Ca2+ -activated K+ current at presynaptic terminals of goldfish retinal bipolar cells

Properties of the Ca2+ -activated K+ current (I[K(Ca)]) were investigated in bipolar cells isolated from the goldfish retina. Pharmacological experiments and single channel current recordings demonstrated that I[K(Ca)] represented currents through BK channels, which were confined mostly to the presynaptic terminal. The ensemble noise analysis of I[K(Ca)], which was evoked following the activation of presynaptic Ca2+ current, revealed that the single channel conductance and open probability (P(o)) were approximately 50 pS ([K+]o = 2.6 mM, [K+]i = 140 mM) and 0.6 at 0 mV, respectively. To estimate [Ca2+]i at the cytosolic side of BK channels, activation of I[K(Ca)] was examined in Ca2+-loaded bipolar cells bathed in Co2+ solution. [Ca2+]i was monitored using furaptra fluorimetry. It was found that [Ca2+]i ranged between 10 and 20 microM when P(o) was 0.6. A high concentration of BAPTA ( > 20 mM) was required to suppress I[K(Ca)]. Under this condition, channel number was reduced without changing P(o). Therefore, it is likely that some BK channels are co-localized with Ca2+ channels in presynaptic terminals of retinal bipolar cells.

Molecular cloning and characterization of rab27a and rab27b, novel human rab proteins shared by melanocytes and platelets

Rabs are prenylated, membrane-bound proteins involved in vesicular fusion and trafficking. We isolated the complete cDNAs of two rab isoforms, rab27a and rab27b, from human melanoma cells and melanocytes, Rab27a is the human homolog of a rat megakaryocyte rab called ram p25. Rab27b corresponds to a small GTP-binding protein, c25KG, which was previously purified from platelets but whose cDNA had not been cloned. Sequence comparisons with known rabs indicate that rab27a and rab27b comprise a melanocyte/platelet subfamily within the rab family. In addition, rab27a was expressed in a large variety of cell and tissue types, excluding brain, and rab27b manifested itself primarily in testis. Bacterially expressed and purified rab27a and rab27b exhibited GTP-binding activity and can now be used for antibody production and studies of the substrate specificities of geranylgeranyl transferase. In addition, the expression of rab27a and rab27b in both melanocytes and platelets makes them candidates for involvement in mouse and human disorders characterized by the combination of pigment dilution and a platelet storage pool defect.

Evidence to suggest that expression of MITF induces melanocyte differentiation and haploinsufficiency of MITF causes Waardenburg syndrome type 2A

MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) encodes a transcription factor with a basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLH-Zip) motif. Ectopic expression of MITF is found to convert NIH/3T3 fibroblasts into cells with characteristics of melanocytes. MITF transfectants formed foci, which superficially resembled those induced by oncogenes, but did not exhibit malignant phenotypes. Instead, they contained dendritic cells that express melanogenic marker proteins such as tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1. Such properties were not observed in cells transfected with the closely related gene, TFE3. These findings indicated that MITF is involved in melanocyte differentiation. Two mutations (C760-->T and C895-->T) in MITF are found to be associated with individuals with Waardenburg syndrome type 2 (WS2). These mutations create stop codons in exon 7 and 8, respectively, and probably result in truncated proteins lacking HLH-Zip or Zip structure. To understand how these MITF mutations cause WS2 in heterozygotes, mutant MITF proteins were generated and used for DNA-binding and luciferase reporter assays. The mutated MITF proteins lose their DNA-binding activity and fail to transactivate the promoter of the tyrosinase gene. However, these mutated proteins do not appear to interfere with the activity of wild-type MITF protein in these assays, indicating that they do not show a dominant-negative effect. These findings suggest that the phenotypes of the two WS2 families are caused by loss-of-function mutations in one of the two MITF alleles, resulting in haploinsufficiency of the MITF protein, the transcription factor necessary for normal melanocyte differentiation.

