Physicochemical properties of intermediary subunits of broad bean 11S globulin

Three intermediary subunits of legumin, IS-I, IS-II and IS-III, were isolated. They were characterized by means of electrophoresis, amino acid and NH2-terminal sequence analyses. Reconstitution of pseudolegumin was carried out and the yield of 11S-size product from either IS-II or IS-III was more than 95%, while IS-I almost formed a 9S-size product and a small amount of 11S-size product. The pseudolegumins were similar to the native legumin in terms of their secondary structure. The products from IS-I and IS-II formed a stronger gel than the native legumin upon heating, but that from IS-III failed to form a self-supporting gel. IS-I plays an important role in increasing the gel hardness of legumin.

Establishment of a human anaplastic thyroid cancer cell line secreting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in response to cytokines

A human anaplastic thyroid cancer cell line K-119, derived from a 77-yr-old woman who had developed marked neutrophilia and underwent surgery for anaplastic thyroid cancer, has been established. The spindlelike and polygonal cells in shape are stably proliferating since the beginning of its culture 2 yr ago. The cells grow rapidly and the population doubling time is 26 h. The chromosomes show many abnormalities and many marker chromosomes have been observed. Heterotransplantation of the cells into nude mice has resulted in the formation of tumors that are histologically interpreted as anaplastic cancer. The most noteworthy characteristics of the cell line are the many Ki-67-positive cells (86.3%) and that the cell line spontaneously secretes granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and releases increased amounts of G-CSF in response to the stimulation of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1 alpha, and interleukin 1 beta. The conditioned medium obtained from K-119 cells contains an autocrine factor stimulating the proliferation of themselves.

Increased generation of reactive oxygen species in embryos cultured in vitro

Previous studies have suggested that oxygen toxicity is closely related to the developmental blockage of embryos cultured in vitro. In this study, to obtain an actual proof of the increase in production of reactive oxygen species within embryos, we have measured the level of H2O2 in individual embryos using a fluorimetric method. Mouse (ICR) pronuclear stage embryos from the oviducts were cultured for a specified time under various conditions in a medium to which 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate was added. After washing the embryos, the fluorescence emissions of the H2O2-dependent oxidative product in embryos were measured. The fluorescent emissions were lowest in embryos cultured under 5% O2 and highest under 40% O2 (5% < 20% < 40%), just the inverse of the culture efficacy. The fluorescence emmissions of embryos cultured in Ham's F-10, which contains hypoxanthine and transition metals such as Cu and Fe, were higher than those cultured in BWW and alpha MEM, which do not contain these components (alpha MEM < BWW < Ham's F-10; again this is the inverse of the culture efficacy). The fluorescence emissions of embryos increased with the time of the exposure to visible light. L-cysteine and thioredoxin, both of which have been shown to promote embryo development, decreased the fluorescence emissions of embryos. All of these results would provide direct evidence for the hypothesis that oxygen radicals are involved in the developmental blockage.

Radiosensitization by a new potent nucleoside analog: 1-(1',3',4'-trihydroxy-2'-butoxy)methyl-2-nitroimidazole(RP-343)

PURPOSE

A new hypoxic cell sensitizer has been synthesized; this is a 2-nitroimidazole nucleoside analog having erythritol as a sugar moiety at the N-1 position of the imidazole ring (RP-343). Its possibility as a potent hypoxic cell sensitizer was compared with those of RP-170 and etanidazole.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Radiosensitization was tested in two murine tumors, EMT6 using in vitro and in vivo-in vitro assays and SCCVII using growth delay and TCD50 assays. Pharmacokinetic study was performed in Balb/c mice bearing EMT6 tumors and in Beagle dogs. LD50 of each sensitizer was obtained with ICR mice.

