Aluminum decreases the magnesium concentration of spinal cord and trabecular bone in rats fed a low calcium, high aluminum diet.

Current epidemiological surveys in the Western Pacific (Guam, and Kii Peninsula and West New Guinea) have suggested that low calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and high aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) in river, soil and drinking water may be implicated in the pathogenetic process of foci of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and parkinsonism-dementia (PD). The condition of unbalanced minerals was experimentally mimicked in this study using rats. Male Wistar rats, weighing 200 g, were maintained for 60 days on the following diets: (A) standard diet, (B) low Ca diet, (C) low Ca diet plus high Al. Magnesium concentrations were determined in spinal cord and trabecular bone using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP). In the experimental group maintained on a low Ca, high Al diet, magnesium concentration of the spinal cord was lower than the group fed a standard diet. Also, magnesium concentration of lumbar vertebra showed lower values in the experimental group fed a low Ca, high Al diet than did those on a standard diet or low Ca diet without supplemental aluminum. Our data indicate that low Ca, high Al diet influences Mg concentration in bone and central nervous system (CNS) tissues and that a low Ca, high Al diet diminishes Mg in bone and CNS tissues, thereby inducing loss of calcification in bone and degeneration of CNS tissue due to alteration of the normal biological effects of Mg.

Regional adjuvant chemotherapy after partial hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

The prognostic factors after hepatic resection for metastases from colorectal carcinoma were examined, and the results of adjuvant hepatic arterial chemotherapy are presented. Hepatic resection was undertaken in 57 patients with metastatic liver tumor from colorectal cancer. Adjuvant hepatic arterial chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin or epirubicin, and mitomycin C was administered to 31 patients. The 3- and 5-year survival rates for the 57 patients were 53% and 23%, respectively. The significant prognostic factors were solitary liver tumor and metachronous liver tumor. However, type of hepatectomy, surgical margin, site of the primary tumor, and histologic differentiation of the carcinoma did not relate to the prognosis. The 3- and 5-year survival rates for the patients given adjuvant arterial chemotherapy were 57% and 57%, respectively, indicating a significantly better survival rate than in the nontreated patients. These results suggest that hepatic arterial chemotherapy is effective treatment in patients with hepatic resection for metastases from colorectal carcinoma. However, recurrence in the lung is relatively high. Further improvement might be achieved by administering hepatic arterial chemotherapy as well as effective systemic chemotherapy.

Effects of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy on unresectable or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

We performed hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAI) on 86 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 61 patients) or unresectable recurrent HCC after hepatectomy (25 patients). As drug therapy, 250 mg of 5-fluorouracil was injected daily for 14 days using a reservoir embedded in the subcutaneous layer. During this period, 0.4 mg/kg of doxorubicin and 0.12 mg/kg of mitomycin C suspended in Lipiodol Ultra-Fluide were also injected twice intra-arterially. This was defined as one course of HAI, and it was repeated every 3 months. In the patients with unresectable HCC, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 31.5%, 22.4%, and 10.7%, respectively, and the numbers of cases showing a complete response (CR), a partial response (PR), a minor response (MR), no change (NC), and progressive disease (PD) according to the Criteria for the Evaluation of the Clinical Effects of Solid Cancer Chemotherapy established by the Japan Society for Cancer Therapy were 1 (1.6%), 20 (32.8%), 5 (8.2%), 28 (45.9%), and 7 (11.5%), respectively. On the other hand, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates of the patients with unresectable recurrent HCC were 69.6%, 34.8%, and 14.9%, respectively. The rate of catheter patency after 1 year was 64.1%, and the mean catheter-patency period was 311.9 days. Patients in group A (CR+PR, n = 21) survived significantly longer than those in group B (MR+NC+PD, n = 40; P < 0.05). In conclusion, since responders to HAI achieve longer survival than nonresponders, the selection of effective drugs is important for this therapy.

[13C] breath test of medium-chain triglycerides and oligosaccharides in neonates.

It is suitable to examine the utilization of carbohydrates and fats using stable isotope-labelled substrates in neonates because of their non-radioactivity. Administering medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and oligosaccharides is of use in enteral nutrition for a patient with a limited water intake such as a neonate. In this study, the oxidation of MCT and maltose administered orally as an energy supplement in neonates has been examined using a stable isotope-labelled breath test. Five normal term neonates and five growing preterm infants were given [13C]-trioctanoin orally and three growing preterm infants were given [13C]-glucose and [13C]-maltose orally. The [13C] enrichment in carbon dioxide was analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and oxidation rates over 6 hr and 12 hr respectively, were calculated. The oxidation rates for [13C]-octanoin after 6 hr were 46.2 +/- 3.6% in preterm infants and 53.5 +/- 13.8% in normal neonates, respectively (no significant difference), and 58.4 +/- 9.4% and 52.8 +/- 6.0% for [13C]-glucose and [13C]-maltose, respectively (not significant). The results demonstrate that orally administered MCT and maltose are oxidized sufficiently in preterm infants.

[Clinical experience of urological surgery of the patients with hemostatic disorder or hemolytic disease].

