The relationship between jaw deformity and scoliosis

Objectives To analyze the relationship between lateral displacement of the mandible and scoliosis. Methods From April 2002 through July 2003, we examined posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs and chest X-rays from 85 patients with jaw deformities and a control group of 20 patients with no jaw deformities. To measure the lateral shift of the mandible, we drew a horizontal baseline (X axis) on the cephalogram connecting the intersection of the external margins of the orbits and the most lateral points of the greater wings of the sphenoid. A vertical baseline (Y axis) was then marked perpendicular to the X axis, intersecting the ethmoid crista galli. Then, we measured the lateral displacement of the mandibular mentum from the Y axis. Displacement to the right was designated positive; that to the left was designated negative. Cobb's method was used to measure scoliosis curves on chest X-rays; the direction of the curve was designated similarly. Results Of the 85 patients with jaw deformity, 23 (27.1%) had a Cobb angle exceeding 10°. None of the control group had scoliosis exceeding 10°. No correlation was found between the direction of mandibular displacement and the direction of scoliosis. Conclusion This study suggests a relationship between jaw deformities and scoliosis, as scoliosis was found in 27.1% of the patients with a main complaint of jaw deformity.     

Experimental studies on metastases from an irradiated tumor]

This study was carried out to determine the effect of irradiation of a tumor on the development of lung metastases. SANH, a spontaneous sarcoma, was isotransplanted in the right thighs of C3H mice which were either locally preirradiated (30 Gy: TBR) or non-irradiated. When the tumors had grown to 7 mm in diameter, they received 20-30 Gy of electron beams (RTx). The tumor-bearing legs were amputated at various tumor sizes, and the incidence of metastasis and number of lung nodules were compared in each treatment group. The incidences of metastases from 7 mm tumors in mice with regrowing tumors after RTx (30 Gy) and non-irradiated mice were 28% and 4%, respectively. When tumors grown in preirradiated legs were removed at 7 mm in diameter, the incidence of metastases (58%) was also enhanced by preirradiation of the tumor bed. Seven millimeter tumors that were growing in TBR legs and received RTx (20 Gy) developed a higher incidence (82%) and greater numbers of metastases than either the RTx or TBR groups. To determine the relationship between the interval of tumor bearing and development of metastases, tumors were removed at various intervals after tumor transplantation in 4 groups, namely, non-irradiated, TBR, RTx and TBR with 20 GyRTx. Lung metastases came later but increased steeply in mice given either TBR or RTx, compared with non-irradiated mice. Tumors growing in TBR and receiving RTx (20 Gy) developed many more metastases than any other group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

GALC transduction leads to morphological improvement of the twitcher oligodendrocytes in vivo

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD, Krabbe disease) is a severe demyelinating disease caused by a genetic defect of beta-galactocerebrosidase (GALC). To date treatment to GLD is limited to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Experimental approaches by means of gene therapy in twitcher mouse, an authentic murine model of human GLD, showed significant but only marginal improvements of the disease. To clarify whether the introduction of GALC could provide beneficial effects on the oligodendrocytes in GLD, we transduced twitcher oligodendrocytes by stereotactically injecting recombinant retrovirus encoding GALC-myc-tag fusion gene into the forebrain subventricular zone of neonatal twitcher mouse. In vivo effects of exogenous GALC on twitcher oligodendrocytes were studied histologically by combined immunostaining for the myc-epitope and the oligodendroglial specific marker, pi form of glutathione-S-transferase, at around 40 days of age. We show here that GALC transduction led to dramatic morphological improvement of the twitcher oligodendrocytes comparing with those in untreated twitcher controls. This study provided direct in vivo evidence that GALC transduction could prevent or correct aberrant morphology of oligodendrocytes in GLD which may be closely related to the dysfunction and/or degeneration of oligodendrocytes and the demyelination in this disease.     

Mixed growth hormone cell- prolactin cell pituitary adenoma with acromegaly: α-subunit most growth hormone cells

A 51 -year-old woman with mixed growth hormone (GH) cell-prolactin (PRL) cell pituitary adenoma is presented. She had clinical signs due to hypersecretion of GH and PRL. Resected tissue was studied immunohistochemically and morphologically. The serial sections revealed that GH and α-subunit were co-localized in most cells, while GH and PRL were localized in different cells.     

