Immunohistochemical demonstration of tenascin and fibronectin in odontogenic tumours and human fetal tooth germs

The distribution of tenascin and fibronectin (plasma fibronectin) was studied immunohistochemically in ameloblastomas, ameloblastic fibromas and ameloblastic carcinomas, as well as in tooth germs using monoclonal antibodies. Tenascin is an extracellular matrix molecule that was shown to be enriched in the embryonic mesenchyme surrounding the budding epithelium in various organs, including the tooth. Tenascin was strongly expressed in the basement membrane zone of the ameloblastomas and in the early tooth germ and the dental lamina, but not in the dental follicle. The expression of tenascin in the ameloblastic fibroma was seen in the basement membrane of the epithelial islands throughout the stromal tissues. There were clear differences in fibronectin expression in the follicular ameloblastoma and ameloblastic carcinoma. The results suggest that tenascin and fibronectin are involved in epithelial mesenchymal interactions of the tooth germ and in odontogenic tumours.

[Gene diagnosis of uterine cervical cancer]

Molecular biologic studies have shown that human papillomavirus (HPV), some oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are associated with uterine cervical carcinogenesis. We examined HPV DNA typing and its gene expression, oncogenes (c-myc, EGF-R, c-erb B2) and p53 in cervical dysplasia and cancer with molecular biologic, immunohistochemical technique and binding assay to establish a gene diagnosis of uterine cervical cancer. The HPV study revealed that HPV DNA was detected at a high frequency at a higher grade of dysplasia and in the early stage of cervical cancer; especially HPV type 16 was associated with cervical carcinogenesis. In the oncogene study, c-myc gene overexpression was recognized in the advanced stage of cervical cancer. The other oncogene and p53 were found in a low frequency and were non-specific genes in cervical cancer. These findings indicated that HPV DNA diagnosis is a useful tool for screening the high risk group of cervical precancerous lesions and that oncogene detection might be useful in determining the biological behavior of a malignant tumor.

A transient increase of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase transcript in kinetin-treated tobacco callus

In tobacco cell culture (Nicotiana tabacum L. "Bright Yellow" T-13), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity was induced in response to an exogenously added kinetin. RNA blot hybridization analysis showed that a single species of PAL transcript 2.9-kb in size was detected using the PAL cDNA cloned from kinetin-treated cells. The cellular content of this transcript increased transiently (2.5-fold) 4 h after the addition of kinetin followed by an increase in PAL enzyme activity at 16 h.

Somatic afferent regulation of cytotoxic activity of splenic natural killer cells in anesthetized rats

The effects of non-noxious and noxious mechanical stimulation of the skin on cytotoxic activity of splenic natural killer (NK) cells and splenic blood flow were examined in anesthetized rats. Bilateral brushing of the body surface between the lateral chest and hindlimb for 30 min did not significantly influence cytotoxic activity of splenic NK cells, splenic blood flow or splenic sympathetic efferent nerve activity. Bilateral pinching stimulation of the skin of the hindpaws for 30 min reduced cytotoxic activity of splenic NK cells and splenic blood flow to 67 +/- 8 and 82 +/- 3% of the control values, respectively. Pinching the hindpaws for 30 min increased splenic sympathetic efferent nerve activity to 143 +/- 15% of control. Electrical stimulation (10 V, 10 Hz) of the splanchnic nerve for 20 min produced a decrease in the cytotoxic activity of splenic NK cells and splenic blood flow. The hindpaw pinching-induced suppression of cytotoxic activity of NK cells was abolished after surgical transection of the splenic sympathetic nerve or the spinal cord at the cervical level. These results indicate that the suppression of cytotoxic activity of NK cells and splenic blood flow following noxious pinching stimulation is a supra-spinal reflex response mediated via the splenic sympathetic nerve.

