Clinical Performance of a New Soluble CD14-Subtype Immunochromatographic Test for Whole Blood Compared with Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassay: Use of Quantitative Soluble CD14-Subtype Immunochromatographic Tests for the Diagnosis of Sepsis

We previously reported that a soluble CD14-subtype (sCD14-ST) immunochromatographic test (ICT) for plasma is more convenient than chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA), but plasma separation makes bedside measurements difficult. We developed a new sCD14-ST ICT for whole blood and investigated whether quantitative determinations of sCD14-ST by ICT were useful for diagnosing sepsis and severe sepsis/septic shock. We studied 20 patients who fulfilled two or more systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria and 32 patients who had been diagnosed with sepsis or severe sepsis/septic shock. Whole blood was collected on day 0 (on admission) and day 7, and the sCD14-ST concentration was quantitatively measured by CLEIA and ICT for whole blood. The patients’ Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis (MEDS) scores were also calculated. The cut-off values obtained by the quantitative measurements made by ICT were 464.5 pg/mL for sepsis and 762.7 pg/mL for severe sepsis/septic shock (P < 0.0001). A Bland–Altman plot showed that no fixed bias or proportional bias was detected between CLEIA and quantitative ICT for whole blood. sCD14-ST concentrations were significantly correlated with APACHE II, SOFA, and MEDS scores (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that the new sCD14-ST ICT for whole blood may be a useful tool for the convenient, rapid bedside diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.     

Environmental factors determining the distribution of highland plants at low-altitude algific talus sites

Algific talus is a micro-scale habitat type where highland plants (subalpine and alpine species) are found, disjunct from their typical range, in lowland forests. On algific talus, cold airflows from the interstices between talus fragments create a local microclimate colder than surrounding forests. Despite of the widely-known occurrence of unique vegetation on algific talus, critical environmental factors determining the distribution of highland species in this habitat type are unclear. In order to reveal the environmental factors enabling highland species to inhabit algific talus, we investigated the vegetation and environments of 26 algific talus sites and four reference (non-algific talus) sites in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Several algific talus sites were dominated by highland species, while some algific talus sites and all non-algific talus sites were dominated by lowland species. Community analysis based on detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and canonical corresponding analysis (CCA) revealed that the algific talus sites dominated by highland species had lower ground temperature, more acidic soil, larger canopy openness, and less diverse vegetation than the sites dominated by lowland species. Highland plants might be maintained under conditions stressful for lowland plants, resulting in less competitive situation. Generalized linear models (GLM), used to evaluate the response of individual highland species to environmental factors, revealed that preferable environmental conditions for highland plants are highly species specific. These results indicate that the maintenance of diverse environments is crucial for the conservation of the unique vegetation and local populations of highland species in algific talus areas.     

Fungal coil formation ofRhizoctonia repens in seedlings ofGaleola septentrionalis (orchidaceae)

Protocorms or protocorms with roots of an achlorophyllous orchidGaleola septentrionalis were inoculated with isolates ofRhizoctonia repens, R. solani, andRhizoctonia spp. The seedlings were infected with eight of twelve isolates ofR. repens. Fungal coils were formed in the cells, which was suggestive of a symbiotic association. The other isolates caused soft rot or no infection to the protocorms or the protocorms with a root. Contribution No. 97, Laboratories of Plant Pathology and Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan.     

Possible participation of intracellular platelet-activating factor in NF-κB activation in rat peritoneal macrophages

As we had found previously that thapsigargin, an endomembrane Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor, induces production of intracellular platelet-activating factor (PAF) [Br. J. Pharmacol. 116 (1995) 2141], we decided to investigate the possible roles of intracellular PAF in nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation of thapsigargin-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages. When rat peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with thapsigargin, the level of inhibitory protein of NF-κB-α (IκB-α) was decreased and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB was increased. The thapsigargin-induced activation of NF-κB was inhibited by the PAF synthesis inhibitor SK&F 98625 and the PAF antagonist E6123. Structurally unrelated PAF antagonists such as E5880 and L-652,731 also inhibited the thapsigargin-induced activation of NF-κB. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-κB was also suppressed by these drugs. In a culture of rat peritoneal macrophages, exogenously added PAF did not induce degradation of IκB-α. These findings suggest that the intracellular PAF produced by the stimulation with thapsigargin or LPS is involved in activation of the NF-κB pathway.     

