The N-terminal transactivation domain of rat estrogen receptor is localized in a hydrophobic domain of eighty amino acids

In order to determine the transactivation domain(s) of the rat estrogen receptor (rat ER), we made a number of rat ER deletion mutants and transfected the mutant plasmids into COS7 cells together with an estrogen-responsive reporter plasmid, ERE-tk(197)-CAT, which contained the estrogen response element of Xenopus vitellogenin A2 gene. We have identified and localized the N-terminal transactivation domain of the rat ER to a hydrophobic region extending from Ala 59 to Glu 140.

Transgenic mice susceptible to poliovirus

Poliovirus-sensitive transgenic mice were produced by introducing the human gene encoding cellular receptors for poliovirus into the mouse genome. Expression of the receptor mRNAs in tissues of the transgenic mice was analyzed by using RNA blot hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction. The human gene is expressed in many tissues of the transgenic mice just as in tissues of humans. The transgenic mice are susceptible to all three poliovirus serotypes, and the mice inoculated with poliovirus show clinical symptoms similar to those observed in humans and monkeys. Rabbit antipoliovirus serum detects the antigens mainly in motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord and in nerve cells in the medulla oblongata and pons of the paralyzed transgenic mice. Therefore, cell types sensitive to poliovirus in the central nervous system of the transgenic mice appear to be identical to those of humans and monkeys. Furthermore, many more doses of oral poliovirus vaccine strains than of the virulent strains are required to cause paralysis in the transgenic mice. This may reflect the observation that the virulent strain multiplies more efficiently in the central nervous system than the attenuated strain. Thus, the transgenic mice may become an excellent new animal model to study molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of poliovirus and to assess oral poliovirus vaccines.

Both Pit-1 and the estrogen receptor are required for estrogen responsiveness of the rat prolactin gene

To examine the functional relationship between distinct cis-active elements within the distal enhancer region of the rat PRL gene, we have used deletional and mutational analysis of that region in transient transfection studies in GH3 pituitary tumor cells. Results from these studies demonstrate that the region of the PRL distal enhancer containing the Pit-1-binding sites is critical not only for enhancer activity and the response to cAMP, but also for the response to estradiol. An interaction of the estrogen receptor with factors conferring basal enhancer activity is suggested by studies with a mutant distal enhancer region in which the PRL estrogen response element was converted to a palindromic estrogen response element. To directly examine potential interactions, cotransfection studies using PRL distal enhancer reporter gene constructs and expression vectors for Pit-1 and rat estrogen receptor were performed in two heterologous cell lines. The activity of the reporter gene under the control of the PRL distal enhancer linked to either the thymidine kinase promoter or the PRL proximal promoter was not significantly altered by cotransfection with the Pit-1 expression vector in COS-1 or RAT-1 cells. Coexpression of these reporter constructs and an expression vector for estrogen receptor resulted in only a slight response to estradiol. However, when both Pit-1 and estrogen receptor were cotransfected with the distal enhancer reporter gene, a marked induction was observed in response to estradiol, and this activity was dependent upon the concentration of the Pit-1 expression vector.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The poliovirus receptor protein is produced both as membrane-bound and secreted forms

Both genomic and complementary DNA clones encoding poliovirus receptors were isolated from genomic and complementary DNA libraries prepared from HeLa S3 cells, respectively. Nucleotide sequence analysis of these cloned DNAs revealed that the poliovirus receptor gene is approximately 20 kb long and contains seven introns in the coding region, and that at least four mRNA isoforms referring to the coding sequence are generated by alternative splicing and appear to encode four different molecules, that is, PVR alpha, PVR beta, PVR gamma and PVR delta. The predicted amino acid sequences indicate that PVR alpha and PVR delta, corresponding to the previously described cDNA clones H20A and H20B, respectively, are integral membrane proteins while the other two molecules described here for the first time lack a putative transmembrane domain. Mouse cell transformants carrying PVR alpha were permissive for poliovirus infection, but those carrying PVR beta were hardly permissive. In contrast to PVR alpha, PVR beta was not detected on the surface of the mouse cell transformants but was detected in the culture fluid by an immunological method using a monoclonal antibody against poliovirus receptor. Three types of splicing products for PVR alpha, PVR beta and PVR gamma were detected by polymerase chain reactions using appropriate primers in poly(A)+ RNAs of the brain, leukocyte, liver, lung and placenta of humans; the choice of primers used did not permit detection of PVR delta. In situ hybridization using a cDNA fragment as a probe demonstrated that the PVR gene is located at the band q13.1----13.2 of human chromosome 19.

