The three different phases of reticuloendothelial system phagocytic function in rats with liver injury

In the present study, reticuloendothelial system (RES) phagocytic function of rats with partial hepatectomy or experimentally induced liver cirrhosis was investigated by determining the phagocytic index, the opsonic index, and uptake rate in liver, spleen, and lung of a 51Cr-labeled endotoxin-injected rat. In both the partially hepatectomized and the cirrhotic rats, all three indicators varied markedly according to the elapsed period since liver injury. The changes in RES phagocytic function were classified into three different phases: compromised, compensatory, and enhanced. The compromised phase, consisting of a decrease in the phagocytic index, was observed during the first 24 hr after 67% hepatectomy and in advanced liver cirrhosis. This represented the failure of RES phagocytic function. The compensatory phase, in which the phagocytic index was maintained at nearly normal levels mainly by a compensatory enhancement in the opsonic index, was seen during the first to second postoperative day and in moderate liver cirrhosis. The enhanced phase, with a high phagocytic index, was observed from Day 4 to approximately Day 14 after surgery, and in the cases of mild liver damage. In the compromised and compensatory phases, the liver uptake rate was significantly decreased compared with the control. However, the uptake in the spleen and lung were markedly increased. In conclusion, the phagocytic function of the RES was significantly affected to a degree which changed with the extent of liver damage.     

Synthesis of new monomers by addition reactions of diethylamine to 1,4-divinylbenzene catalyzed by lithium diethylamide

Addition reactions of diethylamine onto 1,4-divinylbenzene (DVB) catalyzed by lithium diethylamide were examined to find a synthetic route to a group of new monomers possessing dialkylamino substituents, which is expected to be a starting material for biomedical polymers such as ionic polymer complexes, polycations, and others. It was found that 1-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-4-vinylbenzene ( 1 ) and 1,4-bis(2-diethylaminoethyl)-benzene ( 2 ) can be prepared selectively, because the rate of the first step of the addition reaction was twenty times as large as that of the second step. Results of kinetic studies on the addition reactions towards DVB are discussed with the aid of ¹³C NMR data and compared with other p-vinylbenzene derivatives.     

Analgesic and other pharmacological activities of an enkephalin analogue,syndyphalin (SD)-25

The pharmacological actions of Tyr-D-Met(O)-Gly-MePheol (syndyphalin (SD)-25) were compared with those of morphine after systematic administration. The analgesic potency of SD-25 was about 4 times that of morphine when administered s.c. to rats. SD-25 did not exhibit any narcotic antagonist activity. Subcutaneous administration of SD-25 produced a dose-dependent suppression of morphine withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent rats, typical morphine-like jumping in the mouse jumping test, and an increase in spontaneous locomotor activity in mice. These activities were 2–5 times those of morphine. In the anaesthetized dog, intravenous administration of SD-25 produced a 100–1000 times stronger increase in the amplitude of contractions of the jejunum than did morphine, a weaker depression in respiration than morphine, and a slight increase in blood pressure. These effects were reversed by naloxone. These results indicate that SD-25 possesses potent central nervous system actions closely similar to those of morphine, but its effect on blood pressure and respiration was weaker than that of morphine.     

Histological and Electron Microscopic Study of Human Cases

Four autopsy cases of mesothelioma were studied histologically and electron microscopically. One of them showed a pure epithelial type of the peritoneal origin, characterised by a tremendous production of hyaluronic acid. The other three tumors originated from the pleura revealed a histology of biphasic type mesothelioma, which showed an admixed tubular and fibrous pattern and consisted of small-sized cells with slight atypia. However, in some places of these tumors they showed considerable atypical features appearing like an anaplastic or squamoid carcinoma and/or spindle cell sarcoma. Hyaluronic acid was histologically demonstrated in the cytoplasmic vacuoles as well as in the luminal space surrounded by the tumor cells. Electron microscopically, varied numbers of microvilli and desmosome-like attachments were found on the surface of the tumor cells. Mitochondria were small and round. Well-developed rERs tended to encircle mitochondria and to dilate forming cisternae. Various amounts of microfilaments were found in the cytoplasm. The tumor cells which were rich in the latter two components, dilated rERs and microfilaments, resembled fibroblasts. Some tumor cells had phagosomes including dense and fine granules similar to ferritin, suggesting their phagocytotic activity. The hyaline matrix, common to the biphasic type tumor which was largely composed of dense collagenous tissues, was demonstrated to contain hyaluronic acid by histochemistry, and it was suggested that some secretory substances of the tumor cell may participate in composing the hyaline matrix to some extent. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 34: 1411–1424, 1984.     

