Investigating Population Risk Factors of Pancreatic Cancer by Evaluation of Optical Markers in the Duodenal Mucosa

Pancreatic cancer screening has been hampered by the high rate of complications associated with interrogating the pancreas. The closest non-invasively accessible mucosa available for pancreatic cancer screening is the periampullary duodenal tissue. Our earlier report has shown the potential of using optical markers to interrogate this tissue for the presence of pancreatic cancer. In this study, we report a larger data set of low-coherence enhanced backscattering (LEBS) and elastic light scattering fingerprinting (ELF) optical markers from the periampullary duodenal mucosa. Optical measurements from biopsy samples were acquired from a total of 203 patients with varying clinical classification including healthy controls, a family history of pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, mucinous cystic precursor lesions, pancreatic cancer, and other pancreatic malignancies. Evaluation of the performance of an independent testing set for discriminating healthy control patients from pancreatic cancer patients showed a 95% sensitivity, 71% specificity, and 85% area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC) curve. Importantly, this performance was uncompromised for detecting potentially curable stages of the disease. Additionally, optical markers in higher risk populations such as family history and pancreatitis had values between those of healthy control and pancreatic cancer patients, thus allowing for future investigations of screening from these high risk groups.     

肝门阻断和再开放对兔胰腺功能的影响

目的：观察肝门阻断（HVO）及再开放（HVR）后胰腺内外分泌功能的改变。方法：选择健康日本大耳白兔25只，体重2.3-3.0 kg，分别于HVO前、HVO 10、20 min及HVR后（10、30、60、120 min）不同时点取血，并在HVO前、HVO 20 min、HVR后120 min 3个时点取胰腺组织，电镜下观察其超微结构的变化。结果：HVO时，血浆葡萄糖、胰岛素水平及一氧化氮代谢产物（NO₂^-/NO₃^-）含量均明显低于阻断前，胰高血糖素/胰岛素及丙二醛（MDA）浓度显著高于阻断前（P<0.05或P<0.01），并随阻断时间延长而加重；血浆淀粉酶、脂肪酶、游离脂肪酸水平则无明显差异（P>0.05）；胰岛细胞的线粒体肿胀、粗面内质网扩张，细胞核形态、结构基本正常，而胰腺腺泡细胞变化则不明显。HVR后上述差异逐渐不明显，至120min才接近阻断前水平。结论：急性肝门阻断和再开放对胰腺内分泌功能有较大的影响。     

兔急性肾功能衰竭时胰腺形态与功能及自由基、一氧化氮的变化

目的：探讨家兔急性肾功能衰竭（ARF）时胰腺的变化及机制。 方法： 60只家兔均分为4组。ARF模型1组：皮下注射1%HgCl2（1.3 mL/kg）；ARF模型2组：肌肉注射50%甘油（10 mL/kg）；以等量生理盐水代替HgCl2或甘油分别作为对照1、2组。24 h后，经Aeroset型全自动生化分析仪测定血清BUN、Cre及胰淀粉酶（AMY）活性；以放射免疫法检测血清胰岛素（INS）水平；制作胰腺病理切片，观察其组织等变化；制备10%胰匀浆，检测自由基及一氧化氮（NO）水平的变化。 结果： ARF时胰腺细胞有空泡变性、坏死等改变。ARF模型1、2组血清AMY活性均显著高于相应对照组，血清INS水平显著低于相应对照组（P<0.05，P<0.01）；胰匀浆MDA、NO2-/NO3-含量及NOS活性高于对照组，SOD活性低于对照组（P<0.05，P<0.01）。 结论： 兔急性肾功能衰竭时，胰腺可发生形态及功能变化，其机制可能与自由基损伤及NO升高有关。     

Masked excitatory action of noradrenaline on rat islet β-cells via activation of phospholipase C

