Effect of epidermal growth factor on cadherin-mediated adhesion in a human oesophageal cancer cell line.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) mediates many pleiotrophic biological effects, one of which is alteration of cellular morphology. In the present study, we examine the possibility that this alteration in cell morphology is caused in part by the dysfunction of cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion using the human oesophageal cancer cell line TE-2R, which expresses E-cadherin and EGF receptor. In the presence of EGF, TE-2R changed its shape from round to fibroblastic and its colony formation from compact to sparse. Vanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, further potentiated the EGF response, whereas herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, interfered with it. Moreover, EGF enabled the cells to invade in organotypic raft culture. These phenomena were accompanied not by decreased expression of the E-cadherin molecule but by a change in its localisation from the lateral adhesion site to the whole cell surface. Both alpha- and beta-catenin, cadherin-binding proteins, were also expressed at the same level throughout these morphological changes. Finally, we examined tyrosine phosphorylation of E-cadherin and alpha- and beta-catenin, and observed tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-catenin induced by EGF. These results suggest that EGF counteracts E-cadherin-mediated junctional assembly through phosphorylation of beta-catenin and modulates tumour cell behaviour to a more aggressive phenotype.     

Antiinflammatory properties of the new antirheumatic agent 4-acetylaminophenylacetic acid

The antiinflammatory activity of 4-acetylaminophenylacetic acid (MS-932) was investigated. MS-932 did not suppress the acute inflammation of carrageenin-induced paw edema in rats or of primary swelling in adjuvant arthritic rats. However, prophylactic treatment with MS-932 inhibited secondary inflammation in adjuvant arthritic rats. MS-932 also restored to normal the weight of the spleen and the serum albumin/globulin ratio of adjuvant arthritic rats. In addition to its prophylactic effect, MS-932 had a therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis. In in vitro tests, MS-932 did not inhibit prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis from arachidonic acid by sheep seminal vesicle microsomal enzyme or superoxide generation by guinea pig neutrophils stimulated with opsonized zymosan. MS-932 had no analgesic effect in mice and no antipyretic effect in rats. These results indicate that MS-932 suppresses adjuvant arthritis through modulation of the immune system.     

Associations of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and carotid atherosclerotic lesions with silent cerebral lesions.

Silent cerebral lesions are increasingly found in mass screenings using MRI and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). The purpose of this paper is to assess the usefulness of two non-invasive clinical tests-carotid ultrasound examination and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measurement-for predicting silent cerebral infarction (SCI) and silent intracranial arterial stenosis. Data were collected on 480 asymptomatic adult subjects who participated in a brain screening program at a single hospital between April 2003 and March 2006. All participants underwent baPWV measurement, B-mode ultrasonography of carotid arteries, MRI, and MRA. Data on 476 (99.1%) subjects were included in the analysis. Among these, 273 (57.4%) were male and the mean age was 51.5 years; 161 (33.8%) had carotid plaque; 33 (6.9%) had increased intima-media thickness (IMT); 99 (20.8%) had SCI; and 7 (1.5%) had intracranial arterial stenosis. The multivariate analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.17), carotid plaque (OR: 2.69; 1.59-4.56), increased IMT (OR: 2.40; 1.02-5.65), and a history of hypertension treatment (OR 2.22; 1.11-4.43) were significantly associated with SCI. Also, increased IMT (OR 9.70: 1.48-63.71) was related to intracranial arterial stenosis. Brachial-ankle PWV was related to SCI (p<0.01) and intracranial stenosis (p=0.01) in univariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis. The presence of carotid plaque and that of increased IMT on ultrasound examination are useful for assessing the risk of SIC. Increased IMT is also predictive of intracranial arterial stenosis.     

Epicardial radiofrequency ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation undergoing simultaneous on-pump beating coronary artery bypass grafting

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting has become an attractive surgical alternative for myocar-dial revascularization because of the advantage of myocardial protection and other benefits of patients. However, it is still regarded as a controversial treatment for the coronary artery disease accompanied by atrial fibrillation (AF). A significant number of patients in need of coronary revascularization have chronic AF. Although the Cox-Maze III procedure is the gold standard for the surgical treatment of AF, few of these patients undergo AF operations at the time of their coronary bypass grafting. We report herein a case of the pulmonary vein isolation to eliminate the AF by means of epicardial radiofrequency ablation combined with 2 vessels coronary artery bypass grafting on the beating heart with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass.     

