Post-harvest conservation of “Benitaka” table grapes with different SO2−generating pads and plastic liners under cold storage

This work aimed at evaluating the post-harvest conservation of “Benitaka” table grape by using different types of SO2-generating pads and perforated plastic liners under cold storage. The grapes were harvested from off-season crop 2018 in a commercial vineyard located at Cambira, PR, Brazil. The completely randomized design was used with four replications in a 2-factor arrangement with an additional treatment [(4 × 3) + 1], and the following factors were evaluated: a) SO2-generating pads (slow release containing 7 g of active ingredient – a.i.; slow release containing 4 g of a.i.; dual release containing 5 g of a.i.; and dual release containing 8 g of a.i.); and b) perforated plastic liners (0.3%, 0.9% and 1.0% of ventilation areas). The additional treatment did not contain any type of SO2-generating pad, only standard microperforated plastic liner (1% of ventilation area). The bunches were packed in 0.5 kg-capacity plastic clamshells, which were placed in a corrugated carton box with the different combinations of SO2-generating pads and plastic liners under cold storage at 1 ∘C with high relative humidity (>90%). The treatments were evaluated at 30 and 45 days after the beginning of the cold storage, recording the incidence of gray mold, shattered berries, stem browning, mass loss and berry firmness. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tukey's test at 5%. The use of dual release SO2-generating pads containing 5 g or 8 g of a.i., as well the slow release pads with 7 g of a.i., are efficient to control the incidence of gray mold in “Benitaka” table grapes packaged in plastic clamshells and kept under cold storage at 1 ∘C up to 45 days. In these storage conditions, the use of perforated plastic liners with 0.3% of ventilation area or the micro perforated with 1.0% of ventilation area, result in the lowest bunch mass loss and shattered berries.

Carboplatin plus weekly paclitaxel treatment in non-small cell lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND

Since advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with the interstitial lung disease (ILD) have been excluded from clinical trials, it is uncertain whether chemotherapy really provides a benefit to these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifteen advanced NSCLC patients with ILD that was detected on the chest X-rays were enrolled in this study. Carboplatin plus paclitaxel was administered by two methods (method A or method B). Method A: Carboplatin (AUC 6, day 1) and paclitaxel (70 mg/m(2), days 1, 8, 15) were administered every four weeks. Method B: Carboplatin (AUC 2, day 1, 8, 15) and paclitaxel (60 mg/m(2), days 1, 8, 15) were administered every four weeks.

RESULTS

The response rate and the disease control rate were 33% and 53%. The median progression-free survival and the median overall survival time were 2.5 months and 7.0 months, respectively. The hematological toxicities were tolerable, but a grade 3 or higher pneumonitis was observed in 4 patients (27%).

CONCLUSION

Carboplatin plus weekly paclitaxel must be administered carefully to advanced NSCLC patients with ILD that is detected on chest X-rays after a sufficient evaluation of the risks and the benefits.

Neonatally born granule cells numerically dominate adult mice dentate gyrus

Hippocampal granule cells (GCs) are continuously generated in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus (DG) and functionally incorporated to dentate neural circuits even in adulthood. This raises a question about the fate of neonatally born GCs in adult DG. Do they exist until adulthood or are they largely superseded by adult-born GCs? To investigate this question, we examined the contributions of postnatally born GCs to the adult mouse DG. C57BL/6 mice were grouped in three different postnatal (P) ages (group 1: P0, group 2: P7, and group 3: P35) and received a daily bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) injection for three consecutive days (P0/1/2, P7/8/9, and P35/36/37, respectively) to label dividing cells. At 6 months old, hippocampal sections were prepared from the animals and immunostained with anti-BrdU antibody and an antibody against the homeobox prospero-like protein Prox1, a marker of GCs. We defined BrdU- and Prox1-double positive cells as newborn GCs and analyzed their density and distribution in the granule cell layer (gcl), revealing that newborn GCs of each group still existed 6 months after BrdU injections and that the density of GCs born during P0-2 (group 1) was significantly higher compared with the other groups. Although the density of newborn GCs in the each group did not differ between male and female, the radial distribution of them in gcl showed some differences, that is, male newborn GCs localized toward the molecular layer compared with female ones in group 1, while to the hilus in group 2. These results suggest that GCs born in early postnatal days numerically dominate adult DG and that there exist sex differences in GC localizations which depend on the time when they were born.