RESULTS

As might be expected from the almost identical electron affinities of the three sensitizers, they were equally effective against hypoxic EMT6 cells in vitro. While having the lowest partition coefficient (0.035), RP-343 exhibited almost equally effective distribution to tumors and sensitizing radiation activity. An intravenous (i.v.) injection of 100 mg/kg of RP-343, RP-170 and etanidazole showed an almost equal sensitizer enhancement ratio (SER) of about 1.4 to solid EMT6 tumor under in vivo-in vitro assay and a virtually equal SER of 1.33-1.44 to solid SCCVII tumor under both tumor growth delay assay and TCD50 assay. A great advantage of RP-343 over RP-170 and etanidazole is its very much lower toxicity; their LD50 in mice were > 6.0, 4.3 and 4.8 g/kg, respectively, on i.v. injection. The lower toxicity of RP-343 was supported by its lower concentrations in the brain; the RP-343 AUC for brain was 0.43 times that of RP-170. Three indices were selected to compare the three nitroimidazoles. SER at 5% LD50 doses of RP-343, RP-170 and etanidazole was 1.66, 1.59 and 1.56. At the same toxicity levels, RP-343 was found to have better sensitization of solid tumors over both etanidazole and RP-170. The maximum tumor concentration/AUC for brain (Cmax,tumor/AUCbrain) ratios for RP-343 and RP-170 were 9.62 and 3.98.

CONCLUSIONS

This extremely high ratio of RP-343 could explain its lower toxicity than RP-170 or etanidazole. The therapeutic risk index defined as D1.5/LD50 (D1.5 is the sensitizer dose to obtain the SER of 1.5 in vivo) for RP-343, RP-170 and etanidazole were 0.022, 0.033 and 0.036, respectively. Especially, the effectively lower therapeutic risk index for RP-343 presents the possibility of clinical advantage over etanidazole.

Impaired growth hormone secretion in VMH lesioned rats

To investigate impaired growth hormone (GH) secretion in ventromedial nuclei (VMH) lesioned rats, we examined spontaneous plasma GH secretion, and plasma GH responses to arginine, clonidine and growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) under unanaesthetized and unrestrained conditions. Spontaneous GH secretion was blunted with 75% decrease of peak value in VMH lesioned rats, while it clearly existed in control rats. When rats were pre-treated with chlorpromazine (1-2 mg/kg, i.v.) which eliminates pulsatile GH secretion, no difference was observed in the plasma GH response to arginine (1 g/kg, i.v.) or to clonidine (100 micrograms/kg, i.v.) between VMH lesioned and control rats, but response to GRF (10 micrograms/kg, i.v.) was enhanced in the former animals. Administration of antiserum against somatostatin (1 ml) plus chlorpromazine significantly elevated the basal plasma GH level and GH response to arginine in control rats, but did not elevate them in VMH lesioned rats. These results suggest that reduction of both hypothalamic GRF and somatostatin release contribute to the impaired GH secretion in VMH lesioned rats. Reduction of somatostatin caused enhanced GH response to GRF and no increase in basal GH level with pre-treatment of antiserum against somatostatin. Reduction of GRF resulted in a failure to restore GH response to arginine with pre-treatment of antiserum against somatostatin. Reduction of both GRF and somatostatin caused blunted spontaneous GH secretion and normal GH response to arginine and clonidine.

Study of gypsum-bonded casting investments. Part 1

In order to develop analytical methods for identifying plaster or dental stone (calcium sulphate hemihydrate) and quantifying its content in gypsum-bonded dental casting investments, six dental gypsum products were studied by means of simultaneous differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry (DTA-TG). Under the same analytical conditions employed in the present study, a phase change in calcium sulphate anhydrite (III-CaSO4 to II-CaSO4) was shown to occur at about 220 degrees C for four dental stones manufactured by various wet methods and at about 350 degrees C for two plasters manufactured by dry methods. This confirms the general view that the two types of calcium sulphate hemihydrate manufactured by dry or wet method could be identified by the DTA method. A reasonable estimate of chemically bound water could be made from the TG results at 300 degrees C. The present DTA-TG method can be used to identify the plaster or dental stone and calculate its content in gypsum-bonded casting investments.

