Involvement of cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-induced impairment of the newborn cell survival in the adult mouse dentate gyrus.

There is growing evidence indicating that neurogenesis in adulthood is influenced by certain types of the central diseases such as neuroinflammation, however, its mechanism is not fully understood. This study was, therefore, designed to examine the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial endotoxin known to cause the neuroinflammation, on the neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of adult mice using the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) -pulse chase method. LPS failed to affect the number of BrdU-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus 2 h after BrdU injection, indicating no effects of LPS on the proliferation of the neural stem cells (NSCs). On the other hand, we found that LPS dose-dependently (0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/kg) decreased the number of BrdU-labeled cells 7 and 21 days after BrdU injection. We also observed that LPS increased cell death in the dentate gyrus using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining, suggesting that LPS impaired the survival of newborn cells derived from the NSCs. The double-immunostaining for BrdU and specific cell type markers revealed that LPS did not alter the commitment of the NSCs to the neurons and astrocytes. The systemic injection of indomethacin, a non-selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, and NS398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, but not SC560, a selective COX-1 inhibitor, did not only ameliorate LPS-induced suppression of the newborn cell survival, they fully protected against the LPS effect. Furthermore, the central injection of NS398 also ameliorated LPS-induced suppression of the newborn cell survival in the dentate gyrus. The treatment with LPS increased the expression of COX-2 protein 7 h and 7 days after the injection in the dentate gyrus. These results suggest that LPS impairs the survival of newly generated cells derived from the NSCs in the dentate gyrus without affecting the differentiation fate, and these effects of LPS were mediated presumably by COX-2 expression in the dentate gyrus.

[Pleural effusion and eosinophilia associated with Metagonimus yokogawai infection].

We encountered a patient with a mild fever and chest discomfort in whom right pleural effusion and eosinophilia (48%) had developed. Parasite eggs were found in the feces, and metagonimiasis was diagnosed. The pleural fluid contained many Charcot-Leyden crystals, suggesting active eosinophilic inflammation. Metagonimus yokogawai usually occurs as a gastrointestinal parasite and causes only mild gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. Most cases of metagonimiasis resolve spontaneously. However, the main manifestation of metagonimiasis in our patient was pleural effusion. Some cases of idiopathic eosinophilic pleural effusion of unknown origin resolve spontaneously, as in our patient. Patients who are therefore considered to have idiopathic pleural effusion may include those with transient parasitic infection.

[Pulmonary infection due to Mycobacterium szulgai, a group 2 nontuberculous mycobacterium].

A 37-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of abnormal findings seen in a chest radiograph from a physical examination. There was nothing unusual about his past history, and he had been healthy. Chest radiography showed an infiltrative shadow with a cavity in the right upper lobe. A smear test of the sputum was negative but a culture was positive for a mycobacterium, which was identified as M. szulgai. A diagnosis of atypical pulmonary mycobacteriosis caused by M. szulgai. The patient was treated with isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol, which gradually improved the infiltration shadow, and his sputum cultures became negative for mycobacteria. In recent years, the frequency of atypical mycobacteriosis has increased up to 10% to 15% of all mycobacterial infections. In Japan, M. avium complex and M. kansasii account for more than 90% of such infections, so other isolates are rare. Most previous cases of atypical mycobacteriosis were secondary infections associated with underlying disease. In this patient, however, we describe a rare case of pulmonary infection due to M. szulgai appearing in a healthy male without underlying disease.

[Midterm achievement and problems of all municipal health and welfare plans for the elderly in Yamagata Prefecture].

PURPOSE: This study was made for providing information in the preparation of Social Welfare Systems in municipalities. METHODS: Based on seven official reports by Yamagata Prefecture, quantitative data on health and welfare services were analyzed. We investigated the midterm achievement and problems of a Municipal Health and Welfare Plan for the Elderly in all 44 municipalities by mail survey (response rate 100%). The questionnaire included the progress situation of the plan, the existence of an assessment organization, and the characteristics of the plan. RESULTS: Both health service and welfare service achieved targets level to a degree. Concerning the progress situation, "The midterm achievement is not satisfactory" for 65.9% (29 municipalities). The main reasons were "budgets" (93.1%, 27 municipalities) and "lack of manpower" (75.9%, 22 municipalities) all of which indicates "lack of home helpers". 58.6% of all 44 municipalities were reconsidering the plan. In assessment organization existed in 31.8% (14 municipalities) of all municipalities. CONCLUSION: It is necessary that analysis should consider not only use of quantitative data but also qualitative one. The major problems found are that community characteristics were not reflected and the opinion of inhabitants were not considered.

[Relationship between senile dementia and findings of an initial health examination--a 20 year retrospective cohort study of Kamo Village (1965 to 1985)].

The correlation between incidence of senile dementia and variables determined in baseline health examinations was analyzed in a retrospective cohort study. The study cohort was assembled in 1965 and followed up to 1985. A survey of dementia was performed on those alive in 1985, and on the decreased through their families who were queried about his or her condition just before death. The survey was conducted by public health nurses and assistants. The results obtained were as follows: 1. There was a slightly higher incidence in women and incidence for both sexes demonstrated an increase with age. 2. Analysis by cause of death showed increased death by cerebrovascular diseases for both men and women, and by cardiovascular disease for women, but decreased death from cancer. 3. Correlations of senile dementia with high blood pressure and albuminuria findings at the initial examination were seen. In addition, results of fundus oculi examination in men, and electrocardiography in women were also regarded as risk factors for the occurrence of senile dementia. 4. Comparative analysis showed higher incidence among farmers rather than fishermen, and in drinkers rather than nondrinkers, while no relation was found to smoking habits.

Purification of cross-reacting protein antigen shared by Yersinia enterocolitica and other gram-negative bacteria with monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody against the Yersinia enterocolitica 60-kilodalton (kDa) antigen, designated cross-reacting protein antigen (CRPA), was obtained by cell fusion. The CRPA common to gram-negative bacteria was purified from Y. enterocolitica by the affinity chromatography with the monoclonal antibody (IgG1) thus obtained. The purified CRPA showed a single band of 60 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and reacted with rabbit antisera against Y. enterocolitica, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Shigella sonnei in Western blot analysis. The monoclonal antibody, however, reacted with a 60 kDa peptide from Y. enterocolitica, but not with the antigens from other gram-negative bacteria such as V. cholerae, E. coli, S. sonnei, Salmonella enteritidis, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and P. aeruginosa. The results suggested that both species-specific and cross-reactive epitopes were present on a CRPA molecule.