Lipomatous primitive neuroectodermal tumor with a glioblastoma component: a case report

A case of extracerebellar lipomatous primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) areas is reported. A 44-year-old woman who had been on antipsychotic agents for schizophrenia complained of hemiparesis and drowsiness. She deteriorated progressively and died 3 months later. The autopsy revealed a huge, ill-defined tumor located from right basal ganglia to brain stem. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of three distinct components: clusters of small primitive cells consistent with PNET, mature lipoma-like islands, and a GBM-like component. Neuronal differentiation in PNET areas was confirmed by the presence of Homer Wright rosette, synaptophysin-positive fibrillary background, and ultrastructural demonstration of neuritic processes. Lipoma-like areas composed of lipidized cells containing large lipid droplets were intimately intermingled and closely related with PNET areas. Furthermore, GBM areas were, although predominantly located in the brain stem, often blended with the previous two components. This component was characterized by glial fibrillary acid protein immunoreactivity of atypical tumor cells and the presence of necrosis and endothelial proliferation. PNET areas with lipomatous differentiation in the present tumor may suggest the morphological and histogenetic similarity to liponeurocytoma, although the neuronal element in the former was anaplastic. The association with a GBM component makes the present tumor a unique, and, to our knowledge, previously unrecognized lesion.

Determination of hydrogen peroxide by iron(III) complex of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate on a modified ion-exchanger with peroxidase-like catalytic activity

An iron(III) complex of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate on a modified anion-exchanger (Fe3+-TCAS(A-500)) has shown high peroxidase-like activity at pH 5 - 6 for the reaction of quinoid-dye formation between 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone and N-(3-sulfopropyl)aniline in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Utilizing the peroxidase-like activity of Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) for this reaction, a method using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was applied for the spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide. The calibration curve by the method using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was linear over the range from 1 to 10 microg of hydrogen peroxide in a 1 ml sample solution. The apparent molar absorptivity for hydrogen peroxide was 2.4 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). which was about 80% of that by peroxidase under the same conditions. This determination method of hydrogen peroxide using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was applied for the determination of glucose in diluted normal and abnormal control serum I and II.

[A case of carcinosarcoma of the lung]

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of cough and slight fever up. A tumor shadow in right S6 and obstructive pneumonia was detected by X-ray and CT. Bronchoscopic study showed that right B6 bronchous was occluded by the tumor and in which malignant cell (squamous cell carcinoma suspect) were detected. Therefore right middle and lower lobectomy was performed. Histological examination of the resected specimen showed that the tumor was composed of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and abnormal spindle cell component. Both components of the tumor were mixed each other in part. Immunohistologically, malignant cell of sarcomatous elements were positively stained by vimentin and actine, but was not found such as osteosarcoma or rabdomyosarcoma. He was diagnosed as so-called carcinosarcoma of the lung.

Layered cobalt hydroxysulfates with both rigid and flexible organic pillars: synthesis, structure, porosity, and cooperative magnetism

The synthesis and characterization of two members of a family of porous magnetic materials is described. The structures of Co4(SO4)(OH)6(C2N2H8)0.5*3H2O and Co4(SO4)(OH)6(C6N2H12)0.5*H2O and their thermal stability can be tailored via the choice of organic pillar. The interactions between the pillaring agent and the compositionally complex inorganic layer are discussed. The influences of two pillaring agents i.e., the flexible ethylenediamine and the relatively rigid 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane, on thermal stability, rigidity upon guest loss, and magnetic behavior of the pillared solids are compared. The magnetism of the pillared layered cobalt hydroxides is complex due to the influences of multiple metal sites, inter- and intralayer exchange, spin-orbit coupling, and geometrical frustration. The wide variety of potential pillars, oxyanions, and possible metal substitutions at the octahedral and tetrahedral sites offers the possibility of tailoring the magnetic and porous properties of these materials.

High-output heart failure caused by a huge renal arteriovenous fistula after nephrectomy: report of a case

Postnephrectomy renal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) with an aneurysmal lesion is a rare clinical entity that may cause high-output heart failure. In this report, we describe the case of a 68-year-old man who had undergone nephrectomy for renal tuberculosis 43 years previously, in whom an acquired large renal AVF presenting as an aneurysm caused congestive cardiac failure. We also discuss the hemodynamic, hormonogenic (human arterial natriuretic polypeptide; hANP), and radiographic findings before and after surgery for the AVF. The AVF with an aneurysmal lesion was clearly visualized by three-dimensional-computerized tomographic (CT) scanning, and proximal ligation of the renal artery was followed by an uneventful recovery. This procedure can produce good results when a fistula is too large to allow safe embolization and when excision would be hazardous due to inflammation surrounding the fistula.

