Efficacy of lansoprazole against peptic ulcers induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: endoscopic evaluation of ulcer healing

Beyond the obvious step of limiting use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the treatment of ulcers induced by NSAIDs remains controversial. We evaluated the efficacy of the proton-pump inhibitor lansoprazole on NSAID-induced ulcers. Ulcers were endoscopically diagnosed in 47 NSAID users. These patients received 30 mg/day lansoprazole, orally, for 6 or 8 weeks (6 weeks for duodenal ulcers and 8 weeks for other ulcers). Ulcer healing was assessed using an established classification system. The presence of immunoglobulin G antibody against Helicobacter pylori was also evaluated. The antibody was present in the sera of 51% of patients (24/47). Most of the ulcers reached scarring stages S1 (healing) or S2 (good healing), and the S2 healing rate was 35%. Two H. pylori seropositive patients did not reach these stages; their ulcers were improved by H. pylori eradication therapy, followed, in one case, by medication with misoprostol. Lansoprazole seemed to be useful for most patients with NSAID-induced ulcers, but a few needed additional treatments.

[An autopsy case of multiple myeloma with pineal body and spinal cord dura mater infiltration]

An autopsy case of multiple myeloma (IgD lambda type) with pineal body and spinal cord dura mater infiltration is reported. The 63-year-old man was diagnosed as multiple myeloma (IgD lambda type). He was treated with melphalan and prednisolone. Extra bone marrow masses developed 1 year after the onset. He died with renal failure. At autopsy there were many extra bone marrow masses including pineal body and dura mater of the thoracic cord. Microscopic examination revealed that those mass lesions consisted of neoplastic plasma cells. Myeloma cells also infiltrated perivascular space near the pineal body, subdural space of the cerebrum and brain stem. The cells were labeled VS 38 c immunohistochemically. We discussed routes of the metastasis to the central nervous system of the multiple myeloma. This case suggests that the way of myeloma cells infiltration to the pineal body is hematogenous metastasis, because pineal body have no blood brain barrier.

[Comparison between indocyanine green angiography and histopathological observations of choroidal neovascular membrane in age-related macular degeneration]

We classified choroidal neovascular membrane (CNM) (20 eyes) in age-related macular degeneration into four types (Type I: hyperfluorescence in both early and late phases, Type II: hyperfluorescence only in the early phase, Type III: hyperfluorescence only in the late phase, Type IV: virtually no hyperfluorescence in any phase) using indocyanine green angiography (IA). We performed surgery to remove CNM with these IA findings. After 17 surgically extracted specimens had been stained with hematoxylin-eosin and azan, they were examined by tight microscopy. Three other specimens were examined by electron microscopy. Type I showed many vascular channels, not present in the surrounding retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, and little fibrous tissue. Type II had many vascular channels but RPE cells surrounded the CNM. Type III showed few vascular channels and RPE cell proliferation. Type IV showed abundant fibrous tissue. The IA findings of CNM were thought to be determined by the number of vascular channels, maturity of vessels, degree of surrounding by RPE cells, and the amount of fibrous tissue within the CNM.

Identification of MAPKAPK homolog (MAPKAPK-4) as a myosin II regulatory light-chain kinase in sea urchin egg extracts

We identified and cloned a homolog of mammalian mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase (MAPKAPK)-2 and -3 from sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. The obtained cDNA clone was composed of 350 amino acid residues which contain MAPK phosphorylation sites and the bipartite nuclear localization signal sites in its C-terminal domain. The clone showed 65.4 and 66.7% amino acid residue identity to human MAPKAPK-2 and -3, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the homolog can be classified into a distinct group of MAPKAPK and, therefore, the identified homolog was designated as MAPKAPK-4. Biochemical characterization was performed using recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)-MAPKAPK-4 fusion protein. The protein kinase activity of GST-MAPKAPK-4 was activated by MAPK and this enabled the kinase to phosphorylate both glycogen synthase N-terminal peptide and the regulatory light chain of myosin II in vitro. Northern blot analysis showed that MAPKAPK-4 was expressed throughout the development of sea urchin embryos. These observations suggest that MAPKAPK-4 may play an important role in the regulation of myosin II activity during the development of sea urchin.