A thyroid cancer specific monoclonal antibody which recognizes cryptic epitope(s) of human thyroglobulin

A monoclonal antibody (TCM-9) specific for human thyroid cancer but not for Graves' disease, adenoma or normal thyroid tissue was shown to recognize a 300 K protein but not to bind to native or mature human thyroglobulin (Tg). In this study, we investigated further the antigen recognized by TCM-9. When purified Tg was treated with periodate, dithiothreitol (DTT) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), immunoblotting of treated Tg with TCM-9 revealed an apparent enhancement of the staining only with DTT-treated Tg. Furthermore, the DTT-treated Tg was shown to bind dose-dependently to plates coated with TCM-9. We performed SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analyses on the immune complex obtained from a homogenate of thyroid cancer tissue which was preincubated with an excess of anti-Tg monoclonal antibody. When the protein was autoradiographed with [125I]TCM-9, a definite band was observed. The results indicate that TCM-9 is likely to be directed against a masked epitope of thyroglobulin which can be exposed after treatment with a reducing agent.

Endocrine pathophysiology of luteal phase deficiency as assessed by GnRH/TRH stimulation tests performed in the early follicular and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle

To investigate endocrine pathophysiology of luteal phase deficiency (LPD), GnRH/TRH stimulation tests were performed in the early follicular (EFP) and midluteal phases (MLP) of the menstrual cycle in 52 infertile women with a history of short luteal phase, in whom pituitary responsiveness to GnRH/TRH and steroidogenic competency of the corpus luteum were analyzed. Twelve women with either elevated basal-LH or exaggerated PRL response to GnRH/TRH in EFP were eliminated, and the remaining 40 women were studied. Basal-FSH in EFP inversely correlated with steroidogenic parameters in MLP, indicating that compromised folliculogenesis causes LPD. In a fraction of LPD women, decreased basal-LH in MLP was associated with decreased basal-progesterone (p), in spite of normal steroidogenic potential of the corpus luteum, suggesting that aberrant LH secretion is another progenitor of LPD. The other group of LPD women showed shortening of high phase period and/or extravagant discrepancy in endometrial dating without apparent abnormal endocrine parameters, suggesting that unknown factors are involved in establishment of LPD. From the diagnostic point of view, they were discriminated into three groups, normal, incomplete LPD and complete LPD groups, with a modified classification of LPD; 1) shortening of high phase period < 11 days, 2) delay in histological to chronological dating of the endometrium > 2 days, and 3) decreased max-P in MLP < 10 ng/ml. Normal (n = 14) and complete LPD (n = 7) groups consisted of women having all the criteria of classification within and out of the cut-off values, respectively. The remainders were enrolled into incomplete LPD group (n = 19). Complete LPD group mainly consisted of women having compromised folliculogenesis as a cause of LPD. In contrast, incomplete LPD group appeared a mixture of heterogeneous populations as to the genesis of LPD. GnRH/TSH stimulation test, especially when performed in MLP, would unveil endocrine pathophysiology of LPD and provide an accurate standard for diagnosis of LPD.

Sustained uterine contractions: a cause of hypointense myometrial bulging

Fifteen pregnant women were studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In 14 women, the myometrium exhibited distinct hypointense bulging on T2-weighted images that distorted the gestational sac and decidua but not the outer uterine coutour. In 12 women, an obvious discrepancy was observed between the inner myometrial configuration on T1-weighted images and that on intermediate and T2-weighted images. In three women who underwent serial T2-weighted studies separated by about 30 minutes during one MR examination, hypointense myometrial bulging was observed at a different site on each study. In two women who underwent follow-up MR study within a week after dilation and curettage, the previously distinct hypointense bulging completely disappeared. These findings confirm the transient and mobile nature of this myometrial bulging. This phenomenon can be attributed to sustained uterine contractions, which partially force the blood out of the uterus. The decrease in blood volume results in a decrease in water content, which accounts for the decrease in myometrial signal intensity on T2-weighted images.

