Effect of tumor promoters on human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV)-structural protein induction in adult T-cell leukemia cells

We assayed the capacity of tumor promoters to induce human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) structural proteins p19 and p24 from the HTLV genome-carrying adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cell lines, MT-1 and KH-2Lo, and fresh ATL cells. Among the tested substances, 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), 12-hexadecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (HPA) and teleocidin induced HTLV structural protein p19 and p24. This suggests that certain environmental substances, especially those known to be tumor promoters, may activate the HTLV-gene in ATL cells.

An association between increased porphyrin precursors and onset of abdominal symptoms in lead poisoning

To examine a potential role of porphyrinopathy induced by lead (Pb) exposure in the pathogenesis of constipation in Pb poisoning, a Pb-intoxicated worker was subjected to the serial determinations for various biochemical indicators of Pb exposure in relation to the onset of constipation. The results have shown that the onset of constipation parallels a rapid rise in either urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) or coproporphyrin (CP), or both. The present evidence is not yet conclusive as to the involvement of porphyrinopathic mechanism in the development of constipation in Pb intoxication.

A seroepidemiological study of Japanese encephalitis and dengue virus infections in the Chiang Mai area, Thailand

As part of a virological and epidemiological survey of encephalitis in the Chiang Mai area, the neutralizing (N) antibody levels of healthy persons to Japanese encephalitis (JE) and dengue (DEN) type 1-4 viruses were examined. A total of 985 blood samples was collected by the filter paper method from subjects of nine age groups in five districts, four (Pasang, Sarapee, Doi Saket and Mae Taeng) in the Chiang Mai Valley and one (Fang) in another valley separated by several ranges of mountains from the Chiang Mai Valley. From analyses of the results of N tests on the specimens, the following conclusions were drawn about the prevalences of JE and DEN viruses in the Chiang Mai area: (1) In the Chiang Mai Valley, the percentage incidences of N antibodies to JE and DEN viruses increased with age and by the age of 15, two thirds or more of the residents had been infected with JE and all DEN viruses except DEN type 2 virus, which showed the lowest prevalence. (2) In the Fang district, the percentage incidence of N antibody to JE virus increased with age, but those to DEN viruses did not, indicating much lower prevalences in the past of all four serotypes of DEN viruses in this district than in the Chiang Mai Valley. (3) At present, most infants in the Chiang Mai area, including the Fang district, seem to be exposed to DEN viruses first and later to JE virus.

[A case of congenital subclavian steal]

A case of congenital subclavian steal is reported. A 7-year-old girl was admitted on July 1980 to Shimane Medical University for evaluation of murmur over the region of the chest. Heart murmur was pointed out at the age of three month, however, she had no complaints and was growing normally. On admission, the blood pressure was 108/48 mmHg in the left arm and unobtainable in the right arm. The length of the arm was 53 cm on the right side and 55.4 cm on the left side. On auscultation, a systolic murmur was present over the chest and the right neck. The arch aortography disclosed the left aortic arch, the isolation of the right subclavian artery and the right patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The left transfemoral vertebral angiography showed the retro-grade filling from the right vertebral artery to the right subclavian and pulmonary artery via the right PDA. The right external carotid angiography showed the filling of the right vertebral artery through muscular branches of the right occipital artery. The right retrograde brachial angiography showed small right subclavian artery and the filling of the pulmonary artery through the right PDA. The recorrective operation was made. Postoperatively, normal blood flow was recognized in angiography. The blood pressure improved in the right side and the murmur was diminished.

Bone changes and aortic calcification in aging inhabitants of mountain versus seacoast communities in the Kii Peninsula

Bone changes and aortic calcification were compared radiographically for different age groups of the inhabitants of two communities on the Kii Peninsula at the central southern tip of the Japanese mainland, one a mountainous Shichikawa village with a traditionally restricted nutritional intake and the other a seacoast village on Oshima Island with an abundant nutritional supply. Changes in the physical properties of the bone were also assessed by resonance measurement. In the mountainous village, bone loss appeared to occur more rapidly than in the seacoast village, as indicated by a significantly higher frequency of thoracic vertebral deformity and more pronounced age-bound decrease of ulnar resonant frequency. Aortic calcification was also more frequent in Shichikawa than on Oshima Island. Such differences were more evident in women than in men. The poorer nutritional intake (especially of calcium and vitamin D) of persons living in the mountainous village (which receives less sunshine) might be responsible for the accelerated age-bound degenerative changes observed in their skeletal and vascular systems.

