The influence of volatile anesthetics on portwine stain

To examine the relationship between volatile inhalation anesthetics and the fading of portwine stain (PWS), the study retrospectively investigated the incidence of termination of pulsed dye laser treatment vis-à-vis PWS fade during use of a general inhalation anesthetic in 107 infants and children with facial PWS. The fading of PWS is disadvantageous to the pulsed dye laser treatment. All patients received pulsed dye laser treatment under general anesthesia using one of four kinds of volatile inhalation anesthetics (halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane). Two hours before the induction of anesthesia, all patients were rectally irrigated. Treatment was discontinued in none of the 44 patients in the halothane group or the 7 patients in the enflurane group; in one of the 29 in the isoflurane group; and in 10 of the 27 patients in the sevoflurane group. The sevoflurane group showed a significantly (P < 0.01) higher incidence of PWS fading. Thus, when using a volatile inhalation anesthetic in combination with pulsed dye laser treatment for PWS, caution should be exercised if sevoflurane is selected, as PWS fading is harmful to the pulsed dye laser.

Shunt nephritis: efficacy of an antibiotic trial for clinical diagnosis

Coagulase negative staphylococcus, a normal skin flora, is especially nosopoietic under shunt management, because coagulase negative staphylococcus sometimes forms a biofilm around itself at catheter tips in vivo, which shields the organism from the effects of antibiotics. But it is difficult to distinguish this pathogen from a possible confounding contamination of a blood culture. In this article, we report a case, and discuss how a patient with suspected shunt nephritis should be examined and treated. In addition, to further histological and prognostic interpretation, we review the previously reported cases of shunt nephritis in Japanese adults.

Antitumor activities of ellagitannins against sarcoma-180 in mice

Forty-five ellagitannins and related compounds were intraperitoneally injected into mice once, 4 d before intraperitoneal inoculation of S-180 cells, and their antitumor activities were evaluated. When an antitumor-active tannin was defined as one producing a 70% increase or more in the mean life span of mice or one regressor out of six mice, twenty-one ellagitannins were active. Among monomeric ellagitannins, tellimagrandin II was most active. Most of the oligomeric ellagitannins, consisting of tellimagrandins I and II as the monomer unit, had a significant antitumor activity. Macrocyclic ellagitannins were all active. Oenothein B, among them, had the most potent antitumor activity. In contrast, ellagitannins containing a casuarictin or potentillin moiety in their molecules, except for extensively oligomerized ones, showed very low or negligible activity. These results suggest that tannins need the ellagitannin monomer units, having galloyl groups at the O-2 and O-3 positions on the glucose core(s), such as tellimagrandins, in order to exhibit a strong antitumor activity.

[Removal of a bronchial foreign body in a child using the laryngeal mask]

The laryngeal mask (LM) was employed for the removal of a bronchial foreign body (screw) in a 2-year-old boy weighing 16 kg since the 6.0 mm external diameter fiberoptic bronchoscope (FBS) for extraction forceps could not be used under tracheal intubation. Anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane in 100% oxygen. After injection of fentanyl 25 micrograms and vecuronium 2 mg, a gastric tube and a size 2 LM were inserted. Throughout the extraction procedure by the FBS in the left main bronchus, the boy had one lung ventilated manually. The airway pressure was kept under 15 cmH2O to avoid gas leakage around the cuff and gastric inflation. Oxygen saturation of 100% with pulse oximetry and PETCO2 of 35 to 45 mmHg with capnometry were maintained. The foreign body was extracted by biopsy forceps. A Fogarty catheter was not effective because the balloon tip was broken by the screw. The LM does not prevent regurgitation and does not provide adequate ventilation under increased airway pressure, but it facilitates the use of a larger size FBS equipped with a variety of extraction forceps. Therefore, it seems to be a useful device for the removal of bronchial foreign bodies in children.

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of 2,2'-[(2-aminoethyl)imino]diethanol bis(butylcarbamate) and its metabolites in human serum following pre-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde and stabilization of the derivatives

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the sensitive determination of 2,2'-[(2-aminoethyl)imino]diethanol bis(butylcarbamate) (I) and its metabolites in human serum has been developed. The method was based on a pre-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde. The derivatives were stabilized at least for 24 h at 4 degrees C by using N-acetyl-L-cysteine as a thiol and by eliminating the excess o-phthalaldehyde in the reaction mixture by solvent extraction and the addition of an ammonium salt after the reaction. The recoveries and reproducibilities in human serum spiked with I and its two metabolites were satisfactory, and the responses were linear over a wide range of analyte concentrations. The detection limits of I and its metabolites, II and III, in serum were 0.5, 4 and 2 ng/ml, respectively, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 5. The method was satisfactorily applied to the clinical study of I.

