Prevalence rates and risk factors for allergic symptoms among inhabitants in rural districts

In order to determine the prevalence of allergic disorders and their association with agricultural factors, a total of 3,717 inhabitants of rural districts in Kumamoto Prefecture were ashed to fill out a questionnaire concerning their allergic status. The results obtained were as follows: One or more items of allergic symptoms were reported by 44% of the subjects. The prevalence rate of each symptom was 8% for respiratory organs, 5% for delayed type of respiratory disorders, 10% for nasal mucosa, 16% for eyes, 16% for urticaria-like derma and 26% for eczema-like derma. Twenty-one percent of the subjects had past histories of allergic diseases such as asthma (3%), nasal allergy (3%), urticaria (6%), contact dermatitis (9%) and so forth. These allergic conditions were seen to be more common among farmers than non-agricultural workers, and also among subjects with allergic constitution than those without such constitution. The highest (62%) prevalence of allergic symptoms was observed in farmers engaged in poultry raising, followed by those engaged in raising flowers (58%), tobacco (58%), cortinellus shiitake (55%), cucumber in plastic greenhouse (53%) and mandarin orange (53%). Among the symptomatic subjects, 12-38% of those with each symptom gave farm work as the direct causative factor for developing the corresponding symptom. Pesticide spraying was the most common agent among those factors.     

Hormone-dependency of human breast cancer in in vitro clonogenic assay

The in vitro clonogenic assay has been used to assess the biological effects of estradiol-17 beta (E 2) and an antiestrogen, tamoxifen (TAM) on human breast cancer, and the results were compared with the estrogen receptor status (ER). The sera used were treated with dextran-coated charcoal to avoid the modification effects of the endogenous hormones. There was a significant difference between ER (+) and ER (-) breast cancers in the incidence of cases in which the plating efficiency of cancers increased more than 50% over those of untreated control by adding 10(-8) M of E 2 (40.2% vs. 21.3%). TAM, 10(-6) M revealed a less than 50% colony formation of the control in 30.5% of ER (+) cancers, whereas only 13.0% of ER (-) cancers showed a response to TAM.     

Trans-activation of glutathione transferase P gene during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis of the rat.

Glutathione transferase P (GST-P; glutathione transferase, EC 2.5.1.18) is known to be specifically expressed at high levels in precancerous lesions and in hepatocellular carcinomas from a very early phase of chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat. The almost invariable occurrence of this phenotype in these lesions strongly suggests a mechanism by which GST-P gene is activated together with a crucial transforming gene of liver cells. To distinguish the two alternative possibilities--either the GST-P gene is coactivated with a closely located transforming gene by a cis mechanism or it is activated in trans by a common trans-acting factor--we carried out carcinogenesis experiments using transgenic rats harboring the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene ligated to the upstream regulatory sequence of the GST-P gene. In each of three independent lines tested, liver foci and nodules produced by chemical carcinogens (Solt-Farber procedure) were found to express high levels of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity, indicating clearly that the GST-P gene is activated by a trans mechanism during hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Biliary cystadenoma with mesenchymal stroma of the liver: Correlation between unusual MR appearance and pathologic findings

We reported a case of the biliary cystadenoma of the liver. The cystic mass had labulation and septation and showed marked hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hypointensity on T2-weighted images; MR findings were very unusual for cystadenoma. The content of the cystic mass was jelly-like, thick mucinous fluid without intracystic hemorrhage. We concluded that these unusual signal intensities of the cyst were due to hyperproteinous mucinous fluid.     

Familial occurrence of differentiated,nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma

Familial occurrence of differentiated, nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma in 23 patients from 11 families is reported. Five patients were male and 18 were female. The familial relationship of patients was parent and child in 12 cases from 6 families, and siblings in 11 cases from 5 families. Carcinoma of other organs was noted in other members in 8 families. Histological examination revealed 18 papillary, 2 follicular, and 2 anaplastic carcinomas (the 2 anaplastic carcinomas were considered to be transformed from preexisting differentiated carcinoma). In 1 case, the histological type was unknown. The average diameter of the primary lesion was 29.9 mm. Cervical lymph node metastasis was found in 77.8% and local recurrence in 28.6% of the patients. Solid and invasive growth was dominant. On HLA typing, phenotypes of B₇ and DR₁ were significantly redominant in familial patients compared with nonfamilial patients and normal Japanese. Moreover, the haplotype of B₇-C_w7-DR₁ was observed in 5 of 13 patients tested. It is suggested from these observations that some types of differentiated, nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma may show familial occurrence and that they may have common factors with regard to the genetic and immunologic basis of the disease.

