Activation of Cellular Immunity and Complement System in Immune-Deficient Aged Subjects by Streptococcal Preparation OK-432 (Picibanil)

In a study of 290 patients without malignancy, 10 aged subjectswere found to have impaired cellular immunity. They were givenlong-term therapy with a streptococcal preparation OK-432, andit was found that OK-432 potentiated cellular immunity in agedindividuals if 1KE of the preparation is given daily. The decreasein the third component of complement C3 in these patients duringtherapy indicates that the complement system was activated viathe alternate pathway.     

The effects of dichloroacetate on liver damage and circulating fuels in rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride

Abstract It has been known that carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in starved rats is ameliorated simply by restoration of feeding. An analogue of dichloroacetate has been reported to ameliorate carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage, and dichloroacetate has been shown to have a variety of effects on fuel metabolism. We investigated simultaneously the effects of dichloroacetate on liver damage and on circulating fuels in rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride. The effects of carbon tetrachloride varied with the rat's condition. In starved rats, the liver damage was more severe, and serum ketone body concentration decreased. In non-starved rats, the liver damage was not as severe and the serum ketone body concentration increased. The administration of dichloroacetate ameliorated liver damage both in starved and in non-starved rats given carbon tetrachloride: the administration of dichloroacetate protected from the liver damage particularly in starved rats. There were associated changes in the concentractions of circulating fuels. When the pyruvate-lowering effect of dichloroacetate was diminished in carbon tetrachloride-injected, starved rats, the alanine aminotransferase-lowering effect of dichloroacetate was also diminished. We propose that dichloroacetate's effect on fuel metabolism may produce a hepato-protective effect.     

Effect of Long-Term Administration of OK-432 (Picibanil), PS-K (Krestin) and Levamisole on Immune Responses in Aged Subjects Without Malignancy

So-called immunomodulators, streptococcal preparation OK-432(Pici-banil), protein polysaccharide PS-K (Krestin) and anthelminthiccompound Levamisole, were investigated for their ability torestore the decreased immune responses in aged patients withoutmalignancy. These immunomodulators exerted their effect on host-immuneresponses during six months of therapy, as determined by theMantoux skin test, the phytohemagglutinin skin test, the endotoxinskin test and in vitro blastoid transformation of lymphocytes.     

Experience with Laparoscopic Appendectomy —The Technique and Our Views of its Indications—

Abstract: Since June, 1991 a laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) was performed on eleven patients with suspected appendicitis which could not be confirmed by the conventional diagnostic methods. The patients included 7 males and 4 females, with a mean age of 27, 9, ranging from 16 to 46 years. No postoperative complications were encountered. The laparoscopic diagnoses included gangrenous appendicitis in 2, suppurative appendicitis in 2, catarrhal appendicitis in 4, salpingitis in 2 and an appendiceal mass in one patient (Case 7). Histopathological diagnoses were phlegmonous appendicitis in 3, mucinous cystadenoma in one and catarrhal appendicitis in 7 patients. Two cases of salpingitis and a case with ovarian bleeding were treated conservatively after incidental laparoscopic removal of the appendix. Case 7 was histopathologically diagnosed as having mucinous cystadenoma. The patients’postoperative hospital stay was from 5 to 8 days, with an average of 6.9 days. All patients had been given the permission to be discharged by the third POD but they stayed longer because of benefits given by the health insurance system very specific to Japan. LA in our clinic has so far been limited to selected patients in whom the diagnosis of appendicitis could not been confirmed and laparoscopic examination was indicated, mainly due to manpower problems involving surgeons, anesthetists and operating room nurses. However, LA provides not only benefits for patients but also several merits for surgeons including better exposure of the operating field in most cases when compared with an open appendectomy. We feel, therefore, that the indications for LA might be extended more widely, probably to most cases of appendicitis.     

