Semi-quantitative analysis of DNA topoisomerase-I mRNA level using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in cancer cell lines: its relation to cytotoxicity against camptothecin derivative

Expression of DNA topoisomerase (Topo)-I-mRNA in various cancer cell lines was detected using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. The cytoplasmic polyadenylated RNA isolated from cancer cell lines was reverse-transcribed and the complementary DNA was amplified by PCR primed with Topo-I specific primers. Fidelity of the amplified sequence was confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion and Southern blot hybridization. The level of Topo-I mRNA was correlated positively with the cytotoxicity of a Topo-I inhibitor, a camptothecin derivative. This RT-PCR method may be applicable to the assessment of sensitivity of cells to Topo-I targeted drugs, especially when only small quantities of cell samples are available.

Characteristics of porcine coronary artery endothelial cells in culture: comparison with aortic endothelium

In the present study we compared the characteristics of porcine coronary artery endothelial cells in culture with the characteristics of aortic endothelium. Morphologically, coronary artery endothelial cells were larger than aortic endothelial cells. Under basal culture conditions, both coronary artery and aortic endothelial cells secreted significant amounts of prostacyclin and endothelin-1. The outstanding findings is that coronary artery endothelial cells secreted larger amounts of endothelin-1 than aortic endothelial cells. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that individual endothelial cells synthesize both substances. This comparative study provides important evidence indicating that the characteristics of coronary artery endothelial cells differ from those of aortic endothelial cells.

Magnetic stimulation of biceps after intercostal cross-innervation for brachial plexus palsy. A study of motor evoked potentials in 25 patients

We studied the motor evoked potentials (MEP) in the biceps of 25 patients with traumatic brachial plexus palsy from root avulsion after cross-innervation by intercostal nerves. We used transcranial, transcervical and transthoracic magnetic stimulation at 8 to 235 months (mean 51) after transfer of intercostal nerves to the musculocutaneous nerve. Biceps strength recovered to MRC grade 2 in eight patients, grade 3 in three and grade 4 in 14. The mean latency of the MEP in the normal biceps on transcranial stimulation was 12.5 +/- 1.3 ms and on transcervical stimulation 6.3 +/- 1.1 ms. After intercostal reinnervation the mean latency on transcranial stimulation was 21.7 +/- 4.5 ms and on transthoracic stimulation 11.6 +/- 3.8 ms. The latency of the biceps MEP after reinnervation by intercostal nerves on transcranial and transthoracic magnetic stimulation correlated well with the duration of follow-up and the latency of the MEP on transthoracic magnetic stimulation correlated significantly with muscle power.

Magnetic stimulation of biceps after intercostal cross-innervation for brachial plexus palsy. A study of motor evoked potentials in 25 patients

We studied the motor evoked potentials (MEP) in the biceps of 25 patients with traumatic brachial plexus palsy from root avulsion after cross-innervation by intercostal nerves. We used transcranial, transcervical and transthoracic magnetic stimulation at 8 to 235 months (mean 51) after transfer of intercostal nerves to the musculocutaneous nerve. Biceps strength recovered to MRC grade 2 in eight patients, grade 3 in three and grade 4 in 14. The mean latency of the MEP in the normal biceps on transcranial stimulation was 12.5 +/- 1.3 ms and on transcervical stimulation 6.3 +/- 1.1 ms. After intercostal reinnervation the mean latency on transcranial stimulation was 21.7 +/- 4.5 ms and on transthoracic stimulation 11.6 +/- 3.8 ms. The latency of the biceps MEP after reinnervation by intercostal nerves on transcranial and transthoracic magnetic stimulation correlated well with the duration of follow-up and the latency of the MEP on transthoracic magnetic stimulation correlated significantly with muscle power.

