Laser scanning system using a rotationally asymmetric aspheric surface

In recent laser beam printers, higher resolution and a more compact system design are always desired. In this study, a rotationally asymmetric aspheric surface is introduced to achieve these purposes. This surface can completely eliminate field curvature aberration caused by the oblique incidence of the laser beam to the scanning optics, achieving high resolution over a wide scanning range.

The transient increase of urinary digitalis-like substance excreted during excess sodium intake in reduced renal mass rats

Urinary immunoreactive endogenous digitalis-like substance (EDLS) excretion was studied in gradually reduced renal mass rats (RRM). Urinary EDLS increased immediately after the start of 1% NaCl ingestion, then it returned to the basal level 2 weeks later. Both urinary sodium excretion and urinary EDLS were significantly higher in 3/6 and 4/6 RRM than in control until 2 weeks after starting 1% NaCl. However, there was no difference in blood pressure between the groups. Transient EDLS increase may play an important role in maintaining sodium and water homeostasis, but its transient increase apparently does not contribute to blood pressure elevation.

[Aspiration biopsy of regional lymph node in bladder cancer]

Percutaneous transabdominal fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the pelvic and retroperitoneal lymph nodes was performed in 116 patients with bladder cancer. Metastasis to the regional lymph nodes was determined by this method in 21 patients. FNAB was positive in 10 of 12 patients having unequivocally positive or highly suspicious lymphogram, and in 11 of 104 patients (11%) having normal lymphogram. The results of FNAB were compared to the finding of lymph node dissection (LND) in 51 patients. FNAB and LND were negative in 43 patients and positive in 5. Two patients were FNAB negative but LND positive, and the remaining one case was FNAB positive but LND negative. The correlation between cytological diagnosis of FNAB and histological diagnosis of LND was 94 per cent. The survival rate of the cases of FNAB positive and lymphography negative was significantly higher than that of lymphography positive (p less than 0.01). The metastatic site of 5 cases with bladder cancer who are alive now without disease after more than 3 years was under the common iliac node and the number of the involved nodes was within 3.

A novel model of solitary hepatic tumor in rats using ascites hepatoma AH13: suitability for chemotherapeutic studies

A highly reproducible model of a solitary hepatic tumor in rats using ascites hepatoma AH13 has been developed using a two-step method which was suitable for quantitative chemotherapeutic studies. Diffuse hepatic metastases were induced first by inoculation of three different ascites hepatomas, AH13, AH130 and AH7974 into the portal vein in a dose-dependent fashion. Second, the induced hepatic tumor (3 x 10(7) cells) was minced into 1 x 1 x 4 mm fragments and implanted in the liver of normal rats. In this procedure, the AH13 strain proved best suited for the generation of a solitary hepatic tumor. The growth of the solitary liver tumor using AH13 was highly reproducible. To demonstrate the suitability of this solitary hepatic tumor model for the evaluation of chemotherapy, the tumor-burdened rats were treated with adriamycin (ADR) and mitomycin C (MMC). The reduction in tumor size was proportional to dosage, and the statistical significance of the differences between the treatment group and control group was proportional to dosage. A synergistic effect of ADR and MMC on the tumor also was demonstrated. This model should prove to be a useful tool for the testing of newly developed treatments of hepatic cancer.

Three-dimensional structure of an alpha-amylase inhibitor HAIM as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance methods

The three-dimensional structure of an alpha-amylase inhibitor, HAIM, composed of 78 amino acids, was analyzed by two-dimensional NMR techniques. Sequence-specific assignments were made for the amino acid residues from Ile-6 to Cys-72. Distance geometry analysis of the interresidue NOEs revealed that the HAIM molecule consists of two beta-sheets, as is the case in a homologous alpha-amylase inhibitor, Tendamistat, though one of its beta-strands is much shorter than that of Tendamistat. The combination of molecular modeling from Tendamistat and distance geometry analysis was confirmed to be useful for our purpose.

Synthesis of a new helical protein: the effect of secondary structure rearrangement on structure formation

A new helical protein was designed and synthesized to alter the sequential connectivity of the 4 helices in human growth hormone and to delete the long surface loop structures. The protein accumulated as an insoluble form in E. coli was solubilized and purified to apparent homogeneity in the presence of 7M urea, and refolded by the aid of 1% n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside. The circular dichroism spectrum was typical of a highly helical protein. The molecular weight estimated by gel permeation chromatography and the red-shift of the fluorescence maximum by urea-induced denaturation suggest that the protein folds into a compact globular form. The new protein obtained, however, was destabilized relative to the original human growth hormone.

