"Schnyder's rule" of heritability of skin tumors and its extension to cases of segmental presentation

"Schnyder's rule" states that multiple tumours of the skin are dominantly inherited, whereas solitary tumours of the same histological type are noninherited. This rule may be extended to cover segmental cases representing somatic mutations.     

Are microproerythroblasts in human bone marrow real or artefacts? A cytochemical note

Early erythroid precursors were studied in human bone marrow smears to provide more information on small proerythroblasts--"microproerythroblasts"--using a silver reaction to demonstrate silver stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and light microscopic densitometry of large irregularly shaped nucleoli and cytoplasm stained for RNA. No significant differences were found for the density of such nucleoli and basophilic cytoplasm between characteristic large proerythroblasts with a nuclear diameter larger that 9 microm (K2 and K1 erythroblasts) and small proerythroblasts--"microproerythroblasts" representing a subpopulation of K1/2 erythroblasts (early basophilic erythroblasts), which are characterized by a smaller nuclear diameter. In addition, large irregularly shaped nucleoli of "microproerythroblasts" possessed numerous silver stained particles representing AgNORs similar to those of large proerythroblasts. The number of AgNORs in "microproerythroblasts" was slightly, but significantly, smaller than that in large characteristic proerythroblasts.     

alpha-Methyldopa and the erythrocyte membrane.

To test the hypothesis that complement-mediated cell lysis and cell-mediated cytotoxicity operate by analogous mechanisms, cell membranes from two antibody-dependent cytotoxicity systems were examined by electron microscopy after negative staining. Ring-shaped membrane lesions generally similar to, but larger than, those previously described for complement lysis were observed. These findings are in agreement with recent measurements of larger functional pores for ADCC than complement.     

Unusual cardiac papillary fibroelastoma in the right ventricular outflow tract.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma (CPF) is the second most common benign neoplasm of the heart. This study describes the case of an 81-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital for severe vertigo and in whom a tumor at the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was identified incidentally during echocardiography. The CPF was excised smoothly following the confirmation of its position by computed tomography. The comprehensive pathologic findings of CPF were reviewed. Detailed immunohistochemical analyses of CD34 and factor VIII-related antigen were performed on the covering endocardial cells. The unique chondroid metaplasia of fibrous tissue in this CPF has never been reported. This work is the first to present an unusual CPF at the RVOT with reactive process of fibrous connective tissue.     

Morphine prevents glutamate-induced death of primary rat neonatal astrocytes through modulation of intracellular redox

This study is designed to investigate the effect of morphine on glutamate-induced toxicity of primary rat neonatal astrocytes. Glutamate decreases the intracellular GSH level, and thereby induces cytolysis of astrocytes and C6 glial cells accompanied by apoptotic features. Glutamate-induced cytotoxicity is protected by morphine and antioxidants such as GSH and NAC, whereas MK-801, an antagonist of glutamate receptor NMDA does not protect astrocytes against glutamate toxicity. Also, morphine antagonist, naloxone, as well as selective ligands for opioid receptor subtypes, including DAMGO, DPDPE, and U69593, do not inhibit the protective effect of morphine on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. Morphine significantly prevents the depletion of GSH by glutamate and thereby inhibits the generation of H2O2 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, morphine prevents the change of mitochondrial permeability transition by glutamate. Taken together, we suggest that morphine protects the primary rat neonatal astrocytes from glutamate toxicity via modulation of intracellular redox status.     

Peptide motifs of closely related HLA class I molecules encompass substantial differences.

The peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules adhere to strict rules concerning peptide length and occupancy by certain amino acid residues at anchor positions. Peptides presented by HLA-A*0201 molecules, for example, are generally nonapeptides requiring Leu or Met at position 2 and an aliphatic residue, predominantly Val, at position 9. A closely related molecule, HLA-A*0205, differing from the former at four amino acid residues, has a related but substantially different peptide motif. A*0205-presented peptides are still nonapeptides, and position 9 is still aliphatic, although it is preferentially occupied by Leu instead of Val. Position 2 not only allows aliphatic residues but also polar ones. Occupancy at position 6, considered as an auxiliary anchor in A*0201, as well as non-anchor residues at positions 3, 4, and 8 are relatively well conserved between the two peptide motifs. Thus, although a number of the T cell epitopes presented by the two HLA-A2 forms is expected to be identical, a considerable number of epitopes should be different.     

Spontaneous disruption of mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery

We report a case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery requiring an urgent surgical treatment. A 62-yr-old woman presented with fever and dyspnea. Previously, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and received right hemicolectomy and one cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy. On echocardiogram, pericardial effusion was noted and emergency pericardiocentesis was performed. CT scan revealed aortic aneurysm involving ascending aorta and innominate artery, and thrombi surrounding those structures. Patch repair of the defect in the ascending aorta and ringed Goretex graft to bypass the innominate and ascending aorta were performed. We believe that this is the first case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery.     

Metabolic changes after revascularization in a patient with innominate artery occlusion by localized in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Localized in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) has been used to measure the metabolic status of the human brain in a non-invasive manner; thus, it is often called "a non-invasive biochemical assay". MRS is more sensitive than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting ischemic damage by measuring the metabolic changes that occur prior to the anatomic changes. We report a patient who presented with innominate artery occlusion and symptoms of posterior circulation insufficiency and showed favorable metabolic changes by (1)H-MRS after revascularization. He showed no visible lesion in brain MRI, but in (1)H-MRS, decreased N-acetylaspartate (NAA) signal was noted in a resting state.After revascularization, both symptomatic improvement and recovery of NAA signal were observed. (1)H-MRS may provide valuable clinical information in diagnosis and management of cerebral hypoperfusion at a much earlier stage prior to the anatomic changes.     

Immune complexes in sera of children with HBV-mediated glomerulonephritis

Multiple serum samples from 27 children with hepatitis B virus (HBV)--mediated glomerulonephritis (GN) were screened for the presence of immune complexes by an antigen-specific method. For this purpose an immunoenzymatic test was set up, applying a solid-phase Clq and the enzyme-conjugated antibodies: anti-HBs and anti-HBe. Complexes of HBsAg were found in sera of 15 children (55.6%), while complexes of HBeAg--in sera of 12 children (44.4%). Molecular weight of complexes was measured in sera of three patients, disclosing the values of 2.5-3.3 X 10(6) daltons for HBsAg complexes and 2.5-3.2 X 10(5) daltons for HBeAg complexes. Immune deposits consisting of hepatitis B virus antigen (HBeAg), IgG and C3 were detected in the glomeruli by immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent assays respectively, in 3 out of 4 patients with membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN). No genetic defect of the complement system was found by the measurement of total haemolytic activity of complement and concentration of early complement components. From the analysis of clinical and laboratory data it was concluded that the appearance of HBeAg complexes correlated with more severe course of the disease.