Progressive encephalopathy in a Crohn's disease patient on long-term total parenteral nutrition: possible relationship to selenium deficiency.

The case of a patient with Crohn's disease complicated by progressive and irreversible encephalopathy, who had been on long-term total parenteral nutrition due to short bowel syndrome, is described. He initially experienced a disturbance of his vision, which was followed by various neurological symptoms during the next 3 years. These symptoms rapidly progressed until he finally developed consciousness disturbance.

A new tumor marker for bladder cancer.

Biochemical assay and immunohistochemical staining of neutral endopeptidase were performed on bladder cancer cells. In superficial bladder cancer the enzyme activity and immunohistochemical intensity of staining were high, while invasive bladder cancer showed only a low level of activity. This finding suggests that neutral endopeptidase is expressed at a certain stage of cell differentiation, during the neoplastic process in the bladder.

Biosynthesis of guanidine in isolated rat hepatocytes, perfused rat liver and intact animals.

Plasma levels of guanidine (G) are reported to be increased in uremic patients and are synthesized from various guanidino compounds via a chemical reaction involving the hydroxyl radical in vitro. To identify both the metabolic precursor and the synthesizing organ of G, we investigated the concentrations of G in various organs of rats administered several guanidino compounds and we attempted to synthesize G biologically using isolated rat hepatocytes or perfused rat liver. In addition, we investigated the effect of the peroxidative state on the G synthesis in isolated hepatocytes using various reagents which alter this condition.

Surgical management of gastric cancer patients with liver cirrhosis.

From 1966 to 1992, a total of 3,118 gastric cancer (GC) patients were referred to the First Department of Surgery, Kurume University Hospital. Fifty-six (0.02%) of these patients also had liver cirrhosis (LC).

[Long-term efficacy of low residue diet for the maintenance of remission in patients with Crohn's disease].

The long term efficacy of low residue diet (LRD) for the maintenance of remission in patients with Crohn's disease was studied. The patients consisted of 60 with quiescent Crohn's disease who were given LRD (Clinimeal or Ensure Liquid) for maintenance therapy for more than one year (average 2.4 years) after discharge from our institute.

Natural history of fundic gland polyposis without familial adenomatosis coli: follow-up observations in 31 patients.

Purpose: To clarify the natural history of fundic gland polyposis (FGP) without familial adenomatosis coli (FAC).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one FGP patients without FAC (six men and 25 women) were followed up with radiography and endoscopy for 1-13 years (mean, 4.3 years).

[Expression of the growth factors (EGF, EGFR, and TGF alpha) and PCNA in superspreading and penetrating types of gastric carcinomas].

Expression of EGF, EGFR, TGF alpha, and PCNA in resected gastric carcinomas (15 cases of superspreading type and 25 cases of penetrating type) was immunohistochemically studied to understand biological features of these two types of gastric carcinomas. EGF, EGFR, and TGF alpha positive cases were preferentially found in the penetrating type rather than in the superspreading type (p < 0.05).

[Retinal ischemic changes in diabetic rats treated with pancreatic islet transplantation beneath the renal capsule].

The effect of pancreatic islet transplantation beneath the renal capsule on retinal and choroidal structure was studied using Lewis rats. Rats were divided into 3 groups: an untreated diabetic group induced by intravenous injection of streptozotocin 65 mg/kg; an islet transplanted group 1 month after induction of diabetic state; and an untreated control group. Whole retinochoroidal units were examined by light and electron-microscopy.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with liver and lung metastasis effectively treated by combined chemo-immunotherapy of MMC, 5'-DFUR, OK-432].

A sixty-eight-year-old male patient was diagnosed as having inoperable advanced gastric cancer with liver and lung metastasis. The patient was treated by combined chemo-immunotherapy of MMC 10 mg/M, 5'-DFUR 800 mg/day and OK-432 5 KE/2 W. Six months after commencing chemotherapy, CT-scan and upper GI series revealed that metasized liver tumors and stomach lesion were remarkably decreased in size and no cancer cell was confirmed by endoscopic biopsy.

Isolation and characterization of cDNAs encoding wheat 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase.

The enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR, EC 1.1.1.

[A presumed case of "adolescent" cystinosis].

A 30-year-old female patient was presumed to have adolescent cystinosis because of the onset of glomerular nephritis in her twenties, and the absence of retardation of somatic growth, rickets, or retinopathy. Specular microscopy revealed fine needle-shaped and/or rectangular crystals in the corneal stroma. The crystals were birefringent hexagonal and/or rectangular in the conjunctival tissue.

Enhancement by ubenimex (bestatin) of host resistance to Candida albicans infection.

Ubenimex is a low molecular weight microbial metabolite which has been demonstrated to have antitumor and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, the protective effect of ubenimex on Candida albicans infection was investigated in normal and immunosuppressed mice. In normal mice, treatment with ubenimex at 0.

