Case of dermatomyositis complicated with massive pleural effusion that preceded the myopathy]

A 36-year-old man was admitted to a hospital with complaints of fever, polyarthralgia and dyspnea. Erythema was observed on his face, extensor surface of the fingers and extremities, and a chest X-ray revealed massive bilateral pleural effusion. He had no sign of myopathy at this point. Pleural fluid was proved to be exudative and contained extremely high levels of hyaluronic acid. He was also complicated with interstitial pneumonitis and was given a pulse therapy with methyl prednisolone followed by daily administration of 55 mg prednisolone (PSL). Twenty days after the commencement of the therapy, pleural effusion decreased but muscle weakness gradually appeared, accompanied by elevation of myogenic enzymes. Myogenic changes on electromyogram, and irregularity of the muscle fibers with slight inflammatory cell infiltrates in a biopsy specimen were demonstrated. He was transferred to our hospital, and a diagnosis of dermatomyositis was made. Later, pleural effusion waxed and waned depending on the dosage of PSL, but no other causative disorder was demonstrated by extensive examinations. This case indicates that the pleuritis could be one of the vasculitic manifestations of dermatomyositis.     

Ethylnitrosourea-induced apoptosis in primordial germ cells of the rat fetus.

Ethylnitrosourea (ENU) is a simple alkylating agent. It induces gene mutations in fetal primordial germ cells (PGCs), and a high incidence of congenital malformations is also found in the offspring of male mice treated with ENU at the embryonic stage. It is also reported that decreases in the fertility rate and weights of the testis and ovary were found in the offspring from dams treated with ENU. In this study, we analyzed the occurrence of apoptotic cell death and the expression of p53 protein which is thought to play an important role in the DNA damage-induced apoptosis after administration of ENU to pregnant rats on day 13 of gestation to obtain a clue for clarifying the toxic effect of ENU on PGCs. Apoptotic cells increased in PGCs in fetal gonads from 3 h after treatment. The number of apoptotic PGCs peaked at 6 h and gradually decreased towards 24 h after treatment. On the other hand, p53-positive PGCs increased from I h after treatment, prior to the induction of apoptosis. The number of p53-positive PGCs peaked at 3 h and returned to the control level at 24 h after treatment. These results suggest that ENU induces apoptosis in rat fetal PGCs immediately after its administration to dams and excess cell death by apoptosis may have a close relation to the later occurrence of decreases in the fertility rate and gonadal weight. Moreover, a possible involvement of p53 is suggested in the ENU-induced apoptosis in PGCs.     

Protective effects of serotonin reuptake inhibitors, citalopram and clomipramine, against hippocampal CA1 neuronal damage following transient ischemia in the gerbil

To clarify the role of serotonin in cerebral ischemia, we examined the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, citalopram and clomipramine, on ischemic neuronal damage in the gerbil. Pretreatment with citalopram (40 mg/kg i.p.) and clomipramine (20 mg/kg i.p.) protected against neuronal destruction of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells following 5 min of forebrain ischemia. Furthermore, microdialysis assays showed that a striking increase in extracellular excitatory amino acid levels during ischemia was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with citalopram and clomipramine. However, citalopram (40 mg/kg i.p.) did not alter the extracellular amino acid concentrations in normal gerbils. Thus, serotonin reuptake inhibitors have a protective effect against ischemic neuronal damage. Furthermore, the present result suggests that the protective effect is mediated through prevention of the accumulation of extracellular excitatory amino acids during and after ischemia.     

Dynamic MRI of the gallbladder lesions: Differentiation of benign from malignant

Forty-nine pathologically proven gallbladder lesions were evaluated in 45 patients using dynamic MRI with a spoiled gradient pulse sequence (SPGR), to access the ability of this technique to differentiate benign from malignant gallbladder lesions. The studies were reviewed retrospectively. Signal intensity of the lesions were measured. Twenty-one malignant and 28 benign lesions were classified into three categories: polypoid, diffuse wall thickening, and exophytic. Early and delayed enhancement patterns were evaluated. For the polypoid masses, malignant lesions (n = 9) demonstrated early and prolonged enhancements, whereas benign lesions (n = 14) had early enhancement with subsequent washout (P < .05). For diffuse gallbladder wall thickening, malignant lesions (n = 6) demonstrated early and prolonged enhancement and benign lesions (n = 14) showed relatively slow, prolonged enhancement (P < .05). The exophytic masses (n = 6) all were malignant and demonstrated early and prolonged enhancement. Dynamic MRI can help differentiate benign from malignant gallbladder lesions.     

