Angiomyofibroblastoma of the vulva: A mitotically active variant?

A case of angbmyofibrobiastoma in a 48-yearold woman is reported. The tumor occurred as a left vulval mass and was treated by simple excision. It was located in the subcutaneous tissue of the left vuiva and was well circumscribed, measuring 2.8 × 2.7 × 2.5 cm. Microscop Ically, the tumor was composed of hypocellular and cellular arees with well-developed small vessels. Spindle or polygonal cells were arranged with perlvascular accentuation In an edematous or fibrocollagenous background. Some spindle-shaped or polygonal stromal cells were also arranged in epithelioid nests. In some areas, mitosas were frequent (maximum 3/10 high-power field). lmmunohistochemicaily, the stromal cells were positive for vimentln and desmin, but negative for α-smooth muscle actin, S-100, neurofilament, estrogen receptor, progesterone remptor, CD31 and CD34. The average labeling index of Kl-67 In stromal cells was 3.1%. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated that the stromal cells adhered with primitive Junctions and contained lntermediate filaments with no focal density In the cytoplasm. These findings were consistent with anglomyofibrobiastoma, although previously reported cases did not show so many mitoses. Therefore, this case was suggested to be a mitotically active variant.     

A Family of Cross-Reacting Proteins Secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Cross-reactions between five proteins actively secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis were studied by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, SDS-PAGE with immunoblotting, and ELISA using polyclonal rabbit antisera and mouse monoclonal antibodies to the purified proteins. The monoclonal antibody HBT4 was demonstrated to react with the MPT51 protein. The 85A, 85B and 85C constituents of the M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG antigen 85 complex cross-react extensively, each of the components containing component-specific as well as cross-reacting epitopes. These components also cross-reacted with MPT51 and MPT64. N-terminal sequence studies revealed striking homology at the amino acid level between 85A, 85B, 85C and MPT51. MPT64 showed less homology. In addition, striking homology was demonstrated between two different stretches within the 85B sequence and indicated between three stretches within the MPT64 molecule. Thus, a family of at least four secreted proteins with common structural features has been demonstrated in mycobacteria. MPT64 may also belong to this family.     

Phenytoin-induced cerebral thrombosis in rats: cerebral ultrastructure, water content and ischaemic volume in the acute phase

A new rat model for multifocal cerebral thrombosis has recently been reported (Tani et al. , 1994; 1995). Ultrastructural changes in the cerebral neocortex in the acute phase were investigated in order to characterize the early pathological events in this model. A bolus injection of alkaline phenytoin solution (pH 10.8) into one internal carotid artery in the rat caused severe endothelial injury accompanied by thrombosis in the cerebral vasculature within 5 minutes, and severe oedema of the ipsilateral hemisphere within an hour. Cerebral water content was measured by the simple dry–wet method, and cerebral surface area and the surface area and volume of the ischaemic zone were measured using computer-aided image analysis. Good correlations were demonstrated between cerebral water content and cerebral surface area, and between the surface area and volume of the ischaemic zone. We report here that quantitative evaluation of acute cerebral damage induced by phenytoin solution is possible with high reliability using simple image analysis.     

Clinical characteristics of Tourette syndrome

Abstract The aim of the present study was to examine the clinical characteristics of Tourette syndrome (TS) in terms of symptomatology, outcome and organic and genetic factors, and to compare these with results of previous studies on TS in Western countries and in Japan, on the basis of precise information taken from a large number of TS patients under psychiatric treatment in Japan. There was a total of 64 TS patients (55 males and nine females) selected from those who visited our outpatient clinic from 1974 to 1993 and were found to meet the criteria for Tourette's disorder of DSM-III-R. The mean patient age at entry to the present study was 17.4 years (SD:7.2). All data were collected through a systematic chart review of subjects, including data on tic symptoms and the course of their development; complications and developmental histories; family histories; medical and psychological examinations; treatment; severity and outcome. A check of the data showed that the mean age at onset was 6.9 years (SD:2.7). An analysis of the progression of the symptoms revealed that 'generalized tics' afflicting the entire body were found in 64.1% of subjects and coprolalia was found in 50%. The main complications were obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in 62.5% of patients and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 17.2%. Of their parents, 7.0% had tic disorders except TS and 1.6% had TS. Contrary to results from previous studies of TS, our study revealed that at least the incidence of coprolalia in TS patients in Japan is not lower than in Western countries. However, the frequency of familial cases seemed to be lower than previously reported for Western patients. Outcome was fairly related with 'generalized tics,' OCS, aggressiveness and ADHD.     