The effect of noradrenaline (NE) on rat islet -cells was examined. NE reduced insulin secretion from rat islets exposed to extracellular solutions containing glucose at 5.5 or 16.6 mM. In islets treated with pertussis toxin (PTX), however, NE increased insulin secretion. The NE-induced augmentation of insulin secretion was inhibited by prazosin. In intact islets, NE increased phospholipase C (PLC) activity, an effect that was prevented by treatment of islets with U-73122. NE elevated intracellular [Ca²⁺] ([Ca²⁺]_i) in isolated -cells independently of PTX. Although this NE effect was inhibited by prazosin, phenylephrine did not mimic it. The [Ca²⁺]_i response to NE was also prevented by the treatment of cells with U-73122. NE produced depolarization of -cells followed by nifedipine-sensitive action potentials. NE reduced the whole-cell membrane currents through ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels (K_ATP), responsible for the depolarization. This NE effect was prevented by treatment of -cells with U-73122 or BAPTA/AM. Although at least some of our results imply the presence of ₁-adrenoceptors, -cells were not stained by a polyclonal IgG antibody recognizing all adrenergic ₁-receptor subtypes so far identified. These results suggest that an interaction of NE with an unknown type of receptor activates rat islet -cells via a PLC-dependent signal pathway. This effect is, however, masked by the inhibitory action via a PTX-sensitive pathway also activated by NE.     

Localization of NPY-immunoreactivity in the cat's visual cortex

Summary Using a polyclonal antiserum against neuropeptide Y (NPY; J.M. Allen et al. 1983a) immunohistochemistry was carried out using the PAP method. Neurones displaying NPY-like immunoreactivity are seen mainly in cortical layers V/ VI, adjacent white matter and corona radiata. Only few neurones occur in superficial layers II/III. Neurones are multipolar to bitufted with spineless dendrites; somata are either round (layers V, II/III) or spindle-like (layer VI, white matter) with diameters between 16 and 20 m. Axones were identified by their initial smoother profiles, which are smaller in diameter than principal dendrites, by their typical branching pattern and the occurrence of terminal portions. It was found, that the degree of axonal ramification in proximal parts of axones is rather poor. Most NPY-neurones seem to project intracortically or even locally, except neurones in layers VI and the white matter. The latter neurones have ascending axonal branches terminating in layer VI and V, thus contributing to the dense NPY-plexus in these layers, whereas some layer VI neurones have axonal branches descending into the white matter. The axonal plexus in upper cortical layers is most probably fed by the ascending axones of layer V neurones, passing layer IVc in a strictly vertical direction. Fine smooth fibers of unknown origin which ascend from the white matter in a vertical direction through the grey matter also contribute to the plexus in layer II/III. In semithin sectioned material three terminal types were identified. Firstly, en passant boutons on immunnegative pyramidal neurones, secondly, perisomatically arranged, basket-like terminals, bending around unstained non-pyramidal neurones, and thirdly, about 60 m long vertically oriented rows of boutons exclusively on apical dendrites of layer II/III pyramidal neurones. Due to the unconspicious axonal pattern and the frequently observed basket-like terminal form, we conclude that most NPY-ir neurones can be regarded as a class of unspecific local field basket cells; the origin of the vertically arranged bouton rows has been yet to determined.     

M. articularis genus Observations on arrangement and consideration of function

Summary On the basis of 44 adult Japanese cadavers, the mode of origin, insertion and innervation of the articularis genus muscle (m. articularis genus: AG) is described. All the muscle bundles that are inserted into the posterior aspect of the synovial membrane of the joint capsule as well as the suprapatellar bursa are defined as AG. The inserting fibers spread medially and laterally over the subsynovial connective tissue which is the outer layer of synovial membrane facing the femur. The fatty tissue between each muscle bundle gradually increases with depth. A few deeper muscle bundles of AG seem to be separated by a layer of fat from those of the superficial layer. The deepest muscle bundles arise from the anterior surface of the femur at a slighlty lower level than the proximal apex of the suprapatellar bursa. It is inserted into the synovial membrane at the level of the junction of the suprapatellar bursa and proper joint cavity when the knee is extended. It is difficult to distinguish AG from m. vastus intermedius (Vi) only on the basis of the manner of origin and the surrounding fatty tissue. The innervation is in common with that of Vi, namely, a few nerves which run down obliquely to the lower medial part of Vi.Dedicated to Professor Emeritus Tomoo Nakayama in commemoration of his 77th birthday     

Changes in element concentrations induced by agonist in pig pancreatic acinar cells

