Basic studies for the practical use of bitterness inhibitors: selective inhibition of bitterness by phospholipids.

Purpose: We examined the effects of phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidic acid (PA) on human taste sensation to various substances.

Methods: The effects were evaluated psychophysically using paid volunteers.

Results: PA inhibited the bitterness of various substances dissolved in water without affecting sweetness, saltiness, and sourness, although its inhibitory activity was less than that of PA-LG.

Relationship between weight change in young adulthood and the risk of NIDDM. The Sotetsu Study.

Objective: To investigate the independent effect of weight change in young adulthood on the risk of prevalent NIDDM among middle-aged Japanese men.

Research Design And Methods: A case-control study was carried out in 895 male employees aged > or = 30 years of a railway company located in the vicinity of Tokyo. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for prevalent diabetes in each category of weight change (obtained from subjects' medical records) in young adulthood and adulthood.

Influence of flavonoids on cell cycle phase as analyzed by flow-cytometry.

Flavonoids were previously reported to have cytostatic activity in vitro and in vivo. In the present study each phase of the cell cycle was observed by flow-cytometry after HCT-15 cells had been cultured with flavonoids for 2 days. In the control group, two peaks were observed on the histogram, the first peak representing double strands of DNA, and the second, tetra strands.

[Cost effectiveness of image diagnosis].

First, annual cost of electronic filing of medical images were calculated and compared with that of film storage in two hospitals under different conditions. Storage of medical images using a pixel size of 100 microns x 100 microns and 2-byte depth on the 130 mm, 650 MB magneto-optical disks costs with four times as much as the cost for film storage. However, 175 microns x 175 microns 12 bits combined with implementation of lossless compression would reduce the cost to a level equal to that for films storage.

Neuromuscular target recognition by a homophilic interaction of connectin cell adhesion molecules in Drosophila.

Drosophila Connectin (CON) is a cell surface protein of the leucine-rich repeat family. During the formation of neuromuscular connectivity, CON is expressed on the surface of a subset of embryonic muscles and on the growth cones and axons of the motoneurons that innervate these muscles, including primarily SNa motoneurons and their synaptic targets (lateral muscles). In vitro, CON can mediate homophilic cell adhesion.

Suppression of growth of cultured malignant cells by allomelanins, plant-produced melanins.

Allomelanins, which belong to the melanins produced by higher plants and fungi, were studied with respect to their growth suppressive effects on cultured HCT-15 cells derived from human intestinal carcinoma and Meth/A cells derived from a Balb/C mouse lymphoma. Allomelanins were extracted from black soy beans and black sesame seeds with 0.2% NaOH in water.

Time and flow study results before and after installation of a hospital information system and radiology information system and before clinical use of a picture archiving and communication system.

The effectiveness of a hospital information system (HIS) and a radiological information system (RIS) was evaluated to optimize preparation for the planned full clinical operation of a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), which is now linked experimentally to the HIS and the RIS. One thousand IC (integrated circuit) cards were used for time studies and flow studies in the hospital. Measurements were performed on image examination order entry, image examination, reporting, and image delivery times.

Immunohistochemical studies of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cathepsin D in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cathepsin D was performed on 60 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) specimens from 60 patients with bladder cancer. The percentage of PCNA-positive cells (PCNA-labelling index) was determined by counting 500 or 1,000 cells, and cathepsin D expression was graded according to the extent of immunoreactivity to anti-cathepsin D antibody. The PCNA-labelling index was significantly higher in high-grade and high-stage tumors compared to that in low-grade and low-stage tumors.

Fibrinogen-like substance and thrombin-like enzyme in seminal plasma: coagulation system of human semen.

This investigation was conducted to examine the presence of fibrinogen-like substance and thrombin-like enzyme in human semen (human seminal plasma) after liquefaction. The human seminal plasma contained small amounts of respective substances which are absorbed on anti-fibrinogen and anti-thrombin III affinity columns, respectively. The thrombin-like enzyme with Gly-Pro-Arg-pNA amidolytic activity was inhibited by human seminal plasma trypsin-like enzyme inhibitor (HSP-TI) and antithrombin III.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of 100-130 kDa proteins in lung cancer correlates with poor prognosis.

To search for the signalling pathways in lung cancer relevant to its aggressive behaviour, we studied tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in lung cancer cell lines and surgical specimens. We found that the profiles of protein phosphorylation were closely matched among these cell lines and cancer tissues of different histological origins, and 100-130 kDa proteins were the major components of phosphorylated proteins. In surgical specimens, approximately half of the cases showed tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins in a tumour-specific manner, and phosphorylation of these proteins showed good correlation with the survival length of patients after operation.

