Sister chromatid exchange induction by benzo(a)pryene in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of lung cancer patients and healthy individuals with or without familial history of neoplasms

The inducibility of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) by benzo(a)pyrene (BP) was studied in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of 15 untreated lung cancer patients and 25 healthy persons including 11 high- and 14 low-cancer-risk individuals tentatively classified by the familial history of lung cancer and other neoplasms. The baseline SCE frequency in cultured lymphocytes was significantly high in lung cancer patients, as compared with all healthy persons or low-cancer-risk individuals. Following exposure to BP, the lymphocytes of lung-cancer patients and high-cancer-risk individuals exhibited significantly greater SCE yields than those of persons at low risk, although no significant difference was observed in the lymphocyte SCE yields when the levels of lung cancer patients were compared with those of all healthy persons. A comparison of the net SCE increase (delta SCE) in BP-exposed lymphocytes among the study groups, however, revealed a significant difference in delta SCE values only between high- and low-cancer-risk individuals. The present findings on both the observed SCE yields and delta SCE values suggest that lymphocytes of high-risk individuals may be more susceptible to BP-induced DNA damage than those of persons at low risk, and that such a chromosomal hypersensitivity to genotoxins may be associated with a high risk of neoplasms.     

The role of natural killer T cells in host defense to cryptococcal infection--a bridge from innate to acquired immunity]

Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infectious pathogen in immunocompromised patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and hematological malignancies. The host defense to this pathogen is mediated mostly by cellular immunity. Th1-type cytokines including IFN-gamma, IL-12 and IL-18 play a pivotal role in this process. Recently, innate immunity mediated by NK, NKT and gammma-delta-T cells has garnered much attention from investigators. NKT cell has been identified as a particular cell population which recognizes glycolipids and participates in the development of tumor immunity and autoimmune diseases. In the present review, the accumulating knowledge on the roles of NKT cells in host defense to infectious pathogens are summarized with our own data on cryptococcal infection.     

Change in apoptosis in the gastric surface epithelium and glands after eradication of Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND: Change in apoptosis in gastric glands after eradication of Helicobacter pylori has never been reported. AIMS: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the change in apoptosis in gastric glands after eradication of Heliobacter pylori. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 23 Heliobacter pylori-positive patients with duodenal and gastric ulcers, who were monitored for 6-12 months after eradication, and eight controls. Biopsies were taken from the antrum and body. Apoptosis was evaluated immunohistochemically using anti-single stranded DNA antibody. Apoptotic index was calculated by counting immunostained cells in surface epithelial and glandular cells. RESULTS: In the surface epithelium, Apoptotic indexes were significantly higher in patients than in controls. In the upper portion of fundic glands, apoptotic indexes were significantly higher in patients with gastric ulcers (14.2% (9.3, 17.8)) (median (1st quartile, 3rd quartile)) than in controls (8.0% (2.0, 9.0), p < 0.01) and decreased significantly after eradication (3.4% (2.0, 5.3)), p < 0.01). In pyloric glands, apoptotic indexes were no different between patients and controls. In the lower portion of fundic glands, apoptotic indexes were very low, both in patients and in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that apoptosis, not only of surface epithelial cells but also of glandular cells in the upper portion of fundic glands, increased in Heliobacter pylori-positive patients with gastric ulcers and decreased to normal levels after eradication of Heliobacter pylori.     

Gastrointestinal motility and autonomic nerve dysfunction]

Gastrointestinal motility is greatly influenced by both the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS). Dysfunction of ANS and/or ENS produces various kinds of dysmotility from the esophagus to the colon. Generalized autonomic dysfunction, often seen in diabetics, causes abnormal peristaltic waves in the esophagus, abnormal electrical activity of the stomach, delayed gastric emptying and delayed intestinal transit. Localized disorders of the enteric nervous system is seen in patients with achalasia and Hirschsprung's diseases. Functional disorders, without evidence of organic disorders, like non-cardiac chest pain, non-ulcer dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, can be partly caused by abnormal function of autonomic nervous system.     

A case of chronic pulmonary emphysema with a past history of bilateral carotid body resection]

A 76-year-old man, whose carotid bodies had been resected for treatment of bronchial asthma 40 years previously was admitted for evaluation of abnormal arterial blood gases and exertional dyspnea. The case was diagnosed clinically as chronic pulmonary emphysema. His peripheral chemoreceptor function, estimated by hypoxic ventilatory and P0.1 response tests and withdrawal test was non-functioning. His PaCO2 value tended to rise over 50 Torr either after light exercise or during airway infection, though it was normal at rest. In addition his dyspnea had continued for 40 years in spite of carotid body resection. It was concluded that the effect of carotid body resection lasts more than 40 years and it does not have a good effect on COPD.     

Heterogeneity of anticardiolipin antibody

The antibody to cardiolipin(ACA) was tested in patients with systemic rheumatic disease. The frequency of IgG ACA was 46/100(46.0%) in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). In other rheumatic disease, this was less than 20%. Significant correlation between the presence of IgG ACA and thrombosis and/or thrombocytopenia was found in patients with SLE. Eight sera containing high titered IgG ACA from lupus patients were selected for further inhibition study. Inhibitors were consisted of cardiolipin(CL), phosphatidyl(p-)serine, p-inositol, p-glycerol, p-ethanolamine, p-choline, ds-DNA, ss-DNA, fresh platelets(PLT)and fresh red blood cells(RBC). All sera were markedly inhibited by negatively charged phospholipids. In 4 sera(group B), there was moderate inhibition by ss-DNA, ds-DNA, PLT and RBC. In another 4 sera(group A), mild but significant inhibition was obtained by PLT alone. The number of platelet in group A was less than that in group B. There were some differences in inhibitory activity, suggesting heterogeneity of antibody to CL. It may be possible to speculate that heterogeneity of IgG ACA cause various combination of clinical features such as thrombocytopenia and thrombosis.     

Universal applications of sentinel node technology

The sentinel node (SN) concept was originally proposed by several pioneers in the middle of the last century. After Donald Morton and his colleagues demonstrated the clinical significance of the SN concept in melanoma, it attracted vast attention in surgical oncology. At recent international conferences, a number of new approaches in this field for various solid tumors have been reported. Now, there are several possible applications with different technological aspects, such as individualized surgical management of solid tumors, multidisciplinary treatments, and novel therapeutic approaches. This article provides an overview of the future potential of SN technology.