Changes in glycolipid expression in human testicular tumor

Glycolipids were extracted from testicular tumor tissues of 13 patients, and their pattern of expression compared with that of normal testicular tissue. The most conspicuous and consistent change in the tumor extracts was marked accumulation of CTH (ceramide trihexoside). Structural analysis by enzyme cleavage showed that CTH which accumulated in the tumor tissue was Gb3 (Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-Cer). Immunohistochemistry using anti-Gb3 monoclonal antibody (MAb) (1A4) also indicated massive accumulation of Gb3 in the tumor tissue. Gb3 may be a new marker of testicular tumors, especially seminomas, for which useful markers are so far lacking.

Electrophysiological determinations of the effects of 1 kHz noise exposure on the high-frequency hearing of guinea pigs

The effects of noise were studied in 90 5-week-old albino Hartley guinea pigs with normal hearing. The following experimental setup was used: (1) exposure to 1 kHz tones at 100 dB for 4 h, 20 h and 40 h; (2) exposure to 1 kHz tones at 110 dB for 20 h and 40 h. In order to investigate the effects of the noise exposures on the hearing of the guinea pigs, cochlear microphonics (CM), whole nerve action potentials (AP) and endocochlear potentials (EP) were examined. We obtained the following results. With a high sound pressure, a decrease was observed in the CM maximum output voltage in the test frequencies from 2 kHz to 6 kHz while the CM threshold increased ("pseudo threshold"). Intensity function of the N1 potential of the AP using a 7 kHz tone burst decreased; the threshold of the N1 potential also increased considerably by exposure to chronic high sound pressure. An extension of latency and a decrease in the absolute value of the negative potential in EP were induced by chronic noise exposure.

[Evaluation of non-surgical treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma--investigation of the cases with long and short survivals after treatment]

One hundred and one cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated in Maebashi Red Cross Hospital from May 1984 to August 1987 were classified according to the therapy and progression of the disease and were investigated on their prognosis. Furthermore, "long survived group" in which, patients survived for more than one year were compared with "short survived group" in which patients died within one month after non-surgical treatment. In operated patients, the prognosis was the best, but the rate of operable cases was only 13.9%. In patients with stage IV, one year survival rate was significantly low. In patients with portal trunk invasion (Vp4), or with Child C that was the poorest functional reserve of the liver, one year survival rate was also significantly low in comparison with patients with other stages or other Child's classification. In HCC patients treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), the prognosis tended to be poor as stage and portal invasion progressed, but in regard to reserve function of the liver, the prognosis was not so poor in patients of Child C significantly as in cases of A or B. The comparisons between long and short survived group were as follows. a) In 17 cases belong to long survived group, mean survival period was 24 months and the longest one was 4 years and 10 months. On the other hand, in 10 cases belong to short survived group, mean survival period was 17 days, the shortest one was 3 days. b) The main reason of inoperability in long survived group was progression of the tumor. Complications such as diabetes mellitus, advanced age and rejection of treatment by the patient were the other reasons of in operability. In almost half of the patients in short survived group, the tumor progression and low functional reserve of liver were found in 4 patients. c) In short survived group, esophageal varices were more common and functional reserve of the liver was poorer than in long survived group. In short survived group, LDH and total bilirubin were significantly higher than those of long survived group, but there was no significant differences in transaminase value and ICG retention in 15 minutes. d) In short survived group, extent of the tumor in liver and portal invasion were advanced. Three cases of this group (30%) had distant metastasis. e) In long survived group, the main reason of death was hepatic failure. Renal failure, or pulmonary complications were also found in short survived group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Prostate specific monoclonal antibody gained by glycolipid immunization]

Extraction of glycolipid component from hypertrophic and cancerous prostatic tissue were performed using chloroform-methanol solution and isopropanol-hexan-solution. The extract was separated into the "upper phase" and "lower phase" by Folchs fractionation technic. Each fraction was conjugated with acid treated salmonella minesota and than it was injected subcutaneously, intra-peritoneally and finally intravenously to BALB/c mice. Spleen cells from immunized mice were fused with P3X63, and antibody APG1 was obtained. APG1 shows a preferential reactivity towards prostatic tissue by the immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical analysis using enzyme and acid treated tissue and TLC immunostaining indicate that this monoclonal antibody specifically recognizes the sialylglycochain expressed in the prostatic tissue.