Metabolic response to treatment with cold, paraquat, or 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole in leaves of winter wheat

We treated leaves of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with cold, paraquat, or 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and compared the responses. We assayed the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, catalase, dehydroascorbate reductase and ascorbate free radical reductase and levels of hydrogen peroxide, glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, ascorbate, dehydroascorbate, reduced and oxidized glutathione. With any of the three treatments, contents of cellular peroxides and hexose phosphates were raised. The content of ascorbate was lowered markedly by paraquat treatment, which produces active oxygen species, whereas such a decrease did not occur in other two treatments. When the plants were treated with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, which is a specific inhibitor of catalase, the content of oxidized glutathione increased severalfold. The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity increased with all three treatments, but it decreased after glyphosate treatment, which does not stimulate the formation of peroxides. The activities of catalase and dehydroascorbate reductase were increased by the treatment of cold and paraquat, while 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole did not affect the dehydroascorbate reductase activity. The activity of ascorbate free radical reductase increased after treatment by paraquat only.

Tetronothiodin, a novel cholecystokinin type-B receptor antagonist produced by Streptomyces sp. NR0489. I. Taxonomy, yield improvement and fermentation

Streptomyces sp. NR0489 produces tetronothiodin, a novel brain-type cholecystokinin receptor antagonist. This species was differentiated from its related species S. gelaticus, S. griseolus and S. hydrogenans on the basis of their cultural characteristics, such as the utilization of carbohydrates and the presence or absence of various enzymatic activities. We applied the DNA-DNA hybridization method using photobiotin, which proved the genetic difference between the four species mentioned above. The yield improvement effort including single colony isolation, mutation, and protoplast regeneration together with medium optimization resulted in more than an 81-fold increase of the productivity of tetronothiodin as compared to that of the wild type strain.

[A case of radiculitis induced by spinal cord electrical stimulation by a percutaneously inserted needle]

Spinal cord electrical stimulation was performed by a percutaneously inserted needle for causalgia of the right upper limb. The end of electrode was positioned along a line extending down the 5th vertebral body in the vicinity of the right 6th cervical nerve root, after which it was permanently implanted following confirmation of desensitizing effects. Although the patient later returned to normal life without requiring any ancillary medication, beginning after a period of roughly six months, the pain suddenly began to increase when stimulated. When stimulated by extracting the electrode 1 cm under fluoroscopic guide, the irritation was relieved somewhat. As radiculitis of 6th cervical nerve was suspected, selective radicular block of 6th cervical nerve was performed. After selective radicular block, the patient's complaint diminished. Based on the above findings, we consider that the physical stimulation caused by the electrode in contact with the nerve root brought about inflammation of the 6th cervical nerve root. This patient was then treated by removing the causative stimulation and selective radicular block of affected nerve, the details of which are reported.

The secretion of the third component of complement (C3) by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes from both normal and systemic lupus erythematosus cases

Recently, murine peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) have been proved to secrete complement C3. In this report we show the secretion of C3 by normal human blood PMNs. ELISA assay was used to detect secreted C3 in culture supernatants of PMNs, while immunoperoxidase staining was used for intracellular C3 detection. 12-o-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13 acetate (TPA) had a flushing effect on C3 secretion by PMNs but not macrophages, suggesting a special C3 storing capability in PMNs. Dioctanoyl glycerol, mezerein and calcium ionophore A23187 caused the same marked increase in C3 secretion by PMNs. This suggests the contribution of protein kinase C and the calmodulin pathway in the mechanism of C3 secretion, similar to murine peritoneal exudate PMNs. In some cases of systemic lupus erythematosus, C3 secretion by blood PMNs was increased but no similar response to TPA could be detected.