Results of low- and high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy for T3 mobile tongue cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment results of low-dose-rate (LDR) and high-dose-rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) for T3 mobile tongue cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1974 and 1992, 61 patients with T3 mobile tongue cancer were treated with LDR ISBT using (192)Ir hairpins with or without single pins. In addition, between 1991 and 1999, 14 patients were treated with HDR ISBT. For nine patients treated with ISBT alone, the total dose was 59-94 Gy (median 72 Gy) within one week in LDR ISBT and 60 Gy/10 fractions/5 days in HDR ISBT. For 66 patients treated with a combination therapy of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and ISBT, the total dose was 12.5-60 Gy (median 30 Gy) of EBRT and 50-112 Gy (median 68 Gy) within 1 week in LDR ISBT or 32-60 Gy (median 48 Gy)/8-10 fractions/5-7 days in HDR ISBT. RESULTS: The 2- and 3-year local control rates of all patients were both 68%. The 2- and 3-year local control rates of patients treated with LDR ISBT were both 67%, and those with HDR ISBT were both 71%. The local control rate of patients treated with HDR ISBT was similar to those with LDR ISBT. CONCLUSIONS: ISBT for T3 mobile tongue cancer is effective and acceptable. The treatment result of HDR ISBT is almost similar to that of LDR ISBT for T3 mobile tongue cancer.     

Impaired cardiovascular autonomic function in Parkinson's disease with visual hallucinations.

We assessed the relations of visual hallucinations (VH) to cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The subjects were 37 patients without VH (VH(-)) and 31 with VH (VH(+)). Autonomic function was evaluated on the basis of cardiac 123-radioiodinated metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) uptake and hemodynamic testing with Valsalva maneuver. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and plasma norepinephrine concentrations (NE) were measured by tilt-table testing. 123I-MIBG uptake was lower in VH(+) than VH(-). Hemodynamic studies showed that VH(-) had only cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction, while VH(+) additionally had reduced vasomotor sympathetic functions. The fall in SBP during tilt-table testing was greater in VH(+) than VH(-). NE and its difference in the supine and upright positions were decreased in VH(+). We conclude that cardiac and vasomotor sympathetic dysfunction is more severe in VH(+) than in VH(-). Severe dysfunction in PD with VH is probably attributed to Lewy-body lesions or neuronal loss in sympathetic ganglia, the central autonomic system, or both.     

Bilateral symmetric tonic posturing suggesting propagation to the supplementary motor area in a patient with precuneate cortical dysplasia.

We report a patient manifesting seizures with bilateral symmetric tonic posturing, which were markedly reduced after resection of the left precuneus. A 16-year-old man had sudden onset, complex partial seizures with bilateral symmetric tonic posturing since the age of eight years. Magnetic resonance fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery imaging revealed a hyperintense lesion in left precuneus. In almost all focal seizures recorded during an invasive EEG evaluation, ictal onset was detected from the inferomesial aspect of the lesion, but fast paroxysmal discharges from the ipsilateral supplementary motor area (SMA) were observed just before the clinical onset. After surgical excision of the EEG onset zone, including the lesion, seizure frequency was markedly (> 95%) reduced. By the 20th month after surgery, there were only brief nocturnal seizures involving slight elevation of both shoulders and slight abduction of both arms, with preservation of consciousness occurring once every few days. Invasive EEG findings and surgical outcome suggested that the epileptic activity originating from the epileptogenic zone may have propagated to the symptomatogenic zone including mainly the ipsilateral SMA. In summary, we report an interesting case of bilateral symmetric tonic posturing suggesting propagation to the SMA. MRI and invasive EEG confirmed the epileptogenic focus as a precuneate cortical dysplasia lesion.[Published with video sequences].     

Acute pulmonary embolism after cerebral infarction associated with a mobile thrombus in the ascending aorta

Although the causes of stroke are diverse, thromboembolism due to a mobile aortic thrombus is rare. We describe a surgical case of acute massive pulmonary embolism after critical cerebral infarction associated with a mobile ascending aortic thrombus in a 52-year-old woman. Concomitant surgical removal of the aortic thrombus and pulmonary embolectomy was performed successfully, and the patient has been stable without recurrent thromboembolic complications after 18 months of follow-up.