A thymic hormone protects mice from enteropathy during acute graft-versus-host disease

We have previously reported that a nonapeptide thymic hormone, facteur thymique serique (FTS), is involved in the differentiation and activation of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) in mice. In this study, we examined the effect of FTS treatment on enteropathy in a murine model for acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) induced by injection of parental C57BL/6 splenocytes into unirradiated (C57BL/6 x DBA/2) F1 hybrids. FTS treatment significantly protected mice from developing acute GVHD as assessed by mortality rate, splenomegaly and enteropathy. The infiltration of donor-derived TCR alpha beta i-IEL bearing CD8 alpha beta was significantly inhibited in the small intestine of FTS-treated mice, and the frequencies of apoptosis of crypt cells in the intestinal mucosa were decreased in these mice during acute GVHD. These results suggest that FTS treatment contributes to protection against enteropathy of acute GVHD. Thus, FTS may provide a useful approach to control acute GVHD after blood transfusion or bone marrow transplantation.     

A comparison of the grade of laryngeal visualisation;--the McCoy compared with the Macintosh and the Miller blade in adults

Effectiveness in visualization of the vocal cord during orotracheal intubation with McCoy (McC) compared with Macintosh (Min) and Miller (Mil) blades were investigated. After an institutional review board approval, 117 patients for elective surgery under general anesthesia requiring tracheal intubation were investigated. Five board certified anesthesiologists tried to visualize the vocal cord of a patient three times with the three different types of laryngoscope. Total of 351 intubation attempts were studied. The view obtained at laryngoscopy with each of the three blades was recorded as follows. Grade 1. If most of the glottis is visible. Grade 2. If only the posterior extremity of the glottis is visible. Grade 3. If no part of the glottis can be seen. Grade 4. If not even the epiglottis can be exposed. Eight-two Grade 1 views were obtained with McC, 72 with Mil and 47 with Min, respectively. Thirty-three Grade 2 views were obtained with McC, 36 with Min and 24 with Mil. Two Grade 3 views with McC, 34 with Min and 14 with Mil were obtained. Seven Grade 4 views were obtained with Mil. The grades of laryngeal visualization with McC were significantly lower than those with Min and Mil.     

Expression of endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase in human glomerulonephritis

The presence of nitric oxide (NO) in the kidney has been implicated in the pathogenesis of human glomerulonephritis. However, the exact type of glomerular cells that express NO synthase (NOS) and the NOS isoform involved in the local production of NO has not been identified in the human diseased kidney. We examined the expression of three isoforms of NOS, inducible NOS (iNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and brain NOS (bNOS) in the renal tissue of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN, N = 10), lupus nephritis (LN, N = 5), membranous nephropathy (MN, N = 5) and minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS, N = 5). Sections were immunostained and the correlation between the expression of each NOS and the degree of glomerular injury in that section was also examined. Normal portions of surgically resected kidneys served as controls. eNOS was present in glomerular endothelial cells and endothelium of cortical vessels in the control and diseased kidneys. iNOS was localized in mesangial cells, glomerular epithelial cells and infiltrating cells in the diseased glomeruli, whereas immunostaining for iNOS was hardly detected in control kidneys. In addition, the expression pattern of eNOS in each glomerulus was the reverse of that of iNOS. In IgAN and LN, the extent of staining for eNOS correlated negatively with the degree of glomerular injury, while the extent of staining for iNOS correlated positively with the degree of glomerular injury in the same tissues. bNOS was not detected in normal or nephritic glomeruli. Our results indicate the presence of a NO pathway in human diseased kidney, and suggest that NO derived from eNOS and iNOS may be involved in the progression of renal diseases and that NO derived from each NOS may play an important role in different way in human inflamed glomeruli.     

