[Anesthesia for pectus excavatum]

The incidence of arrhythmia, postoperative complication and pulmonary oxygenation (PaO2) were studied in 48 patients with pectus excavatum scheduled for the Ravitch operation under halothane-nitrous oxide-oxygen (GOF) and enflurane-nitrous oxide-oxygen (GOE) anesthesia. Preoperative abnormalities of ECG were observed in 36 of 18 cases. Main abnormalities were incomplete right bundle branch block, left atrium enlargement, and sinus arrhythmia. Ventricular arrhythmia was observed in 4 of 12 cases during GOF anesthesia, whereas no arrhythmia was observed during GOE anesthesia. In postoperative chest X-ray, pulmonary atelectasis (60%), pleural effusion (48%), and pneumothorax (8%) were observed. The results suggest that GOE is more advantageous for pectus excavatum operation than GOF. Postoperative pulmonary surveillance is important for pectus excavatum operation.

Adrenal adenoma with excess secretion of corticosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone

A 64-year-old man with sudden onset of quadriplegia due to marked hypokalemia was referred to our clinic with suppressed plasma renin activity in the presence of a low aldosterone level. Computerized tomography demonstrated a left adrenal adenoma, shown on adrenal scintigraphy to be functioning. The elevated basal level of plasma corticosterone and its increased response to 1-24 adrenocorticotropic hormone suggested the tumor produced corticosterone. The surgical specimen was a benign adrenocortical adenoma with excess content of corticosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone.

Effects of thiopental, pentobarbital, and ketamine on endothelin-induced constriction of porcine cerebral arteries

Contractile mechanisms of endothelin, a newly isolated vasoactive substance from endothelium, were evaluated in anterior cerebral arteries (ACA). Furthermore, the effects of thiopental, pentobarbital, ketamine, and diltiazem on the endothelin-induced cerebral vasoconstriction were also studied. Endothelin induced cerebral arterial contractions in concentrations above 3 X 10(-10) M. The median effective concentration (ED50: X10(-9) M) of endothelin was 2.1 +/- 0.7 (n = 6). Endothelin did not elicit contractions in preparations soaked in Ca2(+)-free solution, but addition of 2.5 mM Ca2+ to the baths induced marked contractions. Thiopental and pentobarbital attenuated endothelin-induced contractions at concentrations above 3 X 10(4) M, while ketamine was effective above 10(-3) M. In contrast, diltiazem decreased endothelin-induced vasoconstriction at 10(-6) M. The findings suggest that endothelin may cause contractions of porcine cerebral arteries by influx of Ca2+ through Ca2+ channels. The cerebral vasomotion induced by endothelin, however, does not seem to be influenced by clinical doses of barbiturates and ketamine.

[Magnetic resonance imaging for retroperitoneal fibrosis: report of two cases]

The first case was a 63-year-old man with edema in the lower extremities, and the second case was a 78-year-old man complaining of general fatigue and loss of appetite. Both cases had bilateral hydronephrosis and renal failure due to ureteric obstruction. Both patients with histologically proven idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis were studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI was performed using a superconducting magnet operating at 0.5 tesla and spin echo images were obtained. The retroperitoneal fibrous plaque appeared at an intermediate intensity on T1 weighted image and at a high intensity on T2 weighted image. They underwent intraperitoneal ureteral transposition and postoperative administration of prednisolone. Although their renal functions and hydronephrosis improved after the treatments, the fibrous plaque was still observed on MRI. It was considered that MRI was an excellent method of choice in the diagnosis and follow-up of retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Effects of prazosin HCl on micturition disturbance associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy and bladder neck contracture

The effects of alpha 1-adrenergic blockade with prazosin HCl were examined in 28 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and bladder neck contracture. The patients received 2-3 mg of prazosin HCl daily administered orally. Improvement in subjective symptoms was observed in 75% of the patients. We evaluated clinical effects as the minimum time of micturition (calculated as the ratio of voided volume/maximum flow rate) for voided volumes less than 200 ml and the maximum flow rates and average flow rates for voided volumes over 200 ml. Evaluation of the findings on a flow rate nomogram revealed improvement in maximum flow rates and average flow rates in 41% of the patients. Side effects such as dizziness developed in only 1 patient.

