Morphologic examination of CD3–CD4bright cells in rat liver

Recently, we found CD3-CD4(bright) cells with comparative specificity for normal rat liver. In the current study, we investigated the type and form of both CD3-CD4(bright) cells and CD3-CD4(dull) cells in the rat liver. The surface phenotype of hepatic mononuclear cells in Lewis rats was identified by using monoclonal antibodies including anti-CD4, anti-CD3, and antimacrophage in conjunction with two- or three-color immunofluorescence analysis. CD3-CD4(bright) cells and CD3-CD4(dull) cells were examined morphologically using May-Giemsa staining and scanning electron microscopy. The distribution of CD3-CD4(bright) cells and CD3-CD4(dull) cells 48 hours after intravenous administration of liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphate was also investigated. In comparison to CD3-CD4(dull) cells, CD3-CD4(bright) cells were slightly larger macrophages with abundant cytoplasmic granules, being present with comparative specificity for normal rat liver and showing negligible effects by intravenous liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphate administration. These data suggest that in normal young rat liver these CD3-CD4(dull) and CD3-CD4(bright) cells may be dendritic cells and Kupffer cells that shift from the liver to the spleen or vice versa. These cells may also be able to locally proliferate in liver or spleen due to changes in the developing liver.     

A case of chronic pulmonary emphysema with a past history of bilateral carotid body resection]

A 76-year-old man, whose carotid bodies had been resected for treatment of bronchial asthma 40 years previously was admitted for evaluation of abnormal arterial blood gases and exertional dyspnea. The case was diagnosed clinically as chronic pulmonary emphysema. His peripheral chemoreceptor function, estimated by hypoxic ventilatory and P0.1 response tests and withdrawal test was non-functioning. His PaCO2 value tended to rise over 50 Torr either after light exercise or during airway infection, though it was normal at rest. In addition his dyspnea had continued for 40 years in spite of carotid body resection. It was concluded that the effect of carotid body resection lasts more than 40 years and it does not have a good effect on COPD.     

Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies monospecific to MMTV LTR orf protein produced in E. coli.

Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific to an open reading frame of the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat were generated using an open reading frame-beta-galactosidase fusion protein produced in E. coli. Both antibodies reacted with the open reading frame-beta-galactosidase fusion protein but not with beta-galactosidase alone using an immunoblotting technique. It is concluded that these antibodies were specific for the protein encoded by the open reading frame of the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat.     

Familial Juvenile Nephronophthisis in Two Siblings — Histological Findings at an Early Stage —

We present two female siblings with familial juvenile nephronophthisis (FJN) which was diagnosed at the early stage of renal failure. Diagnosis was made during the investigation of anemia in case 1 and by a subsequent family survey in case 2. Most patients with FJN are not identified until the terminal stage of renal failure and such cases have rarely been reported in Japan. Case 2 had a reduction in the maximum urinary concentration ability but no azotemia, and among the FJN patients reported in Japan so far she has the least advanced renal disease. Histological examination of the renal biopsy in case 1 showed typical findings of FJN, such as thickening and lamination of the tubular basement membrane (TBM), interstitial fibrosis, and round cell infiltration of the interstitium. In case 2, renal biopsy revealed an irregular marked thickening of the TBM with trivial interstitial changes and a normal glomerular appearance. The histology of these two cases suggests that the TBM may be the primary site affected in FJN.     

Late Effects of Childhood Acute Leukemia and Its Treatment

Late effects of childhood acute leukemia and its treatment were studied in 766 patients (684 ALL, 73 ANLL, and 9 others) in Japan who had remained in remission for more than 1 year after their first complete remission. Delayed adverse sequelae involve a wide variety of organs and their functions. Short stature was present in 2.61%, obesity in 3.79%, abnormalities of growth hormone secretion in 1.5%, delayed secondary sex characteristics in 1.5% of males and 0.6% of females, motor disturbances in 1.17%, sensory disturbances in 0.91%, intellectual and learning disabilities in 2.48%, abnormal findings in routine neurologic examinations in 1.31%, EEG abnormalities in 4.30%, brain CT abnormalities in 5.09% and cardiac dysfunction in 1.07%. Various other disorders were seen in 20 patients. Many of these delayed adverse sequelae are caused by or related to central nervous system prophylaxis and systemic combination chemotherapy. The results suggest that it is needed to improve therapeutic methods through the stratification of patients by risk factors and detailed analysis of prognostic factors. Moreover it is important to render medical and psychosocial support to long-term survivors of childhood leukemia through interactions between the patient, parents and medical staff.     

