Renal tissue mast cells in liver diseases

Renal tissue mast cell counts were studied in autopsied cases of liver diseases. In cirrhosis and fibrosis of the liver, cases with hepato-renal syndrome showed a significant decrease in renal tissue mast cell counts as compared to those without hepato-renal syndrome. On the other hand, a significant increase in the number of mast cells was noted in cases with hepato-renal syndrome as compared to those without hepato-renal syndrome in fulminant hepatitis. These results suggest that renal tissue mast cells may play an important role in the onset of acute renal failure in liver diseases.

Smoking and health: a review prepared by the Smoking and Health Subcommittee of the Tobacco Industries Council, a council formed by the Minister of Finance of Japan

Any definition of health is inevitably broad and contains various elements that may differ from one individual to another. Recent studies on the effects of smoking on physical and mental health have progressed remarkably and have great value in the fields of epidemiology, pathology, clinical medicine, and psychiatry. This report concludes that while smoking may have beneficial psychological effects on smokers, it may pose a risk to physical health.

Anti-hypercholesterolemic effect of melatonin in rats

The effects on plasma lipids of daily intraperitoneal injections of 4 mg of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) for 10-27-day periods were examined biochemically and morphologically in rats fed regular and high-cholesterol (1% cholesterol, 0.5% cholic acid) diets. Melatonin administration had no significant effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in the rats on a normal diet but blunted the effects of a high-cholesterol diet on these parameters. No effects of melatonin on lipase activity were noted. Melatonin also diminished the fatty infiltration in the liver of animals on the high-cholesterol diet. The high-cholesterol diet produced major increases in VLDL and LDL cholesterol and protein content, and decreases in HDL cholesterol and protein. Melatonin decreased the extent of this plasma lipoprotein increase, although it did not completely prevent the phenomenon. Therefore, the effect is thought to be quantitative and not qualititative in nature.

Spread of herpes simplex virus type-1 (Miyama +GC strain) to the central nervous system after intraperitoneal inoculation: the role of the myenteric plexus of the gut

The pathways taken by the HSV-1 virus after intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation were studied in 5-week old male C3H/HeN mice injected with 1 x 10(4) PFU (100 LD50) or 5 x 10(5) PFU (5000 LD50) of HSV-1 (Miyama +GC strain). At the higher dosage (5 x 10(5) PFU), HSV-1 began replicating in the adrenal from the first day, then in the gut and thoracic portion of the spinal cord by the third day, and in the brainstem by the fourth day, as shown by the titers of the virus in these organs. By immunoperoxidase staining HSV-1 was localized in a necrotic area of the adrenal, the myenteric plexus of the gut, the intermediolateral columns of the thoracic cord, and the vagus nerve nuclei of the medulla oblongata. In the low dose mice (1 x 10(4) PFU), HSV-1 was not isolated from the adrenal or thoracic segment of the spinal cord from the time of inoculation until the time of death. It was, however, isolated from the gut on days 4-6 and from the brainstem by day 5. HSV-1 was never isolated from the blood of either group at any time. The localizations of viral replication suggest that in the mice inoculated with 1 x 10(4) PFU, HSV-1 spreads to the brainstem via the vagal nerves after replication in the myenteric plexus of the gut. In the mice given the higher dose, localizations suggest not only the above route, but also that the virus spread to the intermediolateral columns of the spinal cord after replicating in the adrenal.

Organ distribution of 3H-endotoxin in rats with liver fibrosis and rats with liver cirrhosis

The organ distribution of 3H-endotoxin was investigated in rats with CCl4-induced liver injury. Wistar male rats were given water containing phenobarbital (Controls), or were treated with water containing phenobarbital and CCl4 inhalation. Rats inhaling CCl4 for 6 weeks developed liver fibrosis (Group LF), while those inhaling it for 10 weeks developed liver cirrhosis (Group LC). Animals were killed and examined 24 hours after an intravenous injection of 3H-endotoxin (12,000 CPM/l g body weight). Compared with the control rats, the measured amount of 3H-endotoxin per unit weight of spleen, lungs, and blood increased, while that of the liver significantly decreased in the rats of groups LF and LC. These results suggest that endotoxemia may be enhanced by a diminished uptake of endotoxin by the liver in liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.

