Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), nitrite and nitrate in the cerebrospinal fluid in meningitis, multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome

Recent evidence suggests the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in inflammation and demyelination in the brain. To test this hypothesis, we measured NO markers in the cerebrospinal fluid from patients with bacterial meningitis (BM), aseptic meningitis (AM), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Subjects with non-inflammatory neurologic diseases served as the controls. NO markers were cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) measured with an enzyme immunoassay, and nitrite and nitrate measured with the Griess reaction. Except for BM, cGMP was not increased in AM, MS or GBS compared with the controls. Nitrite and nitrate were unaltered in any of the groups studied. These results do not support the hypothesis that NO is increased in the brain in meningitis, MS or GBS. Otherwise cGMP, nitrite and nitrate in the cerebrospinal fluid do not reflect the increase in NO in the brain.

[A study of calcium metabolism in calcium-containing stone formers]

To clarify the pathogenesis of calcium-containing urinary stone, calcium metabolism of the 113 patients with calcium-containing stone was studied by fasting and oral calcium loading test. The stone patients were classified into four groups. Those were normocalciuria (NC, n = 60), absorptive hypercalciuria-1 (AH-1, n = 26), absorptive hypercalciuria-2 (AH-2, n = 16) and renal hypercalciuria (RH, n = 11). In the AH-1 group, hypercalciuria resulted from enhancement of intestinal calcium (Ca) absorption. The increase in serum Ca from absorbed Ca increased renal filtered load of Ca. Urinary excretion of Ca was correlated to that of sodium (Na) in fasting and Ca load, and both increments were also correlated in Ca load. As of this fact, the increase in Na excretion was responsible for a cause of hypercalciuria in the AH-1 group. In the RH group, the serum ionized Ca level and % tubular reabsorption of Ca were significantly lower than those of other groups. Urinary excretion of Ca and Na ratio was significantly higher than that of the NC and AH-1 groups. This condition was due to an impaired renal tubular reabsorption of Ca and the resulting secondary hyperparathyroidism. These findings suggested was response disorder of distal tubular to parathyroid hormone. Urinary excretion of phosphorus (P) was correlated to that of Na in fasting and Ca load, and both increments were also correlated in Ca load in the AH-1 group. The increase in urinary excretion of P resulted from the secondary hyperparathyroidism in the RH group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evidence that retinoid X receptors mediate retinoid-dependent transcriptional activation of the retinoic acid receptor beta gene in S91 melanoma cells

S91 melanoma cells are growth arrested and differentiate when treated with retinoids. These processes correlate with expression of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) beta gene, which is induced through a retinoic acid response element (beta RARE). We wished to determine which endogenous retinoid receptors (RARs and retinoid X receptors, RXRs) mediate induction of the RAR beta gene. We show that RXR alpha and RXR beta are constitutively expressed. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with nuclear extracts show specific binding to the beta RARE (Complex I) in untreated cells, which can be supershifted by antibodies against RXRs but not by anti-RAR antibodies. After 48 h of treatment with retinoic acid, Complex I is replaced by a faster migrating Complex II, which can be supershifted by anti-RAR beta and anti-RXR alpha antibodies. This suggests that induction of the RAR beta gene is largely mediated by RXRs only. Accordingly, we also find that 9-cis RA, which activates both RAR and RXR, is a more potent inducer of the RAR beta gene than RA, which only activates RAR. After 48 h, all RXRs appear to be titrated by the newly synthesized RAR beta into an RAR beta.RXR heterodimer complex. Thus, it appears that the beta RARE is sequentially occupied by RXR dimers and RAR-RXR heterodimers.

Upper-extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Keyboard Operators in Brazil: A Cross-sectional Study

