[Benign hemorrhagic renal cyst diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy: a case report]

A case of benign renal hemorrhagic cyst in a 73-year-old man is reported. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a solid mass in the left renal cyst. Percutaneous puncture of left renal cyst was carried out followed by endoscopic biopsy of the intracystic masses. Specimens showed no malignancy. As we could not rule out malignancy, left partial nephrectomy was performed. The surgical specimen was free from malignancy by pathological examination. Thus endoscopic biopsy of intracystic tumor indicated the correct diagnosis.

Developmental and tissue-specific regulation of the gene for the wheat basic/leucine zipper protein HBP-1a(17) in transgenic Arabidopsis plants

Wheat basic/leucine zipper protein HBP-1a(17) binds in vitro specifically to ACGT motif-containing cis-acting elements, such as the type I element of plant histone promoters and the G-box of hormone- and light-inducible promoters. To address the in vivo function of HBP-1a(17), we isolated and structurally analyzed the HBP-1a(17) gene and examined its expression in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. The HBP-1a(17) gene is composed of 14 exons; the basic region and leucine zipper are encoded by separate small exons, as is the case for other bZIP protein genes. The G-box of the HBP-1a(17) promoter bound specifically to HBP-1a(17) and its related HBP-1a isoforms, suggesting that the HBP-1a(17) gene may be autoregulated, although the binding affinity of these proteins in vitro is very low. In Arabidopsis plants, activation of the HBP-1a(17) promoter was highly restricted to photosynthetically active mesophyll, and guard cells and vascular bundles of vegetative leaves. Etiolation of transgenic plants resulted in inhibition of expression of the HBP-1a(17) promoter. Indeed, the HBP-1a(17) promoter contains several sequence elements homologous to cis-acting elements conserved in light-inducible promoters. It is, therefore, assumed that the HBP-1a(17) gene is light regulated and that HBP-1a(17) is involved in light-responsive gene transcription via the G-box.

[Clinical assessment for prognostic factors related to recurrence and progression in superficial bladder cancer]

PURPOSE

The objective of this assessment is to identify prognostic factors of recurrence and disease progression of primary superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

TUR-Bt was performed in 150 patients with initial superficial bladder cancer, of which pathological diagnosis was pTa or pT1 transitional cell carcinoma. The recurrence and progression free survival was examined. The clinicopathological factors analyzed were as follows: grade, pT, tumor size, tumor number and tumor form.

RESULTS

Median follow-up period was 39 months (range 3-184). The age distribution was from 25 to 98 years old with the average of 67. The patients were 122 males and 28 females. Recurrence was observed in 72 patients. The 5-year recurrence free rate for all cases were 41.6%. The factors found to be of significance for the prognosis for recurrence were tumor size (1 cm <) and tumor multiplicity (p < 0.01). Progression was seen in 15 patients; 8 invasive tumors, 2 lymph node metastases and 5 distant metastases. Twelve cases of those died of cancer. The 5-year progression free rate for all cases were 87.0%. The prognostic factors related to progression found in this study were G3, pT1 and sessile form (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in recurrence free rate between cases with and without postoperative therapy; UFT p.o., ADM i.i. (intravesical instillation), ADM + Ara-C i.i. and PEP + 5-FU + Ara-C i.i.

CONCLUSION

Tumor size more than 1 cm and tumor multiplicity were the high risk factors about recurrence. So were G3, pT1 and sessile form about progression.

[Evaluation of surgical treatment for bone metastatic lesion in renal cell carcinoma]

Ten renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients with bone metastatic lesions were treated in the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine between January, 1977, and December, 1992. Surgical treatment for the metastatic lesion was performed on 4 patients, while conservative treatment was performed on the other 6 patients. Surgical treatment made the patients painless consecutively, resulting in higher activities of daily life. However, recurrence of RCC developed in all the cases between 2 and 7 years later. Surgical treatment for the metastatic lesion was considered to be only a palliative therapy for RCC with bone metastasis and the indication should be limited to patients expected to have a good prognosis.