Inhibitory effect of bestatin on the growth of human leukemic cells

We examined the effect of bestatin (Ubenimex) on the growth of human leukemic cells (i.e, HL-60, K562, MT-1, MT-2, Molt-4, and Raji cells). The growth of each cell line was inhibited by the cocultivation with bestatin at higher concentrations than employed for clinical use in Japan. [3H]TdR incorporation was also inhibited in MT-1 and MT-2 cells by treatment with bestatin. Degenerated cell-to-cell adhesion was observed among the treated cells. These findings suggest that the inhibitory effect on some leukemic cells, especially on MT-1 cells, results from the inhibition of DNA synthesis.

[Polycythemia vera with an inhibitor against factor XII]

A case of polycythemia vera with an inhibitor against factor XII was reported. A 60-year-old female was admitted to Hokkaido University School Hospital because of erythrocytosis and hepatosplenomegaly. The hemoglobin was 22.5 g/dl and white cell count was 9,500/microliters without immature cells. The platelet count was 484,000/microliters. Bone marrow specimens showed marked hypercellularity. Philadelphia chromosome was not found on chromosome analysis. She was diagnosed as polycythemia vera according to the criteria of polycythemia Vera Study Group. Activity of factor XII was found to be decreased on the initial examination, but she had no personal and familial history of bleeding. In order to clarify the cause of decreased activity of factor XII, her plasma was mixed with normal plasma, and then examined PTT using factor XII deficient plasma. Her plasma mixed with equivalent normal plasma did not show the correction of prolonged PTT. It was suggested that an inhibitor of her plasma was included in the IgG fraction using gel chromatography. The patient was treated with phlebotomy and administration of N4-palmitoyl (1- -D-arabinofurasyl) cytosine (derivative of cytosine arabinoside; PLAC) 200 mg/day and Busulfan (1 mg/day). Factor XII was not corrected by phlebotomy, but corrected gradually by administration of PLAC and Busulfan.

Hatomamicin (YL-0358M-A), a new alkaloid antibiotic: fermentation, isolation, structure, and biological properties

Hatomamicin, a new alkaloid antibiotic, was isolated from the culture filtrate of a strain of Saccharopolyspora. The antibiotic was extracted with EtOAc and purified by silica gel column chromatography. The free alkaloid was obtained as pale yellowish prisms from CH3CN solution. It exhibits antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive organisms. The apparent molecular formula of hatomamicin was determined to be C22H31NO5. The structure has been established by a combination of spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic studies.

[A study on genital skin androgen receptor by dispersed cell method]

We have measured androgen receptor in whole cell, cytosol and nuclear fractions of cultured skin fibroblasts originated from the genital area. Samples were obtained from the following patients: 10 boys with phimosis, 5 boys with cryptorchism, 4 boys and a man with hypospadia, 2 infertile men and 3 normal men. Androgen receptor was measured using methyltrienolone (R1881) as the ligand according to the assay technique of Eil et al. using dispersed cell method. The results were as follows: 1. There were no significant statistical differences in the dissociation constant among the diseases. 2. Hypospadia cases showed lower maximum binding capacities (Bmax) of whole cell than phimotic boys but the difference was not statistically significant. 3. The Bmax of normal men were statistically higher than those of phimotic boys and about 80% of these receptors were seen in the nuclear fraction. We also experienced low Bmax levels in an adult hypospadia case and two infertile men. These results suggest that this method is a simple and rapid method to study both nuclear and cytosol androgen receptor at the same time. It is also suggested that there are some cases with reduced androgen receptor levels in hypospadia and infertile cases.

Biosynthetic similarity between Streptomyces tenjimariensis and Micromonospora olivasterospora which produce fortimicin-group antibiotics

The profile of bioconversion products of istamycin (IS) components by a blocked IS mutant of Streptomyces tenjimariensis that lost IS-productivity suggested a possible biosynthetic pathway of IS similar to that of fortimicin (FT) by Micromonospora olivasterospora. Both organisms are resistant to the antibiotics produced by each other. Based on these similarities, they were examined for their capability to convert an FT-intermediate (FT-B) and IS-intermediates (IS-A0 and -B0) through their biosynthetic pathways. S. tenjimariensis formed 1-epi-FT-B, 2''-N-formimidoyl-FT-A (= dactimicin) and 1-epidactimicin (a new antibiotic) from FT-B. On the other hand, M. olivasterospora converted IS-A0 and -B0 to 2''-N-formimidoyl-IS-A (= IS-A3) and -B (= IS-B3), respectively. Thus, the similarity in antibiotic biosynthesis was confirmed between these FT-group antibiotic-producing organisms. It was also found that the major fermentation product of M. olivasterospora is not FT-A (astromicin) but dactimicin.

