Expression of the fgr protooncogene product as a function of myelomonocytic cell maturation

The fgr protooncogene is a member of the src family of protein tyrosine kinases. Recent studies have shown that normal myelomonocytic cells and tissue macrophages are the major sites of fgr mRNA expression. In the present study, we have identified the fgr protooncogene protein product in HL60 cells and have examined its expression as a function of HL60 cell maturation. Whether induced toward monocytic or granulocytic lineages, p55c-fgr accumulated in HL60 cells during maturation. In differentiated cells, the protein was active as a protein tyrosine kinase and was localized to peripheral cell membranes. Demonstration that a myristyl group was covalently bound to the protein probably accounted for its subcellular distribution. These findings establish developmental regulation of p55c-fgr in a lineage that represents its natural site of expression.

[Use of the pedicled omentum in chest surgery]

The pedicled omentum finds use in chest surgery for management of complicated problems and prevention of serious complications. Nine patients have been treated with the pedicled omentum. In four patients the goal was preventive, to avoid anastomotic leakage or infection, or to provide a source of neovascularity. In five patients the pedicled omentum was used to obtain healing in the presence of infection. Bronchial fistula, esophageal fistula with pyothorax or mediastinal infections treated successfully. This series demonstrates the efficacy of the pedicled omentum in management of chest problems.

A case of primary intrapulmonary neurilemoma and review of the literature

In this paper, we present an extremely rare case of a primary intrapulmonary neurogenic tumor, in which localization of S-100 protein, neuron specific gamma-enolase (NSE) and CEA was investigated using immunohistochemical staining. The patient, who was a 39-year-old man, experienced no symptoms; however, a routine chest X-ray revealed a round tumor-like shadow in the infrahilar area of the right lung. As the tumor appeared to be gradually increasing in size, surgery was performed and histopathological examination of the excised tumor revealed it to be a primary intrapulmonary neurilemoma. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the presence of S-100 protein in the tumor cells but NSE and CEA were not detected. For the 2 years following his operation, the patient has been in good health and is now under careful observation.

[A clinical study of pulmonary tissue uptake of cefuzonam and its use in prophylaxis of postoperative infections]

From our study on cefuzonam (CZON), a new antibiotic agent, with regard to pulmonary tissue uptake and use in prophylaxis of postoperative infections in 20 patients undergoing thoracotomy, we were able to reach the following conclusions: 1. Following intravenous infusion over 1 hour of 1 g of CZON immediate preoperatively, the mean serum concentration at 1 hour after commencement of the infusion reached at 41.5 micrograms/ml (serum peak value), then gradually decreased with a half-life in the beta-phase of 1.20 hours. 2. The mean CZON concentration in normal pulmonary tissue at 1 hour after commencement of the infusion was 12.7 micrograms/g with a half-life in the beta-phase of 1.28 hours. Although the number of cases examined was small at only 4, the mean pulmonary tissue level in obstructive pneumonitic lesions was 13.7 micrograms/g, and an average half-life in the beta-phase was 1.65 hours. 3. Mean bronchiolar CZON concentrations at 2, 4, and 6 hours after commencement of the infusion were 14.5, 3.1, and 2.8 micrograms/g, respectively, with a half-life in the beta-phase of 3.53 hours. 4. Among the patients undergone thoracotomy with use of CZON, no postoperative infections occurred nor severe adverse reaction was observed. CZON attained good transfer in the pulmonary tissues, particularly in the bronchiolar tissue, hence it appears useful as a prophylactic against postoperative infections in respiratory disease.

[A case of benign mesenchymoma of the chest wall recurred 8 years after the last operation]

Benign Mesenchymoma of the chest wall is very rare neoplasm. We report a case of the tumor. The patient is a 64 year-old male, whose tumor was removed on 1978. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as benign mesenchymoma. However, 8 years after the last operation, the tumor recurred in the right chest wall. The tumor was 4.5 X 4.0 cm in size and was removed smoothly n Nov. 1986. It was composed of fat tissue, blood vessels and smooth muscles. One year and two months later, the patient is alive without recurrence.

