Two Autopsy Cases of Diffuse Gastrointestinal Polyposis with Ectodermal Changes

Two autopsy cases of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome were reported. The caused of hypoproteinemia, electrolyte imbalance and ectodermal changes were discussed with reference to previously reported cases. The mechanism of protein loss was probably due to outflow into the intestinal lumen of the mucous substance in the cystically dilated glands, directly and/or indirectly followed by loss of mucosal surface. Electrolyte imbalance probably developed from gastrointestinal loss as well as poor substitution. The ectodermal changes were probably not a subsequent part of the emaciation or hypoproteinemis, but an inherent part of this disease. Therapy, whether substitution or surgical procedure, should be selected in order to control the general condition of the patient.     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE SKIN OF HUMAN EMBRYOS V. THE HAIR GERM AND PERIFOLLICULAR MESENCHYMAL CELLS HAIR GERM-MESENCHYME INTERACTION

SUMMARY.— Electron microscopic studies on embryonic hair development were performed using the scalp and eyebrow skin of 10 Negro embryos of the menstrual ages of 9 to 15 weeks. New ultramicroscopic findings were: (1) The peripheral cells of the hair germ extended into the mesenchyme pseudopodia, not covered by the basal lamina. (2) Mesenchymal cells crowded beneath the hair germ were connected with desmosome-like junctions. Direct contact of these cells with the basal lamina of the hair germ was seen. (3) A halfdesmosome- like structure was found between the mesenchymal cells and mesenchymal fine filaments.     

若干呋喃西林类金属络合物的抑菌活性

报道了若干呋喃西林类金属络合物的抑菌活性,数据表明:羰基氧原子换成硫后可使化合物活性所提高。它们与铜(Ⅱ)、锌(Ⅱ)、钴(Ⅱ)、镍(Ⅱ)等形成络合物后可使抑菌活性发生显著变化。     

Persistence of anti-HBs and protective efficacy after administration of hepatitis B vaccine

To evaluate the effect of hepatitis B vaccine on the persistence of anti-HBs and its efficacy in preventing hepatitis type B, anti-HBs and anti-HBc levels were studied over a period of 5.5 years. Plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine, containing 20 micrograms of HBsAg protein, was injected subcutaneously in 122 healthy medical staff members, followed by two identical injections 1 and 6 months later. Anti-HBs and anti-HBc levels were then measured by radio-immunoassay. The anti-HBs titres were expressed as the sample/negative (S/N) ratios, and an S/N ratio of more than 2.1 was considered positive. The mean (and s.d.) anti-HBs titre peaked 7 months after the first vaccination with an S/N ratio of 153.6 +/- 149.8, after which it decreased with time. The mean anti-HBs titre dropped to an S/N ratio of 8.0 +/- 5.1 5.5 years after the first vaccination. The percentage of vaccinees who were anti-HBs positive also gradually decreased with time after a peak of 84.2% at 7 months following the first vaccination. The percentage of vaccinees who were anti-HBs positive was 38.9% 5.5 years after the first vaccination. The anti-HBc level was not positive in all subjects during the observation period. Five vaccinated volunteers who had developed anti-HBs after the basic vaccination, but whose acquired antibody level became negative within 4.5 years following the first vaccination, were administered a booster dose of 20 micrograms of HBsAg 4.5 years after the first vaccination. Only one of these subjects did not respond to the booster vaccination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Government Drug Agencies and Control of Drug Misuse

Despite an increasing level of successful action against drug trafficking, international authorities remain concerned at the continuing problem and the association with other criminal activities. Social use of psychoactive substances has a long history and attitudes continue to change. The controls which governments impose over drugs also change, both with these attitudes and with the increasing knowledge of pharmacology and physiologic effects of drugs, sometimes over many years. Public opinion remains somewhat ambivalent and ideas of personal liberty and the desire to be protected from harm become confused. Governments must accept the responsibility to impose controls in the interest of the community's safety. They need to remain flexible, varying controls with experience, and with therapeutic need, taking into account patterns of utilization and the advent of more appropriate treatments. This requires full cooperation with the academic and professional communities and a climate which assists mutual understanding.     

