A patient with obstructive jaundice was found to have bile duct carcinoma and right hepatic lobe agenesis. The diagnosis was made by computed tomography (CT), cholangiography, and angiography. Right hepatic lobe agenesis is a rare anomaly and has never been previously reported with bile duct carcinoma. CT cholangiography was critical in diagnosing the morphologic anomalies of the bile duct in this case.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Urinary excretion of aluminium: effects of aging and diurnal variation.

Aluminium (Al) is neurotoxic and a relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Al in drinking water has been suggested in epidemiological studies. In 5 patients with AD, and healthy subjects of whom 5 were aged, 6 were middle-aged and 6 were young adults, Al excretion into the urine was measured using inductively coupled plasma emission spectro-analysis. In healthy subjects, there appeared to be a relationship between age and daily Al excretion, with the highest level in the aged group, followed by the middle-aged and young adult groups. A significant positive correlation between the amount of urine and the Al excretion in the healthy subjects was also observed. Daily A1 excretion in urine in the group of patients with AD tended to be higher than that of the age matched healthy group, but further studies are needed to account for effects of drugs containing Al compounds. The Al excretion in all the groups showed some variation with the time of day, but no definite diurnal variation common to all the subjects was noted. Because of this, the use of spot urine analysis for studying A1 excretion does not seem to be reliable.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Heterogeneity of the inhibitory effects of IL-4 in two novel B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines.

The present study describes two novel cell lines, DUNATIS and SILVANUS, established from B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Respectively, DUNATIS and SILVANUS display an early pre-B cell and a pre-B cell phenotype. Spontaneous DNA replication of both cell lines was strongly inhibited by IL-4. This effect was directly mediated by IL-4 and exerted through the CD124 IL-4 receptor chain. Notably, IL-4 was associated with rapid cell death and reduction of cellularity in DUNATIS, whereas these parameters were considerably less pronounced and only observed after longer-term exposure of the SILVANUS cells to IL-4. In addition to these differences, although both cell lines expressed FES oncoprotein, a 100 kDa protein associated with FES was strikingly found to be tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to IL-4 exclusively in DUNATIS cells. These data demonstrate that IL-4 displays heterogenous effects on leukemic B cell precursors responsive to inhibition of DNA synthesis via IL-4 mediated engagement of the CD124 receptor chain. The present findings may be of use for appreciation of the effects of IL-4 in B lineage ALL, and the novel cell lines could represent a model for further identification of target molecules in IL-4 signalling.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cultural factors in social anxiety: a comparison of social phobia symptoms and Taijin kyofusho.

The present study examined two forms of culturally-defined social anxiety: social anxiety or phobia, as defined by DSM-IV; (i.e., a concern of public scrutiny or embarrassment) and Taijin Kyofusho (TKS), a Japanese form of social anxiety centered around concern for offending others with inappropriate behavior or offensive appearance. These versions of social anxiety are also examined in relation to culturally-determined self definition as independent and interdependent. One hundred eighty-one U.S. students and 161 students enrolled in Japanese universities were administered scales to assess social anxiety and phobia and TKS symptoms and behaviors, as well as construal of self as independent or interdependent. Factor analyses of the three scales used to assess social anxiety yielded three factors, each clearly corresponding to the respective scales and defining TKS and DSM-defined social anxiety. A case analysis indicated that there was an approximate 50% co-occurrence between high scorers on the TKS and social phobia scales. Multiple regression analyses resulted in a different set of predictors of TKS and SPS for the U.S. and Japanese respondents. Results were interpreted as suggesting that cultural variables can mediate the expression of social anxiety but that both forms of social anxiety can be found in each sample.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cloning of complementary DNA encoding T-cell replacing factor and identity with B-cell growth factor II.

Proliferation and maturation of antigen-stimulated B cells are regulated by several soluble factors derived from macrophages and T cells. These soluble factors are functionally divided into two groups: B-cell growth factor (BCGF), thought to be involved in B-cell proliferation; and B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF), responsible for maturation of activated B cells into immunoglobulin-secreting cells. This classification needs to be re-examined in the light of the recent cloning of complementary DNA encoding IgG1 induction factor (interleukin-4, IL-4) from the 2.19 mouse T-cell line. Recombinant IL-4 has BCGF and BCDF activities and affects B cells, T cells and mast cells (refs 7, 8; our unpublished data). Another well-characterized B-cell factor is T-cell replacing factor (TRF), which, when secreted by the murine T-cell hybridoma B151K12, is defined by two activities: induction of IgM secretion by BCL1 leukaemic B-cell line; and induction of secondary anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) immunoglobulin G (IgG) synthesis in vitro by DNP-prime B cells. Although TRF from B151K12 was classified as BCDF, purified TRF has BCGF-II activity. To elucidate the molecular properties of TRF we isolated cDNA encoding TRF from the 2.19 T-cell line and report here the structure and multiple activities of this lymphokine.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Accelerated conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to estrogen in a patient with Crow-Fukase syndrome and diabetes mellitus.