[A case of malignant pleural mesothelioma with infectious bronchogenic cyst]

A 47-year-old man was admitted with a cough on January 4, 1986. A chest X-ray film showed a mass shadow in the left lower lung, which was revealed to be a bronchogenic cyst by CT scanning and ultrasonography. Thoracotomy was performed on March 3, 1986 because cytologic tests on the fluid in the cyst suggested malignancy. A cyst, two tumors on the diaphragm and pleural thickening were revealed. Microscopic examination showed a benign bronchogenic cyst and a mixed-type malignant mesothelioma. In spite of chemotherapy (ADR, Cis-DPP, 5-fluorouracil) and immunotherapy (OK-432, PSK), the pleural thickening progressed, as was demonstrated by CT scanning and ultrasonography. Although cardiac tamponade due to invasion by the malignant mesothelioma developed, this was improved by cardiocentesis. The patient died of pneumonia on March 28, 1987. We studied the concentration of mineral fibers in lung and tumor tissues of this case by Energy Dispersive X-ray Analyser because asbestos or non-asbestos inorganic fibers might cause malignant mesothelioma. This case of malignant pleural mesothelioma accompanied by a bronchogenic cyst is very rare.

Germanium-induced nephropathy: report of two cases and review of the literature

We report two cases of renal failure following long-term ingestion of germanium dioxide (GeO2) and comment on eight other cases reported in Japan. Ge-induced nephropathy is characterized by insidious onset of renal failure without proteinuria or hematuria after oral intake of Ge-containing compounds for more than several months, and by degeneration of renal tubular cells with minor glomerular abnormality in histology. When patients ceased to ingest Ge compounds, renal function gradually recovered but never returned to the normal range. Serious extrarenal complication can contribute to an unfavorable prognosis.

Changes in c-myc, c-fms, and N-ras proto-oncogene expression associated with retinoic acid-induced monocytic differentiation of human leukemia HL60/MRI cells

The human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60 differentiates to granulocytic cells when treated with retinoic acid (RA). In contrast, HL60/MRI, a cell line established from a transplantable HL60 tumor in nude mice, differentiates to monocytoid cells in response to RA (M. Imaizumi, J. Uozumi, and T. R. Breitman, Cancer Res., 47: 1434-1440, 1987). Because alterations of proto-oncogene expression may be closely related to the difference in response of HL60/MRI to RA we studied the expression of the proto-oncogenes myc, fms, and N-ras of HL60/MRI in comparison to HL60. Compared to HL60, the proto-oncogene myc of HL60/MRI is amplified about twofold less in genomic DNA and is expressed about twofold less at the transcriptional level. Even though two subclones of HL60/MRI, 28B.4 and 5B, have about the same steady-state levels of c-myc mRNA before treatment with RA, 28B.4 has a more rapid decrease of c-myc mRNA after treatment with RA. Based on two differentiation markers, nitro blue tetrazolium reduction and the OKM-5 monocyte-specific surface antigen, 28B.4 exhibits a greater response to RA than does 5B. c-fms mRNA is not detected in uninduced HL60/MRI and HL60 but is expressed during RA-induced differentiation of HL60/MRI to monocytes/macrophages and HL60 to granulocytes. The expression of N-ras mRNA of 5B decreases about twofold during the first 12 h of exposure to RA and is then relatively constant for another 36 h.

[A clinical trial of astromicin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic, in thoracotomized patients and astromicin concentrations in the lung tissue]

There have been no report on concentrations in human lung tissue of aminoglycoside antibiotics which are frequently used in combination with cephem antibiotics in the treatment of severe respiratory infections. The authors examined lung tissue concentration of astromicin (ASTM) during clinical trials in thoracotomized patients using intravenous drip infusion just before operation. And the following conclusions have been obtained: 1. The average peak serum level obtained upon intravenous drip infusion of ASTM 200 mg for 1 hour just before operation was 11.2 micrograms/ml at 1 hour after starting the administration and half-life of ASTM in beta phase was 2.90 hours. 2. ASTM concentrations in the lung tissue upon 1 hour intravenous drip infusion just before operation at a dose level of 200 mg reached a maximum at 2 hours after the start of the administration averaging 7.7 micrograms/ml and were 27.7-68.8% of serum peak level. 3. Bronchiolar concentrations of ASTM 200 mg upon 1 hour intravenous drip infusion just before operation were 33.0-72.3% of peak serum level. These concentrations appear to be sufficient for the treatment of target infections. 4. The 1 hour intravenous drip infusion of ASTM 200 mg appeared to be clinically safety and useful as was the intramuscular injection of ASTM 200 mg.

