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.     

Cerebral infarction in acute promyelocytic leukemia at initial presentation

We report on a 3 year old girl with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with cerebral infarction due to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) at initial presentation. She was hospitalized because of unconsciousness and petechiae on the chest wall and extremities. Cerebral ischemia and infarction were found on computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Peripheral bood content was hemoglobin 7.3 g/dL, white blood cells 1.0 × 10³cells/μL (31% blasts) and platelet count was 12 × 10³cells/μL. Fragmented erythrocytes were frequently observed on May-Giemsa stained blood smears. Bone marrow aspirates showed normal cellularity, with 60.4% blasts, containing faggot cells. The blasts were positive for peroxidase. Therapy was begun; however, the patient died 1 week after admission.     

Surveillance interval of endoscopic examinations for colorectal cancer screening

Background: There have been a few evidence‐based studies concerning the relationship between the length of the surveillance interval of colonoscopic examinations and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to assess the appropriate interval between endoscopic examinations for CRC screening in a retrospective cohort study. Methods: The cohort included subjects in whom cancer was not detected at the initial endoscopic examination and in whom endoscopic examination(s) was subsequently performed one or more times. The results of the endoscopic examinations performed in the mass screening for CRC between November 1983 and March 1999 were analyzed. The study end point was the detection of CRC and the detection rates of cancer were assessed among those who underwent examinations at various intervals between successive endoscopic examinations. Results: Among the 117 636 cohort subjects, 63 invasive cancer cases and 112 mucosal cancer cases were found. The odds ratio (OR) for invasive cancer was not significantly elevated even when the interval between successive examinations was over 5 years. The OR for mucosal or invasive cancer was significantly elevated among the subjects in whom the interval between successive examinations was over 5 years (OR, 1.71; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07–2.73), than among those in whom the interval was 1 year. Conclusions: Since prolongation of the interval between endoscopic examinations of up to 5 years did not result in any change in the cancer risk among persons who are at average risk for CRC, 5 years may be an adequate interval between endoscopic examinations in the mass screening for CRC.     

Early onset of cecal perforation in neonatal,recto-sigmoid type Hirschsprung's disease

Hirschsprung's disease has been considered to cause intestinal perforation in rare cases. Even if a perforation occurs, the majority of cases are associated with the long-segment or total colonic type. Our case developed the perforation in the neonatal period in spite of being of the recto-sigmoidal type, and it affected the cecum. We do not have a good explanation for this condition. However, the pathological examination of the specimens of the perforated cecum revealed some necrosis (ulceration, subcutaneous hemorrhage, congestion and severe edema) which was considered to be caused by ischemia, secondary to a localized vascular accident in the wall of the distended intestine.     

A Case of a Short-Coupled Variant of Torsades De Pointes with Electrical Storm

TAKEUCHI, T., et al. : A Case of a Short-Coupled Variant of Torsades De Pointes with Electrical Storm. This case report describes a short-coupled variant of Torsades de Pointes with a characteristic ECG pattern consisting of a prominent J wave in leads V₃–V₆, in which an electrical storm was evoked with autonomic receptor stimulation and a blockade test. The patient's frequent VF attacks were triggered by short-coupled premature ventricular contractions with a right bundle branch block morphology and left-axis deviation, and were suppressed by deep sedation followed by a combination therapy using verapamil and mexiletine. Interestingly, with the use of those drugs, the prominent J wave diminished. The mechanism underlying this syndrome is discussed. (PACE 2003; 26[Pt. I]:632–636)     

Detection of apoptosis in keloids and a comparative study on apoptosis between keloids, hypertrophic scars, normal healed flat scars, and dermatofibroma

Recent studies have suggested that the regulation of apoptosis during wound healing is important in scar establishment and the development of pathological scarring. In this study, we demonstrate that keloid fibroblasts can be identified as apoptotic cells because of their highly condensed chromatin and discrete nuclear fragments. To further reveal the phenomenon of apoptosis, we quantified the number of terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in surgically resected tissues of keloids (N = 10), hypertrophic scars (N = 10), normal healed flat scars (N = 10), and dermatofibroma (N = 10). The number of TUNEL-positive cells was relatively low, but was significantly higher for the keloid group compared with the normally healed flat scar group (p = 0.004), suggesting reduced cell survival and increased apoptotic cell death in a subpopulation of keloid fibroblasts. Furthermore, the number of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher for the keloid group compared with the dermatofibroma group (p = 0.044), suggesting that a subpopulation of keloid fibroblasts may suppress tumorgenicity at a greater rate than dermatofibroma by undergoing cell death. Hypertrophic scars had significantly higher levels of apoptosis than normally healed flat scars (p = 0.033). Therefore, these results suggest that selected fibroblasts in keloids and hypertrophic scars undergo apoptosis, which may play a role in the process of pathological scarring.     

Transient dilatation of the abdominal aorta in an infant with Kawasaki disease associated with thrombocytopenia

We report on an 8 month old infant with Kawasaki disease associated with giant coronary aneurysms and transient thrombocytopenia. The patient's platelet count decreased to 24000/mm³ on the 31st day of illness and fibrin degradation product was 5 μg/mL. Platelet count increased to the normal level (357000/mm³) on the 35th day of illness. On the 27th day of illness, dilatation of the distal abdominal aorta adjacent to the bifurcation of the iliac arteries was observed by B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography. It gradually returned to a normal size by the 45th day of illness. Aspirin administered from the 3rd to the 26th day of illness was replaced with flubioprophen because of liver dysfunction. Although we can not eliminate aspirin allergy as the cause of the transient thrombocytopenia, we think that the thrombocytopenia may have been related to the regression of the abdominal aorta.     

Subchronic Oral Toxicity of Glyoxal via Drinking Water in Rats

Subchronic Oral Toxicity of Glyoxal via Drinking Water in Rats.Ueno, H., Segawa, T., Hasegawa, T., Nakamuro, K., Maeda, H.,Hiramatsu, Y., Okada, S., and Sayato, Y. (1991). Fundam. Appl.Toxicol. 16, 763–772. The subchronic oral toxicity ofglyoxal via drinking water and the effect on in vivo proteinsynthesis in tissues following a single treatment with thissubstance were assessed in Sprague–Dawley male rats. Animalsreceived drinking water containing glyoxal levels of 2000, 4000,and 6000 mg/liter ad libitum for 30, 60, and 90 days in PhaseI. In Phase II, the high-dose and control-1 groups fed the dietad libitum, and a diet-limited control-2 group given the sameamount of diet as consumed by the high-dose group were maintainedfor 90 and 180 days. The study designs included observationsof clinical signs, body weights, major organ weights, grossand histopathological examinations, serum clinical chemistry,and biochemical examinations such as glyoxalase activity andglutathione content in selected tissues. Body weight gain andorgan weights significantly decreased with dosage. Althoughconsumption of food and water was also depressed in the exposedgroup, the reduction of body weight gain was greater in thehigh-dose group than in the diet-limited control 2 group. Histopathologicalexaminations revealed only a slight papillary change in thekidneys from the high-dose group at both 90 and 180 days terminationsin Phase II. The induction of both glyoxalase I and II was observedin liver and erythrocytes at 30-day termination of the exposedgroups. Serum enzyme and protein levels were significantly reducedby the mid- and/or high-dose exposures. With a single oral high-dosetreatment of glyoxal, a great decline in the incorporation ofL-[³H]leucine was shown particularly in the liver, and thisprobably led in part to a reduction in the serum protein levelsin rats following subchronic exposure to glyoxal. These dataindicated an overall low degree of systemic toxicity to ratsexposed subchronically to glyoxal via drinking water.     

Recombinant human c-Mpl ligand is not a direct stimulator of proplatelet formation in mature human megakaryocytes

To evaluate the effect of the c-Mpl ligand on platelet production by megakaryocytes, we investigated proplatelet formation in isolated human megakaryocytes cultured in serum-free medium, with or without the c-Mpl ligand, interleukin-6 and erythropoietin. When interleukin-6 was added to the culture medium, the percentage of megakaryocytes displaying proplatelets was approximately 1.5-fold the control value; whereas, in the presence of the c-Mpl ligand, the percentage of megakaryocytes displaying proplatelets decreased in a dose-dependent manner and did not increase compared to control values at any dose tested. However, the viability of megakaryocytes after a 4 d culture in the presence of the c-Mpl ligand was significantly higher than that of the cells cultured without it. The c-Mpl ligand did not stimulate the proplatelet formation in megakaryocytes in vitro