Surgical treatment of metastatic lung cancer from colorectal cancers

Based on conclusions obtained after the observation of 61 colorectal cancer patients with a lung metastasis, the resection of lung metastasis as a therapy was evaluated. Among these 61 patients, only 5 patients had been identified as having a lung metastasis at the time of resection of the primary lesion, whereas the other 56 patients developed the lung metastasis after the curative resection of the colorectal cancer. Only one patient with a synchronous lung metastasis and twelve patients (eleven with a solitary metastatic lesion and one with multiple metastatic lesions) with metachronous lung metastasis underwent removal of the lung metastasis. The three-year survival rate was 65.2% in the metachronous group.     

Analysis of the interaction of reserpine with actin by the photoaffinity labelling method.

The interaction of reserpine with one of the cytoskeletal proteins, actin, was analyzed by the photoaffinity labelling method using [3H]reserpine. Reserpine bound sufficiently to G- or oligomeric actin, but hardly to F-actin under the same experimental conditions. This result could be explained if reserpine binds to a specific region of the G-actin molecule that is responsible for actin-actin interactions. It is concordant with this idea that [3H]reserpine bound only to specific proteolytic fragments of actin. When reserpine was mixed with crude extracts of two kinds of tissues, chicken gizzard smooth muscle and bovine adrenal medulla, it bound to the 42 kDa protein of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in both cases. Its molecular size and abundance suggest strongly that this 42 kDa protein is actin. The binding of reserpine to actin was inhibited by dopamine in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that actin could be one of the target molecules of reserpine.     

Fetal growth and the timing of exposure to maternal smoking

BACKGROUND: Maternal smoking during the third trimester reduces the birthweight of the full-term neonate. We assessed the relationship between the timing of exposure to maternal smoking, gestational period, weight and body length for both full-term and preterm neonates. METHODS: A retrospective study with a questionnaire was conducted in 1194 infants who participated in the official medical examination for 3-year-old infants. RESULTS: The risk of preterm birth from mothers who smoked during any trimesters was significantly increased. The body length of neonates whose mothers smoked during the third trimester was shorter than that of neonates whose mothers did not smoke during the third trimester. The weight of full-term neonates whose mothers smoked during the third trimester was lighter than that of neonates whose mothers did not smoke during the third trimester. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal smoking during any trimesters increased the risk of preterm birth. Maternal smoking during the third trimester reduced the body length of both full-term and preterm neonates, and the birthweight of the full-term neonate in a somewhat dose-dependent manner.     

Deposition of extracellular matrix on intraocular lenses in rabbits: An immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopic study

Background: We examined by transmission electron microscopy the accumulation of extracellular matrix on intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted experimentally into rabbit eyes, and evaluated the immunolocalization of such extracellular matrix components as collagen types I, III, and IV, and cellular fibronectin on these IOLs. Methods: Phacoemulsification and aspiration of the crystalline lens were performed and an IOL was implanted into the capsular bag of each eye of each of 16 adult albino rabbits under general anesthesia. After up to 12 weeks, the animals were killed and the IOLs were removed. Specimens were processed for transmission electron microscopy or for immunohistochemical detection collagen types I, III, and IV, and cellular fibronectin. Results: Transmission electron microscopy revealed an accumulation of extracellular matrix between the residual anterior lens capsule and the surface of an IOL explanted 4 weeks after surgery. Collagen types I and III and cellular fibronectin were detected immunohistochemically on each IOL in association with cellular deposits. Type IV collagen-immunoreactive matrix was not seen on the optic portion, but was detected on the haptic portion of one of six IOLs examined. Conclusion: Each component of the extracellular matrix that is deposited on the IOL supplies scaffolding for the adhesion and proliferation of cells. These components are considered to be produced by cells such as lens epithelial cells and macrophages that adhere to the IOL surface.Presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA on 15 May 1995 at the Quintessence of Ophthalmology Meeting in Sopron, Hungary, on 6 October 1995     

Retinal function with lens-induced myopia compared with form-deprivation myopia in chicks

Background: The retina is known to be involved in the development of form-deprivation myopia (FDM); however, it is not clear whether the retinal changes that lead to lens-induced myopia (LIM) are the same as those involved in FDM. To gain insight into the retinal mechanism(s) that cause myopia, we investigated differences in the results of electroretinography (ERG) in eyes with FDM and LIM. Methods: LIM or FDM was induced in chick eyes by placing various powers of spectacles or an occluder over the left eyes of 6-day-old chicks. After 6 days, the spectacles or occluder was removed, refraction and axial length were measured and ERG was performed. Results for eyes treated with spectacles and those treated with occluders were compared. Results: Refraction and axial length changed concomitant with the power of the lens used, but components of the ERG of eyes with LIM were not related to the power of lens added. Refraction and axial lengths of eyes covered with a — 16 D lens did not differ from these values in eyes covered with an occluder. The a- and b-waves were also similar for the two groups. However, oscillatory potentials decreased significantly in the chicks with FDM. Conclusion: Retinal function differs in LIM and FDM, as indicated by differences in the oscillatory potentials. This difference may stem from the fact that in FDM the retinal image is continuously defocused, whereas images are ultimately focused on the retina in LIM.     