One stage repair for an oesophageal fistula after pneumonectomy using an omental pedicle flap

A 67 year old man developed an oesophageal fistula after a pneumonectomy that was complicated by an empyema. An omental pedicle flap was brought through the diaphragm to repair the fistula and to fill the empyema space. The outcome was successful.

Iodine-131-labeled fibronectin: potential agent for imaging atherosclerotic lesion and thrombus

Fibronectin is known to interact with fibrin, collagen, etc. We have labeled fibronectin with 131I, and measured its accumulation in the deendothelialized lesion in the rabbit aorta to evaluate it as a candidate for imaging atherosclerotic lesions and thrombi. Accumulation of [131I] fibronectin in the deendothelialized lesion was apparent at 48 hr, and increased at 72 hr after injection of the agent. Our results indicate that radiolabeled fibronectin may be a useful tracer for imaging early atherosclerotic lesion and thrombus.

Characteristics of three human gastric cancer cell lines, NU-GC-2, NU-GC-3 and NU-GC-4

Three human gastric cancer cell lines, NU-GC-2, NU-GC-3 and NU-GC-4 were established in vitro from the cancer tissues obtained from 3 patients during surgery. The pathological findings of the gastric tumors of these cases revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (and partial signet-ring cell carcinoma in the case of NU-GC-4). NU-GC-2 and NU-GC-4 were originally obtained from metastatic paragastric lymph nodes and NU-GC-3 was obtained from a metastatic tumor in the brachial muscle. The cells of NU-GC-2 and NU-GC-3 are polygonal in shape and grow as a monolayer sheet. NU-GC-4 cells, however, are mainly spherical in shape with a few free floating cells. Electron microscopy revealed epithelial characteristics in all 3 cell lines. The average doubling time of NU-GC-2 was 36.1 hours, that of NU-GC-3 was 38.2 hours and that of NU-GC-4 was 29.9 hours. The modal chromosome number of NU-GC-2 was 62, that of NU-GC-3 was 58 and those of NU-GC-4 grown in in vitro and in vivo were 52-54 and 53, respectively. In vitro and in vivo lines of NU-GC-4 were established from the same tumor. These two cell lines are quite similar in morphology, but slightly different in karyotype. The in vitro sensitivity to anticancer agents was highest in NU-GC-4 and lowest in NU-GC-2. Of the anticancer agents, mitomycin C and adriamycin were most effective on the cells of all 3 cell lines.

Immunohistological analysis of thymic tumors with PE-35 monoclonal antibody reactive with medullary thymic epithelium

PE-35 mouse monoclonal antibody (MoAb) (IgG1) detecting an epithelial antigen with a molecular weight of 35,000 was characterized serologically. Immunoperoxidase staining and double immunoenzymatic staining showed that PE-35 antigen is predominantly on nonlymphoid cells in the medulla of thymus. By immunoelectron microscopy, thymic epithelial cells in the medulla were positive with PE-35 MoAb, but macrophages, interdigitating reticulum cells, and thymocytes were negative with this MoAb, which demonstrated that PE-35 is a valuable marker for medullary epithelium. Using PE-35 and other MoAbs detecting thymic epithelial antigens (TE-3A, RFD-4, TE-4, and HLA-DR), 25 thymomas were studied, together with 6 other tumors of thymic origin. Among 25 thymomas, all 6 cases of epithelial type and 8 of 14 mixed lymphoepithelial type were positive with PE-35 MoAb, but only one of 5 lymphocytic type was positive. PE-35 antigen has a tendency to be expressed in the cases retaining medullary type thymocytes, with the phenotype of cluster of differentiation (CD) 1-/CD3+/CD6+, and also in the area of medullary differentiation. TE-3A, RFD-4, and TE-4 MoAbs reacted with most thymoma cases regardless of the types. HLA-DR was, however, expressed on a part of thymomas and the phenotype combined with that of PE-35 was as follows: PE-35+/HLA-DR+, 8 cases; PE-35+/HLA-DR-, 8 cases; PE-35-/HLA-DR+, 8 cases; PE-35-/HLA-DR-, one case. The results suggested that thymoma may originate from different subsets and/or different stages of thymic epithelium.