This report deals with clinical experience of urologic surgery of patients with hemostatic disorder or hemolytic disease. In the past 5 years from May 1986, 14 operations were conducted in our clinic on 13 patients, consisting of 4 with von Willebrand disease (vWd), 1 with hemophilia B, 4 who had warfarin administration, 3 with essential thrombocythemia and 2 with spherocytosis. Almost all patients were treated hematologically before the urological operations. Except in 1 case, the post-operative course was favorable and under hematologic control. Massive bleeding in 1 case was obviously attributable to over-dosage of warfarin. It is difficult to determine the optimal dose of warfarin under an unstable hemostatic condition during the operation and recovery periods. However, it is possible to carry out urologic surgery for these patients under appropriate hematologic control, and ESWL was safely performed without medical treatment on 3 patients; 1 with vWd, 1 treated with warfarin and 1 with spherocytosis.

[Two cases of esophageal varices complication after hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAI) for metastatic liver tumor].

Mild liver dysfunction is a well-known complication of HAI, but it has been thought to be transient and reversible in most cases. In the case, of metastatic liver disease, in particular, HAI has been performed safely because liver function is normal for the most part. We encountered 2 cases of irreversible severe liver dysfunction and esophageal varices after hepatectomy for metastatic liver tumor from colorectal cancer. They were treated with postoperative adjuvant HAI. Biliary enzyme as alkaline phosphatase elevated, and dilated intrahepatic bile ducts were observed in both patients. Fibrosis of Glissonean sheath, dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts and intrahepatic biliary stones were observed at autopsy in both patients. One of the patients had obstruction of portal trunk. It must not be forgotten that such complications can occur even in a case with non-cirrhotic liver.

[Contents of calcium, phosphorus and aluminum in central nervous system, liver and kidney of rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis--scavenger effects of vinpocetine on the deposition of elements].

The aims in this study were designed to clarify the contents of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and aluminum (Al) in central nervous system (CNS), liver and kidney of rabbits with atherosclerosis experimentally induced by cholesterol-rich diet, and investigate scavenger effect of 14-ethoxycarbonyl-(3 alpha, 16 alpha-ethyl)-14,15-eburnamenine (vinpocetine) on the deposition of these elements in CNS and soft tissues of experimental atherosclerosis. Sixteen male rabbits were divided into 4 groups. Each group was fed with standard diet (Group A), standard diet containing 1.5% cholesterol (Group B), standard diet containing 1.5% cholesterol plus oral administration of 3 mg/kg/day vinpocetine (Group C), and standard diet containing 1.5% cholesterol plus administration of 10 mg/kg/day vinpocetine (Group D). After 3 months' feeding, experimental atherosclerosis was produced with a modified method of Kritchevsky et al in rabbits of Groups B, C and D. Blood was collected by cardiocentesis under the anesthesia of ether and then rabbits sacrificed to remove CNS and other tissues. The blood was stood for 1 hour at room temperature and separated by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 10 min to determine serum total cholesterol, phospholipids, HDL-cholesterol, peroxide lipid, NEFA and calcium levels. Ca, P and Al contents in the frontal lobe, pons, cerebellum, spinal cord, liver and kidney were determined by neutron activation analysis. Ca contents of CNS, liver and kidney in Group B significantly increased than those of Group A (p less than 0.01), and significantly decreased in Groups C and D compared with those of Group B (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium, phosphorus and aluminium concentrations in the central nervous system, liver and kidney of rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis: preventive effects of vinpocetine on the deposition of these elements.

Calcium, phosphorus and aluminium concentrations in the central nervous system, liver and kidneys were determined in 16 rabbits with atherosclerosis experimentally induced by a cholesterol-rich diet and the protective effect of 3 or 10 mg/kg.day vinpocetine (14-ethoxycarbonyl-(3 alpha,16 alpha-ethyl)-14,15-eburnamenine) given orally on the deposition of these elements was assessed. Rabbits fed a cholesterol-rich diet developed atherosclerosis after 3 months and these rabbits possessed high concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and aluminium in the central nervous system, determined by neutron activation analysis. In atherosclerotic rabbits fed a vinpocetine supplement, there was a decrease in concentrations of these elements in tissues. It is suggested that calcium, phosphorus and aluminium may be implicated in the aetiology of atherosclerosis and that vinpocetine may have a preventive action on the deposition of these elements in central nervous tissue, liver and kidney.

Preventive effect of vinpocetine on calcifications: atherosclerosis in experimental rabbits.

The action of vinpocetine (14-ethoxycarbonyl-(3 alpha, 16 alpha-ethyl)-14, 15 eburnamine) on calcifications in liver, kidney, and CNS tissues from cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in 16 experimental rabbits was studied. Three of 4 groups (4 rabbits each group) feeding on a cholesterol-rich diet developed atherosclerosis after 3 months. Two of the 4 groups were also fed vinpocetine supplements and analysis by neutron activation method showed a decrease in calcium content in CNS tissues and in liver and kidney. Results suggest that vinpocetine acts to decalcify cholesterol-induced atherosclerotic lesions in these tissues.

Termination of retinal fibers in lateral preoptic and hypothalamic areas of the crab-eating monkey, Macaca irus.

After a monocular injection of tritiated proline into the vitreous chamber of the eye, the distribution of labeled retinal termination in the hypothalamus of the crab-eating monkey was investigated by autoradiography. The results indicated that a few retinofugal fibers might terminate bilaterally in the lateral hypothalamic areas through the level of the anterior commissure to the infundibulum as well as the suprachiasmatic nuclei. The labeled fibers to the lateral hypothalamic area seemed to leave the dorsocaudal border of the optic chiasma in a dorsolateral direction and then coursed both rostrally and caudally above the supraoptic nucleus: these fibers might progressively diminish in number at more rostral and caudal levels. Further, small clusters of developed silver grains were found bilaterally in the caudal part of the lateral preoptic nuclei.