[Survival of Vibrio cholerae O139 Synonym Bengal in water from a river]

Survival of five strains of Vibrio cholerae, including serotypes O139 Synonym Bengal, O1 El Tor, and non-O1 were compared in water from a river. These bacteria were mixed with water from a river and the water filtered through 0.45 micron millipore filters, respectively, to yield a concentration of 10(6) CFU/ml and incubated at 5 degrees C and 20 degrees C for 21 days. The survival curve of V. cholerae O139 was almost the same with V. cholerae O1 and non-O1. The number of these bacilli decreased to less than 10(2) CFU/ml at 7 days of the incubation at 20 degrees C. When incubated at 5 degrees, however, these bacilli survived much longer and the number decreased to the same value after 14 days. Therefore, these results indicated that the temperature during the incubation greatly affects the survival of V. cholerae. On the other hand, when the water was filtered and used for the experiment, V. cholerae survived longer than in the polluted water. From these observations, if the river is polluted with V. cholerae O139 in the future, it is suggested that the distribution of V. cholerae O139 in the river may be the same as the present condition with V. cholerae O1 and non-O1.

Successful pregnancy in a patient with endometrial carcinoma treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate

A 32-year infertile Japanese woman suffered from endometrial cancer, which was treated with repeated endometrial curettage and medroxyprogesterone acetate for 6 months. The patient then became pregnant and was delivered of a live-born male infant at 37 weeks gestation by cesarean section for placenta previa. At cesarean section there were no abnormal findings in the uterine cavity or other pelvic organs.

Exocrine pancreatic ductograms in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES

To examine the prevalence of abnormal pancreatic ductograms in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and to determine the clinical characteristics of those patients.

METHODS

Pancreatic exocrine morphology was studied by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) in 43 patients with IDDM, 12 patients with islet cell antibody (ICA)-positive non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and 22 patients with ICA-negative NIDDM.

RESULTS

ERP revealed a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal pancreatic ducts (dilation and stenosis, tortuosity, obstruction, and intraductal calculi) in the patients with IDDM (17/43, 40%) than in the patients with ICA-negative NIDDM (2/22, 9%, p = 0.018). IDDM patients who slowly progressed to insulin dependency more than 13 months after the onset of diabetes had a higher frequency of abnormal pancreatic ducts (13/22, 59%) than those who needed insulin therapy within 12 months after the onset (4/21, 19%, p = 0.016). There was no difference in duration of diabetes between the two groups. ICA-positive NIDDM patients also had a higher frequency of abnormal pancreatic ducts (7/12, 58%) than ICA-negative NIDDM patients (2/22, 9%, p = 0.0074).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that a high proportion of IDDM patients who have prolonged histories of non-insulin dependency with ICA suffer pancreatic exocrine impairment. A similarity between IDDM with a slowly progressive clinical course and fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes seen in tropical countries also was suggested.

A histochemical study of the biceps brachii muscle cross-innervated by intercostal nerves. 6 cases of brachial plexus injuries operated with nerve-crossing

Direct nerve-crossing of intercostal nerves from the lateral thorax to the musculocutaneous nerve was performed in 6 patients after spinal nerve root avulsion with brachial plexus palsy. Elbow flexion power was regained well enough to move against gravity and some resistance in all cases. The muscles were examined histochemically 4 (1-9) years after the operation. The intercostally-innervated biceps brachii muscle showed motor predominance of slow-twitch Type 1 fiber regeneration much more than that of fast-twitch Type 2 fiber in 5 of our patients. Our study suggests that the motor nerves of slow-twitch fibers may have priority in peripheral nerve regeneration over those of fast-twitch fibers.

[The effects of maternal stress on the aromatase activity in the perinatal rat brain]

To investigate the influences of intrauterine stress on the aromatase activity (AA) in the perinatal rat's brain, mothers underwent 3 grades of stress: saline injection stress (S), light-heat-mild restraint stress (M), and forced immobilization stress (F). The aromatase activities in the offsprings' hypothalamus and amygdala were determined on day 19 of gestation and on the 1st day after birth. In addition, serum levels of testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A) were measured. In males, perinatal levels of T and A decreased with every grade of prenatal stress. In females, T levels were not affected by prenatal stress. Fetal hypothalamic AA on the 19th day of gestation decreased significantly only in male fetuses of group M and F. Neonatal hypothalamic AA on day 1 after birth decreased only in males of all stress groups. Meanwhile, fetal and neonatal AA in the amygdala did not show any changes in either sex. These results indicate that intrauterine stress depletes both serum androgens and hypothalamic AA in the critical period for sexual differentiation of the brain, which mainly regulates the hypothalamic sex differentiation.

