Interactions between cancer cells and immune cells drive transitions to mesenchymal-like states in glioblastoma

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Two cases of mesenteric panniculitis]

Two patients with mesenteric panniculitis are presented. In the first patient, a provisional diagnosis of ileus was made, based on the clinical features and imaging data. Laparotomic findings showed that the ileum was bound tightly by a fibrous strip and dilated, with thickened and swollen mesentery. Incision of the fibrous strip was performed, and the clinical symptoms were improved. The second patient was strongly suspected to have mesenteric panniculitis, from characteristic features on abdominal computed tomography and barium enema. Conservative therapy was effective in this case. We emphasize the variety of clinical courses in mesenteric panniculitis, requiring selection of the most suitable treatment.     

Allergic Predisposition Among Infants with Bronchiolitis

Allergic predisposition among infants with bronchiolitis was examined. The number of infants with serum IgE exceeding mean +1 SD was 31/70 (44.3%). The rate of positive radioallergosorbent test (RAST) scores of 1 or more to mites, egg white, or milk was 31/71 (43.7%) and that of scores over 2 was 11/71 (15.5%). Eosinophils and/or mast cells were found in their nasal smears on several occasions. These results indicated that allergic predisposition may be observed among infants with bronchiolitis.     

Identification of testicular atypical germ cells by an immunohistochemical technique for placental alkaline phosphatase

The identification of atypical testicular germ cells is often difficult by by routine histologic examination. By immunohistochemical detection of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and by periodic acid Schiff staining of glycogen, atypical germ cells were easily identified in testicular samples. Forty-one fetal and adult testes were used for a preliminary study, and 121 testes from infants and adults with either cryptorchidism or germ cell tumors were studied for the presence of atypical germ cells. Two types of clear germ cells were differentiated histochemically, and one with PLAP-positive cell surfaces and glycogen-rich cytoplasm was considered to be atypical. The alkaline phosphatase of atypical germ cells appeared to be similar to that found in a few germ cells of early fetal testes. The atypical germ cells seemed to be multi-potential malignant cells capable of developing not only into seminoma but also into other germ cell tumors. Only in yolk sac tumor of infants were the atypical germ cells absent from tumor-adjacent seminiferous tubules.     

Regeneration of the hamstring tendons after harvesting for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a histological study in 11 patients

The purpose of our study is to evaluate whether the hamstring tendons can regrow after harvesting for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and whether the regenerate tissue can be histologically characterized as tendinous. Eleven of the patients (eight female and three male; mean age, 23 years; range 17–37 years) consented to participate in this study. One year after the ACL reconstruction, surgical biopsy was done. Regeneration of the tendon was detected macroscopically in 9 of the 11 patients. Histologically and immunohistochemically, the regenerated tendons closely resembled normal ones. The results of this study show the hamstring tendons can regenerate after harvesting for the ACL reconstruction.     

Long-term results of first-line sequential high-dose carboplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell support for patients with advanced testicular germ cell tumor

OBJECTIVE: Standard chemotherapy shows relatively low long-term survival in patients with poor-risk testicular germ cell tumor (GCT). First-line high-dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) may improve the result. High-dose carboplatin, etoposide, ifosfamide chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) was investigated as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced testicular GCT. METHODS: Fifty-five previously untreated testicular GCT patients with Indiana 'advanced disease' criteria received three cycles of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) followed by one cycle of HD-CT plus PBSCT, if elevated serum tumor markers were observed after three cycles of the BEP regimen. RESULTS: Thirty patients were treated with BEP alone, because the tumor marker(s) declined to normal range. Twenty-five patients received BEP and HD-CT. One patient died of rhabdomyolysis due to HD-CT. Three and six (13% and 25%) out of 24 patients treated with BEP and HD-CT achieved marker-negative and marker-positive partial responses, respectively. The other patients achieved no change. Fifteen (63%) are alive and 14 (58%) are free of disease at a median follow-up time of 54 months. Severe toxicity included treatment-related death (4%). CONCLUSIONS: HD-CT with peripheral stem cell support can be successfully applied in a multicenter setting. HD-CT demonstrated modest anticancer activity for Japanese patients with advanced testicular GCT and was well tolerated. This regimen might be examined for further investigation in randomized trials in first-line chemotherapy for patients with poor-risk testicular GCT.     

MOLECULAR GENETICS OF THE SA GENE

1. We have recently identified a candidate gene for rat genetic hypertension, termed S_a, by identifying an mRN A species that shows markedly higher expression in the kidneys of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in those of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). 2. Subsequent genetic co-segregation analyses by ourselves and others indicated that the S_a gene locus did indeed influence blood pressure. Moreover, in a preliminary association study, we found an association of a polymorphism of the human S_a gene with essential hypertension. 3. Further studies to identify functions of the Sa gene products are required before reaching a definite conclusion.     

Basic and clinical studies on norfloxacin in the pediatric field

Pharmacokinetic , bacteriological and clinical studies on norfloxacin (NFLX), a quinolone-carboxylic acid antibacterial agent, were conducted in the pediatric field. 1. Serum concentrations and urinary excretion of NFLX after single dose of 2.2 approximately 5.6 mg/kg (mean 4.4 +/- 1.2 mg/kg) were determined in 13 children with ages between 6 and 11 years. The mean peak serum concentration of the drug was 0.37 +/- 0.20 micrograms/ml at 2 hours after administration. The mean half-life of the drug in serum was 2.8 +/- 0.4 hours and the serum concentration at 8 hours was 0.11 +/- 0.06 micrograms/ml. The mean urinary concentration reached a maximum of 125.2 +2- 166.2 micrograms/ml in pooled urine from 0 to 2 hours and the mean urinary recovery rate in the first 8 hours after administration was 22.1 +/- 6.0%. A dose-response relationship was observed between doses/body weight and peak serum concentrations. 2. The clinical efficacy, bacteriological efficacy and the safety of NFLX were evaluated in 65 pediatric patients with ages between 2 years 10 months and 15 years 7 months with infections. In 62 assessable cases (acute purulent tonsillitis 9 cases, acute pneumonia 3 cases, chronic rhinitis 1 case, urinary tract infections 15 cases, and acute colitis 34 cases), clinical efficacies were excellent in 48 cases, good in 13 cases, and fair in 1 case with an overall efficacy rate of 98.4%. Staphylococcus aureus 1 strain, Staphylococcus epidermidis 1 strain, Escherichia coli 10 strains, Salmonella sp. 5 strains, Morganella morganii 1 strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3 strains, Haemophilus parainfluenzae 1 strain and Campylobacter jejuni 12 strains were isolated from the patients as pathogens. Bacteriologically, all of these strains were eradicated except that 3 strains of C. jejuni only decreased. With regard to side effects, dizziness and nausea were observed in 1 case each but they were slight and the continuation of the treatment was possible. No abnormal laboratory test data were observed. From the above results, NFLX was considered to be a useful drug for the treatment of pediatric infections.