Analysis of alloantigen-specific suppressor T cells

The intravenous administration of allogeneic spleen cells successfully induced two distinct subsets of alloantigen-specific suppressor T cells that function at either the induction phase or the effector phase of alloantigen-specific DTH responses. The induction phase suppressor T cells were found to be Lyt2-, and were not genetically restricted by H-2 region genes. The effector phase suppressor T cells are Lyt2+, and their activity is controlled by genes within the H-2 region. The effector phase suppressor T cells mediate antigen-dependent bystander suppression, provided the appropriate alloantigen is present at the site of the immune responses. This effector phase suppression requires cyclophosphamide-sensitive targets. The results of this study suggest that allospecific suppressor T cells and hapten-specific suppressor T cells have a similar mechanism of action.     

Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin by poorly differentiated transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis

Herein we report a case of ectopic production of hCG by poorly differentiated transitional cell tumor of the renal pelvis. The patient was a 55-year-old male who had been diagnosed at another hospital as having giant hydronephrosis and renal stones and was referred to our hospital. The plain abdominal CT showed a low-density mass at the lower pole of the right kidney. His serum hCG level was as high as 120 mIU/ml. Transperitoneal nephrectomy was performed on July 7, 1987. Histopathological examinations showed the presence of squamous metaplasia within a high-grade transitional cell carcinoma, and immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of chorionic gonadotropin in some giant cells. Two courses of combination chemotherapy with methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin and cisplatin (M-VAC regimen) were given to him from the third week after the operation. However, he died of debility with distant metastasis 6 months after the operation. As far as we know, this is the third reported case in Japan.     

APPENDICEAL ENDOMETRIOSIS IN PREGNANCY

A 25-year old woman at the 26th week of gestation underwent surgery for possible acute appendicitis. Pathological examination of the appendix showed extensive decidual change through the entire wall with perforation and surrounding acute inflammatory cell infiltration. To our knowledge, the present report is the second case of appendiceal endometriosis with this rare complication in the literature. The previously reported cases of appendiceal endometriosis which manifested clinically during pregnancy are briefly reviewed. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 37: 1685.1690. 1987.     

Digital mammography versus digital breast tomosynthesis for detection of breast cancer in the intraoperative specimen during breast-conserving surgery

Purpose

To compare the diagnostic ability of specimen radiography using digital mammography (DM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) for detecting breast cancer and evaluating its extension in the intraoperative specimen.

Methods

Sixty-five specimens from 65 women (median 62 years; range 34–86) obtained during breast-conserving surgery were prospectively investigated. Specimens underwent DM (25–40 kVp, 12–322 mA s) and DBT (25–34 kVp, 13–137 mA) in two orthogonal planes, anteroposterior (AP) and latero-lateral (LL). Images were interpreted by a radiologist to detect invasive lesions and their extensive intraductal components (EIC) or ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS); afterwards, they were compared with histopathological findings.

Results

In AP views, 96 % of the invasive lesions were detected by both the methods. Of the EICs, 55 and 65 % were detected by DM and DBT, respectively (P = 0.61). Of the DICSs, 31 and 38 % were detected by DM and DBT, respectively (P > 0.99). In LL views, 71 and 13 % of the invasive lesions were detected by DBT and DM, respectively (P < 0.0001). Of the EICs, 42 and 10 % were detected by DBT and DM, respectively (P = 0.0078). Of the 13 DCISs, 42 and 8 % were detected by DBT and DM, respectively (P = 0.32). The whole lesion and contour could be delineated in 45 % by DBT and in 6.2 % by DM (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

DBT could detect breast cancer more accurately than DM in LL views, indicating its potential to more precisely diagnose vertical invasion.

     

Nanomolar L-dopa facilitates release of dopamine via presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors: comparative studies on the actions in striatal slices from control and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated C57 black mice, an animal model for Parkinson's disease.

