A girl with 1p36 deletion syndrome and congenital fiber type disproportion myopathy

Chromosome 1p36 deletion syndrome is characterized by hypotonia, moderate to severe developmental and growth retardation, and characteristic craniofacial dysmorphism. Muscle hypotonia and delayed motor development are almost constant features of the syndrome. We report a 4-year-old Japanese girl with 1p36 deletion syndrome whose muscle pathology showed congenital fiber type disproportion (CFTD) myopathy. This is the first case report of 1p36 deletion associated with CFTD. This association may indicate that one of the CFTD loci is located at 1p36. Ski proto-oncogene −/− mice have phenotypes that resemble some of the features observed in patients with 1p36 deletion syndrome. Because fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis revealed that the human SKI gene is deleted in our patient, some genes in 1p36, including SKI proto-oncogene, may be involved in muscle hypotonia and delayed motor development in this syndrome. Received: March 4, 2002 / Accepted: July 7, 2002     

Frozen-section services by telepathology: Experience of 100 cases in the San-in District, Japan

The early experience is reported here of the use of Intra-operative frozen-section service by telepathology using the Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN), a commercially available system that is being connected between the Department of Pathology of Tottori University and Matsue City Hospital, a distance of 30 km. The transfer rate is currently 64kbit/s. The frozen-section service was conducted for a total of 117 tissue specimens (organs) from 100 patients between August 1993 and May 1995. The average time taken for examination of each specimen of frozen section was 13min, ranging between 2 and 42min. The average number of transmitted Images was 6.2. Six cases necessitated more than 11 transmitted Images to make a diagnosis, while 13 cases could be diagnosed from two images only. Correct and permissible diagnoses were obtained in 109 (93.2%) out of 117 specimens when comparing the telepathology diagnosis with that of direct microscopy. Improper or misdiag-nosis was made for eight cases (specimens), which were misinterpreted as papillary carcinoma in Basedow's disease, adenoma and hyperplasia in two pheochromocytomas, solid-tubular carcinoma in phyilodes tumor, mastopathy in invasive carcinoma, metastatic carcinoma in astrocytoma, follicular lymphoma in reactive hyperplasia, and lymphadenitis in follicular lymphoma. in retrospect, diagnosis of these cases should have been deferred. From the results, it was concluded that the Intraoperatlve frozen-section service by telepathology may be a worthwhile substitute for hospitals with limited accessibility to local pathology service, in spite of pitfalls in some cases. Well prepared, high-quality frozen sections, sufficient verbal communication with surgeons, and a rather conservative attitude on the part of a well-trained pathologist seem to be the essential Ingredients for reaching an accurate decision when using telepathology.     

Spontaneous wheel running attenuates cardiovascular responses to stress in rats

We investigated the effect of chronic, 10-week spontaneous wheel running (SWR) exercise on stress-induced cardiovascular responses in free-moving male rats, using a biotelemetry system. During cage-switch stress or immobilization stress, blood pressure and heart rate were significantly increased in both the SWR (P<0.001 for each stress) and control groups (P<0.001 for each stress). However the blood pressure response was attenuated significantly in the SWR group (P<0.001) during cage-switch stress, and the blood pressure and heart rate responses were attenuated significantly in the SWR group (P<0.0001 and 0.01, respectively) during immobilization stress. The plasma norepinephrine (NE) response induced by immobilization stress tended to be attenuated in the SWR group, but the groups showed no significant differences in the plasma NE and epinephrine (E) responses to both stresses. These results suggest that daily SWR in rats has beneficial effects in suppressing excessive blood pressure and heart rate responses induced by two different types of stress. The mechanisms responsible for the greater resistance to these stresses in the SWR rats should be investigated further.     

