Synthesis and biological activities of cyclopropenone antibiotic penitricin and congeners

A number of derivatives of the cyclopropenone antibiotic penitricin have been synthesized by the reaction of metalated cyclopropenone acetals with electrophiles. Studies on the antimicrobial structure-activity relationships indicated that the penitricin skeleton, hydroxymethylcyclopropenone, is indispensable for antimicrobial activity. These compounds were also found to display cytotoxic activity.

A case of traumatic intramural hematoma of the duodenum effectively treated with ultrasonically guided aspiration drainage and endoscopic balloon catheter dilation

A 52-year-old man was admitted on February 15, 1990, with hiccups and vomiting. He had been well until 13 days before admission when he stumbled and fell when intoxicated, striking his abdomen. A diagnosis of intramural hematoma was made with computerized tomography and sonography of the abdomen after admission, revealing a mass that was intimately related to the duodenum. Treatment of the intramural duodenal hematoma is controversial. However, this case illustrates the ideal situation where conservative management could be applied with total parenteral nutrition, percutaneous aspiration drainage, and endoscopic balloon catheter dilatation of the narrowed lumen of the duodenum. The patient's subsequent course supports the concept of planned conservative management.

Expression of placental alkaline phosphatase in gastric and colorectal cancers. An immunohistochemical study using the prepared monoclonal antibody

The authors developed monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) against human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). Four specific MoAb reacting only with PLAP and two nonspecific MoAb reacting equally with isozymes of alkaline phosphatase (hepatic, intestinal, and placental) were obtained. Immunohistochemical staining with the specific MoAb showed that the cell membrane and cytoplasm of cancer cells were stained in gastric and colorectal carcinoma. The incidence of PLAP positivity was 23% (25 of 107) of all gastric carcinomas. Among gastric carcinomas, the 42% (13 of 31) positivity of highly differentiated carcinoma (papillary adenocarcinoma and well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma) was a significantly higher rate than that found in poorly differentiated carcinoma (poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma, five of 41, 12%). The incidence of PLAP positivity was 11% (four of 35) in colorectal carcinoma. In contrast, gastric adenoma, intestinal metaplasia, and noncancerous tissue adjacent to cancer did not show staining. These results indicated that expression of PLAP was apt to occur in more highly differentiated gastric carcinoma and was highly specific for carcinoma in the gastrointestinal tract, although its incidence was not high.

[Tissue free water tritium in pine needles around a nuclear power plant]

The elevation of the concentration of tissue free water tritium (TFWT) in pine needles was discernible in trees growing around a nuclear power plant. The values varied from 2.6 Bq/l to 6.1 Bq/l with a mean value of 3.8 Bq/l. Analysis of pine needles collected at Fukui City as control samples was done. The values averaged 1.7 Bq/l and fell within 1.5 B/l-1.8 Bq/l which was obtained nation-wide survey of TFWT in pine needles in Japan. The present study also revealed that reactor tritium incorporated into pine needles decreased rapidly with a half time of 6 days and then tissue free water tritium has a short retention time.

Roentgenographic and clinical findings of patellofemoral osteoarthrosis. With special reference to its relationship to femorotibial osteoarthrosis and etiologic factors

In order to determine definitive clinical and roentgenographic findings of patellofemoral osteoarthrosis (PF-OA) and the etiologic factors of this disease as well as its relationship to femorotibial osteoarthrosis (FT-OA), 108 knees having moderate to severe PF-OA with or without FT-OA were investigated. Pain and disabilities of activities of daily living (ADL) due to PF-OA most likely appeared during movements requiring deep flexion of the knee. Roentgenographic findings revealed a great majority of the disease occurred on the lateral side of the PF joint, both in cases of PF-OA alone and in PF-OA combined with FT-OA. There was no relationship between the degree of PF-OA advancement determined by roentgenographic findings and that of ADL disabilities. PF-OA and FT-OA seemed to be caused by different etiologic factors, because the degrees of involvement of the PF and FT joints were not correlated with each other in the cases of PF-OA combined with FT-OA. Since a clear history of dislocation or subluxation of the patella was noted in 18% of PF-OA (this figure increased to 28% if limited to the cases affected with PF-OA alone), and since roentgenographic findings also agreed with this evidence, dislocation or subluxation of the patella seemed to be one of the causes of PF-OA.

[Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation: reports of two cases]

Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation must be distinguished from spontaneous rupture of the renal pelvis in urological emergency. The literatures revealed 42 cases of peripelvic extravasation and 35 cases of rupture of the renal pelvis in Japan. Most of them were caused by urolithiasis and malignant tumors. We report 2 cases of spontaneous peripelvic extravasation caused by urolithiasis, which were successfully treated conservatively.

Isolation of two new proteins from bovine colostrum which stimulate epidermal growth factor-dependent colony formation of NRK-49F cells

Defatted bovine colostrum and decaseinated whey contain biological activity similar to that of TGF-beta in that they stimulate the anchorage-independent growth of NRK-49F cells in the presence of EGF. Two new proteins with such activity, termed BC-1 and BC-2, were isolated from decaseinated colostrum by a sequence of DEAE-Sephacel chromatography, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration in 1 M acetic acid, Sephadex G-50 re-gelfiltration in 8 M urea-1 M acetic acid and reverse-phase FPLCs. The two proteins showed distinctly different molecular weight from that of TGF-beta 1. BC-1 was a small Mr peptide of 8.5 kD. BC-2 had molecular mass of 46 kD, which yielded peptides of 46,40, and 6 kD on reduction. In contrast to TGF-beta, both proteins did not lose their biological activity on reduction. Both BC-1 and BC-2 suppress DNA synthesis in concanavalin A-stimulated thymocytes. These results suggest that BC-1 and BC-2 belong to a new class of mitogen/inhibitors, though their biological activities resemble those of TGF-beta.

Bovine colostric transforming growth factor-beta-like peptide that induces growth inhibition and changes in morphology of human osteogenic sarcoma cells (MG-63)

TGF-beta like peptide, termed TGF(BC-1), was partially purified from defatted and decaseinated bovine colostrum by a sequence of DEAE-Sephacel chromatography and Sephadex G-50 gel filtration in 1M acetic acid. TGF(BC-1) was distinct from well-known 25K TGF-beta in chemical properties: TGF(BC-1) was sensitive to acid ethanol extraction (Roberts et al., 1980). Its apparent molecular weight ranged from 21k to 11k by gel filtration and it was composed of low MW peptides (15k, 13k, 10k and 7.3k but not 25k) as examined by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions. However, TGF(BC-1) shares some biological properties with the prototype TGF-b. TGF(BC-1) remarkably suppressed growth of osteogenic sarcoma cells (MG-63), and this was intriguingly accompanied by a striking change in morphology.

[Malignant melanoma of male urethra: a case report]

A case of male urethral melanoma is reported. A 85-year-old male with a 2-month history of progressive, severe obstructive urinary symptoms and bloody urethral discharge was referred to us after an unsuccessful management at a local doctor. Physical examination revealed an ill looking old man with no evidence of nevi or other cutaneous pigmentation looking like malignant melanoma. Neither palpable periurethral mass nor inguinal lymphadenopathy was noted. RUG showed an irregular shadow defect in bulbous urethral regions. In cystourethroscopy, a raised nodular reddish black lesion in the urethra without adjacent satellite lesions was found. Histologic examination revealed that the tumor was made up of closely spaced, anaplastic, spheroidal or polyhedal cells. Intracellular brown pigment was richly present, gave a negative reaction for iron, but stained black with Masson-Fontana's method. Further examination for evaluating metastases including bone scintigraphy, computer tomographic scan, chest X-ray film were negative. Due to his poor risk, radical operation such as cystourethrectomy might be undesirable. We performed TUR to relieve urethral obstruction, because the patient refused cystostomy. He died of wide spread metastases at 6 months after the operation. This case seems to be the second report in the Japanese literature.

