[Thoracoscopic surgery for intractable pneumothorax under epidural and local aesthesia].

Thoracoscopic surgery under epidural and local anesthesia for intractable pneumothorax were performed in 26 patients. A total of 29 thoracoscopic operation were performed in 26 patients. Twenty-three patients undervent only a single thoracoscopic operation, and 3 patients underwent twice thoracoscopic operations. We could control the air leak of intractable pneumothorax with the covering of polyglycolic acid sheets using aerosolized fibrin glue in 25 patients. In all patients postoperative course was uneventful and there was no operative death.

Cloning and characterization of the CYP2D1-binding protein, retinol dehydrogenase.

A CYP2D1-binding protein, 29 k-protein (p29), has been isolated and its N-terminal amino acid sequence has been reported (Ohishi et al. (1993) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1158, 227-236). In this study, p29 cDNA was isolated by PCR with oligonucleotide probes designed from the N-terminal amino acid sequence and p29 was found to be a microsomal retinol dehydrogenase, a member of the short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase family which metabolize hydroxysteroids and prostaglandins. CYP2D1 and p29 were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to characterize these proteins. CYP2D1 had an absorption maximum at 448 nm in a CO-reduced form. Expressed p29 in yeast cells was detected with anti-p29 antibody. Solubilized CYP2D1 and p29 from yeast microsomes were mixed and applied to an anti-CYP2D1 antibody-binding column. Both proteins were retained in the column and eluted with glycine buffer (pH 2.8). However, when applied alone, p29 was not retained in the column. The findings indicated that CYP2D1 bound tightly with p29. Catalytic activities of p29 expressed in yeast were investigated. p29 had retinal reductase activity in the presence of NADPH. Addition of CYP2D1 and NADPH-P450 reductase increased the retinal reductase activity of p29. These findings suggest that the complex of CYP2D1, p29, and NADPH-P450 reductase has an important role in the metabolism of retinoids.

[The combined effect of hyperthermia and irradiation on cultured human glioma cell line].

The effects of hyperthermia (HT) and irradiation (RT) on a cultured human glioma cell line (KC) was examined by a colony formation assay and immuno-histochemical methods using monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and MoAb Ki-67. The colony formation assay revealed that HT inhibited the cell survival in time and temperature dependent fashion. RT also inhibited the cell survival depending on the irradiation doses. The combination of HT and RT showed an additive effect. The immunohistochemical examination indicated that both HT and RT reduced the BrdU labeling index and Ki-67 positive rate of the surviving cells. HT mainly affected the cells in the S-phase and RT seemed to affect the cells in the G2+ M phase. The combination of HT and RT also showed an additive effect. These results suggest that the combined therapy will be useful in the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Experimental study on necrotizing sialometaplasia of the palate in rats. Role of local anesthetic injections.

The effect of local anesthetic injections in the palate of rats was studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry with antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The results of this study suggest that local anesthetic injections could be one of the causes of necrotizing sialometaplasia.