Distribution of neurotensin-containing neurons in the central nervous system of the dog

The distribution of neurotensin-containing cell bodies and fibers was examined in the central nervous system of the dog using light microscopic immunohistochemistry. A very large population of neurotensin-containing cell bodies was observed in the septal nuclei, nucleus accumbens septi, preoptic areas, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, olfactory tubercle, entorhinal cortex, ventral subiculum, anterodorsal thalamic nucleus, anteroventral thalamic nucleus, nucleus reuniens, lateral habenular nucleus, parabrachial nucleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract. Extremely dense networks of neurotensin-containing fibers were found in the globus pallidus, hypothalamus, infundibular stalk, ventral tegmental area, periaqueductal gray, interpeduncular nucleus, and spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve and substantia gelatinosa. However, the cerebral neocortex and cerebellum were negative for neurotensin in the present study. When the present findings are compared with those in other animals, it is clear that the major species-specific differences in distribution involve three immunonegative regions and four immunopositive regions in the dog: The former are the cerebral neocortex, mammillary body, and hippocampus; the latter are the cell bodies in the pyramidal layer of the olfactory tubercle, the superficial and middle layers of the entorhinal cortex and ventral subiculum, and the nerve fibers in the interpeduncular nucleus. The present study indicates a rather extensive network of neurotensin neurons in the central nervous system of the dog.

Percutaneous cryosurgery for renal tumours

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of percutaneous cryosurgery in the treatment of renal tumours.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cryoprobe using liquid nitrogen was designed. The tolerance of renal cancer cells to cooling was tested. Freezing tests on two extirpated kidneys involved with hypervascular tumour were performed in water at 40 degrees C. A clinical trial of percutaneous cryosurgery was carried out in two patients with advanced renal carcinoma.

RESULTS

The cooling function of the new probe was similar to that of a conventional probe. The tolerance test on renal cancer cells showed that the cooling temperature should be below -20 degrees C to render them necrotic. Freezing tests on two nephrectomized kidneys with hypervascular renal cancer suggested that embolization of the renal artery might be advisable before treatment. The clinical trial in two patients with advanced renal carcinoma showed that the whole kidney, including the tumour, became necrotic and shrunken post-operatively. The patients' Karnofsky performance scale showed a marked improvement 3 months after the operation, but their general condition gradually deteriorated. Patient 1 died 10 months and patient 2 died 5 months after the procedure.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous cryosurgery was performed successfully in two patients with hypervascular renal tumours. Cryo-immunological activity was assumed to have contributed to the temporary improvement in their condition. These results suggest that percutaneous cryosurgery might be useful as minimally invasive treatment in a limited number of patients with advanced renal carcinoma.

[Mutation of the K-ras oncogene in pancreatic carcinoma, and application of its detection in pancreatic juice to diagnose pancreatic carcinoma]

The incidence of the point mutation of K-ras oncogene at codon 12 in surgical or autopsy specimens of pancreatic carcinoma (PC) is reportedly extremely high ranging from 75 to over 90%, and the K-ras mutation found in PC is almost exclusively present in codon 12. The GGT to GAT transition of the 12th codon is observed in more than 50% of PC of Japanese patients, although the incidences of transition of GGT to CGT, GTT, and GAT are essentially equal in PC of European countries. With this point in mind, the authors attempted to detect K-ras mutations in DNA obtained from pancreatic juice (PJ) collected endoscopically. K-ras mutations at codon 12 were found in 55% of 20 PC patients by PCR and ASO probe hybridization method, and in 80% of 25 PC patients by PCR-RFLP method. On the other hand, K-ras mutations were negative in PJ from chronic pancreatitis with one exception by PCR-RFLP method. Other authors also reported almost the same results. These results suggest that analysis of K-ras oncogene in PJ can be useful for qualitative diagnosis of PC, and would be expected as a novel tool for early detection of PC.

Human corneal and conjunctival epithelia produce a mucin-like glycoprotein for the apical surface

PURPOSE

The authors have determined that the corneal and conjunctival epithelia of the rat produce a mucin-like glycoprotein at the apical surface of the epithelium. The purpose of this study was to determine if human ocular surface epithelium produces similar glycoproteins.

