[Late phase II trial of oral etoposide administered for 21 consecutive days in patients with cervical cancer. ETP 21 Study Group--Cervical Cancer Group]

We conducted a multi-site late phase II trial of oral etoposide administered for 21 consecutive days in patients with cervical cancer in cooperation with 32 institutes. Fifty mg/body of oral etoposide was administered daily for 21 consecutive days. Treatment cycles were to be repeated at 4- to 5-week intervals. Eighty patients were enrolled and 70 patients were evaluated. The overall response rate (95% CI), including one complete response patient and 18 partial response patients, was 27.1% (19/70). The most commonly observed toxicity was myelosuppression such as leukopenia, neutropenia, hemoglobin decrease and thrombocytopenia. Other adverse effects were gastrointestinal toxicities such as anorexia, nausea, stomatitis and vomiting, as well as fatigue and alopecia. These adverse effects were well tolerated and controlled with medications. From these results we concluded oral etoposide administered for 21 consecutive days was an effective drug against cervical cancer.

[Early phase II trial of oral etoposide administered for 21 consecutive days in patients with cervical or ovarian cancer. ETP 21 Study Group--Cervical-Ovarian Cancer Group]

We conducted multi-site early phase II trial or oral etoposide administered for 21 consecutive days in patients with cervical or ovarian cancer in cooperation with 19 institutes. Fifty mg/body of oral etoposide was administered daily for 21 consecutive days. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. In cervical cancer, 24 patients were enrolled and 17 of them were evaluated. The overall response rate including CR and PR was 23.5% (4/17). In ovarian cancer, 18 patients out of 21 enrolled were evaluated. The overall response rate was 16.7% (3/18). The primary toxicity observed was myelosuppression such as leukopenia, neutropenia, hemoglobin decrease and thrombocytopenia. Other adverse effects were anorexia, nausea, vomitting, fatigue, alopecia and stomatitis. From these results we concluded that oral etoposide administered for 21 consecutive days was effective against cervical cancer.

TNF-alpha increases expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1 genes through activation of NF-kappaB in osteoblast-like ROS17/2.8 cells

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a key role in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and in postmenopausal osteoporosis. In various tissues, TNF-alpha action is mediated by a transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB). However, little is known about how TNF-alpha exerts its action in osteoblasts. We thus examined the effect of TNF-alpha on the activation of NF-kappaB in rat osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells (ROS17/2.8). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that the activation of the p50-p65 heterodimer NF-kappaB was induced by TNF-alpha as early as 15 minutes followed by a persistent activation for 48 h. When the binding activity of NF-kappaB in cytosol was examined using detergents that dissociate NF-kappaB from an inhibitory protein IkappaB, it decreased during the initial 30 minutes and then increased to the unstimulated level. Northern blot analysis revealed a marked increase in the mRNA levels of p105, a precursor of p50, 6 h after TNF-alpha and a gradual increase in p65 mRNA levels during the initial 1 h. Significant increase in both mRNA levels continued until 24 h after TNF-alpha. These results suggest that the rapid activation of NF-kappaB by TNF-alpha is mainly due to the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB pre-existing in cytosol, and that the subsequent increase in the expression of p50 and p65 may result in the persistent activation of NF-kappaB during TNF-alpha stimulation. TNF-alpha also increased the mRNA levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). An antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, significantly attenuated the TNF-alpha-dependent increase in these mRNAs, and simultaneously reduced the activation of NF-kappaB by TNF-alpha, indicating that NF-kappaB mediates the TNF-alpha-dependent expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1 in ROS17/2.8 cells. These results suggest that the activation of NF-kappaB by TNF-alpha may play an important role in the production of cytokines and cell adhesion molecules from osteoblasts, leading to the promotion of bone resorption and inflammation.

[Evaluation of a new anti-cancer drug regimen for surface epithelial-stromal ovarian cancer]

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to describe a new anti-cancer drug regimen for epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS

The cytotoxicities of some anti-cancer drugs regimens against human epithelial ovarian cancer xenografted into nude mice (TOM, TOH, TON) have been studied. The activities of CDDP, CPT-11, TXL, CDDP + CPM, CDDP + CPT-11, CDDP + TXL, CPT-11 + CPM, CPT-11 + TXL, and TXL + CPM were evaluated comparing with a control group using saline. Three mice were used for each group, and when the xenografted tumor reached 6 mm in diameter, 1/5 LD50 of these drugs was administered into the peritoneal cavity of mice once a week for three weeks.

