Solid and Cystic Tumor of the Pancreas in an Adult Male

A solid and cystic tumor (SCT) was located at the head of the pancreas in a 43-year-old Japanese male, and pancreatoduodenectomy was performed on the suspicion of papillary carcinoma or cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The lesion, which measured 4.5 X 4.5 X 4.0 cm, was clearly demarcated by connective tissue. The cut surface showed solid grayish-white areas with central cystic degenerative changes. The solid areas consisted of small round cells proliferating in a small solid or a pseudopapillary pattern. The tumor cells partially invaded the surrounding normal pancreatic parenchyma. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positive staining for alpha-1-antitrypsin and neuron-specific enolase, but no staining for known pancreatic hormones. Moreover, ultrastructural studies showed the absence of zymogen granules and the presence of anullate lamellae and neurosecretory granules. On the basis of these findings, a diagnosis of SCT of the pancreas was established. In order to clarify the histogenesis and biological behavior of the tumor, it is necessary to accumulate and analyze similar cases, an endeavor which in turn will contribute to the successful management of this disease. Acta Pathol Jpn 41: 763-770, 1991.     

Rhythmical contractions in pulmonary arteries of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats

Rhythmical contractions accompanied by an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations were produced in ring preparations of endothelium-denuded pulmonary arteries from monocrotaline-treated rats, but not in those from vehicle-treated rats, 2-3 h after a resting tension of 15 mN (150-180% of the initial wall length of the artery) was applied. The rhythmical contractions were abolished by nicardipine and ryanodine. Cyclopiazonic acid reduced the relaxation phase of the rhythmical contractions, finally leading to a sustained contraction. Similarly, apamin caused a sustained contraction, whereas charybdotoxin increased the amplitude of the rhythmical contractions. Glibenclamide had no apparent effects on them. Indomethacin and the prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist SQ29548 abolished the rhythmical contractions and reduced the tension, but the thromboxane synthase inhibitor ozagrel had no effect. These results suggest that optimal stretch induces rhythmical contractions in the pulmonary arteries of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats, to which both Ca2+ influx through voltage-operated Ca2+ channels and Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum seem to contribute. It is also suggested that small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels participate in the relaxation phase of rhythmical contractions. Furthermore, prostaglandin H2 released from nonendothelial cells is likely to play a pivotal role in the induction of rhythmical contractions.     

Protodioscin isolated from fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) induces cell death and morphological change indicative of apoptosis in leukemic cell line H-60, but not in gastric cancer cell line KATO III

Protodioscin (PD) was purified from fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) and identified by Mass, and 1H- and 13C-NMR. The effects of PD on cell viability in human leukemia HL-60 and human stomach cancer KATO III cells were investigated. PD displayed strong growth inhibitory effect against HL-60 cells, but weak growth inhibitory effect on KATO III cells. Morphological change showing apoptotic bodies was observed in the HL-60 cells treated with PD, but not in KATO III cells treated with PD. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the hypodiploid nuclei of HL-60 cells were increased to 75.2, 96.3, and 100% after a 3-day treatment with 2.5, 5, and 10 microM PD, respectively. The fragmentation by PD of DNA to oligonucleosomal-sized fragments, that is a characteristic of apoptosis, was observed to be both concentration- and time-dependent in the HL-60 cells. These findings suggest that growth inhibition by PD of HL-60 cells results from the induction of apoptosis by this compound in HL-60 cells.     

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a recently established subtype of RCC, which has rarely been reported in Japan. In this communication, the authors report two Japanese cases of chromophobe RCC together with the immunohistochemical findings. The tumors were composed of sheets and cribriform glands formed by tumor cells with cloudy and reticular cytoplasm. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasm was filled with numerous microvesicles. The tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, and Tamm-Horsfall protein. Occasionally, LeuM1-positive cells were also noted. Vimentin was negative, unlike the usual RCC. Reactivity for peanut agglutinin was more frequent than that to Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin. The results of this study suggest that the tumor cellq possessed phenotypes similar to the distal nephron rather than to the proximal tubular cells.     

Block copolymers of fluoral oligomer with urethanes: Preparation and thermal properties

Two series of block copolymers have been synthesized comprising of soft polytrifluoroacetaldehyde (polyacetal) segments and of hard 4,4′-methylenedi(phenyl isocyanate)/cis-cyclohexane-1,4-diol polyurethane segments. The series-A copolymers in which the soft segments were directly bound to the hard segments had significantly lower thermal stability than the series-B copolymers in which the soft segments were linked to the hard segments by sebacic ester units. In both series the thermal stability decreased with increasing soft segment content. The series-A copolymers exhibited two thermal transitions both characteristic of T_g's and separated by about 60 K. In contrast the series-B copolymers exhibited two characteristic T_g's separated by 200–250 K, depending on composition, together with an additional endothermic transition at about ambient temperature. All transitions for both series decreased with increasing soft segment content. The observations have been compared with those of other polyether and polyester based polyurethanes.     

