[A case of advanced gastric cancer that responded to long-term administration of low-dose 5'-DFUR]

A 83-year-old female suffering from advanced gastric cancer with paraaortic lymph node metastases was administered low-dose 5'-DFUR (600 mg/day) orally. The primary tumor reduced in size fifty days after the start of the treatment, and the swelled lymph node disappeared on abdominal CT scan. Specimens obtained by endoscopical biopsy were highly susceptible to pathological degeneration of the cancer. Low-dose 5'-DFUR was effective both for the primary lesion of gastric cancer and for the lymph node metastases in this case.

Characterization of differentiation antigens expressed in bovine lymphosarcomas

To characterize the cell-surface antigens expressed in tumour cells derived from bovine leukosis and to determine their cell lineages, the immunophenotypes of the tumour cells from 13 bovine lymphosarcomas were examined with 13 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Of 13 cattle with lymphosarcomas, four were identified clinically as having the thymic-type sporadic bovine leukosis (SBL) and one as having the skin-type; two had enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) and six were untypable. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the tumour cells from nine cases were of T-cell lineage (BoCD5+, BoCD2+ or BoCD2-) and two were of B-cell lineage (MHC-II+, BoCD5+, IgM+); there were two bovine leukaemia virus-infected cattle (EBL). T-cell tumours appeared to originate from immature (BoCD4-, BoCD8-) T cells, but there was no significant relationship between clinical type (EBL, calf-, skin- and thymic-type) and tumour-cell immunophenotype.

Characteristic endoscopic features of intestinal lymphangiectasia: correlation with histological findings

Six patients with histologically proven intestinal lymphangiectasia were evaluated for the endoscopic features. White villi and/or spots, previously reported as endoscopic findings, were seen. Furthermore, white nodules and submucosal elevations with or without white mucosa were observed. All patients demonstrated the appearance of submucosal elevations. The four characteristic endoscopic features were correlated with histological findings. It is considered that these endoscopic features are of value for the diagnosis of intestinal lymphangiectasia in patients with protein-losing enteropathy.

A case of small cell carcinoma of the stomach

A case of small cell carcinoma of the stomach is reported. A 53-year-old male was referred to our hospital for elective surgery for gastric cancer. Pre-operative examinations revealed no metastases. Gastrectomy was performed curatively, and there were no gross findings of metastases. Histologically, the tumor was composed of intermediate-sized cells with hyper-chromatic nuclei and scanty cytoplasm. These cells were argyrophilic and positive for chromogranin A. A small portion of the tumor consisted of conventional adenocarcinoma (signet ring cell carcinoma and tubular adenocarcinoma). No lymph node metastasis was observed microscopically. However, 7 months after the operation, splenic and hepatic metastases were detected, and the patient died very soon thereafter. Small cell carcinoma of the stomach is a very rare disease. In literature, only 15 cases have been cured surgically. Among them, only one case had been diagnosed as small cell carcinoma before the operation, which suggests the difficulty of pre-operative diagnosis. The prognosis of this disease is very poor compared with the common type of gastric carcinoma. Considering the poor prognosis of this particular disease, adjuvant chemotherapy might be mandatory in all cases even if surgically curative resection is performed.

Inhibition of metastasis by a dialysable factor in fetal bovine serum in B16 melanoma cells

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) supplemented to the culture medium inhibited the metastasis of B16BL6 melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. This metastasis-inhibiting activity was accompanied by growth-promoting activity, up to the concentration of 10% FBS. However, among the clones isolated from B16BL6 cells, there were clones in which FBS significantly inhibited the metastasis without promoting their growth. Dialysis (cutoff M.W. 8000 Da) removed the metastasis-inhibiting activity but not the growth-promoting activity from FBS. These results indicate that FBS has metastasis-inhibiting activity which is independent of growth-promoting activity, and that the metastasis-inhibiting activity is carried by molecules removed by dialysis.

Long-term outcomes of early victimization by peers among Japanese male university students: model of a vicious cycle

For Japanese male university students ( N = 134) as subjects, self-reported victimization by peers during junior high school was correlated with current scores on self-esteem and depression only for subjects who reported low self-esteem and high depression prior to victimization.

