Circumferential Peyronie's disease involving both the corpora cavernosa

An extraordinary form of Peyronies disease is reported. The patient was a 52 year old male, who died of a malignant thymoma with multiple bone metastasis, extensive pleural carcinomatosis of the left lung and some metastatic nodules in the liver and the mesenterium. At autopsy, the proximal and middle portions of the penis were very hard. Macroscopically, the entire tunica albuginea of both the corpora cavernosa was markedly thickened, 2-4 mm; and calcified. Microscopically, the tunica albuginea showed extensive hyaline degeneration, calcification and ossifying foci with osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Inflammatory cells were frequently found beneath the thickened tunica albuginea. In the corpus cavernosum, cavernous arteries showed marked intimal thickening and medial muscular degeneration with a few inflammatory cells. Smooth muscles of the stroma were extensively atrophic and degenerative, and some of them were infiltrated with a few inflammatory cells. In the corpus spongiosum, the tunica albuginea was not thickened, but the smooth muscle in the stroma was atrophic and degenerative and a few inflammatory cells were also found. Surprisingly, there was no Littrés gland around the urethra. In Peyronies disease, the dorsal part of the penis is usually involved, and less frequently lateral or ventral sites are involved. The circumferential involvement of both the corpora cavernosa has not been reported until now, as far as the authors know.

[Panel D-15 test under reduced illumination for persons with color vision defects]

We evaluated the panel D-15 test under reduced illumination in subjects with color vision deficiency and in normal subjects. Forty subjects with color vision deficiency (3 protanopes, 10 protanomalies, 10 deuteranopes, 7 extreme deuteranomalies and 10 deuteranomalies) and 10 normal subjects were the subjects for the experiment. Seven light levels ranging from 0.9 to 900 lux were used. All normal subjects passed the test at 3.5 lux or more and 30% failed at 0.9 lux. Color vision defective subjects began to fail the test at 225 lux, with 56% failing at 3.5 lux and 92% at 0.9 lux. The performance on the panel D-15 test decreased in proportion to decreasing the illumination in some color vision defective subjects. Some protanomalous subjects showed a deutan pattern at low illumination levels.

Effects of danazol on proliferation and viability of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumours in rats

The suppressive effects of danazol, an isoxazol derivative of a synthetic steroid 17 alpha-ethinyltestosterone, on cellular viability and DNA synthesis in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced mammary tumours were investigated in adult female rats by enzyme assays and immunohistochemistry with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Rats treated with danazol for 30 days showed a decrease of plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and estradiol associated with a dysfunction in hypothalamo-hypophysial-gonadal axis, resulting in lower activities in succinate dehydrogenase and thymidine kinase, and a reduction of BrdU-immunoreactive cells in mammary tumours compared with the control, i.e., decreases of viability and pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in tumour cells in danazol-treated rats.

Psychiatric problems of pediatric end-stage renal failure

Our study compared 53 children with end-stage renal disease (26 children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 27 children with kidney transplants) to a matched sample of 27 healthy children. Seventeen of the children on dialysis (65.4%) exhibited separation anxiety disorder, which was associated with the family psychological environment. After receiving kidney transplantation, school maladjustment continued, and adjustment disorder was seen in eight children (29.6%). The adjustment disorder was related to poor relationships with peers at school.

Isotricha jalaludinii n. sp. found from the rumen of lesser mouse deer, Tragulus javanicus, in Malaysia

Isotricha jalaludinii n. sp. found in the rumen of lesser mouse deer, Tragulus javanicus, in Malaysia was described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by the location and direction of the vestibulum, shape of the macronucleus, and absence of a dent at the vestibular opening. The presence of single peculiar isotrichid species in the rumen of mouse deer, which is recognized as one of the most primitive ruminants, suggests that the isotrichid ciliates similar to I. jalaludinii and Isotricha intestinalis were established at a fairly early period during the evolution of ruminants.

Effects of danazol on thrombopoiesis in rats

A synthetic analog of ethinyltestosterone, Danazol, has been used clinically for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia. We investigated the effects of Danazol on thrombopoiesis in normal rats. Though 4-week treatment by Danazol slightly enhanced the DNA synthesizing enzyme activities and the number of S-phase cells in bone marrow and spleen, the number of megakaryocytes and thrombocytes were not increased in bone marrow and peripheral blood, respectively. These findings suggest that Danazol treatment will not induce thrombosis with thrombocytosis in normal human beings and animals.

