ASSOCIATION AMONG HISTOLOGICAL FINDINGS SUGGESTIVE OF PAPILLOMA VIRUS ON HEMORRHOIDECTOMY SPECIMENS

Background:

Many researchers studied human Papillomavirus infection in the anal area supposing it represents a risk factor for precursor lesions of anal cancer.

Aim:

To study the association between histological findings suggestive of injury by the virus in hemorrhoidectomy specimens.

Method:

Prevalence study was carried out based on histopathological analysis of hemorrhoidectomy specimens to find viral cytopathic effects. These findings were compared with anal condyloma acuminata that had no relationship with hemorrhoidectomy for microscopic comparison.

Results:

Of the 91 hemorroidectomies analyzed, eight had findings suggestive of viral cytopathic effects, with the presence of irregular acanthosis in 63%, koilocytes in 50% and other indirect viral cytopathic effects, such as hyperkeratosis (38%), parakeratosis (25% ) and papillomatosis (13%).

Conclusion:

This study was unable to conclude that there is an association between these two pathologic entities.     

小鼠DNA双链断裂修复缺陷细胞的γ射线剂量率效应

目的：探讨γ射线照射后小鼠DNA双链断理解修复缺陷细胞（SCID）的剂量率效应和潜在致死性损伤的修复。方法：采用低剂量率和高剂量率以及间隔24h的2次γ射线照射正常细胞（CB．17＋／＋）和SCID细胞，通过成克隆分析法观察被照射细胞的存活分数。结果：应用间隔24h的2次γ射线照射CB．17＋／＋细胞时，其存活分数明显高于相同剂量的单次照射，而SCID细胞二者无明显差异。在高剂量率单次和2次γ射线照射时，SCID细胞均比CB．17＋／＋细胞更敏感。在低剂量率γ射线照射时，SCID细胞亦显示比CB．17＋／＋细胞更敏感。低剂量率γ射线照射 CB．17＋／＋细胞和SCID细胞后，二者的存活分数均明显高于剂量率照射。结论：SCID细胞不具有DNA双链断裂的修复能力。SCID细胞和CB．17＋／＋细胞均具有剂量率效应。     

Clinical characteristics and proliferating activity of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract To assist in the development of new approach to the palliation and treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, we classified tumours into mass-forming (MF), peri-ductal extension (PD), and spicula-forming (SF) types in 14 subjects who underwent surgical treatment. Lymph node metastasis and microscopic lymphatic invasion were pronounced in the PD and SF types. Furthermore, in SF type tumours the incidence of microscopic vascular and perineural invasion was high. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index, a reflection of the proliferation rate of tumour cells, was significantly higher in PD and SF types than in the MF type. The prognosis associated with the MF type tended to be better than that of the other two types.
For the MF type, liver resection with tumour free margins must be performed, whereas for the PD and SF types, aggressive treatment, that is a combination of extensive liver resection, lymph node dissection, and effective adjuvant anti-cancer therapy should be provided to aim at life-long cure.     

Characteristics of patients with staghorn calculi in our experience

PURPOSE: To elucidate the factors contributing to staghorn stone formation in patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 82 patients (44 men and 38 women) with complete staghorn calculi were reviewed retrospectively for clinical presentation, metabolic disturbances and anatomical abnormalities. RESULTS: There were 79 unilateral and three bilateral cases. The patient performance of the activities of daily life was assessed with the modified Rankin scale (MRS) and it was found that 69 patients were functionally independent (84.1%, MRS 0-1) and 10 patients had a severe disability (12.2%, MRS 4-5). Seven patients had chronic indwelling catheters (8.5%). A positive urine culture was found in 24.4% of patients. Analysis of stone composition revealed magnesium ammonium phosphate and mixed calcium oxalate-phosphate were the most frequently identified types of stone (32.1% and 22.2%, respectively). Urinary pH was low in patients with uric acid stones (mean 5.4). Hyperuricemia, cystinuria and hypercalciuria were found in 14.6%, 2.4% and 37.8%, respectively. Hypercalciuria was found more frequently in calcium-stone cases. Eleven patients (13.4%) showed structural abnormalities of the kidney. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that the patients with severe disability, urinary tract infection and hypercalciuria could be recognized more frequently in staghorn calculi compared with common urolithiasis. However, in Western countries, the frequency of both urinary tract infection and struvite stones is much higher than in our data. Other Japanese authors have also reported the low frequency of struvite stones in staghorn calculi, suggesting that various factors other than urinary tract infection possibly contribute to the formation of staghorn calculi in Japan.     

