[Intraarterial COMPA (cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (II), vincristine, methotrexate, peplomycin, adriamycin) chemotherapy for bladder cancer]

Seventeen patients with bladder cancer were treated with semiselective intraarterial COMPA chemotherapy. One course of COMPA consisted of 20 mg/m2 cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (CDDP) on days 4 and 5, 0.6 mg/m2 vincristine (VCR) (Oncovin) on days 1 and 2, 5 mg/m2 methotrexate (MTX) on days 2 and 3, 5 mg/body peplomycin (PEP) on days 1, 2 and 3, and 15 mg/m2 adriamycin (ADM) on day 4. These drugs were injected every 2 or 3 weeks through a polyurethane catheter the tip of which was placed just proximal to the aortic bifurcation and during injection both thighs were tied with a pressure of over 250 mmHg. From 2 to 6 courses (mean, 4.4 courses) were administered. Of the 17 patients, 4 achieved complete remission, 10 achieved partial remission and 3 showed no change. After this COMPA chemotherapy eight patients were able to retain their bladders while seven underwent immediate radical cystectomy. The adjuvant COMPA chemotherapy for two patients with pelvic metastasis after radical cystectomy showed good results. Mild degrees of anorexia, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, numbness of fingers and/or toes, leukopenia and intestinal paralysis were observed. Instrumental troubles were seen in two cases; one involved dislocation of the tip of the catheter, the other was infection of the reservoir. Intraarterial COMPA chemotherapy is effective for neoadjuvant therapy of invasive bladder cancer, bladder-preserving treatment and adjuvant therapy of pelvic metastasis.

The mechanism of inhibition of the actin-activated myosin MgATPase by calponin

Calponin inhibits the actin-activated ATPase of smooth muscle myosin and thus has been proposed as a thin filament-based regulatory component in smooth muscle. To obtain information on the mechanism of inhibition by calponin we have used chemical modification of actin and cross-linking of actin and subfragment 1. Modification of Lys 61 of actin had no effect on the inhibition by calponin of acto-heavy meromyosin ATPase, i.e. different from tropomyosin-troponin. In addition, modification of the acidic N-terminal region of actin did not impair the ability of calponin to bind to F-actin. Finally, calponin was effective in inhibiting ATPase activity of cross-linked acto-subfragment 1. Therefore the mechanism of inhibition by calponin is distinct from troponin-tropomyosin and caldesmon in that it does not involve either the N-terminal acidic region of actin nor the area around Lys 61 and does not fit a simple steric blocking model.

[Basic and clinical evaluation of the new kit for detection of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA)]

BALL-ELSA PSA is a monoclonal radioimmunometric assay kit for detection of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) developed and generally used in Europe. Basic and clinical study of the kit was performed for evaluation of it's utility in Japanese patients. The sera from 56 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 35 patients with prostate cancer (PCA) and 18 normal males were examined. Other kits such as EIKEN PSA and EIKEN PAP (prostatic acid phosphatase) were also evaluated in same sera. The results of the range in the measurement, within-assay error, between-assay error, dilution test, recovery test and others were well satisfied. In our clinical study, mean + 2SD of serum PSA values in normal males was 2.57 ng/ml. Serum PSA values determined by the two RIA kits, BALL-ELSA and EIKEN, showed a good correlation (r = 0.9909), but the BALL-ELSA PSA kit yielded values about 2.4 times higher than the EIKEN PSA kit on the same sample. We think that the difference might be largely due to differences in assigned PSA calibrators and diluents between the assay kits. Further investigations and discussions were expected on this point. In our study, the most suitable cut-off level for distinguishing PCA from BPH in BALL-ELSA PSA kit was 10.0 ng/ml.

Incidence of cholelithiasis in the northern part of Thailand

It may be concluded from comparisons of recent u/s examinations in Northern Thailand to studies in Japan and to the gallstone study conducted over two decades ago that gallstone disease in Thailand is starting to exhibit the same situation as in the West. In comparing overall rates over time the gallstone incidence in Thailand appears to have climbed from 2.61 to 3.10 per cent (Fig. F). The rate increase is even more significant when broken down by sex (male: 1.89%--> 2.50%, female: 3.23%--> 3.70%). In addition, the present rates of female and male gallstone incidence in Northern Thailand closely match the rates found in studies of the Japanese population. Because gallstone disease has become a major public health problem in the West, a number of studies have emphasized the epidemiological characteristics of the disease in order to implement controls. As Thailand's gallstone problem seems to be heading towards the same level of importance further studies involving epidemiological factor linkage may be necessary and the technological advances in Ultrasonography make such studies quite feasible.

Difference in inhaled aerosol deposition patterns in the lungs due to three different sized aerosols

Deposition patterns of inhaled aerosol in the lungs were studied in five normal subjects and 20 patients with lung disease by inhaling radioaerosols with three different particle size distributions. These aerosols were generated from BARC, UltraVent, and Mistogen-EN-142. Particle size distributions generated by these three nebulizers were 0.84, 1.04 and 1.93 microns in activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) with its geometric standard deviation (sigma g) of 1.73, 1.71 and 1.52, respectively. Deposition patterns of inhaled aerosols were compared qualitatively and quantitatively by studying six different parameters: alveolar deposition ratio (ALDR), Xmax, Xmean, standard deviation (S.D.), skewness and kurtosis of the radioactive distribution in the lungs following inhalation. It has been found that aerosol deposition patterns varied with particle size. The unevenness of aerosol deposition, Xmax, Xmean and the number of 'hot spots' became more prominent with the increase in particle size, whereas values of ALDR and S.D. decreased as particle size increased. Knowing these deposition characteristics would facilitate a judicious application of aerosol inhalation to medical use.

Malignant cell-specific gelatinase activity in human endometrial carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The protease activity leading to degradation of the extracellular matrix was compared between human endometrial cancer and normal uterine endometrium.

METHODS

Conditioned medium from tumor cells and normal endometrial cells was subjected to electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel containing gelatin as a substrate. After electrophoresis, the gel was stained with Coomassie blue, and then the enzyme activity, expressed as the zone of dye clearing, was analyzed by densitometry.

RESULTS

Densitometric analysis showed that all the endometrial cancers expressed a very high molecular weight enzyme activity (Mr 220,000), which was not detected in medium from normal endometrial cells. The analysis also showed that in endometrial cancer the activity of a Mr 92,000 enzyme was always superior to that of a Mr 64,000 enzyme, which was in contrast to the situation for normal endometrium.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the expression of Mr 220,000 enzyme activity and the higher activity of the Mr 92,000 enzyme than the Mr 64,000 enzyme are involved in the malignant phenotype of native endometrial cancer.

