Cell-based therapeutic angiogenesis for the treatment of ischemic disease

Cell-based therapy has been the recent focus of attention for repairing injured organs. Several cell sources, derived from peripheral blood, bone marrow, or embryonic stem cells, have been used to induce angiogenesis successfully in various experimental ischemic models, which might be related to angiogenic cytokine production and endothelial incorporation from implanted cells within the targeted ischemic tissues after implantation. Clinical trials have also reported the feasibility and found some efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis induced by the implantation of autologous bone marrow-(or peripheral blood)-derived cells in patients with ischemic heart disease and peripheral artery disease. Although many questions regarding the effectiveness and safety, optimal cell number and route of delivery, and mechanisms remain, cell-based therapeutic angiogenesis may be a novel and promising treatment option for ischemic disease.     

Negative pleural cytology after intrapleural perfusion hyperthermo-chemotherapy for malignant pleural effusion

We gave intrapleural perfusion hyperthermo-chemotherapy to a 72-year-old woman in whom malignant pleural effusion developed after surgery for primary cancer. This procedure involved irrigating the pleural space for 2 hours with a water solution at 42-43 degrees containing 240 mg cisplatin using specially devised extracorporeal circuits. Thoracoscopy was used to examine the intrapleural cavity and to place the catheters for perfusion. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged for hospital on the second postoperative day. Thereafter, she experienced good quality of life with negative pleural cytology. Unfortunately, the patient died 3 months after the therapy, but the cause of death was unknown and there was no cancer recurrence. This technique may be safe and feasible for controlling malignant effusion to preserve quality of life, although the survival benefit has not yet been clarified.     

Establishment and characterization of two cell lines (HEC-155, HEC-180) derived from uterine papillary serous adenocarcinoma

Uterine papillary serous adenocarcinoma (UPSC) is an uncommon histologic subtype of endometrial cancer that characteristically behaves aggressively with a poor prognosis. We established two novel cell lines derived from UPSC designated HEC-155 and HEC-180. Both cell lines have been growing steadily in monolayer cultures for over ten years. Overexpression of p53, Ki67 and p27 was detected in both cell lines by immunohistochemistry. Using a DNA sequencing technique, a point mutation of p53 was detected in exon 8, codon 286 in HEC-155 and in exon 6, codon 195 in HEC-180. These newly established cell lines should be useful for investigating the characteristics of UPSC.     

Transperineal ultrasound-guided 12-core systematic biopsy of the prostate for patients with a prostate-specific antigen level of 2.5–20 ng/ml in Japan

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the cancer detection rate in patients with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 2.5 to 20ng/ml, using transperineal ultrasound-guided systematic biopsy of the prostate.Methods Three hundred consecutive patients with PSA levels of 2.5 to 20ng/ml underwent transperineal ultrasound-guided 12-core systematic biopsy of the prostate.Results Prostate cancer was detected in 108 of the 300 patients (36.0%). The cancer detection rates in patients with total PSA levels of 2.5–4.0, 4.01–10.0 and 10.01–20.0ng/ml were 18.2%, 31.0%, and 50.0%, respectively. The cancer detection rates in patients with prostate volumes of less than 30cc and over 50cc were almost 50%, and 13.3%, respectively. The cancer detection rate in patients with a PSA density (PSAD) of less than 0.10ng/ml per cc was only 5.6%, and no prostate cancer was detected in patients with a free-to-total PSA ratio (% f PSA) over 40%.Conclusion We demonstrated a high prostate cancer detection rate by the transperineal ultrasound-guided 12-core systematic biopsy method in patients with PSA levels of 2.5 to 20ng/ml. Accordingly, if the number of core biopsies is further increased overall, except in patients with a large prostate volume, and if the indication for biopsy is decided based on the PSAD and %f PSA, then the cancer detection rate by the present method may be further improved, with fewer unnecessary biopsies.     

Efficacy of lidocaine on seizures by intravenous and intravenous-drip infusion

We retrospectively studied the efficacy of intravenous and intravenous-drip infusion administration of lidocaine on seizures treated in Saitama Children's Medical Center during the period of 1997-2002. Thirty eight seizures of 29 children (12 boys and 17 girls, average age 41.4 months) were treated with lidocaine. The overall rate of effectiveness was 53%. The response to lidocaine appeared within 5 minutes in all episodes. Good response to lidocaine was noted, in 36% of patients with epilepsy, in 72% with CNS infection and in 80% with benign infantile convulsions; in 42% with generalized seizures and in 63% with partial seizures. Thus there was no significant difference in efficacy among the underlying disorders and seizure types. The adverse reaction of SpO2 decrease was found in one patient. We conclude that lidocaine can be used as a second-line, anti-convulsive drug in status epilepticus based on its prompt effectiveness and low risk of side effects.     

Increased serum interleukin-18 in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a potent cofactor for T-helper (Th-1) cell development and inducer of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), and is reported to contribute to autoimmune diseases. T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) leukemia involves the proliferation of autoreactive CTL that is often associated with autoimmune disorders. We found increased serum IL-18 concentrations in a 55-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and T-LGL-leukemia. Her serum IL-18 concentrations correlated with the intensity of her SLE symptoms and the number of T-LGL cells in peripheral blood. This evidence suggests that IL-18 is involved in T-LGL-related autoimmune disorders.     

Postmortem computed tomographic (PMCT) demonstration of fatal hemoptysis by pulmonary tuberculosis--radiological-pathological correlation in a case of rupture of Rasmussen's aneurysm

We report a case of fatal hemoptysis resulting from the rupture of a Rasmussen's aneurysm. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) clearly showed the air-fluid level within a tuberculous cavity and fluid-filled trachea. In this case, PMCT was useful as a screening tool to detect the cause of death as asphyxia from hemoptysis. It became a guideline for the following autopsy, as well as evidence to explain the importance of autopsy to the family.     

Inhibitory role of regucalcin in the regulation of Ca2+ dependent protein kinases activity in rat brain neurons

The role of regucalcin in the regulation of protein kinase activity in rat brain neuronal cells obtained from primary culture was investigated. Protein kinase activity was assayed using the 5500 g supernatant fraction of the cell homogenate. Protein kinase activity was significantly raised by the addition of calmodulin (5 microg/ml) or dioctanoylglycerol (5 microg/ml) in the presence of CaCl2 (10(-4) M), indicating that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C is present in the neuronal cells. The addition of regucalcin (10(-9)-10(-7) M) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in protein kinase activity in the absence of calmodulin or dioctanoylglycerol without Ca(2+) addition. Moreover, regucalcin completely prevented the activation of protein kinase by the addition of calmodulin or dioctonoylglyceral in the presence of CaCl(2) (10(-4) M). The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 or 50 ng/ml) caused a significant elevation of protein kinase activity without CaCl2 addition. Such an effect was significantly inhibited by the addition of trifluoperazine (2x10(-5) M), an antagonist of calmodulin, or staurosporine (10(-6) M), an inhibitor of protein kinase C. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin in rat brain neuronal cells has an inhibitory effect on Ca2+ dependent protein kinase activity.