Anti-tumour activity of low-toxicity lipopolysaccharide of Bordetella pertussis.

A lipopolysaccharide (BP-LPS) isolated from killed Bordetella pertussis (Tohama strain) was determined to have low toxicity based on the mortality and decrease in body weight of BP-LPS-injected mice. BP-LPS, administered intradermally or intraperitoneally, clearly inhibited the growth of an MM46 murine mammary carcinoma. When compared with a toxic Escherichia coli-derived LPS, BP-LPS displayed excellent anti-tumour activity against MH134 hepatoma and Meth A fibrosarcoma. As part of a combined chemotherapy/immunotherapy regimen, BP-LPS also seemed to prolong the lifespan of mice inoculated with Lewis lung carcinoma. BP-LPS thus appears to have valuable characteristics as an anti-tumour agent.     

The long-term growth rate of residual acoustic neurinomas

Summary The growth rate of 19 residual acoustic neurinomas was examined in a long-term follow-up study (median, 10 years; range, 5 to 17 years) following intracapsular removal. Of these, 10 (53%) had regrowth, three (16%) showed regression, and six (32%) were unchanged. The 10 acoustic neurinomas showing regrowth were divided into two categories, either solid or cystic, according to computed tomographic findings. Five acoustic neurinomas with cyst formation showed rapid regrowth, with the tumour doubling time ranging from 0.15 to 5.0 years (median, 4.5 years), and required re-operation. Five solid tumours showed slow regrowth, with the tumour doubling time ranging from 9 to 34 years (median, 15 years). Although cyst formation is a major factor in rapid regrowth, residual acoustic neurinomas without cyst formation have a slower growth potential. In this study, 74% of the residual acoustic neurinomas have never required re-operation. It is advisable to choose intracapsular removal if there is major risk of neurological deficits.     

Thymic atypical carcinoid with Cushing''s syndrome manifesting in the terminal stage

A 56-year-old man with recurrent thymic atypical carcinoid presented with Cushing's syndrome only in the terminal stage. Eighteen months after the resection of an anterior mediastinal mass, he presented with hypernatremia and hypokalemia with high serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol, and died two months later. An autopsy demonstrated multiple metastases of the tumro to the mediastinum, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, bone, pituitary gland, and ocular muscles. The adrenocorticotropic hormone level of the tumor tissue was 26,000 pg/g.     

Factors Related to the Parameters of Ultrasound Measurements in the Early Menopausal Period

Urinary deoxypyridinoline, serum osteocalcin (OC), and ultrasound (US) measurements were investigated in a premenopausal group and a postmenopausal group. In previous studies we reported the relation between each biochemical marker and each US parameter by simple regression analysis. However, in this study, multiple regression analysis of the US parameter, not only by biochemical markers but also by age and body mass index (BMI), were done to determine what fraction of the variation in the respective US values can be accounted for by these factors. Multiple regression analysis showed that age and serum OC were significant determinants for stiffness index, serum OC and BMI were significant determinants for speed of sound, age was a significant determinant for broadband ultrasound attenuation, although each US parameter can be explained by factors of approximately only 26–33%. Received: 13 June 1995 / Accepted: 22 July 1996     

Spatial and temporal expression of fibril-forming minor collagen genes (types V and XI) during fracture healing

Skeletal development involves the coordinated participation of several types of collagen, including both major and minor fibrillar collagens. Although much is known about the major fibrillar collagens, such as types I and II, less is known about the minor fibrillar collagens, and their role in the repair and regeneration of bone has not been extensively studied. To clarify the role of minor fibrillar collagens in Fracture repair, we examined the spatial and temporal expression of mRNAs for pro-α2(V) collagen and pro-α1(XI) collagen in healing fractures in the rat by in situ hybridization and compared their patterns of expression with those Of mRNAs for pro-α1(I) collagen, pro-α1(II) collagen, and osteocalcin. A strong signal for pro-α2(V) was detected in the periosteal osteoprogenitor cells, whereas osteocalcin mRNA was strongly expressed only in the deep layers of the hard callus. The distribution of the pro-α2(V) signal was correlated with that of pro-α1(I) but was mutually exclusive of that of pro-α1(II).The expression of pro-α1(Xl) mRNA was synchronously regulated with that of pro-α1(II) during chondrogenesis in the soft callus. In the hard callus, pro-α1(XI) signal Was found in osteoblastic cells at the site of intramembranous and endochondral ossification. These cells simultaneously expressed pro-α2(V), although they were negative for pro-α1(II). These findings suggest that the, α2(V) collagen chain participates in the formation of the noncartilaginous fibrillar network in the hard callus and preferentially contributes to the initial stage of the intramembranous bone formation. Recent reports have, revealed that type-XI collagen, which had been classified as a cartilage-type collagen, is not necessarily specific for cartilage. The present results advanced this recognition and demonstrated a coexpression of α1(XI) mRNA and α2(V) mRNA in the noncartilaginous tissues in the fracture callus; this suggests the presence of tissue-specific and stage-specific heterotrimers consisting of α1(XI) and α2(V) collagen chains and the association of such hybrid trimers with the major fibrillar collagens in the process of fracture healing.     

