Undifferentiated Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland in a 10-Month-old Child

Malignant salivary gland tumors in children are very rare. This report describes the autopsy of a child with parotid gland cancer. The patient, a 10 month old girl, was admitted to the Nagoya First Red Cross Hospital with facial nerve palsy. lncisional biopsy of a post-auricular tumor was performed, and undifferentiated carcinoma was diagnosed. The patient died 6 months later of respiratory failure due to pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis. Light and electron microscopic and immunohistochemical examinations of the tumor tissue were performed. The tumor cells were arranged in a medullary, sheet-like manner. Keratinization or mucus lakes were not observed. PAS-alcian blue staining demonstrated intracytoplasmic mucus as granules, and also small intercellular droplets of mucus that might otherwise have been unnoticed. Ultrastructurally, some of the tumor cells had tonofilament-like keratin filaments, and also small hollow spaces bounded by microvilli and containing secretory particles. These were stained by antisera against CEA and keratin. These findings are suggestive of differentiation to mucoepider-moid carcinoma. We also review and discuss malignant salivary tumors of epithelial origin in children. Acta Pathol Jpn 40: 149–152, 1990.     

Cytokeratin expression in normal human thymus at different ages

Subsets of thymic epithellal cells were examined Immuno-histochemically to determine whether or not their pheno-types change during thymic growth and at early involution in terms of cytokeratin (CK) expression. Five monoclonal antibodies specific for CK4, CK8, CK13, CK18 and CK19 were used and applied for 16 neonatal, three Infantile and one adult thymus speeimen, which had been obtained at autopsy, that were normal macroscopically and microscopicaily. CK4, CK8, CK13, CK18 and CK19 were expressed simultaneously in the cortex, medulla and subcapsular area with the exception of CK4, which showed expression on the adult thymus. Light and electron microscopy showed that CK8 and CK19 expression was overlapped. Thus, It was thought that CK8 and CK19 formed complexes in the cytoplasm of thymic epithelial cells. The Immunoreactivity to CK4, CK13 and CK18 were attenuated or disappeared In the subcapsular area during the early involution stage. Interestingly, two patterns of CK18 expression were observed in the neonatal and Infantile thymus tissues, which Indicated that the thymic microenvironment was changeable even under normal conditions.     

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and IL-1B C-31T polymorphism among Japanese Brazilians

We reported previously that anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody seropositivity (HP+) had an association with interleukin 1B (IL-1B) C-31T genotype, especially among smokers. This study examined the association for Japanese Brazilians. In this cross-sectional study, voluntary participation was announced through Japanese Brazilian communities in Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Mogi das Cruzes, and Mirandopolis; 963 Japanese Brazilians (399 males and 564 females) aged 33-69 years participated. Lifestyle data and peripheral blood were collected. An anti-HP IgG antibody test and genotyping for IL-1B C-31T and IL-1RN 86 bp VNTR were independently conducted. The genotype frequency of the IL-1B polymorphism among 947 individuals was 23.9% for C/C genotype, 45.6% for C/T genotype, and 30.5% for T/T genotype. Sex-age-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of HP+ was 1.30 (95% confidence interval, 0.94-1.81) for C/T genotype and 1.45 (1.02-2.07) for T/T genotype relative to C/C genotype. The aOR for 127 current smokers was 2.45 (0.91-6.55) for C/T and 3.49 (1.17-10.46) for T/T, while that for 667 never smokers was 1.21 (0.82-1.78) and 1.36 (0.90-2.05), respectively. The corresponding figures were 2.42 (1.16-5.02) and 3.00 (1.33-6.78) for 226 current drinkers, and 1.21 (0.82-1.78) and 1.36 (0.90-2.05) for 667 non-drinkers. The difference in the OR was observed for milk consumption, salty pickled vegetable eating, and physical exercise practice. 4/4 Genotype of IL-1RN 86 bp VNTR was 84.8%, and had no association with the HP seropositivity. The observed association between HP+ and IL-1B -31TT indicated that the genetic trait also influences the susceptibility to HP for Japanese in Brazil.     

A Comparative Analysis of the Murine Thymic Microenvironment in Normal,Autoimmune, and Immunodeficiency States

It is widely accepted that the thymic microenvironment regulates normal thymopoiesis through a highly coordinated and complex series of cellular and cytokine interactions. A direct corollary of this is that abnormalities within the microenvironment could be of etiologic significance in T-cell-based diseases. Our laboratory has developed a large panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that react specifically with epithelial or nonepithelial markers in the thymus. We have taken advantage of these reagents to characterize the thymic microenvironment of several genetic strains of mice, including BALB/cJ, C57BL/6J, NZB/BlnJ, SM/J, NOD/Ltz, NOD/Ltz-scid/sz, C57BL/6J-Hcph m^e/Hcph m^e, and ALY/NscJcl-aly/aly mice, and littermate control animals. We report herein that control mice, including strains of several backgrounds, have a very consistent phenotypic profile with this panel of monoclonal antibodies, including reactivity with thymic epithelial cells in the cortex, the medulla and the corticomedullary junction, and the extracellular matrix. In contrast, the disease-prone strains studied have unique, abnormal staining of thymic cortex and medulla at both the structural and cellular levels. These phenotypic data suggest that abnormalities in interactions between developing thymocytes and stromal cells characterize disease-prone mice.     

