Measurement of γ-enolase release, a new method for selective quantification of neurotoxicity independently from glial lysis

We have developed a sensitive enzymatic-immunoassay to quantify the level of gamma-enolase (a specific neuronal enzyme) which is released from cultured cells after exposure to various toxins. We show that this method can estimate selectively neuronal cell death without significantly interfering with glial cell death. Indeed, no gamma-enolase is released when glial cells are killed with free-radical producing agents. Experiments comparing the levels of neuronal cell death induced by NMDA or free-radical producing drugs, performed either by measuring gamma-enolase release or using the classical fluorescein diacetate method, yielded similar results. In addition to selectively follow neuronal death in a mixed population of neurons and glial cells, this method provides a way of determining the cell death kinetics from a single culture dish, since enolase can be measured on small samples taken from the culture medium. Finally, we propose these two methods as being complementary and useful neuronal and other cellular death indexes and also to understand the complex problem of glial influence on neuronal survival or death.     

Maffucci’s syndrome associated with spindle cell hemangioendothelioma

 The case of a 49-year-old man with Maffucci’s syndrome, who developed multiple spindle cell hemangioendotheliomas, is presented. The case provides support for recent reports suggesting an association between this peculiar vascular lesion and skeletal enchondromatosis.     

Cyclosporine in the treatment of azathioprine-induced red cell aplasia following renal transplantation

Azathioprine, a well-known immunosuppressive agent, is used extensively in renal transplantation. There have been several case reports of pure red cell aplasia induced by this drug following a successful kidney transplant. Previous management of azathioprine-induced red cell aplasia included reduction of azathioprine dose, or treatment with cyclophosphamide. We propose the substitution of cyclosporine for azathioprine, in this clinical setting. Not only does cyclosporine allow recovery of bone marrow function, but it maintains a level of immunosuppression which stabilizes renal function in the post-transplant patient.     

Natural killer cell activity and CSF monoamine metabolites in suicide attempters

The aim of this study was to investigate markers of serotonin and immune function in suicidal patients. Cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells (NK) and CD16 lymphocytes were studied in 28 suicide attempters and 26 healthy controls, and related in patients to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Patients with CSF 5-HIAA below the median had significantly lower NK cell activity than other patients. CD16 cell frequency was significantly lower in patients than in controls, and patients also tended to have lower NK cell cytotoxicity than healthy controls. There were no statistically significant correlations between 4-hydroxy-3methoxyphenyl glycol (HMPG), homovanillic acid (HVA), CSF cortisol and NK cell activity. The results support the hypothesis of compromised immune function in suicidal patients with evidence of disordered serotonin function.     

Morphometric study of nucleolar organizer regions in human oral normal mucosa, papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma

A morphometric study of nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) was performed to analyze their distribution, volume, number and shape in the different strata of human normal oral mucosa epithelium and papilloma and in squamous cell carcinoma employing microphotographs of silver-stained paraffin sections. The different NOR-related parameters evidenced significant differences between normal mucosa, papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma. The functional polarity of normal mucosa epithelium and of papilloma is also evidenced in terms of NOR-related parameters. The discriminative value of certain NOR parameters was demonstrated.     

Haemangiopericytomas: the prognostic value of immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)

Forty-two cases of haemangiopericytoma were studied retrospectively using immunohistochemical staining with PC10, a monoclonal antibody to PCNA. The percentage of tumour cells with positive staining for PCNA was found to correlate well with histological grading. Clinical follow-up data were available in 25 adults and showed no known deaths in 11 cases with a low proportion (less than 14%) of positive cells. Out of 14 cases with a high number (greater than or equal to 14%) of positive cells, seven patients are known to have died, two had metastases, and in a further two there have been multiple recurrences of tumour. DNA flow cytometry was performed on 26 cases but this showed no correlation with PC10 staining or clinical outcome. Staining with PC10 may be of particular value in the identification of patients at greatest risk of rapid tumour metastasis and early death.     

用Fura-2测定周围血单个核细胞内游离钙浓度

本文用Fura-2测定了周围血单个核细胞内游离钙浓度，并对有关实验条件进行了探讨。对比研究表明，血标本在4℃保存4小时对测定结果无显著影响，测定标本中单个核细胞数以10~5～10~6/ml为宜。认为测定单个核细胞内游离钙浓度对判断单个核细胞的功能状况有一定帮助。     

Temporal arteritis presenting with scalp ulceration

We report the case of a 75-year-old-woman who presented with bilateral scalp ulcerations and blindness, accompanied by severe headache and scalp tenderness, due to bilateral temporal arteritis without systemic involvement. A biopsy taken from the border of an ulceration showed evidence of giant cell arteritis. She was treated with oral prednisone, 60 mg per day. The ulcerations healed in a few weeks but the vision loss was irreversible. This case highlights for temporal arteritis the importance of accurate and timely diagnosis as well as the need for prompt therapy with systemic steroids in order to avoid major complications, namely loss of vision. It also demonstrates that scalp necrosis and ulcerations are skin signs associated with a poor prognosis.