[Three dimensional culture of human salivary gland using irradiated collagen gel embedding technique]

Embedding culture was performed on normal salivary gland cells from five subjects using 0.2% irradiated collagen gel. Collagen was collected from rat tail tendon and gelatinized at the final concentration of 0.2%. D-MEM added BSA (5mg/ml), insulin (10 micrograms/ml) and EGF (5 micrograms/ml) was used as a serum-free medium. Within the collagen gel, the cells were found to grow in a branch-like pattern, and then to form a lot of radial duct-like structures containing alcian blue positive secretions. Immunohistochemical observation of myoepithelial cells with monoclonal antibody from human mammalian cancer suggested that these cells play an important role in the process of glandular ducts formation. Salivary gland cells being able to grow in collagen gel in a very similar fashion to in-vivo condition, the present collagen gel embedding culture is useful for morphological or functional studies on salivary gland cells.

The role of lipocortin I in macrophage-mediated immunosuppression in tumor-bearing mice

The soluble mediators and/or mechanisms involved in immunosuppression in tumor-bearing hosts are not well characterized, although macrophages have long been recognized as major participants. We have investigated the role of lipocortin I, a phospholipid-binding protein, in macrophage-mediated immunosuppression in tumor-bearing mice. Proliferation of splenic lymphocytes in response to the mitogens (PHA, Con A, LPS, and PWM) was severely suppressed in tumor (Sqc-NH-1 carcinoma)-bearing mice. This immunosuppression was associated with a decrease in T and B lymphocytes and an increase in macrophages in these spleens. Mac-2+ macrophages were found only in spleens from tumor-bearing mice. Splenic macrophages from tumor-bearing, but not normal, mice were responsible for this immunosuppression, as revealed by negative and positive selection experiments. The levels of lipocortin I mRNA expression were markedly increased in peripheral blood cells from tumor-bearing mice as compared with those from normal mice. Lipocortin I mRNA was strongly induced in splenic mononuclear cells from tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, these cells displayed increased expression of lipocortin I protein, as judged by Western blot analysis with polyclonal anti-lipocortin I serum. Some nonimmune organs such as the heart, submaxillary gland, muscle, and bladder also displayed increased levels of lipocortin I mRNA expression in tumor-bearing mice. Mac-2+ macrophages among the splenic mononuclear cells in tumor-bearing mice expressed lipocortin I mRNA, as judged by negative and positive selection experiments. Most of these Mac-2+ macrophages also had Mac-1 and Mac-3 Ag. Lipocortin I protein was increased in the serum of tumor-bearing mice as compared with normal mice. The culture supernatants of splenic cells from tumor-bearing mice suppressed the mitogenic responses of splenic cells from normal mice, and addition of anti-lipocortin I antiserum inhibited this suppression. Furthermore, recombinant mouse lipocortin I suppressed mitogenic responses of splenic cells from normal mice. In summary, Mac-2+ macrophage-derived lipocortin I was largely involved in immunosuppression in tumor-bearing mice.

[Clinical analysis of supraglottic cancer]

We treated 159 cases of supraglottic cancer including 53 cases of transglottic type from July, 1978 to December, 1984. The mean age was 65 years and man to woman ratio was fifth. Of those patients 15 were classified as T1, 36 as T2, 56 as T3 and 52 as T4 and 113 as N0, 22 as N1, 14 as N2 and 10 as N3. Stage classifications were stage I in 13, stage II in 21, stage III in 50 and stage IV in 75. Treatment modalities were divided radiation in 25, operation only in 105, pre-or post-operative radiation in 29. Multiple primary malignancies were detected in 18 cases (11.3%). Until December, 1986, 52 patients died. Cause of death were original cancer (33 cases, 63.5%), additional malignancies (5 cases, 9.6%), intercurrent disease (12 cases, 23.1%) and others. Deaths of original cancer were attributable to the metastasis to the cervical lymph node and/or distant metastasis, mainly to the lung. Metastatic lymph nodes at the initial treatment were found in 66.7% of patients who died of supraglottic and/or transglottic cancer. In order to improve survival rates, early diagnosis and radical dissection of positive lymph nodes are seemed to be important.

