Phenotypic Expression of Colorectal Adenocarcinomas with Reference to Tumor Development and Biological Behavior

The purpose of this study is to clarify the correlation between cell differentiation and tumor development, including tumor aggressiveness and biological behavior. Eighty-three cases of advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma were randomly selected. Using immunohistochemical staining with antibodies to CD10, MUC2 and human gastric mucin (HGM), the colorectal adenocarcinomas could be classified into five types (18 small intestinal, 27 large intestinal, 2 gastric, 9 mixed and 27 unclassified). Each type had characteristic features. The small-intestinal type showed a relatively lower incidence of lymphatic permeation and higher venous invasion. The large-intestinal type showed a low incidence of venous invasion and lymph node metastasis. The mixed type revealed female and right-side-dominant distribution, large tumor size, high incidence of mucinous carcinoma, and low incidence of venous invasion. Gastric type was seen in only two cases (2%), which exhibited high histologic grade, lymphatic permeation and lymph node metastasis with no venous invasion. Such phenotypic classifications are considered to be useful not only for evaluation of the biological behavior of the carcinoma, but also for analysis of tumorigenesis.     

AoHapB, AoHapC and AoHapE, subunits of the Aspergillus oryzae CCAAT-binding complex, are functionally interchangeable with the corresponding subunits in Aspergillus nidulans

Two genes, AohapB and AohapE, encoding subunits of the Aspergillus oryzae CCAAT-binding complex were cloned and sequenced. The polypeptides encoded by AohapB and AohapE were expressed in Escherichia coli and used to reconstitute a DNA-binding complex with recombinant AoHapC. The DNA-binding activity was observed only in the presence of all three subunits, indicating that AoHapB, AoHapE and AoHapC are essential for CCAAT-binding. Furthermore, introduction of the AohapB, AohapC and AohapE genes into the A. nidulans hapB delta, hapC delta and hapE delta strains, respectively, revealed that the A. oryzae Hap subunits are functionally interchangeable with the corresponding subunits in A. nidulans.     

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma with extensive immunoglobulin G4 reaction

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic fibroinflammatory disorder that can involve multiple organs. It is often challenging to distinguish IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) from cholangiocarcinoma because of overlap in their clinical findings. A 75-year-old man presented to a hospital for a detailed examination of the elevation of some biliary enzymes. Radiographic examination revealed segmental bile duct with wall thickening of the common hepatic bile duct, and dilation of the peripheral branches. Transampullary biopsy showed a non-specific inflammatory reaction with several IgG4-positive cell infiltrations. There were no signs of malignancy. The liver biopsy showed bile duct injury accompanied by IgG4-positive cell infiltration. We then performed bile duct biopsy and finally diagnosed the patient with cholangiocarcinoma. We should remember that the IgG4 reaction is neither completely sensitive nor specific for IgG4-RD and avoid resting solely on the IgG4 reaction to precisely distinguish IgG4-SC from cholangiocarcinoma.     

Changes in ultrastructure of hepatocytes and liver test results before,during, and after treatment with interferon-β in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic active hepatitis

We studied the histological and ultrastructural changes in the liver and alterations in the liver test results before, during, and after treatment with human interferon- from five patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic active hepatitis. A daily dose of 3×10⁶ to 6×10⁶ units of interferon- was given intravenously for four weeks. The total index of periportal and portal inflammation, intralobular degeneration, and focal necrosis before treatment was decreased significantly six months after treatment (P<0.05). Ultrastructurally, the structure of endoplasmic reticulum was irregularly shaped or fragmentally decreased during treatment, but these disappeared six or 12 months after treatment. Glycogen particles diminished greatly during treatment. The alanine aminotransferase concentrations in these patients increased during treatment. Serum albumin and cholinesterase levels decreased significantly at the fourth week of treatment (P<0.01) and at the third day (P<0.01) to the second week (P<0.05) of treatment, respectively. These results suggest that interferon- injures endoplasmic reticulum and glycogen areas and damages the cholinesterase activity in the early stage of treatment and protein synthesis in patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic active hepatitis.     

