A system for the positioning correlation between computed tomographs and conventional radiographs

The authors have presented a special system which enables us to understand the positioning relationship between transverse CT images and conventional radiographs. With this system the image on a X-ray film is first changed into a video image and second, the computed radiograph which has the positioning information for each CT image is superimposed on it electronically. Finally the computed radiograph is eliminated except for the positioning lines of the CT scanning. The image thus obtained is called a "Replaced Computed Radiograph (RCR image)". This image is then changed into a digital image and manipulated in the same manner as its CT images. We have utilized this system for 22 clinical cases and recognized it to be useful for current integrated-radiography.

Carcinogenic effect of carbazole in the liver of (C57BL/6N x C3H/HeN)F1 mice

The carcinogenic effect of carbazole (9H-carbazole) in (C57BL/6N X C3H/HeN)F1 (B6C3F1) mice was examined. Groups of 50 mice of both sexes were given a basal diet containing 0.6, 0.3, or 0.15% carbazole for 96 weeks and were then placed on an unsupplemented basal diet until they were killed at week 104. Mice surviving longer than 52 weeks were included in effective numbers. Significant increases in the induction of neoplastic lesions were found in the livers and forestomachs of mice given carbazole as compared to the control groups. The lesions in the livers were classified into two types, neoplastic nodules or hepatocellular carcinomas. The incidences of both types of lesions were almost 100% in mice treated with carbazole, and both types of lesions were significantly increased in all mice except the males given 0.6% carbazole in their diet. The incidences of hepatocellular carcinomas were in general higher than those of neoplastic nodules. Though not statistically significant, increased incidences of pulmonary metastases were found in the groups given carbazole. Significantly increased incidences of neoplastic lesions and papillomas in the forestomach in all groups of female and male mice were also noted in the mice fed 0.6% carbazole. Squamous cell carcinoma induction was significantly different in male mice given 0.6% carbazole as compared to controls. These results indicate that carbazole is carcinogenic to the liver and forestomach in B6C3F1 mice and suggest that carbazole may be an environmental carcinogen relevant to cancer risk in humans.

beta-Cyclodextrin: promoting effect on the development of renal tubular cell tumors in rats treated with N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine

Injection (sc) of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-C) increased the number and size of renal tubular cell tumors in inbred Wistar (W) rats treated with 1,000 ppm of N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine (EHEN). The incidence of renal tumors at the end of the 32-week experiment was 50% in rats treated with 1,000 ppm EHEN for 2 weeks and 100% in rats treated with 1,000 ppm EHEN for 2 weeks and then given daily sc injections of beta-C for 1 week. The incidence of renal tumors more than 3 mm in diameter was 70% in rats treated with 1,000 ppm EHEN before beta-C but 0% in rats treated with EHEN alone. In addition, beta-C promoted the development of renal tumors in rats treated with 500 ppm EHEN, which is a subthreshold dose for renal tubular cell tumorigenesis. These results show that beta-C promotes EHEN-induced renal tubular cell tumorigenesis.

Promoting effects of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole on the development of thyroid tumors in rats treated with N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine

3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) promoted the development of thyroid tumors in rats treated with a subeffective dose of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN) for thyroid tumorigenesis. The incidences of thyroid tumors at the end of the 20-week experiment were 91% in rats injected s.c. once a week for four weeks with 70 mg DHPN per 100 g body weight and then given diet containing 2000 p.p.m. AT for 12 weeks, 100% in rats injected s.c. once a week for eight weeks with 70 mg DHPN per 100 g body weight and then given diet containing 2000 p.p.m. AT for 12 weeks, and 58% in rats injected s.c. once a week for 8 weeks with 70 mg DHPN per 100 g body weight. Rats only injected s.c. once a week for four weeks with DHPN or only given diet containing AT for 12 weeks had no thyroid tumors at the end of the experiment.