Somatic afferent regulation of plasma immunoreactive glucagon in anesthetized rats

We examined the neural mechanisms of the effect of noxious and innocuous mechanical stimulation of various segmental skin areas on the plasma glucagon concentration. Experiments were performed using chloralose- and urethane-anesthetized rats, ventilated artificially. The cutaneous stimuli of two different modalities, noxious and innocuous mechanical stimuli by pinching and brushing, were delivered to various segmental areas including the face, forelimb for forepaw, abdomen, and hindlimb or hindpaw. Blood samples were collected from the femoral artery, and plasma glucagon was measured by radioimmunoassay. Cutaneous pinching for 3.5 min of the face, forepaw, abdomen, or hindpaw increased the plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG), and the increase was larger following pinching of the abdmen or hindpaw than pinching of the face or forepaw. Brushing for 3.5 min of the face, forelimb, abdomen, or hindlimb did not significantly affect the plasma IRG. The increase in plasma IRG following skin pinching was abolished when both parasympathetic vagal and sympathetic nerves to the pancreas were bilaterally severed. The increase in plasma IRG was not abolished after bilateral severance of either the parasympathetic vagal or sympathetic nerves alone. These findings indicate that excitation of cutaneous nociceptive afferent information from the various spinal segments can regulate glucagon secretion from the pancreas as a reflex response, whose efferent limb is dually composed of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves.

Investigation of clinical characteristics of ventricular extrasystole in children--using two dimensional RR interval plotting method

Eighty-three children were monitored by Holter electrocardiography for ventricular premature contraction (VPC), and the relationship between the preceding RR interval and the coupling interval was plotted using a two-dimensional RR interval plotting method. With this method, the slope (a) and standard deviation (SD) of the linear regression (Y = aX+b) were determined. These parameters were used to classify the patients into one of two types: a fixed type (SD < 40 msec, a < 0.2) and an unfixed type. The unfixed type was further divided into four subtypes, based on the plotted morphology: scattered, dependent, biphasic, and intermediate. The relationships between the VPC origin, organic heart disease, ventricular tachycardia (VT) and parasystole were investigated in the five types. The fixed and dependent types comprised significantly greater proportions of the subjects with VPC of right ventricular origin than of subjects with VPC of left ventricular origin (fixed: 31/59 right VPC vs 4/24 left VPC, p < 0.005; dependent: 13/59 vs 1/24, p < 0.05). On the other hand, comparatively very few subjects of the scattered type showed right VPC (4/59 vs 18/24, p < 0.005). Finally, the biphasic and intermediate types were distributed fairly equally among the subjects with VPCs of right and left ventricular origin (biphasic: 5/59 vs 0/24, p = 0.31, intermediate: 6/59 vs 1/24, p = 0.67). Organic heart disease was present in 13 subjects (15.7% of total subjects), seven of whom were of the fixed type with right ventricular origin (22.6% of subjects of this type). VT was observed in 34 subjects, but was rare in the scattered type (2/22 subject, 9.1%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Comparative study of HPV infection and proliferating cell nuclear antigen of uterine cervix]

We investigated the proliferating activity of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in cervical neoplasia obtained from 37 mild dysplasia, 26 moderate dysplasia, 34 severe dysplasia and 26 carcinoma in situ (CIS) and 10 normal cervical epithelium by in situ hybridization (ISH) with biotinylated HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 DNA probes and by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody (PC10) to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The results were as follows: 1) The immunohistochemical study of PCNA was useful as a marker to detect proliferating activity in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The PCNA labelling index was significantly increased as the grade of cervical neoplasia become higher (normal cervical epithelium: 3.5%, mild dysplasia: 10.3%, moderate dysplasia: 16.9%, severe dysplasia: 23.7%, CIS: 36.3%) (p < 0.01). 2) The PCNA labelling index of the HPV type 6, 11, 16, 18 positive group was not significantly different from that of the no HPV detected group in each grade of cervical lesions. 3) The PCNA labelling index group positive for HPV 16, 18 DNA was significantly higher than the HPV 6, 11 positive group and the no HPV detected group at every grade of dysplasia (p < 0.05). The precancerous lesions positive for HPV type 16 or 18 were thought to be a high risk group judging from the proliferating activity. These results suggest that PCNA can be used as one of the growth factors in cervical neoplasia and that HPV type 16 and 18 infection had a significant proliferating cell activity in every grade of cervical dysplasia.

