[Measurement of superoxide dismutase activity in normal skin by electron spin resonance-spin trapping method]

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in 20 skin specimens from healthy individuals measured by the electron spin resonance-spin trapping method was 7.08 U +/- 0.41 U/mg protein (mean +/- SE). This method may be useful in the determination of SOD, since it requires a shorter time (approx. 3 min) and a smaller amount of specimen (approx. 30 mg) than previously reported methods other than the EIA method.

Effects of Bay K 8644 on renal function and renin secretion in anesthetized rats

Our previous study on kidney cortical slices showed that Bay K 8644, a dihydropyridine calcium channel agonist, produced a dose-dependent inhibitory action on the release of renin. The present study was performed to examine the effect of Bay K 8644 on renal function and renin secretion in vivo. When Bay K 8644 was directly infused into the renal artery of anesthetized rats, 2 micrograms/kg/min had no effect on renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), but decreased urine flow (UF), urinary sodium excretion (UNaV) and fractional sodium excretion (FENa) by about 30%, 55% and 35%, respectively, thereby suggesting that Bay K 8644 enhanced the tubular reabsorption of water and sodium. When 10 micrograms/kg/min were infused, RBF, GFR, UF, UNaV and FENa decreased to about 95%, 70%, 35%, 35% and 30% of each control value. The administration of Bay K 8644 at 10 micrograms/kg/min did not influence the basal levels of plasma renin activity (PRA) and renin secretion rate (RSR), but did inhibit significantly isoproterenol-induced increasing effects on PRA and RSR. These results indicate that the activation of voltage-dependent calcium channels with Bay K 8644 influences the control of renal function and renin secretion in vivo.

Application of the immunoperoxidase method for rapid intraoperative pathological diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

Intrapancreatic extension of pancreatic duct cell carcinoma in 19 resectable cases was evaluated by both hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and quick immunostaining using antibodies against cancer-associated antigens--e.g., CA19-9, DUPAN 2, and CEA--on the intraoperative frozen-section biopsy during the course of laparotomy. By H&E staining, malignant lesions were identified in four of 19 cases (21%). By the immunostaining method, however, cancer cells were detected in 10 of 19 cases (52.6%). This immunostaining method was particularly useful in defining cancer cells surrounded by dense fibrous connective tissue, in which cancer cells are usually difficult to evaluate by H&E staining. Thus, the application of such immunostaining, together with H&E staining, on the cryostat sections of biopsy specimens may provide important information for the appropriate operative method. Retrospective study of permanent sections revealed that pathological diagnosis by quick immunostaining was more accurate than diagnosis by H&E staining.

Inhibitory effect of peptide YY on gastric acid output in rats

The administration of peptide YY (PYY: 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 nmol/kg/h, i.v.) to fasting rats inhibited not only baclofen (2 mg/kg, s.c.)-stimulated gastric acid output and gastric mucosal blood flow, but also pentagastrin (8 micrograms/kg/h, i.v.)-stimulated gastric acid output. PYY (3.2 nmol/kg/h) reduced baclofen-induced acid output more than pentagastrin-induced acid output, i.e., by 61.8 +/- 11.5% compared to 35.3 +/- 8.2%. PYY inhibited acetylcholine (ACh) release from cholinergic nerve endings of gastric body evoked by electrical transmural stimulation (ETS: 1 msec, 10 V, 3 Hz, 30 sec) by 47.2 +/- 3.5%. The mechanism of the inhibitory effect of PYY on gastric acid output seems to involve decreased gastric mucosal blood flow and reduced ACh release from cholinergic nerves.

