[Effect of gallic acid derivatives on secretion of Th1 cytokines and Th2 cytokines from anti CD3-stimulated spleen cells]

As reported previously (Kosuge et al., Yakugaku Zasshi, 120, 408 (2000)), methyl gallate, a gallic acid derivative, which has been one of compounds isolated from extracts of Psidium geneus Myrtaceae, selectively suppresses Th2 cytokine secretion. In the present study, to examine more effective compounds than methyl gallate, the effects of various gallic acid derivatives on the secretion of helper T cell subtype specific cytokines from anti CD3-stimulated spleen cells were investigated. Ten micrograms/ml of methyl gallate and ethyl gallate remarkably suppressed the secretion of IL-4 and IL-5, Th2 cytokines, but did not suppress meaningfully the secretion of IFN-gamma, a Th1 cytokine. On the other hand, the other gallic acid derivatives suppressed the secretion of both IL-4 and IFN-gamma. Ten micrograms/ml of methyl gallate suppressed the secretion of IL-2, a Th1 cytokine, but the same concentration of ethyl gallate did not suppress it. In conclusion, it seemed that ethyl gallate was the most selective inhibitor for the secretion of Th2 cytokines among gallic acid derivatives used in this study.

Tubular carcinoma of the breast: a histologic subtype indicative of breast-conserving therapy

We reviewed the clinical and pathologic features of pure tubular carcinoma of the breast with particular emphasis on the reported risk factors associated with local recurrences and survival following breast-conserving therapy. Of 1653 cases of invasive breast cancer, 12 (0.7%) were identified as pure tubular carcinoma. Clinical/pathologic features of pure tubular carcinoma were compared with those of T1 invasive carcinoma of all other histologic types (T1 IC). Of the 12 patients with pure tubular carcinoma (median tumor diameter 1.4 cm; range 0.5-3.0 cm), a multicentric association was identified in one patient while a multifocal association was seen in two. One patient had nodal metastatic disease out of the ten who underwent axillary dissection. No lymphatic vessel invasion was identified in any tumors (P < 0.1 vs T1 IC). In addition, extensive intraductal spread was not present in any tumors (P < 0.05 vs T1 IC). This study shows that patients with pure tubular carcinoma are appropriate candidates for breast-conserving therapy based on the clinical/ pathologic features. When a multifocal association is suspected preoperatively, either a wide local excision or a quadrantectomy which includes other lesions is thus recommended.

Characterization of a protease responsible for truncated actin increase in neutrophils of patients with Behçet's disease

As described previously (Yamashita S. et al., Biol. Pharm. Bull., 23, 519-522 (2000)), high levels of a truncated actin with an N-terminus of Met-44 were detected in neutrophils of patients with Behcet's disease. Since the increase of the truncated actin in neutrophils of patients may be important for understanding the pathology of Behçet's disease, the mechanism of the truncated actin formation was studied. First, to investigate the presence of a specific protease, which cleaves the actin at the site between Val-43 and Met-44, a peptide with a partial amino acid sequence of actin from the N-terminal Pro-38 to Asp-51 was synthesized as the protease substrate. The synthesized peptide was digested with cytosolic fractions of neutrophils from patients and healthy volunteers, and digestion products were analyzed by C18-reverse phase HPLC. The chromatograms of these samples showed that an endoprotease, which cleaved the peptide at a specific site, was present in cytosolic fractions of neutrophils from patients with Behçet's disease. Then, the effects of various kinds of protease inhibitors on the digestion of the peptide were investigated in order to identify the responsible endoprotease. The digestion of the peptide was suppressed by 4-(2-aminoethyl) benzenesulfonylfluoride (AEBSF, a serine protease inhibitor) and N-methoxysuccinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val chloromethylketone (CMK, a polymorphonuclear (PMN)-elastase inhibitor) in the presence of EDTA. Furthermore, PMN-elastase was found to cleave the substrate peptide and actin at the site between Val-43 and Met-44. These results lead to the conclusion that the PMN-elastase is responsible for cleavage of actin at the N-terminal site between Val-43 and Met-44 in neutrophils from patients with Behçet's disease.

