[Effectiveness of FUT-175, protease inhibitor, as an anticoagulant to hemodialysis]

(6-Amidino-2-naphthyl 4-guanidino benzoate) dimethanesulfonate (FUT-175), a protease inhibitor, has been reported to be an effective anticoagulant during hemodialysis without heparin. The anticoagulant activity of FUT-175 is also reported to be short. We applied FUT-175 to 33 patients who were undergoing hemodialysis and susceptible to bleeding, to avoid the use of heparin. The concentration and anticoagulant activity of FUT-175 were relatively stable during hemodialysis. A 20-40 mg/h dose of FUT-175 prolonged coagulation time sufficiently in the instrumental blood of the extracorporeal circuit but not in the systemic blood. Its anticoagulant activity decreased immediately after hemodialysis. Therefore, we could manage all patients without any bleeding trouble during hemodialysis with FUT-175 as an anticoagulant. Although there were side effects of FUT-175, such as nausea, vomiting, itching and eruption, they were not serious, and FUT-175 could be administered without interruption. FUT-175 seems to be useful as an anticoagulant during hemodialysis for patients susceptible to bleeding.

Developmental changes in density and distribution of serotoninergic fibers in the chick spinal cord

Developmental changes of serotoninergic innervation in the chick spinal cord (third lumbosacral segment) were examined with an immunohistochemical technique using an antiserum to serotonin. In the 1-day-old hatched chick, serotoninergic fibers were located in laminae I, II, VII, IX, and X. A large number of serotonin-positive fibers and terminals were found around somal profiles of large neurons and in the neuropil of the medial and lateral parts of the lateral motor column (LMC). In the 1-week-old chick, the density of serotoninergic fibers was greatly increased in the posterior columns, and serotoninergic fibers were most densely aggregated in the dorsolateral part of the LMC. In the 2-week-old chick, a considerable decrease in the density of serotoninergic fibers was observed in the lateral funiculus and the gray matter (laminae I, II, VII, IX, and X). In the LMC, serotonin-positive fibers and terminals were largely absent from the neuropil, but were found preferentially around the somal profiles of large neurons. Between 1 and 2 weeks after hatching the density of varicosities and terminals in the neuropil of the dorsolateral and medial parts of the LMC decreased by 33% and 56%, respectively. In the 3-month-old chick, the density of serotoninergic fibers in laminae I, II, V, VII, and X had increased compared to younger ages. Serotonin-positive fibers were not evenly distributed in the LMC of the adult chicken; rather, they were densely aggregated around the soma and proximal dendrites of motoneurons in the dorsolateral LMC. Many neuronal soma in the medial and intermediate regions of the LMC lacked serotoninergic fibers.

Immunohistochemical study of the cells infiltrating human renal allografts by the ABC and the IGSS method using monoclonal antibodies

Sixty renal allograft tissues obtained from 29 patients were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. These tissues were histologically classified into 4 patterns according to the distribution pattern of the infiltrating cells: normal, focal, focal-diffuse, and diffuse types. Clinical signs of acute rejection were observed in 88% of the patients with the diffuse type infiltration, and 83% of those with the focal-diffuse type infiltration but in only 13% of those with the focal type infiltration. Twenty-four renal allografts were analyzed by the ABC and the IGSS methods using monoclonal antibodies. The number of T cells (Leu 1) accounted for about 80% of the total number of infiltrating cells; 2-8% of the cells were B cells (Leu 12); about 10% were NK/K cells (Leu 7); and 4-6% were monocytes/macrophages (Leu M3). As to helper/inducer T cell (Leu3a) and killer/suppressor T cell (Leu2a), which are T lymphocyte subsets, there were more Leu3a- than Leu2a-positive cells in focal type tissue, but there were more Leu2a- than Leu3a-positive cells in focal-diffuse and diffuse type tissue. In most cases that developed clinical signs of acute rejection, there were more Leu2a- than Leu3a-positive cells. The Leu3a/Leu2a ratio in most of the AZA-administered cases dropped immediately after the transplantation and maintained a low value, but in the CSA-administered cases it decreased gradually post-transplant.

[The effect of peripheral blood monocytes on cell-mediated immunity in pregnant women]

The status of autoimmune diseases and viral infections is known to change during and after pregnancy. Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in pregnant women is thought to be involved. Recently, macrophages and monocytes (M phi) were reported to play an important role in CMI. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the effect of peripheral blood M phi on CMI in pregnant women. First, the ratio of M phi to lymphocytes and the absolute number of M phi were calculated during pregnancy. They increased during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Next, the effect of M phi on CMI in pregnant women was studied in terms of the ability of M phi to obtain access to T cells. This decreased slightly during the 1st trimester, increased significantly during the 3rd trimester (p less than 0.01) and returned to normal after delivery. It was found that serum from pregnant women in the 3rd trimester was able to enhance the accessory ability of M phi. Of the various hormones which show the wide fluctuations in concentration in the serum during pregnancy, estrogen increased the accessory ability by 41%, while cortisol decreased it by 40%. In conclusion, M phi were found to influence the CMI in pregnant women and pregnant serum, and especially the hormones such as estrogen and cortisol included in it, were also found to relate to M phi function.

