Bunina bodies in motor and non‐motor neurons revisited: A pathological study of an ALS patient after long‐term survival on a respirator

Bunina bodies (BBs) are small eosinophilic neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) found in the remaining lower motor neurons (LMNs) of patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS), being a specific feature of the cellular pathology. We examined a case of SALS, unassociated with TDP‐43 or C9ORF72 mutation, of 12 years duration in a 75‐year‐old man, who had received artificial respiratory support for 9 years, and showed widespread multisystem degeneration with TDP‐43 pathology. Interestingly, in this patient, many NCIs reminiscent of BBs were observed in the oculomotor nucleus, medullary reticular formation and cerebellar dentate nucleus. As BBs in the cerebellar dentate nucleus have not been previously described, we performed ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies of these NCIs to gain further insight into the nature of BBs. In each region, the ultrastructural features of these NCIs were shown to be identical to those of BBs previously described in LMNs. These three regions and the relatively well preserved sacral anterior horns (S1 and S2) and facial motor nucleus were immunostained with antibodies against cystatin C (CC) and TDP‐43. Importantly, it was revealed that BBs exhibiting immunoreactivity for CC were a feature of LMNs, but not of non‐motor neurons, and that in the cerebellar dentate nucleus, the ratio of neurons with BBs and TDP‐43 inclusions/neurons with BBs was significantly lower than in other regions. These findings suggest that the occurrence of BBs with CC immunoreactivity is intrinsically associated with the particular cellular properties of LMNs, and that the mechanism responsible for the formation of BBs is distinct from that for TDP‐43 inclusions.     

A 5-year survivor after resection of peritoneal metastases from pedunculated-type hepatocellular carcinoma

Received: January 9, 2001 / Accepted: May 11, 2001     

Evaluation of interleukin-12-induced interferon-y production in vitro by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Interleukin-12 plays an important role in anti-tumor immune response by induction of interferon-gamma production by T cells and NK cells, and by activation of cytotoxic T cells and NK cells. We evaluated interleukin-12-induced interferon-gamma production as one of the immunological markers of patients with chronic liver diseases. METHODOLOGY: Interleukin-12-induced interferon-gamma production was measured in vitro in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 28 hepatocellular carcinoma patients, 10 liver cirrhosis patients, 14 chronic hepatitis patients and 16 healthy individuals. RESULTS: The hepatocellular carcinoma patients exhibited a reduced interleukin-12 responsiveness for interferon-gamma production compared to the liver cirrhosis patients, the chronic hepatitis patients and the healthy individuals. The reduced interferon-gamma production seemed to roughly reflect clinical stage in the hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The interferon-gamma production correlated with neither alpha-fetoprotein nor protein induced by vitamin K absence II. CONCLUSIONS: The level of interleukin-12-induced interferon-gamma production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly lower than that in the patients with liver cirrhosis which is thought to be a premalignant state. The measurement of interferon-gamma production may be useful in evaluating severity of chronic liver disease from an immunological point of view.     

Co-existence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium intracellulare in one sputum sample

An 81-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a severe sore throat and a low grade fever. A chest radiograph showed bilateral diffuse reticulonodular shadows. By fluorescent stain for mycobacteria, his sputum smear showed acid-fast bacteria. The initial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of his sputum revealed Mycobacterium intracellulare (M. intracellulare), but not Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). However, a repeat PCR was performed because M. tuberculosis could not be ruled out due to his clinical symptoms and chest imaging. The second PCR detected both M. intracellulare and M. tuberculosis. From the standpoint of infection control, this case illustrates the possibility that M. tuberculosis could be a threat if a second PCR is not done. While PCR is a useful exam for diagnosing M. tuberculosis, it can produce false negative results. Therefore, for diagnosing tuberculosis, particularly in a case such as the present case, a second PCR, which is not normally necessary, should be done.     

Exposure of actin thiols by the removal of tightly held calcium ions.

The removal of bound metal ions from G-actin uncovered two thiols, Cys-10 and Cys-257. The uncovering of these thiols requires a free calcium concentration lower than 10 nM. Therefore, participation of one or both thiols in Ca2+ binding is suggested. Actin labeled with N-(5-fluoresceinyl)maleimide in the absence of calcium moves as a doublet in NaDodSO4/PAGE. It is suggested that two conformers are induced by metal removal and labeling.     

Safety,reliability, and operability of cochlear implant electrode arrays coated with biocompatible polymer

Conclusion: Polymer-coated electrodes can reduce surgically-induced trauma associated with the insertion of a cochlear implant (CI) electrode array. Objectives: To evaluate if insertion trauma in CI surgery can be reduced by using electrode arrays coated with 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer. Methods: We analyzed characteristics of the Contour Advance® electrode arrays coated with MPC polymer. To assess surgical trauma during electrode insertion, polymer-coated or uncoated (n = 5 each) animal electrode arrays were implanted in guinea pig cochleae and operability and electrophysiological and histological changes were assessed. Results: Under light and scanning electron microscopy, polymer-coated electrodes did not appear different from uncoated electrodes, and no change was observed after mechanical stressing of the arrays. Electrode insertion was significantly easier when polymer-coated electrodes were used. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds did not differ between groups, but p1-n1 amplitudes of the coated group were larger compared with the uncoated group at 32 kHz at 28 days after surgery. The survival of outer hair cells and spiral ganglion cells was significantly greater in the polymer-coated group.     

Stretching versus transitory icing: which is the more effective treatment for attenuating muscle fatigue after repeated manual labor?

Purpose

Effective recovery from muscle fatigue, especially during rest intervals between periods of high-intensity activity, is important to ensure optimal subsequent performance. Stretching and icing are two types of treatment used for muscle recovery in such situations. However, their effectiveness remains unclear because of a lack of adequate evidence and/or discrepant results of previous studies. We performed a study to elucidate the effects of stretching and icing on muscle fatigue in subjects performing alternating muscle contraction and rest.

Methods

Sixteen healthy male subjects aged 21–27 years were evaluated. Each subject performed repeated isometric muscle contraction exercises that involved lifting and holding a dumbbell to induce muscle fatigue. Four treatments were performed during the rest periods between isometric muscle contraction: static stretching, ballistic stretching, no stretching, or icing. Electromyography and relative muscle oxygen saturation measurements were performed during the exercises. Muscle fatigue was indirectly estimated by the decline in the median frequency of the electromyographic signal.

Results

Stretching between alternate isometric muscle contraction exercises resulted in a significantly lower median frequency of the electromyographic signal than did no stretching. There was no significant difference in the change in the median frequency between static and ballistic stretching. Conversely, icing between alternate exercises did not decrease the median frequency.

Conclusions

Stretching, whether static or ballistic, is not beneficial for recovery from muscle fatigue and may actually inhibit recovery. Icing may more effectively induce such recovery and thus may be a better choice between the two treatment techniques.