[Results of treatment for advanced non-seminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis based on Indiana University classification]

From 1980 to 1990, we treated 45 patients with non-seminomatous germ cell tumors of greater than or equal to stage II according to the Japanese general rule for clinical and pathological studies on testicular tumors. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the Indiana University Classification: 26 good risk patients (score < or = 6) and 19 poor risk patients (score > or = 7). The clinical results, the % dose intensity of Cisplatin and half-lives of tumor makers were analyzed in the two groups. The per cent dose intensity of Cisplatin of the induction chemotherapy was 61 +/- 24% in 1980-1985 and 87 +/- 18% in 1986-1990. The NED rate improved from 66.7% (10/15) to 81.8% (9/11) in the good risk patients and from 33.3% (3/9) to 50.0% (5/10) in the poor risk patients between the above two periods. When the % dose intensity of Cisplatin exceeded 80%, the NED rate increased from 66.7% (10/15) to 90.0% (9/10) in good risk patients and from 33.3% (2/6) to 45.5% (5/11) in poor risk patients. The NED rate was only 25.0% (4/16) in the poor risk patients whose residual tumors were not resected. The half-lives of AFP and beta-HCG from the latter part of the first course to the second course were 6.8 +/- 1.9 days and 4.4 +/- 1.4 days, respectively, in the patients with a good prognosis, while they were 6.5 +/- 1.5 days and 4.4 +/- 2.9 days, respectively, in with a poor prognosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A new approach for the detection of type III hyperlipoproteinemia by RLP-cholesterol assay

Type III is a remnant hyperlipoproteinemia identified by the presence of beta-VLDL (remnant lipoprotein) as well as a genetic variant of apo E (apo E2/2). The RLP isolated from the serum of Type III patients by a new method we have developed, the RLPcholesterol assay, was identified as chylomicron and VLDL remnant. In addition, the RLP-C levels of the Type III patients were significantly higher than other hyperlipidemic patients with similar serum TG levels, while the ratio of TC/TG in RLP-C of both groups was not significantly different. The RLP-cholesterol assay appears to be useful for the screening and monitoring of Type III hyperlipoproteinemia when used in conjunction with the assays of serum TG level and genetic apo E isoform analysis.

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of Bartholin's gland. A case report

An extremely rare case of primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of Bartholin's gland in a 71-year-old woman is reported. With the working diagnosis of malignancy of Bartholin's gland on biopsy, she underwent a left radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal and pelvic lymphadenectomy and postoperative left vulvar irradiation. The cytologic and pathologic findings on the surgical specimens were distinctive. The imprint cytology of the cut surface of the tumor showed that the neoplastic cells were crowded and that some cells had a peripherally displaced nucleus. The nuclei were oval or round, and the quantity of chromatin was increased and fine. Some nuclei had prominent nucleoli. The cytoplasm was abundant. The surgical specimens showed the same findings as did cytology. the final diagnosis was primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of Bartholin's gland, postoperatively based on the cytologic and pathologic findings.

A randomized trial of early intravesical instillation of epirubicin in superficial bladder cancer. The Nagoya University Urological Oncology Group

A total of 135 patients with superficial bladder cancer diagnosed as totally resectable were entered into a randomized multicenter trial to investigate the efficacy of early intravesical epirubicin instillation after resection in comparison with transurethral resection (TUR) alone. Epirubicin (40 mg/40 ml saline) was given within 24 h of TUR and once during the 1st week, weekly for 4 weeks and then monthly for 11 months. In all, 122 patients (90.4%) were eligible and 119 (88.1%) were evaluable. The interval to initial recurrence was significantly longer (P = 0.02) in the epirubicin group (36 months; 95% confidence interval, 32-40 months) than in the group receiving TUR alone (28 months; 95% confidence interval, 24-32 months). The recurrence rate per year in the epirubicin group was less than that in the TUR-alone group (0.13 versus 0.29 annual recurrences). Disease progression was observed in only one patient in the epirubicin-instillation group. The main toxicity encountered was bladder irritation (13.8%). These results demonstrate that early intravesical epirubicin instillation is efficacious in preventing local recurrence.

