Different type and localization of CD44 on surface membrane of regenerative renal tubular epithelial cells in vivo.

Background: CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein comprising an extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail. Previous studies demonstrated that CD44 was generally restricted to lateral-basal plasma membrane (PM) of epithelial cells, whether it localized on apical PM in vivo has not been clarified.

Methods: In this study, we used a gentamicin-induced acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and spontaneous recovery model in rats and two distinct antibodies, an anti-rat distal extracellular domain (OX49) of standard CD44 (CD44-OX49) and an anti-rat CD44 cytoplasmic tail (CD44CPT), to survey the localization of CD44-OX49 and CD44CPT on the PM in renal tubular epithelial cells in different recovery stages after ATN with immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron-microscopic examinations.

Rat liver-targeted naked plasmid DNA transfer by tail vein injection.

High levels of foreign gene expression in mouse hepatocytes can be achieved by "hydrodynamics-based transfection," the rapid injection of a large volume of a naked deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) solution into the tail vein. Rats are more tolerant of the frequent phlebotomies required for monitoring blood parameters than mice and, thus, are more suitable for some biomedical research. Recently, we demonstrated that hydrodynamics-based transfection can also be used to deliver naked plasmid DNA into the normal rat, which is more than 10 times larger than the mouse.

Generation of B220low B cells and production of autoantibodies in mice with experimental amyloidosis: association of primordial T cells with this phenomenon.

To investigate the immunological state in amyloidosis, mice were twice intraperitoneally injected (2-week interval) with casein emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. Two weeks after the treatment, amyloid deposits were detected in the spleen and other organs of these mice. The number of lymphocytes yielded by the liver and spleen increased significantly.

Kidney-targeted naked DNA transfer by retrograde injection into the renal vein in mice.

We recently developed a novel kidney-targeted gene transfer technique in rats, using the retrograde renal vein injection of naked plasmid DNA. Many animal disease models are created in mice by transgenic or knockout technologies. However, it is much harder to perform renal vein injection in mice than in rats because they have a thin and short vein.

Patient with diffuse mesangial and endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis with hypocomplementemia and elevated anti-streptolysin O treated with prednisolone, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and angiotensin II receptor antagonist.

A 24-year-old woman was admitted to Toyosaka Hospital with proteinuria, hematuria, lymphopenia, hypocomplementemia, positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), and elevation of anti-streptolysin O (ASO). Renal biopsy specimen revealed diffuse mesangial and endocapillary glomerulonephritis with crescent formation and duplication of the capillary loop on light microscopic examination. Mild to moderate proliferation of mesangial matrix and cells were observed.

Microfocus computed tomography analysis of early changes in bone microstructure in rats with chronic renal failure.

Background/aims: Little is known about the microstructural changes in bone tissue in the early phase of chronic renal failure (CRF). In this study, we analyzed the bone tissue in a rat model of early CRF using a high-resolution X-ray tomographic system, i.e.

Glycosaminoglycans enhance the trifluoroethanol-induced extension of beta 2-microglobulin-related amyloid fibrils at a neutral pH.

beta(2)-Microglobulin-related (A beta 2M) amyloidosis is a frequent and serious complication in patients on long-term dialysis, and beta(2)-microglobulin is a major structural component of A beta 2M amyloid fibrils. Several biologic molecules inhibiting the depolymerization of A beta 2M amyloid fibrils at a neutral pH were found recently. The effect of trifluoroethanol and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) on the extension of the fibrils at a neutral pH was investigated with the use of fluorescence spectroscopy with thioflavin T, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and electron microscopy.

[Susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from patients with lower respiratory infectious diseases to antibiotics (2001)].

From October 2001 to September 2002, we collected the specimen from 370 patients with lower respiratory tract infections in 16 institutions in Japan, and investigated the susceptibilities of the isolated bacteria to various antibacterial agents and antibiotics and patients' characteristics. Of 458 strains that were isolated from specimen (mainly from sputum) and assumed to be bacteria causing in inflammation, 456 strains were investigated. The breakdown of the isolated bacteria were: Staphylococcus aureus 69, Streptococcus pneumoniae 72, Haemophilus influenzae 85, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid) 44, P.

Development of hungry bone syndrome after rapid lowering of PTH with intravenous maxacalcitol therapy in a patient with non-uremic secondary hyperparathyroidism.

A 41 year-old woman complained of general bone pain and polyuria. She did not have Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. Laboratory examination revealed hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and an elevation of serum intact PTH concentration.

The duration of signaling through CD40 directs biological ability of dendritic cells to induce antitumor immunity.

Although it has been demonstrated that the functions of dendritic cells (DCs), including Ag capture, Ag presentation, and migratory activity, change dynamically with their maturation, the most appropriate conditioning of DCs for anticancer immunotherapy is still unclear. The help signal is one of the most potent stimuli for DC maturation and is provided by the interaction of CD40 expressed on DCs with CD40 ligand on CD4(+) T cells. To elucidate the appropriate conditioning of DCs for anticancer immunotherapy, we examined the biological activity of DCs stimulated with immobilized anti-CD40 Ab.

Efficacy of fluticasone propionate compared with beclomethasone dipropionate in bronchial asthma: improvement in compliance and symptoms by fluticasone.

Recent studies have shown that fluticasone propionate (FP) was more effective than beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) inhalation even at a dose reduced by twofold or more in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Here, we further compared the effectiveness of FP and BDP, including rates of drug compliance. Forty-two symptomatic patients were treated by BDP (1000 +/- 345; mean +/- SD; microgram/day) for 8 weeks, followed by FP at one-half the respective dose, and peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume in 1 second were investigated.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma C161T polymorphisms and survival of Japanese patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) plays an important role in lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, atherogenesis, and immune regulation. A genetic polymorphism (C161T) at exon 6 of PPAR gamma gene (PPARG) was reported to be associated with the onset of coronary artery disease. However, there has been no report of an association with renal disease.

