Establishment and characterization of unique cell lines derived from pyothorax-associated lymphoma which develops in long-standing pyothorax and is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection

Malignant lymphoma frequently develops in the pleural cavity of patients with over 20 years' history of pyothorax. The term pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) has been proposed for this type of tumor. We established four novel lymphoma cell lines (OPL-3, -4, -5, and -7) from four patients with PAL. Characteristics of the four cell lines are as follows: B-cell nature with defective expression of B-cell and T-cell surface antigens, monoclonal pattern of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in lymphoma cells (thus indicating an etiological role of EBV for lymphomagenesis), complicated chromosomal abnormalities with numerous structural and numerical abnormalities, and occasional but distinct genome instability. These abnormalities in cell character might be caused by the specific circumstances of PAL lymphomagenesis, i.e., chronic inflammation. Thus, PAL cell lines could be useful in analysis of molecular mechanisms leading to malignancy in chronic inflammation.     

CEREBRO-SPINAL INFARCTION CAUSED BY ATHEROMATOUS EMBOLI

Cholesterol embolization to the abdominal viscera is common, but rare in the central nervous system. Fourteen cases of atheromatous embolization to the central nervous system were morphologically investigated. Among the 800 consecutive autopsy cases, 38 cases had atheromatous emboli in various organs. Cerebro-spinal infarction caused by atheromatous emboli was found in 11 cases. Infarction rate (11/14) was relatively higher than in other organs and 5 of these cases were thought to be due to direct injury to the erosive surface of the aorta; cardiac catheterization (2 cases), intra-aortic baloon pumping (2 cases), and extra-anatomical bypass graft operation (1 case). These 14 patients consisted of elderly patients (70.1 ±6.3 years old) usually associated with hypertension (78.6%) and diabetes mellitus (42.8%). Anatomically, aortic aneurysms were seen in 10 cases (71.4%), in which aortic arch aneurysm was seen in 6 cases. Hence, aortic mechanical procedure is of great importance for denuding atheromatous materials from erosive atherosclerosis to the central nervous system. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 35 : 789–801, 1985.     

Heterotopic brain of the tongue

A 6-week-old male infant with lingual mass suffered from feeding difficulty and respiratory distress. Resected specimens revealed brain tissue composed of astroglia, oligodendroglia, ependyma, choroid plexus, neuronal cells, and primitive cells but no other elements suggestive of teratoma, therefore it was diagnosed as heterotopic brain of the tongue.     

A treatment trial with an analog of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (DN-1417) and des-tyrosine-gamma-endorphin in schizophrenia

Clinical prospects of an analog of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (DN-1417) and des-tyrosine-gamma-endorphin (DT gamma E) in schizophrenia were examined by using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the electroencephalogram (EEG). Twelve inpatients with chronic schizophrenia were administered fixed doses of neuroleptics throughout the study. Six patients were treated with DN-1417 (DN-1417 group), and the remaining 6 patients with DT gamma E (DY gamma E group). One mg/day of DN-1417 or DT gamma E was given intramuscularly for 2 consecutive weeks followed by 1 week of no drug treatment. In the DN-1417 group, both total BPRS scores and scores on hallucinatory behaviour and unusual thought content decreased in the first and third weeks. The power values of alpha and beta activities from the frontal area increased in the first and third weeks, whereas an increase in alpha activity and a decrease of high-fast beta activity from the occipital area were obtained during the study. On the other hand, the DT gamma E group failed to show either a decrease in BPRS scores or any remarkable EEG changes except for a slight decrease in beta activity. These results suggest that the positive symptoms of schizophrenia are improved by DN-1417 treatment, and that the alterations in BPRS scores coincide with changes in the frontal EEG.     

The trend of coronary heart disease and its risk factors based on epidemiological investigations

Changes in the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the past 20 years have been observed in workers in the city and residents in rural areas and the risk factors of CHD studied. Findings show that the incidence of CHD in the residents in rural areas has hardly changed, and remains still low. However, the incidence of CHD in workers in the city has recently shown a tendency to increase. Furthermore, a study of CHD risk factors shows that in the rural areas residents hypertension has a strong influence on the incidence of CHD, while the role of serum total cholesterol is weak. In the city workers a high serum total cholesterol has become a risk factor. Therefore, it appears that the incidence of CHD caused by hypertension and by hypercholesterolemia are mixed in Japan. At present it appears that the influence of hypertension is becoming weaker, while the influence of hypercholesterolemia is becoming stronger. The resulting balance between them may be expressed as a rise and fall of CHD in Japan at present.