Dominant effect of supplemented-sucrose on the low protein diet-induced increase in blood pressure of Sprague-Dawley rats

A low-protein diet (LPD) is known to affect the regulation of hemodynamics, and could contribute to the genesis of hypertension. We investigated the mechanism for the LPD-induced elevation of blood pressure in 52 Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats fed the LPD for 8 weeks showed a significantly higher blood pressure than those fed on a normal-protein diet (NPD) when the LPD included sucrose as a predominant component of carbohydrate (LPD with a high sucrose content, 135 +/- 2 mmHg; NPD, 124 +/- 2 mmHg; p<0.05). However, LPD with a low sucrose content, in which corn starch was the main component of carbohydrate, did not have a hypertensive effect (125 +/- 2 mmHg). Urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine excretion was significantly higher in the LPD high-sucrose group than in the NPD and LPD low-sucrose groups, and there was a significant positive correlation between urinary norepinephrine excretion and systolic blood pressure. Urinary nitric oxide excretion was no different between these groups, and 2 % L-arginine administration exerted no antihypertensive effect on the LPD-induced elevation of blood pressure. Sodium restriction also did not attenuate the LPD-induced elevation of blood pressure. These results suggest that the effect of LPD on blood pressure could be interpreted as the effect of the high sucrose content supplemented to the LPD rather than the direct effect of protein restriction, and that the stimulation of sympathetic nervous activity was associated with this elevation of blood pressure.

STAT5 induces macrophage differentiation of M1 leukemia cells through activation of IL-6 production mediated by NF-kappaB p65

We recently demonstrated that STAT5 can induce a variety of biological functions in mouse IL-3-dependent Ba/F3 cells; STAT5-induced expression of pim-1, p21(WAF/Cip1), and suppressor of cytokine signaling-1/STAT-induced STAT inhibitor-1/Janus kinase binding protein is responsible for induction of proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, respectively. In the present study, using a constitutively active STAT5A (STAT5A1*6), we show that STAT5 induces macrophage differentiation of mouse leukemic M1 cells through a distinct mechanism, autocrine production of IL-6. The supernatant of STAT5A1*6-transduced cells contained sufficient concentrations of IL-6 to induce macrophage differentiation of parental M1 cells, and STAT3 was phosphorylated on their tyrosine residues in these cells. Treatment of the cells with anti-IL-6 blocking Abs profoundly inhibited the differentiation. We also found that the STAT5A1*6 transactivated the IL-6 promoter, which was mediated by the enhanced binding of NF-kappaB p65 (RelA) to the promoter region of IL-6. These findings indicate that STAT5A cooperates with Rel/NF-kappaB to induce production of IL-6, thereby inducing macrophage differentiation of M1 cells in an autocrine manner. In summary, we have shown a novel mechanism by which STAT5 induces its pleiotropic functions. Cytokines

Two-dimensional thick-slice MR digital subtraction angiography for assessment of cerebrovascular occlusive diseases

Although spatial resolution of current MR angiography is excellent, temporal resolution has remained unsatisfactory. We evaluated clinical applicability of 2D thick-slice, contrast-enhanced subtraction MR angiography (2D-MR digital subtraction angiography) with sub-second temporal resolution in cerebrovascular occlusive diseases. Twenty-five patients with cerebrovascular occlusive diseases (8 moyamoya diseases, 10 proximal internal carotid occlusions, and 2 sinus thromboses ) were studied with a 1.5-T MR unit. The MR digital subtraction angiography (MRDSA) was performed per 0.97 s continuously just after a bolus injection of 15 ml of gadolinium chelates up to 40 s in sagittal (covering hemisphere) or coronal planes. Subtraction images were generated at a workstation. We evaluated imaging quality and hemodynamic information of MRDSA in comparison with those of routine MR imaging, non-contrast MR angiography, and X-ray intra-arterial DSA. Major cerebral arteries, all of the venous sinuses, and most tributaries were clearly visualized with 2D MRDSA. Also, pure arterial phases were obtained in all cases. The MRDSA technique demonstrated prolonged circulation in sinus thromboses, distal patent lumen of proximal occlusion, and some collateral circulation. Such hemodynamic information was comparable to that of intra-arterial DSA. Two-dimensional thick-slice MRDSA with high temporal resolution has a unique ability to demonstrate cerebral hemodynamics equivalent to that of intra-arterial DSA and may play an important role for evaluation of cerebrovascular occlusive diseases.

