Hair shaft miRNA‐221 levels as a new tumor marker of malignant melanoma

miRNA‐221 (miR‐221) is known to be abnormally expressed in many human cancers. The serum levels of miR‐221 have been reported as a tumor marker for malignant melanoma (MM). We hypothesized that the hair shaft miR‐221 levels may be increased in patients with MM. We therefore assessed the possibility that hair shaft miR‐221 levels could be a marker for MM. The hair shaft miR‐221 levels were significantly higher in patients with MM than controls. The rates of increased hair shaft miR‐221 levels above the cut‐off value were comparable to those of serum 5‐S‐CD, which is a tumor marker commonly used for MM. Measurements of the hair shaft miR‐221 levels could have potential clinical value in the detection of MM. This is the first report investigating the hair shaft levels of an miRNA in patients with MM. Our investigations offer new insight into the relationship between miR‐221 and MM, and may provide a new, non‐invasive way to screen for melanoma.     

Effects of Topically Applied Spironolactone on Androgen Stimulated Sebaceous Glands in the Hamster Pinna

The effects of spironolactone (5% SYC-201G, a preparation developed for clinical use in acne vulgaris by Searle Yakuhin K.K.), which is known to have antiandrogenic effects by competitively inhibiting dihydrotestosterone at androgen receptor sites, was topically applied to the androgen stimulated sebaceous glands of adult female golden hamsters. Androgen stimulation, induced by intramuscular injection of testosterone propionate (TP) every other day over a two week period, resulted in a 2.5 to 2.7 time increase in the size of the sebaceous glands of the hamster pinna. Once-daily treatment with 5% SYC-201G or matching placebo was applied to androgen-stimulated hamsters on one pinna only during the same period as TP injection. Comparison between the treated and untreated sides revealed a significant suppression in the sebaceous gland size (p<0.05) by 5% SYC-201G; no such effect was observed with placebo. The difference in the suppression rate of the sebaceous gland size between 5% SYC-201G (23%) and matching placebo (–4.7%) was significant (p<0.01).     

C3 Deposition in IgA Nephropathy in Children and Adolescents

The aim of this study was to assess the significance of C3 deposition in IgA nephropathy in children and adolescents. One hundred and two patients aged 5–21 years (57 male and 45 female) were studied. The findings of C3 deposition were classified into 8 groups by immunofluorescent (IF) pattern and intensity as follows: group MC3+ (N = 12): mesangiocapillary pattern and 3+ in intensity; group MC2+ (N = 13): mesangiocapillary and 2+; group MC1 + (N = 4): mesangiocapillary and 1 +; group M3+ (N = 11): mesangial and 3+; group M2+ (N = 24): mesangial and 2+; group M1 + (N=18): mesangial 1 +; group S (N = 12): only segmentally positive; and group N (N = 8): negative. Histological changes were scored semiquantitatively as an activity index (cellular proliferation, necrosis, interstitial cell infiltration, and cellular crescents) and a chronicity index (mesangial sclerosis, segmental and global glomerular sclerosis, fibrous crescents, adhesion and tubulo-interstitial change). IF findings were scored semiquantitatively and laboratory findings were also studied. The following results were obtained: 1) The scores of total activity index in MC groups were higher than in the M, S or N groups, and the greater the degree of C3 deposition, the higher the score; 2) Such result was not evident in the chronicity index; 3) High IF scores of IgG and IgM were found in the MC3+ and MC2+ groups; 4) Hematuria was more severe in MC3+ and MC2+ than in other groups, and proteinuria was more prominent in the MC than other groups. Thus the degree of C3 deposition was parallel with histological activity and urinary findings.     

Anaplastic ganglioglioma with sarcomatous component: An immunohistochemical study and molecular analysis of p53 tumor suppressor gene

The present case report describes a case of ganglioglioma with a distinct sarcomatous component in the left temporal lobe of a 59‐year‐old Japanese man. Neoplastic neuroglial tissue contained both benign and anaplastic glial components with a MIB‐1 labeling index of 0.1% and 12.0%, respectively. Sarcomatous tissue adjacent to the anaplastic glial tissue was dominated by pleomorphic fibroblastic cells with a MIB‐1 labeling index of 10.8%. They were immunoreactive for smooth muscle actin, type IV collagen, and alpha 1 antitrypsin, but not for desmin and CD34. Interestingly, some of the sarcomatous cells were double‐positive for smooth muscle actin and GFAP. The p53 protein had accumulated in the anaplastic astrocytes and sarcomatous cells, but direct DNA sequencing of PCR products failed to detect any mutation in the p53 gene (from exon 4 to exon 10).     

Treatment of prolactinoma based on the results of transsphenoidal operations

Ninety-eight patients (16 male, 82 female) with prolactinomas were treated by transsphenoidal operation. The postoperative course was closely related to the tumor size and the preoperative levels of serum prolactin. In 37 (74%) of 50 patients with microadenomas, the levels of serum prolactin returned to normal postoperatively. There were 48 patients with macroadenomas; 27 of these were expansive and 21 were invasive. In 9 (33%) of the 27 patients with expansive macroadenomas, the postoperative levels of prolactin returned to normal; this was not the case in any of the 21 patients with invasive macroadenomas. Of 81 premenopausal women, 35 (43%) resumed normal menstruation postoperatively. All patients with preoperative deficits in the visual field experienced postoperative improvement. There were no postoperative deaths or serious complications in this series. Our data indicate that microprolactinomas are highly curable by transsphenoidal operation alone. In women who plan to have children, prolactinomas should be removed immediately. On the other hand, in patients with macroprolactinomas who manifest high levels of serum prolactin, initial treatment with bromocriptine should be considered because there is little hope for surgical cure and postoperative bromocriptine treatment might be necessary.     