About 28% of patients with the Crow-Fukase syndrome exhibit glucose intolerance which may be induced by low serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). We report a patient with the Crow-Fukase syndrome who exhibited non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) worsened prior to admission. He received the DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S) infusion test to evaluate aromatase activity. This patient exhibited an increase in aromatase activity measured by the conversion of the intravenously loaded DHEA-S to estrogen, and low serum levels of DHEA and DHEA-S. These abnormalities returned to nearly normal during the administration of prednisolone, 60 mg per day. No adverse effect on his diabetes was observed during the corticosteroid treatment. Five control patients with diabetes but without the Crow-Fukase syndrome showed no increase in the conversion of DHEA-S to estrogen, which suggests that aromatase activity is normal in diabetes. The increase in aromatase activity in our patient may have led to a low serum concentration of DHEA that in turn caused glucose intolerance and a deterioration of the diabetes prior to admission. Glucocorticoid therapy may be beneficial in Crow-Fukase syndrome to improve the distorted metabolism of DHEA with no adverse effect on the diabetes.

Aromatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Kupffer cell targeting by intraportal injection of the HVJ cationic liposome.

The aim of this study was to target Kupffer cells (KCs) selectively and efficiently by the intraportal injection of fusigenic cationic liposomes with hemagglutinating virus of Japan components (HVJ cationic liposomes). Phosphorothioate FITC-oligodeoxynucleotides (FITC-ODNs) encapsulated in either HVJ cationic liposomes, HVJ anionic liposomes or conventional cationic liposomes without HVJ were transferred to the rat. FITC-ODNs in HVJ cationic liposomes administered via portal vein were selectively transfected to KCs for up to 24 h with no apparent cytotoxicity at higher transfection efficiency than FITC-ODNs in conventional cationic liposomes without HVJ administered via portal vein or tail vein. On the other hand, FITC-ODNs in HVJ anionic liposomes were observed mainly in hepatocytes, not KCs. This new method will be useful for the modulation of KCs activity in both basic research and clinical applications.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of the calcium influx induced by depolarization of guinea pig cochlear spiral ganglion cells.

We examined dynamic changes in intracellular calcium ion concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in isolated cochlear spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) of the guinea pig using digital imaging microscopy and the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescence dye fura-2. [Ca2+]i in SGCs was 83 +/- 22 nM (n = 50, means +/- SD) in cell somata at the resting state. Reversible increases in [Ca2+]i were elicited during membrane depolarization by high K+ (150 mM). This increase in [Ca2+]i was not observed under conditions of depolarization in Ca(2+)-free medium containing 1 mM EGTA. In addition, these increases in [Ca2+]i were sensitive to L-type calcium channel ligands, viz., antagonized by nifedipine (50 microM), verapamil (10 microM) and enhanced by BAY K 8644 (1 microM). These observations suggest that increases in [Ca2+]i of cochlear SGCs induced by high K+ are due to an influx of extracellular Ca2+, probably through voltage-gated L-type calcium channels.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in cultured human mucosal microvascular endothelial cells from the nasal inferior turbinate.

Human mucosal microvascular endothelial cells (HMMECs) were isolated and cultured from the mucosa of nasal inferior turbinates. These cells were identified by human factor-VIII antigen and UEA-I. We also investigated alterations in intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i, in HMMECs using the Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fura-2. Depolarization by high K+ (150 mM) induced no changes in [Ca2+]i in HMMECs, thereby indicating the lack of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in these cells. Extracellular ATP increased [Ca2+]i in HMMECs both in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca2+. These results suggest that ATP may induce a release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores in HMMECs. Adenosine induced no changes in [Ca2+]i in HMMECs. It is thus likely that HMMECs obtained from the nasal inferior turbinate may carry P2-purinoceptors but not P1-purinoceptors.

Calcium↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Calcium distribution and mobilization during depolarization in single cochlear hair cells. Imaging microscopy and fura-2.

Intracellular distribution of cytoplasm-free Ca2+ concentrations ((Ca2+)i) and dynamic changes during stimulation of viable hair cells were studied using digital imaging microscopy and the Ca2(+)-sensitive dye fura-2. (Ca2+)i was visualized on pseudo-colour images and three-dimensional computer graphics. In the resting state, the intra-cellular distribution of (Ca2+)i in both the outer and inner hair cells was heterogeneous, and the amount of (Ca2+)i in most of the peripheral cytoplasm just beneath the plasma membrane was greater than that throughout the entire cytoplasm. Cell depolarization, induced by elevated K+, led to an increase in (Ca2+)i in the outer hair cells. The increase in (Ca2+)i was not observed under conditions of depolarization in Ca2(+)-free medium. These observations are interpreted to mean that the increase in (Ca2+)i is induced by depolarization with the result that there is an influx of extracellular Ca2+ into the cytoplasm. When Mn2+ was applied during depolarization, a fluorescence quenching occurred. By such means the site of Ca2+ channels was elucidated.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Rate-limiting steps in cytochrome P-450-catalysed reactions: studies on isotope effects in the O-de-ethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin.

Primary deuterium isotope effects ranging from 2 to 6 were measured for the O-de-ethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin catalysed by microsomal and purified cytochrome P-450 isozymes. Interpretation of the observed deuterium isotope effect in terms of the contribution of the C-H bond-cleavage step to the overall rate requires the determination of the intrinsic isotope effect. Evidence is presented that at least one irreversible step occurs before C-H bond cleavage which kinetically divides the cytochrome P-450 reaction cycle into two portions. Intermolecular primary isotope effects are shown to provide kinetic information only about steps following the irreversible step. Consequently, the isotope effect may be a measure of the rate limitation imposed by the C-H bond-cleavage step in the sequence of events following the irreversible step but be totally independent of other slow steps preceding the irreversible step. These results indicate that multiple rate-limiting steps may exist in cytochrome P-450-catalysed reactions.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