Estimation of the yield coefficient of Pseudomonas sp. strain DP-4 with a low substrate (2,4-dichlorophenol [DCP]) concentration in a mineral medium from which uncharacterized organic compounds were eliminated by a non-DCP-degrading organism.

The yield coefficient (YC) of Pseudomonas sp. strain DP-4, a 2, 4-dichlorophenol (DCP)-degrading organism, was estimated from the number of CFU produced at the expense of 1 unit amount of DCP at low concentrations. At a low concentration of DCP, the YC can be overestimated in pure culture, because DP-4 assimilated not only DCP but also uncharacterized organic compounds contaminating a mineral salt medium. The concentration of these uncharacterized organic compounds was nutritionally equivalent to 0.7 microg of DCP-C ml(-1). A mixed culture with non-DCP-degrading organisms resulted in elimination of ca. 99.9% of the uncharacterized organic compounds, and then DP-4 assimilated only DCP as a substrate. In a mixed culture, DP-4 degraded an initial concentration of 0.1 to 10 microg of C ml of DCP(-1) and the number of CFU of DP-4 increased. In the mixed culture, DCP at an initial concentration of 0.07 microg of C ml(-1) was degraded. However, the number of CFU of DP-4 did not increase. DCP at an extremely low initial concentration of 0.01 microg of C ml(-1) was not degraded in mixed culture even by a high density, 10(5) CFU ml(-1), of DP-4. When glucose was added to this mixed culture to a final concentration of 1 microg of C ml(-1), the initial concentration of 0.01 microg of C ml of DCP(-1) was degraded. These results suggested that DP-4 required cosubstrates to degrade DCP at an extremely low initial concentration of 0.01 microg of C ml(-1). The YCs of DP-4 at the expense of DCP alone decreased discontinuously with the decrease of the initial concentration of DCP, i.e., 1.5, 0.19, or 0 CFU per pg of DCP-C when 0.7 to 10, 0.1 to 0.5, or 0.07 microg of C ml of DCP(-1) was degraded, respectively. In this study, we developed a new method to eliminate uncharacterized organic compounds, and we estimated the YC of DP-4 at the expense of DCP as a sole source of carbon.

[A case of thyroid cancer invading into mediastinum that was in need of resection of both innominate veins for complete cure].

This case report describes a 59-year-old female patient with superior vena cava syndrome due to large thyroid cancer involving both innominate veins and left common carotid artery. The tumor was resected together with the both innominate veins and left common carotid artery. Right innominate veins and left common carotid artery were reconstructed with FEP-Ringed grafts. Microscopical finding was papillary carcinoma and its lymph node metastasis. Postoperative course was uneventful relatively. Three years after operation the patient is good health without any sign of recurrence.

Different expression patterns of cyclins A, D1 and E in human colorectal cancer.

The expressions of cyclins A, D1 and E at the protein level were investigated by Western blotting in human colorectal carcinomas and in adjacent non-neoplastic colorectal mucosas. Cyclin E was higher in the cancer tissue than in the non-neoplastic mucosa in 92% patients (35 out of 38 cases). However, the cyclin A expression of the mucosa was higher than that of the cancer tissue in 63% (25 out of 40 cases) cases, and only 4 (10%) cancers had higher cyclin A expression. Eleven cancers (27%) demonstrated expression equivalent to that in the mucosa. Equal expression of cyclin D1 in cancer and mucosal tissues was found in 51% cases (20/39), lower expression of cyclin D1 by cancer tissues was demonstrated in 41% cases (16/39) and only three cancers showed higher expression than the mucosa. Proliferating-cell nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry revealed that the labeling index of the cancer tissue was 43.5 +/- 8.3% while that of the mucosa was only 14.8 +/- 5.1%. These results proved that colorectal cancers express high levels of cyclin E, consistent with a high rate of cell proliferation, whereas most of such cancer lose control of cyclin A and cyclin D1 expression.

[A case of malignant localized chest wall mesothelioma accompanying with abdominal aortic aneurysm].

The patient was a 78-year-old man with a history of large painful left lower lateral chest wall tumor that was fist sized, while he had large abdominal aortic aneurysm. Because of high age, two staged operation was done. Initially chest wall tumor was resected. The defect was 11 x 11 cm in sized. The reconstruction of the defect was made with Marlex mesh. The microscopical findings was biphasic malignant mesothelioma. Fourty one days later abdominal aortic aneurysm was excised and the aorta was reconstructed using a Y shaped artificial graft. Post-operative course was uneventful.

