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Both substance P and neurokinin A are known as neurotransmitters of the submandibular ganglion cell. In this study, the effects of neurokinin (NK) receptor-subtype agonists on hamster submandibular ganglion cells were investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Membrane currents evoked by a ramp pulse from +50 to −100 mV (−150 mV/1000 msec) were compared in both the absence and presence of NK receptor agonist. The NK-1 receptor agonist [Sar 9 , Met (O 2 ) 11 ]-substance P, the NK-2 receptor agonist [Ala 5 , β-Ala 8 ]-α-neurokinin fragment 4–10, and the NK-3 receptor agonist senktide were used. The three agonists dose-dependently increased the amplitude of the inward current with a reversal potential near 0 mV. Their rank order was NK-1=NK-3>NK-2. Even when the external solution was replaced with Cs + or N -methyl- d -glucamine + instead of Na + , the NK receptor agonists also increased the amplitude of the inward current. Thus, NK-1 and NK-3 receptors are apparently coupled with non-selective cation channels in submandibular ganglion cells.

Cytologic studies in patients with prostatic infection, primarily those with chronic prostatitis, were conducted on samples obtained by the fine needle aspiration method. Infiltration of inflammatory cells such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages was observed to a greater extent in patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis as compared to those with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis or prostatodynia. The pathogen was isolated in only one out of 28 patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis. We concluded that fine needle biopsy is useful for assessing patients with prostatic inflammation, but not for detecting microorganisms because of focal colonization of the organisms in the glands.

We described in a previous paper (Bull Tokyo dent Coll 33: 33-35, 1992) that the submandibular ganglion cells (SMG) of hamster responded to substance P (SP) with a depolarization, which could be divided into three subtypes according to the change in membrane input resistance (Rm) during depolarization: depolarizations accompanied by either an increase or a decrease in Rm, and without change in Rm. In this study, the generation mechanism of the SP-induced depolarization accompanied by a decrease in Rm was investigated using the current-clamp technique. The result showed that cation channels coupled with NK-1 receptors on SMG cells were involved in generation of the SP-depolarization, and that the main charge carrier was the sodium ion.

One hundred sixty-three patients with previously untreated stage I/II non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were analyzed as to their in-field and marginal relapse of the irradiated field following treatment with more than 30 Gy of radiotherapy between 1981 and 1995 at Hyogo Medical Center for Adults. Local regrowth in case of partial response was counted as in-field relapse. Complete response was obtained in 94.5% of the cases at the termination of radiotherapy and in 98.8% finally. The ten-year cumulative in-field relapse and marginal relapse rates were 5% and 8.7%, respectively. The cumulative in-field relapse rate (CIFRR) in cases of bulky disease (more than 5 cm in largest diameter of the tumor) was significantly higher than in those of non-bulky disease (26.1% in 8 years vs 2.4% in 10 years, P0.01). The radiation dosage delivered (40 Gy =and 50 Gyvs 50 Gy=) a great much difference in cases of bulky disease (23.8% for 8-year CIFRR vs 0% for 1-year CIFRR, respectively), but less difference with non-bulky disease (2.6% vs 2.2%). High LDH and suboptimal dose chemotherapy (three courses and less chemotherapy containing ADM or its derivatives, chemotherapy without ADM or no chemotherapy) had a negative impact on marginal control in aggressive lymphoma. Extended field setting in aggressive lymphoma was not proven to be beneficial in comparison with involved field setting as to marginal field relapse. Thus, it is concluded that (1) higher doses should be given to bulky disease, (2) careful field coverage with enough margin is recommended for aggressive lymphoma with high LDH or treated without optimal dose chemotherapy, and (3) extended field setting is not necessary.

To evaluate the role of radiation therapy for adrenal metastases.Fourteen patients, 13 with primary lung carcinoma and one with primary unknown carcinoma, received radiation therapy for adrenal metastases from 1984 to 1995 at the Hyogo Medical Center for Adults. Total dose ranged from 16 Gy to 60 Gy, and fractional dose from 1.6 Gy/ Fr to 3 Gy/Fr.Partial response of the local tumor was recognized in 2 of 7 patients by CT imaging. Pain relief was obtained in 7 of 8 patients. Median survival was 3 months, and 6-month survival was 28.6% in all patients. Among patients in the symptomatic group, who had complaints of pain due to adrenal mass, survival was even worse (12.5% at 6 months). There were no severe complications, but 4 patients (29%) had gastrointestinal symptoms.Radiation therapy is useful for the purpose of pain relief in adrenal metastases.

From January 1984 to December 1993, 184 patients with previously untreated T1 and T2 (UICC 1987) laryngeal glottic cancer underwent radiotherapy at Hyogo Medical Center for Adults. The prognostic variables analyzed included sex, age, smoking index, T stage, tumor size, tumor type, gross anterior commissure involvement (gross ACI), histological differentiation, administered dose, TDF, overall treatment time, chemotherapy, initial response, and the dose required to achieve CR. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. The T stage, tumor size, and gross ACI were significant variables in univariate analysis, while the tumor type and gross ACI were significant on multivariate analysis. The 5-year recurrence-free survival of patients with gross ACI was significantly worse than that of those without ACI (57.6% vs. 89.9%). Among gross ACI patients, the recurrence-free survival of those treated with 70-72 Gy was superior to that of those receiving 60-62 Gy, suggesting that at least 70 Gy was necessary to control such diseases.

Forty-six lung cancer patients received radiotherapy from 1982 to 1987 were reviewed to analyze the incidence of radiation pneumonitis and the factors which were related to it. The incidence of which evaluated with plain chest X-ray was 54% at 1 month, 78% at 3 months and 89% at 6 months after radiotherapy. The relationship between severity of pneumonitis and several parameters were studied. As a result, six parameters consisting of pre-radiotherapy granulocyte counts, tumor location, T-factor, radiation dose, radiation field size and the combination timing of chemotherapy were found to be contributing factors.

We have studied the prognostic factors of 117 cases of unresected adenocarcinoma of the lung, and have examined these cases according to the following categories: age, sex, clinical stage, performance status (P.S.), serum albumin on admission, serum CEA, the presence of complication, the present status of an abnormal chest shadow from a year ago at the same location, and differentiation of cells. Significant differences were detected in the P.S., the serum albumin and the presence of complications by survival analysis through the use of covariate-Cox models. We also have noted that the difference between stage I and the other stages of the clinical stage was found to be significant by a generalized Wilcoxon test. In conclusion, the determining prognostic factors of an unresected adenocarcinoma of the lung are the P.S., the serum albumin, the presence of complications and the clinical stage.

The effect of intravenous infusion of 10% glycerol on polymorphic delta waves of EEG was investigated in 13 patients (15 studies) with brain tumors in cerebral hemisphere. The delta waves were analyzed by two-dimensional EEG topography and power spectrum of delta waves (P(delta)) over the tumor, adjacent, and distant regions in the same hemisphere to the tumor, and ipsi- and contralateral hemispheres to the tumor. The data focus of EEG topography was well corresponded to the tumor and surrounding brain edema which visualized by x-ray CT-scan. In the patient with brain tumors with marked brain edema (group A, 11 studies), EEG topography showed marked reduction of delta focus within 20 minutes from the end of intravenous infusion of glycerol, and returned to preinfusion distribution within 60 minutes. In patients with absent to minimum brain edema (group B, 4 studies), delta focus showed the tendency to enlarge and returned to preinfusion state at 60 minutes after the end of glycerol infusion. In patients of group A, P(delta) of ipsilateral hemisphere to tumor decreased at the end of glycerol infusion, and showing maximal reduction ratio (30%, p less than 0.01) at 20 minutes, re-increased there-after. In group B, P(delta) of ipsilateral hemisphere showed no definite changes after the glycerol infusion. P(delta) of contralateral hemispheres in patients of both group A and B, showed similar reduction ratio and time course to those of ipsilateral hemisphere of group A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)