[Antibiotic prophylaxis for transurethral resection of the prostate--comparison of oral administration therapy with intravenous administration therapy]

To compare the prophylactic effect of oral and intravenous antibiotics against postoperative fever and urinary tract infection (UTI) after transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P), we conducted a multi-center prospective randomized study. The incidence of pyrexia over 38 degrees C was defined as the primary endpoint. One hundred and fifty patients with sterile urine before TUR-P were entered into this study. The patients were allocated randomly into the two arms; arm A cefotiam 4 g a day for 7 days, arm B tosufloxacin 300 mg a day for 7 days, based on the stratification into the 4 groups determined with/without preoperative indwelling catheters and with/without the history of preoperative UTI. Of these patients, 143 were eligible. We divided 124 patients without preoperative UTI and without indwelling catheters as the "low risk group", and the other 19 patients with preoperative UTI and/or with indwelling catheters as the "high risk group". In the low risk group, 9 patients out of 63 (14.3%) in arm A and 6 out of 61 (9.8%) in arm B had pyrexia during 7 postoperative days. The incidence of fever in arm B was 4.4% less than that in arm A and the 95% confidence limit was from -7% to 16%. In the high risk group, 4 out of 11 (36.4%) patients in arm A and none of 8 in arm B had fever but the difference was not significant. The incidence of post operative UTI in the low risk group on the 4 to 5, 9 to 12, 23 to 26 and 37 to 40 postoperative days was 8.3, 16.4, 25.0 and 23.9% in arm A and 6.7, 16.7, 29.6 and 36.7% in arm B, respectively. The prophylactic effect of oral administration of tosufloxacin is equivalent to that of the intravenous administration of cefotiam. The use of oral antibiotics is beneficial to reducing the cost of medication.

Effects of different protein supplements in fertilization medium on in vitro penetration of cumulus-intact and cumulus-free bovine oocytes matured in culture

Bovine oocytes matured in culture were inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa in BO medium containing 5 mM-caffeine, 10 mug/ml of heparin and different protein supplements at various concentrations. When cumulus-enclosed oocytes were inseminated, no significant differences were observed in the penetration rates (89 to 100%) between media with and without protein supplements and among the different concentrations of each protein supplement, except for 20% calf serum (CS), in which the penetration rate decreased drastically (43%). Notably higher incidences of polyspermy were obtained in medium with FCS (75 to 86%) than with either no supplement (25%) or with BSA (20 to 24%) and CS (13 to 49%). On the other hand, there was almost no penetration of cumulus-free oocytes in the nonsupplemented control medium. Concentration-dependent increases in penetration and polyspermy occurred with BSA, FCS and CS supplementation. A high concentration (5%) of FCS yielded a high incidence (97%) of polyspermy. A decrease in the penetration of cumulus-enclosed oocytes was observed when spermatozoa were capacitated with a high concentration (20%) of CS; difficulty of sperm penetration of cumulus-free oocytes occurred when the capacitation medium lacked protein supplementation; and an increased rate of polyspermy was observed following supplementation with FCS in both cumulus-enclosed and cumulus-free oocytes after insemination with spermatozoa from 5 different bulls.

