The effectiveness of kinesio taping for athletes with medial elbow epicondylar tendinopathy.

Kinesio taping has also been used for athletes with Medial Elbow Epicondylar Tendinopathy (MET) as an additional treatment method. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effectiveness of Kinesio tape on maximal grip strength and absolute and related force sense in athletes with MET when applied to the medial forearm. 27 male athletes who voluntarily participated in this study were divided into a healthy group (n=17) and a MET group (n=10). All subjects were assessed for the maximal grip strength and grip force sense (absolute and related force sense) under 3 taping conditions: 1) without taping; 2) with placebo Kinesio taping; and 3) with Kinesio taping. No significant interaction was found between groups and taping condition in maximal grip force and related force sense error, except for absolute force sense error (p=0.04). Both groups with absolute force sense measurements had significantly decreased errors in the placebo Kinesio taping and Kinesio taping conditions. Both taping may enhance discrimination of magnitude of grip force control (absolute force sense) in both groups when applied to the forearm. However, Kinesio taping did not change maximal grip strength in either group. The effects of Kinesio taping on other muscle functions remain to be studied.

Hormone levels in middle-aged and elderly men with and without erectile dysfunction in Taiwan.

The change in sexual hormones with age in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men, with and without erectile dysfunction (ED), was investigated. Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were determined from fasting serum samples by radioimmunoassay in 627 middle-aged and elderly ethnic Chinese men with and without ED. Calculated FT was derived from TT and SHBG. Patients with ED were subdivided into groups having low serum TT (<2.7 ng/ml) and normal TT (> or =2.7 ng/ml). FT and DHEAS declined and SHBG rose with age in both normal patients and in patients with ED. TT and SHBG were lower in patients with ED than in normal subjects at all ages. In contrast to findings in previous studies, levels of FT were higher in patients with ED than in normal subjects. Hormonal changes in this Chinese population generally mirrored those in previously studied ethnic populations, except for higher FT in patients with ED. This suggests that hormonal levels in patients with ED may vary in different populations. The significance and reproducibility of this finding remains to be determined.

Cis-trans complementation of DQA1-DQB1 genes are modulated by DQ alleles: an immunogenetics analysis of DQ association with the down-regulatory function of CD8 cells in trichosanthin-induced immunosuppression.

The initiation of a CD8 cell-mediated pathway (M+) was adopted as a phenotypic trait to analyse genetic predisposition in trichosanthin (Tk)-induced immuno-suppression. Tk is a natural protein antigen with 247 amino acid residues. Based on DNA typing for DR, DQ, DP and TAP genes, data in this paper indicate that only DQ genes were primarily involved and that the alleles DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0201 were strongly associated with the M+ phenotype in cis (on DR3 haplotype) or trans (on DR5/DR7 heterozygotes) complementation. This is consistent with our observation that only the DQ-positive cells were capable of expanding after being co-cultured with Tk for 96 h. Two points of interest were noted. (1) The susceptible haplotype DRB1*0301-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 showed an association with the M+ phenotype only if combined with DRB1*04-, DRB1*08-, or DRB1*09-related haplotypes. When co-presented with DRB1*11-, DRB1*15-, DRB1*07-related haplotypes, however, no cis complementation could be detected. A detailed analysis of the association patterns indicated that the DQB1 locus of the non-susceptible haplotypes was the main factor for up- or down-modulation. (2) For M+ phenotype-related trans complementation in Tk-induced suppression, it was found that not only DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (DR5/7) alleles, but also associated DQA1*0301-DQB1*0201 (DR4/7, 9/7) alleles, were involved. The allele DQB1*0201 was not associated with the DQA1 alleles in DRB1*01-, DRB1*15-, DRB1*13-, DRB1*07-related haplotypes. The results obtained indicate that there are some additional genetic factors involved in the functional expression of cis and trans complementation of DQA1 and DQB1 genes, among which the DQ alleles play a critical role as self-regulators.

Trichosanthin inhibits T cell activation by interfering with the recruitment of ZAP-70 to CD3 zeta chain.

