Peritoneal melanosis secondary to a benign dermoid cyst of the ovary: a case report with ultrastructural study

A case of peritoneal melanosis secondary to a ruptured benign cystic teratoma in a 28-year-old woman is reported. The patient had no history of cutaneous or ocular malignant melanotic lesions. The section of the left ovary contained benign teratoid elements. The ultrastructure of the omental and peritoneal pigmented nodules confirmed that the lesions consisted of histiocytes phagocytizing massive melanin pigments. Although no melanocytic neoplasm was found in the ovarian cystic teratoma, circumstance suggests that the ovarian, omental, and peritoneal pigmented lesions were secondary reactions to melanin released from the ruptured cystic teratoma.     

A total correction for tetralogy of fallot without the use of homologous blood

In 22 consecutive patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TF), a total correction was attempted without the use of a homologous blood transfusion from September 1995 to March 1997. The 22 patients were divided into two groups according to their surgical procedures; namely, either a simple correction (group I: n = 14) or a complex correction including the relief of peripheral pulmonary stenosis and/or the division of a previous systemic-pulmonary shunt (group II: n = 8). In 77% of all patients, surgery was performed without a homologous blood transfusion. No differences were found in the non-transfusion rate and the hematocrit (Ht) values between the two groups and, as a result, we thus confirm that this additional procedure is not a risk factor for surgery without a homologous blood transfusion. According to the correlation of the red blood cell volume before and after surgery, the preoperative Ht value corresponding to the postoperative Ht of 30% could be accurately predicted. The calculated Ht values were 41.0% in the patient weighing 15 kg, 42.5% in those weighing 10 kg, and 46.9% in those weighing 5 kg. These data suggest that a surgical correction without a homologous blood transfusion can therefore be safely performed in almost all patients with TF.     

Environmental effects of natural radionuclides from coal-fired power plants

The assessment of the environmental effects of natural radionuclides contained in fly ash released from a coal-fired power plant was carried out and the following results were obtained. Mean concentrations of U, Th and K in 28 kinds of domestic and foreign coals were 1.0 ppm, 3.3 ppm and 2300 ppm, respectively. A good correlation between U and Th concentrations appears evident. Natural radionuclide concentrations of bottom and fly ashes were approximately equal in both ashes, and the values were the same as those calculated by concentration in coal divided by ash content. Release rates of 40K and radionuclides of each decay chain of U or Th were evaluated in the range of 2 to 40,000 pCi/sec for model coal-fired power plants of 1000 MW and 250 MW. The natural radionuclide concentration in air in a plume at the maximum concentration point was 5 X 10(-9) to 5 X 10(-3) pCi/m3, and these values were below 1/200 of those of natural origin.     

Long-term toxicity and carcinogenicity test of ammonia-process caramel colouring given to B6C3F1 mice in the drinking-water

Caramel colouring (ammonia process) was given at levels of 0 (control), 1.25 and 5.0% in the drinking-water to groups of 50 male and 50 female mice for 96 wk, and then all the animals were maintained without caramel for a further 8 wk. Males given 5.0% caramel showed increased cumulative mortality from wk 100 to the end of the experiment. The white blood cell count in treated males was significantly elevated in a dose-related manner. However, these changes were not considered to be biologically significant. There were no treatment-related effects on clinical signs, body or organ weights, results of urine analyses, or histological features. Therefore, this study did not demonstrate any carcinogenic effect of caramel on mice at levels of up to 5.0% in the drinking-water.     

Effects of the plasma concentration of 5-fluorouracil and the duration of continuous venous infusion of 5-fluorouracil with an inhibitor of 5-fluorouracil degradation on Yoshida sarcomas in rats

The correlations of the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) level in the plasma and the duration of continuous 5-FU infusion with the antitumor activity of 5-FU on Yoshida sarcomas in rats were examined. The circadian variation in the plasma level of 5-FU during continuous infusion was prevented by treatment with 3-cyano-2,6-dihydroxypyridine (CNDP), which strongly inhibits 5-FU degradation. On continuous venous infusion of 2 to 30 mg/kg of 5-FU over 24 h with CNDP at a molar ratio of 1:10 into normal rats, the 5-FU level in the blood was linearly proportional to the dose of 5-FU. The optimum schedule for antitumor activity on Yoshida sarcomas in rats was found to be infusion of 5-FU at 5 mg/kg over 24 h for 6 consecutive days, which gave a plasma 5-FU level of 176 ng/ml. Continuous infusion of 5-FU to give a plasma level of 300 ng/ml for 6 consecutive days from day 5 after implantation of tumor cells, when the tumors weighed about 1.0 g, resulted in complete regression of the tumors in all rats.     

