Fast visible imaging and edge turbulence analysis in QUEST

A fast visible imaging system is installed on the spherical tokamak QUEST to study edge turbulence. The camera uses a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor detector with a maximum resolution of 1024 × 1024 at 7000 frames∕s (fps) and can achieve 775 kfps at a resolution of 128 × 24. In this paper, we present the salient features of the system and its application to study edge turbulence in 8.2 GHz ECRH driven slab plasma, without plasma current. Vertical magnetic field (B(z)) topology is varied with three sets of poloidal field (PF) coils and the variation in the edge turbulence is investigated as a function of the B(z) strength and curvature. Fluctuation amplitude was highest for the shallow PF well. Cross-correlation coefficient shows distinct coherent mode along z direction at the steep density gradient region and it grows with the PF mirror ratio.

Frequent p53 mutation in brain (fetal)-type glycogen phosphorylase positive foci adjacent to human 'de novo' colorectal carcinomas

'de novo' carcinogenesis has been advocated besides 'adenoma carcinoma sequence' as another dominant pathway leading to colorectal carcinoma. Our recent study has demonstrated that the distribution of brain (fetal)-type glycogen phosphorylase (BGP) positive foci (BGP foci) has a close relationship with the location of 'de novo' carcinoma. The aims of the present study are to investigate genetic alteration in the BGP foci and to characterize them in the 'de novo' carcinogenesis. 17 colorectal carcinomas without any adenoma component expressing both immunoreactive p53 and BGP protein were selected from 96 resected specimens from our previous study. Further investigations to examine the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-labelling index, and the p53 and the codon 12 of K-ras mutation using the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism were performed in the BGP foci, BGP negative mucosa and carcinoma. The BGP foci were observed sporadically in the transitional mucosa adjacent to the carcinoma in all cases. The PCNA labelling index in the BGP foci was significantly higher than that in the BGP negative mucosa (P< 0.001). p53 mutations were observed in 8 carcinomas, but no K-ras mutation was detected. Interestingly, although none of the overexpressions of p53 protein was detected immunohistochemically in the BGP positive foci, the p53 gene frequently (41.2% of the BGP foci tested) mutated in spite of no K-ras mutation. The present study demonstrates potentially premalignant foci in the colorectal transitional mucosa with frequent p53 gene mutation. It is suggested that BGP foci are promising candidates for the further investigation of 'de novo' colorectal carcinogenesis.

A potentially novel peptidase, resembling but distinct from neutrophil elastase, produced by carcinoma cells

Neutrophil elastase (NE) is the only neutral protease that can degrade broad substrates of extracellular matrix components. In the present study, we describe the NE-like molecule expressed in many carcinoma cells, which has similar activity to NE and pancreatic elastase, but is immunologically different from NE, and is not inhibited by NE or pancreatic elastase inhibitor at all. Intracellular activity of NE or pancreatic elastase and immunological reactivity of NE in ten carcinoma cell lines and freshly purified neutrophils were measured by CellProbe and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. The NE and pancreatic inhibitory effect to the extracts of the ten cell lines was further examined using NE and pancreatic elastase inhibitor (ONO-5046.Na). Only two carcinoma cell lines out of ten had low immunoreactive NE, whereas neutrophils had high immunoreactivity in the extract. Flow cytometric analyses demonstrated that five out of 11 carcinoma cell lines had a high degrading activity of Ala-Ala-Pro-Val site in more than half of the population. SUIT-2 had the highest activity, but had no immunoreactivity for NE. Furthermore, the NE-like activity in the SUIT-2 cells was not inhibited by ONO-5046.Na. The present study demonstrated the NE-like molecule expressed in many types of carcinoma cells, which is potentially a new and specific protease produced by cancer cells. It would be of great interest to identify this NE-like molecule specific to the tumor, leading to a possible promising treatment of advanced carcinomas.

Expression of brain-type glycogen phosphorylase is a potentially novel early biomarker in the carcinogenesis of human colorectal carcinomas

OBJECTIVE

Our previous studies have demonstrated the significant role of brain-type glycogen phosphorylase (BGP) in the carcinogenesis of gastric carcinoma. The aims of the present study were to investigate the expression of BGP in colorectal carcinoma as well as the timing of this expression in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence (ACS), in comparison with the overexpression of p53 protein. We also sought to identify this marker in the particular colorectal mucosa bearing de novo carcinoma.

