Selective expression of L-serine synthetic enzyme 3PGDH in schwann cells, perineuronal glia, and endoneurial fibroblasts along rat sciatic nerves and its upregulation after crush injury

Non-essential amino acid L-serine functions as a highly potent, glia-derived neurotrophic factor, because it is a precursor for syntheses of proteins, other amino acids, membrane lipids, and nucleotides, and also because its biosynthetic enzyme 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (3PGDH) is preferentially expressed in particular glial cells within the brain. Here we pursued 3PGDH expression in peripheral nerves and its change after crush injury. In the pathway of rat sciatic nerves, 3PGDH was selectively expressed in non-neuronal elements: Schwann sheaths and endoneurial fibroblasts in sciatic nerves, satellite cells in dorsal root ganglia, and astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the spinal ventral horn. In contrast, 3PGDH was immunonegative in axons, somata of spinal motoneurons and ganglion cells, and endoneurial macrophages. One week after crush injury, 3PGDH was upregulated in the distal segment of injured nerves, where 3PGDH was intensified in activated Schwann cells and fibroblasts. 3PGDH was still negative in activated macrophages, which were instead associated or surrounded by activated Schwann cells with intensified 3PGDH. These results suggest that in the peripheral nervous system, these non-neuronal cells synthesize and may supply L-serine to satisfy metabolic demands for maintenance and regeneration of peripheral nerves and for proliferation and activation of macrophages upon nerve injury.     

The relationship of gastrointestinal endocrine cells to gastric epithelial changes with special reference to gastric cancer.

Using advanced gastric adenocarcinoma and carcinoid as human material and gastric adenocarcinoma in rats induced by MNNG and in mice by localized X-irradiation of the stomach as experimental material, a pathological study was made on the relationship of gastric endocrine cells to gastric cancer. The results of the present study suggest that most of the endocrine cells in the cancer tissue are derived from the differentiation of cancer cells. Therefore, the following three may be given as the aformentioned relationship, that is, 1) carcinoid of endocrine cell origin, 2) endocrine cell carcinoma showing undifferentiated adenocarcinoma, and 3) endocrine cell cloning developed from the differentiation of cancer cell of adenocarcinoma. There is the possibility that most of 2) are of 3) origin and thus 2) and 3) should be discriminated from 1), having a functioning tumor in rare cases. The significance of reactive hyperplasia of endocrine cells in the non-metaplastic mucosa of the stomach around cancer and atypical epithelium is not yet determined, but that of EC cell seems at least to be related with the development of intestinal metaplasia in the gastric mucosa.     

Radial artery running beneath the biceps tendon and its interrelation between the radial recurrent arteries

A radial artery running beneath the biceps tendon was found in the cadaver of a Japanese woman during a student dissection course at Kumamoto University School of Medicine in 2006. The brachial artery bifurcated into the radial artery and the ulnar artery in the cubital fossa, and the radial artery twisted laterally running beneath the biceps tendon, and when it was situated laterally to the tendon, twisted distally at the level of the radial tuberosity, and then twisted medially again. After the radial artery passed over the biceps tendon, it turned distally and continued as a normal radial artery. The superficial brachial artery, which coexisted with the brachial artery, was given off from the axillary artery and it continued to the final twist of the radial artery. The course of this radial artery is similar to the arterial rings surrounding the biceps tendon, found during the same dissection course. The arterial rings were formed between the brachial artery and the radial artery, and their proximal origins ran beneath the biceps tendon, while the distal origins were superficial. The present arterial variation is thought to have occurred when the normal part of the radial artery in the cubital fossa was substituted by the arterial ring, coexisting with the superficial brachial artery, which usually disappears during normal development. Furthermore, it is suggested that a part of the arterial ring always remains as a radial recurrent artery.     

Frequent occurrence of in vivo clonal expansion of CD4− CD8− T cells bearing T cell receptor αβ chains in adult humans

We have previously reported 2 cases of healthy men showing in vivo monoclonal expansion of mature CD4^? CD8^? αβ T cells. In the present study, an additional 3 adults were found to exhibit such an expansion, among a total 464 adult donors studied. These 5 individuals were otherwise physiologically normal, with no history of severe illness and autoimmune disease at the time of examination. To investigate the mechanisms of the clonal expansion, further characterization of the clonal cells was attempted. No apparent preference for usage of the Tcell receptor β chain variable region was observed in the clonal T cells. These clonal T cells showed lectin-dependent or redirected antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicities, whereas they could not lyse autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines. Failure of Fas antigen expression was not observed for any of these clones. These results suggest that clonal expansion of CD4^? CD8^? αβ T cells frequently occurs in the periphery without any T cell abnormalities.     

