Seasonal variation in sweating responses of older and younger men

Eight older (60–65 years) and six younger (20–25 years) men were exposed to a standard heat stress for 60 min in summer, autumn, winter, and spring. The test consisted of placing the lower legs and feet in a 42°C water bath while sitting in constant environmental conditions (30°C and 45% relative humidity). The increase of rectal temperature (T _re) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in autumn, winter, and spring than in summer for the older group, but significantly greater only in winter than in summer for the younger group (P < 0.05). The T _re was greater for the older group in all seasons, but of significance only in autumn and spring (P < 0.01). There were no significant season-related differences for metabolic heat production (m) and mean skin temperature ( _sk) during the heat test in the respective groups, although the m and _sk were lower for the older group in all seasons (P < 0.01). In the older group total body sweating rate (m_sw) divided by T _re (total m_sw/T _re) decreased from summer to winter (P < 0.02) and did not differ between winter and spring, whereas total m_sw/T _re in the younger group increased in spring after decreasing from autumn to winter (P < 0.03). The variations of the value, local sweating rate on the back and thigh divided by T _re (back m_sw/T _re and thigh m_sw/T _re), were similar to those of the total m_sw/T _re in each group, except for back m_sw/T _re in the younger group, which did not increase from winter to spring. The total m_sw/T _re, back m_sw/T _re and thigh m_sw/T _re were significantly less for the older group in summer, autumn and spring (P < 0.05). The range of seasonal variations was significantly less for the older group (P < 0.001). The results indicated that, compared with younger men in older men, the enhancement of sweating function toward summer occurred later and its reduction toward winter occurred earlier despite a smaller range of seasonal variation and that older men had a somewhat lesser capability to maintainT _re when challenged by heat stress in all seasons.     

Immunohistochemical expression of MAM-3 and MAM-6 antigens in salivary gland tumours

Summary MAM-3 and MAM-6 antigens of human milk fat globule membrane were detected immunohistochemically in 93 cases of salivary gland tumours as well as in normal glands. The antigens were visualized in 10% formalin-fixed paraffin sections. MAM-3 (MoAbs 115G3, 67D11) antigen was distributed in intercalated and striated duct cells of the normal salivary glands, and in luminal tumour cells and squamous metaplastic cells of pleomorphic adenomas. In pleomorphic adenomas the frequency of positive staining with MoAb 67D11 (54/67; 80.6%) was higher than that with MoAb 115G3 (36/67; 53.7%). MAM-6 (MoAbs 115D8, 115F5) antigen was expressed in luminal and lateral borders of serous acinar cells and ductal of the normal glands, and also in luminal borders of tubulo-ductal and glandular structures of salivary gland tumours. Ductal basal cells were characterized by existence of positive staining for MAM-6 antigen, in adenolymphomas MAM-6 antigen was restricted to the basal tumour cells. Some mucous cells of mucoepidermoid tumours were stained specifically with MoAb 115G3, and epidermoid cells of mucoepidermoid carcinomas manifested MAM-6 antigen staining. Immunohistochemical localization of MAM-6 antigen resembled that of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) detected with MoAb.     

Clonal expansion of multiphenotypic Epstein-Barr virus-infected lymphocytes in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been recognized as clonal non-neoplastic lymphoproliferative diseases. However, some reports of cases with a multiphenotypic expansion of EBV-infected lymphocytes give rise to questions of how EBV infects multiphenotypic lymphocytes and whether chronic active EBV infection is a truly monoclonal lymphoproliferative disease. We report two patients with chronic active EBV infection who showed expansion of multiphenotypic EBV-infected lymphocytes. EBV DNA was detected in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and in B cells from pleural fluid of one patient and in T and B cells from a cervical lymph node of the other patient by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although real-time PCR showed that there were equally high loads of EBV genomes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from the pleural fluid, Southern blot hybridization with terminal repeats of the EBV genome showed a single band of the same molecular weight in three tissue samples from the patient. The results indicated biphenotypic expansions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infected with the same clone of EBV. Furthermore, bisulfite PCR analysis showed hypermethylated status in the Cp region in the two patients regardless of their cell populations. There has been a discrepancy between clonality and expansion of multiphenotypic EBV-infected lymphocytes. We speculate that lymphoid progenitor cells that have not differentiated into T and B cell progenitors are infected with EBV, resulting in clonal expansion of EBV-infected multiphenotypic cells.     

