Telomerase activity in endoscopically visible lung cancer.

To examine the correlation between telomerase activity and clinical features in patients with lung cancer, we examined 86 patients with endoscopically visible lung cancer including 61 with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 25 with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Telomerase activity was detected by using Telomerase ELISA Kit (Böhringer Manheim, Germany). The median and interquartile ranges of telomerase activity in normal lung, NSCLC and SCLC were 65 and 51-75, 106 and 58-349 and 285 and 117-2214, respectively.

[Comparison of the newly developed MYCOACID system with mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) and newly developed 2% Ogawa medium (S) for recovery of mycobacteria in clinical specimens].

The detection rate of mycobacteria from patients' specimens and the time required to get positive culture were compared among newly developed MYCOACID SYSTEM, MGIT, Ogawa K medium and 2% Ogawa medium (S). A total of 249 sputum samples taken from patients were used as the study subjects and 124 kinds of mycobacteria were isolated. For 135 cases clinically diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis, the detection rate was 44.

[Inhaled corticosteroid therapy in childhood asthma].

Asthma has been recognized as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway. The early use of antiinflammatory agents, one of which is inhaled corticosteroids, is advocated in the treatment of chronic asthma. Beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) is effective in childhood asthma.

Practical issues in bispectral analysis of electroencephalographic signals.

The aim of this report was to confirm the methodology of bispectral analysis of electroencephalogram. In developing a software for real-time bispectral analysis, we encountered several practical problems in bispectrum calculation. We settled those and concluded that 3 min of monitoring are required to obtain reliable and reproducible bicoherence values.

Preferential and persistent activation of the STAT1 pathway in rheumatoid synovial fluid cells.

Objective: Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are produced in great quantities in inflamed rheumatoid joints. However, little is known about the pathogenic significance of each cytokine in the proliferative synovitis and destruction of bone and joint. We investigated the role of cytokine receptor signals transduced into cells at the foci of rheumatoid inflammation.

[Three cases of pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma].

CASE 1. A 55-year-old man was admitted because of an abnormality in chest radiographs. Chest HRCT showed multiple cystic lesions with thick and thin walls, and nodules; and strongly suggested pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma (EG).

Carboplatin calculated with Chatelut's formula plus etoposide for elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer.

Objective: This dose escalation was conducted to evaluate the applicability of Chatelut's dosing, and to determine the efficacy and toxicity of carboplatin with etoposide in previously untreated elderly patients (>70 years) with small cell lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: Seventeen patients were treated with etoposide for 3 days and carboplatin calculated dose using Chatelut's formula on day 1 intravenously. The starting doses of etoposide on days 1 to 3, and carboplatin using the area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) were 90 mg/m2 and 4 mg/ml x min, respectively.

Mucin-producing tumor of the pancreas associated with pyothorax: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 76-year-old man for whom an invasive mucin-producing tumor of the pancreas (MPTP) was successfully treated by surgery. A cystic lesion of the pancreas had been found by computed tomography (CT) 9 years earlier, 2 years following which suction drainage for left pyothorax had been carried out. A pancreatic cyst fistula to the thorax had subsequently been found during decortication for recurrent pyothorax 2 years later.

Results of performing mesh plug repair for groin hernias.

The simplicity and good postoperative results of mesh plug repair for groin hernias have been reported in numerous articles. We have been performing this procedure in our department for more than 5 years, and the present study was conducted to reexamine its clinical outcome from our viewpoint. A total of 224 patients with a collective 244 groin hernias underwent mesh plug repair between March 1993 and August 1998.

[Cooperation between public health centers and hospitals in tuberculosis control--how should clinical nurses and public health nurses work together?].

The result of cohort analysis of the patients newly registered from Jan. 1, 1994 until Dec. 31, 1995, showed that 49,824 (84.

[Riddles in human tuberculous infection].

Tuberculosis is indeed an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, only a small percentage of individuals infected develops overt disease, tuberculosis whereas the infected bacilli persist alive years long within the vast majority of persons infected but remained healthy. There are several riddles or enigmas in the natural history of M.

Results of preoperative mediastinoscopy for small cell lung cancer.

Background: The significance of mediastinoscopy for small cell lung cancer is unclear owing to the small number of surgical cases.

Methods: To determine the N component of the TNM staging system, computed tomographic findings and the results of mediastinoscopy were compared with the pathologic examination of surgical specimens.

Results: Four cases among 37 patients (10.

Surgical results for small cell lung cancer based on the new TNM staging system. Thoracic Surgery Study Group of Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.

Background: Operation with combined chemotherapy has been recently recommended for very early stage of small cell lung cancer without lymph node metastasis.

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken in 91 patients who had undergone pulmonary resection for small cell lung cancer according to the new international staging system.

