Platelet sodium-hydrogen antiport in obese and diabetic black women

In this investigation we correlated platelet Na-H antiport parameters with blood pressure and serum lipids in a sample population of non-insulin-dependent diabetic obese, nondiabetic obese, and nondiabetic nonobese black women. Parameters of the Na-H antiport were examined in aspirin-treated platelets. These parameters were not altered in resting or in thrombin-stimulated platelets of diabetic patients. The activity index of platelet Na-H antiport after thrombin stimulation was positively correlated with the blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, r = 0.5320 and p = 0.0001; diastolic blood pressure, r = 0.5123 and p = 0.0017). Lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were associated with an alkaline shift in the cytosolic pH set point for activation of the Na-H antiport. Highly significant correlations were also observed between the total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and the cytosolic pH set point for activation of the Na-H antiport. These correlations were independent of diabetes or the body mass index. Together, these observations indicate that parameters of platelet Na-H antiport are altered with an increase in blood pressure and a decrease in serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Kaposi's sarcoma

In the era before the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Kaposi's sarcoma was a rare cutaneous event. Most reported cases usually originated from one of two geographic regions, an induced immunosuppressed state, or sporadically with various neoplasms that have been known to cause immunosuppression. Since the first cases described with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in 1981 from New York and San Francisco, this uncommon disorder has had an increased incidence that crosses geographic boundaries. This article describes the current understanding of the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma and treatments used to ameliorate this disorder.

Progressive atypical peripheral neuropathy following nephrectomy in a patient with renal cell carcinoma

Peripheral neuropathy or amyotropic lateral sclerosis can be associated with renal cell carcinoma. We report a 63-year-old male patient with renal cell carcinoma who developed an atypical, progressive neuropathy after nephrectomy.

Cytogenetic analysis of meningiomas

Cytogenetic analysis of 4 cases of meningiomas from 3 male and 1 female patients is reported. One of male patients suffered from neurofibromatosis type 2. Histologically, the meningiomas were meningotheliomatous (1), transitional (2), and psammomatous (1). Chromosomal abnormalities were found in all cases with a karyotype 45,XY,-22, 45,XY,-16, 45,XX,-2, and 45,XY,t (15p;22q), respectively. Monosomy of chromosome 22 was detected only in the patient with neurofibromatosis type 2. These cytogenetic analysis demonstrates that variable clonal karyotype aberrations exist in meningiomas.

Phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil, high-dose leucovorin calcium, and dipyridamole in advanced prostate cancer

To examine the effect of altering intracellular folate pools on the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, we performed a phase II trial of FUra (300-370 mg m-2 day-1 x 5 as an i.v. bolus) combined with high-dose folinic acid (500 mg m-2 day-1 x 5.5 days by continuous i.v. infusion) and dipyridamole (75 mg p.o. every 6 h x 5.5 days) administered on a 28-day schedule in patients with stage D2 disease. A group of 13 patients have been treated. The median age was 68 years (range 48-78 years); the performance status ranged from 50% to 90%. Among 12 evaluable patients, there were no objective responders; the median time to progression was 1.9 months. Median survival after entry on this trial was 8.6 months. Treatment with FUra, high-dose folinic acid and dipyridamole was well tolerated. Only one episode each of grade 3 leukopenia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia was observed. These results suggest that, despite previous trials demonstrating activity for FUra in stage D2 prostate cancer, this disease may be relatively resistant to fluoropyrimidines and, thus, less amenable to biochemical modulation with high-dose folinic acid and dipyridamole.

Cyclosporin A potentiation of VP-16: production of long-term survival in murine acute lymphatic leukemia

Our prior in vitro studies on the correction of multidrug resistance by cyclosporin A (CsA) prompted us to investigate the effect of CsA and VP-16 in vivo. CsA given simultaneously at 2 or 10 mg/kg with VP-16 to BDF/1 mice bearing parental drug-sensitive P388 or L1210 lymphatic leukemia produced a 100% increase in survival as compared with VP-16 treatment alone. CsA-containing regimens also promoted 60-day survival in a significant number of P388 or L1210 leukemia-bearing mice as compared with animals receiving VP-16 in the absence of CsA (P < 0.02 and P < 0.001, respectively). CsA enhancement of the survival of mice bearing these lymphatic leukemias is restricted to VP-16, since the addition of CsA to therapeutic agents such as vincristine, daunorubicin, methotrexate, or cisplatin had no effect on survival.

Development of cyclosporin A mediated immunity in L1210 leukaemia

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an effective modulator of multidrug resistance (MDR) in vitro and in murine tumour systems in vivo. We now report the production of immunity to L1210 leukaemia by the addition of CsA to VP-16 therapy of leukaemic BDF/1 mice. VP-16/cyclosporin A tumour immunity induction arises as a consequence of active therapy independently of immunisation with modified tumour cells. The addition of CsA to VP-16 prolongs survival of BDF/1 host mice bearing L1210 leukaemia beyond that produced by equivalent dose VP-16 alone. A subpopulation of 60-day surviving mice after combined VP-16/CsA are immune to rechallenge with the same leukaemia inoculum to which they were originally exposed. Spleen cells from immune mice adoptively transfer anti-L1210 leukaemia immunity to untreated BDF/1 mice in a dose dependent, statistically significant manner. Adoptive transfer experiments additionally suggest active recruitment of immunologic response in recipient animals: (1) We have been able to perpetuate leukaemia immunity in four sequential cohorts of naive recipient mice. This propogation of adoptive immunity is accomplished by use of spleen cells harvested from each preceeding passively-protected animal cohort; (2) Cyclophosphamide pretreatment of adoptive transfer recipient mice abrogates the ability of their splenocytes to perpetuate passive protection in sequential adoptive transfer experiments.

