Effect of systemic zinc administration on delayed neuronal death in the gerbil hippocampus

The divalent cation zinc has been reported to possess several physiological properties such as blocking apoptotic cell death through an inhibitory effect on Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺ endonuclease activity, or modulating the neurotoxicity via glutamate receptor subtypes. In the present study, we investigated the effect of peripherally injected zinc on delayed neuronal death seen in the hippocampus after transient global ischemia, in order to elucidate a possible beneficial role on zinc in ischemic neuronal cell death. Forty-five adult Mongolian gerbils of both sexes underwent transient bilateral clipping of the common carotid arteries for 3 min. In the pretreated animals, ZnCl₂ (20 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously once, 1 h before ischemia (superacute group; n=6) or twice at 24 and 48 h before ischemia (subacute group; n=14). Histological survey was carried out 3 days later by in situ DNA fragmentation method and 4 days later by hematoxylin-eosin staining by semiquantatively counting dead neurons in the CA1 sector. Subacute zinc pre-administration significantly reduced the nuclear damage and subsequent neuronal death; however, superacutely pre-administered zinc did not protect hippocampal neurons against ischemia but it did not aggravate the effect of ischemia, either. The present study suggested that transfer of exogenous zinc into the intracellular space is required for neuroprotection, presumably via the anti-endonuclease activity.     

‘Ischemic tolerance’ phenomenon detected in various brain regions

We investigated the effects of mild and non-lethal ischemic insult on neuronal death following subsequent lethal ischemic stress in various brain regions, using a gerbil model of bilateral cerebral ischemia. Single 10-min ischemia consistently caused neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1, CA2, CA3 and CA4, layer III/IV of the cerebral cortex, dorsolateral part of the caudoputamen and ventrolateral part of the thalamus. On the other hand, in double ischemia groups, 2-min ischemic insult 2 days before 10-min ischemia exhibited significant protection in the CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus, the cerebral cortex, the caudoputamen and the thalamus. Five-min ischemic insult 2 days before 10-min ischemia also showed protective effect in the same areas as those of 2-min ischemia except for the CA1 region of the hippocampus, while 1-min ischemic insult exhibited no protective effect in any brain regions. In the immunoblot analysis, both 2- and 5-min ischemia caused increased synthesis of heat shock protein 72 (HSP 72) in the hippocampus, but 1-min ischemia did not. The present study demonstrated that the ‘ischemic tolerance’ phenomenon was widely found in the brain and also suggested that ischemic treatment severe enough to cause HSP 72 synthesis might be needed for induction of ‘ischemic tolerance’.     

A case of primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine body]

A 70-year-old female was found to have class V cytology on an endometrial smear, and a histological diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was made by endometrial biopsy. The pathological diagnosis was malignant lymphoma, diffuse large cell-type according to the Working Formulation classification. Immunohistochemical staining showed lymphoma cells to be positive for CD 20 (B 1), indicating B cell lineage. Two cervical lymph nodes were palpable, and swelling of a para-aortic lymph node was also found by abdominal CT scan. The clinical stage was determined to be III according to the Ann Arbor classification. After three courses of CHOP chemotherapy, lymphoma cells could no longer be detected by endometrial biopsy, and the para-aortic and cervical lymphadenopathy also disappeared. Primary malignant lymphoma of the uterus, especially of the uterine body, is very rare. Only eight cases of primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine body were reported in the literature. The cell lineage was decided in only one case, which was B cell type.     

Downward deviation of progressive addition lenses in a myopia control trial

PURPOSE: To clarify how the downward deviation of progressive addition lenses (PALs) reduces their near-addition effect in schoolchildren participating in a myopia control trial. METHODS: Among 95 schoolchildren wearing PALs for 6 months (age range: 6-12 years; refractive error range: -6.00 to -1.25 D), facial images were captured with a digital still camera placed 60 cm in front of the eyes while he or she was looking ahead with natural head posture. The vertical deviations of PALs from their ideal position (mm) were evaluated by analysing these images. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) downward deviations of PALs for the right and left eyes were 3.7 +/- 2.3 and 3.7 +/- 2.0 mm, respectively, and the largest downward deviation was 10.2 mm. For simulations using the average downward deviation, the near-addition effect of PALs was reduced to 30 and 63% of the expected value at the 10 degrees and 20 degrees downward eye positions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The downward deviation of PALs is a significant factor in reducing their therapeutic effect for near-addition. To ensure the proper alignment of PALs in children, the conventional spectacle-frame-fitting procedure is not sufficient, and repeated confirmation using a testing method similar to that used in this study is required.     

