Differential release of smooth-type lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa treated with carbapenem antibiotics and its relation to production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and nitric oxide

Endotoxin release from Pseudomonas aeruginosa treated with cell wall-active carbapenem antibiotics and its effect on the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and nitric oxide were examined. Treatment of bacteria with imipenem induced much lower levels of endotoxin release than treatment with meropenem. The endotoxin released was demonstrated to be of the smooth type and O-specific polysaccharide-rich. The exposure of the filtrates of P. aeruginosa treated with imipenem to physiologically relevant cells caused low-level production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and nitric oxide, while similar treatment with meropenem induced high levels of production.

Surgical treatment of internal carotid siphon aneurysms

Surgical treatment of internal carotid artery aneurysms around the carotid siphon is discussed. The surgical approach to the aneurysms in this region, is as follows: 1. A fronto-temporal approach with the patient in a 45 degrees semi-sitting position to decrease venous pressure. 2. A Dolenc approach cutting a part of the dura mater of the superior orbital fissure to facilitate removal of the anterior clinoid process and unroofing of the optic canal. 3. Opening the medial triangle followed by transection of the optic canal dural sheath. Carotid siphon aneurysms can be divided into three groups anatomically; aneurysms of the ophthalmic segment (C2), those of the clinoid segment (C3), and those of the horizontal segment (C4). We present 29 cases of aneurysms arising from the C2 or C2/3 segment, 14 cases arising from the C3 or C3/4 segment, and 11 cases arising from the C4 segment. Anatomic localization of the aneurysms was established preoperatively by angiography and three-dimensional CT imaging. Small aneurysms of the ophthalmic segment projecting infero-medially can be clipped using a contralateral approach via the prechiasmatic root. Aneurysms of the ophthalmic segment projecting superiorly can be clipped following resection of the anterior clinoid process. The clinoid process should be resected intradurally with direct visualization of the aneurysms. Straight side-angled clips are suitable for these aneurysms. Carotid cave aneurysms, which include aneurysms of the ophthalmic segment oriented infero-medially and of the clinoid segment projecting postero-medially, can be clipped using curved fenestrated clips via Dolenc's extradural approach. For accurate clipping, opening of the medial triangle and full mobilization of the IC at the clinoid segment and optic nerve by unroofing the optic canal are required. Aneurysms of the horizontal portion are clipped after full exposure of the artery in the cavernous sinus only when the aneurysms are large and symptomatic. We used the fronto-temporal and Dolenc approaches and applied fenestrated clips to aneurysms oriented or postero-medially and straight or oblique clips to aneurysms projecting antero-laterally. Out of 40 aneurysms which underwent surgical clipping, 37 resulted in good post-operative recovery. There were three deaths secondary to complications of vasospasm and three cases with post-operative visual loss. The classification of these aneurysms and the surgical techniques we employed are discussed in detail.

Anorectal stenosis in a neonate: report of a case and review of the Japanese literature

We report herein the case of an infant with anorectal stenosis successfully treated by staged surgery. At 1 day of age, the anal orifice showed circumferential stenosis located 5 mm from the anal verge and extending into the anal canal for approximately 1 cm; however, no hypertrophic raphe or bucket handle appearance were observed, and no associated anomalies such as a presacral mass or sacral dysgenesis were found. At 2 days of age, the infant underwent a sigmoid colostomy under the diagnosis of low anorectal stenosis, followed by a successful anorectoplasty, performed through a sacroperineal approach when he was 8 months old. An analysis of 13 other cases of anorectal stenosis from the Japanese literature indicates that this type of malformation should be treated by staged surgery, as an initial colostomy in the neonatal period, followed by anorectoplasty through a sacroperineal approach during infancy.

Relationship between sustained elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase and progression from cirrhosis to hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison in patients with hepatitis B virus- and hepatitis C virus-associated cirrhosis

Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japan have hepatitis B virus (HBV)-or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated cirrhosis. In the present study, the risk of HCC in patients with cirrhosis was analysed by the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). One hundred and one (78%) of 129 patients with cirrhosis registered from April 1979 were followed at monthly intervals with the measurement of serum ALT. Of 101 patients, 38 tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) but negative for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV; HBV group), 47 tested negative for HBsAg but positive for anti-HCV (HCV group) and nine tested positive and seven tested negative for both. Mean serum ALT during follow-up was calculated on the basis of monthly values during the observation period that started at enrolment and ended with the detection of HCC or at the end of March 1994. By the end of March 1994, 37 (37%) patients developed HCC; 12 were in the HBV group, 21 in the HCV group and four were in the group positive for both. Mean serum ALT during the observation period was similar in patients who developed HCC and those who did not develop HCC in the HBV group. In contrast, the value was significantly higher in patients who developed HCC than in patients who did not develop HCC in the HCV group (P < 0.05).

