The significance of CA-50, SLX and ST-439 in lung cancer]

Serum levels of CA-50, SLX and ST-439 were measured in 213 patients with lung cancer (92 adenocarcinomas, 63 squamous cell carcinomas, 37 small cell carcinomas and 21 large cell carcinomas) and 87 patients with benign lung disease. The overall positive rates in patients with lung cancer were 12.8% for CA-50, 29.7% for SLX and 25.3% for ST-439. The positive rates for CA-50, SLX and ST-439 in adenocarcinoma patients were 22.8%, 42.4% and 38.0%, respectively. Of the patients with benign lung disease, 4.8% were false positive for CA-50, 15.3% for SLX and 3.6% for ST-439. In the patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung, the combination assay of CEA and ST-439 had a highly accurate rate (61.9%).     

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of enteritis due to Salmonella hadar. II. Environmental contamination by Salmonella hadar in Shizuoka Prefecture--studies on the feasibility of reducing S. hadar infection]

A systematic examination was performed for environmental food contamination by Salmonella in poultry farms, broiler chickens, broiler processing plants and meat on the market. Salmonella was isolated from 219 of 1197 samples and the serotypes showed a wide distribution. (Table 1-1). S. hadar accounted for 37.1% (96) of all isolations (259). The contamination rate of broiler chickens on arrival at broiler processing plants is relatively low. However, in the broiler processing plants, containers, processing machinery, cooling water and slaughters were highly contaminated by Salmonella, S. hadar being the most prominent serotype in the plants. 64% of chicken meat on the market was contaminated by Salmonella, S. hadar being the second most prominent serotype. 11% of the pork and none of the beef or horseflesh was contaminated by Salmonella. These results indicate that poultry is the main source of S. hadar infection in humans. However, no S. hadar was isolated from cultures of 119 samples of feed for chickens from each delivery (Table 1-1). Thus, as the main source of infection by S. hadar of broiler chickens, an association with the feed seems to be ruled out. S. hadar was isolated at three of 18 poultry farms within Shizuoka Prefecture. Follow-up studies were performed at the three poultry farms which revealed that in two of them, Salmonella was completely eradicated on completion of disinfection. In the other one farm, which is still being disinfected, various strains of Salmonella including S. hadar still survived. We conclude that the main cause of the problem is the magnification of contamination of Salmonella-free material during the process at the broiler processing plants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Wilms tumor gene immunoreactivity in primary serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube, ovary, endometrium, and peritoneum.

Wilms tumor gene (WT-1) expression has been reported in many human cancers, including most ovarian and peritoneal serous carcinomas, but has not been studied in carcinomas of the fallopian tube. In this study, the authors evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of WT-1 in serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube and compared their reactivity with that of ovarian, peritoneal, and endometrial serous carcinomas. All primary serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube (13 cases), ovaries (25 cases), and peritoneum (3 cases) were reactive with the WT-1 antibody, whereas all five primary endometrial serous carcinomas were nonreactive. WT-1 reactivity in an unknown primary serous carcinoma is therefore suggestive of an extrauterine site. The marked difference in WT-1 staining raises the possibility of genetic differences between serous carcinomas arising in the endometrium compared with those arising in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and peritoneum.     

Effects of chlorpromazine as a systemic vasodilator during cardiopulmonary bypass in neonates

OBJECTIVES: Vasodilator use during cardiopulmonary bypass is important in pediatric cardiac surgery, but the full range of their effects on hemodynamics remains to be clarified. We studied the effects of chlorpromazine, a potent alpha-blocking agent, in neonates. METHODS: Subjects were 60 neonates undergoing arterial switch operations for complete transposition of the great arteries with an intact ventricular septum. Of these, 37 received 2.1 to 6.5 mg/kg of chlorpromazine during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPZ group) and 23 received no vasodilator (control group). We then compared hemodynamic parameters between groups during and early after surgery. RESULTS: The systemic vascular resistance index and mean arterial pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass were significantly lower in the CPZ group (p < 0.05), but systolic pressure 15 minutes after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass did not differ between groups. The rise in peripheral temperature during rewarming after hypothermia was significantly higher and the acid-base status 40 minutes after cardiopulmonary bypass less acidotic in the CPZ group. Urine output during cardiopulmonary bypass was higher in the CPZ group. CONCLUSIONS: Chlorpromazine effectively counteracts systemic vasoconstriction induced by cardiopulmonary bypass without serious side effects in neonatal cardiac surgery.     

PCB methyl sulphone: comparison of tissue levels in Baltic grey seals and a Yusho patient

Methyl sulphone metabolites of PCB and DDE were isolated from different tissues of a Baltic grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Main components in the seal blubber were identified as 3-MeSO2-2,2',4',5,5'-pentaCB, 4-MeSO2-2,2',4',5,5'-pentaCB, 3-MeSO2-p,p'-DDE, 4-MeSO2-2,2',3',4',5-pentaCB and 4-MeSO2-2,2',3,4',5',6-hexaCB. Liver and lung in the seal contained different MeSO2-PCB pattern compared to all other tissues. These levels in the both tissues were estimated to be 28 and 15 ppm (lipid basis) which corresponded to the same level as the PCB. Concentrations of MeSO2-PCB in any tissues of a Yusho patient were low compared to those in the seal.     

