The effect of methamphetamine on histamine release in the rat hypothalamus

Abstract In the present study, the effect of methamphetamine (MAP) on histamine (HA) release measured by in vivo brain microdialysis in the rat hypothalamus was investigated. Administration of MAP (3 mg/kg) significantly increase HA release from 40 to 160 min after the injection. This finding suggests that a moderate dose of MAP activates the hypothalamic HA neuron system, which may be related to effects of MAP on intrinsic biological rhythms.     

Kinetics of serum cytokines in adults undergoing peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation

Summary. We investigated the serum cytokine levels (G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-l/?, IL-3 and IL-6) using an ELISA in 14 patients with haematological malignancies undergoing peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (PBPCT). Serum G-CSF levels in all patients rose immediately after PBPCT, then gradually decreased as the neutrophil counts began to rise. No detectable serum levels of GM-CSF or IL-lp were observed, but serum levels of IL-3 rose transiently immediately following PBPCT. Serum levels of JL-6 rose transiently during a fever in four patients. These observations suggest that G-CSF and L 3 may contribute to the early haemopoietic reconstitution in PBPCT.     

Psychiatric manifestations accompanying interferon therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C: An overview of cases in Japan

Abstract  Thirty case reports published in Japan that refer to psychiatric symptoms accompanying interferon (IFN) therapy were examined. These papers covered a total of 49 cases. We categorized these 49 cases into 35 cases of mood disorder, 10 of delirium and four of psychotic disorder. The key findings of our study of these cases are as follows: (i) in total, 11 patients had psychiatric past histories: five patients in the mood disorders group were susceptible to the influence of social or psychological factors; (ii) whereas the symptoms of mood disorder or delirium appeared soon after IFN was administered, the symptoms of psychotic disorders appeared later. The patients with delirium displayed many neurological abnormalities, which were reduced by suspending IFN therapy. This suggests the neurological toxicity of IFN; (iii) the outcome of most patients was good; and (iv) we suspect that IFN-induced psychiatric symptoms other than delirium are connected with psychoneuroimmunological functions.     

Effects of stress on growth of transplanted hepatic tumours and immune responses

Growth of transplanted hepatic tumours (T-9) was enhanced in immune rats under stress, compared with immune rats in an unstressed condition. Compared with unstressed immune rats, killer activity of mononuclear cells infiltrating the tumours against T-9 cells was significantly reduced in stressed immune rats. In contrast, killer activity of splenocytes obtained from stressed immune rats against T-9 cells was elevated compared with that from unstressed immune rats. In addition, natural killer cell activity of mononuclear cells infiltrating the tumours obtained from stressed immune rats was significantly reduced compared with that from unstressed immune rats. Cell populations infiltrating tumour tissues were identified by flow cytometric analysis. The percentage of CD8+ cells in mononuclear cells isolated from tumour tissues of stressed immune rats was reduced compared with that of unstressed immune rats. Furthermore, interleukin-2 responsiveness of splenocytes was suppressed in stressed immune rats, whereas T cell function as reflected by phytohaemagglutinin- or Concanavalin A-reactivity was unaffected by stress. Collectively, it is likely that stress suppressed the generation of cytotoxic cells from the spleen cells of immune rats.     

Oil-Depot Type Bleomycin in the Treatment of Malignant Lymphoma in Comparison with Regular Bleomycin

Oil-depot type bleomycin was originally intended to take advantageof not only concentration-dependent action, but also the time-dependentaction of bleomycin to obtain more efficient tumor cell kill.In this study, the effects of oil-depot type bleomycin and regularbleomycin on 81 patients with malignant lymphoma were compared.Both oil-depot type bleomycin and regular bleomycin were equallyeffective against Hodgkin's disease, with a complete remissionrate of 60% (6/10) and 54.5% (6/11), respectively. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in advanced stages responded better tooil-depot type bleomycin [complete remission (CR); 35.2% (6/17)]than to regular bleomycin [CR: 10.5% (2/19)]. In addition, thepatients were more responsive to smaller doses of oil-depottype bleomycin than regular bleomycin. Eleven out of 12 (91.6%)patients who responded to oil-depot type bleomycin, went intocomplete remission before receiving 45 mg in total dosage ofbleomycin, while five out of 10 (50%) patients who respondedto regular bleomycin reached complete remission after 60 mgin total dosage was administered. The toxic manifestations of oil-depot type bleomycin were almostthe same in quality and quantity as regular bleomycin. However,the average total dose of oil-depot type bleomycin used wasalmost half of that of regular bleomycin. ^* Present address: Cancer Chemotherapy Center, Cancer ResearchInstitute, Tokyo, Japan. ^** Present address: National Nagoya Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.     