Effects of 5-fluorouracil derivatives on papillomas induced by application of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in mice

We examined the effects of an application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) ointment and a chronic oral administration of 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-FU plus uracil (UFT) on 7,12-dimethyl-benz(a)-anthracene-induced squamous cell papillomas in mice. Although application of 5-FU ointment reduced the growth of papillomas slightly, chronic oral administration of UFT could prevent tumorigenesis and suppress the growth of papillomas, resulting in the reduction of the tumorous viability and DNA synthesis.

Two collagen-binding proteins, osteonectin and HSP47, are coordinately induced in transformed keratinocytes by heat and other stresses

pSE48 was one of six clones selected by differential colony hybridization as a cDNA coding for mRNA expressed in parietal endoderm-like F9 cells and not in primitive endoderm-like F9 cells. It was sequenced and identified as a segment of mouse osteonectin (SPARC) cDNA. We found osteonectin to be heat-inducible in some cells. Expression and secretion of osteonectin were then investigated using mouse (Pam 212) and human (HSC-1) keratinocyte cell lines. Both the mRNA levels and the secretion of osteonectin increased concurrently when Pam and HSC-1 cells cultured in low calcium medium were exposed to various stresses including heat shock and treatment with sodium arsenite or L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid. Another collagen-binding stress protein, HSP47, was also found to be expressed, synthesized, and stress-inducible in the keratinocyte cell line. The degree of HSP47 induction by various stresses was not so prominent as that of HSP70 but greater than that of osteonectin. The time courses of osteonectin and HSP47 induction by heat shock were similar to each other and distinct from HSP70; they were slower and more persistent than HSP70. We identified a heat shock element-like sequence in the promoter region of the mouse and bovine osteonectin genes. This sequence might participate in the stress induction of osteonectin. Thus, osteonectin and HSP47 share another common feature, stress-inducibility, as well as collagen-binding capacity and inducibility through differentiation, although they are quite distinct in their amino acid sequence and distribution.

Giant metastatic malignant melanoma with an unknown primary site

We report a case of malignant melanoma of unknown primary origin which presented with a giant metastatic tumor in his right inguinal region. A 94-year-old man noticed a small subcutaneous tumor in the right inguinal region 3 years earlier, which eventually became as larger as 9 cm in diameter without treatment. Although a histological examination of the lesion showed malignant melanoma, extensive examination did not reveal its primary lesion or any metastasis other than that to the right inguinal area. Our case took an interesting course in that this well-growing metastatic tumor was localized in only one region and supported a previous report indicating that malignant melanoma with unknown primary origin has a low tendency to metastasize and a relatively good prognosis.

Cementless or hybrid total elbow arthroplasty with titanium-alloy implants. A study of interim clinical results and specific complications

Twenty-six patients (32 elbows) with rheumatoid arthritis had a total elbow arthroplasty with insertion of a cementless prosthesis. The humeral component was made of titanium alloy and it was fixed without cement in all elbows. The patients were followed for an average of 3 years 1 month (range, 2 years 2 months to 4 years 4 months). A good result was seen in 25 elbows, a fair result in 2, and a poor result in 5. The reason for the poor results was a breakage of the humeral component at the junctional portion of its stem. In all five of these elbows a marked resorption of bone mass within the condylar portion of the humeral component was observed on the lateral radiograph. The five elbows with a poor result had a revision operation, and in each of these black staining of the soft tissues within the joint was seen. This tissue metallosis due to wear debris of the titanium alloy was responsible for the osteolysis within the condylar portion. It became clear from this study that even in a non-weight-bearing joint, such as the elbow, titanium alloy may wear and result in tissue metallosis when used as a bearing surface of the implant. However, it was also found that in the majority of the elbows an establishment of the biologic fixation of the porous-coated stem could be achieved by use of this alloy.

Isozyme analysis of anaerobic rumen fungi and their relationship to aerobic chytrids

