[Cooperative study of intraarterial preventive chemotherapy after resection of hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer].

This is a compilation of the results of preventive intraarterial infusion following resection of hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer at four surgical centers. The cases studied included two groups: A) 76 patients who underwent normal liver resection only, and B) 78 patients who underwent resection with adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods included: 1) WHF, 50 cases; 2) other methods using 5-FU, 18 cases; and 3) intraarterial infusions other than 5-FU, 10 (2 cases, outcome unknown). Survival rates for groups A and B for 1 and 5 years were 71.2, 18.9% and 91.5, 56.2%, respectively, with the rates for the intraarterial infusion group showing far better results. The 1- and 5-year survival rates in terms of infusion methods were: 1) 90.7% and 64.6%; 2) 94.4% and 39.3%; and 3) 90% and 60%, respectively, showing no remarkable differences between methods. Total doses of 5-FU were (a) less than 5 g, 7 patients (b) 5-15 g, 16 patients (c) 15-30 g, 22 patients (d) greater than 30 g, 23 patients. A comparison of 1- and 5-year survival rates shows (a) 85.7% and 17.1%; (b) 66.5% and 44.3%; (c) 100% and 62.7%; (d) 100% and 66.5%, respectively, with doses (c) and (d) showing markedly better results than the (a) dosage. From this we conclude that the group undergoing intraarterial hepatic infusion had a markedly improved prognosis compared to the group not undergoing any type of adjuvant therapy. Also, groups receiving a dosage of 15 g or greater of 5-FU showed prolonged survival rates.

Complementary effects of bifidogenic growth stimulators and ammonium sulfate in natural rubber serum powder on Bifidobacterium bifidum.

Natural rubber serum powder, rich in crude protein and carbohydrates, had a strong growth-stimulating activity for Bifidobacterium bifidum JCM 1254, which was unable to grow in a fully synthetic medium, B12 assay medium. Natural rubber serum powder was fractionated by ultrafiltration (molecular weight cutoff 1000). The active ultrafiltrate was further concentrated and desalted with an adsorptive microconcentrator, which adsorbs virtually all amino acids and peptides. Through this purification step, it was found that the adsorbed fraction obtained did not stimulate growth independently but acted complementarily with a small amount of ammonium sulfate. The adsorbed fraction was subsequently analyzed on reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography, and the activities of the eluates were measured on B12 assay medium with ammonium sulfate. Consequently, it was proved that several peptidic ingredients in the adsorbed fraction increased the growth of B. bifidum.

Investigation of the utility of pineapple juice and pineapple waste material as low-cost substrate for ethanol fermentation by Zymomonas mobilis.

The utility of the juice of rotten or discarded pineapples and the waste material of the production of pineapple juice as low-cost substrates for ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis was investigated. Z. mobilis ATCC 10988 produced 59.0 g.l(-1) ethanol in undiluted pineapple juice without nutritional supplementation and without the regulation of the pH while 42.5 g.l(-1) ethanol was obtained using a 125 g.l(-1) sucrose medium supplemented with 10 g.l(-1) yeast extract and mineral salts. Ethanol fermentation using unhydrolyzed and enzymatically hydrolyzed pineapple waste material was also investigated under various culture conditions. When a 15% (v/v) dilution of unhydrolyzed waste material without nutritional supplementation was used, more than 3.5 g.l(-1) ethanol was produced. When the media containing 15, 30, and 40% (v/v) of the hydrolyzate consisting of a 60% (v/v) suspension of pineapple waste material were used, final concentrations of ethanol were 5.0 g.l(-1), 7.6 g.l(-1), and 9.3 g.l(-1), respectively. These results suggest that pineapple juice and the waste material can be useful low-cost substrates for ethanol production by Z. mobilis without supplementation with expensive organic nitrogen complexes such as yeast extract and without the regulation of the pH during cultivation, leading to the reduction in the production costs.

Lantibiotic nisin Z fermentative production by Lactococcus lactis IO-1: relationship between production of the lantibiotic and lactate and cell growth.

The influence of several parameters on the fermentative production of nisin Z by Lactococcus lactis IO-1 was studied. Considerable attention has been focused on the relationship between the primary metabolite production of bacteriocin and lactate and cell growth, which has so far not been clarified in detail. Production of nisin Z was optimal at 30 degrees C and in the pH range 5.0-5.5. The addition of Ca2+ to the medium showed a stimulating effect on the production of nisin Z. A maximum activity of 3150 IU/ml was obtained during pH-controlled batch fermentation in the medium supplemented with 0.1 M CaCl2. It was about three times higher than that obtained under the optimal conditions for cell growth and lactic acid production.

Natural rubber serum that contains a special growth promoter for Bifidobacterium.

Natural rubber serum (NRS), was found to have a remarkable growth-promoting effect on various kinds of microorganisms, in particular, anaerobes. NRS stimulated the growth of all the species of Bifidobacterium tried and synergism was noted between the effects of NRS and nutrients in media that contained yeast extract, meat extract, and the casein as nutrients.

Electroencephalographical study of the Rett syndrome with special reference to the monorhythmic theta activities in adult patients.

The long-term course of the EEG in the Rett syndrome is documented with reference to past studies. The monorhythmic theta activities in the waking state which were characteristically seen in adults with the Rett syndrome were investigated in patients aged between 27 and 28, using auto power spectra. They were often suppressed when the patients were excited or strained. Then the suppression was thought to elevate their conscious levels. The theta activities were often suppressed by calling, but not easily suppressed by other stimuli, especially the somatosensory stimuli of pain and touch. There were also abnormal findings in the ABR and blink reflexes. In the Rett syndrome we, therefore, suspect there are disturbances in the brain stem functions especially in the ascending reticular activating system which is related to elevation of the conscious level.