Plant protein Trichosanthin (Tk) has been shown in our previous experiments to suppress antigenic response of T cells. Here we explored its inhibitory mechanisms on the proliferation of human Jurkat leukemia T cell triggered by anti-CD3 McAb. By examination of tyrosine phosphorylation of cell lysate, we were able to show that Tk could interfere with the PTK-related activity in the TCR/CD3-initiated signal transduction in addition to blocking the phosphorylation of PKC. As shown in our experiment, the expression intensity of ZAP-70, a kind of protein tyrosine kinase, was not changed but its phosphorylation could be inhibited. When physical link between CD3 zeta chain and ZAP-70 was further examined by using coimmunoprecipitation after pluse-treatment of the cell line with Tk, the anti-CD3 McAb-induced recruitment of ZAP-70 to CD3 zeta chain was observed to be blocked in some extent. This may account for, at least in part, how Trichosanthin was able to inhibit the TCR-triggered T cell proliferation.

Effects of disassembly of actin microfilaments on the AVP-induced regulation of sodium channel densities in frog skin epithelium.

Vasopressin (AVP) stimulates the absorption of Na+ across frog skin epithelium by increasing the number of open apical channels (N(o)) mainly through a large expansion of the total number of channels (NT) at the membrane. This study investigates with blocker-induced noise analysis the potential role of actin in the regulation of AVP-induced changes in channel densities. Particularly we examined the idea that actin regulates the insertion of channels into apical cell membranes, consistent with the model for its hydrosmotic action. Treating cells with cytochalasin B (CB) for 2 h to disassemble the prominent subapical actin network did not significantly alter the stimulation of the Isc by AVP. Importantly, the treatment had no significant effect on the AVP-induced activation of Na+ channels, nor on the increases in NT indicating that an intact actin network is not required for the natriferic actions on the channels. This result is disparate from well known effects of CB on the AVP-induced hydrosmotic response and we assume that these distinct responses are produced by different mechanisms. Other mechanisms need to be considered to explain the mechanism whereby new Na+ channels are recruited to the apical membrane. In particular, mechanisms of intracellular trafficking involved in the redistribution of epithelial Na+ channels remain unresolved and need to be refined.

Electrolyte transport mechanisms involved in regulatory volume increase in C6 glioma cells.

Volume regulation of C6 glioma cells was studied with an automatic system for monitoring cell thickness, while increasing bath osmolality from 300 to 440 mosmol/kgH2O. At 37 degrees C, tissues incubated in solutions containing active substances (inositol, D-biotin, hydrocortisone, prostaglandin E1, insulin, transferrin, sodium selenite, and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine) responded to hyperosmotic challenge with a typical regulatory volume increase (RVI). Lowering temperature or removing the active substances inhibited osmoregulation. Bumetanide, amiloride, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, or ouabain significantly reduced RVI. Ion substitutions of Na+, Cl-, NaCl, or HCO3- also importantly affected the process. Extracellular acidification rate (EAR) was studied by microphysiometry. Hyperosmotic shock induced an increase in EAR with a time course that matched volume recovery. This increase in EAR was prevented by amiloride. The data show that under hyperosmotic conditions C6 cells are able to regulate their volume. Ion substitutions and application of blockers demonstrate that Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- exchangers and Na(+)-K(-)-2Cl- cotransporter are involved in RVI. The rise in EAR is due to the enhanced activity of Na+/H+ antiporter, which seems to be volume dependent but not osmotic dependent.

Differential expression of the down-regulatory function of CD8 cells in trichosanthin-induced immunosuppression and its genetic control in humans.

Trichosanthin (Tk), a plant protein isolated from a Chinese medicinal herb, was shown in our previous experiments to suppress mitogenic, antigenic and allogeneic responses of human lymphocytes. Two non-toxic pathways, the CD8-dependent and the CD8-independent, were identified as being involved in inducing the suppression. In this communication, we report that, in a subgroup of healthy subjects, only the CD8-dependent pathway was found to operate. In cell cultures from the other subjects, removal of CD8 cells from the culture did not diminish the suppression, implying that the down-regulatory function of the CD8 cells was not expressed in the presence of Tk. Two types of subject, CD8 mediators (M+) (CD8-dependent pathway operating) and non-mediators (M-) (CD8-independent pathway operating), were thus distinguishable. A 'mediation index' (MI) was calculated as MI (%) = RR of CD8-depleted cell culture--RR of non-CD8-depleted cell culture. Of 68 unrelated subjects tested, 21 (30.9%) could be classified as M+, with a mean 'mediation index' of 13.4 +/- 4.0, while 47 (69.1%) were M-, with a mean MI of -5.6 +/- 4.3 (t = 17.2, P < 0.001). The M+ and M- groups exhibited an essentially non-overlapping bimodal distribution of MI. Among the 40 Caucasoids in the panel, nine of 14M+ subjects were HLA-DR7, DQ2 (chi 2 = 14.652, Pc = 0.00084). The two DR7-DQ3 panel members, however, were M-, suggesting that DQ2 might be associated with M+. Segregation patterns in two families revealed that the M+ phenotype is a Mendelian dominant trait.

