Importance of cell surface marker to the prognosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

We studied the correlation between the cell surface markers and prognosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients treated in the Shikoku Cancer Center Hospital from 1980 to 1986. Thirty-one cases were selected on the basis of having a lymphnode as a primary lesion, having been immunophenotyped before chemotherapy, being in the intermediate histologic grade and being in stage II, III or IV. Thirteen cases of the T-cell type (T-lymphomas) and 18 cases of the B-cell type (B-lymphoma) were identified. The complete remission rate was 54% among T-lymphoma patients and 78% among B-lymphoma patients. The median length of survival was 12+ months in T-lymphoma and 26+ months in B-lymphoma. The survival rate of T-lymphoma patients was significantly lower than that of B-lymphoma patients. The importance of making surface marker studies was reappraised in our study.</p

Immunohistochemical detection of P-glycoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen in small cell lung cancer: with reference to predictability of response to chemotherapy.

In an attempt to elucidate the tumor properties relating to responsiveness to chemotherapy, we examined immunohistochemically the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumors. Tumor specimens from 33 patients were obtained at the time of diagnosis and relapse. Four patients expressed P-gp in their initial tumors, and 7 others did in recurrent tumors. The overall response rate to chemotherapy of the initial tumors was 75% for P-gp-positive initial tumors and 86% for P-gp-negative tumors, whereas the disease-free and overall survival times were significantly shorter in the former than the latter. Three patients showed CEA in their initial tumors, and 5 others did in recurrent tumors. The patients with CEA-positive initial tumors tended to relapse earlier than those with CEA-negative tumors. In addition, recurrent tumors expressing CEA were resistant to salvage chemotherapy. A clear correlation between CEA expression by tumors and the CEA level in the serum was observed at diagnosis as well as at relapse. These findings indicate that P-gp and/or CEA expression by a tumor and elevated CEA level in the serum may predict refractoriness of the tumor to chemotherapy.</p

Spawning pattern of the neon flying squid Ommastrephes bartramii (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) around the Hawaiian Islands

The neon flying squid, Ommastrephes bartramii, is an oceanic squid species that is widely distributed in the North Pacific, with the winter-spring cohort spawning around the Hawaiian Islands. Here, we investigated the spawning characteristics of O. bartramii by analyzing various reproductive parameters of individuals (622 males, 108 females) collected in this region. Female spawning status was determined from the somatic indices and histological characteristics of the ovaries. At all developmental stages, the ovaries of spawned females contained oocytes, and oviduct fullness was not correlated with body size. Thus, because the eggs mature asynchronously, with multiple filling and evacuation events, this species is considered an intermittent spawner. Mature males with developed accessory glands were also present within the distribution range of healthy spawned females, indicating that mating occurs between spawning events. Our data indicate that the first spawning event occurs at a mantle length of similar to 520-540 mm for Hawaiian O. bartramii. Subsequently, the squid forage and grow, and refill the oviducts, before the second spawning event occurs

Vertical distribution and prey of walleye pollock in the northern Japan Sea

Vertical distributions of adult walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma and oceanographic conditions were examined in the northern Japan Sea. In the daytime, most walleye pollock were distributed from 150 to 250m depth in April and from 400 to 500m depth in October. Between 150 and 500m depth, temperatures in October (0.4-8.8℃) were similar to those in April (0.5-5.4℃), salinity levels were fairly uniform in both months (34.0-34.2 PSU), and dissolved oxygen concentrations were 4.6-6.1ml/l in April and 4.7-6.4ml/l in October. The main foods of walleye pollock in April were the amphipod Themisto japonica, the euphausiid Thysanoessa longipes, and the chaetognath Sagitta elegans. Daytime weighted mean depths of T. longipes were significantly greater in October than in April. Biomass of T. longipes in the habitat of walleye pollock was significantly greater than other layers in both months. The seasonal change in vertical distribution of walleye pollock is presumably related to food availability of T. longipes