 Changes in electrolytes of pig pancreatic acinar cells following application of gastrin-cholecystokinin (CCK) were investigated using the technique of X-ray microanalysis of hydrated and dehydrated sections of freshly frozen pancreas. After stimulation by CCK (10^–9 M), Na and Cl increased significantly in the cytoplasm [Na, from 10 mmol/kg wet wt. (48 mmol/kg dry wt.) to 19 mmol/kg (95 mmol/kg); Cl, from 22 mmol/kg (105 mmol/kg) to 49 mmol/kg (245 mmol/kg)] as well as in the luminal interspace [Na, from 53 mmol/kg (189 mmol/kg) to 65 mmol/kg (283 mmol/kg); Cl, from 65 mmol/kg (232 mmol/kg) to 102 mmol/kg (443 mmol/kg)]. In the secretory granules Cl increased significantly from 30 mmol/kg (86 mmol/kg) to 67 mmol/kg (203 mmol/kg). K decreased significantly from 120 mmol/kg (571 mmol/kg) to 81 mmol/kg (405 mmol/kg) in the cytoplasm, while both increased from 38 mmol/kg (109 mmol/kg) to 58 mmol/kg (176 mmol/kg) in the granules and from 46 mmol/kg (164 mmol/kg) to 48 mmol/kg (209 mmol/kg) in the luminal interspace. Ca increased significantly in the cytoplasm as well as in the luminal interspace, and decreased significantly in the secretory granules. CCK evoked Ca release from secretory granules in the secretory pole of acinar cells. The values were measured from dehydrated sections, and agreed well with those from hydrated sections. The effect of furosemide, an inhibitor of the Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl^–co-transporter, on the ion transport of acinar cell was studied. When furosemide (10^–5 M) was added to the external solution, the cytoplasmic Cl and Ca concentrations decreased significantly, while there was a little decrease in Na and K concentrations under the secretory condition. These results indicate that Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl^–co-transport, and Na⁺, Cl^–and K⁺ exits into the lumen are involved in the mechanism of ion secretion in pig pancreatic acinar cells. Received: 17 January 1996 / Accepted: 12 March 1996     

Radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer: eleven year experience at the JCRT

Radiation therapy (XRT) for 41 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer resulted in a median survival of 7.0 months. There was no difference in median survival for patients receiving external beam alone (3500 to 5600 cGy) (n = 28), intraoperative (IORT) boost plus external beam (5040 to 6750 cGy) (n = 9), or a gold-198 implant +/- external beam radiation (n = 4). A pilot study using orthovoltage IORT boost indicates no acute toxicity with doses of 1250 to 1750 cGy. Serious late damage has not been observed in any patients followed to 2 years. Local recurrence in patients treated post-operatively after "radical" surgery occurred in one of 10 (10%). This adjuvant treatment is safe and appears to improve local control rates compared to historical data, but survival is still poor. The median survival for the post-operative group is 10 months; three patients are alive without disease 8 months to 8.3 years after treatment.     

Changes in Cell Characteristics Due to Culture Conditions in Cell Lines From Human Small Cell Lung Cancer

Eight cultured cell lines were established from human smallcell lung cancers. Every cell line showed the morphologicaland biochemical characteristics of small cell cancer. Changesin cell characteristics were observed in many of these celllines when culture conditions were changed: "oat cell type"changed to "intermediate cell type" and vice versa when serum-freemedium was changed to serum-supplemented medium; a deficiencyof vitamin A in the medium caused a change to squamous cellsand vice versa; and a tumor promoter (teleocidin B) enhancedthe adherence of these cells to the surface of plastic culturedishes. These findings provide evidence that many small celllung cancer cell lines can change their morphology with changesin the environment of the cells.     

单纯疱疹病毒Ⅰ型在兔脑神经细胞中的形态与形态发生

研究单纯疱疹病毒Ⅰ(HSV-Ⅰ)在兔脑神经细胞(RNC)中的形态与形态发生。方法 用电子显微镜观察超薄切片,并拍照记录。结果RNC感染HSV-Ⅰ6h后,细胞核中即可见散在核衣壳,12h后细胞核和细胞质内均可见到,但以核内多见,24h后病毒量达高峰。胶质细胞内的核衣壳多于神经元,胶质细胞和神经元的细胞质内和胞外可见少量有包膜的完整病毒。病毒颗粒为圆形或椭圆形,核心直径38～54nm,核衣壳77～100hm,成熟病毒115～129nm。结论RNC对HSV-Ⅰ高度敏感,HSV-Ⅰ在兔脑神经元和胶质细胞中的形态发生有一定的差异。