[VM-26 salvage therapy for refractory or recurrent germinal testicular cancers]

Four patients with refractory or recurrent germinal testicular cancers were treated with the combination of VM-26 and cis-platinum, and two of them also in combination with radiation therapy. Two complete responses and two partial responses were observed. One partial response was rendered no evidence of disease by sequential radiation therapy. Three of the patients remained to have no evidence of disease from 16, 21 and 22 months. Toxicity was tolerable. VM-26 is an active drug in germinal testicular cancers and plays an important role in salvage therapy, for refractory or recurrent cases.

Potentiality of artificial sea water salts for the production of carrageenase by a marine Cytophaga sp

Production of an extracellular enzyme complex (carrageenase) was studied by examining cell-free fluids from cultures of a marine Cytophaga, 1k-C783, growing on different media. Among artificial sea water salts, only NaCl and MgCl2 were utilized by the organism to produce carrageenase. The minimal concentrations of suitable combinations of NaCl and MgCl2 were found to be 0.05 M NaCl plus 0.25 M MgCl2, and 0.15 M NaCl plus 0.15 M MgCl2. KCl and CaCl2 did not have any role in carrageenase production in ZoBell 2216 E broth medium. Carrageenase was synthesized continuously within the resting cells and was released from the cells as well as in the growing cells, when nutrient had been supplied.

Detection of fine spiral structures (spirosomes) by weak sonication in some bacterial strains

Fine spiral structures (spirosomes) were observed in cell suspensions of five species of bacteria just after weak sonication. The structure is morphologically indistinguishable from the spirosome reported for Lactobacillus species. The molecular weight of the protein of the spirosomes from nine strains was about 94,000 to 95,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The difference in the molecular weight among these spirosomes was not very great, but there were slight differences among the strains from which the spirosomes were derived.

[The choice of antibiotics for prophylaxis of postoperative infections in the field of orthopaedics. Clinical experience with cefoxitin]

The clinical effects of cefoxitin (CFX) were evaluated in the prophylaxis of postoperative infections in the field of orthopaedics. The clinical response was good in 46 out of 50 patients; an efficacy rate of 92%. Four patients (8%) who did not respond to CFX were suffering from infections due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (1), suspected Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1), and infection of unknown organism (2). A review was also made of recent trends among clinically isolated bacterial strains and their susceptibility to antibiotics in the field of orthopaedics. CFX is recommended as an antibiotic of first choice for the prophylaxis of postoperative infections in the field of orthopaedics.

[A case of vesical malacoplakia]

A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital, complaining of terminal hematuria. On cystoscopy four yellow and soft nodular masses were observed in the bladder, one of which had central ulceration. TUR was performed for these masses. Histological examination revealed that they were vesical malacoplakia. The masses consisted of aggregates of macrophages with abundant cytoplasma in which typical Michaelis-Gutmann bodies were demonstrated by light and electron microscopies.

Renal haemodynamics and the renin-angiotensin system in adolescents genetically predisposed to essential hypertension

Relationships between renal haemodynamics and the renin-angiotensin system were examined in 128 male adolescents with differing predispositions to hypertension. Baseline renal vascular resistance (RVR) was significantly elevated in the normotensive subjects with a positive family history, NT (FH+) group, than in the normotensives with a negative family history, NT (FH-) group, while there were no significant differences in other characteristics between the two groups. The borderline hypertensive subjects with a positive family history, BH (FH+) group, showed an even bigger increase in RVR and also had elevated plasma renin activity (PRA). In the NT (FH+) and BH (FH+) groups RVR correlated significantly with PRA levels. When captopril was given, the increased RVR in the NT (FH+) and BH (FH+) groups decreased, in correlation with baseline PRA, to levels not significantly different from those in the NT (FH-) group, in which no significant changes occurred in RVR. These results suggest that RVR may increase primarily in adolescents genetically predisposed to essential hypertension and that the renin-angiotensin system may play an important role in the mechanism of this increase in RVR.

