Taketo Katsuki

Correlation between spontaneous metastatic potential and type I collagenolytic activity in a human pancreatic cancer cell line (SUIT-2) and sublines

A human pancreatic cancer cell line (SUIT-2) and four sublines cloned in vitro (S2-007, S2-013, S2-020 and S2-028) were inoculated into nude mice for assessment of metastatic potentials. After 16 weeks of subcutaneous injection, the parent SUIT-2 line metastasized to the lungs and lymph nodes in three of six mice. S2-007 cells presented the highest metastatic potential in pulmonary (5/6) and lymph node (2/6) metastases among the four sublines. No metastasis was found in S2-028. The incidence of spontaneous pulmonary metastasis was correlated with that of pulmonary colonization after intravenous (i.v.) injection of cell clusters (r = 0.87, P = 0.056). Pulmonary colonization potential using single cells, however, did not always reflect a spontaneous metastatic ability. Type I collagenolytic activity in serum-free conditioned media of these cells was correlated effectively with the incidence of spontaneous pulmonary metastasis (r = 0.92, P = 0.026) and pulmonary colonization after i.v. injection of cell clusters (r = 0.95, P = 0.013). Thus, type I collagenolytic activity may possibly be essential to spontaneous cancer metastasis.

Kinetics of carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 production in a human pancreatic cancer cell line (SUIT-2)

SummaryKinetics of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) production in a human pancreatic cancer cell line (SUTT-2) were investigated. Production of CEA reached a maximum, 31.0 ng/1 X 106 cells, in the late stationary phase with transient decline during the early exponential phase and 15.5% of the produced CEA was released into the medium, while production of CA19-9 reached a maximum, 421 U/l X 106 cells, in the early stationary phase and 68.8% of the produced CA19-9 was released into the medium. Accordingly, the kinetics of CEA and CA19-9 production of SUIT-2 in vitro might be independent. CEA was stained immunohistochemically in the cytoplasm of the cells forming small buds above the monolayer cell sheet. On the contrary, CA19-9 positive cells were observed scattered in the monolayer cell sheet and CA19-9 was stained in the cytoplasm, predominantly at the projections of the cell surface. CEA and CA19-9 were also detected in the sera of nude mice bearing SUIT-2 tumors and their concentrations correlated well with tumor volume. Correlation coefficients between tumor markers and tumor volume were 0.79 (p<0.01) for CEA and 0.90 (p<0.01) for CA19-9.

Conversion of 7-ketolithocholic acid to ursodeoxycholic acid by human intestinal anaerobic microorganisms: Interchangeability of chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid

SummaryChenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid and 7-ketolithocholic acid were incubated with human intestinal bacteria (source: 4 healthy males) at 37‡C for 72 hours in an anaerobic condition. The bile acids of the products in culture medium were identified by three independent methods, thin layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography and GLC-mass spectrometry.Lithocholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid and 7-ketolithocholic acid were observed in the culture of chenodeoxycholic acid. Lithocholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and 7-ketolithocholic acid were observed in the culture of ursodeoxycholic acid. Chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid were produced from 7-ketolithocholic acid. These data may suggest that chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid are interconvertible via 7-ketolithocholic acid by the mixed culture of human intestinal microorganisms under an anaerobic condition.

Portopulmonary shunt by splenopneumopexy for portal hypertension in children.

Portopulmonary shunting by splenopneumopexy was successfully performed on seven children with portal hypertension, associated with extrahepatic portal vein occlusion in six and congenital hepatic fibrosis in one. Technically, this procedure is very simple and safely performed even in infancy. No operative mortality has been encountered to date. All children with portal hypertension treated by this portopulmonary shunt are doing very well, without any disturbances in their growth. Their postoperative survival ranges from 8 years and 9 months to 17 years and 9 months. Splenic pulp pressure was reduced to a postoperative mean value of 306 +/- 40.7 mmH2O from a preoperative mean value of 402.9 +/- 35.7 mmH2O. Hemorrhages esophageal varices were completely controlled postoperatively. Postoperative liver function tests were essentially unchanged from the preoperative values.

Primary perianal actinomycosis over a thirty year period.

A 50-year-old Japanese man had had abscesses and draining fistulas in the perianal region. These lesions recurred, despite surgical treatment such as incision and drainage over a 30 year period. “Sulfur granules” were found in the pus from the abscess and Actinomyces israelii was cultured. Ampicillin-cloxacillin treatment lead to healing. The patient died 4 months later with a hepatoma and multiple metastases.

Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection: Sequential changes of gastrointestinal radiology after treatment with thiabendazole

Sequential changes of gastrointestinal radiology are described in a case ofStrongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection. Duodenal dilatation, reflux of barium into the biliary and pancreatic duct, and mucosal thickening of the small intestine were the striking features before treatment. Although treatment with thiabendazole led to rapid and complete clearance of rhabditiform larvae, some abnormal radiologic changes in the small intestine persisted for approximately 4 months before the mucosal pattern reverted to normal.

Insulin degradation in hepatic cirrhosis

SummaryHepatic insulinase activity was studied in cirrhosis in an attempt to explain the hyperinsulinemia known to occur in this disease. Liver tissue was obtained during laparotomy in seven patients with cirrhosis of the liver and five patients without liver disease. Insulin degradation was significantly decreased in the cirrhotic liver at each time interval measured (p<0.05). Insulinase inhibitor activity was measured in the plasma of 12 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and six controls. There was no significant difference between the two groups. De creased insulinase activity in cirrhosis may account, in part, for the hyperinsulinemia seen in this disease.

Remarkable improvement of clinical status in a patient with multiple lymphomatous polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract after repetitive chemotherapy

SummaryThe effect of repeated courses of chemotherapy on gastrointestinal tumors seen in a 43 year-old male patient with multiple lymphomatous polyposis involving the entire gastrointestinal tract was presented. Numerous polypoid lesions from the stomach to the rectum were the characteristic finding in this case. The biopsied specimens from polyps either of the stomach or large intestine showed diffuse lymphocytic accumulation in the submucosa, which is consistent with multiple lymphomatous polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract. Remarkable regression of the large masses in the gastrointestinal tract was obtained by two courses of VEMP therapy, along with improvement of hypoalbuminemia and a positive CRP. Recurrence of gastrointestinal masses in the cecum and rectum was also eliminated by six courses of CHOP therapy, and a total of nine courses of CHOP therapy led to complete disappearance of masses in the gastrointestinal tract. The present case is different from the others in terms of the following viewpoints that first the ensuing large masses favorably responded to repetitive chemotherapy, secondly the histopathological findings remained benign despite the fact that large nodular masses had recurred in the cecum and rectum, and thirdly the pathological changes were still confined to the gastrointestinal tract without developing systemic malignant manifestations.

A giant gallbladder

SummaryA case of giant gallbladder is presented. A 36-yr-old female complaining of colicky pain and a mass in the right upper quadrant underwent cholecystectomy, when the giant gallbladder, 18cm in length and 4cm in maximum diameter, and an extremely long cystic duct was confirmed. Since neither marked biliary inflammation nor biliary obstruction was observed, this giant gallbladder is considered to be congenital.

Iron deficiency anemia caused by a giant jejunal diverticulum

We treated a patient with a jejunal diverticulum with a rare complication of iron deficiency anemia. The anemia was improved following resection of the diverticulum. It was revealed that the iron deficiency anemia was due to the malabsorption caused by the jejunal diverticulum.