The class A macrophage scavenger receptor is a major pattern recognition receptor for Neisseria meningitidis which is independent of lipopolysaccharide and not required for secretory responses

Macrophages (Mphi) play a key role in the pathogenesis of invasive meningococcal infections. The roles of two pattern recognition molecules, the Mphi scavenger receptor (SR-A) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), have been investigated using bone marrow culture-derived Mphi (BMMphi). Surprisingly, a comparison of BMMphi from wild-type and SR-A knockout (SR-A(-/-)) mice showed that nonopsonic phagocytosis of meningococci was mediated almost exclusively via SR-A. Previous studies have demonstrated only a partial involvement of the receptor in the uptake of other bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. Interestingly, we also show that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was not the ligand for the receptor on these organisms. Further study of the downstream events of SR-A-mediated ingestion of Neisseria meningitidis demonstrated that SR-A was not required for cytokine production. To determine the bacterial and host factors required to stimulate Mphi activation, we examined TLR-4-deficient Mphi from C3H/HeJ mice and LPS-deficient meningococci. TLR-4-deficient cells elaborated reduced amounts of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-12 (IL-12), and IL-10, even though ingestion via SR-A was unaffected in these cells. Similarly, although there was no change in SR-A-mediated ingestion of LPS-deficient meningococci, the mutant failed to stimulate a Mphi-dependent cytokine response. Thus, we show that Mphi SR-A mediates opsonin-independent uptake of N. meningitidis independently of lipid A and that this activity is uncoupled from the Mphi secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, which provides a basis for further investigation of the role of this receptor in meningococcal disease in humans.     

Skull base metastasis of prostatic cancer presenting as exophthalmos--a case report

A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of diplopia and right exophthalmos. Craniography and CT scan showed thickening of the right orbital roof and no intracranial lesion. Total acid phosphatase and prostatic acid phosphatase were high. Bone scintigraphy revealed high uptake at that lesion and the right pelvis. Unroofing of the right orbit and opening of the optic canal were performed in order to reduce intraorbital pressure. Microscopic examination revealed a metastatic lesion of prostatic cancer. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with "Honvan" and the course has been good.     

Predictive factors of recurrence in adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction in the multimodal era

IntroductionAdenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEGJ) represents a poor prognostic tumor. We evaluated the recurrence pattern and risk factors associated with recurrence in patients undergoing surgical resection by AEJG.MethodsRecurrences were categorized as locoregional, peritoneal, or distant. These three recurrence groups and a non-recurrence group were compared, and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for each one was obtained.ResultsWe analyzed 188 patients with curative surgical treatment. Recurrence was observed in 72 (38.3%) patients. Locoregional recurrence was observed in 17 (23.6%); 20 (27.8%) peritoneal recurrence and 35 (48.6%) distant metastasis. DFS was 9, 5, and 8 months, and OS was 21.8, 13.2, and 20.8, respectively. Tumors larger than 5 cm are risk factors for peritoneal recurrence (OR:2.88, p = 0.012). Positive lymph nodes were related to distant metastasis (OR:9.15, p = 0.040), and lymphatic invasion for locoregional recurrence (OR:3.81, p = 0.028).ConclusionAEGJ is associated with high rates of early recurrence.     

A case of "interval" form of acute carbon monoxide poisoning--brain MRI and therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygenation

A 43-year-old female who had suffered from paranoid reaction attempted suicide with city gas. She was admitted to an emergency hospital in a comatose state, regained consciousness the next day and was discharged 12 days after. However, on the 21st day after the poisoning, behavioral anomalies and staggering appeared. She was readmitted into another emergency hospital with the diagnosis of an "interval" form of acute carbon monoxide poisoning. She was performed hyperbaric oxygen therapy 42 times until the 53rd day after the accident. Nevertheless, her symptoms did not improve and remained in a state like an apallic syndrome. With little promise of improvement, she was moved to our hospital, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy further continued for 40 times which resulted in a remarkable recovery. Repeat EEGs were performed. On the 32nd day, EEG showed an abnormality consisting of generalized delta waves. On the 56th day, the abnormal EEG improved slightly with more alpha activity. EEG was normalized 126 days after. The X-ray CT scan on the 32nd day revealed low densities in the bilateral globus pallidus and the deep white matters adjacent to the frontal horns of the lateral ventricle and in the semioval centers. On the 57th day, these low density areas were depicted more clearly by the X-ray CT scan, which became less marked on the 73rd day. MRI was performed 3 times.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide from indoor heaters and cooking stoves

The personal exposure to NO₂ generated from various heaters and cooking stoves were studied, using 85 university students. The students attached NO₂ filter badges to their chests or collars and wrote down the period of time for heating and cooking for 1 week. Types of heaters and smoking habits were described through a questionnaire. The urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio (HOP/C) was examined as a biomarker for health effects. The outdoor NO₂ concentration during the study period was 13.5–13.7 g/m³. Smoking and the usage of electric heaters did not affect the exposure to NO₂. Exposure increased according to the length of time kerosene heaters or oil fan heaters were used. The NO₂ concentration during the heating by a kerosene heater and an oil fan heater was calculated to be 219 and 474 g/m³, respectively. The correlation between the period of cooking and personal exposure was also observed. The NO₂ levels during cooking were calculated to be 290 g/m³. Using these calculated values of NO₂ concentration, it is possible to presume the personal exposure levels from the length of time heaters and cooking stoves are used even if the subjects do not attach the filter badges. Neither smoking nor exposure to NO₂ were associated with the increase of urinary HOP/C.