METHODS

The expression of BGP and p53 protein in colorectal carcinoma using affinity purified specific anti-human BGP antibody (Ab) and anti-p53 Ab was studied using 96 resected specimens. Further investigation to examine the timing of BGP expression in comparison with p53 overexpression was carried out using 13, 18, eight, and 16 specimens of adenoma with mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia, and carcinoma in adenoma, respectively. The BGP immunohistochemistry in whole resected human colorectal mucosa (two with carcinoma and one with ulcer) was carried out using specific anti-BGP and anti-p53 Ab.

RESULTS

The BGP visualized by immunohistochemistry was commonly present in colorectal carcinoma (83.3%). The expression of this molecule during ACS showed excellent correlation with the increased dysplasia and was found before p53 overexpression, whereas no BGP expression was seen in the normal human large intestine remote from the cancer foci. Positive staining in overtly normal-looking colonic mucosa was observed mainly around carcinomas without any adenoma component.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study is the first to localize the BGP molecule in colorectal carcinoma, adenoma, and normal mucosa. It is suggested that BGP is a novel biomarker for carcinogenesis in both the pathways of ACS and the de novo colorectal carcinoma.

Clinical evaluation of transhiatal bilateral splanchnicotomy for patients with intractable supramesenteric pain

Although a transhiatal bilateral splanchnicotomy (TBS) has many advantages, it has not been widely employed as an effective minimal invasive therapy for intractable supramesenteric pain. Furthermore, the effects of TBS have not yet been clearly evaluated. Between 1995 and 1997, TBS was performed on 11 patients with intractable epigastric and/or flank pain due to unresectable pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis, or an unknown cause. The effect of TBS on the pain was evaluated using a novel simple pain score and pain reduction percentage scaled on the basis of the medication and the judgments by patients themselves, respectively. The detection and cutting of the bilateral great splanchnic nerves were easily performed in all of the patients using common flexible chondrocostal retractors. The evaluation of the TBS effect using the pain score clearly demonstrated the early and late mean postoperative pain score (1.1 +/- 0.9 and 1.4 +/- 1.2: mean +/- SD) to be significantly (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.002, respectively) lower than the preoperative pain score (3.5 +/- 0.7). Furthermore, the mean postoperative pain reduction percentage (85% +/- 13%) evaluated by those patients was also significantly different (P < 0.0001). The present study showed no significant complications for TBS, except for minor complications such as the transient fall of blood pressure and reparable pleural damage. Interestingly, a long-term follow-up revealed that no complications related to the splanchnicotomy were observed. These results indicate that TBS is a useful treatment for patients with intractable supramesenteric pain caused by cancer as well as benign diseases.

Carcinogenesis of intestinal-type gastric cancer and colorectal cancer is commonly accompanied by expression of brain (fetal)-type glycogen phosphorylase

Our previous studies have demonstrated the significant enzymatic activity of glycogen phosphorylase (GP) in the gastric carcinoma and proliferating cells of particular intestinal metaplasia (IM). This paper reviewed the identification of the GP isoform in the gastrointestinal carcinoma, and the investigation on the role of this molecule in the gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. The only isoform expressed in gastric cancer was brain-type GP (BGP) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The expression of BGP, oncogene products and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the gastric and colorectal carcinomas, their premalignant lesions, and the normal mucosa were examined using 136 gastric and 96 colorectal surgically resected specimens, and 55 endoscopically resected colorectal adenomas. The BGP visualized by immunohistochemistry was commonly present in intestinal-type gastric (80.6%) and colorectal (83.3%) carcinomas, whereas no BGP expression was seen in the normal human gastric and large intestinal mucosa except in the BGP foci described below. IMs with BGP had close correlation with intestinal-type gastric carcinoma, and some of them coexpressed accumulated p53 protein. The expression of BGP during 'adenoma carcinoma sequence' (ACS) showed excellent correlation with the increased dysplasia and was found prior to p53 expression. Positive staining in overtly normal looking colonic mucosa (BGP foci) was observed mainly around carcinomas without any adenoma component, and frequent p53 mutation (41.2%) was detected in the BGP foci using PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. It is suggested that BGP is a novel biomarker for carcinogenesis in the intestinal-type gastric carcinoma and in both of the pathways of ACS and the 'de novo' colorectal carcinoma.

