CT and MR imaging of desmoplastic fibroblastoma

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (collagenous fibroma) developing as a slowly enlarging lower abdominal mass is described. The lesion had inhomogeneous low signal intensity (SI) on T1-weighted images, and mixed SI as low SI within high SI on T2-weighted images. On post-contrast T1-weighted images, the mass showed inhomogeneous enhancement. Histologically, the areas showing low SI on both post-contrast T1- and T2-weighted images consisted of dense collagenous components and reduced cellularity compared with the areas showing high SI on them.     

Vasopressin receptor knockout mice as an animal model of psychiatric disorders]

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a neurohypophyseal peptide best known as an antidiuretic hormone. AVP receptors have been classified into three subtypes: V1a, V1b, and V2 receptors. The V1a receptor (V1aR) and V1b receptor (V1bR) are widely distributed in the central nervous system, including the cortex and hippocampus. In the present study, we examined the performance of V1aR or V1bR knockout (KO) mice compared to wild-type (WT) mice in behavioral tests. V1aR KO mice exhibited impairments of spatial learning (eight-arm radial maze), prepulse inhibition (PPI) and social behavior in comparison to WT mice. On the other hand, V1bR KO mice also displayed impairments of PPI and social behavior. These results suggest that V1aR and V1bR may be involved in psychiatric disorders associated with impairments of sensorimotor gating and social behavior such as schizophrenia and autism.     

Intrafamilial transmission of Salmonella oranienburg

BACKGROUND: There were diffuse outbreaks of Salmonella oranienburg in Japan since March 1999 which included 1505 patients. The outbreak was caused through ingestion of a dried squid snack contaminated with S. oranienburg. Such a large number of cases has not been previously recorded in Japan or other countries. METHODS: A 9-month-old boy was admitted to our hospital with enteritis and bacteremia due to S. oranienburg. His older brother had eaten the contaminated snack. We detected S. oranienburg in the stools of five out of his six family members. RESULTS: With the exception of the index case's brother, no other family members had eaten the contaminated snack. The S. oranienburg strain detected in the family was confirmed to be the same strain by pulse field gel electrophoresis. Therefore, we presumed there had been a series of household transmissions. CONCLUSION: Our observation of intrafamilial transmission suggests that S. oranienburg may be highly infectious.     

An immunohistochemical study of c-erbb-2 protein in gastric carcinomas and lymph-node metastases: Is the c-erbB-2 protein really a prognostic indicator?

An immunohistochemical study of the c-erbB-2 protein was conducted on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 136 primary gastric carcinomas and 50 metastatic lymph node tumors obtained at gastrectomy. Expression of the protein was detected in 35 of 136 primary gastric carcinomas (25.7%) and 22 of 50 metastatic lymph nodes (44%). The staining pattern of tumor cells was classified as membranous or cytoplasmic. An immunohistochemical study using serially diluted antibody demonstrated that 82.6% of positive cases in metastatic lymph nodes showed c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity stronger than that in the primary tumors. Membranous staining was stronger than cytoplasmic staining. c-erbB-2 protein of the cytoplasmic as well as membranous types was confirmed to be a 185-kDa whole molecule by immunoblotting. Correlation between the expression of c-erbB-2 protein and clinical and histological parameters was investigated. No significant correlation between 5-year survival rate of patients and expression of c-erbB-2 protein was found. In the poorly differentiated carcinoma group possessing c-erbB-2 protein, overall survival was significantly shorter than in cases without protein expression ( p < 0.01). We conclude that c-erbB-2 protein is not a useful prognostic indicator in gastric carcinomas.     

The disruption of spatial cognition and changes in brain amino acid, monoamine and acetylcholine in rats with transient cerebral ischemia

We investigated the disruption of spatial cognition due to transient forebrain ischemia using an 8-arm radial arm maze task in rats. Five or 10 min of ischemia did not affect the task acquisition. When rats established spatial cognition by daily training of the task, 10 min of ischemia significantly decreased the number of correct choices and increased the errors in the task when performed 24 h after reperfusion. These changes, however, returned to the normal level after about 4 days of daily training. Glutamic acid (Glu) and acetylcholine (ACh) release from the dorsal hippocampus (DH) was observed to transiently increase during ischemia. However, neither the content of noradrenaline (NA) nor the release of NA in the DH changed during ischemia. The NA and ACh release from the DH, however, gradually decreased during reperfusion, and the decrease became significant at 24 h after reperfusion. The NA content of the frontal cortex (FO and the DH increased 7 days after reperfusion. These results suggest that the disruption of spatial cognition induced by 10 min of ischemia may be attributed to a greater degree to the dysfunction of the hippocampal ACh and NA, and cortical NA systems, rather than to the development of neuronal cell death in these areas.     