RESULTS

The three most effective regimens were CPT-11 + TXL, CDDP + CPM, and CDDP + CPT-11 for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Case report: intrahepatic portal-hepatic venous shunts associated with a huge pelvic leiomyoma

We present a case of portal-systemic encephalopathy due to intrahepatic multiple portal-hepatic venous shunts. A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of recurrent episodes of disturbed consciousness. She showed no clinical signs of portal hypertension. Liver function was normal, except for an indocyanine green retention rate of 34% at 15 min and blood ammonia level of 282 microg/dL. Portal venography revealed dilatation of the portal vein and multiple portal-hepatic venous shunts, and a liver biopsy specimen revealed almost normal liver. Further clinical examination revealed a huge pelvic tumour. At laparotomy, two dilated veins were seen to arise from the pelvic tumour with blood flow into the mesentery. The tumour was resected successfully and a histological diagnosis of leiomyoma was made. The blood ammonia concentration decreased to the normal range postoperatively. A follow-up portal venogram demonstrated decreased portal vein dilatation and minor portal-hepatic venous shunts, considered to be congenital in origin. It is concluded that hepatic encephalopathy was produced in this patient due to an excess portal blood flow from the huge pelvic leiomyoma via the mesentery, with portosystemic shunting through pre-existent (probably congenital) intrahepatic anastomoses.

Morphology of single afferents of the saccular macula in cats

The morphology of single saccular afferents was studied by the intracellular horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method. Four neurons were sufficiently stained to allow reconstruction of their axonal arborizations. The main axon of these neurons bifurcated into an ascending and a descending branch at the level of the lateral nucleus. The ascending branches of two axons gave off collaterals with boutons in the caudal part of the superior nucleus, while the other two ascending branches lacked such terminations. By contrast, characteristics of the descending axonal arborization patterns of all the four neurons were substantially the same. The descending branches coursed caudally through the lateral part of the descending nucleus, and gave off up to 14 collaterals with boutons that extended throughout this nucleus. These collaterals also reached the ventral part of the lateral nucleus, the lateral border of the medial nucleus, and group f. A few axon collaterals ramified even outside the border of the vestibular nuclei into the spinal trigeminal nucleus and the reticular formation surrounding it. Axon collaterals from the stem axon also terminated in the interstitial nucleus of the vestibular nerve. There was a noticeable absence of any projection to the y group.

[Evaluation of a new anti-cancer drug regimen for endometrial cancer]

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to describe a new anti-cancer drug regimen for endometrial cancer.

METHODS

The cytotoxicities of some anti-cancer drugs regimens against human endometrial cancer xenografted into nude mice (TEI, TET, TEU, TEN) have been studied. The activities of ADM, CDDP, CPM, CPT-11, TXL, CDDP + ADM, CDDP + CPM, CDDP + CPT-11, CDDP + TXL, CPT-11 + TXL were evaluated in comparison with a control group using saline. Three mice were used for each group, and when xenografted tumor reached 6 mm of its diameter, 1/5 LD50 of these drugs was administered into the periotoneal cavity mice once a week for three weeks.

RESULTS

The effective regimens were CPT-11 + TXL, CDDP + CPT-11, CDDP + CPM, CDDP + TXL for the endometrial cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that these new drugs regimens should be tested in clinical studies.

Enhancement of GABA-mediated inhibition of rat medial vestibular nucleus neurons by the neurosteroid 20-hydroxyecdysone

In vivo electrophysiological and patch-clamp studies were performed to determine whether 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE), a neurosteroid, influenced neuronal activities of the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) using chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats and dissociated MVN neurons, respectively. Single neuronal activities of MVN were extracellularly recorded with a glass-insulated silver wire microelectrode attached along a seven-barreled micropipette. Each micropipette was filled with 20-HE, glutamate, bicuculline or 2 M NaCl. These chemicals were applied microiontophoretically to the immediate vicinity of the target neurons. Microiontophoretically applied 20-HE (20-80 nA) dose-dependently decreased rotation-induced firings of both type I and II neurons, which were identified according to their responses to horizontal sinusoidal rotations. Microiontophoretically applied bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist, inhibited 20-HE-induced decreases in neuronal firing of MVN. These findings suggest that 20-HE potentiates the action of GABA, probably by acting directly on the GABAA receptor of MVN neurons. In addition, microiontophoretically applied 20-HE decreased firings induced by glutamate in both type I and II neurons. This decrease by 20-HE was also antagonized with bicuculline. Furthermore, the effects of 20-HE on GABA-induced currents in acutely dissociated MVN neurons were investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Under voltage-clamp conditions, GABA (10 microM)-induced currents were potentiated in the presence of 20-HE (100 microM). These findings suggest that 20-HE inhibits MVN neurons by acting on the modulatory site on GABA receptor-ion channel complexes to potentiate GABA inhibition.