Closure of leaks by fibrin gluing. Effects of various application techniques and temperatures

This study was performed to determine the differences in covering power obtained with fibrin gluing using three different methods, layered, mixing, and spraying. The experimental system consisted of a 2 x 2 cm plastic plate with a hole 1 mm in diameter, a plastic syringe, and a digital manometer. The internal pressure of the syringe barrel was measured with the digital manometer. Five minutes after fibrin glue membranes (1 mm in thickness) had been prepared on the plastic plate with the layered, mixing, or spray method, the plunger of the syringe was pushed slowly, and the maximum internal pressure in the syringe barrel was measured, just before the breakage of the membrane. Experiments were performed five times at each four temperatures, 12 degrees C, 17 degrees C, 22 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Covering power of fibrin glue membranes (units: mmHg; atmospheric pressure 760 mmHg) were as follows: 1) Layered method (12 degrees C: 810.0 +/- 68.6, 17 degrees C: 769.0 +/- 10.2, 22 degrees C: 812.0 +/- 112.4, 37 degrees C: 773.6 +/- 24.4). 2) Mixing method (12 degrees C: 956.6 +/- 219.3, 17 degrees C: 972.4 +/- 243.5, 22 degrees C: 1045.2 +/- 233.0, 37 degrees C: 1059.0 +/- 220.2). 3) Spray method (12 degrees C: 1010.0 +/- 231.1, 17 degrees C: 1144.4 +/- 170.6, 22 degrees C: 1148.0 +/- 234.7, 37 degrees C: 1250.0 +/- 111.8).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A case of a ureteral polyp resected transurethrally]

We report a case of fibroepithelial polyp of right ureter. The patient was a 36-year-old man, complaining of macrohematuria. An excretory urogram and retrograde pyelogram revealed a filling defect of the middle third of ureter, but it did not show hydronephrosis. We observed the ureter by transurethral ureteroscopy and found a ureter polyp with a slender stalk. We resected the polyp transurethrally. The pathological diagnosis was a fibroepithelial polyp. This suggests that the endourological technique is a useful method for diagnosis and treatment in patients with a urinary tract filling defect.

[A case report of pericardial diverticulum in the upper mediastinum: surgical treatment of two cases]

Pericardial cyst and diverticulum are commonly found in areas of cardiophrenic angles. In this article, we reported on two operated cases (54-year-old female, 43-year-old male) with pericardial diverticula in upper mediastinum. On their chest CT films, well circumscribed cystic lesions were seen in the right (case 1) and left (case 2) upper mediastinum. Based on findings of imaging modalities such as CT, MRI and transesophageal ultrasonography, the lesions were suspected of benign cystic tumors such as bronchogenic cyst, lymphatic cyst, esophageal cyst and pericardial cyst. However, definite diagnoses were made by thoracotomy. Even though the cystic lesion is recognized in the upper mediastinum, pericardial diverticulum should be considered as its diagnosis as well as bronchogenic cyst, lymphatic cyst, esophageal cyst.

[A resected case of esophageal leiomyoma with 15 cm in long diameter, diagnosed by transesophageal ultrasonic endoscopy]

A 28-year-old man whose chest X-ray film showed a mass on the right upper mediastinum was admitted. Preoperative examination, including CT, MRI, esophagogram, did not make it possible to determine clinically from which organ the tumor originated. On diagnosing with transesophageal ultrasonic endoscopy (TUE) the tumor was found to originate in the esophageal submucosa, with no involvement of the mediastinal organ apparent. Esophageal sub-mucosal tumor enucleation was performed. The resected tumor was 15 cm in long diameter and weighed 125 g. We therefore believe that TUE is clinically useful in diagnosing the tumor originating in the esophageal wall or adjoining esophageal wall.

