Surgical resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumor of esophagus following preoperative imatinib treatment: a case report

We report a case of esophagectomy after a primary esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) was preoperatively treated with imatinib mesylate. A 71-year-old woman was diagnosed with an esophageal submucosal tumor by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at her health checkup. The tumor was located at the lower thoracic esophagus immediately above the esophagogastric junction and measured 4.5 cm in size. It was diagnosed as GIST of the esophagus for reasons of its high susceptibility to imatinib mesylate. Preoperative treatment with imatinib was performed in an attempt to preserve the esophagus. Although the tumor size was decreased by 36% after the 6-month treatment, transhiatal esophagectomy was required for complete resection, and esophageal preservation could not be accomplished.     

Anatomical status of the human musculus uvulae and its functional implications

In our ongoing series of anatomical studies to determine the three‐dimensional architecture of the human velar muscles, we have previously reported on the palatopharyngeus. The present study deals with the musculus uvulae (MU), in which the positional relationships of its origin to the posterior nasal spine and the palatine aponeurosis, as well as the interrelation between its anatomical status and functions, have yet to be clarified. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed on 25 and 2 cadavers, respectively. In the former, bilateral MUs and their adjacent structures were exposed mainly from the nasal aspect. In the latter, the soft palates embedded in paraffin were cut into frontal and sagittal sections and alternately processed with HE and Azan stains. The left and right MUs adjacent to each other were found to run longitudinally along the midline beneath the nasal aspect of velum. It was overlaid by glandular tissue that increased in amount as it coursed distally. After originating from the oral surface of palatine aponeurosis, it ran backward to cross above the sling formed by the levator veli palatini muscles of both sides and reached the tip of uvula with its muscle fibers intermingled with glandular tissue. Past studies have proposed three functions of MU to enhance the efficiency of velopharyngeal closure: space occupier, stiffness modifier, and velar extensor. All of the above‐described anatomical characteristics of MU could be explained as being adapted for these functions. This implies that MU is actively responsible for maintaining the velopharyngeal closure efficiency. Clin. Anat. 27:1009–1015, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

多囊卵巢综合征高雄激素血症患者瘦素水平的检测及评价

目的探讨多囊卵巢综合征高雄激素血症进行患者瘦素(Leptin)水平及其与睾酮(T)、体重指数(BMI)的关系.方法采用放射免疫分析法(RIA)检测53例PCOS患者血清瘦素水平,其中非肥胖组PCOS患者36例,正常对照30例;肥胖组PCOS患者17例,正常对照20例.结果肥胖组及非肥胖组PCOS高雄激素血症患者血清瘦素水平均明显高于相当体重指数的正常对照组,有显著差异(p均＜0.01);两组瘦素水平分别与其睾酮水平进行相关性分析,均显著正相关(r=0.51,p＜0.01和r=0.58,p＜0.01);非肥胖组PCOS患者血清瘦素水平与其BMI相关分析显示,无相关性;肥胖组PCOS患者血清瘦素水平与其BMI进行相关分析,显著正相关(p=0.56,p＜0.01).结论高瘦素血症是PCOS患者的内分泌特征之一,PCOS高雄激素血症的形成与高瘦素水平有关;超重或肥胖的PCOS高雄激素血症患者存在瘦素抵抗现象.     

Fasudil mediates cell therapy of EAE by immunomodulating encephalomyelitic T cells and macrophages

Although Fasudil has shown therapeutic potential in EAE mice, the mechanism of action are still not fully understood. Here, we examined the immunomodulatory effect of Fasudil on encephalitogenic mononuclear cells (MNCs), and tested the therapeutic potential of Fasudil‐treated MNCs in active EAE. Fasudil inhibited expression of CCL20 on T cells and migration of T cells, decreased CD4⁺IFN‐γ⁺ and CD4⁺IL‐17⁺ T cells, but increased CD4⁺IL‐10⁺ and CD4⁺TGF‐β⁺ T cells. Fasudil reduced expression of CD16/32 and IL‐12, while elevating expression of CD206, CD23, and IL‐10. Fasudil also decreased levels of iNOS/NO, enhanced levels of Arg‐1, and inhibited the TLR‐4/NF‐κB signaling and TNF‐α, shifting M1 macrophage to M2 phenotype. These modulatory effects of Fasudil on T cells and macrophages were not altered by adding autoantigen MOG_35–55 to the culture, i.e., autoantigen‐independent. Further, we observed that, in vitro, Fasudil inhibited the capacity of encephalitogenic MNCs to adoptively transfer EAE and reduced TLR‐4/p‐NF‐κB/p65 and inflammatory cytokines in spinal cords. Importantly, Fasudil‐treated encephalitogenic MNCs exhibited therapeutic potential when injected into actively induced EAE mice. Together, our results not only provide evidence that Fasudil mediates the polarization of macrophages and the regulation of T cells, but also reveal a novel strategy for cell therapy in MS.     

