Hepatic Proteins in Regenerating Liver

Abstract  Albumin immunoreactivity in the liver was examined on days 2, 5 and 10 after two-thirds partial hepatectomy by light and ultrastructural immunoperoxidase methods and the ultrastructural area of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in hepatocytes was measured. Albumin immunoreactivity was seen in the rough ER and Golgi apparatus of all hepatocytes in the hepatectomized liver and ultrastructural analysis showed a significantly greater area of rough ER on day 5 than on days 2 or 10. Albumin mRNA was studied by the in situ hybridization technique using radioisotopes and their numbers were determined visually. Albumin mRNA was present as grains in all hepatocytes and the grains varied in number during regeneration of the liver, being more abundant on day 5 than on days 2 or 10. The activity of [³H]-leucine incorporated into albumin synthesis, an indicator of translational activity, was higher on days 5 and 10 than on day 2 and was highest on day 5. In conclusion, albumin synthesis varied during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy, being reduced at the peak of cell proliferation on day 2 and being most active on day 5.     

Coexistence of renal replacement lipomatosis with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis

We report on a case of coexistence of replacement lipomatosis with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) in the same kidney associated with staghorn calculi. A 63-year-old man was admitted to hospital complaining of a right abdominal mass. Computed tomography (CT) showed renal parenchymal atrophy with extremely increased perirenal fat. Right nephrectomy was performed. Postoperative diagnosis was renal replacement lipomatosis with XGP. Renal replacement lipomatosis and XGP have several similarities in terms of clinical background and CT findings. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate them from malignant diseases. It is extremely rare that both conditions coexist in the same kidney. To our knowledge, only one such case has been reported.     

INSULIN AND GLUCAGON SECRETION IN HEPATIC GLYCOGENOSES

ABSTRACT. Okada, S., Seino, V., Kodama, H., Yutaka, T., Inui, K., Ishida, M., Yabuuchi, H. and Seino, Y. (Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Hospital, Fukushima-ku, Osaka and The Third Division, Department of Medicine, University of Kobe, Kobe, Japan). Insulin and glucagon secretion in hepatic glycogenoses. Acta Paediatr Scand 68: 735, 1979.—Insulin and glucagon secretion was investigated in ten patients with hepatic glycogenosis, types I and III, in order to understand the relationship between hypoglycemia and pancreatic function. In all patients, both oral glucose tolerance and intravenous arginine infusion tests revealed hypoinsulinemia. Decreased urinary C-peptide levels with standard food intake also supported hypofunction of pancreatic beta cells. On the contrary, the normal secretion pattern of glucagon in both types indicated in the arginine loading test, intact alpha cells in the pancreas. Persistent hypoinsulinism, which is apparently an adaptation to hypoglycemia, could be an important cause of nutritional dwarfism in both types of glycogenosis. The usefulness of the measurement of urinary C-peptide, which evaluates the pancreatic function and provides management for normal body growth, is discussed.     

Expression of TGF-α, EGF and their common receptor in human fetal kidney

Summary: Transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are structurally related mitogenic polypeptides. They share the same receptor; EGF receptor. the EGF receptor is widely expressed in human fetal tissues including the kidney, but little is known about the role of TGF-α/EGF/EGF receptor system in human fetal kidney. the expression of TGF-α, EGF and their common receptor was investigated immunohistochemically in the human fetal kidneys. In the cortex, immunoreactivity for TGF-α was found in the differentiating proximal tubules. In contrast, immunoreactivity for EGF was present in the thick ascending limbs of the Henle's loop (TAL) and medullary collecting duct cells (CD). Immunoreactivity for their common receptor was present mainly in the TAL and medullary CD. These data support the assumption that the system of TGF-α, EGF and its receptor has an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of the TAL and medullary CD. the different localization of TGF-α and its receptor may indicate that TGF-α acts through a paracrine mechanism. the co-localization of EGF and its receptor in the TAL and medullary CD suggests that EGF may act as an autocrine growth factor.     

