An immunoperoxidase study of S-100 protein distribution in normal and neoplastic tissues

The presence of S-100 protein was immunohistochemically studied in many types of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumors (260 cases). Peripheral nerve tumors, i.e., schwannomas, neurofibromas, granular cell tumors, and neurogenic sarcomas were demonstrated to contain variable amounts of S-100 protein in the tumor cell cytoplasm and nuclei. In ganglioneuromas and ganglioneuroblastomas, neoplastic Schwann cells or satellite cells were positive for S-100 protein. About one-half of the cases of carcinoid tumors stained weakly for S-100 protein. In addition to these nervous tissue and carcinoid tumors, chondrosarcoma, chordomas, pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary gland, and Langerhans cell granulomatosis were also shown to produce S-100 protein. In many types of breast tumors and other lesions, S-100 protein positive cells were likely to correspond to the distribution of myoepithelial cells. These results indicate that S-100 protein is not strictly specific to nervous tissue and its tumors; however, the immunohistochemical demonstration of S-100 protein can be a useful diagnostic tool in tumor diagnosis.     

Large cell carcinoma of the lung associated with marked eosinophilia. A case report

A case of large cell carcinoma of the lung which produced eosinophil colony stimulating factor and eosinophil chemotactic factor was reported. A 52-year-old Japanese man with a tumor in the left upper lobe of the lung underwent left pneumonectomy. Marked eosinophilia persisted especially after recurrence, with a maximum peripheral leukocyte count of 161,000/mm3, of which 78% consisted of eosinophils. The patient died of pulmonary insufficiency 18 months after surgery. At autopsy, metastatic tumor tissues and almost all organs were markedly infiltrated with eosinophils, especially the spleen, and there was marked proliferation of eosinophils in the bone marrow. Eosinophil colony stimulating factor production by the transplanted tumor in a nude mouse was confirmed by use of a human bone marrow culture assay system. Eosinophil chemotactic factor production by metastatic tumor tissue also was proved by a modified micro-filter technique.     

A Japanese family with Machado-Joseph disease characterized by initial emaciation and myoclonus

We describe a Japanese family with hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia characterized by initial emaciation and myoclonus. The proband first noted truncal ataxia, myoclonus in the shoulder and general emaciation at age 24. The other affected members of the family also had such emaciation in the early stage of the disease. The DNA analyses of the family revealed that the patients of the family are associated with the expansions of CAG repeats for Machado–Joseph disease (MJD) on the long arm of chromosome 14. Although the clinical features of MJD are very variable, general emaciation in an early stage of the disease and systemic myoclonus have not been documented. Because it is sometimes difficult to distinguish among hereditary spinocerebellar ataxias such as spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) or dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) by clinical features, a genetic examination provides better understanding of such a rare and ambiguous type of hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia.     

Comparative case-control analysis of gastric and duodenal ulcers

A case-control analysis was conducted comparing gastric and duodenal ulcers involving 369 cases with gastric ulcer, 127 cases with duodenal ulcer an 3,104 control subjects based on a questionnaire survey of subjects who received gastroscopic examination at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital from April, 1985 to March, 1989. Risk of gastric ulcer was positively associated with smoking (relative risk (RR) = 3.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.63-5.13), irregular time of meals (RR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.06-1.81) and milk intake (RR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.25-2.04) and inversely associated with fruit intake (RR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57-0.95), while the risk of duodenal ulcer was positively associated with smoking (RR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.16-3.26), a preference for foods that are not rich (RR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.03-2.32), intake of pickled vegetables (RR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.21-2.55) and presence of methods of diversion (RR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.16-2.71). These results suggest that life style is involved in the etiology of both diseases and that there are some differences in the associations between both diseases.     

Effects of selective vagotomy with or without drainage on glucose tolerance test

Effects of selective proximal vagotomy (SPV) with pyloroplasty, SPV without a drainage, selective gastric vagotomy with antrectomy and distal gastrectomy with gastro-duodenostomy on the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were studied in 25 patients with duodenal ulcer. Hyperglycemia occurred at 30 and 60 min after glucose loading and hypoglycemia occurred at 120 min in all three types of selective vagotomy. The pattern of the OGTT, however, was not remarkably changed after gastrectomy. These findings suggested that an altered pattern in the OGTT might relate to vagotomy, but not to gastrectomy or pyloroplasty. Hormonal factors, such as immunoreactive insulin (IRI), pancreatic glucagon (PG) and gut glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) were measured to elucidate the mechanism of the altered patterns of OGTT after selective vagotomy. The enhanced response of IRI was found in selective vagotomy groups, in comparison with the preoperative study or gastrectomy group. The exaggerated response of IRI might be responsible for hypoglycemia. GLI and PG had little or no effect on blood glucose level on the OGTT.     

The Sign of Leser-Trélat Associated with Carcinoma of the Stomach

The sign of Leser-Trélat, which refers to the sudden appearance and rapid increase in size and number of seborrheic keratosis associated with a visceral malignant tumor, is very uncommon. This case concerns a 54-yr-old woman presenting with Leser-Trélat's sign associated with advanced gastric cancer. Seborrheic keratosis faded after resection of the tumor, but returned when the cancer recurred. At that time, 24-h urinary excretion of epidermal growth factor determined by radioreceptor assay was slightly elevated. Epidermal growth factor may play a part in the development of Leser-Trélat's sign.     

Enolase distribution in human brain tumors, retinoblastomas and pituitary adenomas

The cellular localization of alpha-, beta- and gamma-subunits of enolase isoenzyme was studied immunohistochemically in various human brain tumors, retinoblastomas and pituitary adenomas (total, 91 cases). The alpha-subunit was found in almost all brain tumors except in medulloblastoma cases. A case of medullomyoblastoma contained beta-subunit-positive myoblastic cells, which was also positive for human myoglobin. The gamma-subunit was frequently observed in medulloblastomas, retinoblastomas and pituitary adenomas. However, gamma-subunit was also present in some non-neuronal brain tumors such as astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. Enzyme immunoassay technique also confirmed the presence of gamma-subunit in a medulloblastoma and two retinoblastomas.