A case of antiepiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid successfully treated by plasmapheresis.

We report the case of a 73-year-old Japanese woman suffering from antiepiligrin (laminin 5) cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) with typical clinical and immunopathological features. Histologically, the lesional mucous membrane showed a subepidermal blister formation. When indirect immunofluorescence techniques with skin split by 1 M NaCl as the substrate were used, the patient's serum reacted only to the dermal side.

Levandoski panographic analysis in the diagnosis of hyperplasia of the coronoid process.

The Levandoski panographic analysis of routine panoramic radiographs was developed to improve the diagnosis of hyperplasia of the coronoid process. The ratio of the length of the coronoid process to the condylar process in the Levandoski panographic analysis has a linear relationship with that in the cephalometric analysis (r = 0.75, n = 59).

A study of the efficacy of plasmapheresis for the treatment of drug induced toxic epidermal necrolysis.

The efficacy of plasmapheresis for the treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) in our patient and related reports in the literature were examined. The patient, a 41-year-old female, was diagnosed as having drug (Sedes-G [isopropylantipyrin, arylisopropylacetoureid, and phenacetinum]) induced TEN. Upon admission to our hospital, extensive corticostroid therapy was initiated.

Local injection of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) alters cyclic growth of murine hair follicles.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) has recently been shown to stimulate the hair follicle growth of mouse vibrissae in vitro. In this study, we analyzed the effect of cutaneous injections of recombinant human HGF/SF on hair follicle growth using mice in different hair cycle stages. Five male newborn mice, five male mice in second anagen, and five male mice in second telogen were administered a dorsal intradermal injection of 1 microg HGF/SF dissolved in 0.

Plasmapheresis for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid.

Forty-two cases of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) were treated with plasmapheresis by one of 3 techniques: centrifugation, double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP), or a combination of the two. Each plasmapheresis resulted in a rapid reduction in the autoantibody titer and an improvement in clinical symptoms, thereby allowing a lower dose of corticosteroid to be administered and remission to be achieved. These findings suggest that plasmapheresis is an effective treatment for PV and BP patients who have been unresponsive to conventional therapy, for those for whom conventional drugs are contraindicated due to complications, and for those who show severe clinical manifestations.

Efficient gene activation system on mammalian cell chromosomes using recombinant adenovirus producing Cre recombinase.

To develop a method for activating genes located on cell chromosomes, an on/off switching unit regulated by the site-specific recombinase Cre was constructed. The switching unit was designed to express firstly the neo gene and secondly the reporter lacZ gene by Cre-mediated excisional deletion of the neo gene. CV1 cell lines bearing the switching unit on a cell chromosome were isolated and activation of the lacZ gene was examined after infection with a Cre-producing recombinant adenovirus.

Effects of H(1)-antagonists on discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine and methamphetamine in rats.

The effects of H(1)-antagonists, such as tripelennamine, chlorpheniramine and pyrilamine, on the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine and methamphetamine in rats were examined. Rats were trained to discriminate between cocaine (10mg/kg, i.p.

Efficient generation of recombinant adenoviruses using adenovirus DNA-terminal protein complex and a cosmid bearing the full-length virus genome.

An efficient method of constructing recombinant adenoviruses (Ads) has been established. The expression unit to be introduced into recombinant Ad was first inserted into the unique Swa I site of the full-length Ad genome cloned in a cassette cosmid. The cassette bearing the expression unit was then cotransfected into human embryonic kidney 293 cells together with the Ad DNA-terminal protein complex digested at several sites with Eco T22I or Ase I/EcoRI.

Induction of antibodies against structural proteins of hepatitis C virus in mice using recombinant adenovirus.

Replication-deficient recombinant adenoviruses expressing structural proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were constructed. Each recombinant lacks adenoviral E1A and E3 genes and bears expression units for HCV structural proteins. The expression units contain HCV cDNAs coding for either the protein or core, one of two envelopes (E1 and E2) or all of these structural proteins (core, E1 and E2) under the control of the SR alpha promoter.

In vitro study on the removal of pemphigus antibody with immunoadsorption.

The adsorbability of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) antibodies to immunoadsorbent with phenylalanine, tryptophan, and dextran sulfate as ligands was examined. PV antibodies were adsorbed to immunoadsorbents with both phenylalanine and tryptophan as ligands, in batchwise adsorption and column adsorption. PV antibodies were not adsorbed to immunoadsorbent with dextran sulfate as ligand, in column adsorption.

The effect of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor on human hair follicle growth.

The effect of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) on human hair follicle growth was examined using a serum-free organ culture system. The DNA synthesis in human hair follicles and elongation of the hair shaft were measured subsequent to the follicle isolation and culture at 31 degrees C in 95% O2-5% CO2 for 72 h. Results showed that HGF/SF significantly increased 3H-thymidine (P < 0.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor expressed in follicular papilla cells stimulates human hair growth in vitro.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a multifunctional polypeptide which acts as mitogen, motogen, or morphogen. In this study, we examined the effect of HGF/SF on human hair growth using organ and cell culture systems. HGF/SF was found to stimulate hair length and DNA synthesis in hair follicles at increasing concentrations up to 10 ng/ml (P < 0.

