Inheritability of atherosclerosis and the role of lipoproteins as risk factors in the development of atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits: risk factors related to coronary atherosclerosis are different from those related to aortic atherosclerosis

Inheritability of atherosclerosis and the influences of serum lipids on atherosclerosis were examined by following its progression in selectively bred WHHL rabbits. Our studies indicate (1) coronary atherosclerosis is clearly inherited from parents by offspring whereas inheritability of aortic atherosclerosis is uncertain; (2) coronary stenosis is positively correlated to serum cholesterol level, although the correlation coefficient is markedly low: in contrast, no relationship between serum lipid levels and aortic atherosclerosis was observed; (3) cholesterol-rich VLDL showed atherogenicity in aorta, but not in coronary arteries; (4) an unknown lipoprotein detected by 3.6% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was related to coronary atherosclerosis, although no relationship between the unknown lipoprotein and aortic atherosclerosis was observed. These findings suggest that there are two types of genetic factors involved in atherosclerosis, one of which is unique to coronary atherosclerosis whereas the other is related to only aortic atherosclerosis.

Synthesis and thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor antagonistic activity of phenol derivatives

Consideration of possible structural similarities between thromboxane A2 and the hydroquinone form of (R)-(+)-7-(3,5,6-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinon-2-yl)-7- phenylheptanoic acid (R-(+)-AA-2414) led to the development of a new series of thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 (TXA2/PGH2) receptor antagonists, namely 7-(4-fluorophenyl)-7-(2-hydroxyphenyl)heptanoic acids (I). These compounds were found to be potent TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonists. Compounds having either a carbonyl or a hydroxymethyl group at the para-position of the phenolic hydroxy group exhibited most potent activities in this series. Compounds 14, 15, 18, and 26 inhibited the specific binding of [3H]U-46619 to guinea pig platelet membranes (IC50 = 4.4, 80, 32, and 13 nM, respectively), and also inhibited U-46619-induced human platelet aggregation (IC50 = 310, 69, 79, and 78 nM, respectively). Comparison of the UV spectra of the compounds with a carbonyl group at the para-position of phenolic hydroxy group revealed that the activity tended to increase in accordance with a decrease in the torsional angle between the carbonyl group and the phenol ring. These results suggested that the spacial location of the carbonyl and hydroxymethyl oxygen are important for significant increase in activity and that the carbonyl and hydroxymethyl oxygen at the para-position of the phenolic hydroxy group might interact with one of the TXA2/PGH2 receptor sites.

A Possibility of 1/f Evaluation on Surface Finishes Based on Fluctuation Behavior

The effectiveness of the optical method for evaluating engineering surfaces is described in terms of fluctuation properties as a means of a more global measuring technique of products. This is based on the 1/f fluctuation in which the power spectral density is proportional to the inverse of frequency f. Turned surfaces machined under different cutting conditions are tested by the reflection technique of a laser light, and its reflection intensity is analyzed to obtain the relation between the power spectral density and the spatial frequency. As a consequence, surface profiles with 1/f and 1/f1.5 properties seem to be satisfactory in conjunction with the results of sensory evaluation.

Rearrangement and co-amplification of L-myc and rlf in primary lung cancer

We have recently characterized a gene fusion and chimeric protein product formed by L-myc and part of a novel gene named rlf in two small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines. The rlf-L-myc fusion gene is formed by intrachromosomal rearrangements placing the regulatory region and (at least) the first exon of rlf upstream of the L-myc gene. In the characterized cases the fusion gene has also been involved in DNA amplification. Here we report on a similar in vivo rearrangement involving rlf and L-myc in a primary SCLC tumor. In addition, we have found co-amplification of L-myc and rlf without visible rearrangements in either gene in three other SCLC tumors, confirming the physical linkage of these loci.

Serosal invasion as the single prognostic indicator in stage IIIA (T3N1M0) gastric cancer

Prognostic factors of gastric cancer with positive serosal invasion and regional lymph node metastasis were evaluated by multivariate analysis. Sixty-seven patients with the T3N1M0 subgroup of stage IIIA disease were evaluated, in which 34.9 +/- 13.4 nodes were dissected in extended lymph node dissection, and 6.5 +/- 6.2 were metastatic. Routine postoperative systemic chemotherapy with mitomycin C and N1-(2'-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil was administered. With this approach, the 5-year survival rate of stage IIIA disease was 47.6%. By Cox proportional hazards model, diameter of serosal invasion was the only significant determinant of prognosis in the T3N1M0 subgroup. The predicted 5-year survival rate for 24 patients with serosal invasion less than 3.0 cm in diameter was 59.5%, compared with 11.5% for 38 patients with invasion of 3.0 cm or larger in diameter. The number of metastatic nodes and the type of operation (total gastrectomy or less than total gastrectomy) did not affect the prognosis. When gastric cancer has both positive serosal invasion and metastatic regional lymph nodes, the diameter of serosal invasion is the more important factor for predicting prognosis.

