Immunoexpression of the α subunit of a guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Go) in pulmonary neuroendocrine cells and neoplasms

The α subunit of a GTP-blndlng protein, Go, was investigated in pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms and fetal tissues of the lung by an immunohistochemlcal method. Positive immunostaining for the α subunit of Go (Goα) was found predominantly on the cell membrane and found occasionally in the cytoplasm. Typical carcinoids were all positively stained (9/9), and small cell carcinoma showed weaker and less frequent staining (5 positive cases in 10). Atypical carcinoids were variously stained (3/4). The tendency for obvious neuroendocrine differentiation to be immunohistochemically determined in typical carcinoids and not in small cell carcinoma is also true of staining for neuron specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A (CG-A) and synaptophysin. In the lung, Goα-immunostaining was positive not only in nerve tissues but also in the airway epithelium. In the fetal lung, serial sections immunostained for NSE, CG-A and Goα confirmed that Goα-immunoreactive cells belong to the neuroendocrine cell population. The biological significance of Goα is unclear in normal and neoplastic lung tissues, but Goα is a useful marker of neuroendocrine cells and neoplasms of the lung.     

TMC-171A,B,C and TMC-154, novel polyketide antibiotics produced by Gliocladium sp. TC 1304 and TC 1282

Four new antibiotics, TMC-171A (2), B (3), C (4) and TMC-154 (5) have been isolated from the fermentation of fungal strains Gliocladium sp. TC 1304 and TC 1282, respectively. Spectroscopic and degradation studies have shown that TMC-171s and TMC-154 were new members of the TMC-151 class of antibiotics, unique polyketides modified with a D-mannose and a D-mannitol or a D-arabitol. These compounds showed moderate cytotoxicity to various tumor cell lines.     

Immuntherapeutische Behandlung therapierefraktärer und rezidivierter akuter lymphatischer Leukämien im Kindes- und Jugendalter

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents the most frequent malignant disease in childhood and adolescence and offers a good prognosis with approximately 80% survival in first remission after polychemotherapy and radiotherapy. In addition,many children with relapsed or refractory ALL will still be cured by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT).However, therapeutic options are limited with a very poor prognosis in case of another relapse after alloHSCT.Here,immunotherapy strategies offer a promising alternative to another chemotherapy or second alloHSCT, which are mainly palliative and accompanied by high morbidity and mortality. Immunotherapy strategies aim at an improvement of the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect.The therapeutic GvL effect is usually associated with graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).The definition of patients subgroups with an increased risk for relapse after alloHSCT gains growing importance for immunotherapy strategies.Promising approaches for separation of GvL-effect and GvHD after donor lymphocyte infusions, e.g. T-cell suicide gene therapy, will be described. Finally, vaccination strategies for ALL exist.     

Safety and usefulness of emergency maternal transport using helicopter

AIM: Japan has a shortage of tertiary medical care facilities for maternal and fetal medicine. Establishment of efficient medical transport systems is needed for pregnant women and fetuses with severe complications. Maternal transport by helicopters is expected to shorten transportation time to advanced facilities, although its feasibility has not yet been evaluated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the status of maternal helicopter transport, and conditions of the pregnant patients and children transferred by helicopter to Kameda Medical Center (KMC). METHODS: Between August 2005 and July 2006, 26 pregnant women were transported by helicopters to KMC. RESULTS: The median net flight time was 24 min (range 15-29 min), and the median of estimation of ground transportation time was 125 min (range 90-180 min). The causes for transfers were preterm labor in eight, preterm premature rupture of the membrane in five, cervical incompetence in five, pre-eclampsia in three and other medical reasons in five. Five of the 26 patients were discharged with restored stability of pregnancy. The remaining 21 patients underwent delivery at KMC. The median gestational age was 26 weeks (range 22-33 weeks) at the time of transfer and 31 weeks (range 22-37 weeks) at delivery. Four of 26 neonates who were born at KMC died after birth due to severe premature or congenital anomaly. Seventeen of the remaining 22 neonates, including 10 twins, received treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit. All of the 22 neonates and all the mothers were discharged in good condition. No patients developed any complications requiring treatment during flights. CONCLUSION: Helicopter transfer is feasible for pregnant patients with severe complications.     

Etidronate (EHDP) Inhibits Osteoclastic-Bone Resorption, Promotes Apoptosis and Disrupts Actin Rings in Isolate-Mature Osteoclasts

Bisphosphonates, therapeutic reagents against tumoral bone diseases (Paget's disease or osteoporosis), are potent inhibitors of bone resorption. The mechanisms by which they directly act on mature osteoclasts remain unclear. Using a recently developed technique for isolation of highly purified mammalian mature osteoclasts, we demonstrated that etidronate [ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP), 1-hydroxy-1,1-ethylidenebisphosphonate], inhibited directly osteoclastic bone-resorbing activity by pit assay. In addition, EHDP also directly induced apoptosis and disrupted actin rings in osteoclasts. The data support previous data on non-purified osteoclasts and results in vivo. Received: 26 June 1997 / Accepted: 27 July 1998