Multiple injections of anti-mouse ß2glycoprotein 1 antibody induce FcRγ-dependent fetal growth restriction (FGR) in mice.

OBJECTIVES: The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by the presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs), is a leading cause for thromboembolic events, repeated miscarriage, fetal loss and is a major risk factor for fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preeclampsia. In human, anti-ß2 glycoprotein I (aß2GPI) antibody is one of the aPLs and considered to be a specific and important marker for APS. However, pathophysiological changes induced by aß2GPI antibodies in FGR are largely unknown. METHODS: In the present study, we developed a murine FGR model induced by multiple injections of WBCAL-1, a well-characterized mouse aß2GPI monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Administration of WBCAL-1, but not the isotype control antibody and saline, into pregnant mice specifically decreased the size of fetuses and placentas without affecting the number of delivered pups. Also, a significant increase in urinary albumin and electron microscopic changes, such as splitting layers of basal membranes in the placental labyrinth and rearrangement of pores in glomerular endothelial cells, were observed in WBCAL-1 treated mice. WBCAL-1 injection did not induce any changes in blood pressure and typical parameters of blood thromboembolic symptoms. Furthermore, FcRγ deficiency protected the fetuses from aß2GPI antibody-induced injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Our present findings suggest that proteinuria is a symptom associated with APS-related FGR with placental and renal tissue injuries, and that FcRγ might be a molecular target for prevention of aß2GPI antibody-mediated obstetrical pathologies.

[Reoperation for postoperative pseudoaneurysm after repair for acute aortic dissection associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation and chronic renal failure].

We report a very high risk case of reoperation for pseudoaneurysm after ascending aortic replacement for acute aortic dissection in a 78-year-old man with chronic renal failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Computed tomography 5 years after the 1st operation showed huge pseudoaneurysm originated from the distal anastomosis and the angiogram showed moderate aortic regurgitation. Hemodialysis and congestive heart failure associated with DIC complicated his general condition. Preoperative DIC score was 7 with D-dimer of 39.8 microg/ml. The patient underwent reoperation through night anterior thoracotomy. At 20 degrees C of urinary bladder temperature, we started re-median sternotomy and ablated the adhesion. When the pseudoaneurysm ruptured, we started hypothermic circulatory arrest with selective cerebral perfusion immediately. And Bentall operation and hemi-arch replacement were performed. Postoperative recovery required long period and he was transferred to another hospital at 3 months after the surgery. Postoperative data showed reduction of DIC score to 3.

[Surgical angioplasty of isolated left coronary ostial stenosis].

A 42-year-old female had suffered from chest pain for approximately 1 month, and was admitted with unstable angina pectoris. Emergent coronary angiography showed an isolated 75% stenosis of the left coronary ostium. Repair of ostial stenosis by vein patch angioplasty was done by the transactional superior approach. Postoperative catheterization revealed an expanded left coronary orifice and the patient was discharged without any complications. We have experienced 2 other patients of isolated left coronary ostial stenosis, who had undergone double coronary artery bypass grafting. Long-term coronary angiography showed regression of ostial stenosis in 1 patient, and no progression of new lesions in either. These results suggest that direct vein patch angioplasty of the ostial lesion is an alternative procedure for isolated left coronary ostial stenosis.

Generation of an ultrahigh-repetition-rate pulse by an array illuminator.

We propose a method to generate an ultrahigh-repetition-rate pulse by using an array illuminator and present preliminary experimental results to demonstrate the feasibility of its application to optical communication and readout of images.

Early mucosal changes in dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic carcinogenesis in rats.

Early mucosal changes in dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colonic carcinogenesis were investigated in 12 rats. These rats received subcutaneous injections of DMH in a dose of 15 mg/kg/week. Two rats each were killed at 6, 8, 10, 14, 18 and 22 weeks after initiation of the DMH-treatment. Overt carcinomas developed in 3 out of 4 rats killed after the 18th week of DMH-treatment. Histopathologically, epithelial dysplasia was present in the flat colonic mucosa of all 6 rats killed after the 14th week of DMH-treatment. Neither grossly visible tumors nor histopathological dysplasia was present in the colon of the 6 rats killed before the 14th week of DMH-treatment. However, cytophotometric DNA analysis disclosed that significant increases in proliferative activity of mucosa had occurred 4 weeks before the appearance of histopathological dysplasia, and 8 weeks prior to development of grossly visible tumors. Therefore, changes in the flat mucosa of a tumor-bearing colon represents a primary precancerous condition.

Clear-cell sarcoma of the kidney seen in a 3-day-old newborn.

A case of clear-cell sarcoma of the kidney seen in a 3-day-old baby is reported. Resection of the right kidney with tumour and dissection of enlarged lymph nodes were followed by chemotherapy with Vincristine. No radiotherapy was employed. The patient has been living to date without recurrence or metastasis one year after surgery. Favourable outlook of renal neoplasms in the newborn was discussed.

[Inhibitory action of urogastrone from pregnant horses urine on gastric acid secretion (author's transl)].

Inhibitory actions of urogastrone (UG) on gastric acid secretion induced by tetragastrin (TG), histamine (Hist) and carbachol (Cach) were compared with cimetidine (Cime), atropine (Atr), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in acute conscious fistula rats. The inhibitory actions of UG were TG greater than Cach greater than or equal to Hist; those of Cime, Cach greater than TG greater than or equal to Hist; those of Atr or PGE2, Cach greater than TG greater than Hist; and those of EGF, TG greater than Hist greater than or equal to Cach. The times required for the maximal inhibition were faster in the order of EGF greater than Cime greater than Atr greater than UG on TG and Hist; Cime greater than EGF=Atr greater than UG on Cach. After vagotomy, the type of inhibition of UG changed to that of Atr and Cach was more evidently inhibited than methacholine by UG. The above data suggest that the inhibitory actions of UG or EGF on gastrin are more specific than Cime, Atr or PGE2 and inhibitory action of UG is slower and longer than Cime, Atr, PGE2 or EGF.