Use of latissimus dorsi flap for reconstruction with prostheses after tumor resection

Five latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps (LD flap) were used for reconstruction with prostheses after resection of tumors between 1984 and 1991 in our hospital. Bony structures were reconstructed with prostheses and in three cases autoclaved autobone grafts were also needed. The prostheses and adjacent grafts were then wrapped by the LD flaps. Tumor sites included one humerus, two thighs, and two knees. All but one case healed primarily. The sole case of infection was successfully treated with debridement and irrigation. Due to the LD flaps' plentiful blood supply, we believe infection of the prosthetics can be avoided and good clinical results can be achieved using the flap with autoclaved autograft prosthetic composite reconstruction. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

K-Ras gene status and expression of Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules in ameloblastomas

BACKGROUND: To clarify the roles of rat sarcoma (Ras)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in oncogenesis and cytodifferentiation of odontogenic tumors, K-Ras gene status and expression of Ras, Raf1, MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK)1, and ERK1/2 proteins were analyzed in ameloblastomas as well as in tooth germs. METHODS: Paraffin sections of 10 tooth germs and 46 benign and 6 malignant ameloblastomas were examined immunohistochemically for the expression of K-Ras, Raf1, MEK1, and ERK1/2. Frozen tissue samples of 22 benign ameloblastomas and 1 malignant (metastasizing) ameloblastoma were analyzed by direct DNA sequencing to detect K-Ras gene alteration. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical reactivity for K-Ras, Raf1, MEK1, and ERK1/2 was detected in both normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelium, and these molecules were reactive chiefly with odontogenic epithelial cells neighboring the basement membrane. Plexiform ameloblastomas showed slightly stronger expression of these Ras/MAPK signaling molecules than follicular ameloblastomas. Keratinizing cells and granular cells showed decreased reactivity for the signaling molecules. Basal cell ameloblastomas showed slightly stronger reactivity for the signaling molecules than did the other subtypes. K-Ras immunoreactivity in malignant ameloblastomas was lower than that in dental lamina of tooth germs. Direct DNA sequencing showed a GGT to GCT point mutation at codon 12 of K-Ras gene in one ameloblastoma. Conclusion: Expression of K-Ras, Raf1, MEK1, and ERK1/2 in tooth germs and ameloblastomas suggests that Ras/MAPK signaling pathway functions to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation in both normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelium. K-Ras gene status implied that K-Ras mutations might play a minor role in oncogenesis of odontogenic epithelium.     

Carcinogenic activity of endogenously synthesized N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine in rats administered bis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine and sodium nitrite

The carcinogenic activity of endogenously synthesized N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine(BHP) was investigated in male Wistar rats administered bis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine(BHPA) mixed in powder diet at a concentration of 1%, and sodiumnitrite (SN) dissolved in distilled water at concentrationsof 0.15 and 0.3%, for 94 weeks. Urinary excretion of BHP wasdetected in rats given 1% BHPA and 0.3% SN but not in the groupsreceiving either of these precursors alone. Nasal cavity, lung,esophagus, liver and urinary bladder tumors were found in animalstreated with combinations of 1% BHPA and 0.15 or 0.3% SN, suggestingthat the target organs of the endogenously synthesized BHP aresimilar to those affected when the carcinogen is administeredexogenously. The incidences of nasal cavity and lung tumorsreached 74 and 58% in rats given 1% BHPA and 0.3% SN, respectively.Tumors at sites other than target organs were only found atlevels similar to those previously reported for spontaneoustumors in male Wistars. The present results clearly indicatedthe tumor inducibility of a nhrosatable amine, BHA, throughan endogenous nitrosation by feeding to rats in conjunctionwith nitrite, and provide further suggestive evidence that endogenousnitrosations of environmental nitrosatable amines can be a potentialrisk factor in human cancer development.     

Prognosis for patients with carcinoma in the middle third of the stomach

In 268 of the 1,115 patients (24.0%) with gastric cancer who underwent a curative resection in our clinics, the tumor was located in the middle third of the stomach. The clinicopathological features and prognosis of these patients were divided into two groups, according to site of the tumor: anterior wall (n = 58) vs. other sites (n = 210). Clinicopathological factors did not differ between the two groups. The survival time for patients with a tumor in the anterior group was shorter than that for patients with a tumor in other areas (P < 0.05). The five-year survival rate was 79.3% for patients with an anterior tumor and 91.9% for those with a tumor at a different site. A multivariate analysis indicated lymph node metastasis, serosal invasion, and anterior wall location to be independent prognostic factors indicative of a poor prognosis when the tumor was located in the middle third of the stomach. For such patients, close follow-up is needed to detect possible recurrences. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction as assessed by echocardiography in metabolic syndrome.

The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the cardiac structure and function in patients who have metabolic syndrome but no history of cardiovascular disease by analyzing echocardiographic findings. Echocardiographic examination was performed to screen for cardiovascular disease in 135 patients who were in their sixties. Patients were divided into metabolic syndrome (n=65, age: 65+/-2.7 years) and non-metabolic syndrome (n=70, age: 66+/-2.5 years) groups based on the criteria for metabolic syndrome proposed by the Japanese Society of Hypertension and seven other societies in 2005. The left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and dimension were measured by M-mode echocardiography. The relative wall thickness, LV mass index, and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) were calculated. LV diastolic function was assessed by the peak velocity of early rapid filling (E velocity) and the peak velocity of atrial filling (A velocity), and the ratio of E to A (E/A) was assessed by the transmitral flow. The Tei index, which reflects both LV diastolic and systolic function, was also calculated. There were no differences in relative wall thickness, LV mass index, or LVEF between the two groups. However, both the EIA and Tei index were significantly different between the metabolic syndrome (0.66+/-0.14 and 0.36+/-0.07, respectively) and non-metabolic syndrome (0.88+/-0.25 and 0.29+/-0.09) groups (p<0.001). These results indicate that patients with metabolic syndrome can have cardiac diastolic dysfunction even if they have neither LV hypertrophy nor systolic dysfunction.