Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the esophagus: report of a case

A case of primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the esophagus is reported. A 51-year-old male patient had a tumor in the lower third of the esophagus which was incidentally found during an examination for cholelithiasis, and resected successfully. The tumor exhibited a polypoid appearance covered by normal esophageal epithelium, localized entirely in the submucosal layer, and morphologically identical to adenoid cystic carcinoma in the salivary glands. The patient is still alive and well three and one-half years after surgery. This seems to be a typical case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the esophagus arising from the submucosal esophageal gland.

Fluctuation of lipid peroxides and related enzyme activities at time of stroke in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

The levels of lipid peroxides, determined as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), were examined in the blood from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP), with and without cerebral lesions, and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WK) rats. The levels of TBARS in the blood from healthy SHRSP were not significantly different from those of WK rats, while the values of SHRSP (male) with stroke were more than twice as high as those of healthy SHRSP. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px in stroke SHRSP were also statistically different from those of healthy SHRSP.

Experimental studies of schistosomal pigment from Schistosoma japonicum

The schistosomal and malarial pigments were distinguishable before and after extraction from the host liver. Presence of iron in both pigments was ascertained by the elemental X-ray analysis. Histochemically, however, schistosomal pigment was similar to that of malarial pigment.

Metabolism of budralazine, a new antihypertensive agent, III

1. [14C]Budralazine (I) administered orally to normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats showed no significant difference in metabolic fate between the two groups. 2. Peak plasma levels of 14C were 3.6 microgram equiv. of I per ml in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. Approx. 5% of total 14C in the plasma consisted of I within 4 h, but thereafter the parent drug was not detected. Approx. 15% of 14C in the plasma consisted of 1-hydrazinophthalazine within 16 h after the administration. 3. 45% and 37% of the dose of 14C was excreted into urine and faeces within 24 h, respectively. 4. A high retention of 14C in the aorta wall was found and the time course of 14C in the aorta wall was compatible with that of the reduction in blood pressure. The radioactive materials retained in the aorta wall were likely to be I or 1-hydrazinophthalazine, probably the latter, following macroautoradiography in hypertensive rats.

Observations of vincristine-induced paracrystals in human erythroblasts in vitro

Ultrastructural observations were made on human erythroblasts incubated in a vincristine solution. In certain concentrations and at certain incubation time intervals, paracrystals were observed in the erythroblasts. The fine structure of the paracrystals was similar to that described in platelets, leukemic lymphoblasts or cultured fibroblasts. They showed parallel filaments, amorphous mass or honeycomb-like crystalline structure. One paracrystalline form turned into another form when the sections were tilted by the use of goniometer. These paracrystals were often closely related to other organelles, such as lysosome, Golgi apparatus and nucleus. In the mitotic erythroblasts degraded microtubules coexisted with typical paracrystals.

Effects of celiacectomy and stellatectomy on gastric mucosal innervation and acid secretion in the dog

The effect of surgical excision of the celiac and superior mesenteric ganglia and the stellate ganglia, respectively, on gastric acid secretion and adrenergic innervation of gastric mucosa was studied in five dogs. After removal of the abdominal ganglia, there was a significant increase in acid secretion while there was a marked decrease in the number of adrenergic nerve terminals in the mucosa. When, addition, the stellate ganglia were excised, acid secretion increased slightly in two dogs, while little change in mucosal innervation was noted. These data suggest that the adrenergic innervation of the stomach has an inhibitory role in the control of acid secretion in the dog. Vagal adrenergic nerve fibers seem to be of limited importance in gastric acid production.

A cytologic study on small cell carcinoma of the esophagus

The cytologic picture of small cell carcinoma primarily arising from the esophagus was studied with 7 cases which were confirmed by histologic examination. Cytomorphologic characteristics of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus are as follows: the arrangement of groups of tumor cells is irregular and overlapping with indistinct cell boundaries. The cytoplasm is small, or sometimes absent. The nuclei are round, oval or occasionally spindle shaped. Nuclear borders are thin. The chromatin of finely granular pattern has increased and is evenly distributed.

Biotransformation of chlormezanone, 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-4-metathiazanone-1,1-dioxide, a muscle-relaxing and tranquillizing agent: the effect of combination with aspirin on its metabolic fate in rats and mice

1. After oral administration of [14C]chlormezanone, about 74% of the dose was excreted into the urine of rats within 24 h and 21% into urine of mice within 2 h. 2. Biliary excretion of radioactivity was about 10% of the dose in rats. 3. Six metabolites in the urine of rats and mice were identified as p-chlorobenzoic acid, p-chlorohippuric acid, N-methyl-p-chlorobenzamide, 2-[N-methyl-N-(p-chlorobenzoyl)]carbamoylethylsulphonic acid, 3-sulphopropionic acid and the glucuronide of p-chlorobenzoid acid. 4. The effect of combination with aspirin on the metabolic fate of chlormezanone was investigated in rats and mice. Aspirin had no effect on the metabolite pattern in either species but reduced the rate of excretion, particularly in the mouse.

Mass fragmentographic determination of lofepramine and its metabolites in human plasma and urine using deuterated internal standards

A sensitive and specific method for the determination of lofepramine and its matabolites, desipramine and 2-hydroxydesipramine, in human plasma and urine is described. Lofepramine, desipramine and 2-hydroxydesipramine were derivatized to ethyl p-chlorobenzoate, the bis(heptafluorobutyryl) derivative and teh N,O-bis(trifluoroacetyl) derivative, respectively, and then analysed by gas chromatogrphy--mass fragmentography. Corresponding deuterated compounds were used as internal standards. Determination was possible at levels as low as 2 ng/ml for lofepramine and desipramine and 20 ng/ml for 2-hydroxydesipramine.