In vitro survey of alpha-glucosidase inhibitory food components

A survey of food components with alpha-glucosidase (AGH) inhibitory activity was conducted to identify a prophylactic effect for diabetes in food. Sardine muscle hydrolyzed by alkaline protease showed potent activity (IC50 = 48.7 mg/ml) as well as green and oolong teas (IC50 = 11.1 and 11.3 mg/ml, respectively). Furthermore, hydrolyzates prepared by various proteases gave differing AGH inhibitory activity. DEAE-Sephadex chromatography of the alkaline protease hydrolyzate eluted potent AGH inhibitors (IC50 = 15.6 mg/ml) with a 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 0.3 M NaCl, and their subsequent separation by HPLC in an ODS column showed that there were some inhibitors possessing primary amino groups. This indicates that they would have been high anionic and peptidic compounds.

Benefit of in vitro fertilization treatment for endometriosis-associated infertility

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of IVF treatment in endometriosis-associated infertility.

DESIGN

Nonrandom retrospective study.

SETTING

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Akita University School of Medicine.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Cumulative pregnancy rate.

PATIENT(S)

One hundred eighteen infertile patients in whom diagnosis of endometriosis was established by laparoscopic examination.

INTERVENTION(S)

The prognoses of 60 patients (IVF group) who started IVF treatment within 6 months after laparoscopy were compared with those of 58 patients who were managed expectantly without IVF treatment during the same period.

RESULT(S)

The cumulative conception rates at 36 months after laparoscopy were 62% in the IVF group and 43% in the control group, and the difference was not significant (a log-rank test). For patients > or = 32 years of age, the conception rates were significantly higher in the IVF group (59% versus 29%). A relatively large but nonsignificant difference in the conception rate between the two groups was observed in patients with endometriosis at stages III or IV (52% versus 27%).

CONCLUSION(S)

In vitro fertilization treatment provides better prognosis in patients > or = 32 years of age and is recommended for such patients. The benefits of treatment appear to be greater in patients with more advanced stages of endometriosis.

The alpha3beta3gamma subcomplex of the F1-ATPase from the thermophilic bacillus PS3 with the betaT165S substitution does not entrap inhibitory MgADP in a catalytic site during turnover

The hydrolytic properties of the mutant alpha3(betaT165S)3gamma and wild-type alpha3beta3gamma subcomplexes of TF1 have been compared. Whereas the wild-type complex hydrolyzes 50 microM ATP in three kinetic phases, the mutant complex hydrolyzes 50 microM ATP with a linear rate. After incubation with a slight excess of ADP in the presence of Mg2+, the wild-type complex hydrolyzes 2 mM ATP with a long lag. In contrast, prior incubation of the mutant complex under these conditions does not affect the kinetics of ATP hydrolysis. The ATPase activity of the wild-type complex is stimulated 4-fold by 0. 1% lauryl dimethylamine oxide, whereas this concentration of lauryl dimethylamine oxide inhibits the mutant complex by 25%. Compared with the wild-type complex, the activity of the mutant complex is much less sensitive to turnover-dependent inhibition by azide. This comparison suggests that the mutant complex does not entrap substantial inhibitory MgADP in a catalytic site during turnover, which is supported by the following observations. ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by the wild-type complex is progressively inhibited by increasing concentrations of Mg2+ in the assay medium, whereas the mutant complex is insensitive to increasing concentrations of Mg2+. A Lineweaver-Burk plot constructed from rates of hydrolysis of 20-2000 microM ATP by the wild-type complex is biphasic, exhibiting apparent Km values of 30 microM and 470 microM with corresponding kcat values of 26 and 77 s-1. In contrast, a Lineweaver-Burk plot for the mutant complex is linear in this range of ATP concentration, displaying a Km of 133 microM and a kcat of 360 s-1.

Binding sites for Mg(II) in H(+)-ATPase from Bacillus PS3 and in the alpha 3 beta 3 gamma subcomplex studied by one-dimensional ESEEM and two-dimensional HYSCORE spectroscopy of oxovanadium(IV) complexes: a possible role for beta-His-324

