Dentin resorption and cementum-like tissue formation by bone morphogenetic protein application.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown that bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) stimulates mineralization and osteoclast differentiation. Osteoclastic resorption by BMP-2 application may play an important role in the regulation of new cementum-like tissue formation on the dentin surfaces. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of BMP-2 application on dentin resorption and cementum-like tissue formation at the dentin surfaces. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-two flat dentin blocks were prepared from rat roots and treated with 24% EDTA. Each block was assigned to group 0, group 100, or group 400, and immersed correspondingly in 0, 100, or 400 microg/ml BMP-2. The dentin blocks were then implanted into palatal connective tissue of rats, and specimens were prepared 2, 4 and 8 wk after surgery for histologic and histomorphometric analyses. RESULTS: BMP-2 caused a dose-dependent increase in dentin resorption by osteoclastic cells. New cementum-like tissue was randomly formed on parts of the nonresorbed and resorbed dentin surfaces in groups 100 and 400. Dentin resorption in groups 100 and 400 was significantly greater than group 0 (p < 0.01). However, at 8 wk, new cementum-like tissue formed in 41.8% of group 100, as compared with 16.2% of group 400 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dentin resorption was stimulated by a high dose of BMP-2, and cementum-like tissue was induced by a low dose of BMP-2, effectively suggesting that BMP-2 application, at an appropriate dose, to a dentin surface may enhance periodontal regeneration.

Successful hyperbaric oxygen treatment of life-threatening hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a major cause of morbidity after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Many therapies have been investigated to prevent or treat HC, but effective treatment for HC is still limited. While the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been established for HC due to chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, its role in HC occurring after allogeneic BMT has yet to be defined. We report two cases of life-threatening late-onset HC after allogeneic BMT in children, which resolved after treatment with hyperbaric oxygen.

Lesions in lateral hypothalamic areas increase splenocyte apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: The lateral hypothalamic area (LHa) is involved in various functions such as feeding, drinking, sexual and reward behavior, among others. Recently, we demonstrated that the LHa can regulate cellular immunity in the spleen. In experiments involving the LHa, it was noticed that the spleen shrinks noticeably after LHa destruction. To explore this phenomenon further, the effect of LHa lesioning on splenocyte apoptosis was investigated. METHODS: Male Wistar-King-Aptekman rats underwent bilateral lesioning of their LHa and consequent spleen weights, splenocyte numbers and apoptosis were measured. For the detection of splenocyte apoptosis, both ELISA, which measures DNA fragmentation within the splenocytes, and flow cytometry, which measures the percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes in the spleen, were used. RESULTS: In the LHa-lesioned rats, spleen weights and the number of splenocytes decreased significantly within 24 h. Additionally, in the spleen, lymphocyte apoptosis significantly increased compared to the control after 6 h. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the LHa may play a role in immunoregulation by affecting lymphocytes in the spleen through apoptosis and may be relevant to the pathway of stress-induced apoptosis.

Psychological effects of aromatherapy on chronic hemodialysis patients.

Effects of aromatherapy (odorless condition, lavender, and hiba oil) on mood and anxiety were investigated in 14 female patients who were being treated with chronic hemodialysis. A control period consisting of natural hospital smells was established before each test session, and then aromatic test conditions were systematically evaluated for odorless conditions as well as aromatic conditions containing lavender and hiba oil aromas. The effects of aromatherapy were measured using the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAMA). Hiba oil aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMD and HAMA, and lavender aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of HAMA. The mean scores of HAMD and HAMA in an odorless condition were not significantly different from those of the control conditions. These results indicate that in chronic hemodialysis patients hiba oil is an effective, non-invasive means for the treatment of depression and anxiety, and that lavender alleviates anxiety.