Effect of estrogen on the development of disuse atrophy of bone and muscle induced by tail-supension in rats

Rat tail-suspension induces disuse atrophy of muscles and bones in hindlimbs. In the present investigation we studied how ovariectomy and estrogen substitution affect the development of the disuse atrophy induced by suspension. Five-week old female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and divided into two groups. One group received intramuscular injection of estradiol dipropionate once a week (OVX-E2 group), and the other received a vehicle injection (OVX group). After the third injection, each group was further divided into two groups, tail-suspended and non-suspended. After 7 days of tail-suspension, a significant decrease in the wet weight of femurs and their Ca and Pi content was observed in the OVX group. However, no significant change in those parameters was observed in the E2 group. In both E2 and OVX groups, a significant decrease in the wet weight of soleus and gastrocnemius muscles was demonstrated after the suspension. This demonstrated that estrogen administration to ovariectomized rats prevents the development of disuse bone atrophy but not that of muscle atrophy, suggesting that estrogen plays important roles in bone remodeling.

Administration of bisphosphonate prevents disuse bone atrophy induced by tail suspension

We recently demonstrated that osteopenia induced by rat tail-suspension was associated with an initial increase in bone resorption. To study the significance of the increase in early bone resorption for osteopenia, we investigated whether administration of YH529, a third-generation bisphosphonate, prevents the development of osteopenia as evidenced by increased wet weight of the femur, together with its calcium and phosphorus contents, when compared with those of tail-suspended rats treated with the vehicle alone. These results suggested that the initial increase in bone resorption plays an important role in the development of osteopenia induced by tail suspension.

[Antinociceptive activity of intracisternal clonidine in the mouse]

The antinociceptive activities of clonidine have been determined against three qualitatively different noxious stimuli in the mouse. The methods used to evaluate this activity were selected to include tests which employ different types of noxious stimuli, i.e. heat (hot plate), chemical (acetic acid-induced writhing) and mechanical (tail pinch). Test drug and control treatments were given by cisternal injection in a dose volume of 10 microliters.mouse-1. The results presented here show that clonidine has potent antinociceptive properties against several types of noxious stimuli. Clonidine produced steep dose-response lines in all tests. The response to the writhing assays were completely inhibited by 1.0 microgram.mouse-1 of clonidine. In contrast in both the hot plate and tail pinch assay, however, clonidine did not produce a consistent antinociceptive effect at a dose of 200 micrograms.mouse-1. Utilizing these three different types of assays, the rank order of antinociceptive potency for clonidine in different noxia was the writhing >> hot plate > tail pinch. It was concluded from these results that clonidine has potent antinociceptive properties against chemical visceral stimuli.

[Effect on 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase), matrix metalloprotease and serum IAP values. Hokuriku Colorectal Cancer Chemotherapy Study Group]

PyNPase activity, MMPs activity and serum IAP values were measured in tumor tissues from colorectal cancer patients who had been divided into two groups, one given preoperative 5'-DFUR and the controls. PyNPase activity of the preoperative administration group was approximately equivalent to that of the controls. In the control group, correlations were assessed between PyNPase activity and activities of MMP1 and MMP3. To assess the effect of 5'-DFUR on the activity of MMPs, we divided patients into two groups, a high and a low PyNPase activity group. Although there was no correlation with MMPs activity of the preoperative administration group and the control group in the low PyNPase activity group, the activities of MMP1 and MMP9 of the control group were significantly higher in the high PyNPase activity group. Moreover, the serum IAP value of the administration group was significantly lower than that of the control group. These results indicated that PyNPase activity was thus suggested to be somehow related to MMPs activity and serum IAP values.

