Establishment and characterization of a new human extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma cell line (KMBC).

A new human extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma cell line (KMBC) was established from a serially transplanted tumor in nude mice that originated from a surgically resected tumor from a 73-year-old Japanese man; the cell line has been maintained for 5 five years. KMBC cells proliferate in a monolayered sheet with a population doubling time of 30 hours. Chromosome number was distributed in a range from 37 to 44, with modal numbers of 40 and 41. KMBC cells and the reconstituted tumor in a nude mouse showed moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and possessed various functional characteristics of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. KMBC cells secreted carbohydrate antigen 19-9, tissue polypeptide antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, ferritin, beta 2-microglobulin, fibronectin, and alpha 2-macroglobulin and produced glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase. KMBC is the second established cell line that originated from a human extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma in the world literature, and it will be applicable to various experiments.     

Identification of species of weeds using high performance liquid chromatography in three crime cases

Summary Stains on clothing from two victims which were later on determined as grass stains, and a blade of dried grass taken from another were examined to identify the sites of crimes. The species of each sample was identified based on the characteristic distribution pattern of flavonoids seen on high performance liquid chromatography. The scene of the crime was clearly traced from the evidential material.This paper was presented at the 12th meeting of International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) in Adelaide, Australia (1990)     

Classification of light-evoked distribution of interphotoreceptor matrix

Distributional patterns of the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) under several different light conditions were examined in adult rats using colloidal iron staining. In the dark, the IPM distributed uniformly throughout photoreceptor outer segments including apical halves of inner segments. After exposure to light for 1 min, the colloidal iron-bound IPM concentrated in bands at apical and basal regions of outer segments and at apical inner segments. After exposure to light for 5-30 min, the IPM distributed throughout inner segments, in addition to the distribution at apical and basal outer segments. In excessive light, diffuse IPM staining was observed throughout the photoreceptor layer. These findings suggest that the light response of the IPM around outer segments precedes that around basal inner segments. It is also remarkable that the excessive light-induced distributional pattern of the IPM is similar to patterns in inherited retinal dystrophy and light-induced retinal degenerations.     

Effects of aging in smokers on respiratory function

A test was carried out to investigate the effect of aging in smokers and non-smokers on respiratory function, for which forced vital capacity (FVC), % forced vital capacity (%FVC), % forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0%) and peak expiratory flow volume (PF) were studied. The results obtained were as follows. Subjects selected were 560 adult male smokers (smoking group) and 282 male adults with no smoking habit (non-smoking group) who were aged 22 to 59 years and with no anamnesis of serious heart disease and respiratory disorders. A total a mount of smoking was calculated using Brinkman Index (BI). 1. Each measured value index. Measured values including FVC, FEV1.0% and PF were decreased with aging together with the increase in Brinkman Index (BI). Each measured value showed a low level in smoking group as compared to that in non-smoking group. A significant decrease, in particular, of FEV1.0% shown in those aged 25 to 44 years suggested that air way obstructive ventilatory impairment resulting from smoking is manifested itself in younger generation. 2. Correlation among aging, FEV1.0% and PF. The correlation was as follows, i.e., in non-smoking group Y = -0.354X + 95.83 (r = -0.708) and Y = -0.069X + 10.82 (r = 0.720) in FEV1.0% and in PF respectively. Negative correlation also was observed in smoking group, that is, Y = -0.306X + 90.48 (r = 0.467) and Y= -0.084X + 10.93 (r = -0.594) in FEV1.0% and PF respectively. These indicate the decrease in values with aging, in particular, in smoking group that showed a marked lowering in PF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Gastric metastasis from breast cancer: A pitfall in gastric biopsy specimens

A 49-year-old woman presented with abdominal discomfort and weight loss. Gastroduodenoscopy showed small polypoid lesions and biopsy specimens suggested primary adenocarclnoma with neuroendocrine differentiation. As the patient had a prior history of metachronous breast cancer, It was concluded that the case was metastatlc carcinoma from the breast. The usefulness of a panel of selected Immunohistochemical markers to determine the primary site of the breast in an appropriate clinical setting is greatly emphasized.     

Prostate cancer in patients with Hansen''s disease

Hansen's disease causes testicular failure secondarily, and because of this, it has been considered that prostate cancer would not be found in association. Three of 14 patients with chronic leprosy in Suruga National Sanatorium Hansen's Disease Hospital were found to have prostate cancer. A 72-year-old with lepromatous leprosy was diagnosed with stage T3a prostate cancer and treated with radical prostatectomy after hormonal therapy, plus irradiation. An 80-year-old with lepromatous leprosy was diagnosed with stage T2 prostate cancer and treated with irradiation and follow up only without hormone therapy and surgery because of his low testosterone level and old age. An 82-year-old with borderline leprosy was diagnosed with stage T1c prostate cancer and because of the pathological finding of low Gleason score and his old age, he was treated with hormonal therapy only. Two of the three cases had elevated concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, which suggests that their prostatic cancers might have been equivalent to be under the influence of hormone therapy. Therefore, in aged male patients with Hansen's disease, the follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentrations should be measured, as well as that of prostate-specific antigen, and a prostate biopsy should be also considered if the prostate-specific antigen concentration is increased, even with hypogonadism.     

Dual dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging

A method was devised for obtaining dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted and relaxation rate (ΔR2*) images simultaneously to evaluate regional hemodyn-amics of the brain tumors. On a 1.5-T MR system, dual dynamic contrast-enhanced images were obtained using a gradient echo (dual echo fast field echo) pulse sequence with the keyhole technique to improve temporal and spatial resolution during a rapid bolus injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine. The dynamic T1 contrast images were obtained from the first echo; moreover. ∫ ΔR2*dt values were calculated from the first and the second echo images. The dynamic T1 contrast images provided information about characteristic enhancement pattern (vascularization and disruption of bloodbrain barrier), and the f ΔR2*dt values provided a map of regional blood pool in tumor site, peritumoral edema, and other surrounding regions of the brain. The ability to obtain dynamic contrast-enhanced T1 contrast and ΔR2* imaging at the same time allows optimization of the advantages of each and thereby more information about the microvascular circulation of the brain lesions.     

Intracerebral leukemic mass in acute myelogenous leukemia

Summary Leukemic intracranial space occupying lesions are rare. A 69 year old man with acute myelogenous leukemia was found to have an intracranial leukemic mass at the time of his remission period. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging study demonstrated a large irregular mass in the right temporal lobe. After total removal of the tumor, the patient was treated with whole brain irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy. After surviving for 7 months, the patient expired of hematologic relapse.     

A selective and extremely potent antagonist of the neurokinin-1 receptor

Sendide [Tyr6,D-Phe7,D-His9]-substance P(6-11) has been examined by measurements of ligand binding to crude membrane fractions and by functional tests on the spinally mediated behavioral response. Sendide potently displaced [3H]-labeled substance P (SP) binding to mouse spinal cord membranes in a competitive manner. In vivo, sendide, intrathecally co-injected with SP, competitively antagonized SP-induced scratching, biting and licking. The behaviors elicited by physalaemin, septide and [Sar9, Met(O2)11]-SP were also reduced by co-administration of sendide. Large doses of sendide were needed to reduce the action of neurokinin A, D-septide, neurokinin B and eledoisin. The in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of sendide demonstrated that it is a selective and extremely potent antagonist of the neurokinin-1 receptor.