The binding sites for Mg2+ in wild type F1 ATPase (TF1) and in the alpha 3 beta 3 gamma subcomplex from the thermophilic bacterium Bacillus PS3 have been studied by EPR and by ESEEM and HYSCORE spectroscopy of complexes with the oxovanadium cation VO2+. Complexes of metal-depleted TF1 and substoichiometric amounts of VO2+ display low-temperature EPR signals with spectral parameters g parallel = 1.947 and g perpendicular = 1.980, and hyperfine couplings with 51V, A parallel = 169 x 10(-4) cm-1 and A perpendicular = 61 x 10(-4) cm-1, that are indicative of a binding site for VO2+ with nitrogen ligands from the protein. This binding site is probably identical with the metal binding site with strong affinity M1 that has been characterized using Mn2+ in a previous study [Buy, C., Girault, G., & Zimmermann, J. L. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 9880-9891]. The three-pulse ESEEM spectrum of the VO2+ complex with TF1 shows a frequency pattern with spectral properties that are evidence for two nitrogen ligands to the VO2+ with hyperfine couplings A1 = 4.75 MHz and A2 = 6.5 MHz and nuclear quadrupole parameters e2Qq1 = 2.8-3.2 MHz and e2Qq2 = 2.0-2.3 MHz. The ligands are identified as a lysine terminal amine and a histidine imidazole, which are proposed as Lys-164 and His-324 from a beta subunit. The HYSCORE data obtained for the VO.TF1 complex show correlations within each pair of the ESEEM nu dq peaks from the 14N nuclei, confirming the interpretation of the one-dimensional spectra. Evidence for the formation of a ternary complex by addition of VO2+ and ATP to metal-depleted TF1 is shown in the EPR and ESEEM spectra and in the contour plots of the HYSCORE data. Two pairs of correlation patterns are resolved in addition to the peaks from the two 14N ligands, which are interpreted as hyperfine couplings with 31P beta and 31P gamma of the ATP that binds the VO2+ cation. The assignment of the two hyperfine couplings to the specific phosphates, A(31P beta) = 15.5 MHz and A(31P gamma) = 8.7 MHz, in the VO.TF1.ATP complex is proposed by comparison with those measured for VO2+ in solution with ATP at pH 6.3 and 2.3. These results are discussed in light of the previous data with the analogous Mn.TF1 complex, and a model is proposed in which the native Mg2+ in the M1 site is coordinated by the side chain of beta-Lys-164 and is in close proximity to a histidine residue (probably beta-His-324) that may have a critical role. Additional coordination by two phosphates from ATP (probably the beta- and gamma-phosphates) is observed in the ternary complex VO.TF1.ATP. ESEEM and HYSCORE data are also obtained for the analogous complexes VO. alpha 3 beta 3 gamma and VO. alpha 3 beta 3 gamma .ATP that show very similar properties in terms of coordination of the divalent metal cation, except for the lysine ligand that is found to be lost in the ternary complex with ATP. It is suggested that this observation may reflect changes in the metal and nucleotide active sites that are associated with the absence of the delta and epsilon subunits in the subcomplex.

Unusual pKa of the carboxylate at the putative catalytic position of the thermophilic F1-ATPase beta subunit determined by 13C-NMR

Glutamic acid-190 in the beta subunit of F1-ATPase from thermophilic Bacillus PS-3 (TF1) was reported to be essential for the ATPase activity. The mutant TF1beta subunit in which Glu-190 had been substituted by cysteine was carboxymethylated with 13C-labeled monoiodoacetic acid. The pKa value of the carboxymethylene group at the 190 position was determined as 5.6 +/- 0.4 by 13C-NMR. On the basis of this value, the pKa of the carboxylate of Glu-190 of the TF1beta subunit was estimated to be 6.8 +/- 0.5. The unusually high pKa could play a role in the catalytic mechanism of F1-ATPase.

Attenuation of Eimeria caviae by selection for precocious development

An attenuated line of Eimeria caviae was produced by selection for early maturation of oocysts during serial passage in guinea pigs. The prepatent period of the parasite was reduced from 11 to 6 days. Parasites of the precocious line and the parent strain were found in the crypts of the epithelial cells of caecum and colon and were morphologically indistinguishable. The period of development of type I, type II and type III merozoites of the E. caviae precocious line in guinea pigs was similar to that of the parent strain until the 3rd day. The time of the transition from gametocytes to oocysts was 2 days in both the precocious line and the parent strain. The maximum number of oocysts per gram of faeces and the pathogenicity of the precocious line were less than those of the parent strain.

Combined effects of acute lead acetate exposure and tone exposure of the guinea pig cochlea

Lead acetate exposure to humans can induce various disorders of the cranial nerves. Although vertigo and sensorineural deafness have been reported in lead workers, the dose effects of lead acetate on the cochlea and eighth cranial nerve are not well documented. We investigated the effects of lead acetate on the male albino Hartley guinea pig cochlea by measuring cochlear microphonics (CM), whole nerve action potential (AP), endocochlear potential (EP) and K+ ion concentration of the endolymph. Animals were given lead acetate by intraperitoneal injection as 20 mg/week for 4 consecutive weeks. A total dose < 80 mg did not induce electrophysiological changes in the cochlea. However, the AP output voltage (N1) decreased if the 80 mg lead acetate treatment was followed by an 80 dB tone exposure at 6 kHz during 24 h. A change was observed in CM and EP but not K+ ion concentration in the scala media.

