[A clinical study on the complications associated with laser therapy for cervical neoplasia]

Six hundred and fifty-nine patients with cervical neoplasia were treated by either vaporization (395 patients) or excisional conization (264 patients) with various Lasers. The complications associated with the therapies were examined with reference to the Laser sources and in the local anesthesia and non anesthesia groups. Six hundred and thirty-nine patients were treated on an outpatient basis without local anesthesia (37.7%) or with local anesthesia (62.3%). During the procedures, the patients complained of pain and a hot sensation in the lower abdomen in 64.6% in the vaporization (vapor) group and 60.7% in the conization (cone) group. In the local anesthesia group, 2.9% of the vapor and 4.0% of cone group complained of nothing. Uncontrollable bleeding during the procedures was most common in 12.8% and 32.3% in the CO2 vapor and cone groups, respectively. Misirradiation of the vaginal wall and vulva occurred in 3.3% in all vapor groups. On the other hand, the incidence of burns to both areas in all cone groups was 7.2%. The patients who were given an analgesic were 1.3% in all vapor groups and 2.5% in all cone groups. Delayed bleeding in those who received some treatment to stop it occurred in 14.7% in all vapor groups and also in 11.0% in all cone groups. Cervical stenosis was seen in 3.8% in all vapor groups and in 8.6% in all cone groups. No infection of the lasered site was observed in the vapor groups, but was observed in 0.8% in the cone groups. The culture test showed both E. coli positive.

[In vitro study for hormones and growth factors dependent cell proliferation of endometrial adenocarcinoma cells]

Sex steroid hormone dependent cell proliferation and inducing growth factors of endometrial carcinoma cells were investigated using in vitro culture systems. The cell proliferation of Ishikawa cells derived from well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma which possess both estrogen and progesterone receptors were stimulated by either estradiol added to culture media or EGF and TGF-alpha acting through EGF receptors. These stimulatory effects of TGF-alpha were antagonized by the anti TGF-alpha and EGF-receptor antibodies. The cell proliferations of other endometrial cancer cells were also inhibited by those antibodies. All endometrial cancer cells secrete TGF-alpha into their culture media measured by TGF-alpha ELISA methods. The expression of TGF-alpha mRNA and secretion of TGF-alpha of Ishikawa cells were induced by estradiol but not of hormone independent HEC-50 cells. Thus suggest that estradiol dependent growth factor should be TGF-alpha in human endometrial carcinoma cells.

Immunocytochemical study of membrane skeletons in abnormally shaped erythrocytes as revealed by a quick-freezing and deep-etching method

Ultrastructures of membrane skeletons in spherocytic and elliptocytic erythrocytes were investigated immunocytochemically. Erythrocytes obtained from patients with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) were split open mechanically to obtain exposed cytoplasmic sides of erythrocyte membranes and were immunostained with anti-spectrin antibody. Replica membranes were prepared by a quick-freezing and deep-etching method and were checked by electron microscopy. The in situ membrane skeletons of normal erythrocytes consisted mainly of reticular patterns of spectrin filaments, which formed networks on the cytoplasmic sides of the cell membrane. In contrast, the membrane skeletons of abnormally shaped erythrocytes (HS and HE) were much less filamentous and more granular than those of normal erythrocytes. This abnormal organization in erythrocyte membrane skeletons may be one of the factors that induce abnormally shaped erythrocytes in HS and HE patients.

Fatal abdominal thorotrast granuloma

We report a case of fatal abdominal thorotrast granuloma seen in a 65-year-old man who had undergone a femoral angiography of thorotrast with some accidental extravasation 49 years previously. As the thorotrast granuloma gradually increased in size, it caused ureteral obstruction, venous thrombosis, and perforation of the urinary bladder and rectum. Symptomatic abdominal thorotrast granuloma is quite rare and this is the first reported case of the granuloma associated with perforation through the urinary bladder and rectum.

