Central cord syndrome secondary to hyperflexion injury of the cervical spine in a child

A 10-year-old girl sustained hyperflexion injury to the midcervical spine, i.e., wedge compression fractures of the C3, C4, and C5 vertebral bodies, when hit by an automobile, subsequently manifesting central cord syndrome below the C4 spinal cord level. Serial magnetic resonance imaging helped identify the spinal cord lesion at the corresponding levels. Conservative management combined with corticosteroid administration resulted in nearly full neurologic recovery approximately 3 months after the trauma, although a cystic lesion remained present within the spinal cord 11 months after trauma.

Sequential activation of MAP kinase cascade by angiotensin II in opossum kidney cells

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a potent regulator of proximal tubule functions, including transport, metabolism, and cell proliferation. The opossum kidney (OK) cell line is a useful model of renal proximal tubule. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are rapidly phosphorylated and activated in response to various agonists. We investigated Ang II effects on serine/threonine kinase cascades in OK cells. The major findings of the present study are that Ang II stimulated MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK), MAP kinase (MAPK), and S6 kinase activities, and that it increased phosphorylation of Raf-1 kinase and p42 MAP kinase in OK cells. These stimulations of kinases were dose-dependent (from 10(-6) to 10(-11) M). The time course of activation was sequential; the peak stimulation was reached at 5 to 10 minutes for Raf-1 kinase, MAPKK and MAPK, and at 20 minutes for S6 kinase. The activation of MAPK was inhibited by approximately 70% with prolonged 24-hour PMA pretreatment or in the presence of calphostin C or H-7. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and herbimycin) did not inhibit AngII-induced MAPK activity. This activation of MAPK was also inhibited via AT1 receptor antagonist, Dup753 and pertussis toxin. This evidence suggests that the activation of serine/threonine cascades by Ang II is largely dependent on PMA-sensitive PKC, and is not dependent on tyrosine kinase and pertussis toxin.

Presence and regulation of Raf-1-K (Kinase), MAPK-K, MAP-K, and S6-K in rat nephron segments

Renal nephron segments are heterogeneous, and receptors for endothelin (ET)-1, ET-3, Angiotensin II (AII), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and insulin-like growth factor I distribute differently along the nephron segments. Recently, growth factors and vasoactive substances are reported to stimulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-K). In this study, we showed that mRNA and proteins of MEK-K, Raf-1-K, MAPK-K, MAP-K (p42 and p44), and S6-K are expressed ubiquitously in intact nephron segment. We demonstrated that four tiers of a cascade composed of the Raf-1-K, MAP-K, MAP-K, and S6-K are stimulated by ET-1 and ET-3 in rat intact glomeruli (Glm) via primarily B-type ET receptors and PKC. The stimulatory effect of EGF and IGF-I to MAP-K activity is inhibited by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor in Glm. IGF-I significantly stimulates MAP-K activity and EGF and All moderately stimulate MAP-K activity in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). EGF significantly increased MAP-K cascades and ET-1 and ET-3 slightly increased MAP-K cascades in the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL). EGF significantly stimulated MAP-K cascades, and ET-1 and ET-3 moderately stimulate MAP-K cascades in the outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD) and the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). MAPK-K and S6-K are similarly stimulated by these agonists in each segment. This study shows that MAP-K cascades are expressed in every nephron segment. ET-1, ET-3, All, EGF, and IGF-I stimulate MAP-K cascades heterogeneously along the nephron segment. It was concluded that MAP-K cascades play an important role in the regulation of renal function.

[Varicella pneumonia with multiple nodular shadows after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemia]

A 30-year-female with chronic myelogenous leukemia received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). On day 104, low-grade fever, cough, and general malaise developed, resulting in hospitalization 10 days later. Chest X ray revealed diffuse infitrates, suggesting cytomegalovirus interstitial pneumonia. Ganciclovir (DHPG) was given daily and all symptoms disappeared three days later. However, a very few vesicular lesions appeared on her trunk and her two children had chickenpox at that time. Chest CT was taken and disclosed diffuse nodular shadows. Clinical course and chest CT suggested varicella pneumonia. DHPG administration was stopped and acyclovir PO started to be given. She was discharged in excellent condition. In this report, we show a rare case of varicella pneumonia after allogeneic BMT and efficacy of DHPG for the treatment of varicella pneumonia.

