Synthetic and cytotoxic studies of alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone bearing pyrimidines

A total of ten pyrimidine alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones were synthesized as potential antitumor agents on the basis of their possible action as Michael acceptors for DNA/RNA and cellular enzymes. The synthesis of these heterocycles involved a convenient Reformatsky-type reaction of pyrimidinyl ketones with ethyl alpha-(bromomethyl)acrylate. The preliminary in vitro cytotoxic assay indicated that these synthetic compounds were essentially active against the growth of KB, Hep-2, HeLa and Colo-205 cells. Among them, 5'-biphenyl-5'-(uracil-1-ylmethyl)-2'-oxo-3'-methylenetetrahydr ofuran (5f) demonstrated to be the most potent antileukemic agent.

Gas-containing "ganglion" cyst of lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament at L3. Case report

A case of "ganglion" cyst was found to originate from the L3 lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament at the pedicular level. The patient had moderate lumbar degenerative scoliosis. The cyst had no connection with the intervertebral disc, dural sac, facet joint or nerve root. Instead of mucous or myxoid material, it contained gas. Pathology showed a thick collagenous fibrous wall with no particular linings. No synovial component could be found by immunohistochemical stains. Pathologic findings including hemosiderin deposition, chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, and calcified spots supported a chronic process of cystic degeneration of the ligament.

X chromosome mosaicism in patients with recurrent abortion or premature ovarian failure

X chromosome mosaicism is usually associated with abnormal sexual development and reproductive performance, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, primary or secondary amenorrhea, infertility, and premature ovarian failure. However, there is a paucity of literature which discusses these relationships. From July 1988 to December 1992, a total of 105 couples with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion from a genetic counseling clinic and 61 women with a history of premature ovarian failure followed up in reproductive endocrinology clinics were assembled, and chromosomal analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was carried out. X chromosome mosaicism was found in six individuals (2.9%) out of the 105 couples with recurrent spontaneous abortion, and in five (8.2%) out of 61 women with premature ovarian failure. The karyotypes were 45,X/46,XX/47,XXX in five cases, 45,X/46,X in four cases, and 46,XX/47,XXX in two cases. The cases of complex X chromosome mosaicism (45,X/46,XX/47,XXX) presented recurrent spontaneous abortion in four cases and premature ovarian failure in one case. The cases of mosaic Turner's syndrome (45,X/46,XX) presented premature ovarian failure in three cases and recurrent spontaneous abortion in one case. The two cases of mosaic triple-X syndrome (46,XX/47,XXX) presented with premature ovarian failure and recurrent spontaneous abortion, respectively. However, the ratio of mosaic cell lines does not correlate well with the phenotypic manifestations in our cases. Our preliminary data suggest that chromosomal analysis should be done routinely in every couple with recurrent spontaneous abortion and in women with premature ovarian failure. The reproductive performance of X chromosome mosaicism is highly variable and difficult to define.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dicentric isochromosome X with premature ovarian failure: report of two cases

Two cases of dicentric isochromosome X, dic (Xp-), with premature ovarian failure are presented. The karyotype of case 1 is 46,X,dic(X)(qter-->p22::p22-->qter), and of case 2 is 45,X (77.5%)/46,X,dic(X)(qter-->p22::p22-->qter) (22.5%). An abnormal menstrual history including delayed menarche and secondary amenorrhea occurring at under 30 years of age was noted. Hormonal profiles revealed elevated levels of serum gonadotropins and decreased levels of estrogens. Gross appearance did not present an obvious picture of Turner's syndrome, except for short stature, poor development of secondary sexual characteristics and infertility. The possible mechanisms of dicentric isochromosome X are the breakage and reunion between either sister chromatid (isodicentric) or homologous chromosomes (homodicentric) which occur during meiosis of the germ cells in case 1 and mitosis after zygote formation in case 2.