Isozymes of 23 cultures of the anaerobic rumen fungi and seven cultures of aerobic chytridiomycete fungi were analysed by PAGE. A total of 14 isozyme loci were successfully typed by PAGE. They were peptidase A & C-1, peptidase A & C-2, peptidase D-1, peptidase D-2, malate dehydrogenase-1, malate dehydrogenase-2, esterase-1, esterase-2, malic enzyme-1, malic enzyme-2, isocitrate dehydrogenase, shikimate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucomutase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Isozyme analysis can be used for studying the genetic relationships among the different anaerobic rumen fungi and the aerobic chytridiomycete fungi and the isozyme characteristics can serve as additional taxonomic criteria in the classification of the anaerobic rumen fungi. A dendrogram based on the isozyme data demonstrated that the anaerobic rumen fungi formed a cluster, indicating a monophyletic group, distinctly separated from the aerobic chytridiomycete fungi. Piromyces communis and P. minutus showed a close relationship but P. spiralis showed a more distant relationship to both P. communis and P. minutus. Piromyces as a whole was more related to Caecomyces than to Neocallimastix. Orpinomyces was also found to be more related to Piromyces and Caecomyces than to Neocallimastix. Orpinomyces intercalaris C 70 from cattle showed large genetic variation from O. joyonii, indicating that it is a different species.

Regulation of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in rat hematopoiesis

In an attempt to define a regulation of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in hematopoietic cells, we investigated the activities of thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase, and the cell cycle by flow cytometric DNA analysis and bromodeoxyuridine-immunohistochemistry during the recovery phase of hematopoietic cells in bone marrow after the hypoplastic period induced by cyclophosphamide treatment in rats. The hematopoietic cells first entered into cell cycle via the de novo pathway in pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis, and were secondly proliferated and differentiated via the salvage pathway. S-phase cells associated with a myeloid hematopoiesis increased earlier than those associated with an erythroid hematopoiesis in the recovery phase of in rat bone marrow.

Glycogen storage disease associated with Niemann-Pick disease: histochemical, enzymatic, and lipid analyses

A case of glycogen storage disease associated with multiple hepatic adenomas and Niemann-Pick disease is reported. Type IA glycogen disease was diagnosed soon after birth in a female patient, and she was treated at our clinic. At the age of 12 yr, the patient was found to have a hepatic tumor, which was surgically extirpated. Histological examination showed that the tumor was a hepatocellular adenoma. Increasing hepatomegaly and jaundice were noted when the patient was 18 yr of age. She died of pneumonia and cardiac tamponade at the age of 19. The liver weighed 3310 g, and showed severe jaundice and many nodules measuring up to 8 cm in diameter. These nodules were composed of mature hepatocytes without atypia and were diagnosed as hepatocellular adenomas. In addition, many adenomatous lesions were found at the microscopical level. The spleen weighed 1310 g, and showed two small infarctions at the upper part. A histological examination showed a diffuse infiltration of large foamy cells in the splenic red pulp. These cells were 20 to 100 microns in diameter and weakly positive for periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, positive for lipid staining with Sudan black B, and positive for Pearce's phospholipid staining. Electron microscopy showed many lamellar bodies in the cytoplasm that were characteristic of Niemann-Pick disease. These foamy cells were also found in liver, bone marrow, lymph nodes, kidneys, and lungs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gastrospirillum hominis-associated gastritis: the first reported case in Japan

Tightly coiled spiral micro-organisms (Gastrospirillum hominis), distinct from Helicobacter pylori, were found in the gastric mucosa of a 66-year-old man with a 4-month history of intermittent epigastric pain. The organisms were distributed in the antral mucosa, which showed erosive gastritis; histologically, the affected mucosa presented moderate to severe chronic gastritis with focal neutrophil infiltration. After a 2-week administration of cimetidine, his symptoms resolved and the active inflammation was reduced, both endoscopically and histologically, but the organisms still remained. Biopsy specimens taken 4 weeks after treatment with minocycline and cimetidine showed normal gastric mucosa without the spiral organisms. The above clinical course suggests the possible role of Gastrospirillum hominis in the pathogenesis of gastritis.

Ultrastructural demonstration of salmon-type gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH) in the olfactory system of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou)

Immunocytochemical and immunoelectron microscopic localization of salmon-type gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH) were observed in the olfactory system (olfactory epithelium, olfactory nerve and olfactory bulb) of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) to investigate its possible involvement in the olfactory functions. sGnRH-immunoreactive (ir) bipolar neuron, which might be related to the terminal nerve, was located in dorsal portion of the olfactory nerve. sGnRH-ir gold particles were concentrated on electron-dense granule-like structures of 50 nm in diameter in fibers of the olfactory nerve close both to the olfactory epithelium and to the olfactory bulb. These findings suggest that sGnRH might participate in neurotransmission and/or neuromodulation in the olfactory system of masu salmon. sGnRH would become a useful molecular marker for studying the olfactory imprinting and homing mechanisms in salmonids.