[Local control after radiation therapy for T1N0M0 glottic carcinoma]

From 1978 through 1984, we had 151 patients with T1N0M0 glottic carcinoma. They were treated by radiotherapy with 4MV x-ray in parallel opposing field of 5 X 5 cm2 or 6 X 6 cm2. The total dose was 60 Gy/30 fractions/6 weeks. The local control rate was 88.1%, the local recurrence being noted in 18 cases (11.9%). Of these 18 cases, 6 underwent partial laryngectomy, and 10 total laryngectomy. The remaining two cases died: one refused further treatment for recurrence and the other died in spite of total laryngectomy due to recurrence after partial laryngectomy. The salvage rate was 94.1%. The cumulative survival rate was 82.6% in Tla, 71.5% in Tlb and 81.1% in 151 T1N0. The tumor response was poor in the presence of lesion occupying the whole length of the vocal cord. Also, in the cases with ulcer formation or thickened vocal cord as seen on laryngogram, local control rate was not good. Better results will be achieved by improving treatment techniques, specially by improving dose-distribution by wedge-filtered technique and method for immobilization in plastic shell during radio-therapy.

Presence of pancreatic-type phospholipase A2 mRNA in rat gastric mucosa and lung

The content of mRNA for a pancreatic-type phospholipase A2 present in rat gastric mucosa was much greater than that in pancreas. In lung the mRNA for this pancreatic-type phospholipase A2 was also detected, but less than in pancreas. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that these pancreatic-type phospholipase A2 cDNAs derived from rat gastric mucosa and lung were completely identical to that from rat pancreas (Ohara et al. (1986) J. Biochem. 99, 733-739). This demonstrates that the pancreatic-type phospholipase A2 present in gastric mucosa and lung does not originate from pancreas.

[A case of mesopharyngeal carcinoma that showed a complete response to induction chemotherapy]

A 55-year-old male with a mesopharyngeal carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma) T3N3N0 and a pulmonary carcinoma (adenocarcinoma) T3N2M0 was treated with induction chemotherapy, consisting of cisplatin (100 mg/body), bleomycin (30 mg/body), and methotrexate (40 mg/body), that was followed by a radical neck dissection of the cervical metastatic lesion. After two courses of chemotherapy, both the primary and nodal lesions of the mesopharyngeal carcinoma showed a complete response and, histologically, no evidence of any viable tumor cells remained. The patient died, however, due to the pulmonary carcinoma two years and seven months after his first treatment. An autopsy revealed no evidence of the squamous cell carcinoma. In this case, the squamous cell carcinoma of the mesopharynx and the cervical lymph nodes showed a radically good response to treatment by chemotherapy.

Observation on the distribution of ganglia in the ganglionated plexus of guinea-pig gallbladder

In order to investigate how the ganglia in ganglionated plexus were distributed throughout the overall region of the gallbladder, the gallbladder was dissected from guinea-pig and washed with Krebs solution via the cystic duct. This gallbladder was distended with 2 ml of the mixed solution of OsO4 and ZnI2 injected with a syringe via the cystic duct and the cystic duct was immediately tied with a thread. The gallbladder was placed in excess of the mixed solution for 7-10 hours. The gallbladder was longitudinally divided into two approximately equal parts and each was prepared for microscopic investigation. The one preparation was the ventral side of the gallbladder and the other preparation was its dorsal side. These preparations were viewed through a photomicroscope. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Ganglia which involved several nerve cells were observed. Ganglia and nerve bundles connecting the fellow ganglia formed an irregular network, that is, the so-called ganglionated plexus. These nerve bundles were connected with the perivascular nerves which ran parallel to and around blood vessels in several places of the wall of the gallbladder. 2. Ganglia were full of variety in size and shape. That is to say, the shape of ganglia is arranged in various patterns such as oval, spherical, triangular, square and so on. When the size of ganglia were shown by surface area of ganglia which were viewed within the sweep of photomicroscope, the size of ganglia were divided into three large groups, the small ganglia in the range of 1,400 microns2-3,500 microns 2, the large ganglia in the range of 3,500 microns2-10,000 microns2 and the extra-large ganglia in the range of 10,000 microns2-38,000 microns2. Per one gallbladder, 240 +/- 41 (n = 3) small ganglia, 263 +/- 28 (n = 3) large ganglia and 8 +/- 1 (n = 3) extra-large ganglia were found. And these ganglia were irregularly scattered all over the wall of gallbladder. Small ganglia were found more numerous than large ganglia in the cervical portion of the gallbladder. On the other hand, small ones were slightly fewer than large ganglia in the remainder portion of the gallbladder. 3. The ganglionated plexus contained 511 +/- 69 (n = 3) ganglia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Production of recombinant human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor by Escherichia coli

