Prostatic acid phosphatase measured by immunoenzyme assay

Prostatic acid phosphatase was determined with Merck-Kanto's test kit on the cases of prostatic cancer experienced at our University Hospital from August in 1983 to February in 1985. Untreated cases were 4 stage A cases, 1 stage B case, 3 stage C cases, 3 stage D1 cases and 12 stage D2 cases. Nine cases were determined before and after hormonal treatment. From 67 controlled cases and 19 recurrent cases, 144 and 56 samples were selected, respectively. This method showed good reproducibility and even the serum stored at -80 degrees C after separation could be used for determination by addition of tartrate just before the measurement. The occurrence of abnormal values in untreated prostatic cancer cases, was 0% for stage A, 1 case for stage B, 33% for stage C and D1 and 75% for stage D2. Hormonal treatment decreased the high values of 5 cases and 1 case returned to normal. Compared to the recurrent cases, controlled cases showed a significantly larger ratio of negative, and it suggests that the test is useful for follow-up. Prostatic hypertrophy showed the increase of the value in 6% of the cases. Both prostatitis and urinary tract stone cases remained in the normal range.     

Clinical effects of terodiline hydrochloride on urinary frequency and sense of residual urine--a double blind clinical trial using flavoxate hydrochloride as a control

A double blind clinical trial was performed as a multicenter study to determine the usefulness of terodiline hydrochloride (HCl), an anticholinergic and calcium antagonistic agent, for urinary frequency or sense of residual urine in patients with psychogenic diseases, chronic prostatitis or chronic cystitis. Either 24 mg of terodiline HCl a day or 600 mg of flavoxate HCl a day was given for 4 weeks. One hundred and ninety-nine patients completed the test. The final global improvement rating was 70% in patients given terodiline HCl and 48% in patients given flavoxate HCl. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Diurnal and nocturnal urinary frequency and urinary incontinence were less in patients given terodiline HCl than in patients given flavoxate HCl (p less than 0.01). No difference was noted between the two agents in relieving sense of residual urine. Compared with the control period, the average urinary frequency decreased 2.0 times a day in patients given terodiline HCl and 0.7 times in patients given flavoxate HCl. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Adverse effects were observed in 12% of the patients given terodiline HCl and in 16% of the patients given flavoxate HCl. They included thirst, difficult urination, constipation, slight increase of serum GOT, GPT or alkaline phosphatase, and so forth. They disappeared with discontinued use of the agent. The global utility rating was 68% in patients given terodiline HCl and 45% in patients given flavoxate HCl, the difference being significant (p less than 0.01). These results indicate that terodiline HCl is useful for the treatment of urinary symptoms in patients with psychogenic diseases, chronic prostatitis or chronic cystitis.     

Intestinal absorption of dinitrophenyl-lysine and effect of immunization with dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin

The intestinal absorption of dinitrophenyl-lysine (DNP-lys) was studied with a special interest on the role of the immune system in the absorption of small molecules which are recognized as nonself. [3H]-DNP-lys was rapidly absorbed by ligated intestinal loops in situ via a saturable and unique route. When [3H]-DNP-lys was preincubated with the immune serum obtained from rats immunized with dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA), the [3H]-DNP-lys absorption was depressed. The absorption of [3H]-DNP-lys in DNP-BSA-immunized rats was depressed compared to the control. The results obtained suggest that the immune system play a role in avoiding the absorption of small molecules with antigenicity.     