This study sought to determine the prevalence of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) among keyboard operators in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and to compare this prevalence with that among other office workers. One hundred and thirty keyboard operators (mean age 33 years, 60 male/70 female) and 138 office workers (mean age 35 years, 82 male/56 female) from two computing centers were interviewed by a research assistant using a standardized questionnaire. Symptomatic subjects, defined as those who reported upper extremity pain or lost work time due to pain in the preceding 12 months, were examined by a rheumatologist. Mean (SD) lengths of employment were 9 (6) years for keyboard operators and 8 (6) years for office workers. Upper-extremity pain during the preceding seven days was reported by 66 keyboard operators (51%) and by 18 office workers (13%) (p < 0.0001); during the preceding 12 months, by 90 keyboard operators (69%) and by 26 office workers (19%) (p < 0.0001). UEMSDs were diagnosed following physical examination in 50 keyboard operators and in 12 office workers (9%) (p < 0.0001). Tenosynovitis was the most common disorder diagnosed among the keyboard operators (n = 23). Among the keyboard operators the prevalence of UEMSDs was significantly lower for males (p = 0.017, OR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.17-0.86). The presence of a diagnosed UEMSD was significantly associated with duration of employment (p = 0.005) and lack of or insufficient rest breaks (p = 0.012). Keyboard operators had significantly more UEMSDs than did office workers. Strategies aimed at the reduction of repetitive strain injuries among keyboard operators, such as the provision of adequate work breaks, should be evaluated.

Differential expression of Fas antigen and Bcl-2 protein on CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and monocytes

Fas antigen and Bcl-2 protein are considered to be involved in cellular homeostasis. We precisely analyzed the expression of human Fas antigen and Bcl-2 protein on CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and monocytes. The positivities of Fas antigen on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells increased with aging. In CD4+ T cells, the Fas-/CD45RO+ subpopulation was dominant compared with the Fas+/CD45RO- subpopulation. Conversely, in CD8+ T cells, the Fas+/CD45RO- subpopulation was dominant compared with the Fas-/CD45RO+ subpopulation. Monocytes exhibited high positivity of Fas antigen and low fluorescence intensity of Bcl-2 protein compared with T cells. These results suggest that Fas antigen acts in different processes of cellular homeostasis between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and that expression of Fas antigen and Bcl-2 protein is involved in homeostasis of monocytes as well as lymphocytes.

Direct detection of ascorbyl radical in experimental brain injury: microdialysis and an electron spin resonance spectroscopic study

To examine the role played by free radicals in brain injury, we performed experiments to detect radicals in the frontal cortex of rats, using electron spin resonance (ESR) and microdialysis. A dialysis probe was inserted into the frontal cortex, and spin adducts in perfusates were immediately detected by ESR. We obtained a relatively stable doublet signal, with parameters of g = 2.0057 and aH = 0.17 mT. This signal corresponded with that of the ascorbyl radical. Ascorbyl radical in the perfusate collected from the frontal cortex was augmented by microinjection of H2O2 and FeCl2 adjacent to the dialysis probe. When the rats were challenged with cold-induced brain injury, ascorbyl radical and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in the perfusate increased significantly. Pretreatment with superoxide dismutase and catalase attenuated the increase in ascorbyl radical and LDH level induced by the cold injury. Infusion of FeCl2 dissolved in perfusate caused a pronounced increase in ascorbyl radical and LDH level after the cold injury. We conclude that the direct detection of free radical formation further supports the hypothesis that free radicals play an important role in traumatic brain injury. Our findings also indicate that combined microdialysis with ESR spectroscopy is a useful in vivo method for monitoring free radical production in the brain.

Urinary alpha1-microglobulin, beta2-microglobulin, and retinol-binding protein levels in general populations in Japan with references to cadmium in urine, blood, and 24-hour food duplicates

Possible cadmium (Cd) exposure-associated changes in urinary levels of low-molecular-weight proteins were studied in nonsmoking and non-drinking female members of the general Japanese population (378 subjects with no known occupational heavy metal exposure) who lived at 19 study sites (all without any known environmental heavy metal pollution) in 13 prefectures throughout Japan. The external Cd dose was evaluated in terms of daily Cd intake via food (Cd-F), whereas Cd levels in blood (Cd-B) and urine (Cd-U) were taken as internal dose indicators. When the subjects were classified according to Cd-F into three groups with "low" (20.4 micrograms/day as a geometric mean of 97 women), "middle" (35.0 micrograms/day, 120 women) and "high" (67.0 micrograms/day, 66 women) exposure, both Cd-B and Cd-U increased in parallel with the changes in Cd-F. However, there were no dose-dependent changes in beta2-microglobulin or retinol-binding protein levels in urine, alpha1-microglobulin levels appeared to increase, but the distribution of the cases above the two cutoff levels of 9.6 and 15.8 micrograms/mg creatinine among the three Cd-F groups did not show any bias. Overall, it was concluded that there was no apparent Cd exposure-associated elevation in urinary low-molecular-weight protein levels in the study population.

