Elevated levels of substance P in tears of patients with allergic conjunctivitis and vernal keratoconjunctivitis

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that the nervous system may participate in inflammatory processes. Substance P (SP) acts as a chemical mediator as well as a neurotransmitter. OBJECTIVE: In order to clarify the pathogenesis of ocular allergic diseases, we assessed the concentration of SP in tears. METHODS: Using a highly sensitive and specific double-antibody enzyme immunoassay (EIA), we determined the SP concentration in tears of 10 patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, 10 with atopic dermatitis without keratoconjunctivitis (AD), 13 with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and 65 normal controls. Giemsa's staining for brush cytology samples and histocytological study by immunocytochemical staining of giant papillary conjunctival cells from VKC and normal controls was conducted. RESULTS: The mean SP level was low in the normal controls and AD, whereas patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and VKC showed significant elevation of SP (P < 0.01). Brush cytology samples showed conjunctival epithelial cells with lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils that were not seen in normal subjects. Histocytological examination demonstrated SP positive cells in the conjunctiva of patients with VKC, but not in normal controls. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the increased level of SP in tears may contribute to the pathogenesis and severity of ocular allergic diseases.     

Neutron Diffraction Study on the Structure of Na-Si-O-N Oxynitride Glasses

The local structure of a Na₂O─SiO₂ oxide glass and a Na₂O─iO₂─Si₃N₄ oxynitride glass has been investigated by the pulsed neutron diffraction method. In the oxide glass, the first peak of radial distribution function (RDF) curves appeared at 0.1627 nm corresponding to Si─O boxh length. In the oxynitride glass, the first peak of the RDF curve was shifted to longer distances at 0.1650 nm due to the coexistence of Si─O and Si─N boxhs. The first peak in the RDF curve of the oxynitride glass was deconvoluted into two peaks whose positions are located at 0.1626 and 0.1709 nm. The one at 0.1626 nm is ascribed to Si─O boxhs and the other at 0.1709 nm to Si─N boxhs. The number of silicon atoms around a nitrogen was found to be 2.42, suggesting that not all of the nitrogen atoms are boxhed to three silicon atoms, but 58% twofold (─N─) and 42% threefold (>N─) nitrogens coexist in the present Na-Si-O-N oxynitride glass. The formation of twofold nitrogens may arise from the reaction between ≡Si─O⁻ and ≡Si₃N groups. This model is compatible with the experimental observation that the density and Vickers hardness of oxynitride glasses increase with the nitrogen content.     

Combination phase I/II study of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) and carboplatin in relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. CPT-11/Lymphoma Study Group

Irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) is a new derivative of camptothecin which inhibits topoisomerase I. Phase II studies have demonstrated that CPT-11 is active against a broad spectrum of neoplasms including intractable non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. An early phase II study in lymphoma suggested that a schedule of daily infusions of 40 mg/m2/day for three or five consecutive days is more effective than a single infusion of 200 mg/m2 every three to four weeks. Carboplatin is also an active agent against lymphoma, and preclinical studies have shown that CPT-11 and its active metabolite have a synergistic effect with platinum compounds. To evaluate the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) and the therapeutic efficacy of CPT-11 in combination with carboplatin in relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, we conducted a combination phase I/II study. The starting dose of CPT-11 was 20 mg/m2/day (days 1 through 3 and 8 through 10), and dose escalations of 5 mg/m2/day increments were planned, with a fixed dose of carboplatin (300 mg/m2, day 1). Six of the eight patients receiving both agents at the starting dose level developed critical toxicities such as grade 4 hematologic (neutropenia 6/8, thrombocytopenia 1/8) and grade 3 non-hematologic toxicities (diarrhea 2/8, transaminase elevation 1/8). Further dose escalation of CPT-11 was halted, and the starting doses were judged to be the MTDs. The response rate (25%, 2/8) to the combination of the MTDs was not superior to that of CPT-11 alone in a previous phase II study (38%, 26/69), and the MTD of CPT-11 in combination with carboplatin was less than half the single-agent dose. We conclude that carboplatin is not recommendable for combination with CPT-11 in lymphoma patients. Other suitable agents for such a combination should be sought.     

Valproic acid overdose and L-carnitine therapy

We examined the primary ischaemic changes in the pancreas in 35 patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation. In 7 (20%), multiple patchy lesions composed of degenerative acinar cells indicating coagulation necrosis were noted. None of these lesions was accompanied by fat necrosis. The patchy lesions involved the islets of Langerhans in only 1 case. The interlobular arteries of the pancreas near these lesions contained fibrin thrombi in all 7 cases. We suggest that these lesions, without fat necrosis, are the distinctive ischaemic change associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation.     

Visual adjustments to temporal blur

After observers have adapted to an edge that is spatially blurred or sharpened, a focused edge appears too sharp or blurred, respectively. These adjustments to blur may play an important role in calibrating spatial sensitivity. We examined whether similar adjustments influence the perception of temporal edges, by measuring the appearance of a step change in the luminance of a uniform field after adapting to blurred or sharpened transitions. Stimuli were square-wave alternations (at 1 to 8 Hz) filtered by changing the slope of the amplitude spectrum. A two-alternative-forced-choice task was used to adjust the slope until it appeared as a step change, or until it matched the perceived transitions in a reference stimulus. Observers could accurately set the waveform to a square wave, but only at the slower alternation rates. However, these settings were strongly biased by prior adaptation to filtered stimuli, or when the stimuli were viewed within temporally filtered surrounds. Control experiments suggest that the latter induction effects result directly from the temporal blur and are not simply a consequence of brightness induction in the fields. These results suggest that adaptation and induction adjust visual coding so that images are focused not only in space but also in time.     

Metals in recycled polyethylene terephthalate and discrimination method for its use

Metals in recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were analyzed by ICP-MS following microwave digestion with nitric acid. Physically and superclean-like recycled PET contained both Ge and Sb, and sometimes contained Co, P or Si. In contrast, the chemically recycled PET contained only Ge or Sb, and some samples contained Co. The recycled PETs did not contain Pb or Cd. Ge and Sb were catalysts of the polymerization, and the other metals also originated from the PET resin as additives. It was concluded that there is no safety concern about metals in recycled PET. It became clear that the presence of both Ge and Sb could identify products formed using physically or superclean-like recycled PET. According to this discrimination method, about half of the sheet molding products used recycled PET.     

Efficacy of granisetron in the prevention of emesis induced by conditioning chemotherapy for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

We conducted this study to compare granisetron, 5-HT3 antagonist, with conventional antiemetics in the prophylaxis of emesis induced by conditioning chemotherapy for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in 41 patients. The conditioning chemotherapy regimen included either cytosine arabinoside 2 g/m2 x 4 and cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg x 2 (CA, CY), or busulfan 4 mg/kg x 4 and cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg x 2 (BU, CY). In CA and CY regimen, the clinical effective rate with granisetron against emesis was 94.1% on the 1st day, compared with 7.6% in the control group. On day 2 and 3, the effective rate with granisetron was 58.8% and 23.5%, respectively, compared with 0% in the control group. In the BU and CY regimen, control of emesis with granisetron on day 5 and 6 was 66.7%, against 20.0% in the control group. Based on these data, we concluded granisetron is superior to conventional antiemetics in the prophylaxis of emesis induced by conditioning for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.