[Development of a slow release system of anti-cancer drugs retained in calcium-hydroxyapatite ceramic]

A new type of anticancer material with sustained release by enclosure of cisplatin (CDDP) into porous calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic (CDDP-CHA) was developed. A slow release of anticancer drug from CDDP-CHA was confirmed in in vitro experiments. When this material was implanted into normal thigh muscle of mouse, a sustained release of CDDP was observed during over 8 weeks after implantation. The diffusion of drug into blood and other organs from the implanted site was very small. CDDP-CHA placed into the implanted tumor of mouse allowed a slow release and high drug level from the material in the tumor. The concentration of the drug in other organs such as liver and kidney was very low compared with that of the tumor. These results suggest that this material has an important role for cancer chemotherapy, particularly in bone tumors for the reasons of calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic carrier having a mechanical strength.

Sweating function and retinal vasomotor reactivity in migraine

Sweating function and retinal arterial reactivity in patients with migraine were examined during headache-free intervals. The sweat glands were stimulated by intradermal injection of pilocarpine hydrochloride, and molds of sweat droplets were obtained using Silastic. The number of droplets in classic migraine was significantly lower than that in the controls. The retinal arterial response to changes in perfusion pressure was measured by means of a fundus camera. The retinal vasomotor index (-change in retinal arterial diameter (%)/change in effective MABP (mmHg)) was significantly lower in classic and in common migraine than in controls. The above results suggest that sweating function and retinal arterial reactivity are impaired in patients with migraine and that the impairment may play an important role in the pathophysiology of migraine attacks.

Lysosomal movements during heterophagy and autophagy: with special reference to nematolysosome and wrapping lysosome

Recent studies on lysosomal movements during heterophagy and autophagy performed in our laboratory for the past several years were reviewed; methods for the investigation of lysosomes and the cytoskeleton in these studies mainly involved electron microscopic cytochemistry. Lysosomal movements during heterophagy were observed in cultured rat alveolar macrophages taking up horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and rat peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) by fluid-phase pinocytosis and adsorptive pinocytosis, respectively. A characteristic lysosomal change which was induced by the pinocytosis was the appearance of long, threadlike lysosomes (nematolysosomes) in the cytoplasm. The effects of actin filament destabilizer and antimicrotubular drug on lysosomal changes revealed that the appearance of nematolysosomes was dependent on the presence of both actin filaments and microtubules. The close morphological relationship between lysosomes and cytoskeletal elements, such as actin filaments and microtubules in the alveolar macrophages, supports the participation of the cytoskeletal system in the regulatory mechanism of lysosomal movements. In the study of the lysosomal wrapping mechanism (LWM), which is one type of lysosomal movement that occurs during autophagy, it was found that the occurrence of LWM was dependent on energy--namely, the supply of ATP--and on the presence of actin filaments. However, deconstruction of microtubules induced or favored the occurrence of LWM. It is conceivable that the LWM is also related to the cytoskeletal system. We conclude that intracellular dynamics of lysosomes during heterophagy and autophagy are largely a consequence of complicated modulation by the cytoskeletal system.

Intracellular accumulation of cholesteryl esters suppresses production of lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 1 by rat peritoneal macrophages

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a major cytokine of macrophages secreted by several stimulants such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Macrophages are known to possess the scavenger receptor for acetylated low density lipoprotein (acetyl-LDL) and maleylated albumin. In the present study we determined effects of these ligands on LPS-induced IL-1 production by rat peritoneal macrophages. These ligands themselves did not induce IL-1 production. However, upon short incubation with acetyl-LDL, LPS-induced IL-1 production was significantly suppressed. The extent of the suppression was proportional to cellular cholesteryl esters. Thus, intracellular accumulation of cholesteryl esters might be responsible for suppression of LPS-induced IL-1 production.