Thyroid metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma as an initial presentation: a case report

Although metastases to the thyroid are not uncommon at autopsy, most of these lesions are clinically occult. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of hepatocellular carcinoma initially presenting as a thyroid mass. Various radiological studies suggested malignant thyroid tumor, and core needle biopsy was performed. Metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma was histopathologically suspected, and subsequent abdominal CT revealed advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Biochemical identification of the neutral endopeptidase family member responsible for the catabolism of amyloid beta peptide in the brain

Amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) is a physiological peptide that is constantly catabolized in the brain. We previously demonstrated that an endopeptidase sensitive to phosphoramidon and thiorphan conducts the initial rate-limiting proteolysis of Abeta in vivo, but the exact molecular identity of the peptidase(s) has remained unknown because of the molecular redundancy of such activity. We analyzed the brain-derived enzyme by means of immuno-depletion and gene disruption, and demonstrate here that neprilysin accounts for the majority of the Abeta-degrading activity. Furthermore, kinetic analysis, giving a K(m) value of 2.8 +/- 0.76 microM, indicated that Abeta(1-42) is a relevant substrate for neprilysin.

Rhabdoid features in leiomyosarcoma of soft tissue: with special reference to aggressive behavior

The presence of rhabdoid cells has been reported in various types of malignant neoplasms and has been determined to be a predictor of aggressive behavior of neoplasms regardless of tumor histogenesis. One hundred and thirteen cases of leiomyosarcoma, selected from 1800 soft tissue sarcomas, were reviewed on hematoxylin and eosin sections, and immunohistochemical staining when available, and seven cases with rhabdoid features were retrieved. Clinicopathologic differences were analyzed to compare between cases with rhabdoid features and those without rhabdoid features. In the seven cases with rhabdoid features, two were intra-abdominal, and the others arose in external soft tissues including muscle, subcutis, and cutis. Patient age ranged from 33 to 84 years, three were female, and four were male. Tumor size ranged from 3 to 22 cm. Clinical evidence showed no differences from those cases without rhabdoid features. Histologically, one of the abdominal cases was epithelioid leiomyosarcoma. Two of the 7 cases were better subclassified as pleomorphic leiomyosarcoma, in which rhabdoid cells are diffusely scattered. In cases other than those with pleomorphic leiomyosarcomas, foci of anaplastic areas were observed, and collections of rhabdoid cells were present in those areas. Immunohistochemical examination of the cases confirmed myogenic differentiation, and showed rhabdoid cells being positive for vimentin and desmin in the inclusion bodies, and diffusely so for muscle actin in the cytoplasm. After dividing all the cases of leiomyosarcoma by their location, prognostic analysis was performed. Leiomyosarcoma of external soft tissue with rhabdoid cells showed a tendency for poorer prognoses than cases without rhabdoid features. On the contrary, retroperitoneal cases did not. This study indicates that rhabdoid features are associated with aggressive biological behavior in leiomyosarcoma of the external soft tissue.

Functional evaluation of hydronephrosis by diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient and split glomerular filtration rate

PURPOSE

To determine the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values measured by diffusion-weighted MR imaging and split renal function determined by renal scintigraphy in patients with hydronephrosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Diffusion-weighted imaging on a 1.5 T MR unit and renal scintigraphy were performed in 36 patients with hydronephrosis (45 hydronephrotic kidneys, 21 non-hydronephrotic kidneys). ADC values of the individual kidneys were measured by diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Split renal function (glomerular filtration rate (GFR)) was determined by renal scintigraphy using 99mTc-DTPA. The relationship between ADC values and split GFR was examined in 66 kidneys. The hydronephrotic kidneys were further classified into three groups (severe renal dysfunction, GFR <10 ml/min, n=7; moderate renal dysfunction, GFR 10-25 ml/min, n= 10; normal renal function, GFR >25 ml/ min, n=28), and mean values for ADCs were calculated.