Regulation of Immune Complexes Binding of Macrophages by Pectic Polysaccharide from Bupleurum falcatum L.: Pharmacological Evidence for the Requirement of Intracellular Calcium/Calmodulin on Fc Receptor Up-regulation by Bupleuran 2IIb

The pectic polysaccharide, bupleuran 2IIb, up-regulates Fc-receptor (FcR) expression on peritoneal macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. The intracellular signal transduction by bupleuran 2IIb leading to the expression of FcR was studied. Neither the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride, nor the structurally distinct PKC antagonist, calphostin C, inhibited bupleuran 2IIb-induced up-regulation of FcR, whereas two direct activators of PKC, L-α-l-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-3-glycerol and N-(6-phenylhexyl)-5-chloro-l-naphthalenesulphonamide were unable to up-regulate the expression of FcR. The protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, N-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide dihydrochloride also did not inhibit bupleuran 2IIb-induced up-regulation of FcR. Fluorescence image analysis using the calcium-sensitive dye, Fura-2, demonstrated that bupleuran 2IIb induced a rapid increase in intracellular levels of calcium (Ca²⁺). When macrophages were treated with calcium antagonist, 8-(diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride, bupleuran 2IIb-induced up-regulation of FcR was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. The bupleuran 2IIb-induced up-regulation of FcR was also blocked by two structurally distinct calmodulin antagonists, trifluoperazine and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulphonamide hydrochloride. Furthermore, elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ using the calcium ionophore, A23187, led to up-regulation of the FcR expression in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that bupleuran 2IIb induces the up-regulation of FcR on macrophages by a mechanism dependent on an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ followed by activation of the calmodulin, but not by a PKC or PKA pathway.     

Evaluation of Cancer-Associated Carbohydrate Antigen (NCC-ST-439) Measurement in Pure Pancreatic Juice Collected by Endoscopic Aspiration

Abstract: This study was undertaken to elucidate the diagnostic significance of the measurement of a cancer-associated carbohydrate antigen, NCC-ST-439 (ST-439), in pure pancreatic juice collected by endoscopic cannulation, chiefly from patients with pancreatic diseases. The mean concentrations of ST-439 in each of the 4 fractions collected were significantly higher in patients with pancreatic cancer than in controls, but patients with chronic pancreatitis or cholecystolithiasis did not have higher levels. Similarly, a significant increase in the mean output of ST-439 was observed only in patients with pancreatic cancer. When the cut-of value was set at the mean concentration+ 2 X the standard deviations of the controls, significant concentrations of ST-439 were found, in the first fraction (washout phase) in 56% of the pancreatic cancer cases, 31% of the chronic pancreatitis cases and 0% of the cholecystolithiasis cases; in the third fraction (secretory phase) results were 50%, 7% and 0%, respectively. Furthermore, when the cut-of value was set at the highest concentration found among patients with chronic pancreatitis (to enhance the specificity for pancreatic cancer), the prevalence of significant ST-339 levels among Pancreatic cancer patients was 50% in the first fraction and 44% in the third fraction. These results indicate that the measurement of ST-439 in pancreatic juice is useful as a specific marker for pancreatic cancer, although its sensitivity is less than was initially hoped,     

Application of nested polymerase chain reaction for the rapid diagnosis of infant botulism type B

A nested polymerase chain reaction was utilized to successfully detect the type B botulinum neurotoxin gene of Clostridium botulinum in feces from a 6-month-old patient, who had already been diagnosed with type B infant botulism by mouse bio-assay. This method of rapid diagnosis without enrichment culture of feces can be applied to other types of toxins in the use of the type-specific primers. Further investigations, however, are required to define the sensitivity and specificity of the method.     

The first case of type B infant botulism in Japan

A six-month-old girl with a 5 consecutive day history of constipation and poor feeding developed generalized weakness, poor head control, difficulties in sucking and swallowing, and cranial nerve dysfunction within a few days. These characteristic manifestations and clinical course prompted examination of the possibility of infant botulism, although no history of eating honey was obtained. Mouse bioassay performed with enema effluent demonstrated type B botulinum toxin. Culture of the effluent was positive for Clostridium botulinum type B. This is the first case of type B infant botulism in Japan.