Postoperative chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The definitive efficacy of postoperative chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer has not been established. The aim of this study is to evaluate prognosis in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer and the effect of postoperative chemotherapy on prognosis. METHODOLOGY: Fifty-three patients, 75 years of age or older who underwent curative surgery for advanced gastric cancer were divided into 14 patients with postoperative chemotherapy (chemotherapy group) and 39 patients without postoperative chemotherapy (control group). Chemotherapy regimens were as follows: oral 5-FU alone (n = 11), intravenous mitomycin plus 5-FU: MF (n = 2), and MF plus oral 5-FU (n = 1). No prior chemotherapy or radiation was given. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of clinical and pathological backgrounds between the two groups. The rate of death due to recurrent carcinoma was 50.0% in the chemotherapy group and 43.6% in the control group, the difference being insignificant. Although the median survival time of the chemotherapy group (40.4 months) was longer than in the control group (31.7 months), a significant difference did not exist between the groups. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates did not significantly differ between the chemotherapy group versus the control group, 85.7% versus 82.1%, 42.9% versus 51.3%, and 35.7% versus 46.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative chemotherapy did not contribute to prolong survival in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer mainly because the incidence of recurrent carcinoma was not reduced.

Polyethylene glycol-modified bilirubin oxidase improves hepatic energy charge and urinary prostaglandin levels in rats with obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: No study has so far been conducted to clarify whether the presence of hyperbilirubinemia is detrimental to liver and renal functions. In the present study, the effects of polyethylene glycol-modified bilirubin oxidase (PEG-BOX) therapy on liver and renal function tests, hepatic energy charge and urinary prostaglandin levels were evaluated in a rat model of obstructive jaundice. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the experimental model of obstructive jaundice. PEG-BOX or an equivalent amount of PEG alone was intravenously injected into the animals and sampling of blood and urine, and liver harvesting were done sequentially after bile duct ligation. RESULTS: Conventional liver function tests showed no difference between PEG-BOX and control groups. However, bilirubin concentrations in the peripheral blood and liver tissue specimens markedly decreased, and the hepatic energy charge significantly increased in the PEG-BOX group as compared to controls. The blood concentration of bile acid was lower, but its urinary excretion was higher in the PEG-BOX group than in the control group. In vitro incubation of PEG-BOX with serum from rats with obstructive jaundice decreased the concentration of bilirubin but not that of bile acid. The urinary levels of prostaglandin E2 and the thromboxane B2/6-keto-prostaglandin Fla ratio were significantly lower in the PEG-BOX group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The systemic reduction of bilirubin concentration may contribute to normalization of the urinary levels of prostaglandins and thromboxane B2, to decrease in serum bile acid levels, and to improvement of the hepatic energy charge in obstructive jaundice. These findings suggest that preoperative improvement of jaundice may be beneficial to patients with obstructive jaundice.

Carcinoembryonic antigen and intra-arterial chemotherapy response of liver metastases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated the relationship between serum carcinoembryonic antigen and response to hepatic artery chemotherapy for unresectable colorectal liver metastases. METHODOLOGY: The study included 14 patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases receiving hepatic arterial chemotherapy weekly. Patients were evaluated monthly including liver function tests and carcinoembryonic antigen. Ten patients received high dose 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2) and 4 patients received other regimens. One patient underwent hepatectomy for cure after 5-fluorouracil. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (93%) had normal quality of life without toxicity during hepatic artery infusion. Response rate in the high dose 5-fluorouracil group was 50%, while the response rate of other regimens was 25%. Mean survival time differed between responding (n = 6) and non-responding patients (n = 8) (527 vs 289 days), and the high dose 5-fluorouracil (n = 10) and other regimens (n = 4) (462 vs 213 days). In responding patients, peak serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels before hepatic artery infusion decreased within 6 months. In the non-responding patients, serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels increased rapidly despite hepatic artery infusion. CONCLUSIONS: Serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels correlated well with response. Hepatic artery infusional chemotherapy with high dose 5-fluorouracil may be recommended as effective treatment for unresectable liver metastasis from colorectal cancer if serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels decrease within 6 months.

Plasma glutathione peroxidase deficiency caused by renal dysfunction.

Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was determined in the plasma of 118 healthy persons, 18 nondialyzed patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), 20 patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD), and 58 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Serum creatinine levels in the nondialyzed CRF patients revealed a highly significant negative correlation (r = -0.71, p < 0.001) with plasma GPx activity. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the plasma (extracellular) GPx protein was reduced or undetectable in patients with low plasma GPx activity. Plasma GPx activities in the HD and CAPD patients were reduced to 44 and 23% (female), and to 70 and 45% (male) of the sex-matched control values, respectively. In contrast, erythrocyte (cellular) GPx activity was not decreased in the nondialyzed CRF patients and the dialyzed patients. Plasma selenium concentrations were within the normal range in these patient groups. These results indicate that the plasma GPx activity largely depends on renal function.

Fat-soluble vitamins in cord blood and colostrum in the south of China.

Certain diseases have been associated with micronutrient deficiencies in China, and nutritional assessments have become important means of preventing such diseases. In the present study, fat-soluble vitamins including vitamins A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene in the cord blood and colostrum of Chinese subjects in Guilin, China, were assayed and compared with those of Japanese subjects in Osaka, Japan. These vitamins were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Vitamin A and E levels in the cord blood and colostrum of the Chinese group showed almost the same values as those of the Japanese group. There was also no significant difference in vitamin D level in cord blood between the two groups, while significantly lower levels of beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin, and a higher level of PIVKA-II (protein induced in vitamin K absence) in cord blood were observed in the Chinese group. These findings pointed to a restricted intake of green-yellow vegetables in the Chinese group and an increased risk of hemorrhagic disease in newborn of that group is suggested.

[The changes in tumor marker levels after chemolipiodolization in early phase].

Changes of the serum tumor marker levels were analyzed in 80 patients with hepatic malignancy treated with chemolipiodolization. In 52 cases, the levels of the tumor marker elevated on the 1st day after treatment with an exponential drop afterwards. The levels of the tumor marker on the first day compared with those before treatment were significantly higher in effectively treated cases. The exponentially declining curve dissociated about 10 days before reaching the lowest point, and it gradually rose again in 32 cases. The second treatment of chemolipiodolization should be applied before dissociation of the exponential curve.

What are the contents of a hydrocele testis?

Relatively large, uninfected hydroceles of the testis were investigated as to the composition of their fluid. The fluid was different from serum and urine, having the urea nitrogen, uric acid, Na and K levels comparable to but the total protein and inorganic phosphorus levels higher than in normal serum. The analysis of hydrocele contents may be useful in ruling out the possibility of another retention tumor, but not useful in determining whether a hydrocele is communicating with the peritoneal cavity.

Cultivation of Tripterygium wilfordii Tissue Cultures for the Production of the Cytotoxic Diterpene Tripdiolide.

The production of the cytotoxic agent tripdiolide employing plant tissue cultures of TRIPTERYGIUM WILFORDII is demonstrated. Detailed investigations of a developed cell line of T. WILFORDII in terms of tripdiolide production versus variations in growth conditions, for example media composition, are presented. Also the age and size of the inoculum and the incubation period with respect to tripdiolide formation are evaluated.

Neurotransmitter chemistry in feline GM1 gangliosidosis: a model for human ganglioside storage disease.

Assays for synaptosomal high-affinity uptake activity (glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, norepinephrine), neurotransmitter synthesizing enzymes (choline acetyltransferase, glutamate decarboxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase), and endogenous neurotransmitters were performed in cats with advanced inherited GM1 gangliosidosis. A significant reduction in uptake activity, ranging from 24 to 77% of control, was demonstrated in motor, occipital, and cerebellar brain regions. This reduction was unassociated with comparable alterations in neurotransmitter levels or synthesizing enzyme activity. We hypothesize that the defect of neurotransmitter inactivation is part of an overall abnormality of synaptic membrane function that could contribute to the neurological symptoms seen in the hereditary gangliosidoses.