Production performance of laying hens fed L-tryptophan

The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplementing L-tryptophan to a nutritionally complete diet would influence egg production rate and egg shell quality in laying hens. One hundred and twenty layers (Rhode Island Red x White Leghorn) were randomly allocated into three groups. Birds were fed a basal diet or diets supplemented with L-tryptophan at 250 or 500 mg/kg for 405 days from 25 wk of age. Hen day egg production and daily egg output were proportionately higher with higher levels of supplemental dietary L-tryptophan; the differences were significant (P less than .05) for layers fed the 500 mg tryptophan/kg diet. The improvement in egg production by dietary L-tryptophan was greatest during the latter part of the laying period. These findings suggest that supplemental L-tryptophan improves the egg production rate in laying hens.

[Phase II study of cisplatin in advanced esophageal cancer and gastric cancer]

Twenty-four patients with advanced gastric cancer and 4 patients with advanced esophageal cancer were treated with cisplatin at a dose of 80-100 mg/m2 for one day or 10-20 mg/m2 for 5 consecutive days every 3-4 weeks. As for gastric cancer, 21 of 24 were evaluable for this study according to the criteria of the Japan Society for Cancer Therapy. Four of 21 patients (19%) showed partial response (PR), 7 displayed no change (NC), and 10 evidenced progressive disease (PD). Among 4 PR cases, only one had effective primary lesion. As for esophageal cancer, all 4 patients were evaluable, while 2 showed no change (NC) and another 2 exhibited progressive disease (PD). Gastrointestinal toxicity occurred in 20 patients despite the use of anti-emetic drugs. Nephrotoxicity and hematological toxicity were observed in 14 patients and 22 patients, respectively. These did not impede the continuous treatment except one case of hematological toxicity. It was concluded that cisplatin is more effective for the metastatic lesion of gastric cancer than primary lesion.

[Radiation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma]

After the transhepatic arterial therapy, irradiated 11 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were investigated clinically and pathologically. As the effect to the main tumors except for 3 cases who dropped out because of the side effect of irradiation, partial response (PR) was found in 1 case, minor response (MR) was in 2. There was no change (NC) in 4 and 1 had progressive disease (PD), so the rate of effectiveness was 12.5%. Irradiation to the tumor thrombosis of the portal vein were done for seven cases, 2 of them (28.6%) showed the decrease of the thrombosis or improvement of the blood stream in the portal vein on angiography or histology. AFP decreased in four of seven measurable cases within one month after the irradiation. Side effects were jaundice, fever, appetite loss and so on, which were seen especially in cases of Child's B or C. Liver dysfunction and bone marrow suppression were also observed though not so severe. For the cases received lipiodol injection before radiation, lipiodol collection to the tumor was beneficial for the determination of the irradiated field.

Randomized controlled study of mitomycin C/carboquone/5-fluorouracil/OK-432 (MQ-F-OK) therapy and mitomycin C/5-fluorouracil/doxorubicin (FAM) therapy against advanced liver cancer

We have previously reported that the combination of mitomycin C, carboquone, 5-fluorouracil and OK-432, including the intra-arterial administration of mitomycin C and carboquone (MQ-F-OK therapy), was effective in the treatment of advanced liver cancer. The Cooperative Study Group conducted a controlled study on MQ-F-OK therapy and the combination of mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin, including the intra-arterial administration of mitomycin C and doxorubicin (FAM therapy), against advanced liver cancer. Forty patients with advanced primary or secondary liver cancer were enrolled in this study and randomized into the MQ-F-OK group and the FAM group. Seventeen of the 21 cases in the MQ-F-OK group and 16 of the 19 cases in the FAM group were eligible for response evaluation in accordance with the criteria of the Japan Society for Cancer Therapy. There was no significant difference in the patient characteristics between the two groups. Three cases in the MQ-F-OK group and two in the FAM group showed partial response. There was, however, no significant difference in the response rates and the prolongation of life between the two groups. As for the side-effects, only anemia was observed more frequently in the FAM group than in the MQ-F-OK group. In conclusion, we could not preferentially recommend either MQ-F-OK therapy or FAM therapy for advanced liver cancer. The performance status of the patient was one of the most important factors in the treatment of advanced liver cancer because patients with poor performance status showed poorer results.

