Beneficial effects of a novel anti-hypoxemic agent, TEI-7322, on bleomycin-induced experimental hypoxemia in rats.

Almitrine bismesylate is known to be an anti-hypoxemic agent that acts via the enhancement of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. However, screening for this class of compounds has been minimal, owing, in part, to a lack of convenient hypoxemic models in small animals. The present study was designed to establish a convenient model of hypoxemia induced by bleomycin and to evaluate anti-hypoxemic agents including a newly synthesized compound.

Localization of Fas antigen mRNA induced in postischemic murine forebrain by in situ hybridization.

The expression of mRNA for the Fas antigen, a membrane-associated protein mediating apoptosis, was localized by in situ hybridization histochemistry in murine brains following 30 min of global cerebral ischemia. Six hours following the ischemia, many labeled cells were detected anew throughout the brain. The hybridization was seen in the small neural cells and in the cells along the walls of the ventricles and vessels, and became undetectable 24 h following the ischemia.

[Clinical significance of PSA-density in differential diagnosis between BPH and early stages prostate cancer].

Object: In differential diagnosis of BPH and early stages prostate cancer (PC), PSA-density (PSAD) was evaluated in 63 cases with BPH and 82 cases of PC (stage A: 8, B: 17, C: 17, D: 40).

Methods: Serum PSA values were determined by MARKIT-F PA, and prostate volume was calculated by transabdominal ultrasonography, in which every glands including peripheral zone was visualized in the transverse and sagittal planes, and predicted prostate volume was calculated by three dimension (a x b x c x 0.52).

[Evaluation of gastric adaptive relaxation in isolated stomach from the guinea-pig].

To evaluate the mechanism of gastric adaptive relaxation (GAR), we designed and established the experimental system for the measurement of GAR in isolated stomach from the guinea-pig by modifying the method of Desai. We also investigated the roles of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves and endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in GAR by using this system. The rapid increase in the capacity of isolated stomach was observed over a certain pressure as GAR.

[Antitumor effect of MX2, a new morpholino anthracycline against C6 glioma cells and its combination effect with photodynamic therapy in vitro].

MX2, a new lipophilic morpholino anthracycline, has been reported to have superior chemotherapeutic effects to adriamycin against murine and human tumor cells. In this study the chemotherapeutic effect of MX2 against C6 glioma cells was examined as well as the photocytotoxicity of MX2 and the combination effect of MX2 and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in vitro. Colony formation is inhibited even with only 2 hour treatment with MX2 in a dose-dependent manner.

Collaborative work to determine the optimal administration period and parameters to detect drug effects on male rat fertility--study on estradiol benzoate effects.

In order to examine the optimal administration period and parameters for male fertility assessment, male rats were subcutaneously administered 0.2, 2 or 20 micrograms/kg of estradiol benzoate (E2B), a known testicular toxicant, for 4 weeks or 9 weeks before mating. After 4 weeks administration, suppression of body weight gain and food consumption, decreases in prostate and seminal vesicle weights, atrophy of Leydig cells, and mature spermatid retention at stages IX, X and XI were observed in the 2 and 20 micrograms/kg groups.

Removal of LDL from plasma by adsorption reduces adhesion molecules on mononuclear cells in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans.

Background: There is increasing evidence that immune processes are important in the development of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether low density lipoprotein (LDL) adsorption therapy affected serum cytokine levels and the expression of adhesion molecules on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) in patients with arteriosclerotic obliterance (ASO).

Methods And Results: LDL adsorption therapy was repeated ten times over a period of three months in ten ASO patients.

Altered expression of class I HLA antigen on peripheral mononuclear cells in patients with adult T-cell leukemia: inverse relationship with natural killer susceptibility.

Patients with adult T-cell leukemia showed altered expression of class I HLA antigen in their peripheral blood lymphocytes. Acute type adult T-cell leukemia showed increased levels of the antigen expression compared to those of control group and smoldering type (P < 0.001 and 0.

Chronic psychosocial stress induces morphological alterations in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of the tree shrew.

The effect of sustained psychosocial stress on the morphology of hippocampal pyramidal neurons was analysed in male tree shrews after 14, 20, and 28 days of social confrontation. A variety of physiological changes such as constantly elevated levels of urinary cortisol and norepinephrine and reduced body weight, which are indicative of chronic stress were observed in the subordinate, but not in the dominant males. Light microscopic analysis of Nissl-stained hippocampal sections showed that the staining intensity of the nucleoplasm in the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons was increased after prolonged psychosocial stress, indicating a change in the nuclear chromatin structure.

Brain metastasis from malignant mesothelioma--case report.

A 62-year-old male presented with a rare brain metastasis from malignant mesothelioma manifesting as headache and progressive left hemiparesis. He had previously undergone pleurectomy for malignant mesothelioma. Chest x-ray films showed no recurrence of mesothelioma.

[Acute necrotizing gastritis associated with adult T-cell leukemia in the course of chemotherapy].

A 63-year-old man with smoldering adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) which became acute was admitted. During chemotherapy, he experienced epigastric pain and fever due to neutropenia. The combination therapy of antimicrobials and rhG-CSF was ineffective and he died.

[Study on prognostic factors in twenty-five patients with myelodysplastic syndrome].

Twenty-five consecutive patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) were followed in the Second Department of Internal Medicine, Miyazaki Medical School from 1984 to 1993. The diagnosis of MDS was morphologically based on the criteria of FAB. At the time of diagnosis, 9 patients had refractory anemia (RA), 1 had RA with ring sideroblasts (RARS), 6 had RA with excess blasts (RAEB), 6 had RAEB in transformation (RAEB-t), and 3 had chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL).

