Primary plasmacytoma of the thyroid: a case report and comparative literature study between Western nations and Japan.

A 52 year old man presented with primary thyroid plasmacytoma. The patient was initially followed up for thyroid dysfunction. The histological examination of the removed thyroid revealed a proliferation of mature and immature plasma cells indicative of plasmacytoma with Hashimoto's disease.

Expression of receptors for advanced glycosylation end products on renal cell carcinoma cells in vitro.

Proteins that have been modified by long-term expose to glucose accumulate advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) as a function of protein age. In these studies, we have examined the interaction of AGE-protein with renal cell carcinoma cells (RCC) in vitro, using AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) as a probe. AGE-BSA showed tendency to induce in vitro cell growth of RCC cells and promoted the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), an in vitro autocrine growth factor.

Expression of scavenger receptors on renal cell carcinoma cells in vitro.

Messenger RNAs and proteins of scavenger receptor thought to be macrophage specific protein were expressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells in vitro. Acetyl LDL was taken up into RCC cells and promoted the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), an in vitro autocrine growth factor to proliferate the cells. These results suggested that RCC cells might have a scavenger pathway which has not yet been demonstrated except for macrophages.

Differential effects of propentofylline on the production of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro.

The effects of the xanthine derivative propentofylline on the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were studied. When PBMCs were cultured with propentofylline in vitro, the production of IL-6 was markedly increased at concentrations of 0.1 to 3.

[A case of gas gangrene following operation of cervical esophageal carcinoma].

A 74-year-old woman underwent surgery for cervical esophageal carcinoma. After operation, she had abdominal distension, high fever, and suddenly fell into shock and died. Autopsy revealed necrosis and multiple gas blebs in the entire digestive tract and liver.

[Legionellosis].

Although increasing attention is being given to Legionella pneumonia in Japan, reports of solitary onset of this disease are scant in Japan. The patient, from whom L. dumoffii was isolated, was a 59-year-old male with no underlying disease.

Macro creatine kinase in a case of carnitine palmitoyltransferase deficiency.

A stout man was admitted to the hospital with acute rhabdomyolysis associated with macro creatine kinase (macro-CK, EC 2.7.3.

Effect of zonisamide on serum immunoglobulins.

Zonisamide (AD-810) was additionally administered to 19 patients with refractory epilepsy who had been receiving multiple antiepileptic drugs and the effect of zonisamide on serum immunoglobulins was investigated. Zonisamide was administered in daily dose of 200-700 mg (mean 389 mg) for the period of 82-1,470 days (mean 863 days). The serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM were determined before administration and at intervals of 3 or 6 months over the period of a maximum of 48 months after initiation of administration.

[Ganglioneuroma of the adrenal gland: report of a case].

A 38-year-old man was referred to our clinic with the complaint of upper abdominal discomfort. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography showed a mass occupying the left retroperitoneal space. Endoclinological results were within the normal range except for 17-OHCS and 17-KS.

[Umbilical blood-gas status at cesarean section for breech presentation: a comparison with vertex presentation].

Umbilical blood-gas status at elective cesarean section with oxygen inhalation for breech presentation (25 cases) was compared with that for vertex presentation (25 cases), so as to confirm the security of full-term breech fetuses delivered by cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Umbilical arterial oxygen levels were significantly lower in the breech group (Mean PO2:18.9 mmHg; SO2:37.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) functions as an in vitro autocrine growth factor in renal cell carcinomas.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was found to be a growth factor of renal cell carcinomas Furthermore, renal cell carcinomas freshly isolated from the patients expressed mRNA of IL-6 and secreted biologically active IL-6 under the culture conditions where the tumor cells could grow, but they did not produce IL-6 nor proliferate in the absence of fetal calf serum. The production of IL-6 by the tumor cells was also demonstrated by immunostaining of the IL-6-producing cells utilizing anti-IL-6 antiserum. Moreover, anti-IL-6 antiserum specifically inhibited the in vitro tumor growth.

[Effects of maternal hyperventilation and oxygen inhalation during labor on fetal blood-gas status].

The effects of maternal hyperventilation and oxygen inhalation on fetal blood-gas status were studied in 54 fetuses, vaginally delivered of mothers without medical and obstetrical complications. The cases were divided into four groups according to MA (maternal arterial) pH and PCO2 values and by respiring either oxygen or room-air as follows. Group N: pH less than 7.