Abstract. Objectives: Initiation and maintenance of pro‐inflammatory reactions elicited by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and/or cytokines in the macrophage lineage have been reported to play a crucial role in acute and chronic pathogenic effects. Whether pro‐inflammatory responses triggered by lipopolysaccharide in growth arrested cells differ from those in proliferating cells remains unanswered. Materials and methods: Olomoucine and roscovitine are cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors that prevent progression through the cell cycle. After treatment with CDK inhibitors, expression of pro‐inflammatory genes was analysed by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. Protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear factor kappaB (NF‐κB) were determined by Western blotting. Promoter activity of iNOS was measured by the luciferase activity assay. Results: In this study we have demonstrated that both olomoucine and roscovitine inhibit cell proliferation and diminish nitric oxide production and cytokine gene expression, in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated murine RAW264.7 macrophages. In addition, olomoucine reduces iNOS promoter activity and alleviates NF‐κB transcription activation. After co‐transfection with E2F1 interference RNA, suppression of lipopolysaccharide‐mediated iNOS promoter activity and NF‐κB activation was observed. Furthermore, we demonstrated that olomoucine‐induced growth arrested cells reduce expression of the p65 subunit of NF‐κB. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that inhibition of cell‐cycle progression is capable of reducing pro‐inflammatory responses via down‐regulation of NF‐κB.
In BALB/c mice, two maturation-related wheat-germ-binding glycoproteins (GP-49 and GP-83) are synthesized and secreted by corpus and cauda epididymis. A co-culture technique was used to investigate these glycoproteins in principal cells of corpus epididymis and the conjugation of these molecules on caput sperm. The principal cells were recovered from corpus epididymides of 4-week-old mice and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. After culturing for 3-4 days, most cells revealed epithelial cell-specific keratins in immunofluorescent localization with monoclonal antibody. By electron microscopy, a prominent nucleolus with well-extended euchromatin was revealed in the nucleus and the cytoplasm contained multivesicular bodies, and a well-developed Golgi apparatus with endoplasmic reticulum. By SDS-PAGE, GP-83 and GP-49 were revealed in the cell extracts and cell culture supernatants after incubation with 35S-methionine. Radiolabeled binding sites were also found on the surface of caput sperm co-cultured with the principal cells for 4 h in the presence of 35S-methionine. WGA-binding glycoproteins may be synthesized and secreted by the principal cells of corpus epididymis and conjugated to caput sperm during the epididymal transit.
Records of 71 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer were reviewed retrospectively regarding clinical stage, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, CT scan of pelvis, bone scan, and pelvic lymph node dissection. Fourteen patients had pelvic lymphadenopathy based on the CT scan. Of these, no patient had a PSA level <4 ng/mL, 1 patient had a PSA level between 4 and 10 ng/mL, and 3 had a PSA level between 10 and 20 ng/mL. Twelve of 13 patients with positive bone scan results had a PSA level >20 ng/mL, and 1 patient had a PSA level between 10 and 20 ng/mL. PSA can be cost-effective in selecting and identifying appropriate staging for patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. CT scans are not indicated in men with clinical localized prostate cancer when PSA levels are < or =10 ng/mL. Bone scan is not required for staging asymptomatic men with PSA levels of < or =20 ng/mL. Pelvic lymphadenectomy for localized prostate cancer may not be necessary if PSA levels is < or =20 ng/mL and Gleason score is < or =5.
Summary In our previous reports, we found polyclonal anti‐double‐stranded DNA antibodies (anti‐dsDNA) purified from patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exerted inhibitory effect on [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation of human mononuclear cells (MNC). However, the other immunological effects of anti‐dsDNA on the functions of MNC have not yet been reported. In this study, two monoclonal antibodies, 12B3 and 9D7, with different anti‐dsDNA activity were evaluated for their effects on the expression and release of different cytokines from human MNC. We confirmed absence of endotoxin in the two monoclonal antibody preparations and the used medium as detected by Limulus amoebocyte lysate test. The mRNA expression and release of different cytokines including interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) were measured. We found the two monoclonal anti‐dsDNA not only dose‐responsively suppressed the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)‐induced thymidine uptake of human MNC but stimulated the mRNA expression of IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐8 in normal human MNC detected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measurement of cytokines in MNC culture supernatants revealed that anti‐dsDNA enhanced IL‐1β, IL‐8, TNF‐α and IL‐10 release from resting MNC. These effects of anti‐dsDNA antibodies were not affected by polymyxin B, a potent binder and neutralizer of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These in vitro studies suggest that anti‐dsDNA possess a dual effect on normal human MNC: (a) to enhance the release of proinflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐8 and TNF‐α) from MNC to augment inflammatory reaction; and (b) to polarize the immune reaction towards the T helper 2 (Th2) (increased IL‐10 production) pathway. This unique effect of anti‐dsDNA may play a role in lupus pathogenesis by augmenting inflammatory reactions and autoantibody production which are commonly found in patients with active SLE.
Epidermoid cyst is a rare benign tumor of the testes. The records from the last 20 years of Taiwanese patients in whom a testicular tumor was diagnosed were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with a confirmed epidermoid cyst of testis were evaluated for age, clinical assessment and follow-up. Among a total 146 testicular tumors, 28 (19%) patients had a benign tumor including 15 patients (10%; mean age 23 years, range 17-32 years) with an epidermoid cyst diagnosed pathologically. Pre-operative suspicion of the benign nature of the lesions was supported by testicular ultrasonography in 11 patients. Seven patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging after which benign epidermoid cyst was impressed in five patients. A testicular-sparing operation was performed in 12 patients after frozen sections confirmed the diagnosis. Three patients were treated by radical orchiectomy. There was no relapse after a median follow-up of 42 months (range, 2-82 months). Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging of the scrotum may allow the diagnosis of epidermoid cyst of the testes to be made pre-operatively. The absence of relapse in these patients further supports the use of organ sparing surgery in these young men.
A 53-year-old woman presented bilateral renal masses, which were interpreted as abscesses with a computed tomography scan 9 years after primary surgery for cervical carcinoma. Subsequent biopsies under ultrasound guidance revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma of kidneys originating from the cervical carcinoma. Clinical detection of renal involvement from cervical cancer is extremely rare. There were only seven cases reported in the literature, and three cases were interpreted as abscesses initially. In comparison with these cases, the time between renal metastases and initial detection of cervical carcinoma is the longest in our case.
The development of postoperative lymphoceles following pelvic lymph node dissection is a rare complication. It is a well-described complication of kidney transplantation. A patient who developed a symptomatic pelvic lymphocele after pelvic lymph node dissection for staging prostatic cancer was treated with percutaneous tube drainage, but the treatment was in vain. Successful treatment was accomplished with povidone-iodine instillation into the lymphocele. This simple, safe, and painless method for lymphocele treatment is recommended.
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