Comparative study of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

An important disease entity distinct from cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in Japan is adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), which shows almost the same phenotype as CTCL, ie, a helper/inducer T-cell phenotype (CD4-positive, CD8-negative), and usually involves the skin. This article describes differences between CTCL and ATL in terms of clinical and immunopathologic cell surface features. In patients with ATL, the predominant physical findings were lymph node, bone marrow and skin involvement, hepatosplenomegaly, leukemic manifestations, and an aggressive course. In patients with CTCL, in contrast, only skin lesions predominated at the onset of the disease and a relatively good prognosis was shown. The predominant phenotype of the neoplastic cells in the skin of patients with CTCL was CD3+, CD4+, CD29+, CD45RO+, HLA-DR+, HLA-DQ+, CD7-, L-selectin-, and CD45RA-. Some phenotypic discrepancy was found between the neoplastic cells in the peripheral blood, lymph nodes and skin of patients with ATL with respect to CD45RA and CD45RO, and CD7, CD29, CD25, and HLA-DR. That is, the predominant neoplastic cell phenotype was helper T-cell, which was CD3+, CD4+, L-selectin+, CD25+, CD45RA+, HLA-DR+, CD29-, and CD45RO- in peripheral blood, and CD3+, CD4+, L-selectin+, CD29+, CD45RO+, HLA-DR+, and CD45RA- in the skin and lymph nodes. Phenotypic heterogeneity of ATL cells and heterogeneity of CD45R isoform expression on ATL cells were evident in different organs. These findings confirm that the difference in antigen expression on the cell surface might reflect the clinical features of ATL and CTCL. CTCL cells do not share the same phenotype as ATL cells.

Iterative reconstruction method in phase-diversity imaging

An object is iteratively reconstructed from two atmospherically degraded images, one of which is detected by shifting of a known amount of phase with respect to the other. The iterative reconstruction scheme is based on the ideas of the blind-deconvolution method and the error-reduction algorithm. An optical system to do phase shifting is proposed in which a deformable mirror is employed. Several computer simulations are conducted to exemplify the usefulness of our method.

Blood cytokine and complement levels in patients with sepsis

We measured serum levels of endotoxin, cytokines, and eicosanoids and investigated their relationship to serum complement levels in patients with sepsis. Serum endotoxin (Et) levels (5.3 +/- 2.4 pg/ml) were within the normal range, but levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, 114 +/- 104.94 pg/ml), interleukin 6 (IL-6, 86.7 +/- 50.9 pg/ml), interleukin 8 (IL-8, 86.8 +/- 49.7 pg/ml), type-II phospholipase A2 (type II PLA2, 211.3 +/- 193.9 ng/ml), leukotriene B4 (LTB4, 88.7 +/- 27.2 pg/ml), thromboxane B2 (TXB2, 58.7 +/- 50.9 pg/ml) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (PGF1 alpha, 21.0 +/- 11.0 pg/ml) levels were above normal. Levels of C3a (1088.4 +/- 83.8.7 ng/ml) and C4a (1951.5 +/- 1697.8 ng/ml) were also above normal; C3 (66.0 +/- 25.6 mg/dl) and C4 (23.6 +/- 5.3 mg/dl) were within the normal range, and C5a was lower than the detectable limit in all but one of the subjects. Serum TNF-alpha was significantly correlated with C3a (p < 0.001). Serum IL-6 had a significant negative correlation with C3 (p = 0.002) and C4 (p = 0.010). Type II PLA2 was significantly correlated with C3a (p < 0.001). There were no significant correlations between serum Et or IL-8 and serum C3, C4, C3a or C4a. Our findings suggest that increased levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and Type II PLA/ in patients with sepsis contribute to activation of the complement system.

Single-frame blind deconvolution by means of frame segmentation

For restoration of an image degraded with a shift-invariant point-spread function (PSF), partial images segmented from the degraded image are blind deconvolved in parallel for estimation of the common PSF in each partial image. An object function is reconstructed by deconvolution of the whole image with the PSF. A technique for calibrating contamination caused by the segmentation is developed. Results for a computer-generated image and an atmospherically degraded solar image are presented.