Hepatic bilirubin uptake in the isolated perfused rat liver is not facilitated by albumin binding.

Bilirubin uptake by the liver is a rapid process of high specificity that has kinetic characteristics which suggest carrier-mediation. In the circulation, bilirubin is readily bound to albumin, from which it is extracted by the liver. Although several studies suggested that it is the small, unbound fraction of bilirubin which interacts with hepatocytes and is removed from the circulation, recent experiments have been interpreted as suggesting that binding to albumin facilitates ligand uptake. A liver cell surface receptor for albumin has been postulated. The present study was designed to examine directly whether albumin facilitates the hepatic uptake of bilirubin and whether uptake of bilirubin depends on binding to albumin. Rat liver was perfused with a protein-free fluorocarbon medium, and single-pass uptake of 1, 10, or 200 nmol of [3H]bilirubin was determined after injection as an equimolar complex with 125I-albumin, with 125I-ligandin, or free with only a [14C]sucrose reference. Uptake of 10 nmol of [3H]bilirubin was 67.5 +/- 3.7% of the dose when injected with 125I-albumin, 67.4 +/- 6.5% when injected with 125I-ligandin, and 74.9 +/- 2.4% when injected with [14C]sucrose (P greater than 0.1). At 200 nmol, uptake fell to 46.4 +/- 3.1% (125I-albumin) and 63.3 +/- 3.4% [( 14C]sucrose) of injected [3H]bilirubin (P less than 0.01), which suggests saturation of the uptake mechanism. When influx was quantitated by the model of Goresky, similar results were obtained. When [3H]bilirubin was injected simultaneously with equimolar 125I-albumin and a [14C]sucrose reference, there was no delay in 125I-albumin transit as compared with that of [14C]sucrose. This suggested that the off-rate of albumin from a putative hepatocyte receptor would have to be very rapid, which is unusual for high affinity receptor-ligand interaction. There was no evidence for facilitation of bilirubin uptake by binding to albumin or for interaction of albumin with a liver cell surface receptor. These results suggest that the hepatic bilirubin uptake mechanism is one of high affinity which can extract bilirubin from circulating carriers such as albumin, ligandin, or fluorocarbon.     

Successful treatment with G-CSF and corticosteroid of adult idiopathic autoimmune neutropenia presenting as recurrent enterocolitis

A 63-year-old woman had previously been admitted to another hospital due to fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea. She was treated with fasting, antibiotics and G-CSF administration because of the coexistence of neutropenia, and the symptoms improved. However, discontinuation of G-CSF administration resulted in a recurrence of the neutropenia accompanied with enterocolitis. After admission to our hospital, a diagnosis for idiopathic AIN was performed as she tested positive in both granulocyte immunofluorescence and granulocyte agglutination tests. Administration of corticosteroid following G-CSF resulted in a continuous increase in the neutrophil count and the disappearance of anti-neutrophil autoantibodies.     

Orally-administered caspase inhibitor PF-03491390 is retained in the liver for prolonged periods with low systemic exposure, exerting a hepatoprotective effect against alpha-fas-induced liver injury in a mouse model

In a mouse model of alpha-Fas-induced acute liver injury, the orally-administered caspase inhibitor PF-03491390 (formerly named IDN-6556) was retained in the liver for prolonged periods with a low systemic exposure. Reductions in the elevated plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) revealed that the retention of PF-03491390 in the liver exerted a hepatoprotective effect, even when pre-administered to mice 4 h before alpha-Fas insult. Prolonged retention of PF-03491390 in the liver after oral administration has the benefit of low systemic exposure, making this a beneficial agent for the treatment of liver diseases.     

Discrepancies between cytology, cystoscopy and biopsy in bladder cancer detection after Bacille Calmette-Guerin intravesical therapy

Objectives:   To evaluate discrepancies in the detection of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-resistant bladder cancer by cystoscopy, bladder biopsy and urinary cytology.
Methods:   Between January 1992 and August 2006, 127 bladder cancer patients underwent a cycle of eight weekly BCG instillations. Four weeks after the last BCG instillation, urinary cytological analysis and cystoscopy with targeted biopsy in addition to eight–nine selected-site biopsies were performed.
Results:   Biopsy-proven cancer was found in 11/27 (40.7%), 5/42 (11.9%), and 11/58 (19.0%) of positive, suspicious, and negative cytology cases, respectively. Abnormal and normal cystoscopic findings correlated with a biopsy-proven cancer in 13/53 (24.5%) and 14/74 (18.9%) cases, respectively. The combination of a macroscopic cystoscopic suspicion and a positive cytology missed malignant cases in 15.9% of the cases. In 100 cases without biopsy-proven cancer, the rates of denuded urothelium at biopsy in the cases with positive and non-positive cytology were 7/16 (43.8%) and 16/84 (19.0%), respectively
Conclusions:   According to our study, routine biopsy is recommended in the evaluation of BCG treatment, even if the timing, limitations and disadvantages of the procedure should be taken into account.