Na/K pump activity in the new membrane formed at first cleavage in Cynops pyrrhogaster eggs

Resting membrane potentials (Em) increased in the negative direction during first cleavage in Cynops pyrrhogaster eggs whose new membranes formed at first cleavage were exposed to bathing solutions by removing the vitelline envelopes. Em was -11.4 and -87.2 mV at the one- and two-cell stages, respectively. Na/K pump activity contributed to Em at the two-cell stage by about -30 mV. The distribution of Na/K ATPase activity was cytochemically studied by Ernst's method (S. A. Ernst, 1972, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 20, 23-38). The new membrane of the eggs at the two-cell stage showed the pump activity. But the activity was detected neither in the preexisting outer membrane of the eggs at the two-cell stage nor in the membrane at the one-cell stage.

[Clinical study on transfer into lung tissue and postoperative prophylactic effect of new cephamycin antibiotics, particularly cefotetan and cefbuperazone]

The following findings were obtained in our clinical study on the transfer of cefotetan (CTT) and cefbuperazone (CBPZ), new antibiotics of cephamycin series, into the lung tissue and on their postoperative prophylactic effect. 1. The mean serum concentration 30 minutes after the start of an intravenous drip infusion of 1 g of CTT over a period of 30 minutes was 99.4 micrograms/ml, and it decreased gradually thereafter with the half-life of 2.45 hours. After an intravenous drip infusion of 1 g of CTT over a period of 1 hour, the mean peak concentration of 104.1 micrograms/ml appeared 1 hour after the start of the infusion, and mean concentrations at 2, 4 and 6 hours after the infusion were 63.4, 34.3 and 27.0 micrograms/ml, respectively, with the half-life of 2.35 hours during phase beta. 2. Following 30 minutes of an intravenous drip infusion of CTT, the tissue CTT level in normal lung tissues was Tmax 1.82 hours and Cmax 19.8 micrograms/g. After 1 hour of an intravenous drip infusion the mean concentration in the tissues was at the peak of 39.7 micrograms/g in 2 hours after the start of an administration, while mean levels at 3, 4 and 6 hours after an administration were 32.2, 22.2 and 8.76 micrograms/g, respectively, with Tmax of 1.82 hours and Cmax of 30.5 micrograms/g. 3. Following an intravenous drip infusion of 1 g of CBPZ over a period of 1 hour, the mean serum drug concentration 1 hour after the start of infusion was at its peak, 83.3 micrograms/ml, while mean values at 2, 4 and 6 hours after the start of an administration were, respectively, 40.4, 19.8 and 9.62 micrograms/ml, with the beta-phase half-life of 2.03 hours. 4. By 1 hour after the start of intravenous drip infusion of CBPZ, the mean tissue level in normal lung tissues was at the peak of 31.6 micrograms/g, while mean levels at 3, 4 and 8 hours after an administration were 16.2, 11.0 and 4.56 micrograms/g, respectively, with Tmax of 1.67 hours and Cmax of 21.9 micrograms/g. 5. Infused CBPZ was transferred into bronchiole tissues. Drug concentrations in these tissues at 3 and 5 hours after the start of the infusion were 7.87 and 4.85 micrograms/g, respectively, with their ratios to the peak serum level were 9.4 and 5.8%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Immunohistochemical characteristics of proliferative and metaplastic lesions in bronchial mucosa

