A multi-institutional survey of the quality of life after treatment for uterine cervical cancer: a comparison between radical radiotherapy and surgery in Japan

This study aimed to research the post-treatment quality of life (QOL) between radiotherapy (RT)- and operation (OP)-treated early cervical cancer survivors, using separate questionnaires for physicians and patients. We administered an observational questionnaire to patients aged 20–70 years old with Stages IB1–IIB cervical cancer who had undergone RT or OP and without recurrence as outpatients for ≥6 months after treatment. We divided 100 registered patients equally into two treatment groups (n = 50 each). The average age was 53 and 44 years in the RT and OP groups, respectively. The RT group included 34 and 66% Stage I and II patients, respectively, whereas the OP group included 66 and 34% Stage I and II patients, respectively. The OP group included 58% of patients with postoperative RT. Combination chemotherapy was performed in 84 and 48% of patients in the RT and OP groups, respectively. On the physicians’ questionnaire, we observed significant differences in bone marrow suppression (RT) and leg edema (OP). On the patients’ questionnaire, significantly more patients had dysuria and leg edema in the OP group than in the RT group, and severe (Score 4–5) leg edema was significantly higher in the post-operative RT group than in the OP only group. The frequency of sexual intercourse decreased after treatment in both groups. On the patients’ questionnaire, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding sexual activity. These findings are useful to patients and physicians for shared decision-making in treatment choices. The guidance of everyday life and health information including sexual life after treatment is important.     

Variable region gene analysis of 2 human monoclonal-antibodies to gd3

We analyzed the genetic origins of anti-GD3 antibodies by comparing nucleotide sequences of the variable regions from the human monoclonal antibody (mAb), 27-26 (mu, k), established from a patient with leukemia, and another human anti-GD3 mAb, HJM-1 (mu, lambda) derived from a patient with melanoma. The variable regions of 27-26 and HJM-1 were remarkably similar to the germ-line genes. The mAb 27-26 was thought to be derived from germ-line repertoire expanded throughout our experiment. HJM-1 was derived from lymphocytes stimulated by GD3 abundantly expressed on melanoma cells.     

p53 status and prognosis in stage I-IIIa non-small cell lung cancer

To investigate the role of p53 abnormalities in predicting the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on 74 and 67 tumor samples, respectively, from patients with pathological stage I-IIIa NSCLC. An abnormally migrating SSCP band was observed in 21 of 74 (28%) tumor specimens. DNA sequence analysis revealed 23 intragenic mutations including 3 small deletions and 20 point mutations. Immunohistochemical analysis using the DO-7 monoclonal antibody showed abnormal expression of p53 in 27 of 67 (40%) patients. The concordance rate between immunohistochemical and PCRSSCP analyses was 73% (49/67) in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that abnormal expression of p53 may be associated with prolonged survival (p=0.0997 and 0.0099, respectively). In contrast, no relationship was observed between p53 mutation and overall survival (0.6968). These results suggest that p53 status and the survival outcome changes between immunohistochemical and mutational analyses in stage I-IIIa NSCLC.     

Autoradiographic localization of dopamine D2-like receptors in the rabbit pulmonary vascular tree

In the present study, the pharmacological characteristics and the anatomical localization of dopamine D₂-like receptor sites in the extraparenchymal and in the intraparenchymal portion of the rabbit pulmonary artery were investigated using combined radioligand binding and light microscope autoradiography with [³H]-spiroperidol (spiperone) as a ligand. The ligand was bound to sections of the pulmonary artery in a manner consistent with the labelling of dopamine D₂-like receptors with an equilibrium dissociation constant (K _d) of about 2.4±0.07 nmol/l and a maximum density of binding sites of 65±4.5 fmol/mg tissue. In contrast, binding experiments made with sections of rabbit lung did not allow the evaluation of specific binding. Light microscope autoradiography showed the development of specific silver grains within the tunica adventitia of extraparenchymal branches of rabbit pulmonary artery and of large and, to a lesser extent, of medium-sized intraparenchymal branches of the pulmonary artery. No silver grains were found within small branches of the pulmonary artery or of the pulmonary vein. Development of adventitial silver grains was inhibited by compounds active at dopamine receptors. The greater sensitivity to displacement by domperidone, haloperidol, (–)-sulpiride and bromocriptine than to displacement byN-propyl-norapomorphine, quinpirole or clozapine suggests that the [³H]-spiroperidol binding sites observed in extraparenchymal, large and medium-sized branches of the pulmonary artery belong, probably, to the dopamine D₂ receptor subtype. The possible pre-junctional localization of these sites is discussed. Correspondence to: R Amenta     

Benign and malignant myoepithelioma of salivary-gland - an immunohistochemical evaluation

Three myoepitheliomas (MEOs) derived from the salivary glands were examined immunohistochemically. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells were very rare (less than 2% of all tumor cells) in localized tumors of case 1 (epithelioid) (E-oid) cells) and case 2 (plasmacytoid) (P-toid) cells with a small number of spindle-shaped cells), but the percentage of PCNA-positive cells was high (21.8%) in case 3 (clear cells) exhibiting bone destruction. Strong c-myc expression was detected in all the tumors, but p53 or c-erbB-2 protein was not detected in any of the cases. More than half of the clear cells were positive for epidermal growth factor (EGF), while fewer tumor cells in cases 1 and 2 expressed EGF. A few tumor cells in cases 2 and 3 were positive for EGF-receptor (R). Keratin was most prominent in the E-oid cells, The P-toid cells were most strongly positive for S-100 protein followed by the E-oid and clear cells. More than half of the spindle-shaped cells and one-third of the E-oid cells were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), but less than 5% of the clear cells and none of the P-toid cells were positive for alpha-SMA. These results suggest that tumor cells in MEO are heterogenous and have different proliferation activities.     

