Electrical response to excitable internodal cell of Nitella was studied by applying various kinds of odorants to the cell. Changes in membrane potential and resistance during responses induced by odorants were measured intracellularly under a variety of ionic environments in the media. Results were: 1) Some odorants (coumarin, isoamylacetate, methylacetate, 1-octanol, 1-butanol, 1-propanol) produced an all-or-nothing type action potential when the concentration of odorant exceeded a certain threshold. The action potential was followed by a gradual depolarization of the potential whose amplitude depended on the odorant concentration, C. Other odorants (heptanoic acid, beta-ionon) induced gradual depolarization of the membrane potential without evoking an action potential. 2) Membrane resistance Rm changed in various ways during depolarization: some odorants led to a temporal or gradual decrease in Rm, and others caused an increase in Rm when the membrane potential was depolarized by the application of odorants. 3) Magnitude of response to odorants OR was found to be represented by the following equation: OR =(alpha + beta square root I) log (C/Cth) for C greater than or equal to Cth where alpha and beta are constants for a given odorant, I the ionic strength in the medium, and Cth the threshold concentration of the odorant. 4) Plots of olfactory threshold of human and of internodal cell of Nitella gave a straight line having slope unity. 5) Local application of odorants on the internodal cell induced impulses which transmitted from the part treated by odorants to the other portion. Physico-chemical and physiological implications of the results obtained were discussed.

1-Propanol↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of ATP in the sensitivity to heat and the induction of apoptosis in mammalian cells.

Heat-induced cell death and apoptosis were studied with respect to intracellular ATP. Studies on the relationship between hyperthermic cell-killing at 44 degrees C and cellular ATP levels in four cell lines grown as monolayers and six cell lines grown in suspension showed good correlations between cellular ATP levels and the sensitivity to heat. D(0) values (the dose required to reduce survival in the linear portion of the response by 63%) linearly increased with an increase in cellular ATP levels. No such changes in sensitivity to heat were observed between the cells cultured at different cell densities, regardless of the change in the cellular ATP level. These results suggest that cellular intrinsic ability to supply ATP rather than the level of pooled ATP per se is responsible for the thermal response. Heat-induced apoptosis in L5178Y cells was observed following treatment at 42 degrees C for 70 min, 44 degrees C for 20 min or 47 degrees C for 3 min, which corresponded to surviving fractions of 25, 0.6 and 0.8%, respectively, but not at 47 degrees C for 20 min, indicating that mild heat shock induced apoptosis. 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) increased the sensitivity to heat and affected the mode of cell death. Cells treated with 2DG and DNP (2DG/DNP) were heated at 42 degrees C for 20 min, and then incubated at 37 degrees C for up to 2h in the presence or absence of 2DG/DNP. In the absence of 2DG/DNP, the cellular ATP level recovered to 76% of the control level and DNA ladder formation was observed, whereas in the presence of 2DG/DNP, the cellular ATP level was further decreased (3-7% of the control) and no DNA fragmentation was detected. These results suggest that the inhibition of ATP synthesis is closely associated with the enhancement of sensitivity to heat and that ATP is required for the induction of apoptosis.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of (+)- and (-)-bromoisovalerylurea in sera of overdosed subjects.

Bromoisovalerylurea (bromisovalum) is a sedative-hypnotic given orally as a racemic mixture of optical isomers (i.e., (+)- and (-)-enantiomer) and frequently taken in overdose in order to commit suicide. Sera from 16 overdosed subjects were analyzed for each enantiomer by high-performance liquid chromatography on chiral stationary phases. The (+)-enantiomer concentration was lower than the (-)-enantiomer concentration in all specimens, that is, the ratio of the (+)-enantiomer to the total concentration ranged from about 50% to 0%. The ratio of the (+)-enantiomer was continuously decreasing in each subject. The data indicate that the drug in gastrointestinal tract was absorbed into blood nonstereoselectively and that the drug in blood was eliminated stereoselectively. The enantioselective determination of this drug will give useful information on absorption and elimination.

Bromisovalum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Papillary adenocarcinoma of the epididymis.

An 82 year old man with a unilateral epididymal mass was found, on histopathologic examination of a surgically removed specimen, to have a primary papillary adenocarcinoma of a clear cell variant which mimicked renal cell carcinoma. Repeated imaging studies confirmed the absence of renal cell carcinoma. Because the present case had great similarities in histologic appearance and anatomical location to papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis, it may be a malignant counterpart of the latter type of tumor.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Carcinoma of the gall-bladder arising in adenomyomatosis.

We describe a case of well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gall-bladder that arose from a localized type of adenomyomatosis. Grossly, the cancer was located in the fundus and exhibited a polypoid and well demarcated nodule with multiple small cysts. Histologically, the nodule consisted of glandular structures and stroma containing bundles of smooth muscle cells. The glandular epithelia were varied in appearance, ranging from malignant to benign glands. The adenocarcinoma was limited to the nodule, with normal surface mucosal epithelia and without obvious stromal invasion.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of pertussis toxin on signal transductions via P2-purinergic receptors in A-431 human epidermoidal carcinoma cells.

