Serum Interleukin-11 in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer

To clarify whether serum levels of interleukin-11 (IL-11) could be a useful marker in patients with prostate cancer, serum IL-11 was determined in 73 and 23 men with prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), respectively, before treatment. There were no statistical differences of IL-11 levels between patients with prostate cancer and BPH. Patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer had a significantly higher level of IL-11 than those with untreated cancer. Serum IL-11 levels may be a potential tumor marker for prostate cancer progression.     

Three cases of pulmonary hamartoma appearing after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma

We report 3 patients with pulmonary hamartoma, all of whom had undergone nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. A lung tumor was detected 2 to 9-months following nephrectomy. Preoperative diagnosis was pulmonary metastasis from renal cell carcinoma and pulmonary tumor resection was performed in each case. There was a 9- to 12-month interval between the detection and resection of the lung tumor. The histological diagnosis of the lung tumor in all three patient was pulmonary hamartoma. Following the resection of the lung tumor, recurrence was not noted in any of the patients.     

Weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated or not treated with docetaxel: a phase II study

BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel has been approved for 3-weekly administration in Japan. Recent reports suggest that weekly paclitaxel can achieve a higher tumor response and lower toxicity. METHODS: This study was designed to investigate the usefulness and tolerability of weekly paclitaxel by 1-hour infusion in patients with metastatic breast cancer who were previously treated with docetaxel or other anticancer agents. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were enrolled. The overall response rate was 41.2% (14/34, 95% confidence interval: 24.6-59.3%). The median time to progression and the median survival time were 218.5 and 624 days, respectively. One patient developed dyspnea, probably induced by a hypersensitivity reaction. The most common hematological toxicities were leukopenia and neutropenia, although no patients developed grade 4 leukopenia or neutropenia and G-CSF support was not required. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly paclitaxel could be safely administered and achieved a relatively high response rate. Weekly paclitaxel would be a good candidate second-line therapy for recurrent or advanced breast cancer.     

QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROTEIN IN BLOOD SERUM AND IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID OF PSYCHOTICS —THE POLAROGRAPHIC AND ELECTROPHORETIC STUDIES—

SUMMARY By the use of the polarographic method and paper electrophoresis, the proteins in the serum and in the CSF of schizophrenic, epileptic, and general paretic groups were examined. The examinations for the serum were carried out on 157 cases and for the CSF on 139 cases with the use of PLG; for the serum on 157 cases and for CSF on 105 cases with the use of PEP and a normal group were used as the controls. A comparison of the results from the serum and the CSF according to each symptom type group, the qualitative difference of the proteins is discussed.

• 1) In the normal group the difference between the quantity of the proteins in the serum and in the CSF is great with marked qualitative difference. The PLG findings show that the SH group activity of the protein surface is higher in the CSF than in the serum, while those of all three types are higher in the serum. The PEP findings show that the v-fraction is contained only in the CSF and that there is a difference between the fraction patterns in terms of the percentage of the protein and glycoprotein.
• 2) As to the PLG findings, the schizophrenic group as a whole showed protein surface SH group activity in the CSF and mucoprotein SH group activity in the serum higher than the normal group. Consequently, there was a disparity between the CSF/serum ratio of each and that of the normal group. The PEP findings showed an increase of the u-fraction of the CSF above the normal and in most cases a decreases in Al and α₂-Gl in the glycoproteins of both the fluids. As to the CSF/serum ratio, that of the γ- and β-Gl is lower and of α₁-Gl higher than the normal. As to the glycoprotein, Al and α₂-Gl are smaller and α₁-, β-, and γ-Gl greater than the normal. The differences according to the case development and symptom types were discussed.
• 3) In the intermittent period between epileptic seizures, the protein surface SH group activity is higher in the CSF and lower in the serum than in the normal, while the mucoprotein SH group activity is lower in the CSF and higher in the serum than in the normal; with a resulting variation in the CSF/serum ratio. As regards the PEP findings, many cases showed an v-fraction and α₂-Gl increase in the CSF, and an α₁-Gl increase and Al, and α₂-Gl decreases of the glycoproteins. In comparison with the normal group CSF/serum ratio, Al, α₁ and α₂-Gl showed a higher ratio and γ-Gl, a lower ratio, whereas in glycoprotein α₁-, and γ-Gl were higher and α₂- and β₂-Gl lower.
• 4) The general paresis groups examined were chronic cases. In them, both the serum and the CSF showed an increase in the proteins. In spite of the PLG finding that the protein SH group activity in each is higher than the normal, the CSF/serum ratio is nearly the same as the normal. The PEP findings showed many cases of v-fraction, γ-, and α₂-Gl increases in the CSF, and α₁-Gl increase in the serum. As to the glycoprotein, many cases showed α₁-, α₂- and γ-Gl increases and Al, α₂-, and α₂-Gl decreases in the CSF, and a β-Gl increase in the serum. Al and γ-Gl were high in the CSF/serum ratio, and α₁, and β-Gl were low; α₁- and γ-Gl of the glycoprotein, were high, and Al, α₁- and β-Gl low.
• 5) In general, the CSF showed greater changes than the serum in spite of the fact that the former is smaller in quantity than the latter. A discussion was attempted concerning the qualitative difference between the serum and the CSF.