ISCHEMIC ENTEROCOLITIS WITHOUT ARTERIO–OCCLUSIVE LESION

Four cases of Ischemic enterocolitis without arterio–occlusive lesion were described. Three cases were associated with sigmoid colon carcinomas. Ischemic lesions developed anal to the carcinomas in two cases, and oral to sigmoidostomy to relieve intestinal obstruction by carcinoma in one case. One other case was associated with inguinal hernia. Grossly, ischemic lesions involved relatively short intestinal segments, and the ischemic colonic lesions were not related to teniae coli. Extensive veno–occlusive lesions were discovered in a case of ischemic stricture of the ileum, which had been incarcerated in the right inguinal hernia. Reversible mechanical occlusion of the intestinal vessels caused by transient or recurrent intestinal strangulation is the most probable cause of these ischemic lesions., ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 33: 249–256, 1983.     

Detection of tumour necrosis factor/cachectin in pleural effusion of patients with lung cancer.

We have found that the pleural effusion obtained from a patient with lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) has cytotoxic activity against the patient's lung cancer cells. This finding occurred in the course of establishing a lung cancer cell line from the patient's pleural effusion. The cytotoxic factor was partially purified from the pleural effusion and characterized. It had cytotoxicity against L-929 mouse fibroblasts in the standard 18-h killing assay of tumour necrosis factor (TNF). By molecular sieving chromatography, the activity appeared at molecular weight of 50,000. This activity was completely blocked by a monoclonal antibody to TNF. From these results, we conclude that the cytotoxic factor in the pleural effusion is TNF. The concentration of TNF in the pleural effusion was 34.5 pg/ml by radioimmunoassay. In addition, we detected TNF activity and protein in two other cases of carcinomatous pleural effusion. Therefore, it would appear that in vivo TNF displays cytotoxic activity against cancer cells.     

Computer image sperm selection as a novel approach to subzonal insemination in the human

Utilizing real-time computer image analysis, individual spermatozoawere selected using microaspiration. Selection criteria werebased on potential hyperactivation motility characteristics;the amplitude of lateral head displacement >7.5 µm,curvilinear velocity >70 µm/s and linearity of <30%.For this pilot study, 16 patients (eight in each group) wererecruited. Using subzonal insemination (SUZI), up to five (mean= 4.4 ± 0.3) spermatozoa selected using computer-imagesperm selection (CISS) were microinjected, or up to 15 (mean= 12.8 ± 1.3 SD) unselected spermatozoa. In the groupwhich utilized CISS, 28 out of 49 (57%) oocytes were fertilizedcompared with 13 out of 52 (25%) utilizing conventional SUZI(P < 0.04); polyspermy was 20% (n = 10) and 2% (n = 1) respectively.CISS with SUZI showed increased efficiency in achieving fertilizationand is a novel approach to studying individual sperm functionin a sperm egg bioassay where gamete ratios are close to unity.     

inflammatory reaction and laboratory tests: granulocyte elastase

The role in the so called inflammatory response of the polymorphonuclear granulocyte elastase (PMN elastase, EC 3.4.21.37) has been well established. Elastase, a neutral protease stored in the lysosomes of neutrophils and monocytes, is extracellularly released during the process of phagocytosis, and bound to alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (E-alpha 1-PI complex). This complex can be quantified by an immunoassay. PMN elastase has been shown to be a sensitive and specific marker for the early diagnosis of inflammation and prediction of inflammatory complications.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on polymer carbanions, 5. Polystyryl carbanion with lithium as counter cation and its dimer model compounds

Oligostyryllithium was synthesized by the reaction of sec-butyllithium with styrene in diethyl ether at ?40°C. Dimer model anions (counter cations: Li and K) of the growing chain ends were synthesized by metallation of 1-methoxy-1,3-diphenylpropane. The structures of the lithium compounds were corroborated by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and compared with those of the potassium compounds. As for polystyryllithium and its model compounds, the charge density on the α-carbon increased and that on the phenyl ring of the growing end decreased with increasing molecular weight, while, in polystyrylpotassium and its model compounds, the charge density on the α-carbon increased and the one on the phenyl ring did not change with increasing molecular weight. The temperature change of the ¹H NMR spectrum of oligostyryllithium in diethyl ether indicated rotation around the C-1? C_α bond at lower temperatures than in tetrahydrofuran, but the activation energy was the same in both solvents. T₁ values of the phenyl carbons in model compound 2b were one to two orders of magnitude shorter than those of the protonated compound.