A case of adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity associated with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone(SIADH)

An inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) has been recognized as the cause of hypotonic hyponatremia, and the occurrence of this syndrome, accompanied by an ADH-producing adenocarcinoma in the nasal cavity, is reported. In February, 1987, a 50-year-old male, showing sights of delirium, disorientation, and irritability was admitted to the hospital. The patient was observed to be healthy, except for a neck lymphnode metastasis that was present up to the time of his hospitalization. The hyponatremia was incidentally found, although dehydration or intravascular volume depletion were not noted. These neuropsychiatric symptoms were considered to be associated with hyponatremia due to SIADH. He had had a partial maxillectomy, a neck dissection, and irradiation to the nose and nasal cavity 32 months earlier, and then underwent a surgical resection of the neck metastasis; he had a total of 10 other operations before the onset of the symptoms. Upon initial inspection, since neither an intracranial invasion nor a brain metastasis was found, we diagnosed that his symptoms were due to an autonomic disturbance caused by surgical and mental "stress". When he died of cardiac failure due to a mediastinal invasion 8 months after the onset of SIADH, tumor tissues was extirpated in an autopsy and was then cultured. In this manner, it was proved that the tumor cells had been producing ADH. This procedure clarified that the syndrome had resulted from an ADH-producing tumor of the nasal cavity.     

Immunoelectron microscopic study of HTLV-II-producing cells with an anti-envelope gp46 monoclonal antibody

Summary We observed expression of envelope gp46 protein on an HTLV-II-producing T-cell line (Mo) cells by an immunoelectron microscopical method using a monoclonal antibody against HTLV-II gp46. gp46 reactivity was observed on virus-like particles, extracellular vesicles, cell membrane, and partially in nuclear membrane and endoplasmic reticulum.     

Prolonged ectopic calcification induced by BMP-2-derived synthetic peptide

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) promotes the formation and regeneration of bone and cartilage, and therefore constitutes the most promising candidate for a bone repair material. However, it also has a wide range of functions, such as in organogenesis and apoptosis. Therefore, we investigated a novel synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 73-92 of BMP-2. This peptide bound to a BMP-2-specific receptor and elevated both alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin mRNA in the murine cell line, C3H10T1/2. The 73-92 peptide also induced ectopic calcification when conjugated to a covalently crosslinked alginate gel. Here we report that the 73-92 peptide-conjugated alginate gel showed prolonged ectopic calcification for up to 7 weeks in rat calf muscle. In contrast, rhBMP-2-impregnated collagen gel showed maximum ectopic calcification at 3 weeks, and the calcified products that had formed disappeared after 5 weeks. Histological examination showed that the 73-92 peptide-conjugated alginate gel induced many osteoblast-like cells and few osteoclasts. In contrast, rhBMP-2-impregnated collagen gel induced many osteoclasts. These results suggest that the 73-92 peptide on alginate gel remains active at the implanted site, continuously induces differentiation of osteoblast precursor cells into osteoblasts, and activates osteoblasts to promote ectopic calcification.     

Malignant Brenner tumor with peritoneal metastasis

A case of malignant Brenner tumor with peritoneal metastasis in a 67-year-old woman was reported. The multilocular cystic tumor of right ovary was 420 g in weight, and their cystic walls were covered with multilayered tumor cells showing papillary pattern very frequently. The tumor was histologically transitional cell carcinoma with occasional glandular structures but no squamous differentiation corresponding to grade 2 or 3 urinary bladder carcinoma. The pattern of benign Brenner tumor was not identified, but there was some area of proliferating Brenner tumor. Immunohistochemically, carcinoembryonic antigen was detected in several tumor cells, especially in the intercellular spaces among them, and cytokeratin was detected only in some tumor cells. Ultrastructurally, the malignant Brenner tumor shared many common features with the benign one and also bladder tumor. Intercellular spaces with microvilli were frequently found and thought to be important for diagnosis. The morphologic criteria of this rare tumor are discussed.     

BRONCHIAL PLASMACYTOMA IDENTIFIED BY IMMUNOPEROXIDASE TECHNIQUE ON PARAFFIN EMBEDDED SECTION

A case of bronchial plasmacytoma occurring in a 57- year-old housewife is reported. She had had the productive cough and the "abnormal shadow" in the right lower lobe for three years before admission. On bronchocopy, a tumor was found in the right main bronchus, large enough to obstruct the air way. The tumor was resected through rigid bronchoscope. Histological impression was "plasmacytoma with local amyloid deposit." M-protein was never detected in the serum or urine. Applying the immunoperoxidase technique for the paraffin section, the plasma cells were found to contain only a single type of immunoglobulin, Ig G-L. The differential diagnosis between plasmacytoma and plasma cell granuloma was made, and plasmacytoma was considered to be one type of extranodal malignant lymphoma.