Parkinsonian rigidity, dopa-induced dyskinesia and chorea--dynamic studies on the basal ganglia-thalamocortical motor circuit using PET scan and depth microrecording

Regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rCMRGlu-18FDG) was measured in 6 cases with rigid type Parkinson's disease (PD) (2 cases with dopa-induced dyskinesia = DID), 6 cases with chorea (Ch), 5 cases with essential tremor (EssT) and 2 cases with normal subjects (N). The effects of L-Dopa on rCMRGlu was studied in 3 cases with PD. With the aid of depth microrecording study, stereotactic pallidotomy was performed in all cases with PD. Thalamotomy was performed in 3 cases with Ch. In the EssT and N group, the metabolic pattern was high in the frontal cortex (FCx) but low in the lenticular nucleus (LN). In contrast, all cases with a rigid type PD showed lower rCMRGlu in FCx (premotor, prefrontal area). However, 4 out of 6 cases were higher in LN than the control group. Administration of L-Dopa shifted rCMRGlu toward the normal pattern in this group. Five out of 6 cases with Ch represented higher rCMRGlu in FCx (3 focal, 2 diffuse) but lower in LN. Moreover, when DID occurred, it showed almost the same pattern as in Ch. Electrophysiological studies showed high background neuronal activity (BNA) in the medial segment of the globus pallidus (GP) but low BNA in the lateral segment of the GP in the rigid type of PD. In cases with Ch, irregular burst discharges were often encountered in ventro-oral thalamus. From these results, the on-going changes of basal ganglia-thalamocortical motor circuit in cases with a rigid type PD, DID and Ch are discussed. The underlying mechanisms of Parkinsonian rigidity was considered to contrast with those of DID and Ch within the same motor circuit.

Association of particles that contain double-stranded RNAs with algal chloroplasts and mitochondria

Linear dsRNAs (double-stranded RNAs) belonging to several distinct size classes were found to be localized in chloroplasts and mitochondria of Bryopsis spp., raising the possibility that these dsRNAs are prokaryotic in nature. The algal cytosol and nuclei did not contain dsRNAs. The amount of the dsRNAs in the organelles appeared constant, and there were about 500 copies per chloroplast. The four major dsRNAs from Bryopsis chloroplasts were about 2 kbp (kilobase pairs) in length and originated from discrete isometric particles of about 25 nm diameter. These virus-like particles were purified by CsCl density gradient centrifugation after extraction from isolated chloroplasts with chloroformbutanol and subsequent precipitation with polyethylene glycol. They had a buoyant density of about 1.40 g · cm(-3) and contained four major and three minor proteins. Mitochondrial dsRNAs were about 4.5 kbp in length and formed less-stable particles of about 40 nm in diameter with a buoyant density of 1.47 g · cm(-3). Some observations support the hypothesis that vertical transmission of the protein-coated, non-infectious dsRNAs occurs within cell organelles. Double-stranded RNAs of various sizes were found in most green, red, and brown algae. The characteristics of the algal dsRNAs are compared with those of dsRNAs from higher plants and the biological significance of the dsRNAs in cell organelles is discussed.

Early diagnosis of tuberculosis by fibreoptic bronchoscopy

We carried out a retrospective study of the methods used to achieve an early diagnosis of 67 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis treated at our institute between 1984 and 1989. Sputum bacteriology was positive in 56 of the 67 patients, 22 were positive on microscopical examination of smears and on culture and 34 on culture alone. The 11 patients with negative sputum bacteriology were all diagnosed by fibreoptic bronchoscopy. In addition, 21 of the 34 smear-negative/culture-positive patients were examined by fibreoptic bronchoscopy and the initial diagnosis was made in 7 of these. Thus the initial diagnosis was made by sputum bacteriology in 49 cases and by fibreoptic bronchoscopy in 18 cases. The median number of days between obtaining a specimen and starting therapy was 7 days for sputum microscopy, 41 days for sputum culture, 7 days for microscopic examination of bronchoscopy specimens, 51 days for culture of the same and 19 days for biopsy. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy is therefore useful for the diagnosis of cases of tuberculosis in which tubercle bacilli are not detected in sputum and, in some instances, for an earlier diagnosis of smear-negative/culture-positive patients.

