Limited association of Chlamydia pneumoniae detection with coronary atherosclerosis

The association of Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) detection with atherosclerosis has been controversial because of recent conflicting results. In order to assess how and to what extent C. pneumoniae detection contributes to atherosclerosis, the association between immunohistochemical detection of C. pneumoniae antigen, intimal lesions, and the intimal thickening ratio was examined in 1674 left anterior descending coronary arterial segments from 100 autopsied Japanese patients being free from coronary heart disease. These specimens contained full spectrum of atherosclerotic lesions as defined by the American Heart Association classification. The intimal thickening ratio increased in C. pneumoniae-positive sections comparing to that in C. pneumoniae-negative sections only in the group with normal intima and diffuse intimal thickening, but there was no such association in the other advanced intimal lesion groups. Furthermore, in 50 C. pneumoniae-positive cases out of 100 investigated, the frequency and extent of immunoreactivity did not associate with progression of intimal lesions or the intimal thickening ratio, and the mean score of C. pneumoniae detection did not correlate with the mean intimal thickening ratio in individual cases. These results suggest only a limited association between C. pneumoniae detection and coronary atherosclerosis development and that C. pneumoniae does not influence promotion of atherosclerotic lesions. The role of C. pneumoniae on atherogenesis may be limited only at the beginning stage of atherosclerosis development.     

Development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for two forms of vitellogenin in Japanese common goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus)

Two vitellogenins (Vgs) were detected in serum from estradiol-17beta (E(2))-injected Japanese common goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus). Vitellogenins with molecular masses of 530 kDa (Vg-530) and 320 kDa (Vg-320) were purified, and used to raise specific antisera in rabbits. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for Vg-530 and Vg-320 were developed using the antisera and the isolated Vgs. The sensitivity ranges of these ELISAs were 1.25-160 ng/ml for Vg-530 and 0.26-66 ng/ml for Vg-320, and very low cross-reactivity was found with the alternate Vg in each assay. Treatment of male gobys with E(2) by injection and immersion induced both Vgs in sera in a dose-dependent manner. The mean concentrations of the Vgs increased from 10 ng/L E(2) exposure for three weeks. Serum concentrations of the two Vgs in field-collected maturing females increased in accordance with increment of E(2) level and ovarian development, and the mean concentrations of Vg-530 were higher than those of Vg-320 in maturing female. These results indicate that the sandwich ELISAs for Vg-530 and Vg-320 developed in the present study is useful as an assay system for surveys of estrogenic activity in coastal areas of Japan.     

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the intrapancreatic accessory spleen: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen is an uncommon benign mass-like lesion. It can occur in an accessory spleen, which may be found rarely in the pancreas tail. Here, we report the case of a 51-year-old woman with an inflammatory pseudotumor of the intrapancreatic accessory spleen mimicking a fibrous pancreatic mass with hemosiderin deposition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report including radiological and histopathological findings of this extremely rare condition. In conclusion, inflammatory pseudotumor of an intrapancreatic accessory spleen should be regarded as a differential diagnosis in the case of a fibrotic mass with hemosiderin deposition located in the pancreas tail.     

Eight-year postsurgery recurrence of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the left spermatic cord

A 76-year-old man underwent high orchiectomy due to a painless tumor in the left inguinal region. Pathological diagnosis was malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the left spermatic cord. Because of positive surgical margins, additional resection of the left scrotal wall and left inguinal canal combined with retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy were performed, with the surgical margins negative. Adjuvant therapy was not administered. Eight years later he noticed a painful subcutaneous mass in the left inguinal region. CT showed local recurrence and metastases of MFH to mesenteric lymph nodes and the left adrenal gland. The tumor grew rapidly and the patient died 1 month after admission. Autopsy revealed local recurrence of MFH and metastases of MFH to liver, lung, left adrenal gland, bone and lymph nodes. Recurrence of MFH with an interval of 8 years is a rare event.     

Carcinoma of donor origin after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Secondary cancers developing after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation generally originate from recipient-derived cells. In this study, we analyzed the tumor cell origin of 5 epithelial malignant tumors (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and thyroid papillary carcinoma) that developed after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using anti-AE1/3 immunofluorescence with fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for sex chromosomes and/or short-tandem repeat microsatellite analysis of laser-microdissected tumor cells. The results revealed that 1 of these 5 cancers was derived from donor cells. In this case, transfused pluripotent cells, which include both mesenchymal stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells, might have given rise to epithelial malignant cells. Our observations suggest that transfused peripheral blood cells may be involved in the development of cancers after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.     

Granular cell tumor of the neurohypophysis observed with hypoglycemic attack

Granular cell tumor of the neurohypophysis (GCT) occurs as a solitary, small, nodular tumor and rarely grows to a sufficient size to present symptoms. The authors report a case of a 30-year-old man with GCT presenting with hypoglycemic attack. Hypoglycemic attack could be due to dysfunction of the hypothalamus and one of the important symptoms of GCT.