Immunoglobulin G from anti-glucose-6-phosphate isomerase antibodies positive patient with rheumatoid arthritis induces synovitis in cynomolgus monkeys

Anti-glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) antibodies (Abs) solely induce arthritis in mice. High titers of anti-GPI Abs are found in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but their pathogenic role remains elusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenic role of anti-GPI Abs in cynomolgus monkeys. IgG fractions were separated from sera of anti-GPI Abs-positive RA patients and healthy subjects and directly injected into the metacarpophalangeal joints of 4 cynomolgus monkeys. At day 16, the joints were harvested and examined histologically and immunohistochemically. The expression of C5a receptor (C5aR) molecule in the synovium was quantified by real-time PCR using cDNA from monkey joints. In monkey joints, IgG including anti-GPI Abs resulted in recruitment of granulocytes and mononuclear cells, strong deposition of human IgG on the articular surface, and overexpression of C5aR, but no joint swelling. No infiltrated cells or IgG deposition were observed in monkeys injected with IgGs from healthy subjects. Our results suggest that IgG fraction from RA patients including anti-GPI Abs may play a crucial role in the generation of synovitis in monkeys, although the pathogenesis of anti-GPI Abs in RA patients is still uncertain.     

Endotoxin Binding and Elimination by Monocytes: Secretion of Soluble CD14 Represents an Inducible Mechanism Counteracting Reduced Expression of Membrane CD14 in Patients with Sepsis and in a Patient with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Little is known about the role of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elimination. We studied the endotoxin elimination capacities (EEC) of PBMCs of 15 healthy volunteers, 13 patients with sepsis, and 1 patient suffering from paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Although expression of CD14, the best-characterized receptor for LPS to date, was reduced from 93.6% ± 0.8% in healthy subjects to 50.5% ± 6.5% in patients with sepsis and was 0.3% in a patient with septic PNH, EEC were found to be unchanged. There was no difference in the amount of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) released by PBMCs of healthy donors and patients with sepsis. Anti-CD14 antibodies (MEM-18) completely suppressed EEC, binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled LPS to monocytes as determined by FACScan analysis, and TNF-α release in all three groups studied. The concentrations of soluble CD14 (sCD14) secreted by endotoxin-stimulated PBMCs from healthy donors and patients with sepsis amounted to 4.5 ± 0.4 and 20.1 ± 1.8 ng/ml, respectively. Based on our results, we suggest that PBMCs eliminate LPS by at least two different mechanisms; in healthy subjects, the membrane CD14 (mCD14) receptor is the most important factor for LPS elimination, while in patients with sepsis (including the septic state of PNH), increased sCD14 participates in LPS elimination. Secretion of sCD14 is strongly enhanced under conditions of low expression of mCD14 in order to counteract the reduction of mCD14 and maintain the function of monocytes. This sCD14 may substitute the role of mCD14 in LPS elimination during sepsis. The elimination of LPS by PBMCs correlates with the binding reaction and the secretion of TNF-α.     

Investigation of albumin synthesis in rat livers during the perinatal period using immunocytochemistry andin situ hybridization

The immunoreactivity of albumin (ALB) was observed in the hepatocytes of fetal rats on day 18 of gestation, and was especially observable in immature rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and Golgi apparatus (GA); by then, a small amount of silver grains of ALB mRNA could already be detected. Just after birth, immunoreactivity of ALB could be observed in fine granules or diffusely in all hepatocytes, and was present in rER and GA. One week after birth immunoreactivity of ALB was observed in all hepatocytes and was visible in developed rER and GA; the grains of ALB mRNA were present in all hepatocytes.     

Morphogenesis of nonpolypoid colorectal adenomas and early carcinomas assessed by cell proliferation and apoptosis

Nonpolypoid neoplasms, as well as ordinary polypoid tumours, are occasionally found in the colorectum. To clarify whether cell kinetic status affects the macroscopic morphology of colorectal neoplasms, we investigated proliferative indices (PI), apoptotic indices (AI), and the expression of apoptosis-related gene products. We examined 110 colorectal neoplasms comprised of 36 polypoid, 38 flat elevated and 36 depressed tumours. According to WHO’s criteria these tumours consisted of 61 adenomas with low grade dysplasia (LGD), 30 adenomas with high grade dysplasia (HGD) and 19 carcinomas with submucosal invasion. Apoptotic cells were detected by TUNEL staining. Proliferating cells and apoptosis-related gene products were assessed by immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, p53, Bcl-2, and Bax antigens. AI were closely associated with macroscopic morphology in adenomas but not in carcinomas. PI were relatively constant among the three macroscopic types in adenomas and carcinomas. Median AI values of polypoid, flat elevated and depressed tumours were 1.8%, 2.1% and 4.6% for adenomas with LGD, 0.8%, 2.4% and 6.2% for adenomas with HGD and 2.9%, 4.0% and 3.6% for carcinomas, respectively. Overall PI were significantly higher in carcinomas than in adenomas with LGD, whereas AI were not different. Although the incidence of expression was significantly higher in carcinomas for p53 and in adenomas for Bcl-2 than the others, the expression of apoptosis-related gene products (p53, Bcl-2 and Bax) was similar among polypoid, flat elevated and depressed tumours. Macroscopic morphology of colorectal adenomas is determined by the apoptosis not by proliferation, and high apoptosis found in depressed adenomas implies their low net growth. Received: 1 July 1999 / Accepted: 17 January 2000     