Medical treatment of uterine myoma with long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist prior to myomectomy

A less bulky uterine myoma is technically easier to deal with during surgery. Recently gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) have been used for the purpose of medical hypophysectomy, thereby reducing the size of uterine myomas. Ten premenopausal women with infertility and intramural-submucous myoma manifesting with menorrhagia and obstruction of the tubal ostia were recruited for this study. A long-acting depot GnRH-a, Decapeptyl, was given intramuscularly every four weeks for three months as an adjunct prior to myomectomy. Luteinizing hormone, follicular stimulating hormone and estradiol declined to the menopausal range following treatment. The size of the myoma decreased to a mean of 32.3 +/- 13.3% of the original volume. Myomectomy was performed in eight patients at the end of the study. Remarkably little blood loss was observed during the surgery. All of the patients had their uteri preserved, and six out of eight patients achieved pregnancy within 12 months after surgery. Our results indicate that monthly administration of long-acting GnRH-a significantly reduces the myoma volume and makes myomectomy technically easier to perform with the possibility of reduced complication rates and better preservation of future fertility.

Papillary cystic tumor of the pancreas: a case indistinguishable from oncocytic carcinoma

A case of papillary cystic tumor (PCT) of the pancreas in a 55-year-old woman is described. She presented with a gradually enlarging and painless abdominal mass for > 26 years. The tumor was encapsulated and measured 16 x 12 x 10 cm. The gross features and conventional light microscopic appearance of this tumor were consistent with the previously reported cases of PCT. Perineural and capsular invasions were found. In addition to the densely packed blue granules in the cytoplasm demonstrated by phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin stain, ultrastructural study revealed the tumor cells to be packed with numerous mitochondria. These oncocytes comprised almost all the non-necrotic tumor areas. Therefore, this case was indistinguishable pathologically from oncocytic carcinoma of the pancreas. DNA flow cytometry showed a diploid pattern and low S phase fraction, indicating that the tumor has a low proliferative activity and a favorable prognosis.

Pelvic actinomycosis with colo-ileo-vesical fistula formation: report of a case

Pelvic actinomycosis with multiple fistular formation is rarely reported in the literature. We herein present a case of pelvic actinomycosis with sigmoid colo-ileovesical fistulae in a 36-year-old intrauterine device (IUD) user. She was admitted to the hospital because of general malaise, weight loss and bilateral palpable adnexal masses. Sonography showed bilateral adnexal masses which contained many echolucent spots. A barium enema examination revealed sigmoid colo-ileo-vesical fistulae. A computed tomographic scan showed bilateral cystic adnexal masses, bilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter. Preoperatively, pelvic malignancy was suspected. An exploratory laparotomy was performed. Bilateral tubo-ovarian abscesses with extensive adhesions were found. Pathologic examination of the operative specimen revealed pelvic actinomycosis. The patient was treated with penicillin for 14 weeks and had a stable clinical course.

Tissue culture, DNA flow cytometric and cytogenetic studies of a giant cell tumor of bone

An in vitro tissue culture was established using a giant cell bone tumor derived from a 66-year-old female. The tumor was clinically classified as stage 2, and grade 1 histologically. Morphological observations including, in vitro growth character, histochemical and immunohistochemical staining, and ultrastructural studies, support that the giant cell originated from the mononucleated stromal cell. They do not belong to the monocyte-macrophage system. In this aggressive case, we also tried to evaluate the significance of using DNA ploidy flow cytometry, and chromosomal study in predicting its clinical outcome. The DNA ploidies of both the primary and cultured tumor cells were diploid. The chromosomal analyses revealed its chromosome number ranging from 43 to 46 with three clonal structural changes; dic (19;20) (p13;q13), dic (19;22) (q13;q13) and dic (12;?) (p13;?). As previously compared and reported, cases with marker chromosomes usually had a more aggressive clinical course than those without marker chromosomes. Instability of the terminal portion of the F- and G- chromosome groups were reported in other studies and were also detected in our case. Possible association of clinical aggressiveness with the clonal structural changes, especially dic (19;20) (p;q) and dic (19;22) (q;q), needed further investigation.

Cytogenetic studies of gastric adenocarcinoma

Cytogenetic analyses were performed on a short-term culture of a primary tumor and an established cell line of gastric adenocarcinoma (SC-M1). The former case was near-diploid, and the latter was near-triploid. No common numerical and structural change or breakpoint was found in these cells. Review of the 13 cases of gastric carcinomas so far reported showed that only trisomies 8 and 9 were consistent findings. The Y chromosome, although lost in all the near-triploid cases, was preserved in all of the near-diploid cases. No consistent structural abnormality and breakpoint were identified in this and other studies.