[Clinical study of male sterility patients]

We report the results of a clinical study of the male sterility in our institute during the past 55 months. A total of 187 male patients consulted us with the complaint of sterility, and the semen of 173 patients was examined, sixty two cases were diagnosed as azoospermia, 34 as severe oligozoospermia, 17 as moderate oligozoospermia and 60 cases as normospermia. Based upon the results of semen examination, endocrinological examination and so on, 78 cases were diagnosed as idiopathic spermatogenetic dysfunction. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in azoospermia patients were significantly higher than those of normal males statistically, and the serum FSH level was considered to correlate with the damage of spermatogenesis. We performed serial treatment using kallikrein and/or human chorionic gonadotropin, on 44 patients. Only patient, who was treated with a high dose kallikrein, succeeded in impregnating his spouse. Four of our patients with oligozoospermia had received chemotherapy for testicular cancer. Recently, with the progress of anticancer chemotherapy, curative cases have increased gradually. However, because of adverse reaction, oligozoospermia cases have also increased. Considering the quality of life, the management of the sterility may be very important.

[A case of renal cell carcinoma suspected of multilocular cystic nephroma]

A 52-year-old, healthy looking woman was referred for further evaluation of left renal mass, She had had a history of hematuria for ten years. Admission laboratory studies were within normal limits except for slight elevation of white blood cell count, c-reactive protein, blood sedimentation rate and immunosuppressive acidic protein. Retrograde pyelography demonstrated a large mass with ringed calcification in the middle lobe of the left kidney. The multiloculated mass was also confirmed by computed tomography and ultrasonography. Selective left renal arteriography showed stretched arteries and irregularity and tortuosity of the smaller vessels. Under a presumptive diagnosis of multilocular cystic nephroma or renal cell carcinoma, left radical nephrectomy was performed. In surgical specimen, many lobules were filled with serous fluid and clotted blood. Microscopic examination revealed that the lining of the cyst wall consisted of renal cell carcinoma cell. At present, 5 months after the operation, she is well without any signs or symptoms of recurrence.

Spontaneous fractures of the hip in the elderly

The authors found 41 patients with 42 fractures of the hip who had no distinct history of trauma in the total of 1,449 hip fractures treated. They were all women ranging in age from 64 to 91 years. Most of the fractures were of intracapsular type. Three extracapsular fractures, however, were found. Fractures were randomly selected with clear history of trauma, which were matched to the patients with no trauma for age, sex, and type of fracture as a control group. The grades of osteoporosis of the femoral neck, estimated with the Singh index, and of the spine, estimated with the spinal score, were noted statistically significantly higher in the patients than those in the control group. Most of spontaneous fractures of the hip in the elderly are considered similar phenomena to the compression fractures of the dorsolumbar spine.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies with restricted specificity for human renal cell carcinoma and ability to modulate the tumor cell growth in vitro

Three mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), KRC-1, -2 and -3(IgG1) were produced against cultured cells of human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines. All of them had restricted specificity for subset of RCC, but did not react with other tumor cell lines, tumor and normal tissues including kidney. The effect of these MAbs on the tumor cell growth in vitro was examined both in soft agar and in plate culture systems. All of them showed modulator effect on the tumor cell growth: KRC-1 showed stimulation effect and others, KRC-2 and -3, suppression one in the both systems. The specificity was observed in the modulator effects. KRC-1 detected a 135 kd glycoprotein in immunoblotting. KRC-2 detected a high molecular weight antigen (ca. 1200 kd) in gel filtration. All the antigens showed affinity for Con A lectin. Molecular properties of the antigens appeared to be different from those of previously reported RCC-associated antigens. The three MAbs seem to be useful to study mechanism of growth regulation in transformed cells.

[Treatment of complicated urinary tract infections caused by fungi]

The predisposing factors of funguria and the clinical efficacy of treatment with ketoconazole, a new oral imidazole antifungal drug were studied in 10 patients with complicated urinary tract infection due to fungi. Preceding antibiotic therapy, presence of indwelling catheter and malignant tumor were regarded as the important factors that predisposed to the fungal urinary tract infections. Patients received 200 mg of ketoconazole once a day for 5 to 14 days. Of the 9 patients in whom clinical efficacy of ketoconazole was evaluated, excellent response was obtained in 4 patients, moderate in 2 and poor in 3 patients. Of the 9 strains of fungi isolated before treatment, 6 strains or 67% were eradicated after treatment. Neither subjective nor objective side effects were observed in any of 10 patients receiving ketoconazole, and laboratory tests showed elevated BUN and serum creatinine in 1 patient. From the results obtained in this study, ketoconazole was regarded as useful in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection due to fungi.

