Pre-elastofibroma-like colonic polyp: another cause of colonic polyp

We present a case of pre-elastofibroma-like lesion, a kind of elastic-producing fibrous tumor. The small colonic polyp, which was found in a 49-year-old asymptomatic man in association with a large colonic adenoma, showed submucosal nodular deposits of fine granular or fibrillar eosinophilic materials with interspersed fibroblastic cells. Elastic stain revealed these deposits to consist mainly of dark gray granular or partially fibrillar dense elastinophilic materials, most of which were digested with elastase. This stromal lesion somewhat resembled a pre-elastofibroma. Therefore, pre-elastofibroma-like lesions should be kept in mind as a possible origin of colonic polyp.     

Lectin binding patterns in normal liver, chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. An immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic study.

We studied the binding patterns of 14 lectins in human normal and cirrhotic liver (LC) tissues and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) using the ABC method. Lectins were divided into 4 groups according to their binding patterns in normal tissues: (A) PHA, MPA, LcH, RCA-I, and WGA, which bound to hepatocytes and all three types of sinusoidal cells; (B) BPA, GS-I, PNA, and SBA, which bound to Kupffer cells and endothelia of interlobular arteries and veins and bile duct epithelia in the portal tract, but not to hepatocytes; (C) UEA-I, which bound only to endothelia of interlobular arteries and veins and bile duct epithelia in the portal tract; (D) LBA, Lotus, LPA, and SJA, which showed no binding. Thus group B lectins may be useful markers of Kupffer cells. Only electron microscopic examination revealed the precise binding sites of lectins in sinusoidal cells and hepatocytes. Hepatocyte cell surface polarities demonstrated by lectin binding in LC and HCC were different from those in the normal liver. The binding pattern of PHA to LC hepatocytes changed from a membranous to both a membranous and a cytoplasmic pattern, and that of LcH to HCC cells changed to dot-like staining in the cytoplasm. These changes of polarities in LC and HCC might be caused by changes in the distribution of lectin-binding carbohydrates or by the altered glycosylation of glycoconjugates.     

The effect of partial splenic embolization (PSE) on liver function test in patients with liver cirrhosis

Five patients with hypersplenism associated with liver cirrhosis were treated by PSE and the changes of peripheral blood cells and liver function tests were observed. After PSE, all patients had a high fever and abdominal pain continued for a few weeks without severe complications. Peripheral blood cell counts improved soon after PSE and liver function tests (hepaplastin test and ICGR15) grew transiently worse, but they also improved within two months. During 4.5 to 10 months, the levels of albumin and total cholesterol of three patients increased, although the changes of bilirubin level and HPT were not shown. For other two patients, it was difficult to estimate the effect of PSE, because one patient was treated at the same time with lipiodol chemoembolization for HCC and another patient had a progress of nephrotic syndrome. On the other hand, ICG levels were stable after PSE but RI-uptake on liver scintigram increased in the liver. These results suggest that PSE may be able to improve not only hypersplenism but also liver function in the patients with compensated liver cirrhosis without severe complication.     

Mutation analysis of two Japanese patients with Fanconi-Bickel syndrome

Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS), or glycogen storage disease type XI, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hepatorenal glycogen accumulation, Fanconi nephropathy, and impaired utilization of glucose and galactose. Recently, this disease was elucidated to link mutations in the glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) gene. Only three mutations in three FBS families have been reported. Therefore, it is important to elucidate mutations in the GLUT2 gene in FBS by answering the question of whether the syndrome is a single gene disease. In this report, we describe two patients in two unrelated families clinically diagnosed with FBS. No mutation in the entire protein coding region of the GLUT2 gene was detected in patient 1, which suggested that no mutation existed in the GLUT 2 gene, or that some mutations had affected the expression of the GLUT 2 gene. In patient 2, a novel homozygous nonsense mutation (W420X, Trp at codon 420 to stop codon) was detected. These results support the correlation between GLTU2 gene mutation and FBS syndrome. However, many patients must be analyzed to determine whether other genes are involved in FBS. Received: July 16, 1999 / Accepted: September 3, 1999     

