Arginine Vasotocin Gene Expression and Secretion during Osmotic Stimulation and Hemorrhagic Hypotension in Hens

In chickens, hyperosmolality stimulates the secretion of vasotocin (AVT) and up-regulates hypothalamic AVT gene expression. Hemorrhage, on the other hand, has not been considered an effective stimulus for AVT release in this species. The effects of acute osmotic stress and prolonged hemorrhagic hypotension on AVT gene expression and secretion were studied in White Leghorn hens. Conscious hens were osmotically stimulated by administering a single ip injection of 3MNaCl (5 ml/kg). Urethane-anesthetized hens were bled to a mean arterial pressure of 80–90 mm Hg and the pressure was maintained within this range by additional bleeding. A total of about 30% of the estimated blood volume was removed. Both experiments were terminated after 1 hr of stimulation. Plasma AVT levels in the hyperosmotic and hypovolemic hens were 4- and 2-fold higher, respectively, compared to controls. Hypothalamic AVT mRNA levels, detected by Northern blot analysis, were 2.5- and 2-fold higher in the osmotically stimulated and hypotensive groups, respectively, compared to control groups. As determined byin situhybridization, both osmotic stimulation and hypovolemia resulted in an increase in the number of AVT mRNA-containing neurons in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. Our results indicate that, under the conditions used, hypotension and hyperosmolality are equally effective in stimulating AVT gene expression and secretion of AVT.     

Immunoblastic lymphadenopathy-like T-cell lymphoma complicated by multiple gastrointestinal involvement

We report a rare case of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy (IBL)-like T-cell lymphoma complicated by multiple gastrointestinal involvement, which appeared to be ameliorated by chemotherapy but resulted in perforative peritonitis. A 66-year-old Japanese woman who had generalized lymphadenopathy and eruptions was admitted to our hospital because of bloody stool. Colonoscopic examination revealed hemorrhagic ulcers in the terminal ileum and a saucer-like ulcer in the cecum. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed several ulcerative or elevated lesions in stomach and duodenum. Biopsy specimens of these lesions and of a lymph node showed characteristic histological features of IBL-like T-cell lymphoma. The initial treatment with prednisolone (PSL) and cyclophosphamide (CPA) was effective. Six months after the treatment, however, she developed bloody stool again caused by multiple ulcerative lesions in the large intestine. The recurrence of the disease was determined histologically, and four courses of CPA, PSL, vinblastine sulfate and doxorubicin hydrochloride (CHOP) therapy were administered. One month after completing the CHOP therapy, she developed intestinal obstruction and then acute peritonitis resulting from perforation at an ulcer scar in the jejunum. Surgical treatment was successful, and histological examination demonstrated no lymphoma cells in the resected specimen. A gastrointestinal perforation should be recognized as a potential complication of IBL-like T-cell lymphoma, even during remission. (Received: June 24, 1998; accepted: Oct. 23, 1998)     

Correlation of anatomic and hemodynamic features with aortic valve leaflet deformity in doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect

Summary The records of 153 patients with doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect (DCVSD) who underwent intracardiac repair were analyzed to evaluate factors responsible for aortic valve leaflet deformity. The patients were divided into two groups according to their echocardiographic and angiographic features as well as anatomic findings at operation: DCVSD without (17/153, 11.1%) and with arterial valve offsetting (136/153, 88.9%). Aortic regurgitation (AR) was much more prevalent in the patients with (50.0%) than in those without leaflet deformity (2.2%,P < 0.01). Arterial valve offsetting is one of the major contributing factors to the development of leaflet deformity, accounting for 5.9% in the patients without offsetting and 46.3% in those with offsetting (P < 0.01). Among the patients with arterial valve offsetting, the pulmonary-to-systemic pressure ratio was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the patients without (0.76 ± 0.14) than in those with leaflet deformity (0.36 ± 0.12), suggesting that pulmonary hypertension might prevent the aortic valve leaflet from prolapsing in DCVSD. In addition, increased severity of aortic valve leaflet deformity and subsequent AR were observed with increasing age. These results suggest that aging and the presence of arterial valve offsetting as well as the absence of pulmonary hypertension might be factors responsible for aortic valve leaflet deformity and subsequent AR in DCVSD. The anatomic and hemodynamic features in DCVSD have a great impact on the development of aortic valve leaflet deformity and subsequent AR.     

