Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay of Pro-gastrin-releasing Peptide for Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in Comparison with Neuron-specific Enolase Measurement

Our previous study demonstrated that pro-gastrin-releasing peptide(31–98), or ProGRP, is a specific tumor marker in patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Using a newly developed, highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for ProGRP, we analyzed 1,446 samples including those obtained from 478 lung cancer patients to evaluate the clinical usefulness of this ELISA. Several properties indicated that ProGRP is a useful tumor marker for SCLC. First, ProGRP was specifically elevated in SCLC patients. In non-SCLC patients and patients with non-tumorous lung diseases, its serum level was very rarely elevated. Secondly, ProGRP was a reliable marker, in terms of the marked elevation of serum ProGRP levels in SCLC patients. Thirdly, serum ProGRP levels were elevated in SCLC patients even at a relatively early stage of this disease. Fourthly, changes in the serum ProGRP level showed an excellent correlation with the therapeutic responses in SCLC patients. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is accepted as a tumor marker of SCLC patients. With the aim of comparing ProGRP and NSE as tumor markers for SCLC patients, we measured serum NSE levels in all samples collected in the present study. We found that ProGRP was superior to NSE in terms of sensitivity, specificity and reliability. Therefore, we consider that ProGRP can play a major role as a clinical tumor marker for SCLC patients.     

A case report of aorto-pulmonary window associated with atrial septal defect]

The patient was a one-year-old boy, who underwent surgery with a diagnosis of atrial septal defect (ASD). During operation, aorto-pulmonary window (A-P window) which had not been detected by the preoperative examinations, was found. Therefore, the A-P window was divided prior to closing ASD. The patient is in good condition six months after the operation. The causes of the inaccurate preoperative diagnosis were discussed.     

Preferential consumption of heparin cofactor II in disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

We measured plasma heparin cofactor II (HC II) activity in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) due to various underlying diseases together with the levels of antithrombin III (AT III), pseudocholinesterase (a marker of hepatic synthesis), and various haemostatic molecular markers. Both HC II and AT III were decreased in DIC secondary to all the underlying diseases studied, except acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), when compared with healthy subjects. The lowest HC II and AT III levels was observed in coagulopathy secondary to liver disease, the HC II level in sepsis was the second lowest. In DIC due to APL, the decrease in HC II was not accompanied by a decrease in AT III. Thus, we divided all 124 samples tested into APL and non-APL groups. The HC II level correlated positively with fibrinogen and plasminogen in both the APL and non-APL groups. In the APL group, the HC II level had a significant negative correlation with the thrombin-AT III complex (TAT), fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products, and D-dimer levels as well as the prothrombin time, while AT III showed no correlations with any of the haemostatic parameters. These results suggest that HC II may be consumed preferentially by thrombin in APL patients with DIC, and thus may spare the consumption of AT III. Accordingly, HC II seems to be a superior indicator of DIC than AT III in APL patients. Moreover, replacement therapy with HC II instead of AT III may be useful to treat DIC associated with APL. In the non-APL group, the HC II levels were positively correlated with the levels of AT III and pseudocholinesterase activity. This indicates that plasma HC II levels are closely related not only to consumption coagulopathy but also to hepatic synthetic activity, as is the case for plasma AT III.     

Long-term toxicity/carcinogenicity of musk xylol in B6C3F1 mice

The long-term toxicity/carcinogenicity of musk xylol, a synthetic nitro musk, was examined in B6C3F1 mice of both sexes. Musk xylol was administered at dietary levels of 0 (control), 0.075 or 0.15% for 80 wk. The overall tumour incidences in all treated groups of both sexes were significantly higher than those in the corresponding controls. Combined malignant and benign liver cell tumours were clearly increased in both sexes, and in males a positive significant trend was also noted for the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinomas. In males the incidence of Harderian gland tumours was also significantly greater in treated groups than in controls. Some other neoplasms, such as lung tumours in both sexes and Harderian gland tumours and lymphomas in females, occurred in greater numbers in the treated groups, although the differences were not statistically significant in comparison with the controls. In addition, the incidences and total numbers of malignant tumours were significantly increased in treated groups of both sexes, although the increases were not dose dependent. The results demonstrated that musk xylol is carcinogenic in B6C3F1 mice when given at dose levels of 0.075 or 0.15% in the diet for 80 wk.     

High molecular weight aggregate from cataractous and normal human lenses: characterization by antisera to lens crystallins

High molecular weight and low molecular weight fractions were obtained from total soluble proteins of human cataractous and normal lens nuclei. These fractions were analyzed using a solid phase radioimmunoassay that employed monospecific antisera to alpha, beta and gamma crystallins. Relative to the high molecular weight fraction from normal lens nuclei, the high molecular weight fraction from cataractous lens nuclei showed decreased binding to antisera specific for beta and gamma crystallins. These results demonstrate that the polypeptides of the high molecular weight fraction comprise a special class of polypeptides that have preferentially undergone covalent and/or structural changes during the process of human cataractogenesis.     

High Cell-Density Culture System of Hepatocytes Entrapped in a Three-Dimensional Hollow Fiber Module with Collagen Gel

Abstract: A compact three-dimensional (3D) module is needed for hepatocyte culture in order to develop an effective hybrid artificial liver system that can retain hepa-tocellular structure and differentiated functions. We treated the 3D module with collagen gel to entrap rat hepatocytes. This method yielded a high hepatocellular density (2 times 10⁷ cells/ml) over a period of 14 days and maintained the secretion of albumin and ureogenesis at the same level as the control monolayer method. The ammonia removal remained at 43% of the Day 0 value over 8 days of perfusion. Our data show that this approach may be useful for liver support therapy in an ex-tracorporeal circuit.     

Papillary adenoma of type 2 pneumocytes

A case of papillary adenoma of type 2 pneumocytes is reported. A 57-year-old man had an unusual coin lesion in the periphery of the right lung without any symptoms. When detected in a mass survey examination, it was approximately 1.5 cm in diameter, well circumscribed, and located in S4, involving the sixth-order bronchus of B4. Light-microscopic examination revealed cuboidal tumor cells arranged in a papillary pattern. Ultrastructurally, the cells had characteristic osmiophilic lamellar bodies. By immunoperoxidase staining, the tumor cells were shown to have intracytoplasmic surfactant apoproteins. The postoperative course was uneventful, and there is no evidence of disease 8 years later.     

A new tetracycline antibiotic with antitumor activity. II. The structural elucidation of SF2575.

The structure of a new antitumor antibiotic SF2575, has been determined by spectroscopic analyses of the antibiotic and its alkaline degradation products. The relative stereochemistry has been confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The antibiotic has a 2-naphthacenecarboxamide carbon skelton which is structurally related to the tetracycline antibiotics and it is unique by bearing C-glycoside, salicyclic acid and angelic acid moieties.