Hamartoma of the parotid gland: A case report with immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study

Summary A case of a solid parotid tumour in a 16-year-old boy is presented. Histologically, the tumour demonstrated some peculiar findings. An acinar pattern was predominant although every component seen in the normal salivary gland was present, namely, serous and mucous gland acini, ducts, myoepithelial cells, adipose and lymphoid tissue. Large eosinophilic granules were abundant in the large acinar cell cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the tumour demonstrated the proteins which are present in the normal parotid gland, for example, amylase, lactoferrin and lysozyme. Electron microscopic features were quite similar to those of normal parotid tissue except for accumulation of a large number of cytoplasmic granules in the acinar cells. There has been no previous report of a tumour with the same features as seen in this case. Our pathological diagnosis is hamartoma, although the possibility of hyperplasia or neoplasia can not be excluded.     

Electrocatalytic dehalogenation of organohalides on a nickel(II) tetraazamacrocyclic complex-modified graphite felt electrode

Electrocatalytic dehalogenation of organohalides was studied using a nickel(II) tetraazamacrocyclic complex-modified graphite felt electrode. The nickel(II) tetraazamacrocyclic complex-modified graphite felt electrode was prepared by attaching nickel(II) (6-(2′-hydroxyethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)perchlorate chemically to the carboxyl groups of a thin poly(acrylic acid) layer coated on the graphite felt. The modified electrode gave a reversible electron transfer for the nickel(II)/nickel(I) redox couple in cyclic voltammetry at ?0.95 V versus Ag/AgCl. A preparative electrocatalytic dehalogenation of organohalides was successfully achieved on the modified electrode with an adequate current efficiency (55.6–94.8%), conversion (34.2–100%) and turnover number of the Ni catalyst (667–3333).     

Reduced-intensity unrelated cord blood transplantation for patients with advanced malignant lymphoma.

We report the results of reduced-intensity unrelated cord blood transplantation (RI-UCBT) in patients with advanced malignant lymphoma. Twenty patients (median age, 46.5 years; range, 27-66 years) underwent RI-UCBT with a preparative regimen consisting of fludarabine 125 mg/m2 , melphalan 80 mg/m 2 , and 4 Gy of total body irradiation. The median infused total cell dose was 2.75 x 10(7)/kg (range, 2.3-3.4 x 10(7)/kg). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was composed of cyclosporine or tacrolimus alone. Fifteen patients achieved primary neutrophil engraftment after a median of 20 days. Eight patients developed grade II to IV acute GVHD, and 2 developed chronic GVHD. Of the 16 patients with evaluable disease, 10 achieved a complete response. Primary disease recurred in 1 patient, and transplant-related mortality within 100 days occurred in 8 of 20 patients. The estimated 1-year probability of progression-free survival was 50%. These data suggest that RI-UCBT is a feasible option for patients with refractory lymphoma who lack an HLA-matched donor.     

Mucinous cystadenoma of the testis

A 35-year-old man complained of a painless enlargement of the right testis. Imaging diagnostic procedures demonstrated a multiloculated cystic tumor, 9 cm in maximal diameter, in the right testis with hydrocele. Orchidectomy specimen showed that the tumor was confined within the testis and separated from the epididymis. The locules of the tumor were lined by single-layered columnar epithelium, intermingled with MUC2 immunopositive goblet and chromogranin-A immunopositive neuroendocrine cells, exhibiting intestinal differentiation. No ciliated cell, teratomatous element or intratubular germ cell neoplasia were seen. Channels of rete testis were compressed peripherally by the tumor but there was no connection with the tumor locules. The tumor was diagnosed as mucinous cystadenoma of the testis. This seems to be the first published case of benign mucinous cystadenoma occurring within the testis. This intratesticular tumor with intestinal differentiation may represent a benign monodermal teratoma.     

Epithelial-myoepithelial Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland in a Child

A rare case of epithelial myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland, which occurred in a child, is reported. An 8 year old boy presented with swelling of the right parotid gland. He underwent total parotidectomy followed by irradiation for a parotid gland tumor. Three years after the operation, a recurrent tumor invading the base of the skull and the brain and metastases in the lung were noted. The patient expired in spite of extirpation of the intracranial recurrent tumor. The resected tumor showed a character istic histologic feature:double -layered tubular structures composed of inner dark cells (epithelial cells) and outer clear cells (myoepithelial cells). This patient may be the youngest one with the epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma reported in the literature. Acta Pathol Jpn 42: 358–363, 1992.     

SF-1/Ad4BP transforms primary long-term cultured bone marrow cells into ACTH-responsive steroidogenic cells

Bone marrow stem cells develop into haematopoietic and mesenchymal lineages, but have not been known to participate in steroidogenic cell production. Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), also designated adrenal 4 binding protein (Ad4BP), is an essential orphan nuclear receptor for steroidogenesis as well as for adrenal and gonadal gland development. In the present study, we revealed that the adenovirus-mediated forced expression of SF-1 can transform cultured primary long-term cultured bone marrow cells into steroidogenic cells, showing the de novo synthesis of multiple steroid hormones in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This finding may provide an initial step in innovative autograft cell transfer therapy for steroid hormone deficiencies.     

Nascent peptide-mediated translation elongation arrest coupled with mRNA degradation in the CGS1 gene of Arabidopsis

Expression of the Arabidopsis CGS1 gene that codes for cystathionine gamma-synthase is feedback regulated at the step of mRNA stability in response to S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet). A short stretch of amino acid sequence, called the MTO1 region, encoded by the first exon of CGS1 itself is involved in this regulation. Here, we demonstrate, using a cell-free system, that AdoMet induces temporal translation elongation arrest at the Ser-94 codon located immediately downstream of the MTO1 region, by analyzing a translation intermediate and performing primer extension inhibition (toeprint) analysis. This translation arrest precedes the formation of a degradation intermediate of CGS1 mRNA, which has its 5' end points near the 5' edge of the stalled ribosome. The position of ribosome stalling also suggests that the MTO1 region in nascent peptide resides in the ribosomal exit tunnel when translation elongation is temporarily arrested. In addition to the MTO1 region amino acid sequence, downstream Trp-93 is also important for the AdoMet-induced translation arrest. This is the first example of nascent peptide-mediated translation elongation arrest coupled with mRNA degradation in eukaryotes. Furthermore, our data suggest that the ribosome stalls at the step of translocation rather than at the step of peptidyl transfer.     

Effects of cycloheximide and puromycin on the antiviral and anticellular activities of human interferon.

Human leucocyte interferon has antiviral activity and anticellular effects on the transformed human cell lines, RSa and RSb. Treatment of the cells with cycloheximide or puromycin at 0-5 to 5-0 microgram/ml suppressed the antiviral action of interferon but increased its anticellular effects. Interferon also has antiviral activity in IFr cells, but this is relatively resistant to its anticellular action. Nevertheless, both drugs suppressed the antiviral activity of interferon and increased its anticellular action.     

Urinary hydroxyproline, creatinine and urea excretion during the growth of five siblings

Urinary excretions of hydroxyproline, creatine and urea in 24 h specimens from 5 siblings have been determined monthly from 1971 to 1976 together with the measurements of body height and body weight. Changes with age in the urinary levels of these substances are in good agreement with those from cross-sectional studies in various age groups of children. Wide fluctuations of excretion levels occurred. The creatinine coefficients did not remain constant even over short periods. Menarche was observed shortly after the peak of hydroxyproline excretion at puberty. The hydroxyproline excretion pattern is similar to that of hydroxyproline index proposed by Whitehead, and it is quite different from that of hydroxyproline ratio.