Interhemispheric epithelial cyst. Case report

We report a rare case of a 54-year-old woman with an interhemispheric epithelial cyst. This will be the first report of an interhemispheric epithelial cyst without callosal agenesis. A partial excision of the cyst wall has led to her recovery with no evidence of recurrence. Ultrastructural studies suggest that the cyst was derived from the primitive neuroepithelium. We discuss the pathogenesis of the interhemispheric epithelial cyst.     

MRI and SPECT findings in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Summary MRI was performed in 21 patients and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) withN-isopropyl-p-¹²³I iodoamphetamine in 16 patients, to visualize upper motor neurone lesions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. T2-weighted MRI revealed high signal along the course of the pyramidal tract in the internal capsule and cerebral peduncle in 4 of 21 patients. SPECT images were normal in 4 patients, but uptake was reduced in the cerebral cortex that includes the motor area in 11.     

Prognostic factors in patients with ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer is classified as an advanced disease stage, with limited indications for surgical treatment. However, the prognosis of patients with pulmonary metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer is better than that of patients with distant metastases. The purpose of the present study was to analyze and detect possible prognostic factors in surgically treated patients with ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Among 1198 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgery at Kurashiki Central Hospital (Okayama, Japan) from April 1982 to March 2004, a total of 48 (4.0%) patients with pathologically diagnosed ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis were retrospectively evaluated. The median follow-up time was 20.5 months (range 1-103 months) and 37 patients (77.1%) were completely followed up until their death or more than 5 years after the operation. RESULTS: Among the 48 patients, 31 (64.6%) patients had metastatic nodules in the same lobe as the primary tumor (PM1) and 17 (35.4%) patients had metastatic nodules in different ipsilateral lobes (PM2). There was no significant difference in survival between patients with PM1 and the other patients with pT4-stage IIIB, or between patients with ipsilateral PM2 and the other patients with stage IV. Univariate analysis of postoperative survival stratified according to clinicopathologic factors revealed significant differences for the radicality of resection (complete vs. incomplete), tumor size (0-30 vs. >30mm) and pathological nodal (pN) factor (among pN0, pN1 and pN2-3). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size (0-30 vs. >30mm) and pN factor (pN0-1 vs. pN2-3) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that undergoing a complete resection, having a tumor size of 30mm or less and having no mediastinal lymph node metastases were better prognostic factors for surgically treated patients with ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer.     

Idiopathic calcinosis cutis in fingertip treated with occlusive dressing using aluminum foil: a case report.

Calcium deposition in the skin, known as calcinosis cutis, is an uncommon disorder caused by an abnormal deposit of calcium phosphate in the skin. We report a case of idiopathic calcinosis cutis in fingertip treated with surgical excision followed by the occlusive dressing using aluminum foil, and obtained significant pain relief and round-shaped fingertip which looked normal.     

Effect of aging on NADPH-diaphorase neurons in laterodorsal tegmental nucleus and striatum of mice

Age-related changes of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d)-containing neurons were examined quantitatively in the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (TLD) and the caudate-putamen of mice. Six 2-month-old and six 25- to 30-month-old DDD mice were studied using computer-assisted image analysis. Although no age-related changes in neuronal counts were found in the TLD, the cell size in this nucleus showed a statistically significant reduction with aging. In addition, the degree of the age-related neuronal shrinkage differed within the TLD; the most significant occurring in the rostral, less in the caudal third and no significant alteration being found in the middle third portion of TLD. In contrast, NADPH-d-positive neurons in the striatum did not show distinct age-related changes. NADPH-d-containing neurons in the TLD correspond to cholinergic cells, which project to the forebrain. Thus, the age-related shrinkage of NADPH-d neurons in the TLD may be related to the cholinergic dysfunctions seen in the forebrain of senescent mice.     

Activation of protease-activated receptor 2 stimulates proliferation and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 secretion of endometriotic stromal cells

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has been proposed to play essential roles in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, in which neutrophils and mast cells have been suggested to be involved. We studied whether the protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), which is activated by enzymes from neutrophils and mast cells, in endometriotic stromal cells (ESC) has any implication in the development of the disease. METHODS: Cultured ESC were stimulated with various concentrations of a specific PAR2 agonist peptide. Proliferating activity of the cells was determined using immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (a cell proliferation marker), 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA and cell count. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were measured using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The phosphorylation of three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), i.e. p38 MAPK, p42/44 MAPK and stress-activated protein Kinase/c-jun N terminal Kinase, in ESC was examined with Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Activation of PAR2 stimulated the proliferation of ESC and the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 from ESC in a dose-dependent manner. Activation of PAR2 stimulated the phosphorylation of all three MAPK, and inhibitors of each MAPK suppressed the PAR2 activation-induced proliferation of ESC. CONCLUSIONS: The activation of PAR2 in ESC may be involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis by inducing the growth and inflammation of endometriotic lesions.     

Influence of culture method on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipo-stromal cells in nonwoven fabrics

The initial attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of stromal cells from human fat tissue were investigated in three-dimensional nonwoven fabrics prepared from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber with different diameters. The largest number of cells initially attached was observed in the nonwoven fabrics prepared from PET fiber with a diameter of 22.0 microm, irrespective of fabric porosity. The number of cells attached was larger and the cells were distributed more homogeneously in the fabrics by the agitated seeding method than by the static seeding method. The culture method depended on the time profile of cell proliferation. Cell proliferation improved in the following order: stirred (spinner flask) culture method > agitated culture method > static culture method. In addition, cells proliferated homogeneously in fabrics by the stirred culture method. When evaluated as a measurement of cell osteogenic differentiation, the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was not influenced by the diameter of fabrics. The static culture method tended to enable cells to enhance ALP activity, in contrast with the stirred and agitated culture methods. It is concluded that fabric fiber diameter and culture method greatly affected the proliferation and differentiation of cells in nonwoven fabrics.     

Development of murine hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells characterized by the expression of hyaluronan receptors.

Endothelial cells (ECs) display distinct structural and functional characteristics depending on the tissue and developmental stage; however, the development of tissue-specific ECs remains poorly understood. Here, we describe the development of hepatic sinusoids in mice based on the expression of hyaluronan receptors Stab2 and Lyve-1. Flk-1(+) cells in and around the liver bud begin to express Stab2 at embryonic day (E) 9.5, before the formation of vascular lumen. Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSECs) begin to express Lyve-1 at E10.5, and both markers continue to be expressed in HSECs thereafter. Although HSECs and lymphatic ECs (LECs) are known to share functional and phenotypic characteristics, we clearly show that HSECs can be distinguished from LECs by the expression of molecular markers and higher endocytotic activity. Our results provide new insight into the development of tissue-specific ECs and phenotypic criteria to distinguish HSECs from other types of ECs, including LECs.