Derivation and implementation of a cone-beam reconstruction algorithm for nonplanar orbits

B.D. Smith (ibid., vol.MI-4, p.15-25, 1985; Opt. Eng., vol.29, p.524-34, 1990) and P. Grangeat (These de doctorat, 1987; Lecture Notes in Mathematics 1497, p.66-97, 1991) derived a cone-beam inversion formula that can be applied when a nonplanar orbit satisfying the completeness condition is used. Although Grangeat's inversion formula is mathematically different from Smith's one, they have similar overall structures to each other. The contribution of the present paper is two-fold. First, based on the derivation of Smith, the authors point out that Grangeat's inversion formula and Smith's one can be conveniently described using a single formula (the Smith-Grangeat inversion formula) that is in the form of space-variant filtering followed by cone-beam back projection. Furthermore, the resulting formula is reformulated for data acquisition systems with a planar detector to obtain a new reconstruction algorithm. Second, the authors make two significant modifications to the new algorithm to reduce artifacts and numerical errors encountered in direct implementation of the new algorithm. As for exactness of the new algorithm, the following fact can be stated. The algorithm based on Grangeat's intermediate function is exact for any complete orbit, whereas that based on Smith's intermediate function should be considered as an approximate inverse excepting the special case where almost every plane in 3D space meets the orbit. The validity of the new algorithm is demonstrated by simulation studies.

Suppression by kampo medicine, sho-saiko-to, on papillomas induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in mice

Sho-saiko-to (SST) is a Japanese modified, traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Kampo medicine) consisting of seven medical plants. We examined the effects of SST on formation and growth of squamous cell papillomas induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene application in mouse skin. Chronic oral administration of SST reduced the incidence and growth of papillomas with the reduction of activities of succinate-dehydrogenase and thymidylate synthetase, which were evaluated as the cell viability and DNA synthesis via the de novo pathway, respectively.

Effects of Chinese herbal medicines on DNA-synthesizing enzyme activities in mammary tumors of mice

Sho-saiko-to (SST) and Juzen-taiho-to (JTT), Japanese modified Chinese herbal prescriptions, suppressed the activities of thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase involved in de novo and salvage pathways for pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis, respectively, in mammary tumors of SHN mice with the reduction of serum prolactin level. These results indicate that SST and JTT may have the antitumor effects on mammary tumors.

Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on DNA synthesis in rat hematopoietic organs

In an attempt to define the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rEPO) on DNA synthesis in hematopoietic organs, we investigated DNA-synthesizing enzyme activities, i.e., thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase activities, and bromodeoxyuridine-immunohistochemistry during the recovery phase of hematopoietic cells in bone marrow and spleen after the hypoplastic period induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy) treatment in rats. Treatment with rEPO increased enzyme activities and cell number of erythroid series in bone marrow cells; it also increased organ weight and S-phase cells in the spleen, followed by an augmentation of the number of erythrocytes and a rise in the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in peripheral blood with or without Cy treatment.

Nucleotide sequence of rice dwarf phytoreovirus genome segment 2: completion of sequence analyses of rice dwarf virus

The complete nucleotide sequence of rice dwarf phytoreovirus genome segment 2 (S2) was determined to be 3,512 nucleotides long with one open reading frame initiating at nucleotide 15 and terminating at nucleotide 3363. The encoded polypeptide was predicted to have 1,116 residues with a relative molecular weight of 123 kD. Comparison of S2 of two isolates showed they had identical lengths and 97 and 98.3% nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities, respectively. A search of the Swiss-Prot data base (R 22.0) failed to find any proteins with significant homology to the S2-encoded protein. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the S2 has completed the sequence determination of the genome of rice dwarf virus. Homology searches made for proteins encoded by each of the genomic segments showed that the polypeptide encoded by S11 has similarity to histone H1 protein and VP6 of blue tongue virus, indicating it might possess nucleic acid binding properties.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with unusual metastasis to the small intestine

An autopsy case of a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with unusual metastasis to the mucosa of the small intestine is reported. The patient was a 73 year old female. At autopsy, the liver weighed 970 g, and an ovoid and necrotic 6 x 5 cm sized tumor was found in the right posterior lobe with many daughter tumors within the cirrhotic liver. The tumor embolus in the portal vein was not found. Extrahepatically the tumor metastasized to the lungs, sacral bone and hepatohillar and para-aortic lymph nodes. Additionally, many sessile and pedunculated polyps up to 2 cm in diameter were found sporadically in the small intestine. These seemed to be primary adenomatous polyps but histologically they were HCC metastasis. To the best of the authors' knowledge, many polypoid involvements of the small intestine by a hepatocellular carcinoma have not been reported until now.

