Purification and characterization of a pancreatic cancer-associated antigen (PCAA) from normal colonic mucosa

The same antigenic substance as pancreatic cancer-associated antigen (PCAA), sharing an identical immunogenicity with Gelder's POA, was isolated and purified from normal colonic mucosa. Purified colonic PCAA (PCAAc) is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 600,000; it consists of 30% carbohydrates and 70% peptides, and appears to be an N-glycosidic glycoprotein. Antiserum raised against purified PCAAc showed one fused line with our original anti-PCAA antiserum to ascites fluid from patients with pancreatic cancer and extract from normal colonic mucosa. Circulating PCAAc levels assayed by rocket immunoelectrophoresis showed significant elevation in sera of patients with carcinoma of the pancreas. It is concluded that PCAA might be a new tumor-associated antigen which is produced ectopically during oncogenesis.

Islet-cell cytoplasmic antibodies in Japanese diabetics

Islet Cell-Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ICA) in serum samples obtained from 616 Japanese diabetics were examined. The patients included 296 subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and 320 with noninsulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM). The number of ICA-positive cases found in 96 subjects in whom the duration of IDDM was under one year was found to be 50% (48/96), though in subjects with a duration over one year, it was only 14.5% (29/200). The prevalence of ICA-positive cases in the NIDDM group was 2.2% (7/320), and none of the nondiabetics had ICA in their serum. Moreover, none of 45 first-degree relatives of 19 patients with IDDM of whom 5 were positive and others were negative for ICA had ICA. Concerning the relationship between HLA-type and ICA in IDDM, there was a tendency for the prevalence of BW54, DR4 and MT3 of HLA to be higher in the ICA-negative group than in the ICA-positive group or the non-diabetic group. In 28 patients with IDDM, both ICA and ICSA were checked. Of 21 patients positive for ICA, only 3 had ICSA, although 3 out of 7 patients with negative ICA were positive for ICSA. Therefore no correlation was found between ICA and ICSA.

[Clinical effect of a cephalosporin derivative, cefotiam, on otorhinolaryngologic infections]

CTM was administered at dose levels of 1 to 3 g a day to 77 cases of otorhinolaryngological infections, and the following results were obtained: The effect of the drug was determined in 75 cases. The responders were 3 out of 5 (60.0%) in acute suppurative otitis media, 4 out of 11 (36.4%) in chronic suppurative otitis media, 39 out of 43 (90.7%) in tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess and 12 out of 16 (75.0%) in other diseases, a total of 58 out of 75 cases (77.3%). The bacteriological effect of CTM was evaluated in 53 cases, and bacterial eradication was demonstrated in 41 cases (77.4%). Also, its antibacterial potency was 2 to 4 times superior in comparison to that of CEZ against isolated bacteria in which MICs were measurable. Side effects which were neither severe nor specific were recognized in 3 out of 77 cases (3.9%). In the cases with abnormal laboratory values, none was determinable to be attributed to CTM.

[Pancreatic cancer-related antigen (PCAA) and pancreatic tissue antigen (PaA)--their chemical compositions, tissue localization, and clinical significance]