Complications and management of microwave coagulation therapy for primary and metastatic liver tumors

Microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) has been widely used, both percutaneously and directly, as effective minimal invasive therapy for liver tumors. To facilitate the use of MCT, we describe the complications we have encountered, and their possible management and prophylaxis. MCT was performed for 42 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and for 29 with metastatic liver tumors, following which complications developed in 14.2% and 20.6% of the HCC and metastatic groups, respectively. The complications included abscess, biloma, bleeding, hepatic failure, and dissemination of cancer cells. In the HCC group, the mean value of tumor size and the clinical stage of patients with complications were significantly larger (P = 0.006) and higher (P = 0.032), respectively, than those of patients without complications. The incidence of complications increased significantly when the tumor size was more than 4cm (P = 0.008). Abscesses and bleeding were successfully treated using percutaneous drainage and interventional angiography, respectively, but as the other serious complications were not able to be treated effectively once induced, prophylaxis is important to facilitate MCT. Transcatheter cooling of the intrahepatic bile duct during MCT and the administration of an anticancer agent into the abdominal cavity are recommended to prevent biloma and dissemination, respectively. MCT is indicated for tumors less than 4 cm in diameter to reduce the risk of complications. The prophylaxis and treatment of these complications enhance the safety of MCT.

Nuclear localization of brain-type glycogen phosphorylase in some gastrointestinal carcinoma

Our previous reports have demonstrated frequent and strong expression of glycogen phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) activity mainly in the cytoplasm of gastric carcinoma. Although previous studies have suggested the phosphorylase glycosyltransferase system to be in the nucleus from enzyme histochemical analyses, intranuclear localization of the phosphorylase has not been fully established. The aims of the present study are to investigate the nuclear localization of glycogen phosphorylase and to identify the isoform of phosphorylase in the nucleus of gastrointestinal carcinoma. The activity of glycogen phosphorylase in carcinoma cells corresponding to the nucleus was demonstrated using enzyme cytochemical analysis. The phosphorylase activity coincided with localization revealed by immunocytochemistry using affinity-purified specific anti-human brain-type glycogen phosphorylase antibody. The isoform expressed in the nuclei of carcinoma cells was identified as being only the brain type according to a polymerase chain reaction-based assay using RNA obtained from gastric carcinoma cells and primers specific to muscle, liver and brain types of glycogen phosphorylase. The intranuclear localization of the brain-type isoform was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopical analyses. Further investigation to examine the nuclear localization in human carcinoma tissue (145 and 25 specimens with gastric and colonic carcinoma respectively) was carried out by immunohistochemistry using specific anti-brain-type antibody. Nuclear immunostaining was observed in seven cases out of 145 gastric carcinoma. The present study is the first to clarify the nuclear localization of glycogen phosphorylase with enzymatic activity in gastrointestinal carcinoma. The isoform of the enzyme expressed in the carcinoma was identified as the brain type. These results warrant further studies on the mechanisms for transporting the large molecule of brain-type glycogen phosphorylase to nuclei and its function in the nucleus of carcinoma cells.

Safety and efficacy of intraperitoneal injection of etoposide in oil suspension in mice with peritoneal carcinomatosis

We compared the safety and efficacy in mice with peritoneal carcinomatosis of two etoposide formulations: an aqueous solution (Etp-sol) and particles suspended in oil (the addition products of iodine and the ethyl esters of the fatty acids obtained from poppy-seed oil (Lipiodol) or sesame oil; Etp-oil). We also investigated tissue distribution of etoposide in rats treated with Etp-oil and Etp-sol. Etoposide was injected intraperitoneally at concentrations ranging from 52 to 392 mg/kg (increasing geometrically by a factor of 1.4). The 50% lethal dose (LD50), determined over a 2-week period of observation, was 135 mg/kg for Etp-oil and 108 mg/kg for Etp-sol. Autopsy findings included macroscopic intestinal bleeding, necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, and pulmonary congestion in mice from both treatment groups. In the efficacy trials. 10(6) P388 leukemia cells were transplanted into CDF1 male mice, and Etp-oil and Etp-sol were injected at doses of 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg. In the groups receiving the 20 mg/kg dose, 11 of 19 mice in the Etp-oil group survived to day 60 compared with 3 of 20 mice in the Etp-sol group. Toxicity-related deaths occurred in 1 of 20 mice treated with 80 mg/kg Etp-oil and in 8 of 20 mice treated with 80 mg/kg Etp-sol. No cancer-related deaths were associated with the 80 mg/kg dose in either treatment group. Our findings showed that the Etp-oil was associated with a lower toxicity and a higher efficacy than the Etp-sol. To evaluate tissue distribution, rats were injected intraperitoneally with 5 mg/kg body weight of Etp-sol or Etp-oil. The tissue distribution of etoposide was subsequently analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Compared with Etp-sol, Etp-oil delivered significantly greater amounts of etoposide and for a longer period to the omentum, taken as representative of the intraperitoneal tissue, and the etoposide concentration in blood plasma was increased more slowly and decreased more gradually.