[The changes in cell population and chemical mediators in BALF following local allergen challenge]

In eight subjects who showed dual asthmatic response (DAR) in bronchial provocation tests (BPT) with specific allergens, local allergen challenge (LAC) was conducted using a flexible bronchofiberscope. We examined the concentrations of histamine, leukotriene B4 and C4 (LTB4 and LTC4) and cell populations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected before LAC (control), during the immediate response phase (IR), and the late response phase (LR). Control BALF was collected from the left lingula (B4 or B5), and BALF in the IR or LR phase from the right middle lobe (B4 or B5). Each BAL was conducted with 50 ml of saline at 37 degrees C and repeated three times in succession. It was noted that histamine increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in IR-BALF from the control level. In addition, the concentrations of LTC4 and the numbers of eosinophils increased in IR-BALF. In LR-BALF, the numbers of eosinophils (p less than 0.01), and the concentrations of histamine (p less than 0.05), LTC4 (p less than 0.05) and LTB4 increased. From these results, it was suggested that infiltration of eosinophils and various chemical mediators in the bronchial mucosa play important roles in the development of late asthmatic response.

[Informed consent of the family in the chemotherapy for lung cancer]

In Japan where the question of cancer notification has yet to be resolved, it is difficult to obtain an informed consent from the patient himself in clinical studies of the chemotherapies for cancer. In fact, the chemotherapy is administered while not enough explanation is given to the family let alone the patient. Such is the present situation. For the purpose of finding out the best possible method at present, we carried out a method whereby an informed consent of the family is substituted for a consent of the patient in phase II study of inoperable non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. As a result, the consent was obtained from 21 (91.3%) out of 23 families. This method should be taken into consideration as a feasible one under the present circumstances. It was in only one family (4.3%) that a consent on the notification of diagnosis from the family to the patient was obtained. In order for the informed consent to be established, efforts to form a social consensus on cancer notification are needed.

The different effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor on rat fibrosarcoma sublines

The antitumor effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rH-TNF) on two clones of rat fibrosarcoma with different metastatic potential to lymph nodes was examined. The colony formation of clone A, which has high metastatic potential, was completely inhibited by continuous exposure to rH-TNF at 50 U/ml. In contrast, colony formation of clone G, which has low metastatic potential, was not inhibited by high concentrations of rH-TNF (10,000 U/ml). The inhibitory effect of rH-TNF on colony formation by clone A was also observed with a 1-h exposure to rH-TNF. This effect was time and concentration dependent, as determined by the colony assay, 3H-thymidine uptake assay, and 51Cr-release assay. 3H-thymidine and 3H-uridine uptake per cell of clone A exposed to rH-TNF was not decreased. This suggests that the mechanisms of the antitumor effect of rH-TNF were not due to inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis of tumor cells. In vivo growth and lymph node metastases of clone A inoculated i.p. to Donryu strain rats were completely suppressed by 14 consecutive i.p. injections of 10(5) or 10(6) U/kg per day of rH-TNF. On the other hand the growth of clone G was not influenced by rH-TNF administration.

Human tumor clonogenic assay for carcinoma of the lung. II. Factors that influence colony formation in soft agar

The human tumor clonogenic assay (HTCA) has potential value for studies of both the chemosensitivity and biology of human tumors. However, many technical problems including low plating efficiencies and the preparation of sufficient numbers of viable cells remain. In this study, an improved method for disaggregation of solid tumors increased the yield of single cells. Consequently, more than 10 anticancer drugs could be tested in 94 of 168 specimens (56%). Removal of peripheral blood lymphocytes from cell suspensions derived from effusions also improved colony formation. Adequate growth for sensitivity testing (greater than 30 colonies/plate) was obtained in 122 cases (73%), inadequate growth for drug evaluation (5-29 colonies/plate) in 29 cases (17%), and no colony formation (less than 5 colonies/plate) in 17 cases (10%) of the 168 viable samples. The cloning efficiencies of cells derived from primary tumors (median 0.015%) were higher than those of cells derived from metastatic tumors (0.012%), and they varied with the location of the metastatic site. Cloning efficiencies varied markedly from specimen to specimen, and were unaffected by tumor histology, grade of differentiation, patient age, stage of disease, or prior chemotherapy. The HTCA is promising as a potential tool for studying the biology of tumors.