PCAA, a glycoprotein antigen identified and purified from ascited fluid of a pancreatic cancer patient and sharing the identical immunogenicity with Gelder's POA (Shimano, 1981) and PaA, a novel pancreas tissue antigen (Loor, 1981) purified from saline extract of human pancreas were studied. (1) Chemical composition: The purified PCAA from ascites fluid of a pancreatic cancer patient has a molecular weight of 10,000,000. The same antigenic substance as PCAA was also isolated and purified from normal colonic mucosa. Amino acid compositions of these antigens were similar. PCAA appeared to be a N-glycosidic glycoprotein. Antisera against these antigens were immunologically identical to Gelder's anti-POA in gel diffusion. The purified PaA has a molecular weight of 44,000, a sedimentation coefficient of 3.4S and an isoelectric point of 4.9. (2) Tissue localization: In pancreatic cancer tissues, PCAA and PaA were detected at apical cytoplasm of cancer cells, though positive cells were in different proportions and with different distribution each other. PCAA-positive cells were well differentiated while PaA-positive cells were less differentiated in histology. (3) Serum levels: A sensitive and reproducible sandwich-type enzyme immunosorbent assay has been developed for quantitation of PCAA and PaA. Using 18.6 micrograms/ml (mean + 2 S.D. of normal controls) as an upper limit, 43 of 76 pancreatic cancer (56%) and 34 of 167 other diseases (20%) had an elevated PCAA level. Using 21.5 ng/ml as an upper limit, 50 of 76 pancreatic cancer (66%) and 13 of 167 other diseases (8%) had an elevated PaA level. The sensitivity of simultaneous assay of PCAA and PaA for the detection of pancreatic cancer increased to be 90% (69/76) while false positive was 24% (40/167). The results indicate that combination assay of PCAA and PaA may be useful in immunodiagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Experimental studies on malignant fibrous histiocytomas. II. Ultrastructure of malignant fibrous histiocytomas induced by 4-(hydroxyamino)-quinoline 1-oxide in rats

The ultrastructures of six subcutaneous and six bone malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH) induced in rats by local application of the carcinogen, 4-(hydroxyamino)-quinoline 1-oxide (4-HAQO) were studied. The MFHs could be classified histologically into three subtypes: of the six subcutaneous MFHs, four were fibrous, one was giant cell, and one was myxoid; of the osseous MFHs, three were fibrous, one was giant cell, and two were myxoid. Five different types of cells were found in the MFHs: fibroblast-like cells, histiocyte-like cells, undifferentiated cells, xanthomatous cells, and multinucleated giant cells; the xanthomatous cells and multinucleated giant cells, however, were probably derived from histiocyte-like cells. Fibroblast-like cells predominated in storiform areas of the fibrous subtype; histiocyte-like cells and undifferentiated cells predominated in the giant cell subtype; intermediate cells predominated in the myxoid subtype. Acid phosphatase activity was found in lysosomes and myelin figures of the histiocyte-like cells in fibrous type MFH. The giant cell subtype of bone MFH has been transplanted serially into syngeneic rats and is now at the 17th generation. Transplantability exceeded 80%; doubling time was 3.8 to 6.1 days. Until the 3rd generation, the histology of the original tumor was retained; from the 4th generation, however, giant cells and xanthoma cells were no longer observed, and the tumor was composed mainly of undifferentiated cells. These results indicate that (a) MFH induced in the rat by 4-HAQO have an ultrastructure similar to human MFH and (b) the giant cell subtype transplanted serially is gradually transformed with a probable selection of stem cells and undifferentiated cells.

Personality and electroencephalography: significance of epileptiform activity on mass screening electroencephalography

From the mass screening EEG, 31 primary school children and 17 junior high school (Jr-HS) students with paroxysmal discharge were chosen. An equal number of children with disorganized patterns, including a few borderline ones, and with normal patterns were selected from the same classes. School performance and behavior assessments were evaluated based on the school records. Both in primary and Jr-HSs, the order of school performance in these three groups was as follows (shown hereafter--an average score of seven subjects for primary school children; that of 9 for Jr-HS). Firstly, normal EEG group (21.5 +/- 5.53; 30.1 +/- 6.08); secondly, epileptiform EEG group (21.1 +/- 5.09; 27.4 +/- 6.09); lastly, disorganized EEG group (20.8 +/- 5.11; 26.2 +/- 7.32). In behavior assessments, teachers highly evaluated the children with normal EEG both in primary and Jr-HSs. On the contrary, those with disorganized EEGs were not as highly evaluated, especially in primary school.

