Clinical significance of the increased multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) gene expression in patients with primary breast cancer.

The efficacy of cancer treatment is limited by either intrinsic or acquired resistance to various chemotherapeutic agents. To evaluate the clinically important factors related to prognosis in primary breast cancer retrospectively, we investigated the expression of the following genes involving acquirement of drug resistance: multidrug resistance 1 (MDRl), multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), and topoisomerase (Topo) I, II alpha, and II beta. Using an RT-PCR method, we semiquantified the gene expression level in untreated stage II breast cancer tissue (n = 27) and noncancerous breast tissue (n = 10).

Neutralization of aspartate residues in the murine inwardly rectifying K+ channel IRK1 affects the substate behaviour in Mg2+ block.

1. To investigate the molecular basis of the sublevels induced in the outward current during block by intracellular Mg2+, single-channel currents through inwardly rectifying K+ (IRK1) channels were studied. 2.

Expression of fibroblast growth factor-2 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 in thyroid diseases: difference between neoplasms and hyperplastic lesions.

We studied the expression of both fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and FGF receptor-1 (FGFR-1) in various histological types of human thyroid neoplastic and hyperplastic tissues to clarify the biological behavior of FGF-2. A total of 37 malignant tumors (24 papillary carcinomas, 10 follicular carcinomas, 3 anaplastic carcinomas), 8 follicular adenomas, and 12 adenomatous goiters were examined by immunohistochemical methods. With immunohistochemical staining, both FGF-2 and FGFR-1 were frequently detected in human thyroid carcinoma (79.

A comparison between sevoflurane and propofol when combined with continuous epidural blockade in adult patients.

Purpose: The effects of sevoflurane and propofol, in combination with continuous epidural blockade, on blood pressure control and time of recovery from anesthesia were compared.

Methods: Adult patients were allocated to either a sevoflurane (n=54) or a propofol (n=64) group. Anesthesia was induced with either inhalation of 5% sevoflurane or intravenous administration of 2 mg·kg propofol.

Involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in microvessel invasion in human colorectal cancers.

To evaluate the association among known angiogenic growth factors or factors related to the plasminogen activation system and clinicopathological factors in patients with colorectal cancer, we examined the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), u-PA receptor (u-PA-R) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in clinical specimens of colorectal cancers by Northern blot analysis. In comparison with the expression of these angiogenesis-related genes in 7 paired samples of colorectal cancers and the adjacent normal mucosa, VEGF mRNA level was significantly higher in the cancer tissues than in the adjacent normal mucosa (p < 0.05).

Suppressive actions of volatile anaesthetics on the response capability in cats.

Purpose: Suppression of response to a given stimulus by anaesthetics might be considered as a summation of the suppression of basal (pre-stimulus) activity and response capability (increased by stimulus). Anaesthetic suppression of each component in brain and cardiovascular variables by halothane, isoflurane or sevoflurane was compared in cats.

Methods: Thirty cats were allocated to one of three groups (n = 10 in each) according to the anaesthetic given.

Changes in thyroid function and immunological parameters long after subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease.

Objective: To find out whether subtotal thyroidectomy results in long term stable functional and immunological remission in patients with Graves' disease.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Teaching hospital, Japan.

High intra-abdominal pressure increases plasma catecholamine concentrations during pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic procedures.

Background: Laparoscopic procedures are associated with several complications, such as hemodynamic, respiratory, and endocrine complications. In our previous clinical study, plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations remained unchanged after the insertion of a Veress needle, but increased significantly immediately after insufflation with carbon dioxide into the peritoneum. The mechanisms for this increase are unknown.

Thoracic duct cyst in supraclavicular region.

A 28-year-old female attended an outpatient clinic in October, 1989, because of a tumor in the left supraclavicular fossa, detected in a health examination. Following exploratory puncture of the tumor which yielded milky-white fluid, suggesting a cyst in the thoracic duct, she was admitted to our department. The cyst was unilocular measuring about 6 cm in diameter, and the fluid content was chyle-rich in lipids.

Stimulative effects of saponin from kikyo-to, a Japanese herbal medicine, on pancreatic exocrine secretion of conscious rats.

Our previous report stated that kikyo-to, a Japanese herbal medicine, consisting of the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum and Glycyrrhiza sp., stimulates the pancreatic exocrine secretion of conscious rats. The present study focused on the effective components of kikyo-to and the mechanism of stimuli to pancreatic secretion of rats.

