The Effect of Cimetidine on Natural Killer Activity of Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes of Patients with Ovarian Carcinoma

The effect of cimetidine on the natural killer (NK) activityof peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 32 patients with ovariancarcinoma was studied before and after surgery or chemotherapy.There was no significant difference in the NK activity betweennormal healthy women and patients who had been disease-freefor more than a year after initial surgery, while those in patientswith a large residual tumor after surgery were profoundly suppressed.Cimetidine stimulated the NK activity in the disease-free patientsin vivo or in Vitro. In addition, cimetidine augmented the responseto phytohemagglutinin of PBL from the disease-free patients.The NK activity of PBL of patients with a large residual tumorunder chemotherapy consisting of cisplatinum, adriamycin andcyclophosphamide, "CAP," was about half of that before initiationof chemotherapy. The inhibition of the NK activity by chemotherapywas abrogated by in vitro exposure of the PBL to cimetidine.     

DETECTION OF ANTIRIBOSOMAL P PROTEIN ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

This study investigated the prevalence and clinical significanceof anti-ribosomal P protein (anti-P) antibodies in patientswith systemic sclerosis (SSc). Serum samples from 150 patientswith SSc were examined by indirect immunofluorescence, ELISAand immunoblotting. Anti-P antibodies were detected in four(3%) patients with SSc. Three of the four patients showed SSc/SLE(systemic lupus erythematosus) overlap syndrome, but psychiatricdisorders were not observed in these patients. By longitudinalimmunoblotting analysis one patient, who was initially diagnosedwith SSc, later developed anti-P antibodies along with clinicalmanifestations of SLE. Our data suggest that anti-P antibodiesare uncommon in SSc and that the presence of anti-P antibodiesin patients with SSc indicates an overlap with SLE. KEY WORDS: Anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies, Systemic sclerosis, Systemic lupus erythematosus     

Secondary cutaneous candidiasis with eosinophilia

Cutaneous candidiasis is a common skin infection caused by the Candida species, especially in intertriginous areas, and neutrophils usually infiltrate histopathologically. We describe a case of secondary cutaneous candidiasis which spread extensively to the trunk and extremities and showed marked dermal eosinophilia. This case and a similar reported case suggest that Candida can sometimes cause cutaneous inflammation predominantly composed of eosinophils.     

Heterogeneity of Epstein-Barr virus infection in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy type T-cell lymphoma

To investigate the relationship of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia, we performed DNA analysis using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Southern blot, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical analysis of lymph nodes in five patients who were followed up and biopsied more than once. In the course of the disease, nodal architecture diminished, cellular atypia worsened, and clear cells increased in number. In the DNA analysis of the receptor genes, the clonal population increased in number. EBV nucleic acid sequences were found by either PCR or in situ hybridization in all examined nodes. The number of EBV-positive cells varied widely among the cases and throughout the course of the disease in the same patients. The analysis of EBV terminal repeats or lymphocyte-determined membrane antigen genes showed polyclonal populations of EB-infected cells. EBV-positive cells possessed intermediate- to large-sized nuclei, and the cells with large nuclei, especially, expressed latent membrane protein of EBV. These large cells varied in number among the cases. Double-labelling immunohistochemistry/in situ hybridization studies demonstrated that most of the EBV-positive cells expressed B-cell antigen (CD20). The presence of EBV seems to be associated with the selective defects of the immune system, rather than with the direct pathogenesis of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy.     

A Pediatric Case with Gallstones Treated with Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract: We report herein a case of a 13-year-old Japanese boy with symptomatic cholelithiasis. The patient was admitted to our hospital for investigation of right hypochondrial pain. An abdominal plain X-ray film showed calcifications at the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen revealed several stones in the gallbladder. He underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy under a diagnosis of idiopathic and radiopaque gallstones. Twelve calcium bilirubinate stones were found in the gallbladder. Reports of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children are rare, and only 29 cases of 15 years of age or younger have been reported in Japan. This paper presents an additional case report of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a pediatric patient, body weight 32 kg, with symptomatic and pigment gallstones. We believe that laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be the procedure of choice for removal of the gallbladder even in children.