Production of alpha-fetoprotein by human submandibular gland

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a 590 amino acid polypeptide that was initially defined as an embryonal serum globulin. The yolk sac endoderm, fetal liver and fetal gut were shown to be the main sites of AFP synthesis in the embryo (Gitlin and Boesman, J. Clin. Invest. 46: 1010-1016, 1967). AFP synthesis is still continued in human adults (Ruoslahti and Seppala, Int. J. Cancer 8: 374-383, 1971) although the physiological level of serum AFP is lower than 10 ng/ml. AFP was also demonstrated in certain tumors and in various diseases or conditions such as yolk sac tumor, hepatoma, hepatoblastoma, acute and chronic liver cirrhosis, pregnancy and so on (Abelev, Adv. Cancer Res. 14: 295-358, 1971; Ruoslahti and Seppala, Cancer Res. 29: 275-346, 1979). Salivary glands have not been implicated in AFP synthesis. We investigated the expression of AFP in normal human salivary glands by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody against AFP, and documented immunoreactivity in intercalated and striated ducts of adult human submandibular glands.

Effects of light stimulation on the activity of the autonomic nerves in anesthetized rats

The existence of the retino-hypothalamic pathway suggests that light stimulation may influence the activity of the autonomic outflows. Efferent activities of the pancreatic, hepatic, and gastric branches of the vagus nerve and those of pancreatic, hepatic, splenic, adrenal, and renal branch of the splanchnic nerve were recorded. Light stimulation with 2000 1x for 10 min to the left eye increased the splanchnic (sympathetic) outflows and suppressed the vagal outflows. The effects lasted for several hours. The minimal effective stimulation was 20 1x for 1 min or 200 1x for 0.1 min. These responses were observed in the light period as well as dark period. However, in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) lesioned rat, the changes in autonomic outflows following light stimulation were absent. The observations suggest that light stimulation modulates visceral functions through changes in the autonomic nervous system activities via the SCN.

[Study of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) and mitotic activity in epithelial ovarian tumors]

We investigated the proliferating cell activity of 121 epithelial ovarian tumors with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections by means of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index, the mean number of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) and mitotic activity. In the order of the malignant group (82 cases), the borderline-malignant group (19 cases) and the benign group (20 cases), the mean PCNA labeling index was 32.9, 12.8, 3.4(%), the mean number of NORs was 11.1, 5.8, 2.9 (/nucleus) and the mitotic index was 30.8, 8.0, 0.5 (/10HPF) and there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) between groups. There was a positive correlation (p < 0.001) among the PCNA labeling index, the mean number of NORs and the mitotic index. In 11 cases in the malignant group, the PCNA labeling index, the mean number of NORs and mitotic index in postchemotherapy were significantly lower than those in the prechemotherapy. It was suggested that the evaluation of proliferating cell activity in malignant cases was useful in investigating the malignant potential as well as the effect of chemotherapy.

Reduced increase in plasma renin activity on water-deprivation in blind hereditary microphthalmic rats

We compared the plasma renin activity (PRA) before and after 24-h water-deprivation in blind hereditary microphthalmic rats and Donryu rats. In the congenitally blind rats with a morphologically abnormal suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), hypovolemia induced significantly less elevation of the PRA and significantly more increase in the hematocrit value than in normal rats. The changes after water-deprivation in the blind rats were quite similar to those reported in rats with SCN lesions. However, the free-running circadian rhythms persisted in these blind rats, whereas those in rats with SCN lesions were completely eliminated. Thus, it is likely that SCN cells are involved in regulation of the PRA, and that if this is the case these cells are different from those containing the circadian pacemaker.

