Serial liver biopsies in psoriatic patients receiving long-term etretinate

Twenty psoriatic patients treated with etretinate have been followed in a prospective study of liver biopsies. Twelve patients were followed up for 3 years, with four liver biopsies each. No significant damage to the liver was found during etretinate therapy. Etretinate may be stored in the fatty tissues of the liver or other body areas for prolonged periods.     

Antagonistic Effects of OPC-14597, a Novel Antipsychotic Drug,on Quinpirole- and (–)-Sulpiride-induced Changes in Evoked Dopamine Release in Rat Striatal Slices

The effects of a newly synthesized quinolinone derivative, 7-{4-(4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl) butoxy}-3,4-dihydro-2-(1H)-quinolinone (OPC-14597), a novel antipsychotic drug, on electrically evoked dopamine release in rat striatal slices were investigated. OPC-14597 (0.1–10 μm) had no effect on the dopamine release evoked in the striatal slices. The decrease induced by quinpirole, a dopamine receptor agonist, in evoked dopamine release was attenuated by supervision with OPC-14597 (1 and 10 μm) which by itself had no effect on evoked dopamine release. The increase induced by (–)-sulpiride, a dopamine receptor antagonist, in evoked dopamine release was, moreover, also attenuated by 1 and 10 μm OPC-14597. These findings indicate that OPC-14597 antagonizes both dopamine agonist- and antagonist-induced changes in evoked dopamine release in striatal slices in rats.     

Expression of thymidine phosphorylase in human superficial bladder cancer

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the expression level of thymidine phosphorylase (TPase) in superficial bladder cancer tissues obtained by transurethral resection, and determine whether its expression correlates with tumor recurrence. METHODS: From March 1998 to December 2001, 99 patients with superficial bladder cancer were diagnosed and treated at eight affiliated hospitals. Tissue specimens obtained by transurethral resection of superficial bladder cancer (TURBT) were applied to immunohistochemical study using anti-TPase antibody as well as pathological diagnosis. The data were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Using MoAb 654-1 as the primary antibody, TPase was clearly stained in human bladder cancer tissues. The maximum TPase level measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in normal bladder tissues was 18.7 U/mg protein. The TPase activity was 2.8-fold higher in tumors than in normal bladder samples (P = 0.037). The TPase positivity rates determined by immunohistochemical and ELISA methods were distinctly correlated (P = 0.046). For the recurrence-free rates in pT1 tumors treated by TURBT alone (n = 46), there were no statistically significant differences between Tpase-positive or -negative cases. CONCLUSIONS: The TPase expression determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry is significantly up-regulated in superficial bladder tumors compared with normal bladder samples. However, TPase expression by immunohistochemistry is not a predictive index of recurrence-free rate for superficial bladder cancer treated with TURBT alone.     

Modulation of (–)-sulpiride-induced increase in electrically-evoked release of dopamine from rat striatal slices

Abstract— (–)-Sulpiride (10 Nm -10 μm ) in the superfusate, dose-dependently increased the electrically-evoked release of dopamine from rat striatal slices. (+)-Sulpiride had little effect on evoked release of dopamine up to 10 μm . Apomorphine inhibited electrically evoked release of dopamine, and this effect of apomorphine was antagonized by (–)-sulpiride. SCH23390 and forskolin had no effect on the (–)-sulpiride-induced increase in evoked release of dopamine. Treatment with the irreversible dopamine-receptor antagonist N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline caused a significant increase in evoked release of dopamine and prevented the (–)-sulpiride-induced increase in the evoked release of dopamine. These results indicate that the (–)-sulpiride-induced increase in evoked release of dopamine is due to antagonism of the activation of dopamine autoreceptors by endogenously released dopamine.     

Depressive Disorders in Japanese Primary Care Patients

In a sample of 276 Japanese adult patient attenders at two primarycare clinics affiliated with the Department of Hygiene and PreventiveMedicine at the Okayama University Medical School major depressionwas diagnosed in 5.8% and minor depression in 7.2% of patientsstudied. Functional impairment was significantly more severein patients with either major or minor depression than in thosenot affected. None of the 36 patients with major or minor depressionhad received a diagnosis of depression or had been given antidepressanttherapy. Possible explanations for the marked underdiagnosisof depression and lack of specific antidepressant therapy inthese patients include severe stigma associated with a diagnosisof mental disorders, focus of the mental health system on hospitalizationwith consequent trivialization of mental problems in ambulatorypatients, and the extraordinarily high work load of primarycare doctors.     

Acquired pure red cell aplasia in a hemodialyzed patient

A 68-year-old male had end-stage renal disease secondary to hypertension. He was placed on chronic dialytic therapy and was given recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin) for renal anemia. One month later, rapidly progressing anemia was noted. The anemia was unresponsive to maximal doses of epoetin and the patient soon became transfusion-dependent. Erythroid hypoplasia was demonstrated by bone marrow biopsy. A detailed search for the cause of the erythroblastopenia revealed nothing. A diagnosis of acquired pure red cell aplasia was made. The use of immunosuppressive agents improved the patient's symptoms and laboratory data. Antibodies for erythropoietin (EPO) were negative after the treatment. It is suggested that patients with EPO-resistant anemia with no obvious etiology should be examined for underlying hematologic disorders.     

Pseudosarcoma of the Esophagus

Three newly found patients with an esophageal pseudosarcoma are described. The features of this unusual polypoid tumor are reviewed based on these three patients and 21 additional reported patients. The origin of the sarcomatous element as a metaplastic reaction to the underlying carcinoma is discussed. The exuberant growth may present with obstructive symptoms earlier than the usual carcinoma of the esophagus, permitting curative surgical resection in some patients.