Mesenchymal cells are required for functional development of thymic epithelial cells.

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions have essential roles in thymus organogenesis. Mesenchymal cells are known to be required for epithelial cell proliferation. However, the contribution of mesenchymal cells to thymic epithelial cell differentiation is still unclear.

In vitro pharmacological characterization of novel isoxazolopyridone derivatives as allosteric metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 antagonists.

Novel isoxazolopyridone derivatives that are metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 7 antagonists were discovered and pharmacologically characterized. 5-Methyl-3,6-diphenylisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridin-4(5H)-one (MDIP) was identified by random screening, and 6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-3-pyridin-4-ylisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridin-4(5H)-one (MMPIP) was produced by chemical modification of MDIP. MDIP and MMPIP inhibited L-(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4)-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells coexpressing rat mGluR7 with Galpha(15) (IC50 = 20 and 26 nM).

Nursing autonomy plays an important role in nurses' attitudes toward caring for dying patients.

The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship of nursing autonomy and other factors related to attitudes toward caring for dying patients. A cross-sectional survey of nurses was conducted in November 2003 using a self-administered questionnaire. We collected demographic data from 178 (75%) participants and used the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying scale, Form B, Japanese version (FATCOD-Form B-J), the Pankratz Nursing Questionnaire (PNQ), and the Death Attitude Inventory (DAI).

The usefulness of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET) and a comparison of (18)F-FDG-pet with (67)gallium scintigraphy in the evaluation of lymphoma: relation to histologic subtypes based on the World Health Organization classification.

Background: Although studies comparing conventional imaging modalities with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG-PET) for the detection of lymphoma and although the relations between (18)F-FDG-PET and histologic types were reported previously, most studies were not systematic and involved relatively small numbers of patients.

Methods: Two hundred fifty-five patients with lymphoma had their disease staged using (18)F-FDG-PET, and 191 of those patients also were assessed using gallium-67 scintigraphy ((67)Ga). Disease sites were identified on a site-by-site basis using computed tomography scans and/or magnetic resonance imaging.

The perivascular space as a path of hematopoietic progenitor cells and mature T cells between the blood circulation and the thymic parenchyma.

It is known that selected populations of lymphoid cells migrate into and from the adult thymus through blood vessels at the cortico-medullary junction and in the medulla. Here, we show that in the perivascular spaces (PVS) of mice surrounding large blood vessels, CD117-positive hematopoietic progenitor cells, CD4 single-positive (SP) and CD8SP T cells are located. However, developing thymocytes, CD25-positive cells and CD4 and CD8 double-positive cells, are not detectable in the PVS.

Hodgkin lymphoma accompanied by aplastic anemia and polyclonal expansion of large granular lymphocytes.

Immunologic abnormalities have been described in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenic purpura. The concurrent diagnoses of Hodgkin lymphoma and acquired aplastic anemia, however, is extremely rare. We report a 56-year-old Japanese female patient with severe aplastic anemia and increased large granular lymphocytes prior to the recurrence of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Expression of CD55 and CD59 on peripheral blood cells in patients with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes.

Lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes (LDGL) is a disorder characterized by the clonal expansion of granular lymphocytes. It has recently been shown that the clonal expansion of granular lymphocytes occurs in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in a subclinical fashion. To test the possibility that LDGL patients share a PNH phenotype, we obtained peripheral blood cells from 20 patients with LDGL and examined the expression of the glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchored proteins, CD55 and CD59.

Sacroiliitis as an initial manifestation of acute myelogenous leukemia.

Sacroiliitis is the most pathognomonic and earliest manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis. We herein report a 28-year-old female patient who presented with sacroiliitis as an initial manifestation of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). She had a 3-month history of anemia and walking difficulty.

Expression of Dll4 and CCL25 in Foxn1-negative epithelial cells in the post-natal thymus.

Foxn1 transcription factor is known to be essential for development of the thymic organ. We analyzed whether Foxn1 expression in thymic epithelial cells is necessary for the expression of functional molecules such as Delta-like 4 (Dll4) and CCL25, and whether maintenance of these molecular expressions depends on the Foxn1 transcription factor. We show that almost all thymic epithelial cells in the early thymus anlagen express Foxn1, and Dll4 and CCL25 are limitedly expressed in Foxn1-positive epithelial cells.

