Lung metastasis from an ovarian granulosa cell tumor 36 years after the initial diagnosis: report of a case

This report presents the case of a late relapse of an ovarian granulosa cell tumor (GCT) that metastasized to the lung 36 years after the initial diagnosis. A 72-year-old female demonstrated multiple nodules with extrapleural signs on chest computed tomography. Positron emission tomography with ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([¹⁸F]FDG-PET) showed that the nodules had no FDG avidity. The nodules, which appeared as polypoid lesions of the visceral pleura on thoracoscopy, were resected and diagnosed as pulmonary metastases from the GCT. This case report indicates that thorough thoracoscopic exploration of the pleural cavity is essential when intrathoracic nodules are seen on postoperative imaging examinations in GCT patients, even when the [¹⁸F]FDG-PET results are negative.     

Wound blotting: A convenient biochemical assessment tool for protein components in exudate of chronic wounds

Because wound exudate includes secreted proteins that affect wound healing, its biochemical analysis is useful for objective assessment of chronic wounds. Wound blotting allows for collection of fresh exudate by attaching a nitrocellulose membrane onto the wound surface. To determine its applicability for several analysis methods and its executability in clinical wound assessment, this study comprised an animal experiment and clinical case reports. In the animal experiment, full‐thickness wounds were created on the dorsal skin of mice, and exudate samples were collected daily by a conventional method and by wound blotting. Extremely small but adequate volumes of exudate were collected by wound blotting for subsequent analysis in the animal experiments. Immunostaining showed the concentration and distribution of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was visualized by reaction with chemiluminescent substrate. The TNF distribution analysis indicated three different patterns: wound edge distribution, wound bed distribution, and a mostly negative pattern in both the animal and clinical studies, suggesting association between the TNF distribution pattern and wound healing. Our results indicate that wound blotting is a convenient method for biochemical analysis of exudate and a candidate tool with which to predict the healing/deterioration of chronic ulcers.     

Isoform transition from four-repeat to three-repeat tau underlies dendrosomatic and regional progression of neurofibrillary pathology

Regional progression of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) around the hippocampus was traced on thick sections double immunofluorolabeled with RD3 and RD4 antibodies, specific for three- and four-repeat tau, respectively. As reported, the cubic density of all tau-positive neurons was predominant in the entorhinal cortex and cornu ammonis (CA)1, and decreased progressively to the CA2–4 subregions. Among the three isoform profiles (RD3+/4?, RD3+/4+, and RD3?/4+), this regional gradient was replicated with RD3+/4? and RD3+/4+ neurons, while RD3?/4+ neurons exhibited the reverse gradient. Comparison of the subregion pairs confirmed a consistent profile shift along this gradient in every case regardless of the abundance of NFTs. To clarify the underlying mechanism of this regional profile shift, intraneuronal intensity of RD3 and RD4 immunoreactivity (IR) was quantified. Although their intensities were both lower in dendrites than in the soma, this gradient was steeper with RD4, leaving RD3 IR in dendrites. Dendritic arborization was abundant in RD3?/4+ pretangles, attenuated in RD3+/4+ neurons, and further attenuated in RD3+/4? ghost tangles. These findings suggest that dendritic RD4 IR retracts first, leaving RD3 IR in the dendrites. Taken together, this dendrite-oriented retraction initiates the gradual shift from RD3?/4+ pretangle neurons to RD3+/4? ghost tangles by way of RD3+/4+ NFTs. This intraneuronal profile shift may be a basis for the regional gradation featured by the similar profile shift during progression of NFT pathology.     

Chromosomal losses and gains in meningiomas: Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) study of the whole genome

Abstract

We investigated chromosomal aberrations in meningiomas using newly developed comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) technique and compared the results with the proliferating potential of the tumors. This technique permits the entire genome to be surveyed in one session of experiments. Our results revealed chromosomal aberrations in 5 out of 10 (50%) of the tumor samples studied. Losses of the distal parts of chromosome 1p (5 out of 10) and 22q (3 out of 10) were the two most frequent chromosomal aberrations. Losses and/or gains in other regions were only sporadic. The MIB-1 staining indices (MIB-511 %) were 1.9 ± 0.9% (mean ± SD) in benign (n = 8)1 4.5% in atypical (n = 1)1 and 11.7% in anaplastic (n = 1) meningiomas. The comparison of MIB-51 between the tumors with (2.3 ± 0.6%) and without (7.6 ± 0.3%) chromosomal aberrations demonstrated a trend towards an increased MIB-51 in meningiomas with chromosomal aberrations (p < 0.07) by unpaired 5tudent1s t-test. This study suggests that alterations in chromosomes 1p and 22q could be a primary focus of further detailed assessment of tumorigenesis and in understanding the biological behavior of meningiomas. [Neural Res 1998; 20: 612-616]     

Influence of oxygen inhibition on the surface free energy and enamel bond strength of self-etch adhesives

We compared the surface free energies and enamel bond strengths of single-step self-etch adhesives with and without an oxygen-inhibited layer. The adhesives were applied to the enamel surfaces of bovine incisors, light irradiated, and the oxygen-inhibited layer was either retained or removed with ethanol. The surface free energies and their components (γ(S)(LW), γ(S)(+), and γ(S)(-)) were determined by measuring the contact angles of three test liquids placed on the cured adhesives. The enamel bond strengths of specimens with and without the oxygen-inhibited layer were measured. For all surfaces, the value of the estimated surface tension component γ(S)(LW) was relatively constant. The value of the γ(S)(+) component increased slightly when the oxygen-inhibited layer was removed, whereas that of the γ(S)(-) component decreased significantly. The enamel bond strengths of the self-etch adhesives were significantly lower in the specimens without an oxygen-inhibited layer. The oxygen-inhibited layer therefore appeared to promote higher enamel bond strength.