Interrelationship between serum muscle enzymes and a low T3 in anorexia nervosa

To determine the interrelationship between muscle dysfunction and a low T3 state, both seen in anorexia nervosa, we studied the relationship between the degree of muscle involvement, as assessed by the circulating concentration of the three muscle indicators (CPK, GOT and LDH), and serum T3 in thirty-three patients when they were admitted to the hospital. We also studied the malnutritional state, as assessed by their body weight or serum GH, serum potassium and the degree of hyperactivity exhibited. Additionally, another twelve patients were studied in order to explore the mounding phenomenon which is typically elicited in hypothyroidism. The logarithms of serum CPK and GOT correlated only with the serum T3 concentration (r = -0.35, p less than 0.05; r = -0.41, p less than 0.05; respectively). The logarithm of serum LDH highly correlated with serum T3, the percentage of ideal body weight, and the logarithm of serum GH (r = -0.55, p less than 0.01; r = -0.66, p less than 0.001; r = 0.43, p less than 0.05; respectively). The mounding phenomenon was elicited in ten out of twelve patients. In conclusion, it was implied that a low T3 state was associated with an increase in serum muscle indicators and thus with muscle dysfunction encountered in anorexia nervosa.     

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Interleukin-6 Levels in the Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid of Children with Viral Infection-Induced Encephalopathy

We investigated changes in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in pediatric patients with central nervous system (CNS) infections, particularly viral infection-induced encephalopathy. Over a 5-year study period, 24 children hospitalized with encephalopathy were grouped based on their acute encephalopathy type (the excitotoxicity, cytokine storm, and metabolic error types). Children without CNS infections served as controls. In serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, BDNF and IL-6 levels were increased in all encephalopathy groups, and significant increases were noted in the influenza-associated and cytokine storm encephalopathy groups. Children with sequelae showed higher BDNF and IL-6 levels than those without sequelae. In pediatric patients, changes in serum and CSF BDNF and IL-6 levels may serve as a prognostic index of CNS infections, particularly for the diagnosis of encephalopathy and differentiation of encephalopathy types.     

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors acting on the reproductive process in alpine‐snowbed plants: roles of phenology,biological interaction,and breeding system

Pollinator activity and competition for pollinators lead to quantitative and qualitative pollen limitations on seed production and affect the reproductive success of plant species, depending on their breeding system (e.g., self‐compatibility and heterospecific compatibility) and genetic load (e.g., inbreeding depression and hybrid inviability). In alpine ecosystems, snowmelt regimes determine the distribution and phenology of plant communities. Plant species growing widely along a snowmelt gradient often grow with different species among local populations. Their pollinators also vary in their abundance, activity, and behavior during the season. These variations may modify plant–pollinator and plant–plant interactions. We integrated a series of our studies on the alpine dwarf shrub, Phyllodoce aleutica (Ericaceae), to elucidate the full set of intrinsic (species‐specific breeding system) and extrinsic factors (snow condition, pollinator activity, and interspecific competition) acting on their reproductive process. Seasonality of pollinator activity led to quantitative pollen limitation in the early‐blooming populations, whereas in the late‐blooming populations, high pollinator activity ensured pollination service, but interspecific competition for pollinators led to qualitative and quantitative pollen limitation in less competitive species. However, negative effects of illegitimate pollen receipt on seed‐set success might be reduced when cryptic incompatibility systems (i.e., outcross pollen grains took priority over self‐ and heterospecific pollen grains) could effectively prevent ovule and seed discounting. Our studies highlight the importance of species‐specific responses of plant reproduction to changing pollinator availability along environmental gradients to understand the general features of pollination networks in alpine ecosystems.     

Intensive resistance by females before copulation induces insemination failure in the West Indian sweet potato weevil <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euscepes postfasciatus</Emphasis>

Persistent mating attempts by males (sexual harassment) are frequently observed among animals. For females, resisting persistent males can be costly because vigorous resistance increases both energy expenditure and the possibility of injury. Although one tactic for coping with male harassment is to cease resistance and mate with the persistent partner, the females of several species are able to prevent the fertilization of their egg(s) despite copulation. In this study, we used three different sex ratios to investigate whether a male’s mating persistence affects his mating success in the West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus, in which males mount females both before and after copulation. Consistent with our predictions, we found that female weevils resist and manipulate sperm transfer either before or during copulation according to their preferences. Female weevils were able to reject the sperm of persistent males despite having copulated with them. However, neither copulation and/or post-copulatory mounting affected insemination success. We speculate that the intensive resistance shown by females before copulation may induce mechanical sterility in E. postfasciatus.     

Deactivation of snares by wild chimpanzees

Snare injuries to chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have been reported at many study sites across Africa, and in some cases cause the death of the ensnared animal. However, very few snare injuries have been reported concerning the chimpanzees of Bossou, Guinea. The rarity of snare injuries in this study group warrants further consideration, given the exceptionally close proximity of the Bossou chimpanzees to human settlements and the widespread practice of snare hunting in the area. Herein we report a total of six observations of chimpanzees attempting to break and deactivate snares, successfully doing so on two of these occasions. We observed the behavior in 5 males, ranging in age from juveniles to adults. We argue that such active responses to snares must be contributing to the rarity of injuries in this group. Based on our observations, we suggest that the behavior has transmitted down the group. Our research team at Bossou continues to remove snares from the forest, but the threat of ensnarement still remains. We discuss potential ways to achieve a good balance between human subsistence activities and the conservation of chimpanzees at Bossou, which will increasingly be an area of great concern in the future.