The somatic mutation frequency of the transforming growth factor beta receptor type II gene varies widely among different cancers with microsatellite instability

Disruption of the DNA mismatch repair system, characterized by microsatellite instability (MSI), plays an important role in the course of human carcinogenesis. Frequent somatic mutations in a polyadenine (poly(A)) tract and two GT repeats within the coding region of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) receptor II (RII) gene were reported in colorectal cancers with MSI. We examined mutations of RII in cancers of various organs with MSI and found deletions at the poly(A) tract in eight of nine (89%) gastric cancers and four of five (80%) colorectal cancers. In contrast, no mutations were found in cancers of the pancreas, endometrium, or lungs. These results suggest that TGFbeta-mediated growth control plays a very important role in the stomach and colorectum.

Immunochemical detection of carboxymethylated Apo B-100 in copper-oxidized LDL

The objective of this study was to detect carboxymethyllysine (CML) moieties in biological materials using immunological methods. We prepared a polyclonal antibody specific to the carboxymethylated protein. The antibody recognizes the CML moiety in protein. Protein-bound carboxymethylcysteine (CMS) is scarcely recognized by the antibody. By use of the antibody, the formation of carboxymethylated apo B in copper-oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) was immunochemically confirmed. To clarify the source compounds of carboxymethylation, various aldehyde-modified BSAs were prepared, and their reactivities with the antibody were investigated. Among the aldehyde-modified BSAs used, the glyoxal-BSA adduct showed a strong antigenicity. As far as we know, this is the first report of the detection of the CML moiety in ox-LDL using immunological methods.

Galanin-containing nerve terminals that are involved in a dual innervation of the striated muscles of the rat esophagus

Galanin (GAL)-immunoreactive axon terminals on motor endplates of the esophageal striated muscles were demonstrated in mice, guinea-pigs and rats. The GAL-terminals innervated 33% of AChE-reactive motor endplates in mice and 6% of those in guinea-pigs. Double immunostaining revealed that separate GAL- and CGRP-positive terminals were localized within the same motor endplates in mice and rats. The GAL and CGRP terminals had different morphologies. No CGRP-immunoreactivity was found on motor endplates of the guinea-pig esophagus. Double immunostaining in rats showed that 68% of motor endplates with CGRP-nerve terminals were also supplied by GAL-nerve terminals, suggesting that the majority of esophageal striated muscles receive a dual innervation of GAL-and CGRP/ACh-containing terminals. By immuno-electronmicroscopy in the rat esophagus. GAL-immunoreaction was found in a small type of nerve terminals that possessed many large cored vesicles (90-130 nm) with intense immunoreaction. Larger GAL-negative nerve terminals with a cluster of small clear vesicle (40-50 nm), which seemed to be ACh-containing nerve terminals, were adjacent to a depression or slight protrusion of the sarcolemma and well-developed folds in the muscle fibers. At the motor endplates, the GAL-positive terminals made a synaptic contact via basement membrane with the sarcolemma of the muscle fibers, which was characterized by post-synaptic intense electron density. In most of all situations, in which the GAL-positive terminals and GAL-negative or -positive terminals were adjacent to each other and were also apposed to the striated muscles, the terminals were separated by attenuated sheet- or tongue-like cytoplasmic processes that appeared to originate from Schwann cells. Thus, the GAL-nerve terminals seem to provide a direct innervation of the striated muscle fibers rather than innervating the ACh-containing motor nerve terminals adjacent to the GAL-terminals.

