Search

The HA-Ti-Implant is a cylindrical device with titanium as kernel and a HA-coated surface. In the clinical use, a two-stage surgical procedure is recommended. In the past 1.5 years, a total of 98 implants inserted in 63 patients were performed, including 64 immediate and 34 delayed implantation. On 67 implants, dental crowns and bridges were connected. Only one implant failed in osteointegration during the healing phase. 34 implants have been followed-up for more than one year.

Antibody to hepatitis C virus (Anti-HCV) was examined in sera of 416 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prevalence of anti-HCV was 11.1% (46/416), among them, the dual infection rate with HCV and HBV was 5.8% (24/416), in contrast to 2.0% (2/100) in blood donors. Moreover, sera of 38 patients with HCC accompanying with acute hepatitis were tested for anti-HAV, HBsAg and anti-HCV. Their positive rates were: hepatitis A 5.3% (2/38), hepatitis B 76.3% (29/38), hepatitis C 10.5% (4/38), and other hepatitis 7.9% (3/38), respectively. These results indicate that HBV infection seems to be more important than HCV infection in the etiology of HCC in our country. The role of HCV in the development of HCC remains to be further investigated.

Hepatitis B virus nucleotide sequences derived from a hepatocellular carcinoma with free and multiply integrated viral DNAs were determined. Based on a comparison within the X-gene region, cloned free viral DNA previously had been attributed to two distinct groups of preC minus genomes. The comparison of the complete sequence identified one of the genome equivalents as a recombinant between members of these groups. Four different integrated viral DNA elements were cloned and analysed. Similarity to either one of two DNAs representing the two groups of free viral DNA on one hand and the presence of certain mutations only on integrated DNA on the other hand, allowed to recognize distinct segments within the integrants. The data suggest a contribution of different but related genotypes to contiguous stretches of integrated viral DNA via homologous recombination. On this basis an evolutionary relationship between free and integrated DNAs of the preC and the preC minus genotype could be recognized when short sequence segments were compared. The observed coexistence on a given integrated DNA of segments homologous to free viral DNA and of segments homologous to another integrated DNA is consistent with (1) a long lasting association of individual genotypes with dividing cells and (2) multiple integration events being the result of a series of steps not separated by a long time span.

The existence of angiotensin II immunoreactive substance in rat cardiovascular system was demonstrated by RIA and immunohistochemistry techniques. In atrium, aorta and cultured rat aorta smooth muscle cells, angiotensin II content is 7.2 + 2.7 pg/mg protein, 152.4 + 59.2 pg/mg protein and 3.5 + 0.8 pg/2 x 10(5) cells respectively. Endothelin, a potent vasoconstricting polypeptide, can enhance the release of angiotensin II from cultured rat aorta and aortic smooth muscle cells significantly. The results suggest that endothelin may be involved in the regulation of local blood flow and vascular tone, and it may also implicate the pathogenesis of some cardiovascular diseases such as cardiohypertrophy and vascular hypertrophy.

The spectral resolution into individual components from a set of unknown mixture IR spectra was investigated. The method based on iterative target transformation of factor analysis is developed and used to treat several three-component and two-component mixture systems of amino-acids. The results show that the method proposed in this paper is applicable.

The glucocorticoid receptor in cytosol from human brain was studied using isoelectric focussing in slabs of polyacrylamide gel. [3H]Dexamethasone was used as tracer for receptor analysis. The glucocorticoid receptor from human brain was compared to the glucocorticoid receptor in rat brain. A similar peak of radioactivity with a pI of about 6.1 was obtained by isoelectric focussing of cytosol from both human brain and rat brain. The trypsin-induced fragmentation patterns of the glucocorticoid receptor from human brain and rat brain were very similar when analyzed by isoelectric focussing. The hormone specificity of the glucocorticoid receptor in human brain and in rat brain cytosol was compared by competition experiments using unlabelled dexamethasone, betamethasone, cortisol and corticosterone as competitors. No difference between human brain and rat brain cytosol was detected. It is concluded that the hormone specificity and the protein structure of the glucocorticoid receptors in human brain and in rat brain are similar.

The mineralcorticoid receptor in cytosol from the kidneys and hippocampi of adrenalectomized rats was characterized and quantified by use of isoelectric focusing in slabs of polyacrylamide gel. The mineralcorticoid receptor was labeled with [3H]aldosterone after selective blockade of the glucocorticoid receptor sites with a synthetic pure glucocorticoid RU 26988 [11 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-(1-propionyl)androsta-1,4,6-trien-3-one]. The apparent dissociation constant for aldosterone was 5.1 X 10(-9) M, and the ligand specificity studies revealed a mineralcorticoid pattern. The glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors were compared by limited trypsin digestion, followed by isoelectric focusing. Completely different fragmentation patterns were obtained for the two receptors in the same cytosol from either kidney or hippocampus. However, comparison of the mineralcorticoid receptor from the kidney with that from the hippocampus gave rise to identical fragmentation patterns. An antiglucocorticoid receptor antibody showed no crossreactivity with the mineralcorticoid receptor. Cytosol from kidney and hippocampus contained 28 +/- 24 and 155 +/- 115 fmol mineralcorticoid receptors/mg cytosol protein, respectively. Significant amounts of RU 26988-resistant [3H]aldosterone-binding sites were also present in cerebrum, cerebellum, spleen, and colon.

