Mixed cavernous angioma and glioma (angioglioma) in the hypothalamus--case report

A 54-year-old female presented with a huge mixed cavernous angioma and astrocytoma in the hypothalamus manifesting as headache, visual field defect, gait disturbance, and convulsion. Radiological studies revealed a huge suprasellar tumor encasing all the major cerebral vessels. Craniotomy disclosed a hemorrhagic tumor poorly demarcated from the surrounding brain which was partially removed. Histological examination of the operative specimen revealed cavernous angioma with low grade glioma in the periphery. The residual tumor responded to radiation therapy remarkably well. An autopsy conducted 3 years later revealed a small hypothalamic astrocytoma with abundant vasculature.

Brain lesions in chickens experimentally infected with a neuroadapted strain of mesogenic Newcastle disease virus

Neuroadapted Newcastle disease virus (Q10) was selected by tenth serial passage, in the chicken brain of a mesogenic strain (Q0) originally isolated from quails. Specific pathogen-free birds were inoculated intranasally with one of these viruses. At daily intervals for 7 days and then at 10, 14, and 21 days post-inoculation (PI), two birds from each group were killed and samples of the brain were collected for histopathological and virological examination. Q10 caused severe nonsuppurative encephalitis with nervous signs and high mortality. Lesions characterized by neuronal degeneration and necrosis, perivascular lymphocytic infiltration, and focal or diffuse astrogliosis occurred mainly in the parahippocampal cortex, hippocampus, hyperstriatum, neostriatum, subleptomeningeal and periventricular regions of the cerebrum. Spongy changes with neuronal degeneration and axonal spheroids were also observed in the brain stem of a few cases. The amount of virus in the brain reached a peak on day 4 PI and virus could not be recovered from the brain after 6 days PI. In contrast, Q0 caused nonfatal asymptomatic disease and virus could not be isolated from the brain, sections of which showed only minimal inflammatory changes. This difference in the lesions of the brain might be related to neurovirulence and, neuroadaptation by serial passage may occur by increased efficiency of viral replication in neurons.

Granule exocytosis in a cultured human natural killer cell-rich population induced by K562 target cells and by PMA/A23187

Granule exocytosis in natural killer (NK) cells induced by K562 target cells and by PMA/A23187 was examined by measuring N-benzyloxycarboxy-L-lysine esterase activity. We obtained a cultured human NK cell-rich population containing around 90% of CD16+ cells by culturing peripheral blood mononuclear cells with mitomycin C-treated Daudi cells in the presence of IL-2. Granule exocytosis in the cultured NK cells was induced by K562 cells in a target/effector cell ratio-dependent manner. The granule exocytosis induced by K562 cells was inhibited neither by EGTA nor by TMB-8, an intracellular calcium antagonist, nor by a combination of these two reagents, while the exocytosis induced by PMA/A23187 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner both by EGTA and by TMB-8. However, the cytotoxic activity of the cultured NK cells was inhibited by EGTA, suggesting that calcium is required not for the induction of granule exocytosis but for other steps including its requirement for the exertion of perforin activity.

Solution structure of a human calcitonin analog elucidated by NMR and distance geometry calculations

Three-dimensional structure of a human calcitonin analog (abbreviated as hCTa) in which the amino acids of the wild type are replaced at position 12, 16 and 19 by leucine residues and further at position 22 by a tyrosine residue was studied in TFE solution by 1H-NMR and distance geometry calculations. This analog has a 15-20 times activity as compared with the wild type. The amino acid replacements resulted in formation of an amphiphilic alpha-helix in the region between the residues 4-20. The overall three-dimensional structure is similar to that of the wild type. The conformational feature of hCTa with a hydrophobic face composed with a Met and four Leu residues may be related to its higher hypocalcemic potency.