Prognostic value of hormone receptors in breast cancer

The aim of this study was to establish the role of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) as prognostic indicators for early recurrence and survival. In all, among breast cancer patients, 166 patients who had undergone radical or extended radical mastectomy were studied. These patients were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy alone for 2-3 years after surgery. No patients had adjuvant endocrine therapy. Local recurrence and/or distant metastases were treated by endocrine therapy and/or chemotherapy. The relapse-free interval was not different between the ER-positive and ER-negative patients. The postrelapse survival curve was significantly different between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the relapse-free interval and the postrelapse survival curve between the PgR-positive and PgR-negative patients. These results suggest that ER is a good predictor of the response to endocrine therapy given after relapse, but not of early recurrence.     

Clinical trial of 5'-DFUR in patients with recurrent breast cancer

5'-DFUR was administered orally to recurrent breast cancer patients at a daily dosage of 1,200 mg given 3 times a day for more than 8 weeks. Out of 16 evaluable cases, 1 CR, 5 PR, 5 NC and 5 PD were observed, and the overall response rate was 37.5%. There was no significant difference in the response rate between the patient with or without prior fluorinated pyrimidine therapy, or between sites of the lesion. Toxic effects consisted of gastrointestinal toxicity such as diarrhea (25%), anorexia (12.5%), abdominal pain (12.5%) and nausea and vomiting (6.3%). No other severe side effect was observed. These results suggest that 5'-DFUR can be useful for the treatment of breast cancer.     

Invasive thymoma with myasthenia gravis

In 261 surgically treated patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), 26 had an invasive thymoma and 49 had a noninvasive thymoma. Invasive thymoma was seen in 41% of thymomatous MG patients older than 40 years of age, and 28% in patients younger than 40 years of age. Of 19 patients who underwent total or subtotal thymothymomectomy accompanied by irradiation (4000 rad), 17 were still alive on an average 6.5 years after surgery. The deterioration of MG by the irradiation was observed in 7 of 20 irradiated cases. Thus, postoperative irradiation is effective but should be done with attention to the deterioration of MG. The prognosis of MG in patients with an invasive thymoma was poorer than that in patients with a noninvasive thymoma.     

Lung cancer in chromate workers: high-risk group for multiple lung cancer

We diagnosed eight (8.9%) lung cancer patients in 90 workers exposed to chromate compounds. The duration of exposure ranged from 8 to 31 years, with a mean value of 18 +/- 8 years. The histological classification was squamous-cell carcinoma in seven patients and adenocarcinoma in one patient. The site of origin of the primary tumors was located peripherally in two (25%) and centrally in six (75%). All but one of these patients underwent surgery. In three (37.5%) of these patients, lung cancer foci were detected during the postoperative follow-up by sputum cytology and bronchoscopy. Two of these three patients had multicentric cancer foci: double primary early squamous-cell carcinoma in one and early squamous-cell carcinoma + small-cell lung cancer in the other. In a high-risk group such as chromate workers, we should emphasize early detection of lung cancer by serial sputum cytology, chest x-rays, and bronchoscopy. Lung cancer patients with chromate exposure should be treated with due regard to the possibility of synchronous or metachronous cancer.     

Percutaneous absorption of propranolol from gel ointment in rabbits

The percutaneous absorption in rabbits of propranolol from an alcohol-based gel ointment was studied to find a possible formulation of a transdermal dosage form which achieves a systemic effect. Gel ointments containing 1% propranolol were prepared by mixing ethanol/propylene glycol (EtOH/PG, 2:1 v/v) with 0.6 g Carbopol 934 in different amounts of water. The sum of the volumes of water and EtOH/PG was kept constant. The amount of propranolol released from the gel ointment as a function of the EtOH/PG content showed a convex relationship, giving a maximum release around 45–55% EtOH/PG. The solubility data for propranolol in various (EtOH/PG)/water mixtures indicated that a content of about 55% EtOH/PG was required to dissolve 1% propranolol in the gel ointment. In the study of percutaneous absorption of propranolol in rabbits, a gel ointment of 55% EtOH/PG, which was prepared according to the solubility data mentioned above, gave a distinctly high plasma level as compared with an ointment containing 40% EtOH/PG and conventional ointments. The mean plasma level obtained using 55% EtOH/PG, about 60 μng/ml, was comparable to the levels used for therapeutic purposes in human.     

Relationship between Sibship Size and Neurotic Symptoms of Anxiety, Hypochondriasis and Depression in Japanese Neurotic Children and Adolescents

Abstract: Two hundred and sixty-eight Japanese aged 19 or below were studied retrospectively from their medical records to determine the relationship between the sibship size (number of siblings in the family) and the appearance of symptoms of anxiety, hypochondriasis and depression during the time period I (1955 + 1960 + 1965) and the time period II (1970 + 1975 + 1978). The results showed that only sons and either sex of a large sibship size (4 or more) possessed these three symptoms to a larger extent than only daughters and either sex of a medium sibship size (2 or 3) during both time periods. These three adult-type neurotic symptoms were thought to be manifested among the children and adolescents who communicated primarily with adults and/or those who were required by their parents to exhibit adult-type behavior whether in traditional or in modern Japanese families.