Suppression of active Arthus reaction by colchicine

An effect of colchicine on the active Arthus reaction in rabbits was investigated in vivo with simultaneous evaluation of in vitro chemotactic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Arthus reactions were induced by intracutaneous injection of ovalbumin into rabbits preimmunized with ovalbumin. Colchicine, 1 mg/kg or 2 mg/kg, injected intraperitoneally one hour prior to the induction of the Arthus reaction, suppressed erythema and induration at 12 h, when histology showed decreased numbers of C3, suggestive of the presence of immune complexes, persisted to 24 h. In vitro chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes using Boyden chamber techniques revealed suppression of the activity in the colchicine-treated animals at 6 and 12 h. These findings suggest that colchicine inhibits vascular injury by interfering with directional chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to the lesional sites.     

Electrophysiological Demonstration of Anterograde Concealed Conduction in Accessory Atrioventricular Pathways Capable Only of Retrograde Conduction

Anterograde concealed conduction into the concealed accessory atrioventricular (AV) pathway has been postulated to be one of the factors preventing the reciprocating process via the accessory pathway in patients with the concealed Wolff-Parkinson-White(WPW) syndrome but its presence has not been documented. To demonstrate the occurrence of anterograde concealment, 12 patients with the concealed WPW syndrome were selected for study. A pacing protocol was designed in which the retrograde conduction of the ventricular extrastimulus over the accessory pathway was assessed during ventricular pacing aione (conventional method) and during the AV simultaneous pacing (simultaneous method); the results were then compared. When the high right atrium was simultaneously paced, the effective refractory period of the concealed accessory pathway shortened as compared with the conventional method in five of 12 patients (from 341.7 ± 110.8 to 312.5 ± 108.2 msec, n = 12), whereas, it decreased in all patients studied when the coronary sinus near the accessory pathway was simultaneously paced (from 375.7 ± 135.0 to 287. ± 116.1 msec, n = 7). These results demonstrate that the AV simultaneous pacing frequently shortens the refractoriness of the concealed accessory AV pathway and such facilitation seems to he well explained by the probable anterograde concealment in it and peeling back of the refractory barrier.     

Tuberculid of the penis with a scab on the nodule

Tuberculids of the penis are extremely rare. The clinical features of tuberculids of the penis have been reported as ulceration or scars. We have experienced a case of tuberculid of the penis that appeared as a scab on nodule. A 56-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of a painless subcutaneous nodule at the glans penis. Pathological findings of the nodule showed granulomatous inflammation. Tuberculin tests were strongly positive, but tubercle bacilli could not be detected. The diagnosis was tuberculid of the penis and the patient received antituberculosis chemotherapy. The present paper reports an interesting and rare case of tuberculid of the penis with a scab on nodule.     

Gastrointestinal hepatoid adenocarcinoma: venous permeation and mimicry of hepatocellular carcinoma, a report of four cases

Aims : Four cases of hepatoid adenocarcinoma, three in the stomach, and one in the sigmoid colon, are presented to emphasize venous permeation and mimicry of hepatocellular carcinoma by metastatic liver nodules. Methods and results : Tumour cells in all cases extensively invaded veins, and intravenous tumour thrombi in two cases were grossly observed as anastomosing, worm-like cords up to 10 mm in diameter in the lesser omentum and mesentery in continuity with the primary mucosal lesions. The cytological features and trabecular architecture of the metastatic liver nodules in these subjects mimicked primary hepatocellular carcinoma. In a third case the tumour contained grossly visible bile in a metastatic lung nodule, but there was no evidence of bile production in the primary gastric or metastatic liver lesions. In the fourth case, detailed histopathological study revealed a gastric origin of the hepatoid adenocarcinoma, rather than primary hepatocellular carcinoma metastatic to the stomach, the initial diagnosis. Conclusions : These cases are reported here to draw attention to this rare variant of gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma, its mimicry of hepatocellular carcinoma when metastatic to the liver and other sites, and its propensity for venous permeation.     

Carpal bone movements in gripping action of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

The movement of the carpal bones in gripping was clarified in the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) by means of macroscopic anatomy, computed tomography (CT) and related 3-dimensional (3-D) volume rendering techniques. In the gripping action, 3-D CT images demonstrated that the radial and 4th carpal bones largely rotate or flex to the radial and ulnar sides respectively. This indicates that these carpal bones on both sides enable the panda to flex the palm from the forearm and to grasp objects by the manipulation mechanism that includes the radial sesamoid. In the macroscopic observations, we found that the smooth articulation surfaces are enlarged between the radial carpal and the radius on the radial side, and between the 4th and ulnar carpals on the ulnar side. The panda skilfully grasps using a double pincer-like apparatus with the huge radial sesamoid and accessory carpal.