Red and blue distinctive mucin-histochemical types of Japanese colorectal mucosa

Mucin-histochemical characteristics of normal human colorectal mucosa were investigated utilizing Culling et al.'s staining method which distinguishes the mode of C8-O-acylation of sialomucins. Normal mucosae of cecum, ascending, transverse and descending colon and rectum were obtained from autopsy and biopsy material. Japanese colorectal mucosa stained either entirely red or entirely blue, in contrast to previous reports dealing with Caucasians where all the normal mucosa reportedly stained red. The ratio of red to blue colon cases varied to some extent with age, i.e. it was found to be 1:1 in children aged 0 to 4, 2:1 in the 5-20 age group, and 4:1 in people older than 21 years, suggesting a tendency of shift from blue to red during early life in Japan. Each individual Japanese adult colorectal mucosa may thus be classified into either red or blue type mucin-histochemically.

Advanced carcinoma of the stomach treated with definitive proton therapy

We report the case of a 72-yr-old man who suffered from severe chronic emphysema with poor pulmonary function, and who had advanced cancer of the stomach. Proton beam radiotherapy was applied to the lesion, since surgery was contraindicated. The total dose to the stomach lesion was 61 Gy in 7 wk. The tumor on the stomach regressed, with flattening of the round wall of the lesion. The reactive changes of the proton beam radiotherapy, based on the histopathological examination, revealed extensive tumor necrosis and sparing of vital architecture of normal tissue around the irradiated tumor tissue. Only small clusters of vital or devitalized tumor cells with less than approximately 5% of the whole tumor tissue remained after treatment. We suggest that a high dose of radiation delivered by well-defined proton field could result in an improved therapeutic outcome without undue risk of injury to normal tissue.

The fine structure and elemental analysis of keratinized epithelium of the filiform papillae analysis on the dorsal tongue in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

The filiform papillae of subadult alligator (120 cm-260 cm total length) tongues are examined by scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The filiform papillae form cone-like structures and are observed over the entire dorsal surface of a relatively long tongue with a round tip. The filiform papillae are composed of four layers; outer, upper intermediate, lower intermediate, and basal layer. The keratinized epithelial cells are analysed by the sulphur (S), and nitrogen (N) content levels. The S content is higher than that of N. In the anterior side of the filiform papillae, this content is lower than that in the posteriors. The S content is highest of all at about 2 microns in depth from the surface. These results suggest that the use of S concentration measurements may serve to be an effective tool for a simple, offhand evaluation of keratinization.

Immunogenetics of early-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus among the Japanese: HLA, Gm, BF, GLO, and organ-specific autoantibodies--the J.D.S. study

The Japan Diabetes Society (JDS) conducted a multicenter study on the immunogenetics of early-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) of the Japanese. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA), properdin factor B (BF), immunoglobulin heavy-chain complex (Gm), and glyoxalase of erythrocytes (GLO) were typed, and organ-specific autoantibodies, including islet cell antibody (ICA), were assayed in 159 Japanese IDDM patients and their family members and in 258 healthy Japanese controls. The HLA-DRw9 phenotype and HLA-Bw61/DRw9 haplotype were significantly increased among the patients with autoantibodies other than ICA but with no autoimmune diseases (RR = 5.84, cP less than 0.001; and RR = 7.45, P less than 0.001), whereas the HLA-DR4 phenotype and HLA-Bw54/DR4 haplotype were significantly increased in those without either the autoantibodies or autoimmune diseases (RR = 2.64, cP less than 0.001; and RR = 4.55, P less than 0.001). The HLA-DR4 phenotype was significantly increased in the patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases (RR = 6.21, cP less than 0.05). In all groups of patients, the HLA-DR2 phenotype was significantly decreased, and the relative risk of the HLA-DRw9/DR4 genotype was highest among all HLA-DR genotypes. No significant association was found between HLA type and the duration or incidence of ICA. Gm types of g and gft were significantly increased in the patients with the autoantibodies (RR = 2.11, P less than 0.05; and RR = 34.11, P less than 0.05), whereas the BF-F phenotype was significantly decreased in the patients either with or without autoantibodies (RR = 0.43, P less than 0.05; and RR = 0.46, P less than 0.05). There was no association between IDDM and GLO type. These data indicate that immunogenetic bases underlying IDDM of the Japanese are heterogeneous, as are those in Caucasians.

