针灸治疗溃疡性结肠炎的临床观察

目的 观察针灸治疗溃疡性结肠炎的疗效。方法与结果 采用温针灸：下合穴,募穴为主,配合辨证取穴,内服中成药,治疗溃疡性结肠炎62例,总有效率91．94％,T细胞亚群治疗后也接近正常。结论 显示本法有促进人体免疫系统内环境趋于平衡的作用。     

A dose-finding study of glycosylated G-CSF (Lenograstim) combined with CHOP therapy for stem cell mobilization in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) reinfusion has been widely used for hematopoietic reconstitution after high-dose chemotherapy. However, the optimal dose of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for PBSC mobilization in combination with chemotherapy for autograft remains unknown. METHODS: To find the optimal dose of glycosylated G-CSF (lenograstim) for PBSC mobilization in combination with chemotherapy for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), we conducted a dose-finding study on 43 newly diagnosed patients who had unfavorable prognostic factors. They received four to six courses of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone combined with lenograstim every 2 weeks (biweekly CHOP therapy). PBSC apheresis was started after the third course of biweekly CHOP therapy. Lenograstim was given daily from day 3 until the day of the last apheresis. The optimum dose of lenograstim was assessed based on mobilization efficacy and safety profiles at a daily single dose of 2, 5 and 10 microg/kg for eight patients in each level. RESULTS: The collected number of CD34+ cells in the first apheresis products was higher in the 5 microg/kg group than in the 2 microg/kg group (median, 4.22 x 10(6) vs 2.49 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg, P = 0.051). The highest dose of 10 microg/kg (median, 2.99 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg) failed to show a dose dependence in PBSC mobilization. The efficacy and safety of the 5 microg/kg dose were further confirmed in an additional 19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the recommended dose of lenograstim for PBSC mobilization with CHOP therapy in untreated NHL is 5 microg/kg.     

Herbimycin A Suppresses the Reduction of Gap-junctional Intercellular Communication Induced by Tumor-promoting Phorbol Ester in 3T3-L1 Cells

We have examined the suppressive effect of herbimycin A on the reduction of gap-junctional Intercellular communication that is induced by a tumor-promoting phorbol ester in 3T3-L1 cells. Most cells in growth arrest participated in dye-coupling, as evaluated by the transfer between cells of a fluorescent dye (Lucifer Yellow CH). Treatment of cells with 0.25 μg/ml herbimycin A slightly enhanced the dye-coupling. This enhancement required treatment for periods as long as 24 h. Addition of 100 ng/ml 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) caused a rapid reduction of dye-coupling. However, addition of TPA did not suppress dye-coupling in cells pretreated for more than 24 h with herbimycin A. Pretreatment of cells for less than 6 h with herbimycin A did not suppress the TPA-induced reduction of dye-coupling. These results suggest that herbimycin A suppresses the reduction of gap-junctional intercellular communication that is induced by TPA through enhancement of the ability of the cells to participate in gap-junctional intercellular communication     

Japanese trial for classification of gestational trophoblastic disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of the Japanese Diagnostic Score to differentiate choriocarcinoma clinically without histologic findings from persistent gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed the clinical records and histologic reports on all 809 patients with persistent GTD treated with surgery and chemotherapy in Japan. There were 347 cases of choriocarcinoma and 462 cases of invasive mole with histologic confirmation. We retrospectively applied the Japanese Diagnostic Score to all patients for detection of choriocarcinoma in persistent trophoblastic disease. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the score for choriocarcinoma was 92.2%. The specificity was 93.5%. This retrospective study showed that the accuracy of this scoring system to differentiate true malignant choriocarcinoma clinically from both low risk and high risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia without histologic findings was 92.9%. CONCLUSION: Our trial to differentiate choriocarcinoma clinically from persistent GTD without histologic findings using a unique scoring system was successful. Proper management in the early stages strongly influences the outcome of these diseases. This scoring system should be very useful in comparing the incidence and survival rate of choriocarcinoma between nations.     