Age-related and dexamethasone-induced changes in cathepsins E and D in rat thymic and splenic cells

Age-related and dexamethasone (DEX)-induced changes in the cellular levels, distributions, and molecular forms of two distinct intracellular aspartic proteinases, cathepsin E (CE) and cathepsin D (CD), were investigated in rat thymus and spleen by immunohistochemical and quantitative analyses. In the thymus, CE was predominantly restricted to thymocytes and macrophage-like cells, whereas CD was associated mainly with the stromal cells. The increased thymic CE level observed in young rats up to 8 weeks of age was markedly decreased in aged rats (78-80 weeks of age), in accordance with the involution of the thymus, while there was little difference in the thymic CD level between young and aged rats. Subcutaneous administration of DEX also caused a marked decrease of the thymic CE level in response to the depletion of thymocytes. In contrast, a great accumulation of CD occurred in the thymic stromal cells after DEX treatment. Immunoblotting analyses revealed that CE in thymocytes isolated from young rats consisted predominantly of a 46-kDa proform which was greatly converted into a 42-kDa mature form in DEX-treated thymocytes. This conversion, however, was scarcely observed during the normal aging process. In the spleen, CE was also abundant in macrophage-like cells and lymphocytes and its level was not significantly changed between young and aged rats. However, DEX treatment caused a marked decrease of the splenic CE and CD levels in accordance with the depletion of the white pulp. Among the lymphoid cell types examined, splenic B cells were the most abundant in CE. The CE level in thymocytes and splenic T-cells was more than twice that in circulating lymphocytes. We concluded that CE is related to the process of activation-induced lymphocyte depletion.

Conflict situation increases serotonin release in rat dorsal hippocampus: in vivo study with microdialysis and Vogel test

The release of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the dorsal hippocampus was measured using an in vivo microdialysis method in rats subjected to the Vogel type conflict test. The conflict situation significantly increased 5-HT release in the dorsal hippocampus. Midazolam (0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg i.p.) suppressed the dosage-dependently this increased 5-HT release, an inhibition closely associated with the attenuation of conflict behavior. These findings suggest that the activation of serotonergic neuronal activity in the dorsal hippocampus is linked to mediation of anxiety-related behavior.

Genomic organization and promoter function of the human thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor gene

We isolated and characterized the gene for the human thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor. The gene spanned more than 30 kilobases and contained three exons and two introns. Intron 1 exists in the 5'-untranslated region, and intron 2 is more than 25 kilobases in length which interrupts the coding region before the beginning of the putative sixth transmembrane domain. Exon 3 encodes the rest of the coding region and the entire 3'-untranslated region. The 3'-flanking region contains four potential polyadenylation signals, and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends studies showed that only a signal at 2076 base pairs downstream of the stop codon was functional in the anterior pituitary. Primer extension and anchor-polymerase chain reaction studies indicated a transcriptional start site at 344 base pairs upstream of the translational start site. The promoter region does not contain either a TATA box or a CAAT box in the appropriate location. Transient transfection study revealed significant activity of the promoter in GH4C1 cells, and the region between -338 and -933 bp from the transcriptional start site worked as a negative regulator. Knowledge of the genomic organization and the promoter region of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) receptor gene will allow further studies of possible disorders of the TRH receptor, as well as facilitate elucidation of transcriptional control of the human TRH receptor gene.

Irreversible inactivation of aspartate aminotransferase by 2-oxoglutaconic acid and its dimethyl ester

