Iris vessel involvement in iris-nevus syndrome

PURPOSE: To report a case of iris-nevus syndrome accompanied by disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier in the iris which was confirmed angiographically and histopathologically. CASE: The patient was a 39-year-old woman. She noticed blurred vision in the left eye which was diagnosed as left glaucoma. Specular microscopy revealed low endothelial cell density in the left cornea. The left iris showed atrophy with clusters of nodular iris nevus and distorted pupil. The left iridocorneal angle was closed with peripheral anterior synechia. FINDINGS: Indocyanine green iris angiography revealed more vessels on the surface of the left iris than on the right. In fluorescein iris angiography, the dye leaked from the iris vessels in areas where the iris showed advanced atrophy. The trabecular tissue obtained by trabeculectomy from the patient's left eye showed histopathologically a lining of corneal endothelial cells on the surface of the iris. The density of the vessels was high in the iris stroma. Some cells covering the vessel wall showed degeneration with opening of the zonula occludens. Schlemm's canal had narrowed lumina, and the intertrabecular spaces were closed. CONCLUSION: Disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier may occur in iris-nevus syndrome.     

The ultrastructure of parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy in eyes with secondary angle closure glaucoma

Background: The present study was performed to investigate the ultrastructure of deep retinal layers and choroid corresponding to the parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy in eyes with secondary angle-closure glaucoma. Methods: The glaucomatous eyes included two eyes enucleated due to iris ring melanoma with high intraocular pressure and one eye with neovascular glaucoma enucleated due to ocular pain. The control eyes included one eye enucleated due to choroidal malignant melanoma with normal intraocular pressure and one eye enucleated during surgery for supramandibular carcinoma. These eyes were studied with light and electron microscopy. Results: In the region of parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy of glaucomatous eyes, the retinal pigment epithelial cells showed degenerative changes, such as loss of basal in foldings and microvilli, degenerated mitochondria, vacuolar degeneration and irregular distribution of melanin granules. The photoreceptors were decreased in number in this area of glaucomatous eyes. The lumen of the choriocapillary vessels adjacent to the optic nerve was collapsed. Conclusion: These results elucidate the fine structures of deep retina and choroid in the region of parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy of glaucomatous eyes, and suggest that the reduced choroidal perfusion might be the pathogenetic mechanism of glaucomatous parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy.     

Antitumor effect of trimelamol against human breast carcinoma xenografts in nude mice

The antitumor effect of N-2, N-4, N-6-trihydroxymethyl-N-2, N-4, N-6-trimethylmelamine (trimelamol), a synthetic analogue of hexamethylmelamine, was investigated using human breast carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. Four tumor models, T-61, Br-10, R-27 and MCF-7 were estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and their growth was estradiol-dependent. The MX-1 model was ER-negative and grew estradiol-independently. Sixty mg of trimelamol per kg dissolved in 5% dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) with 5% glucose was administered intraperitoneally for 5 days weekly for three weeks. Trimelamol showed potent antitumor activity on T-61 and MX-1 in a dose-responsive manner with a marginal effect on Br-10, whilst R-27 and MCF-7 were insensitive to this agent. This antitumor spectrum on human breast carcinoma xenografts was similar to that of hexamethylmelamine previously reported using the same xenograft models. Trimelamol is water-soluble and does not require metabolic activation which is needed for hexamethylmelamine. These advantages allow the paraenteral administration of trimelamol, and warrant the further investigation of this drug for breast carcinomas.     

Effects of S-phase-specific agents on granulocyte-macrophage and erythroid progenitor cells obtained from normal individuals and from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia

The effects of three S-phase-specific agents, [3H]thymidine, hydroxyurea, and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, on granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-C) and erythroid progenitor cells (erythroid burst-forming units) (BFU-E) from the bone marrow or peripheral blood obtained from 23 normal individuals and 12 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia were investigated. CFU-C, regardless of their source, showed comparable degrees of sensitivity to each of the S-phase-specific agents, with perhaps a slightly greater level of sensitivity to [3H]thymidine. In contrast, the sensitivities of chronic myelogenous leukemia and normal marrow BFU-E to the 3 agents were quite different, with essentially all BFU-E being killed by [3H]thymidine, 50 to 70% being killed by 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, and only 15 to 20% being killed by hydroxyurea. BFU-E present in normal peripheral blood were insensitive to [3H]thymidine or hydroxyurea but were sensitive to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine. These studies demonstrated similarities between the CFU-C and BFU-E of CML patients and the CFU-C and BFU-E present in normal bone marrow. On the other hand, the sensitivities of normal peripheral blood progenitor cells to "S-phase-specific" agents differed from that of CML progenitor cells or the progenitor cells present in normal bone marrow. Additionally, these studies have demonstrated the limitations inherent in suicide techniques as methods for estimating the cell cycle characteristics of clonogenic cells.     

