[Manometric study of vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity].

Morbidly obese patients undergoing vertical banded gastroplasty were studied preoperatively and/or postoperatively to characterize its manometric pattern. The esophageal manometry using station pull through technique involved 14 preoperative patients with a mean age of 28 +/- 7 years who were a obesity index of 220 +/- 32% and 14 postoperative patients with a mean age of 30 +/- 7 years who were a obesity index of 158 +/- 23%. Preoperative lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure using gastric base line as O was 16.

Cloning and characterization of nuclear genes for two mitochondrial ribosomal proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The genes for two large subunit proteins, YmL8 and YmL20, of the mitochondrial ribosome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were cloned by hybridization with synthetic oligonucleotide mixtures corresponding to their N-terminal amino acid sequences. They were termed MRP-L8 and MRP-L20, respectively, and their nucleotide sequences were determined using a DNA sequencer. The MRP-L8 gene was found to encode a 26.

The treatment of lymph node metastasis from esophageal cancer by extensive lymphadenectomy.

During the period between 1965 and the end of 1988, 560 patients with esophageal cancer were surgically treated in our University hospital. In an attempt to improve patient survival, three-field lymphadenectomy of the bilateral neck, mediastinum and abdomen was performed in 117 patients treated since 1983. The present study was undertaken to reveal the substantial rate of lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer and to decide if three-field lymphadenectomy is mandatory or not for surgery of esophageal cancer.

[Frequency of psychiatric patients visiting non-psychiatrist's outpatient clinic and its correlates].

To examine the frequency of psychiatric patients who visit outpatient clinic of non-psychiatrists in Japan, a mailed questionnaire survey was conducted of 200 non-psychiatrists randomly selected from the 703 registered members of the Kawasaki-city Medical Association, Kanagawa prefecture. Responses from 124 or 62% were received and data for 112 male respondents were analyzed. 1) The median number of psychiatric patients treated per month by respondents was 4, and the median proportion of the total outpatients that were psychiatric patients was 0.

[Study of risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications following esophageal cancer surgery--multivariate statistical analysis].

In 91 patients undergoing resection and reconstruction of the esophagus for esophageal cancer, risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications were studied. In order to investigate these factors, multivariate statistical analysis was applied. The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was significantly higher in patients over 70 years of age who had poor renal function (PSP15' less than 25%) and had prolonged thoracotomy time (greater than 3 h) by Student's t test.

A new inhibitor of protein kinase C, RK-286C (4'-demethylamino-4'-hydroxystaurosporine). II. Isolation, physico-chemical properties and structure.

RK-286C, a new inhibitor of protein kinase C, has been found by the bleb-forming assay using K562 cells. It was produced by Streptomyces sp. RK-286 and purified by solvent extraction, silica gel chromatography and preparative HPLC.

A new inhibitor of protein kinase C, RK-286C (4'-demethylamino-4'-hydroxystaurosporine). I. Screening, taxonomy, fermentation and biological activity.

In the course of our screening program using a bleb-forming assay, a new inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) was found in the fermentation of a streptomycete. The inhibitor, RK-286C (4'-demethylamino-4'-hydroxystaurosporine), inhibited the morphological change of K562 cells, a human chronic erythroleukemia cell, induced by phorbol 12,13-dibutylate at the concentration of 3 microM. The same concentration of the compound inhibited the activity of PKC in vitro and the aggregation of rabbit platelets induced by collagen and arachidonic acid.

Etoposide protects mice from radiation-induced bone marrow death.

Etoposide is known to inhibit the activity of topoisomerase II, and to possess radiosensitizing effects. In this paper we show that pretreatment of mice with etoposide one day before whole-body irradiation had a protective effect against radiation-induced bone marrow death. The LD50/30 of mice given radiation alone was 8.

Effect of unilateral pulmonary vagotomy on respiratory control in man.

We studied the breathing pattern and pulmonary function at rest, and ventilatory responses to progressive hypoxia and hypercapnia in 7 awake patients who had undergone esophageal-carcinoma resection with sectioning of the right pulmonary vagal branch by lymphadenectomy. Twelve control patients, who had received the same surgery without vagotomy, were also studied by the same protocol. Two months after the operation, both patient groups demonstrated substantial depressions in FVC and FEV1.

Parameters linked to ten-year survival in Japan of resected esophageal carcinoma. Japanese Committee for Registration of Esophageal Carcinoma Cases.

From January 1969 to December 1980, 8,948 patients with esophageal carcinoma were registered in Japan. Among these patients, 5,506 underwent resection. The ten-year survival rate was 12.

[Detection of ras gene mutations of pancreatic tumors by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing method].

Ras genes (H-,K-,N-ras) are converted to active oncogenes by point mutations occurring in either codon 12, 13 or 61. We analyzed 19 pancreatic tumors (formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue) of these codons by a method to directly sequence nucleotides around codons 12/13 and 61 of the three ras genes, using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing method. Of 19 pancreatic tumors, all 17 duct cell carcinomas involving 2 mucous producing pancreatic cancers had point mutations of the K-ras codon 12, but 2 islet cell tumors had ano point mutation around codons 12, 13, 61 of the three ras genes.