A synthetic gene for human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) was fused to the coding sequence for the amino-terminal 135 amino acid residues of human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by interposing a methionine codon sequence, and the resulting hybrid gene was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli cells. Recombinant human PSTI (rHu-PSTI) was separated from the IFN-gamma/PSTI fused protein by cleavage at the methionine residue with cyanogen bromide. Finally, rHu-PSTI was purified by affinity chromatography on a bovine trypsin-CH-Sepharose 4B column. The amino acid composition, partial amino-terminal sequence, disulfide formation, human trypsin inhibitory activity, and immunoreactivity against rabbit anti-human PSTI serum of rHu-PSTI corresponded to those of the natural form.

[Clinical studies of cancer of the mesopharynx]

From January, 1978 to December, 1984 fifty four cases of cancer of the mesopharynx were registered at our clinic. There were 47 males and 7 females. Age distribution was from 18 to 80 years old with a mean age of 59. Site distributions were 32 in the lateral wall, 11 in the superior wall, 3 in the anterior wall and 2 in the posterior wall. The Brinkman index for smoking habits and to alcohol index for drinking habits were 488.3 and 20.8 respectively, which were significantly higher than for the control group (p less than 0.05). Pathohistological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma in 46 cases, adenocarcinoma in 3 cases, anaplastic carcinoma in 3 cases, and 4 others. Secondary malignancies were highly developed in 15 cases (27.8%), including cancer of the larynx (5), esophagus (3), stomach (2) and others (5). Stage classification was stage I in 3 cases, stage II in 13 cases, stage III in 16 cases and stage IV in 22 cases. Of 47 cases, 39 cases were treated by radiation, 5 cases by operation and 2 cases by pre-radiation chemotherapy. The local control and absolute survival rates for T1-T2, N0-N1 lesions were quite good. Advanced local and nodal disease proved difficult to control with radiation alone. Three and five-year survival rates were both 37.0%. It is suggested that heavy drinking is one of the probable etiologic factors in cancer of the mesopharynx. Intensive follow-up is necessary to detect second primary cancers. For better results, multi-disciplinary treatment should be explored.

Kinetics and mechanism of zinc ion-mediated degradation of cephalosporins in tromethamine solution

Earlier studies of the hydrolysis and aminolysis of penicillin, in the presence of zinc ion and tromethamine (Tris), revealed a very rapid catalysis mediated by a ternary complex in which the metal ion brought the reactants into close proximity in a suitable configuration for reaction. In the present work similar studies with a group of cephalosporins show not only much slower rates of reaction but a different mechanism in which the zinc ion-tromethamine complex functions as a nucleophile in a bimolecular reaction. Evidence for the differences in mechanism includes not only the different dependence of rate upon tromethamine concentration, but comparable rates of reaction of methyl esters of a penicillin and a cephalosporin and the reaction products observed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Simultaneous determination of imidazoleacetic acid and N tau- and N pi-methylimidazoleacetic acids in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of urinary imidazoleacetic acid and N tau- and N pi-methylimidazoleacetic acids which employs high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection is described. The compounds were converted into the corresponding fluorescent esters by reaction with 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin. These derivatives are separated by liquid chromatography on a Radial-Pak silica column. The detection limits for imidazoleacetic acid and N tau-and N pi-methylimidazoleacetic acids in urine are 15, 10 and 20 pmol/ml, respectively. The 24-h urinary excretion of imidazoleacetic acid and N tau-and N N pi-methylimidazoleacetic acids by healthy persons was 5.7-39.9, 4.3-24.6 and 1.5-19.3 nmol/mg of creatinine, respectively.