Stimulatory effects of neuronally released norepinephrine on renin release in vitro

Extracellular high potassium inhibits renin release in vitro by increasing calcium concentrations in the juxtaglomerular cells. We found that the decreased response of renin release from rat kidney cortical slices in high potassium solution (20-80 mM) changed to a strikingly increased one in the presence of nifedipine at doses over 10(-6) M. We then examined the stimulatory effect of extracellular high potassium in the presence of nifedipine on renin release. The enhancement of release was significantly suppressed either by propranolol or by metoprolol but not by prazosin. High potassium plus nifedipine-induced increase in renin release was markedly attenuated by renal denervation. The enhancing effect was not observed when the slices were incubated in calcium-free medium. Divalent cations such as Cd2+, Co2+, and Mn2+ (0.1-3.0 mM) blocked this enhancement in a concentration-dependent manner. High potassium elicited an increase in 3H efflux from the slices preloaded with [3H]norepinephrine. The increasing effect was not influenced by nifedipine but was abolished by the removal of extracellular calcium or by the addition of divalent cations. These observations suggest to us that the high potassium plus nifedipine-induced increase in renin release from the slices is mediated by norepinephrine derived from renal sympathetic nerves and that this neuronally released norepinephrine stimulates renin release via activation of beta-adrenoceptors.

Calmodulin-independent stimulation of renin release by exposure of rat kidney cortical slices to calcium

1. Effects of calcium-interacting agents on the calcium-induced stimulation of renin release from kidney cortical slices pretreated with calcium-free medium were examined. 2. The exposure of calcium to the slices pretreated with calcium-free medium enhanced the release of renin, followed by a decreased response in the release. The amount of lactate dehydrogenase released from the slices did not correlate with that of renin. 3. High potassium depolarization significantly potentiated the decreased response of renin release, with no influence on the stimulation of the release by exposure to calcium. 4. The decrease in renin release was attenuated by calcium-interacting agents, such as nifedipine, TMB-8 and W-7, but these agents were without effect on the stimulation of the release by exposure to calcium. 5. Thus, the calcium-calmodulin system apparently is not involved in the increased response of renin release following exposure to calcium.

Tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme blockade by MC-838 (altiopril calcium) infused intravenously to miniature pigs: comparison with captopril

The effect of a new orally active angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, calcium(-)-N-[(S)-3-[(N-cyclohexyl-carbonyl-D-alanyl)thio]-2-methyl- prolinate (MC-838, altiopril calcium), on cardiohemodynamics and tissue ACE activity was compared with that of captopril in the anesthetized miniature pig. MC-838 and captopril were infused i.v. for 1 or 3 hr at an equimolar rate of 20 and 10 micrograms/kg.hr-1, respectively. When MC-838 was infused i.v., captopril appeared in approximately 40% of MC-838 in serum, indicating that the amount of serum captopril during the equimolar concentration treatment with MC-838 corresponds to half of serum captopril after the dosing of captopril. During the infusion, the drugs did not significantly affect systemic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), renal blood flow (RBF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR). MC-838 and captopril, in a similar degree, attenuated the vasoconstrictor response to angiotensin-I (A-I) injected into the renal artery (i.a.), and enhanced the vasodilator one to i.a. bradykinin, 3 hr after the onset of the drug infusion. The animals were sacrificed at 1 and 3 hr after the onset of the infusion of MC-838 or captopril, and the ACE activity in serum and some target organs (lung, kidney, heart, brain and aorta) was determined. Effective activities of MC-838 and captopril occurred in the lung and kidney (only at 3 hr for captopril) where higher ACE activity in a variety of tissues was found, to a lesser degree in the serum (only by captopril) and not at all in the brain, heart and aorta.

Immunohistochemical localization of CA 19-9 and CEA in pancreatic carcinoma and associated diseases

The distribution of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), on pancreatic carcinomas and associated diseases correlated with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) localization is described. Immunohistochemical examinations were made on pancreatic specimens from 45 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. In normal pancreatic duct, the antigens were restricted to the luminal surface. In some hyperplastic epithelium, however, they were localized not only to the basolateral plasma membranes but also to the cytoplasm. In neoplastic glands, the antigens were distributed over the entire surface of the cells and in the surrounding stroma adjacent to the basal membranes of the malignant cells. The findings were compatible with previous observations of CEA and secretory component (SC) localization in gastric and colonic mucosa. In addition, the staining intensity of CA 19-9 in the routine formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections was much superior to that of CEA. The relationship between CA 19-9 and other blood group antigens, such as Lewis a and Lewis b, also was discussed. Localizations of these antigens in pancreatic tissues are useful for the biologic analysis of abnormalities of the pancreatic duct epithelium, and may well facilitate pathologic diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