RESULTS

In hydronephrotic kidneys, there was a moderate positive correlation between ADC values and split GFR (R2=0.56). On the other hand, in nonhydronephrotic kidneys, poor correlation between ADC values and split GFR was observed (R2=0.08). The mean values for ADCs of the dysfunctioning hydronephrotic kidneys (severe renal dysfunction, 1.32 x 10(-3) +/- 0.18 x 10(-3) mm2/s; moderate renal dysfunction, 1.38 x 10(-3) +/- 0.10 x 10(-3) mm2/s) were significantly lower than that of the normal functioning hydronephrotic kidneys (1.63 x 10(-3) +/- 0.12 +/- 10(-3) mm2/s).

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that measurement of ADC values by diffusion-weighted MR imaging has a potential value in the evaluation of the functional status of hydronephrotic kidneys.

Loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

To investigate the alterations of genetic instabilities in carcinogenesis of the breast, we analyzed the allelotypic profile of 65 ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), compared with that of 207 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) of the breast. These studies were performed by means of examining microsatellite-length polymorphisms at seven loci (AluVpa, ESR, D11S988, D13S267, D16S398, D17S1159, and D17S855) from microdissected paraffin sections. Allelic loss or imbalance, considered a loss of heterozygosity (LOH), tended to be more frequently seen in IDC than in DCIS. In particular, the frequency of LOH at the 17p locus was significantly higher in IDC than in DCIS (42 vs. 23%, P=0.022). LOH in DCIS was most frequently seen at D16S398 (26%). LOH frequency at D16S398 in low- and intermediate-grade DCIS was higher than that in high-grade DCIS, while LOH frequencies at D11S988 and D17S1159 in low- and intermediate-grade DCIS was lower than those in high-grade DCIS. LOH frequency at D11S988 in non-comedo type DCIS was lower than that in comedo type DCIS. Furthermore, the frequency of microsatellite instability (MSI) at only one locus in DCIS (28%) was statistically higher than that in IDC (6%) (P<0.001), while there was no difference between the frequency of MSI at multiple loci in DCIS (6%) and that in IDC (3%). Together, these observations indicate that chromosomal losses of 16q may occur in low- and intermediate-grade DCIS and those of 11p and 17p may occur high-grade DCIS, and that MSI occurring at only one locus is not yet clear and MSI at multiple loci is uncommon in not only IDC but also DCIS of the breast.

Activating Gs(alpha) mutation in intramuscular myxomas with and without fibrous dysplasia of bone

Activating missense mutations in the Arg 201 codon of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of Gs, the G protein that stimulates cAMP formation, have been recognized as the cause of many endocrine diseases, McCune-Albright syndrome and isolated fibrous dysplasia of bone. On the other hand, intramuscular myxomas with fibrous dysplasia, so-called Mazabraud's syndrome, have been sporadically reported, but it has not been confirmed whether intramuscular myxoma, with or without fibrous dysplasia, is associated with the Gs(alpha) mutations. We investigated the presence of the Gs(alpha) mutations in intramuscular myxomas with or without fibrous dysplasia by a PCR-SSCP assay, using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. In five of the six intramuscular myxomas (three with and two without fibrous dysplasia), point mutations were detected as aberrant bands by SSCP, which were confirmed by a subsequent sequence analysis (three Arg to His and two Arg to Cys). This result suggests that the Gs(alpha) mutations are related to tumorigenesis in intramuscular myxoma and that intramuscular myxoma is one of the diseases induced by abnormal Gs(alpha) protein.

Axillary lymph node metastases in patients with small carcinomas of the breast: is accurate prediction possible?

OBJECTIVES

To find out whether macroscopic classification of the tumour margin is predictive of axillary lymph node metastases and to identify a combination of clinical and pathological findings by which axillary node status can be predicted accurately in small carcinomas (T1) of the breast.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Municipal referral centre, Japan.

SUBJECTS

All 1003 patients with T1 invasive carcinoma of the breast who had axillary lymph node dissection between January 1970 and December 1996 as part of their treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The association between the incidence of axillary lymph node metastases and 10 clinical and pathological factors (age, palpability and size of tumour, macroscopic classification of tumour margin, clinical axillary status, radiating spiculation on a mammogram, histological type, lymphatic invasion, oestrogen and progesterone receptor status) were analysed.

