Ishigami J

Clinical trial of attenuated vaccinia virus AS strain in the treatment of advanced adenocarcinoma

SummaryTwo cases of advanced adenocarcinoma treated with attenuated vaccinia virus AS strain are reported. One was a primary lung adenocarcinoma with metastatic lesions in brain, right kidney, and rib. The other was a left renal adenocarinoma with multiple lung and vertebral metastases. In both patients, good antitumor effects against lung and bone lesions were obtained, respectively, and no adverse reactions were noted. Therefore, treatemtn of patients with AS vaccinia virus appears to suppress the growth of tumor cells without adverse effects on normal human cells. This is the first report to describe the effects of attenuated vaccinia virus AS strain on human cancer.

Enhanced Inhibition of Anticancer Drugs by Human Recombinant Gamma-Interferon for Human Renal Cell Carcinoma in Vitro

We studied the inhibitory effect of seven anticancer drugs and alpha-, recombinant beta-, and recombinant gamma-interferons on the in vitro growth of two established human renal cell carcinomas and 16 renal cell carcinomas obtained from patients using monolayer culture and the double-layer soft agar system. Recombinant gamma-interferon was the most effective of three types of interferon. Combined treatment with recombinant gamma-interferon and some anticancer drugs inhibited the cell growth in both cell lines more than treatment with each drug alone. Treatment with recombinant gamma-interferon and cisplatinum or 5-fluorouracil following a 24-hour incubation with the interferon was more effective than when interferon and the drug were given simultaneously. Treatment using doxorubicin, cisplatinum, or vinblastine with recombinant gamma-interferon synergistically inhibited colony formation in 11 of the 16 renal cell carcinomas that showed clonal growth. Our results suggest that treatment with anticancer drugs in combination with recombinant gamma-interferon is effective for renal cell carcinoma.

Giant seminoma of undescended testis in down syndrome

A giant seminoma of undescended testis in a forty-one-year-old Japanese male with Down syndrome is reported as is a review of the literature. The relationship between Down syndrome and testicular cancer are discussed. To our knowledge this is the largest seminoma of undescended testis (weight 3,500 Gm) so far recorded.

Study on Human Spermatozoal Motility: Preliminary Report on Newly Developed Multiple Exposure Photography Method

We have developed a multiple exposure photography (MEP) method for objectively evaluating the spermatozoal motility. The semen specimen placed in a 10‐μm chamber was photographed through the phase‐contrast microscope. Light pulses were generated with the aid of a multipulser using a xenon stroboscope (pulse interval: 160 msec., exposure: 1 sec.). In the photomicrographs, motile spermatozoa produced images of six‐ringed chains, while nonmotile spermatozoa appeared as brighter images which clearly visualized spermatozoa from the head to the tail. When 30 semen specimens from fertile males were analyzed 1 hour after their collection, the mean spermatozoal concentration was found to be 79 times 106 per ml the mean rate of motile spermatozoa 39.7% and the mean spermatozoal velocity 29.3 μm per sec. The rate of motile spermatozoa estimated by the MEP method (39.7%) was lower than that estimated by the direct observation method (60% or more) by ca. 20%. The MEP method enables concurrent accurate estimation of the spermatozoal concentration, the rate of motile spermatozoa and the velocity of individual spermatozoa.

New Preoperative Chemotherapy for Bladder Cancer Using Combination Hemodialysis and Direct Hemoperfusion: Preliminary Report

Preoperative chemotherapy and subsequent cystectomy were performed on 11 patients with locally invasive bladder cancer. Three chemotherapy regimens were tested: 1) 2 to 3 mg. per kg. doxorubicin in 5 patients, 2) 1 mg. per kg. mitomycin C in 3 and 3) 0.6 mg. per kg. mitomycin C with 70 mg. systemic bleomycin in 3. Doxorubicin and mitomycin C were infused once preoperatively into the hypogastric arteries or the aortic bifurcation, with simultaneous hemodialysis and direct hemoperfusion to remove as much extra-regional infusate as possible and, thus, reduce the systemic toxicity of the drug. Objective responses were obtained in 4 of 7 patients with measurable tumor (57 per cent). Downstaging was obtained in 7 of 11 patients (64 per cent). All patients given doxorubicin had leukocytopenia (500 to 1,900 per mm.3) and moderate patchy alopecia, and 1 patient given mitomycin C and bleomycin had thrombocytopenia (44,000 per mm.3). However, these side effects were observed comparatively less in the patients given mitomycin C only.

Kallikrein and male subfertility. Usefulness of high-unit kallikrein tablets.

Kallikrein und Subfertilität des Mannes: Nützlichkeit von hochdosierten Kallikrein‐Tabletten

Clinical Evaluation of Basic Fetoprotein in Testicular Cancer

We attempted to determine the efficacy of basic fetoprotein as a marker in testicular cancer. The levels of serum basic fetoprotein were studied in 58 patients (31 with seminoma and 27 with nonseminoma). Elevated levels were observed in 22 seminoma (71 per cent) and 15 nonseminoma (56 per cent) patients, while the levels of other markers (beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein and lactic dehydrogenase) remained normal in 6 seminoma (19 per cent) and 2 nonseminoma (7 per cent) patients. The levels of basic fetoprotein changed in relation to the clinical courses and they elevated again in 3 of 4 patients with recurrence. The concentration of basic fetoprotein in testicular cancer tissue was significantly higher than in the normal testis. Histological localization of basic fetoprotein in testicular cancer tissue was demonstrated immunohistochemically. Thus, basic fetoprotein was considered to be a useful serum marker for testicular cancer.

Urinary Diversion: Anastomosis of the Ureters into a Sigmoid Pouch and End-to-Side Sigmoidorectostomy

From 1978 to 1982 bilateral ureterorectostomy and end-to-side sigmoidorectostomy were done following cystectomy for carcinoma of the bladder in 7 patients. No patient had recurrent pyelonephritis or ureterointestinal obstruction. Rectography showed the absence of rectoureteral reflux of contrast medium but rectosigmoid reflux appeared after injection of more than 150 ml. opaque solution. Adequate alkali therapy was performed in 2 patients with hyperchloremic acidosis. While there were some problems concerning the quality of urinary and fecal control achieved in our patients they were no worse than those of ordinary ureterosigmoidostomy. This operation might be recommended for patients in whom a collection appliance is unacceptable. However, before this surgical procedure can be performed the fact that the end result in terms of fecal urinary continence is unpredictable must be explained thoroughly to the patient.

A new method for rapid spermatozoal concentration and motility: a multiple-exposure photography system using the Polaroid camera

A multiple exposure photography (MEP) system using the Polaroid camera PM-CP (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) has been developed to accurately estimate the concentration and motility of spermatozoa in routine clinical work for the treatment of infertility. This Polaroid-MEP system is equipped with a xenon stroboscope MS-230 (Sugawara Laboratories Inc., Tokyo, Japan), and Maklers Counting Chamber (Sefi-Medical Instruments, Haifa, Israel). The system immediately produces printed images of spermatozoal tracks at the laboratory of the outpatient clinic, providing objective and exact information about the concentration and the motility of spermatozoa.