Physiological significance of plasma free and conjugated dopamine in healthy volunteers--with special reference to sympathetic nerve activity

In order to elucidate the physiological significance of plasma dopamine, blood pressure, pulse rate (PR), plasma concentrations of free or conjugated dopamine (free or conjugated pDA), noradrenaline (pNA) and adrenaline (pAd) were measured in 9 healthy volunteers. Blood sampling for the measurements was performed at a basal condition maintaining a supine position for 60 minutes, after twenty minutes 60 degrees head-up tilt (tilt) and an intravenous infusion of 1000 ml 0.9% saline for 2 hours. Following tilt, mean values in diastolic and mean blood pressure, PR, pNA and pAd were significantly increased, while free, conjugated and total pDA were decreased. On the other hand, saline infusion yielded significant decreases in hematocrit, pNA, free, conjugated and total pDA, but blood pressure, PR and pAd remained at the same level. Free/conjugated pDA ratio did not change during tilt or saline infusion. The basal value of free, conjugated or total pDA did not significantly correlate with blood pressure, PR, pNA or pAd, respectively. Furthermore, no significant correlations between the changes in pDAs and hemodynamic parameters, pNA or pAd by tilt or saline infusion were observed. From these results, it was suggested that plasma free or conjugated dopamine in physiological conditions may not be released from sympathetic nerve endings or adrenomedullary glands. Further investigations are needed to clarify the physiological significance of plasma dopamine in humans.     

Effect of clot removal on cerebral vasospasm

The effect of clot removal on cerebral vasospasm was studied in 104 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The series included patients who fulfilled all of the following criteria: operation was performed by Day 3 after the ictus; the patient's preoperative clinical grade was between Grades I and IV; there was no rebleeding; computerized tomography (CT) showed only SAH; and carotid angiograms were performed by Day 2 and repeated between Days 7 and 9. Both the degree of SAH on CT and angiographic vasospasm were graded from 0 to III. The relationship of the SAH grade in the basal frontal interhemispheric fissure (IHF) to the presence of vasospasm at the A2 segments of the anterior cerebral artery and the relationship of the SAH grade in the sylvian stems to the presence of vasospasm at the M1 segments of the middle cerebral artery were analyzed. Correlation of preoperative and postoperative SAH grades with the angiographic vasospasm grades, with the incidence of symptomatic vasospasm, and with the low-density area on CT could be found in the A2 and M1 territories. Decrease of cisternal blood measured by CT after the operation did not relate directly to the reduction of vasospasm. When the SAH was Grade II or III in the basal frontal IHF, the angiographic vasospasm grades at the A2 were significantly lower in patients with surgery via the interhemispheric approach than in those with surgery via the pterional approach. Symptomatic vasospasm occurred in two of the eight cases operated on by the interhemispheric approach compared with 11 of the 22 cases approached via the pterional route. In patients with a pterional approach, there was no significant difference in severity of vasospasm in the M1 territory between the side of approach and the opposite side. No consistent relationship could be found between the time interval from SAH to operation and the severity of vasospasm. While clot removal may ameliorate cerebral vasospasm, its effect per se does not seem to be significant.     

Discrepancy of xenon concentrations between end-tidal and blood collection methods in xenon-enhanced computed tomographic measurement of cerebral blood flow

Summary Using xenon-enhanced computed tomography for the study of cerebral blood flow, simultaneous measurements of end-tidal and arterial blood xenon concentrations using the blood collection method were performed to investigate the validity of substituting the end-tidal for the arterial blood xenon concentration. Simultaneous measurement by both methods was performed 68 times in 27 patients. There was no statistical correlation between the arterial blood accumulation rate constant obtained by arterial blood and end-tidal samples, nor between the arterial blood saturation value obtained by the two methods, even when correction was made for age. In brain tissue, all parameters calculated using the end-tidal concentration were lower than those using arterial blood. We therefore suggest that cerebral blood flow values calculated using end-tidal xenon concentration are useful only for qualitative cerebral blood flow mapping, and not applicable to absolute values of cerebral blood flow.