Characterization of hepatic adenoma with atypical appearance on CT and MRI by radionuclide imaging.

The appearance of hepatic adenomas on CT and MRI are highly variable because of their varied histopathology, and images of adenomas are at times indistinguishable from those of other hepatic tumors. The authors present two patients with hepatic adenomas with extremely atypical CT and MRI manifestations demonstrating a "nodule-in-nodule" appearance. Radionuclide imaging in both patients showed decreased Ga-67 uptake in the adenomas compared to normal liver, negative colloid (Tc-99m phytate) uptake in the adenomas, and early uptake and subsequent retention of Tc-99m PMT.

Cancer-preventive effects of drinking green tea among a Japanese population.

Background: Laboratory studies have revealed the cancer preventive effects of green tea, so the association between green tea consumption and cancer was examined in a human population.

Methods: The association between green tea consumption and cancer incidence was studied in our prospective cohort study of a Japanese population. We surveyed 8,552 individuals over 40 years of age living in a town in Saitama prefecture on their living habits, including daily consumption of green tea.

Radionuclide imaging in emphysema after lung volume reduction surgery.

Three dimensional (3D) surface displays of dynamic Xe-133 and Tc-99m MAA SPECT were performed to evaluate regional lung function in two patients with pulmonary emphysema before and after thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery. The 3D displays were reconstructed using a color-illuminated, surface-rendering technique. For the Xe-133 studies, a fusion display of 3D equilibrium (EQ) and 3-minute washout (WO) images was used to show the distribution of Xe-133 retention, which were transparently seen within the entire lung contours delineated by the EQ image.

An attempt to add biological functions by genetic engineering in order to produce high-performance bioreactor cells for hybrid artificial liver: transfection of glutamine synthetase into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell.

In the course of immortalization, hepatocyte cell lines lose their original differentiated functions, such as ammonia removal and urea formation, drug metabolism, serum protein synthesis, etc. (Enosawa et al., Cell Transplant.

Fluorescence polarization study of a salt bridge between a single chain Fv and its antigen ribonuclease A.

The interaction between a single chain Fv (sFv) of the monoclonal antibody 3A21 and its antigen, bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A), was studied by site-directed mutagenesis of the hypervariable regions and fluorescence polarization analysis. The affinity constants of wild-type sFv and a mutant sFv D31A (Asp31 of heavy chain was replaced by Ala) for RNase A were found to be 2.7 x 10(7) and 4.

Three-dimensional surface displays of perfusion SPET in the evaluation of patients with pulmonary emphysema for thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery.

A modified, three-dimensional display was applied to 99Tcm-macroaggregated albumin (99Tcm-MAA) SPET to help assess the effect of thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) on regional lung perfusion. Surface-rendered three-dimensional images for 99Tcm-MAA and xenon-133 (133Xe) equilibrium (EQ) SPET were obtained in 11 patients with pulmonary emphysema before and after LVRS. A single three-dimensional fusion display of both images was then reconstructed, and the perfused lungs were transparently visible through the lung contours delineated by the three-dimensional 133Xe EQ image.

Radionuclide angiography and ventilation/perfusion studies in two patients with systemic arterial supply to the basal segment of the left lung.

The findings of radionuclide studies in two adult men with systemic arterial supply to the basal segment of the left lung without sequestration are reported. Radionuclide angiography with Tc-99m human serum albumin-diethylenetriamine showed that the lung was perfused by the systemic circulation rather than by the pulmonary artery. Ventilation and perfusion scans with Xe-133 and Tc-99m MAA showed a V/Q mismatch in this area, suggesting the presence of normal bronchial communication without a pulmonary arterial supply.

Fluorescence polarization study of a salt bridge between a single-chain Fv and its antigen ribonuclease A.

The interaction between a single-chain Fv (sFv) of the monoclonal antibody 3A21 and its antigen, bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A), was studied by site-directed mutagenesis of the hypervariable regions and fluorescence polarization analysis. The affinity constants of wild-type sFv and a mutant sFv D31A (Asp31 of heavy chain was replaced by Ala) for RNase A were found to be 2.7 x 10(7) and 4.