[E-cadherin expression and cancer invasion and metastasis]

E-cadherin (ECD) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates the calcium dependent adhesion of cells and plays a major role in cell-cell adhesion of normal epithelium. In present study, we have established the positive ECD expressed clone (ECD(+)) and the negative ECD expressed clone (ECD(-)). Anti human ECD monoclonal antibody (HECD-1) disturbed the mutual adhesion of ECD(+) effectively but didn't disturb that of ECD(-). ECD(+) did not invade the collagen/fibroblast gel, but ECD(-) did. Furthermore, ECD(+) acquired invasiveness in the collagen gel when HECD-1 was used. Clinicopathologically, we have investigated the correlation between expression of ECD and metastasis in human esophageal and gastric cancers by immunohistochemical staining using HECD-1. ECD expression of these lymph node metastatic tumor in the primary sites was more reduced than that of non metastatic tumor significantly. These results indicated that reduction or dysfunction of ECD diminishes intercellular adhesion and acquires invasive and metastatic capacity in human cancer cells.

Chimeric studies of the extracellular domain of the rat thyrotropin (TSH) receptor: amino acids (268-304) in the TSH receptor are involved in ligand high affinity binding, but not in TSH receptor-specific signal transduction

A series of chimeric TSH-LH/CG receptors were constructed by substituting homologous segments of the extracellular domain of the rat TSH receptor with corresponding segments of rat LH/CG receptor: C1 (amino acids 37-123 substituted), C2 (91-112), C3 (173-234), C4 (233-266), C5 (268-304), C6 (112-305) and C7 (36-404). After transfection in Cos-7 cell, TSH- and LH/CG-receptor activities of these chimeras were evaluated and compared with those of deletion mutants involving the same residues [Kosugi et al. Thyroid 1:321 (1991)]. Western blot analyses revealed that most of the chimeric receptor proteins were normally synthesized and integrated in the membrane of transfected Cos-7 cells: an antibody to a TSH receptor specific synthetic peptide (residues 352-366) identified 170-190kDa and 90-100kDa TSH receptor structures in the plasma membrane fractions of Cos-7 cells transfected with wild-type TSH receptor cDNA and the C1 to C6 chimeras, but not C7 or wild LH/CG receptor cDNA. Despite this, no receptor except C5 exhibited any significant TSH receptor activities either in [12I]TSH binding or in cAMP responses to TSH and thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) from Graves' patients. The chimeric receptor C5 exhibited only low affinity TSH binding (Kd = 3.5 x 10(-8) M), as did its counterpart the M2C mutant with residues 268-304 deleted. However, unlike M2C, C5 demonstrated a significant cAMP response to TSH as well as to TSAbs. The cAMP increase in response to TSH in the wild type receptor was observed at 10(-11) M TSH. In C5 the response was first evident at 10(-10) M TSH, but the maximum cAMP stimulation by TSH and TSAbs in C5 (EC50 = 6.7 x 10(-10) M) was approximately the same as the wild type receptor (EC50 = 1.5 x 10(-10) M). Inhibition of either TSH- or TSAb- stimulated cAMP increase by thyroid-stimulating blocking antibodies (TSBAbs) was also preserved in C5. These results suggest that amino acids 268-304 do not include an important determinant required for signal transduction, since a significant cAMP response to TSH and TSAbs was observed in the C5 receptor with these residues substituted. Additionally, these residues appear to be involved in ligand high affinity binding because high affinity TSH binding was lost in the chimeric receptor C5.