Effect of clenbuterol on sulfur dioxide-induced acute bronchitis in guinea pigs.

When guinea pigs were exposed to sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas (800 ppm, 2 h), they showed hyperresponsiveness to intravenously administered serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)). This hyperresponsiveness continued for over 24 h after the exposure to the gas. The degeneration, desquamation of epithelium, and edema of the lamina propria of the trachea and bronchi were observed in animals after a 2-h exposure of SO2 histopathologically.

Smoldering adult T-cell leukemia with B-cell lymphoma and early gastric cancer.

We report a case of smoldering adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) with B-cell lymphoma and early gastric cancer. A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of proteinuria and hypergammaglobulinemia. Systemic lymphadenopathy, "flower cells" in peripheral white blood cells, and hypergammaglobulinemia with monoclonal gammopathy (IgA, lambda type) were found.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors in infant rhesus monkey brain and pituitary gland: biochemical characterization and autoradiographic localization.

A large body of data suggests that the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system serves to coordinate the autonomic, endocrine, immune and behavioral aspects of the stress response. In rats, the distribution of CRF receptors in brain and pituitary has been well characterized, however, little information is available in primates. In this study, CRF receptors were characterized by radioligand binding and localized using autoradiography with [125I]-oCRF in the pituitary gland and in discrete brain regions of 2-week-old, 12-week-old and adult rhesus monkeys.

Effects of endothelin on serum gastrin level and acid secretion in rats.

Endothelin (ET) is a potent ulcerogen in gastric mucosa. Disordered microcirculation due to vasoconstriction may cause gastric mucosal injury. In a previous study we found ET in gastric mucosal cells, especially chief cells and endocrine cells, and in vascular endothelial cells.

[Pharyngeal metastasis and arteriovenous fistula of renal cell carcinoma--report of a case].

A 76-year-old Japanese male consulted our hospital complaining of dysphagia. He also complained of dyspnea, and a cardiovascular disorder was detected. Otolaryngological examination revealed dysphagia due to pharyngeal tumor.

Observation of T cell surface antigens in the clinical course of adult T-cell leukemia: case report of a spontaneous remission.

A patient with acute adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) in whom spontaneous remission was observed without any specific treatment having been given is described. The abnormal cell phenotype was CD4+, CD45RO+ and CD8-. As the number of abnormal cells decreased, CD4+ cell count decreased and CD8+ cells and CD45RA+ cells increased to normal levels (45 and 77%, respectively).

Prostate cancer-induced oncogenic hypophosphatemic osteomalacia.

A 65-year-old male with prostate carcinoma showed mild hypocalcemia of 7.9 mg/dl, marked hypophosphatemia of 1.7 mg/dl, hyperphosphaturia (tubular reabsorption of phosphorus 43% and tubular threshold for phosphorus of 0.

Lipidosis of the dorsal root ganglia in rats treated with an almitrine metabolite.

Toxic effects of a detriazinyl metabolite of almitrine (DTMA) were evaluated in rats and on cultured rat macrophages. In rats daily treated with DTMA for 16 weeks, spastic gaits with heel-lifting appeared, and lamellated and/or crystalloid bodies formed in sensory neurons, satellite cells, Schwann cells, and vascular endothelial cells of the dorsal root ganglia. The lysosomal lamellated bodies, which were not induced by almitrine, were produced also in cultured rat macrophages exposed to over 1 x 10(-5) M DTMA.

A case report of serologically diagnosed pulmonary anisakiasis with pleural effusion and multiple lesions.

The second known human case of pulmonary anisakiasis is reported. A 22-years-old man living in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, developed high fever, respiratory distress, and pleural effusion after consumption of raw fish. Although his total white blood cell count increased to approximately 10,000-20,000/mm3, eosinophilia was not observed.

Neurotoxicity of glucocorticoids in the primate brain.

Severe and prolonged physical and psychological stress is known to cause brain damage; long-term torture victims in prison have later developed psychiatric disorders and cerebral cortical atrophy observed in CT scans (Jensen, Genefke, Hyldebrandt, Pedersen, Petersen, and Weile, 1982). In nonhuman primates, we observed degeneration and depletion of the hippocampal neurons in African green monkeys that had been severely abused by cagemates and died with complications of multiple gastric ulcers and adrenal cortical hyperplasia (Uno, Tarara, Else, Suleman and Sapolsky, 1989). In our previous studies the administration of dexamethasone (DEX) (5 mg/kg) to pregnant rhesus monkeys at 132 to 133 days of gestation induced degeneration and depletion of the hippocampal pyramidal and dentate granular neurons in the brains of 135-gestation-day fetuses, and these changes were retained in the brains of fetuses at near term, 165 days of gestation (Uno, Lohmiller, Thieme, Kemnitz, Engle, Roecker, and Farrell, 1990).

The effects of finasteride (Proscar) on hair growth, hair cycle stage, and serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in adult male and female stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides).

Finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, was administered orally (1 mg/kg.day) for 6 months to six male and five female stumptail macaques. Vehicle was given to five male and five female animals over the same period of time.

[Evaluation of inhibitory effect of isoflurane on the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction response in dogs].

The effect of isoflurane on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) was examined using the separately ventilated left lower lobe lung model in dogs. When the HPV was induced with anoxic gas ventilation of the left lower lobe, the magnitude of HPV inhibition by isoflurane of 2 MAC was predominant, as assessed by the index of pressure-flow curve which is a novel indicator of pulmonary vascular tone in the left lower lobe. However, isoflurane 2 MAC attenuated the HPV by only 16%, as assessed by indices of the changes in left lower lobe blood flow rate and PaO2.