Flow karyotypes and chromosomal DNA contents of genus Triticum species and rye (Secale cereale)

The flow cytometry and chromosome imaging method were jointly used for analyzing genome content and chromosomal DNA content of hexaploid wheat (AABBDD), hexaploid triticale (AABBRR), tetraploid wheat (AABB), and AA, BB, DD genome donors and RR genome rye. Their genome sizes were 34.4 pg, 40.9 pg, 26.2 pg, 12.1 pg, 13.7 pg, 10.5 pg, and 16.9 pg, respectively. The 2C nuclear DNA content of BB genome donor with 13.7 pg was the highest value among the other genome donors, AA or DD. The genome content of tetraploid wheat, unlike hexaploid wheat or hexaploid triticale, was larger than the sum of the genomes of AA and BB genome donors. The DNA content of each chromosome ranged from 1.22 pg in DD genome donor to 2.61 pg in rye. Each chromosome peak was divided into three to four groups. Only one chromosome was included in the highest chromosomal DNA peak in hexaploid wheat, tetraploid wheat, DD genome donor and rye but two chromosomes in AA, BB genome donors, and hexaploid triticale. Correlation between 2C nuclear DNA content and chromosome density volume was the highest value compared with the other chromosomal parameters of chromosome area, or chromosome length.     

PTEN is a mechanosensing signal transducer for myosin II localization in Dictyostelium cells

To investigate the role of PTEN in regulation of cortical motile activity, especially in myosin II localization, eGFP–PTEN and mRFP–myosin II were simultaneously expressed in Dictyostelium cells. PTEN and myosin II co-localized at the posterior of migrating cells and furrow region of dividing cells. In suspension culture, PTEN knockout ( pten ⁻) cells became multinucleated, and myosin II significantly decreased in amount at the furrow. During pseudopod retraction and cell aspiration by microcapillary, PTEN accumulated at the tips of pseudopods and aspirated lobes prior to the accumulation of myosin II. In pten ⁻ cells, only a small amount of myosin II accumulated at the retracting pseudopods and aspirated cell lobes. PTEN accumulated at the retracting pseudopods and aspirated lobes even in myosin II null cells and latrunculin B-treated cells though in reduced amounts, indicating that PTEN accumulates partially depending on myosin II and cortical actin. Accumulation of PTEN prior to myosin II suggests that PTEN is an upstream component in signaling pathway to localize myosin II, possibly with mechanosensing signaling loop where actomyosin-driven contraction further augments accumulation of PTEN and myosin II by a positive feedback mechanism.     

Three cases of pulmonary hamartoma appearing after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma

We report 3 patients with pulmonary hamartoma, all of whom had undergone nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. A lung tumor was detected 2 to 9-months following nephrectomy. Preoperative diagnosis was pulmonary metastasis from renal cell carcinoma and pulmonary tumor resection was performed in each case. There was a 9- to 12-month interval between the detection and resection of the lung tumor. The histological diagnosis of the lung tumor in all three patient was pulmonary hamartoma. Following the resection of the lung tumor, recurrence was not noted in any of the patients.     

Results of adjuvant intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy for grade 3 superficial bladder cancer

To examine the incidence of recurrence, progression and survival in patients with grade 3 superficial bladder cancer after transurethral resection (TUR) and adjuvant intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), we retrospectively studied 39 patients with grade 3 superficial bladder cancer. Nineteen patients with high-grade superficial bladder cancer (pTa, pT1) and 5 patients with grade 3 carcinoma in situ (CIS) received intravesical instillation of BCG after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (BCG group and CIS-BCG group). The Tokyo 172 strain BCG was given for 8 weeks, as a rule, in a dose of 80 mg in 40 ml of saline instilled into the bladder. As a control, 15 patients with grade 3 superficial bladder cancer who did not receive BCG therapy after TUR were compared (non-BCG group). Of the BCG group (n=19), 4 patients (21.1%) had recurrent tumor and 3 had invasive progression after BCG therapy and died as a result of tumor progression, while in the non-BCG group (n=15), 8 cases (53.3%) developed recurrence, only one case had progression and died of cancer. In the CIS-BCG group (n=5), 3 patients (60.0%) had recurrent tumor and 2 had invasive progression. Univariate analysis (Logrank test) demonstrated that tumor size and adjuvant instillation of BCG were associated with tumor recurrence except for carcinoma in situ, but tumor progression and survival did not differ significantly. Our results suggest that BCG therapy prevents grade 3 superficial bladder cancer (pT1, pTa) recurrence.     

A case of immunotactoid glomerulopathy with IgA2, kappa deposition ameliorated by steroid therapy

We report a case of idiopathic immunotactoid glomerulopathy with IgA2, kappa light chain deposition, ameliorated by steroid therapy. A 28-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital due to exacerbation of nephrotic syndrome. The onset of his renal disease was at 24 years of age and the renal biopsy revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with moderate-degree deposition of IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C1q. Prednisolone therapy was started at the dose of 50 mg/day and effective for nephrotic syndrome and renal dysfunction. Two years later, the proteinuria and microscopic hematuria gradually exacerbated during reduction of prednisolone. The second renal biopsy showed mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis with predominant deposition of IgA and C3. The glomerular proliferative changes were successfully suppressed by steroid treatment. On electron microscopy, a microtubular deposit with an average width of 40 nm and double-tracked appearance was observed in the mesangial and subendothelial areas. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the deposit was predominantly composed of IgA2 subclass and kappa light chain. Selective deposition of IgA2 subclass and kappa light chain indicated that the glomerular lesion should be induced by monoclonal immunoglobulin, although it could not be detected in the serum and urine clinically. Immunoglobulin subclass staining of renal biopsy specimens provides an important clue for understanding the pathogenesis of immunotactoid glomerulopathy or fibrillary glomerulonephritis.     

Two cases of 46,XX male with chief complaint of infertility

We report two cases of XX male with chief complaints of infertility. Physical examination of both patients aged 42 and 29 demonstrated normal male habitus except for small testes. Semen analyses demonstrated no spermatozoa. Endocrinological examinations showed hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism. Vesiculograms demonstrated normal seminal tracts. Histological examination of their testes did not reveal germ cells; one case lacked seminiferous tubules and there was hyalinization in the seminiferous tubule in another case. Chromosomal analyses of peripheral blood demonstrated 46,XX. The sex-determining region Y gene was positive and DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) gene was negative in both cases.     

Heterogeneity of acute undifferentiated leukemia at the immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes level

Phenotypic markers of leukemic cells from 76 children with acute leukemia were examined. Of these cases, 7 were diagnosed as acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL) whose leukemic cells were negative for myeloperoxidase and did not react with lineage-specific or lineage-associated monoclonal antibodies. Then, we analyzed the configuration of both immunoglobulin (Ig) and T-cell receptor beta-chain (T beta) gene in these 7 AUL cases. Three cases had no rearrangement of Ig or T beta genes which was suggestive of non-lymphoid origin of these cases. In contrast, 4 cases showed rearrangements of Ig and/or T beta genes. One of these 4 cases demonstrated T beta gene rearrangement with retention of the germline configuration of Ig genes. Two cases with both Ig and T beta gene rearrangements also showed kappa-chain gene rearrangements. These findings indicate the heterogeneity of AUL at the DNA level, and may cast new light on the early differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells.