Mediastinal lipoma: Report of a case

We experienced a case of mediastinal lipoma, which is considered to be a relatively rare disease. A 3-year-old girl was referred to Gifu University hospital because of fever and an abnormal shadow on her chest X-ray. The chest X-ray clearly showed a well-delineated tumor shadow which seemed to oppress the diaphragm and the right atrium in the right lower lung area. A computed tomogram (CT) of the chest showed a homogeneous mass localized on the right diaphragm and adjoining the right anterior chest wall and heart. The mass showed a fat density measuring about-100 HU. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a high-intensity mass which was almost the same level as the subcutaneous fat on both the T₁-weighted and T₂-weighted images. Thoracotomy was performed and a fatty tumor was found. It arose from the right side of the pericardium and adjoined the diaphragm, the anterior chest wall, and the thymus. There was no adhesion between the tumor and the surrounding organs. It was resected easily and its contents were yellowish and homogeneous. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged 10 days after the operation. Light microscopy showed a lipoma consisting of mature adipose tissue and no malignancy was found.     

Plasma Ratios of Tryptophan and Tyrosine to Other Large Neutral Amino Acids in Manic-Depressive Patients

Abstract: The plasma ratio of each neutral amino acid (tryptophan (TRP), tyrosine (TYR), valine, isoleucine, leucine (LEU) or phenylalanine) to the sum of the other neutral amino acids was measured in 16 : manic and 14 : depressed patients. In the manics, there was a correlation between the psychomotor activity and the plasma TRP and LEU ratios. In the depressives, the depressed mood, retardation and global severity were correlated with the TRP ratio. The zotepine responders showed an increase in the TRP ratio after treatment. In the mianserin responders, the TYR ratio, which was high before the treatment, decreased to the normal range after the treatment. But, the plasma amino acid ratios remained unchanged in the patients treated with lithium carbonate or amitriptyhe. These results suggest that, in manic-depressive illness, there might be abnormalities in the metabolism of neutral amino acids, mainly of TRP and TYR, and that the plasma TRP and TYR ratios might be important indicators for determining the efflcacy of some drugs.     

Association of multiple liver cell adenomas with spontaneous intrahepatic portohepatic shunt

The association of multiple liver cell adenomas containing foci of focal nodular hyperplasia with a spontaneous intrahepatic portohepatic venous shunt is reported in a 13-year-old male patient. At least eight nodules less than 10 cm in diameter were recognized and proved by means of surgical resection or surgical biopsies. These lesions were heterogeneous and hypodense on precontrast computed tomographic (CT) scans, and were slightly enhanced after injection of contrast medium. At magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the signal intensity of these nodules varied. It was either hyperintense or hypointense on T1-weighted SE images. Sonography and angiography demonstrated a portohepatic venous shunt and hepatic arterialization was observed. These findings emphasize the hypothesis that hepatic arterialization may cause the development of liver cell adenomas. Moreover, it is suggested that liver cell adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia have a common pathogenesis.     

Characterization of certain hepatocyte-proliferating and/or protective factors induced by the sensitization of freezing-thawing hepatic tissue

Although tumor cryosurgery would be expected to produce beneficial immunological effects from the enhancement of anti-tumor activity, under certain conditions the tumor may become enlarged and metastases promoted due to increased immunosuppressive activity and a high zone tolerance. In the present study, we examined whether hepatocyteproliferating factors were produced by the inoculation of freezing-thawing hepatic tissue (FTHT). Serum obtained from rats inoculated with FTHT increased DNA synthesis, according to measurement by [³H]thymidine incorporation in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. This increase was dependent on the serum concentration, with serum obtained on day 14 after the inoculation being the most potent for hepatocyte proliferation. The sensitized serum promoted DNA synthesis nearly as much as serum obtained from a 70% hepatectomized rat, but slightly less than 10ng/ml hepatocyte growth factor. The sensitized serum also protected hepatocytes from carbon tetrachloride (CCI₄)-induced hepatotoxicity. Optical density measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrozolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assay was increased, and the release of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase in medium was decreased by treating hepatocytes damaged by CCI₄ with the sensitized serum. These results suggest that certain hepatocyte-proliferating and protective factors are induced in serum by the inoculation of freezing-thawing hepatic tissue, and that the sensitized serum may be useful in the treatment of liver failure.     