RESULTS

Clinical axillary node status, macroscopic classification of tumour margin, lymphatic invasion, and age of the patient were significant predictors of axillary lymph node metastases (p < 0.01 in each case). Among 47 patients aged 65 or more whose tumours had well-defined margins and with a clinical N0 status in the axillae, the incidence of histological axillary lymph node metastasis was only 6% (n = 3) whereas it was 65% in 57 patients with tumours of ill-defined margins whose axillae were N1 or N2.

CONCLUSIONS

Macroscopic classification of tumour margins is an independent predictor of axillary lymph node metastases for patients with small carcinomas of the breast. However, even with combinations of the examined predictors of axillary node metastases, the subgroup of patients at minimal risk of metastasis was less than 5% in T1 breast cancer, whereas three-quarters of the patients had clear axillary lymph nodes. Most patients with T1 breast cancer will need surgical staging of the axillae by methods such as sentinel node biopsy.

[Activities of antimicrobial agents against 5,180 clinical isolates obtained from 26 medical institutions during 1998 in Japan. Levofloxacin--Surveillance Group]

The surveillance study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial activity of fluoroquinolones (ofloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, tosufloxacin) and other 20 antimicrobial agents against 5,180 clinical isolates obtained from 26 medical institutions during 1998 in Japan. The resistance to fluoroquinolones was remarkable in Enterococci, methicillin-resistant staphylococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from UTI. However, many of the common pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae including penicillin-resistant isolates, methicillin-susceptible Stahylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, the family of Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus influenzae including ampicillin-resistant isolates have been kept to be susceptible to fluoroquinolones. About 90% of P. aeruginosa isolates from RTI were susceptible to fluoroquinolones. In conclusion, the results from this surveillance study suggest that fluoroquinolones are useful in the treatment of various bacterial infections including respiratory infections.

Comparison of fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery MR imaging with CT in a simulated model of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Because MR imaging is becoming integral to the evaluation and treatment of very early stroke, it is critical to prove that MR imaging is at least as sensitive to acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) as is CT. The present study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of detecting a small amount of acute SAH diluted by CSF not revealed by CT but identified on fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) MR images in an in vitro study.

METHODS

Acute SAH was simulated with mixtures of artificial CSF and arterial blood (hematocrit [Hct], 45%) ranging from 0% to 100% by volume. We scanned these phantoms with CT and turbo-FLAIR MR imaging (9000/119 [TR/effective TE]; inversion time, 2200 ms; echo train length, 7), and we measured T1 and T2 relaxation times of these phantoms at temperatures within 36 degrees C to 37 degrees C. Plots of CT value from the different blood/water mixture ratios versus Hct were generated and correlated with the average CT value from normal cortex. We measured T1 and T2 relaxation times of these phantoms and normal cortex and generated T2 relaxation curves as a function of effective TE for a specific inversion time (2200), and determined the TR (9000) for the turbo-FLAIR sequence by using a theoretical equation for the turbo inversion recovery signal intensity.

RESULTS

Above a Hct of 27% blood, the mixture was denser on CT scans than was the normal cortex. At a selected time longer than an effective TE of 120, above a Hct of 22.4% blood, the mixture was more hyperintense than the normal cortex on turbo-FLAIR images. At selected times longer than an effective TE of 160, above a Hct of 9% blood, the mixture was more hyperintense than was the normal cortex.

CONCLUSION

FLAIR imaging is more sensitive than CT in the detection of a small amount of acute SAH diluted by CSF at selected appropriate TE, as determined in an in vitro study.