[Essential thrombocythemia in pregnancy]

A 30-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of thrombocythemia during pregnancy. Her leukocyte count was 10,000/microliters, Hb was 11.7 g/dl, and platelet count 181.9 x 10(4)/microliter. Bone marrow aspirate showed an increase in megakaryocytes (255/microliters). Both Ph1 chromosome and bcr rearrangement were negative. She was diagnosed as having essential thrombocythemia (ET) with pregnancy, and was treated with aspirin (150 mg/day). Her pregnancy was uneventful, but she was readmitted because of overterm pregnancy. A caesarean section was performed, and a healthy male infant weighing 3,672 g was delivered, with a platelet count of 25.5 x 10(4)/microliter. However, the uterine was atonic, and atonic hemorrhage occurred. Supravaginal hysterectomy was performed. Subsequently, intrabdominal gross hemorrhage occurred, but the bleeding was halved by platelet transfusion. Microscopic examination showed uterine infarction. We suggest that platelet count should be reduced by means of plateletpheresis or interferon-alpha throughout pregnancy with ET.

Effects of danazol on endometrial DNA synthesis in rats

The suppressive effects of Danazol, an isoxazol derivative of the synthetic steroid 17 alpha-ethinyltestosterone, on endometrial DNA synthesis were investigated in rats by immunohistochemistry with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and DNA-synthesizing enzyme assays. Rats treated with Danazol for 14 days at 17-19 weeks of age showed a decrease of plasma gonadotropins associated with ovarian hypofunction, persistent diestrus, and a smaller number of corpora lutea in ovary, resulting in no BrdU-immunoreactive (S-phase) cells in endometrial epithelium and lower activity of thymidine kinase in the uterus compared with control.

Suppression by kampo medicines in preneoplastic mammary hyperplastic alveolar nodules of SHN virgin mice

Sho-saiko-to (SST), Keishi-bukuryo-gan (KBG), and Shakuyaku-kanzo-to (SKT) are Japanese modified traditional Chinese herbal medicines (Kampo medicines) consisting of 7, 5, and 2 medical plants, respectively. It is known that the hyperplastic alveolar nodule (HAN) is a representative preneoplastic state in the mammary glands of mice. We examined the effects of SST, KBG, and SKT on the formation and growth of HAN in a high-mammary-tumor strain of SHN virgin mice. Oral administration of SST for 60 days beginning at 90 days of age reduced the number and area of HAN and mammary thymidylate synthetase activity with a reduction of serum prolactin level. There was little difference between the other experimental groups and the control in the formation and growth of HAN and the enzyme activities. These results indicate that SST may have a preventive effect on malignant mammary transformations.

Syrinx-fourth ventricle and lateral ventricle-peritoneal shunts for congenital hydrocephalus with syringobulbia and syringomyelia: case report

A case of congenital hydrocephalus with syringobulbia and syringomyelia was reported. Although his neurological condition had deteriorated because of shunt malfunction, progressing syringobulbia, and syringomyelia, he recovered because of the direct communication from the syrinx in the medulla to the fourth ventricle, the shunt from the syrinx in the cervical spinal cord to the fourth ventricle, and the lateral ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

[The role of the clinical microbiology laboratory in the past]

Over the past 150 years, since Koch first isolated the tubercle bacillus, clinical microbiologists have used culturing techniques to demonstrate of the presence of pathogenic microorganisms associated with infectious diseases in clinical specimens. The development of medicine and chemotherapy and the improvement of sanitary conditions resulted in a marked decrease in infectious diseases. In stead of infections due to virulent pathogens, opportunistic infections in the compromised hosts by non-virulent or weakly virulent bacteria have been on the rise. As a result, determining the pathogenicity of an isolated bacteria becomes important. The past two decades have seen extensive efforts to exploit the potential of automation in clinical microbiology and to develop increasingly rapid procedures. New technology, such as molecular genetics, has also been introduced into clinical microbiology. For more correct and precise diagnoses of infectious diseases, the clinical microbiology laboratory should be enlarged as an "Infectious Disease Laboratory" to include an extended work on not only the detection of pathogens from the specimens of infectious disease, but also serodiagnostic tests and immunological tests of hosts. The "Infectious Disease Laboratory" would also play a key role in the control of nosocomial infection working with the infection control committee and infectious disease clinicians.