[Simultaneous double malignant tumors on functional solitary kidney: a case report]

A case of simultaneous double cancer on functional solitary kidney is reported. A 72-year-old man was admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine with angina, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. After treatment involving percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, he was sent to the Department of Urology to check the microhematuria. Cystoscopy showed normal interior of urinary bladder. Drip infusion pyelography and computed tomography demonstrated a tumor mass on the upper pole of the right kidney and atrophic left kidney. Preoperative diagnosis was right renal cell carcinoma. However, an additional pelvic tumor was found during surgery, and a partial nephrectomy was performed. Histologic examination confirmed the presence of 2 separate and distinct malignant entities: a renal cell carcinoma and a non-invasive transitional cell carcinoma. Postoperative recovery has been uneventful and without hemodialysis for 16 months. This is the 19th case of simultaneous occurrence of renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma in the same kidney and the 1st case in the patient with a functional solitary kidney in the Japanese literature.

Estimation by an electrophysiological method of the expression of oxytocin receptor mRNA in human myometrium during pregnancy

In order to evaluate the changes in uterine oxytocin receptor-specific mRNA during pregnancy, receptor expression in Xenopus oocytes are examined electrophysiologically following microinjection of mRNA from human uterus. In voltage-clamped oocytes injected with term myometrial mRNA, oxytocin elicited an inward current response. The amplitude of the oxytocin-induced current increased with increasing dose of oxytocin, but no current was elicited following stimulation with vasopressin. The oxytocin-induced current was completely eliminated as a result of pretreatment with a specific oxytocin antagonist. 21 of 27 oocytes injected with term myometrial mRNA showed a large amplitude (77.0 +/- 16.1 nA) reaction to oxytocin. In comparison, only 3 of 13 oocytes injected with early gestational myometrial mRNA exhibited a small amplitude (4.6 +/- 1.4 nA) reaction to oxytocin. No oxytocin response was observed in oocytes injected with non-pregnant myometrial mRNA. These results indicate that the striking increment in oxytocin sensitivity in term uterus depends on the increase in mRNA encoding oxytocin receptors.

[Changes in pulmonary epithelial permeability due to thoracic irradiation]

The changes in pulmonary epithelial permeability during and following radiation therapy were studied in 10 patients with malignant diseases of the chest; 9 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and one with thymoma. 99mTc-DTPA aerosol was inhaled during tidal breathing with the patient in supine position, and radioactivity was measured anteriorly by a gamma camera and recorded on a computer. Half time clearance (t1/2) was calculated from exponential fitting of time activity curves by regression analysis in various regions of interest in the initial 7 min following completion of aerosol inhalation. Studies were made every two weeks. In patients who developed radiation pneumonitis, t1/2 values decreased and reached the nadir at the time of manifest pneumonitis, indicating increased pulmonary epithelial permeability. Increased pulmonary epithelial permeability was observed not only in the pneumonic regions but also in the contralateral normal lung regions. Steroid therapy reversed these changes. Increased pulmonary epithelial permeability was observed in 2 out of 5 patients who did not develop radiation pneumonitis. In summary, pulmonary epithelial permeability changes occur not only in regions of radiation pneumonitis but also in non-irradiated lung regions following radiation therapy. We consider that the judicious use of this method enables detection of changes in pulmonary epithelial permeability prior to the development of clinical manifestations of radiation pneumonitis.

[The kinetic changes in murine lymphocyte subsets in regenerating liver]

The regeneration of the liver is frequently observed after the resection of liver tumor and partial liver transplantation, and it is assumed that the modification of the hematolymphoid system in the liver will occur during this process and influence not only the progress of the primary disease but also liver regeneration itself. In this study, we investigated by flow cytometric analysis the modification of the cell subpopulation in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), intrahepatic lymphocytes fraction 1, which come into marginal contact with the liver (IHL Fr. 1), and intrahepatic lymphocytes fraction 2, which come into close contact with the liver (IHL Fr.2). (1) The positive cells of each antigen (Thy 1.2, alpha beta TCR, gamma delta TCR, CD4 and CD8) exist in the normal liver as PBL. (2) CD8/CD4 ratio is 0.3-0.4 in PBL and IHL Fr.1 and significantly higher in IHL Fr.2 (0.7). (3) Compared with other fractions, the ratio of alpha beta TCR dull positive cells to whole alpha beta TCR positive cells is low, while (4) the percentage of gamma delta TCR positive cells is high in IHL Fr.2. These facts suggest that lymphocyte populations in the liver differ from those of PBL. Furthermore, one day after partial hepatectomy, (5) the percentage of the alpha beta TCR dull positive cells decreases in PBL, but remarkably increases to 2.6 times the normal level in IHL Fr.2 and (6) the ratio of CD8/CD4 increases to 1.4 times in IHL Fr.2. (7) The percentage of gamma delta TCR positive cells decreases in PBL, but does not significantly change in IHL Fr. 2 during the liver regeneration. These findings reveal that lymphocyte populations different from PBL exist in the liver and respond to stimulus to the liver in different ways from PBL. The mechanism for the modification occurring in the IHL population during liver regeneration and its biological significance are discussed.

Removing the two C-terminal residues of actin affects the filament structure

We define conditions under which the two C-terminal residues of actin, Cys-374 and Phe-375, can be selectively removed by proteolysis with trypsin. This modification had little effect on the secondary structure of actin detected by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. However, removing these residues caused small but significant decreases in the critical concentration of actin, in its ability to activate myosin ATPase, and in its interaction with tropomyosin and troponin. Removing residues 374-375 caused dramatic changes in the actin filament as seen by electron microscopy. The filaments had a much greater and more irregular curvature and were intertwined into disordered multifilament bundles. Removing 374-375 also significantly lowered the flow viscosity of filamentous-actin solutions. These data suggest an increase in the flexibility and fragility of the filament, supporting the idea that the C-terminus forms one of the major intermonomer contacts in the filament.

Functional expression of human myometrial endothelin receptors in Xenopus laevis oocytes

We demonstrate the existence of functional endothelin receptors in human uterine myometrium using the Xenopus oocyte expression system. Fifty nanograms of poly(A)+RNA from myometrium was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes and incubated for 70-80 h. The membrane potential of the oocyte was clamped at -60 mV and membrane current was measured during and after endothelin stimulation. Endothelin-1 elicited a large inward membrane current in the oocytes injected with poly(A)+RNA; endothelin-2 elicited a small current; while endothelin-3 did not induce any membrane current. These results indicate the existence of messenger RNA encoding functional endothelin-1 receptors in human uterine myometrium.