Prediction of histopathologic features and proliferative activity of uterine leiomyoma by magnetic resonance imaging prior to GnRH analogue therapy: correlation between T2-weighted images and effect of GnRH analogue

To predict the histological features and proliferative activity of leiomyomas and to evaluate the effect of GnRH analogues (GnRHa) by MR images, the correlation between MR images and histopathologic findings was studied on 137 leiomyomatous nodules from 79 patients. The correlation among cellularity, proliferative activity and MR images was studied on sections of 42 leiomyomatous, nodules stained with hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. The utility of MR imaging in assessing response to therapy with a GnRHa (buserelin 900 micrograms/day, intranasal for 16 weeks) was studied on 62 leiomyomatous nodules from 29 patients. On T2-weighted MR images, we encountered five major images. According to the increase of signal intensity relative to that of the myometrium and/or the endometrium, the images were classified as Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 4, and Type 5. Histopathologically, the majority of Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 images had features of typical leiomyoma. Almost all cellular leiomyomas and bizarre leiomyomas had Type 4 images. Variable degenerative features were observed in the nodules with Type 5 images. According to the increase of signal intensity, leiomyomas had a tendency to show a high degree of both cellularity and proliferative activity. Moreover, the reduction rate of leiomyomatous nodules after GnRHa therapy correlated with the tumor signal intensity on T2-weighted images before therapy. The reduction rate was the lowest in Type 1 images (20.9%) and the highest in Type 4 images (50.7%). These results suggest that increased the signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images correlates with the cellularity and proliferative activity of leiomyomas, and with tumor response to GnRHa treatment. MR imaging enables quantitative monitoring of GnRHa therapy in patients with leiomyomatous nodules, and allows us to predict the histopathology, cellularity, proliferative activity, and shrinkage rate of nodules before GnRHa treatment.

Distribution and size of cerebellar and thalamic projection neurons in the trigeminal principal sensory nucleus and adjacent nuclei in the rat

Using retrograde axonal transport of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP), the distribution and size of the cerebellar and thalamic projection neurons were demonstrated in the trigeminal principal sensory nucleus (Vpr) and four adjacent nuclei: the trigemino-angular nucleus (Ta), the supratrigeminal nucleus (SupV), the intertrigeminal nucleus (IntV) and the juxtatrigeminal nucleus (JxtV). In the control animal, the size of the constituent neurons of these five nuclei was also analyzed. The mean size of the somata was significantly (p < 0.05) different among these nuclei: it was largest in the Ta, followed by the IntV, SupV and JxtV, and smallest in the Vpr. After cerebellar and thalamic injections of WGA-HRP, labeled neurons were found in all of these nuclei. The cerebellar projection from the SupV and the thalamic projections from the Ta, SupV and IntV were observed for the first time in this study. The proportion of neurons projecting to the cerebellum and the thalamus varied in these nuclei. In the Ta and IntV, the majority of neurons were labeled after cerebellar injections, whereas nearly all neurons in the Vpr were labeled after thalamic injections. In the SupV and JxtV, thalamic projection neurons were greater in number. Thus, each nucleus examined in this study had distinct organizations concerning the soma size and the mode of projection to the cerebellum and the thalamus.

Involvement of inflammatory cytokines in a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction

We previously reported the amino acid sequence of the human macrophage chemotactic factor with a molecular weight of 1000 (MCF-1) was WLGREDGSE. In this study we examined the roles of MCF-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in a guinea pig delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction. When macrophage chemotactic activity (MCA) in a skin extract was subjected to gel filtration, only the activity with a molecular weight of 1000 was significantly inhibited by anti-human MCF-1 mAb (7-3 mAb). Both MCA and TNF activity were detected in skin extracts from DTH inflammation sites where the specific antigen was injected. Both activities were produced at the early DTH reaction stage. In contrast, MCF-1 was produced at the late DTH reaction stage. The erythema was suppressed significantly either by anti-guinea pig TNF Ab or by 7-3 mAb, suggesting the roles of these two cytokines in a DTH reaction.