Typical fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma in Japanese patients: report of two cases

We report herein the cases of two Japanese patients with typical fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma treated at our institute. The first patient was a 19-year-old man with no hepatitis B or C viral infection and a normal, noncirrhotic liver in the nontumorous area. The second was a 36-year-old woman with no viral infection and a noncirrhotic liver in the nontumorous area. The clinicopathology, imaging appearances, and histology of both cases were similar to reports from the United States.

Ultrastructural analysis of the autophagic process in yeast: detection of autophagosomes and their characterization

Under nutrient-deficient conditions, the yeast S. cerevisiae sequesters its own cytoplasmic components into vacuoles in the form of "autophagic bodies" (Takeshige, K., M. Baba, S. Tsuboi, T. Noda, and Y. Ohsumi. 1992. J. Cell Biol. 119:301-311). Immunoelectron microscopy showed that two cytosolic marker enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase and phosphoglycerate kinase, are present in the autophagic bodies at the same densities as in the cytosol, but are not present in vacuolar sap, suggesting that cytosolic enzymes are also taken up into the autophagic bodies. To understand this process, we performed morphological analyses by transmission and immunological electron microscopies using a freeze-substitution fixation method. Spherical structures completely enclosed in a double membrane were found near the vacuoles of protease-deficient mutant cells when the cells were shifted to nutrient-starvation media. Their size, membrane thickness, and contents of double membrane-structures corresponded well with those of autophagic bodies. Sometimes these double membrane structures were found to be in contact with the vacuolar membrane. Furthermore their outer membrane was occasionally seen to be continuous with the vacuolar membrane. Histochemical staining of carbohydrate strongly suggested that the structures with double membranes fused with the vacuoles. These results indicated that these structures are precursors of autophagic bodies, "autophagosomes" in yeast. All the data obtained suggested that the autophagic process in yeast is essentially similar to that of the lysosomal system in mammalian cells.

[A case of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis due to type II cryoglobulinemia probably associated with hepatitis C virus infection]

In recent years, several laboratories have suggested that chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is strongly associated with type II cryoglobulinemia (CG) and/or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). We report here a case of MPGN due to type II CG probably associated with chronic HCV infection, and discuss the pathogenesis and treatment of such cases. A 60-year-old-female was referred to us from a local hospital because of progressive peripheral edema, purpura on the lower limbs, pleural effusion, ascites, hypertension, and renal failure. Laboratory findings indicated proteinuria, abnormal urinary sediments, normochromic normocytic anemia and azotemia. Other laboratory findings included positive rheumatoid factor, elevated serum IgM, hypocomplementemia and elevated circulating immune complexes. Cryoglobulin was detected and found to consist of a mixture of a monoclonal IgM kappa with polyclonal IgG. Renal biopsy showed MPGN. These observations suggested a close association between MPGN and type II CG. We did not find any causes of type II CG except for positive HCV antibody and HCV RNA. Therefore, we made the diagnosis of type II CG associated with chronic HCV infection. Symptoms related to CG was responsiveness to steroid, but development of liver dysfunction developed. Treatment with alfa-interferon (alpha IFN) was added and thereafter, the liver dysfunction improved. However, the serum Cryo level was not reproducibly lowered. While in this case it was unclear whether IFN therapy was beneficial, several reports in addition to the findings of this case suggest a close relation between HCV infection and type II CG and MPGN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phospholipid hydroperoxides are significantly less toxic to cultured endothelial cells than fatty acid hydroperoxides

Optically active hydroperoxides of phospholipids including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidic acid were synthesized, and their cytotoxicity to cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells was examined. Phospholipid hydroperoxides were readily incorporated into cells during the incubation in a medium containing each hydroperoxide. Phospholipids with a linoleic acid hydroperoxide residue showed no toxicity, whereas phosphatidylcholine with an arachidonic acid hydroperoxide residue was somewhat toxic. When hydroperoxyarachidonoylphosphatidylcholine was reduced to hydroxyarachidonoylphosphatidylcholine, the reduction product was found to have no toxicity. It appears that phospholipid hydroperoxides, unless converted into more reactive compounds, are significantly less toxic to endothelial cells than fatty acid hydroperoxides.

