[A clinicopathological study on hematogenous recurrence of colo-rectal cancer--with special reference to prediction and prevention of the recurrence]

Hematogenous recurrence was investigated in 325 cases of colo-rectal cancer. Hematogenous recurrence was confirmed in 34 cases including 25 liver, 5 lung, 2 bone, one brain and one skin recurrence. Most of the cases (28 cases, 82.4%) revealed a single or multiple hematogenous recurrences without showing additional other types of recurrence. Histological examination of cancer lesions indicated that patients with the findings consisting of moderate and/or high grade of vein invasion (v2-3), subserosal and extramural vein invasion with node metastasis showed high recurrent rate. One and two year survival rate of the patients treated with MF-MF' adjuvant chemotherapy was greater those the patients with F-F' chemotherapy or those without chemotherapy. However, 3-, 4- and 5- year survival rate did not show significant difference among 3 therapeutic groups. The analysis of survival curves also indicated no significant difference among 3 therapeutic groups. These results may suggest that hematogenous recurrence is derived from pre- and/or intra-operative micrometastasis or transplantation of cancer cells, that patients with the above mentioned histological evidence must be clinically treated as a high risk group for recurrence and that MF-MF' adjuvant chemotherapy can be effective in lowering the recurrence rate during the first one or two years after operation.

Inhibitory effect of thyroid hormones on pituitary cyclic amp phosphodiesterase activity in vitro

Thyroid hormones effectively inhibited partially purified cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from the anterior and posterior lobes of bovine pituitary gland competitively with the substrate, but thyronine, diiodotyrosine, monoiodotyrosine, thyrotropin, thyrotropin releasing hormone, dexamethasone, and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone did not inhibit this enzyme activity. Ki values were found to be 1.0 and 2.5 microM for thyroxine, and 8.0 and 13.5 microM for triiodothyronine in the anterior and posterior lobes, respectively.

Isosafrole-induced cytochrome P2-450 in DBA/2N mouse liver. Characterization and genetic control of induction

Mouse "cytochrome P2-450" is defined as that form of isosafrole-induced P-450 in DBA/2N liver most specifically correlated with isosafrole metabolism. Isosafrole pretreatment does not induce aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity ("cytochrome P1-450") in C57BL/6N or DBA/2N mice, induces acetanilide 4-hydroxylase activity ("cytochrome P3-450") more than 3-fold in C57BL/6N but not in DBA/2N mice, and induces isosafrole metabolite formation more than 3-fold in both C57BL/6N and DBA/2N mice. P2-450 was, therefore, purified from isosafrole-treated DBA/2N liver microsomes having negligible amounts of contaminating P1-450 and P3-450. The apparent molecular weight of P2-450 is 55,000, and the protein appears homogeneous on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The Soret peak of the reduced purified cytochrome X CO complex is 448 nm. Purified P2-450, reconstituted in vitro, metabolizes acetanilide poorly and benzo[a]pyrene hardly at all. Anti-(P2-450) inhibits (90 to 100%) liver microsomal isosafrole metabolite formation, yet has no effect on aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, acetanilide 4-hydroxylase, biphenyl 2- or 4-hydroxylase, or 7-ethoxycoumarin O-de-ethylase activities. 3-Methylcholanthrene induces anti-(P2-450)-precipitable protein about 12-fold in C57BL/6N and 2-fold in DBA/2N liver; 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (10 micrograms/kg), about 12-fold in both C57BL/6N and DBA/2N liver; isosafrole, more than 3-fold in both C57BL/6N and DBA/2N. Benzo[a]anthracene at maximal doses induces anti-(P2-450)-precipitable protein in C57BL/6N liver no more than 2-fold, yet is known to be a highly potent inducer of P1-450 mRNA in C57BL/6N liver. The sensitivity of the P2-450 induction process to isosafrole is inherited as an autosomal additive trait; studies of offspring from the C57BL/6N(DBA/N)F1 X DBA/2N backcross confirm involvement of the Ah locus or s closely segregating gene. In contrast, among crosses between C57BL/6N and DBA/2N, sensitivity of the P1-450 and P3-450 induction process to 3-methylcholanthrene or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. These data suggest that, although P1-450, P2-450, and P3-450 proteins are controlled by the Ah locus, either a P-450 protein polymorphism exists between C57BL/6N and DBA/2N mice or subtle differences may exist in the interaction of various inducers with Ah receptor.