[Clinical study of proton radiotherapy in urological cancers]

Therapy with proton beam is superior to that with photon beam in concentrating the dose within a lesion. Fifteen patients with urinary malignant tumors were treated by proton irradiation during the period from June, 1985 to March, 1989 at Particle Radiation Medical Center, University of Tsukuba. Four patients were with renal cell carcinoma, five with prostatic cancer and six with bladder cancer. Treatment results were assessed by change in tumor size either three or six months after the irradiation. In all the four cases with renal cell carcinoma, the tumor sizes were found to be unchanged without any enlargement. Of the five cases with prostatic cancer, two showed that the treatment was effective and the tumor sizes in the other three cases were found to be unchanged. In three of the six cases with bladder cancer the tumors disappeared while the treatment was found effective in two other and it did not cause any enlargement of the tumor in the remaining one. Although local control of the tumor was successful in all the cases, one patient with prostatic cancer and three with bladder cancer died of cancer. Various side effects, such as radiation cystitis, were observed. This prospective therapy is expected to replace the conventional photon therapy. However, some improvement is needed to make full use of the advantageous properties in dose distribution. Combination therapy with other general therapy is required for some cases.

The A3 allele of the HLA-DQA1 locus is associated with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Japanese

Analysis of the frequencies of class II HLA-DR and HLA-DQ alleles by serological and DNA typing in 49 Japanese patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes and 31 Japanese controls indicates the following. (i) Susceptibility is more strongly associated with the HLA-DQ subregion than with the HLA-DR subregion. (ii) Of the class II alleles detected, the A3 allele of the DQA1 locus was the most strongly associated with disease. Ninety-six percent of the patients were positive for the A3 allele compared to 53% of the controls (P = 0.001; relative risk = 19.7; confidence limits = 3.72-188.64). (iii) The DQw8 allele of the DQB1 locus, which is associated with susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Caucasians and Blacks, was not increased in frequency in Japanese patients (22%) versus controls (19%). (iv) Asp-57-encoding DQB1 alleles are associated with reduced susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Caucasians. The major predisposing haplotypes in Japanese are DR4 and DR9. By DNA sequence analysis, both of these Japanese haplotypes have Asp-57-encoding DQB1 alleles. Oligonucleotide dot blot analysis showed that all, except 1, of the 49 Japanese patients and all of the 31 controls have at least one Asp-57-encoding DQB1 allele. In addition, 40% of the patients were homozygous for Asp-57-encoding DQB1 alleles versus 35% of the controls. The high frequencies of Asp-57-encoding DQB1 alleles in this ethnic group may account for the rarity of type 1 diabetes in Japan.

Embryological development and prevalence of digital flexion creases

The embryological development and morphology of digital flexion creases were studied in 178 human embryos and fetuses 6-20 weeks of gestational age. The results suggest the existence of two types of digital flexion creases, that differ from each other in their development. The regular creases, with the exception of the distal crease of the proximal interphalangeal creases, and the oblique and extra creases of the irregular creases, develop concurrently with the appearance of the digital pads by about 11 weeks of gestation. The remaining creases, i.e., the distal crease of the proximal interphalangeal creases and the accessory crease develop later unrelated to the pads but, apparently, secondary to the flexion movements of the hand. Our observations further suggest that, because of their high frequencies, the oblique creases on the ulnar side of digits I and II and on the radial side of digit V and the extra creases on the proximal phalanx of digits I, III, and IV should be considered as "regular" creases. Previously unreported pads were also found on the middle phalanges at about 11 weeks of gestation. Unlike the single, large pads with high elevation, typically found on the distal phalanges, those on the middle phalanges are multiple, small, and only slightly elevated. This observation provides further support to the concept of the relationship between the fetal digital pads and the development of the epidermal ridge patterns.

Diffuse intrasinusoidal metastasis of gastric carcinoma to the liver leading to fulminant hepatic failure. A case report

An unusual case of gastric carcinoma with diffuse intrasinusoidal metastasis to the liver (DIML) presenting as fulminant hepatic failure is reported. The patient was a 59-year-old man admitted to the hospital complaining of dysphagia. Seven weeks after performance of total gastrectomy, he developed jaundice and consciousness disturbance and died 4 days later. The surgical material was diagnosed as advanced cancer (poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma) of the stomach and postmortem examination disclosed massive and diffuse infiltration of the tumor cells into the hepatic sinusoids with no grossly detectable metastatic nodules. It is important to be aware that, although uncommon, gastric carcinomas may cause fulminant hepatic failure attributable to DIML. The clinicopathologic features of such cases are detailed and a review of the relevant literature included.