[Evaluation of a new anti-cancer drug regimen against uterine cervical cancer in nude mice]

The purpose of this study was to describe a new anti-cancer drug regimen for uterine cervical cancer. The cytotoxicities of some anti-cancer drugs regimens against the human uterine cervical cancer xenografted into nude mice have been studied. The activities of CDDP, CPT-11, TXL, CDDP + BLM, CDDP + MMC, CPT-11 + BLM, CPT-11 + CDDP, CDDP + 5-FU, CPT-11 + MMC, CPT-11 + TXL and CDDP + TXL for squamous cell carcinoma (TCR, TCK, TCG), and CDDP, MMC, TXL, CDDP + TXL, CDDP + MMC and MMC + TXL for adenocarcinoma (TCO, TCM, TCY), were evaluated comparing with a control group using saline. Five mice were used for each groups. When the xenografted tumor reached 6 mm in diameter, 1/5 LD50 of these drugs were administered into the peritoneal cavity of the mice once a week for three weeks. The effective regimens were CDDP + MMC, CDDP + BLM, CDDP + CPT-11 and CPT-11 + MMC for squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. CDDP + MMC, CDDP + TXL, MMC + TXL and CDDP were effective for endocervical adenocarcinoma. It was suggested that these new drug regimens should be used in clinical studies.

Effect of bisphosphonate administration on the excretion of stress hormones in tail-suspended rats

We demonstrated that administration of a bisphosphonate, YH529, prevents the development of disuse atrophy of the hind limbs induced by tail-suspension in rats. Since tail suspension is accompanied by an increase in the secretion of stress hormones, we studied whether administration of bisphosphonate affects the secretion of stress hormones during that procedure. Tail suspension was carried out in a metabolic cage by connecting a wire inserted through tail bone to the ceiling of the cage. The control rat received the same treatment but was not suspended. YH529 or a vehicle (PBS=phosphate buffered saline) was administered daily starting 3 days before the commencement of tail suspension. Urine samples were collected before the wire was inserted (day 0), on the day of insertion (day 1) and 3, 5 and 7 days after. In the control rats receiving PBS, urinary excretion of corticosterone and epinephrine did not change throughout the 7-day experimental period. In the control rats receiving YH529, urinary excretion of corticosterone increased significantly on the day of tail-piercing and wiring but then returned to the prior level. This increase was not observed in the control group receiving PBS. In the tail suspended rats, excretion of corticosterone and epinephrine increased significantly in both PBS and YH529 groups, the highest level being observed on the first day of tail suspension. Although statistically not significant, corticosterone excretion on day 1 of tail suspension was higher in the YH529 groups than that in the PBS group. It is thus suggested that administration of YH529 causes an augmented response to stress load.

Characterization of a newly established human tumor cell line (TEN) from a patient with clear cell carcinoma of the uterine body and its sensitivity to anti-cancer agents

A cell line derived from human endometrial clear cell adenocarcinoma was newly established and named TEN. The tumor cells were obtained from uterine body of a 74-year-old who had been undergone an abdominal simple hysterectomy. The histologic features of the tumor cells showed abundant clear cytoplasm with diastase digested glycogen granule growing in solid nest and tubular pattern. The TEN cells were continuously propagated in vitro during the past 45 months and they were at 75th passage. They grew in a monolayered sheet with a doubling time of about 53 hours. The TEN cells resembled the structure of the original tumor and had abundant glycogen granules, lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. The histopathology of the transplanted tumor in SCID mice resembled that of the original tumors. The TEN cells secreted a high content of CA125. Immunohistochemically, the TEN cells had c-erbB-2 and Cathepsin D immunoreactivity in some parts of the cell population. But they did not have estrogen, progesterone and EGF receptor. Sensitivities of the TEN cells to a variety of anti-cancer drugs were examined. In in-vitro tests, MTT assays employed. The results suggested that the TEN cells were not sensitive to any of 13 agents. On the other hand, in-vivo sensitivity test of transplanted tumor in SCID mice, the tumors were sensitive to CPT-11 and paclitaxel. We conclude that the TEN cell line will be effective material for chemosensitivities against the endometrial clear cell adenocarcinoma.

