PELGEROID-LIKE ANOMALOUS CELLS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF NEUTROPHILIC DERMATOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME

Neutrophilic dermatoses (ND), with or without accompanying myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), were examined in terms of nuclear abnormality like pelgeroid anomaly of infiltrating cells into skin lesions. Six ND accompanying MDS showed 1.0 to 13.5% of such anomalous cells among infiltrating cells. In contrast, ND without accompanying myeloproliferative disorders rarely had such anomalous cells. Our findings suggest that pelgeroid-like anomalous cells infiltrating into ND are probably a good marker of underlying MDS.     

Fluid and Protein Secretion by the Submandibular Glands of Weanling Rats in Response to Cholinergic and Peptidergic Agonists at Various Doses

Fluid and protein secretion by the submandibular glands of 25-day-old rats were examined and compared in response to three cholinergic and four peptidergic sialogogues at various doses. All cholinergic and peptidergic agonists used were potent sialogogues for the submandibular glands of the weanling rats over the wide range of doses used. The cholinergic agonists, bethanechol and methacholine and the peptidergic agonists, substance P, substance P^Tyr8 and eledoisin-related peptide used intravenously, acted similarly to each other on the submandibular glands of the rats, late in the natural weaning period, but carbachol and physalaemin had slightly different effects. Of the peptidergic agonists, physalaemin was the most potent sialogogue among four tachykinins tested at the low dose. The types of protein secreted by the submandibular glands of the weanling rats in response to all sialogogues used here were typical of the β-type. These results indicate that all agonists used could mainly stimulate the acinar cells of the submandibular glands of the weanling rats which have already fully developed functionally at this time.     

白细胞介素-1β上行调节兔血管平滑肌细胞极低密度脂蛋白受体mRNA的表达

为了研究血管平滑肌细胞是否表达极低密度脂蛋白受体ｍＲＮＡ，采用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ分析法检测培养兔主动脉平滑肌细胞表达极低密度脂蛋白受体ｍＲＮＡ的情况。结果发现，培养兔主动脉平滑肌细胞可以表达极低密度脂蛋白受体ｍＲＮＡ；而且，细胞因子白细胞介素－１β能使表达增强约２倍。提示极低密度脂蛋白受体有可能参与动脉平滑肌细胞源性泡沫细胞；白细胞介素－１β上行调节平滑肌细胞表达极低密度脂蛋白受体ｍＲＮＡ     

Effects of glycyrrhizin on immune-mediated cytotoxicity

Intravenous administration of glycyrrhizin is known to decrease elevated plasma transaminase levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, in which immune-mediated cytotoxicity by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α is considered to play an important pathogenic role. However, the immunological interpretation of the transaminase-lowering action of glycyrrhizin is not known. Studies were performed to elucidate this action immunologically by assessing the effects of glycyrrhizin on immune-mediated cytotoxicity using an antigen-specific murine CD4⁺ T hybridoma line, which exhibits cytotoxicity against antigen-presenting cells after stimulation with specific antigen, and a murine TNF-α-sensitive fibroblast line. Glycyrrhizin inhibited the cytotoxic activity of the T cells against antigen-presenting cells and also suppressed TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity in the TNF-α-sensitive cell line in vitro. These results suggest that the decrease of elevated transaminase levels by glycyrrhizin in patients with chronic viral hepatitis is mediated in part by inhibition of immune-mediated cytotoxicity against hepatocytes.     

The influence of physical restraint or fasting on plaque-forming cell response in mice

Abstract This study was designed to investigate the effects of 1- and 3-day (16 h/day) physically restrained or fasting on immunological and endocrine responses in CBF1 mice. The influence of stressors on these responses was evaluated using anti-sheep red blood cell plaque-forming assay, and by examining T cell subsets, thymus weight and endocrine hormone levels. The results revealed that a significant elevation of the plaque-forming cells (PFC) was found in spleen cells in 1-day restrained mice, that the PFC were conversely suppressed following 3-day physically restrained stress, and that the PFC were not affected by 1- or 3-day fasting stress. Serum levels of norepinephrine were found to be significantly increased only in 1-day physically restrained mice. No change of T cell subsets and thymus weight was found in 1-day physically restrained mice. A significant increase in serum corticosterone levels was elicited in both 1- and 3-day physically restrained mice, and 3-day fasting mice, while increased Lyt2-positive T cells and thymic atrophy were found only in 3-day physically restrained mice. These findings suggest that immune function was differentially affected by the duration and types of stressors.     

Longitudinal Dissociation in the His Bundle: A Possible Mechanism of Two Distinct Cycle Lengths in Atrioventricular Reentrant Tachycardia

Two wide QRS tachycardias with identical morphology but different cycle lengths (CLs) developed in a 63-year-old man. Electrophysiological study demonstrated inducible atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) due to a concealed left posterior accessory pathway (AP), which was successfully ablated by radiofrequency application. Neither dual AV nodal pathways nor other APs were documented. Splitting of the His-bundle electrogram was shown, and programmed stimulation induced sudden prolongation of intra-hisian conduction time. These results suggest longitudinal dissociation in the His bundle may be responsible for two distinct CLs in AVRT without dualAV nodal physiology.     

Assessment of Angiographic Coronary Calcification and Plaque Composition in Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound

Objectives

We assessed the relation between coronary plaque composition and angiographic calcification by using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH‐IVUS).

Background

The plaque vulnerability according to angiographic calcification is unclear.

Methods

Subjects were 140 consecutive patients (145 lesions) undergoing VH‐IVUS before percutaneous coronary intervention. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: no calcification group (n = 27), spotty group (n = 65) that had calcium deposits under 90° in grayscale IVUS, intermediate group (n = 37) had calcium deposits with 90° or more and under 180°, and extensive group (n = 16) had calcium deposits with 180° or more.