Effect of respiratory phases and gravity on mucociliary transport in the normal lungs

Effect of gravity and respiratory phase on mucociliary transport was studied in 11 normal subjects. After inhaling 99mTc-human serum albumin aerosol, each subject was positioned in right lateral decubitus and then supine position before a scintillation camera. Data in list mode and simultaneous respiratory curve were stored in a computer for 15 min each. The respiratory curve was sequentially marked at the beginning of inspiration, expiration and pause of each respiratory cycle and list mode data was converted into frame mode, respectively. The frame mode data was then sequentially connected according to the respective respiratory phase. The data in count-per-second from each lungs versus time was fitted to a straight line by regression analysis and the slope of the line was compared with each other for respective respiratory phase. Slopes of net radioactivity changes in the right and left lungs were compared to evaluate gravity effect. Neither respiratory phases nor gravity had any significant effect on mucociliary transport. Theoretical calculations have also supported the present findings.

The gene expressions of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) and MCSF receptor in the human myometrium during pregnancy: regulation by sex steroid hormones

We investigated the biological effect of sex-steroid hormones, secreted from the corpus luteum and placenta, on the induction of mRNA encoding macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) and c-fms proto-oncogene (MCSF receptor) in the human uterine myometrium. Poly(A)+RNA was extracted from the myometrium of pregnant and non-pregnant uterine myometrium and then Northern blot analysis was performed on poly(A)+RNA. The myometrium of non-pregnant women expressed neither mRNA of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) nor any transcript related to the c-fms proto-oncogene. On the other hand the myometrium of pregnant women expressed MCSF mRNA (4.7 kb) and two kinds of transcript related to the c-fms proto-oncogene (3.9 and 1.3 kb). The mRNAs of both MCSF and c-fms proto-oncogene were induced in the uterine myometrium of non-pregnant women under pseudopregnant therapy of mestranol and norethindrone. These results indicate that sex steroid hormone secreted from the corpus luteum of pregnancy and/or placenta may be deeply involved in the hypertrophic change of uterus during pregnancy by inducing MCSF and MCSF receptor (c-fms proto-oncogene protein product) in the myometrium.

Detection of conformational changes in actin by fluorescence resonance energy transfer between tyrosine-69 and cysteine-374

The distance between 5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride (dansyl chloride or DNS-Cl) attached to Tyr-69 and N-[[4-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]azo]phenyl]maleimide (DABMI) or N-[4-(dimethylamino)-3,5-dinitrophenyl]maleimide (DDPM) attached to Cys-374 in an actin monomer was measured to be 2.51 nm or 2.27 +/- 0.04 nm, respectively, by fluorescence resonance energy transfer. This distance does not change significantly when the actin monomer binds DNase I, when the monomer is polymerized, when the polymer interacts with myosin subfragment 1, or when it interacts with tropomyosin-troponin in the presence and absence of Ca2+. Changes in the distance were within 0.1 nm. The results indicate that the structure of the region involving Tyr-69 and Cys-374 is substantially rigid. A large blue shift (about 15 nm) of the fluorescence spectrum and a large increase (about 80%) in the fluorescence intensity of DNS-actin were observed when DNS-actin was denatured upon addition of EDTA. On the other hand, a red shift (about 7 nm) of the fluorescence spectrum and a large decrease (about 50%) in the fluorescence intensity were observed when DNS-actin was completely unfolded in 8 M urea. The results indicate that dansyl chromophore becomes less exposed to the aqueous environment by EDTA denaturation in contradiction to the case of intrinsic tryptophan residues in G-actin. Resonance energy transfer measurements showed that the distance between probes attached to Tyr-69 and Cys-374 on an actin monomer changes by 0.37 nm during EDTA denaturation, but that the distance becomes longer than 4.0 nm in 8 M urea in which no energy transfer is observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Voiding disturbance in elderly males examined by prostate mass screening. Gunma Urological Oncology Study Group]

Information about voiding disturbance was obtained from 34,140 elderly males in Gunma Aged Club Association (Q group) through a questionnaire and from 8,129 males by prostate mass screening for prostate disease (MS group) as to: (1) the characteristics of the subjects examined by the mass screening, (2) the relationship between the voiding disturbance and aging and (3) the frequency of voiding disturbance in the normal elderly males. In MS group, the percentage of young subjects, especially less than 60 years old, who complained voiding disturbance was higher than the expected percentage on the assumption that it increases with aging. The percentage of voiding disturbance in these young subjects was also higher than that of males in the same decade in Q group. In their past and present history, the percentage of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in these young subjects was higher than the expected percentage on the assumption that the incidence of BPH increases with aging. Judging from these results, it was estimated that they were not satisfied with the medical care by which they were treated or were being treated, and they received this mass screening to obtain consultation for their complains. Loss of the force was related with the prostate size estimated by digital rectal examination but not with aging. However, nocturia was well related with aging but not with the prostate size. Hesitancy, strain and dribbling were not apparently related with either the prostate size or aging. It was demonstrated that frequency of nocturia was 0 to 1 in less than 60 years old normal males, 0 to 2 in 60 to 79 years old ones and 0 to 3 in over 80 years old ones. The other symptoms studied in each decade were also analyzed and discussed.

[Pulmonary epithelial permeability in normal subjects and patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia]

99mTc-DTPA is a low molecular weight substance which is believed to pass through the pulmonary epithelium when it is inhaled as an aerosol. We performed 99mTc-DTPA inhalation studies in 10 nonsmoking normal subjects and 10 patients with biopsy proven idiopathic interstitial pneumonia prior to therapy. 99mTc-DTPA aerosol was inhaled for 3 min with the subject in the supine position and radioactivity was measured anteriorly with a gamma camera and recorded on a computer. Measurements were performed for 3 min with the subject inhaling aerosol and for the subsequent 30 min with the subject in the same position. Time activity curves from the five regions of interest (ROIs) including the entire left lung, the entire right lung, and the upper, middle and lower third of the right lung were separately fitted to a single exponential function for the initial 7 min following cessation of inhalation, and the respective clearance half life (t1/2) in min was calculated. Lung function data, arterial blood gas tensions and blood chemistry were also obtained for comparison with the t1/2 values. The t1/2 values were significantly smaller in all ROIs in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia than in normal subjects, indicating a increased pulmonary epithelial permeability in these patients. There was no relationship between t1/2 and %DLco, %DLco/VA, PaO2, or LDH. Although the true pathophysiologic significance of t1/2 measured using 99mTc-DTPA aerosol is still not known, we consider that this measurement may be an important indicator of nonrespiratory lung function, in particular the degree of alveolar epithelial damage.