Effects of chrysotile asbestos on lung and pleural carcinogenesis of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine in rats

The effects of chrysotile asbestos on lung and pleural carcinogenesis by N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN) in male Wistar rats were studied. Chrysotile, 30 mg per rat, was injected into the left pleural cavity and 3 g/kg body wt. DHPN was injected once into the abdominal cavity. Lung tumors (adenoma, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and combined carcinoma) occurred at the highest incidence (100%). Adenocarcinoma was seen in 4 of 11 (36%) rats killed at 35 weeks and in 6 of 12 (50%) rats killed at 52 weeks, squamous cell carcinoma occurred in 1 of 11 (9%) rats killed at 35 weeks and 3 of 12 (25%) rats killed at 52 weeks, and mixed carcinoma was seen in 1 of 12 (8%) rats killed at 52 weeks, which received chrysotile and DHPN. Adenocarcinoma was seen in 9 of 11 (82%) rats which received DHPN only and killed at 52 weeks. Mesotheliomas were seen in 2 of 11 (18%) rats, killed at 35 weeks, and 3 of 12 (25%) rats, killed at 52 weeks, which received chrysotile and DHPN. Hyaline thickening of the pleura was seen in 100% of rats receiving chrysotile. Mesothelial cell hyperplasia and adenomatous and/or fibromatous growth of the mesothelium were seen in the pleura on both sides, ranging from 36% to 50% and 31% to 64% in rats receiving chrysotile and DHPN, respectively. Asbestos bodies were seen in the pleura on both sides and in the lung.

Transient thyrotoxicosis occurred after cessation of steroid therapy in a patient with autoimmune thyroiditis and rheumatoid arthritis

A 51-year-old woman with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis showed transient thyrotoxicosis at seven weeks after cessation of steroid therapy for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Radioactive iodine uptake was only 3% even in the thyrotoxic state. Aspiration biopsy, performed just before the development of hypothyroidism, revealed histological features compatible with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. At two months after the onset of thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism developed, and she was kept in a euthyroid state by 1-thyroxine replacement therapy. Irreversible hypothyroidism was confirmed by the recurrence of hypothyroidism after cessation of thyroid replacement therapy at one year after the onset of thyrotoxicosis. The causal relationship between the cessation of steroid therapy and the occurrence of transient thyrotoxicosis is discussed.

Studies on thermal adaptation in Tetrahymena membrane lipids. Modification of positional distribution of phospholipid acyl chains in plasma membranes, mitochondria and microsomes

The positional distribution of fatty acyl chains in major glycerophospholipids (phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and 2-aminoethylphosphonolipid) of three membrane fractions (plasma membranes, mitochondria and microsomes) of the thermotolerant Tetrahymena pyriformis NT-1 cells was analyzed at various time intervals within 10 h after a temperature shift from 39 to 15 degrees C. During this period of acclimation there were no changes in both the total phospholipid content and its proportional composition. At the 1-position, the content of palmitate in phosphatidylethanolamine (present solely in diacyl type), diacylphosphatidylcholine, and diacyl-(2-aminoethyl)phosphonolipid was decreased progressively after temperature-shift, while gamma-linolenate increased in a complementary fashion, in mitochondria and microsomes. The increase in the percentage of linoleate was compensated by the decrease in oleate at the 2-position of two 1,2-diacylphospholipids. On the other hand, as for 1-alkyl-2-acyl-phospholipids, a marked increment in gamma-linolenate occurred, with a decline of oleate and linoleate at the 2-position of 1-alkyl-2-acyl-phosphatidylcholine, but no significant alterations were seen at the 2-position of 1-alkyl-2-acyl-(2-aminoethyl)phosphonolipid. The results suggest that the newly modified phospholipid molecular species such as 1-gamma-linolenoyl-2-linoleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine and 1-hexadecyl-2-gamma-linolenoyl-phosphatidylcholine disseminate rapidly to other cell compartments and that they would play a pivotal role in the adaptive amelioration of altered membrane physical states during the cold acclimation.