Multilocular cystic renal adenocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

A case of multilocular cystic renal adenocarcinoma is presented. Although the multilocular renal cyst is an uncommon lesion, nine cases of these lesions associated with adenocarcinoma have been reported in the English literature so far. The related reports are reviewed in addition to three cases in the Japanese literature.

[A case of a scrotal hemo-lymphangioma]

A nineteen-year-old man with a painless tumor in the right scrotal area was seen at our Department. The scrotal mass had been noticed from his childhood. The tumor was 8.2 X 5.2 X 5.0 cm weighed 47.3 g. Histological examination revealed hemo-lymphangioma.

Separation and comparison of human TL-like antigens and HLA(A, B, C) antigens expressed on cultured T cells

Beta 2-microglobulin-bound T-cell membrane components containing both human TL-like antigens and HLA(A, B, C) antigens were partially purified from Renex 30-solubilized membrane material of cells of a human T-cell-type leukemia cell line, HPB-ALL. The radioiodinated preparation was subjected to limited papain digestion; the HLA(A, B, C) antigens split, whereas a large portion of the human TL-like antigens remained intact. The antigen molecules were recovered by lentil-lectin affinity chromatography and separated by gel filtration on the basis of the induced difference in molecular size. The human TL-like-antigen preparation thus obtained was essentially free of HLA(A, B, C) antigens. The human TL-like antigens were immunospecifically precipitated and the component polypeptide, heavy and light, chains were separated by acid dissociation followed by gel filtration. The component chains were compared with the corresponding chains of HLA(A, B, C) antigens obtained similarly from the same HPB-ALL cells with respect to their fragmentation patterns on chemical or enzymatic cleavage. The results provided convincing evidence for the identity of the light chains of human TL-like antigens and HLA(A, B, C) antigens, and also evidence suggesting the presence of substantial differences in the fundamental structure of the heavy chains of human TL-like antigens and HLA(A, B, C) antigens.

Human cell membrane components dominant in T cell lineage: identification and characterization of human TL-like antigens

Cell membrane components that contain beta 2-microglobulin were purified from cells of a human T cell-type leukemia cell line, HPB-ALL. They contained membrane components that have the same molecular size and the same subunit structure as HLA(A,B,C) antigens but are separable from the typical beta 2-microglobulin-containing cell membrane components, i.e., the HLA (A,B,C) antigens, by xenoantibody reagents. A sensitive radioimmunoassay was constructed for detection of the T cell membrane components. The assay revealed that the cell membrane components are expressed exclusively on cells of T cell-type leukemia cell lines among the human lymphoid cell lines tested, predominantly in thymus, among the human organs and tissues tested. They were not present on cells of human B cell-type cell lines or on cells of nonlymphoid organs and tissues. No alloantibodies directed to the T cell membrane components, the putative human homologues of mouse TL antigens, were found in any of the human tissue typing sera tested.

In vitro proliferative response of BALB/c mouse spleen cells stimulated with trinitrophenylated syngeneic spleen cells

Spleen cells from normal BALB/c mice showed in vitro proliferative response against hapten-conjugated syngeneic spleen cells. Trinitrophenylated (TNP) spleen cells were prepared by treating normal spleen cells with sodium 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonate (TNBS). Four-day cultures of TNP-labelled spleen cells incorporated 2.5-7.4 times more [3H]thymidine than similar cultures of untreated spleen cells. An obviously positive mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) by normal spleen cells against mitomycin C (MC) treated TNP-labeled syngeneic spleen cells was observed after 4 days of culture. The MLR to TNP-labelled syngeneic cells was inhibited in the presence of epsilon-TNP-L-lysine by 23-37%. The spleen cells from the mice injected intraperitoneally with TNP-labelled syngeneic spleen cells showed a higher MLR against TNP-labelled spleen cells than normal spleen cells. The sensitized spleen cells also showed an increased response to MC-treated spleen cells. These results suggest that normal spleen cells include cells which can recognize the hapten and new antigenic determinants introduced into syngeneic spleen by chemical modification.