Inadequate tolerance induction may induce pre-eclampsia

The fetus is semi-allograft to the maternal host; therefore, a system of tolerance must be present during pregnancy. Epidemiological findings support a relationship between pre-eclampsia and the failure of tolerance induction. For induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-specific tolerance, long-term exposure to seminal fluid, which contains paternal soluble MHC class I antigens, may induce paternal MHC class I-specific tolerance. Furthermore, soluble HLA-G1, which induces the deletion of CD8(+) T-cells, and the combination of maternal killer-immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) on NK cells and fetal HLA-C, which affects the balance between inhibition and activation signals of NK cells, regulatory CD8(+) T cells, and regulatory NK cells, may play very important roles in the induction of MHC class I-specific tolerance. On the other hand, exposure to sperm, which express paternal HLA-DR, and trophoblastic debris, which contain intracellular fetal HLA-DR, may induce paternal MHC class II-specific tolerance. In this process, CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg)-cells play central roles. In this review, we discuss the relationship between the risk of pre-eclampsia and tolerance induction.     

Prevention of surgical adhesions with gelatine sealing sheet in a canine adhesion model

Open in a separate window OBJECTIVESAlthough reoperation has been increasingly performed in cardiovascular surgery in recent years, preventing surgical adhesions remains an unsolved complication. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether gelatine sealing sheets are more effective than fibrin sealing sheets in preventing surgical adhesions.METHODSBilateral femoral arteries of 20 beagle dogs under general anaesthesia were pricked with syringe needles, and gelatine and fibrin sealing sheets were applied on the bleeding points to make canine adhesion models. The femoral artery was harvested after 4 and 12 weeks to evaluate adhesion formations. The adhesive grade was quantified by scoring the area and strength of adhesion tissues. Histological staining was performed to examine the structural features of surgical adhesions.RESULTSSignificantly fewer macroscopic adhesions were observed with gelatine sealing sheets than those with fibrin sealing sheets at 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Microscopically, CD3+ T lymphocytes at 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively in gelatine sealing sheets were significantly lower than those in fibrin sealing sheets. Microvessel density determined by CD34 at 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively in gelatine sealing sheets was also significantly lower than those in fibrin sealing sheets.CONCLUSIONSThe gelatine sealing sheets are more effective than the fibrin sealing sheets in preventing surgical adhesions. These findings suggest that the gelatine sealing sheet may help prevent adhesions and thus be a therapeutically effective biomaterial in vascular surgery.     

Dietary intake of seaweed and minerals and prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Japanese pregnant females: baseline data from the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study

PURPOSE: It may be worthwhile to assess the possible protective effect of the traditional Japanese diet on allergic disorders. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between dietary intake of seaweed, vegetables, fruit, antioxidants, fiber, and minerals and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Study subjects were 1002 Japanese pregnant women. Allergic rhinitis (including cedar pollinosis) was defined as present if subjects had received drug treatment at some point during the previous 12 months. Information on dietary factors was collected by using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. RESULTS: Seaweed intake was associated independently with a decreased prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Significant inverse dose-response relationships were found between calcium and phosphorus intake and allergic rhinitis prevalence. There also was a tendency for an inverse association between magnesium consumption and allergic rhinitis. Additional adjustment for calcium or magnesium intake apparently did not influence the inverse association with seaweed consumption. Consumption of vegetables, fruit, vitamins C and E, fiber, and zinc showed no association with allergic rhinitis, whereas a significant positive relationship was observed between beta-carotene intake and allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: High dietary intake of seaweed, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus may be associated with a decreased prevalence of allergic rhinitis.     

The Impact of Purple-Flesh Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. “Shadow Queen” on Minor Health Complaints in Healthy Adults: A Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Study

The purple-flesh potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar “Shadow Queen” (SQ) naturally contains anthocyanins. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study determines whether ingesting purple potatoes increases the number of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and improves stress response, a minor health complaint in healthy adults (registration number: UMIN000038876). A total of 15 healthy subjects (ages: 50–70 years) with minor health complaints were randomly assigned to one of two groups. For 8 weeks, the placebo group received placebo potatoes cv. “Haruka” and the test group received test potato cv. SQ containing 45 mg anthocyanin. The MSC count and several stress responses were analyzed at weeks 0 and 8 of the intake periods. The ingestion of a SQ potato did not affect the MSC count but markedly improved psychological stress response, irritability, and depression as minor health complaints compared with “Haruka”. No adverse effects were noted. Hence, an 8-week intake of SQ could improve stress responses.