Relationship between twenty-four hour urinary creatinine excretion and weight, or weight and height of Japanese children

Twenty-four hour (24-h) urinary creatinine excretion was measured and correlated with anthropometric measurements (height, weight, skinfold thickness, and arm muscle area (AMA)) in 119 healthy Japanese children, aged 2 to 18 years. The results indicated highly significant correlations between creatinine excretion and age (r = 0.88 for boys, 0.90 for girls), height (r = 0.91, 0.88), weight (r = 0.96, 0.94), and AMA (r = 0.91, 0.70). In the multiple regression estimation, weight alone, or weight and height, accounted for most of the variation in 24-h creatinine excretion (r2 = 0.93 for boys, 0.89 for girls), and the addition of other variables did not further improve the estimation.

Antitumor effect of recombinant murine interferon-beta against mouse malignant glioma

A study was made on the antitumor effect of recombinant murine interferon-beta (rMuIFN-beta) against virus-induced mouse malignant glioma. In in vitro experiments, a dose-dependent and a time-dependent manner were observed for 24 h in the antiproliferative activity of rMuIFN-beta. In in vitro experiments, the growth of subcutaneously transplanted gliomas in mice treated with intraperitoneal administration of rMuIFN-beta was inhibited slightly, whereas, with intratumoral administration, it was inhibited more effectively. In immunological studies, natural killer (NK) cell and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activities of spleen cells were enhanced with intraperitoneal administration of rMuIFN-beta. The analysis of IFN-induced change in a subpopulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes revealed a decrease of Thy.1,2-positive cells and an increase in the ratio of Lyt.1/Lyt.2-positive cells. But these immunological effects of rMuIFN-beta declined on the 7th day with daily administration. Such hyporeactivity may be noteworthy for the clinical application of IFN.

Augmentation of endotoxin fever by recombinant human beta interferon in rabbits

Nonpyrogenic amounts of endotoxin (0.1 to 1 ng/kg), hardly detectable by conventional Limulus amoebocyte lysate tests, could produce a fever of around 1 degree C when injected with a nonpyrogenic dose (6 X 10(5) U/kg) of recombinant human beta interferon (IFN-beta) in rabbits. Release of endogenous IFN and tumor necrosis factor by endotoxin was also dramatically increased by recombinant human IFN-beta, and their levels in the blood were closely correlated with the increase of body temperature. These data suggest, if the synergism between IFN and endotoxin also operates in the homologous system (human IFN-human cells), that contaminating endotoxin in IFNs, even if not detectable by Limulus amoebocyte lysate test, can contribute to IFN fever to a considerable extent in humans.

Enhancement by L-methionine of contractile responses to acetylcholine and high KCl in uterine segment

The contractile responses of isolated uterine segments from 17 beta-estradiol-3-benzoate-treated ovariectomized rats to acetylcholine (ACh) and high KCl in Ca-depleted modified Locke-Ringer solution on addition of CaCl2 were used as indicators of Ca2+ influxes through ACh receptor- and voltage-operated Ca2+ channels, respectively. L-Methionine (L-Met) significantly enhanced these responses. The enhancement depended on the time of treatment with L-Met and concentration of L-Met. 3-Deazaadenosine (3-DAA) plus homocysteine thiolactone (HCTL), which inhibit S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation, caused dose-dependent inhibition of these contractile responses to ACh and high KCl. These inhibitory effects of 3-DAA plus HCTL were significantly attenuated in the presence of L-Met. Protein carboxylmethyltransferase and phospholipid methyltransferase activities were detected in the isolated uterine segment under conditions similar to those in which the contractile responses were observed. 3-DAA plus HCTL inhibited these enzyme activities. These findings suggest that S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methylations of protein and/or phospholipid in isolated uterine segment are involved in the contractile responses to ACh and high KCl in Ca-depleted modified Locke-Ringer solution on addition of CaCl2.

Effects of clobazam on amygdaloid and hippocampal kindled seizures in rats

The effect of clobazam, a 1,5-benzodiazepine, on kindling seizures was compared with the effects of 1,4-benzodiazepines, diazepam and bromazepam, in amygdaloid and hippocampal kindled rats. After kindled seizures were established (stage 5 seizure), the test drugs were administered intraperitoneally. In amygdaloid kindled rats, clobazam significantly suppressed the motor seizures (MS) at doses of 20 and 50 mg/kg and significantly shortened the duration of after-discharge (AD) at doses of 10 to 50 mg/kg. Diazepam at doses of 2 to 10 mg/kg and bromazepam at 1 to 5 mg/kg also significantly suppressed the MS and significantly shortened the duration of AD. Similar suppressive effects by these three benzodiazepines were observed in hippocampal kindled rats. From these results, clobazam was found to have a qualitatively similar but weaker anticonvulsive effect than those of 1,4-benzodiazepines.

[Treatment of renal cell carcinoma invading the inferior vena cava; role of preoperative targeting chemotherapy]

Locally invasive carcinoma of the kidney, prognosis of which still remains unsatisfactory, is a therapeutic challenge in uro-oncology. Our recent experience has indicated that mitomycin C microcapsule therapy which is introduced as a prototype of intravascular targeting chemotherapy is an effective preoperative adjuvant in terms of improving the prognosis of locally invasive kidney carcinoma. Two cases with huge kidney carcinoma directly invading into the caval wall were presented. They were initially considered inoperable, but repeated microcapsule therapy for 5 months provided substantial tumor reduction and facilitated radical operation. The patients are tumor-free at 2 and 8 year after the treatment respectively. The role of targeting chemotherapy in the treatment of locally invasive carcinoma was discussed.