Suppression of Natural Killer Cell Activity and Interleukin-2 Concentration of Serum Obtained from In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer Patients

PROBLEM: The effect of serum obtained from in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) patients on healthy volunteers' natural killer (NK) cell activity was evaluated. We also measured interleukin (IL)-2 concentration with IVF-ET patients' serum and clarified the relationship between IL-2 levels and the suppressive effect on NK cell activity. METHOD OF STUDY: A retrospective nonrandomized clinical study was performed. The suppressive effect on NK cell activity and IL-2 concentrations was measured with serum obtained from 30 pregnant and 30 nonpregnant women during an IVF-ET procedure. The suppressive effect of the serum on NK cell activity was evaluated by the formula that we defined in our previous study. RESULTS: The suppression of NK cell activity was significantly higher in the nonpregnant women than in the pregnant women (P < 0.05); however, IL-2 concentration did not differ. There was a positive correlation between the suppression of NK cell activity and IL-2 levels in the pregnant women, but no significant correlation in the nonpregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the suppression of NK cell activity may be one of the prognostic factors for IVF-ET. In addition, we speculate that an unidentified humoral factor other than IL-2, which could increase NK cell activity, might exist in the serum of the nonpregnant patient.     

Event-related changes of background electroencephalogram during contingent negative variation paradigm

Abstract The autoregressive model was applied to the background electroencephalogram during the tone(S1)-tone(S2)-respond contingent negative variation paradigm under eyes-open condition. The EEG data were obtained at the scalp sites of Fz, Cz, and Pz in seven normal males. During the first half of the interstimulus interval (ISI) of 2.5 s, Fz-dominant excitatory process was suggested in concordance with an orienting response to stimulus 1. In the second half of the ISI, Pz-dominant inhibitory process was considered. The stimulus 2 presentation and the required motor response promoted the Pz-dominant process.     

Cell-mediated transfer of collagen-induced arthritis in mice and its application to the analysis of the inhibitory effects of interferon-gamma and cyclophosphamide

We developed a convenient and reliable procedure for the cell-mediated passive transfer of type II collagen (Cll)-induccd arthritis (CA). Spleen cells from DBA/1 mice with CA were intravenously transferred into syngeneic recipient mice. Arthritis developed only in those recipients which had received whole-body x-irradiation (8 Gy) just before cell iransfer and intrapcritoneally given soluble CII without adjuvant immediately after transfer. Non-immunized splenocytes could not induce arthritis even in irradiated recipients given soluble CII. Development of arthritis depended on the number of cells transferred; 5 ± 10⁷ cells induced severe and long-lasting arthritis in every recipient approximately 10 days after transfer. Severity of this arthritis was clinically and histologically similar to classical CA in donors. Arthritogenic splenocytes were generated in donors no later than 20 days after priming with CII in Freund's complete adjuvant, when arthritis had yet to occur, and were detected for more than 5 weeks. One splenocyte population responsible for transferring arthritis was CD4⁺ T cells. We then applied this system to show that prophylactic treatment of CII-immunized mice with cyclophosphamide (CY. 7 mg/kg), but not interferon-gamma (IFN-γ. 10⁵ U/mouse), suppressed the arthritogenic ability of their spleen cells, although both treatments inhibited the development of CA. Treatment of recipients with IFN-γ, however, inhibited the development of arthritis upon transfer with CII-immunized splenocytes. These results indicate that CY and IFN-γ act at the induction and effector phases of arthritogenic lymphocytes, respectively. Thus, this system facilitates investigation of pathological mechanisms of CA, and of mechanisms of anti-arthritics.     

