Sebaceous carcinoma within rippled/carcinoid pattern sebaceoma

Although the histogenesis of sebaceous carcinomas remains unclear, the occurrence of intraepidermal or intraepithelial sebaceous carcinoma in the epidermis or conjunctiva may suggest de novo histogenesis. This report describes a case of sebaceous carcinoma within preexisting rippled/carcinoid pattern sebaceoma. This lesion was composed of two (benign and malignant) components, and the benign component of the lesion showed the typical features of a rippled/carcinoid pattern sebaceoma. Although evidence of trauma as well as a vertical orientation was seen in this lesion, the malignant component of the lesion showed histopathological evidence of malignancy (sebaceous carcinoma), such as the aggregations with irregular and infiltrated borders, a sheet‐like growth pattern, and the cytopathological findings of the neoplastic cells, showing a high‐grade of malignancy (a high mitotic index and abnormal mitotic figures). The immunohistochemical staining for p53, Ki‐67 and D2‐40 also favored this diagnosis. This sebaceous carcinoma component was considered to be the incipient stage of carcinoma within preexisting sebaceoma, therefore, it was still considered to be a vertically oriented lesion. This case shows the possibility that abnormal (malignant) sebaceous germinative cells may originate within a sebaceoma, thereby suggesting that some sebaceous carcinomas may develop from preexisting sebaceomas.     

Quantitative analysis of K-ras gene mutation in pancreatic tissue obtained by endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration: clinical utility for diagnosis of pancreatic tumor

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has become established in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The combination of pathological diagnosis and analysis for mutant K-ras gene was investigated to improve the accuracy of diagnosis. METHODS: EUS-FNA was performed in 34 patients with pancreatic masses (26 adenocarcinomas and eight chronic pancreatitis). Mutant ras gene was analyzed semiquantitatively in the specimens obtained by EUS-FNA as well as in pancreatic juice obtained by ERCP. RESULTS: Mutant gene was detected at high amounts (more than 2% of total ras genes) in 20 of 26 (77%) specimens of EUS-FNA and in 12 of 19 (63%) of pancreatic juice in cases with pancreatic carcinoma. Cytological diagnosis of malignancy by EUS-FNA was found in 16 of 26 (62%) patients with pancreatic cancer. Accurate diagnosis of the carcinoma was 21 of 26 (81%) by combined cytology and molecular method of EUS-FNA, and increased to 23 of 26 (88%) by adding molecular analysis of pancreatic juice. In contrast, mutant gene was absent or low level despite suspicious cytology in patients with benign pancreatic lesion. CONCLUSION: Quantitative analysis of mutant ras gene supplemented conventional cytology of EUS-FNA and ERCP. Detection of mutation at high amounts may represent pancreatic cancer, whereas its absence increased the possibility of benign lesion.     

Antimicrobial and microbicidal activities of tea and catechins against Mycoplasma]

We examined tea extracts, (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and theaflavin digallate (TF3) for their antimicrobial and microbicidal activities against Mycoplasma. Green tea and black tea showed antimicrobial activities against M. pneumoniae. At a concentration of 0.2% green tea and black tea showed microbicidal activities against M. pneumoniae and M. orale but not against M. salivarium. Extracts of pu-erh tea showed a slight microbicidal activity against M. pneumoniae and M. orale. EGCg purified from green tea and TF3 from black tea markedly showed microbicidal activities against M. pneumoniae. M. orale and M. salivarium. These results suggest that tea and catechins can be used as prophylactic agents against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.     

Splenectomy-reduced hepatic injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion in the rat

Abstract: In the present study, we investigated the role of the spleen in experimental hepatic ischemia/reperfusion in the rat. After a 90-min period of ischemia in the left and middle hepatic lobes, the ischemia was released and the liver was reperfused for up to 24 h. Plasma alanine aminotransferase reached a peak 3 h after the onset of reperfusion, and gradually decreased thereafter. A histological examination revealed evidence of hepatocellular necrosis and degeneration, especially 24 h after the onset of reperfusion. In addition, there was a noticeable accumulation of polymorphonuclear cells in the liver following ischemia/reperfusion. A splenectomy performed just prior to ischemia/reperfusion reduced both biochemical and histological hepatocellular injury. The number of polymorphonuclear cells in the liver following ischemia/reperfusion was significantly reduced in rats subjected to splenectomy, suggesting that the increase in polymorphonuclear cells may contribute to liver injury. The number of mononuclear cells also increased in the marginal zones of the spleen following ischemia/reperfusion, and appeared to be derived from the splenic monocyte/macrophage population, based on immunohistochemical studies. The spleen plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury and the splenic monocyte/macrophage population contributes to liver damage.     

Maturation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes by Soluble Factors from Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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