A study on how a 6-month aerobic exercise program can modify coronary risk factors depending on their severity in middle-aged sedentary women

It is well known that physical exercise can reduce coronary risk factors. But how an aerobic exercise modifies coronary risk factors in relation to severity and physical fitness is still controversial. Fifty-four middle-aged women (mean age, 55 years) completed a 6-month on-site and home-based anaerobic threshold-level exercise program. The changes in coronary risk factor profiles were observed during the pre-intervention and intervention periods. Before the intervention (during control period), most coronary risk factors showed a rather unfavorable trend. After the program, their mean body weight decreased from 56.7 to 55.7 kg (p>0.05) and the proportion of body fat from 30.9 to 27.9% (p>0.05) without any reduction in lean body mass. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased from 129.0 to 125.0 mm Hg (p>0.05) and diastolic blood pressure from 79.5 to 76.6 mm Hg (p>0.05). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) declined from 109.6 to 103.4 mg/dl (p>0.05). Changes in SBP and FPG were most remarkable in their respective worst tertile. Serum lipids improved only modestly. Maximum oxygen uptake increased from 23.6 to 26.1 ml/kg/min (p>0.01). However, no significant correlations were found between changes in coronary risk factors and those in physical fitness. We conclude that the 6-month aerobic exercise program would modify women’s coronary risk factors depending on their initial values, probably independently of the changes in physical fitness.     

Cerebellopontine angle pilocytic astrocytoma mimicking acoustic schwannoma

We describe a case of pilocytic astrocytoma of the cerebellum mimicking an acoustic schwannoma. The tumour protruded into the porus acusticus and enlarged the internal auditory meatus, which is a quite unusual characteristic of glial tumours. Received: 2 February 1999 Accepted: 21 April 1999     

Changes in liver regenerative factors in a case of living-related liver transplantation

Liver regeneration in a patient with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) who underwent living-related partial liver transplantation (LRLT) was investigated regarding hepatic growth factors. The patient was a 16-yr-old Japanese male who developed severe subacute FHF. LRLT was performed using an extended left lobe of the ABO matched patient's mother. In the recipient, the pre-transplant levels of both plasma hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta were extremely high and rapidly decreased following the liver replacement. The liver volume evaluated using a CAT scan increased 195% after 2 wk in graft liver and 110% after 2 wk in the hepatectomized donor. The explanted liver (FHF liver), the liver from donor (normal liver), and the graft liver [the 3rd post-transplant day (POD 3)] were all investigated immunohistochemically. FHF liver: No liver regeneration was observed [proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index (L.I.): 0%]. In the liver, both HGF in the hepatocytes and c-met on the membrane of the hepatocytes were positive. TGF-beta was positive in the hepatocytes and no apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL method. Donor liver (POD 0): Few PCNA stained hepatocytes were detected. No HGF was detected but c-met was clearly detected on the cell membrane of the hepatocytes. Neither TGF-beta nor apoptosis was detected. Graft liver (POD 3): The PCNA L.I. was conspicuous at 40%. HGF was positive in non-parenchymal cells and c-met was positive in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes. TGF-beta was negative while apoptosis was positive in the zone 3 hepatocytes. In conclusion, these findings suggested that the liver of the patient with FHF did not respond to liver regenerative stimulus, in part, through involvement of inhibitor TGF-beta. On POD 3, the transplanted graft was in a vigorous regenerative status in comparison to that in the hepatectomized donor. The HGF/c-met system is thought to be involved in the mechanism of regeneration. Intrahepatic apoptosis was detected in the graft on the 3rd post-transplant day probably due to transient ischemia in the liver, which was not related to the Fas/Fas-ligand system.     

Evidence for regulation of myelin protein synthesis by contact between adjacent Schwann cell plasma membranes

The spontaneously immortalized S16 Schwann cell line expresses higher levels of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and PO glycoprotein and their messenger RNAs when grown at high density than at low density [Sasagasako et al: J Neurochem 1996;66:1432-1439]. This up-regulation of myelin protein expression at high density is not associated with decreased cellular proliferation and may be caused by direct cell-to-cell contact. To investigate the hypothesis that increased mRNA levels for myelin proteins are caused by contact between Schwann cells, sparse S16 cell cultures were treated for 48 h with plasma-membrane-enriched fractions isolated from dense S16 cells. The treatment had no effect on the proliferation of the cells, but MAG and PO mRNAs were elevated 2- and 1.3-fold, respectively, in comparison to untreated cells. These effects on levels of myelin protein mRNAs were eliminated by pretreatment of the membrane fraction with heat or trypsin and were not caused by plasma membrane fractions from NIH 3T3 cells. These data support the hypothesis that homotypic contact between Schwann cells up-regulates expression of myelin proteins and suggest the possibility of autotypic contact-mediated regulation of myelinogenesis by adjacent spiraled membranes of individual Schwann cells.