Endoscopic sclerotherapy in a rat model of esophageal varices.

Background: Partial ligation of the portal vein has been shown to induce not only prehepatic portal hypertension but also esophageal varices in the rat. We developed an esophageal endoscopic system for endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices in rats. In the present study the efficacy of three sclerosing agents, 1% polidocanol, 5% ethanolamine oleate, and 99.

Mechanism of regulation of PDGF-A chain gene expression by serum and TPA.

The state of induction of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A chain markedly differs among drugs and cells. The increase in A chain mRNA by serum was due to activation of transcription. Transcription was also activated by cycloheximide (CHX) even during serum starvation, indicating that the expression of the PDGF-A chain is inhibited by transcription suppressor factor with a short life during serum starvation.

[A study of effective administration of recombinant interferon-gamma in renal cell carcinoma regarding immunological influence on peripheral blood lymphocytes].

Immunological effect of recombinant interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) was studied in 18 cases of renal cell carcinoma. Sixteen of them were administered IFN-gamma as post-operative adjuvant therapy. Two of them were administered IFN-gamma for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Identification of 5' regulatory elements of the PDGF-A chain gene, and interaction with single-stranded DNA binding protein.

The expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is controlled in a very complicated manner. To clarify the mechanism of regulation of the PDGF-A chain gene, deletion analysis of the 5'-flanking region was performed. We identified a positive regulatory element 25 base pairs (bp) upstream of TATAA, a negative element 135 bp upstream, a positive element 223 bp upstream and a negative element further upstream.

The potential for bidirectional promoter activity of the human PDGF-A chain gene.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein consisting of A and B chains. A functional promoter had been identified in the 5' flanking region of the human PDGF-A chain gene. We found that the PDGF-A chain promoter region possesses the potential for bidirectional activity.

[Clinical trial of inhalant recombinant interferon-gamma in patients with pulmonary metastasis from renal tumor (preliminary report)].

Recently, we applied inhalation of recombinant interferon (IFN)-gamma, to 4 patients with pulmonary metastatic tumor (3 with renal cell carcinoma and 1 with renal pelvic tumor). Of the patients with renal cell carcinoma 2 had received previous nephrectomy, 1 patient had received embolization alone, 1 subcutaneous IFN-gamma in 1, and 1 systematic chemotherapy. All 4 patients inhaled 1 x 10(6) JR U-2 x 10(6) JR U recombinant IFN-gamma 3 times per day.

Precise diagnosis by gene analysis and successful management of delivery in three patients with type IIB von Willebrand disease.

Type IIB is a rare variant of von Willebrand disease (vWD). An affected individual's bleeding tendency and thrombocytopenia are exacerbated with pregnancy, and the proper management of these patients during delivery has not been well established. Since it is important to distinguish this disease from the platelet type vWD in order to administer the appropriate therapy, gene analysis is necessary to make the precise diagnosis.

Gene regulation by the 5'-untranslated region of the platelet-derived growth factor A-chain.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A-chain gene contains a long 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of 850 bp. We evaluated the role of the 5'-UTR by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay. CAT activity appeared when the fragment +99 bp downstream from the initiation site (+1) was present but disappeared in the fragment to +184 bp.

Experimental reconstruction of the intrathoracic trachea using a new prosthesis made from collagen grafted mesh.

Intrathoracic tracheal replacement was performed in dogs using a tracheal prosthesis we had constructed from mesh. The prosthesis consists of Marlex mesh (polypropylene) reinforced with a continuous polypropylene spiral, and is grafted and coated with pig collagen (Types I and III). Complete surgical resection of the mediastinal trachea was performed in seven adult mongrel dogs.

Relationship between stenting time and regeneration of neoesophageal submucosal tissue.

The authors developed a new type of artificial esophagus consisting of an inner silicone tube and an outer non antigenic collagen tube. The novel feature of this artificial esophagus is that the main part of the prosthesis is replaced by host tissue. In a previous study, the authors found that no stenosis of the artificial esophagus developed when the replacement part was stented for more than 4 weeks.

[Basic and clinical study of platelet-derived growth factor gene expression].

PDGF is a glycoprotein composed of A and B chains, and induced the expression not only in platelets but also in many types of cells. By stimulation inducing cell proliferation, transcription of the A chain is activated, resulting in an increase in mRNA. By stimulation inducing cell differentiation, the A chain is activated at the post-transcriptional level, and the B chain at the transcriptional level, resulting in an increase in both mRNA.

A patient with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (Ki-1 lymphoma) showing clonal integration of HTLV-1 proviral DNA.

We encountered a patient with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (Ki-1 lymphoma) that originated in the stomach and showed histiocytic lymphoma-like morphology. CD43 antigen was positive, and rearrangement of TCR-beta gene was observed. The lymphoma was the T-cell type.

An S1 nuclease-sensitive region in the first intron of human platelet-derived growth factor A-chain gene contains a negatively acting cell type-specific regulatory element.

