Suppressive effect of α2 Heremans–Schmid glycoprotein on in vitro calcification of osteogenesis

Background: α₂ Heremans–Schmid glycoprotein (α₂HS glycoprotein) is predominantly found in bone. To date, we have investigated plasma α₂HS levels in immature babies and neonates as well as the histological distribution in various neonatal tissues in order to clarify its physiological significance. In an effort to understand the physiological function of α₂HS glycoprotein in bones, we studied the effects of α₂HS glycoprotein in cultured osteogenesis model using rat marrow cells. Methods: We added different concentrations of α₂HS glycoprotein to cultured marrow cells, including osteoblasts in the presence of dexamethasone, in an attempt to elucidate the effects of α₂HS glycoprotein on osteoblast growth and bone calcification in vitro. Results: The results showed that total DNA content was significantly increased with 0.2–20 nM (f.c.) α₂HS glycoprotein, but was neither suppressed nor increased with 200 nM (f.c.) α₂HS glycoprotein. Although ALP activity increased with 0.2 or 2 nM (f.c.) α₂HS glycoprotein, it decreased with 20 or 200 nM (f.c.) α₂HS glycoprotein. While 0.2 nM (f.c.) α₂HS glycoprotein had no effect on calcium or osteocalcin content, 2 nM (f.c.) α₂HS glycoprotein decreased both calcium content and osteocalcin content by about half, and no calcium or osteocalcin was observed with 20 or 200 nM (f.c.). Calcium staining of cultured marrow cells revealed that the number of stained cell tubercles decreased in a concentration‐dependent manner. Conclusion: These findings suggest that α₂HS glycoprotein regulates the growth of osteoblasts and acts as an inhibitory factor in the regulation of bone calcification.     

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO IDIOPATHIC AZOOSPERMIA IN JAPANESE MEN IS LINKED TO HLA CLASS I ANTIGEN

Purpose

Approximately 15 to 20% of infertile men have azoospermia. In the Y chromosome a deletion, termed the azoospermic factor, has been found in some cases of idiopathic azoospermia. We investigate the relationship of factors in autosomal chromosomes (HLA class I antigens) to spermatogenesis failure in idiopathic azoospermia.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated 65 infertile Japanese men with idiopathic azoospermia. The frequency of the HLA allele reported in 1,216 healthy Japanese men was used as a control. HLA class I typing was performed by the National Institutes of Health standard serological method or polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer analysis. Allele frequencies were calculated. We determined statistical significance in the frequency of each allele in patients and controls using the chi-square test. The relationship of HLA antigens to idiopathic azoospermia was expressed as relative risk.

Results

In Japanese men with idiopathic azoospermia the frequency of HLA-A33, B13 and B44 was significantly increased compared with controls. The relative risk of HLA-B44 was 8.4, an extremely high value compared with that of other diseases and HLA antigens.

Conclusions

We suggest that HLA class I antigens are important genetic markers that represent a risk factor for idiopathic azoospermia.     

Early experience of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for T3b renal cell carcinoma

We report our experience with laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for a 79-year-old man who had renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with a renal vein thrombus. For the transaction of the renal vein with the thrombus, we used an endoscopic gastrointestinal anastomosis stapler. The operating time was 4 h and blood loss was 400 mL. The patient could walk and drink on the first postoperative day. He recovered normal activity 30 days postoperatively. There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. The present report demonstrates the feasibility of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in patients with T3b RCC who suffer from tumor thrombus in the renal vein.     

Erectile dysfunction in hemodialysis patients with diabetes mellitus: Association with age and hemoglobin A1c levels

Abstract Aim: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as those undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The purpose of this study is to investigate the frequency and severity of ED in HD patients with DM and those without DM. In addition, we examined the relationship between erectile function and several risk factors, including presence of DM and hemoglobin A1c levels in HD patients. Methods: This study involved 180 patients on HD, including 66 HD patients with DM (DM‐HD) and 114 patients without DM (non‐DM‐HD). We evaluated erectile function using an abridged five‐item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF‐5). Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between presence of ED and several risk factors. Results: The total score of IIEF‐5 in DM‐HD patients (9.5 ± 4.2) was significantly lower than in non‐DM‐HD patients (13.5 ± 5.7). The prevalence of severe ED was 42.4% and 18.4% in DM‐HD patients and non‐DM‐HD patients, respectively. Age, cardiovascular disease history, and DM were identified as independent risk factors for the presence of ED. Furthermore, age and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels were identified as independent risk factors for the presence of severe ED. Conclusion: DM‐HD patients are more likely to have ED, and particularly severe forms of ED, than non‐DM‐HD patients. DM and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels were associated with the presence of ED or severe ED, respectively. Aging was identified as an independent factor in both ED and severe ED.     

Varicella-zoster virus replication site in internal organs of an otherwise healthy child with varicella and sudden death

Pathological findings of an otherwise healthy 17 month old boy who was exposed to Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in his family and unexpectedly died 3 days after onset of varicella are reported. They showed a disseminated VZV infection with involvement of skin, lung, liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and other organs where VZV antigen was detected by the enzyme-immunoassay with monoclonal antibodies to VZV. Since the subject was the full-term product of an uncomplicated pregnancy, who grew and developed normally, and had no symptoms or laboratory findings suggestive of immunodeficiency until his death, these findings suggest that many organs are involved as major internal sites of viral replication before or during infection of skin with VZV in the immunocompetent host.     

