Research review: DNA polymerases as molecular markers of the regenerating capacity of hepatocytes

Hepatocyte regeneration has been widely investigated, with the mitotic index and the incorporation of [³H]thymidine being used as regeneration markers. We focused on the induction of DNA replication enzymes, particularly DNA polymerases (pol) α, δ, and ε. Using rat models, we have shown that the activity of pol α in crude liver extract well represents the regenerating capacity of hepatocytes. Using pol α as an indicator, we analyzed liver regeneration in rat models under various conditions: obstructive jaundice, external or internal biliary drainage, and the obstruction of portal vein branches. It has been revealed that the ligation of the common bile duct alone induces a certain amount of hepatocyte proliferation. It was striking that external biliary drainage suppressed regeneration capacity in cholestatic rat liver after partial hepatectomy. The strong regeneration in nonligated lobes induced by portal branch ligation was similar to the liver regeneration seen after partial hepatectomy with respect to the induction of DNA polymerases. Taken together, the aspects of DNA replication, particularly the induction of DNA polymerases, may contribute to shedding new light on the regeneration of human liver. This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research and for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, and by grants from the Uehara Memorial Foundation     

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of Ewing's sarcoma and related tumors: Morphological neural markers suggesting neural histogenesis in 32 small round-cell sarcomas

The purpose of this study was to validate the hypothesis of neural histogenesis of Ewing's sarcoma of bone and related tumors by light microscopic, electron microscopic, and immunohistochemical analysis. We studied 32 round-cell sarcomas (19 cases of Ewing's sarcoma of bone, 3 extraskeletal Ewing's sarcomas, 5 peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) and 5 cases of unclassified small round-cell type of neurogenic sarcoma (NS). Immunoreactivity for MIC2 was observed in all cases of Ewing's sarcoma and PNET, and in 1 cases of NS. Positive immunoreactivity for neural markers (NSE, synaptophysin, S-100) was found frequently in some tumors. Ultrastructurally, some specific features of neural differentiation, such as a fragmented basal lamina and neurosecretory granule-like particles, were found even in typical cases of Ewing's sarcoma of bone, which presented without a rosette arrangement and were almost negative for neural immuno-markers, but positive for MIC2. These ultrastructural neural features were observed less frequently in Ewing's sarcoma of bone than in PNET and NS. However, no significant correlation was demonstrated between the immunoreactivity for neural markers and the ultrastructural and histological neural features. These results support the hypothesis of a neural origin of Ewing's sarcoma and related neoplasms, and suggest that some overlapping entity could persist in PNET and Ewing's sarcoma and that this entity could be seen in histological and immunohistochemical studies of both tumors.     

胃癌病人天然杀伤细胞活性监测

报道微量细胞毒试验——LDH 释放法用于对胃癌病人临床免疫的监测.测定100例正常人和50例胃癌病人外周血 NK 细胞毒.结果:正常人值为36.10±5.68,胃癌组中,10例早期胃癌为28.76±4.70,25例进展期胃癌为14.51±5.80,15例晚期胃癌为11.86±4.43,与正常人值比较,P 值分别>0.05,<0.01和<0.01.NK 细胞毒活性随胃癌病变的进展和肿瘤体积的增大而逐渐降低,手术切除肿瘤后可有不同程度回升,甚至恢复到正常水平。长期化疗能损伤 NK 活性.     

Effect of cortisone on cells at the bone-marrow interface

Summary A study of the association between the rate of proliferation of marrow fibroblast-like stromal cells (in vitro) and the rate of endosteal bone mineralization (EsMR) (in vivo) was undertaken in an osteopenic rat model. We report than 200 g male rats treated with cortisone acetate (5 mg/day for 7 days) exhibit decreases in marrow fibroblast colony-forming units (FCFU) and tetracycline-based measurements of EsMR at the level of the femoral midshaft. In cortisone-treated rats recovering for 1–3 weeks, the FCFU census and EsMR normalized during the first posttreatment week, remained at control levels after 2–3 weeks, and exhibited a relapse in the third week which signified only partial recovery. These changes were unrelated to patterns of body weight gain. The data indicate that the FCFU census can serve to index endosteal osteoblast vigor.     

Cisplatin-associated anaemia in patients with solid tumours

We have reviewed the incidence of cisplatin-induced anaemia in patients affected with solid tumours treated with at least three courses of first-line cisplatincontaining regimens. In our experience, a low percentage (5%) of patients required transfusions of red blood cells. We think it is of the utmost importance to adopt uniform criteria in monitoring and treatment of patients at risk of developing cisplatin anaemia and to identify subsets of patients to eventually treat with erythropoietin.     

补肾中药对雄激素致不孕大鼠卵巢核仁组成区蛋白的影响

观察补肾中药对雄激素致不孕大鼠卵巢核仁组成区蛋白的影响。用ＳＤ雌性大鼠幼仔，出生９ｄ龄注射丙酸睾丸酮，制成雄激素致不孕大鼠（ＡＳＲ）模型。８０ｄ龄灌服补肾中药水溶液两周。１００ｄ龄心脏灌注处死。以核仁组成区蛋白嗜银染色（ＡｇＮＯＲ）和增殖细胞核杭原（ＰｃＮＡ）为指标，观察卵巢颗粒细胞、间质腺细胞的形态学变化。结果：补肾中药能够使ＡＳＲ卵巢颗粒细胞增殖、卵泡发育。治疗组的ＡｇＮＯＲ和ＰｃＮＡ计数明显高于模型组，而与对照组之间无显著差异。结论：补肾中药的这种作用可能是通过调节了下丘脑－垂体－卵巢性腺功能的结果，从而促使卵巢颗粒细胞发育、卵泡成熟。     

Phase II evaluation of merbarone in renal cell carcinoma

Summary The Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) studied the response rate and toxicity of merbarone (1,000 mg/m² IV continuous infusion days 1–5, q 21 days) in patients with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Among 36 eligible patients, there was one partial response for a response rate of 3% (95% C.I. 0.1–15%). There were no mixed responses. There were no treatment related deaths or adverse drug reactions. Significant anemia, diarrhea, and hypercalcemia were observed. Mild to moderate degrees of malaise/fatigue/lethargy, dizziness/vertigo, hyperglycemia, creatinine increase, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, pedal edema, dyspnea, and granulocytopenia were noted. Merbarone does not have significant activity as a single agent in advanced renal cell carcinoma.     

Desmoplastic malignant melanoma presenting with orbital involvement

Desmoplastic malignant melanoma (DMM) is a rare variant of spindle cell melanoma. We report a case of DMM of the forehead secondarily involving the orbit. The diagnosis was based on light microscopic features, including prominent peripheral cell nest formation and spindle cell fascicles in densely collagenous stroma. Immunohistochemical studies showed strong uniform staining for S100 antigen throughout the tumour. It was negative for HMB 45, smooth muscle actin, desmin, cytokeratins and Type IV collagen. Electron microscopy showed neither melanosomes nor myelin figures. The clinical and histological characteristics of desmoplastic malignant melanoma, and its differential diagnosis of malignant schwannoma, are discussed. DMM has a poor prognosis, since it tends to invade deeply, recur locally and metastasise readily.     

大气中不同粒径颗粒物诱导人羊膜FL细胞UDS的研究

本研究以诱导人羊膜细胞ＵＤＳ为指标，对太原市大气不同粒径的颗粒物提取液进行了致突变性检验，结果表明，不同粒径颗粒物的提取液均可产生一定的遗传毒性，尤以３．３μｍ以下的颗粒物的遗传毒性较强。     

饮用淦河温泉下游河水对儿童健康的影响

长期饮用淦河温泉下游河水可使儿童头发中硒与硫的含量高出正常（指饮用自来水的）儿童约４倍，呈现高硫高硒体征，此体征儿童心率较慢，窦性心率不齐者增多，心房去极电位升高，心室去极和复极电位下降，Ｓ－Ｔ段移位例数和移位幅度均增加，心电图中的这些变化均在允许范围之内，但有些已接近病理边缘。红细胞数和血红蛋白量均略低于正常儿童。