PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate hemodynamic changes in the hepatic artery after glucose ingestion. METHODS: We used color Doppler sonography to measure hemodynamic changes in the right hepatic artery and the right portal vein in response to glucose ingestion (225 ml, 300 kcal) in 25 healthy subjects and 25 patients with cirrhosis. RESULTS: In healthy subjects, the peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities in the right hepatic artery decreased (33 +/- 3% and 53 +/- 3%) from baseline velocities measured in the fasting state. The resistance index of the right hepatic artery and the velocity in the right portal vein in these subjects significantly (p < 0.01) increased (14 +/- 2% and 32 +/- 2%) from baseline values after glucose ingestion. Glucose ingestion produced significantly (p < 0.01) smaller changes in cirrhotic patients. The maximum decrease in the peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities in the right hepatic artery were 13 +/- 2% and 25 +/- 3% from baseline velocities, and the maximum increases in the resistance index of the right hepatic artery and the velocity in the right portal vein were 6 +/- 1% and 10 +/- 3% from baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in blood flow velocity in the right hepatic artery after glucose ingestion is presumably a homeostatic mechanism to maintain constant hepatic perfusion. This reciprocal response was reduced in cirrhotic patients.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Restoration by recombinant interferon alpha A/D of host defense systems against tumor in immunosuppressed mice.

Recombinant human interferon alpha A/D (alpha A/D) restored or augmented host defense systems against tumors in immunosuppressed mice. In normal C57BL/6 mice, inoculation of B16 melanoma F1 cells caused few pulmonary metastasis, whereas in mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide (CY) it caused a high incidence of pulmonary metastasis, leading to earlier death than in the normal mice inoculated with the same dose of the tumor. alpha A/D given after the CY treatment counteracted the deleterious effects of the CY treatment. Since such restorative activity was seen even against the subline of B16 F1 which had been made resistant to its direct antiproliferative effect, alpha A/D seems to exert its effect indirectly through host defense systems. However, this activity of alpha A/D in the mice pretreated with CY was abrogated by inoculation of anti-asialo GM1 serum but not by i-carrageenan. The CY treatment reduced NK activity, while alpha A/D given after the CY treatment restored or augmented the NK cell activity in lung cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but not in spleen cells. These findings suggest that the restoration or augmentation of NK activity in the lung and/or peripheral blood might be the major factor leading to the antimetastatic activity of alpha A/D in the mice treated with CY.

Animals↗

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Antitumor and antimetastatic activities of human recombinant interferon alpha A/D.

Human recombinant interferon alpha A/D (alpha A/D) was examined for its antitumor activity in several mouse tumor models using metastatic tumors, such as B16 melanoma F1, BL6 and F10, UV2237m fibrosarcoma, and K1735m melanoma. Therapeutic treatment with alpha A/D reduced the incidence of pulmonary metastasis and inhibited the tumor growth resulting in an increase of the mean survival time. Since alpha A/D also showed a prophylactic activity against the metastasis, its antitumor activity was suggested to be due to augmentation of the host defense systems. This was confirmed by the fact that alpha A/D inhibited the in vivo growth and incidence of pulmonary metastasis of B16 F1 sublines regardless of their sensitivity to the direct antiproliferative activity of the IFN in vitro.

Animals↗

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The effect of salazosulfapyridine on the in vitro antibody production in murine spleen cells.

The effect of salazosulfapyridine (SASP) on the antibody response of murine spleen cells in vitro was studied. SASP inhibited the response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), a T-cell-dependent (TD) antigen, dose-dependently and was most effective at a dose of 2 x 10(-4) M without cell toxicity. No remarkable inhibition was seen with the main metabolites of SASP, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and sulfapyridine (SP). SASP failed to inhibit antibody production to T-cell-independent antigens such as dinitrophenyl-Ficoll or trinitrophenyl (TNP)-lipopolysaccharides, although the response to TNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin, another TD antigen like SRBC, was inhibited. Further, this drug did not show any depression of the anti-SRBC plaque-forming cell (PFC) response in spleen cells treated with anti-Thy1.2 antibody plus complement. The inhibition of anti-SRBC PFC response by SASP was accompanied by a reduction of interleukin 2 (IL-2) secretion. Our results suggest that SASP may act on T cell populations and may inhibit the T-cell-dependent antibody response partly through a depression of IL-2 production. The active compound appears to be SASP itself, rather than its metabolites.