In vitro chemosensitivity patterns of carcinoma of the lung in human tumor clonogenic assay

One hundred and sixty-eight different specimens of human carcinoma of the lung were tested for in vitro drug sensitivity using the human tumor clonogenic assay (HTCA) originally described by Hamburger and Salmon. One hundred and twenty-two (73%) specimens grew adequately for chemosensitivity testing. Most tumors were resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs, but in vitro sensitivity, regardless of the type of drugs, varied markedly from specimen to specimen. Although response rates to individual drugs ranged between 9% and 23%, half the specimens tested were sensitive in vitro to at least one drug. A higher in vitro sensitivity rate was observed in small cell lung carcinoma (31%) than in non-small cell lung carcinoma (17%). The frequency of in vitro sensitivity was greater for patients who had received no prior chemotherapy than those who were in relapse. These in vitro results are similar to current clinical experience. There was a significant association between in vitro sensitivity of cells from a primary tumor as compared to its metastases. Overall HTCA appears to be useful in selecting appropriate chemotherapy for individual patients with carcinoma of the lung.

Antitumor activity of alkylesters of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate (FdUMP) against murine lymphoma L5178Y resistant to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine

A series of twenty six 5'-substituted FdUMP (5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate) have been evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the proliferation of murine lymphoma L5178Y cells sensitive or resistant to FUdR (5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine). 5'-Octylphenylene-FdUMP was the most active among these active derivatives against the parent cell line (L5178Y/P). Several other FdUMP derivatives also proved as potent as FUdR in their antiproliferating activity on the L5178Y/P cell line. Activity of these derivatives was decreased considerably by a substituent with a long aliphatic chain and the introduction of acyl groups on the C-3' position. Eicosyl-FdUMP was found to show no or low cross-resistance on the L5178Y/FUdR subline which was about 19 000-fold resistant to FUdR compared with the parent cell line. This derivative might penetrate cell membrane in an intact form and be converted into FdUMP by a phosphodiesterase inside the cell, because an anabolic enzyme, deoxyuridine kinase, was defective in cells of the L5178Y/FUdR subline. The derivatives were promising as antitumor agents for the treatment of relapsed patients following 5-fluorouracil therapy.

A bioassay of cisplatin by human tumor clonogenic assay

A new bioassay method for cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) using a human tumor clonogenic assay (HTCA) was developed and used to examine the pharmacokinetics of the active form of CDDP in different schedules of administration. The inhibition of colony growth of tumor cells decreased with increase in the % of fetal calf serum in RPMI1640 containing CDDP. By means of this assay, four administration schedules (A, B, C and D) of CDDP were examined. In patients given 40 mg/m2 of CDDP by iv infusion on day 1 twice with a 1 hr interval (schedule A), total platinum was still detectable in plasma at 6 hr by atomic absorption assay. However, the active form of CDDP was no longer detectable at 30 min. In patients treated with 20 mg/m2 of CDDP iv for 20 min daily (schedule B) from day 1 to day 4, the level of total platinum showed a cumulative increase. However, the active form of CDDP was no longer detectable at 30 min, and no cumulative effect was observed. In patients given a high dose (120 mg/m2) of CDDP iv for 30 min on day 1 (schedule C), the peak concentration of active form of CDDP was determined to be 5.0 to 7.0 micrograms/ml, and a level of more than 1.0 micrograms/ml was maintained even after 2 hr in one case. In 2 patients of this group the concentrations of active form of CDDP determined by HTCA were the same as those of ultrafiltrable platinum detected by atomic absorption assay. In 2 of 3 patients given 100 mg of CDDP into the pleural cavity, the active form of CDDP was detected in sera. High-dose CDDP administration was concluded to be preferable to low-dose therapy because of the higher peak concentration and longer residence time of the active form of CDDP in the plasma. Furthermore, it is suggested that a systemic effect of CDDP can be expected even when CDDP is given by intrapleural administration.

Differences of host immune response and of sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents between two clones of rat fibrosarcoma with different metastatic potential

Differences of host immune response and of chemosensitivity between two clones derived from a methylcholanthrene-induced rat fibrosarcoma and exhibiting different tumorigenic and metastatic potentials were examined. Clone G, which has no metastatic potential, was more sensitive to natural killer cytotoxicity by syngeneic rat spleen cells than clone A, which is highly metastatic. The colony formation of clone G was strongly inhibited by the supernatant obtained from coculture of lymphocytes with either of these two clones. In contrast, the colony formation of clone A was not inhibited by these supernatants. Inhibition of the colony formation of clone G was dependent on the dilution of the supernatant and the incubation time of the lymphocytes and tumor cells used to generate the supernatant. The supernatant from cocultures of lymphocytes and clone G inhibited the colony formation of clone G more strongly than the supernatant from cocultures of lymphocytes and clone A. There was no difference between these two clones in chemosensitivity to seven of the ten chemotherapeutic drugs tested.