METHODS

Because our initial attempts at production of monoclonal antibodies yielded blood type A-specific antibodies, corneal epithelia from blood type O donor eyes were used for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Screening of hybridoma products was accomplished by immunofluorescence microscopy of cryostat sections of blood type O donor eyes. The monoclonal antibody produced was used for immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy to determine tissue and cellular distribution, respectively. Immunoblot analysis of SDS-PAGE-separated proteins from corneal epithelial tissue and from cultured human corneal epithelium was used to determine molecular weight range and epitope binding after periodate oxidation, N-glycanase, and O-glycanase treatment.

RESULTS

A monoclonal antibody, designated H185, that binds to apical cell layers of human corneal, conjunctival, laryngeal, and vaginal epithelium was produced. The antibody binds to apical membranes of apical cells, particularly at the tips of microplicae. In subapical cells, the antibody binds to small cytoplasmic vesicles. Cultured human corneal epithelium produces H185 antigen. By immunoblot analysis, H185 binds a high molecular weight protein, > 205 kD, from corneal epithelium and cultured corneal epithelium. The protein band visualized by immunoblot analysis cannot be stained by Coomassie or silver stain on SDS-PAGE, but it does stain with Alcian blue followed by silver stain, indicating that the protein is highly glycosylated. H185 binding to blotted proteins is destroyed by sodium periodate treatment and O-glycanase incubation, suggesting that the epitope of H185 is an O-linked carbohydrate.

CONCLUSION

Human corneal and conjunctival epithelia produce a molecule, similar in size, cellular localization, and distribution to the mucin-like glycoprotein of rat ocular surface epithelium. These data suggest that the entire ocular surface epithelium produces mucins for the tear film.

[Clinical prognosis of moderate restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty]

Follow-up angiography after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) often demonstrates "moderate" angiographic restenosis, but the need for subsequent revascularization is difficult to determine. We examined the clinical outcome of patients with moderate angiographic restenosis after PTCA. Follow-up angiography performed in 96 patients within 4 months showed light restenosis (LR:stenosis < 40%) in 52 patients, moderate restenosis (MR:40-70%) in 21, and severe restenosis (SR: > 70%) in 23. One of 21 patients with MR underwent repeat PTCA after a positive exercise test. The remaining 20 patients with MR were compared with 52 with LR (follow-up: 12-18 months). Five patients with MR underwent repeat PTCA for recurrence of angina in the follow-up period. Log rank analysis of the Kaplan-Meier estimates for event-free survival (death, myocardial infarction CABG, re-PTCA) showed the outcome was significantly worse for MR patients. However, 14 MR patients who had no cardiac event demonstrated regression of stenosis at 1-year follow-up angiography (58.2% to 45.4%). Moderate restenosis at angiographic follow-up was observed in 30% of all PTCA patients. Moderate restenosis patients have a worse prognosis than light restenosis patients. Adequate follow-up management is mandatory for moderate restenosis patients.

Distribution of [1,2-3H]taurine in the skin of adult and newborn mice studied by microradioautography

In vivo light microscopic radioautography was used to demonstrate the distribution of taurine in adult and newborn mice at 30 min. and 3 hrs. after the injection of 3H-taurine. This study showed that the injected taurine was present in free form in the skin. Radioautographically, it was found that in the adult a very high density of taurine was found over the epidermis and external root sheaths near the opening of the hair follicles. The external root sheath just below the insertion of the sebaceous glands and the peripheral part of the sebaceous glands showed a high taurine distribution. Connective tissue in the dermis, however, showed low uptake of taurine. In the neonate mouse, the density of injected taurine in both the epidermis and the external root sheath was lower than that the density in the connective tissue in the dermis. We report these findings in detail and discuss some of the functional roles of taurine in the skin.

Multiple neurilemmoma in both legs. A case report

A Japanese man, who was 61 years of age, presented with multiple neurilemmoma in both legs which had arisen from different levels of both sciatic nerves. There were no clinical findings relating to von Recklinghausen's disease in the patient or his siblings. Multiple neurilemmoma may be the result of embryonic metameric anomalies. The condition may be distinguished from von Recklinghausen's disease by the distribution of the lesions and genetic analysis.

Tetramethylpyrazine improves spatial cognitive impairment induced by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries or scopolamine in rats

Effects of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), a major constituent of Ligusticum chuanxiong, on spatial cognitive impairment induced by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries (2VO) and scopolamine were investigated using 8-arm radial maze performance in rats. Permanent 2VO produced a severe learning deficit in non-pretrained rats. Daily administration of TMP (3-10 mg/kg, i.p.) from the 3rd day after permanent 2VO significantly improved the learning deficit. TMP did not influence the impairment of the retention task in the pretrained permanent 2VO rats, but it tended to reduce the number of errors elevated by 3-min delay interposition in these rats. In the scopolamine model, scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased the initial correct response and increased the number of errors. Single administration of TMP (1-3 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently reversed the scopolamine-induced impairment of the maze performance. These results suggest that TMP has therapeutic potential for the treatment of dementia caused by cholinergic dysfunction and/or decrease of cerebral blood flow.