Analysis of neutrophil proteins of patients with Behçet's disease by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Protein changes in the neutrophils of patients with Behçet's disease were analyzed by high resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to investigate the pathological features of Behçet's disease. Two clear protein spots were found to be differently expressed between healthy volunteers and patients with Behçet's disease. One was a 53 kDa protein with pI 5.2 that was detected in healthy volunteers but was nearly absent in the patients. The other was a 40 kDa protein with pI 5.2 that was detected in the patients but nearly absent in the healthy volunteers. Analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 40 kDa protein revealed that it was a truncated actin with an N-terminus of Met-44. The presence of the truncated actin in the neutrophils of patients was confirmed by Western blot analysis using an antibody to the C-terminus of actin. The 53 kDa protein could not be identified because its N-terminus was blocked. The presence of the truncated actin in the neutrophils of the patients may be important in understanding the pathology of Behçet's disease.

Increased degradation of newly synthesized interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in anti CD3-stimulated lymphocytes treated with glycoprotein processing inhibitors

As described previously (Kosuge T., Toyoshima S., Biol. Pharm. Bull., 23, 1-5 (2000)), inhibitors of the glycoprotein processing enzymes, glucosidase I and II, induce decreased secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) into culture supernatants of anti CD3-stimulated lymphocytes, and in the present study the mechanism has been investigated in further detail. The processing inhibitors did not affect intracellular levels of IFN-gamma but enhanced the degradation of newly synthesized IFN-gamma in anti CD3-stimulated lymphocytes. Furthermore, since the stability of N-glycosylated proteins is known to be regulated by lectin family chaperones, such as calnexin, a type I transmembrane protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and calreticulin, a soluble protein in the ER lumen, the effect of the processing inhibitors on the interaction of IFN-gamma with calnexin and calreticulin was investigated. It was found that IFN-gamma formed complexes with calnexin and calreticulin in anti CD3-stimulated lymphocytes. Total binding of IFN-gamma to calnexin was not affected but that to calreticulin was increased in anti CD3-stimulated lymphocytes treated with the processing inhibitors. However, binding of newly synthesized IFN-gamma to calreticulin was decreased in the lymphocytes under the same conditions as above. These results suggest that these glycoprotein processing inhibitors block the release of IFN-gamma from already formed calreticulin complexes, which prevents the binding of newly synthesized IFN-gamma to calreticulin and results in the enhancement of IFN-gamma degradation.

[Effects of psidium components on cytokine productions in helper T cells and type-I allergy]

Psidium genus Myrtaceae (Psidium) is known to be a chinese medicine with an anti-allergy effect. In the present study, to identify active components in Psidium and investigate mechanisms of its anti-allergy effect, effects of several components isolated from Psidium on cytokine production in helper T cell subtypes, Th1 and Th2 cells, were studied. All components, except methyl gallate, suppressed cytokine production in both Th1 and Th2 cells. Then, effects of methyl gallate on IgE production in a model mouse with type I allergy were studied. Methyl gallate suppressed IgE production in the mouse. Only methyl gallate selectively suppressed Th2-cytokine production.

Effect of inhibitors of glycoprotein processing on cytokine secretion and production in anti CD3-stimulated T cells

We have investigated the effect of inhibitors of glycoprotein processing on cytokine secretion and production in anti CD3-stimulated T cells to elucidate the role of carbohydrate in the triggering of T cell function. The inhibitors of glycoprotein processing, especially mannnosidase inhibitors, enhanced the anti CD3-induced production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), which is a cytokine without the linkage sequence of N-linked oligosaccharides. On the other hand, N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (NMdNM, an inhibitor of processing glucosidase 1), 1-deoxynojirimycin (dNM, an inhibitor of processing glucosidase I and II) and bromoconduritol (BCD, an inhibitor of processing glucosidase II) inhibited the secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), or interleukin-5 (IL-5) into culture supernatants of anti CD3-stimulated T cells, which had N-linked oligosaccharides. Mannosidase inhibitors, 1-deoxymannojirimycin (dMAN, an inhibitor of processing mannosidase I) and swainsonine (SWN, an inhibitor of processing mannosidase II) did not inhibit the secretion or production of IL-4, IFN-gamma and IL-5. To confirm the inhibition of N-linked oligosaccharide processing in the cytokines by the above inhibitors, the binding of IFN-gamma to lectins with various sugar-binding specificities was investigated. All inhibitors reduced the binding of IFN-gamma to PHA E4, which had a high affinity to bi- or tri-antennary complex type N-linked oligosaccharides with bisecting N-acetylglucosamine. Similarly, all inhibitors reduced the binding of IFN-gamma to PHA L4, which had high affinity to tri- or tetra-antennary complex type N-linked oligosaccharides with beta1-6-linked branching. SWN and dMAN increased the binding of IFN-gamma to concanavalin A (ConA), which had a high affinity to bi-antennary complex type, hybrid type and high-mannose type N-linked oligosaccharides. These results suggest that the processing inhibitors used here inhibit the N-linked oligosaccharide processing of cytokines, and the inhibition of processing enzyme glucosidases I and II induces a decreased secretion of cytokines with N4-linked oligosaccharides.

