Immunoglobulin G response to subgingival gram-negative bacteria in human subjects

Serum and gingival crevicular fluid from normal healthy adults and patients with periodontitis were screened for immunoglobulin G antibodies to antigens from Bacteroides gingivalis 381, Bacteroides intermedius 24, Bacteroides loescheii ATCC 15930, Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 25586, Eikenella corrodens 1073, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 29522, and Capnocytophaga sp. strain M-12. Immunoglobulin G antibody titers to the antigens were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The antibody levels to B. gingivalis in serum and gingival crevicular fluid were significantly higher in the samples from patients with periodontitis than in samples from healthy individuals. Although there were individual differences within patient groups, a positive correlation (P less than 0.01) was found between the serum immunoglobulin G levels to B. gingivalis and the development of periodontitis. The antibodies to F. nucleatum (P less than 0.05), E. corrodens (P less than 0.05), and A. actinomycetemcomitans were slightly higher in patients with periodontitis than in normal subjects. There were no remarkable differences between the two groups in titers to B. intermedius, B. loescheii, and Capnocytophaga sp.     

Plasmacytoma of Lymph Node Recurrent Lymphadenopathy Terminating in Plasma Cell Dyscrasia with Polyneuropathy and Endocrine Disturbances

A case with lymphadenopathy of the left side of the neck in a 38-year-old male is described. He had a history of several relapses of about 10 years duration. Swollen lymph nodes were histologically similar to those of the hyaline-vascular type of Castleman's disease, but contained clear-cut lymph sinus and a sheet-like proliferation of plasma cells. Lymph follicles showed proliferation and atrophic germinal centers, in which cellular hypertrophy in the wall of ramifying small blood vessels, called angiosclerosis, was frequently encountered. During its progress, the patient developed plasmacytoma of the lymph nodes with varied clinical manifestations such as polyneuropathy, disturbance of gait, unusual perspiration, hirsuitism, gynecomastia, bilateral papilledema, and albumino-cytologic dissociation in cerebrospinal fluid.     

Plasma brain natriuretic peptide and the evaluation of volume overload in infants and children with congenital heart disease

This study was designed to explore whether it was possible to evaluate the severity of VSD, PDA, and ASD by measuring brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. We also investigated normal BNP levels in children to provide a baseline for our study. We measured BNP levels in 253 normal children, including 11 normal neonates, and in 91 VSD patients, 29 PDA patients, and 34 ASD patients. BNP levels showed no age-related differences in normal children (the mean value: 5.3 +/- 3.8 pg/ml). In the healthy neonates, BNP levels rose from 10.4 +/- 11.9 pg/ml in cord blood to 118.8 +/- 83.2 pg/ml on day 0, then fell to 15.3 +/- 7.8 pg/ml by day 7. In VSD and PDA patients, BNP levels correlated significantly with Qp/Qs, LVEDV, and peak RVP/LVP. In ASD patients, BNP levels correlated with Qp/Qs and RVEDV. Especially, in VSD patients, as an index corresponding to 1.5-2.0 of the Qp/Qs ratio, BNP levels of 20-35 pg/ml were found to be best with regard to both sensitivity and specificity. In the healthy neonates, BNP levels changed rapidly after birth. In VSD, PDA, and ASD patients, BNP levels were well-correlated with the severity of the disease. Especially, in VSD patients, it that appears BNP levels may be useful in evaluating surgical indications, with 20-35 pg/ml levels being the appropriate cut-off value.     

CHONDROID SYRINGOMA (MIXED TUMOR OF THE SKIN)

The clinicopathology of 13 cases of chondroid syringoma were examined. The ages of the patients ranged from 26 to 86 years, with an average of 48 years. There were eight males and five females. Ten tumors out of the thirteen appeared on the face. Only one patient out of ten was suspected of recurrence in follow-up information. Histologically, all tumors consisted of epithelial cells, chondroid or myxoid matrix, and other strumal elements. The tumors were histologically classified into two types; twelve tumors had tubular and cystic lumina lined by two layers of epithelial cells, and only one case had small lumina lined by only a single layer. By an immunohistochemical study with a PAP method, positive stainings of keratin were observed in all cases, and S-100 protein in all but one. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells showed features of an epithelial cell. Some ultrastructural differences were noted between two types of chondroid syringoma. Type I tumor cells had many tonofilaments in cytoplasm, but cytoplasmic filaments in type II were of the intermediate-type.     

Directed differentiation of telencephalic precursors from embryonic stem cells

We demonstrate directed differentiation of telencephalic precursors from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells using optimized serum-free suspension culture (SFEB culture). Treatment with Wnt and Nodal antagonists (Dkk1 and LeftyA) during the first 5 d of SFEB culture causes nearly selective neural differentiation in ES cells ( approximately 90%). In the presence of Dkk1, with or without LeftyA, SFEB induces efficient generation ( approximately 35%) of cells expressing telencephalic marker Bf1. Wnt3a treatment during the late culture period increases the pallial telencephalic population (Pax6(+) cells yield up to 75% of Bf1(+) cells), whereas Shh promotes basal telencephalic differentiation (into Nkx2.1(+) and/or Islet1/2(+) cells) at the cost of pallial telencephalic differentiation. Thus, in the absence of caudalizing signals, floating aggregates of ES cells generate naive telencephalic precursors that acquire subregional identities by responding to extracellular patterning signals.     

Expression of heme oxygenase-1 in rat ontogeny

Heme oxygenase (HO), the heme-degrading enzyme, plays an important role in heme catabolism. Among three isozymes, HO-1 is an inducible form expressed mainly in macrophages. In rat ontogeny, HO-1 immunoreactivity was detected in mononuclear cells in the yolk sac at 10 days of gestation. HO-1-expressing cells were then detected in the fetal liver and their numbers increased during the gestational period. The numbers of HO-1-positive cells and HO-1 mRNA levels in the liver peaked at 18 days of gestation. Most of the macrophages expressed both HO-1 and a macrophage scavenger receptor. Macrophages in the fetal liver showed marked hemophagocytosis. Macrophages in the lung, spleen, bone marrow, and other tissues also expressed HO-1. HO-1 immunoreactivity was also observed in syncytial cells of the chorionic villi, the endodermal layer of the yolk sac, and renal tubules of the fetus. Intestinal mucosal epithelial cells expressed HO-1 after birth. These findings imply that HO-1 is crucial for macrophages in heme catabolism from an early stage of ontogeny. HO-1 expression in non-macrophagic cells may be required for other purposes such as protection from oxidative stress and various stimuli.