Serum lipoprotein(a) levels differ in different phenotypes of primary hyperlipoproteinemia

Previous studies have indicated that serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels are mostly under genetic control. We have attempted to determine whether serum Lp(a) levels differ in different phenotypes of primary hyperlipoproteinemia (HL). A total of 129 subjects with HL (three with type I, 43 with familial hypercholesterolemia [FH], 17 with type IIa [non-FH], 11 with type IIb, six with type III [E2/2], 44 with type IV, and five with type V) and 18 normolipidemic controls were included in the study. Thirty-two FH subjects were being treated with hypolipidemic agents, but none of the other subjects were receiving any medication. Fasting blood samples were collected for determination of both serum lipid and Lp(a) levels. Lp(a) level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The 18 controls had serum Lp(a) concentrations of 18.0 +/- 14.5 mg/dL (mean +/- SD), and four of them had high serum Lp(a) levels (> or = 25 mg/dL). Serum Lp(a) concentrations in FH subjects tended to be higher than in the controls (30.5 +/- 25.0 mg/dL), and the incidence of high Lp(a) levels in FH subjects was significantly higher than in the controls (51% v 22%, P < .01). There was no difference between serum Lp(a) levels of FH subjects depending on whether they were receiving medication. In contrast, most of the subjects with selective hypertriglyceridemia had very low serum Lp(a) levels (1.5 +/- 0.7, 8.1 +/- 8.3, and 3.5 +/- 5.3 mg/dL in type I, IV, and V, respectively; P < .01 v controls).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Reduction of serum lipoprotein (a) by estrogen in men with prostatic cancer

The catabolism of lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), remains unclear. Very recently we observed that estrogen, a hormone known to increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor activity, reduced serum Lp(a) levels in a man with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) (JAMA 267: 2328, 1992). In the present study, we attempted to further evaluate this Lp(a)-lowering action of estrogen in men without FH. Seven men, aged 61-84 yr, treated with estrogen for prostatic cancer were the subjects and seven men who underwent surgical treatment without estrogen therapy served as controls. Fasting blood was collected before and 1-3 months after estrogen therapy, and serum Lp(a) levels and lipoprotein profiles were determined. Estrogen treatment caused significant changes in serum lipoproteins, i.e., decreases in LDL-cholesterol, and increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. Serum triglyceride levels tended to increase. Serum apo A-1 underwent a two-fold increase, while apo B did not change. Serum Lp(a) levels ranged from 8 to 62 mg/dl. After estrogen treatment serum Lp(a) was reduced markedly, with a mean reduction of 81% (71-95%). Serum lipids, lipoproteins and Lp(a) did not change significantly in the controls. The results demonstrated a regulating effect of estrogen on serum Lp(a) levels, and the findings further suggested that Lp(a) is removed via LDL receptors. However, previous studies have shown that maneuvers causing a decrease in LDL-cholesterol do not always cause a reduction in serum Lp(a). Thus, our findings suggested the possible presence of a receptor which is estrogen-inducible and different from the LDL receptor.

Determinants of fasting hypertriglyceridemia in ventromedial hypothalamic obesity in rats

The present study investigated the mechanism of fasting hypertriglyceridemia in ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) obesity by measurement of post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, triglyceride secretion rate (TGSR), and plasma insulin. One week after VMH lesions, when the lesioned rats were gaining weight rapidly (the dynamic phase), they showed normal plasma triglyceride levels with increased plasma LPL activity and TGSR. There was a positive correlation between hyperinsulinemia and elevated plasma LPL activity or TGSR in VMH-lesioned rats, while no correlation was observed in control rats. Ten weeks after VMH lesions, when the rats had become obese and reached a steady-state weight gain (the static phase), they showed hypertriglyceridemia with increased plasma LPL activity and TGSR. There was, again, a positive correlation between hyperinsulinemia and elevated plasma LPL activity or TGSR in VMH-lesioned rats. These results suggest a possible mechanism of fasting hypertriglyceridemia in these rats; in the dynamic phase adipose tissue adequately takes up circulating triglyceride because the tissue has sufficient take-up capacity and hence hypertriglyceridemia does not develop. In the static phase the tissue cannot adequately take up circulating triglyceride because of a limitation of its capacity, resulting in hypertriglycemia despite enhanced triglyceride secretion and increased LPL activity in both phases.