Immunohistochemical study on the development of serotoninergic neurons in the chick: II. Distribution of cell bodies and fibers in the spinal cord

Developmental changes of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) neurons and fibers in the spinal cord of the embryo and posthatching chick were studied with immunohistochemical techniques with the aid of an antibody against serotonin. The first serotonin-immunoreactive fibers were found in the marginal layer of the cervical and lumbar spinal cord on embryonic days 6 and 8, respectively. There was a time lag of a few days between the first appearance of serotonin fibers in the marginal layer (embryonic days 6-8) and the time of penetration of serotonin fibers into the mantle layer (embryonic day 8 or older). The developments of serotonin innervation in the rostral parts of the spinal cord precedes that of caudal regions. Serotonin fibers penetrating into the mantle layer of the lumbar spinal cord were first found in lamina VII on embryonic day 8, whereas there were no serotonin-immunoreactive fibers in lamina IX by embryonic day 10. Large differences were found between embryonic day 16 and posthatching day 5 with regard to the density of serotonin varicosities and fibers in lamina IX, where profiles of soma and large-sized dendrites were heavily covered with varicosities. Laminae I and II first received serotonin fibers on embryonic day 16 and had a much denser innervation by posthatching day 5. There were no traces of serotonin fibers in lamina III in the stages examined up to posthatching day 5. Serotonin fibers were located in the lateral and ventral marginal layers in all specimens examined; only a few fibers were found in the dorsal marginal layer. Although few, serotonin-immunoreactive cell bodies were found in an area around the central canal of all animals from embryonic day 8 to adult. Some of these were located in the ependymal layer and sent processes toward the central canal; there were a small number of cells with long, fine processes. Serotonin-immunoreactive fibers in the spinal cord were not altered in regions rostral to the spinal transection, whereas all the serotoninergic fibers of the supraspinal origin were eliminated in the spinal cord caudal to the gap.

Immunohistochemical study on the development of serotoninergic neurons in the chick: I. Distribution of cell bodies and fibers in the brain

The ontogenetic development of the serotoninergic system in the embryonic as well as in posthatching chick brain was studied with an indirect immunohistochemical technique with the aid of a specific antibody to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). By embryonic day 4, rostral and caudal groups of serotonin-immunoreactive cell populations appeared in the mesencephalon and rostral and caudal rhombencephalon. At this stage, the rostral group had a considerable number of labelled cells that sent axons toward more rostral parts of brain, whereas the caudal group consisted of a small number of scattered serotonin-immunoreactive cells. The number of serotonin-positive cells increased with development, such that by embryonic day 8 almost all the serotoninergic cell groups found in the adult chick were already present. Serotoninergic-positive cells appeared in the paraventricular organ of the diencephalon as early as embryonic day 10. Judging from the cytoarchitectural organization of serotonin-immunoreactive cells, all of the serotoninergic cell groups in the chick brain seemed to be fully developed by embryonic day 16. On embryonic day 4, serotonin-immunoreactive fibers were found to enter into the marginal layer of the mesencephalon. Subsequently, serotonin-positive fibers ascended in the marginal layer of the brainstem up to the levels of the diencephalon and to the telencephalon on embryonic day 6 and 8, respectively. Serotonin-positive fibers, which first began to penetrate into the mantle layer on embryonic day 8, reached to the rostral pole of the telencephalon by embryonic day 10. In general, serotonin fibers were found in almost all brain regions by embryonic day 16. However, "terminal formation" in some nuclei did not seem to begin until the late embryonic or posthatching period. These observations indicate that the initial development of serotoninergic cell groups occurs during the first half of the 20th day of the incubation period of the chick. However, a longer time, ranging from early embryonic to posthatching stages, is necessary for the complete development of the serotoninergic projections.

Simultaneous detection of B-cells and T-cells by a double immunohistochemical technique using immunogold-silver staining and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method

A new double immunohistochemical technique for the simultaneous detection of B-cells and T-cells was investigated, using tissue preparations obtained from human axillary lymph nodes and rejected renal allografts. The specimens were immunostained first for the demonstration of B-cells, by the immunogold-silver staining (IGSS) method using Leu-12 monoclonal antibody, and then for T-cells by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method using Leu-1 monoclonal antibody. With the present methods, both B-cells and T-cells were clearly detected and distinctively identified without cross-linking of antibodies or double reaction of enzymes.

