The relationship of IgE, skin-test, eosinophilia, eosinophil cationic protein and tumor necrosis factor production in allergic rhinitis

One hundred and twelve patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) were selected for this study. Sixty-one percent of the patients had elevated levels of total serum IgE (> 210 IU/ml) whereas 55% of them had eosinophilia. Skin-test reactivities to house dust mite and fungi allergens were positive in 86% of the patients, but this was correlated neither to levels of eosinophils and specific IgE to Dermatophagoides ptronyssinus (Dpt) and D. farinae (Df), nor with the levels of total IgE except in the skin-test highest-reactive group; they had significantly higher IgE level than the normal controls. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was 66% in those patients with high IgE levels and the major allergens were further identified by Quidel Allergen Screen assay as Dpt and Df. Serum ECP level was correlated with high, but not low, blood eosinophil numbers in patients with AR. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells culture by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation was suppressed in patients with AR with eosinophilia when compared with that of the normal controls. The symptom-triggering factors in patients with AR were primarily cold air, temperature change and the common cold. This suggests that factors other than the specific IgE response to house dust mite, skin-test reactivity and eosinophilia may also be important in the development of AR.

Prevalence and pathological study on rabbit hepatic coccidiosis in Taiwan

Five breeds of rabbits, which included the New Zealand, Californian, Spot, Rex and Angora rabbit, were found from a survey of 1,152 rabbits in Taiwan. The prevalence of coccidia in young rabbits (weaning-2 months old) was 95% to 100%. Adult female rabbits usually acted as carriers within the farm and transmitted the parasite to young rabbits, which caused severe infection with clinical signs and even death. Parasitism of hepatic coccidia (Eimeria stiedai) in the rabbit led to severe mortality. Numerous and scattered white nodules about 0.1 to 0.5 cm in diameter were seen on the liver surface and dark greenish mucoid exudate was found in intestinal lumen. Histopathologic lesions included hyperplasia of the bile duct epithelium with different developmental stages of coccidia within. Oocysts could be seen in the lumen, and granuloma tissues encircle the bile duct with infiltration of inflammatory cells. The other organs were not infected.

High-valent intermediates in the reaction of N alpha-acetyl microperoxidase-8 with hydrogen peroxide: models for compounds 0, I and II of horseradish peroxidase

N-acetyl microperoxidase-8 (Ac-MP-8) is a water soluble, ferric heme model for the peroxidases. The reaction of Ac-MP-8 with H2O2 in 10 mM potassium phosphate over the pH range of 7-11 gives rise sequentially to relatively stable green and red species with properties that closely mimic those of HRP compounds I and II, respectively. Low-temperature stopped-flow studies of this reaction carried out in 50% v/v methanol/10 mM potassium phosphate, pH* 9.1 at -25.8 degrees C indicate that the pseudo-first-order rate constant, kobs, that describes the formation of the green intermediate exhibits saturation kinetics as a function of [H2O2] with kmaxobs = 95 s-1 and KM = 87 mM. Rapid-scan studies carried out with [H2O2] = 200 mM at -38.0 degrees C show that a compound 0 species with a characteristic band near 340 nm is formed whose conversion to the green species is rate limiting. Thus, Ac-MP-8 has high-valent forms that are models for all three known intermediates in the peroxidase cycle of horseradish peroxidase.

Predicting foodstuff from jaw dynamics during masticatory crushing in man

In previous in vitro experiments using an Instron instrument, each test food was found to have characteristic textural properties. In vivo experiments were now made (1) to determine the degree to which variations in the vertical jaw movements during the crushing phase of mastication can be explained by the inherent properties of the foodstuff being chewed, and (2) to establish the degree to which the foodstuff being chewed can be identified by certain features of the jaw dynamics. Five adults were used for chewing tasks with standardized pieces of beef, carrot or peanut. Each subject made two trials with each foodstuff. The movement of the lower incisal point was monitored; features of movement associated with jaw closing in the first chewing cycle were considered. Five of these features were not suitable to categorize the various test foods. Each of the remaining 4, however, was able to distinguish either one food from the 2 others (2 cases), or one from another (2 cases). Pattern recognition techniques based upon principal component analysis could differentiate jaw closing patterns associated with chewing beef from those involving peanut or carrot. The extent to which peanut could be distinguished from carrot was not as predictable as the categorization of peanut or carrot versus beef. Cross-correlation of in vitro force-time breakage characteristics and the jaw movement data showed that on average 52% of the variation in the vertical jaw movement during crushing of food could be explained by the inherent properties of the food.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Force-time breakage characteristics of food during simulated initial phase of mastication

