The development of malignant rhabdoid tumor in a patient with Behçet’s disease treated with ciclosporin

· Purpose: To describe a risk of malignant neoplasm in patients with Behçet’s disease treated with ciclosporin.?· Methods: Case report.?· Results: A patient with Behçet’s disease who was treated with ciclosporin developed a mass in his right femur. Histological examination revealed this mass was a malignant rhabdoid tumor.?· Conclusion: This is the first known case of malignant tumor developing in a patient with Behçet’s disease treated with ciclosporin. This case underscores the importance of assessing possible risks in the treatment of Behçet’s disease with ciclosporin.     

Bunazosin induces use-dependent slowing of conduction in guinea-pig ventricular myocardium

The use-dependent effects of bunazosin on the maximal rate of rise (Vmax) of the action potential and conduction velocity were studied in isolated papillary muscles of guinea-pig. Standard microelectrode techniques were used to monitor the conduction and action potential of the muscles. In the presence of 30 microM bunazosin, the time constants for the start of the use-dependent inhibition of Vmax during a 0.2, 1, 2 and 3 Hz stimulation were (means +/- S.E.M. in s) 30.9 +/- 8.0, 15.0 +/- 1.6, 7.4 +/- 0.9 and 3.9 +/- 0.7 (n = 4) and those for conduction velocity were 17.3 +/- 2.3, 17.3 +/- 5.2, 6.5 +/- 0.9 and 3.4 +/- 0.2, respectively. These results showed that in the cardiac ventricular muscle of the guinea-pigs, bunazosin produces use-dependent changes in conduction velocity with onset kinetics comparable to those measured simultaneously using Vmax. The characteristics of the use-dependent inhibition of conduction velocity induced by bunazosin are similar to those found with slow kinetic drugs such as disopyramide rather than with fast ones.     

Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome]

Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) is a newly recognized disease, characterized by peripheral eosinophilia with scleroderma-like features. By July 1991, 1543 cases of EMS, including 31 fatal cases, have been reported. Although epidemiologic studies strongly suggest the association of EMS with ingestion of L-tryptophan (LT) containing a contaminant from a single manufacture, the pathogenesis of this disease is not well understood. The insight obtained from the study of EMS may be applicable to scleroderma or eosinophilic fasciitis. Recent advances in the understanding of clinical and pathologic features of EMS are reviewed.     

Pre- and post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy of colorectal cancer. Part 1. Drug concentration in tissues following UFT administration

The concentration of Tegafur, 5-FU and Uracil in tumor and normal tissue were measured in 47 colorectal cancer patients who had been administered UFT (400/mg) for seven days before operation. The concentration of Tegafur, 5-FU and Uracil in tumor was higher than in normal tissue (p less than 0.01), and the concentration of 5-FU was correlative to the concentration of Tegafur and Uracil in both tissues. The Dukes group and histological type were not related to the concentration of Tegafur, 5-FU and Uracil in either tissue. The uptake of each drug was good and high in tumor tissue.     

The diagnosis of sarcoidosis based on ocular manifestations]

A total of 131 patients with typical ocular manifestations of sarcoidosis were studied. From systemic examinations, 56 cases were confirmed histologically as sarcoidosis, 59 cases were clinically diagnosed as sarcoidosis and 16 cases were not diagnosed as sarcoidosis. There were no differences among the three groups in terms of laterality of eye involvement, sex distribution, ocular findings and prognosis. The only difference was that the age of patients not diagnosed as sarcoidosis was lower than the other two groups. In systemic examinations, patients diagnosed as sarcoidosis histologically or clinically had higher ratios of positive findings of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, 67Ga scanning, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum angiotensin converting enzyme than patients who were not diagnosed as sarcoidosis. Some cases of the third group may be diagnosed as sarcoidosis in the future by repeated systemic examinations. The difficulty of diagnosis of sarcoidosis from ocular findings alone was discussed.     

Eurystatins A and B, new prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors. I. Taxonomy, production, isolation and biological activities.

Eurystatins A and B, were isolated from the cultured broth of Streptomyces eurythermus R353-21. They showed specific and potent inhibitory activity against prolyl endopeptidase and did not show antimicrobial activity. No lethal toxicity was observed for the two compounds after ip administration in mice at 200 mg/kg.     

Abnormal tryptophan metabolism and experimental diabetes by xanthurenic acid (XA).

1) Xanthurenic acid-insulin complex reduced insulin activity. 2) The antigenicity of xanthurenic acid-insulin was almost same as native insulin. 3) Saturated fat increased urinary xanthurenic acid in vitamin B6 deficiency.     

Unique immunological properties of short forms of the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein derived uveitogenic peptide]

Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) induces experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis in a variety of animals. We have previously shown that sequence 1169-1191 of bovine IRBP has strong uveitogenicity and immunogenicity in Lewis rats. In this study, two completely distinct antigenic sites were detected within a short form of this peptide. One site is localized in sequence 1182-1191. The second site localizes within sequence 1183-1191 and becomes detectable only when tryptophan at 1182 is deleted. Lymphocytes sensitized against the first determinant recognized a longer peptide as well as whole IRBP. Lymphocytes sensitized against the second determinant recognized only two peptides 1184-1191 and 1183-1191. No cross reactivity was detected between these two determinants. Amino acid substitution of tryptophan with alanine or glutamic acid at 1182 in peptide 1182-1191 caused complete loss of uveitogenicity and immunogenicity, while substitution with phenylalanine did not change any immunological activities of the original peptide. The unique immunological properties of IRBP-derived peptides were discussed.     

Electrophysiological effect of disopyramide on rabbit sinus node cells

The effects of disopyramide on the membrane potentials and currents of rabbit sinus node cells were studied using the conventional microelectrode and voltage clamp methods. Disopyramide (5 and 10 micrograms/m1) produced a negative chronotropic effect, and decreased the maximum rate of depolarization, the overshoot potential and the maximum diastolic potential. The action potential duration at half-amplitude was prolonged, and the slope of diastolic depolarization was reduced. In the voltage clamp experiments, disopyramide (10 and 50 micrograms/m1) reduced the potassium outward current (IK) without changing its kinetics. Disopyramide reduced the slow inward current Isi and increased the recovery time constant of Isi. The hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) was also decreased by the drug. From these results, it is concluded that disopyramide has a depressant effect on the electrical activity of sinus node cells by mediating depression of IK, Isi and Ih.