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Background. The prognostic significance of c-erb B-2 in breast cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the practical prognostic significance of c-erb B-2 protein status in breast cancer extracts, using an enzyme immunoassay. Methods. An enzyme immunoassay was used to measure levels of c-erb B-2 protein prospectively in 360 patients with breast cancer, using cytosol fractions prepared for steroid receptor assay. The status of c-erb B-2 protein was assessed using a cut-off value for positivity of 18 ng/mg protein. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. To evaluate the prognostic significance of c-erb B-2 protein status. Results. Levels of c-erb B-2 protein in tumor tissue extract ranged from 0 to 213.0 ng/mg protein (mean, 15.5 ng/mg protein). In 52 tumors (14.4 %) more than 18.0 ng/mg protein was detected, and these tumors were regarded as c-erb B-2 protein-positive. Correlations were found between c-erb B-2 protein positivity and large tumor size (>3 cm; P = 0.0095), higher histological grade ( P < 0.0001), estrogen receptor negativity ( P < 0.0001), and progesterone receptor negativity ( P < 0.0001). There was also a marginally significant correlation between c-erb B-2 protein positivity and lymph node positivity. Multivariate analysis showed that c-erb B-2 protein status was a significant independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival, being strongly significant in patients with positive lymph nodes. Conclusion. c-erb B-2-positive breast cancers are biologically more aggressive and c-erb B-2 protein status could be a candidate as a prognostic factor for patients with breast cancer, being particularly valuable in patients with positive lymph nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many colorectal cancer cells are resistant to the anti-proliferative effects of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). TGF-β also acts as paracrine factor from cancer cells on their mesenchymal cells. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of TGF-β and its receptors in human colorectal cancer tissue and determine any relationship with cancer growth. In situ hybridization and Northern blot hybridization detection of TGF-β[SUB1], type I and type II receptor mRNA and immunohistochemical staining of TGF-β[SUB1] were performed using 11 human colorectal adenomas, 22 colorectal cancers and ten normal colorectal mucosas as control. TGF-β receptor mRNAs were expressed mainly by normal colorectal epithelial cells and adenoma. However, mRNAs for TGF-β receptors were only faintly, if at all, expressed in eight of 22 human colorectal cancers. In addition, intense signals of TGF-β[SUB1] mRNA and the protein were detected in all colorectal cancers. TGF-β receptor mRNAs and TGF-β[SUB1] protein were also distributed in fibroblasts and endothelial cells in the interstitium. Moreover, Smad 4 protein was translocated to nucleus in primarily cultured adenoma cells, but not in cancer cells after TGF-β stimulation. The escape of human colon cancer from TGF-β -mediated growth inhibition by down-regulation of TGF-β receptors as well as the effects of TGF-β on stroma formation and angiogenesis indicate a possible role for TGF-β in the progression of colon cancer in an intact host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report brain MRI findings in four patients with typical Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) and correlate them with clinical manifestations. MRI was interpreted as normal in two patients; cerebral and cerebellar atrophy was seen in the other two. On T2-weighted spin-echo images, two patients had high-signal lesions bilaterally in subcortical white matter, thalamus and brain stem. In one patient, the white matter lesion extended into the deep cerebral white matter and the cerebellum was also affected. The other also had bilateral high-signal lesions in the globus pallidus. There was little correlation between neurological deficits and MRI findings. A review of the literature revealed that 10 of the 13 patients with typical KSS previously studied had bilateral subcortical white-matter lesions on T2-weighted images; at least 7 also had high-signal lesions in the brain stem, globus pallidus, thalamus or cerebellum. Although MRI may be normal or show atrophy, the characteristic finding in KSS is a combination of the high-signal foci in subcortical cerebral white matter and in the brain stem, globus pallidus or thalamus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum concentrations of carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and carboxyterminal parathyroid hormone (C-PTH) were measured in 33 haemodialysis patients. Serum levels of PICP and C-PTH in the haemodialysis group were significantly higher than those in the controls. Although there was no correlation between serum C-PTH and creatinine, a positive correlation was found between PICP and creatinine. This indicates that the measurement of PICP in serum is useful for monitoring metabolic bone diseases in haemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromosome analysis of peripheral lymphocytes from a boy with Prader-Willi syndrome showed the presence of 45 chromosomes, including der(Y) resulting from a t(Y;15) (q12; q11.2). In situ hybridization using DYZ3 and D15S11 showed a positive signal and negative signal in derivative Y chromosome, respectively. The deficiency of 15pter q11.2 may not influence the clinical manifestation of Prader-Willi syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gross haematuria and severe bleeding from the large intestine occurred after pelvic radiotherapy in an 84-year-old woman with cancer of the uterus. Hyperbaric oxygenation treatment at 2 atmospheric absolute pressures for 60 minutes daily over 30 days and infusion of prostaglandin E abolished completely haematuria and tarry stool, and reversed the endoscopic findings of radiation cystitis and colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of reciprocal translocation of autosome associated with bilateral cryptorchidism. Hormonal conditions in cases with cryptorchidism during childhood are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 76-year-old man with renal artery aneurysm was successfully treated by transcatheter embolization with complete preservation of renal blood flow. Embolization was performed with detachable platinum coils. Two months later, follow-up