Somatostatin immunoreactive C cells in thyroid glands from various mammalia species

The relative distribution of somatostatin- and calcitonin-containing cells in thyroid glands from various mammalian species was investigated by immunoperoxidase staining, and the concentration of immunoreactive somatostatin by radioimmunoassay. In the thyroid glands of guinea pigs and rabbits, most of the calcitonin cells were also immunoreactive to the somatostatin antiserum, and high concentration of immunoreactive somatostatin was obtained. On the other hand, in the thyroids of other animal species—rats, dogs, pigs, cows, goats, cats, monkeys, mice, and hamsters—only a few C cells revealed the immunoreaction for somatostatin, and the concentration of somatostatin was low. In all animal species studied, the somatostatin was present in the same cells that contain calcitonin, though in guinea pigs and rats there were some C cells containing a large number of reaction products for somatostatin but very few for calcitonin. Thus, it was concluded that there was a considerable variation in somatostatin immunoreactivity of thyroid C cells from species to species.     

Reciprocal effects of glucose on the process of cell death induced by calcium ionophore or H2O2 in rat lymphocytes

We have examined the effects of glucose at high concentrations on the process of cell death induced by excessive increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) or oxidative stress in rat lymphocytes. The cell death elicited by the excessive increase in [Ca(2+)](i) seemed to be induced by an activation of Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels because the inhibitors for Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels attenuated the decrease in cell viability. Glucose at 30-50mM augmented the decrease in cell viability by the excessive increase in [Ca(2+)](i). It was not specific for glucose because it was the case for sucrose or NaCl, suggesting an involvement of increased osmolarity in adverse action of glucose. On the contrary, glucose protected the cells suffering from oxidative stress induced by H(2)O(2), one of reactive oxygen species. It was also the case for fructose or sucrose, but not for NaCl. The process of cell death induced by H(2)O(2) started, being independent from the presence of glucose. Glucose delayed the process of cell death induced by H(2)O(2). Sucrose and fructose also protected the cells against oxidative stress. The reactivity of sucrose to reactive oxygen species is lower than those of glucose and fructose. The order in the reactivity cannot explain the protective action of glucose. Glucose at high concentrations exerts reciprocal actions on the process of cell death induced by the oxidative stress and excessive increase in [Ca(2+)](i).     

Dietary nucleic acids promote a shift in Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1-dominant immunity

BACKGROUND: Dietary sources of nucleic acids and their relative components are known to affect host immune function; however, it has not yet been clarified whether such dietary nucleic acids influence the pathogenesis of allergic reaction. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effect of dietary nucleic acids on Th1/Th2 balance. METHODS: Both human flora-associated and specific pathogen-free BALB/c mice were maintained on either nucleic acid-free, or -supplemented diets. The effects of nucleic acids on both in vivo antibody levels and in vitro splenocyte cytokine production were compared using these mice. RESULTS: Supplementation of nucleic acids caused a reduction in the serum antibody levels of total IgM, IgG, IgG1, and IgE in the human flora-associated mice without affecting the composition of intestinal flora. In contrast, there was no significant difference of the serum IgG2a levels between nucleic acid-free and -supplemented mice. Such a phenomenon as that, the supplementation of dietary nucleic acids reduces the serum IgE or IgG1 levels, but not the IgG2a level, was also seen in the specific pathogen free mice. Moreover, when the mice were systematically challenged with ovalbumin, the supplementation of nucleic acids also suppressed the serum ovalbumin-specific IgE and IgG1 antibody levels as well as in vitro IL-4 and IL-10 secretion, while enhancing both the serum ovalbumin-specific IgG2a antibody levels and in vitro IFN gamma secretion. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that dietary nucleic acids may play an important role in promoting a shift in Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1-dominant immunity.     

Effects of exercise and standing on atrial parasystole: Prolongation and shortening of the parasystolic cycle length

In recently reported cases of ventricular parasystole, it was shown that after exercise the parasystolic cycle length is prolonged, in contrast to a shortening of the sinus cycle length, whereas during standing the parasystolic cycle length and the sinus cycle length both shortened. In this report, to explore whether the same features as occur in ventricular parasystole are seen in atrial parasystole, effects of exercise and standing on the parasystolic cycle length were investigated in two men with atrial parasystole. The atrial parasystolic cycle length was prolonged after exercise, whereas it shortened during standing, similar to what occurs in ventricular parasystole. This is the first report to show such changes of cycle length in atrial parasystole. These findings suggest that in atrial parasystole, as in ventricular parasystole, influences on the parasystolic cycle length do not always act in the same direction as those on sinus cycle length.     

Centroblastic and centroblastic/centrocytic lymphoma associated with a prominent epithelioid granulomatous response: a clinicopathologic study of 50 cases.

