Successful autologous bone marrow transplant for relapsed Ki-1 lymphoma

We report on a 16 year old girl with relapsed Ki-1 lymphoma and a very poor prognosis. The initial manifestation was multiple bone metastases and lymphadenopathy. The patient achieved remission with modified adriamycin, bleomycin, vincristine, daunomycine therapy. However, 14 months after the completion of therapy, relapse occurred in a new cervical lymph node on the left side. After preparation with chemotherapy and total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) the patient underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (A-BMT). Ki-1 lymphoma shows clinically diverse symptoms, but hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be performed in relapsed cases. It may be effective to give TLI followed by A-BMT for patients such as ours who have lymph node involvement without bone marrow metastasis.     

In situ hybridization studies of stromelysin and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 in IgA nephropathy

Summary: Accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is thought to cause deterioration of glomerular function. Stromelysin and tissue inhibitor of matrix proteinase 1 (TIMP1) may play an important role in the turnover of the glomerular ECM. However, the expression of these enzymes in human renal tissues remains undefined. In the present study, non-radioactive in situ mRNA hybridization, which permitted the analysis at a cellular level, was performed to localize stromelysin and TIMP1 in renal tissue of IgAN. We also determined the percentage of cells positive for stromelysin or TIMP1 mRNA among intraglomerular cells. A total of 16 patients with IgAN were examined, including eight patients with severe histopathological changes and eight with mild changes. Three patients without glomerular disease were also studied. Stromelysin and TIMP1 mRNA were weakly expressed in the mesangium of normal kidneys and IgAN renal tissues with mild damage. However, the expression of both mRNA was significantly increased in the area of mesangial proliferation, in glomerular epithelial cells and in Bowman's capsule of advanced lesions. Several cells in the area of mesangial proliferation were double positive for stromelysin and TIMP1 mRNA, while certain cells positive for stromelysin mRNA did not express TIMP1 mRNA. In the interstitium, epithelial cells of certain tubules and some mononuclear cells were positively stained for these mRNA, especially in advanced lesions. Our results indicated that stromelysin and TIMP1 genes were expressed in glomerular resident cells, tubular epithelial cells and infiltrated mononuclear cells in IgAN, and their expression was enhanced in advanced tissue damage. the demonstration of a co-expression and discordant expression of the genes indicates that each gene expression may be regulated in a cell type-specific manner and that it could also be altered by cellular environmental factors.     

Investigation of melena and hematochezia as the chief complaint of gastrointestinal bleeding in pediatric surgical patients

The causes of melena or hematochezia in 48 pediatric patients were examined. Malrotation with volvulus was an important cause of hemorrhage during the newborn period, and intussusception was very typical in patients aged from 1 month to 1 year. Polyps of the rectum and colon were the most common causes of melena or hematochezia in patients older than 1 year. No cause of melena or hematochezia could be identified in 11 children. Ten patients have remained in good health with no further episodes of melena or hematochezia. Localized multiple polyps of the rectum with focal carcinoma were detected in only one patient. In general, although no further investigation is required after detection of the cause of bleeding and its successful treatment, it should be kept in mind that gastrointestinal malignancy can occur in children.     

Cardiac Pacemaker Regulated by Respiratory Rate and Blood Temperature

A new method using respiratory rate and temperature as the guides for optimal pacing is proposed. A pacemaker was fabricated which senses these two parameters simultaneously. The pacemaker functions by calculating the cardiac rate, which would be derived from the respiratory rate and the blood temperature. The higher of the two rates is adopted as the cardiac pacing rate, i.e., at which stimuli will be delivered. The operation was tested in a mongrel dog with complete atrioventricular block. After the induction of anesthesia, a thermistor temperature probe was inserted into right atrium and a respiratory rate sensor was attached around the chest. After administration of a pyrogenic drug, both respiratory rate and blood temperature increased. The pacing rate was increased from 178 beats/minute(bpm) at 36.4 degrees C, blood temperature, and 26.5 acts/minute(apm), respiratory rate, to 233 bpm at 40.1 degrees C and 40.0 apm. Cardiac output was increased from 2.15 liters/minute(l/pm) at the beginning to 2.50 l/pm at maximum. The transition of the guide from respiratory rate to temperature was observed at about 38 degrees C.     