Enhanced expression by the brain matrix of P-glycoprotein in brain capillary endothelial cells

P-glycoprotein (PGP), an active efflux pump of antitumor agents in multidrug-resistant tumor cells, exists in brain capillary endothelium and could be functionally involved in the blood-brain barrier. To study the regulatory mechanism of PGP expression in brain capillary endothelium, various mouse tissue matrices were tested for their abilities to enhance the expression of PGP in mouse brain capillary endothelial cells (MBEC), which express relatively small amounts of PGP. Of the four tissue matrices we examined, PGP expression in MBEC cultured on the brain matrix increased 2.0-fold. The PGP-inducing activity was similarly detected in bovine brain matrix, and the activity was enriched in the fraction of pl 9.0 by isoelectric focusing. The fraction, named PIC-fraction (PGP-inducing component), increased the PGP expression in MBEC 3.5-fold. By Northern blot analysis, a 3.3-fold enhancement of mdr gene expression was observed in MBEC cultured on the PIC-fraction. The PGP-inducing activity of the PIC-fraction was reduced by the treatment with trypsin but not with collagenase, suggesting that a proteinaceous factor distinct from type I collagen might be responsible for the PGP-inducing activity of PIC-fraction. Although the PIC-fraction increased the PGP expression in other mouse brain capillary endothelial cells, the PIC-fraction did not increase PGP expression in mouse aortic endothelial cells and KB carcinoma cell lines expressing various amounts of PGP. These observations suggest that PGP expression in brain capillary endothelium is specifically regulated by a tissue-specific factor in the brain matrix.

[The role of repeat transurethral resection in stage A1 carcinoma of the prostate]

In order to evaluate the significance of repeat transurethral resection (TUR) in differentiating stage A1 prostatic adenocarcinoma from those with stage A2, we performed repeat TUR in 34 patients with an initial diagnosis of stage A1 prostatic adenocarcinoma. It was found that residual adenocarcinoma was present in five cases (14.7%), but the diagnosis was changed from stage A1 to stage A2 in only one case (2.9%). In one patient with final diagnosis of stage A1 carcinoma, bone metastases were detected seven months after the repeat TUR. It was concluded that repeat TUR for stage A1 prostatic adenocarcinoma did not yield clinically significant information.

Transport of cyclosporin A across the brain capillary endothelial cell monolayer by P-glycoprotein

P-glycoprotein, a multidrug transporter protein, exists in the brain capillary endothelium. To study the function of P-glycoprotein in brain capillary endothelium as a barrier against cyclosporin A, we examined the interaction of cyclosporin A with P-glycoprotein expressed in cultured brain capillary endothelial cells (MBEC4). P-glycoprotein of MBEC4 specifically bound [125I]iodoaryl azidoprazosin, and the binding was inhibited by cyclosporin A and vincristine. Intracellular accumulation of cyclosporin A in MBEC4 was about one-third the amount accumulated in mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAEC3), a cell line that did not express P-glycoprotein. The reduced accumulation of cyclosporin A in MBEC4 was increased by verapamil, a competitive inhibitor of transport function of P-glycoprotein. Cyclosporin A was preferentially transported from basal to apical side when the cell monolayer of MBEC4 was formed; however this transendothelial transport was not observed across cell monolayer of MAEC3. Verapamil inhibited the transendothelial transport of cyclosporin A across the MBEC4 monolayer. Thus P-glycoprotein in brain capillary endothelium could transport cyclosporin A across the endothelium from the basal to the apical side. These observations suggest that P-glycoprotein is involved in the complex function of the blood-brain barrier as a secretory detoxifying transporter of cyclosporin A.