Frequency of micronuclei in hepatocytes following X and fast-neutron irradiations--an analysis by a linear-quadratic model

The usefulness of the micronucleus assay for investigating the radiation response of hepatocytes was examined. The frequency was defined as the ratio of the total number of micronuclei to the number of hepatocytes examined. The dose-response curves were curvilinear after X rays and linear after neutrons. These dose-response curves were analyzed by a linear-quadratic model, frequency = aD + bD2 + c. The a/b ratio was 3.03 +/- 1.26 Gy following X irradiation. This value is within the range of the alpha/beta ratios reported by others using the clonogenic assay of hepatocytes. While the a/b value for neutrons was 24.3 +/- 11.7 Gy, the maximum relative biological effectiveness of neutrons was 6.30 +/- 2.53. Since the micronucleus assay is simple and rapid, it may be a good tool for evaluating the radiation response of hepatocytes in vivo.

Chromosome aberration frequencies produced by a 70-MeV proton beam

The effectiveness of a 70-MeV proton beam in the induction of chromosome aberrations was studied. We employed peripheral lymphocytes and analyzed the frequencies of dicentrics and rings after irradiation at doses ranging from 0.1 to 8.0 Gy at various depths within a Lucite phantom. The frequency of chromosome aberrations after irradiation with an unmodulated proton beam at 5 mm showed a dose-response relationship similar to that of 60Co gamma rays. However, irradiation at greater depths with the spread-out Bragg peak induced higher aberration frequencies at doses lower than those with gamma rays. Furthermore, the distribution curve of chromosome aberration frequencies as a function of depth was found to be slightly different from the physically measured depth-dose curve. With the spread-out Bragg peak the biological effects were more marked at greater depths, resulting in a distribution of relative biological effectiveness values. The results obtained from chromosome aberration analysis may not be related directly to those for the relationship between dose and cell killing. Slight differences in values for relative biological effectiveness due to the change of dose and site of proton beam irradiation may not be important for practical proton beam therapy, but may be important in the prevention of late radiation injuries.

[The effects of diclofenac sodium on thyroid function tests in vivo and in vitro]

In order to investigate the effects of the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, diclofenac sodium on thyroid function, 8 male and 2 female volunteers were given single dose of 50 mg diclofenac sodium. Ninety minutes after the administration of the drug, the concentrations of total T 3, total T 4 and free T 4 were decreased significantly, but the concentrations of free T 3 and the levels of T 3 uptake, % free T 3 and % free T 4 were increased. When diclofenac sodium was added to serum in vitro, the levels of free T 3, free T 4 and T 3 uptake were increased. These results showed that diclofenac sodium inhibited the binding of T 3 and T 4 competitively to the binding protein. The apparent decline in the concentrations of total T 3 and total T 4 after diclofenac sodium administration suggested that the drug altered distribution and metabolism of T 3 and T 4 mainly by increasing their free forms.

[Long-term follow-up study of I-131 therapy for Graves' disease--index associated with late-onset hypothyroidism]

We have studied the follow-up of thyroid function in the patients with late-onset hypothyroidism and euthyroidism after I-131 therapy of hyperthyroidism. Thirty three patients who did not need the thyroid treatment until ten years after I-131 therapy were classified as euthyroid group. And eleven patients who needed the thyroid supplement of thyroid hormone for late-onset hypothyroidism were classified as hypothyroid group. Patients in both groups who required only a single dose of I-131 for successful treatment of hyperthyroidism had similar age, gland size, 24 hour I-131 uptake, pretreatment serum T3 uptake level and T4 concentration, and I-131 treatment dose. Subclinical hypothyroidism occurred in 28.6% of euthyroid group and 66.7% of hypothyroid group four months after I-131 therapy. The levels of T3 were recovered to higher than normal range at 6 months in euthyroid group, while the levels of T3 were kept within the normal range in the seventy percent of hypothyroid group. Patients who were still lower in the level of T3 uptake than normal range at 6 months had a higher incidence of late-onset hypothyroidism. Our observation showed no significant difference in the course of follow-up studies after I-131 therapy between the patients with late-onset hypothyroidism and euthyroidism.