Congenital dermal sinus with intracranial dermoid cyst

Summary We report a 3-year-old girl with a congenital dermal sinus associated with an intracranial dermoid cyst.     

Successful bone marrow transplantation for idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome

A 21-year-old man who had an increased number of eosinophils with morphological abnormalities, bone marrow fibrosis and multiple organ dysfunction failed to respond to methylprednisolone and hydroxyurea. He was diagnosed with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) probably due to myeloproliferative disorder, and underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) from an HLA-identical sibling. The engraftment was confirmed on day 21 after BMT, but the patient developed acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with grade I veno-occlusive disease, and transient increase of eosinophils of the donor type followed by chronic GVHD of the extensive type. These complications were eventually controlled with cyclosporin A. The patient survived free of disease for more than a year after BMT. Allo-BMT seems to be a possible treatment of HES/MPD.     

Absorption of unconjugated bile acids and tauroursodeoxycholate in the rat intestine

The absorption of ursodeoxycholate and its tauro-conjugate by the jejunum and the terminal ileum of rat intestine was compared with that of other unconjugated bile acids and taurocholate. In the ligated jejunum, the efficacy of absorption of unconjugated bile acids was in the following order: ursodeoxycholate = deoxycholate > chenodeoxycholate = cholate > lithocholate. This order cannot be explained by the theory that the passive diffusion of bile acids is faster the less hydroxyl bonds in the molecule. These findings on the unconjugated bile acids in the ligated jejunum were further confirmed by perfusion experiments. In the ligated terminal ileum, ursodeoxycholate, cholate and deoxycholate were absorbed as fast as taurocholate or tauroursodeoxycholate, whereas absorption of chenodeoxycholate was significantly slower. The Na⁺-dependency of the absorption of ursodeoxycholate and cholate in the terminal ileum was confirmed by perfusion studies. In conclusion, intestinal absorption of ursodeoxycholate was efficient in both the jejunum and ileum and these results may contribute to the high availability of ursodeoxycholate in various hepatobiliary diseases.     

The expression of murine eutaneous late phase reaction requires both IgE antibodies and CD4 T eells

Background Exposure of atopic patients to a specific allergen evokes an immediate response which is followed, in many cases, by a late phase reaction (LPR) some hours later. Here we have examined the immunological mechanisms required for the expression of cutaneous LPR in mice. Methods BALB/c mice were immunized by i.p. injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and alum actively or by i.v. injection of anti-OVA IgE monoclonal antibody (mAb) passively. After challenge by intradermal injection of OVA into ears, the changes in ear thickness, the number of eosinophils, and the levels of IL4 and IFN-γ protein at the site of antigen challenge were examined. Results Actively immunized mice developed a biphasic response at the site of OVA injection, while mice passively immunized with IgE anti-OVA mAb displayed a strong early response but no LPR. Cell transfer experiments using BALB/c nu/nu mice revealed that both OVA-specific IgE mAb and OVA-primed CD4 T cells were required to evoke LPR. Moreover, LPR was associated with increased levels of IL-4 production concomitant with reduced IFN-γ production and was abolished by pretreatment with anti-IL-4 neutralizing mAb. Conclusion It is suggested that murine cutaneous LPR against OVA is a type 2 inflammatory response in which both IgH antibodies and CD4 T cells play an obligatory role.     

Solid phase synthesis of human growth hormone-releasing factor analogs containing a bicyclic β-turn dipeptide

Three analogs derived from the N-terminal 29-residue fragment of human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF) which contained a bicyclic β-turn dipeptide (BTD) at 7-8,8-9, and 9-10 positions were synthesized by solid phase methodology to ascertain if the β-turns are important for the biological activity of hGRF and also to show the applicability of the BTD unit to solid phase synthesis. All three analogs were obtained in good yield and purity indicating that the BTD unit can be used in the usual condition of solid phase synthesis. The capacity of these analogs to release growth hormone (GH) was tested in an in vitro bioassay using rat anterior pituitary cells. All three BTD-containing analogs showed the same maximal GH secretion with parallel dose-response curves to that of hGRF(1-29)NH₂, except their relative potencies were very low.