[Assessment of surgery for primary lung cancer with dissemination or malignant effusion of pleura (T4 advanced lung cancer)]

Twenty-four cases of primary lung cancer with dissemination or malignant effusion of pleura detected preoperatively or intraoperatively were surgically treated at our hospital. Mean survival time (MST) and two-year survival rate (2 YSR) were analyzed on their resected cases and non-resected cases with similar lesion. MST and 2 YSR of 19 cases with lobectomy, 5 cases with pneumonectomy including pleuropneumonectomy and 15 cases with no surgical procedure were 2.77 +/- 0.60 years, 53.4%, 1.51 +/- 0.50 years, 26.7% and 0.99 +/- 0.15 years, 6.7%. MST and 2 YSR of 13 cases with lymph node dissection under R 1 and 6 cases over R 2 on lobectomy group were 1.99 +/- 0.38 years, 37.5% and 5.66 +/- 1.71 years, 66.7%. These findings suggested that lobectomy with lymph node dissection of R 2 over may be a beneficial treatment of lung cancer with dissemination or malignant effusion of pleura.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor expression on human transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Receptors for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSFRs) have been confirmed on the cell surfaces of several non-haematopoietic cell types, including bladder cancer cells. This observation has naturally led to the hypothesis that the expression of G-CSFR on these cells may enhance their growth by G-CSF. In this study, the expression of G-CSFR was determined in both established human bladder cancer cell lines and primary bladder cancers. We studied five different human bladder cancer cell lines (KU-1, KU-7, T-24, NBT-2 and KK) and 26 newly diagnosed bladder tumours. G-CSFR mRNA expressions on cultured cell lines were determined using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Furthermore, the G-CSFR binding experiments on the cultured cell lines were conducted using the Na(125)I-labelled G-CSF ligand-binding assay method. Moreover, the G-CSFR mRNA expressions on primary bladder tumour specimens were assessed using the in situ RT-PCR method. Three out of the five cultured cell lines (KU-1, NBT-2 and KK) exhibited G-CSFR mRNA signals when the RT-PCR method was used. The G-CSFR binding experiments showed an equilibrium dissociation constant (K[d]) of 490 pM for KU-1, 340 pM for NBT-2 and 103 pM for KK cells. With in situ RT-PCR, the tumour cells of 6 out of 26 primary bladder tumour specimens (23.1%) presented positive G-CSFR mRNA signals. Thus, in this study, G-CSFR expression was frequently observed on bladder cancer cells. Therefore, the clinical use of G-CSF for patients with bladder cancer should be selected with great care.

ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia caused Cushing's syndrome

A 53-year-old man who had been followed up for the treatment of hypertension presented with a bilateral adrenal mass during a screening CT scan. Other imaging studies and biochemical tests suggested Cushing's syndrome caused by a pituitary-independent and adrenal-dependent bilateral adrenal tumor. A total adrenalectomy was performed and the pathological appearance of the surgical specimen showed adrenal hyperplasia. Therefore, these findings were considered to be consistent with ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH). This tumor is quite rare and its etiology still remains controversial. We herein report this incidentally found AIMAH and also review the pertinent literature.

Resection of the caudate lobe of the liver for primary and recurrent hepatocellular carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Resection of the caudate lobe of the liver to treat malignancies has recently received attention, but long-term results after such resection for hepatocellular carcinoma have not been reported for an acceptable number of patients. This study analyzed the short- and long-term results after resection of the caudate lobe for primary and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in 19 patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Complete or partial resection of the caudate lobe was performed for the treatment of primary (n = 13) and recurrent (n = 6) hepatocellular carcinoma. Eleven patients had a solitary tumor only in the caudate lobe, but eight patients had tumors in other segments of the liver as well. There were 16 men and 3 women. Age ranged from 35 to 79 years, averaging 63 years. Clinicopathologic features of these cases were evaluated from various viewpoints.

RESULTS

The duration of the operation ranged from 80 to 250 minutes (mean plus or minus standard deviation; 149 +/- 47) and blood loss from 200 to 2,400 g (836 +/- 651). Four patients (21.8 percent) had postoperative complications and one (5.3 percent) died of postoperative variceal bleeding. Tumor size ranged from 1.0 to 6.0 cm, averaging 3.7 +/- 1.4. A capsule was seen around the tumor in 68.4 percent, daughter nodules in 5.3 percent, and vascular invasion in 31.2 percent. Hepatic cirrhosis was present in 15 patients and chronic hepatitis in four. The 5-year survival rate in all patients was 31.3 percent. The survival rate was significantly better in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma than in those with recurrent tumors (49.2 percent compared with none) because of frequent recurrence in the latter group.