[A clinicopathological study on carcinoma of the gastric stump, with special reference to mucosal change]

Ten carcinomas of the gastric stump reconstructed by Billroth I (one case) and Billroth II (9 cases) methods were treated an average of 20 (range: 7-46) years after partial gastrectomy. Because of highly advanced carcinoma, total gastrectomy with resection of invaded organs was performed. The 5-year survival rate was 33%, and was not different from that in patients with carcinoma of the cardia. Thus, the prognosis of gastric stump carcinoma was not poor if extended radical operation was carried out. The mucosa showed severe atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia or atrophic and hypertrophic gastritis in patients with carcinoma. However, the mucosa was hyperplasia of the glands in almost all patients with stomal ulcer. Thus, our findings suggest that atrophic change with intestinalization plays a role in gastric carcinogenesis.

[The effect of preoperative embolization of Wilms' tumor]

The case was a 2-year and 11-month-old boy with Wilms' tumor. Preoperative embolization using gelatin sponge was performed after diagnosis of aortography. Immediately after the treatment, tumor size and vascularity were reduced remarkably. Nephrectomy was carried out without remarkable bleeding and the tumor was removed easily.

Radioimmunoreactive serum elastase levels and histologic changes during experimental pancreatitis in rats

A radioimmunoassay system showed elastase levels of 128 to 232 ng/mL in normal rat serum. The average normal value was approximately 64-fold greater than the minimal detectable amount. No cross-immunoreactivity was found with human elastase 1, porcine elastase, and trypsin. The elastase and amylase levels in rat serum were measured during pancreatitis induced by trypsin (group 1) and normal saline solution (group 2). Within 15 minutes the serum elastase and amylase levels increased significantly and remained elevated. The serum elastase levels in group 1 were significantly higher than in group 2. Hemorrhagic pancreatitis was found in group 1 and edematous pancreatitis was found in group 2 five hours after induction of pancreatitis. Elastase levels in these tissues were significantly lower than those in normal tissue. The levels in ascitic fluid were higher than those found in serum.

Effects of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its analogues on rat liver mitochondria

The effects of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and sixteen analogues on respiration, swelling and latent ATPase of rat liver mitochondria were examined systematically. The compounds tested could be divided into four groups: DDT-type, DDE-type, kelthane-type and others by substituent groups on the ethane bridge of bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane. Most compounds tested were shown to inhibit State 3 respiration. A linear relation was observed between the logarithms of the concentrations giving half-inhibition of State 3 respiration and the logarithms of the partition coefficients of the tested compounds. Four compounds of the kelthane type and chlorobenzilate stimulated State 4 respiration to the level of dinitrophenol-stimulated respiration. The compounds that have a hydroxy group on the ethane bridge-rapidly induced mitochondrial swelling, but DDT-type and DDE-type compounds induced swelling when the suspension contained 0.15 M KCl and 5 mM Tris-HCl. Latent ATPase of mitochondria was stimulated to different maximum levels by each of the tested compounds except DDA. The oligomycin-sensitive ATPase of submitochondria was inhibited by a series of kelthane-type compounds.