[Clinical evaluation of limb-salvage procedures in malignant bone tumors--a study of 54 cases]

Recent advances in therapy such as local and systemic chemotherapy, wide resection, and aggressive thoracotomy improved the survival of the patients with malignant bone tumors. Since 1981, we have performed limb-salvage operations for 54 cases of malignant bone tumors of the extremities. In this study, we report the rate of local recurrence and the prognosis of the patients. We treated 37 osteosarcomas, 8 malignant fibrous histiocytomas of bone, 3 Ewing's sarcomas, 3 parosteal osteosarcomas, 2 chondrosarcomas, and one fibrosarcoma. The age of the patients ranged from 11 to 65 years (mean, 18.5). The male/female ratio was 2:1. The surgical stage was 47 at II B and 7 at III. The follow-up period was 14 to 84 months (mean 36). They received preoperative chemotherapy including intraarterial infusion of Adriamycin, and postoperative chemotherapy for ten months. Local recurrence was detected in 2/54 (3.7%). Lung metastases (Stage II B) developed in 9/47 (19.1%). Five of them (10.7%) died of metastasis, one is alive with metastases, and 41 cases are now disease-free. Six of seven cases (Stage III) died of metastasis, despite aggressive chemotherapy and thoracotomies.

Ultracytochemistry of calmodulin binding sites in myocardial cells by staining of frozen thin sections with colloidal gold-labeled calmodulin

Calmodulin (CaM) has been implicated as a multifunctional regulator of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm of cells. We have recently introduced biologically active colloidal gold-labeled CaM as a marker for identifying potential CaM binding sites (unoccupied by endogenous CaM at the time of fixation) by electron microscopy and have stained frozen thin sections of rat cardiac muscle with this conjugate. In the presence of Ca2+, gold particles indicating CaM binding sites were found localized on the sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and gap junctions. Control tissue sections treated with EGTA or exposed to excess amounts of unlabeled native CaM before staining showed no binding. We believe that cytochemistry of potential CaM binding sites revealed by staining with labeled exogenous CaM is useful in correlating known biochemical reactions of CaM with particular cell activities.

Evidence against in vivo presence of 2-(2-furoyl)-4(5)-(2-furanyl)-1H-imidazole, a major fluorescent advanced end product generated by nonenzymatic glycosylation

The reaction of protein amino groups with glucose leads to the formation of a stable Amadori product via a Schiff base adduct, which is further converted to advanced glycosylation end products (AGE) with color and unique fluorescence characteristics. 2-(2-Furoyl)-4(5)-(2-furanyl)-1H-imidazole (FFI) was recently identified as a major fluorescent compound (Ponger, S., Ulrich, P.C., Bencsath, F.A., and Cerami, A. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 2684-2688). Its in vivo and in situ presence was further demonstrated by radioimmunoassays (Chang, J.C.F., Ulrich, P.C., Bucala, R., and Cerami, A. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7970-7974). In the present study the occurrence of FFI in AGE-proteins was reassessed. The radioimmunoassay using anti-FFI antibody and high performance liquid chromatography failed to detect FFI in AGE samples obtained from bovine serum albumin, poly-L-lysine, oligo-L-lysine, and L-lysine. Even after acid hydrolysis or proteinase K digestion, FFI was undetectable. To our surprise, however, the addition of ammonia to these acid hydrolysate led to the production of FFI, suggesting the importance of acid hydrolysis and subsequent reaction with ammonia for the generation of FFI. This observation was fully supported by model experiments using AGE-samples prepared by incubating glucose with monoaminocarboxylic acids such as beta-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and epsilon-aminocaproic acid. Thus, a nonfluorescent FFI precursor is produced by acid hydrolysis, and its conversion to fluorescent FFI occurs upon subsequent reaction with ammonia, the evidence against the presence of FFI in AGE-proteins.

Endocytic uptake of nonenzymatically glycosylated proteins is mediated by a scavenger receptor for aldehyde-modified proteins