CONCLUSIONS

Resection of the caudate lobe of the liver for hepatocellular carcinoma associated with chronic hepatic disease can be performed safely with a satisfactory long-term result, particularly in patients with primary tumors in this lobe.

Co-receptor-independent signal transduction in a mismatched CD8+ major histocompatibility complex class II-specific allogeneic cytotoxic T lymphocyte

The contribution of co-receptors in signal transduction upon T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated recognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen by mature T lymphocytes expressing TCR derived from the apparently co-receptor-independent, I-Ak-specific allogeneic CD8+ CTL clone QM11 has been examined. Mature double-negative, CD8+ and CD4+ bulk T cell lines and clones expressing TCR(QM11) were developed from TCR(QM11) transgenic mice. All these T cells, irrespective of co-receptor expression, showed specific lytic activity on cells expressing I-Ak. Furthermore, co-receptorless mutants were obtained from a CD4+ and CD8+ clone. The responses of these co-receptorless mutants upon specific recognition of the alloantigen, as judged by cytolytic activity, granule exocytosis, lymphokine production, proliferation, and tyrosine phosphorylation of the zeta chain, were comparable to those of the original clones. Thus, the results proved the co-receptor independence of the recognition of I-Ak by TCR(QM11) and further indicated there is no indispensable unique signal transduced by co-receptors. However, when the amount of the available antigen was limited by anti-I-Ak antibody, the CD4+ T cell clone showed a remarkable resistance to the inhibition whereas the mismatched CD8+ clone was readily inhibitable. The anti-I-Ak-resistant component of the CD4+ clone showed dependency on the CD4 molecule. Taken collectively, the results indicate that the role played by a co-receptor molecule in mature T cells is purely quantitative amplification of the signal through the formation of a TCR/MHC/co-receptor ternary complex, and also indicate that the role of co-receptor molecules as TCR-independent adhesion molecules is at best minimal.

Autocrine growth induced by transferrin-like substance in bladder carcinoma cells

Ample evidence confirms that certain cancer cells have the capacity to produce multiple peptides as growth factors and that expression of their receptor may act in tumour cell paracrine and/or autocrine loop mechanisms, either by extracellular release of the growth factor or by the tumour itself. To study the possibility of an autocrine growth mechanism in bladder carcinoma, we investigated the ability of various bladder carcinoma cell lines to proliferate in serum-free medium. A rat bladder carcinoma cell line, BC47, demonstrated exponential and density-dependent growth in serum-free medium. Furthermore, conditioned medium from BC47 cells induced growth-stimulating activity for BC47 cells themselves. Purification and further characterization of this activity was performed by chromatographic methods, SDS-PAGE and N-terminal amino acid analysis. Finally, we have identified that a transferrin-like 70-kDa protein is found to be the main growth-promoting factor in this conditioned medium. In addition, specific antibodies against transferrin and the transferrin-receptor inhibit the in vitro growth of this cell line. Our data suggest that this transferrin-like factor possibly acts as an autocrine growth factor for cancer cells.

Comparative analysis of the gp120-binding area of murine and human CD4 molecules

The structural basis for the difference between human and murine CD4 molecules in binding to HIV envelope protein gp120 has been intensively studied. Eighteen mutant human CD4 molecules were produced by segmental replacement of beta strands and loops in the gp120-binding area of the molecule with corresponding murine sequences or by single amino acid substitutions. Examination of these mutant CD4 molecules for gp120 binding indicated that murine CD4 molecule does not bind gp120 for the following three reasons: (a) The loops flanking the C" strand are longer than their human counterparts, causing significant difference in local tertiary structure; (b) valin, rather than phenylalanine, which is the key amino acid for the binding occupies position 43; (c) amino acids at positions 45 and 46 are different, causing further decrease in binding affinity. Furthermore, the present study indicated that the aromatic ring of Phe43 and the negative charge of Arg59 play key roles in gp120 binding.