Successful treatment of a case of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia with arsenic trioxide

We report a patient with an initial relapse of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) who achieved a second complete remission (CR) after treatment with arsenic trioxide. The patient, a 66-year-old woman diagnosed as having relapsed APL, received arsenic trioxide intravenously at a dose of 10 mg/day. At day 36, the patient achieved a second CR. The side effects were slight neuralgia and mild skin erythematous changes, which improved following cessation of the drug. Although arsenic trioxide may be effective for relapsed APL, it should be used with caution because of various complications.

Meningeal carcinomatosis from an ovarian primary with complete response to adjuvant chemotherapy after cranial irradiation

Meningeal metastasis is rare in the clinical course of ovarian carcinoma, and its prognosis is poor. Meningeal dissemination of carcinoma is usually treated by intrathecal administration of methotrexate and total brain irradiation, although these treatments are usually ineffective. We experienced a case of meningeal relapse from ovarian carcinoma resistant to multiple antineoplastic agents in a 64-year-old woman who was treated with eight different chemotherapy regimens after her initial operation 7 years previously. Intrathecal administrations of methotrexate or cisplatin with dexamethasone were not effective. Fifty-Gy whole cranial irradiation inhibited increases in serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125 levels and further tumor growth. Adjuvant chemotherapy was required to alleviate frequent headaches and to decrease serum CA125 level and tumor size. Intravenous administration of 45 mg paclitaxel and 35 mg cisplatin, and oral administration of 50 mg etoposide were carried out for 5 days. This treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. After four courses of treatment, meningeal carcinomatosis was not detectable on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The patient's serum levels of CA125 rapidly fell to beneath normal limits and remained normal. She is still alive and clinically free of recurrence 4 months after the last cycle of chemotherapy. As well as reporting our experience with this case, we also present a review of the literature on meningeal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer.

A case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma transformed from immunoglobulin A-producing marginal zone B-cell lymphoma

We present a rare case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma transformed from immunoglobulin (Ig) A-secreting marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for examination of a disseminated pulmonary shadow. Gradual swelling of bilateral axilla and right inguinal lymph nodes were noted after admission. Histological examination of the lymph node biopsy specimen revealed the appearance of marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. The surface Ig of lymphoma cells was IgA-kappa, which coincided with the class of monoclonal Ig found in the patient's serum. The lymph node swelling and pulmonary shadow subsided, and the serum IgA level was normalized by 3 courses of systemic chemotherapy. However, after 4 courses of treatment, new tumor lesions at the right chest wall and left arm progressively became apparent. The biopsy specimen of the tumor showed a feature of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Despite intensive chemotherapy, the patient died of spreading tumor burden into the central nervous system.

[Sézary syndrome showing a stable clinical course for more than four years after oral administration of etoposide and methotrexate]

A 62-year-old woman was admitted because of leukocytosis, systemic lymph node swelling and erythroderma. Laboratory data disclosed a WBC count of 15,600/microliter (CD4-positive cells: 91%). CD25 and HTLV-1 were negative. A skin biopsy revealed the involvement of T cells. These data and findings were consistent with a diagnosis of Sézary syndrome. Although the patient was treated with 2 courses of CHOP, the leukocyte count did not decrease. We then treated the patient orally with etoposide (25 mg/day) and methotrexate (10 mg/week), and this resulted in reduction of the leukocyte count and lymph node swelling, and amelioration of the erythroderma. As Sézary syndrome is an extremely rare disease, it is worthwhile reporting cases like the present one, where therapy was successful.

Asef, a link between the tumor suppressor APC and G-protein signaling

The adenomatous polyposis coli gene (APC) is mutated in familial adenomatous polyposis and in sporadic colorectal tumors. Here the APC gene product is shown to bind through its armadillo repeat domain to a Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), termed Asef. Endogenous APC colocalized with Asef in mouse colon epithelial cells and neuronal cells. Furthermore, APC enhanced the GEF activity of Asef and stimulated Asef-mediated cell flattening, membrane ruffling, and lamellipodia formation in MDCK cells. These results suggest that the APC-Asef complex may regulate the actin cytoskeletal network, cell morphology and migration, and neuronal function.

