytes and/or lymphocyte functions have been developed. Among them, cytokine determinations of various body fluids and cytokine production assays are most highlightened. As cytokine is an effector molecule in immunological network, cytokine production profile may indicate functional state of immune response and immunopathological process. On the basis of these understandings, we propose cytokine production assay of whole blood culture system.

The Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is a key component of the renin-angiotensin system thought to be important in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies showed that deletion polymorphism in the the ACE gene might be a risk factor for myocardial infarction in the Caucasian population, but, this finding has not yet been reported in a Japanese population. In this study, a 287 base pair (bp) insertion/deletion polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene was examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a cross-sectional study of 100 healthy subjects and 218 patients with ischemic heart diseases (IHD) (70 angina pectoris, 148 myocardial infarction). Polymorphism of the ACE gene was characterized by three genotypes: two deletion alleles (genotype DD), two insertion allele (genotype II) and heterozygotes alleles (genotype ID). No differences could be detected among the three genotypes for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index. The serum ACE activity in each II, ID and DD genotype was 11.4 +/- 2:7 microU/ml, 14.5 +/- 3.5 microU/ml, 16.6 +/- 4.6 microU/ml, respectively. In the population study, genotype DD was significantly associated with IHD when compared with the other two genotypes (ID and II). The frequency of deletion allele was higher (0.56) in the IHD group than in the normal individuals (0.42) (p < 0.05). These frequencies were not varied whether they had classic risk factors or not. Furthermore, coronary multivessel impairment was significantly associated with a deletion allele than with an insertion allele (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

An aminopeptidase from porcine kidney, hydrolyzing oxytocin and vasopressin in vitro, was purified by chromatography on hydroxyapatite, DEAE-cellulose and nickel ion chelate gel and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The enzyme appeared to be a high molecular mass (M(r) 105,000) monomeric protein. It was sensitive to inhibition by metal chelator, o-phenanthroline. Cobalt ion and sulfhydryl activator, 2-mercaptoethanol, had activating effects, while p-chloromercuribenzoate, amino acids with large hydrophobic side chains, L-cystine and aminopeptidase inhibitors, bestatin and amastatin, had inhibitory effects on the enzyme activity. The enzyme hydrolyzed several aminoacyl p-nitroanilides, and had the highest specificity against S-benzyl-L-cysteine p-nitroanilide. The properties of the enzyme were distinct from those of well-characterized leucyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1), membrane alanyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2) and primate placental cystinyl aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.3).

Signal-averaged P waves are available to evaluate patients at risk for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. We developed a new algorithm of P wave triggered signal-averaged ECG applied the cross-correlation technique. Subjects consisted of 13 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF group) and 12 normal volunteers (NOR group). ECG signals were amplified (5,000 times), filtered with band-pass filter (60-300 Hz) and averaged about 500 beats. The root mean square voltage for the total filtered P wave (P-RMS) and the duration of filtered P wave (FPD) were measured and were compared with those parameters obtained by level-slice P triggered method and R triggered method. The value of P-RMS in the all subjects was significantly higher by the cross-correlation method than that by the level-slice P triggered method (264 msec.microV versus 235 msec.microV, P < 0.001). The value of FPD in the PAF group was also significantly longer by the cross-correlation method than that by the level-slice P triggered method (151 msec versus 146 msec, P < 0.05). In conclusion, the cross-correlation method is suited for assessing P waves by the signal-averaged ECG.

Background: The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is a key component of the renin-angiotensin system thought to be important in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Deletion polymorphism in the ACE gene may be a risk factor for myocardial infarction in the Caucasian population. However, this finding has not yet been investigated in the Japanese population., Methods and Results: A 287-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction in a cross-sectional study of 100 healthy subjects and 178 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) (70 angina pectoris, 108 myocardial infarction), whose serum ACE levels were concomitantly measured. Polymorphism of the ACE gene was characterized by three genotypes: two deletion alleles (genotype DD), two insertion alleles (genotype II), and heterozygous alleles (genotype ID). No differences could be detected among the three genotypes for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and body mass index. Serum ACE levels were 11.4 +/- 2.7, 14.5 +/- 3.5, and 16.6 +/- 4.6 IU/mL for genotypes II, ID, and DD, respectively. In the study population, the genotype DD was more closely associated with CAD than the other two genotypes (ID and II). The frequency of deletion alleles was higher (0.58) in the CAD group than in healthy control subjects (0.42) (P < .05). Furthermore, multivessel disease was more strongly associated with deletion alleles than with insertion alleles (P < .05)., Conclusions: A deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene is associated with serum ACE activity and increased risk for CAD in the Japanese.

The Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is a key component of the renin-angiotensin system thought to be important in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies showed that deletion polymorphism in the ACE gene might be a risk factor for myocardial infarction in the Caucasian population. However, this finding has not yet been reported in the Japanese population. In this study, a 287 base pair (bp) insertion/deletion polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a cross-sectional study of 35 healthy subjects and 85 patients with ischemic heart diseases (IHD) (32 angina pectoris, 53 myocardial infarction). Polymorphism of the ACE gene was characterized by three genotypes; two deletion alleles (genotype DD), two insertion allele (genotype II) and heterozygotes alleles (genotype ID). No differences could be detected among the three genotypes for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index. The serum ACE activities in each II, ID and DD genotype were 10.1 +/- 2.1 microU/ml, 13 +/- 3.2 microU/ml, 14.2 +/- 5.4 microU/ml, respectively. In the population study the genotype DD was significantly associated with IHD when compared with the other two genotypes (ID and II). The frequency of deletion allele was higher (0.61) in the IHD group than in the normals (0.39) (chi 2 = 7.8, p < 0.01). These frequencies were not varied whether they had classic risk factors or not. Furthermore, coronary multivessel impairment was significantly associated with the deletion allele than with the insertion allele (chi 2 = 11.7, p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Postgraduate 6-month programs as specialty training in the immunoserological laboratory are proposed. These include seven general instructional objectives, ten specific behavioral objectives (SBOs) in the cognitive domain, four SBOs in the affective domain and eight SBOs in the psychomotor domain.

Fluorescent antinuclear antibodies (FANA) have been routinely tested at general clinical settings. Newly developed immunochemical assays using recombinant nuclear antigens have recently been introduced, but their clinical significance and usefulness have not yet been established. In this symposium six papers dealing with FANA, cloning of nuclear antigen genes, enzyme immunoassay systems for ANA, idiotype of ANA, anti Na, anti PCNA etc. are presented and discussed.

Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) are one of the common arrhythmias. Although the analysis of the preceding R-R interval and the coupling interval on the Holter electrocardiogram, the Lorenz plotting method, has been used to characterize mature of PVC, this analysis has typically been performed without regard to the morphological classification of the electrocardiogram waveforms. Therefore, we performed the Lorenz plotting after a PVC classification. We analyzed 45 cases with more than 1,000 PVCs per day. Twenty-six of the cases with PVCs had no organic heart disease (idiopathic PVC); nineteen of the cases with PVCs had organic heart disease (PVC with disease). Each R-R interval was analyzed after classification based on the morphology of each QRS wave of the PVC. The computer generated a two-dimensional plot of the relationship between the preceding R-R interval of PVC and the following coupling interval. The forms of PVCs were monoform in idiopathic PVC and were mostly multiform in PVC with disease. The patterns on Lorenz plotting in idiopathic PVC had a tendency to be uniform with small standard deviations. In contrast, multiform PVCs tended to be highly variable with large standard deviations. The value of SD was 32.1 +/- 12.0 msec in idiopathic PVC, and that of the slope "a" was 0.048 +/- 0.051 in PVC with disease. Using the SD values and the slope "a" values, we were able to classify idiopathic PVC vs. PVC with disease with a 95% sensitivity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We examined the effect of estradiol-17 beta on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), an adhesion molecule, in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells. After preincubation with estradiol-17 beta for 24 hours, cells were treated for 4 h with 0.5 micrograms/ml recombinant human interleukin-1 beta. The RNase protection assay was performed using an [alpha-32P]-labeled 121 base pair VCAM-1 cRNA probe. Preincubation with estradiol-17 beta (250 or 500 pg/ml) suppressed the induction of VCAM-1 mRNA expression by interleukin-1 beta. VCAM-1 staining with a monoclonal antibody decreased when cells were incubated with estradiol-17 beta at 250 and 500 pg/ml, while staining was detectable when cells were treated with interleukin-1 beta at 0.5 micrograms/ml. In conclusion, estradiol-17 beta regulates the induction of VCAM-1 gene expression by interleukin-1 beta in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Present status and problems in external quality control of immunoassays were described. Despite the increasing popularity of these methods, there are many difficulties in achieving good analytical performance. Consequently, immunoassay results demonstrate poor interlaboratory comparability. To exclude these difficulties, several changes should be made, for example, preparation of common reference standards, consent methods to give values to laboratory working standards, reference methods, matrix of test samples similar to actual clinical samples etc, before constructing suitable external quality control systems.

Cytokines production by OK-432-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured to investigate the in vitro function of macrophages (M phi) and lymphocytes. PBMC (1 x 10(6) cells/ml) were cultured with OK-432 (0.05 KE/ml) for 72 hr at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2, then interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 2 (IL-2) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. While there was no significant differences of IL-1 beta production between patients with chronic active hepatitis type B (CAH-B) and controls, sIL-2R production (335 +/- 219 U/ml, mean +/- SD) was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in patients with CAH-B. On the other hand, in pregnant women, production of both IL-1 beta (6.3 +/- 3.9 ng/ml, p < 0.01) and sIL-2R (300 +/- 169 U/ml, p < 0.001) were significantly lower than those in controls (13.5 +/- 3.8 ng/ml, 969 +/- 154 U/ml). These results suggest that the expression of IL-2R alpha on lymphocytes membrane is suppressed in patients with CAH-B, and that decreased M phi function is present in pregnant women.