The pathophysiological role of digitalis-like substance in essential hypertension

In order to investigate the role of digitalis-like substance in patients with essential hypertension, levels of plasma digitalis-like substance were measured in nine normotensive, 12 normal-renin and seven low-renin essential hypertensive subjects. The level of plasma digitalis-like substance was determined by using two different methods, the digoxin radio-immunoassay established by our laboratory and Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitory activity (modified Hamlyn's method). There was a significant positive correlation between plasma immunoreactive digitalis-like substance and Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitory activity in plasma samples. Both values were significantly higher in hypertensives than in normotensives. Moreover, Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitory activity was significantly higher in low-renin hypertensives than in normal-renin hypertensives or normotensives. These findings suggest (1) digoxin radio-immunoassay may be able to determine the level of plasma digitalis-like substance; (2) digitalis-like substance is increased in essential hypertensives, especially in low-renin hypertensives; (3) the level of digitalis-like substance might be related to plasma renin activity, and mediated by a change in plasma volume; and (4) the activity of the digitalis-like substance may contribute to the pathophysiology of essential hypertension.

Total scapulectomy for metastatic pheochromocytoma of the scapula. Case report

A case of metastatic pheochromocytoma of the reconstruction of the shoulder joint is reported. During the operation elevation of the blood pressure was controlled by venous injection of alpha-blocker and ligation of the three main feeder arteries and veins.

[MQF-FT and MQF-UFT in gallbladder and bile duct cancer]

Four patients with gallbladder cancer and two with bile duct cancer were treated with mitomycin C, carboquone, 5-fluorouracil and OK-432 (MQF-OK therapy) plus tegafur (FT) or UFT. MQF-OK therapy was administered according to our original method. FT and UFT were orally given in a dose of 600-800 mg/body/day and 300-400 mg/body/day, respectively. Three with gallbladder cancer and one with bile duct cancer showed PR. Myelosuppression was observed in all cases, but recovered in two weeks after MQF therapy. We recommend the further trial of MQF-OK therapy plus FT or UFT for gallbladder and bile duct cancer.

[Controlled study of MQF-OK therapy with FT and with UFT on various advanced gastrointestinal cancers. Hirosaki Cooperative Study Group of Cancer Chemotherapy]

Our cooperative study group carried out a controlled study of MQF-OK therapy with tegafur (FT) (group A) and with UFT (group B), a compound of FT and uracil in the molar ratio of 1:4, on various advanced gastrointestinal cancers. From January 1985 to May 1987, 91 patients were entered into this study, and 11 cases were ineligible for the protocol (11%). Fifty of 80 cases had advanced gastric cancer, 30 had pancreatic cancer or other cancers, such as colon cancer, and biliary tract cancer. They were divided into group A or B at random. There was no difference in the patient characteristics between group A and B. In gastric cancer, 23 of 50 cases were randomized into group A and 27 cases into group B. Two cases in group A (8.7%) and 7 cases in group B (25.9%) showed PR. The response rate of group B was better than that of group A, but the value of P by Kruskal-Wallis test was 0.27. Thirteen of the 30 other cancers were randomized into group A and 17 cases into group B. Three cases in group A and B, respectively, showed PR. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of antitumor effect, prolongation of life or side effects. In conclusion, it was suggested that the MQF-OK therapy with UFT was beneficial for the Remission Induction Therapy in advanced gastric cancer.

Allergic granulomatosis and angiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome). Report of an autopsy case in a nonasthmatic patient

A 54-year-old nonasthmatic man was found to have allergic granulomatosis and angiitis (AGA) (Churg-Strauss syndrome) with pulmonary lesions suggestive of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) at autopsy. The patient, with initial symptoms of cough and sputum, developed progressive dyspnea, eosinophilia, emaciation, fever, mononeuritis multiplex and myocardial infarction. The hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and DPB were suspected clinically. Corticosteroid therapy was not given at any time during the course. Autopsy revealed necrotizing, granulomatous angiitis affecting medium-sized arteries in many organs, extravascular granulomas in the interstitium of the heart and tissue infiltration by eosinophils. The heart showed widespread myocardial fibrosis and small foci of muscle fiber coagulation necrosis, which seemed to be the cause of death. In the lungs, the walls of respiratory bronchioles showed marked thickening with lymphocytic infiltration, lymph follicle formation and fibrosis. Accumulation of xanthoma cells was also observed. On the basis of the findings of clinical and pathological examinations, the patient was considered to have had DPB before the development of AGA.

