Lipid analysis of normal dermis and hypertrophic scars

Hypertrophic scars (HS) are a consequence of abnormal wound healing. We examined fatty acids that are contained within, and participate in, every reaction through the membrane; then, we analyzed the percentage composition of the fatty acids in deepithelialized normal dermis (ND) and HS. In vivo HS samples were obtained from six patients undergoing surgical excision, and ND samples from five patients undergoing skin grafting surgery for excess. In vitro, cultured fibroblasts from HS and ND were also analyzed. The percentage composition of fatty acids extracted from all the samples was analyzed. In vivo, arachidonic acid (20:4) was significantly more abundant in HS than in ND, in the phospholipids from both whole tissue and cell membranes. In vitro, there were no significant differences among ND, HS, and 10% fetal calf serum. The results suggest that HS formation does not necessarily involve simple excess of 20:4; however, there are considerable differences in the percentage composition of 20:4 between ND and HS. Arachidonic acid probably participates in the formation and maintenance of HS, whereas in vitro cultured fibroblasts are affected largely by fetal calf serum.     

Sexuality in persons with limb amputation: A meaningful discussion of re-integration

Purpose: Rehabilitation professionals do not appear to be sufficiently prepared to deal with the sexual issues of people with a physical disability, although they have recognized the value of discussing them during the rehabilitation process. This commentary argues that the sexuality of people with a disability should be evaluated from the two viewpoints of sexual function and sexual concern. With regard to people with a limb amputation, their sexual life has not attracted researchers' or clinicians' interest because their sexual function is usually preserved, is the same as that of able-bodied persons, and there is a perception that assistance is not required. Indeed, the number of published studies on the sexuality of this population is apparently fewer than the number of studies on the sexuality of persons with central nervous system impairment.

Conclusion: Investigation of the body image of people with a limb amputation and recognition of their needs are considered to be necessary for further discussion of this theme. Discussion of sexuality with some realistic statistical figures should also have great value in assisting with the re-integration of people with a limb amputation.     

Ross procedure in an infant weighing 4.5 kg

A 6 month-old male infant (weight: 4.5 kg) with congenital aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure). The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was reconstructed with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-valved equine pericardial conduit. At the age of 5, re-RVOT reconstruction with an equine pericardial patch bearing a PTFE monocusp was required because of severe pulmonary stenosis resistant to 2 attempts of percutaneous transluminal pulmonary valvotomy. Currently, at the age of 8, the degree of aortic regurgitation is trivial and the pulmonary autograft is free of functional deterioration despite somatic growth.     

A Case of Herpes Zoster Associated with Colitis

A 58-year-old Japanese woman who had herpes zoster in association with colitis was successfully treated with intravenously administrated acyclovir. Vesicular lesions with red haloes ranged from the left side of her buttock to the left extremity, corresponding to the L4 to S2 dermatomes. Her colitis was considered to have been induced by varicella-zoster virus, based on the facts that the clinical courses were correlated and that the innervation of the affected site of the colon corresponded to an infected dermatome (S2).     

Genitourinary phenotype in XX patients with distal 9p monosomy

Although testicular development has been shown to be variably impaired in XY patients with distal 9p monosomy, ovarian and other genitourinary phenotype has poorly been studied in XX patients monosomic for the distal 9p region. Thus, we studied a 13-month-old infant with 46,XX,der(9)t(9;10)(p23;p13) (case 1) and an 11-year-old girl with 46,XX,der(9)t(9;16)(p23;q22) (case 2). Case 1 had primary hypogonadism (basal serum follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], 40.0 mIU/mL; leteinizing hormone [LH], 1.2 mIU/mL; estradiol [E2], <10 pg/mL), whereas case 2 had age-appropriate pubertal development (breast, Tanner stage 4; pubic hair, Tanner stage 3; menarche 11.7 years of age) and hormone values (FSH, 7.3 mIU/mL; LH, 6.7 mIU/mL; E2, 47 pg/mL). In addition, case 1 had hypoplastic labia majora, short distance between the vaginal orifice and the anus, and five renal cysts, and case 2 had anal atresia, short distance between the vaginal orifice and the anus, bilateral hydronephrosis of grade 3 with probable ureteropelvic junction stenosis, and renal dysfunction (serum creatinine, 1.52 mg/dL; urea nitrogen, 34.5mg/dL). Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for five regions and microsatellite analysis for 10 loci on 9p confirmed hemizygosity for the distal 9p region with the breakpoints between IFNA and D9S285 in case 1 and between D9S168 and D9S286 in case 2. The results, in conjunction with the previous data in XX patients with molecularly defined distal 9p monosomy, are consistent with the presence of a gene(s) involved in the development of indifferent gonad or subsequent ovarian differentiation in a approximately 11 Mb region distal to D9S168. In addition, it is possible that a gene(s) for anoperineal and renal development also maps distal to D9S168 and that for external genital development maps distal to D9S285 at the position approximately 16 Mb from the 9p telomere.     

