The activities of four heme-biosynthetic enzymes, delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthase, ALA dehydratase, porphobilogen (PBG) deaminase, and ferrochelatase, were studied in five epithelial cell lines of normal rat liver origin (RL, RLC-10, RLC-24, M, Culb-TC) and five cell lines derived from Yoshida ascites hepatoma (JTC-1, JTC-2, JTC-15, JTC-16, JTC-24). The JTC series of hepatoma-derived cell lines exhibited decreased ALA synthase activity and increased ALA dehydratase activity, although the activities of all four enzymes and the Km values for their respective substrates varied widely from one cell line to another, a finding suggesting that specific regulatory mechanisms for porphyrin metabolism might operate in each cell type. M cells, which were transformed by 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in vitro, gave the most abnormal Km values of heme-biosynthetic enzymes among all the cell lines studies, and were found to accumulate hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD).

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A case of chronic epileptic encephalopathy of neonatal onset. A probable concern of human cytomegalovirus.

A 10-year-old male patient, who had suffered from intractable convulsions from the neonatal period, is presented. Serial brain images suggested slow, gradual destruction of neural elements. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA was detected in his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by means of the polymerase chain reaction. Intrathecal interferon had a favorable effect on his seizures. We assume a close relationship between HCMV and some chronic types of epileptic encephalitis/encephalopathy.

Cytomegalovirus↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Features and outcome of advanced neuroblastoma with distant lymph node metastasis.

We examined 52 children with advanced neuroblastoma who were diagnosed and treated during the past 7 years, and investigated the correlation between the degree of lymph node (LN) metastasis and the prognosis of neuroblastoma. In 8 of the 52 patients, distant LN metastasis was confirmed both radiographically and histologically. The urinary homovanillic acid (HVA) level was markedly elevated in these patients, and it was higher than that in patients with regional LN metastasis (p less than .05). The urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) level and the VMA/HVA ratio were not significantly different between patients with regional and distant LN metastasis. None of the four examined patients with distant LN metastasis showed N-myc amplification of neuroblastoma tumors. An analysis of the survival rate in each patient group classified according to the degree of LN metastasis showed that the prognosis of the patients without LN metastasis or with distant LN metastasis tended to be better than that of patients with regional LN metastasis. Our results indicate that patients with distant LN metastasis may belong to a subclass with different biological features and a better prognosis than those of other groups.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of treatments for liver abscess: significance of intra-arterial antibiotic injection therapy.

Various treatments were performed in 14 patients with liver abscess, and their clinical effects were compared. The treatments were intra-arterial antibiotic infusion therapy (Group A, 4 patients), intra-arterial infusion therapy plus percutaneous drainage of the abscess (Group B, 4 patients), and intravenous antibiotics alone (Group C, 6 patients). The period from the beginning of treatment to negative conversion of CRP* (period until cure) was compared among the groups. Groups A and B had received intravenous antibiotics for a mean of 10 days and 16 days, respectively, but the treatment was ineffective. The mean period until cure from the beginning of intra-arterial infusion therapy was 36 days for Group A and 18 days for Group B. In Group C, the mean period until cure was 28 days. All patients recovered, and recurrence was observed in only one patient. Although liver abscess can be treated successfully in many patients by intravenous antibiotics alone, intra-arterial therapy is effective in those in whom intravenous therapy is not effective.

Adult↗