Afferent fiber connections from lower brain stem to hypothalamus studied by the horseradish peroxidase method with special reference to noradrenaline innervation

Summary Attempts were made to determine the afferent projections to the anterior hypothalamus including the preoptic area from the lower brain stem by means of the horseradish peroxidase method combined with monoamine oxidase staining to identify noradrenaline (NA) neurons. In addition to this technique, a histofluorescence analysis was performed. NA fibers in the medial part of the anterior hypothalamus were mainly supplied by A1 and A2 NA neuron groups, while the lateral part and periventricular zone received NA terminals from both pontine and medulla oblongata NA neuron groups. Furthermore, the present study indicated that there were direct projections to the anterior hypothalamus from non-noradrenergic neurons in the lower brain stem: nuclei raphe dorsalis, centralis superior, cells in the mesencephalic and pontine central gray matter, nuclei parabrachialis lateralis and medialis, cells around fasciculus longitudinalis medialis.Abbreviations CA Commissura anterior - CO Chiasma opticum - DP Decussatio pyramidum - DPCS Decussatio pedunculorum cerebellarium superiorum - F Columna fornicis - FLM Fasciculus longitudinalis medialis - FMT Fasciculus mamillothalamicus - GCM Griseum centrale mesencephali - GCP Griseum centrale pontis - LL Lemniscus lateralis - LM Lemniscus medialis - PCM Pedunculus cerebellaris medius - PCS Pedunculus cerebellaris superior - TO Tractus opticus - TS Tractus solitarius - TVme Tractus mesencephalicus nervi trigemini - V Ventriculus tertius - VTS Tractus spinalis nervi trigemini - am nucleus ambiguus - B Barrington nucleus - com nucleus commissuralis - cp nucleus caudatus putamen - cs nucleus centralis superior - ct nucleus corporis trapezoidei - cu nucleus cuneatus - dX nucleus dorsalis nervi vagi - Gd nucleus tegmentalis dorsalis (von Gudden) - gr nucleus gracilis - Gv nucleus tegmentalis ventralis (von Gudden) - ha nucleus hypothalamicus anterior - hl nucleus hypothalamicus lateralis - hpe nucleus periventricularis (hypothalami) - hvm nucleus ventromedialis hypothalami - lc nucleus locus coeruleus - oi nucleus olivaris inferior - p nucleus pontis - pa nucleus paraventricularis - pbl nucleus parabrachialis lateralis - pbm nucleus parabrachialis medialis - ph nucleus praepositus hypoglossi - pol nucleus preopticus lateralis - pom nucleus preopticus medialis - pop nucleus preopticus periventricularis - rd nucleus raphe dorsalis - re nucleus reuniens - rl nucleus reticularis lateralis - rm nucleus raphe magnus - ro nucleus raphe obscrus - sc nucleus suprachiasmaticus - so nucleus supraopticus - st nucleus interstitialis striae terminalis - td nucleus tractus diagonalis (Broca) - ts nucleus tractus solitarii - Vme nucleus mesencephalicus nervi trigemini - Vmo nucleus motorius nervi trigemini - Vts nucleus tractus spinalis nervi trigemini - XII nucleus nervi hypoglossi     

Vertical transmission of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I): Detection of proviral DNA in HTLV-I carrier gravida

The seroprevalence rate of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) in pregnant women in the Osaka district was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis. Twenty-one (1.0%) of 2192 samples tested were positive for both assays and the seropositive parturients were found to be integrated with HTLV-I proviral DNA in their mononuclear cells by a DNA dot blot hybridization assay using HTLV-I DNA probe or by a selective DNA amplification technique using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). On the other hand, proviral DNA was not detected in cord blood of the neonates born to the carrier mothers, indicating that transplacental infection of HTLV-I during pregnancy could be excluded. The results support the hypothesis that postpartum infection via breast milk plays a significant role among the possible perinatal transmission routes.     

In situ fluorescence imaging of organs through compact scanning head for confocal laser microscopy

We develop a compact scanning head for use in laser confocal fluorescence microscopy for in situ fluorescence imaging of organs. The head, cylindrical in shape, has 3.5 mm diameter and 30 mm length, and is thus small enough to operate in a living rat heart. The lateral and axial resolutions, defined as full widths at half maximum (FWHM) of a point spread function (PSF), measures 1.0 and 5.0 microm, respectively, for 488-nm excitation and 1.0 and 5.4 microm, respectively, for 543-nm excitation. The chromatic aberration between 488- and 543-nm laser beams is well suppressed. We perform Ca2+ imaging in cardiomyocytes through the right ventricular chamber of a perfused rat heart in line-scan mode with 2.9-ms time resolution. We also carried out two-color imaging of a fixed mouse heart and liver with subcellular resolution. The compact head of the microscope equipped with a line-scan imaging mode and two-color imaging mode is useful for in situ imaging in living organs with subcellular resolution and can advantageously be applied to in vivo research.     

Induction of heterothallic strains and their genetic and physiological characterization in a homothallic strain of the yeast Saccharomyces exiguus

Summary We isolated heterothallic strains from a homothallic strain of S. exiguus by mutagenization with UV or ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS). A gene, not linked to the mating-type locus, was found to control homothallism in the yeast, as in S. cerevisiae. Pheromone of S. exiguus (^se pheromone) induced formation of large pear-shaped cells (shmooing) in a strains of S. exiguus, S. cerevisiae, and S. kluyveri, and sexual agglutinability of an inducible a strain of S. cerevisiae. ^se Pheromone is a peptidyl substance a little different from pheromone of S. cerevisiae. a Pheromone of S. exiguus acts only on a cells of S. exiguus. Contrary to the above results, neither sexual agglutination nor zygote formation occurred among these three Saccharomyces yeasts.