Induction and characterization of mast cell colonies by culture supernatant of retinoic acid-treated mouse keratinocytes.

The retinoic acid-stimulated mouse-transformed epidermal cell line Pam 212 generated soluble mediators (RA-Pam sup) which showed mast cell-proliferating activity and induced mast cell-like colonies from bone marrow cells. Both mucosal-type and connective tissue-type mast cells were demonstrated on histochemical analysis. The 3T3 fibroblast cell line or human trichilemmomal cell line (TL1) also generated similar molecules on retinoic acid stimulation.

Distinct downstream signaling mechanism between erythropoietin receptor and interleukin-2 receptor.

Erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) and interleukin-2 receptor beta chain (IL-2R beta) belong to the same cytokine receptor superfamily and have highly conserved sequences in their intracellular signaling domain. However, common downstream signaling pathways of these receptors have not been demonstrated. In the present study, we introduced and expressed the murine EPOR in murine IL-2-, IL-3- and IL-5-dependent cell lines and analyzed their growth response to EPO.

The role of metal allergy and local hyperhidrosis in the pathogenesis of pompholyx.

Pompholyx (Dyshidrosis) is a disease of unknown etiology presenting as symmetrical, vesicular hand and foot dermatitis. To clarify the pathogenetic role of sweat and metal allergy, twenty five patients with pompholyx were examined with respect to their perspiration volume using equipment that continuously recorded the local perspiration volume. Patients were also examined for metal allergy by patch testing and oral challenge tests.

A novel coculture system for evaluating anti-HIV drugs.

Objective: To develop a useful system for evaluating novel anti-HIV drugs.

Design: The activity of most antiviral compounds in cell-free HIV infection systems has been evaluated. However, the inhibitory effects on both the process of HIV induction and viral dissemination to uninfected cells have not been fully investigated.

[Experimental studies of urinary incontinence. Effect of tiropramide on the urinary stage and evacuation].

Tiropramide, a tyrosine derivative, has an antispasmodic effect on the gastrointestinal smooth muscles and it is suggested that the effect is mediated by cAMP. Therefore, we studied the effects of tiropramide on the lower urinary tract smooth muscle functions. In animal experiments, the effects of tiropramide on vesicourethral smooth muscle contraction were investigated and cAMP and cGMP levels following tiropramide administration were measured in the vesicourethral and gastrointestinal smooth muscles.

[A telescopic system for distance consisting of contact lens and spectacle lens for low vision patients].

A telescopic system for distance consisting of a negative contact lens (-10.0 - -20.0 D) as the eye piece and a positive spectacle lens (+8.

[Adjuvant chemotherapy for invasive bladder cancer. Multicenter study].

During 2 years and 10 months from November 1985 to September 1988, 50 patients with invasive bladder cancer (pT2-4, pN0-2, M0) were treated with total cystectomy followed by adjuvant combination chemotherapy including cis-platinum. In addition, so-called immunopotentiator (OK-432) and Kanpo (Juzentaihoto: TJ-48) were given to the patients in a random fashion to evaluate whether or not these agents had any significant effect on patients' prognosis. The 3- and 5-year survival rates for 48 evaluable patients were 71% and 67%, respectively.

Role of wrapping in concomitant intra-abdominal aneurysm and colorectal carcinoma. Report of three cases.

The therapeutic measure against concomitant intraabdominal aneurysm and colorectal carcinoma is still a dilemma. Here we report the clinical courses of three cases of colorectal carcinoma coincidental with moderate-sized abdominal aortic or iliac artery aneurysm in those who underwent operations during a recent three-year period. Resection of malignant lesion and wrapping of aneurysm were carried out in all three patients simultaneously.

[Effects of timolol and carteolol on ocular pulsatile blood flow].

Effects of timolol (0.5%) and carteolol (2%) on ocular pulsatile blood flow (PBF) were studied in healthy adult volunteers. PBF was measured with the BFA system, analyzing the ocular pressure waves.

Dissociation of magnitude of relaxation from cyclic AMP levels in rabbit urinary bladder smooth muscles.

The effects of forskolin and isoproterenol on contractile force and cyclic AMP levels were compared in smooth muscle strips from rabbit urinary bladder dome. Both of forskolin and isoproterenol produced the time- and the dose-dependent relaxation and the time- and the dose-dependent increases in cAMP levels. The relaxant response to forskolin caused more slowly than that to isoproterenol.

[Differentiation and maturation of excurrent duct system of rat testes].

The present study was designed to investigate relations of gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) activities to morphological differentiation and maturation of rat testicular excurrent duct system including rete testis, efferent ductuli and epididymal ducts. Animals used were Wistar rats aged from 3 days to 12 weeks. Histochemical demonstration of gamma-GTP activities was carried out by the method of Rutenburg et al.

Immunocytochemical study of dystrophin in cultured mouse muscle cells by the quick-freezing and deep-etching method.

Dystrophin, the protein product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene, is deficient in patients with DMD and in mdx mice. It is immunocytochemically localized in skeletal muscle sarcolemma. However, little is known about the three-dimensional ultrastructural localization of dystrophin and its relationship with other cytoskeletal proteins.

Anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity of a novel synthetic peptide, T22 ([Tyr-5,12, Lys-7]polyphemusin II): a possible inhibitor of virus-cell fusion.