To elucidate the characteristics of metaplastic changes of bronchial mucosa, the distribution of four epithelial antigens and two subtypes of enolases was studied immunohistochemically. The authors classified the metaplastic changes into three types: basal cell hyperplasia, stratification, and squamous metaplasia. Secretory component (SC) was detected in all lesions with stratification and in three of ten lesions of squamous metaplasia. Epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) was localized not only on the luminal surfaces but also among the stratified layers of metaplastic epithelium. No carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was detectable in normal epithelium, whereas almost all metaplastic lesions had both nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) and CEA immunoreactivity. In normal mucosa, basal cells were strongly positive for alpha-enolase but negative for gamma-enolase, and columnar cells expressed both enolases. In areas of metaplasia, alpha-enolase was present throughout the layer, but gamma-enolase was absent. These immunohistochemical findings suggest that metaplastic squamous epithelial cells have glandular differentiation and that several biochemical and metabolic aberrations occur during the process of metaplasia.

[Clinical study of cefmenoxime in thoracic surgery. Transfer of cefmenoxime to lung tissue and pleural fluid and prophylaxis of postoperative infections]

Twenty-six patients who underwent pulmonary resection for the lung disease were administered 1 g of cefmenoxime (CMX) by intravenous drip infusion just before the operation. The CMX levels in the serum, lung tissue and pleural fluid were measured using the agar-well technique. The effect of the drug on the prophylaxis of postoperative infections was investigated. The obtained results are summarized as follows; 1. The peak concentration of CMX in the serum was 58.23 micrograms/ml 1 hour after starting the drip infusion of 1 g of CMX. The serum half-life of CMX (beta-phase) was 2.15 hours. 2. The ratio of the CMX concentration in lung tissue to the peak serum level was 14.9% 202 minutes after starting the drip infusion. In the pulmonary lesion, the ratio was 9.72% at the 201 minutes. In the bronchiole, the ratio was 20.7% 191 minutes after starting the drip infusion. 3. The concentration of CMX in the pleural fluid was 2.53 micrograms/ml 12 hours after starting the drip infusion. 4. CMX is useful as a prophylaxis of postoperative infections after thoracotomy, because no postoperative infectious complications were observed.

Evaluation of gamma-enolase as a tumor marker for lung cancer

The alpha-enolase and gamma-enolase in tumor tissues and sera of patients with lung cancer were determined with an enzyme immunoassay system. Tissue gamma-enolase in small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL, n = 11), large cell carcinoma (n = 11), and non-SCCL (except for large cell carcinoma) (n = 34) were enhanced approximately 35-fold, ninefold, and fourfold, respectively; tissue gamma/alpha + gamma value of SCCL was significantly higher than that of normal lung tissue (P less than 0.01). Serum gamma-enolase level was elevated (greater than 6.0 ng/ml) in 14/18, 3/10, and 15/60 patients with SCCL, large cell carcinoma, and non-SCCL (except for large cell carcinoma), respectively, and serum gamma/alpha + gamma value of SCCL was significantly higher than that of healthy subjects (P less than 0.01). Immunohistochemically, the gamma-enolase was positive in 29/31 of the lung cancers. Serum gamma-enolase value is a useful tumor marker for staging and monitoring treatment of patients with lung cancer, and serum gamma/alpha + gamma value may be useful for differential diagnosis of SCCL from non-SCCL or in differentiating lung cancers possessing neuroendocrine features from other lung cancers.

A calorimetric study on calcium binding by troponin C from bullfrog skeletal muscle

Microcalorimetric titrations of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) skeletal troponin C with Ca2+ were carried out in the absence of Mg2+ at 25 degrees C and at pH 7.0. The observed enthalpy titration curve was divided into three stages. The first stage of the titration (up to 2 mol of Ca2+/mol of protein) was characterized as an extremely exothermic process (delta H = -52 kJ/mol of site), the second one (titration from 2 to 3 mol of Ca2+/mol of protein) as a weakly endothermic process (delta H = +26 kJ/mol of site), and the final one (over 3 mol of Ca2+/mol of protein) as a moderately exothermic process (delta H = -35 kJ/mol of site). The endothermic process of Ca2+ binding to the third site (the second stage) has the same property as that of the Ca2+ binding to every site of calmodulin but is distinctly different from those of the calmodulin-trifluoperazine complex and parvalbumins. This may suggest that an endothermic nature of Ca2+ binding, the reaction being driven solely by entropy change, is characteristic of the regulatory reactions of Ca2+ binding proteins accompanying the interaction with other proteins. The third Ca2+ binding site of bullfrog troponin C is, therefore, possibly involved in the regulation of muscle contraction.