Stimulation of human platelet Ca(2+)-ATPase and Ca2+ restoration by calpain

To clarify the possible role of calpain (calcium activated neutral protease; EC 3.4.22.17) in Ca2+ homeostasis of human platelets, we investigated the effects of cell permeable calpain inhibitors, calpeptin and E-64d (EST), on the restoration of cytoplasmic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in both Fura-2 and aspirin (ASA) loaded platelets. Although neither calpeptin (30 microM) nor EST (250 microM) altered the increase of [Ca2+]i in thrombin (1 U/ml) stimulated platelets, both calpain inhibitors delayed the decrease of [Ca2+]i back towards the basal level. These observations suggested that calpain might be involved in Ca2+ restoration. Then, the activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase was examined in thrombin (2 U/ml) stimulated platelets. Thrombin produced a rapid rise in Ca(2+)-ATPase activity by 2-fold at 8 s of incubation, which then returned to below the basal activity within 2 min. Calpeptin inhibited transient Ca(2+)-ATPase activation induced by thrombin in a dose related manner. Ca(2+)-ATPase of isolated platelet membranes was digested by purified human platelet calpain-I and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was investigated. With a short incubation (8-15 s), Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was increased about 2-fold and then it decreased below the basal level at longer incubations or at a higher calpain/membrane ratio. The initial rate of Ca2+ uptake was also increased by about 2-fold with a short incubation (8-15 s). For molecular characterization of the Ca(2+)-ATPase, the formation of the enzyme-phosphate complex (EP) was investigated. The membrane bound intact 105 kD Ca(2+)-ATPase was converted by calpain to a fragment of approximately 50 kD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Interferon therapy after ablation of Kent bundle for a patient with chronic hepatitis type B complicated with WPW syndrome]

Cardiotoxicity of interferon-alpha or gamma, such as fatal arrhythmia and myocardial infarction, has been reported. Therefore cardiotoxicity of interferon should be seriously considered before administration for patients with a pre-existing heart disease. We treated a patient with chronic active hepatitis type B, coexisted with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, who has had frequent attacks of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. To prevent the occurrence of fatal arrhythmia with an interferon therapy in this patient, we performed radiofrequency catheter ablation of the Kent bundle. After the successful ablation, we could safely administered recombinant interferon alpha-2b for chronic hepatitis type B.

Augmentation of antitumor immunity in regional lymph nodes by local immunotherapy

We have previously reported that the antitumor effect of OK-432, a streptococcal preparation, is markedly augmented when injected intratumorally together with fibrinogen (OK-432/fbg) [1]. In order to elucidate the effects of this immunotherapy on regional lymph nodes (RLN), we carried out both morphological and functional analyses of the RLN from colonic cancer patients treated with OK-432/fbg. Computer-aided morphometry revealed that the maximal cross-sectional areas and the broadest diameters of the RLN were significantly greater (p < 0.01) in patients who had undergone local immunotherapy than in patients who had not. The component structures of RLN, such as sinus, follicle and paracortex, were all enlarged in the OK-432/fbg-treated patients, and necrosis of metastatic tumors was observed. RLN lymphocytes recovered from OK-432/fbg treated patients showed elevated reactivity to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and the stimulation index was clearly higher than that of control patients. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a predominance of T-cells, especially CD4 subsets, and higher positivity for both CD25 and HLA-DR. Furthermore, RLN lymphocytes killed more effectively K562 and Daudi cells in the patients who had had immunotherapy. These results suggest that the effect of local immunotherapy with OK-432/fbg is not restricted to the site of injection but extends to the lymph nodes, and contributes to tumor regression through the augmentation of cellular immunity.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of supra-aortic arterial stenoses in patients with concomitant cerebrovascular and coronary artery diseases--report of two cases

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed on supra-aortic arterial stenoses in two patients with concomitant cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). One patient had suffered small cerebral infarctions in the left frontal and temporo-occipital regions, and the other a lacunar stroke in the left pontine region. The former had stenosis of the left internal carotid artery as well as severe triple-vessel CAD. The latter had stenosis of the left subclavian artery as well as severe single-vessel CAD of the left circumflex artery. The PTA procedure successfully dilated the cervical arterial stenosis in both patients, while no cardiac complications occurred. In patients with concomitant CAD and CVD, PTA may be safer than endarterectomy or bypass grafts for supraaortic arterial stenoses.

