Based on the pathomorphologic studies of resected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and biopsy materials from minute HCCs of the early stage, it has been clarified that the majority of minute HCCs around 1 cm in diameter are well differentiated. When tumors reach approximately 2 cm in diameter, approximately one-third of them display various combinations of more than two cancerous tissues of different histologic grades. In those HCCs, the areas of less-differentiated cancerous tissues are almost always surrounded by well-differentiated ones and diminish in size along with the increase of tumor size. Then, they are completely replaced by moderately to poorly differentiated cancerous tissues. Dedifferentiation phenomenon characterized by such a replacement of well-differentiated cancerous tissues by less-differentiated ones seems to be closely related to tumor proliferation in HCC. Thus, better therapeutic effects may be expected if HCCs are treated while they are well differentiated and are less aggressive.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Establishment and characterization of a human combined hepatocholangiocarcinoma cell line and its heterologous transplantation in nude mice.

A human cell line (KMCH-1) derived from a surgical specimen of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma has been established. The original tumor consisted of both hepatocellular carcinoma of the trabecular type and cholangiocellular carcinoma. This cell line has been maintained for 26 months through 75 passages. KMCH-1 cells show characteristics of adenocarcinoma on light and electron microscopy. They proliferate in culture in a pave stone arrangement. The doubling time of these cells at the 24th passage was 39 hr. Chromosome analysis revealed a chromosome number ranging from 60 to 98, with a modal number of 74. KMCH-1 cells produced tumors several months after subcutaneous and intraperitoneal transplantations into athymic nude mice. Histologically, the subcutaneous tumors were poorly differentiated adrenocarcinoma, while intraperitoneal tumors were moderately to well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma components were not observed. Thus, KMCH-1 cells demonstrate the feature of cholangiocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. This KMCH-1 cell line is the first established combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma cell line and may contribute to further investigation of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Steroid-responsive optic neuropathy in a patient with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome: electrophysiologic findings.

We examined visual evoked potentials and pattern electroretinograms in a patient with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome associated with optic nerve involvement. The 82-year-old woman developed unilateral painful ophthalmoplegia and visual loss in the right eye. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an abnormal soft-tissue area in the right cavernous sinus and the right orbital apex. Symptoms responded rapidly to treatment with corticosteroid. Visual evoked potentials to flash and pattern stimuli were both remarkably reduced and delayed in the right eye in the acute stage; however they improved to almost normal after steroid therapy. The pattern electroretinogram recorded in the acute stage was normal bilaterally. These results indicate that optic nerve involvement in Tolosa-Hunt syndrome can be mild and reversible.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Precordial electrocardiographic map using the IBM-Bonner program.

The precordial electrocardiographic map may be useful for non-invasive assessment of the extent of the acutely infarcted myocardium. Rapid and serial precordial electrocardiographic maps also may be useful to evaluate the effects of intervensions of drugs and efforts on the ischemic myocardium. In this study, the IBM-Bonner program was applied to produce a system for the precordial electrocardiographic map. Six electrodes at one intercostal space were moved in parallel from the second to the seventh intercostal space. Thus electrocardiograms (ECGs) could be recorded from 36 precordial sites, 6 x 6 matrix, and analyzed using the IBM-Bonner program. The measured values of the ECG waveform make feasible the automatic procurement of the precordial electrocardiographic map. Our mapping program can be used readily and anywhere the IBM-Bonner program is in use.

Computers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of Kakkon-to and Sairei-to on experimental elevation of aqueous flare in pigmented rabbits.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible inhibitory effects of Kakkon-to and Sairei-to, traditional Sino-Japanese herbal medicines, on experimental aqueous flare elevation in pigmented rabbits. METHODS: Anterior uveitis was induced either by an application of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 10 microg/mL, to the cornea, or an intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), 0.5 microg/kg, in an ear vein. Dose dependency of experimental uveitis induced by LPS (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 microg/kg) was also determined. For pretreatment, about 150 g/day of food containing Kakkon-to (1% w/w) or Sairei-to (0.6% or 2% w/w) was given to two groups of animals for 5 days before experimental uveitis was induced. A third group of animals underwent pretreatment with betamethasone, 130 microg/kg, injection into an ear vein 4 hours before experimental uveitis was induced. A fourth group of rabbits with no herbal medicine or betamethasone pretreatment served as controls. Aqueous flare was measured using a laser flare-cell meter. Aqueous flare intensity was expressed as the area under the curve (AUC) in arbitrary units. RESULTS: The increase in aqueous flare induced by LPS was dose-dependent. The AUC of PGE2 (10 microg/mL) and LPS (0.5 microg/mL) induced aqueous flare elevations were 1,119 and 4,950 arbitrary units, respectively. Kakkon-to (AUC, 1,055) and Sairei-to (AUC, 965) did not inhibit the aqueous flare elevation induced by PGE2. Beta-methasone did inhibit the elevation (AUC, 271). Kakkon-to (AUC, 4,495) did not suppress the aqueous flare elevation induced by LPS. Both 0.6% and 2% Sairei-to (AUC, 2,478, and 978) and beta-methasone (AUC, 443) did suppress the aqueous flare elevation induced by LPS significantly (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Sairei-to could have an inhibitory effect on experimental anterior uveitis induced by LPS.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Suppression by verapamil of bombesin-enhanced peritoneal metastasis of intestinal adenocarcinomas induced by azoxymethane in wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: The effects of combined administration of bombesin and verapamil hydrochloride (verapamil), a calcium channel blocker, on the incidence of peritoneal metastasis of intestinal adenocarcinomas induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and the labeling index of intestinal cancers were investigated in male Wistar rats. METHODS: From the beginning of the experiment, rats were given 10 weekly subcutaneous injections of AOM (7.4 mg/kg body weight) and subcutaneous injections of bombesin (40 microg/kg body weight) every other day, and from week 16, intraperitoneal injections of verapamil (10 or 20 mg/kg body weight) every other day until the end fo the experiment in week 45. RESULTS: Bombesin significantly increased the incidence of intestinal tumors and cancer metastasis to the peritoneum. Although verapamil administered at either dose had little or no effect on the enhancement of intestinal carcinogenesis by bombesin or on the location, histologic type, depth of involvement, labeling index, apoptotic index or tumor vascularity of intestinal cancers, it significantly decreased the incidence of cancer metastasis. Verapamil also significantly decreased the incidence of lymphatic invasion of adenocarcinomas, which was enhanced by bombesin. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that verapamil inhibits cancer metastasis through actions that do not affect the growth of intestinal cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