In this study, we measured cMLC1 concentration in serum and urine from patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), chronic renal failure (CRF), and various grades of renal dysfunction (RD) in comparison with normal controls, by using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with monoclonal antibody, and attempted to elucidate the mechanism of increased serum level of cMLC1 in patients with renal failure. The serum level of cMLC1 of CRF patients under maintenance hemodialysis (HD) was 20.3 +/- 19.6 ng/ml, markedly higher than normal controls (0.54 +/- 0.55 ng/ml). The patients with RD and CRF under conservative therapy had higher serum cMLC1 level than normal controls especially in advanced CRF, while each value not correlating with their creatine clearance (Ccr). cMLC1 in urine was detectable in only two cases with AMI accompanied with CRF or RD. In addition, immunohistological studies of renal biopsy specimens from RD patients did not show cMLC1 deposits in glomerulus. These results suggest that cMLC1 is assumably filtered through the glomerulus, and then absorbed in the renal tubule.

During the 1980's, quantifications of immunoserological testings, especially C reactive protein, rheumatoid factor and antistreptolysin O, progressed rapidly. However, marked interlaboratory differences in these quantifications have been observed. In this brief review, difficulties to satisfy requirements for good quantitative performance in immunochemical assays are discussed.

Four methods of turbidimetric immunoassay for rheumatoid factor were compared and evaluated. Big differences were observed among the methods. After resetting parameters more properly and using common standards, the differences were somewhat dissolved, but not completely.

Spinal microenvironment and metabolic alterations after experimental contusional injury of the spinal cord were evaluated in the same Wistar rats. Severe spinal cord injury was made under light GOF anesthesia with a 10 g weight drop onto the exposed Th-8 spinal cord from a 10 cm height and then halothane was ceased. The author studied extracellular potassium activity ([K+]e) and DC potential for 2 hours after paraplegic spinal cord injury in conscious rats. Furthermore, at 2 hours after cord injury, local spinal cord glucose utilization (1-SCGU) was measured with quantitative autoradiographic 2-[14C] deoxy-glucose method (Sokoloff et al.). [K+]e in injured spinal cords was 59 +/- 5 (mean +/- S.E.M.) mEq at 10 min after injury and was cleared with an exponential half-life of 1 hour. At 2 hours after injury [K+]e was still high with a value of 16 +/- 1 mEq compared with 4 mEq of control animals. DC potential changes was a mirror image of that of [K+]e. DC potential changed by a mean of 10.7 mV positively from 10 min. to 2 hours after injury. 1-SCGU at the impact site was extremely low in both white and gray matters. At 6mm rostral from the impact center 1-SCGU was remarkably reduced in the gray matter, and in the lateral white matter. But at 3 mm rostral 1-SCGU was well preserved. And at 20 mm rostral there was no difference in 1-SCGU with control animals. Massive potassium efflux from the injured spinal cord to the adjacent spinal segment was clarified at this experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In order to evaluate the spatial location of late potentials (LPs), we designed a new system for the body surface mapping of signal-averaged, filtered ECG using 45 thoracic unipolar leads (5 X 9 array). Signals from patients with old myocardial infarction (MI, N = 8), arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (N = 1) and dilated cardiomyopathy (N = 2) were amplified and passed through a digital bandpass filter (60-300Hz). Departure maps, LP isopotential maps, and LP30 area maps were generated and superimposed. The LP30 duration was determined as the section between the filtered QRS endpoints and points 30 msec before. Isopotential maps of the LPs showed distinct positive and negative regions. In 8 cases with MI, the extreme was related to the zones indicated by departure maps, and LP30 area maps also corresponded to the departure areas. Most importantly, the spatial distribution for the LP30 area map was different for each type of disease. In conclusion, body surface LP isopotential maps and LP30 area maps may provide useful information concerning the spatial distribution of LPs.

Since 1965 when Australia antigen was discovered in the serum of Australian aborigines, many works have been done with hepatitis viruses. Most recently diagnostic marker for hepatitis C was developed by using gene technology, and now five types of hepatis can be differentiated serologically. In this symposium, six intellectual papers discussing with hepatitis B, C and fulminant hepatitis will be presented.

For evaluating the spatial location of late potentials (LPs), the authors designed a new system for the body surface mapping of signal-averaged, filtered ECGs using forty-five thoracic unipolar leads (5 x 9 array). The signals from patients with old myocardial infarction (MI, N = 7) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD, N = 1) were amplified and passed through a bandpass (100-300 Hz) filter. The departure maps, LP isopotential maps, and LP30 area maps were generated and superimposed. The LP30 duration was determined as the section between the filtered QRS endpoints and points thirty milliseconds (ms) before. Isopotential maps of the LPs showed distinct positive and negative regions. In 7 cases with MI, the extreme was related to the zones indicated by the departure maps, and the LP30 area maps also corresponded to the departure areas. In 1 case of ARVD, endocardial fragmented activity directly recorded at the right ventricle closely corresponded with the region on the LP30 area map. In conclusion, body surface LP isopotential maps and LP30 area maps may provide useful information concerning the spatial distribution of endocardial fragmentation.

New techniques in immunochemical analysis were reviewed briefly. Introduction of these new techniques into routine tests has made test results more precise and informative than before. By using one of these techniques, time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay, serum concentrations of CA 50 were quantitated in various malignancies. Clinical usefulness of its quantitation was proved especially in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.