Aggressive CD5-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma showing c-myc rearrangements developed in a patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia

A case of CD5-positive diffuse large cell lymphoma in a patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is reported. The patient was diagnosed with AIHA in December 1988. Three and a half years later, the patient complained of fever and left sided flank pain. Abnormal lymphocytes appeared in the peripheral blood and were positive for HLA-DR, CD5, CD19, CD20, and surface immunoglobulin (mu, lambda). The pathological diagnosis of the cervical lymphnode was non-Hodgkin lymphoma; diffuse large cell type with a starry sky-like appearance. Although the 8q24 translocation was not detected by karyotypic analysis of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC), Southern blot analysis revealed that the c-myc rearrangements had occurred. This case showed two rearranged bands with Eco RI, Bam HI, or Bgl II digestion, and a germline band with Hin dIII digestion using a second exon fragment of the c-myc gene as a probe. Despite intensive chemotherapy, this patient died 6 months after being diagnosed with malignant lymphoma. We discuss the c-myc rearrangements in this aggressive CD5-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Serum thymidine kinase as a tumor marker of colorectal carcinogenesis induced with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine in rats

Thymidine kinase is the key enzyme in salvage pathway for pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. High activities of thymidine kinase have been found in rapidly proliferating normal, neoplastic tissues and sera from patients with various diseases including lymphoma, leukemias and small cell lung cancer. We investigated the serum thymidine kinase activities and the colorectal carcinomas in rats treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. The positive correlations between serum thymidine kinase activities and numbers of total and large tumors were observed. These findings suggest the measurement of serum thymidine kinase activity may be clinically valuable in an early stage of the colonic carcinogenesis.

Pharmacotherapeutic effects of toki-shakuyaku-san on leukorrhagia in young women

Toki-shakuyaku-san is a traditional Chinese herbal prescriptions that is composed of 6 herbal plants, i.e., peony root, atractylodes lancea rhizome, alisma rhizome, hoelen, cnidium rhizome and Japanese angelica root. Administration with Toki-shakuyaku-san normalized irregular menstrual cycle, healed cervical pseudo-erosion and reduced leukorrhagia in young women who had insufficient luteal function.

A retrospective serological survey of the encephalomyocarditis virus among pigs in Chiba prefecture, Japan

One thousand two hundred and forty pigs' sera collected from 1975 to 1992 on 240 farms in Chiba prefecture were subjected to a neutralization test for the encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. Seven (23.3%) of 30 pigs in 1975 had neutralizing antibodies against the EMC virus. The antibody positive rates each year ranged from 16.7% (1976) to 56.3% (1981). The differences of antibody positive rates between districts were not great after 1985. These serological results suggested that the EMC virus infection had already been introduced by 1975 and that it is prevalent among pigs in Chiba prefecture.

Clinicopathological stages and pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in human mammary carcinomas

The object of this study was to evaluate activities of thymidylate synthetase (TS) and thymidine kinase (TK) in relation to histopathological features of human mammary carcinomas, as well as clinical classification of patients. The TS and TK are key enzymes on the de novo and salvage pathways, respectively, for pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. High TS and TK activities have been found in rapidly proliferating tissues. Clinical stage and TNM post-surgical histopathological classification of 20 patients with mammary carcinomas, during the period of 1988-1991, and TS and TK activities in each carcinoma were determined. Elevated TS and TK activities in mammary carcinomas corresponded to progressively worse clinical stages. Papillotubular carcinomas showed lower enzyme activity than that of solid-tubular and scirrhous types. TS activities continued to rise as the malignant invasion became more severe. The clinical prognosis of patients with mammary carcinomas appears to depend on the de novo synthesis of DNA in carcinomas.

Food intake, nutrient utilization and water turnover in the lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus) given lundai (Sapium baccatum)

Voluntary food intake, digestibility and water turnover were determined in adult Malaysian lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus) given unlimited access to lundai foliage (Sapium baccatum). Daily dry matter (DM) intake was 42.4 g/kg metabolic live mass (M0.73) or 3.7% M. Digestible energy intake was 853 kJ/day (571 kJ metabolisable energy per M0.73), calculated to be used with 79% efficiency. Apparent digestibility (%) of organic matter was 83.8, crude fibre 63.7, acid detergent fibre 60.5, neutral detergent fibre 72.1 and crude protein 65.0. Urinary excretion of the purine derivative, allantoin, was 0.05 mg/g digestible DM intake suggesting rumen microbial yield efficiency may be lower than in other ruminant species. Total water intake was 182 ml/M0.82. The body-water content of the fed mouse-deer, from tritiated water dilution, was 77% M, consistent with a very lean carcass. Turnover of body water was 17% per day. The mouse-deer produced relatively dry, well-defined faecal pellets.