Repetitive tensile stress to rat caudal vertebrae inducing cartilage formation in the spinal ligaments: a possible role of mechanical stress in the development of ossification of the spinal ligaments.

Object: Mechanical stress has been considered one of the important factors in ossification of the spinal ligaments. According to previous clinical and in vitro studies, the accumulation of tensile stress to these ligaments may be responsible for ligament ossification. To elucidate the relationship between such mechanical stress and the development of ossification of the spinal ligaments, the authors established an animal experimental model in which the in vivo response of the spinal ligaments to direct repetitive tensile loading could be observed.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia diagnosed in adulthood: a case report.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a humoral immunodeficiency caused by mutations in Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). Patients typically become symptomatic during infancy or early childhood and develop recurrent bacterial infections. We report a Japanese case of XLA diagnosed in a patient who was 27 years of age and who had no history of severe infection.

Identification of inherited macrothrombocytopenias based on mean platelet volume among patients diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenia.

Inherited macrothrombocytopenia is a rare illness that is often misdiagnosed as idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP), a more widespread acquired disease. Automated blood cell counters in routine clinical use usually miss giant platelets and underestimate mean platelet volume (MPV). Incorrect diagnoses might expose patients to a risk of unnecessary treatment.

[Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in a patient with multiple myeloma treated with thalidomide and dexamethasone].

A 51-year-old man visited our hospital because of fever in 2003. With the discovery of the presence of a chest wall tumor, pleural effusion and M-protein, and increased plasma cells in the bone marrow, a diagnosis of multiple myeloma was established. Since the effect of combination chemotherapy followed by tandem auto-PBSCT lasted only one year, thalidomide and dexamethasone administration was started in November 2004.

[Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome probably caused by L-asparaginase].

A 46-year-old male with refractory biphenotypic acute leukemia was treated with doxorubicin (days 1-3, 15-17), vincristine (days 1, 8, 15, 22), prednisolone (days 1-28), and L-asparaginase (L-ASP: days 15-28) as reinduction therapy. Physical examination revealed normotensive state and normal consciousness. On the 27th day, systemic seizures developed with mild hypertension (BP 151/98 mmHg).

[Plasmacytoma with multiple hypervascular lesions revealed by angiography in a patient with multiple myeloma].

A 68-year-old woman suffering from a left iliac tumor and severe back pain was admitted to another hospital in May 1999. The bone X-ray, CT scan and MRI demonstrated a 7 cm x 5 cm left iliac tumor with osteolysis and she was transferred to our hospital. Angiography demonstrated multiple hypervascular lesions in the left ilium, lumbar vertebrae, left ischium, left pubis and left rib.

Endometrial scraping cytology in women with extragenital malignancies.

Objective: To clarify the usefulness of endometrial scraping smears in women with extragenital malignancies.

Study Design: A total of 4,335 endometrial scraping smears were obtained during the 5-year period 1995-1999 at the National Kyushu Cancer Center and were retrospectively analyzed regarding extragenital malignancies.

Results: There were 88 cases of extragenital malignancies.

[Unclassified mature T cell leukemia with cerebriform nuclei].

A 53 year-old male visited our hospital for evaluation of his leukocytosis, which was first diagnosed more than 6 years previously. He was asymptomatic and there were no remarkable findings on physical and laboratory examinations except for the lymphocytosis. Abnormal lymphocytes with deep folded nuclei were seen on light microscopy, whose phenotype was CD3+, CD4-, CD8-, CD7-, CD16 , CD56-, CD45RO+ and CD45RA- .

Forensic assessment of 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms analyzed by hybridization probe assay.

Of a number of DNA marker typing techniques for personal identification in the field of forensic medicine, polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) typing is currently the most frequently used technique. However, the multiplex STR method is time consuming. In contrast, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection methods are relatively rapid and amenable to high throughput.

Thiopurine methyltransferase genotype and phenotype status in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We investigated the genotypic status of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) polymorphism to evaluate the possible risk of the toxicity of azathioprine (AZA) in 68 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The allele frequency of TPMT mutation in the SLE group (2.9%) was higher than that in 174 Japanese healthy volunteers (1.