Composition and function of “hornmark” in cutaneous horns

Summary In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism underlying the formation of cutaneous horns, 43 cases of cutaneous horns were examined histologically and histochemically. Three of 43 cases were also investigated by using direct immunofluorescence technique and electron microscopy. The structure identical to Hornmark was found in all of 43 cases of cutaneous horns except two which consisted only of horny masses. The substance found in the intercellular space of Hornmark was homogenous, eosinophilic and mostly diastase-resistant PAS positive, and showed strongly positive immunofluorescence for immunoglobulins, complement, and fibrinogen. Electron microscopically, it was moderately electron dense, fine granular and in part fine fibrillar, and was similar to the contents of capillary lumen. From these findings, it was suggested that the substance found in Hornmark consisted mainly of the components of plasma protein, and that coagulated plasma protein might play an important role on the increased cohesiveness of the horny cells, i.d. on the formation of cutaneous horns.

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Zusammenfassung Um den Mechanismus der Hauthornbildungen zu erklären, wurden 43 Fälle der Hauthörner mittels der Histologie und Histochemie untersucht. Drei Hauthörner wurden auch mit Hilfe von direkten Immunofluorescenzen-Techniken und Elektronenmikroskopien untersucht. Sogenanntes Hornmark wurde in allen Fällen der 43 Hauthörner, abgesehen von 2 Fällen, beobachtet, die nur aus Hornmassen bestehen. Die Substanz, die in den intercellulären Räumen des Hornmarks beobachtet wurde, war homogen, eosinophil und meistens diastase-resistent PAS positiv. Stark positive Immunofluorescenz für Immunoglobulinen, Complement und Fibrinogen wurde auch in den Substanzen beobachtet. Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zeigten, daß die Substanz ziemlich opak, granulär und zum Teil fibrillär war und dem Inhalt der Capillaren ähnelte. Aus diesen Befunden wurde geschlossen, daß die Substanz, die im Hornmark der Hauthörner beobachtet wurde, hauptsächlich aus den Bestandteilen des Blutplasma gebildet wurde, und daß coaguliertes Plasmaprotein eine wichtige Rolle für die zunehmende Kohäsion der Hornzellen, d. h. für die Hauthornbildung, spielen mag.

     

An aetiological study on spondylolysis from a biomechanical aspect.

The authors report clinical studies on lumbar disorders (clinical symptoms, X-ray findings) in athletes in various sports. The sport items were divided into three groups according to the main dynamic load applied to the lumbar region. As a result, over 60% of the athletes suffered from "lumbago", and among them spondylolysis reached the high rate of 27%. Arising from these clinical observations, we performed biomechanical laboratory analyses on human cadaver material, axial compression and rotational bending. Our results suggest that the incidence of spondylolysis depends upon the extent and direction of the loads.     

Effect of factors on plasma haloperidol concentration/dose ratio]

It has been known that the serum concentration of antipsychotics is varied according to individual case. There are several factors that may affect the plasma levels of antipsychotics; e.g., antipsychotic dose, body weight, interaction with other drugs, enzyme activity in the human liver, age and smoking. The enzyme cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is an important factor affecting the plasma levels of antipsychotics, because CYP2D6 is involved in the metabolism of these drugs. In this paper, we review the effect of several factors on plasma haloperidol concentration.     

Radioresponse of Thymomas Verified with Histologic Response

Patterns of radiologic response of 10 thymomas treated by preoperative radiotherapy (RT) (18-20 Gy/2 weeks) were determined in conjunction with histologic response. Changes in tumor volume were evaluated with CT scans obtained 5 to 36 days before and 14 to 24 days after the initiation of RT and before surgery. The extent of tumor volume reduction (TR) varied widely (40-78%), while the mean daily volume decrement expressed as a percentage of the pre-RT tumor volume correlated significantly with the pre-RT tumor volume. Histologically, the tumors, all of which were resected 17 to 33 days after RT initiation, generally consisted of predominant fibrous tissues, rare necrotic foci, and few epithelial cells. The TR did not correlate with pre-RT tumor volume, observation period, histologic subtype, or quantity of remaining epithelial cells. The TR of thymomas does not predict RT impact on tumor cells but does reflect the quantity of inherent tumor stroma.     