The biological effects of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor induced by progestin on growth and differentiation of endometrial adenocarcinoma cells

Progestins have biological effects of regression and differentiation on human endometrial adenocarcinoma. We investigated the effects of progestin on the induction of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and its receptor messenger RNAs in the human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line Ishikawa which has receptors for both estrogen and progesterone. Poly(A)+RNA extracted from Ishikawa cells cultured with or without synthetic progestin R5020 was subjected to Northern blot hybridization using M-CSF and c-fms cDNA probes. The expression of M-CSF mRNA in Ishikawa cells increased about 2.3 times following treatment with R5020 at 10(-7) M. Induction of M-CSF mRNA by R5020 was antagonized by anti-progestin RU486 in a dose-dependent manner. However, c-fms mRNA, coding the M-CSF receptor, was expressed constitutively in Ishikawa cells and its expression was not affected by hormonal treatment. We further examined the biological effects of M-CSF on endometrial cancer cells. Colony formation of Ishikawa cells in soft agar, which represents anchorage-independent cell growth, was inhibited by M-CSF treatment. On the other hand, accumulation of glycogen granules in cytoplasm detected by periodicacid-Schiff staining was observed in Ishikawa cells treated with M-CSF. These results indicate that M-CSF, whose gene expression was enhanced by progestin, suppressed growth and induced differentiation of endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. These effects of M-CSF on endometrial cancer cells are similar to those of progestins, so the effects of progestins on these cells are, at least in part, probably mediated by M-CSF in an autocrine or paracrine manner.

Incidence of pulmonary embolism in a chest hospital in Japan and importance of preoperative perfusion lung imaging in the diagnosis of postoperative pulmonary embolism

The incidence of pulmonary embolism was retrospectively studied in a University Chest Institute and its affiliated hospital in Sendai, Japan, whose annual numbers of discharged patients from chest medical wards and lung operations as a whole are about 600 and 400, respectively. Before 1975 there was no documented patient with pulmonary embolism. Since then 70 patients had been clinically suspected of having pulmonary embolism and 31 of the 70 were diagnosed as having pulmonary embolism; 15 without and 16 with surgical operations in the immediate past. Fourteen of the 31 patients required combined perfusion and aerosol inhalation lung imaging for diagnosis. Twelve postoperative patients could be diagnosed as pulmonary embolism by comparing postoperative perfusion lung images taken at the time of suspicion with preoperative perfusion counterparts. Although it is said to be rising, the incidence of pulmonary embolism in a chest hospital still seems to remain low compared with that in western countries. For postoperative patients, comparison with preoperative studies was found very useful in diagnosing postoperative pulmonary embolism. The importance of preoperative perfusion lung imaging cannot be overstressed not only as a preoperative lung function test but as a baseline study to be compared with postoperative perfusion images when pulmonary embolism is clinically suspected in postoperative patients.

Interaction of maleimidobenzoyl actin with myosin subfragment 1 and tropomyosin-troponin

A chemical modification of G-actin with (m-maleimidobenzoyl)-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS) impairs actin polymerization [Bettache, N., Bertrand, R., & Kassab, R. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 6028-6032]. MBS-actin recovers the ability to polymerize when a 2-fold molar excess of phalloidin is added in 30 mM KCl/2 mM MgCl2/20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.6). The resulting polymer (MBS-P-actin) is highly potentiated so that it activates the Mg(2+)-ATPase of S1 more strongly than native F-actin. The affinity of MBS-P-actin for S1 in the presence of ATP (KATPase) is about four times higher than that of native F-actin, although the maximum velocity at infinite actin concentration (Vmax) is almost the same. This high activation is not due to a cross-linking between MBS-P-actin and the S1 heavy chain, since no substantial amount of cross-linking was observed in SDS gel electrophoresis. Direct binding studies and ATPase measurements showed that the modification of actin with MBS impairs the binding of tropomyosin. Tropomyosin binding can be improved considerably by the addition of troponin. However, the regulation mechanism of the acto-S1 ATPase activity by troponin-tropomyosin is damaged. The addition of troponin-tropomyosin reduces the S1 ATPase activation by MBS-P-actin to the same level as that of native F-actin in 30 mM KCl/2.5 mM ATP/2 mM MgCl2, but there is no difference in the ATPase activation in the presence and absence of Ca2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Campylobacter enterocolitis complaining of melena]

A 38-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of 5 episodes of melena without abdominal pain or diarrhea. No abnormalities were noted through an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, but a proctoscopy revealed a large amount of coagulated blood within the rectum immediately before his admission. A colonoscopy revealed spotty redness with dark-red coagulation in the region from the splenic flexure down to the rectum except oral colon beyond the transverse colon. A presumptive diagnosis of campylobacter enterocolitis was made by a microscopy performed on the stool specimen, then an oral administration of erythromycin was started. A colonoscopy done on the 5th hospital day proved improvement on the mucosal changes. The final diagnosis of campylobacter enterocolitis was made by the stool culture. The patient took a satisfactory course of hospitalization and was discharged on the 10th day. Bacteriological examination of stool specimen together with endoscopy has been confirmed to be useful for the diagnosis of melena cases without manifestation of infectious enterocolitis.

[Clinical analysis of male urethritis]

We reviewed 497 patients with male urethritis diagnosed between January, 1986 and March, 1989 at the Asama General Hospital. The incidence of gonococcal urethritis (GU) was 47.7%, and that of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) 52.3%. There was no difference in the age distribution between GU and NGU. Prostitutes were the most common source of the infection in both GU and NGU. Incubation periods were longer in NGU than in GU, statistically. Urethral discharge was the most common symptom. Purulent urethral discharge was seen more commonly than serous urethral discharge in GU. On the contrary, serous urethral discharge was more common in NGU. Penicillin-resistant gonococcus comprised 29.4% and mixed infection of the C. trachomatis existed 25.6% in GU. C. trachomatis was detected in 71.8% in NGU. In GU, new quinolones and penicillins were administered frequently. The effective rates 1 week after the administration were 80.6% and 83.3%, respectively. In NGU, new quinolones and minocycline were administered frequently. The effective rates were 70.4% and 85.3%, respectively. Ofloxacin (OFLX) showed the highest effective rate to NGU among the four new quinolones. The relapse rate for the two-week administration group was lower than that for the one-week-administration group, but the difference was not statistically significant.

The effect of alpha-tocopherol as an antioxidant on the oxidation of membrane protein thiols induced by free radicals generated in different sites

Azo compounds enable us to generate peroxyl radicals by thermal decomposition at a constant rate and at a desired site, that is, water-soluble compounds produce initiating radicals in an aqueous phase and lipid-soluble compounds initiate the oxidation within the membrane-lipid layer. Using these radicals generated in different sites, we oxidized red blood cell ghost membranes to study the relationships between alpha-tocopherol depletion, initiation of lipid peroxidation, and protein damage. When radicals were generated in the aqueous phase, the loss of membrane protein thiols was observed concurrently with the consumption of membrane tocopherol and after tocopherol was exhausted the peroxidation of membrane lipids occurred. On the other hand, when radicals were initiated within the lipid region, the oxidation of thiols and the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were suppressed to give an induction period until tocopherol fell below a critical level. Our results indicate that the surface thiols of extrinsic proteins may compete with alpha-tocopherol for trapping aqueous radicals and spare tocopherol to some extent, whereas the oxidation of intrinsic buried thiols may commence due to lipid-derived radicals produced after tocopherol was consumed. In conclusion, alpha-tocopherol in the membrane can break the free radical chain efficiently to inhibit the lipid peroxidation. However, the effect of tocopherol on the inhibition of membrane protein damage, exhibited by the loss of thiols and the formation of high-molecular-weight proteins, would be different depending on the site of initial radical generation.

