ABSTRACT
Although recent studies have shown that radiation can induce metallothionein (MT) synthesis in normal tissues, the induction of tumor MT synthesis by irradiation has not been reported. We examined the accumulation of MT in the Meth-A tumor (mouse fibrosarcoma cells) transplanted into mice exposed to whole-body X irradiation. In the present study, the MT content in the tumor cells was increased by X irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. The MT level induced in the tumor cells by X irradiation was elevated not only after a single exposure but also after repeated exposures. Several studies have shown that MT is one of the important cellular factors in resistance to various anticancer drugs and ionizing radiation. Thus our results suggest that the radiation-induced MT in the tumor cells may have to be taken into consideration when designing protocols for radio- and chemotherapy.
Subject(s)
Fibrosarcoma/metabolism , Metallothionein/radiation effects , Animals , Metallothionein/biosynthesis , Mice , Mice, Inbred Strains , Neoplasm Transplantation , Whole-Body IrradiationABSTRACT
The effect of lansoprazole, a new benzimidazole proton pump inhibitor, on the relationship between ulcer healing and changes in mucin content was studied in gastric ulcer patients. Twenty-one outpatients with active gastric ulcers received lansoprazole 30 mg once daily given in the morning for 8 weeks. The gastric mucin content was examined by HPLC analysis of hexosamines in gastric biopsy specimens obtained from the lesser curvature of the pylorus and the greater curvature of the upper body. The ulcer healing rate for lansoprazole was 85.7% at 8 weeks. The mucin content of both mucosal regions significantly decreased to approximately 70% (pylorus 70.9%; upper body 74.7%) of the value before drug treatment. The results of this study demonstrate that 30 mg lansoprazole once daily is remarkably effective in healing gastric ulcers because of its potent acid suppression. It appears that acid inhibition is the primary factor in initial treatment. However, maintaining an altered gastric mucosal defense mechanism may have implications for the long-term treatment of gastric ulcers.
Subject(s)
Anti-Ulcer Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Ulcer Agents/therapeutic use , Gastric Mucosa/chemistry , Mucins/analysis , Omeprazole/analogs & derivatives , Proton Pump Inhibitors , Stomach Ulcer/drug therapy , 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles , Adult , Aged , Anti-Ulcer Agents/administration & dosage , Depression, Chemical , Female , Gastric Acid/metabolism , Gastrins/blood , Humans , Lansoprazole , Male , Middle Aged , Omeprazole/administration & dosage , Omeprazole/pharmacology , Omeprazole/therapeutic use , Stomach Ulcer/metabolism , Stomach Ulcer/pathologyABSTRACT
In our clinic, we encountered 8 patients with pseudocyst of the auricle during a 6-year period from 1987 to 1992 and injected steroid solution locally into the pseudocysts. Three of these patients had no recurrences and 4 were treated successfully after 1-3 recurrences. In only one case was this therapy ineffective. After 11 injections, which resulted in permanent deformity of the auricle, the patient underwent surgery. We believe that local steroid injection therapy should be the first choice method for treating auricular pseudocysts. However, frequent injections can cause auricular deformity and if there are more than 3 recurrences, the pseudocyst should be managed surgically. The lactate dehydrogenase levels of the cystic fluid were determined in 3 of the 8 patients and proved high; in only one patient was the etiology of the pseudocyst thought to be associated with minor trauma.