Binding cells of125I-iodoamphetamine in rat liver

We recently reported that transrectal or intestinal portal scintigraphy with¹²³I-iodoamphetamine (IMP) could be a useful method for the non-invasive and quantitative evaluation of the portosystemic shunt in portal hypertension, but what cells in the liver trap IMP has not been clarified. This study was aimed at elucidating whether IMP was extracted by parenchymal cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells or fat storing cells. Each type of liver cell was isolated from rats and cultured. The cells were incubated with¹²⁵I-IMP and the radioactivity of the lysate was determined. Nonspecific binding was assessed in the presence of an excess of unlabeled IMP, and specific binding was determined by subtracting the nonspecific from total binding. Specific binding observed in parenchymal cells, endothelial cells and Kupffer cells was 70.2 ± 0.4, 4.2 ± 1.4 and 2.3 ±0.8 pmol/well, respectively, but no specific binding was observed in fat storing cells. The binding in parenchymal cells was much higher than that in endothelial cells or Kupffer cells (p < 0.005). In addition, the binding to parenchymal cells reached equilibrium within 20 min and was not saturable over the concentration range tested (0.5–10 μM). These findings indicate that IMP is mostly extracted by parenchymal cells in the liver.     

Enhancement of Nasal Salmon Calcitonin Absorption by Lauroylcarnitine Chloride in Rats

Purpose. We investigated optimum formulation characteristics in the nasal absorption of salmon calcitonin (sCT) by incorporation of acylcarnitines. Methods. Nasal sCT formulations were administered to anesthetized rats. Plasma calcium level was measured and pharmacological bioavailability (P.bioav) was calculated. Results. Nasal sCT absorption was significantly enhanced by carnitines with acyl groups of 12 or more carbon atoms. Enhancement by lauroylcarnitine chloride (LCC) was observed at its critical micelle concentration and reached a plateau at the concentration of 0.1%. Optimal absorption was achieved at a molar ratio of LCC to sCT of 5:1. Enhancement was not influenced by osmolarity and maximum enhancement was obtained at pHs 3.1 and 4.0. Conclusions. The 12-carbon LCC was the strongest enhancer among acylcarnitines. Micelle formation played a key role in this enhancement effect.     

Leser-Trélat sign with anaplastic ependymoma – an autopsy case

A 36-year-old Japanese male, who 7 years previously had been diagnosed as having an ependymoma in the left parietal region, had received surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He later developed a rapid growth of multiple skin lesions on his back and extremities, which coincided with a regrowth of the tumor. Postmortem examination revealed that the ependymoma showed anaplastic transformation and necrosis; however, no malignancy was observed in the extracranial organs. The skin lesions were histologically diagnosed as seborrheic keratoses. We have, therefore, diagnosed the patient as having Leser-Trélat sign associated with anaplastic ependymoma. Received: 5 May 1996 / Revised, accepted: 15 July 1996     

Surgical treatment of an enormous aneurysmal portahepatic venous fistula: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 20-year-old woman in whom an enormous aneurysmal portahepatic venous fistula was found. The portal aneurysm developed in the anterior inferior segment of the right hepatic lobe, and communicated with the right portal vein and the right hepatic vein. Due to the enormous size of the shunt, and because the patient's venous blood ammonia level increased by about twofold after eating, a right lobectomy of the liver was performed. A review of the available literature and a discussion of the most appropriate treatment follows the presentation of this case.     

Plasma cortisol,luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin secretory responses to cardiopulmonary bypass

We measured the plasma levels of cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin before, during, and after open heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass in seven male patients.The levels of cortisol and prolactin were high immediately before the beginning of perfusion. During and after perfusion, increased secretion of cortisol and prolactin was observed.The secretion of LH increased 30 min after the skin incision, but it decreased to the control levels immediately before perfusion. These levels did not change during and after perfusion. The secretory responses of these hormones during perfusion were almost identical to those in the state of physiological circulation.     

Determination of carboxyhemoglobin in heated blood--sources of error and utility of derivative spectrophotometry

The cause for discrepancies in results from different methods of the carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) analysis on the blood from bodies of burn victims was investigated. Blood samples with 0, 50, and 100% carbon monoxide (CO) saturation were heated at various temperatures for some time and then analyzed. Carboxyhemoglobin content was determined by the fourth-derivative spectrophotometric method and compared with results from the usual two-wavelength method. For total hemoglobin measurement, the fourth-derivative technique and cyanmethemoglobin method were used. Turbidity in blood samples, which occurred when samples were heated above 50 degrees C, affected the analysis. At about 70 degrees C, coagulation and hemoglobin degeneration occurred accelerating the errors of determined values. The fourth-derivative technique, however, proved to be independent of the turbidity and would be useful for the analysis on the blood without hemoglobin degeneration.     

Allergic reaction to CDDP: report of 4 cases

Four cases of CDDP allergic reaction (CDDP reaction) are reported. CDDP was given intravenously with vinka-alkaloid and bleomycin or cyclophosphamide (CDDP combination therapy). Case 1 was a 59-year-old man with left ureteral squamous cell carcinoma. The tumor was so large and infiltrated into the retroperitoneal space, that he had conservatively undergone only left nephrectomy and tumor biopsy. Post-operative CDDP combination therapy was performed. Soon after the beginning of the 6th CDDP drip-infusion, a reaction to CDDP occurred. Case 2 was a 22-year-old man diagnosed to have left testicular embryonal carcinoma with multiple pulmonary metastases. After radical orchiectomy and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, CDDP combination therapy was performed. At the beginning of the 8th CDDP drip-infusion, a reaction to CDDP occurred. Case 3 was a 49-year-old man diagnosed to have non-papillary bladder carcinoma. Although his bladder was tumor free by TUR-Bt, distant lymph node metastases occurred. CDDP combination therapy was performed. At the beginning of the 6th CDDP drip-infusion, a reaction to CDDP occurred. Case 4 was a 64 year-old-man diagnosed to have bladder carcinoma which was recurrent from right renal pelvic tumor. After total cystectomy and ileal conduit, CDDP combination therapy was performed for diffuse retroperitoneal lymph nodes metastases. At the beginning of the 8th CDDP drip-infusion, a reaction to CDDP occurred. Reaction to CDDP developed at the 6th to 8th course of combination chemotherapy with CDDP, i.e., 450 to 700 mg of CDDP in total doses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)