Persistent organochlorine residues in northern fur seal from the Pacific coast of Japan since 1971

The present study was conducted to determine the residue levels of persistent organochlorines such as PCB homologues, DDT and its metabolites, and HCH isomers in the ventral blubber of female northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) collected off Sanriku, the Pacific coast of northern Japan, since 1971. Among the organochlorines examined, the concentrations of PCBs and DDTs were found to be high in all samples. The residue levels of these two contaminants showed a drastic reduction following maturity and then a slight increase after the retirement from pregnancy/menopause. Temporal variation of PCB and DDT residues showed maximum levels around 1976 and then decreased, whereas HCH residue levels revealed a very slow declining pattern. Considering the concentrations and compositions of the residues, the northern fur seal is likely to be exposed to organochlorine contamination deriving from global terms. In this context, continuous contamination has been foreseen with regard to PCB and HCH residues. The pattern of organochlorine residues indicated that the northern fur seal has higher metabolic capacity than Dall's porpoise, while it is comparable to those of larga seal and Steller sea lion.

Effects of hypercholesterolemia on initial and chronic phases of rat nephrotoxic serum nephritis: development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, analogous to atherosclerosis

The effects of hypercholesterolemia on both the initial and chronic phases of rat nephrotoxic serum (NTS) nephritis have been investigated. Injury during the initial phase of NTS nephritis in hypercholesterolemic rats maintained on a cholesterol-supplemented diet (Group 2) was characterized by segmentally accentuated accumulations of vacuolated cells with lipid droplets (foam cells) in the glomeruli, while the kidneys of rats fed a standard diet (Group 1) revealed only mild intracapillary cell proliferation. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the foam cells observed in Group 2 rats were largely derived from macrophages. The glomerular macrophage number, defined by the number of ED1-positive cells per glomerulus, was significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 animals at days 5-6 (3.4 +/- 1.4 in Group 1 against 6.3 +/- 1.0 in Group 2; p < 0.01) as well as at days 21-28 (5.5 +/- 2.6 in Group 1 against 10.9 +/- 2.8 in Group 2; p < 0.01). In contrast, the numbers of OX19-positive T-lymphocytes and OX33-positive B-lymphocytes were similar in both groups. In the chronic phase of NTS nephritis at week 20, semiquantitative evaluation of the glomerular lesions disclosed more severe focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in Group 2 compared with Group 1 animals (glomerular injury score: 14 +/- 10 in Group 1 against 73 +/- 17 in Group 2; p < 0.01). Accumulations of lipid and foam cells were invariably seen in the sclerotic foci of Group 2 animals. The results indicate that hypercholesterolemia played an important role in the accelerated development of FSGS in rat NTS nephritis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Parallel scheme of the iterative blind deconvolution method for stellar object reconstruction

An algorithm for stellar object reconstruction without a reference star is described. The algorithm is based on parallel application of the iterative blind deconvolution method to several speckle frames, and it permits reconstruction of an object that satisfies the convolution relation in all the frames used. Computer simulations with noisy speckle images are carried out to demonstrate performances of the algorithm. The algorithm is applied to observational data of binary stars, and high-resolution images are clearly reconstructed. Binary parameters extracted from the images show good consistency with those obtained both with the power spectrum analysis and with the shift-and-add method.

Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma--a clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical study

Eleven cases of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL) were studied. The ages at presentation ranged from 34 to 79 years (mean = 59.9 years). Six patients were female and five male. Five of the 11 patients had a solitary tumour and the other six had multiple tumours at initial presentation. According to Burg's classification, six cases were at stage I, two stage II, two stage III and one was at stage IV at initial presentation. Abnormalities in laboratory data were rare, except for serum lactic dehydrogenase values. Epidermotropism was not detected, and the area mainly affected by neoplastic cells was the reticular dermis (seven cases) and subcutis (four cases). Biopsy specimens from the patients analysed by immunohistochemical techniques on paraffin or cryostat sections showed CD20 and/or CD22 positivity. Biopsy specimens from two patients which showed CD10 positivity were diffuse large cell types by the working formulation and presented as pre-B-cell lymphoma. At least two groups of CBCL were demonstrable on the basis of prognosis. One was a benign low-grade lymphoma presenting with solitary tumours, mature B-cell markers and intermediate-grade pathology, and the other was a high-grade lymphoma with multiple tumours, pre-B-cell or mature B-cell markers and a poor prognosis.