Percutaneous left ventricular assist system using a modification of the Dennis method: Initial clinical evaluation and results

A percutaneous left ventricular assist system (PLVAS) using a modification of the Dennis method was developed and implemented in 8 patients. Transseptal cannulation was performed under biplane fluoroscopy and/or transesophageal echocardiogram without encountering any problems. All the patients were in a state of severe cardiogenic shock, caused by acute myocardial infarction in 5, cardiomyopathy in 2, and postcardiotomy in 1, and were on intraaortic balloon pump support and/or percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS), in the form of partial cardiopulmonary bypass. Three patients who developed concomitant right heart failure required additional PCPS. All the patients were supported at 3.0 to 4.0l/min for 76–284h for an average time of 159h. Three patients were successfully weaned from PLVAS and one of these patients, who had suffered an acute myocardial infarction, was discharged from hospital. The complications directly related to this system were minimal. Our observations led to the conclusion that PLVAS using our modification of the Dennis method is a simple, easy, and safe means of maintaining adequate systemic circulation in severely ill patients. As PLVAS is particularly effective for patients in cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction, we believe that it will be applied routinely by many cardiac surgeons and cardiologists in the future.     

Impact of Tumor Extent and Location on Treatment Outcome in Patients with Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Radiation Therapy

The results of treatment of 141 patients with stage III non-smallcell lung cancer (NSCLQ who received definitive radiation therapyat Gunma University Hospital between 1976 and 1989 were retrospectivelyanalyzed. Radiation was given with standard fractionation fora planned prophylactic dose of 40 Gy over 4 weeks and a definitivedose of 60 Gy over 6 weeks or more. The two- and five-year survivalrates were 27% and 12% for stage IIIA, and 18% and 8% for stageIIIB, respectively (P = 0.052). By univariate analysis, a primarytumor less than 5 cm in diameter was also an important predictorof survival (P = 0.008). As for tumor location, the patientswith primary tumors in the upper lobes or the superior segmentof the lower lobes of the lung lived longer than those withprimary tumors at any other site (P = 0.032). Patients withepidermoid carcinoma had a higher survival rate at 5 years thanthose with other histologic types (14% vs 3%, P = 0.074). Multivariateanalysis showed that among tumor characteristics, the site ofthe primary tumor, the pattern of tumor spread and N stage weresignificantly associated with overall survival. Among the patientswith stage III NSCLC, those with stage IIIA epidermoid carcinomain the upper lobe or the superior segment of the lower lobeof the lung were considered to be the most favorable candidatesfor definitive radiation therapy.     

Selective inhibition by riluzole of voltage-dependent sodium channels and catecholamine secretion in adrenal chromaffin cells

We examined the effects of riluzole, a neuroprotective drug, on voltage–dependent Na channels, nicotinic receptors, and voltage-dependent Ca channels, as well as catecholamine secretion, in comparison with those of verapamil and nicardipine, in primary cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Riluzole inhibited veratridine-induced ²²Na influx via voltage-dependent Na channels even in the presence of ouabain, an inhibitor of Na,K-ATPase. Blockade of Na channels by riluzole was concentration-dependent with an IC₅₀ of 5.3 μM. It was associated with a similar concentration-related reduction of veratridine-induced ⁴⁵Ca influx via voltage-dependent Ca channels, and of catecholamine secretion. Riluzole had no effect on ⁴⁵Ca influx caused by high K, which directly activates voltage-dependent Ca channels, and on nicotine-induced ²²Na influx, which passes through the nicotinic receptors. Verapamil and nicardipine attenuated ²²Na influx caused by veratridine or nicotine at the same concentrations as they suppressed high K-induced ⁴⁵Ca influx. The inhibitory effect of riluzole on veratridine-induced ²²Na influx disappeared at high concentrations of veratridine. A potentiation of veratridine (site 2 toxin)-induced ²²Na influx caused by α-scorpion venom (site 3 toxin), β-scorpion venom (site 4 toxin), or brevetoxin PbTx-3 (site 5 toxin), occurred in the presence of riluzole in the same manner as in control cells. These results suggest that riluzole binds to the veratridine site in voltage–dependent Na channels. It does not impair the cooperative interaction between the functional peptide segments of Na channels, but selectively inhibits gating of Na channels, thereby reducing Ca influx via Ca channels and catecholamine secretion. In contrast, verapamil and nicardipine suppress Na influx both Na channels and nicotinic receptors. Received: 4 November 1997 / Accepted: 11 February 1998