Effects of transforming growth factors and regulation of their mRNA levels in two human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines

The effects of the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the growth of cells from 2 endometrial cancer lines, Ishikawa and HEC-50 were evaluated by measuring rates of DNA synthesis and changes in cell numbers during culture. EGF at 17 and 1.7 nM concentrations consistently enhanced HEC-50 cell proliferation. TGF-beta 1 inhibited Ishikawa cell proliferation but, unexpectedly for epithelium-derived cells, stimulated HEC-50 cell growth. This effect is of interest as it indicates that endometrial cells can acquire an altered responsiveness to a growth inhibitor during the process of malignant transformation. Northern blot analyses showed expression of TGF-alpha, TGF-beta 1 and EGF receptors mRNA in both cell lines. Neither estradiol (E2) nor 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHTam) affected mRNA levels for either TGF-alpha or TGF-beta in HEC-50 cells, a line unresponsive to E2 for proliferation. In Ishikawa cells, previously shown to respond to both E2 and OHTam by increasing proliferation rates, E2 increased TGF-alpha mRNA and reduced TGF-beta mRNA levels. OHTam lowered the levels of both mRNA species, although the effect was greater on TGF-beta than TGF-alpha mRNA. These data are consistent with, but do not prove, the existence of a possible autocrine regulation by TGF-alpha and TGF-beta of human cancer cell proliferation, which might be under E2 influence in Ishikawa cells.

[A phase II clinical study of cis-diammine glycolato platinum, 254-S, for cervical cancer of the uterus]

A phase II clinical study of 254-S, a new anticancer platinum complex, for cervical cancer was conducted by the 254-S Cervical Cancer Study Group consisting of 10 institutions. 254-S was administered at 80 mg/m2 by intravenous drip infusion and this administration was repeated at least 2 times at 4-week intervals, in principle. Forty of 45 patients registered, were eligible and 38 were evaluable for tumor response (complete cases). Complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) were obtained in 4 (10.5%) and 9 patients (23.7%), respectively, for a 34.2% response rate. Against squamous cell carcinoma, a 38.2% response rate (4 CR and 9 PR in 34 patients) was obtained. The response rate obtained in patients with no prior chemotherapy was 40.0% (2 CR and 8 PR in 25 patients), while that in patients with prior chemotherapy was 23.1% (2 CR and 1 PR in 13 patients). Major toxic effects observed were hematotoxicity, including thrombocytopenia (35.1%), leukopenia (73.0%), anemia (75.7%), gastrointestinal toxicity such as nausea and vomiting (83.8%) and anorexia (83.8%). Nephrotoxicity observed was in the form of an elevation of serum creatinine with an incidence of 2.7% and a decrease in creatinine clearance with an incidence of 21.7%. In comparison with the results obtained in the phase II clinical study for gynecological cancers in which 254-S was administered at 100 mg/m2, the response rate obtained in this study was slightly lower but thrombocytopenia and leukopenia observed were less frequent and milder. Based on these results, it was concluded that 254-S is a very useful anticancer agent for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Immunocytochemical determination of estrogen and progesterone receptors in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells (Ishikawa cells)

The regulation of both estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells of the Ishikawa line was investigated immunocytochemically by using monoclonal antibodies. Positive staining for estrogen and progesterone receptors was observed in the nuclei of Ishikawa cells. Intercellular heterogeneity in receptor content was evident from the presence of receptor-positive or -negative cells and from differences in staining intensity of positive cells. Quantitative analysis was performed by scoring the staining intensity and the proportion of positively stained cells. The time and dose-dependent stimulatory effect of estradiol added to culture media on progesterone receptor levels was studied by applying both immunocytochemical and biochemical methods. Estradiol at 10 nM (optimal concentration) increased the intensity score for PR from an initial value of 10.1 to 78.3 after 72 h incubation, and the proportion of the positive staining cells from 6.7 to 42.7%. Promegestone (R5020) was effective at 1 microM concentration in decreasing the intensity score for ER from 31.1 to 14.6 after 72 h exposure and the proportion of positive cells from 19.0 to 11.4%.

Clinical investigation with KTP/YAG laser for lower genital tract disease

The KTP/YAG laser (Laserscope) was clinically investigated in treatment of 54 patients, 28 of whom had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), 11 who had cervical polyp, 4 with cervical myoma, 9 with condyloma acuminata, and 2 with vulvar tumors. All patients were treated on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia. The procedure was performed in contact and noncontact irradiation modes with the tissue by using a bare fiber held in a handpiece with a power setting of 10-15 watts. Laser excisional conization was carried out for the treatment of CIN, laser excision was used for the treatment of condyloma of the cervix, cervical polyp, cervical myoma, and benign tumor of the vulva, and laser vaporization was used for condyloma of the vulva. The first cure rates were all satisfactory for the follow-up periods of 4-10 months. Complications during and post operation were minimal. The KTP laser provided good vaporizing ability compared with CO 2 and YAG lasers. When massive bleeding occurred which could not be stopped with the KTP laser, the YAG laser was used.

