Induction of gene expression for immunomodulating cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to orally administered PSK, an immunomodulating protein-bound polysaccharide.

The protein-bound polysaccharide extracted from a fungus, PSK, has been used as a biological response modifier in the treatment of cancer patients in Japan for over 16 years. The administration of PSK to tumor-bearing rodents inhibited tumor growth and modulated immune responses. Recently, an in vitro study has revealed that PSK is a strong inducer of cytokine gene expression and production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Proton NMR spectroscopic studies of serum as an aid to perioperative cellular metabolic monitoring.

Perioperative concentration changes of cellular metabolites in serum were studied by proton NMR spectroscopy in four cancer patients who underwent tumorectomies under general anesthesia. In proton NMR spectra of serum, the resonances assignable to fatty acid in lipoprotein, lactate, alanine, glucose, glycoprotein and other metabolites were observed. The concentrations of fatty acid and alanine did not show significant changes during the operations compared with those in healthy volunteers.

[The effects of H2 blockers on gastric flora and sputum culture].

Gastric juice and sputum of 12 patients, who had entered the intensive care unit postoperatively and received respiratory management, were examined for bacteria and their relationship with gastric pH was investigated. Gastric bacteria were detected in only 3 specimens out of 14 (21.4%) when the pH was under 3.

Suppression of basal secretion of FSH inhibits follicular development and maturation during the oestrous cycle of the rat.

The role of basal FSH secretion during the rat oestrous cycle in regulating ovulation was examined by suppressing FSH secretion using charcoal-treated porcine follicular fluid (pFF). Although 0.5 ml pFF given at 05.

[The effects of anesthetic techniques and insufflating gases on ventilation during laparoscopy].

The present study was performed to clarify the influences of anesthetic methods and insufflating gases on arterial blood gas and ventilation during laparoscopy. Forty five women undergoing laparoscopy for gynecological procedure were studied after dividing into four groups; general anesthesia with control ventilation or epidural anesthesia with spontaneous breathing, plus insufflation with carbon dioxide (CO2) or nitrous oxide (N2O). After CO2 insufflation, PaCO2 increased significantly in the patients who were mechanically ventilated, but not in the patients breathing spontaneously.

[Severe subcutaneous emphysema and hypercapnia during laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

A 41-year old, 50 kg female was scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 250 mg IV and endotracheal intubation was performed using succinylcholine 60 mg IV. Anesthesia was maintained with N2O (67%)-oxygen-sevoflurane (1.

Age-related changes in blood concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone and testicular morphology in a new rat sterile mutant with hereditary aspermia.

A new rat mutant showing aspermia was investigated. Groups of 4-7 mutant male rats were killed at 3, 5, 10, 15 and 25 weeks of age. Examination by microscope showed apparent abnormalities in the seminiferous epithelium from 3 weeks of age onward.

Arylsulfatase B-deficient mucopolysaccharidosis in rats.

A rat colony with mucopolysaccharidosis VI was established and the clinical, pathological, and biochemical features were characterized. Affected rats had facial dysmorphia, dysostosis multiplex, and increased urinary excretion of glucosaminoglycans (GAGs). Ultrastructural studies revealed storage of GAGs throughout the reticuloendothelial cells, cartilage, and other connective tissues, but no deposition was observed in the nervous system.

Complete primary structure and tissue expression of chicken pectoralis M-protein.

M-Protein (165 kDa) is a structural constituent of myofibrillar M-band in striated muscle. We generated a monoclonal antibody which recognized a 165-kDa protein from chicken pectoralis muscle in immunoblot analysis and stained the M-band under immunofluorescence microscopy. By screening a lambda gt11 cDNA library from chicken embryonic pectoralis muscle with this antibody, we isolated a cDNA clone encoding the M-protein.

An aspermia rat mutant (as/as) with spermatogenic failure at meiosis.

A newly identified aspermia rat mutant was investigated on testicular histology and mode of inheritance of the defect. Average testis weight of mutants was about one-third of that of phenotypically normal males. Spermatogenesis was interrupted at meiosis.

[Effect of age on the copulatory behavior of the male rat].

Fifteen male SPF Wistar-Imamichi rats, aged 10, 27 and 44 weeks, that had been raised in the authors' laboratory, were used for the observation of copulatory behavior. Each male was given the opportunity to mate with a proestrous female. During a two hour period, standard measures of copulatory behavior, e.

[Usefulness of a disposable nasogastric tube with a pH sensor--comparison with a class pH electrode].

We evaluated a disposable nasogastric tube with a pH sensor in comparison with an external glass pH electrode with aspiration of gastric contents, continuously. The mean pH value determined by pH sensor was 3.01, and 2.