Studies on the optimal immunization schedule of experimental animals. IV. The optimal age and sex of mice, and the influence of booster injections

To establish the optimal condition for preparing mouse antiserum specific to a drug, the optimal age and sex of mice for the immune response were studied by measuring the mouse serum levels of total immunoglobulin G (IgG) and specific antibody to viomycin, as well as the changes in weight of mice immunized with a viomycin immunogen. It was observed that age was a more important factor than sex, and strongly affected productions of both total and specific IgGs of mice. The mice aged 8 weeks yielded the highest levels of both total IgG and the specific antibody. In the study on the influence of booster schedule, the number of boosters given had a larger influence on the immune response than the interval between priming and boosters. The greater the number of booster shots given, the less was the production of total and specific antibodies. The decrease in the weight of mice after immunization was also studied in more detail; it was found that it only occurred in the first week after priming but not after a booster injection. The mice aged eight weeks showed the largest weight loss.

Suppressor T-lymphocyte dysfunction in MCNS: role of the H2 histamine receptor-bearing suppressor T lymphocytes

To evaluate the number and function of suppressor T cells in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), we performed an inhibition test of rosette formation and measured leukocyte procoagulant activity. The number of histamine H2 receptor-bearing T lymphocytes (histamine H2 R+ lymphocytes) was markedly decreased at the onset of MCNS but gradually increased and was normalized following steroid therapy. The production of leukocyte procoagulant activity by normal T lymphocytes was abolished by incubation with patient's lymphocytes. However, pretreatment of the normal T lymphocytes with cimetidine markedly decreased the suppression. The results suggest an abnormality in the histamine H2 receptors on the patient's suppressor T lymphocytes.

[Clinicopathological studies of 10 cases with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis]

The clinical picture, histopathological findings, therapy and prognosis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) were investigated in a retrospective study involving 10 cases. The age of patient at the time of detection ranged from 3 to 19 years, 11 years on the average, being 9 years or above in 6 cases. There was noted a slight tendency toward predominance of males in this series. The disease was detected casually on the occasion of mass survey of urine at school in 6 cases (60%), while by clinical examination on visiting us with nephrotic syndrome in the other 4 (40%). Of the former 6 cases, 5 developed nephrotic syndrome while placed under medical surveillance. Nine of the 10 cases were treated mainly with corticosteroids, to which 5 (50%) were unresponsive and 4 (40%) responsive, with 1 (10%) of these 4 becoming unresponsive since a recurrence. Corticosteroids were not used in 1 case (10%). During follow-up period (which ranged from 1 to 10 years) 6 experienced an elevation of serum creatinine above 2.0 mg/dl, with 5 of them being unresponsive to corticosteroids and 3 begun on hemodialysis therapy. Histologically, cases in which the sum of the proportions of glomeruli affected with segmental sclerosis and with global sclerosis exceeded 30% and, in addition, there were severe tubulointerstitial lesions tended to have a poor prognosis, while those in which sclerosis involved less than 30% of glomeruli and no interstitial damage was discernible had a relatively favorable prognosis and were more frequently responsive to corticosteroids. These findings led us to conclude that FSGS has an ominous prognosis as reported previously and notably, the prognosis is much poorer for the non-steroid-responding type than for the responding type. The study also suggests that the degree of severity of histological changes is determinant of the prognosis of the disease.

A highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for etoposide using beta-D-galactosidase as a label

A highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for etoposide (EP) was developed, which is capable of accurately measuring as little as 40 pg EP/ml. Anti-EP sera were obtained by immunizing rabbits with EP conjugated with mercaptosuccinyl bovine serum albumin (MS.BSA) using N-[beta-(4-diazophenyl)ethyl]maleimide (DPEM) as a heterobifunctional coupling agent. An enzyme marker was similarly prepared by coupling EP with beta-D-galactosidase (beta-Gal; EC 3.2.23) via DPEM. This ELISA was specific for EP and showed a very slight cross-reactivity with its major metabolite, cis-hydroxy acid of EP (0.91%), but none with 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin and drugs commonly used with EP in combination chemotherapy for cancer treatment. The values for EP concentration detected by this assay were comparable with those detected by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. However, the ELISA was about 1,250 times more sensitive in detecting EP at lower concentrations. Using this assay, drug levels were easily determined in the blood and urine of rats for 7 h after i.v. administration of EP at a single dose of 3 mg/kg. Due to its sensitivity and specificity for EP, the ELISA should prove to be a valuable new tool for use in clinical pharmacological studies.

