An autopsied case of malignant lymphoma of the pancreas with an elevation of the serum Ca 19-9 level

A 37-year-old male was admitted to hospital because of a right hypochondrial pain and icterus. His physical examination showed hepatosplenomegaly, and the laboratory findings demonstrated abnormal hepatic and pancreatic functions. A CT examination revealed a large mass of a low density in the pancreas head and tail. Further, an immunological study revealed that the patients serum Ca 19-9 level was elevated, but that the CEA and AFP levels were normal. Both the pathological and cytological examinations, however, did not indicate a malignancy of the pancreas. The patient subsequently developed uremia, a hemorrhagic tendency, and then died. An autopsy confirmed a pancreatic tumor which occupied the head of pancreas. Histologically, the tumor contained round cells with scanty cytoplasms and showed a sarcomatous pattern. An immunohistochemical study showed that the LCA, MB-1, and the LN-1 for B cell markers were positive, while the MT-1 for T cells was negative. The case illustrates a malignant lymphoma of the pancreas which demonstrated a serum Ca 19-9 elevation.     

A patient with early gallbladder cancer derived from a Rokitanski-Aschoff sinus

We present herein a case of a 40-year-old male with early gallbladder cancer derived from a Rokitanski-Aschoff sinus (RAS). The patient originally presented at our hospital with epigastric discomfort, following which a diagnosis of adenomyomatosis (ADM) of the gallbladder was made, and a cholecystectomy performed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a 7-mm well-differentiated papillo-tubular adenocarcinoma in the RAS epithelium in the body of the gallbladder. The RAS extended to the pm layer but the adenocarcinoma was an in situ lesion localized within the RAS epithelium. Considering the difficulties in making an early diagnosis of gallbladder cancer, active surgery should be performed for patients in whom ADM is seen in the gallbladder.     

Diagnostic performance of <Superscript>11</Superscript>C-choline PET/CT and FDG PET/CT for staging and restaging of renal cell cancer

Purpose

To compare findings obtained with ¹¹C-choline and FDG PET/CT scanning for renal cell carcinoma staging and restaging.

Materials and methods

Twenty-eight renal cell carcinoma patients whose histological subtype was clear cell type in 26 and papillary type in 2, while Fuhrman nuclear grade was G1,2 in 16 and G3,4 in 12, underwent both ¹¹C-choline and FDG PET/CT examinations before (n?=?10) and/or after (n?=?18) treatment, then those scanning modalities were compared in regard to patient- and lesion-based diagnostic performance using 5 grading scores. Final diagnosis in each case was obtained based on histopathology, conventional radiological imaging, and clinical follow-up findings. The differences between ¹¹C-choline and FDG PET/CT findings were evaluated using receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis and a McNemar test.

Results

Patient-based sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive, accuracy, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) values for ¹¹C-choline PET/CT for staging and restaging were 88.0% (22/25), 66.7% (2/3), 95.7% (22/23), 40.0% (2/5), 85.7% (24/28), and 0.887, respectively, while those for FDG-PET/CT were 56.0% (14/25), 66.7% (2/3), 93.3% (14/15), 15.4% (2/13), 57.1% (16/28), and 0.647, respectively. Sensitivity, accuracy, and AUC were significantly different (p?=?0.013, p?=?0.013, p?=?0.012, respectively). Among the 120 lesions, those with kidney, lung, lymph node, bone, pancreas, venous tumor thrombosis, adrenal gland, liver, or skin localization numbered 15, 64, 16, 13, 4, 3, 2, 2, and 1, respectively. For all 120 lesions, 75 (62.5%) and 47 (39.2%) were detected by ¹¹C-choline and FDG PET/CT, respectively (p?<?0.0001).

Conclusion

For staging and restaging of renal cell carcinoma patients, ¹¹C-choline-PET/CT is significantly more useful than FDG-PET/CT.