Genetic susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in the Shanghai Chinese is not linked to the myelin basic protein gene microsatellite.

Aim-To investigate the role of myelin basic protein (MBP) gene polymorphisms in determining susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in a Shanghai Chinese population.Methods-Forty seven unrelated patients with multiple sclerosis and 94 healthy control subjects were included in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes and amplified using the polymerase chain reaction to characterise two adjacent tetranucleotide repeats ([ATGG](12) and [TGGA](9)) located 5' to exon 1 of the MBP gene.Results-Two polymorphic loci were identified: locus A, comprising both repeats, and locus B, comprising the [ATGG](12) repeat only. Nine allelic variants were identified at locus A and six at locus B, ranging from 212 to 244 and 122 to 146 base pairs, respectively. The 244 base pair allele at locus A has not been reported before. The allele frequencies observed in the controls differed from those seen in normal white populations.Conclusions-The present study demonstrates a race specific pattern of allelic distribution within the tetranucleotide repeat of the MBP gene. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the role of the MBP gene in inherited susceptibility to multiple sclerosis.

Genetic susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in a Shanghai Chinese population. The role of the HLA class II genes.

The association of MS with the HLA class II loci DR and DQ was investigated in subjects of Shanghai Chinese and British Caucasian origin. Our aim was to determine whether common alleles predispose to the disease in both races. In the Caucasian population MS was significantly positively associated with the putative haplotype DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602. In contrast, HLA class II alleles were not found to predispose to the disease in the Shanghai Chinese, suggesting that this haplotype is unlikely to be a universal susceptibility determinant. The absence of a disease association with the HLA-DR and -DQ genes in the Chinese population has a number of possible explanations. Our study suggests that other genetic and/or environmental components may be more important in determining susceptibility to MS in this race.

Distribution of actin microfilaments in frog skin epithelial granular cells.

Microfilaments were localised by immunofluorescence and immunogold cytochemistry to examine their distribution in granular cells of the isolated frog skin epithelium. Strongly fluorescent bundles of actin were observed beneath the plasma membrane with little evidence for actin in the central regions. Higher resolution offered by cytochemistry revealed that bundles of actin filaments comprised a substantial portion of the cortical cytoskeleton. Quantitative analysis of the frequency of gold label revealed an extremely rich array of filaments beneath the apical membrane of granular cells, with markedly less label along the basolateral membrane and in the central cytoplasm. Treating cells with cytochalasin B or arginine vasopressin caused an apparent disruption of the apical actin fibres, concurrent with a decrease in gold label density. Assumably these signs are indicative of depolymerization of the filaments. Although the significance of this distribution is unknown, the apical polarisation of actin is consistent with a role in regulating the Na+ permeability of the apical membrane. The data are discussed in relation to possible roles of the cytoskeleton in the regulation of transepithelial sodium transport by vasopressin.

[The roles of monocytes and the interaction between monocyte and T cell in human immune suppression induced by trichosanthin].

This paper deals with the roles of monocytes and the interaction between T cell and monocyte in Trichosanthin-induced human immune suppression. The data strongly argue that (a) monocytes could mediate the immune suppression of Trichosanthin, but T cells alone could not; (b) T cells acquire the ability to mediate the suppression effect if they were pulsed with Trichosanthin together with monocytes; (c) Antipain, a blocking agent against antigen processing and presentation, could diminish the suppressive activity of the Trichosanthin-pulsed monocytes. The results suggested the dependence of Trichosanthin on monocyte in immune down-regulation. One of the mechanisms might be that Trichosanthin induces an inhibitory network through antigen processing and presentation by monocytes.