Circumferential Peyronie's disease involving both the corpora cavernosa

An extraordinary form of Peyronies disease is reported. The patient was a 52 year old male, who died of a malignant thymoma with multiple bone metastasis, extensive pleural carcinomatosis of the left lung and some metastatic nodules in the liver and the mesenterium. At autopsy, the proximal and middle portions of the penis were very hard. Macroscopically, the entire tunica albuginea of both the corpora cavernosa was markedly thickened, 2-4 mm; and calcified. Microscopically, the tunica albuginea showed extensive hyaline degeneration, calcification and ossifying foci with osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Inflammatory cells were frequently found beneath the thickened tunica albuginea. In the corpus cavernosum, cavernous arteries showed marked intimal thickening and medial muscular degeneration with a few inflammatory cells. Smooth muscles of the stroma were extensively atrophic and degenerative, and some of them were infiltrated with a few inflammatory cells. In the corpus spongiosum, the tunica albuginea was not thickened, but the smooth muscle in the stroma was atrophic and degenerative and a few inflammatory cells were also found. Surprisingly, there was no Littrés gland around the urethra. In Peyronies disease, the dorsal part of the penis is usually involved, and less frequently lateral or ventral sites are involved. The circumferential involvement of both the corpora cavernosa has not been reported until now, as far as the authors know.

[Panel D-15 test under reduced illumination for persons with color vision defects]

We evaluated the panel D-15 test under reduced illumination in subjects with color vision deficiency and in normal subjects. Forty subjects with color vision deficiency (3 protanopes, 10 protanomalies, 10 deuteranopes, 7 extreme deuteranomalies and 10 deuteranomalies) and 10 normal subjects were the subjects for the experiment. Seven light levels ranging from 0.9 to 900 lux were used. All normal subjects passed the test at 3.5 lux or more and 30% failed at 0.9 lux. Color vision defective subjects began to fail the test at 225 lux, with 56% failing at 3.5 lux and 92% at 0.9 lux. The performance on the panel D-15 test decreased in proportion to decreasing the illumination in some color vision defective subjects. Some protanomalous subjects showed a deutan pattern at low illumination levels.

Effects of danazol on proliferation and viability of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumours in rats

The suppressive effects of danazol, an isoxazol derivative of a synthetic steroid 17 alpha-ethinyltestosterone, on cellular viability and DNA synthesis in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced mammary tumours were investigated in adult female rats by enzyme assays and immunohistochemistry with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Rats treated with danazol for 30 days showed a decrease of plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and estradiol associated with a dysfunction in hypothalamo-hypophysial-gonadal axis, resulting in lower activities in succinate dehydrogenase and thymidine kinase, and a reduction of BrdU-immunoreactive cells in mammary tumours compared with the control, i.e., decreases of viability and pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in tumour cells in danazol-treated rats.

Psychiatric problems of pediatric end-stage renal failure

Our study compared 53 children with end-stage renal disease (26 children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 27 children with kidney transplants) to a matched sample of 27 healthy children. Seventeen of the children on dialysis (65.4%) exhibited separation anxiety disorder, which was associated with the family psychological environment. After receiving kidney transplantation, school maladjustment continued, and adjustment disorder was seen in eight children (29.6%). The adjustment disorder was related to poor relationships with peers at school.

Isotricha jalaludinii n. sp. found from the rumen of lesser mouse deer, Tragulus javanicus, in Malaysia

Isotricha jalaludinii n. sp. found in the rumen of lesser mouse deer, Tragulus javanicus, in Malaysia was described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by the location and direction of the vestibulum, shape of the macronucleus, and absence of a dent at the vestibular opening. The presence of single peculiar isotrichid species in the rumen of mouse deer, which is recognized as one of the most primitive ruminants, suggests that the isotrichid ciliates similar to I. jalaludinii and Isotricha intestinalis were established at a fairly early period during the evolution of ruminants.