Newly developed circulating blood volume-monitoring system and its clinical application for measuring changes in blood volume during hemofiltration

Blood and ultrafiltrate electrical resistivities were continuously monitored during hemofiltration. By substituting these values into a previously developed equation that was modified by the authors, the hematocrit value was determined; and blood volume change was obtained from the change in this value. The following facts were discovered as the result of monitoring the blood volume change during treatment: When the body position was changed from the reclining to the sitting position, the blood volume decreased by 4.2 +/- 0.3%. With the body water removal rate kept constant, the body position recumbent, and the subject fasted, the blood volume gradually decreased. However, when the position was changed from reclining to sitting for food intake and once more returned to the supine position after the meal, the blood volume was greatly affected by the change in position and the food intake.

Removal of denatured proteins with artificial reticulo-endothelial system (ARES)

Basic research has revealed that hydrophobic residues increased on the molecular surface of the denatured IgG and that the denatured proteins in the plasma can be removed by several sorbents of different amino acids bonded from polyvinylalcohol hydroxide residue with a covalent bond. Thus, an artificial reticulo-endothelial system was developed to supplement the human reticulo-endothelial system (RES) by removing denatured proteins from the patient's plasma. Clinically, angiitis and Raynaud's phenomenon associated with collagen disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus were remarkably reduced following a series of ARES treatments. The proteins adsorbed on the ARES were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Virtually no albumin was detected, and IgG (constant isoelectric point), IgM, IgA, IgA dimer, C3, C4, fibrinogen and other unidentified spots were found in the elute from the ARES column.

Removal of Denatured Proteins with Artificial Reticuloendothelial System (ARES)

Basic research has revealed that hydrophobic residues increased on the molecular surface of the denatured IgG and that the denatured proteins in the plasma can be removed by several sorbents of different amino acids bonded from polyvinylalcohol hydroxide residue with a covalent bond. Thus, an artificial reticulo-endothelial system was developed to supplement the human reticulo-endothelial system (RES) by removing denatured proteins from the patient's plasma. Clinically, angiitis and Raynaud's phenomenon associated with collagen disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus were remarkably reduced following a series of ARES treatments. The proteins adsorbed on the ARES were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Virtually no albumin was detected, and IgG (constant isoelectric point), IgM, IgA, IgA dimer, C3, G4, fibrinogen and other unidentified spots were found in the elute from the ARES column.

[Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP)-radiation therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma]

Between July 1977 and October 1983, 40 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated by radiation therapy. From the investigation of this series, prophylactic treatment for distant metastases was recommended for good prognosis. Between November 1983 and May 1985, 10 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated using a combination of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) and radiation therapy. Treatment results showed complete response in all 10 patients. One patient failed in the out field of boost therapy after whole-neck irradiation. This patient has shown no distant metastases. The remaining 9 patients have been controlled well. Major side effects were renal toxicity, and nausea and vomiting, which were mostly transient. However, severe mucositis of the oral cavity was observed in 4 patients (40%) of the CDDP-radiation group in contrast with 3 patients (8%) of the radiation-therapy-only group (p less than 0.01).

Dog and rat pancreatic phospholipases A2: complete amino acid sequences deduced from complementary DNAs

We performed molecular cloning of the cDNAs that encode dog and rat pancreatic phospholipases A2 to predict the primary structures of these enzymes. The deduced amino acid sequences exhibited a highly conservative feature which is common to a group of pancreatic phospholipases A2 from various animal species. Furthermore, the structures of the signal sequences of dog and rat pancreatic phospholipases A2 were predicted, although the assignment of the positions cleaved post-translationally is only tentative at the present time.