Abnormal FHIT transcripts in human breast carcinomas: a clinicopathological and epidemiological analysis of 61 Japanese cases.

Deletions in the short arm of chromosome 3 have been found in various human cancers, including breast cancer. Recently, the FHIT (fragile histidine triad) gene was identified at 3p14.2 as a candidate tumor suppressor gene.

[Usefulness of 3-D dynamic pulmonary xenon-133 SPECT for thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery in patients with pulmonary emphysema].

Six patients with pulmonary emphysema scheduled to undergo thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery (TLVRS) were evaluated by three-dimensional (3-D) dynamic pulmonary xenon-133 SPECT. Serial 30-second dynamic SPECT data for equilibrium and washout (for 5 min) were acquired using a continuous repetitive rotating acquisition mode with a triple-detector SPECT system. SPECT data were reconstructed to 3-D images with a color, surface-rendering technique, and a 3-D fusion image of the 3-min washout image over the equilibrium image was obtained.

SPECT with In-111 autologous platelets to detect residual splenic tissue in two patients with relapsed thrombocytopenia.

In two patients with relapsed thrombocytopenia, the authors used SPECT with In-111 labeled autologous platelets to identify residual splenic tissue after splenectomy. One case involved a previously splenectomized patient with idiopathic portal hypertension, while the other had relapsed chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In both patients, SPECT showed a higher In-111 uptake in the splenic tissues compared with planar images.

Two promoters in expression of estrogen receptor messenger RNA in human breast cancer.

The human estrogen receptor (ER) gene has recently been shown to transcribe two types of mRNA originating from two distinct promoters in mammary tumor cell lines, which encode the same protein. However, use of the two promoters has not been addressed in human breast cancer, which reveals a heterogeneity in terms of ER expression status and clinical characteristics. In this report, we investigated which promoter is responsible for the expression of ER in human mammary tumors by a semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis for discriminatory detection of the two transcripts in mammary tissues obtained from patients with breast cancer.

Ventilation abnormalities in obstructive airways disorder: detection with pulmonary dynamic densitometry by means of spiral CT versus dynamic Xe-133 SPECT.

Purpose: To evaluate pulmonary dynamic densitometry (PDD) by means of spiral computed tomography (CT) for detection of ventilation abnormalities in obstructive airways disorders compared with dynamic xenon-133 single photon emission CT.

Materials And Methods: Eight-second spiral CT was performed during two to three respiratory cycles in six healthy volunteers, 19 patients with airways disorder, and six patients with restrictive lung disease. The data sets were reconstructed as 36 1-second temporally overlapping images at 0.

Effect of vitamin B12-deficiency on testicular tissue in rats fed by pair-feeding.

The effect of vitamin B12 (B12)-deficiency on testicular tissue was investigated through morphological observations of the rats which had been fed on a B12-deficient soybean protein diet by pair-feeding for 100 days. Testicular B12 content was depressed distinctly by the deficiency. Testes weight and their relative weight (weight per 100 g body weight) as well, decreased significantly as compared with those of pair-feeding control rats.

Structure and function of the recombinant fifth domain of human beta 2-glycoprotein I: effects of specific cleavage between Lys77 and Thr78.

In order to elucidate the mechanism of binding of beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2-GPI) to cardiolipin (CL), we constructed a high-level expression system for the C-terminal domain (Domain V) of beta 2-GPI using Pichia pastoris and studied its conformation and liposome-binding activity. Purified Domain V was found to have the native disulfide bonds. It had a compactly folded conformation, judging from the circular dichroism spectrum, and exhibited a cooperative unfolding transition induced by pH or urea.

