[5-S-cysteinyldopa as a tumor marker for primary uveal malignant melanoma].

The clinical significance of 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD), a major intermediate in melanin synthesis, was evaluated as a potential diagnostic tumor marker for uveal melanoma. Serum concentrations of 5-S-CD in 6 out of 7 patients with uveal melanoma in the absence of extraocular metastases were close to those of controls. In contrast, serum concentrations of 5-S-CD were found to be elevated in 3 patients with systemic metastases of melanoma.

Pyoderma gangrenosum following cytosine arabinoside, aclarubicin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor combination therapy in myelodysplastic syndrome.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic dermatosis, which may be associated with systemic conditions such as hematologic disorders. We present a patient who had been diagnosed as having myelodysplastic syndrome associated with PG at onset, in whom a febrile ulcerative skin lesion developed following cytosine arabinoside, aclarubicin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) combination chemotherapy in the course of the disease. Skin biopsy revealed dense neutrophilic infiltrate in the dermis with central epidermal ulceration, consistent with the diagnosis of PG.

[Experience in ESWL monotherapy using Lithostar--comparative study on the efficacy of standard-tube with C-tube].

Between October 1990 and April 1996, we treated 892 upper urinary tract stones with ESWL therapy using Lithostar (Siemens Medizinische Technik, Erlangen, Germany). In March 1993, the coupling head of lithotriptor was upgraded from "standard-tube" to "C-tube". The C-tube has approximately two times or more destructive energy and intensity than the standard-tube.

[Telomere, telomerase and cytogenetic changes in myelodysplastic syndromes].

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogenous but clonal disorder characterized by cytopenia and dysplastic features. Telomere length in MDS vary but some of them show shortened telomeres. Telomerase activity in MDS also vary but about 60% of them show slightly elevated telomerase activity.

[Telomerase activity and determination of cancer in urological neoplasias using exfoliated urinary cells: in situ TRAP assay and its application].

We determined telomerase activity semiquantitatively and in-cell telomerase activity in exfoliated urinary cells obtained from urological neoplasias. Semiquantitative determination of telomerase activity was performed using a fluorescent-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) and telomerase activity at the cellular level was determined by an in situ TRAP assay. Fluorescent-based TRAP assay detected urinary telomerase activity in about 80% patients with urological neoplasia before treatment, whereas urinary cells obtained from 30% patients after/during treatment with either chemotherapy or operation (class II-V) had detectable telomerase activity.

[The advantage of an in situ TRAP assay for the detection of telomerase activity using bronchial washings obtained from lung cancer patients].

In most previous reports telomerase activity in lung cancer patients has been detected using tissue extracts. We have developed a semiquantitative fluorescence-based TRAP assay using fluorescence-end-labeling primers. Moreover, we also developed an in situ TRAP assay that detects telomerase activity at the cellular level.

[Development of in situ TRAP assay detecting telomerase activity in cell].

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that is detected in more than 85% of primary cancer tissues using a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. Thus, telomerase is considered to be a novel marker for cancer. Telomerase activity is not detectable in somatic cells, except for hematopoietic cells and cryptic cells in the intestine and hair follicles, thus, detection of telomerase is important to delineate clinical implication of telomerase activity.

[The relationship of carcinoembryonic antigen and neutrophils to pulmonary function in healthy smokers].

We evaluated the relationship of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and neutrophils to pulmonary function in healthy smokers. Smokers in whom levels of CEA were greater than 5.0 ng/ml (n = 70) and in whom CEA levels were 5.

Immunocytochemical demonstration of the expression and induction of manganese-superoxide dismutase in the adenohypophysis.

Immunocytochemistry for manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) was studied in 12 normal adenohypophyses and 38 various pituitary lesions. The proportions of cells with granular immunoreactivity for Mn-SOD in normal adenohypophysis ranged from 9.8% to 29.

The tetramerization domain-independent Ras activation by BCR-ABL oncoprotein in hematopoietic cells.

BCR-ABL is a chimeric oncoprotein that exhibits deregulated tyrosine kinase activity and is implicated in the pathogenesis of Philadelphia chromosome-positive human leukemias. We have previously shown that BCR-ABL activates Ras signaling pathways required for transformation. To elucidate the mechanisms whereby BCR-ABL induced transformation in hematopoietic cells, we examined the biological effects of expression of a series of BCR-ABL mutants.

Telomeric length and telomerase activity vary with age in peripheral blood cells obtained from normal individuals.

The telomerase activity and length of telomeres of peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 124 healthy individuals aged 4-95 years was measured. Telomerase activity level was semiquantitatively assessed by a fluorescent-telomeric repeat amplification protocol (fluorescent-TRAP) using an internal telomerase assay standard, fluorescent primers and an automated laser fluorescent DNA sequencer. Telomeric length, measured by assay of terminal restriction fragments (TRFs), was determined in HinfI-digested DNA by Southern blot analysis using a (TTAGGG)4 probe.

A decrease in cerebral cortex intensity on T2-weighted with ageing images of normal subjects.

To determine the change in intensity in the cerebral cortex on T2-weighted MRI with ageing, we reviewed the T2-weighted images of 83 normal subjects and measured the signal intensity in the cerebral cortex in 30 subjects randomly selected from them. Low-intensity areas were more common in the cerebral cortex of the aged. The intensity of different cortical regions varied, and the intensity in the temporal and parietal to be decreased with ageing.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the hippocampus and temporal white matter in Alzheimer's disease.