[Assessment of adaptation to on-board conditions on "The Ship for World Youth"]

The adaptation process of youth from 13 countries on board "The 3rd Ship for World Youth" cruise which was held from January 18 to March 20 in 1991 was analyzed. The age of almost all of the participants was in the 20's (average age was 24.9 yrs), and there were 103 participants (47 males, 56 females) from Japan, 171 participants (86 males, 85 females) from North, Middle and South America, and Oceanian countries for total of 274 participants (133 males, 141 females). The living environment on board differed significantly from daily living conditions of the participants, particularly due to the need to communicate in a foreign language, and to live in harmony with different cultures in a confinement situation, such that they were inevitably susceptible to various stressors. Among the participants there were some who needed psychiatric care and treatment. In order to assess quantitatively psychosomatic reactions to those stressors, a 28-item scaled GHQ (= General Health Questionnaire) assessment was performed four times on board with the following findings: 1. Highest scores were seen shortly after embarkment and decreased as the participants got accustomed to the living conditions on board. 2. The scores of the Japanese participants were higher than those of foreign participants, possibly indicating awkward adaptational skill on the part of Japanese participants especially during the first stage. 3. Japanese females scored slightly higher than Japanese males throughout the course of the program. 4. No clear difference in scores between Japanese participants aged under 25 y and over 26 y was observed. 5. A large proportion (77.3%) of Japanese participants had Y-G personality test results classifying them in the 'stable positive' group (D group). These participants had significantly lower scaled GHQ scores than those in the non-D group, indicating a high adaptational ability of D group participants.

[The physiological function of human endometrium]

The cyclic change of human endometrial cells are controlled by the interaction between hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries, thus making the endometrium proliferate, differentiate, exfoliate and then reproduce. The menstrual cycle is divided into three phases which are called follicle, ovulatory and luteal phase by the morphological change of the ovarium. The endometrial cycle is also classified to proliferative, secretory and menstrual phase. Estradiol (E2) stimulates the proliferation of endometrial cells by the indirect positive mechanism activated by the binding of E2 to E2 receptor. Growth factors (IGF- I, EGF, TGF- alpha etc.) induced by the transcription of the gene promote the proliferation of endometrial cells. Progesterone (P) has antagonistic effects on E2 actions and transform proliferative phase to secretory phase in endometrium. It is suggested that the possible mechanism of carcinogenesis of normal endometrium is the progression of endometrial hyperplasia due to the prolonged and unphysiological exposure to E2. The additional role of oncogenes (fos, fms, myc, myb, erb-B, neu) and growth factors on the mechanism of carcinogenesis of hyperplasia to cancer is very interested.

[Growth regulation of sex steroid hormone in endometrial carcinoma transplanted into nude mice]

By using ovariectomized nude mice, the hormone reactivity of endometrial carcinoma was evaluated. HEC-88nu cultured cells originated from human endometrial carcinoma were first transplanted to the animal in each experiment. Estrogen receptor (ER) of HEC-88nu reveals positive originally. Hormone pellets containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) were used. The results were as follows: 1. The proliferation of this tumor was accelerated remarkably by administration of E2 pellet. 2. By administration of MPA pellet, the proliferation was inhibited from the beginning but progressed flatly afterwards maintaining 50% of the control. 3. When MPA was administered upon priming the tumor with E2, the proliferation began to be inhibited after 2 weeks developing 60% of suppression 5 weeks later. 4. Progesterone receptor (PR) of the tumor was induced starting at week 2 when E2 was given and revealed 189 fmol/mgP at week 5. 5. As the morphological changes due to hormone, light eosin-stainability, rarefaction and swelling of the cytoplasms were the common characteristics. 6. It was suggested that both hormonal and pharmacological actions take part in the mechanism of progestin to act on endometrial carcinoma.