Thiolutin, an inhibitor of HUVEC adhesion to vitronectin, reduces paxillin in HUVECs and suppresses tumor cell-induced angiogenesis

Recent studies have shown that integrin alpha v beta 3, a receptor for vitronectin, plays an important role in tumor-induced angiogenesis and tumor growth and that antagonists of alpha v beta 3 inhibit angiogenic processes including endothelial cell adhesion and migration. On the other hand, most inhibitors of integrin alpha v beta 3 are peptide antagonists that include the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif. We therefore reasoned that non-peptide inhibitors of endothelial cell adhesion to vitronectin might be useful for inhibition of tumor angiogenesis in vivo. We screened for low-molecular-weight natural products able to inhibit adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to vitronectin, and pyrrothine group compounds including aureothricin, thioaurin and thiolutin were isolated from microbial culture broths. Of these compounds, thiolutin inhibited adhesion of HUVECs to vitronectin the most effectively (IC(50), 0.83 microM). In vivo experiments showed that thiolutin significantly suppressed angiogenesis induced by tumor cells (S-180), a pathological form of neovascularization, in a mouse dorsal air sac assay system. To explore the mechanism of inhibition of HUVEC adhesion to vitronectin by thiolutin, we examined the effect of this agent on intracellular cell adhesion signaling. We found that the amount of paxillin in HUVECs was significantly reduced by thiolutin treatment, while those of other focal adhesion proteins including vinculin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) were not. Metabolic labeling experiments showed that thiolutin enhanced degradation of paxillin in HUVECs. Protease inhibitors (MG115 and E64-D) decreased the rate of degradation of the paxillin induced by thiolutin and partially restored thiolutin-induced inhibition of HUVEC adhesion to vitronectin. Based on these findings, we concluded that thiolutin, an inhibitor of HUVEC adhesion to vitronectin, reduces the paxillin level in HUVECs and suppresses tumor cell-induced angiogenesis in vivo.

Thymic carcinoids in multiple endocrine neoplasia-type 1

We report a case of a 45-year-old man with thymic carcinoids in multiple endocrine neoplasm-type 1. Extended total thymectomy was performed through a median sternotomy, and the mediastinal regional lymph nodes and fibroadipose tissue were dissected. Multiple endocrine neoplasm-type 1 related thymic carcinoids are rare and have a poor prognosis. The efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for prolonging survival is limited, and an aggressive surgical approach with complete excision of the tumor with resection of the peripheral tissues and dissection of the mediastinal lymph nodes seems to be the best available treatment today. We have found that this practice of thymectomy at an early stage in combination with genetic and effective radiological treatment can be effective for multiple endocrine neoplasm-type 1 patients.

Very-long-period seismic signals and caldera formation at Miyake Island, Japan

Over a period of roughly 40 days, starting on 8 July 2000, a caldera structure 1.7 kilometers in diameter developed by means of gradual depression and expansion of the summit crater at Miyake Island, Japan. At the same time, very-long-period (VLP) seismic signals were observed once or twice a day. Source mechanism analyses of the VLP signals show that the moment tensor solutions are smooth step functions over a time scale of 50 seconds, with dominant volumetric change components. We developed a model to explain the caldera and the VLP signals, in which a vertical piston of solid materials in the conduit is intermittently sucked into the magma chamber by lateral magma outflow. This model offers potential for making quantitative estimations of the characteristic physical properties of magma systems.

High-resolution elemental mapping of titanium oxide/aluminium oxide multilayer by spectrum-imaging

A spectrum-imaging technique based on scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with an electron energy-loss spectroscopy has been applied for the multilayer of amorphous titanium oxide and aluminium oxide layers on silicon substrate. We demonstrate the high-resolution elemental mapping and discuss the advantage of this method compared to an energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy. The main advantage is the absence of chromatic broadening, which allows the use of a large collection angle to acquire spectrum-image data and a wide energy window to integrate the core-loss signals. This suggests that the spatial resolution of elemental maps is mainly determined by the size of the electron probe.

Purification and characterization of aminopeptidase B from Escherichia coli K-12

Aminopeptidase B, which is one of the four cysteinylglycinases of Escherichia coli K-12, was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity and its enzymatic characteristics were observed. Aminopeptidase B was activated by various divalent cations such as Ni2+, Mn2+, Co2+, and Cd2+, and lost its activity completely on dialysis against EDTA. This indicates that aminopeptidsase B is a metallopeptidase. It was stabilized against heat in the presence of Mn2+ or Co2+. The activity of aminopeptidase B, which was saturated with one of above divalent cations, was enhanced on the addition of a very small amount of a second divalent cation. Alpha-glutamyl p-nitroanilide, leucine p-nitroanilide, and methionine p-nitroanilide were good substrates for aminopeptidase B, while native peptides, cysteinylglycine and leucylglycine, were far better substrates. The kcat/Km for cysteinylglycine was much bigger than those for leucylglycine or leucine p-nitroanilide.