We investigated the changes in water diffusion in the hippocampus and the temporal white matter (the temporal stem) in eight patients with possible Alzheimer's disease (AD), 10 patients with probable AD, and 10 age-matched controls, using coronal diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were derived for the three orthogonal axes and an index of diffusion anisotropy (IDA = ADC(max-min)/ADC(mean)) was then calculated. Although no significant differences were found in ADC and IDA values in the hippocampal body between controls and patients, vertical (superior-inferior) ADC values and ADC(mean) values in the temporal stem of patients with AD were significantly higher than those in controls, and IDA values were therefore significantly lower in patients with possible or probable AD than those in controls.

Telomerase activity in lung cancer cells obtained from bronchial washings.

Background: Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that functions in the maintenance of telomeres (specialized structures at the ends of chromosomes), has been reported to be a novel diagnostic marker for malignant diseases. We sought to determine whether measurement of telomerase activity in bronchial washings is of value in the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Methods: Extracts of cells in bronchial washings were analyzed for telomerase activity by use of a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay.

Role of nerve terminal L-type Ca2+ channel in the brain.

The microinjection of Bay K 8644 (BAYK), an L-type Ca2+ channel stimulant, into rat caudate putamen dose-dependently potentiated locomotor activity. DA receptor antagonists significantly blocked BAYK-induced hyperactivity. Striatal DA levels as detected by microdialysis increased 140 fold above steady state levels 20 min after BAYK administration into caudate putamen.

Preliminary report on prediction of spinal cord ischemia in endovascular stent graft repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm by retrievable stent graft.

Objective: To predict spinal cord ischemia after endovascular stent graft repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms, temporary interruption of the intercostal arteries (including the aneurysm) was performed by placement of a novel retrievable stent graft (Retriever) in the aorta under evoked spinal cord potential monitoring.

Methods: From February 1995 to October 1997, endovascular stent graft repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms was performed in 49 patients after informed consent was obtained. In 16 patients with aneurysms located in the middle and distal segment of the descending aorta, the Retriever was placed temporarily before stent graft deployment.

Protective effects of Hange-shashin-to on water-immersion restraint stress-induced gastric ulcers.

Hange-shashin-to (HST) is a traditional Chinese herbal prescription (Banxia Xiexin Tang) which has long been used in the therapy of gastric functional disorders. In this report, the effect of HST extract on water-immersion restraint stress-induced gastric ulcer based on the changes in gastric mucin content and the variations of monoamine contents in hypothalamus were investigated. Ulcer index was microscopically measured by the sum total of the lengths of ulcers in glandular stomach.

[A resected case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration with increased serum tumor markers, CA19-9, CA125 and NCC-ST-439].

A 39-year old female was found to have intralobar pulmonary sequestration with a high serum level of the tumor markers, CA19-9, CA125 and NCC-ST-439. The lesion was located in the left S10 and an aberrant artery from the aorta was noted. After partial resection of the left lower lobe, serum levels of the tumor markers (CA19-9 2418U/ml, CA125 50.

Differentiation of the inhibitory effects of calcium antagonists on abnormal behaviors induced by methamphetamine or phencyclidine.

The abnormal behaviors induced by methamphetamine (MAP: 1 mg/kg) or phencyclidine (PCP: 10 mg/kg) were measured using behavioral analysis following the microinjection of one of three calcium (Ca) antagonists (nifedipine: Nif, nicardipine: Nic and flunarizine: Flu) into the rat caudate putamen or amygdala. The intraperitoneal administration of MAP or PCP induced abnormal behaviors in a time-dependent manner; the maximum locomotor activity was measured 30-45 min after the administration of MAP or PCP. This hyperactivity was sustained for more than 2 h.

Distribution of cerebellar cortical lesions in multiple system atrophy: a topographic neuropathological study of three autopsy cases in Japan.

We investigated neuropathologically the distribution of the cerebellar cortical lesions in three Japanese autopsy cases of multiple system atrophy (MSA) using hemisphere specimens. The lesions were classified as mild, moderate or severe. The distribution of cerebellar cortical lesions in all three cases were uniform: the cerebellar cortical lesions were more conspicuous in the vermis than in the hemisphere.

Effect of coacervated alpha-elastin on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells.

The arterial wall injury associated with arterial graft implantation causes smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the media to migrate and proliferate in the intima at the graft-artery junction resulting in anastomotic intimal hyperplasia (AIH). An important step in developing a small-diameter prosthesis may be to stimulate endothelialization and thereby inhibit AIH. In this study, we investigated the effect of coacervated and crosslinked alpha-elastin on proliferation of SMCs and endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro.

Role of machine perfusion preservation in kidney transplantation from non-heartbeating donors.

The shortage of kidneys for transplantation is a universal problem. If the viability of the kidney can be assured, organ procurement from non-heartbeating donors will be greatly enhanced. This study evaluates the usefulness of machine perfusion preservation parameters as an index of kidney graft viability.

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis with accumulation of thallium-201 on single-photon emission CT.

We report a case of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis in which a high accumulation of thallium-201 was observed on an early single-photon emission CT (SPECT) scan. The patient's symptoms initially improved with steroid therapy but recurred repeatedly. MR images failed to show any change with treatment; however, thallium-201 uptake correlated closely with the fluctuation of symptoms.

Photodynamic therapy for lung cancer--a review of 19 years' experience.

This paper reviews studies of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of lung cancer in Japan, carried out since 1978. Photodynamic therapy has been applied clinically to both early and advanced stages of lung cancer and in combination with surgery. It can preserve pulmonary function, is well tolerated and is cost-effective in comparison with other treatments.