Fraudulent use of radiographic images

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of trained observers to identify altered radiographic images after modifications using an image-editing software. Based on implantology in 10 radiographs, eight panoramic and one linear tomograph were modified while one tomograph was untouched. Implants were placed or removed and bone levels were altered, and seventy dentists were invited to identify these alterations. The results showed that the percentage of the correct answers was 12.5% or 2 identifications per examiner. The rate of false positives in relation to correct answers was at a level of 6:1. We concluded that the professionals have difficulty in identifying altered radiographs after using an image-editing software and that the seriousness of this situation demands that dentists be warned of the dangers of the use and abuse of this technology.     

Sesquiterpenoids from Artemisia gilvescens and an anti-MRSA compound

A new secoguaianolide sesquiterpene (1) was isolated along with its three stereoisomers (2-4) from the nonmedicinal plant Artemisia gilvescens. The structure of 1 was elucidated to be (4S,5S)-dihydro-5-[(1R,2S)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-oxo-3-cyclopenten-1-yl]-3-methylene-4-(3-oxobutyl)-2(3H)-furanone on the basis of 2D NMR and other spectroscopic evidence. Five known sesquiterpenoids were also isolated from this plant, and one of them (5) showed activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).     

INTRA-CHOLECYSTIC ECTOPIC LIVER

A 56-year-old Japanese woman who had an ectopic liver attached to the inner surface of the gallbladder is reported. The ectopic nodule measuring 1.2 × 0.5 × 0.8 cm was found incidentally when her gallbladder was resected because of cholelithiasis. Ectopic liver tissue in reported cases war located on the serosal surface, or in the wall of the gallbladder. This report described, to our knowledge, the first case of an ectopic liver nodule attached to the mucosal surface of the gallbladder with a thin pedicle.     

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 in monocytes suppresses angiotensin II-elicited chemotactic activity through inhibition of CCR2: role of bilirubin and carbon monoxide generated by the enzyme

Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and the receptor for MCP-1, CCR2, play a pivotal role in the recruitment of monocytes to the subendothelium, which is the initial event in atherosclerosis. Heme oxygenase (HO) is a microsomal enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of heme into biliverdin, which is subsequently reduced to bilirubin, free iron, and carbon monoxide, and induction of HO-1 is potentially associated with cellular protection, especially against oxidative insults. The present study was designed to examine the role of HO-1 in monocytes in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced chemotactic response. Ang II significantly stimulated superoxide formation in monocytes, as measured by nitro blue tetrazolium reduction assay, as well as the chemotactic response to MCP-1 with the increased expression of CCR2 determined by RT-PCR and western blotting analysis. Hemin-treated monocytes displayed an enhanced HO activity with the increased accumulation of bilirubin determined by immunostaining, when compared with control monocytes. The induction of HO-1 in monocytes suppresses not only Ang II-stimulated superoxide formation, but also Ang II-enhanced chemotactic activity. Exogenously applied bilirubin and carbon monoxide mimicked the inhibitory effect of HO-1 on the chemotactic response. These findings suggest that monocytic HO-1 might be a new therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.     

Estimation of glycogen levels in human colorectal cancer tissue: relationship with cell cycle and tumor outgrowth

In this study, we quantitatively measured glycogen levels in tissue samples obtained from tumors, regions adjacent to tumor, and regions of normal colorectum to determine whether the levels were related to cell cycle and cancer growth. Glycogen levels were analyzed in relation to histopathological factors, (tumor size and stage of disease) and cell cycle progression. The glycogen level was found to be highest in the cancer tissue, lower in normal tissue, and lowest in the adjacent tissue. The difference in glycogen level between the cancer tissue and the other two regions was significant (P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between glycogen level and tumor size, but it was not significant. The level of glycogen in cancer tissues decreased as the stage of the disease progressed, but a significant difference was not found between stages. There was a negative correlation between the glycogen level and the proliferation index. There was a positive correlation between the glycogen level and the proportion of cancer cells in G₁ phase, while there was a negative correlation with S and G₂M phases. Glycogen levels were highest in cancers with a high proportion of cells in G₁, and decreased with progression to S phase. It may be that glycogen is utilized in the progression to S phase, and the cancer tissues are supplied with glycogen from the tumors themselves as well as their adjacent tissues. Cancer growth may be inhibited by artificial control of the glycogen level in the G₁ phase of cancer cells. Received: July 17, 1998 / Accepted: February 26, 1999     