Orphan nuclear receptor ROR alpha gene: isoform-specific spatiotemporal expression during postnatal development of brain

We analyzed expression of mouse orphan nuclear receptor ROR alpha during postnatal development of rodent brain. Using a riboprobe corresponding to the 3'-end of mROR alpha cDNA a peak of ROR alpha expression was observed at postnatal 16 day (P16) in the Purkinje cells of cerebellum, neurons of the thalamus and the olfactory bulb. The hippocampus was also shown to express ROR alpha with an earlier peak at P7. Expression in cell types other than the Purkinje cells appeared transient. On the other hand, when a probe to the 5'-end of mROR alpha cDNA was used, we observed patterns of ROR alpha expression that are different from those observed with the 3'-probe. No specific transcripts of ROR alpha were detected with the 5'-probe in the Purkinje cells until P16. Additionally, the relative level of the hybridization signals with the 5'-probe and the 3'-probe were different among the various brain regions. Together with the previous findings that ROR alpha comprises at least four isoforms which differ from one another in their N-terminal regions, these observations suggest that the spatiotemporal expression of ROR alpha is under isoform-specific regulation. The timing of its expression suggests that ROR alpha may be involved in regulation of postnatal maturation of specific classes of neurons.

Rapid progression of flat warts in a patient with malignant lymphoma after PBSCT

A 51-year-old man with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in his third remission received autologous PBSCT. He had had a couple of flat warts on his right hand since admission, which showed no progression during conventional dose chemotherapy. On day 15 of PBSCT, however, the warts began to develop and spread to his forehead, face, neck and arms over several days. The diagnosis of flat warts was made and human papilloma virus type 3 was detected by PCR analysis. Severe immunosuppression associated with PBSCT may have caused this rapid and disseminated growth of flat warts.

Benzyl-alpha-GalNAc inhibits sialylation of O-glycosidic sugar chains on CD44 and enhances experimental metastatic capacity in B16BL6 melanoma cells

We examined the effect of benzyl-alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine (benzyl-alpha-GalNAc), which specifically inhibits the synthesis of O-linked oligosaccharides, on the expression of the peanut agglutinin (PNA)-binding sugar chains (Gal beta 1-3GalNAc) of CD44 and on its experimental metastatic ability in B16BL6 melanoma. Benzyl-alpha-GalNAc increased the PNA-binding, but not Concanavalin A (Con A), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and leukoagglutinating phytohemaagglutinin (L-PHA)-binding to the cell surface. Benzyl-alpha-GalNAc markedly increased the PNA-binding to CD44 by decreasing the sialylation of these sugar chains. The experimental metastatic ability of B16BL6 cells was enhanced in association with this modulation of the sugar chains. These findings suggested that unsialylated Gal beta 1-3GalNAc sugar chains on the cell surface and/or CD44 are involved in the metastatic process of B16BL6 melanoma cells. On the other hand, the known functions of CD44, such as adhesion to hyaluronate, fibronectin, collagen, and endothelial cells, as well as homotypic aggregation, were not affected by benzyl-alpha-GalNAc regardless of the enhancement of metastatic ability induced by this glycosylation inhibitor. CD44 might have other metastasis related functions that remain to be elucidated.

Increased numbers of macrophages in noninflamed gastroduodenal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease

We investigated immunostained macrophages in the noninflamed mucosa of Crohn's disease patients. Biopsied specimens from endoscopically normal gastroduodenal mucosa of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and healthy control patients were studied. Sections were examined immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody specific for tissue macrophages (CD68). Immunostained mucosal macrophages in the second part of the duodenum, duodenal bulb, gastric antrum, and gastric body of the Crohn's disease group were more numerous than in the ulcerative colitis and control groups. The characteristic findings of Crohn's disease were aggregations, focal subepithelial dense accumulations, and infiltration throughout the mucosa of macrophages not accompanied by a lymphoid infiltrate. The number of macrophages in the gastroduodenal mucosa bore no relationship with the duration of symptoms, clinical activity, or affected site in the intestine. This suggests that the increased number of macrophages in noninflamed mucosa is a histological change characteristic for Crohn's disease that indicates a persistent latent abnormality involving the entire gastrointestinal tract.