Experimental and clinical studies on toxicity of xenogeneic tumor-specific immune ribonucleic acid

To learn the toxicity of xenogeneic tumor-specific immune ribonucleic acid (I-RNA), experimental and clinical studies were carried out. Experimentally, doses of 30 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg or 3.75 mg/kg of xenogeneic I-RNA extracted from lymphoid tissues of rabbits sensitized with 105,000 Xg sediments of human gastric carcinoma tissue were injected intraperitoneally into Wistar rats once a day for 30 days. During the period of the study, changes of physiological and biochemical values were examined. In addition, pathological study was made for each organ after the I-RNA administration. There was no death during the study. In the groups of high dose administration, there were poor increase in the body weight, elevation of GOT, GPT and LDH, findings of vacuolar degeneration of hepatic cells, and increase of mesangial matrix and polynuclear glomerulus. Throughout the experiment, the groups given 7.5 mg/kg and 3.75 mg/kg of I-RNA showed no significant difference from control groups. Clinically, 31 cases treated with passive immunotherapy with allogeneic lymphocytes, preincubated with xenogeneic I-RNA, were examined retrospectively for the difference in hematological and biochemical data before and after the therapy. One case showed a transient mild febrile reaction after the therapy. There was no significant difference in hematological and biochemical data. Pathological findings in 3 autopsies after the treatment were reported.

Maturation process of secondary ossification centers in the rat and assessment of bone age

The maturation process from the appearance to the fusion of the secondary ossification centers of extremities was studied in Wistar rats aged 0 to 134 weeks. The examination of the secondary ossification centers made by radiography. The assessment of the stage of development was made in accordance with the criteria proposed by Ohwada and Sutow. The secondary ossification center was found to be take one of the following three types of maturation processes : (1) the acute ossification, (2) the delayed ossification, and (3) the incomplete ossification. No fusion was observed up to 134 weeks in certain epiphyses of the rat. This type of ossification designated as the incomplete ossification may be specific to the mouse and rat. The relative lengths of time required for appearance and fusion in the average prospective life were obtained for the rat. They were compared with those of the mouse and man. The relative length of time necessary for maturity of the secondary ossification centers was shown to be the shortest in the rat and the longest in man. The results suggested that the rat may reach maturity in the bone age at 17 to 21 weeks of age. The rat at this age may be regarded as being adult corresponding to age 17 weeks in mice and 18 to 24 years in man.

[The measurement of the placenta, umbilical cord and components of amniotic fluid in beagle dogs]

The body weight of newborns, the weight of placenta, the length of umbilical cord and the content of urobilinogen, gulcose, protein, pH, keton body in amniotic fluid were investigated with samples from 16 litters of beagles. The mean body weight of newborn, weight of placenta and length of umbilical cord were 258.0 +/- 44.6 g (85 samples), 48.5 +/- 8.5 g (85 samples) and 11.0 +/- 2.7 cm (52 samples), respectively without any sex difference. The significant correlation were recognized between the weight of placenta and the body weight of newborn, between the length of umbilical cord and the body weight of newborn and between the weight of placenta and the length of umbical cord (P less than 0.01).

Effects of unilateral and bilateral invasion of thalamic pulvinar for pain relief

Thalamic pulvinotomy has been performed on 32 patients in severe chronic pain and a follow-up study was made. Among 10 patients with whom unilateral invasion was made, 4 were "excellent" in relieving pain, 2 "good", 2 "fair" and 2 "poor". Among 22 cases of bilateral invasion 17 were "excellent", 2 were "good", and 3 were "poor". Thus, in the cases of bilateral invasion effects of the operation were more prominent than in the cases of unilateral invasion. Further, transient psychic symptoms following the operation has been analysed in relation to position of pulvinar destruction and to underlying diseases.