Protection of rabbits against HTLV-II infection with a synthetic peptide corresponding to HTLV-II neutralization region

Summary Rabbit immune sera raised against synthetic peptides of the HTLV-II envelope gp46 region were examined for HTLV-II neutralization ability by HTLV-vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotype assay and syncytium inhibition assay. HTLV-II neutralization activity was detected in the sera against HTLV-II Env gp46, 80–103 but not in those to HTLV-II Env gp46, 171–196. Three rabbits immunized with the synthetic peptide of HTLV-II Env gp46, 80–103 and three non-immunized rabbits were challenged with intravenous inoculation of an HTLV-II-producing human cell line (MOT, 1×10⁷ cells). The non-immunized rabbits showed seroconversion for HTLV-II after 2 weeks and maintained persistent infection but the immunized rabbits were protected from HTLV-II infection. Nested or repeated polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of HTLV-II provirus sequences in the non-immunized rabbits but not in the immunized rabbits. These results suggest that peptide vaccination with a synthetic peptide corresponding to the HTLV-II neutralization region is useful for preventing HTLV-II infection.     

High-frequency inter-parental recombination between mitochondrial genomes of rice cybrids

Analyzing more than 100 independent rice cybrids, we found evidence for inter-molecular recombination between parental mitochondrial genomes occurring at high frequency soon after protoplast fusion. The structure of the region around the atp6 gene showed extensive polymorphism among Indica (MTC-5A), Japonica (Nipponbare), and wild abortive (IR58024A) mitochondrial genomes. Recombination between the mitochondrial genomes of IR58024A and MTC-5A around the atp6 gene was detected by Southern-blot analysis of cybrid plants. Such recombinant mitochondrial molecules were also cloned from IR58024A/Nipponbare cybrid callus. PCR analysis around the atp6 gene demonstrated that inter-parental recombination occurs in practically all cybrid calli within 2 weeks after protoplast fusion. At this point, parental and recombinant mitochondrial genomes coexisted within the callus. Over the course of further cultivation, however, mitochondrial genome diversity decreased as parental and/or recombinant genomes segregated out.     

Effects of recombinant leukocyte interferon on serum immunoglobulin concentrations and lymphocyte subpopulations in chronic hepatitis B

To investigate immune effects of interferon (IFN) therapy in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B, serum immunoglobulin concentrations and peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations were sequentially studied before, during, and after therapy in nine patients who were treated with recombinant human -IFN in doses ranging from 3 to 10 million units per day for 28 days. Serum immunoglobulin A levels decreased significantly, from 414±23 mg/dl (mean ± SE) to 379±28 mg/dl (P<0.05), after the first week of therapy and to a bottom value of 323±20 mg/dl (P<0.001) at the fourth week. Immunoglobulin G levels decreased significantly, from 2603±175 to 2328±169 mg/dl (P<0.005), after the first week of therapy and to a bottom value of 2005±199 mg/dl (P<0.001) at the fourth week. Immunoglobulin M levels were also reduced significantly after 3 weeks of therapy (from 229±23 to 188±15 mg/dl;P<0.01). These reductions in immunoglobulins A, G, and M returned to pretreatment levels by 4 months after the end of the therapy. In lymphocyte subpopulations, significant depressions were found in CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, and B1-positive cells in peripheral blood after the first week of therapy (CD3, from 1700±114 to 1234±114/mm³,P<0.005; CD4, from 1036±88 to 780±64/mm³,P<0.005; CD8, from 620±57 to 426±60/mm³,P<0.05; and B1, from 519±84 to 276±48/mm³,P<0.01) followed during therapy, while Leul la-positive cells did not change significantly. During the 6-month follow-up period, three patients had a sustained clinical remission in which HBeAg disappeared from serum. Disappearance of HBeAg was unassociated with initial levels or percentage changes of serum immunoglobulins and peripheral lymphocytes expressing each of the test markers in these patients. These findings suggest that immune effects of IFN therapy are independent from its antiviral effects.     