Four cases of pheochromocytoma in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Although pheochromocytoma in a patient with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is considered extremely rare, we recently encountered 4 ESRD patients with pheochromocytoma. Three were symptomatic, and in the fourth patient the tumor was discovered as an adrenal incidentaloma. Plasma catecholamine levels were significantly increased in two patients.

Infection-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in a diabetic patient undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is an uncommon but severe illness associated with a variety of infections, malignant tumors, and autoimmune diseases. We report a case of infection-associated HPS in a patient receiving chronic hemodialysis. Peptostreptococcus-induced sepsis and abscess formation in the left iliopsoas muscle led to the onset of infection-associated HPS in this patient.

Circulating 1-84 PTH and large C-terminal PTH fragment levels in uremia.

Background: The so-called "intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH)" assay detects large C-terminal PTH fragments that are lacking several N-terminal amino acid residues in addition to 1-84 PTH molecules.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 65 predialysis patients (male, 35; female, 30) and 109 dialysis patients (male, 73; female, 36). The plasma 1-84 PTH levels were determined by a specific immunoradiometric assay (IRMA).

[Cyclosporin improved pure red cell aplasia associated with thymoma and tended to decrease thymoma size: a case report].

The case was a 56-year-old man who underwent extended thymothymectomy in 1993 because of an invasive thymoma classified as Masaoka IIa. The tumor was disseminated through the right thoracic cavity in 1994. Although the chemotherapy was repeated, the disseminated thymoma tended to increase in size.

[Two cases of interstitial pneumonia with anti-Jo-1 antibodies in the absence of myositis].

We present two cases of interstitial pneumonia with anti-Jo-1 antibodies in the absence of myositis. The first patient was a 38-year-old woman and the second, a 59-year-old woman. Both patients were admitted to our hospital complaining of dry cough and dyspnea on effort.

Hepatic lipase mutation may reduce vascular disease prevalence in hemodialysis patients with high CETP levels.

Background: Uremic dyslipidemia characterized by reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels is one of the major contributors to the high incidence of cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients. Hepatic lipase (HL), together with cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), may not only promote reverse cholesterol transport but also enhance production of small, dense, more atherogenic low-density lipoprotein (LDL). A common C-514T mutation of the promoter region of the HL gene reportedly increases HDL cholesterol levels.

Hydrodynamics-based transfer of PCR-amplified DNA fragments into rat liver.

A high level of plasmid DNA expression in rat liver can be achieved by the rapid injection of a large volume of a naked DNA solution into the tail vein, called the 'hydrodynamics-based procedure.' The preparation of PCR-amplified DNA fragments is easier than that of naked DNA. In this paper we evaluated the effects of expressing the erythropoietin (Epo) gene in the rat liver by injecting fCAGGS-Epo, an Epo-expressing PCR-amplified DNA fragment, via the tail vein.

Phase I/II study of daily carboplatin, 5-fluorouracil and concurrent radiation therapy for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

A study was undertaken to determine the maximum tolerated dose, the dose-limiting toxicities and the response rate of carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil administered daily with concurrent thoracic radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. In a phase I/II clinical trial, patients with histologically documented, unresectable stage IIIA or IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were enrolled. Carboplatin (20-40 mg m(-2) 2-h infusion, daily) and 5-fluorouracil (200 mg m(-2) 24-h continuous infusion, daily) were administered concurrently with radiotherapy on days 1-33.

Genetic polymorphism of NPHS1 modifies the clinical manifestations of Ig A nephropathy.

Nephrin, the molecule responsible for congenital nephrotic syndrome of Finnish type, is crucial in maintaining the glomerular filtration barrier. Recently, its complete gene structure and common gene polymorphisms in its exons have been reported, although the functional and clinical significance of these polymorphisms has not yet been elucidated. We investigated a possible association of the NPHS1 polymorphisms with the development of Ig A nephropathy (IgAN), as well as the clinical and histologic manifestations in IgAN.

Effects of erythropoietin-gene electrotransfer in rats with adenine-induced renal failure.

Background: We previously demonstrated that erythropoietin (Epo) expression increases in five-sixths nephrectomized rats, after muscle-targeted gene transfer by in vivo electroporation, using plasmid DNA expressing rat Epo (pCAGGS-Epo). Here, we apply this method to a rat model with severe anemia associated with chronic renal failure; these rats have hematocrit levels in the 30-35% range, similar to those in humans with end-stage renal disease.

Methods: Wistar rats were treated to produce adenine-induced uremia.

Glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan inhibit the depolymerization of beta2-microglobulin amyloid fibrils in vitro.

Background: Although several kinds of evidence suggest that glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs) may contribute to the development of beta2-microglobulin-related (Abeta2m) amyloidosis, the precise roles of these molecules for the development of Abeta2m amyloidosis are poorly understood.

Methods: We investigated the effects of GAGs and PGs on the depolymerization of Abeta2m amyloid fibrils at a neutral pH, as well as on the formation of the fibrils at an acidic pH in vitro, using fluorescence spectroscopy with thioflavin T and electron microscopy.

Results: Depolymerization of Abeta2m amyloid fibrils at pH 7.

Angiotensinogen gene variation and renoprotective efficacy of renin-angiotensin system blockade in IgA nephropathy.

Background: Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is well documented to be renoprotective; however, not all patients with glomerulonephritis respond well to this therapy. The interindividual variation in response to the RAS blockade may be in part genetically determined, whereas the results have been controversial.

Methods: We investigated whether the therapeutic efficacy of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blocker on renal prognosis is modified by the angiotensinogen gene (AGT) polymorphism in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).