Erythrocyte ALA-d activity in experimentally lead-poisoned ducks and its change during treatment with disodium calcium EDTA

To determine useful procedures for the diagnosis and prognosis of lead poisoning in waterfowl caused by ingestion of lead pellets, erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-d) was investigated in experimentally lead-poisoned ducks. A highly positive correlation was observed between the concentration of blood lead and the ALA-d activity ratio (the ratio of activated:non-activated enzyme activity) in those birds given seven lead pellets (3 mm diameter). The ALA-d activity ratio rapidly increased after the administration of lead pellets, but began to fall immediately after the initiation of disodium calcium ethylenediamine tetra-acetate (CaEDTA) therapy which resulted in a rapid decrease in the concentration of lead in the blood of these birds. In contrast, the ALA-d activity remained inhibited even after blood lead levels began to decrease following treatment. These results demonstrated that the ALA-d activity ratio is a very useful and sensitive indicator for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic effects after lead poisoning in waterfowl.

Evoked spinal cord potentials for diagnosis during brachial plexus surgery

We used evoked spinal cord potentials (ESCP) for intraoperative diagnosis in 17 cases of traumatic brachial plexus palsy. Forty spinal nerves were directly stimulated during exploration of the brachial plexus and ESCP recorded from the cervical epidural space were compared with simultaneously observed somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and myelographic findings. Both SEP and ESCP could be evoked in 21 spinal nerves but ESCP were always more distinct and five to ten times greater in amplitude than SEP. In four nerves, ESCP but no SEP were produced, suggesting that there was continuity from the nerves to the spinal cord. ESCP were obtained from two spinal nerves which appeared to be abnormal on the myelogram. The results show that intraoperative electrodiagnosis by epidural ESCP recordings can provide useful information on the lesions of traumatic brachial plexus palsy.

Enhancing effects of estrogens on endometrial carcinogenesis initiated by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in ICR mice

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of estrogens, such as estrone (E1), 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3), on endometrial carcinogenesis initiated by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in mice. A total of 120 female ICR mice received MNU solution (1 mg/100 g body wt.) and normal saline at 10 weeks of age into their left and right uterine corpora, respectively. One week later, they were divided into four groups and treated as follows: Group 1 (30 mice) was given 25 ppm E1-containing diet; and Group 2 (30 mice) was fed 5 ppm E2-containing diet; Group 3 (30 mice) was given 25 ppm E3-containing diet; and Group 4 (30 mice) was fed the basal diet alone. At the termination of the experiment (Week 30), all surviving animals were autopsied and histopathological examinations revealed that endometrial adenocarcinomas had developed in all groups. The incidence of adenocarcinomas in the MNU-treated uterine corpus in Group 1 (25 ppm E1-feeding, 9/23, 39%) was significantly higher than that in Group 4 (basal diet, 3/26, 12%, P < 0.05). Also, the incidences of adenocarcinomas in the MNU-treated uterine corpus in Groups 2 (5 ppm E2-feeding, 8/24, 33%) and 3 (25 ppm E3-feeding, 7/26, 28%) were higher than in Group 4, but the difference was not statistically significant. Feeding of diet containing E1, E2 and E3 increased the incidences of the preneoplastic endometrial lesions (atypical, adenomatous or cystic glandular hyperplasia). In the uterine cervix, small numbers of squamous cell carcinomas, dysplasias or hyperplasias were occasionally found in all groups. These results indicate enhancing effects of the above three types of estrogens on the endometrial carcinogenesis induced by MNU in ICR mice.

Mitochondrial gene mutation in islet-cell-antibody-positive patients who were initially non-insulin-dependent diabetics

Autoimmunity is thought to lead to islet-cell-antibody (ICA) formation in diabetes mellitus. However, we found a mitochondrial gene mutation at nucleotide pair 3243 in 3 of 27 Japanese ICA-positive, initially non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. All 3 progressed to insulin-dependency within 13-31 months, whereas 5 of the other 24 are non-insulin-dependent after 54-90 months. ICA, at least in these 3 patients, may follow gradual beta-cell destruction due to mitochondrial gene mutation, although the possibility of beta-cells with the mutation being susceptible to autoimmune destruction cannot be excluded.