Studies on carbon material requirements for bacterial proliferation and spore germination under stress conditions: a new mechanism involving transmission of physical signals

The growth of bacteria is often enhanced by addition of carbon materials such as graphite or activated charcoal to the growth medium. In this work, bacterial strains that strictly require such carbon materials under the ordinarily lethal stress caused by high concentrations of salt were isolated. The organisms were gram-positive, spore-forming, sugar-nonfermenting aerobic bacilli and were provisionally designated "Bacillus carbophilus" Kasumi after examination of their phenotypic traits. The growth- and germination-promoting effects of graphite and activated charcoal were demonstrated either quantitatively on agar plates containing fine crystals of the carbon materials mixed with a nonpermissive growth medium or qualitatively on agar plates on nonpermissive growth media half-covered with fine carbon particles. Further experiments demonstrated a novel feature of the phenomenon; i.e., the ability to induce colony formation on the nonpermissive plate was transmissible through the air, as well as through plastic or glass barriers. The mechanism probably involves transmission of physical signals regulating cell growth.

Lactate rise in the basal ganglia accompanying finger movements: a localized 1H-MRS study

To investigate whether motor activation can cause lactate elevation, we observed the metabolic changes in seven right-handed volunteers by localized 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The volume of interest (VOI) was centered on a region including portions of the putamen and globus pallidus. Finger opposition movements were applied as the motor tasks. On the side contralateral to the finger movements, lactate rose in all subjects. No lactate rise occurred in basal ganglia ipsilateral to the movements.

Amino acid phosphatase activity of alkaline phosphatase. A possible role of protein phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) hydrolyzed phosvitin and amino acid phosphates demonstrating nonisotropy at different pH. Orthovanadate, a protein phosphatase inhibitor, more specifically inhibited the serine and tyrosine phosphatase activities of ALP than that of threonine phosphatase at concentrations > 0.1 mM or 0.01 mM, respectively. Calyculin A and okadaic acid at increased concentrations increased ALP amino acid phosphatase activity. Bisphosphonates, such as disodium-1-hydroxy-1-aminopropylidine-1,1-diphosphonate (APD) and ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (HEBP), at increased concentrations, inhibited ALP amino acid phosphatase activity. These results suggest that ALP may function as a protein phosphatase. In terms of protein kinase inhibitors, N-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide, N-(6-aminoheyxl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfomide hydrochloride and 4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone had little effect on ALP amino acid phosphatase activity. Staurosporine slightly enhanced ALP serine and threonine phosphatase activities at a concentration of 0.1 mM. These results suggest that protein phosphatase activity does not depend on the protein kinase activity of ALP, since duality between the former and the latter is not supported. ALP may function less as a protein kinase than as a protein phosphatase. The coupling mechanism of phosphate dynamics may be regulated indirectly.

A putative digestive cysteine proteinase from Drosophila melanogaster is predominantly expressed in the embryonic and larval midgut

Plant seeds have biodefense systems for protection against insects. One of these systems may be based on the occurrence of phytocystatins, cysteine proteinase inhibitors of plant origin, that probably inhibit insect cysteine proteinases involved in digestive functions. To elucidate a molecular mechanism for this biodefense phenomenon, we isolated a gene encoding a putative digestive cysteine proteinase from Drosophila melanogaster, a suitable model species. The cloned genomic DNA fragment contained a sequence encoding a cysteine proteinase. The mature enzyme from the encoded protein, termed Drosophila cysteine proteinase-1, consisted of 218 amino acid residues. Drosophila cysteine proteinase-1 showed 67% similarity in its amino acid sequence to a lobster cysteine proteinase-3 contained in the digestive juice. This enzyme also showed significant similarities to cysteine proteinases of animal origin such as cathepsins H and L, and to proteinases of plant origin such as rice oryzains alpha and beta. In situ hybridization studies for the embryo showed that the mRNA for Drosophila cysteine proteinase-1 was predominantly expressed in the midgut. Larval alimentary organs, such as the salivary gland and the midgut including the gastric caeca, also expressed the mRNA at significant levels. These observations, suggesting that Drosophila cysteine proteinase-1 is a digestive cysteine proteinase which can be used as a model target of phytocystatins, will hopefully lead to new strategies for the regulation of pest insects.