Modulation of adriamycin resistance in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells in vitro and in vivo by medroxyprogesterone acetate

The combination effect of adriamycin (ADM) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) was examined in vitro against human breast carcinoma MCF-7 and its ADM-resistant line (MCF-7/ADM). MCF-7 cells, which are positive for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and high-affinity MPA-binding activity, were more susceptible to the growth-inhibitory activity of ADM or MPA than MCF-7/ADM cells. A combination effect of ADM and MPA was observed against MCF-7/ADM cells, which are negative for steroid receptors, and furthermore against human nasopharynx carcinoma KB and its ADM-resistant line KB-A1. This combination effect of ADM and MPA against MCF-7/ADM cells was demonstrated to be synergistic by using the median effect plot method. The activity of MPA was almost equivalent to that of chlormadinone acetate or tamoxifen, greater than that of progesterone, and less than that of verapamil. The accumulation of ADM in MCF-7/ADM cells was enhanced by treatment with 10 microM MPA as well as 10 microM verapamil. The efflux of accumulated ADM from MCF-7/ADM cells was also partially inhibited by treatment with MPA or verapamil. MPA augmented the growth-inhibitory activity of ADM against MCF-7/ADM tumors inoculated into nude mice, although statistical significance was not observed. It is suggested that the clinical advantage of the combination of MPA with ADM against advanced breast cancers may be partly explained by the modulation of ADM resistance by MPA.

Non-Mendelian inheritance of macronuclear mutations is gene specific in Paramecium tetraurelia

Paramecium tetraurelia contains two types of nuclei, a diploid germinal micronucleus and a large transcriptionally active macronucleus. The macronuclear genome is formed from the micronuclear DNA during sexual reproduction. Previous studies have shown that the processing of the A-type variable surface protein gene during formation of a new macronucleus is dependent on the presence of the A gene in the old macronucleus. It is not clear if this is a general feature that controls the formation of the Paramecium macronuclear genome or a unique feature of the A locus. Using micronuclear transplantation, we have constructed a strain that has a wild-type micronucleus but has macronuclear deletions of the A- and B-type surface protein genes. Neither the A nor the B gene is incorporated into the new macronucleus after sexual reproduction. Macronuclear transformation of this strain with the B gene rescues the B-gene deletion after formation of the next macronucleus but has not effect on the A deletion. Similarly, transformation with the A gene shows gene-specific rescue for A but not B. The effect of the old macronucleus on the processing of the new macronucleus results in a pattern of non-Mendelian inheritance of both macronuclear deletions. Progeny from the wild-type exconjugant are all wild type, and progeny from the A- B- exconjugant are mutant. The features of this A- B- non-Mendelian mutant demonstrate that the regulation of macronuclear DNA processing is gene specific, and our results open the possibility that this type of regulation affects many regions of the Paramecium genome.

[Successful collection of peripheral blood stem cells mobilized by high-dose etoposide for patients with chemotherapy-resistant and/or poor prognostic testicular cancer]

Clinical effects of peripheral blood stem cell autotransplantation (PBSCT) after ultra high-dose chemotherapy were evaluated in patients with chemotherapy-resistant and/or poor prognostic testicular cancer. Four patients with testicular cancer, who had high-risk malignancy, were treated with high-dose etoposide (500 mg/m2 x 4 days) in order to collect peripheral blood stem cells. After the administration of high-dose etoposide, rG-CSF (250 micrograms/body) was administered from nadir state. Blood mononuclear cells were collected using a Fenwall CS-3000 blood cell separator. Fractions enriched for stem cells were obtained by discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation and were stored in liquid nitrogen using patient's sera and DMSO. The mean number of peripheral blood granulocyte-macrophage-colony-forming units (CFU-GM) collected by one apheresis was 22.3 x 10(5)/kg body weight. In addition, CFU-GM more than 2.0 x 10(5)/kg body weight could be collected in each apheresis, which was though to be sufficient dosis to perform PBSCT in safe, based upon our previous studies. All the patients were treated by a combination of cisplatin (20 mg/m2 x 5 days), etoposide (100 mg/m2 x 5 days) and bleomycin (15 mg x 3 days). Three patients responded to BEP therapy and obtained a CR, however, remaining 1 patient failed to achieve CR, who was later treated by ultrahigh-dose chemotherapy including carboplatin (200 mg/m2 x 4 days), etoposide (250 mg/m2 x 4 days) and cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg x 2 days) followed by PBSCT. He responded to this therapy and obtained a CR for 10 months. The results suggested the method was promising for patients with chemotherapy-resistant and/or poor prognostic testicular cancer.