Long term incubation of proteins with glucose, named the Maillard reaction (Maillard, L. C. (1912) C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 154, 66-68), gives rise to advanced glycosylation end product (AGE) with fluorescence, color, as well as cross-linked properties. The receptor-mediated endocytosis of AGE-proteins by macrophages was reported (Vlassara, H., Brownlee, M., and Cerami, A. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 5588-5592). The present study on the binding of AGE-bovine serum albumin (BSA) to rat peritoneal macrophages and sinusoidal liver cells demonstrated the presence of a saturable, high affinity receptor for AGE-BSA with Kd = 2.4 x 10(-7) M (macrophages) and 2.1 x 10(-7) M (sinusoidal cells). The cellular binding of AGE-BSA and its endocytic uptake by these cells were competitively inhibited by BSA preparations modified with aliphatic aldehydes such as formaldehyde or glycolaldehyde, ligands known to be specific for a scavenger receptor for aldehyde-modified proteins (Horiuchi, S., Murakami, M., Takata, K., and Morino, Y. (1986). J. Biol. Chem. 261, 4962-4966). These ligands also had a profound in vivo effect on the plasma clearance of 125I-AGE-BSA as well as its hepatic uptake. Thus, endocytic uptake of AGE-proteins by macrophages appeared to be mediated by a scavenger receptor for aldehyde-modified proteins. This provides evidence for the biological importance of the scavenger receptor in eliminating senescent macromolecules from the circulation.

Computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction of paranasal sinuses and its application

Computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction techniques have been used for reconstruction of the paranasal sinuses and their related structures. Coronal polytomographic serial slices of Fuji Computed Radiogram (FCR) of every 5 mm or horizontal tomographical serial slices of CT of every 4 mm were obtained from preoperative cases of chronic sinusitis. Boundaries of the target structures were digitalized into a computer. The reconstructed image was displayed on a monitor screen and could be rotated or tilted in all directions. The reconstructed models showed the spatial shapes of each sinus and the relationship between sinuses and related structures of individual cases. This information is useful for surgeons to obtain preoperative understanding of the entire anatomy of the diseased sinuses and to introduce to residents detailed surgical technique of endonasal sinus surgery.

Noradrenergic nervous activity in migraine

The autonomic nervous function in patients with migraine was studied during headache-free intervals. The following observations were made: (1) a decrease in overshoot in Valsalva's maneuver; (2) orthostatic hypotension; (3) low levels of plasma norepinephrine in the steady state; (4) failure in elevation of the plasma norepinephrine level after head-up tilting; (5) dilatation of the pupils after instillation in the eye of 1.25% epinephrine; and (6) a long recovery time in tests by bolus injection of 0.1 microgram of norepinephrine bitartrate per kilogram. The above findings suggest that patients with migraine show sympathetic hypofunction together with denervation hypersensitivity of the iris and the arteries, and that a defective noradrenergic nervous system may play a role in the pathogenesis of migraine.

The effect of chronic isoproterenol administration on the plasma membrane of acinar cells in rat submandibular gland

The effect of chronic administration of isoproterenol on the plasma membrane of acinar cells in the rat submandibular gland was studied by biochemical and immunohistochemical methods, using dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV as a marker enzyme. Chronic isoproterenol treatment led to a marked reduction of DPP IV activity as well as of its immunoreactivity in the gland. Its effect progressively increased with the age of the animals. The present study showed that chronic treatment with isoproterenol caused a qualitative alteration of the plasma membrane of the luminal surface in acinar cells of the rat submandibular gland, and that the effect of the drug on the plasma membrane was dependent on the developmental stage of the acinar cells of the gland.

Prognostic value of cerebral blood flow autoregulation in the long-term prognosis of ischemic cerebrovascular disease

The correlation between long-term prognosis, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and CBF autoregulation was studied in 34 patients with cerebral infarction (mean age, 64 years). CBF was measured by the nitrous oxide method 1-6 months (mean 87 days) after disease onset. CBF autoregulation was evaluated quantitatively from the Dysautoregulation Index (DI) (delta CBF/delta effective MABP). Reductions in effective MABP were induced with a tilt table. No significant correlation was noted among CBF, DI and activities of daily living at the time of measurement. The patients' physical condition was reevaluated by questionnaire 2 years or more (mean 32 months) later. Better functional state at follow-up was related to higher CBF and lower DI values although the differences were not significant. The relationships among CBF, DI and changes in physical condition during the period were evaluated. The mean CBF values in patients with a better prognosis exceeded those of poor prognosis patients. The CBF values in the group who became independent significantly exceeded those in the group that deteriorated (P less than 0.05). The CBF values in the latter showed small but significant decreases during head-up tilting (P less than 0.05). The DI in this group was significantly higher than in the groups with a less severe outcome (P less than 0.01, P less than 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, determinations of CBF autoregulation, together with flow values, in the chronic state may have some value in predicting the long-term prognosis in cerebral infarction.