Age and sex differences in bone metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in Japanese autopsy cases

Metastatic patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 6997 autopsy cases recorded in the Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan from 1981 to 1984 were analyzed by using a computer. Significant association of the metastatic pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma with age and sex was shown after separating patients into different age groups in pack years. It was especially worthy of notice that bone metastasis decreased in an age-dependent manner only in men within the widest age range (P less than 0.001) and was significantly prevalent in men in their forties and fifties (P = 0.012). In addition, in 350 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma autopsied at Tokyo University Hospital during 15 years from 1971 to 1985, it was suggested that bone metastasis might be prevalent in male patients with liver cirrhosis although significant relationship between bone metastasis and hepatitis B virus infection or alcohol abuse was not shown. These results might indicate possible effects of sex differences on the metastatic pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly bone metastasis, as well as on the incidence of the cancer.

Selective segmental hepatic necrosis produced by the Shwartzman mechanism in rabbits

In this study, a new experimental model for hepatic necrosis is presented using rabbits, and E. coli endotoxin as the Shwartzman reagent. A segment of the liver was chosen as a target site for the univisceral Shwartzman reaction. Endotoxin-Lipiodol emulsion was used as a preparative injection via the portal venous branch into the target segment by direct puncture. Provocation was made by an intravenous injection of endotoxin 24 h later. A marked and sharply demarcated necrotic area was produced selectively in the target segment; specific changes were not seen in other lobes of the liver or other parts of the body. This model, strongly enhanced by using Lipiodol, seems to be a subtype of the univisceral Shwartzman reaction of the liver.

The organ distribution of [3H]endotoxin following partial hepatectomy

3H-labeled endotoxin was intravenously injected into Wistar rats 24 hours following 70% hepatectomy and also into the normal rats. They were sacrificed 12 hours, 24 hours or 5 days after the injection. Microscopical autoradiography was performed on the rats' organs. The distribution of endotoxin in the organs was investigated by quantitatively measuring their radioactivity. Endotoxin was taken up mainly by Kupffer cells of the liver in all the groups. Endotoxin was observed also in macrophages of the spleen and the lung in all the groups. The amount of endotoxin per 1 g organ weight of the hepatectomized rat was significantly smaller in the liver, and significantly larger in the spleen, lung and blood (per 1 ml) than that of the control groups early after hepatectomy. These differences of the organ accumulation of endotoxin between groups diminished 5 days later. Deficient tolerance of the liver to endotoxin at the peak phase of regeneration following partial hepatectomy was suggested.

Fate of 3H-labeled endotoxin in partially hepatectomised rats

Organ distribution of endotoxin was compared in normal and previously hepatectomised rats after administration of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide labeled at the galactose moiety. Most of the radioactivity was found in the liver in both cases, but total recovery was much higher in the organs of normal rats. In the liver, the amount of endotoxin per total organ and per 1 g organ weight was significantly reduced in the hepatectomised rats as compared with the intact controls. In normal rats, the radioactivity decreased 12 to 24 hours in the liver, but in the hepatectomised rats, no significant change was observed during this period. The total radioactivity in the lungs, spleen and blood (1 ml), as well as that per unit weight bases, was significantly higher in the hepatectomised rat than in normal rats. These results and autoradiographical studies suggest that endotoxin clearance activity of Kupffer cells in the liver is decreased by partial hepatectomy of the rats at the peak phase of regeneration, and that remaining endotoxin flow out of the liver is disposed mainly by the macrophages in the spleen.

Effects of melatonin on genetic hypercholesterolemia in rats

Administration of the pineal hormone melatonin to genetically hypercholesterolemic rats resulted in a decrease in plasma cholesterol levels and in an improvement of fatty changes of the liver. Thus, the antihyperlipemic effect of melatonin, which was first discovered in hypercholesterolemia produced by short- or long-term administration of glucocorticoids, has now been proved to be rather universal and not simply anti-glucocorticoidal. The mechanism of the decrease of plasma cholesterol levels remains unknown. It was also found that the pathogenesis of this so-called genetic hypercholesterolemia in rats involved biochemical nephrotic changes and histopathological changes in the kidney.

Pathologic study of myocardial infarction of the right ventricle

To evaluate pathologic features of myocardial infarction of the right ventricle (MI-RV), we analyzed 106 autopsy cases with transmural myocardial infarction (MI) (fresh in 46 cases and healed in 60). Anterior MI was observed in 47, posterior MI in 54 and lateral in 5. There were 13 cases (12%) with MI-RV (anterior in 1 case and posterior in 12), which included 10 cases with fresh MI and 3 with healed MI. All cases with MI-RV had associated transmural interventricular septal infarction. Of the 13 cases with MI-RV, 9 (69%) had right ventricular dilatation (RVD) and 2 had right ventricular hypertrophy. Extensive MI-RV (more than 1/3 of the right ventricle) was observed in 8 (89%) of those with RVD. Of 93 cases of MI without MI-RV, 14 (16%) had RVD. The incidence of RVD was greater in cases with MI-RV than in those without (p less than 0.005). All 12 cases with posterior MI-RV had significant (greater than or equal to 75%) narrowing of the right coronary artery (RCA), and 19 cases (87%) of those with posterior MI without MI-RV, had similar lesions. In conclusion, the incidence of RVD and significant narrowing of RCA was greater in cases with posterior MI-RV than in those with posterior MI.