In A-431 cells, stimulation of P2-purinergic receptors with extracellular ATP caused production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3), followed by mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores; Ca2+ influx from the extracellular fluid and breakdown of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) also accompanied this InsP3/Ca2+ signalling. When A-431 cells were pretreated with pertussis toxin (PTX), production of InsP3 and elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ were strongly inhibited. PTX also inhibited the Ca2+ influx, but the effect was much weaker than that for InsP3/Ca2+ elevation. No inhibitory effect was observed in ATP-stimulated PtdCho breakdown. These results suggest that there is a system(s) which mediates the functions of P2-purinergic receptors in addition to PTX-sensitive G-proteins.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pancreas-sparing duodenectomy: classification, indication and procedures.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent advances in the surgical anatomy of the pancreatoduodenal region have permitted duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection. However, pancreas-sparing duodenectomy (PSD) has not been systematically studied and various types of such procedures have been reported under the designation of PSD. METHODOLOGY: PSD was performed in 6 patients with extensive duodenal lesions including trauma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, corrosive necrosis, bleeding, leiomyosarcoma and congenital stenosis. Three patients had the whole papilla Vateri and half of the duodenum preserved and anastomosed to the jejunum. One patient had the duodenal button including the papilla of Vater transplanted to the jejunum. Another patient had the intraduodenal portion of the major papilla excised and the terminal portion of the bile and pancreatic ducts anastomosed to the jejunum. RESULTS: Two patients with moribund conditions died of the underlying disorders 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery, respectively, but without leakage or other surgery-associated complications. The other 4 patients survived the surgery without anastomotic insufficiency. Three survivors, who had complete preservation of the major and minor papillae along with the half portion of the duodenum, had normal morphology and function of the biliopancreatic system post-operatively. The fourth survivor, that with excision of the intrapancreatic portion of the major papilla, had regurgitation of contrast material into the bile and pancreatic ducts 2 months after surgery on active insufflation of the intestinal lumen, but remained asymptomatic. No abnormality in liver and pancreatic function was detected as of 7 months post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: PSD appears to be applicable in the clinical setting, although classification of the procedure seems mandatory in consideration of indications, techniques, and long-term consequences of biliopancreatic function.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biliopancreatic fistula associated with intraductal papillary-mucinous pancreatic cancer: institutional experience and review of the literature.

Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumour is clinicopathologically characterized by papillary growth and mucin production within the pancreatic duct system. The category includes a wide range of dysplasia, ranging from adenoma to carcinoma, the latter designated as intraductal papillary-mucinous cancer. In general, the tumor renders a favorable prognosis after complete resection. However, intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor with overt invasion outside the gland has been reported to have a poor prognosis, as is the case with the usual type of duct cell cancer of the pancreas. We experienced two cases of intraductal papillary-mucinous cancer with obstructive jaundice due to impaction of thick mucus protruding from the pancreas via a "spontaneous" biliopancreatic fistula. Preoperative examinations of both patients showed a large intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor in the head of the pancreas with fistula formation between the intrapancreatic portion of the common bile duct and the main pancreatic duct. Histopathological investigation of the two resected specimens suggested that the fistula may not have developed from invasion by papillary or tubular adenocarcinoma, but from compression and destruction of the intercalating tissues by abundant mucinous secretion. The first patient died of peritoneal carcinomatosis with clinicopathologic features of pseudomyxoma peritonei 6 years after surgery. The second patient is alive and has been well for 2 years postoperatively. Review of the world literature showed that half of the patients with intraductal papillary-mucinous cancer plus biliopancreatic fistula had no stromal invasion around the fistula, indicating that the fistula might have been caused by mechanical pressure. However, the other half of the cases did have stromal invasion around the fistula. Two-thirds of these cases, including our own patients, had foci of mucinous carcinoma in the stroma around the fistulization, implying that mucinous lakes in the stroma may have served as part of the "waterway" from the pancreatic duct to the bile duct, assisted by increased pressure by mucus production. Since intraductal papillary-mucinous cancer with biliopancreatic fistula has a comparatively favorable prognosis, surgical resection should be considered.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term survival after surgical resection for pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most formidable tumors defying early detection and effective treatment. Long-term survivors, however, do exist after resection. We investigated the clinicopathologic features of patients with pancreatic cancer who survived more than 5 years to draw out some suggestions concerning the indication of surgical treatment. METHODOLOGY: We studied the clinicopathologic features of 13 patients with pancreatic cancer who survived more than 5 years after resection. We reviewed their clinical records to investigate preoperative symptoms, serum tumor markers, operative findings, postoperative adjuvant therapy, and modes of recurrence and survival periods. Information on the location, size, histology and spread of the primary tumors were mainly obtained from pathology reports. RESULTS: Histologic types of the long survivors included ductal adenocarcinoma of common type in 4 patients, mucinous noncystic adenocarcinoma in 2, intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma (invasive) in 4, undifferentiated carcinoma in 1, endocrine tumor (islet cell carcinoma) in 1 and acinar cell carcinoma in 1. All 4 cases of ductal adenocarcinoma of the common type showed a moderate invasion either to the retroperitoneum, the portal vein or the duodenum. Two patients with mucinous noncystic carcinoma attained a long survival despite extensive invasion of the pancreatic stroma, although one died of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Two of 4 patients with intraductal papillary-mucinous cancer (invasive) died of peritoneal dissemination 6 and 11 years after resection, respectively. Three patients with cancer of other special histologic types, i.e., undifferentiated, well-differentiated endocrine carcinoma and acinar cell carcinoma, showed invasion of the portal vein and splenic artery, involvement of the retroperitoneum and a metastatic tumor in the liver, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas special histologic types including ductal variants tended to predispose to long-term survival, ductal adenocarcinoma of the common type had some chance of long survival even with invasion of the surrounding tissues.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