Promoting effects of phenobarbital and barbital on development of thyroid tumors in rats treated with N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine

Phenobarbital (PB) and barbital (BB) promoted the development of thyroid tumors in rats treated with a sub-effective dose of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN) for thyroid tumorigenesis. Rats were given s.c. injections of 70 mg DHPN/100 g body weight once a week for 4 or 6 weeks with or without diet containing 500 p.p.m. PB or BB for the next 12 weeks. The incidences of thyroid tumors at the end of week 20 of the experiment were 66% in rats given DHPN for 4 weeks and then PB, 23% in rats given DHPN for 4 weeks and then BB, 100% in rats given DHPN for 6 weeks and then PB, 45% in rats given DHPN for 6 weeks and then BB, and 23% in rats given DHPN for 6 weeks. Rats given only DHPN for 4 weeks or only PB or BB had no thyroid tumors after 20 weeks.

AFP in yolk sac tumor and solid teratoma of the ovary: significance of postoperative serum AFP

Serial serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was examined postoperatively in five patients with yolk sac tumor and in three with solid teratoma of the ovary. Serial estimation of AFP was also done in sera from postpartum patients to compare the decreasing ratio between the two groups. Serum AFP in these postpartum women decreased according to the exponential function curve as AFP = be-mx (x = days after delivery) with a mean m value of 0.1652 and a mean correlation coefficient of -0.9911. Half-time of serum AFP in postpartum subjects was 4.33 days. Exponential decrease of serum AFP was also found in postoperative patients with yolk sac tumor and solid teratoma of the ovary. However, in those in whom there was an incomplete removal of the tumors, the values of either m or coefficient of correlation were significantly lower as compared to those in patients with complete extirpation of lesions or those in postpartum subjects. Elevation of serum AFP was noted postoperatively in two patients with recurrences; however, significant decreases in AFP following chemotherapy were apparent in one patient with immature solid teratoma. These findings suggest that the decreasing ratio of postoperative serum AFP is an effective indicator to determine whether or not the lesions were completely extirpated, although a normal value may not always imply the absence of microscopic metastasis of tumor cells. Serial estimation of serum AFP was of value in assessing the presence of recurrences and evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy.

Confirmation of the development of multiple renal cell tumors in endstage/long-term hemodialysis kidney revealed typical acquired cystic transformation

Histopathological study of the endstage kidney in a 50-year-old male who died after intermittent maintainance hemodialysis for 10 years was reported. At autopsy, both kidneys were contracted and characterized by grossly visible discrete multiple cysts. Histopathological study of consecutive sections of both kidneys revealed that these cysts were distributed throughout a completely disorganized parenchyma and were composed of dysplastic epithelial cells of different types and of structures, some of which revealed neoplastic transformation.

Histopathological studies on renal tubular cell tumors in rats treated with N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine

Administration of a diet containing 0.2% N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine (EHEN) for 2 weeks induced hepatocellular carcinoma in 3 and renal tubular cell tumors in 7 of 9 Wistar rats. Diet containing 0.1% EHEN induced renal tubular cell tumors in 6 of 10 rats, but no hepatocellular carcinomas. Both diets induced atypical cell population of tubules in the kidney, but no nephroblastoma.

A new device for barium-enema examination following colostomy

The authors developed a colostomy appliance for use during barium-enema examinations. It is 8 cm in diameter and 4 cm in height, and is made of acrylic resins. With the use of this device, 21 patients were fluoroscopically examined through the stoma; good contrast views of the lower intestinal tract were obtained in all cases without leakage of barium or air.

Individual variations in the effects of flurazepam, clorazepate, L-dopa and thyrotropin-releasing hormone on REM sleep in man

The comporative effects of flurazepam, clorazepate, L-dopa, and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on REM sleep were investigated in normal, healthy adults. A single dose of each drug was given orally to the subjects 30 min before bedtime. A dose of 30 mg flurazepam significantly decreased REM sleep-time when compared to the mean baseline record. No change was noted in REM sleep-time on the clorazepate (15 mg) night, L-dopa (1000 mg) night, or TRH (2 mg) night, when compared to the mean baseline record. Because large individual variations were found in REM sleep time on each drug night, and in percentage increase in REM sleep following partial differential REM deprivation (PDRD), correlation was investigated between them. The percentage decrease in REM sleep during flurazepam was found to have a significant negative correlation with the percentage increase in REM sleep after PDRD in individual subjects. Although there was no significant change in REM sleep on TRH night when compared to the mean baseline record, a similar significant negative correlation was noted. On the L-dopa night, there was a tendency toward a negative correlation between them. No significant correlation was noted on the clorazepate night.

Ultrastructure of an anaplastic giant-cell carcinoma found 8 years after operation on a papillary carcinoma of the thyroid

Light and electron microscopic studies have been made on an anaplastic giant-cell tumor that developed in a woman 8 years after an operation on the thyroid for papillary carcinoma. Many giant cells were observed in the anaplastic tumor tissue, but no follicles. Numerous tightly-packed mitochondria and abundant ribosomes were present, but there were no desmosomes. The basement membrane was not distinct.

Effect of alpha-benzene hexachloride on 2-fluorenylacetamide carcinogenesis in rats

Studies were made on the effect of 0.06% alpha-benzene hexachloride (alpha-BHC) on hepatic changes, including development of hepatomas, in rats treated with 0.025% 2-fluorenylacetamide (2-FAA) at the same time. alpha-BHC inhibited the induction of hepatocellular carcinomas and oval cells infiltration in rats treated with 2-FAA for 5 months. However, it did not inhibit induction of hyperplastic nodules, it induced liver adenocarcinomas in 4 of 11 rats, and it caused remarkable cyst formation in the liver of rats treated with 2-FAA.

Identification of an activator protein for myosin light chain kinase as the Ca2+-dependent modulator protein

Myosin light chain kinase which phosphorylates g2 light chain of skeletal muscle myosin requires an activator for the activity (Yazawa, M., and Yagi, K (1977) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 82, 287-289). This activator has now been identified as the modulator protein known to be a Ca2+-dependent regulator for phosphodiesterase, adenylate cyclase, and ATPases. The identification is based on the quantitative cross-reactivity of muscle activator protein and brain modulator protein in activating myosin light chain kinase and brain phosphodiesterase and identical properties of both proteins in regard to sensitivities to Ca2+, UV absorption spectra, UV absorption difference spectra with or without Ca2+, and mobilities upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the presence of modulator protein, the activity of myosin light chain kinase was reversibly controlled by the physiological concentration of Ca2+. We suggest that two Ca2+-receptive proteins, i.e. modulator protein and troponin-C, may play roles in the contraction-relaxation cycle of skeletal muscle.

Changes in sleep pattern after sleep deprivation

Total sleep deprivation (TSD) was performed for one night with 11 healthy male students and three-consecutive-recovery night-sleep was recorded. Special attention was paid to the analysis of the individual difference in SWS(min, %) on the baseline and recovery nights. The total sleep time increased on the first recovery night compared to the baseline, but it decreased significantly on the second and third recovery nights. Stage 1(%) decreased significantly on the first and second recovery nights. Stage SWS(min) showed a significant increase on the first recovery night, while SWS(%) increased significantly on the first and second recovery nights. As for Stage REM(%), there was no significant difference between the baseline and the recovery nights. There was a positive correlation between SWS(min) on the baseline and that on the recovery nights. SWS(%) also showed the same results as those obtained with SWS(min). Between SWS(min) in the baseline and the increase rate of SWS(min) on the first recovery night, there was a significant inverse correlation, while there was a tendency to inverse correlation on the second and third recovery nights. As to SWS(%), there was a significant inverse correlation between SWS(%) in the baseline and the increase rate of SWS(%) on the first and third recovery nights.