Urinary polyamines in patients with gastric cancer and their change after gastrectomy

Urinary polyamines in patients with gastric cancer were determined and changes in their content due to gastrectomy were studied. Total polyamines (spermine plus spermidine) in patients with gastric cancer of either stage II or III decreased significantly after the operation, the mean values before and after operation being 8.35 and 2.71 mg/day, respectively. The mean value of total polyamines in normal cases has been reported to 4.02 +/- 1.35 mg/day, so that the value in these patients after the operation is within the normal range.

Inhibitory effect of actinomycin D on the inductio of rat mammary tumors by in vitro exposure to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene

The inhibitory effect of actinomycin D on the induction of tumors by in vitro exposure of mammary glands to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene was studied. When actinomycin D was given i.p. 24 hr before excision of the mammary glands, the induction of tumors by in vitro exposure of the glands to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene was significantly decreased. On the other hand, when actinomycin D was administered 24 hr after excision, it had no effect on the induction of tumors. In vitro exposure of excised glands to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and actinomycin D significant decreased tumor induction. However, the order of exposure to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and actinomycin D influenced the inhibitory effect of actinomycin D on tumor induction. Results indicated that this might be due to a difference in the amounts of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and actinomycin D bound to the mammary glands.

Comparison of the activities for polypeptide synthesis of polysomes prepared with different detergents from normal and regenerating rat liver

When prepared in the presence of deoxycholate, the activities for polypeptide synthesis of polysomes from normal and regenerating rat liver were similar. However, when the polysomes were prepared in the presence of either Triton X-100 or Lubrol WX, the polysomes from regenerating liver had about three to four times more activity than those from normal liver. On the other hand, the activities for polyphenylalanine synthesis of ribosomes from regenerating rat liver were similar irrespective of whether these ribosomes were prepared in the presence of deoxycholate or Triton X-100.

Urinary excretion of steroids by Japanese women with breast cancer

The urinary excretion of steroids was determined in premenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer in the non-menstrual phase and in control women in the follicular phase, ovulatory stage, and luteal phase. The estrone level in the urine of cancer patients was higher than that in the urine of control women at any phase. Excretion of 17 beta-estradiol in the follicular and luteal phases was similar in the urine of control women and cancer patients, but estradiol and estriol levels in the ovulatory stage of control women were higher than those of cancer patients. The estriol level in the urine of control women in the luteal phase was also higher than that of cancer patients. Total 17-ketosteroid was lower in the urine of cancer patients than in that of controls at any phase. Among the fractions of 17-ketosteroids, only dehydroepiandrosterone was excreted at a higher level by cancer patients than by control subjects.