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A-chain gene is expressed in a tissue- and developmental stage-specific manner. Here we identify an S1 nuclease sensitive region within the first intron that functions as a negative regulatory element in HeLa but not in human glioblastoma (A172) cells in transient transfection assays. A 147 bp DNA fragment that contains this element functions in a position and orientation independent manner to negatively regulate both the PDGF A-chain promoter and the heterologous herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) promoter.

Hemodynamic changes after ligation of a major branch of the portal vein in rats: comparison with rats with portal vein constriction.

In chronic portal-hypertensive rat models, such as portal vein constriction or cirrhosis, the portal blood flow that effectively perfuses the hepatocytes is substantially reduced because of anatomical or functional shunts. It is possible therefore that a feedback mechanism from the liver to the splanchnic bed is responsible for the splanchnic hyperemia observed in chronic portal hypertension. To investigate the possible role of such a feedback mechanism, we examined the chronological changes in both portal and systemic hemodynamics in rats after ligation of a major branch of the portal vein that supplies about 80% of the liver circulation.

Hodgkin's disease associated with chronic myeloid leukemia. Determination of bcr-abl rearrangement in paraffin-embedded tumors using the polymerase chain reaction.

A patient showing lymph node enlargement and tumors in the neck and axilla in the course of Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) was seen. There were no hematological findings suggestive of crisis. RNA was isolated from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue specimens for the polymerase chain reaction of bcr-abl.

Presence of a regulatory element within the first intron of the human platelet-derived growth factor-A chain gene.

We detected a suppressive element in the first intron of the human platelet-derived growth factor A chain (PDGF-A) gene. Two or more proteins, at least 110-kd and 90-kd proteins, were bound over a wide region of this fragment, and the fragment suppressed the expression of the PDGF-A chain via these proteins in vivo. Since the fragment also had suppressor activity on the promoter of the PDGF-B chain, it may be involved in a suppressive mechanism of gene expression common to PDGF-A and -B chains.

Regulation of the human platelet-derived growth factor B-chain gene.

Human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) B chain is a cellular homologue of v-sis, closely involved in cell growth and oncogenicity. Analysis in this study showed the importance of not only the region near the TATAA box but also the fragment -355 bases or more upstream in the expression of the PDGF-B chain gene. However, tissue specificity was not clear in the 5' upstream region alone, and regulation by gene methylation or by elements other than in the 5' region seemed to be necessary.

Long-term follow-up of the experimental replacement of the esophagus with a collagen-silicone composite tube.

This study investigated ways of preventing late stenosis after replacing the esophagus with a prosthetic device and increasing survival time in an animal model. In a previous study, the authors induced neoesophageal formation and re-epithelialization at an early stage, although stenosis in the chronic stage remained a problem, and long-term survival was prevented. The authors developed an artificial esophagus made from a collagen-silicone composite tube.

A new tracheal prosthesis made from collagen grafted mesh.

The authors studied the efficacy of a new tracheal prosthesis made from mesh. The prosthesis, 50 mm long and 18-22 mm in diameter, is made from a Marlex mesh cylinder reinforced with a continuous polypropylene spiral that is grafted and coated with porcine collagen to increase its biocompatibility and provide an airtight seal during the initial implantation stage. Circumferential surgical resection and replacement of a seven to nine ring segment of the cervical trachea was performed in 20 adult mongrel dogs.

[Immunological effect of recombinant interferon-gamma in renal cell carcinoma].

The immunological effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was investigated in 18 cases of renal cell carcinoma before and after the operation. In 6 patients, IFN-gamma was administered preoperatively for 21 days (administration group), while 12 patients underwent nephrectomy alone without preoperative treatment (control group). The peripheral immunological effects were measured at before and 12 days after the operation in the administration group and at 11 days in the control group.

Nucleotide sequence of the 5' region of the human platelet-derived growth factor A-chain gene.

We have isolated and characterized genomic clones of the 5' region of the human PDGF A-chain gene. The putative "TATAA" box was identified 876 bp upstream of the translation initiation site. A significant number of potential regulatory elements were identified in DNA sequences upstream of the "TATAA" box and were also found within the introns sequenced.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast after cured Hodgkin's disease.

An unusual case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast occurring after cured Hodgkin's disease is reported herein. A 27-year-old woman developed a left breast mass 2 years after chemotherapy and radiation for nodular sclerosing stage IIB Hodgkin's disease. Excisional biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma of the breast and a modified radical mastectomy was performed, however, no metastasis was found in the axillary nodes.

[Observation of the posterior urethra by transrectal linear ultrasonography].

Transrectal linear ultrasonography was performed on 59 male patients with dysuria, and voiding movement of the posterior urethra was observed with a videomonitor. Uroflowmetry was performed simultaneously, and the results were compared with those obtained in a previous study. On the image synchronized with maximum flow rate, the diameter of the bladder neck, and the center of the prostatic urethra were measured as parameters and the correlation with maximum flow rate, average flow rate, and residual urine rate, was examined.

[Kallmann's syndrome in a child--a case report].

The patient was a male child 6 years and 6 months old. He visited our hospital because of bilateral cryptorchism and true phimosis. Since he was found to have fairly small testis, micropenis, and anosmia, endocrinological examination was performed.