An animal model for colon cancer metastatic cell line with enhanced metastasizing ability. Establishment and characterization

We have developed an animal model for colon cancer metastasis and produced a metastasizing tumor after using a microinjection technique to inject SW480 cells into the cecal wall of athymic nude mice during "minilaparotomy." After the metastatic foci formed in murine lung, an in vitro primary culture was performed and a new metastatic cancer cell line, which was designated as CC-ML3, was established. The studies included: 1) the comparison between SW 480 and CC-ML3 in morphology, growth kinetics, seeding and plating efficiency, and karyotype; and 2) carcino-embryonic antigen determination, origination, and metastatic ability of CC-ML3. The results showed that CC-ML3 was significantly different from SW480 in vitro and possessed a high metastatic potential in vivo. This newly developed animal model may thus be useful for studying the biology and pathogenesis of metastasis of human colonic cancer.

Study of plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and catecholamines levels during isoflurane anesthesia

Twelve ASA physical status I-II patients were studied after obtaining institutional approval and informed contents. All patients were free from endocrine and metabolic disease undergoing elective low risk operation. Pethidine 1 mg/kg i.m. and benzodiazepine 0.01 mg/kg p.o. were given as premedication one hour before anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 4 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg for tracheal intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with 2% isoflurane and 50% N2O in oxygen. Ventilation was controlled and adjusted to maintain an end-tidal CO2 concentration of 25-35 torr. Atracurium 0.4 mg/kg was given as muscle relaxant. Blood samples were obtained from radial arterial catheter, 15 minutes before induction of anesthesia and 5 min after anesthesia, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min during operation and 30 min after operation in postanesthesia recovery room. The results showed that there were no statistically significant changes in plasma levels of NPY and catecholamines during operation underwent isoflurane anesthetic technique. This result indicates that isoflurane anesthesia can block the plasma NPY as well as catecholamines during surgical stress.

Characterization of four newly established human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines from Chinese patients

Four colon adenocarcinoma cell lines, CC-M2, CC-M3, CC-M4, and CC-M2NM, have been established from surgical specimens of 18 unselected patients without the use of "feeder" cells and additional growth factors (e.g., insulin, hydrocortisone, etc.) in the culture medium. The methods of primary cultivation of tissue explants are described. Studies of determination of morphology, growth curve, plating efficiency, chromosomal analysis, CEA and beta-HCG synthesis, and tumorigenicity, were done to characterize the cell lines. Significant variations have been found in one of the four cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo studies. There are distinct phenotypes in the established cell lines which may be useful in studying the cell differentiation and progression of colorectal cancer.

Inhibitory effects of isoquinoline-type alkaloids on leukemic cell growth and macromolecule biosynthesis

A number of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids of plants indigenous to Taiwan were isolated and purified and their chemical structures were determined. These compounds, namely benzyltetrahydroisoquinolines or their N-oxides, aporphines, oxoaporphines and 1-N, N-dimethylaminoethylphenanthrenes or their N-oxides, were studied for their potency in inhibiting precursor incorporation into DNA, RNA and protein. Inhibition of murine leukemic L1210 and human leukemic CCRF-CEM and HL-60 cell growth was also examined. Of the compounds evaluated for cell growth inhibition, (+-)-N-methylcoclaurine(3), (-)-norannuradhapurine HBr(19), oxoglaucine (23), dicentrine methine (27) and 1-(N-methyl-N-hydroxyaminoethyl)-3, 4-methylenedioxy-7-methoxyphenanthrene (28) showed an IC50 less than 10 microM.

Benign testicular tumors

Testicular tumor is considered rare in Oriental people and benign testicular tumor has never been reported from this area. From 1969 to 1985 70 cases of intratesticular tumors were treated at Tri-Service General Hospital. 12 of them were benign in nature including 8 epidermoid cysts, 1 cavernous hemangioma, 1 foreign body granuloma with pseudocyst, 1 Sertoli cell tumor and 1 intratesticular simple cyst. A testis-sparing procedure was performed for 5 epidermoid cysts, the Sertoli cell tumor and the simple intratesticular cyst. The tumors were excised completely and the testes were preserved after careful and thorough frozen section pathological studies. One of the epidermoid cysts and the case of simple testicular cyst were diagnosed correctly before surgery by using scrotal ultrasound.