Changes in DNA copy number in primary gastric carcinomas by comparative genomic hybridization

We examined 33 primary gastric carcinomas using comparative genomic hybridization to detect changes in the DNA copy number and the chromosomal location of these changes. Ninety-four percent (31 of 33) showed 1 or more DNA copy number changes, such as increases at 2p23-p25 (observed in 21% of the total cases), 3q26.3-q27 (24%), 7p15 (24%), 9p22-pter (18%), and 13q22-q34 (21%) and decreases at 1p34.2-p36.2 (18%) and Y (52%). Histological examination indicated that increases at 3q26.1-q26.3 and 7p15 and decreases at 1p36.1-p36. 2 and Y were commonly observed in both differentiated and undifferentiated types. Increases at 3q27, 6q23-q25, and 7cen-p14 and decreases at 1p34.2-p35 and 17p12 were predominantly observed in the differentiated type, and increases at 2p23-pter, 9p22-pter, and 13q31-qter and a decrease at 6p21.3 were predominantly observed in the undifferentiated type. In addition, clinical staging of tumors showed that increases at 2p23-p25, 7p14-p21, 7q31-q32, and 9p22-pter and a decrease at Y were observed in early-stage tumors, whereas increases at 9q32-q33 and 15q26 were observed only in late-stage tumors. Many of the abnormalities detected in this study were not previously reported in gastric carcinomas. Our comparative genomic hybridization results indicate the presence of genetic alterations that may play some important role in the development and progression of gastric carcinomas.

Visualization of the metastatic process by green fluorescent protein expression

We demonstrate here the visualization of the cancer metastatic process in live tissue in vivo by green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression. The human lung adenocarcinoma cell-line Anip 973 was transfected with the humanized GFP-S65T cDNA and stable high-level GFP-expressing transfectants were established. GFP transfectants were initially inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice. Five weeks after transplantation, when the tumor had reached 1.2 cm in diameter, fragments of subcutaneously tumor were implanted onto the visceral pleura of nude mice by surgical orthtopic implantation (SOI) as a spontenous metastatic model. GFP expressing cells were injected intravenously in nude mice as an experimental hematogenous metastasis model. Mice were sacrificed four and eight weeks after treatment. At eight weeks, SOI-treated mice had lymphogenous (3/4 mice) and direct seeding (3/4) metastasis in the pulmonary hilum, cervical lymph nodes, the mediastinum and contralateral pleural cavity as detected by GFP expression in live tissue. All intravenously injected mice had metastases in the lung (4/4) and some of them had metastases in the brain (2/4) and other organs (1/4) as detected by GFP expression in fresh tissue. Some of the lung metastases produced by intravenous injection remained as dormant small colonies even eight weeks after treatment. These different metastatic patterns after SOI and intravenous injection visualized by GFP expression indicates that initial steps of the metastatic cascade influence the subsequent progression of metastasis.

Rapid cytocidal and cytostatic chemosensitivity test by measuring total amount of mRNA

Chemosensitivity of vinblastin, cisplatin, and mitomycin C were assessed in four different human cancer cell lines (U937, HL-60, CaR-1, and HepG2) by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2.5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and the measurement of total cytosolic poly(A) + mRNA. Results of 12 h mRNA assay with 10 x peak plasma concentration (PPC) were significantly correlated with that of standard 3 days MTT assay with 1 x PPC. Furthermore, mRNA assay was changed more significantly than MTT assay under cytostatic condition. Because of its minimum culture requirement (12 h) and broad spectrum (cytocidal and cytostatic), mRNA assay will become a useful tool for chemosensitivity test.

Determination of ticarcillin epimers in plasma and urine with high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatogaphic method was developed for determining the concentrations of ticarcillin (TIPC) epimers in human plasma and urine. Samples were prepared for HPLC analysis with a solid-phase extraction method and the concentrations of TIPC epimers were determined using reversed-phase HPLC. The mobile phase was a mixture of 0.005 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) and methanol (12:1, v/v) with a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. TIPC epimers were detected at 254 nm. Baseline separation of the two epimers was observed for both plasma and urine samples with a detection limit of ca. 1 microg/ml with a S/N ratio of 3. No peaks interfering with either of the TIPC epimers were observed on the HPLC chromatograms for blank plasma and urine. The recovery was more than 80% for both plasma and urine samples. C.V. values for intra- and inter-day variabilities were 0.9-2.1 and 1.1-6.4%, respectively, at concentrations ranging between 5 and 200 microg/ml. The present method was used to determine the concentrations of TIPC epimers in plasma and urine following intravenous injection of TIPC to a human volunteer. It was found that both epimers were actively secreted into urine and that the secretion of TIPC was not stereoselective. Plasma protein binding was also measured, which revealed stereoselective binding of TIPC in human plasma.

