Apoptosis of acinar cells in the pancreas of rats fed on a copper-depleted diet

Male Fischer 344 rats weighing 80-90 g were fed on a copper-depleted diet supplemented with 0.6% triethylenetetramine tetrahydrochloride (a copper chelator), and the death of pancreatic acinar cells of these rats was investigated morphologically and biochemically. The weight of the pancreas of these rats decreased from 3 weeks after feeding, and concomitantly the percentage of dead acinar cells increased to the maximum in about the 5th week and decreased subsequently. These dead acinar cells showed light microscopic and electron microscopic characteristics of apoptosis. Furthermore, the electrophoretic pattern of DNAs extracted from the pancreas having many dead acinar cells showed a ladder-like distribution, characteristic of apoptosis. The present results indicate that feeding of rats on a copper-depleted diet supplemented with a copper chelator results in apoptosis of acinar cells of the pancreas.

Mucinous carcinoma of the skin: report of a case with DNA cytofluorometric study

A 62-year-old man with a mucinous carcinoma of the skin on the left cheek is described. The excised specimen showed a characteristic histopathologic picture. The findings from histochemical, immuno-histochemical, and electron microscopic examinations suggested an eccrine differentiation of the tumor cells. The removed tumor was examined using DNA cytofluorometry in order to analyze the cell kinetics and to estimate its biological behavior and prognosis. The tumor cells showed a diploid mode with a small number of polyploid cells. Only a small number of cells in the S and G2/M phase ranges were detected. After four years, there has been no evidence of tumor recurrence nor metastasis. The results of DNA ploidy analysis were thus compatible with the nature of slow growth with a good prognosis in this case.

Neonatal facial nerve defect

Facial paralysis in the newborn may be caused by trauma associated with delivery or by lesions secondary to congenital developmental anomalies. We previously reported the absence of the facial nerve in the horizontal segment of the temporal bone on both sides in a patient with Mobius' syndrome, usually classified as a nuclear developmental defect. In this study we report the findings from 7 additional temporal bones with similar abnormalities. A study of 42 temporal bones from infants with various congenital anomalies revealed nine temporal bones in which the facial nerve disappeared mid-way through the course of the temporal bone. Some of the nerve fibers suggested regeneration after necrotic lesions induced during the perinatal period.

Further study of experimental gastritis in rats: endocrine and neurocrine profile

We conducted this study to identify the endocrine and neurocrine mechanisms of gastric mucosal protection in rats with experimental atrophic gastritis (erosive atrophic antritis) induced by prolonged exposure to taurocholate. This resulting gastritis was characterized by a significant reduction of parietal cell mass, a decrease in mucosal thickness, decreased numbers of pyloric glands, infiltration by inflammatory cells, and fibrotic proliferation in the gastric mucosa. Mucosal erosions were also prominent. These morphologic and morphometric findings indicate the presence of erosive atrophic gastritis, as previously described. Fasting levels of serum gastrin increased significantly in the rats with gastritis versus controls, whereas the mucosal gastrin levels did not differ significantly from those of controls. Mucosal levels of somatostatin decreased significantly, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) increased significantly in the pyloric sphincter region. These findings suggest that these peptides and neuropeptides are involved in the induction of this form of gastritis. The peptides may play an important role in the mechanisms of gastric mucosal protection (i.e., gastrin is an aggressive and somatostatin is a defensive factor, and VIP promotes the reflux of bile into the stomach by relaxing the pyloric sphincter).

[A case of spontaneous remission of paragonimiasis miyazakii]