[A case of ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the aortic arch associated with hemoptysis and hoarseness]

We experienced a case of the ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the aortic arch. Patient complained left anterior chest pain, back pain and hoarseness. Considering the past history of pulmonary tuberculosis, emergency operation was performed median sternotomy approach and using aortic occlusion balloon catheter method and selective cerebral perfusion. Woven dacron graft was anastomosis intraluminal aneurysm. Postoperative course was good. Median sternotomy approach and AOBC method were better than intercostal approach method, because of a little bleeding, short operative time and method.

[A surgical case of cor triatriatum complicated by arterial multiple embolism in adult]

A 30 year old male developed sudden chest pain while driving his car and was subsequently admitted to our hospital. Cardiac catheterization and arteriography revealed multiple embolism in the right coronary artery, the right renal artery and the both popliteal arteries. Thrombus was also suspected in the left atrium by echocardiography. Emergent surgery was performed to prevent recurrence of embolism, IA type cor triatriatum (according to the Lucus-Schmidt classification) and 3 x 1 cm thrombus in the accessory chamber was found. The thrombus was extracted and the abnormal septum was satisfactorily resected. The postoperative course was favourable and the patient returned to the community after discharge. Cases of cor triatriatum complicated by multiple arterial embolism are very rare and have not been reported in Japan yet. For this reason we present this case with additional discussion from literature.

Etoposide protects mice from radiation-induced bone marrow death

Etoposide is known to inhibit the activity of topoisomerase II, and to possess radiosensitizing effects. In this paper we show that pretreatment of mice with etoposide one day before whole-body irradiation had a protective effect against radiation-induced bone marrow death. The LD50/30 of mice given radiation alone was 8.26 Gy while that of mice given etoposide one day before whole-body irradiation was 10.35 Gy. The number of endogenous colony-forming units surviving in whole body-irradiated mice was significantly increased by pretreatment with etoposide.

Coronary artery fistula with left or right ventricular communication and sinus-node dysfunction

Coronary artery fistulae that communicate with the left ventricle are quite rare; those accompanied by sinus-node dysfunction are even more unusual. We report 2 cases of congenital coronary-artery-to-left-ventricle fistula with sinus-node dysfunction. In each of these patients, fistulae arose from both left and right coronary arteries. One patient had, in addition, a right coronary artery fistula that communicated with his right ventricle. Sinusnode dysfunction encountered in these 2 patients was likely caused by chronic general ischemia arising from a steal syndrome associated with the fistulae.

[A surgical case of left coronary artery-left ventricular fistula]

Left ventricular fistulas arising from the left coronary artery are rare, and only 3 cases have been reported Japan. Surgical closure of a left coronary artery-left ventricular fistula in a 14-year old male was reported. The fistula was identified by coronary arteriography after the patient had been admitted to hospital complaining of recurrent chest pain. Ligation of the fistula involving the left anterior descending coronary artery was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass, chemical arrest and hypothermia. The blood flow through the LAD decreased from 370 ml/min to 100 ml/min after the fistula was ligated, and there was uneventful postoperative recovery. Furthermore chest pain of the patient was shown to diminish and movement of the left ventricular septum was improved, compared with the preoperative cineangiography. However, trivial residual flow fo the circumflex coronary artery to the left ventricle remained on postoperative coronary arteriography. The principal aim of the procedure for surgical correction should be effective closure of the fistula without compromising the distal blood supply of the coronary artery involved, cardiopulmonary bypass is considered necessary to appropriate closure of the fistula.

Immunological disorders in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. With special reference to the production of interleukin-2 and the expression of interleukin-2 receptors in the patients' peripheral blood lymphocytes

Cell-mediated immunological function was studied in 18 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) making use of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The results were as follows: 1) Blastoid transformation of PBL stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was significantly suppressed in patients with DCM compared with normal controls (p less than 0.01). 2) The T-cell subset ratio of Leu-3a-positive cells to Leu-2a-positive cells was significantly higher in patients with DCM than that in the control group (p less than 0.05). 3) Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production of PBL under PHA stimulation was enhanced significantly in patients with DCM (p less than 0.05). 4) IL-2 receptor-positive cells were significantly fewer in number in patients with DCM than in controls (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that immunological disorders including changes in the IL-2 system are present in some patients with DCM and may play a role in the occurrence of DCM.

