Hemodynamic changes of the portal venous system was studied after splenic artery embolization (SAE) in patients with esophageal varices due to portal hypertension. After percutaneous transhepatic obliteration (PTO), the portal pressure was increased 31.4cmH₂O to 38.4cmH₂O in group A patients (7 patients with liver cirrhosis, 3 with idiopathic portal hypertension who were simultaneously performed PTO and SAE), and after SAE, it was decreased to 33.1cmH₂O. SAE was done as partial embolization (mean proportion 51%). In group B patients (all 6 patients with liver cirrhosis who were performed follow up angiography more than 10 months later), we observed narrowing the diameter of portal vein and splenic vein. After PTO and SAE, ndoscopic findings of varices were improved and we have had no case of rebleeding.

View full abstract

The fluorecent volume of Nuclear DAN of gastric Cancer cells obtained from endoscopic biopsy or paraffin block specimen were measured in 103 patients by cytofluorometry. The results showed that DNA histograms were divided into three groups (I, II and III pattern) on the base of ploidy pattern. In II and III pattern, the extent of polyploidization appeared to be increased in association with both the cancer invasion in deeper tissues and distant metastasis involved liver and peritoneum.
The frequency of lymphnode metastasis of cases with I, II and III DNA pattern was in 35%, 61% and 65% respectively. However no correlation between the polyploidization and histological type of carcinoma was found.
The prognosis of cases with I pattern was better than that with II and III.
From these results, it may be suggested that the analysis of Nuclear DNA of gastric carcinoma is a useful means for judgment of biological behavier.

View full abstract

Localization of histamine in human gastric mucosa was examined by immunocytohistochemical methods. Antiserum against histamine was raised in rabbits which had been immunized with a histamine-thyroglobulin conjugate, reacted only with mast cells as measured immunocytochemically. Specificity against histamine was also confirmed by an immunoblotting. The specific immunoreaction was not abolished where antiserum was preabsorbed with histidine and serotonin, indicating that there was no cross-reactivity among them. Immunohystochemical analysis of the anti-serum to human gastric mucosa demonstrated that the chief cells were the major histamine-containing cells of the glandular stomach in contrast to minor populations of EC-like cells and mast cells of the fundic gland. By means of immunoelectron microscopy, the secretory granules in chief cells were shown to be the histamine-storing sites. Thus, it is suggested that the co-ordination between chief and parietal cells could be mediated by local release of histamine, this regulating the release of hydrochloric acid.

View full abstract

In order to study γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in gastric cancer and to detect gastric cancer specific GGT, GGT enzyme (membrane-bound) was purified from gastric cancer and kidney, immunohistochemical and immunological searches were undertaken.
GGT purified from gastric cancer as well as GGT in cytosol of gastric cancer were immunologically identical with kidney GGT in the active inhibition and in the double diffusion test using antibody against gastric cancer GGT.
However, gastric cancer GGT differed from kidney GGT in sialic acid content and sugar chains using isoelectric focusing and Con-A affinity column chromatgraphy.
On the other hand, the increase of GGT localization was observed in some histological types of gastric cancer by enzyme staining and immuno-staining. According to the histological analysis, the increase of GGT localization in gastric cancer cells resulted from one of phenotypes in relation to various gene expression.
It is considered that GGT was a useful enzyme to study enzyme transformation in tumorgenicity and that the structual change of surger chains may have possibility as a tumor marker.

View full abstract

A new mammalian gastrointestinal antigen was obtained using monoclonal antibody B6 which was produced by hybridoma cells made by fusing mouse myeloma cells (P3U-1) with spleen cells of BALB/C mouse immunized with suspended colonic cells in a single form of F344 rat. Immunohistochemically, using the peroxidaselabeled antibody-staining method, the antigen against B6 was demonstrated in the surface membrane of epithelial cells of the stomach, small and large intestines of the rat, pig, cow and man. It was not present in the surface mucin or mucin of goblet cells in the intestine. It was also not detected in tissues of other organs i.e. the esophagus, liver, kidney, spleen and lung. The gastrointestinal mucosa of the fish, frog and bird were also found not to have the antigen in the surface membrane of epithelial cells. It's molecular weight was estimated at 63 Kilodaltons by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting.