Epiderstatin, a new inhibitor of the mitogenic activity induced by epidermal growth factor. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and characterization.

Inhibitors of mitogenic activity induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) were screened from culture broths of soil microorganisms. A strain of actinomycetes has been found to produce a new glutarimide antibiotic named epiderstatin which inhibits the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into quiescent animal cells stimulated by EGF. Taxonomic studies have revealed that the producing strain belongs to a subspecies of Streptomyces pulveraceus, thus the name, Streptomyces pulveraceus subsp.

Epiderstatin, a new inhibitor of the mitogenic activity induced by epidermal growth factor. II. Structure elucidation.

The structure of a novel antibiotic, epiderstatin, was determined as 4-[3-((Z)-3,5-dimethyl-2-oxopiperidin-6-ylidene)-2-oxopropyl]-2, 6-piperidinedione by spectroscopic analyses of 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 1H-1H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), 13C-1H COSY, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation spectroscopy, UV and IR spectra. The antibiotic belongs to the glutarimide antibiotics, however, the characteristic feature of epiderstatin is that it has a piperidone ring instead of a cyclohexanone ring.

Cloning and analysis of the nuclear genes for two mitochondrial ribosomal proteins in yeast.

Two mitochondrial ribosomal proteins of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were purified and their N-terminal amino acid sequences determined. The sequence data were used for the synthesis of oligonucleotide probes to clone the corresponding genes. Thus, the genes for two proteins, termed YMR-31 and YMR-44, were cloned and their nucleotide sequences determined.

Cloning and analysis of an Escherichia coli operon containing the rpmF gene for ribosomal protein L32 and the gene for a 30-kilodalton protein.

The chromosomal DNA fragments of Escherichia coli K-12 were cloned into a mini-F cosmid, pRE435, after partial digestion with restriction endonuclease Sau3AI. The clones were first screened for PyrC+ and then for other genes, including rpmF encoding ribosomal protein L32 that had been mapped near pyrC (I. Janda, M.

[Benefits and risks associated with dissection of three regional lymph nodes (bilateral cervical, thoracic and abdominal) in thoracic esophageal carcinoma].

To obtain curability safely, we have employed dissection of three regional lymph nodes (the bilateral cervical, thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes) since 1983. The subjects were 111 (three regional group) of 158 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma operated on our department till 1988. When compared to 207 patients treated during the period from 1973 to 1982 (control group), the background factors of the subjects revealed that the three regional group included more patients with advanced carcinoma and more elderly patients over 70 years of age.

[Lithotomy of bile duct stones by flash-lamp-pumped dye laser].

Laser therapy for bile duct stones, such as the non-contact beam treatment using continuous wave of Nd:YAG laser or contact beam treatment using ceramics rod, has been done in our institution from 1980. As a result, the ratio of complete lithotomy has been increased from 31/47 (66%) to 66/71 (93%). Recently, we had a opportunity to use the Lasertripter by Candera Corp.

Elevation of c-myc transcript level in human liver during surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma: possible cause for underestimation of c-myc gene activation in the tumor.

It has been a matter of controversy as to whether c-myc gene expression is activated in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We observed that the c-myc mRNA level in HCC was similar to that of the adjacent non-cancerous portion, as determined in freshly obtained specimens after a partial liver resection. However, the c-myc transcript was at a low level in non-cancerous tissue which was biopsied prior to surgery, whereas it was still at a high level in HCC obtained without performing hepatectomy.

Comparison of the effect of tautomycin and phorbol ester on protein kinase C in a cell-free system.

The effect of tautomycin (TM) on protein kinase C (PKC) was studied in a cell-free system. TM, like phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu), enhanced both base-line and Ca2+/phospholipids-dependent protein kinase activity. However, PDBu but not TM increased the affinity of the enzyme for calcium ions (Ca2+), suggesting that TM is a new activator of PKC, distinct from PDBu.

Expression of c-myc oncogene in colorectal polyps as a biological marker for monitoring malignant potential.

The expression of oncogenes (c-myc, c-fos, c-Ki-ras, c-Ha-ras, and p53) was examined by Northern blot analysis using freshly isolated human colorectal and gastric cancers and noncancerous portions as the controls. Remarkably high levels of c-myc expression were found in colorectal cancers (eight of 11), but not in gastric cancers. High levels of c-myc expression were also detected in colorectal polyps and in metastatic liver tumors.

Optimal serum trough levels of FK506 in renal allotransplantation of the beagle dog.

The present study was performed to estimate the optimal serum trough levels of FK506 (FK) for prophylactic use and for the treatment of acute rejection in renal allotransplantation of the beagle dog. The serum trough levels of an immunosuppressive dose of FK 1.0 mg/kg p.

Complete primary structure of calcium-dependent serine proteinase capable of degrading extracellular matrix proteins.

A novel calcium-dependent serine proteinase (CASP) secreted from malignant hamster embryo fibroblast Ni 12C2 degrades extracellular matrix proteins. A complementary DNA encoding CASP has been isolated with the use of oligonucleotide probes synthesized based on partial amino acid sequences of CASP. The complete amino acid sequences of CASP revealed that it has a active site at the C-terminal side.