Immunohistochemical localization of V2 vasopressin receptor along the nephron and functional role of luminal V2 receptor in terminal inner medullary collecting ducts

We investigated immunohistochemical localization of V2 vasopressin receptor along the nephron using a specific polyclonal antibody. Staining was observed in some of thick ascending limbs and all of principal and inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells. Not only basolateral but also luminal membrane was stained in collecting ducts, especially in terminal IMCD (tIMCD). To learn the functional role of luminal V2 receptor in tIMCD, we studied the luminal effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on osmotic water permeability (Pf), urea permeability (Pu), and cAMP accumulation using isolated perfused rat tIMCD. In the absence of bath AVP, luminal AVP caused a small increase in cAMP accumulation, Pf and Pu, confirming the presence of V2 receptor in the lumen of tIMCD. In contrast, luminal AVP inhibited Pf and Pu by 30-65% in the presence of bath AVP by decreasing cAMP accumulation via V1a or oxytocin receptors and by an unknown mechanism via V2 receptors in the luminal membrane of tIMCD. These data show that V2 receptors are localized not only in the basolateral membrane but also in the luminal membrane of the distal nephron. Luminal AVP acts as a negative feedback system upon the basolateral action of AVP in tIMCD.

AVP inhibits EGF-stimulated MAP kinase cascade in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

We investigated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) on Raf-1-MAP kinase cascade, including Raf-1-kinase (Raf-1-K), MAP kinase kinase (MAPKK), MAP kinase (MAPK) and S6 kinase (S6K) in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. In a dose-dependent manner (10(-10) M to 10(-6) M), EGF increased autophosphorylation of Raf-1-K and activated MAPKK, MAPK and S6K. Sequential activation of these kinases was indicated by their peak times of activation (Raf-1-K 5 min; MAPKK 10 min; MAPK 15 min; and S6K 30 min). AVP (10(-9) M to 10(-6) M) inhibited EGF-stimulated MAP kinase cascade. 8-Bromo-cyclic AMP (cAMP) could mimic the inhibitory effect of AVP on EGF-stimulated MAP kinase cascade. These results were confirmed using H-89, an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA) that blocked the effect of AVP on EGF-stimulated MAPK activity. We conclude that AVP inhibits EGF-stimulated Raf-1-K, MAPKK, MAPK, and S6K activity via cAMP in MDCK cells. Our results indicate that MAP kinase cascade may play an important role in integrating the effects of AVP and EGF on distal tubule function.

[Respiratory function in students who had asthma in childhood]

Students who had asthma in childhood can be divided into three groups: "asthma-remission" group "asthma-relapsing" group and "non-asthma-remission" group. When we made inquiries about three different groups, the incidence of each group was 58%, 27% and 15%, respectively. In order to determine if childhood asthma affects respiratory function in adulthood, we measured respiratory functions by spirometry in 26 students who had asthma in childhood, and in seven control students. There was no significant difference between students with childhood asthma and control students in terms of FEV1.0% of predicted value. However, students who had asthma in childhood had lower levels of V25/HT% of predicted value in comparison with control students. The effects of deep inhalation in the three groups were evaluated by determining the values of maximal expiratory flow at 40% (MEF40) of vital capacity from partial (P) and maximal (M) flow-volume curves. There was no difference between the remission group and the control group in the MEF40 M/P ratio. This suggests that childhood asthma may deteriorate respiratory functions in adulthood by remodeling of peripheral airways.

[Effect of topical carteolol on tissue circulation in rabbit optic nerve head evaluated with the laser speckle microcirculation analyser]

The effect of topical 2% carteolol on the tissue circulation in the albino rabbit optic nerve head (ONH) was studied using a laser speckle microcirculation analyser. In the first experiment, normalized blur (NB), the quantitative index of peripheral blood flow rate in the ONH, intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) were measured under general anesthesia before, and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after a 20 microliters instillation of carteolol in one eye and a placebo in the other eye in a masked randomized manner. In the second experiment, one eye of another group of rabbits received carteolol twice daily for 20 days and the fellow eye a placebo in a randomized masked manner. The NB in the ONH and the IOP were measured before treatment and 2 hours after the last instillation on the 20th day. After a single instillation of carteolol, PR showed a maximum reduction of 14% and the IOP in the carteolol-treated eyes showed a maximum decrease of 22%, while NB in ONH and BP did not show any significant change during the experiment. After 20-day treatment, IOP showed a maximum decrease of 25% in the carteolol-treated eyes and 17% in the placebo-treated eyes. The NB showed a significant increase of 16% (p < 0.01) in the carteolol-treated eyes and 10% (p < 0.05) in the placebo-treated eyes. This indicates that long-term use of topical carteolol increases peripheral blood flow in ONH tissue in the living rabbit eye.

