Effect of gravitation for detection of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma on computed tomography

A 64-year-old female was found to have localized ground-glass opacity (GGO) in the middle lobe on a chest computed tomography (CT) for screening. Middle lobectomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was undertaken, and pathological diagnosis was a bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) in stage IA. A follow-up CT a year following the surgery revealed localized GGO in area S⁶ of the left lung. However, it disappeared during the gravitation-dependent gradient in the observation period. The patient was scanned again under prone position to exclude the gravitational effect, resulting in definite detection of the GGO. Left extended S⁶ segmentectomy with VATS was performed, and pathological diagnosis was a BAC in stage IA. As GGO existing in a gravitation-dependent area may be masked by the gravitation-dependent density, a change of the scanning position may lead to a proper detection of the tumor for the diagnosis of BAC.     

Single 5'green-3'red Hybrid Gene in Protanopia

Purpose: To disclose the structure of visual pigment gene for a protanopia with specific variation.Methods: Exon 5 fragments of the red andgreen visual pigment genes from the protanopia with specific varnation as well as controls were amplified by poly-merase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were put through heteroduplex-SSCP analysis and PCR-RFLP (restriction fragement length polymorphism) analysis to clarify the specific variation. The specific variation of the exon 5 DNA fragment from the protanopia was identified by sequencing.Results: A novel 5'green-3'red hybrid gene fragment without the normal red and green visual pigment gene was discovered in the protanopia. He should only have a single visual pigment gene, 5'green-3'red hybrid gene, on his X chromosome. The fusion point is between codon 285 and codon 296 in exon 5. Conclusion : Unequal intragenic recombination may occur in exon 5 as well as its upstream. A 5'green-3'red hybrid gene may present independently on the X chromosome without ac     

Development of a diagnostic PCR assay targeting the Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase gene (sodA) for identification of Streptococcus gallolyticus

A PCR-based assay to identify Streptococcus gallolyticus has been developed. The assay uses an oligonucleotide primer pair targeting a partial sequence of the manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase gene (sodA). The assay distinguished members of the S. gallolyticus group from other, closely related taxa successfully by yielding a 408-bp specific amplicon.     

Deletion of a single chromosome band 4q26 in a malformed girl: exclusion of Rieger syndrome associated gene(s) from the 4q26 segment.

We report a malformed girl with a single chromosome band deletion of 4q26 in peripheral lymphocytes. This patient is the fourth case reported with an interstitial deletion involving 4q26 and has the smallest deletion of those reported. Deletion mapping indicates that psychomotor retardation, coloboma, prominent forehead, epicanthus, broad based nose, and broad, thin upper lip are associated with monosomy 4q26, and that gene(s) associated with Rieger syndrome can be excluded from the 4q26 segment.     

Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the uterine cervix

A rare case of an alveolar soft part sarcoma of the uterine cervix in an 8 year old girl is presented. The patient was admitted because of genital bleeding lasting for 7 months. A polypoid tumor, 2times1.5 cm in diameter, was found in her external uterine os and was surgically resected. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of a uniform sheet of tumor cells in the cytoplasm which contained granules and which were stained with periodic acid-Schiff, both before and after the diastase digestion. Alveolar arrangement of the tumor cells was manifested with reticulin silver impregnation. Dense, membrane bound granules were evident at an ultrastructural level in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. An immunohistochemical examination demonstrated a positive reaction for anti-desmin, anti-myoglobin, anti-HHF35 and anti-neuron specific enolase in the cytoplasm.     

Effect of anti-idiotypic antibody on production of anti-DNA antibodies by splenocytes in lupus prone mice