An improved method for the mouse liver micronucleus test

We have developed a very practical method for performing the liver micronucleus test in mice. Using this method, we evaluated 11 different types of mutagens, including, 2-acetylaminofluorene, amsacrine, benzene, cyclophosphamide, diethylnitrosamine, 4-dimethylamino-3'-methylazobenzene, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, fluorouracil, mitomycin C, potassium chromate (VI) and selenious acid. In order to assess the sensitivity of our method, the peripheral blood reticulocyte micronucleus test was performed in the same mouse. Animals were given test chemicals once and underwent partial hepatectomy (PH) 24 h later in order to induce mitotic stimulation. Peripheral blood was sampled 0, 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment. The incidence of micronucleated hepatocytes was determined 5 days after PH. As a result, diethylnitrosamine and 4-dimethylamino-3'-methylazobenzene, known as liver carcinogens, increased the incidence of micronucleated cells in the liver only. Positive reactions for benzene, on the other hand, were found in the peripheral blood reticulocytes only. The other chemicals showed positive reaction in the liver and peripheral blood reticulocytes with almost the same maximum response of micronucleus induction. Our method was found to have the advantage over Cliets' liver micronucleus test in that it required much less time and was easier to perform procedures and highly sensitive in detecting clastogens. It can be used in combination with the peripheral blood reticulocyte micronucleus test to evaluate test chemicals in two tissues, the liver and the bone marrow, in the same animal. We propose a method of combining this test with the peripheral blood reticulocyte micronucleus test for efficient screening for the clastogenic potential of new chemicals in vivo.

Effects of several denervation procedures on distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P immunoreactive in rat stomach

The effect of chemical deafferentation, vagotomy (VGX), and gangliosympathectomy (GSX) on the density of fibers containing calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (Sub.P) in the rat gastric wall was studied. Chemical deafferentation by capsaicin abolished the density of CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) fibers, not Sub.P-IR fibers. Ten days after VGX, the density of CGRP-IR or Sub.P-IR fibers in the mucosa was largely reduced, while no reduction of CGRP-IR and Sub.P-IR fibers was seen in submucosal and muscular layers. GSX significantly reduced the density of CGRP-IR fibers in the mucosa and caused a moderate decrease in the fibers in submucosal and muscular layers. Pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine, a neurotoxin for noradrenergic nerves, did not affect the density of CGRP-IR fibers in the gastric wall. The density of Sub.P-IR fibers in the gastric wall was not affected by GSX. These studies indicate that the CGRP-IR and Sub.P-IR fibers in the mucosa are susceptible to extrinsic nerve denervation compared with those in the submucosa and muscle layers, that a major portion of the CGRP-IR fibers in the mucosa is of both vagal and spinal origin, and that a major portion of the Sub.P-IR fibers in the mucosa is of vagal origin. Furthermore, the present results support that CGRP-IR fibers, not Sub.P-IR fibers, in the rat stomach are capsaicin-sensitive.

Inhibitory mechanisms of oleanolic acid 3-O-monodesmosides on glucose absorption in rats

We examined the action mechanism of oleanolic acid 3-O-monodesmoside, momordin Ic (1), and oleanolic acid 3-O-glucuronide (2) for the inhibitory effect on the increase in serum glucose levels in oral glucose-loaded rats. Although 1 and 2 dose-dependently inhibited the increase in serum glucose levels in oral glucose-loaded rats, these compounds showed no significant effects on serum glucose levels in normal rats, intraperitoneal glucose-loaded rats, and alloxane-induced diabetic mice. Furthermore, 1 and 2 were found to suppress gastric emptying in rats, and also to inhibit the glucose uptake in rat small intestine concentration dependently in vitro. These results indicate that 1 and 2 given orally have neither insulin-like activity nor insulin releasing-activity. 1 and 2 apparently inhibited glucose absorption by suppressing the transfer of glucose from the stomach to the small intestine and by inhibiting the glucose transport system at the small intestinal brush border.