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of a bioactive peptide containing a glutamine-linked oligosaccharide and its characterization

A bioactive peptide containing a glutamine-linked oligosaccharide was chemo-enzymatically synthesized by use of the solid-phase method of peptide synthesis and the transglycosylation activity of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase. Substance P, a neuropeptide, is an undecapeptide containing two L-glutamine residues. A substance P derivative with an N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residue attached to the fifth or sixth L-glutamine residue from the N-terminal region was chemically synthesized. A sialo complex-type oligosaccharide derived from a glycopeptide of hen egg yolk was added to the N-acetyl-D-glucosamine moiety of the substance P derivative using the transglycosylation activity of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Mucor hiemalis, and a substance P derivative with a sialo complex-type oligosaccharide attached to the L-glutamine residue was synthesized. This glycosylated substance P was biologically active, although the activity was rather low, and stable against peptidase digestion. The oligosaccharide moiety attached to the L-glutamine residue of the peptide was not liberated by peptide-N(4)-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase F.

Molecular cloning of cDNA encoding alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase from Acremonium sp. and its expression in yeast

Alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (alpha-GalNAc-ase; EC 3.2.1.49) is an exoglycosidase specific for the hydrolysis of terminal alpha-linked N-acetylgalactosamine in various sugar chains. The cDNA, nagA, encoding alpha-GalNAc-ase from Acremonium sp. was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The nagA contains an open reading frame which encodes for 547 amino acid residues including 21 residues of a signal peptide in its N-terminal. The calculated molecular mass of mature protein from the deduced amino acid sequence of nagA is 57260 Da, which corresponds to the value obtained from SDS-PAGE of native and recombinant enzymes treated with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H. The amino acid sequence of NagA showed significant similarity to those of eukaryotic alpha-GalNAc-ases and alpha-galactosidases (alpha-Gal-ases), particularly alpha-Gal-ase A (AglA) from Aspergillus niger. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that NagA does not belong to the cluster of vertebrate alpha-GalNAc-ase and alpha-Gal-ase but forms another cluster with AglA and yeast alpha-Gal-ases. Thus, the evolutionary origin of the fungal alpha-GalNAc-ase is suggested to be different from that of vertebrate alpha-GalNAc-ase. This is the first report of a microbial alpha-GalNAc-ase gene.

Mitral valve plasty for mitral regurgitation after blunt chest trauma

A 21 year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of chest and back pain after blunt chest trauma. On admission, consciousness was clear and a physical examination showed labored breathing. Her vital signs were stable, but her breathing gradually worsened, and artificial respiration was started. The chest roentgenogram and a subsequent chest computed tomographic scans revealed contusions, hemothorax of the left lung and multiple rib fractures. A transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed normal left ventricular wall motion and mild mitral regurgitation (MR). TTE was carried out repeatedly, and revealed gradually progressive MR and prolapse of the posterior medial leaflet, although there was no congestive heart failure. After her general condition had recovered, surgery was performed. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed torn chordae at the posterior medial leaflet. The leaflet where the chorda was torn was cut and plicated, and posterior mitral annuloplasty was performed using a prosthetic ring. One month later following discharge, the MR had disappeared on TTE.

Proteolytic Activation of SREBPs during Adipocyte Differentiation

A member of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) family, SREBP-1, is a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation. Expression of the SREBP-1 gene is induced during adipocyte differentiation, but proteolytic activation of the synthesized precursor form of SREBP-1 has not been well analyzed. The proteolytic processing of SREBPs is severely suppressed in sterol loaded culture cells. Here we report that a splicing isoform, SREBP-1a, is predominantly expressed in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes, and that the nuclear active form of SREBP-1 protein increases in adipocyte differentiation. We further show that the amount of nuclear SREBP-2 protein also increases despite no increase in SREBP-2 mRNA, suggesting that proteolytic cleavage of SREBPs is induced in lipid loaded adipocytes. Northern blot analyses reveal that mRNA levels for SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), Site-1 protease (S1P), and Site-2 protease (S2P), which participate in the proteolytic processing of SREBPs, are relatively unaffected in adipogenesis. These results demonstrate that SREBP-2 appears to promote adipocyte differentiation as well as SREBP-1 and that the proteolytic activation of SREBPs may be induced by an as-yet unidentified mechanism in lipid loaded adipocytes.