A case of pyomyositis following influenza virus infection

A 45-year-old man visited the first hospital complained of high fever on January 2003. He was diagnosed as having Influenza virus type A infection and prescribed of Oseltamivir. He was afebrile next day, but severe myalgia of neck, shoulder, lumbar region and right femoral region was appeared. His illness was considered as polymyalgia rheumatica and started of oral steroid therapy. His symptom was deteriorated and transferred to our hospital. Echography, Ga scintigraphy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed the multiple abscesses and the diagnosis of pyomyositis was made. Pyomyositis following Influenza virus infection must be considered as a differential diagnosis of myalgia after Influenza virus infection.     

Up regulated expression of tumour necrosis factor {alpha} converting enzyme in peripheral monocytes of patients with early systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is accompanied by abnormalities in humoral and cellular immune systems. OBJECTIVE: To determine the genes specifically expressed in the immune system in SSc by analysis of the gene expression profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with SSc, including those treated with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Additionally, to investigate the clinical significance of the up regulation of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) converting enzyme (TACE). METHODS: PBMC from patients with SSc (n = 23) and other autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n = 16), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 29)), and from disease-free controls (n = 36) were examined. Complementary DNA arrays were used to evaluate gene expression of PBMC, in combination with real time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. TACE protein expression in PBMC was examined by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). RESULTS: In patients with SSc 118 genes were down regulated after HSCT. Subsequent comparative analysis of SSc without HSCT and healthy controls indicated SSc-specific up regulation for three genes: monocyte chemoattractant protein-3 (p = 0.0015), macrophage inflammatory protein 3alpha (p = 0.0339), and TACE (p = 0.0251). In the FACS analysis, TACE protein was mainly expressed on CD14(+) monocytes both in patients with SSc and controls. TACE expression on CD14(+) cells was significantly increased in patients with early SSc (p = 0.0096), but not in those with chronic SSc, SLE, or RA. TACE protein levels in SSc monocytes correlated with the intracellular CD68 levels (p = 0.0016). CONCLUSIONS: Up regulation of TACE expression was a unique profile in early SSc, and may affect the function of TNFalpha and other immunoregulatory molecules.     

Echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular anterior wall motion in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Echocardiographic motions of right ventricular anterior wall (RVAW) were investigated in 71 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. According to the criteria of Rosenbaum et al the electrocardiograms were classified as type A in 35 patients and type B in 36. Sixteen type B patients exhibited abnormal RVAW motion, which was characterized by an early onset of the posterior movement before S1 andl also by a premature peak formation before S2. A small step or hump nearly coincident with S1 was observed in 10 of these 16 patients. These findings seem to suggest that both contraction and relaxation of RVAW begin earlier than normal due to anterior right ventricular pre-excitation. RVAW motion was normal in all of type A patients. Echocardiographic investigation of RVAW motion appears to be useful in non-invasive estimation of the site of pre-excitation, especially in type B WPW patients.     

Treatment of pediatric lymphoma in Japan: Current status and plans for the future

Results of pediatric lymphoma treatment have improved markedly over the past 30 years. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, the 5 year event‐free survival (EFS) was 81.5% in a retrospective study. In the ALB‐NHL03 study, the 5 year EFS according to clinical stage in patients with lymphoblastic T‐cell lymphoma (T‐LBL) was 70.6% for stage III and 88.9% for stage IV. In mature B‐cell lymphoma, the B‐NHL03 study indicated that the 4 year EFS according to treatment group was 94% for group 1, 98% for group 2, 84% for group 3, and 78% for group 4. Moreover, the 2 year EFS rate was 81% in Japanese advanced stage patients based on the international ALCL99 study. Thus, EFS >80% was achieved in any subtype of pediatric lymphoma. With regard to refractory or recurrent lymphoma, however, treatment methods for improvement of the survival rate in these patients still need to be developed. Also the difference between child, and adolescent and young adult patients still needs to be clarified, and treatment protocols developed. Although lymphoma treatment does not greatly change according to country, it does differ between other countries and Japan for some subtypes of lymphoma. In particular, the results of treatment of stage III T‐LBL in Japan are worse than those in the USA and Europe. The priority in future studies will be to collect data on these differences, and the reasons for these differences.     

Antiprothrombin antibody testing: detection and clinical utility

Anticardiolipin antibody (aCL), anti-beta2 glycoprotein I antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant (LA) are the only laboratory tests considered within the revised criteria for the classification of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Recently, antibodies against phosphatidylserine-prothrombin complex (aPS/PT) have been detected, and these antibodies, rather than antibodies against prothrombin alone, are closely associated with APS and LA. The sensitivity and specificity of aPS/PT for the diagnosis of APS were assessed in a population of patients with a variety of autoimmune disorders. aCL and aPS/PT have similar diagnostic value for APS, therefore aPS/PT should be further explored, not only for research purposes but also as a candidate for one of the laboratory criteria for the classification of the APS.