Effects of static magnetic field on dissolved oxygen levels in aqueous solutions containing copper(II), iron(II), and heme iron(III) complexes.

Trace metal ions like copper and iron play important roles such as binding, transport, and storage of molecular dioxygen in a wide variety of living systems. The effects of static magnetic fields on the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in aqueous solutions containing copper(II), iron(II), and their bioligand complexes were investigated. The DO levels in aqueous solutions containing the stable copper(II) complexes such as Cu(II)-Arg, His, GGH and BSA systems increased when the applied magnetic field increased. However, the magnetic field-dependent changes of DO levels were not observed by the unstable Cu(II) complexes such as Cu(II)-Lys, Gly, Gly-His and Hb systems. Especially, DO levels in aqueous solutions containing Cu(II)-His or BSA complexes increased 1.1-fold to those of the control levels at 200 mT of the applied magnetic field. In contrast, DO levels in aqueous solutions containing iron(II) decreased significantly when the magnetic field increased, which in turn promoted the Fe(II)-induced lipidperoxidation in liposomes. DO levels in aqueous solutions containing Fe(II)-His complex decreased 0.9-fold to those of the control levels at 200 mT of the magnetic field for 30 min. While, the magnetic field-dependent changes of DO levels increased significantly in aqueous solutions containing heme iron(III)-complexes, suggesting that heme iron(III) is reduced to heme iron(II) under exposure of the magnetic field and thus the incorporation of molecular dioxygen in aqueous solutions is enhanced. These results indicate that the effect of the magnetic fields on DO levels in aqueous solutions must be discussed in terms of a concept: formation of intermediate complexes consisting of molecular dioxygen-copper or iron and bioligands under physiological conditions and the following enhancement of incorporation of molecular dioxygen by the complexes, that in turn activate the molecular dioxygen.

A simple method for recovering the motile spermatozoa from extremely low quality sperm samples.

Recovery of motile spermatozoa from extremely low quality samples for use in the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure is difficult. To solve this problem we developed a simple method to recover the motile spermatozoa using a 3% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) droplet. After depositing a sperm pellet into this slightly viscous droplet, motile spermatozoa readily swam out to the clear area while immotile spermatozoa dispersed to a lesser extent, so that motile and immotile cells became clearly separated from each other. A total of 36 ICSI cycles using spermatozoa with extremely low quality characteristics were performed. We recovered the motile spermatozoa from all sperm samples from two sources of poor quality spermatozoa. Thirty-one cycles of ICSI with ejaculate resulted in fertilization and pregnancy rates of 54 and 29% respectively. Five cycles of ICSI with frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa resulted in fertilization and pregnancy rates of 70 and 60% respectively. The 3% PVP droplet method is very simple and easy to perform, so it may be useful for recovering the motile spermatozoa from extremely low quality sperm samples used for ICSI.

Benign fibrous histiocytoma of the stomach: report of a case.

We report herein an extremely very rare case of primary benign fibrous histiocytoma of the stomach found in a 56-year-old man who presented with a 2-week history of nausea and anorexia. Gastrointestinal X-rays and endoscopy revealed a protruding lesion in the stomach, but biopsies failed to demonstrate the nature of the tumor. Histopathologic investigation of the resected tumor showed the typical features of benign fibrous histiocytoma: Consisting of an admixture of spindly fibroblast-like and roundish histiocyte-like cells arranged in a storiform pattern. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining with alpha-1-antichymotrypsin was positive for histiocyte-like cells in the tumor. The patient has shown no evidence of recurrence in the 2 years of follow-up since his operation.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: report of 42 cases.

Our initial experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis and cholelithiasis was reviewed in 42 patients and the data were compared with those of 21 patients who underwent conventional open cholecystectomy previously. Only one patient required conversion to an open operation. Three of the 42 patients had minor complications without death in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The mean time for the laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 100 +/- 40 min, as compared with 79 +/- 21 min for the open cholecystectomy. The average postoperative hospital stay was 11.4 +/- 7.1 days for the laparoscopic procedure and 35.5 +/- 15.4 days for the conventional procedure. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy offers the patients shortened hospitalization and lower complications and can replace the conventional open cholecystectomy in large degree, at least in the uncomplicated cases.

[Clinical evaluation of bone turnover in patients with bone metastasis of various cancer of urogenital tract].

To study the bone turnover in patients with bone metastasis from cancers of the kidney, bladder, prostate and other organs, Ca metabolism, vitamin D related hormones and various markers, such as bone glaprotein (BGP) and hydroxyproline, were investigated. In the group with osteolytic metastasis of non-prostatic cancer patients, BGP which is a measure of bone absorption was significantly increased and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline, Ca and P was elevated. Serum Ca was also higher and 1 alpha 25 (OH)2D and 250HD, measures of the metabolism of vitamin D, were lower. It was shown that bone absorption was promoted with the osteolytic findings by clinical X-ray examination, but osteoblastic changes which did not depend on osteoblast cells, seemed to exist in this group. On the contrary, in the group with osteoblastic metastasis from prostatic cancer, the level of BGP was not increased, but urinary hydroxyproline was moderately increased. Serum and urinary Ca and P levels were increased. In addition, 1 alpha 25 (OH)2D and 24 x 25 (OH)2D were lower than in the control group. These results indicate that urinary hydroxyproline is a useful marker for patients with bone metastasis, but BGP was correlative with neither the clinical findings of bone metastasis nor the bone turn over and metabolisms.

Comparative analysis of growth factors in normal and pathologic human prostates.

Growth factors, as detected by DNA synthesis stimulating activity for BALB/c 3T3 cells, in normal, benign hypertrophic and cancerous human prostates were analyzed. The total content (units per gram of tissue) in benign hypertrophic prostate was two to four times higher than those in normal and cancerous prostates. In all the three groups, heparin-binding growth factor, growth factor adsorbed to heparin-Sepharose in the presence of 0.5 NaCl. accounted for about 80-95% of the total growth factor content. Qualitative analysis using a heparin-Sepharose column revealed two types of heparin-binding growth factor in the prostates, one eluted from the column at 1.2-1.3 M NaCl and the other at 1.5-1.8 M NaCl. The latter was the predominant type in all groups. In addition to the growth factors detected with BALB/c 3T3, a growth factor with specific action upon MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblasts was found in prostatic cancer, but not in normal and benign hypertrophic prostates.