Lack of carcinogenicity of quercetin in F344/DuCrj rats

Quercetin was administered at dietary levels of 0(control), 1.25 and 5.0% to groups of 50 male and 50 female rats for 104 weeks, and then all animals were maintained without quercetin supplement for a further 8 weeks. At 5.0% quercetin, both sexes showed growth retardation throughout the study. There were no treatment-ascribed effects regarding clinical signs, mortality, urinalyses or hematology. Although serum glucose in 5.0% quercetin-treated males was significantly decreased and some relative organ weights in 5.0% groups showed statistically significant increases, these latter changes seemed to be related to the growth retardation. An increased incidence of non-neoplastic hyperplastic polyps in the cecum was noted in the 5.0% males. The incidences of cystic changes and fibroadenomas of the mammary gland, and foci (areas) of hepatocellular alteration in the 5.0% females, and liver bile duct proliferations in the 5.0% males were significantly decreased. No proliferative lesions of the urinary bladder related to treatment with quercetin were found in any rats. The incidences of several other nonneoplastic and neoplastic lesions which demonstrated statistically significant changes appeared to be related to the growth retardation or to be within the normal range, and therefore none was considered to be significant biologically. Thus, the investigation did not demonstrate any clear carcinogenic effect of quercetin on F344 rats at dietary levels of up to 5.0%.     

Bile acid deconjugation in intestinal obstruction studied by breath test

Bile acid deconjugation was assessed by measuring specific activity of expired¹⁴CO₂ after the oral administration of cholyl-glycine-1-¹⁴C in 17 cases of intestinal obstruction, i.e. 15 mechanical and two paralytic. In the former, nine cases were operated and the remaining six cases were managed by the conservative treatment. Cumulative output of¹⁴CO₂ in breath for six hours before the treatment was 40.20=11.30 (mean±SEM) (control 2.96±1.16) but decreased to 6.86±3.64 after the treatment. Enteric bacteria capable of splitting amino moiety of the conjugated bile acid were found to be present more than 10⁵/ml. in the obstructed bowel content. Cumulative output of¹⁴CO₂ in breath for six hours in two paralytic ileus was lower than in controls. Deconjugated bile acid reported to inhibit water and electrolytes absorption in the small intestine may play an important role in fluid retention in intestinal obstruction.     

Route of nutritional supply influences local, systemic, and remote organ responses to intraperitoneal bacterial challenge.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' aim was to investigate whether antecedent nutritional routes influence immune responses after surgical insult. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may influence host responses to infection. To the best of the authors' knowledge, however, no study has focused on the mechanisms underlying the influence of nutritional route on local, systemic, and remote organ (lung) responses after surgical insult. METHODS: Sixty-eight rats were divided into TPN and total enteral nutrition (TEN) groups. The two groups received identical nutrients for 7 days and were then challenged intraperitoneally with 3 x 10(8) Escherichia coli. In the first experiment, the rats were observed for survival. In the second experiment, the rats were killed before (0 hours) challenge or 2 or 6 hours after challenge. Peritoneal exudative cells (PEC) and bronchoalveolar cells (BALC) were harvested and cultured in vitro. Colony-forming units of bacteria in the peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) were determined. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels in serum, PLF, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and cell culture supernatants were measured. RESULTS: The 48-hour survival rate was higher in TEN than in TPN rats. Local immunity was depressed in the TPN group. Bacterial colony counts in PLF were significantly higher in the TPN group than in the TEN group after challenge. The number of PECs was significantly lower, and at 2 hours, local cytokine (TNF and IL-1 alpha) responses were diminished in the TPN group compared with the TEN group at 2 hours. The number of PECs showed a significant positive correlation with levels of local cytokines in the TEN group but not in the TPN group. Elevation of local IFN-gamma was significant from 0 to 6 hours in the TEN group but not in the TPN group. In vitro production of TNF by PEC was impaired in the TPN rats before challenge. Remote organ (lung) responses were suppressed in the TPN group. The number of BALCs and the TNF levels in BALF declined significantly between 0 and 2 hours in the TEN group but not in the TPN group. Interferon-gamma levels in BALF were higher in the TEN group than in the TPN group at 2 hours. Systemic cytokine responses were disturbed in the TPN group. Production of systemic TNF was greater, but the IFN-gamma response was diminished in the TPN group compared with the TEN group after intraperitoneal bacterial challenge. CONCLUSION: Local, systemic, and remote organ (lung) immune responses to intraperitoneal bacterial challenge are suppressed in TPN-treated animals, leading to poor survival after challenge. Enteral nutrition before surgical insult may enhance host immune responses after the insult as compared to parenteral nutrition.