Dye-mixture laser tunable in three primary color regions with a linear variable filter

The tuning characteristics of a Coumarine 460-Disodium Fluorescein-Rhodamine 640 dye-mixture laser in the blue, green, and yellow-orange regions are reported. A linear variable filter was inserted into the laser cavity as a tuning element. The tunable range was 439-485 nm in the blue region, 509-531 nm in the green region, and 592-601 nm in the yellow-orange region. Comparison of the characteristics of the one-wavelength tuning output with those of simultaneous broadband outputs in the three color regions showed that energy transfer was an important mechanism for the oscillations, especially in the longer-wavelength region, which was farthest away from a pumping wavelength.

Cholesterol metabolism in monocyte-derived macrophages from macrophage colony-stimulating factor administered rabbits

The metabolism of beta-very-low-density lipoproteins (beta-VLDL) in macrophages from the blood monocytes of rabbits, which had been administered macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in vivo, was investigated in order to clarify the mechanism of the suppressive effect of M-CSF on cholesterol accumulation in macrophages. Cholesterol ester content after incubation with beta-VLDL, and [3H]cholesterol oleate-beta-VLDL incorporation remarkably increased in cultured macrophages from blood monocytes in the high cholesterol diet control group compared to those in the normal diet control group. Those in macrophages from M-CSF-treated groups, both normal diet and high cholesterol diet, were the same as in the normal diet control group. The ratio of released [3H]cholesterol to incorporated [3H]cholesterol oleate-beta-VLDL in macrophages from control was smaller than that from the M-CSF group. The acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity was enhanced in the high cholesterol diet groups, and the activity in M-CSF-treated groups decreased. The neutral cholesterol esterase activity was enhanced in the M-CSF-treated groups compared with that in the non-treated control groups. These results suggest that high cholesterol diet induced further cholesterol esterification and that M-CSF treatment enhanced cholesterol clearance in macrophages.

Reduced dimerization of lipoprotein lipase in post-heparin plasma of a patient with hyperchylomicronemia

As in post-heparin plasma of control subjects, post-heparin plasma of a patient with hyperchylomicronemia contained lipoprotein lipase (LPL) subunits with M(r) = 57,000. But although the amount of LPL was the same as in post-heparin plasma of controls, no LPL activity was detectable. Nearly all the LPL in post-heparin plasma of controls bound to heparin-Sepharose and this LPL bound was mainly eluted with 1.5 M NaCl in parallel with the activity. In post-heparin plasma of the patient, 58% of the LPL subunits did not bind to heparin-Sepharose and 23% was eluted with 0.6 M NaCl. Studies by sucrose density gradient centrifugation showed that almost all the LPL in post-heparin plasma of controls was recovered in the peak with a sedimentation coefficient of 6.8 S, corresponding to the position of a dimeric form of LPL, in parallel with the activity; little LPL was recovered in the peak with a sedimentation coefficient of 4.0 S, corresponding to the position of a monomeric form of LPL. In post-heparin plasma of the patient, 35% of the LPL subunits was recovered in fractions with larger sedimentation coefficients at the bottom of the centrifuge tube, indicating the presence of an aggregated form(s) of LPL; the amount of the monomeric form of LPL was increased, while that of the dimeric form was decreased. Thus, defect of LPL activity in post-heparin plasma of the patient with hyperchylomicronemia could result from reduced dimerization of LPL subunits.

[Results of surgical treatment of intrathoracic recurrence after complete resection of non-small cell lung cancer: clinical significance of subsequent lesion in lung parenchyma]

Results of surgical treatment for 33 intrathoracic recurrence after complete resection of non-small cell lung cancer were analyzed. Prognosis of the second surgical treatment were favorable in patients with subsequent cancer with in situ component and solitary lesion in lung parenchyma. Retrospective study of 53 patients who recurred and were thoroughly followed up their clinical course until lung cancer death revealed that the solitary one tends to be confined to the intrathoracic location, and the multiple one did not confined to the intrathoracic location but also extended to the extrathoracic distant metastasis or to the supraclavicular lymph nodes.