Differential effects of 3 dipyridyl isomers on hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 and heme oxygenase in rats

We compared the effects of 3 dipyridyl isomers, 2,2'-dipyridyl, 2,4'-dipyridyl and 4,4'-dipyridyl, on hepatic microsomal heme oxygenase and drug-metabolizing enzyme activities in male rats. 2,2'-Dipyridyl increased cytochrome P450 (P450) content at lower doses, but decreased with increasing dose levels. Immunoblot analysis revealed that 2,2'-dipyridyl did not induce both P450 1A1/2 and P450 2B1/2, in contrast to 2,4'- and 4,4'-dipyridyls, both of which were inducers of either P450 1A1/2 and/or P450 2B1/2. Some drug-metabolizing enzyme activities gradually declined with the increasing dose level of 2,2'-dipyridyl. 2,2'-Dipyridyl was able to induce hepatic microsomal heme oxygenase in a dose-dependent manner, but 2,4'- and 4,4'-dipyridyls did not, even at the highest dose (0.80 mmol/kg) examined. Treatment of rats with 2,2'-dipyridyl resulted in the increase of glutathione (GSH) content in a dose-dependent manner, but not 4-substituted isomers. A time course study with 2,2'-dipyridyl revealed that it produced a significant decrease in hepatic GSH content at early time periods (2-6 h) after its administration with an inverse increase in heme oxygenase activity. The present investigation has revealed that in contrast to the induction of P450 by 4-substituted dipyridyl compounds, 2,2'-dipyridyl is a novel inducer of hepatic microsomal heme oxygenase, together with the change in hepatic GSH content. This study would provide information on the differential effects of simple dipyridyl isomers on hepatic enzymes involved in heme and drug metabolism.

Chronic iron overload causes activation of rat lipocytes in vivo

Chronic iron overload can result in hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Activated lipocytes, through increased production of collagen and extracellular matrix, play an important role in hepatic fibrogenesis in several types of experimental liver injury, but their contribution to hepatic injury after iron overload is unknown. This study examines the effect of iron overload on lipocyte activation, in vivo. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a chow diet supplemented with 1% carbonyl iron for up to 20 mo. Controls were fed the chow diet alone. Lipocytes were prepared by sequential pronase and collagenase perfusion of the livers, followed by density-gradient centrifugation. Lipocyte activation was assessed by immunohistochemistry of liver sections and by Western blot analysis of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in freshly isolated lipocytes. In addition, to measure the biosynthetic capability of these lipocytes, collagen and noncollagen protein production was determined after 3 days in culture, using [3H]proline incorporation. The hepatic iron concentration was increased by eightfold in the iron-loaded rats, and lipocytes from these animals expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin. Collagen production was increased by 2.5-fold, and noncollagen protein production was elevated by twofold in lipocytes isolated from iron-loaded rats. In the iron-loaded livers, autofluorescent material with the characteristics of lipofusion was present in periportal zones. Chronic iron overload expression results in the activation of lipocytes, as determined by increased expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and by increased production of both collagen and noncollagen protein. This activation may contribute to iron-induced hepatic fibrogenesis.

[MRI of traumatic anosmia]

On MRI, the authors were able to demonstrate the contused lesions of bilateral rectal gyri near the crista galli in all of five cases of traumatic anosmia. Thin slice coronal and sagittal images of MRI were very useful for detecting the lesions. Conventional CT scans failed to demonstrate the lesions in 3 out of the 5 cases, but, even in these cases, MRI was able to clearly depict the contused lesions of bilateral rectal gyri. Therefore, the depicted lesions of bilateral rectal gyri on MRI can be evidence of traumatic anosmia and this may be very significant in medico-legal cases.