A light and scanning electron microscopic study of hepatic veno-occlusive disease

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease, which was observed in a patient with hepatic coma, was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and correlated with its histology. Postmortem examination disclosed microscopic occlusion of the centrilobular and sublobular veins in the liver. These veins were occluded, partially or completely, by intimal and medial thickening of their walls due to proliferation of collagen and reticulin fibers. In addition to venous obliteration, which had not been demonstrated by other techniques, frequent occlusion of the sinusoidal opening into the central veins was observed by SEM. The size and distribution of the openings were irregular in comparison with those in normal controls. There was no evidence of fibrin thrombus formation in the veins. This case exemplified the usefulness of the application of SEM to autopsy material.

Early adrenal infection by herpes simplex virus type-1 (Miyama + GC strain): special reference to inoculation dose and spread from the adrenal to the central nervous system

Male C3H/HeN mice, aged 5 weeks, were inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with different doses (1 x 10(3), 1 x 10(5), 5 x 10(5), 1 x 10(6) pfu) of the herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) (Miyama + GC strain). The LD50 of this virus was 10(2) pfu (i.p.) per mouse. All the mice in each group died 12 days after inoculation. Adrenal necrosis was found to be dose-dependent, the threshold dose being 5 x 10(5) pfu. In addition, encephalitis and inflammatory cell infiltration in abdominal ganglia appeared in 3-4 days after inoculation. By the plaque method, HSV-1 was detected first in the adrenal glands, then in neurons in the spinal cord and the brain. These findings suggest that in mice inoculated with doses of virus sufficient to infect the adrenal gland, HSV-1 spreads to the central nervous system through peripheral nerves after replication in the adrenal.

Origin of the medulloblastoma experimentally induced by human polyomavirus JC

The origin of the medulloblastoma induced by JC virus (JCV) in golden hamsters was investigated by the in situ hybridization method. After inoculation of JCV into newborn hamsters, a few migrating cells in the cerebellar molecular layer as well as several cells in the internal granular layer hybridized with an antisense mRNA probe of JCV T-antigen on the 10th day. The number of cells positive for this probe decreased on the 15th and 20th days. Moreover, an incipient medulloblastoma consisting of many cells positive for T-antigen mRNA was noticed in the cerebellar internal granular layer 30 days after inoculation. About 6 months post inoculation, 95% of the animals had succumbed to medulloblastoma. Therefore, the origin of the medulloblastoma seemed to be the cells in the cerebellar external granular layer that were infected by JCV, that migrated normally through the molecular layer to the internal granular layer, and that began to proliferate to become medulloblastoma. When 5-day-old hamsters were inoculated, a few cells positive for T-antigen mRNA were detected in the cerebellum within a month. In the long-term observation, the ratio of medulloblastoma induction decreased as the age of the animals at inoculation increased. These results support the idea that JCV infects and transforms the cells in the cerebellar external granular layer, because this layer appears only transiently in newborn hamsters.

An autopsy study of lung cancer in University of Tokyo for the last 27 years, from 1958 to 1984, with special reference to the characteristics of lung cancer in Japan

Four hundred and sixty-five male and 159 female consecutive autopsy cases of lung cancer, autopsied over the 27 years from 1958 to 1984, were analysed and were compared with other materials and mortality statistics, including statistics from other countries. Malignant tumor autopsy cases are gradually increasing and now comprise more than 60% of total autopsy cases. The percentage of lung cancer cases among all autopsy cases was 7% in males and 4% in females. The percentage of lung cancer in autopsies of patients with malignancies was about 13% for males and 9% for females. The most frequent fatal malignant tumors were gastric cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia. The relative incidence of gastric cancer was decreasing, while that of lung cancer was increasing. In the distribution of the histological types of lung cancer, adenocarcinomas were the most frequent types in both sexes. As has been noted in mortality statistics, we noticed a gradual shift in the peak age of lung cancer autopsy cases towards older patients. During the period under study, the peak shifted from patients in their sixties to patient in their seventies; this was true for most of the major histological types in both sexes. The male/female ratio of all lung cancer cases was 2.9, which was much lower than the ratio found in the United States and Europe, and very similar to the ratio of the mortality rates in Japan and other Asian countries. It was pointed out that the male/female ratios by age-group in each country is a very good reflection of the histological distribution.