[Experience of HLA-matched platelet transfusion in patients who are refractory to random donor platelets]

Platelets collected from random and multiple donors were as effective on transfusion as those obtained from single donor by platelet pheresis if patients were not alloimmunized. In alloimmunized patients, effects of platelet transfusion were correlated with the HLA-matching grade; 100% effective in A-match, 92% in B-match and 65% in C-match. This correlation was not observed if the patient had infection. The transfusion of A- or B-matched platelets resulted in a lowering or disappearance of HLA antibody activities in most patients. However, the transfusion of C-matched platelets caused increasing or appearance of HLA antibody activities in some patients. The ABO-incompatibility did not show a significant effect on platelet transfusion when anti-A or anti-B antibody activities in donors and antiglobulin tests on patients' red cells were negligible. Non HLA, platelet specific antibodies were produced in some patients and presumed to be participated in the destruction of transfused HLA-matched platelets.

[Therapy of the preleukemic state: effect of androgens on refractory anemia]

We have examined the efficacy of various drugs in 44 patients with MDS and found the different effectiveness which depends on the type of MDS. Namely, RA appears to respond to steroid hormone, androgen, and/or vitamin D3, regardless of single or combined use. In particular, it is obvious in androgen, and as our previous reports, high content of acidic ferritin in RBC with RA have changed to more basic ones by treatment with androgen. On the contrary, these drugs were not effective on RAEB, RAEB-T, and CMML. A long-term observation is needed to determine whether the prolonged or decreased occurrence of leukemia could be obtained in the effective cases with RA. Most of the cases who did not develop overt leukemia during this study died of bleeding or infections due to thrombocytopenia or leukocytopenia, thus indicating that supportive therapies are important in patients with MDS. Since it has recently been reported that recombinant G-CSF or GM-CSF is helpful to increase the number of leucocyte and to enhance their functional recovery in MDS, these factors may be powerful agents against infections when they are carefully used with regard to the activation of leukemic clones.

Okilactomycin, a novel antibiotic produced by a Streptomyces species. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and characterization

Okilactomycin, a novel antibiotic, was isolated from the culture filtrate of a strain of actinomycetes. The producing organism, strain YP-02908L, was identified as Streptomyces griseoflavus subsp. zamamiensis subsp. nov. The antibiotic was extracted with ethyl acetate and purified by silica gel column chromatography. It was obtained as colorless prisms from a dichloromethane solution. It exhibited weak antimicrobial activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in vivo. The apparent molecular formula of okilactomycin was determined as C24H32O6. It is a new member of the lactone group antibiotics.

[An autopsy case of severe miliary tuberculosis in a patient with acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL)]

A 58-year-old Japanese man being diagnosed as having ALL suffered from continuous fever and dysfunction of the liver and kidneys despite being in a state of haematological remission. Further clinical investigations, however had not been able to find the causes of his condition before his death. The autopsy revealed severe miliary tuberculosis affecting many organs including the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, thyroid gland, pancreas, bone marrow, and central nervous system, which is compatible with multiple organ failures. Recent pharmacological advances have increased the usage of many kinds of antineoplastic drugs, and this has resulted in increased chances of opportunistic infections by various microorganisms in the course of treatment. The present case implies the significance of the reactivation of tuberculosis in the secondary immunodeficient syndrome (SIDS).

