The critical role of ocular-infiltrating macrophages in the development of choroidal neovascularization.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is directly related to visual loss in some eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration. Although several human histological studies have suggested the participation of macrophages in CNV formation, the precise mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this study, we elucidated the role of ocular-infiltrating macrophages in experimental CNV using CCR2 knockout (KO) mice, wild-type mice, and C57BL/6 (B6) mice.

T lymphocyte subsets and Th1/Th2 balance after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery provides for a less invasive procedure than open surgery in patients with gastric cancer, but the immune responses after laparoscopic surgery for early gastric cancer remain unknown.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 20 patients with early gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) or open distal gastrectomy (ODG) were obtained; the cell surface molecules and intracellular cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-4) were measured by flow cytometry.

Results: The populations of T lymphocytes after LADG, including CD3-, 4-, 8-, 57-, and HLA-DR-positive lymphocytes, showed patterns similar to those after ODG.

Clearance of apoptotic photoreceptors: elimination of apoptotic debris into the subretinal space and macrophage-mediated phagocytosis via phosphatidylserine receptor and integrin alphavbeta3.

The effective phagocytotic clearance of apoptotic debris is fundamental to the maintenance of neural tissues during apoptosis. Retinal photoreceptors undergo apoptosis after retinal detachment. Although their induction phase of apoptosis has been well discussed, their phagocytotic process remains quite unclear.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity in sheep induced by synthetic peptides of bovine leukemia virus encapsulated in mannan-coated liposome.

Four sheep were immunized with synthesized peptides, derived from bovine leukemia virus (BLV) envelope glycoprotein, encapsulated in mannan coated liposomes as adjuvant. On the seventh day after the immunization, the sheep were intradermally challenged with BLV antigen, or synthesized peptides. The areas challenged with antigen were increased skin thickness and biopsied sequentially for immunohistological examinations.

Evaluation of urinary 8-hydroxydeoxy-guanosine as a novel biomarker of macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To evaluate urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a marker for the progression of diabetic macroangiopathic complications.

Research Design And Methods: The content of urinary 8-OHdG, common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), the coronary heart disease (CHD) risk score, the severity of diabetic retinopathy, and urinary albumin excretion were examined in 96 patients with type 2 diabetes, including 32 patients who had been nominated for the Kumamoto Study [Shichiri M, et al. Diabetes Care 23 (Suppl 2):B21-B29, 2000].

Expression of lysophosphatidic acid receptors and vascular endothelial growth factor mediating lysophosphatidic acid in the development of human ovarian cancer.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors including LPA(1), LPA(2), and LPA(3) mediate lysophosphatidic acid signals. We analyzed the expression of LPA receptors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin-8 in 97 patients from normal ovary to ovarian cancer, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. LPA(2), LPA(3), and VEGF expression ratios significantly increased in cancer, compared to those in non-cancerous state (P<0.

Successful treatment of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism by long-term intermittent administration of milrinone, a phosphodiesterase-ill inhibitor.

We report a 71-year-old man with right heart failure due to chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. Oral medications failed to control the condition but he was later successfully treated with intermittent administration of a PDE-III inhibitor for 2 years. Such therapy did not result in exacerbation of right heart failure but improvement of ANP/BNP levels to 32/104 pg/ml from a pretreatment value of 61/158 pg/ml, although no improvement was noted in pulmonary artery pressure or cardiac index.

Multiple gastric ruptures caused by blunt abdominal trauma: report of a case.

We report a rare case of four separate gastric ruptures resulting from blunt abdominal trauma that were successfully repaired by primary closure. A 22-year-old man injured in a motorcycle accident was admitted to our hospital where physical and radiological examinations confirmed the need for abdominal exploration. Laparotomy revealed four full-thickness lacerations in the anterior wall of the stomach.

Development of Vero cell-derived inactivated Japanese encephalitis vaccine.

We have established a manufacturing system for a Vero cell-derived inactivated Japanese encephalitis vaccine at a 500l scale. The production system involves expansion of Vero cells using microcarrier, followed by virus infection. Except for an additional purification step, the downstream purification processes are similar to those used for the current mouse brain-derived vaccine; cell removal, concentration and removal of low-molecular weight impurities by membrane filtration, formalin-inactivation, sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, and Sulfate-Cellulofine column chromatography are conducted.

Ocular immune privilege and CD1d-reactive natural killer T cells.

Purpose: Immune privilege in the eye is, in part, associated with the development of an antigen-specific systemic tolerance termed anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID). Natural killer T (NKT) cells express T-cell receptor and natural killer (NK) markers and are classified as innate immune cells partly because they produce cytokines within minutes of signals. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of murine NKT cells in the induction of T regulatory cells in anterior chamber-associated immune deviation.

Cooperative C(60) binding to a porphyrin tetramer arranged around a p-terphenyl axis in 1:2 host-guest stoichiometry.

[structure: see text] Porphyrin tetramer 1 was newly designed and synthesized to construct a novel cooperative [60]fullerene (C(60)) binding system. Compound 1 has a p-terphenyl axis, which is expected to act as a scaffold for a guest-binding information transducer. In toluene, 1 can bind 2 equiv of C(60) to produce a 1:2 1/C(60) complex with association constants of 5800 M(-1) (K(1)) and 2000 M(-1) (K(2)).