Determination of creatine kinase isozymes in sera and tissues of patients with various lung carcinomas

Three creatine kinase isozymes (CK-BB, CK-MB and CK-MM) were estimated by immunoassay in tumor tissues and in sera of patients with various lung carcinomas. CK-BB was increased in small cell carcinoma, but not in other lung carcinomas. CK-MM and CK-MB were not increased in any types of carcinoma. Serum CK-BB was increased in all types of lung carcinoma examined, while serum CK-MM and CK-MB were within normal limits in all patients. Serum CK-BB of healthy adults was estimated as 0.32 +/- 0.14 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml, ranging from 0.11-0.68 ng/ml. If CK-BB values above 1.0 ng/ml were considered abnormal, elevation occurred in 28/40 (70%) of patients with small cell carcinoma, 25/67 (37%) with adenocarcinoma, 21/51 (41%) with squamous cell carcinoma, 4/11 (36%) with other carcinoma of the lung and 10/42 (24%) with lung tuberculosis. Since serum CK-BB with lung cancer changed in parallel with the clinical course, this isozyme may be a marker for monitoring the clinical course, especially in small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Effects of acute pressure overload on prostacyclin release and myocardial blood flow in canine hearts: inhibition of prostacyclin synthesis with 15-hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of acute pressure overload on prostacyclin (PGI2) release and the influences of 15-hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE), an inhibitor of PGI2 synthetase, and indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase, in canine hearts. Gradual stenosis of the ascending aorta was performed in 24 anesthetized open-chest dogs. The mongrel dogs were divided into three groups, which received indomethacin, 15-HPETE, and no drug. Changes in the hemodynamics, regional myocardial blood flow (MBF) by the method of H2 gas clearance, and plasma immunoreactive 6-keto-prostaglandin (PG) F1 alpha level in the descending aorta (AO) and great cardiac vein (GCV) were measured. Five minutes after aortic stenosis, the plasma immunoreactive 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level in the GCV and MBF increased from 162 +/- 23 to 289 +/- 37 pg/ml and from 87 +/- 5 to 107 +/- 8 ml/min/100 g, respectively, and the calculated coronary vascular resistance (CVR) decreased significantly from 0.93 +/- 0.08 to 0.77 +/- 0.08 mmHg/ml/min/100 g. These significant changes persisted thereafter. Continuous infusion of 15-HPETE (66 pg/kg/min) into the coronary artery simultaneously prevented significant changes in MBF and the plasma immunoreactive 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level in the GCV and CVR. Intravenous infusion of indomethacin (5 mg/kg), on the other hand, induced a significant decrease in the plasma immunoreactive 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level in both the GCV and AO; significant changes in MBF 5 to 15 min after aortic stenosis and CVR were not affected. From these results, it is suggested that PGI2 plays an important role in the regulation of coronary blood flow in canine hearts with acute pressure overload.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Retinoic acid-induced monocytic differentiation of HL60/MRI, a cell line derived from a transplantable HL60 tumor

