Ammocidin, a new apoptosis inducer in Ras-dependent cells from Saccharothrix sp. I. Production, isolation and biological activity.

A new apoptosis inducer, ammocidin, was isolated from the culture broth of Saccharothrix sp. AJ9571. Ammocidin induced apoptotic cell death in Ras-dependent Ba/F3-V12 cells with an IC50 of 66 ng/ml. No cell death was observed in IL-3-dependent Ba/F3-V12 cells at less than 100 microg/ml of ammocidin. Ammocidin significantly reduced the phosphorylation level of MAPK and S6K that mediate the anti-apoptotic function of Ras.

Ammocidin, a new apoptosis inducer in ras-dependent cells from Saccharothrix sp. II. Physico-chemical properties and structure elucidation.

The structure of ammocidin, a new apoptosis inducer in Ras-dependent cells from Saccharothrix sp. AJ9571, was elucidated to be as shown in Fig. 1 by NMR and degradation studies. Ammocidin consists of a 20-membered macrolide ring and three deoxy sugars identified as 6-deoxy-L-glucose, D-digitoxose and D-olivomycose.

Tubular colonic duplication in a dog.

A diagnosis of tubular colonic duplication was made via contrast radiography and colonoscopy in a six-month-old, intact female Boston terrier. Clinical signs of increased frequency of defecation, tenesmus, and constipation, which had been present since birth, resolved following surgical correction of the duplication. The literature addressing diagnosis and treatment of tubular colonic duplication in dogs is reviewed.

[Radiation therapy in brain metastases].

From 1980 to 1985, 126 patients with a brain metastases from various malignant tumors were treated by hypervoltage irradiation with conventional fractionation at the Department of Radiotherapy at the Cancer Institute Hospital. The patients without an extracranial metastases or without neurological symptoms had a longer survival than did the other patients. Radiotherapy of more than 30 Gy improved the neurological functions and reduced the risk of death from the brain metastases. For long-term local control of brain metastases, whole brain irradiation with boost therapy for localized lesions may be a better treatment than other radiation methods and the total radiation dose required may be more than 50 Gy.

[Radiation therapy of choroidal metastases].

A retrospective study was performed on 30 cases with choroidal metastases referred to the Cancer Institute Hospital between July 1975 and June 1986. Of these 30 cases, 32 eyes of 26 patients were treated with irradiation of 4.3 MV X-rays or 12 MeV electron beam therapy in the range of 20-60 Gy to restore vision and prevent blindness. The tumor response to radiation therapy confirmed by ophthalmoscopic examination was described as complete, partial or no response. Of the 32 eyes, 31% had complete response, and 47% showed partial response. The overall response rate was 78%. A visual response as defined by marked or partial improvement of visual acuity and/or subjective symptoms was obtained in 16 out of 26 patients (62%). All of these patients were free of recurrence of symptoms in their quality of life. This proved radiotherapy to be a useful modality of treatment for choroidal metastases. No obvious radiation injuries were encountered in this series.

[Radiation therapy of carcinoma of the eyelid].

Between 1969 and 1985, 30 patients with carcinomas of the eyelid were treated by radiation, including 19 primary cases and 11 secondary cases. The latter were less controllable than the former. According to histology, there were 21 squamous cell carcinomas, 6 basal cell carcinomas and 3 adenocarcinomas. Among the 21 patients with squamous cell carcinomas, 5 had local recurrences, 10 had lymph node metastasis and 3 had distant metastasis. Patients with other histological classifications had no local recurrences, except for one who received incomplete therapy due to diabetes. Almost all of the controlled patients with squamous cell carcinomas were treated with a TDF value greater than 90. Although the visual function was damaged by radiation in seven patients, the lesions of 6 of them were too advanced to avoid radiation injuries.

[Prognostic factors in the treatment of breast cancer--from the viewpoint of the radiotherapist].

Changing tendency forward conservative treatment of operable breast cancer combined either partial mastectomy or lumpectomy with irradiation has been introduced by understanding of results of numerous clinical trials. The importance of biological prognostic factors was emphasized in order to obtain better clinical results including preservation of patients breast.