Vitamin E and the peroxidizability of erythrocyte membranes in neonates

We showed the increased susceptibility of neonatal biomembranes to oxidation by a kinetic analysis using an azo compound as a free-radical initiator and red blood cell (RBC) ghosts as a model membrane. When the RBC ghosts were oxidized, oxygen consumption was suppressed during the induction period in which membrane tocopherol was consumed at a constant rate, while increased oxygen uptake was observed after the tocopherol was exhausted. The total tocopherol content was similar in cord, maternal, and adult RBC ghosts, and there were no differences in the induction period (tinh) among the three types of ghosts. While the oxygen uptake rate during the induction period (Rinh) was similar in cord and adult ghosts, the rate in the subsequent phase (Rp) was considerably faster in the cord ghosts. Fatty acid analysis in the membrane lipids showed that the active bisallylic hydrogen (active H) content was greater in cord ghosts than in adult ghosts. The active H content closely correlated with the Rp, but did not with the Rinh. The kinetic chain length (KCL), i.e., the ratio of the rate of propagation to that of initiation, was calculated from Rp and tocopherol consumption rate and KCL values were higher in cord ghosts than in adult ghosts. The faster Rp and the higher KCL of the cord ghosts were attributable to a greater active H content rather than to the tocopherol content.

The mixture of aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide produced in the ozonation of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine causes hemolysis of human red blood cells

Dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes were ozonized and the ozonized liposomes were tested for their lytic potency on human red blood cells (RBC). Ozonation of PC liposomes generated approximately 1 mole equivalent of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 2 mole equivalents of aldehydes, based on the moles of ozone consumed. The time necessary for 50% hemolysis induced by ozonized liposomes (a convenient measure of hemolytic activity) was found to depend on the extent of ozonation of the PC liposomes, indicating the formation and accumulation of hemolytic agents during ozonation. Hemolysis was also observed when RBC were incubated with nonanal, the expected product of the ozonation of oleic acid, the principle unsaturated fatty acid in the liposomes. Hydrogen peroxide, another product of PC ozonation, did not induce hemolysis; however, a combination of H2O2 and nonanal was significantly more hemolytic than nonanal alone. A ratio of 1:2 H2O2/nonanal (the ratio observed in the ozonized liposomes) provided hemolytic activity comparable to that observed with ozonized dioleoyl PC. Among different antioxidants tested, ascorbate, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase partially inhibited hemolysis induced by ozonized liposomes and by H2O2/nonanal mixtures, but they were not protective against the nonanal-induced hemolysis. Identification of H2O2 and aldehydes as cytotoxic chemical species generated from the ozonation of unsaturated fatty acids may have an important bearing on the in vivo toxicity of ozone on the lung as well as on extrapulmonary tissues.

Technegas for inhalation lung imaging

Technegas, an aerosol generator recently devised in Australia, produces aerosol particulates called 'technegas' which have characteristics of both an aerosol and a gas. The majority of the particulate is below 200 nm in size as measured by electron microscopy. Four normal subjects and 31 patients with various lung diseases were studied by imaging the lungs following inhalation of technegas. The penetration of inhaled technegas to the lung periphery was excellent; the average alveolar deposition ratio (ALDR) was 85%. Comparative studies with lung images obtained either with an ultrasonic nebulizer or jet nebulizers also confirmed better penetration of inhaled technegas to the lung periphery. There was no significant statistical difference in the ALDRs between normals and patients. Aerosol studies were comparable to perfusion counterparts, and evaluation of regional ventilatory status was greatly facilitated. Because of the large ALDR and the low airway deposition ratio (ADR), actual imaging could be done not only immediately after aerosol inhalation but also some time later without losing too much radioactivity from the lungs. One disadvantage was that technegas immediately after generation was anoxic.

Susceptibility of neonatal lipoproteins to oxidative stress

We compared peroxidizability of neonatal and adult lipoproteins exposed to oxidative stress initiated by an azo-compound. Oxygen uptake showed a two-phase pattern, with slow oxygen uptake in the first phase and faster uptake in the second phase. During the first phase, tocopherol was consumed progressively, inhibiting lipid peroxidation by scavenging peroxy radicals. After the tocopherol concentration fell below a critical level, extensive propagation of chain oxidative reactions produced the rapid oxygen uptake in the second phase. In the first phase of neonatal lipoprotein oxidation, a faster oxygen uptake was observed and the length of this phase was shorter than in adults. The oxygen uptake rate in the second phase was smaller in the neonatal lipoproteins. In other words, neonatal lipoproteins were more susceptible to oxidative stress than were adult ones when tocopherol remained in lipoproteins, but after tocopherol depletion the reverse was true. These results were consistent with the finding that in neonatal lipoproteins the tocopherol/lipid ratio was significantly lower (length of the inhibitory phase was closely correlated to the lipoprotein tocopherol content). In addition, the average number of active bisallylic hydrogen atoms, which are considered to determine the relative susceptibility of polyunsaturated fatty acids to oxidation, was significantly smaller (oxygen uptake rate in the second phase was closely correlated to the active bisallylic hydrogen number) in neonatal lipoproteins, and the ratio of active bisallylic hydrogen to tocopherol content (which closely correlated to oxygen uptake rate in the first phase) was also significantly lower compared with the adult ratio. Under physiologic conditions, an intensive oxidation of lipoproteins sufficient to cause lipoprotein tocopherol to fall below critical levels is unlikely to occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Radioaerosol inhalation lung imaging using technegas]

Technegas generator using 99mTc-pertechnetate was tested on 4 normal subjects and 31 patients with various chest diseases including bronchogenic carcinoma, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and so on. Technegas was inhaled from the RV to the TLC levels through the mouth with the nose clipped followed by breath-holding. Three deep breaths were enough to deposit 37-55.5 MBq (1 to 1.5 mCi) of technegas in the lungs. The average alveolar deposition ratio (ALDR) was 85% and penetration of inhaled technegas to the lung periphery was excellent. "Hot spots" or excessive radioactive deposition were also seen when there was airway obstruction. The former indicated the characteristic as gas and the latter, that as aerosol particles. Because of the large ALDR's the timing for imaging lungs after inhalation of technegas most likely indicated the intrapulmonary sites of effective ventilation, because respective inhalation and perfusion lung images resembled each other very much. The disadvantage of technegas was that it was anoxic right after generation.