The effects of atrial natriuretic peptide infusion on hemodynamic, renal, and hormonal responses during gastrectomy.

Unlabelled: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) antagonizes the reninangiotensin-aldosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone-cortisol, vasopressin, and endothelin systems. Surgical injury stimulates these systems and causes vasoconstriction and antidiuresis. We assessed the hemodynamic, renal, and endocrine effects of continuous intravenous infusion of ANP in patients anesthetized with sevoflurane undergoing gastrectomy.

Airway troubles related to the double-lumen endobronchial tube in thoracic surgery.

Purpose: Several case reports indicate critical respiratory complications in relation to the double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT). A prospective survey for the airway problems in using the DLT is presented.

Methods: One hundred adult patients undergoing thoracotomy for lung cancer were investigated.

Development of Graves' disease after surgical treatment for thyroid nodules: report of four cases.

We report herein rare cases who developed hyperthyroid Graves' disease after surgical treatments for thyroid nodules. We have seen only 4 such cases in the course of 1680 consecutive cases (0.24%) of thyroidectomies in which partial thyroidectomy was carried out from 1966 to 1993.

Circulatory and catecholamine responses to tracheal intubation and skin incision during sevoflurane, isoflurane, or halothane anesthesia.

The anesthetic suppression of responses to noxious stimuli might reflect a summation of the suppression of the basal functions and the response capability. We investigated the basal suppression and response capability in hemodynamics and plasma catecholamine levels with different anesthetics at the same minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) level. Fifty-four patients were allocated to one of 6 groups to receive sevoflurane, isoflurane, or halothane at 1.

Characterization of nociceptin hyperalgesia and allodynia in conscious mice.

1. Intrathecal (i.t.

[Involvement of enhanced glutamate release in halogenated volatile anesthetic-induced excitation in mouse brain].

The present experiments aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of excitatory effects of volatile anesthetics. In ddN mice, enflurane (2% in air), sevoflurane (2%) or isoflurane (1.2%) induced opisthotonus.

Postoperative outcome of insufficient surgery for small differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

We performed conservative surgery for small differentiated thyroid carcinoma, but also inadvertently carried out minimal insufficient surgery, such as enucleation (Ex) or partial lobectomy (pLx) without regional node dissection for malignant thyroid nodules. In this study, the long-term postoperative outcome after such insufficient surgical treatment was evaluated. Of 348 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who underwent initial surgery between 1953 and 1976, 84 underwent either Ex or pLx and their records are herein reviewed.

Development of Graves' disease from asymptomatic autoimmune thyroiditis: a case report.

We report herein a case of hyperthyroid Graves' disease developed from asymptomatic autoimmune thyroiditis (AAT). A 25-year-old single female with AAT was followed up for over 3 years. Thereafter her condition progressed to hyperthyroidism with both positive TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) and an increase in antithyroidal antibodies.

Changes in the cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content difference by surgical incision are similar during sevoflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia.

Purpose: To investigate changes of cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content difference (AVDO2) induced by surgical incision and to determine carbon dioxide (CO2) reactivity of the cerebral circulation during sevoflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia.

Methods: Twenty-one ASA 1-2 patients undergoing elective surgery for supratentorial tumours were randomly allocated to receive either 1.3 MAC sevoflurane/N2O anaesthesia (n = 10) or equi-MAC isoflurane/N2O anaesthesia (n = 11).

Antifungal activity from Alpinia galanga and the competition for incorporation of unsaturated fatty acids in cell growth.

An antimicrobial diterpene was isolated from Alpinia galanga in the screening for potentiators of phytochemical antibiotic action. The structure was elucidated by spectral data and identified as (E)-8 beta, 17-epoxylabd-12-ene-15, 16-dial (1). Diterpene 1 synergistically enhanced the antifungal activity of quercetin and chalcone against Candida albicans.

Catecholamine release caused by carbon dioxide insufflation during laparoscopic surgery.

Purpose: We evaluated plasma catecholamine levels during pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgery.

Materials And Methods: Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine were evaluated in 29 patients who underwent laparoscopic retroperitoneal surgery in a half lateral decubitus position (group 1) or laparoscopic varicocelectomy in a Trendelenburg position (group 2).

Results: The levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine increased significantly 5 minutes after carbon dioxide insufflation compared to levels after Veress needle insertion and just before insufflation.