Effects of L-DOPA (0.1-10,000 nM) on spontaneous release (Sp), evoked release (S) and tissue content (C) of dopamine (DA) were studied comparatively in superfused striatal slices from control and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated C57 black mice to obtain evidence for L-DOPA-induced facilitation of S via presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors. In control slices, isoproterenol-induced concentration-dependent increases in S were propranolol-sensitive. L-DOPA at 0.1-3 nM tended to increase the S of DA with a concomitant tendency of increases in Sp. L-DOPA at 10-1 x 10(4) nM concentration-dependently increased Sp. L-DOPA at 1-10 microM tended to increase S and 10 microM increased C. In slices from MPTP-treated mice, the absolute amounts of Sp, S and C decreased by half compared to those in control slices. L-DOPA at 3 nM facilitated S without increasing Sp. This facilitation was antagonized by propranolol at 3 nM. L-DOPA at 30 nM decreased S from the peak facilitation, which contrasted with no effect in the control slices. However, 10-100 nM L-DOPA increased Sp more markedly than that in the control slices. L-DOPA at 100 nM increased S and C, which contrasted with no effect in the control slices. In conclusion, nanomolar L-DOPA facilitates the S of DA via presynaptic beta-adrenoceptors at concentrations lower than those required to induce conversion to DA even in striatal slices from the MPTP-treated mice model for Parkinson's disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Immunoreactivity of antibodies raised against synthetic peptide fragments predicted from mid portions of dystrophin cDNA

We synthesized 3 peptide fragments predicted by residues 2354-2368 (peptide I), 2310-2324 (peptide II) and 2255-2269 (peptide III) on the mid-portion of the human dystrophin cDNA map where the most frequent intragenic deletions occurred in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Rabbit antibodies against these peptides were raised and cryosections of 47 biopsied muscles were studied immunohistochemically. The 47 biopsied muscles included the quadriceps femoris muscles of 8 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, 8 child and 5 adult normal controls, 1 facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, 2 limb girdle dystrophy, 3 myotonic dystrophy, 3 polymyositis, 1 mitochondrial myopathy, 1 nemaline myopathy, 3 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the extensor digitorum longus muscles of 6 mdx mice (C57BL/10ScSn-mdx) and 6 normal control mice (C57BL/10ScSn). The peptide I antiserum continuously stained the myofiber surface membranes in 8 child and 5 adult normal control muscles, and in 14 other muscles from various neuromuscular diseases, but failed to stain the surface membranes in normal control mice. The surface membranes of 8 Duchenne muscles were not stained by the peptide I antiserum except for a few myofibers. Although the ELISA titers of peptide I, II and III antibodies were high, immunostaining by peptide II antiserum showed no reaction in the myofibers of any of the biopsied muscles, and immunostaining by peptide III antiserum revealed faint reactions on the myofiber surface membranes of all biopsied muscles, including the mdx control mouse muscles except for the Duchenne and mdx myofibers.     

Evaluation of a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated C57 black mouse model for parkinsonism

We evaluated neurochemically, behaviorally, and neuropathologically the availability of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated C57 black (BL) mice as a model for Parkinson's disease. The dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid content in the striatum, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with an alectrochemical detector, decreased by 70% at 10 and 20 days after the withdrawal of MPTP (30 mg/kg, i.p. twice daily for 5 days). During these days, the mice showed a decrease in locomotor activity and exhibited akinesia in both pole and traction tests. Light microscopically, 44% of the MPTP-treated mice showed neuronal degeneration in the substantia nigra 1 month after the withdrawal (damaged group), and 56% showed no change (undamaged group). Morphometric analysis revealed that the number of neurons in the substantia nigra decreased by 33% on the average in both groups. Electron microscopically, an electron-dense degeneration of most neurons was seen in the substantia nigra of the damaged group, and even in the undamaged group, loss of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial deformity were seen in 50–70% of the neurons. Electron-dense bodies were seen in the striatum of both groups. These results show the validity of the MPTP-treated C57 BL mice as a suitable model fro parkinsonism, including Parkinson's disease.