Advanced atrioventricular block and complete left bundle branch block in a case of Takayasu's aortitis

A 56-year-old woman, who had received an aortic valve replacement suffered from complete left bundle branch block and advanced atrioventricular block. On the basis of marked systemic inflammatory findings on admission and histopathological findings on previous cardiac surgery, this patient was considered to have conduction disturbances that were a consequence of myocardial involvement of Takayasu's aortitis. The conduction disturbances improved rapidly after treatment with steroids.

Activation of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex by exercise: effect of high-fat diet intake

The effect of exercise on the activity of branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex in liver and muscle was studied in rats fed a high-fat (FAT) or a high-carbohydrate (CHO) diet. Both diet groups of rats were offered isoenergetic diets by a meal-feeding method and were trained by treadmill running. On the final day of the experiment, half of the rats in each diet group were exercised by 2 h of running just before they were killed. The activity state of the enzyme complex was elevated maximally by exercise in liver of rats fed the FAT diet but not in liver of rats fed the CHO diet, suggesting that catabolism of branched-chain amino acids in rat liver during exercise was enhanced by the FAT diet. The activity state of the enzyme complex in muscle was enhanced by exercise in both groups of rats, but a significant difference was not observed between the groups. The concentration of branched-chain amino acids was elevated in liver and muscle by exercise in both groups of rats, but the elevated levels in liver were lower in rats fed the FAT diet than in those fed the CHO diet. Serum branched-chain amino acid concentrations were significantly lower in rested rats fed the FAT diet than in those fed the CHO diet, and the leucine and isoleucine concentrations in the former were elevated by exercise, but the serum concentrations in the latter were not significantly affected by exercise. ATP and ADP concentrations in muscle were not significantly affected by either diet or exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antitumor effect of combination of murine recombinant interferon beta, murine recombinant interferon gamma and human recombinant interleukin-2 in MethA-bearing mice

We have previously reported that the combination of murine recombinant interferon beta (Mu-rIFN beta) with murine recombinant interferon gamma (Mu-rIFN gamma) provided greater inhibition of tumor growth than did each one alone in MethA-bearing mice. In the present study the effect of addition of human recombinant interleukin-2 (Hu-rIL-2) to the combination of Mu-rIFN beta with Mu-rIFN gamma on tumor growth in BALB/c mice bearing syngeneic MethA fibrosarcoma was examined. Low doses of Hu-rIL-2 (5 x 10(3) U or 5 x 10(4) U at 3-day intervals) showed no antitumor activity, while a high dose of Hu-rIL-2 (5 x 10(5) U) showed profound growth inhibition. The administration of IL-2 (ranging between 5 x 10(3) U and 5 x 10(5) U) in addition to the combination of IFN beta and IFN gamma showed more augmented antitumor effects in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the simultaneous administration of IL-2, IFN beta and IFN gamma had more effective therapeutic activity, compared with the sequential administration of interferons and IL-2. These findings indicated that IL-2 in combination with IFN beta and gamma was effective for cancer treatment.

[An autopsy case of rectal cancer receiving cisplatin at total dose of 3.250 mg and platinum concentrations in autopsy tissue samples]

An autopsy case of a 57-year-old man who had received cisplatin, total dose of 3,250 mg (1,920 mg/m2) after proctectomy for advanced rectal cancer with hepatic metastasis is reported. Platinum concentrations in autopsy tissue samples are also reported. Cisplatin at a dose of 20-40 mg was administered intravenously once a week for 82 weeks, but renal failure did not occur. The patient died 529 days after his last cisplatin therapy, due to acute suppurative cholangitis. On autopsy, the hepatic hilar metastasis involved the bile duct, but the other metastasis of the liver became regeneration and necrosis, and the kidneys showed few findings but congestion and arteriosclerotic change. The spleen evidenced mild hemosiderosis. Tissue samples obtained at the time of autopsy were assayed for platinum using flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The spleen had the highest concentration, about 2.7 times as high as that of the liver. The liver, the heart and the kidneys had high platinum concentrations (greater than 3.04 micrograms/g), but those of the jejunum and the ileum were low (less than 0.95 micrograms/g). Although cisplatin, FT 207 and krestin were effective for the rectal cancer, platinum was undetectable (less than 0.13 micrograms/g) in the ascending and the transverse colons.

