Detection of zearalenone and its metabolites in naturally contaminated follicular fluids by using LC/MS/MS and in vitro effects of zearalenone on oocyte maturation in cattle

Zearalenone (Zen) and its metabolites are estrogenic and may be important factors involved in reproductive disorders in domestic animals. We aimed to (1) simultaneously detect Zen and its metabolites in bovine follicular fluids (FFs) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and (2) examine the in vitro effects of Zen on bovine oocytes. Zen and its metabolites were detected in 6 of 32 normal follicles and 7 of 20 cystic follicles. Bovine oocytes were cultured in a maturation media containing various Zen concentrations (0 [control], 1, 10, 100, and 1000microg/L), fertilized, and cultured further. Maturation rates decreased dose-dependently. Further, maturation of 62 (50%) of 124 oocytes examined in the 1000-microg/L group was arrested in metaphase I, without affecting the fertilization rate. Blastocyst-formation rates did not significantly differ among the groups. Zen and its metabolites were detectable in bovine FFs. High Zen concentration may adversely affect meiotic competence but not the fertilization and development rates.     

Hard-copy (film) versus soft-copy (CRT) reading performance between compressed and uncompressed images: SOLs in abdominal CT images]

The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of soft-copy (CRT) reading and suitable compression. Forty abdominal CT images with a space-occupying lesion (SOL) in liver and 40 normal images were selected for receiver-operating-curve (ROC) analysis. Each image was compressed by JPEG extended mode into 1/10 its original capacity, and then an expanded image was printed on film. Ten radiologists evaluated the presence of liver SOLs (primary and secondary tumors) on soft-copy (CRT) and hard-copy (film) images. Each radiologist reviewed four types of images (original and compressed hard-copy and original and compressed soft-copy images). Values of the area under the curve in the various ROC analyses were 0.858 (FILM) and 0.842 (CRT) for original images and 0.879 (FILM) and 0.846 (CRT) for compressed images. The results of ROC analysis showed better reading performance with hard-copy than soft-copy images, but the difference was not statistically significant. Compressed images showed a higher value (0.879) than original images (0.858), a difference that was statistically significant (p < 0.029) by the paired t-test but not by the jackknife method. The results indicate that soft-copy reading is a clinically acceptable alternative to hard-copy reading. We have had no difficulty in reading abdominal CT images compressed to 1/10 of the original size by the JPEG method. This study was supported in part by a grant from the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare.     

Potential applicability of clinical hyperthermia using a Thermotron-RF8 as assessed from thermal distribution in an agar phantom containing hydroxyapatite

We have already reported the antitumour effect of hydroxyapatite (HAP) containing anticancer drugs. In this study, we found an increased temperature effect around HAP particle(s) in an agar phantom in comparison with other areas when a Thermotron-RF8 (RF generator) was used for heating. Furthermore, it was revealed that the quantity of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) released from HAP containing the drug (DOX-HAP complex) was increased by raising the temperature. These results indicated that the antitumor effect of the DOX-HAP complex + hyperthermia system was greater than that of either the DOX-HAP complex or hyperthermia system alone.     

Biliary endoprosthesis in bile duct obstruction secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma

The effect of biliary endoprosthesis was evaluated in 13 patients with major bile duct obstruction secondary to invasion by hepatocellular carcinoma. In 12 patients major portal vein branches were also invaded by the tumors. After several days' instillation of nasobiliary or percutaneous drainage tubes to flush the bile ducts, biliary endoprosthesis was performed either endoscopically (N=9) or percutaneously (N=4). Significant decrease (less than 50% of initial values) of alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels was observed in eight and two patients on day 20, respectively. Twelve patients died of hepatic failure at 27–132 days (mean 60 days). One patient without portal vein involvement is currently alive at 300 days. Biliary endoprosthesis has a limited role in the palliation of bile duct obstruction secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma, and the prognosis may be influenced mainly by the underlying hepatic function.     

Efficient Gene Suppression by DNA/DNA Double-Stranded Oligonucleotide In Vivo

1. Download : Download high-res image (148KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Depression of drug metabolizing activity in the human liver by interferon-α

Summary The depressant effect of interferon- on drug metabolizing activity in the liver has been investigated in 12 patients with chronic active hepatitis B. 7-methoxy-coumarin (7-MC) O-demethylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin (7-EC) O-deethylase, in specimens obtained by liver biopsy, were measured before and after interferon treatment. 7-MC and 7-EC O-dealkylase activity were significantly reduced after interferon treatment, from 13.4 to 9.24 nmol·g^–1 liver·min^–1, and from 3.22 to 2.16 nmol·g^–1 liver·min^–1, respectively. The magnitude of the fall varied widely between individual patients. The study provides the first direct evidence that interferon- can impair the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes in the human liver.     