A case of polypoid cavernous hemangioma of the sigmoid colon excised by colonoscopic polypectomy.

A 28-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our institute because of sharp anal pain and a mass that prolapsed from the anus after defecation. After spinal anesthesia for emergency operation, the mass spontaneously withdrew into the anus and the pain disappeared. Surgery was postponed. Barium enema and colonoscopy revealed a pedunculated polyp in the sigmoid colon, which was removed by snare polypectomy with electrocautery. The resected polyp was granular and reddish, and measured 33 x 22 x 14 mm. Histological examination of the polyp revealed a cavernous hemangioma. Hemangioma of the colon is rare; only 52 cases have been reported in Japan. Of these patients, eight underwent endoscopic polypectomy. The present lesion is the largest thus treated that has been documented. Endoscopic polypectomy seems to be a safe and preferable procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of small, solitary polypoid hemangiomas of the colon.

A case of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid associated with parathyroid adenoma without hyperparathyroidism.

A rare occurrence of the association of parathyroid adenoma in a case of thyroid papillary carcinoma is described. The patient was incidentally found to have parathyroid adenoma which was preoperatively diagnosed to be a metastatic lymph node. Analysis of her serum obtained before operation showed an elevation of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration without hypercalcemia. Since the association of hyperparathyroidism is high in patients with thyroid diseases, examination of not only serum levels of calcium and PTH but also careful interpretation of computed tomography (CT) and/or nuclear magnetic imaging (MRI) is necessary in the diagnosis of co-existing asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism.

Gastric collision tumor (carcinoid and adenocarcinoma) with gastritis cystica profunda.

We report a rare case of gastric collision tumor (carcinoid and adenocarcinoma) with gastritis cystica profunda that developed in a 49-year-old Japanese man. Early gastric cancer (moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma) was present at the edge of an ulcer in the posterior wall of the upper gastric body. In addition, a carcinoid tumor was found adjacent to adenocarcinoma. This tumor displayed ribbonlike or trabecular patterns, and numerous constituent cells were positive for the argyrophil reaction with Grimelius' stain and serotonin. Electron microscopic features of this tumor confirmed typical carcinoid. There was no merged appearance between both tumors, suggesting collision-type tumor.

Gastric antral vascular ectasia.

A case of gastric antral vascular ectasia confined to the antrum in an elderly Japanese male patient is described. The condition is a cause of blood loss and chronic iron deficiency anemia, particularly in the elderly. The clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic findings, which were contrasted with other hyperplastic or gastric vascular abnormalities, are described.

[A case of corrosive esophagitis with stenosis].

A 41-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of pharyngeal pain and vomiting after intentionally swallowing sodium hydroxide. Gradually esophageal stenosis took place. After 9 months from the taking poison the patient was operated. We tried blunt dissection of esophagus. But the procedure failed in because the wire of stripper was cut. So performed total esophageal resection under the right thoracotomy. The right side colon was used to re-construction through antero-sternal space that was anastmosed to cervical esophagus and stomach. The postoperative course was uneventful.

A case of renal cell carcinoma solitarily metastasized to thyroid 20 years after the resection of primary tumor.

A case of renal cell carcinoma in a 69-year-old woman is reported. The woman developed a thyroid tumor recently. She has a history of nephrectomy done 20 years ago for a renal cell carcinoma. Based on the close resemblances of the histological features and cell nuclear DNA distributions of both tumors, the thyroid tumor was diagnosed as the secondary tumor from the renal cell carcinoma. In the review of the literature, this case of renal cell carcinoma seems to be that with the longest interval of years before solitary metastasis to the thyroid.

Surgical treatment of thoracic aneurysm in a hemodialysis-dependent patient: a case report.

A 53-year-old woman who was on hemodialysis underwent the resection of an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta as well as graft replacement. The operation was performed with the aid of femoro-femoral bypass perfusion and an artificial kidney inserted on the venous side of bypass line. Although the perfusion time was short, the uremic metabolic substance was efficiently removed, resulting in easy management after surgery.