Changing pattern of mental health utilization in Hachijojima

Abstract We have reviewed retrospectively 229 patients interviewed by the mental health team in the Hachijojima since the establishment of our services in 1987. The 6 year observation period was classified into three chronological stages for the purposes of identifying any change in the utilization pattern of the mental health services of the island. The rate of schizophrenia was observed to have decreased from 48% in the first 2 years of the study period to 28% in the last 2 years; while that of other mental disorders increased yearly. Interestingly, an increasing number of patients were referred to our services by professionals in areas other than mental health (from 42 to 77%), and patients without any history of psychiatric treatment were more frequently seen (from 36 to 75%) in the later part of the study period. These changes suggest the importance of access to mental health services.     

ANGIOGENESIS INHIBITOR TNP-470 INHIBITS GROWTH AND METASTASIS OF A HORMONE-INDEPENDENT RAT PROSTATIC CARCINOMA CELL LINE

Purpose

Inhibitory effects of TNP-470, a synthetic analogue of the antibiotic fumagillin secreted by Aspergillus fumigatus, were studied with respect to growth and lung metastasis of the hormone-independent rat prostatic carcinoma cell line AT6.3.

Materials and Methods

Rat prostatic carcinoma AT6.3 cells were implanted in nude mice subcutaneously. Antimetastatic and growth-inhibitory effects of TNF-470 in vivo were examined 3 weeks after inoculation of AT6.3 cells. Direct growth-inhibitory effect was examined by MTT assay in vitro.

Results

TNP-470 inhibited the growth of AT6.3 cells in vitro. Subcutaneously injected TNP-470 markedly reduced numbers and individual size of lung metastases from AT6.3 cells inoculated percutaneously or intravenously into male BALB/c-nu/nu mice.

Conclusion

This agent, which acts as an angiogenesis inhibitor, may prove to be clinically useful in preventing metastasis of hormone-independent prostatic cancer.     

Treatment of aplastic anemia with antithymocyte globulin,cyclosporin A,methylprednisolone, danazole and recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor

The main purpose of the present study was to determine the response rate to immunosuppressive therapy combined with recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) and its efficacy for preventing infections in patients with severe aplastic anemia. The treatments included one course of antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporin A, methylprednisolone, danazole and rhG-CSF. Three patients had very severe aplastic anemia and two had moderate aplastic anemia. One patient relapsed 13 months following the first course of therapy and received a second course. Five patients received six courses of treatment and the response rate at 6 months was 83.3%. All patients achieved an absolute neutrophil count of greater than 1.0 × 10⁹/L within 40 days. All patients with a complete response are transfusion-free and doing well. All five patients are currently alive and have not had any episode of infection for 17–53 months. The results of the study indicate that this therapy may improve the poor prognosis of young patients with severe aplastic anemia. It has a good response rate and induces a rather rapid increase in the neutrophil count, which protects against life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections.     

Characteristic Transfer of Colostrum‐derived Biologically Active Substances into Cerebrospinal Fluid via Blood in Natural Suckling Neonatal Pigs

The characteristic transfer of colostral components into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via serum after natural suckling has been studied by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) electrophoresis, two‐dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblot and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay methods in non‐suckling pigs. Total protein concentrations in the serum increased immediately after first suckling, reached a peak value at 12 h, corresponding to a 2.3‐fold compared with pre‐suckling level. The protein concentration in CSF also increased and reached peak value at 6 h corresponding to 1.6‐fold compared with pre‐suckling level. IgG in serum not detected before suckling, increased steeply after suckling, IgG, IgM and IgA transported into the serum were observed in completely intact form by immunoblot method. The IgG transported into serum was quickly transferred into CSF after natural suckling in contrast to the case of bovine IgG. Serum concentration of transferrin was maintained at high level before suckling and was not changed by suckling. Transferrin also detected in CSF was not changed by suckling. Bovine lactoferrin (Lf) administered into the intestinal lumen was transported into serum (0.01%) and also detected in CSF after 6 h as undegraded form (3.1%). Thus, homologous IgG and bovine Lf are transported into CSF, suggesting that the transport of macromolecules into CSF is selective in neonatal pigs.