Characteristics of ATPase activity and the subunit composition of myosin in the conduction system of bovine heart

The ATPase activity, light chains and isoenzymes of myosin from specialized myocardial tissue (the A-V node, bundle of His, and right and left bundle branches) of bovine heart were compared with those of atrial and ventricular myosins. The order of Ca2+-activated ATPase activity was atrial greater than specialized myocardial tissue greater than ventricular myosin. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that myosin from the specialized myocardial tissue contained the light chains of both atrial and ventricular myosins. On the other hand, the specialized myocardial tissue contained one V3 isomyosin and showed no difference from ventricular myocardial tissue on pyrophosphate gel.

[Effect of an anabolic steroid on the cellular immunity and postoperative evaluation of uterine cervical cancer]

The effects of an anabolic steroid on the immune activity and clinical condition of patients with cancer of the uterine cervix were studied. The effects of the steroid on tumor growth were also studied in animals. The results obtained demonstrated that the anabolic steroid (1) enhanced the activity of macrophages and cell-mediated immune activity, (2) reduced the incidence of post-operative infection, (3) reduced pose-operative loss of weight of patients due to the intrinsic anabolic activity of the steroid, and (4) did not exert any influence on tumor growth. Judging from these results, administration of the anabolic steroid would appear to be effective for the improvement of the general condition of cancer patients following surgery or in terminal cases.

[Gestagen treatment of endometrial carcinoma--theoretical and practical application]

Since Kistner in 1959 took up the gestagen therapy for endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma with a view to inhibiting cellular proliferation, many clinical reports on that therapy have been published. It has been clarified by cell-biological studies that progesterone inhibit the DNA synthesis of endometrial cells followed by the discontinuance of cell division. At dichophase , prior to the onset of the S-stage in cell division cycle, under conjugation of progesterone with a certain specific type of protein (hormone receptor) the cells are induced toward the development of secretory function, i.e. toward differentiation, resulting in no synthesis of DNA. On the basis of the consideration mentioned above, when hormone treatment will be applied to endometrial carcinoma it is required that those cancer cells have the gene activated by administered hormone or have specific type of protein produced by hormone dependent gene in cytoplasm. When cancer cells have still retained the traits of the normal epithelial cells of endometrium, they were believed still possess the character to show the specific reaction to progesterone. However, not all the cancer cells can be considered to have a uniform character (the degree of differentiation), so gestagen therapy cannot be interpreted to be able completely to bring about the fundamental cure of endometrial carcinoma.

[Study of monocyte function in patients with cervical cancer by using T-lymphocyte monocyte interaction in response to phytohemagglutinin (author's transl)]

Monocytes have been thought to play an important role in the immune surveillance system of cancer patients since monocytes were shown to participate as accessory cells in the induction of T-cell proliferation to PHA by Potter et al. in 1977. We had already reported the depression of monocyte function with the progress of cancer after PHA response of mononuclear cells obtained by centrifugation of Ficoll-Hypaque and lymphocytes obtained by depletion of monocytes ingesting Silica from mononuclear cells was compared in cancer patients. In that study, however, monocyte function was considered not to be indicated truly because responding cells were different at each examination. Therefore, in this study responding cells were graded as T-cells obtained from healthy volunteers and monocytes were added to the T-cells. Monocyte function in this study was as follows: PHA response to T-cells and monocytes over PHA response to T-cells. In this study, monocytes were allogenic to T-cells. At first, the influence of monocytes to allogenic T-cells was studied but it was found to be negligible. The ratio of monocytes and T-cells was 1:1. The concentration of PHA was 20 micrograms/ml. Finally, the monocyte function of patients with cervical cancer was studied. It was increased at the stage of CIS and then gradually decreased. At the advanced stage, it was significantly decreased to comparison with that of healthy volunteers.

The prognostic value of serum immunosuppressive effect in patients with ovarian cancer

Sixteen patients who underwent surgery and postoperative chemotherapy for carcinoma of the ovary were studied. Eleven survived more than 18 months without evidence of recurrence, and 5 died more than 5 months after surgery. Serial determinations were made preoperatively and postoperatively of the immunosuppressive effect of the serums of these patients on the response of normal lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin stimulation. These determinations were plotted for each patient; the shapes of the curves for patients who survived are markedly different from those of patients who died. The prognostic value of these findings is discussed.

Immunosuppressive effect of serum in patients with ovarian carcinoma

Cell-mediated immune response was measured in 23 patients with ovarian cystadenocarcinoma, 38 patients with benign ovarian tumor, and 44 healthy volunteers. The method used two indexes: the lymphocyte response per unit volume of peripheral blood to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and the immunosuppressive effect of serum on the response of normal lymphocytes to PHA stimulation. The lymphocyte response per 50 microliter peripheral blood did not differ significantly between patients with ovarian cancer and healthy volunteers. The serum effect, in contrast, differed significantly between malignant and benign ovarian tumors, and was found to increase significantly even when the cancer masses were as small as about 5 x 5 x 5 cm in size, ie, in FIGO Stage I. It is our belief that the measurement of the serum effect in patients with any ovarian tumor enables the early detection of ovarian cancer.