The human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60 differentiates to either granulocytes or monocytes/macrophages when induced with various chemicals and lymphokines. Retinoic acid (RA) induces HL60 to differentiate to granulocyte-like cells. However, HL60/MRI cells, derived from a transplantable HL60 tumor established in athymic nude mice, differentiate to monocytoid cells when cultured with RA in vitro. HL60/MRI induced with RA are monocytes based on morphology and the expression of markers and functions specific for monocytes such as: the OKM5 monocyte-specific antigen, nonspecific esterase activity, and adhesiveness. HL60/MRI is much more sensitive to RA than is HL60. Thus, the RA concentrations that induce 50% differentiation are 0.41 nM for HL60/MRI and 37 nM for HL60, and maximum differentiation occurs at 2 days for HL60/MRI and at 4 days for HL60. While RA induces HL60/MRI to monocytoid cells, other inducers of granulocytic differentiation of HL60, such as dimethyl sulfoxide and hexamethylene bisacetamide, induce HL60/MRI to granulocytes. Furthermore, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induces both HL60 and HL60/MRI to macrophage-like cells. The isozyme phenotypes of HL60/MRI and HL60 are identical. Cytogenetic analysis of HL60/MRI indicates that many of its normal chromosomes are triploid and that it has five abnormal chromosome markers, M1-M5, three of which, M1-M3, are seen also in HL60. This unique cell line, HL60/MRI, may be useful for studying the event(s) triggering differentiation of myelomonocytic cells and the mechanism of action of RA.

[A model for the sensitivity determination of anticancer agents against human cancer using nude mice]

Human tumors transplanted into nude BALB/c-nu mice have been used to test the sensitivity of the tumors to various anticancer agents. Three cancer cell lines from the stomach and one from the colon were transplanted into nude mice to establish a standard assay method for selection of effective drugs on individual tumors using the criteria of the Japanese Association of Sensitivity Determination for Carcinostatic Agents. From the LD values of anticancer drugs in nude mice, the appropriate doses of drugs were 6 mg/kg of MMC X 1(i.p.), 50 mg/kg of 5-FU q4d X 3 (i.p.), 120 mg/kg of CPA (i.p.), 30 mg/kg of ACNU (i.p.) 8 mg/kg of CDDP (i.p.) and 8 mg/kg of ADM (i.v.). At 3 weeks after initial treatment, the inhibition rate (IR) of the tumor was calculated from the formula IR = (1-T/C) X 100%, where T is the mean tumor weight of the treated group and C is the mean weight of the untreated group at that time. The tumors respond well to the anticancer agents when IR is more than 58%.

A calorimetric study of Ca2+ binding by the parvalbumin of the toad (Bufo): distinguishable binding sites in the molecule

Microcalorimetric titrations of the major isotype of parvalbumin (tPA) from toad (Bufo) skeletal muscle, with Ca2+ in the presence and absence of Mg2+ and with Mg2+ in the absence of Ca2+, have been carried out at 25 degrees C and pH 7.0. The results indicate that the two binding sites in each molecule are distinguishable from each other for both Ca2+ binding and Mg2+ binding. Such a characteristic is distinctly different from those of other parvalbumins. The enthalpy changes determined are distinctly different from those of bullfrog parvalbumins on Ca2+ or Mg2+ binding, but are similar to those on Mg2+-Ca2+ exchange. The results indicate that the reaction of Mg2+-Ca2+ exchange is driven almost entirely by the large favorable enthalpy change.

[Clinical studies on te concentration of cefaclor in sera and lung tissues of patients with respiratory diseases]

A 500 mg dose of cefaclor (CCL) was administered orally before surgery to each of patients with respiratory diseases and in fasting. Average concentrations of CCL in sera were 4.04 micrograms/ml at 1.5 hours, 3.03 micrograms/ml at 2 hours, 1.68 microgram/ml at 3 hours and 0.45 microgram/ml at 5 hours after administration. Average concentrations in lung tissues during operation were 0.120 microgram/g at 3 hours, 0.272 microgram/g at 4 hours and 0.297 microgram/g at 5 hours after administration. Ratios of concentrations of CCL in lung tissues to that in sera were from 7.1 to 66.0 percent. The CCL was considered to be a useful antibiotic for the treatment of patients with respiratory diseases.

