Characterization of Fatty Acids in a Tissue of Neuroblastoma by Gas Liquid Chromatography-Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry-Computer System

To verify the possibility of chemical ionization mass spectrometryfor the characterization of various kinds of fatty acids, thoseisolated from a tissue of neuroblastoma were analyzed by gasliquid chromatography-chemical ionization mass spectrometry-computersystem. Twenty seven fatty acids, including some positionalisomers, were identified in the tissue and this system was proveduseful both for the separation and for the structural determinationof fatty acids of minute concentrations.     

Cutaneous ultrastructural diagnosis of ceroid-lipofuscinosis

A skin biopsy from a 6-year-old girl was examined by electron microscopy and the diagnosis of ceroid-lipofuscinosis (CL) was confirmed. This has not been reported in the dermatology literature, because of the absence of specific skin manifestations. However, as we have shown, various cells of skin, including fibroblasts, Schwann cells, eccrine serous cells, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, accumulated characteristic substances to produce the finger print pattern (FPP) or the curvilinear profile (CLP) which are thought to be diagnostic for CL. Cutaneous ultrastructural research in such cases is important as asymptornatic skin disorders may exist in other congenital storage diseases.