Metabolites of (+)-dehydroabietic acid in rabbits

The seven metabolites of (+)-dehydroabietic acid (DHA) were newly isolated from rabbit urine by liquid chromatography. On the basis of chemical and spectral data their structures were established to be (15S)-8,11.13-abietatrien-16,18-dioic acid, 2 alpha-hydroxy-8,11,13,15-abietatetraen-18-oic acid, (15R)-15,16-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, 2 beta,15-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, (15S)-2 beta,16-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, 2 alpha,15-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid, and (15S)-2 alpha,16-dihydroxy-8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid. The possible hydroxylation routes of DHA in rabbits and the difference between the metabolism of DHA in microorganisms and that in rabbits are discussed.     

A case of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis associated with sarcoidosis of the lung and eye

Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis is considered to be an inflammatory disease of the adenohypophysis that is commonly present with visual disturbance and hypopituitarism. Its etiology remains unclear but it is often related to an autoimmune disorder involving other organs, such as the thyroid, parathyroid, or adrenal glands. We encountered a rare case of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis associated with sarcoidosis of the lung and eye during the follow-up period. A 23-year-old woman was hospitalized in July 1986, with a one-month history of headache and visual disturbances which began three days after her second normal delivery. On admission, she showed slight visual impairment and had a left temporal superior quadrantanopia. Endocrinological evaluation revealed thyroid and adrenal hypofunction, and low response of human growth hormone to the loading test. A skull X-ray showed normal shaped sella with some erosion of the dorsum. CT scan showed a rounded contrast-enhanced intrasellar mass extending into the suprasellar cistern. MRI (SR: 500/30) showed a homogeneous low intensity mass which contained a small high intensity area on the relative T2-weighted image (2000/50). A biopsy was performed via right frontotemporal craniotomy. The consistency of the resected tissue was firmer than that of pituitary adenoma. Histologically, the tissue showed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration with some normal adenohypophysis. Her postoperative course was uneventful and the visual impairment improved two months later after the operation. Six months after the operation, she was readmitted with complaints of general fatigue and breathlessness. Chest X-ray showed diffuse infiltration throughout both lung fields, but there was no bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antiviral activity of an extract of Cordia salicifolia on herpes simplex virus type 1

A partially purified extract (COL 1-6) from whole plant of Cordia salicifolia showed an inhibitory effect on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The activity of COL 1-6 on different steps of HSV-1 replication in HeLa cells was investigated. Under single-cycle replication conditions, COL 1-6 exerted a greater than 99.9% inhibition in virus yield when added to the cells 3 h or 1.5 h before infection, and even when added 8 h after infection the extract still caused a greater than 99% inhibition. The extract has been shown to have a direct virucidal activity. And also, analysis of early events following infection showed that COL 1-6 affected viral penetration in HeLa cells but did not interfere with adsorption to the cells.     

A clinico-pathological study of resected lung cancer cases accompanied by pleural dissemination

A total of 26 lung cancer cases accompanied by pleural dissemination were resected between June 1977 and June 1988. Of these 16 cases were male and 10 cases were female. Their age was 34-78, and the average age was 56.7 years. The histologic type was adenocarcinoma in 23 cases, 1 was large cell carcinoma, 1 was combined adenosquamous cell carcinoma, and 1 was combined adeno-small cell carcinoma. Of these 23 adenocarcinoma cases, 15 were well differentiated, 7 were moderately differentiated, and 1 was poorly differentiated. There was no correlation between tumor size and pleural dissemination. Pleural effusion was observed in 8, 5 had bloody effusion and the other 3 had yellow effusion. Exact preoperative diagnosis and evaluation of extent was very difficult in pleural dissemination cases except for the pleural effusion cases. Concerning the operation method in these cases pleuropneumonectomy was performed in 10, pleurolobectomy in 6, and lobectomy in 10. Prognosis of cases of resected pleural dissemination was very poor. The median survival time was 16 months, The 1-year survival rate was 56.3%, the 2-year survival rate was 23.2%, the 3-year survival rate was 15.4%, and the 4-year survival rate was 7.7%. There was no 5-year survivor in lung cancer cases of this group. Malignant pleural effusion cases had a poorer prognosis, with 6 of 8 cases dying within 1 year from operation. No remarkable therapeutic effects were achieved by adjuvant chemotherapy. In the single case of preoperative hyperthermia, histological therapeutic effect (Ef 2) was recognized. These results suggest that there is no indication of operation in malignant pleural effusion cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Correlation between histologic grading and prognosis of prostatic cancer--comparing the grading system of the Japanese general rules of prostatic cancer with Gleason's grading

To evaluate the correlation between the histological grade and the prognosis, we reviewed 100 cases of prostatic cancer according to the Japanese General Rules of Prostatic Cancer (JGRPC) and Gleason grading system. The study led to the following results: (1) There was a close relation between the JGRPC grade and Gleason score (GS). (2) The JGRPC grade and Gleason score were equally concerned with the clinical stage. (3) There were significant differences in survival rate between well and moderately, well and poorly differentiated groups by the JGRPC grading system, and between GS 2-4 and GS 5-7, GS 2-4 and GS 8-10 groups by Gleason score. (4) In proportion to the JGRPC grade, the cancer death rate increased linearly in each stage. (5) When the patients were grouped according to their JGRPC grades of main lesion and accompanied lesion, the cancer death rate increased in the cases with lower differentiated elements. We conclude that the JGRPC grading system is easily comprehensible, and equal with the Gleason grading system to predict the prognosis of prostatic cancer.     

