Ultrastructure of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the submandibular gland

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the submandibular gland is a rare tumor. In this report, the histological and ultrastructural features of a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma arising in the left submandibular gland is presented. Light microscopically, the tumor consisted of well differentiated keratinizing squamous cell nests. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells were oval or spindle-shaped, and several tumor cells had intracytoplasmic desmosome-like structures, resembling intercellular desmosomes. The majority of the tumor cells contained a large number of intermediate filaments (tonofilaments). Intercellular desmosomes were well developed. No secretory granules were found. These ultrastructural features may enable us to distinguish primary squamous cell carcinoma from mucoepidermoid carcinoma which is often misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma.     

Cell type-specific involvement of RIG-I in antiviral response

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in antiviral response by recognizing viral components. Recently, a RNA helicase, RIG-I, was also suggested to recognize viral double-stranded RNA. However, how these molecules contribute to viral recognition in vivo is poorly understood. We show by gene targeting that RIG-I is essential for induction of type I interferons (IFNs) after infection with RNA viruses in fibroblasts and conventional dendritic cells (DCs). RIG-I induces type I IFNs by activating IRF3 via IkappaB kinase-related kinases. In contrast, plasmacytoid DCs, which produce large amounts of IFN-alpha, use the TLR system rather than RIG-I for viral detection. Taken together, RIG-I and the TLR system exert antiviral responses in a cell type-specific manner.     

Expression cloning of gamma interferon-inducing antigens of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

Three recombinant proteins, Map10, Map39, and Map41, produced based on nucleotide sequences obtained from the screening of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis genomic library expressed in Escherichia coli significantly elicited gamma interferon production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from infected cattle. Two of these proteins were members of the PPE protein family.     

Immunoreactive transforming growth factor alpha is commonly present in colorectal neoplasia.

Surgical specimens from 19 patients with invasive colorectal cancers and 12 specimens of normal mucosa from the same patients were examined immunohistochemically for the production of the immunoreactive (IR-) transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha and IR-epidermal growth factor (EGF) with an anti-TGF-alpha monoclonal antibody (MAb) OAL-MTG01 and anti-EGF MAb KEM-10. Immunoreactive TGF-alpha was detected in 16 (84.2%) of 19 colorectal cancers. In contrast, there was no IR-TGF-alpha in the gland cells of normal mucosa. Immunoreactive EGF was detected in 7 (36.8%) of 19 colorectal cancers and 1 (8.3%) of 12 cases of normal mucosa. The production of both IR-TGF-alpha and IR-EGF in colorectal cancer did not differ by histologic type and Dukes' stage. Immunoreactive TGF-alpha was detected at significantly higher incidence than IR-EGF in colorectal cancer. These results indicate that IR-TGF-alpha should prove valuable as a possible tumor marker in colorectal cancers, and it may be very useful in understanding the biology of colorectal cancer.     

Non-A, non-B hepatitis related AN6520 Ag is a normal cellular protein mainly expressed in liver. II

Detection of AN6520 Ag/Ab in human sera had indicated a close association with non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH). In this study, we investigated the immunochemical nature of AN6520 Ag and measured the amounts in various human and chimpanzee organs in order to clarify the association with NANBH. AN6520 Ag was found to be composed of polypeptide(s) with an apparent molecular weight of 45,000 daltons (45 kD), which are noncovalently linked together. Human antibodies in convalescent sera from NANBH patients as well as monoclonal antibodies were found to recognize only the high-order structure of the antigen, whereas rabbit antibody recognized both the high-order structure and the reduced form of 45 kD polypeptide(s). AN6520 Ag could be detected in most of the livers tested including those without any liver damage and fetal livers; their amounts varied considerably from each other. The antigen could be detected also in organs other than liver, but in contrast to liver, the amounts were small and did not vary as much between individuals. From the data of immunoblotting using rabbit antibody, our observed variation of antigen content in liver was considered to be due to the difference in expression of 45 kD polypeptide(s). Although no specific relationship was found between the amount of the antigen in liver and NANBH, the antigen was found to increase several times in livers of chimpanzees after the inoculation of NANBH virus. These data suggest that AN6520 Ag is a normal cellular protein existing mainly in liver and that its quantity may vary under some conditions such as NANBH.     

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP), and other late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Pulmonary dysfunction is a significant complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Effective antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment strategies have increased the incidence of noninfectious lung injury, which can occur in the early posttransplant period or in the months and years that follow. Late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications are frequently encountered, but diagnostic criteria and terminology for these disorders can be confusing and therapeutic approaches are suboptimal. As a consequence, inaccurate diagnosis of these conditions may hamper the appropriate data collection, enrollment into clinical trials, and appropriate patient care. The purpose of this review is to clarify the pathogenesis and diagnostic criteria of representative conditions, such as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia, and to discuss the appropriate diagnostic strategies and treatment options.     

Morphology of equine allantochorion at the tip of the pregnant horn

The morphology of the equine allantochorion at the tip of the pregnant horn was studied in the membranes of 14 mares. The findings in the allantochorion at the tip of the pregnant horn were of two types; one was growth retardation (hypoplastic villi, tunica adventitia of the vessels resembling embryonal connective tissue and the extended spaces of remnants of the extraembryonic coelom), the other was placental hypoxia or ischaemia (parakeratosis, stratified squamous metaplasia, necrosis of the trophoblasts, thickening of the basement membrane and fibrous hyperplasia of villous stroma). It seems likely that hypoplastic villi are caused by disordered formation of the microcotyledon accompanying the progression of pregnancy.     

医疗数据交换规格MML(Medical Markup Language)3.0汉化版的制作

MML(Medical Markup Language)是一套不同医疗设施间的数据交换规格。于1995年在日本被开发。MML从版本2.21开始使用XML(eXtensible Markup Language)作为标记语言。而最新版本3.0又遵循HL7Clincal Document Architecture(CDA),包含14模块和36个数据定义表格。目前在中国,还没有一个使用XML来结构整个病历内容的规格。鉴于MML的柔韧性,我们制作了一个基于3.0版本的汉化版。日本与中国虽然诊疗流程、病历记录的内容等都很相似,但是也有一些,比如民族的表现、中医诊断分类,医师资格分类等都是日本不存在的或者分类不同的信息。另外,因为国情不同,医疗保险制度也完全不同。为了使MML能在中国的医院适用,我们追加和更改了12个数据定义表格,并重新制作了医疗保险信息模块。MML汉化版不止是一个对原规格的翻译和说明,它还考虑了本地的需要。因此,使用MML汉化版在中国的医疗设施间进行医疗数据交换已经成为可能。