Oral-aboral ectoderm differentiation of sea urchin embryos is disrupted in response to calcium ionophore

Intracellular signaling mediated by calcium ions has been implicated as important in controlling cell activity. The ability of calcium ionophore (A23187), which causes an increase in calcium ion concentration in the cytoplasm, to alter the pattern of differentiation of cells during sea urchin development was examined. The addition of A23187 to embryos for 3 h during early cleavage causes dramatic changes in their development during gastrulation. Using tissue-specific cDNA probes and antibodies, it was shown that A23187 causes the disruption of oral-aboral ectoderm differentiation of sea urchin embryos. The critical period for A23187 to disturb the oral-aboral ectoderm differentiation is during the cleavage stage, and treatment of embryos with A23187 after that time has little effect. The A23187 does not affect the formation of the three germ layers. These results indicate that intracellular signals mediated by calcium ions may play a key role in establishment of the oral-aboral axis during sea urchin development.

Factors affecting neostigmine reversal of vecuronium block during sevoflurane anaesthesia

We examined the influence of the concentration of sevoflurane and the degree of muscle block at the time of reversal on the activity of neostigmine. Ninety ASA 1-2 patients were anaesthetised with 0.2, 0.7 or 1.2 MAC of sevoflurane (30 patients each) in 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen. The electromyographic (EMG) response of the adductor digiti minimi was monitored at 20-s intervals after train-of-four stimulation of the ulnar nerve. The initial neuromuscular block was produced by vecuronium 100 micrograms.kg-1. When the amplitude of the first response (T1) values had recovered to 10%, 25% or 40% of the control, neostigmine 40 micrograms.kg-1 was administered. The train-of-four ratio values were recorded at 1-min intervals during the subsequent 15-min period. Higher endtidal concentrations (p < 0.0001) and more pronounced block at the time of reversal (p < 0.0001) were associated with a delayed recovery in the train-of-four ratio. In addition, the train-of-four ratio 15 min after neostigmine administration was more dependent on the sevoflurane concentration than on the degree of block present (p < 0.0001). These results confirm that neostigmine (40 micrograms.kg-1) can reverse vecuronium-induced but not sevoflurane-induced neuromuscular block.

Clastogenicity and mutagenicity of hexavalent chromium in lacZ transgenic mice

The clastogenic and mutagenic effects of the hexavalent chromium compound K2CrO4 in lacZ transgenic mice (Muta Mouse) were investigated. Male Muta mice were administered an intraperitoneal dose of 40 mg/kg of K2CrO4 once on each of 2 consecutive days. The K2CrO4 induced a significant increase in the peripheral blood micronucleated reticulocyte count. Also, K2CrO4 induced a statistically significant increase in mutant frequency in the liver but not in the bone marrow on day 7 after the second treatment. The reason for the failure to increase the mutant frequency in the bone marrow may have been the rapid cell turnover rate there. The mutation induced by K2CrO4 in the bone marrow may have occurred in more differentiated cells than stem cells, and the rapid proliferative activity may have caused a rapid decrease in mutated cells by day 7. Further study with a sampling point earlier than day 7 is needed. The results obtained in the present study indicate that K2CrO4 has clastogenic and mutagenic potential in vivo.

Cancer invasion and micrometastasis visualized in live tissue by green fluorescent protein expression

We report the establishment of stable, high-level green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing cell lines in vitro that permit the detection and visualization of distant micrometastases when they are implanted orthotopically in nude mice. Chinese hamster ovary cells were transfected with the dicistronic expression vector containing the humanized GFP cDNA. A stable GFP-expressing clone was selected in 1.5 microM methotrexate in vitro and injected s.c. in nude mice. Stable high-level expression of GFP was maintained in the s.c. growing tumors. To use GFP expression for metastasis studies, fragments of s.c. growing tumor, which are comprised of GFP-expressing cells, were implanted by surgical orthotopic implantation in the ovary of nude mice. Subsequent micrometastases were detected in systemic organs and could be visualized by GFP fluorescence in the lung, liver, and other organs down to the single-cell level. With this fluorescent tool, we detected and visualized for the first time tumor cells at the microscopic level in fresh viable tissue in their normal host organ. Confocal microscopy further enabled us to study physiologically relevant patterns of invasion and micrometastasis.

