Lipolytic activity of anemia-inducing substance from tumor-bearing rabbits.

Anemia-inducing substance (AIS) is a protein of approximately 50,000 molecular weight secreted by malignant tumor tissue that depresses erythrocyte and immuno-competent cell functions; in this study, its biological effects on adipocytes were examined. Changes in body weight, total body fat, and food intake were investigated in rabbits after VX2 carcinoma transplantation, and the results showed reductions of 11%, 24%, and 30%, respectively, at 40 days after transplantation compared with baseline values (before transplantation). The values were even more markedly reduced 70 days after transplantation. When cyclic plasma perfusion (2 times/wk) was started at 40 days after transplantation, the values at 70 days after transplantation (30 days after beginning plasma perfusion) recovered to 91%, 84%, and 87%, respectively, of the baseline values. AIS fractions were isolated from rabbit plasma by using a phenyl-Sepharose column before transplantation, 40 and 70 days after transplantation, and 30 days after start of plasma perfusion, and AIS activity and lipolytic activity were measured. The results showed enhancement of AIS activity and lipolytic activity as the tumors grew. Lipolytic activity also returned to baseline value as AIS was removed by adsorption by plasma perfusion, and there was a high correlation between lipolytic activity and AIS kinetics. These results strongly suggest that AIS might be one of the substances involved in the enhanced lipolytic activity in advanced tumor-bearing subjects.     

Sources of health information among Chinese immigrants to the Pacific Northwest

Background. Chinese immigrants to North America experience cancer-related health disparities and underutilize preventive care. Little is known about Chinese immigrants' sources of health information. Methods. A population-based survey of Chinese immigrants was conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Seattle, Washington. Results. The study group included 899 individuals. Less than three fourths of the respondents reported receiving health information from health care providers, and only a minority used the Internet as a source of health information. We found significant differences between the sources of health information in Seattle and Vancouver. Conclusions. Health educators should consider available media outlets as well as the characteristics of a target community when planning intervention programs for Chinese immigrants.     

Characterization of Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein expressed by recombinant baculoviruses

Recombinant baculoviruses containing the coding sequences of the viral structural proteins, i.e., the capsid (C) protein, the precursor to premembrane (preM) protein, and the envelope (E) protein, as well as a nonstructural protein, NS1, of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) were constructed. Infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells with these recombinant viruses produced PreM and E proteins. The E proteins synthesized by the recombinants were shown to be glycosylated and similar in size to the authentic E protein. The E protein was found on the surface of infected cells. The antigenic properties of recombinant E proteins were evaluated using a panel of monoclonal antibodies produced against JEV E protein. It was demonstrated that all of the epitopes detectable on the authentic JEV E protein were present on the recombinant E protein expressed by a recombinant baculovirus containing the coding sequence for a part of C, PreM, E, and a part of NS1 proteins. However, for E protein expressed by a recombinant baculovirus having the coding sequence of only a part of PreM, but all of E and a part of NS1, one of the flavivirus cross-reactive epitopes was not detected. Mice immunized with cells infected with the recombinant baculoviruses developed neutralization antibodies.     

Monthly changes in serum alpha 2-globulin and immunoglobulin levels in chronic hemodialysis patients--with special reference to the occurrence of cancer and blood transfusion

Thirty-eight patients with chronic renal failure who were treated by hemodialysis more than 100 times each, including 13 cancer patients, were examined for serum alpha 2-globulin and immunoglobulin values monthly, the relationship between the possibility of cancer occurrence and the frequency of blood transfusion during hemodialysis was discussed. The alpha 2-globulin value of the patients treated with blood transfusion more than 20 times was significantly higher than that of the patients not receiving blood transfusion. Moreover, the IgA value was reduced and the IgM value was increased. The IgA values of cancer patients found before or during hemodialysis were significantly higher than those of patients without cancer. There was no significant difference between the group who had undergone hemodialysis more than 500 times those who had received it less than 500 times.     

Clinical evaluation of panipenem/betamipron in severe infections complicating hematological disorders]

Forty-three patients with severe infections which were complicating hematological disorders were treated with panipenem/betamipron, and the efficacy and the safety of the drug were evaluated. The results obtained are summarized below. 1. Out of 40 patients in whom efficacies are evaluable, the clinical responses were excellent in 17 patients, good in 4, fair in 7 and poor in 12, and the total clinical efficacy rate was 52.5%. 2. The efficacy rate in 7 patients who had failed to respond to prior treatment with other antibiotics was 57.1%. Thus, no significant difference was observed in efficacy rates between the patients who had failed to respond to prior treatment with other antibiotics and the patients who received no preceding antibiotics therapy. 3. Out of the 43 patients in whom the safety was evaluable, no side effects nor abnormal laboratory findings were found.     

Rat middle cerebral artery occlusion using an intraluminal thread technique

Summary A modification of the previous methods of producing cerebral ischaemia in rats (Koizumiet al., Longaet al.), using an intraluminal thread technique, is described. The middle cerebral artery is occluded by introducing a simple 3–0 nylon thread (0.20–0.249 mm in diameter) through the internal carotid artery in the neck. It has been proven that with this method reproducible focal cerebral ischaemia can be achieved which resembles human stroke.Therefore this simple and relatively non-invasive model is suitable for the pathophysiological investigation of ischaemic stroke and the testing of potential therapies.     

A case of long surviving gastric cancer with an malignant acanthosis nigricans

Reported the case of a 73 year old female who was diagnosed as having a gastric cancer with malignant acanthosis nigricans and had a long survival, totaling about 8 years 6 months after operation. Further, her skin lesion completely disappeared. In general, a gastric cancer with malignant acanthosis nigricans is said to have a very poor prognosis and an analysis of recent cases has indicated that the average survival is about 10 months. The reason for such a bad prognosis is thought to be that the diagnosis of a gastric cancer with malignant acanthosis nigricans is usually determined only after the cancer is far advanced.