To determine whether inflammatory cytokines are increased in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. We measured concentrations of interleukin-6, 8 (IL-6, 8) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in vitreous and serum from 47 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 21 patients with vitreous noninflammatory retinopathies. Vitreous concentration of IL-6 were 64.7+/-12.8 pg/ml in proliferative diabetic retinopathy, much greater (P<.005) than in noninflammatory retinopathy (2.8+/-4.5 pg/ml). Amounts of IL-8 in vitreous fluid also were greater in proliferative retinopathy than in noninflammatory retinopathy (34.0+/-11.5 vs. 6.1+/-2.0 pg/ml, P<.005). Concentrations of TNF-alpha in vitreous fluid were not statistically different in proliferative retinopathy from those in noninflammatory retinopathy. In sera, concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 were not different between proliferative and noninflammatory retinopathy. However, serum TNF-alpha was much greater in proliferative retinopathy than in noninflammatory retinopathy (0.81+/-0.72 vs. 0.09+/-0.00 pg/ml, P<.001). Elevated TNF-alpha in serum then may be diagnostically useful in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. And inflammatory cytokines in vitreous may be pathogenically important in this concentration.

Blood↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Breathing out into water during subtotal immersion: a therapy for chronic pulmonary emphysema.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the importance of a breathing out into water exercise during subtotal immersion for emphysematous patients. DESIGN: Results of a respiratory function test and arterial blood gas analysis were examined to compare the programs of breathing exercise with and without the breathing out into water exercise. The breathing exercises in a pool filled with 38 degrees C water were performed 30 min/day, 5 days/wk, for 2 mo in 17 patients with stable chronic emphysema. Patients were randomly assigned to breathing exercise programs including subtotal water immersion with the nose and mouth either immersed (9 patients) or out of the water (8 patients) during exhalation. RESULTS: The ratio of %forced expired volume in 1 sec to forced vital capacity and %forced vital capacity at rest were significantly increased in the program with the breathing out into water exercise, but they did not change in the program without the breathing out into water exercise. A significant increase in peak flow was observed in the former program, although it did not change in the latter program. The maximal expiratory flow at 25% did not change in either program. Pao2 was significantly increased and Paco2 was significantly decreased in the former program, although a trend for a decrease in Paco2 was observed in the latter program. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the breathing out into water exercise enhances the effects of a breathing exercise during immersion and is useful in rehabilitation for chronic pulmonary emphysema.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Superior mesenteric varices and splenic renal shunt with portal hypertension: a case report of liver cirrhosis with complications.

The case of a 58-year old woman with cirrhosis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic encephalopathy and superior mesenteric varices is described. Angiography revealed large superior mesenteric varices and it was demonstrated that the portal venous blood was shunted into the right internal iliac vein via the right ovarian vein. Clinically, this patient had hepatic encephalopathy and hyperammonaemia, but no oesophageal varices were discovered on endoscopy. The hepatic encephalopathy suggested that the portal blood containing ammonium from the superior mesenteric vein entered the brain through the systemic vein without the ammonia being metabolized by the liver.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Successful treatment of concomitant acute myeloblastic leukaemia and adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate.

The case of a 55-year old man who was affected simultaneously by acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) and adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate is reported. The carcinoma was removed after induction chemotherapy for AML and the patient subjected to consolidation therapy. No reports are evident of other cases in which acute leukaemia and other malignancies were treated simultaneously, and in which the patient was cured of both. It is suggested that this case may serve as a reference for future similar cases.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Impairment of ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation in patients with infective endocarditis.

An investigation was carried out on two patients with infective endocarditis associated with reduction of ristocetin-induced aggregation of platelets. The plasma of these patients reduced the aggregability with ristocetin of normal platelets. It is suggested that the patients had certain plasma factors which disturbed platelet aggregation with ristocetin.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Rhabdomyosarcoma in a patient with mosaic Klinefelter syndrome and transformation of immature teratoma.

A 27-year-old man was found to have a mediastinal tumour and the histological diagnosis was immature teratoma. Remission was achieved by chemotherapy and total resection. However, he developed anaemia and leukoerythroblastosis after 2 years of remission, and was referred to our hospital. Rhabdomyosarcoma cells were detected in the bone marrow and pleural effusion. Moreover, karyotype analysis of peripheral blood and bone marrow cells revealed mosaic-type Klinefelter syndrome. We diagnosed the case as transformation of teratoma into rhabdomyosarcoma in Klinefelter syndrome. Although intensive chemotherapy was performed, the patient died with meningeal infiltration.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aminopeptidase inhibitor ubenimex inhibits the growth of leukaemic cell lines and myeloma cells through its cytotoxicity.

