Deposition of extracellular matrix on silicone intraocular lens implants in rabbits

Purpose: To examine the deposition of extracellullar matrix on silicone intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted experimentally into rabbit eyes by electron microscopy and to determine the immunolocalization of extracellular matrix components, including collagen types and cellular fibronectin, on these IOLs. Methods: We performed phacoemulsification and aspiration of the crystalline lens and implanted a foldable silicone IOL in the capsular bag of one eye of each of 26 adult albino rabbits under general anesthesia. After 8 weeks the animals were killed and the eyes were enucleated. The silicone IOLs were processed for electron microscopy and for immunohistochemical detection of collagen types I, III, and IV and cellular fibronectin. Results: Electron microscopy revealed deposition of a presumed cell matrix complex on the optic portion of all silicone IOLs, as well as the adhesion of presumed macrophages and foreign-body giant cells. Cellular deposits showed immunoreactivity for cellular fibronectin. Fibrous or membranous deposits exhibited immunoreactivity for cellular fibronectin and collagen types I and III. A few type IV collagen-immunoreactive deposits were also seen. Conclusion: Deposits of extracellular matrix components were observed on silicone IOLs. These deposits may form the scaffolding for the adhesion and proliferation of cells. These matrix components appeared to be the products of cells adhering to the surfaces of IOLs, including lens epithelial cells, macrophages and foreign-body giant cells, indicating that the process of granulation was incomplete.     

Anterior surgery with short fusion using the Zielke procedure for thoracic scoliosis: focus on the correction of compensatory curves

Anterior instrumentation is recommended to correct idiopathic thoracolumbar or lumbar scoliosis through short fusion within the major curve. Only a few reports exist of anterior surgical correction for thoracic scoliosis. This study assessed the results of Zielke instrumentation for thoracic curve and analyzed the three-dimensional correction of deformity, especially correction of the uninstrumented compensatory curve. Seventeen patients, who had undergone selective thoracic correction and fusion using the Zielke procedure to treat thoracic scoliosis, had been followed for at least 3 years. Three-dimensional correction was evaluated radiographically. Furthermore, three-dimensional back deformities were evaluated using a topographic body scanner. Twelve patients with a single thoracic curve and five with a double curve were all female, with a mean age of 14.6 years. The preoperative main thoracic curve was 54.8 degrees +/- 10.5 degrees (range, 40-78 degrees), and it was 23.8 degrees +/- 10.5 degrees (range, 7-40 degrees) at the final follow-up examination (p < 0.0001). The average correction rate of the main curves was 56.6%. By correcting the thoracic curve, the upper and lower compensatory curves were corrected spontaneously without surgical instrumentation, with average correction rates of 45.1% and 50.2%, respectively. The average correction loss of the main curve was 2.3 degrees. The hump angle measured using a topographic body scanner decreased from 12.8 degrees +/- 4.5 degrees to 8.4 degrees +/- 4.3 degrees after surgery (p = 0.0001). Of the three patients in whom the rod broke up, only one showed a correction loss of 10 degrees; however, bony fusion was obtained. Anterior short fusion for thoracic scoliosis appears to offer significant correction, stabilization, and spontaneous correction of the compensatory lumbar curve without limiting lumbar motion.     

Identification of a Notch3 mutation in a Japanese CADASIL family. Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a hereditary disease that is characterized by recurrent stroke episodes and focal neurologic deficits progressing to pseudobulbar palsy and dementia. The causative gene is the Notch3 gene on chromosome 19, and 22 missense mutations have been identified in Caucasian patients to date. To perform mutational analysis of the Notch3 gene, we identified its exon intron boundaries and prepared sets of primers for amplification of each exon. Using these primers, we determined the Notch3 gene in a Japanese family with CADASIL symptoms and found a missense mutation (Arg133Cys) in exon 4. The mutation was heterozygous and cosegregated with the disease. Thus, the Notch3 gene is responsible for CADASIL in patients across different ethnic groups.     

Percutaneous transpedicular biopsy of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae--method and diagnostic validity

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transpedicular needle biopsy was performed on thoracic and lumbar vertebral bodies with a thin trocar (2.0 mm outer diameter) under observation with a conventional X-ray image intensifier in order to establish a correct histopathological diagnosis. We also evaluated the clinical validity of this less invasive diagnostic method in terms of the accuracy of the pathological diagnosis. METHODS: Twenty-eight thoracic or lumbar vertebrae of 26 patients with abnormalities observed on routine X-ray, CT, or MRI images underwent percutaneous transpedicular needle biopsy under local anesthesia. A threaded trocar with an outer diameter of 2.0 mm was screwed into the intra-vertebral lesion through the pedicle from the posterior side under control of X-P imaging, and a small amount of tissue or fluid was collected. RESULTS: For all patients but two, where inadequate specimens were obtained, correct diagnoses were made, which were confirmed by pathological diagnoses of massive tissue obtained during subsequent reconstructive surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy rate of diagnosis with this biopsy method was 92% without significant intra- or postoperative complications. Therefore, it can be concluded that this less invasive biopsy method used in conjunction with conventional X-ray apparatus has good potential to result in correct preoperative diagnosis of thoracic and lumbar lesions so that more effective treatment can be determined.     