Tissue samples from 20 patients with various intracranial tumors and one case of cerebral contusion were analyzed for the cytosolic glucocorticoid-receptor concentration using isoelectric focusing in slabs of polyacrylamide gel. It is pointed out that the clinical response to dexamethasone in brain edema associated with various intracranial lesions is, to some extent, parallel to the glucocorticoid-receptor concentration in these tumors. The findings in this investigation suggest that the cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor might be responsible for the initiation of a series of biochemical effects of steroids affecting brain edema. It is possible that the first step in eliciting a beneficial clinical response to dexamethasone in patients with brain tumors is the formation of a steroid-receptor complex in the peripheral parts of the tumor.

Inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, the active hormone of the renin-angiotensin system. This inhibition leads to a reduction in angiotensin-mediated vasoconstriction and aldosterone production. Although converting enzyme inhibitors have other potential metabolic effects, their beneficial effects in hypertension and congestive heart failure appear to be, in large part, related to their ability to reduce angiotensin II. This causes an increase in plasma renin levels and a fall in plasma and urine aldosterone, which can be sustained for many years. As a consequence, converting enzyme inhibitors produce mild natriuresis and positive potassium balance. At conventionally used doses, enalapril more completely prevents posture-induced increases in aldosterone than does captopril, probably reflecting more complete inhibition of angiotensin II formation in vivo.

In a prospective study, the effect of dexamethasone treatment on brain edema was evaluated by computed tomography (CT) in 14 patients with intracranial neoplasm. A CT study was made immediately prior to the beginning of the treatment and at various intervals for 8 to 19 days thereafter. The volume and attenuation of the edema were measured and related to the time after the start of treatment. In five cases of meningioma, only minor changes were shown; the edema volume either decreased or increased slightly or did not change at all. In four gliomas, a substantial decrease was noted in the edema volume in two cases and a smaller decrease was observed in two cases. In three metastases, a linear decrease in edema volume was noted during the entire follow-up, reducing it to one-fourth of the initial volume after 2 weeks of treatment. In one case of acoustic neuroma and in one undiagnosed lesion, a marked decrease in edema volume was also noted. The attenuation of the remaining edema was constant during the entire treatment time.

In a prospective study the effect of dexamethasone treatment on tumor volume and contrast enhancement was evaluated by computed tomography (CT) in 15 patients with intracranial lesions. Histological diagnoses were confirmed in 13 patients who had undergone surgical intervention. A CT study of the head, with and without contrast medium, was performed prior to the dexamethasone treatment and at various intervals during the treatment for 8-19 days. The volume, attenuation, and contrast enhancement of the tumor were measured and related to the time after the start of the treatment. In six meningiomas there was no change in the volume and enhancement of the tumors. Out of four gliomas, there was an increase in volume of two tumors, whereas the other two cases showed a decrease in the tumor volume. In one glioma a distinct decrease in enhancement was observed. In three cases of metastasis a decrease in enhancement and tumor volume was noted. An acoustic neurinoma and an unverified lesion, considered radiologically to be a glioma, also showed a decrease in tumor volume and contrast enhancement. In tumors that responded to the treatment, a decrease both in volume of the tumor and peritumoral brain edema as well as a decrease in contrast enhancement of the tumor were observed.

Tissue samples from 16 meningioma patients were analysed for the cytosolic estrogen receptor concentration using isoelectric focusing and 11 of the 16 cases were also analysed for the cytosolic progestin receptor concentration using sucrose gradient centrifugation. In this study, 15 of the 16 (94%) and 9 of the 11 (82%) meningiomas had detectable estrogen and progestin receptors, respectively. The mean estrogen receptor concentration in female subjects was 8.9 fmol/mg protein and in males 3.0 fmol/mg protein. This sexual difference in receptor content was statistically significant. When the progestin receptor concentrations were plotted against the estrogen receptor concentrations in the same tumors, a relatively good positive correlation was obtained in female patients (r = 0.87). These findings confirm and extend previous reports on the existence of sex steroid receptors in human brain tumors and might open up the possibility of selective endocrine therapy against meningiomas, especially in case of poor-risk patients.

By means of a monoclonal antibody against the rat liver glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in combination with the indirect immunoperoxidase technique it has been possible to demonstrate GR-immunoreactive nerve and glial cell nuclei all over the tel- and diencephalon of the male rat. Strongly GR-immunoreactive nerve cell nuclei were only present in the parvocellular part of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, in the anterior periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, in the ventral part of the mediobasal hypothalamus, and in the CA1 and CA2 subregion of the hippocampal formation. Within the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus a substantial overlap exists between the GR-immunoreactive area and the CRF-immunoreactive area. Medium to high densities of moderately GR-immunoreactive nerve cell nuclei were present all over the cortical hemispheres. Medium densities of moderately GR-immunoreactive nerve cells were demonstrated in many thalamic nuclei and in the central amygdaloid nucleus. After adrenalectomy the GR immunoreactivity was predominantly located in the pericaryon. Upon acute corticosterone treatment of adrenalectomized male rats, the GR immunoreactivity was again mainly demonstrated in the nerve cell nuclei indicating that corticosterone can translocate GR from the cytoplasm to the cell nuclei. It is suggested that the hypothalamic GR may be involved in the regulation of especially CRF secretion but also in the secretion of other anterior pituitary hormones such as TRH and somatostatin.