Preparations,solution conformations and molecular structures of N,N′-ethylene-bridged dipeptides and their derivatives

The solution conformations of novel dipeptides, methyl (2S, 3′S)-3-methyl-2-(2′-oxo-3′-isopropyl-1′-piperazinyl)-butanoate (EVV-OCH₃), methyl (2S, 3′S)-3-phenyl-2-(2′-oxo-3′-benzyl-1′-piperazinyl) propionate (EFF-OCH₃), and their derivatives (Boc-Gly-EW-OH, Boc-Gly-EVV-Gly-OH, and Boc-Gly-EFF-OH), were studied by ‘H NMR measurements and molecular mechanics calculations (1). The molecular structures of Boc-Gly-EVV-OH, Boc-Gly-EFF-OH, and the hydrochloride of EVV-OCH₃ were determined by X-ray analyses. The conformations of the piperazinone rings and the side chains of these oligopeptides were clarified.     

Serum amyloid β protein in young and elderly depression: a pilot study

Background: Depression may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent large cohort studies have also shown that a low plasma amyloid β (Aβ)‐42 level combined with a high Aβ40 level increases the risk of developing AD, suggesting plasma Aβ42/40 ratio as useful for identifying risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and AD. Although several studies have examined Aβ levels in the peripheral blood of elderly individuals with depression, results have been inconsistent. Furthermore, no results have been described for younger depression. Methods: Serum Aβ40, Aβ42 level and Aβ40/42 ratio were evaluated using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in 60 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 60 healthy controls. The results were analyzed in two age groups (young, <60 years; elderly, ≥60 years). Results: Serum Aβ40 level was significantly higher in young MDD patients compared to young controls (P < 0.001), but it was not significantly deferent in the elderly group. Serum Aβ42 level did not differ significantly in both young and elderly groups. Aβ40/42 ratio was significantly higher in both young (P < 0.001) and elderly (P < 0.001) patients with MDD compared to controls. Conclusions: Serum Aβ40/42 ratio was significantly higher in MDD patients than in controls, and this difference was seen for both elderly and young subjects. This may suggest that even young subjects with MDD undergo pathological changes in the very early stage of amyloid deposition.     

Immature platelet fraction measurement in patients with chronic liver disease: a convenient marker for evaluating cirrhotic change

Platelet number is often used as an indicator of the severity of liver disease. Although inadequate thrombopoietin production and decreased platelet production have been proposed as major causes of cirrhotic thrombocytopenia, the underlying mechanism has not yet been fully clarified. We examined whether the measurement of the immature platelet fraction (IPF) in thrombocytopenic patients with liver dysfunction is useful as a rapid and noninvasive method for the differential diagnosis of chronic liver diseases. We examined 20 liver cirrhosis patients, 56 patients with chronic hepatitis, 9 patients with fatty liver, and 86 patients without liver disease. The percentage value of IPF (IPF%) was measured using an XE-2100 multiparameter automatic hematology analyzer. Using a receiver operating characteristic curve, we found diagnostic significance of the absolute platelet count and the absolute number of the IPF between cirrhotic patients and noncirrhotic patients, and developed a powerful multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) function based on the platelet count and the IPF%. The diagnostic accuracy obtained by the MDA function was superior to that obtained by the absolute number of platelets and the IPF. We therefore propose our IPF% measurement for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.     

The Predictive Value of Chromosome 8p Deletion for Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma:A Summary of 10 Years'' Works

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents an extremely poor prognostic cancer, which is mainly due to the high frequency of metastasis/recurrence after surgical operation. To detect the specific chromosome alterations     

COMMENTS

Testicular dysgenesis syndrome encompasses low sperm quality, hypospadias, cryptorchidism and testicular cancer. Epidemiological studies and genetic data from familial cases suggest that testicular dysgenesis syndrome has a common etiology. The Y chromosome is known to encode genes that are involved in germ cell development or maintenance. We have therefore investigated if different classes of Y chromosomes in the general population (Y chromosome haplogroups) are associated with aspects of the testicular dysgenesis syndrome. We defined the Y chromosome haplogroups in individuals from different European counties who presented with either (i) oligo- or azoospermia associated with a Y chromosome microdeletion, (ii) unexplained reduced sperm counts (<20 x 10(6)/ml) or (iii) testicular cancer. We failed to find Y chromosome haplotype associations with either microdeletion formation or testicular cancer. However, in a study of the Danish population, we found that a specific Y chromosome haplogroup (hg26) is significantly overrepresented in men with unexplained reduced sperm counts compared with a Danish control population. The factors encoded by genes on this class of Y chromosome may be particularly susceptible to environmental influences that cause testicular dysgenesis syndrome. Our current data highlight the need for further analyses of clinically well-defined patient groups from a wide range of ethnic and geographic origins.