The "first generation" of endovascular stent-grafts for patients with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine whether endovascular stent-grafting is feasible and effective for patients with aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta. METHODS: Starting in July 1992, we conducted a prospective, uncontrolled clinical trial in 103 patients (mean age 69 years [range 34-89 years]) who underwent endovascular treatment of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta using a custom-fabricated, self-expanding stent-graft device. Follow-up was 100% complete and averaged 22 months. Sixty-two patients (60%) were judged not to be reasonable candidates for a conventional "open" surgical procedure. RESULTS: Complete thrombosis of the aneurysm was ultimately achieved in 86 (83%) patients. The early mortality rate was 9% +/- 3% (+/- 70% CL). Multivariable analysis revealed that myocardial infarction or stroke was linked with a higher likelihood of early death (P = .001). Early serious complications included paraplegia in 3% +/- 2% and stroke in 7% +/- 3%. Actuarial survival estimates at 1 year and 2 years were 81% +/- 4% and 73% +/- 5% (+/- 1 SE), respectively; being judged not to be a surgical candidate portended a higher probability of death (P = .003). According to the intent-to-treat principle, "treatment failure" (including all late sudden unexplained deaths) occurred in 38 patients; 53% +/- 10% of patients were free from treatment failure at 3.7 years. Stent-graft related complications occurred commonly and were linked with several anatomic, technical, and patient-related risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This 5-year clinical trial involving use of a "first generation" device indicates that endovascular stent-grafting of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms is feasible with acceptable medium-term results. More refined, commercially developed devices available today offer less traumatic and more precise stent-graft deployment; these major technical advantages, coupled with important lessons we have learned over time and better patient selection, should be associated with more salutary clinical results in the future.     

Total reflection X-ray spectroscopy as a rapid analytical method for uranium determination in drainage water

Uranium concentrations in drainage water are typically determined by α-spectrometry. However, due to the low specific radioactivity of uranium, the evaporation of large volumes of drainage water, followed by several hours of measurements, is required. Thus, the development of a rapid and simple detection method for uranium in drainage water would enhance the operation efficiency of radiation control workers. We herein propose a novel methodology based on total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) for the measurement of uranium in contaminated water. TXRF is a particularly desirable method for the rapid and simple evaluation of uranium in contaminated water, as chemical pretreatment of the sample solution is not necessary, measurement times are typically several seconds, and the required sample volume is low. We herein employed sample solutions containing several different concentrations of uranyl acetate with yttrium as an internal standard. The solutions were placed onto sample holders, and were dried prior to TXRF measurements. The relative intensity, otherwise defined as the net intensity ratio of the Lα peak of uranium to the Kα peak of yttrium, was directly proportional to the uranium concentration. Using this method, a TXRF detection limit for uranium in contaminated water of 0.30 µg/g was achieved.     

Dependence of PXR beam performance on the operation of the pulsed electron linac

Advanced applications of parametric X-ray radiation (PXR) such as energy-dispersive X-ray absorption fine structure (DXAFS) analysis and phase-contrast imaging have been developed at the Laboratory for Electron Beam Research and Application (LEBRA) of Nihon University. To improve the electron beam quality and geometrical stability of the target crystal, the cooling-water system for the linac and the PXR target was replaced with a new one capable of more precise control. As a result, the reliability of the experimental data in PXR applications, especially in X-ray imaging, has improved. The effect of the electron beam focusing on the target crystal was also investigated. The results of X-ray imaging with a long propagation distance and measurement of the time-structure of the PXR intensity suggest that the correlation between the electron beam profile and the X-ray coherence is rather complicated. It is possible that incident electrons cause some deformation of the target crystal, becoming the dominant factor restricting the quality of intense PXR.     

Effects of azelastine on the level of serum interleukin-4 and soluble CD23 antigen in the treatment of nasal allergy

Research findings and various published studies point to interleukin 4 (IL-4) and CD23 antigen as instrumental in allergic reactions of allergy patients because these two substances are part of the main triggering mechanisms in cells producing IgE antibodies. In this study it was investigated whether the control of IL-4 and CD23 levels result in a decrease of the severity of allergic reactions. It is well known that azelastine hydrochloride (AZ, CAS 79307-93-0) suppresses symptoms of nasal allergy. The antiallergic activity of this drug includes the suppression of IgE antibody production, antigen-antibody reactions, liberation of mediators and mediator antagonism. One report states that the cytokines IL-2, IL-3, and IL-4 were suppressed by AZ in cultured cells. There have been no reports regarding cytokines in clinical treatment using AZ. Therefore, the effects of AZ treatment on IL-4, soluble CD23, and RAST (radioallergosorbent test) levels in the sera of allergic rhinitis patients were studied. The results show that the levels of IL-4 and soluble CD23 were significantly reduced by the administration of AZ over a 4-week period, especially in patients with "excellent" or "good" efficacy of therapy.