With the long range goal of gaining an insight into force control and muscle recruitment, it seems necessary to understand the task given to the masticatory apparatus. The purpose of this study was to characterize food breakage properties, and to study the influence of different compression speeds and occlusal morphologies on the categorized food properties. Experiments were carried out by means of a standard Instron instrument, modified with a switching relay. A stylus with 45 degree angulation and an opposing copperplated lower arch of either human or Macaca fascicularis were used for approximation of the natural situation. Crosshead speeds of 2 and 5 cm/min were selected. For future application, monkey chow was chosen as the testfood. Six parameters were defined to categorize food properties, which were initial breakage force (IBF), initial force buildup (IFB), maximum breakage force (MBF), breakage point (BP), temporal location of MBF (TL), and total compression time (TCT). The results showed that the force-time breakage characteristics of monkey chow were affected by different compression speeds in some aspects. However, this was not the case for the alteration of occlusal morphology.

[Repair of the injured biliary tract with the mobilized and plicated peritoneal graft]

It is well recognized that the defect of extrahepatic bile duct close to the hepatic hilum is very difficult to repair by often used method. Since 1980, 3 cases with accidently injured bile duct of such an extent by previous surgery were successfully treated by using isolated peritoneal graft tube. The patients were followed up from one to two years, and they were all doing very well and back to their work. The indications and advantages of the procedure were discussed and the authors believe that it is a useful method to repair of complicated bile duct defect.

Textural properties of food used in studies of mastication

Foods are known to influence jaw elevator muscle activity in chewing. With the long-range goal of gaining insight into force control and modeling muscle recruitment, these initial experiments were performed to determine the textural properties of commonly used test food. Experiments were carried out by means of a standard Instron instrument, equipped with a compression cell. A stylus with 45-degree cuspal angulation and an opposing copper-plated lower arch was used for approximation of the natural situation. The breakage force characteristics of a single peanut, a carrot cube, beefstick, and monkey chow were determined. The peanut demonstrated the steepest and beefstick the least steep force build-up, with breaking forces of 104 N (Newtons) for monkey chow, 66 N for the carrot, and 52 N for the peanut. No clear breakage point was found with beefstick; the force build-up showed an initial plateau at 25 N, which was followed by a significantly steeper force increase to peak. We conclude that each of the test foods commonly used in studies of mastication had particular breakage characteristics in terms of its force-time curve.

Lung tumorigenicity of benzene oxide, benzene dihydrodiols and benzene diolepoxides in the BLU:Ha newborn mouse assay

Metabolic activation of benzene may occur by a pathway analogous to that accepted for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) involving ring epoxidation, enzymatic hydrolysis to the dihydrodiol, and further epoxidation to the diolepoxide. This hypothesis was explored by testing benzene oxide (BzO) and enantiomers and racemates of benzene dihydrodiols and diolepoxides for their capacity to induce lung tumors in a newborn mouse assay. Although benzene and benzene diolepoxide-1 [(+/-)-BzDE-1] were inactive, BzO and racemates of benzene dihydrodiol [(+/-)-BzDh] and benzene diolepoxide-2 [(+/-)-BzDE-2] induced dose-dependent increases in lung tumor incidence and multiplicity. (+/-)-BzDE-2 may be an ultimate tumorigenic metabolite of benzene since it was the most active compound tested on a molar basis with an estimated ED50 (dose inducing lung tumors in 50% of mice) of 12.0 mumol and an estimated TM1.0 (total dose inducing 1.0 lung tumor/mouse) of 16.2 mumol. No stereoselectivity was apparent in the tumorigenic activity of dihydrodiol and diolepoxide enantiomers since at equimolar doses the resolved (+)-BzDh was equally tumorigenic as the (+/-)-BzDh racemate and the resolved (+)- and (-)-BzDE-2 were both equally active as (+/-)-BzDE-2.

Chronic neutrophilic leukemia--report of a case and review of the literature

A male patient, aged 78, was found with chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL). The patient showed sustained mature neutrophilic leukocytosis, splenomegaly, a high leukocyte alkaline phosphatase score, elevated serum vitamin B12 and uric acid, myeloid hyperplasia and absence of ph' chromosome in the bone marrow, with no evidence suggesting this condition to be a leukemoid reaction to an underlying disease. In addition to the above mentioned features, some functional characteristics of CNL cells were compared with normal cells. CNL is a very rare disease; some thought it as a variant of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In this report a review of the literature is also included.