[A long-surviving case of gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis (P3) responding to short-term high-dose chemotherapy and long-term immunotherapy]

A 37-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for further examination of epigastralgia. She was diagnosed as having multiple metastases due to advanced gastric cancer (Borrmann type 3). The operative findings showed bilateral ovarian (Krukenberg), Schnitzler and widespread peritoneal metastases involving the appendix (P3H0N2S2). She underwent total gastrectomy, splenectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and appendectomy with CDDP (100 mg intraperitoneal administration). After operation, CDDP (50 mg/body, twice i.p. and once i.v.) and PSK (3.0 g/day) were administered. She has been followed in our outpatient department for 3 years without any recurrence. The findings suggest that combination therapy using short-term high-dose chemotherapy and long-term immunotherapy can be effective for such cases.

[Hyperamylasemia in endometrial adenocarcinoma]

Two patients suffering from endometrial adenocarcinoma (endometrial type) showed hyperamylasemia. The elevated level of amylase in the serum dropped to the normal range after operation in case 1. Case 2 had a recurrent tumor and continued to have a high amylase concentration in the blood. Isozyme analysis of serum-amylase showed predominant patterns of the salivary type. Tumor homogenates contained only salivary type amylase. Immunohistochemical staining revealed localizations of amylase in these tumor tissues. So it was clear that the production and secretion of salivary type amylase caused hyperamylasemia. Further study was done immunohistochemically to find the incidence of amylase-productive endometrial adenocarcinoma (endometrial type). It was shown that 56% of these tumors had amylase in neoplastic cells. Well differentiated adenocarcinoma showed a high frequency of amylase-positive findings. It was suggested that amylase measurement would provide useful information in checking the recurrence and in monitoring the therapeutic effects of endometrial adenocarcinoma.

[Remission state and five-year survival after transcatheter arterial embolization therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma]

Repeated transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) therapy was done for 138 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma. Relationship was investigated between long term survival more than 3 years and tumor necrosis rate estimated on radiological images (superselective angiogram and/or computerized tomography) after therapy. Excellent tumor necrosis (radiological disappearance of viable tumor) was attained in 35 out of 138 cases through repeated TAE. When "remission" is defined as excellent tumor necrosis and normal alphafetoprotein value lasting for more than one year, remission state was attained in 17 cases (12.3%). Cumulative three-year survival rate was 37.0%, and 5-year survival was 26.5%. Out of 37 three-year-survivors, only 12 cases (32.4%) experienced remission state in their clinical course. On the other hand, 7 cases (77.7%) of 9 five-year-survivors experienced remission at least one time. Though good tumor necrosis and 3-year survival were achieved by only performing repeated TAE therapy, "remission" state was important and necessary to get 5-year survival.

Effects of intravenously administered human atrial natriuretic peptide on elevated blood pressure during surgery

The effect of human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) on blood pressure (Bp) was evaluated in 11 patients who had elevated systoric Bp of over 150 mmHg during surgery. A bolus injection of 50 microg or 100 microg of hANP decreased Bp with an immediate response by 27.6 +/- 3.1 mmHg (P < 0.001) or 40.7 +/- 4.2 mmHg (P < 0.001), respectively, accompanying with tremendously increased urine output. Heart rate and PaO2 were not altered. Thus, a intravenous bolus injection of hANP is an useful therapeutic tool for the treatment of acutely elevated Bp during anesthesia.

Effect of combination of 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and mitomycin C (FEM) on advanced gastric carcinoma

Fifteen patients with advanced gastric carcinoma were treated with the combination of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Epirubicin (EPI) and Mitomycin C (MMC). Twelve of 15 patients were evaluable. Three patients showed partial response (25%) and 4 showed no change (33%) according to the criteria of Japan Society for Cancer Therapy. Mean survival time for responders, nonresponders and all evaluable patients were 14. 3, 3.6 and 6.3 months, respectively. Two patients with partial response lived over 18 months. Major toxicities included myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, and alopecia. These were mild in general and reversible by discontinuance. No cardiotoxicity developed. It was concluded that this combination therapy is beneficial in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma because it showed measurable clinical effectiveness with less toxicity than FAM therapy (a combination of 5-FU, Doxorubicin and MMC).