Motility studies of the cervical esophagus with intrathoracic gastric conduit after esophagectomy.

Gastric emptying, upper esophageal sphincter pressure and intrathoracic gastric motility were studied in esophagectomized patients, ten with a gastric conduit in the posterior mediastinum and ten with a conduit in the retrosternal space. In addition, the clinical state was reassessed more than 6 months after esophageal reconstruction. Gastric emptying, assessed with Tc-99m Sn colloid in a semisolid test meal, did not differ between the two groups.

[Blood gas changes after laparoscopy].

Blood gas changes after laparoscopy under general anesthesia were examined. Thirty-six ASA I or II women were allocated to one of the two groups: carbon dioxide was used for pneumoperitoneum in group C and nitrous oxide in group N. Anesthesia was maintained with enflurane, buprenorphine, and supplemental midazolam.

[Ragged--a new rexoid mutant rat with large sebaceous gland].

A new hair defected mutant rat was established. This mutant was covered with ragged hair since about 10 days of age, then transiently lost most of hair in the back at approximately 5 weeks of age and re-covered with ragged hair thereafter. Thickened eyerids occurred since about 3 weeks of age.

[Effects of anesthesia, premedication and age on gastric pH and volume].

To investigate the effect of anesthesia on gastric secretion, we measured pH and volume of gastric juice during anesthesia using the following anesthetic techniques: halothane anesthesia in three age groups, halothane without atropine premedication, halothane with thoracic epidural block, and enflurane anesthesia. Halothane anesthesia increased pH in all age groups and the increase in pH was greater in older age groups. Gastric pH also increased in halothane anesthesia group with thoracic epidural block and in enflurane anesthesia group.

[Study of in vitro OK432-induced IFN-gamma production in patients with gastric and esophageal cancers: comparison with in vitro skin tests].

In the present study, we measured in vitro production of IFN-gamma induced by OK432 in peripheral mononuclear cells (PMC) and investigated the relationship between the skin reaction to Su-Ps, an extract of Streptococcus Pyogenes, and purified protein derivative (PPD) and the productibility of IFN-gamma in patients with gastric and esophageal cancers. PMC isolated with the Ficoll-conray centrifugation technique were adjusted to 10(6) cells/ml in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and incubated over 7 days at 37 degrees C in the presence of OK432 at 0.17 KE/ml in microculture plates.

[OK 432-induced production of IFN-gamma in peripheral mononuclear cells from healthy subjects and patients with cancer].

OK 432, a well-established immunopotentiator, has been recently noticed as one of biological response modifiers (BRM). IFN-gamma, also called immune interferon, is regarded as an important immunoregulator secreted by T-lymphocytes. In the present study, we measured the in vitro production of IFN-gamma in human peripheral mononuclear cells (PMC) induced by OK 432.

[The effects of halothane and epidural anesthesia on the gastric intramural pH and the pH of gastric juice].

To evaluate the effects of gastric intramural pH on intraluminal fluid of stomach during halothane anesthesia, the pH of gastric content and the gastric intramural pH measured by noninvasive method under halothane anesthesia were compared with those during epidural anesthesia. Nineteen patients without gastrointestinal disorders who received elective surgery were studied; 14 patients were anesthetized with N2O-O2-halothane and 15 patients were anesthetized with N2O-O2, flunitrazepam and lumber epidural anesthesia. The intramural pH was calculated from the Henderson-Hasselbalch's equation: intramural pH = 6.

Prospective surveillance of antibiotic-associated coagulopathy in 970 patients.

N-methyl-thio-tetrazole (NMTT) has been proposed as a causative factor in antibiotic-associated coagulopathy. To evaluate this hypothesis, a nationwide surveillance program was initiated to determine the relative frequency of antibiotic-associated coagulopathy and the importance of specific risk factors. A total of 970 patients were studied, with 491 being treated for infections and 479 receiving antimicrobial surgical prophylaxis.

[Ultrastructural study on the developmental process of the dentin bridge following direct capping using hydroxyapatite ceramic].

Hydroxyapatite ceramics (HAP), which have been used in the endodontics or periodontics because of their bioafinitive characteristics, were applied directly as the capping of the wound surface after the experimental exposure of pulp in versional teeth to be extracted on orthodontics ground. In order to investigate the developmental process of dentine bridge induced by HAP capping, the pulp was studied ultrastructurally, 1, 3, 6 months after the treatment. One month after the capping, the multi-nuclear giant cells being rich in mitochondria and lysosomes were in contact with the HAP granules directly by extending their projections into the granules, which appeared to absorb the HAP granules.