Sodium-dependent regulation of epithelial sodium channel densities in frog skin; a role for the cytoskeleton.

1. A weak electroneutral sodium channel blocker 6-chloro-3,5-diamino-pyrazine-2-carboxamide was used to perform noise analysis on isolated epithelium from Rana fuscigula to determine the cellular mechanism underlying autoregulation of Na+ channel densities in response to a reduction in the mucosal Na+ concentration. 2. The inherent transport rates of these tissues were generally lower than in other frog skins. The macroscopic sodium current, INa, averaged 10.71 microA/cm2 and was mainly determined by the number of open channels (N(o)) which averaged 21.6 million/cm2. The calculated mean channel open probability (beta') was 0.38, and corresponded very closely to values previously determined by patch clamp. 3. Reducing the mucosal Na+ from 110 to 10 mM caused large increases in the open channel density, which stabilized the Na+ transport rate. N(o) increased from a mean value of 26.6 to 64.3 million/cm2 within 2 min. 4. Autoregulatory changes were induced primarily by increasing beta' by about 60% and to a lesser extent by an increase in NT, the total number of open and closed channels. 5. We also examined the role of the cytoskeleton in the regulation of Na+ channel densities. Colchicine treatment, which disrupted microtubules, had no apparent effect on the ability of the tissues to autoregulate their Na+ channel densities. 6. The integrity of the microfilaments were essential for autoregulatory changes in N(o). After we had disrupted the microfilaments with cytochalasin B, we observed a marked reduction in the ability of the tissues to increase N(o). 7. The mean N(o) did not increase in response to a drop in mucosal Na+ despite the fact that beta' increased by 69%. We, therefore, assumed that cytochalasin B did not affect Na+ channels already present in the membrane but interfered with recruitment of new channels. Significantly, we did not observe any increase in NT. 8. In kidney and other tight epithelia, microfilaments are responsible for regulating the delivery of newly synthesized membrane proteins. We believe that our results with cytochalasin-treated tissues support the theory that autoregulatory changes in N(o) are also regulated by the recruitment of channels from a cytoplasmic pool.

[The polymorphisms of HTC-defined HLA specificities in the Shanghai Chinese population].

With reference sera and homozygous typing cells (HTCs) of 3rd Asia-Oceania Histocompatibility Workshop Conference, 56 healthy unrelated subjects in Shanghai were typed for HLA-A, B, C, DR, DQ, and Dw. This paper presents the results of HLA-Dw typing, its relationship to serological class II antigens, and the distribution of Dw in the population. The polymorphism patterns of Chinese Dw specificities were quite different from those in Caucasoids and Japanese. The predominant Dw phenotypes detected in Shanghai Chinese were Dw 2, Dw 3, DKT 2, Dw 7 c, (Dw7 + Dw 17) and Dw 23 (DB 5). And significant correlations were observed between Dw 1 and DR 1, Dw 2 and DR 2, Dw 3 and DR 3, Dw 7 c and DR 7, DB 7 and DRw 8, as well as Dw 23 and DR 9. SMY 129, a novel Dw specificity defined by local HTCs and co-studied by the laboratories joined for Dw typing in 3rd AOHWC showed its correlation with DR 5. Nevertheless, more than fifty percent of Dw specificities could not be assigned in the four correspondent designated serological antigens, DR 2, DR 5, DRw 8 and DR 9, respectively, which, together with other blank Dw specificities, gave a total blank Dw gene frequency as high as 43.2% in the population. It was suggested by further analysis that novel Dw specificities might be identified more effectively if efforts would be concentrated on DR 5 and DR 9, two antigen families which, in some way, might represent the characteristics of HLA system in Chinese. Besides, certain HTC-defined antigens, e.g. Dw 3 and the DR 4-related Dw specificities, have been revealed to be in linkage disequilibrium with other DR antigens in addition with the correspondent designated ones, resulting in some unique haplotype combinations in Shanghai Chinese. It seems to us that the particular patterns of polymorphisms of serum- and cell-defined HLA class II antigens would be helpful to elucidate the mechanisms by which certain diseases are in association with HLA in Chinese in a different manner as compared with that in Caucasoids.