A 52-year-old man was admitted with fever and chest pain. Chest X-ray showed a soft infiltration in the right lung and bilateral pleural effusions. A strong tuberculin reaction was elicited. Significant laboratory findings included eosinophilia (37% in peripheral blood and 78% in pleural fluid) and elevated IgE levels (577 IU/ml in sera and 6700 IU/ml in pleural fluid). Adenosine deaminase activity in the pleural fluid was high. No helminth eggs were detected after repeated examination of the pleural fluid and sputum. No definitive diagnosis was made. Three months of chemotherapy with INH and rifampicin resulted in little improvement. Corticosteroid was then administered orally under a tentative diagnosis of idiopathic eosinophilic pleurisy, which proved to be a successful treatment and resulted in a marked reduction of pleural fluid volume. Two years after discharge, the patient's chest X-ray was normal and laboratory findings were normal including the eosinophil count and IgE level. The pleural fluid obtained at the first admission and kept frozen was subjected to immunological analysis for anti-parasite antibody activity. The pleural fluid showed an unexpectedly high titer of antibody activity (x6400 dilution) against Paragonimus miyazakii antigen assayed by double diffusion Ouchterlony method. Examination of the sera obtained from the patient two years after discharge, however, revealed no detectable antibody activity against the parasite antigens assayed either by Ouchterlony or ELISA method. We concluded from the clinical as well as laboratory findings that the patient had recovered from Paragonimiasis miyazakii without specific intervention for the disease.

[A case report of malignant pseudomyxoma peritonei treated by a new modality of intraperitoneal chemo-hyperthermia]

A patient with malignant pseudomyxoma peritonei underwent a palliative surgical resection and intraperitoneal lavage with 5% dextrose. One hundred and twenty-five mg of cisplatin resolved in 1,500 ml saline was infused into the peritoneal cavity through the reservoir, and the patient was treated with hyperthermia (Thermotron RH 8). As a result the tumor markers (CEA, CA 19-9, and CA-125) markedly decreased after two courses of chemo-hyperthermia. These results suggest that intraperitoneal chemo-hyperthermia is an effective treatment for non-resectable malignant pseudomyxoma peritonei.

["Partial wrapping therapy" for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma by transthoracic route]

Two patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma close to the diaphragma, underwent TAE following decollateralization using silicone rubber sheeting with thoracotomy. The patients suffered from severe liver cirrhosis. Laparotomy was not carried out for the preservation of hepatic function. After wrapping therapy, serum AFP level was reduced to almost the normal range in one case, but in another case to half because of bilateral lung metastasis. The maximum serum level of postoperative serum total bilirubin in these 2 cases was 2.0 mg/dl and 1.6 mg/dl, respectively. We think wrapping therapy with thoracotomy is readily applicable for patients with severe cirrhosis.

[Significance of preoperative TAE as an adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma]

In 304 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatic resection, 162 patients received chemoembolization before surgery (group A) and the remaining 142 patients received no therapy before surgery (group B). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) of group A and B were 36% and 21%, respectively, and there were no significant differences between them. In the groups of patients with good liver function (Child A), or patients with solitary tumor, or patients with tumors more than 5 cm in size, DFSs of group A were significantly better than those of group B. The difference of DFS between group A and B was largest in the group of the patients with tumors more than 5 cm in size.

[Specific antibody-forming cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis--detection by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT)]

Antigen-specific antibody-forming cells (AFCs) were assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of patients with summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis by the method of enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT). Both Cryptococcus- and Trichosporon-specific AFCs of isotypes of IgG, IgA and IgM were detected in BAL fluid cells. The frequency of isotypes of AFCs was in the order of IgA > IgM > IgG. Antibody activities against both Cryptococcus and Trichosporon antigens were detected in the culture supernatant of BAL cells. A good correlation was observed between the number of AFCs and the degree of antibody activity of culture supernatant of BAL cells, particularly of IgA isotype. For the IgM and IgA isotypes, anti-Cryptococcus antibody activity correlated well with anti-Trichosporon antibody activity (r = 0.98, p < 0.0001). In several cases examined, antigen-specific AFCs were detected in in vitro culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients after stimulation with PWM. In the present study, we demonstrated that Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichosporon cutaneum antigen-specific AFCs were present in the lungs of patients with summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and the antibodies secreted therefrom reacted with both these antigens. The presence of memory B cells was also suggested in the peripheral blood of patients.

