A novel branching pattern of the superior mesenteric artery found in the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) amphibian

The branching and distribution patterns of the superior mesenteric artery were studied in 10 adult bullfrogs ( Rana catesbeiana ) after injection of coloured latex solution into the vasculature. The abdominal digestive organs in the bullfrog were mainly supplied by the coeliac artery and the superior mesenteric artery, both of which arose as a common trunk, the coeliacomesenteric artery, from the abdominal aorta. The coeliac artery supplied the stomach, liver, gallbladder and the pancreas, whereas the first branch of the superior mesenteric artery was the splenic artery with other branches supplying the greater part of intestine. The apex of the intestinal loop was defined as the region supplied by the trunk of the superior mesenteric artery, and its intestinal branches constituted a 'nested formation' which had the following characteristics. (1) The branches of the trunk were distributed to both sides of the apex, and the distribution regions of younger branches were located more distant from the apex than those of older branches. (2) Two branches directed towards both sides of the trunk frequently made a common stem arising from the trunk. The second branch of the superior mesenteric artery constituted a secondary trunk and its distribution region could be defined as a secondary apex, since 1 of its branches also constituted a nested formation which was distributed to both sides of the primary and secondary apices. The intestinal branches of the superior mesenteric artery were divided into 4 types on the basis of their pattern of branching and course. It is suggested that the nested formation of the superior mesenteric artery in the bullfrog is a remnant of the vascular pattern of the tadpole, which possesses a double spiral mode of intestinal convolution, probably supplied by arteries with the nested formation in a latent form.     

Histochemical localisation of versican, aggrecan and hyaluronan in the developing condylar cartilage of the fetal rat mandible

We investigated the histochemical localisation of versican, aggrecan and hyaluronan in the developing condylar cartilage of the fetal rat mandible at d 15–17 of gestation. At d 15 of gestation, immunostaining for versican was detected in the anlage of the future condylar process (condylar anlage), although the staining intensity showed a considerable regional variation. At d 16 of gestation, a metachromatically stained matrix firstly appeared in the condylar anlage. Aggrecan, hyaluronan and versican were simultaneously detected in this newly formed condylar cartilage. At d 17 of gestation, immunostaining for versican became restricted to the perichondrium and was barely detected in the cartilage. Colocalisation of versican and aggrecan was also seen in the cranial base cartilage at d 14 of gestation. These results indicate that although versican is replaced by aggrecan during the transition from prechondrogenic tissue to cartilage, both molecules were temporally colocalised in the newly formed cartilage. A hyaluronan-rich, low-versican area was identified in the posterior end of the condylar anlage during d 15–17 of gestation. The existence of this area is a unique structural feature of the developing condylar cartilage.     

A case of pelvic malignant paraganglioma

We report a rare case of pelvic malignant paraganglioma that was treated with surgery, combination chemotherapy and radiation. A 47-year-old man was diagnosed with pelvic malignant paraganglioma that had metastasised to the thoracic vertebrae. The pelvic mass, which was 6 cm in size, was on the posterior side of the bladder and had invaded the prostate, seminal vesicle and bladder neck. We resected the intrapelvic tumor and lymph nodes using cystoprostatectomy. Metastases to bilateral obturator lymph nodes and the right internal iliac lymph node were shown by pathology. Adjuvant therapies included six courses of the combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine), and 12 courses of VP-16 therapy. Radiation therapy was done for metastasis of the thoracic vertebrae. Local recurrence, progression of bone metastasis and new metastasis have not been detected since these treatments. The patient has been clinically stable during 20 months of follow-up. Chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine and VP-16 with radiation appears to be effective in treating advanced malignant paraganglioma.     

Phase II Study of UFT in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

A phase II study of UFT (a mixture of uracil and tegafur; molarratio of uracil to tegafur = 4) was undertaken in 21 patientswith advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). UFT was administeredorally at a dose of 400 mg/m² every day, for more than fourweeks. Of 16 adequately treated patients, one (6.3%) showed a partialresponse. Toxic effects included minimal myelosuppression, anorexia,nausea, vomiting and epigastralgia. Gastrointestinal toxicitywas well tolerated. Considering the poor response and mild toxicity,a further phase II study of higher-dose UFT is necessary forpatients without prior therapy.     