Let bone and muscle talk together: a study of real and virtual dissection and its implications for femoral musculoskeletal structure of chimpanzees

Proximal femoral morphology and associated musculature are of special relevance to the understanding of hominoid locomotor systems. Knowledge of bone–muscle correspondence in extant hominoids forms an important comparative basis for inferring structure–function relationships in fossil hominids. However, there is still a lack of consensus on the correspondence between muscle attachment sites and surface morphology of the proximal femoral diaphysis in chimpanzees. Two alternative observations have been proposed regarding the attachment site positions of gluteus maximus (GM) and vastus lateralis (VL) relative to two prominent surface features of the proximal femoral diaphysis, the lateral spiral pilaster and the inferolateral fossa. Here, we use a combination of virtual and physical dissection in an attempt to identify the exact correspondence between muscle attachment sites and osteological features in two specimens of Pan troglodytes verus. The results show that the insertion of the GM tendon is consistently inferolateral to the lateral spiral pilaster, and that a part of the inferolateral fossa consistently forms the attachment site of the VL muscular fibers. While overall musculoskeletal features are similar in the two specimens examined in this study, GM and VL exhibit different degrees of segregation at the level of the inferolateral fossa. One specimen exhibited tendinous GM fibers penetrating the posteromedial part of VL, with both GM and VL inserting at the inferolateral fossa. In the other specimen, GM and VL were separated by a lateral intermuscular septum, which inserted into the inferolateral fossa. Variation of proximal femoral muscle attachments in chimpanzees is thus greater than previously thought. Our results indicate that a conspicuous osteological feature such as the inferolateral fossa does not necessarily correspond to the attachment site of a single muscle, but could serve as a boundary region between two muscles. Caution is thus warranted when interpreting the surface topography of muscle attachment sites and inferring locomotor functions.     

槲皮素对单侧输尿管梗阻大鼠肾脏转化生长因子β1和结缔组织生长因子表达的调节效应

目的:观察槲皮素对大鼠梗阻肾脏间质纤维化的程度以及肾组织中转化生长因子β1、结缔组织生长因子表达的影响。方法:实验于2004-03/2005-02在吉林大学第三医院研究所完成。Wistar大鼠36只,雌雄不拘,体质量220～300g。①采用随机数字法随机分为3组,每组12只。单侧输尿管梗阻组:参照文献制备单侧输尿管梗阻肾间质纤维化大鼠动物模型。槲皮素组:即单侧输尿管梗阻模型 槲皮素治疗组,于手术前1天开始用槲皮素,剂量100mg/kg,灌胃,1次/d,连续10d。假手术组:打开腹腔后分离左输尿管,不结扎输尿管即关闭腹腔。②3组大鼠于术后10d,麻醉处死,取术侧肾组织做肾脏病理检查,在光学显微镜下观察肾间质病变程度。应用免疫组织化学法和蛋白免疫印记分析法检测大鼠梗阻侧肾脏转化生长因子β1、结缔组织生长因子的表达部位及蛋白表达。结果:大鼠36只全部进入结果分析。①各组大鼠肾脏病理学改变:单侧输尿管梗阻引起大鼠梗阻侧肾脏的间质纤维化,经槲皮素治疗后能够明显减轻单侧输尿管梗阻导致减轻肾脏病理损害。②各组大鼠免疫组织化学结果:与假手术组比较,单侧输尿管梗阻组和槲皮素组转化生长因子β1、结缔组织生长因子染色阳性表达增多(P<0.01);槲皮素组转化生长因子β1、结缔组织生长因子染色阳性表达比单侧输尿管梗阻组明显降低[(7.41±0.93)%比(13.39±0.87)%,P<0.01;(7.26±0.54)%比(10.18±0.49)%,P<0.05]。③各组大鼠免疫印记分析结果:与假手术组大鼠相比,单侧输尿管梗阻10d,大鼠梗阻侧肾脏组织内转化生长因子β1、结缔组织生长因子水平均明显增加(P<0.01),槲皮素组转化生长因子β1、结缔组织生长因子相对表达丰度明显低于单侧输尿管梗阻组[(2.42±0.56)%比(5.50±0.87)%,(3.26±1.54)%比(6.18±1.49)%,P<0.05]。结论:槲皮素具有抗肾间质纤维化作用,可能与其下调单侧输尿管梗阻大鼠肾脏组织中转化生长因子β1和结缔组织生长因子的表达有关。     