Differential regulation of formation of multinucleated giant cells from concanavalin A-stimulated human blood monocytes by IFN-gamma and IL-4

We found that in vitro multinucleated giant cells (MGC) could be produced by incubation of highly purified human blood monocytes with Con A alone, and the effect of Con A was dose- and time-dependent. Any of the cytokines considered as macrophage-activating factor, such as IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, GM-CSF, or TNF-alpha, did not induce MGC by itself. When added to monocyte cultures, however, IFN-gamma enhanced Con A-induced MGC formation in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, IL-4 suppressed this response in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IL-4 antagonized the enhancing effect of IFN-gamma on Con A-induced MGC formation. This ability to suppress the formation of MGC was completely abrogated after treatment with anti-IL-4 antibody. In addition, the involvement of monokines (IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) in Con A-induced monocyte fusion was investigated by adding various antimonokine polyclonal antibodies in cultures. Normal rabbit IgG, anti-IL-1 alpha rabbit antibody, and anti-IL-1 beta rabbit antibody had no effect on Con A-induced MGC formation. However, anti-TNF-alpha rabbit antibody had suppressed the monocyte fusion induced by Con A in a dose-dependent manner, and a high dose of anti-IL-6 rabbit antibody had a partially suppressive effect. Anti-TNF-alpha mAb also had an inhibitory effect on monocyte fusion. Furthermore, the enhancing effect of IFN-gamma on this response was entirely abrogated by anti-TNF-alpha rabbit antibody. There was a highly significant positive correlation between the fusion rates of monocytes and the levels of TNF-alpha produced by monocytes (r = 0.68, p < 0.0005). Our results indicate that T cell-derived lymphokines, such as IFN-gamma and IL-4, have mutually antagonistic effects on Con A-induced human MGC formations in vitro, in which the expression of TNF-alpha in human monocytes plays a key role in the fusion process of monocytes.

Differential regulation of formation of multinucleated giant cells from concanavalin A-stimulated human blood monocytes by IFN-gamma and IL-4

We found that in vitro multinucleated giant cells (MGC) could be produced by incubation of highly purified human blood monocytes with Con A alone, and the effect of Con A was dose- and time-dependent. Any of the cytokines considered as macrophage-activating factor, such as IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, GM-CSF, or TNF-alpha, did not induce MGC by itself. When added to monocyte cultures, however, IFN-gamma enhanced Con A-induced MGC formation in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, IL-4 suppressed this response in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IL-4 antagonized the enhancing effect of IFN-gamma on Con A-induced MGC formation. This ability to suppress the formation of MGC was completely abrogated after treatment with anti-IL-4 antibody. In addition, the involvement of monokines (IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) in Con A-induced monocyte fusion was investigated by adding various antimonokine polyclonal antibodies in cultures. Normal rabbit IgG, anti-IL-1 alpha rabbit antibody, and anti-IL-1 beta rabbit antibody had no effect on Con A-induced MGC formation. However, anti-TNF-alpha rabbit antibody had suppressed the monocyte fusion induced by Con A in a dose-dependent manner, and a high dose of anti-IL-6 rabbit antibody had a partially suppressive effect. Anti-TNF-alpha mAb also had an inhibitory effect on monocyte fusion. Furthermore, the enhancing effect of IFN-gamma on this response was entirely abrogated by anti-TNF-alpha rabbit antibody. There was a highly significant positive correlation between the fusion rates of monocytes and the levels of TNF-alpha produced by monocytes (r = 0.68, p &lt; 0.0005). Our results indicate that T cell-derived lymphokines, such as IFN-gamma and IL-4, have mutually antagonistic effects on Con A-induced human MGC formations in vitro, in which the expression of TNF-alpha in human monocytes plays a key role in the fusion process of monocytes.

Histochemical study of colonic cancer in experimental colitis of rats

A reliable test for premalignant lesions in the development of colonic cancer in chronic ulcerative colitis has been needed. Thus, we designed this cytochemical study, using a model of experimental colitis and colonic tumors induced in Wistar male rats by the feeding of dextran sulfate sodium. The colitis had histologic similarities to ulcerative colitis in man. The percent frequency of polypoid lesions (dysplasia or dysplasia with carcinoma in situ) in the cecum and ascending colon was about 25% at three months and 90% at six months of dextran sulfate feeding. The cytochemical findings by high-iron diamine-Alcian blue staining and Ulex europeus agglutinin binding were chronologically paralleled by histological changes in the colonic mucosa, and the binding pattern of peanut agglutinin was not different between normal and dextran-treated animals. Moreover, some cytochemical changes that occurred during the inflammatory responses were not present in dysplastic or malignant lesions. Thus, the histochemical tests were not useful for detecting of premalignant lesions earlier than by conventional histology. Nevertheless, the dextran sulfate model of colitis in the rat appears suitable for study of cancer development in ulcerative colitis.