Odontogenic myxofibroma arising from the periodontal ligament in the maxillary molar region

A rare case of odontogenic myxofibroma, which arose from the periodontal ligament and expanded into the oral cavity resulting in an epulis-like lesion in a 52-year-old man, is reported including details of studies using lectin histochemistry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and immunohistochemistry. Most of the tumor cells, which appeared spindle-like with abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and some microfilaments by TEM, showed immunoreactivity for mesenchymal markers. Some tumor cells, which were polygonal and contained many microfilaments and some filament bundles, were immunoreactive for muscle markers. The present case was considered to consist of many fibroblasts and some myofibroblasts.

Postoperative adjuvant locoregional chemotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recur frequently in HCC patients with invasive factors such as vascular invasion and intrahepatic metastasis and its prevention is important in obtaining better surgical survival.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Palliative resection with locoregional therapy for multinodular HCC was performed to prevent postoperative complications in patients with poor hepatic reserve. Disease-free survival (DFS) and survival for these patients who underwent hepatic resection for noninvasive HCC, and for invasive HCC with or without adjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed to determine the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy. Survival of palliative resection for HCC was analyzed to determine the effect of reduction surgery.

RESULTS

DFS and survival of patients with adjuvant chemotherapy was better than those of patients without adjuvant chemotherapy, but not significantly (DFS; p = 0.0508, survival; p = 0.0570), and the survival of patients without adjuvant chemotherapy was almost equal to that of patients who underwent palliative resection. Adjuvant chemotherapy was effective in improving survival, but the effect was not satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative resection was effective in treating multinodular HCC. Further trials are required to improve the surgical survival of patients with HCC.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer showing complete disappearance of cancer cells in multiple liver metastases due to low-dose PMUE therapy]

A case of gastric cancer with liver metastasis who responded well to low-dose PMUE (CDDP, MMC, UFT, etoposide) therapy is reported. A 65-year-old man underwent distal partial gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection under the diagnosis of type 5 gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases. Pathological findings revealed papillary adenocarcinoma in the primary lesion and metastatic lymph nodes (No. 8a). Low-dose PMUE therapy after resection of primary lesion was effective for the liver metastases. Exacerbation was suspected, so the lesions of metastases were resected again after 2 years and 11 months postoperative course. All 4 resected lesions of metastases became old fibrous tissue with hyalinization, and 2 of 4 lesions were necrotic and surrounded by fibrous connective tissue. None of these 4 lesions included viable cancer cells. The patient has now been followed with no evidence of exacerbation. It was suggested that low-dose PMUE therapy was effective for liver metastasis of gastric cancer, especially the differentiated type.

Changes in serum concentrations of calcium and its regulating hormones during tail suspension in rats

To study the effects of mechanical unloading on systemic calcium homeostasis, we determined the changes in serum concentration of calcium, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone (PTH) during tail-suspension experiments in rats. The serum concentration of ionized calcium significantly increased during the 14 days of the suspension, reflecting increased bone resorption in the hind limbs. This hypercalcemic condition should cause suppression in PTH secretion. Indeed, serum PTH levels decreased on Day 3 of the suspension. This decrease was associated with lower serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin [correction of dihyroxyvitamin] D3 probably due to a decrease in the activity of 1 alpha-hydroxylase in the kidneys resulting from a decrease in PTH secretion. Since it is known that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulates osteoblastic function, it is suggested that endocrine responses evoked by tail suspension aggravate disuse atrophy of the hind limbs.

Effects of bisphosphonate on bone metabolism in tail-suspended rats

Our previous studies demonstrated that tail suspension causes early, transient increases in osteoclastic activity, followed by a decrease in osteoblastic activity in the hind limbs of rats. To assess whether this early increase in bone resorption is important in the development of disuse atrophy, the effect of YH529, a third generation bisphosphonate, was studied on hind limb atrophy in rats subjected to tail suspension. YH529 (YH group) or PBS (control group) were administered subcutaneously in 5-week-old male Wistar rats suspended for 7 days. In the control group, wet weight, calcium and phosphorus contents decreased significantly in the femur but they did not change in the humerus. In the YH group, however, these parameters did not change significantly in the femur, but both calcium and phosphorus increased significantly in the humerus. These results indicate that the inhibition of bone resorption by YH529 prevents the development of disuse atrophy induced by tail suspension. It is thus suggested that early increases in bone resorption are important for the development of disuse bone atrophy.