The sennoside constituents of rhei rhizoma and sennae folium as inhibitors of serum monoamine oxidase

Four (in total) compounds with inhibitory effects on the activity of bovine serum monoamine oxidase were isolated from the methanol-water extracts of Rhei Rhizoma (Daiou) and Sennae Folium (Senna), and identified as sennosides A, B, E and F. Among them, sennosides A and B were obtained from both Rhei Rhizoma and Sennae Folium, while sennosides E and F were detected only in the former. The 50% inhibitory concentrations of the four sennosides were 17, 9, 24 and 13 microM, respectively, and the type of inhibition by seenosides A and B with respect to allylamine as the substrate was non-competitive.

[Effect of degradable starch microspheres (DSM) on hepatic hemodynamics]

The effect of intra-arterial infusion of degradable starch microspheres (DSM) on hepatic arterial blood flow was measured using a transit-time ultrasonic blood flow meter. Before the infusion of DSM, the mean hepatic arterial flows were 316 +/- 79 ml/min. After infusion, the mean flows decreased to 43 +/- 86 ml/min (86%). RI-angiography using 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) was performed to measure hemodynamic changes in the liver. T/N ratio of 99mTc-MAA accumulation was increased from 0.37 to 0.62. Based on the peripheral MMC blood levels after combined infusion with DSM and MMC, the mean AUC with MMC plus DSM was decreased to 55% of that of AUC with MMC alone. These results show that combined use of DSM is effective for intra-arterial chemotherapy against the hepatic cancer.

[Pharmacokinetic analysis in intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion using mitomycin C in far-advanced gastric cancer]

Postoperative intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion (IPHP) using MMC was performed with marked success on 15 gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination or serosal invasion (first surgery group) and on 5 recurrent gastric cancer patients with ascitic retention (recurrent cancer group), and the MMC concentrations was studied in the perfusate and circulating blood. The perfusate contained MMC 10 micrograms/ml at the onset of IPHP, except one recurrent case of 20 micrograms/ml, and IPHP was performed for 120 minutes except in one case given 20 micrograms/ml of MMC. There was little difference in the hepatorenal functions and perfusate temperatures between the first surgery group and the recurrent cancer group. The drug levels were measured by HPLC method with minimal assay levels of 2 ng/ml. Perfusate drug levels in the first surgery group reduced by half at 12 minutes after the start of IPHP, whereas in the recurrent cancer group, they decreased by half about 60 minutes later. Perfusate drug levels in the first surgery group decreased twice as rapidly as in the recurrent cancer group. The area under the curve (AUC) and average drug levels in the first surgery group were 7,900 micrograms.hr/l and 3.3 micrograms/ml, respectively, and those in the recurrent cancer group were 12,620 micrograms.hr/l and 5.3 micrograms/ml, respectively. On the other hand, the drug levels in peripheral blood were almost the same between the two groups. These data suggest that although recurrent gastric cancer is well suited for IPHP because of high AUC, it is worthwhile performing IPHP combined with surgery for gastric cancer with peritoneal seeding, with due consideration for AUC of 7,900 micrograms.hr/l and the average drug level of 3.3 micrograms/ml.

Clinical trial with surgery and intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion for peritoneal recurrence of gastrointestinal cancer

To treat six patients with peritoneal recurrence after radical operation for gastrointestinal cancer, an intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion (IPHP), combined with surgical resection of recurrent tumors, intestinal by-pass anastomosis, or both, was carried out. Immediately after complete resection of the intraperitoneal recurrent tumors, a 2- to 3-hour IPHP was performed under hypothermic general anesthesia at about 32 degrees C, using a perfusate containing 10 micrograms/ml or 20 micrograms/ml of mitomycin C (MMC) warmed at the inflow temperature of 46.6 degrees C to 46.9 degrees C. The apparatus used for IPHP was designed for intraperitoneal perfusion as a closed circuit. Although five of the six patients had a malignant peritoneal effusion at the time of admission, the effusion disappeared soon after IPHP, and no cancer cell was present in the lavage from Douglas' pouch. The other patient had a recurrent tumor at the anastomotic region after low anterior resection for rectal cancer and complete resection of the recurrent tumor, combined with IPHP, was carried out. One patient with a recurrent gastric cancer died of hepatic metastasis and cancerous pleuritis 5 months after this treatment, and the other five are in good health 12.8 +/- 5.1 months after IPHP. On the other hand, five patients with intra-abdominal recurrent gastric cancer, who received only surgical treatment within the same period of time, died 3.0 +/- 2.1 months after the surgery. Postoperatively, in the six patients with IPHP, transitory hepatic dysfunction, hypoproteinemia, and thrombocytopenia occurred. These results show that IPHP using MMC combined with surgery is a safe, reliable treatment for patients with peritoneal recurrence of gastrointestinal cancer.

