The drug combination of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) ( CDDP ) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is widely used in various cancer treatments. To better understand the benefits of this treatment regime, we analyzed the cell cycle profiles and p53-p21-pRB cascade in three gastric cancer cell lines : MKN45, MKN74 (both expressing wild type p53), and MKN28 (expressing a mutant p53) . Treatment with the drug combination caused different responses in the MKN45 and MKN74 cell lines : MKN45 cells accumulated in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and showed fewer cells in the S phase. MKN74 cells accumulated at the G1-S transition. CDDP alone caused G2-M arrest in both cell lines. The drug combination did not affect the p53 levels but increased the p21 protein levels in both cell lines. Corresponding to the G1 accumulation, unphosphorylated pRB was predominant in the MKN45 cells, and corresponding to the observed S-G2M retardation, phosphorylated pRB was predominant in the MKN74 cells. No drug combination effect was observed in MKN28 cells. These results suggest that there are several sites of action for the drug combination in cells expressing wild-type p53 and indicate that the combined drug effect is greater in cells expressing wild-type p53 than in those expressing a mutant p53.

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Patients who suffer from lateral medullary syndrome often show variable sensory symptoms, although these changing patterns of sensory disturbance are not well documented. To address this, neurological manifestations in 18 patients with lateral medullary syndrome were evaluated and the recovery patterns of sensory disturbance were assessed. The focus in the medulla oblongata responsible for the pathology in these patients was estimated from the neurological manifestations at onset and was compared with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) . Lesions were diagnosed clinically at the acute stage, and the presumed infarction areas were compared with the MRI for each patient with lateral medullary syndrome. Chronic sensory deficits were reviewed in each patient to detect the central area of infarction. Patients who suffered sensory disturbance in the ipsilateral face, contralateral body, and upper and lower limbs at the time of onset tended to have residual sensory deficit below the contralateral knee. Other patients who developed sensory disturbance of the contralateral face and body on initial examination showed persistent sensory deficit of the contralateral face and upper limbs. These patterns of sensory sequelae may be a result of the infarction area in relation to the central sensory conduction pathways and also from the arterial variations.

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Lactobacilli are classed as one of the probiotic bacteria and have been reported to exhibit a marked effect on the immune response to infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-infection effect of heat-killed Lactobacillus casei (LC9018) in an experimental fecal peritonitis model in mice. Male ICR mice were injected intraperitoneally with LC9018 5, 3, and one day prior to cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) . Equivalent volumes of saline were used as controls. The following were compared between the two groups: survival rates, numbers of viable bacteria in the peritoneal fluid 6 hours after CLP, numbers of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) obtained from mice 24h after the final administration of LC9018 without CLP and also 6 hours after CLP, levels of NO in the peritoneal cavities 24h after the final injection of LC9018 without CLP. Survival of LC9018-treated mice (n=21) was significantly improved compared with the controls (n =19) . The numbers of total bacteria present in the peritoneal cavities in the LC9018-treated mice (n=9) were significantly less than those in the control mice (n=8) . The mean PEC counts and NO levels in the peritoneal fluids of the LC9018-treated mice (n=10 and 4, respectively) was significantly greater than in the control mice (n=8 and 4, respectively) . Pretreatment with LC9018 induced a protective activity against fecal peritonitis in a murine model, probably via the accumulation of PEC in the peritoneal cavity, which exert a bactericidal effect.

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To evaluate the prevalence of and factors associated with depressive states in middle-aged workers, we conducted semistructured interviews with 1, 587 male workers aged 41-50 years in a general electric manufacturing company, using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) for evaluation. The prevalence of depressive states was 7.8%, and the factors significantly associated with depressive states were daily occupa-tional stress, living alone, and sleeping less than 6 hours a day. Given the high prevalence of depressive states a more detailed prospective study is needed to confirm the significance of these factors and establish a specific preventive program for depression.

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The basic calponin gene, that encodes an actin-binding protein involved in the regulation of smooth muscle contractility, is specific to smooth muscle differentiation. Basic calponin is expressed by cultured mesangial cells, and localized along the actin filaments. Our previous studies suggested that down regulation of basic calponin correlates with mesangial cell proliferation, implying the involvement of basic calponin in suppressing mesangial cell proliferation. In this study, we examined whether basic calponin is expressed in the glomerulus in anti-Thy 1.1 nephritis rats as an in vivo model for proliferative glomerulonephritis. Basic calponin mRNA and protein were expressed in the proliferative phase of this model, and paralleled a -smooth muscle actin expression by mesangial cells. Basic calponin may regulate excessive mesangial cell proliferation in this model. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms regulating basic calponin expression in mesangial cells will contribute to an understanding of the molecular basis of the glomerular response to injury, which may be useful in the development of therapeutic interventions for human renal diseases.

