How can we make mass-screening of stomach cancer more efficient using epidemiological results?

From an observation of personnel we expect epidemiological studies make mass-screening of stomach cancer more efficient and suppose they should be done as to following aspects: (1) To decide the most efficient interval of mass-screening, investigating the frequency distribution of "Saving Duration" on many stomach cancers that is the duration when a stomach cancer is both detectably by screening and curable. (2) To decide who should undergo stomach examination quantifying cancer-risks of individuals with the use of epidemiological results. (3) To make epidemiological studies more sensitive and useful, classifying stomach cancers by microscopic pathological type, macroscopic one or "Saving Duration". (4) To settle a statistical standard of epidemiological results which is demanded for them to be useful in mass-screening.     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the placenta is not elevated in pre-eclamptic patients despite its elevation in peripheral blood

PROBLEM: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is present in human placental and uterine cells at the early and late stages of gestation and promotes the regulation of trophoblast growth and invasion. We evaluated whether TNF-alpha levels in the placenta and blood of pre-eclamptic women differed from those with normal pregnancies. METHOD OF STUDY: The subjects were 39 pregnant women carrying single fetuses (21 normal-pregnant and 18 pre-eclamptic patients). Their average gestational age at entry was 38-39 weeks. Peripheral blood was collected before the onset of labor and separated serum was stored at -20 degrees C. A tissue segment of the placenta was cut and frozen in liquid nitrogen immediately after delivery at -80 degrees C. The frozen placental tissue was added to phosphate-buffered saline. The tissue was fully homogenized and centrifuged. Separated supernatant was stored at -80 degrees C. TNF-alpha levels in separated serum and TNF-alpha and total protein (TP) levels in separated supernatant were measured. The presence of TNF-alpha in the placenta was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in five pre-eclamptic and five normal-pregnant patients. RESULTS: Serum TNF-alpha levels were higher in pre-eclampsia than in normal pregnancies. However, TNF-alpha/TP levels in the placenta did not differ significantly between the two groups. As for TNF-alpha immunostaining of trophoblastic cells in the placenta, it was weak in three and moderate in two of the normal pregnancies, while it was absent in two, weak in one, and moderate in two in the pre-eclampsia group. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated no significant increase in TNF-alpha/TP levels in the placenta in pre-eclampsia despite a significant increase in serum TNF-alpha levels. There was no strong immunostaining for TNF-alpha detected by immunohistochemistry in the pre-eclampsia group. These findings suggest that TNF-alpha in the placenta is not a key cytokine to interfere with normal trophoblast invasion into the myometrium in pre-eclampsia, and that sources other than the placenta may contribute to the elevated levels of TNF-alpha found in the circulation of pre-eclamptic patients.     

Salt-dependent hemagglutination with bluetongue virus

Summary Hemagglutination (HA) titers of bluetongue virus (BTV) were increased by higher sodium chloride molarity diluent. HA inhibiting antibodies to BTV hemagglutination proved to be type specific.With 1 Figure     

P16-immunostaining pattern as a predictive marker of lymph node metastasis and recurrence in early uterine cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between P16-immunostaining patterns and clinicopathological factors in early uterine cervix cancers and assessed whether P16-immunostaining patterns predict the prognosis of the patients with early uterine cervix cancers. METHODS: Twenty-nine early squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) specimens of the uterus were examined using immunohistochemistry for P16 expression. The P16-immunostaining pattern was classified into two groups: the homogeneous type and the heterogeneous type. P16-immunostaining patterns were evaluated in different parts of the carcinoma in situ (CIS): the center of the tumor and the front interface of the infiltrating tumor. RESULTS: All specimens were of the homogeneous type in CIS. The P16-immunostaining pattern was significantly of the heterogeneous type in the front interface of the infiltrating tumor with lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence. Regarding the P16-immunostaining patterns in the front interface of the infiltrating tumor, the patients with the heterogeneous type showed a significantly worse prognosis than the patients with the homogeneous type. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with early uterine cervical SCC may be predicted by evaluating the P16-immunostaining pattern in the front interface of the infiltrating tumor.     

Calcitonin inhibits proton extrusion in resorbing rat osteoclasts via protein kinase A

Although calcitonin is well known to be a potent inhibitor of bone resorption, it remains unknown how it regulates osteoclastic H(+) transport. In this study, we examined the effects of calcitonin on H(+) extrusion in cultured rat resorbing osteoclasts using an intracellular pH (pHi) indicator, BCECF [2'7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)- 5-carboxyfluorescein]. Resorbing osteoclasts were identified by their formation of resorbing pits on calcium phosphate-coated quartz coverslips. Both basal pHi and H(+) extrusion activity were significantly higher compared to non-resorbing osteoclasts. Two types of H(+)-extruding systems were identified by pharmacological and immunocytochemical means: a bafilomycin-A(1)-sensitive and an amiloride-sensitive system [H(+) extrusion mediated by a vacuolar type proton pump (V-ATPase) and by a Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE), respectively]. Calcitonin inhibited both H(+) extrusion activities in a dose-dependent manner and this action was mimicked by protein kinase A (PKA) activators, but not by protein kinase C (PKC) activators. Pretreatment with PKA inhibitors completely suppressed calcitonin-induced inhibition, whereas neither PKC inhibitors nor calcium chelators suppressed it. These results indicate that calcitonin inhibits H(+) extrusion generated by V-ATPase and NHE via PKA activation. These inhibitory mechanisms of H(+) transport by calcitonin are important for the regulation of bone resorption.     