Dorfin localizes to the ubiquitylated inclusions in Parkinson's disease,dementia with Lewy bodies,multiple system atrophy,and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

In many neurodegenerative diseases, the cytopathological hallmark is the presence of ubiquitylated inclusions consisting of insoluble protein aggregates. Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies disease, glial cell inclusions in multiple system atrophy, and hyaline inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are representative of these inclusions. The elucidation of the components of these inclusions and the mechanisms underlying inclusion formation is important in uncovering the pathogenesis of these disorders. We hypothesized that Dorfin, a perinuclearly located E3 ubiquitin ligase, participates in the formation of ubiquitylated inclusions in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we report that affinity-purified anti-Dorfin antibody labeled ubiquitylated inclusions of Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies disease, multiple system atrophy, and sporadic and familial ALS. A double-immunofluorescence study revealed that Dorfin shows a distribution pattern parallel to that of ubiquitin. Furthermore, by a filter trap assay, we detected that Dorfin is present in the ubiquitylated high-molecular weight structures derived from these diseases. These results suggest that Dorfin plays a crucial role in the formation of ubiquitylated inclusions of alpha-synucleinopathy and ALS. However, because we failed to show the direct binding of alpha-synuclein with Dorfin, future investigations into the binding partner(s) of Dorfin will be needed to deepen our understanding of the pathophysiology of alpha-synucleinopathy and ALS.     

A light and electron microscopic study of the mouse visceral yolk sac endodermal cells in the middle and late embryonic periods, showing the possibility of definitive erythropoiesis

Hematological studies have revealed the importance of the visceral yolk sac (VYS) in the primitive erythropoiesis of mouse embryos at an early stage before day 12. We examined the possibility of the occurrence of extra-embryonic erythropoiesis at a stage later than embryonic day 12 by light and electron microscopic analyses. Surprisingly, a novel structure in the form of erythrocyte-like globules was observed in the VYS endodermal cells. They were consistently present in the VYS endodermal cells from embryonic day 12 until day 18 (birth is day 19), by immunocytochemical and enzyme histochemical analyses. They were immuno-positive for mouse erythrocyte antibody and also positive for the benzidine reaction showing the presence of hemoglobin. The erythrocyte-like globules were shown to be the erythrocytes present in the cytoplasm. These results indicated that erythropoiesis in the VYS endodermal cells continues from the early embryonic stage, as primitive erythropoiesis, until the late stage.     

Autopsy case of microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial "dwarfism" type II

Microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial "dwarfism" (MOPD) is a group of disorders similar to Seckel syndrome. Three subtypes (types I-III) have been reported. We report here the first autopsy case of MOPD type II. The patient was a Japanese girl with typical clinical and radiological manifestations of MOPD type II. The manifestations included severe intrauterine and postnatal growth failure, microcephaly, a distinctive facial appearance, micromelia, brachytelephalangy, coxa vara, and V-shaped metaphyses of the distal femora. Other than small cerebral hemispheres, no neuropathological abnormalities were found. Chondro-osseous histology showed thinning of the growth plate, ballooned chondrocytes, reduced cellularity, lack of zonal and columnar formations, and poor formation of primary trabeculae. These findings suggest that impairment of chondrocytic formation and differentiation is the major pathogenesis of MOPD type II.