Pharmacokinetics of [3H]biotin bound to different avidin analogues

The use of avidin-biotin technology in drug delivery facilitates the conjugation of biotinylated therapeutics to transport vectors that are enabled to undergo receptor-mediated transcytosis through the brain capillary endothelial wall, which makes up the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vivo. However, the conjugation of avidin, a cationic glycosylated protein, to transport vectors greatly increases the rate of removal of the vector from the bloodstream, owing to rapid uptake of avidin by peripheral tissues such as liver and kidney. However, modified avidins may retain high affinity biotin binding properties, but may not be rapidly removed from plasma by peripheral tissues, and such avidin analogues would provide preferred plasma pharmacokinetic profiles. Therefore, the present studies investigate the pharmacokinetics of plasma removal of [3H]biotin bound to one of six different avidin analogues: streptavidin, Neutra-lite avidin, avidin, neutral avidin, Lite-avidin, and succinylated avidin. Isoelectric focusing studies show that avidin and Lite-avidin were highly cationic proteins, whereas neutral avidin, Neutra-lite avidin, and streptavidin were neutral proteins, and succinylated avidin had an acidic isoelectric point. The avidin analogues fell into two groups with respect to rate of biotin removal from plasma. The low clearance group included streptavidin and Neutra-lite avidin, which had a mean plasma clearance of 0.41 mL/min/kg. The high clearance group consisted of succinylated avidin, neutral avidin, and Lite-avidin and had a mean plasma clearance of 17 mL/min/kg, or 40-fold faster than the low clearance avidins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chemo-endocrine therapy in patients with stage D2 prostate cancer

There have only been a few studies of chemo-endocrine therapy compared with endocrine therapy alone in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. We assessed the effects of these two therapies by comparing long-term survival rates. One hundred and twenty-nine patients were entered in this study between November 1977 and March 1992. Seventy-seven patients were treated with endocrine therapy alone. Other 52 patients received chemo-endocrine therapy, which included orchiectomy and/or diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES-DP) plus Cisplatin, with or without other cytotoxic agents. All patients had bone metastasis at the beginning of the study. There was a significant difference in survival between patients who received endocrine therapy and chemo-endocrine therapy (P = 0.0078). That is, survival rate was superior for the chemoendocrine therapy patients throughout the entire follow-up period. These data suggest that early chemo-endocrine therapy containing Cisplatin, with or without maintenance chemotherapy, is a potentially effective treatment for newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer and is worth further investigation via a randomized trial.

C-type natriuretic peptide inhibits intimal thickening of rabbit carotid artery after balloon catheter injury

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) stimulated cGMP production in rabbit cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, and thymidine uptake was inhibited by CNP. We tested whether CNP inhibits the development of intimal lesions induced by balloon catheter injury in rabbit common carotid artery. CNP (1 microgram/kg/min) infusion through the left jugular vein by DIB balloon catheter pump was started at 30 min before injury and continued until sacrifice. The median of the mean ratio of intima to media in each rabbit after 14 days was 29.5% [14.5-57.8] for control group and 12.0% [2.5-29.8] for CNP group (p < 0.01). Maximum ratio was also significantly low in CNP group. These results suggest that CNP may act as local regulator which suppresses intimal thickening.

[A case of inflammatory breast cancer treated with preoperative intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy]

A 35-year-old female with inflammatory breast cancer was treated with preoperative intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy. One cycle consisted of cyclophosphamide 700 mg, epirubicin 20 mg and 5-FU 1,750 mg. After 4-cycles of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy, the size of tumor and regional lymph nodes were remarkably decreased. Histological examinations revealed that almost all the cancer cells had disappeared in the resected specimen. In the patient, preoperative intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy was very effective in local control, which enabled us to perform a histologically curative operation. In conclusion, multimodal treatment including intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy is a promising treatment for inflammatory breast cancer.