Antitumor activity and interleukin-1 induction by tannins

The relationships between structures, antitumor activities and interleukin-1 (IL-1) induction by fifteen tannins were studies. When tannins (10 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected into mice once, 4 days before intraperitoneal inoculation of S-180 cells, tellimagrandin II, rugosin A, hirtellin B, oenothein B and oenothein A, which have only tellimagrandins I or II units in their molecules, had significant antitumor activity. Although casuarictin and its related tannins were ineffective, agrimonin, which is a dimer, had a strong effect, as previously reported. On the other hand, monomeric ellagitannins such as tellimagrandins I and II, rugosin A and casuarictin also increased IL-1 beta production from human peripheral macrophages in vitro by 2-fold over the non-stimulated basal production and oligomeric ellagitannins with strong antitumor activity more potently stimulated the IL-1 beta induction. Other tannins having no antitumor activity induced less IL-beta. This study indicates that oligomeric ellagitannins, which consist of tellimagrandin I or II, casuarictin or their related structure units, have antitumor activity and induce IL-1 beta.

Antitumor activity of oenothein B, a unique macrocyclic ellagitannin

The antitumor effect of oenothein B, a macrocyclic ellagitannin from Oenothera erythrosepala Bordas, on rodent tumors was studied. Oenothein B exhibited a strong antitumor activity against MM2 ascites tumors upon intraperitoneal administration to the mice before or after the tumor inoculation. The tannin also inhibited the growth of Meth-A solid type tumor in mice. This antitumor effect of the tannin could not be attributed to its direct cytotoxic action on tumor cells, because the cytotoxicity was very weak in the presence of serum protein. When oenothein B was injected into the peritoneal cavity of mice, peritoneal exudate cells, including cytostatic macrophages, were induced. Furthermore, in the in vitro treatment of macrophages from mice and humans, the tannin stimulated release of an interleukin 1 (IL-1)-like activity and IL-1 beta from the cells. These results suggest that oenothein B exerts its antitumor effect through potentiation of the host-immune defense via activation of macrophages.

[Clinical significance of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) in the chemotherapy of patients with malignant lymphoma]

We examined the effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) on neutropenia induced by chemotherapy in 10 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The numbers of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitors were also evaluated before and after administration of rG-CSF. Six patients received an administration of 2 micrograms/kg/body weight of rG-CSF subcutaneously for 14 days after 2nd chemotherapy. Four patients received intravenous infusion of rG-CSF (300 micrograms/body/day) for 4 days from nadir state after chemotherapy. Administration of rG-CSF from the termination of chemotherapy, markedly shortend the period of bone marrow hypoplasia induced by chemotherapy. On the other hand, administration of rhG-CSF from nadir state after chemotherapy have accelerated the recovery of neutrophil counts. In addition, this type of therapy induced 26 to 60 folds increase of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitors. These results demonstrate the validity of administration of rhG-CSF not only in the chemotherapy of NHL, but also in peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT).

[Kinetics of the complement subcomponent C1q production of peritoneal macrophages in NZB/W F1 female mice]

To clarify the role of local production (exohepatic) of complement on primary host defense mechanisms against microbial infections in the host who decreased the amount of complement in serum, the kinetics of the complement production by the complement-producing cells in exohepatic tissue was examined by measuring the amount of C1q, subcomponent of the first complement component, in cultured supernatant of the monolayer of peritoneal macrophages (PM phi) collected from 5, 15, 35, and 48 weeks-old female mice of NZB/W F1 (B/W F1). The C1q production of PM phi in B/W F1 mice showed remarkable decrease at 15 weeks-old. After that, however, the C1q producibility of PM phi recovered gradually and, at mice 48 weeks old, the complement produced finally exceeded the amount observed in mice 5 weeks-old, contrariwise the C1q values in serum were significantly lowering in the same aged mice. The increased production of C1q of PM phi was observed in both 35 and 48 weeks-old mice, of which the value corresponded with increase of anti-nuclear antibody titer in serum and of the amount of protein in urine. On female mice of ddY (control), the amount of C1q production of PM phi in 5 weeks-old mice was two-fold higher than that of 5 weeks-old B/WF1 mice. But at 15 weeks, the production showed a 1/2 decrease in that of mice 5 weeks-old and the decreased values were kept to 35 weeks-old.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PCTAIRE-1 and PCTAIRE-3, two members of a novel cdc2/CDC28-related protein kinase gene family