Successful treatment of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma with MACOP-B, M-FEPA and VEPP-B combination chemotherapy

A 45-year-old man was referred to our department in March of 1989. Physical examination showed erythroderma, palmo-plantar hyperkeratosis, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and leukemic manifestation. The lymphocyte count in the peripheral blood before treatment was 1.7 x 10(4) cells/mm3. Atypical lymphocytes such as flower cells and lobulated cells were seen in the peripheral blood. A sample excised from a lymph node showed immunoblastic, pleomorphic T cells by a modified classification scheme of the Working Formulation. A high level of serum LDH was detected (2.1 times the upper normal limit). Anti HTLV-1 antibody was also detected in the serum. The atypical lymphocytes were positive for CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7 and HLA-DR, and negative for CD8. Thus, the clinical, pathologic and immunologic features were those of typical acute-type ATL. The patient was treated with VEPA-M for three months starting in March of 1989. Because of poor response, the patient was then treated with MACOP-B, M-FEPA, and VEPP-B for about one year from June of 1989 and has been free of disease up to the time of writing, March of 1993.

Wave-front correction from point spread function data

A distorted wave front is estimated from the intensity distribution on a focal plane. The information of the estimated wave front is used to control an adaptive mirror that corrects an atmospherically distorted wave front. A new approach to correct a distorted wave front is proposed. Several computer simulations confirm that a distorted wave front can be corrected from the information of the intensity distribution on a focal plane.

[Lymphomas of the skin]

Malignant lymphoma of the skin is a type of extranodal lymphoma, in which the main organ involved is the skin, and 80-90% of cases in Japan show a T-cell phenotype. Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are common T-cell lymphomas of the skin with a benign prognosis. Therefore, various forms of topical therapy, such as topical steroid, photochemotherapy (PUVA) and interferons, have been indicated for the low-risk group (stages I A, I B and II A), whereas electron-beam irradiation, retinoid plus interferon (IFN), photopheresis and deoxycoformycin (DCF) plus IFN have been indicated for intermediate-risk group (stages II B and III). The cutaneous involvement of B-cell lymphoma has been considered an unmistakable sign of progression and dissemination of lymphoid disease, and is thus associated with a poor prognosis. However, some primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCLs) show a benign prognosis, and electron-beam irradiation has been indicated for early-stage CBCL (stages I and II). However, the prognosis of high-risk group CTCL (stage IV) and cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL) (stages III and IV) is poor. Therefore, an effective multiagent combination chemotherapy, such as MACOP-B, M-BACOD or ProMACE-Cyta BOM is required for patients with advanced-stage CTCL and CBCL. With regard to age at the time of the first medical examination, patients with CTCL or CBCL at an advanced stage have a tendency to be older. Therefore, a mild but effective therapy, such as DCF plus IFN is recommendable.

Castration attenuates proteinuria and glomerular injury in unilaterally nephrectomized male Sprague-Dawley rats

BACKGROUND

To clarify the pathogenesis of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, we investigated the effect of castration on the development of proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in unilaterally nephrectomized male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

At 5 weeks of age, group 3 was castrated, whereas groups 1 and 2 were sham-operated. At 6 weeks of age, groups 2 and 3 received unilateral right nephrectomy and group 1 received sham-operation. Body weight, blood pressure, urinary protein, serum albumin, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were checked every 2 months from 2 through 12 months after right nephrectomy. Control group 1, Nx (nephrectomized) group 2 and castrated (nephrectomized + castrated) group 3 underwent morphologic study 6 months after nephrectomy. In an additional experiment, control group 4, Nx group 5, and castrated group 6 were followed for an additional 6 months and used for morphologic study.

RESULTS

Growth was significantly stunted in the castrated rats as compared with control and Nx rats. Nx rats became proteinuric with age. Castration significantly reduced the proteinuria after 2 months of nephrectomy throughout the experiment. The proteinuria in castrated rats tended to decrease as compared with the controls. The glomerulosclerosis index was significantly higher in Nx rats than in either the controls or the castrated rats. The three groups showed no significant differences in blood pressure, plasma renin, activity and plasma aldosterone concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations suggest that sex hormones may contribute to the development of proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in unilaterally nephrectomized male SD rats.

