On the basis of the heparin-like effect of phosphotungstate (PTA), we have shown that it is useful for the purification of hepatitis-B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) using heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. HBsAg was eluted with 0.2-0.6 M NaCl. HBsAg was also eluted with PTA at approximately 1 mM, and the HBsAg fraction thus obtained contained fewer impurities than the corresponding fraction eluted with NaCl. Moreover, PTA yielded HBsAg and hepatitis-B virus e-antigen simultaneously. PTA may specifically reduce the affinity of HBsAg for heparin as well as simply competing with heparin for an anion-binding site of HBsAg. Residual PTA in the eluate was easily decomposed by alkalization, which was useful for subsequent studies.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Secretion of plasminogen activator in response to follicle-stimulating hormone in culture medium of human testicular cells from biopsy specimens.

Testicular cells from human biopsy specimens were cultured and plasminogen activator secreted into the medium was investigated. Follicle stimulating hormone stimulated plasminogen activator secretion. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by zymography showed that the molecular weight of plasminogen activator produced by human testicular cells is the same as that of human urokinase. Antigenicity was also found to be of the urokinase type but not of the tissue type.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enhancement of biliary carcinogenesis in hamsters by cholecystokinin.

We recently developed a new model for rapid and reproducible induction of biliary carcinoma in hamsters. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of cholecystokinin (CCK), which has a trophic action on the gastrointestinal tract and on the pancreaticobiliary system, on biliary carcinogenesis in this hamster model. Hamsters treated with N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine (BOP) were divided into four groups: In Group I, hydrolyzed gelatin, a solvent of CCK, was injected subcutaneously. In Groups II and III, CCK 2.5 and 25 microgram/kg were administered, respectively. In Group IV loxiglumide, a CCK receptor antagonist, was administered. CCK significantly promoted the carcinogenetic effect of BOP in the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts but not in the gallbladder or pancreas. Loxiglumide exerted an inhibitory effect on carcinogenesis in the intrahepatic bile duct.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Experience of laparoscopic management in 100 patients with acute abdomen.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The decision to operate on a patient with acute abdominal pain comes to the mind of the surgeon if routine investigations fail to identify the cause. A negative laparotomy may have complications, while laparoscopy appears to be a valuable way to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of acute abdominal pain and offers a promising modality of treatment. METHODOLOGY: The study included 100 patients with provisional diagnosis of acute abdomen after clinical examination and conventional diagnostic aids. All the patients have been subjected to diagnostic laparoscopy. RESULTS: Eight cases (8%) were managed by laparotomy following diagnosis by laparoscope (disturbed ectopic pregnancy), while 92 cases (92%) were managed laparoscopically which resulted in 81 cases (81%) of successful laparoscopic procedure (31 appendectomies, 19 cholecystectomies, 12 ovarian cyst accident, and others) and 11 cases (11%) were converted to open surgery (4 gallbladder empyema, 2 appendicular mass, 2 intestinal obstruction, and others). Postoperative complications were two cases of wound infection managed conservatively (perforated appendix). The postoperative follow-up for six months was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic management of acute abdomen is a safe and effective method with the advantages of small scar, short hospital stay and early recovery.

Abdomen, Acute↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation between the sperm motility and the adenylate cyclase activity in infertile men.

The relationship between the sperm motility and the adenylate cyclase activity in spermatozoa from patients with male infertility was investigated. Cyclic AMP contents were measured from 34 semen specimens and adenylate cyclase activity were assayed from 50 specimens. All semen specimens were collected from infertile men at our clinic by masturbation after 5 days sexual abstinence. Spermatozoa were washed and concentrated according to the method described by Harrison. The cAMP contents and the adenylate cyclase activity of spermatozoa were determined by radioimmunoassay. Positive correlations were found among the cAMP contents, the adenylate cyclase activity in human spermatozoa and the sperm motility. This result suggests that the sperm motility is regulated by the adenylate cyclase activity via cAMP and that poor sperm motility observed in infertile men is partially caused by the impairment of adenylate cyclase system.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Apropos of the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis. Morphological changes in nerve fibers of the bronchial wall in bronchiectasis].

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Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cytodiagnostic clues to primary retinoblastoma based on cytologic and histologic correlates of 39 enucleated eyes.

In 39 cases undergoing ocular enucleation, cytologic characteristics of primary intraocular retinoblastomas were examined in relation to histologic findings. Retinoblastoma cells occurred singly or in clusters within the associated necrotic debris. Calcific deposits were present in both cytologic and histologic specimens. Portions of capillaries with perivascular tumor infiltrates were identified as pseudorosettes. Wright rosettes were occasionally seen in poorly differentiated retinoblastomas. Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes were uncommon; however, "mirror ball-like" clusters in cytologic materials correlated well with the rosettes and were a diagnostic clue. Cytomorphologically, the tumor cells could be divided into two types that reflected their histologic grading of differentiation. These findings are cytodiagnostic clues to the presence of retinoblastomas and can be helpful in the cytologic diagnosis.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Multivariate statistical analysis of bile cytology.

Cytologic features predictive of carcinoma in bile fluid were characterized by a review of 35 cases (22 malignant and 13 benign). Thirty-two cytologic variables were subjected to a stepwise multiple regression model to separate the criteria best suited to the benign versus malignant groups. Six key criteria were selected as useful indicators of malignancy: loss of honeycomb arrangement, enlarged nuclei, loss of polarity, bloody background, flat nuclei and cell-in-cell arrangement. Three or more of these criteria were observed in carcinoma cases more often than they were in noncancer cases (P < .01). By using these criteria, the overall sensitivity of diagnosing carcinoma by bile cytology was 86.4%, and the specificity was 76.9%.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MR findings of surgically retained sponges and towels: report of two cases.

MR findings of surgically retained sponges (gossypiboma) in two patients are reported. The sponges were well-encapsulated round masses with a thick wall of low signal intensity on both T1-weighted images (T1WI) and T2-weighted images (T2WI). The signal intensity of the center of the masses varied in both patients on T1WI and T2WI. In one patient, the mass was high in signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images and had a low signal intensity whirl that represented a surgical sponge. The sponge was rich in serosanguinous fluid with a high protein concentration (8.2 g/dl). In the other patient, the mass was low in signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images, and was mainly composed of organized cotton matrix with little fluid. The protein concentration of the fluid was lower than in the former case (6.4 g/dl).

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnosis and management of heterotopic pancreas.

Fifteen patients with 16 histologically verified heterotopic pancreas lesions were encountered at our department during a period of 22 years. The incidence was 0.25% of the findings of all abdominal operations during the same period. Heterotopic pancreas caused symptoms in 5 patients. All the remaining 10 patients were asymptomatic, whose lesions were found coincidentally at the time of surgery for other abdominal diseases. Heterotopic pancreas developed most frequently in the jejunum (46.7%). Preoperatively, only 2 lesions of the stomach in 2 patients were suspected to be heterotopic pancreas. At the time of operation, 10 of 16 lesions were diagnosed correctly on the basis of the macroscopic features. Malignant degeneration was seen in the duodenal and jejunal heterotopic pancreas. The former lesion was successfully resected by pancreatoduodenectomy. There were no deaths related to heterotopic pancreas or to the operations performed. Resection of the tissue-bearing area is advisable when the condition is encountered coincidentally at operation, and surgical exploration should be done for all symptomatic patients, particularly in the absence of histological diagnosis.

Choristoma↗