下胰头切除术

上腹疼痛收入院。增强CT扫描和核磁共振检查提示在胰头部有一直径为3cm的多房囊性肿物。磁共振胰胆管造影显示在主胰管和囊性肿物之间有交通。行下胰头切除术，胰十二指肠吻合术，保留十二指肠，胆总管和副胰管。下胰头切除术在外科治疗低度恶性肿瘤方面具有重要的意义。     

The spread of metastatic lymph nodes to the mediastinum from left upper lobe cancer: results of superior mediastinal nodal dissection through a median sternotomy.

BACKGROUND: This study endeavored to clarify the location, frequency, and prognostic value of metastatic lymph nodes in the mediastinum among patients with left upper lung cancer who underwent complete dissection of the superior mediastinal lymph node through a median sternotomy. METHODS: Forty-four patients with left upper lobe cancer underwent extended radical mediastinal nodal dissection (ERD), all of whom were analyzed in this retrospective study. The group comprised 12 females and 32 males, with ages ranging from 28 to 70 years (median age, 60 years). Mediastinal nodal status was assessed according to the systems of Mountain/Dresler 7 and Naruke 8. The clinicopathological records of each patient were examined for prognostic factors, including age, sex, histology, tumor size, c-N number, preoperative serum CEA level, metastatic stations and distribution of metastatic nodes according to Naruke's system 8. The superior mediastinal lymph nodes which cannot be dissected through a left thoracotomy (bilateral #1 and #2, #3, right #3a, and right #4 according to Naruke's map 8 were defined as extra-superior mediastinal nodes for left lung cancer (ESMD). RESULTS: Fourteen patients had one or more metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes, among whom the most common metastatic station was the aortic nodes: 71.4% had metastasis to #5 or #6 (57.1% to #5 and 50% to #6). The next most common metastatic station was the left tracheobronchial nodes (42.8%). Metastasis to the ESMD occurred in 7 of the 44 study subjects (16%), representing a 50% rate of occurrence (7/14) among those with mediastinal nodal involvement. Univariate analysis found that CN factor and aortic nodal involvement (#5, #6) were significant predictive factors for ESMD metastasis. Multivariate analysis determined that only aortic nodal involvement was significant (p = 0.008). Furthermore, ESMD metastasis was rare (5.8%) in the absence of aortic node metastasis. The overall survival rate at 5 years was 50% among the patients without ESMD metastasis. However, the survival rate was 32% at 3 years and 0% at 5 years among the seven patients with ESMD metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The aortic lymph node is the most common site of metastasis from left upper lobe cancer. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that aortic nodal involvement was a significant predictive factor for ESMD metastasis. Based upon the rates of metastasis and the post-operative prognosis in our study patients, dissection of aortic nodes and left tracheobronchial nodes may be important for patients with left upper lobe cancer. Whether ESMD dissection has a beneficial effect on prognosis remains controversial.     

Strong static magnetic field stimulates bone formation to a definite orientation in vitro and in vivo.

The induction of bone formation to an intentional orientation is a potentially viable clinical treatment for bone disorders. Among the many chemical and physical factors, a static magnetic field (SMF) of tesla order can regulate the shapes of blood cells and matrix fibers. This study investigated the effects of a strong SMF (8 T) on bone formation in both in vivo and in vitro systems. After 60 h of exposure to the SMF, cultured mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were transformed to rodlike shapes and were orientated in the direction parallel to the magnetic field. Although this strong SMF exposure did not affect cell proliferation, it up-regulated cell differentiation and matrix synthesis as determined by ALP and alizarin red stainings, respectively. The SMF also stimulated ectopic bone formation in and around subcutaneously implanted bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2-containing pellets in mice, in which the orientation of bone formation was parallel to the magnetic field. It is concluded that a strong SMF has the potency not only to stimulate bone formation, but also to regulate its orientation in both in vitro and in vivo models. This is the first study to show the regulation of the orientation of adherent cells by a magnetic field. We propose that the combination of a strong SMF and a potent osteogenic agent such as BMP possibly may lead to an effective treatment of bone fractures and defects.     

Astrocytes containing amyloid beta-protein (Abeta)-positive granules are associated with Abeta40-positive diffuse plaques in the aged human brain.

Amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is the major component of senile plaques that emerge in the cortex during aging and appear most abundantly in Alzheimer's disease. In the course of our immunocytochemical study on a large number of autopsy cases, we noticed, in many aged nondemented cases, the presence of unique diffuse plaques in the cortex distinct from ordinary diffuse plaques by immunocytochemistry. The former were amorphous, very faintly Abeta-immunoreactive plaques resembling diffuse plaques, but they stained for Abeta40 and were associated with small cells containing Abeta-positive granules. A panel of amino- and carboxyl-terminal-specific Abeta antibodies showed that such Abeta40-positive diffuse plaques and cell-associated granules were composed exclusively of amino-terminally deleted Abeta terminating at Abeta40, -42, and -43. Double immunostaining also showed that those Abeta-immunoreactive granules are located in astrocytes and not in microglia or neurons. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that nonfibrillar Abeta immunoreactivity was located within lipofuscin-like granules in somewhat swollen astrocytes. These findings raise the possibility that astrocytes take up Abeta and attempt to degrade it in lysosomes in the aged brain.