Reduction in bone formation and elevated bone resorption in ovariectomized rats with special reference to acute inflammation

Changes in bone modeling and remodeling in the tibia of growing rats within 30 days of ovariectomy (ovx) were evaluated by histomorphometric, mechanical; and biochemical means. Three days after ovx, suppressed bone formation was seen. This was shown by reduced osteoid volume, osteoblast surface, and bone formation rate in the secondary spongiosa, and a reduced longitudinal growth rate in the growth plate. In addition, the alkaline phosphatase and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity in bone marrow supernatants was suppressed in conjunction with elevated serum sialic acid levels, indicating inflammation. Although estrogen deprivation itself may provoke the inflammatory process, the serum sialic acid level in the ovx group returned to the baseline level within 5 days after surgery, while that of estradiol in the ovx group remained consistently lower. This suggests that surgical stress, not estrogen deprivation, is the primary cause of the inflammatory response shortly after ovx. A significant difference (p < 0.01) between the ovx and sham rats was seen in the osteoclast surface, which peaked on day 7 in the ovx rats. On day 14 postovariectomy, the bone formation rate peaked and remained constant until day 30. In the ovx rats, there was a sustained reduction in the serum albumin level until day 30. Estrogen deprivation may be the primary cause of these changes, because both surgical ovx and medical oophorectomy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (G(nRHa) reduce the serum albumin level. In numerous studies dealing with changes after ovx in rats, we have observed: 1) a transient reduction in bone formation in relation to inflammatory changes evoked by ovx surgery, and 2) a sustained reduction in the serum albumin level for at least 30 days after ovx that is possibly due to estrogen deprivation.     

Response of pituitary LH and FSH to synthetic LH-releasing hormone in normal subjects and patients with Sheehan's syndrome

Serum levels of LH and FSH were determined by radioimmunoassay in seven patients with Sheehan's syndrome, eight women with normal menstrual cycles, and five normal men following intravenous injection of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) in a dose of 100 μg. The mean maximum increases of LH (M. ± S.E. mI.U./ml.) were in the following order: 279.4 ± 87.6 at the preovulatory phase, 69.2 ± 12.6 in normal males, 48.2 ± 3.5 at the midluteal phase, and 29.9 ± 4.9 at the early follicular phase. The response of serum levels of FSH was found to parallel the change in the levels of LH, but these changes were less pronounced. No response of LH and FSH to LH-RH was observed in five patients with Sheehan's syndrome while the remaining two patients showed an increase of LH around normal lower limits. These findings seem to indicate that LH-RH test is useful for the evaluation of pituitary reserve function of gonadotropin secretion.     

Complete response of recurrent gastric cancer to chemotherapy with TS-1 and CPT-11--a case report

A 58-year-old man with gastric cancer who had undergone distal gastrectomy on February 8, 2001 was revealed to have anorexia, and was diagnosed with a local recurrence in anastomosis by upper GI examination in August 2003. In September 2003, he was given combination chemotherapy with TS-1 50 mg/m2 (days 1-14) and CPT-11 80 mg/m2 (days 1, 8) every 3 weeks. A complete response (CR) was confirmed by endoscopy in December 2003. At present, he has been receiving chemotherapy with only TS-1 50 mg/m2 as a maintenance therapy and continuing CR. However, a trial of combination therapy with TS-1 plus CPT-11 is ongoing, and this combination chemotherapy may well achieve a high response rate. Because the adverse events of this chemotherapy have been mild and tolerable in some of our cases, this regimen is considered very useful.     

Japanese encephalitis virus in meningitis patients, Japan

Cerebrospinal fluid specimens from 57 patients diagnosed with meningitis were tested for Japanese encephalitis virus. Total RNA was extracted from the specimens and amplified. Two products had highest homology with Nakayama strain and 2 with Ishikawa strain. Results suggest that Japanese encephalitis virus causes some aseptic meningitis in Japan.