More than 40 peptides associated with tachyplesin and polyphemusin, which are highly abundant in hemocyte debris of the horseshoe crabs Tachypleus tridentatus and Limulus polyphemus, were synthesized. Among these peptides, we found that a novel compound, which was called T22 ([Tyr-5,12, Lys-7]polyphemusin II), strongly inhibited the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-induced cytopathic effect and viral antigen expression. Its 50% effective concentration was 0.

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency viral replication by tannins and related compounds.

Among 87 chemically defined tannins and related compounds, several hydrolyzable tannins, but not condensed tannins or other lower molecular weight polyphenols, significantly inhibited both the cytopathic effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the expression of HIV antigen in human lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1)-positive MT-4 cells. The 50% effective concentrations (2.0-4.

Antitumor effect of methionine-depleting total parenteral nutrition with doxorubicin administration on Yoshida sarcoma-bearing rats.

Methionine-depleting total parenteral nutrition (methionine-depleting TPN), which infuses an amino acid solution devoid of L-methionine and L-cysteine as the sole protein source, showed enhancement of the effect of several anti-cancer agents. In this study, the combined effect of the methionine-depleting TPN with the administration of doxorubicin was examined in Yoshida sarcoma (YS)-bearing rats with regard to effects on the primary tumor growth, the extension of metastasis, and the host animal's life span. In the first experiment, immediately after receiving methionine-depleting TPN for 8 days, the animals were killed.

Histopathologic characteristics of early stage esophageal carcinoma. A comparative study with gastric carcinoma.

Unlike the stomach, the esophageal mucosal layer has abundant vessels. To study the histopathologic character of cancer of the esophagus in comparison with that of stomach, the histologic findings (such as vascular or lymphatic permeation and lymph nodal involvement of cancer) were surveyed in 52 lesions of superficial esophageal carcinoma in which carcinoma invasion was limited to the submucosal layer, 448 cases of so-called early gastric carcinoma in which the carcinoma invasion was limited to the submucosal layer, and 109 cases of gastric carcinoma invading the proper muscle layer (PM-carcinoma). With respect to lymph node metastasis and lymphatic and vascular permeation, there was a particularly high incidence of carcinoma extending to the submucosal layer (SM-carcinoma) of the esophagus and a similar high incidence of PM-carcinoma of the stomach.

[Comparison of selective alpha-1 blockades for alpha-receptors in human hypertrophied prostatic adenomas].

The adrenergic alpha-1 and -2 adrenoceptors in six human hypertrophied prostatic adenomas were measured in the saturation experiment using 3H-prazosin and 3H-yohimbine. Not only alpha-1 adrenoceptons, but also alpha-2 adrenoceptors were found to exist in large amounts in prostatic adenomas. In the inhibition experiment selective alpha-1 antagonists inhibited the 3H-prozosin or 3H-yohimbine bindings to adenomas.

[Quantitative analyses of alpha-adrenoceptors in human prostatic capsule, adenoma and urethra--a comparison between normal prostate and hypertrophied prostate].

The adrenergic alpha-1 and -2 receptors in the three layers of the prostate (capsule, adenoma and urethra) were measured in humans with or without benign prostatic hypertrophy to examine the differences between the hypertrophied and non-hypertrophied (normal) prostate. Both alpha-1 and -2 receptors were found to exist in similar amounts in prostatic adenoma of both hypertrophied and normal prostate groups. In the prostatic capsule and urethra of both groups alpha-1 receptors were more abundant than alpha-2 receptors.

Changes of autonomic receptors following castration and estrogen administration in the male rabbit urethral smooth muscle.

Effects of castration and estrogen administration on the distribution of autonomic receptors in the male rabbit urethral smooth muscle were examined. Thirty-eight mature Japanese white rabbits were used. Eight rabbits were used as untreated control.

[The influence of VDT work on accommodation].

In order to evaluate the influence of visual display terminal (VDT) work on accommodation, accommodation responses, such as accommodation latency, accommodation velocity, amount of accommodation and refractive power, were measured with an infra-red optometer (TER-7 NIDEK). Comparisons were also made between parameter before VDT work and after VDT work. At first, comparison of the accommodation responses of playing with a video game, being engaged in VDT work and paper work, was made in 5 subjects.

Hypervascular metastatic cardiac tumors: an unknown cause of mitral valve prolapse.

A 40-yr-old woman with alveolar soft-part sarcoma and multiple hypervascular cardiac tumors involving both left and right ventricles is reported. Papillary muscle dysfunction and mitral valve prolapse with mitral regurgitation were caused by the largest tumor in the left ventricle.

Regional difference in functional roles of cAMP and cGMP in lower urinary tract smooth muscle contractility.

The spontaneous contractile force of muscle strips isolated from rabbit urinary bladder dome, base and urethra was dose-dependently inhibited by isoproterenol, an adenylate cyclase activator through beta-adrenoceptors and also by sodium nitroprusside, a guanylate cyclase activator. The relaxation response by isoproterenol was biggest in urinary bladder dome. Percent relaxation to 10(-4) M isoproterenol was 73.

[BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatinum) chemotherapy as an induction therapy of advanced extragonadal germ cell tumor].

Five patients with advanced extragonadal germ cell tumor (EGGCT) were treated with cisplatinum + vinblastine + bleomycin (BVP) or cisplatinum + etoposide + bleomycin (BEP) chemotherapy as an induction therapy. All patients had high levels of tumor markers and multiple distant metastasis in poor nutritious conditions. Two patients given BVP therapy died 6 and 9 months after the chemotherapy.