Lyotropic mesophase of imogolite, 1. Effect of polydispersity on phase diagram

The acidic aqueous solution of imogolite is proposed to be an ideal lyotropic system. No temperature dependence was marked on the two phase boundary concentrations (A and B points) of imogolite solutions as predicted by the theories of Flory and Onsager. A satisfactory quantitative agreement was observed with Onsager's theory. The polydispersity of rod lengths was found to shift the A point towards lower concentrations than expected from theory.     

GRO-alpha in Human Serum: Differences Related to Age and Sex

PROBLEM: Human GRO-alpha (GRO-α) is a new member of the chemokine family that is supposed to play an important role in inflammatory and immune reactions. We established a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) system with polyclonal antibodies against human GRO-α and investigated the serum level of healthy donors to establish normal ranges for this chemokine in adults. METHODS: GRO-α concentrations were measured cross-sectionally in the sera of 240 healthy adults. The variability of serum GRO-α levels was also measured in normal volunteers, samples from whom were obtained by sequential venipunctures or by a small plastic cannula with a heparin-saline lock, to determine short-term variability. RESULTS: Whereas there was no difference between the concentration of human GRO-α from men (logarithmic mean, 77.6 pg/ml, n = 120) and that from women with normal menstrual cycles (log mean, 71.6 pg/ml, n = 73), the concentration from postmenopausal women (log mean 45.0 pg/ml, n = 31) was lower than that from women with normal menstrual cycles (log mean 71.6 pg/ml, n = 73). However, we could not detect any significant difference between healthy donors' serum levels and those of donors with acute inflammation. Fewer variations were recognized in the case of the sequential venipunctures method than in that of the heparin-saline lock method. CONCLUSION: We found that the GRO-α concentration of postmenopausal women was significantly lower than that of women with normal menstrual cycles. These results suggest the GRO-α serum levels of normal healthy women may have some correlation with sex hormones.     

C CELL CARCINOMA OF THE THYROID

Two cases of papillary type of C cell carcinoma of the thyroid were reported. They showed papillary arrangement with Abrovascular stalk in properly Axed tissues. Histochemically argyrophil reaction was positive in the cytoplasm and amyloid deposited in the stroma. Ultrastructurally secretory granules were found in their cytoplasm. The papillary type is not an artifact but one of the histologic variations of this carcinoma. ACTA PATH. SAP. 29: 653–659, 1979.     

Melanotic schwannoma arising in the sympathetic ganglion

A case of melanotic schwannoma, the 28th reported in the literature and the second to arise in the sympathetic ganglion, was reported in a 39-year-old man who remains free of recurrence or metastasis since removal of the tumor. In common with earlier benign melanotic schwannomas, its ultrastructural study revealed well-developed contiguous external lamina as opposed to absent or only minimally developed external lamina seen in malignant melanotic schwannomas. This emphasizes the use of electron microscopy in the diagnosis of this tumor. The literature yields only nine melanotic tumors (including one malignant melanotic schwannoma) arising in the sympathetic nervous system; all nine tumors had a malignant clinical course. Therefore, the present case represents the first "benign" tumor among ten melanotic tumors, and the second among 28 melanotic schwannomas to arise in the sympathetic nervous system.     

Lymphocytic hypophysitis and pulmonary sarcoidosis. Report of a case

Lymphocytic hypophysitis is one of the causes of hypopituitarism in the postpartum period. Some of these patients have been reported to have other organ-specific autoimmune diseases, and the disease is considered to be autoimmune in nature. The authors describe a unique case of lymphocytic hypophysitis in a young woman. She had hemianopia that developed three days after delivery. Computed tomography scans revealed an intrasellar mass lesion. Secretions of adrenocorticotropic hormone and growth hormone were decreased. Although no organ-specific autoantibodies were detected in her serum, OKT4-positive helper T lymphocytes were increased in peripheral blood. Pituitary biopsy at craniotomy showed typical features of lymphocytic hypophysitis. Pulmonary and eye sarcoidosis developed 11 months after the delivery. This is, to the authors' knowledge, the first case of lymphocytic hypophysitis associated with sarcoidosis in other organs.     

Attachment of growth cones on substrate observed by multi-mode light microscopy

Evanescent light illumination was introduced into a multi-mode microscope to construct a new type of total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (TIRFM). This microscope, capable of TIRFM, high resolution video-enhanced differential interference contrast (DIC), epifluorescence, interference reflection (IR) imaging, was combined with an image acquisition system for time-lapse microscopy. Neuronal growth cones of a rat hippocampal neuron were stained with membrane labeling fluorescence dyes (DiI or octadecyl rhodamine B). Dynamic changes of the cell substrate contact of the neuronal growth cone were observed using the multi-imaging capacities of this system. When growth cone regions were stimulated by pressure ejection of a high potassium solution, TIRFM intensity at the basal membrane of the growth cone increased, suggesting that basal membrane of growth cone approaches the glass substrate when excited. The approach of the ventral membrane to the substrate during excitatory stimulation was also observed with IR microscope. The functional importance of cell/substrate contact in growth cones is discussed.     