Hydroxyapatite-coating of pedicle screws improves resistance against pull-out force in the osteoporotic canine lumbar spine model: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: In patients with spinal osteoporosis, the early achievement and maintenance of a biological bond between the pedicle screw and bone is important to avoid screw loosening complications. There are few reports of in vivo investigations involving biomechanical and histological evaluations in the osteoporotic spine. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coating on the pedicle screw in the osteoporotic lumbar spine and to investigate the relationship between resistance against the screw pull-out force and bone mineral density (BMD) of the vertebral body. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Mechanical and pathological investigations in the lumbar spine. METHODS: Two 24-month-old female beagle dogs were fed a calcium-free dog chow for 6 months after ovariectomy (OVX). BMD (in g/cm2) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at pre-OVX and 6 months after OVX. Pedicle screws were placed from L1 to L6 at 6 months after OVX. Twenty-four pure titanium cortical screws (Synthes, #401-114) were used as pedicle screws (Ti-PS). Of these, 12 screws had HA-coating (HA-PS). The HA-PS screws were inserted into the right pedicles and the Ti-PS were inserted into the left pedicles. Ten days after this procedure, the lumbar spines were removed en bloc for screw pull-out testing and histological evaluation. RESULTS: The mean BMD value of the lumbar vertebrae 6 months after the OVX was 0.549+/-0.087 g/cm2, which was significantly less than the pre-OVX mean BMD of 0.603+/-0.092 g/cm2 (p < 0.001). The mean resistance against the pull-out force for the HA-PS was significantly greater at 165.6+/-26.5N than in the Ti-PS (103.1+/-30.2N, p < .001). The histological sections in the HA-PS clearly revealed new bone bonding with the apatite coating but only fibrous tissue bonding in the Ti-PS. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that the resistance to the pull-out force of HA-PS is 1.6 times that of Ti-PS. Furthermore, HA-PS has superior biological bonding to the surrounding bone, as early as 10 days after surgery in this osteoporotic spine model. Thus, in patients with osteoporosis, coating of the pedicle screw with HA may provide better stability and bonding between the pedicle screw and bone in the early postoperative period.     

Modified Damus–Kaye–Stansel procedure using aortic flap technique for systemic ventricular outflow tract obstruction in functionally univentricular heart

Damus–Kaye–Stansel procedure is a useful method to relieve the systemic ventricular outflow tract obstruction in functionally univentricular heart. Regurgitation of pulmonary valve and recurrence of systemic ventricular outflow obstruction are the major concerns at the late phase of this procedure. Modification of original Damus–Kaye–Stansel procedure that can prevent the use of prosthetic materials is evaluated. The modified Damus–Kaye–Stansel procedure using aortic flap technique was performed in eight patients with functionally univentricular heart. Patients’ ages ranged from 3 to 28 months (mean 14 months). Follow-up period was 37 months as a mean (9–71 months), and the follow-up was complete. There was no operative mortality and no late death. In addition, there was no recurrence of systemic ventricular outflow tract obstruction throughout the follow-up period. Regurgitation of the pulmonary valve estimated by echocardiography at the latest follow-up was none to trivial in seven patients and mild in one. The modified Damus–Kaye–Stansel procedure using aortic flap technique is a safe, useful and reproducible technique to solve systemic ventricular outflow tract obstruction in functionally univentricular heart, and it can be an alternative for original technique or the so-called double-barrel modification.     

Deconjugating activity for sulfoconjugated dopamine in homogenates of organs from dogs.

To clarify the possibility that sulfoconjugated dopamine (DA) may play a physiological role by being converted to active free DA, we examined the deconjugating activity in homogenates of organs from dogs. Each tissue homogenate was incubated with sulfoconjugated DA, and the deconjugating activity of the organs was compared. The kidney and liver exhibited the highest deconjugating activities. In contrast, the intestine and heart showed lower arylsulfatase activities, and almost no activity was found in the brain or skeletal muscle. Moreover, in the heart, the deconjugating activity for sulfoconjugated DA was higher in the atrium than the ventricle. These results indicate that sulfoconjugated DA is converted to active free DA in homogenates of organs from dogs and that the deconjugating activity varies between different parts of an organ. Sulfoconjugated DA must be looked upon as a possible precursor or reservoir for the production of active free DA.     

Behavioural and ECoG spectrum changes induced by intracerebral infusion of interferons and interleukin 2 in rats are antagonized by naloxone.

Rat interferon, alpha-interferon, interleukin 2 and recombinant interleukin-2 injected into the third cerebral ventricle produced typical behavioural sedation and/or sleep and ECoG synchronization in rats while beta-interferon produced no behavioural sleep or ECoG synchronization. A slight sedation was observed after the largest dose of beta-interferon only. During sleep induced by lymphokines, a dose-dependent increase in total voltage power as well as in the 0.5-3, 4-7 and 12-16 Hz frequent bands was observed. Much smaller doses were required to produce similar behavioural and ECoG spectrum effects after infusion of interferons and interleukin-2 into the locus coeruleus. No significant behavioural and ECoG changes were obtained after infusion of the same doses of interferons and interleukin-2 into other areas of the brain (caudate nucleus, dorsal hippocampus, substantia nigra pars compacta, ventromedial hypothalamus). The behavioural and ECoG effects of alpha-interferon, rat interferon and interleukin-2 were blocked in animals pretreated with naloxone. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the behavioural and ECoG effects of these lymphokines are mediated at locus coeruleus level by stimulation of opiate receptors.