Characterization of estrogen receptor in human gastric cancer

Estrogen receptors (ER) were examined in cytosol, nuclear potassium chloride (KCl) extractable fraction, and nuclear KCl unextractable fraction by the dextran-coated charcoal adsorption method in various gastric cancer tissue. The overall ER-positive rate in the cytosol and nuclear fraction was 19.2%. The maximum binding site (Bmax) was 36.0 to 175.0 fmol/mg of protein, and the dissociation constant (Kd) was 0.6 to 1.6 X 10(-9) in cytosol fraction. In the nuclear fraction, Bmax was 7.5 fmol/mg of DNA and Kd was 2.3 X 10(-9). Estrogen receptors were characterized in cytosol protein. In cytosol, the estrogen (E2)-ER complex was sedimented at approximately the 5S and 8S regions by 5% to 20% linear sucrose gradient centrifugation. A steroid specificity study of ER showed the presence of an binder in gastric cancer tissue. In conclusion, these results that gastric cancer tissue has E2 binding sites with the same biochemical characteristics as in breast cancer and endometrial cancer strongly suggest the hormonal dependency of gastric cancer.     

Ultrastructural localization of adhalin in normal murine skeletal myofiber

The ultrastructural localization of adhalin and its relations to dystrophin, β-dystroglycan, and β-spectrin were studied in normal murine skeletal myofibers. The C-terminal peptides of adhalin and β-dystroglycan were synthesized based on their cDNAs, and the affinity-purified antibodies against these peptides were produced. Single-immunolabeling electron microscopy showed that the adhalin was located just inside the muscle plasma membrane or inside the myofiber a short distance from the plasma membrane. The adhalin signal was also noted at the sarcoplasmic side of plasmalemmd invaginations or at vesicular structures in subsarcolemmal areas. Double-immunogold-labeling electron microscopy disclosed a similar localization of dystrophin, β-dystroglycan, and β-spectrin. The close association of adhalin with dystrophin or β-dystroglycan was demonstrated by formation of doublets by signals of antibodies of adhalin with those of dystrophin or β-dystroglycan and was confirmed by statistical analyses. This study demonstrated that the location of adhalin is close to that of dystrophin and β-dystroglycan at the muscle plasma membrane.     

Kanji-predominant alexia with agraphia in opticospinal multiple sclerosis]

Alexia with agraphia is very rare symptom in multiple sclerosis. We present a patient of opticospinal multiple sclerosis with kanji-predominant alexia with agraphia. A 55-year-old, right-handed man was admitted to our hospital because of difficulty in reading and writing in August 2001. The patient had been diagnosed as having relapsing-remitting opticospinal multiple sclerosis eight years prior to admission. Language examination showed alexia with agraphia predominantly affecting kanji and also mild naming difficulties, but a good comprehension and a normal repetition. T2-weighted MRI demonstrated hyperintensity area in the left temporo-parietal lobe, involving the white matter beneath the postero-inferior temporal lobe and inferior parietal lobule. On brain SPECT, low blood perfusion was observed in the left temporo-parietal regions. Although agraphia for kana and alexia for both kana and kanji improved after steroid therapy, agraphia for kanji did not improve. After the treatment, high intensity area of inferior parietal lobule was disappeared on MRI, and the hypoperfusion of inferior parietal lobule on brain SPECT was also improved, but the lesion of left postero-inferior temporal lobe did not show any remarkable changes. We considered that the kanji-predominant alexia with agraphia was due to the lesions of left inferior parietal lobule and postero-inferior temporal lobe, and agraphia for kanji was due to the lesion of left postero-inferior temporal lobe.     

What should general hospital psychiatry do in a community?]

Some experiences in Nagano Red Cross hospital and Nagano Prefecture are presented, and the role of general hospital psychiatry (GHP) in a community is discussed. Psychiatric services in Nagano prefecture with population 2.21 million consist of four blocks. Our unit is in north block, providing treatment for acute phase and, in 2000, 1504 cases were new outpatients, daily outpatients were 198 cases and new inpatients were 604 cases including 146 emergency inpatients. In fiscal 2001, 25.6% of notifications of involuntary hospitalization from all psychiatric hospitals were submitted from GHP occupying 12.9% psychiatric beds, and 129 notifications from our unit were largest in Nagano prefecture. Total 7 GHPs with beds are presented by some data, suggesting two types as GHP. One type has relatively many new inpatients by small beds with short-term hospitalization like our GHP, and another type has relatively small new inpatients by large beds with long-term hospitalization like conventional mental hospital. It is necessary for GHP to pursue the former type, and to functionally differentiate from psychiatric hospital. Results of psychiatric emergency system in Nagano prefecture are presented. Designated hospitals are our GHP with 60 beds in north block, Prefectural Hospital with 310 beds in south block, National Sanatorium with 280 beds in east block and rotating 5 psychiatric hospitals with total 968 beds in west block. GHP with 60 beds hospitalized more emergency new cases than other psychiatric hospitals with large beds and discharged 84% of emergency inpatients to their home. Recently, short-term hospitalization of general hospital beds has rapidly progressed, and shared goal settings are needed, and treatment plans with teamwork by various types of experts have started from community-based home care. This teamwork will be expected throughout community psychiatric services. Although until today GHP's ward unit is financially disadvantageous, patients anticipate medical care of GHP on same level as a part of general hospital of course. For community psychiatric care and short-term hospitalization it is necessary for GHP to cooperate with various types of social resources. As for users of rehabilitation facilities in Nagano prefecture, GHP outpatients occupy 27.2%, and as for day care users, these occupy 19.6%, thus GHPs are able to cooperate with facilities. Above-mentioned facts indicate there is high necessity as a GHP, not a psychiatric hospital or a clinic. Cooperation between GHP and other social resources including welfare services will enrich community psychiatric services. GHP is a wide entrance for psychiatric care from a viewpoints of whole psychiatric care. When GHP accepted all patients on demands from acute cases to chronic, manpower will be diffused, and safety of medical care will be undermined. Therefore, psychiatric triage mainly functioning to treat early stage in severe cases with combined medical and psychiatric illness above all is necessary for GHP in order to offer proper treatment to a community. Accessibility in early stage of disease, priority of seriously ill patients and rehabilitation programs at a community as daily life space are essential for community mental health. We believe the first role of GHP in a community is to seek for psychiatric treatment on same level as general medicine. The second role is the psychiatric triage in order to function as GHP in a community. The third role is to cooperate with other social resources in a community. In order to promote the above it is necessary to self-evaluate GHP concerning the difference with specialized psychiatric hospitals or clinics. From these viewpoints GHP will become a core of community psychiatry. Currently, however, preparation concerned with GHP is poor compared with other advanced countries, so an aggressive improvement in medical policy is expected.     