Structure-activity relationship for D-ring derivatives of grayanotoxin in the squid giant axon

Grayanotoxin (GTX) binds specifically to the voltage-dependent sodium channel and induces a persistent increase in the membrane permeability to sodium ion. By studying the structure-activity relation of the GTX action, we attempt to elucidate the molecular moiety of the sodium channel facing around the carbon atoms C-15 beta, C-16 beta and C-14S in the D-ring of GTX in exerting the biological activity. A dose-response curve for each GTX analog was constructed using membrane depolarization as an index and assuming a one-to-one stoichiometry. Addition of alpha-OH, carbonyl and beta-OH groups to either C-15 or C-16 sequentially reduces the toxin potency, suggesting that the domain of the Na channel facing C-15 and C-16 contains a positive charge. Substitution of a hydroxymethyl group to the beta side of C-16 reduces GTX activity 10 times more than a similar substitution in the alpha side, indicating that this positive charge is located close to the beta side. Introduction of a hydrophilic hydroxy group into C-14S reduced GTX activity by a factor of 20, whereas introduction of an electronegative amino group totally eliminated it. We infer that hydrophobic bonds are a predominant factor on the alpha surface of the GTX molecule. In summary, 3 beta-OH, 5 beta-OH and 6 beta-OH of the GTX molecule make contact with the Na channel by hydrogen bonding and with most of remainder by hydrophobic bond in binding to the Na channel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The crystal structure of specific granules in human eosinophils studied by thin sectioning and deep-etching with the aid of Fourier transformation

The crystal structures of specific granules in human eosinophils were studied by thin sectioning and deep-etching with the aid of Fourier transformation. The crystal, thought to be a simple cubic by previous studies by thin sectioning, was demonstrated as the body-centered cubic (the cesium chloride type) consisting of two kinds of particles. The crystal parameters obtained by deep-etching were slightly larger (a = b = c = 4.1-4.4 nm) than by thin sectioning (4.0 nm). By deep-etching, the crystal also showed the stacking folds suggesting the piled-up plates. Although it is known that the patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome have more hypodense eosinophils compared with normal persons, no morphological differences could be detected in the crystals between these eosinophils.

A case of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma with a storiform stromal reaction

A case of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma is described. The patient was treated only by surgical excision of the skin tumors five times during a period of about two years from February of 1984 to October of 1986. After the last surgical excision, a continuous disease-free period was achieved. Biopsy samples showed dense lymphocytic infiltrations with discrete masses in the dermis and subcutis; one of them showed a storiform pattern. At the time, the infiltrating cells were composed of medium and large lymphoid cells and spindle-shaped cells. The medium and large lymphoid cells were positive for CD20, CD22 and HLA-DR and negative for CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD43, and kappa and lambda light chain. The spindle-shaped cells were negative for CD20, CD43, kappa and lambda light chain, lysozyme, and S-100 protein.

Inhibitory effects of a cholecystokinin antagonist, loxiglumide (CR-1505), on the growth of freshly separated and xenografted human pancreatic cancer

The effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) and a CCK antagonist, loxiglumide (CR-1505), on four freshly separated and six xenografted human pancreatic cancers, were investigated. The level of DNA synthesis in only one of five tested pancreatic cancers was enhanced by CCK at concentrations of 0.01-10 nM, while in the other four cancers DNA synthesis was not affected. The levels of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis (by 3H-thymidine, 3H-uridine, and 3H-leucine incorporation tests, respectively) in all the tested cancers were dose-dependently inhibited by loxiglumide at concentrations of 20-2000 microM, and the IC50 of loxiglumide for DNA synthesis in pancreatic cancers was 156 +/- 80 microM (means +/- SD). The in vivo effect of loxiglumide was assessed using a xenografted line (PC-HN) transplanted in nude mice. The in vivo 50% lethal dose of loxiglumide for nude mice was about 500 mg/kg. Death was caused by respiratory failure due to severe congestion of the lung after the administration of a large dose of loxiglumide. The growth of a PC-HN transplanted in the nude mice was significantly inhibited by subcutaneous loxiglumide at 250 mg/kg, twice a day for 28 days, which did not cause death. It is suggested that loxiglumide inhibits the in vivo and in vitro growth of human pancreatic cancer, perhaps independently of its action as a CCK antagonist, and this study also suggests that loxiglumide may be a new type of therapeutic agent to be used for the treatment of human pancreatic cancer.