[Turning point in quality control in Japan--current status & problems and future issues]

Some authorities suggest that quality control in Japan is now at a turning point. During the 30 years since its introduction in the 1960s, quality control has improved dramatically, and a number of new quality control techniques have been designed and applied to routine examination. In actual practice, however, people tend to become insensitive to abnormalities or to ignore them, causing an increase in the number of abnormal results. This article will review a survey of quality control and describe the current status, problems and future issues in quality assurance.

Synergistic effect of oral UFT in combination with cisplatin on DNA synthesis in rat hepatocarcinomas

We investigated the synergistic efficacy of CDDP and UFT, an oral anticancer derivative of 5-fluorouracil, on DNA synthesis of 3'-MeDAB-induced hepatocarcinomas in rats. Chronic treatment with CDDP slightly reduced tissue activities of thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase in the hepatocarcinomas, and, moreover, simultaneous administration of a low dose of UFT with CDDP markedly suppressed both enzyme activities, i.e., UFT and CDDP showed a potent synergism on DNA synthesis in hepatocarcinomas.

Effects of kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine "sho-saiko-to" on DNA-synthesizing enzyme activity in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic carcinomas in rats

Sho-Saiko-To (SST) is a modified Japanese traditional Chinese herbal medicine containing seven medical plants: Bupleuri radix, Pinelliae tuber, Suxtallariae radix, Zizyphi fructus, Ginseng radix, Glycyrrhizae radix, and Zingiberis recens rhizoma. This preparation has been used in the treatment of some inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system and chronic hepatitis. In the present study, the effects of SST were investigated on the activities of DNA-synthesizing enzymes in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colonic carcinomas in rats. Six-week administration of SST prevented nearly 100% of the body weight loss and the final number of the colonic carcinomas compared to those in the rats treated with DMH alone, and suppressed the enhanced activities of thymidylate synthetase (TS) and thymidine kinase (TK) which were involved in the de novo and salvage pathways of pyrimidine synthesis, respectively, in DMH-induced colonic carcinomas. These results indicate that SST may show directly and/or indirectly inhibitory effects on the development of colonic carcinomas.

[Serum inorganic fluoride concentrations and their urinary excretion during and after sevoflurane, isoflurane, or enflurane anesthesia in man]

Serum inorganic fluoride concentrations and their urinary excretion were examined during and after sevoflurane, isoflurane, or enflurane anesthesia in man. Duration of anesthesia was 3 hours in sevoflurane and enflurane groups (S3 group: n = 10, E3 group: n = 5), and 3 or 5 hours in isoflurane groups (I3 group: n = 5, I5 group: n = 5). Serum inorganic fluoride concentration of the S3 and E3 groups increased immediately following induction, and reached the maximum concentration of 21.8 +/- 9.3 (M +/- SD) mumol.l-1 (S3), 13.6 +/- 6.2 mumol.l-1 (E3) at 1 hour after anesthesia. Serum inorganic fluoride decreased after the peak concentrations, and returned to the pre-anesthesia level at 96 hours (S3) and 144 hours (E3) after anesthesia. On the other hand, serum inorganic fluoride of the I3 and I5 groups scarcely changed from the pre-anesthesia level, and maximum concentrations of these two groups were one tenth of the S3 group. Urinary excretion of inorganic fluoride of the S3 and E3 group began to increase from 2 hours after anesthesia, and showed plateau of 60-90 mmol.h-1 from 12 hours to 24 hours after anesthesia. The change of serum inorganic fluoride sharply contrasted with urinary excretion. Our results suggest that fluoride excretion is largely carried out by the kidney. Therefore sevoflurane or enflurane anesthesia should be avoided in patients with renal dysfunction.

Effects of danazol on DNA synthesis in rat prostate

Effects of danazol, an isoxazol derivative of the synthetic steroid 17 alpha-ethinyltestosterone, on activities of thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase, which are the DNA-synthesizing enzymes included in de novo and salvage pathways of pyrimidine metabolism, respectively, were investigated in rat prostate. Danazol markedly reduced plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone, and organ weight, both enzyme activities and bromodeoxyuridine-immunoreactive cells which were regarded as the S-phase cells in prostate. These results indicate that danazol shows a property as a potent antigonadotropin.

Effects of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue on DNA synthesis in rat prostate and uterus

Buserelin, a potent LH-RH agonist, has been used for the treatment of hormonal disorders such as precocious puberty, endometriosis, cystic mastitis and prostatic carcinoma. Prolonged treatment with buserelin has been known to induce a refractory phase of pituitary desensitization. In the present study, we found that two-week treatment with buserelin strongly suppressed the activities of thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase, and markedly reduced the appearance of BrdU-immunoreactive (S-phase) cells in both prostate glands and uteri in male and female adult rats, respectively.