Production of polyclonal antibody specific for human natriuretic peptide receptor B

Polyclonal antibody against human natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B) was produced using as immunogen a soluble chimeric protein consisting of the extracellular domain of the receptor fused with Fc portion of human IgG. The antibody was purified with protein A column, and then subjected to an adsorption of anti-Fc antibody using IgG column. The purified antibody recognized human NPR-B but not the related receptor NPR-A. The antibody inhibited C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)-mediated intracellular cGMP accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. With regard to specific activity for the neutralization, the antibody purified with IgG column was significantly stronger than that before the adsorption step, indicating that the purification of the antibody with IgG column was extremely effective to remove the contaminating anti-Fc antibody from anti-NPR-B antibody. Western blot analysis using the purified antibody revealed that while the native NPR-B exists as an oligomer, the truncated NPR-B lacking most of its cytoplasmic domain is a monomer. This finding suggests that the cytoplasmic region may be involved in the oligomerization of the receptor. The results in this study demonstrate that soluble IgG fusion protein is very effective and useful for generating specific antibodies to the proteins expressed on cell surface.

[Differentiation of antinociceptive effects of mu, delta and kappa agonists using heat, chemical and mechanical nociception]

The antinociceptive properties of mu (D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol, enkephalin, DAGO), delta (D-Ala2, D-leu5, enkephalin, DADL) and kappa (dynorphin, DYN) were assessed using hot plate (heat), acetic acid-induced writhing (chemical) and tail pinch (mechanical) assays in mice. Test drug and control treatments were given by cisternal injection in a dose volume of 10 microliters.mouse-1. DAGO and DADL produced steep dose-response lines in all the tests. DYN did not produce a consistent antinociceptive effect on the tail pinch test. Utilizing these three different types of assays, the rank order of antinociceptive potency for these three opioids was DAGO > DADL > DYN. The responses to the hot plate and writhing assays were completely inhibited by the same dose of DAGO. DADL displayed equal antinociceptive effects in the hot plate and writhing tests. In the tail pinch assay, however, antinociceptive potency of DAGO was 1/3 less than in other two assays, and DADL was also 1/10 less than in the others. The rank order of antinociceptive potency for DYN in different noxia was the writhing > hot plate >> tail pinch. It was concluded that there are differences in the potency of mu-, delta- and kappa-agonists even when the intensities of chemical and heat noxia are equal. It was also proposed that antinociceptive potencies against mechanical noxia is greatly different among mu-, delta- and kappa-agonists.

The immunosuppressive effects of a leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist on liver allotransplantation in rats

The immunosuppressive effects of a leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor antagonist, ONO4057, on liver allotransplantation in rats were evaluated, and the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the liver tissue during rejection of the allografts examined. The rats were divided into four groups: group 1: Lewis rats (LEW) given a sham operation with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); group 2: LEW given syngenic orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) from LEW, with DMSO; group 3: LEW given allogenic OLT from ACI rats (ACI), with DMSO; and group 4: LEW given allogenic OLT from ACI, with ONO4057 as 10, 30, or 100 mg/kg per day dissolved in DMSO to subgroups 4a, 4b, and 4c, respectively. Histological examinations were performed, survival times monitored, and liver tissue PGE2 levels 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after transplantation measured. The mean graft survival times in groups 4a, b, and c, at 37.5 +/- 10.4, 52.2 +/- 24.4, and 34.0 +/- 4.9 days (mean +/- SEM), respectively, were significantly longer than that in group 3 (at 13.0 +/- 3.2 days). Moreover, the levels of tissue PGE2 in the liver allografts in group 4a were significantly higher than those in group 3 on days 5 and 7. These results suggest that ONO4057 has an immunosuppressive effect on liver allotransplantation since it reduces the activities of LTB4 which augments immune responses, and also because it indirectly increases the PGE2 level.

[Early cancer in the uterus and ovaries]

Concept of early cancer in gynecology is not well established to date because of the wide variation in biological behaviors of gynecologic tumors. The "early cancer" should be basically diagnosed on the concept that the tumor should be curable, that means a tumor of which growth is limited to the original portion of the organ, i.e. uterine cervix, uterine corps and ovaries, and also no lymph node metastasis could be estimated. The concepts, diagnostic modalities and management strategies of early cancer in uterine cervix, uterine corps and ovaries are discussed.