Smooth muscle dysfunction in patients older than 54 years of age with objective evidence of arteriosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: This investigation was designed to assess the relationship between flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerin (NTG)-mediated vasodilatation (NMD) with atherosclerotic risk factors. METHODS: FMD and NMD were measured in 75 subjects including 57 patients with atherosclerotic disease (AAA/PAOD=30/27, age 72+/-7 years) and 18 controls. Brachial response to hyperemia and NTG were measured every minute after cuff deflation and NTG administration. RESULTS: In the 75 subjects, responses to NTG showed a sigmoid curve. Only 2 cases reached maximal diameter within 4 minutes after NTG, and 90% of the cases reached maximal diameter at 6 minutes or later (7.5+/-2.0 minutes). In patients with atherosclerotic disease, a multiple regression analysis showed higher FMD was associated with higher NMD, and higher NMD was associated with smaller vessel size, lower systolic blood pressure, higher FMD, lower carotid maximal IMT, lower serum levels of insulin, and lower HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects older than 54, NMD measured at 3 or 4 minutes after NTG administration would underestimate the NTG-dependent vasodilatation. NMD measured with the maximal responded diameter was associated with atherosclerotic risk factors, and it is therefore considered to be an important parameter in patients with atherosclerotic disease.

Saccular renal artery aneurysm treated with an autologous vein-covered stent.

A 32-year-old woman underwent an autologous saphenous vein-covered stent deployment for the treatment of a saccular aneurysm on the distal renal artery. Complete exclusion of the aneurysm was immediately obtained. One year after the treatment, remarkable shrinkage of the aneurysm was demonstrated by means of computed tomography, and wide patency of the renal artery and the stent was shown by means of angiography.

Anti-angiogenic effect of TGFbeta in aqueous humor.

Neovascularization is mediated by various factors in ocular tissues. Recent studies have emphasized the role of vascular endothelial growth factor in the induction of angiogenesis. We have previously reported that aqueous humor (AH) suppressed vascular endothelial cell growth and angiogenesis. We speculated that the anti-angiogenic effect of AH is mediated by transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta). In order to clarify the presence of TGFbeta in bovine AH, we applied it on the heparin-sepharose affinity column and prepared two fractions (bound and unbound fractions). We measured TGFbeta concentration in each fraction and examined how the anti-TGFbeta antibody decreased the inhibitory effect of AH on human umbilical vein endothelial cell growth and on in vitro angiogenesis. We found the presence of TGFbeta2, but not TGFbeta1, in the heparin bound fraction, and the inhibitory effect was detected in the heparin-bound fraction. Anti-TGFbeta antibody completely and dose-dependently extinguished the inhibitory effect of AH. We propose that the inhibitory effect of AH on endothelial cell growth and in vitro angiogenesis are both mediated by TGFbeta2. Our results indicate TGFbeta2 is normally present in AH and protects the eye tissue against abnormal neovascularization.

Human arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation in diabetes.

In the present study, we focus on the proliferation of human arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from NIDDM patients (DM-SMCs) to clarify the reactivity to the growth factor(s) in fetal calf serum (FCS) and the factor(s) secreted by T-cells. The proliferation of DM-SMCs was significantly greater than SMCs from nondiabetic patients (nonDM-SMC). DM-SMC conditioned medium (DM-condMed) increased the growth of nonDM-SMCs. These results suggest that the growth factor is secreted from DM-SMCs as an autocrine system, which increases the proliferation of nonDM-SMCs. T-cells increased DNA synthesis of SMCs, and DM-SMCs strikingly reacted to T-cells. The present results support a function of T-cells in stimulating SMC growth. In conclusion, human arterial SMC proliferation is increased in diabetes in the same fashion as in experimentally induced diabetes in animals through responses to growth factors and an increased autocrine system. These results provide a mechanism for the increase in atherosclerotic disease in diabetes.

[Changes in nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding AIDS in Mie Prefecture, Japan].

In 1990, we conducted a questionnaire survey showing that many nurses had incorrect knowledge of AIDS resulting in inappropriate attitudes toward AIDS patients. Following the first survey conducted in 1990, nurses were given various forms of AIDS education. The effectiveness of the AIDS education requires assessment. Therefore a second questionnaire survey was performed in 1993 to assess changes in nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding AIDS. The same questionnaire as used in the first survey was sent to a random sample of nurses working at general hospitals in Mie Prefecture, Japan. The questionnaire covered knowledge of AIDS, psychological responses, attitudes and conduct around infected persons and measures against AIDS. Results of both questionnaire surveys showed that the majority of nurses acquired their knowledge predominantly from the mass media, and a large number of nurses worried that AIDS would spread in Japan. Almost half of the nurses were worried that they might be infected with AIDS. The second survey showed that nurses who acquired knowledge of AIDS from printed material, pamphlets and other educational resources, including lectures had increased. In 1993, many more nurses had accurate knowledge compared to the number in the first survey. In 1993 the number of nurses who discriminated against AIDS patients and HIV-infected persons had decreased.

Small cytoplasmic RNA (scRNA) gene from Clostridium perfringens can replace the gene for the Bacillus subtilis scRNA in both growth and sporulation.

Small cytoplasmic RNA (scRNA) is a member of an evolutionarily conserved signal-recognition-particle-like RNA family. Using a DNA fragment of Bacillus subtilis scRNA gene as a probe, we cloned and characterized a Clostridium perfringens gene encoding the scRNA. Mapping the 5' and 3' ends of scRNA revealed that C. perfringens scRNA consists of 269 nucleotides: the sequence has about 70% primary sequence homology with B. subtilis scRNA. The predicted secondary structure appeared to be similar to that of B. subtilis scRNA, indicating that there are domains I and II in C. perfringens scRNA, in addition to domain IV. Functional analysis showed that C. perfringens scRNA could compensate for vegetative growth and allow the formation of heat-resistant spores in an scRNA-depleted B. subtilis strain, whereas Escherichia coli 4.5S RNA could not maintain sporulation. Since both E. coli 4.5S RNA and C. perfringens scRNA have the same binding specificity to B. subtilis Ffh protein, the difference in complementation activity reflects the function of domains I and II.