A homozygous gene deletion at the GST1 locus of genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood was investigated for its relationship with several types of cancer using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. DNA samples were prepared from blood obtained from 128 healthy blood donors and 150 patients with cancer or chronic hepatitis. PCR primers were prepared based on the human cDNA sequence and the intron/exon sequences of the rat Yb2 gene. The amplified sequence between exons 5 and 6 including intron 5 showed very clearly the presence of absence of the GST1 gene, after electrophoresis in a 2% agarose gel. Segregation of the presence and absence of PCR product from samples of twins and their parents indicated that presence involves homozygous or heterozygous normal GST1 genotypes while absence involves only homozygous gene deletion. The patients with stomach cancer had a significantly higher frequency of gene deletion than did the healthy controls (P < 0.005). Thus, GST1 deletion may be a possible genetic marker for early detection of a group at high risk of stomach cancer.

Asian People↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Capillary column pyrolysis-gas chromatography of hair: a short study in personal identification.

Human head hairs from 18 individuals were analysed by capillary column pyrolysis-gas chromatography (PyGC). The pyrograms showed several components, three of which were found to differ significantly among individuals. These major components were identified as benzene, toluene and styrene by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. As the result of capillary column PyGC of 18 amino acids, it was found that differences among the individuals were due to the different amounts of particular amino acids in the hair. The quantities of the components were, further, found not to change in 18 months.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Urinary ortho-cresol concentrations as an indicator of toluene inhalation in glue-sniffers.

In a Japanese study of glue-sniffers, urinary ortho-cresol and expired air toluene concentrations were determined by gas chromatography, and urinary hippuric acid concentrations by high performance liquid chromatography. There were significant differences among three sample groups (30 male "glue-sniffers", 13 "non-glue-sniffers" and 32 industrial workers) in their expired air toluene, urinary hippuric acid and ortho-cresol concentrations. Moreover, there was a better correlation between expired air toluene and urinary ortho-cresol concentrations than between toluene and urinary ortho-cresol concentrations than between toluene and hippuric acid. These results suggest that urinary ortho-cresol is a good indicator of toluene inhalation in glue-sniffers.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in caffeine, lidocaine and trimethadione metabolism in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rats as assessed by a "cocktail" study.

We investigated the possibility of predicting liver damage from changes in the serum concentrations of caffeine (10 mg/kg), lidocaine (4 mg/kg) and trimethadione (4 mg/kg), which are metabolized catalysed by different cytochrome P450 (P450) and/or are dependent on blood flow, in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4: 0.25 ml/kg)-induced liver injury using a strategy referred to as a "cocktail" study. These 3 probe drugs were simultaneously administered intravenously. The half-lives (t1/2) of caffeine, lidocaine and trimethadione were significantly longer in the CCl4-treated group than in oil-treated controls, but no significant differences were observed in mean apparent volumes of distribution (Vd). Serum total body clearance (CL) values of all three drugs were markedly reduced in CCl4-treated animals. In rats with liver damage, the production of 3 metabolites (theobromine, paraxanthine and theophylline) of caffeine in addition to the only metabolite (dimethadione) of trimethadione after intravenous administration of probe drugs were significantly reduced compared to those of controls. These findings suggest that each probe drug, metabolized by different or partially overlapping P450, is useful in evaluating drug-oxidizing capacity in liver disease.

Alanine Transaminase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of an adult with tumors in liver and spleen.

We describe a 58-year-old male with multiple histiocytic tumors in the liver and spleen. Multiple tumors in the liver and spleen were seen by image analysis, and splenectomy showed a large splenic tumor with a small nodule and a swelling lymph node in the hilus. Histological features of the tumors in the liver and spleen revealed proliferation of histiocytic cells with large and clear cytoplasm and a horseshoe-shaped nucleus. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of S-100 protein and CD1a antigen in the tumor cells, and neither lymphocytic marker nor lysozyme was detected. No definite Birbeck granules were seen ultrastructurally, thus the tumor cells could be classified into Langerhans cell type without Birbeck granules. Administration of adriamycin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and prednisolone reduced size and number of the liver tumors, and the histiocytic cells could not be detected in repeatedly biopsied tissue from liver tumor. We present the clinical, immunohistological and cytological features in a visceral type of adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which responded well to chemotherapy.

Antigens, CD1↗