Immunohistochemical localization of CA 19-9 and CEA in pancreatic carcinoma and associated diseases

The distribution of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), on pancreatic carcinomas and associated diseases correlated with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) localization is described. Immunohistochemical examinations were made on pancreatic specimens from 45 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. In normal pancreatic duct, the antigens were restricted to the luminal surface. In some hyperplastic epithelium, however, they were localized not only to the basolateral plasma membranes but also to the cytoplasm. In neoplastic glands, the antigens were distributed over the entire surface of the cells and in the surrounding stroma adjacent to the basal membranes of the malignant cells. The findings were compatible with previous observations of CEA and secretory component (SC) localization in gastric and colonic mucosa. In addition, the staining intensity of CA 19-9 in the routine formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections was much superior to that of CEA. The relationship between CA 19-9 and other blood group antigens, such as Lewis a and Lewis b, also was discussed. Localizations of these antigens in pancreatic tissues are useful for the biologic analysis of abnormalities of the pancreatic duct epithelium, and may well facilitate pathologic diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

Stimulatory effects of neuronally released norepinephrine on renin release from rat kidney cortical slices

Stimulatory effects of extracellular high K+ in the presence of nifedipine (NIF) on renin release (RR) from kidney cortical slices were investigated. The stimulation was suppressed either by propranolol or by metoprolol but not by prazosin. High K+ plus NIF-induced increase in RR was attenuated by renal denervation. The enhancing effect was not observed when the slices were incubated in Ca2+-free buffer or in medium containing divalent cations such as Cd2+, Co2+ and Mn2+. These alterations in RR correlated with 3H-efflux from the slices preloaded with 3H-norepinephrine. We conclude that the high K+ plus NIF-induced increase in RR from the slices is mediated by norepinephrine (NE) derived from renal sympathetic nerves and that this neuronally released NE stimulates RR via the activation of beta-adrenoceptors.

[Clinicohistopathological and immunohistochemical studies on intrapancreatic spread of pancreatic carcinoma]

Clinicohistopathological and immunohistochemical studies on intrapancreatic spread of pancreatic carcinoma were performed on 30 cases with total pancreatectomy accompanied by portal vein resection. In the observation of HE stained tissue sections of 25 cases of carcinoma of head of the pancreas, the intrapancreatic spread from the head to body or tail was observed in 9 out of 25 cases (36%). However, by the immunostaining of CEA, CA19-9 and Dupan 2, small cancer nests surrounded by fibrous tissues could be easily detected and intrapancreatic continuous spread from the head to body or tail was observed in 15 out of 25 cases (60%). The intrapancreatic spread of the carcinoma correlated with portal invasion of carcinoma, hardness of the body and tail, obstruction of main pancreatic duct and irregular pancreaticogram. The intraoperative quick immunostaining on the cryostat sections of the pancreatic tissue, together with the HE staining, is useful to determine the intrapancreatic spread of the carcinoma. The indication of total pancreatectomy for pancreatic carcinoma can be determined by these results.

[Preparation of an antithrombogenic bypass-catheter of the portal vein and its application to extended radical surgery in pancreatic cancer]

The curative resectability of pancreatic cancer has been considered to be extremely low. One of the reasons for this is invasion of the pancreatic cancer cells into the portal vein, and resection of the portal vein in the usual manner would bring create various problems following acute portal vein occlusion. Sudden occlusion of the portal vein has been shown to cause profound and fatal shock in animal experiments. Now, however, with our newly developed procedure of bypassing the portal blood into the systemic circulation or intrahepatic portal vein using an antithrombogenic bypass-catheter, made from heparinized hydrophilic polymer (Toray, Anthron), combined resection of the portal vein can be performed with safety and ease. Using the catheter-bypass method, 55 pancreatectomies accompanied by portal vein resection have been safely performed, mostly in patients with pancreatic cancer. Occlusion time of the portal vein ranged from 20-302 minutes (mean, 94 minutes). No side effects of the catheter were observed. The rate of occurrence of postoperative thrombosis of the portal vein was 1.8% (1/55) and operative mortality was 7.3% (4/55). Resectability rate for pancreatic cancer was 11.2% (5/42) between 1971 and 1980, but this has been remarkably improved to over 60% (53/87) in the period between 1981 and August 1986 by the application of the catheter-bypass method. This method is recommended not only for pancreatic cancer operations but also for hepatobiliary surgery.