[Comparison between FIGO old and new staging criteria of endometrial carcinoma]

FIGO proposed new criteria for corpus cancer staging in 1988. One hundred and seventy-one cases of endometrial cancer were classified by these new staging criteria, and differences between grouping and survival rates for the new and old criteria were compared. 1) The number of cases grouped in old stages I, II, III and IV were 67, 86, 8 and 10, whereas those for new criteria 94, 25, 35 and 10, respectively. In 7 cases new staging was not possible because of preoperative radiation therapy and inoperability. 2) Cases of old stage I were reclassified as new stage I 54(80.5%), stage II 2(3.0%) and stage III 8(12.0%), and 3 cases were not classified. Those of old stage II were 39(45.2%), 21(24.55%), 25(29.1%) and 1(1.2%) and old stage III were 1(12.5%), 2(25.0%), 2(25.0%) and 3(37.5%), respectively. 3) Survival rates for the cases with both stage I and II cancer were very good without any apparent difference between them. Those for new stage III were very poor in comparison with old stage III. 4) In cases of stage I according to the new criteria, the depth of myometrial invasion correlated well with the survival rate. The prognosis of G3 cases with myometrial invasion over 1/2 was the poorest. 5) Survival rates among subclassifications of stages II and III were not significantly different from each other.

Morphological and chemical identification of neurons that project from the colon to the inferior mesenteric ganglia in the guinea-pig

Labelled nerve cells were located in the distal colon of the guinea-pig 4-5 days after the retrograde tracing agent, Fast blue, was injected into the inferior mesenteric ganglia. Labelled neurons were only found in the myenteric plexus. Their frequency increased from oral to anal and was greater towards the mesenteric border, compared with the anti-mesenteric aspect, of the colon. Many retrogradely labelled neurons were immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal peptide or calbindin. In the inferior mesenteric ganglia, vasoactive intestinal peptide and calbindin immunoreactive nerve fibres surrounded the same clumps of nerve cell bodies. Almost all calbindin and vasoactive intestinal peptide immunoreactive terminals degenerated after the nerves running from the large intestine to the inferior mesenteric ganglia were cut. It is concluded that the great majority of calbindin and vasoactive intestinal peptide immunoreactive terminals in the inferior mesenteric ganglia arise from nerve cell bodies in the myenteric plexus of the large intestine.

Pregnancy after laser therapy for the treatment of uterine cervical neoplasia

Three hundred and twenty-four patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (33 mild dysplasia, 109 moderate dysplasia, 118 severe dysplasia, 64 carcinoma in situ) underwent laser vaporization with the CO 2 laser. Eighty-two patients with CIN (mild dysplasia 7, moderate dysplasia 10, severe dysplasia 16, carcinoma in situ 46) and microinvasive cancer (3) underwent laser excisional conization with the YAG laser. Their first cure rates showed 93.5% and 98.8%, respectively, for the follow-up period 6 months to 7 years. During the same period, 36 pregnancies in 34 patients occurred. Of these patients, 14 underwent dilatation and curettage, 6 terminated by spontaneous abortion in the first trimester and 1 in the second trimester (previous MacDonald's suture), and 1 had fetal death at 13 weeks of gestational age. There were 13 deliveries, 2 by cesarean section (either postenucleation of uterine myoma or premature rupture of the membranes and fetal distress), 3 by vacuum extraction, 1 by breech delivery, and 7 by normal vaginal delivery. One patient is currently in her 22nd week of pregnancy. Our laser therapies are good conservative methods for the treatment of CIN because of favorable cure rates and no effect on succeeding pregnancy and delivery.

Calbindin immunoreactivity in sensory and autonomic ganglia in the guinea pig

Immunoreactivity (IR) for the calcium binding protein, calbindin, was localized in sensory ganglia (nodose, trigeminal and dorsal root), in parasympathetic ganglia (otic and sphenopalatine) in sympathetic chain ganglia and in sympathetic pre-vertebral ganglia of guinea pig. In sensory ganglia, fine nerve fibres with calbindin-IR surrounded the majority of cell bodies, a low proportion of which were themselves reactive. In cranial parasympathetic and in sympathetic chain ganglia, a small proportion of nerve cells was surrounded with baskets of calbindin-IR nerve fibres, but very few cell bodies were reactive. In prevertebral sympathetic ganglia, dense networks of terminals surrounded many cell bodies, but few somata were themselves reactive. In the coeliac and inferior mesenteric ganglia, the calbindin-IR nerve fibres surrounded somatostatin-IR cell bodies, but not those with neuropeptide Y-IR. It is concluded that specific subgroups of peripheral autonomic and sensory neurones have calbindin-IR.