Three RFLPs at the D8S586 locus

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A TaqI RFLP in the human ret proto-oncogene

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A novel human hepatoblastoma cell line (HuH-6KK) with rapid growth in serum-free medium without extracellular matrix

A novel human hepatoblastoma cell line (HuH-6KK) with a high growth rate in a serum-free medium without extracellular matrix was developed from an original one, HuH-6 c15 (HuH). The original HuH cells (38 passages) did not proliferate well in RPMI 1640 medium containing 20% fetal calf serum (FCS). The HuH cells (HuH-6KK) with a high growth rate were selected by culturing them in an enriched RDF containing 20% FCS and 0.01% mucous polysaccharide (spirulinan) isolated from a blue-green alga, Spirulina subsalsa. The HuH-6KK cells showed a rapid growth in serum-free eRDF medium containing insulin, transferrin, ethanolamine, and selenite (eRDF-ITES medium) without fibronectin. The proliferation of the original HuH cells was also observed in the eRDF-ITES medium, but the growth was slow compared with the HuH-6KK cells. In the medium without ITES, the growth of the HuH-6KK and original HuH cells was slow. Among the ITES ingredients, insulin promoted the growth of HuH-6KK cells the most.

Morphological and electrophysiological properties of C-cells in bullfrog dorsal root ganglia

Dissociated bullfrog dorsal root ganglion cells were voltage-clamped in the whole-cell configuration. Small spheroidal C-cells had a mean diameter of 14-30 microns and shared about 10% of the total population of the cells. The C-cells were characterized by a prominent calcium-activated potassium current underlying a hyperpolarization following the action potential. In contrast, a hyperpolarization-activated cationic inward rectifier was missing in all C-cells tested. These properties were completely different from those which have been observed for large spheroidal A-cells.

Lymph node metastasis in resectable esophageal cancer

The prognostic significance of lymph node metastasis was analyzed in 41 patients with locally resectable epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus. The 5-year survival rate was 50.9% if no metastases or only single node metastasis was present and 29.8% when the lymph node metastasis was confined to one anatomic compartment. All patients with metastasis to two nodes died within 4 years of operation, and all with involvement of three nodes or more died within 3 years. Even with no metastases or single node metastasis, three of 22 patients (13.6%) died of recurrence or metastasis or a combination of the two. Although nodal dissection may be beneficial for selected patients, our results indicate that the survival period is short in the presence of a small number of lymph node metastases, even if the local disease is resectable and despite nodal dissection. Cure is unlikely when cervical or abdominal nodes are involved, and a conservative approach may be indicated for such patients.

Detection of ras gene mutations in human lung cancers by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction products

A simple, sensitive method of DNA analysis of nucleotide substitutions, namely, single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction products (PCR-SSCP analysis), was used for detection of mutated ras genes in surgical specimens of human lung cancer. Of a total of 129 tumors analysed, 22 contained a mutated ras gene. Of the 66 adenocarcinomas analysed, 14 contained an activated c-Ki-ras2 gene (the mutations in codon 12 in 6, in codon 13 in 4, in codon 18 in one, and in codon 61 in 3), one contained a c-Ha-ras1 gene with a mutation in codon 61 and 3 contained N-ras genes with mutations (in codon 12 in one and in codon 61 in 2). Mutated rats genes were also found in 2 of 36 squamous cell carcinomas (c-Ha-ras1 genes with mutations in codon 61) and 2 of 14 large cell carcinomas (c-Ki-ras2 genes with mutations in codon 12). No mutation of the ras gene was detected in 8 small cell carcinomas and 5 adenosquamous cell carcinomas. These results indicate that activation of the ras gene was not frequent (17%) in human lung cancers, that among these lung cancers mutation of the ras gene was most frequent in adenocarcinomas (27%) and 73% of the point mutations were in the c-Ki-ras2 gene in codon 12, 13, 18 or 61.

Joining of the c-myc gene and a line 1 family member on chromosome 8 in a human primary giant cell carcinoma of the lung

A rearranged c-myc gene found in a human primary giant cell carcinoma of the lung was analyzed. The rearrangement was found in the region about 6 kilobase pairs upstream of the c-myc gene. The breakpoint was joined to a sequence carrying a Line 1 (L1) family member located on chromosome 8. This in vivo rearrangement of the c-myc gene specific to tumor cells may represent one mechanism of activation of a protooncogene during tumorigenesis or tumor progression in human cancer.