View full abstract

The cholestatic factor, a kind of lymphokines, was produced from the lymph node cells of sensitized guinea pigs by stimulating them in vitro with a specific antigen. The active material was fractionated into two fractions using a Sephadex G-75 column followed by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. When these two fractions were injected separately into the mesenteric vein of normal rats, a marked reduction of bile flow was induced in both cases.
Since it has been shown that bile is a rich sourse of the secretory immunoglobulin A because the hepatocytes rapidly and actively transport this immunoglobulin from blood to bile, the authers investigated the effect of cholestatic factor on this immunoglobulin A transport. The present report showed that these lymphokines resulted in decrease of immunoglobulin A secretion, suggesting that cholestatic factor may also influence on the vesicular transport system of the liver.

View full abstract

Serum levels of apoprotein A-I, A-II, C-II and E were measured in 137 patients with liver disease including 28 of acute hepatitis, 41 of chronic hepatitis and 68 of liver cirrhosis. Controls consisted of 14 healthy adults.
Serum levels of apoprotein A-I and A-II in acute phase of acute hepatitis were significantly lower than controls, and gradually returned to normal levels during convalecent phase. In patients with chronic liver disease, apoprotein A-I, A-II and C-II were lowest in liver cirrhosis, and followed by chronic active hepatitis and chronic inactive hepatitis. By contrast, serum levels of apoprotein E were higher in acute hepatitis. The serum levels of apoprotein A-I, A-II and C-II were significantly correlated with levels of serum γ-globulin, TTT, ZST, ChE, normotest and R15 ICG.
It was concluded that measurement of serum apoproteins was useful in estimating liver function of patients with liver disease.

View full abstract

We investigated the quantitative and qualitative difference of serum α₁-acid glycoprotein (α₁-AG) derived from normal subjects and alcoholic patients. The serum zncentration of α₁-AG of normal and alcoholics were 84.3±22.5mg/dl and 66.0±18.5 mg/dl, respectively. The values of alcoholics were significantly higher than that of normal subjects (p<0.01). The content of sialic acid of purified α₁-AG from alcoholics was 0.12μg/mg protein and was 50% lower than that of normal subjects. This difference chiefly reflected the increase of asialo form of α₁-AG in alcoholics, which was also confirmed by two dimensional isoelectric focusing-crossed immunoelectrophoresis. After two weeks of abstinense from alcohol, the serum asialo-α₁-AG level tends to return to normal levels. Therefore, the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of α₁-AG would be a useful marker for the biochemical assessment of alcohol intake.

View full abstract

An etiologic mechanism of hepatotoxity after dietary chenodexcycholic acid (CDA) administration in the rabbits was studied. Administration of CDA in the rabbits resulted in a remarkable increase of lithocholic acid (LA) in bile, however, increase of LA in bile was less prominent in the prohibited coprophagy rabbits and substantially nil in the cecectomy with appendectomized rabbits.
Seventies in the histological changes manifested as proliferation of bile duct, necrosis of hepatocytes, inflammatory cell infiltration of portal triad, fibrosis and septum formation of the liver were well correlated with quantities of LA in bile.
These findings imply that 7α-dehydroxylation of primary bile acid by colonic microflora in the huge cecum and appendix is the primary etiologic factor for increased biliary LA followed by severe hepatic damage in the rabbits fed with CDA.
Furthermore, coprophagy promotes recycle of fecal LA and this may play an another important role in increasing biliary LA in the rabbits fed with CDA.

View full abstract

Lipid metabolic changes of rat plasma and cultured hepatocytes induced by 17α ethynyl estradiol treatment were studied. Treatment with 17α ethynyl estradiol caused decrease of rat plasma lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid). Total cholesterol and cholesterol ester contents of rat livers and cultured hepatocytes were increased by 17α ethynyl estradiol treatment. The secretions of cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid synthesized from ¹⁴C acetic acid by cultured hepatocytes isolated from livers of 17α ethynyl estradiol treated rats did not changed when compared with the control. These results suggest that rat hypolipidemia induced by 17α ethynyl estradiol treatment is caused by the increase of plasma lipid uptake by liver.

View full abstract

In the measurement of ICG Rmax, an error is apt to be made under the condition of inaccurate dose and/or time. To develop easier examination, we administered 1.02g PABA orally, and measured its density in serum and the rate of excretion in urine for 6 hours to compare liver cirrhosis with normal control. Total, free and conjugated serum PABA concentration was measured, and statistically significance (p<0.05) was recognized between two groups, excepting the points after 120min of free PABA. Statistically significance (p<0.05) was also recognized in cumulative area on the graph for 6 hours. Orally administered PABA is immeadiately absorbed by intestine, conjugated in liver cell, flowed out to blood and excretd from kidney. Correlation was recognized between serum PABA and ICG Rmax, and the movement of serum PABA was speculated to reflect number of functional liver cell.

