Interferon-gamma inhibits the growth of human bronchial epithelial cells independently of transforming growth factor-beta-1 and nitric oxide (NO).

It has been emphasized that epithelial injury is closely correlated with airway hyperresponsiveness, which is one of the important pathophysiological characteristics of bronchial asthma. Growth of epithelial cells is important in the mucosal repair processes and is believed to be regulated by growth factors produced by inflammatory and immune effector cells as well as epithelial cells themselves. We studied the role of T cell-derived lymphokines IFN gamma and IL-4 on the proliferation of human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B.

[Cone sensitivity measurements in diabetic retinopathy].

We made cone sensitivity measurements and hue discrimination measurements in 58 eyes of 34 diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy including preproliferative retinopathy. The same measurements were performed in 8 eyes of 8 subjects to compare them. In this study, we were able to make the measurements in a short time and comfortably for the patients because we only needed to measure peak sensitivities of spectral sensitivity curves in three cones.

[Influence of wall thickness on asynergy during exercise two-dimensional echocardiography in patients with old myocardial infarction].

The relationship between left ventricular wall motion worsening (new asynergy; newly developed or worsened asynergy) in the affected part of old myocardial infarction during exercise two-dimensional echocardiography and the wall thickness at diastole was evaluated in 20 patients with more than 51% diameter stenosis in only the infarcted related artery using symptom-limited graded supine bicycle exercise test and two-dimensional echocardiography. End-diastolic wall thickness at normal part of the wall (WtdN) and infarcted parts (WtdI) on the parasternal short-axis view at the papillary muscle level at rest were measured and the wall thickness ratio, WtdI/WtdN x 100(%), was calculated. The rate pressure product at the time when new asynergy appeared and the appearance time of new asynergy after starting exercise were measured in seconds.

Morphology of single afferents of the saccular macula in cats.

The morphology of single saccular afferents was studied by the intracellular horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method. Four neurons were sufficiently stained to allow reconstruction of their axonal arborizations. The main axon of these neurons bifurcated into an ascending and a descending branch at the level of the lateral nucleus.

[Rectal cancer].

We examined the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent rectal cancer with particular regard to localized recurrence. Early diagnosis of localized recurrence is extremely important for the selection of therapeutic strategy. Among strategy options available are surgical treatment, including resection of all pelvic organs, but this should be performed with no decrease in the QOL of the patient.

Evaluation of acceleration plethysmograms in dermatology--efficacy of lipo PGE1 preparations against herpes zoster and neuralgia following herpes.

Reports published in recent years indicate that administration of lipo PGE1 is effective against herpes zoster and neuralgia following herpes. However, there are presently no standards to objectively assess efficacy. We therefore looked into the possibility of achieving this goal by using an acceleration plethysmograph.

[Measurement of thrombomodulin values in the serum and eyes of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis].

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a protein, present on intact endothelial cell surfaces, that plays a major role in the protein C anticoagulant system. Plasma TM is produced by injured endothelium, and is recognized in circulating blood or urine as a sign of endothelium cell damage. The localization of TM within the eye and its kinetics in the eye and the serum were investigated in rats with experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU).

Alterations of insulin and glucagon secretion from the perfused pancreas before, at the onset and after the development of diabetes in male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats.

The Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat is an obese non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) model of an inbred strain. In this study, basal (2.8 mM glucose) insulin and glucagon and their responses to glucose (16.

[Cytomegalovirus retinitis].

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most common intraocular infection in patients with Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Approximately 25% of patients with AIDS will develop CMV retinitis during their life time. It is generally associated with CD4+ lymphocyte counts of less than 50 cells/microliter.

Docosahexaenoic/arachidonic acid omega-hydroxylation system and differentiation in the human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line, Caco-2.

The homogenate from Caco-2 cells of day 13 or 15 after subculturing had high omega-hydroxylation activity of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6(n-3)) or arachidonic acid (20:4(n-6)). Activity, maximal at pH 8.0, was inhibited in the presence of CO or metyrapone and in the absence of NADPH.

[Aortic stop flow and hypoxic perfusion chemotherapy for unresectable gallbladder cancer].

We performed the aortic stop flow and hypoxic perfusion chemotherapy for unresectable gallbladder cancer under general anesthesia and made the perfusion only in the abdominal cavity by clamping the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava near the site of diaphragma. Although temporary hypertension occurred just after clamping the aorta, no severe problem could be seen during operation. After surgery the patient had no abnormalities such as liver or kidney dysfunction, and tumor markers gradually came to decrease.

[Melanotic schwannoma with a high level of catecholamine in an elderly patient].