Cloning of a gene bearing missense mutations in early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease

Some cases of Alzheimer's disease are inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Genetic linkage studies have mapped a locus (AD3) associated with susceptibility to a very aggressive form of Alzheimer's disease to chromosome 14q24.3. We have defined a minimal cosegregating region containing the AD3 gene, and isolated at least 19 different transcripts encoded within this region. One of these transcripts (S182) corresponds to a novel gene whose product is predicted to contain multiple transmembrane domains and resembles an integral membrane protein. Five different missense mutations have been found that cosegregate with early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease. Because these changes occurred in conserved domains of this gene, and are not present in normal controls, they are likely to be causative of AD3.

A scintigraphical qualitative analysis of peripheral vascular sympathetic function with meta-[123I]iodobenzylguanidine in neurological patients with autonomic failure

In order to assess qualitatively the sympathetic functions of the peripheral vessels, we performed a scintigraphical study of the entire body with meta-[123I]iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in 13 patients with autonomic failure and 11 healthy subjects as control. The patients comprised seven with multiple system atrophy (MSA), two with pure autonomic failure (PAF), three with Parkinson's disease with autonomic failure (PD with AF) and one with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). No clinical evidence of vascular disease was noted in any of the patients and the control subjects. We investigated their autonomic functions using the head up tilt test as well as norepinephrine and isoproterenol infusion tests. We found that: (i) All of the control subjects showed satisfactory MIBG uptake; (ii) all of the patients with PAF and FAP, most of whom had postganglionic sympathetic lesions, showed supersensitivity and low MIBG uptake; (iii) almost all the patients with MSA, who were considered to have mainly preganglionic sympathetic lesions, showed supersensitivity and diminished MIBG uptake, although the patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy showed supersensitivity but not diminished MIBG uptake. In conclusion, these results suggest that peripheral vascular scintigraphy using MIBG is useful in detecting peripheral adrenergic dysfunction.

Galanin receptor binding sites in the temporal and occipital cortex are minimally affected in Alzheimer's disease

Galanin receptor binding sites were examined in the inferior temporal and medial occipital gyri of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and matched control subjects using quantitative autoradiography. In the inferior temporal gyrus, galanin binding was reduced selectively in layers V-VI of the AD cases compared to controls, the magnitude of the reduction (45%) being similar to that of choline acetyltransferase activity (40%) in this region. In the medial occipital gyrus, galanin binding in the AD cases was not different from controls in any cortical layer despite a reduction in choline acetyltransferase activity. Galanin binding did not correlate with the densities of neuritic plaques in either temporal or occipital gyri. Thus, despite a significant cortical cholinergic deficit in AD, there is an anatomically selective reduction of cortical galanin receptor binding sites suggesting that the majority of galanin receptors are not located on cholinergic terminals in the human cerebral cortex.

[CT findings of pancreatic carcinoma: evaluation with the combined method of early enhancement CT and high dose enhancement CT]

Computed tomographic (CT) findings of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were studied with the combined method of early enhancement CT and high dose enhancement CT in 72 carcinomas. Common Findings were change in pancreatic contour, abnormal attenuation in a tumor and dilatation of the main pancreatic duct. The incidence of abnormal attenuation and dilatation of the main pancreatic duct and bile duct was constant regardless of tumor size. The finding of hypoattenuation at early enhancement CT was most useful for demonstrating a carcinoma. However, this finding was negative in ten cases, five of which showed inhomogenous hyperattenuation at high dose enhancement CT. The detection of change in pancreatic contour and dilatation of the main pancreatic duct was most frequent at high dose enhancement CT. The finding of change in pancreatic contour and/or abnormal attenuation in a tumor could be detected in 47 cases at plain CT, 66 at early enhancement CT and 65 at high dose enhancement CT. Since the four cases in which neither finding was detected by any CT method showed dilatated main pancreatic duct, there was no case without abnormal CT finding. This combined CT method will be a reliable diagnostic technique in the imaging of pancreatic carcinoma.