Reduction of pulmonary metastases of B16 melanoma by human recombinant interleukin 2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells in immunosuppressed C57BL/6 mice receiving anticancer agent

The immunosuppressive effect of a water-soluble nitrosourea derivative, 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl) methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea (ACNU), was evaluated in terms of the cytotoxicity of spleen lymphocytes, and the restoring effect of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and/or human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on the cytotoxicities of spleen lymphocytes was examined in ACNU-treated C57BL/6 mice. In addition, we tested whether the administration of LAK cells and/or rIL-2 could reduce the increased numbers of pulmonary metastases in ACNU-treated mice. The maximum effective dose of ACNU suppressed the cytotoxicity of spleen lymphocytes and pretreatment with ACNU enhanced the induction of artificial pulmonary metastases. The administration of LAK cells and/or human rIL-2 restored the cytotoxicity of spleen lymphocytes against YAC-1 and syngeneic B-16 melanoma cells in ACNU-treated mice, and these treatments partially suppressed the increased numbers of artificial pulmonary metastases of B-16 melanoma cells in ACNU-treated mice. These results are extremely important in providing a rationale for the introduction of adoptive immunotherapy using LAK cells and rIL-2 in patients with advanced cancer who are being treated with anticancer agent(s).

[Strategy of cancer treatment using human recombinant interleukin 2 and lymphokine activated killer cells]

There are two strategies for evaluating the antitumor effect of IL-2. In the first approach IL-2 has been used to support the proliferation of T-effector cells or LAK cells in vitro in the hope that large quantities of these effector cells can be used therapeutically. This approach has shown some efficacy in animal models if LAK cells are administered in combination with IL-2. However, it is extremely difficult to standardize the numbers of lymphocytes and the biological activity of effector cells for clinical use. Recently the cloning of IL-2 has made available large quantities of purified recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) for preclinical and clinical trials. Accordingly there have been recent attempts at injecting rIL-2 directly to stimulate effector cells in vivo. In this study, in vivo and in vitro augmentation of the cytotoxicity of spleen lymphocytes against syngeneic B-16 melanoma cells (induction of LAK cells) and the suppression of artificial pulmonary and liver metastases of B-16 melanoma in C57BL/6 mice was tried by subcutaneous multiple injections of high-dose human rIL-2. In addition, the immunosuppressive effect of a water-soluble nitrosourea derivative (ACNU) was determined in terms of the cytotoxicity of spleen lymphocytes, and the restoring effect of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and/or human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on the cytotoxicities of spleen lymphocytes were examined in ACNU-treated C57 BL/6 mice. It was also tested whether the administration of LAK cells and/or rIL-2 could reduce the increased numbers of pulmonary metastases in ACNU-treated mice. The cytotoxicity of spleen lymphocytes against YAC-1 cells as well as against syngeneic B-16 and F-10 melanoma cells was augmented not only by incubation of spleen lymphocytes with human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in vitro but also by injecting high-dose rIL-2 into C57BL/6 mice for more than 3 consecutive days. In animals injected with multiple high doses of rIL-2 subcutaneously, the numbers of tumor nodules in the lung were significantly decreased 21 days after intravenous tumor inoculation. In addition, in these groups of animals no liver metastases were observed although liver metastases were detected in 6/11 of control mice. The maximum effective dose of ACNU suppressed the cytotoxicity of spleen lymphocytes and pretreatment with ACNU enhanced the induction of artificial pulmonary metastases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Detection of cytotoxicity of freshly obtained lymphocytes and of lymphocytes activated with recombinant interleukin II (rIL-2) against lung cancer cell lines by human tumor clonogenic assay (HTCA)

The cytotoxicity of freshly obtained human peripheral blood lymphocytes and lymphocytes activated with human recombinant interleukin II (rIL-2) was evaluated against lung cancer cell lines by the human tumor clonogenic assay. Colony formation of all human lung cancer cell lines, PC-1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 13 and 14 were suppressed by lymphocytes activated with 100 units/ml of human rIL-2 for 72 hr. However, the degree of the suppression of colony formation by lymphocytes activated with rIL-2 was different for each cell line. The per cent inhibition of colony formation obtained by HTCA correlated well with the per cent cytolysis obtained by 51Cr-release assay for all cell lines. HTCA provides a very useful tool for the detection of cytotoxicity of lymphocytes against clonogenic tumor cells.