[A case of hypopharyngeal carcinoma treated with multidisciplinary therapy without loss of the patient's voice]

A 53-year-old man under a diagnosis of piriform sinus carcinoma T 3 N 1 was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin (70 mg/m2) and peplomycin (5 mg/day X 10), followed by radical neck dissection and radiotherapy to the primary site and whole neck. After two courses of chemotherapy, the primary tumor showed complete response and nodal metastasis showed partial response. After discharge, the patient has shown no evidence of disease. Hypopharyngeal carcinoma was controlled with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy without the patient's voice being lost, since chemotherapy as the initial treatment was very effective in reduction of the tumor bulk and did not damage the blood circulation.

[Acinic cell tumor of the epipharynx--a patient treated with surgery and high-dose intracavitary radiation therapy]

A case of acinic cell tumor of the epipharynx is reported. The patient was a 41-year-old man. The tumor was surgically removed by the transpalatal approach. Light microscopically, the lesion was composed of serous acinic cells with eosinophilic granules, clear cells with water-clear cytoplasm and their intermediate type, vacuolated cells. The serous acinic cells were PAS (periodic acid-Schiff)- and DPAS (PAS with diastase predigestion)-positive. The clear and vacuolated cells were PAS- and DPAS-negative. The patient underwent early postoperative radiation therapy; high-dose intracavitary radiation therapy using remote-controlled afterloading equipment was given subsequent to the external radiation therapy. The patient has been free of recurrence and abnormal findings for one year after treatment.

Peroxidase-catalyzed benzidine binding to DNA and other macromolecules

[14C]Benzidine is rapidly oxidized by a peroxidase/H2O2 system to products which bind irreversibly to DNA. The presence of exogenous DNA also prevented benzidine polymerization to 'benzidine brown' and azobenzidine. Two molar equivalents of H2O2 were required to oxidize the benzidine and achieve maximal DNA binding. Furthermore, 95% of the benzidine was trapped and 36 nmol benzidine was bound per mg DNA. Polyriboguanylic acid was as effective as DNA in binding benzidine, but polyriboadenylic acid, polyribouridylic acid and polyribocytidylic acid were much less effective. Binding of [14C]benzidine correlated well with the absorbance at 295 nm and 390 nm of the modified DNA or various synthetic homopolymers of ribonucleotides isolated from the reaction mixture. The peroxidase/H2O2 system also catalyzed the binding of dichlorobenzidine, o-tolidine and o-dianisidine to DNA but 3,5,3',5'-tetramethylbenzidine, a non-carcinogen, did not bind. The binding could be prevented by various biological hydrogen donors, thiols, or phenolic antioxidants. The mechanisms for DNA protection were investigated; the oxidized benzidine species involved in binding can be reduced with ascorbate, NADPH, or thiols, and trapped by thiols or phenolic antioxidants to form conjugates or adducts.

[A neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for carcinomas of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus]

Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, followed by definitive surgery and/or radiotherapy was utilized in nine patients with carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus starting in December, 1983. They were treated with combination chemotherapies which included CDDP, PEP (BLM), and MTX. The patients' ages ranged from 52 to 70 years with an average of 57. The histologic types were all squamous cell carcinoma and performance status was 1 in all cases. There were 7 stage III and 2 stage IV. Of 9 patients, 3 showed complete response and 6 showed partial response of the primary tumor with an overall response rate of 100%. Of 8 patients, 3 showed complete response and 2 showed partial response of the metastatic node with an overall response rate of 62.5%. Toxic effects included alopecia in 9 patients, nausea/vomiting in 7, eczema in 4, RBC below 350 X 10(4)/mm3 in 5, WBC below 3000/mm3 in 1, peak serum creatinine above 2 mg/dl in 1. All patients except one with renal toxicity were able to start definitive treatment soon after chemotherapy, the primary and regional lesions being subsequently well controlled in all 9 patients. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy appears to be very effective for the reduction of tumor bulk. This multidisciplinary therapy should be expected to increase survival rate.

