Glomus Jugulare Tumor Presenting with Intracerebellar Hemorrhage

What is believed to be the first case of a glomus jugulare tumor presenting with intracerebellar hemorrhage is described. A 25-year-old normotensive man suddenly suffered from severe headache, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, and ataxia due to an intracerebellar hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging and angiography revealed a highly vascular jugulare foramen tumor extending into the intracranial space adjacent to the hematoma. Total removal of the tumor was performed successfully via the combined pre- and retrosigmoid approach, and the histologic diagnosis was a glomus jugulare tumor. We concluded that one of the numerous draining veins on the surface of intracranial tumor, which were observed during the operation, was the origin of the intracerebellar hemorrhage.     

Immunocytochemical analysis of sex differences in calcitonin gene-related peptide in the rat dorsal root ganglion, with special reference to estrogen and its receptor

Previous studies have shown that the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity in the central nervous system (CNS) of adult rats is sexually dimorphic and regulated by sex steroid. In the present study, we used immunocytochemistry to investigate the sex difference in CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) neurons in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The numbers of CGRP-IR neurons at the cervical, lumbar and sacral levels in the female rats were significantly lower than those of the male rats. We also found that the number of CGRP-IR neurons at the lumbar level was increased in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, but was decreased in estradiol (E₂)-treated rats (OVX+E₂). A large number of estrogen receptor (ER)-IR neurons at the lumbar level were found in the female rats, and its number was greater than that in the male rats. We also investigated the change in the number of ER-IR neurons of OVX rats after estrogen treatment. The number of ER-IR neurons in the OVX+E₂ rats was consistent with that of the intact female rats, but was significantly increased in the OVX rats. As shown by a double-labeling immunocytochemical method, over 80% of the CGRP-IR neurons at the lumbar level showed ER immunoreactivity in the female, OVX and OVX+E₂ rats, compared to only about 46% in the male rats. These results indicate that there is a gender difference in CGRP expression in the rat DRG, and that this CGRP expression might be downregulated by estrogen (at least in part) through its receptor.     

Methamphetamine induces Fos expression in the striatum and the substantia nigra pars reticulata in a rat model of Parkinson''s disease

In rats with a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion in the nigrostriatal pathway, methamphetamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) induced Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) not only in the striatum on the intact side but also in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) on the lesioned side. The methamphetamine-induced hyperexpression of FLI in the SNr on the lesioned side was suppressed by pretreatment with either dopamine D₁ receptor antagonist SCH-23390 (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), D₂ receptor antagonist raclopride (2 mg/kg, i.p.) or N-methyl- -aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 (1 mg/kg, i.p.), which was concomitant with inhibition of the methamphetamine-induced rotational behavior of each antagonist. However, the hyperexpression of FLI in the SNr was not suppressed by intrastriatal grafts of fetal ventral mesencephalon which could suppress the methamphetamine-induced rotation completely. These results indicate that opposite hemispheric asymmetries in FLI are induced by methamphetamine in the striatum and the SNr in the 6-OHDA rats. It is suggested that the FLIs in the two discrete sites are activated independently by different mechanisms, and furthermore, different neuronal pathways are involved in the methamphetamine-induced rotation and Fos expression in the SNr of 6-OHDA rats.     

Importance of magnesium ions in the mechanism of catalysis by a hammerhead ribozyme: strictly linear relationship between the ribozyme activity and the concentration of magnesium ions.

Analysis, based on kinetic solvent isotope effects, demonstrated that no proton transfer occurs in reactions catalyzed by a 32-mer hammerhead ribozyme (R32) in the presence of magnesium ions, whereas proton transfer occurs in reactions catalyzed by R32 in the presence of high concentrations of monovalent NH4+ ions without metal ions, demonstrating that the detailed mechanism of action of the hammerhead ribozyme might change depending on the environment. Importantly, when the concentration of magnesium ions was gradually increased from 1 mM to up to 800 mM, the R32 ribozyme activity increased linearly without reaching a plateau value. This phenomenon can be explained by a model in which a catalytic magnesium ion with a very low affinity (dissociation constant, Kd > 800 mM) exists and/or the predominant inactive complex converts to a minor active complex before the cleavage reaction.     