Establishment and characterization of a cell line, TOM-1, derived from a patient with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia

A new Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive cell line, designated TOM-1, was derived from bone marrow cells of a patient with Ph1-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). The TOM-1 cells were positive for Ia and B1 antigens and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) but negative for common ALL antigen. Although neither surface Ig nor cytoplasmic Ig was detected, the TOM-1 cells contained rearranged immunoglobulin-H chain genes but retained germ-line kappa chain and germ-line T cell receptor beta-chain genes. These results indicate that the TOM-1 cells reside as the progenitor of pre-B cells. We have investigated the chromosome 22 breakpoint and c-abl gene expression in the TOM-1 cells. We found that the breakpoint on chromosome 22 was within the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) in the TOM-1 cells. We also found the breakpoints within or near bcr in four of six Ph1-positive ALL cases, similar to the findings in Ph1-positive CML cases. Amplification of the c-abl gene was not detected in the TOM-1 cells. The leukemic cells isolated from a patient with CML in myeloid crisis contained a novel 8-kilobase (kb) abl-related messenger RNA (mRNA), but the TOM-1 cells contained c-abl transcripts of only normal sizes, despite the fact that they showed the bcr gene rearrangement.

AP4A-hydrolysing activity in sea urchin embryos

The enzyme activity hydrolysing diadenosine 5,5'-P1, P4-tetraphosphate (AP4A) was demonstrated in the embryonic extract of sea urchin. The enzyme activity was preferentially inhibited by ZnCl2 and by high concentrations of isobutylmethylxanthine, indicating that two types of the enzyme, (AP4A) hydrolase and non-specific phosphodiesterase, are related to the degradation of (AP4A) in sea urchin embryos. The (AP4A)-hydrolysing activity was not detectable in the unfertilized eggs because of the presence of a high-molecular weight (HMW) and thermolabile inhibitory factor. Though the enzymes were activated immediately after fertilization, no cell cycle-dependent fluctuations in their activities were observed.

Role of angiotensin II in the pathogenesis of hyperdipsia in chronic renal failure

The relation of thirst to the renin-angiotensin system was examined in 38 patients with chronic renal failure receiving hemodialysis treatment. They were classified into three groups, ie, group 1 (19 patients), no or modest thirst; group 2 (13 patients), moderate thirst; and group 3 (six patients), excessive thirst. The plasma renin activity, plasma angiotensin II levels, and interdialytic weight gains of groups 1 to 3 significantly increased in a progressive manner with intensity of thirst. The hyperdipsia experienced by four patients in group 3 ameliorated after administration of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor. The hyperdipsia of some patients with chronic renal failure therefore appears to be mediated by increased production of endogenous angiotensin II.

Nuclear AP4A-binding activity of sea urchin embryos changes in relation to the initiation of S phase

The AP4A-binding activity of sea urchin embryos was studied using radioactively labelled diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A). Among various subcellular components that can bind [3H]AP4A, nuclei alone showed the highly specific Ap4A-binding activity which was not influenced by the presence of AP4A, AP5A and GP4G. The addition of an excess amount of ATP only slightly reduced the binding of [3H]AP4A to the nuclei. It was found that AP4A binds to the residual proteinaceous structure of nuclei which was resistant to the extraction with 2 M NaCl. The nuclear AP4A-binding activity fluctuated cyclically during each cell cycle, with a transient increase at the beginning of S phase followed by an abrupt decrease within 10 min. When the initiation of S phase was blocked, the increase in the AP4A-binding activity was also prevented. It seems that the binding of AP4A to the nuclear structural protein is involved in the initiation of S phase.

Production of novel antibiotic, dopsisamine, by a new subspecies of Nocardiopsis mutabilis with multiple antibiotic resistance

An actinomycete isolate designated as TS-1980 with multiple resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics was found to produce novel antibiotics. The strain showed taxonomic features identical to the type strain of Nocardiopsis mutabilis except for the temperature range for growth and the utilization of mannitol and raffinose. Based on the capability of growing at lower temperature range, the strain was named N. mutabilis subsp. cryophilis subsp. nov. Physico-chemical and biological characterization of a purified antibiotic revealed its novel polyamine-type nature with a broad antimicrobial activity. The antibiotic was named dopsisamine.