Changes in T,B, and NK Lymphocyte Subsets During and After Normal Pregnancy

PROBLEM: Pregnancy affects the maternal immune system and the clinical course of maternal diseases. Here we report the changes in the detailed lymphocyte subsets of helper T cells, suppressor T cells, CD5⁺ B cells, T cell receptor (TCR) αβ-positive T cells (Tαβ cells), TCRαβ-negative T cell (Tγδ cells), and others during and after pregnancy through to one year postpartum, and discuss the significance of the changes. METHOD: The absolute numbers of helper T cells, suppressor T cells, cytotoxic T cells, TCRαβ-negative T cells (Tγδ cells), CD5^— B cells, CD5⁺ B cells, and NK cell subsets were examined by two-color flow cytometry in peripheral blood from 51 healthy non-pregnant women, 106 healthy pregnant women, and 148 healthy postpartum women. RESULTS: In early pregnancy, the numbers of suppressor T cells and NK cells with strong cytotoxicity (NK⁺⁺⁺ cells) increased, and the number of cytotoxic T cells decreased. In late pregnancy, the helper T cell and NK⁺⁺⁺ cell numbers decreased. Tαβ, CD5^— B and CD5⁺ B cells decreased during pregnancy. After delivery, helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells increased from 1 to 4 months postpartum, and suppressor T cells increased at 7 months postpartum. TCRαβ-negative T cells increased at 4 to 10 months postpartum. Both CD5^— and CD5⁺ B cells decreased further at 1 month postpartum, but CD5⁺ B cells increased markedly at 7 to 10 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that 1) early increases of suppressor T cells and NK⁺⁺⁺ cells during pregnancy may be related to the mechanism to accept or reject the fetus in early pregnancy, respectively; 2) late decreases of helper T cells and NK⁺⁺⁺ cells may be related to the maintenance of pregnancy: 3) postpartum increases of helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, TCRαβ-negative T cells (Tγδ cells), and CD5⁺ B cells may be related to the postpartum aggravation of autoimmune diseases; and 4) the immunological effects of pregnancy remains until about 1 year after delivery.     

Requirement of the initial production of gamma interferon in the generation of protective immunity of mice against Listeria monocytogenes.

Protective immunity of mice against Listeria monocytogenes, which is mediated mainly by gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-producing T cells, was induced by immunization with viable bacteria but not with killed bacteria. By comparing mice immunized with either viable or killed L. monocytogenes, it was found that IFN-gamma was produced at the initial stage only after immunization with viable bacteria. This finding prompted us to investigate the effect of neutralizing the IFN-gamma on the final generation of protective T cells against L. monocytogenes. When endogenous IFN-gamma was neutralized by administration of anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody for the initial 2 days in mice immunized with viable bacteria, the generation of protective T cells on day 6 was completely blocked, as revealed by T-cell adoptive transfer. The generation of listeria-specific IFN-gamma-producing T cells was also abolished. These results clearly demonstrated that endogenous IFN-gamma, which is produced at the initial stage of immunization, actually plays a critical role in the generation of protective T cells against L. monocytogenes in vivo. Moreover, this study suggested that the lack of IFN-gamma-inducing ability is responsible for the inability of killed L. monocytogenes to induce protective T cells in mice.     

Liver metastasis from rectal cancer with prominent intrabile duct growth

Intrabiliary growth of liver metastases from colorectal cancer has rarely been studied. A surgically resected case of a metastatic liver tumor with prominent intrabiliary growth derived from rectal cancer is reported. The patient was a 62-year-old man who had received a low anterior resection for rectal cancer in March 2000. He was re-admitted due to obstructive jaundice in January 2003, and was diagnosed with hepatic malignancy in segment II of the liver with an intrabiliary tumor extending from the intrahepatic bile duct of segment II to the common hepatic duct. He underwent a left hepatectomy, a partial resection of segment VI, and an extrahepatic bile duct resection with reconstruction of the biliary tract. In the resected specimen, there were whitish tumors of 3 cm and 1.5 cm in diameter in segments II and VI, respectively, and an intrabiliary tumor originating from the main tumor in segment II extended to the common hepatic duct. Both the liver tumors and the intrabiliary tumor consisted of a well- to moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, which showed the same histological features as the rectal cancer. The immunohistochemical findings strongly supported that these tumors, including the intrabiliary growth, were liver metastasis from the rectal cancer. The intrabiliary invasion and growth of metastatic liver tumors has generally been overlooked, notwithstanding their frequently observed biological behavior. The present case is informative, and further investigation into this type of metastatic liver tumor may be warranted.     

PCR analysis of the Y chromosome long arm in azoospermic patients: evidence for a second locus required for spermatogenesis

We analyzed DNA from 63 Japanese men with either azoospermiaor severe oligospermia whose Y chromosomes were cytogeneticallynormal. A total of 16 loci were examined: 15 loci on the longarm between DYS7E and DYZ1, and the YRRM1 locus, a candidategene for the azoospermic factor, AZF. One patient with a perlcentricinversion of the Y chromosome was also included. We detectedmicro-deletions in ten individuals. The YRRM1 gene was Involvedin only three of them. The remaining seven patients showed deletionbetween DYS7C and DYS239 in common, indicating the presenceof at least one additional gene, deletion of which causes azoospermia.     

Long term experiment of perfluorochemicals using rabbits

Summary Morphological changes six months to two years after the administration of Perfluorochemicals (PFC) in rabbits injected with a large amount of PFC (67 mg/kg) have already been reported by Ohnishi and Kitazawa (1979, 1980, and 1981). In this paper, the authors report on the persistance of large numbers of foamy cells in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes and many in the kidneys, lung and bone marrow, up to two years after administration. Quantitative analysis of PFC in various organs showed that it was retained. The liver revealed progressive fibrosis surrounding the foamy cells in or around the Glisson's sheath.