Parenchymal calcification is associated with the neurological prognosis in patients with congenital rubella syndrome

Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) results from maternal rubella virus infection in early pregnancy. Abnormal neuroimaging findings have been analyzed in a small number of CRS patients in the past; however, their clinical significance has been poorly addressed. Therefore, we have investigated the neuroimaging findings of 31 patients with CRS from previous studies. The most common finding was parenchymal calcification, which was observed in 18 of 31 patients (58.1%). A multivariable logistic regression model showed that it was associated with psychomotor or mental retardation (p = 0.018), suggesting that parenchymal calcification in CRS could be a prognostic factor.     

Comparison of maxillary stability after Le Fort I osteotomy for occlusal cant correction surgery and maxillary advanced surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare postoperative maxillary stability following Le Fort I osteotomy for the correction of occlusal cant as compared with conventional Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement. STUDY DESIGN: The subjects were 40 Japanese adults with jaw deformities. Of these, 20 underwent a Le Fort I osteotomy and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) to correct asymmetric skeletal morphology and inclined occlusal cant. The other 20 patients underwent a Le Fort I osteotomy and sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) to advance the maxilla. Lateral and posteroanterior cephalograms were taken postoperatively and assessed statistically. Thereafter, the 2 groups were followed for time-course changes. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to time-course changes during the immediate postoperative period. CONCLUSION: This suggests that maxillary stability after Le Fort I osteotomy for cant correction does not differ from that after Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement.     

A case of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis associated with sarcoidosis of the lung and eye

Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis is considered to be an inflammatory disease of the adenohypophysis that is commonly present with visual disturbance and hypopituitarism. Its etiology remains unclear but it is often related to an autoimmune disorder involving other organs, such as the thyroid, parathyroid, or adrenal glands. We encountered a rare case of lymphocytic adenohypophysitis associated with sarcoidosis of the lung and eye during the follow-up period. A 23-year-old woman was hospitalized in July 1986, with a one-month history of headache and visual disturbances which began three days after her second normal delivery. On admission, she showed slight visual impairment and had a left temporal superior quadrantanopia. Endocrinological evaluation revealed thyroid and adrenal hypofunction, and low response of human growth hormone to the loading test. A skull X-ray showed normal shaped sella with some erosion of the dorsum. CT scan showed a rounded contrast-enhanced intrasellar mass extending into the suprasellar cistern. MRI (SR: 500/30) showed a homogeneous low intensity mass which contained a small high intensity area on the relative T2-weighted image (2000/50). A biopsy was performed via right frontotemporal craniotomy. The consistency of the resected tissue was firmer than that of pituitary adenoma. Histologically, the tissue showed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration with some normal adenohypophysis. Her postoperative course was uneventful and the visual impairment improved two months later after the operation. Six months after the operation, she was readmitted with complaints of general fatigue and breathlessness. Chest X-ray showed diffuse infiltration throughout both lung fields, but there was no bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Dispersion of Pressure to the Head in Brain/NeuroSurgery

Skin and soft tissue defects are sometimes problematic especially when the defects large, contaminated, irradiated, or poor blood supplied. The human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are proliferated upon basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimuli in vitro and in vivo. In this experiment, the skin and soft tissue defects are investigated if the wounds are able to be reepithelialized or accelerated by hMSCs, bFGF and porcine‐derived bilayered skin template.
1.5 × 1.5 cm² nude rat skin and soft tissue defects including panniculus carnosus are excised and 1 × 10⁶ hMSCs and various doses of bFGF (1–100 μg) applied. Before and after normal reepithelialization, the tissues are tested for protein expressions by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.
The wound sizes are significantly decreased at day 7 with hMSCs with 1, 10, or 100 μg bFGF compared to hMSCs‐alone or medium‐only. All the wounds healed by day 42. 42 Kda and 38 Kda human‐derived pancytokeratin expressions, which do not cross‐react with murine antigens, by Western blotting significantly augmented by 10 μg bFGF compared to hMSCs‐alone. The epidermal immunolocalizations such as integrin α3 and SKALP (Skin‐derived Anti Leukoproteinase) are greatly elevated in time and dose‐dependent manner. Human pan‐cytokeratin expressions are immunoreactive even at day 42.
These data suggest the skin and soft tissue wound healing is accelerated by hMSCs together with bFGF, partly by means of differentiation of hMSCs toward epidermal components.     