Identification and characterization of monocyte subpopulations from patients with bronchial asthma

Monocytes are inflammatory cells that accumulate in the airway in asthma. Monocytes constitute a heterogenous cell population in normal subjects. The heterogeneity of monocytes from nine patients with mild asthma and nine normal subjects was studied by means of discontinuous density gradient centrifugation with use of bovine serum albumin. The rate of low-density monocytes recovered from patients with asthma was higher than that obtained from normal subjects. The functional activity of monocyte fractions from asthmatic and control subjects was assessed by using the release of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and the intensity of lysosomal enzymes, such as acid phosphatase and nonspecific esterase. The low-density cells produced less IL-1 beta than did cells of higher density in normal subjects. The IL-1 beta release was increased in low-density monocytes from subjects with asthma when compared with the same fraction from normal subjects (p < 0.01). The low-density monocytes had a higher activity of lysosomal enzymes than did cells of higher density in both asthmatic and normal subjects. Electron microscopic studies showed that low-density monocytes from the subjects with mild asthma appeared to have the morphologic characteristics of activated cells with more vacuoles in this periphery. This study shows that low-density monocytes from subjects with asthma retain the ability to be activated in vivo and in vitro and may orchestrate immune reactions in mild asthma.

[Prognosis after radical surgery in prostatic cancer patients with lymph nodes metastases]

We investigated prognosis of clinically localized prostatic adenocarcinoma patients who revealed to have had lymph nodes metastases by undergoing radical surgery. Eighty six patients were operated during the last 15 years under the clinical diagnosis of A2, 9 patients, B1, 15 B2, 13 and C, 49, respectively. Total prostatectomy was done to 51, total cystoprostatectomy to 33 and total pelvic excentration to 2 patients. Of these patients, 22.2% with stage A2, 20.2% with B1, 7.7% with B2 and 43.8% with C had positive nodes and the rate of positive nodes in stage C was significantly higher than that in other stages (p < 0.01). Regarding histological differentiation, 15.4% of well, 23.7% of moderate and 51.6% of poor by differentiated had positive nodes and the rate of positive nodes in poor by differentiated was significantly higher (p < 0.01). In 2 of 21 cases whose lymph nodes were dissected to the level of the aortic bifurcation, positive nodes were detected only in the external and common iliac areas. These two cases were missed, i.e., "false negative" if limited nodes dissection was performed. All patients with positive nodes were treated with hormonal therapy. The 5-year cancer specific survival rate of patients with positive (n = 27) and negative (n = 59) nodes were 66.4% and 92.4%, respectively. The prognosis of patients with positive nodes were significantly worse than that of patients with negative nodes (p < 0.001). Among 27 patients with positive nodes, significant prognostic factor was not number or extent of positive nodes, but histological differentiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Receptors and its signal transduction pathway in the renal interstitial cells]

There are several types of renal interstitial cells, such as fibroblast, monocyte/macrophage, lymphocyte, dendritic cell, and so on. These cells in the interstitium probably modulate changes in tubular repair, including cell proliferation, cell mitosis, fibrosis, immune cell infiltration and interstitial fibrosis through a complex cytokine and/or mediator network. These factors bind to cellular receptors, and then they activate signal transduction pathways, and result in expression of several information such as cell proliferation, mitosis and so on. In this paper, we attempt to describe some receptors and its signal transduction pathway in the renal interstitial cells.

The cervical spine in the Klippel-Feil syndrome. A report of 57 cases

We report 57 cases of the Klippel-Feil syndrome. Five had type I congenital cervical fusion, 48 type II and 4 type III. The symptoms and signs varied considerably. Patients with C2-C3 fusion often had symptoms associated with odontoid dysplasia and occipito-cervical instability. Twenty-one had progressive neurological symptoms and 19 were operated on: 3 had occiput-C3 posterior arthrodeses, 2 a single level fusion, 1 a laminectomy and anterior arthrodesis, and 13 had laminoplasties. Degenerative changes at the unfused segment and a narrow bony canal are high risk factors in the development of neurological compromise.