In vitro and in vivo release of soluble erbB-2 protein from human carcinoma cells

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure soluble erbB-2 protein in culture supernatants of various human cell lines and sera of patients suffering from recurrent breast carcinoma. Soluble erbB-2 protein was demonstrated in culture supernatants of cell lines that expressed high levels of erbB-2 protein as shown by western blot analysis of cell lysates. Increased levels of the protein, 40- to 190-fold higher than in healthy controls, were demonstrated in sera of 3 out of 12 patients with breast carcinomas. On immunohistological study of tumor tissues from 9 patients, high immune reaction with the anti-erbB-2 protein antibody was observed in 2 cases. These were two of the three patients who had elevated levels of erbB-2 protein in serum (a sample was not available from the third patient). These results raise the possibility that soluble erbB-2 protein level in serum can be used as an indicator for spread of carcinomas that overexpress erbB-2 protein.

Immunohistochemical study on overexpression of c-erbB-2 protein in human breast cancer: its correlation with gene amplification and long-term survival of patients

Using a polyclonal antibody monospecific to the c-erbB-2 oncogene product, an immunohistochemical study on the expression of c-erbB-2 protein was performed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 176 primary breast carcinomas in which amplification of the c-erbB-2 gene had been detected in 28 cases. Expression of the c-erbB-2 protein was detected in 44 cases (25%), being strongly positive in 27 (15%) and weakly positive in 17 (10%). All cases with amplification of c-erbB-2 showed positive staining of its protein. There were only four cases in which c-erbB-2 was strongly expressed without amplification of the gene. In the group showing strongly positive staining, both overall and disease-free survival were significantly poorer than in the remainder of the cases. Using Cox's regression model analysis, overexpression of c-erbB-2 protein was demonstrated to be an effective prognostic factor independent of nodal status or tumor size.

[Clinical efficacy of recombinant interleukin-2 for renal cell carcinoma and the effect of blood transfusion upon the immune response of these patients]

We studied the efficacy and safety of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2: S-6820) for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma as well as the effect of blood transfusion upon the immune response of these patients. Among 14 cases of renal cell carcinoma treated by i.v. infusion of rIL-2, a partial response (PR) was achieved in one patient, 10 patients had no change, and in 3 had the disease progressed. The overall efficacy rate was 7.1%. However, the rate increased to 12.5% in cases with pulmonary metastases and to 14.3% in cases without any blood transfusion within a year before treatment with rIL-2. No severe side effects were observed, except for central nervous system disturbance in one case. During the rIL-2 therapy, LAK activity was suppressed in the transfused patients. On the other hand, NK activity was augmented in transfused patients to the same degree as in non-transfused cases. No significant changes of lymphocyte count and the subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes were observed in either group treated with rIL-2. Anemia and radical nephrectomy did not affect the immune response in these patient. Thus, it appeared that blood transfusion altered the immune response in patients treated with rIL-2. However, it could not be concluded that transfusion definitely had an adverse effect on the clinical efficacy of rIL-2 for renal cell carcinoma.

Dimensional and Surface Roughness Controls in a Turning Operation

Dimensional and surface roughness controls in turning have been achieved by a newly developed measuring system based on an optical technique. The aim of these controls are not only to keep a size deflection within a given tolerance but also to make a smoother surface by removing local irregularities during machining. The control strategy is focused on a Rmax value because of the simplicity of the control system design. The dimensional control is implemented with a reference diameter level of 1/2 Rmax roughness by the regular cutting tool, while in the roughness control a compensatory flat bite tool is used to remove surface irregularities. To begin with the dimensional control is achieved, then the roughness control is followed immediately after the dimensional correction. The control results demonstrate an improvement of surface roughness together with dimensional assurance.

Amplification of protooncogenes in surgical specimens of human lung carcinomas

The possible existence of amplification or rearrangement of protooncogenes was examined in more than 100 surgical specimens of human lung carcinoma. Protooncogenes were amplified in 28% of the carcinomas. About 90% of the amplified genes were of the myc, ras, or erbB family. Of the myc family genes, myc was amplified in 14 of 137 tumors and L-myc in four of 108 tumors, but N-myc was not amplified. A high frequency of amplification of myc was observed in squamous cell carcinomas (seven of 37) and of L-myc in small cell carcinomas (two of six). Of the ras family genes, K-ras-2 was amplified in six of the 137 tumors and N-ras in two of the 137 tumors, but no amplification of H-ras-1 was detected. Seven of the eight cases of amplified ras genes were in advanced pathological stages. Of the erbB family genes, erbB-1 (epidermal growth factor receptor) was amplified in 10 of 114 tumors and erbB-2 (HER-2/neu) in one of 51 tumors. Amplifications of the myc, ras, and erbB family genes might be one of the crucial DNA abnormalities involved in the development of human lung carcinomas.

