Safety of high doses of Propionibacterium freudenreichii ET-3 culture in healthy adult subjects.

Propionibacterium freudenreichii ET-3 (7025) culture, a cell-free product of whey fermentation by P. freudenreichii ET-3, has been shown to promote the growth of Bifidobacteria through the action of 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (DHNA). Here we report the results of two clinical studies designed to evaluate the safety of high doses of P.

Recognition of T cell epitopes unique to Cha o 2, the major allergen in Japanese cypress pollen, in allergic patients cross-reactive to Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress pollen.

Background: Pollens from species of the Cupressaceae family are one of the most important causes of respiratory allergies worldwide. Many patients with pollinosis have specific IgE to both allergens from Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress pollen. We set out to identify T cell epitopes in Cha o 2, the second major allergen of Japanese cypress pollen.

Identification of human T cell epitopes in Japanese cypress pollen allergen, Cha o 1, elucidates the intrinsic mechanism of cross-allergenicity between Cha o 1 and Cry j 1, the major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen, at the T cell level.

Background: Pollens from species of Cupressaceae family are one of the most important causes of respiratory allergies worldwide. In Japan, many patients with pollinosis have specific IgE to both pollens of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). The sequences between Cha o 1 and Cry j 1, the major allergens of Japanese cypress and Japanese cedar pollens, respectively, are 80% identical.

Inhibitory effects of Bifidobacterium longum on experimental ulcerative colitis induced in mice by synthetic dextran sulfate sodium.

Background/aims: The relationship between alterations in intestinal microflora and ulcerative colitis is still not clear. Whether improvement in bacterial populations might be a new strategy for prevention or treatment needs to be tested.

Methods: Ulcerative colitis was induced in mice by oral administration of synthetic dextran sulfate sodium (molecular weight 54,000).

[Multiple lung cancer with cavity; report of a case].

A case of multiple lung cancer with cavity was reported. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography (CT) showed two abnormal shadows with consolidation in the right S1 and S2b. The shadow in S2b had a cavity.

[Contralateral pneumothorax after pneumonectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma; report of a case].

A case of contralateral pneumothorax after pneumonectomy was reported. Intrathoracic drainage was performed and pneumothorax was healed. Recurrent pneumothorax was occurred in this patient and intrathoracic drainage was performed again and pneumothorax was healed.

Effect of transfection with human interferon-beta gene entrapped in cationic multilamellar liposomes in combination with 5-fluorouracil on the growth of human esophageal cancer cells in vitro.

When human esophageal cancer cells were transfected with the human interferon-beta (hIFN-beta) gene entrapped in cationic multilamellar liposomes, the growth of all cancer cells tested was suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the hIFN-beta gene entrapped in the liposomes ranged from 16 to 176 ng plasmid DNA/ml culture medium. Among the 10 cell lines examined, NUEC3, NUEC4, TE-3 and WSSC cell lines were highly susceptible to transfection with this gene entrapped in the liposomes.

The acceleration of cosmic-ray protons in the supernova remnant RX J1713.7-3946.

Protons with energies up to approximately 10(15) eV are the main component of cosmic rays, but evidence for the specific locations where they could have been accelerated to these energies has been lacking. Electrons are known to be accelerated to cosmic-ray energies in supernova remnants, and the shock waves associated with such remnants, when they hit the surrounding interstellar medium, could also provide the energy to accelerate protons. The signature of such a process would be the decay of pions (pi(0)), which are generated when the protons collide with atoms and molecules in an interstellar cloud: pion decay results in gamma-rays with a particular spectral-energy distribution.

Effects of interferon-beta in combination with 5-fluorouracil on the growth of esophageal cancer cells in vitro.

The possible antiproliferative potency of human recombinant interferon-beta (hIFN-beta) towards ten human esophageal cancer cell lines was examined in comparison with the activity of the factor towards human malignant melanoma cell lines. The cell growth of esophageal cancer cell lines was inhibited by hIFN-beta in a dose- and time- dependent manner. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of hIFN-beta on nine cell lines out of ten ranged between 23 to 332 IU/ml of culture medium.

A novel putative transmembrane protein, IZP6, is expressed in neural cells during embryogenesis.