Establishment and characterization of a monoclonal antibody recognizing the Dewar isomers of (6-4)photoproducts

We established a monoclonal antibody (DEM-1) that recognizes UV-induced DNA damage other than cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers or (6-4)photoproducts. The binding of DEM-1 antibody to 254 nm UV-irradiated DNA increased with subsequent exposure to UV wavelengths longer than 310 nm, whereas that of the 64M-2 antibody specific for the (6-4)photoproduct decreased with this treatment. Furthermore, the increase in DEM-1 binding was inhibited by the presence of the 64M-2 antibody during the exposure. We concluded that the DEM-1 antibody specifically recognized the Dewar photoproduct, which is the isomeric form of the (6-4)photoproduct. The DEM-1 antibody, however, also bound to DNA irradiated with high fluences of 254 nm UV, suggesting that 254 nm UV could induce Dewar photoproducts without subsequent exposure to longer wavelengths of UV. Furthermore, an action spectral study demonstrated that 254 nm was the most efficient wavelength for Dewar photoproduct induction in the region from 254 to 365 nm, as well as cyclobutane dimers and (6-4)photoproducts, although the action spectrum values in the UV-B region were significantly higher compared with those for cyclobutane dimer and (6-4)photoproduct induction.

[A case of surgical treatment of patent ductus arteriosus using left heart bypass in an adult]

This paper describes a new operative method for patent ductus arteriosus using left heart bypass. A 57-year-old woman with patent ductus arteriosus associated with severe pulmonary hypertension was successfully operated upon. Because of aneurysmal dilatation and calcification of the aortic side of the ductus, PDA was divided under left heart bypass with centrifugal pump. Postoperative course was uneventful, and is now well.

Lung cancer incidence rate for male ex-smokers according to age at cessation of smoking

Lung cancer incidence rate after the cessation of smoking was assessed for male ex-smokers according to the age at cessation, using the results from a case-control study for ex-smoker versus continuing smoker, and the lung cancer incidence rate function for continuing smoker estimated from Japan Vital Statistics and the "Six-prefectural Cohort Study" in Japan. This hospital-based case-control study consisted of 776 lung cancer cases (553 current smokers and 223 ex-smokers) and 772 controls (490 current smokers and 282 ex-smokers) who started smoking at ages 18-22. The odds ratio of developing lung cancer for ex-smokers compared to continuing smokers according to years since the cessation of smoking was estimated for four age groups (55-64, 60-69, 65-74 and 70-79). Given that the number of years since cessation of smoking is the same, reduction of the odds ratio appeared to be greater for the younger age group than for the older age group, reflecting the shorter period of exposure for the younger age group. Lung cancer incidence rate (per 100,000) was assumed to be expressed by the following function; 1.7 x 10(-5) x (age -24.3) for continuing smokers and 0.15 x 10(-5) x (age) for nonsmokers. Lung cancer incidence rate among ex-smokers according to years since cessation was then estimated to be the above function multiplied by the odds ratio from the case-control study for each age group. In contrast to the greater reduction of the odds ratio among younger ex-smokers, reduction of the incidence rate, in terms of rate difference, was considerably greater for older ex-smokers due to a high incidence rate of lung cancer for older continuing smokers. This indicates that the absolute magnitude of reduction of the lung cancer incidence rate after cessation of smoking is greater for older ex-smokers, although the relative magnitude of reduction is greater for younger ex-smokers.