Incubation of pig heart cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (pyridoxal 5'-phosphate form) with 10 mM 2-oxoglutaconic acid dimethyl ester for 2 h at 25 degrees C (pH 7.0) results in slight inactivation (approximately 15%). However, incubation of the enzyme with glutamate, or prior conversion of the enzyme to the pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate form, results in more extensive inactivation. The inactivation of the enzyme by 2-oxoglutaconic acid dimethyl ester is most pronounced in the presence of both glutamate and alpha-ketoglutarate. N-Ethylmaleimide was previously shown to alkylate two surface cysteine residues (I and II) and to react syncatalytically with a third cysteine residue (III) of cytosolic pig heart aspartate aminotransferase [Birchmeier et al. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 1751-1759]. Alkylation of cysteine III results in inactivation of the enzyme, despite the fact that this residue is not essential for catalysis. The present results suggest that 2-oxoglutaconic acid dimethyl ester reacts with the enzyme in a similar fashion to that exhibited by N-ethylmaleimide. Some inactivation by alkylation of a susceptible group at the active site cannot be ruled out. However, the rate of inactivation of cytosolic pig heart aspartate aminotransferase is proportional to the concentration of 2-oxoglutaconic acid dimethyl ester up to a concentration of at least 40 mM, suggesting that the compound binds very poorly to the active site or that alkylation at the active site is slow compared with syncatalytic alkylation of cysteine III. The t 1/2 for inactivation of pig heart cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase by 40 mM 2-oxoglutaconic acid dimethyl ester (in the presence of 10 mM L-glutamate, pH 7.2, 25 degrees C) is 9 min. Incubation of cytosolic pig heart aspartate aminotransferase with 10 mM 2-oxoglutaconate for 2 h (25 degrees C, pH 7.2) results in significant inactivation (approximately 30%). The enzyme is protected against inactivation by the presence of alpha-ketoglutarate, but glutamate enhances the inactivation. These findings suggest that 2-oxoglutaconate is an active site-directed inhibitor. The binding of 2-oxoglutaconate to the enzyme exhibits saturation kinetics (K1 approximately 2 mM), but the rate of inactivation is slow (limiting rate constant for inactivation in the presence of L-glutamate approximately 0.01 min-1; pH 6.0, 25 degrees C; t 1/2 max approximately 70 min). This finding suggests that 2-oxoglutaconate does not readily react in a syncatalytic fashion with cysteine III. Possibly, the two negative charges of 2-oxoglutaconate do not allow ready approach to cysteine III. Rather, the findings suggest that 2-oxoglutaconate binds at the active site of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate form of the enzyme as an affinity labeling reagent. However, the increased rate of 2-oxoglutaconate-induced inactivation in the presence of glutamate suggests that this unsaturated alpha-keto acid also exhibits the properties of a kcat inhibitor. 2-Oxoglutaconate inactivates aspartate aminotransferase in cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of rat kidney and purified pig heart alanine aminotransferase. Injection of 2-oxoglutaconate into mice results in inhibition of kidney aspartate aminotransferase. 2-Oxoglutaconate is a substrate of glutamate dehydrogenase. The kinetic constants are similar to those obtained with alpha-ketoglutarate. The results suggest that unsaturated alpha-keto acids and their esters may be useful probes for the study of alpha-keto acid-utilizing enzymes.

Effects of new titanium cerebral aneurysm clips on MRI and CT images

We studied the effects of newly developed aneurysm clips made of a titanium alloy (manufactured by Aesculap, A.G.) on the quality of MR and CT images. Prior to clinical application in twenty patients, the effects of five types of conventional aneurysmal clips on MR images were examined utilizing a phantom. When compared with conventional aneurysm clips, the new titanium clips produce only limited artifacts and yielded improved images in patients who underwent aneurysm clipping post-operative.

Development of an advanced Kirkpatrick-Baez microscope

We have developed an advanced Kirkpartrick-Baez (AKB) x-ray microscope to diagnose laser-produced plasmas. The AKB microscope is composed of two pairs of hyperbolic and elliptic mirrors to avoid spherical aberration and field obliquity. The spatial response of the microscope has been measured by x-ray backlighting a fine grid with laser-plasma x rays. A spatial resolution of better than 3 microm has been obtained with 2.5-keV x rays over the field of 800 microm at a magnification of 25. This microscope has been applied for laser implosion experiments, resulting in high-resolution images of the compressed cores.

Deep hypothermia cardiopulmonary bypass and direct surgery of two large aneurysms at the vertebro-basilar junction

This paper highlights two interesting cases of radial clipping of large aneurysms at the vertebro-basilar junction accompanied by a vascular anomaly, consisting of fenestration of the split basilar artery at its origin. Description of the inner and outer surface of the aneurysm were obtained pre-operatively, from analysis by 3D CT and 3D CT endoscopy of the form of the neck, parent vessels of the vertebral arteries on both sides, basilar artery and split basilar artery, as well as other details of branching. The neck exhibited a broad base in both cases. The height of the neck extended to the internal acoustic meatus, and it was possible to expose the circumference of the aneurysmal neck, peripheral basilar artery and both vertebral arteries proximally with an anterior, transpetrosal approach. Based on the size of the aneurysm and the site being the anterior surface of the brain stem, clipping (consisting of interruption of the occluded portion and reconstruction of the parent vessels) was performed. In the first case it was achieved protecting the brain by hypothermia and barbiturates under deep hypothermia with extracorporal circulation, and in the second case, a state of circulatory arrest was used. This paper documents the report of two cases along with other cases treated so far.