angiography showed completely packed aneurysm and preserved blood flow of the branch. It may be reasonable to consider that embolization of the aneurysm is the primary treatment modality for some of the patients with renal artery aneurysm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malacoplakia of the urinary bladder was seen in a 69-year-old woman with haematuria. We firstly treated her with distigmine bromide, ascorbic acid and trimethroprim-sulfamethoxazole. Haematuria subsided but the lesion did not change after 6 weeks. Thereafter we tried enoxacine therapy. Eight weeks after the medication the tumorous leson disappeared. Bladder biopsy performed 4 months after the initiation of the treatment revealed predominantly granulation tissue. We can find no previous case treated successfully with long-term enoxacine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromosome analysis was performed in 160 patients with cryptorchidism. Chromosomal anomalies were found in 7 patients (4,4%). The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was not significantly different between patients with bilateral or unilateral cryptorchidism. Of 7 patients, 1 had sex chromosomal aberration, 2 had marker chromosome and 4 had autosomal anomalies. Additional congenital anomalies were observed in 1 with sex chromosomal aberration, 2 with marker chromosome and 2 with autosomal anomaly. These facts indicate that we had better perform chromosome analysis in all patients with bilateral or unilateral cryptorchidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eighteen previously untreated patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate were treated with LHRH analogue. They were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of glandular differentiation. In all groups, a transient rise of PAP and PSA was observed after the LH and testosterone surge. However, relative values of LH, testosterone, PAP and PSA did not differ significantly among the 3 groups. These facts suggest that a transient rise of PAP and PSA is caused by testosterone surge independently from the degree of glandular differentiation after LHRH analogue administration in patients with advanced prostatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hormonal and ultrastructural examinations of the testis were performed in a patient with Down's syndrome. Plasma testosterone was abnormally low, and circulating levels of LH and FSH were higher than the normal range. The administration of HCG resulted in a low response of plasma testosterone. Electron microscopy revealed proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, an increase in paracry stalline inclusions and the absence of Reinke's crystals in Leydig cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum concentration of iopamidol was measured in 29 male patients with outlet obstructive symptoms after retrograde urethrography. Although no patient showed extravasation, serum iopamidol level was detectable in 4 (14%) patients. Since severe adverse effects are considerably reduced with iopamidol, we prefer to use this contrast medium for retrograde urethrography in male patients with outlet obstructive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on synthesis of methylguanidine was studied in 6 uraemic patients on haemodialysis and 5 uraemic patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The Two groups of patients were started on a 24-week course of thrice weekly 1500 IU of rHuEPO by the intravenous route. Serum methylguanidine level and methylguanidine/creatinine ratio were comparable in these groups. In the two groups no significant differences were observed in these measurements comparing the pretreatment values with those 4, 8, 12 or 24 weeks after starting rHuEPO administration. During rHuEPO therapy, serum methylguanidine levels and methylguanidine/creatinine ratio showed no considerable difference between the two groups. These findings suggest that administration of rHuEPO does not alter methylguanidine synthesis in uraemic patients on haemodialysis and CAPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum levels of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) were measured in 20 haemodialysis patients with acquired cystic disease of the kidney (ACDK) and in 44 without it. Serum IAP levels in haemodialysis patients with and without ACDK were significantly elevated compared to that in controls. However, there was no considerable difference between haemodialysis patients with and without ACDK. A significant reduction in this marker was not found after dialysis treatment. This indicates that elevation of IAP may be related to an increased incidence of renal cell carcinoma in haemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes in haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, plasma renin, activity (PRA) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were studied in 10 haemodialysis patients with erythropoietin-associated hypertension. All patients received intravenously 1500 IU of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) thrice weekly for 24 weeks. Treatment with rHuEPO induced significant rises in haemoglobin concentration (p<0.001) and haematocrit (p<0.01)., However, the difference between post- and pretreatment levels of haemoglobin (ΔHb) was not correlated with that between post-and pre-treatment mean blood pressure (ΔMBP). No correlation was found between ΔHt (difference between post- and pre-treatment values of haematocrit) and ΔMBP. These results indicate that elevation of the haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration of haemodialysis patients does not necessarily lead to an increase in blood pressure. In these patients, no significant differences were observed in PRA and ANP, comparing pre-treatment values with those measured 4, 8, 12 or 24 weeks after commencing rHuEPO. This suggests that neither PRA nor ANP play a central role in the pathogenesis of rHuEPO-induced hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of the martensitic transformation in a Ti-49.75 at. pet Ni alloy has been observed continuously by optical microscopy, and it was found that the transformation proceeds thermoelastically. The transformation has been determined to be first order by examining the change in lattice discontinuity upon transformation. Based on the present and previous results, the origin of the memory effect is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]