[Development of a scale to measure the self concept of cesarean section mothers]

Recently, the rate of cesarean section in Korea has been increasing. The results of several previous studies in foreign countries on the emotional responses of cesarean section mothers showed that they might experience difficulties in the mother-infant interaction due to fatigue, lack of early mother-infant interaction, disappointments, anger, feelings of loss of control, and other factors. Human behavior is said to be determined by one's self concept, and self concept is influenced by both internal and external environmental factors. A scale to measure the self concept of cesarean section mothers was needed in order to identify those who might have difficulties in the mother-infant interactions in future. The purposes of this study were to develop a measuring scale, and to test its reliability and validity. The process of this study was as follows. A structured interview was done with 50 cesarean section and vaginal delivery mothers to find their state of emotional reaction after giving birth to their babies. Based on the results of the interviews, a 50 items Likert scale was developed. The self concept of 268 cesarean section and vaginal delivery mothers who were hospitalized at six hospital in seoul were measured, during the period between Feb. 1 and April 30. Reviewing the discriminating power of each item by means of crosstabulation, ten items were selected for the final scale. The reliability and validity of this ten item scale were tested by Cronbach's alpha and t-test, using spss pc + package. The results of this study and recommendation are as follows. 1. The ten selected items were as follows. I feel pains in my breast. (-) I have a good appetite now. (+) I feel pains in my flank. (-) I feel fine now. (+) My body seems to have returned to its prepregnant state. (+) Thinking of the delivery process, I feel sorry. (-) I want to hold my baby in my arms. (+) I want to keep my own life, even if I became a mother. (-) I want to delegate the care of the baby to my mother/mother in law. (-) I think baby is my alter ege. (+) 2. The reliability of this scale was tested by Cronbach's alpha, and the coefficient of this scale was .8066. 3. The construct validity of this scale was tested by means of known group methods. The value of self concept for cesarean section mother was significantly lower than for vaginal delivery mothers (t = -5.51, df = 266, p = 0.007).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[A study on the mechanical behaviors of abutment teeth with various coping designs under overdenture]

An overdenture is a complete denture supported by both soft tissue and a few remaining natural teeth. The purpose of this study was to analyze the stress distribution of the teeth and supporting structures when various type of coping under overdenture was applied. The analysis was conducted by using the finite element method and changing the condition such as the direction of the load, the shape of coping on the abutment: The model included overdenture copings, abutment tooth and supporting structures. The results of analysis were as follows: 1. The short dome coping showed well distribution of stress. 2. The dome shaped design produced higher stress distribution than square and inclined plane design. 3. As the height of copings on the abutment was increased, the displacements increased. 4. The magnitude and direction of the abutment displacements were influenced by the direction of load application.

Aneurysmal ("angiomatoid") fibrous histiocytoma in a child

A case of aneurysmal ("angiomatoid") fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) in a 12-year-old girl is presented with its unusual clinicopathologic features. The lesion had the full microscopic characteristics of AFH described in prior reports, but it also had some features that differed from the original description of the disorder, such as the involvement of subcutis, its occurrence in the scalp, and a documented history of minor trauma. The lesion clinically resembled the gross features of hemangioma. The experience in the present case raises the need for considering AFH as one of major differential diagnosis of nodular cutaneous tumors in children that simulate malignancy such as angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma and Kaposi's sarcoma.

[Study on the shape and depth of the occlusal central fissure in permanent molar teeth]

The purpose of this study was to operation the efficient pit and fissure sealing among the caries preventive methods. The authors examined the shape and depth of occlusal fissure in 48 extracted molar teeth and the following conclusions were obtained. 1. The percentages on the occlusal fissure type were 58.0% in I type, 21.0% in U type, 15.0% in K type, 6.0% in V type. 2. In each type, the average mean depth of the occlusal fissure were 1.15mm in I type, 0.53mm in U type. 1.11mm in K type, 0.56mm in V type.

Multiple rhabdomyoma of the heart presenting with a congenital supraventricular tachycardia--report of case with ultrastructural study

A case of congenital rhabdomyoma of the heart in a 5-month-old Korean infant is described. The patient presented with a congenital supraventricular tachyarrhymia that was detected in utero by fetal sonography. The tumor was multiple, but no obvious association with tuberous sclerosis complex was demonstrated. Microscopic examination revealed classic "spider cells" with rich glycogen content. Ultrastructurally, the cells contained numerous leptofibrils, clumped Z band material, and desmosome-like cell junctions. The case is a second documented case of cardiac rhabdomyoma in this country, and its presentation as an etiological factor of supraventricular tachycardia is a very unusual manifestation.

Loss of the Y chromosome associated with translocation t(6;9)(p23;q34) in a patient with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia

A 34-year-old male with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and a t(6;9)(p23;q34) is described, in whom loss of the Y chromosome had occurred in the t(6;9) clone. The leukemic blasts were relatively undifferentiated and there was no increase in marrow basophils. The unusual clonal evolution and hematologic features in this patient are compared to 27 previously documented cases with this translocation.