Primary scirrhous carcinoma of the nipple with symptoms simulating Paget's disease: report of a case

We report herein an extremely rare case of primary scirrhous carcinoma of the nipple, being of particular interest in that the patient presented with symptoms very similar to those of Paget's disease. The carcinoma cells were detected by aspiration biopsy cytology rather than by touch smear, although both were performed to differentiate this lesion from Paget's disease and other diseases of the nipple. Thus, we recommend that both touch smear and aspiration biopsy cytology should be performed for all patients presenting with symptoms such as those observed in this case to rule out the possibility of scirrhous carcinoma of the nipple or Paget's disease.

Effect of orbital enucleation on glucose homeostasis and morphology of the suprachiasmatic nucleus

In rats there is a direct neural connection called the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT) from retinal ganglion cells to the ventrolateral part of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which has neurons containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like substance. Previously, we observed that bilateral orbital enucleation (blinding) caused temporary suppression of the hyperglycemic response to intracranial injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) from week 4 to 6 after blinding. Moreover, bilateral lesions of the SCN had a similar effect. From these findings, we supposed that the neurons responsible for the hyperglycemic response to 2DG were present in the SCN, that after blinding these neurons temporarily lost their activity, and that this functional change was reflected in the morphology of the SCN. To investigate this possibility, we examined the morphological changes of the SCN by Nissl staining and immunohistochemical studies with anti-VIP and anti-peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) antibodies in blinded rats, and the relationship between these morphological changes and the hyperglycemic response to 2DG. After surgical blinding, we observed following changes. (1) The optic chiasm became thinner. (2) The SCN became displaced rostrally. (3) The density of neurons in the middle to caudal part of the SCN, where the retinal ganglion cells projected, decreased markedly without change in cell number during the period when the hyperglycemic response to intracranial injection of 2DG was temporarily suppressed after blinding. The first and second changes seemed to reflect reduction of fibers and axon terminals of retinal ganglion cells and their innervation, respectively. As the third change was parallel with suppression of the hyperglycemic response to 2DG injection, it may reflect functional change of the neurons in the SCN that are responsible for the hyperglycemia due to 2DG.

Light enhances sympathetic and suppresses vagal outflows and lesions including the suprachiasmatic nucleus eliminate these changes in rats

Neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) are suggested to be involved in the mechanism of glucose homeostasis. This mechanism was examined by studies on the effect of illumination on the activity of autonomic efferents to the adrenals, pancreas and liver. Exposure of one eye of anesthetized rats to light enhanced the efferent activity of the adrenal nerve and suppressed that of vagal pancreatic and hepatic nerves. No change in efferent activities of these nerves was observed on light-stimulation of rats with lesions that included the bilateral SCN. These findings indicate that light signals modulate visceral functions including metabolic processes through the retinohypothalamic tract probably via the SCN to autonomic efferent pathways innervating visceral organs.

[A multicenter, fixed-flexible dose study of terazosin hydrochloride in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy]

In this study the multicenter, fixed-flexible dose regimen was taken to evaluate the effective dose range of Terazosin for the treatment of micturition disturbance in benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and to clarify the characteristics of patients who are more responsive to Terazosin therapy. After a 1-week washout (placebo) the first two weeks 1 mg/day of Terazosin was administered, then depending on efficacy of subjective symptoms, Terazosin doses were increased up to 2 mg/day and 4 mg/day at intervals of two weeks. After six weeks the final efficacy and safety were assessed. The subjective symptom improvement rate was 18.5% by 1 mg/day, 55.6% by 2 mg/day and 65.4% by 4 mg/day cumulatively. The objective symptom improvement rate were 13.2% by 1 mg/day, 42.1% by 2 mg/day and 50.0% by 4 mg/day cumulatively. The global improvement rate was 14.5% by 1 mg/day, 50.0% by 2 mg/day and 61.8% by 4 mg/day cumulatively. The patients who had a higher subjective symptom score in the lead-in period were more improved rather than those who had a lower score. In objective symptoms, voided volume, maximum flow rate (MFR), MFR nomogram score and average flow rate improved and the ratio of residual urine volume decreased. There was no relationship between clinical improvement on either subjective or objective symptoms and prostatic weight. Adverse reactions, such as dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, nausea and blurred vision; were seen in 10 cases. In conclusion Terazosin was effective and well tolerated for the treatment of patients who had micturition disturbance with BPH in the dose range of 2 to 4 mg/day.