     

Inhibition of NMDA-induced increase in brain temperature by N-ω-nitro-

The age-related changes in the density of alpha₁-adrenoceptors in the dorsolateral lobe of the rat prostate were evaluated in Wistar rats at 8, 52, and 104 weeks of age. [³H]YM617, a newly senthesized alpha₁-adrenergic blocker, was used as the ligand. The mean maximum number of binding sites, or alpha₁-adrenoceptor density (B_max)±SE of 104-week-old rats (11.0±1.2 fmol/mg protein) was significantly lower than that in the 8-week-old rats (37.0±4.3 fmol/mg protein) and 52-week-old rats (37.2±3.4 fmol/mg protein) respectively, P<0.01. In contrast, mean affinity (K_d) values±SE of these groups showed no significant differences (8-week-old rats, 115.8±9.1; 52-week-old rats, 100.5±5.8; and 104-week-old rats, 116.4±9.8 pM). Mean volumes±SE of muscle cells of the prostate were 3.7±1.1x10³ m³ at 8 weeks, 30.0±6.2x10³ m³ at 52 weeks, and 18.6±8.2x10³ m³ at 104 weeks. Volumes for 8-week-old rats were significantly smaller than those for 52-week-old (P<0.01) and 104-week-old rats (P<0.05). However, the mean area density of the muscle cells showed no difference among the three groups: 20.1±2.2% at 8 weeks, 27.3±2.9% at 52 weeks and 20.3±3.4% at 104 weeks. In conclusion, the density of YM617-binding sites (alpha₁-adrenoceptors) in 104-week-old rats was lower than in 8- and 52-week-old rats. Muscle volume in the rat prostate was larger in rats aged 52 and 104 weeks than in 8-week-old rats, but no correlation was found between alpha₁-adrenoceptor density and the muscle volume or muscle density in aging.     

Age-related changes in alpha1-adrenoceptors in rat prostate

The age-related changes in the density of alpha₁-adrenoceptors in the dorsolateral lobe of the rat prostate were evaluated in Wistar rats at 8, 52, and 104 weeks of age. [³H]YM617, a newly senthesized alpha₁-adrenergic blocker, was used as the ligand. The mean maximum number of binding sites, or alpha₁-adrenoceptor density (B_max)±SE of 104-week-old rats (11.0±1.2 fmol/mg protein) was significantly lower than that in the 8-week-old rats (37.0±4.3 fmol/mg protein) and 52-week-old rats (37.2±3.4 fmol/mg protein) respectively, P<0.01. In contrast, mean affinity (K_d) values±SE of these groups showed no significant differences (8-week-old rats, 115.8±9.1; 52-week-old rats, 100.5±5.8; and 104-week-old rats, 116.4±9.8 pM). Mean volumes±SE of muscle cells of the prostate were 3.7±1.1x10³ m³ at 8 weeks, 30.0±6.2x10³ m³ at 52 weeks, and 18.6±8.2x10³ m³ at 104 weeks. Volumes for 8-week-old rats were significantly smaller than those for 52-week-old (P<0.01) and 104-week-old rats (P<0.05). However, the mean area density of the muscle cells showed no difference among the three groups: 20.1±2.2% at 8 weeks, 27.3±2.9% at 52 weeks and 20.3±3.4% at 104 weeks. In conclusion, the density of YM617-binding sites (alpha₁-adrenoceptors) in 104-week-old rats was lower than in 8- and 52-week-old rats. Muscle volume in the rat prostate was larger in rats aged 52 and 104 weeks than in 8-week-old rats, but no correlation was found between alpha₁-adrenoceptor density and the muscle volume or muscle density in aging.     

Lysosomal glycosphingolipid storage in chloroquine-induced α-galactosidase-deficient human endothelial cells with transformation by simian virus 40: in vitro model of Fabry disease

Summary Human umbilical venous endothelial cells were transformed with a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40, tsA640, and a cell line, subcultured for over 20 serial passages, was established at a temperature permissive for the virus. Treatment of transformed endothelium with 3g/ml chloroquine caused a specific reduction of -glactosidase activity, without cell injury, and revealed several electron-dense materials surrounded by single unit membranes. Crystalline lamellae in lysosomes with a periodicity of 6.5 nm, which are typically seen in various tissues in Fabry disease, were produced in the presence of a glycosphingolipid mixture. These cells should be useful for in vitro pathophysiological studies on Fabry endothelium.Supported in part by a Grant (3A-3) for Nervous and Mental Disorders from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan     

Congenital caudal spinal atrophy: a case report.

An infant presented at birth with symmetrical flaccid paraparesis limited to lower legs and feet, and involving the proximal and distal muscle group. Limitation of the ankle joints was noticed. There were no sensory deficits to painful stimuli and no evidence of loss of sphincter control. Muscle CT revealed severe muscle atrophy in the pelvis and lower limbs, and electromyographic study of the bilateral hamstrings showed polyphasic giant potentials. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities were within normal limits, and the spinal MRI showed no structural abnormalities in the cord and the lower spine. These features suggest a congenital segmental abnormality at the anterior horn cell level in the lumbosacral spinal cord, which we propose to call "congenital caudal spinal atrophy".