Animals↗

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The treatment with tranilast, a mast cell blocker, for idiopathic oligozoospermia.

Although many drug treatments have been reported to theoretically improve semen parameters in male infertility, a standard method has not been established. The authors examined whether tranilast, a mast cell blocker, improves fertility and/or semen parameters in severe oligozoospermia. Seventeen patients with a sperm density of less than 10 x 10(6) sperm/mL and their fertile partners were enrolled in this study. Patients were prescribed tranilast 300 mg/day for at least 12 weeks. Semen and blood samples were collected before and after the prescription of tranilast for 12 weeks. Semen parameters, serum gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, serum testosterone, and testicular size were evaluated. One patient complained of mild drowsiness during treatment. The sperm count was significantly increased after administration of tranilast in 7 patients (41.1%), although sperm motility was not altered. Semen volume and normal morphology were also unaltered. Three pregnancies were achieved. Endocrine profile and testicular size were unchanged. Tranilast, a mast cell blocker, is clinically useful for the treatment of severe idiopathic oligozoospermic men.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia with tranilast, a mast cell blocker, after long-term administration.

The authors retrospectively examined whether long-term administration of tranilast improves semen parameters in severe oligoasthenozoospermia. Fifty-two patients presenting with sperm concentration of less than 10 x 10(6) sperm/mL were enrolled. Subjects were partitioned into 3 groups as follows: patients displaying an atrophic testis with elevated (FSH) (group 1), patients exhibiting normal testicular volume with elevated FSH (group 2), and patients with normal testicular volume and normal FSH levels (group 3). Tranilast (300mg/day) was administered until pregnancy was achieved or for a period of up to 12 months. Sperm concentration was significantly increased at 3 months in 16 subjects (44%) in groups 1 and 3. In group 2, sperm concentration was increased at 12 months (5 of 16 subjects; 31%). Total sperm count was obviously elevated at 3 months in groups 1 and 2, and at 6 months in group 3. Six pregnancies were achieved via natural intercourse. Tranilast, a mast cell blocker, demonstrates a certain clinical benefit in terms of improvement of semen parameters involving severe oligoasthenozoospermia, but it does not appear to afford clinical benefit in long-term administration.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Holmium laser incision technique for ureteral stricture using a small-caliber ureteroscope.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The holmium laser has a short absorption depth in tissue and possesses excellent properties both in ablation and hemostasis. We have performed endoscopic incision for ureteral stricture using the holmium laser through a small-caliber ureteroscope. METHODS: This method was used on five patients and seven ureters. The etiology of the stricture was stone scar in two patients, ureteroenteroanastomosis of Indiana urinary pouch in two, and primary in one. We used an 8F semi-rigid or 6.9F flexible ureteroscope. No prior procedures, such as balloon dilation, were necessary in any of the cases. The stricture was incised with the holmium laser using a 365-microm fiber through the working channel of the ureteroscope. The holmium laser operated at a wavelength of 2100 nm, with an output of 1.0 J/pulse at a rate of 10 Hz. After completion of the incision, a 12F Double-J catheter was left in for six weeks. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 89 minutes. The stricture resolved completely in all cases at an average follow-up of 8.6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The holmium laser incision for ureteral stricture using a small-caliber ureteroscope is an easy-to-perform, safe and effective procedure.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pulmonary dirofilariasis cytologically mimicking lung cancer. A case report.

A case report on a 64-year-old male with pulmonary dirofilariasis cytologically mimicking lung cancer is presented. By transbronchial brushing cytology, several suspect cells with a papillary arrangement showing a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, irregularity of nuclear shape, nuclear enlargement and a macronucleolus were obtained. These cells seemed to originate in the reparative process of the bronchiolar epithelium around the infarcted lesion containing Dirofilaria immitis.

Cytodiagnosis↗