[Four cases of CD7-positive acute myeloid leukemia]

This report describes 4 cases of T-cell-associated CD7-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Myelo-peroxidase staining of blasts was negative in 2 cases but became positive during their courses. In all cases, the myeloid determinants CD13 and/or CD33 were associated with CD7 expression. Other B-lymphoid (CD10, CD19) or T-lymphoid (CD2) markers were negative. In three cases, dual fluorescence analyses showed co-expression of CD7 and CD13 (CD33). Clinically, compared with CD7+AML, these CD7+AML patients presented higher leukocyte and blast counts in peripheral blood. All patients achieved complete remission with chemotherapeutic regimens for AML, but 3 relapsed within a short time. Systemic lymphadenopathy was found in 2 cases, and interestingly, the surface markers of the lymph-node in one case were CD7+CD33-. These cases of CD7+AML may represent a distinct subgroup that arises from particular, less different myeloid precursors, and may have poor prognosis.

Thermal effects on DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells of patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia

It has been known that thymidylate synthetase (TS) and thymidine kinase (TK) are DNA-synthesizing enzymes via the de novo and salvage pathways, respectively, in pyrimidine metabolism, and an immunological method using a monoclonal antibody to bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is useful for the detection of S-phase cells. We investigated the effects of hyperthermia on DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells obtained from patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. TK isozymes in bone marrow cells of patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia were separated into two types, i.e., fetal type isozyme in cytosolic cell fraction and adult type isozyme in mitochondrial cell fraction. Heating at over 43 degrees C as a hyperthermia markedly suppressed enzyme activity of fetal type TK isozyme and number of S-phase cells labelled with BrdU, but not activities of adult type TK isozyme and TS. These results indicate that hyperthermia may regulate the proliferation of S-phase cells by the suppression of salvage synthesis of DNA.

Molecular analysis of rice dwarf phytoreovirus segment S1: interviral homology of the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase between plant- and animal-infecting reoviruses

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the largest segment S1 of rice dwarf phytoreovirus (RDV), a member of the family Reoviridae. S1 is 4423 nucleotides long with a segment-specific inverted repeat located adjacent to the conserved termini (5'GGCAAA---UGAU3'). A major open reading frame (bases 36 to 4367) on the S1 plus strand, which is preceded by a minicistron (bases 6 to 29), encodes the polypeptide (P1) consisting of 1444 amino acids with a M(r) of 164, 142. The sense-strand transcript derived from the full-length S1 cDNA, the minicistron of which was abolished, directed the synthesis of a polypeptide of 170 kDa in addition to smaller polypeptides in wheat germ extracts, and the 170-kDa product comigrated with the minor core protein in SDS-polyacrylamide gel. Thus, P1 is assumed to be localized in the viral core particle. The consensus sequence element conserved in RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is observed in the P1 amino acid sequence predicted from the nucleotide sequence. Based on the dendrogram established from the sequence alignment around the polymerase module region, and sequence identity within the alignment, P1 of plant-infecting RDV was evolutionarily compared with VP1, lambda 3, and VP1 of three other animal-infecting members of the family, rota-, reo-, and bluetongue viruses. Consequently, RDV S1 was shown to be more closely related to the rotavirus gene segment 1, in terms of molecular evolution, than the animal-infecting members are to one another.

Inhibition of the activation of heat shock factor in vivo and in vitro by flavonoids

Transcriptional activation of human heat shock protein (HSP) genes by heat shock or other stresses is regulated by the activation of a heat shock factor (HSF). Activated HSF posttranslationally acquires DNA-binding ability. We previously reported that quercetin and some other flavonoids inhibited the induction of HSPs in HeLa and COLO 320DM cells, derived from a human colon cancer, at the level of mRNA accumulation. In this study, we examined the effects of quercetin on the induction of HSP70 promoter-regulated chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity and on the binding of HSF to the heat shock element (HSE) by a gel mobility shift assay with extracts of COLO 320DM cells. Quercetin inhibited heat-induced CAT activity in COS-7 and COLO 320DM cells which were transfected with plasmids bearing the CAT gene under the control of the promoter region of the human HSP70 gene. Treatment with quercetin inhibited the binding of HSF to the HSE in whole-cell extracts activated in vivo by heat shock and in cytoplasmic extracts activated in vitro by elevated temperature or by urea. The binding of HSF activated in vitro by Nonidet P-40 was not suppressed by the addition of quercetin. The formation of the HSF-HSE complex was not inhibited when quercetin was added only during the binding reaction of HSF to the HSE after in vitro heat activation. Quercetin thus interacts with HSF and inhibits the induction of HSPs after heat shock through inhibition of HSF activation.