A comparison of visual field and optic disc appearance depending on the peak intraocular pressure in patients with normal-tension glaucoma

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical differences between the two groups depending on the peak intraocular pressure(IOP) in patients with normal-tension glaucoma(NTG). METHODS: We studied 96 eyes of 48 NTG patients who were hospitalized for diurnal IOP measurement. Then we selected the eye whose peak IOP was higher than the other, or the right eye if the peak IOP of both eyes was equal. We divided these eyes into a "high-teen" group (peak IOP > or = 16 mmHg) and a "low-teen" group(peak IOP < or = 15 mmHg). We compared these two groups by age, gender, refraction, IOP, visual field defect, optic disc appearance, and tomograph. We used a Humphrey C 30-2 program to estimate the visual field defect and classified the optic disc into four types according to Nicolela's criteria. 22 eyes were imaged with Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) to obtain topographic parameters of the optic disc. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender, refraction, optic disc appearance, or tomograph between two groups. The trough and variation range of diurnal IOP were significantly larger in the high-teen group(p < 0.01). The value of mean deviation(MD) given by STATPAC was statistically lower in the high-teen group(p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NTG, the visual field damage tended to be greater in the high-teen group than in the low-teen group. We surmise that the IOP might influence the progression of visual field defect in NTG.     

Localization of serotonin-immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of Octopus vulgaris by immunohistochemistry

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin)-containing cells were localized in the central nervous system of Octopus vulgaris by use of the unlabelled peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex (PAP) immunohistochemical method employing highly specific antibodies to 5-HT present in paraformaldehyde-fixed tissue. Antibodies were raised in rabbits against an immunogen prepared by coupling 5-HT to bovine thyroglobulin (BTG) or to bovine serum albumin (BSA) with formaldehyde as the coupling reagent. The specificity of the immune reaction was studied by both absorption test and radioimmunoassay. The distribution of 5-HT immunoreactivity observed in octopus brain was essentially similar to that reported by other workers who used formaldehyde- or glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence method. In addition, this immunohistochemical technique revealed 5-HT-containing perikarya in both the chromatophore and the palliovisceral lobes which were not detected by the previous fluorescence histochemical method. Thus, this immunocytochemical procedure appears to be a specific and very sensitive technique for the localization of 5-HT within the central nervous system of cephalopod Mollusca.     

Varied pulmonary lesions with intraalveolar large lamellar bodies in an autopsy case with busulfan therapy.

Characteristic pulmonary findings in an autopsy case of a 46-year-old female who presented heavy dyspnea as her chief complaint after 3 months of busulfan therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia were reported. The pulmonary findings were classified into four types: I. alveolar proteinosis type, II. intra alveolar fibrosis type, III. interstitial fibrosis type, and IV. lipid pneumonia type with cholesterol granuloma. No other case with various findings like this case has been previously reported. It was considered that type I is the basic type, type II is a type that developed from type I, type III is a type with interstitial cell infiltration and fibrosis and type IV is a lipidrich variant of type I. A large lamellar body was first found in the granular material of type I. It is supposed that such a body consists of osmiophilic body which originated from type B alveolar epithelial cells and blood plasma.     

A case of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal invasion resected after treatment by continuous intra-arterial chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil

A 67-year-old male diagnosed as having inoperable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal invasion was able to undergo resection after continuous intra-arterial chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP). These were continuously administered for 24 hours at doses of 5-FU of 250 mg and CDDP of 5 mg/day, from day 1 to day 5 in a week, repeated 6 times. In additions to the reductions of the levels of AFP and PIVKA-II from 212.6 ng/ml and 16,100 mAU/ml to 11.8 ng/ml and 12 mAU/ml, respectively, the volume of the tumor and the portal invasion were diminished remarkably. As a result, a left extended hepatectomy could be performed. No sign of recurrence was seen during 16 months of follow-up after the operation. Given the above results, continuous intra-arterial chemotherapy with 5-FU and CDDP therapy may be effective for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.