Camptothecin induces urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene-expression in human RC-K8 malignant lymphoma and H69 small cell lung cancer cells.

We previously reported that anthracyclines, which could generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), could induce the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene expression in human RC-K8 malignant lymphoma cells and in H69 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. In screening other uPA-inducible anti-cancer agents, we found that camptothecin (CPT) and its derivative, SN38, could induce uPA in RC-K8 and H69 cells. CPT and SN38, which are also used for the treatment of lymphoma and SCLC, significantly increased the uPA accumulation in the conditioned media of both cells in a dose-dependent manner. The maximum induction of uPA mRNA levels was observed 24 h after stimulation. Pretreatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an anti-oxidant, inhibited the CPT-induced uPA mRNA expression. Thus, CPT induces uPA through gene expression, and, therefore, CPT may influence the tumor-cell biology by up-regulating the uPA/plasmin system.</p

気管支喘息患者における白血球ロイコトリエン産生能に対する不飽和脂肪酸食の効果に影響する因子

Dietary supplementation with perilla seed oil, a vegetable oil rich in α -lin- olenic acid, inhibits the generation of leukotrienes(LTs) by leucocytes in patients with bronchial asthma. We examined the factors that affect the suppression of LT generation by leucocytes with perilla seed oil-rich supplementation in patients with asthma, by comparing the clinical features of patients with asthma, whose generation of leukotriene (LT) C4 was suppressed by dietary supplementation with perilla seed oil (n-3 fatty acids) (group A), with those of patients who showed no suppression of LTC4 generation (group B). Group A showed a significant increase in the generation of LTB4 and L TC4 by leucocytes after corn oil-rich supplementation (n-6 fatty acids), and a significant decrease in the generation of LTB4 and LTC4 after perilla seed oil-rich supplementation (n-3 fatty acid). However, this was not observed in group B. The level of serum IgE and peak expiratory flow (PEF) in group A were significantly higher than in group B. Furthermore, the serum levels of LDL-cholesterol, β-lipoprotein and　phospholipid were significantly lower in group A than in group B. These results suggest that the clinical features differ between these two asthmatic populations with respect to suppression of LTB4 and LTC4 generation by n-3 fatty acids in perilla seed oil-rich supplementation.a-リノレン酸の豊富なエゴマ油の食事は気管支喘息患者の白血球ロイコトリエン(LT)産生能を抑制する｡気管支喘息患者の内,エゴマ油食によりLTC4の産生が抑制された群(A群)と抑制されない群(B群)の臨床データを比較することにより,気管支喘息患者の白血球ロイコトリエン産生能に影響する因子を検討した｡A群はコーン油(n-6系脂肪酸)の豊富な食事後,白血LTB4,LTC4の産生能が増加し,エゴマ油(n-3系脂肪酸)の豊富な食事後LTB4,LTC4の産生能が減少した｡これらの変化はB群では認められなかった｡A群のIgE値,ピークフロー(PEF)値はB群に比し,有意に高値であった｡またLDL-コレステロール,β-リポ蛋白,リン脂質はA群ではB群に比し,有意に低値であった｡これらの結果はエゴマ油の豊富な食事のn-3系脂肪酸によるLTB4,LTC4の産生能の抑制に関して2群の気管支喘息患者群間に臨床データの相違があることを示唆している

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

播種性血管内凝固症候群（DIC）を合併した全身性エリテマトーデス（SLE）を経験したので報告する。症例は73歳女性。64歳時慢性関節リウマチ（RA）と診断された。1999年1月食欲低下を訴え当科受診した。血小板減少、FDP高値、PT上昇等よりDIC発症を疑った。膠原病では凝固系の異常を認めるが、本症例では凝固系が完進しDICを来したと考えられた。 本症例はリウマチ因子陽性であったが、朝のこわばり等典型的なRAの所見に乏しく他の膠原病の合併を疑い、腎障害、血小板減少、抗Sm抗体、抗核抗体陽性よりSLEと診断した。A case of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was described. A 73-year-old female was diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis when she was 64 years old. In Jan, 1999, the patient was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of loss of appetite. She was suspected of DIC because of thrombocytopenia, increased fibrin degradation product and prolonged prothrombin test. Abnormality in coagulation system is recognized in collagen disease. In this case coagulation system was activated and DIC occurred. In this case rheumatoid factor was positive. But she was suspected of complicating other collagen disease because she was poor in typical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis, such as morning stiffness. SLE was diagnosed on the basis of renal injury, thrombocytopenia, positive anti-Sm antibody and positive antinuclaer antibody in this case

The relationship between the magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine and lowback pain

