Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies monospecific to MMTV LTR orf protein produced in E. coli.

Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific to an open reading frame of the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat were generated using an open reading frame-beta-galactosidase fusion protein produced in E. coli. Both antibodies reacted with the open reading frame-beta-galactosidase fusion protein but not with beta-galactosidase alone using an immunoblotting technique. It is concluded that these antibodies were specific for the protein encoded by the open reading frame of the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat.     

I.v. fentanyl decreases the clearance of midazolam

We have examined the effect of fentanyl on the pharmacokinetics of midazolam in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Thirty patients were allocated randomly to receive fentanyl 200 micrograms and midazolam 0.2 mg kg-1 (fentanyl group, n = 15) or placebo and midazolam 0.2 mg kg-1 (placebo group, n = 15) in a double-blind manner for induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide and isoflurane. Systemic clearance of midazolam was decreased by 30% (P = 0.002) and elimination half-time was prolonged by 50% (P = 0.04) in the fentanyl group compared with the placebo group. There were no differences in the distribution half-time or volume of distribution at steady state between the two groups. These findings indicate that elimination of midazolam was inhibited by fentanyl during general anaesthesia.      

Analysis of long-term social rehabilitation of brain contusion]

164 patients with brain contusion were evaluated with respect to social rehabilitation. 70 out of 134 patients (66.7%), said to have had good recovery or moderate disability by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), returned to full or partial employment. Factors such as age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at admission, duration of unawareness, fibrin and fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) were the most important in predicting social recovery. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) was applied in 33 patients. The IQs of the patients who returned to their job fully tended to be higher than those who could not. In the majority of patients, impaired capacity for work was caused not only by physical deficits, but by mental retardation described as such as IQ score.     

Suppressive effect of vitamin E on lipid peroxidation in halothane-administered guinea pig liver.

The effect of vitamin E on halothane-induced liver damage was studied in guinea pig halothane hepatitis. Twenty animals were divided into 3 groups, consisting of a control group, a halothane group and a vitamin E + halothane (H) group. The animals in the control group (n = 6) were allowed to inhale air only. The animals in the halothane group (n = 6) and the vitamin E + H group (n = 8) were allowed to inhale 1% halothane with air. Animals in the vitamin E + H group were additionally injected with 30 mg kg-1 of vitamin E 30 minutes prior to inhalation of halothane. Blood was aspirated from the heart immediately after sacrificing to measure the serum activity of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT). A microsomal suspension was prepared from the excised liver. Then the amount of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive products in the microsomes were measured. The amount of tissue TBA-reactive products was increased by inhalation of halothane. The increase in the amount of TBA-reactive product was inhibited by the administration of vitamin E. The serum GPT activity was increased by halothane inhalation. Increased serum GOT and GPT activity were inhibited by the administration of vitamin E. These results demonstrated that vitamin E suppressed halothane-induced liver damage in the guinea pig by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.     

Presence of ghost cells and the Wnt signaling pathway in odontomas

BACKGROUND: Although it has been reported that ghost cells are present in odontomas, the generation mechanism of these cells is unclear. To evaluate the presence of ghost cells and involvement of the Wnt signaling pathway, we examined the expression of hard keratins, beta-catenin and Lef-1 in odontomas. METHODS: Sixty-nine cases of odontoma were examined immunohistochemically with the use of antibodies against human hair proteins, beta-catenin and Lef-1. RESULTS: Expression of hard keratins was found only in the cytoplasm of ghost cells in 46 (66.7%) of the 69 odontomas. Compound odontomas (78.8%) showed a higher incidence of ghost cells than complex odontomas (29.4%). Histopathologically, ghost cells were found within odontogenic epithelium adjacent to immature enamel and in the centre of Liesegang-ring-like calcified materials. Expression of beta-catenin and Lef-1 was observed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of odontogenic epithelial cells adjacent to the ghost cells in immature odontomas. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that odontoma is a hard keratin-expressing tumor-like lesion, and that the Wnt signaling pathway may be involved in the formation of ghost cells in odontomas.     

Breast cancer detected by mass screening using physical examination alone

In Tokushima prefecture, mass screening for breast cancer has been conducted using physical examination alone since 1970. Breast cancer was detected in 116 of 111,571 screened women up until 1984. The detection rate was 0.08 per cent in total examinees, 0.13 per cent in initial examinees, and 0.04 per cent in subsequent examinees. The patients with breast cancer were divided into three groups, i.e., 62 cases detected at initial screening, 28 cases detected at subsequent screenings, and 26 interval cancer cases. 510 patients with breast cancer in the outpatient clinic were serving as controls. The stage classification and nodal involvement were significantly different between the mass screening group and the control group, but not significantly different among the three groups. The interval cases were detected at an early stage. The survival rates were not significantly different between the three groups and the control group. Efforts should be doubled to educate women about the proper method of breast self-examination in order to promote the early detection of breast cancer.