We investigated the effect of ubenimex, which has been demonstrated to have immunomodulating activities, on the proliferation of human leukaemic cell lines (HL 60 and K 562, myelogenic lines, Jurkat, a T-cell line and RPMI 8226, a multiple myeloma cell line) and on human bone marrow mononuclear cells from haematopoietic malignancy patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or multiple myeloma. The growth of the myeloid cell lines and of a multiple myeloma cell line, but not the T-cell line, was significantly inhibited by cocultivation with ubenimex in a dose-dependent manner. The results of the experiment with haematopoietic malignancy cells showed inhibitory effects on tumour cells from patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia and multiple myeloma, but not on those from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. These findings suggest the usefulness of ubenimex for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Aminopeptidases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-pituitary antibody-induced multiple endocrine disorders in mice.

Circulating anti-pituitary antibodies (APAs) have been detected in patients with autoimmune diseases, although the role of autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases is still unclear. With the aim of elucidating the autoimmune mechanisms involved in patients with multiple endocrine disorders, we evaluated the pathological changes in the pituitary gland, thyroid, pancreas and adrenal gland of mice, both wild-type and using a murine model of autoimmune thyroid disease [MRL-lpr/lpr] that had been immunized with murine, rat, porcine or human pituitary glands. In four of seven mice, a 22 kD band corresponding to APA was detected by Western blotting in the serum from mice that had been immunized with human pituitary tissues but not in the serum from mice immunized with rat or pig tissue. Inflammatory changes were detected in all groups of mice, occurring in the hypophysis, pancreas and adrenal glands but not in the thyroid. In conclusion, APA-induced autoimmune endocrine disorders are likely to be important for studying the mechanisms involved in autoimmune syndromes.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The significance of measuring plasma leptin in acute myocardial infarction.

We measured leptin concentrations in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n = 21) and in 15 age-matched controls, and compared leptin concentrations with levels of other myocardial enzymes and indicators of AMI. Blood was sampled immediately after hospital admission and at 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 6 h and 9 h, then every 12 h until 5 days post-admission. Patients were stratified into three groups according to peak leptin concentrations: hypoleptinaemia (< 3 ng/ml); normoleptinaemia (> or = 3 - < 15 ng/ml) and hyperleptinaemia (> or = 15 ng/ml). Hypoleptinaemic AMI patients had significantly increased concentrations of plasma lactate dehydrogenase compared with normoleptinaemic patients. No significant differences in other serum markers were noted between hyperleptinaemic and normoleptinaemic AMI patients. A significant negative correlation was found between the peak concentrations of leptin and interleukin 6. Leptin may play a role in the regulation of the development of cardiac damage in patients with AMI.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of inhibitors of protein phosphatase 1 and 2A on erythroid colony formation: an investigation of the specificities of inhibitors.

To investigate the possible involvement of protein phosphatase (PP)1 and PP2A in the process of erythropoiesis, we assessed the effect of PP1 and PP2A inhibitors on erythroid colony formation using an in vitro colony formation assay. Okadaic acid (OKA), calyculin A (Cal-A) and tautomycin suppressed colony formation but 1-nor-okadaone did not. These results suggest that PP1 and PP2A both play an important role in erythropoiesis. Furthermore, higher concentrations of tautomycin were needed to suppress colony formation compared to concentrations of OKA and Cal-A. The target enzyme of inhibitors in erythropoiesis may be PP2A.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation between the depth of inverted T waves and the serum level of ferritin in a deferoxamine-treated patient with primary hemochromatosis and hyperthyroidism.

A 74-year-old female having primary hemochromatosis and hyperthyroidism is described. The initial ECG showed sinus rhythm, and depression of ST segment and inversion of T waves in I, II, III, aVF, and V4-6. By deferoxamine and propylthiouracil, the serum level of ferritin was decreased from 4,500 ng/ml to 440 ng/ml in a period of 6 months. The thyroid function was also returned to normal. After cessation of both drugs, the serum ferritin level increased gradually reaching a level of 3,100 ng/ml in the next 15 months but the thyroid function remained normal. During and after the deferoxamine administration, the depth of inverted T waves became more shallow and gradually deeper again, respectively. There seemed to be a correlation between the depth of inverted T waves and the serum level of ferritin. It was, however, unlikely that toxic iron may have induced the hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Electron microscopic analysis of myeloma cells in relation to drug response and prognosis.

Myeloma cells obtained from 33 patients were analyzed by electron microscopy to determine whether there is any correlation among ultrastructural characteristics of myeloma cells, drug response, and prognosis. The median survival time after diagnosis of responders (18 cases) and nonresponders (15 cases) was more than 423 days and 139 days, respectively. Nuclear immaturity and three cytoplasmic abnormalities--scattered pattern of mitochondria, single-sac looplike structures, and numerous intramitochondrial granules--were found to be associated with poor outcome. Although the cytoplasm of almost all the myeloma cells examined was judged to be mature or intermediate, the degree of nuclear immaturity was considered to correspond closely to the grade of nuclear-cytoplasmic asynchrony. Thus the electron microscopic examination of myeloma cells is of use to assess accurately their immaturity and abnormality and might provide clues for the prediction of drug response and prognosis of individual patients.

Female↗