Renal cell adenomas and carcinomas in hemodialysis patients: Relationship between hemodialysis period and development of lesions

Step-sections of 96 whole kidneys from 50 chronic hemodialysis patients were subjected to a histopathological and quantitative investigation with regard to the development of renal neoplastic lesions. The range of hemodialysis duration was from 1 to 222 months. A total of 349 renal cell adenomas were found in 41 cases (82%). They were commonly multiple and present bilaterally. Renal cell carcinomas were evident in four cases (8%), with hemodialysis durations of 54, 57, 112 and 222 months. The incidence of adenomas increased in a hemodialysis duration-dependent manner, indicating a high risk of renal cell tumor development in chronic hemodialysis patients. Furthermore, acquired cystic disease of the kidney (ACDK) was also observed in 12 cases (24.0%), where the mean hemodialysis period was 143.4 ± 48.0 months. This value was significantly longer than that of non-ACDK cases (P < 0.001). There was, however, no clear relationship between the appearance of ACDK and renal cell tumors. The present results underline the necessity for attention to possible neoplasia of the kidney in patients on long-term hemodialysis.     

An electron microscopic study of neurosecretion in the cerebral ganglion of the earthworm

Non-synaptic, exocytotic release of neurosecretory granules in cerebral ganglion neurons was observed electron microscopically in 3 species of the oligochaete annelids Aporrectodea caliginosa, Octolasion cyaneum and Lumbricus terrestris. In addition to the features indicating exocytotic release of neurosecretory granules into perineuronal space, possible features of neurosecretion into blood vessels were seen within the cerebral ganglion. Axon terminals in synaptic contact with perikaryal profiles of cerebral ganglion neurons were also found.     

The role of climbing fibers in the development of Purkinje cell dendrites

Destruction of the inferior olivary nucleus was performed in newborn kittens in order to study the role of climbing fibers in the postnatal development of the cerebellum. In the three kittens which survived for 40–45 days after the unilateral destruction at 2 days old, histological examination demonstrated the lack of dendritic arborization in many Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex contralateral to the lesion. The olivectomized kittens showed cerebellar symptoms which became conspicous when the kittens started to walk. The results reveal an important role of climbing fibers in the development of Purkinje cell dendrites.     

Topographical projections from the thalamus to the putamen in the cat

Thalamic projections to the putamen (Put) in the cat were studied by the retrograde horseradish peroxidase method. Major thalamic projections to the Put originate from the midline and intralaminar nuclear regions including the centre médian-parafascicular complex (CM-Pf). The other thalamic projections to the Put arise mainly from the suprageniculate nucleus (Sg), magnocellular division of the medial geniculate nucleus (MGm), caudomedial part of the lateroposterior nucleus (LP) and ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus (VM). The VM projects to the rostral Put, while the posterior thalamic regions (Sg, MGm, LP) project to the caudal Put.     

Reduced expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 in gestational trophoblastic diseases

To elucidate the involvement of type IV collagenases [matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9] and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) in the development of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), we quantified their levels in hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma tissues using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the results were compared with those from normal first trimester placenta. Levels of pro-MMP-2 were increased in hydatidiform mole, and they were further elevated in choriocarcinoma. Levels of pro-MMP-9 in choriocarcinoma and those of TIMP-1 in both hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma were also increased. In contrast, TIMP-2 levels were markedly decreased in both hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma. Similar results were obtained by the tissue culture of first trimester placenta and hydatidiform mole. Gelatin zymography indicated that the levels of both pro- and activated forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were higher in hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma. The decreased expression of TIMP-2 in hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma was confirmed by Western blot, Northern blot and immunohistochemistry, with the decrease being more pronounced in choriocarcinoma. Taken together, the present study shows that both TIMP-2 mRNA and protein levels are markedly decreased in GTD and the imbalance of MMP-TIMP production, shifted toward greater MMP activity, may be involved in the pathogenesis of GTD.     

Determination of medullasin levels for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Medullasin levels in granulocytes of patients with neurological diseases and healthy volunteers were determined by the enzyme immunoassay using mouse monoclonal antibodies against human medullasin and o-phenylenediamine-H2O2 as the detection system of the enzyme activity. One hundred twenty-one out of 159 patients with multiple sclerosis (76.1%) showed positive results (above means of normals + 2SD) in this test, while only 16.9% (24/142) of patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases had positive results. This enzyme immunoassay method for medullasin is considered to be an useful paraclinical test for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.     

Diversity of antisperm antibodies bound to sperm surface in male immunological infertility

PROBLEM: The presence of antisperm antibodies (ASA) in males can reduce fecundity, however, relationship between the two is disputed. This study was performed to investigate if there is diversity of ASA bound to sperm surface using immunobead test (IBT) combined with complement dependent sperm immobilization test (SIT). METHODS: The ASA bound to sperm surface were detected using the direct IBT (D-IBT) in 275 semen samples. In some cases with ASA detected by D-IBT, sperm immobilizing antibodies bound to sperm surface were also evaluated using direct SIT (D-SIT). RESULTS: The incidence of the immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM classes of ASA detected by D-IBT were 2.5, 1.8, and 0.4%, respectively. Totally, nine (3.3%) infertile men had ASA on the sperm surface. D-SIT was tested positive in four (66.7%) of six cases with ASA assessed by D-IBT. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the sperm-bound antibodies are associated with complement dependent sperm immobilizing antibodies, indicating that there exists a heterogeneity of sperm-bound antibodies. This result might be one of the reasons for the controversy about the relationship between ASA and immunological infertility in men.     

Inhibition of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis by pesticides: is this a partial explanation for the difficulty in isolating this fungus from the soil?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ten pesticides on Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and thereby to investigate the possible association between these data and the difficulty in isolating P. brasiliensis from agricultural soil. Six fungicides (Alto 100, Benlate, Captan, Dithane, Plantacol, Rovral), two herbicides (Pivot, Roundup) and two insecticides (Azodrin and Curacron) were evaluated. Five P. brasiliensis isolates from the environment (labelled group 'N,' for 'nature') and five isolates from patients (group 'P'), were grown on Sabouraud's dextrose agar, at 35 degrees C, with ten different concentrations of each pesticide. The dose of pesticide that causes 50% growth inhibition (ED50) was calculated for each isolate. All pesticides assayed inhibited P. brasiliensis in a dose-dependent manner, and great variability among ED50 values was observed in isolates from both groups. No statistically significant difference was observed between averages of ED50 from groups N and P, except with Alto 100. The inhibitory effect of pesticides on P. brasiliensis suggests that they can interfere with attempts to isolate P. brasiliensis from soil, where tonnes of pesticides are applied over large areas planted with various crops.