Intracellular free magnesium of red blood cells in patients with renal disease.

While serum magnesium (Mg) level is increased in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), it is decreased in renal transplant recipients (TR) receiving ciclosporin. This study was performed to examine the cation metabolism of red blood cells (RBC) in these patients. Intracellular free Mg was measured with 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and ouabain-sensitive sodium (Na) efflux rate (Eos) was measured from the increase in RBC-Na concentration when RBC were incubated in the presence of ouabain. The ouabain-sensitive Na efflux rate constant (ERCos) was obtained by dividing Eos by RBC-Na concentration. RBC free Mg and ERCos were significantly higher in the TR group than in the ESRD group. There was a significant correlation between RBC free Mg and ERCos (r = 0.474, p less than 0.01). These results support the views that the regulation mechanism for intracellular free Mg is different from that for extracellular Mg in patients with renal disease, and intracellular free Mg modulates Na pump activity of RBC.     

The influence of reflux of bile and pancreatic juice on gastric carcinogenesis in rats

The effect of reflux of the duodenal contents on the development of gastric stump carcinoma without carcinogen in rats was studied. At the first experiment, seventy male Wistar rats were subjected to gastrojejunostomy for the diversion of duodenal contents into the resected stomach through the afferent and the efferent loops. The incidence of adenocarcinoma in the afferent anastomosis were 0/8 (0%) at the 10th week, 3/16 (18.8%) at the 20th week and 7/20 (35%) at the 40th week, so the incidence was apt to rise in parallel to the time. In the second experiment, ninety rats were divided into 4 groups: Group I received the same operation as the first experiment, group II received the operation with Braun's anastomosis, group III received the operation for reflux of bile alone to the remnant stomach, and group IV received the operation for reflux of pancreatic juice alone. Animals surviving after surgery were sacrificed at the 40th week. The incidence were 33.3% in group I, 0% in group II, 0% in group III, and 8.3% in group IV, respectively. These findings suggest that reflux of duodenal contents (both bile and pancreatic juice) is an important factor in the gastric stump carcinogenesis.     

Effects of alminoprofen on the allergic reactions

The effects of alminoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, on the experimental animal models of allergic reactions were examined and compared with those of ibuprofen. Alminoprofen at 30 mg/kg given intraduodenally significantly suppressed passive anaphylactic bronchoconstrictions, while ibuprofen did not at the same doses. In vitro studies revealed that alminoprofen, in contrast to ibuprofen, exerted an inhibitory effect on arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase activity which initiates the bio-synthesis of leukotrienes. Alminoprofen inhibited arachidonic acid-induced ear edema in mice and homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats at high doses, while ibuprofen did not at the high doses. From its characteristic feature of inhibitory effects on 5-lipoxygenase activity and the experimental model of type I allergic reaction, it is suggested that alminoprofen is a new type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent.     

Immunological Detection and Quantitation of DNA Adducts Formed by 4-Aminoazobenzene Species in vivo

Antibodies to 3-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene (3-MeO-AAB) and 2-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene (2-MeO-AAB) DNA adducts were raised in rabbits against in vitro-adducted DNA samples. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of these antibodies. They proved highly specific for the modified DNA used as the immunogen, but cross-reacted with each other. Moreover, they showed cross reactivity with DNA modified by 4-( o -tolylazo)- o -toluidine, but not by other carcinogens, such as 4-aminobiphenyl or 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. The 50% inhibition level of antibody binding in the competitive ELISA was at 10–20 fmol of modified base per assay (equivalent to 1–2 adducts per 10⁶ bases). Immunohistochemical staining indicated that these antibodies bind specifically to nuclear components of the liver in rats given either 3-MeO-AAB or 2-MeO-AAB at the dose of 50 mg/kg body weight.