[Clinical evaluation of CMA in the treatment of prostatic cancer]

Forty five patients with previously untreated prostatic cancer were given chlormadinone acetate (CMA) at a dose of 100 mg/day (mean 12.6 months), and 42 of them were evaluated for effectiveness. Overall response evaluation revealed 19 complete responses (45.2%), 14 partial responses (33.3%), 4 minor responses (9.5%), and 5 were unresponsive (11.9%). Consequently CMA was judged to be effective in 33 patients (78.6%, complete and partial responses). Response rate was 100.0% for stage A, 88.9% for stage B, 77.8% for stage C, and 57.1% for stage D. The response rate for stage D was relatively high, possibly because the time of judgement of effectiveness was a little too early. As side effects, elevated triglyceride level, impaired liver function and impotence were noted in one patient each. All of them were slight. The testosterone level in both castrated and non-castrated patients were not higher than that in women, and no significant difference in the level was noted between the groups. Nevertheless, the clinical usefulness of castration is not denied. CMA is considered useful as an endocrine therapeutic drug, though its effect on the disease at stage D was insufficient. The administration method, such as sequential treatment and combination treatment of CMA and estrogen preparations, is a future subject.

Effects of interferon on the lymphocyte subset in the blood and lymphoid organs in mice

The effects of mouse interferon-alpha/beta (MuIFN) or poly(I):poly(C) injection on the lymphocytes in the blood, thymus, and spleen of C3H/HeN mice were examined. A single injection of MuIFN (2 X 10(6) to 2 X 10(7) IU/kg of MuIFN) or poly(I):poly(C) (0.12-1.2 mg/kg) caused a significant lymphocytopenia without any evidence of direct cytotoxic effects on lymphocytes in the blood or lymphoid organs, a significant decrease in the number of T cells both in the thymus and spleen along with a significant increase in the number of non-T cells in the splenic white pulp, and a differential decrease in the number of blood T-cell subsets ("suppressor/cytotoxic" subset was decreased continuously whereas "helper" subset only transiently). The differential effect on T-cell subsets could explain the complicated effects of IFN on the cell-mediated immune response.

Clinical usefulness and false-positive results of CA 125 as a tumor marker of ovarian cancer--a study on 674 patients

To study the clinical usefulness and false-positive results of CA 125 as a tumor marker of ovarian cancer, we measured serum CA 125 levels in 197 patients with gynecological diseases, 274 normal, pregnant and postpartum women, 14 patients with abnormal pregnancy, 82 healthy women with a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle and 107 healthy non-pregnant subjects, using RIA kits. A level below 34 U/ml was considered the normal CA 125 range. The positive ratio of serum CA 125 in patients with malignant ovarian tumor was 81.3 per cent, and in those with serous cystadenocarcinoma the rate was 100 per cent. On the other hand, only one patient with benign ovarian tumor had a positive CA 125 value. Therefore, we suggest that CA 125 is useful for differentiation between benign ovarian tumor and ovarian cancer. However, because the positive ratio of CA 125 level is high in patients with recurrences of uterine cervical adenocarcinoma, those with tubal cancer, endometriosis, early pregnancy, abnormal pregnancy plus intrauterine fetal death and menstruating women, such situations must be given due attention when CA 125 is used as a tumor marker of ovarian cancer.

[Clinical analysis of high grade bladder cancer]

The prognosis and other clinical manifestation of 128 patients with high grade bladder tumor were analyzed. Thirty two percent of the total cases of bladder cancer were high grade bladder cancer and 83% of their tumors were invasive tumor at stage T2 and worse. Urinary cytologies were positive in 88% of these patients. The 5-year survival rate in these patients was 32% and those in T1, T2 T3 and T4 cases were 64.2%, 55.6%, 22.7% and 8.0% respectively. The patients treated with radical (total) cystectomy showed a much better survival rate than the cases treated with TUR or partial cystectomy. These results suggest that high grade bladder cancers tend to be invasive and the patients with high grade bladder cancer would have a poorer prognosis than the patients with other histological grade tumors. Thus, these patients should be treated more aggressively including radical cystectomy than the other cases of bladder cancers.

A case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder with a (2;5) chromosomal translocation in peripheral lymphocytes

Chromosome analysis was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes of a patient with rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder. It showed a reciprocal t(2;5) translocation with the breakpoints at 2q37.3 and 5q31.3. This is the first report of such an anomaly in the peripheral lymphocytes of a patient with rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder.

[Study on the maintenance of the accuracy of cytological diagnosis in the mass screening of uterine cervical cancer]

We studied the effect of the centralized cervical cytological screening program in Shimane prefecture and obtained the following results. After the centralized screening system was introduced, the rate detection of dysplasia almost doubled. The detection rates for carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix increased from 0.042% to 0.047% and from 0.042% to 0.065%, respectively. The cases with Pap. class III, IV, and V decreased to a third on the centralized cytologic screening system. The false negative rates for carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma decreased from 20.0% to 17.9% and from 16.0% to 7.4%, respectively. We concluded that the accuracy of the cytological diagnosis was improved by the establishment of the centralized system.