Development of new lipophilic derivatives of tetragastrin: physicochemical characteristics and intestinal absorption of acyl-tetragastrin derivatives in rats

In order to improve the intestinal absorption of tetragastrin (TG), we synthesized lipophilic derivatives of TG by acylation of its N-terminal amino group with acetic acid, caproic acid, and lauric acid. The purified TG derivatives, acetyl-tetragastrin (Ac-TG), caproyl-tetragastrin (Cap-TG), and lauroyl-tetragastrin (Lau-TG), were confirmed to be more lipophilic than the parent TG by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pharmacological activities and the intestinal absorption of TG and its derivatives were examined by measuring gastric acid secretion. Stimulation of gastric acid secretion by these derivatives after intravenous administration was stronger than with native TG. When the acetyl- and caproyl-derivatives were administered into the large intestinal loops, a marked increase in gastric acid secretion was observed in comparison with TG, while no significant effect occurred following administration of the TG derivatives into the small intestines. These results indicated that chemical modification of TG with fatty acids improves the absorption of TG from the large intestines.

Selective delivery of etoposide to intraperitoneal tissues using a new dosage format: etoposide microcrystals suspended in oil

Rats received an intraperitoneal bolus injection of etoposide at 5 mg/kg of body weight in the form of an etoposide microcrystal suspension in oil (ETOP-OIL) or an aqueous etoposide solution. The tissue distribution was subsequently analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. ETOP-OIL delivered significantly greater amounts of etoposide and for a longer duration to the intraperitoneal tissues such as the omentum and the spleen, whereas it delivered significantly less etoposide to the rest of the body such as the lung, the heart and the bone marrow, than the aqueous etoposide solution.

Toxicity of a new dosage format, cisplatin incorporated in lactic acid oligomer microspheres, in mice

A new drug delivery system, cisplatin incorporated into lactic acid oligomer microspheres (CDDP-MS), was developed for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatoses. We studied the acute toxicity and pathological effects of CDDP-MS injected intraperitoneally in mice. The 50% lethal dose was 23.8 mg/kg (21.3-26.7 mg/kg at 95% level of confidence), which was 1.76 times that of the cisplatin aqueous solution of 13.5 mg/kg (11.9-15.3 mg/kg at 95% level of confidence). The duration for the restoration of the body weight loss was prolonged when CDDP-MS at doses close to the 50% lethal dose was administered, as compared with the cisplatin aqueous solution at doses close to its 50% lethal dose. On autopsy there were no macroscopic or microscopic differences between the two dosage forms.

Etoposide microcrystals suspended in oil: a new dosage form to peritoneal carcinomatosis in mice

Etoposide microcrystals suspended in oil (ETOP-OIL) were examined for their therapeutic effects on peritoneal carcinomatosis in mice. Two days after intraperitoneal inoculation with 10(5) P388 leukemia cells/mouse to CDF1 male mice, etoposide at 10-80 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally in bolus in the form of ETOP-OIL or in the aqueous solution form. In every dose, the survival curve of the mice given ETOP-OIL was statistically significantly improved in spite of its small lethal toxicity, as compared with those given the identical dose of etoposide aqueous solution.

Electroclinical study of video-game epilepsy

Seven patients (five boys, two girls) with video-game epilepsy (VGE) are reported, which reflects the fact that these games have increased in popularity recently among Japanese children. Their ages at onset ranged from four to 13 years. The seizure phenomena were of three types: generalised tonic-clonic, partial seizure and headache. Interictal physical and neurological examinations were within normal limits. EEGs taken while they played video-games confirmed the diagnosis of VGE and revealed three triggers of seizures: flashing lights, special figure patterns and scene-changing. They were recommended to avoid playing video-games, but sodium valproate was effective if seizures persisted even after such avoidance.

Spontaneous disappearance of a middle fossa arachnoid cyst associated with subdural hematoma

The case of a 7-year-old boy with a middle fossa arachnoid cyst that spontaneously disappeared is presented. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an arachnoid cyst in the right middle fossa with a thin subdural hematoma on the same side. As the subdural hematoma spontaneously resolved, the cyst became smaller and finally disappeared without surgical intervention after 18 months on the follow-up CT scans. Possible mechanisms of the spontaneous disappearance of an arachnoid cyst are discussed.