Histological changes in the midbrain around the aqueduct in congenital hydrocephalic rat LEW/Jms

Primary aqueductal stenosis is one of the main causes of congenital hydrocephalus in humans and experimental models. The congenitally hydrocephalic rat strain LEW/Jms is one such model. In this report, we describe further detailed histological features of periaqueductal structure, including the posterior commissure, subcommissural organ (SCO), and ependyma, and discuss the changes in these structures in relation to the cause of hydrocephalus. Coronal sections of the aqueduct in normal rats showed that the usual ependyma was absent in the center of the base facing the dorsal side, which was replaced by tall columnar cells. On the other hand, in hydrocephalic rats the ependyma encircled the aqueductal cavity. In midline sagittal sections, normal and hydrocephalic rats showed the SCO, although the SCO in hydrocephalic rats was shorter than in normal rats. There was also a marked difference between normal and hydrocephalic rats in the dorsoventral dimension of the rostral midbrain. In hydrocephalus, this dimension was large in comparison with normal rats. The superior collicular commissure located caudal to the posterior commissure ran along the ventral side of the midbrain in rats with hydrocephalus, and there was a cell-depleted area just dorsal to the superior collicular commissure. The same findings were observed from the 17th day of gestation until the postnatal period. Although the role of the SCO has been widely discussed from the viewpoint of secretory function, the present study indicated that this organ might be involved in the formation of the shape of the aqueduct.     

Two cases of thyroid metastases from renal cell carcinoma]

The identification and diagnosis of thyroid metastases from renal cell carcinoma are rare in living patients in spite of more frequent incidence during autopsy. We reported two cases of thyroid metastases from renal cell carcinoma. In both cases, histological examination revealed metastasis from renal cell carcinoma and negative immunohistological stain for thyroglobulin ruled out primary thyroid carcinoma.     

Anti-ulcer activity and mode of action of the polysaccharide fraction from the leaves of Panax ginseng.

The effects of a weakly acidic polysaccharide fraction, GL-4, from the leaves of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer on various experimental gastric ulcer models in mice and rats have been studied. Oral administration of GL-4 at doses of 50 to 200 mg/kg inhibited the formation of the gastric lesions induced by necrotizing agents such as HCl/ethanol and ethanol in a dose-dependent manner. This protective effect was observed not only upon oral but also upon subcutaneous administration of GL-4 (50-100 mg/kg). GL-4 also inhibited the formation of gastric ulcers which were induced by water immersion stress, indomethacin, or pylorus-ligation. The contents of prostaglandin E2 in the gastric juice from rats were not influenced by oral administration of GL-4. The protective action of GL-4 against HCl/ethanol-induced gastric lesions was not abolished by pretreatment with indomethacin. When GL-4 (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered into pylorus-ligated rats, both gastric acidity and pepsin activity in the gastric juice decreased significantly.     

Case of Parkinson's disease presenting with unique dyspneic attacks caused by oromandibular dystonia and sleep apnea syndrome]

A 79-year-old woman with a 4-year history of Parkinson's disease was admitted due to unique dyspneic attacks with cyanosis while eating. Dyspneic attacks with cyanosis occurred mainly during actions such as taking meals or rehabilitation. Due to increased tonus of the orbicularis oris muscle, she was unable to open her mouth and breathe out, and finally experienced hypoxemia as revealed by pulse oxymetry. Dystonic hypertonus was relieved by touching the mandible with the fingers, and she was able to open her mouth again. These symptom was compatible with the sensory trick. Based on these findings, we considered that dyspneic attacks were produced by focal oromandibular dystonia. Polysomnography also showed central sleep apnea. We report herein a rare case of Parkinson's disease presenting with respiratory insufficiency caused by focal dystonia and central sleep apnea.     

Imaging of a large collection of human embryo using a super-parallel MR microscope.

Using 4 and 8-channel super-parallel magnetic resonance (MR) microscopes with a horizontal bore 2.34T superconducting magnet developed for 3-dimensional MR microscopy of the large Kyoto Collection of Human Embryos, we acquired T(1)-weighted 3D images of 1204 embryos at a spatial resolution of (40 microm)(3) to (150 microm)(3) in about 2 years. Similarity of image contrast between the T(1)-weighted images and stained anatomical sections indicated that T(1)-weighted 3D images could be used for an anatomical 3D image database for human embryology.     

Internalization of Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin into Osteoblast-Like MC3T3-E1 Cells and Bone Resorptive Responses of the Cells against the Infection

Mycobacterium bovis BCG (BCG) is a live vaccine used worldwide against tuberculosis. However, it has unfavourable side effects such as osteitis or osteomyelitis, and these sometimes lead to vertebral caries in some patients as a result of bone resorption. Osteoblasts might play a role in the bone resorption caused by BCG infection, because they are central cells in bone metabolism. Cultured osteoblast-like cell lines (MC3T3-E1) derived from C57BL mice susceptible to BCG infection cells were infected with BCG at several doses. Interestingly, internalization of BCG-enveloped phagosome-like membrane in osteoblast-like cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Owing to infection, the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity of the osteoblast-like cells were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, interleukin (IL)-6 production was considerably enhanced by infection. These results suggest that BCG infects osteoblasts, suppressing their proliferation and differentiation and inducing bone resorption, which may be related to osteitis/osteomyelitis and bone caries caused by BCG infection.     

Measurement of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and its clinical application in oral cancers.

The PCNA score was measured in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and its relationship to other cell proliferation markers, Ki-67 score, S-phase fraction (SPF), and AgNORs counts was investigated. The PCNA score ranged from 0.4% to 43.5% with an average value of 22.8%, the Ki-67 score ranged from 4.9% to 40% with an average of 24.1%, and the SPF ranged from 0.4% to 32.5% with an average of 12.4%, while AgNORs counts ranged from 2.53/nucleus to 7.03/nucleus with an average of 4.74/nucleus. These four parameters were closely interrelated. There was a significant difference in PCNA score between malignant and nonmalignant lesions, suggesting a difference in growth activity. The mean PCNA score decreased significantly from 20.0% to 8.0% after cancer chemotherapy. The response of cancer cells to anticancer agents may be estimated by consecutive measurement of PCNA, since the PCNA score dropped after treatment in cases showing a favorable prognosis.     

Menaquinone (vitamin K2)-6 production by mutants of Flavobacterium meningosepticum

Flavobacterium meningosepticum IFO 12535, a menaquinone (MK) producer, was mutagenized to improve productivity. A mutant, which was resistant to 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate (HNA), was found to produce MK more abundantly: 34 mg/liter of culture broth and 5.5 mg/g of dry cells. The mutant was less sensitive to inhibition by HNA on MK biosynthesis than the wild-type strain. MK was isolated from cells of the mutant and identified as MK-6 based on its physicochemical characteristics. Mutants, which were given each KCN resistance, aromatic amino acid auxotrophy and no carotenoid productivity, did not show further increase of productivity.