Successful autologous bone marrow transplant for relapsed Ki-1 lymphoma

We report on a 16 year old girl with relapsed Ki-1 lymphoma and a very poor prognosis. The initial manifestation was multiple bone metastases and lymphadenopathy. The patient achieved remission with modified adriamycin, bleomycin, vincristine, daunomycine therapy. However, 14 months after the completion of therapy, relapse occurred in a new cervical lymph node on the left side. After preparation with chemotherapy and total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) the patient underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (A-BMT). Ki-1 lymphoma shows clinically diverse symptoms, but hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be performed in relapsed cases. It may be effective to give TLI followed by A-BMT for patients such as ours who have lymph node involvement without bone marrow metastasis.     

Fluorographic study on the oxidative stress in the process of gastric mucosal injury: Attenuating effect of Vitamin E

Abstract In vivo oxidative change was visualized in the gastric mucosa of rats and the alteration was analysed by using a fluorescence microscope equipped with a digital imaging processor during the development of mucosal damage. Dichlorofluorescein (DCF)-associated fluorescence increased after the repeated electrical stimulation on the gastric artery (irritation), suggesting the occurrence of lipid peroxidation. The increase was enhanced in the mid-zone of two adjacent collecting venules. Allopurinol attenuated the oxidative stress in mucosa, showing the involvement of xanthine oxidase. Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence value in the blood taken from gastric vein was elevated by the irritation, suggesting that leucocyte-generated oxygen radicals also participate in this oxidative process. α-Tocopherol attenuated both the DCF activation and the increase in chemiluminescence value and prevented gastric mucosal injury. The present results suggest that α-tocopherol may be useful for the prevention of oxidative alteration in gastric mucosa.     

Long-term effects of bone marrow transplantation for inborn errors of metabolism: A study of four patients with lysosomal storage diseases

Long-term effects of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) were evaluated in patients with I-cell disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome or Hunter syndrome (mild form). Donors were human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched siblings, and the follow-up periods were 24–71 months after BMT. The enzyme activities were increased in leukocytes, plasma or liver tissues compared with pre-BMT levels. A patient with I-cell disease acquired development of 4–8 month old infants and showed no further progression in cardiac dysfunctions. A patient with MLD showed a decelerated disease progression and an improved peripheral neuropathy, but progressive brain atrophy was not prevented. Patients with Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome or Hunter syndrome showed improvements in hepatomegaly, joint contractures, short stature and tight skin, and this greatly increased their quality of life. These results indicated that the long-term therapeutic effects achieved by BMT were subject to multiple factors including biochemical improvements, a reversibility of affected tissues, or advanced states of disease and central nervous system impairments in inborn errors of metabolism.     

Anaplastic Carcinoma of the Thyroid: Report of Nine Cases

Nine cases of anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid were reviewed,with focus on the therapy adopted and the prognosis. Surgeryand chemotherapy were considered to have no therapeutic effect.Irradiation therapy, although it was used in only one case,was thought to be effective. Except for one patient with smallcell carcinoma, all of the patients died within six months aftera diagnosis was established. One of the factors which may affectthe prognosis seems to be the histologic figure. Four patientswere found to have other differentiated thyroid carcinomas.Differences in the constituents of the tumor seem to have noinfluence on its biological behavior. The poor prognosis foranaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid is confirmed although thenumber of cases is too small for a definite conclusion to bedrawn.     

The newly synthesized linoleic acid derivative DCP-LA ameliorates memory deficits in animal models treated with amyloid-β peptide and scopolamine