Diffuse intrasinusoidal metastasis of gastric carcinoma to the liver leading to fulminant hepatic failure. A case report

An unusual case of gastric carcinoma with diffuse intrasinusoidal metastasis to the liver (DIML) presenting as fulminant hepatic failure is reported. The patient was a 59-year-old man admitted to the hospital complaining of dysphagia. Seven weeks after performance of total gastrectomy, he developed jaundice and consciousness disturbance and died 4 days later. The surgical material was diagnosed as advanced cancer (poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma) of the stomach and postmortem examination disclosed massive and diffuse infiltration of the tumor cells into the hepatic sinusoids with no grossly detectable metastatic nodules. It is important to be aware that, although uncommon, gastric carcinomas may cause fulminant hepatic failure attributable to DIML. The clinicopathologic features of such cases are detailed and a review of the relevant literature included.

Sequential study on spontaneous colony formation by bone marrow cells during butylnitrosourea-induced leukemogenesis in the rat

The spontaneous colony (SC)-forming activity of bone marrow cells of rats during butylnitrosourea (BNU) treatment was studied sequentially in an attempt to analyze stages of leukemogenesis. Aspirated bone marrow cells from female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats that had been given continuous access to drinking water containing 400 ppm BNU were examined at intervals of 3-5 weeks for colony formation of granulomonocytic cells with or without supplemental colony-stimulating factor (CSF). Granulocytic leukemia was first observed at week 12, and the cumulative incidence reached 80% by week 30. SCs were obtained in 56% of rats in the early stage (3 weeks) and in up to 59% of rats in the late stages (20-25 weeks). However, in the middle stages colony formation was rare, even with the addition of CSF. When adherent cells were removed from the bone marrow cells, the SC-forming activity in the early stage was almost entirely lost, whereas much of that in the late stage remained. It is possible that in the former case, overproduction of endogenous CSF by adherent cells under the influence of BNU treatment could be involved. In contrast, late stage SC formation may be associated with the generation of altered cells, including leukemic or preleukemic elements, which have increased capacity for autonomous growth. The loss of SC-forming activity in the middle stage appeared to be attributable to an extreme reduction in endogenous CSF due to marked devastation of the bone marrow. Technical improvement in adjusting more precisely the level of CSF in the culture medium is required to enable further analysis of leukemogenesis, focused on the colony-forming activity of target cells.

Inhibitory effects of newly synthesized sulfonamide derivatives on calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase activity and their modulation of the external ATP-dependent permeability change in mammalian cultured cells

External ATP causes a passive permeability change in several types of transformed cells and this change is further enhanced by calmodulin antagonists, such as trifluoperazine. However, such drugs also have nonspecific effects on membrane permeability. We have synthesized several new sulfonamide derivatives, which were found to inhibit calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase. The drugs also enhanced the ATP-dependent permeability change in CHO-K1 cells, but their effective concentration ranges were wider than those of previously known antagonists, and thus they would be useful for pharmacological use.

Distinct antitumor mechanisms of recombinant interleukin-2 on recombinant interleukin-2-activated killer-sensitive and -resistant murine tumors