Present status and tasks for future of point of care testing

This paper introduces Point-Of-Care Testing(POCT) developed by Bayer, mainly focusing on urine dipstick and tests for Diabetes Mellitus. Urinalysis using a dipstick has been widely carried out as a screening test for various kinds of diseases. Ten-pad urine dipstick is commercially available at the present time, and the desktop instruments have been developed for automatic optical reading, such as the Clinitek 50/100/500 systems. More recently, Bayer developed a new urine dipstick intended for reliable detection of the early stage of kidney disease without the influence of urine condensation or dilution. The dipstick adds 2 pads to conventional urine dipsticks: one for the measurement of small amounts of protein(albumin), and the other for creatinine. A semi-quantitative urine protein-to-creatinine ratio is based on these results. There have been significant advances made in blood glucose meters for POCT in terms of reliability, simplicity of operation, sample volume, etc. And not only healthcare professionals but also patients with diabetes have used POCT meters. Dexter-ZII is available as one of these meters. DCA2000 is a portable analyzer for measuring HbA1c in 6 min. Patients could be treated and instructed on the basis of HbA1c measured by DCA2000. As one of the tasks for the future, it is preferable that some POCT systems be available as OTC for ordinary people to manage their own health. Also, I emphasize that it is important to review the usability of conventional urine dipsticks like a check for drug side effects, as well as for developing new urine analyses.     

Cdc42 and Rac small G proteins activated by trans-interactions of nectins are involved in activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase,but not in association of nectins and cadherin to form adherens junctions,in fibroblasts

BACKGROUND: Nectins are Ca2+-independent immunoglobulin-like cell-cell adhesion molecules which associate with cadherins to form adherens junctions (AJs) in epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Nectin-1 and -3 are members of the nectin family which most strongly trans-interact, causing cell-cell adhesion. The trans-interaction between nectin-1 and -3 induces the activation of both Cdc42 and Rac small G proteins in epithelial cells. We studied the roles of Cdc42 and Rac activated in this way in L fibroblasts stably expressing both nectin-1 and E-cadherin (nectin-1-EL cells). RESULTS: The trans-interaction between nectin-1 and -3 induced the activation of Cdc42 and Rac in nectin-1-EL cells. Cdc42, and presumably Rac, activated in this way, induced the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Cdc42 or Rac was not essential for the association of nectin-1 and E-cadherin to form AJs. Reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton was not required for the association of nectin-1 and E-cadherin. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that Cdc42 and Rac activated by the trans-interaction of nectins selectively induce the activation of JNK, but are not essential for the association of nectins and cadherin to form AJs in fibroblasts.     

IgG inhibits the increase of platelet-associated C3 stimulated by anti-platelet antibodies

We investigated the increase of platelet-associated IgG and complement component 3 (C₃) caused by the in vitro action of anti-platelet MoAbs, and the effect of mouse and human IgG on these events. Anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa and anti-glycoprotein Ib MoAbs caused a slight increase of C₃, but not of platelet-associated IgG. In contrast, anti-CD9 and anti-Fcγ II receptor MoAbs caused an increase of both platelet-associated C₃ and IgG. In particular, three MoAbs which activated the complement system caused a marked increase of C₃. When platelet-rich plasma was treated with aspirin and prostaglandin E₁ before incubation with antibodies, the increase of platelet-associated IgG was inhibited in all cases. In contrast, the increase of platelet-associated C₃ was scarcely influenced. These results suggest that the binding to platelets of platelet-activating antibodies caused the increase expression of IgG molecules on the platelet surface and a possible increase of platelet-associated IgG. However, the increase of platelet-associated C₃ appeared to depend on specific characteristics of the antibodies tested, such as a complement-activating effect. In addition, intact mouse or human IgG inhibited the increase of platelet-associated C₃ caused by complement-activating antibodies, while F(ab')₂ mouse or human IgG had no such effect. This suggested that the Fc portion of IgG may block the increase of C₃ mediated by anti-platelet antibodies.     

Clomipramine treatment of delusional disorder, somatic type.

Four patients of delusional disorder, somatic type, were treated with clomipramine 60-120 mg/day. All patients showed marked clinical improvement after 27-57 days of clomipramine treatment. In one case, previous treatments by various antipsychotic drugs including pimozide had been unsuccessful. This report suggests that clomipramine is effective at least for some patients with delusional disorder, somatic type, including pimozide-resistant cases. It is also suggested that there is some association between delusional disorder, somatic type, and serotonergic dysfunction.