Sulfhydryl blocker-induced colitis in the rat: Immunological changes in thymus gland and colonic mucosa

The study was designed to examine the changes of thymus in sulfhydryl blocker-induced colitis. We used N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) as sulfhydryl blockers. Fasted male Sprague-Dawley rats were given 3% NEM in 1% methyl cellulose into the colon. N-ethylmaleimide treatment caused severe diarrhoea with bleeding for the first 7 days. At autopsy, adhesions, colon dilatation, and single or multiple erosions and ulcers were observed. Time-course studies revealed that the lesions were most extensive and severe 3 or 7 days after the administration of NEM. Histological examination of colon on the 3rd day after NEM treatment demonstrated mucosal erosion, oedema and extensive infiltration of neutrophils. The mucosal lesions extended into the submucosa and muscle on the 7th day after NEM treatment. Immunohistochemical studies showed that T cells and macrophages were markedly increased in the lamina propria of colonic mucosa. After 3 weeks, the infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells was observed and regeneration of the mucosa was noticed. The thymus gland was significantly decreased in weight and size on the 3rd day after NEM treatment, but the weight loss of thymus gland was regained in 3 weeks. Transient atrophy of thymus gland was noticed in this colitis model. The phenotypes of thymocytes were not influenced by NEM treatment. It is concluded that the thymus abnormalities in human ulcerative colitis are not induced in this animal model and that other chronic models are necessary for the elucidation of the immunological abnormalities, including thymus abnormalities.     

Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma of the Stomach Presenting as a Bleeding Polypoid Lesion

Abstract: This is a report of a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with gastric metastasis and a review of 20 cases of gastric metastasis of HCC in Japan. A 67-year-old man was diagnosed as having HCC in May 1991, and underwent transcatheter arterial embolization in June 1991 and February 1992. He came to us with hematemesis in November 1992. An endoscopic examination revealed a semipedun-culated polypoid lesion with bleeding spots at the fornix of the stomach. The polypoid lesion was resected by endoscopic snare polypectomy to prevent rebleeding and in order to make a definitive diagnosis. Histological examination of the resected specimen, 15X10X6 mm in size, revealed well-differentiated HCC with bile production.     

Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity of the Mucosa of the Gastric Remnant Using Endoscopic Biopsy Specimen,Comparison Between B-I and B-II.

Abstract: In this study, the stomal portion of the gastric remnant mucosa following a gastrectomy for gastric cancer was examined endoscopically and histopathologically. The ODC activity was assayed from biopsies from the stomal portion of the gastric remnant and from the greater curvature. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: 1. Endoscopic changes in the stomal mucosa (redness) were found significantly more often in patients following a B-II than in patients who had had a B-I. Histopathological changes consisting of glandular dilatation and an irregular glandular structure were detected in many of the stomal mucosal specimens. 2. The ODC activity was significantly higher in the stomal portion of the remnant stomach tlian in the greater curvature. As for the stomal portion, ODC activity was significantly higher following a B-II titan following a B-I. In summary, the present findings suggest that active cell proliferation occurs in the gastric remnant mucosa, particularly in the region of anastomosis, and that an enhancement of cell proliferation kinetics plays a role in the pathogenesis of primary cancer in the stomal portion of the remnant stomach.     

三维CTAP对右肝静脉与右门静脉关系的研究

目的观察右门静脉第3级分支与右肝静脉的前后关系,阐明右肝静脉是否与右纵裂相一致,能够作为右前段和右后段的分界标志。方法观察连续100例门静脉显示良好无严重肝硬化的螺旋CT动脉性门静脉造影(CTAP)影像并行三维重建,对清楚显示右门静脉与右肝静脉关系的69例,对照观察三维CTAP和轴位CTAP影像。结果右门静脉第3级分支与右肝静脉关系的分析表明,在S8与S7之间近右膈顶的部分,右纵裂多数(54/64,84%)位于右肝静脉之背侧;在S5与S6之间,右纵裂经常(46/69,67%,约2/3)位于右肝静脉的腹侧。结论右肝静脉不是可靠的分界右前段和右后段的标志。门静脉的第3级分支是确定肝段的关键标志,提示应以门静脉第3分支P5～P8确定相应的肝段S5～S8,避免以右肝静脉为标志对肝段或肝肿瘤的错误定位。     

A pilot study to evaluate a new combination therapy for gastric ulcer: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy followed by gastroprotective treatment with rebamipide

Background and Aim: Controversies remain over the need for antiulcer treatment following 1‐week eradication triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori‐positive peptic ulcers. The usefulness of combination therapy for gastric ulcers in Japanese patients, which consists of H. pylori eradication followed by gastroprotective therapy with rebamipide, was therefore evaluated. Methods: The study was conducted in 52 H. pylori‐positive patients with an endoscopically‐proven open gastric ulcer. All patients received 1‐week triple therapy (lansoprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin) followed by 7‐week rebamipide therapy. After completion of the combination therapy, all patients underwent evaluation of ulcer healing by endoscopy, gastric ulcer symptoms and H. pylori eradication by rapid urease test and ¹³C‐urea breath test. Results: The ulcer healing rates were 85.7% (36/42) at 8 weeks, 83.3% (30/36) in eradicated patients and 100% (6/6) in non‐eradicated patients. The overall gastrointestinal symptom‐free rate improved from 19.0% at baseline to 88.1% at 8 weeks. H. pylori was effectively eradicated in 85.7% (36/42) of patients. Conclusions: The results suggested that the combination therapy for open gastric ulcer was safe, well‐tolerated and effective. However, data from a double‐blind placebo‐controlled study is necessary to confirm these findings.