The antitumor mechanism of recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2) was studied using two murine tumor systems. Meth 8 tumor cells were easily lysed in vitro by rIL-2-activated killer (AK) cells, which mainly consisted of Thy1.2+, Lyt2.2+, L3T4- T cells, and asialo GM1+ natural killer (NK) cells; on the other hand, X5563 tumor cells were only slightly lysed in vitro by AK cells under the same conditions. One of these two tumors was inoculated i.d. into C3H/HeN mice and then rIL-2 (5 X 10(4) J.U./mouse/day) was repeatedly injected s.c. For AK-sensitive Meth 8-bearing mice, rIL-2 therapy starting 1 day after tumor inoculation was more effective for the growth than the therapy starting 7 days later and the therapeutic effect was abrogated by in vivo treatment with anti-asialo-GM1 serum. In contrast, for mice bearing AK-resistant X5563 tumor cells, delayed administration starting on day 7 or later was more beneficial than earlier administration on day 1 or 4. This treatment schedule resulted in complete tumor regression in a dose-dependent manner including significant inhibition of metastases in the spleen and/or lymph nodes. These therapeutic effects of rIL-2 on X5563 were not seen in T-depleted mice with anti-mouse thymocyte serum but were found in NK-depleted mice upon treatment with anti-asialo-GM1 serum. The results of these studies showed that the growth of AK-sensitive Meth 8 tumor was inhibited by AK cells, while the growth and metastases of AK-resistant X5563 tumor was inhibited by tumor-specific T cells, which were generated after tumor development and activated by rIL-2 therapy, rather than AK cells.

[Liver disorder owing to estrogen therapy in prostatic cancer, examined histopathologically in six autopsy cases]

The parenchymal damage of the liver after estrogen therapy for prostatic cancer, mainly treated with diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES-DP), was studied in the six autopsied cases, herein. The parenchymal disorder of the liver was "nonalcoholic steatohepatitis", reported by Ludwig et al., and its degree of disorder was dependent upon the administered dose of estrogen. The acceptable total dose of DES-DP was supposed to be about 150 g at maximum, according to the various degrees of damage examined histopathologically in the six cases who were administered at total doses of DES-DP from 12.6 g to 619 g. Comparison of the histopathologic damage to the liver function tests performed within 10 days before death revealed that only the serum levels of cholinesterase (ChE) were abnormally decreased, suggesting its importance to predict the degree of "nonalcoholic steatohepatitis" by monitoring of ChE.

Comparative study of diethylnitrosamine-initiated two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis in C3H, C57BL and BALB mice promoted by various hepatopromoters

The comparative inducibility of enzyme-altered islands (EAIs) by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and their responsiveness to hepatopromoters belonging to different classes were studied in C3H/HeN (C3H), C57BL/6N (C57) and BALB/cA (BALB) mice. Male mice were given an i.p. injection of DEN (20 micrograms/g body weight) after partial hepatectomy at 6 weeks of age and then fed either basal diet or diet containing phenobarbital (PB) (500 p.p.m.), clofibrate (CF) (1000 p.p.m.) or ethynyl estradiol (EE) (10 p.p.m.). The numbers and size distribution of EAIs were assessed after the mice were killed at week 20, utilizing stereological methods. In the groups receiving DEN but no promoter, the number and mean size of the lesions were far larger in the C3H mice than in the other strains. Under the promoting pressure of PB, the growth of EAIs in C3H and BALB were accelerated remarkably, but those of C57 mice only slightly. Interestingly, in BALB the number of EAIs was much fewer than those of C3H in spite of their good sensitivity to PB, suggesting that BALB was refractory to the initiation process by DEN. A promoting effect for CF could only be demonstrated for the C3H strain and EE as the dose used inhibited the development of EAIs in all the strains. The experimental data thus indicate that interstrain differences in two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis among mice with different genetical backgrounds may exist, either in initiation or promotion, or in both processes.

Studies on the optimal immunization schedule of the mouse as an experimental animal. The effect of antigen dose and adjuvant type

This study was undertaken to establish the optimal immunogen dose for immunization of mice, using a viomycin-protein conjugate as a hapten immunogen. It was found that specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) formation depends on both the dose of antigen and the type of adjuvant: the optimal antigen dose for an immune response is quite different depending on whether the mice are being treated with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) or Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FICA). The total IgG amount depends mainly upon the type of adjuvant used. FCA gave the double the level of IgG compared to that obtained with FICA. The antigen dose was found to have little influence on the total production of IgG. Mice given a primary immunization with 10 micrograms of antigen emulsified in FCA and then given a booster with the same amount of antigen emulsified in FICA produced a strikingly high level of specific anti-viomycin antibody of over 2.5 mg/ml of the antiserum. It was also found that decreases in the weight of the mice were related to the kind of adjuvant used as well as to the level of the specific antibody formed.

