Acta Medica Okayama volume43 issue4

Changes in the hemodynamics of six patients having received Fontan-like operations were closely observed during the first 48 h after the operation. Catheterization studies and simultaneous angiocardiography were also performed before and after the operation. Hemodynamic derangement was particularly severe during the first 24 h postoperatively as indicated by a low cardiac output of less than 2.01/min/m2, which persisted in spite of very high central venous pressure. Furthermore, the central venous pressure needed to re-establish the circulation soon after the Fontan procedure significantly correlated with the angiocardiographically assessed preoperative size of distal pulmonary arteries. Accordingly, the preoperative evaluation of the distal pulmonary arterial size is very important, that provides a good guide-line for the degree of circulatory volume expansion necessary to elevate the central venous pressure and to sustain the circulation in the early postoperative period.

The effects of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the organization of cytoskeleton and growth of normal and established chick embryo cells (CEC) were studied. The cytoskeleton of normal CEC formed stress fibers, while that of the CEC lines established in our laboratory formed no stress fibers. TPA treatment of normal CEC resulted in disorganization of the stress fibers into amorphous structure, while that of the established CEC lines induced no reorganization of the cytoskeleton. TPA had no promotional effect in vitro or in vivo on tumor growth in normal or the established CEC.

Non-radioactive hybridization probes were prepared using the M13 phage vector and the universal sequencing primer. The probe sequence to be used was first cloned into the M13 vector, and the minus strand of the template DNA was then synthesized with the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I in the presence of the biotinylated nucleotide, biotin-11-dUTP, as a label. Resultant DNA was heavily biotinylated, and made up of the entire minus strand of the template DNA. The long tag sequence derived from the M13 vector may increase the sensitivity of the detection. The biotinylated hybrids were visualized with the streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate and chromogenic substrates. As shown by Southern hybridization, the probe prepared in this way could be used to detect less than 1 pg of target sequence and a single copy gene sequence in human genomic DNA within several hours of signal development.

Dynamic ergometer exercise in a supine position was applied to 64 patients more than 1 year after valvular heart surgery, and the left ventricular reserve was evaluated echocardiographically. The left ventricular reserve declined in the mitral stenosis-mitral valve replacement group, while it was better maintained in the mitral stenosis-mitral commissurotomy, aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis groups. The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on whether the percentage increase during exercise of stroke index, an index of left ventricular pump function, increased, unchanged, or decreased. The percentage increase of mean velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (y) and that of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (x) during exercise were plotted for each group. The increased group was isolated from the unchanged group by the line of y = -5.02x + 30.1; the unchanged group was isolated from the decreased group by that of y = -5.68x-10.0, and the increased and unchanged groups were clearly isolated from the decreased group by that of y = -6.86x-4.76. We conclude that dynamic ergometer exercise echocardiography is useful for evaluating the left ventricular reserve of postoperative patients with valvular heart disease. It was also thought that the subclinical state of cardiac failure can be effectively detected by the present method.</P>

We studied the in vivo antitumor effects of natural human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (nHuTNF-alpha) and natural human interferon-alpha (nHuIFN-alpha), both of which were produced by HVJ (hemagglutinating virus of Japan)-stimulated acute lymphatic B cell leukemia line, BALL-1 cells. To clarify the interaction between nHuTNF-alpha and nHuIFN-alpha, we used novel experimental models of lung metastasis and intraabdominal carcinomatosis which we developed in nude mice using a human tumor line, RPMI 4788. While the intravenous administration of nHuTNF-alpha or nHuIFN-alpha alone inhibited lung metastasis, the two cytokines given in combination synergistically inhibited lung metastasis. In a comparative study, nHuTNF-alpha and recombinant human interferon-gamma (rHuIFN-gamma) in combination also synergistically inhibited lung metastasis. Treatment with nHuTNF-alpha and nHuIFN-alpha combined significantly prolonged the survival of nude mice with intraabdominal carcinomatosis. Complete regression of five different human tumor xenografts was achieved by the simultaneous intratumoral injection of nHuTNF-alpha and nHuIFN-alpha. Histological examination revealed that tumor cell lysis occurred 24 h after the intratumoral administration of the cytokines. No significant signs of toxicity to nude mice were observed at any dose tested. The synergism of nHuTNF-alpha and nHuIFN-alpha may allow treatment at a relatively low dose range, thus minimizing side effects. The wide range of anticancer activity of these agents may provide better therapeutic efficacy. The in vivo assay systems which we have developed are useful for the analysis of the biological activities and interactions of cytokines and chemotherapeutic drugs.

In the human lymphoreticular system, the alpha and beta subunits of S-100 protein are found in ordinary monocyte-macrophages and non-phagocytic histiocytes such as Langerhans cells and interdigitating reticulum cells, respectively. The beta subunit is also present in some CD8+ T cells. In the present study, we investigated the ontogeny of these histiocytes and lymphocytes in humans. Yolk sacs and 4 to 21-week fetuses were examined immunohistochemically for the presence of S-100 protein subunits using antisera monospecific to each subunit. S-100 alpha + macrophages were present in the yolk sacs and the hepatic sinusoids of the 4th week embryos prior to bone marrow hematopoiesis. These macrophages later appeared in other lymphoid organs when anlagen of these organs were formed. No S-100 beta + cells were found in the yolk sacs. S-100 beta+ histiocytes were first detected in the hepatic sinusoids of the 5th week embryo, and after the 8th week of gestation, they were distributed in other lymphoid organs. S-100 beta+ lymphocytes were not found in the liver. They were first detected in the thymus at the 12th week of gestation, and were subsequently distributed in other lymphoid organs. These results suggest that S-100 beta+ lymphocytes and histiocytes may belong to different cell lineages, and the former may not be the precursor of the latter.

Isozyme patterns of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in human cell lines derived from primary hepatomas were compared with those in HeLa cells. Some cell lines derived from primary hepatomas having type B G6PD showed one or two isozymes of LDH. On the other hand, HeLa cells having type A G6PD showed four LDH isozymes. These findings suggest that not only G6PD, but also LDH may be useful for the detection of HeLa cell contamination of a culture in some cases.

Markers of hepatitis A and B virus were tested in 88 adult Sudanese subjects in Khartoum, Sudan. The subjects consisted of 25 control hospitalized patients, 21 volunteer blood donors, 23 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, 13 patients with liver cirrhosis and 6 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Antibody to hepatitis A virus was detected in 96% of the total. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was positive in 4, 24, 22, 31, and 67% of the subject groups, respectively. Antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAb) of undiluted serum was positive in 60, 57, 65, 77 and 83%, and there was no difference in incidence among the groups. It was positive in 200X diluted serum in 4, 24, 17, 23 and 60%. HBsAg and HBcAb (200X) were detected more often in HCC patients than in the control subjects (p less than 0.01). Hepatitis B virus is an important factor in the etiology of HCC in the Sudan.