A minority of centroblastic and centroblastic/centrocytic cell lymphomas are accompanied by a prominent epithelioid cell response and were suggested to be a distinct variant of B-cell lymphoma of germinal center cell origin. To confirm the clinicopathologic significance of these mainly large B-cell lymphomas with an epithelioid cell response (LBCL-ER), we reviewed 50 patients with LBCL-ER and compared the results with those of 167 other diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) and 94 follicular lymphomas (FL) without epithelioid response. The patients with LBCL-ER showed a higher age distribution (median 71, P =.03), a female predominance (M:F = 18:32, P =.001) and less frequent involvement of extranodal sites >1 (P =.004) compared with those with DLBCL, and presented with a bulky mass of the affected lymph nodes in 54% of cases. They were also older (P =.0006) and more associated with the aggressive clinical factors such as serum LDH level and International Prognostic Index score than those with FL. Histologically, nine cases (18%) partially showed a follicular growth pattern, and the others (82%) were occupied by a diffuse growth pattern. The epithelioid cells were accumulated in large demarcated masses, partially imparting a lymphoepithelioid (Lennert) lymphoma-like appearance to some portions of the lesions in every case. Immunohistochemically, LBCR-ER was positive for CD20 in every case, CD10 in 43% of the cases, and BCL-2 in 56%. None of the tumor cells in the 40 cases tested expressed CD5 antigen. Immunostaining also often highlighted the remnants of the follicular dendritic cell network. The BCL-2 gene rearrangement was detected in only 19% of the cases examined. The survival curve of the cases of LBCL-ER was almost identical with that of DLBCL and was significantly inferior to that of FL. The centroblastic and centroblastic/centrocytic lymphoma with an epithelioid cell response may be regarded as the morphologic variant of DLBCL preferentially arising in the aged population and reflecting the disease progression of FL.     

Giant meningioma fed by the anterior choroidal artery: successful removal following embolization--case report.

A 53-year-old female was admitted with apathy, left sensory and motor disturbance, left homonymous hemianopsia, and dressing apraxia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a huge mass markedly enhanced in and around the right trigone. Cerebral angiography revealed rich vascularity of the tumor mainly fed by the right anterior choroidal artery. The feeding vessel was embolized with microfibrillar collagen after superselective catheterization. Seven days later, the tumor was totally removed with low blood loss. The histological diagnosis was fibroblastic meningioma. She was discharged without neurological deficit, except for left homonymous hemianopsia.     

Thin-section computed tomography of the normal minor fissure

The minor fissure was studied with thin computed tomographic (CT) sections (2 mm thickness, 3 mm interval) in 50 patients. It showed high density line or area in all patients. In nine patients CT sections were not obtained through the all region of the minor fissure. Of other 41 patients the fissure was complete in 12 (29%), slightly incomplete in 18 (44%), half incomplete in 7 (17%), and considerably incomplete in 4 (10%). The upper surface of the middle lobe appeared to be upwardly convex in all 50 patients. The location of the highest portion of the minor fissure was hilar in 12 (24%) of 50 patients, medial 1 (2%), anterior 0 (0%), lateral 8 (16%), posterior 3 (6%), dorsal 10 (20%), central 12 (24%), others 2 (4%), and indeterminate 2 (4%). The minor fissure was higher medially than laterally in 22 (44%) patients, and higher posteriorly than anteriorly in 40 (80%) patients. The lowest portion of the minor fissure was anterior in 20 (40%) patients, lateral in 4 (8%), and posterior 3 (6%). The anterior vein of the anterior segment of the right upper lobe (V3b) came in contact with the minor fissure in 20 (40%) patients. In 18 (90%) of these 20 patients minor fissure medial to V3b was incomplete partially. Three dimensional reconstruction image of the minor fissure improved understanding of the anatomy. Familiarity with the anatomic detail of the minor fissure and with variations in the relationships of the upper and middle lobes is useful in localization or extension of a lesion.     

Meningitis caused by Enterococcus gallinarum in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci have recently emerged as significant nosocomial pathogens. Here we describe two Japanese patients, a 57-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy, with ventriculoperitoneal shunts for hydrocephalus who developed meningitis caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus gallinarum. The infection of the central nervous system in these two patients may have been associated with E. gallinarum derived from the gut. Removal of the shunts and antimicrobial treatment promoted apparent improvement in these patients. The risk factors and management of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infections in the central nervous system are discussed.     

Ultrastructural Relationship between Lewy Bodies and Pale Bodies Studied in Locus Ceruleus Neurons of a Non-Parkinsonian Patient

The Lewy body (LB) is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). The pale body (PB) also represents a characteristic intracytoplasmic alteration of the neurons of the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus of PD patients. We recently had the opportunity to study a non-parkinsonian patient (a 66-year-old man) who had numerous LBs and PBs in the neurons of the locus ceruleus. However, there was no evidence of neuronal loss in this region. We performed a detailed ultrastructural study of these inclusions for which multiple serial sections were used. Our results revealed that the constituent filamentous structures of the LBs and PBs were indistinguishable from each other, that transitions occasionally occurred between PBs and LBs, and that presynaptic structures entrapped in the cytoplasm were frequently present in the vicinity of both types of inclusion bodies. These findings suggest that PBs, at least those of the present type, actually represent early LBs. In addition, the entrapment of presynaptic structures by the cytoplasm of neurons of the locus ceruleus may indicate the existence of certain degenerative (or regressive) processes in these cells and that postsynaptic areas in particular, may have a role in PB and LB formation.