Hepatic parenchyma, biliary ducts and gall bladder forming potency in the hepatic primordium in the quail embryo

Differentiation potency of the hepatic primordium isolated from 21- to 35-somite stage quail embryos was examined by the transplantation in the coelomic cavity of the chick embryo. The hepatic primordium differentiates into hepatic parenchyma, intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, and gall bladder. The hepatic parenchyma and two types of biliary ducts can differentiate from any fragment of the hepatic primordium divided at craniocaudal or proximodistal levels, while the gall bladder develops mainly from the proximal area of the primordium. These results indicate that the presumptive areas of hepatic parenchyma and biliary ducts are not arranged in a mosaic way in the young primordium, whereas the presumptive area of the gall bladder is restricted. Isolated hepatic primordial endoderm was found to differentiate to the epithelia of the hepatic parenchyma, bile ducts, and gall bladder under the influence of heterologous mesenchyme.

Effect of double infection of cowpox virus-infected cells with paramyxovirus (Sendai virus) on formation of cowpox virus-specific cell surface antigen

The formation of cowpox virus-specific cell surface antigen (CPV S-ag) was significantly enhanced by double infection with HVJ (Sendai virus). Simultaneous double infection, superinfection with HVJ and superinfection with CPV of cells persistently infected with HVJ similarly enhanced the formation of CPV S-ag, while pre-infection with HVJ was ineffective. To be effective, cells must be infected at a m.o.i. of greater than or equal to 1.0 and HVJ gene functions had to be expressed. The HVJ-infected cell extracts had an ability to accelerate uncoating (or degradation) of CPV, causing an early increase and a subsequent decrease in the infectivity of CPV. This activity reached a maximum 4--6 hr after HVJ infection, the increase paralleling enhancement of the total activity of several cellular enzymes. Addition of puromycin abolished the increase of these activities and the formation of CPV S-ag. Thus, the double infection with HVJ of CPV-infected cells induces an enhancement of CPV S-ag formation presumably as a consequence of activation of cellular enzymes which in turn accelerates uncoating of CPV.

Bone growth aud development of secondary ossification centers of extremities in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

The development of so-called long bones in the extremity has been studied roentgenographically in forty-seven males and fifty-one females cynomolgus monkeys bred and reared at the National Institute of Health. The age of the females ranged from five months to eight years and nine months, and that of the males was from four months to seven years. In addition, the fetuses of six to twenty weeks of gestation age were examined for the time of appearance of ossification centers. As the biological parameters concerning body growth, the body weight and the bone length were measured and the secondary ossification centers were scrutinized and assessed the maturity process on the basis of the criteria that divided the state into eleven stages. Also the allometric analyses of body weight against bone length was conducted. Most of the secondary ossification centers except the proximal fibulal epiphysis appeared during the period from the prenatal stage (15-20 weeks of gestationage) to the postnatal one (several months of age). From four to five months of age, many ossification centers had developed to some extent. But, the appearance of proximal fibulal epiphysis was delayed and often lacking until 10 months of age in female and one year and three months of age in male. The earliest epiphyseal fusion was observed at the distal humeral epiphysis in both sexes. The latest epiphyseal fusion was observed at the distal ulnal epiphysis in both sexes and at the distal ulnal and radial epiphyses in female. From this study, the time of fusion was at five and three guarters years of age in females and at six and a half years of age in males. As a result, it is suggested that the estimation of animal's age might be put to practical use by introducing the assessing method that the score was given from the observation of the secondary ossification center.