Gene trapping in mouse embryonic stem cells is an efficient method for identifying new genes and examining their functions. This method has been used in an effort to identify some novel genes involved in mouse development. In the present paper, one such gene named IZP6 is reported.

Novel nucleolar protein, midnolin, is expressed in the mesencephalon during mouse development.

Using the gene trap method and the selection of embryonic stem cells in vitro, we have identified several novel genes involved in mouse development. The detailed analysis of one of these, named midnolin (midbrain nucleolar protein), is reported here. Expression of the midnolin gene is developmentally regulated: it is strongly expressed at the mesencephalon (midbrain) of the embryo in day 12.

Purification, identification, and cDNA cloning of Jun a 2, the second major allergen of mountain cedar pollen.

The second major allergen of Juniperus ashei (mountain cedar) pollen, Jun a 2, has been purified and its cDNA cloned. The purified protein has a molecular mass of 43 kDa and its N-terminal 9-residue amino acid sequence is highly homologous to those of Cry j 2 and Cha o 2, the second major allergen of Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa pollen, respectively. cDNA clones encoding Jun a 2 were isolated after PCR based amplification, and their nucleotide sequences were determined.

[Treatment of solid tumor by a direct electric current].

This is a case report of a 37-year-old Japanese married female with laryngeal sarcoma, treated by direct electric current so as to obtain remission for more than 4 years without signs of recurrence. Due to her hoarseness and laryngeal numb feeling she underwent a laryngeal examination including a biopsy, resulting in a diagnosis of sarcoma. She refused a total laryngectomy and was given Cobalt treatment of 40 Grey.

Peptide specificity, HLA class II restriction, and T-cell subsets of the T-cell clones specific to either Cry j 1 or Cry j 2, the major allergens of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen.

Background: Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 are thought to be the major allergens of Japanese cedar pollen. HLA class II types capable of presenting T-cell epitopes in both allergens and their role in induction of T-cell subsets are not well known.

Methods: CD4+ T (Th)-cell clones (TCCs) specific to either Cry j 1 or Cry j 2 were generated.

T cell epitopes in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen allergens: choice of major T cell epitopes in Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 toward design of the peptide-based immunotherapeutics for the management of Japanese cedar pollinosis.

Japanese cedar pollinosis is caused by exposure to Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen, of which two components, Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, are believed to be the major allergens. T cell lines specific to either Cry j 1 or rCry j 2 were reactive to various portions of each panel of overlapping peptides derived from Cry j 1 or Cry j 2. Two peptides, p211-225 and p108-120, from among six major T cell epitopes identified in Cry j 1 sequence, and three peptides, p182-200, p344-355, and p66-80, from among five in Cry j 2, were chosen to design an artificial polypeptide (named Cry-consensus) based on a difference among the types of the restriction molecules capable of presenting these peptides.

Comparison of specificity between IgG, IgE and T cells to three casein components: implication for the role of circulating allergen-specific T cells in food allergy.

In order to investigate the role of food antigen-specific T cells circulating in the blood of patients with food allergy, we compared T cell response to three casein components (alpha s-, beta- and, kappa-casein) with specificities of IgG and IgE binding to the casein components in four milk-allergic patients (P1-4) with atopic dermatitis. In all patients the binding activities of IgG antibodies to alpha s-casein were most dominant, followed by those to beta- and to kappa-casein. The major component of casein bound by IgE antibodies was alpha s-casein in P1 and P3, kappa-casein in P2, and alpha s-casein as well as kappa-casein in P4; the order of casein components bound by IgE antibodies was different from that by IgG antibodies.

Establishment and characterization of ovalbumin-specific T cell lines from patients with egg allergy.

In order to investigate T cell recognition of allergens in hen egg allergy, we have established 30 ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T cell lines (TCLs) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 6 patients with atopic dermatitis, who are positive for IgE antibodies to OVA and clinically allergic to hen egg, and characterized them for their cytokine production pattern. All TCLs we could study were mainly composed of CD4+ T cells. Most TCLs produced significant amounts of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-5 but no or very little interferon gamma on antigen stimulation, suggesting that these TCLs belong to TH2-type T cells.

Allergenic epitopes of ovalbumin (OVA) in patients with hen's egg allergy: inhibition of basophil histamine release by haptenic ovalbumin peptide.

