Anaplastic Ependymoma of the Spinal Cord in Childhood A Case Report

We report a 6-year-old girl with anaplastic ependymoma probably originating in the region of the conus medullaris and probably spreading retrogradely to the region of the interventricular foramen (Monro) through the cere-brospinal fluid (CSF). Since ependymoma of the spinal cord rarely occurs in children, and retrograde spreading is extremely rare, the histological features and mechanism of metastasis of the tumor are discussed.     

Fascin,an actin-bundling protein,modulates colonic epithelial cell invasiveness and differentiation in vitro

In epithelial tissue, cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesive interactions have important roles in the normal organization and stabilization of the cell layer. The malignant conversion of epithelial cells involves alterations in the expression and function of these adhesion systems that enable a switch to a migratory phenotype in tumor invasion and metastasis. Fascin is an actin-crosslinking protein that is found in the core actin bundles of cell-surface spikes and projections that are implicated in cell motility. We demonstrate that fascin is not detectable in normal colonic epithelium, but is dramatically up-regulated in colorectal adenocarcinoma. To test the hypothesis that fascin could participate in tumor invasive behavior, we developed a cell culture model to examine the effect of fascin expression on the adhesive interactions, invasiveness, and differentiation of colonic epithelial cells. We report marked effects on the organization of cell-surface protrusions, actin cytoskeleton, and focal adhesions in the absence of alterations in the protein levels of the major components of these structures. These effects correlate with alterations in cell movements on two-dimensional matrix, and increased invasiveness in three-dimensional matrix. The cells also show increased proliferation and decreased capacity for normal glandular differentiation in collagen gels. We propose that up-regulation of fascin, by promoting the formation of protrusive, actin-based, cell-motility structures, could be a significant component in the acquisition of invasive phenotype in colonic carcinoma.     

Ramp rate of blood pressure changes does not affect aortic afferent sensitivity in anesthetized rats

To investigate whether the rate of change in blood pressure affects the sensitivity of the aortic baroreceptor afferent response, the change in aortic nerve activity (ANA) to two different rates of ramp increase in mean blood pressure (MBP), elicited by phenylephrine administration, was determined in the rat under urethane (1.5 g kg⁻¹) anesthesia. The sensitivity of the increase in ANA following a rapid (average ramp rate, 9.14 ± 0.60 mmHg s⁻¹, n = 11) or gradual (1.78 ± 0.24 mmHg s⁻¹, n = 11) increase in MBP was 2.03 ± 0.14% and 1.81 ± 0.20% of baseline mmHg⁻¹, respectively. These values were not significantly different from each other (P = 0.16). Furthermore, we found no correlation between the rate of ramp increase in MBP and the sensitivity of the increase in ANA (r = 0.24, P = 0.29, n = 22). These results suggest that, at least within the normal physiological range of MBP, the rate of the ramp change in blood pressure does not affect aortic baroreceptor afferent sensitivity in the anesthetized rat.     

The kinetics of the oxidative polymerization of 2.6-xylenol with a copper-amine complex

It was found that the oxidative polymerization of 2.6-xylenol with a copper-amine complex proceeds via a mechanism similar to that of a MICHAELIS-MENTEN-type reaction, the steady state being maintained during the polymerization; the kinetics were studied. The LINEWEAVER-BURK plots showed linear relationships, supporting this mechanism. From the comparison of the kinetic constants it was concluded that oxygen not only takes part in the recycling step of the catalyst, but also promotes the catalytic action of the cuprous complex by being coordinated to the intermediate complex. K₁ values (the reciprocal of the MICHAELIS constant, K_m) vary with the amine-ligand species, but the reaction-rate constants (k₂) do not change, regardless of the ligands used. According to the kinetic formula, K₁ is proportional to the product of the formation constant of the complex between the copper-amine catalyst and the monomer (K′₁) by the rate constant of electron transfer (k_e). It is because of the K′₁ values that the apparent polymerization rate varies with the amine ligands in the region of relatively low monomer concentrations. It was found that, as the ligand ratio ([pyridine]/[Cu]) increases, i.e., as the selectivity for C? O coupling increases, the K₁ values become larger. The mechanism for the coupling selectivity is discussed in relation to the K₁ values.     

Seasonal changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-testes axis of the Japanese wood mouse (Apodemus speciosus)

Seasonal changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-testes axis of the Japanese wood mice (Apodemus speciosus) were studied. The testes, epididymis, pituitary and hypothalamus were compared between mice in the breeding season (July) and non-breeding season (October) using morphological techniques, and the plasma testosterone level was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay. Significant differences in these tissues were observed between the breeding season and the non-breeding season. Specifically, differences in the non-breeding season included 1) a decline in testicular and epididymal weights, arrest of spermatogenesis and decrease of serum testosterone concentration; 2) a decrease in the number of luteinizing hormone (LH)-, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-, prolactin (PRL)-, and growth hormone (GH)-immunoreactive cells, and decrease in the size of FSH, PRL, and GH-immunoreactive cells; and 3) an increase in the size of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-immunoreactive neurons. Our findings indicate that the male adult Japanese wood mouse exhibits unique seasonal changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-testes axis which are not found in laboratory mice.     