Chromosomal localisation of a Y specific growth gene(s)

Although a Y specific growth gene(s) has been postulated in the Yq11 region, the precise location has not been determined. To localise the growth gene(s), we correlated genotype with stature in 13 Japanese and four European non-mosaic adult male patients with a partial Yq deletion. Fourteen patients preserving the region between DYS11 and DYS246 did not have short stature (11 Japanese, 165-180 cm; three Europeans, 165-173 cm) whereas the remaining three patients with the region deleted had short stature (two Japanese, both 159 cm; one European, 157 cm). The results suggest that the region defined by DYS11 at interval 5C and by DYS246 at interval 5D may be the critical region for the Y specific growth gene(s).

[Postoperative course of transscleral ciliary sulcus fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lens and ciliary sulcus insertion of posterior chamber intraocular lens as a secondary implantation--postoperative long course of secondary intraocular lens implantation]

We studied the two-year postoperative course of 46 eyes with transscleral ciliary sulcus fixation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (sutured group) and 30 eyes with ciliary sulcus insertion of a posterior chamber intraocular lens as a secondary implantation (nonsutured group). The following items were evaluated: visual acuity, difference between preoperative predicted refraction (calculated by the SRK II formula) and final postoperative refraction, complications, corneal endothelial cell loss, and anterior chamber depth. In the nonsutured group, visual acuity was favorable in general and few complications were observed. In the sutured group, 16 eyes were followed for 2 years, and 12 (75%) of them achieved the same or better visual acuity than before surgery. In 4 (25%) of them visual acuity decreased compared with its preoperative status. In the sutured group, we analyzed 13 factors that might have been associated with poor postoperative visual acuity, and cystoid macular edema appeared to be most strongly related with worse final visual acuity than before surgery (p < 0.05).

Activity of artificial mutant variants of human growth hormone changes in charged residues around 62-67

Our previous work has shown that the amino acid residues around 62-67 located in the connecting loop between helix I and II of human growth hormone (hGH) are important in eliciting the differentiation of preadipose 3T3-F442A cells to adipocytes. In this study, we evaluated the role of the charged residues around 62-67 in receptor binding and biological activity. Eight artificial mutant variants of hGH were prepared in Escherichia coli by site-directed mutagenesis. Replacement of Arg64 with Tyr (R64Y variant) resulted in a significant loss of binding to the somatogenic receptors on 3T3-F442A cells, but retained full adipose conversion activity on these cells. Replacement of Arg64 with Glu (R64E) produced a considerable loss in receptor binding and a significant loss in biological activity. hGH variants in which either Glu65 or Glu66 was replaced with Asp (E65D and E66D) and with Gln (E65Q and E66Q) showed a slight loss in binding activity and retained almost a full adipogenic activity. An E65P variant (replacement of Glu65 with Pro) possessed the same binding activity as hGH, although it failed to induce full biological activity. The insertion of Ala between Asn63 and Arg64 (63NAR) caused a marked loss in both activities. These results indicate that the positively charged Arg64 is important for receptor binding and thereby in eliciting the biological activity of hGH, while negatively charged Glu65 and Glu66 are less important. In addition, our findings confirm that the conformation and size of the loop region around Arg64 is important for the adipose conversion activity of hGH.

[Effect of topical timolol on microcirculation in the rabbit optic nerve head evaluated with a laser speckle microcirculation analyser]

The effect of topical 0.5% timolol on the microcirculation in albino rabbit optic nerve head (ONH) tissue was examined using a laser speckle microcirculation analyser. In the first experiment, normalized blue (NB) in ONH, a quantitative index of peripheral blood flow in ONH, intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) were measured under general anesthesia before, and 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after a 20 microliters instillation of timolol in one eye and a placebo in the other eye in a masked randomized manner. In the second experiment, one eye of another group of rabbits received timolol twice daily for 20 days and a placebo in the fellow eye in a randomized masked manner. The NB in ONH and IOP were measured before treatment and 2 hours after the last instillation on the 20th day. After a single instillation of timolol, PR showed a maximum reduction of 11% and the IOP in the timolol-treated eyes showed a maximum decrease of 18%, but the NB in ONH and BP did not show any significant change during the experiment. After the 20-day treatment, IOP showed a maximum decrease of 28% in the timolol-treated eyes and 17% in the placebo-treated eyes. The NB in the timlol-treated eyes increased significantly (p < 0.01), but in the placebo-treated eyes it showed no significant change. Thus, the long-term use of topical timolol may increase peripheral blood flow in ONH tissue in the living rabbit eye.