Endothelin production in cultured mesangial cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Cultured glomerular mesangial cells are shown to produce a potent vasoconstrictive peptide, endothelin-1 (ET-1). We examined whether basal or stimulated ET-1 production by angiotensin II (Ang II) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) is enhanced in cultured mesangial cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). In addition, we examined which receptor subtypes of Ang II and AVP mediate ET-1 production in these cells. Basal ET-1 production in SHR mesangial cells was not different from that in WKY cells, although a trend toward increased ET-1 production was observed in the SHR cells. Ang II and AVP stimulated ET-1 production in a concentration-dependent manner in mesangial cells of both rat strains, but Ang II- and AVP-induced stimulation of ET-1 production was clearly greater in SHR than WKY cells. The protein kinase C (PKC)-activating phorbol ester phorbol myristate acetate stimulated ET-1 production in a concentration-dependent manner in cells of both rat strains, but this stimulation was significantly greater in SHR than WKY cells. Neither Ang II nor AVP stimulated ET-1 production in PKC-depleted cells of both strains. Ang II- and AVP-induced stimulation was completely abolished by selective angiotensin subtype 1 (AT1) and vasopressin subtype 1 (V1) receptor antagonists, respectively, in cells of both rat strains. These results suggest that AT1 and V1-receptor-mediated mesangial cell production of ET-1 is clearly enhanced in SHR compared with WKYs. Increased response of ET-1 production to PKC activation appears to contribute in part to the observed enhancement of ET-1 production in SHR mesangial cells.

Oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein by diesel exhaust particles

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) has a variety of hazardous influences on biological systems. Oxidative modification of LDL by diesel exhaust particles (DEP) was studied in vitro to assess its in vivo health effects. DEP suspensions (1, 10 and 100 micrograms/ml) were incubated for 1 h with LDL (1 mg protein/ml) at 37 degrees C. Conjugated diene formation and negative charges in LDL were increased by DEP-treatment in a dose-dependent manner. When native LDL and DEP-treated LDL (DEP-LDL) were incubated for 18 h with macrophage, J774A.1 cell at 37 degrees C, significantly more DEP-LDL was taken up into cells than native LDL. Accumulation of cholesterol ester in cells incubated with DEP-LDL was 4 to 8 times higher than that with native LDL while there was no significant difference between them in free cholesterol content. Incubation (18 h) of J774A.1 with DEP-LDL caused an increase in leakage of lactate dehydrogenase from cells in a DEP-concentration dependent manner, but the incubation with native LDL or DEP per se did not increase the leakage except at the highest concentration of DEP. These results suggest that DEP oxidatively modified LDL giving it cytotoxic, inflammatory and atherogenic properties characteristic of so-called oxidized LDL; these initial modifications of LDL may be one of the underlying mechanisms for diseases associated with DEP.

Effects of glucose on rat lung preservation: report of a study conducted on an isolated lung reperfusion model utilizing. Another isolated lung as a "deoxygenator"

We describe herein a new experimental model in which an isolated rat lung was ventilated with a mixture of 95% nitrogen and 5% carbon dioxide to decrease the oxygen and increase the carbon dioxide in the perfused blood to create and maintain a gas composition similar to that of venous blood. By utilizing this system as a "deoxygenator," pulmonary functions, including gas exchange, could be measured for at least 60 min in isolated and preserved lungs on reperfusion. When the effects of glucose in the flushing and storage solution were examined, 5 mM glucose in the solution resulted in better preservation of the lung, as shown by a higher uptake of oxygen and a lower intratracheal pressure, than when no glucose was given. However, the presence of 50 mM glucose was not beneficial, but rather increased the wet/dry weight ratio of the tissue.

Impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation by diesel exhaust particles in rat thoracic aorta

Nitric oxide released from vascular endothelium plays important regulatory roles in cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Epidemiological studies suggest that diesel exhaust particles (DEP) seem to be one of the causative factors responsible for the recent increase in pulmonary diseases. To clarify the pathogenic mechanism, the effects of DEP on vascular endothelial functions were investigated in terms of endothelium-dependent relaxation. Ring preparations of rat thoracic aorta were preincubated for 10 min with a DEP suspension (1, 10, 100 micrograms/ml) at 37 degrees C in organ baths and relaxed with cumulative additions of acetylcholine following precontraction with phenylephrine (10(-6) M). The relaxation was attenuated by DEP-exposure in a concentration-dependent manner. An addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) completely abolished the inhibitory effect of DEP at lower concentrations, but only partially at the higher concentration. DEP (10 micrograms/ml) neither affected the contractile response to phenylephrine in intact aortic rings nor the endothelium-independent relaxation by sodium nitroprusside in denuded rings, while DEP (100 micrograms/ml) significantly attenuated both responses. These results suggest that 1) inhaled DEP causes pulmonary inflammation by inhibiting the endothelial formation and/or the effect of nitric oxide and 2) SOD reduces the adverse effects.