A determination of the radial coordinate of Tyr-69 in F-actin using fluorescence energy transfer

Fluorescence energy transfer was measured between Tyr-69 residues in an F-actin filament using 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride (DNS-Cl) as a fluorescence energy donor and 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4-sulfonyl chloride (DABSYL-Cl) as the acceptor. Both labels are covalently attached to Tyr-69 residues in an F-actin filament. Taking the helical structure of the F-actin filament into consideration, the radial coordinate of Tyr-69 was calculated to be in the range from 2.0 nm to 4.0 nm.

Interaction of F-actin-AMPPNP with myosin subfragment-1 and troponin-tropomyosin: influence of an extra phosphate at the nucleotide binding site in F-actin on its function

An unsplitable analogue of ATP (adenylyl imidodiphosphate; AMPPNP) was incorporated into F-actin [Cooke, R. (1975) Biochemistry 14, 3250-3256]. The resulting polymers (F-actin-AMPPNP) activated the ATPase activity of myosin subfragment-1 (S1) as efficiently as normal F-actin; neither the maximum velocity at infinite actin concentration (Vmax) nor the affinity of actin to S1 in the presence of ATP (1/KATPase) changed, which indicates that the terminal phosphate of the bound nucleotide at the cleft region between the two domains of the actin molecule [Kabsch, W., Mannherz, H.G., & Suck, D. (1985) EMBO J. 4, 2113-2118] is not directly involved in a myosin binding site. However, the interaction of F-actin with troponin-tropomyosin was strongly modulated by the replacement of ADP with AMPPNP. The troponin-tropomyosin complex strongly enhanced the activation of S1-ATPase activity by F-actin-AMPPNP in the presence of Ca2+, although it has no effect on the activation by normal F-actin-ADP. KATPase was enhanced about threefold by troponin-tropomyosin in the presence of Ca2+, while Vmax was not markedly changed. F-actin-AMPPNP is highly potentiated by troponin-tropomyosin even with low S1 to actin ratios and at high ATP conditions. In the absence of Ca2+, the activation by F-actin-AMPPNP was inhibited normally by troponin-tropomyosin. The results suggest that the terminal beta-phosphate of the bound nucleotide in F-actin is located in a region which is important for regulation of the interaction with myosin.

[The analysis of prognostic factors for prostate cancer by multivariate analysis]

Multivariable analysis (quantification method I and II) was used to investigate the relationship between survival rates and prognostic factors. The items studied were age, stage, pathological differentiation, gait disturbance, acid phosphatase and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The data were available for 353 patients for all items. The significance of each item was evaluated in all patients-group, subgroup stratified by their cause of death, and subgroup stratified by their stage. The significance of age and gait disturbance which represent the general condition was proven in all patients, non-cancer death group and stage ABC group. In the cancer death group, stage D group was the most significant as prognostic factor. ESR was the most significant in the stage D group and the significance was gradually increased with the observation time.

Adipose tissues and vitamin E

1. Vitamin E content in the adipose tissue was examined in rats with and without vitamin E deficiency. With the progression of vitamin E depletion, the more rapid decrease in tocopherol concentration was observed in brown adipose tissue (BAT) than in white adipose tissue (WAT), and the rate of decrease of tocopherol was approximately three times faster in BAT than in WAT. After the intramuscular administration of 10 mg/kg of all-rac-tocopheryl acetate twice a week for two weeks to vitamin E-deficient rats, a similar pattern of increase was observed in the tocopherol concentrations of BAT and WAT, although the rate of increase was slower in WAT than in BAT. 2. Changes of tocopherol concentration in BAT and WAT were investigated in normo-nourished rats with hyperlipemia produced by the intramuscular injection of Triton WR-1339 for 7 days. A marked increase in tocopherol concentration was observed in both BAT and WAT in the late period of hyperlipemia, with the increase being greater in WAT. 3. The fatty acid composition of adipose tissue was compared between rats with and without vitamin E deficiency. No significant differences were observed in BAT and WAT between the two groups. 4. The glucose uptake of WAT was not altered in vitamin E-deficient rats when compared with control rats.

[Prognostic factor for prostate cancer. Gunma Urological Oncology Study Group]

The study of prognostic factors in patients with prostate cancer (Pca) may be of value in understanding the natural history of the disease and may also assist in planning and analyzing the results of clinical trials. Moreover some information through this study would be beneficial to assessing the prognosis and decision of better therapy form of individual patients. The significance of items studied was evaluated from the two view points, survival rate and Pca death rate. Stage, pathological differentiation and acid phosphatase were significantly related to them, in the category grade depending manner. Past history and complication, and age were also significantly related to them but higher category grade as a survival factor showed lower Pca death rates. ESR, gait disturbance and hematuria were related to only survival rate. Any significant relationship was not observed in serum testosterone, voiding disturbance and cancer-pain. Prognostic factors should be clinically used through the well understanding of each characteristics. This paper also showed that statistical significance not always provide a wide difference between categories compared.

[Treatment of asynchronous bilateral renal cell carcinoma. On our experience of enucleation for two cases]

In patients with either bilateral renal malignancies or with carcinoma occurring in a solitary kidney, the principle of en bloc removal of the tumor-bearing kidney cannot be applied. Recently we have performed surgical enucleation in two cases of asynchronous bilateral renal cell carcinoma. Case 1. A 60-year-old woman was hospitalized with diagnosis of left renal tumor 10 years tumor 10 years after right nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. The tumor was enucleated while occluding the renal vessels. Pathological examination revealed that the tumor (a nodule of 35 g) was renal cell carcinoma of grade I and perfectly covered by pseudocapsule. Hemodialysis was not required. The patient has been well for more than 11 months postoperatively and Ccr is 65 ml/min. Case 2. A 62-year-old man with slight elevation of serum GOT and GPT level was examined by CT, which revealed a space occupying lesion in the left kidney. He had undergone nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma of right kidney 11 years ago. Three nodules of 56 g, 6 g and 3 g were removed by in situ enucleation. They were renal cell carcinoma of grade II and there was no malignant penetration of the pseudocapsule pathologically. After surgery hemodialysis was required 10 times for 21 days. Renal function has been refined gradually and the patient is well with 47.3 ml/min of Ccr at 4 months postoperatively. Before this report of 2 cases there were 22 cases of asynchronous bilateral renal cell carcinoma in Japanese literature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mucociliary clearance and transport in bronchiectasis: global and regional assessment

Global and regional mucociliary clearance and transport in the lungs was studied in 20 patients with bronchiectasis by radioaerosol inhalation lung cine-scintigraphy and the quantitative analysis following inhalation of ultrasonically-generated 99mTc-tagged human serum albumin aerosol (mass median diameter; 1.93 microns with geometric s.d. of 1.52). In bronchiectatic lung regions, deposition of inhaled aerosol was diminished or inhomogeneous. Transport of inhaled radioactivity from the bronchiectatic regions was deranged in 95% of the patients (19/20). The following abnormal mucous transport patterns were regionally observed; stasis in 12 of the 20 patients (12/20), regurgitation or reversed transport in 14/20, straying in 8/20, spiral or zigzag transport in 1/20, and/or various combinations of these four abnormal transport patterns. When coughs occurred, regurgitation and stray became more marked in the bronchiectatic regions. These regional abnormalities in mucociliary transport seem to be responsible for the development of infections and hemoptysis in the bronchiectatic regions.