Possible induction of [Met]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 immunoreactivity in neurons of the rat superior colliculus following eye enucleation

The distribution of [Met]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 (MEAGL)-immunoreactive (-IR) neurons and its modification after enucleation have been investigated in the rat superior colliculus. In normal rats and on the ipsilateral side of monocular-enucleated rats, small sized vertically elongated fusiform-shaped weakly immunostained neurons were dispersed throughout the sublamina of the stratum griseum superficiale (SGS). In bilaterally enucleated rats and on the contralateral side of monocular-enucleated rats, many small strongly immunoreactive MEAGL-containing neurons, projecting processes horizontally or obliquely toward the surface, appeared in the deepest part of the SGS and the superficial part of the stratum opticum (SO), in contrast to the disappearance of the fusiform-shaped weakly stained neurons in the SGS. MEAGL-IR fibers increased in density throughout the sublamina of the SGS, being densest in the deep SGS, accompanying their increase in the neighboring SO. Sporadically found MEAGL-IR neurons in the deep SO and the stratum griseum intermediale did not show the detectable change of immunoreactivity. These results indicate that enkephalin biosynthesis is undergone by different type of neurons in the normal and the ocular-derived superior colliculus, and suggest that some neurons in the adult superior colliculus have a potentiality to express the peptidergic phenotype.     

A case of alcoholic cirrhosis demonstrating long-term poor-visualization of the hepatic image on 99mTc-phytate scintigraphy

A 27-year-old female patient with alcoholic cirrhosis was reported. She was admitted to the hospital because of jaundice and ascites after heavy drinking. She had a history of drinking Japanese Sake in quantities of more than 5 go/day (900 ml/day) for 7 years. On admission, she was icteric, and had both hepatosplenomegaly and ascites. Laboratory data showed an elevation of serum transaminase and bilirubin, and a decrease in the albumin and prothrombin values. A biopsy specimen of the liver showed pericellular fibrosis, fatty change, Mallory bodies and regenerative nodules, and revealed findings compatible with alcoholic cirrhosis. A 99mTc-N-pyridoxyl-5-methyltryptophan scintigram showed hepatomegaly. On the 99mTc-phytate scintigram, the uptake of radioisotope to the liver was markedly decreased with the increased uptake to the spleen and bone marrow. Even 6 months after the onset, poor visualization of the hepatic image on 99mTc-phytate scintigram continued. This is the first report of alcoholic cirrhosis demonstrating a long-term poor visualization of the hepatic image on 99mTc-phytate scintigraphy.     

Studies on elementary reactions in the polymerization of 1,2-epoxycyclohexane with organozinc compounds as initiators

1,2-Epoxycyclohexane ( 1 ) was found to behave differently from propylene oxide (PO) in polymerization reactions with organozinc compounds as initiators. A chair-type complex, [Zn-MP]_2,2, is the only compound that shows high catalytic activity for both polymerization of 1 and PO, following an anionic coordination mechanism. On the other hand, the polymerization of 1 with ZnEt₂ or (EtZnOMe)₄ as initiator proceeds according to a cationic mechanism. Cationic polymerization of 1 with ZnEt₂ has two modes of termination reaction resulting in the formation of terminal units containing vinyl ether and allyl ether moieties. The initiation and propagation mechanism of 1 by [Zn-MP]_2;2 is similar to that of PO, but chain transfer reaction takes place in the polymerization of 1 owing to the low stability of the growing chain end. By using [Zn-MP]_2,2 as initiator, it was possible to prepare a block copolymer consisting of an isotactic sequence of monomeric units of PO and a syndiotactic sequence of monomeric units of 1 .