Transpetrosal approach for aneurysms of the lower basilar artery

Extradural subtemporal access to the petrosal ridge and a resection of the anterior pyramidal bone produced direct observation of the lower basilar artery, with minimum retraction of the temporal lobe and preservation of the temporal bridging veins. Two patients with lower basilar trunk aneurysms facing toward the brain stem, were operated on by the "transpetrosal approach," with successful clipping of the aneurysms. Auditory function was preserved in one case. This approach decreases the possibility of retraction damage to the temporal lobe, brain stem, or cranial nerves, and may be helpful for surgery of aneurysms arising around the vertebrobasilar junction or at the origin of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery.     

Effects of mTOR inhibitor–related proteinuria on progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and outcomes among heart transplant recipients

We have previously described the use of sirolimus (SRL) as primary immunosuppression following heart transplantation (HT). The advantages of this approach include attenuation of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), improvement in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and reduced malignancy. However, in some patients SRL may cause significant proteinuria. We sought to investigate the prognostic value of proteinuria after conversion to SRL. CAV progression and adverse clinical events were studied. CAV progression was assessed by measuring the Δ change in plaque volume (PV) and plaque index (PI) per year using coronary intravascular ultrasound. Proteinuria was defined as Δ urine protein ≥300 mg/24 h at 1 year after conversion to SRL. Overall, 137 patients were analyzed (26% with proteinuria). Patients with proteinuria had significantly lower GFR (P = .005) but similar GFR during follow-up. Delta PV (P < .001) and Δ PI (P = .001) were significantly higher among patients with proteinuria after adjustment for baseline characteristics. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 3.8; P = .01) with proteinuria but similar risk of CAV-related events (P = .61). Our results indicate that proteinuria is a marker of baseline renal dysfunction, and that HT recipients who develop proteinuria after conversion to SRL have less attenuation of CAV progression and higher mortality risk.     

A new model rat with acute bronchiolitis and its application to research on the toxicology of inhaled particulate matter

The aim of the present study was to establish a useful animal model that simulates humans sensitive to inhaled particulate matter (PM). We have developed a new rat model of acute bronchiolitis (Br) by exposing animals to NiCl2 (Ni) aerosols for five days. Three days following the Ni exposure, the animals developed signs of tachypnea, mucous hypersecretion, and bronchiolar inflammation which seemed to progress quickly during the fourth to fifth day. They recovered from lesions after four weeks in clean air. To assess the sensitivity of the Br rats to inhaled particles, two kinds of PM of respirable size were tested with doses similar to or a little higher to the recommended threshold limit values (TLVs) for the working environment in Japan. Titanium dioxide (TiO2 = Ti) was chosen as an inert and insoluble particles and vanadium pentoxide (V2O5 = V), as a representative soluble and toxic airborne material. The Br rats exposed to either Ti or V were compared the pathological changes in the lungs and the clearance of particles to those in normal control or Br rats kept in clean air. The following significant differences were observed in Br rats: 1. delayed recovery from pre-existing lesions or exacerbated inflammation, 2. reductions in deposition and clearance rate of inhaled particles with the progress of lesions. The present results suggest that Br rats are more susceptible to inhaled particles than control rats. Therefore, concentrations of particulate matter lower than the TLVs for Japan, which have no harmful effects on normal lungs, may not always be safe in the case of pre-existing lung inflammation.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of 61 pituitary adenomas with a monoclonal antibody to the neuron-specific β-tubulin isotype

Pituitary adenomas surgically resected from 61 consecutive patients and 9 normal pituitary glands were studied by immunohistochemistry to determine the localization of the class III-tubulin isotype (neuron-specific) which is recognized by the monoclonal antibody TUJ1. In normal pituitary glands only a few cells were weakly immunopositive for TUJ1, whereas, in 43(73%) of 61 adenomas, more than 5% of tumor cells were immunopositive. The result may indicate that this neuron-specific -tubulin isotype may be either expressed de novo or enhanced under the transformation of pituitary acinar cells to tumors.Research fellow of the Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine where the work was conducted