Results: The 5-year overall probability of survival was 37.

Surgery for pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

Background: This study aims to clarify which patients would benefit by surgery for pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken in 25 patients who had undergone complete resection. In all cases, prethoracotomy carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was measured and mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes were histologically examined.

Phase I and pharmacologic study of docetaxel and irinotecan in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: We conducted a phase I trial of docetaxel, a new antimicrotubule agent, combined with irinotecan (CPT-11), a topoisomerase I inhibitor. The aim was to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of docetaxel combined with CPT-11, as well as the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of this combination in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-two patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were treated at 4-week intervals with docetaxel (60 minutes, day 2) plus CPT-11 (90 minutes, days 1, 8, and 15).

Prognostic significance of telomeric repeat length alterations in pathological stage I-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

This study was performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of alteration in telomere length in pathological stage (p-stage) I-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Paired cancer and normal lung tissues were obtained from 72 patients with histologically confirmed p-stage I-IIIA NSCLC. Terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length, which indicates telomere length, was measured by Southern blot analysis.

Phase I trial of oral 2'-deoxy-2'-methylidenecytidine: on a daily x 14-day schedule.

2'-deoxy-2'-methylidenecytidine (DMDC) is a potent deoxycytidine analogue. Preclinical studies of DMDC demonstrated activity against a variety of murine and human tumors in cell cultures and murine models and indicate enhanced antitumor activity of DMDC when it was administered in a manner that provided prolonged systemic exposure. In view of this observation, this study was designed to determine the toxicities, maximum-tolerated dose, and pharmacokinetic profile of DMDC.

Radiation pneumonitis following multi-field radiation therapy.

The mechanisms of radiation pneumonitis have not been established. In a study on multi-field radiation therapy for lung cancer, one patient developed severe radiation pneumonitis even though the target volume was small. Radiation therapy was performed at a dose of 75 Gy in 50 fractions over five weeks.

[Small-cell lung cancer].

Small-cell lung cancer(SCLC) represents 15 to 20% of all lung cancers. Since patients with SCLC usually present with disseminated disease, treatment strategies have focused on systemic therapy. Despite advances in the treatment of SCLC during the 1970s with the use of combination chemotherapy, and in the 1980s with the combination of etoposide and cisplatin plus concurrent radiotherapy, there have been no major advances in therapy in the last decade.

[Effect of beclomethasone increment on airflow limitation in asthmatic children treated with high dose beclomethasone].

In order to evaluate the effect of higher dose BDP therapy (1200-1660 micrograms/day), we studied 12 asthmatic children (mean age 9.7 years-old) with airflow limitation on respiratory function test who were asymptomatic with high-dose BDP therapy (800 micrograms/day). After 4 weeks of higher dose BDP therapy, FVC, FEV1 and V50 were significantly improved, but those improvement were insufficient compared with those after salbutamol inhalation.

Cryptococcus albidus-induced summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

We studied summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis believed to be induced by Cryptococcus albidus in the home environments of the patients. All patients had antibodies that were reactive to Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichosporon cutaneum in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids. Cryptococcus albidus strains were isolated from 62.

GPI-anchored molecule-like protein (GML) expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: GPI-anchored molecule-like protein (GML) has been identified as a new target molecule of p53. In esophageal cancer cell lines, expression of GML mRNA, which was found to be significantly correlated with in vitro anti-cancer drug sensitivity, was observed only in the presence of wild-type p53.

Materials And Methods: The relationship between expression of GML mRNA and p53 gene status in 24 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines was examined using RT-PCR and PCR-SSCP followed by direct DNA sequencing.

[Commemorative lecture of receiving Imamura Memorial Prize. Studies on prevention and treatment of childhood tuberculosis].

We performed a retrospective analysis of 394 patients who were treated for active tuberculosis (TB) at our hospital from 1976 to 1997. We had started early BCG vaccination campaign in Osaka Prefecture from 1995 and the coverage of BCG vaccination in infants rose up to about 90%. From that experience, we studied the current situations and measures on prevention and treatment of childhood tuberculosis.

[Factors for the onset of and the exacerbation of tuberculosis. 3. Clinical factors for the development and the exacerbation of active tuberculosis. a. Children, young adult].

We reviewed the reports about the development and the exacerbation of active tuberculosis and performed a retrospective analysis of 394 patients who were treated for active tuberculosis (TB) at our hospital from 1976 to 1997. The factors for the development and the exacerbation of active tuberculosis were the bacteriological status of the source, the age of the person infected, the degree of tuberculin sensitivity, BCG non-vaccination, non-chemoprophylaxis, the medical condition that increases the risk for tuberculosis, the presence of other infection, poor nutrition.