New approaches to the management of acute and chronic cardiac allograft rejection

There are still many problems to be faced in the field of heart transplantation. Acute and chronic rejection are still the major medical obstacles. In this review, we describe recent research in this field undertaken in our laboratory. The induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and MHC class II antigen resulting from rejection can be visualized in vivo by radioimmunoscintigraphy. This non-invasive method is sensitive for detecting early rejection and allows quantitative assessment of rejection. Short-term administration of monoclonal antibodies to ICAM-1 and leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) results in an indefinite acceptance of cardiac allografts by induction of antigen-specific tolerance, as evidenced by acceptance of the secondary skin allografts. The characteristics and possible mechanisms of this tolerance induction are discussed. Immunohistopathologic features of graft coronary arteriopathy are shown. Adhesion molecules, cytokines, and growth factors are associated with intimal hyperplasia and phenotypic transformation of smooth muscle cells in the allograft coronary arteries. Dramatic reduction in this intimal hyperplasia was demonstrated by antisense gene therapy targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 2 kinase. We hope that these investigations will contribute to the improvement of the management of patients who undergo heart transplantation.     

Studies on chitin. VI. Binding of metal cations

The adsorption abilities of chitin and its congeners with two series of degrees of deacetylation prepared by two different deacetylation procedures were compared. Among the polysaccharides obtained by the heterogeneous method, those with higher amino group content had higher adsorption ability. Plots of collection percentages versus amino group content, however, did not give straight lines. The plot for the chelation on the congeners that were prepared by homogeneous hydrolysis had a maximum at about 50% amino group content, and the value was higher than that for the sample with the highest amino group content, which was prepared by heterogeneous hydrolysis. These results suggest that the polysaccharides with about 50% amino group content obtained by the homogeneous procedure are potentially useful for the removal of metals.     

Differential display analysis of murine collagen-induced arthritis: cloning of the cDNA-encoding murine ATPase inhibitor

Perforin-deficient (-/-) mice were used as T-cell donors for infusion into irradiated major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-disparate recipients to investigate the requirement for perforin-mediated cytolysis during graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) generation. Administration of 5x10(6) C57BL/6 (H2b) perforin -/- splenocytes was significantly less effective in inducing GVHD lethality when given to MHC class I + II disparate B10.BR (H2k) recipients, as compared with wild-type (+/+) controls. Perforin expression by donor T cells was not required for GVHD induction because recipients given fivefold higher numbers of perforin -/- donor splenocytes uniformly succumbed to lethal GVHD. Because both CD4+ and CD8+ donor T cells are required for optimal GVHD lethality in this strain combination, to discern the relative contribution of perforin-mediated cytolysis by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, additional studies were performed. For these latter studies, we used a sensitive assay involving the infusion of highly purified CD4+ or CD8+ T cells into sublethally irradiated MHC class II or I disparate recipients, respectively. As compared with recipients of perforin +/+ T cells, recipients of either CD4+ or CD8+ perforin -/- T-cell subsets had a significant reduction in GVHD-mediated lethality at T-cell doses that were uniformly lethal. T-cell dose titration studies established that GVHD lethality in recipients of perforin -/- CD4+ or CD8+ T cells was reduced by approximately threefold. These data are the first to indicate that approaches to limit perforin-mediated cytolysis should be similarly effective in situations in which CD4+ or CD8+ T cells dominate the GVHD response.     

EFFECT OF BAFFLE ON TRAY UNDER OSCILLATING CONDITION

Effect of baffle on a tray under oscillating conditions has been examined experimentally. To reduce the degree of liquid mixing and liquid channeling under oscillating conditions, it is necessary to install the baffles on tray.

Experiments were conducted with the air-water system, ft was found that the pressure drop change can be expressed as a sinusoidal function and the period coincides with tray oscillation. The degree of liquid mixing decreases when the baffles are installed on tray and it also decreases with the increase of liquid flow rate. The pressure drop increases with the installation of baffle on tray.

The suitable baffle number on tray is from 4 to 8 and in this region, the degree of liquid mixing reaches minimum and the liquid holdup takes a maximum value. @KEYWORDS: Tray, Oscillating, Liquid mixing, Baffle, Pressure drop, Liquid holdup.     

Emissivity of chlorinated polyethylene

The emissivity of chlorinated polyethylene containing varying amounts of combined chlorine has been investigated. It was found that the emissivity of these compounds increases significantly with increase in chlorination.     

Carcinoid tumor occurring in cystic teratoma of the kidney: a case report

Although carcinoid tumors have occurred rarely in benign teratomas of the ovary and the testis, we believe this case is the first reported of carcinoid arising in a benign cystic teratoma of the kidney. The patient was admitted to the Tagawa Hospital with a left abdominal mass and severe epigastric pain. Retrograde and intravenous pyelograms revealed marked dilatation of the left kidney; a renal tumor was diagnosed clinically. At operation, a polycystic tumor weighing 1400g was removed. Histologically, a carcinoid tumor was evident among teratoid tissues, such as columnar epithelium, cartilage, smooth muscle, and mucous secretory glands. The patient did not have a carcinoid syndrome and had an uneventful recovery.     

Aging and thermal stability of Mg/SiC and Mg/Y2O3 reflection multilayers in the 25-35 nm region

Reflection measurements in the 25-35 nm region were made for Mg/SiC and Mg/Y2O3 multilayers kept in a low-humidity atmosphere for 4 or 5 years. Aged Mg/SiC multilayers keep their reflectances, and the reflectance value at 31.2 nm is 0.44 at 10 degrees of the normal angle of incidence. Aged Mg/Y2O3 multilayers change reflectance as top layer materials, and the best value at 30.1 nm is 0.40 at 10 degrees. Reflection measurements are also made for Mg-based multilayers that are annealed from room temperature to 400 degrees C at 50 degrees C intervals. Both multilayers keep their reflectance at annealing temperatures of 200 degrees C. These results suggest that both Mg-based multilayers can be applied to practical optics.