Screening and production of arylsulfatases for target therapy with etoposide 4'-sulfate, an antitumor prodrug

Two arylsulfatase-producing streptomycetes that desulfated etoposide 4'-sulfate were isolated from soil samples. Taxonomical study identified one soil isolate as Streptomyces griseorubiginosus S980-14 (Es-1 arylsulfatase producer), while the other was considered new and tentatively designated Streptomyces sp. T109-3 (Es-2 arylsulfatase producer). Both strains produced extracellular arylsulfatase activities, provided that cultivation media were prepared with distilled water. Unlike the two known types of arylsulfatases, which had significant activity on p-nitrophenyl sulfate but none on etoposide 4'-sulfate, the crude streptomycete arylsulfatases efficiently desulfated etoposide 4'-sulfate and p-nitrophenyl sulfate, which supports the establishment of a new type of arylsulfatases.

Lumbar spinal stenosis causing intermittent priapism

The current report concerns the unusual symptom of intermittent priapism, or what may be termed 'involuntary penile erection', associated with proven degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Seven patients who were treated for intermittent claudication and spontaneous priapism during walking were studied in terms of clinical presentation, imaging findings, and some electrophysiological testing. Varying degrees of walking and standing tolerance with these unusual symptoms appeared to be correlated with cauda equina constriction as was seen by radiological imaging. Although not statistically valid, external urethral sphincter evoked electromyography suggested the possibility of monitoring the unusual symptom during walking. Surgical spinal decompression is recommended to alleviate this symptom and the claudication.

No detectable cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus genomes in the pancreas of recent-onset IDDM patients

Viral infection is assumed to trigger or exacerbate autoimmune responses against pancreatic beta cells leading to the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We therefore examined by polymerase chain reaction the presence of two candidate viruses, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, in IDDM pancreases. Pancreas tissues were obtained by biopsy under laparoscopy from 16 recent-onset IDDM patients: age 17-53 years; disease duration 0-7 months; six had flu-like symptoms before onset. Frozen sections were made and subjected to DNA amplification. DNA samples were prepared from the frozen sections and polymerase chain reaction was performed using primers specific to cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and control gene for HLA-DP. Cytomegalovirus- and Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells were used for positive control. Southern blot analysis could detect cytomegalovirus DNA from as few as 2 x 10(-1) cytomegalovirus-infected cells and Epstein-Barr virus DNA from two Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells. This highly sensitive analysis, however, could not detect cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus genomes in pancreases of recent-onset IDDM. A single copy human gene (HLA-DP) was amplified from all IDDM pancreases indicating that DNA amplification was performed without inhibition. We conclude that cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus genomes are unlikely to exist in pancreas biopsy specimens of recent-onset IDDM patients.

Lumbar radiculopathy associated with anterior intraspinal bony lesions

Thirty-one patients underwent posterior decompression for anterior intraspinal bony lesions which were causing symptoms. The diagnoses were a displaced apophyseal endplate, vertebral corner bulge, and an ossified posterior longitudinal ligament or disc. Symptoms were caused by associated lumbar disc herniations or by gradual impingement by the bony lesion on neural tissue. The success rate after operation was 84%. Anterior spinal canal compromise by bony lesions can be treated by decompression through a posterior approach with minimal destruction of the laminae and facets.

Expression of mRNAs for different types of IP3 receptors in rat kidneys

Cloning studies have extensively characterized two types of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors from the rat. An IP3 receptor from the cerebellum is referred to as type 1, and a second, recently described, receptor is referred to as the type 2 IP3 receptor. The significance of different types of IP3 receptors, especially in vivo in the kidney, is not fully understood. We investigated the localization of mRNAs encoding these two types of IP3 receptors in microdissected nephron segments of rats using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blot analysis. Type 1 IP3 receptor mRNA displayed a widespread, although not uniform, distribution along the nephron. In contrast, type 2 IP3 receptor mRNA was confined almost exclusively to collecting ducts, suggesting specific expression of type 2 IP3 receptor in collecting ducts. We then detected mRNAs for the two types of IP3 receptors in collecting ducts in dehydrated rats. Dehydration downregulated type 2 IP3 receptor mRNA in cortical collecting duct, outer medullary collecting duct, and the initial part of inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD), but not in the terminal part of IMCD. It had no effect on type 1 IP3 receptor mRNA expression in collecting ducts. We propose that different types of IP3 receptors may have different functions in the rat kidney. the initial part of inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD), but not in the terminal part of IMCD. It had no effect on type 1 IP3 receptor mRNA expression in collecting ducts. We propose that different types of IP3 receptors may have different functions in the rat kidney.