Amino acid and protein metabolism in renal failure

There are many cAUSES OF ALTERED AMINO ACID AND PROTEIN METABOLISM IN UREMIA WHICH MAY Lead to impaired growth, wasting, malnutrition, and other aspects of the uremic syndrome. These causes have complex interrelationships that are not well understood. The factors include altered nutrition due to poor intake, losses of nutrients during dialysis, and abnormal metabolism of many nutrients. Uremic toxins, superimposed catabolic illnesses, elevated or reduced serum hormone levels, reduced capacity of the kidney to synthesize certain amino acids and to degrade other amino acids, peptides, and small proteins, and decreased excretion of certain amino acids and peptides may also contribute to altered amino acid and protein metabolism. The response of certain plasma amino acids to protein restriction appears to differ in uremic patients as compared to normal subjects. Increased plasma levels of many products of amino acids and proteins in renal failure are due primarily to decreased urinary clearance by the kidney. However, for some metabolites, increased synthesis or decreased degradation may also contribute to elevated levels. These latter compounds include guanidinosuccinic acid, methylguanidine, certain middle molecules, and in some patients, phenylpyruvic acid.

Specific cancer immunotherapy adjunctive to surgery for advanced gastric cancer: a report of six long term survivors

In order to improve the results with non-curatively resected advanced gastric cancer, we have tried specific cancer immunotherapy adjunctive to surgery. In this article, six long term survivors (median 6.2 years) are reported.

Significance of pathognomonic features of normal-pressure hydrocephalus on computerized tomography

In some patients with congenital or acquired hydrocephalus, a low-density area is seen around the lateral ventricle on computerized tomography. Above all, in patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus following subarachnoid hemorrhage, there appears a specific low-density area which is fan-shaped and irregular and which extends from the bilateral anterior horns to the frontal pole. This disappears or decreases with a VP shunt. Improvement of clinical symptoms is proportional to the degree of disappearance of the low-density area. The essential part of the occurrence of symptoms in patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus depends upon a low-density area on CT.

[Comparative studies on bone growth in experimental animals. 1. Bone growth and ossification in mice (author's transl)]

Comparative studies are needed on the bilogical stage of the bone growth in experimental animals and human to extrapolate the data from animals to for estimating the risk of bone seeking redionuclides in man. The growth of bone length and the appearance and fusion of the secondary ossification centers of seven long bones were compared between both species. The stage of ossification was determined radiographically. The results showed that the ossifying process of the secondary ossification centers could be divided into the following three categories in mice; (1) acute ossification type, (2) remaining metastable stage type which is specific in mice and generally at the proximal end of bone, and (3) delayed ossification type. Compared with the average life span, differences in ossification between both species were that the appearance of secondary ossification centers was observed within concentrated period in mice and not in man, and that the fusion of these was observed with long duration in mice and not in man. From 17 weeks of age, the metastable status of the bone appeared in mice without complete fusion even at 27 weeks of age, for the experiment with bone seeking radionuclides, mice of age 17 weeks or more should be used consequently.

Lymph macrophages enter the germinal center of lymph nodes of guinea pigs

To determine the fate of macrophages within the afferent lymph stream, the popliteal lymph nodes at various times (3 h to 6 months) after subcutaneous injection of india ink into the footpads of guinea pigs were examined. Two types of cells which had phagocytized india ink were observed in the germinal centers. A small number of type I phagocytes (engulfing india ink as small particles which were often found together with tingible bodies in their cytoplasm) were scattered through the germinal center. A large number of type II phagocytes (packed full of india ink) presented preferentially in the medullary portion of the germinal center, together with many pyroninophil lymphoblastoid cells. In the second experiment, the afferent lymphatics of the popliteal lymph node were ligated 15-20 min after india ink injection. Although the type I phagocytes were distributed as in the first experiment, the type II phagocytes were scanty. In the third experiment, the afferent lymphatics of the popliteal lymph node were ligated 7 days after india ink injection. The type II phagocytes disappeared rapidly from the germinal center, whereas the type I phagocytes remained and were not affected by ligature. These results suggest that the type I phagocytes are the fixed macrophages or tingible body macrophages in the germinal center, and that the type II phagocytes are the macrophages migrating from the peripheral tissues. It was also shown that many macrophages reaching the regional node via afferent lymphatics entered the germinal center through the medullary pole where the cap of small lymphocytes became thinner or disappeared.