Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (LD78) expressed in human bone marrow: its role in regulation of hematopoiesis and osteoclast recruitment.

Human macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (hMIP-1 alpha), also known as LD78, is a member of the chemokine/ intercrine family and an inhibitor of the proliferation of the hematopoietic stem cells in vitro. Using a specific monoclonal antibody, we observed significant localization of hMIP-1 alpha in eosinophilic myelocytes in human bone marrow. We further examined the expression of hMIP-1 alpha mRNA in human bone tissue by in situ hybridization.

Osteoblasts express types I and II activin receptors during early intramembranous and endochondral bone formation.

Increasing evidence suggests a potential role for activin in bone formation. However, the cognate receptors through which activins function with respect to skeletal tissues have not yet been identified. Identification and regulation of expression of these receptors are necessary prerequisites to understanding the role of activins in bone metabolism.

Identification of a dual leucine zipper kinase involved in rat fracture repair.

Complete cDNA sequence was obtained for a gene found to be expressed at a high level during fracture healing in the rat. Comparison of the amino acid sequence (deduced from the cDNA sequence) with known sequences showed 99% identity with mouse Dual Leucine Zipper Kinase (mDLK) and 96% identity with human Zipper Protein Kinase (hZPK). Relative quantitation by RT-PCR indicates abundant expression of this gene in cultured chondrocytes, growth plate and brain tissue.

Basic fibroblast growth factor inhibits osteoclast-like cell formation.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) inhibited osteoclast-like cell formation in co-cultures of mouse bone marrow cells either with the mouse stromal cell line, ST2, or with primary osteoblastic cells. Basic FGF significantly inhibited the osteoclast-like cell formation, induced by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3] when the cytokine was added to the culture, at an intermediate stage, suggesting that bFGF inhibits the differentiation of the osteoclast progenitors. With regard to target cells, bFGF directly affected ST2; it increased [3H] thymidine uptake and decreased the number of alkaline phosphatase-positive cells.

Indications for, and effectiveness of, a second hepatic resection for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Second hepatic resection (SHR) for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) appears to have a better prognosis than other treatments; however, it is not clear whether this is the result of the procedure, or of the underlying condition of patients undergoing this treatment.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive hepatic resection for 13 years, many patients suffered from recurrence in the remnant liver. After detection of recurrence, these lesions were treated in various ways including SHR.

Immunohistochemistry and angiography in adenomatous hyperplasia and small hepatocellular carcinomas.

The sinusoidal structure and blood supply of 38 liver nodules less than 2 cm in diameter were investigated. There were 18 cases of adenomatous hyperplasia (AH) and 20 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Growth pattern, encapsulation and vascularity were examined, and immunohistochemistry performed for factor VIII related antigen (factor VIII), type IV collagen (collagen IV), laminin and CD68.

Lipopolysaccharides from Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans promote osteoclastic differentiation in vitro.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharides possess bone-resorbing activity. Here, lipopolysaccharides from three putative periodontopathic bacteria were examined for effects on osteoclast-like cell formation of bone marrow cells from lipopolysaccharide-responsive C3H-HeN and non-responsive C3H/HeJ mice. The bone marrow cells were cultured with or without various doses of lipopolysaccharide in the presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and dexamethasone.

Rapidly growing calcified cerebellar astrocytoma in infants.

We report the case of an infant with a cerebellar astrocytoma that showed marked calcification within only 6 months. In general, only slow-growing tumors tend to calcify. To our knowledge, no other case of such rapid calcification in cerebellar astrocytoma has been reported.

Choroid plexus papilloma of the III ventricle in an infant.

A case of choroid plexus papilloma of the III ventricle associated with hydrocephalus in an 1-month-old boy is reported. The tumor was removed after placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt; however, the histologically mainly benign tumor grew very rapidly. The cause of this rapid growth may have been a drop in the intraventricular pressure after the shunting procedure.

[Glioblastoma multiforme with liver metastasis--case report].

Extracranial metastasis of glioblastoma is rare. This is an autopsy case report of a patient with glioblastoma multiforme found to have metastasized to the liver. A 42-year-old woman was admitted with a chief complaint of headache.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-1 alpha maintain the survival of osteoclast-like cells.

When mouse bone marrow cells were co-cultured with a stromal cell line. ST2, numerous osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (MNCs) were formed. To enrich the MNCs which were tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive, we treated the cultures with dispase.

Case of perforated peptic ulcer treated conservatively.

We report a patient fifty-one-year old man with peptic ulcer which was treated conservatively. His chief complaints were epigastric discomfort and tarry stool. On admission, no fever was noted, the abdomen was flat and extremely hard, tenderness was noted, and peritoneal rebound was absent.

Dexamethasone stimulates osteoclast-like cell formation by inhibiting granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor production in mouse bone marrow cultures.

We investigated the effect of glucocorticoid on the generation of osteoclasts. In mouse bone marrow culture systems, dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid analog, enhanced osteoclast-like cell formation induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, dexamethasone inhibited the endogenous production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in bone marrow cultures.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced osteoclast-like cell formation in mouse bone marrow cultures.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent bone resorbing factor. We investigated the effect of LPS on osteoclast formation in three types of cultures. LPS inhibited osteoclast formation induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], in a dose-dependent manner, in cultures of whole bone marrow cells without dexamethasone.

Autologous blood transfusion with recombinant erythropoietin treatment. 22 arthroplasties for rheumatoid arthritis.

12 anemic and 10 non-anemic patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) before arthroplasty. The patients received 400-800 units/kg of rHuEPO subcutaneously once a week. Autologous blood was collected after the hemoglobin concentration was increased by 5 percent or more.

[Indication and limitation of hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma].

Hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become safer with recent advances in diagnostic methods, operative techniques and understanding of how to evaluate liver function. Hepatectomy is the treatment of choice for HCC provided that patients are selected carefully, because cure is possible with hepatectomy (some patients survive long without recurrence). However, the rate of recurrence after hepatectomy is high.

Bilateral lobectomy excluding the caudate lobe for giant mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver.

A girl underwent partial resection of the liver for mesenchymal hamartoma twice, at 7 months and again at 3 years of age. When the patient was 16 years of age, the mass increased rapidly in size. The patient was hospitalized and studied by ultrasonography, computed tomographic scans, and arterial angiography.

Synthetic inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate analogues.

Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] analogues were synthesized and their effects on [3H]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 5-phosphatase, [3H]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 3-phosphatase and [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3] 5-phosphatase activities were examined. The Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 analogue with the aminobenzoyl group at the 2-position of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 inhibited the hydrolysis of 5-phosphate of [3H]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 catalysed by erythrocyte ghosts, with a lower Ki value than seen with Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, whereas the analogue with the aminocyclohexanecarbonyl group at the same position had a higher Ki value. The Ins(1,4,5)P3 analogues that we had previously synthesized were also capable of inhibiting this process, with the same tendency as Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 analogues.