Retinoid X receptor-alpha and apolipoprotein AI regulatory protein 1 differentially modulate 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine-induced transcription

The formation of heterodimers with thyroid hormone receptor (TR) and other nuclear hormone receptors on thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) is important for T3-regulated gene transcription. The potential roles of retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXR alpha) and apolipoprotein regulatory protein-1 (ARP-1) in T3-mediated transcription were studied on a well characterized TRE, a direct repeat of AGGTCA separated by four nucleotides (DR4), using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and transient transfection in CV-1 cells. It was shown that RXR alpha blocked liganded TR alpha-induced transcription. However, ARP-1 did not block T3/TR alpha-mediated transcription, although both TR alpha/RXR alpha and TR alpha/ARP-1 heterodimers had similar affinities for the TRE-DR4. In contrast, wild type ARP-1 reversed the blocking effect of RXR alpha on the liganded TR alpha-induced transcription, whereas a dimerization domain-deleted ARP-1 mutant (ARP-1 delta C) did not, suggesting that ARP-1 modulates T3-induced transcription through a dimerization process. Thus, the TRE-DR4 differentially responds to T3 at the transcriptional level by accommodating a battery of TR heterodimeric complexes.

Inhibition by haloperidol of adenosine 5'-triphosphate-evoked responses in rat pheochromocytoma cells

The effects of haloperidol, a typical antipsychotic drug, on adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca]i) and inward currents were investigated using rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Haloperidol (10-100 microM) significantly attenuated the rise in [Ca]i evoked by 30 microM ATP. This inhibition was not mimicked by (-)-sulpiride, an antagonist to dopamine D2-receptor. Dopamine or other dopaminergic agents did not affect the [Ca]i rise evoked by ATP. Under whole-cell voltage-clamp, haloperidol inhibited the ATP-activated current in the cells. These results suggest that haloperidol inhibits the ATP-receptor/channel, leading to the attenuation of the ATP-evoked increase in [Ca]i. Mechanisms involving dopamine receptors may not contribute to the inhibition by haloperidol.

Effects of methanol on styrene metabolism among workers occupationally exposed at low concentrations

A survey was conducted in the second half of a work week on 39 male workers who were occupationally exposed to styrene in combination with methanol and methyl acetate during the production of plastic buttons. Time-weighted average exposure during an 8-h shift to styrene (Sty-A) and methyl acetate was monitored by carbon cloth-equipped personal samplers and to methanol by water-equipped ones. Urine samples were collected near the end of the shift and analyzed for mandelic (MA-U) and phenylglyoxylic acids (PhGA-U) by HPLC. Geometric mean styrene concentration was 12.4 ppm (micrograms/g) with the maximum of 46 ppm, whereas the values for methanol and methyl acetate in combination were 23.5 ppm and 229 ppm, respectively. The relationship of MA-U and PhGA-U with Sty-A was examined by linear regression analysis. The equations for the regression lines were compared with the results from a previous survey (Ikeda et al. 1983) in which workers were exposed only to styrene, and the methods employed were identical with that in the present study. The comparison showed no evidence to suggest that styrene metabolism is suppressed by coexposure to methanol and methyl acetate at low concentrations below the current occupational exposure limit of 200 ppm.

