Immunohistochemical evaluation of the neurotoxic effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) on dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons of young adult mice using dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase antibodies

The recovery of dopamine (DA) neurons in young adult mice from 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) damage was analyzed at various times after MPTP treatment with DA and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry and also by chemical DA assay. A remarkable discrepancy in the recovery rate of DA and TH reactivities of the nigral neurons was observed: the TH immunoreactivities of both cell bodies in the substantia nigra and terminals in the neostriatum were markedly reduced 4 days after MPTP. However, these reactivities progressively improved and almost fully recovered after 25 days, while the DA immunoreactivities were maximally depleted 10 days after, and the depletion continued even through the 25th day. The alteration of DA levels was correlated with that of DA immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that a major effect of MPTP on the DA neurons of young adult mice is a transient neurotoxicity, and that the TH content improves more promptly than that of DA.     

Prevalence of Japanese cedar pollinosis among schoolchildren in Japan

BACKGROUND: Japanese cedar pollinosis is an important allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in Japan in spring. We investigated the relationship between the amount of pollen in the air and the prevalence of the disease and sensitization to Japanese cedar pollen in this ecological study. METHODS: The IgE antibody to Japanese cedar pollen (JCP-IgE) was determined in human serum and rhinoconjunctival symptoms were surveyed in 407-510 children in May or June every year from 1995 to 2001. Japanese cedar pollinosis was defined as being JCP-IgE >or=1.5 IU/ml and having any rhinoconjunctival symptom lasting 3 weeks or longer in March or April. RESULTS: Prevalence rates of Japanese cedar pollinosis were 13.8-22.9%. Prevalence rates of being JCP-IgE >or=1.5 IU/ml were 39.0-50.1%, and those of being JCP-IgE >or=15.01 IU/ml were 11.4-23.2%. All prevalence rates were significantly related to the amount of pollen in the air. The proportion of subjects with rhinoconjunctival symptoms was relatively constant in each stratum of low JCP-IgE levels (<0.35, 1.50-2.99, 3.0-14.9 IU/ml). CONCLUSION: High exposure to Japanese cedar pollen was associated with higher levels of JCP-IgE antibody and a high prevalence of Japanese cedar pollinosis. The relationship between the level of JCP-IgE and the proportion of subjects with symptoms was relatively constant.     

Immunohistochemical study on tissue transglutaminase and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase in human myocardium: Its relevance to apoptosis detected by the nick end labelling method

The influence of free radicals on apoptosis was studied in the human heart; 45 autopsy cases were examined by the nick end labelling method (NELM) that detects DNA fragmentation. Immunostaining for copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and tissue transglutaminase (tTG) induced frequently during apoptosis were also studied. Positive immunoreaction for tTG was detected in mucinous degeneration of myocardial cells; these same cells were also positive for CuZn-SOD but negative for NELM. Myocardial cells showing basophilic alterations after haematoxylin and eosin staining were also positive for CuZn-SOD but negative for the other markers examined. Positive nuclear reaction by NELM was only observed in myocardial cells showing contraction band necrosis or irregularly shaped nuclei surrounding recent or long-standing infarcted foci. In these the other two markers were negative. Since mucinous degeneration lacks the distinguishing morphological features of apoptosis, immunoreactive tTG in this lesion may not imply that the cells are undergoing apoptosis. tTG can be induced in non-apoptotic conditions and may not be involved in apoptosis induced by infarction. Histological disassociation between CuZn-SOD expression and apoptosis suggests the possibility of a cytoprotective role played by endogenous CuZn-SOD against free radical generation in the human heart.     

Can Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection prevent asthma and other allergic disorders?