SIGN-R1, a novel C-type lectin expressed by marginal zone macrophages in spleen,mediates uptake of the polysaccharide dextran

The marginal zone macrophages of the spleen are implicated in the clearance of polysaccharides, but underlying mechanisms need to be pinpointed. SIGN-R1 is one of five recently identified mouse genes that are homologous to human DC-SIGN and encode a single, external, C-terminal C-type lectin domain. We find that a polyclonal antibody to a specific SIGN-R1 peptide reacts primarily and strongly with a subset of macrophages in the marginal zone of spleen and lymph node medulla. In both sites, SIGN-R1 exists primarily in an aggregated form, resistant to dissociation into monomers upon boiling in SDS under reducing conditions. Upon transfection into three different cell lines, high-mol.-wt forms bearing SIGN-R1 are expressed, as well as reactivity with ER-TR9, a mAb previously described to react selectively with marginal zone macrophages. SIGN-R1-expressing macrophages preferentially sequester dextrans following i.v. injection. Likewise, when phagocytic cells are enriched from spleen and tested in culture, dextran is selectively endocytosed by a subset of very large SIGN-R1(+) cells representing approximately 5% of total released macrophages. Uptake of FITC-dextran by these macrophages in vivo and in vitro is blocked by ER-TR9 and polyclonal anti-SIGN-R1 antibodies. Following transfection with SIGN-R1, cell lines become competent to endocytose dextrans. The dextran localizes primarily to compartments lacking transferrin receptor and the LAMP-1 CD107a panlysosomal antigen. Therefore, SIGN-R1 mediates the uptake of dextran polysaccharides, and it is predominantly expressed in the macrophages of the splenic marginal zone and lymph node medulla.     

Parosteal fasciitis of the clavicle

A rare case of parosteal fasciitis arising from the periosteum of the left clavicle in a 27-year-old woman is reported. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the lesion surrounding the periosteum of the clavicle. The lesion was iso-intense with muscle on T(1)-weighted images and hyperintense on T(2)-weighted images. At surgery, the lesion was discovered to be densely adherent with the periosteum, and excised along with the periosteum. Histopathological examination revealed the proliferation of myofibroblasts in a vague storiform or short fascicular pattern. A large amount of extravasated erythrocytes, and a few lymphocytes were present in the matrix. There were some foci of abundant myxoid materials. Immunohistochemical study showed the cells to be positive for vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin and HHF35, but negative for desmin. There was no local recurrence at a 6 months postoperative follow up.     

Polymer conformation and NMR chemical shifts, 9. Poly(α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone)

The conformational energies of poly(α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone) are calculated and compared with those of poly(methyl methacrylate). In spite of the structural resemblance of these two polymers, the patterns of the energy contour maps are clearly distinguishable from each other; the energy barriers between rotational isomeric states are appreciably higher in the former than in the latter polymer. The calculation indicates large non-bonded interactions between the protons in one lactone ring and those in the adjacent lactone rings. The broad NMR spectrum of poly(α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone) apparently reflects its rigid conformational structure. ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts are calculated by theoretical shielding calculations based on conformational analysis. Much lower magnetic field resonances of the O? CH₂ and α-CH₂ carbons in poly(α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone) as compared with those of the O? CH₃ and α-CH₃ carbons in poly(methyl methacrylate) are well reproduced by the calculation. The shift to lower magnetic field is mainly attributed to paramagnetic shielding derived from the interaction between O? CH₂ carbon and α-CH₂ carbon. Tacticity- and conformation-dependent ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of poly(α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone) are well interpreted on the basis of the conformational analysis.     

Epithelioid leiomyosarcoma of the external deep soft tissue

Epithelioid leiomyosarcoma in the external deep soft tissue is extremely rare. Most epithelioid leiomyosarcomas occur in the uterus. We present a case of epithelioid leiomyosarcoma occurring in the muscle of the thigh of a 78-year-old man. Histologically, the tumor predominantly consisted of round or polygonal cells arranged in sheets with a focal spindle cell component. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the tumor cells expressed vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and alpha-sarcomeric actin. The tumor was negative for desmin, S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, pan-keratin, epithelial membrane antigen, CAM 5.2, HMB-45, leukocyte common antigen, factor VIII-associated antigen, and CD34. Electron microscopically, some tumor cells contained abundant actin-type filaments in their cytoplasm.