Change in methylation status of DNA of remaining allele in human lung cancers with loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 3p and 13q

Loss of heterozygosity at several chromosomal loci is frequently observed in human cancers and loss of one allele is supposed to affect expression of the gene(s) in the remaining allele. As DNA methylation is known to be closely related to gene expression in vertebrates, we are interested in the methylation status of the regions of alleles remaining after loss of their counterparts. In this work we investigated the methylation status of DNA from human lung carcinoma in which heterozygosity was lost at 3p and 13q and found that the remaining allele at these loci was preferentially demethylated. In contrast, tumor DNAs without allele loss tended to retain highly methylated states. These results suggest that in tumors, change of the DNA methylation status is closely related with allele loss, and vice versa.

Quinones. 4. Novel eicosanoid antagonists: synthesis and pharmacological evaluation

A new series of omega-phenyl-omega-quinonylalkanoic acids and related compounds was synthesized. The compounds were tested for their inhibitory effects on U-44069-induced contraction of the rabbit aorta. (+/- )-7-(3,5,6-Trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinon-2-yl)-7-phenylheptanoic acid (4d) (AA-2414) with pA2 value of 8.28 was one of the most potent compounds. Compound 4d inhibited U-46619-induced contraction of the guinea pig lung (pA2 = 8.29) and U-44069-induced aggregation of the guinea pig platelet (IC50 = 3.5 x 10(-7) M). Compound 4d displaced the binding of [3H]U-46619 to guinea pig platelets (IC50 = 7.4 x 10(-9) M). Compound 4d also showed very potent inhibitory effects with an MED of 0.3 mg/kg (po) on U-46619-, LTD4-, PAF-, or IgG1-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs. The enantiomers of 4d were prepared. The R-(+) isomer 8a was active in both in vitro and in vivo tests, but the S-(-) isomer 8b was much less active. We concluded that the antiasthmatic effects of 4d were based mainly on the TXA2 receptor antagonistic action. In addition, compound 4d showed potent inhibitory effects on PGD2-, PGF2 alpha-, and 11-epi-PGF2 alpha-induced contraction of the guinea pig tracheal strips. The diverse inhibitory effects might be expressed in terms of eicosanoid-antagonistic activity.

A novel anti-asthmatic quinone derivative, AA-2414 with a potent antagonistic activity against a variety of spasmogenic prostanoids

The anti-asthmatic activity of AA-2414 [(+/-)-7-(3,5,6-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinon-2-yl)-7-phenylheptano ic acid] has been studied in vivo and in vitro. Experimental allergic asthma was inhibited by orally administered AA-2414 in a dose-dependent manner. AA-2414, 0.08-1.25 mg/kg (p.o.), inhibited the bronchconstriction in guinea pigs induced by a prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue (U-46619), leukotriene D4 (LTD4), and platelet activating factor (PAF) with a long duration of action. The compound did not inhibit histamine-induced bronchoconstriction. AA-2414 reduced the induction of pulmonary inflation caused by LTD4 aerosol inhalation. AA-2414 competitively inhibited the contractile response to U-46619 in guinea pig tracheal and parenchymal strips and dog saphenous vein strips with pA2 values of 7.69, 8.29 and 6.79, respectively. Furthermore, the contractile responses of guinea pig tracheal strip to PGD2, 9 alpha, 11 beta-PGF2 and PGF2 alpha were inhibited with pA2 values of 7.20, 7.79 and 5.71, respectively. These results suggest that AA-2414, a quinone derivative, is a novel, potent and orally active antagonist of a variety of spasmogenic prostanoids.

Surgical treatment of advanced carcinoma of the esophagus

This report was done to evaluate the role of surgical treatment of locally advanced carcinoma of the esophagus. All 32 patients had histologically proved epidermoid carcinomas of the esophagus. The post-operative one and two year survival rates and median survival time were 34.6 and 17.3 per cent and 199 days for those in the group undergoing esophagectomy, zero per cent and 55 days for those in the group with bypass and zero per cent and 80 days for those undergoing formation of a stoma. Thirty day postoperative mortality rates were zero per cent for the esophagectomy group, 25.0 per cent for the stoma group and 33.3 per cent for the bypass group. When calculated from the date of diagnosis, the one and two year survival rates and the median survival time were 50.2 and 16.7 per cent and 296 days for the esophagectomy group, 16.7 and zero per cent and 196 days for the bypass group, 25.0 and zero per cent and 142 days for the stoma group and zero per cent and 142 days for the group who did not undergo surgical treatment. Complication related postoperative deaths occurred in 14.8 per cent of the 27 patients operated upon. For those in the esophagectomy group, it was 5.9 per cent, and for the bypass group, 50.0 per cent. Swallowing was improved in 58.8 per cent after esophagectomy, but in none of the patients was swallowing restored after the bypass procedures. When the invasion spared the aorta or major respiratory tract, postoperative survival time after esophagectomy was significantly better. Considering the short postoperative survival time and frequent complications, bypass procedure should not be the final resort after nonsurgical treatment.