Immunohistochemical demonstration of estrogen, progesterone, CEA and ferritin in breast cancer and their clinical value for the prediction of early postoperative recurrence

The aim of this paper is to determine whether the incidence of estrogen-, progesterone-, CEA-, and ferritin- positive staining of primary tumors, by using the PAP method, is related to the prognosis of breast cancer status. A significantly higher incidence (71 per cent) of CEA-positive tumors was observed in patients who had a recurrence of breast cancer within 2 years after radical operation. Patients, whose tumors were positive in estrogen or negative in CEA, showed a relatively good prognosis, even after a recurrence of the disease. Distant metastases were seen in most of the patients positive in CEA (78 per cent). Before the recurrence of breast cancer, those patients positive in progesterone had a good prognosis. After the recurrence, however, there was no relationship between the prognosis of recurrent disease and the progesterone-staining of primary tumors. Our data suggest that the immunohistological staining of estrogen, progesterone and CEA might offer the effective prognostic indices in breast cancer patients.     

A Monoclonal Antibody, KM10 Reactive with Human Gastrointestinal Cancer and Its Application for Immunotherapy

A monoclonal antibody, KM10 (IgG₁) was produced by fusing spleen cells from a human gastric cancer cell (MKN45)-primed BALB/c mouse with the murine myeloma cell line X63-Ag8-653. The antibody reacted strongly with the plasma membrane of human gastrointestinal carcinoma. Sections of the malignant and benign tissues were tested with immunoperoxidase. All of 10 (100%) large intestinal cancers, 26 of 31 (84%) gastric cancers, 5 of 7 (71%) pancreatic cancers and all of 3 (100%) ampullary cancers reacted positively. Moderate or weak reactivity was observed with normal human tissues, hepatoma and carcinomas of mammary, thyroid and adrenal glands. According to a study of the distribution of ¹²⁵I-labeled KM10 in nude mice bearing human gastric cancer, KM10 selectively localized in tumor tissue rather than normal tissue. Whole body autoradiography also supported such a selective distribution. Destruction of antigenic properties by pronase digestion demonstrated its protein nature and by Western blot analysis, it was identified as a protein with an Mr of 180–200 kd. KM10-adriamycin (ADM) conjugate was prepared via an oxidized dextran bridge and this immunoconjugate retained the binding activity against human gastric cancer. MKN45 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into athymic mice and intravenous treatment was begun when the tumor became measurable. A dose-dependent antitnmor activity was observed in vivo with KM10-ADM conjugate, while this conjugate was less toxic than free ADM.     

Temporal relationship between single unit activity in superior olivary complex and scalp-derived auditory brainstem response in guinea pig

Single unit activities in the region of the superior olivary complex were recorded from 8 guinea pigs concurrently with the recording of auditory brainstem potentials from the scalp. At any one anatomical site, be it a fiber tract (e.g. trapezoid body) or a nucleus (e.g. medial nucleus of the trapezoid body), the modal latency of the onset discharge of the units encountered corresponded in time with the latencies of several different waves (waves P2-P5) of the auditory brainstem response (ABR). Moreover, at the time of occurrence of just one of the ABR waves, single units in several diverse anatomical sites in and around the superior olive were found with modal latencies of onset discharge at that same time period. The slopes of the latency/intensity functions for both the peaks of the ABR and the modal latency of the onset discharge for most of the single units studied in the superior olive and its adjacent fiber tracts were remarkably similar. These data support the hypothesis of multiple rather than single generator site(s) for components of the ABR, at least, for waves P2-P5 in the guinea pig. These data do not distinguish whether the ABR are generated in part by travelling nerve action potentials or graded synaptic events.     

Susceptibility of the Danish housefly, Musca domestica Linné to pyrethroid

The insecticidal activity of a new pyrethroid, fenvalerate, and the effects of its synergists were evaluated using te 49-s and 381-s strains from Denmark which are both resistant to pyrethroid. It was found that the effect of fenvalerate was poor on the pyrethroid-resistant strains and little was expected from the addition of its synergists. Rapid development of resistance was observed in the 49-s strain during the selection with permethrin.     

Temporal bone pathology in Wegener's granulomatosis.

This study aimed to demonstrate the temporal bone histopathology of two cases of Wegener's granulomatosis in which the initial symptoms were profound hearing loss and facial nerve palsy respectively. The first case, a woman of 44, suffered profound hearing loss which was remarkably improved by steroid and cyclophosphamide treatment for a time, and which seemed to be caused by invasion from granulation tissue filled in the tympanic cavity. The second case was a 61-year-old woman presenting with the facial nerve palsy. The bony canal of the horizontal portion of the facial nerve was destroyed due to granulation tissue which filled in the tympanic cavity, and granulomatous involvement was observed in the facial nerve. Wegener's granulomatosis can involve the middle ear and/or inner ear, causing hearing loss of conductive, mixed or sensorineural type. Pathogenesis of facial nerve palsy seems to be related to Wegener's granulomatous involvement of facial nerve, because the facial nerve palsy also resolved by using steroid and cyclophosphamide.     

Decreased expression of glutathione S-transferases and increased fatty change in peroxisomal enzyme-negative foci induced by clofibrate in rat livers

Alteration in glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes wascompared with that of a peroxisomal enzyme, enoyl-CoA hydratase(ECH), during hepatocarcinogenesis caused by clofibrate (CF)administration in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The amount of     

Preliminary experience using an ultrasonic aspirator for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

An ultrasonic aspirator (Olympus) specially designed for laparoscopic surgery, which also includes cautery and suction-irrigation systems, was evaluated in 40 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The generating power of each system is controlled by hand or foot switches, and most operating procedures could easily be performed through a 10 mm trocar inserted through the abdominal wall. The ultrasonic aspirator successfully fragmented and aspirated soft tissue, allowing a precise differentiation between the cystic duct and artery, small vessels, lymphatics and fibrous tissue. Removal of the gallbladder could be performed successfully using the cautery and ultrasonic aspirator, whereby parts of cauterization or division could easily be identified. Identification of the cystic duct and artery, course of the cystic duct and Hartmann's pouch in the same field of vision was possible which is important for avoiding major complications such as injury of the common bile duct. No complications were seen during or after surgery in any of the patients.