Preventive effect of risedronate on bone loss in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

Aim: Androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer decreases bone mineral density and increases the risk of fracture. The effect of risedronate, a potent third-generation oral bisphosphonate, on bone loss during androgen deprivation therapy was investigated.

Methods: Sixty-one prostate cancer patients with a mean age (+/- SD) of 79 +/- 6 years who had received androgen deprivation therapy for 42 +/- 29 months were enrolled, and were treated with 2.

Nerve growth factor prevents apoptosis of cord blood-derived human cultured mast cells synergistically with stem cell factor.

Background: Stem cell factor (SCF) has been identified as a critical survival factor of human mast cells. Other cytokines which possess survival promotion activity on human mast cells are less known.

Objective: We examined the survival promotion activity of nerve growth factor (NGF) on cord blood-derived human cultured mast cells.

Production of fibrogenic cytokines by cord blood-derived cultured human mast cells.

Background: Mast cells are a potential source of cytokines, but their contribution to nonallergic inflammatory conditions, such as fibrosis, remains unclear.

Objective: We investigated whether cord blood-derived cultured human mast cells could produce fibrogenic cytokines by IgE-mediated activation.

Methods: Mast cells were obtained from human cord blood mononuclear cells by culture with stem cell factor and IL-6.

Nerve growth factor release with mast-cell-derived mediators in a patient with systemic mastocytosis after middle-wave ultraviolet irradiation.

Background: The symptoms of a 56-year-old man with systemic mastocytosis became worse with exposure to sunlight. We evaluated mast-cell-derived mediators and cytokines before and after exposure to ultraviolet light in the patient.

Methods: The patient was irradiated with middle-wave ultraviolet light, so-called ultraviolet light B, and the levels of mediators and cytokines were measured serially.

Human mast cells produce matrix metalloproteinase 9.

Extracellular matrix-destructive enzymes, like matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), have been recognized in the process of inflammation and tissue remodeling and repair. The affected tissues often contain markedly increased numbers of mast cells. Although mast cells are capable of activating latent collagenase and proMMP, it has so far been unknown whether human mast cells themselves produce and secrete MMP9.

Cord-blood-derived human cultured mast cells produce interleukin 13 in the presence of stem cell factor.

Background: Mast cells have been regarded as a potential source of cytokines. Although the human mast cell line HMC-1 and human lung mast cells have been shown to produce interleukin (IL) 13, it still remains uncertain whether cord-blood-derived human cultured mast cells produce IL-13.

Methods: Human cultured mast cells were raised from cord blood cells in the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) and IL-6.

Response to cyclosporin and low-dose methylprednisolone in aggressive systemic mastocytosis.

Background: There is no effective treatment for aggressive systemic mastocytosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cyclosporin and low-dose methylprednisolone in a 64-year-old man with aggressive systemic mastocytosis.

Methods: Immunohistochemical studies were done on biopsy specimens from the skin and other organs.

Cord blood-derived human cultured mast cells produce transforming growth factor beta1.

Background: Mast cells frequently accumulate at the site of fibrosis and their contribution has been suspected in the pathogenesis of fibrotic conditions. However, it still remains unknown whether human mast cells synthesize transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1).

Objective: We have investigated whether cord blood-derived human cultured mast cells express messenger RNA (mRNA) for TGF-beta and produce bioactive TGF-beta1.

Cloning and tissue distribution of a novel serine protease esp-1 from human eosinophils.

We have cloned a novel serine protease designated as esp-1 from human eosinophils. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA showed that ESP-1 comprises a signal peptide of 18 amino acids, a propeptide of 23 amino acids, an active form sequence of 273 amino acids starting from an Ile-Val-Gly-Gly-Glu motif, the catalytic triad of serine proteases that has been characterized as the essential amino acid residues for the proteolytic activity, and a hydrophobic amino acid stretch in the carboxyl terminus, suggesting this enzyme is a novel membrane-type serine protease. The tissue distributions of esp-1 expression revealed that this protease is not only expressed in human eosinophils, but also widely expressed in mononuclear cells and various tissues other than skeletal muscle and kidney and is most abundant in testis and prostate, and moderately so in lung, spleen and pancreas.

Carnoy's fixative reduces the number of chymase-positive cells in immunocytochemical staining of cord-blood-derived human cultured mast cells.

KleinJan et al. (Allergy 1996;51:614-20) reported that Carnoy's fixative reduced the number of chymase-positive mast cells in the nasal mucosa. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated whether Carnoy's fixative reduces the number of chymase-positive cells from cord-blood-derived human cultured mast cells when compared with other types of fixatives.

Phase-contrast microscopic studies using cinematographic techniques and scanning electron microscopy on IgE-mediated degranulation of cultured human mast cells.

Background: Isolating human mast cells is a laborious procedure. Recently, cultured human mast cells raised from umbilical cord blood cells have become available. It is necessary to investigate whether IgE-mediated activation of these cells is mediated by exocytosis.

Heterogeneity of mast cells in mastocytosis and inhibitory effect of ketotifen and ranitidine on indolent systemic mastocytosis.

Background: Mastocytosis is a disorder of mast cell proliferation that occurs in both cutaneous and systemic forms. The most frequent site is the skin.

Objective: The mast cell subtype of two patients with mastocytosis was investigated.

65-kilodalton protein phosphorylation in human peripheral blood eosinophils.

To evaluate the presence of protein phosphorylation in peripheral blood eosinophils, venous blood was drawn from normal healthy volunteers. Eosinophils were isolated on a Percoll gradient and were incubated with [gamma32P]ATP in the presence of Mg2+. After stopping the reaction, SDS-PAGE was performed and autoradiographs were prepared to determine the incorporation of 32P into proteins.

[Gastrointestinal carcinoma with skin diseases from the standpoint of surgery].

We encountered 21 patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma accompanied with skin diseases such as acanthosis nigricans, dermatomyositis, pemphigoid, erythrodermia, ichthyosis vulgaris, herpes zoster, Leser-Trélat's sign, Recklinghausen's disease and Gardner's syndrome. We have discussed such cases from the standpoint of surgery. There were 16 cases (76%) with gastric carcinoma, which were almost in the far advanced stage.

A case of primary biliary cirrhosis associated with generalized morphea.

A 50-year-old female with primary biliary cirrhosis associated with generalized morphea is reported. She had suffered from multiple painful indurated plaques on the trunk which was diagnosed as generalized morphea; subsequently, primary biliary cirrhosis was diagnosed on the basis of her hepatic dysfunction. Although progressive systemic sclerosis has been reported to occur in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, this localized form of cutaneous sclerosis has not previously been reported.

The renal and hemodynamic effects of furosemide in acute myocardial infarction.

Renal and hemodynamic effects of furosemide were studied in 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction. When marked congestion of lungs was absent, the effects of furosemide were somewhat different from those of recent reports. The changes of pulmonary arterial pressure and wedge pressure were biphasic; there was first pressure rise in many occasions followed by reduced pressure; the latter is commonly believed to be the beneficial effect of furosemide.