Constitutive production of multiple cytokines and a human chorionic gonadotrophin beta-subunit by a human bladder cancer cell line (KU-19-19): possible demonstration of totipotential differentiation

Bladder cancer cells have been shown to secrete a variety of factors that are not related to cells of urothelial origin. The histogenesis of these tumour developments is uncertain, and a variety of theories have been previously reported. In the present manuscript, we identify the factors constitutively produced by a human bladder cancer cell line (KU-19-19) that was found to produce beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin 1alpha (IL-1alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8). The cells were obtained from a case of metastatic carcinoma that was originally diagnosed to be a grade 3 (WHO classification), invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. On microscopic observation, the cultured cells exhibited an epithelial appearance with vacuole formation in their cytoplasm. Ultrastructural observations revealed relatively marked microvilli and a tight junction. Significant amounts of beta-hCG, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-1alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the supernatant from cultured cells were demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, while the expression of mRNA of these marker proteins in cancer cells was also significantly exhibited by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, the expression of G-CSF receptor and IL-6 receptor mRNA was also shown by RT-PCR. Xenograft transplantability using nude mice was observed in association with the presence of severe neutrophilia in the peripheral blood. These results indicate that this cell line appears to be an effective model for the study of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with multipotent differentiation potentials.

Role of reactive oxygen species in cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum-induced cytotoxicity on bladder cancer cells

This study was undertaken to investigate the intracellular induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (CDDP) and the augmentation of their cytotoxicity in bladder cancer cells (KU7) by enhancement of ROS generation by the glutathione (GSH) depletors buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) and diethylmaleate (DEM). CDDP-induced cytotoxicity in KU7 cells and its modulation by GSH depletors were determined using spectrophotometric measurement with crystal violet staining. The effects of GSH depletors on intracellular GSH levels were confirmed using the GSH reductase-DTNB recycling method. Intracellular ROS generation induced by CDDP with or without GSH depletors was estimated from the amount of intracellular dichlorofluorescein (DCF), an oxidized product of dichlorofluorescein (DCFH), which was measured with an anchored cell analysis and sorting system. The cytotoxic effects of CDDP (IC50 15.0 +/- 2.5 microM) were significantly enhanced by BSO (IC50 9.3 +/- 2.6 microM, P < 0.01) and DEM (IC50 10.3 +/- 0.3 microM, P <0.01). BSO and DEM produced a significant depletion in intracellular GSH levels (9.6 +/- 0.4 nmol 10(-6) cells, 17.9 +/- 1.0 nmol 10(-6) cells) compared with the controls (30.5 +/- 0.6 nmol 10(-6) cells). Intracellular DCF production in KU7 cells treated with CDDP (1.35 +/- 0.33 microM) was significantly enhanced by the addition of BSO (4.43 +/- 0.33 microM) or DEM (3.12 +/- 0.22 microM) at 150 min. These results suggest that ROS may play a substantial role in CDDP-induced cytotoxicity and that GSH depletors augment its cytotoxicity through an enhancement of ROS generation in bladder cancer cells.

Prognostic significance of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) has been shown to be of prognostic significance in some gastrointestinal tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to determine whether PCNA is useful for predicting the outcome of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Using a mouse monoclonal antibody, PC 10, the expression of PCNA was studied in resected squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus from 59 patients who had undergone curative esophagectomy. None had received any preceding therapy. The proliferation rate was assessed in terms of the percentage of the PCNA-positive nuclear area relative to the total area of cancer nuclei using a cell analysis system (CAS). Clinicopathological variables including PCNA staining were assessed in relation to prognosis. Survival rate was obtained by the Kaplan-Meier method. The PCNA indices (percentage of the positive nuclear area) of the tumors varied from 4.4% to 96.2%. Among the clinicopathological variables, only tumor size (5 cm) and depth of invasion were correlated significantly with PCNA index (P<0.05). Microscopically, PCNA was stained in non-keratinized cells but not in keratinized cells. However the histological grade was not correlated with PCNA index. The survival rate was significantly worse in patients with high PCNA indices (> or = 40%) than in those with low indices (<40%) (P<0.05). However, multivariate analysis revealed that PCNA index was not an independent prognostic factor.