Influence of OH group and sugar bonded to flavonoids on flavonoid-mediated suppression of tumor growth in vitro.

Many flavonoids extracted from higher plants, synthesized or purified flavonoids, and their aglycones showed anti-tumor activity. Using purified or synthesized flavonoids, we studied the effect of the chemical structure of 2-benzoic flavone on the growth of human tumor cells (HCT-15 in vitro. The type of sugar combined with the A phenol of flavonoids played an important role in the tumor suppression; i.

Magnesium metabolism in hyperthyroidism.

Changes in magnesium metabolism, along with those in sodium, were investigated in 17 patients with Graves' disease (14 females and 3 males, mean +/- SD, 44.8 +/- 12.2 years) and their relationship to plasma levels of thyroid hormones were assessed before and after treatment.

Clinical application of basic arginine amidase in human male urine.

Basic human urinary arginine amidase (or esterase, called BHUAE) which is only found in male urine, was measured from normal volunteers between the age of 4 and 70 years using D-valyl-L-leucyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide as a substrate. BHUAE increases during early adolescence, between 8 to 17 years of age. Then, BHUAE decreases in the twenties and takes a certain range of value in the mature age group, between the late thirties and fifties.

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy with elevated plasma PTHrP, TNF alpha and IL-6 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

A case of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is reported. An 82-year-old male underwent surgery for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the left hand in 1992. He subsequently developed clouding of consciousness with remarkable hypercalcemia, a high parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP) level, and elevated plasma cytokine levels [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6)].

[A clinical study of recurrent breast cancer].

In a recent 14-year period from December 1978 to December 1993, 180 patients with breast cancer were treated at the hospital, and out of these 180 patients, 38 patients (21.1%) who had a recurrent breast cancer were clinically evaluated. The first recurrence occurred in the local skin in 13 patients, regional lymph node in 1, bone in 13, lung in 4, liver in 4 and in other areas in 3.

Flavonoid-mediated tumor growth suppression demonstrated by in vivo study.

Many of flavonoids as well as bioflavonoids extracted from higher plants, which were earlier revealed to have tumor cell growth suppression activity in vitro, were examined for their effect on tumors in vivo. Balb/c mice were inoculated i.p.

[Emphysematous cystitis: a case report].

Emphysematous cystitis is a rare condition in which gas-forming organisms produce gas in the bladder wall and lumen. We present a case of emphysematous cystitis with neurogenic bladder. The patient was a 78-year-old man who complained of dysuria and lower abdominal soft mass.

Immunohistochemical analysis of the poorly differentiated stomach adenocarcinoma with medullary growth pattern.

Poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma with medullary features (poor medullary) is distinguished by a propensity for hepatic metastasis. To classify it antigenically, we compared it to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with scirrhous growth pattern (poor scirrhous), well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (differentiated adenocarcinoma), and normal gastric mucosa (foveolar and deep epithelium) using immunohistochemistry with antibodies against CEA, AFP, NSE, and Lewis-type antigens. Lewis(a) antigen was significantly associated with differentiated adenocarcinoma and foveolar epithelium, although Lewis(x) antigen was significantly expressed in poor medullary, poor scirrhous, and deep gland epithelium.

The effect of thoracic epidural anesthesia on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in dogs: an analysis of the pressure-flow curve.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is preserved during one-lung ventilation combined with thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) in dogs. Using a separately ventilated left lower lobe (LLL) in situ, the pressure-flow (P-Q) curve was obtained. The HPV response was assessed by the shift of the P-Q curve, changes in blood flow diversion rate (FDR) and decrease in PaO2 during hypoxic gas ventilation of LLL.

A new model for pancreaticobiliary maljunction without bile duct dilatation: demonstration of cell proliferation in the gallbladder epithelium.

Patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction without bile duct dilatation (PBMWBDD) develop gallbladder carcinoma frequently. No models of PBMWBDD exist, and no previous studies have clearly demonstrated changes in the gallbladder relating to carcinogenesis. We, therefore, examined the cell kinetics of the gallbladder epithelium in a new experimental model of PBMWBDD.

[Retroperitoneal myxoid leiomyoma: report of a case].

We report a case of retroperitoneal myxoid leiomyoma in a 36-year-old woman complaining of urinary retention. An ultrasonogram revealed a mass in the pelvic space, while CT and MRI demonstrated a retroperitoneal tumor. Open resection of the tumor was performed.