Does a beta 2-stimulator really facilitate mucociliary transport in the human lungs in vivo? A study with procaterol

The purpose was to study whether procaterol, a beta 2-stimulator, facilitated mucociliary transport on the ciliated airways in the human lungs. From immediately after inhalation of [99mTc]albumin aerosol, radioactivity of the thorax was continuously measured anteriorly by a gamma camera with the examinee in the supine position; the data were sequentially stored in a computer in 10-s frame mode. Three puffs (30 micrograms) of procaterol were inhaled from a metered dose inhaler at 60 min in the same supine position, and measurement of radioactivity was continued for 30 min more. Spirometry was performed before and after the measurement of radioactivity. A group of 8 normal subjects and 34 patients with various lung diseases, including 6 with bronchial asthma in remission, were studied. In addition to observation of mucus transport on the large airways by radioaerosol inhalation lung cinescintigraphy, the time-activity curve from the right lung was evaluated and the quantitative parameters for evaluating mucociliary clearance were calculated for the right lung. Following inhalation of procaterol, there were neither significant acceleration in mucus transport on the large airways by cinescintigraphy nor significant changes in the slope of time-activity curves. Quantitative parameters did not show any significant changes either, although spirometry indicated significant bronchodilation. We conclude that three puffs of inhaled procaterol neither necessarily accelerate mucus transport nor facilitate mucociliary clearance in the human lung.

Resonance energy transfer between points in a reconstituted skeletal muscle thin filament. A conformational change of the thin filament in response to a change in Ca2+ concentration

The spatial relationships between Lys-61, Cys-374 on actin or SH1 on myosin subfragment-1 (S1) and Cys-190 on tropomyosin or Cys-133 on troponin-I (TnI) in a reconstituted thin filament were studied by fluorescence resonance energy transfer. 5-(2-Iodoacetylaminoethyl)aminonaphthalene 1-sulfonic acid (IAEDANS) attached to Lys-190 on tropomyosin or to Cys-133 on TnI was used as a donor. Fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) attached to Lys-61 or 5-(iodoacetoamido)fluorescein (IAF) attached to Cys-374 on actin and 4-dimethylaminophenyl-azophenyl 4'-maleimide (DABMI) attached to SH1 on S1 were used as an acceptor. The transfer efficiency between AEDANS attached to Cys-190 on tropomyosin and FITC attached to Lys-61 on actin was 0.42 in the absence of troponin, 0.46 in the presence of troponin and Ca2+ and 0.55 in the presence of troponin and absence of Ca2+. The corresponding distances between the probes were calculated to be 4.7 nm, 4.6 nm and 4.3 nm respectively, assuming a random orientation factor K2 = 2/3. A large difference in the transfer efficiency from AEDANS attached to Cys-133 on TnI to FITC attached to Lys-61 on actin was observed between in the presence (0.52) and absence (0.70) of Ca2+. The corresponding distances between the probes were calculated to be 4.5 nm in the presence of Ca2+ and 3.9 nm in the absence of Ca2+. The distance between Cys-190 on tropomyosin and Cys-374 on actin was measured to be 5.1 nm and the transfer efficiency (0.35) did not change upon addition of troponin whether Ca2+ is present or not, in agreement with the previous report [Tao, T., Lamkin, M. & Lehrer, S. S. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 3059-3064]. The distance between Cys-133 on TnI and Cys-374 on actin was measured to be 4.4 nm. No detectable change in transfer efficiency (0.58) was observed between values in the presence and absence of Ca2+. These results suggest that a relative movement of the two domains of actin monomer in a reconstituted thin filament occurs in response to a change in Ca2+ concentration. The transfer efficiencies between DABMI attached to SH1 on S1 and AEDANS attached to Cys-190 on tropomyosin or Cys-133 on TnI were too small (less than 2%) for an accurate estimation of the distances, suggesting the distances are longer than 7.3 nm.

Interaction of Lys-61 labeled actin with myosin subfragment-1 and the regulatory proteins

Actin modified at Lys-61 with fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) recovers the ability to polymerize following the binding of phalloidin. The resulting polymer (FITC-P-actin) activates the S1-Mg2+-ATPase activity to the same extent as non-labeled F-actin. However, in the absence of phalloidin, FITC-actin (0.5 mg/ml) neither polymerized nor activated the S1-Mg2+-ATPase activity effectively even when it was preincubated with S1 for 3 h in 0.1 mM ATP, 0.1 mM CaCl2, and 1 mM Tris/HCl (pH 8.0), in contrast to the previous report [Miller, L., Phillips, M., & Reisler, E. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 174, 23-29]. The modification of Lys-61 did not impair the ability to bind tropomyosin or tropomyosin-troponin. On the other hand, the fluorescence polarization of FITC-P-actin increased when tropomyosin or troponin-tropomyosin was added. Moreover, the modification of Lys-61 affected the regulation of the actin activation of the S1-Mg2+-ATPase activity by the tropomyosin and troponin complex. In 30 mM KCl, 2.5 mM ATP, and 5 mM MgCl2, tropomyosin alone has been shown to inhibit the actin-activated S1-Mg2+-ATPase. This inhibition did not occur with FITC-P-actin even though tropomyosin was tightly bound. When troponin-tropomyosin was added, the FITC-P-actin activation of S1-Mg2+-ATPase activity was regulated in response to micromolar Ca2+ concentrations. On the other hand, in 30 mM KCl, 2.5 mM ATP, and 2 mM MgCl2, tropomyosin alone did not inhibit the actin-activated S1-Mg2+-ATPase activity with either non-labeled F-actin or FITC-actin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Non-vascular interventional radiology nonvascular interventional radiology of the urinary tract]