Mechanism and significance of kinin formation in nephrotic syndrome

There were few reports demonstrating behavior of kinin and kininogen in the nephrotic syndrome. In this paper, coagulation factors related to contact activation, such as factor XII (FXII), factor XI (FXI), prekallikrein (PK), high molecular weight kininogen (HMWKG), and kinins were measured in 15 cases of nephrotic syndrome, and clinical significance of these results were discussed. Plasma FXII activity was markedly decreased in the onset and florid stages of nephrotic syndrome, and this decrease was not correlated with plasma albumin level, which suggested marked activation of this factor in these stages. However, the decrease of PK was slight at the above stages. Activations of contact factors were not parallely occurred with the marked consumption of FXII. Plasma kinin activity was not increased in the onset and critical stages of the nephrotic syndrome but increased in the convalescent and chronic stages, while HMWK level was maintained higher than normal throughout the course. Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (kininase II) activity was increased in the early stage and decreased lower than normal during the course of the disease. It was concluded that kinin formation in the nephrotic syndrome was not due to the activation of intrinsic coagulation system but due to release of kinin from low molecular weight kininogen. This increased level of kinin activity in convalescent and chronic stage may be related to the healing process during the course of this syndrome. Low kinin activity in the early stage of this disease might be also explained by increased kininase II activity.

Is there functional cholinergic innervation in the frog duodenum (Rana catesbeiana)?

To determine if functional cholinergic innervation occurs in the frog duodenum or not, the effects of exogenous acetylcholine and electrical transmural stimulation, the contractile activity of an acid extract from the frog duodenum, and the distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the wall of the frog duodenum were investigated. Acetylcholine caused non-sustained contraction in a dose-dependent manner (100 nM-1 mM). The ED50 value was 17 +/- 2.4 microM. Atropine (500 nM) shifted the dose-response curve for acetylcholine parallel to the right. Transmural stimulation of the frog duodenum caused frequency-dependent (0.5-50 Hz) contraction which was not decreased by atropine (500 nM) at all. The acid extract from the frog duodenum caused contraction of a longitudinal muscle strip of guinea-pig ileum but atropine (500 nM) had no significant effect on the contraction. Only a little AChE activity was found in Auerbach's plexus of the frog duodenum compared with that of the rat ileum. These results suggest that a cholinergic nerve is present in the frog duodenum but its physiological significance is very small.

[Phase II study with methyl 6-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (MCNU) in hematological malignancies]

Forty-two cases of hematological malignancy (18 cases of CML, three cases of polycythemia vera, 10 cases of malignant lymphoma and 11 cases of multiple myeloma) were treated with MCNU. The results obtained were as follows. MCNU was markedly effective on CML cases, being especially useful during the chronic phase, and a partial remission was observed in one of three patients with CML blastic crisis. A good response was observed in all cases with polycythemia vera. In some cases of malignant lymphoma, a fair response was observed. No response was observed in any of the cases of multiple myeloma. Myelosuppression was a major side effect of MCNU, but other side effects other than melena were not severe.

Peculiar cytoplasmic inclusions in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: cytochemical and electron microscopic observations

In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) of a 19-year-old woman, blast cells in the blood and bone marrow contained peculiar large cytoplasmic inclusions. The inclusions, measuring 0.5-3.5 micron in diameter, were stained with methylene blue, toluidin blue, pyronin, and periodic acid-Schiff. Activities for acid phosphatase and alpha naphthyl butyrate esterase were not detected in the inclusions. The cytochemical findings indicated that the inclusions contained basophilic material and polysaccharides and that they were not lysosomal in nature. In electron microscopy, the inclusions were membrane bound and contained densely packed microvesicles, measuring 40-70 nm in diameter; amorphous electron-dense material; and whorled membranous figures. The microvesicles often had a nucleoid-like core and resembled viruses in size and structure.

Early stages in the acquisition of a bimanual motor skill

Children and adults were trained and tested on a coordinated bimanual task that required them to rotate both hands either at the same or at different angular velocities in order to move the pen of an X-Y recorder along three angles of slant (45, 67 and 22 degrees), and to rotate both hands in the same clockwise direction rather than as mirror image movements. Initially both groups exhibited a tendency to rotate both hands at the same angular velocity even when the task required differential motor output from the two hands. With visual feedback, the tendency toward synchronization, such that both hands moved at the same angular velocity, was asymmetrically distributed, but under blindfolded conditions such asymmetries disappeared. Accuracy of performance increased with practice; and visual feedback enhanced accuracy of performance. The findings suggest that during early stages in the acquisition of a bimanual skill, unintended bilateral coactivation occurs at multiple levels of motor organization; mirror associated movements are only one simple subset of unintentional intermanual synergies.