Background: In our earlier study, 8‐[2‐(2‐pentyl‐cyclopropylmethyl)‐cyclopropyl]‐octanoic acid (DCP‐LA), a newly synthesized linoleic acid derivative with cyclopropane rings instead of cis‐double bonds, facilitated hippocampal synaptic transmission by stimulating glutamate release from presynaptic terminals as mediated via α7 acetylcholine (Ach) receptors under the influence of protein kinase C. The present study assessed the possibility of using DCP‐LA as a cognitive enhancer in animal models. Methods: Amyloid‐β_1?40 peptide (300 pM/day) or saline was continuously injected in the right lateral ventricle of rats for 2 weeks. Then, the water maze test was carried out, once per day for 7 days, 1 h after the intraperitoneal injection with DCP‐LA or saline. In a different set of experiments, rats were intraperitoneally injected with scopolamine (1 mg/kg) and the water maze test was performed twice per day, with the first test taking place 1 h after the intraperitoneal injection with DCP‐LA, galantamine or saline, and the second test starting 2 min after the end of the first. Results: Continuous intraventricular injection with amyloid‐β_1?40 peptide in the rat lateral ventricle prolonged the latency for acquisition in the water maze test. DCP‐LA (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)) significantly improved the impairment, which reached a level similar to the latency for sham. Furthermore, DCP‐LA (1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly ameliorated learning and memory deficits in rats treated with scopolamine and was, if not more, effective than galantamine, a modest inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase with nicotinic ACh receptor modulation. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that DCP‐LA ameliorates learning and memory deficits induced by amyloid‐β_1?40 peptide or scopolamine. DCP‐LA may thus offer new hope for dementia patients.     

人参皂苷Rg_1的肠内菌代谢Ⅱ 人参皂苷Rg_1和Rh_1免疫活性(英文)

目的:比较人参皂苷Rg_1及其代谢产物Rh_1对细胞因子及其mRNA表达的影响.方法:将Rg_1及Rh_1加入正常人外周血单核细胞(PBMC)培养24小时后,计数细胞,观察其对正常细胞增殖的影响.用放射免疫法(RIA)观察Rg_1及Rh_1对人组织瘤细胞(THP-1)分泌与炎症有关的细胞因子(IL-1α,TNFα,IL-8)产生的影响,用逆转录酶链式聚合反应(RT-PCR)方法,检测Rg_1及Rh_1对TNFα的mRNA表达的影响.结果:Rg_1及Rh_1(0.1,1,10,100 mg/L)对PBMC增殖无明显影响.但在脂多糖10 mg/L和PMA 200 nmol/L存在下,Rh_1的低浓度(1 mg/L)能促进THP-1细胞产生TNFα与IL-8.而Rg_1在LPS 100 mg/L时抑制TNFα的产生.Rg_1 1 mg/L及Rh_1 100 mg/L均能促进IL-1α的产生.RT-PCR实验结果表明,Rh_1能显著促进TNFα mRNA的表达.结论:Rg_1与Rh_1的免疫活性有所不同,在有些方面甚至相反.     

Modified Shoelace Dural Closure with Collagen Matrix in Extended Transsphenoidal Surgery

Extended endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (eTSS) offers a wide surgical field for various parasellar lesions; however, intraoperative high-flow cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is inevitable. Therefore, secure sellar reconstruction methods are essential to prevent postoperative CSF leakage. Although collagen matrix has been applied for dural reconstruction in neurosurgery, its suitability for application in extended eTSS remains unclear. Eighteen patients underwent modified shoelace dural closure using collagen matrix after lesionectomy via extended eTSS. In this technique, a collagen matrix, which was placed subdurally (inlay graft), was continuously sutured with both open dural edges like a shoelace. Then, another collagen matrix was placed epidurally (onlay graft), and rigid reconstruction was performed using the septal bone and a resorbable fixation mesh. Postoperative CSF leakage did not occur in 17 patients but did occur in 1 patient with tuberculum sellae meningioma. In this case, the CSF leakage point was detected just around the area between the coagulated dura and the adjacent collagen matrix. The collagen matrix harvested from this area was pathologically examined; neovascularization and fibroblastic infiltration into the collagen matrix were not detected. On the other hand, neovascularization and fibroblast infiltration into the collagen matrix were apparent on the surface of the collagen matrix harvested from the non-CSF leakage area. Our novel dural closure technique using collagen matrix could be an effective option for sellar reconstruction in extended eTSS; however, it should be applied in patients in whom normal dural edges are preserved.