[Molecular biological study on the overexpression of c-myc gene in uterine cervical carcinomas]

The expression of mRNA for c-myc gene was investigated in 30 cases of human uterine cervical carcinoma by Northern blot hybridization, and c-myc gene amplification was also examined by Slot blot hybridization. Overexpression of c-myc gene was detected in one (7.7%) of 13 cases of carcinoma in situ (stage 0), one (10.0%) of 10 stage I and 4 (57.1%) of 7 stage II uterine carcinoma, and c-myc gene amplification was detected in 2 cases (6.7%) in which c-myc gene overexpression was also found. The patient whose c-myc mRNA level was more than 10 times as high as in normal uterine cervical tissue relapsed and died within 2 years after the first treatment. Our results suggest that the overexpression of c-myc gene occurred more frequently in advanced than in early uterine cervical carcinoma and that it might be useful in prognosing cervical cancer.

Ameloblastic carcinoma: case report and review

The histologic classification for odontogenic carcinomas is still under revision; thus, the differentiation between the terms "malignant ameloblastoma" and "ameloblastic carcinoma" has not been definitely stated. Nevertheless, it is recommended to reserve the former for those lesions that, in spite of an apparently innocuous histology, have given origin to metastatic growths, and to apply the latter for those ameloblastomas in which there is histologic evidence of malignancy in the primary, recurrent or metastatic lesions. A case of an ameloblastic carcinoma in the mandible is presented. Histologically, it was characterized by areas with features of a typical ameloblastoma and areas with anaplastic appearances.

[Clinical study of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for stones in solitary kidney]

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment was performed on 17 patients with a solitary or sole functioning kidney from August 1986 to April 1988. Some patients with renal stone had a double pig tail catheter to protect the stone street and those with ureteral stones had a ureteral balloon occlusion catheter to raise the efficiency of fragmentation placed prior to ESWL as much as possible. Combined manipulation with such an instrument as nephrostomy tube to wash out residual stone fragments or endoscopic operation were performed. Despite of these devices, ESWL treatments for staghorn calculi and cystine stones were troublesome in solitary kidneys. After follow up ranged from 9 to 602 days (mean 87.6 days), 10 patients (58.8%) were stone free. ESWL treatment is safe and effective for solitary kidneys. We recommended premedication and pretreatment by ureteral stenting in patients with a solitary kidney.

[Amplified DNA detection of HPV types 16 and 18 DNA in cervical scrapes by polymerase chain reaction]

Cervical scrapes from 43 patients (12 with chronic cervicitis, 13 with dysplasia, 11 with carcinoma in situ and 7 with invasive carcinoma) were examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to detect the amplified E7 gene of the HPV types 16 and 18 DNA sequence. HPV types 16 and/or 18 DNA were detected in 25 of 43 cases by the PCR (type 16 in 16, type 18 in 8, and both types 16 and 18 in 1). In comparison with the results for histological grades, the positive rate significantly increased as the grade of cervical dysplasia became higher. All cases were also examined with a HPV detection kit, the "Vira Pap" which contains 32P-labeled mixed RNA probes complimentary to HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35 DNA. Six of 18 cases in which HPV DNA were not detected by the Vira Pap were positive for HPV types 16 and/or 18, so that the PCR was a highly sensitive method compared to the Vira Pap. The PCR has some advantages: 1. it requires only a small amount of specimens and 2. paraffin-embedded sections can also be used. We suggest that the PCR is a useful method for the screening and for retrospective investigation of HPV infection.