Pedunculated hepatoma--report of two cases and review of the literature

Although pedunculated hepatoma has received little attention in the United States and Europe, in Japan more than forty cases have been reported, probably owing to the relatively high frequency of hepatoma. Formerly preoperative diagnosis was difficult in the early period. Recently it can be made by ultrasound, computed tomography and angiography, however, the choice of operative procedure is not uniform. In some cases good results were obtained by only tumor excision or partial hepatic resection, whereas other cases presented undergoing more extended resection show a poorer course. In the present case 1, intrahepatic recurrence was recognized three months after surgery in spite of relatively early diagnosis. Reviewing the literature, it appears that the degree of invasion at the pedicle is mainly related to prognosis. If invasive, segmentectomy or lobectomy is necessary and postoperative adjuvant therapy is needed.

7 alpha-Dehydroxylation of bile acids by resting cells of a Eubacterium lentum-like intestinal anaerobe, strain c-25

7 alpha-Dehydroxylation of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid by whole cells of strain c-25, a Eubacterium lentum-like intestinal anaerobe, was studied. 7 alpha-Dehydroxylase activity was observed only in whole cells grown in the presence of the primary bile acid (cholic acid or chenodeoxycholic acid). Chenodeoxycholic acid was twice as effective as cholic acid as an inducer. Although cells grown in the presence of chenodeoxycholic acid had no significant substrate specificity for the two primary bile acids, cells grown in the presence of cholic acid showed two times greater activity against cholic acid than chenodeoxycholic acid. Exposure of cell suspensions to atmospheric oxygen resulted in little loss of the 7 alpha-dehydroxylase activity. The induced enzyme had an optimal pH range of 7.3 to 7.7. Although adding flavin mononucleotide to the growth medium significantly increased the 7 alpha-dehydroxylation of bile acids without an increase in cell growth, inhibition of the enzyme activity was observed in the resting cell system when flavin mononucleotide was included in the reaction mixture.

Soft tissue collagen in congenital dislocation of the hip. Biochemical studies of the ligamentum teres of the femur and the hip joint capsule

Collagens of the ligamentum teres of the femur and the hip joint capsule of 14 patients with congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) were studied biochemically. Collagen was a major component of these tissues. Solubility of collagen was reversely related to age except in two cases. Collagen of both ligamentum teres of the femur and hip joint capsule was composed of type I, III and V collagens except in three cases. In these three cases with nevus or general joint laxity, two additional collagenous components were also found. The ratios of type III collagen to type I collagen were increased in CDH except in one case with short stature. These abnormalities of collagen metabolism could be the underlying cause of CDH and other clinical symptoms in these patients.

[Experience with transabdominal and scrotal ultrasonographic examination in urology]

To evaluate its diagnostic availability in urology, transabdominal and scrotal ultrasonographic examination was made on 87 patients who had been admitted to our hospital for space occupying lesions. In retroperitoneal lesions, adrenal tumors and renal tumors greater than 2.5 cm could be detected by this examination. In pelvic lesions, bladder tumors greater than 0.5 cm were demonstrated and prostatic carcinoma with heterogeneous echotexture and irregular margin was discriminated from BPH. Not only could fluid-filled scrotal lesions larger than 1.0 cm be distinguished from solid mass lesions, but the intrascrotal anatomy could also be demonstrated in detail. Because of its safety, flexibility, and accuracy in detecting space occupying lesions, this examination could be a useful screening test in urology. Representative cases we experienced are presented.

Saponin production in cell suspension cultures of Panax ginseng

Two high saponin-producing cell lines were selected from the original callus induced in 1967 and maintained in good state. For saponin production and growth in two cell lines, the comparison of static and suspension cultures, static cultures in the dark or in the light and rotary or reciprocal shaking cultures were made in detail. It was shown that the growth in rotary shaking cultures were 1.8 times higher than in reciprocal cultures, while the saponin production was almost the same, and the most effective hormonal condition was the combination of indole-3-butyric acid with kinetin. The saponin content per fresh weight was almost the same as that of the crude drug, whereas that per dry weight was 4 times higher.