The HBP-1 family of wheat basic/leucine zipper proteins interacts with overlapping cis-acting hexamer motifs of plant histone genes

The type I element (CCACGTCANCGATCCGCG) is a cis-acting element that is essential for the transcriptional regulation of the wheat histone H3 (TH012) gene. The sequence CCACGTCA in the type I element resembles various plant regulatory elements that share an ACGT core sequence, which can be recognized by different basic/leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of wheat cDNA clones encoding three novel bZIP proteins, designated HBP (histone promoter-binding protein)-1a(1), HBP-1a(c14), and HBP-1b(c1). These proteins specifically bind to the ACGT core sequence and, together with previously identified HBP-1a(17) and HBP-1b(c38), constitute a protein family, named the HBP-1 family. Based on their structural characteristics and DNA binding specificities, members of the HBP-1 family can be grouped into HBP-1a and HBP-1b subfamilies. The HBP-1a isoforms are characterized by their N-terminal proline-rich domain and a C-terminal bZIP domain, which binds to the CCACGT motif. In contrast, the HBP-1b isoforms have a bZIP domain at the N terminus, which binds to the ACGTCA motif, and a glutamine-rich domain at the C terminus. All members of both subfamilies interact with the CCACGTCA sequence, but their DNA binding specificities and affinities differ. Since HBP-1a isoforms form heterodimers in all pairwise combinations, heterodimer formation among these bZIP proteins may generate an expanded repertoire of regulatory potential for gene expression in plants.

[Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy for localized prostate cancer]

Between April 1992 and May 1993, 13 patients (age, 66-79) with localized prostate cancer underwent laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy at Asahi General Hospital. Clinical stage comprised A2 for 3 patients, B1 for 1 and C for 9. Lymphadenectomy covered inner half of external iliac nodes and obturator nodes, from pubic bone to proximal end of umbilical ligament. Operating time ranged from 70 minutes to 133 minutes with median of 102 minutes. The number of total lymph nodes dissected ranged from 3 to 17 nodes with median of 7. Lymph nodal involvement was detected in one patient. Two patients needed laparotomy due to bleeding; from abdominal wall caused at insertion of trocar in one, and oozing of blood for 10 hours after procedure in the other. Other serious complications were not observed. In conclusion, laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy was a good staging procedure for localized prostate cancer.

[Clinical evaluation of M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin and cisplatin) chemotherapy for advanced urothelial cancer]

M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin and cisplatin) chemotherapy was performed on 27 patients with advanced urothelial cancer. The patients included 20 with bladder cancer, 4 with upper urinary tract cancer and 3 with both lesions. Complete response (CR) was observed in 2 (7.4 +/- 9.9%) patients and partial response (PR) in 10 (37.0 +/- 18.2%) patients after the treatment, i.e., the overall objective response rate was 44.4 +/- 18.7%. The rate of relapse or recurrence in the patients with CR and PR was 100% and 90.0%, respectively. The mean duration of the response was 18.5 +/- 13.4 months and 10.7 +/- 10.9 months for CR and PR, respectively. The overall survival rate after one year was 30.2%. Bone marrow suppression was the most serious side effect. The white blood cell count became below 1,000/microliters in 10 patients (36.7%). Among them, 4 patients suffered from sepsis. In conclusion, M-VAC chemotherapy was effective for induction therapy against advanced urothelial cancer, although the effective duration was short. Further maintenance therapy should be established.