[Breast cystosarcoma phyllodes. A clinicopathologic study of twenty-seven cases]

Twenty-seven cases of cystosarcoma phyllodes (CSP) diagnosed at the Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, were reviewed. Of the twenty-seven cases, seventy per cent were benign, thirty per cent were malignant. One of the malignant cases was transformed from benign one. Of the benign CSPs, one had multifocal lesions and eight were associated with other breast lumps, including fibroadenoma and fibrocystic disease. The mean age of patients with benign CSP was 33 years old, and with malignant CSP, 52 years old. The most frequent location was in upper outer quadrant. We found no positive correlation between tumor size, clinical symptoms, tumor epithelial carcinoembryonic antigen, hypervascularity, mixed mesenchymal components, and benign or malignant CSP. Estrogen and/or progesterone receptors were positive in five benign CSPs detected, but malignant CSP was negative. Variable degrees of epithelial hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, and apocrine metaplasia, were found in both benign and malignant CSPs. Part of the epithelial component in CSP may be derived from normal breast lobule and duct being trapped into the tumor during tumor infiltration. The mesenchymal differentiation in malignant CSPs include fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, liposarcoma, and collision of chondrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. One of the malignant CSPs was found within an old, calcified fibroadenoma. When benign CSP was excised under impression of fibroadenoma, the recurrent rate was 50%. In view of this, we recommend a wide excision for a benign CSP. No axillary lymph node metastasis was detected in malignant CSP, so radical mastectomy was not indicated.

Comparative tissue distribution and excretion of orally administered [3H]diacetoxyscirpenol (anguidine) in rats and mice

A quantitative comparison of tissue distribution and excretion of an orally administered sublethal dose of [3H]diacetoxyscirpenol (anguidine) was made in rats and mice 90 min, 24 hr, and 7 days after treatment. Total recoveries of 95-100% were obtained. Approximately 90% of the dose was excreted in urine and feces during the first 24 hr with a feces:urine ratio of about 1:4.5 in both species. Carcass and tissue radioactivity dropped rapidly during the first 24 hr but remained relatively constant at low, but detectable, levels (1.5-3.5% of dose) over the course of the experiment. Few substantive interspecies differences were noted in tissue distribution. At 90 min the highest percentage of dose was in tissues involved in sequestering diacetoxyscirpenol because of high body water/lipid content (carcass, skin) or the absorption (stomach, small intestine), metabolism (liver), or excretion (kidney) of the toxin. The rank order of these tissues was generally stable over the course of the experiment. When data were expressed as specific radioactivity (dpm/g tissue) instead, the carcass and skin dropped from the top rank tissues at 90 min and were replaced by the spleen and cecum. At 24 hr and 7 days the top-ranked order of tissues shifted to include organs associated with trichothecene-induced toxicity such as the lymphohematopoietic system (spleen, thymus, and femur bone marrow), heart, and testis (in mouse) as well as the cecum and large intestine. In addition, the rate of loss of radioactivity with time generally did not decrease as rapidly in these target organs as observed in liver, kidney, skin, and carcass. Brain radioactivity, though very low, also diminished relatively slowly. Significant differences in specific radioactivity which did occur between the rat and mouse tended to occur in target organs and with the higher levels present in the mouse. These data were discussed in terms of interspecies differences in lethality and target organ toxicity.

Plexogenic pulmonary vascular lesions in primary pulmonary arteriopathy--report of two autopsy cases

Pulmonary hypertension is caused largely by an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and is most frequently secondary to chronic pulmonary obstructive or interstitial diseases, recurrent pulmonary emboli, or antecedent heart diseases. Primary pulmonary hypertension (plexogenic pulmonary arteriopathy) is a rare disease and diagnosed only when the underlying causing factors are undetermined. Two autopsy cases of primary pulmonary hypertension, first documented at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, are reported. They showed apparent pulmonary vascular changes including medial hypertrophy, intimal proliferation and fibrosis and plexiform lesions of the muscular pulmonary arteries. The plexiform lesion has been considered to be characteristic in the histopathological diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension when there are no other associated diseases, such as cirrhosis of liver, pre- or post- tricuspid congenital cardiac shunts and portal vein thrombosis. The pathogenesis of the plexiform lesion is obscure. In the present report, we shall emphasize pathological changes of the "plexiform lesions" and discuss their pathogenesis.