Mediastinal parathyroid adenoma detected by 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 30-year-old man in whom ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma was detected by 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile scintigraphy (99mTc-MIBI). The patient presented with a history of recurrent renal stones and was diagnosed as having primary hyperparathyroidism due to elevated serum levels of calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (i-PTH) levels. On admission, his serum calcium value was 12.

[A case of bilateral adrenal neuroblastomas detected by bone scintigraphy].

A 7-month-old girl, who had been resected the left adrenal neuroblastoma 20 days ago, underwent bone scintigraphy with 90mTc-HMDP to survey bone metastases. The bone scan demonstrated avid uptake in the right adrenal gland, in which 123I-MIBG also accumulated. However, the degree of 123-I-MIBG uptake in the right adrenal gland was not necessary higher compared to that in the normal adrenal glands in 7 patients after resection of hemilateral neuroblastomas.

Increased production of interferon gamma but not interleukin 4 in human T-lymphotropic virus type I carriers.

We investigated the production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-1 alpha, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from human T-lymphotropic virus type I(HTLV-I) carriers during short-term in vitro culture, in comparison with that by those from HTLV-I seronegative controls. PBMCs isolated from eight carriers and eight controls were cultured, and cytokine levels were measured in 1- and 3-day culture supernatants. Enhanced production of IFN-gamma was observed in all HTLV-I carriers but none of the controls.

Superimposition of In-111 platelet SPECT and CT/MR imaging in intracardiac thrombus.

An initial attempt to superimpose in-111-labeled platelet SPECT over CT/MRI in two patients with intracardiac thrombus is presented. One patient was a 65-year-old woman with a history of mitral and tricuspid valve replacement. This patient had a large thrombus measuring 74 x 43 x 34 mm in the right atrium.

Some evidences of molecular epidemiology in cancer research.

Molecular epidemiology of cancer has been developed along with rapid advances in molecular carcinogenesis, introducing new approaches to etiology and prevention of cancer. First, research activities in Japan are briefly reviewed in this issue focusing on studies of genetic susceptibility, DNA damages, and immunological defense. Then we make an estimation of age periods of initiation for several cancer on the basis of multistaged carcinogenesis.

Iodine-123-MIBG imaging in pheochromocytoma with cardiomyopathy and pulmonary edema.

We encountered a patient with pheochromocytoma associated with a catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy that developed recurrently bilateral and unilateral pulmonary edema. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was made by elevated plasma catecholamine levels and the intense tumor [123I]MIBG uptake and was confirmed at the time of surgery. The patient showed reduced myocardial [123I]MIBG uptake with left ventricular dysfunction, and endomyocardial biopsy findings were consistent with the diagnosis of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy.

Dynamic pulmonary SPECT of xenon-133 gas washout.

Unlabelled: A triple-detector SPECT data acquisition mode of "continuous repetitive rotation acquisition" was applied to dynamic pulmonary SPECT with 133Xe gas.

Methods: Subjects included 7 healthy volunteers, 22 patients with a space-occupying mass lesion, 22 with obstructive lung disease and 10 with restrictive lung disease. Following rebreathing of 133Xe, equilibrium and washout SPECT images during spontaneous breathing were acquired every 30 sec for 5-7 min.

[Attempt of helical CT densitometry for assessing regional pulmonary ventilation].

Pulmonary dynamic CT densitometry during steady-state breathing was recorded and analyzed using helical CT scan in 14 patients with obstructive disorders involving small and large airways, and 2 with restrictive lung disease. The data set of 7-second, continuous helical scan at constant table position were reconstructed as 35 one-second temporarily overlapping images at 0.2- second intervals over 2-3 respiratory cycles, and regional CT densitometry was displayed.

Relationship between thallium-201 uptake and tumour proliferative ability in thyroid nodules.

To evaluate whether thallium-201 scan can reflect tumour proliferative activity in thyroid nodules. We compared the degree of 201Tl uptake with the tumour proliferative ability as assessed immunohistochmically by the labelling index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in malignant and benign thyroid nodules. The case material comprised ten benign and 31 malignant surgically resected nodules from a total of 41 patients.