Sudden onset of diabetes with ketoacidosis in a patient treated with FK506/tacrolimus.

We report a 43-year-old man who presented diabetic ketoacidosis 1 year after receiving kidney transplantation. He was a recipient of renal transplantation treated with metyl-prednisolone and tacrolimus regimen. The serum level of tacrolimus was 12.

CD1d on antigen-transporting APC and splenic marginal zone B cells promotes NKT cell-dependent tolerance.

CD1d-reactive NKT cells are required for the development of antigen-specific T regulatory (Tr) cells responsible for mediating systemic tolerance induced through an immune privileged site such as the eye. The aim of this study was to elucidate the cellular source of CD1d needed for NKT cell activation. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta)-2-treated peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) functionally resemble "eye-derived" antigen-presenting cells (APC) and contribute to the generation of Tr cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Long-term survival of corneal allografts is dependent on intact CD1d-reactive NKT cells.

BALB/c mice that tolerate the allogeneic grafts develop allogeneic-specific anterior chamber-associated immune deviation. Because CD1d-reactive NKT cells are essential for anterior chamber-associated immune deviation, we postulated that the survival of C57BL/6 (B6) cornea graft in BALB/c mice was also dependent on CD1d-reactive NKT cells. The B6 corneal graft rejection rate in BALB/c vs Jalpha281 knockout (KO) mice, which lack NKT cells, was measured.

Ivermectin treatment of demodicosis in 56 hamsters.

Fifty-six hamsters with demodicosis were treated with daily oral administration of ivermectin (0.3 mg/kg). Thirty-three cases (58.

Acute rejection of orthotopic corneal xenografts in mice depends on CD4(+) T cells and self-antigen-presenting cells.

Purpose: Guinea pig corneal xenografts have been reported to be rejected acutely in eyes of normal adult mice. Rejection of this type is independent of xenoreactive antibodies, and mice deficient in CD8(+) and NK T cells are unable to reject guinea pig corneal grafts acutely. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the extent and manner by which CD4(+) T cells are responsible for rejection of orthotopic corneal xenografts.

[Treatment outcomes with vinorelbine for metastatic breast cancer patients previously treated with both doxorubicin and docetaxel].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of weekly vinorelbine (VNB) in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with both adriamycin (ADM) and docetaxel (TXT). VNB was administered weekly at the dose 20 mg/m2 by i.v.

Pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with lymphoid stroma.

Background/aims: Lymphocyte infiltration in esophageal cancer, especially when beneath intraepithelial carcinoma, is frequently seen. However, cases of esophageal cancer with a dense stromal infiltration of lymphocytes are rare and the pathogenesis of such cases has yet to be clearly demonstrated. The objective of this study is to clarify its pathogenesis.

A hydroxyapatite coating covalently linked onto a silicone implant material.

A novel composite consisting of hydroxyapatite (HAp) microparticles covalently coupled onto a silicone sheet was developed. Initially, an acrylic acid (AAc) -grafted silicone sheet with a 16.7 microg/cm(2) surface graft density was prepared by corona-discharge treatment.

Expression of RCAS1 and FasL in human trophoblasts and uterine glands during pregnancy: the possible role in immune privilege.

Pregnancy is an immunological balancing act. Trophoblasts do not express MHC class I or II, except HLA-C and G, but express Fas ligand (FasL), which confers immune privilege. RCAS1 (receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells) has recently been recognized to play a role in immune evasion of the tumour cells.

Phytophilous chironomidae (Diptera) and other macroinvertebrates in the ox-bow Infernão Lake (Jatai Ecological Station, Luiz Antonio, SP, Brazil).

Infernão Lake, located within the Jataí Ecological Station in Luiz Ant nio Municipal district (São Paulo State, Brazil), is one of the most typical ox-bow lake of the Mogi-Guaçu River, and it presents, as the main feature, its great quantity of aquatic macrophytes, whose intensive development, in the last years practically covered the whole mirror of water. With the purpose to point out the composition and to establish the relative participation of the phytophilic zoocoenosis that inhabits the different macrophytes of that lake, a collection program of the main vegetation stands was established. The collections, were carried out randomly, during dry season (1994), in stands of Salvinia auriculata, Utricularia sp.

Persistent infection with Listeria monocytogenes in the kidney induces anti-inflammatory invariant fetal-type gammadelta T cells.

After intraperitoneal inoculation with Listeria monocytogenes, gammadelta T cells appear in the peritoneal cavity preceding the appearance of alphabeta T cells. Such gammadelta T cells predominantly express T-cell receptor (TCR)Vgamma1/Vdelta6, develop through an extrathymic pathway, and contribute to host defence against the bacteria. We have observed a gradual increase in gammadelta T cells in kidneys of mice after intrarenal inoculation with L.

MIP-2 recruits NKT cells to the spleen during tolerance induction.

Peripheral tolerance occurs after intraocular administration of Ag and is dependent on an increase in splenic NKT cells. New data here show that macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) is selectively up-regulated in tolerance-conferring APCs and serves to recruit NKT cells to the splenic marginal zone, where they form clusters with APCs and T cells. In the absence of the high-affinity receptor for MIP-2 (as in CXCR2-deficient mice) or in the presence of a blocking Ab to MIP-2, peripheral tolerance is prevented, and Ag-specific T regulatory cells are not generated.