Results

The number of VH thin‐cap fibroatheromas in spotty group was significantly larger than no calcification group, intermediate group, and extensive group (0.66 ± 0.71 vs 0.22 ± 0.42 [P < 0.01], 0.32 ± 0.48 [P < 0.05], 0.13 ± 0.34 [P < 0.01], respectively). Spotty group without angiographic calcification had significantly larger %necrotic core than with angiographic calcification (24.5 ± 6.7% vs 19.9 ± 7.2%, P < 0.05). Intermediate group without angiographic calcification had significantly larger necrotic core area than with angiographic calcification (2.5 ± 0.9 mm² vs 1.7 ± 0.9 mm², P < 0.05). Extensive group with angiographic calcification had significantly larger %dense calcium than without angiographic calcification (18.3 ± 4.0% vs 13.4 ± 4.4%, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Lesions with spotty calcification was highly vulnerable in VH‐IVUS. Spotty or intermediate plaque calcification without angiographic calcification was more vulnerable than those with angiographic calcification. Extensive plaque calcification with angiographic calcification had more dense calcium than those without angiographic calcification.

     

Increased urinary excretion of human cytomegalovirus in children with malignancy: Detection by polymerase chain reaction

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is one of the most important agents causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts. In this study, we examined the urinary excretion of HCMV in children with malignancy using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Urine samples were collected from on-therapy, off-therapy patients with malignancy, and healthy controls. A simple DNA extraction method using glass powder was employed, and inhibitory effect of urine on PCR was prevented. For PCR, a pair of primers from the HCMV major immediate early gene sequence was used. Among patients who received intensive chemotherapy, 52.0% had urinary HCMV excretion after the chemotherapy course. In contrast, off-therapy patients and healthy controls showed a lower incidence of urinary HCMV excretion (20.4 and 8.7%, respectively). The incidence of HCMV urinary excretion in the on-therapy group was significantly higher than healthy controls (P < 0.05). In the on-therapy group, the total white blood cell count of the virus excreters was lower than that of non-excreters. The incidence of HCMV excretion was high in on-therapy patients. Most of the virus excreters were seropositive, so their viruria was thought to be caused by reactivation. Repeated monitoring of virus excretion by this rapid and simple method may be useful to detect HCMV infection early and to control it in such patients.     

Detection of Alterations in the Levels of Neuropeptides and Salivary Gland Responses in the Non-Obese Diabetic Mouse Model for Autoimmune Sialoadenitis

The salivary glands of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice and BALB/c controls were evaluated for the stimulatory effects of the following neuropeptides; substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Injection of either of the three neuropeptides in combination with the muscarinic–cholinergic agonist pilocarpine increased saliva flow rates in BALB/c mice while there was no observable augmentation to flow rates in pre-diabetic or diabetic NOD mice. Small increases in protein content of the stimulated saliva were observed in the BALB/c group of animals with the injection of any of the above neuropeptides in combination with pilocarpine. In pre-diabetic NOD animals, only VIP and NPY increased the protein content-ratio above pilocarpine alone. Radioimmunoassay determination of neuropeptide concentrations in the submandibular and parotid glands revealed reduced levels of SP with diabetes onset as compared with pre-diabetic NOD or BALB/c mice. The levels of NPY were similar between BALB/c and NOD animals except in the pre-diabetic parotid gland where NPY concentrations were 1.3-fold greater. On the other hand, VIP concentrations were substantially reduced in the submandibular gland of NOD mice, while in the parotid gland neuropeptide levels were evaluated 3.8-fold relative to BALB/c controls. Immunohistochemical staining of the parotid and submandibular glands for SP revealed primarily ductal cell staining which was reduced with diabetes onset in NOD animals. These findings further define the sialoadenitis observed in NOD mice to be due, in part, to a general loss of neurotransmitter responsiveness on the part of salivary gland cells.     

Evaluation of Endoscopic Resection of Gastric Tumors Following Local Injections of HSE (Hypertonic Saline-Epinephrine Solution)

Abstract: The Endoscopic resection of gastric tumors following local injections of hypertonic saline-epinephrine solution (ERHSE) was performed on 72 lesions (69 patients) of gastric tumors at Yoyogi Hospital etc. from March, 1983, to December, 1989. These included 40 cases of adenoma, 31 cases of carcinoma, and one carcinoid tumor. The average length of the major axis of the endoscopically resected tumors was 12 ± 9 mm. The curative rate at the first attempt was 94% (64 of 68 lesions). The curative rate of the final procedure was 99% (67 of 68 lesions). This excluded 4 lesions in 3 patients in whom a follow-up examination was not possible. There was no relationship found between the final cure rate and the form and location of the lesions. Fifty four lesions were resected with one session of snare cautery; the average length of their major axis was 9 ± 6mm. The resection of 18 lesions was done piecemeal, and the average length of their major axis was 20 ± 10mm. A statistical significance was noted between the size of the lesions which could be resected with one session of snare cautery and those treated by the piecemeal method, but no difference was noted in the location of lesions for the two groups. The indication for ERHSE was assessed in accordance with the cases that resulted in piecemeal resection, those in which the first ERHSE left residual tumor tissues, and those with perforation. ERHSE could be performed with difficulty on lesions which were (1) on the sharply bending gasric wall, (2) observed only tangentially, (3) inadequately observed. These lesions were situated on the gastric fornix, cardia, and their vicinities, the gastric angulus, posterior wall and greater curvature of the gastric body, and anterior wall and lesser curvature of the middle to the upper gastric body.