Conspicuity and evolution of lesions in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease at diffusion-weighted imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion-weighted imaging can disclose distinct hyperintense lesions in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, these findings and chronologic changes of CJD at diffusion-weighted imaging have not been fully investigated. Our purpose was to assess the diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging in depicting CJD-related lesions and in tracking the evolution of these lesions. We also compared the sensitivity of diffusion-weighted imaging in depicting CJD-related lesions to that of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging. METHODS: We reviewed findings in 13 patients with a diagnosis of CJD who underwent MR imaging, including diffusion-weighted imaging. Nine patients were initially examined within 4 months of onset of symptoms (early stage), and eight were examined 4 months or later (late stage). We evaluated four items: 1) distribution of lesions at diffusion-weighted imaging, 2) conspicuity of lesions at diffusion-weighted imaging and FLAIR imaging, 3) chronologic changes in lesions at diffusion-weighted imaging, and 4) chronologic changes in lesions revealed by apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. RESULTS: Patients had striatal lesions or cerebral cortical lesions or both. The thalamus was involved in only one patient, and the globus pallidus was spared in all patients. The sensitivity of diffusion-weighted imaging in depicting lesions was superior or at least equal to that of FLAIR imaging. Hyperintense lesions at diffusion-weighted imaging changed in extent and intensity over time. Unlike infarction, lesional ADC decreased for 2 weeks or longer. CONCLUSION: The progressively hyperintense changes in the striata and cerebral cortices at diffusion-weighted imaging are considered characteristic of CJD. Diffusion-weighted imaging may be useful for the early diagnosis of CJD.     

Interleukin-1-dependent sequential chemokine expression and inflammatory cell infiltration in ischemia-reperfusion injury

OBJECTIVE: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is known to cause organ failure, but the mechanisms of pathogenesis remain unclear. Inflammation is a factor in tissue destruction in ischemia reperfusion injury, and interleukin (IL)-1 is a key promoter of inflammation. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, and controlled study. SETTING: University laboratory. SUBJECTS: Male mice 6-8 wks of age, in which genes for IL-1alpha and IL-1beta (IL-1alpha/beta deficient) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA deficient) are deleted by homologous recombination, and wild-type controls on a Balb/c background. INTERVENTIONS: In this study, the role of IL-1 on inflammatory cascades, including chemokine expression, inflammatory cell infiltration, and tissue destruction, was investigated in 45 mins of unilateral renal ischemic injury using IL-1alpha/beta-deficient mice and IL-1RA-deficient mice. In addition, the effects of IL-1 on chemokine expression in cultured tubular epithelial cells were investigated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In vivo study revealed that the number of interstitial infiltrated neutrophils and macrophages, which accompanied the increase of the serum levels of keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, respectively, significantly increased in IL-1RA-deficient mice. The number of interstitial infiltrated neutrophils correlated well with serum levels of KC at 24 hrs after reperfusion, whereas the number of interstitial infiltrated macrophages correlated well with the serum levels of MIP-1alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 at 24 and 48 hrs after reperfusion, respectively. Likewise, in vitro study revealed that stimulation of tubular epithelial cells by IL-1beta and/or H2O2 sequentially induced KC, MIP-1alpha, and MCP-1 in both protein and messenger RNA levels, which is consistent with in vivo results. CONCLUSION: IL-1-dependent inflammatory cascades, followed by inflammatory cell infiltration and subsequent tissue destruction, may affect pathogenesis of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

The microtensile bond strength of self-etching adhesives to ground enamel

It is uncertain whether single-phase self-etching adhesives form bonds to enamel as reliable as those of etch-and-rinse adhesives. This study compared the microtensile bond strengths to ground enamel of three self-etching adhesive systems, a self-etching primer system and an etchand-rinse adhesive system. Human enamel was ground flat with 320-grit silicone carbide paper. The self-etching adhesives iBond (Heraeus Kulzer), Prompt L-Pop (3M ESPE) and Xeno III (Caulk/Dentsply), the adhesive with a self-etching primer Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray) and the etch-and-rinse adhesive Scotchbond Multipur-pose (3M/ESPE) were applied as directed, followed by a core of the same manufacturers' hybrid resin composite. A microtensile bond strength evaluation was performed after 48 hours of water storage, using untrimmed beams approximately 0.9 mm2 in cross-sectional area at a crosshead speed of 0.6 mm/minute. There were no pretest failures in any group, and failures were predominately adhesive or mixed. Adhesion to enamel of Clearfil SE was not significantly different from Scotchbond Multi-Purpose, while the three self-etching adhesive systems demonstrated significantly lower bond strengths (One-way ANOVA, Tukey-Kramer Multiple-Comparison Test, p < 0.00001).