A case of pulmonary aspergillosis presenting pulmonary bulla and eosinophilic pneumonia

A rare case of a 25-year-old man with pulmonary aspergillosis is reported. Pulmonary bulla and eosinophilic pneumonia in the right upper lobe were diagnosed by chest roentgenogram and transbronchial lung biopsy. Because the patient developed infective bullae during steroid therapy, we performed transcutaneous thoracic drainage and right upper lobectomy. The resected lung tissue contained numerous hyphae of Aspergillus. Around the hyphae of Aspergillus, granulomatous reaction and eosinophilic infiltration were observed. Antibodies against Aspergillus were detected in the serum of the patient. The number of peripheral blood eosinophils decreased after right upper lobectomy. These findings suggest that pulmonary bullae and eosinophilic pneumonia may be a rare manifestation of pulmonary aspergillosis.     

Characterization of chromosome aberrations induced by incubation at a restrictive temperature in the mouse temperature-sensitive mutant tsFT20 strain containing heat-labile DNA polymerase alpha

tsFT20 cells derived from a mouse mammary carcinoma cell line, FM3A, which has temperature-sensitive DNA polymerase alpha activity (Y. Murakami, H. Yasuda, H. Miyazawa, F. Hanaoka, and M. Yamada, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82:1761-1765, 1985) were rapidly committed to death after temperature upshift to 39 degrees C. tsFT20 cells synchronized in S phase were more sensitive to the restrictive temperature than exponentially growing cells. In order to gain insight into the processes from the interruption of DNA synthesis to cell death, we analyzed chromosome aberrations induced in tsFT20 cells which had been incubated for 2 or 4 h at the restrictive temperature and then cultured at the permissive temperature. The majority of metaphase cells showed extensive chromosome aberrations such as chromatid gaps, breaks, and exchanges; chromosome pulverizations; their mixed types; and ring chromosomes. Analyses with the use of cell synchronization and autoradiography revealed that chromosome aberrations were induced only in the cells which synthesized DNA during incubation at 39 degrees C. We classified the chromosome aberrations into five types: gap or break type; exchange type; pulverization type; complex type; and ring type. The temporal order of the appearance of these types of chromosome aberrations was found to be the above described order. It was further found that cycloheximide dramatically repressed the induction of chromosome aberrations, and metaphases with many chromosome aberrations exhibited a large number of sister chromatid exchanges. These results indicate that abnormal cessation of DNA replication in tsFT20 cells at the restrictive temperature due to the inactivation of DNA polymerase alpha results in cell death via induction of double-strand breaks which lead to chromosome aberrations as well as sister chromatid exchanges.     

Distribution of radiolabeled 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitros ourea hydrochloride in rat brain tumor: intraarterial versus intravenous administration

To assess the rationale of intraarterial (i.a.) 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea chemotherapy, distribution of 14C-labeled 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)- 3-nitrosourea in rat glioma was studied after i.a. or i.v. infusion. Immediately after infusion, the tumor located in the hemisphere of intracarotid infusion received 4.6-fold higher radioactivity than the tumor located contralaterally to intracarotid infusion and 2.8-fold higher radioactivity than i.v. infusion. The difference was kept up to 30 min after i.a. infusion. Autoradiographic observation indicated rather uniform distribution of the tracer in the central portion of i.a. infusion. However, in the periphery of i.a. infusion, distribution of the tracer was nonhomogenous. The results indicate that i.a. 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea chemotherapy is useful when the tumor has high blood flow and is located in the center of an infused area.     

Sandwich radioimmunoassay of human plasma renin using two monoclonal antibodies

Plasma immunoreactive renin was measured by sandwich radioimmunoassay, under various physiological and pathological conditions. Enzymatic activities of active renin and trypsin-activatable inactive renin were also measured. There was a significant correlation between plasma immunoreactive renin concentration (IRRC) and total (active plus inactive) renin concentration, as estimated by enzymatic activity. In plasma from normotensive volunteers and hypertensive patients, the IRRC were 279 +/- 37 pg/ml and 268 +/- 29 pg/ml, respectively. After the intravenous injection of furosemide, the plasma IRRC in normotensive volunteers increased significantly. IRRC was significantly higher in plasma from juvenile diabetics than in plasma from age-matched disease-free children. Thus, renin secretion in children with diabetes mellitus is increased.     

Radiotherapy for malignant fistula to other tract

Radiotherapy was applied to 14 esophageal carcinomas with respiratory tract fistulas using various treatment regimens. Closure of the fistulas was observed in four cases after irradiation at a daily dose of 1.5 Gy. The period of closure was transient in two cases but long-term in the other two. One long-term closure case underwent low-dose rate telecobalt therapy (LDRT)(1 Gy per hour, 7 Gy per day; a total dose of 28 Gy) as a boost. His cancer has been well controlled and he is still alive without recurrence at 74 months after fistula formation.     

Response of postapoplectic hemichorea/ballism to GPi pallidotomy: progressive improvement resulting in complete relief.

We report on a 66-year-old woman in whom GPi pallidotomy produced progressive and eventually complete relief of hemichorea/ballism (HCB) after a subthalamic hemorrhage. Although choreoballistic movements were unchanged during and immediately after the surgery, the symptoms were gradually improved and consequently abolished by 5 days postoperatively. HCB has never recurred up to the present (9 months follow-up period). This note is the first report describing detailed postsurgical process in HCB relief after pallidotomy.     

Rotational acetabular osteotomy for acetabular dysplasia of the hip with a giant acetabular bone cyst: a case report

In acetabular dysplasia of the hip joint accompanied by a giant acetabular bone cyst, rotational acetabular osteotomy may cause serious complications, such as bone necrosis after surgery or fracture of the fragile acetabulum during the operation. In a patient with this condition, we performed a two-stage operation: first, autogenous bone grafting supplemented with hydroxyapatite filling, then rotational acetabular osteotomy (after new bone formation had been assured). Radiographs and CT scans showed favorable fusion of the grafted bone. Some 18 months after the second operation, arthrograms showed no inflow of contrast medium from the articular cavity into the bone cyst region, although this had been observed before treatment. Thus, an effective remodeling of bony congruency was indicated in the mobile acetabulum 5 years after the second operation. This two-stage operation appears to be useful for correcting acetabular dysplasia accompanied by a giant bone cyst and to carry a reduced risk of serious complications, such as deterioration of the articular surface of the acetabulum or necrosis of the translocated acetabulum.