Regulatory mechanisms for production of IFN-gamma and TNF by antitumor T cells or macrophages in the tumor-bearing state

Spleen cells from BALB/c mice bearing a syngeneic tumor (CSA1 M) 2 to 3 wk after inoculation with CSA1 M cells produced IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF upon in vitro cultures. This was previously demonstrated to be a result of collaboration between tumor-primed CD4+ T cells and APCs binding CSA1 M tumor Ags in vivo. The IL-2- and IFN-gamma-producing capacities decreased with the progress of tumor-bearing stages. This was parallel to the levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNAs expressed by cultured spleen cells. In contrast, comparable levels of TNF mRNA were expressed by all groups of cultured cells. However, large amounts of TNF were secreted by the cells from early but not from late tumor-bearing mice. TNF was produced mainly by the non-T cell fraction upon stimulation with CD4+ T cell-derived IFN-gamma. Therefore, the reduced TNF production by whole spleen cells from late tumor-bearing mice was restored by addition of rIFN-gamma to their cultures. Reciprocally to the progressive decrease in the production of IFN-gamma/TNF, the capacities of tumor-bearing mice to produce TGF-beta and IL-6 increased along with tumor growth. TGF-beta suppressed production of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF, but not of IL-6. Moreover, IFN-gamma/TNF production was negatively regulated by IL-6. Taken together with the fact that the growth of CSA1 M cells is completely inhibited by the combination of TNF and IFN-gamma, these results demonstrate that the tumor-bearing state induces an abnormal cytokine network under which the production of antitumor cytokines is negatively regulated.

Regulatory mechanisms for production of IFN-gamma and TNF by antitumor T cells or macrophages in the tumor-bearing state

Spleen cells from BALB/c mice bearing a syngeneic tumor (CSA1 M) 2 to 3 wk after inoculation with CSA1 M cells produced IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF upon in vitro cultures. This was previously demonstrated to be a result of collaboration between tumor-primed CD4+ T cells and APCs binding CSA1 M tumor Ags in vivo. The IL-2- and IFN-gamma-producing capacities decreased with the progress of tumor-bearing stages. This was parallel to the levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNAs expressed by cultured spleen cells. In contrast, comparable levels of TNF mRNA were expressed by all groups of cultured cells. However, large amounts of TNF were secreted by the cells from early but not from late tumor-bearing mice. TNF was produced mainly by the non-T cell fraction upon stimulation with CD4+ T cell-derived IFN-gamma. Therefore, the reduced TNF production by whole spleen cells from late tumor-bearing mice was restored by addition of rIFN-gamma to their cultures. Reciprocally to the progressive decrease in the production of IFN-gamma/TNF, the capacities of tumor-bearing mice to produce TGF-beta and IL-6 increased along with tumor growth. TGF-beta suppressed production of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF, but not of IL-6. Moreover, IFN-gamma/TNF production was negatively regulated by IL-6. Taken together with the fact that the growth of CSA1 M cells is completely inhibited by the combination of TNF and IFN-gamma, these results demonstrate that the tumor-bearing state induces an abnormal cytokine network under which the production of antitumor cytokines is negatively regulated.

Solution structure of omega-conotoxin MVIIC determined by NMR

The solution structure of the P- and Q-type Ca2+ channel blocker, omega-conotoxin MVIIC (a peptidic neurotoxin composed of 26 amino acid residues), has been determined by 1H-NMR and simulated annealing calculations. The resulting calculated structures converged very well to a conformation with an average value of pairwised RMSD for N, C alpha and C' of 0.62 A. Lys-25 is buried in the molecule and less flexible so that among the four Lys residues, its side chain provides the lowest reactivity on biotinylation and the mono-biotinylation in this residue less influences the biological activity.