Effects of danazol on thrombopoiesis in rats

A synthetic analog of ethinyltestosterone, Danazol, has been used clinically for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia. We investigated the effects of Danazol on thrombopoiesis in normal rats. Though 4-week treatment by Danazol slightly enhanced the DNA synthesizing enzyme activities and the number of S-phase cells in bone marrow and spleen, the number of megakaryocytes and thrombocytes were not increased in bone marrow and peripheral blood, respectively. These findings suggest that Danazol treatment will not induce thrombosis with thrombocytosis in normal human beings and animals.

Effects of 5-fluorouracil derivatives on papillomas induced by application of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in mice

We examined the effects of an application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) ointment and a chronic oral administration of 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-FU plus uracil (UFT) on 7,12-dimethyl-benz(a)-anthracene-induced squamous cell papillomas in mice. Although application of 5-FU ointment reduced the growth of papillomas slightly, chronic oral administration of UFT could prevent tumorigenesis and suppress the growth of papillomas, resulting in the reduction of the tumorous viability and DNA synthesis.

Two collagen-binding proteins, osteonectin and HSP47, are coordinately induced in transformed keratinocytes by heat and other stresses

pSE48 was one of six clones selected by differential colony hybridization as a cDNA coding for mRNA expressed in parietal endoderm-like F9 cells and not in primitive endoderm-like F9 cells. It was sequenced and identified as a segment of mouse osteonectin (SPARC) cDNA. We found osteonectin to be heat-inducible in some cells. Expression and secretion of osteonectin were then investigated using mouse (Pam 212) and human (HSC-1) keratinocyte cell lines. Both the mRNA levels and the secretion of osteonectin increased concurrently when Pam and HSC-1 cells cultured in low calcium medium were exposed to various stresses including heat shock and treatment with sodium arsenite or L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid. Another collagen-binding stress protein, HSP47, was also found to be expressed, synthesized, and stress-inducible in the keratinocyte cell line. The degree of HSP47 induction by various stresses was not so prominent as that of HSP70 but greater than that of osteonectin. The time courses of osteonectin and HSP47 induction by heat shock were similar to each other and distinct from HSP70; they were slower and more persistent than HSP70. We identified a heat shock element-like sequence in the promoter region of the mouse and bovine osteonectin genes. This sequence might participate in the stress induction of osteonectin. Thus, osteonectin and HSP47 share another common feature, stress-inducibility, as well as collagen-binding capacity and inducibility through differentiation, although they are quite distinct in their amino acid sequence and distribution.

Giant metastatic malignant melanoma with an unknown primary site

We report a case of malignant melanoma of unknown primary origin which presented with a giant metastatic tumor in his right inguinal region. A 94-year-old man noticed a small subcutaneous tumor in the right inguinal region 3 years earlier, which eventually became as larger as 9 cm in diameter without treatment. Although a histological examination of the lesion showed malignant melanoma, extensive examination did not reveal its primary lesion or any metastasis other than that to the right inguinal area. Our case took an interesting course in that this well-growing metastatic tumor was localized in only one region and supported a previous report indicating that malignant melanoma with unknown primary origin has a low tendency to metastasize and a relatively good prognosis.

Cementless or hybrid total elbow arthroplasty with titanium-alloy implants. A study of interim clinical results and specific complications

Twenty-six patients (32 elbows) with rheumatoid arthritis had a total elbow arthroplasty with insertion of a cementless prosthesis. The humeral component was made of titanium alloy and it was fixed without cement in all elbows. The patients were followed for an average of 3 years 1 month (range, 2 years 2 months to 4 years 4 months). A good result was seen in 25 elbows, a fair result in 2, and a poor result in 5. The reason for the poor results was a breakage of the humeral component at the junctional portion of its stem. In all five of these elbows a marked resorption of bone mass within the condylar portion of the humeral component was observed on the lateral radiograph. The five elbows with a poor result had a revision operation, and in each of these black staining of the soft tissues within the joint was seen. This tissue metallosis due to wear debris of the titanium alloy was responsible for the osteolysis within the condylar portion. It became clear from this study that even in a non-weight-bearing joint, such as the elbow, titanium alloy may wear and result in tissue metallosis when used as a bearing surface of the implant. However, it was also found that in the majority of the elbows an establishment of the biologic fixation of the porous-coated stem could be achieved by use of this alloy.