A case of solitary bronchial papilloma with elevated serum CEA concentration

A rare case of solitary bronchial papilloma was reported. A 57-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray film which was discovered on regular health check up. Bronchoscopic examination revealed a polypoid tumor which obstructed the left B4 bronchus. Serum concentration of CEA was elevated up to 14 ng/ml by Z-GEL method. Left upper lobectomy was performed. On macroscopic examination of the excised specimen, the tumor arose in B4 bronchus and was yellowish white in color and was cauliflower-like in shape sized 3.5 X 1.5 cm. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of papillary proliferation of stratified squamous epithelium with ciliated columnar epithelial covering. Findings suggestive of inflammation or malignancy were not observed.     

A case of pulmonary varices in which enhanced CT was useful for diagnosis]

A case of pulmonary varices in a 73-year-old female is presented. Routine chest X-ray revealed a mass in the right hilar region. CR tomogram showed a round, clearly defined mass at the right hilum. Computed tomography demonstrated marked enlargement of the proximal portion of the pulmonary vein at the entrance of the left atrium, which was suspected to be pulmonary varices. The diagnosis was confirmed by pulmonary angiography. During the arterial phase no abnormal findings were seen, but during the venous phase the veins of the right upper and middle lobes were found to be draining into the dilated pulmonary vein and then into the left atrium. Thus, the diagnosis of pulmonary varices was established. CT and angiography are the most useful methods for definitive diagnosis of pulmonary varices.     

A Clinical Study for the Durability of Oxygenators on Cardiopulmonary Support

Abstract: Cardiopulmonary support (CPS) requires durability of the oxygenator. The life span of the oxygenator is affected by various clinical factors, including patient condition, perfusion condition, and equipment usage. Predictors for the durability of oxygenators were evaluated clinically in this study. Thirty-two patients, who had undergone CPS during the last 3 years in our institute were assigned to this study. Fifty oxygenators had been used (Capiox SX in 19, CB Maxima in 23, and AL-6000 in 8). Significant predictors for the durability of oxygenators were evaluated by nonparametric survival analysis and proportional hazards regression analysis. Univariate regression analysis revealed 6 significant predictors for the life span of oxygenators. These were the oxygenator type, type of centrifugal pump, acidosis with blood pH less than 7.35, base excess less than -5, blood glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) levels greater than 1,000 IU, and blood lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels greater than 3,000 IU. After multivariate analysis, there remained only 2 significant predictors. An oxygenator used with a noncoated CPS system (Capiox SX with Capiox EBS) proved to have a significantly shorter life span than one used with a heparin-coated system (CB Maxima or AL-6000 with CB BP-80) (hazards ratio, 3.588, p = 0.0065). Patient conditions, which revealed acidosis with less than -5 of base excess, significantly shortened the life of the oxygenator (hazards ratio, 3.595, p = 0.0188).     

Cerebrovascular reserve capacity in ischemia due to occlusion of a major arterial trunk: studies by Xe-CT and the acetazolamide test.

Classifications based on clinical and radiographic criteria have proved to be inadequate predictors of the course of cerebral ischemia or its response to therapy. In this study the cerebrovascular reserve capacity (CRC) of 46 patients with symptomatic cerebrovascular ischemia was studied by stable xenon-enhanced CT (Xe-CT) combined with the acetazolamide test. Fifteen patients had internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion, 10 had ICA stenosis, 10 had middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, and 11 had MCA stenosis. In the patients with chronic cerebral ischemia due to occlusive lesions of the ICA and MCA, the CRC was reduced most in those with MCA occlusion, followed, in descending order, by those with ICA stenosis, MCA stenosis, and ICA occlusion. Our results indicate that measurement of the CRC elucidates cerebral hemodynamic factors that cannot be detected by angiography in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia and that Xe-CT combined with the acetazolamide test is useful for this purpose.     

Properties of active magnesium flux across the small intestine of the guinea pig.

Steady-state net flux of Mg2+ was measured in everted preparations of guinea pig jejunum and ileum, and effects of anoxia, Na+ and Ca2+ concentration, ouabain, and Ca2+ channel blockers were examined. Uphill Mg2+ flux in the mucosal-to-serosal direction was seen in both intestinal segments, with the flux value being 1.5 times greater in the ileum than in the jejenum. The Mg2+ flux was 1.7 times greater than the net Ca2+ flux under the same experimental conditions. The Mg2+ flux was strongly dependent on oxygen and the presence of Na+ in the medium; both anoxia and total replacement of Na+ inhibited the flux by 90-100%. Also, ouabain added to the serosal side, and verapamil or D600 added to the mucosal side, inhibited the flux by about 90%. Inhibitory effects of both ouabain and Na(+)-free conditions were much greater for the Mg2+ flux than for the Ca2+ flux. A stepwise increase in Mg2+ concentration in a Na(+)-free mucosal solution caused a stepwise elevation of the mucosal negativity. The relative elevation of the evoked potential in response to Mg2+ concentration possessed saturable and linearly increasing components. Only the saturable component was found to be dependent on oxygen and sensitive to ouabain. Under the influence of ouabain and verapamil, the generation of the Mg(2+)-evoked potential was greatly inhibited. These findings suggest that Mg2+ is actively absorbed by the jejunum and ileum of the guinea pig, and that active transcellular transport involves a verapamil-sensitive entry step and Na(+)-dependent or ouabain-sensitive exit process which differs from Ca2+ extrusion mechanisms.