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Resumen Se informa la ocurrencia familiar de carcinoma bien diferenciado, no medular, de tiroides en 23 pacientes provenientes de 11 familias, 5 hombres y 18 mujeres. La relación familiar fue padre e hijo en 12 casos de 6 familias, y hermanos en 11 casos de 5 familias. Se observé la presencia de carcinoma de otros órganos en otros miembros de 8 familias. El examen histopatológico reveló 18 carcinomas papilares, 2 foliculares, y 2 anaplásicos (los 2 fueron considerados como transformación de carcinomas diferenciados preexistentes). En un caso no fue conocido el tipo histológico. El diámetro promedio de la lesión primaria fue 29.9 mm. Se hallaron metástasis en ganglios cervicales en 77.8% de los pacientes y recurrencia local en 28.6%. El crecimiento sólido e invasivo apareció como característica dominante. En la tipificación HLA aparecieron como significativamente predominantes los fenotipos de B₇ y DR₁ en pacientes familiares en comparación con pacientes no familiares y japoneses normales. Por otra parte, el halotipo de B₇-C_W7-DR₁ fue observado en 5 de 13 pacientes investigados.Como resultado de estas observationes se sugiere que algunos tipos de carcinomas diferenciados, no medulares, pueden demostrar ocurrencia familiar y que pueden poseer factores comunes relacionados con las bases genéticas e inmunológicas de la enfermedad.

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Résumé On a étudié les caratéristiques du cancer de la thyroïde, dans sa variété différenciée non médullaire, survenu chez 23 patients provenant de 11 familles. Cinq patients étaient des hommes, 18 des femmes. La relation familiale était parent/enfant dans 12 cas provenant de 6 familles, et frère/soeur dans 11 cas provenant de 5 familles. Des membres de 8 autres familles présentaient un cancer d'un autre organe. Il y avait 18 cancers papillaires, 2 cancers folliculaires, et 2 cancers anaplasiques (on a considéré que les 2 cancers anaplasiques étaient des transformations à partir de cancers différenciés préexistants). Dans un cas, le type histologique était inconnu. Le diamètre moyen de la lésion primitive était de 29.9 mm. On a retrouvé des métastases ganglionnaires cervicales chez 77.8% des patients et une récidive locale chez 28.6%. Les tumeurs étaient principalement solides et invasives. Par rapport aux cancéreux non familiaux et à la population japonaise normale, il y avait plus de phénotypes B₇ et DR₁ au système HLA. L'haplotype B₇-C_W7-DR₁ était observé chez 5 des 13 patients testés.On suggère que certains types de cancer différenciés, non médullaires, ayant des facteurs communs génétiques et immunologiques, peuvent survenir dans une même famille.

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Presented at the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons in Sydney, Australia, September, 1987.     

Responsiveness of human gastric tumors implanted in nude mice to clinically equivalent doses of various antitumor agents

To reproduce clinical effects of various antitumor agents in the human tumor/nude mouse model, we investigated the responsiveness of 11 lines of human gastric tumor xenografts to doses of the agents pharmacokinetically equivalent to the respective clinical doses, which we designated the "rational dose" (RD). We found that the response rates to mitomycin C, 3-[(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl]methyl-1-[2-chloroethyl]-1- nitrosourea (ACNU), adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil were 18%, and that to vinblastine was 30%; on the other hand, those to vincristine, methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide were poor. In contrast, in our previous study using the maximum tolerated doses, response rates to mitomycin C, ACNU, and vinblastine were as high as 64-82%, and those to adriamycin and 5-fluorouracil were 18%. When these results were compared with the clinical response rates of gastric tumors, as a whole, the results with RD's exhibited much better coincidence with the clinical data in terms of relative therapeutic potency, indicating the validity of the use of clinically equivalent doses instead of maximum tolerated doses in the human tumor model.