K-ras codon 12 mutations of the super-minute dysplasia in Barrett''s esophagus by DNA extraction using a microdissection method

The aim of this study was to clarify the histogenesis of Barrett's cancer. First, 28 lesions of the super-minute dysplasia AGT), and 5 among 25 lesions with an average p53-LI of 58%, which were considered to be morphologically low grade dysplasia, showed K-ras mutation (four lesions: GGT-->GAT, 1 lesion: GGT-->AGT). This current study shows that some dysplasia lesions have K-ras mutations in their initial condition, whether these atypical tubule lesions are low grade dysplasia or high grade dysplasia (intramucosal adenocarcinoma), and supports the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence in the histogenesis of Barrett's cancer and synchronously suggests that there is a different route to it.     

Ultrasonographic evaluation of small nodules in the peripheral lung during video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

OBJECTIVE: We examined the possibility of intraoperative ultrasonography during video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to localize and make a qualitative diagnosis of small peripheral pulmonary nodules. METHODS: Ultrasonography during VATS and conventional thoractomy was performed on 25 and 18 nodules, respectively, all which were localized in the peripheral lung, were less than 30 mm in diameter and for which there was no definitive diagnosis. RESULTS: All 25 nodules, including 10 invisible but palpable and three both invisible and non-palpable, could be localized by ultrasonography during VATS. If nodules were located less than 15 mm from the pleural surface, ultrasonography during VATS could detect nodules 10 mm or less in diameter. The rate of malignant tumors among 11 of 12 pulmonary nodules (91.6%) showing both heterogeneous and ill-defined patterns was significantly higher than 6 of 16 nodules (37.5%) showing both homogeneous and well-defined patterns on ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that ultrasonography during VATS is useful for the detection of peripheral pulmonary nodules, even when they are not identified on video images or palpation, and may enable a differential diagnosis between malignant and non-malignant lesions.     

Biological markers for Alzheimer disease]

The development of diagnostic markers for earlier and more reliable diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) is essential, particularly because therapeutic medication is available for AD. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a useful source of diagnostic information. Previously we found the increase of total tau protein in CSF in normal pressure hydrocephalus patients, and others reported the increase also in corticobasal degeneration and frontotemporal dementia. To differentiate the AD from other diseases, further approach was employed and oxidized protein in CSF was investigated. Heat stable fractions of CSF were analyzed on the content of carbonyl residues, which are derivatives of protein oxidization. The result suggests that protein oxidation is highly involved in AD and that this method might be useful to differentiate AD from other neurological disease.     

The immunosuppressive effect of FK 506 on canine lung transplantation.

The immunosuppressive potency of FK 506 was studied after left lung transplantation in adult mongrel dogs in comparison with cyclosporine. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy, bronchial mucosal blood flow measurement with laser Doppler velocimetry, and chest x-ray and pathologic examinations were performed. Group A had no immunosuppression (n = 5); group B received FK 506 (0.10 mg/kg/day intramuscularly (n = 5); group C received cyclosporine (20 mg/kg/day orally) (n = 5). In group A four dogs died of rejection on the seventh to the twenty-first postoperative days. Another one was killed on the fourteenth postoperative day because bronchial dehiscence occurred at the anastomosis. In group B one died of alveolar rejection on the seventh postoperative day. The remaining four survived 28 days and were put to death. In group C all five dogs survived 28 days and were put to death. In group A bronchial stenosis or dehiscence at the anastomosis was found in every one during the early postoperative period. In group B stenosis did not develop in any of the dogs, including the one that died on the seventh postoperative day. In group C slight stenosis was seen in one dog, severe narrowing in another, and good healing in the remaining three. The transplanted lungs were almost normal histologically in four animals of group B, and one showed alveolar phase rejection. In all animals of group A severe rejection was observed, and in group C two of five animals showed vascular phase rejection, two latent phase, and one fibrosis. Histologic examination of the bronchial anastomosis in group B showed almost normal bronchial epithelium and slight submucosal infiltration of mononuclear cells. In group A there was desquamation of epithelium and mild to moderate mononuclear cell infiltration. In group C hyperplasia of the epithelium was observed in two animals, an abscess at the site of anastomosis in one, and mild to moderate mononuclear cell infiltration in all five. With use of laser Doppler velocimetry, bronchial blood flow in group B was found to be the same as in group C. Laser Doppler velocimetry values reached preoperative levels by the twenty-eighth postoperative day in both groups. Although diarrhea developed in two dogs of group B, no other significant side effect of FK 506 was seen.     