Radiation therapy for esophageal cancer in patients over 80 years old

PURPOSE

A retrospective analysis was performed to investigate the treatment outcome and the significance of radiation therapy for esophageal cancer in patients over 80 years old.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between 1971 and 1990, 257 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated by radiation therapy. Of these, 40 patients over eighty years old were investigated. The reasons for radiation therapy were advanced age alone in 22 patients, Stage IV disease in 13, and medical problems in 5. Of these, 33 patients (83%) could be irradiated over 60 Gy. The cases with Stage I to III disease who received 60 Gy or more were defined as the curative radiation therapy group, and the others were defined as the palliative radiation therapy group. Actuarial survival rates were determined by the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

The 5-year disease-specific survival rate for the curative radiation therapy group (n = 25) was 34% with three intercurrent deaths. None of the patients in the palliative radiation therapy group (n = 15), including 13 cases with Stage IV and two given-up cases, survived over 2 years. No severe radiation damage was observed in either group. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 64% for complete response cases of local response, and 8% for partial response and no change cases (p < 0.01). The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 64% for the patients with tumors less than 5 cm in length, and 8% for the patients with tumors over 5 cm in length (p < 0.001). No significant survival differences were found in regard to sex and tumor location. The patients with superficial spreading type and polypoid type tumors according to the radiologic findings had better prognoses than the patients with ulcerative type and circumferential type tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiation therapy is a safe and effective treatment for esophageal cancer in patients over 80 years old.

Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric carcinoma

PURPOSE

This study was undertaken to compare the pathoclinical findings in gastric adenocarcinoma with serum IgG antibody to Helicobacter pylori.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined 185 patients with histologically established gastric cancer. The presence of immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibody in the high molecular cell-associated antigen of H. pylori was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pepsinogens I and II were measured by radioimmunoassay. The distribution of H. pylori on the gastric mucosa was assessed by the Campylobacter-like organism test and phenol red dye spraying.

RESULTS

H. pylori IgG antibody was detected in 93.1% of patients with gastric cancer (mean age 61.7 years), 94.3% of patients with early gastric cancer and 91.2% with advanced gastric cancer. No statistical difference in serology was observed between type of gastric cancer, depth of cancer invasion, tumor size or histology. Only in patients with diffuse-type cancer of the cardia was there a lower percentage of positive results (80.0%). The ratio of pepsinogen I to pepsinogen II was higher in the patients who exhibited no H. pylori antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS

H. pylori antibodies were common in patients with gastric cancer, and were not correlated with histological type nor stage of cancer. In the Niigata district, a higher percentage of patients with gastric carcinoma displayed H. pylori antibodies compared with other districts in Japan.

Mutant genes of gramicidin S synthetase 1 defective in phenylalanine racemization have the same sequence as the wild gene

Mutant grs1 genes were cloned and sequenced from the Bacillus brevis Nagano BI-4, C-3, E-1, and E-2 strains, which produce defective gramicidin S synthetase 1 (GS1), lacking racemase activity. Surprisingly, these mutant genes had entirely the same sequence as that of the wild type gene. These mutant strains also produce defective gramicidin S synthetase 2 (GS2), lacking 4'-phosphopantetheine, a prosthetic group of this enzyme. The participation of this group in phenylalanine racemization is suggested.

Ligand-induced internalization and phosphorylation-dependent degradation of growth hormone receptor in human IM-9 cells

The human growth hormone (hGH) induced a marked reduction in the number of human growth hormone receptors (hGHR) within 60 min, as assessed by immunoblotting of the crude membrane fraction from human IM-9 cells, without an increase in soluble forms of hGHR. The disappearance of hGH-induced hGHR was markedly inhibited by reagents that raise the internal pH of acidic organella and partially by protease inhibitors. These results suggest that hGH stimulation results in degradation of internalized hGHRs, where proteases in acidic compartments such as lysosomes may be involved. The relationship between the hGH concentration and the number of residual cell surface hGHRs 60 min after hGH stimulation yielded a curve with an inverted bell shape showing maximum internalization at 10 nM hGH. A similar relationship was shown in the hGHR degradation. The fact that the ligands in excess gave reduced internalization and degradation supports the idea that dimerization of hGHRs on the cell surface through the bivalent ligand hGH is required for their internalization and subsequent degradation. Following hGH stimulation, several hGHR-associated proteins including JAK2 were phosphorylated. These phosphorylations were inhibited by pretreatment with a protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine. The hGHR internalization, however, was not markedly affected by the inhibitor. In contrast, the staurosporine inhibited the degradation of hGHR in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that staurosporine-sensitive phosphorylation is not required for the hGHR internalization, but the phosphorylation is involved in the degradation of hGHR.