It has been suggested that production of autoantibodies is regulated by idiotype-antiidiotype network. In this study, we examined modulatory effect of the antiidiotypic antibody on the synthesis of anti-DNA antibodies by New Zealand black/New Zealand white F1 mice (B/W F1) splenocytes. The antiidiotypic antibodies were prepared by immunization of a monoclonal anti-DNA antibody derived from B/W F1 to rabbits. The prepared antiidiotypic antibody had specificity to the antigen binding site of anti-DNA antibodies. B/W F1 splenocytes were adjusted to 1 X 10(6) cells/ml and cultured in 1.0 ml aliquots in the presence of varying concentrations of the antiidiotypic antibody for 48 hours. The cells were then washed three times, resuspended in RPMI1640 containing 10% fetal calf serum and cultured again. On days 3 and 7 of the culture, the supernatants were harvested and secretion of anti-DNA antibodies was measured by ELISA. Production of anti-DNA antibodies by B/W F1 splenocytes was suppressed by pretreatment with the antiidiotypic antibody. When the concentration of antiidiotypic antibody was 1 microgram/ml, anti-DNA activity of the supernatants decreased 50%, compared with control on day 3, but the effect was reduced on day 7. The treatment of antiidiotypic antibody did not affect the proliferation and viability of B/W F1 splenocytes. The results indicated that anti-DNA antibodies synthesis were regulated by idiotype-antiidiotype network and could be manipulated by the antiidiotypic antibody.     

Determination of medullasin levels for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Medullasin levels in granulocytes of patients with neurological diseases and healthy volunteers were determined by the enzyme immunoassay using mouse monoclonal antibodies against human medullasin and o-phenylenediamine-H2O2 as the detection system of the enzyme activity. One hundred twenty-one out of 159 patients with multiple sclerosis (76.1%) showed positive results (above means of normals + 2SD) in this test, while only 16.9% (24/142) of patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases had positive results. This enzyme immunoassay method for medullasin is considered to be an useful paraclinical test for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.     

Decellularized ureter for tissue-engineered small-caliber vascular graft

Previous attempts to create small-caliber vascular prostheses have been limited. The aim of this study was to generate tissue-engineered small-diameter vascular grafts using decellularized ureters (DUs). Canine ureters were decellularized using one of four different chemical agents [Triton-X 100 (Tx), deoxycholate (DCA), trypsin, or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)] and the histology, residual DNA contents, and immunogenicity of the resulting DUs were compared. The mechanical properties of the DUs were evaluated in terms of water permeability, burst strength, tensile strength, and compliance. Cultured canine endothelial cells (ECs) and myofibroblasts were seeded onto DUs and evaluated histologically. Canine carotid arteries were replaced with the EC-seeded DUs (n = 4). As controls, nonseeded DUs (n = 5) and PTFE prostheses (n = 4) were also used to replace carotid arteries. The degree of decellularization and the maintenance of the matrix were best in the Tx-treated DUs. Tx-treated and DCA-treated DUs had lower remnant DNA contents and immunogenicity than the others. The burst strength of the DUs was more than 500 mmHg and the maximum tensile strength of the DUs was not different to that of native ureters. DU compliance was similar to that of native carotid artery. The cell seeding test resulted in monolayered ECs and multilayered alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells on the DUs. The animal implantation model showed that the EC-seeded DUs were patent for at least 6 months after the operation, whereas the nonseeded DUs and PTFE grafts become occluded within a week. These results suggest that tissue-engineered DUs may be a potential alternative conduit for bypass surgery.     

伴有肌样/肌纤维母细胞性分化的隆突性皮纤维肉瘤的临床病理分析

目的 探讨隆突性皮纤维肉瘤（ＤＦＳＰ）中肌样／肌纤维母细胞性分化的本质及其临床病理学意义。方法 采用常规ＨＥ切片对１２４例ＤＦＳＰ进行筛选,对6例伴有肌样／肌纤维母细胞性分化的ＤＦＳＰ病例进行免疫组织化学标记,其中２例加做电镜检测。结果 肌样／肌纤维母细胞性分化多出现在纤维肉瘤型ＤＦＳＰ（ＦＳ－ＤＦＳＰ）中,表现为肿瘤周边部或肿瘤内散在性分布的深嗜伊红色小结节或短要束,由梭形细胞组成,细胞多无异型性,核分裂象也罕见,形态上似平滑肌细胞或肌纤维母细胞。免疫组织化学标记显示肌样区域细胞表达α－平滑肌肌动蛋白和肌物质特异性肌动抗原,不表达ＣＤ３４;电镜观察证实细胞含有质膜下微丝束、局灶性致密体及微胸饮囊泡样结构,与肌纤维母细胞相一致,结论 ＤＦＳＰ中的肌样／肌纤维母细胞性分化可能是间质中肌纤维母细胞增生的结果,并非代表了瘤细胞的真性肌纤维母细胞性分化。