Dystrophic calcinosis of the penis

A 22-year-old man had had a dome-shaped tumor on his penis for one year. Neither his particular past history nor family history was available. The excised specimen contained numerous von Kossa-positive deposits. Four types of histologic pattern were identified: 1) a cystic structure filled with amorphous material lined by a few layers of epithelial cells, 2) a cyst containing calcified deposits in the keratinous material, 3) a large calcified nodule lined by attenuated epithelial cyst walls, 4) numerous calcium collections without an epithelial wall. The cystic structure showed the histologic features of syringoma or sweat duct milia. The luminal cells of the cyst showed positive immunoreactivity for both keratin and carcinoembryonic antigen. These findings suggested that the keratinous contents of syringoma had gradually calcified, the cyst wall had been attenuated, and, finally, numerous calcium collections without an epithelial wall were formed. Our case further supported the hypothesis that penile calcinosis as well as scrotal calcinosis might derive from syringoma.

SDS-PAGE after micro-affinity adsorption for analysis of heterogeneous antigen polypeptides in individual sera

A method was developed for the analysis of heterogeneity in antigen polypeptides in individual sera. Polypeptides in sera were adsorbed by polystyrene beads coated with antibody in wells of a microplate. They were dissociated with a small volume of elutant, and transferred to slots on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Polypeptides separated on gel were then immunoblotted with antibodies labeled with horseradish peroxidase. The method was applied to analyze different populations of hepatitis B surface and e antigen polypeptides in sera from carriers of hepatitis B virus. Applicability to mass-scale and high sensitivity of the method would allow surveys of heterogeneous antigen polypeptides in serum for any biological significance.

Therapeutic effects of oral rebamipide and in combination with cimetidine on experimental gastritis in rats

The present study evaluated the therapeutic effects of rebamipide alone and in combination with cimetidine on experimental gastritis established by the administration of 5 mM sodium taurocholate (TCA) for 6 months in rats. Morphological and biochemical analyses were performed to determine the effects of rebamipide, administered alone or in combination with cimetidine, on chronic, atrophic and erosive gastritis. Rebamipide and cimetidine were administered to rats as a dietary admixture for 4 weeks after withdrawal of TCA. Rebamipide dose-dependently reduced the total length of the erosion, normalized the mucosal thickness and increased the number of parietal and total cells, and tended to reduce interstitial infiltration of inflammatory cells and proliferation of collagenous fibers. Moreover, histochemical and biochemical studies also showed rebamipide to be effective. Rebamipide increased the PAS-positive mucus and normalized the reduced gastric mucosal SOD activity. The therapeutic effect of rebamipide on the experimental gastritis was enhanced by the combined use of cimetidine. These results suggest that rebamipide has a therapeutic effect on chronic atrophic erosive gastritis induced by TCA, and that the mechanism of the therapeutic effect is partially due to the increase in PAS-positive mucus and gastric mucosal SOD activity. Furthermore, the enhanced effect of the combination therapy of rebamipide with cimetidine was considered to be due to the actions of both cimetidine and rebamipide.

Hormonal regulation of vitamin D-binding protein production by a human hepatoma cell line

Regulation of vitamin D-binding protein production by various hormones was studied in an established human hepatoma cell line, HuH-7. Among all the hormones studied, the maximal production of the binding protein was obtained by an extra-cellular addition of triamcinolone or epidermal growth factor. Cell numbers were not so changed except for the addition of insulin or glucagon. Our data indicate that the protein production may be regulated by insulin, estradiol, triamcinolone, dihydrotestosterone or epidermal growth factor.

CPT-11 in combination with cisplatin for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum-tolerated dose and the dose-limiting toxicities of CPT-11, a new derivative of camptothecin, in combination with a fixed dose of cisplatin in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-seven previously untreated patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were assessable for toxicity, and 26 were assessable for response. The initial dose of CPT-11 was 30 mg/m2 given as a 90-minute intravenous (IV) infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 in combination with cisplatin (80 mg/m2 IV on day 1) given every 4 weeks. The dose of CPT-11 was escalated in increments of 10 mg/m2 until severe or life-threatening toxic effects were observed.