Effect of nitrous oxide alone or its combination with fentanyl on spinal reflexes in cats

The effects of nitrous oxide alone and combination of nitrous oxide and fentanyl on spinal reflexes were studied in cats with transected spinal cord at the thoracic level. Nitrous oxide 33, 50 and 75% in oxygen depressed the amplitude of monosynaptic reflexes in a dose-dependent manner, but exerted little effect on polysynaptic reflexes. The addition of fentanyl 2.5 microgram kg-1 during the administration of 75% nitrous oxide in oxygen depressed monosynaptic reflexes further. These results suggest that nitrous oxide or its combination with fentanyl has a depressant action on the transmission of monosynaptic reflexes in the spinal cord, but nitrous oxide might exert less effect on the spinal interneurones which mediate polysynaptic reflexes.

Malignant fibrous histiocytomas induced by 4-(hydroxyamino)quinoline 1-oxide in rats

Subcutaneous and bone malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH) were induced in high incidence in rats by 4-(hydroxyamino)-quinoline 1-oxide (4-HAQO). Subcutaneous MFH were induced locally by repeated weekly injections of 1 mg 4-HAQO/rat for 4 weeks. Between 16 and 48 weeks after the final treatment, 13/15 (87%) male noninbred Wistar rats developed tumors. The histologic subtypes of these tumors were as follows: 11 fibrous, 1 myxoid, and 1 giant cell. Bone MFH were induced between 18 and 25 weeks by implantation of 4-HAQO (8 mg/rat) into the bone marrow of the tibia in 12/14 (86%) male noninbred Fischer 344 rats. The histologic subtypes of these tumors were as follows: 6 fibrous, 4 myxoid, and 2 giant cell. Morphologically, these MFH appeared similar to human MFH.

Thermal adaptation of Tetrahymena membranes with special reference to mitochondria. Role of cardiolipin in fluidity of mitochondrial membranes

During temperature acclimation of Tetrahymena pyriformis, the changes in fluidity and composition of total lipids from three membrane fractions, mitochondria, pellicles and microsomes were studied by a spin-label technique using a stearate probe and thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. The increase of fluidity observed in microsomal and pellicular lipids following the temperature shift from 39 to 15 degrees C corresponds with the increase of the ratio of total unsaturated to saturated fatty acid content. However, despite the increase of this ratio, the fluidity of mitochondrial lipids was found to be constant up to 10 h after the temperature shift. The fluidity of total lipids of mitochondria isolated from Tetrahymena cells grown at 39 degrees C was not changed by removal of cardiolipin, whereas cardiolipin-depleted lipids of mitochondria from 15 degrees C-acclimated cells showed a decrease in fluidity. The re-addition of cardiolipin to the mitochondrial lipids depleted of cardiolipin restored the fluidity to the initial level, thereby confirming the rigidifying effect of cardiolipin in cold-acclimated cells. These results suggest that cardiolipin may be implicated in maintaining consistent fluidity of mitochondrial membranes against change in thermal environment.

Structure, assembly, conformation, and immunological properties of the two subunit classes of ferritin

The two subunit types of human liver ferritin were purified to homogeneity. Both subunits reassembled in a well-defined manner and formed spherical particles that resembled natural apoferritin in electron micrographs. Affinity chromatography methods were employed to obtain preparations of antibodies that interacted exclusively either with the H or with the L polypeptides, demonstrating that distinct immunological properties may be ascribed to each subunit of ferritin. The amino acid compositions of the subunits were similar, but the larger H subunit had fewer leucine, phenylalanine, and arginine residues. It is therefore improbable that H subunits undergo proteolytic processing and are precursors for L subunits. Circular dichroism data indicated that homopolymers assembled from L-type subunits had substantially more ordered secondary structures and greater alpha-helical contents than their H counterparts. Small differences in the environment of tryptophan residues were evident from fluorescence spectra of each homopolymer. In isoelectric focusing experiments reassembled H or L homopolymers migrated as families of proteins within discrete pI ranges which are probably representative of subpopulations of each subunit type. The H homopolymer focused at lower pI's than the L component. These data substantiate the contention that both subunits are authentic polypeptide moieties of ferritin with some common structural features, but the results also underscore prominent dissimilarities in their properties.