A synthetic ceramic probe allows a wider angle of irradiation and diffusion of low power energy, below 3W, using an interstitial technique for producing local hyperthermia of Nd: YAG laser (Laserthermia). We studied the influences of this laserthermia procedure in experimental animals and patients with head and neck cancer. The histological findings after laserthermia in the rabbit tongues showed no marked tissue damage in the heated area. Biochemical analysis of arachidonic acid cascade metabolites in these tissues revealed an immediate increase of 12-, 15- HETEs and PGE2 and 3 at days after hyperthermia, but at 8 days these metabolites returned to control levels. The effectiveness of laserthermia on human thyroid cancer implanted in nude mice was compared with that in cisplatin treatment and in combined therapy with both. The most predominant effectiveness was found in the animals receiving therapy combining cisplatin and laserthermia. Laserthermia in combination with radio-chemotherapy was applied in 21 cases with head and neck cancer. Good efficacy was obtained in 17 patients, especially in those with oropharyngeal cancer, showing CR in 4 cases and PR in 13 cases.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Effects of human atrial natriuretic polypeptide on pancreatic exocrine secretion in the dog.

We examined the effects of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (hANP) on exocrine function in the isolated and blood-perfused dog pancreas in situ. Intra-arterial injection of hANP (1-10 micrograms) resulted in the dose-dependent increases of the pancreatic juice secretion. The secretory activity of 3 micrograms of hANP was approximately equal to one third of the secretory activity of 0.1 units of secretin. The use of hANP increased the concentration of bicarbonate but not that of sodium and protein in the pancreatic juice as compared with the basal values. These secretory responses to hANP were not inhibited by treatment with haloperidol, sulpiride, phentolamine, propranolol, atropine, cimetidine or ethacrynic acid. These results suggest that hANP acts directly on the pancreatic exocrine gland to stimulate pancreatic secretion; without, however, increasing sodium excretion. The mechanism of this effect remains to be elucidated.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Complete nucleotide sequence of cDNA and predicted amino acid sequence of rat acyl-CoA oxidase.

cDNA clones for rat acyl-CoA oxidase were isolated. The 3.8-kilobase mRNA sequence of the enzyme was completely covered by two overlapping clones. The composite cDNA sequence consisted of 3741 bases and contained a 1983-base open reading frame which encodes a polypeptide of 661 amino acid residues. Two species of acyl-CoA oxidase cDNA were identified. They differed in their coding nucleotide sequences, only within a small region. They contained the same number of nucleotides and can be translated in a common reading frame. They are 55% and 50% homologous in the above region at the nucleotide and the amino acid levels, respectively. Both types of cDNA were isolated from a library constructed from mRNA of a single rat, thereby suggesting the occurrence of two species of acyl-CoA oxidase in each rat. The amino terminus of the enzyme was determined to be N-acetylmethionine, which corresponds to the initiator methionine, thus confirming the absence of a terminal presequence. We reported previously that a purified preparation of the enzyme contained three polypeptide components, A, B, and C, and suggested that components B and C are produced by a proteolytic cleavage of component A (Osumi, T., Hashimoto, T., and Ui, N. (1980) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 87, 1735-1746). We located components B and C on the amino- and the carboxyl-terminal sides of component A. Possible functional significances of several stretches of amino acids of the enzyme are discussed, based on the sequence comparison data between rat and yeast acyl-CoA oxidases.

Acyl-CoA Oxidase↗

PubMed1987

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. A variant characterized by the deficiency of pro alpha 2 chain of type I procollagen.

The clinical findings and biochemical studies are described for a 30-year-old man with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Type analysis of collagen produced by cultured fibroblasts revealed the lack of a detectable pro alpha 2 chain of type I procollagen. The intracellular degradation rate of newly synthesized collagen was higher than that of normal cells, resulting in the reduction of net collagen production. Clinical manifestations characterized by cardiovascular abnormalities due to decreased collagen deposition in the aortic valve and the wall of aorta, hypermobility of the joints, and hyperextensibility of the skin in this patient may be closely related to the observations described above.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Hypercalcemia of cancer in the digestive tract.