Nucleotide sequence and transcriptional analysis of the flanking region of the gene (spb) for the trans-acting factor that controls light-mediated expression of the puf operon in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

We recently reported the existence of a trans-acting factor (SPB) in Rhodobacter sphaeroides that repressed the expression of the puf operon during illumination. SPB was somewhat homologous to HvrA of Rhodobacter capsulatus, but these proteins appear to have functionally different properties. We now report an analysis of the flanking region of spb in the genome of R.sphaeroides, and we show that spb is a positional counterpart of hvrA of R. capsulatus. The region directly downstream of spb was found to contain three genes, two of which were highly homologous to orf5 and ahcY in R. capsulatus. However, a gene corresponding to hvrB, which controls the expression of orf5 and ahcY in R. capsulatus, was absent in R. sphaeroides. The level of the transcript of ahcY did not change in cells grown under photosynthetic and by respiratory conditions. By contrast, orf5 was transcribed at a higher rate in photosynthetically grown cells under high-intensity light than under low-intensity light, indicating features of transcription different from those in R. capsulatus. A third gene, orf318, which was absent in the corresponding region of R. capsulatus, encoded an amino acid sequence that was significantly homologous to the consensus sequence of RfaI and RfaJ of E.coli, which are glycosyl transferases involved in the synthesis of lipopolysaccharide. orf318 was transcribed in the opposite direction to ahcY, and at only a low level, under all conditions tested.

Direct assessment of triploid cells in mosaic human fetuses by fluorescence in-situ hybridization

Villous tissues from 30 spontaneous abortions and the same number of artificial abortions were obtained and analysed for the frequency of polyploid cells. Single cell suspensions were made from these tissues without culture and the ploidy of > 100 cells was analysed. Trisomies of chromosomes 17 and 4 have rarely been reported in villous cells of spontaneous abortions, suggesting that the presence of more than three copies of chromosomes 17 and 4 per cell indicates polyploidy. The number of chromosomes 17 and 4 was detected by fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis using centromeric probes D17Z1 and D4Z1. Most villous cells from cases of spontaneous and artificial abortions had two D17Z1 or D4Z1 signals per cell, with very small percentages of cells (0.5 +/- 0.4%) showing three signals per cell. However, in four cases of spontaneous abortions, 2-12% of cells had three D17Z1 or D4Z1 signals per cell. This indicates the presence of triploid cells in these cases of spontaneous abortion, at a significantly higher frequency compared to artificial or the remaining 26 cases of spontaneous abortion. In addition, three cases contained 0.2-0.4% of cells showing six signals, indicating that these cells were dividing triploid cells. The low frequency of mosaicism reported here would not be detectable by conventional chromosomal analysis.

A comparison of the uricosuric effects in rats of diltiazem and derivatives of dihydropyridine (nicardipine and nifedipine)

The effects of nicardipine and nifedipine on the urinary excretion of urate were examined in rats and compared with those of diltiazem. Test drugs were administered to urethane-anesthetized oxonate-loaded rats by continuous i.v. infusion. Diltiazem (10 micrograms/rat/min), nicardipine (0.3 microgram/rat/min) and nifedipine (1.0 microgram/rat/min) caused similar reductions of systemic blood pressure and increased total renal blood flow. Diltiazem did not increase urine volume significantly. However, this drug produced obvious uricosuria, with a significant increase in the ratio of urate clearance to inulin clearance (Cua/Cin), which resulted from an increase in Cua, but not from changes in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Nicardipine had clear diuretic and uricosuric effects, with similar increases in Cua and GFR and, thus, no change in Cua/Cin. On the other hand, nifedipine did not have any significant effect on the renal handling of urate. These results suggest that nicardipine produces uricosuria in rats via alterations in renal hemodynamics, while the uricosuric effect of diltiazem involves the tubules, as well as alterations in renal hemodynamics.

[Mode of spreading and biological behavior in bile duct carcinoma]

There are three macroscopic types of hepatic bile duct carcinoma, such as papillary (P-), nodular (N-) and diffuse (D-) type. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that P-type expressed cadherin and catenin higher than N- and D-types. The expressions of both cadherin and catenin were found stronger in pap and tub1 than tub2. The nuclear area of cancer cell, correlated with both labeling index of Ki-67 and aberrant accumulation of p53, was significantly larger in the subserosal layer than in the mucosal layer. These may explain the differences in the biological behavior between P- and N, D-types. P-type grows within the mucosal layer, while N- and d-type are more invasive, developing into the subserosal layer. Our clinical data also demonstrates the poor prognosis of N-, D-type of hepatic bile duct carcinoma. On these basis of the biological malignancy of N, D-type, it is critical to remain the surgical margin free from cancer cells to cure this type of hepatic bile duct carcinoma.