Presenilin-1 in late-onset depressive disorder

Late-onset depressive disorder (LOD) is thought to be associated with dementia. Allele 1 in the presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. An association study on this polymorphism was performed in depressive patients and control subjects. The patients were subdivided into those with early onset and late onset, using 50 years as the cut-off age. There was no statistically significant difference in the age of onset of depressive disorders according to the PS-1 genotype. There was also no association between early/late-onset depressive disorders and the PS-1 genotype. Our results suggest there is no association between the PS-1 allele and LOD.     

Type II brain 4.1 (4.1B/KIAA0987), a member of the protein 4.1 family, is localized to neuronal paranodes

Histochemical analyses of type II brain 4.1/4.1B/KIAA0987, a member of the protein 4.1 family, were carried out in rat brain. In situ hybridization (ISH) showed that type II brain 4.1 mRNA is expressed in a variety of neuronal cells. In particular, type II brain 4.1 mRNA was actively transcribed in the cells of the mesencephalon and the brainstem, which have large myelinated nerve fibers. Expression of type II brain 4.1 mRNA was not observed at least in glial cells distributed in nerve fiber tracts. In immunohistochemical studies using anti-type II brain 4.1-specific antibody, the major immunosignals appeared as brilliant pairs of dots along nerve fibers. Such immunosignals were detected throughout the brain, but were highly concentrated in nerve fiber tracts. These data suggested that type II brain 4.1 is predominantly localized to neuronal paranodes. Detailed analysis concentrating on the nodal region indicated that type II brain 4.1 is present at the paranodal membrane but not in the axoplasm. Weaker type II brain 4.1-specific immunosignals were observed along the internodal membrane of myelinated axons and in the cytoplasm of some neuronal cells. Finally, comparative immunohistochemical studies using antibodies against the other three protein 4.1 family members, type I brain 4.1/4.1N/KIAA0338, erythroid type 4.1 (4.1R) and 4.1G, demonstrated that each of these proteins is distributed in a unique pattern in the cerebellum. Our results are the first to show that type II brain 4.1 is the only member of the protein 4.1 family localized to neuronal paranodes.     

Caffeine induces apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells through the caspase-9 pathway.

Caffeine is known to modulate placental and fetal umbilical circulation. It is demonstrated that apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) is associated with placental umbilical vascular diseases. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of caffeine on apoptosis of HUVECs. Isolated HUVECs were cultured under serum-free conditions for 24 h, and then treated with graded concentrations of caffeine (30, 100 and 300 microM) for additional 24 h and 48 h. The number of viable HUVECs was determined by cell counting. Apoptotic HUVECs were assessed by Hoechst33342 dye staining. The expression of caspase-9, caspase-8, caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was assessed by Western blot analysis. Caffeine induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in the number of viable HUVECs. Caffeine at concentrations higher than 100 microM significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic HUVECs. Caffeine at concentrations higher than 100 microM significantly increased cleaved caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP expression in HUVECs at 24-h treatment compared with untreated cultures, whereas 30 microM caffeine significantly increased only caspase-3 expression at 24 h. Caffeine did not affect cleaved caspase-8 expression at 48 h. These results suggest that high concentrations of caffeine inhibit cell growth of HUVECs and induce apoptosis through the caspase-9 pathway.     

Influence of parity on second-trimester uterine artery Doppler waveforms in twin pregnancy.

We performed uterine artery Doppler velocimetry in 16 nulliparous and 16 parous women with non-preeclamptic singleton gestations and 16 nulliparous and 16 parous women with dichorionic twin gestations at 17-18 and 26-27 weeks of gestation. In both singleton and twin pregnancies, the average pulsatility index (PI) in nulliparous women was significantly higher than that in parous women at 17-18 weeks of gestation. At 26-27 weeks of gestation, however, there were no significant differences in PI between nulliparous and parous women with either singleton or twin pregnancies. During the early second-trimester of non-preeclamptic singleton and twin pregnancies, parity has a significant effect on uterine artery blood flow.