We made a retrospective review of the patients with cancer of the digestive organs who died between January 1, 1975 and December 31, 1985, at Shinshu University Hospital. Of 183 patients with such cancers 15 (8.2%) had hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia was defined as serum calcium level greater than 11.0 mg/dl on at least two determinations. The incidence of hypercalcemia by site was 5 of 74 (6.8%) liver, 1 of 16 (6.3%) biliary tract, 4 of 33 (12.1%) pancreas, 3 of 15 (20.0%) esophagus, 0 of 37 stomach, 0 of 2 duodenum, 2 of 5 colon, and 0 of 1 rectum carcinomas. There was no sexual or age predisposition to hypercalcemia. Bone scans and/or x-ray results were positive in three of eight, negative in five of eight, and were not evaluated in the remaining seven patients. Of five patients tested, four had low to normal serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, and one had a serum PTH level high by C-terminal assay but normal by N-terminal assay. Serum chloride levels at the late stage of hypercalcemia were less than 102 mEq/L in all patients. Therefore, hyperproduction of PTH was unlikely to be a causative factor for hypercalcemia. Indomethacin was given to four patients with hypercalcemia with no effect on serum calcium levels in any cases. Survival from the diagnosis of hypercalcemia ranged from 2 to 96 days (mean 33 days). We conclude that hypercalcemia is a complication not infrequent at the late stages of cancers of the digestive organs, with the exception of gastric cancer, and a portent of a poor prognosis.

Aged↗

PubMed1987

Possible infectious causes in 651 patients with acute viral hepatitis during a 10-year period (1976-1985).

Six hundred and fifty-one patients with acute viral hepatitis were identified serologically between January 1976 and December 1985. Of these, 109 (17%) had hepatitis A, 135 (21%) had hepatitis B, and 407 (62%) had hepatitis non-A, non-B. The possible infectious causes for acquisition of viral hepatitis occurring within 6 months before the onset of hepatitis were analysed. Approximately 80% of cases of hepatitis A and 70% of hepatitis B had no known risk factor, while in 67% of cases of hepatitis non-A, non-B possible risk factors for infection were documented. Infectious causes for hepatitis A were ingestion of raw shellfish (11%) and previous familial contact with patients with hepatitis A (10%). For hepatitis B, risk factors included medicare (24%), such as transfusion, surgical operation, accidental needle stick and acupuncture, and sexual contact (6%). For hepatitis non-A, non-B, the most important infectious cause was medical procedures (65%). The numbers of hospital employees were 2 (2%) with hepatitis A, 15 (11%) with hepatitis B and 14 (3%) with hepatitis non-A, non-B. These data suggest that hepatitis non-A, non-B can be a kind of nosocomial disease.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

PubMed1987

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy in two brothers.

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy has been reported rarely to develop in genetic association with certain HLA antigens. This paper describes two male siblings presenting with nephrotic syndrome with histologically proven membranous nephropathy. The younger brother maintained a normal renal function with slight proteinuria during the 3 years of follow-up, but the older one experienced a rapid decline in renal function and had to be put on maintenance hemodialysis. No clinical evidence of contributory underlying disease such as malignancy or systemic lupus erythematosus could be found. HLA typing was carried out in the two patients and in members of their family. Several HLA antigens were found to be shared by the two patients. However, the HLA antigens which have been reported to be associated with idiopathic membranous nephropathy were not found in either of them.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Familial dilated cardiomyopathy and human leucocyte antigen. A report of two family cases.

Two familial cases of dilated cardiomyopathy were evaluated by HL-A typing. In the case of the first family, the mode of inheritance is likely to be an autosomal dominant trait. Only the affected individuals carried the identical HL-A haplotype (A2, Bw54, Cw1, DR4, DQw3), while the unaffected members do not share this pattern. In the second family case, the disease is probably inherited by autosomal recessive traits. All of the family members examined shared the identical HL-A haplotype (A24, Bw52, DR2, DQw1), but only the affected individuals were homozygous for this haplotype.

Adult↗

PubMed1987