We studied allergenic determinants that induce hypersensitivity to OVA, the major allergen in egg allergy, using immunoblot and histamine release assays. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated a part of the OVA epitope was in the C-terminal region comprising residues 347-385 (OVA347-385). Histamine was released from basophils of a patient with egg allergy upon stimulation with the OVA fragment corresponding to OVA347-385.

Preferential recognition of primary protein structures of alpha-casein by IgG and IgE antibodies of patients with milk allergy.

We studied the binding activities of IgE and IgG antibodies in patients with allergy to cow milk proteins, against different alpha-casein preparations: alpha-casein treated with urea, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS); or heat-denatured alpha-casein. The binding activities of IgE and IgG antibodies to these denatured alpha-casein preparations were compared with those to native alpha-casein. The binding activities of IgE and IgG antibodies to these denatured alpha-casein preparations were similar to those to native alpha-casein although the binding activities of IgG antibodies to these denatured alpha-casein preparations were relatively heterogeneous compared with those of IgE antibodies.

Identification of the disease-related T cell epitope of ovalbumin and epitope-targeted T cell inactivation in egg allergy.

An ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T cell line (TCL) was established from a patient with hen egg allergy. The TCL was CD4+, expressed alpha beta T cell receptor, and recognized OVA presented by HLA-DR10. Based on the response of the TCL to synthetic OVA peptides, it was found that the TCL recognized OVA 323-339, which is a major T cell epitope presented by murine I-Ad.

Specificities of IgE, IgG and IgA antibodies to ovalbumin. Comparison of binding activities to denatured ovalbumin or ovalbumin fragments of IgE antibodies with those of IgG or IgA antibodies.

We studied the binding activities of IgE, IgG and IgA antibodies in patients with allergy to hen's egg white against two different ovalbumin (OVA) preparations, which were physically or chemically denatured OVA and enzyme-digested OVA fragments. The binding activities of IgE antibodies to these OVA preparations with those of IgG or IgA antibodies were compared. It was found that the binding activities of IgE antibodies to denatured OVA by treatment with dithiothreitol, urea or hydrochloric acid were similar to those of IgG or IgA antibodies.

[Analysis of ovalbumin-specific T cell lines established from patients with hen egg allergy].

Ten ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T cell lines (TCLs) were established from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 6 patients with hen egg allergy, and the antigen recognition of these TCLs was characterized. Two OVA epitopes were determined by use of 3 synthetic OVA peptides which have been known as murine T cell epitopes. Blocking of antigen-specific T cell proliferation by anti-HLA class II monoclonal antibodies suggest that all 3 HLA class II molecules could act as restriction elements for T cell recognition of OVA.

Comparison of the IgG subclass distribution of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies in healthy subjects with that in patients with chronic thyroiditis.

The IgG subclass distribution of anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies in patients with chronic thyroiditis and in healthy subjects has been investigated. Anti-TPO antibodies in sera of patients with chronic thyroiditis were predominantly associated with IgG1, with a lesser contribution by IgG4 and IgG3. In contrast, anti-TPO antibodies of healthy subjects were exclusively associated with IgG4.

Maleylated human serum albumin inhibits HIV-1 infection in vitro.

Maleylated-human serum albumin (Mal-HSA) inhibited human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection of MT-4 cells in vitro. It was also found to inhibit the fusion between uninfected CD4+ cells (Molt-4 clone 8 cells) and HIV-1 infected cells (Molt-4/HIV-1) to form syncytia. To investigate the mechanism of the inhibition, a study was designed to determine whether Mal-HSA could bind to CD4+ cells.

An immunomodulatory protein, Ling Zhi-8, facilitates cellular interaction through modulation of adhesion molecules.

Ling Zhi-8 (LZ-8), a novel immunomodulatory protein, markedly enhanced the expression of CD11b, but not CD11a, CD13, CD14, CD18, CD33 or HLA-DR, on the U937 cell line in a dose-dependent fashion. It also induced ICAM-1 expression on vascular endothelial cells and significantly augmented gamma - interferon-induced cellular binding between vascular endothelial cells and U937. Furthermore, LZ-8 increased the expression of CD2, but not VLA4, VLA5 or LFA3, on MOLT4 and enhanced rosette formation between human T cells and sheep red blood cells.