A young woman with xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group F and a morphoeic basal cell carcinoma

We report an 18-year-old Japanese woman who had mild photosensitivity and a facial tumour, which was shown to be a morphoeic basal cell carcinoma. Although a line of fibroblasts derived from the patient, Kps6 cells, were slightly more sensitive to UV irradiation than normal cells, their level of unscheduled DNA synthesis was about 20% that of normal cells, and recovery of RNA synthesis after UV irradiation was moderately depressed. Complementation tests, carried out by cell fusion or by microinjection of plasmids harbouring xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) genes, indicated that the patient had XP group F. To our knowledge, this is the youngest XP group F patient with a malignant tumour reported to date.

Responses of muscle sympathetic nerve activity to static biceps brachii contraction in humans

The aim of the present study was to determine whether static biceps brachii contraction by handcurling enhances the muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in the resting muscle. In six healthy men (age: 19-23 years), we measured MSNA in the tibial nerve microneurographically, with heart rate, blood pressure, biceps electromyogram (EMG), and the intensity of local fatigue sensation in the working muscle. Subjects performed static biceps brachii contraction for 2 min (short exercise) at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction, and then they made fatiguing exercise to exhaustion (long exercise). During the short exercise, the heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure increased significantly (p < 0.05). In the last 30s of the short exercise, the MSNA burst rate and total MSNA increased significantly but integrated EMG did not increase. In long exercise, MSNA burst rate, total MSNA, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, EMG activity, and local fatigue sensation increased progressively with advancing exercising time. There was a significant correlation between integrated EMG and total MSNA (r = 0.64, n = 63, p < 0.001), and local fatigue sensation and total MSNA (r = 0.41, n = 63, p < 0.001) during the long exercise. Post-exercise recovery of the MSNA response to static handcurling was more prompt in short exercise than that in long exercise. We conclude that MSNA is enhanced during submaximal static handcurling, and the magnitude of enhancement correlates with EMG activity and subjective fatigue sensation in the biceps brachii, which might be attributed to the stimulation of metaboreceptors in the working muscle.

Hormone receptors in pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis

Biochemical assays have demonstrated the existence of hormone receptors in lung tissue from patients with pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM). This finding is the biologic corollary to the finding that LAM responds to hormonal therapy. We have examined lung tissue from two patients with LAM for estrogen and progesterone receptors by immunohistochemistry and a biochemical assay. Although specimens from both patients were negative for estrogen receptor activity by the biochemical assay, positive stain of estrogen receptors was observed in both patients with immunohistochemistry.

[The relationship among hematocrit, platelet aggregation and the time of onset in patients with acute stage-cerebral infarction]

We evaluated time relation among hematocrit (Ht), platelet aggregation (PA) and the onset of acute stage-cerebral infarction in 221 patients. Lacunar infarctions were likely to occur in the evening or at midnight. The elevated Ht value was frequently found in patients with infarctions occurring at midnight, suggesting that the elevation of blood viscosity has an intimate etiology to the onset. The decrease of PA was often found in those who suffered from their stroke while awake in the morning or at midnight, and frequently had been associated with elevated Ht in the latter patients. Decrease of PA is often reported during acute stage-cerebral infarction. Our results indicate that increased platelet aggregation may play an important role in developing cerebral infarction, especially in those who had onset of illness in the morning.

Magnetic resonance angiography in prostatodynia

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance venography (3D MRV) of the prostate and the pelvic cavity was demonstrated in 8 normal subjects and 12 patients with prostatodynia. In all normal subjects and patients, 3D MRV images were successfully obtained. The deep dorsal vein of the penis sends major branches into the anterior and lateral capsular veins as well as into the internal pudendal vein. In patients with prostatodynia, the anterior and lateral capsular veins were much thicker in diameter than those in normal subjects, suggesting venous congestion. This congestion was also remarkable in the venous plexuses behind the bladder or along the lateral side of the pelvis in patients with prostatodynia. Another characteristic sign of the disease was a narrowing or an interruption of the internal pudendal vein. Prostatodynia is postulated to be caused by intrapelvic venous congestion.