No evidence of PEG1/MEST gene mutations in Silver‐Russell syndrome patients

Silver‐Russell syndrome (SRS) is characterized by prenatal and postnatal growth retardation with morphologic anomalies. Maternal uniparental disomy 7 has been reported in some SRS patients. PEG1/MEST is an imprinted gene on chromosome 7q32 that is expressed only from the paternal allele and is a candidate gene for SRS. To clarify its biological function and role in SRS, we screened PEG1/MEST abnormalities in 15 SRS patients from various standpoints. In the lymphocytes of SRS patients, no aberrant expression patterns of two splice variants (α and β) of PEG1/MEST were detected when they were compared with normal samples. Direct sequence analysis failed to detect any mutations in the PEG1/MEST α coding region, and there were no significant mutations in the 5′‐flanking upstream region containing the predicted promoter and the highly conserved human/mouse genomic region. Differential methylation patterns of the CpG island for PEG1/MEST α were normally maintained and resulted in the same pattern as in the normal control, suggesting that there was no loss of imprinting. These findings suggest that PEG1/MEST can be excluded as a major determinant of SRS. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effect of stimulated neutrophils from the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis on lymphocytes—A possible role of increased oxygen radicals generated by the neutrophils

Neutrophils from the synovial fluid (SFN) of 10 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were investigated to determine the generation of oxygen intermediates (OI) (O2-, H2O2, OH .), chemiluminescence, and lysosomal enzymes (lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase). Lymphocytes from healthy individuals were cocultured at 37 degrees C for 17 hr with SFN from the patients and the number of OKT4+, OKT8+, and OKT3+ cells and the response to mitogens were determined. A markedly increased OI and slightly elevated lysosomal enzyme levels were observed in SFN from patients. Coculture of lymphocytes with SFN resulted in a decreased number of OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells and a greatly reduced response to Con A and mildly diminished response to PHA, while OKT3+ cells were not affected. The simultaneous addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase restored the impairment of monoclonal antibody reaction and lymphocyte responsiveness almost to control levels. It is suggested that the disturbed immunoreactivity of synovial fluid lymphocytes from RA patients may be due to increased OI generated by stimulated neutrophils.     

Photodegradation behavior of some vinyl ketone copolymers

Photodegradation behavior for copolymers of styrene (St), α-methyl styrene (α-MSt) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and phenyl vinyl ketone (PVK) in the presence of air was investigated in the solid state and in solution. Photolysis of St/MVK and St/PVK copolymers proceeded smoothly and an increase of the ketone in the copolymer resulted in an increase of the rate of degradation. Generally, the rate of degradation is faster in St/PVK copolymers than in St/MVK copolymers. It is likely that the degradation of the copolymers takes place mainly through NORRISH type II reaction. It was found that the photolysis of α-MSt/PVK copolymers was retarded considerably as compared with St/PVK copolymers. An unexpected behavior was observed in the case of MMA/MVK or MMA/PVK copolymers. These copolymers were expected to degrade with slow rates; they degraded, however, rapidly. Some experiments were done to explain this phenomenon.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on bacterial copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid

Copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyric acid (HB) and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid (HV), P(HB-co-HV), were isolated from Alcaligenes eutrophus and characterized by solution NMR, solid-state ¹³C CP/MAS NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry. The ¹³C CP/MAS NMR analysis was compatible with that of a random copolyester of oxy-(1-methyl-3-oxotrimethylene) ( B ) and oxy-(1-ethyl-3-oxotrimethylene) ( V ) units which adopts a regular conformation of a 2₁ -helix in the solid state throughout a wide range of compositions varying from 0 to 90 mol-% V units. The chain dynamics of P(HB-co-HV) in chloroform was studied by analysis of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra. The carbon-13 spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) and nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOE) indicated that the copolyester molecules in chloroform are not rigid but rather flexible. The conformational preferences of the copolyester molecules were determined by analysis of the ¹H NMR spectra.     

PRIMARY MALIGNANT FIBROUS HISTIOCYTOMA OF THE ENDOMETRIUM

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) has become one of the most common malignancies occurring in soft tissue. To our knowledge, the present case is the first of MFH occurring in the endometrium. The uterus removed from a 47-year-old woman demonstrated a large multinodular endometrial lesion with gross invasive foci in the myometrium and the left oviduct. Microscopically, the endometrial tumor and the invasive lesions were composed of dense sheets of markedly pleomorphic cells consisting of fibroblast-like cells, histiocyte-like cells, foamy histiocytes, benign appearing multinucleated giant cells resembling either osteoclasts or Touton giant cells, and bizarre tumor giant cells. Some of the tumor cells showed phagocytic activities. The tumor cells were oriented in a random or haphazard fashion and classical storiform and fascicular patterns were not observed. The tumor was diagnosed as MFH consisting exclusively of so-called pleomorphic pattern. The patient is alive without evidence of disease, months following total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.