A naturally occurring mutation at the second base of codon asparagine 43 in the proposed N-linked glycosylation site of human lipoprotein lipase: in vivo evidence that asparagine 43 is essential for catalysis and secretion

The patient was a 20-year-old male. His fasting plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels were 1258 mg/dl and 138 mg/dl, respectively. The lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and mass from postheparin plasma of the patient were 0.00 mumol/ml/h (normal range: 5.51 +/- 1.12) and 23 ng/ml (normal range: 220 +/- 42), respectively. DNA sequence analysis of the LPL gene from the patient revealed a homozygous nucleotide change: a A-->G transition at nucleotide position 383, resulting in an amino acid substitution of Ser for Asn43, which is believed to be an N-linked glycosylation site of the LPL mature protein. Expression studies of this mutant LPL cDNA produced an inactive LPL protein which was not secreted into the media.

[Antenatal screening for fetal well being by pulsed Doppler velocimetry]

A pulsed Doppler screening study was performed on pregnant women to investigate the ability of the test to detect adverse pregnancy outcome by following two methods. The waveforms were analyzed by calculating the resistance index (RI). Method 1.: longitudinal study: Blood flow velocity in the umbilical artery (UA) was recorded at 23, 28, 32, and 35 weeks' gestation in 726 pregnancies. Method 2.: cross-sectional study with FAS: Blood flow velocity in the UA and fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) was recorded before and after fetal acoustic stimulation (FAS) at 35 weeks' gestation in 525 pregnancies. Result 1.: As UA-RI decreases continuously with gestational age, there was a linear correlation between them. The 726 cases were classified into three groups according to the UA-RI value. The UA-RI of the control group (n = 698) never reached mean + 2SD. The UA-RI of the +2.5D group (n = 4) increased with gestational age and was over mean +2.5SD at the last measurement. The +2SD group (n = 24) remained. There was a significant adverse pregnancy outcome in the +2.5SD group as judged by intrauterine growth retardation (SGA) (+2.5SD; 75%, +2SD; 17%, control; 10%), fetal distress (+2.5SD; 75%, +2SD; 5%; control; 9%) and pregnancy induced hypertension (+2.5SD; 75%, +2SD; 23%, control; 8%). Result 2.: The normal ranges of UA-RI and MCA-RI were calculated at 35 weeks' gestation, both before and after FAS, and women with UA-RI > +2SD or MCA-RI < -2SD were considered as abnormal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Mass-screening for ovarian cancer by transvaginal ultrasonography--study on ultrasonographic findings]

Mass-screening for ovarian cancer by means of transvaginal ultrasonography has been performed in Aomori Prefecture since 1989. To select appropriate candidates to receive the second screening, the findings in 614 ultrasonic pictures of pelvic tumors over 30mm recorded on a VTR were studied. The results were as follows: 1) At the first screening, the rate of solid tumors was similar in each age group, but that of mixed tumors was higher in the thirties. 2) When ultrasonic findings at the first screening with that of the second screening were compared, (1) Twenty to thirty per cent of all tumors detected in the first screening had disappeared or had become under 30mm in size at the second screening. (2) About 20% of solid tumors detected in the first screening were not ovarian tumors (uterine myomas or others) in the second screening, regardless of the tumor size. (3) The rate which decided the course of therapy or follow up at the time of the second screening was not related to the ultrasonic findings for tumors smaller than 50mm. At the present time, classification of transvaginal ultrasonic findings is insufficient, and so it is difficult to use it to select appropriate candidates to receive the second screening. But the ultrasonic findings are very important in deciding on the course of therapy and follow up.