A 73-year-old woman suffering from hypertension and asthma had chest radiography, which showed the shadow of a lump on the inner side of the right lung apex. From a chest CT scan, it was diagnosed as an upper mediastinal tumor (circular in shape with a diameter of 19 x 23 mm) adjacent to the right rib and showing a low-absorption range. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis as an Antoni B-type melanotic schwannoma.

Properties of saccular nerve-activated vestibulospinal neurons in cats.

Axonal pathways, projection levels, conduction velocities, and locations of the cell bodies of saccular nerve-activated vestibulospinal neurons were studied in decerebrated cats and anesthetized cats, using a collision test of orthodromic and antidromic spikes. The saccular nerve was selectively stimulated by bipolar tungsten electrodes. Three monopolar electrodes were inserted into the left and right lateral vestibulospinal tract (LVST) and medial vestibulospinal tract (MVST) of the C1 segment, to determine the pathway of axons.

[BUN, Bence Jones protein, and chromosomal aberrations predict survival in multiple myeloma].

The prognostic significance of of some clinical features in 41 patients with multiple myeloma (including 2 patients with plasma cell leukemia) from our institution was analyzed. Out of 14 variables isolated from the univariate analysis (P < 0.05), only three (BUN, Bence Jones protein, and chromosomal aberrations) were significant in the multivariate model (P < 0.

Comparison of telomerase activity in normal chorionic villi to trophoblastic diseases.

Trophoblasts are derived from the normal placenta, and they infiltrate into the endometrium and the maternal blood vessels under strict control but, unlike malignant cells, never metastasize. To understand the proliferative characteristics of trophoblasts and its related disorders, we assessed telomerase activity in chorionic villi obtained from 27 normal individuals, 9 hydatidiform moles, and 2 choriocarcinomas. Telomerase activity was detected in 13/27 (48%) normal chorionic villi samples.

Significance of rises in urinary bicarbonate contents and pH related with increased atmospheric carbon dioxide in Tokyo.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was measured at several locations in Tokyo, for two weeks, in December, 1995 and 1996, and was found to be increased up to 550 ppm, while it was shown by us to be 450 ppm in December, 1994. These results demonstrate that atmospheric carbon dioxide is steadily increasing at faster rates in Tokyo than we expect, though it has been considered that the atmospheric carbon dioxide is still as much as 350 ppm. Bicarbonate concentration and pH of urine of 13 medical students in Tokyo were also measured for the same period in December of 1995 and 1996, and were found to be significantly increased compared with the values that were reported in the past.

[Detection of telomerase activity and its clinical application].

Telomerase is a ribonuclear protein that is detected in more than 90% 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, quantitation of telomerase is important to delineate clinical implication of telomerase activity. We have developed semiquantitative fluorescence-based TRAP assay.

Correlation between serum cytokeratin 19 fragment and tissue polypeptide antigen levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

We evaluated the correlation between serum cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) levels in 57 non-small cell lung cancer patients. There was a significant correlation between serum CYFRA 21-1 and TPA levels for each clinical stage and TNM (T, primary tumor; N, regional lymph node involvement; M, occurrence of distant metastasis) subcategory (range of r-value = 0.809-0.

Enhanced engraftment of intravenously transplanted hematopoietic stem cells into bone marrow of irradiated mice treated with AcSDKP.

The effect of the tetrapeptide Acetyl-N-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (AcSDKP) on intravenously transplanted hematopoietic stem cell engraftment into the bone marrow (BM) of irradiated mice was studied. When 5 x 10(4) marrow cells were transplanted into lethally irradiated mice given 10 microg AcSDKP, the survival of these animals 4 weeks posttransplantation increased markedly from 20.0 +/- 4.

Malignant solitary fibrous tumor arising in the right buttock associated with metastatic parietal pleural and intrapulmonary tumors in addition to pleural effusion.

A malignant solitary fibrous tumor arising in the right buttock associated with metastatic parietal pleural and intrapulmonary tumors and pleural effusion was found in a 59-year-old man. A chest computed tomogram revealed three tumors attached to the parietal pleura with rib destruction, and a tumor in the left lower lung field. Histologically, the tumors of the buttock and parietal pleura were characterized by proliferation of bundles of spindle-shaped or oval cells separated by wavy hyalinized collagen tissue with no expression of cytokeratin, S-100 protein, muscle actin or epithelial membrane antigen, but these cells weakly expressed CD34 and strongly expressed vimentin.

[Efficacy of combination chemotherapy with mitoxantrone, vincristine, doxifluridine and prednisolone for recurrence of breast cancer].

We treated fifteen patients with recurrent breast cancer by a combination of mitoxantrone (8 mg/m i.v., day 1), vincristine (1.