Medicinal foodstuffs. VI. 1) Histamine release inhibitors from kidney bean, the seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L.: chemical structures of sandosaponins A and B

Two new olean-12-ene-type triterpene oligoglycosides, named sandosaponins A and B, were isolated from kidney bean, the seed of Phaseolus vulgaris L., together with three known saponins, soyasaponins I and V and dehydrosoyasaponin 1. The structures of sandosaponins A and B were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, which included the chemical derivation of sandosapogenol from a known sapogenol, soyasapogenol B. Five saponins obtained from kidney bean were found to inhibit histamine release from rat exudate cells induced by an antigen-antibody reaction and, among them, sandosaponins A and B showed the most potent inhibitory activity.

Construction of cDNA bank from biopsy specimens for multiple gene analysis of cancer

We constructed a "cDNA bank" of human colorectal cancer and surrounding normal tissues with our unique mRNA assay system. Total nucleic acids extracted from patients' tissues were applied to 96-well plates, where poly(dT) sequences of oligonucleotides were immobilized. After hybridization, the cDNA was reverse-transcribed on the plate with the captured mRNA as a template, followed by synthesis of double-stranded (ds) cDNA. The resulting sense cDNA was removed from the plate, then used in PCR for analysis of various genes. The sense strand of the cDNA was repeatedly synthesized by using the immobilized antisense cDNA as a template even from plates used once and stored at 4 degrees C for as long as 6 months. Furthermore, the results of PCR could be easily compared among different specimens if the same amount of total mRNA were applied to the plate for the ds cDNA synthesis. This demonstrated that the cDNA bank constructed from clinical materials provides almost unlimited supplies of cDNA for multiple gene analysis of cancer.

Biologically active acylglycerides from the berries of saw-palmetto (Serenoa repens)

Brine shrimp lethality-directed fractionation of the 95% EtOH extract of the powdered, dried berries of Serenoa repens (Bart.) Small (saw-palmetto) (Palmae) led to the isolation of two monoacylglycerides, 1-monolaurin (1) and 1-monomyristin (2). Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate biological activities in the brine shrimp lethality test and against renal (A-498) and pancreatic (PACA-2) human tumor cells; borderline cytotoxicity was exhibited against human prostatic (PC-3) cells. The fruits and extracts of saw-palmetto are taken orally as an herbal medicine to prevent prostatic hyperplasias.

[The relation between pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase) activity in colorectal cancer tissues and pathological effects]

Pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase) and IL-1 alpha concentration were measured in colorectal cancer tissues from 15 patients who preoperatively administered 5'-DFUR orally. The relation between changes of the PyNPase activity and pathological effects of resected specimens was studied. PyNPase activity changes showed that the increase cases were 9 patients and the decrease cases were 6 patients in pre- and post-administration of 5'-DFUR. The IL-1 alpha concentration in cancer tissues was 2933.65 +/- 2038.65 in the decrease cases and 1207.51 +/- 1378.83 in the increase cases. The level was significantly higher in the decrease case (p < 0.05). And there tended to be more pathologically effective in the decrease cases than in increase cases. The effects of preoperative oral chemotherapy in colorectal cancer was strongly influenced by changes of PyNPase activity and IL-1 alpha concentration in tumor tissues.

The effect of the disaster caused by the great Hanshin earthquake on people with intellectual disability

The vulnerability of people with intellectual disability when services are disrupted by a major earthquake is described. The value of an accessible register and multiple networks of support at the time of a major disaster is emphasized.

Severity of coronary artery calcification detected by electron beam computed tomography is related to the risk of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

To assess the relationship between coronary artery calcification and the late success rate of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), we performed electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) in 22 patients with ischemic heart disease who underwent PTCA. The calcification score in each coronary artery vessel was estimated and compared with the occurrence of restenosis at 3 months after PTCA. Angioplasty had been performed in 28 sites in 22 patients, and 12 sites exhibited restenosis. The mean calcium score in the unsuccessful PTCA vessels was significantly higher than in successful sites (228 vs 92). The overall late success rate of PTCA with moderate to severe calcification was extremely low at 29%. Coronary segments with diffuse and extensive calcification were not optimal target lesions for PTCA. Prediction of the late success rate after PTCA may be possible by prior evaluation of coronary artery calcification utilizing EBCT.