RESULTS

Significant toxicity was infrequent up to 60 mg/m2 of CPT-11. The maximum-tolerated toxicity was reached at a dose of 70 mg/m2. Three of six patients either had leukocyte count nadirs of less than 2,000/microL or experienced grade 4 diarrhea during the first cycle of therapy at 70 mg/m2. The major toxic effects were leukopenia and diarrhea. There were 14 partial responses (54%) among the 26 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of CPT-11 and cisplatin seems to be effective against NSCLC with acceptable toxicities. The recommended dose for phase II studies is 60 mg/m2 of CPT-11 on days 1, 8, and 15, and 80 mg/m2 of cisplatin on day 1 every 4 weeks.

Changes of colonic vasoactive intestinal peptide and cholinergic activity in rats with chemical colitis

The vasoactive intestinal peptide concentration was examined in the colonic wall and portal venous plasma of rats with chemical colitis by radioimmunoassay, and the colonic localization was determined with immunocytochemistry. Colonic acetylcholine esterase activity was also measured, and the response of vasoactive intestinal peptide to acetylcholine administration was determined. Colitis was induced by administration of dextran sulfate for three months. The chemical colitis was histologically similar to active human ulcerative colitis. We observed a significant increase of immunostained neurons and nerve fibers and a significant rise in the colonic wall vasoactive intestinal peptide content in chemical colitis rats, while plasma concentrations of the peptide did not change significantly. Colonic acetylcholine esterase activity was significantly elevated in colitis rats compared with control rats. Systemic administration of acetylcholine significantly increased the colonic and plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide concentrations in colitis rats. These findings demonstrated a positive association between colitis activity and an increase of vasoactive intestinal peptide and suggested that increased vagal tone promoted the peptide's release.

p26 protein and 33-nm particle associated with nucleocapsid of hepatitis C virus recovered from the circulation of infected hosts

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has not yet been cultured or visualized. We attempted to recover HCV-associated particles from plasma of infected humans to assess the natural properties of the virus. Starting with 720 ml of donor plasma containing high titer of HCV core antigen ELISA activities, we identified HCV core antigen activity and viral RNA enriched in a potassium bromide density gradient fraction with a density of 1.115 g/ml. Icosahedron-shaped particles with an average diameter of 33 nm were liberated by treatment of the fraction with the detergent Tween 80. These particles were selectively visualized with an electron microscope using a grid coated with a murine monoclonal antibody directed to HCV core peptide and were also observed in aggregated forms with an immune electron microscope (IEM) with use of the anti-core antibody. An ultracentrifugation pellet of the above fraction was treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) and run in SDS-PAGE. A protein that bound antibodies directed to the predicted core protein of HCV was found at a molecular size estimated as about 26,000 Da, significantly greater than the 191 amino acid residues predicted from the presumed core gene of HCV. It is possible that translation initiation and/or the COOH-terminal cleavage site for HCV core protein in vivo may differ from estimates derived from the amino acid sequence of the polyprotein precursor. The nucleocapsid could also be chemically altered in the infected cell, resulting in a gel mobility different from the native protein.

Facial nerve to facial canal cross-sectional area ratio in children

The incidence of facial palsy among children is lower than that among adults, and the recovery rate after facial palsy among children is higher than that of adults. To investigate these differences, we compared the cross-sectional area ratio of the facial nerve to that of the facial canal in 26 pediatric temporal bone specimens with that of 10 adult temporal bone specimens. The ratios were 0.31 +/- 0.08, 0.35 +/- 0.10, and 0.18 +/- 0.12, respectively, in the labyrinthine, horizontal, and mastoid segments of pediatric specimens. The ratios for adult specimens were 0.46 +/- 0.07, 0.52 +/- 0.17, and 0.37 +/- 0.04, respectively, in the labyrinthine, horizontal, and mastoid segments. These ratios were all significantly smaller than those for the corresponding segments of the adult specimens (P < .01). The results indicate that in children there is less possibility for entrapment of the facial nerve in the facial canal, and that children require facial nerve decompression less often than adults.