The cyclo-copolymerization of diallyl compounds and sulfur dioxide, 5. Copolymerization of some 4-substituted 1,6-heptadiene derivatives with sulfur dioxide

Copolymers of sulfur dioxide with N-substituted 4-(1,6-heptadiene-4-yl)pyridinium chlorides and bromides ( 1 ) and N-substituted 4-(3-butenyl)pyridinium chlorides and bromides, and some other 1,6-heptadiene derivatives 3 substituted in 4-position were prepared. The effects of the copolymerization conditions on the conversions and viscosities of the copolymers were studied and their structures by elemental analyses, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The thermal stabilities of the copolymers were also examined.     

Calcium-dependent slow outward current in visceral primary afferent neurones of the rabbit

Slow outward currents were recorded from voltage-clamped neurones in nodose ganglia excised from rabbits. In the majority of Type C neurones, a short depolarizing command pulse evoked a slow outward tail current (I _SAH) with a decay time constant ranging from 0.5 to 2 s. TheI _SAH was due to an increase in membrane conductance to K⁺ because its reversal potential was approximately equal to the Nernst potential for K⁺. TheI _SAH was reversibly blocked by removal of external Ca²⁺ or by Ca²⁺ antagonists. A Ca²⁺ ionophore, A23187, produced an outward current which was similar to theI _SAH. TheI _SAH was resistant to tetraethylammonium and depressed by Ba²⁺, whereas it was not affected by Cs⁺ and 4-aminopyridine. TheI _SAH was initially augmented and subsequently depressed by apamin (1–10 nM) and (+)-tubocurarine (100–600 M). It is concluded that theI _SAH in visceral primary neurones may be due to a long-lasting increase in K⁺ conductance caused by an increase in the concentration of intracellular Ca²⁺, resulting from Ca²⁺ entry during the depolarizing command pulse.     

An autopsy case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) with preceding aplastic anemia

A case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with preceding aplastic anemia is reported. The patient was a 36 year old female who had been diagnosed as having aplastic anemia 10 years before and thereafter had received multiple transfusions. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositivity was revealed 10 months prior to her death, but no particular clinical signs indicating HIV infection, pre-AIDS or onset of AIDS were recognized before serological diagnosis, although the slow progression of leukopenia was noted along with thrombocytopenia. Her general condition deteriorated during the last 10 months accompanied by an acute decrease In the CD4/CD8 ratio. Autopsy revealed full-blown AIDS: systemic aspergillosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, Epstein-Barr virus-related B cell lymphoma arising in the diaphragm and severe lymphocyte depletion in the lymph nodes and spleen. Markedly hypo-plastic bone marrow was considered to be primarily attributable to the aplastic anemia but the affection of AIDS was not excluded. The possible transmission route of HIV and the effect of the preceding aplastic anemia on the infection and clinical course of AIDS are discussed.     

CD27/CD70 interaction directly drives B cell IgG and IgM synthesis

CD27 is a T cell activation antigen expressed on a majority of peripheral blood T cells. CD27 is also expressed on a subpopulation of human B cells, and it is reported that CD27⁺ B cells secrete both IgG and IgM. CD70, a ligand for CD27, is expressed on activated T and B cells, suggesting an interaction between T and B cells via CD27/CD70 ligation. Here, we analyze B cell immunoglobulin synthesis using a CD70 transfectant and present functional data showing that B cells secrete large amounts of IgG and IgM as a result of the CD27/CD70 interaction. A flow cytometric analysis showed that CD27 expression was increased and CD70 was expressed on tonsillar and peripheral blood B cells after activation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain (SAC) plus interleukin (IL-2). In addition, the proliferation of B cells was enhanced mildly by the addition of CD70 transfectant, and its proliferation was blocked by anti-CD70 mAb. More importantly, the CD70 transfectant enhanced IgG and IgM production by purified B cells greatly in the presence of SAC plus IL-2. The enhancement was completely blocked by the addition of either anti-CD70 mAb or anti-CD27 mAb. Strongly suggesting that the interaction of CD27 with its ligand, CD70, on B cells plays an important role in B cell growth and differentiation to produce IgG and IgM.