Two cases of non-rotation in adults: Its anatomical analysis

Two adult cases of non-rotation were anatomically analysed. The small intestine occupied the right flank and the colon the left. The ileum crossed the midline to enter the cecum from the right. The appendix vermiformis rested on the front of the cecum and extended upwards. The cecum was located in the lesser pelvis. They had no Ladd's bands, but in the first case fibrous bands from the posterior abdominal wall caused kinking. The colon of the first case had an intricate twist under the left kidney. The second case was also complicated with three loops, the third loop posed between the first and the second, accompanied by a rare vascular anomaly, a double inferior mesenteric artery. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A case of ascities decrease in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma by weekly intra-peritoneal administration of cisplatin and paclitaxel

We report a case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) in a 63-year-old man. He had body weight loss and abdominal distension for one month, and was admitted to our hospital. Abdominal sonography showed a large mass occupying the right lower abdomen and an existence of a lot of ascites. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance image showed a lot of ascites and omentum cake. Cytology of the ascites was Class V but its histological classification was unknown. Then we performed biopsy of the tumor into the omentum with abdominal sonography. The histological diagnosis was MPM because the tumor cells showed positive for calretinin. He received a combination chemotherapy of weekly intra-peritoneal administration of cisplatin (70 mg/ day) and paclitaxel (100 mg/day). The ascites was decreased and per os (PO) was possible, but omentum cake was not changed. MPM was poor in prognosis and the control of ascites was difficult. We suggest that the chemotherapy of intra-peritoneal administration was a better procedure than others to control ascites with malignant tumors.     

Treatment strategy for malignant solid tumors in childhood

The prognosis for children with malignant solid tumors has improved dramatically in Japan. During the last two decades, various groups have conducted sequential studies of the treatment of children with neuroblastoma, Wilms' tumor, and hepatoblastoma. Most institutes participated in nonrandomized trials designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combination chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy in each group study and treated children with these tumors The results are reviewed and areas for future investigation are identified.     

Monitoring the content of reticulocyte hemoglobin (CHr) as the progression of anemia in nondialysis chronic renal failure (CRF) patients

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that the content of reticulocyte hemoglobin (CHr) is a reliable measure of iron status in chronic dialysis patients with erythrocytopoiesis. The CHr was significantly correlated with conventional parameters of iron deficiency in dialysis patients. We attempted to utilize the measurement of CHr levels to monitor iron status and clarify the changes in iron levels that occur as renal anemia progresses in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). METHODS: We measured CHr, iron parameters, and the intrinsic erythropoietin (EPO) concentration in nondialysis CRF patients who visited our outpatient clinic (n=211). Iron deficiency was defined according to the transferrin saturation (TSAT) and ferritin levels. Conventional red blood cell parameters and CHr levels were measured using an ADVIA120 autoanalyzer (Bayer Medical, USA). RESULTS: The mean CHr value of the nondialysis CRF patients (creatinine clearance less than 70 mL/min) was 32.3 pg, which was not significantly different from that of the dialysis patients. Significant correlations were found between CHr and ferritin levels (r=0.042, p<0.0403) and CHr and TSAT levels (r=0.040, p<0.0157). A positive correlation was observed between the CHr and serum creatinine levels. Nondialysis CRF patients treated with recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) at a dose of 24,000 U/month exhibited lower CHr levels, compared with those of other patients who received less than 24,000 U/month. CONCLUSION: CHr is an easily measurable and trustworthy marker of iron status in nondialysis CRF patients. Moreover, the CHr level was also sensitive to iron alterations in nondialysis CRF patients receiving rHuEPO treatment, and thus, the CHr value could likely provide useful information regarding the need for iron supplementation.