View full abstract

In order to gain more knowledge regarding the relationship between the onset of liver injury and endotoxin levels in rats treated with galactosamine (GalN), we determined blood endotoxin levels by the limulus coloric test in endotoxin tolerant (ET) rats. In endotoxin-intolerant rats treated with GalN (500mg/kg of body weight), blood endotoxin levels increased markedly 24hrs after treatment, followed by a rapid decrease thereafter. High S-GPT levels, hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction and extensive histological liver necrosis were observed 48hrs after treatment. In contrast, blood endotoxin levels were low in ET rats 24hrs after treatment. Liver injury was also milder 48hrs after treatment. These findings suggest that endotoxinemia caused by GalN plays an important role in the progress of GalN-induced liver injury.

View full abstract

The biochemical and histologic alterations in experimental acute pancreatitis induced by excessive doses of caerulein, an analogue of cholecystokinin, were studied in the rat. Four subcutaneous injections of various doses of caerulein (5-50μg/kg body weight) were given to all animals at hourly interval over 3h. Nine hours after the first injection (i.e. 6h after the final injection), all animals were killed. Serum amylase activity, and protein, DNA and enzyme contents in the pancreas and the histologic alterations were examined. In rats treated with 20 and 50μg/kg body weight of caerulein, serum amylase activity was elevated 7-8 fold over values in control rats. However, there were no significant difference between rats treated with 20 and 50μg/kg body weight of caerulein. Marked cytoplasmic vacuolization and interstitial edema with slight necrosis were observed in rats treated with 20 and 50μg/kg body weight of caerulein. The present study suggests that caerulein at a concentration of 20μg/kg body weight is the minimal effective dose that causes maximal changes of biochemical and histologic findings as acute edematous pancreatitis when given by four subcutaneous injections at hourly interval.

View full abstract

Effects of synthetic porcine gastrin-releasing peptide (pGRP) on pancreatic, intestinal, gastric and femoral arterial blood flow in anesthetized rabbits were compared with those of cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8). Blood flow was measured with electromagnetic flowmeter. pGRP (0.5, 2μg/kg. I.V.) significantly and dose-dependently increased pancreatic blood flow. However, gastric and intestinal blood flows showed mild biphasic changes consisting of transient decrease followed by gradual increase in response to pGRP. Femoral arterial blood flow decreased significantly. Both CCK-8 and pGRP increased pancreatic blood flow remarkably. However, intestinal blood flow also increased markedly in response to CCK-8. Femoral arterial blood flow decreased significantly. These differences between the responses of intestinal blood flow to pGRP and CCK-8 suggest that hemodynamic effect of pGRP is not mediated by CCK. Furthermore, the effect of pGRP on pancreatic blood flow was not affected by total resection of small intestine, performed to exclude the influence of intrinsic CCK. Therefore, it appears that pGRP has a direct stimulatory effect on pancreatic blood flow, corresponding to the pancreatic enzyme secretion, without the mediation of the release of CCK.

View full abstract

The cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MC) as been reported to be enhanced after they were cultured in media containing fetal calf serum (FCS). This study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic activity of MC obtained from patients with cancer of the digestive organs before and after culture in FCS-supplemented medium. The cytotoxicity of MC obtained from healthy subjects was likewise investigated for reference. Raji cells and K-562 cells were used as target cell lines. The cytotoxicity of FCS-cultured MC to Raji cells and K-562 cells rose in healthy subjects to the levels 10.0± 10.4 times and 2.2±1.4 times those before culture, respectively. In patients with gastric cancer, however, this variable rose only to the levels 3.5±5.3 times and 1.2±1.3 times those before culture, respectively. The percent increase in the cytotoxicity of MC to Raji cells and K-562 cells after culture became lower in patients with gastric cancer with advance in stage and also in patients with the cancer of other digestive organs mainly at stage IV. No relation was noted between the cytotoxicity and blastogenesis of FCS-cultured MC. Changes in lymphocyte subpopulations after culture were also investigated using OKT4, OKT8 and Leu7 in patients with cancer of the digestive organs. Both OKT4 and OKT8 subpopulations increased, but the ratio of these subpopulations remained almost unchanged. Leu7 subpopulation significantly increased (p<0.05). The above findings suggest that the cytotoxic effectors generated in this study by culturing human MC in FCS-supplemented medium resemble NK cells, and that the FCS-augmented cytotoxicity of MC may possibly serve as a parameter of cellular immunity in patients with cancer of the digestive organs.

View full abstract