Characterization of "H-2K,D-like structures" on MM2 x mouse L cell hybrids. II. An "H-2Kd-like" structure on C3H-derived tumor

Anti-MM2 serum, which had been prepared by immunizing C3H/He mice with syngeneic MM2 mouse mammary ascites tumor, immunoprecipitated "H-2K,D-like" molecules on DBA/2 and C3H.H-2 degrees lymph node cells as well as on somatic cell hybrids between MM2 tumor and mouse L cells. Preclearing of lysates from C3H.H-2 degrees lymph node cells with anti-H-2.31 serum removed all "H-2K,D-like" molecules reactive with anti-MM2 serum, indicating that the molecules detected by anti-MM2 serum are H-2Kd antigens. The anti-H-2.31 serum detected an "H-2K,D-like structure" on the hybrid cells and absorption of the anti-H-2.31 serum with the hybrid cells deprived the serum of anti-H-2Kd reactivity. The hybrid cells could induce antibodies against the H-2Kd antigen in C3H/He mice. These results indicate that on the hybrid cells, whose parental cells were both derived from C3H mice, there is an "H-2K,D-like structure" that has the H-2Kd private specificity. Absorption of anti-MM2 serum with EL4 cells did not affect the capacity of the serum to detect the H-2Kd antigen on C3H.H-2 degrees lymph node cells, indicating that the "H-2Kd-like structure" is distinct from "H-2K,D-like structure A" which was previously reported. Nine isozymes were examined and MM2 cells, mouse L cells, and the hybrids were found to have the same isozyme markers as those of the C3H/He mouse.     

Effect of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) on chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in patients with urogenital cancer

Summary The effects of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) on the myelosuppression, especially neutropenia, induced by cancer chemotherapy in patients with urogenital cancer were investigated in a randomized, controlled clinical study. In this study, rG-CSF was given subcutaneously at a dose of 2 g/kg per day for 14 consecutive days. Changes in neutrophil counts were compared between the first (no rG-CSF) and second cycles (rG-CSF treatment period) of chemotherapy. rG-CSF administration was found to be effective in reducing the duration of neutropenia, in elevating the neutrophil nadir, and in reducing recovery time. Based on comparisons between the randomized rG-CSF treatment group (with rG-CSF) and the control group, treatment with rG-CSF resulted in the moderation or prevention of neutropenia and the acceleration of recovery. These results demonstrate that in chemotherapy of patients with urogenital cancer, in which neutropenia is a dose- or schedule-limiting factor, the concomitant use of rG-CSF may enable an increase in the dose (higher single dose or increased dose per unit of time) or shorten the chemotherapy period.     

Evaluation of myringotomy in the treatment of acute otitis media with effusion in infants and children]

In January 1990, the clinical features of acute otitis media (AOM) were retrospectively evaluated in 94 infants and children. These cases with AOM were treated with myringotomy under an operative microscope at their initial visit to our hospital during the five-month period from January to May of 1989. These results were as follows; 1) AOM in infants and children should be called "acute otitis media with effusion", because AOM can occur at the same phase as otitis media with effusion (OME) and OME can occur after AOM, both otitis media have the continuum of the pathological condition in the middle ear. 2) For the treatment of recurrent "acute otitis media with effusion", myringotomy as well as reasonable chemotherapy should be performed even with the recent advent of the newer antibiotics. 3) We suggest that the number of chronic otitis media will be reduced at some future time, if all of "acute otitis media with effusion" can be appropriately treated.     

An extensive transbasal approach to frontal skull-base tumors. Technical note

Lesions in the base of the frontal fossa have conventionally been approached extra- and intradurally through a bilateral frontal craniotomy. However, when the lesion is large or deeply situated, wider bilateral retraction of the frontal lobes is required to obtain a sufficiently large operative field. The authors describe a new operative approach for huge tumors at the frontal skull base, employing an en bloc bilateral osteotomy of the orbital roofs and frontal sinus. This procedure, which is a modification of the transbasal approach described by Derome and Guiot, is termed the "extensive transbasal approach." The advantages of this technique over conventional operative approaches are described.     

Effect of electrolyzed water on wound healing

Electrolyzed water accelerated the healing of full-thickness cutaneous wounds in rats, but only anode chamber water (acid pH or neutralized) was effective. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), also produced by electrolysis, was ineffective, suggesting that these types of electrolyzed water enhance wound healing by a mechanism unrelated to the well-known antibacterial action of HOCl. One possibility is that reactive oxygen species, shown to be electron spin resonance spectra present in anode chamber water, might trigger early wound healing through fibroblast migration and proliferation.     

The role of the sentinel lymph node in gastrointestinal cancer

Evaluation of the clinical significance of the sentinel node concept in GI cancer has just begun. The authors' preliminary data, using intraoperative radiation techniques and the gamma probe, suggest that it is worthwhile to continue the evaluation of this procedure to determine its role in an accurate staging and a minimally invasive approach to GI cancers.