Immunolocalization of prolyl 4-hydroxylase in fibroblasts cultured from Tenon's capsule of humans

Background: The excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) with the repopulation of fibroblasts may lead to an unsuccessful outcome of glaucoma filtering surgery. We examined the immunolocalization of ECM components and prolyl 4-hydroxylase, an enzyme involved in collagen biosynthesis, in cultured Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (TCFs) of humans to evaluate the production of ECM in the cells. Methods: We used light microscopy to evaluate the immunolocalization of prolyl 4-hydroxylase and ECM components, collagen types I, III, and IV, cellular fibronectin, and laminin in TCFs. Ultrastructural localization of the enzyme was also evaluated by electron microscopy. Results: Immunoreactivity with monoclonal antibodies against the and subunits of the enzyme or with the polyclonal antibody against it was detected in the cytoplasm of the cells in a fine granular pattern, indicating its localization in the indoplasmic reticulum (ER). Immunoreactivity for the enzyme was detected in the cisternae of the ER on electron microscopy. Types I and III collagen reactivities were also observed in the cytoplasm in a fine granular pattern. T reactivity was present diffusely on the cell surface. The distribution of laminin reactivity in the cytoplasm resembled that of types I and III collagen. Cellular fibronectin reactivity was observed in the ECM in a reticular pattern. Conclusion: Prolyl 4-hydroxylase was located in the cisternae of the ER. TCFs produced a variety of ECM components in vitro. The results provide insight into the fibrotic process during scar formation at the site of a bleb following filtering surgery.     

Prognostic Significance of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) has been shown tobe of prognostic significance in some gastrointestinal tumors.Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to determine whetherPCNA is useful for predicting the outcome of patients with squamouscell carcinoma of the esophagus. Using a mouse monoclonal antibody,PC 10, the expression of PCNA was studied in resected squamouscell carcinomas of the esophagus from 59 patients who had undergonecurative esophagectomy. None had received any preceding therapy.The proliferation rate was assessed in terms of the percentageof the PCNA-positive nuclear area relative to the total areaof cancer nuclei using a cell analysis system (CAS). Clinicopathologicalvariables including PCNA staining were assessed in relationto prognosis. Survival rate was obtained by the Kaplan-Meiermethod. The PCNA indices (percentage of the positive nucleararea) of the tumors varied from 4.4% to 96.2%. Among the clinicopathologicalvariables, only tumor size (5 cm) and depth of invasion werecorrelated significantly with PCNA index (P<0.05). Microscopically,PCNA was stained in non-keratinized cells but not in keratinizedcells. However the histological grade was not correlated withPCNA index. The survival rate was significantly worse in patientswith high PCNA indices (40%) than in those with low indices(<40%) (P<0.05). However, multivariate analysis revealedthat PCNA index was not an independent prognostic factor.     

Thoracic epidural desmoplastic fibroma

Desmoplastic fibroma is a relatively uncommon tumor and rarely involves the spine. The authors describe a 20-year-old woman with a thoracic epidural desmoplastic fibroma treated by complete resection and posterior spinal fusion. Four years after surgery, neither the tumor nor clinical symptoms have recurred. Thus, complete resection is considered necessary to treat this tumor.     

The 1.5 GHz Electromagnetic Near-field Used for Cellular Phones Does Not Promote Rat Liver Carcinogenesis in a Medium-term Liver Bioassay

We have recently established that local exposure to a 929.2 MHz electromagnetic near-field, used for cellular phones, does not promote rat liver carcinogenesis in a medium-term bioassay system. In the present study, a 1.439 GHz electromagnetic near-field (EMF), another microwave band employed for cellular phones in Japan, was similarly investigated. Time division multiple access (TDMA) signals for the Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) Japanese cellular telephone standard system were directed to rats through a quarter-wavelength monopole antenna. Numerical dosimetry showed that the peak SARs within the liver were 1.91–0.937 W/kg, while the whole-body average specific absorption rates (SARs) were 0.680–0.453 W/kg, when the time-averaged antenna radiation power was 0.33 W. Exposure was for 90 min a day, 5 days a week, over 6 weeks, to male F344 rats given a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) 2 weeks previously. At week 3, all rats were subjected to a two-thirds partial hepatectomy. At week 8, the experiment was terminated and the animals were killed. Carcinogenic potential was scored by comparing the numbers and areas of the induced glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci in the livers of exposed (48) and sham-exposed rats (48). Despite increased serum levels of corticosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and melatonin, the numbers and the areas of GST-P-positive foci were not significantly altered by the exposure. These findings clearly indicated that local body exposure to a 1.439 GHz EMF, as in the case of a 929.2 MHz field, has no promoting effect on rat liver carcinogenesis in the present model.