Characterization of epidermal growth factor receptor in a rat thyroid cell line, FRTL-5

A rat thyroid cell line FRTL-5 showed no significant binding of epidermal growth factor(EGF) either in the presence or absence of thyrotropin(TSH). Conditioned medium from FRTL-5 did not inhibit the specific binding of [125I]EGF to HeLa cell which has EGF receptors (EGF-R). Two bands of 170KD and 80KD obtained by immunoprecipitation with solubilized FRTL-5 and anti-EGF-R monoclonal antibody indicated autophosphorylation activity. The activity was enhanced by several thyroid cell growth factors including TSH. dibutyryl-cAMP(db-cAMP), insulin like growth factor I(IGF-I). Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and phorbol ester. EGF alone enhanced the autophosphorylation activity. These data indicate that FRTL-5 possesses unique EGF-R with low affinity to EGF and that the tyrosine kinase of the receptor is activated during cell proliferation.

Prognostic significance of transforming growth factor-alpha in human esophageal carcinoma. Implication for the autocrine proliferation

BACKGROUND

The authors recently used immunostaining to demonstrate that patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression have poor survival after surgery. However, the clinical significance of transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, one of the ligands of EGFR, has not been demonstrated in esophageal carcinoma.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical study for TGF-alpha and EGFR was performed on 57 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas using monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTS

TGF-alpha expression was positive in 35% of the tumors, and EGFR overexpression, defined as stronger staining in cancer cells than in normal epithelium, was positive in 43% of the tumors, according to the authors' arbitrary criteria. The incidence of TGF-alpha positivity was relatively higher in patients with the EGFR overexpression (EGFR+) than in the patients with non-overexpression (EGFR-). The survival rate was significantly lower in patients with TGF-alpha(+) than in those with TGF-alpha(-) (P < 0.01) and in patients with EGFR(+) than in patients with EGFR(-) (P < 0.01), respectively. Considering TGF-alpha and EGFR expression simultaneously, the survival rate of the patients with TGF-alpha(+)/EGFR(+) tumors was the lowest of the four subgroups, with statistically significant differences noted. These relationships between the immunoreactivities and survival curves were observed in the analysis within patients with node-positive disease. In addition, a multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated that TGF-alpha was the only significant variable, whereas EGFR and nodal status provided no additional information regarding postoperative survival.

CONCLUSION

The results presented suggest that TGF-alpha may act as an autocrine growth factor through hyperproducing EGFR and that its expression and EGFR overexpression may prove useful as a valuable prognostic indicator for patients with esophageal carcinoma.

[Predictive factors for in-hospital mortality and delayed mortality following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage]

It is important to detect predictive factors for in-hospital and delayed mortality of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to ruptured aneurysm. Forty-eight patients with initial bleeding of aneurysmal SAH were referred to our hospital from January 1982 to December 1985. In-hospital mortality was 16.7% (8 to 48), and 15% (6) of forty patients died later during the follow-up period. Using the Kaplan-Meier method we were able to conclude that, cumulatively, there was 70.8% probability that much patients would survive for 10 years. We analysed predictive factors of in-hospital and delayed mortality retrospectively. The most significant predictive factor for in-hospital mortality was SAH grading on admission, and for delayed mortality (29.2%) age on admission was the best predictive factor. In fact, two patients died with cardiac event during the follow-up period. This result suggests that, although the SAH grading on admission was the second most significant factor for delayed mortality, patients who survived in the acute phase had a survival probability similar to those in a normal control group.

Translocation of human platelet calpain-I

Intracellular localization of calpain (calcium dependent cysteine proteinase) was studied in resting or activated human platelets. When stimulated with 2 U/ml thrombin, approximately 40% of total cellular calpain activity and 25% of antigen translocated mainly to the intracellular membrane fractions with autolytic activation. Translocation of calpain was completely abolished by the addition of EDTA to the sonication medium. However an endogenous calpain inhibitor (calpastatin) activity was not detected in the membrane fractions both in resting and in thrombin stimulated platelets. Translocation of calpain was also observed in the platelets stimulated with ionomycin, collagen or phorbor myristate acetate (PMA). These data suggest that cytosolic calpain reversibly translocates to the intracellular membranes during platelet activation without an interference by calpastatin.