Initial signs and diagnosis of diabetes--special considerations of Oriental patients

Hyperglycemia and other metabolic derangements resulting from absolute or functional deficiency of insulin are accompanied by typical signs and symptoms of diabetes. The clinical signs and the findings of hyperglycemia over 200 mg/dl should establish a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. An oral glucose tolerance test (O-GTT) is rarely necessary for diagnosis of diabetes in a child. A small proportion of children, however, present less severe symptoms, and may require an O-GTT. Approximately 14% of IDDM children were in coma at diagnosis in Tokyo, and 11 onset deaths (0.94%) were observed among the 1172 newly diagnosed IDDM cases in Japan. A significant decline in the onset mortality, however, has been observed in the past 20 years in Japan in association with the improvement of early management of childhood diabetes. The clinical distinction of IDDM from NIDDM is often difficult in diabetic children of Oriental origin without obesity. Japanese IDDM can be divided into two forms, abrupt and slow onset forms, but they may be essentially the same disease. There was no difference in the frequency of being tested positive for circulating ICA between the two groups of the patients. But a difference in the frequency of HLA DR4 and DRW9 was noticed between the two groups. Clinical features of 107 children with NIDDM were studied and about 75% of these cases were obese. All of them can be detected by routine urinalysis for glucose. Diet and exercise therapy in most of the newly diagnosed patients resulted in remission but some of them may require insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent to get better glycemic control.

Raman/absorption simultaneous measurements for cytochrome oxidase compound A at room temperature with a novel flow apparatus

A novel flow apparatus for continuously producing reaction intermediates of cytochrome oxidase was constructed and applied successfully to observe the transient absorption and resonance Raman spectra in its reaction with oxygen. Time-resolved difference absorption spectra in 500-650-nm region clearly indicated the formation of compound A upon photolysis of the fully reduced CO-bound form at 5 degrees C, and at this stage electrons were not transferred from cytochrome c to cytochrome oxidase. However, at the stage of formation of compound B, cytochrome c was oxidized. Resonance Raman spectra of these intermediates measured simultaneously with the absorption spectra are also reported.

Analytical studies on beta-lactam antibiotics. III. Automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the orally active antibiotic ceftibuten in human plasma and urine

A fully automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method was established for the determination of the oral cephalosporin antibiotic ceftibuten. The procedure for plasma assay involves on-line sample clean-up with a precolumn of BSA-ODS (ODS coated with bovine serum albumin) and subsequent determination of the drug with a reversed-phase C18 column using a column-switching technique. The precolumn effectively removed protein components and hydrophilic substances from plasma, with ceftibuten and its metabolite, the trans-isomer of ceftibuten, being retained using an ion-pairing reagent, tetra-n-butylammonium bromide, in the mobile phase. In urine assay, an ODS precolumn was used in place of the BSA-ODS column. The urine sample, after 10-fold dilution, was analysed in a similar manner to that used in the plasma assay. A large proportion of hydrophilic substances was eliminated by the on-line clean-up and the residual interfering substances introduced into the analytical column were separated from ceftibuten and its metabolite using the ion-pairing reagent. This method permits the determination of 0.1-20 micrograms/ml of ceftibuten and its metabolite in human plasma and 1-200 micrograms/ml of both compounds in urine. The advantages of the method are easy performance without manual sample preparation, saving of plasma (50 microliters) and high sensitivity. The method was applied to pharmacokinetic studies of ceftibuten after oral administration to healthy subjects.

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma of the lung. A type II pneumocytoma by immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic studies

Three cases of pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma were studied by immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic methods using a panel of antibodies. Six cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung, three cases of normal mesothelium, and three cases of mesothelioma were used as controls. The cytoplasm of some of the sclerosing hemangioma tumor cells was positive for the anti-lung surfactant apoprotein monoclonal antibody (PE-10). These cells were the pale cells of the solid areas, the cells covering the papillary projections, and the cells lining the cleft-like spaces. These cells also were positive for conventional epithelial cell markers. Some cells also were positive for vimentin. Electron microscopic study showed that the predominant cell was a poorly differentiated pneumocyte. Immunoelectron microscopic study also demonstrated that PE-10 existed in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of some of the cells in the solid areas, in the same way as normal type II pneumocytes. We concluded that the sclerosing hemangioma is an epithelial tumor with differentiation towards type II pneumocytes.