Paraneoplastic movement disorder in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and CRMP-5 autoantibody.

The paraneoplastic autoantibody, collapsin response-mediator protein (CRMP)-5 immunoglobulin G (IgG), is specific for neuronal cytoplasmic CRMP-5, and is usually associated with small-cell lung carcinoma or thymoma. We report on details of a movement disorder that followed anti-B-cell therapy in a patient with lymphoma, and was accompanied by CRMP-5 IgG.     

Expression of the cell surface antigen detected by the monoclonal antibody A7 in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines

In a previous study, we used a murine monoclonal antibody, A7, against human colon carcinoma as a drug-carrier to treat colorectal cancer.¹ In the present study, we found that MAb A7 also reacted immunohistochemically with 73% of human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, with the A7 antigen mainly being detected on the cell surface. However, the A7 antigen was found in only 9% of the spent media of these human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines by ELISA. On the other hand, the positive incidence of CA19-9, POA, ferritin, CEA, DU-PAN-2 and SLX in those spent media was 100%, 64%, 64%, 55%, 55% and 36%, respectively. These results suggest that the A7 antigen may only rarely be shed into the sera of pancreatic cancer patients, in which case MAb A7 could be a suitable drug-carrier in targeting chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer patients.     

MRI and CT in Krabbe's disease: case report

A case of infantile Krabbe's disease was first recognised as areas of relatively increased density on CT in the thalamus lateral geniculate body and dentate nucleus. These sites were subsequently shown on MRI to have a paramagnetic effect, being characterised by short T2 and T1. Subsequent examinations showed development of atrophy and high signal in white matter.     

T Cell Receptor Vβ Repertoires of Angioimmunoblastic Lymphadenopathy-like T Cell Lymphoma

To elucidate the pathogenesis of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy-like T cell lymphoma (AILD-T) we investigated the T cell receptor Vβ gene repertoires of four AILD-Ts and compared them with those of other histological types of lymphomas and three cases with reactive disorders. All lymphoma patients had rearrangement bands detected by Southern blot analysis. Only 1 of the 4 cases of AILD-T showed a single predominant usage of Vβ 20 gene by PCR with 20 different Vβ specific primers and the others had repertoires somewhat restricted but similar to reactive lesions. Subsequent sequencing of this PCR product revealed that only 2 of 7 clones were identical. These results suggest the monoclonal malignant cells in AILD-T are scant and that the infiltrating T cells show a reactive pattern. In the only AILD-T case with a single dominant Vβ usage, the relationships of this repertoire and lymphoma cells seems to be of some consequence.     

Indirect detection of anti-acetylcholinesterase compounds in microcolumn liquid chromatography using packed bed reactor with immobilized human red blood cell acetylcholinesterase and choline oxidase

The inhibiting compounds were separated by micro-column liquid chromatography in the mobile phase containing the natural substrate acetylcholine. A home-made packed bed microbioreactor system containing immobilized enzyme acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) in human red blood cell membrane and choline oxidase (CHO) from alcaligenes was used for the post-column conversion of acetylcholine to hydrogen peroxide which was detected by an electrochemical detector. The inhibition effect of the solutes caused a decrease in the acetylcholinesterase activity, a decrease in the formation of hydrogen peroxide and also a decrease in the response corresponding to the concentration of the solutes. The rate of the enzyme regeneration was also recorded. The micro-system was compared with a conventional LC system comprising commercially prepared enzyme reactor. The stability of the enzymes is at least 3 weeks at ambient temperature. The limit of detection depends on biological activity of inhibition and for galanthamine was 1 pmol.     

人体膀胱移行上皮癌细胞系(TSB-90,TSB-91)的建立及其生物学特性

从1例膀胱癌患者的癌组织培养中，分离得到2个不同生长特性的悬浮生长型细胞系，定名为TSB-90和TSB-91。在培养过程中，对其生物学特性进行了细胞和亚细胞水平的探讨，并进行了核型分析。发现2个细胞系核型的演化趋势有明显差异，生物学特性也不尽相同。这可能与膀胱癌组织中细胞的遗传异质性和分化程度有关。对其机制和细节有待进一步深入研究。     

Type II sodium channels in spinal cord astrocytes in situ: Immunocytochemical observations

The expression of sodium channel α-subunit isoforms in astrocytes in adult rat spinal cord and optic nerve was examined utilizing immunocytochemical methods with antibodies generated against conserved and subtype-specific sequences of the sodium channel. In adult rat spinal cord, astrocytes within the dorsal and ventral funiculi were immunolabelled with antibody SP20, which recognizes a conserved sequence within sodium channel types I, II, and III. In addition, astrocytes within these spinal cord white matter tracts were immunostained with antibody SP11-II, which recognizes sodium channel type II. Antibodies SP11-I and SP32-III, which are directed against subtype-specific sequences in sodium channel types I and III, respectively, did not label astrocytes in the dorsal and ventral funiculi of the spinal cord. In optic nerves, astrocytes were immunostained with antibody SP20. However, no detectable labelling of cells within the optic nerve was observed with antibodies SP11-I, SP11-II, and SP32-III. These observations demonstrate that sodium channel II is expressed by astrocytes in spinal cord white matter. Moreover, these data suggest that regional factors regulate the level of sodium channel isoform expression in astrocytes.     

The relationship of proliferating cell density at the invasive tumour front with prognostic and risk factors in human oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: We hypothesise that the density of proliferating cells at the invasive tumour front (ITF) has a positive relationship with prognostic and risk factors in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: Tissues from 47 human oral SCC specimens were collected and stained with a monoclonal antibody directed against the Ki-67 antigen using a horseradish peroxidase based two-step immunostaining method. Counting was performed on two parallel sections at the ITF using an image analyser. The Ki-67 labelling index (LI) was determined by measuring the number of nuclei/mm(2) of epithelium. RESULTS: Our results show that the density of proliferating cells is related to clinical staging, with advanced stage of disease having a significantly higher Ki-67 LI compared with early stage of disease (2111 +/- 905 vs. 1908 +/- 913; P = 0.03). Importantly, this study shows that tumours that have metastasised have a significantly higher Ki-67 LI than tumours where distant metastasis was not detected (3257 +/- 650 vs. 1966 +/- 881; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Cell proliferation, as measured by the Ki-67 LI at the ITF, has a positive relationship with clinical staging, tumour thickness, smoking status of the patient and alcohol consumption. Further, we suggest that a multicenter study with a large cohort of patients is indicated to fully elucidate whether cell proliferation at the ITF is directly related to patient survival.