Chymase participates in chronic dermatitis by inducing eosinophil infiltration

An epicutaneous application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) to a mouse ear caused a transient skin swelling, and the repetition of the challenge enlarged the contact dermatitis. The repeated challenge with DNFB also induced eosinophil infiltration on the application site. Administration of a chymase inhibitor significantly inhibited the ear swelling as well as eosinophil accumulation. An intradermal injection of human chymase to the mouse ear also elicited transient skin swelling and eosinophil infiltration, both of which were augmented in proportion to the number of injections. Human serum albumin and heat-inactivated chymase failed to induce such skin reactions, suggesting the participation of proteolytic activity of the enzyme. In addition, chymase stimulated eosinophil migration in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, these observations suggest that mast cell chymase may contribute to development of the DNFB-induced dermatitis, probably by promoting eosinophil infiltration. It is therefore possible that chymase plays a role in pathogenesis of chronic dermatitis such as atopic dermatitis.     

Further Survey of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk Powders by ELISA

A survey of AFM₁ residues in 58 commercial milk powder samples was carried out using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on a monoclonal antibody against aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁). The samples were collected from the USA (10), China (28), Italy (14), New Zealand (3) and Poland (3). The ELISA was performed without the need for clean‐up procedures. The data revealed that 4 (US), 21 (Chinese) and 1 (Polish) samples were positive for AFM₁, with an average of 95.5, 102.8 and 85.0 pg g^‐1 of the AFM₁respectively.     

Changes in VEGF expression and in the vasculature during the growth of early-stage ethylnitrosourea-induced malignant astrocytomas in rats

 Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic and vascular permeability factor, may be important as a mediator of brain tumour progression. However, it is still not clear whether VEGF plays a causative role in the early stage of glioma development. We investigated the relationship between VEGF protein expression (as assayed by immunohistochemistry) and different morphological parameters reflecting tumour progression (tumour diameter, vascular density and vascular diameter) in tumours at various stages. As a tumour model, ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-induced rat malignant astrocytoma was used. Tumours were classified by size and level of vascularity estimated by the von Willebrand factor (vWF) staining. Tumours less than 10 mm in diameter were designated early stage neoplastic lesions. All 34 early astroglial tumours were found to be VEGF positive. Increase in the VEGF immunopositive rate of tumour cells correlated significantly with increase in vascular density and vascular diameter. We suggest that VEGF induces angiogenesis and growth of microvessels, promoting growth of the early stage malignant astrocytoma. Received: 7 October 1997 / Accepted: 9 June 1998     

Induction of Thymus-Derived γδ T Cells by Escherichia coli Enterotoxin B Subunit in Peritoneal Cavities of Mice

We examined the activation of intraperitoneal T cells in BALB/c mice by the Escherichia coli enterotoxin B subunit, which induced a specific Th2 type of T-cell response to intraperitoneally coadministered bovine immunoglobulin G. The numbers of both γδ and αβ T cells increased significantly after intraperitoneal administration of the B subunit in a time-dependent manner; these numbers were not affected by the B-subunit G33D mutant, which is defective in GM₁ ganglioside-binding ability. Early after administration a small number of γδ T cells produced either interleukin-4 (IL-4) or gamma interferon, while late after administration primarily IL-10-producing γδ T cells were detected. γδ T cells induced by the B subunit did not express a characteristic V gene over the time course of the study. The induction of γδ T cells did not occur in athymic nu/nu mice but could be induced upon transplantation of fetal AKR thymus-like αβ T cells. γδ T cells in athymic nu/nu mice with a fetal thymic graft predominantly expressed the donor Thy-1.1 antigen but not the host Thy-1.2 antigen. The induction of these T cells, however, could not be restored by coadministration of the B subunit with peritoneal cells from normal mice. These results suggest that the B subunit activates intraperitoneal γδ and αβ T cells in a manner dependent upon its ability to bind to GM₁ ganglioside. γδ T cells induced by the B subunit are Th2-type cells derived from the thymus. These γδ T cells may be functionally involved in specific Th2 responses to the B subunit, which possibly acts as an adjuvant through the influence of αβ T cells.     

Pineal malignant rhabdoid tumor with chondroid formation in an adult

A pineal tumour in a 27-year-old male is presented with the characteristic histological features of a pineal malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) with chondroid formation. Occasionally, tumor cells contained a single well-demarcated hyaline globular inclusion within the cytoplasm adjacent to the nucleus. The stroma of these tumors tends to be densely hyalinized and become chondroid. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase, S-100 protein, and muscle actin. Despite surgery and radiochemotherapy, the tumor recurred in the pineal region and metastasized to the lower lobe of right lung. The patient died 2 years after the initial diagnosis. This is the second published case of central nervous system-MRT appearing in an adult. The clinical and pathological features of pineal MRT in this patient are presented.