[Changes in retinal blood flow volume in experimental retinal vein compression].

The authors quantitated the retinal blood flow volume during and immediately after experimental compression of the temporal retinal vein in 5 Macaca fuscata monkey eyes. The hydrogen clearance method was used to quantitate the retinal blood flow volume. After placing a microelectrode on the retinal surface, we measured the blood flow volume 4 times at a 15-minute interval.

Concurrent measurement of serotonin metabolism and single neuron activity changes in the lateral hypothalamus of freely behaving rat.

To further investigate the activity of serotonin neurons in relation to feeding behavior, the metabolic activity of the serotonergic system and single neuron activity changes in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) were investigated concurrently in freely behaving rats. The extracellular concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a metabolic product of serotonin in the LHA, began to increase concomitantly with the early stage of nocturnal eating. The increased 5-HIAA returned to the basal level within 3 or 4 h.

Role of Mg2+ in activation of NADPH oxidase of human neutrophils: evidence that Mg2+ acts through G-protein.

The membrane fraction and three cytosolic proteins of neutrophils, p47-phox, p67-phox and a G-protein, are involved in the cell-free activation of the O2(-)-generating NADPH oxidase in the presence of SDS, though it has been controversial whether the G-protein is required or just enhancing the activity. We have used the three cytosolic factors, the solubilized membrane fraction, GTP gamma S and SDS, and found that both G-protein and GTP gamma S are essential for the activation of the NADPH oxidase. The effect of GTP gamma S is modified by Mg2+: the cations enhance the O2- generation at low concentrations of GTP gamma S, whereas they attenuate the activity at higher concentrations of GTP gamma S.

A retrospective study of resected gastric cancers.

From 1976 to 1989, a total of 1303 patients with gastric cancers underwent gastrectomies in the First Department of Surgery, Kurume University Hospital. Of these, 358 (27.5%) were total gastrectomies, 84 (6.

Biosynthesis of methylguanidine in the hepatic microsomal fraction.

We have investigated various synthetic mechanisms for the production of methylguanidine, a potent uremic toxin, and reported a role for active oxygen in its biosynthesis from creatinine in studies using isolated hepatocytes. In this study, we turn our attention to the hepatic microsomes. Liver homogenates were made from rats, and various organelles were obtained by centrifugation and incubated with creatinine.

Enhancement of host resistance to opportunistic infections by ubenimex (bestatin).

Ubenimex is a low molecular biological response modifier (BRM) which has been demonstrated to have antitumor and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, the effect of ubenimex on infection with Candida albicans was investigated in normal and immunosuppressed mice, and it showed a prophylactic effect. In normal mice, ubenimex prolonged survival time in a dose-dependent manner.

Gastric cancer surgery in the elderly.

Although there is a decreasing number of gastric cancer patients in Japan, the number of patients over 80 years of age is increasing. Forty patients over 80 years of age (from 80 to 88 years) with gastric cancer (Group 1) during the 10 years from 1980 to 1989 were retrospectively investigated and compared with those 70-79 years of age (Group 2). The resectability rate was 80% in Group 1 and 89% in Group 2.

Resonance Raman study on intact pea phytochrome and its model compounds: evidence for proton migration during the phototransformation.

Resonance Raman (RR) scattering from intact pea phytochrome was observed in resonance with the blue band at ambient temperature. The relative populations of the red-light-absorbing form (Pr) and far-red-light-absorbing form (Pfr) under laser illumination were estimated from the absorption spectra. The most prominent RR band of Pr obtained by 364-nm excitation under 740-nm pumping exhibited a frequency shift between H2O and D2O solutions, but that of Pfr obtained by 407-nm excitation under 633-nm pumping did not, indicating a distinct difference in a protonation state of their chromophores.

Effects of iodothyronines on chemotactic peptide-receptor binding and superoxide production of human neutrophils.

We studied the action of iodinated thyronines on the superoxide (O2-) production of human neutrophils stimulated with a chemotactic peptide N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP) in vitro. L-Thyroxine and L-triiodothyronine elicited dose dependently a potent inhibitory action on the FMLP-induced O2- production with IC50 values of about 10(-6) M and 7.10(-6) M, respectively, but L-diiodothyronine did not.

Gastric cancer following gastrectomy for benign gastroduodenal disease.

Twenty-four cases of resected remnant cancers following partial gastrectomy were retrospectively investigated for benign gastroduodenal disease. The time interval between the initial gastrectomy and the remnant gastrectomy was more than 10 years in 19 (79%) patients and less than 10 years in 5 (21%) patients. There were 2 cases with remnant cancer at stage I, 1 at stage II, 3 at stage III and 13 at stage IV for the all cases with a time interval of more than 10 years.