[Clinical evaluation on renal pelvic and ureteral tumors]

We report 82 patients with renal pelvic and ureteral tumors admitted to Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto Second Red Cross Hospital and Shakai-Hoken Kyoto Hospital between January, 1981 and December, 1991. Sixty two were males and 24 were females, and they were between 47 and 93 years old (average: 68.2 years). The tumor occurred on the right side in 34 patients, on the left side in 51 patients and on both sides in one patient. There were 43 renal pelvic tumors, 37 ureteral tumors and 6 renal pelvic with ureteral tumors. The most frequent symptom was macrohematuria, which was seen in 54 patients (62.8%). Urinary cytology was performed in 76 patients and a positive result was obtained in 44 patients (57.9%). We performed surgical treatment on 71 patients. The most frequently adopted method was total nephroureterectomy with partial cystectomy which was performed on 51 patients (71.8%). Of the 73 specimens diagnosed histopathologically, 71 specimens were transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), one was a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and one was a mixed type of TCC and adenocarcinoma. As to grading, 6 specimens were G1, 28 G2, 38 G3 and one GX. As to staging, 8 specimens were pTa, 17 pT1, 21 pT2, 18 pT3, 8 pT4 and one pTX. The overall survival rate (by Kaplan-Meier's method) at 3 and 5 years was 47.0% and 39.5%, respectively. The patients with high grade tumors and those who had ureter preservation, the survival rate was lower than in the other patients.

Microheterogeneity of PSI-E subunit of photosystem I in Nicotiana sylvestris

Microheterogeneity of a photosystem I (PSI) subunit encoded by a nuclear gene psaE was examined in Nicotiana sylvestris, with the aid of cDNA cloning, peptide mapping analysis and protein sequencing. The psaE product of this plant has four isoforms whose mobilities in PAGE are slightly different from each other. We isolated two types of psaE cDNAs from a N. sylvestris cDNA library, and designated the corresponding genes as psaEa and psaEb, respectively. The psaEa and psaEb genes are 77% homologous at DNA level, and their translation products share 80.4% homology for the precursor proteins and 89.1% for the mature forms. Comparative analysis of the four isoproteins and the putative products of the two psaE genes revealed that two isoproteins out of four are derived from psaEa gene, and the difference between these two isoproteins lies in the respective presence or absence of N-terminal alanine. Likewise, the other two proteins are derived from psaEb with similar N-terminal heterogeneity. These results indicate that multi-gene organization and heterogeneous N-terminal formation at post-translational level are two possible causes for PSI subunit polymorphism in isogenic plant lines.

[Ultra high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell autotransplantation for refractory testicular cancer]

This is a report of 45-year-old man with advanced nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (stage IIIB2: embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, seminoma), who had relapse after PVB (cisplatin, vinblastine, bleomycin) chemotherapy. Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were taken by two consecutive apheresis using a CS-3000 blood separator after high-dose chemotherapy of cytarabine and mitoxantrone. In total, 6.4 x 10(5)/kg of granulocytic cells (CFU-GM) was collected. He was treated with ultra high-dose chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin (800 mg/m2), etoposide (1,000 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) from day 1, followed by peripheral blood stem cell autotransplantation (PBSCT) on day 9. We transfused 2.4 x 10(5)/kg CFU-GM, which was enough number of stem cells for safe PBSCT. No serious side effects or complications were encountered. The patient achieved partial remission for more than two months. However, he died of respiratory dysfunction caused by metastatic lung cancer 5 months later. It was thought that ultra high-dose chemotherapy with PBSCT might be a new therapy for refractory testicular cancer.