Effect of combination therapy of radiation and local administration of OK-432 on a murine fibrosarcoma

The effects of a combination therapy of radiation and local administration of OK-432, which is one of BRMs (biological response modifiers), were studied using a radioresistant murine fibrosarcoma with weak immunogenicity. Fifty percent tumor control doses were 83.5 (79.6-87.4) Gy in animals given radiation alone and 64.3 (57.9-71.0) Gy in animals given OK-432 immediately after radiation, indicating that this biological response modifier can enhance the radiation dose effectiveness by a factor of 83.5/64.3, that is, 1.30. Histological observations of treated tumors showed that the combination therapy induced a marked infiltration with lymphocytes and prominent degeneration and necrosis of the tumor cells. Examination of subsets of the infiltrating lymphocytes using the monoclonal antibodies showed that Lyt-2 positive lymphocytes were more abundant in the group given the combination therapy than in the radiation alone group on day 5 (p greater than 0.05). Two days later, Lyt-1, Lyt-2, and L3T4 positive lymphocytes increased in the group given the combination therapy, whereas these lymphocytes disappeared in the group given radiation alone.

Nevus of ota with nevus of Ito--report of a case with cataract

A 53-year-old Japanese male patient with both nevus of Ota and nevus of Ito developed cataract of the eye ipsilateral to the side of the nevi. In this patient, cataract might have appeared in a close pathogenetic relationship with nevus of Ota.

Biological effectiveness of fast neutrons on a murine osteosarcoma

The effect of fast neutrons and gamma rays on a murine osteosarcoma was studied. The NROS tumor, a radiation-induced osteosarcoma in a C3H mouse, was transplanted into the right hind legs of syngeneic female mice and locally irradiated with single or four daily doses of either fast neutrons or gamma rays. The NROS contained 13-30% hypoxic cells. It took approximately 7 days for the NROS tumor to show apparent reoxygenation following gamma ray irradiations. Two assays were used to determine the neutrons' relative biological effectiveness (RBE) to gamma rays: tumor growth delay time and tumor control dose. The largest RBE of 4.5 was obtained at the smallest dose of neutrons examined, followed by a gradual decrease down to 2.3. The tumor growth delay assay indicated that the RBE values of 2.6-3.1 after single doses of fast neutrons increased to 3.1-4.5 after four daily fractions. The 50% tumor control doses were 78.5 Gy and 33.0 Gy after single doses of gamma rays and fast neutrons, resulting in an RBE of 2.3. Fractionated doses increased the RBE to 2.6. Mitotic cells disappeared shortly after irradiation but reappeared 7 days after irradiation.

[Limitations in diagnosing laryngeal lesions by physical inspection as against achieving diagnoses histologically]

In diagnosing a lesion in the ENT area, an inspection that includes a physical examination and palpation is important. For a laryngeal lesion, however, the physical examination inspection becomes especially important, since palpation cannot be done. In most instance, the macroscopic diagnosis corresponds well with the findings uncovered by the histological diagnosis. However, we have found that a histological examination is crucial in diagnosing cases of a "White-pathy" lesion in the larynx, to confirm if the lesion is a so-called leukoplakia, a pre-cancerous manifestation, or an early cancer.

[The relationship between thermotolerance and the tissue oxygen tension in human gastric cancer tissue]

To study the relationship between thermotolerance and post-thermal phenomenon, tumor pO2 (TpO2) in xenoplanted gastric cancer tissue (H-23) has been measured by a polarographic method. The heat treatment was done in a water bath at 43.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C for 23 minutes. In order to produce thermotolerance, the second treatment was carried out at an interval of 24 hours, or, alternatively at 72 hours, or at 5 days or at 7 days. The thermotolerance of the H-23 tumor reached its maximum at the 72 hour-interval and was seen to disappear completely at 7 days. The TpO2 in the H-23 tumor decreased immediately after a single heat treatment and returned to its pre-treated value after 10 hours. In cases of the second heat treatment, the 72-hour interval group returned to its pre-treated value in 2-6 hours, whereas the 24-hour, 5-day, and 7-day interval groups showed a longer recovery time. The relationship between thermotolerance and TpO2 recovery was inverse at r = -0.858 and p = 0.035. Thus, our study suggests that not only is the thermotolerance affected by the alteration of the intra-cellular components, but also by the post-thermal changes in the tumor vessels.