GST-pi gene-transduced hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation overcomes the bone marrow toxicity of cyclophosphamide in mice

Autologous transplantation of bone marrow cells (BMCs) transduced with the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene or dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene has already been applied in clinical chemoprotection trials. However, anticancer drugs frequently used in high-dose chemotherapy (HDC), such as alkylating agents, are not relevant to MDR1 or DHFR gene products. In this context, we have previously reported that glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) gene-transduced human CD34(+) cells showed resistance in vitro against 4-hydroperoxicyclophosphamide, an active form of cyclophosphamide (CY). In the present study, a subsequent attempt was made in a murine model to evaluate the effectiveness of transplantation of GST-pi-transduced BMCs to protect bone marrow against high-dose CY. The gene transfection was carried out retrovirally, employing a recombinant fibronectin fragment. Transfection efficiency into CFU-GM was 30%. After the transplantation, recipient mice (GST-pi mice) received three sequential courses of high-dose CY. As the chemotherapy courses advanced, both shortening of recovery period from WBC nadir and shallowing of WBC nadir were observed. In contrast to the fact that three of seven control mice died, possibly due to chemotoxicity, all seven GST-pi mice were alive after the third course, at which point the vector GST-pi gene was detected in 50% of CFU-GM derived from their BMCs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. When BMCs obtained from these seven mice were retransplanted into secondary recipient mice, 20% of CFU-GM from BMCs showed positive signals for vector GST-pi DNA after 6 months. These data indicate that the GST-pi gene can confer resistance to bone marrow against CY by being transduced into long-term repopulating cells.

Interaction between NSAIDs and steroid in rat stomach: safety of nimesulide as a preferential COX-2 inhibitor in the stomach

The relative risk of development of peptic ulcer with the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been reported to increase when these drugs are administered in combination with steroids. We investigated the ulcerogenic potential of a combination of NSAIDs and steroids in rats and the underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Indomethacin alone produced gastric lesions, and the severity of the lesions markedly increased with concomitant administration of prednisolone. However, nimesulide, even in excessive doses, did not produce any gastric lesions, regardless of concomitant administration with prednisolone. Furthermore, we showed that the ulcerogenic potential of indomethacin administered in combination with prednisolone may be related to the induction of physiological changes, such as endogenous prostaglandin deficiency, an increase in neutrophil activation, and gastric hypermotility, by indomethacin and alteration of normal epithelial renewal by the steroid. These results suggest that the ulcerogenic potential of preferential a COX-1 inhibitor increases following concomitant administration with a steroid, whereas, nimesulide, a preferential COX-2 inhibitor, is nonulcerogenic, even when administered concomitantly with a steroid, and is therefore a clinically useful antiinflammatory agent.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) induces thrombopoietin from bone marrow stromal cells, which stimulates the expression of TGF-beta receptor on megakaryocytes and, in turn, renders them susceptible to suppression by TGF-beta itself with high specificity

The present study was designed to test the concept that platelets release a humoral factor that plays a regulatory role in megakaryopoiesis. The results showed that, among various hematoregulatory cytokines examined, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) was by far the most potent enhancer of mRNA expression of bone marrow stromal thrombopoietin (TPO), a commitment of lineage specificity. The TPO, in turn, induced TGF-beta receptors I and II on megakaryoblasts at the midmegakaryopoietic stage; at this stage, TGF-beta1 was able to arrest the maturation of megakaryocyte colony-forming units (CFU-Meg). This effect was relatively specific when compared with its effect on burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) or colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM). In patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the levels of both TGF-beta1 and stromal TPO mRNA were correlatively increased and an arrest of megakaryocyte maturation was observed. These in vivo findings are in accord with the aforementioned in vitro results. Thus, the results of the present investigation suggest that TGF-beta1 is one of the pathophysiological feedback regulators of megakaryopoiesis.

Effect of caffeine on ibuprofen-induced gastric mucosal damage in rats

During investigations on the effect of caffeine on ibuprofen-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats, we have found that caffeine (p.o.) inhibits the development of ibuprofen-induced gastric lesions in a dose-dependent manner (ED50 18.4 mg kg(-1)). To investigate this protective effect of caffeine, we have studied the effect of caffeine on HCl-ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions with or without indomethacin pretreatment. Caffeine inhibited the development of HCl-ethanol-induced gastric lesions with and without indomethacin pretreatment. These results indicate that caffeine did not act as a mild irritant but, on the contrary, had protective effects. We measured the gastric mucosal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations and gastric mucosal blood flow, as representative protective factors for gastric mucosa. Caffeine did not affect the gastric mucosal PGE2 concentrations 4h after administration of ibuprofen. However, topical administration of caffeine resulted in an increase in gastric mucosal blood flow, as measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. We investigated the gastric acid secretion and gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase activity as representative aggressive factors for gastric mucosa. When caffeine was administered intraduodenally in pylorus-ligated rats, gastric acid secretion decreased in a dose-dependent manner, with an ED50 of 44.9 mg kg(-1). Caffeine decreased ibuprofen-induced gastric myeloperoxidase activity in a dose-dependent manner, with an ED50 of 9.1 mg kg(-1). These findings indicate that caffeine, at least in rats, may inhibit the development of acute gastric mucosal injury. The mechanisms underlying the protective actions of caffeine are unclear, but may be related in part to an increase in gastric mucosal blood flow and suppression of neutrophil activation.

