Endocarditis caused by Candida parapsilosis

The authors report a case of endocarditis caused by Candida parapsilosis. To the best of our knowledge, a case has not been described previously in Japan in the English literature. A battery of 8 peroxidase-labeled lectins was tested on sections of paraffin-embedded tissue to determine which lectin could be used in the microscopic diagnosis of C. parapsilosis. One lectin, from Archis hypoaea (PNA) was found to react with C. parapsilosis. On the other hand, C. albicans, Aspergillus, Mucor, and Cryptococcus did not react with A. hypoaea (PNA). On fluorescence microscopic study, C. parapsilosis was not fluorescent, but other fungi were fluorescent when exposed to ultraviolet illumination. Therefore, we propose new procedures for identification of C. parapsilosis in tissue sections using lectin histochemistry and fluorescence microscopy.

Effect of the adrenal inhibitor trilostane on the morphology of the adrenocortical cells of Dahl salt-sensitive and Dahl salt-resistant rats

The effects of trilostane on the adrenal cortex of Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) and Dahl salt-resistant (DR) rats were investigated morphometrically, histochemically, ultrastructurally and biochemically. The statistical analysis indicated that trilostane induced a significant increase in the adrenal weight and the surface area of cells and nuclei in the zona fasciculata (ZF) of the adrenal cortex of DS and DR rats (P less than O.OI). DS rats treated with trilostane revealed marked accumulation of large amounts of lipid droplets and a decrease in the activity of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) in the ZF. Ultrastructurally, the mitochondria of the ZF in DS rats treated with trilostane revealed swelling of matrix with a loss of cristae and occasional interruption of the membranes of mitochondria. Some of them had a continuity with lipid vacuoles or SER, presenting a characteristic 'feather'-like appearance. Other characteristic findings in DS rats treated with trilostane were a marked villous proliferation of plasma membranes with numerous dense bodies, occasional coated pits, and pinocytic vesicles in the outer portion of the ZF. In DS and DR rats the plasma level of ACTH increased, and corticosterone decreased significantly (P less than O.OI) after treatment with trilostane. These morphological alterations were considered to be an expression of the inhibitory effects of trilostane on the adrenal steroidogenesis in DS and DR rats, more especially in DS rats. Simultaneously there were confirmed morphological alterations in the cells of the ZF, reflecting the feedback stimulation of endogenous ACTH. The cells of the ZF of DS rats were more responsive to suppression by trilostane than those of DR rats.

[Kaposi's sarcoma]

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) (Kaposi, 1872) is classified into at least three forms: 1) the classic form; in elderly men of southern European, Jewish, and Italian origin, 2) the endemic form; among native populations in equatorial Africa and 3) the epidemic form; as a complication of AIDS. As one additional form could be posttransplantation KS in organ transplant recipients. Histologically, KS is composed of two characteristic features; a proliferation of angiomatous lesion and of spindle-shaped cells. The pathological entity of the disease is still controversial. As a cause of the disease, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been the subject based on epidemiologic, serologic, geopathologic and histopathologic observations. About half of KS cases with AIDS has shown evidence of HCMV infection as cytomegalic viral inclusions of the cells. In contrast, about 30% of AIDS cases without KS showed histological HCMV infection. A connection between HCMV and KS was suggested by the detection of herpes-type virus particles in several KS tissue culture lines and in a tumor specimen. DNA and RNA homologous with HCMV sequences have been detected in tumor tissue of both endemic and epidemic KS by electrophoretic methods. HCMV sequences was detected in extracted DNA of 30% of classic KS, using Southern blot technique. In situ hybridization technique using specific DNA probes for HCMV has been developed to reveal endogenous nucleic acid sequences in fixed tissue sections. However, some reports showed that by the in situ technique only a small number of KS cells in the AIDS cases and no case of the classic KS were positive for HCMV within KS lesions. HCMV infections are ubiquitous. There is a very high seropositivity of HCMV in African inhabitants as well as in Africans with endemic KS. A strong association between HCMV and KS was not known. As for HIV itself in AIDS with KS, previous studies have showed the presence of chromosomal abnormalities of KS cells, but not revealed the presence of HIV DNA sequences in KS. Vascular tumors were produced by NIH/3T3 cells transfected with KS DNA of AIDS. An oncogene isolated by transfection of KS DNA encodes a growth factor; FGF. Isolation of rearranged human transforming gene following transfection of KS DNA was performed. DNA having transforming genetic elements which have been repetitively transmitted into phenotypically normal NIH/3T3 cells through cycles of transfection was isolated from tissues of KS with AIDS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[A case report of giant cell granuloma of the jaw]