Osteoporotic vertebral collapse with late neurological complications

This paper describes 27 patients who had a spinal fracture and underwent an anterior or a posterior spinal decompression, with or without spinal instrumentation, for late neurological compromise secondary to post-traumatic vertebral collapse associated with osteoporosis. Five males and 22 females were studied, with an average follow-up of 3.7 years. The patients developed delayed neurological compromise due to osteoporotic vertebral collapse 1 month to 1.5 years following insignificant spinal fractures. Abnormal hypermobility at the collapsed spinal level with gradual retropulsion of fracture fragments into the spinal canal appeared to contribute to late paralysis. This pathology is treated surgically either anteriorly or posteriorly, but we recommend transpedicular posterolateral decompression and stabilization with a screw-rod construct because of technical ease and minimum invasion.

The antibody to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 suppresses pulmonary metastases of human fibrosarcoma in athymic mice

We studied the effects of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and their antibodies on hematogeneous pulmonary metastases formation of human fibrosarcoma in athymic mice. We used a human fibrosarcoma cell line (HT-1 080) with low metastatic potential, and a subpopulation of HT-1 080 (HT-1 080-P4) with high metastatic potential which was selected by repeating injections into the tail veins of athymic mice. We examined the effects of these drugs on pulmonary metastases formation according to Wexler's method and the number of tumor cell emboli in the lung subsequent to an injection of radio-labeled tumor cells. Pulmonary metastases formation from HT-1 080 was not affected by any of the tested drugs. Pulmonary metastases from HT-1 080-P4 increased with uPA and anti-uPA antibody injections. PAI-1 slightly increased pulmonary metastases from HT-1 080-P4, and the anti-PAI-1 antibody decreased it (60.9 + 27.7% of control, p < 0.05). While none of the drugs altered the number of HT-1 080 cells in the lung at 24, 48 and 72 hours after the injection, PAI-1 increased the number of HT-1 080-P4 cells in the lung, whereas uPA and PAI-1 decreased it. The result that these drugs did not affect the metastatic potential of HT-1 080 but only that of HT-1 080-P4, indicates that fibrinolysis plays an important role in hematogenous pulmonary metastases formation of tumor cells with high metastatic potential. The effects of uPA suggest that uPA facilitates pulmonary metastasis formation probably due to an increase in the invasive ability of tumor cells. The effects of PAI-1 and its antibody of HT-1 080-P4 cells suggest that PAI-1 may facilitate tumor cell lodgement in vessels and the anti-PAI-1 antibody could be able to suppress pulmonary metastases of tumor cells with high metastatic potential by inhibition of tumor cell lodgement in vessels.

[An apparatus using laser speckle phenomenon for noncontact two-dimensional analysis of microcirculation in optic nerve head or choroid in human eyes]

The previously reported apparatus using the laser speckle phenomenon for noncontact two-dimensional analysis of the fundus peripheral circulation was improved so that peripheral circulation in the optic nerve head (ONH) or choroid in human eyes can be measured on a real-time basis. The fundus was illuminated by a diode laser spot and its image speckle was detected with an area sensor. The NB value, a quantitative index of blood velocity, was calculated by the logic board every 0.125 sec successively for 7 sec. Using this apparatus, the NB averaged over the measurement field located in the temporal site of ONH, free of visible surface vessels (NBONH), and that located in the posterior choroid (NBCh) were measured in normal human eyes. The coefficients of reproducibility of 5-minute interval measurements were 11.7% for the NBONH averaged over 5 pulses (mean NBONH) and 8.7% for the NBONH averaged over 5 pulses (mean NBCh), and those of 24-hour interval measurements were 13.0% for the former and 9.7% for the latter, respectively. The average of pulsatile component of NBONH was 38.4% of mean NBONH and that of NBCh was 26.6% of mean NBCh.