Several kinds of nonvascular interventional radiology of the urinary tract are reviewed. Transurethral balloon dilation of the prostate (TU-DP) is a newly developed nonsurgical treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia, which is performed under local anesthesia with minimal morbidity and requires no hospitalization. The TUDP technique involves dilating the prostatic urethra and bladder neck to 75 F for 10 minutes under fluoroscopic control using a high-pressure dilating balloon. Long-term follow-up studies are required. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) and transurethral ureterolithotomy (TUL) have signified a revolution in stone surgery of upper urinary tract. Indications for these treatments, endoscopic manipulation, complications and their clinical features are presented. The procedure of PNL consists of 3 steps, puncture for nephrostomy tract, tract dilation and stone removal. Among these steps the most important is the puncture and it should be effected through the calyx. During the operation, if there is too much bleeding, it can be discontinued at any time while keeping the track open. It is no longer necessary for the kidney to be free of stones at the end of the operation. TUL is performed with a rigid or flexible ureterorenoscope. Dilation of the ureteral orifice and the intramural ureter is necessary for passing the scopes. When they have been sufficiently dilated, the ureterorenoscope can be passed to the level of the renal pelvis through the urethra. Calculi have been removed successfully at a higher rate in lower ureter. Endopyelotomy may be performed safely as an initial procedure to correct congenital obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction. Recent advancements have permitted an approach to percutaneous resection for renal pelvic tumor in a solitary kidney or bilateral synchronous disease. There are great expectations for continuing important innovations in the field of interventional radiology.

The effect of the replacement of ADP with a photoaffinity ATP analogue, 2-azido-ADP, in F-actin on its function

2-Azido-ATP, a photoaffinity ATP analogue, was incorporated into actin and the influence of the incorporation on the actin function was studied. The replacement of ADP with 2-azido-ADP in F-actin both before and after photocross-linking decreased appreciably the actin-activated S1-ATPase activity. Photocross-linked 2-azido-ADP-F-actin could be depolymerized by dialysis against a solution containing 0.1 mM CaCl2, 0.1 mM ATP and 1 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0). However, once it depolymerized, it lost very quickly the ability to polymerize even in the presence of a sufficient amount of ATP and Ca2+.

Changes in membrane constituents and chemiluminescence in vitamin E-deficient red blood cells induced by the xanthine oxidase reaction

The oxidation of vitamin E-deficient rat red blood cells (RBCs) induced by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX-XOD) system has been performed in an aqueous suspension. The generation of chemiluminescence and the accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were observed initially and were followed by hemolysis. Interestingly, the total counts of chemiluminescence were closely related to the amount of TBARS. The predominant change of membrane proteins induced by the reaction was the depletion of spectrin bands in gel electrophoresis. When RBC ghosts were oxidized with HX-XOD, the sulfhydryl (SH) groups of membrane proteins decreased at an early stage of the incubation, which was coincident with the above protein alteration. Membrane alpha-tocopherol suppressed not only the formation of TBARS but also chemiluminescence and hemolysis; nevertheless, it did not inhibit the protein damage and the loss of SH groups. Moreover, it was concluded that the chemiluminescence observed during the oxidation of RBC membranes was associated mainly with the peroxidation of lipids and only to a minor extent with the oxidation of proteins.

A phase II study of etoposide in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by the Tokyo Liver Cancer Chemotherapy Study Group

Twenty-four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with 80 mg etoposide/m2 for five consecutive days at 4-week intervals. Of the 21 patients evaluated, only one showed a partial response (of 8 weeks, duration). The dose-limiting factor was bone marrow suppression. Grades 3 and 4 white blood cell count toxicity occurred in five (24%) and two (10%) patients, respectively. Alopecia (grades 1 and 2) was observed in 18 patients (57%). The The present study indicates that etoposide has very limited activity against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Normal values for quantitative parameters for evaluation of mucociliary clearance in lungs

Twenty-eight normal male subjects (13 nonsmokers and 15 smokers, 25 to 76 years of age) inhaled ultrasonically generated 99mTc-tagged human serum albumin aerosol (mass median diameter: 1.93 microns with geometric standard deviation of 1.52) and radioactivity from the thorax was measured continuously from anteriorly in 10 sec frame mode for 90 to 120 min to evaluate mucociliary clearance function in the lungs. Normal values for lung retention ratio (LRR), airway deposition ratio (ADR), airway retention ratio (ARR), airway clearance efficiency (ACE), alveolar deposition ratio (ALDR), and disappearance rate of radioactivity from the ciliated airways (DR) were presented. ALDR was significantly larger in nonsmokers than in smokers. LRR and ARR were significantly smaller and ACE, significantly larger in smokers at any time intervals than in nonsmokers, while ADR and DR were larger in smokers only in the initial 30 min following radioaerosol inhalation was completed. Thereafter there was little difference in ADR and DR between normal smokers and nonsmokers.

Synergistic inhibition of oxidation in dispersed phosphatidylcholine liposomes by a combination of vitamin E and cysteine

Oxidations of soybean phosphatidylcholine liposomes in an aqueous dispersion initiated by free radicals generated initially either in the aqueous phase or in the lipid phase were efficiently suppressed by vitamin E in the membranes. Vitamin E was consumed linearly with time and, when the inhibition period was over the oxidation proceeded rapidly at a rate similar to that in the absence of vitamin E. L-Cysteine was also effective by itself in scavenging radicals in the aqueous region, but it was consumed more rapidly than vitamin E. On the other hand, cysteine could not scavenge the radicals efficiently in a lipid region. Nevertheless, when vitamin E was incorporated into liposomes, the addition of cysteine in the aqueous phase prolonged the inhibition period and it reduced the rate of decay of vitamin E markedly even when the radicals were generated initially in the lipid bilayer. Furthermore, it was found by an electron spin resonance study that chromanoxyl radical disappeared quite rapidly when it was mixed with cysteine and that the spin adduct of cysteine radical was observed in the presence of alpha-(4-pyridyl-N-oxide)-N-tert-butyl nitrone. It was concluded that L-cysteine located in an aqueous region could regenerate vitamin E by reacting with vitamin E radical formed in a lipid region and show a synergistic antioxidant effect, although its efficiency of vitamin E regeneration was lower than that by vitamin C.

Testicular tumor as the first manifestation of B-lymphoid blastic crisis in a case of Ph-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia

We report an 8-year-old boy with Ph-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who showed a testicular tumor as the first manifestation of blastic crisis. Pathological examination of the excised testis revealed marked infiltration of immature cells, whereas bone marrow remained in the chronic phase. Immunohistochemical and molecular examinations disclosed the immature cells to have B-lymphocyte surface determinants and immunoglobulin JH rearrangement. DNA obtained from the testis and peripheral blood cells showed similarly rearranged bcr configurations, indicating that infiltrating cells in the testis originated from the CML clone. Bone marrow showed B-lymphoid blastic crisis 4 months after testicular involvement.