     

Spectral opponency of on-type ganglion cells and the blue preference of Rana pipiens

Spectrally opponent processes of ON-type retinal ganglion cells and the blue preference behavior were identified by parallel physiological and behavioral experiments in Rana pipiens. Spectral opponency of retinal ON-units was measured by recording from optic nerve terminals in the anterior thalamus, while the retina was stimulated by combinations of monochromatic stimuli. Spectral opponency of the blue preference was determined in a Y-maze, using similar combinations of monochromatic stimuli. The opponent processes of the ON-units and blue preference are similar in the spectral ranges of excitatory and inhibitory effects. In both cases the spectral opponency can be described as short wavelength excitation and long wavelength inhibition. The data suggest that the short wavelength excitation is based, at least in part, on the green rod (P432) channel, while the long wavelength inhibition is caused, at least in part, by stimulation of the principal and/or single cone (P580) channel. A model is presented to show how receptor interactions may encode this spectrally opponent process. The results support the hypothesis that the blue preference is dependent on information supplied to the anterior thalamus by ON-type retinal ganglion cells.     

Properties of X- and Y-type retinal ganglion cells in Siamese cats

There is ample evidence that the visual system of the Siamese cat is different from common cats. These abnormalities suggest possible retinal origins, although no documentation exists. In the present study, single unit recordings were made from 91 misrouted and 209 normally-routed optic tract fibers in Siamese cats. Electrophysiological responses of the misrouted fibers did not differ from those found in the normally-routed fibers of the Siamese cat with the exception of depressed responses to contrast reversal stimuli. X/Y classification of units and experiments on receptive field center sizes, intensity-response functions, and responses to flicker failed to demonstrate significant differences between the misrouted and normally-routed fibers in Siamese cats. These results were not affected by different degrees of interocular misalignment exhibited by the Siamese cat studied. Response properties of retinal ganglion cells in Siamese cats, however, were found to be quite abnormal when compared with common cats. Only 14% (42/300) of all units studied were Y-cells in Siamese cats in comparison to 35% (60/170) in common cats. The percentage of Y-units also was correlated with the severity of interocular misalignment in Siamese cats, i.e. the greater the misalignment of the eyes, the lower the percentage of Y-cells. Experiments on response to contrast reversal stimuli, intensity-response functions and responses to flicker revealed that the ganglion cells in Siamese cats are not as responsive as those in common cats.     

Episodic hyponatremia in mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes (MELAS)

Various organ involvements and endocrinologic abnormalities associated with electrolyte imbalance, including hyponatremia, are seen in patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes (MELAS); however, the clinical significance of hyponatremia in these patients is rarely reported. We analyzed the serum sodium concentration profiles and clinical and laboratory data of seven patients with MELAS. We found that hyponatremia occurred episodically in four of the seven patients from an early stage of the disease. We identified excessive sodium loss in urine to be associated with the hyponatremic episodes and the causes of hyponatremia in two patients as relative adrenal insufficiency, acute renal failure, and serious paralytic ileus. However, even extensive examinations failed to reveal the cause in other patients. Because severe hyponatremia can cause serious complications, clinicians should pay attention to serum sodium levels and maintain them properly in patients with MELAS.     

Effects of Goshajinkigan on insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes

We investigated the effects of Goshajinkigan (GJG), a Chinese herbal medicine, on insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-R) and the euglycemic insulin clamp procedure. Daily oral administration of GJG (7.5 g/day) was performed for 1 month in 71 type 2 diabetes patients: the GJG treatment group. HOMA-Rs were calculated before and after 1 month of GJG treatment and compared with those of 44 controls who were matched in terms of sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and HbA1c levels with the experimental group. In 64 patients out of the GJG treatment group, HOMA-R was calculated 1 month after discontinuation of treatment. In addition, euglycemic clamp was conducted in eight patients before and after the GJG treatment. HOMA-R was 4.78+/-0.37 (means+/-S.E.) before GJG treatment and significantly decreased to 4.02+/-0.25 after GJG treatment (P=0.019). No significant change was observed in the control group. HOMA-R returned to the pre-treatment level (P=0.018) 1 month after GJG treatment discontinuation. Glucose infusion rates and metabolic clearance rates determined by the high-dose euglycemic clamp increased after 1 month of GJG treatment (from 9.6+/-1.1 to 11.1+/-0.7 mg/kg/min, P=0.045 and from 7.9+/-0.8 to 9.1+/-0.8 ml/kg/min, P=0.046, respectively). These results indicate that GJG administration might be useful for improving insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes.     

Ovarian vessel dilatation with ovarian mass on MR images: influence of pelvic venous plexus dilatation

PURPOSE: We assessed the value of analyzing visualization of the ovarian vessels in relation to the features of ovarian masses using MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 74 patients with 91 masses (61 benign lesions and 30 malignant lesions) were evaluated. Ovarian masses were classified using the following features: 1) benignancy, 2) characterization, and 3) maximum diameter. We assessed the relationship between visualization and the diameter of the ipsilateral ovarian vessels and the features of ovarian masses. In addition, we assessed the relationship between visualization and the diameter of ovarian vessels and pelvic venous plexus (PVP) dilatation. RESULTS: Regardless of tumor laterality, 82% of ovarian vessels were visualized (121/148 vessels) on MR images. There was a significant relationship between the average diameter of ovarian vessels and dilatation of PVP (p<0.001). In patients without dilatation, there was a stronger relationship between ovarian vessel average diameter and benignancy (p=0.007), and the character of ovarian mass (solid versus cystic; p<0.05, mixed versus cystic; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: We confirmed a strong relationship between the diameter of ovarian vessels and dilatation of PVP. If ovarian vessels are dilated in patients without dilatation of PVP, we could suggest the possibility of malignant ovarian tumor.