Rheologic analysis of gastric mucosal hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Portal hypertensive gastropathy causes some gastric mucosal microcirculatory disorders in cirrhotic patients, but the nature of the rheologic dysfunction in the gastric microcirculation remains to be clarified.

METHODS

To examine the rheologic properties of the gastric microcirculation, we subjected 112 cirrhotic patients and 51 control subjects to endoscopic laser Doppler flowmetry and measured multiple variables of flow, red blood cell volume, and velocity. Furthermore, based on these results, we analyzed the shear rate which reflects the status of the microcirculatory system. To validate the laser Doppler flowmetry, we derived the relationship between red blood cell volume and cross-sectional areas of submucosal collecting venules; near-infrared endoscopy was used to evaluate this relationship.

RESULTS

Analysis of shear rate according to the severity of portal hypertensive gastropathy showed that the mucosa was exposed to strong hemokinetic stress in severe cases, characterized by a higher shear rate than in control subjects or in mild cases. Nitroglycerin, administered by intravenous infusion (1.0 microg/kg/min), reduced blood flow and restored shear rate to control levels in patients with severe portal hypertensive gastropathy.

CONCLUSION

This rheologic study of the gastric mucosa suggests that a disorder of the shear rate control mechanism in the microcirculation is associated with severe portal hypertensive gastropathy.

Concentrations of thrombopoietin in bone marrow in normal subjects and in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, aplastic anemia, and essential thrombocythemia correlate with its mRNA expression of bone marrow stromal cells

The function of bone marrow (BM) stromal thrombopoietin (TPO) in megakaryopoiesis remains unknown. In the present study we attempted to clarify the pathophysiological implications of stromal TPO in normal subjects (NS) and in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), aplastic anemia (AA), and essential thrombocythemia (ET) by measuring TPO concentrations in BM and peripheral blood (PB) and by estimating the levels of stromal TPO mRNA with TaqMan fluorescence-based post-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction product detection system. The results showed that TPO concentrations in PB were significantly elevated in patients with ITP (34.9 +/- 11.7 pg/mL) and AA (364.1 +/- 153.5 pg/mL) but within normal range in patients with ET (each 20.0 and 22.1; NS, 22.1 +/- 8.2 pg/mL). In all subjects, the TPO concentrations in BM correlated well with the PB levels, and the former were consistently higher than the latter. The concentrations of TPO in BM also correlated with the levels of TPO mRNA in stromal cells. Furthermore, expression levels of TPO mRNA clearly correlated with megakaryocyte counts in NS and patients with ITP, indicating that stromal TPO actually enhances megakaryopoiesis. Thus, our results in the present study indicate that TPO from BM stromal cells is considered to play an essential role for megakaryopoiesis under various patho-physiological conditions.

[A case of pure red cell aplasia accompanied with granular lymphocytic leukemia the tumor cells of which suppressed colony formation of BFU-E, and which was successfully treated by cyclophosphamide and cyclosporin A]

A 69-year-old woman with pure red cell aplasia and granular lymphocytic leukemia was reported. Because her granular lymphocyte count was in the normal range at the time of admission, we diagnosed the patient as primary pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). The granular lymphocyte count increased slowly, and we find monoclonal T cell receptor rearrangement, the case was diagnosed as granular lymphocytic leukemia accompanied with PRCA. Although single administration of cyclosporin or cyclophosphamide induced severe side effects obtained combined administration of low doses of these agents obtained good Hb increase. This case was granular lymphocytic leukemia with normal granular lymphocytic count at the time of diagnosis, the tumor cell suppressed BFU-E colony formation, and combined administration of low dose CPM and CyA yielded good effects.