[Mental disorders of Japanese people in western Europe]

As the number of Japanese going abroad has increased in recent years, so has there been an increase in the number of Japanese who seek for help at the Consulate of Japan due to problems relating to mental disorders. Three Consulates in Europe (London, Madrid, Paris), that had experience dealing with mental disorder cases, which had been brought for various reasons, were visited in order to investigate the state of the situation among Japanese with mental disorders in Europe. The following findings were obtained: 1. The number of mental disorder cases treated by the Consulates of Japan in Europe from April 1988 to March 1989 was 37 out of the total 147 in the whole world or 25%. 2. Among them were 7 cases in Great Britain (London), 5 cases in Spain (Madrid), and 11 cases in France (Paris), all of which required tremendous effort to resolve. 3. Among possible additional measures that are needed are support by local Japanese Organizations, development of a system of medical care manned by Japanese physicians on a rotation basis, a medical escort system for returning patients to Japan, overseas insurance and telephone counseling as well as measures to prevent manifestation of mental disorders overseas.

[Clinical significance of CA19-9 for endometriosis]

We investigated the usefulness of measuring the serum CA19-9 concentration in the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of endometriosis, and compared it with the serum CA125 concentration. We added an immunohistochemical study on CA19-9 and CA125 to find their localization in the various lesions of endometriosis. 1. The positive rate of serum CA19-9 in patients with endometriosis is 52.0% and that of CA125 is 48.0%. When both markers are examined, their positive rate increases to 71.4%. 2. As the Beecham classification stage advanced, the serum CA19-9 positive rate tended to increase. 3. The patients with endometriosis were followed up after surgery or during Danazol therapy. CA19-9 correlated closely with the clinical course. 4. The immunohistochemistry of CA19-9 shows that it localizes in chocolate cysts, but not in the lesions of adenomyosis. CA125 is seen in both lesions. The localizing of CA19-9 is thus seen to be different from that of CA125. It is concluded that the measurement of the serum CA19-9 concentration combined with that of CA125 is useful in the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of endometriosis.

A modified method for the determination of aluminium-gel in vaccine

The conventional method of aluminium analysis, described in the Biological Preparation Standard for Animals, was found to give erroneous results in the case of vaccine containing aluminium-gel as an adjuvant. This is because of incomplete decomposition of the gel and unsettled reaction system for the determination. But these problems were settled definitely. Heating on a direct fire for 15 min, by which temperature of the content attained 115-120 degrees C at atmospheric pressure, allowed the gel to complete decomposition and the result came to close the theoretical value. And a constant result by the decomposition itself was obtained with 2 volumes of nitric acid against 1 volume indicated in the standard method. Quantitative reaction of the gel-decomposed solution did hold in range of about 0.75-2.0 micrograms aluminium per ml. Use of acetate buffer solution for dilution of the decomposed solution following by sampling in 2 volumes of the dilution into the reaction mixture made the variation to the least as compared with the water-dilution following by 1 volume sampling indicated in the standard method. By these modified conditions, we succeeded in reducing the relative error and the coefficient of variation to less than +/- 5% and +/- 2% respectively.

[Clinicopathological analysis of endometrial carcinoma in young women]

Endometrial carcinoma found in patients younger than 50 years of age were analyzed clinicopathologically in comparison with those of other age groups. The results were 1) Out of 150 patients with endometrial carcinoma, 44 (29.3%) were diagnosed in those younger than 50 years of age and 17(11.3%) were under the age of 40. The average age of endometrial cancer was 53.6 years and that of atypical endometrial hyperplasia was 49.2. 2) The majority of these patients (93.4%) had ever complained of vaginal bleeding, whereas those younger than 40 years of age had in 82.4%. 3) History of irregular menstrual cycle was only observed in 25.6% of the patients with the age 50 or older, whereas it was complained of in 61.5% of those among forties and in 56.3% of those younger than 40. 4) Nulliparity was found in 19.8% among 50 and older, whereas 70.4% and 64.7% were seen respectively in those among forties and younger than 40. 5) Hypertension was found more frequently in older patients, but diabetes mellitus and obesity did not correlate with age. 6) Seventy cases (46.7%) has history of receiving screening for cervical cancer without detecting endometrial cancer. 7) Well differentiated adenocarcinoma (G1) and adenoacanthoma was observed frequently in younger age group. Endometrial hyperplasia was often combined with cancer in young women. Having the data above mentioned, importance of screening for endometrial cancer in younger women is discussed.