Suppression by 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil in combination with uracil of preneoplastic mammary hyperplastic alveolar nodule formation in SHN virgin mice

It is known that hyperplastic alveolar nodule (HAN) is a representative preneoplastic state in mammary glands of mice. We examined the effect of 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil and uracil (UFT) on HAN formation in a high mammary tumour strain of SHN virgin mice. Oral administration of UFT for 5 months beginning at one month of age significantly reduced the number of HAN and DNA-synthesizing enzyme activities in the mammary glands. These results indicate that long-term administration of low dose UFT reduces the de novo and salvage synthesis of DNA and suppresses preneoplastic HAN.

Molecular cloning of a mouse 47-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP47), a collagen-binding stress protein, and its expression during the differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma cells

A 47-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP47) is a major collagen-binding stress protein residing in the endoplasmic reticulum, and is assumed to be a molecular chaperone specific to collagen. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoprecipitation studies showed that the expression of HSP47 was significantly induced during the differentiation of mouse teratocarcinoma F9 cells by treatment with retinoic acid alone or with retinoic acid and dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-phosphate. The induction of type-IV collagen was also observed during F9-cell differentiation. For further analysis, we cloned cDNA encoding mouse HSP47 from a cDNA library of BALB/c 3T3 cells and performed Northern-blot analysis. The cDNA contained a signal sequence at the N-terminus and an endoplasmic-reticulum-retention signal, RDEL, at the C-terminus. An homology search revealed that mouse HSP47, as well as chick HSP47, belonged to the serine protease inhibitor superfamily. While chick HSP47 mRNA was 4.5 kb with a long (2-kb) 3' untranslated region, mouse and human HSP47 mRNA were 2.5 kb, with a 0.8-kb 3' untranslated region. Northern-blot analysis revealed that the concurrent induction of HSP47 and type-IV collagen during F9-cell differentiation, and the transient induction of HSP47 after heat shock was regulated at the level of mRNA accumulation. These results suggested that HSP47 was closely related to collagens in terms of its expression as well as in its functional relevance.

Effects of carcinogenesis on colonic thymidine kinase activity in familial adenomatous polyposis

Thymidine kinase (TK) activity of polyp tissue from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) was measured and compared with that of non-tumorous colon, sporadic polyp and colorectal carcinoma tissues. Total TK activity in colonic carcinoma was 3-fold that of non-tumorous colon; its increase seems attributable mainly to increased activity of cytosolic TK isozyme activity. By using DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, the colorectal TK isozymes were separated into two types, i.e. two isozymes, referred to as the fetal (predominantly cytosolic) and adult (predominantly mitochondrial) types. However, FAP polyp samples from 15 patients showed an average elevation of only 1.8-fold over non-tumorous region of colon. Examined individually, only 5 of the 15 FAP samples showed significant elevations in total TK activity. Furthermore, TK isozyme analysis revealed variable patterns of the cytosolic isozyme activity, which was elevated in some cases (8/15) and remained low in others. Thus FAP polyps seem to be a heterogeneous population with respect to DNA replicative activity, and cytosolic TK isozyme activity may constitute a biochemical marker for the subsequent development of colorectal carcinoma in FAP.

Treatment of early recurrent medulloblastoma in children with cisplatin and etoposide: a preliminary report

The prognosis of recurrent medulloblastoma remains extremely poor. Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP) and etoposide (VP-16) was given to five children with early recurrent medulloblastoma. As a rule, CDDP 20 mg/m2 per day and VP-16 60 mg/m2 per day were administered intravenously for 5 days. This cycle was repeated three times at 4-week intervals. After this therapy, cerebellar signs improved in one case and were unchanged in four cases. Weakness and sensory disturbance, however, improved in three of four patients. Moreover, neck and/or back pain resolved in all these four. Radiological findings improved in three cases. Myelosuppression appeared in all patients, but receded rapidly. No other significant complications were noticed. Two patients died 5 and 6 months after this therapy. These results seem to suggest that this therapy has a use in improving neurological symptoms, particularly neck and/or back pain, although its efficacy is limited.