Apoptotic epithelial cells in biopsy specimens from infants with streaked rectal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Histologic studies of rectosigmoidal mucosal biopsies of infants with isolated blood-streaked stool have shown many eosinophils and revealed aggregates of small dark granules (nuclear dust). However, no description of the nuclear dust has been made for this condition and the nature of the nuclear dust has not been thoroughly investigated. We determined the characteristics of these particles in biopsies from infants with streaked rectal bleeding.

METHODS

Nineteen infants who were younger than 6 months old and had isolated rectal bleeding were studied, as were six age-matched control infants. Rectosigmoidal mucosal biopsies were immunohistochemically assessed using anticarcinoembryonic antigen and macrophage-associated antibodies and examined for apoptotic cells by modified in situ TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labelling. The number of apoptotic epithelial cells was compared between rectal bleeding and control groups.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry showed that at least some of the nuclear dust consisted of apoptotic epithelial cells. Infants with rectal bleeding also showed nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (n = 16), abundant eosinophils (>20/high power field, n = 14) in the mucosa, and a significantly high number of apoptotic epithelial cells relative to the control group. Rectal bleeding disappeared at 6-month follow-up in 14 of 18 infants (one was lost to follow-up) who were fed a different milk formula or breast-fed (their mothers were restricted from having cow's milk and eggs).

CONCLUSIONS

The high number of apoptotic epithelial cells in rectosigmoidal mucosal biopsies of infants with streaked rectal bleeding is probably caused by accelerated epithelial cell turnover and apoptosis.

Brain perfusion measured by flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: comparison with nuclear medicine technique

The aim of this study was to compare cerebral perfusion images and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of SPECT study with the images and regional intensity of relative cerebral blood flow (CBF) images acquired by contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging (pMRI) and flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR). Twelve patients with various cerebral diseases were underwent I-123-IMP SPECT, pMRI, and FAIR studies to measure rCBF. A total of 12 regions of interest (ROI) were created over cerebrum and cerebellum to acquire the corresponding rCBF from I-123-IMP study and regional average signal intensity from CBF images of pMRI and FAIR studies. Left-to-right (L/R) and cerebral-to-cerebellar (CCR) ratios were created from the rCBF of I-123-IMP and signal intensity of CBF images of pMRI and FAIR. Image quality of FAIR was the poorest among all; however, CBF images of pMRI and FAIR images show comparatively decreased intensity at the corresponding site of decreased perfusion on I-123-IMP images. Both FAIR and pMRI images showed high intensity along the sinuses, choroid plexus, and large vessels in sulci. No significant correlation was found among all imaging modalities. But L/R ratio of I-123-IMP showed significant correlation with those of pMRI and FAIR, but for CCR, significant correlation was observed only between I-123-IMP and FAIR. Perfusion images of both pMRI and FAIR may produce images comparable to SPECT study. But to calculate absolute CBF more easy-to-apply and accurate algorithms are needed to overcome the artifacts from large vessels.

Simultaneous display of MRA and MPR in detecting vascular compression for trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm: comparison with oblique sagittal views of MRI

A new technique, simultaneous display of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR), was performed by a workstation to identify the involved vessels in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) or hemifacial spasm (HFS), and the results were compared with those of oblique sagittal MRI technique. Twelve patients with either HFS or TN were prospectively assessed by simultaneous display of MRA and MPR, and oblique sagittal techniques, to point out the neurovascular compression and to identify the involved vessels. Three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) spoiled gradient-echo (SPGR) images were acquired to create MRA and MPR. Oblique sagittal views were also created and displayed on films. A total of 15 vessels in 12 patients were identified as compressing vessels during surgery. Simultaneous display of MRA and MPR technique pointed out the presence of vessels at and/or around root entry/exit zone (REZ) in all 12 patients, but proper identification by the name of the individual vessel was correct in 13 of 15 cases. However, oblique sagittal technique indicated the presence of vessels at and/or around REZ in 11 patients, but only 8 of 14 vessels were correctly identified. Our new method, simultaneous display of MRA-MPR, facilitated correct identification of the involved vessels compared with the oblique sagittal view method.

Microbial production of amino acids in Japan

The microbial biotechnology of amino acids production which was developed and industrialized in Japan have been summarized. The amino acids include L-glutamic acid, L-lysine, L-threonine, L-aspartic acid, L-alanine, L-cysteine, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, D-p-hydroxyphenyl-glycine, and hydroxy-L-proline.