A giant cell granuloma of the mandible seen in a 16 month-old boy was reported. Histopathology showed that the lesion consisted basically of granulation tissue with multinucleated giant cells, spindle-shaped and polygonal stromal cells. No atypia was seen in giant cells or stromal cells. Electron microscopic examination revealed that multinucleated giant cells possessed microvillous structure on their cytoplasm and were rich in organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and dense bodies. Stromal cells consisted of macrophage-like and fibroblastic cells. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated a large number of giant cells and stromal cells that were strongly positive for the antibodies of alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin. These morphological findings suggest that macrophage-like stromal cells are the precursors to giant cells.

Immunohistochemical reactivity of phagocytic and non-phagocytic histiocytes in lymph nodes with lysozyme, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, S-100 protein, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase

Yellow-brown bodies were observed in the sinusoids of lymph node and histiocytes. The authors confirmed immunohistochemical reactivity of lysozyme, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, S-100 protein, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase in non-phagocytic and phagocytic histiocytes which contained yellow-brown bodies. Phagocytic histiocytes (histiocytes with yellow-brown bodies) were not reacted with lysozyme, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, S-100 protein, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase. On the other hand, non-phagocytic histiocytes were reacted with lysozyme, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, S-100 protein, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase.

Eosinophilic globules in pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla. A histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural characteristics of eosinophilic globules in pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla are described. The globules were observed in 7 (63.5%) out of 11 cases of pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla. These globules were eosinophilic, PAS-positive with and without diastase predigestion, phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH) positive, and autofluorescent under ultraviolet illumination. Although almost all globules were not stained with neuron specific enolase (NSE) using the immunoperoxidase method, a few globules were stained positive. The lectins of Triticum vulgaris (WGA) and Ricinus communis (RCA-120) were weakly bound to most of the eosinophilic globules. Immunohistochemical reactions for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha-l-antichymotrypsin (ACT), and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) revealed negative reaction in these globules. An ultrastructural study revealed no relationship between these globules and chromaffin secretory granules. These findings suggested that the eosinophilic globules in pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla were not related to the chromaffin secretory granules and might be some kind of complex protein.

The ion–molecule reactivity of the positive muon molecular ions HeMu+ and NeMu+

Thermal (300 K) ion–molecule reaction rates are measured, using the µSR (muon spin rotation) technique, for the muonated rare gas molecular ions HeMu+ and NeMu+ reacting with NO, O2, N2O, NH3, CF4, C2H4, TMS, and CH3NO2. In almost every case (excepting O2), both charge transfer (ke) and muon transfer (kµ) contribute to the reaction rate. Reaction is believed to occur from ro-vibrational excited states, [HeMu+]* and [NeMu+]*, due to the poor efficiency of He and Ne moderators for collisional deactivation. The total experimental rate constants, kexp = kµ + ke, are generally in excellent agreement with total capture rates predicted by the simple ADO theory, regardless of the degree of internal excitation. Comparisons with literature values for corresponding protonated ion reaction rates with O2 and C2H4 reveal little or no isotope effect, although it is noted that these reactions are dominated by proton transfer, in contrast to the µSR results.

Black thyroid associated with minocycline therapy: histochemical and ultrastructural studies on the brown pigment

The brown pigment found in the black thyroid, associated with minocycline therapy, was studied histochemically and ultrastructurally. The brown pigment was Fontana-Masson silver-positive, and was negative for iron, for autofluorescence under uv illumination, for periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and for acid-fast iodine peroxidase (AFIP) lipofuscin, and was bleached with potassium permanganate. The light and electron microscopic studies suggested that the pigment resembled melanin. Although the mechanism of the pigment deposition is not clear, a possible explanation may be that the pigment is related to direct oxidative degradation products of minocycline.

A staining method for easy detection of eosinophilic globules in Kaposi's sarcoma

Eosinophilic globules provide an important clue for diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). These globules were stained with periodic acid Schiff (PAS), periodic acid Schiff reagent after diastase digestion, phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH) and autofluorescence under ultraviolet illumination. By these methods, however, eosinophilic globules in KS could not be readily identified. Therefore, we developed a new procedure for rapid identification of eosinophilic globules in KS tissues.