[Clinical study of SY5555 dry syrup in the pediatric field]

SY5555 dry syrup (powder to be dissolved before use) was clinically used in pediatric patients. The following results were obtained: 1. The subjects were 6 pediatric patients including 1 case each with pharyngitis, tonsillitis, lacunar tonsillitis and impetigo contagiosa and 2 cases with scarlet fever. The drug was administered at a daily dose of 14.5-29.0 mg/kg divided into 3 dosages. The clinical results were excellent in 5 cases and good in 1 case with an efficacy rate of 100%. 2. Identified bacteria included 3 strains of Haemophilus influenzae, 2 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes and 1 strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Five strains were eradicated but 1 strain still remained with an bacteriological eradication rate of 83.3%. 3. No side effects were observed throughout the study period. In laboratory test results, elevated eosinophil count was observed in only 1 case. 4. Patients' compliance was good in general. 5. Based on the results mentioned above, the drug was considered to be a useful new oral antibiotic in the pediatric field.

[A case of pulmonary thrombosis associated with primary antiphospholipid syndrome]

A 23-year-old man was admitted because of an attack of chest pain and dry cough. Chest roentogenogram showed a solitary pulmonary nodule in the left upper lobe. Chest CT showed a nodule and a small pleural effusion on the same side. Pulmonary thrombosis was diagnosed by pulmonary Ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy and pulmonary arteriography. Deep vein thrombosis was not detected except in a distal pulmonary artery. The solitary nodule disappeared spontaneously without thrombolytic therapy. An anticardiolipin antibody (IgG) test was positive. Primary antiphospholipid syndrome was diagnosed, because of the absence of physical findings suggesting other collagen vascular diseases. Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome have a high frequency of pulmonary complications that include pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism. Most of the patients with pulmonary embolism have deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary vessel thrombosis as seen in the present case is a rare complication.

IgG2 deficiency associated with defects in production of interferon-gamma; comparison with common variable immunodeficiency

We report a novel mechanism of IgG2 deficiency. Several investigators have reported patients with IgG subclass deficiencies due to homozygous deletion of immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region genes. However, it is unclear what mechanism is responsible for IgG subclass deficiency in cases where no gene deletions have been detected and which are accompanied by recurrent infections due to aberrant immunoregulation. In the present study, we have focused our attention on production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which is known to induce IgG2 expression. PBMCs from four patients with IgG2 deficiency and their families were studied. Mitogeninduced IFN-gamma production by PBMCs was decreased in all of the patients, although the proliferative responses of PBMCs and the percentages of CD3, CD4, and CD8 T cell subsets were not decreased. IgG2 production by PBMCs was restored upon addition of IFN-gamma and mitogen to the PBMCs of the patients with IgG2 deficiency though it was not restored in the patients with common variable immunodeficiency. We conclude that defects in production of IFN-gamma play an important role in IgG2 deficiency.

[Clinical evaluation of a new oral penem, SY5555, in infants and children]

A clinical study was performed on SY5555, a newly developed penem antibiotic, in children. SY5555 was given orally to 14 patients at 19-29 mg/kg/day in 3 doses for 4 to 12 days. Clinical evaluations were made on the 14 patients including 4 with pharyngitis, 7 with tonsillitis, one with urinary tract infection, and 2 with impetigo. Overall clinical effects were excellent in 2, good in 12, with an efficacy rate of 100%. Causative organisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes) were all eradicated. As to adverse reactions, mild diarrhea was observed in 4 patients. These data suggest that SY5555 is a useful oral antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections in children.

Complete nucleotide sequence of a skin element excised by DNA rearrangement during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis

As part of the Bacillus subtilis genome sequencing project, we have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of a skin element which is located between spoIVCB and spoIIIC. The entire sequence of this element is 48,032 bp in length, and contains 57 ORFs with putative ribosome-binding sites. Two of them correspond to previously sequenced and characterized genes, cwIA and spoIVCA. Furthermore, seven ORF products identified in this element show interesting similarities with known proteins present in data banks, including the phi 105 immunity repressor, the phi 105 Cro-like protein and the SPP1 terminase. These results indicate the possibility that the skin element is a cryptic remnant of an ancestral temperate phage.