It is generally considered that tuberculosis (TB) is a disease which upregulates Th1 cell function. There is a hypothesis that infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis may prevent allergic disorders such as bronchial asthma. However, our clinical experience of patients with TB somewhat conflicts this hypothesis. Hence, we investigated Th1/Th2 balance in the peripheral blood of patients with active TB by measuring serum levels of IgE antibody and by intracellular cytokine assay. We found that serum levels of IgE in the patients with active TB were significantly higher than in those with lung cancer or with COPD. In the TB patients, titers of IgE tended to correlate with disease severity. Intracellular cytokine assay demonstrated that IFN-gamma-positive cells were significantly decreased in the patients with active TB compared to normal controls. The ratio of IFN-gamma-positive (Th1-like)/IL-4-positive (Th2-like) cells was remarkably reduced in the TB patients (p < 0.0001). This ratio showed a significant negative correlation with erythrocyte sedimentation rate and with C-reactive protein. Therapy against TB for 2-3 months did not result in significant changes of the Th1/Th2 ratio. These findings suggest that infection of M. tuberculosis does not systematically upregulate Th1 cells in some patients, and is unlikely to prevent allergic disorders like asthma.     

Phasically firing neurons in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat hypothalamus: immunocytochemical and electrophysiological studies

Relations between firing patterns and peptides in supraoptic neurons of rat hypothalamic slice preparations were studied by electrophysiology, intracellular fluorescent dye-marking and immunocytochemistry. Seven out of 10 magnocellular neurons which showed phasically firing patterns were identified by injections of Lucifer Yellow-CH (LY); these were also stained with an anti-vasopressin serum. This report presents direct evidence that most of the phasically firing neurosecretory neurons in the supraoptic nucleus contain vasopressin. This study demonstrates the feasibility of combining immunocytochemical and electrophysiological techniques to study the peptides contents of single mammalian neurons.     

A case with multiple myeloma in which serum forms gel precipitation upon exposure to air

We present the case of a 69-years-old man who was admitted to hospital with multiple myeloma. IgG-kappa type monoclonal protein was detected in the serum. When we separated the serum obtained from blood sample of the patient and the lid of the collecting tube was opened, the patient's serum became gelled immediately. When the lid of the collecting tube remained closed, the patient's serum did not become gelled even at 4 degrees C. Moreover, the gelled serum of the patient did not resolve at 56 degrees C. Taken together, these results indicated that gel formation of the patient's serum may not be due to cryoglobulin. It was found that the pH of the patient's serum elevated to pH 8.0 quickly after exposed to air. It was also found that the patient's serum, but not the sera of other IgG-kappa multiple myeloma patients, became gelled as soon as PBS of pH 8.0 was added. These results highly suggest that the patient's serum becomes gelled at pH 8.0. However, the isoelectric focusing of isolated precipitation in the patient showed fractions around the pH 8.5-8.7 zone, which was different from the pH at which the precipitation began to form. We think that this may be the first report of a multiple myeloma patient whose serum becomes gelled after exposed to air.     

The cohen syndrome: Report of a case

Summary We report on a sporadic case satisfied with a proposed diagnostic criteria for Cohen syndrome. This 10 year-old Japanese boy had truncal obesity, short stature, mild mental retardation, hypotonia, maxillary hypoplasia, micrognathia, narrow hands and feet, high-arched palate, prominent upper central incisors, high nasal bridge, but no pigmentary retinopathy. Autosomal recessive manner of inheritance was suggested by the pedigree.     

A case of multiple myeloma producing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

A case of multiple myeloma (IgA-Λ) with marked granulocytosis, which measured up to 9.9×104/mm³, Is described. Matured neutrophiles were predominant and blasts were not found in the peripheral blood. The serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was notably elevated. The disease ran a chronic course and granulocytosis and elevated serum G-CSF continued. The patient developed atelectasis and bronchopneumonia, and died of respiratory failure. At autopsy, bone marrow showed marked myeloid hyperplasia in varying states of differentiation. The enlarged spleen also disclosed numerous myeloid cells of varying differentiation. Small aggregations of atypical plasma cells were present in the marrow and spleen. Immunohisto-chemically, atyplcal plasma cells were positive for anti-G-CSF antibody, which Indicated G-CSF secretion from the myeloma cells. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of G-CSF-producing multiple myeloma.