(目的) MRlは腰痛をきたす疾患の診断に必須な検査法である｡腰痛と腰椎MRl所見との関係を明らかにすることを目的として検討した｡(対象と方法)腰痛を訴えた30例を対象とし､腰椎MRl所見の頻度を調査した｡全例に温泉療法を施行した｡　 (結果)全症例において腰椎MRl上異常所見を認めた｡少なくとも1つ以上の椎間板の変性病変をもつ症例は30例中27例(90% )で､椎間板変性はL4/5levelで最も多く認められた(30例中18例)｡椎間板ヘルニア を示す症例は30例中10例(33.3% )であった｡神経根圧迫を持つ症例は30例中8例(26.7% )であった｡腰椎圧迫骨折を持つ症例は30例中6例(20% )であった｡温泉療法により腰痛が改善した症例は30例中17例(56.7% )であった｡　 (結論)腰痛症患者は腰椎MR止異常所見を有した｡温泉療法により腰痛の改善を認めたので､MRL上で認めた形態学的異常は必ずしも機能的異常や症状に直結しないと思われた｡(Purpose) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential to diagnosis of diseases which happen low back pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between low back pain and the characteristics on MRI scans of the lumbar spine. (Materials and Methods) We performed MRI examinations of lumbar spine in 30 patients with low back pain and examined the prevalence of abnormal findings on MRI scans of the lumbar spine in 30 patients with low back pain. (Results) Overall in present study, all patients with low back pain had abnormalities around the lumbar spines on MRI. Disc degeneration was present in one or more lumbar levels in 27 (90% ) of all the subjects. The disc degeneration was most commonly observed at U/LS, where 18 (60% ) of all the subjects displayed evidence of disc degeneration. Disc herniation was found in 10 (33.3% ) of all the subjects. Nerve root compression at one level or more was observed in 8 (26.7% ) of the subjects. Compression fracture at one level or more was observed in 6 (20% ) of all the subjects. Spa therapy improved low back pain in 17 (56. 7% ) of the subjects. (Conclusion) All patients with low back pain had abnormalities around the lumbar spines on MRI. Because spa therapy improved low back pain, morphological abnormalities on MRI scans don't always connect with functional abnormalities and symptoms

A case of Parkinson's disease associated with bromocriptine - induced leukopenia and throm-bocytopenia

症例は67歳,女性｡以前からパーキンソン病にて加療されていたが,リハビリテーション目的で当院入院した.入院時白血球数,血小板数正常であったが,bromocriptine投与開始後白血球減少,血小板減少を認めた.薬剤性白血球減少症及び血小板減少症を疑い, bromocriptine投与中止するとともにfilgrastim投与により,白血球減少,血小板減少は改善した。誘発試験施行し白血球減少を認めた｡Bromocriptineによる白血球減少症,血小板減少症の報告は少なく,我々の検索しえた範円内では本症例を含めて2例のみであった。Bromocriptineには安全性や神経保護作用に関して多くのデータの蓄積があるが,安全性に十分な注意が必要であると考えられた｡A 67-year-old woman had been treated for Parkinson's disease before. She was admitted to our hospital for rehabilitation. On admission the leukocyte count and the platelet count were normal. But routine blood studies began to show leukopenia and thrombocytopenia after administration of bromocriptine. We suspected drug-induced leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. After stopping bromocriptine therapy and administration of filgrastim, the leukopenia and the thrombocytopenia disappeared. She developed leukopenia again after provocation test with bromocriptine. There are few reports about bromocriptine-induced leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. To our knowledge, only 2 cases (including our case) of bromocriptine-induced leukopenia have been reported. Bromocriptine has much data about safety and neuroprotection. However, we must take care of the safety fully

The endogenous proteoglycan-degrading enzyme ADAMTS-4 promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are major inhibitory molecules for neural plasticity under both physiological and pathological conditions. The chondroitin sulfate degrading enzyme chondroitinase ABC promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury, and restores experience-dependent plasticity, such as ocular dominance plasticity and fear erasure plasticity, in adult rodents. These data suggest that the sugar chain in a proteoglycan moiety is essential for the inhibitory activity of proteoglycans. However, the significance of the core protein has not been studied extensively. Furthermore, considering that chondroitinase ABC is derived from bacteria, a mammalian endogenous enzyme which can inactivate the proteoglycans' activity is desirable for clinical use.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The degradation activity of ADAMTS-4 was estimated for the core proteins of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, that is, brevican, neurocan and phosphacan. To evaluate the biological significance of ADMATS-4 activity, an <it>in vitro </it>neurite growth assay and an <it>in vivo </it>neuronal injury model, spinal cord contusion injury, were employed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ADAMTS-4 digested proteoglycans, and reversed their inhibition of neurite outgrowth. Local administration of ADAMTS-4 significantly promoted motor function recovery after spinal cord injury. Supporting these findings, the ADAMTS-4-treated spinal cord exhibited enhanced axonal regeneration/sprouting after spinal cord injury.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data suggest that the core protein in a proteoglycan moiety is also important for the inhibition of neural plasticity, and provides a potentially safer tool for the treatment of neuronal injuries.</p