Renin release in anesthetized rats is enhanced by the calmodulin antagonist W-7

In foregoing work, we found that the release of renin from rat kidney cortical slices was stimulated by the calmodulin antagonist W-7. The present work was done to determine whether W-7 would stimulate renin release in vivo. W-7 and its control agent, W-5 were directly infused into the renal artery of anesthetized rats. W-7 and W-5, at 50 micrograms/kg/min, produced no significant effects on renin release. Infusion of W-7 at 100 micrograms/kg/min resulted in a marked stimulation of renin release, but there was no significant alteration in the release when the same dose of W-5 was infused. Both compounds elicited a slight decrease in renal blood flow. The alterations in renin release and renal blood flow seen with W-7 were not affected by pretreatment with phentolamine or propranolol. As W-7 stimulates renin release in vivo, the hypothesis that Ca2+-calmodulin plays an inhibitory role in renin release from the kidney is given added support.

[Transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization therapy using degradable polylactic acid microspheres]

Transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization therapy (TAE) is an established method for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have developed a new embolus consisting of microspheres with a mean diameter of about 200 microns which are composed of biodegradable polymolecular polylactic and the anti-cancer agent, aclarubicin -HCl, in a ratio of 12% w/w. These microspheres were applied to 28 patients with inoperable HCC using the following method microspheres containing 50 mg of aclarubicin-HCl were injected through a catheter placed in the hepatic artery or one of its branches, 2 or 3 times at intervals of 2 to 4 weeks. The effectiveness was confirmed by decreased levels of serum AFP and regression of the tumor size, and the accumulated survival rate for 6 months was 83.3%.

Secondary ion mass spectra of tryptic peptides of human hemoglobin chains

Secondary ion mass spectra of tryptic peptides of human globin alpha-, beta-, gamma and delta-chains were studied. Almost all mass peaks of protonated molecular ions of tryptic peptides were observed and they were very stable and abundant. The present results show the possibilities for quantitative analysis of two gamma-globin species: A gamma and G gamma chains, and for structural analysis of unknown abnormal hemoglobins.

[Clinical effect of cephems: cefoperazone in the treatment of postoperative infections]

Cefoperazone (CPZ) has a broad antibacterial spectrum against Gram-positive, -negative aerobic and anaerobic organisms, it is also highly active against Pseudomonas sp. and Enterobacter sp. which are hardly susceptible to current cephalosporins. The clinical studies on CPZ were performed in postoperative wound infections and abdominal cavity infections, and the following results were obtained. Overall clinical effect: The rates of effectiveness were 100% in postoperative wound infections and 71.4% in abdominal cavity infections. Bacteriological effect: The rates of eradication were 90% in postoperative wound infections and 80% in abdominal cavity infections. Side effects: Any side effects on marked changes in laboratory findings were not observed in any of the cases treated with CPZ. Based on the above results, we considered that CPZ is a highly useful antibiotic for the treatment of postoperative infections.

Characterization of a new fetal hemoglobin variant, Hb F Izumi A gamma 6Glu replaced by Gly, by molecular secondary ion mass spectrometry

Molecular secondary ion mass spectrometry has characterized the structure of a new fetal hemoglobin variant, Hb F Izumi, without separation of peptides or amino acid analysis. First, the mass spectrum of a tryptic digest of the abnormal gamma globin revealed a decreased by 72 mass units in the molecular mass of peptide T-1,2, indicating the presence of a Glu leads to Gly substitution. Next, the analysis of the digest produced by the addition of staphylococcal protease, which specifically cleaves glutamyl peptide bonds, determined the site of substitution at 6th glutamic acid residue in peptide T-1,2 which contains two glutamic acid residues. Since this mass spectrometric approach provides digitalized data on peptide analysis, we call it 'digit printing'. The high sensitivity of this technique is especially promising for the analysis of molecular abnormality in various genetic disorders.