Mitogenic effects of certain cathepsins and calciferin on the intact liver in vivo

Calciferin, a new parathyroid hormone stimulating the release of cathepsins D and L (but not B) from isolated lysosomes, or the release of cathepsin D from erythrocytes or ghosts in vitro, elevated free cathepsin D in the blood, and at the same time stimulated DNA synthesis in the intact liver when it was injected into mice. Both calciferin and free cathepsin D in the blood (rats) were elevated concomitantly soon after 70% hepatectomy, reaching a peak around 5 hr. The cathepsin D-elevation was almost proportional to fractional hepatectomies. Cathepsin L (but not B), when injected intraperitoneally into mice, stimulated DNA synthesis and mitosis in the intact liver much like cathepsin D, the effect of which was reported earlier. In contrast to the mitogenic effects of calciferin or cathepsins (D and L) in vivo, only cathepsin L (but not cathepsin D or calciferin) in low concentrations appeared to stimulate DNA synthesis in the cultured liver cells, and also stimulated adenylate cyclase of isolated liver plasma membranes in vitro. Dibutyryl-cyclic AMP in concentrations lower than 10(-5) M also stimulated DNA synthesis in cultured liver cells.

Synthesis of diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (AP4A) in sea urchin embryos

Sea urchin embryos were labeled with [3H]adenosine at two developmental stages (morula and prism) and the labeled acid-soluble nucleotides were fractionated successively by column chromatography with DEAE-Sephadex and DEAE-cellulose, and by thin-layer chromatography on a PEI-cellulose plate. Significant radioactivity was detected on the PEI-cellulose plate at the region of diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (AP4A). After treatment of this fraction with phosphodiesterase, the radioactivity was all recovered in the AMP region, while alkaline phosphatase had no effect on the AP4A fraction. The present result suggests that AP4A is actively synthesized in the sea urchin embryos.

Cathepsin D stimulates DNA synthesis and mitosis in mouse liver in vivo

Effects of a single intraperitoneal injection of cathepsin D (CatD) on DNA synthesis and mitosis in the mouse liver and kidney were investigated. Twenty micrograms of catD induced a significant stimulation of DNA synthesis in the liver, but not in the kidney, in a dose-dependent fashion and with a peak activity at 38 h after the injection. CatD also stimulated liver mitosis, with a peak value at 44 h after the injection.

[R 1881 binding receptor and DHT concentrations in prostatic cytosol]

R 1881 binding receptor and DHT concentrations in human prostatic cytosol were assayed in surgically removed prostatic tissues of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and of the normal prostate. The normal prostates were obtained from totally cystectomized male patients with bladder cancer. Cytosols were incubated with 0.25--8.0 nM (6 points) of 3H-R 1881 in the presence or absence of excess radioinert R 1881 at 4 degrees C for 20 hours, thereafter treated with 0.5% dextran coated charcoal. Specific bindings were analysed in the form of scatchard plot analysis. Cytosol DHT levels were determined by radioimmunoassay reported previously. Steroid specificity studies revealed that R 1881 binding receptor was inhibited not only by androgens but also by progesterone, however, an addition of 1000 fold excess triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) reduced the inhibition by progesterone. As R 1881-receptor complex was eluted at the void volume of sephacryl S-200 chromatography, the receptor was considered to be 8-9S protein. Cytosol DHT levels were 35.5 +/- 13.6 pg/mg cytosol protein in BPH and 18.9 +/- 7.1 pg/mg protein in the normal prostates, showing a significantly higher value in the former (p less than 0.01). Kd and NBS of R 1881 receptor in BPH were 0.73 +/- 0.21 nM and 30.1 +/- 9.0 fmol/mg cytosol protein and those in normal prostate were 0.68 +/- 0.28 nM, 10.2 +/- 4.2 fmol/mg protein, respectively. NBS were also higher in BPH compared to the normal prostate (p less than 0.001). Moreover, DHT levels (y) and NBS (x) showed a significant correlation (y = 0.631 X + 15.764, r = 0.506).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Phase II study with methyl-6[[[2-chloroethyl) nitrosoamino] carbonyl] amino]-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (MCNU) in hematological malignancies]