Exposure to complex mixtures: implications for biological monitoring

It is well recognized in industrial and environmental health that man is exposed simultaneously to more than one chemical. Interaction may take place in the metabolism of chemicals absorbed in combination or in sequence, especially when the chemicals share similar chemical structures. It is further conceivable that the extent of possible metabolic interaction will depend on the intensity of exposure. Moreover, the metabolism of chemicals may be modified by social habits, especially smoking. No systemic and comprehensive studies however have been reported in literature, possibly because the combinations of the chemicals are various and the exposure intensities vary greatly. In a survey of factories where workers were exposed to either benzene alone (20 ppm as GM and 86 ppm as max.), toluene alone (38 and 86 ppm) or a combination of both, the urinary levels of phenol (a metabolite of benzene) and hippuric acid (that of toluene) were significantly lower among the co-exposed workers as compared with the levels in workers who were exposed to either benzene or toluene alone (Inoue et al. (1988) Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 60, 15-20). In contrast, a similar factory survey on the workers exposed to a mixture of toluene (3 ppm as GM) and xylenes (3 ppm for the sum of the 3 isomers) revealed that increments in urinary hippuric acid and methylhippuric acid levels were equal to the values after individual exposure (Huang et al. (1994) Occup. Environ. Med. 51, 42-46). Furthermore, the hippuric acid levels in the urine of workers exposed to toluene (18 ppm as GM) were not reduced by the co-exposure to MEK (16 ppm) or IPA (7 ppm) (Ukai et al. (1994) Occup. Environ. Med. 51, 523-529). In a human volunteer study with repeated exposures, metabolic interaction took place when the subjects were exposed to a combination of 95 ppm toluene and 80 ppm xylenes (mostly m-isomer), whereas no interaction was detected after the exposure to a combination of 50 ppm toluene and 40 ppm xylenes (Tardif et al. (1991) Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 63, 279-284). From the observation it appears likely that due caution should be exercised when the intensity of the combined exposure is high but not necessarily so when the exposure is low. The threshold remains yet to be established.

A subpopulation of large ganglion neurons express IsK protein mRNA: an in situ hybridization analysis in the rat eye

Rat IsK protein is a 130-amino acid membrane protein and subserves generation of K+ outward current. The expression of this putative K+ ion channel mRNA was explored in the eye with in situ hybridization. The ganglion cell layer of the retina expressed IsK mRNA in a subpopulation of ganglion cells composed of large cell bodies. The hybridization-positive cells were scattered throughout the retina. The hybridization signal was also localized to the epithelial cells throughout the cornea. The results provided evidence for IsK message in neuronal cells. Expression of IsK message in the eye was thus shown to be restricted to particular cell types.

Mortality in psychiatric patients, with a specific focus on cancer mortality associated with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Higher mortality rates among psychiatric patients compared with the general population have been widely reported. On the other hand, lower cancer mortality for schizophrenics has been occasionally pointed out. Few studies from Japan have investigated mortality among psychiatric patients, and this study is the first large-scale follow-up in this country.

METHODS

A total of 4980 patients admitted to a national mental hospital from 1948 through 1982 were followed up until 31 August 1985. The standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated in comparison to the general population, using the person-years method.

RESULTS

The SMR for total deaths and those for malignancy were as follows for males/females respectively: 2.55/3.02 and 0.84/1.37 for schizophrenia, 1.76/2.37 and 1.44/2.10 for depression, 2.45/3.04 and 1.18/1.82 for mania, 1.81/1.90 and 0.27/1.07 for neurosis, 5.55/4.33 and 1.85/3.34 for alcohol/drug abuse, and 3.65/3.57 and 1.01/0.72 for organic brain syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

The SMR for total deaths were significantly elevated in schizophrenia, depression, mania, neurosis, alcohol/drug abuse, and organic brain syndrome, respectively. The SMR for malignancy were not elevated nor lowered significantly in any of these disease categories. The SMR for stomach cancer in male schizophrenics was significantly lower (0.27; P < 0.05).

Microsatellite instability in Japanese gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown that microsatellites are unstable in various types of cancers, and such genetic instability at the microsatellite loci (microsatellite instability) has been considered to play an important role in the development of cancer. However, the clinicopathologic significance of microsatellite instability in gastric cancer has not been clarified.

METHODS

To elucidate the role of genetic instability in the development of gastric cancer, the presence of microsatellite instability was examined in 25 cases of gastric cancer using fresh-frozen tumor-normal paired samples using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method. Microsatellite instability was defined as tumors that showed altered banding patterns at two or more microsatellite loci.

RESULTS

The incidence of microsatellite instability in gastric cancer cases was 4 of 25 patients (16%) and 4 of 26 cancers (15%). A significantly high incidence of microsatellite instability was observed in both the elderly (P < 0.01) and in lymph node metastasis-negative patients (P < 0.05). All patients with gastric cancer showing microsatellite instability were negative for lymphatic or venous permeation. A statistically significant association of microsatellite instability with no lymphatic permeation was thus observed (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed infrequent lymph node metastasis and lymph vessel invasion in the patients with gastric cancer demonstrating microsatellite instability. Although the number of examined cases was small, these findings suggest that gastric cancer that shows microsatellite instability may thus behave in a less malignant manner.