Effects of the histaminergic system on the morphine-induced conditioned place preference in mice.

The effects of an H2 receptor antagonist, a histidine decarboxylase inhibitor and a histamine precursor on the morphine-induced place preference in mice were examined. Morphine (1-7 mg/kg) produced a place preference in a dose-dependent manner. This morphine-induced place preference was significantly antagonized by the dopamine (DA) D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390.

Effects of salivary immune response to Streptococcus mutans on caries occurrence and caries development in mice with autoimmune disease.

MRL/l strain mice, which possess a lymphoproliferative gene inducing swelling of systemic lymph nodes, develop a SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus)-like syndrome at around 8 w of age. MRL/n mice, which carry 99.6% of the genes of MRL/l mice, lack the gene for lymphoproliferation and exhibit only a slight degree of lymph node swelling late in life.

Double filtration plasmapheresis enhances neutrophil chemotactic responses in hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome.

The patient, a 32-year-old male, was diagnosed as having hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome and was subsequently treated with double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP). The patient showed a defective chemotaxis with reference to polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the presence of chemotactic inhibitor in his serum. By the fifth treatment with DFPP, chemotactic responses had improved, and there was no further evidence of chemotactic inhibitor in his serum.

An attempt to treat intractable skin ulcers with autologous dermal graft.

Five patients with a total of seven chronic intractable skin ulcers and impaired peripheral blood circulation were treated with autologous dermal grafts which did not contain any epidermal component. These ulcers were refractory to conventional therapy. Results from the dermal grafting were variable, with four of the ulcers (in two patients) healing 1-8 months after 1-5 graftings.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor stimulates hair growth of mouse vibrissae in organ culture.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a multifunctional polypeptide that acts as a mitogen, motogen, or morphogen, depending on the biologic context. In this study, we examined the effect of HGF/SF on hair growth using a serum-free organ culture system. Vibrissal hair follicles isolated from newborn mice were cultured at 31 degrees C in 95% O2/5% CO2 for 72 h in the presence of various cytokines or growth factors, and elongation of hair shaft, DNA, and protein synthesis in hair follicles were measured.

The effect of various cytokines on hair growth of mouse vibrissae in organ culture.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF) is a multifunctional polypeptide which acts as a mitogen, motogen or morphogen depending on the biological context. In this study, we examined the effect of HGF on hair growth using a serum-free organ culture system. Vibrissal hair follicles isolated from newborn mice were cultured at 31 degrees C in 95% O2-5%CO2 for 72 h in the presence of various cytokines or growth factors.

Stoichiometry of the reaction catalyzed by skin sulfhydryl oxidase.

The stoichiometry of the reaction catalyzed by skin sulfhydryl oxidase was investigated. Dithiothreitol (DTT) was used as the substrate for skin sulfhydryl oxidase. The consumption of DTT, consumption of oxygen, and production of hydrogen peroxide were measured during the enzyme reaction.

The differential effects of histamine receptor antagonists on morphine- and U-50,488H-induced antinociception in the mouse.

The effects of thioperamide, an H3 antagonist, and histamine H1 and H2 antagonists (s.c.) on morphine (s.

Changes in populations of HLA-DR+CD3+ cells and CD57-CD16+ cells in alopecia areata after corticosteroid therapy.

We investigated the populations of activated T (HLA-DR+CD3+) cells and natural killer (CD57-CD16+) cells in the peripheral blood of patients with various types of alopecia areata (AA) and noted any changes that occurred in the said populations after administration of local and systemic corticosteroid therapy. In type 2 (severe multiple AA and alopecia totalis) and type 3 (alopecia universalis), the mean percentages of HLA-DR+CD3+ cells and CD57-CD16+ cells were significantly higher when compared with those of the normal controls. The percentages of both subsets in type 1 (mild AA) and the normal controls were consistent.

Organ culture of mouse vibrissal hair follicles in serum-free medium.

We developed a method for organ culture of mouse vibrissal hair follicles in a serum-free medium. Cultures conducted at 31 degrees C in 95% O2-5% CO2 were found to be suitable for the follicles, with several findings of considerable interest pertaining to hair growth. During the 96 h culture period, the length of the isolated follicles significantly increased; the hair bulb cells maintained their normal morphology; and DNA and protein synthesis within the bulb increased time-dependently.

Skin proteasomes (high-molecular-weight protease): purification, enzymologic properties, gross structure, and tissue distribution.

Proteasomes (high-molecular-weight protease) were purified from rat skin, and their enzymologic properties, gross structure, and tissue distribution were investigated. Skin proteasomes were purified by successive (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and by phenyl Sepharose CL-4B and HPLC gel filtration chromatography. The molecular weights of the proteasomes were estimated from gel filtration to be 750 kD.