Factors associated with inappropriate weight loss attempts by early adolescent girls in Japan.

Attempting to lose weight by normal or underweight adolescent girls is a serious issue in many countries. It has been reported that the mode of attempted weight loss does not differ between normal weight and overweight girls. These inappropriate weight loss attempts (IWLA) by normal or underweight adolescent girls is associated with various health issues, but factors associated with IWLA have only been marginally elucidated. In this study, we applied a single multivariate regression analysis to clarify independent factors for IWLA. Study subjects were 134 pairs of early adolescent girls (aged 12-15) and their mothers. In addition to IWLA, many factors including height, weight, body image, perceived weight status, depressive symptoms, media influence and self-esteem were surveyed in both mothers and daughters and subjected to multivariate analysis. Approximately half of girls surveyed had IWLA, even though all were of normal weight and 62.9% knew that they were of normal weight. IWLA were independently associated with depressive symptoms (OR (95% CI); 2.80 (1.21-6.50), p=0.016) independent of actual or perceived weight status. Factors significantly associated with IWLA by the girls were percentage deviation of weight from standard weight (%DW) and media influence on the girls themselves, and media influence on and self-esteem of their mothers. IWLA, which were frequently observed among early adolescent girls even among those of normal weight, were closely related to depressive status. IWLA were significantly associated with not only factors related to the girls (1.09 (1.04-1.14), p=0.001), but also with maternal psychological factors (1.06 (1.00-1.13), p=0.035) conveyed by the media. Future prospective or interventional studies are required to clarify whether these factors could be targeted in an effort to prevent IWLA.

[Experimental study on antitumor effect of cisplatin-microcapsule].

CDDP-microcapsule (CDDP-mc) was prepared in the search for method for administering anti-cancer agents and has been examined for its properties, vital reaction and antitumor effect. In the present study, the results of the examination and possibility of application of CDDP-mc are reported. 1) It took 48 hours for CDDP to be released from the microcapsule into saline. 2) CDDP-mc size is 80-200 microns, and it contains 0.645mg of CDDP per mg of microcapsule. It was available as a drug enabling us to introduce a high concentration of CDDP into tumor tissue. 3) The side effects of CDDP-mc on animals (rabbit and rat) were more limited than those of ordinary CDDP solution and slight, especially for intraperitoneal or local injection. Intraarterial infusion of CDDP-mc, however, causes transitory palsy of the treated lower extremity probably due to embolism. 4) Its intraperitoneal administration was much more effective than the ordinary CDDP solution against Yoshida's sarcoma implanted in rats. 5) The subcutaneous administration of CDDP-mc was more effective compared to ordinary solution of CDDP. 6) The above results suggested that CDDP-mc is clinically applicable to the treatment of ovarian cancer and uterine cancer when administered intraperitoneally and locally (intra-tumor).

Human placental form of glutathione S-transferase (GST-pi) as a new immunohistochemical marker for human colonic carcinoma.

Human placental form of glutathione S-transferase (GST-pi) was detected in human colonic carcinomas and adenomas by peroxidase anti-peroxidase method using antibody raised against GST-pi. Of 60 carcinomas, including differentiated adenocarcinomas and undifferentiated carcinomas, 88% were positive for GST-pi staining, and 47% of 23 adenomas were also positive. In the normal colonic mucosa, GST-pi was not detectable or was only weakly stained in the basal parts of the absorptive cells or in the cytoplasm of the cells containing little mucin. These results indicate that GST-pi is a possible new marker for immunohistochemical detection of human colonic carcinoma and some adenomas.

[An autopsy case of parathyroid carcinoma with primary hyperparathyroidism].

An autopsy case of a 72-year-old woman who was determined as having had a parathyroid carcinoma with primary hyperparathyroidism is reported. On autopsy, a tumor, measuring 6 X 3 X 2 cm, was found beneath the left lobe of the thyroid gland, adherent to the left recurrent nerve and the trachea, though there was no metastasis evident. The tumor was found to be lobulated on cross section inspection. Histologically, the tumor cells were arranged in trabecular and in solid patterns with fibrous bands. A few tumor cells showed mitosis. Invasions to the capsules and the blood vessels were found present. Immunohistochemically, the parathyroid hormone was found positive in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Otitis fibrosa generalisata, metastatic calcification, acute pancreatitis, and core pulmonale also were observed.

A visual telemedicine system: the integration of ordinary TV and HDTV still image transmission.

This paper describes a project to develop and test a new telemedicine system using image transmission. The system was implemented at Aomori prefecture, the northernmost prefecture of Japan, to provide medical consultation to remote hospitals from a medical center located in Aomori city, capital of the prefecture. The characteristics of the system are the combination of an HDTV still image transmission system and an ordinary tele-conference system using 65 kilobit telephone line i.e., an ordinary telephone line available in almost any part of Japan. We also developed a disk storage system that stores transmitted images automatically without human intervention. The system was assessed in real clinical settings and has proved to be effective in various areas of medical consultation, including radiology, pathology, dermatology, etc. We hope that this system becomes a standard telemedicine system in the future.

[Combination chemotherapy of UFT with adriamycin in advanced gastrointestinal cancer].

Seventeen patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer were treated with a combined chemotherapy of UFT with Adriamycin (UFT-A). The UFT-A regimen consisted of UFT, 600 mg/body daily. As for the Adriamycin, 10 mg/body was give intravenously from day 1-4 and was repeated every two weeks. Partial responses were seen in 7 cases (41%) (5 cases of gastric cancer, 1 case of colon cancer, and 1 case of bile-duct cancer) out of 17 evaluable patients (7 cases of gastric cancer, 3 cases of colon cancer, 4 cases of biliary tract cancer, and 3 cases of pancreatic cancer). Two patients had minor responses, and in eight patients their disease had stabilized. As for side effects, nausea and vomiting occurred in seven patients (41%), and anorexia was observed in eight patients (47%). Two patients (12%) showed a leukopenia count of less than 2,000/mm3 and none of these seventeen patients had thrombocytopenia, of less than 5 x 10(4)/mm3. Considering these results, UFT-A therapy appears to be useful in cases of advanced gastrointestinal cancer, especially gastric cancer.

[Intraperitoneal (Ip) administration of cisplatin in combination with systemic chemotherapy in patients with malignant ascites of gastrointestinal cancer: clinical evaluation and pharmacokinetics].

Ten patients with carcinomatous peritonitis of gastrointestinal cancer have been treated with administrations of CDDP-Ip (50-150 mg/body), in combination with systemic chemotherapy simultaneously combined with sodium thiosulfate (STS) iv in 4 patients. All patients received transfusions of specific hydration. The pharmacokinetics of CDDP was studied in 4 patients, and the following results were obtained. (1) As for its effect on malignant ascites, according to Koyama's and Saito's criteria, 2 patients showed a complete response, 3 showed a partial response, and 5 showed no change. (2) As for its effect on the primary site, only one patient showed a partial response, and the others no change. (2) As to its side effects, 6 patients manifested nausea and vomiting, and only one showed a mild kidney dysfunction, and no myelosuppression. No significant difference in the side effects between the STS-combined group and the non-STS-combined group was found. (3) Serum CDDP levels were reached maximum 1-2 hours after Ip, and gradually decreased during the beta-phase of iv administration. Significant levels of non-protein-bound CDDP were found in the serum within 4 hours after Ip. These results indicate that the CDDP Ip is safe and useful for carcinomatous peritonitis of gastrointestinal cancer, however the combination of STS might weaken the systemic anti-cancer effect of CDDP by neutralizing the non-protein-bound CDDP in the serum.