Comparative chromosome mapping of sex-linked genes and identification of sex chromosomal rearrangements in the Japanese wrinkled frog (Rana rugosa, Ranidae) with ZW and XY sex chromosome systems

There are regional variations of sex chromosome morphologies in the Japanese wrinkled frog, Rana rugosa (2n = 26): heterogametic ZZ/ZW-type and XX/XY-type sex chromosomes, and two different types of homomorphic sex chromosomes. To search for homology between the ZW and XY sex chromosomes and the chromosome rearrangements that have occurred during sex chromosomal differentiation in R. rugosa, we performed chromosome mapping of sexual differentiation genes for R. rugosa by FISH. Three genes, AR, SF-1/Ad4BP and Sox3, were localized to both the ZW and XY chromosomes, and their locations were all different between the Z and W and between the X and Y. AR and SF-1/Ad4BP were located on the short arms of the W and X and the long arms of Z and Y, and Sox3 was mapped to the different locations on the long arms between the Z and W and between the X and Y, probably as a result of multiple rearrangements that occurred during the process of sex chromosome differentiation. However, the chromosomal locations of three genes were almost consistent between the Z and Y and between the W and X, indicating that the Z and Y chromosomes and the W and X chromosomes were respectively derived from the same origins. Dmrt1, which is located on avian sex chromosomes, was localized to autosomes in R. rugosa with both the ZW and XY sex chromosomes, suggesting that Dmrt1 might not be related to sex determination in this species.     

Decision support in psychiatry – a comparison between the diagnostic outcomes using a computerized decision support system versus manual diagnosis

Background  

Correct diagnosis in psychiatry may be improved by novel diagnostic procedures. Computerized Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are suggested to be able to improve diagnostic procedures, but some studies indicate possible problems. Therefore, it could be important to investigate CDSS systems with regard to their feasibility to improve diagnostic procedures as well as to save time.     

The bisphosphonate pamidronate on the surface of titanium stimulates bone formation around tibial implants in rats

Many materials with differing surfaces have been developed for clinical implant therapy in dentistry and orthopedics. We analyzed the quantity of new bone formed in vivo around calcium-immobilized titanium implants with surfaces modified using pamidronate (PAM), a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (N-BP), implants of pure titanium, and titanium implants immobilized with calcium ions. New bone formation was visualized using fluorescent labeling (calcein blue and alizarin complexone) with intravenous injection at 1 and 3 weeks after implantation. After 4 weeks, undecalcified sections were prepared, and new bone formation around the implants was examined by morphometry using confocal laser scanning microscopy images. After 1 week, more new bone formed around the PAM-immobilized implant than around the calcium-immobilized and pure titanium implants. This was also seen with the new bone formation after 3 weeks. After 4 weeks, significantly more new bones were formed around the BP-immobilized implant than around the calcium ion-implanted and pure titanium implants. The new N-BP-modified titanium surface stimulates new bone formation around the implant, which might contribute to the success of implant therapy.     

Interferon-{beta} inhibits bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis by decreasing transforming growth factor-{beta} and thrombospondin

Pulmonary fibrosis is the result of abnormal processes of repair that occur after lung injury. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is a key molecule in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Although clinical use of interferon (IFN)-beta did not improve survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, because some preclinical studies have suggested that IFN-beta is a potent inhibitor of fibrogenesis, beneficial effects of IFN-beta have been expected. We therefore attempted to determine effects of IFN-beta and investigated the mechanism of action of IFN-beta in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Bleomycin at Day 0 and IFN-beta for 4 wk were administered intravenously to ICR mice. At 28 d after bleomycin injection, histologic and chemical analysis was performed for evaluation of effects of IFN-beta. Tissue distribution and amounts of TGF-beta1 and thrombospondin (TSP)-1/2 were analyzed. IFN-beta attenuated prolylhydroxylase activity, resulting in inhibition of pulmonary fibrosis. Bleomycin-induced increase in TGF-beta1 in epithelial cells and extracellular matrix was attenuated by IFN-beta. TSP-1/2 was limited in platelets of control mice, but was present in foamy cells in fibrotic regions induced by bleomycin. These findings suggest that the antifibrotic effect of IFN-beta is inhibition of TGF-beta and its activation via decrease in TSP-1/2 in lung tissue and change in location of TSP-1/2 from platelets to foamy cells.     

Immunization with recombinant surface antigen P50 of Babesia gibsoni expressed in insect cells induced parasite growth inhibition in dogs

This is a report of a vaccine trial directed against Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs with the use of the recombinant antigen P50. Dogs immunized with P50 showed partial protection manifested as a significantly low level of parasitemia. The results indicated that P50 is a primary vaccine candidate molecule against canine B. gibsoni infection.     

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma arising in the big toe

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a rare tumor. Reported herein is a case of LGFMS arising in the big toe. The patient was a 58-year-old man who underwent excision of the tumor. The tumor was well-demarcated. Histologically, there were proliferating spindle-shaped tumor cells arranged in a whorled growth pattern, and the stroma showed hyalinized collagen bundles and a myxoid matrix. Nuclear mitotic figures were conspicuous in part. A large rosette-like structure with hyalinized stroma was found, which is characteristic of LGFMS. The differential diagnosis included tumor occurrence in adults; tending to arise in distal extremities; and having bland fibromyxoid histological features, such as fibroma of tendon sheath, low-grade myxofibrosarcoma and acral myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma. It was not possible to detect the FUS/CREB3L2 and FUS/CREB3L1 fusion genes from the formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue, although the histological features of the present case were typical of LGFMS. LGFMS may become more common with time, and unique cases may accumulate.