A combination of a T cell-derived lymphokine differentiation-inducing activity and a physiologic concentration of retinoic acid induces HL-60 to differentiate to cells with functional chemotactic peptide receptors

The human acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 is induced by retinoic acid (RA) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to differentiate into cells having many of the functional and morphologic characteristics of mature granulocytes. With normal human phagocytic cells there is both superoxide anion (O2-) production and chemotaxis in response to chemoattractants such as N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). We have now found that although HL-60 cells induced with RA alone produce O2- in response to 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) they are deficient in FMLP-stimulated O2- production and chemotaxis. In contrast, HL-60 induced either with DMF or with a combination of 10 nmol/L RA and a T cell-derived lymphokine, differentiation-inducing activity (DIA), produce O2- and exhibit chemotaxis in response to FMLP. The basis for these results appears to be the concentration of cell surface chemotactic peptide receptors. Thus, untreated HL-60 and HL-60 induced with either RA alone or DIA alone do not have measurable levels of FMLP receptors, whereas HL-60 induced with a combination of RA and DIA has 5,400 receptors per cell. HL-60 induced with RA and DIA plus 1 mumol/L dexamethasone have 25,000 receptors per cell and have greater chemotactic activity than HL-60 induced with the combination of RA and DIA. Thus, differentiation of HL-60 to cells with many properties of normal phagocytes can be induced in vitro by physiologic substances.

[Prospective adjuvant chemotherapy, with mitomycin C plus long-term carmofur in colorectal cancer]

A prospective randomized controlled trial of adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer was performed in 41 institutions in the Tokai district. In the study, postoperative administration of Mitomycin C (MMC) followed by carmofur (HCFU) for more than three months (arm B) was compared to MMC alone (arm A). Of 173 patients subjected to curative resection (arm A = 80, arm B = 93) for colorectal cancer, 148 including 69 from arm A and 79 from arm B were evaluable. Before clinical evaluation of the effectiveness the background factors were analyzed by the chi square test and U-statics. There were no differences between them. At four years after surgery Kaplan-Meire's life table showed that the disease free survival of arm B was superior to that of arm A, but this difference was not statistically significant (generalized Wilcoxon test: P less than 0.10). However, the survival in arm B was significantly prolonged as compared with that in arm A (P less than 0.05). Side effects such as leukopenia and gastrointestinal distress caused by administration of MMC and pollakisuria and gastrointestinal distress caused by administration of HCFU were observed in approximately 35% of the patients. They were all slight or moderate and reversible.

[The concentration of ceftizoxime in serum and lung tissues and prophylaxis of postoperative infections]

There are few clinical reports about the concentration of ceftizoxime (CZX) in lung tissues. At present, clinically, we report the concentration of the drug in serum and lung tissues on 26 cases of chest disease and an effect of the drug on prophylaxis of postoperative pulmonary infections. Our results are the following; The peak concentration of CZX in serum is 54.7 micrograms/ml at 1 hour after starting drip infusion of CZX 1 g. The serum half-life of CZX (beta phase) is 2.07 hours. The concentration of CZX in lung tissues is from 43.6 to 78.7% of serum level. CZX is useful to prophylaxis of postoperative infections after thoracotomy, especially in case of administration of CZX 1 g just before operation. Eruption was found in 1 of 26 cases. However, no side effects of the drug are noticed in other 25 cases.

Basal cell carcinoma with lung metastasis

A forty-seven year-old man had a small ulceration on his left cheek. The ulcer had a repeated crust formation following removal, for ten years. The patient found a hard tumor in the deep site of the ulcer and the tumor was resected. The pathological diagnosis was basal cell carcinoma. The metastases to the regional lymph nodes developed one year later and these lymph nodes were resected. The histological picture was the same as seen in the primary tumor. Lung metastasis occurred three years later. The tumor was resected and the pathological diagnosis was basal cell carcinoma. Multiple lung metastases developed one year later and massive hemoptysis led to a sudden death two years after the thoracotomy. Thirty-seven cases of basal cell carcinoma with lung metastases were reported in the literature. This case is the thirty-eighth case and the third occurrence in a Japanese.

Successful transplantation of soy bean agglutinin-fractionated, histoincompatible, maternal marrow in a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency and BCG infection

A successful transplantation of soybean agglutinin (SBA) and sheep red blood cell (SRBC)-fractionated, maternal marrow in a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is reported. The engraftment of HLA-haplotype mismatched marrow cells was obtained without apparent graft versus host disease (GVHD). With immunological reconstitution the patient recovered from a BCG infection, which might have been caused by a BCG inoculation before his bone marrow transplantation.