Bone Metastases from Soft Tissue Sarcomas

The incidence, distribution, time of appearance, and radiologic findings of bone metastases from soft tissue sarcomas, exclusive of lymphomas, were evaluated in 320 patients with soft tissue sarcomas. Thirty patients (9.4%) had evidence of 58 bone metastases. Five of 30 patients presented with metastases, and 25 of 30 patients developed metastases up to 66 months after presentation with a mean time interval of 21.3 months. The incidence of skeletal metastases differed among histologic subtypes of sarcomas; alveolar soft part sarcoma (5 of 8), dedifferentiated liposarcoma (2 of 4), angiosarcoma (2 of 4), and rhabdomyosarcoma (5 of 16) tended to show a higher incidence of bone metastases. The sarcomas metastasized to the regional bones close to the primary tumor in 16 (53%) of 30 patients and to the axial bones in 18 (60%). On conventional radiographs, the osseous metastases demonstrated predominantly osteolytic changes, and evidence of pathological fracture was observed in 31% of 58 metastases.     

Adjuvant immunotherapy using fibroblasts genetically engineered to secrete interleukin 12 prevents recurrence after surgical resection of established tumors in a murine adenocarcinoma model

BACKGROUND: To explore effective therapeutic strategy against cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, tumor vaccination using fibroblasts secreting interleukin-12 (IL-12) was developed as an adjuvant therapy against murine tumor after surgical resection. METHODS: Initially, IL-12 was genetically engineered into fibroblasts (IL-12/3T3 cells), and then we evaluated in vivo and in vitro antitumor effects. In the vaccination model, irradiated C-26 tumor mass was reinoculated intradermally with IL-12/3T3 cells in mice as a tumor vaccine to examine how much it suppresses tumor recurrence. RESULTS: IL-12/3T3 cells producing 7.2 ng/10(6) cells/24 h murine IL-12 in vitro exerted dose-dependent potent tumor suppression when coinoculated with C-26 cells in vivo. Specific immunity was also acquired in 63% of mice in vivo. In the vaccination model, protective immunity was developed in 70% of mice that were inoculated with irradiated tumor mass and IL-12/3T3 cells. In addition, local recurrence was not observed in vaccinated mice, although 44% of control mice had recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Coinoculation of genetically engineered fibroblasts secreting IL-12 with irradiated tumor mass was proved to be an effective tumor vaccine. This system of vaccination is easily applicable to clinical situations, particularly to human gastrointestinal tract cancers.     

An experimental model for side-to-side microvascular anastomosis

Side-to-side microvascular anastomosis may be required in certain clinical situations, although the technique is difficult and the incidence of usage remains low. A new experimental model using rat femoral vessels for side-to-side microvascular anastomosis is presented, in which 100 percent patency was accomplished immediately and was maintained for 7 days after anastomosis. This model can provide a training tool for acquisition of advanced microsurgical technique for side-to-side anastomosis of small vessels.     

Impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus, and gallstone disease: An extended study of male self-defense officials in Japan

Few studies have investigated the relation between glucose tolerance status and ultrasonographically determined gallstone disease. Using a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, we examined the association of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) with gallstone disease in Japanese men. Subjects were men aged 48 to 59 of the Japan Self-Defense Forces who received a preretirement health examination between October 1986 to December 1994. After exclusion of 12 men under insulin treatment in the consecutive series of 7637 men, 174 were found to have gallstones; 103 were at the state of postcholecystectomy, and 6899 had normal gallbladder. IGT and NIDDM were associated with a modestly increased risk of gallstone disease; adjusted odds ratios were 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9–1.8) for IGT and 1.3 (95% CI: 0.8–2.0) for NIDDM after adjustment for hospital, rank, smoking, alcohol use, and body mass index. Adjusted odds ratio for IGT and NIDDM combined was 1.3 (95% CI: 1.0–1.7, p=0.08). When prevalent gallstones and postcholecystectomy were considered separately, NIDDM showed a significant, positive association with postcholecystectomy, but not with prevalent gallstones. The findings add to evidence that glucose intolerance is associated with a modest increase in the risk of gallstone disease.     

Vinylamycin, a new depsipeptide antibiotic, from Streptomyces sp

A new depsipeptide antibiotic, vinylamycin, was isolated from the culture broth of an actinomycete strain. The producing organism, designated MI982-63F1, was identified as a member of Streptomyces. Vinylamycin was isolated from the culture broth by extraction with EtOAc and purified by crystallization from EtOAc. The structure of vinylamycin was determined by spectroscopic analysis and degradation studies. Vinylamycin showed antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA.     

Decatromicins A and B, new antibiotics produced by Actinomadura sp. MK73-NF4. I. Taxonomy, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activities

New antibiotics designated decatromicins A and B were isolated from the culture broth of Actinomadura sp. MK73-NF4. They were purified by butyl acetate extraction, silica gel column chromatography, silica gel TLC and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Decatromicins A and B inhibited growth of Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).     

Circadian Changes in Urine Volume and Frequency In Elderly Men

Purpose

Circadian changes in urinary frequency, diuresis and bladder capacity were evaluated in middle-aged and elderly patients.

Materials and Methods

A total of 2,703 urinations from 50 men (median age 66 years) was recorded with a 24-hour uroflowmetry system.

Results

During a 24-hour period the elderly group showed increased frequency and decreased bladder capacity. No difference was observed in diuresis between the 2 age groups. From midnight to 6 a.m. frequency in the elderly group was significantly greater (p less than 0.01) than that in the middle-aged group.

Conclusions

Increased frequency in the elderly group during these hours was primarily due to an increase in diuresis.     

Artificial ventilation-induced diffuse alveolar damage in rabbits: preliminary study of early detection on expiratory high-resolution computed tomography

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether expiratory high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is more useful than inspiratory HRCT for the detection of early-phase diffuse alveolar damage. METHODS: Eleven anesthetized rabbits were scanned with both inspiratory and expiratory HRCT every 30 minutes during mechanical ventilation. Ten rabbits were killed after the detection of pulmonary abnormalities on both inspiratory and expiratory HRCT. The remaining rabbit was killed when the pulmonary abnormalities appeared only on expiratory HRCT. RESULTS: In four cases (36%), the abnormal findings were detected earlier on expiratory HRCT than on inspiratory HRCT. In seven cases (64%), the abnormalities appeared simultaneously on inspiratory and expiratory HRCT. In all 11 cases, the histopathological changes of areas with abnormal CT findings corresponded to the exudative or proliferative phase of diffuse alveolar damage. CONCLUSIONS: Expiratory HRCT has the potential to detect the abnormalities of diffuse alveolar damage earlier than inspiratory HRCT.