Mechanism for aromatase inactivation by a suicide substrate, androst-4-ene-3,6,17-trione. The 4 beta, 5 beta-epoxy-19-oxo derivative as a reactive electrophile irreversibly binding to the active site

Aromatase is a cytochrome P450 enzyme complex that catalyzes the conversion of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione to estrone through three sequential oxygenations of the 19-methyl group. Androst-4-ene-3,6,17-trione (1) is a suicide substrate of aromatase. The inactivation mechanism for steroid 1 has been studied to show that the inactivation reaction proceeds through the 19-oxo intermediate 3. To further clarify the mechanism, 4 beta, 5 beta-epoxyandrosta-3,6,17,19-tetraone (6) was synthesized as a candidate for a reactive electrophile involved in irreversible binding to the active site of aromatase, upon treatment of compound 3 with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of NaHCO3. The epoxide 6 inhibited human placental aromatase in a competitive manner (Ki = 30 microM); moreover, it inactivated the enzyme in an active-site-directed manner in the absence of NADPH (K1 = 88 microM, kinact = 0.071 min-1). NADPH and BSA both stimulated the inactivation rate without a significant change of the K1 in either case (kinact: 0.133 or 0.091 min-1, in the presence of NADPH or BSA, respectively). The substrate androst-4-ene-3,17-dione protected the inactivation, but a nucleophile, L-cysteine, did not. When both the epoxide 6 and its 19-methyl analog 4 were subjected separately to reaction with N-acetyl-L-cysteine in the presence of NaHCO3, the 19-oxo steroid 6 disappeared from the reaction mixture more rapidly (T1/2 = 40 sec) than the 19-methyl analog 4 (T1/2 = 3.0 min). The results clearly indicate that the 4 beta, 5 beta-epoxy-19-oxo compound 6, which is possibly produced from 19-oxo-4-ene steroid 3 through the 19-hydroxy-19-hydroperoxide intermediate, is a reactive electrophile that irreversibly binds to the active site of aromatase.

Inhibition of growth and induction of TGF-beta 1 in human hepatocellular carcinoma with androgen receptor by cyproterone acetate in male nude mice

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Hepatocellular carcinoma possesses androgen receptor but its true role is not known. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an anti-androgen cyproterone acetate on the growth of androgen receptor-positive hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Androgen receptor-positive human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (KYN-1/SM-10) were subcutaneously transplanted into male nude mice. When the tumor size was about 10 mm, animals were subcutaneously administered cyproterone acetate (0.1 mg/day and 0.8 mg/day) or solvent alone for 21 days. Animals were serially sacrificed for measurements of testicular weight, tumor size, and cytosolic and nuclear androgen receptor levels in tumor. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen, transforming growth factor-alpha, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in tumor were investigated immunohistochemically, using monoclonal antibodies. Apoptotic activity was also studied by the in situ DNA nick end labeling method.

RESULTS

Cyproterone acetate depressed testicular weight, suppressed tumor growth, and decreased both cytosolic-androgen receptor and nuclear-androgen receptor levels dose-dependently. Numbers of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells were decreased transiently with the low dose but continuously with the high dose of cyproterone acetate. Transforming growth factor-alpha expression was not influenced by cyproterone acetate, but the high dose of cyproterone acetate induced higher expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1, associated with increased numbers of apoptotic tumor cells, peaking on day 3.

CONCLUSIONS

The inhibition of growth of androgen receptor-positive hepatocellular carcinoma with cyproterone acetate in male nude mice could be due to G1-phase cell cycle arrest, and to some extent apoptosis induced by increased synthesis of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in tumor, caused by the direct action of cyproterone acetate through androgen receptors, as well as decreased testosterone levels in blood due to cyproterone acetate-induced testicular atrophy.

Incidence of p53 and Ha-ras gene mutations in chemically induced rat mammary carcinomas

To determine whether p53 alterations, which are frequent in human breast cancers, are also common in rat mammary tumors, we examined 40 tumors from 24 rats treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and 34 tumors from 14 rats treated with N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) (an N-nitroso compound). DMBA and NMU are known genotoxic mutagens. The entire coding regions of the p53 and Ha-ras genes were examined for mutations by polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis and by direct sequencing. One of the 40 DMBA-induced mammary tumors had a p53 mutation, a single-base substitution (AGC-->GGC) at codon 307, resulting in an amino-acid change from Ser to Gly. No mutations were found in NMU-induced tumors. The incidence of Ha-ras gene mutation was 79% (27 of 34) at codon 12 in the NMU group and 23% (nine of 40) at codon 61 in the DMBA group. Thus, p53 mutation, in contrast to Ha-ras mutation, did not seem to be a prerequisite for carcinogenesis in chemically induced rat mammary tumors.