Renal Transplantation into Augmented Bladders

Background: Urinary bladder augmentation is gaining popularity for the treatment of dysfunctional bladders in renal transplant patients. Although reported cases of adult and pediatric transplants into the augmented bladder have been favorable, the potential risk of urinary tract infection and graft failure under immunosuppression is still disputable. We report our experiences with 4 patients who underwent renal transplantation into an augmented bladder.
Methods: Between 1971 and 1996, 1275 renal transplants were performed at our institution. Of these transplants, 4 patients underwent renal transplantation into an augmented urinary bladder. Augmentation cystoplasty was performed before transplantation in 3 patients and 7 years after transplantation in the other patient. The bladder was augmented with an ileal segment in 3 patients and a ureter in the fourth patient. Craft function was assessed by the serum creatinine level. Fluorocystometrograms were performed in all patients at fixed intervals.
Results: Posttransplant renal function was satisfactory overall and no patient exhibited proteinuria. All patients except 1 acquired a large capacity low pressure bladder and remained continent with clean intermittent catheterization. One patient who underwent ureterocystoplasty is still incontinent because of his relatively small bladder capacity. Posttransplant pyelonephritis was documented in 3 patients during the follow-up period, but no other complications were observed.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that renal transplantation into extensively reconstructed bladders can be safely performed with good success. Although urinary tract infection is a major consideration, we recommend pretransplant reconstruction not only to preserve graft function, but also to achieve urinary continence.     

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the temporal region initially diagnosed as temporomandibular disorders: a case report

Adenocarcinoma occurring in the temporal region has not previously been reported. We present a case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the temporal region. A 62-year-old female patient was diagnosed as having temporomandibular disorders because of severe trismus and joint pain. Although trismus progressively worsened, there were no abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging studies including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone scintigraphy. As swelling of the temporal region was observed, biopsy was performed. Histologic examination showed chronic inflammation of the striated muscle. Approximately 6 months later, follow-up MRI demonstrated an ill-defined mass lesion in the infratemporal region extending to the intracranium. Histologic diagnosis of the biopsy showed that this mass lesion was moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma.     

Intracellular polarity protein PAR-1 regulates extracellular laminin assembly by regulating the dystroglycan complex

Cell polarity depends on extrinsic spatial cues and intrinsic polarity proteins including PAR-aPKC proteins. In mammalian epithelial cells, cell–cell contacts provide spatial cues that activate the aPKC-PAR-3-PAR-6 complex to establish the landmark of the initial cellular asymmetry. PAR-1, a downstream target of the aPKC-PAR-3-PAR-6 complex, mediates further development of the apical and basolateral membrane domains. However, the relationships between the PAR-aPKC proteins and other extrinsic spatial cues provided by the extracellular matrix (ECM) remain unclear. Here, we show that PAR-1 colocalizes with laminin receptors and is required for the assembly of extracellular laminin on the basal surface of epithelial cells. Furthermore, PAR-1 regulates the basolateral localization of the dystroglycan (DG) complex, one of the laminin receptors essential for basement membrane formation. We also show that PAR-1 interacts with the DG complex and is required for the formation of a functional DG complex. These results reveal the presence of a novel inside-out pathway in which an intracellular polarity protein regulates the ECM organization required for epithelial cell polarity and tissue morphogenesis.     

Evaluation of the discrepant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains between any ordinary susceptibility testing and rpoB gene analysis by the line probe assay

PURPOSE: Evaluation of rifampicin-resistance by the line probe assay, for rifampicin-susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains which were classified as rifampicin-resistant by the phenotypic drug susceptibility testings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 clinical isolates from NHO Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center consisting of 6 rifampicin-resistant strains by the line probe assay despite susceptible result by the drug susceptibility testings, and 9 clinical isolates which showed the fluctuating results on repeated drug susceptibility testings. After we conducted 3 drug susceptibility testings and the line probe assay, we have examined the sequence analysis for confirming mutations in the rpoB gene. RESULTS: All strains were determined rifampicin-susceptible or intermediate by the drug susceptibility testings with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) which ranged from 0.25 to 4 microg/ml by BrothMIC MTB-1, whereas these isolates indicated rifampicin-resistance by the line probe assay and revealed mutations in the hot-spot region (69 bp) by the sequence analysis. CONCLUSION: We verified that the line probe assay might be useful for the correct determination of drug susceptibility, especially about the low-level rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis strains.