A case of zoster sine herpete of the trigeminal nerve

Varicella-zoster virus reactivation causes zoster (shingles), a syndrome characterized by severe pain and a vesicular rash. The present report details a case of varicella-zoster virus reactivation of the maxillary and mandibular division of the right trigeminal nerve without evidence of vesicular rash (zoster sine herpete). It is difficult to identify owing to no typical clinical signs such as vesicular eruption. Zoster sine herpete of the trigeminal nerve, in particular, is rarely reported. In this case, the diagnosis was based on clinical findings and was supported by the demonstration of an immunoglobulin G antibody. Zoster sine herpete of the trigeminal nerve, in particular, should be considered in patients with severe facial pain over specific dermatomes, if they do not demonstrate appreciable findings of traumatic neuropathy, tumor or herpes zoster.     

Relation between iron content of serum ferritin and clinical status factors extracted by factor analysis in patients with hyperferritinemia

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to develop a new technique for determination of iron content of serum ferritin (ICF, micromol Fe/mg protein) and to investigate relations between ICF and clinical status in patients with hyperferritinemia. METHODS: ICF values were determined by a combination of immunoprecipitation of ferritin and direct colorimetric iron assay. One hundred fifty patients with hyperferritinemia were screened. Factor analysis of the results of 11 laboratory tests was applied to extract factors representing the clinical status of patients. Relations between the extracted factors and the ICF values or serum ferritin concentrations were assessed. RESULTS: Within-run coefficients of variation (CVs) of the ICF assay were <==5.7%. The mean ICF value of 150 patients was 0.423 micromol/mg (SD, 0.211 micromol/mg). Three factors representing clinical status were identified: inflammation, tissue cell damage, and body iron status. Serum ferritin level correlated with all three factors. In contrast, ICF correlated significantly only with the factor representing tissue cell damage (r = 0.293, p = 0.001), and this correlation was independent of inflammation and iron status (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: ICF changes in response to tissue cell damage independent of inflammatory and body iron statuses, whereas serum ferritin changes in response to all three pathologic statuses.     

The role of CD5 expression in thymic carcinoma: possible mechanism for interaction with CD5+ lymphoid stroma (microenvironment)

Recently, an increasing number of TFE3 rearrangement‐associated tumours have been reported, such as TFE3 rearrangement‐associated perivascular epithelioid cell tumours (PEComas), melanotic Xp11 translocation renal cancers and melanotic Xp11 neoplasms. We have suggested that these tumours belong to a single clinicopathological spectrum. ‘Xp11 neoplasm with melanocytic differentiation’ or ‘melanotic Xp11 neoplasm’ have been proposed to designate this unique neoplasm. Herein, we describe the first case of an Xp11 neoplasm with melanocytic differentiation to be described in the prostate, bearing the novel NONO–TFE3 gene fusion. This study both adds to the spectrum regarding melanotic Xp11 neoplasms and expands its gene fusion spectrum. Moreover, we discuss the relationship of these rare tumours to neoplasms such as conventional PEComas, alveolar soft part sarcomas, malignant melanomas, clear cell sarcomas and Xp11 translocation renal cancers.