[Effects of Cr+6-polluted-well-water on inhabitant's health]

The increase of Cr+6 in well water results from pollution by electroplating waste water. The average content of Cr+6 in water of the wells in the polluted area is as high as 1.68 mumols/L, obviously higher than that in the control area (P less than 0.05). The health condition of inhabitants is poor in the polluted area, with a higher incidence of such symptoms as dizziness, weariness, poor appetite, abdominal pain and dermatitis. The blood pressure of the inhabitants in the polluted area is generally lower than that of those in the control area. The chromium content in the urine of 36 cases in the polluted area is 0.12 mumols/L, which is much higher than that in the control area (P less than 0.05). This investigation indicates that long-term drinking of high-chromium content water is harmful to people's health.

Tuberculosis in British Columbia among immigrants from five Asian countries, 1982-85

The influence of immigration from six selected Asian countries--Japan, Korea, Philippines, India, China and Hong Kong--on the incidence of tuberculosis in British Columbia has been examined. During the period 1982-1985 the average annual incidence of bacillary tuberculosis in these immigrants was more than six times as great as the overall British Columbia rate and contributed a quarter of the cases of active bacillary tuberculosis in this province whereas the immigrants from these countries represented only 3.7% of the total population. The clinical patterns of active tuberculosis by birthplace were analysed. A high proportion of cases of lymphadenitis was seen among all immigrants from Asia, particularly those from the Philippines. Both primary and secondary drug resistance was substantially higher than in Canadian-born patients. The frequency of primary drug resistance was higher among patients aged less than 40 years than those aged 40 or more.

[The fibromatoses. A clinicopathological study of 66 cases]

Clinical and pathological analysis of 66 cases of fibromatoses are presented. The age range in our series was 1 to 72 years. Superficial fibromatoses occurred predominantly in older patients with a peak incidence in the fifties while deep fibromatoses occurred predominantly in younger patients with a peak incidence in the twenties. Male to female ratio was 1.4 to 1. The abdominal fibromatosis occurred in female while our palmar fibromatosis occurred in male. There were 17 cases (26%) of multiple fibromatoses which occurred most frequently on both palms and had a tendency to symmetric distribution. The latent period between the two fibromatoses in a patient ranged from 1 year to 36 years. Clinical presentations included a palpable nodule or mass; flexure contracture of finger; penile hypertrophy, contracture, or discomfort on erection; and soreness, tenderness, or paresthesia over the tumor. Hydronephrosis may be complicated by intraabdominal fibromatosis. Size of the tumors ranged from 0.5 cm. To 30.0 cm. Three cases were associated with diabetes mellitus, 2 with alcoholics, 1 with liver cirrhosis, 2 with pulmonary tuberculosis, and 3 with hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and mammary papillary carcinoma, respectively. Nine cases (14%) were associated with variable types of trauma, including being hurt by a stick, intramuscular injection in the gluteal region, tying penile shaft with a plastic band, breast massage and hot applying, and operation on abdomen. The superficial fibromatoses seldom recurred after excisional biopsy or fasciectomy while the deep fibromatoses often recurred. The recurrent rate of the deep fibromatoses was 21%. Malignant transformation or spontaneous regression was not found.

The incidence of active tuberculosis in a large urban area

The authors reviewed all cases of active tuberculosis newly reported to a population-based registry between 1970 and 1985 to compare a large urban area with the mostly rural remainder of the province of British Columbia, Canada. Although incidence rates have declined steadily in the rural area, they have not done so in the urban area. Within the urban area, there was a striking relation between tuberculosis incidence and socioeconomic level. Incidence rates in those born in Canada were observed to be higher for men than for women and higher for men who had never married than for those who had ever married, a difference no longer present within census tract groups. The greatest difference in incidence was between unemployed and employed men. Cases in the poorest census tracts more commonly had advanced, infectious pulmonary disease and were more likely to be alcoholics. The incidence of tuberculosis in the poorest census tracts did not decline as rapidly as in other areas. The characteristics of the disease in the poorest urban census tracts suggest the possibility of selective migration of persons at risk for tuberculosis and of continuing transmission of the disease and call for imaginative case-finding and treatment programs to address this problem.