Antitumor effect of two-drug simultaneous or sequential use of cisplatin, vindesine or etoposide on human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell lines in tumor clonogenic assay

The antitumor effects of two-drug simultaneous or sequential use of cisplatin, vindesine or etoposide were examined in human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell lines by human tumor clonogenic assay. Different tumor cell lines (PC-9, PC-13 and PC-14) that originated from the same histological cell type responded quite variably to simultaneous and/or sequential therapy. The antitumor effects of various sequential combinations of cisplatin, vindesine and etoposide depended strongly on the nature of the individual tumor cell line tested.

Natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity in healthy volunteers with special emphasis on the familial incidence of cancer

Natural killer (NK) and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cell activities in 133 healthy volunteers were analyzed with regard to the volunteer's sex, age, smoking history and the familial incidence of cancer. None of these factors had any influence on NK and LAK cell activities. It was concluded that identifying individuals with increased risk of cancer development by examining NK and LAK activities would be difficult.

Clonogenic patterns of human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell lines (PC-9, PC-13 and PC-14) and how they influence the results of test for chemosensitivity to cisplatin in the human tumor clonogenic assay

The clonogenic patterns of three human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell lines (PC-9, PC-13 and PC-14) were studied by human tumor clonogenic assay (HTCA), and factors which could influence the results of tests for the chemosensitivity of these tumor cells to cisplatin in HTCA were determined. The results showed that each tumor cell line had a characteristic clonogenic pattern. The time intervals for the cells to grow to the plateau phase varied from 9 to 16 days, depending on the cell line and number of cells plated. The number of cells plated could substantially influence the results of chemosensitivity tests. The percentage of surviving colonies increased markedly if too many cells (usually 5 X 10(4) or more/plate) were plated. For continuous exposure, the results of chemosensitivity tests were rather stable after 7 days of incubation in each cell line, especially when fewer than 2 X 10(4) cells/plate were plated. For 1-hour exposure, the incubation periods for the results to become stable varied from 7 to 16 days depending on the cell type, number of cells plated and drug concentration. It was stressed that for the correct evaluation of the chemosensitivity of cultured cell lines in HTCA, the clonogenic pattern of each tumor cell line should be checked in detail before further experiments are conducted. The higher the concentration and the longer the exposure time, the more strongly cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) suppressed the colony growth in each of the three cell lines in HTCA, and it was recommended that CDDP should be used clinically in such a way as to maintain a high serum level of the active form of CDDP for a long time.

The use of human tumor clonogenic assay in predicting combination effect of cisplatin plus vindesine in carcinoma of the lung

By using a human tumor clonogenic assay, cisplatin plus vindesine regimen was evaluated in 17 carcinoma of the lung. The cisplatin (0.2 microgram/ml) plus vindesine (0.005 microgram/ml) combination was synergistic and additive cell killing in 10 and 4, respectively, of 17 specimens. On the other hand, only three specimens showed antagonistic cell killing from this drug combination. Our results indicated that this in vitro assay provides a new method which can predict the effects of the combination of drugs on individual patients.

Phase II study of vindesine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

A phase II study of vindesine (VDS) was carried out in 21 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There were 13 and 8 patients with and without prior chemotherapy, respectively. VDS was administered at a weekly iv dose of 3 mg/m2. Partial response was observed in two of 15 adenocarcinomas and one of 2 adenosquamous cell carcinomas, and the overall response rate was 14.3% (3/21). Myelosuppression, especially leukopenia, was the most common dose-limiting side effect. Neurotoxicity was also a common side effect but the degree was mild. It was concluded that VDS at a dose of 3 mg/m2 every week seems to be active against NSCLC.

Preliminary phase II study of adriamycin (ADM) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

A phase II study of adriamycin (ADM) (60 mg/m2) was performed in 22 patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). There were no responders in the 19 evaluable patients (16 with adenocarcinoma, two with squamous cell carcinoma and one with large cell carcinoma). The major side effects were alopecia (89%), leukocytopenia (73%), thrombocytopenia (58%) and upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Although ADM at 60 mg/m2 did not appear to have sufficient antitumor activity against NSCLC in this study, it is necessary to evaluate further the efficacy of ADM against NSCLC with another treatment schedule.