Massive pancreatic pleural effusion: pathogenesis of pancreatic duct disruption.

Massive pancreatic pleural effusion is believed to be caused by pancreatic duct disruption. To elucidate the cause of the duct disruption, pancreas specimens resected from three cases of massive pancreatic pleural effusion were investigated histopathologically. There was no evidence of either chronic or acute pancreatitis except focal fibrosis along a single dilated duct in the resected pancreas.

Gardenia fruit extract stimulates the proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture.

We previously reported that Gardenia fruit extract had a stimulatory effect on fibrolysis in vitro. In the present study, we describe that the hot water extract from Gardenia fruit (GFE) stimulates the proliferation of cultured endothelial cells from bovine aorta. The cells were cultured in RPMI1640 medium supplemented 10% fetal bovine serum for up to 96 h in the presence of GFE (100 micrograms/ml and below).

Heparin cofactor II inhibits thrombin-stimulated release of tissue plasminogen activator from cultured human endothelial cells in the presence of dermatan sulfate.

To investigate the involvement of heparin cofactor II (HC II) in fibrinolytic system, endothelial cells from human umbilical vein were cultured in the presence of HC II or antithrombin III (AT III) combined with or without thrombin. Although AT III significantly inhibited thrombin-induced increase in tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA:Ag) release, HC II did not exhibit such a suppressive effect. In contrast, in the presence of dermatan sulfate, HC II inhibited thrombin stimulation of t-PA:Ag release more strongly than AT III did.

A suitable culture medium for ossification of embryonic chick femur in organ culture.

To establish a culture medium which allows ossification in organ culture, 9-day-old embryonic chick femurs were cultured in variously supplemented BGJb-HW2 media. Changes of Ca and Pi concentrations in the BGJb-HW2 medium or the 10% addition of chick embryo extract (CEE) did not induce ossification. Furthermore, combinations of the 10% CEE with a high Ca x Pi product or with 5 mM beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP) or with 10% horse serum plus a high Ca x Pi product often caused pathological abnormalities in the periosteum.

[Treatment of radioactive waste phenol with Fenton's oxidation].

A new procedure was developed for the waste treatment of radioactive phenol on a laboratory scale. Waste phenol was dissolved in water (2% as phenol), and ferrous ion (10 mg/l as Fe2+) was added. Hydrogen peroxide (6% as H2O2) was added separately in three steps, 20, 30, and 50% of the volume, in order to avoid rapid reaction.

Heparin enhances thrombin-stimulated prostaglandin I2 production by cultured endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells from human umbilical vein were incubated in vitro with thrombin in the absence or presence of unfractionated heparin (UFH), low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or dermatan sulfate (DS) to clarify the effect of these glycosaminoglycans on thrombin-stimulated prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) production. Although DS did not affect the thrombin stimulation, UFH and LMWH each enhanced it about 1.5-fold.

A stimulatory effect of Artemisia leaf extract on the proliferation of cultured endothelial cells.

To investigate the effect of the hot water extract from Artemisia leaf (Artemisia princeps Panpanini) (AFE) on the proliferation of endothelial cells, the cells from bovine aorta were cultured for up to 96 h in the presence of 1, 5, 10 or 50 micrograms/ml AFE in RPMI1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. After a 72 h culture, the cell number was significantly increased by AFE at 1, 5 and 10 micrograms/ml. An increase in the cell number by 5 micrograms/ml AFE observed after a 72 or 96 h treatment.

Comparison of various motion stimuli on motion sickness and acquisition of adaptation in Suncus Murinus.

Effects of various types of motion stimuli were compared to investigate optimum method to elicit motion sickness and adaptation in Suncus murinus (suncus). Three different direction of shaking in the horizontal plane, back and forth, right and left and revolving, induced emetic response to the similar extent. However, vertical shaking was far less effective in inducing motion sickness.

Interaction of thrombin with heparin cofactor II and antithrombin III on prostacyclin production by cultured endothelial cells.

To investigate the physiologic function of heparin cofactor II (HCII), endothelial cells from human umbilical vein were incubated in vitro for 20 min with 0.5 NIH U/ml thrombin in the presence of HCII or antithrombin III (ATIII), and prostacyclin production determined by radioimmunoassay for 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin. Although ATIII at 20 mInh.

Role of zinc in protection against cadmium-induced toxicity in formation of embryonic chick bone in tissue culture.

To clarify a possible mechanism of zinc (Zn)-induced tolerance to cadmium (Cd) toxicity on bone formation, femurs from 9-day-old chick embryos were cultured for 6 days by the roller-tube method in the presence of Cd (2, 4 or 9 microM) and/or Zn (60 microM). Zn prevented a decrease in bone growth caused by Cd at 4 and 9 microM. An increase in calcium (Ca) content of diaphysis was inhibited by Zn in both the presence and absence of Cd.

Emesis induced by cancer chemotherapeutic agents in the Suncus murinus: a new experimental model.

Acute emetic responses to seven cancer chemotherapeutic agents (adriamycin, bleomycin, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, mitomycin C) were studied in the Suncus murinus. Intravenous injection of the drugs caused vomiting with various latency. Cisplatin-induced emesis was prevented by the pretreatment with metoclopramide or chlorpromazine but not with domperidone.

The effects of cadmium, copper or zinc on formation of embryonic chick bone in tissue culture.

Femurs from 9-day-old chick embryo were cultivated for 6 days by the roller-tube method in the presence of Cd, Cu or Zn. Cd (5.0 microM and above) and Cu (2.

[Tritium and carbon-14 concentrations around an incinerator for radioactive liquid scintillator waste].

Activity measurements of 3H and 14C in several environmental samples around the incinerator for radioactive liquid scintillator waste at the Radioisotope Center, Kyushu University were carried out to estimate their levels. It was indicated that 3H and 14C concentrations in the atmosphere at 1 m from the outlet were about 0.2% of those estimated at the outlet, respectively.

A possible mechanism of cadmium-copper interaction in embryonic chick bone in tissue culture.

Femurs from 9-day-old embryo were cultured for 4 days by the roller-tube method in the presence of Cd and/or Cu. The combination of both Cd and Cu caused a significantly interactive decrease in hydroxyproline (Hyp) synthesis as well as bone growth compared with that in the presence of Cd (1.1 or 3.

The effects of cadmium on a clonal osteogenetic cell, MC3T3-E1: inhibition of calcification and induction of metallothionein-like protein by cadmium.

To clarify the effects of cadmium (Cd) on bone formation, a clonal osteogenetic cell, MC3T3-E1, was used in the present study. After 24 h of culture, Cd at 1 ppm and above decreased DNA synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity, but Cd at 1.5 ppm caused no significant decrease in collagen content.

Canada-Cronkhite syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 43-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus manifested severe diarrhea, generalized gastrointestinal polyposis, pigmentation, and onychodystrophy, which were typical of Canada-Cronkhite syndrome. The exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus, presenting with hemolytic anemia and subsequently with profound proteinuria, was seen during the course of this syndrome. The patient achieved complete symptomatic remissions of both entities for more than four years following prednisolone therapy; the resolution of the gastrointestinal polyps was confirmed histologically.

The synthesis of metallothionein-like protein containing zinc in liver of rat after administration of calcium and calcitonin.

Subcutaneous (s.c.) and intraperitoneal (i.