[Successful high-dose chemotherapy combined with autologous bone marrow transplantation in a case of refractory follicular lymphoma]

A 34-year-old patient with follicular lymphoma who was treated with CHOP followed by COPP for 3 years, became resistant to treatment in December 1993. Histological findings and surface markers of cervical lymph node cells revealed no change from previous findings. Tumor cell involvement of bone marrow was also observed by molecular analysis of DNA fragments with bcl-2 oncogene and J-H gene probes. Following 2 courses of salvage chemotherapy with NOAC-M regimen (novantrone, cytarabine and methylprednisolone), There was an 88% reduction of tumor mass on computed tomographic findings. Through the use of polymerase chain reaction analysis of residual cells with the bcl-2 translocation, we confirmed the in vivo purging of tumor cells from bone marrow and we harvested marrow cells for autologous transplantation. After high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with ranimustine, cisplatin, etoposide and cyclophosphamide followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT), complete remission was achieved. The patient has survived for 16 months and remains disease free. The standard chemotherapy regimen for advanced low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has not yet been defined. Although we must follow this patient carefully to determine the effect of HDC with BMT for a long time, this seems to be an effective complementary treatment for patients responding to conventional salvage regimens.

Azulene derivatives as TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonists--II. Synthesis and biological activity of 6-mono- and 6-dihydroxylated-isopropylazulenes

In order to examine the correlation between activity and hydrophilicity of the side chain of sodium 3-[4-(4-chlorobenzenesulfonylamino)butyl]-6-isopropylazulene -1-sulfonate (KT2-962), a non-prostanoid TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonist, one or two hydroxyl groups were introduced into the isopropyl moiety. A series of 6-hydroxylated-isopropylazulenes were synthesized by regioselective oxidation of 6-isopropylazulenes and their in vitro and in vivo antagonistic activities were studied. Both the primary and tertiary alcohols, monohydroxylated derivatives, exhibited potent biological activities comparable to unmodified 6-isopropylazulenes both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, the activities of 1,2- and 1,3-diols of 6-substituted derivatives, markedly decreased, but recovered by O-isopropylidenation of the dihydroxyl moiety. These findings indicate that the moderate hydrophobicity of substituent at the 6-position of the azulene ring might be required for the activity and the size of the substituent at this position, not so rigid for keeping potent biological activity.

[Gamma-enolase (gamma-eno)]

Enolase catalyzes the interconversion of 2-phosphoglycelate and phosphoenolpyruvate in the glycolytic pathway. Enolase isozymes are dimers formed from three subunits (alpha, beta, and gamma). The gamma subunit, containing enolase (gamma-enolase) in serum, is important in the diagnosis of tumors originating from APUD (amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation) cells, like neuroblastoma, small cell carcinoma for the lung and certain carcinomas of the thyroid, the pancreas and the gut. Therefore, the determination of serum gamma-enolase levels is useful as a tumor marker of these neoplasms. On the other hand, raised gamma-enolase levels in cerebrospinal fluid have been demonstrated in patients suffering from various neurological disorders. In this paper, the author reviews the results of some of many studies related to gamma-enolase, up to now.

[A case of pulmonary tuberculosis with HIV infection--review of 5 cases in Japan]

Recently we encountered a case of pulmonary tuberculosis with HIV infection. The patient was 54-years old male. His chief complaints were anemia, emaciation and severe diarrhea. He was admitted to our hospital on September 18, 1992. He had been diagnosed in another clinic as having pulmonary tuberculosis before the admission to our hospital. His chest films taken on admission revealed homogeneous infiltrates with cavitation in right upper lobe. Serial chest X-rays consisted with the findings of post-primary tuberculosis. Sputum smear for acid fast bacilli was positive. From his clinical manifestations and life-history, we had a suspicion that he had infected with HIV. Laboratory findings were as follows: serum albumin level was 1.9 g/dl, CRP was 10.2 mg/dl, serological tests for HIV were positive by EIA, IFA and western blott method, total lymphocyte count was 819/microliters, CD4+ T lymphocyte count was 120/microliter CD4+/CD8+ ratio was 0.2. He was treated with AZT, isoniazid, streptomycin and rifampicin. The disease progressed rapidly and interstitial pneumonia, jaundice and clouding of consciousness appeared at the terminal stage. He expired on October 14, 1992. In this paper, the authors reported a case of pulmonary tuberculosis with HIV infection and also reviewed 5 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis associated with HIV in Japan.