Serotonergic inhibition of limbic and thalamic seizures in cats.

To clarify the role of the serotonergic system in limbic and thalamic epileptic activity, we examined the effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 20 and 40 mg/kg) on fully kindled seizures from the hippocampus and lateral geniculate nucleus. The intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg/kg 5-HTP exerted no anticonvulsant effect on hippocampal kindled seizures, and a higher dose (40 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction in the behavioral seizure stage. 5-HTP at 20 mg/kg displayed no suppressive effect on lateral geniculate seizures, and 5-HTP at 40 mg/kg significantly reduced both the seizure stage and afterdischarge duration. Our data suggest that serotonergic mechanisms play an inhibitory role in seizures kindled from these brain regions.     

Ultrastructural localization of heparan sulfate-like immunoreactivity in spinal spheroids of motor neuron disease

It has recently been reported that heparan sulfate (HS)-like immunoreactivity exists in spheroids of the spinal cord in motor neuron disease (MND). However, the association of the HS-like immunoreactivity with neurofilaments, which are the main structure in spinal spheroids of MND, remains to be clarified. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the ultrastructural localization of HS-like immunoreactivity. The spinal cords from five autopsy cases of sporadic MND and two control cases were immunocytochemically investigated with an antibody against axonal neurofilament proteins and several antibodies against glycosaminoglycans including HS, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, and HS-proteoglycan. Ultrastructural localization of the immunoreactivity was also studied by using pre-embedding immunoperoxidase and immunogold methods. On the basis of the findings of this study, only HepSS-1-recognized HS among several glycosaminoglycans is clearly detected in the spinal spheroids in MND, and it exists in close association with accumulated neurofilaments. Because of its capacity to bind various proteins, HS may act as a trigger or an accelerator for the accumulation of neurofilaments and may play important roles in the formation of spheroids in MND.     

Predictive factors for vascularized iliac bone graft for nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head

We reviewed the results of 35 operations performed on 29 patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head in which a pedicle iliac bone was utilized. The average age was 35 years (17–62). There were 28 patients of stage 2 and 7 of stage 3; there were 17 type C-1 hips and 18 type C-2 hips. The pedicle bone was inserted in the anterolateral direction of the femoral head. The average follow-up period was 8 years and 7 months. Collapse of the femoral head occurred in 19 hip joints. Although 16 of 28 stage 2 hips showed collapse, all 7 stage 3 hips resulted in collapse. Thirteen of 17 hips did not show collapse in patients with type C-1 necrosis, whereas 15 of 18 hips developed collapse in patients with type C-2 necrosis. When the bone graft was inserted in the anterolateral direction of the femoral head, incidence of collapse was reduced. These results indicate that deep circumflex iliac pedicle bone graft may be indicated for stage 2 type C-1 necrosis, and that the penetration of the graft into the anterolateral aspect of the lesion is essential for the procedure to succeed.     

The immunosuppressive effect of hepatocytes in rats

The immunosuppressive effect of hepatocytes was examined experimentally by heart allograft and delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions. The hepatocyte inoculation (1×10⁷) of BDE (of the major histocompatibility complex haplotype RT1^u), LEW (RT1¹), and DA (RT1^a) into the spleens of LEW rats significantly prolonged the survival of BDE heart allografts to 14.3±2.7 (mean±SD), 9.2±0.8, and 10.8±2.3 days respectively, compared with 6.7±0.8 days in controls (p<0.01). Moreover, the BDE hepatocytes had a significantly prolonged survival compared to the LEW (p<0.01) and DA (0.02     

Introduction of new indices into continuous avoidance test--a trial to detect the effects of sodium chloride and mannitol on avoidance behavior

A personal computer was introduced in conditioned lever-press avoidance experiment in Sidman situation. Experimental data were analyzed with both classic indices such as response rate and shock rate and new indices introduced in this experiment. New indices include sum of squares of shock-shock intervals, mean of shock-response time and number of shock-response time less then 5 sec. Results obtained in diazepam-treated mice were consistent with those reported previously by the classic method. In mannitol-treated mice, significant changes of the avoidance behavior could be detected by both the classic index and our new indices. By the new indices other than classic indices, the effect of administration with sodium chloride on the avoidance behavior could be detected, whereas the classic indices could not detect the effect. Though the meanings of these indices i physiological and toxicological aspects should be appreciated in future study, the experimental system reported in this paper might be applicable in the toxicological research to detect the effect of administration with various substances on the avoidance behavior.