Immunohistochemical localization of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (DAP) IV in the rat submandibular gland during postnatal development

The localization of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (DAP) IV in the rat submandibular gland during postnatal development was studied immunohistochemically using the unlabeled antibody enzyme method. Cryostat sections of rat submandibular glands were examined in animals 1 to 50 days old. In the first postnatal week, faint immunoreaction was detected in the apical region of the cytoplasm of terminal tubules. During the second postnatal week the reaction was gradually restricted to the luminal region of terminal tubules or developing acinar cells, and its intensity increased. The most striking change of the enzyme localization was observed in 15-day-old rats. At this time, DAP IV was confined to the luminal and lateral membranes of differentiated acinar cells and to the luminal membranes of intercalated and striated duct cells. This localization pattern was similar to that of the adult animal. DAP IV activity in the gland was also measured biochemically during the postnatal development. The results were in agreement with those of the immunohistochemical study. These results suggest that the localization of DAP IV is closely related to the postnatal differentiation and proliferation of acinar cells.

Pancreatic pseudocyst in a patient with variant von Willebrand's disease

We report a case of pancreatic pseudocyst which occurred in a 32-year-old woman with variant von Willebrand's disease. A curvilinearly calcified shadow incidentally seen in the upper abdomen on radiographic examination was the first sign of the cyst. The abnormality of hemostatic mechanism found in this patient is speculated to be related to the cyst formation.

Effects of parathyroid hormone in vivo on the protein kinase activity in rat kidney

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) was infused into thyroparathyroidectomized rats, and the protein kinase activity of the kidney was studied. When the tissue was homogenized in a buffer containing 5 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.0), 2 mM EDTA, 1 mM mercaptoethanol, and 5 mM theophylline, the total protein kinase activity (measured in the presence of 5 muM cAMP) in the cytosol was decreased by the infusion of PTH, exhibiting an inverse relationship to cAMP level in the renal tissue. The decrease of total activity was accounted for by a decrease of cAMP-dependent kinase activity, and such a change was induced also by the infusion of calcitonin or dibutyryl cAMP. A substantial enzyme activity was solubilized from the particulate fraction with a buffer containing KC1. The infusion of PTH increased the kinase activity (activities measured in both the presence and absence of cAMP) solubilized from the particulate fraction, suggesting the translocation of activated enzyme from cytosol to some particulate cell component(s). However, when KC1 was added to the homogenization buffer in concentrations up to 150 mM or even higher, the total protein kianse activities in the cytosols of control and PTH rats were similar and there was simply an increase in the fraction of cAMP -independent activity. These observations indicate that the hormonally-induced increase of cAMP in vivo activates protein kinase of the kidney, and the activation of kinase results in apparent translocation of the enzyme from the soluble to the particulate fraction when the tissue is homogenized in buffers of low ionic strength. The physiological significance of this phenomenon, however, cannot be evaluated, due to the fact that the increased association of activated kinase with particulate component(s) is reversed by employing a homogenization buffer containing what is probably a physiological concentration of salt.

Qualitative abnormality of insulin secretion in a case with insulinoma

We have presented here a case of atypical insulinoma. Despite the recurrent episodes of hypoglycemic symptoms, the plasma level of insulin has never been excessive at fasting or by regular provocative tests. Detailed examination had demonstrated qualitative abnormality of insulin secretion. Hyposuppressibility of insulin secretion by hypoglycemia, borderline diabetic curve of glucose tolerance test, blunted response ot insulin to glucagon and leucine were the principle characteristics of these abnormalities. After removal of adenoma, insulin response to glucose, glucagon and leucine was improved. Only secretion provoked a high level of insulin and this abnormal elevation was no longer seen after the removal of adenoma. A removed elevation was no longer seen after the removal of adenoma. A removed insulinoma contained 25 U of immunoreactive insulin per gram tissue, but was negative for aldehyde-fuchsin staining. On electromicroscopy only atypical beta-cell granules were seen.