Mediastinal lipoma: Report of a case

We experienced a case of mediastinal lipoma, which is considered to be a relatively rare disease. A 3-year-old girl was referred to Gifu University hospital because of fever and an abnormal shadow on her chest X-ray. The chest X-ray clearly showed a well-delineated tumor shadow which seemed to oppress the diaphragm and the right atrium in the right lower lung area. A computed tomogram (CT) of the chest showed a homogeneous mass localized on the right diaphragm and adjoining the right anterior chest wall and heart. The mass showed a fat density measuring about-100 HU. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a high-intensity mass which was almost the same level as the subcutaneous fat on both the T₁-weighted and T₂-weighted images. Thoracotomy was performed and a fatty tumor was found. It arose from the right side of the pericardium and adjoined the diaphragm, the anterior chest wall, and the thymus. There was no adhesion between the tumor and the surrounding organs. It was resected easily and its contents were yellowish and homogeneous. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged 10 days after the operation. Light microscopy showed a lipoma consisting of mature adipose tissue and no malignancy was found.     

Differences in pulmonary function before vs. 1 year after hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for small peripheral lung tumors

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term pulmonary toxicity of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) by pulmonary function tests (PFTs) performed before and after SRT for small peripheral lung tumors. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 17 lesions in 15 patients with small peripheral lung tumors, who underwent SRT between February 2000 and April 2003, were included in this study. Twelve patients had primary lung cancer, and 3 patients had metastatic lung cancer. Primary lung cancer was T1-2N0M0 in all cases. Smoking history was assessed by the Brinkman index (number of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by number of years of smoking). Prescribed radiation doses at the 80% isodose line were 40-60 Gy in 5-8 fractions. PFTs were performed immediately before SRT and 1 year after SRT. Test parameters included total lung capacity (TLC), vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0), and diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO). PFT changes were evaluated in relation to patient- and treatment-related factors, including age, the Brinkman index, internal target volume, the percentages of lung volume irradiated with >15, 20, 25, and 30 Gy (V15, V20, V25, and V30, respectively), and mean lung dose. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in TLC, VC, or FEV1.0 before vs. after SRT. The mean percent change from baseline in DLCO was significantly increased by 128.2%. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a correlation between DLCO and the Brinkman index. CONCLUSIONS: One year after SRT as compared with before SRT, there were no declines in TLC, VC, and FEV1.0. DLCO improved in patients who had been heavy smokers before SRT, suggesting a correlation between DLCO and smoking cessation. SRT seems to be tolerable in view of long-term lung function.     

Establishment and Characterization of a New Ph1-Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line MC3 with Trilineage Phenotype and an Altered p53 Gene

A new Ph¹-positive leukemic cell line (MC3) expressing the P210^ber/abl oncoprotein was established from a patient with CML in blast crisis. The MC3 cells showed the trilineage phenotype of myeloid, lymphoid (CD 19) and megakaryocytoid lineages, and had a proliferative response to rhIL-1 and rhIL-3 in the serum-free culture. These results and the expression of CD34 indicated that the MC3 cells have characteristics of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Recently, it has been documented that alterations of the p53 gene in leukemic cells are frequently detected during the blast crisis of CML. The MC3 cells contained the altered p53 gene. In addition, the original leukemic cells showed the point-mutational activation of the N-ras gene and an additional chromosomal abnormality inv(3q), but the MC3 cells contained no such abnormalities, indicating that not all of the original leukemic cells had these abnormalities. Thus, the MC3 cell line may provide several insights into investigations of the blast crisis in CML as well as hematopoietic progenitor cells.     

Administration of rhG-CSF Increases Complete Remission Rates After CHOP and ProMACE/CytaBOM for Non-Hodghn's Lymphoma: A Pilot Study

To evaluate the clinical effects of the administration of recombinant human granulocyte-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) post chemotherapy for patients with advanced-staged intermediate-grade or high-grade non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma (NHL), we conducted this multicenter study and compared the responses between both the regimens, CHOP as a first-generation chemotherapy and ProMACE/CytaBOM as a third-generation chemotherapy, when combined with the rhG-CSF administration. In this multicenter study, where forty patients were registered, patients in both the CHOP and ProMACE/CytaBOM groups were treated with the original regimen designs without the necessity of reducing drug dosages when combined with the administration of rhG-CSF. The administration of rhG-CSF post both of the cytotoxic therapies brought about much higher rates of complete remission in both the groups (CHOP, 75 percent; ProMACE/CytaBOM, 75 percent), as compared with those of the previous study without the rhG-CSF administration. Regarding response rates according to the International prognostic factor index, the CHOP group showed a lower rate of complete remission in patients with risk factors, compared with ProMACE/CytaBOIM group. This result suggested that the administration of rhG-CSF may offer one important approalch for improving the first-line therapy for aggressive NHL with high risk factors.