A total of 117 cases with hematological malignancies were treated with MCNU at doses of 70-100 mg/m2. Following are the results obtained. 1. MCNU showed a marked depression of cells in the cases with CML, polycythemia vera and thrombocythemia. The low level of cells was maintained for 2 to 7 months. 2. A good response was observed in several cases with blastic crises of CML. 3. No response was observed in two cases with acute leukemia. 4. Although a fair response was observed in several cases with malignant lymphoma or multiple myeloma, moderate bone marrow suppression was observed in a majority of the cases.

[Assessment of serum ferritin, CEA, beta 2-MG and PAP determinations in patients with urinary tract malignancies]

Ferritin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) levels in serum from 77 patients with cancer (6 with renal adenocarcinoma, 9 with renal pelvic and ureteral cancer, 29 with bladder cancer and 33 with prostatic cancer) at various stages were clinically evaluated for their significance as a parameter of urinary tract malignancies. Although, ferritin, CEA and beta 2-MG levels in the poorly-differentiated and advanced stage groups of renal adenocarcinoma, renal pelvic and ureteral cancer, and bladder cancer were higher than those in the well-differentiated and early stage groups, those in most cases were within normal ranges. These proteins were not considered suitable for the screening test. Ferritin and beta 2-MG levels increased with advancement of the performance status (P.S.) proposed by Koyama and Saito; however, the latter was affected greatly by renal impairment. In prostatic cancer, PAP and ferritin levels were remarkably high in the poorly-differentiated group (PAP mean +/- S.E.: 57.6 +/- 22.5 ng/ml, ferritin 883 +/- 319 ng/ml) and the advanced stage group (27.2 +/- 10.5 ng/ml, 398 +/- 152 ng/ml) compared to the well-differentiated group (7.87 +/- 3.61 ng/ml, 88.5 +/- 25.8 ng/ml) and the early stage group (2.24 +/- 0.54 ng/ml, 186 +/- 91.7 ng/ml). PAP and ferritin levels of the untreated cases were positive in 10 out of 18 cases (55.6%) and 7 out of 18 cases (38.9%), respectively, and those of the relapsing cases were positive in 4 out of 7 cases (57.1%) and 6 out of 7 cases (85.7%), respectively. However, CEA and beta 2-MG levels were negative in most cases. Furthermore, increments of PAP and ferritin levels, especially that of the ferritin level, were significantly related to advancement of P.S., and high ferritin levels were obtained in all cases of P.S. 3 and 4. Therefore, determination of PAP and ferritin seems to be useful in monitoring prostatic cancer, and the latter to be useful in early detection of relapsing cases.

[Endogenous androgen levels of human prostatic tissues]

Endogenous androgen levels of prostatic tissues in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and untreated prostatic cancer (PC) were determined by radioimmunoassay using sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. By this assay procedure, it was possible to measure tissue androgen levels with only 30 approximately 40 mg weight of tissues. In BPH (n=20) the concentrations of steroids (mean +/- standard deviation, ng/g. tissue weight) were 5 alpha-androstane 3 alpha, 17 beta diol (A-diol), 2.31 +/- 1.29; dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 4.97 +/- 2.17; testosterone (T), 0.62 +/- 0.33. In PC (n=17) the concentrations were 5.51 +/- 3.23; 3.94 +/- 3.16; and 0.93 +/- 0.38; respectively. The concentrations of DHT were raised and the levels of A-diol were reduced significantly (P less than 0.01) in BPH compared with PC. Tissue DHT levels of PC were variable, but they could be classified in to two groups. One was below 2 ng levels (n=8) similar to those of non-androgen target tissues and the other was over 2 ng (n=19). The relationships between histological differentiation and tissue DHT levels in prostatic cancer were examined. In poorly differentiated cancer (n=4), DHT levels were low in all cases, furthermore even in well differentiated ones there were 4 cases with levels below 2 ng. Thus, the measurement of endogenous DHT levels of prostatic tissues was considered to be valuable for the judgment of androgen dependency in prostatic cancer.