Prognostic Factors and Therapeutic Results in Multiple Myeloma

Prognostic factors in 68 consecutive patients with myeloma treatedat the National Cancer Center Hospital from 1962 to 1984 wereanalyzed. Median survival time from onset was 100 months forstage I, 72 months for stage II, and 26 months for stage IIIof the Durie and Salmon's clinical staging system. It was 55months in patients with normal renal function and 18 monthsin those with abnormal renal function. All early deaths occurredin patients with stage III disease. Hemoglobin level, bone lyticlegions and presence of Bence Jones protein were also significantprognostic factors. On the other hand, heavy chain as well aslight chain subtypes of monoclonal immunoglobulin (M-component)and M-component production rate did not influence the survivalof myeloma patients. The analysis of chemotherapeutic responsesand survival curves according to the chemotherapy used in thisstudy (alkylating agent vs Vinca-alkaloid plus alkylating agent)did not disclose any significant difference between the twogroups. The overall response rate was 67%. The survival timefrom the initial chemotherapy of responding patients was significantlylonger than that of nonresponders.     

EFFECTS OF AZELASTIN ON PRURITUS AND PLASMA HISTAMINE LEVELS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Background. Persistent pruritus is the most common symptom in hemodialysis patients. Its causes are poorly understood and there is no effective treatment. We have studied the effect of azelastin HCL on the plasma histamine concentrations and pruritus in maintenance dialysis patients with or without erythropoietin therapy. Patients. Twenty-eight hemodialysis patients were divided into four groups according to the presence or absence of pruritus and whether or not they received erythropoietin therapy. Results. Histamine concentrations in the patient groups were significantly higher than in healthy volunteers, but a significant difference could not be found among the four groups. The patients with pruritus showed no change in their histamine concentration during treatment with azelastin HCL, but their pruritus scores decreased remarkably. Conclusions. The present data do not support the thesis that the increased plasma histamine concentration is causally related to pruritus in hemodialysis patients or that the antiallergic drug, azelastin HCL, alleviates the pruritus of dialysis patients by decreasing plasma histamine levels. The possible role of the increased tissue levels of histamine remains to be studied.     

Primary carcinoid tumor arising in a retroperitoneal mature teratoma in an adult

An extremely rare case of a primary carcinoid tumor arising in a mature retroperitoneal teratoma is reported. A 53-year-old woman was admitted for further examination of an incidental retroperitoneal mass with calcification. Computed tomography scans demonstrated a tumor with fat, soft tissue and bone densities on the left renal hilum. Surgical excision of the tumor was performed with a preoperative diagnosis of retroperitoneal teratoma. The pathological diagnosis was mature teratoma, including all three germ layers. A carcinoid tumor was evident among teratoid tissues and it was thought to be a teratoma with malignant transformation. The patient did not have a carcinoid syndrome and had an uneventful recovery. She has been followed for 31 months with no recurrence. Carcinoid tumors rarely occur in teratomas of the ovary and the testis and, to our knowledge, this is the first case of carcinoid arising in a retroperitoneal mature teratoma.     

Mass screening for hepatocellular carcinoma: Experience in Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract Mass screening for liver cancer based mainly on abdominal ultrasound was begun in major cities of Hokkaido, Japan, in November 1981, to enable early detection and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were also measured to minimize false negative studies. Examinees included those who sought liver disease screening as well as high risk individuals: hepatitis B surface antigen carriers and those with a past or current liver disease, history of blood transfusion, family history of liver cancer, and more recently those with positive anti-hepatitis C antibodies. The examination was carried out on each Saturday and Sunday as one round, and by February 1992 48 rounds had been performed. A total of 8090 individuals were investigated, and HCC was detected in 91 with a detection rate of 1.12%. This rate was 1.6% among 5684 individuals who were selected for high risk. Cumulative rates of survival among these patients were 79.0% at 1 year, 43.8% at 3 years, 19.3% at 5 years and 15.4% at 7 years. These survival rates were comparable with those for the patients with HCC diagnosed during follow-up of chronic liver disease and treated at our hospital. The cost for detecting one HCC patient in this programme was ¥ 2 660 000 (∼US$25 000), which was less than those for some other types of cancer in a similar setting. Considering the high detection rate in this programme, we feel that similar programmes should be encouraged and supported.