The frequency of type 2 CD8+ T cells is increased in peripheral blood from patients with psoriasis vulgaris

Studies have suggested that psoriasis vulgaris is mediated by type 1 T cells. In this study, we examined both chemokine receptor expression and intracellular cytokine production by circulating T cells to check the type 1/type 2 balance in psoriasis. CCR4⁺ and CXCR3⁺ T cells predominantly produced interleukin-4 and interferon-, respectively. The frequency of interferon--producing cells and that of CXCR3⁺ cells in circulating CD4⁺ T cells were similar for psoriatic patients and healthy control subjects. By contrast, the frequency of CCR4⁺CD8⁺ T cells and CCR4/CXCR3 ratio in circulating CD8⁺ T cells were significantly higher in psoriatic patients than in healthy control subjects. Analysis of intracellular cytokine production also indicated relative increase of type 2 CD8⁺ T (Tc2) cells in peripheral blood from psoriatic patients. The frequency of circulating Tc2 cells directly correlated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that not only CXCR3⁺CD8⁺ T cells but also a similar number of CCR4⁺CD8⁺ T cells infiltrated the psoriatic epidermis and dermis. Our findings suggest an increase in Tc2 cell number in blood from psoriatic patients, and the association of Tc2 cells with inflammation in psoriasis.     

Evaluation of the mouse lymphoma tk assay (microwell method) as an alternative to the in vitro chromosomal aberration test

In order to evaluate the utility of the mouse lymphoma assay(MLA) for detecting in vitro clastogens and spindle poisonsand to compare it with the in vitro chromosomal aberration test(CA), we conducted an international collaborative study of theMLA that included 45 Japanese laboratories and seven overseaslaboratories under the cooperation of the Ministry of Healthand Welfare of Japan and the Japanese Pharmaceutical Manufacturer'sAssociation. We examined 40 chemicals; 33 were reportedly positivein the CA but negative in the bacterial reverse mutation assay,six were negative in both assays and one was positive in both.We assayed mutations of the thymidine kinase (TK) locus (tk)of L5178Y tk^+/– mouse lymphoma cells using the microwellmethod. According to our standard protocol, cells were exposedto the chemical for 3 h, cultured for 2 days and TK-deficientmutants were expressed in 96-well plates under trifluorothymidine.Each chemical was coded and tested by two or three laboratories.Among the 34 CA-positive chemicals, positive MLA results wereobtained for 20 and negative results were obtained for nine.The remaining five chemicals were inconclusive or equivocalbecause of discrepant inter-laboratory results or reproduceddiscrepant results, respectively. Among the six CA-negativechemicals, one was negative in the MLA, two were positive andthree were inconclusive. Thus, the MLA could detect only 59%(20/34) of CA-positive chemicals. We concluded that the MLAwas not as sensitive as the CA. Some MLA-negative chemicalsevoked positive responses in the CA only after long continuoustreatment. These might also be genotoxic in the MLA with longcontinuous treatment. Improvement of the MLA protocol, includingalteration of the duration of the treatment, might render theMLA as sensitive as the CA. ⁸ To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81 3 37009847; Fax: +81 3 3700 2348; Email: sofuni{at}nihs.go.jp