Expression of matrix metalloproteinase matrilysin (mmp-7) was induced by activated ki-ras via ap-1 activation in sw1417 colon cancer cells

The matrix metalloproteinase matrilysin (MMP-7) is a member of the matrix metallo-proteinase gene family, which is believed to play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. We have previously found that matrilysin mRNA is specifically expressed in colorectal cancers and adenomas and that its message is localized in the tumor cells themselves. We examined the effects of activated Ki-ras oncogene on the expression of matrilysin in colon cancer cells. We showed that both mRNA and the enzymatic activity of matrilysin were induced by the introduction of activated Ki-ras into SW1417 colon cancer cells. To understand the mechanisms regulating this induction, we analyzed alterations of AP-1 activity induced by activated Ki-ras, using the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay. AP-1 activity in SW1417 cells expressing activated Ki-ras was higher than that in control cells. The gel-shift assay also showed higher levels of AP-1 binding protein in SW1417 cells expressing activated Ki-ras than those in control cells. Our results suggest that activated Ki-ras may play a role in inducing expression of matrilysin through an AP-1-dependent pathway in colon cancer cells.     

A case of hypertrophic pachymeningitis, resolved by antimicrobial therapy]

A 65-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus and chronic otitis media developed headache, fever, and hoarseness, all of which did not responded to the oral antibiotics. As stiff neck and lower cranial nerve palsies appeared, bacterial meningitis was suspected. Neurological examination revealed the right hearing disturbance, right recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, left sternocleidomastoid muscle atrophy and bilateral tongue atrophy. The CSF examination revealed mild pleocytosis and elevated protein, but no bacterial organism was cultured from the CSF. CT scans showed bilateral mastoiditis, and the right mastoid process and a posterior part of the petrous bone were eroded, indicating the exposed bony structures to the posterior fossa. MRI scans demonstrated the thickening of the dura mater of the posterior fossa and the right cerebellar tentorium. This is a rare example of bacterial pachymeningitis of the posterior fossa, the clinical symptoms and MRI findings of which resolved solely by antimicrobial agents without corticosteroid.     

A case of recurrent gastric cancer successfully treated with a combination of cisplatin and carmofur

A 51-year-old man with recurrent gastric cancer was treated by combined administration of Cisplatin and Carmofur. The target sites were the abdominal lymph nodes and the area of invasion to the stomach. Cisplatin (50 mg/body/day) was given for 3 days, while Carmofur (400-800 mg/body/day) was administered daily in 1 course. After 1 course of administration, the target tumor was reduced in size and the therapy was continued. A complete response was confirmed by upper gastrointestinal roentgenography, endoscopy and echography after 8 courses of Cisplatin administration. The patient has survived for 2 years 6 months in a state of CR. This case suggests that a combination therapy of Cisplatin and Fluoropyrimidine derivatives might be effective for gastric cancer.     

Is a higher sampling rate desirable in the computer processing of the pediatric electrocardiogram?

A considerably large number of ECGs of pediatric patients had small notches and slurs on QRS complexes. By sampling these ECGs at higher rates, namely 4 KHz, it was shown that the higher rate data accurately reconstructed the notches and slurs on the QRS complex which were occasionally missed or distorted when the sampling rate was 250 Hz. When using the sampling rate of 250 Hz, it was observed that the reduction of the peak-to-peak amplitude of a QRS complex exceeded 0.1 mV in nearly 30 percent of tested cases, even if the ECG did not contain unwanted noise signals. Moreover, if there is relatively more noise in children's ECGs, one should reduce noise in such data in order to prevent measurement errors in the succeeding steps of the computer program. In such circumstances, the higher sampling rate would be preferable since filtering techniques which are used to reduce noise may considerably affect the estimation of the onset, offset and amplitude of the intrinsic ECG signals if the sampling rate is low. The reduction of the price of computers and their peripheral devices may facilitate the adoption of the higher sampling rate. From these considerations it was concluded that the use of the higher sampling rate might be both practical and an effective measure to enhance the diagnostic performance of the computer ECG systems.     

CURRENT STATUS OF DOUBLE BALLOON ENDOSCOPY

Yamamoto and colleagues have developed a novel insertion method of the endoscope, the ‘double balloon method’ for enteroscopy and, recently, a specialized system for the ‘double balloon method’ has been commercialized by Fujinon. The double balloon endoscopy enables visualization of the entire small bowel and also allows for interventional therapy in the small intestine. This method could be used either from the oral or anal approach. Observation of an affected area with controlled movement of the endoscope enables interventions, including biopsies, hemostasis, balloon dilatation, stent placement, polypectomy, and endoscopic mucosal resection. The procedure is safe and useful, and it provides high diagnostic yields and therapeutic capabilities.     

Effects of renin-angiotensin system blockade on macrophage infiltration in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis.

The mechanisms of hypertensive nephrosclerosis are not fully understood. In experimental models of the disease, inflammatory reactions such as macrophage infiltration play an important role. In human hypertensive nephrosclerosis, however, there have been few studies examining the role of inflammation histologically. We investigated whether the number of infiltrating macrophages was increased in human hypertensive nephrosclerosis, and evaluated the effects of a blockade of the renin-angiotensin system on clinical and histological findings. We examined macrophage infiltration using immunohistochemistry in renal biopsy specimens obtained from 16 patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis, 5 patients with IgA nephropathy, 5 patients with membranous nephropathy, and 5 patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. The number of infiltrating macrophages in glomeruli was significantly larger in the patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis than in those with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. The patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis were divided into groups based on their use of antihypertensive agents at the time of renal biopsy. We investigated the effects of antihypertensive agents on clinical findings, macrophage infiltration, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression. There was no difference in clinical findings between the hypertensive groups. The numbers of infiltrating macrophages and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1-positive cells in glomeruli were significantly smaller in patients treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker, whereas calcium channel blockers had no influence on histological findings. In conclusion, inflammation is involved in the progression of human hypertensive nephrosclerosis and the inflammatory process is inhibited by blocking the renin-angiotensin system.