Selective depletion of rat neutrophils by in vivo administration of a monoclonal antibody

A monoclonal antibody (RP-3) that depletes rat neutrophils selectively in vivo was developed by hybridization of mouse myeloma cells (P3-X63.Ag8.653) and spleen cells of BALB/c mice sensitized with peritoneal neutrophils of WKA/Hok rats. RP-3 reacted with rat neutrophils but not with lymphocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, basophils, eosinophils, or tissues of various organs. The mitogenic responsiveness to concanavalin A (ConA), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of rats given RP-3 was not significantly different from that of normal rats. Administration of RP-3 into the peritoneal cavity of rats that had been kept under specific pathogen-free (SPF) or clean conditions induced selective depletion of circulating neutrophils to under 100/mm3 (0.5% WBC). The numbers of monocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets were not changed. Administration of 2 ml of RP-3 reduced blood neutrophils to under 100/mm3 for approximately 24 h, and administration of 1 ml caused depletion for approximately 12 h.

[Two cases of gastrointestinal cancers with major responses to sequential methotrexate 5-FU plus 5'-DFUR]

We reported 2 patients treated with Methotrexate (MTX)-Fluorouracil (5-FU) sequential therapy combined with Doxifluridine (5'-DFUR). The method of administration was as follows: MTX 60 mg was given intravenously (iv) followed by 5-FU 600 mg iv 2 hours later in colon cancer and 5 hours later in gastric cancer. Leucovorin 20 mg was administered 3 times every 6 hours beginning 6 hours after 5-FU infusion. This cycle was repeated once a week for 5 weeks. 5'-DFUR 1,200 mg was given orally daily and continued after MTX.5-FU therapy. Patient 1 was a 60-yr-old female with recurrent colon cancer developed four years after sigmoidectomy. She was referred to our hospital for further examinations of elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The enlarged intraabdominal lymph nodes due to recurrence were demonstrated on computer tomography and the chemotherapy was performed as described above. The swelling of lymph nodes showed marked reduction in size and CEA value was normalized. Patient 2 was a 59-yr-old man with advanced gastric cancer accompanied by giant liver metastasis. Both primary and metastatic lesion responded favorably to this regimen. There was no remarkable side effect in either patient. These results suggest that this method is worth performing in further clinical trials for cancer patients.

[Gonadotropin, as a tumor marker, in body fluid and tumor tissues of germ cell tumors]

The value of gonadotropin in the body fluids of germ cell tumor patients is its usefulness as a tumor marker. It is also used for differential diagnosis and/or judgement of therapeutic effects. In order to clarify the most effective value of gonadotropin as a tumor marker in the body fluids, we compared the value in serum, liquor and urine with one another. The liquor contained highest (1650 IU/l) value of gonadotropin in the primary intracranial germ cell tumors, mostly in choriocarcinoma. But the gonadotropin value was highest (3050 IU/l) in the serum of secondary intracranial choriocarcinoma. Chiasmal germ cell tumor, except choriocarcinoma, which does frequently secrete gonadotropin (alpha, beta) showed moderate or very high values in the liquor. However, pineal germ cell tumors rarely secrete gonadotropin and sometimes mild high value are obtained in the serum without gonadotropin secretion immunohistochemically. In such cases, the gonadotropin may be increased by indirect mechanism of gonadotropin-secretion following pineal disorder. In most of such cases, the gonadotropin was not human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) but lutein hormone (LH). Because alpha-subunit of such gonadotropin has the same structure, their antibodies show immunologic cross reaction. So, a count of beta-subunit gonadotropin in the serum or liquor is the best way for differential diagnosis or judgement of therapeutic effects. From our results, it is considered that the tumor secretes HCG if the serum beta-HCG value was higher than 30 IU/l, and that it doesn't secrete HCG if beta-HCG value was lower than 10 IU/l or non calculable. The mild increased HCG may be caused by hypothalamo-diencephalic disorder such as pineal tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)