Prevention of autoimmune symptoms in autoimmune-prone mice by elimination of B-1 cells

Our recent studies on an autoantibody-transgenic mouse linedemonstrated that peritoneal B-1 cells are responsible for autoimmunesymptoms. However, whether B-1 cells in the peritoneum are generallyinvolved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease remains controversial.To test the possible involvement of peritoneal B-1 cells inautoimmune symptoms of autoimmune-prone NZB mice, we eliminatedthe peritoneal cells by hypotonic shock with repeated I.p. injectionof distilled water every 7 days into neonatal or 8-week-oldNZB mice. By this treatment, B-1 cells, which self- renew withinthe peritoneal cavity, are expected to be preferentially eliminated,while other peritoneal cells can be easily supplied from bonemarrows after this treatment indeed, in distilled water-treatedold NZB mice, the number of B-1 cells decreased in spleen aswell as in lamina propria of the gut but the numbers of conventionalB cells and T cells did not change. Moreover, the productionof autoantibodies against erythrocytes significantly decreasedand the occurrence of autoimmune hemolytic anemia was reducedin 12-month-old treated NZB mice. Similarly, the eliminationof peritoneal cells of NZB/NZW (NZB/W) F₁; mice by water injectiondecreased anti-DNA IgG antibodies in the sera and reduced thepathological changes of the kidney. These results suggest thatperitoneal B-1 cells may be a source of autoantibody-producingcells in autoimmune diseases of NZB and NZB/W F₁; mice.     

Effects of dopamine antagonists on neuronal activity related to a delayed response task in monkey prefrontal cortex

1. Using iontophoretic techniques, we investigated the influence of dopamine (DA) antagonists [haloperidol (HAL), a non-selective DA antagonist; sulpiride (SUL), a selective antagonist for D2 receptors; and fluphenazine (FLU), a potent antagonist for D1 receptors] on neuronal activity related to a delayed response (DR) task in the monkey prefrontal cortex (PFC). The DR task was initiated by the rotation of a handle to a central zone and consisted of seven distinct periods: an initial intertrial interval of 0.3 s, a precue period of 1 s (a center green lamp), a cue period of 1 s (left or right lamp), a delay period of 4 s, a go period (red lamp in the center; rotation of the handle to either the left or right zone), a hold period (holding of the handle in either the left or right zone), and a final reward period. Because it was shown, as described in the companion paper (Sawaguchi et al. 1990), that DA augments the increased activity of prefrontal neurons related to the cue, delay, and go periods of the DR task, effects of the DA antagonists were examined in a total of 61 neurons that showed increases in activity related to these periods and a response to DA. 2. Consistent with previous studies (Sawaguchi et al. 1988a, 1990), iontophoretically applied DA increased DR task-related activity in prefrontal neurons. Iontophoretically applied HAL and FLU antagonized the increased effect of DA on the task-related activity. By contrast, SUL did not have any clear effects on the influence of DA. 3. By themselves, HAL and FLU reduced prefrontal neuronal activity related to the cue, delay, and go periods of the DR task. The ratio of the reduction by HAL and FLU was significantly larger for activity during the cue, delay, or go period than for background activity during the precue period; and, as a result, the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the task-related activity to background activity was reduced during the application of HAL and FLU. In contrast, SUL did not have any clear effects on activity related to the cue, delay, and go periods of the DR task, and the S/N ratio during the application of SUL did not significantly differ from that before the application of the drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)