Epilepsy and Recursive Consciousness with Special Attention to Jackson's Theory of Consciousness

Summary: John Hughlings Jackson's theory of consciousness has been reconsidered. The author stressed that his uniqueness as a neuroscientist lay in his keen interest in the recursive nature of human consciousness. Two clinical symptoms of interest to Jackson were discussed: recurrent utterances and mental diplopia. Recurrent utterances were believed to represent an exceptional state, in which the unconscious process in speech production, otherwise destined to be swept away automatically, became manifest and observable. Jackson regarded mental diplopia as a revelation of otherwise inaccessible duality of all healthy mental actions. Therefore, he supposed that the essence of recursive consciousness resided in a transformation of multiple, multidirectional, unconscious processes into a linear, unidirectional process     

Effects of suramin on metastatic ability,proliferation, and production of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 in human renal cell carcinoma cell line SN12C-PM6

Effects of suramin, a polysulfonated naphthylurea compound, on metastatic ability, proliferation, and production of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitors were studied using the highly metastatic human renal cell carcinoma cell line, SN12C-PM6. After renal subscapular implantation of tumor cells in nude mice, suramin significantly inhibited metastasis of tumor cells to the lungs and liver. In vitro growth of tumour cells was inhibited by suramin in a dose-dependent manner, at relatively low doses (ID₅₀ = 105 µg/ml). Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) production by tumor cells was enhanced by suramin (100 µg/ml), whereas urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) production was suppressed. Thus, the increase in PAI-2 and the decrease in uPA production correlated with the inhibitory effects on tumour growth and metastasis by suramin. Therefore suramin may be beneficial for the treatment of patients with an early stage of renal cancer with potential risk of metastasis.     

Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of submandibular gland origin

A case of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) in the submandibular gland is reported. A 72 year old woman presented with a 5 year history of a gradually expanding tumor in the submandibular region. The surgical specimen revealed a relatively well demarcated tumor, 35 × 35 × 20 mm in size. Macroscopically, necrosis and hemorrhage were not seen in the solid tumor. Histologically, the tumor growth pattern was variable, composed of tubular, papillary, solid, trabecular and cribriform structures. Immunohistochemically, some tumor cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), S-100 protein, keratin, and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA). Electron microscopically, prominent microvilli projected into the luminal spaces, and basal lamina and hemidesmosomes were seen in the tumor cells adjacent to the connective tissues. The submandibular gland is an extremely rare location for PLGA. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of its kind reported in the English literature.     

Adrenomedullin and proadrenomudullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) are present in human colonic epithelia and exert an antimicrobial effect

The hypotensive and vasorelaxing peptides adrenomedullin (AM) and its gene-related peptide, proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP), were found to be distributed on the surface of the colonic mucosa. AM and PAMP showed dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against E. coli. The results suggest that the novel vasoactive peptides AM and PAMP play an important role in mucosal defence.     

The structure of human metaphase chromosomes: its histological perspective and new horizons by atomic force microscopy

Studies on the structure of the human chromosome were reviewed from the histological perspective and discussed in connection with our recent findings obtained mainly by atomic force microscopy (AFM). In this paper, we introduce several hitherto known models of the high-order structure of the metaphase chromosome and discuss the actual structure of chromosomes in relation to such structures as spiral chromatids, chromosome bands, and chromosome scaffolds. In chromosomes treated with Ohnuki's hypotonic solution, the chromosome arms were elongated and showed a characteristic spiral pattern of chromatid fibers. On the other hand, alternating transverse ridges and grooves were clearly observed on the surface of chromosomes treated with 0.025% trypsin for G-banding, and these ridges and grooves corresponded to the dark and pale bands of G-banded chromosomes. Similar findings were also found in chromosomes treated with quinacrine mastards for Q-banding. Fibers bridging the gap between the sister chromatids were often observed in G/Q-banded chromosomes; these fibers tended to be restricted within the G/Q-positive portions, suggesting the presence of chromatin fibers bridging these regions. Based on these findings in conjunction with previous studies, we outlined the high-order structure of the human chromosome. Recent advances in nanotechnology have provided new AFM techniques for the imaging and handling of materials at nano-scale resolution. Application of these techniques to chromosome research is expected to provide valuable information on the chromosome structure in relation to its function.     

Guidelines for treatment of ulcerative colitis in children

This paper introduces the guidelines for treatment of ulcerative colitis in children, created by the working group of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (Chair: Yuichiro Yamashiro) and the Japanese Society for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) (Chair: Akio Kobayashi). The ideas of the working group, with regard to the fundamental differences in medical treatment between children and adults, included: (1) for children, intensive medical treatment including appropriate systemic management is important during the acute phase of illness. (2) Treatment with steroids, which can cause growth disturbances, should not be continued for long periods of time. (3) Pulsed steroid therapy, selective removal of blood cells, and intravenous infusion of cyclosporin should be included in the therapeutic option for severe and fluminant cases.