Estimation of the rising phase of EPSP analyzed by computer simulation of the coding process

Based on data obtained from intracellular recordings of cat alpha-motoneurons in the stretch reflex, the firing process of these motoneurons was computer-simulated. The impulse response EPSP (IR-EPSP) was simulated to correspond to a monosynaptic mass EPSP elicited by a spindle afferent volley, while the returning potential was simulated to correspond to a potential gradient rising toward an augmenting depolarization of the membrane (augmentative EPSP) after motoneuronal spike generation. The IR-EPSPs were generated by input at random intervals and added to each other, linearly, on the returning potential. As soon as the resultant potential attained the critical threshold level, Vth, motoneuron firing occurred. Then IR-EPSPs were again added to the returning potential until another motoneuron firing occurred. This process was repeated continuously, and the time relation between input and output, lag-time distribution (PT(T], was determined Distribution of the bias potential, PV(V), from which the motoneuron spike triggering EPSP started to rise, was also calculated. The relations between PT(T), PV(V) and a waveform of the IR-EPSP were obtained analytically. The relation indicated that the shape of PT(T) corresponds to a time derivative of the rising phase of the IR-EPSP if the PV(V) distribution is uniform. In this study, we investigated the possibility of making the PV(V) distribution uniform.

Increased muscle action potentials by 5 Hz prolonged nerve stimulation in neurological and neuromuscular disorders--clinical usefulness for detecting underlying pathophysiology

The time courses of changes in amplitudes of muscle action potentials (MAPs) obtained from gastrocnemius and soleus muscles by 5 Hz prolonged tibial nerve stimulation were studied. Subjects included muscular dystrophy (MD), spinal muscular atrophy, Issacs syndrome, idiopathic muscle spasms, psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, and normal controls. In normal subjects, MAPs obtained at 5 minutes from gastrocnemius muscles was 87-102% of those at initiation of the stimulation. In soleus muscles, MAPs at 5 minutes was 95-105% of those at the beginning. In gastrocnemius muscles, MAPs increased in disorders such as Duchenne MD, Fukuyama type congenital MD, facioscapulohumeral MD, myotonic dystrophy, dermatomyositis, Kugelberg-Welander syndrome, viral myelitis, malignant hyperpyrexia, autism and schizophrenia. In soleus muscles, the increase of MAPs was demonstrated in Duchenne MD, Fukuyama type congenital MD, myotonic dystrophy and autism. MAPs remained within normal range in infants with Werdnig-Hoffman disease, Issacs syndrome and idiopathic muscle spasms. In two cases with Duchenne MD, MAPs obtained from gastrocnemius muscles reduced in amplitudes by the administration of dantrolen sodium. While the pathogenesis of the increased MAPs is not clear, several possible factors are discussed. It is considered that this 5 Hz examination may provide an important information for detecting the effect of dantrolen sodium on Duchenne MD, and it is also suggested that the examination will be a useful test for finding latent malignant hyperpyrexia.

Actin and actin-associated proteins of rabbit liver cell

Rabbit liver actin and its associated proteins were prepared and their properties were studied. Liver cells were isolated from excised rabbit liver after perfusion in situ with calcium-free Lock's solution. Dried powder of acetone-treated liver cells was extracted with a buffer previously used to extract actin from skeletal muscle. The liver actin was recovered by adding skeletal myosin to trap actin as actomyosin and the resulting complex was purified by centrifugation. The actin was then dissociated from myosin by adding MgATP and was purified by centrifugation. This fraction showed the characteristic properties of F-actin and was composed of 42K, 53K, and 61K proteins. Further fractionation of these proteins into three components was carried out by centrifugation, DNase-1 affinity chromatography, and preparative gel electrophoresis. The 42K protein proved to be actin since it activated the myosin Mg2+-ATPase activity, interacted with DNase-1, and had a very similar amino acid composition to skeletal muscle actin. In these experiments, binding affinity among these proteins was apparent. Analysis of subcellular fractions combined with the above results indicated that the liver cell 53K and 61K proteins were not soluble fraction components in the cytosol. The physicochemical properties of 53K and 61K proteins were compared with those of gizzard desmin, a typical intermediate filament protein.

[Phase I study on oral administration of methyl-6-[[[(2-chloroethyl) nitrosoamino] carbonyl] amino]-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (MCNU)]

A total of 48 patients with various malignant disorders, mostly from hemopoietic organs, entered to phase I study of MCNU given orally. Fifty-six percent of the patients given MCNU at the doses of 50-125 mg/m2 complained of gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea and vomiting, which were however mild and well tolerated. In the following study employing administration of 50 mg/day of MCNU for consecutive 2-6 days, the gastrointestinal toxicities were reduced to 26.1%, and hematological toxicities of delayed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were derived 4-6 weeks after oral intake of the drug. The hematological recovery required 1-2 weeks after the nadir of leukocyte and thrombocyte count. A recommended dose for phase II study of MCNU by the route of oral administration was 50 mg/body/day for consecutive 4-6 days in every 8 weeks interval. The peak value of blood concentration of MCNU was obtained 60-120 minutes after p.o. administration at the doses of 50-100 mg. Elimination half-life was estimated to be 40-45 minutes. No concentration of the drug was detected in blood 24 hours after the administration.

Effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on the syntheses of dolichol-linked saccharides and glycoproteins in cultured hepatoma cells. Correlation with the effect on the adhesiveness of the cells

When the hepatoma cells (AH 70Btc, Clone 10-5) were cultured in the presence of 1 mM-dibutyryl cyclic AMP for 2 days, the incorporation of [14C]glucosamine into protein was increased over 2-fold. At the same time, dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased the incorporation of [14C]glucosamine into dolichol-linked N-acetylglucosamine and NN'-diacetylchitobiose about 1.5-fold and into dolichol-linked oligosaccharides about 3-fold. Analysis of cellular glycoproteins by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis after reduction showed that dibutyryl cyclic AMP specifically enhanced the glycosylation of a fibronectin-like glycoprotein with an apparent mol.wt. of 220 000 and two other high-molecular-weight glycoproteins (apparent mol.wts. 270 000 and 185 000). Increased glycosylation of the glycoproteins with mol.wts. of 220 000 and 185 000 was shown to be linked to increased synthesis of the polypeptide portion. In addition to the above effects, dibutyryl cyclic AMP enhanced the adhesiveness of AH 70Btc cells to glass surfaces. Both the effects on the glycosylation pathway and on adhesiveness of cells were reversed by further treatment of the cells with 1 microgram of tunicamycin/ml. The results indicated that dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased the synthesis of dolichol-linked oligosaccharides and N-glycosylation of proteins in AH 70Btc cells. The enhancement of adhesiveness may be mediated by the increased synthesis of dolichol-linked oligosaccharides and also may be related to the increased synthesis of fibronectin.

[Phase II study with methyl-6[[[2-chloroethyl) nitrosoamino] carbonyl] amino]-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (MCNU) in hematological malignancies]

A total of 117 cases with hematological malignancies were treated with MCNU at doses of 70-100 mg/m2. Following are the results obtained. 1. MCNU showed a marked depression of cells in the cases with CML, polycythemia vera and thrombocythemia. The low level of cells was maintained for 2 to 7 months. 2. A good response was observed in several cases with blastic crises of CML. 3. No response was observed in two cases with acute leukemia. 4. Although a fair response was observed in several cases with malignant lymphoma or multiple myeloma, moderate bone marrow suppression was observed in a majority of the cases.

[Coenzyme Q10 in cancer chemotherapy--experimental studies on augmentation of the effects of masked compounds, especially in the combined chemotherapy with immunopotentiators]

Immunopotentiators may mitigate the depression of immunological function caused by the cancer itself or by chemotherapeutics. However, it has been found that these immunopotentiators reduce the metabolic activity of the host against drugs, including "masked" chemotherapeutics, which might be activated by metabolization in the body. Reported here is the result of serial experiments carried out on the activation of cyclophosphamide (CPM) in tumor-bearing animals, pretreated with phenobarbital, a drug-metabolizing enzyme inducer, and coenzyme Q10, a physiological activator of the electron transfer system in mitochondrias, in combination with immunopotentiators. Female Donryu rats (120 g body weight) implanted with Yoshida Sarcoma cells (YS) (2.5 X 10(6) i.p.) were treated with CPM (160 mg/kg X 1 i.p.), 84 hrs after implantation; the levels of the normustard-like substances (active metabolites of CPM) were serially measured. Some of the animals were also treated with PSK (125 mg/kg X 5 i.p.), a proteinpolysaccharide immunopotentiator obtained from mycelia of the Coriolus vesicolor, or with OK-432 (10 KE/kg X 5 i.m.), a streptococcal immunopotentiator. The results obtained were as follows: The blood levels of the normustard-like substances were lowered, i.e. the CPM activation was depressed in the YS-bearing rats and the depression was markedly intensified by PSK or OK-432 administration. Phenobarbital (40 mg/kg X 3 i.p.) or coenzyme Q10 (5 mg/rat X 5 i.p.) administration could mitigate the depression of the blood levels caused by the immunopotentiators, and the combination of phenobarbital with coenzyme Q10 could recover the blood levels up to those of the YS-bearing control rats, or even higher. YS-implanted (i.p.) rats treated with CPM+ immunopotentiators+coenzyme Q10 survived longer than those treated with CPM+immunopotentiators. These findings suggest the usefulness of coenzyme Q10 for the enhancement of cancer immunochemotherapy using masked compounds combined with immunopotentiators; all the more so, because coenzyme Q10 has also an immuno-stimulating effect, moreover, it presents almost no side effects in clinical application.

CYBEST model 3 automated cytologic screening system for uterine cancer utilizing image analysis processing

The improvements incorporated into the Model 3 version of CYBEST (Cyto-Biological Electronic Screening System) are highlighted. Following the successful development of a software-controlled automatic shading for a video system, the new Model 3 CYBEST contains a televisions scan system with a single-step, fine-resolution scan and strobe-light illumination in place of the two-step (coarse and fine) scan of Model 2. The automatic shading control is described in detail, as is the automated focusing system, which uses a touch-sensor to achieve a near-focus level and a differential adding algorithm to obtain exact focus. Improvements in the slide magazine and slide autochanger have quadrupled the number of slides that may be loaded into the machine at one time while increasing the speed of operation. CYBEST Model 3 has achieved our goal of rapid processing, requiring less than three minutes per specimen for final assessment as compared with the six minutes per specimen of Model 2. Field tests of Model 3 are currently under way, with a large number of smears prepared by our automated cell dispersion and monolayer smearing device (CYBEST-CDMS).