Effects of the glycoprotein sugar chains on the amino-carbonyl reaction of chicken and Japanese quail ovomucoids with glucose

The amino-carbonyl reactions of two glycoproteins, chicken ovomucoid and quail ovomucoid, which have similar amino acid sequences but different sugar chains, were compared. The free guanidino groups, but not amino groups, of chicken ovomucoid decreased more rapidly than those of quail ovomucoid during reaction with glucose. Protein polymerization and formation or brownish or fluorescent compounds also occurred more quickly in the chicken ovomucoid. These results suggested that the sugar chain moieties affect the amino-carbonyl reaction of glycoproteins with deducing sugars, especially at advanced stages of the reaction.

Enhanced expression of hepatitis B surface antigen by sodium butyrate in PLC/PRF/5 human hepatoma cells

The effect of butyric acid, a natural fermentation product of colonic bacterial flora, on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression was investigated in HBsAg-positive PLC/PRF/5 human hepatoma cells. By Northern blot analysis, the levels of HBsAg mRNA increased dose-dependently using sodium butyrate (0-2 mmol/l). In transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid transfection experiments, the HBsAg-preS2 promoter activity as well as the HBV enhancer 1 activity was stimulated by sodium butyrate, whereas the HBsAg-preS1 promoter activity was not. These results indicate that butyric acid functions as a physiological regulator of HBsAg expression through the portal blood flow and possibly contributes to increased expression ratio of preS2/S to preS1 polypeptides recognized in persistant HBV infection.

Early stage of human adenovirus type 12-inoculated retinal tissue of F344 newborn rat

To elucidate the pathogenesis of adenovirus type 12 (Ad12)-induced rat retinal tumor, an experimental animal model of human retinoblastoma (RB), DNA analysis, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed. The adenovirus oncogene E1A was detected in the host genome by Southern blot hybridization. Examined retinal tissues did not show any histological changes, but the number of retinal cells immunoreactive with an antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) increased with the course of study. In in situ hybridization, E1A gene expression was recognized at the inner granular layer of the retina at an early stage after virus inoculation, and subsequently, N-myc gene expression was recognized at the same region. No alteration was found in the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (Rb gene) expression. The product of the virus oncogene integrated into the host genome could induce an increase in N-myc expression, without any abnormality of the Rb gene itself. Results from the present study could be useful in clarifying the tumorigenesis of this experimental model.

Follicle stimulating hormone-beta subunit gene is expressed in parallel with a transcription factor Ad4BP/SF-1 in human pituitary adenomas

OBJECTIVES

A transcription factor Ad4BP/SF-1 is implicated in the differentiation of gonadotrophs in the pituitary gland, but it is not known whether human pituitary cells express this factor. The present study aimed to disclose (1) whether human pituitary adenomas express Ad4BP/SF-1, and (2) if this is the case, what kinds of adenoma express the factor.

MATERIAL

Total RNA was extracted from 23 pituitary adenomas obtained by transsphenoidal surgery, and subjected to Northern blot analyses using cDNAs of bovine Ad4BP/SF-1, porcine FSH-beta, LH-beta and glycoprotein hormone-alpha (GPH-alpha) subunts as radiolabelled probes. These adenomas included 13 clinically non-functioning adenomas, 1 GH/PRL-producing adenoma, 6 GH-producing adenomas, 2 PRL-producing adenomas and 1 ACTH-producing adenoma.

RESULTS

The expression of Ad4BP/SF-1 exactly coincided with the expression of FSH-beta. Thus 5 out of 13 clinically non-functioning adenomas expressed Ad4BP/SF-1 and only these 5 adenomas expressed FSH-beta. Interestingly, only one of the GH-producing adenomas also expressed Ad4BP/SF-1 as well as FSH-beta. GPH-alpha was expressed in 4 non-functioning adenomas and 2 hormonally functioning adenomas, but did not necessarily coincide with Ad4BP/SF-1 expression. None of the 23 adenomas we tested expressed LH-beta, probably because LH-beta-producing adenomas are rather rare.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of FSH-beta was parallel with Ad4BP/SF-1 expression, indicating that the expression of Ad4BP/SF-1 is restricted to cells derived from gonadotroph lineages in human pituitary adenomas.