Process of egg formation in the female body cavity and fertilization in male eggs of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The process of egg formation in the body cavity of a phytoseiid mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, was observed to examine fertilization of male eggs. After insemination, one of the ova at the periphery of the ovary began to expand, taking up yolk. Two pronuclei appeared in the expanded egg, located dorsally in the ovary, and yolk granules were formed gradually. After the egg became filled with yolk granules the two pronuclei fused. The egg moved via the narrow entrance at the ventral region into the oviduct, where the eggshell was formed. When the eggshell was complete, and while embryogenesis proceeded, the egg was deposited. In the meantime some ova began to expand sequentially and two joining pronuclei appeared in expanding eggs. The joining pronuclei in the first egg proved male diploidy. This is additional evidence of pseudo-arrhenotoky in this phytoseiid mite species, since the first eggs developed into males.

Mediastinal parathyroid cyst: treatment with thoracoscopic surgery--a case report

Parathyroid cysts are rarely located in the mediastinum. This report describes a 45-year-old man with a mediastinal parathyroid cyst. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was successfully performed to remove the cyst.

Acetylleucine chloromethyl ketone, an inhibitor of acylpeptide hydrolase, induces apoptosis of U937 cells

Acetylleucine chloromethyl ketone (ALCK), an inhibitor of acylpeptide hydrolase (ACPH), inhibited the growth of human monoblastic U937 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Morphology of the ALCK-exposed cells showed typical apoptosis, judging from the nuclear condensation and segmentation. Chromosomal DNA of U937 cells treated with ALCK showed an internucleosomal ladder-like pattern on electrophoresis, being characteristic of apoptosis. Of the other leucine chloromethyl ketone analogues, butyloylleucine chloromethyl ketone (BLCK) induced a weak ladder-like formation but caploylleucine chloromethyl ketone (CLCK)barely did. On the other hand, intracellular ACPH activity of U937 cells was strongly inhibited by culturing with ALCK, moderately with BLCK, and not with CLCK. These findings indicate that the inhibition of ACPH activity leads to apoptosis and suggest that ACPH may play a vital role in eukaryotic cells.

Transient association of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunits p47phox and p67phox with phagosomes in neutrophils from patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease

Optimal microbicidal activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) requires recruitment of a functional nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase to the phagosome. In this study, we used a synchronized phagocytosis assay and immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM) to examine the association of cytosolic NADPH oxidase subunits with phagosomes containing opsonized zymosan (OpZ). Ingestion of OpZ began within 30 seconds of particle binding and forming phagosomes were enriched for both F-actin and the actin-binding protein p57. NADPH oxidase subunits p47phox and p67phox were also recruited to forming phagosomes and were retained on mature phagosomes for at least 15 minutes. Colocalization of F-actin, p57, and p47phox on phagosomes was confirmed by immunoblotting. Translocation of p67phox, but not p57, to forming phagosomes was deficient in PMNs lacking p47phox. Surprisingly, we found that in PMNs from six individuals with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), p47phox and p67phox accumulated in the periphagosomal area during ingestion of OpZ. However, in marked contrast to normal PMNs, p47phox and p67phox were shed from nascent phagosomes along with F-actin and p57 once OpZ was internalized (approximately 5 minutes). These data support a model in which flavocytochrome b is required for stable membrane binding of p47phox and p67phox, but not their association with the cytoskeleton or transport to the cell periphery.