Adhesion molecules on intermediate TCR cells. I. Unique expression of adhesion molecules, CD44+ L-selectin-, on intermediate TCR cells in the liver and the modulation of their adhesion by hyaluronic acid

In addition to thymus-derived T cells, it was demonstrated recently that extrathymically differentiated T cells exist in the liver and other immune organs of mice. Since such extrathymic T cells have T-cell receptors (TCR) of intermediate intensity (i.e. intermediate TCR cells) and constitutively express IL-2 receptor beta-chain (IL-2R beta) similar to natural killer (NK) cells, they are easily distinguished from thymus-derived T cells with a TCR-bright+ IL-2R beta- phenotype (i.e. bright TCR cells). In the present study, the expression of adhesion molecules CD44 and L-selectin was compared between these T-cell subsets. Intermediate TCR cells in the liver and other organs were found to be CD44+ L-selectin- and, inversely, bright TCR cells were CD44- L-selectin+. CD3- IL-2R beta+ NK cells were also estimated to be CD44+ L-selectin-. Hyaluronic acid, which is known to adhere to a CD44 ligand, bound to intermediate TCR cells, but not to bright TCR cells. Among many extracellular matrices, hyaluronic acid induced a prominent decrease in the numbers and proportions of intermediate TCR cells and NK cells in the liver from 6 to 24 hr after in vivo administration. The half-life span of injected hyaluronic acid was approximately 7 hr in the plasma. These results suggest that the CD44 molecule, which is uniquely expressed on intermediate TCR cells and NK cells, is eventually associated with their adhesion to the sinusoidal walls in the liver.

Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: histopathologic analysis of tumor spread in Whipple pancreatoduodenectomy specimens

Controversies exist regarding the application of the pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) to malignancies. This study was intended to disclose the pattern of spread of ampullary cancer and to substantiate that tumor spread at resectable stages does not involve the tissues preserved by PPPD. We examined 40 consecutive Whipple pancreatoduodenectomy specimens: mucosal cancer, 4 cases; cancer invading (but not penetrating) the sphincter of Oddi, 1; cancer invading the submucosa of the duodenum, 12; cancer invading the proper muscle of the duodenum, 5; cancer invading the subserosal layer of the duodenum, 7; and cancer invading pancreatic parenchyma, 11. Five cases of mucosal cancer or cancer invading (but not penetrating) the sphincter spread locally without nodal involvement and showed a 5-year survival of 80% without recurrence, being better (p < 0.05) than the 40% survival for patients with more advanced cancers. Sixty-three percent of the remaining 35 cases had metastasis to regional lymph nodes. The 5-year survival of 28% among those with cancer penetrating the proper muscle was worse (p < 0.05) than the 59% survival for those with less advanced cancers. No cases had involved the anatomic structures that would have been preserved by a PPPD. In three cases (7.5%), gastric cancer coexisted. In conclusion, ampullary cancer not penetrating the sphincter spreads locally. Once penetrating the sphincter, it often spreads regionally and causes recurrence. Cancer penetrating the proper muscle of the duodenum bears a worse prognosis. PPPD is an attractive alternative to the Whipple operation for ampullary cancer because no involvement was found in the tissue preserved by the PPPD. However, surgeons should be aware of a concomitant gastric cancer when doing a PPPD.

p53 immunostaining distinguishes malignant from benign lesions of the gall-bladder

The expression of p53 protein was studied in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of 41 well-differentiated adenocarcinomas of the gall-bladder, six cases of acute cholecystitis and 23 cases of chronic cholecystitis, using a monoclonal p53 (PAb 1801) antibody and streptavidin-biotin. p53 staining was divided into diffuse, focal or sporadic patterns. The relationship between the p53 Labeling Index (p53 LI) and cellular proliferation was also investigated using monoclonal Ki-67 (MIB1) antibody. Twenty-four of the 41 carcinomas (58.5%) had a diffuse staining pattern with a high p53 LI (47-93%) and 9.8% (4/41) had a focal staining pattern with an intermediate p53 LI (22-34%), with no relation to pT stage, tumor size, histologic type or grade of cytologic atypia. The p53 LI was higher than the Ki-67 LI in these tumors except for one. On the other hand, p53 staining was completely sporadic in the non-neoplastic specimens with a low p53 LI (0.2-2.8%). The p53-positive cells in these specimens were located only within areas of Ki-67-positive cells. In conclusion, p53-protein overexpression occurs as an early event in approximately 70% of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas of the gall-bladder, and this alteration is maintained during progression from intramucosal to invasive carcinoma. p53 immunostaining can distinguish malignant from benign lesions of the gall-bladder.