Molecular cloning of two novel rab genes from human melanocytes

We isolated the genes of two small GTP-binding proteins of the rab family from a human melanocyte cDNA library and from melanoma cells. One gene, rab30 codes for a novel rab protein of 203 amino acids with minimal homology to previously documented GTPases. The other, rab22b, appears to be an isoform of the human homologue of canine rab22. Both rab mRNAs displayed a nearly ubiquitous pattern of expression in the various tissues examined. Rab22b and rab30 were mapped to chromosomes 18 and 11, respectively.

Ectopic expression of MITF, a gene for Waardenburg syndrome type 2, converts fibroblasts to cells with melanocyte characteristics

MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) encodes a transcription factor with a basic-helix-loop-helix-zipper (bHLH-Zip) motif. MITF mutations occur in patients with Waardenburg syndrome type 2, a disorder associated with melanocyte abnormalities. Here we show that ectopic expression of MITF converts NIH/3T3 fibroblasts into cells with characteristics of melanocytes. MITF transfectants formed foci of morphologically altered cells, which resemble those induced by oncogenes, but did not exhibit malignant phenotypes. Instead, they contained dendritic cells that express melanogenic marker proteins such as tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1. Most cloned cells of MITF transfectants exhibited dendritic morphology and expressed melanogenic markers, but such properties were not observed in cells transfected with closely related TFE3 cDNA. Our findings indicate that MITF is critically involved in melanocyte differentiation.

Two necropsy cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Holstein cattle

Two cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Holstein dairy cows are presented. At necropsy, the hearts revealed proportionate hypertrophy of the entire ventricles. The cut surface showed relatively large areas of myocardial scarring scattered throughout the ventricular walls including the septum. Microscopic examination revealed marked disorganization of cardiac muscle cells, intramural coronary arteries with thickened walls and narrowed lumina, and pronounced myocardial fibrosis. These features resemble those of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in humans, suggesting the presence of a similar primary myocardial disease in cattle.

[A case of lung adenocarcinoma: detection and resection of the metastatic lesion was managed effectively by serum CEA level]

This patient, a 53-year-old male, has had back pain and an abnormal shadow was detected in the right lung field on December 1989. He was admitted to the hospital for the further examination. On the diagnosis of lung cancer with high serum CEA level operation was performed on February 1990. As a results of pathological examination, histological type was adenocarcinoma and pathological stage was pT3N0M0 stage IIIA. After operation the serum CEA level was decreased immediately but it was gradually increased once again. And then 14 months later right adrenal metastasis was detected by abdominal CT with high serum CEA level and resection was performed. Similarly a solitary lymph node metastasis located in abdomen was detected and resected with high serum CEA level 28 months after second operation. In this case detection and resection of the metastatic lesion was managed effectively by serum CEA level. The patient had a good operative course and is alive 76 months after first operation without any evidence or recurrence.

Larvicidal activity of the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus japonicus from the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema kushidai against Anomala cuprea (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae)

The entomopathogenicity of the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus japonicus and the nematode Steinernema kushidai was determined. Phase I and II X. japonicus were cultured on an artificial medium and inoculated into the test insect or established into axenic S. kushidai populations. When 100, 1000, or 10,000 bacterial cells of phase I or II were directly injected into the hemocoels of 3rd instar cupreous chafer, Anomala cuprea, both phases in the late log period killed 100% of the larvae by the 2nd day postinoculation. However, both phases in the stationary period were less pathogenic with cupreous chafer mortality < 20 and 80% at 100 and 1000 bacterial cells/ larva, respectively. In vitro studies showed that axenic S. kushidai provided with phase I or II symbionts grew well and produced equal numbers of progeny on a dog food medium, but nematodes with no symbionts did not grow at all. Pig liver extracts added as a dietary supplement to the dog food medium completely restored growth and progeny production of the nematode with no bacterial cells. Studies were conducted with infective juveniles (IJs) harboring phase I or II or no symbionts that were applied against 3rd instar cupreous chafer larvae in compost or injected directly into their hemocoels. In the compost study, IJs harboring phase I killed 100% within 10 days. IJs with phase II or no symbionts caused low mortality of the cupreous chafer larvae at 10 days (< 20%). In the intrahemocoelic injection study, IJs harboring phase I resulted in 60% larval mortality at five nematodes/larva, and as the number of IJs injected increased, significantly higher larval mortality was obtained.