Toshihisa Igarashi

Human monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expressed in a baculovirus system.

Human monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (hMCP-1) was produced using a baculovirus system. The hMCP-1 cDNA was inserted into the genomic DNA of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) using a transfer vector, pJVP10Z. Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells, which were infected with this recombinant virus, secreted recombinant hMCP-1 (re-hMCP-1) at the level of 10-20 micrograms/ml of culture medium. This product was shown to chemoattract monocytes. Three distinct bands of 11, 11.5 and 12 kDa were revealed by immunoblotting analysis, and this heterogeneity was assigned to differences in carbohydrate processing. N-terminal amino-acid sequence analysis of the purified product revealed identity with hMCP-1. Thus, in this system, re-hMCP-1 was produced in large quantities and modified in a manner similar to native hMCP-1.

Effect of pneumonia on clinical course and prognosis after hip fracture

The records of 38 elderly patients with hip fracture admitted to our hospital between January and December 2002 were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence and outcomes of medical complications. The mean age was 84.5 +/- 6.83 years old, 32 women and 6 men. 27 patients (71%) suffered from dementia. Of the 38 patients, 33 (86.8%) had one and more underlying diseases: hypertension 29, cerebrovascular episode 7, congestive heart failure 5, diabetes mellitus 4, gastric ulcer or chronic gastritis 3, ischemic heart disease 4, depression 2. Three patients had a past history of hip fracture. Fourteen patients (37%) developed medical complications after hip fracture, most frequently pneumonia (64%). Other complications were dizziness, nausea, congestive heart failure, choledocholithiasis, and GI tract bleeding. Eight patients who suffered pneumonia cancelled elective surgery. Severity of pneumonia was mild in 2, moderate in 5, and severe in 2. Both cases with severe pneumonia died in hospital. Patients with pneumonia (pneumonia group) were significantly older and had more severe dementia than patients without pneumonia (non-pneumonia group). Although there were no significant differences in physical ability between the two groups before admission, physical ability on discharge was lower in the pneumonia group. The pneumonia group had a significantly longer mean hospital stay than the non-pneumonia group. Our results suggest that the prevention of pneumonia is necessary to improve the outcome of hip fracture.

Increase in intracellular calcium induced by stimulating histamine H1 receptors in macrophage-like P388D1 cells

The addition of histamine to macrophage-like P388D1 cells resulted in a dose-dependent increase in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i measured by fura-2 in single cells. The maximum level of [Ca2+]i was obtained by addition of 1 x 10(-4) M histamine. The increase was primarily due to release from the intracellular store. The addition of an H1 specific antagonist pyrilamine before histamine treatment inhibited the increase reversibly, while an H2 specific antagonist cimetidine had no inhibitory effect. Histamine also resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cGMP but not in cAMP. These data suggest the existence of histamine H1 receptors in these cells and histamine may have some biological effect on the function of macrophages via [Ca2+]i and cGMP as the second messengers.

A case of psoas abscess in a patient with systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract We report a case of psoas abscesses associated with systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. A 61-year-old woman had been sufferring from high fever. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed bilateral psoas abscesses from which Peptostreptococcus spp. were detected by a culture of the pus. The abscesses were ameliorated by performing CT-guided percutaneous drainage and using appropriate antibiotics. Although psoas abscess is relatively rare, it can be a cause of fever of unknown origin in collagen diseases.