[Follicular lymphoma associated with t(14;18)(q32;q21) chromosome translocation and bcl-2 gene rearrangement: report of a case]

A 31-year-old Japanese male who complained of low-grade fever, fatigue and generalized lymphadenopathy had shown an increase in peripheral white cell count, and 84% of peripheral blood cell and 76% of nuclear bone marrow cells consisted of small cleaved lymphoblastic abnormal cells with or without barely visible nucleoli. Cytogenic study of cervical lymph node biopsy specimens showed a t(14;18)(q32;q21) chromosome translocation. Histologically the lymph node cells were classified according to the International Working Formulation as follicular small cleaved-cell lymphoma. Molecular analysis of DNA fragments of peripheral lymphocytes revealed both J-H gene and bcl-2 oncogene rearrangements. Immunophenotypes of peripheral lymphocytes, bone marrow cells and lymph node cells expressed a clonally distinct B-cell population bearing surface immunoglobulin-G, kappa-chain, CD-10, CD-19, CD-20, CD-21 and OKIa-1 antigens. We diagnosed this case as follicular lymphoma in the leukemic phase,

Diffuse infiltrating T-cell lymphoma of the colon associated with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and hepatocellular carcinoma: report of a case

A 55-year-old man with a chief complaint of melena had diffusely infiltrated lymphoma from the rectum to the sigmoid colon and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Biopsy specimen obtained from the rectum revealed diffuse medium-sized lymphoma cell with plasmocytosis. Histochemical analysis with monoclonal antibodies indicated that the origin of the tumor cell to be T-lymphocyte. Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone (VEP regimen) was effective for mucosal bleeding of the colonic lesion and reduction of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Five yrs later he showed recurrence of the disease and elevation of serum alphafetoprotein, and died of pulmonary infections. Autopsy finding confirmed the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma of the colon and disclosed the association of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[IBL like T cell lymphoma associated with hemolytic anemia and polyploidy chromosomal abnormality--a case report]

A 56-year-old man was admitted to Sapporo Kitano Hospital on May 30, 1987 because of fever, retention of ascites and pleural effusion, generalized lymphnode swelling and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory findings showed Coombs' positive hemolytic anemia, leukocytosis and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Serological test included positive RA factor, anti-DNA 16 U/ml, thyroglobulin Ab 1600 x and microsome Ab 3200 x. A cervical lymphnode specimen exhibited typical histologic picture of IBL like T cell lymphoma. The surface markers of lymphoma cells were CD2(+), CD8(+) and CD4(-). Chromosomal analysis of these cells revealed polyploidy abnormality for all chromosomes except for No. 14's which are disomy. All lymphoma cells have XXY sex chromosome and mar1, mar2, mar3. Gene rearrangement for beta-chain of T cell receptor was proved in these lymphoma cells. He was treated with prednisolone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, adriamycin etc, but died of respiratory failure 171 days after admission. We reported a rare case of IBL like T cell lymphoma with polyploidy chromosomal abnormality accompanied with hemolytic anemia.

[A case of multiple myeloma (IgG, k) associated with hypertetraploid chromosomal abnormality]

A patient with multiple myeloma (IgG, k) associated with hypertetraploid chromosomal abnormality is reported. The patient was a 62-year-old female. She was admitted to our clinic in October 6, 1982 because of lumbago and a supraorbital subcutaneous tumor. Cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis of her serum disclosed a M-protein in the gamma-globulin, and immunoelectrophoresis showed monoclonal IgG, k type. A marrow aspirate of her sternum contained 15% myeloma cells, some of which were large, while others were atypical. A chromosomal analysis of her bone marrow revealed 34 hypertetraploid cells of 35 metaphase cells. Chemotherapy was administered without success and she died of DIC and uremia on November 11, 1982. Histologically, pleomorphic myeloma cells that contained large cells with atypical nuclei proliferated in her bone marrow.

[Clinical phase II study of 5'-DFUR for cancer of the digestive organs by a cooperative study group]

Phase II study of a new 5-fluorouracil derivative, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR), was performed with oral administration. Forty-nine patients with advanced cancer of the digestive organs, lung and breast were entered, and 8 institutions in Hokkaido were involved. 5'-DFUR was administered three or four times a day at a daily dosage of 600 to 1200 mg. Partial response was observed in three gastric cancer cases and two breast cancer cases out of 39 evaluable cases, and minor response was observed in one colorectal cancer case. Overall response rate was 12.8%, 15.8% in gastric cancer and 66.7% in breast cancer. Side effects were observed in 15 cases out of 45 (33.3%), which mainly consisted of gastro-intestinal disturbances such as diarrhea.