BONE RESORPTION BY TARTRATE-RESISTANT ACID PHOSPHATASE-POSITIVE MULTINUCLEAR CELLS ISOLATED FROM RHEUMATOID SYNOVIUM

Inflammatory reactions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often causesevere joint destruction. However, the mechanism of bone destructionis still a matter of controversy. To determine whether multinuclearcells found in the rheumatoid synovium can resorb bone, isolatedsynovial cells were assessed for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP) staining and the ability to resorb bone in a dentineresorption assay. TRAP-positive multinuclear cells were foundin six out of 10 samples. These six samples showed resorptionpit formation on dentine slices. The other four samples didnot form resorption pits. The results of this study demonstratethat TRAP-positive multinuclear cells isolated from the rheumatoidsynovium form resorption pits on dentine slices. Our resultssuggest that inflamed synovial cells in rheumatoid joints mightparticipate in bone destruction. KEY WORDS: Bone resorption, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pit formation, Synovial cells, Osteoclast-like cells, Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase     

Alpha-Fetoprotein Subtractions in Germ Cell Tumors Identified by Con A or LCH Crossed-Line Affinity Immunoelectrophoresis

ABSTRACT: Using concanavalin A (Con A) crossed-line affinity immunoelectrophoresis and lentil lectin (LCH) crossed-line affinity immunoelectrophoresis, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) subfractions were studied in sera including three sera from nude mice heterotran-splanted with human yolk sac tumor of the ovary and three sera from patients with yolk sac tumor, mature solid teratoma, or immature solid teratoma of the ovary. In sera of nude mice bearing yolk sac tumor or from a patient with yolk sac tumor, subfractions from yolk sac and those from fetal liver were identified. Since AFP subfractions from yolk sac and fetal liver can be differentiated according to the carbohydrate moieties, our findings indicate that AFP produced by yolk sac tumor and fetal yolk sac are to some extent differently glycosylated. We also found that AFP in both mature and immature solid teratoma was composed of two subfractions ontogenetically originating from yolk sac or fetal liver. All these findings indicate that more than two different factors are responsible for the AFP synthesis in germ cell tumor of the ovary.     

用基因转染方法转运神经营养因子(GDNF)进入脑的体外研究

血脑屏障(blood brainbarrier; BBB),由脑毛细血管内皮细胞构成,存在于循环血液和中枢神经系统之间,起到保持脑内环境相对稳定的作用,是外来物质向脑内转运的重要屏障。近年,神经营养因子等生理活性蛋白对帕金森氏病等中枢系统疾病显示出了较高的疗效 [1, 2]。但是,由于BB     

Altered intrahepatic pathway of para-umbilical vein in portal hypertension

The object of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of altered paraumbilical vein in the hepatic parenchyma, developed from portal hypertension, using computed tomography (CT). Two hundred and ninety-two patients who presented with portal hypertension from 1986 to 1996 were studied retrospectively. The pathway of the dilated para-umbilical vein was demonstrated by contrast-enhanced CT. Thirty-one (11%) patients had a dilated para-umbilical vein arising from the left portal vein into the falciform ligament. In 24 (77%) of these patients, the para-umbilical vein followed the expected route, passing through the fissure of ligamentum teres hepatis. The remaining seven patients (23%) displayed the unusual pathway, with the vein arising from the left branch of the portal vein and passing into the hepatic parenchyma. In these seven patients, four had one collateral vein, and three patients had two collateral veins in the liver parenchyma. The dilated para-umbilical vein frequently passes through the hepatic parenchyma in patients with portal hypertension.     

Adrenoleukodystrophy indicated by abnormal electroencephalography

An 8 year old boy with adrenoleukodystrophy and his asymptomatic brother, both with abnormal electro-encephalography as the initial sign of adrenoleukodystrophy, are reported. After suffering from aseptic meningitis caused by Echo virus 30, the first case was suspected of having a complication of meningitis because of persistent abnormal electro-encephalography (i.e. slow wave bursts in the occipital region). This patient was finally diagnosed as having adrenoleukodystrophy because of the increased level of very long chain saturated fatty acids, and typical occipital lesions demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Dietary therapy was tried, but the course was progressive. The brother's electroencephalography was also abnormal and so was diagnosed as having asymptomatic adrenoleukodystrophy because of an increased level of very long chain saturated fatty acids, although brain magnetic resonance imaging was normal. Abnormal electro-encephalography can therefore be an initial sign of adrenoleukodystrophy even if magnetic resonance imaging shows no abnormality in the brain.     

Congenital chylothorax in a patient with 21 trisomy syndrome

A female infant with 21 trisomy syndrome associated with congenital chylothorax was reported. She was born at a gestational age of 34 weeks by Cesarean section because of fetal hydrothorax and hydrops fetus, confirmed by ultrasonography at 32 weeks. Emergent resuscitation and immediate thoracentesis were performed soon after birth. After beginning breast feeding, the serous pleural fluid became opalescent and a diagnosis of congenital chylothorax was made. Feeding was changed to medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) feeding and the production of pleural effusion disappeared after thoracentesis was performed several times. Accumulating evidence suggested that MCT feeding and intermittent thoracentesis under echo guide were effective. Some reports on patients, including this one, suggest that there may be more patients with 21 trisomy associated with congenital hydrothorax. Therefore, congenital hydrothorax might be listed as a complication of 21 trisomy.     

Severe chronic active giftein-Barr virus infection accompanied by virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome,cerebellar ataxia and encephalitis

We present a rare case of chronic active giftein-Barr virus (EBV) infection showing various clinical outcomes. A 26-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to persistent fever and dyspnea. Serologic response of the patient to EBV indicated chronic active infection. He showed pleuritis, parotitis, chronic hepatic dysfunction, disseminated intravascular coagulation, virus associated hemophaghocytic syndrome, acute rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, acute cerebellar ataxia, encephalitis and multiple brain abscesses. None of acyclovir, gancyclovir, prednisolone or interleukin-2 was effectual to abolish those abnormalities. This is the first report of transient cerebellar ataxia which aggravated to panencephalitis associated with chronic EBV infection.     

Intraspinal Metastasis of Neuroblastoma -- Report of a Case Detected at Autopsy --

Metastasis to the brain or spinal cord parenchyma is extremelyrare in cases of neuroblastoma. We present a 3-year-7-month-old boy with neuroblastoma, stageIV, with intraspinal metastasis. He had no neurologic manifestationexcept incontinentia urinae and ataxia at the terminal stage.His cranial computed tomography scan showed high density areasin both cerebellar hemispheres which seemed to be distant metastaticmasses. At autopsy, the metastases in the cerebellum were foundto be due to dural infiltration but in the spinal cord parenchymaof the lumbar spine metastases were detected macroscopically.There were multiple distant metastatic areas near the roots,anterior and posterior. The neuroblastoma seemed to have spreadalong the roots by direct invasion from the meninges. In the future, the number of patients with metastasis into thebrain or spinal cord parenchyma will increase because patientswith progressive disease could live for a long time as a resultof intensive chemotherapy. Observation of these cases will behelpful to clarify the routes of metastasis to these areas.     

HPLC-studies on nonmercapt-mercapt conversion of human serum albumin

Human mercaptalbumin (HMA) and nonmercaptalbumin (HNA) could be separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at neutral pH. Using HPLC, the present authors found the nonmercapt-mercapt conversion (HNA ← HMA) during hemodialysis and the mercapt-nonmercapt conversion (HMA ← HNA) after hemodialysis in chronic renal failure, indicating HMA as the covalent carrier protein for sulfur-containing amino acids.