Ethanol-elicited structural and biochemical alterations in mitochondrial ATPase in cultured myocardial cells

The effects of ethanol (12.5-500 mM for up to 24 h) on mitochondrial structure including that of ATPase particles in cultured ventricular myocardial cells were studied using negative-stain electron microscopy. The activity of mitochondrial ATPase after ethanol treatment was also examined cytochemically and biochemically. At 5 min after the addition of all the concentrations of ethanol examined, some mitochondrial cristae were expanded and the arrangement of mitochondrial ATPase particles on these cristae was disordered. At and after 30 min the cristae decreased in number and some were expanded, vesiculated or fragmented. ATPase particles also decreased in number, particularly after the application of ethanol in concentrations of more than 50 mM. All the mitochondria had broadened and translucent cristae, and lacked ATPase particles with 200 and 500 mM ethanol at 24 h, although with 12.5 and 50 mM ethanol some mitochondria had similar negatively stained images but others had ATPase particles on broadened cristae. The enzymatic activity of the mitochondrial ATPase was unchanged with 200 and 500 mM ethanol at 24 h, compared with controls. The cytochemical technique also detected enzyme activity with all the concentrations of ethanol examined at 24 h. The discrepancy between the structural and biochemical alterations in mitochondrial ATPase induced by ethanol is discussed.

Inhibition of the induction and activity of hepatic P450IA isozymes by in vivo administration of carbon tetrachloride to rats

The effect of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on the induction and activity of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-inducible P450IA isozymes (P450IA1 and P450IA2) in the liver was examined by treating male Sprague-Dawley rats with simultaneous i.p. injections of MC and CCl4. Following the treatment, the quantities of P450IA mRNAs determined by Northern blotting and P450IA proteins by Western blotting were significantly reduced as compared with those in rats treated with MC alone. As determined by a bacterial mutation test using carcinogenic aromatic amines are P450IA enzyme substrates, CCl4 treatment selectively inhibited the activity of P450IA2 in the MC-induced isozymes. These results indicate that CCl4 exerts on inhibitory effect on the induction of P4501A isozymes and that it selectively inhibits P450IA2 activity.

[Characteristic features of the atrophic border of gastric ulcers in elderly]

We studied the characteristic features of gastric ulcers in 50 elderly cases (over 60 years old) concerning 2 points. Initially, we compared the clinical features of the elderly patients with those of the non-elderly (under 60 years old) patients. Secondly, we compared the endoscopic appearance of the atrophic border of elderly patients with that of elderly persons without gastric ulcer, using the Takemoto and Kimura's classification of endoscopic atrophic borders. The results were that elderly patients with gastric ulcer had few symptoms. The symptoms associated with bleeding, however, were recognized. Many of them had some complications. There was no difference in the healing rate at 8 weeks from the beginning of the treatment by histamine H2-receptor blocker (H2 blocker) between the elderly and non-elderly with gastric ulcer. Concerning the endoscopic atrophic border of the elderly persons without ulcers, the number of the open type cases was significantly greater than that of the closed type. On the contrary, in elderly persons with gastric ulcer, the number of the closed type was significantly greater than that of the open type, especially the number of C-2 type was the greatest. The healing rate of the elderly with closed type border was higher than that of elderly cases with open type border in 4 and 8 weeks from the beginning of the treatment.

[A clinical study of 17 cases of penile cancer]

A clinical evaluation of 17 patients with penile cancer treated in our hospital from 1965 to 1991 were surveyed. They were between 34 and 74 years old with a mean age of 63.8 years. The average interval between the onset and the first visit was 22.8 months. Fourteen patients (83%) complained of the manifestation of a tumor and 14 patients (83%) were phimotic. The stage classified according to Jackson was Stage I for 6, Stage II for 6, Stage III for 4 and Stage IV for 1 patient. At the first visit, the inguinal lymph nodes were palpated in 8 patients and metastasis was confirmed in 5 (63%) of them. Surgical treatment was given to 15 patients (88%) (radical or partial penectomy was performed in most cases). Chemotherapy was given to 9 patients (60%) (main chemotherapeutic agent was bleomycin) and irradiation to 5 patients (30%). The overall 3-year survival rate was 71%, and 5-year survival rate was 56%. The 5-year survival rate in the low stage group (Stage I, II) was 75%, while that in the high stage group (Stage III, IV) was 0%, showing a significant difference.