Peroxidase-mediated irreversible binding of arylamine carcinogens to DNA in intact polymorphonuclear leukocytes activated by a tumor promoter

Addition of the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate to polymorphonuclear leukocytes results in the oxidation of the arylamine carcinogens; [14C]benzidine, N-[14C]methylaminoazobenzene and [14C]aminofluorene to reactive intermediate(s) that bind irreversibly to the leukocyte DNA. The binding was dependent on oxygen and was decreased by sulfhydryl inhibitors and phenolic antioxidants that inhibit the respiratory burst triggered by the phorbol myristate. Both the binding and the respiratory burst were increased by azide, presumably as a result of intracellular catalase inhibition. However higher concentrations of azide and cyanide prevented binding without affecting the respiratory burst indicating that myeloperoxidase is a catalyst for the binding. Granules isolated from the activated leukocytes and H2O2 catalyzed a cyanide sensitive benzidine binding to calf thymus DNA. Myeloperoxidase and H2O2 also catalysed extensive binding of these arylamines to calf thymus DNA. The leukocytes appear to be a useful model cell for studying one electron oxidation-catalyzed carcinogen activation.

Multiple primary tumors in patients with head and neck cancer

From July 1978 to June 1984, 851 new cases of malignancies in the head and neck were registered in our hospital. Ninety-three patients with multiple primary tumors were observed. Triplicated malignancies were observed in three cases, i.e., larynx, thyroid, skin; stomach, tongue, larynx; and larynx, sarcoma, mesopharynx. The incidence rate was a high 30% in cancer of the mesopharynx (14/46), 14% in cancer of the larynx (55/392), and 7% in cancer of the hypopharynx. Additional primary malignancies occurred in the head and neck regions (25 cases), the digestive system (10 cases), the uro-reproductive system (18 cases), and others. Cancers of the stomach, lung, esophagus, and thyroid were predominant. Thirty-one cases (32.2%) were detected simultaneously and others were detected synchronously. We discuss the increased incidence rate of multiple primary tumors and the factors attributable to multiple primary tumors and stress the usefulness of systematic investigations.

Determination of nicotinic acid in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A sensitive method for the determination of nicotinic acid in serum is described which employs high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Nicotinic acid and 2-chloronicotinic acid as an internal standard in deproteinized serum are reacted with N,N'-dicyclohexyl-O-(7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl)methylisourea in acetone to give the corresponding fluorescent 4-hydroxymethyl-7-methoxycoumarin esters. The compounds are separated by reversed-phase chromatography on LiChrosorb RP-18 with isocratic elution using aqueous acetonitrile containing a small amount of sodium 1-hexanesulphonate as a mobile phase. The detection limit of nicotinic acid in serum was 0.2 nmol/ml. The method requires only 100 microliters of serum.

Initial treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus with a new artificial reticuloendothelial system

Artificial reticuloendothelial system, which was made on an immobilized phenylalanine column, has been developed to remove denatured protein from serum. This system was used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus effectively. Lupus angiitis has been markedly improved with 12 treatments.

Assay for monoamine oxidases A and B by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A sensitive method for the assay of monoamine oxidases A and B is described which employs high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Rat brain mitochondria were used as a preparation of the enzymes. p-Sulfamoylbenzaldehyde and benzaldehyde formed enzymatically from p-sulfamoylbenzylamine (the substrate of monoamine oxidase A) and benzylamine (the substrate of monoamine oxidase B), respectively, are converted simultaneously into fluorescent compounds with 2,2'-dithiobis(1-aminonaphthalene). These compounds are separated by reversed-phase chromatography on mu Bondapak CN. The limits of detection for p-sulfamoylbenzaldehyde and benzaldehyde formed enzymatically are 30 and 10 pmol per assay tube, respectively.