Apoptosis and cell proliferation in medullary carcinoma of the breast: a comparative study between medullary and non-medullary carcinoma using the TUNEL method and immunohistochemistry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Medullary carcinoma of the breast has generally been considered to result in better prognosis than ordinary invasive ductal carcinoma, which would seem to be discrepant when one considers its anaplastic histology and high mitotic rate. We attempted to elucidate the prognostic implications of apoptosis and cell proliferation in medullary carcinoma of the breast.

METHODS

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of 50 cases of typical medullary carcinoma (MC) of the breast and those of 50 control cases of non-medullary invasive ductal carcinoma (N-MC), which were matched to the MC cases in both age and TNM classification, were investigated utilizing the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method and immunohistochemistry for p53, bcl-2, and Ki-67.

RESULTS

Mean values of the apoptotic index (AI), the proliferative index (PI), and the ratio of AI to PI (AI/PI) were significantly higher in MC than in N-MC (P < 0.0001). MC exhibited significantly lower positivity for bcl-2 than N-MC (P = 0.00003), while there was no significant difference in p53 positivity between MC and N-MC.

CONCLUSIONS

A high frequency of apoptosis may be related to a favorable prognosis in MC, even though it demonstrates a high proliferative activity, exhibiting a rapid cell turnover.

Role of diffusion-weighted echo-planar MRI in distinguishing between brain brain abscess and tumour: a preliminary report

Our purpose was to evaluate diffusion-weighted (DW) echo-planar MRI in differentiating between brain abscess and tumour. We examined two patients with surgically confirmed pyogenic brain abscess and 18 with metastatic brain tumours or high-grade glioma, using a 1.5 T system. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of each necrotic or solid contrast-enhancing lesion was measured with two different b values (20 and 1200 s/mm2). All capsule-stage brain abscesses (4 lesions) and zones of cerebritis (2 lesions) were identified on high-b-value DWI as markedly high-signal areas of decreased ADC (range, 0.58-0.70 [(10-3 mm2/s; mean, 0.63)]). All cystic or necrotic portions of brain tumours (14 lesions) were identified on high-b-value DWI as low-signal areas of increased ADC (range, 2.20-3.20 [(10-3 mm2/s; mean, 2.70)]). Solid, contrast-enhancing portions of brain tumours (19 lesions) were identified on high-b-value DWI as high-signal areas of sightly decreased or increased ADC (range, 0.77-1.29 [(10-3 mm2/s; mean, 0.94)]). Our preliminary results indicate that DW echo-planar MRI be used for distinguishing between brain abscess and tumour.

Characteristics of nitrogen metabolism in rats with thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were given 0.03% thioacetamide (TAA) in their drinking water daily for 4 or 12 weeks, and were then given normal water for 4 weeks after the end of a 12-week TAA treatment to investigate amino acid metabolism. In the malnourished precirrhotic stage (stage 1) and the malnourished cirrhotic stage (stage 2), the aromatic amino acids (AAA), Glu, Asp, Orn, Arg and Cit increased, and the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) decreased slightly. Because these changes normalized in the well-nourished cirrhotic stage (stage 3), they might have resulted from impairment of hepatocytes and malnutrition. The net uptake of BCAA into the liver increased in stage 2, but the AAA uptake did not exceed that in normal controls. Portal venous plasma AAA increased to the same level as arterial plasma AAA. These results suggest that the decrease in BCAA was partially due to liver uptake and that the increase in AAA was induced by reduction of liver uptake and overproduction in extrahepatic tissues. The liver contents of BCAA and AAA were unchanged in all stages, so were fully utilized in the impaired liver. The increases in Glu, Asp, Orn and Cit might have resulted from overproduction in the liver, because these contents of the liver increased in stage 2. In conclusion, the changes in amino acid metabolism in rats with cirrhosis induced by TAA closely resemble those seen in human liver cirrhosis.