CASE REPORT: Metachronous early gastric carcinoma in a reconstructed gastric tube after radical operation for oesophageal carcinoma

The incidence of double cancer has increased as a result of the signi?cant advances in both diagnostic procedures and anti-cancer therapy, and as the outcome of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has improved, the number of cases of double cancer of the oesophagus and stomach has also increased. Two patients with metachronous early gastric carcinoma in a reconstructed gastric tube were successfully treated after subtotal oesophagectomy for ESCC. These cases have shown that early diagnosis of second cancer is very important for curative therapy.     

The inhibitory effect of TMK688, a novel anti-allergic drug having both 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity and anti-histamine activity, against bronchoconstriction, leukotriene production and inflammatory cell infiltration in sensitized guinea pigs

Background TMK688 is being developed as ati anti-allergic drug having both 5-lipoxygenasc inhibitory activity atid anti-histaminc activity. Method We compared the inhibition ol the late asthmatic rcsponses by TMK688 with that by other anti-allergic agents in actively sensitized guinea pigs, and examined the relationship between 5-lipoxygetiase inhibition and the late asthmatic responses Results At 1–3.2 mg/kg, TMK688 inhibited the increases in respiratory resistance, leukotriene (LT) B₄ and C₄ production in the lungs and eosinophil infiltralion into the alveoli during the late asthmatic response, whereas the eliects tended to lessen at the dose of 10mg/kg. These effects are thought to be caused by the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of TMK688 because Azelastine. an anti-allergic drug having potent antihistamine activity, exhibited no effect. ONO-1078. a peptide LT antagonist. inhibited the late-phase bronchoconstriction at a dose of 100mg/kg p.o., but not the increase in the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the alveoli, suggesting that the late-phase bronchoconstriction is induced, in part, by peptide LTs, i.e. LT C₄, D₄ and E₄ atid that the inflammatory cell infiltration may be caused by LTB₄, TMK688 inhibited the immediate bronchoconstriction dose-dependently, and the effect was significant at a dose of 10mg/kg orally. Since Azelastine, Ketotifen and Oxatomide suppressed the bronchoconstriction at far lower doses than did TMK688, the inhibitory effect was mainly caused by its antihistamine activity. Conclusions TMK688 appears to be a novel anti-allergic drug having inhibitory effects on both the bronchoconstriction and the infiltration of inflatnmutory cells during late asthmatic responses.     

THE ACE INHIBITOR, QUINAPRIL, AMELIORATES PERITONEAL FIBROSIS IN AN ENCAPSULATING PERITONEAL SCLEROSIS MODEL IN MICE

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a serious complication of patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, quinapril, on the peritoneal fibrosis was examined in an experimental EPS model in mice. C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n=20) mice received daily intraperitoneal injection of 0.3 ml of SH solution which consists of 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate and 15% ethanol dissolved in saline. Group 2 (n=20) and group 3 (n=20) mice received SH solution by the same manner of group 1 mice, and were given orally 1 or 3 mg kg(-1) of quinapril, respectively, on daily basis. Five mice from each group were sacrificed on day 3, 7, 21, and 56, and evaluated macroscopically and histologically. Macroscopic examination revealed that fibrotic change in parietal peritoneum in group 1 was more severe than in group 2 and 3, accompanied with statistical significance. Histological examination demonstrated that peritoneal thickening in group 2 and 3 were markedly ameliorated than in group 1. Semi-quantitative analysis showed that histological fibrotic score was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 and 3. These results suggest that quinapril ameliorate the fibrotic change in parietal peritoneum in experimental EPS model in mice, and may have a clinical utility for the prevention of EPS.