Superiority of hemofiltration to hemodialysis for treatment of chronic renal failure: comparative studies between hemofiltration and hemodialysis on dialysis disequilibrium syndrome

A significantly lower incidence of DDS, hypotension, and impending shock was found during and after hemofiltration as compared with conventional hemodialysis. Hemofiltration, in contrast to hemodialysis, showed less decrease of circulating plasma volume, mild change in plasma osmolality without red cell swelling, better compensation of acidosis despite less uptake of acetate, more stable PCO2 during the procedure, less paradoxical acidosis in cerebrospinal fluid, and a lower urea concentration gradient between cerebrospinal fluid and plasma. These phenomena might be explained by better mass transfer between compartments bithin the body during hemofiltration. Mass transfer from the intracellular as well as the extracellular space to circulating plasma occurred more rapidly and smoothly during HF than during HD. HF is preferable to HD in patients with severe cardiovascular complications such as hypertension, as well as hypotension and cardiac failure, and in those subject to DDS during HD. Accordingly, hemofiltration therapy promises patients more comfortable and more stable treatment of chronic uremia.

Effects of phthalate esters on the latent ATPase and swelling of mitochondria

Phthalate esters have shown to stimulate the latent ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] activity and induce mitochondrial swelling. Among the tested phthalate esters, di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) exhibited the greatest activity, and the activity decreased progressively as the alkyl chain was lengthened or shortened. The DBP-stimulated ATPase was oligomycin-sensitive. The degree of stimulation of the ATPase was proportional to the extent of mitochondrial swelling induced by DBP in 0.1 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.2) containing 0.25 M sucrose. However, the swelling was dependent on the tonicity of the solution or the concentration of chloride ions, while the stimulation of ATPase was independent of these factors. Swelling was strongly induced by DBP at slightly acidic rather than neutral or alkaline pH. The pH-activity curve of DBP-stimulated ATPase was in inverse correlation with that of swelling, which showed a rather flat maximum at pH 8.0. When bovine serum albumin (BSA) was added to a solution containing mitochondria before addition of DBP, swelling was no longer caused by DBP, though the latent ATPase was stimulated to the same extent in the absence of added BSA.

Effects of phthalate esters on the respiration of rat liver mitochondria

The effects of phthalate esters on the oxidation of succinate, glutamate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and NADH by rat liver mitochondria were examined and it was found that di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) strongly inhibited the succinate oxidation by intact and sonicated rat mitochondria, but did not inhibit the State 4 respiration with NAD-linked substrates such as glutamate and beta-hydroxybutyrate. However, oxygen uptake accelerated by the presence of ADP and substrate (State 3) was inhibited and the rate of oxygen uptake decreased to that without ADP (State 4). It was concluded that phthalate esters were electron and energy transport inhibitors but not uncouplers. Phthalate esters also inhibited NADH oxidation by sonicated mitochondria. The degree of inhibition depended on the carbon number of alkyl groups of phthalate esters, and DBP was the most potent inhibitor of respiration. The activity of purified beef liver glutamate dehydrogenase [EC 1.4.1.3] was slightly inhibited by phthalate esters.

Formate dehydrogenase. Subunit and mechanism of inhibition by cyanide and azide

Formate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.2) prepared from peas (Pisum sativum) was a two-subunit enzyme. The enzyme accelerated the formation of an NAD+-cyanide compound having an adsorption band at 330 nm. The enzyme was able to bind one NAD+ molecule per each subunit but only 1 mole of NAD+-cyanide compound was formed per two subunits. The complex of NAD+, cyanide, and the enzyme was very stable and had no catalytic activity. Azide inhibited the formate dehydrogenase reaction in two different ways. By incubation of the enzyme with azide in the presence of NAD+, half of its catalytic activity was lost. The remaining activity was also inhibited by azide but this inhibition was removed competively by formate. Contrary to the case of cyanide the inhibition by azide could be removed by dialysis and no spectral species due to the addition compound of NAD+ and azide could be observed. The data from double recipricol plots of the initial velocity and the formate concentration led to a conclusion that formate dehydrogenase has two sites with about equal catalytic activity. The Km for formate was different for the two catalytic sites (1.67 and 6.25 mM) but the difference was not noticeable in the case of the Km for NAD+.