Significance ofStenotrophomonas maltophilia in urinary tract infections

Bacteriuria ofStenotrophomonas maltophilia, a new name forXanthomonas maltophilia, is not common. During a 7-year study period, the medical records of 26 patients were retrospectively analized. All patients had several underlying diseases and previous antimicrobial treatments.S. maltophilia spontaneously regressed and was thought to be colonized in most of our patients. This organism is resistant to most broad-spectrum antibiotics, except for minocycline and latamoxef. AlthoughS. maltophilia is thought to be a colonizer in the urinary tract, it should be viewed with special concern because of its resistance to antibiotics.     

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on bone tissue reactions to c.p. titanium implants placed in free autogenous bone grafts. A histomorphometric study in the rabbit mandible.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on the tissue reactions to commercially pure (c.p.) titanium implants placed in free autogenous bone graft by a 1-stage procedure. Eighty c.p. titanium implants were placed in the bone grafted from iliac crest to bilateral mandible of 40 Japanese white rabbits without tapping. Twenty rabbits underwent daily a HBO treatment for 60 min under 2.4 ATA during 20 consecutive days and the other untreated 20 rabbits served as controls. The implants with surrounding bone tissue were retrieved 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after surgery, fixated, dehydrated and embedded in resin. About 20 microns thick ground sections were prepared prior to microscopical observations. The bone area and the bone-to-implant contact inside the threads were calculated separately in the grafted bone and in the host bone for each implant. After 30 and up to 120 days, the HBO treated group showed more bone-to-implant contacts in the grafted bone as compared to the non-HBO treated group. In the host bone there were no differences observed between HBO and non-HBO treated groups. This study indicated that HBO treatment was beneficial for the tissue incorporation of c.p. titanium implants when placed immediately in free autogenous bone grafts.     

A study on the DNA histogram pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma--application of a high resolution analytical system using a charge couple device (CCD)

In 25 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinomas, the relationships between clinical, pathological features and DNA histogram patterns were investigated. Nuclear DNA histogram that represents cell cycle and indicates biological malignancy of carcinoma was analyzed by rapid image sensor analytical system scanning enable to measure the density, area and perimeter of nuclei even on thin tissue sections. Histograms of over 65 years old patients showed low ploidy pattern rather than that of less than 65 patients whose AFP values are over 1000 ng/ml showed statistically higher ploidy pattern compared to those of under 10 ng/ml. No significant relations were verified between pathological findings and DNA histogram patterns. But patients who died within 18 months after hepatectomy showed broad and high ploidy histogram patterns compared to patients who lived over 18 months. These results suggested that DNA histogram analysis is useful for evaluate the biological malignancy of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Changes of plasma amino acid profiles following total hepatectomy under veno-veno bypass in dogs

Patients with advanced liver disease demonstrate characteristic plasma amino acid abnormalities. The response of plasma amino acid patterns after liver transplantation in those patients is unknown. Mongrel dogs were subjected to two experimental models, that is, one is total hepatectomy under veno-veno bypass as an assumption of an hepatic phase in liver transplantation and the another is splenectomy as control. In control group, BCAA/AAA ratio rose gradually during operation. The levels of methionine, glycine and alanine were significantly lower at 4 hours. In hepatectomized dogs, BCAA/AAA ratio fell gradually after total hepatectomy. The levels of amino acids except BCAA were higher than preoperative value. Increase of alanine was the most remarkable early after total hepatectomy. It was derived not only from the lack of glucose-alanine cycle but also from increased synthesis due to degradation of the BCAA in muscle.     

Development of primary leiomyosarcoma of the sternum postirradiation: Report of a case

(Received for publication on July 22, 1997; accepted on Mar. 10, 1998)     

Invasion of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus intermedius and Propionibacterium acnes into the teeth of gnotobiotic rats.

Germ-free rats, fed a modified cariogenic diet 2000 with a reduced sucrose content of 25%, were inoculated with a strain of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus intermedius or Propionibacterium acnes, respectively. After 100 days on the diet, the rats were sacrificed. Microscopic examination of stained decalcified tooth sections revealed marked destruction of the outer zones of the dentin infected with S. mutans. The destruction was closely associated with the formation of glucan-mediated large aggregates of S. mutans. The aggregates, however, were rarely formed in the deep zones of the infected dentin. Inoculation with S. intermedius and P. acnes had little effect on the microscopic outline of the decalcified tooth sections. However, the staining behavior of the sections with Mallory's method, Alcian blue-PAS and silver was like that of the tooth sections infected with S. mutans, even in the central and inner zones of the dentin. The histochemical alterations of the deep zones of the dentin induced by the three infected bacteria appeared to be due to their proteolytic rather than to their acidogenic activities.     

Late occurring recurrence of oral cancer after combined treatment with bleomycin and radiotherapy

Among 11 patients with oral cancer that disappeared after combined treatment with bleomycin and radiotherapy without surgery, one had an early recurrence and three had recurrences after 2 years or more. These late occurring recurrences were microcancers on mucous membranes that were thought to have been cured. Two of the three patients whose tumors recurred and another patient were found to have epithelial dysplasia at 1 year and 2 months, 4 years and 2 months, and 1 year and 3 months later, respectively. Among 59 patients who underwent surgery after the combined treatment, no viable cancer cells were found in the resected specimens of 20 patients, but moderate or severe epithelial dysplasia was noted in ten of the 20 patients. The present findings imply that patients in whom an apparent cure has been brought about by conservative treatment may harbor latent malignancy.