[Responsiveness and mechanisms of action of steroid hormones in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells]

The responsiveness and action mechanisms of steroid hormones and epidermal growth factor on human endometrial carcinoma cells are analyzed by using in vitro culture system. 1) The Ishikawa cells, derived from a well differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma and possess ER and PR, are shown to respond to estrogens by increasing a variety of parameters, viz cell proliferation, PR levels, ALP and DNA polymerase activities. 2) ER and PR of those cells are localized in the nuclei by immunocytochemical staining using the monoclonal antibodies against to ER and PR, confirming the correctness of Gorski and Greene's one step theory involving the action mechanisms of steroid hormones. 3) Progestins reduced the ER level and stimulate E2DH activities and glycogen content, which are completely abolished by anti-progestin (RU486), suggesting that PR of those cells should be functional. 4) These responses to steroid hormones of Ishikawa cells are synergistically enhanced or appeared earlier by addition of EGF. 5) The main metabolite of E2 incubated with Ishikawa cells is E2-3-sulfate instead of E1, indicate that the higher estrogenic status may be persisted in endometrial cancer tissues.

Distribution of enteric nerve cells that project from the small intestine to the coeliac ganglion in the guinea-pig

The retrograde tracing agent, Fast blue, was injected into the coeliac ganglia of guinea-pigs and 4-7 days later, nerve cell bodies containing this dye were examined in the small intestine. The cell bodies were found in the ganglia of the myenteric plexus but not in submucous ganglia. The labeled cell bodies were large, on average 42 by 19 microns when viewed in whole mounts, with 4-9 fine processes. The cells increased in frequency anally along the small intestine; the number of neurons per unit length of gut in the distal ileum was more than double that near the duodeno-jejunal flexure. At all points along the intestine the nerve cells were more numerous near the mesenteric attachment than opposite this attachment. About half of the neurons showed immunoreactivity for VIP. It is deduced that the neurons that project from the intestine to the coeliac ganglion are likely to be second-order neurons in the afferent limbs of intestino-visceral reflex pathways.

Proliferation and responsiveness to estrogen of human endometrial cancer cells under serum-free culture conditions

Studies of hormonal growth regulation in cultured human endometrial cancer cells are limited by the requirement of exogenous growth factors, usually supplied by addition of serum. The present report provides evidence that estradiol can stimulate proliferation of endometrial cancer cells of the Ishikawa line in the absence of serum or added growth factors. Mitogenic effects of estrogen were demonstrated in two different experimental systems, in cells attached to the substratum of mammalian tissue culture dishes, and in cells forming colonies in soft agar under anchorage-independent conditions. Addition of estradiol to a mixture of serum-free, phenol red-free Dulbecco's minimal essential medium and Ham's F-12 medium, supplemented with L-glutamine and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid [basal medium: (BM)] significantly increased the proliferation of cells attached to culture dishes. Dose-response experiments revealed maximal estradiol stimulation at 10 nM; significant responses were also observed at 1 nM and at 100 nM concentrations. The mitogenic effect of 10 nM estradiol was comparable to that of 1% charcoal-treated fetal bovine serum and the two effects were additive. The presence of estradiol in serum-free BM resulted in a shortening of the doubling time of exponentially proliferating cells from 38 to 29 h. From the labeling index, measured after exposure to a pulse of [3H]thymidine, and from the mitotic index, both determined in exponentially proliferating cells, the lengths of the S and M phases were calculated to be 11 and 1 h, respectively. From these data it was estimated that estradiol shortened the G1 phase by approximately 40%, from 22 to 13 h. Estradiol doubled the colony formation efficiency of cells plated in BM containing 0.3% agar in the absence of serum as well as in the presence of 1% charcoal-treated fetal bovine serum. The stimulation of colony formation by estradiol was influenced by medium components, since no effects were observed in minimal essential medium. The colony formation efficiency was positively related to the serum concentrations and remained significantly lower in minimal essential medium than in BM at comparable serum levels. The observed positive relationship between colony formation efficiency and cell densities at plating suggests a cooperative mitogenic effect, likely due to autocrine and paracrine action of secreted growth factors. These results define a model to evaluate hormonal growth regulation mediated by autocrine mitogens in human endometrial cancer cells in the absence of interfering exogenous growth factors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Gastric emptying in patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer

Gastric emptying was measured in patients with proximal gastric, distal gastric and duodenal ulcers using a radioisotopic method. Gastric emptying was rapid in patients with proximal gastric ulcer, and was considered to be due to accelerated proximal evacuation. However, emptying was delayed in patients with distal gastric ulcer, and was considered to be due to reduced emptying in the antrum. On the other hand, rapid emptying seen in duodenal ulcer patients was considered to be due to accelerated emptying in both the proximal stomach and the antrum. Gastric emptying in the healing stage was closer to that in healthy subjects than in patients with active-stage ulcer.