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Mature teratomas of the mediastinum have a tendency to rupture into adjacent organs and cause a variety of symptoms. Although some teratomas adhere strongly to the lung, requiring partial resection of the lung, clinical features are unknown. We studied the clinical and pathological features of nine cases, including three men and six women, presenting with mediastinal mature teratomas requiring surgical treatment. Tumor diameter ranged from 4 to 15cm (mean, 8.1cm) . Preoperative symptoms were noted in four cases. Pancreatic tissue was present in tumors of two of these cases and in two of the five cases with asymptomatic tumors, suggesting that there is no association between the presence of pancreatic tissue and symptoms. Partial resection of the lung was required in two cases because of severe adhesion to the tumor. Although the need for lung resection cannot be predicted from the presence or absence of symptoms, only cases with symptoms required partial lung resection. Lung resection was also required when pancreatic tissue was present in the tumor. There was no association between tumor size and adhesion, the need for partial lung resection, or presence of pancreatic tissue. In conclusion, mediastinal mature teratomas adhere to the lung necessitating partial resection only when symptoms appear and when pancreatic tissue is present in the tumor.

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Intestinal microflora play a key role in the maturation of the intestinal immune system. In addition, immunological tolerance to commensal enteric bacteria (CEB) is thought to exist, although abnormal responses to CEB occur under some pathological conditions. This paper examines whether allergic conditions can induce such responses to CEB. We examined serum IgG titers of Escherichia coil, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Lactobacillus gasseri by ELISA in an allergic (n = 25) and non-allergic group (n = 22) . The titres for Escherichia coli (p< 0.05) and Bacteroides vulgatus (p< 0.05) were abnormal in the allergic group as compared with the control, non-allergic group, similar to the non-IgE mediated allergy responses to commensal intestinal flora. We conclude that there are abnormal responses to CBC under allergic condition, and that these responses may be influenced by changes in lifestyle.

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We report the study of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cervical intervertebral discs, immunohistochemically, and by comparing the manifestation of MMPs with X ray-based side views and MRI visual imaging. We analyzed intervetebral disc tissue samples from 20 patients who had undergone surgery for herniation of their cervical intervertebral discs and cervical spondylosis-related myelosis. The patient age at surgery ranged from 22 to 68 years, with an average of 45.7 years. Eighteen of the patients were males and two were females. Immunostaining for MMPs was performed on frozen sections of the tissues to classify the samples based on the number of immunopositive cells. MMP levels in the resected tissues were also quantified by western blotting and densitometry. The concentrations were compared with the visual imaging of the discs. X ray-based side view images revealed a high ratio of MMPs, due to an increase in osteophytes. Further, when low intensities were observed by MRI, and also when the protrusion of intervertebral discs was substantial, MMP levels were considerable. Together, these results implicate MMPs in the metamorphosis of cervical intervertebral discs, and that the metamorphosis is strongly correlated with changes in MRI and X ray-based side view imaging.

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Differential diagnosis of ovarian neoplastic lesions is occasionally difficult even when histological examination is performed. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman with a lower abdominal mass, in which primary ovarian cancer was clinically difficult to distinguish from metastaic ovarian cancer. She had a history of mastectomy of both breasts. Comparison of microscopic specimens suggested that the ovarian lesion had metastasized from the breast cancer. However, immunohistochemical staining revealed that the ovarian lesion was positive for AE 1/3 (cytokeratin), EMA (epithelial membrane antigen), ER (estrogen receptor) and PR (progesterone receptor) . It was also focally positive for CK7, NSE (neuron- specific enolase) and CGA (chromogranin A) . While these results were not sufficient to clearly distinguish whether this tumor was derived from breast or ovary, the neuroendocrine nature (focal positivity for NSE and CGA) suggested that it was more likely to be derived from the breast. Careful microscopic examination of many specimens is necessary in cases of ovarian neoplastic lesions. Immunohistochemical staining can be helpful for differential diagnosis but is not necessarily conclusive.

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A 59-year-old man was referred with a preoperative diagnosis of Borrmann type-IV advanced gastric cancer. Diagnosis was made after endoscopic biopsy which showed giant folds and thickened walls with the presence of cancer cells. After total gastrectomy, histological examination revealed an intramucosal early gastric cancer with diffuse cystic malformation resulting in giant folds and increased wall thickness in the stomach. We propose that diffuse cystic malformation is one of the causes of giant folds and wall thickening in the stomach, and that it should be carefully followed because of its close association with malignancy.

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