[Mass-screening for ovarian cancer by transvaginal ultrasonography--study on tumor markers at the second screening]

Examination of tumor markers (CAMPAS) at the second screening in our mass-screening for ovarian cancer was evaluated. CAMPAS has been performed in 866 women with enlarged ovaries over 30mm in size among 20,242 who received the first screening by transvaginal ultrasonography. In those with semi-malignant and malignant ovarian tumor (ovarian cancer), their serum levels of CA125, CEA, CA19-9, AFP and L-LDH were also measured (Combination Assay) and CA125, CEA, CA19-9, AFP, CA602, CA54 and CA61 antigens in removed tumor tissues were studied by immunoperoxidase staining (Tumor Assay). The results were as follows: 1) Ten of the 866 women were positive for CAMPAS, however, only one of them was found to have ovarian cancer. 2) Of the 20,242 women, six were found to have ovarian cancer: all in stage I and all detected among these 866 women. 3) Of the 6 women with ovarian cancer, three had high serum levels in the Combination Assay, and 4 had positive finding in the Tumor Assay, but of the 4 women with a positive Tumor Assay, one had different kinds of tumor markers in serum and one did not have a high serum level. Thus, CAMPAS was not useful as the second screening method in our mass-screening system for ovarian cancer.

Plasma levels of adrenomedullin, a newly identified hypotensive peptide, in patients with hypertension and renal failure

Adrenomedullin is a potent hypotensive peptide newly discovered in pheochromocytoma tissue by monitoring its elevating activity on platelet cAMP. We measured plasma concentration of adrenomedullin in patients with essential hypertension and chronic renal failure. As compared with normal subjects, plasma adrenomedullin was increased by 26% (P < 0.05) in hypertensives without organ damage and by 45% (P < 0.005) in those with organ damage. The increase in plasma adrenomedullin was more prominent in renal failure than in hypertension. Renal failure patients with plasma creatinine of 1.5-3, 3-6, and > 6 mg/dl had higher plasma adrenomedullin levels than healthy subjects by 78% (P < 0.05), 131% (P < 0.001), and 214% (P < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, adrenomedullin showed intimate correlations with norepinephrine, atrial natriuretic peptide, and cAMP in plasma (r = 0.625, P < 0.001; r = 0.656, P < 0.001; and r = 0.462, P < 0.001; respectively). Thus, plasma adrenomedullin is supposed to increase in association with changes in sympathetic nervous activity and body fluid volume in hypertension and renal failure. Considering its potent vasodilator effect, adrenomedullin may be involved in the defense mechanism preserving the integrity of the cardiovascular system in these disorders.

[Significance of surgical treatment for bone metastasis from lung cancer]

To assess significance of surgical therapy for patients who had metastatic bone tumor from primary lung cancer, sites of recurrence in patients who underwent surgical resection for lung cancer lesions were analyzed. Clinical courses of patients who underwent surgical therapy for metastatic bone tumor were analyzed, too. 1) From 1985 to 1989, 88 patients died from lung cancer in our hospital who has underwent pulmonary resection for lung cancer lesions. Of these, 22 patients had metastatic bone tumor. Sixty patients died who had underwent complete resection for lung cancer lesions. In eight patients of these 60 cases, bone were first site of recurrence. Of these eight patients, length from pulmonary resection to detection of bone metastasis were 4-23 months. In the other hand, length from detection of bone metastasis of death were 3-24 months. There was no correlation between two length. All of these eight patients had another metastatic lesions at the time of death. 2) From 1985 to July 1993, twelve patients underwent surgical therapy for their bone metastasis of primary lung cancer. Of these, four had metastatic cancer in thoracic vertebral body, two had in clavicle, two had in rib, three had in femoral bone, another had in tibial bone. Objective of operation were improvement of paralysis or pain, prevention of fracture, and so on. Most cases succeeded to get improvement in a short time, but some cases got worse soon. Surgical treatment was effective to improve paralysis or pain, and to increase quality of life. But it can not be effective except appropriate management in a short time because another symptom raise soon.