We have isolated two murine cDNAs designated PCTAIRE-1 and -3 which encode putative serine/threonine-specific protein kinases. The predicted products of PCTAIRE-1 and -3 are 65% homologous and are organized into a core 295-residue kinase domain flanked by unique 161 and 117 amino acid N-terminal and 40 and 39 amino acid C-terminal domains respectively. The kinase domains are approximately 50-55% homologous to members of the cdc2/CDC28 kinase gene family, and each contains a cysteine-for-serine substitution within the conserved PSTAIRE motif. PCTAIRE-1 was ubiquitously expressed as a predominant 3.0-kb transcript and a minor 2.2-kb mRNA resulting from differential polyadenylation. In contrast, PCTAIRE-3 exhibited a more restricted pattern of expression with a single 3.0-kb mRNA detected in brain, kidney and intestine. The PCTAIRE-1 and -3 products produced by in vitro transcription-translation failed to bind to p13suc1 but were precipitated by antibodies directed to Schizosaccharomyces pombe p34cdc2 or to the human PSTAIRE motif. Thus, PCTAIRE-1 and -3 are members of a novel subfamily of cdc2/CDC28-related protein kinases.

The role of complement receptors in tumor cell destruction

Murine peritoneal macrophages exuding early after stimulation with the activators of the alternative complement pathway are able to destroy some of the tumor cells. This destruction is inhibited by anti-Mac-1 and anti-C3. The tumor cell killing needs longer incubation time (> 15 hr), and anti-Mac-1 affects the reaction even if it were put into the reaction mixture at later time of incubation. The results suggest that complement produced by macrophage is deposited onto target cells, and the complement binding targets interact with macrophages through the complement receptor type 3 (CR3), which leads to the cell destruction. It is known that fully activated macrophages kill the tumor cells with the aid of antibody (ADCC) or lectin, but we show here another route of tumor cell destruction, that is, some sort of incompletely activated macrophages can kill some type of tumor cells in cooperation with endogenous complement and complement receptors (CR3) without participation of antibody.

[Sharp decline in plasma CEA and reduction of liver metastasis after UFT administration in a patient with recurrent gastric cancer]

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in plasma is useful for the detection of recurrent colonic or gastric cancer and the monitoring of plasma in patients with recurrent cancer displaying therapeutic effect. We report a sharp decline of CEA in a patient with recurrent gastric cancer by 6 months oral administration of UFT. The patient was an 81-year-old male who had undergone gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. Eight months post-operatively, the plasma CEA began to rise logarithmically, and recurrent tumor in the remnant stomach and liver metastasis were detected by fibergastroscope (FGS) and abdominal CT. After administration of UFT at a dose of 300 mg per day, CEA abruptly declined logarithmically and normalized in 6 months. Presently marked reduction of recurrent foci and metastases were found by FGS and abdominal CT. Therefore sequential changes in plasma CEA in this patient can be considered to reflect the effect of therapy for recurrent gastric cancer by UFT.

pokkuri, a Drosophila gene encoding an E-26-specific (Ets) domain protein, prevents overproduction of the R7 photoreceptor

Studies on sevenless and bride of sevenless genes have revealed that the R8 cell plays a key role in the fate of the R7 photoreceptor cell, presenting on its surface an inductive cue to which R7 responds. sev-independent induction of R7 cells has been reported in the seven-up mutation, which appears to transform R1 and R6 cells to R7 cells. We have induced recessive mutations in a gene pokkuri (pok; pokkuri is a Japanese word that means "dropping dead") that lead to overproduction of R7 cells with rather minor effects on outer photoreceptors and R8 cells. Pok protein may function as a transcription factor, as the predicted amino acid sequence contains a region similar to the consensus established for the E-26-specific (Ets) domain.

Correlation between epidermal growth factor receptor concentration and the growth of human gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice

Seven human gastric cancer xenografts with different concentrations of EGF receptor were established in nude mice. The expression of EGF receptor in the tumors was demonstrated by Western blotting with anti-EGF receptor antibody, binding assay with 125I-EGF and immunohistochemistry with anti-EGF receptor antibody. Western blotting revealed EGF receptor doublet bands at molecular masses of 150 KDa and 170 KDa in all of the samples. The concentration of 125I-EGF binding activity in the tumors ranged from 36.0 to 11,000 fmol/mg protein, with a mean of 345 fmol/mg protein. EGF receptor was also demonstrated immunohistochemically on the apical border of the glands and the cell membrane of the tumor cells. There seemed to be a close correlation between the concentration of 125I-EGF binding activity and the doubling time of these tumors in nude mice (gamma = -0.68). However, no definite correlation was observed between EGF ligand binding and histological features of intestinal type or diffuse type. The expression of EGF receptor appears to facilitate the growth of human gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice.