Usefulness of preoperative low dose cisplatin treatment for advanced esophageal cancer

In order to decrease the perioperative complications by preoperative cisplatin chemotherapy, the preoperative single administration of cisplatin (30 mg/m²) was performed weekly from one to six times in 36 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer classified as higher than Stage II. The survival curve of 17 patients in Stage III was significantly better (P<0.05) than that of patients who had been treated without preoperative cisplatin treatment. In 3 of the 12 patients who had locally invasive cancer, either the main tumors or the metastatic lymph nodes, which had invaded the trachea or the left main bronchus, sufficiently receded, so that a curative esophagectomy became possible; 2 of them have survived over 33 months while 1 died of pneumonia 33 months after surgery. The number of perioperative complications was minimal, and thus, we consider that the postoperative use of cisplatin and fluorouracil is indicated in patients in whom a histological response is noted in the resected specimens.This work was partially supported by Grant No. 02454315 from the Japanese Ministry of Education     

Rare Case of Small-Cell Carcinoma Arising from the Endometrium with Paraneoplastic Retinopathy

We present the fourth known case of endometrial carcinoma, and the second case of endometrial small-cell carcinoma, to be associated with paraneoplastic retinopathy. Initial symptoms were decreased visual acuity and a narrowing of the visual field. Endometrial carcinoma was diagnosed several months later. An antibody to 34-kDa bovine retinal antigen was detected in the patient's serum. Thus, autoimmunity was suspected as the cause of the retinopathy. In patients with endometrial carcinoma with visual disturbance of unknown cause, paraneoplastic retinopathy should be suspected.     

Analyses of T-cell differentiation from hemopoietic stem cells in the G0 phase by an in vitro method.

Using differential radiation sensitivity of components of mouse embryonal thymus, an in vitro method for studying T-cell differentiation from hemopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the G0 phase was established. Intrathymic T-cell precursors present in embryonal thymus were found to be quite radioresistant (up to 20 Gy), and consequently 25-Gy-irradiated embryonal thymic lobes were used. Thymic lobes (25-Gy irradiated) taken from mouse fetuses (gestation day 15) were placed in Millipore-HA culture plates supported on squares of gelatin foam sponge in 24-well culture plates in which neonatal thymus stromal cells were cultured. HSCs (10(5) cells per well) in the G0 phase were added to these thymic lobes and cocultured at 37 degrees C in a 5% CO2/95% air incubator. Half the culture medium was changed every week. After 3 weeks, a large number of colonies had formed. Immunohistochemical studies and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analyses revealed that the colonizing cells regularly develop and exhibit surface markers characteristic of T cells (Thy-1, IL-2R, L3T4, Lyt-2, etc.). In situ hybridization analyses revealed that mRNA expression for T-cell receptor (TCR) beta chains occurred within colonizing cells. Using a monoclonal antibody (F23.1), expression of TCR beta-chain variable domain (V beta 8) on the surface of these developing T cells was demonstrated. These cells responded to interleukin 2 and/or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, indicating functional T cells. This method will be useful in studying T-cell differentiation pathways from pluripotent HSCs and in clarifying the mechanisms involved in negative and positive selection of T cells within the thymus.     

Percutaneous hepatic venous isolation and extracorporeal charcoal hemoperfusion for high-dose intraarterial chemotherapy in patients with colorectal hepatic metastases

The results of treating 12 consecutive patients with unresectable colorectal hepatic metastases with a hepatic arterial infusion of high-dose Adriamycin, 100–120 mg/m², using hepatic venous isolation (HVI) and charcoal hemoperfusion (CHP) are reported herein. Adriamycin was administered over 5–15 min under extracorporeal drug elimination by HVI-CHP. HVI was percutaneously accomplished by either the double-balloon technique using a Fogarty occlusion catheter (8/22F) or a balloon-tipped catheter (16F). During the infusion, isolated hepatic venous blood was filtered by CHP and pumped into the left axillary vein. There were no lethal complications, and good hemodynamic tolerance to HVI-CHP was confirmed. Tumor liquefaction accompanied by a sharp decrease in serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels by more than 50% of pretreatment levels was observed in 6 of the 12 patients 1 month after treatment. Apart from chemical hepatitis, which developed in 11 (92%) of the patients, the Adriamycin toxicities were well controlled following the development of nausea and vomiting in 2 patients (17%), leukopenia <2,000/mm³ in 3 (25%), and gastric ulcer in 1 (8%). These results indicate that this method is a safe and useful procedure for otherwise hazardous high-dose intraarterial chemotherapy in patients with unresectable hepatic tumors.     

Inhibitory effect of antiserum to surface antigen P50 of Babesia gibsoni on growth of parasites in severe combined immunodeficiency mice given canine red blood cells

The inhibitory effect of an antiserum to surface protein P50 of Babesia gibsoni on the growth of the parasite was determined with severe combined immunodeficiency mice given canine red blood cells. The antiserum to the recombinant P50 protein significantly inhibited the parasite growth, indicating that P50 might be a useful vaccine candidate.     

Comparative studies on soluble protein profiles and isozyme patterns of seven Trichinella isolates

Soluble protein profiles and isozyme patterns of eight enzymes were compared for extracts of muscle stage larvae of the seven Trichinella isolates, using isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel. Soluble protein profiles and isozyme patterns of four enzymes: malic enzyme, glucose-phosphate isomerase, phosphoglucomutase, superoxide dismutase of them were clearly divided into four types. T. pseudospiralis from a racoon and the Polar strain from a polar bear formed type 1 and type 2. The Iwasaki strain from a Japanese black bear and the Yamagata strain from a racoon dog, both from Japan, were type 3. Type 4 consisted of three remaining strains, the Polish strain from a wild pig, the USA strain from a pig and the Thai strain from a human case, which have similar infectivities to pigs. The Thai strain varied a bit electrophoretically from other members of type 4. Zymograms of adenylate kinase and malate dehydrogenase were similar in types 2 and 3. The 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase zymogram of type 3, similar to that of type 4, was different from that of type 2. It is assumed from the data that type 3 (Japanese strain) was genetically intermediate to types 2 and 4. T. pseudospiralis and the Polar strain had a common main isozyme of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. The zymogram of lactate dehydrogenase was common except for T. pseudospiralis.