Genetic polymorphism of the 3' VNTR region of the human dopaminergic function gene DAT1 (human dopamine transporter gene) in the Mongolian population

The hypervariable region of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) was amplified from samples in the Mongolian population. This region includes a variable number of tandem repeats of a 40-bp core unit in the 3' untranslated region of DAT1. Vandenbergh et al. (1992) reported variability in the number of repeats of this 3' flanking region ranging from 3 to 11 times in white and black populations. We examined polymorphism at the DAT1 locus in 78 native Mongolian subjects. We found alleles with 7 to 13 repeats, which is different from the findings of Vandenbergh et al. (1992). The allele distribution of the Mongolian population is similar to that in the Japanese population, reported previously by Nakatome et al. (1995). Chi-square analysis showed a significant lack of homogeneity between our findings in Mongolian subjects and those reported previously in white and black populations. The DAT1 locus was estimated to have a heterozygosity index of 14.1%, and the polymorphic information content was calculated to be 0.16.

Long-term effects of high calorie sucrose-enriched diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetes on insulin resistance in spontaneously hypertensive rats

1. The effects of two experimental manipulations on insulin resistance were compared in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Rats were fed a high calorie sucrose-enriched diet (high calorie diet) or were made diabetic by the injection of streptozotocin (STZ). 2. After treatment with the high calorie diet for 8 weeks, blood pressure increased in SHR, but not in WKY rats. In contrast, STZ treatment decreased blood pressure in SHR, but increased it in WKY rats. 3. Plasma glucose levels during oral glucose loading were higher in SHR than in WKY rats. Glucose tolerance was impaired to a greater extent by both the high calorie diet and STZ in SHR than in WKY rats. Hyperinsulinaemia induced by the high calorie diet was severe in SHR compared with WKY rats. 4. Abnormalities in lipid metabolism induced by a high calorie diet or STZ-induced diabetes were more marked in SHR than in WKY rats. 5. Steady-state plasma glucose levels in the insulin suppression test were higher in SHR than in WKY rats, both of which were treated by either the high calorie diet or STZ. These findings indicate that insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by high calorie diet or STZ-induced diabetes was impaired to a greater extent in SHR than in WKY rats. 6. It is concluded, therefore, that SHR fed on high calorie diet or SHR with STZ-induced diabetes are suitable models to study the effects of antihypertensive treatment on glucose tolerance, insulin resistance or lipid metabolism as well as blood pressure.

Morphological identification of and collagen synthesis by periacinar fibroblastoid cells cultured from isolated rat pancreatic acini

Rat pancreatic periacinar fibroblastoid cells (PFCs) appear to be involved in intralobular fibrosis and acinar cell regeneration. We isolated pancreatic acini of the rat, cultured the fibroblastoid cells, and characterized the cells morphologically and immunohistochemically. Isolated acini were seeded on culture dishes, and spindle-shaped cells migrated and proliferated. On Electronmicroscopic examination, microfilament bundles were seen, and the intracellular localization of vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and non-muscle myosin was identified immunohistochemically. These findings strongly suggest that the cells were myofibroblast-like. The PFCs were also demonstrated, immunohistochemically, to contain prolyl hydroxylase, type-I procollagen, type-III procollagen, type-IV collagen, fibronectin, and laminin. Stimulation by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) increased intracellular immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase and collagen synthesis in the PFCs. These findings indicate that PFCs proliferate in culture as myofibroblast-like cells and synthesize extracellular matrix components. It is possible that PFCs are involved in intralobular fibrosis in response to stimulation with TGF beta 1.

Histologic classification of endoscopically removed flat colorectal polyps: a multicentric study

A total of 594 flat colorectal polyps, removed at endoscopy, were histologically classified into non-neoplastic (n = 49) and neoplastic (n = 545) polyps. Non-neoplastic polyps were subdivided into metaplastic (n = 45) and hyperplastic (n = 4), whereas neoplastic polyps were subdivided into adenomas (n = 481), intramucosal carcinomas (n = 28) and invasive adenocarcinomas (n = 36). Several adenoma phenotypes were discerned: tubular (n = 375), serrated (n = 59), villous (n = 39), mixed (n = 7) and fenestrated (n = 1). Intramucosal carcinomas were subdivided into tubular (n = 26) and serrated (n = 2), and invasive adenocarcinomas into tubular (n = 32), serrated (n = 3) and fenestrated (n = 1). The microscopic characteristics of each histologic phenotype described in this communication are defined and illustrated.