[A case-control study of testicular cancer]

A study on the possible association of maternal factors with testicular cancer was undertaken. Information was obtained from the mothers of testicular cancer cases (N = 37) and the mothers of men without the disease (N = 37). Comparisons were made between the two groups. The cases were collected from the records of nine hospitals, and the controls were selected from five Public Health Centers by individually matching the sex and the year of birth with the testicular cancer cases. The mothers of the cases had significantly fewer live births than the mothers of the controls (the adjusted odds ratio per live birth = 0.4, p = 0.02), when the five following variables had been simultaneously adjusted by the logistic regression analysis. Those five variables included the Quetelet's Index of mothers before pregnancy, the age at an index birth, the duration of breastfeeding for an index child, the birth order of an index child, and the number of induced abortions. The endogenous hormonal milieu of a mother may be associated with the occurrence of testicular cancer in her child.

[Effect of combination therapy with an adriamycin-lipiodol emulsion and a mitomycin C microcapsule in hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by portal thrombosis]

An intra-arterial injection of an Adriamycin-Lipiodol emulsion and a Mitomycin C microcapsule has been given to two patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated with a tumor thrombosis of the portal trunk. One patient showed a partial response, while the other evidenced no change, alpha-Fetoprotein decreasing from 4510 to 419 ng/ml in the partial response case, and from 328 to 283 ng/ml in the no change case. In each instance the hepatic injury treated by this combination therapy was mild and reversible. Bone marrow suppression by this therapy was not demonstrated. Thus, this therapy is thought to be applicable to cases of hepatocellular carcinoma complicated with a tumor thrombosis of the portal trunk who should not be indicated for transcatheter arterial embolization.

[Clinical studies on cefuzonam in the field of obstetrics and gynecology]

Cefuzonam (CZON, L-105), a cephem type antibiotic, was clinically studied in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. The results are summarized as follows: CZON 1-2 g was administered by injection twice daily to 11 cases of infections (4 of endometritis, 2 of pyometra, 3 of adnexitis and peritonitis, 1 of abdominal abscess, and 1 of puerperal fever). Clinical efficacy was excellent in 2 cases and good in 9 cases, with a very high overall efficacy rate of 100%. Slight elevations of GOT and GPT in 1 case were noted in clinical laboratory tests. No side effects attributable to the drug were noted. CZON is considered to be a useful drug for obstetric and gynecological infections.

Dual beam laser diode scanning system for ultrahigh speed laser beam printers using a spot control method

A dual beam laser diode scanning method for an ultrahigh speed laser printer is proposed and its feasibility is tested. Two separate laser beams are scanned simultaneously by one facet of a polygon mirror. By employing this method, power emitted from each laser and the rotation speed of the polygon mirror can be reduced to half, compared with those in single beam scanning systems. Spacing between two lines is compensated for by a sample-and-hold spot control method.

[Histochemical study of retrograde degeneration in ligated peripheral nerves]

The enzyme specificity of the Karnovsky staining was examined. Tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide made the staining difference between anterior and posterior roots clearer. Rat sciatic nerve, gluteal muscle branch and sural nerve were ligated and retrograde changes were examined histologically and histochemically. In ligated sciatic nerve, axonal degeneration similar to Wallerian degeneration occurred within 5 mm proximal to ligation while acetylcholinesterase activity decreased in more proximal portions. Sections of ligated gluteal muscle branch showed marked increase of small myelinated fibers 6 weeks after ligation and the mean cross sectional area of myelinated fibers decreased due to the new small fibers. The mean cross sectional area of myelinated axons also decreased in ligated sural nerve but myelinated fibers did not so remarkably increase in number as ligated gluteal muscle branches. Histochemical funicular orientation could be reliable if performed soon after nerve injury before retrograde changes spread in the proximal stump.