Defective response to thrombopoietin and impaired expression of c-mpl mRNA of bone marrow cells in congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia

Congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT) is an uncommon disorder in newborns and infants, characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia and megakaryocytopenia in the first year without physical anomalies. The defect of thrombopoiesis is not well understood. Recently, thrombopoietin (TPO), the ligand for the c-mpl receptor, was cloned. Accumulating evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that TPO plays a key role in the regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis. In this study we examined the effect of TPO on megakaryocyte colony formation from a patient with CAMT using a plasma-containing methylcellulose clonal culture. The in vitro results demonstrated a defective response to TPO in megakaryocyte colony formation from bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) of the patient, although interleukin-3 (IL-3) but not stem cell factor (SCF) induced only a small number of megakaryocyte colonies. These findings indicated that thrombocytopenia in CAMT could not be corrected by administration of TPO in vitro. Additionally, clonal cultures containing SCF, IL-3, IL-6 and erythropoietin showed decreased numbers of erythroid and myelocytic progenitors in the bone marrow of the patient. The serum TPO level measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was significantly higher than that in healthy controls. By PCR, marrow MNC from healthy children and from a patient with essential thrombocytosis expressed c-mpl mRNA, whereas no c-mpl mRNA was detected in marrow MNC from the patient with CAMT. There was no difference in the CD34 expression and c-kit mRNA between the CAMT patient and healthy children. The results of this study suggest that the pathophysiology in CAMT may be a defective response to TPO in haemopoietic cells through impaired expression of c-mpl mRNA.     

Prolonged silent periods produced by magnetic cortical stimulation in patients with cerebellar ataxia

Abstract Magnetic cortical stimulation can produce silent periods (SP) following excitatory motor responses. The SP in eight patients with cerebellar ataxia was examined. The onset latency of the SP in hand muscles after magnetic cortical stimulation was not different from that in control subjects. The duration of the SP was longer than that in control subjects, but the difference was not significant statistically. The end latency of the SP in patients with cerebellar ataxia was more prolonged than that in control subjects. Therefore, the inhibitory function may be enhanced in patients with cerebellar ataxia.     

A study of ring 20 chromosome karyotype with epilepsy

Abstract We reported a 24-year-old woman with moderate mental retardation and partial epilepsy. She developed complex partial seizures at 3 years of age and generalized tonic convulsions at 9 years. Chromosome analysis revealed that she had mosaicism (87%) of 46, XX, and r(20) (p13, q13.3). Her electroencephalogram showed bilateral 2–3 Hz sharp and wave complex over the bilateral frontopolar, and centro-parieto-occipital areas. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance image examinations were normal. Twenty-five cases of ring 20 chromosome karyotypes (including this case) have been reported in the literature; 19 showed epilepsy, and 18 showed moderate mental retardation. Many of the patients showed growth retardation and minor malformations. The ring 20 syndrome is associated with a high incidence of epilepsy, particularly partial epilepsy. Our findings indicate that the main features of the ring 20 syndrome are partial epilepsy and mental retardation.     

Antiviral effect of lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha on hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis type C

Abstract To study the antiviral effect of lymphoblastoid alpha interferon (IFN) on hepatitis C virus (HCV) we conducted a randomized, controlled trial on 80 patients with chronic hepatitis C using three different doses. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with 1, 3 or 6 million units of lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha daily for 2 weeks. To assess the antiviral effect of IFN, the amount of HCV present in the serum was estimated by competitive nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before and after 2 weeks of treatment. The multiple logistic analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with virus clearance, adjusting the imbalance in predictive factors among patients. Hepatitis C virus became negative as assessed by nested PCR after therapy in 26, 50 and 63% of patients receiving 1, 3 and 6 mega units, respectively. Hepatitis C virus was cleared more often in patients having initially low (< 10⁵/mL) amounts of virus. No significant decrease in the amount of virus was observed in the untreated, control group. Patients without bridging fibrosis in liver histology and with HCV genotypes other than K1 (type II) tended to respond well. These results indicate that lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha suppresses HCV in a dose dependent manner. Higher initial virus amounts, bridging fibrosis and genotype K1 were factors associated with poor response.     

Proliferative activity in intrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

To assess the characteristics of intrahepatic metastatic lesions (IML) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we analysed both the histological features and proliferative activities of 15 resected cases of HCC accompanied by IML. The histological features of the IML were essentially the same as those observed in the main nodules in 12 (80%) of 15 cases. In 13 (87%) of 15 cases, the labelling index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the IML was either higher than or the same as in the main nodules. In 10 (77%) of 13 cases, the MIB-1 labelling index in the IML was either higher than or the same as in the main nodules. The results indicate that the histological features of the IML are essentially the same as those of the main nodules, while the proliferative activities in the IML were generally higher than those in the main nodules. Such characteristics may thus provide a clue to help distinguish intrahepatic metastasis from the multicentric occurrence of HCC.